May 17, 2006 - Rider’s Hayes Rookie Player of the Year, Kennedy Rookie Pitcher of Year / Poalise First Team All-State

May 17, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASAE

College Baseball
Rider’s Hayes Rookie Player of the Year, Kennedy Rookie Pitcher of Year
Poalise First Team All-State

LAWRENCEVILLE—Six members of the Rider University baseball team were honored by the New Jersey College Baseball Association.

Freshman Jamie Hayes (Sunrise, FL/Piper) was named the Division I Rookie Player of the Year, freshman Jimmer Kennedy (Levittown, PA/Holy Ghost) was named the Rookie Pitcher of the Year, and senior Mike Poalise (Hammonton) was named to the All-NJCBA First Team.

Named to the All-NJCBA Second Team from Rider were sophomore pitcher Will O’Connor (Cinnaminson), senior first baseman Gene Crimoli (Shrewsbury/Christian Brothers Academy), and senior third baseman Tom Letizia (Fair Lawn).

Hayes leads Rider with a .370 batting average, collecting 64 hits in 48 games as a right fielder, and has stolen 17 bases. Hayes was a three-time NJCBA Rookie of the Week.

Kennedy has a 6-2 record with an earned run average of 3.86, while compiling 46 strike outs in 72 innings. Kennedy was twice the NJCBA Rookie of the Week.

Poalise leads the entire Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with 69 hits, batting .355, and owns a .969 fielding percentage with 126 put outs in centerfield.

O’Connor is a lefty with a 7-1 record, Rider’s first seven game winner since 2002. Crimoli is the Bronc first baseman and has a .490 slugging percentage with six home runs and a .338 batting average.

Letizia earns All-State honors for the second consecutive year, and has a .457 on base percentage, third best in the MAAC. 11 of his 63 hits are doubles, and he has stolen 10 bases while batting .335.

Rider is currently in second place in the MAAC and completes the regular season with a three-game series at first place Le Moyne.

The four-team MAAC Championship tournament is May 25-27 in Fishkill, NY.

-RU-