2009 NCAA Division II Softball Tournament

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THE GAME
The Bald Eagle gridders (2-3) open up PSAC Western Division action this weekend, hosting California (Pa.) University (3-2, 1-0 PSAC West) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 11. It is also Lock Haven’s annual Homecoming game. Special pre-game activities include a jersey-retirement ceremony to honor former Bald Eagle running back George Dintiman (1955-57).   The game can be heard locally on WBPZ-1230 AM and online at www.nsnsports.com . 

THE SERIES
The California Vulcans own an 18-13-1 series advantage against the Bald Eagles. Lock Haven is 5-6 since 1981 in games played in Hubert Jack Stadium against the Vulcans, but has won the past three encounters on the home turf. 

First Meeting: 1926; California 28, LHU 0
The Last Time Cal Won: 2002; 34-19 at Adamson Stadium
The Last Time LHU Won: 2001; 24-21 at Hubert Jack Stadium
The Last Time LHU Won at Hubert Jack Stadium: 2001; 24-21
The Last Time Cal Won at Hubert Jack Stadium: 1995; 19-14


THE LAST TIME VERSUS VERSUS CALIFORNIA (PA)
        The Haven offense was all but shut down and the Bald Eagle defense was on the field for almost 36 minutes as California put up the 34-19 victory over LHU at Adamson Stadium last season. The loss put LHU at 3-3 overall and improved the California ledger to 5-1 on the year.
        California pounded away at the LHU defense for a total of 477 yards, while The Haven offense was held to its lowest production of the season, posting only 92 yards total. LHU managed one offensive touchdown but its lifeline was prolonged by a pair of scores by the defense including a fumble return for score by Jon Nalewak and an interception return into the endzone by Ngoyi Mukusa. Maurice Walker scored on a 14-yard rush to log The Haven’s initial points in the first quarter.
       California’s Wesley Clemons posted 173 yards rushing and crossed into the endzone for a game-high three touchdowns. Garvin Graves pulled in a touchdown pass from quarterback Dustin Strayer. Two Cal kickers, Gary Amos and Mike Dalicandro, both split the uprights for a pair of field goals to round out Cal scoring. 


SCOUTING CALIFORNIA (PA)
        The Vulcans enter Jack Stadium with a 3-2 record having defeated Slippery Rock University, 22-19, in an overtime game last Saturday. The win was the first extra period victory for California since 1998. 
       Senior tailback Wesley Clemons ranks among the conference best in scoring (7 TDs) and all-purpose yardage (615 yds). Clemons rushed for 72 yards and two of California’s touchdowns versus The Rock and has accrued 480 yards and all seven of his touchdowns on the ground. A second option for the Vulcans has been back-up tailback Tayon Mitchell (184 yds, 2 TDs) as well as fullbacks Tommy Byrd and Jon Lee. 
        Red-shirt freshman quarterback Greg Dapper has seen time in all five games but threw his first touchdown against Slippery Rock to Brandon Jackson in the overtime period for the win. His backup is another red-shirt rookie, John Aitken.
        Dapper will be scanning the field for wide receivers David Cole (13 catches, 159 yds), Brandon Jackson (12 catches, 170 yds, 2 TDs) and Tony Hoskin (12 catches, 110 yds) as well as tight end Matt Rado (6 catches, 47 yds). 
        The Vulcans’ offensive line is anchored by two returning starters and seniors in left tackle Fred Garrido and right tackle James Agnew. Brad Watkins and Kevin Kamicker join the two upperclassmen at the guard positions along with Eric Zeznanski at center.
        California’s defensive unit has produced the PSAC’s staunchest rush defense, holding opponents to an average of only 94.4 yards a game. Overall, California rates second in the conference in total defense, giving up 278.8 yards each time out.
        Playing a large role in the defensive efforts is junior inside linebacker Brian Oddi, who currently leads the PSAC with 58 tackles for an average of 11.6 per game. He is also second in the conference in tackles for loss with 11 in all. Fellow linebacker Matt Onyshko is also among PSAC leaders with 31 total stops and five tackles for loss. The pair is joined on the starting roster by linebackers TJ Carden (17 TT, 3 TFL) and Jason Ellis (24 TT, 4 TFL, 2 sacks).
        The secondary receives its cues from senior free safety Jon Arnold, who is second among California defenders with 36 tackles. Strong safety Jared Dumm (22 TT, 4 TFL) works along with starting cornerbacks Jerry Ntakrah (18 TT, 3 PBrUp) and Jaison Cook (27 TT), who also leads the PSAC in passes defended with nine pass break-ups and one interception.
        On the line, California starts a trio of seniors in Chris McKnight (10 TT, 2 TFL), Dan Smith (16 TT, 4 TFL, 2 FR) and Alex Sevensma (16 TT, 5 TFL). 
       Vulcan kicker Gary Amos hit his first field goal of the season last Saturday, hitting a 42-yard attempt to send the game into overtime. Punter Rusty Springer averages 36.9 yards a punt. On return duty, California utilizes Tony Hoskins for punt returns and the combination of Wesley Clemons (15.2 ypr) and Maurice Lucas (21.4 ypr) is back deep on kickoffs. 

(above) Kicker/punter Danny Hagerman;
 (below) LHU offensive line

THE COACHES

Lock Haven is led by fourth-year mentor Head Coach Mark Luther (Penn State, ‘92). The 2002 PSAC West Coach of the Year, Luther’s Bald Eagles went 4-7 last season -- the first four-win season since 1998.           He owns a 10-23 overall mark in three seasons at the helm of the Lock Haven gridders. Luther assumed the head role following five years of service as an LHU assistant from 1994-1998, acting as defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and administrative assistant to former head coach Nick Polk.

California Head Coach John Luckhardt (Purdue) enters his second season at the helm of the Vulcan program following a 17-year tenure as the Washington and Jefferson College head coach (1982-1998).  He became the Presidents' most successful football coach with a 137-37-2 win-loss ledger, winning 13 PAC championships and making 11 NCAA-III playoff appearances. Prior to Washington and Jefferson, he served time as backfield and receivers coach at Lehigh University. He is currently fifth among active Division II coaches with a .770 career win percentage.

BALD EAGLE NOTES...

THE OFFENSE 
         The Lock Haven offense produced its best outing of the season last Saturday at Cheyney University, posting a total of 512 yards and 42 points. The Bald Eagles scored twice via the rush, three times through the air and another three times on field goals, going 7-for-9 in red-zone scoring opportunities.
         Earning his first collegiate start, red-shirt freshman Brian Camberg (Altoona/Altoona) capitalized to throw for 195 yards and three touchdowns. Camberg has completed 19-of-39 passes with no interceptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns on the season. Backing him up is senior Tim Storino (Pittsburgh/Bethel Park) (5-17, 67 yds). 
         Receiver Rafael Smith (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) reeled in another two touchdowns against the Wolves to bring his season total to four. Smith has caught 12 passes for 190 yards, scoring on plays of 16 and 28 yards last weekend. Marcus Burkley (Pittsburgh/Woodland Hills) came down with six catches against Cheyney for 88 yards, bringing his season average to 46.8 yards a game. Starting tight end Jason Walther (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) has five catches for 63 yards and recorded his first collegiate touchdown versus the Wolves with an 18-yard reception from Camberg.
         Given the touted California (Pa.) rush defense, Camberg and Storino are fortunate to have senior receivers Adam Angelici (Bethel Park/Bethel Park) and Scott Anderson (Cortland, Ohio/Lakeview) along with sophomore wide out Danson Mwaura (Leola/Conestoga Valley) in their offensive arsenal.
        The ground game is securely in the hands of junior tailback Maurice Walker (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) and sophomore Chelstan Anderson (Halifax/Halifax). Walker had 84 yards in the first half against Cheyney, finishing with 88 total on 16 carries. On the season, Walker now averages 68.6 yards with two touchdowns. Anderson worked primarily in the second half, gaining 77 yards including a 31-yard touchdown run as time expired. On the year, he averages 45.0 yards per game and has tallied three scores. Halfbacks Josh Stadulis (Willow Grove/Academy of the New Church) (6.2 ypg) and Travis Diehl (Williamsport/Williamsport) (4.0 ypg) have both also contributed to the offensive output.
         The Bald Eagles have maintained consistency in the trenches, fronting center Jason Scott (Linden/Williamsport), guards Eric Scaife (Philipsburg/Philipsburg-Osceola) and Steve Szoboscan (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown) and tackles Kevin Scheidler (Millersburg/Millersburg Area) and Bill Cook (York/Central York). 

THE DEFENSE 
          Lock Haven defenders hope their big performance versus the Wolves carries over to this weekend after holding Cheyney to only 56 yards rushing and 224 passing. The LHU defense blocked two field goal attempts and caused five turnovers versus the Cheyney Wolves -- four interceptions and a fumble recovered by the Bald Eagles. Of the five turnovers, four set up Haven touchdowns.
          Playing at strong safety, Rob Carey (North Braddock/Woodland Hills) (23 TT, 1 INT) led the way with eight tackles, a forced fumble, interception and blocked kick. Free safety Will Jones (McKeesport/McKeesport) posted four tackles and an interception against Cheyney, upping his season total to 18 total stops. 
         Taking over at cornerback is sophomore Matt Shealy (New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley). Shealy had three tackles, an interception and two addition pass break-ups versus the Wolves. After posting six tackles and a break-up last weekend, sophomore Ngoyi Mukusa (Jim Thorpe/Jim Thorpe) (23 TT) joins Shealy at the right corner slot.
          A strong linebacker unit is manned by seniors Derrik Metz (Roaring Spring/Central) and Dan Wissinger (Johnstown/Ferndale Area). Metz leads LHU and is among PSAC leaders with 38 total stops and is also the Haven’s front-runner in tackles for loss (5.5) and interceptions (2). Wissinger has collected 28 stops, including a pair behind the line of scrimmage. Junior Charles Cannon (Braddock Hills/Woodland Hills) (22 TT, 4 TFL) joins Metz and Wissinger on the starting unit.
         Up on the line, the Bald Eagles start junior tackles Jarrod Hendricks (Rockton/DuBois Area) (8 TT, 1 TFL) and Jason Kasheta (Carbondale/Carbondale Area) (2 TT). Junior Dustin Shaffer (Mayport/Redbank Valley) (10 TT, 2 TFL, 1 FR) and senior Devin O’Rourke (Montgomery/Montgomery) (11 TT, 1 TFL) take over at both defensive end spots.

SPECIAL TEAMS 
       The Haven return team needs no introduction -- seniors Rob Carey (21.3 ypr) and Marcus Burkley (18.5 ypr) share duties with Rafael Smith (17 ypr) in kickoff returns while Carey (5.0 ypr) handles punt returns. 
Dan Hagerman (Scottdale/Southmoreland) made a season-high of three field goals versus Cheyney, logging distances of 22, 22 and 18-yards. He is 6-for-10 on field goal attempts and 6-for-6 on point after kicks.

###LHU###