20082008 NECNECNEC BASEBALLBASEBALLBASEBALL NN EWSEWS && NN OTESOTES 200 Cottontail Lane, Vantage Court North, Somerset, NJ 08873 Baseball Contact: Ralph Ventre, Assistant Director, Communications Phone: 732-469-0440/Fax: 732-469-0744 E-Mail: [email protected] Central Connecticut State • Fairleigh Dickinson • Long Island • Monmouth • Mount St. Mary’s Quinnipiac • Robert Morris • Sacred Heart • St. Francis (NY) • St. Francis (PA) • Wagner NEC Baseball Northeast Conference Baseball Facts & Figures (Week 1/2 - March 3, 2008) This Week’s Results School NEC Pct. Overall Pct. Streak Home Away Neutral 1. Fairleigh Dickinson 0-0 .000 2-2 .500 W1 0-0 2-0 0-2 Saturday, February 23 Saturday, March 1 Monmouth 0-0 .000 1-2 .333 L2 0-0 1-2 0-0 Canisius 7, LIU 3 (cont.) St. Bonaventure 8, LIU 7 Virginia Tech 16, CCSU 8 Wagner 0-0 .000 1-3 .250 L1 0-0 1-3 0-0 Sunday, February 24 East Carolina 11, Monmouth 2 Quinnipiac 0-0 .000 0-0 .000 --- 0-0 0-0 0-0 Canisius 6, LIU 1 Tx.-San Antonio 7, SHU 0 Central Conn. St. 0-0 .000 0-4 .000 L4 0-0 0-4 0-0 Canisius 16, LIU 7 Tx. San Antonio 16, SHU 2 Long Island 0-0 .000 0-4 .000 L4 0-0 0-0 0-4 Tuesday, February 26 FDU 15, Coppin State 2 St. Bonaventure 6, MSM2 Saint Peter’s 8, FDU 3 Sacred Heart 0-0 .000 0-4 .000 L4 0-0 0-4 0-0 Wednesday, February 27 Notre Dame 5, MSM 0 Mount St. Mary's 0-0 .000 0-6 .000 L6 0-0 0-0 0-6 Florida Atlantic 13, MSM 5 Sunday, March 2 The top four teams based on conference winning percentage qualify for the NEC Tournament. Thursday, February 28 East Carolina 6, Monmouth 0 St. Bonaventure 10, MSM2 VMI 7, CCSU 2 Friday, February 29 Fla. International 8, WC 3 Mercyhurst 6, MSM 3 Tx.-San Antonio 14, SHU 2 Akadema/NEC Player of the Week Virginia Tech 11, CCSU 3 Saint Peter’s 6, FDU 2 Kevin McDonnell, Wagner Monmouth 4, East Carolina 3 FDU 16, Coppin State 6 So., RF, R/R, 6-1, 200 lbs., Bristol, CT/Avon Old Farms Fla. International 10, WC 2 Tx.-San Antonio 11, SHU 0 McDonnell had at least one hit in every game of Wagner’s four-game season-opening series Boston College 7, MSM 3 at Florida International. The right-handed hitting right fielder delivered his biggest blow of Saturday, March 1 Fla. International 22, WC 4 the weekend in the ninth inning of the Seahawks’ 13-11 comeback victory over the Panthers. Wagner 13, Fla. International 11 McDonnell crushed a three-run homer to spark a seven-run frame that completed Wagner’s Virginia Tech 14, CCSU 12 rally from nine down. The sophomore slugger touched home plate on three other occa- For starting times, see Schedule/Results page. sions during an opening weekend that saw him finish 6-for-15 with six runs batted in, four Akadema/NEC Player of the Week runs scored, and a mammoth .933 slugging percentage. Mar. 3 Kevin McDonnell, Wagner Akadema/NEC Pitcher of the Week Apr. 19 Rob Hosgood, CCSU Brad Brach, Monmouth Apr. 26 Keith Stegbauer, CCSU Sr., RHP, 6-4, 210 lbs., Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp. Akadema/NEC Pitcher of the Week The 2007 Northeast Conference Pitcher of the Year was in control during the first start of his Mar. 3 Brad Brach, Monmouth Apr. 19 Jesse Anziano, FDU senior season. Brach tossed six masterful innings of one-run ball to position the defending Apr. 26 Chris Della Rocco, MU NEC champion Hawks for a 4-3 season-opening victory over East Carolina. The senior righty scattered five hits, allowed only one base on balls, and struck out three before giving way to Akadema/NEC Rookie of the Week his younger brother Brett Brach with the game tied at 1-1 in the seventh. The Hawks Mar. 3 Jack Rice, Wagner Apr. 19 Robert Rowen, LIU eventually plated three in the ninth to secure the win. Apr. 26 Robert Rowen, LIU Akadema/NEC Rookie of the Week NEC Baseball Tournament Jack Rice, Wagner May 22-24 Fr., LHP, 6-1, 230 lbs., Middlesex, NJ/Immaculata at The Sandcastle, Atlantic City, NJ Rice set the stage for Wagner's amazing 13-11 come-from-behind win at Florida Interna- Four team, double-elimination tournament tional on Saturday night by twirling 6.2 masterful innings in relief. After taking the ball in the NEC Website bottom of the third with his team trailing 11-2, the rookie southpaw stopped the bleeding and kept the Seahawks within striking distance. Rice baffled FIU's lineup to the tune of two hits For all the latest news, scores, statistics and notes, visit the NEC website at www.northeastconference.org and five strikeouts while walking only one. The New Jersey product was credited with the win Standings are updated daily; statistics are updated weekly. in his first collegiate start. 2007 NEC Baseball Schedule/Results Schedule Subject To Change. All times are local.

Central Connecticut State Fairleigh Dickinson Long Island (2-1, 0-0 NEC) (3-1, 0-0 NEC) (0-4, 0-0 NEC)

M 3 at Navy (DH) W 9-1, W 5-2 M 3 at Maryland Eastern Shore (DH) W 7-5, W 16-4 F 23 vs. Oakland (Richmond, KY) L 2-9 F 23 at Eastern Kentucky L 1-8 M 4 at Navy L 0-1 M 4 at Maryland Eastern Shore (DH) W 9-8, L 5-6 F 24 vs. Oakland (Richmond, KY) L 0-10 M 7 at Hartford 3:00 pm M 10 at Appalachian State (DH) 12:00 pm F 25 at Eastern Kentucky L 4-7 M 13 at Northeastern 3:00 pm M 11 at Appalachian State 12:00 pm F 28 St. Peter’s Cancelled M 14 Hartford 3:00 pm M 13 at Duke 3:00 pm M 3 at Hartford (DH) Cancelled M 14 at Duke 3:00 pm M 4 at Hartford Cancelled M 17 Holy Cross (DH) 12:00 pm M 6 at Iona 3:00 pm M 18 at Holy Cross 12:00 pm M 17 at Longwood (DH) 12:00 pm M 7 Maryland-Eastern Shore 3:00 pm M 20 Boston College 3:00 pm M 18 at Longwood 1:00 pm at Palm Beach Challenge M 21 at Fairfield 3:00 pm M 24 at Delaware State (DH) 12:00 pm M 19 vs. St. Bonaventure 10:00 am M 25 at Delaware State (DH) 12:00 pm M 11 vs. Northern Illinois 3:15 pm M 23 at Penn State 12:00 pm M 12 vs. NJIT 2:30 pm M 24 at Penn State 12:00 pm M 28 at Seton Hall 3:30 pm M 13 vs. Fordham 2:30 pm M 25 at Penn State 12:00 pm M 30 Albany 3:00 pm M 14 vs. Maine 3:00 pm M 27 Vermont 12:00 pm M 31 Albany (DH) 12:00 pm at Villanova Spring Bash M 29 Fairfield 3:00 pm A 1 Albany 1:00 pm M 16 vs. St. Joseph’s (PA) 3:00 pm M 17 at Villanova 12:00 pm A 3 at Rhode Island 3:30 pm A 3 St. Peter’s 3:00 pm M 18 at Temple 1:00 pm A 5 SACRED HEART 3:00 pm A 5 QUINNIPIAC 3:00 pm M 20 Manhattan 3:00 pm A 6 SACRED HEART (DH) 12:00 pm A 6 QUINNIPIAC (DH) 12:00 pm M 28 at Villanova 3:00 pm A 7 SACRED HEART 12:00 pm A 7 QUINNIPIAC 12:00 pm M 30 at Longwood 2:30 pm M 31 at Longwood (DH) 12:00 pm A 10 at Boston College 3:00 pm A 11 at St. John’s 5:00 pm A 1 at Longwood 1:00 pm A 13 at QUINNIPIAC 3:00 pm A 13 at SACRED HEART 3:30 pm A 3 Hofstra 3:00 pm A 14 at QUINNIPIAC (DH) 12:00 pm A 14 at SACRED HEART (DH) 12:00 pm A 5 WAGNER 3:00 pm A 15 at QUINNIPIAC 12:00 pm A 15 at SACRED HEART 12:00 pm A 6 WAGNER (DH) 12:00 pm A 18 at Manhattan 3:30 pm A 7 WAGNER 2:00 pm A 17 at Iona 3:30 pm A 10 at NYIT 3:00 pm A 20 MOUNT ST. MARY’S 3:00 pm A 20 MONMOUTH 3:00 pm A 13 at MONMOUTH 3:00 pm A 21 MOUNT ST. MARY’S (DH) 12:00 pm A 21 MONMOUTH (DH) 12:00 pm A 14 at MONMOUTH (DH) 12:00 pm A 22 MOUNT ST. MARY’S 12:00 pm A 22 MONMOUTH 12:00 pm A 15 at MONMOUTH 12:00 pm A 25 at NJIT 7:00 pm A 17 St. John’s 3:30 pm A 24 Massachusetts 3:00 pm A 20 at SACRED HEART 3:00 pm A 27 at MONMOUTH 3:00 pm A 27 at WAGNER 2:00 pm A 21 at SACRED HEART (DH) 12:00 pm A 28 at MONMOUTH (DH) 12:00 pm A 28 at WAGNER (DH) 12:00 pm A 22 at SACRED HEART 12:00 pm A 29 at MONMOUTH 12:00 pm A 29 at WAGNER 12:00 pm A 25 at Rider 3:00 pm M 1 at Brown 2:00 pm M 2 at Rutgers 3:30 pm A 27 QUINNIPIAC 3:00 pm A 28 QUINNIPIAC (DH) 12:00 pm M 4 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 3:00 pm M 4 at CCSU 3:00 pm A 29 QUINNIPIAC 12:00 pm M 5 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (DH) 12:00 pm M 5 at CCSU (DH) 12:00 pm M 1 at St. Peter’s 3:30 pm M 6 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 12:00 pm M 6 at CCSU 12:00 pm M 4 MOUNT ST. MARY’S 3:00 pm M 9 Connecticut 3:00 pm M 11 LONG ISLAND 3:30 pm M 5 MOUNT ST. MARY’S (DH) 12:00 pm M 12 LONG ISLAND (DH) 12:00 pm M 6 MOUNT ST. MARY’S 12:00 pm M 11 at WAGNER 3:00 pm M 9 at Hofstra 3:30 pm M 12 at WAGNER (DH) 12:00 pm M 13 LONG ISLAND 12:00 pm M 11 at FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 3:30 pm M 13 at WAGNER 12:00 pm M 15 at Fordham 7:00 pm M 12 at FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (DH) 12:00 pm M 18 at LONG ISLAND 3:00 pm M 17 at MOUNT ST. MARY’S 3:00 pm M 13 at FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 12:00 pm M 18 at MOUNT ST. MARY'S (DH) 12:00 pm M 15 Rider 3:30 pm M 19 at LONG ISLAND (DH) 12:00 pm M 18 CCSU 3:00 pm M 20 at LONG ISLAND 12:00 pm M 19 at MOUNT ST. MARY'S 12:00 pm M 19 CCSU (DH) 12:00 pm M 24-26 NEC Tourament (New Britain Stadium, New Britain, CT) M 24-26 NEC Tourament (New Britain Stadium, New Britain, CT) M 20 CCSU 12:00 pm M 24-26 NEC Tourament (New Britain Stadium, New Britain, CT) NEC Games in CAPS NEC Games in CAPS NEC Games in CAPS

Monmouth Mount St. Mary’s Quinnipiac (2-1, 0-0 NEC) (3-7, 0-0 NEC) (0-0, 0-0 NEC)

M 2 at Central Florida W 7-4 F 10 at Duke (DH) L 10-13, L 2-8 M 9 vs. Michigan State (Tampa, FL) 12:00 pm M 3 at Central Florida L 10-11 F 11 at Duke L 2-10 M 9 at South Florida 6:00 pm M 4 at Central Florida W 13-4 F 20 at Maryland-Eastern Shore (DH) L 1-5, W 8-7 M 10 vs. Harvard (Clearwater. FL) 7:00 pm M 5 vs. St. Bonaventure (Boca Raton, FL) TBA F 24 vs. Radford (Davidson, NC) W 10-9 (13) M 11 vs. Michigan State (Tampa, FL) 12;00 pm M 7 vs. Boston College (Boca Raton, FL) TBA F 24 at Davidson L 8-16 M 12 at Stetson 7:00 pm M 10 at Navy (DH) 12:00 pm F 25 vs. Ohio (Davidson, NC) Cancelled M 13 at Stetson 7:00 pm M 11 at Navy 12:00 pm M 3 vs. Villanova (Miami, FL) L 8-11 M 14 at Bethune Cookman 6:00 pm M 17 at Wofford (DH) 1:00 pm M 3 vs. St. Bonaventure (Miami, FL) W 6-4 M 4 vs. Penn (Miami, FL) L 3-4 M 17 at St. John’s 1:00 pm M 18 at Wofford 12:00 pm M 18 at St. John’s 1:00 pm M 21 Iona 3:00 pm M 5 vs, Maine (Miami, FL) 2:00 pm M 22 St. Peter’s 3:00 pm M 6 vs. Villanova (Miami, FL) 1:30 pm M 21 at Connecticut 3:00 pm M 24 Vermont (DH) 12:00 pm M 8 vs. St. Bonaventure (Miami, FL) 2:30 pm M 22 at Fairfield 3:00 pm M 25 Vermont 12:00 pm M 9 vs. Penn (Miami, FL) 12:00 pm M 24 at Holy Cross 12:00 pm M 31 at Liberty (DH) 11:00 am M 13 at George Mason 2:30 pm M 25 Holy Cross 12:00 pm A 1 at Liberty 1:00 pm M 14 Navy 2:30 pm M 27 at Army 3:00 pm A 3 Columbia 3:00 pm M 17 Buffalo 2:00 pm M 28 Dartmouth 3:00 pm A 5 at MOUNT ST. MARY'S 3:00 pm M 18 Buffalo 2:00 pm M 31 at Hartford 1:00 pm M 21 Georgetown 3:00 pm A 1 Hartford 12:00 pm A 6 at MOUNT ST. MARY'S (DH) 12:00 pm M 22 Bucknell 3:00 pm A 7 at MOUNT ST. MARY'S 12:00 pm M 27 at Navy 2:30 pm A 4 at Yale 3:00 pm A 10 at Princeton 3:30 pm M 28 Maryland-Eastern Shore 3:00 pm A 5 at FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 3:00 pm A 11 at Lafayette 3:30 pm A 5 MONMOUTH 3:00 pm A 6 at FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (DH) 12:00 pm A 13 LONG ISLAND 3:00 pm A 6 MONMOUTH (DH) 12:00 pm A 7 at FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 12:00 pm A 14 LONG ISLAND (DH) 12:00 pm A 7 MONMOUTH 12:00 pm A 11 at Dartmouth 3:00 pm A 15 LONG ISLAND 12:00 pm A 11 Towson 3:00 pm A 13 CCSU 3:00 pm A 17 Rider 3:30 pm A 13 at WAGNER 2:00 pm A 14 CCSU (DH) 12:00 pm A 18 at St. Peter’s 3:30 pm A 14 at WAGNER (DH) 12:00 pm A 15 CCSU 12:00pm A 20 at FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 3:00 pm A 15 at WAGNER 12:00 pm A 17 at Rhode Island 3:00 pm A 21 at FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (DH) 12:00 pm A 18 at Penn State 7:00 pm A 20 WAGNER 3:00 pm A 22 at FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 12:00 pm A 20 at CCSU 3:00 pm A 21 WAGNER (DH) 12:00 pm A 24 at Rider 3:00 pm A 21 at CCSU (DH) 12:00 pm A 22 WAGNER 12:00 pm A 25 Seton Hall 3:30 pm A 22 at CCSU 12:00 pm A 27 CCSU 3:00 pm A 24 UMBC 3:30 pm A 27 at LONG ISLAND 3:00 pm A 28 CCSU (DH) 12:00 pm A 25 at Georgetown 7:00 pm A 28 at LONG ISLAND (DH) 12:00 pm A 29 CCSU 12:00 pm A 27 SACRED HEART 3:00 pm A 29 at LONG ISLAND 12:00 pm M 4 at QUINNIPIAC 3:00 pm A 28 SACRED HEART(DH) 12:00 pm M 1 at Boston College 3:00 pm M 5 at QUINNIPIAC (DH) 12:00 pm A 29 SACRED HEART 12:00 pm M 4 MONMOUTH 3:00 pm M 6 at QUINNIPIAC 12:00 pm M 1 at Coppin State 3:00 pm M 5 MONMOUTH (DH) 12:00 pm M 9 at Rutgers 3:00 pm M 4 at LONG ISLAND 3:00 pm M 6 MONMOUTH 12:00 pm M 10 SACREDHEART 3:00 pm M 5 at LONG ISLAND (DH) 12:00 pm M 11 at MOUNT ST. MARY’S 3:00 pm M 11 SACRED HEART (DH) 12:00 pm M 6 at LONG ISLAND 12:00 pm M 12 at MOUNT ST. MARY'S (DH) 12:00 pm M 12 SACRED HEART 12:00 pm M 11 QUINNIPIAC 3:00 pm M 13 at MOUNT ST. MARY'S 12:00 pm M 15 at Seton Hall 3:30 pm M 12 QUINNIPIAC (DH) 12:00 pm M 15 at Massachusetts 3:00 pm M 13 QUINNIPIAC 12:00 pm M 17 SACRED HEART 3:00 pm M 18 WAGNER 3:00 pm M 17 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 3:00 pm M 19 WAGNER (DH) 12:00 pm M 18 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (DH) 12:00 pm M 18 SACRED HEART (DH) 12:00 pm M 20 WAGNER 12:00 pm M 19 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 12:00 pm M 19 SACRED HEART 12:00 pm M 24-26 NEC Tourament (New Britain Stadium, New Britain, CT) M 24-26 NEC Tourament (New Britain Stadium, New Britain, CT) M 24-26 NEC Tourament (New Britain Stadium, New Britain, CT) NEC Games in CAPS NEC Games in CAPS NEC Games in CAPS 2007 NEC Baseball Schedule/Results Schedule Subject To Change. All times are local.

Sacred Heart Wagner (2-3, 0-0 NEC) (1-2, 0-0 NEC) F 24 at Norfolk State (DH) L 4-8, W 4-0 M 2 at FIU L 8-19 F 25 at Norfolk State L 8-11 M 3 at FIU L 2-14 M 4 vs. Pittsburgh (Clearwater, FL) W 7-0 M 4 at FIU W 10-9 M 4 vs. Duquesne (Clearwater, FL) L 6-11 M 9 at UMBC 6:00 pm M 5 vs. St. Joseph’s (PA) (Clearwater, FL) 7:00 pm M 10 at UMBC 3:30 pm M 6 vs. Pittsburgh (Clearwater, FL) 1:00 pm M 11 at UMBC 3:00 pm M 7 vs. Lehigh (Clearwater, FL) 7:00 pm M 13 St. Peter’s 3:00 pm M 9 vs. St. Joseph’s (PA) (Clearwater, FL) 1:00 pm M 16 at Winthrop 6:00 pm M 10 vs. Notre Dame (Clearwater, FL) 10:00 am M 17 at Winthrop 2:00 pm M 10 vs. Duquesne (Clearwater, FL) 1:00 pm M 18 at Winthrop 2:00 pm M 11 vs. Pittsburgh (Clearwater, FL) 10:00 am M 20 at Siena 3:00 pm M 14 Connecticut 3:30 pm M 21 atNJIT 3:00 pm M 17 at Delaware (DH) 12:00 pm M 23 at VCU 7:00 pm M 18 at Delaware 12:00 pm M 24 at VCU 2:00 pm M 20 at Army 3:30 pm M 25 at VCU 1:00 pm M 21 Brown 3:30 pm M 28 at St. John’s 3:00 pm M 27 at Massachusetts 3:30 pm M 29 Lafayette 3:00 pm M 30 at Hartford 3:30 pm M 31 at William & Mary (DH) 1:00 pm M 31 Vermont TBA A 1 at William & Mary 12:00 pm A 1 Vermont (DH) TBA A 3 at Rutgers 3:00 pm A 3 Iona 3:30 pm A 5 at LONG ISLAND 3:00 pm A 5 at CCSU 3:00 pm A 6 at LONG ISLAND (DH) 12:00 pm A 6 at CCSU (DH) 12:00 pm A 7 at LONG ISLAND 2:00 pm A 7 at CCSU 12:00 pm A 10 Stony Brook 3:30 pm A 10 at Yale TBA A 13 MOUNT ST. MARY’S 2:00 pm A 13 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 3:30 pm A 14 MOUNT ST. MARY’S (DH) 12:00 pm A 14 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 12:00 pm A 15 MOUNT ST. MARY’S 12:00 pm A 15 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 12:00 pm A 18 Seton Hall 3:30 pm A 17 at Manhattan 3:30 pm A 20 at QUINNIPIAC 3:00 pm A 20 LONG ISLAND 3:00 pm A 21 at QUINNIPIAC (DH) 12:00 pm A 21 LONG ISLAND (DH) 12:00 pm A 22 at QUINNIPIAC 12:00 pm A 22 LONG ISLAND 12:00 pm A 25 at Iona 3:30 pm A 24 at Rhode Island 3:30 pm A 27 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 2:00 pm A 27 at MOUNT ST. MARY’S 3:00 pm A 28 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON (DH) 12:00 pm A 28 at MOUNT ST. MARY’S (DH) 12:00 pm A 29 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 12:00 pm A 29 at MOUNT ST. MARY’S 12:00 pm M 1 NJIT 3:30 pm M 1 Fairfield TBA M 4 at SACRED HEART TBA M 4 WAGNER TBA M 5 at SACRED HEART (DH) 12:00 pm M 5 WAGNER (DH) 12:00 pm M 6 at SACRED HEART 12:00 pm M 6 WAGNER 12:00 pm M 11 CCSU 3:00 pm M 10 at MONMOUTH 3:00 pm M 12 CCSU (DH) 12:00 pm M 11 at MONMOUTH (DH) 12:00 pm M 13 CCSU 12:00 pm M 12 at MONMOUTH 12:00 pm M 16 NYIT 3:00 pm M 17 at QUINNIPIAC 12:00 pm M 18 at MONMOUTH 3:00 pm M 18 at QUINNIPIAC (DH) 12:00 pm M 19 at MONMOUTH (DH) 12:00 pm M 19 at QUINNIPIAC ``12:00 pm M 20 at MONMOUTH 12:00 pm M 24-26 NEC Tourament (New Britain Stadium, New Britain, CT) M 24-26 NEC Tourament (New Britain Stadium, New Britain, CT) NEC Games in CAPS NEC Games in CAPS NEC Baseball NEC Baseball Notes: Facts & Figures (through games of March 13) 2007 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Central Connecticut State (6) 6. Long Island Team-By-Team Notes 2. Quinnipiac Wagner 3. Sacred Heart (1) 8. Fairleigh Dickinson Central Connecticut State (0-3, 0-0 NEC) 4. Monmouth Three-time defending NEC champion CCSU began its season 0-3 on a trip to the Lone Mount St. Mary’s (1) Star state to play at Lamar University. The Blue Devils dropped games to host Lamar (22-0), New York Tech (6-2) and Michigan (9-0)...The CCSU lineup - which has led the NEC in hitting and runs scored in each of the last three years - will be unfamiliar to NEC vs... most who have followed the team the last four seasons. The top six hitters from a year America East 0-0 MAAC 0-0 ago are absent, including junior third baseman Matt Memoli (Shelton, CT/Shel- ACC 0-0 Mid-American 0-0 ton), whose status is uncertain due to an injury...On the trip, freshman outfielder Jay Atlantic Sun 0-0 Mid-Con 0-0 Atlantic 10 0-0 MEAC 0-0 Schillaci (McKeesport, PA/McKeesport Area) and senior infielder John Blaze Big East 0-0 Missouri Valley 0-0 (Trumbull, CT/Notre Dame) were each 3-10 at the plate...Sophomores Adam Big South 0-0 Mountain West 0-0 Piechowski (Winsted, CT/The Gilbert School) (4.0 scoreless and hitless innings Big Ten 0-0 Ohio Valley 0-0 Big 12 0-0 Pac-10 0-0 pitched vs. New York Tech) and Evan Scribner (Washington Depot, CT/Shep- Colonial 0-0 Patriot 0-0 aug Valley) (3.0 innings pitched, three hits, zero runs allowed vs. Michigan), along Conference USA 0-0 Southern 0-0 with junior Nathan Cole (Wrentham, MA/King Phillip) (0.2 innings of scoreless Division II 0-0 Southland 0-0 and hitless ball vs. Lamar) all pitched well for the Blue Devils in relief appearances over Division III 0-0 Sun Belt 0-0 Horizon 0-0 WAC 0-0 the weekend...The Blue Devils have a game scheduled on Wednesday at Hartford, but Independent 0-0 WCC 0-0 its status remains uncertain due to weather and field conditions. CCSU is scheduled to Ivy 0-0 open the home portion of its schedule with a doubleheader vs. Holy Cross on Saturday followed by a single-game at Holy Cross on Sunday. NEC Past Champions Regular Season Tournament Fairleigh Dickinson (0-2, 0-0 NEC) 2006 CCSU 2006 Sacred Heart In the first games under rookie head coach Jerry DeFabbia, FDU dropped two contests 2005 Quinnipiac 2005 Quinnipiac in Bradenton, FL over the weekend. The Knights fell to Northern Iowa, 13-3, and to 2004 CCSU 2004 CCSU Illinois State, 12-2...Freshman first baseman Jovan Santos (Woodhaven, NY/Arch- 2003 CCSU 2003 CCSU 2002 Monmouth 2002 CCSU bishop Molloy) went 3-6 in the two contests. He was 3-4 against Illinois State with 2001 CCSU/St. Francis (NY) (N) 2001 UMBC a pair of doubles and an RBI...Junior righthander Adam Vogel (Cincinnati, OH/ UMBC/Monmouth (S) Harrison) tossed four innings of scoreless relief against Illinois State, allowing three 2000 Long Island (N)/UMBC (S) 2000 Wagner hits and striking out two...Against Northern Iowa, junior righty Rich Franceschi 1999 FDU/CCSU (N) 1999 Monmouth Monmouth (S) (Franklinville, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) permitted one earned run and fanned 1998 St. Francis (NY)/Monmouth 1998 Monmouth five in 2.1 innings of relief...The Knights will complete their Florida expedition this 1997 Marist 1997 Marist week with games vs. Columbia, Miami (OH), Rhode Island and Army. 1996 Monmouth/Rider 1996 Rider 1995 Rider 1995 Rider 1994 Rider/FDU 1994 Rider Long Island (2-1, 0-0 NEC) 1993 FDU 1993 St. Francis (NY) Long Island did not compete last week as its doubleheader Thursday against Coppin 1992 St. Francis (NY) State was postponed due to inclement weather...The Blackbirds make their annual 1991 Monmouth pilgrimage to Florida this week with contests Monday against Rider and Bradley, Thurs- 1990 Long Island 1989 Monmouth day vs. Bradley and Friday against Kent State in a twinbill. 1988 Fairleigh Dickinson 1987 Fairleigh Dickinson Monmouth (3-7, 0-0 NEC) Monmouth went 3-4 to finish in seventh place at the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic in NEC in NCAA Statistics (through games of April 18) Fresno, CA from March 6-12. The Hawks knocked off Penn (4-2) to begin the tournament on March 6, then posted a 2-4 mark last week, including wins over San Individual Categories Francisco (5-3) on Thursday and Penn (10-4) in the final game on Sunday. Mon- Player School Statistics mouth also fell to Penn State (6-3), Dallas Baptist (9-5), Gonzaga (13-4) and South- Batting Average ern Utah (13-8)...Junior catcher Mike Hussa (Denville, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) was 4th Keith Stegbauer CCSU .457 named to the all-Tournament team and tabbed NEC Player of the Week after hitting 38th Rob Hosgood CCSU .413 Runs .450 with three doubles and nine runs scored. He also threw out four would-be base 6th Keith Stegbauer CCSU 1.42/game stealers to raise his season total to seven. He went 3-5 with two runs scored vs. Southern Doubles 22nd Bryan Sabatella Quinnipiac 0.45/game Utah, then went 2-5, scored twice and drove home a run in the second win over Earned Run Average Penn...Freshman infielder Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Regional), 14th Scott Vitelli CCSU 1.68 the NEC Rookie of the Week, started five games last week, hitting .500 with a double, triple, three runs and five RBI. He had a pair of 3-3 games against Gonzaga and Penn. Team Categories On the season, he is hitting .429...Junior infielder Nick Massari (Trenton, NJ/ Rank School Statistics Batting Average 3rd CCSU .346 Hamilton West) is batting .371 and leads the Knights in hits (13), doubles (three), 13th Mount St. Mary’s .329 triples (two), homers (two) and RBI (eight)...Junior righty Kevin Schneider Scoring 16th CCSU 8.5 rpg NEC Baseball (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) posted a 0.00 ERA in two appearances on the week. Facts & Figures He threw 3.2 innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out three batters. He earned the save in Monmouth's win over San Francisco - which was previously unbeaten in the 2006 NEC Final Standings tournament - by going 2.2 scoreless innings with two strikeouts...Monmouth competes at St. Peter’s on Wednesday, then hosts Maine in a three-game series this weekend. NEC Pct. Overall Pct. Mount St. Mary’s (2-5, 0-0 NEC) 1. Central Conn. St.* 16-7 .696 33-18 .647 Off to a 2-5 start, inclement weather caused the postponement or cancellation of seven 2. Quinnipiac* 14-8 .636 22-24-1 .479 home games last week for the Mount, including tilts with in-state rivals UMBC and 3. Wagner* 15-9 .625 18-34 .346 Maryland-Eastern Shore. A three-game series with Buffalo and a single game with 4. Monmouth 14-9 .609 27-22 .551 Canisius were also dropped due to poor field conditions...The Mountaineers hope to return to action on Tuesday at Coppin State, and will host Lafayette for a three-game set Sacred Heart*# 14-9 .609 26-30 .464 this weekend. 6. Mount St. Mary's 12-11 .522 23-24 .489 7. Long Island 10-13 .435 13-33-1 .287 Quinnipiac (0-4, 0-0 NEC) 8. Fairleigh Dickinson 6-18 .250 10-43 .189 The Bobcats began their southern trip last week with a rainout at #6 Miami on Wednes- 9. St. Francis (NY) 3-20 .130 6-39 .133 day, then fell at Florida International, 12-5, on Thursday. Quinnipiac was then swept by South Florida in a three-game series Friday thru Sunday, falling by scores of 9-7, 8-3 and 13-5...Trailing South Florida, 9-0, through seven innings on Friday, Quinnipiac * NEC Playoff Participant # NEC Tournament Winner scored seven runs in the final two innings and had the tying run on second base, but could not push him across as the Bulls held on for the 9-7 triumph...Senior right- hander Mike Spahr (Oceanport, NJ/Shore Regional) threw seven solid innings 2007 NEC Baseball Tournament Bracket on Sunday, allowing four earned runs on five hits, before being chased in the eighth. In that contest, Quinnipiac held a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth, but #1 South Florida scored 10 times in the inning to complete the sweep...Junior third Game #1 Winner of Game #1 baseman Bryan Sabatella (Wading River, NY/Shoreham Wading River) cracked May 24, 12:00 pm a three-run home run on Sunday, the first round tripper of the year for the Bobcats. For #4 the week, Sabatella hit .353 with a homer, four runs and five RBI...Sophomore second Game #3 Winner of Game #3 baseman Wilson Matos (Larchmont, NY/Mamaroneck) added a two-run single in May 25, 12:00 pm Sunday’s setback...Freshman leftfielder John Delaney (Hanson, MA/Xaverian #2 Brothers) hit .300 and drew four walks last week. His .533 on-base percentage tops Game #2 May 24, 3:30 pm Winner of Game #2 Game #6 Winner of Game #6 the club...The Bobcats will finish their Florida tour this week playing Division II Tampa #3 May 26, 12:00 pm on Monday, then competing in an exhibition game with the Philadelphia Phillies (A) Loser of Game #3 Game #7 on Tuesday afternoon. Quinnipiac is slated to travel to St. John's for two games this May 26 Game #5 (30 minutes NCAA weekend. Loser of Game #1 May 25, 7:00 pm Winner of Game #5 after Game 6 Tournament Game #4 if necessary) Automatic Bid Sacred Heart (1-10, 0-0 NEC) May 25, 3:30 pm Winner of Game #4 Loser of Game #2 Loser of Game #6 The Pioneers dropped six of seven games in Florida last week to fall to 1-10 on the season. The lone win was a 4-3 decision over Rhode Island on Saturday, while the setbacks came against Lehigh (6-4), Central Michigan (2-1), Connecticut (8-0), Maine (10-0), Holy Cross (6-4) and Northern Iowa (3-1)...The week ahead for the Pioneers NCAA Play-In Results NCAA Tournament Results includes home games with Hartford on Tuesday and UConn on Wednesday, followed by a doubleheader at Yale on Saturday. Yale returns the favor on Sunday playing at Sacred 1994 Yale 5, Rider 3 1994 Miami 17, Rider 4 Heart in a single game. Rider 3, Yale 1 West Virginia 19, Rider 7 Rider 6, Yale 2 1997 Florida State 4, Marist 2 St. Francis (NY) (0-3, 0-0 NEC) 1995 Penn 13, Rider 3 West Carolina 8, Marist 3 The Terriers were idle last week...St. Francis (NY) began its season dropping three Rider 6, Penn 1 1998 Florida 1,2 Monmouth 8 straight at Kansas State from March 4-6...The Terriers head south this week with games Penn 2, Rider 1 (10 inn.) Illinois 12, Monmouth 2 in Bradenton, FL against Illinois State (Thursday), Columbia (Friday), Northwestern 1996 Princeton 9, Rider 6 1999 Texas A&M 6, Monmouth 0 (Saturday) and Dartmouth (Sunday). Princeton 7, Rider 6 Mississippi 12, Monmouth 3 1997 Marist 7, Siena 6 2000 Miami 19, Wagner 5 Wagner (4-6, 0-0 NEC) FIU 10, Wagner 1 Marist 9, Siena 7 Wagner went 2-3 last week to complete its Florida trip with a 3-4 mark. Following a 2001 East Carolina 7, UMBC 0 1998 Monmouth 5, Navy 1 14-3 setback at Florida International on Tuesday, the Seahawks split a twinbill with Winthrop 6, UMBC 0 Navy 11, Monmouth 4 Temple on Friday, winning the opener, 10-6, before dropping a 10-2 decision in the 2002 Texas 7, CCSU 2 Monmouth 8, Navy 4 nightcap. Wagner went on to split a pair of games with Boston College over the Lamar 9, CCSU 4 weekend, winning 4-2 on Saturday, then losing 4-2 on Sunday...Junior righthander 2003 Arizona State 14, CCSU 2 Andrew Bailey (Haddon Heights, NJ/Paul VI) powered the Seahawks to the win INLV 22, CCSU 3 over Boston College, tossing 6.0 innings while allowing just two runs on four hits. The 2004 Florida 12, CCSU 1 NEC Pitcher of the Week walked just one batter and recorded six strikeouts to up his Oklahoma 6, CCSU 1 season record to 2-1...Recently named the NEC’s top professional prospect by Baseball 2005 Texas 20, Quinnipiac 2 America, Bailey ranked fifth in the NEC in earned run average (3.18) last season and Miami (OH) 35, Quinnipiac 8 fanned a league-leading 9.9 batters per nine innings pitched...Senior outfielder Troy Sogluizzo (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) hit .400 on the week with four RBI and 2006 Georgia 11, Sacred Heart 0 Jacksonville 4, Sacred Heart 3 three multi-hit outings in five games. Sogluizzo drove in a pair of runs and had a double in the win over Temple, then added a sacrifice fly in the conquest of Boston College...Freshman southpaw Mike Tuozzo (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) came out of the bullpen to pick up the win against Temple. He tossed 2.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit...Junior outfielder Nick Papa (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) has hit safely in all ten games this season. He laced a pair of doubles in the win over Temple...The Seahawks host Hofstra on Wednesday, then travel to James Madison for a three-game set over the weekend.

Around The League

DeFabbia Takes Reigns At FDU The newest member of the NEC coaching fraternity is Fairleigh Dickinson’s Jerry DeFabbia, who takes over for Dennis Sasso, the Knights’ longtime coach who retired following the 2004 campaign with over 300 wins. DeFabbia returns to his alma mater after serving as assistant coach at Pace University from 2001-2004. He also held assistant positions at Iona in 2000 and at FDU from 1996-99, during which the Knights captured two NEC regular season crowns. DeFabbia finished his collegiate playing career with FDU by earning all-NEC honors as a shortstop with the Knights in 1992 after leading the league with a .408 batting average. He went on to play professionally for four years, including stints with the St. Paul Saints, Erie Sailors, Tri-City Posse and the Catskill Cougars.

NEC Coaching Institutions A testament to the longevity and success of NEC coaches is the fact that six skippers have combined for 1,928 victories and eight NEC Coach of the Year awards. Now in his 29th season at Long Island, Frank Giannone is the league’s winningest active coach with 531 career victories (also a school record). He has compiled 18 winning seasons and has been associated in roughly 65 percent of the Blackbirds’ games since the program’s inception in 1929. St. Francis (NY)’s Frank Del George enters his 25th year leading the Terriers, and is the school’s all-time leader with 405 career victories. Sacred Heart’s Nick Giaquinto is now in his 18th season at the helm of the Pioneer program and has 294 wins to his credit, while Monmouth’s Dean Ehehalt, in his 13th year at the Jersey Shore school, has upped his victory total to 290. Quinnipiac’s Dan Gooley has won 253 games in two separate stints with the Bobcats spanning 15 years and Central Connecticut State’s Charlie Hickey - the youngest of the group - has amassed 153 wins in just six seasons leading the Blue Devils. Del George (1995, 1998), Ehehalt (1996, 2002) and Hickey (2001, 2003) are all two-time NEC Coach of the Year award winners, while Giannone (1990) and Gooley (2004) have been honored once apiece.

NEC Regular Season Format With the loss of St. Francis (NY) - which discontinued its baseball program - the eight remaining teams that sponsor the sport will now play 28 league games, facing each member institution four times. Each series will feature a single nine-inning game on Friday, followed by a Saturday doubleheader (seven innings apiece) and a concluding with a nine-inning single game on Sunday. Previously, teams competed in three-game series for a total of 24 league contests. The top four teams on the basis of winning percentage qualify for the NEC Tournament.

New Britain Rock Cats Stadium To Host NEC Tournament After five years contesting the NEC Baseball Tournament at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, NJ, the league’s postseason venue shifts north in 2007 with New Britain Stadium in New Britain, CT serving as host. New Britain Stadium, which opened on April 12, 1996, is the home of the New Britain Rock Cats, a class AA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The venue seats 6,146.

The Rock Cats, who are the Nutmeg State’s oldest continuously operating professional sports franchise, enjoy terrific fan support with an average of nearly 5,000 fans per game. Current and former Major Leaguers who have played for New Britain include Roger Clemens, Jeff Bagwell, Curt Schilling, David Ortiz, Joe Mauer, Torii Hunter, Justin Morneau, A.J. Pierzynski, Francisco Liriano, Mo Vaughn and Ellis Burks.

The three-day, double-elimination event is set for May 24-26 with a rain date on May 27. The championship field will feature the NEC’s top four regular season finishers. Sacred Heart is the defending conference champion.

Central Connecticut State Picked As NEC Favorite Central Connecticut State has been tabbed the preseason favorite to capture the 2007 Northeast Conference baseball championship, according to a poll of league head coaches. The Blue Devils earned six of eight first place votes in the balloting. Quinnipiac was picked second, followed by Sacred Heart, which picked up a first place vote and was tabbed third. Mount St. Mary’s, which was awarded the remaining first place vote, was chosen fourth along with Monmouth. Long Island and Wagner tied for sixth and Fairleigh Dickinson was picked eighth.

Central Connecticut State (33-18, 16-7 NEC), which claimed its third NEC regular season crown in the last four years in 2006, brings back the bulk of a lineup that led the conference in hitting (.313), runs scored (7.1 rpg) and on-base percentage (.400), as well as a trio of capable starters who combined to post a 21-9 record. This experience should make CCSU a dangerous team in 2007 under eighth year head coach Charlie Hickey, who was awarded NEC Coach of the Year honors for the third time in his career last season after returning the Blue Devils to the top of the league standings. A quartet of second team all-conference picks dot the lineup, including senior infielders Sean Salvatore (Southington, CT/Southington) and Matt Memoli (Shelton, CT/Shelton). Salvatore, a shortstop, led the Blue Devils and ranked fourth on the circuit with a .378 average a year ago, while third baseman Memoli hit .315 and finished the year second in the league in triples (five) and third in RBI (43). Senior designated hitter John Romano (Staten Island, NY/Brookdale CC) made an immediate impact last season upon his arrival in New Britain, hitting .355 and driving in 43 runs, to rank fifth and third, respectively, among NEC hitters. Sophomore outfielder Richie Tri (Everett, WA/Barnstable (MA)) (.295, 40 runs, 35 RBI) was one of the top young players in the conference in 2006, earning Akadema/NEC Rookie of the Week honors on three occasions prior to his second team all-NEC recognition at year’s end. Senior righthander Evan Scribner (Washington Depot, CT/Shepaug Valley) was one of the league’s best last year, earning first team all-star accolades after finishing 7-4 with a 3.25 earned run average (fourth in the NEC). Somewhat overlooked in CCSU’s rise to the top of the league standings a year ago was junior southpaw Matt Gianini (West Haven, CT/West Haven), who finished second in the NEC in both wins (nine) and ERA (2.75), while holding opposing hitters to a .208 average, lowest of any NEC hurler. Senior righty Adam Piechowski (Winsted, CT/Philadelphia University) (5-1, 4.16 ERA) rounds out the talented trio. Quinnipiac Clinches NEC Playoff Berth Quinnipiac became the first team to clinch a 2004 NEC Tournament bid with its 10-3 win over St. Francis (NY) on Sunday. It will mark the first tournament appearance for the Bobcats, who joined the NEC in 1998. Sitting in first place with a 16-4 league mark, Quinnipiac holds a one-game lead in the standings over Central Connecticut State (14-4), though the two teams are tied in the loss column. If the two teams finish tied for first, the Bobcats would receive the #1 seed in the NEC Tournament based upon winning the season series with the Blue Devils, 2-1. One possible concern for Quinnipiac heading into the tournament: discounting any games that will need to be made up by rain, the Bobcats will be off for 19 days prior to the start of the tourney. The team’s last regular season game is scheduled for May 2.

Bring Us Your Best In league play this season, there are six NEC pitchers who have compiled an ERA of less than 2.00. These six pitchers are a combined 20-2 with a 1.60 ERA.

Sparkling Arms In NEC Play Glen Keeton (MU): 3-0, 1.21 ERA, 29.2 IP, 22 Hits, 10 BB, 28 K Chuck Ristano (SHU): 2-2, 1.44 ERA, 31.1 IP, 23 Hits, 3 BB, 19 K Jesse Anziano (FDU): 5-0, 1.49 ERA, 36.1 IP, 23 Hits, 8 BB, 31 K Adam Dinihanian (SHU): 2-0, 1.56 ERA, 17.1 IP, 18 Hits, 1 BB, 9 K Patrick Egan (QU): 6-0, 1.91 ERA, 42.1 IP, 33 Hits, 8 BB, 27 K Chris Della Rocco (MU): 2-0, 1.96 ERA, 23 IP, 21 Hits, 6 BB, 17 K

Mount Tidbit When Mount St. Mary’s reached the 20-win plateau with a 4-0 win over Wagner on Saturday, they became the first team at the school to win 20 games in a season since the women's basketball team went 20-9 in 1999-00. The 20 wins also added to the baseball team’s single-season school mark for victories, set back on April 18th with win number 18.

Blackbird Turnaround Long Island won more games last week (four) than it had won in the first six weeks of the season combined (three).

Mount’s Conundrum Mount St. Mary’s has been outstanding in non-league play this season, going 14-4 for a league-best .778 winning percentage. The eight other conference teams have a combined 41-101 (.289) mark in out of conference tilts. Unfortunately, the Mountaineers’ success in non-league action, including wins over George Mason, Maine and Temple, has not translated into NEC play, where the team is in sixth place with a 6-10 record.

CCSU Challenging NEC Marks For Wins, Winning Percentage Two-time defending NEC champion Central Connecticut State may be fielding the best team in the school’s Division I era based on the Blue Devils’ 29-10-1 mark entering the final two weeks of regular season play. With a .738 winning percentage, the Blue Devils are challenging the league’s single-season mark in the category currently held by Long Island, which posted a .675 percentage in 1990 on the basis of its 27-13 campaign. With 17 wins in its last 21 outings, including six in a row, CCSU is also on pace to surpass Rider, which maintains the NEC single-season record for victories with 35 in 1995. Discounting postseason play and games lost due to weather, the Blue Devils would have to win seven of their final 12 regular season outings to claim the record.

CCSU Murderers’ Row Nine Central Connecticut State players have 21 or more RBI this season. There are four teams in the NEC that do not have one player who has driven at least 21 runs.

Blue Devil Bats Riding High CCSU’s league-leading 348 runs this season is 111 more than second place Mount St. Mary’s and more than double the number of runs scored by every team in the conference with the exception of the Mount (237) and Quinnipiac (212) and Monmouth (185). The Blue Devils have scored ten or more runs in 15 games this season. The eight other league teams have reached double digits in scoring a combined 26 times.

Poll Busters: Quinnipiac, Fairleigh Dickinson Emerge As NEC Contenders In 2004 Who could have imagined that Quinnipiac (16-4) and Fairleigh Dickinson (10-6) would combine for just ten league setbacks at this point in the season and sit first and fourth place in the NEC standings. Obviously not the league’s head coaches, who picked the Bobcats and Knights fourth and sixth, respectively, in the annual preseason poll. Quinnipiac has shown steady improvements since the return of Dan Gooley for his second stint as Bobcats’ head coach in 2002. Coming off a 3-19 league mark in 2001, the Bobcats jumped to 9-18 in 2002 and broke the .500 mark a year ago with a 14-13 record. The Bobcats are looking for their first NEC Tournament appearance since entering the conference in 1999. Ironically, 1999 was the last year Fairleigh Dickinson made an appearance in the postseason after winning the NEC North with a 12-8 mark. Since that time, the Knights have gone through some lean years with conference records of 10-11 (2000), 9-13 (2001), 7-19 (2002) and 12-15 (2003). With a trio of capable starting pitchers and some timely hitting, FDU and 19th year head coach Dennis Sasso have shown some resolve by winning four one-run games and yielding three or less runs on seven occasions.

QU’s Home Run Derby Part of Quinnipiac’s turnaround can be attributed to the power the team has shown at the plate this season. The Bobcats, who have hit a league-leading 27 round trippers in 2004, boast three of the top sluggers in the conference thus far in 2004. Senior outfielder Albert Marano (Lincoln, RI/Bishop Hendricken) leads the circuit with six dingers and is third with a .575 slugging percentage and third with 26 RBI. Freshman second baseman Wilson Matos (Larchmont, NY/ Mamaroneck) is tied for second in homers (four) and leads the team with 30 RBI batting out of the leadoff spot. Sophomore backstop Kevin MacIlvane (Windsor, CT/East Catholic) has drilled five round trippers to tie for fifth in the NE. With 27 blasts in 35 games, the Bobcats have already surpassed their 2003 total of 20 accomplished in 41 contests. Blazing Blue Devils: Stegbauer, Hosgood Dominate League Batting Categories Central Connecticut State, the two-time defending NEC champion, has earned a reputation as one of the top hitting teams in the Northeast over the last three years. The Blue Devils have led the league in batting average (and set school single-season records in the process) and runs scored in each of the last two seasons, and are on top of the conference rankings in both categories in 2004. As a team, CCSU is batting .346 and averaging 8.7 runs per contest as seven regulars are batting at least .321, including four over .382. Leading the way for the second place Blue Devils, who are 14-4 in NEC play, are senior infielder Keith Stegbauer (Seminole, FL/St. Petersburg JC) and senior outfielder Rob Hosgood (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa). Stegbauer has been on fire as of late, with a league-leading .465 on the season, including .455 in league play. He also leads the NEC in hits (79), runs (57) and on-base percentage (.503). Hosgood is the circuit’s second leading hitter with a .403 average. He too leads the conference in a number of categories, including home runs (eight), triples (four), RBI (44) and slugging percentage (.662).

Highs and Lows With just two weeks of league play remaining, no one can utilize the term “parity” to describe NEC baseball in 2004. There is a stark contrast between the haves and the haves-nots within the conference as the top four teams have combined for a 51-19 (.729) league record, while the bottom five teams in the standings have amassed a 22-54 (.289) mark in NEC play.

Bobcats Bounce Big Name Foes One team in the NEC that is beginning to make some noise is Quinnipiac, which already has wins over Virginia and Connecticut to its credit this season and has won five straight and eight of its last nine games. The Bobcats, who have yet to qualify for NEC Tournament play since joining the conference in 1999, defeated Virginia, 13-11, on March 8. It marked the first-ever win for Quinnipiac over a team from the ACC. On March 25, the Bobcats knocked off intrastate rival UConn, 12-11, in another slugfest.

(K)eeton’s (K)orner When Monmouth senior righthander Glen Keeton (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) fanned 15 Long Island batters in a 5-0 complete game shutout of the Blackbirds on March 14, it established a new single-game school record for strikeouts. Even more impressive is the fact he mowed down 15 batters in a seven inning game. For the season, Keeton has 35 Ks in 38.2 innings.

UMBC And Monmouth Becomes First Team To Clinch NEC Playoff Spot: UMBC and Monmouth became the first two schools to clinch NEC playoff berths last week. UMBC (14-6) won all six of their conference games last week and are in a virtual tie with Monmouth (13-5) in the NEC South. Long Island (13-6) can clinch the NEC North Division title with a win or a St. Francis (NY) loss. By winning six straight conference games last week, Wagner (12-7) is also in a favorable position to grab an NEC playoff spot by week’s end.

Game of the Week: Quinnipiac lost eight straight games last week, including seven in NEC play, to nearly fall out of playoff contention. Wagner won all six of its NEC outings last week to close in on a playoff spot. Two teams headed in different directions met on Sunday with predictable results. Wagner swept the doubleheader, 15- 14 and 15-6, but it was the storyline of the first game that was most compelling. Wagner trailed 13-1 and then 14-9, but scored six times in the last half of the seventh to pull out an amazing win. Trailing 14-11, Seahawks senior second baseman Bobby Weiss (Suffern, NY/Suffern) hit a two-run, two-out single to pull Wagner to within 14-13. Junior outfielder Jamie Scholz (Piscataway, NJ/The Hun School) then tripled to center to score Weiss. When the relay throw from the outfield got past the Quinnipiac third baseman and went out of play, Scholz trotted home with the winning run

89 Years In The Making: Mount St. Mary’s broke an 89 year old school record for single-season wins last week by earning its 16th victory. In 1911, the Mount posted a 15-2 record and tied the record by going 15-19 in 1991.

When The Going Gets Tough: As we enter the stretch run of the season, the following list denotes how NEC teams have performed in one-run games thus far: CCSU (4-7); FDU (4-4); LIU (6-3); UMBC (7-5); Monmouth (9-6); Mount St. Mary’s (3-6); Quinnipiac (2-3); Sacred Heart (5-3); St. Francis (NY) (1-8); Wagner (4-6). Sacred Heart is the surprise in this category, having won five of its 11 games by one run. St. Francis (NY) has not been able to close out tight games this season, as evidenced by its poor 1-8 record in one-run affairs.

Whose Hot: UMBC - Six straight conference wins Monmouth - Winners of seven of last nine conference games Wagner - Six straight conference wins Kevin Miller (LIU) - Has not lost since March 15; 4-0 vs. NEC competition Bill Kasten (UMBC) - 8-1 record on the season Toby Peterson (Quinnipiac) - 20 game hitting streak

Around The Horn: Coppin State’s Adam Figueroa achieved a very rare cycle in a 22-7 loss to Mount St. Mary’s on April 13. He was tagged out at third base by Nick Catucci (Silver Spring, MD/DeMatha Catholic) in the second inning. He grounded out to second and was put out at first by Sean Gildea (Beltsville, MD/ DeMatha Catholic) in the third inning. Figueroa was tagged out at home plate by Chris Staub (Westminster, MD/Calvert Hall College) in the fifth inning. He struck out in the sixth, and finally was forced out at second by Michael Freundel (Fort Washington, MD/Bishop McNamara) in the eighth. He was therefore put out at all four bases plus struck out in the game.

One Touchdown Short: With a final score that resembled a football game, Quinnipiac fell to Stony Brook on April 13, 27-20. Here are some of the highlights: Quinnipiac tied a season-high with five home runs and nine bases on balls...The combined 47 runs in the game were the highest total in school history...The game not only featured 47 runs, but 43 hits and ten homers...A combined eight players had at least three hits...The game lasted 3:32...Quinnipiac first baseman Joe Boccaccio (East Hartford, CT/East Catholic) hit two home runs in the game, marking the fifth time this season a Quinnipiac player has recorded a two-homer game.

HStH Lif th d b t h J t k th St F i (NY) l d hi t ff Aft l i th i fi t 18 th d d t fi ld reconstruction at the Narrows Complex in Brooklyn, the Terriers finally played their first home game of the season on April 15, defeating Sacred Heart, 6-4. The Terriers improved to 2-0 with a 6-2 win over Sacred Heart on Thursday.

All In The Family: The Sarrica family name has become associated with NEC baseball over the last five years. Santino Sarrica, a former all-NEC pitcher at St. Francis (NY), graduated last June, but he has two brothers who carry on the tradition in the league. St. Francis (NY) sophomore Vincent (Enzo) Sarrica (Brooklyn, NY/ Xaverian) plays second base for the Terriers, while freshman Marcello Sarrica (Brooklyn, NY/New Utrecht) is a relief pitcher for Long Island.

Out For The Year: Monmouth sophomore third baseman Jason Law (Linwood, NJ/Mainland Regional) will be lost for the year after breaking his left ankle in a win over St. Francis (NY) on April 1. Law, the 1999 NEC Newcomer of the Year, suffered the injury sliding into home plate. Law was batting .313 with a team- leading 17 RBI’s at the time of the injury.

Thievery On The Basepaths: Wagner junior outfielder Paul Kurella (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) has found his niche in a potent Wagner lineup this season. Kurella has wreaked havoc on the basepaths for opposing pitchers and catchers, stealing 20 bases in 21 attempts this season. Kurella, who stole six in eight attempts last season and one in two tries as a freshman, has now been successful 27-31 times for his career, an 87.1 percent success ratio.

Larger Than Life: By all accounts, Mount St. Mary’s freshman pitcher Brian Santo (Oberlin, PA/Bishop McDevitt) is shaping up to be one of the top rookies in the NEC this season. A two-hit, 12 strikeout performance in a complete-game effort against Buffalo on March 19 earned him NEC Rookie of the Week honors, while a complete-game three hitter against Penn on March 25 earned him NEC Pitcher of the Week plaudits. Santo, whose fastball has been timed in the 90’s, is now 4-6 with a 2.56 ERA on the season. He has allowed just 56 hits in 63.1 innings and has fanned 73 batters. While his numbers are certainly impressive, it is his stature that may draw the most attention. Santo, who stands 6-8 and weighs in at 240 pounds, is an intimidating presence a la Randy Johnson and is the tallest player in the league.

On The Disabled List: Long Island is without the services this season of staff ace Andy Facey (Columbus, NJ/North Burlington) who had elbow surgery last August. Last year, Facey posted a 6-3 record and ranked third in the conference with a 2.64 ERA.

NEC Tournament Heads To Jersey Shore: The 2000 NEC Baseball Tournament will be held at The Sandcastle in Atlantic City, New Jersey from May 12-14. The Sandcastle is the home of the Atlantic City Surf of the independent Atlantic Baseball League. Last year, the NEC held its postseason tournament at Harbor Yard Stadium in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the home of the Atlantic League’s Bridgeport Bluefish.

Monmouth, Central Connecticut State Tabbed As NEC Favorites: Monmouth and Central Connecticut State were tabbed as favorites to win their respective divisions in the recently released NEC preseason coaches poll. Under seventh year head coach Dean Ehehalt, Monmouth is seeking its third straight NEC crown as it heads up the South Division. The Hawks posted a school record 30 wins last season. Pitching looks to be Central Connecticut State’s strong suit again this season, despite the loss of NEC Pitcher of the Year Adam Poturnicki and first team NEC all-star Scott Martin. The Blue Devils will have to fight off St. Francis (NY) and Long Island in a strong South Division.

NEC Divisional Realignment: After switching to a divisional format last season, the Northeast Conference will feature new divisional alignments in 2000. The North consists of Central Connecticut State, Long Island, Quinnipiac, St. Francis (NY) and NEC newcomer Sacred Heart. Fairleigh Dickinson moves to the South Division this season, joining UMBC, Monmouth, Mount St. Mary’s and Wagner. The two divisional winners, along with the two non-division winners with the best conference winning percentage will compete in a four-team, double-elimination tournament to crown a new NEC champion in May.

Hickey Takes Reigns At CCSU: Looking to capture its first NEC crown, Central Connecticut Stat has a new leader at the helm in Charlie Hickey. Hickey was named head coach last June, replacing George Redman, who stepped down after 14 years at the New Britain school. Hickey served as head coach at Providence for the last three years and was named the 1999 Big East Coach of the Year after leading the Friars to Big East title and the NCAA Regional finals. He compiled a stellar 106-61- 1 record at Providence before the baseball program was discontinued following the 1999 season.