May 27, 2004
Bridgewater, N.J. - On Wednesday, May 26th, the Big East Conference announced the All-Big East first, second and third teams at its annual postseason baseball banquet held in Bridgewater, N.J. - the site of the 2004 Big East Conference Baseball Tournament. Villanova University outfielder Brian Newbold (Newington, Conn/Newington High School) was named to the All-Big East Conference third team, marking a perfect end to what was a tremendous final season on the Main Line for the Wildcat standout. All choices were made by the league's head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own players.
Newbold helped lead Villanova to a 31-20-1 overall record in 2004 - 17 more wins than the team had one season earlier when the `Cats recorded a 14-32 mark. This season's Wildcat squad also registered an 11-14 mark in Big East Conference play to finish in sixth place. Villanova's 2004 Big East finish was also a marked improvement for the program, which placed 10th in the conference in 2003 with a 6-19 record.
After graduating in 2003 with a degree in economics, Newbold chose to come back to Villanova for a fifth season and pursue his Master's Degree. A redshirt season in 2000 due to a leg injury, allowed him a fifth season of eligibility.
The 2004 campaign was Newbold's best as he batted .320 (62-for-194) with 32 runs scored, 12 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 37 RBI and eight stolen bases. He led the team in hits, RBI and total bases (93) this season. The Wildcats' starting leftfielder was even more impressive in Big East play, hitting .333 (33-for-99) with 15 runs scored, four doubles, one triple, three home runs and 18 RBI.
Newbold began the season being named to the Preseason All-Big East first team as a designated hitter, and lived up to those lofty expectations. He was the team's most consistent offensive player in 2004, leading the Wildcats with 20 multi-hit games this season and 10 multi-RBI contests.
Pittsburgh senior designated hitter/pitcher P.J Hiser has been named BIG EAST Player of the Year, it was announced. Boston College righthander Chris Lambert and Pittsburgh righty Nick Evangelista share Pitcher of the Year accolades, while UP's Jim Negrych was named Rookie of the Year. Panthers head coach Joe Jordano was selected as the 2004 BIG EAST Coach of the Year.
2004 BIG EAST BASEBALL POSTSEASON AWARD WINNERS
BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEARPJ Hiser, Pittsburgh, DH/P, Senior, 6-0, 195, Hagerstown, Md./Hagerstown
BIG EAST CO-PITCHERS OF THE YEARChris Lambert, Boston College, RHP, Junior, 6-1, 205, Manchester, N.H./Manchester MemorialNick Evangelista, Pittsburgh, RHP, Senior, 6-4, 215, Shoemakersville, Pa./Louisburg College
BIG EAST ROOKIE OF THE YEARJim Negrych, Pittsburgh, 2B, Freshman, 5-9, 175, Buffalo, N.Y./St. Francis
BIG EAST COACH OF THE YEARJoe Jordano, Pittsburgh, Seventh Season (Pittsburgh Record: 198-157-2)
All-BIG EAST First Team P - Chris Lambert, Boston College, Jr. P - Grant Johnson, Notre Dame, Jr. P - Nick Evangelista, Pittsburgh, Sr. P - Zac Cline, West Virginia, Jr. C - Michael Lombardi, Georgetown, Sr.1B - Sean O'Brien, Virginia Tech, Fr.2B - Steve Sollmann, Notre Dame, Sr.SS - Bryan Spamer, Pittsburgh, Sr.3B - Matt Macri, Notre Dame, Jr.OF - Jason Delaney, Boston College, Jr.OF - Jeff Frazier, Rutgers, Jr.OF - Lee Fritz, West Virginia, Jr.DH - PJ Hiser, Pittsburgh, Sr.
All-BIG EAST Second Team P - Ryan Doherty, Notre Dame, So. P - Chris Niesel, Notre Dame, Jr. P - Anthony Varvaro, St. John's, So. P - Joey Scott, Seton Hall, Sr. P - Josh Biber, Virginia Tech, Sr. C - Joe Burke, St. John's, Jr.1B - Tim Pahuta, Seton Hall, Jr.2B - Jim Negrych, Pittsburgh, Fr.SS - Ryan Leahy, Boston College, Sr.3B - Chris Stanton, Virginia Tech, Jr.OF - rew Locke, Boston College, Jr.OF - Craig Cooper, Notre Dame, So.OF - Ben Copeland, Pittsburgh, So.DH - Billy Quinn, Georgetown, Jr.
All-BIG EAST Third TeamGarrett Greer, Boston College, C, Sr.Kevin Shepard, Boston College, P, Jr.Ron Cano, Georgetown, OF, Sr.Greg Lopez, Notre Dame, SS, So.Javi Sanchez, Notre Dame, C, Sr.Tom Cashman, Pittsburgh, 1B, Sr.Graig Badger, Rutgers, 2B, Sr.Jack Egbert, Rutgers, P, Jr.Mike Rozema, St. John's, SS, Sr.Brian Newbold, Villanova, OF, Sr.Warren Schaeffer, Virginia Tech, SS, Fr.Stan Posluszny, West Virginia, OF, So.Grant Psomas, West Virginia, SS, Jr.
The first and second teams are chosen by position, with the third team the remaining top 13 vote recipients, regardless of position.A tie in the voting created an additional pitcher on the second team.
