Dannenhoffer, Oggeri Named Assistant Baseball Coaches

BOSTON, Mass. – Wentworth Institute of Technology Head Baseball Coach Steve Studley today announced that two members of the program's most successful four-year span – Matt Dannenhoffer and Pete Oggeri – have joined his staff as assistant coaches, effective immediately.  Dannenhoffer and Oggeri replace Billy Sittig and Brian Nelson, who stepped down after four and three seasons, respectively.

"I would like to thank Coach Sittig and Coach Nelson for all of their hard work during their time at Wentworth," said Studley.  "The recent success of our program is a direct result of the hard work, energy and dedication that they have given to our program.  I wish them both the best of luck in all their future endeavors."

Both Dannenhoffer (Bethany, Conn./Notre Dame) and Oggeri (Sandy Hook, Conn./Newtown) completed their stellar four-year careers this past season, helping the Leopards to a 94-65-1 record, which included four consecutive trips to The Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament – including a berth in the title game in 2008 – and three straight ECAC Tournament appearances, culminating in the program's first-ever title game appearance this past season.  During their sophomore season Wentworth won a school-record 30 games and posted 29 wins during their final season.

A third baseman for his first two seasons before moving to the mound full-time for his final two seasons, Dannenhoffer started 61 of the 75 games he appeared in.  Both his freshman and sophomore seasons were cut short due to injury, however he hit .315 (23-for-73) in 28 games as a sophomore.  On the mound he made 24 appearances (14) starts, posting a 10-4 record with a 4.89 earned run average.  In 110.1 career innings he struck out 104 while walking just 26.  This past season, while serving as a tri-captain, he tied a school record for wins in a season with eight, as he went 8-0 and struck out 53 batters in 58.1 innings and yielded just 17 walks.  His average of 1.11 walks per nine innings is the second-lowest for a season in program history.  He matched a career high with nine strikeouts when he beat Gordon, 4-1, in an elimination round game in this year's TCCC Tournament and picked up a 9-3, complete-game decision in a win at Endicott in the ECAC Semifinals.  Dannenhoffer, who will be finishing up his degree requirements in Mechanical Engineering Technology during the 2010-11 year, ranks third all-time with 2.12 walks per nine innings and 8.48 strikeouts per nine innings, while his 104 strikeouts and 10 wins rank him 10^th on the Leopards' career list.

A four-year mainstay at catcher and three-year captain of the Leopards, Oggeri started 145 of the program-record 147 games he played in, batting .300 (143-for-476) with 29 doubles, six triples, 14 home runs, 125 runs scored, 70 stolen bases, and 94 runs batted in.  His final season was his best offensive season, as he hit .373 (53-for-142) with 11 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 43 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, and 42 runs batted in, while starting all 42 games he played in.  He set new program marks for highest on-base percentage (.486) and hit by pitch (18) during his senior campaign and his 43 runs, seven home runs, 89 total bases, and 42 RBI were all the second-highest in a season.  He was named Second Team All-TCCC, TCCC Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-America District One, and was the recipient of Wentworth's Carl A. Swanson Senior Scholar-Athlete Award.  In addition to playing in more games than anyone in Wentworth baseball history, Oggeri is the all-time leader in runs scored, hits, home runs, total bases, hit by pitch, stolen bases, total chances, and putouts, while ranking in the top five in numerous other categories such as runs batted in, on-base percentage, sacrifice hits, doubles, triples, and walks.  Additionally, he threw out nearly 27 percent of runners attempting to steal on him during his career and picked off six baserunners.  Oggeri will graduate in August with a Bachelor's degree in Construction Management.

"Matt and Pete will be great additions to our coaching staff," said Studley.  "Both of these guys have been a part of this program for the past four years and I am happy that they will be staying with us.  Their energy and drive to hang a championship banner at Wentworth will make for a great addition to the coaching staff."