Former Raven All-American shortstop joined Mariners short-season Northwest League affiliate

RINDGE, N.H. (June 26, 2008) - Franklin Pierce University junior All-America shortstop Scott Savastano (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) opted to forgo his senior season and has signed a professional contract with the Seattle Mariners after the Major League Baseball club made him their 28^th round selection (852 overall) earlier this month. Savastano has been assigned to the Everett AquaSox, the Mariners short-season Class A affiliate in the Northwest League.

Savastano was the 15^th MLB draft pick in program history (all since 2001) for Franklin Pierce and head coach Jayson King earlier this month. The Ravens 15 picks since 2001 rank second only to Boston College (21) in New England collegiate circles. Three of those 15 draft choices have been by the Seattle Mariners, including Franklin Pierce's first ever draft pick, Justin Blood (9^th round in 2001), and Keith Renaud (10^th round) last season.

Seattle were the third team to draft the rights to Savastano, as the Franklin Pierce All-American was taken in the  28^th round for the second-straight year after the Cleveland Indians made him their 28^th pick (857 overall) as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2007. Savastano opted to return for his junior season after missing the bulk of his sophomore season due to injury. He was a 33^rd round draft choice of the Chicago White Sox out of high school in 2005.

Savastano, selected to the ABCA/Rawlings All-America second team and NCBWA All-America third team, was also a consensus All-Region first team selection after a tremendous junior season. He was one of just two players to start all 58 games for Franklin Pierce this season and led the Ravens with a .390 batting average (83-for-213) with 65 runs scored, 20 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, nine stolen bases and 45 RBI this spring. He set a program record by drawing 46 walks, posting a .502 on-base percentage and .629 slugging percentage.

Savastano ranked among national leaders in walks (15^th) and walks per game (21^st), while leading the Northeast-10 in on-base percentage, runs scored, doubles, walks and total bases (134). He also ranks among NE-10 leaders in batting average (4^th), slugging percentage (2^nd), hits (3^rd), RBI (5^th) and home runs (3^rd).

Savastano is a two-time All-Northeast-10 selection for the Ravens, earning first team honors this season after being a second-team pick in 2006 when he also earned NE-10 Freshman of the Year honors. He has earned All-Tournament team honors at the NCAA Northeast Regional all three years.

Also opting to sign a professional contract was Franklin Pierce's top high school signee, Brett Anderson (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern), who was selected in the 12^th round (373 overall) by the Detroit Tigers. He has been assigned to the Gulf Coast League Tigers.

Franklin Pierce (43-15, 20-10 NE-10), ranked eighth in the final pingbaseball.com Division II poll, 18th in the final Collegiate Baseball magazine rankings and 20th in the NCBWA national poll, captured its third straight NCAA Division II Northeast Regional title, advancing to the Division II Baseball Championships for the fourth time in program history. The Ravens reached the 40-win plateau for the third straight year and had 30-plus wins for the seventh straight season. The Ravens also win the NE-10 Tournament championship for the second straight year and the third time in four seasons.