Freshmen outfielders Aaron Barbosa (Dracut, Mass.) and Connor Lyons  (Bedford, N.H.), as well as senior co-captain Les Williams (Toronto, Ontario) have been honored by the coaches of the Colonial Athletic Association for their accomplishments this past year, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday, May 25.

Barbosa and Williams were each selected to the Third Team All-CAA, while Barbosa and Lyons were voted onto the All-Rookie Team.

In 2011, Williams posted the best season of his career, recording a 3.98 ERA and 77 strikeouts with a 5-6 record in 95 innings. In CAA play, Williams was 5-4 with a 3.17 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 10 starts. Williams ranked in the top 10 in several conference categories. Williams was second in innings pitched (95), third in complete games (2), third in shutouts (1) and fifth in strikeouts (77).

Williams had arguably his best outing of 2011 in the Huskies' CAA home opener on April 8 versus Hofstra. In that outing, Williams tossed a nine-inning, complete game shutout in which he allowed just six hits and walked none while striking out seven in Northeastern's 3-0 triumph.

The senior co-captain decorated the Northeastern record book in 2011, positioning himself as one of the program's best pitchers of all-time. Williams tossed 288-1/3 career innings, surpassing Kris Dabrowiecki's record of 286 frames. With 95 innings tossed this season, Williams fell just one inning short of Adam Ottavino's single season mark of 96, set in 2005. Williams' 232 career strikeouts is good for fourth all-time in the NU record books.

Barbosa accompanied Williams on the Third Team All-CAA. Barbosa recorded a team-leading 29 steals in his rookie campaign. That mark topped former NU star Mark Hopkins' record of 27, set in 1994. Barbosa's 29 steals ranked first in the CAA and top 10 nationally.

In 50 games, Barbosa batted .335 and led the team in several categories, including total bases (87), hits (70), runs scored (31), steals, (29) multiple-hit games (21) and triples (3). The Dracut, Mass., native finished the season with one home run and 13 RBI. He was especially effective in CAA play, with 16 steals and a .333 average in 30 conference clashes. Barbosa was most dominant during a six-game hitting streak from May 6 to May 13. In that span, Barbosa went 14-27 (.519) with 10 steals, eight runs scored, six RBI and his first career home run on May 8 at George Mason. Barbosa's second-half OPS of .884 also led the squad.

Lyons also joins Barbosa on the All-Rookie Team. Despite not playing until April 8, Lyons was sensational for the Huskies. Lyons batted .356 on the year with four RBI and a .417 on-base percentage. Lyons was tied for second on the club with six steals. The Bedford, N.H., native was particularly effective in CAA play, batting .370 in 21 conference games. Lyons played in the final 26 games of the season.

Behind the outstanding efforts of Barbosa, Lyons and Williams, Northeastern increased its win total by five games over 2010.

2011 ALL-CAA BASEBALL TEAM

First Team

C – Jake Lowery, James Madison
1B – Steve Ulaky, Delaware
2B – Rob Lind, Georgia State
SS – Josh Wright, Old Dominion
3B – Brandon Williams, Georgia State
OF – Pat Dameron, Delaware
OF – Mark Micowski, Georgia State
OF – Danny Poma, Hofstra
UT – Taylor Perkins, VCU
DH – Thomas Pope, UNC Wilmington
SP – Logan Billbrough, William & Mary
SP – Kyle Hald, Old Dominion
RP – Adam Wisniewski, Old Dominion

Player of the Year: Jake Lowery, James Madison
Co-Pitchers of the Year: Logan Billbrough, William & Mary and Kyle Hald, Old Dominion
Defensive Player of the Year: Nick Natoli, Towson
Rookie of the Year:  Aaron Barbosa, Northeastern
Coach of the Year: Nate Goulet, Old Dominion

Second Team

C – Andrew Parker, Towson
1B – Hunter Ridge, UNC Wilmington
2B – Chris Cook, George Mason
SS – David Herbek, James Madison
3B – Matt Campbell, UNC Wilmington
OF- Johnny Bladel, James Madison
OF – Andrew Cain, UNC Wilmington
OF – Bill Cullen, VCU
UT – Brig Tison, George Mason
DH – Drew Shields, Georgia State
SP – Will Campbell, Georgia State
SP – Charlie Cononie, Towson
RP – Brett Koehler, William & Mary

Third Team

C – Matt Reistetter, Hofstra
1B – Austin Harclerode, Towson
2B – Jonathan Slattery, William & Mary
SS – Nick Natoli, Towson
3B – Chris Wychock, Towson
OF – Aaron Barbosa, Northeastern
OF – Alex Foltz, James Madison
OF – John Lenherr, VCU
UT – Ty McFarland, James Madison
DH – Dylan Nasiatka, Hofstra
SP – Sean Tierney, James Madison
SP – Les Williams, Northeastern
RP – Jake Dyer, Georgia State

All-Rookie Team

Dean Ali, Old Dominion
Aaron Barbosa, Northeastern
Joey Burney, Old Dominion
Joey Cujas, VCU
Bill Cullen, VCU
Blaise Fernandez, George Mason
Kenny Jackson, Hofstra
Connor Lyons, Northeastern
Ty McFarland, James Madison
E.J. Stoltzfus, Delaware