May 22, 2009

Six NEWMAC Student-Athletes Earn NEIBA All-Region Accolades

BABSON PARK, Mass. - Six New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) student-athletes have been named to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) 2009 All-New England Division III team as announced last week. Wheaton led the way with three Second Team selections while Babson, MIT and WPI each had one player honored.

NEWMAC Pitcher of the Year, Conor Fahey (Cumberland, R.I.), was the lone First Team pick in the conference as he was one of four pitchers named First Team All-New England. The senior led the league in almost every pitching category, including earned run average, opponents' batting average and strikeouts.

Five NEWMAC student-athletes were also slated to the Second Team All-New England. Wheaton's three selections, seniors Nick Pecora (Highland Park, N.J.), Sean Munley (Trenton, N.J.) and Josh Simmons (Cranston, R.I.), are each receiving All-New England accolades for the first time in their careers. This marks the fifth consecutive season the Lyons have had at least three players honored by the NEIBA. MIT's Thomas Phillips (Durham, N.C.) was tabbed after winning the NEWMAC Player of the Year award earlier this season. Phillips led the NEWMAC in batting average, slugging percentage and home runs. Babson pitcher Andrew Aizenstadt (Norwell, Mass.) rounded out the conference honorees. The sophomore hurler helped the Beavers capture the NEWMAC tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Division III tournament.

In addition to this honor, Fahey, Pecora, Phillips and Simmons will participate in the NEIBA Senior All-Star game. The four seniors will be part of a team of Division II and III All-Stars that takes on players from Division I. The game will be played on Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Mass.