RELEASE DATE: 4/27/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES TAKE SEVEN GAME WINNING STREAK INTO PSAC PLAYOFFS – MAKE 11^TH APPEARANCE IN 19 SEASONS UNDER HARRY HILLSON

MANSFIELD – The Mansfield University baseball team will take a seven game winning streak into its PSAC Championship Tournament first round game against California University Thursday evening at 7:00 at the Shaner Sports Complex in State College.

It will mark the 11^th time head coach Harry Hillson has directed his Mountaineers to a PSAC playoff berth in his 19seasons at the helm. Mansfield has captured five PSAC crowns over that span.

Shippensburg, which moved from the PSAC East to the PSAC West this season, is the number one seeded team from the PSAC West and will host PSAC East #2 seed Kutztown at 3:30 in the double elimination tournament.

Mansfield is the hottest team coming into the tournament after having won nine of the last 10 games including seven in a row. Kutztown has also won nine of their last 10 games and are currently on a three game winning streak. Shippensburg in 7-3 over the past 10 games while California is 5-5. Mansfield has not played California or Shippensburg this season and split 2-2 with Kutztown.

MANSFIELD UNIVERSITY                           PSAC EAST CHAMPIONS

“MOUNTAINEERS”

Record:          31-17, 16-4                              Head Coach: Harry Hillson

(19^th season, 586-312-1, .652)

PSAC Batting Rank: 3^rd, .330                       PSAC Pitching Rank:  9^th, 5.27 ERA

Winning Streak:        7                                  Last 10 Games:  9-1

Game One Pitcher:   Jeff Papi (8-2, 2.63 ERA, 61.2 IP, 58 K, 13 BB)

 The Mountaineers won their ninth PSAC East crown in head coach Harry Hillson’s 19 year tenure with a 16-4 mark in the East. Mansfield is the hottest team coming into the tournament after winning their last seven straight and nine of their last 10. Unlike other Mountaineer playoff teams, the 2004 edition relies less on the long ball and more on team speed and defense.

Mansfield has 46 stolen bases so far this season and top the PSAC by turning 46 double plays. Newcomer Eric Baker (Apalachin,NY/Owego) ranks sixth in the PSAC in hitting with a .420 batting average. The second basemen also ranks second in the conference in home runs (9), RBI’s (54), third in runs scored (49) and fourth in hits (71). Senior third basemen Matt Mills (Clifton,VA/Centreville) has been solid with the glove and the bat. He ranks second on the team with a .409 batting average and has been stellar at third base. He also has six doubles, a triple and six home runs along with 42 RBI’s. Senior Josh Rearick (Elton/Forest Hills) is the team leader and has exceptional range in centerfield. The leadoff man, Rearick is batting .353 with a .429 on-base percentage and tops the team with 12 steals. DJ Hoshauer (Hamburg/Hamburg) has been red-hot of late. In the past 10 games, Hoshauer is batting.432 with six home runs and 17 RBI’s. For the season, the catcher is hitting .349 with a PSAC best 12 home runs and 43 RBI’s.  Junior Travis Wurster (Montoursville/Montoursville) has also been exceptional in the field teaming up with Baker to turn 46 double plays. Wurster has come alive with the stick where he is batting .414 over the past 10 games and .304 on the season. Senior Brandon Brokaw (Altoona/Altoona) moved to the outfield this season and is hitting .303 with four home runs and 27 RBI’s. He is hitting .368 over the last 10 games. Senior Dan Kochenderfer (Lewistown/Lewistown) has found a home at first base where he is sporting a .301 batting average with a home run and 18 RBI. Brett Shockloss (Williamsport/Loyalsock) and David Meldrum (Venetia/Peters Township) has been platooning in the outfield of late where Meldrum is hitting .444 over the last eight games and Shockloss is tied with Rearick with 12 steals.

On the mound, Jeff Papi’s (Tunkhannock/Tunkhannock) 8-2 record is fourth best in the PSAC  and he ranks fifth in the conference in strikeouts with 58. Dan Yoder (Williamsport/Williamsport) is 5-2 on the season and has shown marked improvement in his control over the past two starts. Senior John Cronin (Horseheads,NY/Horseheads) has been Mr. Steady on the mound with a 6-2 record and 43 strikeouts. Kane Stein is the fourth starter where he is 4-2 in seven starts. Together, the starting rotation has 11 complete games. When there is a save to be had, there is Marty Rakaczewski (Wilkes-Barre/Hanover). The senior reliever has shattered the school single season record for appearances (29) and saves (12) so far this season while striking out 42 hitters to just 10 walks.

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY                          PSAC WEST #2

“VULCAN’S”

Record:                       29-21-1, 14-6              Head Coach: Mike Conti

                                                                        (8^th Season, 199-164-4)

PSAC Batting Rank:   6^th, .300                       PSAC Pitching Rank:  4^th, 4.31 ERA

Winning Streak:          -1                                 Last 10 Games:  5-5

Game One Pitcher: Mike Larson (4-3, 2.55 ERA, 49.1 IP, 37 K, 17 BB)

The California (PA) Vulcans head to State College as the West's second seed with a 28-20-1 overall record and 14-6 in the PSAC West.  Under the leadership of eighth year head coach Mike Conte, Cal is led by pitcher/outfielder Mike Larson.  Larson leads the team with a .404 batting average (61-of-151), seven home runs and 38 RBI.  His .629 slugging percentage also ranks first for the Vulcans.  Larson is the team's top pitcher, as well.  He has a 2.28 ERA and a 4-2 record in 43.1 innings, including four complete games.  Catcher Patrick Sadler has a .384 batting average (43-of-112) with 13 doubles.  Tim Donnelly, the first baseman, has five homers and 35 RBI and a team-best 16 doubles to go with a .368 batting average (49-of-133).  Outfielder Mike Smith (.310) and catcher Justin Pifer (.231, 5 homers, 20 RBI) round out the top hitters for the Vulcans.

Jim Samolovitch (2-1, 3.50 ERA, 50 K, 46.1 IP), Ryan Campbell (5-2, 3.98 ERA, 32.1 IP) and Nick Damico (3-3, 4.76 ERA, 45.1 IP) round out the starting rotation behind Larson.  Ian Heisel (6-4, 4 saves, 3.63 ERA) and Anthony Miller (1-1, 3 saves, 3.32 ERA) are the top arms in the bullpen. 

SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY                  PSAC WEST CHAMPIONS

“RAIDERS”

Record: 41-8, 17-3                                          Head Coach:   Bruce Peddie

                                                                        (9^th season, )

PSAC Batting Rank:   1^st, .348                       PSAC Pitching Rank:  3^rd, 3.30 ERA

Winning Streak:          +1                                Last 10 Games:          7-3

The Raiders are coached by Bruce Peddie, in his ninth year at Shippensburg, and are 41-8 overall.  The 2003 PSAC Champions are ranked first in the North Atlantic Region and won the PSAC West with a mark of 17-3.  Shippensburg has ranked as high as third in the nation.  Outfielder Chad Stecker leads the team with a .432 batting average (82-of-190), 64 runs and 19 doubles.  His 23 steals, six home runs and 36 RBI all rank second on the squad.  He leads an explosive offensive in which eight of the nine regulars hit at least .338.  Catcher Andy Dangler leads the team with seven homers and 43 RBI and is batting .340 (54-of-159). 

Infielder Scott Kintz checks in at .396 (53-of-134).  Third baseman Brett Brobston bats .381 and Jeremy Hess is .385 hitter.  Outfielders Jared Krebs (.357) and Nick Erdman (.341, 36 RBI, 24 steals) and second baseman Ryan Lindstadt (.338, four home runs) round out the batting leaders for the Raiders.

Ryan Dicken and Evan Englebrook lead the pitching staff.  Dicken is 9-1 with 92 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 65.1 innings.  He leads the team with a 1.64 ERA.  Englebrook's 10 wins lead the team and he has a 1.88 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 67 innings.

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY                           PSAC EAST #2

“GOLDEN BEARS”

Record: 32-12, 15-5                                        Head Coach: Chris Blum

                                                                        (Second season, 67-27, .713)

PSAC Batting Rank:   12^th, .272         PSAC Pitching Rank:  2^nd, 3.17 ERA

Winning Streak:          3                                  Last 10 Games: 9-1

 Kutztown, under the direction of second-year head coach Chris Blum (record at KU:  67-27), survived with one of the PSAC's top pitching staffs until the bats came alive in midseason.  It is the fifth time since 1997 the Golden Bears have reached the PSAC Playoffs.  KU won the title in 1999 and 2002, adding a second place finish in 2001.  The Golden Bears went on to add North Atlantic Regional championships in 2001 and 2002.

KU is currently ranked No. 18 in the nation and No. 3 in the North Atlantic Region.  The Golden Bears feature a deep pitching staff that has posted a 3.17 earned run average.  Kutztown’s top four starters are 19-6 with 182 strikeouts in 194.1 innings pitched.  As a team, the Golden Bears are hitting .272 with five regulars posting averages over .300.

Starting pitcher Matt Haverly  anchors the pitching staff.  Haverly has posted 5-1 record in 10 starts.  His 1.18 ERA ranks second in the PSAC and third in the nation.

Matt Keller is the closer for Kutztown.  He has set the single season record with eight saves so far in 2004.  With 11 career saves, Keller ranks second all-time at KU.  The righthander has a 3.09 ERA in 32 innings pitched, with just seven walks.

Catcher/designated hitter John Yearsley  leads the offense with a .337 batting average (28-of-83).  He has five doubles, two home runs and 20 runs batted in.

Shortstop Gary Stricker  is hitting .333 (35-of-105).  He also has 20 RBI and ranks among the team leaders in runs (22) and homers (four).  Second baseman Greg Rada  completes the double play tandem for KU.  He checks in with a .305 batting average (29-of-95).  His seven doubles are the second most on the Golden Bears.

Starting catcher Clay Kuklick  has been on a tear since moving into the leadoff spot in midseason.  Since moving into the leadoff spot at the beginning of April, Kuklick is hitting .452 (28-of-62), raising to .328 (44-of-134).  He leads the team with 31 runs scored and 17 walks.  He is second on the team with nine stolen bases and has four home runs and 19 RBI.  A disciplined hitter, he has struck out just 12 times.