SLIPPERY ROCK - Slippery Rock University baseball coach Jeff Messer uses his favorite words when talking about Nathan Statzer.

"A gamer, a bulldog, a warrior - I wish I had nine out there just like him," the veteran coach said of his senior shortstop.

"He definitely warrants a shot at the next level."

While The Rock has faded as a team in recent games, Statzer shines as brightly as ever. The Seneca Valley graduate leads the team with a .450 batting average, 64 hits, 35 runs, 13 stolen bases and a .582 slugging percentage.

He is battling for the PSAC batting title with Shippensburg's Chad Stecker and Clarion's Tony Petulla, among others - without even realizing it.

"I didn't even know there was such a thing," Statzer said of the PSAC batting race. "But, yeah, I'd love to win it.

"I'd rather get to the playoffs, though. If it meant giving up a few at-bats to move runners along to win games, I'll gladly do that."

Messer uses one word to explain Statzer's success at the plate: Confidence.

"He believes he's going to get a hit every time he goes to the plate," Messer said. "Hitting is hard enough without going to the plate timid. Nathan doesn't have that problem."

Statzer's on-base percentage has hovered around the .500 mark all season. He hit .346 with The Rock last season - his first at SRU since transferring from Westminster College - while collecting 81 hits and scoring 54 runs.Statzer batted second behind Joe Neidrick last year. Neidrick, who graduated last spring, set The Rock single-season hit record with 91 in 2003.With Neidrick gone, Statzer moved into the leadoff spot this spring."The adjustment for me was hitting second last year," Statzer said. "I've been a leadoff batter all my life."His 81 hits last year rank third on SRU's all-time list and the 54 runs rank eighth. Only Karns City graduate Dan DeCola (.486 in 2000) and Sal Agostinelli (.466 in 1981) have finished a season at SRU with a higher batting average than Statzer's current .450."The balls have just been falling in for me this year," Statzer said, shrugging his shoulders. "I've only started to hit the ball hard consistently in the past couple of games."I beat out a lot of infield hits earlier in the year to keep my average up there."Statzer was named MVP of the Great Lakes League last summer as he hit around .350 for the Pittsburgh Pandas.He said he hasn't been contacted by any pro scouts yet, but former Tampa Bay Devil Rays scout Scott Grinder "is a friend of mine and he's putting out the word on me."I'll try other avenues to keep playing if I don't get drafted," Statzer added. "I may go back to the Great Lakes League and I'll contact the Washington Wild Things about possibly playing there."While Statzer has been SRU's starting shortstop the past two years, Messer said his position in pro baseball will likely be second base.The majority of Statzer's errors in college have been throwing."I know I need to improve there," he said."He's a versatile kid," Messer said. "He was an all-star third baseman in the Great Lakes League and he's a heckuva shortstop for us. And he could play the outfield."Nathan's got the foot speed, he makes consistent contact at the plate and he's got some pop in his bat. He should definitely keep playing," he added.Statzer is majoring in physical education at The Rock. When he's through playing baseball, he wants to coach it."I love the game so much," he said. "I want a career in baseball either as a player or a coach. I may coach some basketball, too."Statzer won't rest on his laurels while he pursues a professional baseball career."I want to get a little bit faster and improve my throwing accuracy," he said. "There are some workouts I can do to improve my footwork and that will help in both areas."Making contact at the plate isn't a problem. Statzer has struck out only six times in 142 at bats this year."Make contact and the ball can fall in," Statzer said. "I know that."