Since its founding in 1855, William Paterson University has grown to become a comprehen- sive regional institution commit- ted to academic excellence and student success. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, it off ers 32 undergraduate and 19 graduate degree programs as well as pro- fessional development programs through its fi ve colleges: Arts and Communication, Christos M. Cotsakos College of Busi- ness, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Health. Nearly 10,600 full- and part-time students from a diversity of back- grounds are enrolled at the University. Occupying a 370-acre, wooded campus, William Paterson is located in the hills of suburban Wayne, New Jersey, within an hour of the ocean, the mountains, the Meadowlands, and New York City. William Paterson off ers a wide variety of student activities, as well as modern on-campus housing and educational facilities. Financial aid is available to qualifi ed students. William Paterson off ers 12 NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic programs, many of which have competed for national championships. The Pioneer baseball team captured national crowns in 1992 and 1996, while the men’s basketball program reached the NCAA Division III Tournament title game in 2001 with national player of the year Horace Jenkins, later a member of the Detroit Pistons, leading the way. To make arrangements to visit the University or for more infor- mation about our programs, telephone the Offi ce of Admissions at 973.720.2125, log on to www.wpunj.edu or write to William Paterson University, Wayne, N.J. 07470-2103. William Paterson University .............................................................Inside Front Cover Quick Facts..........................................................................................................................2 2007 Roster ..........................................................................................................................3 2007 Season Outlook ..................................................................................................... 4-6 Pioneer Baseball Park .................................................................................................... 7-9 Head Coach Jeff Albies ............................................................................................. 10-12 Assistant Coaches ...................................................................................................... 13-15 2007 Pioneers .............................................................................................................. 16-28 2006 Season Review ...................................................................................................29-31 National Championships ................................................................................................32 Pioneer Trophy Case .......................................................................................................33 Players of the Year ...........................................................................................................34 All-Americans ..................................................................................................................35 Pioneers in the Pros .........................................................................................................36 All-Time Records ....................................................................................................... 37-39 Greco Memorial Award ..................................................................................................40 Athletic Hall of Fame ..........................................................................Inside Back Cover 2007 Schedule ...................................................................................................Back Cover For the latest information on the William Paterson baseball program, please visit the team’s Website at: www.wpunj.edu/athletics Credits: The 2007 William Paterson University Baseball Guide was wri en, designed and edited by the Department of Sports Information. Photography: Steve Smith, Larry Levanti, Joe Camporeale. Editorial Assistance: Steve Billingsley, Brian Gelalia, Erin Goedebuure, Shannon Hodges, Lindsey Krenza, Erin Lauterhahn, Nicole Parente, Stephen Schlitzer. No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht. Wt. B/T Hometown/High School 2 Christian Miranda RHP Sr. 6-0 190 R/R Bogota, N.J./Bergen Catholic 4 Luis Fernandez INF Jr. 5-10 175 R/R West New York, N.J./Memorial 5 Vince Joyce OF/1B Jr. 6-2 195 R/R Franklin, N.J./Wallkill Valley 6 Rick Pignatello OF Sr. 5-10 190 R/R Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills 7 Dan Limone SS Jr. 5-9 175 R/R Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck 8 Mike Vicci OF Jr. 5-11 190 R/R Cranford, N.J./Johnson Regional 9 Vincent Martino RHP Sr. 5-10 215 R/R Thiells, N.Y./North Rockland 10 Mike Rivera INF/OF Sr. 6-1 190 R/R Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic 11 Will Courter 1B So. 6-0 190 L/R Roseland, N.J./West Essex 12 James Gregory OF Fr. 6-0 180 R/R Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey 14 Tim Cowan RHP Sr. 6-2 225 R/R Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic 15 Dan VandeVrede RHP So. 5-11 190 R/R Lincoln Park, N.J./Pequannock 17 Wayne Poppe INF Sr. 5-10 210 R/R Sloatsburg, N.J./Suff ern 18 Ted King 1B Sr. 5-10 215 R/R West Windsor, N.J./ West Windsor South 19 Steve VandeVrede RHP Jr. 5-11 175 R/R Lincoln Park, N.J./Pequannock 20 Chris Arecchi INF Jr. 6-0 190 R/R Hazlet, N.J./St. John Vianni 21 Mike Guadango OF Fr. 5-11 190 R/R Upper Saddle River, N.J./ Northern Highlands 22 Mike Santana RHP Sr. 5-11 170 R/R Paramus, N.J./Paramus 23 Don Reinertsen OF Sr. 6-0 210 L/R Swartzwood, N.J./Ki atinny 24 Jon Marzella INF Sr. 6-1 210 R/R Cedar Knolls, N.J./Seton Hall Prep 27 Steve Schlitzer RHP Jr. 5-11 180 R/R West New York, N.J./Memorial 28 Chad Reinertsen C Jr. 5-10 190 R/R Swartzwood, N.J./Ki atinny 30 Sco Fischer INF Fr. 6-2 190 R/R Woodcliff Lake, N.J./Pascack Hills 31 Mike Irwin RHP Sr. 6-4 205 R/R North Haledon, N.J./ Manchester Regional 32 Ryan Brand C/1B Sr. 6-1 235 L/R Monroe, N.J./Marlboro 34 Don Hays C Jr. 5-8 190 R/R Paramus, N.J./Paramus 40 Greg Stokes RHP Fr. 6-0 200 R/R Franklin Lakes, N.J./Indian Hills 41 Bill Christopher RHP Jr. 6-1 240 R/R Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood Head Coach: Jeff Albies (Long Island ’68), 33rd season at William Paterson Assistant Coaches: Bob Lauterhahn, 27th season John Ponchak (Muhlenberg ’59), seventh season Sco Farber, fi h season Jack Baker (William Paterson ’04), fourth season Jeff Albies AL-bees Jon Marzella mahr-ZELL-ah Chris Arecchi ah-WRECK-ee Rick Pignatello PIG-nah-TELL-oh Will Courter COURT-er Wayne Poppe POP-ee Tim Cowan COW-an Reinertsen RYE-nert-sen Mike Guadango guad-AIN-go Steve Schlitzer SCHLIT-zer Bob Lauterhahn LAUT-er-han Mike Vicci VEECH-ee Dan Limone lih-MOAN VandeVrede VAN-dee-VREED With a dozen seniors ready to lead the Pio- neers, the 2007 William Paterson baseball team boasts both experience and talent as the Pioneers prepare to take the fi eld. Six positional starters and 17 le erwinners return from the 2006 Pioneer squad that posted a 26-14 overall record and a 13-5 mark to earn a share of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) regular-season title. Experience and depth should be strengths for the Pioneers in the fi eld and at the plate this spring, but William Paterson’s rotation will have a very diff erent look following the loss of fi ve hurlers from last year’s lineup. PITCHERS For almost any club, the loss of fi ve pitchers who combined to throw more than a third of the Mike Irwin earned a spot on the innings (176.1-357.0) and start more than half of the 2006 All-NJAC Second Team (2.12 games (23-40) the previous season would signal a ERA). rebuilding year for the staff . Even though William Paterson will be less experienced on the mound in 2007, the Pioneers do have seven quality hurlers returning, as well as three newcomers, who will each have an opportunity to earn additional innings with productive outings. Senior Mike Irwin (North Haledon, N.J./Manchester Regional) posted a 2.12 ERA and .217 opponent ba ing average in eight starts last season to earn second-team all-NJAC honors, making him the Pioneers’ most accomplished and ba le-tested pitcher. Expected to join Irwin in the starting rotation will be fellow seniors Tim Cowan (Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic) and Mike Santana (Para- mus, N.J./Paramus). Cowan, who has made 41 career appearances, striking out 79 ba ers in 81.1 innings while compiling a 3.87 ERA, will look to bounce back from a disappointing 2006 season (2-3, 5.94 ERA), while Santana should see more opportunities this year a er making 11 middle-relief appearances a season ago (5.21 ERA). Dan VandeVrede (Lincoln Park, N.J./Pequannock) responded well as a freshman last season, compiling a 3.60 ERA in 20.0 innings. A er starting once in 12 outings last spring, VandeVrede could fi nd his way out of the bullpen and into a starting slot as a sophomore. Senior Vincent Martino (Thiells, N.Y./North Rockland) saw action in 11 games in 2006, his fi rst season as a Pioneer a er transferring from Rockland C.C., pu ing his live arm to good use as primarily a reliever. He will likely be joined in the bullpen by junior Steve Schlitzer (West New York, N.J./Memorial), who bounced back from an injury to register a 5-1 record, 2.86 ERA and two saves in 22.0 innings last year. Newcomers to the Pioneer staff include junior Bill Christopher (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood), a hard-throwing right hander who could start or relieve; junior Steve VandeVrede (Lincoln Park, N.J./Pequannock), a transfer from Quinnipiac who