Concordia University Chicago’s two-year starting catcher Nick Skala was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 37th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.
Skala was drafted 1,115th overall. He becomes the third Concordia Cougar in the past nine years to be drafted, following Jim Paduch (2003, 12th round, Cincinnati Reds) and Jack Walker (2009, 20th round, Washington Nationals).
In two seasons with the Cougars, Skala has batted .402 in 82 games with 99 runs, 101 RBIs and a .662 slugging percentage.
Skala was the 2011 Northern Athletics Conference Position Player of the Year and a member of the first-team All-Midwest Region as selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). He ranked fourth nationally in the NCAA Division III in RBIs with 63 and 11th in total bases with 150. Skala led the Cougars to a 35-10 record and a NAC regular-season championship.
“I am very excited that the opportunity to further my baseball career has come about,” said Skala “Hopefully, everything will work out for the best.”