Pioneer baseball drops two games in NJAC tournament

By Ryan Anderegg
Staff Writer

The Pioneers late season surge was spoiled, after they dropped two games in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament, which ended their season.

The team dropped games to Rowan University and Kean University in the double elimination tournament. Sandwiched between the losses was a 7-1 victory over The College of New Jersey. Rowan was the eventual champions.

"Losing was very tough," says senior shortstop Dan Suarez "especially when your apart of a great group of guys like this. It was so painful, because we really felt we were the best team."

The Pioneers were 11-9 in mid-April, but ended the regular season by winning 10 of their final 13 games. They qualified as the No. 4 and final cede in the tournament.

Despite being knocked out, the run the team had just to make it there was quite remarkable.

"Bryan Graham was simply outstanding," says head coach Jeff Albies. "He put the team on his shoulders, and we rode him to the playoffs."

Graham, senior outfielder, hit over .440 for the season and was named 2003 Bill Dioguardi New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He became only the second Pioneer to win the award.

Senior shortstop Dan Suarez was named to the first-team All-NJAC team, while senior center fielder Ron Hayward and sophomore second baseman Tim Banos were named to the second-team.

"It was an honor getting named to the first team," says Suarez. "It was extra special, because it was the first award I received in my college career."

Among the highlights of the hot regular season finish was Jake Pravkewitz winning three games in two days out of the bullpen.

"Pravkewitz was huge for us," adds Albies. "Hayward, Tim Banos, and Suarez also contributed with their consistent play, while Dan Corrado and Dan Singer maintained stability on the mound."

The Pioneers finished the season with a 22-14 record.

"Making the tournament was nice," says Albies "but this program prides itself on championships, not merely getting in. Making the NJAC playoffs was always, and should still be a forgone conclusion."

Graham, Suarez, Hayward, Corrado, Singer, Jason Tiseo, Charles Bowman, Bryan Weingart, Mark Kalish, Jack Baker, and Jim Carroll are all expected to graduate in May.

May 8 , 2003 Issue