Eastern Connecticut State University

A dominant closer on the 1998 NCAA Division III nationalchampionship baseball team, Scott C. Chiasson wonfour games and saved five without a loss in 13 career post-seasonpitching appearances. The first E-Club Hall of Fame selection fromthe 1998 national title team was on the mound to throw the finalpitch when the Warriors won regional and national championshipsthat season. The Norwich native spent his freshman season as theteam’s starting shortstop before taking on additional dutiesas the team’s closer in 1997.  As a junior, the 6-foot-3inch, 185-pound righty assumed the role as the team’slights-out closer. Challenging hitters with a fastball clocked wellabove 90 miles per hour, Chiasson set program season records thatyear for appearances (28) and relief appearances (26) and tied theseason record for saves (10). That year, he compiled a 6-2 recordand a staff-leading 2.51 ERA, fanning a staff-best 59 in 61.0innings. Opposing batters were limited to a .173 batting averageand managed only eight extra-base hits. In conference and NCAAtournament play that year, Chiasson’s number 23 was calledten times in 12 games. The finisher in each of those tenappearances, Chiasson won three games and saved five. In 18 2/3innings in post-season play that season, he fanned 11 and gave upearned run  in only one appearance.  In 1998, Chiassonwas named first-team ABCA All-America and led the conference insaves – ranking in a tie for second nationally -- for thesecond straight year and in ERA. Chiasson averaged 9.4 strikeoutsin his career and his 18 saves still ranks second all-time. In1998,  Chiasson was selected in the fifth round of theFirst-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals (to date thehighest Eastern pick in the regular phase of the draft) as thefirst right-handed New England college pitcher chosen. Later, hebecame the first overall pick of the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5Draft, and after totaling 34 saves in his third full professionalseason,  reached the major leagues on Sept. 19, 2001 at theage of 23. With Chicago, Chiasson appeared in ten major leaguegames with the Cubs over two seasons with a 1-1 record  In 13minor league seasons, Chiasson compiled 161 saves and 619strikeouts in 674 1/3 innings.