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Lions' Baseball off to Rocky Start
by Missy Mace
Collegian Staff Writer
The snow has begun to melt
under the strong sun that glares
in ones eyes. The birds can be
heard, the frost on the windows
can barely be seen, and the hard
packed, frozen dirt is loosening
into powder once again.
Yes, Spring is here and
Spring, of course means baseball.
The uniforms and cleats have
been unpacked and are now filled
with players ready for another
season of double-headers and road
trips.
The Behrend nine are coming
into the new campaign with a
positive outlook after last years
disappointing (5-27) season.
Coach Mike Bari's optimism
stems from some solid
From 8 to 10 pm in the Winter Garden
A group of students, faculty and
staff will hold an open reading of
Salman Rushdie's
The Satanic Verses
All are welcome to attend and
participate
support for every man, woman and
child's constitutional right to
Freedom of Expression.
performers from last years team
plus the addition of some
exciting new talent.
The combination or-returning
players, freshman, and transfer
students forms a "young and
inexperienced team, but has the
most talent ever seen here at
Behrend," said an enthusiastic
Bari.
Leading the troops onto the
field this year are Reese Wetzel (
1B), Tom Partridge (P-OF) and
Darin Wotus (OF). Returnees
expected to contribute include
Bob Duma (P), Jim Goard (OF),
Craig Frisina (C), Eric Haus(P),
and Larry Jacob (P).
Transfers include Scott
Fleishman (P), Paul Banner (P),
Percy Gum (INF), Jim Allison
(DH-1B), Matt Croce (3B), and
Ray Cerqua (P) will also play
Tonight
important roles.
The freshman class consists of
Bill Taylor (OF), Chris
Kolivoski (OF), Pete Zulich
The combination of
returning players,
freshmen and transfers
students forms a young
and inexperienced team
that has the most talent
ever seen at Behrend
(INF), Kirk McKinney (INF),
Greg Kotcamp (C), Paul Benim
(C-OF-INF), Trevor Johnson (P),
Frank Luchowski (INF), and
Co-sponsored by The Collegian
The Collegian Wednesday, March 15
Tom Bucy (P).
Reese Wetzel is a three year
starter who holds the career record
for doubles at Behrend. Other
returning three year starters are
pitchers Tom Partridge and Bob
Duma. Partridge lead the 'BB team
with a 3.24 ERA. The last
returning starter is outfielder
Darin Wotus, who played at third
last season.
The Behrend baseball team
sacrificed their spring break to
play baseball in Orlando, Florida.
Coach Bari could not make the
trip due to the birth of his baby
boy. Despite dropping all five
games, their is still a positive
outlook for the season.
Frank Luchowski lead the
team by hitting .500 on the trip.
Reese Wetzel cracked two triples
and a homer while hitting .428
this
show
and Bill Taylor smacked two
round-trippers and collected three
RBl's at a .333 clip.
The string of disconcerting
losses continued in West
Virginia, as West Virginia
Wesleyan College swept three
games from Behrendt Coach Ban
has some reasons for the early
season slump.
"The Freshman have had
trouble adjusting to flying, the
long road trips, and staying in
hotels", said the Behrend skipper.
"We have played some tough
teams. The freshman have not
played well and are disappointed."
The road to respect and
success will be a difficult one
indeed, as Behrend's schedule
includes eight Division II teams,
six NAIA teams, and three
Division 111 teams.