Slippery Rock University Athletics

Bonafide pro prospect ... Firmly established as one of the top players in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference as well as the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region and nation ... Returns for third season as a Rock starter ... Will split time between catcher and first base this spring, just as he did a year ago ... Has excellent long-ball potential, drives ball into the gaps and possesses superb defensive skills ... Slated to play for the Waynesboro Generals in the Valley League in the summer of 2009 if he does not sign a pro contract ...  Summer 2008: Earned Rick Ligi League MVP Award as a member of the Pittsfield Dukes of the New England Collegiate Baseball League ... Played in NECBL all-star game ... Led the Dukes in virtually every offensive category, including batting average (.351),  doubles (16), home runs (7), slugging percentage (.596)  and on base percentage (.425) ... Collected 37 RBIs in 41 games for Southern Division regular-season runner-up team ... Batted .400 with two doubles, one HR and five RBIs in four playoff games to lead Dukes to an appearance in the Southern Division championship series ... Spring 2008: Earned second-team All-America honors from National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and third-team All-America honors from Daktronics, Inc. ... Cashed in first-team all-region trifecta for second straight season with selection by NCBWA, Daktronics and American Baseball Coaches Association ... Earned first-team All-PSAC-West honor for second straight season ... Led The Rock and ranked second in PSAC in batting average (.438) ...  Also ranked second in PSAC in slugging percentage (.708) and on base percentage (.516) ... Tied for fourth in PSAC in home runs (8) ... Ranked ninth in PSAC in both RBIs (44) and putouts (261) ...  Smacked nine doubles and one triple ... Spring 2007: Earned third-team NCBWA All-America status ... Received first-team all-region honors from ABCA, Daktronics and NCBWA ... Named as PSAC-Western Division “Rookie of the Year” award winner and first-team all-conference performer ... Led the PSAC in batting average (.421) and doubles (24) ... Ranked second in PSAC in total hits (72) and third in total bases (113) ... Ranked second on Rock team and among PSAC leaders in RBIs with 40 ... Batting average ranks 12th on SRU’s all-time list ... Set school record for single-season doubles ... Smacked one triple and five HRs en route to .661 slugging percentage ... High school: Earned all-state honors as a catcher in his senior season ... Three-year letterwinner in baseball ... Led team to District 6 championship in 2006 ... Health and safety major.