Friday, February 20, 2009

A pure hitter, Robert Skaltsas is one of the top baseball players in the history of the Crusader program and, on February 28, he will be inducted into the Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame. 

Skaltsas helped lead the Crusaders to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and two Indiana Collegiate Conference titles during his career with the Brown and Gold.  In 1976, Skaltsas earned Collegiate All-American honors after hitting .424 while driving home a team-leading 27 runs in 28 games. 

A four-time All-ICC selection, including a three-time First Team pick, Skaltsas still ranks third all-time with a .380 career batting average while ranking second with 13 career triples.  He earned All-Region honors twice during his stay at Valpo, and upon graduation held Valpo career records in homeruns (11), runs batted in (75), triples, doubles (25), and hits (132), while ranking second in runs scored (73) and batting average. 

After graduation, he earned a MBA from Indiana University and CPA and CMA accreditations.  Skaltsas is a software development manager for Cahaba Safeguard Administrators in North Carolina.

The Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held on Saturday, February 28 at 3:30 p.m. in the Ballroom at the Harre Union.  Tickets are still available for the banquet through Friday, February 20.  The cost of the banquet is $30 per person and reservations can be made by calling Sharon Jackson at (219) 464-5471 or (800) 803-7184 ext. 72.  The inductees will also be recognized at halftime of both the men’s and women’s basketball games on the same day.