A look at the teams competing in this weekend’s West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball tournament at Point Stadium and Pitt-Johnstown’s George Walter Field. The champion earns a spot in the NCAA Division II baseball playoffs.
Pitt-Johnstown
Nickname: Mountain Cats.
Location: Johnstown.
Colors: Navy & Vegas Gold.
Record: 35-15-1, 12-4 WVIAC North, 1st in division.
Head coach: Todd Williams.
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .327/.409/.507.
Team ERA: 4.77.
Team Fielding Percentage: .965.
Record vs. Field: 10-6-1 (2-2 vs. CU, 3-1 vs. WVSU, 2-2 vs. SU, 2-0-1 vs. A-B, 1-1 vs. WVWC).
Key Players: OF Adam Plummer (.400-3-34), DH Dan Delsignore (.367-5-32), 1B Matt Hanley (.360-12-54), INF Matt Petrowsky (.359-11-34), 3B Josh Campanella (.394-2-30), P Eric Faint (2-1, 2.55 ERA, 8 SV), P David Huey (6-2, 4.61 ERA), P Chuck Boring (3-3, 4.82 ERA), P Jon Moore (6-0, 3.00 ERA).
Noting the Mountain Cats: UPJ has qualified for the WVIAC Tournament in its first year of eligibility ... The Mountain Cats’ 35 victories establish a new school record for wins for the eighth time in the past 11 seasons ... UPJ enters the tournament with a 10-game win streak.
West Virginia State
Nickname: Yellow Jackets.
Location: Insitute, W.Va.
Colors: Black & Gold.
Record: 32-11 overall, 13-2 WVIAC South, 1st in division.
Head coach: Calvin Bailey.
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .361/.435/.593.
Team ERA: 4.37.
Team Fielding Percentage: .957.
Record vs. Field: 5-5 (3-1 vs. CU, 1-3 vs. UPJ, 1-1 vs. WVWC).
Key Players: OF Bo Darby (.427-14-61), OF Eric Workman (.414-8-39), UT J.D. Broderick (.402-8-36), 2B Chad Chambers (.378-5-28), P Travis McGrath (7-2, 1.79 ERA), P Todd McQuiston (7-1, 4.53 ERA), UT Ryne Holstine (.398-7-37), OF Michael Deleeuw (.341-8-31), C Chase Day (.329-1-21).
Noting the Jackets: West Virginia State has won 12 games in a row and 16 of the past 17 contests ... The Jackets have outscored opponents 233-58 during the 17-game stretch ... Veteran WVSU head coach Calvin Bailey is the winningest coach in WVIAC history with an 868-396-4 record in his 31st season.
West Virginia Wesleyan
Nickname: Bobcats.
Location: Buckhannon, W.Va.
Colors: Orange & Black.
Record: 31-15 overall, 12-4 WVIAC Central, 1st in division.
Head coach: Randy Tenney.
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .335/.420/.483.
Team ERA: 4.60.
Team Fielding Percentage: .958.
Record vs. Field: 5-8 (0-1 vs. SU, 2-2 vs. A-B, 1-1 vs. WVSU, 1-3 vs. CU, 1-1 vs. UPJ).
Key Players: 2B Derek Bowen (.477-2-37), OF Dustin Kolb (.374-7-41), P Craig Hriblan (2-1, 2.33 ERA, 11 SV), P Cy Mozingo (5-0, 1.25 ERA), P Tyler Phares (5-3, 3.64 ERA), SS Jason Russell (.372-4-28), OF Cory Flickinger (.345-4-30).
Noting the Bobcats: Wesleyan claimed the Central Division crown by a razor-thin margin over Alderson-Broaddus as the Bobcats won the final game of a four-game series last Sunday 13-0 ... All six of WVWC’s league titles came in back-to-back runs (55-56, 91-92, 95-96) ... Hriblan owns the school single-season and career records for saves.
Concord
Nickname: Mountain Lions.
Location: Athens, W.Va.
Colors: Maroon & White.
Record: 35-11 overall, 11-5 WVIAC South, 2nd in division.
Head coach: Kevin Garrett.
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .355/.433/.528.
Team ERA: 5.61.
Team Fielding Percentage: .966.
Record vs. Field: 9-7 (2-2 vs. UPJ, 1-3 vs. WVSU, 2-1 vs. SU, 3-1 vs. WVWC, 1-0 vs. A-B).
Key Players: 1B Matt Kuntz (.481-4-42, 16-16 SB), 3B Greyson Schram (.472-15-60, 13 SB), SS/P Donovan Huffer (.450-3-38, 7-2, 4.80 ERA), OF Tim Merolillo (.390-12-53), P Allen Schurdell (7-3, 4.70 ERA), P Trey Smith (7-2, 5.98 ERA), P Drew Bailey (5-1, 2.70 ERA, 5 SV).
Noting the Mountain Lions: Concord has established a new school record for victories...The Mountain Lions recorded the league’s best home mark at 22-4 ... CU is currently the top-ranked squad in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association North Atlantic Region top 10.
Alderson-Broaddus
Nickname: Battlers.
Location: Philippi, W.Va.
Colors: Navy & Gold.
Record: 26-16-1, 11-4 WVIAC Central, 2nd in division.
Head coach: Milan Rasic.
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .334/.430/.487.
Team ERA: 6.27.
Team Fielding Percentage: .959.
Record vs. Field: 2-5-1 (2-2 vs. WVWC, 0-1 vs. CU, 0-2-1 vs. UPJ).
Key Players: 1B Alan Baumann (.413-5-36), OF Eric Texeira (.397-6-36), SS/P Paul Day (.357-9-54, 4-3, 2.98 ERA), OF Zach Marshall (.384-2-30), 3B Ronnie Whitt (.355-4-36), 2B Owen Otsuka (.338-1-21), P Alan Nevells (5-1, 4.79 ERA).
Noting the Battlers: The Battlers are making their second trip in a row to the league tournament after an 11-year dry spell ... A-B is the only charter league member to not own a WVIAC baseball crown in the post-World War II era.
Shepherd
Nickname: Rams.
Location: Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Colors: Blue & Gold.
Record: 28-19, 10-6 WVIAC North, 2nd in division.
Head coach: Wayne Riser.
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .311/.403/.463.
Team ERA: 4.81.
Team Fielding Percentage: .947.
Record vs. Field: 4-4 (2-2 vs. UPJ, 1-2 vs. CU, 1-0 vs. WVWC).
Key Players: 1B Dirk Webb (.430-14-51), P/INF Matt McCarty (.358-2-25, 7-2, 1.41 ERA), OF Justin Dailey (.340-2-24, 17-18 SB), 2B Drew McCormick (.336-7-34), P Kenny Reisinger (5-1, 3.71 ERA), P Charlie Gordon (4-3, 4.84 ERA), OF Chris Wilkins (.303-3-37).
Noting the Rams: Shepherd has reached the WVIAC Tournament in each of the past seven seasons ... Ram head coach Wayne Riser is the chairman of the NCAA Division II Baseball Committee ... SU has won its past six contests.
College
Welcoming a stellar six to town for WVIAC tourney
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PSU-Alabama history includes classic moments
Barrett Jones was 5 months, 2 days old the last time Alabama and Penn State played.
He doesn’t remember the game, but the top-ranked Crimson Tide’s guard now is fairly well versed on the rivalry that has featured memorable kicks, great defenses and a goal line stand that is a significant part of ’Bama lore.
“I can’t speak for everybody on the team, but I really feel like I appreciate the history of the game,” said Jones, born on May 25, 1990. “I feel like this is really something special. You go into an old Alabama restaurant – which there are many of them across the state – and you see old games playing. -
Nittany Lions await big test in Crimson Tide
No early indecision this week in Happy Valley – true freshman Rob Bolden has earned another start at quarterback for Penn State.
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Ingram sits out practice
Alabama tailback Mark Ingram has missed another practice ahead of the Penn State game.
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Pitt will look to rebound
Some might believe that the Pitt football team won’t be focused after losing a tough opener and facing New Hampshire in a home game Saturday at 1 p.m. at Heinz Field, but the Panthers quickly got back on track during practice this week.
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Panthers fall from Top 25 after loss
Pitt learned very quickly about the cruelties of early season college football.
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PSU shifts focus to Alabama
The game Penn State fans have circled on their calendars for years is almost here.
After manhandling FCS school Youngstown State, the level of competition increases dramatically in Week 2 for the 19th-ranked Nittany Lions with a visit to No. 1 Alabama. -
Top-ranked Tide turn to youngsters
Alabama took advantage of an opening rout to get plenty of youngsters on the field.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide’s top tackler in Saturday night’s 48-3 route of San Jose State was freshman linebacker C.J. Mosely. The leading rusher was redshirt freshman Eddie Lacy. Both the kicker and punter were freshmen.
And coach Nick Saban says he had other freshmen ready to go, including No. 3 quarterback Phillip Sims. -
Freshman QB delivers a strong start
Joe Paterno’s decision paid off.
After beating out two sophomores in a spirited preseason competition for the starting quarterback job, true freshman Rob Bolden rewarded his Hall of Fame coach’s confidence Saturday with 239 yards passing and two touchdowns in No. 19 Penn State’s 44-14 rout of FCS school Youngstown State. -
Colasanti shines in PSU debut
No. 19 Penn State’s new middle linebacker made a smashing debut.
Chris Colasanti finished with 13 tackles in the 44-14 win Saturday over Youngstown State. -
Cal wins thriller
Despite trailing by 18 in the second quarter, No. 5 California (Pa.) rallied to post a season-opening 42-41 overtime victory against No. 11 Saginaw Valley.
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PSU-Alabama history includes classic moments
