Bradford, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Baseball team begins their 2020 season on Friday, February 14th, as they look to return to post-season play after finishing 1 game out of the AMCC tournament in 2019.
The Panthers went 16-14 in 2019 with a 9-9 record in AMCC play, which put them in 7th place and just outside of post-season play. Despite the graduation of 2018 All-American Catcher Austin Parent, the Panthers will look for a return to the post-season as they return 81% of their at-bats and all but 13 innings pitched from 2019. The Panthers had two players named to the All-Conference team in 2019. Alex Andrzejeweski and Kevin Rehak each made the third team as a relief pitcher and utility player. The now-senior Andrzejewski pitched in 12 games for the Panthers, with 11 of the appearances coming in relief. He threw 32.2 innings and recorded a 4.68 era. He compiled a 1-1 record with 1 save, striking out 35 batters while only walking 8. Rehak hit .291 as a freshman, with 11 doubles, 1 home run, 23 runs scored and 18 RBIs. He played all 30 games for the Panthers, mostly at 2nd base.
Ryan Boyer returns for his final year after receiving a medical hardship waiver for the 2019 season. Boyer pitched one game last year and was dominant, throwing a complete game 1 hitter in which he amassed 16 strikeouts. As a Junior in 2018, Boyer went 5-2 with a 4.45 era. He struck out 66 batters in 58.2 innings. This off-season, Boyer pitched for the Kokomo Jackrabbits of the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer league, where he was named to the All-Star team, competing with players from Division I and II programs. Head Coach Zach Foster said, "Boyer looks really good already. We see him as a top of the rotation guy. He is dialed in."
Matt Hair finished the 2019 season as Pitt-Bradford's leading hitter. He hit .342 and led the team with 21 RBIs. He also hit 3 home runs, while playing first base. Fellow senior Tyler Hoops played all 30 games for the Panthers at Shortstop. he hit .277, scored 24 runs and brought in 15. He led the team in stolen bases with 9. Hoops fielded his position well, committing only 8 errors in 129 chances for a .938 fielding percentage, the second-highest percentage in the AMCC. When asked about his roster for 2020, Foster said, "We have an upper-class heavy team, with some guys that have a lot of big-game experience, along with a mix of younger guys to compliment them. Our returners look good and we have some tough new additions that bring some fire and intensity."
The Panthers were selected to finish 7th in the AMCC pre-season coaches poll. "We have made some tweaks this season and have been putting more of an emphasis on living up to the standards of what we expect to do as a team. We aren't concerned with where we are placed in the preseason poll. We know we have to battle every game and if we can do that, we will be in a good spot at the end of the season," said Foster.
The Panthers begin their season on February 14th, as they head to Ashland, Va. to play in two games over the weekend. They will play the hosts, Randolph-Macon first, and then take on SUNY Cortland on Saturday. A week later, they will play a doubleheader at Bethany and on the 29th they head to New Market, Va. to play three games against Wells. The Panthers will spend their Spring Break in California, playing 8 road games over the course of 6 days. They begin AMCC play on March 21st against the defending champions, LaRoche, and are scheduled to play their first home game of the season on the 24th against Hilbert. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on the 14th. links for live video and statistics can be found on the Baseball team's schedule and through the Pitt-Bradford Athletics twitter account @UPB_Panthers.
