Two Hawks Chosen for All-Star Games

Simon Kudernatsch will extend his collegiate career a few weeks after being named to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association University Division All-Star Second Team. Kudernatsch, who represents the hot corner on the second team, is the only America East representative for the annual game, which will be held June 4 at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass.

The honor for Kudernatsch is the second postseason accolade following his final campaign at Hartford, after earning America East Second Team All-Conference distinction on May 22. As a senior, Kudernatsch led the Hawks with a .352 batting average, scattering a team-best 63 hits while slugging an impressive .514.

The third baseman also put up team-high numbers in RBI (38) and runs scored (35). The native of the Czech Republic spread 14 doubles, three triple and three home runs over the 50 games he played and started in. He also led the Hawks on the base paths with 10 steals in 13 attempts and sacrificed himself six times.

Carter Bender of the lacrosse team participated in last Friday's United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) 2012 LaxWorld Division I-II Senior North/South game. Bender was one of three student-athletes representing the America East in the contest as Binghamton’s Ben Waldron and Stony Brook’s Kyle Moeller were also selected.

Bender, a four-year member of the lacrosse team, finished his career as one of the most prolific scorers in program history. A four-time America East honoree, Bender led the team in scoring this season with 32 goals and 20 assists for 52 points. He etched his name throughout the program’s Division I record books, finishing fourth in points with 168 while ranking sixth in career goals with 104.

As a junior in 2011, Bender became just the fifth USILA All-American in Hartford men’s lacrosse history after leading the team in goals (35) and points (53) en route to earning a spot on the honorable mention list. 

Bender was one of two Hawks selected to take their skills to the professional level as he was drafted by the Rochester Rattlers of the Major League Lacrosse earlier this year. Classmate Martin Bowes was also picked up in the MLL’s Collegiate Draft as an eighth-round pick by the Boston Cannons.