NEC RELEASE
Norwich, CT - The 2015 Northeast Conference (NEC) Player and Coach of the Year Awards are coming home to Staten Island as senior C/INF
Nick Dini (Monroe Township, NJ) and fourth-year head coach
Jim Carone each garnered these prestigious awards at the league's annual awards barbeque tonight on the eve of the league tournament which begins tomorrow.
In addition, the Seahawks garnered a program-best five players on the All-NEC First Team. Wagner's previous highest total of All-NEC First-Teamers was three in both 1991 and 1993.
Joining Dini, who led the NEC with a .400 batting average, on the First Team are senior closer
Steven Bloodworth (Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon), junior OF
Ben Ruta (West Windsor, NJ/West-Windsor Plainsboro South), sophomore starting pitcher
Nolan Long (Waterford, CT/Waterford [South Kent Prep]) and freshman DH
Anthony Godino (Thornwood, NY/Pleasantville).
Carone is only the third Seahawk skipper to attain Coach of the Year honors, joining Joe Litterio (2009) and Rich Vitaliano (1992).
After starting the 2015 campaign with a mark of 0-9-1, Wagner turned its season around, finishing 26-13 the rest of the way, thanks in large part to a season-high seven-game win streak. In addition to being the head coach, Carone serves as the team's pitching coach, and the Seahawk hurlers didn't disappoint this year, posting the league's lowest ERA (4.43) while holding opponents to a paltry .257 batting average. The Seahawk pitching staff struck out 322 batters this year, 117 of those coming by way of called third strikes.
Dini, one of the most prolific hitters in Wagner baseball history and most versatile position players in the league, becomes Wagner's first-ever NEC Player of the Year award winner. Now a two-time All-NEC First Team selection, the Monroe Township, NJ native rewrote many of the Seahawk records in his final season on Grymes Hill.
In the first game of a doubleheader at Sacred Heart on May 9, Dini smashed a two-run home run over the left-field wall that propelled him to the no. 1 spot on Wagner's all-time career hits list. In addition, the veteran backstop, a two-time Johnny Bench Award Watch List nominee, is Wagner's all-time leader in games played (213), games started (213) and at-bats (787). In finishing the season with an even .400 batting average, Dini became the second Seahawk to lead the NEC in hitting since 1993 when Jack Scholz claimed the batting title with a .418 average.
Bloodworth flourished as the Seahawk's closer this season, posting a sparkling 1.64 ERA with eight saves. Owning a 5-2 career record in 71 appearances, the Annandale, NJ native has hurled 107.1 career innings, recording 14 saves, which are tied for second all-time in Wagner history.
After missing the 2014 season due to an injury, Ruta came on strong during the 2015 season and caught fire at the plate. Entering the 2015 campaign with a six-game hitting streak, dating back to May 16, 2013), the West Windsor, NJ native recorded at least one hit in his first 15 games this year, batting .426 (26-for-61) during this stretch, which upped his hit streak to 21 straight games. He finished the regular with the second most hits in the NEC with 62 while his 36 RBIs ranked fifth in the league.
Long, the 6'10" dual-sport athlete who is also a standout on the hardwood, struck out 53 batters on the season, 21 of whom went down looking. In NEC play, Long held opposing batters to a .177 batting average while posting a 2.29 ERA in league play. His 43 strikeouts in conference action led the circuit for the season.
Godino finished second in the league's batting race, behind Dini, as the Thornwood, NY native finished his first collegiate season with .362 batting average and a on-base percentage of .478. His best game of the season came in game one of an April 25 doubleheader against Central Connecticut when he went 4-for-4 with a career-best 6 RBIs in the Seahawks' 12-6 rout of the Blue Devils.
In addition to the four major awards, the NEC unveiled two 13-member All-Conference Teams on the eve of its 23rd annual championship.
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