College Baseball
Hayes Second Team All-East
LAWRENCEVILLE?James Hayes of the Rider University baseball team was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association Second Team All-East Region team as a relief pitcher.
“It is an
honor to be recognized by the coaches in the East as one of the top relief
pitchers in the country,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis. “He had a
great year and deserves as a great deal of credit. He has represented Rider
very well.”
A junior from Sunrise, Florida (Piper), Hayes compiled 11 saves, tying his own Rider record for saves in a season, with a team-best 3.16 earned run average. Hayes struck out 41 batters in 31 innings and compiled a 3-2 record.
Hayes was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament MVP, the MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year, the New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association Division I Player of the Year and a First Team All-MAAC selection as a utility player.
As the everyday right fielder, who also started games at second base and centerfield, Hayes led Rider with a .336 batting average, collecting a team-high 80 hits and scored a team-high 52 runs. Hayes stole 37 bases, the most by a Bronc since 1967 when Mike Lisetski stole 40.
Hayes led Rider to the MAAC Championship and to the NCAA Regional tournament.
Hayes enters his senior year with 203 hits, fourth highest ever at Rider and 125 runs scored, 10th highest ever at Rider. His 26 career saves is already the Rider record.
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