PITMAN, N.J. – The fifth-seeded William Paterson baseball team (25-13, 10-8 NJAC) will begin its quest for a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament title Tuesday, April 30, at 3:30 p.m. at second-seeded Kean (28-12, 14-4 NJAC).
Live statistics and
live video of the game will be available.
WHERE:
- Jim Hynes '63 Baseball Stadium; Ticket prices are $5.00 for adults: $2.00 for children, students and senior citizens. WP students with ID will be admitted for free.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE:
- The six-team tournament uses a double-elimination format, with the opening round of competition being played on the home fields of the top three seeds on April 30.
- The remaining games of the tournament will be played Friday-Sunday, May 3-5, at Kean University. (Tournament Bracket)
- The NJAC champion garners an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
- The winner of the WP/Kean game will play Friday, May 3, at 7:00 p.m. at Kean against the winner of Tuesday's game between third-seeded Ramapo (23-12, 13-5 NJAC) and fourth-seeded and No. 8/5 The College of New Jersey (26-9, 12-5 NJAC).
- The loser of the WP/Kean game will play Friday, May 3, at 12:00 p.m. at Kean against the loser of Tuesday's game between top-seeded and No. 4/4 Rowan (29-8, 14-4 NJAC) and sixth-seeded Rutgers-Newark (15-17, 9-9 NJAC).
WP IN THE NJAC TOURNAMENT:
- WP is making its 33rd appearance in the NJAC Tournament (1959, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), and its ninth trip under the tutelage of 12th-year head coach Mike Lauterhahn.
- The Pioneers are looking for their 13th NJAC Tournament title (1959, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997). A year ago, sixth-seeded William Paterson lost 9-0 in the first round at top-seeded TCNJ, and 5-4 to fifth-seeded Kean in the second round.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS:
- Winners of its last five games, William Paterson is coming off a 6-4 victory at Montclair State (12-25, 3-15 NJAC) April 28.
- The only Pioneer to start all 38 games, sophomore center fielder Steven DiGirolamo (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) paces WP with a .434 batting average, 72 hits, 44 runs scored, eight triples, 14 stolen bases and a .487 on-base percentage. Sophomore catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) owns a .383 average and team bests of 14 doubles, six home runs, 31 RBI and a .638 slugging percentage. Sophomore first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) ranks third among the everyday players with a .331 average while adding seven extra-base hits (four doubles, two triples, one homer), 25 RBI and 29 runs scored.
- Senior Corey Martinez (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) leads the starting rotation with a 6-0 record and 2.60 earned-run average in 11 appearances and nine starts, registering 54 strikeouts in 65.2 innings pitched. Classmate Eric Rosenberg (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) has compiled a 6-2 record and 2.00 ERA in 15 appearances (one start), posting three saves and 41 strikeouts during 36.0 innings of work.
SCOUTING THE COUGARS:
- Kean is coming off a 3-4, 14-12 doubleheader split against No. 8/5 The College of New Jersey (26-9, 12-5 NJAC) April 27, and finished in a two-way tie for first place in the conference standings. The Cougars have won 10 of their last 11 outings.
- Senior infielder John Carello is hitting .380 with 15 doubles, three home runs, 26 RBI and 40 runs scored. Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Zachary Marzano owns a .364 average, eight doubles, four triples, four homers, 35 RBI and 37 runs scored, while junior outfielder Nick Polizzano is batting .356 with nine doubles, 24 RBI and 28 runs scored.
- Junior Frank LoGuidice is 6-2 with a 3.03 earned-run average in 10 starts, striking out 39 hitters in 59.1 innings. Senior Frank Dente IV has made three relief appearances, going 0-0 with a 1.42 ERA, two saves and seven punchouts in 6.1 innings of work.
LAST TIME THEY MET:
- William Paterson split a doubleheader at Kean April 6, dropping a 4-2 decision during the opener before bouncing back for a 9-6 victory.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:
