CLARION TO FACE KUTZTOWN IN OPENING ROUND OF PSAC PLAYOFFS MAY 9 IN BOALSBURG
Golden Eagles are PSAC-West co-champions and have the No. 1 seed
CLARION – The Clarion University baseball team will face Kutztown at 12:30 p.m. May 9 in the opening round of the PSAC playoffs at the Shaner Sports Complex in Boalsburg.
The Golden Eagles (25-20-1, 12-8 PSAC-West), who are making their first appearance in the PSAC playoffs since 1984 (they finished 2nd), are the co-champions of the PSAC-West and have the No. 1 seed from the West in the postseason. Kutztown (34-16, 10-8 PSAC-East) is the No. 3 seed from the PSAC-East in the six-team field. The playoffs are set up as a six-team double-elimination tournament and last through May 11. Clarion has one PSAC baseball title in its history winning the crown in 1967.
“This is something special not only for this team but for everyone who has been around Clarion baseball through the years,” Clarion’s sixth-year head coach Scott Feldman, who is also a former pitcher for the Golden Eagles, said. “It makes everyone proud. Everyone who has been a part of Clarion baseball through the years has played a role in this. From (former coaches) Rich Herman, Barry McCauliff and Joe Knowles and everyone who played for them to all the players who have played for me the past six seasons. For this team it is special because the five seniors went through a lot in their five years here, and they stuck through it. It is also important because we have four or five freshmen who play key roles, and it gives them a taste of the playoffs and hopefully will make them hungry to make it back.”
Win or lose against Kutztown, Clarion will play two games May 9 with the second game being at 4 p.m.
If the Golden Eagles beat Kutztown they will play the winner of the game between California (No. 2 West) and Mansfield (No. 2 East). If Clarion loses it will play the winner of the West Chester (No. 1 East) and Shippensburg (No. 3 West) game.
This will mark the third game this season between Clarion and Kutztown. The Golden Bears swept Clarion in a doubleheader at Clarion April 10 winning Game One 7-4 and Game Two 15-9.
“It doesn’t matter who we play,” Feldman said. “Everyone is a good team at this time of year. We know Kutztown has a good team. They have been to this tournament, to the Regional tournament and to the World Series. They have experience with 9-inning games and 9-inning tournaments. We have to keep our focus and realize that we have been a pretty good team with our backs to the wall. Hopefully that continues.”
On the mound, Clarion is led by an experienced group of starters that includes three seniors among the top four pitchers.
Southpaw Jared Frey has been the Golden Eagles top pitcher this season sporting a 6-0 mark with a 1.32 era, the second best in the PSAC. He also has a save. In 41 innings of work he has struck out 40 while walking only 14. Opponents are hitting .172 against him with just seven extra base hits.
“The real key for Jared this season has been experience,” Feldman said. “He has learned how to be a pitcher and not just a thrower. He has learned how to hit spots and how to get outs. He doesn’t just look for the strikeout any more.”
Senior right-handers Bill Young (3-4. 4.94 ERA) and Brad Adamski (3-4, 6.20 ERA) have contributed key wins for Clarion and are joined by sophomore Josh Gerstel (4-4, 6.11 ERA) to give the Golden Eagles a solid starting rotation.
“Our starters give us a chance to win every time they take the mound,” Feldman said. “They keep the games close for us.”
Late in games, Clarion calls upon sophomore closer Chuck Roller to save the day. Roller has responded with a PSAC-leading 9 saves and a 2-1 record. He has an ERA of 2.00 and has struck out 21 in 27 innings of work while walking only seven. Opponents are hitting .231 off him.
“We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Chuck Roller,” Feldman said. “He has gotten us out of jams all season. He has been amazing. I think the fact he can go two or three innings a day and do it in multiple days is going to be very important for us in this tournament.”
According to Feldman, another pitcher who will play an important role for the Golden Eagles in the playoffs is sophomore Adam Shaffer, who enters the postseason with a 2-2 record and a 3.77 ERA in 31 innings of work.
Offensively, Clarion has been strong all season with the Golden Eagles sporting a .308 team batting average.
“The key to our offense is for the lower part of the lineup to turn the lineup over,” Feldman said. “If you give our middle (of the lineup guys) enough chances they will come through. They have all season. But the lower part has to find a way to get on base so the middle gets another chance.”
Five Clarion batters are hitting over .300 including junior catcher Jason Warner who leads the team with a .415 average, which ranks third in the PSAC. Warner has 21 extra base hits this season including five homers while driving in a team high 40 runs. He has also stolen 12 bases in 16 attempts.
Senior rightfielder Kevin Gledhill has probably been Clarion’s top clutch hitter in 2005 and is tied for second on the team with a .387 average while leading the Golden Eagles with six home runs. He has also smacked a league-high eight triples while driving in 37 runs.
Frey, who plays centerfield and first base when not on the mound, is hitting .387 out of the No. 2 hole. He has four home runs and 24 RBI’s.
Freshman designated hitter/first baseman Corey Rodgers is batting .371 with four homers and 26 RBI’s, while outfielder Dustin Watt is hitting .346 in 24 games with 19 starts. Watt has seen time in both center and left for the Golden Eagles.
Additional key contributors for Clarion include leftfielder Cole Cook (.270), second baseman Matt Carver (.257, 15 RBI’s), shortstop Matt Allen (.226), third baseman Doug Brown (.245) and first basemen Jake Yackovich (.227) and Brandon Guiliani (.158). Third baseman Brad Gardner (.279) was also having a solid season for Clarion before suffering an injury.
Kutztown is making its second consecutive appearance in the PSAC playoffs, and has made the North Atlantic Regionals in five of the past six season while advancing to the NCAA Division II World Series in 2001, 2002 and 2004.
The Golden Bears have a nice mix of pitching and hitting with a team ERA of 3.78 and a team batting average of .310.
The top pitchers for Kutztown are Matt Maradeo (6-5, 2.12 ERA, 77 K’s, 68 IP), Ryan Loper (3-1, 2.93), Kyle Sadlowski (8-3, 3.41) and Matt Keller (9-1, 3.64).
Top hitters for the Golden Bears include Jeffrey Craig (.389, 14 doubles, 22 RBI’s), Tony Riegel (.375, 10 doubles, 18 RBI’s), Kyle Costello (.372, 5 HR’s, 51 RBI’s), Josh Fink (.342), Loper (.341, 7 HR’s, 40 RBI’s) and Paul Koropchak (.319).
GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES – Tickets for the tournament are available either as an All-Tournament pass ($20 for adults, $10 for students) or as Day passes ($10 for adults, $5 for students)… Clarion finished in a four-way tie for first place in the PSAC-West with California, Shippensburg and Slippery Rock and owned the tie breaker for the top seed thanks to a 7-5 mark against the other three opponents, the best of the group… Going into play last week, the Golden Eagles were in a three-way tie for second place with Shippensburg and Slippery Rock two games back of California. But Clarion won three of four from Cal Thursday and Friday including a sweep of a doubleheader (6-1, 4-2) at home Friday to clinch a playoff berth. The Golden Eagles still needed Slippery Rock to split with Lock Haven Saturday to earn a share of the PSAC-West title and the top seed. The Rock obliged winning Game One against The Haven 2-1 in eight innings Saturday but losing Game Two 8-4 … Feldman is now 94-158-1 in six seasons at Clarion.
Sr. RHP Brad Adamski
Sr. LHP/OF Jared Frey
Sr. RF Kevin Gledhill
So. RP Chuck Roller
Jr. C Jason Warner
Sr. RHP Bill Young