The Chuck Tanner Baseball Manager of the Year Awards Committee has announced Marc Marizzaldi, head coach of Seton Hill University, as its fourth annual Collegiate Baseball Manager of the Year. Marizzaldi will be presented his award on November 16, 2013 at the annual Chuck Tanner Awards Banquet, where any self-respecting baseball fanatic will be that evening. Marizzaldi will join previous awardees, Pitt’s Joe Jordano, Penn State Greater Allegheny’s Jim Chester and Point Park’s Loren Torres.

Marizzaldi is credited with taking the Seton Hill baseball program to new heights and national prominence. Since he started the program in 2004, Seton Hill has posted a 336-194 (.634) overall record. Marizzaldi led the Griffins to a 17-33 record in their inaugural season, followed by a 27-20 record in 2005 and the Griffins first appearance in the post-season.

With just two years under their belts, Seton Hill jumped into the national spotlight in 2006, climbing as high as a 14 ranking in the national poll by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Seton Hill posted a 45-20 record in 2006 en route to the school’s first appearance in the NAIA World Series. Marizzaldi’s 2006 team captured the American Mid-east Conference (AMC) North Division title, NAIA Region IX championship and swept the NAIA East Coast Super Regional series. Marizzaldi earned the AMC North Division Coach of the Year honors that year, as well as being named the NAIA Region IX Coach of the Year.

During the 2012 season Seton Hill posted a school record 46 wins. The Griffins captured their third straight West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) North title with a 30-4 conference record. Seton Hill earned the number one seed in the Atlantic Regional in its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Individual accolades followed with four Griffins earning WVIAC First Team honors and five earning All-Region status. Marizzaldi notched his second straight WVIAC coach of the Year award in 2012, as Seton Hill climbed as high as eight in the NCAA Division II national poll.

The 2013 season saw the Griffins make their deepest post-season run since joining the NCAA, as Marizzaldi guided Seton Hill to their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its first Atlantic Region title game. The 42-17 Griffins again dominated the WVIAC, posting a 26-8 conference mark. Marizzaldi earned his third consecutive WVIAC Coach of the Year award, as well as Regional Coach of the Year from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Leading a cast of six All-WVIAC and five All-Region players, Seton Hill was a mainstay in the national top-25 all season peaking at number six.

At the Chuck tanner Awards banquet, Clint Hurdle will receive the Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Award, and former Pittsburgh Pirate relief ace Kent Tekulve will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Lotsa baseball stars out that night. Get your tickets now. Visit www.chucktannerbanquet.com.

KeepScore Baseball/Softball Scorebooks is a contributor on the Chuck Tanner Banquet committee.