Plattsburgh State Baseball

July 29, 2008

Dahlin on Midwest Sliders' Radar

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Former Plattsburgh State baseball standout Matt Dahlin (Cohoes/Stillwater High School) is expected to sign a professional contract with the Midwest Sliders of the Independent Frontier League, according to Cardinals head coach Kris Doorey. Doorey also said that Dahlin may pitch on Wednesday when the team plays at the Windy City ThunderBolts in Crestwood, Ill.

The Sliders are based in Waterford, Mich. The Frontier League does not have an affiliation agreement with Major League Baseball, and has 12 teams spread across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Dahlin shined earlier this month in the developmental New York State League, earning the league's most valuable pitcher award and being named an All-Star.

July 7, 2008

Welch, Dahlin Shine in NYSL Season

Sussex, N.J. - Former Plattsburgh State baseball standouts Matt Dahlin (Cohoes, N.Y./Stillwater High School) and Zack Welch (Merrill, N.Y./Northern Adirondack HS) recently closed the New York State League play with postseason accolades. The NYSL is a developmental league for student-athletes who have exhausted their college eligibility and have aspirations to play professional baseball. Last year over 20 NYSL alumni landed contracts with minor league teams. Go to http://www.nystateleague.com/ for more information.

Dahlin, who played at Plattsburgh from 2004 and 2006-07, was named the league's most valuable pitcher and earned the Grover Cleveland Alexander Award. He gave up only one run and 13 hits in 19 innings pitched for a 0.47 earned-run average.

Welch, who completed his four-year collegiate career in May, joined Dahlin on the NYSL All-Star Team. Welch's batting average was around .300 and he played well defensively as a catcher, according to Plattsburgh head coach Kris Doorey.

"Matt and Zack performed well and have definitely put themselves in a position to have an opportunity to play professional baseball," Doorey said. "They had a solid experience which should get them further notice from scouts."

Dahlin and Welch were teammates on the NYSL Federals club managed by Scott Nathanson, who was a catcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

The 14-player All-Star Team included NCAA Division I student-athletes from Florida, Louisville, Michigan State and Seton Hall.

June 23, 2008

Welch, Dahlin Drafted by NYSL

Sussex, N.J. - Former Plattsburgh State baseball standouts Zack Welch and Matt Dahlin have been chosen to participate in the New York State League this summer, according to the organization's Web site ( http://www.nystateleague.com/ ). The NYSL is a developmental league for student-athletes who have exhausted their college eligibility and have aspirations to play professional baseball. Last year, over 20 NYSL alumni landed contracts with minor league teams.

Welch and Dahlin, who will be teammates for the NYSL Federals managed by Scott Nathanson, are among 50 finalists from an original pool of 400 players who recently completed two days of tryouts here at Skylands Park to join the league. Director of Player Development Nick Belmonte made the selections.

Welch, of Merrill, N.Y. (Northern Adirondack High School), is the career hits leader in Cardinals history with 201. A three-time Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American, Welch wrapped up his career last spring.

Dahlin served the 2008 season as a student assistant coach after playing for the Cardinals in 2004 and 2006-07. He batted a career-high .361 average his senior season, but the 2007 all-region and Gold Glove pick was known for his pitching with school career rankings of T-3rd with 13 wins and 5th with 3.81 earned-run average.

"I am very excited for Matt and Zack. This is a great opportunity for them to be seen by more scouts at different levels and continue to chase the dream," said Plattsburgh coach Kris Doorey. "Zack capped a great career this spring and was a great leader for our program. Matt was our go-to pitcher during his last two seasons, and I think it is a good sign that he is the opening day starter for his NYSL team."

May 23, 2008

Welch, Kowalowski Earn Year-End Department Awards

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Second baseman/catcher Zack Welch is the recipient of the Plattsburgh State Male Senior Achievement Award for 2007-08 in balloting by coaches and administrative staff from the Department of Sport&Wellness. Welch was named this month during the Senior Recognition and Awards Ceremony in the Warren Ballroom of the Angell College Center. (Welch with College President Dr. John Ettling/Photo by Kerry Chapin, Plattsburgh Sports Information Office.)

Welch's superb baseball career is well documented in the school record books. He holds almost 20 game, season and career benchmarks -- including the first Cardinal player to reach 200 hits and 83 steals. He has earned Preseason All-America accolades three times, was an all-conference selection three times and all-region choice from two different organizations.

A two-year captain, Welch demonstrated his versatility by playing every position during his collegiate career. He is active in community service and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Welch is a mathematics major from Merrill (Northern Adirondack High School).

In addition, teammate Kyle Kowalowski, a junior out of Saranac High, received the Richard D. Semmler Award to honor the senior-academic standing male student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average.

An ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America nominee and all-region choice, Kowalowski has a 3.65 GPA as a psychology major.

May 20, 2008

Former Player Mehan Given SUNYAC Award of Valor

FREDONIA, N.Y. - Former Plattsburgh State baseball player Brian Mehan, of Plattsburgh High School, has earned an Award of Valor from the State University of New York Athletic Conference. Mehan, who played for the Cardinals during the 2006 season, died March 2 after a courageous battle against germ cell testicular cancer. He was 20. Cardinals head coach Kris Doorey last night presented the award to Brian's parents, Diana Betts and John Mehan, at the SUNYAC meetings held in Saratoga Springs.

"When I look in the dictionary for the word 'valor', the definition states 'the quality of mind enabling one to face danger or hardship resolutely.'" Doorey said. "In my opinion, Brian Mehan fits that definition exactly.

"Brian had so much fun smiling, laughing while playing baseball. He also enjoyed talking about baseball, music and movies."

The team honored his memory throughout the 2008 campaign by holding a moment of silence before every home game and hanging his No. 26 jersey in the dugout.

Brian was a highly recruited player coming out of the local area. During his freshman year in 2006, he backed up all-SUNYAC catcher Jon Dumas, batting .227 in 13 games and helping the Cardinals to a school-record 27 victories that season.

"I was very excited when Brian told me he was committing to SUNY Plattsburgh," Doorey recalled. "The program landed the catcher of the future."

Brian started to develop symptoms in the off-season before entering the fall as the No. 1 catcher.

"Coming into his sophomore season, Brian was penciled in to be our starting catcher. Early in the fall, he came to my office and told me that he wasn't feeling well," remembered Doorey. "At the end of fall workouts, he came to my office again and let me know that he was not going to play the following spring season. I was shocked and in total disbelief."

But Brian remained attach to the team during the 2007 season as he was seen around the field watching practices and games. There was no doubt in my mind that he missed baseball," according to Doorey.

Coach Doorey learned through a cell phone call that Brian was diagnosed with cancer on April 22, 2007, when the Cardinals were returning home after a SUNYAC road trip at Fredonia and Brockport.

"I will remember that day for the rest of my life," Doorey said. "For the next four hours, I sat in the front seat of the bus crying. I was apologizing to God for all the times I yelled at Brian because I thought he was being lazy, or not hustling. It wasn't that at all: he was truly sick."

The team rallied around Brian by visiting him in the hospital, presenting him with his jersey and his name on the back.

"Brian was excited, and told his teammates that he would be listening to an Internet broadcast of our SUNYAC Tournament games that weekend," Doorey said. "He also told me to try not to get ejected.

"We lost the opening game on a dropped fly ball. That was maybe the toughest loss I've ever had as a coach. But, it didn't seem that bad when it was put into perspective. It was a baseball game. One of my players was dying. As much as I love baseball, it didn't seem as important on that day," he wrote in his nomination letter to the SUNYAC office.

After treatment and passing of screen tests, Brian's cancer appeared to be in remission last summer so doctors cleared him to play in July 2007. He resumed taking classes for fall semester that started in late August, and he rejoined the Plattsburgh State baseball team.

"There was a light in his eyes. It was inspirational to everyone around the program," Doorey said. "Everyday, Brian would stop by the baseball office to see how the coaches were doing and we would ask everyday how he was doing.

But then one day, "Brian came to the office without his usual smile and I knew immediately that something was wrong." His cancer had spread. Doctors said he couldn't play baseball any more.

Brian resumed treatment sessions in September and the family as well as team members started fundraising efforts to help offset his medical bills.

Brian continued his fight against the disease for the next several months. Last February, Coach Doorey visited him at his mother's home.

"We talked about a lot of things. (But) I could tell he was in such pain," the coach said. "When I left, his mother came to me and told me that Brian said, 'Today was a good day because Coach Doorey came to visit me.'"

Later that month, the doctors explored performing a stem cell transplant. But when Brian went through his battery of tests, the doctors determined that the cancer had spread and that his liver and kidney functions were starting to slow down. The medical team told Brian's family he had 7-10 days to live.

"Brian was transported back to Plattsburgh where he fought for exactly 10 more days before moving on to Heaven," Doorey said.

Brian is the first Cardinal student-athlete to receive a SUNYAC Award of Valor since 2006 when softball All-America pitcher Stephanie Zweig was honored for overcoming Erb's Palsy, a brachial plexus nerve injury that left her without full use of her right arm.

May 20, 2008

Welch, Kowalowski Earn ABCA All-Region Honors

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Two Plattsburgh State baseball players received NCAA Division III All-New York Region recognition on Tuesday from the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings Sporting Goods, it was announced by region chair Randy Caden who is the head coach at St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn, N.Y. Senior Zack Welch (Merrill, N.Y./Northern Adirondack High School) made the second team as a catcher and junior Kyle Kowalowski, of Saranac High, is a third-team all-region designated hitter. Welch was second-team all-region as a junior while Kowalowski makes his debut on the all-star team.

Welch (pictured left ) led the Cardinals in batting (.393), runs scored (33), hits (55), doubles (9), triples (3), runs batted in (30), total bases (70) and stolen bases (23). He posted career highs in batting average, doubles, triples, total bases while tying his own single-season school record (shared by Matt Kahan, 2005) with 55 hits. He also became the program's first player to reach 200 career hits on May 2 with a double in the 7th inning against Cortland during the SUNYAC Tournament Semifinals, finishing with 201. Welch's other all-time school records set this season include 154 games played, 153 starts, 590 at-bats, 141 runs, 250 total bases, 62 walks and increased his stolen bases benchmark to 83.

Kowalowski was third on the team with a .360 batting average with 17 RBI. An ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America nominee, he led the Cardinals and ranked SUNYAC Top 10 with a .471 on-base percentage.

All told, eight Plattsburgh players have been named ABCA All-Region 11 times since the 2004 season.

May 15, 2008

Baseball Honors Own with Team Awards

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Plattsburgh State baseball coach Kris Doorey this week announced the team awards at the Cardinals' year-end banquet at Meron's. The honorees include...

Zack Welch, Most Valuable Player (Voted on by teammates and coaching staff to the player who has made the greatest overall contribution to the success of the team) : The senior second baseman/catcher from Merrill (Northern Adirondack High School) made the All-State University of New York Athletic Conference Second Team as a utility player for the third time in his career. He led the Cardinals in batting (.393), runs scored (33), hits (55), doubles (9), triples (3), runs batted in (30), total bases (70) and stolen bases (23).

Matt Kelley, Most Outstanding Pitcher (Voted on by teammates and coaching staff to the pitcher who has made the greatest overall contribution to the success of the team) : A junior right-hander from Mechanicville (Stillwater HS/Hartwick College), Kelley posted a 1-3 record and three saves to go along with a 2.62 earned-run average. He struck out 16 batters and walked only seven in 34.1 innings.

Dan Noonan, Newcomer of the Year (Voted on by teammates to a first-year member who has made the greatest overall contribution to the success of the team) : Noonan is a freshman right-handed pitcher from Fonda-Fultonville HS who went 3-1 with a 6.37 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 35.1 innings of work.

Erik Schwind, Most Improved Player (Voted on by the coaching staff to a team member who has showed the most improvement during the season) : He raised his batting average 219 points since last season to finish his junior year with a fourth-team-leading .351 clip. He also had career highs with 20 runs, 34 hits, 13 RBI, .393 slugging and .447 on-base percentage. Schwind, who made second-team academic all-district by the College Sports Information Directors of America, is an outfielder from Hilton HS.

Sean Despaw, Coaches' Award (Voted on by teammates and coaching staff to the player who demonstrates a winning attitude and work ethic throughout the course of the season) : Despaw, of Norfolk (Norwood-Norfolk HS), appeared in five games. The freshman catcher warmed up Cardinal pitchers in the bullpen, and is known for his enthusiasm.

Jared Jarvis and Ryan Tracy, Ernie Rangazas Cardinal Award (Selected by the coaching staff and sponsored by former Plattsburgh State Hall of Famer Gary Butler, this award is given to the player who best exemplifies the meaning of Plattsburgh State baseball) : Seniors Jarvis (Mooers Forks/Northeastern Clinton HS/Clinton CC) and Tracy (Yorktown Heights/Somers HS) share this award. Jarvis, an outfielder, hit .314 and had career highs of 26 runs, 37 hits and 18 runs driven home. Tracy pitched 26.1 innings and recorded a 2-2 mark with a 5.81 ERA. Both players are noted for their dedication toward the program.

Matt Dahlin, Student Assistant Coach, Special Service Award (Voted on by the coaching staff and players and presented to an individual not on the official roster that goes above and beyond the call of duty to assist the Plattsburgh State baseball program) : A former Cardinal RHP from Cohoes, Dahlin volunteered his time coaching first base and assisting in practice while finishing up his undergraduate degree in criminal justice.

May 11, 2008

Baseball Lands Pair on CoSIDA Academic All-District Squad

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - For the first time in school history, the Plattsburgh State baseball team earned two ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division District I honors. Junior designated hitter Kyle Kowalowski (Saranac High School), who was a second team selection as a sophomore, jumped to the first team this season and now advances to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration by The College Sports Information Directors of America. Junior outfielder Erik Schwind (Hilton HS) made academic all-district for the first time in his career as a second-team winner.

Click on the link for the full release of the CoSIDA Academic All-District Baseball Team: http://www.cosida.com/documents/2008/5/8/2008_baseball.pdf

Plattsburgh is the only State University of New York Athletic Conference school with two players on the list.

Kowalowski led the Cardinals in on-base average (.471) and fielding percentage (.992) after being named to the 2008 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Player to Watch List for NCAA Division III. He recorded his 100th career hit on April 20 to become the eighth player in school history to reach the milestone, and he hit .360 overall.

Kowalowski owns a 3.65 grade-point average as a psychology major. He is a two-time Academic All-SUNYAC choice. He is an Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society inductee, Upward Bound tutor to acclimate high school seniors to college life and multiple President's and Dean's List honoree.

Schwind is a global supply chain management major and accounting minor, with a 3.80 GPA. He's a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership and Phi Eta Sigma Freshmen honor societies, as well as enrolled in the Presidential Scholars Honors Program. He was named Academic All-SUNYAC and Commissioner's List as a sophomore, and has been on Dean's List every semester at Plattsburgh.

Schwind batted a career high .351 in his first season as a starter.

Outside the classroom and off the field, he works summer youth baseball clinics at home and is a fundraiser for Downs Syndrome Buddy Walk and Cardinals Athletes for Special Olympians.

May 11, 2008

Cardinals Duo Selected All-SUNYAC

FREDONIA, N.Y. - Plattsburgh State senior Zack Welch and junior Billy Davis each were named to the second team of the All-State University of New York Athletic Conference baseball team as a utility player and infielder, respectively.

Through the SUNYAC tournament, Welch (Merrill/Northern Adirondack High School) ranked fifth in the conference in batting average (.393) and was tied for the most hits with 55. He also led the team in runs batted in (30), doubles (9) and stolen bases (23).

Davis, of Plattsburgh High, finished the season with a .313 batting average, 19 RBI and a .416 on-base percentage.

May 3, 2008

Golden Eagles Bounce Cardinals Out of SUNYACs

CORTLAND, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State baseball team's season came to an end on Saturday after a 12-0 loss at the hands of Brockport State during the second day of the State University of New York Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Tournament at Wallace Field on the Cortland State campus. The fourth-seeded Cardinals are eliminated from contention and finish with a 15-21 record. The Golden Eagles are now 22-16-1.

Todd Hughes had three hits and Erik Schwind two to lead Plattsburgh, which had 10 hits as a team.

Joe LaDuca went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four batted in to pace the Golden Eagles, who had 17 hits versus three Cardinal pitchers.

Leading 6-0 after six innings, Brockport broke the game wide open with five runs in the bottom of the seventh.

May 2, 2008

Cardinals Fall to Nationally-Ranked Red Dragons

CORTLAND, N.Y. - Zack Welch led Plattsburgh State's 11-hit attack with three of his own, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals lost 15-7 to host Cortland State in the opening round of the State University of New York Athletic Conference Baseball Championship Tournament on Friday at Wallace Field. The fourth-seeded Cardinals (15-20 overall) will play No. 3 Brockport, a 3-2 loser to Oneonta earlier in the day. The defending SUNYAC champion Red Dragons (No. 2 D3baseball.com, No. 4 ABCA/Collegiate Baseball) improve to 34-3.

Cortland seized control early with five runs in the bottom of the third inning before Plattsburgh scored twice in the fourth to close within 5-2. But the Red Dragons scored in every frame for the remainder of the game to pull away.

Kyle Kowalowski, Jared Jarvis and Erik Schwind added two hits apiece for Plattsburgh, which stranded eight baserunners.

For Cortland, Andersen Gardner went 4-for-4 at the plate and Steve Nickel drove in four runs with a pair of hits.

Apr. 30, 2008

Cardinal Comeback Falls Short

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State baseball team lost, 7-6, to non-conference opponent Castleton State at Chip Cummings Field on Wednesday afternoon in their last regular-season game. The Cardinals clawed their way back into the game after spotting the Spartans a 6-0 lead in the first three innings.

The Cards scored two runs in each of the third, fourth, and sixth innings to tie the game at six. The score remained tied until the top of the ninth when Castleton State's leadoff hitter Lauck Blake got on and promptly stole second. The next batter Brad Polcare singled to center, scoring Blake, who would be the eventual game winning run.

Zack Welch, Kyle Kowalowski and Brandon Humphrey each had two hits. Welch scored two runs and had a run batted in, while Kowalowski drove in one and scored a run. The Spartans faced a different Cardinal pitcher each inning, collecting seven runs on 11 hits.

John Campbell recorded the loss in his first decision of the year; the Cardinals (15-19) will look forward to this weekend's upcoming State University of New York Athletic Conference tournament held in Cortland. The fourth-seeded Cardinals face the top-seed Red Dragon's Friday at 3:30 p.m.

Apr. 26, 2008

Plattsburgh Pounds Lyndon State on Senior Day

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State baseball team scored in all but the fifth inning, rapped out 18 hits and took advantage of nine Lyndon State errors on the way to a 19-10 shellacking of the visiting Hornets in non-conference action on Saturday at Chip Cummings Field. The Cardinals won their third straight to improve to 15-18 while the Hornets (11-11) saw their four-game win streak snapped. Seven Plattsburgh seniors were honored at home plate in a pre-game ceremony, with each given a framed action photo of themselves.

Trailing 4-2 going into the bottom of the third, Plattsburgh reclaimed the lead for good with five runs to make it 7-4. Senior Jared Jarvis capped the rally with a three-run double to the left center gap. He finished with five hits, four runs scored and six RBI--all career highs.

Senior Zack Welch, who played all nine positions in the field, had two hits and scored twice. Other Cardinal seniors who played their next-to-last home game: Todd Hughes had a single and sacrifice fly; Chris Van Houten pitched three scoreless innings without giving up a hit and struck out four for his first save of the season; Craig Bujold had a double; starting pitcher Ryan Tracy earned the win; and Brandon Humphrey scored a run.

Only nine of Plattsburgh's 19 runs were earned.

Jordan Royer led the Hornets with three hits, two runs scored and two RBI. Jason Ryan contributed two hits, including a home run, and two RBI.

Apr. 25, 2008

Plattsburgh Sweeps D-II Saint Michael's at Home

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State offense took care of Saint Michael's in the first game, and pitcher Kevin Gent took care of the nightcap with a five-hit shutout, as the Cardinals swept the Purple Knights, 18-6 and 6-0, in a non-conference doubleheader on Friday at Chip Cummings Field. Plattsburgh improves to 14-18 while Saint Michael's drops to 8-21.

Brandon Humphrey and Joe Curcio each had three hits to lead Plattsburgh, which finished with 18 hits. Humphrey scored three times and had three runs batted in, and Curcio drove in two runs on a single and sacrifice fly. Matt Burns, who crossed the plate four times, had a two-run single in the third inning as part of a three-RBI day. Zack Welch and Matt Kelley also had multi-hit games with two each.

After spotting the Purple Knights a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Cardinals responded with six runs in the bottom of the frame, four runs in the second and five in the third to take a commanding 15-4 advantage. Plattsburgh also benefited from sloppy defense by the visitors, getting six unearned runs because of five errors.

Joey Painter pitched 3-1/3 innings in relief to earn his first victory of the season, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned). He struck out three.

Gent scattered five singles, walked none and fanned three batters to notch his first win in 2008.

Kyle Kowalowski supported him with two hits, including a double to left field to cap a three-run opening frame in the second game. Billy Davis drove in three runs on a two-run single in the third for a 5-0 cushion and a RBI groundout in the fifth.

Apr. 24, 2008

Plattsburgh Stopped by Oneonta in SUNYAC Berth Attempt

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State baseball team lost both ends of a doubleheader on Thursday to visiting Oneonta State, 4-3 and 2-1, preventing the Cardinals from clinching a spot in the upcoming State University of New York Athletic Conference Tournament. With their SUNYAC play complete and needing just one win this afternoon, the Cardinals (12-18 overall, 7-7 SUNYAC) must now wait to see how the conference schedule plays out to learn if they will qualify for the postseason for the sixth straight year. The Red Dragons (18-14) remain in the conference playoff hunt at 5-5 with four contests remaining.

Zack Welch went 4-for-8 at the plate today to lead the Plattsburgh cause. Billy Davis had two hits and a run batted in during the first game and three sacrifice bunts in the second for what's believed to be a school record in a single game.

In the opener, Plattsburgh built a 3-1 lead after six innings. Welch scored on a throwing error in the third, then Davis singled home a run and he later crossed the plate on a wild pitch in the sixth. The Cardinals had a golden opportunity to add more in the second when they had two runners in scoring position and one out. But Red Dragons starting pitcher Steve Juedes escaped the jam by getting a strikeout and inducing a foul out to end the threat.

The Red Dragons scored three times in the top of the seventh to stay on top by the final margin. Ryan Myers hit a key two-run double in the frame.

Leading the Oneonta 16-hit attack was Josh Bedosky with four and Nick Martino had three.

In the nightcap, the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a Todd Hughes RBI single to left field, scoring Welch from third.

The game remained scoreless until the sixth when Oneonta pushed across two runs on a RBI double by Chris Brady and a Myers RBI single.

The Cardinals were frustrated by leaving 10 runners on base, including two in scoring position in their last at-bat when the game ended on a strikeout.

Both teams finished with six hits in the second game.

Apr. 23, 2008

Defense Lifts Plattsburgh to 6-4 Win Over Middlebury

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Plattsburgh State set a school record with four double plays in a 6-4 non-conference baseball victory over visiting Middlebury College on Wednesday at Chip Cummings Field, including a 1-2-3 twin-killing with the bases loaded to end the game. A day after experiencing one of its worst losses of the season (18-2 at Clarkson), the Cardinals bounced back this afternoon to improve to 12-16 overall. The Panthers fell to 10-13.

Zack Welch, Kyle Kowalowski, Joe Curcio and Brandon Humphrey each had two hits for the Plattsburgh, which generated 10 off six Panther pitchers.

Corey Johnston (1-1) pitched 7-2/3 innings for his first collegiate win in a Cardinals uniform. He allowed four runs and 12 hits while walking none. Billy Davis earned his second save in dramatic fashion, relieving Joey Painter and inheriting three base runners. Davis was able to induce Gabe Broughton hitting a ground ball back to the mound, where Davis fired to Humphrey at home plate for the second out and then on to Kowalowski at first base to complete the historic double play.

Middlebury rapped out 12 hits, led by Mark Shimrock and Tim Dillon with two apiece. Shimrock belted a two-run homer over the right field fence in the eighth inning to pull within 5-4.

The Cardinals got an insurance run in the bottom half when John Campbell and Kevin Gent pulled off a successful double-steal of second and home, respectively.

After Plattsburgh struck first with a run in the opening frame, Middlebury made it 2-1 in the second when Erich Enns tripled home Donald McKillop and Dillon added an RBI single.

But the Cardinals reclaimed the lead for good in their home half, 3-2. Campbell knocked in a run when he reached on a fielder's choice and Kowalowski followed with a RBI single.

Apr. 22, 2008

Clarkson Defends its Home Field

POTSDAM, N.Y. - Host Clarkson University pinned the most runs scored by a Plattsburgh State baseball opponent this season in an 18-2 non-conference victory Tuesday over the Cardinals at Snell Field. Plattsburgh drops to 11-16 overall while the Golden Knights even their record to 13-13.

John Campbell and Mickey Merola each had two hits to lead Plattsburgh, which trailed 3-0 after the first inning and 6-1 after the second. The Cardinals had their chances to put more runs on the scoreboard, but stranded 11 base runners.

Converted catcher Mike Terracciano was one of six Plattsburgh pitchers used during the afternoon, allowing a run and two hits in three innings of relief.

Apr. 20, 2008

Kowalowski Gets 100th Hit as Cardinals Split

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Kyle Kowalowski went 5-for-6 with two runs batted in, including his 100th career hit, on Sunday afternoon as Plattsburgh State split a State University of New York Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader against visiting Brockport State at Chip Cummings Field. The Cardinals (11-15 overall, 7-5 SUNYAC) won the first game 9-5 before the Golden Eagles (15-15-1, 5-7) came back in the nightcap, 10-1. Plattsburgh outhit Brockport 17-14 in the opener.

In Game One, Brockport took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning before Plattsburgh responded with four runs in its home half. Todd Hughes started the rally with a RBI double to right field and Erik Schwind capped it with a run-scoring single to center.

Starting pitcher Craig Bujold worked five innings for the win (2-4), scattering nine hits and allowing four runs. Corey Johnston threw three scoreless innings for his first collegiate save, giving up two hits.

Brockport managed to pull within 6-5 in the sixth, but Plattsburgh added some insurance runs on a pair of RBI singles by Billy Davis and another by Kowalowski.

It was all Golden Eagles, however, in the second contest--putting up five runs in each of the fourth and seventh frames. Brockport ended up with 11 hits while holding the Cardinals to four.

Kowalowski reached the hit milestone on an infield single to shortstop in the fourth.

Zack Welch doubled home John Campbell for the Cardinals' only run of the game in the third.

Apr. 19, 2008

Plattsburgh Sweeps Fredonia in Dramatic Fashion

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State baseball team defeated visiting Fredonia State in a State University of New York Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Chip Cummings Field, pounding out 24 hits in a 15-5 victory in the first game and then coming from behind for a 3-2 extra-innings win in the nightcap to complete the sweep. The Cardinals improve to 10-14 overall, including 6-4 in the SUNYAC, while the Blue Devils fall to 12-14 and 4-4 in the league.

Down 2-0 and to its last out in the bottom of the seventh, Plattsburgh mounted a comeback when Erik Schwind and Crockett Pack singled before John Campbell doubled to the left-center gap for two runs with his 100th career hit. Todd Hughes won it for the Cardinals in the next frame with a single to right field, scoring Zack Welch from second base.

Welch, Campbell and Jared Jarvis each had two hits to pace the Plattsburgh offense.

Matt Kelley earned the win in the second game, pitching a complete game. Kelley allowed two runs that were both unearned, a walk and six hits that were all singles. He also struck out five.

In the opener, Kyle Kowalowski led Plattsburgh with four hits. Welch, Kelley, Schwind and Kevin Gent added three apiece, and Welch and Jarvis each drove in three runs.

The Blue Devils struck for three runs in the top of the second inning before the Cardinals responded with nine of their own in the third, getting 10 hits and sending 14 batters to the plate during the decisive frame.

Winner Mark Sidoti pitched 7-1/3 innings while scattering 10 hits and allowing five runs (2 earned).

Apr. 14, 2008

Plattsburgh Gains Split at Oswego

OSWEGO, N.Y. - John Campbell had three hits and four runs batted in to help visiting Plattsburgh State defeated Oswego State 10-3 in the second game, salvaging a split of a State University of New York Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader Monday afternoon at Laker Field. The Cardinals committed five errors and allowed 21 hits in a 16-0 loss in the opener of the twinbill.

Plattsburgh's record moves to 8-14 overall (4-4 SUNYAC) while Oswego is now 9-5 (5-3 SUNYAC).

Campbell had a two-run single to left field in the sixth inning as Plattsburgh scored six times to build on a 4-3 lead.

Kyle Kowalowski, Jared Jarvis and Kevin Gent added two hits apiece, and Dan Noonan earned the victory while Craig Bujold picked up the save.

In the first contest, Erik Schwind had two hits to pace the Cardinals who trailed 4-0 after the very first frame. Plattsburgh committed five errors and allowed 21 hits.

Apr. 14, 2008

Kelley Tabbed SUNYAC Pitcher of the Week

FREDONIA, N.Y. - Plattsburgh State junior Matt Kelley (Mechanicville/Stillwater High School/Hartwick College) was honored Monday as the pitcher of the week in the sport of State University of New York Athletic Conference baseball, for the period ending Sunday.

Kelley earned a save in both ends of a SUNYAC doubleheader sweep of SUNYIT, and allowed just two earned runs in his first start of the season in a tough 5-4 loss at No. 5 and three-time defending conference champion Cortland.

For the week, he posted an 0-1 record with two saves and 1.93 earned-run average.

Apr. 13, 2008

Cardinals Give Cortland All it Can Handle

CORTLAND, N.Y. - Nationally ranked Cortland State (No. 4 Collegiate Baseball/No. 5 NCBWA-D3baseball.com) swept visiting Plattsburgh State on Sunday in a State University of New York Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader, but it wasn't easy for the Red Dragons who won 6-3 and 5-4 at Wallace Field. Cortland, the three-time defending SUNYAC champion, extended its winning streak to 18 games and improved to 22-3 overall, 8-0 in the conference. The Cardinals had their four-game win string snapped, falling to 7-13 and 3-3 in the SUNYAC.

Todd Hughes and John Campbell each had two hits to pace Plattsburgh in the first contest. Both Hughes and Campbell had a double, and Erik Schwind contributed an RBI single.

Plattsburgh battled back from a 3-0 deficit in the first inning and climbed to within 4-3 in the fifth, but couldn't overcome three errors that led to Cortland scoring three unearned runs.

In the nightcap, Schwind had two hits and Billy Davis chipped in a single and two runs batted in.

After both teams scored once in the opening frame, Plattsburgh took a 3-1 advantage in the top of the second on Davis' RBI single and Zack Welch's run-producing groundout, but the Red Dragons responded in their half on a two-run double by Josh Hicks and Steve Nickel's two-run homer--his first collegiate four-bagger--to take a 5-3 lead.

Apr. 8, 2008

Cardinals Edge Saints on the Road

CANTON, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State baseball team jumped out to a 5-0 lead over Saint Lawrence on Tuesday, but then had to stave off a furious rally to beat the host Saints 7-6 in a non-conference game at Tom Fay Field. The Cardinals won their fourth in a row to improve to 7-11 overall while SLU now stands at 7-10.

John Campbell, Matt Kelley, Crockett Pack and Erik Schwind keyed Plattsburgh's 13-hit attack with two apiece. Pack drove in two runs and Zack Welch contributed a two-run triple in the Cardinals' four-run second inning.

Schwind, a right fielder, made a game-saving shoe-top catch on Chris Hewins' sinking liner with runners in scoring position to help the Cardinals out of an eighth inning jam, and in the ninth relief pitcher Billy Davis induced a one-out ground out with runners on second and third and then got a game-ending strikeout to earn the save. Starter Mark Sidoti earned the win to up his mark to 2-1, pitching six innings.

The Saints came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth as Mike Root led off with a single and scored on Garrett Fitzgerald's triple with Fitzgerald scoring on Ryan Kimber's single. SLU cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth on Charlie Cannan's run scoring single.

Apr. 7, 2008

Cardinals Sweep Wildcats in "Home" Opener

ROME, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State baseball team finally got its home schedule under way on Monday--albeit 200 miles away from Chip Cummings Field. The Cardinals swept SUNY Institute Tech in a State University of New York Athletic Conference doubleheader, 10-2 and 6-4. The games, originally slated for Saturday, were moved from Plattsburgh to Larry DeLutis Field here in Rome because the Cardinals' home field is covered with ice.

Plattsburgh improves to 6-11 overall and 3-1 in the SUNYAC while the Wildcats are now 7-12 and 0-2 in the conference.

In the opener, Zack Welch went 3-for-3, including a triple, with four runs batted in and he set a school record with four stolen bases. Matt Kelley also had a multi-hit game with two, and he pitched two scoreless innings to earn a save.

Starter Craig Bujold picked up the win, allowing six hits in seven innings of work.

The Cardinals, who rapped out 10 hits, built a 5-0 lead before the Wildcats scored twice in the top of the sixth inning. Erik Schwind had a RBI-double to cap a five-run eighth to give Plattsburgh some breathing room.

In the nightcap, SUNYIT jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. But Plattsburgh scored three runs of their own to tie in the second when Welch delivered a two-run single up the middle and Kyle Kowalowski had a RBI-single. The Cardinals took a 5-3 advantage in the next frame on a run-scoring single to left field by John Campbell and Crockett Pack doubled home another run.

Welch finished with two hits and two RBI. Kowalowski and Campbell also had two hits each.

Starting pitcher Dan Noonan settled down after the shaky first inning, giving up just two hits and a run over the next 4-2/3 innings to earn the victory. Kelley came in relief during the sixth inning, and he didn't surrender a run to record another save.

Apr. 3, 2008

Cardinals Come Back to Earn Split at Skidmore

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Matt Kelley rapped three hits, scored twice and drove in two runs to back up a fine pitching performance by Mark Sidoti as Plattsburgh State defeated host Skidmore College 6-1 in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader Thursday at Castle Diamond Field. The Thoroughbreds won the first contest 4-3. The Cardinals are now 4-11 while Skidmore stands at 5-7.

Sidoti threw a complete game to strike out four batters while walking none and allowing just five hits.

Plattsburgh built a 6-0 lead after five innings on the strength of two Kelley doubles and three runs batted in by Erik Schwind.

In the opener, Kyle Kowalowski, Jared Jarvis and Kelley each had two hits for Plattsburgh.

Plattsburgh battled back from a 3-0 deficit to tie it with three runs in the top of the sixth inning. But Skidmore won the game in the home half of the seventh, pushing across a run with two outs.

Mar. 30, 2008

Cardinals Split SUNYAC Opening Series at NP

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - The Plattsburgh State baseball team defeated host New Paltz State 6-4 in the second game to salvage a split of a State University of New York Athletic Conference doubleheader on Sunday at Loren Campbell Field. The Cardinals let a four-run lead after five innings slip away to lose the opener, 11-9. The Cardinals are now 3-10 overall, including 1-1 in the SUNYAC, while the Hawks are 11-7 and 1-1.

Zack Welch led Plattsburgh's 10-hit attack in Game 2 by going 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and a run batted in. He also had three stolen bases. Billy Davis, Jared Jarvis and Matt Kelley added two hits apiece.

Tied 4-all after five innings, Welch doubled home Erik Schwind who led off the top of the sixth with a single to make it 5-4. Plattsburgh added an insurance run in the next frame on a RBI single by Davis.

Kelley pitched two perfect innings to earn the save, making a winner out of starter Dan Noonan. Noonan allowed three earned runs and seven hits over five innings of work.

In the first game, Davis, Jarvis, Kelley and Schwind each had two hits to pace Plattsburgh.

Plattsburgh spotted New Paltz a 1-0 advantage in the first inning before scoring five times in the fourth. But the Cardinals' first lead of the day would be shortlived as the Hawks scored five runs of their own in the sixth and tacked on five more in the seventh to go up 11-6.

The Cardinals, however, made things interesting in the ninth inning with three runs on a RBI single by Joe Curcio, Davis' run-scoring single and Welch RBI-fielder's choice. But they couldn't get closer than the two-run final margin, leaving the bases loaded.

Mar. 27, 2008

Hughes Tabbed by SUNYAC, ECAC Upstate

FREDONIA, N.Y. - Plattsburgh State baseball student-athlete Todd Hughes has been named the player of the week in the State University of New York Athletic Conference.

In addition to SUNYAC, Hughes earned Division III Upstate honors from the Eastern College Athletic Conference. The senior outfielder/first baseman from Malone's Franklin Academy hit .575 and posted a .878 slugging percentage for Plattsburgh on their spring trip. For the week he recorded 19 hits in 33 at-bats including four doubles, two triples and three home runs. He is currently tied atop Plattsburgh's all-time home run list with 10.

Mar. 26, 2008

Cardinals Can't Keep Pace with No. 15 RPI

TROY, N.Y. - The visiting Plattsburgh State baseball team gave up five home runs on Wednesday in a 17-8 non-conference loss to No. 15 nationally-ranked Rensselaer at Robison Field. The Cardinals fall to 2-9 on the season while the Red Hawks improve to 12-1.

Zack Welch and Brandon Humphrey each had two hits and a run batted in for the Cardinals.

Patrick Reardon hit a pair of homers and drove in five runs for RPI, which also got three hits apiece from Jim Devine and Dan Stroud.

Trailing 4-0 after the very first inning, Plattsburgh stormed back to take a 6-4 lead in the top of the third. Joe Curcio delivered a 2-run single to tie it 4-all and then Billy Davis reached on an error by the second baseman to score Matt Kelley from third to make it 5-4.

But the lead was short-lived as the Red Hawks scored in each of the next six frames, including a 5-run sixth for a 12-6 cushion.

Mar. 16, 2008

Cardinals Swept by St. Joe's in Season-Opening DH

CENTRAL FLORIDA - After their first three scheduled games were cancelled due to weather, the Plattsburgh State Cardinals finally got their baseball season under way on Sunday. But it wasn't the results Plattsburgh was looking for against St. Joseph's (N.Y.), dropping both ends of a non-conference doubleheader to the Golden Eagles, 10-0 and 6-3.

Plattsburgh recorded five hits in the first game, but still suffered its first shutout loss in a season-opener under seventh-year head coach Kris Doorey.

In game two, Zack Welch led the Cardinals with three hits and Joe Curcio added a RBI-double.

Jan. 2, 2008

Coach Doorey Featured by NCAA New Media

INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA coordinator of new media communications Josh Centor has featured Plattsburgh State Athletics in the latest edition of Campus Connection.

On today's edition of Campus Connection, Plattsburgh State head baseball coach Kris Doorey shares an emotional story about one of his players, Brian Mehan.

Brian is currently fighting a battle against cancer and is undergoing treatment in the Plattsburgh area. During our podcast, Coach Doorey discusses the impact Brian's situation has had on him and on his players. He says it's important to "put things in check" and offers advice for other coaches and student-athletes facing difficult life situations.

Click on the following link to hear Centor's interview with Coach Doorey: http://doubleazone.com/audio/plattsburghstate.mp3

The Double-A Zone website is http://doubleazone.com/

Nov. 15, 2007

Campbell, Welch Selected Captains for 2008

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Plattsburgh State baseball coach Kris Doorey has announced that senior Zack Welch and junior John Campbell would be the team's co-captains for the 2008 season.

Welch, a second baseman from Merrill (Northern Adirondack High School), started all 40 games for the Cardinals last season. He had career highs in batting average (.353), hits (55), runs batted in (31) and stolen bases (26) en route to all-region honors by American Baseball Coaches' Association and Eastern College Athletic Conference Upstate as well as being named second-team All-State University of New York Athletic Conference.

Campbell (East Patchogue/Bellport HS) complemented Welch on the other side of second base, starting 37 games at shortstop. Campbell had a .306 batting average and ranked third on the team with 37 hits during his sophomore year.

"Zack and John are two players that exemplify what we want our baseball players to be," Doorey said. "They work tremendously hard both on the baseball field and off of it. They are leaders in the weight room, classroom, on campus and in the community."

The Cardinals had a 25-15 record overall, finishing third in the SUNYAC standings.

Aug. 13, 2007

NCAASports.com Features Donny Coolidge

INDIANAPOLIS - NCAASports.com staff writer Amy Farnum recently profiled Donny Coolidge, a soon-to-be junior on the Plattsburgh State baseball team who also serves with the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Coolidge is a third baseman/outfielder from Plattsburgh High School. To read her feature story on Coolidge, click on the following link:

http://ncaasports.com/baseball/mens/story/10278793

NCAASports.com is the official website of NCAA Sports and is produced by CBS Sports.

Contact Information

For more information about Baseball at Plattsburgh State, please contact:

Coach Kris Doorey
Phone: (518) 564-4136
E-mail: dooreykm@plattsburgh.edu

Plattsburgh State Baseball

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