May 19, 1999
TRENTON, N.J. – The All-BIG EAST Baseball Team selections were led by Notre Dame designated hitter Jeff Wagner (Louisville, Ky.) who became the first player in BIG EAST history to be named All-BIG EAST First Team four times.
Wagner, Irish teammate Brant Ust (Redmond Wash.) and Pete Zoccolillo (White Plains, N.Y.) of Rutgers joined Wagner and two others (Mo Vaughn and Dana Brown, Seton Hall, 1987-89) as the only three-time first team choices.
Sophomore Aaron Heilman joins Ust and Wagner as first-team honorees while centerfielder Steve Stanley is the only freshman named to the All-BIG EAST teams, as one of three outfielders on the second team.
Wagner and All-America junior Brant Ust rank among the top hitters in BIG EAST history. Ust’s career bating average in BIG EAST regular-season games (.413, 100-for-242) ranks fifth in BIG EAST history while Wagner ranks among the top 20 on that list with a .390 avg. (98-for-251), including 24 HRs in the BIG EAST regular season, which ranks second all-time behind former Seton Hall great Mo Vaughn (26, ’87-’89).
The first and second team All-BIG EAST squads were made up of 10 seniors, eight juniors, nine sophomores and one freshman, Stanley.
Steve Stanley led the Irish with a .398 batting average in the final 20 games. He also tallied 21 runs scored, 11 RBI, eight stolen bases and seven walks against only one strikeout.
Brant Ust and Steve Stanley started all 55 of the regular-season games at their respective positions.
Freshman catcher Paul O’Toole joins Stanley on the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team. O’Toole has also finished strong for the Irish this season, posting a .350 batting average to go along with 13 RBI and four home runs over the last 20 games.
Providence College, playing its final season of baseball at the school, swept all four BIG EAST major awards. Outfielder Keith Reed was named Player of the Year, righty Marc DesRoches earned Pitcher of the Year, while outfielder Mike Scott captured Rookie of the Year. Head coach Charlie Hickey was selected as the 1999 BIG EAST Coach of the Year.
All selections are made by the league’s head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own players.
| ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM | |
| P – | Aaron Heilman, Notre Dame, So. |
| P – | Marc DesRoches, Providence, Sr. |
| P – | Cameron Esslinger, Seton Hall, Jr. |
| C – | Jeff Waldron, Boston College, Sr. |
| 1B – | Sean McGowan, Boston College, Sr. |
| 2B – | Matt Longo, Villanova, So. |
| SS – | Brant Ust, Notre Dame, Jr. |
| 3B – | Mike Dzurilla, St. John’s, Jr. |
| OF – | Keith Reed, Providence, Jr.** |
| OF – | Mike Scott, Providence, So. |
| OF – | Pete Zoccolillo, Rutgers, Sr. |
| U – | Alfie Critelli, Seton Hall, Jr. |
| DH – | Jeff Wagner, Notre Dame, Sr. |
| DH – | Eric Potts, St. John’s, So. |
| ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM | |
| P – | Kevin McGerry, St. John’s, So. |
| P – | Keith Stamler, St. John’s, So. |
| P – | Jeremy Cummings, West Virginia, Sr. |
| P – | Jim Wilson, Rutgers, So. |
| C – | Brian Esposito, Connecticut, So. |
| 1B – | Brian Packin, Connecticut, Jr. |
| 2B – | Lou Melucci, Pittsburgh, Sr. |
| SS – | Darren Fenster, Rutgers, Jr. |
| 3B – | Angelo Ciminiello, Providence, Sr. |
| OF – | Glenn Katz, Connecticut, Sr. |
| OF – | Steve Stanley, Notre Dame, Fr. |
| OF – | David DeJesus, Rutgers, So. |
| U – | Lance Williams, West Virginia, Sr. |
| DH – | Stephen Langone, Boston College, Jr. |
| ALL-ROOKIE TEAM | |
| Pat Sperone, Connecticut | |
| Paul O’Toole, Notre Dame | |
| Steve Stanley, Notre Dame** | |
| Mike Gonda, Pittsburgh | |
| Jamie Athas, Providence | |
| Neal McCarthy, Providence | |
| Mike Scott, Providence** | |
| Jim Wilson, Rutgers | |
| Charles Bilezikjian, St. John’s | |
| Jeff Miller, Seton Hall | |
| Rob Cafiero, Villanova | |
| Chris Schmidt, West Virginia | |
| ** – unanimous selection | |
| Ties in the voting created an additional position at first team DH and second team pitcher. | |
BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Keith Reed, Providence, Junior, OF, 6-4, 215, Auburn, Mass./Doherty HS
BIG EAST PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Marc DesRoches, Providence, Senior, RHP, 6-2, 220, Cambridge, Mass./Matignon HS
BIG EAST ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Mike Scott, Providence, Sophomore, OF, 5-10, 160, Darien, Conn./Darien HS
BIG EAST COACH OF THE YEAR
Charlie Hickey, Providence (100-58-1, 3 seasons)