Krepps Earns First-Team All-Landmark, Sforza, Gray Second-Team

By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net

TOWSON, Md. – Three members of the Juniata College baseball team earned All-Landmark honors for the 2014 season, the league announced this morning. Junior Cody Krepps (Tyrone, Pa./Bellwood-Antis) was one of three outfielders named to the First-Team while seniors Joe Sforza (Pittstown, N.J./Immaculatta) and Dan Gray (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) earned second-team honors at third base/designated hitter and catcher respectively. This is the first all-conference selection for Krepps and the second for both Sforza and Gray.

"This shows that we had three really good ball players amongst a group of really good ball players," said head coach Jesse Leonard. "I'm excited for the three of them. For Dan and Joe being seniors it's a good capstone for their careers. Cody had a heck of the year and that's all there is to it."

Krepps led the Eagles with a .415 batting average and a .444 on base percentage. The career-high batting average, with more than 30 at bats, was second overall in the Landmark, only behind three-time all-league selection Warren Hartman from U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The center fielder was third on the team in total runs scored (17), second in total hits (49) and doubles (10), and led the team in runs batted in (28).

"Cody very quietly hit 415 without saying a whole lot and wracked up a ton of RBIs and it's great for Cody to work hard and get recognized for it," said Leonard. "He made the adjustment to the outfield well this year. He contributed defensively and I think coaches probably remembered that as well. He really anchored the outfield down and made some big plays for us out there. More often than not with runners on base he had the big hit. He came through for us throughout the year and I'm glad to see him get the recognition."

A first-team selection a year ago, Sforza finished the year with a .384 batting average and a .630 slugging percentage. The third baseman, and designated hitter, led Juniata with five homeruns on the year playing in all 40 games of the season. Sforza also topped the stats for the Eagles in hits (53), runs scored (30), and total at bats (138), while ranking second only to Krepps in runs batted in (24).

"Joe was consistent throughout the year both on the mound and at third base and designated hitter," said Leonard. "I've always felt that Joe was the best all-around player in the league regardless of what he did."

This is the second time Gray has been selected as one of the best catchers in the Landmark after earning second-team honors in 2013. Gray appeared in 35 of the teams' 40 games this season and in 17 of the 18 league matchups. He finished the season with a .272 batting average and a .387 on base percentage, drawing a team-high 17 walks on the year.

"Dan turned it around at the end of the year and really finished strong," said Leonard. "He has consistently played throughout is career and had a great junior season last year and I think it was great that he and Joe finished strong. As the conference continued to get strong so did they."

Sforza and Gray are the first back-to-back honorees for Juniata since current assistant coach Johnny Martinez was named to the first time in 2010 and 2011.

"I'm happy for the seniors and for Cody," added Leonard. "It's exciting to be able to build a team around a guy like Cody and a good mix of not just the junior class, but the sophomore class and the freshman class coming in. I think it's a good step for us."

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