Kevin Fiorenzo & Amy Frizzell
s s orts editors
On Deck
Behrend
Athletic
Events
Saturday
Water Polo @ Slippery
Rock
12:45 p.m.
Water Polo @
Grove City vs. Michigan
4:15 p.m.
Water Polo @
Slippery Rock vs. Indiana
8:30 p.m.
Men's Tennis vs. Altoona
12 p.m.
Baseball @ Frostburg
1 p.m.
Softball vs.
Pitt-Greensburg
1 p.m.
Track and Field @
Clarion Invitational
9 a.m.
Sunday
Men's Tennis vs.
Thiel
11 a.m.
Baseball @ Mt. Aloysius
1 p.m.
Tuesday
Softball vs. Buffalo State
3 p.m.
Water Polo vs. Mercyhurst
6 p.m.
Water Polo vs. Gannon
8:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Baseball @ Fredonia
1 p.m.
Thursday
Softball @ Fredonia
3:30 p.m.
Friday
Men's Tennis vs. Alfred
4 p.m.
Water Polo @ Wheaton
TBD
Bad weather plagues
the softball team
by Ben Raymond
staff writer
With the cancellation of Thursday's game
against Westminster, the Lady Lion softball team
has yet to play a regular season game. With this
extra time to prepare, confidence and teamwork
seems to be building.
Bad weather in the form of rain and snow has
kept the women's softball team off of the dia
mond so far this season. Frustration seems to be
the word that keeps popping up when players are
asked how they feel about the delay in the start
of their games.
It may not be the most exciting way to start the
season, but perhaps the extra downtime is a bless
ing in disguise.
Going from 10 games in six days to none in
two weeks is a dramatic change and should be a
good test as to the progress of the team.
"It's really frustrating not playing right away.
Erie weather doesn't compare to Florida. For
practices we're back inside the gym that doesn't
even begin to compare to a real softball field,"
said first basemen Lindsey Stankus.
Being stuck in the gym, the team's options were
limited as to what they could work on. During
the games in Florida, less than stellar hitting
seemed to be the big thing holding the Lady Li
ons back.
Over the last few weeks the women have spent
a great deal of time in the batting cages. The
overall feeling now seems to be one of improve
ment and confidence.
"We are mainly having batting practice. We re
ally need to work on our hitting for our upcom
ing games. We've been hitting off of live pitch
ers and doing a lot of batting drills that will hope
fully help us in the future," said Stankus.
"As soon as we start hitting we're going to
start winning. Our defense has come a long way
and we just need to get our offense going."
"I think practicing is helping a lot because we
are getting extra time to polish what we needed
to, like hitting," said shortstop Brittany Mays.
Women's water polo squad
in Behrend Invitational
struggles
The women's water polo team finis
past weekend
by Ray Immekus
staff writer
The Behrend Water Polo Invitational was held
this past weekend in the Junker Center Pool. The
women's team hosted the event, which drew
schools from as far as Michigan and as close as
Grove City College.
Eight teams in all competed in the round robin
tournament. Behrend, Ottawa University, West
ern Michigan University and Grand Valley State
University were placed together in division one.
California Tech, Grove City College, Notre
Dame University and Eastern Michigan Univer
sity competed in division two.
Each team would play three games on Satur
day, competing against each of the other three
teams in their respective division.
Ottawa finished in first place in division one,
posting a 3-0 record, winning by an average of
eight goals in each of the three games.
Grand Valley placed second in the division
with a 2-1 record, Western Michigan went 1-2,
and Behrend finished winless. The Lady Lions
lost by a goal to Western Michigan and played
Grand Valley tight, losing only 8-5.
Division two was dominated by Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish defeated Grove City 12-0,
Eastern Michigan 18-5, and beat Cal Tech by a
score of 15-3. Cal Tech finished in the runner
up position, with a 2-1 mark.
Grove City's only win came against Eastern
SPORTS
Friday, March 26, 2004
The softball team is looking to pick up its
first win of the season on Saturday when
it hosts a doubleheader against Pitt-
Greensburg. The Lady Lions opened the
season witha 0-10 record.
The coaches and players seem to be keeping
up a very optimistic and positive attitude toward
the rest of the season. With a lot of eager under
classmen there seems to be no shortage of en
thusiasm on the team.
With only a handful of upperclassmen, the
younger players have had to step in to a number
of important positions. The players are looking
to have a winning season and possibly a spot at
the top of the AMCC.
The women got a chance to put together the
skills they have been working on over the past
two weeks on Thursday when they had the chance
to actually use the field. Things seemed very
upbeat at the practice as the team prepares for
two home games this weekend.
The Lady Lions take on Pitt-Greensburg on
Saturday and Medaille on Sunday. Both games
are home and are slated to start at 1 p.m. Atten
dance is encouraged for what could be the start
to a great season.
in eighth place at the
Michigan, posting a 1-2 record, and the Eagles
of Eastern Michigan finished winless in the
round robin round.
On Sunday, the top two teams from each divi
sion of Saturday's round robin moved on to a
four team playoff for the tournament champion
ship.
Ottawa, the No. 1 seed from division one,
played Cal Tech, the No. 2 seed from division
two, defeating the Beavers 12-6. In the second
semifinal game, Notre Dame played the Grand
Valley State Lakers, and won 11-3.
The Fighting Irish were now set to face Ot
tawa University in the title game. The teams went
back and forth all game, and needed an extra pe
riod to determine the winner. Notre Dame even
tually came out on top, 14-13.
In the third/fourth place game, Grand Valley
defeated Cal Tech 11-6 to take home the third
place trophy. Grove City beat Behrend and West
ern Michigan in the consolation bracket to se
cure fifth place.
Western Michigan placed sixth, Eastern Michi
gan seventh, and the Lady Lions took eighth.
The Lady Lions next traveled to Slippery Rock
on Tuesday night to face Grove City College.
The women lost by a 10-7 score. Senior scored
three goals in the game.
Behrend is 1-12 on the season, which is a re
building year under first year head coach Joe
Tristan.
and Invitational this
The Behrend Beacon
Senior
Spotlight:
Tyler Wiand
scored with 10 so far this season
by CJ. lanini
staff writer
Name: Tyler Wiand
Semester: Bth
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Stoneboro, Pa
Position: 3rd base
Beacon: Besides Baseball, what other hobbies do
you have or like to do?
Wiand: I like to spend time with friends from col
lege and my teammates. I enjoy the outdoors, hunt
ing fishing, hiking. I love watersports.
Wakeboarding, skiing, and swimming. Most of all,
I love spending time with my family.
Beacon: Out of all your baseball seasons here at
Behrend, which do you consider
your favorite?
Wiand: Last year was incredible. We were very
successful on the field. Playing baseball at Behrend
has been a great experience. I have met some un
believable people. I have learned a lot and have
enjoyed every day that I have stepped between the
lines.
Beacon: When it comes to eating on campus,
Bruno's or Dobbins?
Wiand: Bruno's, because Slobbins rips ya up! Plus
at Bruno's, freshman will get you the discount.
Beacon: Playing baseball in the Erie weather got
to be tough, do you have any special ways that you
stay warm?
Wiand: I always wear a stretch sleeve under the
uniform and occasionally I will put my mitts down
my pants to stay warm
Beacon: Do you have any pre-game rituals or su
perstitions that you do before every game?
Wiand: I have a lot! Mostly of all I always put my
uniform on the same way. I always skip over the
base paths as I sprint on to the field. I always do
the same routine when I am at the plate too.
Beacon: If you could go back and change one thing
in your college career, what wou:d it be?
Wiand: I wouldn't change a single thing. The
people, the education, the social life and the atmo
sphere has been phenomenal! I do not believe any
one at this school has had as much fun as I.
Beacon: What do you consider to be the greatest
establishment here in Erie?
Wiand: The greatest establishment in Erie has been
the creation of my friendship with the group of
people that entertain me day in, and day out.
Beacon: What's your MLB pre-season World Se-
ries pick?
Wiand: Buccos and Yanks
Beacon: In a WWE Cage catch match who would
you take, Head Coach Paul Benim or Asst. Coach
Mike Thompson? What would be the signature
move by each contestant?
Wiand: Head Coach Paul Benim...Pß's move
would be the "AUTOMATIC HIT' sign to the throat
and Mike Thompson's would be the tongue snap!
Beacon: How often do read the Behrend Beacon?
Wiand: Every week. I love the ridiculous police
reports! I also love that they place my name and
stats under "Tony Azzato." He is so hot!
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