Happy Valley Hardball with a sabermetrics twist

Nittany Lions see two current players drafted and two incoming freshmen as the draft comes to a close.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State junior Heath Johnson (Alamogordo, N.M.) was selected by the New York Yankees in the 45th round (#1375 overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player on Wednesday afternoon, bringing the Nittany Lion total of draftees to four. Johnson joins junior catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.), who was chosen by the Houston Astros in the fifth round, along with a pair of incoming freshmen who also went Tuesday. After starting the season as an outfielder, Johnson turned to the mound in April where his fastball consistently registered in the low-to-mid 90s.

via Heath Johnson Selected by New York Yankees on Final Day of MLB Draft – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.

Ben Heath Selected by Houston Astros in the Fifth Round of the MLB Draft; Two Incoming Freshmen Also Drafted

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State junior catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.) was selected by the Houston Astros in the fifth round (#153 overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday afternoon. The Louisville Slugger All-American joins the former organization of current Penn State head coach Robbie Wine, who reached the Major League level with Houston in 1986. Also drafted on Tuesday were two incoming freshmen – Kyle Redinger (Lebanon, Pa.) in the 11th round (Astros) and Austin Urban (Windber, Pa.) in the 27th (Baltimore Orioles).

via Ben Heath Selected by Houston Astros in the Fifth Round of the MLB Draft; Two Incoming Freshmen Also Drafted – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.

Penn State junior catcher Ben Heath was selected by the Houston Astros in the fifth round (#153 overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday afternoon.

Heath becomes the Nittany Lions’ highest position player chosen since Greg Vogel in 1976.

via State College, PA – Penn State Baseball: Ben Heath Selected by the Houston Astros in the Fifth Round of the MLB Draft.

by the Houston Astros.

Nate Bump is eighth in the league in ERA (2.96), but tied for most hits (76)

By John Wagner

He has spent time in the Major Leagues, winning a World Series ring with the Marlins in 2003. He’s a former first-round Draft pick after an All-American career at Penn State.

But this season, Nate Bump has a more modest goal in mind: He wants to prove he’s worthy of another chance to pitch in the big leagues.

The Lehigh Valley right-hander, who will turn 34 in late July, ranks eighth in the league with a 2.96 ERA. He is 5-3, which is especially impressive since he pitches for the team with the league’s worst record. But Bump also is tied for the IL lead with 76 hits allowed in 67 innings, and that is a source of concern.

via International League notebook | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball.

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 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.

Junior catcher has turned himself into one of the most sought after catchers in the draft.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Following one of the best seasons in school history, Penn State junior catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.) continues to receive serious attention heading into the Major League Baseball First-Year Draft which begins with the first round on Monday at 7 p.m. Heath, who has gained incredible momentum throughout his record-breaking season, was invited to more than 10 teams’ pre-draft workouts and has a chance to become Penn State’s highest selection since Nate Bump in 1998.

via Heath Gains Momentum Heading Into MLB Draft Beginning Monday – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.

Ben Heath is one of only two players in the nation named to both the 2010 Johnny Bench Award and Dick Howser Trophy semifinal lists. (Penn State University)

Penn State junior catcher Ben Heath doesn’t know what to expect when it comes to the baseball draft. But he’s ready for anything.

“I’m really busy right now, talking to a lot of teams,” Heath said Monday during a visit to the CBS 21 News studio. “Hopefully, something will work out. If not I’ll be back in school next year and hope to have another good year.”

It will be hard to top the season he just had.

via Penn State’s Ben Heath ready for baseball draft – CBS 21 News – Breaking news, sports and weather for the Harrisburg Pennsylvania area.

Heath becomes Penn State’s first All-American since 2002 and first second-team honoree since Shawn Fagan in 2000.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Following a sensational junior season, Penn State baseball catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.) was recognized on Thursday by being named to the Louisville Slugger All-America Second Team as chosen by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Penn State’s first All-American since 2002, Heath enjoyed a historic season with a school-record 19 home runs along with 57 RBI and a .369 batting average. He was recently named First Team All-Big Ten while also cracking the Dick Howser Trophy and Johnny Bench Award semifinal lists.

via Ben Heath Named to Louisville Slugger All-America Second Team – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.

PSU finishes the season at #155, just about the same place it has for the last two years.

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 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.

In front row: Babette Ell, Zach Ell and Robert Ell. Second row: Jim Higgins, Holy Redeemer Athletic Director; Chris Ritsick, Head Baseball Coach; and James Redington, Principal.

Zach Ell, a senior at Holy Redeemer High School, recently accepted an athletic scholarship to Penn State University to continue his baseball career. Recruited as an outfielder, Ell has been selected to the 2010 Under Armour All American Team, and last year he participated in the Commander Cup and the Under Armour Team Showcase and was on the Southeast Regional team.

Penn State places a pitcher on the Academic All-America squad for second consecutive year.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State senior pitcher David Lutz (West Chester, Pa.) was named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-America® Third Team, as announced by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) on Tuesday. Lutz becomes the second Nittany Lion pitcher in as many years to crack the Academic All-America® squad, following Paul Cianciolo, who was named to the second team in 2009.

In his first year of graduate school, Lutz marks Penn State's ninth Academic All-American® in program history. He currently owns a 3.84 GPA in the Master of Health Administration Program after earning his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, where he accumulated a 3.67 undergraduate GPA.

via Baseball’s Lutz Named to CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Third Team – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.

Nittany Lions place a pair on All-Conference and All-Freshman Teams.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Following an action-packed 2010 season, three Penn State baseball players were honored with postseason Big Ten awards, as announced at the Big Ten banquet on Tuesday evening. Junior catcher Ben Heath (Huntersville, N.C.) was named First Team All-Big Ten while freshman outfielder Steve Snyder (West Chester, Pa.) earned third team laurels. Both Snyder and redshirt freshman outfielder Elliot Searer (Lewistown, Pa.) also cracked the All-Freshman Squad.

Heath is Penn State’s first First-Team honoree since pitcher Drew O’Neil in 2008. He marks the Lions’ first positional player to earn first team laurels since catcher Chris Netwell in 2001.

Senior Louie Picconi (North Merrick, N.Y.) was also recognized on Tuesday as the team’s sportsmanship honoree.

via Heath, Snyder & Searer Honored With Postseason Big Ten Baseball Awards – PENN STATE OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE.