EDISON, NJ (February 25, 2003) - The Manhattan College baseball team was tabbed to finish fourth in the MAAC conference, as announced by league officials today. Three-time MAAC champion Marist College was picked to win the conference title again this season.
Additionally, junior centerfielder
Matt Cucurullo (Valhalla, NY) was one of three outfielders named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Cucurullo is coming off a sensational sophomore season in which he hit .370 with a school-record tying 68 hits and 36 RBI. Cucurullo also set a school record with 25 stolen bases and boasted a .959 fielding percentage.
The Jaspers are coming off a brilliant 2002 season, winning a school record-tying 32 games. Manhattan finished fifth in the conference at 16-11, just one game shy of making the playoffs.
The Jaspers were rained out of last weekend's season-opening three-game series with Elon College but look to get things going this weekend at the University of New Orleans. The Jaspers' home opener is slated for Wednesday March 19 against Lehigh.
2003 Preseason Coaches' Poll1. Marist 93
2. LeMoyne 87
3. Rider 77
4. Manhattan 685. Siena 66
6. Iona 51
7. Fairfield 37
8. Niagara 33
9. Saint Peter's 26
10. Canisius 12
