Fairfield Stags baseball explained

Fairfield Stags
Founded:1951
Current:2024 Fairfield Stags baseball team
University:Fairfield University
Conference:MAAC
Location:Fairfield, Connecticut
Coach:Bill Currier
Tenure:13th
Stadium:Alumni Baseball Diamond
Capacity:1,000
Nickname:Stags
Ncaa Tourneys:2016, 2021
Conference Tournament:1977, 2016
Conference Champion:1983, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

The Fairfield Stags baseball team is the college baseball team representing Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. Fairfield competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) of NCAA Division I and plays their home games at the Alumni Baseball Diamond on the campus of Fairfield University. The Stags were MAAC Champions in 1983, 1991, 1993 and 2016. Fairfield is currently coached by 3 time America East Coach of the Year and 2 time MAAC Coach of the Year Bill Currier.

History

Fairfield fielded its first varsity baseball team in 1951, winning 7 of 12 games. The Stags, coached by Don Cook, made the first of three straight trips to the ECAC New England Tournament in 1977, defeating defending champion University of Maine. The team was MAAC South Champions in 1983, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997. In 2016, Fairfield won the MAAC regular season and tournament championships to advance to the Lubbock Super Regional of the 2016 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.

Individually, Anthony Hajjar was named a 2010 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American; Peter Allen was named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List following his program record setting season in 2007 in which he was ranked nationally in doubles, batting average, and slugging percentage; and Mike Pike was named a 1993 Mizuno Freshman All-American.[1]

Keefe Cato, the holder of ten Fairfield pitching records including seven career shutouts and one no-hitter, was the first Fairfield athlete to play in a major professional sport on the major league level after being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft. He was the Reds’ winning pitcher in his second game.[2] And Rob Gariano, who surpassed Cato's 31 year stand as Fairfield's all-time strikeout leader with 293 strikeouts was drafted in the 36th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Diego Padres.[3]

Fairfield in the NCAA Tournament

20160–2Lubbock Regional
20212–2Austin Regional
2–4

Head coaches

YearsCoachW-L-TPct.
Joe Yabrosky1951–5626–28.481
James Hanrahan19571–11.083
Frank Feroleto1958–6324–50–3.331
Jack Redway1964–654–31–1.125
Don Cook1966–84235–273.463
John Slosar1985–2011441–597–7.425
Bill Currier2012–present285–245

Awards

Academic All-Americans

  • Mike Caruso (3rd Team, 2021)

All-Americans

  • Charlie Pagliarini (3rd Team, 2023)
  • Anthony Hajjar (Freshman, 2010)
  • Mike Pike (Freshman, 1993)

All-Northeast

  • Charlie Pagliarini (Player of the Year, 2023)
  • Mike Handel (2nd Team, 2021)
  • Jake Noviello (2nd Team, 2021)
  • Jake Salpietro (1st Team, 2016)
  • Ryan Plourde (2nd Team, 2014)
  • Peter Allen (2007)
  • Dan Krines (2000)

NEIBA All-Stars

  • Charlie Pagliarini (Player of the Year, 2023)
  • Jack Gethings (2019)
  • Gavin Wallace (Pitcher of the Year, 2017)
  • Jake Salpietro (2014, 2016)
  • Ryan Plourde (2013, 2014)
  • Scott Warwick (2012)
  • Tucker Nathans (2010, 2011)
  • Peter Allen (2007)
  • Ryan Holsten (2001)
  • Jon Novalis (2001)
  • Dan Krines (2000)
  • Bill McMahon (1993)
  • Luis Garcia (1991, 1993)

League Player of the Year

  • Charlie Pagliarini (MAAC, 2023)
  • Mike Caruso (MAAC, 2021)
  • Jack Gethings (MAAC, 2019)
  • Adam Samuelian (MAAC South, 1997)
  • Mike Pike (MAAC South, 1996)

League Rookie of the Year

  • Anthony Hajjar (MAAC, 2010)
  • Tom Lopusznick (MAAC South, 1997)
  • Jared DeCore (MAAC South, 1996)
  • Jarrod Jackette (MAAC South, 1994)

League Coach of the Year

  • Bill Currier (MAAC, 2012, 2016, 2021)
  • John Slosar (MAAC South, 1991, 1994, 1997)

All-Time statistic leaders

Career batting leaders

  • Batting Average (min. 200 AB): Tom Finch (.358, 1969–71)
  • Hits Tucker Nathans (263, 2008–2011)
  • Hits Jack Gethings (271, 2016-2019)
  • Home Runs: Tom Lopusznick (35, 1997–2000)
  • RBI: Anthony Boselli 365 2017- 2019)
  • Runs Scored: Jack Gethings (170, 2016-2019)
  • Tom Lopusznick (142, 1997–2000)
  • Stolen Bases: Bill Barnes (122, 1976–79)

Single season batting leaders

  • Batting Average: Luis Garcia (.423, 1991)
  • Hits: Anthony Hajjar (76, 2010)
    • Hits Jack Gethings (88, 2019)
  • Home Runs: Charlie Pagliarini (24, 2023)
  • RBI: Charlie Pagliarini (97, 2023)
  • Runs Scored: Bill McMahon (49, 1993)
  • Stolen Bases: Bill Barnes (37, 1978)
  • Doubles: Peter Allen (23, 2007)
  • Triples : Jack Gethings (7, 2019)

Longest hitting streaks

  • Ryan Bittner (18g, 4/15/00-5/21/00)
  • Mike Svab (18g, 3/28/90-4/24/90)
  • Jack Gethings (25g, 2/24/19-3/30/19)

Career pitching leaders

  • Complete games: Keefe Cato (24, 1977–79)
  • ERA: Keefe Cato (2.25, 1977–79)
  • Innings pitched: Rob Gariano (323.1, 2007–10)
  • Saves: Scott Larkin (19, 1990–93)
  • Strikeouts: Rob Gariano (293, 2007–10)
  • Wins: Keefe Cato (21, 1977–79)

Single season pitching leaders

  • Complete games: Keefe Cato (11, 1979)
  • ERA (min. 25 IP): Al Gabriele (0.00, 31.2 IP, 1971) Kevin Kelleher (0.00, 30.2 IP, 1975)
  • Innings pitched: Dan Krines (103.2, 2000)
  • Saves: Scott Larkin (10, 1992)
  • Strikeouts: Keefe Cato (98, 1979)
  • Wins: Jake Noviello (9, 2021) Mike Sansone (2021)

No-hitters

  • Joe Cizynski (9 innings vs. Columbia, 4/6/77)
  • Keefe Cato (7 innings vs. Maine, 4/8/78)
  • Rich Clemens (7 innings vs. Hartford, 4/14/85)

Stags in the MLB draft

The following Stag players were selected in the Major League Baseball draft:

PlayerYearRoundTeamPosition
Trey McLoughlin 16 RHP
Justin Guerrera 20 SS
Austin Pope 15 RHP
Gavin Wallace 15 RHP
Mike Wallace 30 RHP
Mark Bordonaro 25 RHP
Rob Gariano 36 RHP
Ryan Holsten 22 RHP
Drew Larned 23 C
James Manias 25 LHP
William Albino 20 OF
Alberto Zappala 30 INF
Ron Carapezzi 31 3B
2 RHP
Mike Behudian 14 2B
Frank Gill 12 2B
Robert Kownacki 8 SS
Michael Yates 23 RHP
Thomas Finch 14 C
Stan Norman 26 OF

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fairfieldstags.com/sports/m-basebl/2007-08/news/20071207_bsbwallacewatch Fairfield University Athletics
  2. Web site: . 2007-12-08 .
  3. http://www.northjersey.com/sports/96081799_Gariano_drafted_by_San_Diego_Padres.html Rob Gariano selected by San Diego Padres in MLB Draft