2002 Review

The 2002 Saint Vincent College Bearcats finished with a 21-23 record, duplicating their 2001 record. The 21 wins tied the school record for victories in a season, which was set in 2001.

The start of the spring 2002 season actually began in the fall with countless hours of instruction, intersquad games, scrimmages and games against outside opponents. After the fall season, the players headed into the weight room and swimming pool complex for their off-season conditioning program. The 2002 squad started spring practice in January to get ready for their annual spring trip to Fort Myers, Fla. The Bearcats performed well down south, coming back north with a 5-5 record. The Bearcats played .500 or just above .500 ball for most of the season, battling in the always-tough American Mideast Conference. The 2002 squad won four of their first six conference games, including a big win against NAIA and AMC power Point Park College on 4/10/02. The 3-2 victory in the second game against the Pioneers was the first win against Point Park in almost ten years! The Bearcats continued to battle for one of the six playoff spots in the AMC, at times literally with two bench-clearing incidents with The University of Rio Grande(OH)on 4/16, and long-time rival Geneva College, 4/20. The guys continued to play hard and give everything they had down the stretch-run, but, unfortunately, the offense struggled during an eight-game losing streak that knocked the Bearcats out of the AMC tournament. During that losing streak, Saint Vincent lost two one-run games and two more games by two runs. The Bearcats finished the 2002 season with a DH sweep of Urbana University(OH), 8-5 and 9-1 on 5/4/02. Saint Vincent College finished with a 9-13 mark in the AMC and in 8th place.

Several Bearcats received post-season honors for 2002:

• Senior OF Dave Morgan was voted First Team All-Conference and was named 2002 NAIA Honorable-Mention All-American. Dave became the second baseball player in school history to be named All-American, with Vince DeAugustine receiving the award last year. Dave finished the year hitting .449(53-for-118, fourth highest in the AMC, with 7 2B, 5 3B, and 24 RBIs. He was also 18-for-19 in stolen bases. This four-year starter received Second Team All-Conference honors in 2001 and was named Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2000. This spring, Morgan made it to the final cut with the Washington(PA) Wild Things of the Frontier League.
  
  
• Senior RHP Terry Dattilio had a strong year for Saint Vincent. This Twinsburg, OH native finished his college career with a 6-2 record and a 2.82 ERA. In 59 and two-thirds innings pitched, Dattilio notched 39 strikeouts and walked 21. For his efforts, Dattilio was voted AMC Second Team All-Conference. Dattilio also made it to the final cut this spring with the Canton(OH) Coyotes of the Frontier League.
  
  
• Senior INF/P Patrick Palkovic was named to the AMC Honorable Mention All-Conference squad. It is the second year in a row that Palkovic has received this honor. Pat finished hitting .420(29-for-69) with 8 RBIs. On the mound this spring, Palkovic posted a 3-1 mark with a 3.46 ERA.
  
  
• Junior SS Greg Visnick and sophomore 1B Jonny Hanczaryk were also named AMC Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2002. Visnick finished the year at .345(39-for-113) with 5 2B, 7 3B and 31 runs scored. His seven triples led the AMC. After a slow start, Greg also finished strong defensively, fielding .933. Hanczaryk led the Bearcats in hitting in 2002. The Crofton, MD native posted a .455 average(40-for-88) with 24 walks, 25 runs scored, 8 2B, 1HR and 18 RBIs. Jon fielded a solid .985 this spring.

As a team, Saint Vincent College finished strong in several categories including Highest Batting Average (.368) and Lowest Earned Run Average (3.82). The 3.82 ERA broke the school record set last season(5.08). The Bearcats also finished third in Runs Allowed Per Game (4.66), behind Mount Vernon Nazarene(OH) and Ohio Dominican College(OH). An area that must improve is Runs Scored Per Game. In 2002, Saint Vincent College finished third from the bottom in the AMC with a 5.58 runs scored per game average.