2021 MAAC Baseball Major Awards and All-MAAC Teams Announced
Edison, N.J. (May 19, 2021) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced the 2021 Baseball All-MAAC Teams and Major Award winners, as voted by the league’s 11 coaches.
Fairfield University’s Mike Caruso was named Player of the Year. The senior led the MAAC with a .412 average, the only qualifying player in the MAAC to have an average over .400. Caruso had 33 hits, five doubles, three home runs, and drove in 24 RBIs. He also had a .588 slugging percentage and a .535 on base percentage which leads the MAAC. The Stag’s catcher also recorded 198 putouts and has 12 assists. Caruso batting average ranked him tied for 12th in the NCAA and his on base percentage ranked third.
Rob Hensey of Monmouth University was awarded Pitcher of the Year. The junior was the only qualifying pitcher in the MAAC to have a sub 1.00 ERA as he led MAAC with a .96 ERA. Hensey started six games, pitched 37.2 innings, and was a perfect 5-0 on the mound. He only allowed 25 hits and four runs all year, his opponents had a .189 average and struck out 37 times. The Campbell Hall, NY native pitched part of four shutouts for the Hawks this season. Hensey’s .96 ERA ranks second in the NCAA and his WHIP of .77 ranks third.
The Relief Pitcher of the Year went to Bryson Cafaro of Fairfield University. The senior pitched 30.0 innings this season, racking up four wins and one save while appearing in eight games and recorded a .90 ERA. Cafaro scattered 19 hits, allowed five runs (three earned), and struck out 22 batters. The Ansonia, CT native also recorded a 1.03 WHIP and held his opponents .178 batting average.
The Rookie of the Year also went to Monmouth University as Dixon Black took home the honors. The freshman started 31 of 32 games this season with the Hawks and boasted a .350 average, 36 hits, eight doubles, one triple, two home runs, and had 16 RBIs. Black’s batting averaged ranked 14th in the MAAC and his 36 hits ranked sixth. The Archbald, PA native finished the regular season with a .505 slugging percentage and a .415 on base percentage. The infielder also recorded 31 putouts and had 52 assists. The rookie also led the Hawks in batting average, runs scored (23), doubles, total bases (52), hits, on base percentage, and finished in the top three in slugging percentage, RBIs, home runs, and stolen bases (5).
The BSN Sports MAAC Coach of the Year went to Bill Currier of Fairfield University. In his ninth season at the helm of the Stags, he led the program to their first-ever national ranking, as they were ranked 23rd in the nation by Baseball America. Fairfield started the season winning their first 27 games and finished the season first in the MAAC with a 33-1 record and their .970 regular season win percentage was the highest in NCAA history. The Stags spent three straight weeks in the Baseball America’s Top-25 rankings and finished the season 27th in Collegiate Baseball News and 29th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s poll. Their Regular Season MAAC Championship was their third in the last five years.
See below for the full list of honorees:
| 2021 MAAC Baseball Major Awards |
| Award |
Player |
School |
| Player of the Year |
Mike Caruso |
Fairfield |
| Pitcher of the Year |
Rob Hensey |
Monmouth |
| Relief Pitcher of the Year |
Bryson Cafaro |
Fairfield |
| Rookie of the Year |
Dixon Black |
Monmouth |
| BSN Sports Coach of the Year |
Bill Currier |
Fairfield |
2021 MAAC Baseball All-MAAC First Team |
| Position |
Name |
School |
| Catcher |
Mike Caruso |
Fairfield |
| First Base |
Vinny Chiarenza |
Canisius |
| Second Base |
Dixon Black |
Monmouth |
| Shortstop |
Justin Guerrera |
Fairfield |
| Third Base |
Jake Knop |
Manhattan |
| Third Base |
Evan Vulgamore |
Quinnipiac |
| Outfield |
Jake Burlingame |
Canisius |
| Outfield |
Mike Handal |
Fairfield |
| Outfield |
Sam Franco |
Manhattan |
| Pitcher |
Rob Hensey |
Monmouth |
| Pitcher |
Jake Noviello |
Fairfield |
| Pitcher |
Michael Sansone |
Fairfield |
| Pitcher |
Dan Klepchick |
Monmouth |
| Designated Hitter |
Tyler Kapuscinski |
Marist |
| Utility |
Alex Barker |
Monmouth |
2021 MAAC Baseball All-MAAC Second Team |
| Position |
Name |
School |
| Catcher |
Nick Cimillo |
Manhattan |
| First Base |
Sean Cullen |
Fairfield |
| Second Base |
Cole Tucker |
Niagara |
| Shortstop |
Will Trochiano |
Manhattan |
| Third Base |
David Bermudez |
Rider |
| Outfield |
Dan Ryan |
Fairfield |
| Outfield |
Matt Rubayo |
Marist |
| Outfield |
Jalen Jenkins |
Monmouth |
| Pitcher |
Pete Soporowski |
Rider |
| Pitcher |
John Lumpinski |
Siena |
| Pitcher |
Bryson Cafaro |
Fairfield |
| Designated Hitter |
Matt Padre |
Manhattan |
| Utility |
Max Grant |
Canisius |
2021 MAAC Baseball All-Rookie Team |
| Name |
School |
| Max Grant |
Canisius |
| Carlin Dick |
Canisius |
| Matt Duffy |
Canisius |
| Peter Ostensen |
Fairfield |
| Colin McVeigh |
Fairfield |
| Tony Santa Maria |
Iona |
| Blake Helmstetter |
Iona |
| Trevor Santos |
Manhattan |
| Dixon Black* |
Monmouth |
| Marcus Cashman |
Niagara |
| Tate Copeland |
Quinnipiac |
| Brian Skettini |
Rider |
| Connor Bovair* |
Siena |
| Kobe Stenson |
Siena |
* Denotes Unanimous Selection
For more information on the 2021 MAAC Baseball Championship, visit
MAACSports.com/baseball.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40
th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.