Astros select Rummel

The Houston Astros selected Kutztown pitcher Phil Rummel with the 932nd pick in the 2008 entry draft.

Spotts the most recent of KU athletes gone pro

If you haven’t already heard the news, former Kutztown University quarterback Kyle Spotts signed with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League last week. Spotts, originally from my hometown of Pottsville, Pa., was one of the premier quarterbacks in the PSAC during his three seasons at KU.

The Dragons already have two quarterbacks on their roster, including starter Aaron Garcia, who is third all-time in the AFL with more than 20,000 passing yards. Spotts will be the third string quarterback, but will be inactive on the practice squad in the near future.

The AFL season is currently in full swing and the Dragons sit third in the National Eastern Division with a 7-6 record. If either Garcia or backup quarterback Juston Wood is injured, Spotts could be activated this season. You can follow both Spotts and the Dragons at New York’s official website: www.newyorkdragons.com.

While I’m on the topic of KU grads gone pro (and since it’s major league baseball draft day), now is as good a time as any to get you caught up on KU’s recent baseball players who made a run at pro ball during the past few years.

In case you’re unfamiliar with who the minor leagues work, I’ll give you a quick run through. The MLB is obviously the goal for each player, but when you’re drafted you are most likely going to start out playing rookie ball. Most clubs have three teams for rookies and most first-year players will play on that team for an entire season. If the player is good enough, they will then advance to ‘A’ ball. From there, a player would advance to ‘Advanced A’, ‘AA’, and ‘AAA’. The majors would be next in line after AAA.

Now, on to the players (who are in no particular order)…

Kyle Sadlowski (2003-05) – Sadlowski was drafted by the Cardinals in 2005 and has worked his way up to AA Springfield. He has done a very respectable job at each level and that has earned him opportunities to shine at the next level. Sadlowski started the 2008 season at Advanced A Palm Beach, notching a 3-1 record and a 3.89 ERA. Since being called up to Springfield, Sadlowski has been even more effective, holding a 2-0 record with a 3.24 ERA. Combined, he has struck out 40 in 50 innings of work and opponents are hitting just .246 against him.

Mike McCardell (2004-07) – McCardell was drafted by the Twins in the sixth round of last year’s entry draft. Since his arrival, he has been on a steady uphill climb to the major leagues. Last year, he began his pro career with the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Twins, before quickly being promoted to the Elizabethton Twins (a more advanced rookie ball team). In 2008, he is pitching for the A Beloit Snappers and is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in seven appearances (six starts). McCardell has struck out an impressive 36 opponents in 32 innings of work, while walking just 12.

Jason Mills (2007) – Mills pitched just one season for KU, but the MLB scouts took notice. The Orioles drafted him in 2006, signed him in 2007, and then sent him to play rookie ball for the Bluefield Orioles. Mills made five appearances in 2007 and allowed just one earned run on five hits in 6.2 innings of work. He struck out eight and didn’t walk anyone. He is currently listed on Bluefield’s 2008 roster, but that could change after the draft. Bluefield is set to start their season on June 17.

Ron Chiavacci (1998) – Chiavacci was drafted by the Expos in 1998 and has since spent time with the minor league affiliates of the Pirates, Tigers, Phillies, and most recently, the Astros. Chiavacci actually began the 2008 season with the AAA Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, but was traded to the Astros on June 2. He has yet to be assigned to a club. He was 1-7 with a 5.90 ERA in 11 starts with LV this season. In 11 minor league seasons, he has a combined 62-79 record and a 4.03 ERA. He has 1,001 career strikeouts at the minor league level, averaging just under eight strikeouts per nine innings.

Ryan Vogelsong (1996-98) – Vogelsong was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the fifth round of the 1998 draft and made his major league debut with the Giants in 2000. In 2001, Vogelsong was traded to the Pirates in a deal that included Jason Schmidt. He spent a majority of his time in Pittsburgh in the majors before leaving the majors in 2006 to sign with his current team, the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Professional Baseball League. On May 29, Vogelsong was dropped for readjustment, which is basically the major league baseball equivalent of being demoted to the minor leagues. He was 2-1 with a 4.55 ERA in 27.2 innings of work prior to the demotion.

Matt Maradeo (2005-06) – Maradeo signed with the Cubs in 2006 just a few days after the conclusion of KU’s season. He was sent to the A Peoria Chiefs where he struggled in his first year of pro ball, recording a 1-1 record and a 10.24 ERA in 19.1 innings. In 2007, Maradeo did a much better job for the Chiefs. He made 28 appearances out of the bullpen, notching an 0-3 record and a 2.96 ERA. In 45.2 innings of work, Maradeo struck out 45, while walking just 16. Opponents hit just .165 against him. The Cubs, surprisingly, decided to release Maradeo on the last day of 2008 spring training, so he signed with the Washington Wildthings of the independent Frontier League. He has made six relief appearances this season and is 0-0 with 5.73 ERA. He has 12 strikeouts in 11 innings of work.

Matt Keller (2003-07) – Keller was not drafted, but he did sign with the Slippery Rock Sliders of the Frontier League following KU’s 2007 season. He was traded not long after that to the River City Rascals who released him just six days later.

Tim Bausher (1998-01) – Bausher was drafted by the Mariners in 2001 and, despite spending a majority of his baseball career in the minor leagues, he became the third Golden Bear ever to play in the majors in 2005 when the Red Sox called him up for one game. He also had stints with the Brewers, Rockies, Reds, and Royals. After being released by the Royals in 2007, Bausher signed with the Nashua Pride of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball (CanAm League). Nashua exercised its option on Bausher for the 2008 season, but placed him on waivers in February. The New Jersey Jackals claimed him on February 14, but he was released on May 3 and is now a free agent.

Glenn Woolard (2000-02) – Woolard was drafted in the 10^th round of the 2002 draft by the Giants. He spent time at low A Salem-Keizer in 2002 and A Hagerstown in 2003 before getting traded to the Brewers on March 30, 2004. He pitched a majority of the 2004 season for AA Huntsville, but also saw some time at AAA Indianapolis. In 2005, Woolard wrapped up his minor league career with a 7-11 record and 4.92 ERA for Huntsville. He managed a 25-26 record and 3.77 ERA in his minor league career.

Andy Bausher (1995-97) – Bausher was drafted by the Pirates in the sixth round of the 1997 draft. He spent 1997-2000 playing low-A, A, and high-A ball for the Pirates before being traded to the Padres on August 8, 2000. He started 2001 with San Diego’s high-A team (Lake Elsinore) before working his way up to AAA Portland by the end of 2002. Bausher’s minor league career concluded after making seven AAA appearances in 2003. He had a 27-37 career record and a 4.44 career ERA.

Steve Fitch (1997-00) – Fitch was drafted by the Indians in the 2000 draft. He worked his way up to AA Akron in 2001, but spent 2002 playing at A Hickory and advanced A Kinston before signing with the Pirates on December 6, 2002. He made just 12 appearances at high A Lynchburg in 2003 before his career came to an end. He managed a 15-14 career record and a 4.11 ERA.

John Rozich (1996-99) – Rozich, the only KU non-pitcher to get drafted, was drafted by the Dodgers in 1999 and lasted just one season at low-A Yakima. The catcher hit .231 and hit two homers in his 134 at bat career.

Matt Haverly (2002-04) – Haverly’s professional baseball career lasted just one season as a part of two independent Northern League teams in 2004. He pitched a combined 7.1 innings for Lincoln and Winnipeg, notching an 8.87 ERA before he was released.

Nick Johnson (1999-00) – Johnson played for three Frontier league teams following the conclusion of his career at KU. The Designated hitter/outfielder started out with Cook County in 2003 and played through the 2006 season with Windy City and Rockford. He hit .304 and notched 21 homers in 1087 career at bats.

Clay Kuklick (2002-05) – Kuklick, a catcher and current KU assistant coach, spent 2005 with the Elmira Pioneers of the CanAm League before moving on to the New Jersey Jackals for the 2006 and 2007 campaigns. Kuklick had a .280 career batting average and hit three homeruns in 389 at bats.

Donny Langdon (2003-04) – Langdon signed with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League in 2004 and spent and year and a half there before signing with the Mariners to play at A Wisconsin. He managed a 0-3 record and 4.75 ERA there before returning to Evansville in 2006. Langdon moved on to the North Shore Spirit of the CanAm League in 2007. Combined, he managed a 7-8 record and 3.23 ERA in his minor league career. Langdon is currently a member of the Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association League and is the pitching coach at King’s College. He is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in 6 relief appearances for the Pelicans this season.

I believe I covered everyone from the 1990s until the present time. If you find something I missed, please email me or leave a comment on this article and I will be sure to update it.

Also, some other random alumni news: Women’s basketball center Mercedes Van Wagner heads to Europe in July to try out for a European team and then will play overseas for three to four months starting in September.

A look ahead: 2009 Softball

The 2008 softball season is in the books, but it’s never too early to look ahead to 2009. The Golden Bears lose two talented players to graduation in designated player/catcher Caitlin Hague and centerfielder Kathy Gregg, but return a significant amount talent, including every pitcher and seven regulars from the everyday lineup.

The ladies completed the 2008 season with an impressive 48-14 record and should only be better in 2009.

Lock Haven, KU’s top competitor in the Mid-Atlantic Region, will likely be tough again next season, losing only starting 2B Devin Glezen and reserve Missy Kurian to graduation. And yes, Kutztown fans, all-American pitcher Kristin Erb will be back. A junior in 2008, it saddens me to say she still has one year of eligibility.

As for Bloomsburg, who knocked KU out of the PSAC and Regional playoffs, the Huskies take a much bigger hit with PSAC East pitcher of the year Ashley Lynn’s career in the books. Add #2 pitcher Sheelin Fisher, 1B Jess Rosin, OF Jill Homyak, 1B Stacy Krupiewski, 3B Kayleen Sidisky, and CA Tiff Corliss to that list and Bloom has quite a rebuilding effort ahead of them.

The conference is still sure to be competitive, but Kutztown’s core of superstars will be back and have one more year of experience. The Golden Bears have yet to prove they can overcome their biggest obstacle (beat Lock Haven), but with the returning talent in 2009, there is no reason they shouldn’t come out with loads of confidence. Keep in mind that 2009 will mark the final season of the Steph Denlinger-Ashley Fitzgerald (pictured above)-Krista Cameron-Kim Morrison dynasty, which means they will be pulling all the stops to get to Nationals.

New faces in 2009

Heather Hannum – (Pictured to left - Photo Credit: www.bansheesfastpitch.com) From Horsham, PA, Hannum is listed as both a pitcher and firstbaseman. She joins her sister Nicole, who was a redshirted as a freshman this past season for KU. Unless she proves she can dominate opposing hitters as a freshman, I don’t see her spending much time in the pitching circle in the near future. If she proves she can hit right away, the right-handed hitter is a strong candidate to see time at designated player with Denlinger manning firstbase for one more season. According to rivals.com, she ran a 3.03 20-yard dash last season, third best among softball recruits at that time. At 5”10”-155 pounds, Hannum seems like she has five-tool potential.

The following clips are from stories I found online while researching the soon-to-be-Golden Bear: “The homerun was Heather's third of the day, having launched two in the semi-final contest against the Lehigh Valley Wildcats.” (www.eteamz.com) and “…said H-H senior Heather Hannum, whose two-run, 320-foot home run in the first was the beginning of the end for South.” (www.phillyburbs.com) Mouth watering yet?

Laura Kelley – From Stafford, VA, Kelley is a right-handed hitting outfielder and firstbaseman. With Gregg gone from the outfield, there is a spot open to be filled by either a returning veteran or a freshman. Kelley, who also ran track in high school, will likely get a chance to compete for the job. She considers herself a power hitter and was a key member of her high school team, which enjoyed an undefeated 2008 regular season. According to www.fredericksburg.com, Coach Lawes has been quoted as saying Kelley could see significant playing time as a freshman, as she is versatile and “could develop into a nice power hitter.”

Here is a caption about Kelley from www.fredericksburg.com: “…with Laura Kelley leading the way with four hits, including a bases-loaded triple, and six RBIs.”

Michelle McGinty – From Warminster, PA, McGinty is listed soley as a third basemen, which means Cameron will finally have some relief at the hot corner. McGinty will not see much time at third in 2009, but, like Hannum, will likely be a key contributor from 2010-2012. She seems to have the potential to be a strong third baseman in the field and at the plate. McGinty was a four year starter for her high school team and hit .448 in her senior season. Other numbers from her senior campaign include a 1.184 OPS, 16 RBIs, and .930 fielding percentage.

Nicole Colineri – From Scotch Plains, PA, Colineri is listed as a switch hitting middle-infielder, which means she could be groomed as Morrison’s replacement in 2010 and could spell Krista Tedjeske for playing time next season.

Projected Lineup
A majority of the lineup should stay the same in 2009, but designated player and centerfield voids need to be filled. This is my projected lineup, but it is almost certain to change as Coach Judy Lawes becomes more familiar with her new faces and as the veterans progress this offseason.

Batting Order—Class—Bats—Player—Position—(2008 Stats)

1 – Sr – L – Kim Morrison – 2B – (.279-3-16)
Morrison wasn’t herself in her first season as a leadoff hitter, but improved as the season went on and is likely to return to the role in 2009. She hit just .279 after combining to hit .326 in her first two seasons, but there wasn’t as much of a dropoff from her .352 career on base percentage to .330 in 2008. This was because she drew 14 walks in 2008 after walking just 12 combined times in her previous two seasons. She also saw her individual numbers dip from 2007 to 2008 in doubles (16-9), triples (3-0), and runs (53-42). Her power numbers were also down, but this was not surprising as she moved to more of a table-setting role.

If Morrison were to be moved out of the top spot, she could swap places with Schiavo or be dropped all the way to at least sixth in the order. She is too good to bat that low, so unless someone breaks out in the offseason and coach Lawes has no choice but to put them first in the order, Morrison will likely return to the top spot. She is a great contact hitter, but needs to work hard this offseason to rebound from a disappointing 2008. Expect her to bounce back and hit around .320 in her senior season.

2 – Jr – L – Maria Schiavo – LF – (.316-0-17)
Like Morrison, Schiavo saw her numbers dip this season, but fortunately it was not as dramatic of a decline. The junior’s batting average fell eight points and she had six less doubles, three less runs scored, 21 less RBIs, six less steals, and 12 less total bases. Those changes aren’t too significant and Schiavo’s on base percentage actually went up three points in 2008 thanks to drawing a few more walks than in 2007. The steep decline in RBIs is a product of Adriane Willmer batting ahead of her in 2007 as compared to a struggling Morrison in 2008.

She is likely to remain the two hitter as she is one of the nation’s top sacrifice bunters. She is an outstanding contact hitter and, statistically, she will basically go as Morrison goes. If there are runners on, she will be counted on to bunt them over. If not, she will need to find ways to get herself in scoring position for the big bats behind her.

3 – Sr – L – Steph Denlinger – 1B – (.349-16-55)
Denlinger had another superstar season in 2008, but the 2007 PSAC East player of the year actually saw a significant decrease statistically. The senior lefty saw her batting average drop from .507 to .349, her homerun total from 24 to 16, and her RBIs from 73 to 55. She also scored 17 less runs, saw her slugging percentage dip from 1.111 to .716, and watched her on base percentage fall from .625 to .491. After walking an almost unbelievable 51 times in 2007, Denlinger walked 46 more times in 2008, with the decline mostly a product of the outstanding protection provided by Fitzgerald in the cleanup spot.

Denlinger’s 2007 season would have been almost impossible to repeat, but I don’t think anyone expected her to regress all the way back to the numbers she put up in her freshman season. I won’t project a return to a 1.736 OPS, but I believe she’s capable of hitting 20 homers again in 2009. Despite the statistical decline, Denlinger was still one of the nation’s top power hitters in 2008 and expect her to be even better in her senior campaign.

4 – Sr – L – Ashley Fitzgerald – CA – (.427-16-59)
Fitzgerald will enter her senior season as arguably the most feared hitter in the PSAC. The senior slugger led the KU offense in 2008, pacing the team in batting average (.427), homers (16-tie), RBIs (59), total bases (150), and slugging (.811). Fitzgerald, who now has 35 career homers and 164 career RBIs, will remain the cleanup hitter in 2008, assuming Coach Lawes doesn’t move her up a spot in the order to get her a few more at-bats. Fitzgerald saw a majority of her time in the field at catcher, but also saw time at shortstop, right field, and designated player. Her versatility makes her an invaluable resource, but, with Hague out of the picture, expect her to man catcher for all of KU’s important games in 2009.

5 – Sr – L – Krista Cameron – 3B – (.318-5-37)
It’s been a one-woman show at third base for KU the last three seasons and it will be hard to imagine anyone besides Cameron at the hot corner after next season. Since her arrival in 2006, the senior has started all 174 of Kutztown’s games at third base, including 62 this past season. She could give way to the freshman McGinty for a few at-bats or spot starts in 2009, but Cameron will be the everyday starter in her final season. Cameron was another Golden Bear who saw her numbers decline in 2008 and it was most noticeable in the power department. She hit just .318 after batting .364 over her first two seasons. Cameron also saw a dip in homers (16-5), RBIs (66-37), runs (47-29), slugging (.724-.472), and on-base percentage (.398-.342).

As you can see, it was a significant offensive decline for Cameron and she will need to return to her 2007 form next season. She is counted on to protect Denlinger and Fitzgerald and it will be hard to do that without the threat of a homerun. She still had a stellar 2008 campaign, but there is room for improvement in her senior season.

6 – So – R – Krista Tedjeske – SS – (.248-2-21)
Tedjeske bounced between the six and eight spot in the order throughout the second half of the 2008 season and will likely be part of a similar rotation in 2009. Tedjeske was the everyday shortstop for KU and, despite a team-high 11 errors, showed some flashes of greatness with the glove in her freshman season. She is likely to return to the everyday role at shortstop, but needs to improve her .635 OPS if she wants to remain the six hitter. Her 21 RBIs were tied for fourth best on the team, but many of them came earlier in the season. If she can get it together offensively, expect her to remain in the six spot, but with some big freshman bats and Reifsnyder fighting for at-bats, the leash is unlikely to be very long.

7 – Fr – R – Heather Hannum – DP – (N/A)
I’ve never seen Hannum swing a bat, but from what I’ve read, you can probably already pencil her into the designated player slot. As mentioned earlier in this article (See New Faces in 2009), Hannum can crush the ball and will replace Denlinger at first base in 2010. Since she would need an injury or some kind of massive slump by Denlinger to see time in her place this season, expect Hannum to see much of her at-bats from the designated player slot.

8 – So – R – Maggie Reifsnyder – RF – (.239-4-10)
Reifsnyder started the 2008 season in a platoon in right field, took over as the full-time starter when Sam Flowers was removed from the team, and ended it in a platoon with fellow sophomore-to-be Angela Domenici. Heading into the offseason with one starter from 2008 already gone (Gregg), Reifsnyder is the favorite to start in right field in 2009. However, she will almost certainly feel pressure from whoever does not get a starting job, may it be Laura Kelley, Nikki Hannum, Natalie Chamerlain, or Domenici.

Reifsnyder hit a hot streak in the middle of 2008, but struggled late in the season before injuring herself against Lock Haven late in the year. Her OPS of .706 was not great, but she did manage four homers, which was fifth best on the team. Reifsnyder had just 10 RBIs despite seeing plenty of at-bats in the six spot, a number which must improve in 2009.

9 – Fr – R – Laura Kelley – CF – (N/A)
It’s hard for me to speculate here as I’ve never seen the freshmen in action, but based on what I’ve read, it seems like Kelley has a great shot to fill in where Kathy Gregg left off as both the centerfielder and nine hitter. Nicole Hannum, Natalie Chamberlain, or Angela Domenici could also get the nod here, depending on who is best suited for the role. As mentioned earlier (See New Faces in 2009), Kelley could potentially be a very good power hitting outfielder. If she can hit near .300 and match the six homers hit by Gregg this past season, she will likely see plenty of time in the starting lineup.

Key Reserves
My projected starting lineup is obviously not set in stone, so here is a look at a few other players who could see action, might it be a minimal or significant amount, in 2009.

Class—Bats—Player—Position—(2008 Stats)

Fr – S – Nicole Hannum – OF – (N/A)
Hannum was redshirted last season, but will compete for a shot to play everyday in the outfield. The switch hitter could also see time at designated player, battling for time there with her younger sister Heather. I don’t know too much about the older Hannum, since she didn’t play last year, but I have to imagine she was redshirted so she can see significant playing time during the next four seasons.

Fr - R - Natalie Chamberlain - OF - (N/A)
Chamberlain was redshirted due to a back injury in 2008, but will compete for playing time in the outfield in 2009. I don't know too much about her, but apparently she will be one of the fastest players on the team and has a decent throwing arm. If she can put the ball in play, Chamberlain could be a candidate to bat out of the nine spot for Coach Lawes.

So – R – Angela Domenici – OF – (.188-0-3)
Domenici saw limited action in 2008 with a significant amount of her at-bats coming late in the season when Reifsnyder was injured. She was just 6-of-32 at the plate, failed to draw a walk, and had just one extra base hit. It should be noted that a majority of those at-bats came late in the season, including during the playoffs, against tough pitching. She will contend for playing time in center and right field.

Fr – S – Nicole Colineri – MIF – (N/A)
(See New Faces in 2009)

Fr – N/A – Michelle McGinty – 3B – (N/A)
(See New Faces in 2009)

Jr – R – Tami Wambold – DP – (.154-0-2)
Wambold is likely to continue as a spot starter and pinch hitter in 2009. This past season, she hit just .154 in 26 at-bats and failed to record an extra base hit.

Jr – R – Emily Fazekas – IF – (.154-0-1)
Fazekas was primarily called upon as a pinch hitter in 2008, seeing only five starts and 13 at-bats during the 62 game season. She could see a few spot starts again next season, but will again see considerable time as a pinch runner.

So – R – Alex Najpauer – IF – (.182-0-4)
Like Fazekas, Najpauer was used strictly as a pinch runner last season. She batted .182 in just 22 at-bats, but did appear in 32 games for KU. She will likely be the number-two pinch running option behind Fazekas again in 2009.

Jr – L – Laine Heisler – CA – (.150-0-1)
Heisler has seen little action during her first two seasons at KU, but with Hague graduated and no other catchers besides Fitzgerald currently on the roster, Heisler could end up as the backup catcher, which would bring on a decent amount of playing time. Heisler had just 20 at-bats in six 2008 starts, putting up a less than impressive .340 OPS.

Other Reserves: Anne Arbogast, Joanna Spangler – Unlikely to see significant action in 2009.

Pitching Staff
The Golden Bears will return every member of their young pitching staff next season.

Rotation Spot—Class—Throws—Player—(2008 Stats)

1 – Junior – R – Katlin Arbogast – (26-7 1.41)
After being forced to carry a majority of the pitching load as a freshman in 2007, Arbogast was awarded with some relief in Mary Hoch and Monica Glomb in 2008. The 2007 PSAC East Pitcher of the Year responded with a better season in almost every area, but fell just short of winning the 2008 POY award to Bloomsburg’s Ashley Lynn. Arbogast improved her ERA from 1.82 to 1.41, her WHIP from 1.15 to 0.95, her opponent batting average from .205 to .183, and her strikeouts per 7 innings from 8.1 to 8.6. She walked 33 less hitters, allowed 50 less hits, and improved her record from 27-9 in 2007 to 26-7 in 2008. Arbogast will be one of the top pitchers in the PSAC during the next two seasons and is the early favorite to take home the 2009 PSAC East Pitcher of the Year award.

2 – Sophomore – R – Monica Glomb – (10-6 2.15)
Glomb’s ability to pitch effectively for over 100 innings in 2008 was a welcome surprise for everyone, especially Kaitlin Arbogast, who needed a break after tossing a school-record 249.1 innings in 2007. Now a sophomore, Glomb has a solid year of experience under her belt and will look to improve to the next level in 2009, which would mean minimizing the already small dropoff when Arbogast is out of the game. Glomb’s ERA may look a bit high, but it took a huge hit late in the season due to a few bad outings. She should be even better next season, which would make her one of the East’s top pitchers.

3 – Sophomore – R – Mary Hoch – (9-1 1.68)
Just looking at the numbers from last season, Hoch appears to have done a better job than Glomb, but Coach Lawes turned to Glomb more often, allowing her 30 more innings of work. That did not stop Hoch from having an outstanding season, notching a 9-1 record and an impressive 1.68 ERA. Both freshmen pitchers jumped to outstanding starts last season, but both went on to struggle late. If Hoch outpitches Glomb early in 2009, she in turn is likely to get more work. The biggest concern about Hoch is her lack of an ability to strike out opponents, managing just 47 in 70.2 innings (4.7 K/7).

4 – Sophomore – R – Lauren Doering – (2-0 1.98)
Coach Lawes called on Doering just six times in 2008, but the Canadian rookie did her job in 17.2 innings of work. Her ERA is probably a bit deceiving as her performance wasn’t quite as good as it indicates due to seven unearned runs. Her WHIP of 1.70 is way too high, but she did average more than a strikeout an inning. She will, at best, return as the fourth option again in 2009.

Other Pitching Reserves: Maggie Reifsnyder, Heather Hannum – Unlikely to see significant action in 2009.

So, there you have it. If you have any other inquiries on the 2009 team, please feel free to leave a comment and I will respond as soon as I gather the information. Keep in mind that this was written based completely on the information I have at the present time and is likely to change based on the happenings of the current offseason.

UPDATES:
5/29/08 - More info added about Michelle McGinty
5/30/08 - Added Natalie Chamberlain info

Offseason Fun

It saddens me to say that the KU Athletic season has come to a close, but that does not mean the end of new posts on Kutztown University Vital Sports!

Throughout the summer, I will be working on previews for the 2008-09 seasons and posting all kinds of fun statistical information. When I have some other free time, I will do more player profiles, similar to the ones I did for the likes of Mercedes Van Wagner, Rachel Weidensaul, and David Ben.

If you have any information or article requests, feel free to leave comments on the articles or email me at mclay8823@yahoo.com. If you are interested in contributing to the site, you can express your interest via email as well.

Be sure to check back throughout the summer for the latest on Kutztown University Athletics!

Baseball season ends with 8-0 loss

The KU baseball season has come to a close after an 8-0 loss to fourth-seeded Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday. The PSAC Champion and sixth-seeded Golden Bears started the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Tournament with a heartbreaking 5-3 loss to top-seeded West Chester before beating second-seeded West Virgina State 2-1 to stay alive on Friday. The Golden Bears end the 2008 season with a 31-26 record.

Shippensburg went on to defeat West Chester for the Regional title in a decisive game seven.

Golden Bears stay alive with 2-1 win

The sixth-seeded KU baseball team defeated second-seeded West Virginia State on Friday by a score of 2-1, eliminating the Yellow Jackets from the double-elimination tournament. The win comes one day after KU fell 5-3 to top-seeded West Chester in game one of the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Tournament.

The Golden Bears now advance to a 3 p.m. game on Saturday against Pitt-Johnstown. Each of KU's remaining games will be elimination contests.

Check back throughout the weekend for continuous updates.

Complete Schedule/Results

Baseball falls in Regional opener

The KU baseball team fell to West Chester by a score of 5-3 on Thursday in the opening game of the NCAA Division II North Atlantic Regional Tournament.

The Golden Bears, seeded sixth out of six teams in the tournament, fall to the loser's bracket and will play tomorrow at 11 a.m. against either West Virginia State or Shippensburg. A loss in that game would eliminate KU from the double-elimination tournament. The top-seeded Golden Rams move on to face either Concord or Pitt-Johnstown tomorrow at 3 p.m.