ABCA tabs six Panthers to All-Region baseball teams
ORANGE – Six Chapman University baseball players have been selected to the All-West Region team by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) for the 2014 season. Senior OF Andrew Carbajal was the only Panther selected to the first team, while senior OF Connor Battaglia earned his first regional Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Senior IF Mark Saatzer, along with sophomores Matt Gandy and Tyler Cook were each named to the second team. Battaglia and senior RHP Travis McGee earned third team honors.
Carbajal was one of the top hitting outfielders in the West in 2014, batting .392 with 16 extra-base hits and 30 RBI. The senior also stole 12 bases and scored 39 runs for the Panthers while compiling a .480 on-base percentage.
Surprisingly, the honor is Saatzer's first-career from the ABCA, one of Chapman's all-time leaders in runs, hits, doubles and RBI. The senior led Chapman in hitting (.400), runs batted in (36) and on-base percentage (.495) this season to earn second team honors. Gandy led the Panthers in home runs (nine) and slugging (.667) as Chapman's cleanup and designated hitter, while everyday third baseman Cook batted .342 with 18 extra-base hits and 35 RBI.
Already the SCIAC Pitcher of the Year, McGee earned third team honors with a 6-2 record and 2.59 ERA after recovering from surgery that kept him out all of 2013. The right-hander struck out 77 in 62.2 innings and allowed a .199 batting average against. Battaglia hit a career-high .356 with 11 doubles and 11 stolen bases to earn his first ABCA award.
Battaglia also became the first Panther outfielder since Ryan Hall in 2010 to earn the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. The senior did not commit an error in 80 defensive chances, including three assists. Chapman's starting centerfielder the past three-plus years, had a reputation for his strong arm and finished his career with 16 outfield assists.
by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director
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