College of Staten Island freshman slugger Joey Falcone was named to the ECAC Metro NY/NJ All-Star lineup, bringing home the major Rookie of the Year honor in the process to cap a great season for the southpaw outfielder.
Coming off the heels of a 23-19 campaign which saw the Dolphins win their 15th CUNYAC Championship and earn a semifinal berth into the ECAC Metro NY/NJ Postseason Tournament, Falcone was instrumental to the success, making 36 starts in 39 appearances. Falcone started slowly, only to blaze a trail to a .336 batting average, good for second on the squad, while leading the team in triples (7), and slugging percentage (.504).
Sporting a .978 fielding percentage manning the outfield grounds, Falcone enjoyed a 10-game hitting streak during the season that stretched through the CUNYAC Postseason Tournament, which saw him bat a crisp .500 (7-14) with five RBI. Falcone finished second on the squad in RBI with 29, and was third on the Dolphins with six stolen bags in seven attempts.
The CUNYAC Rookie of the Year was also heralded for his off-the-field exploits. Falcone was featured in the Staten Island Advance and later the New York Daily News for his unconventional route to college baseball. After high school, Falcone enlisted in the United States Marine Corp, and served three tours overseas in Iraq and Afghansitan. For his courage and impeccable service, Falcone was awarded the CSI Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Inspiration Award at this year’s CSI Awards Banquet on May 21.
