Pittsburgh Baseball Team Underway With Fall Workouts
10/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Pittsburgh Baseball Team Underway With Fall Workouts
10/3/2002
Fresh off of an exciting 2002 season, the Panthers? baseball team is back at it for their fall workouts. Pittsburgh, which finished last season with an impressive 36-16-1 record, welcomes 13 newcomers to the squad this year. "I feel it was a very strong recruiting class," said head coach Joe Jordano. "We were able to fill some holes by some kids that we lost either to the Major League draft or to graduation. We still have some work to do, but our fall workouts are progressing well." The following is a breakdown of the newcomers for Jordano?s team this year: Brian Bircher
JR, LHP, 6-2, 170, L/L Harrisburg, Pa./Steelton-Highspire HS/Louisburg College Louisburg College: Brian Bircher was a member of the the Louisburg squad that won back-to-back conference championships while he was there...his team also was the district and region champs last season...participated in the Junior College World Series...in 35 innings last year, struck out 49 batters and held them to a .186 batting average...finished with an ERA of 3.65...as a freshman, had an impressive 1.65 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 32 innings. High School: Named Mid-Penn Conference first-team as a junior and senior...led the conference in strikeouts as a senior, finishing with 104 to just 22 walks...in 62 innings pitched, had a 2.25 ERA...as a junior, struck out 40 batters in 35 innings and had a 1.92 ERA. Personal: Born Jan. 20, 1982...son of Daniel Bircher and Maureen Taylor...has two brothers...intends to major in business. Tom Cashman
JR, INF, 6-2, 208, L/R East Amherst, N.Y./Williamsville/Erie Community College Erie Community College: Tom Cashman batted .425 as a freshman and .413 as a sophomore at Erie Community College...led his squad to a 38-4 record his first season and a 34-9 mark last year...totaled six home runs, 15 doubles and 38 RBIs as a sophomore...named first-team all-region and first-team all-district...also was a third-team all-american at ECC...named team MVP and the ECC Male Athlete of the Year...member of State University of New York All-Star Team that finished in 3rd place in the Eighth Matsumae Memorial International College Baseball Tournament at Moscow State University. High School: Named All-ECIC first team...was the team MVP as a junior and senior and had the highest batting average on the team as a sophomore and junior...batted .521 as a senior with seven home runs, nine doubles and 31 RBIs...led his team to a 12-1 ledger as senior en route to the ECIC championship. Personal: Born March 22, 1982...son of Bruce and Nancy Cashman...has two sisters and one brother...majoring in public services. David Cline
FR, OF, 6-3, 190, R/R Mercersburg, Pa./Mercersburg Academy High School: David Cline was a member of the Pennsylvania state championship team at Mercersburg Academy during his junior year...his squad also won the Mid-Atlantic Conference as a freshman and a the Mid-Atlantic Prep League as a senior...batted an astounding .584 with one home run in his final season...named all-conference as a sophomore and senior...named the Herald Mail Co-Player of the Year as a senior. Personal: Born Feb. 14, 1984...son of David Lee and Elizabeth Kaye...has two brothers and one sister...undecided major. Ben Copeland
FR, OF, 6-1, 185, L/L Bradford, Pa./Bradford High School: Ben Copeland was forced to sit out last season due to an injury...as a junior, batted .397 and led his squad to a 18-3 record...was also a member of the District 9 football championship team as a junior and senior...named District 9 and Big 30 all-star. Personal: Born Dec. 17, 1983...son of Alan and Margaret Copeland...has two sisters...undecided major. Matt DeSantis
JR, C, 5-8, 180, R/R Butler, Pa./Knoch/Keystone College Keystone College: Matt DeSantis was honored by being named to Second Team All Conference last season... batted a .353 and led the team with five home runs...finished his freshman year with an impressive .413 batting average. High School: Matt led his team to a section title in both his junior and senior years...named team MVP his senior year as well as batting a .414. Personal: Matt DeSantis was born on November 17, 1981...is the son of Denny and Becky DeSantis and has three siblings. Casey Long SO, 3B, 6-2, 210, R/R Johnstown, Pa./Johnstown/Pittsburgh-Johnstown Pitt-Johnstown: Casey Long batted .368 last season in addition to hitting 12 home runs and chalking up 46 RBIs. High School: Batted .480 his senior year and had a 5-1 pitching record which included one no-hitter...also named Laural Highlands Defensive Player of the Year in 2001 as well as being named to the 2001 Preseason All-State Team. Personal: Born on Nov. 17, 1982...son of Lance and Judy Long...has one sister...undecided major.
Brian Jacobsen
JR, P, 6-0, 195, R/R Agoura Hills, Ca./Agoura/Pierce Junior College Pierce Junior College: Brian Jacobsen was named to all-conference second team last season...had a 2.98 ERA his freshman season. High School: Was a member of the varsity baseball team for four years...batted .480 his senior year...named to the L.A. Times? All-Conference team. Personal: Brian was born on Sept. 14, 1980...son of Randy and Linda Jacobsen...has two sisters...undecided major. Nick Evangelista
JR, P, 6-4, 215, R/R Shoemakersville, Pa./Hamburg/Louisburg College Louisburg College: Nick Evangelista had an impressive baseball career at Louisburg, pitching 8-3 his first year with a team record 11 saves...during his second year, had an impressive 13-0 ledger and a 0.69 ERA...named to All-Region Team, All-Eastern District, third-team all-american, and first team Rawlings All-American JUCO Division I....named Louisburg College?s Most Outstanding Male Student Athlete of the Year for 2001-2002. High School: Led the basketball, golf and baseball teams to the Division II Berks County Championships for four consecutive years. Personal: Born March 17, 1982...son of Bruce and Debra Evangelista...has one sister...administration of justice major. Chris Wilmoth
JR, INF, 6-3, 230, R/R Miami, Fl./Homestead/Rochester Rochester: Christopher Wilmoth batted .343 his sophomore year and was named second-team all-conference...batted .343 his freshman year. High School: Named Miami-Dade honorable mention...earned team?s MVP award. Personal: Chris Wilmoth was born on Aug. 5, 1980...son of Charles and Bonnie Wilmoth...has one brother and one sister...undecided major. Alex Rybczak
JR, C, 6-2, 165, R/R Chili, N.Y./Gates-Chili High/Monroe Community College Monroe Community College: Alex Rybczak was named to All-Region III NJCAA first team after his freshman and sophomore years. High School: Finished with a total of 98 base hits in his career...first-team All New York State (2000)...named basketball team MVP in 1999 and 2000...holds school record for 3-pointers made in one game, 3-pointers made in one season and 3-pointers made in a career. Personal: Born on March 25, 1982...son of John and Patti Rybczak...has two sisters...a secondary education major. James Mayer
FR, INF, 5-10. 160, R/R Somerset,Pa./Somerset High School: James Mayer batted .430 his senior year and .380 overall in his high school career...led the team to a 18-4 record his junior year and 19-3 the following season...played football and basketball where he was an All-Conference player and scored 1,000 points...won the Laurel Highlands Baseball Championship two years in a row. Personal: James Mayer was born on March 8, 1984...son of Bob Mayer and Deb LaSota...has one brother and one sister...majoring in pharmacy and physical therapy. Mike Scanzano
JR, INF, 5-11, 198, R/R Marlton, N.J./Cherokee/Louisburg College Louisburg: Mike Scanzano batted .370 his sophomore year and was also named All-Region...played in the JUCO 2002 World Series...batted .282 freshman year. High School: Mike was an all-state football player as well as an all-conference basketball player...played on the Group 4 championship baseball team...All State baseball player in 1999 and 2000...1999 Baseball All-American Honorable Mention. Personal: Michael Scanzano was born on April 19, 1981...son of Michael and Linda Scanzano...has two brothers and one sister...majoring in liberal arts. Michael Muzeka FR, INF, 6-0, 185, R/R Lake Mary, Fl./Lake Mary HIgh School: Michael Muzeka batted .306 his senior year with 16 RBIs and led his team to a 26-2 record and a conference championship...during his sophomore year, batted .202 and led the team to a conference and regional championship...was starting quarterback for the varsity football team. Personal: Michael Muzeka was born on March 2, 1984...son of Steve and Robin Muzeka...has one brother...undecided major.