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WEST HAVEN, Conn. – New Haven junior centerfielder Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) picked up another honor on Wednesday afternoon, being named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region First Team. The all-region teams were voted upon by each region's members of the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Chamberlain was previously named an All-Northeast 10 Conference First Team selection earlier this month after ranking among the conference's leaders in several offensive categories. The all-conference and all-region honors are the first of his career.
He was one of seven student-athletes from the Northeast 10 Conference to land on the first team, and one of 15 overall to earn all-region accolades. Chamberlain, along with the rest of the first team honorees, will all have their names advance to the ballot for the ACBA's All-America Teams, the winners of which will be announced on Friday, May 31.
Chamberlain put together a breakout junior campaign in 2019, closing the season on a 10-game hitting streak, and had a hit in 16 of his last 17 games. He also reached base safely via either a hit, walk, or hit by pitch in 35 of 37 games this season.
Chamberlain led the NE10 Conference with a .494 on-base percentage, ranked second in slugging (.606) and seventh with a .346 batting average. He ranked eighth in the conference with six homers and was third with 32 walks, which led the team for the second straight season. He posted a career-high 22 steals in 27 attempts, which was tied for fourth in the NE10. He also led the Chargers with 32 runs scored, 34 RBI and three triples, while tying for the team lead with nine doubles.
Chamberlain enjoyed a stellar start to the season that earned him recognition on a national level. He was selected as the NE10 Player of the Week, the NCBWA East Region Hitter of the Week and the NCBWA National Hitter of the Week on February 27 after going 10-for-17 and posting a .588/.667/1.353 slash line over the first four games, along with nine runs scored, 13 RBI, four home runs, three walks and two stolen bases.
Chamberlain put together 13 multi-hit games throughout the season, including one in each of the first five games, including a 3-for-5 performance with a pair of home runs and seven RBI in a 17-1 win over then-No. 19 Saint Thomas Aquinas on February 23. He went 2-for-4 with a walk, home run, three RBI and two runs scored at Stonehill on April 7, and drove in three runs at American International on April 14.
