Baseball, Softball Teams Have Busy Final Two Weeks

Weather-related postponements have made for a busy final two weeks of the regular season for Pennsylvania College of Technology baseball and softball teams as they strive to qualify for the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs April 29-30, as both teams have at least a dozen games to get in.

BaseballWhen the Wildcats dropped both ends of a doubleheader a week ago Sunday atPenn StateGreater Allegheny, it not only dropped them to 0-4 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference, it put them seven games out of first place with just three weeks left in the regular season. "We need to get back in the groove we were in before (being idled for nearly three weeks due to inclement weather). We need to start winning some games and playing ball like we're capable of," coach Chris Howard said. "The doubleheader with Greater Allegheny was frustrating because we struck out 22 times in two games. We left runners on third base with less than two outs. We're not hitting the ball with runners in scoring position. You can't win ball games when you're doing that," the coach continued. "I told the guys, we're not out of the playoffs by any stretch. You've got Greater Allegheny and Brandywine with one loss, but everybody else has four and five (losses). If we don't start putting it together, though, we won't have to worry about anything," Howard said. "We have to concentrate on what we have to do take care of our own business. If everybody does their own job, then we're going to do well as a team. "¦ I know how we can play. It's just a matter of getting back in that right frame of mind and putting a little run together," Howard added. "Hopefully they will respond, knowing that we have to come out and win now. We didn't leave ourselves any breathing room." Back in action Thursday at Penn StateMont Alto, the Wildcats split, losing 6-4 and winning 8-3. Garrett Hornung (Emporium) notched four hits, six runs and an RBI during the two games. Brian Santangelo (Middletown, Conn.) recorded the win in the second game with three strikeouts in five innings of work. Phillip Carnevale (Carteret, N.J.) closed the game with two scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit. Matthew King (Southampton) had two doubles.

On Sunday, Penn College looked strong in a sweep of Penn StateYork by scores of 11-1 and 10-4 that improved the team's record to 12-7 overall and 3-5 in the conference.

SoftballOn Wednesday atPenn StateMont Alto, Penn College won the first game, 4-2, handing the Lions their first loss of the year, and lost, 12-4. In the opener, Tiffany Deihm (Mohnton) had three runs batted in and recorded a victory on the mound for the Wildcats. In the nightcap, Penn College committed seven errors. Stepping out of the conference on Friday, the team dropped a doubleheader atPenn StateHarrisburg, 11-4 and 11-3, dropping to 7-9 overall. The Wildcats are 3-1 in the conference.

ArcheryAt the New England Intercollegiate Archery Championships in Storrs, Conn., April 2-3, Penn College again stood tall as Glen Thomas (Mercer) won in male recurve, Ashley Baker (Coudersport) won in female compound and Kevin Dewalt (Easton) won in bow hunter. Also for the Wildcats, Danny Wido (Shickshinny) was second in male compound and Zack Bixby (Gillett) was third, Tyler Gale (Kennedyville, Md.) was second in male recurve and Joe Dowdrick (Lebanon) was second in bow hunter.On the HorizonThe United States Collegiate Athletic Association recently announced that, in order to accommodate Sabbath Day-observing institutions, the following changes have been made to the national championships for baseball and softball: The softball national championships are scheduled May 5-9, with May 9 as a makeup day, if needed. The baseball national championships will be held from May 13-18, with May 18 as a makeup day, if needed. The softball championships will be held at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, with Penn State Beaver serving as tournament host. Firestone Stadium is home to the Akron Racers, a professional fast-pitch softball team. The baseball championships will be held at The Ball Park in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, with Central Maine Community College and Southern Maine Community College serving as co-hosts. The Ball Park is a newly renovated stadium that was the former home of the Cleveland Indians Triple A affiliate, the Maine Guides. In the most recent USCAA Coaches' Polls, Penn College is No. 11 in baseball (down from No. 9) and is No. 14 in softball (down from No. 12).

SCHEDULE/RESULTS Baseball Overall record: 12-7 PSUAC record: 3-5Wednesday, April 13 at Penn State Mont Alto (2), ppd. Thursday, April 14 at Penn State Mont Alto, L, 6-4; W, 8-3 Sunday, April 17 host Penn State York (2), 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 19 at Penn State Hazleton (2), 2 p.m. Thursday, April 21 host Penn State Wilkes-Barre (2), 11 a.m. Friday, April 22 at Penn State Scranton(2), 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23 - at Penn State Beaver (2), TBA Wednesday, April 27 at Penn State Fayette (2), TBA

Softball Overall record: 7-9 PSUAC record: 3-1 Wednesday, April 13 hostPenn StateMont Alto (2), ppd. Thursday, April 14 atPenn StateMont Alto, W, 4-2; L, 12-4 Friday, April 15 atPenn StateHarrisburg, L, 11-4; L, 11-3 Tuesday, April 19 atPenn StateHazleton (2), 2 p.m. Thursday, April 21 hostPenn StateWilkes-Barre (2), 1 p.m. Friday, April 22 atPenn StateScranton (2), 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23 at Penn StateBeaver (2), TBA Monday, April 25 host Penn StateNew Kensington (2), 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 host Penn StateSchuylkill (2), 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 at Penn StateFayette (2), TBA

(Complete rosters and season schedules are available on the college's Athletics Web site . For more information on the PSUAC, visit on the Web; more about the USCAA also is available online.)

Vol. 9, No. 35