Mark Radmacher should have no problem figuring out how to get to work. He's spent quite a bit of time the last two springs there. The Pipers' all-conference catcher has been signed by the St. Paul Saints' minor league baseball team. Radmacher (pictured) is expected to be in uniform tonight (Thursday, May 16) when the Saints open their American Association season at home against the New Jersey Jackals. 

The Saints play their home games at Midway Stadium -- which has served as Hamline's home field as well for many seasons. 

Radmacher had a tremendous offensive 2013 season for HU. In addition to hitting a solid .392, he led the MIAC in Slugging Percentage (.708) abd tied for the loop lead in RBI (44). He topped all Piper batters in hits (47), doubles (15), triples (4), home runs (5) and total bases (85). 

The Rosemount, Minn. native came to Hamline in 2011-12 after playing two seasons at Des Moines Area Community College. He played first base most of the 2012 season form the Pipers, batting .244 with four home runs and 29 RBI. He moved behind the plate this spring and was a hitting machine almost from the getgo. On March 15, he had a 4-for-4 game (a double, two triples, three runs scored, three RBI) in a 9-0 win over Presentation. (He also pitched an inning.) 

When the Piper season started up again after a 22-day delay due to weather issues, Mark got hot at the plate, banging out hits in 13 of 14 games at one point. Perhaps even more impressive was this stat: the left-heanded hitter hit southpawq pitching better (.417, 15-36) than he did righties (.381, 32-84).

He also shone defensively, throwing 12 out of 20 runners who attempted to steal a base to easily lead the MIAC in that category. 

The Pipers have had a long history with the Saints, who came into existence as an independent minor league team in 1993. Mark is the fifth ex-Hamline player to play for the Saints, joining current teammate Dan Kaczrowski as well as alums Kyle Foster, Andrew Bennett and Aron Helm, In addition, current HU athletic director Jason Verdugo both pitched and served as the Saints’ pitching coach for several seasons. Current HU head trainer Jason Ellenbecker also worked several seasons with the Saints on a fulltime basis and still helps out when needed.

Going back in time, Howie Schultz, a member of Hamline’s athletic Hall of Fame, played for the earlier version of the Saints in the early 1940s. Schultz hit .281 in a six-year big league career with the Dodgers, Phillies and Reds that stretched from 1943-48. Schultz is perhaps best remembered as the player who mentored Jackie Robinson in his first spring training with the major league director. He also played in the NBA and is enshrined in the HU athletic Hall of Fame and has his name on a plaque on the Row of Fame in Hutton Arena honoring past Piper hoop greats.