Jake Rappaport, Julio Marcano Named to ABCA All-Region Teams

The NJIT baseball program added to its historic, record-breaking season on Wednesday when seniors Jake Rappaport and Julio Marcano were named the program's first ABCA All-Region honorees since the Highlanders moved to Division I prior to the 2007 season.

Rappaport, the team's closer, was named First Team All-Region and now will contend for All-America honors, while Marcano, NJIT's top offensive threat, was named Second Team All-East Region. The ABCA East Region is comprised of all Division I teams in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Ohio.

"I''m so happy for and proud of Julio and Jake," said Head Coach Robbie McClellan. "As the program continues to set new standards of success, the personal accolades are piling in for our players, who deserve it for all of their hard work on- and off-the-field."

Rappaport set program records with 11 saves and 8 wins, while tossing 51.0 innings in a team-high 28 appearances. The First Team All-America East and America East All-Tournament Team selection shut down Northeastern in order in the ninth inning to close out NJIT's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory on Saturday, June 5, at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, AR. Rappaport also earned both a win and a save at the America East Tournament.

Marcano led the squad in almost every offensive category, including batting average (.322), HR (10), and RBI (42). His home run total tied for the most in the America East and several came late in close games, including a two-run blast to tie the game in the eighth inning in the opening round of the America East Tournament vs. Albany. One of three team captains, Marcano was also named First Team All-America East and to the America East All-Academic Team. 

NJIT finished its season with a 27-24 record and earned the America East's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament, marking the program's first-ever appearance.