The 2009 Behrend Lions baseball season was exceptional. The team posted a 16-2 AMCC regular-season record, and earned regional and national rankings. Behrend then earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament after winning the AMCC for the second straight season, and posted the fourth most wins in school history with a 31-13 mark. In addition to eight All-AMCC players, three players earned ABCA-Rawlings All-Region honors and three made the ECAC South All-Star squad and were selected as the Pitcher and Player of the Year. The program also had its fifth AMCC Player of the Year and then was recognized by the NCAA as one of the winningist program's of the decade.
"Last season was outstanding. We are going to be hard pressed to replace our five graduated seniors who were very special," said eighteenth year Head Coach Paul Benim. "However, we are eagerly looking forward to 2010." The blue and white will strive to make it three league championships in a row, but will attempt to replace four of the most accomplished pitchers in school history, as well as one of the most threatening hitters to ever suit up for the Behrend Lions. They will rely on the veteran leadership and experience of 19 returning players. "Our offense will be strong and we will play a high level of defense behind the staff. We will work to get better everyday, and strive to play our best baseball in May." Behrend returns eight of nine hitters in the line-up and will give the ball to pitchers that have some experience, but will be taking a more important role in league contests.
A strength of the blue and white this spring will be the team's defense. Behrend is athletic and skilled up the middle with seniors Jon Gray (State College/State College), Josh Fyffe (Fredonia/Sharpsville), and Ryan Liddle (DuBois/DuBois). Gray, a gold glove caliber centerfielder, is an All-Region and All-Conference player that led Division III in batting average for stretches during the 2009 season. He led the team from the leadoff spot with a .432 average, scored 59 runs and stole 16 bases, while logging a .544 on-base percentage. Fyffe is one of Behrend's all-time best. He was selected as both the AMCC and ECAC South Region Player of the Year after hitting .406 with nine home runs and driving in a school-record 58 runs. Fyffe, a three time All-Region player at shortstop, is working towards another monster season. Playing second is Liddle who is a career .335 hitter. He is athletic and continues to make amazing defensive plays. Last season he contributed 17 RBI and nine steals in 37 games. Playing at the hot corner will be senior Dustin Dubensky (Punxsutawney/ Punxsutawney). After an MVP type season where he set the school record for single season doubles in 2008, he registered a .346 average with 38 RBI in 2009. Dubensky also scored 41 runs and stole 10 bases while playing stellar defense at third. "These guys are exceptional on both sides of the ball and will back-up our pitchers as the staff gains experience. They remain integral to our success in 2010," said Benim.
Senior pitchers will play perhaps the biggest factor in the team's success this year. Fran Haus (Wexford/North Allegheny), Steve Miller (Union City/Union City), and Ryan Antolik (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) will be relied upon often. Haus carries the fifth best ERA in the program's history entering the season and was the winning pitcher in last season's conference title game. He has also pitched in two straight NCAA Tournaments and is prepared to shoulder the responsibility of being a front end starter. He gets support from the left-handed Miller who has made 17 starts during his career and is ready for a breakthrough season. Miller's stuff can be top shelf and will strive to be consistent from start to finish this spring. He has struck out 77 hitters in 70 innings and sports a 4.61 career ERA. Antolik is another senior option on this year's staff. He will work out of the bullpen and play an instrumental role in guiding the younger members of the pitching staff.
"This group has the ability to, and will need to carry us early," Benim said. "They have experienced a tremendous amount of success during their careers, and will need to be stabilizers for the team."
Eight juniors will serve as key components to Behrend's attempt to win a third straight conference crown. Two of the outfield corner slots could be filled by junior incumbents, Geoff Lang (Pittsburgh/North Allegheny) and Rich Doyle (Pittsburgh/North Allegheny). Lang is a two-time All-League player that can be electric. He knocked six home runs, drove in 40 while scoring 43 runs and stealing 19 bases. Doyle also can make things happen offensively and defensively. He hit .383 over the course of 31 games last season with 15 RBI and had nine steals.
In the grass, Ed Kessler (Bethel Park/Bethel Park) elevated his game in 2009. After moving along to a .310 clip as the program's Rookie of the Year, Kessler was voted the Most Improved Player and earned all-league honors for a .401 season that included 45 runs, 36 RBI, and 13 steals as an infielder and designated hitter. Harry Latta (Waterford/Fort LeBoeuf) had a terrific season playing in 22 games as catcher and DH. He added a .389 average with 19 RBI. Latta, handled pitchers well and is looking to bounce back in 2010 after missing the fall season with an injury. Also providing back-up at the corners is Kyle Kline (Clearfield/Clearfield Area). He batted .308 last season in 19 games.
Junior hurlers Blake Pavlik (Apollo/Kiski Area), Andy Kountz (Canonsburg/Bethel Park), and Ryan Zamiskie (Jeannette/Penn Trafford) will all be jockeying for positions as potential members of the rotation or for innings out of the bullpen. The three have combined to pitch 100 innings, record a 6-2 mark, and will be relied upon throughout the spring. In addition, Pavlik played first base and hit .423 with a home run and seven RBI for Behrend last year.
The sophomore class features a pair of catchers and two position players. Ryan Geibel (East Butler/Butler) started 28 games behind the plate and was selected as the program's Rookie of the Year. Last season he was a strong defensive player and added a .253 average with 17 RBI. Jimmy Battaglia (New Brighton/Rochester) returned this fall as the most improved defensive player in the program and adds depth to the catching position.
Joseph Paterniti (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown), and Ken Farnsworth (State College/State College) are options in the infield and outfield. Both have added strength to their game and will push for more opportunities in 2010. Last season Paterniti hit .444 while Farnsworth batted .308 in reserve roles.
This year's freshman group is deep and has potential. It includes: Matt Bittner (Lancaster, NY/St. Mary's), Evan Bukowski (Washington/Trinity), Jay Condit (Cranberry Township/Seneca Valley), Nick Grow (North East/North East), Ryan Jacobs (Port Vue/South Allegheny), Ryan Kragnes (Bethel Park/Bethel Park), Zach Matthews (Rochester/Rochester), Michael Moyer (Clearfield/Clearfield), Matt Parnes (Cranberry Township/Seneca Valley), Ben Pearce (Johnstown/Johnstown), Josh Peters (Ambridge/Ambridge), Vinny Rice (Harmony/Seneca Valley), James Verona (Delmont/Franklin Regional), and Andrew Wehler (St. Marys/St. Marys).
The 2010 schedule will test the blue and white. With its first four games in Florida against Ursinus (25-11), Susquehanna (24-16), and a pair against NCAA Tournament team Elizabethtown (29-15), the blue and white will be challenged right out of the gate. Behrend will play a total of eight varsity and three junior varsity games during the week. "Our week in Florida will give us an opportunity to look at line-up combinations and really evaluate how we can best utilize our pitching staff to compete for another league title." The following weekend the blue and white will travel for two at Thomas More, a top notch team from Kentucky that registered a 28-12 mark last spring.
The home opener is scheduled for March 27, when Penn State Altoona (32-17) comes to town followed by a visit from Pitt-Bradford (16-16) three days later. Behrend will play 11 games at home and 11 on the road in the month of April. It includes big non-conference games against Wooster, which lost in the 2009 NCAA Championship game.
The Behrend Lions, who have played in five of the past eight AMCC title games, will compete against an 18 game league schedule and are preparing to begin work towards another appearance. The first round of the AMCC Tournament will be the second weekend of May with the winners advancing to the regular season champion's facility for a double-elimination tournament the following weekend. The conference tournament winner earns the league's bid to the NCAA Tournament.
After winning the past two AMCC league titles, Behrend has advanced to the NCAA Regionals in New Jersey. "Our league has a strong postseason tournament format," Benim said. "It challenges your depth and prepares our conference winner for the tournament." The NCAA regional will be played on May 14-16.
"We are looking forward to the challenges in the 2010 season," said Benim. "We are going to work very hard, strive to improve daily, and firmly believe we will be a strong team at the end of the season."
