Spring 2003 Season Recap

POST-SEASON HONORS FOR THE BEARCATS:
Named to 2003 American Mideast Conference All-Conference team:
Greg Visnick (sr)-SS
Dan Consuegra (fr)-2B
Chris Watkins (so)-P
Joe Pichler (jr)-5th infielder

Named to 2003 AMC Honorable Mention All-Conference team:
Kevin Brogan (fr)-P
Jon Hanczaryk (jr)-DH
Jeremiah Scott (jr)-P

Voted to the NAIA Region IX All-Region team:
Dan Consuegra (fr)-2B
Chris Watkins (so)-P

These players are eligible for 2003 NAIA All-American Nomination. Results will be posted as soon as they become available.

Baseball team has record breaking season in 2003.
The 2003 Saint Vincent College baseball team finished the spring 2003 season with an overall record of 27-17, breaking the school record for wins in a season (21 set in 2001) and marking the first time that a Bearcat ballclub finished with a winning record since the early 1980s. The Bearcats finished with a 20-20 overall record in 1999, the first .500 finish since 1985. The 2003 squad also finished with a 10-10 record in the NAIA American Mideast Conference(AMC), finishing fourth in the AMCs North Division and one game out of a playoff spot. It was the best conference finish for Saint Vincent College since joining the AMC in 1999. Overall, the Bearcats finished the regular season with the second highest winning percentage in the conference, .614. Ohio Dominican University(OH), one of the top NAIA baseball programs the past several years, was the only other school with a higher win percentage, .696.

Pitching
The Saint Vincent College pitching staff was a main reason for this season’s success. The Bearcats finished with a team ERA of 3.40, tops in the AMC. Sophomore Chris Watkins(Johnstown,PA) led the pitching staff with a 8-2 record and a 2.03 ERA. In 65 2/3 innings, Watkins allowed only 24 runs, 19 of those earned, while striking out 55 and walking only 9. He led the pitching staff with 5 complete games. Freshman hurler Kevin Brogan(Stafford,VA) also had a good year on the mound for Saint Vincent. Brogan posted a 5-3-1 mark in 44 1/3 innings. Brogan finished the 2003 season with a 2.84 ERA while striking out 38 and walking 18. Junior Jeremiah Scott(Rockville,MD) played a strong role as both a starter and in relief, eating up 49 2/3 innings, finishing 4-2 with a 2.82 ERA. Senior Mike Polinsky(Derry,PA-Derry HS) also threw well in 2003. Polinsky finished with a 3-5 record and a 3.88 ERA in 61 1/3 innings. Other Bearcat hurlers who performed well in 2003 include sophomore Mike Cardamone(Penn Trafford,PA-Penn Trafford HS), 3-2, 35 2/3 innings, 4.32 ERA; Junior Ryan Russell(Belle Vernon,PA-Belle Vernon HS), 1-1, 18 innings, 2.33; Junior Justin Pichora(Pittsburgh,PA-East Allegheny HS), 1-0, 11 innings, 3.82 ERA and freshman Ben Stoltzfus(Vandegrift,PA-Kiski Area HS), 2-0-1, 8 2/3 innings, 2.42 ERA.

Offense
The Bearcats were led offensively by freshman second baseman Dan Consuegra(Damascus, MD). Consuegra had an outstanding season at the plate, posting a .417 average(55-132) with 41 RBIs, 10 doubles, 1 triple and 4 home runs in 42 games. Consuegra also finished with 33 runs scored and a .532 on-base average. He was fourth in the AMC in batting average, in the top ten in hits per game and finished in the top ten in RBIs. Junior first baseman Joe Pichler(Rockville,MD) also had a big year at the plate. In 45 games, Pichler hit .353(49-for-139) led the team with 46 RBIs, 13 doubles, 1 triple and 8 round-trippers,also tops on the team. Joe finished in the top ten of RBIs per game in the AMC. Senior catcher Kevin Martz(North Versailles-East Allegheny HS) had a very productive year at the plate as well, finishing 2003 with a .342 batting average(25-73), scoring 16 runs, driving in 12 runs and posting a .432 on-base average in 28 games. Junior third baseman Brandon DePhillips(Herminie,PA-Yough HS) finished 2003 at a .324(36-111) mark. DePhillips had 7 doubles, 1 triple and 17 RBIs in 40 games. Junior DH Jon Hanczaryk(Crofton,MD) had another consistent year for Saint Vincent. Hanczaryk hit .308(36-117), with 11 doubles, 1 triple and 1 home run. He drove in 32 runs, drew 25 walks(tied for team lead) and had an on-base average of .447. Hanczaryk was named Honorable Mention All-Conference DH in 2002. Senior outfielder Patrick Flynn(Latrobe,PA-Greater Latrobe HS) also had a strong finish at the plate for Saint Vincent. Flynn finished the year at .298(31-104) with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 11 RBIs, 22 walks and a .493 on-base average.

Defense
Defensively, Saint Vincent College finished with a .940 fielding percentage. Senior shortstop Greg Visnick(Delmont,PA-Greensburg Salem HS) and freshman second baseman Dan Consuegra finished the year with 28 double plays between them, a school record. Overall, the Bearcats turned 34 double dippers, a team record.

In Closing...
“We are certainly disappointed at not finishing in the post season,” says head coach Mick Janosko. “It will sting for awhile, especially the one run losses in conference play. But when you look back and think of all the things that we’ve accomplished this spring, this season was truly a success. We will keep working to get the program where we want to be, that’s for sure, but the players worked hard this year and did a great job.”