| NJAC Pitcher of the Year, Mike Russo has helped
guide Kean to a top five ranking and the number one seed in the
Mid-Atlantic regional. Kean athletics photo |
By Alex Schiffer
for D3sports.com
The Mid-Atlantic Regional is in a familiar state but in a new location, as the group heads south to First Energy Park in Lakewood, N.J.
Arguably one of the most competitive regions in the whole country, these talent-filled teams should make for an exciting week. Assembling in Lakewood this week are NJAC and national powers Kean and Rowan, who clashed for the NJAC title with Kean coming out on top. Alvernia will come to the Garden State looking to avenge its Commonwealth Conference championship loss to Elizabethtown, while Johns Hopkins will look to make a run of its own. Messiah, Misericordia, Randolph-Macon, and Catholic round out the rest of the teams in the regional.
Favorite: Kean. The team
hosting the regional also just happens to be the favorite to punch
its ticket to the NCAA Championships in Wisconsin later this month.
The team has been riding the arm of junior right-hander Mike Russo
all season and for good reason. Russo has taken home numerous
accolades this past season including NJAC Pitcher of the Year.
Russo has been one of the best pitchers in the country this season
since transferring to Kean from North Carolina State after his
sophomore season. His arm will be key for the Cougars this week.
The team’s offense has thrived this season, out-batting
opponents .310 to .231. Led by senior Ken Gregory and junior NJAC
Player of the Year Lee Cavico, the team is poised to make another
championship run.
Most Likely to Disappoint: Alvernia. A team
filled with talent and power, the team showed signs of dominance in
conference play (17-1), but failed to bring home the conference
championship. The team’s 10-1 start ended with crushing
losses to Kean, and TCNJ. Look for the same results.
Cinderella: Johns Hopkins. Who
thought the Blue Jays would be fitted for glass slippers after
their runs in tournaments past? With a strong balance of pitching
and offense this team will be hard to knock out of the tournament
compared to the other low seeds. Look for this team to make an
improbable run, as they have the team to make big upsets.
Players to Watch
P Mike Russo, Kean (9-1, 1.36 ERA, 73 IP, 55 SO)
DH Ken Gregory, Kean (.429, 11 HR, 47 RBI)
P Alex Eliopoulos, Johns Hopkins (6-2, 2.41 ERA, 59.2 IP, 48
SO)
OF Jesse Sikorski, Johns Hopkins (.326, 8 HR, 37 RBI)
3B Chris Ray, Alvernia (.441, 10 2B, 38 RBI)
P Andrew Kirk, Alvernia, (9-1, 1.63 ERA, 77.1 IP, 101 SO)
P Mike Swietanski, Rowan (7-1, 1.39 ERA, 51.2 IP, 58 SO)
C Ryan Brown, Messiah (.309, 26 R., 4 HR, 26 RBI)
OF Kenny Durling, Misericordia (.397, 8 HR, 45 RBI)
C Jordan Walton, Randolph-Macon (.460, 30 2B, 56 RBI)
P Ron Esposito, Catholic (7-2. 3.07 ERA, 41 K, 67.1 IP)