FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 4, 2010

Contact: Terry Small, NJAC Commissioner (856) 582-3679 or (609) 221-1342

KEAN SELECTED AS NJAC FAVORITE IN PRESEASON POLL OF LEAGUE HEAD COACHES

Pitman, NJ—After capturing the 2009 NJAC regular season championship and advancing to its third straight NCAA Division III National Championship Series, Kean University has been selected as the 2010 preseason baseball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Cougars, who finished their 2009 campaign with an overall record of 39-11, are seeking their third conference crown since the inception of the NJAC baseball championship in 1958.

Kean was selected to finish first on nine-of-the-ten ballots cast by the league’s head coaches. Under the direction of 2007, 2008, and 2009 NJAC Coach of the Year Neil Ioviero, the Cou- gars have posted an overall record of 359-147-2 during his 12 seasons in 2010 NJAC Baseball Union. Kean captured the 2009 NJAC regular season championship with Preseason Coaches Poll a 15-3 conference mark before earning an at-large selection to the NCAA 1. Kean (9) Tournament. The Cougars then produced four consecutive victories to 2. The College of New Jersey (1) capture their third consecutive NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional champion- 3. Montclair State ship en route to their third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division 4. Rowan III National Championship Series. 5. William Paterson 6. Rutgers-Newark The Cougars return three all-conference players from their 2009 NCAA 7. Ramapo squad including the reigning NJAC Player of the Year and Rookie of the 8. Richard Stockton (dark horse) Year in senior Mike Moceri and sophomore 9. Rutgers-Camden Dylan Laguna respectively. In addition, Kean returns an all-league hurler 10. New Jersey City in sophomore left-hander Ryan Zamorsky. First Place Votes In Parentheses

The defending NJAC champion Lions of The College of New Jersey were selected to finish second and received one first place vote in the poll. In 2009, TCNJ captured its fourth NJAC crown in the past five years, and its eighth conference title overall, before posting three victories in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional. The Lions finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 27-18-1, including a fourth place NJAC regular season finish with an 11-7 league mark. Under the leadership of third-year head coach Dean Glus, TCNJ has posted an overall record of 57-30- 1. The Lions return a trio of first-team all-conference players from their 2009 NJAC championship squad including junior right-hander Connor Henderson, sophomore catcher Mike Galeotafiore, and senior outfielder Chris Esperon.

Montclair State University, which finished its 2009 campaign with a 26-19 overall record, was selected to finish third. The Red Hawks produced a second place finish in the 2009 NJAC regular season race with a 13-5 record in league play while earning an at-large selection to the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Currently the longest tenured baseball coach in the league, Red Hawks’ skipper Norm Schoenig has produced a 637-339-10 overall record during 22 seasons at the helm of the MSU program. Montclair returns a pair of all-conference senior from its 2009 NCAA squad in Scott Evangelist and Michael Boggi. continued.... NJAC Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll Release Continued.....

After finishing the 2009 season with an overall record of 21-15-1, Rowan University was selected to finish fourth. The Profs placed sixth in the 2009 NJAC regular season race with a 9-9 league mark. Now in his second stint as Rowan head coach, Juan Ranero has produced an overall career head coaching record of 329-238-3, including a record of 220-138-2 during nine total seasons in Glassboro.

William Paterson University, which advanced to the 2009 NJAC Tournament championship game, was selected to place fifth. The Pioneers recorded a 24-17 overall record in 2009 and placed third in the league regular season race with a 12-6 conference mark. Under the leadership of third-year head coach Mike Lauterhahn, WPU has produced a 47-36 overall record in his first two seasons. The Pioneers return a league-high five all-conference players from their 2009 NJAC runner-up squad including senior outfielder Mike Guadango, senior second baseman Miguel Lugo, sophomore right-hander Steve Coral, sophomore Anthony Dorio, and junior outfielder Mike Moran.

Rutgers-Newark, led by ninth-year head coach Mark Rizzi, was selected to place sixth. Rizzi has produced an overall head coaching record of 150-173-4, including a record of 140-156-4 during his tenure at Newark. The Scarlet Raiders, who earned a berth in the ECAC Metro Tournament in 2009 en route to an overall record of 22-16, return a trio of all-conference players from their ECAC squad including junior right-hander Ryan Williams, senior designated hitter Anthony Yeswita, and senior Joe Furnaguera.

Ramapo College, which captured its third straight ECAC Metro Tournament championship in 2009, was selected to finish seventh. Roadrunners’ head coach Rich Martin has accumulated an overall career head coaching mark of 443-368-1, including a record of 199-159-1 during nine seasons in Mahwah. The Roadrunners finished the 2009 campaign with a 21-18 overall record while posting a fifth place finish in the NJAC regular season with a 9-9 league mark. Ramapo returns a pair of all-league performers from its ECAC championship squad including senior utility player Joey Cacchiola and senior right-hander Mike Murano.

The coaches’ dark horse selection for the fifth consecutive season, Richard Stockton College was selected to place eighth. Led by eighth-year head coach Marty Kavanagh, the Ospreys have produced a 118-126-3 record, including an overall mark of 15-17 in 2009. Stockton returns a pair of all-league players from its 2009 squad including sophomore third baseman Marc Asta and senior shortstop Matt Allen.

Rutgers University-Camden, led by third-year head coach John Wink, was selected to place ninth. The Scarlet Raptors finished the 2009 campaign with a 10-25 overall record while finishing eighth in the league with a 5-13 conference mark.

New Jersey City University, under the direction of new first-year head coach Jonathan Thomas, was tapped to place 10th. The Gothic Knights finished the 2009 campaign with a 14-24-2 overall record, placing ninth in the NJAC race with a 4-14 league mark.

NJAC conference regular season play will get underway on Thursday, April 1.

The top six conference regular season finishers will advance to the double-elimination 2010 NJAC Championship Tournament which will feature all tournament games played at campus sites. First round games will be hosted by higher seeds on Tuesday, May 4. Second round games will also be hosted by higher seeds on Thursday, May 6. All remaining teams will then travel to the site of the highest remaining seed for the conclusion of tournament play on Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.