Most student-athletes mature over the course of a four-year career, but Connor Treybig’s growth went beyond the confines of his division.
The Bishop Brady senior left-handed pitcher ended his career by being named the Division III Player of the Year by the Baseball Coaches Association of New Hampshire, after leading the Giants to victories against D-II – and even D-I – programs.
“He’s matured into a total leader,” Brady head coach Skip Foy said of Treybig, one of three captains this past season. “He really showed a lot of leadership. He’s driven too. He’s driven to get better. He’s not happy where he’s at. He wants to keep getting better.”
It’s hard to get better numbers than the ones Treybig put up this season. Wielding a powerful arm and an effective breaking ball, he had a 4-2 record on the mound and two saves, an ERA of 0.71 and 87 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched.
Treybig didn’t allow a run for 30 consecutive innings, a streak that included a 2-0 win over D-II Merrimack Valley (Treybig allowed just two hits and struck out 15), 11-0 win over D-I Trinity (13 strikeouts, two hits allowed) and a 3-0 win against Hillsboro-Deering (20 of 21 outs were strikeouts, one hit allowed).
The Giants finished with a 7-4 regular season record – going 3-3 against D-II teams, including a 13-5 victory over D-II champion John Stark – but had a tough draw going up against Conant in the first round of the D-III tournament, losing 3-2 in nine innings.
Treybig didn’t start, but didn’t allow an earned run in the final eight innings of the game.
The shortened schedule for 2021 season and pitching count rules meant that Treybig couldn’t pitch more frequently than he did, but it’s not for the lack of spirit.
“He’s got a great mental approach on the mound,” Foy said. “His maturity has totally changed. He’d get upset with himself on the mound as a freshman. He doesn’t do that anymore. He’s just determined to strike out the next guy. He’s a bulldog on the mound. If you asked him to throw 120 pitches, he would. He’s not going to ask out.”
Also a solid centerfielder and first baseman, Treybig is a force at the plate, batting .548 with 17 RBI, a pair of homers and three triples in 12 games. He had a pair of hits, two RBI and a save in the Giants’ win over John Stark.
“He’s a strong kid – he plays football as well,” Foy said. “He spent a lot of time in the weight room. But baseball is his No. 1 sport.”
Now a graduate of Bishop Brady, Treybig will be spending next year at Bridgton Academy with aspirations of playing D-I college ball in 2023.
Brady teammate and classmate Jake Blake joins Treybig on the D-III All State First Team, as does Hopkinton junior Peyton Marshall.
D-I champion Concord’s Wachter brothers – senior Jonah and sophomore Nater – were named to the First Team in D-I, while MV senior Griffin Wheeler, John Stark seniors Austin Hazzard and Brady Philibotte, and Bow junior Ethan Clark were named D-II First Team.
Pittsfield senior Jesse MacGlashing was D-IV First Team selection.
Local Second Team picks were Concord junior Ryan Philbrick and senior Tyler Wright in D-I; MV junior Ben Rose, Coe-Brown senior Thomas Trumble and junior Jake Pelletier, John Stark senior Alex Moore and junior Nathan Innerfield, and Pembroke junior Ryan Ardine in D-II; Bishop Brady sophomore Michael Thresher, and Hopkinton sophomores Armen Laylagian and Joe Yanzo in D-III; and Pittsfield Caleb Stopyro in D-IV.
Area honorable mentions went to Concord senior Jarrad Willette (D-I); John Stark senior Ben McKean and Coe-Brown’s Jonny Pelletier (D-II); Brady senior Darren Earley, Hopkinton junior Jack Morrall and Kearsarge senior Noah Gray (D-III).
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)