The Illinois Tech baseball team, seeded #1 in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Small College World Series, walked away from the tournament’s Awards Banquet with some incredible honors on May 12.

Head Coach Scott Marks was named the USCAA Baseball Coach of the Year. Leading his top seeded team into the 2015 post-season, Marks earns the honor in just his third year as Illinois Tech’s coach. After inheriting a 4-30 team in 2012, Marks helped the Scarlet Hawks to its first winning season in 6 years by his second season. To earn the top seed this year, Marks headed the 2015 squad to a 21-9 record and a .700 winning percentage.

The 2015 USCAA Player of the Year also went to a Scarlet Hawk, as Brian Colon-Rodriguez accepted the top honor. The junior catcher is no stranger to the Small College World Series as he made an appearance in the finals for his previous school in 2013. In 29 games this regular season and 110 at bats, Colon finished with a .464 batting average, .500 on base percentage, .736 slugging percentage, 6 homeruns, and 43 RBIs.

In addition to Colon, three other Tech players were named All-Americans. Senior second baseman and closer Michael Malfeo and junior shortstop Austin Boos both joined Colon as 1st Team All-Americans. Sophomore pitcher and utility man Kyle Bumpass was named to the All-American Honorable Mention Team.

Malfeo finished the regular season with a .413 batting average, .712 slugging percentage, five homeruns, and 38 RBIs in his 104 plate appearances. In 10 appearances on the mound, Malfeo recorded a 1.86 ERA, has earned four saves (second in USCAA), and 11 strikeouts to two walks in his 10 innings pitched.

Boos was second in the USCAA with four triples this season to go along with a .426 batting average, .525 on base percentage, and 76 fielding assists.

Bumpass earned four wins on the mound this year with a 3.38 ERA while striking out 18 batters. He also finished the regular season with a .968 fielding percentage and added 16 hits and 10 RBIs on offense.

Darwin Argumedo and Boos were also honored as USCAA Academic All-Americans for their excellence in the classroom.