A two-time All-American, Mark Hatje led the New Haven baseball team to four straight NCAA Division II World Series appearances as a pitcher. An ace starter and dominant closer, Hatje pitched New Haven to first place in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) in 1984, 1986 and 1987 and a 1984 NECC Tournament Championship.
A four-year member of the program, Hatje’s most successful seasons came as a sophomore and senior. After a limited role as a freshman, when he pitched 10.2 innings and amassed a 1.69 ERA, Hatje appeared in 20 games, logging a 9-1 record and four saves as a sophomore. He teamed with classmate Brian Stone as one of the best one-two pitching combinations in the nation, finishing the campaign with a 2.60 ERA in 107.1 innings of work. That season culminated with Hatje and four other Chargers being named American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Americans.
Following a junior season in which he recorded six wins and a 3.58 ERA, Hatje finished his collegiate career in spectacular fashion, posting a 9-2 record and helping lead New Haven to the NCAA World Series after winning the Northeast Regional Championship. The right hander closed out his final campaign with a 2.35 ERA and struck out a team-best 72 batters in 95.2 innings, all leading to his second All-American distinction.
Hatje finished his career littered amongst single-season and career records and remains tied for tenth in a single season for most appearances (20) and most saves (4) in 1985. In the all-time record book, Hatje is sixth in appearances (61), ninth in innings pitched (286.2), eleventh in wins (24) and tied for sixth all-time in saves (6).
In addition to his All-American honors from 1985 and 1987, Hatje garnered All-Region and NECC All-Conference honors both seasons. His brilliant sophomore season earned him a spot on the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). That summer, he was the winning pitcher in a 12-9 victory over the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League in an exhibition at Fenway Park. Hatje ended his award-winning campaign as the single-season saves leader in the CCBL with nine. Hatje also spent his 1985 summer season playing alongside Cameron Drew, who would become a first round draft pick the following June by the Houston Astros.
All told, the Wallingford, Conn. native graduated from the University with a 24-6 record, 204 strikeouts, 100 walks, six saves and a 2.73 ERA as the program won an astonishing 109 games (.820 win percentage).
