BEACON SPORTS
Baseball team makes an impressive start
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Sophomore Ryan Smith, who was named
AMCC baseball pitcher of the week on
March 19, winds up for a pitch.
HOUSING AND FOOD SERVICES
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
NAME: Mike Stetz
SPORT: Baseball
CLASS: Senior
DATE:
March 19, 2007
Mike Stetz (Johnstown/Bishop McCort) got off to an outstanding start for
his senior year, leading the Behrend Lions to an impressive 8-1 in Fort Pierce,
FL over spring break.
Stetz started all nine games and led the team both at the plate and in the
field. He hit a team high .459 from the plate, racked up 12 RBIs, and crossed
home plate 11 times. The senior also stole four bases, recorded 26 assists and
13 putouts.
Men's baseball is scheduled to travel to Frostburg State on Saturday, March
24. They will open at home on Wednesday, March 28 against Medaille. For
game day information contact the baseball office voicemail at 814-898-6322.
Housing and Food Services Athlete of the Week is selected by the Sports
Information Staff.
••••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
: Trivia (t.lestion
What golfer coined the term "caddy?"
Send your answer to dnbsoo3@psu.edu •
•
••••••••• • • • • • • • •
The Penn State Behrend baseball team opened their sea
son winning an impressive eight out of their first nine
games. The Lions, who traveled to Port St. Lucie, Florida,
over spring break, earned a hard fought 7-5 victory over
nationally ranked St. Scholastica. The win against the
nationally-ranked Saints was followed by victories over
Mount St. Vincent, Cazenovia, Manhattanville, Kenyon,
and Western Connecticut State. In their eight victories the
Lions outscored their opponents 81-33. Behrend's only
loss of the trip came on the front end of a doubleheader
against Western Connecticut State. The Colonials defeat
ed Behrend 4-1.
Senior second baseman Mike Stetz led the Lions through
their trip to Florida and batted an impressive .447 with 10
RBIs and was a flawless 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts.
Ryan Smith led Behrend on the mound. Smith, who was
named the AMCC Baseball Pitcher for the week of March
19, highlighted an impressive spring trip with two saves
and one win, while not allowing any runs throughout the
week. Smith ended last season with a record of 4-4 and an
ERA of 2.98 and was second in the AMCC in saves with
six and in appearances with 23. The Lions will rely on
Smith to lead what looks to be a strong, albeit young,
pitching staff. The Lions pitchers, including only one
senior, primarily consist of six sophomores and five
freshmen.
By Matt Waronker
assistant sports editor
the Week
"Our pitching, although young, played very well in
Florida," said head coach Paul Benim. "Our pitchers,
because they are so young, really have to compete.
They have to continue to do what they've done thus far
and build off of that. For this team our pitching has to
be a constant.-
Although the Lions ride an 8-1 record into their reg
ular season opener against conference rival and AMCC
preseason favorite Frostburg State, Benim sees a com
pletely blank slate for his Behrend team. "As good of a
start as we've had, we're still 0-0 in league play, - said
Benim. "We need to put ourselves in a position to com
pete for a conference championship. We feel good
about playing such a high level of baseball and the
team deserves a lot of credit for their performance, hut
all we can do is take last week and build off of it."
First-year assistant coach Brian Hirschberg attributes
much of Behrend's recent success to the team's ability
to keep their focus. "As long as the fellas stay focused
and keep their focus they'll he able to take this momen
tum into the weekend." says Hirschberg. "If we take
that mentality into these upcoming games we'll he able
to build off of our success in Florida.-
Behrend's trip to Frostburg State is scheduled for this
Saturday, March 24. The Lions who finished last sea
son with an overall record of 28-17-1 Inst all three of
their match-ups against Frostburg State, The team was
shutout in both games of an early season doubleheader
and then fell again to the Bobcats in a close 8-7 heart
breaker in the AMCC conference tournament.
Who do you think will make it to the
Final Four?
Email your opinion to dnbsoo3@psu.edu
LPLIMIEIVIENIMIIIIMERIERM
Softball team visits sunshine state
By Kara Struski
sports editor
The Behrend Lions softball team
returned from spring training with
more than just a tan. The Lions
brought back six victories from
their annual spring trip to
Kissimmee, Florida as well as
added excitement for the 2007 sea
son. The team is looking to defend
their title and repeat as AMCC
Champions
this season
"Our goal is to go
out and play hard
every game whether
we win or lose."
The team is
returning
eight of their
nine starters
and 15 letter
winners from
the 2006
squad. Last
year the team
went 34-10,
winning the
AMCC cham-
pionship to dismiss three-time
defending champions, Pitt-
Bradford. The Lady Lions also
received an automatic bid to the
NCAA Tournament hosted by
Ithaca College.
Over Spring Break, the team
went 6-5 in Florida to start off the
season. Sophomore pitcher Julie
believes the team has the focus
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO and drive to remain at the top
of the AMCCs. With 10 fresh
man players returning for their
sophomore seasons and only
four upperclassmen, the team is
op omore center le ler ' atie " it ,y,
ho was named AMCC Softball player of
he week, gets ready to make a catch.
Koman says that the trip did
inure than just give them a
chance to play in the sun-
"The trip helped us come
together more as a team and
helped us realize the kind of
team we need to he to get
hack into the NCAA tourna
ment.- she said.
Koman. who was named
the 2006 AMCC Pitcher of
the Year, is starting
this season right
where she left off.
She was recently
named the AMCC
Softball Pitcher of
the Week on March
19 and led the
-Stacy Pondo
Head Softball Coach
Koman was also
recognized as the
ECAC Softball Pitcher of
the Week. Sophomore cen
ter fielder, Katie Whitby,
was also recognized as AMCC
Softball Player of the Week on
March 19. Witby went 15-for-31
(.484) tt the plate. She racked up
12 runs, three RBIs and went a per
fect 5-for-5 on steal attempts.
While in Florida, the team
did more than just play soft
ball. They got the chance to
enjoy team dinners, visit
Cocoa Beach, attend an
Atlanta Braves game and
spend a day at Universal
Studios.
Lions to four wins
and one save in her
eight appearances
Kissimmee
Head Coach Stacy Pondo
agreed that the spring training
trip plays a major role in
preparation for the season.
"The trip helped us in
many ways," Pondo said. "We
were able to see each individ
ual's playing capability in the
field and up to bat and also
played some very tough com
petition which helps us to pre-
pare."
Pondo returns for her
fourth year as head coach and
The Behrend Beacon I
Friday, March 23, 2007
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Senior first baseman Tony Kordeck is ready
to start the 2007 season after missing all of
last season due to an injury.
.op omore pltc er u ie ' oman, w o was
amed ECAC South Division 111 pitcher of
he week, winds up for a pitch.
young but confident after many got
AMCC and NCAA playoff experi
ence under their belts last season.
Although she realizes the pressure
of defending the AMCC title, the
team's goals remain the same. "Our
goal is to go out and play hard
every game whether we win or
lose," Pondo said.
Junior outfielder Lauren Lubic
agrees that focus and drive are key
components to success. "A goal for
us this season is to be in the game
mentally and physically for all
seven innings," said Lubic.
A highlight of the trip on the
field for Lubic, Koman and sopho
more second baseman Nikki
Kaschauer was the win against
nationally ranked Ramapo College
from New Jersey. The Lady Lions
defeated the Roadrunners 7-3.
Off the field, the same three play
ers agree that team bonding was the
general highlight of the trip.
"We are a family. We stick
together no matter what the situa
tion presents," said Kaschauer.
The Lady Lions are getting ready
to kick off AMCC play on the road.
They are scheduled to play
Wednesday, March 28 at 3 p.m.
against Medaille College and Mt.
Aloyisius on Saturday, March 31 at
1 p.m.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO