Jaspers Picked Third in MAAC Preseason Baseball Poll

RIVERDALE, N.Y. ?  The Manhattan College baseball team was picked to finish third in 2009 according to the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll which was released today at conference headquarters. Jasper outfielders Kevin Nieto and Mark Onorati were named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team. Manhattan received 58 points in the poll, while Canisius was picked to finish first earning 81 points.

The Jaspers posted a 31-20-1 overall record last season, and earned the program's first MAAC Regular Season Championship with a 19-5 league mark. It was the third straight 30-win season for head coach Kevin Leighton in as many years. The Jaspers also earned a bid to the program's sixth consecutive MAAC Tournament.

Nieto, a junior from Miami, was named to the All-MAAC First Team after leading the league in batting average (.386) and triples (6). Nieto also finished the year in the top-5 of the conference with 21 stolen bases (third), .595 slugging percentage (fourth), .467 on-base percentage (fourth) and 47 RBI (fifth). The Jasper co-captain started 42 of 43 appearances in center field and was named to the ECAC Division I All-Star Second Team and American Baseball Coaches Association Northeast Region First Team.

Onorati was named to the All-MAAC Second Team last season after a breakout rookie campaign. He started all 50 appearances in the outfield, recorded 62 hits, including 14 doubles and seven home runs. Onorati tied for second in the MAAC with 54 runs scored and hit .337 on the season. The Williston Park, N.Y. native had 16 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI contests.

Manhattan opens the 2009 season on Feb. 20-22 versus Brigham Young University and host school Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla.