PITMAN, N.J. -- The only unbeaten team after the first two rounds of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Baseball Tournament, third-seeded William Paterson (28-13, 12-6 NJAC) will play in the third round Monday, May 9, at 7:00 p.m. at Kean. The Pioneers will face the winner of Monday's 12:00 p.m. elimination game between second-seeded and 25th-ranked Montclair State (31-10, 15-3 NJAC) and sixth-seeded Ramapo (16-24-1, 6-12 NJAC).
Live statistics and
live video of the game will be available.
WHERE:
- Jim Hynes 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, and the opening round of competition was played on the home fields of the top three seeds on May 3.
- The remaining games of the tournament will be played Sunday-Tuesday, May 8-10, at Kean University.
- The NJAC champion garners an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
- The format for May 10 will depend on how many of teams remain after the May 9 games.
- Regardless of their result Monday, William Paterson will play Tuesday.
- If WP wins Monday, two teams will remain and they will meet Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., with an "if necessary" game to follow immediately thereafter, to determine the champion.
- If WP loses Monday, three teams will remain and the Pioneers will play Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. against the winner of Monday's contest between fourth-seeded and 23rd-ranked Kean (31-12, 12-6 NJAC) and fifth-seeded The College of New Jersey (20-17, 9-9 NJAC). The winner will play at 7:00 p.m. against the last remaining team to determine the champion.
WP IN THE NJAC TOURNAMENT:
- WP is making its 35th 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, 2021, 2022), and its 11th trip under the tutelage of 15th-year head coach and 2022 NJAC Coach of the Year 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, second-seeded William Paterson fell in a best-of-three finals series against top-seeded Rowan.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS:
- William Paterson posted a 5-4 walk-off first-round victory against fourth-seeded and 23rd-ranked Kean (29-12, 12-6 NJAC) May 3. The Pioneers then defeated second-seeded and 25th-ranked Montclair State (31-10, 15-3 NJAC) in the second round May 8, 20-9.
- The NJAC Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection, senior outfielder Dan Carter (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) has a .437 average and 52 RBI, adding 13 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 30 runs scored. He also is 1-2 with a team-best five saves during 11 appearances on the mound.
- Senior infielder Colin Lombardo (Edison, N.J./Edison), a member of the All-NJAC First Team, owns 14 doubles, 41 RBI and team highs of a .438 average, six triples, eight homers, 63 RBI, .785 slugging percentage and .588 on-base percentage.
- Second-team all-league senior catcher Steve Yelin (River Edge, N.J./River Dell Regional) is contributing a .402 average, three triples, six home runs, 42 RBI, 49 runs and a team-best 17 doubles.
- Graduate student first baseman Carson Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) owns a .319 average, 12 doubles, two triples, five homers, 43 RBI and 43 runs scored. He was joined on the All-NJAC Second Team by sophomore second baseman Jake Lutz (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional), who is hitting .357 while adding 10 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 35 RBI and 41 runs scored.
- Senior outfielder Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J./Bergen Catholic) was an honorable-mention all-league pick with a .347 batting average, 14 doubles, 37 RBI and 35 runs scored.
- Senior Riley Weis (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley Regional) sports a 3-1 record and 4.91 ERA in 12 appearances and 11 starts, striking out 48 in 55.0 innings pitched.
- Freshman Neel Telidevara (Dayton, N.J./South Brunswick) has compiled a 1-1 record, 4.24 ERA, three saves, 18 strikeouts and 23.1 innings, starting once in 15 appearances.
SCOUTING THE No. 25 RED HAWKS:
- Montclair State produced a 3-2 NJAC Tournament first-round victory against fifth-seeded The College of New Jersey (19-17, 9-9 NJAC) May 3 before losing to WP in the second round May 8.
- First-team all-NJAC graduate student catcher Anthony Guarino is hitting .392 with seven doubles, 29 RBI and 34 runs scored.
- Senior first baseman Peter Cosentino owns a .368 average, 17 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 50 RBI and 51 runs scored, and junior second baseman Miles Feaster is contributing a .398 average, nine doubles, 35 RBI and 27 runs. Both were first-team all-conference selections.
- Second-team all-NJAC junior pitcher Patrick Cuccurullo is 7-2 with a 2.31 ERA in 13 appearances and 12 starts, posting 82 strikeouts during 66.1 innings pitched.
- Sophomore Jack Haveson is 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA and eight saves, striking out 34 over 25.1 innings and 15 appearances.
SCOUTING THE ROADRUNNERS:
- Ramapo upset top-seeded and fourth-ranked Rowan (30-7, 16-2 NJAC), 19-16, in the first round May 3 before suffering a 5-4 walk-off loss to fourth-seeded and 23rd-ranked Kean May 8 in the second round.
- Sophomore third baseman Brian Baranok, a second-team all-conference pick, is hitting .348 with 15 doubles, six home runs, 37 RBI and 42 runs scored.
- Junior designated hitter Sean Donaghue was an honorable-mention all-NJAC selection with a .308 average, 10 doubles, six homers, 27 RBI and 29 runs.
- Freshman Dominick Ciani is 1-2 with a 4.41 ERA in eight appearances and six starts, posting 26 strikeouts during 34.2 innings pitched.
- Sophomore Will Paoli is 2-3 with a 5.64 ERA and three saves, striking out 24 over 22.1 innings and 12 appearances.
DURING THE REGULAR SEASON:
- William Paterson lost a pair of regular-season games to Montclair State last month, a 7-3 final April 21 in Wayne and a 1-0 walk-off decision April 22 in Montclair.
- The Pioneers swept Ramapo, using a walk-off grand slam for a 10-9 home win April 28 before a 19-10 road victory April 29.
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