INDIANA, Pa. -- IUP baseball designated hitter
Markus Cestra was named an all-region first team honoree by the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA), the organization announced Wednesday.
It's the second all-region honor for Cestra in 2023, previously earning recognition NCBWA on May 17.
Cestra was one of the leaders for IUP in 2023, helping the program to its first playoff appearance since 2017 and deepest run in the conference tournament since 2011. A preseason all-region and First Team All-PSAC selection in 2023, Cestra finishes his career third in program history with 41 doubles.
The Pittsburgh, Pa. native was a key offensive contributor, batting .326 this season while posting a team-high six home runs. He ranks in the top 10 in program history with 164 career hits, slugging .520 for the Hawks in 2023.
Cestra posted a 17-game hitting streak from April 14-May 10 that spanned the end of the regular season and into a thrilling 8-0 win against top-seeded Millersville in the PSAC Tournament. During that stretch, Cestra collected 16 RBI while helping the Crimson Hawks lock up a playoff spot.
Cestra played in 180 games during his IUP tenure, hitting .306 with 112 runs, 41 doubles, 13 home runs and 94 RBI.
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AWARD WINNERS
Player of the Year: Bren Taylor, Millersville
Pitcher of the Year: Jarrett Heilman, Mercyhurst
FIRST TEAM
C – Tyler Dellerman, Charleston (2)
1B – Kyle West, Charleston
2B – Santino Marra, California
3B – Jack Oberdorf, Seton Hill (2)
SS – Thomas Caufield, Millersville (1)
OF – Bren Taylor, Millersville (2)(1)
OF – Giano Zuccaro, Charleston
OF – Josh Adkins, Concord
DH – Markus Cestra, IUP
UTILITY (P) – Luke Trueman, Slippery Rock
UTILITY (NON-P) – Clay Hale, Charleston
SP – Jarrett Heilman, Mercyhurst
SP – Chase Nowak, East Stroudsburg (1)
SP – Carson Kulina, Millersville
SP – Andrew Neff, Concord
RP – Blake Barker, Seton Hill
SECOND TEAM
C – Vincent Rauso, Seton Hill
1B – Ross Muhlhall, Shepherd
2B – Randy Steen, Frostburg State
3B – Braden Killens, Wheeling
SS – Scott McManamon, Clarion
OF – Sam Daggers, Shepherd
OF – Dylan Broderick, Pitt-Johnstown
OF – Jack Whalen, Seton Hill
DH – Wyatt Metzger, Bloomsburg
UTILITY (P) – Ethan Kiple, Frostburg State (2)
UTILITY (NON-P) – Mike Heckman, Shippensburg
SP – Brandon Bergert, Seton Hill
SP – Tom Reisinger, East Stroudsburg
SP – Jacob Stretch, Frostburg State
SP – Tyler Lafferty, West Virginia State
RP – Evan Rishell, Millersville
(1) - Previous first team selection
(2) – Previous second team selection
