Who: Gwynedd-Mercy College Griffins vs. Neumann University Knights
Where: Bear Stadium - Boyertown, Pa.
When: Friday, May 3rd at 5:30 p.m.
What: 2013 CSAC Baseball Double Elimination Tournament (with full schedule)
Gwynedd-Mercy has clinched the #3 seed in this weekend's CSAC Tournament. Neumann is the #2 seed while Centenary claims the #4 seed. Keystone is the #1 seed and will host the double elimination tournament at Bear Stadium in Boyertown this weekend. Gwynedd will face Neumann in the second game on Friday at approximately 5:30 p.m. while the Giants take on the Cyclones to open up the playoffs at 2 p.m.
With plenty of familiarity, both the Griffins and Knights met in their regular-season series just last weekend, with Neumann taking two-of the three games. Gwynedd-Mercy and Neumann split a pair of games in their last CSAC action last Saturday. The Griffins took game one, 10-2, but lost the second, 6-5.
The Griffins are led by
Paul Murphy as he was voted the CSAC Coach of the Year for 2013. Murphy, in his fifteenth year at the helm has guided the Griffins to a 20-16 overall record and 12-6 conference mark and their fourteenth CSAC postseason appearance.
GM had seven players selected to the All-CSAC team this week led by senior
Josh Martin (Pottstown, Pa. / St. Pius X) , juniors
John Burns (Levittown, Pa. / Neshaminy) and
Dante Cassano (Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hill East). Sophomores
Rick Elfreth (Washington Twp, N.J. / St. Augustine) and
Matt Rakus (Sewell, N.J. / St. Augustine) and a pair of freshman
Mike Marchitto (Voorhees, N.J. / Eastern) and
Andrew Hill (Christiana, Pa. / Octorara).
The Knights placed two players on the All-CSAC first team senior first baseman Tyler Drinkard and sophomore infielder Buddy Elgin. Centenary's Joe Forcellini was named the 2013 CSAC Player of the Year and Keystone's Rob Rogers was voted the 2013 CSAC Pitcher of the Year. The Giants also added six first team all CSAC selections as well.
The Griffins are looking for their 5th conference championship under Murphy. He guided them to championships in 2000, 2001, 2007 and 2008. The Knights have made the postseason five-straight seasons under head man John Fleming. Neumann reached the finals in 2009 and 2012 as well as receiving an NCAA at-large bid in the 2012 season. The Giants come in having won the CSAC for four years in a row. In that span they reached the Division III college world series in 2011 under head coach Jamie Shevchik. The Cyclones return to Boyertown after a brief hiatus. Centenary head coach Scott Kushner guided the Cyclones to tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010.
Be sure to follow all the action online if you are unable to make it to Bear Stadium this weekend.
Live Stats
http://www.sidearmstats.com/marywood/baseball/scoreboard.aspx
Live Video
http://kcgiants.nmtvsports.com/
