EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University redshirt sophomore pitcher Brent Francisco has been named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Atlantic Region first team while graduate student pitcher Chase Nowak earned second team honors, the organization announced on Wednesday.

Both Nowak and Francisco garnered a spot on the All-Region team for the first time in their careers after previously being named All-PSAC and to the D2CCA & NCBWA All-Atlantic Region teams.

Francisco completed a breakout redshirt sophomore season with a 6-3 record across 17 appearances and 16 starts. The Burlington Township, N.J. native compiled a 3.63 ERA across 89.1 innings while striking out a single-season program record 116 hitters, which included a career-high 14 vs. Saint Rose on Feb. 20.

The redshirt sophomore fired back-to-back complete game shutouts against Kutztown (April 23) and Lock Haven (April 30) while also earning PSAC East Pitcher of the Week honors on May 2 for the first time in his career.

In 130.0 career innings wearing the ESU uniform, Francisco has a 10-5 record with a 3.74 ERA and 194 strikeouts, making 28 appearances and 24 starts.

Nowak wrapped up his best season wearing the black and red, compiling a perfect 9-0 record with a 2.53 ERA in 16 starts.

The Wilkes-Barre native's best performance of the season came on March 25 vs. Mansfield when he fired his second career complete game shutout, allowing two hits while punching out six. Nowak record two double-digit strikeout efforts with a career-high 13 vs. Saint Anselm followed by 12 against Kutztown.

Nowak became the sixth pitcher in school history to eclipse the 200 strikeout mark in his career and currently ranks second all-time in the record books with 220.

In four seasons with the Warriors, Nowak has a 19-6 record in 46 appearances (37 starts) with a 3.60 ERA in 187.2.

The duo becomes ESU's first All-Region selection since 2018 when Steven Zimmerman was recognized on the second team.

Francisco and Nowak are ESU's 20th and 21st All-Region selections under 15th-year head coach John Kochmansky, who earned his 400th win this season while directing the Warriors to the PSAC Tournament Championship and Atlantic Super Regional title game.
 

2022 NCBWA Division II Atlantic Region

Player of the Year – Josh Surowiec, Mercyhurst

Pitcher of the Year – Jared Marshman, Bloomsburg

First Team

C - Connor Hamilton, Slippery Rock

1B - Josh Surowiec, Mercyhurst

2B - Jimmy Losh , Millersville

3B - Zack Saryeldin, Concord

SS - Ben Ross, Notre Dame College

INF - Thomas Caufield, Millersville

OF - Bren Taylor, Millersville

OF - Alex Robenolt, Slippery Rock

OF - Danny Estrada, Frostburg State

OF - Zack Wright, West Chester

DH - Ben Newbert, Bloomsburg

UT - Jacob McCaskey, California (Pa.)

P - Jared Marshman, Bloomsburg

P - Eric Sapp, Gannon    

P - Adam Riggleman, Glenville State

P - Brent Francisco, East Stroudsburg

RP - Nash Bryan, Seton Hill

Second Team

C - Tyler Dellerman, Charleston

1B - Bryce Jackson, Frostburg State

2B - Andrew Stone, West Virginia State

3B - Jack Oberdorf, Seton Hill

SS - Braxton Boddorf, Charleston

INF - Mike Ferrara, West Chester

OF - Eric Chartier, Charleston

OF - Zach Musgrove, Fairmont State

OF - Kyle Keenan, Concord

OF - Mike Kelly, Kutztown

DH - Ethan Kiple, Frostburg State

UT - Luke Trainer, Millersville

P - Nick Zegna, Shippensburg

P - Chase Nowak, East Stroudsburg

P - Devin Dunn, Slippery Rock

P - Colt Webb, Charleston

RP - Kyle Lazer, West Chester