Baseball

Gianakas, Aich, Ioviero Earn NJAC Top Honors

Pitman, N.J. (5/1/08) - Senior outfielder Derek Gianakas (Edison, N.J.) has been tabbed as the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Player of the Year, while teammate Brandon Aich (Sayreville, N.J.) has been selected as the Fireman of the Year as announced by the conference office on Thursday.  Head Coach Neil Ioviero has been voted as the Coach of the Year for the second straight season after leading the Cougars to their second consecutive NJAC regular season title.

A two-time first-team all-conference selection, Gianakas (pictured right) currently leads the NJAC in both slugging percentage (.746) and home runs (11). A two-time NJAC Player of the Week selection, he also ranks second in total bases (100) and third in runs scored (45). Against NJAC pitching, Gianakas hit .400 and posted league-best totals in slugging percentage (.917); runs scored (24); home runs (7); and total bases (55).

Aich (pictured left) was named the league's Fireman of the Year as the conference's top relief pitcher. He currently ranks second in the NJAC in earned run average (1.72), opposing batting average (.174), and wins (6). Against NJAC competition, Aich posted a league-high five victories and ranked second in both earned run average (1.53), and opposing batting average (.167).

One year after leading the Cougars to the NCAA Division III National Championship, Ioviero was selected as NJAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season by his peers. Ioviero has led the Cougars to a 30-9 overall record and their second consecutive NJAC regular season championship via a 14-4 conference mark. In 11 seasons at the helm of the Kean program, Ioviero has guided the Cougars to an overall record of 311-134-2.