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(from left to right): Mark Saatzer, Taber Watson, Connor Battaglia (photos by Larry Newman)
(from left to right): Mark Saatzer, Taber Watson, Connor Battaglia (photos by Larry Newman)
Posted: May 10, 2013

Baseball trio named to All-SCIAC team

ORANGE, Calif. - A trying season ended on a bright note for three members of the Chapman University baseball team who were named to the All-SCIAC second team in an announcement made by the conference on Friday. The trio of juniors Mark Saatzer, Connor Battaglia and Taber Watson make up the first set of Panthers to earn All-SCIAC honors in over sixty years.

Continuing the great tradition of Panther baseball, Saatzer, Battaglia and Watson placed their names next to Chapman Hall of Famers David Weatherill ('51) and Wayne Snell ('52) in the programs first year of postseason award eligibility since rejoining the conference last year.

Saatzer, who led the team in batting with a career-best .365 average, also paced the Panthers with 50 hits, 23 RBI, a .435 on-base percentage and a .482 slugging percentage. The first baseman was at his best in conference games, batting .370 while driving in 20 runs in just 27 games.

Earning his selection on the field and in the batter's box, Battaglia boasted an impressive eight outfield assists to go along with his .989 fielding percentage and a career-best .333 batting average. The multi-dimensional centerfielder was the Panthers' leading base stealer, ripping off 14 bags without being caught.

An impressive streak helped land Watson a spot on the All-SCIAC team as the junior opened the season tossing 23 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. The closer led the team with seven saves while posting a 2-1 record to accompany a miniscule 1.21 ERA in 15 appearances.

The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was established in 1915. The league is currently comprised of nine private colleges and universities in Southern California: California Institute of Technology, California Lutheran University, Chapman University, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, University of La Verne, Occidental College, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, University of Redlands, and Whittier College. The conference recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly and annual basis.

2013 All-SCIAC Baseball Team:

by Ryan Cavinder
Sports Information Assistant

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