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Somerset, NJ -- On the eve of the 2004 Northeast Conference Baseball Tournament, the league announced its year-end all-conference award winners in balloting conducted by head coaches. Central Connecticut State senior second baseman Keith Stegbauer (Seminole, FL/St. Petersburg JC) was the unanimous choice as NEC Player of the Year. Quinnipiac was the recipient of two awards, as sophomore Patrick Egan (Rocky Hill, CT/Rocky Hill) was named NEC Pitcher of the Year and Dan Gooley was chosen by his peers as NEC Coach of the Year. NEC Rookie of the Year accolades went to Mount St. Mary’s freshman hurler Dustin Pease (Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Spalding). CCSU and Mount St. Mary’s tied for league-high honors with six players apiece named to all-NEC teams.
The major award winners were announced, along with the first and second all-NEC teams, at a banquet held at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, New Jersey. The four-team, double-elimination NEC Tournament will be contested at FirstEnergy Park over the next three days, culminating in the championship on Sunday, May 23rd. First round tournament pairings on Friday afternoon pit top-seeded CCSU against #4 seed Wagner at 12:00 pm, followed by #2 seed Quinnipiac versus #3 seed Monmouth at 3:30 pm.
Batting leadoff in one of the most powerful lineups in NEC history, Stegbauer has been the ultimate table-setter for the Blue Devils in 2004. A second team all-conference pick a year ago, Stegbauer is the national leader with 1.46 runs per game and ranks sixth nationally (and first in the conference by a wide margin) with a .436 batting average. The second baseman recently became the new NEC single-season record holder for base hits and runs scored. Stegbauer has pushed his 2004 total to 95 hits, six more than the former record of 89 shared by Monmouth’s Joe McCullough (1998) and Jason Law (2001). With 76 runs, he bypassed the 70 scored by Monmouth’s Greg Landis in 2001. The Seminole, FL product also leads the league in total bases (115), stands third in slugging percentage (.555) and on-base percentage (.479), and is fifth in RBI (42). Stegbauer, whose .403 career average places him squarely on top of CCSU’s all-time list, succeeds teammate Tim D’Aquila as CCSU’s two NEC Player of the Year award winners.
A former Quinnipiac basketball player, Egan decided to concentrate solely on playing baseball for the 2003-04 season. It was a wise decision in retrospect for the righthander, as his imposing 6’ 8" presence, low 90’s fastball and wicked curveball baffled hitters throughout the year in helping lead the Bobcats to a second place finish in the regular season. Egan currently sports a 7-2 record and ranks first in the NEC in ERA (2.54), complete games (six) and shutouts (two), and second in opponents batting average (.220). A native of Rocky Hill, CT, Egan was even better in league play, where he won an NEC-best six games (against just one defeat) and compiled a 1.86 ERA. Egan is Quinnipiac’s first-ever NEC Pitcher of the Year winner.
Pease took the NEC by storm and helped spearhead the most successful season in the Mount’s Division I history. Pease, who ended his freshman season with an 8-4 record, ranks first in the conference in innings pitched (84.2), appearances (22), complete games (six) and strikeouts (88), while placing second in wins (eight) and saves (four), and fifth in ERA. The southpaw’s three NEC Rookie of the Week awards were the most of any player in the conference. Pease, who was the lone freshman this season to be voted to the all-NEC first team, is the first Mount St. Mary’s player to garner NEC Rookie of the Year plaudits.
Gooley’s Coach of the Year award is his first since returning for his second stint at Quinnipiac, and is indicative of the progress the program has made since he returned to Hamden in a managerial capacity three years ago. Coming off a 3-19 league mark the year prior to his arrival, the Bobcats jumped to 9-18 in 2002 and broke the .500 mark a year ago with a 14-13 record. In 2004, Quinnipiac jumped out to a 12-2 record in NEC play and became the first team to clinch an NEC Tournament spot back on April 25. For the Bobcats, who claimed the second seed after finishing 16-7 in conference play, it marks their first-ever postseason appearance since joining the NEC in 1998. Gooley sports an overall record of 356-285-6 in 19 years as a head coach, including a 255-195-5 mark in 14 seasons as skipper at Quinnipiac.
Eight additional honorees join major award winners Keith Stegbauer (second base), Patrick Egan (pitcher) and Dustin Pease (pitcher) on the all-NEC first team. The first team also features three returnees, all from Central Connecticut State.
For the second straight year, Central Connecticut State junior Phil Rothkugel (Plainville, CT/Plainville) earns first team all-NEC status at first base. Rothkugel, who began his career in 2002 with a flourish, earning NEC Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman, is the league’s second leading hitter with a .385 average. He paces the NEC in walks (38) and on-base percentage (.491), and is second in RBI (47). Over his first three seasons, Rothkugel has driven in 147 runs and belted 22 homers to rank first and second, respectively, among all NEC players during that span. He is second on the CCSU career list in homers, and third in RBI and average (.369).
Quinnipiac sophomore Bryan Sabatella (Wading River, NY/Shoreham Wading River) nabs first team all-NEC honors at third base. Sabatella ended the regular season as the Bobcats’ leader and is among the NEC top-ten in batting average (.356; seventh) and doubles (16; second). He is also third in the league in slugging percentage (.562), and has tallied five homers and 31 RBI.
St. Francis (NY) senior Anthony Giudice (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) claims first team honors for his strong play at shortstop for the Terriers in 2004. Giudice, who flirted with the NEC batting lead for the first half of the season, settled into sixth place by year’s end with a .362 average. He led St. Francis with 29 runs scored and is the third most prolific base stealer in the conference with 18 swipes in 21 attempts.
Central Connecticut State senior Rob Hosgood (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) becomes the first player in NEC history to earn all-conference recognition in each of his four years. A second team pick as a freshman and sophomore, and first team honoree in each of the last two seasons, Hosgood is regarded as one of the top all-around players on the circuit. At or near the top of a host of statistical categories, he leads the NEC with eight homers and a .596 slugging percentage, and is second in runs (57), hits (74), triples (four), total bases (115), walks (36) and on-base percentage (.487). Hosgood also stands third in hitting (.385) and RBI (42), fourth in stolen bases (16) and has eight outfield assists. He continues to rewrite the Blue Devil record books, ranking among school’s all-time top-five in seven categories, including runs (194; first), total bases (414; first), RBI (166; 2nd), hits (268; 2nd) and homers (21; 3rd).
Quinnipiac outfielder Albert Marano (Lincoln, RI/Bishop Hendricken) corrals first team honors in the outfield following a terrific senior campaign. One of the top power hitters in the conference, he blasted seven homers and compiled a .568 slugging percentage during the regular season to rank second in the NEC in both categories. He is also eighth in the league in hitting with a .355 average and has knocked in 31 runs. In NEC play, Marano hit .407 and swatted five homers.
Mount St. Mary’s senior Jason Weszka (Mount Airy, MD/Glenelg) claims the final first team all-NEC outfield spot. Weszka paced the Mount and stands fifth in the NEC in hitting (.367) and runs (40), and also contributed 11 doubles and 30 RBI. With 61 hits this season, he fell four shy of establishing a single-season record at the school. Weszka is also the all-time program leader with 191 hits, 42 doubles and 174 games played.
Central Connecticut State junior Tim D’Aquila (Middletown, CT/Middletown) makes it three straight first team all-conference nods at catcher. The 2003 NEC Player of the Year and a former NEC Rookie of the Year, D’Aquila has entrenched himself in the CCSU record books. He is CCSU’s all-time leader with 279 hits, 179 RBI, 49 doubles and 779 at-bats, as well as second with 178 runs. In 2004, D’Aquila is batting .319 and is the league leader with 49 RBI. He is also second in the loop in triples (four), third in runs scored (46) and doubles (14), and sixth in stolen bases (12).
Monmouth junior Brett Hardie (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South), who made an immediate impact in the Hawks’ lineup after transferring from St. John’s, is the first team choice at designated hitter. Hardie leads the Hawks with a .343 average and ranks second on the club with 46 hits, despite missing time with a fractured nose. He has also scored 20 runs and amassed 17 RBI.
The all-NEC second team includes just one repeat all-star, St. Francis (NY) senior outfielder Mike Molinini (Staten Island, NY/Mgsr. Farrell), who makes his third appearance. As consistent as they come, Molinini hit .316, drove in 15 runs and stole 10 bases. He also played near flawless ball in the outfield, committing just one error.
One of four Mount players named to the second team, sophomore first baseman Eric Smith (Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph’s Prep (PA)) batted .338 with three homers, 33 runs and 26 RBI. Monmouth sophomore second baseman Nick Massari (Trenton, NJ/Hamilton West) looks to be a franchise player for the playoff-bound Hawks. Massari is a .310 hitter who ranks first on the club in hits (53), runs (31), doubles (10), triples (four), homers (six), slugging percentage (.520) and walks (24). He is second on the circuit in three-baggers and seventh in slugging. Mount St. Mary’s senior third baseman Burt Stormes (Hanover, PA/New Oxford) was one of seven Mount regulars who hit .318 or better. Stormes ended his senior campaign with a .340 average, ten doubles, four homers and tied for the team lead with 31 RBI. Long Island’s Robert Rowen (Rosendale, NY/Rondout Valley) is one of just two freshman voted all-conference by league head coaches and will likely be a longtime fixture at shortstop for the Blackbirds. Rowen ranked first on the Blackbirds in hits (41), runs (26), doubles (eight), homers (two), slugging percentage (.467) and on-base percentage (.401). Joining Molinini in the outfield are Mount St. Mary’s senior Jim Jefferson (Lindenwold, NJ/Overbrook Regional) and Wagner sophomore Nick Papa (Freehold, NJ/Freehold). The Mount’s second leading hitter with a .345 average, Jefferson also contributed four homers, 29 RBI and slugged .509, good for ninth in the conference. Papa came on like gangbusters down the stretch to help propel the Seahawks into the NEC playoffs. Papa, who is hitting .318, leads the conference with 18 doubles and five triples, ranks sixth in slugging percentage (.549) and also paces the Seahawks with 34 RBI. Mount St. Mary’s junior catcher Adam Schlenoff (Lutherville, MD/Loyola Blakefield) hit a blistering .385 against NEC hurlers and .325 overall. Schlenoff also showed some power, cracking five homers, while ranking eighth in the league with a team-leading .518 slugging percentage. Long Island sophomore Mike Martino (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter’s) is the coaches second team pick at designated hitter. Martino led the Blackbirds and is the NEC’s ninth leading hitter with a .349 average. In addition to Central Connecticut State’s league-high four first team all-NEC performers, the Blue Devils also feature a pair of second team pitchers in junior Scott Vitelli (West Haven, CT/West Haven) and senior Lewis Pappariella (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra). Vitelli, who emerged as the CCSU staff ace, has tied a school record with nine wins in 2004 and enters the postseason with a 9-3 record and 2.64 ERA. The righty ranks first in the league in victories and is third in ERA and opponents’ batting average (.228). Sporting pinpoint accuracy, Vitelli has issued just eight free passes in 75.1 innings pitched. Pappariella has been practically unhittable in league play with a 5-1 record and 1.70 ERA. For the season, the veteran righthander is 6-2 and has held opposing hitters to a .228 average (third in the NEC), while recording a 3.40 ERA (seventh in NEC).
2004 NEC Baseball Award Winners
Player of the Year
Keith Stegbauer Central Connecticut State 2B 6-1 190 Sr Seminole, FL/St. Petersburg JC
Pitcher of the Year
Patrick Egan Quinnipiac P 6-8 210 So Rocky Hill, CT/Rocky Hill
Rookie of the Year
Dustin Pease Mount St. Mary’s P 5-10 145 Fr Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Spalding
Coach of the Year
Dan Gooley Quinnipiac
2004 NEC Baseball First Team All-Conference
Name School Pos. Ht Wt Yr Hometown/High School
Phil Rothkugel Central Connecticut State 1B 6-2 235 Jr Bristol, CT/Plainville
Keith Stegbauer Central Connecticut State 2B 6-1 190 Sr Seminole, FL/St. Petersburg JC
Bryan Sabatella Quinnipiac 3B 6-3 215 So Wading River, NY/Shoreham Wading River
Anthony Giudice St. Francis (NY) SS 5-11 176 Sr Brooklyn, NY/James Madison
Rob Hosgood Central Connecticut State OF 6-2 205 Sr Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa
Albert Marano Quinnipiac OF 6-0 200 Sr Lincoln, RI/Bishop Hendricken
Jason Weszka Mount St. Mary’s OF 5-10 190 Sr Mount Airy, MD/Glenelg
Tim D’Aquila Central Connecticut State C 5-10 225 Sr Middletown, CT/Middletown
Brett Hardie Monmouth DH 5-8 175 Jr Toms River, NJ/Toms River South (St. John’s)
Patrick Egan Quinnipiac P 6-8 210 So Rocky Hill, CT/Rocky Hill
Dustin Pease Mount St. Mary’s P 5-10 145 Fr Baltimore, MD/Archbishop Spalding
2004 NEC Baseball Second Team All-Conference
Name School Pos. Ht Wt Yr Hometown/High School
Eric Smith Mount St. Mary’s 1B 6-0 205 So Marlton, NJ/St. Joseph’s Prep (PA)
Nick Massari Monmouth 2B 5-8 165 So Trenton, NJ/Hamilton West
Burt Stormes Mount St. Mary’s 3B 6-0 195 Sr Hanover, PA/New Oxford
Rob Rowen Long Island SS 6-2 195 Fr Rosendale, NY/Rondout Valley
Jim Jefferson Mount St. Mary’s OF 6-0 210 Sr Lindenwold, NJ/Overbrook Regional
Mike Molinini St. Francis (NY) OF 6-0 195 Sr Staten Island, NY/Mgsr. Farrell
Nick Papa Wagner OF 5-11 180 So Freehold, NJ/Freehold
Adam Schlenoff Mount St. Mary’s C 6-0 185 Jr Lutherville, MD/Loyola Blakefield
Matt Martino Long Island DH 5-7 180 So Staten Island, NY/St. Peter’s
Lewis Pappariella Central Connecticut State P 6-3 200 Sr Palmyra, PA/Palmyra
Scott Vitelli Central Connecticut State P 6-1 205 Jr West Haven, CT/West Haven