NJAC NEWS ARCHIVE

 2003-04

May 6, 2004


 WILLIAM PATERSON'S HERNANDEZ NAMED
2004 NJAC BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR


ROWAN'S SCHWARTZ NAMED CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE YEAR


William Paterson University junior third baseman Joe Hernandez has been named New Jersey Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Year for the 2004 season.

The current NJAC leader in batting average (.448), hits (69), RBI (51), doubles (24) and total bases (102), Hernandez becomes the second consecutive Pioneer to be named NJAC Player of the Year. WPU senior outfielder Bryan Graham captured NJAC Player of the Year honors in 2003.

Hernandez also produced conference-leading offensive statistics against NJAC pitching including league highs in hits (33), RBI (28) and doubles (10). He currently leads all of NCAA Division III with 0.69 doubles per game.


Rowan junior lefthander Josh Schwartz was named NJAC Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season after posting a conference-best 10-0 overall record. In 11 appearances for the Profs, he struck out 72 while logging 79.2 innings. His earned run average of 1.58 currently leads all conference pitchers. He also produced a conference-best 0.62 earned run average against NJAC competition. 

TCNJ senior right-hander Julius Jenkins was named the league’s Fireman of the Year for the second consecutive season. Last week’s NJAC, ECAC, NJCBA and National Baseball Writers Association Pitcher of the Week, Jenkins finished his career ranked 10th and seventh all-time at TCNJ in strikeouts and saves respectively. Jenkins currently ranks fourth among all NJAC pitchers with a 2.15 earned run average.


Lion freshman catcher Gerard Haran was tabbed NJAC Rookie of the Year. In 28 games played for TCNJ, Haran produced eight doubles, six home runs and 24 RBI. He currently ranks 32nd in the conference in hitting with a .333 batting average.

Sixth-year Prof head coach John Cole was named NJAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. With an overall coaching record of 179-61, Cole led Rowan to a 33-6 regular season record and the top seed in the 2004 NJAC Championship Tournament. Over the past two seasons, he has guided the Profs to an overall record of 64-16 and a conference regular season record of 28-8.