HOBOKEN, N.J. – Stevens Institute of Technology Head Baseball Coach John Crane has hired Corey Paluga as an assistant coach for the 2010 season. Paluga, who served as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater Lynchburg College, will work primarily with catchers and outfielders, while serving as the team’s recruiting coordinator.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Early this week, the New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association (NJCBA) announced its All-NJCBA teams. Three Stevens Institute of Technology baseball players were honored, with two Ducks making the All-Rookie Team in second baseman Tom Phillips and pitcher Vincent Vinci and sophomore third baseman Ken Meerendonk getting a third-team nod. The Stevens baseball team had a phenomenal season, winning 11 more games than it did in 2008 and reaching the finals of the 2009 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Metro Tournament.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Sophomore catcher Denis Ackermann of the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team earned the American Baseball Coach’s Association/Rawlings Gold Glove Award as a catcher for the 2009 season. Stevens finished 21-20 on the year and received its first-ever appearance into the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Metro Division Championship as the Ducks fell in the Finals to Ramapo College. On the year, Ackermann posted a 0.991 fielding percentage with 202 putouts, 30 assists and just two errors.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Sophomore utility player Ken Meerendonk was a first-team selection to the 2009 Empire 8 Baseball All-Conference team as a designated hitter, which was recently announced on Tuesday afternoon by the conference office. Meerendonk also earned second-team accolades as a starting pitcher; while the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team had five other members earn all-conference recognition. The Ducks, who finished 21-20 on the year, reached the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Metro Division Championship for the first time to fall just short in the Finals, 9-6 to Ramapo College. This marks the first season that the Ducks have landed any Empire 8 all-stars, after Stevens concluded last year’s campaign with a league ledger of 3-11 and a season mark of 10-26.

HOBOKEN, N.J. – Sophomore catcher Denis Ackermann batted 3-for-4 with a run scored and drove one in as the fourth-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team dropped the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Metro Division Final on Saturday afternoon in Hoboken, N.J. to second-seeded Ramapo College in a 9-6 decision. The Roadrunners, who entered today’s contest with a team total of nine homeruns, jacked five in the victory, which resulted in eight of their nine runs. The Ducks finish the season 21-20 overall as Ramapo improves to 21-18 on the year.