MARCH 31, 2007
KING'S BASEBALL SWEEPS DREW, 10-9, 6-1, WILL HOST
WILKES SUNDAY
WILKES-BARRE -- On a day when members of the
King's College baseball team were presented their championship rings for
capturing the 2006 Freedom Conference title, the Monarchs responded in
kind by displayed the heart of a champion.
King's overcame a 9-1 deficit in the first game to rally for a 10-9
victory over Drew University, then captured the second contest 6-1 to
post an important doubleheader sweep in a meeting between 2006 Freedom
Conference playoff squads.
With the sweep, King's improved to 13-3 overall and 5-1 in Freedom
Conference play. Drew, meanwhile, fell to 4-11 and 0-6.
In the opener, King's trailed 9-1 after four innings. The Monarchs began
their rally in the bottom of the fourth inning when twin brothers Jeremy
and Josh Faust posted back-to-back singles with two outs. After Matt
Livoy drew a walk to load the bases, Pat McGlynn, Vince Budzyn, and J.R.
Graver each delivered run scoring singles to cut the Ranger lead to 9-4.
Jon Venarchick then followed with a two-run single to bring the Monarchs
to within 9-6. Two more singles by Caleb Calarco and Mike Venarchick
would result in a pair of Monarch runs as King's closed to within 9-8.
King's would win the game on its final at-bats when leadoff hitter
Calarco was hit by a pitch and Mike Venarchick was walked. Jeremy Faust
would advance both runners with a bunt to give the Monarchs runners at
second and third with no outs. After Josh Faust was intentionally walked
to load the bases, Livoy came through with a clutch two-run single to
bring home Calarco and Mike Venarchick with the winning runs. Freshman
Ryan Tychinski picked up the pitching victory for King's in relief of
starter Paul Giovannoli. Tychinski allowed one hit and struck out two
batters in tossing the final four innings. Graver and Calarco had two
hits each for King's while Jon Venarchick added a hit and three RBI.
In the second game, The Monarchs would break open
a scoreless game by scoring all six runs in the third inning. A one-out
double by Graver was followed by an RBI single from Jon Venarchick.
After a base hit by Calarco, Mike Venarchick came up with an RBI double
before Jeremy Faust added a two-run double to give the Monarchs a 4-0
lead. Livoy then smacked an RBI double before a run-scoring single by
Gracjan Kraszewski upped the Monarch advantage to 6-0.
Graver led the Monarchs with a 4-for-4 effort while Jon Venarchick,
Jeremy Faust, Livoy, and Budzyn added two hits each.
Sophomore pitcher Joe Jenkins was outstanding in tossing a complete-game
four hitter, striking out three batters while walking just one batter.
He was aided by a Monarch defense which came up with three important
double-plays to snuff out potential Drew scoring chances. Drew would
score its only run of the game in the fifth inning on an RBI single from
Dante LaPenta.
King's will next host cross-town rival Wilkes University Sunday at 1:00
p.m. at Betzler Fields.
