MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. --- Moravian College senior outfielder Matt Hanson has been named to the 2015 D3baseball.com Preseason All-America First Team.
"It is an honor for Matt to be recognized as a Preseason First Team All-American," commented Head Coach Paul Engelhardt, who is entering his ninth season at the school this spring. "The kid works extremely hard, and his success to date has been tremendous. He is such a big part of our team and success. However, his most tangible attributes aren't necessarily his physical ones. Matt is a leader and teammate first. The way he interacts and leads his team makes him the special player that he is. The recognition on these teams and his personal accolades are second to his commitment to his team and friends. I have no doubt Matt will honor this recognition with continued hard work and support for his team."
Hanson returns for his final season with the Greyhounds after earning numerous postseason awards in 2014 as he helped Moravian to a school-record 32 victories a year ago. The squad posted a 32-12 mark, and the Hounds also earned an at-large berth into the 2014 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament as the top seed in the Mid-Atlantic Region, were ranked nationally for the first time in school history, and defeated four nationally-ranked opponents including a pair in the top ten.
Hanson's honored from last year included spots on the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-America Third Team, the D3baseball.com All-America Second Team, the D3baseball.com Mid-Atlantic Region's Player of the Year, the D3baseball.com All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, the ABCA/Rawlings All-Mid-Atlantic Region First Team, the ECAC Division III South Player of the Year, the ECAC Division III South All-Star First Team, the 2014 Landmark Player of the Year and the Landmark All-Conference First Team.
Hanson hit .408 in 2014, which was the sixth-best season in school history, while starting all 43 games he played in. He had 62 hits, which was tied for the team lead and was also tied for second in a single season in the Moravian record books. Hanson scored 53 runs in 2014, just one shy of the school record and his 48 RBIs were the third most in a single season. He also paced the Greyhounds with three homers, and connected on 10 doubles and four triples for 89 total bases, the fifth most in a season, and a .586 slugging percentage, which is eighth in the record books. Hanson drew 25 walks and was hit by a pitch another 13 times, one shy of the single season mark, for a .518 on-base percentage, second in the record books, and he added 13 stolen bases. From his right field position, Hanson recorded 72 putouts and three assists in 77 chances.
Hanson and the rest of his Moravian teammates will begin their 2015 season on Saturday, February 21 when they play Guilford (N.C.) College at the Floyd B. Wilcox Memorial Tournament hosted by Hampden-Sydney College at 11:00 a.m.
To view the entire 2015 D3baseball.com Preseason All-America Teams, visit http://d3baseball.com/awards/all-americans/d3baseball-preseason-allamericans-2015.
