(05-07-08)
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. -- University of New Haven junior Evan Okon (photo) earned a spot on the All-East Coast Conference First Team in voting by the league's head coaches, it was announced on Wednesday. Michael Moras, Jimmy Rivas and Adam Rozum each earned a spot on the All-ECC Third Team.
Head coaches of the ECC's 10 baseball teams voted in person at a meeting on Monday night to select the three All-ECC teams. Only statistics from conference games were considered.
Okon was the First Team All-ECC pick at second base. He batted .311 in 27 ECC games, with seven doubles, 14 RBI's and 15 runs scored. Okon had a hit in 21 of 27 ECC games for the Chargers, including a team-best 10-game hit streak from April 5-20. Okon was a Second Team All-Conference pick as a freshman in 2006.
Moras was the Third Team All-ECC pick at catcher, while Rivas and Rozum took spots on the Third Team as outfielders.
Moras, a senior, earned the fourth All-Conference award of his career after leading UNH with a .351 batting average in ECC games. He slugged .526 (9 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs), drove in a team-best 20 runs in ECC play and was second on the team with 16 runs scored. He hit in 18 of 27 ECC games for the Chargers, including 11 multi-hit games.
Rivas, a junior transfer, batted .288 in 21 ECC games, missing a few early in the season due to injury. He still drove in 14 runs in those 21 games, and scored seven more. Six of his 19 hits in ECC play went for extra bases, including five doubles and a home run. Rivas hit in 14 of 21 ECC games and led the team with four multi-RBI performances. He tied with Okon for the team lead with a 10-game hit streak.
Rozum came out of virtually nowhere to have a very productive season for UNH. After seeing no at-bats over his first two seasons, Rozum ended up playing in 21 ECC games for the Chargers, including 19 starts. He batted .273 with six runs scored and three doubles. Adam hit in 12 of 21 ECC games.
2008 East Coast Conference Baseball All Conference Teams
Player of the Year: Chris Irwin, Molloy
Pitcher of the Year: Brian Honeyman, Queens
Rookie of the Year: Colin Barnathan, Dowling
Coach of the Year: Chris Celano, Dowling
First Team, Yr., Position, School, Hometown
Chris Irwin, Sr., Catcher, Molloy, Mahopac, N.Y.
Keith Kenny, Jr., First Base, Molloy, Hicksville, N.Y.
Evan Okon, Jr., Second Base, New Haven, Bellmore, N.Y.
John Mazzello, Sr., Shortstop, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Hyde Park, N.Y.
Craig Ross, Sr., Third Base, Mercy , Bellmore, N.Y.
Rob Paccione, Jr., Outfield, Adelphi, Bayside, N.Y.
Robert LaRusso, Fr., Outfield, Molloy, Bayside, N.Y.
T.J. Greig, So., Outfield, Molloy, Staten Island, N.Y.
Kevin Connors, Jr., Utility, Saint Thomas Aquinas, West Babylon. N.Y.
Mike Sylvester, Sr., Designated Hitter, C.W. Post, Farmingdale, N.Y.
Brian Honeyman, Sr., Pitcher, Queens, Flushing, N.Y.
Bobby Lanigan, Jr., Pitcher, Adelphi, Staten Island, N.Y.
Bobby Kay, Sr., Pitcher, C.W. Post , Stony Brook, N.Y.
Second Team
David Wendt, Jr., Catcher, Dowling, Methuen, Mass.
Vincent Malzahn, So., First Base, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Sparrowbush, N.Y.
Eddie Squeri, Fr., Second Base, Dowling, Shirley, N.Y.
Patrick Walsh, Jr., Shortstop, Molloy, Bellmore, N.Y.
Seth DeSautel, Sr., Third Base, Bridgeport, Cumberland, R.I.
Brian Chenicek, Sr., Outfield, C.W. Post, Levittown, N.Y.
Fernando Peralta, So., Outfield, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Pine Bush, N.Y.
Matt Walsh, Fr., Outfield, Mercy, Staten Island, N.Y.
Matt Kenney, So., Utility, Adelphi, Florham Park, N.Y.
Chris Caputo, Sr., Designated Hitter, Dowling, East Islip, N.Y.
Brent Lotito, Sr., Pitcher, Dowling, Miller Place, N.Y.
Mark Fochesato, Fr., Pitcher, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Middletown, N.Y.
Mike Scudero, So., Pitcher, Adelphi, Massapequa Park, N.Y.
Rich Barry, Sr., Pitcher, Dowling, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Third Team
Michael Moras, Sr., Catcher, New Haven, Orange, Conn.
Jamie Quinn, Sr., First Base, Queens, Plainedge, N.Y.
Kyle Walker, Jr., Second Base, C.W. Post, Wantagh, N.Y.
Bryan Bonin, So., Shortstop, C.W. Post, Commack, N.Y.
Colin Barnathan, Fr., Third Base, Dowling, Massapequa, N.Y.
Dan McDermott, Fr., Third Base, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Levittown, N.Y.
Mike Mongiello, Sr., Outfield, Adelphi, East Setauket, N.Y.
Jimmy Rivas, Jr., Outfield , New Haven, Toa Baja, P.R.
Bruce Testa, Jr., Outfield, C.W. Post, Glen Cove, N.Y.
Matt Monastero, Jr., Outfield, Dowling, Ridge, N.Y.
Adam Rozum, Jr., Outfield, New Haven, Seymour, Conn.
Peter Barrows, Fr., Utility, Bridgeport, Old Saybrook, Conn.
Greg Conway, So., Designated Hitter, Concordia, Floral Park, N.Y.
Chris Piotroski, Sr., Pitcher, Dowling, Holbrook, N.Y.
Scott Porter, Sr., Pitcher, Molloy, Levittown, N.Y.
Mike Aviles, Fr., Pitcher, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Suffern. N.Y.
