Feb. 3, 2010

Manhattan College has been chosen as the favorite to take the 2010 MAAC Baseball title, while the Saints were picked fifth according to a preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches. Sophomore Dan Poalini and senior Anthony Giansanti were named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team

Manhattan finished with 79 points in the poll, while Marist finished second (71). Canisius placed third with 65 points. Rider placed fourth (43), followed by Siena (42), Fairfield (40), Niagara (29), Saint Peter's (20), and Iona (16).

Jaspers' senior outfielder Kevin Nieto was named the 2010 MAAC Baseball Preseason Player of the Year. Last season, he led all of Division I with 1.57 runs per game. Nieto hit a team-best .396 as he helped guide the Jaspers to their second consecutive MAAC regular-season title. He also led the MAAC in runs scored (72) and slugging percentage (.754).

Paolini was a Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American, the ECAC and MAAC Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All-Northeast pick by the American Baseball Coaches' Association. His .430 batting average was tops on the Northeast, second among all freshmen nationally and ninth in all of Division I. He collected a school-record 86hits in just 50 games and his 53 RBI were one shy of the single-season Siena record.

Giansanti (Montville, Conn./Montville), an All-MAAC First Team selection as a junior, batted .350 last season, hitting a team best 14 home runs (3rd MAAC) and had 37 RBI. He led the team with 52 runs and stole 20 of 21 (.952) bases. He was drafted by the Oakland A's but elected to return for his senior season.

The infield for the 2010 preseason team includes: Marist's Bryce Nugent as catcher, Manhattan's Austin Sheffield at first base, Paolini at second base, Saint Peter's Conor Mullee at shortstop and Giansanti at third base. Joining Nieto in the outfield are fellow teammate Mike McCann and Canisius' Ian Choy. Manhattan's Anthony Armenio is the designated hitter, and Canisius' Shayne Willson is the utility player. Fairfield's Rob Gariano rounds out the Preseason All-MAAC Team as the pitcher.