Peabody/Lynnfield Weekly Daily News: "Ruggiero Named To MASCAC-All-Conference Team"

Babson Park, MA --- Junior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) has been named to the All-New England First-team by New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) and he was also selected as the regions top shortstop by D3baseball.com.

Ruggiero becomes the first Lancer to be selected to the First-team since Corey McDonald received the nod after the 2010 season. He moves onto the national ballot for All-American consideration for both American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and D3baseball.com honors.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the Ruggiero held a .396 average which is good for fourth in the MASCAC, and he is also leading the Blue and Gold in doubles (9), triples (5), slugging percentage (.562) and on base percentage (.434).

With his .396 average Ruggiero paces an offensive attack that is second in the MASCAC with an overall .296 average only behind Salem State (.321). The lineup also features juniors Cody Osburn (Fair Oaks, CA) and Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) and freshman classmates Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, MA) and Adam Barry (Auburn, MA) who join Ruggiero with averages all above the .300 mark.

Ruggiero has been consistent all year and entered the Harwich Regional after posting a .412 (7-17) average with three doubles, one homer, six runs scored and four driven in while claiming the MASCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player award last week.

Ruggiero has also flashed the leather this year as he sports a .957 fielding percentage making just nine errors in an eye-popping 211 chances as the primary shortstop for the Blue and Gold. With 125 assists through last night's setback in the opening round of the regionals, he eclipsed the single-season campaign record set by former standout Thomas Magnell (2010).

Ruggiero also notched the 100th hit of his career in a victory over local rival Nichols and he now has 129 over the past three years and totes a .320 clip with five homers, 22 doubles, six triples, 57 runs batted in and 66 runs scored.

On the NEIBA team, which was selected by coaches from around New England, a total of 51 players were acknowledged between the first, second and third teams with fellow MASCAC standouts, sophomore Richard Fecteau (Newbury, MA) of Salem State, first-year Steven Drury, Jr. (Ashburnham, MA) of Fitchburg State and rookie Mike Andrews (Stoneham, MA) of Framingham State joining Ruggiero on the first-team.

The D3baseball.com All-New England team included Fecteau, and senior Brett Cahill (Gloucester, MA) on the second team as classmate Ryan Hjyek (W. Newbury, MA) earned a spot on the Third-team.

2014 NEIBA All-New England Division III Team

2014 D3baseball.com All-New England Region Team

Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant

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