EDISON, NJ - Head baseball coach Steve Trimper was named 2002 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and freshman firstbaseman Chris Gaskin (Rego Park, NY) was named MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year, conference officials announced at the MAAC Baseball Tournament Banquet this afternoon. In addition, Gaskin along with senior rightfielder/pitcher Wendell Anderson (East Hartford, CT), sophomore centerfielder Matt Cucurullo (Valhalla, NY) and junior pitcher Ryan Darcy (Levittown, NY) were named to the All-MAAC First Team.
Trimper, in his fourth season with Manhattan, guided the Jaspers to an overall record of 32-19 and a 16-11 league mark. The 32 victories tied the school record for wins in a single season, set in the program's inaugural year (1903). Manhattan missed the playoffs by one game, but finished with the most MAAC victories in school history. Under Trimper's direction, Manhattan has won at least 20 games each of the last four years.
Gaskin, who shared the Rookie of the Year honor with LeMoyne's Mike Lewis, was a starter at first base in all 51 games for the Jaspers, batting .326 with three homeruns and 38 RBI. Also an excellent defensive player, Gaskin owned a .986 fielding percentage at first. Gaskin, who earned MAAC Rookie of the Week honors on April 2, had 19 multi-hit games and posted a .453 slugging percentage.
Anderson was a four-year standout for the Jaspers, and will leave Manhattan as one of the greatest hitters in the history of the program. On May 17, Wendell broke the school's all-time hit record, and finished his career with 201 career hits. He also holds school records in homeruns, triples, runs and RBI. He led the team this year in batting with a .385 average with six homeruns and 42 RBI. Anderson has also compiled a record of 6-3 on the mound, and was third on the team with 70 strikeouts. Like Gaskin, Anderson was a starter in all 51 games this season.
Cucurullo had a breakout year as a sophomore and finished second on the team with a .370 batting average. With 68 basehits this season, Cucurullo tied the school record for hits in a single season, set in 2000. For the majority of the year, Cucurullo was also ranked among the nation's best in stolen bases and finished with 25 for the season, setting a new school record. Cucurullo finished fourth on the team with 36 RBI and had a slugging percentage of .462.
Darcy was the Jaspers' ace on the mound this season, posting a record of 8-5 with a 3.71 ERA. Over 106.2 innings pitched, Darcy posted 79 strikeouts while only walking 24. The MAAC Pitcher of the Week on May 6, Darcy threw five complete games and held the opposition to a .263 batting average.
