Jamie Hayes of Rider University, Pedro Alvarez of Vanderbilt, Ryan Lavarnway of Yale, Kyle Russell of Texas and Brett Wallace of Arizona State highlight the list of players named to the pre-season release of the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List.  “This is great recognition for Jamie and our baseball program,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.  “He continues to work hard to develop
his game and others are noticing.  It is well deserved.”

Brandon Cotten of Wiconisco, Pa., a senior at Williams Valley High School, has signed a national letter of intent to further his education and baseball career at Rider University, Rider baseball coach Barry Davis announced.

Yogi would have been proud Saturday afternoon, because it certainly wasn’t over until it was over. The Cranberry Team lost the first two games in the best of five game series before winning three straight, staging a major come-from-behind victory in the fourth annual Rider University Cranberry and Black World Series.

Several members of the Rider University baseball team are traveling to such places as the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, New England, the state of Maryland and the Jersey Shore to hone their skills on the diamond.

Four members of the Rider University baseball team earned Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic team honors.

Rider University sophomores Sean Olson and Jamie Hayes were honored by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Olson as a first team All-MAAC pick and Hayes as a second team All-MAAC selection.

Just as the 2007 season has come to an end, the Rider University baseball team has added three more players to its 2008 roster

Of course he still thinks about it.  You don't listen to speculation about where you'll go in the major league draft, and then never think about baseball again. Joe Cerasi wonders, from time to time, about what might have been.

The Rider University baseball team presented its team awards at the annual awards ceremony.

The Broncs ended the 2007 season with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss to Fairfield Friday. “It is kind of a fitting end for the way things went for us,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “That’s the way it has been for us recently.”

The Broncs managed just two hits in the doubleheader, losing a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games to Fairfield Thursday. "It’s different if one or two guys are struggling," said Rider head coach Barry Davis, "but we’re talking, nine, 10, 11 guys. It is just disappointing."

Four members of the Rider University baseball team were honored by the New Jersey College Baseball Association.  Sophomore catcher Sean Olson was named first team All-State, sophomore shortstop Jamie Hayes was named second team All-State, and freshmen Matt McCollum and Ryan Miller were named to the All-Rookie team. “It is an honor to be recognized by the NJ State coaches and they should be proud of their accomplishments,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “They have represented Rider well this season.”

Good things happen to those who wait. Rider sophomore Dan Sasso has pitched well for almost two years for the Broncs before collecting his first collegiate win Tuesday, as the Broncs played the final non-conference game of the regular season at Key Span Park, defeating Long Island University.

The Broncs committed six errors and managed just one hit in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss to Niagara at Sal Maglie Stadium Sunday afternoon. “It was just one of those days,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “It’s demoralizing.”

The Broncs swept Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at Sal Maglie Stadium Saturday evening. The sweep puts Rider (19-25, 11-11 MAAC) in a tie for fourth place with Marist. “We overcame a lot of things today, making errors and leaving runners on base, but we did what we had to do,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

The Broncs scored a season-high 18 runs in a come-from-behind win over Temple Wednesday. "We were able to put a couple of things together today," said Rider head coach Barry Davis. "We swung the bats and were able to create some thing that we haven’t been able to do lately."

The Broncs lost to Saint Joseph’s Tuesday. The Hawks (9-34) collected 16 hits against four Rider pitchers. “It’s just disappointing,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “Not much good happened for us today. No excuses. Exams are over.”

The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Iona Sunday, losing the series two games to one. “There is something wrong,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “We should play better, in all phases of the game. We came up small today.”

The good news is that Rider scored 11 runs on 21 hits Saturday. The bad news is that 10 of those 11 runs came in the second game, as the Broncs split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader with Iona Saturday.  “Since we lost game one, obviously we’ll take the split, but this almost puts us in a must-win situation tomorrow,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

Garrett Rugg didn't earn a full-time starting spot at Neshaminy until last year — his senior year. And even then, he didn't really feel full-time.

In a back-and-forth contest, the Broncs defeated Princeton in extra innings Wednesday.  “That was a crazy one,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “We kinda had the game won a couple times, gave it back, lost the game a couple of times and got it back. It was a good team win.”

Rider University baseball player Jamie Hayes and Rider softball player Tiffany Day-Neutill are currently ranked among the national leaders in Division I of the NCAA.

The Broncs were swept Saturday in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at Manhattan.  "There is some frustration dropping two games today," said head coach Barry Davis.  "Mike [Petrowski] pitched well enough in the opener to win and we just didn't get the hits to help his effort."

It wasn't a 'walk-off' walk but it did help Rider walk away with a win.  Sophomore shortstop/pitcher Jamie Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper) worked a one-out bases loaded walk in the seventh inning to break a 5-5 tie and then recorded the final four outs of the game, earning his 10th save of the season, giving Rider a 6-5 non-conference win against Long Island University Wednesday afternoon at Sonny Pittaro Field. The save was the 14th of Hayes' career, setting a new Rider record. The tenth save of the season tied the Rider single-season record, set in 1977 by Dan Olshefski. Olshefski also held the career record of 13. “We have a lot of confidence in Jamie,” said head coach Barry Davis. “We’ve done it 10-11 times this season and he has been pretty consistent getting the job done.”

For the second straight game the Broncs collected 17 hits on their way to victory, defeating Monmouth Tuesday. “We put some hits together again today,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “This was a good solid win against a good team. This was a good team win with everybody contributing on the offensive side.”

The Broncs erupted for 13 runs on 17 hits to defeat Siena in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Sunday, winning the series two games to one. “That is what the goal was, to win the series, and we were able to accomplish that,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.  “That is what we needed to do, and we’re certainly happy about that.”

The Broncs split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader at Siena Saturday. “In the second game we played good defense and pitched pretty well, good enough to pull it out,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “The goal is to win the series and here we are, we just have to finish the job.”

The Broncs lost to Penn on Wednesday. “We had some opportunities but didn’t take advantage of them,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.  “At some point we have to get a key hit. Other teams are getting them against us.”

The Broncs split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader with Canisius Saturday. “They made all the plays and we didn’t,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “They got some clutch hits and we didn’t. Case closed.”

The Broncs banged out 14 hits to defeat Lehigh Wednesday. “We swung the bats today,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “That was a game we needed to win and it was a good win for us. It was nice to play at home and win.”

The Broncs came from behind to defeat Marist in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Monday. “The fact that we won was nice,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “It was a well-played, close ball game that could have gone either way.”

The Broncs were swept by Marist in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday. “It was not a good day for the Broncs,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

11 Rider University student-athletes were honored Friday as part of the 20th annual National Student-Athlete Day.

James Hayes of the Rider University baseball team was named the New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association Division I Pitcher of the Week for all games played March 27-April 2.

The Rider University baseball game with the University of Delaware, scheduled for April 4 has been cancelled due to rain and will not be re-scheduled. 

The Broncs lost in 11 innings at Seton Hall Tuesday, ending a four-game winning streak. “Seton Hall pitched very well and came up with the big hits at the end,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

David Hayes of the Rider University baseball team was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week for all games played March 26-April 1.

Sophomore shortstop Jamie Hayes (Sunrise, Fla./Piper) hit an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning to break a 4-4 tie and then pitched the ninth inning, striking out two to earn his third save of the weekend series, in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory at Saint Peter’s Sunday. “Jamie had a big hit in the ninth and then did it again on the mound,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

The Broncs swept Saint Peter’s in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday. “It wasn’t easy, but we feel pretty good about how we did today,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “We feel fortunate to get out of here with two wins.”

Freshman Eric Woodrow (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to give Rider a come-from-behind win at St. Joseph’s Wednesday. “Woodrow had a big hit,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “A game-winning hit with two outs in the ninth inning, it doesn’t get any bigger than that.”

The Broncs lost to Rutgers Tuesday. “They only scored in three innings, but you can’t spot a team six runs right off the bat,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “We’re playing from behind too much so far this season.”

Rider starting catcher Sean Olson played in both games of the doubleheader and came up with the game-winning hit as the Broncs split a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader with LeMoyne Sunday. The strange part was that Olson played two different positions Sunday, and neither was behind the plate. “I prefer catching, but I’m just happy to play anywhere and contribute,” Olson said.

Despite four hits, including a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI from the Hayes brothers, the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to LeMoyne Saturday. “It’s frustrating to battle back and take the lead and then not be able to get three outs when we need to,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

The Rider University baseball team has to date played the seventh toughest schedule in Division I, according to boydsworld.com.

The Broncs lost at Gonzaga Saturday in the final game of the six game road trip to the state of Washington. “The best part of this trip was that everybody played and I got to see what everybody can and cannot do,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

The Broncs lost at Gonzaga Friday. “We got out-played in every phase of the game,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

Despite collecting 12 hits the Broncs lost at Gonzaga Thursday night. “We swung the bats pretty good,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.  “We’re seeing progress.”

The Broncs lost to Washington State Tuesday night in the third and final game of the series. “It was just one of those nights when we weren’t able to generate any offense,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

Despite out-hitting the host Cougars 10-9, the Broncs lost to Washington State Monday night. “I think we led in every category except one, runs,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

Sophomore Mike Petrowski (Hamilton Square/Steinert), making his first collegiate start, allowed just three hits in eight innings to defeat Washington State Sunday night. “Mike was outstanding,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

The Rider University baseball game with the University of Delaware, scheduled for March 7, has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, April 4. The game will be played at Rider beginning at 3:30 pm.

Gene Crimoli of Shrewsbury (Christian Brothers Academy), a 2006 graduate of Rider University, is currently playing professional baseball in Italy.

The Broncs lost at VMI Sunday. “We saw some pretty good arms this weekend, and good pitching beats good hitting,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “We were much more competitive today, and I was pleased with that.”

The Broncs lost at VMI Saturday. “It wasn’t a real good day,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.  “We didn’t do much of anything positive.”

The Broncs lost the first game of a three-game series at VMI on Friday. “I think there are a lot of wins in this team, but with the competition we are playing now, you have to have your ‘A’ game or you are going to lose,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

Rider sophomore baseball player Jamie Hayes was named to the 2007 Pre-Season All-Gotham Collegiate Baseball Team in the outfield as an honorable mention it was announced Thursday night by Gotham Sports Media.

Rider University sophomore shortstop Jamie Hayes was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Week for all games played the first week of the 2007 season. “He certainly got off to a great start,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

Rider split a doubleheader at East Tennessee State Saturday.  In the first game, the Broncs banged out 24 hits, as all nine starters collected at least one hit. “We swung the bat a little bit,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.

The Broncs began the 2007 season with a loss at East Tennessee State Friday. “It was a very competitive game,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.  “We had a chance to win, so it’s a little disappointing that we didn’t finish stronger.”

Sophomore Jamie Hayes of the Rider University baseball team was selected to the 2007 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Preseason Team. “Jamie had an outstanding year in 2006 and being recognized by the coaches as an All-MAAC player indicates the respect he has earned,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis.