Barr, Harper, Rossano receive All-American honors for diamond efforts

SANBORN — SUNY Niagara freshman pitcher Matt Barr , freshman catcher Dalton Harper and freshman Cooper Rossano were named to the NJCAA Division III All-American teams Thursday. This marked the sixth time since 2016 the Thunderwolves had at least two players honored in the same year and the third time since 2018 with three honorees (also 2023).

Barr was a first-team selection after going 10-0 in 10 starts with a 1.74 ERA and posted a team-high 94 strikeouts. Barr allowed only 22 hits and 11 earned runs and recorded four complete games and two shutouts in 57 innings of work, also a team-best. Barr was previously named the Western New York Athletic Conference Player of the Year and both a first-team All-WNYAC selection and NJCAA Region III Division III selection in May. 

Harper was a second-team selection after he finished third on the Thunderwolves with 67 hits and fourth in batting average (.438) and slugging percentage (.673). Harper was tied for second among SUNY Niagara players in triples (7), fourth in runs (56), doubles (13) and home runs (3) and sixth in RBI (38). Also posting a .980 fielding percentage behind the plate, Harper was named both a first-team All-WNYAC and NJCAA Region III Div. III selection in May.

Rossano also received second-team honors from the NJCAA after he finished as the team leader in hits (79), runs (73), RBI (66) and triples (8). The only Thunderwolf to appear in all 53 games (51 starts), Rossano had the second-highest batting average at .462 and was second in home runs (8) and slugging percentage (.754). Also one of six players with at least 10 doubles on the season with 11, Rossano was named both a first-team All-WNYAC and NJCAA Region III Div. III selection in May. 

SUNY Niagara finished 51-2 this season and placed fourth at the NJCAA Division III World Series in May. The 51 wins set a new single-season record in program history.