PSU^Spsrte Glee By 808 MASHCHMiYER PSH Baseball Coach RZMIO@PSU.EDU In the final game of the 2006 PSUAC Fall Classic, Penn State Harrisburg (8-1 in PSUAC, 9-5 overall) ended its 3 game losing streak with a win against PSUAC South Division foe, Penn State Abington (3-6 in PSUAC, 3-9 overall). Penn State Harrisburg has won all 4 games against PS Abington this year. After 2 scoreless innings, PSH seemed to take control of its final fall game by scoring 6 runs in the third. With one out, Garret Piper (Carlisle/Big Spring) walked and would move to third base on a hit & run single to right off the bat of Sean Frailey (Middletown/Middletown). With Frailey on the move, Kris Aumiller (Mechanicsburg/ Cumberland Valley) singled through the hole at short to score Piper and move Frailey to third. Aumiller went to 2nd on the throw to 3rd base. Matt Carroll (Lemoyne/HUN School of Princeton) would drop a single into left center scoring Frailey. Carroll would move up to 2nd when the throw went home to stop Jeremy Witner (Weatherly/ Weatherly), who was running for Aumiller, from scoring. After an intentional walk to Kevin Kreider (Lebanon/Cedar Crest) would load the bases, Kyle Mongold (Halifax/Halifax) was hit by a pitch to score Witner. Kevin Bowman (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) then followed with a 2 run double to the fence in left field. Mongold would later score when PS Abington tried to pick off Bowman at 2nd base. Up 6-0 going into the bottom of the 3rd, first time PSH starter Andrew Haden (Manheim Township/ Manheim Township) was on cruise control only allowing an unearned PS Abington run in the 3rd inning. In the sth, sloppy defense coupled with a tiring Haden, allowed PS Abington to tie the game at 6-6. After allowing a lead off single in the sth, Haden would walk 3 of the next four batters before giving way to reliever Matt Berfield (Summerville/Brookville). Although Berfield allowed a single to the first batter he faced, he did the job by getting a pop-up out and a double play ground ball. The PSH Lions would take the lead back in the to top of the 6th inning. Sean Frailey walked and moved to 2nd base on a sac bunt from Kris Aumiller. After an intentional walk to Matt Carroll, Kevin Kreider would work a base on balls to load the bases. Kyle Mongold drew his 3rd walk of the day, scoring Frailey. Heading into the bottom of the 7th with a 7-6 lead, Adam Wright - the 3rd PSH pitcher of the day - would walk the lead off batter and give up the tying run on a double to right center. PS Abington had a chance to win the game with a single to right field, only to have the runner from 2nd base thrown out at home plate when Mongold one-hopped a strike to Aumiller. In extra innings, PSH would win it in the Bth by scoring 3 runs. Sean Frailey doubled to open the Bth and would move to 3rd base when Kris Aumiller struck out. Aumiller was safe at first when the catcher could not find the ball in the dirt. Jeremy Witner stole second and Matt Carroll drew his 2nd intentional pass. 2 outs later, bases still loaded in a tie game, the PS Abington error on Kevin Bowman’s ground ball allowed Frailey and Witner to score. Austin Kulp (Newville/Big Spring) followed with a single to right center to score Carroll. Garret Piper worked a scoreless Bth inning, earning the save. Adam Wright picked up the win - his 3rd - working 2 innings of relief, allowing 1 earned run on 2 hits, walked 2 and struck out 4. Berfield worked 1 inning, allowing 0 runs on 2 hits. Haden went 4+ innings, allowing 3 earned runs on 3 hits, walked 3 and struck out 1. Lions unable to claim revenge against Michigan Penn State goes to third string quaterback as the Michigan defense tears through the offensive line By MATTHEW SARVER Sports Reporter MDSSOII@PSU.EDU On Oct. 14, a dedicated and cold 110,000+ people, stood faithfully as they rooted for their Penn State Nittany Lions against the #5 ranked team, Michigan Wolverines. This game was a battle between two of the best defenses in the Big Ten. However, on this night the Michigan Defense proved why they are not only a top defense in the Big Ten but in the nation. The Wolverines allowed only 33 rushing yards for Tony Hunt. This was the first game that Tony Hunt had not seen the century mark since facing Notre Dame earlier in the season. To go along with their smothering run defense, Michigan sacked the Penn State quarterbacks seven different times. Happy Valley wasn’t very cheerful by the end of the night. After the opening kickoff sailed through the cool air of State College, freshman return man A.J. Wallace gathered the kick and returned it all the way to the Michigan 45 yard line. This was the way everyone in Beaver Stadium and fans watching wanted the Lions to start this game. After a few run attempts, our questionable quarterback Anthony Morelli completed an 11 yard pass to his favorite target, Deon Butler, for a first down. Following three plays totaling five yards, sophomore kicker Kevin Kelly came onto the field to attempt a 46 yard field goal. Like he had done too many times during this season, he pushed the ball wide left, stopping what looked to be a promising time to get some points. That missed field goal really seemed to be the turning point in the game. Yes, it may seem ridiculous, and yes, it was only the first drive, but what a momentum breaker. After being so fired up for days about this Cardinals By MIKE FITZPATRICK Associated Press The first long drive to left field wound up in the webbing of Endy Chavez’s glove as he crashed against the wall. The second one sailed clear over his head. And that is what sent Yadier Molina and the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series. Molina’s tiebreaking homer in the ninth inning and another Game 7 gem by Jeff Suppan helped St. Louis overcome Chavez’s astounding grab, giving the Cardinals a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets on a rainy Thursday night for the NL championship. “I think this is the best team, and we proved it,” Molina said. Adam Wainwright wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth, striking out St. Louis nemesis Carlos Beltran to end it and leaving a stunned crowd in deflated silence just moments after it had Shea Stadium shaking. With that, the Cardinals earned their second pennant in three years and a date with the Detroit Tigers . . . . , c t The cardinals celebrate on the field or on Saturday night in Game lor the rl Cl fi , c .. . .. x „ r , , / ° Shea Stadium arter defeating the Mets World Series. Hey Motown, here come the Cards. “I’m just so happy for Yadier. What a big hit for us,” slugger Albert Pujols said. A .216 hitter with only six home runs during the regular season, Molina drove the first pitch he saw from reliever Aaron Heilman into New York’s bullpen for a 3-1 lead in the ninth. “I just left it up,” Heilman said. “I was just trying to throw it down and away. Instead it stayed right over the middle of the plate.” Chavez, who made one of the most memorable catches in postseason history just three innings earlier, could only stand and watch at the fence as the Mets’ title hopes were dashed. “Everybody said I don’t hit, and I game, to go out and start the game with a promising drive only to have another missed opportunity, really put the Lions down early. Luckily for the blue and white, their defense showed up, at least for most of the game. The first quarter was an offensive struggle for both sides, and late in the quarter another stupid call really put a damper on the Lions. Morelli completed an 8 yard completion to wide out Jordan Norwood on third and nine. This left PSU with a fourth and one on their twenty six yard line. With the entire stadium chanting GO, GO”, what does Joe Patemo elect to do? Punt the ball. This proving, that he has no confidence with this young offense, and Michigan made him pay. On there opening drive of the second quarter (after the punt), Michigan marched down the field on the Nittany Lions defense. On third and ten from the Penn State twenty five, Michigan quarter back and Penn State traitor Chad Henne connected with junior Adrian Arrington for a touchdown. Following another Penn State three-and-out, Henne led the Michigan offense down the field again. This time it led to a 23- three yard field goal from kicker Garret Rivas. Finally with 3:17 left in the half, Penn State’s offense showed some life and let the defense actually rest. Three big third down completions by the Lions, including a 31 yard screen pass to Tony Hunt taking Penn State down to the Michigan 20. Unfortunately, Penn go to World Series, beating Mets 3-1 proved them wrong,” said Molina, a standout defensive catcher. Scott Rolen, robbed of a homer by Chavez in the sixth, started the St. Louis rally with a single. But the Mets, resilient throughout their stirring season, nearly came back in the ninth. Jose Valentin and Chavez singled before pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd struck out looking. Jose Reyes lined to center for the second out, and Paul Lo Duca drew a walk that loaded the bases. That brought up Beltran, who homered three times in the series after hitting .417 with four home runs for Houston in the 2004 NLCS against St. Louis Wainwright, a rookie filling in for injured closer Jason Isringhausen, got ahead in the count immediately and froze Beltran with a curveball for strike three. “I can’t let my team down right there,” said Wainwright, who has three saves in the postseason. “Our team deserves it. We battled so hard in the playoffs.” The Cardinals, with their 17th pennant in hand, charged out of the dugout and mobbed Wainwright in front of the mound. During the champagne celebration in their clubhouse, players gathered around several times and chanted “Jo-se, Jose, Jose, Jose,” mocking the popular chant Mets fans crow when Reyes comes to the plate. St. Louis stumbled down the stretch State would not be able to punch it in. Following three straight plays from the Michigan six, Kevin Kelly connected on a 22 yard field goal to make the score 10-3 going into the locker rooms. The second half was when the dizziness really kicked in for the Nittany Lions. After another dominating stop by the Penn State defense, led by linebackers Dan Conner and Paul Posluszny, Donnie Johnson of Penn State makes a huge hi on the Michigan punt returner. the Wolverines had to punt. Three plays later, the entire Beaver Stadium went silent. On a third and nineteen, Morelli threw a completion and won the NL Central with only 83 wins. Many observers gave them little chance against the Mets, who tied the crosstown Yankees for the best regular-season record in baseball at 97-65. “I don’t think anyone expected, especially late in the season, that the St. Louis Cardinals would be in the World Series,” Rolen said. Suppan, who beat Roger Clemens in Game 7 of the 2004 NLCS, took home the MVP award this time for two outstanding starts. He limited the Mets to one- run and five hits in 15 innings, and once again was at his best in a big game. Suppan, who won Game 3, is 106- 101 lifetime, but 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA in five NLCS starts. He pitched into the eighth inning Thursday and allowed only two hits, none after t he first. “We never gave up. We always believed in ourselves,” Suppan said. The Cardinals, seeking their first World Series title since 1982, ended a long postseason streak by winning Game 7 on the road after dropping Game 6. The previous 11 home teams that won Game 6 of an LCS or World Series to stave off elimination also won Game 7. The last road team to win a seventh game after losing Game 6 was Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine at Boston in the 1975 World Series. Randy Flores worked a scoreless eighth for the win as the Cardinals’ young bullpen came through again. Oliver Perez, an unlikely starter for the injury-depleted Mets, matched Suppan most of the night, yielding only one run through six innings. But New York’s normally relentless lineup couldn’t muster enough offense. “It’s really disappointing. It was a great game,” Mets manager Willie Randolph said. “We just didn’t get any big hits.” With a runner on in the sixth, Rolen pulled Perez’s first pitch deep to left and Chavez, a defensive whiz to Derrick Williams for a twenty four yard reception. Unfortunately after making that throw, Michigan lineman Alan Branch drilled Morelli with what appeared to be a helmet to-helmet hit straight to the ground. )to courtesy Joe Paterno yells at the ref about a call during the game against Michigan (Top), and the Nittany Lion defense stacks up for another play (Left). Morelli ended up leaving the game with a concussion and never saw the field again. Backup freshman quarterback Daryll Clark now had the opportunity to lead the Lions to a major victory. Although, his appearance did not last longer than the Yankees did in this year’s post season. Late in the third quarter, Chad Henne marched down the field on the very exhausted Nittany Lions defense. After completing a number of passes, the Wolverines had a first down on the Penn State twenty. Junior running back Mike Hart rushed for a twenty yard run down the one yard line. On the next play, Hart punched it in for the touchdown, giving the Wolverines a comfortable 17-3 lead going into starting because Floyd has an injured Achilles’ tendon, raced back to the fence as fast as he could. In one motion, the 6-foot Chavez jumped with all his might and reached his right arm up and over the 8-foot wall as far as it would stretch. His mouth wide open, he snagged the drive in the tip-top of his glove, the white of the ball showing atop the webbing like a scoop of vanilla ice cream Chavez banged into the padded blue wall, buckling a couple of panels, but landed on his feet and came up firing back into the infield. Jim Edmonds, who had walked, had already rounded second, so second baseman Valentin relayed to first for a spectacular double play that ended the inning with Pujols and the bewildered Cardinals watching from the top step of the dugout Cardinals' Molina rounds third base after hitting a home run in the bottom in amazement “I had to check because my glove almost went out of my hand. I didn’t know if 1 kept it inside,” Chavez said. “I jumped as high as I can. Like a 10 percent chance in my mind 1 could catch it. I had to improvise myself and do it on the run. See the ball, see the wall and do the thing that I’ve got to do.” Fans chanted “En-dy Cha-vez!” the fourth quarter. Hart finished the game with 112 yards rushing and one touchdown. Entering the fourth quarter, there seemed to be no hope for Penn State to get back into this game. That statement really held true when quarterback Daryll Clark was knocked out after a five yard scramble with nine minutes left in the game. Wondering who would play quarterback now for the Nittany Lions, fans soon saw Paul Cianciolo, sophomore from Charleston, S.C. The third string quarterback finally brought some life back into Beaver Stadium late in the fourth quarter. With three minutes left on third and one, Cianciolo completed a screen pass to Tony Hunt, and he was off to the races for a forty-four yard touchdown pass. However, that would be the end to the attempted comeback for the Nittany Lions. The Wolverines defense shut down the final attempt for the Lions and secured the 17-10 victory for themselves. Overall, the Penn State defense did an outstanding job for being on the field for over half of the game. There are still a few problems in the secondary that need to be worked out, but they played their hearts out. The Penn State offense on the other hand needs to have a wake up call, and hopefully, this was it. The offensive line was horrible. The Michigan front four just dominated the entire game. Hopefully, for the sake of Morelli and Hunt, the line gets a lot better for the rest of the season. gopsusports.com The next game is against Illinois on Oct. 21, which is also Homecoming for Penn State. This game will be a very tough battle if Penn State is not prepared. Illinois is a different team from last year and even though Penn State did win 63-10, don’t count on the same results this time around. Prediction: Penn State 35- Illinois 17 in a closer game than it looks. and roared “Whooaaa!” over and over again as the replay was shown several times on the big video board in left-center. Chavez watched, too, and finally came out for a curtain call _ a rarity for a defensive play. Perhaps still thinking about his near miss but more likely bothered by a slick ball, Rolen, a Gold Glove third baseman, threw away David Wright’s slow grounder for a potentially costly error in the bottom of the sixth. That helped the Mets load the bases with one out, but Suppan struck out Valentin, The light-hitting Chavez then had a chance to deliver with his bat, but he flied out, leaving him 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position during the series. “A little tumultuous inning there for No. 27,” Rolen said. Perez, often leaping over the foul line on his way to the dugout, pitched the game of his life on only three days’ rest. This from a guy who was demoted to the minors by lowly Pittsburgh in June and finished 3-13 with a 6.55 ERA this season. In fact, he was barely an afterthought when the Mets acquired him with reliever Roberto Hernandez at the July 31 trade deadline. Perez, however, won Game 4 in St. Louis and gave the Mets all they could have hoped for Thursday. “We went down fighting,” said injured Mets ace Pedro Martinez, sidelined for the entire postseason. “That’s all you can ask for. We went through a lot of troubles. I’m really proud of everybody. I guarantee next year, if we are healthy, we are going to be in the World Series.” New York took the lead in the first when Wright blooped an RBI single. But the Cardinals responded to New York runs throughout the series, and they did it again in the second. Molina dunked a soft single into short left, putting runners at the comers and setting up Ronnie Belliard’s run-scoring sacrifice bunt.
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