Feb. 4, 2011

click here for coaches' MAAC preseason poll

Paolini is preseason Player of the Year in MAAC

Junior second baseman Dan Paolini was selected as preseason Player of the Year in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

Paolini was the 2010 MAAC Player of the Year, setting school records with 62 runs and 64 RBI. He batted .368 with a slugging percentage of .816. Paolini also stole 12 bases in 15 attempts. In the field, Paolini posted a fielding percentage of .985, with just four errors in 264 chances.

Manhattan led the way with three players on the preseason all-conference squad. Canisius, Marist, Rider and Siena each had two players on the team.

The 2011 season starts on Friday, Feb. 18. The conference tournament will be played at Waterfront Park in Trenton, N.J., from May 25-29. Rider will serve as host.

2011 MAAC Preseason All-Conference Team

Pos. Name, School

C Bryce Nugent, Marist

1B Kevin Quaranto, Siena

2B Dan Paolini, Siena

SS Sean Jamieson, Canisius

3B Chad Salem, Manhattan

OF Mike McCann, Manhattan

OF Mark Onorati, Manhattan

OF Brandon Cotton, Rider

DH Anthony Hajjar, Fairfield

UT Jon Schwind, Marist

P Shane Davis, Canisius

P Mike Thomas, Rider

Player of the Year: Dan Paolini, Siena