No. 13 Baseball Gears Up for Another PSAC Tournament Run
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – After claiming the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship a year ago, No. 13 West Chester prepares for another championship run in 2017 beginning with Seton Hill on Wednesday, May 10th at 6:30 p.m. The conference tournament will run from May 10th through May 13th and be held at Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Tickets will be $15 dollars for adults and $7 dollars for students per day. PSAC students with identification are free. The Golden Rams ended the regular-season in impressive fashion this year, finishing with an overall record of 33-9 record while being 22-6 in conference play. It is the best conference mark since 2009, when the squad went 21-3. Additionally, the squad posted the best home record in school history at 15-1. West Chester's success landed them the PSAC Eastern Division title for the first time since 2012. As a result of the team's achievements, head coach Jad Prachniak earned the PSAC Coach of the Year for his second time during his tenure at West Chester. Six different members of Prachniak's squad received an All-Conference nod as well. Sr., RHP Josh McClain (7-0) (Tunkhannock, Pa/ Northampton C.C.) was recognized as the PSAC Pitcher of the Year for his efforts at the back end of the Golden Rams' bullpen. McClain held the squad in victories as well as saves with a perfect 7-0 record and seven saves. He provided the second best ERA at 2.39. Joining McClain on the PSAC East All-Conference First-Team were designated hitter Shane Dressler (York Haven, Pa/ Red Land) and third baseman Anthony Salomone (Dillsburg, Pa/ Northern York). As the cleanup for the Golden Rams, Dressler is currently positioned 12th in all of Division II in terms of batting average (.426). He also leads the team in hits (63), slugging percentage (.655) and RBIs (37). Salomone on the other hand is second on the team with five homeruns and played in all 42 games for West Chester this season at third base. Three other contributors earning PSAC East All-Conference Second-Team were outfielder Drew Jarmuz (Kennet Square, Pa/ LaSalle), right-hander Mike Cipolla (Newark, Del/ Charter School of Wilmington) and first baseman Jared Melone (North Wales, Pa/ LaSalle). Jarmuz has played a significant role in leftfield for the Golden Rams in his first season. He is sitting third on the squad with a .336 batting average and registered 13 doubles. At first base, Melone shined in his first year by starting all 42 games for the Purple & Gold. Melone posted a .319 batting average and accumulated 51 hits this season, placing him second on the team. On the mound, Cipolla has put together his best season yet with a team-best 1.68 era. The junior compiled four complete-games, holding hit opponents to a .227 batting average as well. West Chester has won a total of eight PSAC championships in the program's history. The first coming in 1959, while the most recent being last year's victory over Millersville.
