University of Massachusets Athletics
Curreri Earns Cape League Honors
July 01, 2004 | Baseball
July 1, 2004
AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts sophomore catcher Frank Curreri (Weymouth, Mass.) was named the Cape Cod League Coca-Cola Player of the Week for his performance last week as he led the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox to a first-place, 6-3 start in the Eastern Division of the amateur summer ball league.
Curreri was hitting .522 with 12 hits in his first 23 at bats including a league-leading .606 on-base percentage through June 26. Although that figure has slipped a bit since, through June 30, Curreri currently remains atop the Cape League standings with a .436 batting average (17 hits in 39 at bats) and a .529 on-base percentage. He is also among the league leaders with a .538 slugging percentage. Additionally, the starting backstop has walked 10 times, smacked a home run, and has totaled just three strikeouts.
This past June, Curreri was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 41st round of the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The Diamondbacks took Curreri with the 1,226 pick overall.
Curreri, a second-team All-Atlantic 10 and first-team All-New England selection this year, reached base in 41 of UMass' 45 games during the 2004 season, including each of the last 26 consecutive contests. The lefthanded hitter started every UMass contest and finished the year with a team-leading .380 batting average, 54 RBI, a .464 on-base percentage and a .614 slugging percentage. Curreri also tied for the team lead with seven home runs, and led the squad with 23 extra-base hits including 16 doubles. His RBI total ranks as the fifth-highest single-season figure in school history, as do his 16 doubles. Curreri also participated in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association All-Star Game on May 30 at Fenway Park.
For his collegiate career, Curreri has a .363 batting average including 98 hits in just 82 games. He has totaled 36 extra-base hits thus far including 24 doubles and 10 home runs. Curreri has also totaled 81 RBI and 39 walks while striking out just 32 times in 270 at bats. He has also stolen eight bases.
Curreri is one of five current UMass players participating on amateur teams this summer. Sophomore Matt Torra and junior Jason Twomley are also playing in the Cape Cod League. Right handed Torra is playing with the Orleans Cardinals, while outfielder Jason Twomely is playing with the Brewster Whitecaps. Additionally, junior righty Keith Doherty and sophomore righty Jeremy Demers have signed on with the Holyoke Giants of the New England Collegaite Baseball League.
