May 25, 2005
FISHKILL, N.Y. - Siena College head baseball coach Tony Rossi has been named 2005 Anaconda MAAC co-Coach of the Year. It marks the sixth time Rossi has received the honor, more than any coach in any sport in school history. Junior outfielder Gabe Perez was named to the MAAC First Team. Classmate John Lannan and freshman Jake Willis were Second Team All-Conference picks.
Rossi guided the Saints to a 28-21 record and a 19-5 mark in MAAC play. The Saints were picked fifth in the preseason conference poll, but enter the Tournament as the #2 seed overall. In his 36th season at the helm, Rossi has guided the Saints from a Division II program with 10 players to a championship Division I program. Since joining the MAAC in 1990, Rossi has now won the Coach of the Year award six times (1991, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2001). Rossi shares the award with Marist head coach Joe Raccuia.
Perez, the lone Siena representative on the First Team, batted .259 with four homeruns and 27 RBI. All four of the homeruns came against conference competition. Perez carried a .315 average in 24 MAAC games played.
Lannan was named to the Second Team after a brilliant junior season in which he went 9-2 with a 2.57 ERA. Against the MAAC, Lannan went 8-0 and posted a 1.98 ERA. He has won 12 of his last 13 MAAC decisions. In 73 2/3 innings of work this season, Lannan struck out 75 batters and walked just 26.
Willis led Siena everyday players with a .304 batting average, and tied for the team lead with five homeruns. He was named MAAC Rookie of the Week (4/11) and drove in 26 runs this season. The freshman third baseman scored 31 times and boasted a .509 slugging percentage.
Siena opens play in the MAAC Tournament at 3 p.m. Thursday against third-seeded Manhattan at Fishkill's Dutchess Stadium. Marist takes on Niagara in the second semi-final of the double-elimination Tournament at 7 p.m..
Senior Justin Arasin, junior Brian Schmotzer and sophomores Nicholas Kieltyka and Trevor Reid were named to the All Academic Team. To be eligible for the MAAC All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must carry a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale and be a starter of significant reserve.
