Bucknell University Athletics
DiFiore, Cannizzaro Selected to All-Patriot League First Team
5/12/2021 4:00:00 PM | Baseball
The duo both make their first appearance on the All-Patriot League team, with Cannizzaro being voted to the preseason All-League team earlier this year. The two selections for the Bison is the first time Bucknell has had at least two representatives on the first team since 2017, when Connor Van Hoose, Brett Smith, and Sam Clark made the squad.
DiFiore enjoyed a breakout sophomore year in earning a spot in Bucknell's starting rotation. The native of Mount Kisco, N.Y. finished the season ranked third in the Patriot League in ERA (3.51), and earned five wins overall, the most by a Bison since Van Hoose managed eight in the 2018 season. DiFiore is also the first Bison since Van Hoose to earn First-Team recognition as a pitcher.
The sophomore threw two complete games this season, and ranks in the Patriot League in multiple categories. DiFiore appears in the top ten in the Patriot League in innings pitched (51.1), ranks fourth in strikeouts (46), and is ninth in walks allowed (18). Earlier this year, DiFiore was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Week after earning a win over Patriot League regular season champion Lehigh in Bethlehem. DiFiore threw 115 pitches while striking out a career-best eight batters.
Cannizzaro, who was named the Bison Athlete of the Week one day ago, picked up where he left off in 2021 after leading the Patriot League in RBIs in the shortened 2020 campaign. As of the end of the regular season, Cannizzaro is first in the Patriot League in average (.355), with second-place Casey Rother of Lehigh (.350) still having postseason competition.
The junior from Staten Island, N.Y. finished first in the Patriot League in slugging at the end of the regular season, and also finished third in hits (44), first in doubles (12), and tied for first in triples. Cannizzaro started all but one game for the Bison this season, and was named the Patriot League Player of the Week earlier this year when he hit .646 with eight runs, six RBIs, and six doubles in four games during the week of March 30. Cannizzaro ended his junior season with his first career four-hit game in Bucknell's 13-8 win over Lafayette, and plated the go-ahead run on a sac fly in the third inning as Bucknell ended the season with a win.
Below is a complete list of the 2021 Patriot League Baseball All-League Team and major honors.
2021 Patriot League Baseball Major Awards
Player of the Year: Casey Rother, Lehigh, Jr., 1B
Pitcher of the Year: Mason Black, Lehigh, Jr., RHP
Rookie of the Year: Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Fr., OF
Defensive Player of the Year: Tim Simoes, Army West Point, Sr., 2B
Gene Depew Coach of the Year: Sean Leary, Lehigh
2021 First-Team All-Patriot League Baseball Team
SP: Chris DiFiore, Bucknell, So., LHP
SP: Mason Black, Lehigh Jr., RHP
SP: Matt Svanson, Lehigh, Sr., RHP
RP: Sam Wurth, Lehigh, Sr., RHP
C: Angelo D'Acunto, Holy Cross, Jr.
1B: Casey Rother, Lehigh, Jr.
2B: Nico Valdez, Navy Jr.
SS: Justin Johnson, Lafayette, Jr.
3B: Anthony Giachin, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Sam Ruta, Army West Point, Fr.
OF: Chris Cannizzaro, Bucknell, Jr.
OF: Eric Cichocki, Lehigh Sr.
At-Large: Christian Policelli, Navy, Jr.
2021 Second-Team All-Patriot League Baseball Team
SP: Anthony LoRicco, Army West Point, So., RHP
SP: Luke Rettig, Lehigh, Jr., LHP
SP: Charlie Connolly, Navy, Sr., RHP
RP: Connelly Early, Army West Point, Fr., LHP
RP: Trey Braithwaite, Navy, Sr., RHP
C: Adam Retzbach, Lehigh, So.
1B: Zach Stevens, Navy, Jr.
2B: Joe Gorla, Lehigh, Jr.
SS: Kevin Dubrule, Army West Point, So.
3B: Logan Keller, Navy, Fr.
OF: Justin Grech, Lafayette, Fr.
OF: Peter Ciuffreda, Lafayette, So.
OF: Zane Raba, Navy, Fr.
At-Large: Nick Manesis, Army West Point, Jr.
At-Large: Ross Frederick, Army West Point., So
