Posted: Jun 17, 2026

Harper, Bazinet, Allen receive All-American honors for diamond efforts

SANBORN — SUNY Niagara sophomores Dalton Harper and Keegan Bazinet and freshman Derrick Allen were named to the NJCAA Division III All-American teams June 10. Harper and Bazinet were first-team selections and Allen was a third-team pick as the trio contributed to the Thunderwolves' historic NJCAA Division III World Series championship season.

This marked the seventh time since 2016 that SUNY Niagara has had at least two players honored in the same year and the fourth time with three honorees since 2018 (also 2023 and 2025). SUNY Niagara has now had 26 different NJCAA All-American selections since Steve Strack was the program's inaugural selection in 1992 (FULL LIST IS BELOW).

Named a second-team Division III All-American last season, Harper was named to the first team after he finished in the top 10 of five different NJCAA Division III offensive categories. In 59 games this season, the Cheektowaga resident was tied for first in hits (105), second in batting average (.556), fourth in runs batted in (91), tied for fourth in home runs (17), and eighth in runs scored (85).

Primarily the No. 3 batter this season, Harper led SUNY Niagara in batting average, home runs, RBI and runs scored. Harper joins Vincent Chiarenza (2018, 2019) as the only two-time NJCAA All-American in Thunderwolves baseball history since 1992.

The first-team All-American accolade is the latest honor for Harper in his sophomore campaign. Harper was previously named the Most Valuable Player of the NJCAA Division III World Series, both the Region III Player and Defensive Player of the Year, the WNYAC Baseball Player of the Year and First Team selection and WNYAC Senior Male Athlete of the Year.

In 108 games, Harper finished as SUNY Niagara's new leader in numerous categories in the modern era (since 2007). Harper posted 172 career hits, drove in 129 RBI and passed former teammate Gavyn Boyle, in career home runs with 20.

Bazinet was named a first-team All-American after emerging as SUNY Niagara's No. 1 option in the starting rotation this season. The right-hander from Windsor, Ont. and George Mason commit went an unbeaten 13-0 this season in 13 starts, the most wins in NJCAA Division III this season.

Bazinet also finished second in the division with 78 innings pitched and his team-high 89 strikeouts were the third best in the national rankings. Bazinet also logged a 2.54 ERA, the second best among SUNY Niagara starters, allowed 23 walks and 71 hits.

Bazinet threw at least six innings in nine starts this season and threw a career-high 13 strikeouts in SUNY Niagara's 7-2 win in Game One versus Northern Essex Community College on March 14 at the RussMatt Invitational in Florida. Bazinet also went 4-0 during SUNY Niagara's postseason run, including two victories during the NJCAA Division III World Series tournament versus Northern Essex on May 23 and in the championship game versus Rowan College South Jersey- Gloucester on May 27.

Bazinet finished with 14 career wins, tying with Ryan Birchard for the fourth-most in SUNY Niagara's modern era (since 2007). Bazinet's 118 strikeouts are the sixth-most in this span.

Allen was named a third-team All-American selection after his efforts on the mound and in the outfield. The Rochester resident started 11 of his 12 appearances for the Thunderwolves and finished in the NJCAA Division III Top Five with nine wins (tied for second), 84 strikeouts (fifth) and 67.2 innings pitched (eighth).

Allen also drew 23 walks, the third fewest among SUNY Niagara starters, and his 2.66 ERA was the third best in the rotation. The right-hander posted eight outings of at least six innings and threw a season-best 7.1 innings versus Rowan College South Jersey - Gloucester in the second round of the NJCAA Division III World Series on May 24, one of his two postseason wins.

Allen struck out a season-high 12 in SUNY Niagara's 5-0 win in Game Two versus Northern Essex Community College on March 14 at the RussMatt Invitational in Florida. His nine wins this season are currently the 11th most in SUNY Niagara's modern era (since 2007).

In 35 games at the plate, Allen recorded a .386 batting average, drove in 15 runs and scored an additional 20. Allen hit his only home run of the season during an 11-8 win at Finger Lakes Community College on March 29, one of two games where he drove in a season-high three runs (County College of Morris on March 17).

SUNY Niagara Baseball All-Americans:

1992 - Steve Strack

2010 - Matt Whidden

2012 - Calvin Sluberski

2014 - Chris Beer

2016 - Matt Matre, Michael Colosi

2017 - Christian Young, David Lyskawa

2018 - Vincent Chiarenza, Matt Cross, Joe Kruszka

2019 - Erik Johnson, Vincent Chiarenza

2021 - Ryan Peterson (also named Division III Pitcher of the Year), Scottie O'Bryan

2022 - Kyle Finn

2023 - Ryan Birchard, Alex Minnehan, Nicholas Castellana