CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Canisius seniors Mark McKenna and Conner Morro were selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Team while the Canisius baseball team was picked as the co-favorites in the preseason coaches’ poll, the conference office announced Thursday.
The defending conference champions, Canisius received 104 total points along with 2018 MAAC regular season champion Monmouth, while third-place Marist received 102 points. The Golden Griffins earned five first-place votes, with both the Hawks and Red Foxes receiving three votes for the top spot.
McKenna, a native of Grand Island, N.Y., culminated a stellar 2018 season with a late hot streak that earned him a nod to the 2018 MAAC All-Tournament team. A career .314 hitter in three seasons with the Griffs, the outfielder batted .333 to rank 10th in the MAAC, also swiping 13 bases in 14 attempts during last year’s campaign. The lefty notched 11 multi-base hits, scoring 38 times and driving in 20 runs, and posted a .418 slugging percentage. McKenna also tallied 14 multi-hit performances, including in all four games of the MAAC Championship, finishing the tournament with 11 hits and seven RBI.
Morro saw his first season as the Griffs’ shortstop end with a 2018 CBN All-Canadian Second Team selection. The Cheltenham, Ontario native’s .342 batting average was eighth-best in the conference, while his .448 on-base clip was good for fourth among MAAC leaders. With 12 doubles, three triples and a home run, Morro drove in 30 RBI, recording three RBI on four occasions. The shortstop was also a threat on the base-paths, stealing 11 bases and scoring 35 runs. In the postseason, Morro racked up two hits in each of the four MAAC Championship games, recording a hit in both NCAA Regional games as well.
Quinnipiac’s Liam Scafariello received Preseason Player of the Year honors. In the coaches’ poll, the top five was rounded out by Quinnipiac and Manhattan, while Battle of the Bridge rival Niagara was picked eighth.
The Blue and Gold open the 2019 season Feb. 15 at North Carolina Central. The home opener is set for March 23 against Siena, with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch to open up MAAC play at the Demske Sports Complex.
