Raiders Baseball Players Receive All-Conference Honors

Nashua, NH – The Rivier College Raiders, after a winless season in 2009, bounced back to improve their record to 5-22 this season, with another 6 games being decided by 2 runs or less. The success of the season, which included playing an exhibition game against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, a, AA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, was the result of a combination of returners sticking through the hard times and new faces making immediate impacts. Three members of the 2010 Raider team were recognized for their efforts by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) by being placed among the four different 2010 all-conference teams.

Senior captain Ryan O'Connor (Medford, MA) was voted onto the GNAC First Team All-Conference after leading the Raiders with 39 hits and a .419 batting average. The Raiders starting shortstop played, and started, in all 27 games for Rivier this season, boasting a team best .486 on base percentage with 12 walks and 13 RBIs. Ryan also improved in the field this season, recording only 10 errors for a .907 fielding percentage with 34 put outs and 64 assists. Ryan will be graduating in May with a degree in Business Management.

Freshman first baseman/designated hitter Aramis Velez (Lowell, MA) was voted onto the GNAC Third Team All-Conference after a stellar first season with the team. Aramis hit .284 with 13 RBIs in 20 games for the Raiders this season. Velez hit his first collegiate homerun against Norwich University on the back end of a double header, helping the Raiders pull off a split in the series. At first base, Aramis recorded 138 put outs and 7 assists with only 3 errors for a .980 fielding percentage. Velez is majoring in Criminal Justice at Rivier.

Junior infielder Pat Brooks (Milford, NH) rounds out the All-Conference honors as he was named to the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Brooks, who was nominated by his teammates for his conduct both on and off the field, played and started in 13 games for the Raiders this season, hitting .286 with 7 walks and 2 RBIs. Brooks is also a Criminal Justice major.