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NEC TOURNAMENT GAME NOTES

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New Britain, CT – Junior RHP Matt Watson (Howell, NJ / Howell) was voted Northeast Conference (NEC) Pitcher of the Year while head coach Joe Litterio garnered NEC Coach of Year honors as announced at the post-season banquet at New Britain Stadium, home of this weekend's 2009 NEC Tournament. Junior Damian Csakai (Freehold Township, NJ / Freehold Township) was also voted a First Team outfielder while sophomore Seth Boyd (Perth Amboy, NJ / Perth Amboy) was tabbed as the league's Second Team second baseman.

Watson turned in arguably the best single-season season in school-history, going 9-1, including a perfect 7-0 during NEC-play, with a 3.10 ERA, 30 strikeouts and one save over 58.0 innings. With a win this weekend, the crafty right-hander would match Bill Willetts' single-season record of 10 victories set in 1948. Watson is also sixth on the all-time career wins list with 15 and is the second-straight Seahawk to win NEC Pitcher of the Year accolades, following current Minnesota Twins' farmhand Joe Testa.

Litterio won his first career Coach of the Year honor after leading Wagner to a school-record 30 victories while matching the school-standard of 17 NEC wins. The Garden State native has now led the Green & White to school-record totals in wins over the last two season. Additionally, the Seahawks have qualified for the NEC Tournament two years in a row and in five of the last six campaigns after previously making it just three times.

Csakai, who was a Second Team selection as a sophomore, makes his debut on the First Team after earning Team MVP honors. The speedy centerfielder hit .344, including a team-best .388 during NEC-play, with a league-best and school-record 37 stolen bases while also posting team-bests in runs (50), hits (64) and outfield assists (8). Last week's Akadema Co-Player of the Week also broke the school's career stolen base mark against Fairleigh Dickinson with his 91st swipe and has made numerous highlight-reel catches throughout the year.

Rounding out the Seahawk-winners was Boyd, who raised his average 84 points from last year, hitting .314, including .345 during NEC-play, with 13 doubles, four home runs and 34 RBI. Boyd, also picked it up on defense trimming his error total from 15 as a freshman to just six this season.

Wagner was also honored with the NEC Regular Season Championship trophy, which was accepted by seniors Chris Drechsel (Cranford, NJ / Cranford), Andrew Huebner (Hatfield, PA / North Penn) and Kevin Rush (Metuchen, NJ / Metuchen).

The top-seeded Green & White begin their assault on the program's second NEC Tournament title tomorrow against fourth-seeded at 12:00 pm at New Britain Stadium.