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(from left) Matty Gandy, Andrew Carbajal, Mark Saatzer, Connor Battaglia, Travis McGee (Larry Newman Photography)
(from left) Matty Gandy, Andrew Carbajal, Mark Saatzer, Connor Battaglia, Travis McGee (Larry Newman Photography)
Posted: May 20, 2014

Five Panthers named to D3Baseball.com All-Region team

 

ORANGE – Less than two weeks after the Chapman University baseball team led the SCIAC with six All-Conference nods, the Panthers led the West Region with five All-Region selections, as selected by D3Baseball.com. Not bad for a team that was left out of the NCAA Division III playoffs after placing second in the SCIAC this season.

Senior OF Andrew Carbajal and sophomore DH Matt Gandy led the Panthers with first team honors, while senior 1B Mark Saatzer was named to the second team. Senior OF Connor Battaglia and senior RHP Travis McGee earned third team honors. Even West Region champion Linfield College only had four players earn All-Region honors.

The honors are well-deserved for a Chapman offense that ranked in the nation's top 30 in runs, hits, home runs and slugging percentage. Carbajal was a big reason, serving as the offensive catalyst from the leadoff spot in all 43 games for the Panthers. He ranked 27th in Division III with 67 hits and led the team with 12 stolen bases. Carbajal slugged four homers and drove in 30 runs as well.

Meanwhile, Gandy supplied much of the power with a team-high nine home runs and .667 slugging percentage, which ranked second and third in the SCIAC, respectively. He currently ranks 22nd in the nation in home runs per game (0.22).

Saatzer, the team's only four-year everyday starter and team captain, led Chapman in batting (.400), runs (44), extra-base hits (19), RBI (36) and on-base percentage (.495) while hitting third for the Panthers. He also compiled a .990 fielding percentage to merit second team honors.

The SCIAC's Pitcher of the Year this season, McGee earned third team recognition after compiling a 6-2 record with three complete games and a team-leading 2.59 earned run average. The right-hander ranks 15th in Division III in strikeouts per nine innings (11.1) and allowed just a .199 opponent batting average.

And Battaglia served as Chapman's anchor in centerfield, delivering a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with three assists, while batting .356 with 11 doubles and 26 RBI. The senior was also second on the team (fourth in SCIAC) with 11 stolen bases.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

D3Baseball.com All-West Region Team: http://www.d3baseball.com/awards/all-region/2014/west

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