Baseball

The 2007 All-Skyline Baseball team was announced on Tuesday, May 8th and four members of the Farmingdale State baseball team received All-Conference recognition. Sophomore Tom Heeman (Valley Stream, N.Y.) was named to the First Team, while sophomore Frank Italiano (Sayville, N.Y.), sophomore Brian Benvenuto (Dix Hills, N.Y.) and junior Manny Solomon (Bronx, N.Y.) were all named to the Second Team.

Heeman, a two-time All-Conference selection, was selected First Team as a Utility player, seeing time as an outfielder, third basemen and pitcher. During the regular season, he batted .352, led the team in triples and was second in doubles and runs scored. Heeman made six appearances on the mound and finished 3-2 with a 3.93 ERA. In his 36 innings pitched, he struck out 30 and walked only three. For the second season in a row, he is ranked nationally as one of the toughest to strikeout (5th). During his career, he has only struck out five times in 222 at-bats. In the field, he made just two errors, finishing third on the team with a .977 fielding percentage.

Italiano, a junior transfer from Nassau Community College, was named a Second Team selection as a Second Basemen. Frank batted .351 during the regular season and started 30-of-33 games played at second. He finished with 21 RBI's (second on the team), had 34 hits and scored 19 runs. He also held a slugging percentage of .412 and had six stolen bases. In the field, he had 44 putouts and 58 assists.

Benvenuto, a sophomore transfer from Nassau, a Second Team selection as a Shortstop, led the team with a .417 batting average, along with leading in at-bats, runs, hits, walks, slugging percentage and stolen bases over the regular season. He had eight extra-base hits this year, 5 doubles, 2 triples and a home run and knocked in 20 RBI's. In the field, he finished with 38 putouts and 81 assists from his starting position. He is ranked 3rd in the conference for batting average and 4th for runs scored.

Solomon, a junior, was named Second Team as an Outfielder. Manny played 27 games in the outfield, holding a .371 batting average, a .573 slugging percentage (second on the team). In 33 hits during the regular season, he finished with a team-leading 13 extra-base hits, including nine doubles, three triples and a homerun, scoring 22 runs.

FIRST TEAM

P- Anthony Atanasio, St. Joseph's

P- Mark Barrar, Manhattanville

P- Bill Jennings, Stevens

RP- Chris Patronaggio, St. Joseph's

C- Jeff Dunn, Manhattanville

1B- Patrick Cassidy, Centenary

2B- Tom Verrengia, Manhattanville

3B- Ryan Birkenstock, Stevens

3B- A.J. Triano, Manhattanville

SS- Adam Sandt, Stevens

OF- Jesse Germinario, Old Westbury

OF- Joe Gunshor, Stevens

OF- Stephen Pinto, Manhattanville

DH- Andrew Tesoriero, Stevens

UT- Tom Heeman, Farmingdale State

SECOND TEAM

P- Andrew Koncen, Centenary

P- Chris Mattson, Centenary

P- George Pagan, Old Westbury

RP- Matt Nigro, Manhattanville

C- Chris Schacca, Mount Saint Mary

1B- Brad Rackoce, Merchant Marine

2B- Frank Italiano, Farmingdale State

3B- Mike Cerrachio, Centenary

SS- Brian Benvenuto, Farmingdale State

SS- Paul Blejec, Manhattanville

OF- Stephen Cabarcas, Mount Saint Mary

OF- Mike Fasano, Centenary

OF- Manny Solomon, Farmingdale State

DH- Mike Bybee, Merchant Marine

UT- Kevin Reynolds, Old Westbury

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Joe Gunshor, Stevens

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Mark Barrar, Manhattanville

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Paul Blejec, Manhattanville

COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR

Manhattanville

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

Mount Saint Mary

copyright 2008 Farmingdale State College. All rights reserved.