Teams: Baseball: Press Releases

Friday, May 16, 2008

RAGONESE, PERRY NAMED TO NEIBA ALL-NEW ENGLAND BASEBALL TEAMS

Sophomore Alex Perry, All-New England Second Team

Steve Ragonese, All-New England First Team

MEDFORD -- The New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) announced its 2008 All-Star teams on Thursday and two Tufts Jumbos were recognized. Senior Steve Ragonese (Upper Saddle River, NJ) is on the First Team at the utility position and sophomore catcher Alex Perry (Danvers, MA) is on the Second Team.

Ragonese was named New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Year earlier this week. He hit .425 with nine home runs and 47 runs batted in, a new Tufts single-season record. He posted impressive slugging (.776) and on-base (.516) percentages. Versatile in the field as well, he made starts at second base (15), first base (12) and in right field (5). By virtue of his selection to the All-New England First Team, Ragonese will play in the NEIBA College All-Star Game at Fenway Park on June 14.

In his first season as the starting catcher, Perry was a leader for the Jumbos offensive and defensively. In 27 starts behind the plate, he did not make an error on 154 total chances. He also threw out 13 of the 23 runners trying to steal on him, and excellent 56.6 percent. He also provided punch to the lower part of the Tufts order with a .330 average, 21 RBI, 21 runs scored and 15 walks for a .422 on-base percentage. Perry is one of two catchers on the All-New England Second Team, therefore recognizing him as one of the three-best receivers in the region.

Tufts finished the 2008 season with a 19-15 record and were second in the NESCAC's East Division.

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