Riv Baseball announces 2012 Coaching Staff and Schedule
Nashua, NH – First year head coach Anthony Perry has officially announced his coaching staff for the upcoming 2012 season in addition to the 37 game schedule.
Joining the staff will be Michael Oliveira and Jon Shepard. Both bring extensive knowledge of the game to the rebuilding Raider program.
Oliveira comes to Rivier after finishing his collegiate career at Fisher College in Boston, MA. While at Fisher, Oliveira was a three year starter at second base and a member of four straight conference championships. He was named to the Sunrise Conference All-Conference team in his junior year as he hit .335. Last season, his senior year, Oliveira committed just two errors in over 160 chances as he was named the 2011 NAIA Gold Glove Award winner at Second base. The native of Tewksbury, MA and a 2007 graduate of Shawsheen Tech, Oliveira will be responsible for assisting in the day-to-day operations of the program along with infield defense.
Handling the pitching staff this season will be current professional pitcher Jon Shepard. This past summer, Shepard pitched in the independent Can-Am League for the New York Federals and the Rockland Boulders. During his high school years at Triton Regional in Byfield, MA, Shepard was a blue chip prospect getting the attention from NCAA Division 1 program such as Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama. He finally settled in Norton, MA at Wheaton College, where he graduated in 2010. He was a member of the Lyons baseball program all four years including making trips to the New England Regionals. In his senior season, Shepard appeared in 22 games recording 9 saves (fifth most in NCAA D3 in 2010) with a 1.04 ERA. He was named to the All American team by D3baseball.com along with being a member of the NEIBA All Star team that played inside of Fenway Park.
"I am extremely excited to welcome the additions of these two to my staff." Exclaimed Perry when asked about the new coaches. "I have known each of these gentlemen for a long time now and they both bring a lot to the table in terms of knowledge and passion for the game."
For the first time in the program's short history, the Raiders will have a 37 game schedule. Highlighting the schedule will be an eight game trip to Winter Haven, Florida during the Spring Break period. This will be Rivier's first trip south of New Jersey since the 2008 season. In their final game inside the sunshine state, the Raiders will face Gallaudet University who is coached by former Major Leaguer Curtis Pride. Pride has ties to the Nashua area and with Coach Perry. He played for the Nashua Pride during the 1999, 2003 and 2004 seasons. Pride was teammates with Perry during the 2008 season with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League.
When the New England schedule begins on March 18th at Massachusetts Maritime, Rivier will endure their final 29 games. They will play 16 Great Northeast Conference games including GNAC newcomer Anna Maria College. The 2012 home opener is slated for a double-header on March 31st against GNAC opponent Johnson and Wales (RI). Also on the schedule is a home and home series with one of the area's top baseball programs in Fisher College, which produced both Coach Perry and Coach Oliveira. The longstanding cross-town series against Daniel Webster College will take place on April 10th and the regular season will finish with an April 22nd double-header against Emerson College in Boston, MA.
"I feel this schedule gives us a great opportunity to see what type of team we are." Perry said. "Our goal is to get better with every game we play. As long as we continue to work hard and prepare well, we should have a successful season here in 2012."
The new era of Rivier Baseball will begin on March 4th against Juniata College (PA) in Winter Haven, Florida.
