page 8 - The Behrend College Beacon - Septemer 24, 1998
Out of Bounds
It ended on Cal’s Terms
As quickly and unceremoni
ously as Cal Ripken Jr.'s consecu
tive games streak started, it ended.
In front of 48,013 unsuspecting
fans, the Baltimore Orioles took the
field against the New York Yankees.
The Yanks’ second baseman, Chuck
Knoblauch, grounded out to short
stop Mike Bordick to get the his
toric game underway. The only
problem was that no one knew it
was historic. It appeared to be a
normal baseball game. But sud
denly a mob of photographers and
video cameras horded the Baltimore
dugout. When the Yankees realized
what was happening, they rose out
of their dugout to salute and admire
this modern day hero. With the pic
ture of Cal Ripken Jr. shown on the
scoreboard, the fans in Camden
Yards stood up and cheered in ad
miration of “The Ironman," for Cal
Ripken Jr. finally took a break. Af
ter 16 years and 2,632 consecutive
games played, “The Ironman” took
a seat in the dugout and brought to
an end, “The Streak.”
The ceremony after that
didn’t consist of another victory lap
or a 30 minute standing ovation as
given in 1995 with the breaking of
Lou Gehrig’s record. Instead, there
was a somber feeling that came with
the end of “The Streak.” Of course
the fans did show their appreciation
and thanks to Ripken Jr. with a
standing ovation that lasted a couple
of minutes. And yes, this respect
able hero tipped his cap to the Yan
kees and waved and bowed. But in
admiring Ripken Jr., fans didn’t re
ally understand why Cal did what
he did. Why just suddenly decide
to sit out? Was this the way to end
it?
Many people have pondered
the thought of how “The Streak’’
would end. Many hoped Cal would
retire with the record still intact, and
ride his iron horse into the sunset.
People scorned the fact that an in
jury could end “The Streak” in its
tracks. There were many possibili
ties, but the final decision came by
Upcoming Sporting Events
Date
Women’s Soccer
ieptember 26
leptember 30
Men’s Soccer
September 26
September 30
Cross Country
September 26
Tennis
September 25
September 26
September 29
September 30
Volleyball
September 24
September 29
Golf
September 24
September 26
September 28
“The Ironman" himself. “The Streak”
would end on his terms.
Just to try to fathom the num
ber 2,632 is in itself a challenge. Since
the streak started, he has played for
eight different managers. Eleven ac
tive managers were still playing base
ball when Cal Ripken Jr.’s streak
started. Six ballparks that were in ex
istence are gone, including Baltimore’s
Memorial Stadium where the streak
began. During the streak, the Orioles
used 40 different first basemen, 35 sec-
ond basemen, 48 third basemen, and
14 shortstops. And only 17 players that
were active when Cal was put into the
lineup are still playing today. All of
this happened, and Cal Ripken Jr.
never missed a start. He never pinch
hit or pinch ran to save the streak. He
played 8,243 consecutive innings in a
streak that lasted from June 5,1982 to
September 14, 1987. During the
streak, Ripken Jr. accounted for 2,832
hits, 534 doubles, 381 home runs,
1,494 RBIs, and a .277 batting aver
age. And just to put 2,632 straight
games in perspective, the next active
leader, Albert Belle, currently leads the
Majors with 330 consecutive games
played.
Ripken Jr.’s career achieve
ments show he didn’t just show up. He
played hard and consistently through
out his career. He was the 1982 rookie
of the year, a 16 time All-Star, and a
two time MVP. He was part of the
Baltimore Orioles’ 1983 World Cham
pionship team. He holds the all-time
record for home runs by a shortstop
with 345. His value to the Orioles’ or
ganization is inconceivable. He leads
the organization in hits (2,873), runs
(1,508), RBIs (1,514), and home runs
(384).
Cal Ripken Jr.’s achievements
before the strike shortened season of
1994 were already worthy of Hall of
Fame status. But it was what he did
for baseball after all that, that will un
doubtedly place him in Cooperstown.
In a time that Major League Baseball
lost much fan support and respect,
Ripken Jr. had the key to baseball’s
future success; a key that would open
Opponent
@ Laßoche
Pitt-Bradford
@ Laßoche
Pitt-Bradford
@ Alfred Invitational
@ Laßoche
@ Frostburg
Grove City
@Fredonia
@ Laßoche
Lake Erie
Penn State Behrend Invitational
@ Pitt-Bradford
@ Laßoche
the door to the path of baseball’s cred
ibility.
Baseball needed Cal Ripken Jr.
It needed him more than a baseball
needs threads, because without Cal,
baseball might have fallen apart at the
seams. The world of baseball needed
a miracle; and Cal was about to de
liver.
September 6, 1995 - history
was made. Cal Ripken Jr. took the
field to a standing ovation. After the
five innings needed to qualify the out
ing as a game, the celebrations began.
In a magical moment, Cal Ripken Jr.
broke the record that was said couldn’t
be broken. He played 2,131 consecu
tive games, passing Lou Gehrig’s “un
touchable” record. Not a dry eye was
in the house. Baseball was on its way
to respectability again.
In this 1998 season, fans are
being rewarded with the home run
chase between Mark McGwire and
Sammy Sosa, the Yankees’ attempt to
break the American League record for
wins in a season, and the perfect game
thrown by David Wells. Major League
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig
calls this the beginning of a “renais
sance in baseball.” But the end of Cal
Ripken Jr.’s streak should remind us
that even though this 1998 season is
unbelievable, “The Ironman” was the
Volleyball keeps sights high
By Jamie Salapek
staff writer
The women’s volleyball team
lost four straight matches this past
weekend in the John Carroll Tourna
ment. However, they continue to dis
play a positive outlook.
Forget the hotdogs and pop
corn. Now being served in the Erie
Hall Gymnasium is our very own Be
hrend Lions’ volleyball team. Hold on
to your seats volleyball fans, because
these ladies are going to rock the
house.
As school started and volleyball
season rolled around the corner, the
team was already ahead of the pack.
This year’s squad consists of sixteen
girls who are coached by Cindy and
Greg Jacobelli as well as former
middle hitter Erin McCormick. Ten
hours of intensive practicing is con
quered each week, which develops
precise skills of attack.
Coach Cindy Jacobelli stated,
“we have a relatively young team this
season with only one senior and two
juniors to display their leadership abili
ties, yet expectations will be ongoing
as well as high.”
Teamwork is essential to the
sport because when you’re on the court
with six people, communication is the
Time
1:00p.m.
4:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m
3:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Sports
’ntramurals
Cross Country
M, W, COED Registration Deadline: October 2
- Individual and team competition
- Race begins at 6:00 pm, Monday, October 5
Flag Football
M, W, COED Registration Deadline: October 2
- Games begin October 16
Recreation
Commuter Euchre Tournament
Registration Deadline: October 9
man that protected baseball like
an iron shield when it most needed
it. He was the man that started
this “renaissance in baseball.” It
is this year's heroes that continue
to build upon that high standard.
key. "Volleyball is basically in
stinct, athletic ability and a lot of
heart," Jacobelli commented.
Stepping up as the 1998 co
captains are senior defensive spe
cialist Angela Traister and junior
outside hitter Heather Lerch. Also
on the power squad are junior out
side hitter Mary Good and sopho
more defensive specialist Megan
Ross. Eleven other players share
their love for the game and skills
to make this team succeed.
The Lions’ volleyball sea
son was kicked off on August 29th
at Notre Dame in Ohio. The key
to this scrimmage was "trying new
things to see who would show
some impressive talent,” said
Jacobelli.
Their second challenge
was to compete in the Cortland 20
team tournament. “This was a
good test of where we were and
what we needed to be,” remarked
Jacobelli.
A high point for these
young and talented women was
their solid performance against
Penn State-Altoona. Behrend
came off tough points in the first
game and swept the match in three
games. The following weekend,
the Lions traveled to Allegheny
College for a competitive tourna
ment to test their strategies. They
got off to a rough start on Friday,
but came together as a team again
on Saturday.
Gaines jjaces Behrend to quick success
By Jason Snyder
sports editor
The men’s cross country team,
paced by freshman Brian Gaines, is
off and running through a promis
ing 1998 season. Coming off first
place finishes at both the Fisher and
Thiel Invitationals, the Lions hoped
to continue their early season suc
cess hosting the Penn State Behrend
Cross Country Invitational, and
ended up placing second.
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Cross Country runners in Saturday’s Invitational run through Behrend’s playing fields
Photo by Andrea Zaffino
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Intramural
Roundup
Women’s Soccer
leptember 19
September 20
Ae n’s Soccer
Sept 16
Sept 19
Sept 22
!ross Country
lept 19 Penn State Behrend Invitational
/olleyball
iept 18-19 @ John Carroll Tournament
lanover L 15-11,8-15,10-15,4-15
ohn Carroll L 8-15,15-17,6-15
L 15-10,7-15,10-15,9-15
L 16-14,5-15,15-17,12-15
•enison
Jlegheny
Cindy Jacobclli concluded, "I
think patience will be the theme early
in the season. We have some strong
girls that aren’t used to their positions
, but it’ll only take time. I also feel
that the team should leave their heart
on the floor each time we play.”
Volleyball may not have hit its
peak of popularity here at Behrend,
but once you see the magic as the Li-
Gaines captured the lead early in
the race and was able to pull away
from the field, holding off Grove
City’s John Sabella for the win. The
win marked Gaines’ third consecutive
win for the season and a 3-0 start to
his college career.
Behrend placed Mark Suroviec (6),
Adam Dzuricky (13), Jason Saeger
(16), and Dennis Halaszynski (19) in
the top 20. However that was not
enough to hold off Grove City who
" * 1: ___
Opponent
Lake Erie
Mount Union
@ Case Western L 2-3
Lake Erie W 5-0
@ John Carroll W 1-0
ons blow away their opponents,
you’ll never want to miss another
game. Behrend will be hosting
Lake Erie College on September
29th. Much fan support is needed,
also prizes and promotions will be
given away during the games. So,
come to cheer on your very own
Behrend Lions’ volleyball team as
they battle the competition.
won the invite with 28 points. Be
hrend finished second with 54 points.
While the men’s team suffered its
first loss of the season, the women
placed for the first time. They raced
all five of their athletes and finished
the race in fourth. Keri Lowman led
the women with a 30th place finish.
She crossed the line at 24:34.
Next up for the Lions will be the
Alfred Invitational this Saturday, Sep
tember 26.
Result
W 4-1
W 1-0 (OT)
Men- 2nd Place
Brian Gaines- 28:14
Womens- 4th place
Keri Lowman- 24:34