By: Frank Maira, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information Director
Mont Alto, Pa. - The Penn State Mont Alto baseball team is slated to open it's 2017 season on Feb. 11 and 12 when it visits The Apprentice School in Hampton, Va., followed by a three game series against Southern Virginia University on Feb. 17 and 18. The Lions will then spend their spring break in Myrtle Beach, S.C. competing at the Ripken Complex before embarking on the rest of their 40-game schedule. The first home game is slated for March 10 against Hood College at the Penn State Mont Alto Field.
The Lions will be led by returning team captain, senior pitcher Dylan Bryan (Waynesboro, Pa.). Over the course of three seasons, Bryan has amassed 147 strikeouts in 131 innings pitch. He will be rejoined by returning starter and 2016 National All-American outfielder Jeremiah Younker (Williamsport, Md.) who batted a blistering .400 with four doubles, six triples and 20 RBIs. Middle of the lineup production will also come from fellow 2016 National All-American infielder Matt Taylor. The sophomore had an impressive first-year campaign with PSU Mont Alto hitting .338 with 15 RBIs, while also providing a slick glove in the infield.
PSU Mont Alto returnees include standout sophomore pitcher Lowell Singer (Newville, Pa.), junior outfielder/pitcher Joel Clabaugh (Landisburg, Pa.) and junior catcher Nathan Kulp (Carlisle, Pa.). The 2017 freshmen recruiting class expected to see substantial playing includes infielder Tyler Martin (Lititz, Pa.), infielder Colby Black (Newville, Pa.) and pitcher/infielder Spencer Myers (Greencastle, Pa.).
Head coach Terry Clark returns for his fourth season at the helm in 2017 and feels that the Lions are fielding a very talented team that should be able to compete at the USCAA national level. Clark's coaching staff consists of ex-Kansas City Royals draftee Marty Rosenberry and 2005 Shippensburg University Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Doug Furness. The coaching staff have set the expectation and believe the team is ready to compete for a PSUAC Conference Championship as well as make an appearance in the 2017 USCAA Baseball World Series in Glenn Falls, N.Y.
The squad will look to regain the form that brought the program it's first ever PSUAC Championship in 2012 where the team also competed in the USCAA Small College World Series. The past three seasons have seen PSU Mont Alto knocking at the door of the PSUAC Conference Championship and narrowly missing out on at-large bids into the Small College World Series over the last two years.
Be sure to visit the Mont Alto baseball webpage throughout the season for the complete schedule and results. The Penn State Mont Alto baseball program offers student-athletes a place to not only earn a Penn State University degree, but it allows the athletes the chance to pursue their collegiate baseball playing dreams.