PITMAN --- Kean University senior outfielder Kyle Adorno (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) and senior teammate Jason Gilman (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) were named the NJAC’s Bill Dioguardi Player of the Year and the NJAC Pitcher of the Year, respectively, to headline the 2025 NJAC Baseball All-Conference Team.
 
Additionally, Kean sophomore reliever Jason Basilicata (Bayville, NJ/Donovan Catholic) was named the Fireman of the Year. Rowan University freshman Damon Suriani (Swedesboro, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) earned the conference’s Rookie of the Year award. Kean head coach Neil Ioviero and his staff were voted the league’s Jeff Albies Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
The honors headline the 36-member NJAC All-Conference Team. Major award and all-conference team selections are determined by a vote of the NJAC’s 10 head coaches and are based on regular season conference-only performances.
 
Adorno earned the Player of the Year honor following a standout campaign in which he ranked among the NJAC leaders in nearly every offensive category. A three-time all-conference honoree, Adorno batted .405 (8th) and led the NJAC in conference-only triples (4). He finished second in both runs scored (27) and stolen bases (10), while ranking fourth in total hits (30) and ninth in RBI (18). He posted several clutch performances during the season, going 6-for-10 in a series against Stockton, 4-for-6 in two games versus Ramapo, and 4-for-9 with two triples and a double in a doubleheader sweep of William Paterson. He also drove in four runs on 4-for-9 hitting in a twinbill against Rutgers-Camden.
 
Gilman anchored the Cougars’ rotation with dominant numbers in league play. The two-time all-conference selection went 5-0 against NJAC opponents, tying for first in wins while leading the league in strikeouts (47). He also ranked fourth in ERA (1.47), third in opponent batting average (.176), second in innings pitched (36.2), and third in fewest runs allowed (7). Gilman logged several notable outings, including 8.0-inning performances in wins over Rowan and William Paterson, striking out 12 in the latter. He also fanned 12 over 7.0 innings in a win over TCNJ.
 
Basilicata earned Fireman of the Year honors after serving as a dominant late-inning option out of the bullpen. He allowed just one earned run and seven hits over 12.1 innings, finishing with a 0.73 ERA and 0.74 WHIP. Basilicata picked up two wins and three saves while striking out 11 batters, consistently shutting down opposing offenses in high-leverage situations.
 
Suriani was selected Rookie of the Year after turning in one of the most impressive debut seasons in the NJAC. The freshman outfielder led the conference in batting average (.521) and on-base percentage (.625), while ranking third in OPS (1.313). He recorded at least one hit in all but one conference game, and posted a breakout 4-for-6 performance with five RBI in a win over TCNJ. Suriani also added four stolen bases and proved to be one of the toughest outs in the conference lineup.
 
Ioviero and his staff—Steve Bucchignano, Gary Galvach, Michael Matera, Dave Vargo, Sal Taormina, and Jay Leta— were named the Jeff Albies Baseball Coaching Staff of the Year after guiding the Cougars to a 17-1 record in NJAC play. They coached nine all-conference honorees, including four First Team selections and three of the league’s major award winners in Adorno, Gilman, and Basilicata. Under their leadership, Kean captured the NJAC regular season title and top seed in the conference tournament.
 

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