Benim Named AMCC Coach of the Year; Eleven Lions Earn All-Conference Honors

ERIE, Pa. – Eleven Penn State Behrend baseball student-athletes were named to the 2025 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) All-Conference Team, while head coach Paul Benim earned Coach of the Year honors.

This marks the sixth time in his career that Benim has garnered this honor and first time since 2013. He helped lead the Lions to their second straight and eighth overall conference championship this season as they will make their seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

First team honorees were starting pitcher Andrew Bredel (Clinton, PA/Burgettstown), relief pitcher Joe Lang (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny), designated hitter Mac Ciocco (Venetia, PA/Peters Township), catcher Thomas Nicely (Delmont, PA/Franklin Regional), first baseman Daniel Boehme (Peters Township, PA/Seton LaSalle), second baseman Tyler Burick (Erie, PA/Harbor Creek), and shortstop Silvio Ionadi (Pittsburgh, PA/Plum).

Bredel was tied for first in the conference and ninth in the nation in wins (eight), while leading the AMCC in earned-run average (2.22) and tied for fourth in strikeouts (46) in nine regular season starts. In 26.2 innings pitched (five starts) in AMCC play, Bredel was first in the conference with a 1.69 ERA, only allowing five earned runs and was also tied for second in wins (five) and third in strikeouts (28). After one postseason start, his eight victories rank 21^st in Division III. This marks Bredel's first career All-Conference honors.

Lang led the team with a 2.08 ERA, tied for third in the conference in saves (four), and fourth on the team in strikeouts (26) in 11 appearances out of the bullpen (21.2 innings pitched) during the regular season. In five appearances (9.1 innings pitched) in AMCC play, he tied for second with two saves and finished with a 0.96 ERA, only allowing one earned run to go along with 11 strikeouts. Lang struck out the 100^th hitter of his career vs. Hilbert. After picking up a two-inning save against Pitt-Bradford in the AMCC Tournament, he tied for second in the AMCC with five saves and third on the team in strikeouts (31). This is Lang's third selection to the All-Conference Team and first time being named to the First Team.

Ciocco ranked second in the AMCC and 10th in the nation with a .459 batting average (62-for-135) during the regular season. He was also first in the conference in hits (62), third in runs batted in (40), third in on-base percentage (.519), tied for fourth in doubles (12), and fourth in slugging percentage (.630). Ciocco was also first for the Lions with three home runs and tied for second with 35 runs scored. He tallied 22 multi-hit games and nine games with two or more runs batted in. Nine of those multi-hit contests were in conference play. In 55 plate appearances in AMCC play, he was second in RBIs (18), tied for fifth in hits (21), and only struck out once. Ciocco recorded his 100^th career RBI at Pitt-Bradford and 150^th career hit against Fredonia this season. After three postseason games, he ranks ninth in Division III with a .455 batting average and has reached base in 38 of Behrend's 39 contests. This is Ciocco's third instance being named to the All-Conference Team and second time earning First Team honors.

Nicely finished third on the team with a .372 batting average (29-for-78) and was second on the team in on-base percentage (.476), slugging percentage (.513), and runs batted in (27) to go along with 29 hits, 18 runs, eight doubles, and one home run during the regular season. Behind the plate, Nicely notched a .990 fielding percentage, only committing two errors in 186 putouts and throwing out 10 of 22 baserunners. He delivered seven multi-hit games and eight games with two or more RBIs. Four of those multi-hit contests were in conference play. In 35 at-bats in AMCC play, Nicely sat fifth in with a .490 on-base percentage. He tallied five hits and four RBIs in three AMCC Tournament games to bring his average to .374. Nicely was named to the Third Team last season.

Boehme stood 10^th in the conference and fourth on the team with a .364 batting average (48-for-132), while being tied for second on the team in runs (35), second in hits (48), fourth in doubles (12), and fourth in RBIs (25) during the regular season. He notched 17 multi-hit games and eight games with two or more runs batted in. Boehme delivered his 100^th career RBI at Hiram and 150^th career hit at Pitt-Greensburg this season. He finished 4-for-5 with an RBI vs. Alfred State in the AMCC Championship. Boehme was a First Team selection last season.

Burick hit .326 (30-for-92) in his first collegiate season, finishing third on the team in runs batted in (26), second in home runs (two), and tied for third in slugging percentage (.500) to go along with 30 hits, 21 runs, eight doubles, four stolen bases, and one triple. He registered 11 multi-hit games and seven contests with two or more RBIs. Five of those multi-hit contests were in conference play. In 43 plate appearances in AMCC play, Burick tied for seventh with 15 runs batted in. He recorded five hits and two RBIs in three AMCC Tournament games to bring his average to .340.

Ionadi recorded a .333 batting average (40-for-120), while leading the team with 41 runs scored and was tied for first in doubles (12) and tied for third in hits (40) to go along with 24 RBIs and one home run during the regular season. Ionadi secured 10 stolen bases which tied for ninth in the conference. He registered 14 multi-hit games and five games with two or more RBIs. Seven of those multi-hit contests were in conference play. In 49 at-bats in AMCC play, Ionadi was first in doubles (8) and tied for seventh in on-base percentage (.492). Ionadi recorded his 100^th career hit at Eastern Mennonite. He smacked two homers to go along with three hits and four RBIs during the AMCC Tournament. This is Ionadi's third selection to the All-Conference Team and second on the first team

The All-AMCC Second Team consisted of relief pitcher Jake Manendo (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) and outfielder Cayden Turner (Stoystown, PA/North Star).

Manendo sat second in the conference in saves (five) and third on the team in strikeouts (28) and ERA (2.70) in 12 appearances out of the bullpen (30.0 innings pitched) during the regular season. In five appearances (15.0 innings pitched) in AMCC play, he tallied 14 strikeouts to go along with a 3.60 ERA, earned a three inning save vs. Altoona and a 3.1 inning victory against Mount Aloysius. Manedo earned his second win of the season out of the bullpen against Hilbert in the AMCC Tournament, tossing 1.2 innings and only allowing a run on one hit with one strikeout. He was named First Team All-AMCC a year ago.

In his first collegiate season, Turner ranked fifth in the conference and second on the team with a .395 batting average (34-for-86), while also being third on the team in on-base percentage (.465), and tied for third in slugging percentage (.500), and fifth in hits (34) to go along with 20 runs scored, 17 runs batted in, seven doubles, and five stolen bases during the regular season. He recorded nine multi-hit games and four contests with two or more RBIs. Turner finished with three hits and three RBIs in three AMCC Tournament games.

Rounding out the All-Conference honors for Behrend were Third Team selections utility player Dylan Barnes (Pittsburgh, PA/North Hills) and starting pitcher Colin Bolla (Fairview, PA/Fairview).

In 33 regular season games, Barnes started 16 at third base, 11 at second base, and four in left field. He hit .292 (40-for-137) and was tied for third on the team in hits (40), second in doubles (10), fourth in runs (27), and fifth in RBIs (24). Barnes also finished tied for third in the conference rankings with three triples. He claimed 10 multi-hit games and four games with two or more runs batted in. Barnes delivered his 100^th career hit in the AMCC Tournament against Pitt-Bradford. He also notched four hits and four RBIs in three postseason games. This marks Barnes' second time being selected to the Third Team.

Bolla tied for fourth in the conference with five wins, while being tied for fourth with 49 strikeouts in 45.0 innings pitched to go along with a 5.00 ERA. He recorded his 100^th career strikeout in a complete game shutout against Altoona. In 24.0 innings pitched (five starts) in AMCC play, he went 3-1 and finished seventh in the rankings with 24 strikeouts. After earning his sixth win in five innings pitched with seven strikeouts vs. Pitt-Bradford in the AMCC Tournament, Bolla is first on the team and fourth in the AMCC with 56 strikeouts. He was named to the Second Team last season.