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PHOTO GALLERY Kevin Kerkes helped lead the New Haven baseball program to four-straight NCAA Division II College World Series appearances from 1985-88. The outfielder from Stratford, Conn. ranks as one of New Haven’s finest to ever wear the Charger blue and gold.
Kerkes saw action in left field as a freshman and took no time making a name for himself. In his first collegiate base hit, he hammered a grand slam on April 12, 1985 against Stonehill, leading the Chargers to an 18-3 victory. He continued to make an impact into the postseason and hit .400 in a stretch leading into the College World Series, including a .462 mark with five RBI in the NCAA Division II Northeast Regionals. As a team, the Chargers posted a 28-6 record and advanced all the way to the NCAA Division II College World Series.
With speed, range and a rocket arm, Kerkes proved to be one of the best outfielders in New England during his sophomore season. He again rallied at the plate down the stretch, boasting a .400 average with three homeruns and seven RBI in the final 10 games. The Stratford, Conn. product used his bat and superior speed to set a UNH single-season record for triples with seven in 1986. The Chargers again won the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Championship and advanced to the program’s third-straight NCAA Division II College World Series.
As a junior, the talented outfielder averaged a career-best .387 at the plate and saw action in all 34 games. He was walked a career-high 32 times, while striking out a mere six times in 119 trips to the plate. Kerkes helped lead the Chargers to yet another NCAA Division II College World Series after taking home the 1987 Northeast Regional Championship for a third-straight year. His postseason performance was rewarded as Kerkes earned All-Tournament Team honors at the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional.
A senior co-captain, Kerkes would lead New Haven to its fifth-straight NCAA Division II College World Series on his way to earn All-Northeast Region accolades in 1988. He boasted a career-best six homeruns and 44 RBI, while batting .349. He was one of the nation’s most difficult batters to strike out, with just six K’s in 166 at-bats. With a 32-7 overall record, New Haven’s postseason run brought them to the College World Series and a fourth place finish in the nation.
With outstanding speed and ability at the plate, Kerkes enjoyed a career batting average of .331 as a Charger. The Stratford, Conn. native holds the Charger baseball record for career triples and held the career walks record until following the 2014 season. He also ranks t-seventh in single-season walks and t-10th in single-season runs. Kerkes helped lead the Chargers to a four-year record of 119-24 – or an amazing .831 winning percentage. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Kerkes went to the professional ranks and signed with the Seattle Mariners in 1988.
