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While the focus with the HCBL champion Westhampton Aviators was mostly on the offense, it was also strong pitching that gave them 27 wins during the regular season. That was noted as the HCBL’s seven coaches decided on the Pitcher of the Year award at season’s end. Ultimately it was Reiss Knehr (Fordham) with three first place votes who took the award over teammate Seamus Brazill (Hofstra). Knehr was 4-1 on the season finishing second in the league in ERA (1.15) and strikeouts (49) in 39.0 innings pitched.

Brazill who led the league in ERA with 0.73 received two first place votes and appeared on six out of the seven ballots. Bradley Case (Rollins) of Montauk who led the league in strikeouts with 51 while having a 5-0 record, finished third in the balloting. Riverhead’s Frank Valentino (NYIT) and Sag Harbor’s Chris Sheehan (Wofford) who both had sensational seasons rounded out the top five.

In seven of his eight starts during the regular season, Knehr only allowed one earned run or less. The Fordham Ram had his best performance in his final regular season start against Riverhead on July 23rd when he went 5 2/3 innings allowing a run on three hits with eight strikeouts in an 11-3 Westhampton victory. Knehr’s 49 strikeouts for the season were the second best in the league behind Montauk’s Case.

Knehr followed up his regular season performance in the postseason where he went 2-0 in two starts with 14 strikeouts and three walks. Knehr got the start and win in the deciding game of the HCBL Championship Series against Montauk where he struck out seven Mustang batters. Knehr was selected as an HCBL South All-Star where he pitched a scoreless 1-2-3 inning in July’s All-Star Game.

Knehr came to Westhampton off a Freshman campaign at Fordham where he led the team in ERA at 2.25. The native of Glen Head, NY, struck out 37 batters in his first season with the Rams in 36.0 innings pitched. Knehr was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie Team at season’s end.