Canisius picked to win MAAC

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FROM CONFERENCE RELEASE
EDISON, N.J. – Canisius College is the top choice to win it all during the 2008 MAAC baseball season, according to a preseason poll voted on by the league’s head coaches.

Canisius finished with 71 points in the poll, four points ahead of second-place Manhattan College (67). Marist College placed third with 66 points. Fairfield University and Siena College tied for fourth place (50), followed by Rider University (36), Saint Peter’s College (34), Iona College (19), and Niagara University (12).

Saint Peter’s Kevin Kallert (Weehawken, N.J.) was named the 2008 MAAC Baseball Preseason Player of the Year. Last season, Kallert owned a .376 batting average and collected 59 hits, 35 runs and 29 RBI for the Peacocks.

Eight of the MAAC’s nine schools are represented on the Preseason All-MAAC Team. The infield includes: Canisius’ Kevin Reimer (Steinbach, Manitoba) as catcher, Allie Abbatiello (Eastchester, N.Y.) from Iona and Rick Seltzer (Allentown, Pa.) from Siena at first base, Saint Peter’s Dennis Alexander (Hamilton, N.J.) at second base, Siena’s Chris Klepps (Bristol, Conn.) at shortstop, and Canisius’ Kevin Mahoney (Miller Place, N.Y.) at third base. In the outfield are Canisius’ Ian Choy (Mississauga, Ont.), Niagara’s Tim Alberts (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) and Kallert. Fairfield’s Peter Allen (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) is the designated hitter, and Rider’s Jamie Hayes (Sunshine, Fla.) is the utility player. Manhattan’s Tom Costigan (Cold Spring, N.Y.) rounds out the Preseason All-MAAC Team as the pitcher.

2008 MAAC Baseball Preseason Poll				2008 MAAC Baseball Preseason Team
1.	Canisius	71		Kevin Reimer	Catcher	Canisius
2.	Manhattan	67		Allie Abbatiello	First Base	Iona
3.	Marist	66		Rick Seltzer	First Base	Siena
4.	Fairfield	50		Dennis Alexander	Second Base	Saint Peter’s
	Siena	50		Chris Klepps	Shortstop	Siena
6.	Rider	36		Kevin Mahoney	Third Base	Canisius
7.	Saint Peter’s	34		Ian Choy	Outfield	Canisius
8.	Iona	19		Tim Alberts	Outfield	Niagara
9.	Niagara	12		Kevin Kallert	Outfield	Saint Peter’s
				Peter Allen	Designated Hitter	Fairfield
				Jamie Hayes	Utility Player	Rider
				Tom Costigan	Pitcher	Manhattan

2008 Preseason Player of the Year: Kevin Kallert, Saint Peter’s