The Observer, March 28, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 22
Spartan Notebook
All prologue
The Spartans have been playing at Nobby's Ballpark for three years, but they have yet to play a game where fans have had access to the facility's centerpiece: stadium seating that can accommodate about 500 people. The seats were finished for the last game of last year, but that final matchup was rained out.
This year Case's home opener, scheduled for Mar. 21 against Cleveland State, was snowed out. The Spartans next hope to play at the Nobb comes on April 6 vs. Mount Union.
The ballpark was made possible by a $300,000 contribution from Nobby Lewandowski. Lewandowski, a native Clevelander who graduated from Benedictine High School, received the first baseball scholarship in Kent State history.
For three years following graduation from Kent State, Lewandowski completed his M.B.A. at Case while pitching in the Pittsburgh Pirates' minor league system.
Benedictine also plays its home games at the Nobb, the bulk of which are in May when the Spartans are thinking about next year.
All due respect
Four Case softball players have been named to the All-University Athletic Association team. The announcement was made on the UAA's website Monday.
Spartan freshman shortstop Beth Andrasik was a first-team selection, while sophomore catcher Chelsea Poelking and sophomore infielder/outfielder Katie Svilar were second-team honorees. Freshman pitcher/outfielder Teddi Jacobson was an honorable mention.
Andrasik hit .350 at the UAA Championship Mar. 11-15 in Altamonte Springs, Fla. with seven hits and three RBIs. Svilar hit .292, Poelking .231 and Jacobson tied for the UAA lead in home runs with two. The Spartans have a 1-7 record in the UAA.
All that
The Case Western Reserve University baseball team has had two players named to the All-University Athletic Association (UAA) team. The honors were announced on the UAA's website Monday.
Sophomore outfielder Phil Keefe and freshman catcher Chad Mullins both earned second-team honors for their efforts in Sanford, Fla. at the 2008 UAA Baseball Championships.
Keefe had five hits for the Spartans in Sanford, including a double and four RBIs. He also drew four walks and had a .480 on-base percentage for Case. On the year, Keefe has played and started in all nine games for the Spartans and has a .296 batting average.
Mullins split time at catcher and first base for the Spartans in Sanford and he hit .267 in six games. He hit his first collegiate home run on Mar. 12 against Washington University and finished the tournament with four hits and three RBIs.
Saber rattling
If you were hoping to see 40 or so college students trying to stab each other this weekend at Adelbert Gym, you're going to be disappointed. The Case Fencing Tournament, scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed. "Our coach feels we can get better numbers on a different date, so it is not happening this weekend. It might happen in April if we can get the space reservation," said club president Jesse Fish. The tournament was scheduled during many schools' spring breaks.
Backwash
WashU won the Div. III Men's Basketball National Championship last Saturday. Their senior center Troy Ruths scored 33 points and was named the National Player of the Year. The Bears finished tied for second in the UAA and Ruths lost out on the UAA's Player of the Year honors to Chicago's Nate Hainje.
Just over a month and a half ago, Ruths and company narrowly escaped with a win over the Spartans at Adelbert Gym.
Holding on to a two-point lead with only 19 seconds left in the game, Brandon Bradford fouled Washington's Troy Ruths, sending him to the free throw line where he would put the Bears within a point. On the ensuing inbound, Alex Hildebrandt threw an errant pass that was picked off by Ruths. The Spartans then fouled Ruths again, sending him to the line to put Washington in front for good.
"I think about [that game] every day," said Case head coach Sean McDonnell.
