Feb. 23, 2001
Fairfield, Conn. - The Fairfield University baseball team was picked to finish third in the preseason poll of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) baseball coaches, released this afternoon by the MAAC office. Dan Krines (Huntington, NY) and Matt Ciardelli (Milford, NH) were named to the preseason All-MAAC team, Krines as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year, and Ciardelli as the top second basemen in the conference.
A graduate of Chaminade High School, Krines posted a team-best 8-2 mark record and 3.39 ERA last season for the Stags. Over the summer the junior was named the co-Pitcher of the Year in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, where he pitched for the Chatham A's. As a sophomore, Krines hurled 103.2 innings, striking out 44 batters, while walking just 14. His eight wins tied him for first place in program history for wins in a single season, and also tied for the league lead in wins.
Ciardelli, a graduate of Bishop Guertin High School, was selected to the All-MAAC First Team a season ago, after hitting .288 in his first campaign for the Stags. A junior, Ciardelli, posted a .970 fielding percentage last season, committing just seven errors in 235 total chances. Ciardelli had six homeruns and 26 RBI for the Stags as a sophomore.
Fairfield, who went to the MAAC Tournament Championship Game, was chosen third by the coaches with 72 points, tying with Rider University. Marist College, the defending MAAC Tournament champions, received 89 points and the top spot, followed by LeMoyne, with 87 points. Iona (6) was chosen fifth, followed by Siena (57), Manhattan (40), and Niagara (33. Canisius and St. Peter's were picked ninth, both receiving 21 points.
The Stags open the 2001 campaign with a three game set at Liberty University, March 3rd and 4th. The team's MAAC and home opener is a double-header, Saturday, March 17th, when Canisius comes to Alumni Diamond at 12:00 pm.
2000 MAAC Baseball 2000 MAAC Baseball
Preseason Coaches Poll Preseason Team
1) Marist 89 Name Position School
2) LeMoyne 87 Jim Buckley Catcher Siena
3) Fairfield 72 Scott Edwardsen First Base LeMoyne
Rider 72 Matt Ciardelli Second Base Fairfield
5) Iona 60 Mike Lorento Third Base Manhattan
6) Siena 57 Tim Sperka Shortstop Rider
7) Manhattan 40 Anthony Bocchino Outfield Marist
8) Niagara 33 Ryan Brady Outfield Marist
9) Canisius 21 Ryan Finn Outfield Siena
St. Peter's 21 Manny Pizzaro DH Iona
Dan Krines Pitcher Fairfield
