Baseball: MAAC announces 40th Anniversary Team

[FU73]

Five former Fairfield University Baseball student-athletes were named among the conference's all-time best as the group was honored with a spot on the MAAC 40th Anniversary Team. Jack Gethings, Rob Gariano, Ryan Plourde, Tucker Nathans, and Tom Lopusznick received the recognition as the group combined for seven All-MAAC First Team honors, a MAAC Player of the Year award, and a MAAC Championship.

Stag Baseball
MAAC Regular Season Champions (3): 1983, 2016, 2017
MAAC South Division Champions (4): 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997
MAAC Tournament Champions (1): 2016
NCAA Tournament Appearances (1): 2016

fairfieldstags.com/news/2020/7/16/five-stag-baseball-legends-named-to-maac-40th-anniversary-team.aspx


The 40th Anniversary Baseball Team highlights some of the best student-athletes in MAAC history. MAAC Baseball traces back to 1982, when Army captured the first MAAC Championship with the best regular season record. From 1982 through 1993, the MAAC Baseball Champion was determined by regular season conference records. From 1990 through 1993, the MAAC, which was split into two divisions, had a North Division Champion and a South Division Champion.

Fairfield University
Rob Gariano 2007-10
Tom Lopusznick 1997-00
Tucker Nathans 2008-11
Ryan Plourde 2011-14
Jack Gethings – 2016-19

Jack Gethings graduated as Fairfield's all-time hits leader by racking up 271 in his career. He set a single season record with 88 during his senior season when he earned the MAAC Player of the Year award becoming the first player in program history. He also sits on top of the record books with 11 triples and 170 runs scored.

maacsports.com/news/2020/7/16/maac-announces-40th-anniversary-baseball-team.aspx

[nashvillestag]

And like men's hoops, although to quite a lesser extent, there was indeed life 'before MAAC' with regards to the Fairfield baseball team. And in that regard, although I don't claim to remember all the names of former great players, I do have three guys who come to mind who I think could be considered in the same class as the above, all of whom played for Don Cook BTW. Bob Kownacki was a shortstop who was good enough to be a major league draft choice and played some minor league seasons although he never made the major leagues. But speaking of the majors, if my memory is correct, Keefe Cato was a pitcher who DID make it all the way to the bigs, I think with the Cinn. Reds. And I remember a speedy outfielder named Billy Barnes who also might been drafted. Any others?

[vastagman]

Jul 17, 2020 9:08:10 GMT -5 nashvillestag said:

And like men's hoops, although to quite a lesser extent, there was indeed life 'before MAAC' with regards to the Fairfield baseball team. And in that regard, although I don't claim to remember all the names of former great players, I do have three guys who come to mind who I think could be considered in the same class as the above, all of whom played for Don Cook BTW. Bob Kownacki was a shortstop who was good enough to be a major league draft choice and played some minor league seasons although he never made the major leagues. But speaking of the majors, if my memory is correct, Keefe Cato was a pitcher who DID make it all the way to the bigs, I think with the Cinn. Reds. And I remember a speedy outfielder named Billy Barnes who also might been drafted. Any others?

I'm a stats guy, so first let me say, I find the Sports Reference sites to be tremendous resources for information about former, and current, basketball and baseball players.

Keefe Cato did make it to "The Show". I believe he is the only Stag to make it that far.
He was a 2nd round pick of Cincinnati in 1979. Pitched in 12 games for the Reds over two seasons and won a game.

www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/catoke01.shtml

Bob Kownacki was drafted by the Dodgers in 1976 - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kownac001rob

Of the five MAAC players listed, here is there info.

Jack Gethings - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gethin000jac
Rob Gariano - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=garian001rob
Ryan Plourde - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=plourd000rya
Tucker Nathans - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=nathan000tuc
Tom Lopusznick - does not appear to have played minor league ball.

[FU73]

John Keefe Cato (born May 6, 1958) is a former relief pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1983 and 1984.

Cato graduated from Fairfield University, where he played college baseball for the Stags and holds many Fairfield pitching records including seven career shutouts and one no-hitter. In 1978, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was the first Fairfield athlete to play in a major professional sport on the major league level after being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft.

[nashvillestag]

Jul 17, 2020 10:09:13 GMT -5 vastagman said:

Jul 17, 2020 9:08:10 GMT -5 nashvillestag said:

And like men's hoops, although to quite a lesser extent, there was indeed life 'before MAAC' with regards to the Fairfield baseball team. And in that regard, although I don't claim to remember all the names of former great players, I do have three guys who come to mind who I think could be considered in the same class as the above, all of whom played for Don Cook BTW. Bob Kownacki was a shortstop who was good enough to be a major league draft choice and played some minor league seasons although he never made the major leagues. But speaking of the majors, if my memory is correct, Keefe Cato was a pitcher who DID make it all the way to the bigs, I think with the Cinn. Reds. And I remember a speedy outfielder named Billy Barnes who also might been drafted. Any others?

I'm a stats guy, so first let me say, I find the Sports Reference sites to be tremendous resources for information about former, and current, basketball and baseball players.

Keefe Cato did make it to "The Show". I believe he is the only Stag to make it that far.
He was a 2nd round pick of Cincinnati in 1979. Pitched in 12 games for the Reds over two seasons and won a game.

www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/catoke01.shtml

Bob Kownacki was drafted by the Dodgers in 1976 - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kownac001rob

Of the five MAAC players listed, here is there info.

Jack Gethings - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gethin000jac
Rob Gariano - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=garian001rob
Ryan Plourde - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=plourd000rya
Tucker Nathans - www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=nathan000tuc
Tom Lopusznick - does not appear to have played minor league ball.

Yeah Va., the sports reference sites or more specifically the Baseball Reference site became a staple of mine as my nephew played professional ball for 8 years after playing at Bryant University. It is interesting here to look at all the teams and places that Tucker Nathans in particular was a participant, interesting because like my nephew he never made it to the major leagues (although I guess technically Tucker is still trying), but yet it just shows how far kids like this are willing to keep trying to reach their dream of the big leagues no matter the odds. And like you illustrate by these postings, EVERY statistic know to man shows up under their names because of these great sports sites.

[ctbobs]

Nash,

Bob Kownacki and Billy Barnes, both graduates of Bridgeport Central H.S.

[JoeStag]

Jul 18, 2020 13:02:09 GMT -5 ctbobs said:

Nash,

Bob Kownacki and Billy Barnes, both graduates of Bridgeport Central H.S.

In the Freshman year that Bob Kownacki played for Central HS baseball, I also suited up for the Central Varsity Baseball team. I was not very good, but the only reason I was on the roster was because I was the 3rd String catcher and bullpen Catcher. I played 1 inning. I think Central reached the semi-finals in baseball State Tournament.

The following year, I transferred to Trumbull HS and I then was cut from the Trumbull baseball team as a soph.

[sobro]

Lopusznick played football for the Stags as did his brother, Jim.

[nashvillestag]

Didn't realize so many people paid attention to this "Other Stag Sports" page, but since there are obviously at least a few who do, and in this case remember some baseball history regarding former players, I think one further piece of interest that people might remember about Kownacki regards not anything that happened to him on the diamond back in the day, but rather an event that happened to his son Brian ten years ago when he played for Fordham. Indeed it's been awhile and most people might have forgotten, but it was Brian on that fateful night who in trying to score a run made an instinctive decision to attempt a truly unique athletic play by jumping over the catcher in a 360 degree type manner, a maneuver he executed to perfection (as captured on You Tube). And because this video was seen by so many people so soon, the finality of the event was that this play made Brian a mini-celebrity for a while, so much so that he not only became known as the "Fordham Flipper," but he also got invited to be in the audience for the annual ESPN summer awards show as a candidate for the athletic play of the year. He didn't win, but that didn't lesson what he had done, and if I remember correctly Bob got to make the trip to Los Angeles along with his son.

[vastagman]

Nash, as much as I enjoy basketball, my first love was actually baseball, so I definitely take in interest in how that team does.

As an alum, I enjoy seeing success in any/all of the other sports too.

Here is a video of the Fordham Flipper: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H1YKX6zWeE

[FU73]

Kownacki’s Flip Highlights Comeback Win



Kownacki was waved around all the way from first with the low throw coming into Iona catcher James Beck, beating Kownacki to the plate. Kownacki then leaped completely over the top of Beck without a tag, and landed with a handstand on home plate, capping off a nine-run inning, giving Fordham its first lead of the game at 12-9. The crowd in attendance went crazy, not just for the comeback effort by the Rams, but the amazing play they just witnessed.

"The jump was a split second reaction that I couldn't tell you as to why I did it. After scoring I don't remember seeing the umpire give the safe call but just remember celebrating with my teammates."....."The play and video still follows me around today. I know that early in my career, it helped open some doors for me. It is one of many fond memories I took away from my time at Fordham," said Kownacki remembering the play...."I was not ready for the media aftermath that followed and don't think anybody expected that to happen. Anyone who knows me would agree that I'm very introverted and having a spotlight on me was tough to handle. With that being said I still look back at going around NYC from studio to studio doing interviews and being nominated for an ESPY as fond memories I still cherish." Not too bad for a player who was supposed to have the day off.....

fordhamsports.com/news/2020/4/20/baseball-on-this-date-kownackis-flip-highlights-comeback-win-labovicks-record-hit-streak-end-hawthorn-coaches-final-tennis-match.aspx