Happy Valley Hardball with a sabermetrics twist

By ERIC F. EPLER, The Patriot-News Not long ago, all catcher Ben Heath worried about was driving in runs, stopping would be thieves and helping Penn State climb the Big Ten Conference baseball ladder. “I’m kind of a guy who’s pretty laid back. Most people know me as easy going,” said the 6-2, 220-pound catcher affectionately [...]

People in the News Written by Don K. Clements Over the years most ministers have had conversations with proud mamas and papas who want to tell you how wonderful one of their kids is. Most of us have done the same thing ourselves. But seldom is it from the parent of a college baseball player who [...]

BY: DAN VECELLIO As the days grow hotter, so does the Penn State baseball team. The Lions have won their past two Big Ten weekend series against Ohio State and Michigan State, going 5-1 while averaging 14 runs/game during the span, including a 22-5 shellacking of the Spartans this past Saturday. With 10 games left [...]

By Ryan Loy Collegian Staff Writer This past weekend’s series gave Ben Heath a chance to match up against Ohio State’s Dan Burkhart — one of the top catchers in the nation — and Heath shined. The Buckeyes’ backstop is the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and was voted by PING! Baseball and [...]

By Stephen Hennessey Collegian Staff Writer Three weeks after he separated his right shoulder, an infielder was flying on cloud nine simply because he was playing shortstop again. Then, a double-play ball bounced up the middle toward shortstop Michael Glantz, setting up a play that second baseman Louie Picconi called “unbelievable.” “You just gotta know [...]

By Paul Casella Collegian Staff Writer Senior David Lutz has never started a game. But, as a reliever, he has made more appearances than any other pitcher on the Penn State baseball team this season — and could be on his way to making more than any Nittany Lion ever has. Having already pitched in [...]

By Ryan Loy Collegian Staff Writer With one out in the seventh inning and the Penn State baseball team up by five runs, first baseman Joey DeBernardis was lying face down on the pitchers’ mound. Moments earlier, with runners on first and second base, Hofstra’s Ethan Paquette hit a high pop-up that DeBernardis tried to [...]

By Stephen Hennessey Collegian Staff Writer As a junior college player in the heart of Big 12 country, Mario Eramo wore Big Ten shirts. While Eramo’s teammates always wore Texas or Oklahoma shirts, the Houston native wore Iowa T-shirts. His Ohio-based family also bleeds scarlet for the Buckeyes. It was Penn State, though, that gave [...]

By Ryan Loy Collegian Staff Writer Ben Heath leads the Penn State baseball team in hits, runs and RBI after one weekend of play, but his work behind the plate has been just as important. Heath, along with teammate Bobby Jacobs, helped guide the Nittany Lions' young pitching staff through 35 innings of baseball during [...]

By Paul Casella Collegian Staff Writer Last year, he knew what the situation was going to be when he took the mound. There would be nobody on base and the score would be tied at zero. But in his first career collegiate appearance, Penn State pitcher Steven Hill toed the rubber with only one out [...]

Cianciolo enjoys time at PSU – Sports | Centre Daily via kwout

Third baseman Steranka eager to play near home – The Daily Collegian Online via kwout

Alfreno to follow in Cianciolo’s footsteps – The Daily Collegian Online via kwout

Two-Sport Athletes Cianciolo, Alfreno Provide Relief for Nittany Lions – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE via kwout