February 15, 2005

ROWAN SELECTED AS BASEBALL FAVORITE
IN POLL OF LEAGUE'S HEAD COACHES

TWO-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPION PROFS SEEK 14TH CONFERENCE CROWN

After capturing back-to-back NJAC Championships and advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament Championship Finals in 2004, Rowan University has been selected as the preseason baseball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Profs, who finished their 2004 campaign with an overall record of 41-8, are seeking their 14th league title since the inception of the NJAC baseball championship back in 1958.

Rowan was selected to finish first on eight-of-the-nine ballots cast by the league’s head coaches. Under the direction of seventh-year head coach John Cole, the Profs have posted an overall record of 187-63. Rowan tallied a 14-4 conference regular season record in 2004 and swept through the 2004 NJAC Tournament with three consecutive victories. The Profs return five all-conference players including a pair of standout left-handed pitchers in seniors Josh Schwartz and Tom McCullen.  Schwartz was selected as the 2004 NJAC Pitcher of the Year, while McCullen was tabbed as the 2004 NJAC Male Athlete of the Year. In addition, Rowan returns three additional all-conference players in senior catcher Michael Rucci, senior outfielder Bryan Ciconte, and sophomore utility player Shawn Counard. 

Montclair State University was selected to finish second in the poll and received the only other first place vote among the nine ballots cast. Under the direction of 18th-year head coach Norm Schoenig, the Red Hawks have posted a record of 509-239-8, including a 2004 mark of 25-16 en route to a second place NJAC regular season finish. The Red Hawks return three all-conference players in junior outfielder Brian Butler, senior outfielder Ethan Boyd and senior catcher Rob Blackburn.

William Paterson University, which finished the 2004 season with a 26-14 overall record while advancing to the NJAC Tournament Championship game, placed third in the poll. Jeff Albies, the longest-tenured of the NJAC coaches in his 31st season, has guided the Pioneers to an overall record of 806-350-10. William Paterson returns an all-conference senior right-handed pitcher in Jake Pravkewitz.  

The College of New Jersey, under the direction of 23rd-year head coach Rick Dell, was selected to finish fourth. Under Dell, TCNJ has posted an overall record of 602-299-10 including a mark of 22-12 in 2004. The Lions return the 2004 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore catcher Gerard Haran. 

Kean University, which finished 24-13-1 in 2004, was selected to finish fifth. The Cougars return one all-conference player in junior outfielder Kevin Wright. Under the guidance of eighth-year head coach Neil Ioviero, Kean has posted an overall record of 173-91-2.

After earning the fourth seed in the 2004 NJAC Championship Tournament, Ramapo College was selected to finish sixth in the coaches poll. Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Rich Martin, the Roadrunners have accumulated a record of 108-87-1, including a 22-16 mark in 2004. Ramapo returns all-conference senior catcher Doug Aday. 

The coaches' dark horse selection, Rutgers-Camden, was picked to place seventh. Led by seventh-year head coach Keith Williams, the Scarlet Raptors return all-conference right-handed pitcher Matt Ulmer. 

Rutgers-Newark was tapped for eighth place by the coaches. Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Mark Rizzi, the Scarlet Raiders return all-conference junior shortstop Dave Sica. 

Under the direction of third-year head coach Marty Kavanagh, Richard Stockton College was selected to place ninth. The Ospreys return two all-conference players in junior catcher Chris Crescenzi and junior shortstop Eric Markussen.

The 2005 NJAC Tournament will feature an expanded field and a new format. The top six regular season finishers will advance to the double-elimination tournament which will begin on campus sites on Wednesday, May 4. All six of the participating teams will then travel to Campbell's Field in Camden, NJ where the remainder of the tournament will be conducted from Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8 .The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.