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 known as Heater.

“All of a sudden they’re writing about me. There are press releases and articles. I was completely under the radar in the beginning of the year. Now, you’re getting calls and traveling to Colorado, which was really cool. But it all just kind of speeds up on you.”

via Penn State’s Ben Heath looking forward to MLB Draft | PennLive.com.

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 is about to be a prospect in the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft the very next week – and the minister she is talking to has been a baseball junky for nearly 60 years.

Such was the scenario Sunday morning in the sanctuary of Hope Presbyterian Church in Martinsville, VA. One of the regular attending couples in the church (their membership is still back in a PCA church in North Carolina) is Mark and Debbie Heath. Debbie grew up in First Presbyterian Church, Stanley, NC and since their marriage she and Mark have been members of several different PCA churches as work assignments moved them around.

via Penn State’s Catcher Ben Heath ready for MLB draft.

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 on the schedule, Penn State finds themselves tied for third place in the conference, two games behind first placers Michigan and Northwestern. Their hot streak needs to continue in order to make the Big Ten Tournament, where only the top six teams compete.

One reason for Penn State’s success is junior catcher and Johnny Bench Award nominee Ben Heath. Pitchers have not been able to contain him this year, as he is hitting a .383 batting average with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs. He is also masterful behind the plate, sporting a .989 fielding percentage. I was able to ask him a few questions on his accomplishments and this year’s team, and this is what he had to tell me:

via Ten Questions With PSU Baseball Catcher Ben Heath | Onward State.

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 the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association as a second-team preseason All-American.

After Heath’s performance during the Penn State baseball team’s (17-22, 4-8 Big Ten) series win against Ohio State where Penn State took two-of-three, the Nittany Lion catcher has a case for consideration as the best catcher in the conference.

via Heath having potentially historic season – The Daily Collegian Online.

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 in baseball, when you get put into a game, the ball finds you,” Glantz said.

via Shortstop Glantz back from injury – The Daily Collegian Online.

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 14 of the team’s 23 games this season, Lutz is on pace to make 32 appearances in just the regular season, which would break Matt Ogrodnik’s record of 29 appearances in 2007.

via Senior Lutz go-to guy out of Nittany Lions’ bullpen – The Daily Collegian Online.

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 run under. As the umpire called for the infield fly rule, DeBernardis tripped over the mound and had the ball fall a couple feet in front of him.

It was a minor slip-up for the sophomore first baseman, whose strong offensive and defensive performance helped the Nittany Lions (9-12) to an 8-4 win over Hofstra (6-13).

via Sophomore contributes with offense, defense – The Daily Collegian Online.

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 Eramo the opportunity to fulfill his dream to play Division I baseball at a big-time school.

via Eramo brings experience from junior college ranks – The Daily Collegian Online.

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 three extra-inning games.

via Junior catchers provide leadership – The Daily Collegian Online.