(Posted March 17, 2003)

Huntingdon, PA - Juniata College freshman David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville) has been named the Commonwealth Conference baseball player of the week for the week ending March 10.

It did not take Saintz long to get adjusted to college baseball, as the freshman turned in a tremendous offensive performance in his first week of collegiate competition. Playing nine games during Juniata's trip to Florida Saintz batted .400 with two home runs and 13 runs batted in. He pounded out 14 hits in 35 at-bats, with six of those hits going for extra bases. He hit safely in all but one game during the trip, and his play earned him all-tournament honors at the Eastern Mennonite Sarasota Spring Classic. He slugged an impressive .686 for the week, adding five stolen bases and 10 runs scored. Saintz also recorded 18 assists from his third base position.

After one week Saintz sits in either first or second place on the team in nearly every offensive category. He ranks first on the squad in home runs, doubles, RBI, slugging percentage and his 18 defensive assists also leads the team. He's second on the team charts in hits, runs, walks and stolen bases.

With Saintz providing a kick-start from the lead-off spot, the Juniata offense rolled through their trip to Florida. The Eagles scored 73 runs and pounded out 103 hits in nine games during their trip, an average of 8.1 runs and 11.4 hits per game. Juniata outscored their opponents 73-60, with 38 more hits in the nine games and had a team batting average of .376.

Juniata closed the trip on March 10 with a record of 4-5. The Eagles were 3-3 in the EMU Spring Classic, and then took one game in a three-game series with conference opponent Moravian.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.