NEWBURGH, NY (May 22, 2003) - Junior centerfielder
Matt Cucurullo (Valhalla, NY) and freshman designated hitter
John Fitzpatrick (Yonkers, NY) were honored with MAAC post-season accolades this morning at the Annual MAAC Awards Banquet held at the Ramada Inn. Cucurullo was one of three outfielders named to the All-MAAC Second Team, while Fitzpatrick was chosen as the All-MAAC First Team designated hitter.
Cucurullo, who was named to the All-MAAC First Team in 2002, was a starter in 37 games before suffering a stress fracture in his right foot late in the season. He still leads the team with a .368 batting average and accumulated 36 RBI, second-best on the squad. Cucurullo was also one of 11 players in the region named to the Verizon Academic All-District I First Team.
Fitzpatrick made an immediate impact as a rookie, batting .329 with three homeruns and 28 RBI. A starter in 46 of the Jaspers' 49 games, he owns a .453 slugging percentage and leads the team with 53 basehits. Fitzpatrick was also named MAAC Rookie of the Week on April 1.
In addition to those two special awards, four Jaspers were named to the New York Lottery/MAAC All-Academic Team. Cucurullo was named to the All-Academic Team along with junior catcher
Josh Greco (Kensington, CT), junior outfielder
Nick Carbone (Litchfield, CT) and sophomore outfielder
Phil Kuhner (Queens, NY).
Manhattan (25-24, 15-10) is making its first-ever appearance in the MAAC Baseball Tournament. The No. 4-seeded Jaspers will take on the top-seeded LeMoyne College Dolphins at 3:00 PM this afternoon at Dutchess County Stadium.
