{"articleDetail":{"publishDateDisplay":"June 1, 2007","summary":null,"image":null,"tagItems":"[]","articleText":"June 1, 2007\nCONTACT: Van Zanic\nSports Information Director\n(724) 847-6886\nColella Claims Baseball Gold as NAIA Announces Award Winners\n \n            Beaver Falls, PA – It was a special season for Geneva′s baseball team as the Golden Tornadoes claimed their first AMC North divisional title. Qualifying for the regional tournament and hosting the NCCAA nationals, Geneva finished the season with a solid 29-22 overall record. One of the main reasons for that success was the play of senior Matt Colella (New Castle, PA). Splitting time as Geneva′s starting shortstop and number one pitcher, Colella enjoyed a memorable campaign.\n            Colella′s accomplishments did not go unnoticed as he was named a first-team All-Conference and All-Region player. This week, Colella received word that he had been selected an honorable mention NAIA All-American. Even more impressive, Colella was selected as the NAIA′s shortstop representative to receive the first-ever Rawlings Gold-Glove award for that position. One of nine players to be selected to the Rawlings Gold-Glove Team, Colella was the only player from Geneva′s region to be honored.\n            In 51 games, Colella hit .379 with a team best 60 runs scored and eight home runs. On defense, Colella committed just one error during the regular season and throughout the NAIA post-season in over 200 chances at shortstop.\n            “Matt worked so hard on his game in the past couple of years,” said head coach Alan Sumner. “He is certainly deserving of these honors. He had an absolutely tremendous season. To be honored as the best defensive shortstop in the country is quite an honor.”","author":null,"publishDate":"2007-06-01","type":"Athletics Press Release","title":"June 1, 2007","imageDesc":"","url":"/article/io_1180720910548","blogCategories":"","id":"8beef3f50a1504317d5826749ef4f364","detailUrl":"/news/2007/06/io_1180720910548.json","sourcePath":null,"slug":"io_1180720910548"}}