Jacob Willis of Siena Named 2008 MAAC Baseball Player of the Year

5/21/2008 4:00:00 AM

MAAC Sports

Trenton, N.J. ? Siena College senior third baseman Jacob Willis has been named the 2008 MAAC Baseball Player of the Year and headlines the 2008 All-MAAC Teams, as voted on by the MAAC’s head coaches.

 

Willis is currently ranked sixth on the conference’s batting list, hitting .352 (68-193) during the regular season.  He has also registered a .570 slugging percentage, 43 runs scored, 31 runs batted in, 12 doubles and 10 home runs for the Saints this year.

 

Canisius College freshman left-handed pitcher Shane Davis has been chosen as the 2008 MAAC Pitcher of the Year and the 2008 MAAC Rookie of the Year.  Davis leads the league with his 11-1 record on the mound and a conference-best 1.90 ERA.  He has fanned 41 batters in 80.1 innings of work during the regular season, and held opponents to a .258 batting average.  Davis is tied for first in the country among all freshman pitchers with his 11 victories, and is third among all freshman pitchers in earned run average.

 

Rider University’s Jamie Hayes earned the 2008 MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year award.  Hayes recorded a league-high nine saves for the Broncs this season.  He closed out the regular season with a 3-1 record and a 2.84 ERA.  He struck out 35 batters over 25.1 innings.

 

The All-MAAC First Team includes catchers Kevin Reimer from Canisius and Dom Lombardi of Manhattan College.  Rider’s Sean Olson is at first base.  Canisius’ Kevin Mailloux took second base honors, while Marist College’s Richard Curylo is at shortstop.  At third base are Willis and Kevin Mahoney from Canisius.  In the outfield are Adam Donato from Canisius, Kevin Nieto from Manhattan and Tim Alberts from Niagara University.  Fairfield University’s Albie DeSimone is the designated hitter, and Hayes is the utility player.  Davis, Rob Gariano from Fairfield and Josh Rickards from Marist were selected for the first team pitching corp.

 

The All-MAAC Second Team includes Phil Cahill from Siena as catcher, and fellow teammate Rick Seltzer at first base.   Harrison Harber from Niagara University is at second base, while Chris Klepps from Siena earned a spot at shortstop.  Manhattan’s Chad Salem is at third base.  The outfield is made up of Canisius’ Branson Joseph, Manhattan’s Mark Oronati and Siena’s Nick Messinger.  Canisius’ Brian Burton and Siena’s Kevin Quaranto are the designated hitters, while Jonny Smith from Niagara is the utility player.  Iona College’s Shane Sveda and Manhattan’s Dan Forman round out the All-MAAC Second Team as the pitchers.

 

Canisius head coach Mike McRae has been named the 2008 Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year.  In his fourth season with the Griffs, McRae led his squad to an overall record of 40-11 and a 19-5 mark in the MAAC. 

 

 

2008 ALL-MAAC BASEBALL FIRST TEAM

 

 

2008 ALL-MAAC BASEBALL SECOND TEAM

 

 

 

MAAC Player of the Year

Jacob Willis, Siena

 

MAAC Pitcher of the Year

Shane Davis, Canisius

 

MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year

Jamie Hayes, Rider

 

MAAC Rookie of the Year

Shane Davis, Canisius

 

Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year

Mike McRae, Canisius