EDISON, NJ (Feb. 12, 2025) – Fairfield University has been chosen as the preseason favorites according to the 2025 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as voted on by the league's 13 head coaches. The Stags standout third basemen, Dean Ferrara was named as the Preseason Player of the Year.
Fairfield received 166 points and earned 11 first place votes to lead the MAAC poll. Last season, the Stags posted a 20-4 MAAC record, becoming the first-ever MAAC program to win four consecutive Regular Season crowns – their seventh overall. Fairfield finished the 2024 season 34-24 overall, having won 30 or more games in five straight full seasons, while qualifying for the MAAC Championship Series in four out of the five years. The Stags have claimed the MAAC Championship once, winning it all in 2016.
Rider University finished second in the poll, collecting 142 points and one first place vote, followed by Sacred Heart University, who totaled 134 points and earned the final first place vote. Checking in at fourth place Quinnipiac University with 114 points, while Canisius University rounded out the league’s top five with 106 points.
Ferrara, a senior from Fairfield, earned Preseason Player of the Year honors and a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC Team. He appeared and started in 56 games last season for the Stags, hitting .387, with 96 hits, 51 runs, 40 RBIs, and five home runs. Ferrara broke both the conference and school single season record with his 96 hits, ranking eighth in the country and fifth in hits per game. A native of Wyckoff, NJ, he recorded an OPS of .962, a slugging percentage of .520, and an on-base percentage of .442. Ferrara was named to the 2024 All-MAAC First Team and was previously voted to the MAAC All-Rookie Team back in 2022.
The remainder of the Preseason All-MAAC Team and full Preseason Coaches’ Poll can be found below.
| 2025 Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
166 (11) |
| 2 |
Rider |
142 (1) |
| 3 |
Sacred Heart |
134 (1) |
| 4 |
Quinnipiac |
114 |
| 5 |
Canisius |
106 |
| 6 |
Niagara |
102 |
| 7 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
99 |
| 8 |
Marist |
94 |
| 9 |
Merrimack |
73 |
| 10 |
Manhattan |
50 |
| 11 |
Siena |
49 |
| 12 |
Iona |
30 |
| 13 |
Saint Peter’s |
24 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Dean Ferrara – Fairfield |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Frankie Ferrentino |
Catcher |
Jr. |
Merrimack |
| Dante D'Amore |
First Base |
Sr. |
Sacred Heart |
| Joe Tiroly |
Second Base |
So. |
Rider |
| Luke Nomura |
Shortstop |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| Dean Ferrara |
Third Base |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Matt Bucciero |
Outfield |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| CJ Willis |
Outfield |
Sr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Kyle Neri |
Outfield |
R-So. |
Rider |
| Zack Kovalchik |
Outfield |
Sr. |
Sacred Heart |
| Ben Alekson |
Pitcher |
So. |
Fairfield |
| PJ Craig |
Pitcher |
Jr. |
Rider |
| Elijah Foster |
Pitcher |
So. |
Sacred Heart |
| Tyler Kipp |
Designated Hitter |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Ashby Vining |
Utility |
Sr. |
Saint Peter’s |
The 2025 MAAC Baseball Championship is an eight-team, single and double elimination championship, that will take place at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY on May 20-24. Games 1 and 2 will be single elimination, games 3-12 will be double elimination and all rounds will reseed. This will be the fourth straight season that the championship is hosted at Clover Stadium. For all information regarding the 2025 MAAC Baseball Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/baseball.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 44th year of competition during the 2024-25 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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