Baseball

Central Islip, N.Y. - T.J. Greig, a junior outfield from Molloy College, has been voted the 2009 East Coast Conference Player of the Year by the league's coaches.  Dowling junior right handed pitcher Gabriel Duran has been tabbed the Pitcher of the Year and outfield Carmine Pellechia garners Rookie of the Year honors.

With a .347 batting average and a .500 slugging percentage, Greig has been a dominate force in the Lions' line-up this season.  The junior leads the conference with 66 hits, which includes seven doubles and five homeruns, as well as total bases with 90.  Heading into post-season play, Greig  is second on the team with 32 RBIs and fourth with 25 runs scored.

Duran led the Golden Lions' pitching staff this year compiling an impressive 8-1 record and a save during the regular season.  The righty currently leads the nation in earned runs average (.66) and hits allowed per nine innings (3.71) while also leading the conference in runs allowed (9) and earned runs allowed (7).  In his 68 innings on the mound, Duran has tallied 66 strikeouts and held his opponents to a .126 batting average.

Pellechia connected for 48 hits this season, driving in 20 runs while crossing the plate 30 times.   The three-time ECC Rookie of the Week was a threat on the base path as he stole 23 of his 26 attempted bases to rank second in the conference.

In his fourth season leading the Molloy College Lions, head coach Joe Fucarino has been voted the 2009 Coach of the Year by his peers.  Fucarino guided his team to a 16-8 conference finish, securing the No. 2 seed along with a first round bye in the ECC Tournament.   The Lions are currently 26-17 overall this season.

The 2009 ECC Baseball All-Conference First Team recipients are: Ryan Boelsen (Sr., C, Adelphi), Dan Pembroke (Jr., 1B, Dowling), Peter Loeb (Sr., 2B, Molloy), Colin Barnathan (So., 3B, Dowling), Patrick Walsh (Sr., SS, Molloy), T.J. Greig (Jr., OF, Molloy), Matt Walsh (So., OF, Mercy), Frank Intagliata (Jr., OF, Dowling), Kevin Conners (Sr., DH, STAC),  Gabriel Duran (Jr., P, Dowling), Keith Couch (So., P, Adelphi) and Steven Steward (Jr., P, Molloy).

The Second Team recipients are: Dave Wendt (Sr., C, Dowling), Bill Meillo (Sr., 1B, Adelphi), Kyle Walker (Sr., 2B, C.W. Post), Dan McDermott (So., 3B, STAC), Eddie Squeri (So., SS, Dowling), Matt Smith (So., OF, STAC), Carmine Pellechia (Fr., OF, Molloy), Rob Paccione (Sr., OF, Adelphi), Kevin Clements (Jr., DH, Bridgeport), Pete Budkevics (Jr., P, C.W. Post), Kevin McCormack (Sr., P, Dowling) and Mark Czerniawski (Jr., P, C.W. Post).

The Third Team recipients are: Jared Stoler (Sr., C, Queens), Keith Kenny (Sr., 1B, Molloy), Gaetano Giunta (So., 2B, Bridgeport), Chris Weildan (Jr., 3B, Adelphi), Donnie Roth (Jr., SS, Concordia), Robert LaRusso (So., OF, Molloy), Nick Barbalato (Fr., OF, STAC), Joe Vaskas (So., OF, Concordia), Matt Kenny (Sr., DH, Adelphi), Riley Shuckerow (Sr., P, Bridgeport), Jose Aquino (Sr., P, Concordia), Peter Denyssenko (so., P, Concordia) and Brian LaMarr (Jr., P, STAC).