Matt Slavonic (1998-2001) is one of the most
statistically dominate players to ever sport a Behrend Lions
baseball uniform. The incredibly fundamentally sound infielder
excelled on both sides of the ball as a four-year starter on the
diamond.
Slavonic was an iron man, playing in every game except one over his
four-year career. He remains only one of four baseball players to
earn All-AMCC honors four consecutive years.
During his freshman season, he helped lead the Lions to a school record of 23 wins while batting a team high .402 and knocking in 32 runs. He also scored 33 runs and stole 12 bases. Slavonic was named AMCC Newcomer of the Year and was tabbed as the team Rookie of the Year. His freshman campaign is still one of the finest first-year performances the program has ever seen.
During his next year on the diamond, Slavonic led the program to new heights as the team set a school record for wins with 26. He was honored with the Golden Glove for his excellent defensive play while helping the program earn its first-ever ECAC berth.
As a senior captain in 2001, he was tabbed with the program’s Herb Lauffer Leadership and Scholarship Award. Throughout his career, the Lions won more games during that four-year period than any other class. He completed his career as the all-time leader in hits (176), runs scored (141), at-bats (507), games played (151), and ranked second for RBI’s (96) and defensive assists (299). Ten years later, he still remains in the top five for hits, runs, and assists.
Slavonic, a graduate of Baldwin High School, is a Senior IT Auditor for UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pa. He is married to Stacey and they have a son, Nolan.