sports •V-, z. _-, vCv-iV.- ~ - ■ ■':r Xf '’s. 1 **/, V"' " V; ' .!uli V , V ' Left fielder Jim Senyo rips a two run double in the fifth lifting the Lions to a 3 -1 victory over Thiel. Lions 1 - 3 After Opening Games by Rick Cain Collegian Sports Editor After three days of cancelations due to weather, the Behrend " Lions of Baseball" opened the regular season Sunday, March 27, with a double-header at California. Braving bitter cold, and at one point even snow, the Lions were all but shut out of the first game, seven to one. Their only run came in the fourth inning. Catcher Bob Druschcl led off the inning with a single and moved to second when designated hitter Shawn Selby drew a walk. Druschel then moved to third after a six. - four - three double play and scored on an throwing error by the catcher. The second game saw an amazing 28 runs cross the plate. Unfortunately only nine of them belonged to the Lions. Center fielder -Tom-Partridge-had four-totsTn-four-trys-fone-a long-triple to center), scoring three runs and knocking in : another. First baseman Dan Froehlich added three hits (two of them doubles) and two RBl's in the losing cause. The next day, the Lions played a double-header at home against Thiel College. The first game saw the Lions lose their third straight, ten to eight. The game went down to the wire but the Lions stranded the tying runs on base in the bottom of the last inning. First baseman Dan Froehlich had another good game at the plate with three hits in four at bats good for two RBl's and a run scored. Other offensive producers were designated hitter Darin Wotus (a triple and a sacrifice fly good for four RBl's), third baseman Shawn Selby (two hits, one run scored and one RBI), catcher Bob Druschcl (two hits and a run scored), and shortstop Reese Wetzel (two hits and three runs scored). The second game proved to be defensive battle in which the Lions prevailed, three to one. Starting pitcher Steve Davido got the win scattering seven hits over seven innings with no walks. The only offense needed came in the fifth inning. First baseman Dan Froehlich and second baseman Rich Adams started the inning with back to back A passed ball put the runners in scoring position setting the stage for left fielder Jim Senyo. Senyo delivered with a line drive double to the gap in left center knocking in both runners. Davido then sealed the Lion victory with a strikeout and two fly outs in the top of the seventh. Athetes Dan Froehlich photo by Rick Cain photo by Thang Tron Eton Spikers Drop by. Ray Van Dusen Collegian Staff Writer The Behrend Lion's Club volleyball team held their own version of the Penn-State -vs- Pitt game. As fans began to fill Erie Hall, the Lions waited for the anrival of their opponents. Just three minutes before forfeiting the first game (and possibly the whole match), Pittsburgh arrived at the gym. Lion’s Ken fisher PREPARES TO SPIKE OVER TWO DEFENDERS. The crowd seemed anxious as the two teams took the floor. Pitt got on the board first as they made a run of six unanswered points, but Behrend soon countered with two of its own. It then became a back and forth, slug-out brawl at the net, with both teams showing their spiking and blocking power up front. The Lion’s held their own, going point for point all the way until the end, but coming up short as Pitt took the first game 15-8. As the second game started, Behrend looked like Nittany lions stalking their prey. Pittsburgh served two points, but Behrend immediately bounced back taking Pitt for two of their own. Pitt countered as the P.S.U. men hit a slump, and picked up four straight points making the score 6-2. The Lions bounced back with a fabulous save by Ken Fisher and a great spike from the men up front, making it 6-3. It was back to the trenches for the teams to continue the battle. Behrend pulled within three making the-score 12-9. As Penn-State’s spirits began to rise, Pitt sent in the troops, taking three straight points, and the game 15-9. Going into the third game, Pitt began expressing why they are one of the top teams in the league, showing high power volleyball and good defense. Behrend started the game off with their first lead of the match. Pitt immediately countered with two points making the score 2-1. The Lions added two more taking the lead once again, but Pitt advanced the score to 6-2 with a good series of serves and Pitt continued to fire away, but Penn- State held them off, firing some of their own shots right back at them. Pitt took the edge 9-4 and never looked back. Behrend's defense gave away to the Pitt spiking power and the Pittsburgh Panthers claimed the third game and the match 15-9. by Rick Cain Collegian Sports Editor Congratulations to this issues Athletes of the Week, Dan Froehlich and Steve Davido. Lion’s first baseman Dan Froehlich performed superbly in back to back double-headers this week. On Sunday, against California, Dan went four for seven at the plate ■with two doubles and two RBl's. On Monday, against Thiel, Dan was four for six with two runs scored and two RBl's. Dan also racked up 24 put outs and an assist in the four games. Steve Davido was the starting pitcher in the second game against Thiel and went the distance. His control was excellent scattering seven hits in seven innings while walking none and striking out two. His performance enabled the Lions to obtain their first victory of the year by the score of three to one. Both Dan and Steve will receive dinner for two at Barbato’s in recognition of their performances. B RgsTXusAirr JS&LJL*. *512 Bufjefoßoad, I vVicmgyfgiß JeSset 1 e»on«sg@^423 Thrff to Panthers Brothers of the Court by David Bruce Collegian Sports Editor Only the most avid reader of the NCAA News realizes that Penn State-Behrend has had a basketball player ranked nationally in the Week rebounding during the past two seasons. Or that these two players are related. But this is the case with the Gomiak brothers, Randy and Gene. Although they may not be as nationally recognized as Jerome Lane, a famous rebounder who Gone & Randy Steve Davido photo by Rick Cain Collegian Page 15 m <*n is- \ : photo by Thang Trort played for the Univ. of Pittsburgh, they have become local celebrities, especially on campus. Randy's height, 6'B", makes him easily identifiable and his affable personality almost causes you to forget that he is not just another undergraduate student. It is Gene's strength, not his height, that you notice first, while Randy's lean, lanky body is perfect for his acrobatic basketball moves, Gene's body is better suited for the rougher areas of the game, such as pushing opposing players away from the basket. As a senior during the 1986-87 season, Randy,23, was first in..the nation in rebounding among Division 111 schools, averaging 16.4 rebounds per game. This season, Gene,26, finished sixth in the country in rebounds with a 12.4 average. While it appears that the Gomiaks have rebounding in their blood, they believe it is a comb ination of strong fundamental skills and intelligent play. "Our styles are very similar, neither of us are excellent jumpers, but we have a sixth sense about where the ball is going to g 0..." says Gene. "When we were younger, we would constantly play basketball with our older brothers and the only way we could grab any rebounds was to box out and play hcads-up,” says Gene. Both brothers went to North East High School in North East, Pa. During those years, Randy was a 5'11" guard and Gene, a 6'4" forward/ccntcr. Since Randy was small, he had to master the fundamentals of rebounding, which helped him tremendously when he grew eight inches in college. "When I grew, I still had the ability from when I was smaller...l could feel where the shot would fall and I would be the first to that spot," says Randy. While Randy sprouted in college, Gene grew only three more inches after high school. However, a two year stint in the Army added extra muscle to his already large frame. Doug Zimmerman, head bask etball coach, says that whatever the Gomiaks lack in physical ability they make up for in intelligence. "Both of them are smart in that they analyze where the ball is going to come. Good rebounders have to be thinkers and that's what they are," says Zimmerman. While Randy and Gene have rewritten virtually every Penn-State Behrend rebounding record, they have left an even greater mark on the college's sports program according to Athletic Director Herb Lauffer. " Their impact has been significant. It has catapulted our program to where it has become competitive," says Lauffer. "We now sport winning records against Division 111 teams and are competitive against Division II teams on our schedule. Both of them have been good leaders and have contributed greatly."
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