Fishkill, N.Y. (May 27, 2006)- Eric Nieto was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2006 Anaconda Sports MAAC Baseball Championships as second-seeded Manhattan won its first MAAC Baseball Title with a 7-3 win over top-seeded Le Moyne this afternoon at Dutchess County Stadium. With the win, the Jaspers advance to their first NCAA Regional since 1957 and match the school record with their 32nd win.
Manhattan advanced to its second MAAC Championship Round through the Winner's Bracket, and started senior Josh Santerre in the deciding game. Santerre was masterful on the mound, keeping the potent Dolphin bats quiet all day, going the first eight innings, scattering seven hits while allowing three runs, two earned, and striking out four.
The Jaspers got off to a quick start, as Nieto led off the game with a single to right, and advanced to second on a passed ball before coming home on an RBI single to right by Mike Garcia.
Manhattan would double its advantage in the top of the fourth, as Matt Rizzotti reached on a fielders' choice, and came around to score on a RBI double off the bat of John Fitzpatrick, increasing his Jasper season record total to 64.
Le Moyne would cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame on an RBI groundout.
However, it seemed the baseball gods were shining down on the Kelly Green, as Manhattan plated five runs in the top of the fifth to open up a 7-2 lead. Ryan Marcoux led off the inning with a single up the middle, before, after an out, Nunzio Franzese drew a walk. Nieto followed with a triple to the right centerfield wall to chase home Marcoux and Franzese. After Nick Derba reached on a fielder's choice, Garcia tripled to nearly the same spot to score Derba. RBI singles by Rizzotti and Dom Lombardi would up the Jasper lead to 7-2 through five innings.
The Dolphins would score single runs in the seventh and eighth, with their best scoring threat coming in the seventh. Le Moyne would load the bases with no out, and after an RBI groundout, Santerre would strike out the next batter before shortstop Rene Ruiz would record the final out the inning, ranging to the second base side of the diamond to snag the grounder, and throwing across his body to retire the batter.
Matt Nevins would come on in the ninth, taking the mound on a field he played in numerous times in high school, and put the side down in order. The Beacon, N.Y. native got the final out on a swinging strike three to set off a Manhattan celebration on the pitcher's mound.
Every Manhattan batter either scored a run or got a hit, with Nieto (2-5, run, 2 RBI), Garcia (3-4, run, 2 RBI), Fitzpatrick (2-4, RBI), Marcoux (2-4, run), and Rene Ruiz (2-4) tallying multi-hit games.
In addition to Nieto, Lombardi, Derba, Fitzpatrick, and Cody were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
Manhattan will now wait to find out where the team will travel to for its first NCAA Regional in nearly 50 years, as the 16 Regional sites will be announced on Sunday, with the 64 team bracket being released on Monday on ESPN. Regional play will take place form June 2-5.