FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 12, 2006

2006 Rhode Island College
Baseball Season Summary

(21-20 Overall; 8-6 in the Little East)

Providence, RI--Head Coach Jay Grenier's team (Career record: 316-199-1, .613) finished the 2006 season with a 21-20 overall record and an 8-6 (third place tie) mark in the Little East Conference.

The Anchormen notched their first wining season since 2003 and amassed the most wins in a season since the 1979 squad won 24. Rhode Island College also made its first Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England Div. III Baseball Championship appearance in 19 years (1987) and downed fifth-seeded UMass Boston, 9-4, in the first round on May 19. The remaining games of the tournament were cancelled due to poor weather conditions.

RIC was eliminated from the 2006 Little East Conference Baseball Tournament with losses to Eastern Connecticut (9-4) on May 10 and to Southern Maine (7-6) on May 11.

Senior second baseman Ray De La Cruz (Providence, RI) closed out his career having played in 111 career games, starting 109 of them. He batted .326 (143-for-439) with 114 runs, 143 hits, 24 doubles, eight triples, nine home runs, 54 RBI, 210 total bases, a 34 walks, five sacrifice flies, seven sacrifice hits, 29 stolen bases, 201 putouts and 275 assists in his three seasons as an Anchorman. He owned a .478 slugging percentage, a .392 on-base percentage and a .893 fielding percentage. De La Cruz is second all-time at RIC in career runs, third in sacrifice hits, fifth in at-bats, sixth in hits, and is tied for tenth in doubles and sacrifice flies.

As a senior in 2006, De La Cruz was named a Third Team All-NEIBA All-Star. He was also named First Team All-Little East Conference for the second time in his career. De La Cruz played in 39 games, starting all of them. He batted .368 (53-for-144) with 45 runs, 53 hits, seven doubles, four triples, four home runs, 18 RBI and 16 stolen bases. De La Cruz owned a .556 slugging percentage, a .465 on-base percentage and a .934 fielding percentage. He led the team in runs and stolen bases, and was second in hits and third in batting.

He played during the fall 2004 season, but not the spring.

As a sophomore in 2004, he was named First Team All-Little East Conference and the team’s MVP. He played in 33 games, starting all of them. He batted .379 with 38 runs, 55 hits, eight doubles, three triples, five home runs, eight walks and 27 RBI. De La Cruz owned a .579 slugging percentage, a .419 on-base percentage and a .852 fielding percentage.

As a freshman in 2003, De La Cruz played in 39 games, starting 37 of them. He batted .233 with 31 runs, 35 hits, nine doubles, one triple, nine RBI, and seven stolen bases. He owned a .307 slugging percentage, a .288 on-base percentage and a .893 fielding percentage.

He is an international business management major and a 2002 graduate of Shea High School.

Senior outfielder David Smith (Wakefield, RI) closed out his two-year career as an Anchorman having played in 42 career games, starting 31 of them. He batted .140 (14-for-100) with 15 runs, 14 hits, two doubles, eight RBI, 16 total bases, 18 walks, one sacrifice fly, two sacrifice hits, one stolen base, 48 putouts and 32 assists He owned a .160 slugging percentage, a .298 on-base percentage and a .930 fielding percentage.

As a senior in 2006, he played in 27 games, starting 17 of them. He batted .098 with eight runs, six hits, two doubles, five RBI, 11 walks and one stolen base. He owned a .131 slugging percentage, a .257 on-base percentage and a 1.000 fielding percentage.

As a junior in 2005, he played in 15 games, starting 14 of them. He batted .205 with eight hits, seven walks, seven runs scored and three RBI. Smith owned a .205 slugging percentage, a .360 on base percentage and a .900 fielding percentage. Smith injured his ankle during the middle of the season and missed the remainder of the campaign.

Prior to coming to RIC, Smith played two seasons of baseball at Eastern Connecticut State University in 2004 and 2003.

He is a physical education major and a 2002 graduate of South Kingstown High School.

Senior pitcher Bruce Taraska (Exeter, RI) was injured during his final season as an Anchorman. He closed out his career having appeared in 24 games, all of which were in relief. Taraska was 3-0 with a 5.88 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 33.2 career innings pitched. He is sixth all-time at RIC in career relief appearances.

As a junior in 2005, he appeared in 11 games, all in relief. He owned a 1-0 record and led all relievers with a 1.65 ERA. In 16.1 innings pitched, he struck out 11 batters.

As a sophomore in 2004, he appeared in 13 games. He owned a 2-0 record with a 6.26 ERA. In 27.1 innings pitched, he struck out 16 batters.

Prior to coming to RIC, he played at the Community College of Rhode Island.

He is a criminal justice major with a minor in sociology and a 2001 graduate of Exeter-West Greenwich High School.

Senior pitcher Wade Briggs (Woonsocket, RI) injured his shoulder and was granted a medical redshirt for the season. He appeared in three games, starting all of them. He was 1-2 with a 5.50 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 18.0 innings pitched.

Junior pitcher Caleb Barber (Mystic, CT) appeared in 12 games, starting ten of them. He was 6-3 with a 5.51 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched. Barber led the team in win and was second on the squad in both innings pitched and strikeouts.

Junior pitcher Nate Curran (Coventry, RI) appeared in one game. He was 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA and one strikeout in 0.2 innings of work.

Junior pitcher Brian Farley (North Providence, RI) appeared in 20 games, all of which came in relief. He was 2-1 with a 7.30 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched. His 20 appearances out of the bullpen are tied for the second highest total in school history for a single season.

Junior infielder Luis Feliz (Cranston, RI) played in 21 games, starting 11 of them. He batted .278 with eight runs, ten hits, one double, one triple, one home run, five RBI, four walks and one stolen base. He owned a .444 slugging percentage, a .381 on-base percentage and a .850 fielding percentage.

Junior catcher Tim Henault (East Greenwich, RI) was named First Team All-Little East Conference. Henault played in 34 games, starting all of them. He batted .377 with 30 runs, 49 hits, ten doubles, two triples, one home run, 31 RBI, eight walks and three stolen bases. He owned a .508 slugging percentage, a .418 on-base percentage and a .995 fielding percentage. Henault, who was named the team’s MVP, missed the club’s final seven games after being hit by a pitch, which resulted in a broken hand, against Eastern Connecticut on Apr. 29. He was second on the team in batting and was third in both runs and hits.

Junior right fielder Mike Naylor (Warwick, RI) played in 40 games, starting all of them. He batted .301 with 26 runs, 41 hits, nine doubles, one triple, four home runs, 35 RBI, 20 walks and eight stolen bases. He owned a .471 slugging percentage, a .405 on-base percentage and a .934 fielding percentage. Naylor was third on the team in RBI and was fourth in hits.

Sophomore first baseman Jim Connell (Smithfield, RI) played in 40 games, starting all of them. He batted .274 with 20 runs, 40 hits, ten doubles, two triples, three home runs, 37 RBI and 24 walks. He owned a .432 slugging percentage, a .392 on-base percentage and a .988 fielding percentage. Connell led the team in RBI, was tied for second in doubles and established a new RIC single-season record with 313 putouts this spring.

Sophomore pitcher Mike Cookson (Warwick, RI) appeared in four games, all in relief this spring. He was 0-0 with a 12.15 ERA and three strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.

Sophomore outfielder Robert Doyon (Douglas, MA) missed the entire season while recovering from a broken wrist suffered over the winter.

Sophomore pitcher Eric Fama (Wappingers Falls, NY) was named a Second Team All-NEIBA All-Star. Fama was also named First Team All-Little East Conference. He was 3-1 with six saves and a 0.68 ERA over 26.2 innings of work in 20 appearances. Fama led the team in ERA and struck out 39 batters on the season. His 20 appearances out of the bullpen are tied for the second highest total in school history for a single season.

Sophomore third baseman/designated hitter Pete Olson (North Providence, RI) was named Second Team All-Little East Conference. He played in 30 games, starting 22 of them. Olson batted .300 with 11 runs, 27 hits, five doubles, two triples and 15 RBI. He owned a .400 slugging percentage, a .319 on-base percentage and a .842 fielding percentage.

Sophomore pitcher Eric Thibault (Somerset, MA) appeared in 13 games, starting all of them. He was 5-6 with a 5.49 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 80.1 innings pitched. Thibault led the team in both innings pitched and strikeouts and was second in wins. He led all starting pitchers in ERA. He was named the Little East Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week once on the season.

Freshman catcher Jordan Amorin (Swansea, MA) played in 24 games, starting 18 of them. He batted .217 with four runs, 15 hits, one double, one triple, nine RBI and five walks. He owned a .261 slugging percentage, a .263 on-base percentage and a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Freshman center fielder Brian Burrows (Smithfield, RI) played in 32 games, starting 27 of them. He batted .318 with 19 runs, 34 hits, four doubles, two triples, two home runs, 22 RBI, 18 walks and seven stolen bases. He owned a .449 slugging percentage, a .406 on-base percentage and a .942 fielding percentage.

Freshman shortstop Josh Cardoso (Dartmouth, MA) played in 38 games, starting 36 of them. He batted .276 with 21 runs, 35 hits, four doubles, two home runs, 17 RBI, five walks and eight stolen bases. He owned a .354 slugging percentage, a .336 on-base percentage and a .906 fielding percentage. Cardoso established a new RIC single-season record with 126 assists this spring.

Freshman third baseman Jeff Costa (Pawtucket, RI) played in 24 games, starting 18 of them. He batted .258 with 15 runs, 16 hits, four doubles, four RBI and nine walks. He owned a .323 slugging percentage, a .365 on-base percentage and a .887 fielding percentage.

Freshman pitcher Jake Dent (Somersworth, NH) appeared in ten games, starting five of them. He was 0-0 with a 6.44 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 29.1 innings of work.

Freshman third baseman Bobby Fournier (Dartmouth, MA) played in 22 games, starting nine of them. He batted .326 with eight runs, 14 hits, one double, one home run, eight RBI and four walks. He owned a .419 slugging percentage, a .412 on-base percentage and a .875 fielding percentage.

Freshman pitcher Eric Gelsomino (Johnston, RI) appeared in three games, all out of the bullpen. He was 0-0 with a 16.20 ERA and seven strikeouts in five innings of work.

Freshman second baseman Garrett Grenier (North Smithfield, RI) played in 14 games, starting two of them. He batted .167 with three runs, three hits, one RBI and two walks. He owned a .167 slugging percentage, a .250 on-base percentage and a .923 fielding percentage.

Freshman pitcher Kyle Jones (Middleboro, MA) appeared in 12 games, starting nine of them. He was 4-4 with a 9.45 EA and 43 strikeouts in 46.2 innings of work. Jones was third on the team in wins and innings pitched, and was second in strikeouts.

Freshman outfielder Mike McDonnell (Peabody, MA) played in 19 games, starting 14 of them. He batted .280 with seven runs, 14 hits, one double, one home run, seven RBI and seven walks. He owned a .360 slugging percentage, a .362 on-base percentage and a .833 fielding percentage.

Freshman left fielder Chris O’Connors (North Kingstown, RI) was named a First Team NEIBA All-Star. O’Connors was the Little East Conference Baseball Rookie of the Year and was also named First Team All-LEC. O’Connors played in 41 games, starting all of them. He batted .430 with 65 hits, 44 runs, 17 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 36 RBI. He owned a .656 slugging percentage, a .530 on-base percentage and a .927 fielding percentage. He led the team in batting, hits, doubles and home runs. He was named the Little East Conference Baseball Rookie of the Week twice on the season. O’Connors established a new RIC single-season record for hits, connecting on his 65^th knock of the year, in the Anchormen’s, 9-4, win over UMass Boston in the first round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) New England Div. III Baseball Championship on May 19.

Freshman pitcher Donovan Rabbitt (Wood River Junction, RI) appeared in 17 games, all of which came in relief. He was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 22 innings of work. Rabbitt’s 17 relief appearances were the fourth-most in school history for a single season.

Freshman pitcher Andy Racicot (Wareham, MA) appeared in four games, all of which came in relief. He was 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.

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