The start of the tennis season looms for the Pennsylvania College of Technology men’s and women’s teams while the college’s baseball and softball squads have resumed their seasons.
Men's, Women's Tennis
Despite their 1-12 combined fall season (the men were 1-5 and women 0-7), second-year Penn College coach John Machak is optimistic about the spring season. The men are scheduled to open on Friday hosting Elmira College while the women get going April 2 hosting Misericordia University.
“A lot of the players were working over at the (West Branch Tennis) club over the break and also at the start of the semester, so a number of our players have been hitting and will be ready from the get-go. I think both rosters are going to be very competitive this season. I think, for both the men and the women, we figure to compete for the title in the division,” Machak said.
Expected to start for the men in singles play are sophomore Luke Whitenight, of Berwick, at No. 1; sophomore Blake Whitmire, of Berwick, at No. 2; freshman Garrett Benner, of Selinsgrove, at No. 3; sophomore Nicholas Pascual, of Doylestown, at No. 4; freshman Will DeMarco, of Glen Mills, at No. 5; and freshman Joe Morrin, of Morrisville, at No. 6.
Whitenight is a transfer student from King’s College, who “just crushes the ball,” according to Machak. Whitenight and Whitmire, who went to high school together, also will form the No. 1 doubles team with other doubles teams coming from the remainder of the squad.
“We’re going to be much better across the board,” the coach said of his men. “We’re pretty excited.”
Leading the Penn College women at No. 1 singles is junior Jane Herman, of Greencastle, who finished third at No. 3 singles last season in the North Eastern Athletic Conference and earned Third Team All-Conference honors.
“We’re thrilled to have her back. She’s such a great hitter,” Machak said.
Also expected to start are freshman Delayna Deem, of Montgomery, at No. 2 singles; senior Meghan Herman, of Jersey Shore, at No. 3; freshman Amber Janelli, of Denver, at No. 4; junior Emily Bell, of Jersey Shore, at No. 5; and senior Hanna Williams, of Marion, New York, at No. 6.
“Overall, we’ve got a really nice squad,” Machak said. “With the top four, we’re really competitive. Our top four are really, really good. As long as we can start fast we should be good going forward.
“We’re excited for some warmth to get out there and get hitting,” the coach added.
Baseball
After a 16-day layoff, Penn College returned to action Sunday in its home opener against Lebanon Valley College and split, losing 5-1 and winning 7-3, to go to 4-6 overall. In the opener, Ben Flicker, of Topton, had two hits. In the second game, the Wildcats put up six runs in the second inning as Alex Zelger, of Red Lion, plated two runs with a single. Flicker added two more hits during the game, including an RBI double, and scored twice while Deric Ellerman, of Landisburg, had two hits and scored a run. Max Bair, of Centre Hall, earned the mound win.
Softball
Playing for the first time since March 10, the Wildcats split with SUNY Potsdam State on Saturday in their home opener, losing 4-2 in eight innings, when the visitors scored twice in the eighth, and winning 3-0, to go to 6-8 on the season. In the first-game loss, Alyssa Gentile, of Fairport, New York, had three hits, including a double, and scored a run while Taylor Brooks, of Cogan Station, had two hits, including a triple, and scored a run and Chelsea Gray, of Marysville, had two hits and drove in both runs. In the nightcap, Penn College scored all of its runs in the fourth inning to back the pitching of Morgan Heritage, of New Castle, Delaware, who tossed a two-hitter, striking out 14 and walking three. Kristina Holland, of Mechanicsburg, led the offense with two hits, scored a run and drove in a run. Penn College steps into NEAC play on Saturday when it hosts Morrisville State College.
In North Eastern Athletic Conference action this week: Host Morrisville State College (3-5 overall), 3 p.m. Saturday.
Last meetings vs. Morrisville State College: Won 8-0 and 4-0 on April 23.
SCHEDULE/RECORDS/RESULTS
Baseball
Overall: 4-6
Sunday, March 25 – host Lebanon Valley College at Logue Field (2), L, 5-1; W, 7-3
Friday, March 30 – at Cabrini University (2), noon
Saturday, March 31 – at Pitt-Bradford (2), 1 p.m.
Saturday, April 7 – host Cazenovia College (NEAC) at Bowman Field (2), 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 8 – host Wells College (NEAC) at Bowman Field (2), noon
Wednesday, April 11 – host King’s College at Bowman Field (2), 4:30 p.m.
Softball
Overall: 6-8
Wednesday, March 21 – at Susquehanna University (2), ppd.
Saturday, March 24 – host SUNY Potsdam State at Elm Park (2), L, 4-2 in 8 innings; W, 3-0
Saturday, March 31 – host Morrisville State College (NEAC) at Elm Park (2), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 3 – at Cazenovia College (NEAC, 2), 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 7 – at Wilson College (NEAC, 2), 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 8 – at Penn State Berks (NEAC, 2), noon
Friday, April 13 – at Keuka College (NEAC, 2), 3 p.m.
Men’s Tennis
Friday, March 30 – host Elmira College, 4 p.m.
Monday, April 2 – host Misericordia University, 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 14 – at Bryn Athyn (NEAC), 11 a.m.
Women’s Tennis
Monday, April 2 – host Misericordia University, 3 p.m.
Thursday, April 5 – host St. Elizabeth (NEAC), 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 14 – at Bryn Athyn (NEAC), 11 a.m.
Men’s Golf
Monday, April 2 – Dutchmen Spring Invitational at Lebanon Valley College, noon
Archery
Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15 – Adam Wheatcroft Memorial, Harrisonburg, Va.
Saturday-Sunday, April 21-22 – Outdoor Eastern Regionals, Bloomfield, N.J.
For more about NEAC, visit the conference website.
Men's, Women's Tennis
Despite their 1-12 combined fall season (the men were 1-5 and women 0-7), second-year Penn College coach John Machak is optimistic about the spring season. The men are scheduled to open on Friday hosting Elmira College while the women get going April 2 hosting Misericordia University.
“A lot of the players were working over at the (West Branch Tennis) club over the break and also at the start of the semester, so a number of our players have been hitting and will be ready from the get-go. I think both rosters are going to be very competitive this season. I think, for both the men and the women, we figure to compete for the title in the division,” Machak said.
Expected to start for the men in singles play are sophomore Luke Whitenight, of Berwick, at No. 1; sophomore Blake Whitmire, of Berwick, at No. 2; freshman Garrett Benner, of Selinsgrove, at No. 3; sophomore Nicholas Pascual, of Doylestown, at No. 4; freshman Will DeMarco, of Glen Mills, at No. 5; and freshman Joe Morrin, of Morrisville, at No. 6.
Whitenight is a transfer student from King’s College, who “just crushes the ball,” according to Machak. Whitenight and Whitmire, who went to high school together, also will form the No. 1 doubles team with other doubles teams coming from the remainder of the squad.
“We’re going to be much better across the board,” the coach said of his men. “We’re pretty excited.”
Leading the Penn College women at No. 1 singles is junior Jane Herman, of Greencastle, who finished third at No. 3 singles last season in the North Eastern Athletic Conference and earned Third Team All-Conference honors.
“We’re thrilled to have her back. She’s such a great hitter,” Machak said.
Also expected to start are freshman Delayna Deem, of Montgomery, at No. 2 singles; senior Meghan Herman, of Jersey Shore, at No. 3; freshman Amber Janelli, of Denver, at No. 4; junior Emily Bell, of Jersey Shore, at No. 5; and senior Hanna Williams, of Marion, New York, at No. 6.
“Overall, we’ve got a really nice squad,” Machak said. “With the top four, we’re really competitive. Our top four are really, really good. As long as we can start fast we should be good going forward.
“We’re excited for some warmth to get out there and get hitting,” the coach added.
Baseball
After a 16-day layoff, Penn College returned to action Sunday in its home opener against Lebanon Valley College and split, losing 5-1 and winning 7-3, to go to 4-6 overall. In the opener, Ben Flicker, of Topton, had two hits. In the second game, the Wildcats put up six runs in the second inning as Alex Zelger, of Red Lion, plated two runs with a single. Flicker added two more hits during the game, including an RBI double, and scored twice while Deric Ellerman, of Landisburg, had two hits and scored a run. Max Bair, of Centre Hall, earned the mound win.
Softball
Playing for the first time since March 10, the Wildcats split with SUNY Potsdam State on Saturday in their home opener, losing 4-2 in eight innings, when the visitors scored twice in the eighth, and winning 3-0, to go to 6-8 on the season. In the first-game loss, Alyssa Gentile, of Fairport, New York, had three hits, including a double, and scored a run while Taylor Brooks, of Cogan Station, had two hits, including a triple, and scored a run and Chelsea Gray, of Marysville, had two hits and drove in both runs. In the nightcap, Penn College scored all of its runs in the fourth inning to back the pitching of Morgan Heritage, of New Castle, Delaware, who tossed a two-hitter, striking out 14 and walking three. Kristina Holland, of Mechanicsburg, led the offense with two hits, scored a run and drove in a run. Penn College steps into NEAC play on Saturday when it hosts Morrisville State College.
In North Eastern Athletic Conference action this week: Host Morrisville State College (3-5 overall), 3 p.m. Saturday.
Last meetings vs. Morrisville State College: Won 8-0 and 4-0 on April 23.
SCHEDULE/RECORDS/RESULTS
Baseball
Overall: 4-6
Sunday, March 25 – host Lebanon Valley College at Logue Field (2), L, 5-1; W, 7-3
Friday, March 30 – at Cabrini University (2), noon
Saturday, March 31 – at Pitt-Bradford (2), 1 p.m.
Saturday, April 7 – host Cazenovia College (NEAC) at Bowman Field (2), 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 8 – host Wells College (NEAC) at Bowman Field (2), noon
Wednesday, April 11 – host King’s College at Bowman Field (2), 4:30 p.m.
Softball
Overall: 6-8
Wednesday, March 21 – at Susquehanna University (2), ppd.
Saturday, March 24 – host SUNY Potsdam State at Elm Park (2), L, 4-2 in 8 innings; W, 3-0
Saturday, March 31 – host Morrisville State College (NEAC) at Elm Park (2), 3 p.m.
Tuesday, April 3 – at Cazenovia College (NEAC, 2), 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 7 – at Wilson College (NEAC, 2), 1 p.m.
Sunday, April 8 – at Penn State Berks (NEAC, 2), noon
Friday, April 13 – at Keuka College (NEAC, 2), 3 p.m.
Men’s Tennis
Friday, March 30 – host Elmira College, 4 p.m.
Monday, April 2 – host Misericordia University, 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 14 – at Bryn Athyn (NEAC), 11 a.m.
Women’s Tennis
Monday, April 2 – host Misericordia University, 3 p.m.
Thursday, April 5 – host St. Elizabeth (NEAC), 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 14 – at Bryn Athyn (NEAC), 11 a.m.
Men’s Golf
Monday, April 2 – Dutchmen Spring Invitational at Lebanon Valley College, noon
Archery
Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15 – Adam Wheatcroft Memorial, Harrisonburg, Va.
Saturday-Sunday, April 21-22 – Outdoor Eastern Regionals, Bloomfield, N.J.
For more about NEAC, visit the conference website.
For more information, visit the Wildcat Athletics website.
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