John Connell was a four-year starter at first base from 2004 to 2007, where he was a three-time First-Team All-Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) selection (2004, 2006, 2007) and a two-time American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Third-Team All-Region selection (2004, 2006). He helped lead the Knights to an overall record of 101-61 in his four seasons, which included four straight postseason appearances and the program’s only conference title and NCAA tournament berth, in 2004.
As a freshman, Connell helped lead Arcadia to an overall record of 28-16 on its way to winning the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference title and advancing to the consolation final of the 2004 NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Regional. He batted .360 in his rookie campaign with 58 hits, a then, program-record 15 doubles, 25 runs scored, and a program-record 42 runs driven in.
Connell posted the best numbers of his career as a junior, batting .420 with 63 hits, a program-record 18 doubles, 32 runs scored, and 41 RBI. His 18 doubles are still the most in program history, while his batting average, hits, and RBI numbers from that season are all in the top-five for a single season. Connell has three of the top-five season RBI totals in program history and ranks in the top-five twice for hits and doubles.
Upon the completion of his playing career, Connell held seven career records, including the program’s all-time marks for doubles (51), RBI’s (159), total bases (306), walks (74), batting average (.375) that still stand to this day. He also held the all-time record for highest career OBP (.457) and career fielding percentage (.978) at time of graduation, both of which place him in the top-six today, along with his career numbers for slugging percentage (second - .536), hits (third - 214) home runs (third - 13) and runs scored (sixth - 111).
A native of Bethlehem, Connell earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Arcadia in 2007. He also holds an associate’s degree in mortuary science from Northampton Community College.
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