May 29, 2007

McCARDELL NAMED TO RAWLINGS/ABCA ALL-AMERICA TEAM

MONTGOMERY, AL – Kutztown University’s Mike McCardell (sr. West Chester/Henderson) has been named to the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-America team.   

           A right-handed pitcher, McCardell was named to the second team.  On the mound, McCardell was 7-3 with five saves and a 2.00 ERA.  He had 86 strikeouts and walked just 11 in 67.1 innings.  Opponents batted just .176 against him this season.  At the plate, McCardell hit .349 (44-for-126) with four home runs and 27 RBI.

            It has been a season of numerous awards for the senior.  McCardell was named first-team all-region, by both Daktronics and the ABCA, and first-team All-PSAC East.  He was named the ABCA North Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year and the ABCA/Rawlings Golden Glove pitcher for the region. 

            McCardell is the fifth player in KU history to earn the ABCA All-America honor.  The others have been Ryan Vogelsong (2nd team, 1998), Tim Bausher (3rd team, 2001), Glenn Woolard (1st team, 2002) and Matt Keller (3rd team, 2005).

            Kutztown was 49-7 in 2007, including a 19-1 record in the PSAC East.  Kutztown won the North Atlantic Regional title and placed eight in the nation at the Division II College World Series in Montgomery, AL.

May 26, 2007 

MILLS, McCARDELL NAMED TO DAKTRONICS ALL-AMERICA TEAM 

MONTGOMERY, AL – Kutztown University’s Jason Mills (sr. Hatfield/North Penn) and Mike McCardell (sr. West Chester/Henderson) have been named to the inaugural Daktronics, Inc., Division II All-America Team, in voting conducted by the nation’s Sports Information Directors. 

            Mills was named to the second team as a pitcher, while McCardell was named to the third team as a utility player. 

            Mills is 7-0 with a 1.62 earned-run average this season.  He has appeared in nine games, with four complete games, 46 strikeouts and 20 walks in 61.0 innings.  Mills was previously named Daktronics North Atlantic Region pitcher of the year, as well as first-team all-region and All-PSAC East.  He was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Region second team. 

            McCardell earns a spot on the third team as a utility player.  He has started at first and third base, as well as pitcher.  On the mound, McCardell is 7-2 with a 1.62 ERA.  He has 79 strikeouts and has walked just 10 in 59.1 innings.  At the plate, McCardell is hitting .349 (44-for-126) with four home runs and 27 RBI.  Already this season, McCardell has been named first-team all-region, by both Daktronics and the ABCA, and first-team All-PSAC East.  He was named the ABCA North Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year and the ABCA/Rawlings Golden Glove pitcher for the region. 

            Kutztown is 49-6 on the year, falling to Nebraska-Omaha, 5-4 in 10 innings, on Friday at the Division II College World Series in Montgomery, AL.  KU plays Cal State-Los Angeles on Sunday at 2:30 (central time).

May 24, 2007 

KU’s McCARDELL EARNS RAWLINGS/ABCA “GOLDEN GLOVE AWARD” 

MOTGOMERY, AL – Kutztown University pitcher Mike McCardell (sr. West Chester/Henderson) was named the Rawlings/ABCA “Golden Glove” Award recipient at pitcher for the North Atlantic Region. 

            The Golden Glove awards are being presented for the first time this season at the collegiate level.  Nine players from each of the eight regions were honored, with a national Golden Glove team to be selected from the regional honorees at the Division II World Series this weekend.

             McCardell, the North Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year, has a .985 fielding percentage this season, with 173 putouts and 22 assists against just three errors.  McCardell also plays in the field when not pitching, with 34 starts in 37 games at first and third base this season. 

            Kutztown is 49-5 and opens play at the Division II College World Series on Friday at 1:00 PM (Central Time) against Nebraska-Omaha.

May 22, 2007

SIX GOLDEN BEARS EARN ALL-REGION BASEBALL HONORS 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Six members of the regional champion Kutztown baseball team have been named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-North Atlantic Region team, in voting conducted by the region’s coaches.  In addition, four KU players were named to National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-North Atlantic Region honors. 

            Mike McCardell (sr. West Chester/Henderson) was named the ABCA regional Pitcher of the Year, and was joined on the first team by utility player Sean Bond (sr. Malvern/Great Valley).  3B Nate Kranz (so. Silver Spring/Cumberland Valley), OF Chad Lightcap (so. Boyertown/Boyertown), OF Ryan Loper (sr. Boiling Springs/Cumberland Valley) and P Jason Mills (sr. Hatfield/North Penn) were named to the second team. 

            McCardell was also named to first-team NCBWA honors, while Bond, Loper and Mills were named to the second team.   

            McCardell is 7-2 with five saves and a 1.67 earned-run average in 59.1 innings pitched.  His ERA is good for eighth place among Division II players.  He has struck out 79, while walking just 10.  He has previously been named first-team All-PSAC, as a starter and reliever, as well as first-team Daktronics All-Region.  McCardell also contributes at the plate, hitting .344 (42-for-122) with four homers and 26 RBI. 

            Bond is hitting .352 (58-for-165) with 45 runs scored and 26 RBI.  In 53 games, he has walked a team-high 35 times.  Bond has started at both second and third base this season. 

            Kranz has a .335 batting average (52-for-155) with 49 runs scored and 37 RBI.  He ranks fifth in Division II in being hit by pitches, with 22 (0.47/game).  Kranz was named first-team All-PSAC East earlier this season. 

            Lightcap is hitting .393 (55-for-140) with 30 runs, 12 doubles, four homers and 41 RBI.  He leads the team with a .579 slugging percentage.  Lightcap was a second-team All-PSAC East selection this season. 

            Loper bats .353 (61-for-173) with 34 runs scored, 13 doubles, five home runs and 35 RBI.  He was a second-team Daktronics All-Region selection, and was named KU’s Male Senior Athlete of the Year earlier this month.  Loper has 225 career hits, six shy of the program’s record of 231 (Al Fitch, 2000-03). 

            Mills has a perfect 7-0 record.  His 1.31 ERA ranks fourth in Division II.  The righthander has 43 strikeouts and 17 walks in 55.0 innings pitched.  He was previously named the Daktronics North Atlantic Region Pitcher of the year, as well as first-team All-Region and All-PSAC East. 

            Kutztown, 49-5 and ranked #3 in Division II by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, won the North Atlantic Regional on Sunday to advance to the Division II College World Series in Montogmery, AL.  The Golden Bears’ opening game is against Nebraska-Omaha on Friday at 1:00 PM (Central).  The game will be webcast live on redzonemedia.com.

May 22, 2007 

DENLINGER, FITZGERALD EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORS 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University softball players Steph Denlinger (so. Harleysville/Souderton) and Ashley Fitzgerald (so. Kitchener, ONT/Resurrection) have been named 2007 All-Americans.

             Denlinger was named to first-team All-America honors by both the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association and Daktronics as a first baseman.  Fitzgerald was a second-team selection on the NFCA team as a utility player.   The honors are the first All-America awards for both players. 

            Denlinger a remarkable season for Kutztown.  She established Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) records for runs scored (70), RBI (73), home runs (24), slugging percentage (1.111) and walks (51).  She also set KU records for batting average (.507, 73-for-144), total bases (160) and on-base percentage (.625).  Denlinger is already the school’s career record holder, as a sophomore, in home runs (40) and walks (77).   She was previously named the Daktronics and PSAC East Player of the Year, as well as first-team All-PSAC East and All-Region (NFCA and Daktronics). 

            Fitzgerald hit .396 (76-for-192) with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 61 RBI.  Her doubles are tied for KU”s single-season record, while her 76 hits are the second-most in a season in KU history.  Fitzgerald was previously named first-team All-PSAC East, NFCA All-Region and second-team Daktronics All-Region. 

             The NFCA awards are voted upon by a panel of softball coaches, while the Daktronics awards are decided by the Division II sports information directors. 

            Kutztown was 43-18, including a school-record 22-2 in the PSAC East in 2007.  The Golden Bears were the PSAC runners-up and placed fifth in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.

May 17, 2007 

GRUSS, RAMAMURTHI HEADLINE ALL-PSAC TENNIS HONOREES FOR KU 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University placed eight players on the 2007 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams, in voting conducted by the league’s coaches. In addition, head coach Suresh Ramamurthi was named the coach of the year. 

            On the men’s side, Gernot Gruss (fr. Manheim, GERMANY) was named the PSAC Rookie of the Year.  Gruss was joined on the All-PSAC singles team by Santiago Baquerizo (so. Guayaquil, ECUADOR), Lukas Beman (sr. Woodend, AUSTRALIA), Somdeep Appineni (sr. Hyderabad, INDIA) and Lukas Labitsch (so. Bruck an der Mur, AUSTRIA).   The men’s doubles teams of Baquerizo/Labitsch, Beman/Rubens Vianna (jr. Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL), and Gruss/Appineni swept the All-PSAC spots. 

            On the women’s side, Rohini Das (fr. Kolkata, INDIA) and Priya Pachkawde (sr. Nasik, INDIA) were dual honorees in singles and as a doubles team. 

            Gruss finished his rookie season with a 10-2 singles record and a 12-1 mark in doubles competition.  He posted a 6-0 record at No. 3 singles and paired with Appenini to compile a 10-1 record at No. 3 doubles.  Gruss was also named the ITA East Region Rookie of the Year for NCAA II men's tennis. 

            Ramamurthi guided Kutztown to its fourth consecutive PSAC championship and its seventh in the last eight years.  The Golden Bears advanced to the NCAA East regional qualifier for the 10th consecutive season, finishing with an 11-3 overall record and a perfect 4-0 mark in conference play.  In his eight seasons at Kutztown, Ramamurthi has compiled a record of 123-31 and has been named men's coach of the year twice (2002.) 

May 16, 2007 

FOUR GOLDEN BEARS NAMED TO DAKTRONICS ALL-REGION BASEBALL TEAM
Mills named Regional Pitcher of the Year 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Four members of the record-breaking Kutztown University baseball team have been named to the 2007 Daktronics All-North Atlantic Region team, in voting conducted by the region’s sports information directors. 

            Jason Mills (sr. Hatfield/North Penn) was named the North Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year and was joined on the first team by utility player Mike McCardell (sr. West Chester/Henderson).  Utility player Sean Bond (sr. Malvern/Great Valley) and outfielder Ryan Loper (sr. Boiling Springs/Cumberland Valley) were named to the second team. 

            Mills is a perfect 6-0 with a 1.37 earned-run average in 46.0 innings pitched this season.  He has struck out 40 and walked 16.  Batters are hitting just .208 against him.  A transfer from George Mason, Mills has appeared in seven games, with three complete and one shutout. He was previously named first-team All-PSAC East this season. 

            McCardell contributes as both a pitcher and position player.  On the mound, McCardell is 6-2 with a 1.46 ERA and four saves in 49.1 innings pitched.  He has struck out 64 and walked just 10, appearing in 17 games with five starts.  At the plate, McCardell is hitting .358 (39-109) with six doubles, four homers and 25 RBI.  He has started at first, third and DH this season.  He was a dual All-PSAC East selection as both a starting and relief pitcher. 

            Bond has been a valuable addition to KU’s lineup since transferring from West Chester.  A first-team All-PSAC East selection at utility player, Bond is hitting .352 (51-145) with 42 runs scored, 12 doubles and 25 RBI.  He has split time at second and third base this season.   

            Loper adds another honor to his resume with the All-Region selection.  A All-PSAC East first-team outfielder and second-team pitcher, Loper was also named KU’s Male Senior Athlete of the Year earlier this month.  Loper is hitting .340 (53-156) with four home runs and 29 RBI.  He is 6-0 on the mound.   

            Kutztown, ranked #3 in Division II with a 45-5 record, is the #1 seed in the North Atlantic Regional tournament, which begins Thursday at North Campus Field.  KU takes on #6 Shippensburg in Game 1 of the six-team, double-elimination tournament at 12:30 PM.

May 16, 2007 

FOUR GOLDEN BEARS TO COMPETE AT NCAA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Four members of the Kutztown University outdoor track & field teams will compete at the NCAA Division II Championships May 24-26 in Charlotte, NC. 

            Desiree Bower (sr. Bethel/Tulpehocken), Stephanie Williams (jr. Harrisburg/Riverside) and Renee Marchand (sr. Hawley/Wallenpaupack) qualified for the women’s team, while Steve Tyson (jr. Bridgeport/Upper Merion) will represent the men’s squad.  All will be making their first appearance at the NCAA Championships for first-year head coach Ray Hoffman. 

            Bower is seeded 11th in her event, the 3,000-meter steeplechase.  Her season-best time of 11:06.31 is a school record and was the winning time at the PSAC Championships.  The qualifying round for the steeplechase will take place at 6:45 PM next Thursday, with the finals next Saturday, at 5:15 PM. 

            Williams is seeded 13th in the 5,000.  Her season-best time of 17:24.15 came this past weekend at the New Balance Last Chance Meet in New York.  Williams placed second in the 5,000, while winning the 10,000 and finishing second in the 3,000 at the PSAC Championships this season.  She will run in the qualifying round at nationals in the 5,000 next Friday at 8:30 PM, with the finals scheduled for Saturday at 7:43 PM.

            Marchand is seeded 14th in the heptathlon.  She qualified for nationals with a school-record and PSAC championship performance of 4,698 points earlier this month.  The heptathlon begins next Thursday and will conclude the following day. 

            Tyson is seeded 14th in the shot put.  His season-best effort came at the Lehigh Games on April 28, with a distance of 54-1.  The school-record setting performance at Lehigh was followed by a PSAC title in the shot put the following week.  Tyson’s event will take place at nationals next Friday at 3:00 PM.

May 16, 2007 

KUTZTOWN FINISHES FIFTH IN DIXON TROPHY STANDINGS 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s athletic department placed fifth in the standings for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Dixon Trophy, presented on an annual basis to the league’s most successful all-around program. 

            Kutztown, which won the trophy last year, scored 127 points.  Lock Haven scored 143.5 points to win the trophy for the third time.  West Chester was second with 135.5 points, followed by Slippery Rock (132.5), Shippensburg (130), KU, Indiana (PA) (123) and East Stroudsburg (122.5). 

            The Dixon Trophy is named after F. Eugene Dixon, Jr., former chairman of the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.  It is awarded annually to the PSAC member institution that accumulates the most points based on results of conference playoffs and/or regular-season records.  Each institution's point total is calculated by adding its top six men's finishes and top six women's finishes in 21 conference sports. 

            Kutztown’s top performances came from men’s tennis, which won its fourth-straight PSAC title.  Three women’s programs earned runner-up performances – cross country, softball and outdoor track & field.  Also scoring points on the women’s side were soccer and volleyball, which were PSAC semifinalists, and indoor track & field, which placed third at the conference championship.  Men’s programs contributing to the scoring were baseball, which won the PSAC East title and tied for fourth at the conference tournament; basketball, which advanced to the PSAC quarterfinals; swimming, which placed fourth at PSACs, and indoor (7th) and outdoor (8th) track & field. 

            Kutztown’s women’s teams accumulated 73 points, tied for second most among league schools.   

            Last year, Kutztown edged Shippensburg, 140 points to 138.5, to win the school’s first Dixon Trophy since the award was first presented following the 1995-96 school year.   

Final 2006-07 Dixon Trophy Standings
 1. Lock Haven        143.5    8. Bloomsburg         120.0
 2. West Chester      135.5    9. California         115.5
 3. Slippery Rock     132.5   10. Clarion            101.5
 4. Shippensburg      130.0   11. Edinboro            99.0
 5. Kutztown          127.0   12. Millersville        98.0
 6. Indiana (Pa.)     123.0   13. Mansfield           57.0
 7. E. Stroudsburg    122.5   14. Cheyney             38.5

May 10, 2007 

JEFF CRAIG NAMED FIRST-TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Jeff Craig, of the baseball team, has been named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II First team, in voting conducted by the College Sports Information Directors of America. 

            Craig, who has a 3.64 grade-point average as a speech-language pathology major, is a senior outfielder for the Golden Bears.  He is hitting .348 (56-for-161) with 33 runs scored, 13 doubles, a triple, five home runs and a PSAC-best 52 runs batted in. 

            This is Craig’s second Academic All-District honor, after earning second team status last year.  He is a PSAC scholar-athlete, and earned All-PSAC East honors in 2005 and 2006.  Earlier this month, Craig was named KU’s Male Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year. 

            With his selection to the All-District first team, Craig is now eligible for the Academic All-America team, which will be announced May 29. 

            Craig and the Golden Bears, 45-5 this season and ranked #1 in the region and #3 in Division II, will be in action next for the Division II North Atlantic Regionals, May 17-20.

May 10, 2007

GOLDEN BEARS DOMINATE ALL-PSAC, ALL-REGION SOFTBALL HONORS 

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s record-breaking softball team dominated the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division team, as well as the Daktronics and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Mid-Atlantic All-Region teams, announced Thursday. 

            Kutztown swept the PSAC East’s top awards. First baseman Steph Denlinger (so. Souderton/Harleysville) was named Player of the Year, Kaitlin Arbogast (fr. Ambler Wissahickon) was named both the Pitcher and Rookie of the Year.  Judy Lawes was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year. 

            Denlinger, Arbogast, 2B Kim Morrison (so. Newmarket, ONT/Sir William Mulock), 3B Krista Cameron (so. Formosa, ONT/Sacred Heart), utility player Ashley Fitzgerald (so. Kitchener, ONT/Resurrection) and OF Adriane Willmer (sr. Kitchener, ONT/Resurrection) were named the All-PSAC East first team.  OF Maria Schiavo (fr. Old Forge/Old Forge) was named to the second team.  The All-PSAC honors are voted by the league’s coaches. 

            KU placed five players on the NFCA All-Region first team – 1B Denlinger, 2B Morrison, 3B Cameron, OF Willmer and utility player Fitzgerald.  Arbogast was named to the second team.  The NFCA All-Region team is selected by the region’s coaches. 

            Five players were named to the Daktronics All-Region team.  Denlinger was named the Mid-Atlantic Region Player of the Year.  Denlinger, along with P Arbogast and OF Willmer were named to the first team.  3B Cameron and utility player Fitzgerald were named to the second team.   The Daktronics All-Region team is selected by the region's sports information directors.

            Denlinger earned her second All-PSAC East and All-Region first team honors.  Denlinger has set numerous Kutztown and PSAC records this season.  She has hit 23 home runs which brings the sophomore’s career total to 39, both KU records.  Denlinger has 69 RBI, a KU and PSAC record. and set the KU record for total bases (153).  Denlinger also shattered the KU and PSAC record for walks in a season, currently with 50.  She is on pace to break the single-season KU batting average (.504) and slugging percentage (1.117).   

            Arbogast, a first time honoree, set the KU record with 287 strikeouts in 249.1 innings pitched.  Her 27 wins and 29 complete games are also KU records.  Arbogast has an ERA of 1.82. 

            Morrison received her second-straight All-PSAC East and All-Region honors.  Morrison is batting .320 this season with 17 sacrifice hits, 16 doubles, two triples, 48 runs scored and 30 RBI. 

            Cameron earned her second All-Conference honor and Mid-Atlantic All-Region honors after being named to the second teams last season.  Her Daktronics All-Region second team honor was her first.  She was named to the second team last season.  This season, Cameron has hit 16 home runs, to tie for second in a season, and is second on the career list with 26.  She is hitting .351 with 65 hits, 18 doubles, 61 RBI and 44 runs scored. 

            Fitzgerald earns her first All-PSAC East and Daktronic honors and her second Mid-Atlantic All-Region.  This season, Fitzgerald has a KU record 20 doubles.  She is batting .389 with 10 home runs and 59 RBI. 

            Schiavo, a first time honoree, set a KU single-season record in sacrifice hits with 26.  She is batting .323 with 13 doubles, 39 runs scored and 36 RBI in 201 at-bats. 

            Willmer is a four-time All-PSAC East, two-time Mid-Atlantic All-Region and first time Daktronics All-Region honoree.  Willmer set a KU single-season record with 225 at-bats and career record with 738.  She also set the KU record for hits in a season (92) and in a career (267).  This season, Willmer is batting .409, scoring 62 runs and 21 RBI. 

            Lawes earned her fourth PSAC East Coach of the Year honor.  She was previously named in 1989, 1994 and 2000.  Laws has guided the team to a 46-17 record and a ranking of #14 in Division II.

May 9, 2007

SIX GOLDEN BEARS EARN ALL-PSAC EAST HONORS
Blum Named PSAC East Coach of the Year, KU remains #1 in region

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s baseball team had six players named to All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division honors in voting conducted by the division’s coaches.  In addition, head coach Chris Blum was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year. 

           Mike McCardell (sr. West Chester/Henderson) was a double first-team honoree as a starting and relief pitcher.  Ryan Loper (sr. Boiling Springs/Cumberland Valley) was also a double honoree, earning first team honors as an outfielder and second-team as a starting pitcher.  Third baseman Nate Kranz (so. Silver Spring/Cumberland Valley), utility player Sean Bond (sr. Malvern/Great Valley)and starting pitcher Jason Mills (sr. Hatfield/North Penn)  rounded out KU’s first-team selections.  Outfielder Chad Lightcap (so. Boyertown/Boyertown) earned second-team honors.

            McCardell is a two-time All-PSAC East performer for the second-straight year. Last year, he was selected to the first team as a starting pitcher and first baseman.  This season, McCardell has pulled double duty as a pitcher, starting five games, including four PSAC East starts, and appeared as a reliever in 14 other games.  McCardell has a 6-2 record with four saves and a 1.46 earned-run average in 49.1 innings.  He has struck out 64 batters and walked just 10.  Opponents are hitting a measly .164 against him.  He was 5-1 with a save in seven PSAC East games, including four starts.  At the plate, McCardell is hitting .358 with 25 RBI and four homers.

            Loper earns his third-straight first-team honor as an outfielder and his first as a pitcher.  The centerfielder is hitting .340 (53-156) with 29 runs, 11 doubles, four homers and 29 RBI.  He has played in more career games than any previous Golden Bear (210) and ranks among KU’s all-time leaders in at bats (626), runs (136), hits (217), RBI (149), doubles (40), triples (9) and home runs (24).  As a pitcher, Loper is 6-0 with a 3.65 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 24.2 innings this season.  He has a career record of 17-5.

            Kranz earns his second-straight All-PSAC East honor, after receiving second-team status in 2006.  Kranz is hitting .328 (45-137) with a team-high 44 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples and 35 RBI.  He has been hit by pitches a PSAC-leading 21 times and a KU career record-tying 43 times.

            Bond earns his second-straight All-PSAC East utility player award, after being named to the second team last year prior to transferring from West Chester.  Bond is hitting .352 (51-145) with 42 runs, 12 doubles, two triples and 25 RBI.  He has drawn a PSAC-best 35 walks. 

            Mills, a transfer from George Mason, is a first-time All-PSAC East honoree.  He holds a 6-0 record with a  1.37 ERA in 46.0 innings.  He has 40 strikeouts and 16 walks, while opponents hit just .208 against him.  Mills has appeared in seven games, with three complete and one shutout. 

            Lightcap, the 2006 PSAC East Rookie of the Year, earns his first all-conference honor.  The leftfielder is hitting .384 (48-125) with 29 runs scored, nine doubles, a triple, four homers and 37 RBI.  He has played in 41 games. 

            Blum earns his third PSAC East Coach of the Year honor in his fifth year at the helm of the Golden Bear baseball program.  He was previously named coach of the year in 2004 and 2006.  KU has a record of 45-5, setting a school record for wins in a season.  The team was named the number one team in Division II during the season.  During his tenure, Blum is 190-68.

            Kutztown remained #1 in the North Atlantic Regional Rankings, released on Wednesday.  With regular-season and conference championship play concluded, Kutztown is likely to be selected to host the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional May 17-20 at North Campus Field, when the official selections are announced on Sunday (May 13).

May 3, 2007

KUTZTOWN SOFTBALL SELECTED TO HOST REGIONALS

INDIANAPOLIS - The Kutztown University softball team has been selected as host of the 2007 NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional, Thursday May 10-Monday May 14, at North Campus Field.

The Golden Bears, ranked #2 in the latest Mid-Atlantic Regional Poll, will host the tournament for the first time, pending its selection to the field.  The official tournament selections will be announced Monday, May 7.

Lock Haven is ranked #1 in the region.

Kutztown is serving as host to the PSAC Softball Championship Thursday-Saturday.  KU advanced to the winners bracket to face Lock Haven on Friday at 2:30 PM with a 6-1 win over East Stroudsburg on Thursday.

May 2, 2007

KU’s STEVE TYSON NAMED PSAC FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

KUTZTOWN, PA – Kutztown University’s Steve Tyson (jr. Bridgeport/Upper Merion), of the men’s track & field team, has been named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Field Athlete of the Week.

            Tyson's distance of 54-1 in the shot put at the Lehigh Games broke a 13-year old Kutztown record and is an NCAA provisional qualifying effort.  Also the conference's top distance, his mark ranks 13th in Division II.  Earlier in the week, Tyson placed sixth in the Eastern flight of the shot put at the Penn Relays (52-07 1/2.)

            Tyson is a four-time shot put champion in his career, three times indoors and once outdoors.  Last year, he placed second in the shot put at the PSAC outdoor championship. 

            Tyson and the rest of the Golden Bears will be in action at the PSAC Championships this Thursday-Saturday at Shippensburg.