MARICHAL NAMED NJCBA FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
May 23, 2001, Bloomfield, NJ -- Bloomfield College freshman outfielder Vito Marichal (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic H.S.) was named New Jersey Division II/III Freshman Player of the Year by the New Jersey College Baseball Association as voted by the New Jersey College Coaches.
Marichal led the Deacons in hitting with a .439 average and knocked in 26 runs while also tallying nine doubles and three triples. He hit a league-best .556 (20-of-36) in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and enjoyed hitting streaks of seven and 10 games.
I am very proud of Vito, said Bloomfield Head Coach Mark Rizzi. He is a special player. Not many players can start their freshman year and put up the numbers he did. He is an outstanding talent who is only going to get better. There may not be a better freshman talent in the state. He is that good.
Marichal also went 3-2 on the mound in five appearances. He beat Felician, Dominican and Nyack - three CACC playoff teams. The Dominican Republic native struck out 23 and walked 12 in 32 1/3 innings.
Marichal was named Player of the Week for the week of March 26 - April 1, 2001 by both the NJCBA and the CACC when he hit .667 (10-of-15) with four RBI, a triple and five runs scored. He drove in both runs with a triple in a 2-1 win over previously-unbeaten and 12th-ranked Rutgers-Newark during that week.
I had the pleasure of coaching Vito for four years in high school, said Rizzi. He is a terrific player with skills that can take him to the next level. He is as good as any player, regardless of division, in the state. There was very little adjustment needed to play at the college level.
Marichal was a two time All-Area (Herald & News) and All-County pick and a three-time All-BPSL selection. He was also named Third-Team All-State by the Star-Ledger in his junior year. Marichal was 21-3on the mound during high school and had a career batting average of .446 with a school record 101 RBI.
Marichal is a nephew of Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal. His father, Victor, played on the Triple A level for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1975.
