[Kutztown Press Release] KUTZTOWN TO OPEN DEFENSE OF REGIONAL TITLE VS. WEST CHESTER THURSDAY
Leiboff, Joshua
leiboff at kutztown.edu
Mon May 12 15:32:12 EDT 2008
May 12, 208
KUTZTOWN TO OPEN DEFENSE OF REGIONAL TITLE VS. WEST CHESTER THURSDAY
KUTZTOWN, Pa. - The Kutztown University baseball team will open defense of its NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional title on Thursday against West Chester at Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pa.
Kutztown (30-24) is the No. 6 seed in the six-team field. The Golden Bears earned automatic qualification by winning the 2008 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship on May 4. KU will take on No. 1 seeded West Chester (41-14) in Thursday's first game at 11 a.m. No. 2 West Virginia State (36-12), which was the automatic qualifier as winner of the W.Va. Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) title, will face No. 5 Shippensburg (34-23) at 3 p.m., followed by No. 3 Concord (35-13) vs. No. 4 Pitt-Johnstown (35-17-1) at 7 p.m.
Games continue throughout the day Friday and Saturday, with the championship game(s) scheduled for Sunday. Ticket prices are $5 for each game.
The winner of the tournament will advance to the NCAA Division II "World Series" at Sauget, Ill. May 24-31.
The Golden Bears are 30-24 overall, including a 5-1 record to win the PSAC title. KU is under the direction of sixth-year head coach Chris Blum, who has a career record of 224-94.
KU makes its eighth-straight NCAA tournament appearance, the third longest active streak in Division II behind Central Missouri State (14) and Tampa (nine). Not only is KU's the longest active streak among North Atlantic Region teams, it is the longest-ever streak of regional berths among teams currently in the region. KU has been in the tournament 10 times, with its first in 1999, then every year since 2001. Kutztown won the tournament in 2001, '02, '04 and '07, while finishing second in '06 and third in '99, '03 and '05.
Kutztown won the title last year, defeating West Chester 9-1 in the championship game. The Golden Bears finished tied for seventh at the NCAA Championships.
The 2008 Golden Bears have been led by solid pitching as the young lineup has come along late in the season. KU has a 3.69 team earned-run average and a .282 team batting average.
Darin Gorski (so. Mount Joy/Donegal), Philip Rummel (sr. Exeter/West-Mont Christian), Derick Reis (sr. Jim Thorpe/Jim Thorpe) and Garrison Rausch (sr. Allentown/Parkland) comprise KU's rotation.
Gorski is 8-3 with a 2.08 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 73.2 innings pitched. Rummel is 6-5 with a 3.39 ERA and 56 Ks in 66.1 innings pitched, Reis is 4-2 with a 2.63 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 51.1 innings. Rausch is 1-3 with a 6.17 ERA and 30 Ks in 42.1 innings.
Other pitchers who saw action in the PSAC Championships and will look to contribute on the mound include Justin Jachowicz (sr. Summit Hill/Panther Valley) (1-3, save, 3.33 ERA), Trent Mertz (fr. Kutztown/Kutztown) (1-0, save, 1.80 ERA), Mike Bucklin (so. Shillington/Governor Mifflin) (2-0, 5.40 ERA), Jason Herr (fr. Harrisburg/C.D. East) (0-2, 3.72 ERA) and Ryan Cassidy (so. Langhorne/Archbishop Wood) (2-2, 4.24 ERA).
The Golden Bears are led at the plate by OF/DH Chad Lightcap (jr. Boyertown/Boyertown), who is hitting .387 with 47 runs scored, 40 RBIs and six home runs. Rausch, who plays center field when not pitching, is hitting .193 with 13 RBIs. Corey Buletza (fr. St. Clair/Pottsville) (.278, HR, 23 RBIs) and Jeff Kistle (fr. Sandyston, N.J./Kittatinny) (.220, 11 RBI) split time in the outfield as well.
The infield is led by the third-baseman platoon of James Quigley (fr. Bensalem/Bensalem) and Mike Dugan (r-fr. Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City). Quigley is hitting .330 with 17 RBIs, while Dugan is hitting .286 with a home run and 19 RBIs. Second baseman Mike Kacelowicz (so. Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain) is hitting .315 with a home run and 20 RBIs. Jared Frey (so. Mohrsville/Schuylkill Valley) is hitting .250 with 20 RBIs at first base, while Mark Renda (r-fr. Lansdale/North Penn) (.250, 23 RBIs) and Brett Wigder (fr. Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) (.281, 19 RBIs) share time at short stop.
Matt Kulbacki (so. Hershey/Hershey) and Scott Kacelowicz (so. Orwigsburg/Blue Mountain) are the catchers. Kulbacki is hitting .286 with a team-high seven homers and 32 RBIs. Kacelowicz hits .309 with nine RBIs.
Capsules on the six teams are below, courtesy of Pitt-Johnstown sports information.
#1 West Chester "Golden Rams" (41-14, 11-9 PSAC East)
Qualification: At-large selection
Location: West Chester, PA
Colors: Purple & Gold
Head Coach: Greg Mamula
All-Time NCAA Tournament Record: 12-15 (8th trip)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2007
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .322/.415/.464
Team ERA: 3.08
Team Fielding Percentage: .953
Record vs. Field: 4-5 (2-1 vs. Ship, 2-4 vs. KU).
Key Players: OF Matt Cotellese (.411-10-50, 19-19 SB), 2B Kyle Bechter (.382-4-31), SS Nick Spisak (.348-2-32, 13 SB), OF Frank Nunan (.342-0-25, 17 SB), OF Drew Pare (.324-5-34, 12 SB), 1B Blair Dameron (.308-3-33), RP Eric Carmichael (2-1, 0.93 ERA, 8 SV), SP Jason Bowman (9-1, 2.43 ERA), SP Chris Powl (7-2, 2.86 ERA), SP David Slusser (7-3, 3.54 ERA)
Noting the Golden Rams: WCU recorded win streaks of 16 and 12 games this season...Bowman had 58 strikeouts versus only 4 walks in 66 2/3 innings pitched...WCU was the runner-up in the PSAC Tournament and finished in a tie for second in the PSAC Eastern Division...Bechter, Cotellese, Pare, Bowman, and Carmichael were first team All-PSAC East honorees.
#2 West Virginia State "Yellow Jackets" (36-12, 13-2 WVIAC South)
Qualification: Automatic (WVIAC Tournament champion)
Location: Institute, W.Va.
Colors: Black & Gold
Head Coach: Calvin Bailey
All-Time NCAA Tournament Record: 18-18 (10th trip)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2007
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .357/.429/.593
Team ERA: 4.19
Team Fielding Percentage: .960
Record vs. Field: 5-4 (3-1 vs. CU, 2-3 vs. UPJ)
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 20 of their past 22 contests...The Jackets won the WVIAC Tournament at Point Stadium two weekends ago and is 5-2 in contests at the Point this season...State has scored in double figures 16 times in 2008, including seven efforts with 21 or more runs...McGrath, Darby, and Workman were first team All-WVIAC picks.
#3 Concord "Mountain Lions" (35-13, 11-5 WVIAC South)
Qualification: At-large selection
Location: Athens, W.Va.
Colors: Maroon & White
Head Coach: Kevin Garrett
All-Time NCAA Tournament Record: 0-2 (2nd trip)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2001
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .352/.430/.521
Team ERA: 5.77
Team Fielding Percentage: .966
Record vs. Field: 4-5 (2-2 vs. UPJ, 1-3 vs. WVSU, 1-0 vs. KU)
Key Players: 1B Matt Kuntz (.476-4-42, 16-16 SB), 3B Greyson Schram (.464-16-64, 13 SB), SS/P Donovan Huffer (.446-3-40, 7-2, 4.80 ERA), OF Tim Merolillo (.395-12-56), P Allen Schurdell (7-4, 4.89 ERA), P Trey Smith (7-3, 6.46 ERA), P Drew Bailey (5-1, 3.38 ERA, 5 SV).
Noting the Mountain Lions: Concord has established a new school record for victories...The Mountain Lions had won 16 of 17 contests, but have dropped four straight heading into the NCAA Tournament after regular season losses to West Virginia State and WVIAC Tournament setbacks to WV Wesleyan and Alderson-Broaddus...Head coach Kevin Garrett was named the WVIAC Coach of the Year...Schram and Merolillo were first team All-WVIAC honorees.
#4 Pitt Johnstown "Mountain Cats" (35-17-1, 12-4 WVIAC North)
Qualification: At-large selection
Location: Johnstown, PA
Colors: Navy & Vegas Gold
Head Coach: Todd Williams
All-Time NCAA Tournament Record: 0-2 (2nd trip)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2006
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .321/.403/.496
Team ERA: 4.86
Team Fielding Percentage: .965
Record vs. Field: 5-6 (2-2 vs. CU, 3-2 vs. WVSU, 0-2 vs. Ship)
Key Players: OF Adam Plummer (.401-4-36), DH Dan Delsignore (.354-5-32), 1B Matt Hanley (.345-12-54), INF Matt Petrowsky (.342-11-34), 3B Josh Campanella (.387-2-30), P Eric Faint (2-1, 2.50 ERA, 8 SV), P David Huey (6-2, 4.53 ERA), P Chuck Boring (3-3, 4.54 ERA), P Jon Moore (6-1, 3.66 ERA).
Noting the Mountain Cats: The Mountain Cats' 35 victories establish a new school record for wins for the eighth time in the past eleven seasons...UPJ won their last ten regular season contests before falling to Alderson-Broaddus and West Virginia State in the WVIAC Tournament...The Mountain Cats won the WVIAC Northern Division regular season title...Plummer and Delsignore were first team All-WVIAC picks.
#5 Shippensburg "Raiders" (34-23, 14-6 PSAC West)
Qualification: At-large selection
Location: Shippensburg, PA
Colors: Red & Blue
Head Coach: Matt Jones
All-Time NCAA Tournament Record: 27-40 (20th trip)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2007
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .320/.397/.420
Team ERA: 4.55
Team Fielding Percentage: .971
Record vs. Field: 3-4 (2-0 vs. UPJ, 0-2 vs. KU, 1-2 vs. WCU)
Key Players: OF Justin Garber (.440-7-38, 11 SB), INF Rick Shumway (.396-1-33, 20 SB), OF Tyler Redick (.378-2-39, 14 SB), 2B Kyle Rhoades (.333-0-28), OF Kasey Kuhns (.299-4-44), P Tim Freshour (9-4, 2.30 ERA), P Matt Wright (6-4, 2.81 ERA, 120 K), P Jason Kelly (6-2, 4.53 ERA).
Noting the Raiders: Shippensburg won the PSAC Western Division regular season title and dominated the division's awards...Garber was selected as the Player of the Year, Wright was named the Pitcher of the Year for a second straight season, and Jones was honored as the Coach of the Year...Wright is the Shippensburg career leader with 320 strikeouts...The Raiders are 33-16 since a 1-7 start versus a tough schedule that included a four-game set with #1 Mount Olive.
#6 Kutztown "Golden Bears" (30-24, 11-9 PSAC East)
Qualification: Automatic (PSAC Tournament champions)
Location: Kutztown, PA
Colors: Maroon & Gold
Head Coach: Chris Blum
All-Time NCAA Tournament Record: 21-18 (9th trip)
Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2007
Team BA/OBP/SLG: .282/.381.393
Team ERA: 3.69
Team Fielding Percentage: .962
Record vs. Field: 6-3 (4-2 vs. WCU, 2-0 vs. Ship, 0-1 vs. CU)
Key Players: OF Chad Lightcap (.387-6-40), INF James Quigley (.330-1-17), C/INF Mike Kacelowicz (.315-1-20, 16 SB), INF Michael Dugan (.286-1-19), C/INF Matt Kulbacki (.286-7-32), OF Corey Buletza (.278-1-23, 15 SB), P Trent Mertz (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 2 SV), P Darin Gorski (8-3, 2.08 ERA), P Derick Reis (4-2, 2.63 ERA), P Philip Rummel (6-5, 3.39 ERA).
Noting the Golden Bears: Kutztown is the defending regional champion...The Golden Bears won a pair of games out of the loser's bracket against West Chester to claim the PSAC Tournament crown...KU was under .500 as late as April 12 when the Golden Bears fell to 16-17 after a 3-1 loss to Millersville...Lightcap and Gorski were first team All-PSAC Eastern Division first team honorees...The Golden Bears tied for second in the PSAC East regular season standings.
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Josh Leiboff
Kutztown University Sports Information
Phone: (610) 683-4182
Fax: (610) 683-4676
Email: leiboff at kutztown.edu
Website: http://www.kubears.com
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