FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
Edison, N.J. – Rider University has been chosen as the favorite to win the 2011 MAAC Baseball Championship, according to a preseason poll voted on by the league’s head coaches.
Rider, the defending MAAC Champion, finished with 73 points in the poll, while Marist College finished second (67). Canisius College placed third with 65 points. Manhattan College placed fourth (56), followed by Siena College (51), Niagara University (28), Fairfield University (27), Saint Peter’s College (20), and Iona College (18).
Siena junior second baseman Dan Paolini was named the 2011 MAAC Baseball Preseason Player of the Year. Paolini, 2010 MAAC Player of the Year, posted a .368 batting average last season. He also registered a league-best .816 slugging percentage, while setting a school-record with 62 runs scored and 64 RBI. Paolini stole 12 bases in just 15 attempts on the season, and made just four errors in 264 chances (.985) at second base.
The infield for the 2011 preseason team includes: Marist’s Bryce Nugent as catcher, Siena’s Kevin Quaranto at first base, Dan Paolini at second base, Canisius’ Sean Jamieson at shortstop and Manhattan’s Chad Salem at third base. In the outfield are Manhattan’s Mike McCann and Mark Onorati along with Rider’s Brandon Cotten. Fairfield’s Anthony Hajjar is the designated hitter, and Marist’s Jon Schwind is the utility player. Canisius’ Shane Davis and Rider’s Mike Thomas round out the Preseason All-MAAC Team as the pitchers.
2011 MAAC Baseball Preason Coaches’ Poll | 2011 MAAC Baseball Preason Team | |||||
1. | Rider | 73 | Bryce Nugent | Catcher | Marist | |
2. | Marist | 67 | Kevin Quaranto | First Base | Siena | |
3. | Canisius | 65 | Dan Paolini | Second Base | Siena | |
4. | Manhattan | 56 | Sean Jamieson | Shortstop | Canisius | |
5. | Siena | 51 | Chad Salem | Third Base | Manhattan | |
6. | Niagara | 28 | Mike McCann | Outfield | Manhattan | |
7. | Fairfield | 27 | Mark Onorati | Outfield | Manhattan | |
8. | Saint Peter’s | 20 | Brandon Cotten | Outfield | Rider | |
9. | Iona | 18 | Anthony Hajjar | Designated Hitter | Fairfield | |
Jon Schwind | Utility | Marist | ||||
Shane Davis | Pitcher | Canisius | ||||
Mike Thomas | Pitcher | Rider | ||||
2011 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year: Dan Paolini, Siena |