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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the second year in a row, two players from area junior colleges were named NJCAA Division II All-Americans.
Garrett College’s Noah Broadwater and Allegany College’s Ivan Sypa were announced as third-team selections on Wednesday.
Broadwater led Region 20 in hits (75), doubles (19), RBIs (88), total bases (138), batting average (.469) and slugging percentage (.863).
“His baseball IQ is off the charts,” Garrett head coach Eric Hallenbeck said. “He’s a student of the game, he takes at-bats based on what this pitcher might throw him. His hand-eye coordination is off the charts, he’s just a baseball player.”
He finished ninth in average and was 14th in slugging and on-base percentage (.558).
Broadwater broke Garrett’s single-season record with 88 RBIs, which was seventh-best nationally.
“I think last year towards the end of the season with him playing a lot, it took a toll on him,” Hallenbeck said. “He dipped a little bit and was a little worn out. This year, he knew what to expect and actually got better as the year went on.”
Broadwater became the sixth Laker in program history to earn All-American honors.
After Brandyn Gonzalez earned first-team honors last season, it marks the first time Garrett has had consecutive All-Americans since Mike Bayle in 1990 and 1991.
“Fortunate to have those guys in the program and have the year they did,” Hallenbeck said. “We’re playing a full schedule now. At the NJCAA level, you’re allowed to play 56 games. We’re getting pretty close to that. If you get close to those numbers, players have the opportunity to put up numbers worthy of national recognition.”
Broadwater was an All-Area player all four years at Keyser, earning first-team honors in 2023 and 2024.
As a senior, he finished seventh in the area with a .432 batting average, adding three home runs, 17 RBIs and 30 runs.
Broadwater was one of the stars of the Golden Tornado’s 2023 squad that reached the state title game for the first time since 1969 and first state tournament since 1997.
Hallenbeck wasn’t sure if a player from an area high school has earned All-American honors.
“Western Maryland historically has great baseball,” Hallenbeck said. “Even when I played at North Hagerstown in 1989, Beall won (Class) 1A, Allegany won 2A, North won 3A. So there’s been from Washington County to Allegany and Garrett County very good baseball in this area.
“Even in Mineral County with Keyser and Frankfort, there’s great high schools there as well. There’s good baseball in the tri-state area for sure. We’re just lucky to get a couple of those guys. You get a couple guys on a single team, you can win a lot of games.”
Hallenbeck said Broadwater has received interest to play college baseball, but plans to pursue a career in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).
Sypa led Region 20 with 103 strikeouts and 12.31 strikeouts per game.
“I had no idea, it’s pretty awesome,” Allegany head coach Mason Heyne said. “I think we’ve had three in the last six years, and he’s only a freshman.”
The freshman southpaw posted a 2.99 ERA in 75 1/3 innings and held opponents to a .246 average.
Sypa was fifth nationally in strikeouts and had the second-lowest ERA among pitchers with at least 75 innings.
“I think even when he did give up hits or runs here and there, he just came back with almost a relentless attack,” Heyne said. “He’s always in the zone. It’s a good lesson for most pitchers. If you’re throwing a lot of strikes, good things happen.”
Sypa is the third Trojan named an All-American in six years and 17th overall.
Nick Falla was a third-teamer last season and Noah Williamson did it in 2022.
“We’ve gotta credit coach (Dave) Rinehart and coach (Gary) Tipton for busting their butts recruiting,” Heyne said. “They’re our pitching guys. They’ve been pretty spot on with some of the guys we’ve been getting.”
Heyne said Sypa plans to return to Allegany next spring, hoping to transfer to his dream school, Penn State.
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Garrett College’s Noah Broadwater and Allegany College’s Ivan Sypa were announced as third-team selections on Wednesday.
Broadwater led Region 20 in hits (75), doubles (19), RBIs (88), total bases (138), batting average (.469) and slugging percentage (.863).
“His baseball IQ is off the charts,” Garrett head coach Eric Hallenbeck said. “He’s a student of the game, he takes at-bats based on what this pitcher might throw him. His hand-eye coordination is off the charts, he’s just a baseball player.”
He finished ninth in average and was 14th in slugging and on-base percentage (.558).
Broadwater broke Garrett’s single-season record with 88 RBIs, which was seventh-best nationally.
“I think last year towards the end of the season with him playing a lot, it took a toll on him,” Hallenbeck said. “He dipped a little bit and was a little worn out. This year, he knew what to expect and actually got better as the year went on.”
Broadwater became the sixth Laker in program history to earn All-American honors.
After Brandyn Gonzalez earned first-team honors last season, it marks the first time Garrett has had consecutive All-Americans since Mike Bayle in 1990 and 1991.
“Fortunate to have those guys in the program and have the year they did,” Hallenbeck said. “We’re playing a full schedule now. At the NJCAA level, you’re allowed to play 56 games. We’re getting pretty close to that. If you get close to those numbers, players have the opportunity to put up numbers worthy of national recognition.”
Broadwater was an All-Area player all four years at Keyser, earning first-team honors in 2023 and 2024.
As a senior, he finished seventh in the area with a .432 batting average, adding three home runs, 17 RBIs and 30 runs.
Broadwater was one of the stars of the Golden Tornado’s 2023 squad that reached the state title game for the first time since 1969 and first state tournament since 1997.
Hallenbeck wasn’t sure if a player from an area high school has earned All-American honors.
“Western Maryland historically has great baseball,” Hallenbeck said. “Even when I played at North Hagerstown in 1989, Beall won (Class) 1A, Allegany won 2A, North won 3A. So there’s been from Washington County to Allegany and Garrett County very good baseball in this area.
“Even in Mineral County with Keyser and Frankfort, there’s great high schools there as well. There’s good baseball in the tri-state area for sure. We’re just lucky to get a couple of those guys. You get a couple guys on a single team, you can win a lot of games.”
Hallenbeck said Broadwater has received interest to play college baseball, but plans to pursue a career in HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).
Sypa led Region 20 with 103 strikeouts and 12.31 strikeouts per game.
“I had no idea, it’s pretty awesome,” Allegany head coach Mason Heyne said. “I think we’ve had three in the last six years, and he’s only a freshman.”
The freshman southpaw posted a 2.99 ERA in 75 1/3 innings and held opponents to a .246 average.
Sypa was fifth nationally in strikeouts and had the second-lowest ERA among pitchers with at least 75 innings.
“I think even when he did give up hits or runs here and there, he just came back with almost a relentless attack,” Heyne said. “He’s always in the zone. It’s a good lesson for most pitchers. If you’re throwing a lot of strikes, good things happen.”
Sypa is the third Trojan named an All-American in six years and 17th overall.
Nick Falla was a third-teamer last season and Noah Williamson did it in 2022.
“We’ve gotta credit coach (Dave) Rinehart and coach (Gary) Tipton for busting their butts recruiting,” Heyne said. “They’re our pitching guys. They’ve been pretty spot on with some of the guys we’ve been getting.”
Heyne said Sypa plans to return to Allegany next spring, hoping to transfer to his dream school, Penn State.
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