Central Islip, N.Y. – After putting
together a record breaking 2012 season, the St. Thomas Aquinas
Spartans swept through the ECC Baseball All-Conference major awards
as voted on by the conference’s coaches. Junior shortstop,
Frank Salerno is the Player of the Year, senior pitcher Matt
Marotta takes home the Pitcher of the Year, freshman third baseman
Stanley Susana earned the Rookie of the Year, and head coach Scott
Muscat was selected by his peers as the Coach of the Year.
Salerno put together a remarkable season in a Spartans uniform,
ranking in the top-three in the conference in almost every
offensive category. In 49 games, Salerno has compiled an
eye-popping 70 hits to post a .376 batting average, good for second
in the conference. Salerno also ranked second in the conference in
on-base percentage at .452 and was a terror on the base paths once
he reached, compiling an ECC leading 38 stolen bases and 54 runs.
His .468 slugging percentage and 33 runs batted in were also among
the top three in the conference.
Marotta returned from red-shirt season in 2011 to become the top
hurler in the conference. In 13 appearances and nine starts,
Marotta posted an 8-1 record and also picked up two saves. His
eight wins put him in a tie for the most in the ECC this season.
Despite being backed by the top offense in the conference, Marotta
earned his wins in dominating fashion. Batters hit a meager .181
against him in 70 innings pitched and he also finished second in
the conference in earned run average (1.67) and third in strikeouts
(69). Marotta, who also is second in all of Division II with 4.98
hits allowed per nine innings, accomplished a rare feat this
season, tossing a no-hitter with five strikeouts against Northeast
10 power, Adelphi.
Susana was another force in the powerful Spartans’ lineup in
his rookie season. The third baseman, who was a three-time ECC
weekly award winner, finished in the top-ten in the conference in
almost every offensive category. He led the league with seven
triples and 90 total bases, while also coming in among the leaders
in batting average (.360), hits (62), runs (26), homeruns (3), RBI
(29), and slugging percentage (.523).
St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Scott Muscat was named the 2012
Coach of the Year by his peers. Muscat guided the Spartans to
a program record 33 wins and the East Coast Conference Regular
Season title. Currently, the Spartans are ranked No. 5 in the
East Region.
2012 ECC Baseball All-Conference Team
First Team
C: George Wargo, St. Thomas Aquinas
1B: Eric Schlitter, Bridgeport
2B: Andrew Abreu, Dowling
3B: Stanley Susana, St. Thomas Aquinas
SS: Frank Salerno, St. Thomas Aquinas
OF: Joe Antenucci, St. Thomas Aquinas
OF: Joe Candela, Dowling
OF: Matt Ranaudo, Bridgeport
DH: Mike Russo, St. Thomas Aquinas
UTL: Kevin Chenicek, C.W. Post
SP: Bo Budkevics, C.W. Post
SP: Matt Marotta, St. Thomas Aquinas
SP: Marc Rutlegde, Dowling
RP: Anthony Zapulla, C.W. Post
Second Team
C: Ray McCourt, Molloy
1B: Andrew Hancsak, St. Thomas Aquinas
2B: John Galanoudis, Molloy
3B: Tom Tolan, C.W. Post
SS: Keith Herring, C.W. Post
OF: Nick Barbalato, St. Thomas Aquinas
OF: Carlos Guzman, Molloy
OF: Vinny Iacono, C.W. Post
DH: Anthony Brunetti, C.W. Post
UTL: Joe Salanitri, Queens
SP: Tyler Badamo, Dowling
SP: Eric Cooper, St. Thomas Aquinas
SP: James Stone, C.W. Post
RP: Tom Bammann, Dowling
Player of the Year: Frank Salerno, Jr., SS,
STAC
Pitcher of the Year: Matt Marotta, Sr.,
STAC
Rookie of the Year: Stanley Susana, Fr., 3B,
STAC
Coach of the Year: Scott Muscat, STAC