Page 8 - The Behrend College Collegian Thursday, February 27,1997
Lions drill Panthers
Paloskey's three with 0:02 left saves Behrend
by Brian Gregory
Sports Editor
If you love basketball, then last '
night's Behrend Lion basketball
game was one for you.
Perhaps the East County game of
the year took place last night
within the friendly confines of Erie
Hall.
Pin-Bradford returned to Erie Hall
where they lost last year in the
Hamot Classic as Jason Paloskey
was fouled with no time on the
clock and hit two of three free
throws to down the Panthers.
This year JP was once agin the
hero.
With 0:06 left on the clock and
the Lions trailing 52-49, Behrend
inbounded the ball to Paloskey. He
broke through a double team and
got off a three.
SWOOSH!!!!
JP had tied the game with two
ticks on the clock. The game went
to overtime where the Lions won
61 -56.
"People stepped up tonight," said
Head Coach Dave Niland. "It was a
really exciting game...the guys
gave a tremendous effort"
The Lions controlled the tempo
and the scoreboard for the first half
of the first half. Pitt-Bradford
finally took the lead 17-16 with
eight and a half minutes to go.
But Paloskey's three sparked the
Lions on a 14-5 run over the rest of
the half to take a 30-22 lead at the
break.
The Panthers were also distracted
by the persistant crying and
whining of their head coach in the
minutes before halftime. He would>
get a technical later in the second)
half.
Andy Lawrence had eight points,
and Paloskey added seven to pace
the Lions in the first half.
Behrend got the first basket of the
second half, but Pitt-Bradford sconxl
the next seven to pull within 32-29
withunder 17:00 to play. Behrend
and Pitt-Bradfoni spent the next ten
minutes trading baskets, but]
Lion
by Brian Gregory
Sports Editor
The Penn State-Behrend
Baseball program is eager for
spring competition to begin.
Under first year head coach Paul
Benim, the 1996 squad won 16
games--the most victories since
becoming an NCAA Division m
school. Seven returners anchor a
new roster that includes a junior
college transfer and 13 freshmen.
The Behrend Lions will be led
by seniors Quinn McGuire and
Bill Vitron. McGuire, who broke
former major league standout and
Behrend star Tom Lawless' stolen
base record, will bat lead-off and
kickstart the squad. McGuire
earned national recognition by
stealing 30 bases out of 33
attempts in 1996.
Vitron, a career .375 hitter, will
play first base and serve as the
designated hitter. "We are
looking forward to the challenge,"
says Vitron. "We return a good
nucleus that has mixed well with
the recruiting class."
Junior Marc Burchanowski will
start for the third consecutive year
behind the plate. Last season, he
hit .302 and led the team with 17
walks. Burchanowski will also be
utilized as a relief pitcher.
"Quinn, Bill and Marc are as
good as any players at the
Division 111 level," says Benim.
"They are very skilled players
who will lead us through one of
the most exciting seasons in
College history.
Other key players include four
sophomores -- Ben Hager, Jeff
Horstman, Jon Green and John
Ronan. Hager, Horstman and
Green played in 31 or more
games last season, while Ronan
threw the second most innings on
the staff. Hager hit .279 with 14
RBl's a year ago. Horstman hit
just under .300 with two home
runs, 18 runs scored, 13 RBl's and
10 stolen bases. Green was
second on the team with 13 base
on balls. He also scored 14 runs
and stole I I bases. He made just
three errors in 80 chances last
Behrend didn't lead by any more
than three in the period.
Pitt-Bradford received a spark after
a time out and took the lead 48-47
with just over 2:40 to play. With
under two minutes to play the
Panthers held their biggest lead of
the game 50-47.
Nate Willson pulled the Lions
within one with two free throws
with 1:34 to go. Pitt-Bradford took
the 52-49 advantage with :13
seconds to play and Behrend called
the timeout with six ticks left.
Enter JP. His three fired up the
almost 200 fans in attendance and
Behrend had a definate edge going
into the extra stanza.
"We had Lawrence and Paloskey
coming off of screens so (Pitt-
Bradford) couldn't switch up," said
Niland of the play they designed in
that huddle. "He got a look and it
went in."
The Lions outscored the Panthers
9-4 in the extra period. Ron Derian
hit a turn around jumper in the key
to give Behrend a lead 57-56 with
:41 to go. Nate Willson hit two
free throws to expand the lead to
59-56 and Paloskey put the game
out of reach with two more with
seven seconds to go as Behrend won
61-56.
Above the cheers and roars of the
crowd, you could here Pitt-
Bradford's coach slam his clipboard
against the bleachers and walk off
the court, again.
""I thought we really played a
great basketball game," said Niland
of his team's victory. "Peopile
(who came to the game) saw how
hard we play...it was a tremendous
effort."
Lawrence finished with seven,
and Paloskey led all Lion shooters
with sixteen. Nate Willson threw
in eleven and Ron Derian had eight,
including four in the overtime
period to help the Lions be
triumphant.
Last week on Saturday the Lions
sgot their thirteenth win of the
Baseba
season. Ronan led the pitching
staff with a 4-2 mark and a 3.15
ERA in 1996.
Outside of Ronan and
Burchanowski, the entire pitching
staff will start new collegiate
careers at Penn State-Behrend.
Shawn McKlveen is a junior
college transfer from Penn State-
Beaver who was 2-0 with four
saves last season. McKlveen
struck out 28 hitters in 28 innings
pitched and may move from a
relief position to a starting role
with the Behrend Lions.
Eight other freshmen will take
the mound. Ryan Fredirick,
Bryan Connolly and Shawn
Headley will all compete for
spots in the starting rotation.
Eric Bayless, Rob Green,
Jeremy Brubaker, Coery Walters
and Justin Kline give depth to the
pitching staff. "We have several
talented pitchers who will
contribute this season," said
Benim. "We are excited about
the improvement in our pitching
staff. Last year our team ERA
was above five. However, with
our improved depth and the
addition of pitching coach, Matt
Palisin, we are going to be better
on the hill."
Burchanowski will start behind
the plate for the Behrend Lions.
Last season, Burchanowski threw
out 41% of runners attempting to
steal. As Burchanowski pitches
more this season, the back-up
catching duties will be carried out
by freshman Dylan Stewart.
Horstman, who will play as a
starter at first base and DH will
also see time as a reserve
catcher.
The infield will have several
new faces. Trey Stork will
challenge Jun Green for playing
time at second b;,se and may
push for time at third base. Curt
rough and David Williams will
provide solid defense at shortstop.
First base is locked up by Vitron
and Horstman. However, left
handed Headley may also see
time there. In addition, Frederick
and Rob Green may use their
strong arms at third when they are
not pitching.
season, beating Elmira 66-63 of
the road. Lawrence led Behrend
with sixteen and Willson pulled
down eight boards.
"This was a very significant road
victory," said Niland. "We got a
great effort from everyone on the
team."
Niland continued, "We were up
twelve at the half...and they pressed
and then led by three...We were able
to win the game... Our guys all year
have not quit."
The Lions sit at 14-10 with one
game remaining. A victory should
almost secure them of a playoff
appearance either in the NCAA's or
the ECAC's.
Niland likes the chances. "We
play pretty good basketball, and we
are more than worthy of making the
playoffs, he said. "We're taking it
one game, one practice at a time.
Michael Thompson, Brubaker,
Connolly and Walters will seek
time in left and right field as
McGuire secures center field. In
addition, an experienced Hager
will work to hold his position in
right. "Our outfield is going to be
a major part of our offensive
attack. These six can hit for an
average, steal bases, and chase
down balls in the gap," said
assistant coach Bill Graham.
The Behrend Lions will play a
strong Division 111 schedule in the
upcoming 1997 season. They
open spring training with a ten
game tournament schedule at the
Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers,
Florida. After returning North,
they will battle Dennison, Ohio
Wesleyan and Capital at a
tournament in Columbus, Ohio on
March 21-23rd. Other highlights
include a double dip with national
power Allegheny College and two
with former ECAC champions.
Bethany College. "We have
prepared a very good 44 game
division 111 schedule," said
Benim. "Our players have
worked real hard and are focused
on having one of the best seasons
in college history. The 1997
schedule will certainly test us."
In the coming years, the
Behrend Lions will play
tournaments in Florida and
Tennessee. In addition, Penn
State-Behrend has become a
charter member of the Allegheny
Mountain collegiate Conference,
a new NCAA Division 11l
conference which includes
schools from Pennsylvania, Ohio
and Maryland. Play begins in the
new conference in 1997.98
Sports Quiz Answers
1. an illegal motion by the pitcher,
2. a forfeited game is one declared
ended by the umpire in chief in favor
of the offended team by a score of
9-0 for violation of the rules; the
umpire can declare a forfeit for a
violation of any rule in the book; 3.
the Boston Bruins; 4. Bjorn Borg; 5.
12 strikes make up a perfect 300
game; 6. Jim Brown; 7. the Green
Bay Packers;
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