Release Date: 5/27/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIE BASEBALL PLACE FOUR ON NCAA DIVISION II AMERICAN BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION/RAWLINGS NORTH ATLANTIC REGION TEAM

MANSFIELD-Marty Rakaczewski (Wilkes-Barre/Hanover Area) was named to the NCAA Division II American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings North Atlantic Region first team honors, while Eric Baker (Apalachin, N.Y./Owego), Matt Mills ( Clifton , VA /Centreville) and Jeff Papi (Tunkhannock/Tunkhannock) were named to the second team.

The four players were also named to the All-PSAC East first team earlier in the month. 

The closer of the Mountaineer pitching staff, Rakaczewski broke the school record in appearances with 31 as well as breaking the school record for saves with 12.  He finished 11^th in the PSAC in earned run average (2.48), 1^st in appearances (31) and 1^st in games relieved.

A junior, Baker was selected to the second team.  This season Baker hit .418 which was fifth best in the PSAC.  He also had 74 hits which included 14 doubles, two triples and nine homeruns while driving in 55 runners.  Baker finished 2^nd in the PSAC in slugging percentage (.672), 4^th in hits (74),2^nd in RBI’s (55), tied for 2^nd in homeruns (9), and third in assists (123).

Mills, a senior third baseman was selected to the second team.  Mills batted .401 for the Mountaineers this season which included eight doubles, one triple and six homeruns while driving in 47 runners.  Mills ranked 7^th overall in the PSAC in batting average (.401). With a .363 career batting average which included 12 doubles and six homeruns.

Finishing his senior season with an 8-3 record, Papi was the workhorse of the Mountaineer pitching staff pitching in a team high 67 1/3 innings while striking out 65 batters.  He finished 14^th overall in the PSAC in earned run average, 5^th in innings pitched (67 1/3), 5^th in strikeouts (65) and 4^th in wins (eight).  For his career Papi is 16-11 in 32 games started and 42 appearances in which he appeared in 195 1/3 innings.