From the time he stepped on the baseball field until the time he graduated, Brad Hensler made his mark as one of the best shortstops in Allegheny College history.
As a freshman, he helped the Gators set school records for most wins, RBIs, runs and home runs in a season en route to a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Championship. Hensler earned his first all-conference recognition as an honorable mention and tabbed Gators’ Co-Rookie of the Year.
During the 1998 season, he led the team with a .445 batting average - fourth highest in school history - and set an NCAA record in the Mideast Regional final when he was hit by four pitches. Hensler landed a spot on the All-NCAC First Team and was an All-Mideast Region Honorable Mention.
After battling a hamstring injury his junior year, the senior captain proved he saved his best for last. In 2000, he led the Gators to their first appearance in the College World Series with a team-leading batting average (.431), hits (66), RBIs (52) and home runs (10). Hensler earned his third All-NCAC recognition as a first-team choice that season, while being named First-Team All-Mideast Region and First-Team All-American.
Hensler graduated from Allegheny with three career records in baseball, including total bases (331), home runs (34) and times hit by a pitch (40). In Hensler’s four years, Allegheny compiled a 139-40 record.
Hensler also finished with 354 assists (second all-time), 151 runs scored (second), 184 hits (second), .404 batting average (third), .704 slugging percentage (third) and 147 RBIs (fourth).
Hensler signed with the New York Mets in 2000 and the Washington Wild Things in 2002.
