The most explosive hitter on the most potent hitting team in the league, Noyes’ season was highlighted by his league-leading total of ten home runs. He also batted .368, drove in 35 runs and totaled team-highs in extra-base hits (26), slugging percentage (.665) and runs scored (48). Noyes ranks second in the NEC in slugging and fourth in runs scored. He posted 17 multi-hit games and tied a school single-season mark with 16 doubles. He leaves Quinnipiac second on the school’s all-time home run (38) and doubles (40) lists, as well as third in runs (134) and fifth in RBI’s (130) and hits (176). Due in part to Noyes’ exploits, Quinnipiac improved from 7-13 last season to 11-11 in conference play and posted a league-high .324 batting average and 48 home runs.

The catalyst of an improved Long Island pitching staff, Miller has frustrated NEC hitters all season with his ability to punch out opposing hitters. Miller, who finished the regular season with a 6-3 record, leads the conference in strikeouts with 107 in 72.2 innings pitched. His six wins ties him for third in the league, while his 4.33 ERA ranks him ninth among NEC pitchers. Miller has also made his mark nationally, where his figure of 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings pitched is third best in the nation. The southpaw has been especially effective against NEC competition this season, posting a 4-1 record and 3.54 ERA, as opposing hitters have hit a mere .200 against him. He becomes the second Long Island player to earn Pitcher of the Year honors, following Rich Hartmann in 1994.

McLaughlin’s bat was a pleasant surprise for Fairleigh Dickinson head coach Dennis Sasso this season. Normally batting out of the ninth spot in the order, McLaughlin leads the NEC with a .414 batting average and five triples. The freshman slugged .613 and stole 12 bases, both team-highs. McLaughlin batted an impressive .356 in NEC play, but absolutely scorched opposing pitchers in non-conference action, compiling a .481 average.

Jancuska wins his first NEC Coach of the Year award as UMBC made tremendous strides this season, winning its last eight league games to ultimately earn the Retrievers the NEC South Division championship and top seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament. UMBC’s eight game turnaround in conference play - from 8-11 in 1999 to 16-6 this season - ties Fairleigh Dickinson (1993) for the greatest single season turnaround in league history. With just six seniors and the top rated pitching staff in the NEC, Jancuska has built a strong foundation for future success at UMBC.

The all-NEC first team features a near complete turnover from last season’s squad, with the only returnee being Quinnipiac senior third baseman Joe Zangari (Cedarhurst, NY/Lawrence). Wagner senior Gil Barkman (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood), a second team all-NEC selection at third base last season, is the only other repeat honoree, this time at designated hitter.

Zangari comes off a terrific season at the plate, having hit .363 with eight home runs, 38 RBI’s, 41 runs scored and a .599 slugging percentage. He ranks fourth in the league in home runs, sixth in RBI’s and eighth in batting average. He finished his career at Quinnipiac as the school’s all-time home run king with 39 and runs scored leader with 141. His 141 career RBI’s and 196 hits rank him second and third, respectively, on the Braves’ career lists.

Barkman recovered from a slow start to put up some impressive numbers for playoff bound Wagner. Barkman ranks second in the league in home runs (nine), runs scored (49) and RBI’s (44), and third in slugging percentage (.635). He homered in four straight games to close out the regular season to finish as Wagner’s career home run leader with 31, snapping Jon VonAhnen’s 15 year old record.

Earning first team all-NEC honors at first base is Central Connecticut State junior John Mayette (New Britain, CT/St. Thomas Aquinas). A local product, Mayette juggled pitching duties (where he won five games) with his full-time role at first base. He batted a team-high .356, including a red-hot .437 in conference play. Mayette paced the Blue Devils with 10 doubles and a .443 on-base percentage.

UMBC junior Chad Gerben (Severn, MD/Old Mill) wins honors at second base, where he has compiled a team-leading .360 batting average and .436 on-base percentage. In league action, Gerben picked up his play considerably, batting .418 while reaching base at a .484 clip. Gerben also leads the Retrievers with 15 doubles and ranks second with 36 runs.

Wagner’s all-star junior shortstop Mike Cerminaro (Howell, NJ/Howell) enters the postseason as one of the hottest hitters in the league and comes off a tremendous regular season. The two-sport star has made quite a name for himself as a wideout on Wagner’s football team, and has now found his niche on the diamond. Cerminaro ranks second in the NEC and 44th nationally with a .407 batting average. He also leads the NEC in hits (72), runs scored (54), RBI’s (52), doubles (23) and slugging percentage (.695). He registered a .488 average and .850 slugging percentage in NEC contests and set the Wagner single-season hits record.

Joining Noyes as part of the all-NEC outfield is Monmouth junior Greg Landis (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford). Landis, the 1998 NEC Newcomer of the Year is batting just .261, but has drawn 26 walks, stolen a league-leading 26 bases in 26 attempts and is tied for second in the NEC with 49 runs scored. He lifts his average to .321 against NEC competition and has not committed an error all season.

Rounding out the all-NEC outfield is Long Island sophomore Mike Wilson (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison). Wilson currently ranks seventh in the league in batting with a .367 average and is second in the conference with 18 doubles. He has also driven in a team-high 36 runs and is slugging .560. In the outfield, Wilson did not commit an error in NEC play and has 11 assists on the season.

Long Island junior Matt Early (Brooklyn, NY/Xavier) earns the nod at catcher, having been one of the prime components of a potent Long Island lineup. Early, who hit two homers in one inning in a game earlier in the season, is batting .331, to go along with four home runs and 33 RBI’s. He has also made a difference defensively, having made just one error in league play while throwing out 44.4 percent of would-be basestealers.

On the mound, St. Francis (NY) sophomore Jason Fardella (Brooklyn, NY/Archbishop Molloy) earns first-team all-NEC honors after a spectacular season that was only marred somewhat by a lack of run support. Fardella closed out the campaign with a 3-4 record and league-leading 1.80 ERA. The righty struck out 68 batters in 65.0 innings, tossed five complete games, allowed just one home run and displayed impeccable control, issuing just 15 walks. Fardella currently ranks ninth nationally in earned run average.

Joining Fardella on the all-NEC first team pitching staff is UMBC senior righthander Tom Bloom (Baltimore, MD/Catonsville). One of the most consistent pitchers in the NEC over the last two seasons, Bloom enters the postseason with a 6-4 record and 4.04 ERA. He is tied for third in the league in wins, sixth in ERA and is second in strikeouts with 86.

The all-conference second team begins with Wagner senior outfielder John Spinelli (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville), the only repeat honoree on this year’s team. A first-team all-NEC performer as a designated hitter last year, Spinelli has had another productive year offensively with a .320 batting average, eight home runs and 36 RBI’s.  Joining Spinelli on the all-NEC second team is UMBC sophomore first baseman Greg Deboy (Linthicum, MD/Calvert Hall). Deboy has had a fine season at the plate, batting .348 with a team-high eight home runs and 40 RBI’s. He ranks fourth in the NEC in both home runs and RBI’s. At second base, Quinnipiac sophomore Charles D’Elia (Rockaway, NY/Archbishop Molloy) posted a stellar .394 bating average in conference play, and hit .360 overall as part of a potent Quinnipiac lineup. Long Island sophomore Gabe Veloz (Upland, CA/El Camino JC) takes honors at third base, batting .382 with six homers - both team-highs - along with 34 RBI’s and a league-best .488 on-base percentage.  Long Island junior Nick Burzynski (Howard Beach, NY/Christ The King) picks up second team honors at shortstop, hitting .340 to go along with a team-high 42 runs scored. Burzynski has also drawn 34 walks, ranking him second in the conference. St. Francis (NY) backstop Kasey Koslowski (St. Francis Prep/Ozone Park, NY) earns a spot on the team after another stellar campaign both offensively and behind the plate. Koslowski led the Terriers with a .355 average, 20 runs and 11 doubles. Against NEC opponents, he hit a robust .453, committed just one error and threw out 50 percent of potential basestealers. Teaming with Spinelli in the outfield are Monmouth sophomore Paul Grasso (Somers Point, NJ/Mainland) and Quinnipiac senior Toby Peterson (Lynnfield, MA/Lynnfield). Grasso is hitting a team-leading .339 for the Hawks, including .383 in league play, and his 32 RBI’s ranks him second on the club. He also paces Monmouth in extra-base hits (16). Peterson ended a fantastic senior year with a career-best 23-game hitting streak. Peterson, who led Quinnipiac and ranks second in the NEC with 44 RBI’s, also belted eight homers and hit .363 on the season. The lone Sacred Heart representative on the all-star team is sophomore designated hitter Matt Lemanczyk (Rockville Centre, NY/South Side). Lemanczyk was the leading hitter for the Pioneers with a .335 batting average. He also scored a team-best 43 runs and tied for the NEC lead with 26 stolen bases. The all-NEC second team pitching staff consists of Monmouth senior Dan Severino (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) and UMBC freshman hurler Bill Kasten (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East). Healthy once again, Severino has posted a 3-4 record with a sparkling 2.73 ERA, good for second in the NEC. Severino was masterful in the regular season versus NEC foes, compiling a 3-2 mark with a minuscule 0.81 ERA. Kasten has taken the league by storm in his rookie season, winning a league-high nine games against just one defeat. Indicative of his success is his 5-0 record against NEC competition.