June 6, 2006 - Rider's Knazek Drafted / Signed by LA Angels

June 6, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Baseball
Rider’s Knazek Drafted & Signed by Angels

LAWRENCEVILLE—Maybe it was a heavenly omen, that the Angels would select Rider’s Scott Knazek on the devilish date of 6-6-06.

Bronc junior catcher Scott Knazek (Browns Mills/Pemberton) was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 15th round on Tuesday.  “This is every kid’s dream, an opportunity like this,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year this season.  “I’m excited for him. This is what he wanted.”

“I’ve been playing ball since I was five years old, and ever since tee-ball I’ve wanted to be a professional ball player,” said Knazek, who is the first Rider player drafted since Scott Rich was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 21st round of the 2004 draft.

On Thursday Knazek signed, becoming the 42nd Rider player in the last 36 seasons to sign a professional contract. “This is a positive loss for the team,” said Davis.  “This is great for him, and for our program.”

Knazek is the 17th player under Davis to advance to the professional ranks. “There is nothing wrong with losing a player in this way,” said Davis. “You lose players all the time to injuries, grades, transfers. This is a positive for everyone.”

“This is awesome,” said Knazek, who batted .275 with 55 hits in 54 games. At 6’1”, 215 pounds, Knazek was third on the team in slugging percentage (.395) and led the team with 47 runs scored. “I’m heading to Utah to play in a rookie league on a team with a brand new park.”

Knazek leaves Tuesday for a mini-camp at the Angels' training facility in Arizona and will play in Orem, Utah, for Angels Rookie League team, the Orem Owls.

“We were hoping Scott would get picked in a round that would make the decision clear,” said Davis. “We figured it would be in the 10-20 range, and 15th is pretty good. That makes this doable.”

Rider graduate Kevin Barry ’01 is the only Bronc to ever get drafted and return to the team.  Barry was drafted in the 15th round by Oakland in the 2000 draft, but returned to Rider for his senior year. He was then drafted in the 14th round by Atlanta in the 2001 draft, and is currently pitching for Atlanta’s AAA team in Richmond.

As a catcher Knazek threw out 17 runners attempting to steal this season. Last year as a sophomore Knazek earned second team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference honors, batting .316.

In his Rider career, Knazek has compiled 126 hits in 125 games, with 24 doubles, two triples and five home runs, while scoring 91 runs.

“Scott has talent, but he also worked very hard, and I think him getting drafted will serve as a great motivator for the rest of the team,” said Davis. ‘They saw how hard he worked, and it paid off for him.”

At Pemberton High School, Knazek was a second team All-State and first team All-South Jersey, All-Area and All-Conference selection. “My senior year I was invited to a workout at Yankee Stadium,” Knazek said.  “That is when the dream started to look like it could become a reality. Then when I came to Rider some scouts were looking at me, so that is when it hit me that this could really happen.”

You could say it was a good omen.

-RU-