Page 14
The Behrend Beacon
500 so far this season
Softball team
Spring Break
by Lauren Packer
assistant sports editor
They say diamonds are a
girl's hest friend. But for the
women of the Behrend softball
team, they might want to find
a new best friend. The softball
diamond has not been kind to
the Lions in the young 2(03
season
In eight Florida, spring
training games, Behrend
chalked up one win and seven
losses. The Lions only win
came against Ohio Wesleyan,
11-9. Two of the seven losses
were decided by one run.
However, Behrend's offense
sputtered in the other five
losses as the opponents
outscored the Lions 25-1.
It was a talented freshman
class who stole the show in
Florida. Leacy Sauer went 4-
for- 4 in her first collegiate
game. Hurler Kim Raft also
gave a great performance in
her first collegiate start in the
Head coach Kellie Diehl
said in the Lions season
preview that this season was
going to be challenging.
Currently, they are on a five
game losing skid.
"We still have sonic things
en's basket' . 1 - 1 - . 1 1
by Zoe Rose
contributing writet
Happy Valley hoops wasn't the only place
where trouble was brewing. Trouble was also
in Center Valley. Behrend took a seat against
Desales University in the semifinals of the
ECAC South Region Tournament. The Bull
dogs went on to fall to No. I seed Franklin
& Marshall in the Championship game.
It looked like Behrend had its game tin
der control in the first half as Desales shot
poorly throughout. With 33.3 percent shoot
ing, Desales earned their halftime deficit.
28-20. The second half saw a different Bull
dog team emerge from the locker room as it
made 16 of 24 for 66.7 percent from the field
and outscored the Lions 41-17.
to learn and some things to
focus on, hut I see it Coming
together by our first home
gams•.'' said infielder Charity
Marsh.
Their season is still young
and so is the team. The 'ions
will look to senior captains
Cheryl Peterson and Emily
Allen for leadership. Junior
pitchers E3ecky Corbin and
Stephanie Covert will continue
to he a force on the mound.
along with newcomer Rail.
"We definitely arc contend-
crs this year With the majority
of our squad returning and a
strong I reshman class stepping
up to the challenge of college
level. - said Peterson.
With the ability and age of
the team so varied, Behrend
looks to continue its hard work
in practice and sets its sights
On two AIVICC match-ups
against Pitt-Bradford and Pitt-
Greensburg
"We were looking to come
hack with a couple of wins and
to step up our level of play.
When the team was playing
\Nell, we were all playing well.
Defensively we were on fire, -
said Peterson.
The Lions hope to silence a
Pitt-Bradford team who owns
the third highest team batting
James Curren and Casey Ponsoll both
added 10 points to the score, followed by
Jared Clough's eight points.
In the final statistics for the Allegheny
Mountain Collegiate Conference, Behrend
topped the charts in scoring defense while
Pitt-Greensburg was first in scoring offense.
In total field goal percentage. the Lions
made 45.5 percent right behind Lake Erie
with 46.8 percent.
Behrend placed third in three-point field
goal percentage with 36.5 percent and 71.8
percent from the line. f3ehrend's weakest cat
egory was in rebounds, only grabbing 31.9
per game. individually, Curren placed first
in field goal percentage with an average of
333 for 57.7 percent and third in scoring with
512 points.
fj o rfor
wei
Friday, March 21, 2003
stru
average in the AMC('.
Behrend might run into trouble
with Pitt-Bradford's scoring
ability. averaging 4.6 runs a
game. The Lions team ERA
is 4.46 and they are averaging
only 2.25 runs per game.
Leading the Lions offense is
Marsh and Brandy Polinick.
Both Marsh and Polinick
contributed four RBIs during
spring training. Polinick and
Peterson lead the team in
doubles with two apiece.
Against Pitt-Greenburg, the
Lions' chances look a little
better. Pitt-Greensburg sits
near the bottom of every team
and individual statistic in the
AMCC.
The Lions are confident that
they will get hack on the right
track. The Lions won the
AMCC crown in 1999 and are
hungry to win the
championship again.
"The team atmosphere is
very exciting to he a part of
and is full of energy, - said
freshman Jill Wooldridge.
"We look to push each other
to do our bests. Everyone is
competitive."
Scott Soltis, Sports Editor
ok.a
Lauren Packer, Assistant Sports Editor
eeps through Florida
by Kevin Fiorenzo
The baseball team's season got off to
a rough 0-4 start. but all it took to get
hack on track was a trip to Florida, where
the Lions swept all their games.
l3ehrend began with four losses in
Kentucky. While they were
disappointed. the team and their coach
were able to learn from their mistakes.
After we struggled in Kentucky. we
reviewed some things, and our younger
players gained greater understanding as
to what is required to he successful in
the college game. - said coach Paul
Benim.
Next up for the team was a week long
trip to Port St. Lucie, H. over spring
break. There they played games against
Norwich, St.Scholastica. Delaware
Valley, Scranton. Wehster, and
Wentworth.
In all of the games, Rehrend emerged
victorious. "Fthe players competed well
and got the jot - ) done.
Some key players as of late include
pitcher Ryan Seyler, with a 2-0 record
and 2.00 ERA. In the offensive
categories, outfielder Mitch Reckner has
a .500 average, 14 Rl3ls. and 21 hits.
Outfielder Adam Best has 11 stolen
bases, a .394 average, and 13 hits. Also
contributing heavily is outfielder Tim
Stafford, with a .483 average and 14 hits.
les over
Junior pitcher Becky Corbin looks to be a dominant force on the mound for the Lions
this season.
From be). unit the arc, Tom Lulich fell he
hind Ti.. Dorsey of Frostburg State Univer
sity. averaging 116 per game for 42.2 per
cent. Ponsoll made 43 three-pointers for
39.1 percent.
Under the guiding of coach Dave Niland,
the Lions have made the postseason in six
of their last seven years. Even though they
may not have a title under their belts,
Behrend season record for the 2002-2003
season was 20-9. two more wins than last
As predicted, senior Steve Merrill earned
his title of co-captain displaying leadership
and guiding the freshman with his work
ethic. Curren drove the offensive attack and
in only three years of action has surpassed
the 1000 point mark with 1260 career points.
staff writer
After Behrend's very successful trip
south, the team came hack and played
Hilbert on Wednesday. The Lions were
in control through the entire contest and
got solid production from everyone.
They scored in all three of the first three
innings and put the game out of reach
with four runs in the seventh inning.
Behrend also got solid production
from its pitching staff, which gave up
only two runs and seven hits. Jason
Shaffer got the win for Behrend by
pitching three stellar innings, giving up
just one hit and accumulating four
strikeouts. The Lions also got
impressive pitching for three innings by
Matt Svmanski.
With the win. Wednesday against
H Ihe rt I3ehrend's record rose to 9-4 and
they now must prepare to play
conference opponents, starting Saturday
against Penn State Altoona. With the
team's current success
expectations for that game and the rest
of season are very high.
"Our goal is to make the conference
tournament and compete for the
championship, - said Benim.
"Our league is tough. Right now, five
of seven teams are above .500. All the
league teams have improved and it will
he a battle.-
Juniors Ponsoll and David Hairston
showed their true colors on the court,
stepping up against the tough competi
tors. Hairston was number two on the
team and had 141 total rebounds and shot
48.4 percent from the field.
Ponsoll followed in third with 86.4
percent from the line. Lulich and Joe
Lucas earned valuable minutes with
Lulich starting alongside transfer Jared
Clough. Lulich played a strong game
against the 99-77 win against Thiel, mak
ing six of seven three-pointers.
Off the bench, top freshman Justin
Jennings made a significant impact for
the Lions in his first season.