COUGARS BASEBALL

COUGAR RANKED FOURTH IN NCBWA NORTHEAST REGION POLL

3-3-08
CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College baseball team moved up one spot to fourth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Northeast Regional Poll, released today. The Cougars, who were fifth in the NCBWA Preseason Poll, received 53 points this week, three more than fifth-ranked Dowling College. Franklin Pierce University remained atop the poll after receiving all nine first-place votes.

Caldwell opened the season with a 3-2 record at the Northeast Challenge in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 22-24. After losing to Dowling and 20th-ranked West Chester University on Feb. 22, Caldwell defeated region foes Molloy College and Queens College on Feb. 23 and Mercy College on Feb. 24. Sophomore outfielder Ray Keelan (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) batted a team-best .529 for the weekend, with sophomore outfielder Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Broward CC) driving in seven runs, including six in an 8-3 victory over Molloy. Saxon also singled home senior Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity) in the bottom of the 10th inning to defeat Mercy.

The Cougars return to action on Saturday, Mar. 8, when they face top-ranked Franklin Pierce in a doubleheader at Adelphi University. The first game begins at 11:00 a.m. in Garden City, N.Y.

NCBWA 2008 Northeast Region Poll (Mar. 3)

Receiving votes: C.W. Post (8), New Haven (6), Dominican (4), S. Conn. St. (2), Molloy (2), Bloomfield (2), USP (1)

SAXON LIFTS BASEBALL TO EXTRA-INNING VICTORY OVER MERCY

2-24-08
CC 4, MC 3 (10 inn.)
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - A two-out single by sophomore outfielder Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Broward CC) in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Caldwell College baseball team a 4-3 triumph over Mercy College Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Northeast Challenge, held at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Cougars leave South Carolina with a 3-2 record, while the Mavericks drop to 1-4.

After Caldwell took a 3-0 lead, Mercy scored two runs in the seventh and one in the ninth to tie the game at 3-3. The Cougars loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but Mavericks reliever Matt Moreno got out of the inning with a strikeout and fly out. Sophomore pitcher Robert Casal (Howard Beach, NY/St. Francis Prep), who came on in relief in the ninth, retired the side in order in the top of the 10th. With two out in the bottom of the 10th, senior Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity) doubled off Moreno to left centerfield. After Saxon followed with a single to left, Chiarappa raced home and scored the game-winning run when the throw was off the mark.

Sophomore Ray Keelan (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) went 4-for-4 and drove in Caldwell's first three runs,, plating Chiarappa with an infield single in the first and scoring Saxon and Chiarappa with a double in the fifth. Chiarappa had a single, double and a triple while scoring three times in a 3-for-6 day. Saxon also had three hits, with sophomore Andrew Robetson (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) recording two hits.

The Cougars received another strong outing from their starting pitcher, as sophomore Omar Velazquez (Astoria, NY/Long Island City) allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Freshman right-hander Anthony Velazquez (Flushing, NY/Bayside), who came into the game with one out and a runner on third in the top of the seventh, did not allow a hit in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Casal (1-1) pitched two innings and earned his first win of the season.

Caldwell's next game is on Saturday, Mar. 8 against fifth-ranked Franklin Pierce University. The non-conference doubleheader will be played at Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y., with the first game starting at 11:00 a.m.

COUGARS BOUNCE BACK WITH WINS OVER MOLLOY AND QUEENS IN MYRTLE BEACH

2-23-08
CC 8, MC 3
CC 7, QC 1
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - After a tough opening day, the Caldwell College baseball team picked a couple victories on the second day of the Northeast Challenge at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Sophomore outfielder Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Broward CC) drove in six runs with a home run and two doubles to lead the Cougars past Molloy College, 8-3. Three hits from freshman catcher Gabriel Molina (Bronx, NY/Monroe) and a solid pitching performance by freshman Michael Hinchliffe (Erial, NJ/Timber Creek) in his first collegiate appearance lifted Caldwell past Queens College, 7-1. The Cougars are now 2-2 on the season.

Caldwell, which scored just four runs combined in two losses on Friday, wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard against Molloy, scoring five runs in its first 12 at-bats. Saxon belted a long three-run home run to left centerfield, his first of the season, in the first inning, then drove in two runs with a bases-loaded double in the second to put Caldwell ahead 5-0. Later in the second, Molina's sacrifice fly plated senior catcher Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity) for a 6-0 advantage. In the fourth, Saxon double again, scoring sophomore Omar Velazquez (Astoria, NY/Long Island City). Molina later doubled home sophomore Ray Keelan (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) for an 8-0 lead.

Junior right-hander Eric Hines (Milltown, NJ/Spotswood), pictured, was dominant in his first start, allowing four hits and three runs, one earned, while striking out six in 7 2/3 innings.

Against Queens, the Cougars got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Saxon led off with a single and eventually scored on a throwing error for the game's first run. Molina singled home Keelan, then scored on a squeeze bunt executed by freshman infielder Juan Mejia (Ocean City, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) for a 3-0 Caldwell lead. In the sixth, Keelan scored on a double by junior outfielder Jorge Torres (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) to put Caldwell ahead 4-0.

Meanwhile, Hinchliffe is limiting the Knights to just three hits and no runs through six innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Queens loads the bases with two out and scores its first run on a single by Ed Hackimer. Sophomore pitcher Buddy Riggs (Coral Springs, FL/Taravella) came on in relief and struck out Jovan Santos to end the inning. The Cougars put three more runs on the board in the top of the ninth, including a double by Molina that scored Keelan. Sophomore Jon Irwin (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) singled home Molina for the game's final run.

Hinchliffe allowed just one run on six hits while striking out seven in 6 2/3 innings in his first collegiate start. Riggs retired all seven batters he faced for his first save of the season.

Caldwell completes play at the Northeast Challenge with a game against Mercy College on Sunday, Feb. 24. The first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.

BASEBALL BEGINS 2008 SEASON WITH TWO DEFEATS

2-22-08
DC 3, CC 2
WCU 10, CC 2
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Caldwell College baseball team lost to Dowling College and No. 20 West Chester University to open the 2008 season on Friday at the Northeast Challenge, held at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Cougars fell to Dowling, 3-2 and to West Chester, 10-2 in a cold and rainy twi-night doubleheader that wasn't completed until after 11:00 p.m.

Caldwell struck first against Dowling in the bottom of the fourth inning, when freshman Gabriel Molina (Bronx, NY/Monroe) hit his first collegiate home run, a solo shot down the right field line. The Golden Lions tied the game in the top of the fifth without recording a hit, using a two-out error and three straight walks to knot the score at 1-1. Sophomore pitcher Robert Casal (Howard Beach, NY/St. Francis Prep), pictured, did not allow a hit through 5 2/3 innings until David Wendt singled with two out in the sixth.

The Cougars went ahead in the seventh after junior Aaron Hoffstatter (Glasco, NY/Saugerties) hit a two-out single, then advanced to second on an error. Sophomore Omar Velazquez (Astoria, NY/Long Island City) stepped up and drove in Hoffstatter with a single up the middle for a 2-1 lead. Dowling answered in the top of the eighth on Wendt's two-run triple to take a 3-2 lead. Caldwell put runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings but were unable to bring them home. Casal (0-1) allowed three hits and three walks while striking out six in 7 1/3 innings to take the loss. Dowling's Brent Lotito fanned nine and allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings for the victory.

In the second game, West Chester scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the second to jump out to an early lead. Caldwell scored a run in the top of the fourth, when a grounder by senior Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity) plated Velazquez to make the score 3-1 in favor of West Chester. The Rams broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the seventh, including a two-run single by Frank Nunan. Molina doubled home sophomore Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Broward CC) in the ninth to complete the scoring.

Jason Bowman struck out 10 batters while allowing three hits and a run in six innings to earn the win. Junior righthander Stephen Pfeil (Hampstead, NH/Pinherton Acad.) pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up 10 hits and five runs while striking out six for Caldwell.

The Cougars continue play at the Northeast Challenge with games against Molloy College and Queens College on Saturday, Feb. 23. The first game starts at 1:00 p.m.

CALDWELL TOPS CACC PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL

2-12-08
CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College baseball team was picked first in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Preseason Baseball Poll by the league's 10 head coaches, the conference announced today. The Cougars, who won the CACC regular-season crown in 2007, received eight first-place votes and totaled 98 points, eight ahead of defending CACC Tournament champion Wilmington University.

Caldwell, coached by 2007 CACC Coach of the Year Chris Reardon, went 25-15 last year, including an 11-5 mark in conference play to finish atop the CACC standings. Nineteen letterwinners and all but one starter return from last year's squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II Northeast Region Tournament for the second time in four years. All-CACC first team selections Robert Casal (Howard Beach, NY/St. Francis Prep), Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity) and Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Broward CC) are back, as is senior pitcher Tommy Murphy (Monroe, NJ/Washingtonville), who made the all-CACC first team in 2006. Saxon also was named the CACC Rookie of the Year in 2007.

This season, CACC teams will use wood bats in conference games for the first time. Teams also will play each other three times, expanding the conference schedule from 16 games to 27 games. Chestnut Hill College, which joined the CACC in all sports this past fall, is fielding an intercollegiate baseball team for the first time.

The Cougars begin the 2008 season at the Northeast Challenge in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Feb. 22-24. Caldwell begins its conference slate on Mar. 25 at Post University.

2008 CACC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

( ) - First-place votes

COUGAR BASEBALL RANKED FIFTH IN NCBWA NORTHEAST REGION PRESEASON POLL

2-11-08
CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College baseball team is ranked fifth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Northeast Regional preseason poll, the organization announced today. The Cougars, who were 25-15 last year, received 49 points in the poll, which is voted on by representatives of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, the East Coast Conference and the Northeast-10 Conference. Defending Northeast Region champion Franklin Pierce University was a unanimous selection at No. 1 in the poll.

Last season, Caldwell advanced to the NCAA Division II Northeast Region Tournament after finishing first in the CACC regular-season standings and taking second at the CACC Tournament. The Cougars lost just one starter while returning 19 players from that team, including all-CACC first team selections Robert Casal (Howard Beach, NY/St. Francis Prep), Chris Chiarappa (Elmont, NY/Holy Trinity), pictured, and Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Broward CC). Casal and Saxon also were named to the all-Northeast Region second team by the NCBWA, Daktronics and the American Baseball Coaches Association. Additionally, head coach Chris Reardon was chosen the CACC Coach of the Year for the second time in his seven-year career at Caldwell.

The Cougars begin the 2008 season at the Northeast Challenge in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Feb. 22-24. Caldwell will face the region's top team when they play a doubleheader with Franklin Pierce on Saturday, Mar. 8 at Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y.

NCBWA 2008 Northeast Region Preseason Poll

Receiving votes: Dowling (13), Felician (4), Dominican (3), Stonehill (1)

CASAL, SAXON SELECTED PRE-SEASON ALL-AMERICANS BY COLLEGIATE BASEBALL

2-6-08

Casal

Saxon

Murphy

CALDWELL, N.J. - Caldwell College baseball players Robert Casal (Howard Beach, NY/St. Francis Prep) and Adric Saxon (Coral Springs, FL/Broward CC) were among 10 players from the Northeast Region named NCAA Division II Pre-Season All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball, a national publication that covers all levels of college baseball. Additionally, senior pitcher Tommy Murphy (Monroe, NY/Washingtonville) was mentioned as a player to watch, while freshman infielder Juan Mejia (Ocean City, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) was included among the newcomers to watch.

Casal, a sophomore pitcher, and Saxon, a sophomore outfielder, both earned all-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference first team and all-Northeast Region second team honors after outstanding freshman seasons in 2007. Casal went 10-1 with an earned run average of 3.74 while leading the team in strikeouts (75) and innings pitched (74 2/3). The right-hander also was named to the NJCBA all-state first team and the ECAC Division II All-Star Team.

Saxon paced the Cougars at the plate, hitting .365 with 13 home runs and 62 runs batted in. He became the first Cougar baseball player to lead the nation in a statistical category after averaging 1.55 RBIs per game. Also a first team all-state selection, Saxon was chosen the Northeast Region Rookie of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Murphy was 3-1 on the mound with 31 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings. He also batted .328 with 29 RBIs and a team-best 15 stolen bases while playing mostly at shortstop. A first team all-CACC honoree in 2006, Murphy was named to the CACC all-Tournament team last spring. Mejia is a corner infielder who batted .481 and earned first team all-conference honors as a senior last year at St. Augustine Prep in Richland, N.J.

The Cougars, coached by Chris Reardon, advanced to the NCAA Division II Northeast Region Tournament in 2007 after capturing the CACC regular-season crown. Caldwell, which finished the season 25-15, will be playing four teams that are included in Collegiate Baseball's Preseason Top 40: No. 22 West Chester College on Feb. 22, No. 7 Franklin Pierce University on Mar. 8, No. 7 Tusculum College on Mar. 16 and Mar. 19, and No. 38 Adelphi on Mar. 28. The 2008 season starts Feb. 22, when Caldwell travels to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the Northeast Challenge.

Archived stories
7-26-07: CASAL NAMED TO ECAC DIVISION II BASEBALL ALL-STAR TEAM
7-12-07: CALDWELL QUARTET TO PARTICIPATE IN ABCCL ALL-STAR GAME
7-11-07: CHIARAPPA SELECTED TO ACBL ALL-STAR GAME
5-31-07: SAXON CHOSEN NCBWA NORTHEAST REGION ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
5-21-07: SAXON, CASAL INCLUDED ON ABCA/RAWLINGS ALL-REGION SECOND TEAM
5-19-07: FIVE COUGARS RECEIVE ALL-STATE HONORS IN BASEBALL
5-17-07: SAXON, CASAL NAMED TO DAKTRONICS ALL-REGION SECOND TEAM
5-14-07: CALDWELL RECEIVES AT-LARGE BID TO NCAA REGIONAL
5-14-07: SAXON SELECTED CACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
5-9-07: CALDWELL EARNS TOP SEED AT CACC TOURNAMENT
5-8-07: SAXON, REARDON AMONG ALL-CACC HONOREES
5-8-07: COUGARS RANKED FIFTH IN NCBWA REGIONAL BASEBALL POLL
5-3-07: COUGARS REMAIN AT NO. 3 IN NCAA REGIONAL BASEBALL POLL
4-30-07: VELAZQUEZ SELECTED CACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
4-25-07: BASEBALL RANKED THIRD IN NCAA REGIONAL POLL
4-24-07: COUGARS RANKED 8TH IN NCBWA REGIONAL BASEBALL POLL
4-23-07: CASAL RECEIVES SECOND CACC ROOKIE HONOR
4-17-07: BASEBALL MOVES TO 7TH IN NCBWA NORTHEAST REGION RANKINGS
4-16-07: KEELAN SELECTED CACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
4-9-07: COUGAR BASEBALL RANKED 10TH IN NCBWA REGION POLL
3-26-07: SAXON CHOSEN CACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
3-26-07: COUGAR BASEBALL RANKED NINTH IN NORTHEAST REGION POLL
3-19-07: CASAL NAMED CACC CO-ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
3-12-07: COUGAR BASEBALL RANKED FOURTH IN NCBWA NORTHEAST REGION POLL
2-27-07: HINES, SAXON EARN CACC WEEKLY ACCOLADES
2-13-07: COUGAR BASEBALL PICKED FIFTH IN CACC PRESEASON POLL

5-17-06: PFEIL NAMED TO NJCBA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
5-9-06: MURPHY, PFEIL NAMED TO ALL-CACC SQUADS
5-1-06: PFEIL REPEATS AS CACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
4-25-06: PFEIL NAMED CACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
4-18-06: MURPHY, PFEIL RECEIVE NJCBA WEEKLY HONORS
4-17-06: MURPHY CHOSEN CACC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
4-10-06: TORRES RECEIVES SECOND CACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK HONORS
4-6-06: PFEIL NAMED NJCBA ROOKIE PITCHER OF THE WEEK
3-28-06: TORRES RECEIVES NJCBA ROOKIE OF THE WEEK HONORS
3-14-06: TORRES NAMED CACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
2-9-06: CALDWELL BASEBALL TABBED FOR FOURTH IN CACC PRESEASON POLL
6-13-05: WHITFIELD SELECTED TO ECAC DIVISION II BASEBALL ALL-STAR TEAM
5-27-06: FIVE COUGARS TO PLAY IN NJCBA ALL-STAR GAME
5-23-05: WHITFIELD CHOSEN TO ALL-NORTHEAST REGION FIRST TEAM
5-18-05: FIVE COUGARS NAMED ALL STATE BY NJCBA
5-4-05: FIVE COUGARS MAKE ALL-CACC BASEBALL SQUADS; WHITFIELD NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR
5-3-05: CHUNN, KOLESAR RECEIVE CACC WEEKLY AWARDS
4-26-05: HINES EARNS CACC PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS
4-19-05: RYAN GARNERS MULTIPLE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
4-5-05: YORK NAMED CACC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
3-22-05: WHITFIELD, MURPHY RECEIVE CACC WEEKLY HONORS
2-18-05: CALDWELL BASEBALL PICKED FOURTH IN NCBWA NORTHEAST REGION PRESEASON POLL
2-8-05: COUGARS TOP CACC PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL
8-26-04:KOLESAR HELPS JERSEY PILOTS TO ACBL TITLE
 

**For past game stories and box scores, go to the baseball schedule page.

Chris Reardon (8th Year)

E-Mail: creardon@caldwell.edu

Matt McLagan