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Press Releases -
May 2004
The following are press releases for the Kutztown University Athletic
Department, released during the time listed above. For more information,
contact the sports information office.
Click here for an archive of all KU Athletics press
releases.
Releases
 KUTZTOWN
FINISHES BEST-EVER SECOND IN DIXON TROPHY STANDINGS
FOUR
GOLDEN BEARS HEADED TO NCAA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
KU
TRACK & FIELD HEADED TO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
WILLMER,
HAUSMAN NAMED TO ALL-PSAC EAST SOFTBALL TEAMS
KU
BASEBALL EARNS TRIP TO NORTH ATLANTIC REGIONAL
NINE
KU TENNIS PLAYERS HONORED BY PSAC
SIX
PLAYERS, COACH NAMED TO PSAC BASEBALL HONORS
KUTZTOWN
SOFTBALL TEAM AWARDED BERTH IN NCAA REGIONAL PLAYOFFS
KUTZTOWN
WOMEN’S TENNIS EARNS REGIONAL BERTH
GOLDEN
BEARS TO HOST NCAA MEN'S TENNIS REGIONAL
KUTZTOWN
FINISHES BEST-EVER SECOND IN DIXON TROPHY STANDINGS
KUTZTOWN, PA –
Kutztown University finished second in the race for the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference’s (PSAC) F. Eugene Dixon, Jr. Trophy.
KU’s second place finish is the best in school history, topping
third place finishes in 2000-01 and 2001-02.
The
Dixon Trophy is awarded annually to the PSAC member institution that
accumulates the most points based on the results of conference
playoffs and/or regular season records. Each institution’s finish
is calculated by the top six men’s and top six women’s finishes in
22 conference sports.
Kutztown’s second place finish is not only the highest ever at KU
since the trophy’s inception in 1995-96, but marks a two-place
improvement over 2002-03. The Golden Bears also showed the largest
improvement in the conference, gaining 11 points from last year.
Kutztown also finished ahead of the other six Eastern Division
schools with a total of 125.5 points.
Kutztown posted 59.5 points on the men’s side of the standings, the
most in the conference. Its 66 points on the women’s half of the
standings were the second highest total in the PSAC.
The
Golden Bears were forced to settle for second despite posting the
third highest single season point total in Dixon Trophy history.
Unfortunately for KU, Shippensburg posted a record-setting 128.5,
just three more than Kutztown, to finish first. The race for first
between the two schools was the closest Dixon Trophy race since
1999-2000, when three points also decided the winner.
Shippensburg posted its PSAC-best fourth first place finish in the
Dixon Trophy standings, followed by the Golden Bears. Indiana (PA)
was third with 116, with Lock Haven fourth at 110.5 and Slippery
Rock fifth at 108.5.
Twelve
of Kutztown’s 21 varsity sports, six men’s programs and six women’s,
contributed toward the Dixon Trophy standings. The Golden Bears
2003-04 seasons were highlighted by the women’s indoor track &
field team, who won the PSAC Championship. The volleyball
and baseball teams captured PSAC Eastern Division crowns.
The men’s basketball team joined baseball as PSAC runners-up
in postseason competition. Softball, men’s indoor track &
field and women’s outdoor track & field each finished
third at the PSAC Championships. Women’s cross country was
fourth in the conference. Women’s soccer, men’s cross
country and football also contributed to Kutztown’s total
of 125.5 points. The men’s tennis team also won its team
championship, but with only six men’s teams in the PSAC, it did not
tally enough points to count towards the Kutztown total.
Dixon Trophy
Standings
1. Shippensburg, 128.5; 2. Kutztown, 125.5; 3. Indiana (PA),
116; 4. Lock Haven, 110.5; 5. Slippery Rock, 108.5; t-6. Edinboro,
105; t-6. West Chester, 105; 8. Bloomsburg, 99.5; 9. E. Stroudsburg,
95.5; 10. Millersville, 92; 11. California (PA), 86.5; 12. Clarion,
84; 13. Mansfield, 67; 14. Cheyney, 25.
FOUR GOLDEN BEARS HEADED TO NCAA TRACK &
FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
KUTZTOWN, PA – Two
members of each the Kutztown men's and women's track & field teams
have qualified for the NCAA Championships on May 27-29. The games
are being held at Hilmer Lodge Stadium at Mount San Antonio College
in Walnut, California.
Justin Collins (sr. Lake Ariel/Western Wayne) qualified for the
competition in both the long and triple jumps, with decathlete
Steve Winters (jr. New Cumberland/Cedar Cliff) being the other
qualifier on the men's side. Niya Adams (sr. King of
Prussia/Upper Merion) will compete in the 800-meter run and
Alison Maurer (so. Lewisberry/Northern York) will throw the
hammer to represent the KU women at the meet.
Collins is making his second trip to the outdoor national
championships and will compete
in both the long and triple jumps. Collins is seeded fourth in the
long jump (25-0 3/4) and 18th in the triple jump (48-5 1/4), after
he won both events last weekend at the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference (PSAC) Championships. His mark of 25-0 3/4 in the long
jump at the games set a meet record. He was the 2000 ECAC long jump
champion and won the PSAC outdoor long jump in 2002 and its indoor
title in 2003. He is the school record holder in the long jump with
a mark of 25-4 3/4, set in 2002. He has twice competed at the
Indoor NCAA’s.
Winters will also be making his first appearance in nationals.
He placed second at the PSAC Championships last week with a score of
6,528. That score earned him the tenth seed at nationals. He
finished second in the decathlon at the PSAC Outdoor Championships
in 2003, as well.
Adams returns to the NCAA Championships for the second straight
year after winning her fourth PSAC Outdoor Championship in the
800-meter run. Her time of 2:12.46 at the PSAC Championships earned
her the 12th seed at nationals. In 2003, Adams placed 12th at
nationals with a time of 2:11.50. She is also the school record
holder in the event (2:11.13), as well as the indoor 500-meter, and
was a member of the KU record 4x400-meter relay both indoors and
outdoors, as well as the outdoor 4x800-meter relay team. She has
won 11 career PSAC titles as either an individual or part of a
relay.
Maurer is competing at nationals for the first time as a
sophomore. The hammer was not contested at the PSAC Championships.
She earned the twelfth seed at the NCAA's with a throw of 171-5 at
Lafayette earlier this year.
KU BASEBALL HEADS TO ALABAMA FOR DIVISION II WORLD SERIES
KUTZTOWN, PA –
After winning the North Atlantic Regional, the Kutztown University
baseball team will travel to Montgomery, Alabama for the NCAA
Division II College World Series. The Golden Bears are making their
third appearance in the tournament in the last four years.
KU
(37-14) will meet Columbus (GA) State (39-19) in the opening round
on Sunday, May 23 at 1:00 PM (central time). The Cougars qualified
for the World Series by winning the South Atlantic Region. In
Sunday's other contest, Delta State (50-10) of the South Central
Region will face Central Missouri State (54-6) out of the Central
Region.
South
Region champion Rollins will face Northeast Region winner Bryant on
Saturday at 1:00 PM, followed by Cal State-Chico (42-19-1) against
Grand Valley State (43-15) at 6:30 PM. Cal State-Chico won the West
Region and Grand Valley State represents the North Central Region.
The
winners of Sunday's games will square off on Tuesday at 6:30 PM,
while the losers of the two games play at 2:30 that day. Games in
the eight-team, double-elimination tournament will continue
throughout the week, ending with the championship game on Saturday,
May 29.
Team Capsules
Kutztown
University Golden Bears (37-14, North Atlantic Champions, ranked #8
in NCAA)
Head Coach: Chris Blum (second season, 62-29)
Kutztown won all three of
its games to claim the North Atlantic Region for the third time in
four years. After a lopsided 13-2 win in the opening round, KU won
a pair of extra-inning contests for the title.
The
Golden Bears last advanced to the World Series in 2002, winning
their first game against Florida Southern before falling to a pair
of teams in this year's competition. Cal State-Chico beat Kutztown
6-1 before Columbus State – this year’s opening round foe - took a
6-3 decision to eliminate KU from the tournament.
This
year, KU rebounded from a second-place finish at the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships to win the North
Atlantic Region. Overall, the Golden Bears have won 15 of their
last 18.
Kutztown enters the tournament with a stellar pitching staff.
All-PSAC East selection Matt Haverly leads the rotation with
a 5-1 record and a 1.53 earned run average. The lefthander has
struck out 77 batters in 64.1 innings of work and limits opposing
batters to a .184 batting average. He has also walked just
14.
Rob
McCuen (sr. Hawley/Wallenpaupack) also has five wins and sports
a 2.37 earned run average. Donny Landon (sr.
Wilkes-Barre/Coughlin) has a 3.02 earned run average and five
wins, as well. He is second on the team with 68 strikeouts.
Kyle Sadlowski (so. Reading/Central Catholic) has a 6-1 record
to lead the starters in wins.
Matt
Keller (so. Fleetwood/Fleetwood) was named the MVP of the
regional after winning two of the Golden Bears’ three games. He
leads Kutztown with eight wins and set a single season KU record
with eight saves.
Kutztown's catchers lead the offense. Clay Kuklick (jr. North
Wales/North Penn) leads the team with a .352 (56-fof-159)
batting average and 38 runs scored. The leadoff hitter is also one
of three Golden Bears with six home runs. He is in the midst of an
eight game hit-streak and has hit safely in 18 of his last 19
contests. Catcher/DH John Yearsley (sr. Coatesville/Coatesville)
is batting .323 (33-for-99) as the KU cleanup hitter. He and
Kuklick each have 23 runs batted in.
Outfielders Paul Koropchak (jr. Frackville/North Schuylkill)
and Ryan Loper (fr. Boiling Springs/Cumberland Valley) join
Kuklick with six homers. The duo is also tied for the team-lead
with 10 doubles. Koropchak was an All-PSAC East pick and is hitting
.297 (47-fof-158) with a team-high 38 runs batted in and 12 steals.
Loper was named the PSAC East Rookie of the Year after a superb
freshman season. He is batting .308 (41-for-133) with 28 RBI and 37
runs scored.
Shortstop Gary Stricker (so. Croydon/Conwell Egan-Catholic)
is batting .298 (39-for-131) with five homers and 24 RBI. His
double-play partner is Greg Rada (jr. Lebanon/Cedar Crest).
Rada is batting .310 (35-for-113) with eight doubles. He splits
time with Josh Fink (so. Hatfield/North Penn). Fink has
busted out of an early season slump to earn honors on the
All-Tournament at the North Atlantic Regional. For the year, he is
batting .211 (24-for-114).
Mike
McCardell (fr. West Chester/Henderson) and Kyle Costello (so.
Plains/Coughlin) round out the infield for the Golden Bears.
McCardell is the first baseman, batting .263 (26-for-99) with 20
RBI. He is also a valuable member of the KU bullpen. In 38
innings, he has fanned 45, while walking just six for a 2.84 earned
run average. Costello is batting .228 (23-for-101).
Bryant
College Bulldogs (39-15, Northeast Region Champions, ranked #11 in
NCAA)
Head Coach: Dr. Jon Sjogren (14th season, 337-282-1)
The Bulldogs are making
their first appearance in the World Series since 2002 after winning
the Northeast Regional by defeating Dowling, 4-2. Bryant features a
tough pitching staff with combined ERA of 2.89. Steve Sloan,
the Northeast 10 Pitcher of the Year, and Mike Florest make a
formidable one-two punch in the rotation. Sloan (10-1) is third in
Division II with a 1.05 earned run average and six complete games.
Florest (10-2) checks with a 1.95 ERA. Outfielders Mickey
Ryan (.344, 47 runs, 25 stolen bases) and Daryle Crowley
(.320, 49 runs, 6 homers, 41 RBI) pace the offense. Ryan is also
the team's top reliever (4 saves, 1.69 ERA).
Central
Missouri State Mules (54-6, Central Region Champions, ranked #1 in
NCAA)
Head Coach: Darin Hendrickson (first season, 54-6)
The Mules feature a potent
offense that features four players with double-digit homers and a
top flight pitching staff that ranks number one in the country
heading into the World Series. Centerfielder Francisco Leandro
was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Player of the Year after batting .364 with 15 homers, 71 RBI and 29
stolen bases. Rightfielder Stephen Downey (.384, 7 homers)
led the team in RBI with 73 and steals with 33. Eric Errante
(.384, 12 homers, 68 RBI, 24 steals), the second baseman, scored
runs and had 23 doubles. Catcher Tommy Bryant (.381) and
First baseman Joe Gullion (.357, 62 RBI) each have ten
homers. The pitching staff has a team ERA of 2.56, led by ace
starter Steve Sharpe (13-0, 2.14 ERA, 94 strikeouts, 88.1
IP), the conference pitcher of the year. Closer Nick Weber
(7 saves) struck out 38 in 29.2 innings. Central Missouri State won
national titles in 1994 and 2003.
Chico State
Wildcats (42-19-1, West Region Champions, tied for #4 in NCAA)
Head Coach: Lindsay Meggs (11th season, 450-189-3)
The Wildcats are making
their fifth trip to the World Series in eight years, with national
titles in 1997 and 1999. Coach Lindsay Meggs is 13-3 all-time in
the World Series. Third baseman Brian Lucas leads the
offense with a .382 batting average, 17 doubles and 51 runs batted
in. Second baseman Joseph Ramos (.354, 60 runs, 16 doubles, 41 RBI)
and designated Ryan Wulfert (.327, 5 home runs, 36 RBI) also add
punch. Starter Brian Kroll (9-3, 3.81 ERA, 94 strikeouts)
anchors the pitching staff. Closer Nick Burger (4.06 ERA)
posted 14 saves.
Columbus
State University (39-19, South Atlantic Region Champions, tied for
#4 in NCAA)Head Coach: Greg Appleton (seventh season, 257-140)
Kutztown's first round opponent, Columbus State, won the national
championship the last time KU was in the World Series, in 2002. The
Cougars were also the national runners-up in 1996. Columbus State
defeated North Florida to win the South Atlantic Region, and even
trailed 6-1 in the championship game before rallying for a 7-6 win.
The Cougars are led by outfielder Larry Pittmon, the Peach
Belt Conference Player of the Year. Pittmon is hitting .384
(84-for-219) with 66 runs scored, 16 doubles, 18 home runs 69 RBI
and a .712 slugging percentage. First baseman Billy Howard
(.390, 15 doubles, 53 RBI), shortstop Kurt McKee (.352, 61
runs, 17 doubles, 14 steals) and Nick Shay (.258, 9 homers,
41 RBI) surround Pittmon in the lineup. Judson Bradley (5-1)
leads the pitching staff with a paltry 1.15 earned run average.
Brian Baker (8-1, 7 saves) is the top arm in the bullpen with a
2.30 earned run average.
Delta State Statesmen (50-10, South
Central Region Champions, ranked #2 in NCAA)
Head Coach: Mike Kinnison (eighth season, 356-95)
The
Statesmen appear in the World Series for the ninth time, but have
never won the title. Outfielder Jud Thigpen sparks the
offense with a .438 batting average, 105 hits, 19 doubles, 14
homers, 77 RBI and 19 steals. Designated hitter Chris Reed
(.434), third baseman Mark Broome (.370, 81 runs, 14 homers,
53 RBI, 19 steals), catcher Craig Newton (.359, 8 homers, 55
RBI) and shortstop Eric Patten (.348, 74 runs) help produce a
formidable lineup. Josh Barton leads the pitching staff with
a 12-1 record and 3.48 ERA in 93.2 innings. Matt McAlpin
(9-1, 3.84 ERA) and Brad Lightsey (10-1) round out the
rotation.
Grand Valley
State Lakers (43-15, North Central Region Champions, ranked #6 in
NCAA)
Head Coach: Steve Lyon (ninth season, 247-171-1; fifth season at
GVSU, 169-88)
The
Lakers enter the World Series in the midst of a stretch of 30 wins
in 34 games to earn their second straight berth in the final eight.
Matt Rafeld, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference Pitcher of the Year, leads the team with an 11-2 record
and seven complete games. He has 79 strikeouts in 95.1 innings,
with a 3.12 ERA. Jon Micoff (10-3, 2.84 ERA) and Phil
Mixter (7-2, 3.58 ERA, 83 strikeouts, 75.1 IP) follow Rafeld in
the rotation. Closer Joe Finnerty (2.22 ERA, 20 strikeouts,
24.1 IP) has nine saves. Second baseman Scott Smith (.362,
71 runs, 30 steals) sets the table for first baseman Tim Hudnall
(.357, 8 homers, 70 RBI) and shortstop Scott Allen (.377, 19
doubles, 60 RBI, 16 steals). Centerfielder Brian McFarland
leads the team with a .380 batting average.
Notes: Results for all of
Kutztown’s games in the tournament will be available at KU's
tournament homepage,
while inning-by-inning updates will be posted on the Golden Bear
Hotline at 610-683-1515 (option 1). Live results can also be
obtained at the host institution, Valdosta State’s Website at
http://www.valdosta.edu/athletics/montgomery.
GOLDEN BEAR FIELD HOCKEY HEADED DOWN UNDER
KUTZTOWN, PA – The
Kutztown University field hockey team will travel to Australia on
May 19-31 for a two-week field hockey tour.
On the
trip, the Golden Bears will play several club teams comparable to
Division-I level competition in the United States.
KU head
coach Betty Wesner is looking for three things out of the
trip. "First, this should be the chance of a lifetime for many of
our girls. Second, the trip will give us the opportunity to bond as
a team. And, third, we will be facing some great competition since
Australia produced the last gold medal Olympic team.
"Playing against top competition is a
great way to improve and this gives us that chance. Plus, we will
be able to see many of the beautiful and exciting places," Wesner
added.
In addition to playing five matches, the
field hockey team will tour some of the country's more famous cities
and tourist attractions, such as the Sydney Opera House and the
Great Barrier Reef. The Golden Bears will get a chance to see some
exotic wildlife, such as kangaroos and koala bears, when they visit
the Corrumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
Fans
will be able to keep track of the team’s trip on KU’s Athletics
Website. The team will be sending pictures and game results back to
Kutztown via the Internet. The information will be posted on
kubears.com .
KU TRACK &
FIELD HEADED TO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
KUTZTOWN, PA – The
Kutztown University outdoor track & field teams will head to
Slippery Rock for the 2004 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
(PSAC) Championships on May 13-15.
Competition will start at 10 a.m. on Thursday, when the first five
events of the men’s decathlon and the first four events of the
women’s heptathlon will be contested.
Friday’s action starts at 8 a.m. with
preliminary heats in track events. Field events will start at 9
a.m., with the second half of the decathlon and heptathlon
competitions commencing at 9:45 a.m. The final day of the
competition starts at 9 a.m. with the final eight events of the
field competition. Running events are set to start at 11 a.m. on
Saturday.
Both the Kutztown men and women will be
looking to improve on their fourth place finishes from 2003.
Slippery Rock’s women and Shippensburg’s men won the titles in
2003.
KU is under the guidance of head coach
Brian Mondschein, in his 10th year at the helm of the Golden
Bears' track & field program. During the indoor season, he guided
the women to their first ever PSAC Indoor Championship. Kutztown’s
men won the outdoor title from 2000 to 2002, while the women have
won titles in 1997 and 2000.
The men are led by All-America jumper
Justin Collins (sr. Lake Ariel/Western Wayne). Collins is the
PSAC's top seed in both the long and triple jumps. His marks of
24-4 in the long jump and 48-1 1/2 are both NCAA provisional
qualifying marks. Collins was the 2002 long jump champion, but
missed last year’s meet due to injury.
Dave Bartolomucci (jr. Exeter/Exeter)
is the top seed in the men's 400-meter dash. He ran a 48.65 earlier
this year to lock up the top spot in the conference heading into the
championships. Bartolomucci is also the anchor leg of the
third-seeded 4x400-meter relay. Matt Carroll (so. Schwenksville/Perkiomen
Valley), Tony Hegedus (fr. Coopersburg/Southern Lehigh)
and Billy Boorse (fr. Collegeville/Perkiomen Valley) comprise
the first three legs of the relay. Carroll and Bartolomucci return
from last year’s PSAC Champion 4x400 relay team.
In the decathlon, KU's Steve Winters
(jr. New Cumberland/Cedar Cliff) is the second seed. He posted
a score of 6,320 earlier in the season.
On the women's side, Kutztown has two of
the top three seeds in the 800-meter run. Three-time defending
champion Niya Adams (sr. King of Prussia/Upper Merion) has
the top seed with a time of 2:14.54. Madonna Patterson (fr.
Philadelphia/William Penn) is the third seed with a time of
2:16.62. Patterson has also secured the second seed in the
1,500-meter with a time of 4:45.10.
Patterson and Adams are the third and
fourth legs on the PSAC's top-seeded 4x400-meter relay. Laura
Kline (fr. Reading/Reading) and Sara Otis (jr.
Wyalusing/Wyalusing Valley) run the first two laps with a seed
time of 3:54.87. Otis and Adams were members of last year’s PSAC
Championship relay team.
The Golden Bears are also well
represented in the field events. Alison Maurer (so.
Lewisberry/Northern York) is the second seed in the discus at
131-6.
In the high
jump, Candice Bullard (jr. Schwenksville/Perkiomen Valley)
grabbed the two seed with a height of 5-4. Emily Cook (sr.
Enola/Cumberland Valley) cleared 10-11 3/4 to earn the
third-seed in the pole vault.
WILLMER,
HAUSMAN NAMED TO ALL-PSAC EAST SOFTBALL TEAMS
KUTZTOWN, PA – Two
members of Kutztown University’s softball team have been named to
the 2004 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division
teams, in voting conducted by the league’s coaches.
Willmer |
Hausman |
Second baseman Adriane Willmer (fr. Kitchener, ONT/Resurrection)
was named to the first team, while center fielder Karli
Hausman (sr. Reading/Wilson) was named to the second team.
Willmer earns her first all-conference award in her rookie
season at KU. She hit .304 (49-for-161) with a team-high 25 runs
scored, along with five doubles, four triples, a home run and eight
RBI.
Hausman earns her second-straight All-PSAC East honor, after
being named to the second team last year as well. Hausman led KU
with a .327 average (54-for-165) with 21 runs scored, seven doubles,
two triples and two home runs. Her 18 runs batted in were tied for
the team lead.
Kutztown, under head coach Judy Lawes, finished the year
31-19 overall, 15-9 in the PSAC East. KU placed third at the PSAC
Championship tournament, then bettered that, finishing as the
Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament runner-up, its highest-ever
finish.
KU BASEBALL EARNS TRIP TO NORTH ATLANTIC
REGIONAL
KUTZTOWN, PA – The
Kutztown University baseball team will continue its 2004 season with
a trip to the North Atlantic Regional tournament at Shippensburg
from May 13-15.
The
Golden Bears (34-14) earned the third seed in the double-elimination
tournament and will face the second seed, West Virginia State
(38-14), in the opening round at noon on Thursday. Top-seeded
Shippensburg (42-10) will face the four seed, West Chester
(36-10-2), in the other opening round contest at 3:30 PM.
Games
in the double-elimination tournament continue all day Friday and
Saturday with the championship round.
The
Golden Bears are led by PSAC East Coach of the Year Chris Blum,
in his second season at KU. This is Kutztown’s fifth appearance in
the NCAA Regional Tournament (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004).
Kutztown won the tournament in 2001 and 2002, while finishing third
last year.
Kutztown features a strong pitching
corps and an offensive attack that came alive at the PSAC
Championships. Lefthander Matt Haverly fronts the KU pitching
staff with a 5-1 record and a 1.59 earned run average. The senior
has thrown a pair of shutouts, including a perfect game, while
striking out 67 batters in 56.2 innings.
Rob McCuen has posted a 5-2
record and a 2.89 ERA. Matt Keller set the single-season
saves record for the Golden Bears with eight and has a team-best six
wins to go with a 3.49 ERA.
Catcher Clay Kuklick leads the Golden Bears in hitting at
.349 (52-for-149). He also has six home runs and 21 runs batted in,
while leading the team with 37 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.
Designated hitter/catcher John Yearsley is hitting
.333 (30-for-90) with 13 runs scored, six doubles and two home
runs. He also has 22 RBI and 11 walks.
Right fielder Paul Koropchak is
hitting .293 (43-for-147) with 31 runs scored and a team-high 33
RBI. He has seven doubles, two triples and six home runs, and is
12-of-13 on stolen bases. Center fielder Ryan Loper is
hitting .301 (37-for-123) on the season, while leading the team with
10 doubles, three triples and tying for the lead in home runs with
six. The center fielder has scored 34 runs and driven in 26.
West
Virginia State brings an explosive offense to Shippensburg. Two
players have clubbed double-digit home runs for the Yellow Jackets.
Jonathan McDowell tops the team leaders with 13 homers and is
also hitting .377 (49-for-130). Andy Maught has 12
round-trippers and 14 doubles to go with a .355 batting average and
a team-high 52 RBI. Gerrad Talkington leads the team with a
.409 batting average (74-for-181) and 11 steals. On the mound,
Marc Atkins anchors the pitching staff with a 6-2 record and a
2.50 ERA.
For
Shippensburg, Evan Englebrook leads the pitching staff with a
10-1 record, 1.89 ERA and 101 strikeouts. Randy Dicken checks in at
9-2 with a 1.64 ERA and 92 punch outs. At the plate, outfielder
Andy Stecker is hitting .433 (88-for-203) with six homers, 36
RBI and 20 doubles. He also has 65 runs scored and 23 stolen
bases. Andy Dangler, the catcher, has team-highs with seven
home runs and 45 RBI, while batting .331 (57-for-172). Shortstop
Scott Kintz is batting .389 (56-for-144) with 34 RBI.
West
Chester pitcher Jeff Brennan is among the national leaders
with a 0.76 ERA. He also brings a 10-0 mark and five shutouts to
the regional. Despite a 3-4 record, Kyle Frees carries a
1.28 ERA and 50 strikeouts in seven starts and 13 appearances.
First baseman Erik Ruff leads the Golden Rams with a .422 batting
average (73-for-173), nine homers and 58 RBI. Ruff has also spent
time on the mound, with a 4-2 record and 3.15 ERA in six starts.
Matt Redcay is batting .415 (71-for-171) and 12 steals. Josh
Wagner bats .384 (66-for-172) with a team-leading 56 runs scored
and 18 stolen bases.
NINE KU TENNIS PLAYERS HONORED BY
PSAC
KUTZTOWN, PA –
Nine members of the Kutztown University men’s and women’s tennis teams
have been named to the 2004 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference teams, in voting conducted by the league’s coaches.
Bhide |
Nandakumar |
Wingerter |
Annamalai |
Beman |
Hlubinski |
Kloeffer |
Nansi |
Pachkawde |
For the men, Alok Bhide (sr. Pune, INDIA), Mukundan
Nandakumar (jr. Chennai, INDIA) and Johannes Wingerter (sr.
Deidesheim, GERMANY) were named to the first team. Velmurugan
Annamalai (sr. Chennai, INDIA), Lukas Beman (fr. Woodend,
AUSTRALIA) and Radoslaw Hlubinski (so. Warsaw, POLAND)
were named to the second team.
On the
women’s side, Kerstin Kloeffer (fr. Ludwigs Hafen, GERMANY)
was named to the first team, while Jharna Nansi (fr. Maharashtra,
INDIA) and Priya Pachkawde (fr. Nasik, INDIA) were named
to the second team.
Bhide is a four-time All-PSAC honoree, including three on the
first team. He was a first-team pick in 2001 and 2003, and was a
second-team selection in 2002. Bhide was 17-4 in singles, playing
mostly second and third seed. He combined with four partners for a
19-7 doubles record. Bhide teamed with Nandakumar to win the 2004
PSAC Doubles championship. He is KU’s career leader in doubles
victories with 70, and ranks fourth in combined (singles and
doubles) wins with 127.
Nandakumar has been named to the first team in each of his three
seasons at KU. Last weekend, he won the 2004 PSAC Singles
championship, and teamed with Bhide to take the doubles crown. This
season, Nandakumar has a 16-5 singles record, mostly at #1 seed, and
an 18-8 doubles mark.
Wingerter is a three-time All-PSAC first team selection, earning
the award in 2002 and 2003 as well. Last year, he was named PSAC
Athlete of the Year. In singles this year, Wingerter is 10-5,
playing mostly second and third seed. He has combined with six
doubles partners for a 12-3 record. Wingerter ranks fifth all-time
at KU with 121 combined singles/doubles wins.
Annamalai earned four all-conference honors in his career,
including second team selections in 2001 and 2002, and a first-team
nod in 2003. He is 7-4 in singles matches this year, playing
third-through-fifth seed. He has also teamed with two partners for
a 7-1 doubles mark.
Beman is a first-time honoree in his rookie year at KU. He has
seen action in five singles matches, all wins. He is also 7-2 in
doubles competition.
Hlubinski is a first-time All-PSAC pick, after being named the
Rookie of the Year in 2003. Hlubinski is 9-4 in singles action,
playing mostly fourth seed. He is 12-5 in doubles matches.
The
Kutztown men, under head coach Suresh Ramamurthi, are 14-4
this season and won its fourth PSAC Championship in five seasons.
KU hosts the NCAA East Regional on Friday and Saturday at Keystone
Courts.
Kloeffer has had a strong rookie season as KU’s #1 seed. She
holds a 10-2 record in singles matches. She has also teamed with
Nansi for a 10-2 record at #1 doubles.
Nansi is a first-time All-PSAC selection. She has a 7-7 record
in singles action, playing mostly second seed. She has a 13-3
record, teaming with three partners, in doubles.
Pachkawde earns her first all-conference award. The freshman is
10-4 in singles matches, playing second and third seed. She is also
10-1 in doubles competition.
KU’s
women’s tennis team is 10-7 under Ramamurthi. The Golden Bears
qualified for the NCAA East Regional, and will take on Slippery Rock
in the first round at Millersville on Friday.
SIX PLAYERS,
COACH NAMED TO PSAC BASEBALL HONORS
KUTZTOWN, PA – Six
members of the Kutztown University Baseball team and its head coach
were named to All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern
Division honors on Thursday, in voting conducted by the division’s
coaches.
Blum |
Loper |
Haverly |
Koropchak |
Head coach Chris Blum was named PSAC East Coach of the Year,
while outfielder/pitcher Ryan Loper (fr. Boiling
Springs/Cumberland Valley) was named Rookie of the
Year.
Starting pitcher Matt Haverly (sr. Camptown/Wyalusing Valley),
outfielder Paul Koropchak (jr. Frackville/North Schuylkill)
and designated hitter John Yearsley (sr. Coatesville/Coatesville)
were named to the first team. Starting pitcher Rob McCuen (sr.
Hawley/Wallenpaupack) and relief pitcher Matt Keller (so.
Fleetwood/Fleetwood) were named to the second team. It was the
first all-conference honor for all of the players except McCuen, who
is a three-time selection.
Blum, in his second year as head coach. has guided the Golden
Bears to a 34-14 overall record, including a 15-5 record in the PSAC
East. The Golden Bears placed second in the division during the
regular season, and placed second in last week’s PSAC Championship
tournament in State College. The Golden Bears have been ranked as
high as #18 in the Collegiate Baseball Division II Poll, and
are currently ranked #3 in the North Atlantic Region. The top four
teams from each of the eight regions advance to the NCAA
Championship tournament, to be held May 13-15. Blum is 59-29 in two
seasons at KU. This is his first coach of the year award.
Loper had a standout freshman season to earn the rookie of the
year award. Loper is hitting .301 (37-for-123) on the season, while
leading the team with 10 doubles, three triples and tying for the
lead in home runs with six. The center fielder has scored 34 runs
and driven in 26. Loper has also seen time on the mound, pitching
30.2 innings, with a 2-1 record and 4.99 earned-run average.
Haverly is 5-1 this season, with a 1.59 ERA in 56.2 innings
pitched. The lefthander has appeared in 11 games, with three
complete games and two shutouts. Haverly has struck out 67 batters,
while walking just 13.
Koropchak is hitting .293 (43-for-147) with 31 runs scored and a
team-high 33 RBI. The right fielder has seven doubles, two triples
and six home runs, and is 12-of-13 on stolen bases.
Yearsley is hitting .333 (30-for-90) with 13 runs scored, six
doubles and two home runs. The designated hitter/catcher has 22 RBI
and 11 walks.
McCuen is 5-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 45.1 innings pitched. The
right hander has appeared in 10 games, with one complete game and a
shutout. He has struck out 33 batters. This is McCuen’s third
career All-PSAC East honor, earning first team honors last year, and
second team honors in 2002 as a relief pitcher.
Keller set Kutztown’s single-season record with eight saves so
far in 2004. He is tied for the team’s lead with six wins. Keller
has struck out 24 batters and walked eight in 38.2 innings pitched
over 22 appearances. He has a 3.49 ERA.
The
NCAA Regional qualifiers will be announced on Monday, May 10.
Kutztown has been selected in each of the last three seasons,
winning the regional in 2001 and 2002 and finishing third last year.
KUTZTOWN SOFTBALL TEAM AWARDED BERTH
IN NCAA REGIONAL PLAYOFFS
KUTZTOWN, PA – The
Kutztown University softball team’s 2004 season will continue this
week at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional playoffs at Shippensburg
University Thursday-Sunday, May 6-9.
The
Golden Bears (28-17) are the #3 seed in the six-team regional
bracket. Shippensburg (43-4), which won the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference title, is the #1 team, followed by #2 California
{PA} (31-9), Kutztown, #4 Lock Haven (26-15), #5 Bloomsburg
(25-14-1) and #6 Virginia State (20-22)
Kutztown will face Virginia State in the second game of the
tournament, Thursday at noon. Lock Haven faces Bloomsburg at 10:00
AM. The winner of that game plays Shippensburg at 2:00 PM, while
the winner of KU/Virginia State will play California at 4:00 PM.
Games
in the double-elimination tournament continue all day Friday and
Saturday with the final elimination game and championship round.
If a second championship game must be played, it may be on
Sunday.
Kutztown is coached by Judy Lawes, who owns a 442-285-1
career mark through 17 seasons. This will be KU’s seventh appearance
in the NCAA Championships since the inception of the softball
program in 1977 (1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004).
KUTZTOWN WOMEN’S TENNIS EARNS
REGIONAL BERTH
KUTZTOWN, PA – The
Kutztown University women’s tennis team has been selected to play in
the NCAA East Regional tournament, to be held Friday-Saturday, May
7-8, at Millersville University.
The
Golden Bears are the sixth seed in the regional, and will face
Slippery Rock (#3) in the first round on Friday at 2:00 PM.
Millersville (#2) takes on St. Anselm (#7) at 10:00 AM in Friday’s
other first round matchup. The winners square off on Saturday at
11:00 AM, with the victor of that match earning a bid to nationals
in Orlando, Florida, May 12-15.
There
are 16 first and second round tournaments throughout the nation, two
in each of the eight regions. Bloomsburg, the top seed in the East,
is the host of the other tournament in the region.
The
Kutztown women’s team has had an impressive 2003-04 season. After a
five-straight sub-.500 seasons, the Golden bears are 10-7 this year,
and finished 2-2 in the PSAC East. Kerstin Kloeffer (fr. Ludwigs
Hafen, GERMANY) has been a solid #1 singles player for KU this
spring. She has a 10-2 singles record. Priya Pachkawde (fr.
Nasik, INDIA) is KU’s #2 singles player, sporting a 10-4
record. Jharna Nansi (fr. Maharashtra, INDIA) is 7-7 and
will play #3 singles. Katie Rohrbach (sr. Lebanon/Cedar Crest)
is the #4 seed in singles, with a 10-8 record.
Those
four also make up KU’s top two doubles tandems. Kloeffer and Nansi
have a 10-2 record, primarily at #1 doubles. Rohrbach and Pachkawde
are 10-1, playing mostly #2 doubles.
The
remainder of KU’s lineup is comprised of fifth seed Mindi Bell
(jr. Mount Joy/Donegal) and sixth seed Kristen Bodalski (s.
Media/Cardinal O’Hara). Bell is 5-4 in singles action, while
Bodalski is 8-9. The duo also make up the third doubles team. They
have a 5-4 record together.
Millersville is 9-3 and finished as the runners up at the PSAC
Championships. Slippery Rock enters the tournament with an overall
record of 14-8. The Rock tied for third at the PSAC Championships.
St. Anselm has a mark of 10-3.
GOLDEN BEARS TO
HOST NCAA MEN'S TENNIS REGIONAL
KUTZTOWN, PA – The
Kutztown University men’s tennis team will host one of 16 NCAA
Regional Tournaments Friday and Saturday, May 7-8.
Action
starts on Friday, when the Golden Bears, the #1 seed, play eighth
seeded Stonehill at 11:00 AM. Assumption (#4) faces Queens (NY)
(#5) in the other first-round game at 2:00 PM. The winner of
Saturday's 2:30 PM second-round match earns a bid to nationals in
Orlando, Florida.
There
are 16 first and second round tournaments throughout the nation, two
in each of the eight regions. Bloomsburg, the second seed in the
East, is the host of the other tournament in the region.
Kutztown enters the regional with a record of 14-4 and as the
champions of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The
title was the Golden Bears’ fourth in five years. Last year, KU
defeated Assumption in the finals of the regional to advance to
nationals for the second straight year. Kutztown lost to Southwest
Baptist in the first round.
The
Golden Bears are led by Mukundan Nandakumar (jr. Chennai, INDIA)
and Alok Bhide (sr. Pune, INDIA). Over the weekend,
Nandakumar won the PSAC singles title and teamed with Bhide
to win the doubles crown, as well. Bhide leads the squad
with a 17-4 mark in singles play, including a perfect 6-0 mark at
first and second singles. Nandakumar is 16-5, including 9-4
at first singles. As a doubles pairing, the two are 14-7 and 7-4 at
first doubles.
Playing
at third singles for the Golden Bears will be Johannes Wingerter
(sr. Deidesheim, GERMANY), who is 10-5 overall and 4-1 at third
singles. He will team up at third doubles with Velmurugan
Annamalai (sr. Chennai, INDIA). The duo is a perfect 4-0 at
third doubles. Annamalai, 7-4 overall, will play fourth singles for
KU. Thorsten Maier (fr. Ludwigs Hafen, GERMANY) will anchor
fifth singles for Kutztown. Since joining the team for the spring
season, he is 11-3 overall. He posted a 7-0 mark at sixth singles
before moving up. The final singles spot goes to Radoslaw
Hlubinski (so. Warsaw, POLAND). Hlubinski is 9-4 on the
season. He teams with Somdeep Appineni (fr. Andhra Pradesh,
INDIA) for the Golden Bears’ pair at second doubles.
Assumption enters the tournament as the six-time defending champs in
the Northeast-10. The Greyhounds have also posted 76 straight
conference wins. The team is a perfect 15-0 in 2003-04, including
10-0 in the NE-10. James Newman and Alex Madrigal
each sport perfect 12-0 records for the Greyhounds, while Matt
Stopp adds a 13-1 mark. The Greyhounds' pairings have lost just
one doubles match all year (36-1)
Stonehill is 10-7 overall and reached
the semifinals of the Northeast-10 tournament. Matt Grabala
leads the team with a 12-5 singles mark. He teams with Brandan
Powers for the 13-4 doubles record to lead the Chieftans.
Queens enters the regional at 14-6 and finished second in the New
York Athletic Conference (NYAC). Alfredo Perez won a pair
of titles for Queens at the NYAC Individual Championships. He won
the sixth singles championship and teamed with Jeffrey Haich
to win the crown at third doubles.
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