Penn College Teams Coming Off Busy Week

Pennsylvania College of Technology baseball and softball teams got their seasons under way with 13 games in Myrtle Beach, S.C., while two wrestlers representing the college got their first taste of national competition.

Wrestling Thursday, after the opening rounds of the National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championships at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., sophomore Tyler Myers (Centre Hall) went 3-1 in the 157-pound weight class and stayed alive in the consolation bracket, while freshman Derek Anderson (Ellsworth) went 0-2 at 197 and was eliminated.

Myers made quick work of Howard Barr (University of Central Florida) by pinning him 34 seconds into the first period. After an 11-3 loss to Michael Battinelli (Connecticut), Myers pinned Glenn Van Moffaert (Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute) in 3:57 and followed with a 7-2 decision over Casey Myers (Colorado-Boulder). Anderson dropped a 7-2 decision against Jackie Miller (Middle Tennessee State University) before being pinned in the first period of the consolation bracket by Yevgeniy Sorvskiy (San Jose State University).

On Friday, Myers opened with a fall in 6:32 over Vincent Camps (Slippery Rock) and then dropped an 11-3 decision to Max Barsky (West Chester) and was eliminated. In final team competition, Penn College tied for 42nd in a 77-team field with 8.5 points. Cal-Baptist won with 156.5 points. It marked the first time since 1983 that Penn College has competed in intercollegiate wrestling.

Softball Through its first two days of spring training in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Penn College found the going tough as it dropped six of eight games, scoring 13 runs and allowing 58 mainly because of errors that led to unearned runs.

"We're getting the kinks out. We're trying out some things and playing tough competition," said coach Roger Harris.

On Monday in 9-0 and 10-1 losses to Bluefield and Randolph colleges, respectively, Trisha Moser (Watsontown) had four hits.

During Tuesday's 7-0 and 9-0 losses to Lincoln and Olney Central colleges, respectively, Lacy Lose (Avis) had two hits.

Wednesday brought losses to SUNY Institute of Technology, 9-1, and Dakota State University, 10-0, the latter on a no-hitter.

On their final day, the tide finally turned with wins over Penn State Harrisburg, 4-2, and Southern Vermont College, 7-2. Sophomore Amanda Baney (Williamsport) had five hits, including two home runs.

BaseballIts trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., paid off as the weather cooperated and the team got in five games, winning four.

In Tuesday's openers, the Wildcats topped SUNY Ulster, 6-3, and Catholic University's jayvee squad, 12-0. Junior Skylar Gingrich (Lititz) led the offense with three doubles and six RBIs on the day. Against Catholic, freshmen James Funk (Washington Boro) and Jared Bull (Jacobus) combined for a no-hitter and nine strikeouts.

Wednesday against Eastern University, a bases-loaded walk lifted Penn College to a 12-11 win. Garrett Hornung (Emporium) had three hits and four RBIs and a run scored. Jared Johnson (Wyalusing) had two hits with three RBIs.

"I'm pleased with where we are at," said coach Chris Howard. "The errors are all a part of getting the kinks out. With the weather, this is our first time out on a field. I'm happy with how we are playing."

Thursday against Danville Community College, the Wildcats won, 7-2. Harrison Myers (Lebanon) notched his second win of the year with three strikeouts and two hits in five innings of work.

"I'm really happy with our pitching right now," Howard said. "We've been keeping the walks down and letting our defense do the work." Senior Jared Johnson (Wyalusing) and sophomore Ryan Weachock (Pottsville) each had two hits and an RBI in the game. "All four games we've been coming up with two-out hits with runners in scoring position," the coach said. "That's good baseball and it really gives us the mental advantage over our opponents."

Friday, in their South Carolina finale, the Wildcats lost to Owens College, 12-4. Penn College pitchers had a rough day with seven walks. "We were dragging today," Howard said. "We can't walk that many and expect to win. Overall, it was a good tournament. We played some good baseball and I'm happy with how it turned out."

USCAA Director's Cup Standings Penn College is ranked No. 7 in the most recent Director's Cup standings with 274 points, just four behind No. 6 Florida College. Spalding University leads with 401 points. The Director's Cup is awarded annually to the institution that excels the highest in a wide range of men's and women's sports for which the United States Collegiate Athletic Association offers championships.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS Archery Saturday-Sunday, April 2-3 Adam Wheatcroft Memorial Invitational at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Baseball Overall record: 4-1Tuesday, March 8 vs. Ulster College at Myrtle Beach, S.C.,W, 6-3 Tuesday, March 8 vs. Catholic University Jayvees at Myrtle Beach, S.C., W, 12-0 Wednesday, March 9 vs. Eastern University at Myrtle Beach, S.C., W, 12-11 Thursday, March 10 vs. Danville Community College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., W, 7-2 Friday, March 11 vs. Owens College at Myrtle Beach, S.C., L, 12-4 Thursday, March 17 at King's College (2), 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19 host Lehigh Carbon Community College at Loyalsock Township High School (2), 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20 host Luzerne Community College at Loyalsock Township High School (2), 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 at King's College (2), 4 p.m.

SoftballSpring training at Myrtle Beach, S.C.:Monday, March 7 vs. Bluefield College, L, 9-0 Monday, March 7 vs. Randolph College, L, 10-1 Tuesday, March 8 vs. Lincoln College, L, 7-0 Tuesday, March 8 vs. Olney Central College, L, 9-0 Wednesday, March 9 vs. SUNY Institute of Technology, L, 9-1 Wednesday, March 9 vs. Dakota State University, L, 10-0 Thursday, March 10 vs. Penn State Harrisburg, W, 4-2 Thursday, March 10 vs. Southern Vermont College, W, 7-2

Saturday, March 19 host Lehigh Carbon Community College (2), 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 at Penn State Harrisburg (2), 3 p.m.

Men's Volleyball Overall record: 5-6 MACVC record: 4-4

(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. 30