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Follow Marist Baseball At The MAAC Tournament
May 20, 2009
2009 Baseball MAAC Tournament Media Guide
Fans can follow the Marist baseball team at the 2009 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Baseball Championship through this blog. This blog will contain updates from when the Red Foxes depart campus until they arrive back in Poughkeepsie. This blog will be written by Sports Information Director Mike Ferraro and Assistant Sports Information Director Mike Haase. Comments and questions can be sent to Michael.Ferraro@Marist.edu. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 2:10 p.m.: Good afternoon and welcome to the 2009 Marist Baseball MAAC Tournament blog! I'm Sports Information Director Mike Ferraro, and you will hear from me and Assistant SID Mike Haase throughout our trek to Trenton. The team departed campus approximately an hour ago, and we're now on the New York State Thruway just south of Exit 16. We should arrive in Trenton sometime between 3:45 and 4 p.m. There will be a number of ways you can follow the team throughout the tournament this week. First of all, there will be this blog, which will take you behind the scenes before and after the games. As for the games themselves, Mike and I will be broadcasting every one of them (with a 15-minute pre-game show before each one), and you can listen to them by clicking on the "Listen" button on GoRedFoxes.com. There will also be links to live stats posted. As for today's schedule ... the team practiced on McCann Baseball Field prior to getting on the road. After some time at the hotel, there will be a banquet tonight at 7:30 that all the teams will attend, and will include the announcement of the All-MAAC teams and MAAC award winners. We'll be back soon ... right now, everyone is enjoying our bus movie -- Little Big League. A great choice by Kyle Meyer. 5:25: MF again ... OK, so we walked into the hotel room at 4:50 and my ETA was off a little. Anyone who knows me knows that I have no concept of time anyway. Before we departed the bus, I had a chat with the guy who has to be the biggest NBA fan on this team ... junior right-hander Richard Cary. Nearly every conversation with Rich works its way to "did you see the game last night" eventually. I've even taken to calling the NBA the Rich Cary Association on our bus. Here's Rich's thoughts on some current NBA (or is that RCA?) events: -- On if it's a slam dunk the L.A. Clippers will take Blake Griffin now that they've won the lottery ... "Slam dunk, 100 percent." (We now interrupt Rich On Hoops for some comments from sophomore lefty Chad Gallagher on the Orlando-Cleveland series ... "I just want to say there's no chance Orlando wins one game. Dwight Howard can't stop The King.") Now back to our regularly scheduled programming: -- On last night's Denver-L.A. Lakers game ... "The Nuggets showed they could play with them, but their playoff inexperience showed at the end. They've lost three playoff games by two points." We'll be back with more updates after the banquet. We're leaving to head over to KatManDu restaurant right near Waterfront Park, the tournament site, at 6:40. 11 p.m. - This is Mike Haase writing now, as the boss (my boss, not the other musician guy) is writing his release about Marist's MAAC award winners. Tonight's MAAC Baseball banquet was unlike the other gala occasions I have been to this academic year. Apparently, baseball people are very terse and brief when in front of a microphone. Not that that is a bad thing. I think combined, the four head coaches said about 200 words. I'm still up burning the midnight oil preparing for tomorrow's broadcast of Marist vs. Canisius (pregame at 3:45 p.m. on GoRedFoxes.com). I'll tell you this right now; the Golden Griffins have been on fire lately. They have won 18 of thier last 22 games and are hitting .342 in the month of May. Marist took two of three games from Canisius in late March, and here's hoping there's still some momentum for the Red Foxes to ride on off of the sweep of Fairfield last weekend. I will say this, though: Marist found ways to win one-run games against Fairfield like they did at Canisius. The Red Foxes are no strangers to close games, which is good in tournament play. Anyways, back to work... Listen to Mike Ferraro and myself tomorrow at 3:45 p.m. on GoRedFoxes.com as Marist opens the 2009 MAAC Baseball Championship. 1 a.m. MF back here ... Mr. Haase and I are winding down our preparations for the evening. Couple of random thoughts from this evening ... Magic 107, Cavs 106, huh? Richard Cary 1, Chad Gallagher 0 as well. ... Any discussion of the biggest NBA fans on this team also has to include junior right-hander and reigning MAAC Pitcher of the Week B.J. Martin. ... Also, kudos to Mr. Haase for finding Ferris Bueller's Day Off on HBO Family. We can pretty much mute this and recite all the words ourselves. A mini-feature we're going to try for the next few days ... five questions with a Red Fox. Our first subject is freshman Jon Schwind, who's played in every game this season while making 29 starts at shortstop and 21 in center field. We caught up with Jon right after we returned to the hotel following the banquet. 1. Coming off an emotional series sweep of Fairfield, what is this team's mindset going into the MAAC Tournament? Schwind: It gave us a lot of confidence. We're excited. It made us realize any team can win this tournament, including us. 2. There was talk about you being a super-utility type going into the season. Then you start the season at shortstop, and now you've moved to center field. What do you think your best position is? Schwind: Wherever Coach Healy wants me to play, that's where I'll play. I just want to be able to help the team out any way I can. Playing the infield and outfield is totally different with the reads and angles. 3. What have been the biggest adjustments you've had to make from high school to college? Schwind: Hitting with two strikes. Just coming to play every day, and knowing that you can't carry your bad at-bats into the field, into your next at-bat or into the next game. Everyone knows how to pitch you at this level. 4. Describe Dennis Healy in three words. Schwind: Funny, intense, approachable. 5. How'd you get to be a Chicago White Sox fan? Schwind: My brother, Greg, got a White Sox jacket from our uncle. When I was born, I started liking every team he liked. I became a big fan of the White Sox, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Bulls. I also root for the Buffalo Sabres, too. After this interview, Jon, Mike Haase and myself had a interesting discussion on several topics, including White Sox baseball. After all, Jon and Mike have to be the two biggest White Sox fans I know. Between our two White Sox fans, me being a Kansas City Royals fan, us watching Little Big League (featuring the "Minnesota Twins") on the ride down, and having Marist women's basketball coach Brian Giorgis express his disappointment to me before we left about his Cleveland Indians blowing a three-run to the Royals on Tuesday in the ninth inning, it was a pretty full day of AL Central baseball. Wow, what a run-on sentence! And on that note, we'll call it a day. Be back with you in the morning for a rundown on the day's events, including a preview of the game against Canisius. THURSDAY, MAY 21 9:45 a.m.: Good morning! This is MF coming to you on a day when the weather looks like it was hand-picked by the Trenton Chamber of Commerce. Today's forecast is 81, sunny, with a breeze of about 10-15 miles an hour and little humidity to be found. Mike Haase and I will be heading down to breakfast shortly. Then it'll back to the room for some more pre-game studying before we head over to the ballpark at 1:40. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. It'll be a busy day for the folks at Waterfront Park, which is also home to the Trenton Thunder, the New York Yankees' Double-A affiliate. The Thunder have an 11 a.m. game today against the Akron Aeros (Cleveland Indians affiliate). The game featuring top-seeded Manhattan and fourth-seeded Rider is set for 7:30. Back later with some more on today's game! 11:03: MF here with some thoughts on today's game after a run to Dunkin' Donuts ... the Red Foxes took two out of three from the Golden Griffins in the regular season despite being outscored in the series 24-8. That's what two one-runs and an 18-0 loss in the series finale will do for you. In Canisius' 18-0 win, lefty starter Mike Goemans tossed seven innings and gave up just four hits. That's who the Red Foxes will face today. Goemans finished the season 7-4 with a 4.29 ERA, and was named Second Team All-MAAC at last night's banquet. The Red Foxes will counter with senior lefty Josh Rickards (5-3, 5.45 ERA). Rickards had perhaps his best start of the season in the Red Foxes' 2-1 win in 11 innings on March 28 in Buffalo, allowing just three hits, one run and one walk in 7.1 innings. He'll have to deal with a potent Canisius offense which finished the regular season with a .314 average, 85 homers and 92 stolen bases. Six Canisius regulars earned All-MAAC honors, led by MAAC Player of the Year Kevin Mahoney (.337, 22 homers, 60 RBIs, 18 steals, .469 on-base, .795 slug). Marist is counting on Rickards' experience and craftiness to come through. In addition to having his name littered all of the top 10 of the Marist record books (apperances, starts, strikeouts, ERA, innings pitched), he is also the only current Red Foxes' pitcher to win -- or, for that matter, appear in -- a MAAC Tournament game. We'll be back later with more from the ballpark. 3:23: It's MF, welcoming you to Waterfront Park ... where history has already been made today. In an earlier post, we mentioned that the Trenton Thunder were taking on the Akron Aeros at 11 a.m. Well, Akron pitcher Jeanmar Gomez pitched a perfect game with eight strikeouts as the Aeros won, 3-0. Our bus pulled into the parking lot at about 1:45, and we were a bit delayed entering the stadium because the Aeros will still celebrating. Here are today's starting lineups, first for Marist: Richard Curylo, SS And on the mound for the Red Foxes, it's senior lefty Josh Rickards. Now for Canisius: Brian Gibbs, 1B And on the mound for the Griffs, lefty Mike Goemans. Remember to give Mike Haase and myself a listen at 3:45! Be back with details and analysis after the game! 8:46: Wow! MF back from the visting team radio booth at Waterfront Park, where I've been since about 2:15, and I can honestly say I've been enjoying every minute. Marist's 7-6 win over Canisius was truly a show of resiliency on both sides. The Red Foxes never trailed in the game. Three times when Marist took the lead, Canisius tied the score. The fourth time gave the Red Foxes the lead for good in the eighth ... although the Golden Griffins were able to get the tying run to third in the ninth. As for today's heroes ... with his two-run homer and triple, Ricky Pacione is easy to spot. So is Jon Schwind for his two-run triple in the eighth, which put the Red Foxes up for good. Although Jacob Wiley was greeted for a two-run single on the first pitch he threw, he stranded runners in scoring position in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Josh Rickards, in his 6.2, hung tough and left with a 5-3 lead. It was the deepest Ricks went into a game in his last five starts. And even though he got a no-decision in both of his starts against the Griffs this year, his team won both games. As for the heroes who may not have been as easy to spot ... tip of the cap to Bryce Nugent fo getting a couple of hits against a tough lefty in Mike Goemans, including an RBI single which opened the scoring in the fourth inning. Brian McDonough, who entered the tournament 2-for-17 in his last four games, got three hits today. And last but certainly not least ... Dennis Healy has often cited his infield defense as a barometer of how his team will play. Today, the quartet of Pacione, Curylo, Prano and Gauck recorded 17 of the team's 27 outs -- without an error. Final thought ... three Marist victories against Canisius this year, three one-run wins. Be back later for more from the Rider-Manhattan game. The Broncs lead 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth. Rider lefty Mike Thomas, who shut out the Jaspers in the regular season, has retired all 11 Manhattan hitters he's faced to this point. 1 a.m.: Manhattan it is! MF back after a night at the ballpark and some "blog research" (more on that later). The Jaspers eventually got to Mike Thomas with a homer by Austin Sheffield in the fifth to tie the score at one. A single by Ryan Masters later in the inning drove home Anthony Armenio for what would be the final run of the game. MAAC Pitcher of the Year Mike Gazzola went the distance with a five-hitter as the Jaspers earned a 2-1 victory. Rider will play Canisius at noon in an elimination game, with the loser being out and the winner advancing to the 7 p.m. game, and a meeting between the Manhattan-Marist loser. The Manhattan-Marist winner will advance to Saturday's championship game, with two chances to win it all. Ran into Dennis Healy at the vending machine earlier tonight, and he asked me what was good on TV. Well, for the second night in a row, Haase had a beat on it. He had scouted out Arizona-Stanford softball on ESPN2, with Nuggets-Lakers on ESPN in the Rich Cary Association game of the night. Exciting finish with the Nuggets pulling it out, putting that series at 1-1. Now back to the "blog research" project ... well, it basically consisted of observing whoever I ran into at the hotel. I just needed a fancy name for it. A sampling ... -- Chad Gallagher wants to set the record straight. Apparently, he's been taking some heat for his Magic-Cavs prediction from yesterday. He wants to make it perfectly clear that he's now picking the Cavs in 5. Jon, not being one to brag, did follow that up with his dismay at his White Sox losing 20-1 to the Twins. And Jake Peavy turning down the potential trade to the Sox from San Diego. I think we can agree that the positives outweighed the negatives for Jon today, though. We'll be back with one final post before bedtime ... our "five questions" segment. 1:40 a.m.: Today's featured guest on "five questions" is also today's winning pitcher, senior closer and captain Jacob Wiley. I caught up with him at the hotel following the Rider-Manhattan game, which he attended with his father: 1. Your numbers have gotten better every year. What do you attribute that to? Wiley: I've changed my mechanics. Everyone does things differently. You have to find out what works for you and continue to work hard. 2. What, mentally, makes a great closer? Wiley: Having a short memory, no question. Even the best guys get hit around, but you have to be ready to get the ball in a pressure situation just like you did the day before. 3. What's different about this team than years past? Wiley: Our pitching wasn't nearly what it could have been. Last year, we pitched well, but we didn't hit well. This year, our pitching has gotten better, but our hitting has really gotten better. You have to give the position guys credit; they picked it up this year. 4. Head Coach Dennis Healy talks about you being a great ambassador for the school and the program. What do you embrace about being a leader and a captain? Wiley: That means a ton. I've been brought up to work hard and do the right thing. You can't always control how good you are, but you can always control how hard you work. I want to set a good example for the younger guy so the program is in good hands. 5. Describe Dennis Healy in five words or less. Wiley: Knowledgeable, cares, works hard, adaptive. And with that, we're going to call it a night. We'll be back in the morning with some thoughts on the Manhattan-Marist game set for 3:30 p.m. The team will be heading over to Waterfront Park shortly after 1. Good night and go Red Foxes! FRIDAY, MAY 22 9:47 a.m.: Good morning! MF back at the controls as Mike Haase is in the middle of studying for today's winners' bracket final against the top-seeded Manhattan Jaspers. You'll notice that the home page of GoRedFoxes.com has a new picture for this blog. Credit Mr. Haase for snapping that right after we arrived at the stadium yesterday. We're going to sprinkle in some more photos as the day goes on. Today's forecast ... not that much different than yesterday's. Maybe add about five degrees or so and possibly a few unthreatening clouds, and that's what we have -- high of 86 with mostly sunny skies and a slight breeze that shouldn't exceed 10 miles an hour. Speaking of the number 10 ... we'll be back later this morning with why that number is key to the most important stat in the Marist-Manhattan rivalry. But right now, I think a food run is in order. 12:21 p.m.: MF here ... I guess I wasn't the only one with Dunkin' Donuts on my mind this morning. Ran into Manhattan SID Steve Dombroski on the way there, along with our own Eric Alessio, Sean McKeown and Ben Luderer. On the way back, I got to see Mr. and Mrs. McDonough. But enough about food and onto today's order of business. The number 10 signifies the consecutive wins Manhattan has against Marist. This includes two games in the 2007 regular season, two in the 2007 MAAC Tournament, three in the 2008 regular season and three in this regular season. Basically, Manhattan has had our number in Riverdale, Poughkeepsie and Fishkill (at Dutchess Stadium in the '07 tourney). At least it's 0-0 in Trenton. It's not as if the Red Foxes have been dominated from start to finish in these games; as a matter of fact, six of those 10 games have seen either a tie or the Red Foxes leading in the seventh inning or later. But credit the Jaspers for getting the big hit and making the key pitch every time they've needed to in this stretch. We'll be leaving for Waterfront Park shortly after 1. We'll have an update with lineups and starting pitchers once we get there. Again, remember to tune into Mike Haase and myself beginning at 3:15. 1:37: Arrived at the ballpark about 20 minutes ago, with Haase and I having settled into the visitors' radio booth at Waterfront Park. This team looks loose and ready to have some fun today. Dennis Healy reminded them to do just that before departing the bus. Back with lineups hopefully sooner than later! 2:25: Here's today's pitching match-up: For the Red Foxes, it's junior right-hander B.J. Martin (5-5, 4.48). For the Jaspers, it's junior righty Tom Costigan (7-2, 5.70). Martin has been on fire down the stretch, compiling a 4-2 record with a 2.79 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 42 innings over his las six starts. Costigan, who was removed from the weekend rotation in the middle of the season, was 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in his las two starts. Each of these pitchers has enjoyed some success against the opposition. Martin has faced Manhattan twice. Last year, he took a shutout into the eighth inning before the Red Foxes fell in a 13-inning marathon. This year, Martin left with a 5-1 lead in the seventh before the Jaspers erupted for 11 runs in the frame. Overall, Martin has posted a 2.70 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 13.1 innings. Costigan faced Martin in the April 5 meeting between the teams at Van Cortlandt Park, and gave up five runs in 3.1 innings. However, he did toss eight strong innings to knock Marist out of the 2007 MAAC Tournament, and had a class pitchers' duel with Josh Rickards in Poughkeepsie last may that the Jaspers eventually pulled out in 11 innings. Meanwhile, I don't see this game starting at 3:30. The Rider-Canisius elimination game has been a crazy one, with Sean Olson's three-run homer giving the Broncs an 8-7 lead in the top of the eighth. I'd say conservatively that we won't start before 3:45 ... and that's assuming this game doesn't go to extras. Be back with lineups and more updates soon! 3:30: MF with updates ... Canisius knocked off Rider 9-8 as Shayne Willson, who had come into pitch, won his own game with a walk-off two-run single in the ninth. The Broncs, the defending champs, have been eliminated. Canisius will face the loser of the Marist-Manhattan game at approximately 7:30. With the Rider-Canisius game going nearly three hours, start time of our game has been moved to 4 p.m. Mike Haase and I will go on air at 3:45. Give us a listen, and we'll be back with analysis after the game! But before we go, here are today's lineups. Marist first: Richard Curylo, SS And on the mound, B.J. Martin. For Marist, the only personnel change is the left-handed Agostini gets the start instead of the right-handed Stanton with Manhattan throwing the right-handed Tom Costigan. Nugent and Gauck flip spots as well. For Manhattan: Kevin Nieto, RF And on the mound, the aforementioned Tom Costigan. 9:05: I'm speechless. I can count on one hand the number of times that's happened. Well, maybe not totally speechless. MF coming to you from Row G, Seat 10 behind home plate at Waterfront Park, taking in the Canisius-Manhattan game. First, the news of the day -- the Red Foxes are in their first MAAC Championship round since 2005 after defeating Manhattan for the first time since 2006. Just another phenomenal game here at the MAAC Tournament, which has produced four one-run games to this point. That includes a game where the tying run was left at third in the bottom of the ninth, a classic 2-1 pitchers' duel, a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth, and an 11-inning classic. First of all, hats off to Richard Curylo. When Marist and Manhattan played in the regular season, Rich was just working his way back from the injury that sidelined him for the first 21 games of the season. He actually got the start at second base in the first game of the series, and did not play in the final two. Since he returned to the Marist lineup, he's been the same force we've been accustomed to seeing over the last three years. The defense of Rich and the entire Marist infield has been flawless through two tournament games. The Red Foxes' quartet of Pacione/Curylo/Prano/Gauck has recorded 33 outs in two games without committing an error. Ricky Pacione's tag-and-throw double play in the second, when Manhattan was leading 1-0 and threatening for more with runners at the corners with no out, should not be forgotten as a key play in this game. As for Jacob Wiley ... that's four wins in his last four apperances. 9-1 on the season. Wow. B.J. Martin battled today. Facing a lineup stacked top to bottom, striking out guys in double-digit numbers was not in the cards today. Instead, he fought, pitched around guys when he had to, got ground balls, kept the ball in the park, and allowed just two runs in 8.2 on a day when he struck out just three. Before I get back to some spectating (it's Canisius leading 2-0 bottom three, FYI) ... Ryan Gauck sure made his lone hit to date in the tournament count, didn't he? ... Kyle Meyer may not have a hit yet in two tournament games, but if he doesn't work a walk with two out and none on in the top of the 11th, Curylo never comes to the plate. Richard Cary walked by before. He asked me what I thought of Nuggets-Lakers last night. Now I know all is truly well. Better get some food before the concession stand closes. Back later with more! 1:08 a.m.: It's Canisius! Marist will face Canisius on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Waterfront Park in the MAAC Championship round. Since the Red Foxes have not lost in this double-elimination format, they just need to win one game to earn the championship. The Golden Griffins, however, need to defeat Marist twice. A win will give their Red Foxes their fifth MAAC championship and sixth berth in the NCAA Tournament (the Red Foxes won the NEC in 1997). Canisius defeated Manhattan 3-2 to advance. Shane Davis, the Golden Griffins' sophomore lefty, went all the way on a five-hitter. Early word is that the pitching match-up will be freshman right-hander Benson Merritt (2-3, 6.56) for the Golden Griffins against sophomore righty Kyle Putnam (4-3, 3.95) for the Red Foxes. Merritt is a talent -- he was drafted in the 42nd round by the Cincinnati Reds last year -- who has pitched well in recent non-conference starts. He also pitched a scoreless inning of relief against Niagara last Friday. The Red Foxes have not seen him this year. Putnam, a Second Team All-MAAC selection, has been terrific in his last six starts -- 4-1, 2.31, three complete games. We'll be back with "five questions" before heading off to sleep. 1:30 a.m.: And today's subject/victim for "Five Questions" is ... the starting pitcher of today's win over Manhattan, B.J. Martin. 1, You struck out 19 against Rider on April 13. What worked for you so well in that game? Martin: Just being consistent with my mechanics, and my slider was lethal that day. 2. You gave up just two runs in 8.2 innings today with only three strikeouts against a stacked Manhattan lineup. What do you have to do to keep them off the board? Martin: You have to move the ball around, get ahead and make pitches in big spots. They're going to get people on base, but you have to limit the damage. 3. You started your career at St. John's. What brought you to Marist? Martin: Dennis Healy. My dad loved Dennis. Being in the smaller environment helped. Being close to home, I figured my parents could come and watch too. 4. Describe Dennis Healy in five words or less. Martin: Emotional, passionate, caring. 5. With a number of quality pitchers on this staff, how has that brought out the best in you? Martin: It makes you more competitive. You want to do better than the guy before you. Once one person does well, you want to do well and keep the ball rolling. That'll do it for this evening. First pitch of Championship Saturday is just 11 1/2 hours away! Good night and go Red Foxes! SATURDAY, MAY 23 9:21 a.m.: Good morning and welcome to Championship Saturday! MF here, just back from breakfast in the hotel. By the end of the day, either the Red Foxes will be going to their sixth NCAA Tournament in program history, or the Golden Griffins will be headed to their first. With the resiliency both teams have shown to get to this point and will undoubtedly show today, it should make for an awesome day of baseball. As for the weather ... not much different than the last two days. High of 82, partly cloudy skies, breeze coming from the east at 5-10. The original forecast called for a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms today, but that looks like it will not come to pass now. Today, back on campus, is the college's commencement ceremony. New York State Governor David Paterson will be the featured speaker. Congratulations to all the Marist graduates, and to the seniors on our baseball team! We'll be leaving for the ballpark at 10:30. Be back with updates after we arrive! 11:48 a.m.: The starting lineup for Marist: Richard Curylo, SS On the mound, it's sophomore right-hander Kyle Putnam. Back with the Canisius starters shortly! 12:31: For Canisius: Steve McQuail, SS And on the mound, freshman righty Benson Merritt. There's always a buzz that's in the air the day a championship will be decided. I've been fortunate enough to witness it first-hand the last six years with the Marist women's basketball team at the MAAC Tournament. And I felt it this morning talking to some of the parents in the hotel lobby before boarding the bus. It ought to be a great day for baseball, and hopefully the Red Foxes will win their sixth MAAC championship in a few hours. Both teams have finished infield/outfield, and the grounds crew is busy preparing the infield as I type. Mike Haase and I will be going on air at 12:40 (20-minute pre-game show today). Give us a listen and we'll be back with updates afterward! 4:01: Time to regroup. A winner-take-all game awaits beginning at 4:10 p.m. The Mike X2 on-air show begins in a couple minutes. Marist will be the home team in this game. The Red Foxes' lineup: Richard Curylo, SS And on the mound, it's none other than junior righty Richard Cary, Marist's leader in wins (six) in the 2008 season. For Canisius: Steve McQuail, SS And on the mound, lefty Mike Goemans. Yes, the same Mike Goemans who started against the Red Foxes two days ago and went 7.1 innings. 8:17: How sweet it is! We're headed back to Poughkeepsie after winning clinching a berth in the NCAA Tournament berth for the sixth time in program history. Keep checking GoRedFoxes.com -- we're going to have some updated photos from today's game and celebration. 2:35 a.m.: MF here before I get some sleep ... we arrived back in Poughkeepsie around 11 p.m. The ride back was pretty interesting, as the movie home was Half Baked, which was proclaimed by Dennis Healy as one of "the worst movies (he's) ever seen." The person whose idea it was to bring that movie will have his identity concealed. After that, it was understandably boisterous as the Jersey Turnpike turned into Route 17, which turned into the New York State Thruway, which turned into 84 East, which turned into Route 9, which turned into a bunch of traffic lights. A full recap of today's games and some pictures from today are online, and there will be more where that came from in the coming days. A popular question in the last few hours has been a very understandable one -- where are we headed/who are we playing? Maybe I'll have an answer better than "far, far away/someone very, very good" tomorrow. That's all for now ... I'll be back tomorrow with a couple of final posts before we shut the door on this blog. We'll have a final "Five Questions" segment (hint: the subject may or not have left a permanent imprint on the right field wall at Waterfront Park) and some final thoughts on the MAAC Tournament. SUNDAY, MAY 24 8:07: One final post here ... as I'm sure you could have guessed, our final subject for "Five Questions" is senior captain Kyle Meyer. 1. What was your first reaction when the final out was recorded in the championship game? Meyer: I needed to get in there and just jump on everybody. It was just an unbelieveable feeling. 2: As a senior, how satisfying is it to win this championship? Meyer: It means a lot because we've been through so much the last three years. There was a lot of change. We just stuck with it and worked hard. We gave ourselves a chance this year, and we took advantage of it. 3: You took a couple of hard hits against the right-field wall in the championship game. Did those shake you up at all? Meyer: Not mentally, no. I would have done it 10 more times if I had to. I think everyone else thought the exact same thing. They'd be willing to go through a wall to get an out. 4. Describe your own style of play in five words or less. Meyer: Focused, tough, energetic, hard-nosed 5. Describe Dennis Healy in five words or less. Smart, confident, nervous, great. That'll wrap it up for this blog. Special thanks for to all of the Marist players and coaches for the time you gave us and the access you granted. We received some very positive feedback on this, and we sincerely appreciate it. But, this will not be the last baseball blog of the year. We'll be providing an NCAA Tournament blog, which will start later this week. Good night and go Red Foxes!
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