Tag Archive for: YSU

YSU BASEBALL COACH’S CORNER WITH DAN BERTOLINI (EP 5)

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The Guins are officially able to put the first victory of the year under their belt against Pitt, but the feeling was still focused for YSU Head Coach Dan Bertolini.  The Penguins have not only been “in” the majority of their games but have also led in many as well.  So, being able to stand toe to toe with the pride of the ACC wasn’t a surprise for the YSU squad.

PHOTO CREDIT: YSU Athletic Department

In Episode Five of YSU Baseball Coach’s Corner, Coach Berto discusses current expectations as we head into Horizon League play, as well as the character of this week’s Player Profiles.

All that and more when you step up to the plate for Coach’s Corner with Dan Bertolini!

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YOUNGSTOWN GUMBO

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In the south there’s a great dish that is a collection of ingredients when by themselves are average, but when stewed together over the course of hours or days, it becomes a great, hearty meal that is a fan favorite by everyone.

In Youngstown we have a player that has seasoning from his travels, a great arm, defensively solid, an outstanding bat, and is as smart as they come.  Youngstown Gumbo comes to us in form of Junior Catcher, Tanner Montgomery.

Youngstown State Baseball 2019 Photo Day – Dec. 7, 2018 (Photo by David Dermer)

Montgomery has been thrust into the starting role as an upperclassman to help lead the Penguins.  Last year he proved his worth when he did not commit an error in 18 chances in the field.  Montgomery also was 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored in five Horizon League games, and by the time conference action comes around in 2019, “Youngstown Gumbo” will be even more seasoned, and ready to serve it up to his opponents.

Youngstown State Baseball 2019 Photo Day – Dec. 7, 2018 (Photo by David Dermer)

YSN’s Steve Leslie sat down with the kid from Akron for this week’s YSU Baseball Player Profile: YOUNGSTOWN GUMBO.

YSU BASEBALL COACH’S CORNER WITH DAN BERTOLINI (EP 4)

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Another weekend, another perennial powerhouse for the Penguins to face this past week.  Once again Coach Bertolini and the ‘Guins held their own at Tennessee Tech.  Now the Red and Black Attack turn their focus to another bird from the Buckeye State as YSU will faceoff with the Miami Redhawks.

We caught up with the YSU Skipper to talk about how things went down south, as well as where the bar is right now for our guys and how we’ll continue to #ChangeYourBest.

 

YSU Baseball Intrasquad Scrimmage – Sept. 21, 2018 at Eastwood Field (COURTESY YSU ATHLETIC DEPT)

 

Also, don’t miss this week’s social media question that asks Coach’s favorite place he’s played in, as well as the stadium he’d still love to do battle in.

All that and more on this week’s YSU Baseball Coach’s Corner with Dan Bertolini (EP 4)

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THE KILLER WEHL

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There’s a subtlety in utility for the Youngstown State Penguin Baseball Team this year.  For instance, Sophomore Jeff Wehler played in 53 games in 2018- none as an outfielder.  In 2019, the utility specialist has the majority of his starts in left field and has a handful of web gems already under his belt.

The stellar sophomore’s standout play to this point this season is his two-run home run against Florida State in Game 3 of the series.

YSU Baseball Intrasquad Scrimmage – Sept. 22, 2017 at Eastwood Field

 

Wehler’s success is a direct reflection of the work he’s put in on and off the field.  Jeff led the team and ranked second in the Horizon League with 25 stolen bases his freshman campaign.  That total is the most ever by a YSU freshman.  Wehler also became the first Penguin since 1988 to reach at least 25 steals in a season which also rank as the fourth most in a single season in school history.   Only three freshmen in the country had more steals at the conclusion of the regular season

Youngstown State Baseball 2019 Photo Day – Dec. 7, 2018 (Photo by David Dermer)

YSN General Manager Steve Leslie caught up with the Super Utility Man for this week’s YSU Baseball Player Profile- THE KILLER WEHL.

CALLIN’ CLARK

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Some people have the ability to take on high-pressure situations in life and maintain a slow heartbeat.

For example, taking on two of the nations top college baseball teams in back to back starts, and coming out relatively unscathed after 10.2 innings pitched, five strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.38?  That’s looking into the face of greatness and not blinking.  That is the Sophomore 6’3 Southpaw for YSU.  That is Colin Clark.

Youngstown State Baseball vs. Niagara at Eastwood Field – April 24, 2018 (Photo by Chris Kilroy)

Clark is a business major at YSU, and business has been good on the diamond.  Colin has gone 5.1 innings in both outings, and like all things, is only getting better with time.  Colin gave up three earned runs in the opening series versus Mississippi State, and followed that performance up in Tallahassee with a gem against the Seminoles of Florida State letting up only one earned run while striking out 4.

It’s no surprise to those who know him, though.  At Logan Elm High School, Clark was the recipient of three varsity letters and was a team captain for two of them.  Also before his time at YSU, Clark played in the Mizuno Senior All-Star Series and recorded a league-best 72 strikeouts his senior season.

Youngstown State baseball vs. Wright State at Nischwitz Stadium – May 24, 2018 (Photo by Erin Pence – Wright State University)

So, it’s no surprise that there’s a certain comfort the Guins have in giving the ball to the guy who continues to frustrate hitters and excite Penguin Nation.  When the giants are in the other dugout and there’s nowhere to turn, who are you gonna call?  YSN’s General Manager Steve Leslie had a chance to catch up with the answer to that question for this week’s YSU Baseball Player Profile: CALLIN’ CLARK.

 

 

YSU BASEBALL COACH’S CORNER W/ DAN BERTOLINI (EP 3)

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After a trip to Tallahassee, Florida to take on the Number 6 ranked team in the nation, Coach Dan Bertolini and the Youngstown State Baseball Team are back home for a few days to refuel, refocus, and reunite.

Although the ‘Guins fell short in all three games of the series, they stood toe to toe for all the contests.  In fact, YSU had a lead in all three games against the Seminoles.

PHOTO CREDIT: YSU ATHLETICS DEPT.  Youngstown State Baseball at Florida State at Dick Howser Stadium on Feb. 23, 2019 (Photo by Ken Lanese)

We caught up with the Head Ball Coach to talk about his takeaways from the series, we take the pulse on the team and look toward another highly touted series against Tennessee Tech this weekend.  All that, and more on YSU Baseball Coach’s Corner with Dan Bertolini (Episode 3.)

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FOR GOODNESS’ HAKE

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YSU Senior Relief Pitcher, Joel Hake is as “Youngstown” as it gets on the diamond.  He’s a scrappy slinger that graduated from Ursuline after helping his team to four district titles in his high school days, and as of late, Hake is one of the top relievers in Dan Bertolini’s bullpen.  In his career at YSU, he’s tallied just over 120 innings and in those frames, he’s struck out 81 and only walked 36 tallying five saves along the way.

This year has been especially tough for Joel as he’s started out rehabbing a lingering injury after pitching just one inning keeping him grounded through the most part of the first two series of the season.

Youngstown State Baseball vs. UIC at Eastwood Field on March 31, 2018 (Photo by John Vogel)

When Hake receives the green light to come back…look out.  Although Joel majors in nursing, he has no second thoughts about tearing through the competition in 2019.  This year, Joel intends to add to the outstanding numbers he generated last year as well as to his legacy at the Penguin Closer.

Our Steve Leslie (and Joel’s former Manager) sat down with Hake in Tallahassee just before the FSU series to discuss past, present, and future for #3 in your programs for this week’s YSU Penguin Baseball Player Profile: FOR GOODNESS’ HAKE.

 

 

 

Youngstown State Baseball vs. UIC at Eastwood Field on March 30, 2018 (Photo by John Vogel)

THE SLAMMIN’ SALMON

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One day there will be a trivia question that goes like this: “Name the school and player that hit the first-ever home run at Mississippi State’s Dudy Noble Field?”

The answer: Youngstown State’s Trevor Wiersma.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF YSU ATHLETICS (Photo by David Dermer)

Wiersma’s 6’3, 225-pound frame is not only intimidating to opposing pitchers but puts the jitters in the legs of first basemen 90 feet away.  Trevor Wiersma is more than welcome in the Penguin Clubhouse this year after playing 145 games (140 starts) for Division II Concord University.  The big left-handed slugger stacked up accolades while there- being named Mountain East Conference Freshman of the year in 2016, and All-MEC selections as both a freshman and sophomore.

PHOTO CREDIT: All Images Courtesy of YSU Athletics

While Youngstown is home for Trevor while he chases his MBA, his hometown is Vancouver, British Columbia.  Where the seafood is as fresh as you’ll ever have, especially the best-known seafood, BC salmon.

YSN’s General Manager, Steve Leslie sits down with the Big Fish on Campus, Trevor Wiersma for our YSU Baseball Player Profile: THE SLAMMIN’ SALMON.

 

 

YOUNGSTOWN STATE BASEBALL COACH’S CORNER W/ DAN BERTOLINI (EP 2)

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The season opener has come and gone, and the YSU Penguins Baseball Squad held their ground in the battle against one of the nations top teams, Mississippi State.  Coach Bertolini and the boys led No. 9 Mississippi State heading into the bottom of the sixth but ultimately fell 14-3 in game one of a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field.

In his first game as a Penguin, senior first baseman Trevor Wiersma went 2-for-4 with a single and a two-run home run while driving in all three YSU runs. Web Charles doubled in the contest while Cameron Murray and Jeff Wehler each singled.

During the second game of the series, Junior- Blaze Glenn hit his first home run of the season.  Overall, the ‘Guins showed that they can and will stand toe-to-toe with any team in the country and that the offense is potentially one of the most dangerous in the conference with flashes of incredible defense and untouchable pitching.

All Photos Courtesy of YSU Athletics

As the Boys of Spring get ready for another test against a nationally ranked opponent, we caught up with Coach Bertolini to discuss takeaways from the first series, as well as what we can expect against and from Florida State.

Oh, you might also want to hang around for the last question, it’s a pretty powerful answer.

Episode two of Youngstown State Baseball Coach’s Corner with Dan Bertolini is LIVE! 

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THE TORONTO TRAILBLAZER

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In Toronto, Ohio- the baseball team is the heart of the town.  Immaculate facilities, great fans, and is almost always the case- a great product on the field.

A few years ago, a young man named Blaze Glenn graduated from Toronto High School after earning four letters in baseball and captaining the team for two years.  He was named the OVAC Player of the Year three times over as well as three-time First Team All-State with Ohio Player of the Year tabs in two of those years.  If that’s not enough, he STILL holds (and may for a while) the Toronto High School batting average record at .583.

PHOTO CREDIT: YSUSPORTS.COM

After graduation, Glenn attended Sinclair Community College, where to no surprise to those who knew him, batted nearly .400 as a Freshman with double-digit home runs, and led his team to a conference championship, and All-Conference honors.

Then it was his moment to shine.  As Blaze would make the shift, and play Division 1 baseball by joining YOUR Youngstown State Penguins.

Business (his major) was booming as Blaze would light the ‘Guins lineup on fire by starting all 56 games as a Sophomore.  Glenn would reach base safely in 46 of those games, and would lead the team in batting average (.325), hits (64), RBI (43), slugging percentage (.558), and OBP (.445.)  However, the most impressive trait that we found about Blaze Glenn, he’s still getting better.  One of the hardest working athletes you’ll find, Glenn is always taking extra reps.  You can often time find him in the cage before AND after practice driving himself and his teammates to be the best they can possibly be.  Oh, and he’s not bad in the classroom, either.  We mentioned before about his Business Administration major, Blaze, and his teammates were recently recognized for a team GPA of over 3.3.

Truly impressive.

The best is yet to come this year, though.  All you have to do is ask the fire-starter, himself.

YSN General Manager, Steve Leslie sits down with Blaze Glenn after practice for this week’s YSU Baseball Player Profile- THE TORONTO TRAILBLAZER