Manhattan Tabbed As Preseason Favorite

Edison, N.J. – Manhattan College has been chosen as the favorite to take the 2010 MAAC Baseball title, according to a preseason poll voted on by the league’s head coaches.

Manhattan finished with 79 points in the poll, while Marist College finished second (71).  Canisius College placed third with 65 points.  Rider University placed fourth (43), followed by Siena College (42), Fairfield University (40), Niagara University (29), Saint Peter’s College (20), and Iona College (16).

The Jaspers’ senior outfielder Kevin Nieto was named the 2010 MAAC Baseball Preseason Player of the Year.  Last season, he led all of Division I with 1.57 runs per game.  Nieto hit a team-best .396 as he helped guide the Jaspers to their second consecutive MAAC regular-season title.  He also led the MAAC in runs scored (72) and slugging percentage (.754).

The infield for the 2010 preseason team includes: Marist’s Bryce Nugent as catcher, Manhattan’s Austin Sheffield at first base, Siena’s Dan Paolini at second base, Saint Peter’s Conor Mullee at shortstop and Siena’s Anthony Giansanti at third base.  Joining Nieto in the outfield are fellow teammate Mike McCann and Canisius’ Ian Choy.  Manhattan’s Anthony Armenio is the designated hitter, and Canisius’ Shayne Willson is the utility player.  Fairfield’s Rob Gariano rounds out the Preseason All-MAAC Team as the pitcher.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Fairfield University Baseball Head Coach John Slosar announced the Stags’ 2010 slate this afternoon. The schedule includes opponents from the Big East, the CAA, the Atlantic-10, the Horizon League, and the Ivy League.

Fairfield head coach John Slosar

13-14, for a three-game series with the Hornets.

Complete 2010 Fairfield Schedule

Fairfield returns to the Northeast on March 16 for a single game against Big East foe St. John’s. The Stags open play at Alumni Diamond on March 18 when they host Quinnipiac. It’s the first of three games against the Bobcats that the Stags will play this season. The two teams will also meet in Hamden, Conn. on April 10 and will be back at Alumni Diamond on April 11.

The Stags will head to Hofstra, March 20-21, for a four-game tilt with the CAA foes. Fairfield will also travel to Sacred Heart and Hartford before opening MAAC play at Saint Peter’s on March 27. After non-league home games against Fordham and Bryant, the Stags will host Rider during Easter weekend for their first MAAC home series. The two teams will play a doubleheader on April 3 followed by a single game on April 5. The Stags will host three additional MAAC series which includes Manhattan, Canisius, and the regular season finale against Marist, May 20-21.

Fairfield will have several weekday non-conference games throughout the month of April. The Stags travel to Yale for a doubleheader on April 14, host UConn on April 20 and Sacred Heart on April 27, head to Stony Brook on April 28, and will have home and home series with Central Connecticut.

Fairfield went 20-27 overall and 10-14 in the MAAC last season. The Stags return eight starting position players and six starting pitchers, including senior captains David Dudish, Bill Rafferty, and Rob Gariano, a First Team All-MAAC selection.

(Release)