Page 3B The Behrend Beacon Tennis team sharpens its mental game for end-of-season matches by Mike Bello sports editor After enjoying some time off, because of cancellations and a break in the schedule, the Behrend tennis team hit the meat of its schedule ready for the difficult competition it was expected to encounter. And with only five games left, all on the road, before the AMCC championships, the Lions were more than happy to stay in town and play in familiar surroundings. After the dust settled, the team was 6-10 overall, and 2-2 in the conference. On Saturday, the Lions hosted the Behrend Invitational at the Pennbriar Athletic Club. In the first game of the round robin tournament, the Lions cruised to any easy 5-0 win over Thiel. Dave Cooper disposed of his opponent 8-0, and Mike Oey and Brent Carlson followed up Coo pier’s nearly flawless performance with easy 8-1 wins. In the final singles match of the game, Sheel Galliara defeated Thiel’s Randy Keller 8-3. Andrew Schenck and Steve Broussard then cruised to an easy 8- 2 win in the only doubles match. Because of time restraints, and a limited number of courts, each team could only play four singles matches and one doubles match against each of the other three teams. Behrend, which played six games in three days, used the matches to eliminate the mental mistakes that plagued it early in the season. “There were some improvements in mental aspects of the game,” said junior Doug Smith. “Frustration did not lead to as many mistakes.” “As a team, we need to be confident and know that we are right there with the other teams regardless of previous match scores," said Oey. The Lions faced AMCC foe Frostburg in the second round, and although they were unable to win a single match, losing 5-0, the Lions didn’t go down without a fight. Cooper and Oey dropped the first games by 8-4 scores. Carlson then dropped the third game to Frostburg’s Scott Reust 8-2. Freshman Jacob Boyle hopes to get drafted, but is ready for career in plastics in mysterious ways sometimes.” Boyle goes for MRIs every three months to ensure that everything is stable in his brain, but other than the scar on his head, there is no difference between what he does now and what he did before the surgery. “It has absolutely given me a new lease on life,” said Boyle. “I was told that the surgical procedure might cause me to lose motor ability on my left side to some extent. A person without sharp hand eye coordination and very quick motor skills can’t play baseball. With this in mind, I had to realize that I might never play the game I love again. “I could not, however, have asked for things to go any better than they have for me,” Boyle continued. “The surgery went perfectly and I lost no motor abil ity whatsoever. Words cannot express how thankful I am to have discovered the tumor early, underwent a perfect surgical procedure, and be able to re turn to my nonnal daily life. I am very, very fortunate and will never take what I have for granted again.” “Personally, Jake has been through a lot, and to maintain and excel athleti cally and academically is inspiring, coach Paul Benim said. He owns all the major records in the baseball record books for all-time hits, home runs, RBIs, runs scored, triples, and walks.” This season is Boyle’s second year playing centerfield for Behrend. He spent his freshman and sophomore sea sons at third base. “Centerfield is a position where you cannot be timid. You need to be able to take charge and go after a ball, said Boyle. “It is also much less stressful than playing infield in my opinion. Far fewer balls are hit to you in outfield, so you have to find ways to stay focused Hillmann forced Matt Dickey into an extra point before falling 9-7 in the final singles match. In the lone doubles match, Schenck and Broussard nearly pulled off an upset, but in the end couldn’t overcome Frostburg’s strong play and lost 9-8. In the last game of the tournament, Behrend took on Alfred, the second day in a row the Lions played the school. After defeating the Saxons on April 5, Alfred returned the favor, defeating the Lions 3-2. Cooper lost the first game 8-2 to Alfred’s Bill Tuttle, but Oey got Behrend back in the game with an 8-3 win. Galliara nearly gave Behrend the lead in the third match, but the junior dropped a 9-7 decision to Nate Empire. Sundeep Bhatia lost the last singles match 8-3, to put Behrend down 3-1. Schenck and Broussard then capped off a successful tournament with an 8-4 win. Both players were instrumental in the previous day's win against Alfred at the Pennbriar, as well. The two combined to win a close doubles match 9-7, while Schenck defeated Alfred’s Steve Harvey 6-4,6-4 to lead Behrend to a 5-4 win. The doubles matches were key for Behrend this past weekend, as some switches proved advantageous for the “By changing up the doubles teams a little bit, we are confident that we can win at two of the three doubles spots every time,” said Broussard. “That leaves us going into singles only having to win three out of six to get a win.” Cooper won the first singles match 6- 2-6, 7-6, while Carlson won the No. 3 seeded singles match 6-3, 6-2. In between, Oey battled with Randy Vecchione to the end, but was unable to pull out the win, losing 6-3, 6-7, and 7-6. Bhatia dropped the fourth singles match 6-0, 6-1, and Galliara fell to Mike Garrgello 6-2, 6-7, and 7- in the final singles match. Cooper and Carlson dropped the first doubles match to Vecchione and Bill Tuttle 8-4, but Oey and Hillmann got the Lions back in the game with an 8-2 win over Alfred’s second FROM PAGE IB on the game, “I haven’t had trouble with that at all this year since Jason Karas is in left field. We tell each other stories and crack some obnoxious jokes to keep each other loose and in the game. Coach Benim has taught me a lot about reaching my maximum potential and believing that any goal is attainable. He has showed me that if someone is de termined enough at accomplishing a goal, then the possibilities are endless.” Boyle also shares the duties of team captain with Luke Bundy and Ryan Seyler. “Jake was selected by his teammates as one of three captains on the squad,” said Benim. “He leads by example- Jake doesn’t vocalize a lot, but when he does say something people respond.” Boyle started playing baseball when he was about 6 years old. “My dad was teaching me how to hit right-handed since I do everything else with my right hand, and I became frus trated with it, so I switched to the left side and have hit left-handed ever since,” said Boyle. Boyle looks to Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox as his role model. In addition to his numerous baseball accomplishments, Garciaparra has won batting titles and hits for power to go along with great defense, and he seems to be a very humble and sincere person. Garciaparra dedicates much of his time to his Nomar 5 charitable foun dation and is always soft-spoken when interviewed. “I like to see professional athletes who maintain level-headedness even after becoming a superstar,” said Boyle. The team is presently 21-4, 9-1 AMCC, this year. This is the best start to the season that the team has had in SPORTS Friday, April 12, 2002 Michael Oey prepares a serve against Alfred’s Randy Vecchione Friday at the Pennbriar Athletic Club. doubles team. Schenck and Broussard then sealed the win with their doubles win in the third match. The Lions didn’t get much of a chance to rest after the Behrend Tournament, as they took on Frostburg and Lake Erie on Sunday at the Behrend Tennis Courts. Against the Frostburg Bobcats, the Lions won two of the three doubles matches, but lost all but one singles match as they lost 6-3. Cooper and Carlson lost the first doubles match 8-1 against Frostburg’s top two players. Oey and Hillmann won 8-3, while Schenck and Broussard defeated the ’Cats No. 3 doubles team 8-4. Cooper dropped the first set of the singles match 6-0 before defaulting due to an ankle injury. Oey, the team’s No. 2 seed, captured the only singles win, 6-2,6- 2, before Carlson dropped a 6-2, 7-6 decision. Hillmann lost the fourth match by identical 6-2 scores, Schenck fell by 6-4 and 6-0 scores, and in the lost singles match, Galliara won the firs set 6-4 before losing 6-4 and 6-2. Jake Boyle prepares for a pitch against La Roche Thursday at the Behrend baseball field. Against Lake Erie, the Lions cruised to an easy 9-0 win, which included two forfeits. Oey scored an easy victory against the Storm’s Brian Bailey 6-0, 6-0, while Carlson and Hillmann followed up Oey’s performance with solid 6-1,6-0 wins. Galliara and Bhatia won the final matches 6-2, 6-1. Schenck and Broussard won the first doubles match 8-1, and finished 5-1 in doubles play for the weekend. Jacob Cornwell and Smith won other doubles match 8-2. The final singles and doubles matches were both forfeited by Lake Erie. The Lions finish out their season with five straight road games in five days, starting today at Pitt- Greensburg. The Lions travel to Frostburg on Saturday, Penn State Altoona on Sunday, Fredonia on Monday, and then they finish out the regular season Lake Erie on Tuesday. Behrend finishes out its season with the AMCC championships on April. 20 at Frostburg. Playing five games in a row normally would be difficult for any team, but the Lions see it as a PHOTO BY HEATHER MYERS / BEHREND BEACON Jacob Cornwell returns a shot against Fredonia Wednesday at the Behrend Tennis Courts. Cornwell and Sheel Galliara won their doubles match 8-6 to lead Behrend to a 6-3 win. way to grow, “I feel that all the games in a row are an advantage because the team never gets out of the groove,” said Smith. “It’s good and bad to have a lot of games in a row,” said Broussard. “Good, because there are a couple of people on the team [who] are real hot right now. Bad, because there are a couple of injuries on the team that could use a little time to heal.” The Lions finished up their busy week at home with a match against Fredonia on Wednesday. Even without its No. 1 singles player, Cooper, Behrend still came away with a 6-3 win. Oey lost the first match 6- 1,6-4, and Bhatia lost the last match 7-6,6-4, but the Lions swept the four matches in between. Carlson and Schenck won their individual matches 6-2, 6-1 while Hillmann won 6-2 and a close 7-5. Galliara cruised in the No. 5 match 6-0, 6-0. Oey and Hillmann lost the first doubles match 8-5, but Schenck and Broussard (8-4), and Galliara and Cornwell (8-6) won the last two sets to put the game out of reach for Fredonia. four years. “I think this team is going to have the most successful season in Behrend history,” Boyle said. “Everyone on the team is contributing in some way and it is definitely paying off. The team wants to host the AMCC tournament on our home field and receive post-sea son playoff berths in the form of EC AC and NCAA bids as well. It is going to be a very exciting finish to the 2002 season, that is for sure.” “Jake has had another outstanding season and we expect him to continue his high level of play,” Benim said. “Of fensively he produces a great deal with his ability to score runs and drive in runs. On the defensive side of the ball, he closes ground well in the outfield and has played outstanding defense.” Boyle does not have any particular routines to prepare for a game. Instead, he just tries to focus on the goal of help ing the team win each and every game. “There is no better feeling than think ing to yourself as you watch a beaten opponent walk off the field that you have conquered them,” said Boyle. He says managing time between class, baseball, and personal life is something that is totally determined person to person. “If you are totally dedicated to some thing, you will find a way to make it happen,” said Boyle. “For me person ally, I came to college knowing that the chances are very slim to continue play ing baseball professionally after gradu ation, so I better concentrate on getting a good degree, as well. I made it my goal to succeed both athletically and academically, and have been quite pleased with the results so far. “All my professors, especially those in the plastics program, have been won- behrco!ls @ aol.com Pack in the park Dear Students and Faculty of Penn State Behrend: The school year is finally coming to an end as spring has arrived. With only three weeks of school remaining in this semester, classes are becoming stressful for not only students but faculty also. In order to relieve this stress, both the students and faculty look for activities where they can take their minds away from their daily chores and test for a couple of hours. Baseball, known as America’s favorite pastime, also begins at the dawn of springtime. Baseball is a great sport where one can relax and watch 18 different athletes compete through nine grueling innings while all of them have one goal in mind, victory. As you may or may not know, Penn State Behrend Mis a baseball team of its own. Over the past six years, the team has been growing stronger and stronger. With the amount of talent the team has acquired this year (ranging from freshmen to seniors) it promises to have an exceptional season. The team also has a new ball field that matches the standards of a Di vision 1 baseball field. As this year’s season has progressed, the Behrend Lions have proved their strength throughout their conference. While blowing away much of their competitors in conference play, they have improved their overall record, to 21-4 and 9-1 in conference play. On Tuesday, the Behrend Lions will host a nine-inning non conference game against Allegheny College., Even though the game is non-conference, if die Lions win they have an outstanding Chance of becoming nationally ranked. At this game, tickets for the Erie Seawolves will be raffled off. There will be atotal of six pairs of tickets raffled during the game. So come, down to the field and support your Behrend Lions in their quest for a national championship. The start of the varsity game will be at 1 p.m. We hope to see you at the game. Sincerely, Brad Schmidt Bob Palivoda, and another student derful about cooperating with me to make up missed classwork. This has made maintaining the balance between baseball and school that much easier.” In his spare time, Boyle plays bas ketball, football, tennis, swimming, golf, tinkers with computers, and hangs out with friends. What about the possibility of getting drafted? ‘‘l have thought about that possibil ity after attending various pro tryouts and performing in front of the right people,” said Boyle. “I realize, how ever, that the chances of being drafted are very slim and that life must go on if it does not happen. It has been my dream for as long as I can remember to play professional baseball, so hopefully I do something right in front of the right person at the right time.” Boyle is majoring in plastics engi neering technology because he said it is a relatively new field with many dif ferent job possibilities. He is graduat ing this spring and plans on getting a job in plastics somewhere if nothing with baseball works out. “Without question, if I were to be taken in the baseball draft, I would pur sue that opportunity in a heartbeat,” said Boyle. “The highlight of playing baseball for Behrend has been meeting some lifelong friends, growing not only as an athlete, but as a person as well, and making some memories that I never will forget,” said Boyle. “I have enjoyed every minute as a student athlete; there is no question I would do it all over again if I had the chance. Baseball has added more to my college experience than I ever could have imagined.”
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