Seahawk News
For immediate release
May 14, 2009
Contact: Ed Habershaw, 401-341-2271
Justin Collett becomes the school's first three-time All-New England baseball honoree
(Contributions from Paul Sweeney, Tufts University sports information)
MEDFORD, Mass. - For the third time in his career, Salve Regina University senior outfielder Justin Collett [So. Portland, Maine] earned a spot on the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-New England Team.
Collett led the Seahawks (18-23) in virtually every major offensive category, including batting average (.432), slugging percentage (.712), runs (43), hits (60), triples (7), home runs (5), and stolen bases (30). In The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC), he ranked first in stolen bases and tied for first in triples, tied for fifth in runs scored, tied for sixth in total bases, and tenth in slugging percentage.
"Justin is the most complete player I have ever coached," said Salve Regina head coach Steve Cirella. "He's been our leader all season long. He's played hurt the last few games, but his played has not dropped off. We have a team laden with freshmen and sophomores, so we relied heaving on Justin this season and he's carried us."
The Seahawks won seven of their last 10 regular-season games to finish in fourth place, one spot higher than they were picked in the preseason coaches' poll. They began the season 1-10 and finished 17-13 over the final weeks of the season.
Collett finishes his four-year career as the school's all-time leader in stolen bases (93) and total bases (306). He also earned NEIBA All-New England recognition as a freshman and as a sophomore. He joins the 2009 NEIBA all-star squad along with seven fellow TCCC members.
The Eastern Connecticut State University and University of Southern Maine baseball teams, ranked first and second, respectively, in the final New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Division III polls, both have seven players on the 2009 NEIBA All-New England Teams.
For the second time in his career, Eastern Connecticut's Shawn Gilblair was selected as the NEIBA D3 Player of the Year. Entering the NCAA Regional, Gilblair was hitting .401 with eight home runs and 59 RBI in 38 games, while on the mound he was 7-1 with a 2.73 earned run average and 85 strikeouts in 56 innings. He was also Player of the Year in 2007.
Trinity senior Jeremiah Bayer is the 2009 NEIBA D3 Pitcher of the Year. Trinity's second straight Pitcher of the Year, joining Tim Kiely from last season, Bayer entered the regional with a 10-0 mark, 0.49 earned run average and 78 strikeouts in 73.2 innings.
Southern Maine's Ed Flaherty was chosen as Coach of the Year after leading the Huskies to a 35-7 record and another NCAA Tournament appearance.
Defending national champion Trinity College led the region with three first team selections.
Salve Regina University NEIBA All-New England selections:
2009 - Justin Collett*
2007 - Justin Collett, Davin Sirpenski*
2006 - Justin Collett, William Riggieri
2005 - Eric Cirella*, Chris Haddad*
2004 - Eric Cirella, Nicholas D'Amato*
2003 - Damian Costantino, Ryan Holleran
2002 - Ryan Holleran
2001 - Scott Alexander*
1996 - Justin Hackley*
1995 - Scott Kopecky*
*All-Star Game participant (seniors only eligible)
2009 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shawn Gilblair, Eastern Connecticut
2009 PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Jeremiah Bayer, Trinity
2009 COACH OF THE YEAR
Ed Flaherty, Southern Maine
First Team
C - Sean Killeen, Sr., Trinity
1B - Kent Graham, Jr., Trinity
2B - Andrew Fatse, So., WNEC
3B - Melvin Castillo, Jr., Eastern Connecticut
SS - Chris Burleson, Sr., Southern Maine
OF - Tom White, Sr., Colby-Sawyer
OF - Bobby Doyon, So., Keene State
OF - Anthony D'Alfonso, Sr., Southern Maine
OF - Matt Hart, Sr., Worcester State
DH - Pat Moran, Jr., St. Joseph's (Me.)
UT - Shawn Gilblair, Sr., Eastern Connecticut
P - Jeremiah Bayer, Sr., Trinity
P - Conor Fahey, Sr., WPI
P - Ken Cook, Jr., Castleton State
P - Tim Doyle, Sr., Suffolk
Second Team
C - Nick Arthers, Sr., Husson
1B - Tom Phillips, Sr., MIT
2B - Ryan Walsh, So., UMass Boston
3B - Tony Trubia, So., WNEC
SS - Nick Pecora, Sr., Wheaton
OF - Justin Collett, Sr., Salve Regina
OF - Ryan Pike, Sr., Southern Maine
OF - James Geosits, Sr., Curry
OF - Jim Schult, So., Eastern Connecticut
DH - Sean Munley, So., Wheaton
UT - Gary Levesque, So., Rhode Island College
P - Josh Simmons, Sr., Wheaton
P - Tim Therrian, Sr., Southern Maine
P - Andrew Aizenstadt, So., Babson
P - Will Musson, Jr., Eastern Connecticut
P - Matt Fontaine, Jr., Eastern Connecticut
Third Team
C - Bobby Barrett, Jr., Suffolk
1B - Ben Grant-Roy, Jr., St. Joseph's (Me.)
1B - Ryan Gaffney, Sr., Southern Maine
2B - John Parke, Jr., Eastern Connecticut
3B - Josh Mackey, Jr., Southern Maine
SS - David LeResche, So., Tufts
SS - Travis Bass, Jr., Eastern Connecticut
DH - Collin Henry, Jr., Southern Maine
UT - Chris Campbell, So., St. Joseph's (Me.)
UT - Frank Vaccaro, Sr., Becker
OF - Erich Enns, Jr., Middlebury
OF - Cody Callahan, Fr., Keene State
OF - Jeff Perkins, Sr., Keene State
OF - Jesse Bruinsma, Jr., Curry
OF - Al Mathews, Jr., Williams
P - Brian Hurld, Sr., Roger Williams
P - Chris DeGoti, Fr., Tufts
P - Bryan Calzone, Sr., WNEC
P - Dan Delia, Sr., Suffolk
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