HAMBURG, N.Y. –  Drew Fittry was named the 2023 Hilbert College Sal Buscaglia | Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year.

In his seventh season skippering the Hawks, Fittry led the baseball team to multiple single season team records while guiding five all-conference players, three of them earning all-region recognition.  Even more impressive, Fittry and his assistant coaches, Anthony Ballistrea, Brendan Toughey and Ben Serrano, mentored the first Hilbert Baseball All-American who landed on two different national polls.

Hilbert finished 2023 with a 26-18 overall record after going 22-16 through the regular season schedule.  The No. 5 Hawks stormed into the AMCC Championship Tournament weekend after they swept No. 4 Pitt-Greensburg in the First Round playoff series.  The Hawks then went 2-2 in the double elimination weekend after beating No. 1 Alfred State twice while falling to the eventual AMCC champs, No. 6 Penn State Altoona.

Fittry's Hawks set single season records in wins (26), games played (44), at bats (1417), runs (320), hits (435), doubles (76), triples (18), home runs (25), RBI (296), total bases (622), walks (191), hit by pitch (44), sacrifice flies (19), saves (12), innings pitched (337.2), fielding percentage (.949), chances (1495), putouts (1012), and assists (407).

The Hawks led the AMCC in triples, stolen bases (82), and ranked second in extra bases, hits, and RBIs.

Opponents had their hands full late in games as the Hawks rallied for five walk-off wins this year. The most memorable victory being the 10-run explosion in the bottom of the 9th, earning the 16-15 home-run, walk-off win against Penn State Altoona.

Fittry and his staff helped multiple players find success this spring.  Six Hawks were recognized as the AMCC Player or Pitcher of the Week.  Thomas Evans, Patrick Whelan, Brendan Walsh, and John Riviere-Vejas raised the bar for the program, setting new all-time career records.  They were also joined by pitcher Michael Contini, pitcher Brennen Hediger, and pitcher Zackory Panfil who all set new single season records under Fittry and his staff's guidance.

Evans (2x All-American, All-Region, 1st Team All-Conference), Walsh (All-Region, 1st Team All-Conference), Whelan (All-Region, 2nd Team All-Conference), Michael Contini (2nd Team All-Conference) and Brennen Hediger (3rd Team All-Conference) all benefited from Fittry's management style.