ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon baseball team produced a spectacular turnaround in 2010, winning 21 games and being in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) post-season race until the final day of the regular season. The Golden Knights increased their victory total for the third consecutive season, posting 11 more wins than a year ago.
Coming off a 10-win campaign in 2009, the Knights hoped to compete for a tournament spot. GU did just that, finishing fifth in the Western Division, a game out of a playoff berth.
The team went 5-8 at the Russ-Matt Invitational to begin the season. From there, Gannon split the conference-opening doubleheader at Mercyhurst on March 12. The Knights then recorded a four-game sweep of Lock Haven March 19-20. It was their first sweep of a conference opponent since 2002. GU later took four straight contests from Clarion.
Jeff Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) homered in the top of the 11th inning to help Gannon win 5-4 at Fredonia State April 14 and then the Knights won twice at Lake Erie that weekend. Going into the season-ending series with Indiana (Pa.), Cocolin’s squad needed three wins to advance to the postseason for the first time since 1970. Instead, IUP took three out of four and clinched the division title.
Gannon’s 21 wins are the most for the program since 2004 and its 12 league victories are the most in eight years.
Greg Radwan (Farnham, Pa./St. Francis) and
Brian Gunnell (Falconer, N.Y./Falconer) both had stellar seasons as the Knights’ top two hurlers. Radwan went 6-3 with a 3.05 ERA and Gunnell went 6-4 with a 3.45 earned run average. Radwan struck out 61 and walked just 11 batters.
Drew Rojek (Lake View, N.Y./Frontier) also had a fine year pitching out of the bullpen, going 3-0 with four saves in 23 2/3 innings of work.
Kolten Hoffman (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) led the offense, hitting .349 on the year. His 11 doubles, 26 RBIs, .484 slugging percentage, and .461 on-base percentage were all team highs.
Tim Lipp (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) batted .326 and led the Knights with 26 walks and 28 runs scored. He also posted 14 stolen bases.
Jordan Bergado (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) hit .325 with 10 doubles. Jones hit six home runs, including two game-winning blasts.
Gannon loses seven seniors, including its top four pitchers. Radwan, Gunnell, Rojek, and
Evan Euler (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) all graduate. Another senior,
Brandon Crum (Saegertown, Pa./Saegertown) started every game at catcher this season.
The team will need help on the pitching staff, but Hoffman, Lipp, Bergado, Jones,
Shaine Patsilevas (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley), and
Kyle Harpster (Erie, Pa./McDowell) all return to the everyday lineup. With momentum from this season, the 2011 Golden Knights could finally break through, post a winning record and make the playoffs.