Jan. 20, 2004

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Fairfield University baseball Head Coach John Slosar announced his four co-captains for the upcoming 2004 season. Senior outfielder Antuan Barnett (Bronx, N.Y./Rice), senior right-handed pitcher Tom Maisano (Farmingdale, N.Y./Chaminade), senior bullpen ace Pat Quinn (Paterson, N.J./Passaic Valley), and senior right-handed starter Pablo Tamayo (Miami, Fla./Ransom Everglades) were picked by their teammates in December.

"They are all guys who have contributed to the program significantly since walking through the door here," Slosar said. "All four of them will take their role seriously in providing leadership in the team."

Barnett has been the starting right-fielder for the Stags since his sophomore season. In each of the last two years the Rice product has led the team in homeruns, and has been a consistent power hitter. Last season, he hit .272 with seven homeruns and 21 runs batted in. He knocked 41 hits, which was good for third on the team, and recorded a .368 on-base percentage.

"Antuan is a vocal leader," Slosar said of his right fielder. "We are looking for him to be the catalyst offensively with his big bat in the middle of the lineup."

Antuan Barnett

Maisano, has been the ace of the staff for the last two seasons, and enters the season one strikeout shy of fifth-place on the school's all-time list with 140, behind Rob Elinskas (1994-97) who sits in fifth with 141. As a sophomore, he recorded 76 strikeouts which rank him fourth in school-history for strikeouts in a season. The 2002 season was his finest season in the Red and White, posting a 6-4 record with a 4.70 ERA in six complete games.

"Tom has been the ace of the staff over the last three seasons," Slosar said. "He is a very tough competitor, and a good example for our younger pitchers."

Heading into the season, Quinn appears to be the anchor of the bullpen. In his career, he has been mainly used as a specialist retiring a batter or two. Last season, Quinn had a 1-1 record with a 3.71 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 17.0 innings of work. He has struck out 51 hitters in 39.0 career innings. Opposing hitters batted just .206 against Quinn last season, as the New Jersey native gave up 13 hits, and seven earned runs.

"Pat is a solid individual and is competitive day in and day out, and is will to do anything for the betterment of the team," Slosar said. "He is an outstanding example for all of our players."

Tamayo has been a weekend starter for the Stags the last two seasons. In 2002, he was 4-6 with a 5.96 earned run average. As a sophomore, he was third on the team in wins, and second in appearances. A control pitcher, he has struck out nearly twice as many hitters as he walked striking out 92 batters, and walking 54 in three seasons.

"Pablo has an outstanding work habits and at times in the past has had key pitching performances for us," Slosar said. "He is very calm and steady on the hill, and is great at sharing his experiences with some of the younger pitchers."

Pablo Tamayo

"It is unusual to have three pitchers as co-captains," Slosar stated. "But they are pitchers who are in a competitive mode even though they may not have the ball on the mound."

Fairfield opens the 2004 season with a three-game series at UMBC, March 6-7. From there the Stags will head to Bradenton, Fla. for five games in the "Sunshine State." The Stags will face Northern Illinois on March 14, Miami of Ohio (March 15), Bucknell (March 16), Columbia (March 17), and Dartmouth (March 18).

Fairfield will open the Northern portion of its schedule with a doubleheader against Stony Brook, on Saturday, March 20, with first pitch slated for 12 p.m. on Alumni Diamond.