PHILADELPHIA -- Temple senior shortstop Jason Connor has been named to the Baseball America Preseason All-Atlantic 10 team, the magazine announced today. The publication also picked the Owls to finish second in the Atlantic 10 East and named sophomore transfer Chris McCafferty one of the league's top newcomers.
Connor, in his second full season as a starter, had a career year last spring for Temple, batting .323 with eight home runs and 54 RBI. He led the team in triples (two), homers, RBI, walks (36) and stolen bases (10). The Collegeville, Pa. native started the season with a 12-game hitting streak and hit safely in 19 of 20 games to begin the 2004 campaign. He is a career .281 hitter with 12 home runs and 91 RBI.
McCafferty appeared in just two games last season as a freshman at Maryland. He arrives on North Broad Street with impressive credentials from his prep career at West Chester East High School. A two-time Carpenter Cup and first team all-area selection, McCafferty went 16-1 with a 0.67 ERA at West Chester East.
Temple returns 25 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's 23-26 team. The Owls open the season on March 4 at Florida International.
