The Behrend beacon. (Erie, Pa.) 1998-current, April 26, 2002, Image 15

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    The Behrend Beacon • April 26, 2002 1
Q&A with the head Softball finals
The Lions were ranked 5 ahoncho
His duties are endless, fourth in the AMCC head- N_'t+
ing into the conference
but athletic director
• Brian Streeter is leading playoffs. To find out how i,
the Behrend athletic Stephanie Covert and the
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Calendar
of Events
Behrend
Athletic
Events
Saturday
Men's and Women's Track
and Field @ Baldwin-
Wallace, 8 a.m.
Women's Softball
@ Frostburg (DH), 1 p.m
Men's Baseball
@ Fredonia (DH), 1 p.m
Saturday, May 4
Men's and Women's Track
and Field @ Grove City
10 a.m
Men's. Baseball
@ Bethany (DH), 2 p.m
Sunday, May 5
Men's Baseball
Oberlin (DH)
Behrend Baseball Field
1 p.m
Saturday, May 11-12
Men's Baseball
ECAC Southern Regionals
TBA
Wednesday, May 15-17
Men's and Women's Track
and Field @ ECAC
Championships, TBA
Thursday May 16-19
Men's Baseball
NCAA Regionals, TBA
Friday, May 24 - 26
Men's and Women's Track
and Field @ NCAA
Nationals TBA
Intramural
Champions
Fall 2001
Tennis
Women's Singles-Amanda Svitek;
Men's Singles A Flight-Dave Coo
per; Women's Doubles-Christine
Charnock, Kate Costanzo; Men's
Doubles A Right-Andrew Schenck,
Nate Latimer; Men's Singles B
Flight-Jake Boyle, Emily Rubin;
Men's Doubles B Flight-Jake
Boyle, Tom Pollack; Coed
Doubles-Lorenzo Andreaggi,
Kelly Anne Bateman.
Slow Pitch Softball
Men-Outta the Blue; Coed-Crack's
Addicts; Women-Theta Phi Alpha.
Volleyball
Men-Team Farside; Coed-Das Über,
Women-Best RC Ever.
Golf
Men's Team-Pat Mashuda, Jeff
Webster, Rob Wittman, James
Bowen; Men's Medal-JeffWebster;
Women's team-Amy Cabaday,
Cori Lesniak, Tracy Jones, Kristin
Ardillo; Women's Medal-Kristin
Ardillo, Cori Lesniak, Amy
Cabaday (3-way tie).
Flag Football
Men-XXX Men; Women-Girls of
Mmmmk3; Coed-Green Turtles.
Billiards
Men's Singles A Flight-Josh
Ongley; Men's Doubles A Flight-
Andrew Meinbriese/Jake Jones;
Men's Singles B Flight-Ashley Or
ris; Men's Doubles B Flight-Al
Haywood/Mark Morris; Coed
Doubles-Stephanie Rodich/Pat
Burns; Women's Singles-Stephanie
Rodich; Women's Doubles-
Stephanie Rodich/Lauren Packer.
INTRAMURAL CHAMPIONS
continued on page 4B
ions fall to Bradford in AMCC finals
by Mike Bello
sports editor
Throughout the season, the
Behrend baseball team looked
forward to some revenge against Pitt-
Bradford after the Panthers scored
two runs in the ninth inning to win
the AMCC championship last year.
For the nine seniors on the team, that
revenge may never come.
Behrend, hosting the playoffs in the
first season on its new baseball field,
dropped a 3-1 decision against
Bradford on Saturday before
rebounding to win the next game
between the two teams 4-1 on Sunday.
In the championship game of the
double-elimination tournament, the
Lions were limited to one run on two
hits by Bradford's Matt Mravintz as
they fell 5-1.
For the players, it was a
disappointing finish to the conference
season, but by no means did it ruin
everything the Lions had
accomplished this season.
"The season is by no means a
complete disappointment after losing
to Bradford in the AMCC title game,"
said senior Jake Boyle. "Obviously,
the players' attitudes after the game
were very disappointed as Bradford
has become our biggest rival the past
two season. We would like nothing
more than to beat them."
AMCC ALL-CONFERENCE
First Teant
Justin Secrest Altdona
Tony Azzato Behrend
Tony Delbianco La Roche
Joe Trietly Bradford
Jake Mannon Frostburg
Eric Haynoski Bradford
Ryan Hamerski Frostburg
Jake Boyle Behrend
(Jason Karas
Adam Best
Behrend
Behrend
I Second Team
'Steve Simpson Frostburg
Behrend
Frostburg
Frostburg
Behrend
Bradford
Behrend
'Keith Lepionka
Sean Davis
'Chris Hammond
! Vince Canzano
Dave Brown
'Ryan Seyler
Track and field
ground in 18-team invitational
by Scott Soltis
staff writer
The track and field team traveled
down 1-79 to compete in an unscored
meet last Saturday at Slippery Rock
University. There were a total of 18
schools competing at the event last
weekend, which made for a long day
and made it difficult for the Lions to
place. A partial list of teams vying for
places on Saturday includes
Westminster, Mercyhurst, Malone,
Grove City, Allegheny, Fredonia,
Geneva, Ashland, Slippery Rock, and
Thiel.
As if the staggering amount of
schools was not enough to increase
competition, it also slowed the events.
The team arrived at Slippery Rock at
10 a.m. and did not leave until 8:30 p.m.
The team faced the entire spectrum of
weather while it was there, as well.
Coach Dave Cooper would like to see
what his athletes could do in good
weather.
"We had rain, sunshine, wind, and
Jason Ferrier and the rest of the Lions have two more invitationals to
before the ECAC Championships May 15-17. The Lions already
have qualified more than a dozen athletes for the competition.
"We know as a team we have to
look ahead and finish the season
strong because we have a great chance
at making ECAC and that would most
likely mean another shot at Pitt-
Bradford," said senior catcher Luke
Bundy.
The Lions still have a chance of
playing the Panthers in ECACs,
considering Bradford (24-6) is doing
just as well as Behrend (28-7). For
now, the Lions are setting their sights
on a 35-win season, with four
doubleheaders left to play this season,
as well as any postseason games.
Boyle had both hits in the third
game against Bradford, and scored
the team's only run on a wild pitch in
the third inning after hitting a leadoff
double. Chuck Sevin kept the game
close on the mound for Behrend until
the seventh inning, when Bradford
scored three runs on four hits. The
Lions left seven men on base, while
Bradford had 13 hits and left nine men
on base.
In the earlier game on Sunday, the
Lions had one hit in the first five
innings before scoring three runs in
the sixth, highlighted by Chris
Shearer's two-run single. Shearer
finished 2-for-4, and had half of his
team's hits. Keith Lepionka added an
insurance run with a run-scoring
single in the eighth. Kevin Dubyak,
gave up one earned run and five hits
Chris Shearer Behrend DHI
Tint Wilkins Frostburg OF 1
Eric Haynoski Bradford OF'
Kirk Loos Greensburg OF 1
_ _ .
1B
2B
3B
SS
Honorable Mention
Ryan Briskar Bradford
David Sanchez Frostburg
Luke Bundy Behrend
Kevin Dubyak Bhrend
Matt Steinbugl Altoona
Jesse Beimel Bradford
Kevin McDonough La Roche
Dave Troiano La Roche
Newcomer of the Year
Joe Trietly Bradford
DH
OF
OF
OF
Player of the Year
Jake Boyle Behrend
Coach of the Year
Behrend
Paul Benim
holds its
cold all at different times," said Cooper.
"Not the best of conditions. I think our
athletes are just waiting to have some
explosive performances if we'd just get
a break in the weather."
Nonetheless, the team had a
productive day. Isiah Meek came within
a blink of an eye of qualifying for
Nationals. Meek ran a 14.97 in the 110
hurdles and came a mere .07 of a second
from going to Nationals. His time was
good for fourth place among the stiff
competition. He will have another shot
this weekend and better conditions may
give him that fraction of a second he
needs.
The men qualified two more athletes
for ECACs on Saturday. In the pole
vault, freshman Steve Feder qualified
with a vault of 13-0. Also making the
trip to Princeton, N.J. in three weeks
for ECACs is Dave Ober. Ober had a
fantastic run in the 200, setting a new
school record on his way to qualifying
with a 22.86. Ober also captured third
TRACK SETS MORE RECORDS
continued on page 4B
Sophomore Tony Azzato connects on a first-inning hit Tuesday against
Hilbert at the Behrend Baseball Field. The Lions broke their five-year-old
record for most wins in a season with the doubleheader sweep of Hilbert
in a nine-inning complete game,
striking out seven.
"The team reacted like any team
would, when losing a championship
game that you worked the whole
season for, we were hurt," said senior
Bob Palivoda. "It takes a little time
to shrug off a loss of this magnitude.
but it also takes a great team to bounce
back from such a loss. This team is a
great team, and we can and will
bounce back to make the ECACs and
show just how powerful we are."
In Behrend's first game on
Boyle, Best suffer scary mishaps
by Mike Bello
sports editor
Jake Boyle and Adam Best have
solidified the Behrend lineup, one of
the most powerful the school has ever
seen, while-providing stellar . defense
Winnow and right fiehi. itut thls.pest
week, both players, and roommates,
suffered physical setbacks that had
them thinking about more important
things than baseball.
Best, a sophomore who was hitting
.402 at the time of his injury, violently
collided with teammate Vince
Canzano during Saturday's . 3-1 loss
to Pitt-Bradford in the AMCC
tournament. Boyle, who had a brain
ready for
Steeler Blitzkrieg
Behrend
by Scott Soltis
staff writer
This Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Junker
Center, some of Behrend's finest will
take on some of Pittsburgh's finest -
the Steelers. The 2002 Pittsburgh
Steelers Footballers Basketball Team
will compete against the Behrend
Community All-Star Team to raise
funds for the men's basketball trip
to Spain this summer. There will be
some fierce competition between the
teams.
The Behrend Community All-Star
team consists of faculty, staff,
alumni, students and various other
members of the community. One of
the staff members who will compete
against the Steelers is Director of
Student Affairs Ken Miller. Miller,
advisor to the Student Government
Association and an avid basketball
player in his spare time, is excited
about the game. At the SGA meeting
on Wednesday, Miller announced
that, "For $5, you get to see my ass
get kicked by the Pittsburgh Steelers
on Sunday."
Miller is realistic about his chances
since Amos Zeroue is the only
Steeler with a height comparable to
his (Zeroue stands 5-9). Other faculty
and staff on the team include Rob
Wittman (Coordinator of
Intramurals/Recreational Programs)
and Ken Bauer (Systems Analyst).
Also joining the Behrend team are
Rocket 101 morning DJs Mojo
McKay and Ron Kline.
The Steelers that might play range
in size from the speedy, 5-9 220
pound RB Zeroue to the monstrous
Saturday against Bradford, Eric
Haynoski gave up seven hits and only
one earned run a Tim Stafford single
in the fifth that scored Bundy. Shearer
had two hits, while Ryan Seyler gave
up five hits and all three Panther runs.
The Lions left nine men on base. The
Lions received a scare when Adam
Best collided with Vince Canzano
(see story below). Best was taken to
the hospital after the mishap.
BRADFORD DEFEATS LIONS
continued on page 4B
tumor removed last year, suffered a
seizure on Monday night, a common
side effect of brain surgery, although
the senior was back on the field
Tuesday afternoon.
"It was very scary since it was my
first one ever and took place almost
eijaa-taonths after. surgery,-" said
Boyle.
He sat down to eat dinner at his
home in Wesleyville when he felt his
tongue and then jaw twist
uncontrollably. Before he knew it,
Boyle's arms and head were shaking,
and he was unable to tell his girlfriend
BOYLE SEIZURE
continued on page 4B
290 pound, 6-5 DE Aaron Smith. The
final roster of the Steelers will not
he known until they arrive on
Sunday. Some of the possible players
that might come include TE Matt
Cushing, WR Troy Edwards, RB
Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, LB Jason
Gildon, LB Joey Porter, CB Hank
Poteat, CB Chad Scott, WR Hines
Ward, and CB DeWayne
Washington. The Steelers have size,
speed, and strength on their side,
which will be a bit intimidating to
the Behrend All-Stars, to say the
least.
One of the students competing this
Sunday is junior Brice Weeter. When
asked what he would do if he had to
guard the massive Gildon, Weeter
quickly answered, "cry." He soon
added that he would then ask for
Gildon's autograph. The students
joining Weeter include Shane Healy,
Matt Henderson, Khalif Rhodes, Tim
Stumpf, and Jake Wisniewski.
Rounding out the Behrend roster are
alumni Ron Derian, Brian Emick,
Ashley Orris, John Park, and DK
McDonald from Fellowship of
Christian Athletes.
The game will prove to be
entertaining regardless of the final
result. The money raised will help the
men's basketball team and the event
will be a good break for students
studying for finals. Tickets are on
sale for $5 at the Junker Center. The
Behrend All-Stars will be undersized,
slower, and weaker, but don't count
them out. Anything can happen on
Sunday. Miller might drive past
Zeroue and Weeter might post up on
Gildon. Just don't expect it.
Remember
when sports
were played
for fun?
As the spring semester comes to a
close, and the summer months inch
ever so close, very soon people of all
ages will make time for their golf
game (even one as lousy as mine) or
get involved with the many sports and
activities the
summer offers.
But as the weather
Personal foul
Mike Bello
gets warm, the
drive to win and be the best gets
With summer thought of as a time
to relax, have we become too
concerned with winning, even in
youth sports? Have we taken the fun
out of sports altogether?
Competition and the pressure to
win are nothing new to college and
professional teams. After all, they
aren't there for athletes to get exercise
and meet new friends. Those teams
want to, no, they have to win because
a lot of money is involved. People's
jobs hinge on the success of a team.
But over the past 10 years, this
overly competitive atmosphere has
slowly seeped into youth sports and
other areas where competition was all
but nonexistent. Now, it seems just
having fun and enjoying yourself with
sports is becoming the exception.
Nowhere is this more obvious than
youth sports, especially now with
summer baseball, softball, basketball,
and soccer leagues becoming ever
more popular. I'm sure everyone
knows about the father who fought
and killed his son's hockey coach over
the way he ran practice. Even though
that is the very extreme end of what
has happened to youth sports, it does
represent where the trend has shifted.
Parents have become more
involved with their child's sport.
which would be a good thing except
it's not just cheering and support they
provide. Go to a youth game and you
can hear parents screaming at their
kids or at coaches. Parents demand
the best from their children, which is
fine, but that doesn't mean yelling and
hollering is an appropriate way to
accomplish this goal.
Some parents have forgotten why
their kids signed up for sports in the
first place. Children want to join
sports because their friends did or
because they enjoy games like soccer
or basketball, among other reasons.
Their parents, on the other hand, want
their kids to learn the importance of
winning, no matter what the cost may
be.
Think of how much more stressful
it must be for the kids when their
parents are screaming at them because
they performed poorly. The role of the
parent is to build self-confidence in
the child, not belittle them for
performing "poorly." What may seem
like a poor effort from the parent's
view may seem like good old fun to
the kid. They just want to get the
chance to play.
Not all parents are like this. In fact,
most parents support their children in
a very dignified manner. But it only
takes that one obnoxious parent to
ruin the whole game for everyone
else. It's funny how a child can have
more self-control than his parents.
The parents could use a good kick in
the rear end. Maybe then they will
realize that IT'S JUST A GAME.
Your child should be learning about
exercise and teamwork, not "Winning
is everything."
Although it's been six years since I
last played in the Erie summer leagues
for baseball and soccer, I can still
remember a fair share of bad
experiences with other people's
parents. At a baseball game in a 10-
UNDIGNIFIED PARENTS
continued on page 2B