MAY 3, 2018

KING'S BASEBALL SET FOR MAC FREEDOM CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS WEEKEND

WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College baseball team team will set its sights on an NCAA Division III national tournament berth this weekend when the Monarchs compete in the 2018 MAC Freedom Conference Championships Friday-through-Sunday at Owls Field in West Lawn. It will mark the third year in a row King's has qualified for the conference tournament.

Visit the Tournament page of host DeSales at: 
http://athletics.desales.edu/sports/2018/5/2/BB_0503104156.aspx

Visit the MAC Tournament page at
http://www.gomacsports.com/sports/2017/7/6/2018BSBchamp.aspx?path=baseball

All-day ticket prices are set at $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students, while children under age-six will be admitted free.

Fans not able to attend can follow the action online at the following links.

Live Video:  http://athletics.desales.edu/watch/?Live=293&type=Live

LiveStats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/desales/baseball/

King's enters the double-elimination event with a 20-14 overall record are are seeded fourth after posting a 12-9 mark in conference play.  King's will face top-seeded DeSales in the opening round Friday at 4:00 PM. The Bulldogs wrapped up the regular-season with a 26-13 regular-season record while going 17-4 in league games.  The other first-round pairing will pit second seeded Misericordia (27-11/17-4) against third-seeded Wilkes (17-15/12-8) in the 7:30 PM game on Friday.

Play will continue Saturday with games slated for 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 7:30 PM.  Sunday will feature the conference championship game at 12:00 noon. The "if necessary" game is scheduled for 3:00 PM in the double-elimination format.

Leading the Monarchs offensively is senior outfielder Brad Wilkins who tops the squad with a .398 (33-83) batting average with four doubles and 16 RBI. Senior designated hitter Kyle Lupas follows at .374 (43-115) with four home runs, eight doubles, and 35 RBI. Junior shortstop Christian Pack stands at .370 (50-135) with six doubles, 29 RBI, and 34 runs scored, while senior outfielder-pitcher Dan Hartson checks in at .358 (34-95) with six doubles and 30 runs scored.

Senior third-baseman Sean Padden is hitting .343 (34-99) with two home runs, six doubles, and 18 RBI while senior outfielder Chris Rebar bats .342 (40-117) with four home runs, 12 doubles, and 36 RBI. Senior catcher Sean Stone posts a .325 (26-80) average with five doubles and 25 RBI.  Freshman first-baseman Matt Mellinger chips in with a .297 (38-128) mark with 14 doubles and 24 RBI.

On the hill, Hartson owns a team-best 2.18 earned run average while posting a 3-1 mark with 19 strikeouts in 33.0 innings of work. Senior John Wickiser is 5-2 with a 4.35 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 51.2 innings . Sophomore Billy Neill has started seven conference games and gone 2-2 with a 6.9 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 40 innings.

DeSales is led offensively by junior Charlie Barebo who is batting .366 (59-161) with 19 doubles, four home runs, and 33 RBI. Junior Nick White follows at .339 (37-109) with three home runs, seven doubles, and 19 RBI. Junior Preston Amato hits .333 (48-144) with 10 doubles and 21 RBI. The pitchers are paced by senior Konner Schneider with a 6-0 record and a 1.78 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 35.1 innings. Senior Andrew Schuler stands at 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 69.2 innings.

Defending champion Misericordia is paced by junior Kenny Jarema with a .341 (44-129) batting average with two home runs, six doubles, and 23 RBI. Junior Parker Abate follows at .331 (42-127) with six doubles and 18 RBI. Junior Steve Weisensee adds a .328 (40-122 mark) with nine doubles and 31 RBI.  Freshman Ian McCole is 7-0 with a 3.22 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 44.2 innings. Senior Elliott Forde is 6-0 with a 3.40 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 44.2 innings.

Wilkes is led by senior Joe Champi hit .351 (39-111) with 10 doubles, three home runs, 28 RBI, and scored 22 runs. Junior Nicholas Capozzi hit .355 (33-for-93) with seven doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 22 RBI. Sophomore Matt Reinert posted a .362 (34-for-94) batting average, with 34 runs, nine doubles, and 20 RBI while freshman Michael Patrizio hit .354 (29-for-82) with five doubles, 28 runs, and 16 RBI.  Matt Amara is 5-2 with a 4.15 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 39 innings. Jeremy Worlinsky is 2-2 with a 4.35 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 39.1 innings.