PROVIDENCE, R.I (May 15, 2024) – Following the completion of the 2024 Little East Conference Tournament, the LEC released its All-Conference selections and season award winners, with seven UMass Boston Beacons earning nods for selections including the Beacons' first-year designated hitter/ catcher Brandon Gaer taking home the 2024 Rookie of the Year award.

2024 LEC Rookie of the Year/ Third Team All - LEC – Designated Hitter/ Catcher – Brandon Gaer

Gaer earned Rookie of the Year and aa nod to the LEC All-Third Team following a .270 batting average from the plate as the designated hitter/ catcher for the Beacons. Gaer started in 41 and played in 43 of the total games this season and recorded 32 RBIs on 37 hits and 28 runs scored for 64 total bases in his rookie campaign for UMass Boston.

First Team All - LEC – Second Basemen – Aidan Blake

In his senior season, Aidan Blake gets a first-team nod from the LEC for the second consecutive year. Blake started in 43 out of 43 total games played this season as a pivotal piece in the Beacons' starting lineup and as a backbone in the UMass Boston defense. Blake recorded 51 hits in 146 plate appearances to score 53 runs (tied for a team-high in the season) along with a team-leading 45 RBIs. Blake batted for an average of .349, with an on-base percentage of .493, and a team-high slugging percentage of .671. Blake tallied 91 total bases with 10 doubles, five triples, and nine home runs from the dish in the 2024 campaign.

First Team All - LEC – Outfield – Justin Gouveia

Sophomore Justin Gouveia earned his first All-LEC honors this season, with first-team recognition coming after an incredible season at the plate. Gouveia started in 43 of 43 games played this season, as he recorded a team-high 69 hits in 186 appearances at the dish. Gouveia finished the year with a team-leading .371 batting average, a team-high on-base percentage of .446, and a slugging average of .608. Gouveia totaled a team-high 113 bases off 14 doubles, three triples, and nine home runs. Gouveia also led the team in baserunning this season with 23 stolen bags on 26 attempts.

All LEC First-Team – Third Base – Bostyn Burris

Bostyn Burris earned his first All-LEC honors in his final season with the Beacons, as his last dance gets the recognition it well deserves. Burris started in 42 of the 42 games he played in this season and accumulated a .335 batting average in the process. Burris recorded 54 hits in 161 plate appearances including 11 doubles, a triple, and two home runs, as he drove in 30 RBIs while coming across to score 37 runs. Burris swiped 17 stolen bases in his 22 attempts. He also finished the season with an on-base percentage of .439, and a slugging percentage of .453.  

Second Team All - LEC – Pitcher – Dillon Ryan

Senior Dillon Ryan's bid to the LEC All-Second team marks the third time in as many seasons that Ryan has earned All-Conference selections. In the two seasons before, Ryan was selected to the LEC All-Third teams. This season Ryan received a nod for LEC All-Second team for winning six of his seven starts for the Beacons this season. Ryan went 6-1 through 59 innings pitched, as he faced 226 at-bats, allowed 54 hits, struck out 80 batters, and accumulated a 3.81 earned run average through his time on the bump. Ryan continued to create problems for opponents, as he held batters to a .239 average. On March 30^th against Castleton, Ryan threw for six innings, allowed no runs on just four hits, and struck out nine batters in one of the most quality starts seen from the Beacons' bullpen this year.

Second Team ALL - LEC – Pitcher – Max Moss

Graduate Max Moss earns his first LEC All-Conference nod with a second team appearance for going 5-1 on the bump this season for the UMass Boston bullpen. Moss faced 210 at-bats and held opposing batters to a .276 average. He conceded just 58 hits and only allowed 38 runs in 53 innings pitched for a 5.23 earned run average. He totaled 50 punchouts and allowed just 23 walks in his standout season. In the second leg of the doubleheader against Castleton on March 30^th, Moss threw for six innings, punched out ten batters, and allowed just three hits in a 12-0 haul over the Spartans for another of the Beacons' quality performances from the mound this season.

Third Team All - LEC – Outfielder – Mariano Jimenez

Lastly, junior Mariano Jimenez gets LEC All-Third team recognition for his crucial part in the team's success this season. Jimenez earned his first nod for All-Conference following a .305 year from the plate, as he recorded 43 hits in 141 plate appearances to go along with 32 runs scored and 32 RBIs. Jimenez swiped 18 bases in 19 attempts this season and averaged an on-base percentage of .407 to go along with his .504 slugging percentage. Jimenez used his blinding speed to stretch out eight doubles, a triple and swung for eight home runs in a career year for the outfielder.