Retzbach Voted Scholar-Athlete of the Year; Joined by Gorla on Academic All-Patriot League Team

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• Complete Patriot League Release (12/5/22)

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A historic feat, Lehigh junior catcher Adam Retzbach is the first Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year in program history, voted on by the league’s sports information directors and announced by the league office Thursday afternoon. In addition, Retzbach joins senior Joe Gorla on the Academic All-Patriot League team, marking the eighth straight season with multiple selections as a team.

Garnering a 3.95 grade point average (GPA) in economics, Retzbach completed one of the more impressive offensive seasons, earning First Team All-Patriot League honors. He hit a Patriot League-best 11 home runs in 2022 with a .295 batting average, 52 hits, 12 doubles, two triples and 45 RBIs. He slugged .574 and reached base at a .400 clip with 25 walks and nine hit-by-pitches. Behind the plate, Retzbach threw out a league-best 16 batters and spent time at both first base and left field in addition to his catching duties. This marks Retzbach’s second Academic All-Patriot League honor after earning the nod in 2021.

Gorla has a cumulative 3.52 GPA in Finance and once again earned a spot on the All-Patriot League Second Team for the second straight year. Gorla hit .313 in 24 games, tallying 30 hits with six doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs. In league play, he hit .329 with 28 hits and six doubles, driving in 10 runs. After spending his first couple games over at his natural position of third base, Gorla made the switch over to first base and has been excellent all season defensively.

Retzbach’s major award is Lehigh’s second of the season after senior Casey Rother was named Patriot League Player of the Year on Wednesday. The Mountain Hawks finish with two major awards, five All-Patriot League selections and two Academic All-Patriot League picks.

Lehigh opens the Patriot League Semifinals on Saturday with a best-of-three series at second-seeded Bucknell in Lewisburg. Saturday will feature a doubleheader starting at noon and a single game (if necessary) on Sunday at 1 pm All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required).

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2022 Patriot League Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Adam Retzbach, Lehigh, Jr., C

2022 Academic All-Patriot League Baseball Team

Jacob Corson, Bucknell, Sun., 3B
Carter Macias, Army West Point, Sr., OF
Anthony Sherwin, Bucknell, So., SS
Brendan Lowery, Bucknell, Sr., 2B
Sam Kirkpatrick, Holy Cross, Sun., IF
Jake Bloss, Lafayette, Jr., RHP
Dylan Minghini, Lafayette, Sr., C
Joe Gorla, Lehigh, Sr., 1B
Adam Retzbach, Lehigh, Jr., C

Nolan Jorgenson, Navy, So., RHP
Colin Smith, Navy, Jr., OF
Zach Stevens, Navy, Sr., 1B