GORHAM, Maine -- The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced today that University of Southern Maine senior outfielder Anthony D'Alfonso (Westbrook, Maine) has been selected as the 2009 ECAC Division III New England Player of the Year following a vote by the region's head coaches.

In addition, D'Alfonso and three other members of the Southern Maine baseball team received spots on the All-ECAC first or second team. D'Alfonso and senior shortstop Chris Burleson (Portland, Maine) were named to the first team, and senior first baseman Ryan Gaffney (Salem, N.H.) and senior pitcher Tim Therrian (New Portland, Maine) were picked to the second team. This is the second straight year that D'Alfonso and Burleson have been named to the All-ECAC first team.

D'Alfonso is the sixth USM player to be named the ECAC Player of the Year, and first since Tyler Delorme was tabbed in 2001. A two-time All-American, the left-handed hitting D'Alfonso was the Little East Conference Player of the Year and a first team all-conference pick. The 6-foot-4 slugger led the Huskies' offense batting .438 (77 for 176) with 52 runs scored, 17 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and a single-season record 76 RBI. He also compiled a
.722 slugging percentage and a .519 on-base percentage.

In two seasons since transferring to USM from Southern Maine Community College in the fall of 2007, D'Alfonso compiled a .414 batting average (158 for 382) with 110 runs scored, 30 doubles, six triples, 24 home runs and 138 RBI.

Burleson finished the season batting .390 (64 for 164) with 69 runs scored, 10 doubles, three triples, eight homers, 39 RBI and a team-high 27 stolen bases. Along with 44 walks and nine times hit by pitch, Burleson had a .539 on-base percentage.

A four-year standout for the Huskies, Burleson finished his career batting .350 (221 for 631) with a school record 214 runs scored, 39 doubles, 12 triples, 25 home runs, 139 RBI and 72 stolen bases. He also has the school record for career walks (151).

The Little East Conference Pitcher of the Year and first team all-conference selection, Therrian compiled a 9-1 record with a 3.86 ERA. The 6-foot-4 right-hander made 12 appearances, including 10 starts, covering 72.1 innings. He allowed 81 hits, 16 walks and 35 runs (31 earned) while fanning a staff high 58. Therrian had two complete games, including a 3-0 shutout of Rhode Island College on April 25.

The Huskies one time closer, Therrian emerged in 2008 as a front-line starter. He finished his career with a 16-6 record with seven saves and a 4.34 ERA. He pitched 180.1 innings allowing 198 hits and 60 walks while striking out 134.

Moving across the diamond from third to first base this season, Gaffney batted .361 (57 for 158) with 40 runs scored, 11 doubles, two triples, a career-high six home runs and 44 RBI. In three seasons at USM after transferring from the University of Massachusetts, Gaffney batted .344 (155 for 450) with 96 runs scored, 32 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 94 RBI.

Southern Maine finished the season with a 36-9 record, and won the Little East Conference regular season title (outright or shared) for the fifth time since baseball became a conference sport in 1997 with a 12-2 mark. The Huskies spent three consecutive weeks atop the D3baseball.com national poll, and reached number one in the ABCA Division III poll on May 5.