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5611

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Kendrick Perry excelling in Pittsburgh Pro-Am League

« on: July 22, 2011, 06:42:20 AM »

For one half, SPK Law did everything right against the No. 1 seed in the league.

It limited PBC's second-chance opportunities by controlling the glass, got out in transition and scored a number of easy buckets, and their players knocked down shots from all over the floor.

Then, PBC showed why it's the best team in the league.

"We didn't have any Pitt players, and we didn't know each other coming in," PBC guard T.J. McConnell said. "We passed to each other and everything and played great."

Every PBC starter scored in double figures as it overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat No. 4 seed SPK Law, 86-79, in the 2011 Pittsburgh Basketball Club Pro-Am summer league championship Wednesday night.

PBC was led by the league's best frontcourt duo in Jakim Donaldson and Kyle Goldcamp. Donaldson finished with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 14 rebounds. Goldcamp tallied 18 points on 8-of-13 from the field and 13 boards in the win.

"We wouldn't have won it without them," PBC guard T.J. McConnell said.

Donaldson, who was named the league's most valuable player, has impressed a number of people this summer. The Oliver High School grad walked-on at Edinboro and earned a scholarship his sophomore year. He now plays professionally in Spain.

The 6-foot-7 forward led the league in rebounds and field goal percentage. He finished with a double-double in all eight games this season.

"It's testament to really my team," he said of his summer's performance. "It was really fun having a team like this. They're really unselfish. All the players make each other better.

SPK's Ashton Gibbs didn't disappoint, going for 30 points and finishing with the league's scoring crown. Toward the end of the first half, PBC started doubling Gibbs on every inbound to keep the ball out of his hands. No one else could step up for SPK to score consistently.

SPK used their transition offense capped by a Gary McGhee fast-break dunk and a Blake Allen three-pointer to grab a 16-6 lead with 19:30 left in the first half. Then, Gibbs would 11 of his team's next 18 points to go ahead by a 34-15 margin.

"We just did a good job of getting a body on both of their guys. They're both tremendous rebounders," said McGhee, who's SPK team led 53-37 at the half.

PBC came out firing in the second half. It started the half on a 13-4 run behind a McConnell three-pointer and then a fast-break layup.

PBC finally took the lead on Goldcamp's and-one layup with 7:11 left in the game. It was PBC's first lead since a 3-2 mark just over a minute into the championship. SPK seemed to have one final chance offensively, but a Lamar Patterson drive was blocked by Donaldson.

The Edinboro alum would then hit both free-throws in a one-and-one on the other end to put PBC up seven with 1:31 remaining. PBC went 8-for-10 from the line in the final two minutes.

Notes: Before the final yesterday, Gary McGhee signed a contract to play professionally in Croatia.
Ashton Gibbs and Kendrick Perry receiver a double technical with just over four minutes remaining after Perry elbowed Gibbs and defense and the two got in each other's faces.
Pittsburgh-native and former Russian national player J.R. Holden was in attendance.
PBC won the rebounding margin, 45-39?Both teams shot very well from the free-throw line - PBC (21-of-25), SPK (15-of-17).

Stats

PBC
T.J. McConnell - 11 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 4/18 FG, 2/6 3PT-FG
Michael Talley - 13 points, 3/13 FG, 0/4 3PT-FG, 7/7 FT
Jakim Donaldson - 21 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, 7/11 FG, 7/9 FT
Kyle Goldcamp - 18 points, 13 rebounds, 8/13 FG
Kendrick Perry - 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4/14 FG, 3/8 3PT-FG, 5/6 FT
Jim Wood - 7 points, 3/6 FG, 1/2 3PT-FG
Danny Herrera - 0 points, 0/1 3PT-FG

SPK Law
Ashton Gibbs - 30 points, 5 assists, 10/18 FG, 1/4 3PT-FG, 9/10 FT
Lamar Patterson - 13 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 5/18 FG, 1/7 3PT-FG, 2/2 FT
Gary McGhee - 18 points, 9 rebounds, 7/10 FG, 4/5 FT
Jake Matthews - 4 points, 8 rebounds, 2/10 FG, 1/5 3PT-FG
Nick Dvorsky - 3 points, 1/1 FG, 1/1 3PT-FG
Blake Allen - 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4/10 FG, 2/5 3PT-FG

5612

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: YSU picks up first 2012 verbal

« on: July 20, 2011, 06:42:39 AM »

Still no mention on transfers. I do know that there are some definite changes ...several players trying to make grades. This will be interesting, but we may have to wait until Day-1 of camp ...or even later.

5613

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Players Caught

« on: July 20, 2011, 06:36:38 AM »

There are going to be all types of people posting on here ...good and bad. Knowledgeable and not so knowledgeable. We cannot just delete every thread we do not like. I agree it is unsubstantiated, but let's just leave it alone, and it will drop off by itself.

As to people not knowing about Ed Muransky, and golf courses. No big deal. Just tell us ...that is what the board is for ...to help keep us more informed. You do not teach a student by first saying they are stupid, then why? Are you going to refuse someone from posting because they do not know these things? Are you going to refuse him a beer in the tailgate lots because he does not golf (therefore not know or care about golf courses in the area)? Are you going to refuse him a seat at a YSU football game because he does not know info on benefactors? By me typing this, I just push the thread back up to the top.

5614

YSU Penguin Athletics / YSU picks up first 2012 verbal

« on: July 20, 2011, 06:14:38 AM »

YSU picks up first '12 verbal

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

Hickory High football coach Bill Brest said he stresses three things in his program: character, academics and athletics.

Matt Bell, he said, displays the best of all three.

Bell (6-foot-3, 275 pounds), a two-year starter on the offensive and defensive lines, became Youngstown State’s first recruit in the 2012 class when he verbally committed to the Penguins on Tuesday.

“Youngstown State is getting a very physical and relentless football player who really gets after it in the weight room and on the field,” Brest said. “Offensively, he plays through the whistle and defensively he has great pursuit to the football.

“Character-wise, he has zero issues. He represents himself, his family and his football team very well.”

Academically, Bell carries a 3.8 grade point average and scored a 1360 on the SAT (equivalent to a 31 on the ACT) with particularly strong scores in math.

“He’s an outstanding student and he really works on his fundamental skills and his conditioning,” said Brest, who credited his offensive line coach Bill Sham and defensive line coach Walt Nogay for aiding Bell’s development. “He’s just a great kid.”

Bell, who said YSU has been recruiting him since last year, chose the Penguins because of the staff and the program’s tradition.

“It’s a great football school,” said Bell, whose college position won’t be decided until he enrolls. “My coaches said a lot of great things about the program and I trust them.”

Bell hails from the same school that produced YSU wide receivers coach Andre Coleman, who led Hickory to the Class AA state title in 1989. Coleman later played for Kansas State and spent five years in the NFL. Bell’s father, Bob, was an assistant coach on the 1989 Hickory team.

When asked to describe himself as a player, Bell used the word “relentless.”

“I’m nice outside the field but on the field, it’s a different story,” he said.

He plans to major in an engineering field — possibly civil engineering — and would like to also compete in track and field, where he is a standout thrower. He placed second in the shot put at last month’s Class AA state meet.

“I’m excited,” he said of heading to YSU. “I talked about it with my parents and my coaches and I feel like it’s the right place for me.”

5615

YSU Penguin Athletics / One on one: Kaitlin Rohrs

« on: July 19, 2011, 02:23:29 PM »

Once a promising forward on the Youngstown State women's basketball team, Kaitlin Rohrs has turned her lifelong passion of being a Division-I athlete to raising funds and awareness for ailments that ended her college career before it even began.

5616

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: RHP Brad Hennessey looking to reinvent himself in Astros' minor league system

« on: July 19, 2011, 01:41:16 PM »

Just an FYI. Brad is moving up fast. He went Triple-A this past weekend. At this rate, he is going to get called up to the Astros. Great comeback!

5617

YSU Penguin Athletics / RHP Brad Hennessey looking to reinvent himself in Astros' minor league system

« on: July 19, 2011, 01:39:05 PM »

Stephen Goff, Houston Examiner

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Right-hander Brad Hennessey, a former first-round pick (21st overall) by the San Francisco Giants in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, recently joined Double-A Corpus Christi after spending roughly two weeks preparing himself in extended Spring Training in Kissimmee, Fla., upon signing a minor league contract with the Houston Astros on June 2.

Hennessey, 31, told Examiner.com that he generated little interest on the free-agent market this past offseason due to battling lower back issues, which caused him to go unsigned heading into Spring Training and for the first two months of the regular season.

However, he worked hard to rehab the injury and put himself in position to throw a bullpen session in front of a handful of interested MLB teams, including the Astros, last month in Toledo, Ohio.

Ultimately, Houston emerged as the best fit for Hennessey, thus leading to the minor league deal and an opportunity for the veteran right-hander to potentially make it back to the big leagues this season.

"I didn't get an opportunity to get signed before the spring," Hennessey said. "I had some lower back issues this winter, but I spent a lot of time rehabbing that and getting it healthy. Once I got there, I left it up to my agent to try to find some teams that might be interested. We set up a session to throw for them. A couple of teams came out and the Astros were one of them.

"Houston liked me enough to offer me a deal. I went down to Kissimmee to get some innings in during extended Spring Training. It was great getting back, throwing bullpens and facing hitters. It has led me to Corpus Christi for now and hopefully more soon."

Hennessey advanced through San Francisco's farm system as a highly-touted prospect and made his major league debut in historical fashion on Aug. 7, 2004 as the opposing starting pitcher against four-time NL Cy Young Award winner and future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, who officially joined the prestigious 300-win club that day with an 8-4 victory at AT&T Park.

"I was trying to block him from his 300th," Hennessey said. "Circle gets the square, right? I did really well through the lineup once and the second time, they got me. It was a home game for us, and for me, an unforgettable way to start a big league career."

From there, Hennessey battled to remain in the big leagues due to inconsistency, often shifting between Triple-A Fresno and San Francisco.

Hennessey was utilized as both a starting pitcher and reliever, but it became apparent that he served as a better asset in the bullpen.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy moved him into the closer's role on May 31, 2007 following the trade of Armando Benitez to the Florida Marlins.
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He excelled in the role by compiling 19 saves, including 14 straight, before losing the job to a young, up-and-coming Brian Wilson.

Hennessey and the Giants avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.6 million contract for the 2008 campaign, but he wound up spending the majority of the year at the Triple-A level, only be recalled when the active roster expanded in September.

Although it marked the end of his career with San Francisco, Hennessey credits pitching coach Dave Righetti and being around talented arms, such as Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Wilson, as making him better on the mound.

Also, he pinpoints former NL Cy Young Award winner, three-time All-Star and World Series champion Orel Hershiser as a positive influence.

"I played for good managers in Felipe Alou and Bruce Bochy," he said. "As a pitcher, you're going to develop under the pitching coach. I had Dave Righetti, who is one of the best in the business. I also played with a lot of good pitchers that helped me out.

"There will also be some ballplayers along the way you'll get introduced to. For me, it was Orel Hershiser. They'll throw some helpful information your way to help you improve your game."

For Hennessey, the last two seasons have been filled with bumps and bruises along the way just to keep his big league dreams alive.

He missed the entire 2009 regular season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and then signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins for the following year -- making just 13 relief appearances and one start at Triple-A Rochester in 2010.

Despite the obstacles, Hennessey refuses to quit and will push forward over the next few months with the goal of making it to Houston.

"I'm hoping I can get in a position to where I can get called up," Hennessey said. "I really want to make it back to the big leagues. If not, so be it. I think the Astros will give me a fair shake this season and give me an opportunity to earn my way back up."

Hennessey is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA and two strikeouts over three innings in two relief appearances since joining Corpus Christi.

For the latest Astros news, click on the Subscribe button at the top of the page. Also, be sure to follow Houston Astros Examiner Stephen Goff on Facebook and Twitter, or email sgoff80@yahoo.com.

Continue reading on Examiner.com RHP Brad Hennessey looking to reinvent himself in Astros' minor league system - Houston Houston Astros | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/houston-astros-in-houston/rhp-brad-hennessey-looking-to-reinvent-himself-astros-minor-league-system#ixzz1SZev3AJC

5618

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Players Caught

« on: July 17, 2011, 10:27:02 PM »

The Lake Club is a golf course over in Butler County PA. We really cannot delete a post that we do not like. I do not know anything of this though. You are right, it does seem "fishy".

5619

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Kendrick Perry excelling in Pittsburgh Pro-Am League

« on: July 15, 2011, 01:44:24 PM »

Great catch Dave:

How often to you see a missed dunk getting a replay? That is just how good this looked. All I have to say is ...if that dunk would have went down, the would still be showing the highlight. It is almost exactly at the 3 minutes or so mark into the highlight. This video has a replay in slow-motion: Perry is #3 by the way ...the one wearing a white "T":

5620

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: In Memoriam

« on: July 14, 2011, 11:19:45 AM »

So sad. Pete was a very good friend to this site as well. He wrote articles the first two years, probably back around 1990. Huge loss for everyone. What happened IP, the Vindy's on-line edition is down right now?

5621

YSU Penguin Athletics / Women's basketball recognized in WBCA's Academic Top 25

« on: July 12, 2011, 02:41:55 PM »

Youngstown -- For the first time in program history, the Youngstown State women's basketball team has been recognized on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll.

The Penguins had a combined grade-point average of 3.395 during the 2010-11 academic year, which ranks them 17th on the top 25 poll. Two other Horizon League teams - Milwaukee and Green Bay - were also in the top 25, giving the league a tie for the most among any conference in the country.

"This is a tremendous accomplishment for our program," YSU head coach Bob Boldon said. "We showed signs of growth on the court this past year, and we backed that up by showing growth in the classroom. Our young ladies worked hard with our staff and academic advisors throughout the year to keep their grades up, and they're to be commended."

Kaitlin Rohrs (Liberty Center, Ohio) posted a 4.0 GPA in both semesters while Liz Hornberger (Reading, Pa.) and Brandi Brown (Pomona, Calif.) had a 4.0 during the spring semester. Bojana Dimitrov (Paracin, Serbia) boasted a 4.0 GPA during the fall semester. Brown was named to the Academic All-Horizon League squad for her efforts on the court and in the classroom, and Dimitrov graduated Magna Cum Laude in May.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 annually recognizes NCAA Divisions I, II and III; NAIA; and junior college/community college teams across the nation that carry the highest combined grade point averages (GPAs) inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2010-11 season is the 14th in which the WBCA has presented the standings.

"With the increased importance and scrutiny of the APR (academic progress rate) in the landscape of intercollegiate athletics, these remarkable teams are setting the bar for academic excellence," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Congratulations to all these STUDENT-athletes and their coaches."

A team's GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of hours attempted by all team members in the academic terms (semesters or quarters) that the season spans. Weighted grades are converted to a 4.0 scale.

5622

YSU Penguin Athletics / Summer Practice Schedule

« on: July 12, 2011, 06:59:09 AM »

Here is the tentative summer camp schedule:

Saturday, August 6 - 4 p.m.
Sunday, August 7 - 4 p.m.
Monday, August 8 - 4 p.m.
Tuesday, August 9 - 4 p.m.
Wednesday, August 10 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, August 11 - 4 p.m.
Friday, August 12 -- 4 p.m.
Saturday, August 13 -- 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Sunday, August 14 - Off
Monday, August 15 -- 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Tuesday, August 16 -- 10 a.m.
Wednesday, August 17 -- 9 a.m.
Thursday, August 18 -- 10 a.m.
Friday, August 19 -- 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Saturday, August 20 -- 10 a.m.
Sunday, August 21 -- OFF
Monday, August 22 -- 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Tuesday, August 23 -- 10 a.m.
Wednesday, August 24 -- 9 a.m.
Thursday, August 25 -- 10 a.m.
Friday, August 26 -- 10 a.m.
Saturday, August 27 -- 10 a.m.
Sunday, August 28 -- 4 p.m.

Of course these are always public, and very fun to watch. You will be better off entering through the F7 gate. The camp is always tough on the guys, and they really appreciate the support. What do any of you think about a mini-tailgate on one of the Saturday or Sunday practices or scrimmages?

5623

YSU Penguin Athletics / Parking Deck

« on: July 11, 2011, 04:39:40 PM »

The Vindicator is reporting that the Lincoln deck will re-open on Aug. 23.  So we will be good fo the first day of classes and the home-opener. 

5624

YSU Penguin Athletics / Jamaine Cook Named to Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List

« on: July 11, 2011, 11:27:04 AM »

Philadelphia, Pa. -- Youngstown State junior tailback Jamaine Cook (Cleveland, Ohio) is one of 20 Football Championship Subdivision standouts on the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award, sponsored by fathead.com, The Sports Network announced on Monday. The award honors the the top Offensive Player in the FCS.

He is one of just seven running backs on the preseason watch list, which includes 11 quarterbacks and two wide receivers.

Cook had a breakout campaign in 2010 as a sophomore. A second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, he rushed for 1,276 yards on 241 carries and scored 11 touchdowns. In eight games of MVFC action, Cook had 973 yards on 199 attempts and scored eight touchdowns. He ranked 13th in the FCS in rushing yards per game (116.0 a game).

He was YSU's first 1,000-yard rusher since Marcus Mason in 2006. Cook had six 100-yard rushing efforts highlighted by season-high 213-yard effort on 43 carries at Illinois State.

He also caught 25 passes for 219 yards and returned 21 kickoffs for 393 yards showing his all-purpose skills. For the season, he had 1,889 all-purpose yards, averaging 171.6 per game to lead the conference. He finished the campaign ranked ninth in the FCS.

The Payton Award will celebrate its 25th anniversary this season and be presented to the FCS' outstanding player at the national awards banquet in Frisco, Texas.

The Payton Award Watch List will undergo revisions during the 2011 season. Ballots will be sent to a panel of about 200 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries after the regular season on Nov. 21. Three finalists will be announced on Dec. 1 and invited to The Sports Network/Fathead FCS Awards Presentation.

Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses won the award last season. The last running back to earn the honor was Colgate's Jamaal Branch in 2003. Quarterbacks have dominated the award winning seven straight and 14 of the previous 24 awards since its creation in 1987.

The Penguins are set to report to camp on Friday, August 5 with the first practice of the 2011 squad set for Saturday, August 6. YSU opens the season on Friday, Sept. 2 at Michigan State. The contest will be televised on the Big Ten Network and carried on 570 WKBN AM. For ticket information contact the YSU Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 941-1978.

5625

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Ed Marko Named Baseball's Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator

« on: July 11, 2011, 10:09:10 AM »

This could be a very good pick-up for us.