Shea, Savastano Collect 
NE-10 Weekly Honors
Shea collects second NE-10 Player of the Week award, while Savastano named Freshman of the Week for second time after #11 Ravens collect weekend sweep

RINDGE, N.H. (March 8, 2006) – Two members of the Franklin Pierce baseball team, which moved up one spot to No. 11 in this week’s Collegiate Baseball magazine Division II coaches’ poll, have earned weekly honors from the Northeast-10 Conference.

            Senior centerfielder Elliott Shea (Jaffrey, N.H./Conant) was named the Northeast-10 Player of the Week, while third baseman Scott Savastano (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) earned Freshman of the Week accolades from the NE-10 office.

            Shea, who collects the second NE-10 Player of the Week award of his career, led the Ravens to a four-game series sweep of Post University over the weekend as he hit .625 (10-for-16) with nine runs scored, two doubles, two triples, two home runs, six RBI and a stolen base. He also slugged 1.375, posted a .625 on-base percentage and notched one outfield assist.            

Shea hit 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored as Franklin Pierce rolled to a 19-0 victory in game one of the series. He was 3-5 with a double, home run, three RBI and three runs scored in the Ravens 15-2 win in game two. Shea batted 2-4 with a triple, stolen base, two runs scored and an RBI in the Ravens 7-0 win in game three, before rounding out the weekend by going 3-3 with a double, triple, homer, RBI and three runs scored as the Ravens won the finale, 11-0.

            Shea has started all seven games for Franklin Pierce in centerfield so far this season and is hitting .367 (11-for-30) with a team-high 11 runs scored, two doubles, two triples, a team-leading three home runs and seven RBI to go with two stolen bases. He is slugging .867 and is error free in 15 chances in center. In addition to carrying a four game hitting streak into this weekend’s schedule, Shea has totaled four multi-hit games, including a team-high two three-hit outings.

            Shea has established himself among career leaders at the College in several categories. He ranks second all-time with 43 career stolen bases, sixth in career hits (177), seventh in career games played (149), runs scored (113) and triples (6) and tenth in doubles (27). Shea has also hit 11 home runs and driven in 73 to go with a .313 career batting average.            

Savastano, who earns his second Freshman of the Week honor, hit .455 (5-for-11) with six runs scored, two doubles, a triple and three RBI last week. He also slugged .818, posted a .571 on-base percentage and was error free in 11 chances at third base. Savastano was 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored in game one of the series, before going 2-3 with a double, triple and two runs scored in the day one nightcap. He rounded out the series by hitting 1-2 with a walk and run scored in game four.

            Savastano, a 33^rd round draft pick of the Chicago White Sox in the June 2005 MLB Draft, has gotten his collegiate career off to a fast start. The former Massachusetts All-Scholastic is second on the team with a .476 (10-for-21) batting average to go with nine runs scored, three doubles, a triple and four RBI in seven games. He has also posted a .714 slugging percentage, while his .560 on-base percentage is second on the club. Savastano is second on the team with four multi-hit games and three two-out RBI. He has also successfully advanced base runners a team-best 86.7-percent (13-15) of his opportunities so far.

            Franklin Pierce (6-1, 0-0 NE-10), off to its best start in program history, returns to action this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders on Long Island. The Ravens face Queens (N.Y.) College for a pair on Saturday at 12:30 p.m., before heading to Dowling College for a twin bill Sunday at noon.