NOTES: Two-year starter in the outfield who posted a .443 slugging percentage while totaling 68 RBIs, 82 hits and 24 extra-base hits (10 doubles, three triples and 11 home runs)… stole 15 bases in 20 tries.
PROFILE OF THE WEEK (Spring 2011)
SENIOR (2011): Started in 40 games as the regular rightfielder for the 23-19 Scarlet Raiders who shared the ECAC Metro Championship… hit .291 with 28 RBIs, 43 hits, six doubles, two triples and a home run… made just one error in 65 chances while starting three double plays… stole 10 bases in 13 tries… drew 14 walks to post a .358 on-base percentage while collecting nine extra-base hits to slug .378… hit safely in 30 games, collecting two hits 13 times… towering 3-run homer off the leftfield fair pole ignited a 12-run Raider rally in the fifth inning of a 12-7 win over Ramapo (5/3/11) in the opening round of the NJAC Championship tournament… went two for four with three RBIs and a stolen base in an 11-10 win over Wabash (3/11/11) including the 2-out game-winning RBI double in the seventh inning… ripped a 3-run double to centerfield in the seventh inning gave Raiders a 7-6 lead in what would turn into an 8-7 victory to complete a sweep of TCNJ (4/9/11).
JUNIOR (2010): Power-hitting outfielder stepped right into a starting role in his first season in Scarlet & Black… named
NCBWA D-III Hitter of the Week,
ECAC Metro Player of the Week and
NJAC Player of the Week (3/21) after hitting .500 with four home runs and 17 RBIs during a five games in California… started in 38 of the 41 games in which he appeared… second on the squad with 10 home runs plus four doubles and a triple to give him 15 extra-base hits… drew 20 walks to push his on-base percentage to .351… fourth on team with a .507 slugging percentage… 75 total bases rated fourth on squad… stole five bases in seven attempts… led team in sacrifice bunts with five… had seven multiple-hit games… went four for five with a double, a home run, two walks and five RBIs in 16-4 win over Ithaca (3/15)… went four for six with three home runs and eight RBIs in 17-2 win over Cal Lutheran (3/19)… hammered a 3-run home run to help key a 22-10 win over Ramapo (4/30)… blasted a grand slam in Raiders’ 15-14 loss to Ramapo (4/9)… went three for four with a 2-run triple… went three for four in a 10-3 win over DeSales (4/7).
FRESHMAN & SOPHOMORE (2008 & 2009): Batted .364 in two seasons with Bergen C.C. with 39 RBIs, nine doubles and a triple… stole 22 bases in 25 attempts… as a freshman, hit .359 with six doubles, a dozen RBIs and a .446 slugging percentage for the 15-11 squad… as a sophomore, hit .370 with a .422 on-base percentage and a .402 slugging percentage, and 27 RBIs… ranked fourth in JuCo Region 19 with 16 stolen bases in just 18 attempts… was a team captain and earned Athletic Academic Award and Sportsmanship Award.
HIGH SCHOOL: All-Essex County and senior captain at Belleville HS… earned three letters, helping the Buccaneers to three playoff berths… Belleville went 24-8 during his junior season and 19-13 in his senior year.
PERSONAL: Transferred to Rutgers-Newark in the fall of 2009… majoring in criminal justice… son of Mary Ann and Joseph Cassese… has four older siblings: sisters Jessica, Jacquelyn and Kristin, and brother Joey… born and raised in Belleville.
