NEPA Sports Nation

Cesarini, Rolka capture top honors in college summer baseball league

The Baseball U of Pennsylvania Collegiate Summer League honored its top players from the regular season during Tuesday’s All-Star Game. From left, Pitcher of the Year Nate Rolka; runner-up for Player of the Year Blaise Zeiders, Player of the Year Ryan Cesarini, runner-up for Pitcher of the Year Tyler Leonard.

Lackawanna League graduates Ryan Cesarini and Nate Rolka swept the major individual award for the second season of the Baseball U of Pennsylvania Collegiate Summer League.

Cesarini, a recent Valley View graduate who is headed to St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, was named Player of the Year.

Rolka, a Lackawanna Trail graduate who pitches at the University of Delaware, was selected Pitcher of the Year.

The awards were announced Tuesday when the league conducted its all-star game at the University of Scranton.

The summer league wraps up with playoffs including semifinals Thursday at 5:15 and a championship game Saturday afternoon.

Cesarini and Rolka were two of the leaders as Team Black ran away with first place in the regular season at 18-5, followed by Team White 11-11, Team Texas Orange 11-12 and Team Camo 5-17.

Black and Camo play in one semifinal at Keystone College. Orange and White play in the other at the Pittston Area Primary Center.

The winners meet Saturday at 1 at Pittston.

Cesarini batted .429 in 15 games with team-highs of 5 doubles and 17 runs scored while driving in 9 runs. He had a .541 on-base percentage and .531 slugging percentage for a 1.072 OPS.

Rolka led the league in strikeouts, earned run average and WHIP (walks plus hits per nine 9 innings). He made 5 starts and 11 total appearances, working 31 innings and giving up just 13 hits and 15 walks while striking out 52 and posting a 2.61 ERA.

The two National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I players were also part of the National’s 8-2 win over the American in the All-Star Game.

Cesarini had a triple and Rolka threw a scoreless inning.

Nick Reposa from Tunkhannock had two hits, two runs, a stolen base and an RBI for National.

Brad Richards (Lakeland/Penn State Harrisburg) and Hunter Ralston (Pittston Area/University of Scranton) also pitched scoreless innings for National.

Matt Clarke (Hanover Area/Maryland-Baltimore County) threw a scoreless inning for American.

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