Honors for Okimey, Cuoci

WHO HAD a better 2014 baseball campaign than Josh Ockimey? Several might be able to make compelling cases, but it seems the 6-2, 215-pound slugger for Ss. Neumann-Goretti holds the ultimate trump card. Earlier this month, Ockimey was drafted by, and later signed with, the Boston Red Sox in the fifth round (164th overall) of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft.

In addition, all the lefty did in Catholic League play was bat .500 (36-for-73) with 12 doubles, four home runs, 28 runs scored and 34 RBI, all while leading the Saints to their third PCL championship in 4 years. He is also our Player of the Year in connection with the 37th annual Daily News All-City Baseball Team.

Ockimey, who committed collegiately to Indiana before being drafted, is also a three-time Daily News All-City first-teamer. He also collected PCL Blue Division MVP this season as selected by league coaches. For his career, Ockimey hit .411 (106-for-258) with 13 homers and 100 RBI.

Our Pitcher of the Year is La Salle High senior righthander Dom Cuoci, who also won the award as a junior.

After going 9-3 with a 2.23 earned run average last season, Cuoci went 9-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his final year. He also struck out 62 batters compared to just six walks in 70 2/3 innings. No slouch with a bat, Cuoci hit .359 with 33 RBI and four home runs.

League coaches also named the 6-3, 210-pounder, who will play at St. Joseph's University next season, Red Division MVP and Pitcher of the Year. In his final performance, Cuoci led the Explorers to their second Class AAAA championship in three seasons, allowing just two runs in seven innings while pitching on 3 days' rest.

These teams include players from the Public, Catholic and Inter-Ac leagues: