Baseball has a tough week

By Ben Rosehart
Collegian Staff
April 26, 2006

George Hudock is no stranger to the home run. The senior outfielder has crushed 21 in his La Salle career, with his fifth this season coming in the team’s high-scoring matchup with Delaware on Tuesday, April 25.

The baseball team lost four straight on the difficult road trip. Photo taken
by Lou Perseghin.

Neither is Rich Prall, who hit a pair of two-run homers in the slugfest as well. It was the second career two-homer game for the junior catcher, as he matched his earlier feat against Dayton back in April 2004.

Both teams struggled on the mound. A total of 33 runs were scored, and the Explorers could not outscore the Blue Hens, as Delaware sent La Salle to their fourth straight loss by a score of 20-13.

Prior to that game, La Salle faced the new kids on the block, the Charlotte 49ers, when they visited Tom & Lib Phillips Field for a three-game series. One of two schools to join the Atlantic 10 this season, Charlotte showed that they will be a force to reckon with in the 14-team conference for many years to come, as they swept the Explorers over the weekend.

Friday’s series opener was much like the Delaware game, with both offenses capitalizing on pitching and fielding mistakes. While Hudock and sophomore Mike Dertouzos each knocked in two runs, and Prall plated three more for the Explorers, a comeback fell short in the ninth. Down one run, Hudock hit a triple with two outs, but La Salle could not knock in the tying run. Hudock was stranded on third, and the 49ers held on to win 12-11.

Coach Lee Saverio pointed out that in the second Charlotte game, the Explorers were up 3-1 through five innings, thanks in particular to the stellar pitching of La Salle starter Dan Waters. However, rainy conditions forced the game to be delayed, and Waters was unable to continue pitching. Closer Gerard Breslin was inserted into the game earlier than usual, and Charlotte benefited from the weather conditions, overtaking Breslin and the Explorers with an 11-3 final score.

In the third game, Charlotte jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, and La Salle could never get back into the game. The 49ers easily triumphed, 11-1.

One thing that stood out was the fact that Saverio was unsure if the baseball team will be able to play their final nine scheduled home games in the friendly confines of Hank DeVincent Field. That’s because there is a possibility that the Explorers’ push for the playoffs (they missed by two games last year) could be overlapped with the construction of new additions to the playing surfaces to many of the La Salle home fields.

La Salle Director of Athletic Communications Kale Beers provided a statement on this matter:

“We have considered the possibility that any renovations to the playing surfaces at La Salle could pose a scheduling conflict for one or more of our teams. As part of any major project, you plan for and anticipate such issues. If the proposed turf project is finalized, and work on the project poses a conflict with competition, we are working contingencies to minimize, and if possible, eliminate the displacement of our teams.”

As of Wednesday, April 25, no official announcement on this matter has been made.

rosehab1@lasalle.edu