February 14, 2006

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

DEFENDING NJAC CHAMPIONS SEEKING THEIR SIXTH CONFERENCE CROWN

After winning the NJAC Championship and advancing to the NCAA Division III Tournament Mid-Atlantic Regional in 2005, The College of New Jersey has been selected as the 2006 preseason baseball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Lions, who finished their 2005 campaign with an overall record of 34-13, are seeking their sixth league title since the inception of the NJAC baseball championship back in 1958.

TCNJ was selected to finish first on four-of-the-ten ballots cast by the league’s head coaches. Under the direction of 24th-year head coach Rick Dell, the Lions have posted an overall record of 636-312-10. TCNJ tallied an 11-5 conference regular season mark in 2005 and captured the NJAC Tournament title as the second-seed. The Lions return three all-conference players including junior first baseman Blake Bullis, junior catcher Gerard Haran, and senior outfielder Chris Wilson.  

Rowan University was selected to finish second in the poll and received four first place votes. Returning Prof head coach Juan Ranero previously spent five seasons as the skipper at Rowan, posting a 112-74-1 record during his stint in Glassboro before departing for Division II Barry University. His overall career coaching record currently stands at 221-177-2. The Profs, who finished 42-10 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament National Championship Series for the second consecutive season in 2005, return three all-conference players in senior shortstop Matt Enuco, senior second baseman Frank Galeota and junior designated hitter/pitcher Brian McLaughlin. 

The 2005 NJAC regular season champions, Kean University was selected to place third and received two first place votes. The Cougars finished the 2005 campaign with a 34-9 overall mark and won the NJAC regular season race with a 12-4 league record. Under the direction of ninth-year head coach Neil Ioviero, the Cougars have posted a 207-100-2 overall record. Kean returns three all-conference players including junior pitcher Daniel Zeffiro, junior shortstop Perry Schatzow, and junior first baseman/pitcher Aaron Richard.

Montclair State University, under the direction of 19th-year head coach Norm Schoenig, was selected to finish fourth. Under Schoenig, the Red Hawks have posted an overall record of 524-263-8. Montclair returns two all-conference players including senior third baseman Danny Rodriguez and senior outfielder Brian Butler.  

Rutgers University-Camden, which finished 28-11 in 2005, was selected to finish fifth. The Scarlet Raptors return three all-conference players including senior shortstop Brian Jakubowski, sophomore second baseman Dean Straga, and senior first baseman Matt Calloway. Under the guidance of eighth-year head coach Keith Williams, Camden has posted an overall record of 125-124-1.

After earning the sixth seed in the 2005 NJAC Tournament, Rutgers University-Newark was selected to again place sixth. Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Mark Rizzi, the Scarlet Raiders have accumulated a record of 76-106-3, including an 18-19-2 mark in 2005. Newark returns a pair of all-conference infielders in senior shortstop Dave Sicca and junior second baseman John Farmer.  

Under the leadership of 32nd-year head coach Jeff Albies, William Paterson University was selected to place seventh. The dean of all NJAC coaches, Albies has accumulated an 817-370-10 record during his tenure in Wayne. The Pioneers return an all-conference junior outfielder in Brian Gelalia.  

The coaches' dark horse selection, Richard Stockton College was tapped to place eighth. Fourth-year head coach Marty Kavanagh has posted a 40-59-2 overall record at Stockton, including a 20-16 mark in 2005. The Ospreys return a pair of all-conference players in sophomore shortstop Pat Goodwin and senior catcher Chris Crescenzi. 

Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Rich Martin, Ramapo College was selected to place ninth. Martin has accumulated a 106-89-1 record with the Roadrunners and an overall head coaching mark of 350-298-1. Ramapo returns three all-conference players including senior outfielder Joe Rivisto, senior third baseman Brad Szatkiewicz, and junior shortstop Gary Miller.

New Jersey City University, which returns to the NJAC in 2005, was selected to place 10th. Led by 17th-year head coach Ken Heaton, the Gothic Knights have posted a 225-324-8 record, including a 19-14 overall mark in 2005.

The top six conference regular season finishers will advance to the double-elimination 2006 NJAC Tournament which will begin at campus sites on Wednesday, May 3. All six of the participating teams will then travel to a neutral site where the remainder of the tournament will be conducted from Friday, May 5 through Sunday, May 7. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.