2014 Knights Get Rousing Send-off at First Pitch Dinner
March, 2014 60’s All Decade Team Honored at First Pitch Dinner… Knights 3 and 3 to Open Season Snyder Sets Record for Saves…Harvey Woods Scholarship Fund Marks 14 th Year
2014 Knights Get Rousing Send-off at First Pitch Dinner On Sunday, February 16, with more than 160 fans, family members, FDU faculty members and alumni in attendance, the 2014 Varsity Baseball Knights celebrated the beginning of the 2014 season. Head Coach Gary Puccio, host and emcee for the evening’s festivities, headlined a lively program that culminated when Jon Bittmann presented the coveted First Pitch ball to sophomore right-hander Logan Frati. “I was honored to receive the First Pitch ball and for Coach Puccio to show so much faith in me,” Logan said after the dinner. Baseball alumni played a major role in the evening’s events, starting with honors being paid to members of the recently named 1960’s All Decade team. All Decade team member Leroy Kirchner, capped off the presentation with a warm-hearted recollection of playing ball in the wooden bat era when team members drove the squad to away games in their own cars and received $1.50 gas money. Frank Gilabert, a new member of the FDU Athletics Hall of Fame, also spoke, urging current team members to take full advantage of the educational opportunities while at the university.
60’s All Decade Team Members, L to R.: Joe Palestini, Charlie Linfante, Leroy Kirchner, Jon Bittmann, Bob Secula, Mike Sancilio, Art Budweiser, Bob Montesano
Hall of Famer Steve Dembowski and Joe Rigoli, 1970’s All Decade team member and St. Louis Cardinals Scout, delivered their annual pep talks, reminding the 2014 Knights that they are part of FDU’s rich baseball heritage. At the end of the event, Coach Puccio was a very happy man. “This is first and foremost truly a family event,” Coach said. “I’m thrilled that the more than 20 baseball alumni who attended the dinner and support the team, count themselves as part of our family.”
“Resilient” Knights Split First Six Games. Eric Snyder Sets Career Record for Saves. After season-opening road trips to North Carolina and Kentucky, the 2014 Varsity Baseball Knights returned to Teaneck with a 3-3 record and six highly competitive games under their belts. Traveling to Davidson University, the Knights took one of three games, improving steadily as the week-end unfolded. After losing the first two games to Davidson and Lehigh with identical scores of 4-2, the Knights came back with a 7-5 win over Lehigh, rapping out 11 hits. Junior Eric Snyder, the best closer in FDU history, cemented the win with his 17th career save, an FDU all-time record. On February 27, the team fled snowbound New Jersey and trekked to Kentucky to take on Morehead State in a three-game set. FDU won two of the three games there, 5-3, 7-8 and 10-5. In the first game a ten-inning contest, FDU mounted a two-out, three-run rally to nail down the win. In the Saturday double-header, Morehead won game one, but the Knights came back to win the second with a ten-hit, ten-run outburst. Back on the mound in the ninth inning of the finale, Snyder picked up his second save of the young season. “They keep fighting back.” Evaluating their first six games Head Coach Gary Puccio found a lot to like about the 2014 Knights. “For openers, our pitchers showed that we should have one of the strongest staffs in the NEC,” Coach Puccio said. “Our defense was solid and we came through with a lot of timely hitting. Best of all, this team is resilient. They keep fighting back.” The Knights will be back in action on March 8 and 9 facing Lafayette with a doubleheader on the 8th and a single game on the 9th. “The field has been cleared of snow,” Coach Puccio reports, “so we will be out there, ready to get the home season rolling. We’re using these early season games to prepare for the NEC schedule. Our battle cry this year is ‘Destination Dodd.’ That’s where the NEC tournament will be played, and we’re determined to be there, playing to win.” For more information about the Knights schedule, visit www.fduknights.com.
Harvey Woods Scholarship Fund Marks 14th Year. As many of my teammates know, shortly after my retirement from Pfizer, in December of 2000, my wife Adele and I decided to establish the Harvey Woods Scholarship Fund (HWS), named after my former Coach and Athletic Director, in appreciation for the baseball scholarship I received way back in the mid-60s. Without that scholarship, I would have been unable to attend college on a full-time basis, and most certainly would not have been able to play in a Division I program. Our thoughts were to provide an additional scholarship for the baseball team with firm restrictions limiting it to candidates who have demonstrated outstanding success on the field, the ability to manage college level studies, be of good moral character and have financial needs. I am proud to say that many former FDU baseball players have contributed to the program to help it continue to grow. Since we began the program, five student-athletes have benefited from the HWS and have expressed their appreciation for the opportunity. I would like each of you to think back to when you were playing and to reflect on the impact that FDU baseball has had on your life, and to make a contribution to the fund so that others may benefit from the program as you have. Sincerely, Dennis O’Brien, Class of 1965.
Mike Eliason Honored to be HWS Fund Recipient Hailed as one of FDU’s finest all-round players, Mike Eliason (2012) was a recipient of the HWS Fund for his junior and senior years. A Criminal Justice major, Mike is a police officer with the Newcastle County Police in Delaware. It was a great honor to be awarded the scholarship,” Mike recalls. “I feel very fortunate to have been chosen.” To contribute to the Harvey Woods Scholarship fund, please mail your donation to Sean Morrison, Asst. Director, Marketing & Development, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1000 River Road, HT-AT1-01, Teaneck, NJ 07666. Make your check payable to FDU Harvey Woods Scholarship Fund. Thank you.
2014 Knights Get Rousing Send-off at First Pitch Dinner On Sunday, February 16, with more than 160 fans, family members, FDU faculty members and alumni in attendance, the 2014 Varsity Baseball Knights celebrated the beginning of the 2014 season. Head Coach Gary Puccio, host and emcee for the evening’s festivities, headlined a lively program that culminated when Jon Bittmann presented the coveted First Pitch ball to sophomore right-hander Logan Frati. “I was honored to receive the First Pitch ball and for Coach Puccio to show so much faith in me,” Logan said after the dinner. Baseball alumni played a major role in the evening’s events, starting with honors being paid to members of the recently named 1960’s All Decade team. All Decade team member Leroy Kirchner, capped off the presentation with a warm-hearted recollection of playing ball in the wooden bat era when team members drove the squad to away games in their own cars and received $1.50 gas money. Frank Gilabert, a new member of the FDU Athletics Hall of Fame, also spoke, urging current team members to take full advantage of the educational opportunities while at the university.
60’s All Decade Team Members, L to R.: Joe Palestini, Charlie Linfante, Leroy Kirchner, Jon Bittmann, Bob Secula, Mike Sancilio, Art Budweiser, Bob Montesano
Hall of Famer Steve Dembowski and Joe Rigoli, 1970’s All Decade team member and St. Louis Cardinals Scout, delivered their annual pep talks, reminding the 2014 Knights that they are part of FDU’s rich baseball heritage. At the end of the event, Coach Puccio was a very happy man. “This is first and foremost truly a family event,” Coach said. “I’m thrilled that the more than 20 baseball alumni who attended the dinner and support the team, count themselves as part of our family.”
“Resilient” Knights Split First Six Games. Eric Snyder Sets Career Record for Saves. After season-opening road trips to North Carolina and Kentucky, the 2014 Varsity Baseball Knights returned to Teaneck with a 3-3 record and six highly competitive games under their belts. Traveling to Davidson University, the Knights took one of three games, improving steadily as the week-end unfolded. After losing the first two games to Davidson and Lehigh with identical scores of 4-2, the Knights came back with a 7-5 win over Lehigh, rapping out 11 hits. Junior Eric Snyder, the best closer in FDU history, cemented the win with his 17th career save, an FDU all-time record. On February 27, the team fled snowbound New Jersey and trekked to Kentucky to take on Morehead State in a three-game set. FDU won two of the three games there, 5-3, 7-8 and 10-5. In the first game a ten-inning contest, FDU mounted a two-out, three-run rally to nail down the win. In the Saturday double-header, Morehead won game one, but the Knights came back to win the second with a ten-hit, ten-run outburst. Back on the mound in the ninth inning of the finale, Snyder picked up his second save of the young season. “They keep fighting back.” Evaluating their first six games Head Coach Gary Puccio found a lot to like about the 2014 Knights. “For openers, our pitchers showed that we should have one of the strongest staffs in the NEC,” Coach Puccio said. “Our defense was solid and we came through with a lot of timely hitting. Best of all, this team is resilient. They keep fighting back.” The Knights will be back in action on March 8 and 9 facing Lafayette with a doubleheader on the 8th and a single game on the 9th. “The field has been cleared of snow,” Coach Puccio reports, “so we will be out there, ready to get the home season rolling. We’re using these early season games to prepare for the NEC schedule. Our battle cry this year is ‘Destination Dodd.’ That’s where the NEC tournament will be played, and we’re determined to be there, playing to win.” For more information about the Knights schedule, visit www.fduknights.com.
Harvey Woods Scholarship Fund Marks 14th Year. As many of my teammates know, shortly after my retirement from Pfizer, in December of 2000, my wife Adele and I decided to establish the Harvey Woods Scholarship Fund (HWS), named after my former Coach and Athletic Director, in appreciation for the baseball scholarship I received way back in the mid-60s. Without that scholarship, I would have been unable to attend college on a full-time basis, and most certainly would not have been able to play in a Division I program. Our thoughts were to provide an additional scholarship for the baseball team with firm restrictions limiting it to candidates who have demonstrated outstanding success on the field, the ability to manage college level studies, be of good moral character and have financial needs. I am proud to say that many former FDU baseball players have contributed to the program to help it continue to grow. Since we began the program, five student-athletes have benefited from the HWS and have expressed their appreciation for the opportunity. I would like each of you to think back to when you were playing and to reflect on the impact that FDU baseball has had on your life, and to make a contribution to the fund so that others may benefit from the program as you have. Sincerely, Dennis O’Brien, Class of 1965.
Mike Eliason Honored to be HWS Fund Recipient Hailed as one of FDU’s finest all-round players, Mike Eliason (2012) was a recipient of the HWS Fund for his junior and senior years. A Criminal Justice major, Mike is a police officer with the Newcastle County Police in Delaware. It was a great honor to be awarded the scholarship,” Mike recalls. “I feel very fortunate to have been chosen.” To contribute to the Harvey Woods Scholarship fund, please mail your donation to Sean Morrison, Asst. Director, Marketing & Development, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1000 River Road, HT-AT1-01, Teaneck, NJ 07666. Make your check payable to FDU Harvey Woods Scholarship Fund. Thank you.
