After an historic season for the Clarkson University Baseball team, junior third baseman David Kinney (Mexico, NY) was chosen as the Liberty League Player of the Year, leading six players from the Golden Knights that were named as Liberty League All-Stars on Thursday.

Kinney, shortstop Jerry Coleman (Potsdam, NY), and catcher Sam Grainger (Bedford, MA) were each chosen as Liberty League First-Team All-Stars. Starting pitchers Bryan Chudy (Goshen, NY) and David Goerold (Clifton Park, NY), as well as second baseman Justin McInerney (Grand Island, NY), were picked as Liberty League All-Star Honorable Mentions.

Kinney, one of only two players to be selected as First-Team All-Stars unanimously, led the conference in numerous offensive categories in 2011. Entering the conference tournament this weekend, Kinney ranked third in the Liberty League in batting (.391) and improved that mark to .429 during 24 conference games. He led the league in doubles (17), home runs (5), extra-base hits (24), total bases (88), slugging percentage (.662), on-base-plus-slugging (1.105), and stolen base percentage (13-for-13, 100%). Along the way, Kinney broke the single-season records at Clarkson for doubles and extra-base hits. On the mound, Kinney also posted a pair of victories and two more saves in his relief appearances as the Clarkson closer, allowing only two earned runs.

Kinney became the first player Clarkson baseball player to be named as the conference’s player of the year since Dan Hojnacki in 2004.

Joining Kinney as Liberty League First-Team All-Stars were Coleman and Grainger. Coleman, who has now been named as a conference all-star at three different positions, batted. 314 with a .418 on-base percentage thanks to a team-best 20 walks. He stole 11 bases and had 13 extra-base hits, including a pair of home runs. He ranked just behind Kinney with 28 runs batted in and was second on the team in slugging at .471. Grainger, a defensive stalwart who drastically minimized the opposition’s running game, hit .297 with two home runs and 21 RBIs. Grainger led the league in runners thrown out attempting to steal with 11, throwing out runners at a 35.4% (11-for-31), and also allowed just a single passed ball in 33 games.

Chudy, Goerold, and McInerney each received votes as all-stars to gain Honorable Mention status. Chudy ranked fourth in the conference in victories with six and was second in the Liberty League in batters struck out looking with 20. He allowed only a .254 opponents’ batting average. Goerold had a 3.91 earned run average on a 4-3 record as Clarkson’s top starter, ranking second in the league in complete games with six. McInerney batted .284 and drove in 21 runs in 27 games. He was a steadying influence in the middle infield as well, making only three errors for a .971 fielding percentage while fielding 13 double plays.