*BEACON SPORTS
Baseball season off to a solid
By Sara Kamber
co-sports editor
The baseball team retured
from spring training in Port St.
Lucie, Fl. with a 5-3 record. The
blue and white saw strong per
formances from several players
who are earning their first real
opportunity to play on a daily
basis. After seven seniors grad
uated last season, there are some
big shoes to be filled.
"We are pleased with our team
effort in Florida, - said Head
Coach Paul Benim. "Our per
formance was solid during an
extremely demanding week
where we played eight varsity
and three junior varsity games in
six days. Spring training is hon
estly about survival and we did
that and a little more."
Junior pitcher Ray DeVaul helped start things
out the right way by earning this season's first
AMCC Pitcher of the Week honors. DeVaul was
2-0 in his first two starts of the season, picking
up a pair of shutout wins over Susquehanna and
Eastern. Over 12 1/3 innings, he allowed no
earned runs, struck out 8 and walked only 3.
Senior Jason Shaffer and junior Chris
Softball team experiences set
back during spring
By Crystal Chisholm
staff writer
During spring break, the
softball team, consisting of 12
members, headed down to
Kissimmee, Fl., for spring train
ing. In preparation for the
games, the team began practic
ing in February, and put in two
more practices before heading
to Florida.
While at spring training, the
team played eight of the ten
scheduled games, competing in
two games daily. This year the
team had what seems as though
a streak of bad luck on the field,
leaving spring training with a
record of 0-8.
The team's misfortunes con
tinued when they were rained
out of two of their scheduled
games in Florida, better known
as the Sunshine State. Though
the team suffered a terrible loss,
they managed to hold their
weight against top ranking
teams.
"My ladies held off a top
ranked team scoreless for four
straight innings, said Head
Coach Stacy Pondo, "They
played a good game."
Though they were not very
successful in dominating their
competitors, the women's soft
ball team stayed
throughout the week
HOUSING AND FOOD SERVICES
Ray DeVaul
Baseball
Junior Pitcher
Saegertown/Saegertown
Senior captains Jason Shaffer(#ll), Vince Canzano(#l) and Matt Szymanski (#22) will be depended on to lead a team con
sisting of a large number of underclassmen this season.
played tough teams during
training, very good athletic
teams, while holding down a
very busy schedule," said
Pondo.
While in Florida, the team
was able to get a clear view of
some of their weak points as
well as their strong points,
which will aid them in the
upcoming season. "The team
overall just needs to brush up on
the basics. The Fundamentals,
and their hitting, " said Pondo
Even without the wins they
had hoped for, their losses
shined light on the fact that
through everything, they arc
still a very close-knit team,
which Pondo considers to be
one of the teams best assests.
By playing competitive teams,
they learned a lot about them
selves and the team as a whole.
With the opening game of the
season fast approaching, "They
know that they must strive to
become a tougher more compet
itive team overall, both mental
ly and physically," said Pondo.
Even with the losses suffered
during spring training, the team
remains positive going into the
conference games.
"Despite our record, Florida
was a great starting block for
our season," said Team Captain
Shelle Roberts. "We played
some really tough teams, and
strong
"They
McCartney were each 1-1 on the mound.
McCartney fanned 5 over 10 innings of work
while Shaffer struck out 9 in 13 innings.
"The pitching staff really excelled," said
Benim. "In several instances they were domi
nant and controlled the game from start to finish.
We ask that they give us a chance to play defense
and hit a little bit. They gave us a chance to suc
ceed each and every game."
although we didn't win, we are
much better prepared for our
conference games. Now that
we have Florida behind us, we
need to stay positive and play
softball the way we know
how."
The team now knows what is
needed in order to get the job
done, and dominate out on the
field.
Athlete of the Week ...
MEM
DeVaul is 2-0 in his first two starts of the
season and over 12 1/3 innings, he gave up no
earned runs. In his first ga e, he limited
Susquehanna to ', w two and striking
out three over i second time
around eVaul pitched a
. ck out
C Pitcher
ns.
comp
five a
of the
trainin
The b
home
Housing and Food Service Athlete of the
Week is selected by the Sports Information Staff
training
"Even on Tuesday, their first
practice since coming back up
North, I can see they have
stepped up their play another
notch and they realized what
they're capable of doing," said
Pondo.
Now that spring training is
over, the women's softball
team is ready to step up their
skills and forge ahead to make
sure this season is not a repeat
episode of what happened in
Florida.
"With our first game coming
up on March 29, I want to let it
be known that our record does
n't portray what they did down
in Florida," said Pondo.
"They're a strong willed team
with a desire to play hard and
will compete well once they
are back up North, during the
season. It is essential that we
keep positive. The team needs
to keep their heads up, and
continue to work hard and do
the best they can."
W,
4Erie
Last season's AMCC Newcomer of the Year,
Brian Hart was back at work during the trip.
Hart was 12 for 26 at the plate scoring 3 runs and
7 RBIs. He leads the team in batting average at
.461 for the week.
Coming in behind Hart in batting average is
senior captain Vince Canzano. Canzano aver
aged .423 with 11 hits in 26 at bats. He brought
in 3 RBIs and had 5 runs. Canzano shares cap-
Track
showing at ECAC's, 13 recieve
All-ECAC Honors
On March 4 and 5, the 14 members of the
men's and women's indoor track team traveled
to St. Lawrence University for a Division 111
indoor track meet. The meet represented top
athletes from 47 different division three schools.
The blue and white were represented by 14
members of the varsity indoor track team; a
record number for the meet. Last year Behrend
only had six members qualify for the meet. From
the blue and white squad, 13 of the 14 athletes
earned All ECAC Honors at the meet.
Leading the men was senior indoor and out
door track standout Isiah Meek. Meek has been
veteran to the ECAC meet but this was the first
time he placed. His 2nd place finish in the 55-
meter hurdles was the best finish for the Lion's
ever. The hurdler clocked in at 7.74 setting a
new Behrend record and making the NCAA pro
visional time qualifications.
"Isiah has worked very hard all four years at
Behrend to get to nationals," said Head Coach
Dave Cooper. "He has provisionally qualified
each year in the outdoor season, but this was the
first time indoors. Hurdles Coach Bill Hoffman
changed Isiah's start completely this year and it
is making a tremendous difference. Isiah has
been outstanding going over the hurdles, but
until now has been slow coming out of the
blocks. His improvement at the start bodes well
for the outdoor season where he will have 10
hurdles instead of 5 and his start will only get
better as he becomes more comfortable with it."
Other top finishes for the men came from sen
ior Donnie Hackworth and sophomore Jon
McKinney. They both captured Bth places fin
ishes. Hackworth placed Bth in pole vaulting,
p spring
5-3 record.
. season at
y College.
team makes strong
By Sam Cibula
co- sports editor
The Behrend Beacon I 10
Friday, March 18, 2005
tain duties with fellow sen
iors Shaffer and Matt
Szymanski. Canzano holds
down short stop for the blue
and white while Shaffer and
Szymanski are both pitchers.
"Canzano, Shaffer and
Szymanski all did quite well,
but I think they will be even
better down the road at
crunch time," said Benim.
"We always look for upper
classmen to step up and per
form. Players should
improve every year and
develop different aspects of
their game and as seniors, be
at their best and have their
best year."
Although spring training
was very successful, there
were a few sets backs, including a
nasty loss to Bethany College, 3-10. Over the
eight game road trip, the Lions_. recorded 22
turnovers.
"Florida is an early preview of the season,
almost a mini-sesaon," said Benim. "But one
good or bad game doesn't make a year or a
career. Our guys did good things and we strive
to get better daily."
clearing 4.24 meters and McKinney took Bth in
the triple jump, with a jump of 13.10 meters.
The men's 4xBoo relay team of sophomore
Brad Ruffo, freshman Eric Diluzio, senior Mike
Bartlett and freshman Joe Wilcher took home a
6th place finish along with a new Behrend
record with the time of 8:05.07.
Junior Staci Banaszek, who has qualified for
the meet every season, set the pace for the Lady
Lions. Banaszek captured a 6th place finish in
the triple jump with 10.71 meters.
"Staci qualified in all three jumps but due to
tight hamstrings, she wasn't at her best," said
Cooper. "Staci still managed to place in the
triple jump."
Freshman Leisl Soergel and Becky Gonzalez
took Bth place finishes in their respective events.
Soergel placed in the 500-meter run, and
Gonzalez in the hurdles.
"Becky qualified for finals and was in fourth
place before clipping a hurdle and slipping into
Bth place," said Cooper.
The women's 4xBoo relay matched the men's
with another 6th place finish. The team of soph
omore Leslie Gentile, junior Nicole
Minewasser, senior Claire Manelick and Soergel
ran a time of 10:01.62. The time was also good
enough for another Behrend record.
"Coach of the middle-distances, Greg Cooper,
did a great job of peaking the relay teams for the
ECAC meet and preparing them mentally for the
competition," said Cooper. "The relay teams
had to place well in their heats to end up with
the 6th place finishes."
The indoor track teams will next gear up for
the outdoor season. The outdoor track teams
will kickoff their season at the Clarion
Invitational March 26.
start