Kean University senior first baseman Michele Baiera, of East Brunswick, is sure making the most of her final season as a member of the Cougars’ softball team.
Baiera has put together a stellar season for seventh-year head coach Maggie Acker’s squad, finishing the regular season with a .309 average (34-for-110), with four home runs, 21 RBIs, and a .509 slugging percentage. She is also tied for fourth on the team with 17 runs scored for the Cougars, who finished the regular season at 20-20 overall, and 7-11 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play. The Cougars will be entering the NJAC tournament this week for the first time since 1996.
Baiera also established a new Cougar softball all-time standard for home runs when she slugged the ninth round-tripper of her career in a 9-3 victory against Wisconsin-Platteville at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., on March 15. She added three more to set the record at 12 for her career.
For her exploits on the field, Baiera was selected the Kean University Athlete of the Month in March.
“Michele is a great asset to this program,” said Acker. “She is a leader, both on and off the field, who would do whatever I asked of her. She has worked very hard to help get the program where it is today and is a well-respected player through out the conference because of her offensive power. I am very proud to have gotten the opportunity to coach her over the last four years.”
Another East Brunswick alum, freshman Reem Saadeh, made a successful debut with the Cougars this season, going 6-for-23 (.261) in limited action, adding six stolen bases in seven attempts.
South River native Christina DeCorso, a sophomore outfielder, hit .240 (12-for-50) for the Cougars, knocking in 14 runs with a slugging percentage of .500.
– Doug McKenzie