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RIGGS HELPS AVIATORS WIN ACBL TITLE
8-31-09
CALDWELL,
N.J. - Caldwell College baseball player Buddy Riggs (Coral Springs,
FL/Taravella) had a successful summer pitching for the Westhampton Aviators
of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, a wood-bat league for college
players. Riggs, who is a senior at Caldwell, contributed to the Aviators'
run to the ACBL championship earlier this month, as Westhampton topped the
Jersey Pilots for the league title.
"It was great winning the championship and celebrating with the team on the
field," Riggs said. "The competition in the league was really tough, with a
lot of Division I players. I learned some stuff on my pitching mechanics
from our coaches, and I even had an opportunity to play a little second
base. Overall it was the best summer baseball experience I've ever had."
Riggs, an all-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and all-East Region
selection for Caldwell as a junior, was 3-2 with an earned run average of
3.62 in 10 appearances and one start for the Aviators. He also struck out 31
while walking just nine in 32 1/3 innings of work. In the Kaiser Division
semifinals against Southampton, Riggs pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings with
two strikeouts in the Aviators' 16-0 win. He then tossed 3 2/3 innings
against North Fork in Game 1 of the division finals, a 7-6 loss. Westhampton
came back to defeat North Fork twice, then beat the Jersey Pilots 7-5 in the
ACBL title game.
The 2009 season was a breakout year for Riggs, who was 6-2 with an ERA of
3.58 en route to being named to the all-CACC first team and the Daktronics
and NCBWA all-Region second teams. The Cougars' all-time leader in saves
with 10, Riggs became a starter last season and dominated opposing batters,
ranking 11th in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (10.75). He fanned
a total of 72 batters in 60 1/3 innings while walking just 14.
The ACBL is a NCAA-sanctioned summer league partially funded by Major League
Baseball for college players with remaining eligibility. Players must be
recommended by scouts or their college coach to participate in the league,
which includes players from Division I, II and III colleges and universities
as well as junior colleges. Several former Cougars have played in the ACBL
in recent years, including current New Jersey Jackals catcher Chris
Chiarappa, Tommy Murphy and Michael Kolesar, who helped
the Jersey Pilots capture the ACBL championship in 2004.
KEELAN, RIGGS EARN ALL-EAST REGION HONORS FROM NCBWA
5-29-09
 Keelan |
 Riggs |
CALDWELL, N.J. - Caldwell College junior outfielder Ray Keelan (Barnegat,
NJ/Southern Regional) was named to the All-East Region first team by
the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, the organization
announced today. Additionally, junior pitcher Buddy Riggs (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella)
was included on the second team. The All-East Region teams were voted on by
a six-member panel of sports information directors from East Region
institutions.
This is the third all-Region honor for Keelan, who made the American
Baseball Coaches Association all-Region first team and the Daktronics
all-Region second team. Earlier this week, the first team all-Central
Atlantic Collegiate Conference first team choice was named an ECAC Division
II Baseball All-Star. This past season, Keelan led the Cougars in seven
offensive categories, including batting average (.387), hits (58), home runs
(eight) and runs batted in (48), and was the only player in the CACC
to rank among the top three in homers (second), RBI (second) and batting
average (third). A two-time all-CACC second team honoree, Keelan ranks
second all-time at Caldwell with 176 hits in his career.
Like Keelan,
Riggs made the Daktronics all-Region second team and was on the all-CACC
first team. The right-hander was Caldwell's top starting pitcher this season after
anchoring the bullpen during his first two seasons. An all-CACC
second team selection in 2008, Riggs was 6-2 with an earned run average of
3.58 in 12 appearances this season, including nine starts. In 60 1/3 innings, he struck out 72 batters while surrendering only 14 walks, and
ranked 11th nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (10.75). Riggs set a career high with 15 strikeouts in a
complete-game victory over Wilmington on Mar. 30. Riggs, who also
had one save in relief this year, holds the school record with 10
saves in his career.
Caldwell, coached by Jay Messina, finished the 2009 season 18-23,
including a CACC record of 12-15.
2009 NCBWA All-East Region Teams
|
First Team |
Second Team |
Player of the Year: Mike Baillargeon
Pitcher of the Year: Gabriel Duran
Coach of the Year: Rick Giannetti, Dominican
CHIARAPPA
MAKES PRO DEBUT WITH JACKALS
June 1, 2009 - Former Caldwell College standout Chris Chiarappa is continuing his baseball career at the professional level and has signed with the New Jersey Jackals for the 2009 season. Chiarappa, who graduated from Caldwell College in 2008 after a stellar career as the Cougars' catcher, made his debut with the Jackals on Saturday, May 30 against the American Defenders of New Hampshire. He collected his first professional hit in the game as the Jackals defeated the Americans, 10-6 in Nashua, N.H. (more)
2009 Archived stories
8-31-09: RIGGS HELPS
AVIATORS WIN ACBL TITLE
6-1-09: CHIARAPPA MAKES
PRO DEBUT WITH JACKALS
5-29-09: KEELAN, RIGGS
EARN ALL-REGION HONORS FROM NCBWA
5-27-09: KEELAN NAMED ECAC
BASEBALL ALL-STAR
5-22-09: KEELAN NAMED TO ABCA
ALL-EAST REGION FIRST TEAM
5-13-09: KEELAN, RIGGS SELECTED
TO DAKTRONICS ALL-EAST REGION SECOND TEAM
5-5-09: THREE CALDWELL BASEBALL
PLAYERS EARN ALL-CACC HONORS
4-28-09: KEELAN CHOSEN CACC
PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR BASEBALL
4-14-09: SAXON
SELECTED CACC BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
3-23-09: BASEBALL RANKED SEVENTH IN
NCBWA EAST REGION POLL
3-17-09: COOK SELECTED CACC
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
3-11-09: BASEBALL INCLUDED IN
NATIONAL, REGIONAL RANKINGS
2-23-09: CALDWELL BASEBALL RANKED
24TH IN LATEST PING! DIVISION II RANKINGS
2-10-09: COUGARS CHOSEN
FIRST IN CACC PRESEASON POLL
1-16-09: CALDWELL BASEBALL RANKED
28TH IN PING! DIVISION II PRESEASON RANKINGS
For 2009 game stories and box scores, go to the baseball
schedule page.
For more archived stories, click here.
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| Executive Director of Athletics: | Mark A. Corino | X3260 |
| Associate Director of Athletics: | Dean Johnson | X3321 |
| Assistant Director of Athletics: | Linda Cimino | X3361 |
| Assistant Director of Athletics: | Katie Kennedy | X3591 |
| Head Coach: |
Jay Messina (2nd season) |
X3462 |
| Assistant Coaches: | John Waddilove, Gary Pannuzzo | X3462 |
| Athletic Trainers: | Julia Panko, Pam Gardin | X3574 |
| Captains: | TBA | |
| Sports Information Director: |
Matt McLagan |
X3567 |
| Fitness Center Manager: | TBA | X3681 |
| Student Manager | TBA | |
| Nickname: | Cougars | |
| School Colors: | Scarlet/White/Gold | |
| Conference Affiliation: | NCAA II/CACC/East |