8 I The Behrend Beacon
Baseball team defeats Pitt Greensburg
from page 1
in Lang to put the Lions up 2-
O.
The score would stay the
same through the remaining
innings and the Behrend Lions
added an important AMCC
victory to their record which
improved to 11-2. Fyffe went
2-for-2 in the game with an
"Weather was an issue in
the games. - Koerbel said. "It
was a tough day at the plate.
We really played well and hit
the ball %veil. We played great
defense. Especially in the first
Steelers to play at Junker Center
in basketball game
By Christine Newby
sports editor
censosli psu.edu
Super Bowl Xl.lll
Champions, the Pittsburgh
Steelers, will be playing a bas
ketball game at the Junker
Center on Sunday, April 19 at 3
p.m. against the Behrend
Community All-Stars.
According to Behrend's head
men's basketball coach Dave
Niland, the Behrend
Community All-Stars consists
of a collection of students, fac
ulty, staff, and alumni that
totals 15 players.
The game is a fundraising
event for the men's basketball
program. Niland said that this
year marks the fifth consecu
tive year that Behrend has held
this event with the Steelers.
"The Steelers do community
service and it is also a
fundraising opportunity for
our team as well," Niland said.
Men's assistant coach Jimmy
Sutton said that tickets are still
available. According to
Sutton, students can get tickets
in doubleheader sweep
game, we excelled in the
In the second game of the
doubleheader, senior pitcher
Andrew Chrobak got the win
"We had a terrific pitching
performance from senior
Andrew Chrobak," Benim
said. "On Saturday, we were
ready to play and focused."
The Blue and White once
again were the first to put
runs up on the board. Fyffe
came through again with
another RBI when his single
drove in Geibel to put the
Lions up 1-0.
Pitt-Greensburg tied the
Tops Junior Jon Gray connects with the ball and runs to first
Bottom: Head coach Paul Benim talks with his team before a game
at the door or stop in the men's
basketball office on Friday,
April 17 in the Rinker Center
to get tickets. Tickets cost $7.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will
be available at halftime to sign
autographs.
"All of the games that they
have played in the past, they
have signed autographs at
halftime," explained Niland.
"We also raffle off autographs.
They [the Steelers[ will also do
that for us as well."
The Steelers defeated the
Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in
Super Bowl XLIII and claimed
their sixth NFL Championship
which is the most in the
league.
"In the past we have had
really good turnouts." Niland
said. "Sometimes standing
room only, sometimes a few
seats were left. I expect anoth
er big event, especially after
the Super Bowl win. They [the
Steelers[ make it fun by inter
acting with the crowd."
The list of players on the
Pittsburgh Steelers Footballers
Basketball Team include
Charlie Batch, Jason Capizzi,
SPORTS
game in the top of the forth on plate," Gray said. "Every time
two hits. The Behrend Lions I step up to the plate I expect
scored three runs in both the to hit the ball well. This off
bottom of the fourth and fifth season I really focused on hit
inning which resulted in the ting to the opposite field. I
final score 7-1. feel that when I am able to hit
Sophomore Adam Hartwig
and Lang went 2-for-3 and
Lang had two RBI. The victo
ry, pushed the team to a 19-4
overall record and 12-2 in the
AMCC.
"It was great to take two
from Pitt-Greensburg this
weekend," Gray said. "Our
pitching and defense were
outstanding. Dave Koerbel
and Andy Chrobak have been
incredible all year on the
"Anything less than going back to
regionals, I will be disappointed.
When we go back, we deserve to
be there. I would take winning
regionals over any personal goal."
mound. Because of the wind "This year we have worked on
during the games, hitting was a lot of vision drills when hit
tough, but I thought the situa- ting and it has really paid off.
tional hitting was excellent. Guys like Eddie Kessler. Geoff
Overall, I thought it was one Lang, Josh Fyffe, and Dave
of our best doubleheaders this Miller are all crushing the ball
season." and the way our team as a
While Koerbel is exceeding whole is hitting is really a tes
on the mound, Gray stands tament to our coaching."
out offensively at the plate. Benim along with the play-
As of April 7 according to ers are after one main goal.
NCAA Statistics, Gray led "Our ultimate prize is to
Division 11l in batting average compete and win the AMCC
with .548. Championship," Benim said.
"A big part of hitting well is "Also, hosting the conference
having a good mentality at the championship and winning
the AMCC regular season are
two goals for the season."
After splitting a doublehead
er with Allegheny and a win
against Thiel this week, the
Behrend Lions have an
impressive overall record of
21-5 and AMCC record of 12-
Koerbel believes that the
team deserves to be back in
regionals this season.
"Anything less than going
back to regionals, I will be dis-
CONTP BuTED PHCTO , , appointed," Koerbel said.
"When we go back, we
deserve to be there. I would
take winning regionals over
any personal goal."
Tyrone Carter, Ryan Clark, Matt Spaeth, Darnell
Carey Davis, Jon Dekker, Stapleton, Ike Taylor, and
Arnold Harrison, James Deshea Townsend.
Harrison, Chris Hoke, Brett According to the Behrend
Keisel, Chris Kemoeatu, website, individual appear-
Anthony Madison, Troy ances are subject to player
Polamalu, Willie Parker, Ben availability and all players will
Roethlisberger, Gaiy Russell, not be at every game.
heelers cornerback Deshea Townsend signs autograph
well to left field it really levels
my swing and forces pitchers
to throw the ball over the mid
dle and inside parts of the
plate, which for me are more
attractive pitches to hit."
Gray attributes not only his
success, but also the success
of the team to the coaches.
"Our coaches have been
great, they are constantly try
ing to improve all aspects of
our team's game," Gray said.
David Koerbel
Senior pitche
"We are very focused on our
goal to win the AMCC regular
season and postseason tourna
ment and advance to the
NCAA Regional Tournament,"
Gray said. "So far we have
put ourselves in a good posi
tion to achieve both of these,
and we are looking forward
for the chance to defend our
AMCC title and win some
games at the regional tourna
ment."
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
NFL Draft Preview:
Browns, Bills, and
Steelers
Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford avoids pressure in the pocket
On April 25 at 3 p.m. the
Detroit Lions will be on the
clock with the first pick in the
2009 NFL Draft.
Georgia quarterback
Matthew Stafford, Wake Forest
linebacker Aaron Curry, and
Baylor left tackle Jason Smith
are the top three candidates to
be selected number one over
all.
It can't be taken for granted
though that any one of the top
three draftees might be chosen
first.
Every NFL Draft provides its
viewers, league officials,
scouts, coaches and players
alike with shocking trades,
picks, and risers and fallers.
Remember in the 2006 Draft
when the Houston Texans
selected defensive end "Super"
Mario Williams over USC's
highlight reel fiend running
back Reggie Bush?
Or when the Lions took a
receiver with a top ten pick in
three straight drafts, and each
went on to be back-ups or out
of the league, period?
It's these sorts of surprises
that keep football fans antici
pating who will be selected by
their team, particularly in the
first round.
The Cleveland Browns are
dismantling the roster player
by player.
Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.
was traded to Tampa Bay after
demanding to be traded.
The Browns are now
rumored to be in trade talks
that would send receiver
Brayton Edwards to the New
York "football" Giants.
Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun
Rogers is also in a tedious situ
ation as he and new head
coach Eric Mangini have pub
licly voiced concerns over their
relationship.
The Browns hold the fifth
pick in the 2009 draft, and they
could conceivably draft at any
position aside from quarter
back.
With the last of the top five
picks the Browns will probably
not look to draft a runningback
or defensive back as none have
the talent to warrant such a
high pick.
This leaves the Browns with
a list of players to choose from.
Curry or Texas defensive end
Brian Orakpo would make
sense at outside linebacker to
take advantage of an AFC
North Division riddled with
weak offensive tackles.
The Browns might also con
sider Jason Smith if he falls
down the drafts boards. Texas
Tech receiver Michael Crabtee,
Virginia offensive tackle
Eugene Monroe and Boston
College nose tackle B.J. Raji
will all also be enticing
prospects to the Browns.
The city of Buffalo endured
shockwaves on March 7, 2009
when the Bills signed Terrell
Owens
The unprecedented signing
has overshadowed a growing
list of Bills players getting into
trouble. Half back Marshawn
Lynch has already been sus
pended for three games while
safeties Ko Simpson and Donte
Whitner have each been arrest
ed in separate incidents.
"We always value character,"
Bills GM Russ Brandon said,
according to ESPN.com. "It
Friday, April 17, 2009
By Shawn Annarelli
contributing writer
smas I 89{u psu.edu
goes into the overall operation
of our draft and everything we
do here when evaluating a
player. Much like you look at
vertical jump and a 40 time,
you look at that aspect as well."
Someone needs to remind
him he just signed the notori
ous T.O.
As for the Bills draft plans,
they can go in any number of
directions with eleventh pick
in the 2009 draft and beyond.
Buffalo desperately needs a
pass rusher along the defen
sive line. The offensive line
also leaves a lot left to be
desired.
So-called pro bowl left tack
le Jason Peters gave up more
sacks (11.5) than any other left
tackle in the league while play
ing in only 13 games.
Depending on which draft
prospects fall and raise the
Bills will be in a decent posi-;
tion to draft a rookie who
could make an immediate
impact.
The first few names that
come to mind as potential Bills
picks is Boston College defen
sive tackle B.J. Raji, Orakpo,
Ole Miss offensive tackle
Michael Oher, Alabama offen
sive tackle Andre Smith and
Florida State defensive end
Everett Brown.
The Pittsburgh Steelers took
care of its main priority as out
side linebacker James
Harrison extended his contract
to a six-year deal worth up to
51 million dollars.
The Steelers have stuck true
their off-season identity by
making as little noise as possi
ble. Pittsburgh has yet to
acquire another team's free
agent.
Looking ahead to the draft
the Steelers will have the luxu
iy of taking the best players
available as most of the roster
is already aligned.
It is doubtful Pittsburgh will
look to pick up a quarterback,
runningback, receiver, tight
end, or linebacker in the first
round. Though, the Steelers
may consider Oklahoma State
tight end Brandon Pettigrew or
Maryland receiver Darrius
Heyward-Bay if they want to
improve their passing game.
Where the Steelers should
be looking to immediately
improve the team is anywhere
along the lines or in the sec
ondary.
The Steelers may consider
stout centers like California's
Alex Mack or Louisville's Eric
Wood.
They could choose a versa
tile offensive lineman such as
Oregon's Max Unger or any
number of offensive tackles
crowding the early rounds of
the draft.
Pittsburgh may also look to
the defense and choose Boston
College nose tackle Ron Brace
or any number of corners
crowding the early second
round.
Over the years teams like the
Steelers and Patriots have
shown that the best way to
build a team is through the
draft. It signifies an opportuni
ty to draft an impact player
early, as well as, steal the next
Tom Brady, James Harrison, or
T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the
later rounds.