Stags Still Swinging in Summer

Although the Collegiate baseball season might be over, several Stags are still playing in various leagues. The Stags who finished 18-32 last year hope that this will give their players experience and more games under their belt.

Fairfield second baseman Tucker Nathans is currently playing in the semi-finals in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) has already been named his team's MVP and an all-star. He is batting an unheard of .600 with five runs scored during the postseason. His team the Danbury Westeners have a record of 24-18 so far. he is playing on the same team as Stag's first baseman and new all-time single season hits leader Anthony Hajjar. The 2010 MAAC Rookie of the Year has suffered an injury that will sideline him for the rest of the summer.

While one Stag player moves on, another one is eliminated. Nathan's Westeners defeated the Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club and Fairfield pitcher Mark Bordonaro on August fourth to advance to the final four. The now sophomore finished the summer with a 3.69 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 39 innings of work.

The Long Island Collegians of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL) consists of three Stags. Larry Cornelia, Carmine DeVito, and Scott Gussaroff have helped the team to a 22-15 record and to clinch the Kaiser Division. The ACBL have a long list of successful MLB alumni, most notably Craig Biggio, Eric Young, and Frank Viola and these three hope to learn from the experience. They are making the best of the opportunity and have really shined throughout the summer. Cornelia is batting .318 with 15 runs and 11 stolen bases while driving in 13. DeVito is only batting .236 but has 12 runs and 10 RBIs in 23 games. Rounding out the Stags representatives, Gussaroff is pitching to a 3.86 ERA and has fanned 10 in 7 relief appearances.

Last but not least, Stag infielder Tyler Wosleger has been playing for the Thunder Bay Border Cats of the Northwoods League. The Stag infielder has struggled a little this summer batting only .209 with 13 walks, 18 RBIs and 11 runs for the seventh place Border Cats. Wosleger is trying to get more than just baseball experience. The Journalism major is keeping a weekly blog that can be viewed by clicking here.

It's nice to see that the Stags have been successful in the Summer Leagues and I hope that this experience can help them in the 2011 season. They have been on the border of being relevant for the past few years and these games might bring them over the top. This combined the the retirement of their long reigning coaches might give them the push they need.

I am really impressed with Tucker Nathans. Being named MVP to a team in the semi-finals and have representatives from power conferences is truly amazing. Coming into his senior season, hopefully the Stags can go to the playoffs for the first time in his baseball career. He truly deserves it and is an underrated player in the MAAC.