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Calendar
of Events
Behrend
Athletic
Events
Saturday
Men’s Tennis
Penn State Altoona
Pennbriar Athletic Club
8:30 a.m.
Men’s and Women’s Track
and Field
@ Clarion Invitational
9 a.m.
Sunday
"Men’s Baseball
Penn State Altoona (DH)
Behrend Baseball Field
1 p.m
"Women’s Softball
Penn State Altoona (DH)
Behrend Softball Field
1 p.m
Monday
Men’s Tennis
@ Thiel
3:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Men’s Baseball
(§> Allegheny w/JV
2 p.m.
Thursday
Men’s and Women’s Track
and Field
@ Geneva Invitational
3 p.m.
Friday, March 29
Women’s Softball
Frostburg
Behrend Softball Field
(DH)
2 p.m
Saturday, March 30
Men’s Baseball
@ Frostburg
1 p.m.
Intramurals
Schedule
Friday
Intramural Soccer: Men’s,
Women’s, and Coed - $3 -
Teams are allowed any two
combination of two varsity
ar ex-varsity, no restrictions
on number of players
White Water Rafting in
Ohiopyle, PA - $39 - Trip
set
for April 27, transportation
will be provided
Friday, April 5
Intramural Badminton:
Men’s and Women’s
Singles; Men’s, Women’s,
and Coed Doubles $3 - No
forms required, just names
and Social Security num-
Ali entries must be at the
intramural office by 4 p.m.
on the scheduled date
‘Subject to cancellation
depending on the weather
Let the games begin...
Softball , baseball teams celebrate opening of million dollar fields
by Zoe Rose
staff writer
TWo new fields dazzle the entrance
of Penn State Behrend. The softball
and baseball teams are overjoyed to
start their 2002 seasons on these pris
tine additions to the campus.
It’s been awhile since both teams
have been able to host games, but
that’s forever changed now. Enthu
siastic players and coaches, as well
as fans, are ready to walk on the un
touched fields as a season packed
with games is already under way.
Imagine having to always travel to
destinations, sometimes hours away,
and get off the bus ready to play. This
is exactly what the teams had to do
last year. The baseball team didn't
play a single game on campus, while
the softball team played on a less
than adequate field. Practice was held
in the gym which is nothing like feel
ing the dirt and the sun glaring down
on the field.
Baseball does it all against Hilbert
PHOTO BY MIKE BELLO / BEHREND BEACON
Ryan Seyler delivers the first pitch ever
on the new baseball field Tuesday
against Hilbert.
by Mike Bello
sports editor
If all of its games are like the home opener
against Hilbert, the baseball team is going to
enjoy the first season on its brand new field.
Three different pitchers gave up a total of two
hits and Behrend’s offense racked up 11 hits
in a 12-0 shutout of Hilbert. The win
improved the team’s record to 7 3.
It had been more than a week since their
last game in Florida, but the Lions didn’t seem
to notice. What they did notice was the
difference between gym practices and games
on a grass field.
“Having a home field is a great thing." said
Water polo squeaks by UP in first sports meeting between schools
by Kate Levdansky Petrikis
assistant sports editor
The Behrend Water Polo Tournament took place March
15 and 16. The Lady Lions walked away with three wins
and only one loss, placing second behind Gannon.
The first game of the tournament was against
Mercyhurst, and Behrend won 13-5. This was the ladies’
first win ever, as they went 0-22 in their 2001 freshman
season.
“Overall it was a convincing win,” said coach Josh
Heynes. “They really only have one good player, and
the ladies shut her down for the game.”
Heynes said the offense and defense were great, even
between transitions.
“We pretty much owned the game from the beginning,”
he said.
Behrend stole the ball often, put pressure on Mercyhurst
to make mistakes, and most importantly, the Lions took
full advantage of those mistakes. Christine Williams was
the most valuable player on the offensive side with five
goals and eight steals. Lauren Packer shined in goal with
20 saves and five assists.
The following day was packed full for Behrend, with three
more games on tap. The first game was against Gannon.
Behrend lost 12-3. Christine Williams continued her excellent
"Baseball in a gym and a field is like
night and day,” said third baseman
Jason Karas.
With the players pumped about get
ting out and playing games on the new
fields, they hope fans will feel the
same and to come down to watch a
few.
"The new field is great to play on
for many reasons: smooth infield with
no bad hops, the atmosphere of a great
ball park, and hopefully (it will) bring
some students down to the games and
make that home field advantage work
for us," said catcher Luke Bundy.
"The new complex brings fans to
the games, and it gives a good look
on the athletic department,” Cheryl
Peterson pointed out.
The dimensions of the new softball
field are 200 feet down the line and
225 in dead center. The baseball field
is 330 feet down both foul lines, 375
in the power alleys, and 400 to center.
When building fields in northwest
ern Pennsylvania, where the weather
Jason Karas. “Last year we didn’t play one
home game and only got on a field once to
practice. That is hard for a team to be on the
road all season and play ball in the gym.
Baseball in a gym and [on] a field is like night
and day.”
On Tuesday, the Lions saw the ball like it
was a clear, sunny day. For Hilbert, it was
like playing in the dark. Ryan Seyler pitched
three innings of one-hit ball, striking out six,
to pick up the win on the mound for the Lions.
T.J. Aldrich pitched the middle three innings,
and gave up only one hit as well. Kevin
Dubyak pitched the last three hitless innings
to record the save.
Jake Boyle was the star of the game at the
plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two
triples, and three runs scored. Mike Couts and
Keith Lepionka each drove in two runs, while
Tyler Wiand scored two runs. All 15 position
players saw action against Hilbert (0-3).
The win was a good tune-up for Saturday’s
home contest against Penn State Altoona, the
first conference game of the season. Both
teams split a doubleheader in their only
regular season matchup in 2001, although
Altoona defeated the Lions in the AMCC
playoffs. Still, it doesn’t matter which
conference opponent they play, because the
Lions are riding high on confidence at this
point in the season.
The non-league games, although important,
are nothing compared to the conference
games. For good reason, because with nine
seniors on the team, the Lions know they have
a very legitimate shot at the conference title.
“We can beat any team in our conference
and to be honest, I don’t think we will lose
any conference games,” said Karas. “It’s a
BASEBALL WINS HOME OPENER
continued on page 3B
PHOTO BY JFEF HANKEY / BEHREND BEACON
Amanda Brown, left, Moe Moe Ng, top center, and Christine Williams,
right, battle three University Park players during the Lions’ 7-6 victory.
Behrend became the first branch campus to ever play UP in any sport.
isn’t always predictable and most of
the year it snows or rains. Establish
ing a superior drainage system is im
portant. Brian Streeter, the director of
athletics, said every 15 feet there is a
drainage line installed so teams can
compete even if it rains early in the
day. This means the teams could play
in the afternoon after a morning
shower.
To maintain the beautiful look of
the field and to preserve the still-de
veloping grass, the maintenance de
partment on campus cuts the grass to
keep the field looking new. If work
ers are not available, the teams are re
sponsible for raking and top-dressing
the infield and outfields, which they
often do.
There’s a lot more to the fields now
than ever before. The old fields had
no dugout, no warning track, and
benches for the players to sit on. Now,
NEW FIELDS OPEN
continued on page 3B
play with two goals and four steals.
“We finally went into a game against Gannon not afraid of them,”
said Heynes. “We ran with Gannon for most of the first half against
their starters, which has been done before against this team. Usually
Above: Preliminary blueprints for the Behrend Ballparks,
Softball dominates in home opener
by Zoe Rose
staff writer
When you fall, you dust yourself off, and
try again. This time, the Behrend softball
team, after an 0-9 preseason mark during
spring training in Florida, picked up the pace.
Since returning to campus and getting a
chance to play on their brand new softball
field, the Lions have opened the 2001-2002
conference season with a flawless 4-0 mark.
Last Saturday, the Lions hosted their first
games on their new field, a doubleheader
against Pitt-Greensburg. The Lions over
whelmed Greensburg with an unheard of 20-
0 win in the first game and a 10-1 win in the
second. Then on Tuesday, the Blue and White
hosted Pitt-Bradford in a doubleheader that
solidified their mark as a very difficult oppo
nent in the AMCC. The Lions defeated
Bradford 5-1 in the first game and completed
the sweep with a 3-1 win in the second.
Behrend controlled the entire first game
against Bradford, as Brandy Polinick had
three hits and one RBI, Cheryl Peterson had
two hits and one RBI, and Stephanie Covert
added one hit and an RBI. Nicole Miller
picked up the win on the mound, giving up
one run in seven innings.
After a successfully win in the first game,
the Lions followed it up with a 3-1 win in the
second game against the Panthers. Covert
pitched seven innings, giving up one hit and
striking out two. Kelly Woods had two hits
and knocked in one run. Polinick stole a base
and Becky Corbin brought in a run.
Catcher Cheryl Peterson knew the wins not
only gave the Lions a shot of confidence, but
they called attention to the other teams that
Behrend is for real.
“The two wins over Pitt-Greensburg [were]
a confidence booster for this young team,”
1. Softball Field
2. Baseball Field
3. Parking Lot
they score 8-10 goals, then put in the Bor C team against
us. We had a real good showing with them. Our defense
was really on their game, and overall I was pleased with
the team.”
Behrend then played University Park, the game the
Lions had been waiting for. The stands were packed and
the game was televised live on Image Sports. Behrend
made history, because no branch campus had ever
challenged UP in any sport. Not only did Behrend
challenge them, but they won 7-6. UP is a nationally ranked
team.
"For us to hang with them and to have the lead for
most of the game, is a huge accomplishment for these
ladies,” said Heynes. "Then to finally beat them in the last
few minutes of the game was just amazing. It was just a
great day for Behrend’s women’s polo.”
Lauren Packer had 10 saves in between the pipes,
two of which could have meant a loss for the Lions. But
Packer stood her ground and did a amazing job.
"She has really improved her game from last year,”
said Heynes.
After the huge win against University Park, Behrend
then played Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Behrend came
WATER POLO WINS THREE
continued on page 4B
4. Tennis Courts
5. Batting Cages
Freshman Roberta Baker (24) scored
three runs and had two RBIs against
Greensburg last Saturday.
said Peterson. "The Pitt-Bradford games were
important games for us. It makes our mark
on the AMCC. The whole team was focused
and ready to play their best and take both
games.”
"We look at Florida as a learning experi
ence and a getting to know each other pe
riod,” said coach Kellie Diehl. "I feel like the
team knows each other and how they play so
I feel confident going into our conference
play.”
If the Lions had low spirits after the Florida
trip, then they were erased against rival Pitt-
LIONS DOMINATE IN CONFERENCE
continued on page 4B