Rivers and Vazquez become third and fourth Ravens in program history selected to play in event; Rivers also picked to participate in Skills Competition and Home Run Derby

RINDGE, N.H. (July 18, 2008) – Two members of the Franklin Pierce University baseball team have been selected to play in the 15th Annual New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) All-Star Game, hosted by the Torrington Twisters, at Fuessenich Park in Torrington, Conn., on Sunday, July 20.

Sophomores Kevin Rivers (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) and Kyle Vazquez (Berlin, Conn./Berlin) are the third and fourth baseball players from Franklin Pierce to be selected to play in the NECBL’s annual event, joining former Ravens Bryan Duplissie (2004) and All-American Garrett Olson (2005). Rivers has also been selected as his Lowell All-Americans team representative in both the NECBL Skills Competition for the outfield throwing and accuracy contest and home run derby. Rivers is a member of the Northern Division All-Stars, while Vazquez will suit up for the Southern Division.

“It is a great honor for Kyle and Kevin to receive all-star recognition in the NECBL,” said Franklin Pierce head coach Jayson King. “It is also extremely helpful that they and others are doing so well when it comes to getting guys in good summer leagues in the future.”

NECBL All-Star festivities will commence at Fuessenich Park with the Skills Competition at 1:45 p.m., followed by the Home Run Derby at 2:15 p.m., with first pitch of the All-Star Game scheduled for 6 p.m.

Rivers, in his second season with the Lowell (Mass.) All-Americans, is a two-time All-Northeast-10 Conference selection at Franklin Pierce. In 29 games (28 starts) for Lowell this summer, Rivers leads the team with a .346 batting average (36-for-104), 19 runs scored eight doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI. He has also notched two outfield assists, with nine of his team-leading 19 RBI coming with two outs. He belted two home runs in a 9-5 victory at Sanford (Maine) on the Fourth of July.

“It feels great to be selected to the All-Star Game,” said Rivers. “It has been a goal of mine for the last two years. The NECBL is one of the best summer leagues in the country and to be considered one of the League’s best players is certainly an honor.”

Rivers started 57 of 58 games in rightfield for Franklin Pierce this past spring and posted a .321 batting average (72-224) with 41 runs scored and 15 doubles, while leading the Ravens with four triples, ten home runs and 57 RBI. He erupted during postseason play, posting a .417 (20-for-48) batting average with 14 runs scored, two doubles, nine home runs and 22 RBI in 11 postseason contests.

Vazquez, a third team All-Northeast-10 Conference selection for Franklin Pierce this spring, is in his first season with the Southern Division leading Pittsfield (Mass.) Dukes. Vazquez has been the ace of the Dukes staff, posting a 3-0 record and 2.29 earned run average with 33 strikeouts and just seven walks in 39.1 innings pitched over seven appearances (six starts). He also notched a save in an exhibition win over the USA Baseball National Team in June.

“The main goal is to throw well, have a good season, and stay healthy,” said Vazquez of his All-Star selection. “It is a big accomplishment and it was one of the goals I had going into the season.”

Vazquez made 16 appearances (12 starts) for Franklin Pierce this spring, posting a 7-2 record and 3.31 ERA with 80 strikeouts and 29 walks in 84.1 innings pitched, limiting opposing batters to a .267 average.

Franklin Pierce (43-15, 20-10 NE-10), ranked eighth in the final pingbaseball.com Division II poll, 18th in the final Collegiate Baseball magazine rankings and 20th in the NCBWA national poll, captured its third straight NCAA Division II Northeast Regional title this spring, advancing to the Division II Baseball Championships for the fourth time in program history. The Ravens reached the 40-win plateau for the third straight year and had 30-plus wins for the seventh straight season. The Ravens also won the NE-10 Tournament championship for the second straight year and the third time in four seasons.