Fayette Baseball Returns from RussMatt; Poised For Spring Season
Lemont Furnace, PA - Penn State Fayette Baseball travelled to Central Florida to workout and compete in the Russ Matt Invitational March 8 thru 12 for Spring Training.
To begin the trip, the team worked out at Historic Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven FL adjusting to the Florida sunshine and warm temperatures while preparing to play 5 games over the next 3 days.
After practice, the team attended an MLB Spring Training Game between the Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida to enjoy the weather and take in the sights and sounds of Grapefruit League Baseball.
Fayette opened up play on Thursday at Chain of Lakes Park with a slugfest with the Vassar College Brewers an NCAA Division III Liberty League opponent from Poughkeepsie, NY.
Down 7-3 in the 6th, the Lions erupted for 10 runs on 8 hits including 2 RBI doubles by Braeden McKnight in the inning. Noah Matthews (1-1) started and worked 6.1 innings striking out 1 to earn his first college win AJ Segarra came on in the 7th inning and finished the game with 2 strikeouts to seal the victory.
The Lions had 15 hits including 7 players with 2 hits. Ethan Rendulic had 3 RBI and Dylan Bohna, Sawyer DAndrea, Josh Burns and McKnight each added 2 RBI.
Coach Encapera commented, "It was great to start the trip off with a win, our bats were on fire and carried us. Was very proud of Noah Matthews for his composure and keeping us in the game and happy for him to get his first college win. Was also happy to see some great at bats from our guys against one of their best including Josh Burns and Kyle Ridley who both had two hits."
On Friday, Fayette would face the Elms College Blazers an NCAA III Great Northeast Conference opponent from Chicopee, MA at the new Northeast Regional Park Complex in Davenport Florida. Fayette would drop both to Elms 14-1 and 13-4. Elms pitchers quieted the Fayette offense in both games allowing only 5 hits in game 1 and 4 in game 2.
In game 1, Elms got an early lead and never looked back. Kaleb Shultz took the loss allowing 4 runs in the first with Braeden McKnight working 4.2 in relief striking out 4.
Andrew Despot had a single and a double and Fayettes only run would come on a Sawyer DAndrea sac Fly in the 7th.
In game 2, Elms would again take an early lead on starting pitcher Jorge Palmas (0-2) 4Ks who would work into the 6th inning. Down 6-0 in the 5th the Dylan Bohna scored on wild pitch to get on the board 6-1. After an Elms sac fly to make it 7-1 the Lions answered with 3 runs the bottom of the 6th on back to back RBI singles by Andrew Despot and Sawyer DAndrea to cut the lead to 7-4.
Elms would plate 6 runs in the top of the 7th to put the game out of reach.
Sawyer D'Andrea had 2 hits and 2RBi to lead the Lions.
Elms' work from the mound stifled the Lions' offense. Encapera stated, "the pitching we faced against Elms was a challenge and really shut us down. They out pitched our hitters and we gave them some help with allowing baserunners and not shutting down their running game. Our defense also broke down in some critical situations which allowed them to pile on and put each game out of reach."
On Saturday, Fayette travelled to Lakeland, Florida and Lake Bonny Park to face USCAA opponent Bucks County CC Centurions from Newtown PA a USCAA World Series Participant from 2022 to wrap up the Spring Trip.
Bucks opened up the scoring with 3 in the 3rd when a runner scored on a wild pitch then an infield groundout, and an RBI single.
Fayette starter Jonathan Gaynor (1-1) kept the game close working all 7innings and striking out 4 despite taking the loss. Fayette answered in the bottom of the 4th with 2 on a 2 RBI single from Braeden McKnight. Bucks CC added 2 in the 5th on an outfield error increasing the lead to 5-2.
Bucks would add 3 more in the 6th on a wild pitch, an RBI Double, and an RBI groundout.
Fayette tallied a run in the 7th on an AJ Segarra RBI single. Braeden McKnight finished the game with 3 hits and 2 RBI. Kyle Ridley added 2 hits.
In game 2, Fayette got on the board with 2 in the first with a Braeden McKnight triple that scored Ridley and a Sawyer DAndrea RBI single. Bucks would answer with 5 in the bottom of the first and would never trail again, adding 2 in the second and 1 in the 3rd. Starting pitcher Dylan Bohna (0-1) pitched into the 4th inning and gave up 8 runs on 7hits including 3 walks and 1 strikeout. AJ Segarra gave up a 3 run HR in the 5th inning to invoke the 10 run rule.
McKnight had a triple and an RBI and Johnny Ioannou had a single and a double. Sawyer DAndrea had an RBI Single.
"Against Bucks CC, we really beat ourselves," Encapera stated. "We struggled to consistently make routine plays and gave them extra outs in each inning they scored. Gaynor had a positive start and kept us in the game." He continued, "we have to do a better job of scoring runners when in scoring position. There were innings in both games where we had momentum but could not capitalize."
As the Fayette Nittany Lions return to Lemont Furnace, Pa, Coach Encapera opened up about the RussMatt trip in review. He stated, "we had a chance to live and play like the pros do and our guys had a great experience. We found plenty of things to work on and will improve from the trip."
"Being on the road and traveling helps to build team chemistry and learn about more than just baseball. Also, while we were at Lake Bonny MLB Hall of Fame first baseman Frank Thomas was there watching his son play for IMG and had a word and took a picture with some of our guys. It was such an unexpected, unforgettable moment we will never forget."
Encapera expressed his appreciation to all those in support of this team opportunity. "I'm appreciative of our guys for showing class and being respectful men throughout the trip and thankful for our sponsors, donors and supporters who helped fundraise to help make this trip happen." He continued, "we also appreciate the attendance of a number of our players parents and families who came down and got to see us play in beautiful Florida spring weather. The Spring Trip is an important part of the college baseball experience that our players at Fayette need to have in order to be successful in our season and our people made it a great success."
The Fayette Baseball is set to return to action Thursday, March 16th as they travel to Chatham University for a 7:30pm 9-inning matchup.
Penn State Fayette Baseball would like to thank it's team sponsors:
- Thomas Gretz DDS., Dental Surgeon and Associates
- Provance Truss LLC.
- DS Contracting
- 29er's Club