Cal U sweeps twinbill, series against Gannon

WASHINGTON, Pa. (April 10) – The Vulcans extended their winning streak to 12 games after sweeping a twinbill against Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action, winning 5-1 and 4-1 on Saturday afternoon at CONSOL Energy Park. With the victories, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 23-10 overall this year and 14-2 in league play. Meanwhile, Gannon falls to 17-17 overall with an 11-9 mark in divisional action. The Vulcans have now swept the four-game series with the Golden Knights in each of the last two seasons. The Vulcans claimed a 5-1 win in Game 1 after freshman Tyler Zimm (Fayetteville, W.Va./Oak Hill) threw a complete game, while classmate Kyle Petty (Stewartsville, N.J./Phillipsburg) registered the

Former Pitt coach Walt Harris joining Cal U’s coaching staff

Harris joining Cal U football staff Former University of Pittsburgh football head coach Walt Harris is in negotiations with California University of Pennsylvania about joining Cal U’s football staff. Negotiations have been on-going for about a month and an announcement from the school is expected to be made on April 15th. A few final details are still being worked out. It has not been finalized whether Harris joining the staff will be a full time or part time job. However, Harris will work closely with the offensive coaching staff and is expected to have a prominent role in working with the quarterbacks, most notably starting quarterback Josh Portis. Harris coached the Pitt Panthers for eight seasons, from 1997-2004, compiling a

Handza tabbed West Hitter of the Week again

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (April 5) – For the second time this season, California University of Pennsylvania sophomore outfielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) was selected the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Hitter of the Week on Monday. Handza hit .536 (9-for-16) in six games last week, helping the Vulcans go 6-0 following a doubleheader sweep at Clarion and a four-game season sweep of Fairmont State. The 6-3 center fielder collected four doubles and one homer with seven runs scored, nine RBI and five steals. He also posted a .667 on-base percentage and 1.000 slugging percentage from the leadoff spot in the order. He opened the week with a RBI single, walk and steal in a 6-0 victory at Clarion. In

McSweeney provisionally qualifys for NCAAs

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (April 3) – Graduate student Clare McSweeney (Cork, Ireland/St. Aloysius) provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships over the weekend, as select members of the California University of Pennsylvania women’s track & field team competed at the 45th-annual Colonial Relays hosted by William & Mary (Va.). McSweeney posted a time of 2 minutes, 12.89 seconds to finish 12th overall in a field of nearly 80 runners from primarily Division I schools, such as Maryland, Temple and Virginia. In addition to provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Championship, she also qualified for the PSAC Championships after running the fastest time in the league this year. McSweeney’s time was less than nine-tenths of second shy of breaking the school record

Pro-day buzz: Jacksonville, Cleveland, Philadelphia, New Orleans attend Cal U’s pro-day

The California University of Pennsylvania football program held their pro-day this morning. The pro-day was headlined by draft prospects cornerback Terrence Johnson, wide receiver A.J. Jackson and Edinboro quarterback Trevor Harris. A university source tells me the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and New Orleans Saints were the four NFL teams with representatives in attendance. Canadian Football League scouts were also in attendance. Johnson (5-10, 190 lbs) has seen his stock on the rise in recent weeks and has kept his 40-time in the 4.48-4.50 range. Johnson is regarded as a potential late 5th round – 7th round pick. Johnson was profiled in the current issue of ESPN The Magazine by NFL draft guru Mel Kiper. Johnson is represented

Cal U sweeps Clarion twinbill

BELLE VERNON, Pa. (March 27) – The California University of Pennsylvania baseball team claimed a doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon, winning 8-3 and 5-2 over Clarion at the John DiVirgilino Sports Complex in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action. With the sweep, the Vulcans improve to 13-10 overall with an 8-2 league mark this season. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles fall to 1-11 this year with a 0-6 divisional mark. Redshirt sophomore Randy Sturgill (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg) earned the win in Game 1 after throwing his fifth complete game in six starts this season. He scattered three runs on six hits and three walks while tying his season high of 10 strikeouts. Clarion starter Kevin Gnacinski (1-2) suffered the loss, tossing

Draft buzz: Cal U’s Terrence Johnson has a scheduled visit with Baltimore; WR A.J. Jackson drawing draft interest

NFL scouts are not only focusing on Division-I prospects at pro days but there are a handful of Division-II prospects who are garnering draft interest from scouts. Two of the nations top Division-II NFL ready prospects come from California University of Pennsylvania. California (pa) cornerback Terrence Johnson is one of those small school prospects drawing interest around the league. Johnson participated in Duquesne’s pro day this week and according to Kevin Weidl of Scouts Inc, Johnson impressed the 10 scouts in attendance. Weidl reports, “California (Pa.) CB Terrence Johnson took advantage of many scouts being in town, working out at 7:30 a.m. at Duquesne’s pro day and impressing the 10 teams in attendance. Johnson (5-9¼, 190) flipped his hips well,

Cal Baseball swept at Shippensburg

SHIPPENBURG, Pa. (March 16) – Despite two homers by senior right fielder Sam DiMatteo (Center, Pa./Center) in the nightcap, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team were swept in a doubleheader at Shippensburg on Tuesday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Crossover action, losing both games 9-6. With the losses, the Vulcans fall to 9-7 overall this season. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders improve to 4-15 after opening with 11 games against nationally-ranked opponents in the early portion of their schedule. In the opener, Cal U opened the game with a pair of runs in the first. Sophomore center fielder Troy Handza (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a leadoff single and then stole three bases,

Myers finishes fourth, named All-American

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (March 13) – California University of Pennsylvania junior Brice Myers (Pittsburgh, Pa./McDowell) earned All-America honors for the second-straight year on Saturday after breaking his own school record and posting the fourth-fastest time in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. Myers posted a time of 7.98 in the finals of the NCAA Championships to break his previous school record set nearly a month ago by only one hundredth of a second. In the preliminary race on Friday, the former McDowell standout tied for sixth overall with a time of 8.07 seconds. Pittsburg State senior Jeremy Jackson won the national title in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.83

Vulcans complete season sweep of the Rock

SAVANNAH, Ga. (March 14) – The Vulcans posted their first series sweep of Slippery Rock since 2006 on Sunday, posting 13-8 and 8-6 victories over The Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play at the Savannah Invitational. With the sweep, the California University of Pennsylvania baseball team improves to 9-5 overall this season after registering an 8-2 mark at the week-long Savannah Invitational. The Vulcans also hold a 4-0 record in league action following the two doubleheader sweeps. Meanwhile, The Rock has lost their last five games to fall to 6-10 this year with a 0-4 record in divisional play after being the preseason favorites., In Game 1, senior right fielder Sam DiMatteo (Center, Pa./Center) finished with three