The New England Collegiate Baseball League released their year-end awards, with a duo of Vermont Mountaineers earning honors. Blake Tiberi from Louisville and Trey Amburgey from St. Petersburg College, both rising sophomores, enjoyed breakout summers for the Mountaineers.
Tiberi picked up Rookie of the Year honors, given to the top freshman in the league. Tiberi hit .372 over 38 games for Vermont, with his average ranking second in the league. He hit in the No. 2 spot for the Northern Division All-Stars, and was also named to the All-NECBL first team.
“It’s a tremendous feeling to receive this honor,” Tiberi said. “It’s a very surreal feeling to be thought of so highly by the coaches and the league.” After not seeing game action in his first season with the Cardinals, Tiberi lit up parks across New England upon his arrival in Vermont.
He put together the longest hitting streak of the summer in the league, at 14 games, and finished in the top-five in the triple slash categories, posting a .451 on-base percentage and a .504 slugging. He went 0-2 in the All-Star game, but it was one of a few games in which pitchers could contain him. Tiberi drew 16 walks to just 12 strikeouts while adding seven doubles, making the most of the spacious confines of Recreation Field.
It was his play away from Montpelier that carried his average, however, as Tiberi hit a torrid .407 in away games. “My approach really clicked for me,” Tiberi said. “I just tried to stay middle, middle, away at the plate and maintain an aggressive approach early.”
He returns to Louisville for his sophomore season, joining a Cardinals squad that is coming off a 50-17 year and a College World Series appearance. Louisville is moving to the ACC this year, and Tiberi should fight for playing time after an impressive summer. “I’m very anxious to get back at it at school,” the third basemen finished. “I’m looking forward to the challenge that moving to the ACC brings, and I’m really looking forward too it.”
Tiberi was joined on the first team by outfielder Trey Amburgey, a rising sophomore from St. Petersburg College, a Junior College (JUCO) in Florida. Amburgey hit third in the NECBL All-Star game, and ranked 10th in the league with a .327 average. He also drove in 22 runs and swiped 12 bases for Vermont.
“It’s a huge blessing,” Amburgey said of the All-NECBL honor. “Almost 200 players in the league, and I was one of the select few chosen, as a freshman as well. It’s great.”
He drove in three runs in Game 1 of the Northern Division quarterfinals against Laconia, and ranked second on the Mountaineers in RBIs, one behind fellow All-Star Mike Vigliarolo. Opposite of Tiberi, Amburgey enjoyed his time at Recreation Field vs. the road as he hit .429 at home.
“I focused a lot on adjusting my game, especially on the mental side.” Amburgey said. “I had a huge support system around me, always helping me.” He continues his collegiate career at St. Petersburg, looking to build off his big
Mountaineers season. “I feel great going into this season,” the outfielder continued. “My confidence is high and I feel I can compete with the best of them.”
Michigan State rising senior Blaise Salter, a talented first basemen for the champion Newport Gulls, hit .328/.385/.471 and earned MVP and Top Prospect honors. Plymouth’s Thomas Jankins (Quinnipiac) won Top Pitcher, while Pilgrims manager Greg Zackrinson (Stonehill) was named the manager of the year. 2013 Mountaineer Thomas Roulis (Dartmouth) picked up a 2nd-team selection as a member of the Pilgrims.
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