2009 Dominican College Baseball Season Summary
The Dominican College baseball team finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 38-14 and a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) record of 22-5. The team won the regular season CACC Title and made their 24th appearance in the 25-year history of the program in the CACC Tournament after garnishing the top seed.
In the opening round of the CACC Tournament, the team lost to the fourth-seeded Warriors of Nyack College, 5-3. Facing elimination, the team rebounded to defeat #2 Bloomfield College, 8-5, rallying from a 5-1 deficit. In their second elimination game, DC revenged the opening game loss with a 7-4 victory over Nyack College to advance to the Championship game against #3 Wilmington University. Forced to defeat Wilmington twice, DC suffered a tough 5-4 loss as the ‘Cats won the CACC Tournament.
Dominican earned the second berth in program history to the NCAA East Regional Tournament. Having garnished the top spot in the region all season, the team was the top seed at the NCAA East Regional hosted by #2 Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, NH. DC suffered an early setback in a rematch of the CACC Championships against #6 Wilmington University, with a 10-1 loss. The team squared off against FPU in an elimination game where the Chargers emerged with a 5-4 victory, rallying from an early 3-0 deficit. Once again facing elimination DC faced the fourth-seeded and eventual East Region Champions, Dowling College. The Chargers held a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth, but the Lions scored four runs to upend DC, 4-3 and end their season.
Freshman right-handed pitcher, Justin Moore, had a stellar rookie year. He led the CACC and the nation with 17 saves on the year. He finished the year with a 1-1 record and an ERA of 2.74. In 23 innings of work, he gave up 27 hits, nine runs (seven earned), walked four and struck out 13 batters. Moore was named the 2009 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Rookie of the Year, to the All-CACC First Team, the NCBWA All-East Region First Team, to the ABCA Division II East All-Region First Team, to the 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II East All-Region First Team, received Honorable Mention honors for the 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-American Team and was named to the 2009 Rawlings/ABCA NCAA Division II All-American Third Team.
Sophomore pitcher Tom Kahl finished the season with a 6-2 record. He had an ERA of 2.75 in 78 2/3 innings of work, allowing 76 hits, 29 runs (24 earned), 29 walks and had a team leading 87 strikeouts. He led the CACC in strikeouts and ranked in the top five in ERA, batters struck out looking and wins. He was named the CACC Pitcher of the Year, to the All-CACC First Team, the 2009 Daktronics East All-Region First Team, the ABCA Division II East All-Region Second Team and to the NCBWA All-East Region First Team.
Junior Willie Mann led the team with a .344 batting average and 52 hits this season. He had a .411 slugging percentage and a .432 on-base percentage, while tallying 23 RBIs. He ranked ninth in the CACC in hitting and was named to the All-CACC Second Team, the 2009 ABCA Division II East All-Region Second Team, the 2009 NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team and the 2009 Daktronics East All-Region Second Team. Sophomore Michael Munoz finished third on the team and 16th in the CACC with a .323 batting average. He was fourth on the team with 42 hits and has a .492 slugging percentage this season. He was named to the All-CACC First Team, the 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II East All-Region First Team, the 2009 ABCA Division II East All-Region Second Team and to the 2009 NCBWA All-East Region Second Team.
The lone senior, Brian Craig finished 7-2 on the year with an ERA of 4.23. He has 60 strikeouts on the season with opponents hitting .244 against him. In 72 1/3 innings, he has allowed 42 runs (34 earned) on 70 hits and was tied for second in the CACC in wins. He was named to the All-CACC First Team, the 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-East Region Second Team and to the 2009 NCBWA All-East Region Second Team.
Brother Todd Craig also posted a 7-2 record with an ERA of 2.39 with five complete games. Sophomore catcher, Robert Iglesias, earned All-CACC Second Team honors finishing the season second on the team with a .342 average in 38 games played
Freshman outfielder Alexi Colon finished the season with a .263 batting average and led the CACC with nine home runs. He finished third in the CACC with 40 RBIs, fourth in slugging percentage, (.539) and third in walks (35). He was named to the All-CACC First Team and to the 2009 ABCA Division II East All-Region Second Team.
Head Coach Rick Giannetti, who is in his 20th season at the helm, guided the team to a 38-14 overall record and a 22-5 CACC record. He has led Dominican to 12 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championships, 10 regional tournament appearances, 1 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship and 2 NAIA World Series Appearances. His teams have qualified for post season play every year except one. He earned his 9th CACC Coach of the Year honor this year, was named the 2009 NCBWA East Region Coach of the Year, the 2009 ECAC Coach of the Year and the 2009 ABCA Division II East Region Coach of the Year.
With the loss of one senior starter from the lineup, the Chargers will once again rely on a young contingent of players in the 2010 season. With the return of a strong core of talented players, including T. Craig, Moore, Kahl, Iglesias and first basemen Tommy Maloney, the 2010 Charger squad should have another successful season.
