COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Starting pitcher Ryder Mancuso joins third baseman Bryce Peterson as All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference second team selections, announced by the conference office Wednesday morning.
 
All-RMAC team selections and individual award winners are nominated and voted on by the league's nine head coaches, head coaches are not permitted to vote for themselves or their student athletes.
 
Regis University's Adam Paniagua took home the RMAC Player of the Year distinction after torturing opposing pitchers throughout the season, as CSU Pueblo's Travis Farrell captured RMAC Pitcher of the Year with the top wins total and lowest ERA in the conference this spring. Josiah Hill of Adams State was named the Freshman of the Year, with Tyler Clementz of CSU Pueblo and Joseph Marek of Adams State tabbed as Co-Freshman Pitchers of the Year. Chris Hanks rounds out the individual awards as he retains the Coach of the Year crown after capturing the 13^th straight RMAC regular season title for Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction.
 
Ryder Mancuso captures his first all-conference honor after he paced the squad's starting pitchers in ERA with his 6.89 mark, as his five wins ties fellow starter Jason Fink for most on the team. A two-time RMAC Pitcher of the Week during the year, Mancuso has gone the distance in two starts this year to finish his first two complete game performances of his career. In 13 appearances and 12 starts, Mancuso has fanned 57 hitters this season, smashing his career high and leading the Mountain Lions staff.
 
Bryce Peterson manned the hot corner for the first time this season for the Mountain Lions after transferring to Colorado Springs from Western Nebraska Community College this fall. Peterson made an immediate impact on the Mountain Lions on both sides of the ball, showing off his reliable offensive output, and defensive range. Peterson's .403 regular season batting average led qualified hitters on the squad, as his 41 RBIs led all Mountain Lion hitters. Peterson also launched nine home runs trailing just Mikey Brinton (10) for the team lead, showing his ability to hit for average and power.
 
Mancuso and Peterson lead the Mountain Lions into the postseason for the first time in two seasons, as the Mountain Lions open their RMAC Baseball Championship trip on Wednesday at 3 p.m. against top seeded Colorado Mesa. Stay tuned to gomountianlions.com for all postseason information.