Fairfield Stags baseball
The Fairfield Stags baseball team is the college baseball team representing Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. Fairfield competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) of NCAA Division I and plays their home games at the Alumni Baseball Diamond on the campus of Fairfield University. The Stags were MAAC Champions in 1983, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997. Fairfield is currently coached by 2012 MAAC Coach of the Year Bill Currier.
History
Fairfield fielded its first varsity baseball team in 1951, winning 7 of 12 games. The Stags, coached by Don Cook, made the first of three straight trips to the ECAC New England Tournament in 1977, defeating defending champion University of Maine. The team was MAAC South Champions in 1983, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997.
Individually, Anthony Hajjar was named a 2010 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American; Peter Allen was named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List following his program record setting season in 2007 in which he was ranked nationally in doubles, batting average, and slugging percentage; and Mike Pike was named a 1993 Mizuno Freshman All-American.[2]
Keefe Cato, the holder of ten Fairfield pitching records including seven career shutouts and one no-hitter, was the first Fairfield athlete to play in a major professional sport on the major league level after being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the Reds’ winning pitcher in his second game.[3] And Rob Gariano, who surpassed Cato's 31 year stand as Fairfield’s all-time strikeout leader with 293 strikeouts was drafted in the 36th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Diego Padres.[4]
Head coaches
Years |
Coach |
W-L-T |
Pct. |
Joe Yabrosky |
1951–56 |
26–28 |
.481 |
James Hanrahan |
1957 |
1–11 |
.083 |
Frank Feroleto |
1958–63 |
24–50–3 |
.331 |
Jack Redway |
1964–65 |
4–31–1 |
.125 |
Don Cook |
1966–84 |
235–273 |
.463 |
John Slosar |
1985–2011 |
441–597–7 |
.425 |
Bill Currier |
2012–present |
27–25 |
.519 |
Awards
All-Americans
- Anthony Hajjar (Freshman, 2010)
- Mike Pike (Freshman, 1993)
All-Northeast
- Ryan Plourde (Second Team, 2014)
- Peter Allen (2007)
- Dan Krines (2000)
NEIBA All-Stars
- Jake Salpietro (2014)
- Ryan Plourde (2013, 2014)
- Scott Warwick (2012)
- Tucker Nathans (2010, 2011)
- Peter Allen (2007)
- Ryan Holsten (2001)
- Jon Novalis (2001)
- Dan Krines (2000)
|
League Player of the Year
- Adam Samuelian (MAAC South, 1997)
- Mike Pike (MAAC South, 1996)
League Rookie of the Year
- Anthony Hajjar (MAAC, 2010)
- Tom Lopusznick (MAAC South, 1997)
- Jared DeCore (MAAC South, 1996)
- Jarrod Jackette (MAAC South, 1994)
League Coach of the Year
- Bill Currier (MAAC, 2012)
- John Slosar (MAAC South, 1991, 1994, 1997)
|
All-Time statistic leaders
Career batting leaders
- Batting Average (min. 200 AB): Tom Finch (.358, 1969–71)
- Hits: Tucker Nathans (263, 2008–2011)
- Home Runs: Tom Lopusznick (35, 1997–2000)
- RBI: Tom Lopusznick (165, 1997–2000)
- Runs Scored: Tom Lopusznick (142, 1997–2000)
- Stolen Bases: Bill Barnes (122, 1976–79)
Single season batting leaders
- Batting Average: Luis Garcia (.423, 1991)
- Hits: Anthony Hajjar (76, 2010)
- Home Runs: Carmine Devito (13, 2010)
- RBI: Mike Pike (51, 1996)
- Runs Scored: Bill McMahon (49, 1993)
- Stolen Bases: Bill Barnes (37, 1978)
- Doubles: Peter Allen (23, 2007)
Longest hitting streaks
- Ryan Bittner (18g, 4/15/00-5/21/00)
- Mike Svab (18g, 3/28/90-4/24/90)
|
Career pitching leaders
- Complete games: Keefe Cato (24, 1977–79)
- ERA: Keefe Cato (2.25, 1977–79)
- Innings pitched: Rob Gariano (323.1, 2007–10)
- Saves: Scott Larkin (19, 1990–93)
- Strikeouts: Rob Gariano (293, 2007–10)
- Wins: Keefe Cato (21, 1977–79)
Single season pitching leaders
- Complete games: Keefe Cato (11, 1979)
- ERA (min. 25 IP): Kevin Kelleher (0.00, 30.2 IP, 1975)
- Innings pitched: Dan Krines (103.2, 2000)
- Saves: Scott Larkin (10, 1992)
- Strikeouts: Keefe Cato (98, 1979)
- Wins: Keefe Cato (8, 1979), Doug Hofstedt (1985), Dan Krine (2000)
No-hitters
- Joe Cizynski (9 innings vs. Columbia, 4/6/77)
- Keefe Cato (7 innings vs. Maine, 4/8/78)
- Rich Clemens (7 innings vs. Hartford, 4/14/85)
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Stags in the MLB draft
The following Stag players were selected in the Major League Baseball draft:
See also
References
External links