Sophomore shortstop Richard Curylo (Staten Island) and junior left-handed pitcher Josh Rickards (Glenolden, Pa.) of the Marist College baseball team were named First Team All-Metro Atlantic Conference, it was announced last week.
Curylo was named MAAC Player of the Week twice this season, earning the honor on April 7 and April 28. He hit a team-high .333 with three homers and a team-high 30 RBIs, also leading the team with 60 hits and 11 stolen bases. He had a season-high hitting streak of 13 games, and in a span of 25 games, he hit safely in 24 of them. Curylo played in 45 of the team’s 47 games this season, starting 44 of them.
Rickards was named MAAC Pitcher of the Week this season on April 7. He made a team-high 12 starts, going 4-6 with a staff-best 2.60 ERA. He also led the staff in innings pitched with 79.2 and strikeouts with 54. The opposition hit just .236 against him. Rickards earned complete game victories at Iona on April 5, and against Saint Peter’s on April 26. On May 3 against Manhattan, he pitched a career-high 10 innings, allowing just two unearned runs.
Soccer Buzz Magazine recognizes women’s recruiting class
For the first time in program history, the Marist women’s soccer team has a nationally ranked recruiting class. Women’s soccer information source, “Soccer Buzz Magazine,” ranked head coach Elizabeth Roper’s Class of 2012 No. 96 in the country and tops in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. It is also the first time Marist has the No. 1 rank in the conference.
Roper has added eight newcomers to a program that won the MAAC regular season title a year ago and reached the tournament championship game before falling to Loyola. The Red Foxes finished the 2007 season ranked 14th in the northeast, and they only graduated two seniors. Marist will be returning a remarkable 11 contributors from last year’s team.
The highly regarded class consists of Devin Anuzis (Basking Ridge, N.J./M/D), Amanda Cardona (Livingston, N.J./M/D), Mariah Downey (Cheshire, Conn./M/D), Katie Hannis (Bloomsbury, N.J./M), Sara Hijazi (North Merrick/M/F), Kristine Horwitz (Evanston, Ill./F), and Jennifer Orlando (Bloomfield, N.J./D). A transfer from UNC-Wilmington, Jamie Balzarini (Holbrook/GK), will also be a member of the Red Foxes next year.
In 2006 and 2007, Marist’s recruiting class was ranked third in the conference and also received a regional ranking by Soccer Buzz.
“It’s great for our program to be recognized once again by Soccer Buzz for the talented student-athletes coming to Marist,” said Roper. “With the high quality of players we will have on the 2008 team, we expect to continue our record of success and improvement in the MAAC and in the region this upcoming season.”
For complete recruiting class rankings, visit www.soccerbuzz.com, and check GoRedFoxes.com for more information on the Marist women’s soccer team and their 2008 season.
Softball coach announces two summer camps
Head softball coach Erin Layton announced two July summer camps recently. Layton, the present coaching staff and current and former collegiate players will be orchestrating camps from July 7 to 10 and July 14 to 17 at the Softball Park at Gartland Athletic Field. Softball players ages 6-16 are invited to sign up.
Layton, who has coached Marist to the last two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship rounds, will serve as the camp director, and will have her staff, current and former players and others on hand to teach at the camp.
Each session costs $150, and the camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. All campers will be asked to pass a swim test as swimming will be a daily activity (alternate option available).
All campers will be asked to bring softball equipment, sneakers, lunch, swim gear, sneakers, a snack and sunscreen.
For more information on the camp, contact Layton at 575-3699, ext. 2326, or e-mail her at Erin.Layton@Marist.edu. Camp brochures are available on the sidebar of the softball main page at www.marist.edu.
Women’s cross-county, track coach retires
Marist women’s cross-country and track and field head coach Phil Kelly announced his retirement last week after coaching the Red Foxes for the last 18 years. During his tenure, Kelly led Marist to four Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference cross-country championships and was named Coach of the Year on four different occasions. His most recent Coach of the Year award came on May 4 following the MAAC Outdoor Championships.
“When Phil and I started together back in the spring of 1991, we had less than a dozen athletes combined in men’s and women’s cross-country and track. Phil’s leadership and dedication are a big reason why we have grown in size and stature through the years,” said men’s cross-country and track coach Pete Colaizzo.
Kelly came to Marist in the fall of 1990 after coaching multiple sports, including cross-country and track and field, at Carmel High School for 21 years. He helped the Red Foxes win four MAAC cross-country titles in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2004. Since 2004, the Marist women’s cross-country team has not finished lower than fourth at the MAAC meet. He has also led the women’s track team to nine top-three finishes at the MAAC Outdoor Championships. During Kelly’s tenure, Marist consistently led the conference in All-Academic Team selections.
“I’ve been here 18 years. I’ve seen immense improvement over that time in both the cross-country and track programs. We’ve had many MAAC champions, but I didn’t coach for that. I coached because I enjoyed it,” said Kelly.
Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray lauded Kelly for his commitment and the special relationships he was able to build with his teams.
“I can’t thank Phil enough for the energy and passion he put into his work with the program for the past 18 years,” Murray said. “The relationships Phil was able to build with his athletes will be hard to replace.”
An informal retirement/going away party/picnic for Phil Kelly will be held at the conclusion of the men’s and women’s home cross-country meet at Bowdoin Park on Friday, Sept. 5. Any alumni/friends of the program who are interested in attending can contact Pete Colaizzo at runhed246@hotmail.com for further details.