Baseball Hosts Five Home Games at Three Rivers Stadium

4/13/1998

Slate includes four conference clashes.

This weeks games:
* April 14 at Duquesne             4 p.m.
* April 15 vs. West Virginia       1 p.m.
          Big East Contest at Three Rivers
* April 16 vs. Kent State          1 p.m.
          at Three Rivers
* April 18 vs. Notre Dame          5 p.m.
          Big East Doubleheader at Three Rivers
* April 19 vs. Notre Dame          5 p.m.
          Big East Contest at Three Rivers

COACHES CORNER
Pittsburgh Panthers: Head coach Joe Jordano joins the Panthers this year from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., where he became the school's all-time winningest coach with a 285-114-1 10-year record. His .713 winning percentage ranks seventh among active NCAA Division II coaches. Jordano could break the 300-career victories mark in 1998.

Five of his teams have been ranked in the Top 25 and went on to the NCAA Tournament, and two captured the GLIAC Championship. In addition, Jordano has twice been named the league's Coach of the Year (1996 and 1997) and the Louisville Slugger Coach of the Year (1995).

A 1985 graduate of Westminster College, Jordano received his master's degree from Slippery Rock in 1994. Jordano is assisted by Joel Dombkowski and Lou Schaper.

Probable Panther Lineup          
Pos. Name                yr   ht./wt.   Hometown/high school                       1998 stats          
RF   Chris Delsignore    JR   6-0/175   Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop            23-for-87 (.264), 12 RBI, 13 R, 10 BB/15 K, 2 E
DH   Bill Brown          SO   6-2/205   Deer Lakes, Pa./Deer Lakes                 23-for-84 (.274), 15 RBI, 14 R, 13 BB, 2 HR/38 K
SS   Lou Melucci         JR   5-10/175  Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights        30-for-99 (.303), 13 RBI, 21 R, 5 BB, 3 HR/12 K, 18 E
1B   Steve Dickinson     JR   6-5/230   Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk                15-for-77 (.208), 16 RBI, 13 R, 5 BB, 1 HR/20 K, 7 E
2B   Harry Ciavarella    SO*  5-10/170  Moscow, Pa./North Pocono                   19-for-73 (.260), 18 RBI, 20 R, 7 BB, 1 HR/13 K, 7 E
3B   Darrin Lenhart      FR   6-2/205   Allentown, Pa./William Allen               5-for-21 (.238), 5 RBI, 4 R/5 K, 5 E
LF   Jason Oliver        JR   6-3/210   Coatsville, Pa./Coatsville Senior          21-for-83 (.253), 15 RBI, 13 R, 11 BB, 2 HR/18 K, 3 E
C    David Hoopes        SO   5-10/185  Hershey, Pa./Lower Dauphin                 18-for-80 (.225), 17 RBI, 13 R, 10 BB, 2 HR/11 K, 5 E
CF   Kevin Foley         JR   5-9/180   Burlington, Ontario, Cananda/Notre Dame    15-for-65 (.231), 6 RBI, 11 R, 14 BB/15 K, 3E

Pitchers
Pos. Name                yr   ht./wt.   Hometown/high school                       1998 stats
RHP  Bob Balazentis      SR   6-4/200   West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin             2.74, 0-3, 23.0 IP, 33 K/3 BB, 22 H
RHP  John Schultz        JR   6-3/220   Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick                    5.63, 2-5, 40.0 IP, 23 K/15 BB, 53 H
RHP  Eric Rosing         SR   6-2/195   Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin                    4.88, 1-2, 24.0 IP, 19 K/18 BB, 26 H
RHP  Chris Gallick       SR   5-11/165  Mt. Pleasant, Pa./Mt. Pleasant             6.50, 1-3, 36.0 IP, 31 K/14 BB, 50 H

Right-handed Relievers
RHP  Matt Irvin          FR   6-0/160   Derry, Pa./Derry Area                      3.00, 1-0, 12.0 IP, 9 K/7 BB, 13 H
RHP  Jory Coughenour     SO   5-10/170  Uniontown, Pa./Uniontown                   3.86, 1-1, 28.0 IP, 20 K/17 BB, 33 H
RHP  Greg Paul           FR   6-1/180   Ellwood City, Pa./Riverside                9.45, 0-2, 6.2 IP, 7 K/3 BB, 13 H
RHP  Scott Schultz       FR   6-4/210   Pittsburgh, Pa./Carrick                    12.60, 0-0, 5.0 IP, 7 K/2 BB, 7 H

Left-handed Relievers
LHP  Kevin Lazeski       SO   5-10/190  Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem           4.68, 2-2, 25.0 IP, 18 K/17 BB, 23 H

Success in Big East Premiere: First-year head coach Joe Jordano captured his first Big East conference victory with a 5-1 win against Georgetown March 22.

In his previous coaching position, Jordano dominated the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference (GLIAC), guiding the Mercyhurst Lakers to the league championship each season since the Lakers became aligned with the conference (1996 and 1997).

Academics First: Eight members of the Pittsburgh Panther baseball team were honored March 19 when they were named Bell Atlantic Scholar-Athletes for achieving a 3.0 grade-point average or better.

They are: Chris Guth, Ron Janicki, Richard Klick, Greg Paul, Eric Rosing, John Schultz, Jeff Sofran and Steve Varshine.

In addition eight members of the 1997 squad who did not return this year were honored, including Kevin Knox, who achieved a 4.0 GPA last spring.

Hometown Proud: All but two players on the 1998 Panther squad are Pennsylvania natives, Kevin Foley, (Ontario, Canada) and Steve Varshine (Louisville, Ky.). Varshine, however, is originally from Pittsburgh.

In addition, 14 of the 28 Pennsylvania natives are from Pittsburgh or a nearby suburb.

Steady Improvement: The Panthers have almost steadily improved their batting average since it sank to a season-low .221 after a 14-7 loss to Chicago State March 7 in Homestead, Fla. After the West Virginia contest March 31, in which Pittsburgh had a season-high 17 hits, the team batting average is rose to .256. In the past seven contests, Pittsburgh's average has fluctuated between .243 and .250. Currently, the Panthers hold a .248 average.

Strike Zone: Pittsburgh's pitching staff is tied with its opponents with 172 strikeouts. The Panthers and their opponents have also recorded five pickoffs each.

In the conference, Pittsburgh ranks fifth in team pitching with a 5.19 ERA as of Monday, April 13. St. John's leads the league with a 3.70 ERA.

Loaded Guns: The Panthers are hitting .368 with the bases loaded. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's defense has held its opponents to a .321 batting average when the bases are loaded.

Double Trouble: The Panthers, who led their opponents in double plays for most of the season, are trailing, 31-29 in double plays turned.

Bag Burglers: Pittsburgh has gathered 33-of-46 stolen base attempts, and its opponents have recorded 38-57.

The Panthers recorded eight stolen bases to Duquesne's one in their last meeting March 31, including a triple steal which allowed a Panther run to score.

Hitting Lefties: Pittsburgh's batting average against left-handed pitchers is .297 compared to a .234 average versus right-handed pitchers.

Home Run Status: Pittsburgh's opponents have recorded 20 home runs this season, and the Panthers have only hit 11.

Last season at this time (April 15, 1997) the Panthers owned their opponents in home runs, 30-17. However, the 1997 squad had played nine more games than the 1998 team at this point in the season.

Just Hit It: Against Duquesne March 31, the Panthers put up their best performance at the plate of the season. Pittsburgh scored 15 runs on 17 hits, both season-highs.

Pittsburgh's best batting performance in the league was against Connecticut April 11 when the team went 11-for-33, including two double, a triple and two home runs.

D is for Defense: Pittsburgh's defense was impressive against Duquesne March 31. Five of the Dukes' six runs were solo home runs. The Panther defense only allowed two other hits while racking up 17 of their own.

Getting It DONE: Pittsburgh is doing its job on the mound, holding its competition to a .202 batting average with two outs and a .256 average with a runner in scoring position.

Meanwhile, when the Panthers are at the plate, they have recorded a .222 batting average on two outs.

PLAYER NOTES
Top of the Order: Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter, Chris Delsignore has recorded 12 RBI's and a double and a triple so far this season, and is fourth on the team with 10 walks. Delsignore holds a seven-game hitting streak since the St. John's series April 5.

Canadian Sensation: Kevin Foley, one of two Panthers not from Pennsylvania, has stepped up to the plate 65 times this season and has compiled a .231 batting average. Prior to the Rutgers series, Foley had earned a .324 batting average. As the leadoff hitter, Foley hits his best, averaging .433.

Foley has recorded 15 hits, including a triple, two doubles, six RBI's and two sacrifices. Foley also leads the squad with 14 walks and has succeeded on four of his five stolen base attempts, including a run scored when he stole home on a triple steal against Duquesne March 31.

As the Panthers' center fielder, Foley has registered 31 putouts, two assists and three errors for a .917 fieding percentage.

Cheers for Charlie: Charlie Stafford has entered the Panther lineup with a bang. His .319 batting average ranks first on the team, and he is 15-for-47 with two doubles and eight RBI's.

Slugging Sensation: Pittsburgh's designated hitter, Bill Brown, holds a .440 slugging percentage and and is second on the squad with 23 hits, including two homers, two triples, four doubles and 15 RBI's. His .274 batting average ranks third on the squad.

As the leadoff hitter, Brown has hit .500 and .333 with the bases loaded.

What a Game: Among several impressive individual Panther performances against Duquesne March 31, Harry Ciavarella went 4-for-4 at the plate, including a triple, double and three RBI's. Ciavarella also scored two runs and had a perfect game at second base.

A Harry Situation: Ciavarella holds a five game hitting streak since the April 8 Cleveland State contest. He has improved his batting average to .260 with 19 hits on 73 at-bats, including one home run, two triples, nine doubles and a team-high 18 RBI's.

At second base, Ciavarella has been impressive, recording 48 putouts, 63 assists and seven errors for a .941 fielding percentage.

Short Stuff: Louis Melucci, the Panthers' starting shortstop, has recorded a team-best 30 hits, including a season-best three against Duquesne March 31, and has contributed three home runs, six doubles, two triples and 13 RBI's. Meluuci's .303 batting average is second on the team.

In the field, Melucci has recorded a team-high 93 putout assists and 41 putouts. He has also been involved in 15 double plays.

A Tall Order: Standing 6-5, junior first baseman Steve Dickinson is the second-tallest Panther on the squad. Dickinson is second on the team with 151 putouts, has been involved in 16 double-plays and holds a .959 fielding percentage.

Offensively, Dickinson, who holds the all-time season home run record with 13, is third with 16 RBI's, and has hit one homer a triple and four doubles.

Help From Hoopes: As the Panthers' starting catcher, sophomore David Hoopes has posted a .975 fielding percentage so far this season with a team-best 166 putouts and 28 assists. He has also prevented a team-high 17 baserunners from stealing.

Against Duquesne March 25, Hoopes recorded his first stolen base, had one hit, an RBI's and scored two runs, and in the Youngstown contest, he recorded his first career Panther home run.

Strikeout Savvy: Bob Balazentis leads the squad with 33 strikeouts in 23 innings this season. Balazentis has gone the distance twice, pitching complete games. In Big East contests, Balazentis is ranked among the league leaders with a 3.38 ERA as of Monday, April 13. Overall, Balazentis leads the squad with a 2.74 ERA. He also fourth with 26 strikeouts in conference play.

Chris Gallick is second on the squad with 31 strikeouts in 36 innings.

CONFERENCE NOTES
Recently Ranked: Jory Coughenour is ranked second in individual pitching (minimun 1.0 IP/Team game) in the Big East as of Monday, April 13 with a 3.86 ERA. St. John's Keith Stamler is first with a 1.93 ERA.

Pittsburgh's pitching staff ranks among the league leaders in overall pitching as of Monday, April 13 with a 5.19 ERA. St. John's leads the Big East with a 3.70 overall ERA.

Bob Balazentis and John Schultz have been ranked in individual pitching for Big East contests (Min. 1.0 IP/Team game) as of Monday, April 13. Balazentis owns a 3.38 ERA, while Schultz has a 4.61 ERA.

Additionally, Balazentis' 26 strikeouts in league play (14.63/game) places him fourth in the Big East, and he is tied with six others in saves for the one he recorded against Georgetown March 22. Schultz has pitched the third most innings per league game (27.1 IP, 6.47 IP/G).

Second baseman Harry Ciavarella is sixth among the conference leaders with his 0.38 doubles per game league game (5 total) as of Monday, April 13.

OPPONENTS' LEAGUE UPDATE
West Virginia: The Mountaineers went 2-2 in league play, dropping a doubleheader to Connecticut April 10, 12-8 and 8-5, and swept a twinbill against Providence April 12, 12-5 and 7-4.

Matt Hart went 4-for-5 in game two versus Connecticut and tied a WVU record by going 5-for-5 in game one against PC.

Lewis Ross threw a complete game in the second game versus PC, improving his record to 4-0. WVU also defeated Youngstown State, 8-3, April 12.

Notre Dame: The Irish won both games of a doubleheader against Villanova April 11, 9-4 and 14-10.

Jeff Perconte drove in four runs in the opener, while Dan Leatherman went 4-for-6 in the series, raising his average to .356 overall and .538 in the league. Brant Urst went 5-for-6 in the twinbill and is batting .421 on the season with an .817 slugging percentage (11 HR, 1 triple, 15 doubles in 126 at-bats). Jeff Wagner has a .418 career average in league play, which ties him for third on the Big East list.