6/12/25
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College baseball made another run at the World Series this past season, and two Falcons have been recognized by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Baseball Committee for their efforts.
 
Sophomore first-baseman John Hughes (Hamilton, NJ) was named as a 2^nd Team All-American, while first-year outfielder Deacon Brown (Williamsport, PA) received an Honorable Mention All-American selection, according to a release from the committee this week.
 
It marks the fourth time that Lackawanna College has received two nominations in a season in its program history, and the pair are the first Falcons to make All-America status since Quinn Hanafin in 2022. Hughes is the ninth infielder to be selected as an All-American from Lackawanna College, while Brown is the first-ever player chosen as an outfielder for the Falcons.
 
Hughes finished the season as a .433 hitter with 65 hits in 46 games this year. Hughes put up a 1.340 OPS, first on the team, with 56 runs, tied with Brown for third on the team, and 54 RBIs, also third on the squad. He had 19 doubles, tied for second on the Falcons, a triple, and ten home runs this past season, second behind Brown in long balls. Hughes Drew 32 walks, first on the squad, and he was hit by 17 pitches. Hughes had a .567 OBP this year, first on the team, and he slugged at .773. Hughes had 21 multi-hit games this season, and he finished the year on a 19-game hitting streak. Hughes went a combined 5-for-10 with two runs, two doubles, five RBIs, and five HBPs in three games at the region playoffs. He was a combined 5-for-13 with five runs and three RBIs in three games in the district championships. He had 252 putouts and 22 assists at first base this season, with a .986 fielding percentage. Hughes was a first-team All-Region XIX selection, and the Region XIX Player Of The Year.
 
Brown was a .440 hitter, second on the squad, and he led Lackawanna with 77 total hits in 52 games. Brown had a 1.317 OPS and a .534 OBP, second on the team in both categories, respectively. Brown scored 56 runs, tied with Hughes for third on the team, and he posted 18 doubles and a team-best 12 homers. Brown's 61 RBIs are tops on the team this past season, and he had 33 extra-base hits, first this year on the Falcons. He drew 29 walks, second on the Falcons this season, and he was hit by eleven pitches, fourth on the team. Brown had 22 multi-hit games on the year and had a 21-game hitting streak earlier this past season. He also had a 13-game hitting streak ended in the district playoffs this year. Brown was the EPAC Player of the Week two months ago, driving in 12 RBIs, hitting four home runs, and scoring seven runs, while going 8-for-13 from the dish in three games. Deacon was a combined 6-for-14 with four runs, two doubles, and an RBI in the three region playoff games. He went a combined 3-for-8 with six runs, four RBIs, a double, and a homer in three district playoff games. He was a combined 5-for-7 with a double and four RBIs in two World Series contests. Deacon had 71 putouts, four assists, and one error this year in the field, posting a .987 fielding percentage. Deacon was a first-team All-Region XIX selection this year.
 
Hughes is the fourth-ever second team selection for the Falcons on the All-American level, while Brown is the second-ever honorable mention pick. It marks the end of a very successful 2025 for Lackawanna College, which saw the Falcons win 34 games, take their tenth ever region championship, and qualify for the Division II World Series for the sixth-time in program history, and the fourth such occurrence under head coach Mike McCarry, who won his 200^th career game as the head coach for Lackawanna with the district championship win against UConn Avery Point.
 
In all, 54 student-athletes were named to the first, second, third, and honorable mention teams for NJCAA DII Al-American. Hughes and Brown were the only Regin XIX selections, while Ryan Foody from SUNY Rockland (Honorable Mention) was the only other East District selection to make the cut. You can read the full list of All-Americans HERE.
 
All-time, the Falcons have 16 All-American selections in their program history:
 
1986 – Phil Sottelle (Honorable Mention – Infielder)
1999 – Corey Joyce (3^rd Team – Infielder)
2007 – Mike Roy (3^rd Team - Pitcher)
2010 – Eric Hink (2^nd Team – Infielder)
2012 – Chris Kirsch (1^st Team – Pitcher)
2012 – Tyler Buckley (3^rd Team – Pitcher)
2013 – Cameron Johnson (1^st Team - Infielder)
2014 – Lazaro Duvergel (3^rd Team – Designated Hitter)
2016 – Shane Rivenbaugh (3^rd Team – Infielder)
2018 – Kelani Luke (1^st Team – Infielder)
2018 – Joey Baran (2^nd Team – Pitcher)
2021 – Brandon Ernst (1^st Team – Catcher)
2021 – Raymond Vorhees (3^rd Team – Infielder)
2022 – Quinn Hanafin (2^nd Team – Infielder)
2025 – John Hughes (2^nd Team – Infielder)
2025 – Deacon Brown (Honorable Mention – Outfielder)