Thunderwolves earn three Gold Glove awards for first time in program history

SANBORN — SUNY Niagara sophomores Keegan Bazinet, Cam Gravelle and Mike Schaefer received the NJCAA Division III ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award June 17. This marked the first time the Thunderwolves had multiple recipients in the same season in program history (FULL LIST IS BELOW). 

Bazinet emerged as SUNY Niagara’s No. 1 option in the starting rotation this season. The right-hander from Windsor, Ont. and George Mason commit went 13-0 in 13 starts, the most wins in NJCAA Division III this season.

Bazinet also finished second in the division with 78 innings pitched and his team-high 89 strikeouts was third in the national rankings. Bazinet also logged a 2.54 ERA, the second best among SUNY Niagara starters, allowed 23 walks and 71 hits.

Also the NJCAA Division III Pitcher of the Year recipient, Bazinet threw at least six innings in nine starts this season and threw a career-high 13 strikeouts in SUNY Niagara's 7-2 win in Game One versus Northern Essex Community College on March 14. Bazinet also went 4-0 during SUNY Niagara’s postseason run, including two victories at the World Series versus Northern Essex on May 23 and in the championship game versus Rowan College South Jersey- Gloucester on May 27. 

At shortstop, Gravelle turned 20 double plays — tied for the team lead — had a .964 fielding percentage and had only six errors on 105 total chances. The Georgia Gwinnett College commit also posted a team-high 105 assists in the field and was named the NJCAA Division III Defensive Player of the Year.

The Smithville, Ont. resident also produced at the plate in his lone season with the Thunderwolves. The NJCAA all-Region III selection had a .449 batting average, 64 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 51 games. 

Splitting between third base and shortstop, Schaefer recorded a .925 fielding percentage and turned 12 double plays and had only 10 errors on 133 total chances in 60 games. The Southern Indiana commit was also second in assists (82).

The Lancaster resident was a threat at the plate as he posted five home runs, drove in 78 runs and had a .397 batting average. Schaefer also finished second in the program's modern era (since 2007) in both hits (149) and RBI (125). 

SUNY Niagara finished 55-6 this season, a new program best for most wins in a single season, and won its first NJCAA Division III World Series championship. 

SUNY Niagara NJCAA Division III ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove all-time recipients:

2009 Sean Jamieson

2012 Calvin Sluberski

2016 Michael Colosi 

2017 Matt Cross

2024 Andrew Damiani

2025 Nigel Sebastianelli 

2026 Keegan Bazinet, Cam Gravelle, Mike Schaefer