# Fairfield Stags baseball

The Fairfield Stags baseball team is the college baseball team representing Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. Fairfield competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) of NCAA Division I and plays their home games at the Alumni Baseball Diamond on the campus of Fairfield University. The Stags were MAAC Champions in 1983, 1991, 1993 and 2016. Fairfield is currently coached by 3 time America East Coach of the Year and 2 time MAAC Coach of the Year Bill Currier.

## History

Fairfield fielded its first varsity baseball team in 1951, winning 7 of 12 games. The Stags, coached by Don Cook, made the first of three straight trips to the ECAC New England Tournament in 1977, defeating defending champion University of Maine. The team was MAAC South Champions in 1983, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997. In 2016, Fairfield won the MAAC regular season and tournament championships to advance to the Lubbock Super Regional of the 2016 NCAA Division I baseball tournament.
Individually, Anthony Hajjar was named a 2010 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American; Peter Allen was named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List following his program record setting season in 2007, in which he was ranked nationally in doubles, batting average, and slugging percentage; and Mike Pike was named a 1993 Mizuno Freshman All-American.
Keefe Cato holds several school pitching records, including six career shutouts, 21 wins, and a 2.25 ERA. Cato was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft. He became the first Fairfield athlete to play in a top level major professional sport when he debuted for the Reds in 1983. Rob Gariano, who surpassed Cato's 31-year record for career strikeouts, was drafted in the 36th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Diego Padres.

## Fairfield in the NCAA Tournament

| Year | Record | Pct | Notes |
| 2016 | 0–2 | .000 | Lubbock Regional |
| 2021 | 2–2 | .500 | Austin Regional |
| TOTALS | 2–4 | .333 | |

## Head coaches

| Years | Coach | W-L-T | Pct. |
| Joe Yabrosky | 1951–56 | 26–28 | .481 |
| James Hanrahan | 1957 | 1–11 | .083 |
| Frank Feroleto | 1958–63 | 24–50–3 | .331 |
| Jack Redway | 1964–65 | 4–31–1 | .125 |
| Don Cook | 1966–84 | 235–273 | .463 |
| John Slosar | 1985–2011 | 441–597–7 | .425 |
| Bill Currier | 2012–present | 356–289 | .552 |

## Awards

| Academic All-Americans Mike Caruso (3rd Team, 2021) All-Americans Charlie Pagliarini (3rd Team, 2023) Anthony Hajjar (Freshman, 2010) Mike Pike (Freshman, 1993) All-Northeast Charlie Pagliarini (Player of the Year, 2023) Mike Handel (2nd Team, 2021) Jake Noviello (2nd Team, 2021) Jake Salpietro (1st Team, 2016) Ryan Plourde (2nd Team, 2014) Peter Allen (2007) Dan Krines (2000) NEIBA All-Stars Charlie Pagliarini (Player of the Year, 2023) Jack Gethings (2019) Gavin Wallace (Pitcher of the Year, 2017) Jake Salpietro (2014, 2016) Ryan Plourde (2013, 2014) Scott Warwick (2012) Tucker Nathans (2010, 2011) Peter Allen (2007) Ryan Holsten (2001) Jon Novalis (2001) Dan Krines (2000) Bill McMahon (1993) Luis Garcia (1991, 1993) | League Player of the Year Charlie Pagliarini (MAAC, 2023) Mike Caruso (MAAC, 2021) Jack Gethings (MAAC, 2019) Adam Samuelian (MAAC South, 1997) Mike Pike (MAAC South, 1996) League Rookie of the Year Anthony Hajjar (MAAC, 2010) Tom Lopusznick (MAAC South, 1997) Jared DeCore (MAAC South, 1996) Jarrod Jackette (MAAC South, 1994) League Coach of the Year Bill Currier (MAAC, 2012, 2016, 2021) John Slosar (MAAC South, 1991, 1994, 1997) |

## All-Time statistic leaders

| Career batting leaders Batting Average (min. 200 AB): Tom Finch (.358, 1969–71) Hits Tucker Nathans (263, 2008–2011) Hits Jack Gethings (271, 2016-2019) Home Runs: Tom Lopusznick (35, 1997–2000) RBI: Anthony Boselli 365 2017- 2019) Runs Scored: Jack Gethings (170, 2016-2019) Tom Lopusznick (142, 1997–2000) Stolen Bases: Bill Barnes (122, 1976–79) Single season batting leaders Batting Average: Luis Garcia (.423, 1991) Hits: Anthony Hajjar (76, 2010) Hits Jack Gethings (88, 2019) Home Runs: Charlie Pagliarini (24, 2023) RBI: Charlie Pagliarini (97, 2023) Runs Scored: Bill McMahon (49, 1993) Stolen Bases: Bill Barnes (37, 1978) Doubles: Peter Allen (23, 2007) Triples : Jack Gethings (7, 2019) Longest hitting streaks Ryan Bittner (18g, 4/15/00-5/21/00) Mike Svab (18g, 3/28/90-4/24/90) Jack Gethings (25g, 2/24/19-3/30/19) | Career pitching leaders Complete games: Keefe Cato (24, 1977–79) ERA: Keefe Cato (2.25, 1977–79) Innings pitched: Rob Gariano (323.1, 2007–10) Saves: Scott Larkin (19, 1990–93) Strikeouts: Rob Gariano (293, 2007–10) Wins: Keefe Cato (21, 1977–79) Single season pitching leaders Complete games: Keefe Cato (11, 1979) ERA (min. 25 IP): Al Gabriele (0.00, 31.2 IP, 1971) Kevin Kelleher (0.00, 30.2 IP, 1975) Innings pitched: Dan Krines (103.2, 2000) Saves: Scott Larkin (10, 1992) Strikeouts: Keefe Cato (98, 1979) Wins: Jake Noviello (9, 2021) Mike Sansone (2021) No-hitters Joe Cizynski (9 innings vs. Columbia, 4/6/77) Keefe Cato (7 innings vs. Maine, 4/8/78) Rich Clemens (7 innings vs. Hartford, 4/14/85) |

## Stags in the MLB draft

The following Stag players were selected in the Major League Baseball draft:
| Player | Year | Round | Team | Position |
| Trey McLoughlin | 2021 | 16 | New York Mets | RHP |
| Justin Guerrera | 2021 | 20 | New York Mets | SS |
| Austin Pope | 2019 | 15 | Arizona Diamondbacks | RHP |
| Gavin Wallace | 2017 | 15 | Pittsburgh Pirates | RHP |
| Mike Wallace | 2015 | 30 | Pittsburgh Pirates | RHP |
| Mark Bordonaro | 2012 | 25 | Seattle Mariners | RHP |
| Rob Gariano | 2010 | 36 | San Diego Padres | RHP |
| Ryan Holsten | 2001 | 22 | Arizona Diamondbacks | RHP |
| Drew Larned | 1998 | 23 | Boston Red Sox | C |
| James Manias | 1996 | 25 | Tampa Bay Rays | LHP |
| William Albino | 1982 | 20 | Cincinnati Reds | OF |
| Alberto Zappala | 1982 | 30 | Minnesota Twins | INF |
| Ron Carapezzi | 1981 | 31 | Cincinnati Reds | 3B |
| Keefe Cato | 1979 | 2 | Cincinnati Reds | RHP |
| Mike Behudian | 1979 | 14 | Texas Rangers | 2B |
| Frank Gill | 1977 | 12 | Boston Red Sox | 2B |
| Robert Kownacki | 1976 | 8 | Los Angeles Dodgers | SS |
| Michael Yates | 1973 | 23 | Atlanta Braves | RHP |
| Thomas Finch | 1971 | 14 | Minnesota Twins | C |
| Stan Norman | 1970 | 26 | Cincinnati Reds | OF |