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Princeton University Athletics
Stiller Named NJCBA Pitcher of the Year
May 18, 2005 | Baseball
May 18, 2005
Princeton, N.J. - Junior Erik Stiller was named the Pitcher of the Year by the New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association and along with senior Brian Kappel, senior Will Venable and junior Andrew Salini, was named first-team all-state. Freshman Steven Miller was named to the state's all-rookie team.
Stiller led the Tigers' starting pitching staff with a 6-2 record and a 2.98 ERA. He pitched four complete games and had two shutouts. In the middle of the season, Stiller had a 24-inning streak in which he did not allow a run, the second longest such streak in Princeton baseball history. He was a first-team All-Ivy pick this season was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II Team.
Stiller becomes the second Princetonian to win the state's pitcher of the year award. Thomas Pauly took the award in 2003.
Kappel and Venable earned first-team all-state honors for the second time in their careers, while Salini was named to the rookie team as a freshman and the second team last season.
Kappel appeared in a team-high 15 games for the Tigers and had a 2-1 record with six saves in 22-and-a-third innings. He had a 2.01 ERA and allowed just five earned runs all season. He scattered 11 hits and struck out 22. He was a unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection in 2005 for the second time in his career and was the NJCBA Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2004. He graduates one save shy of the Princeton record for saves in a career. Kappel was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II Team. Venable was also a unanimous choice for first-team All-Ivy. Venable led the Tigers' hitters with a .390 average. He had 55 hits, 32 RBIs, scored 35 runs and hit nine home runs. Venable hit .380 in Ivy games with 20 RBIs and six home runs. Last season he was an honorable mention All-Ivy. It was his fourth All-Ivy award as he was a first-team All-Ivy guard in men's basketball as a junior and second-team as a senior.
Salini ranked at or near the top of the Tiger hitters in nearly all offensive categories. He finished the season batting .371 with 56 hits and 26 RBIs. He had 15 extra-base hits, which includes five home runs. Salini led the Tigers in hits, and was second in batting average, doubles, RBI, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was named an honorable mention All-Ivy in 2005 for the second consecutive season and was named to the Ivy League honor roll twice in 2005. He was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II Team. Additionally, freshman Steven Miller was named to the state's all-rookie team. Miller appeared in 16 games during his first year with the Tigers. He had a 2-0 record with a 2.78 ERA working mainly out of the bullpen. He allowed just 10 earned runs in 32 innings this season.
2005 NJCBA Division I Award Winners
Player of the Year: Johnny Defendis, Rutgers
Pitcher of the Year: Erick Stiller, Princeton
Rookie of the Year: Dan McDonald, Seton Hall
Relief Pitcher of the Year: Kevin Schneider, Monmouth
Coach of the Year: Fred Hill, Rutgers
First Team All-State
P - Matt Marc-Aurele, Monmouth
P - Erik Stiller, Princeton
P - Dan McDonald, Seton Hall
RP - Kevin Schneider, Monmouth
RP - Brian Kappel, Princeton
1B - Andy Meyers, Monmouth
2B - Cory Rodriguez, Rutgers
SS - Todd Frazier, Rutgers
3B - John Walsh, Seton Hall
C - Mike Hussa, Monmouth
OF - Will Venable, Princeton
OF - Andrew Salini, Princeton
OF - Jeff Grose, Rutgers
OF - Johnny Defendis, Rutgers
U - Brett Hardie, Monmouth
DH - Colin Gaynor, Rutgers
Second Team All-State
P - Stephen Eng, FDU
P - Dan Merklinger, SHU
P - Aaron Kalb, Rutgers
1B - Tim Pahuta, Seton Hall
2B - Nick Massari, Monmouth
SS - Kyle Higgins, Monmouth
3B - Marc Weres, Monmouth
3B - John Rehm, Rider
C - Scott Knazek, Rider
U - Ben Cass, FDU
DH - Dan McDonald, Seton Hall
OF - Stewart Goodwin, FDU
OF - Fran Rotella, FDU
OF - Dave Williams, Rutgers
All-Rookie Team
Andy Meyers, Monmouth
Todd Frazier, Rutgers
Kyle Higgins, Monmouth
Santo Maertz, St. Peter's
Dennis Alexander, St. Peter's
Dan McDonald, Seton Hall
John O'Hara, FDU
Brad Brach, Monmouth
Steve Miller, Princeton
Da Merklinger, SHU
Tim Woodhull, Rutgers