ESPN.com Picks Up Paino Story

ESPN.com writer Wayne Drehs published a piece on the Oswego State Lakers baseball team today. The article touches on the accident during a recent game in which coach Frank Paino was struck in the head by a line drive. Click here for the story. Here is an excerpt:

The ballpark fell eerily silent, the only noise a wailing siren from an ambulance that couldn't arrive fast enough. Players fell to their knees. Parents and fans did the same. No one said a word, but nearly everyone feared the worst.

"I didn't think he was going to make it," said St. John Fisher pitcher Justin Lutes.

"It was a no-brainer that this could end up real bad," added Fisher coach Dan Pepicelli.

And then there was State University of New York at Oswego junior Dan Pecora. Said Pecora: "I thought I had killed my coach."

Lakers Win ECAC Upstate Title

Tom Benedetto's three-run homer to left field in the eighth inning put the Lakers in front and they went on to the championship game victory. The back-and-forth game saw the Lakers take leads of 1-0, 5-1, and 8-3 until Brockport exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 9-8 lead. More here...

Lakers Win Pair Without Paino

The Oswego State baseball team won a pair of games today to advance to the ECAC Tournament Championship. Their head coach, Frank Paino, was not present as he is recovering from being hit in the head by a foul ball during Thursday's game. More on this story here.

Sulking Like It's 2004

This school year marks the first since 2003-04 that the Oswego State Lakers failed to win a SUNYAC title in any team sport.

Ryan Maloney

Paino Struck By Foul Ball, Game Called

Today's baseball game between Oswego State and St. John Fisher was cut short after Laker coach Frank Paino was struck in the head by a line drive. More on the game here.

Magagna Gets The "C"

The Oswego State Lakers have selected Peter Magagna as the men's ice hockey team captain for the 2008-09 season. More to come...

Also, here are some dates from the tentatvive 2008-09 season schedule:

Oct. 18 @ Elmira

Nov. 1 Elmira

Nov. 7 @ Fredonia 7 p.m.
Nov. 8 @ Buffalo State 7 p.m.

Nov. 28 @ St. Norbert 7 p.m.
Nov. 29 @ St. Scholastica 3:30 p.m.

Dec. 5 @ Plattsburgh 7 p.m.
Dec. 6 @ Potsdam 7 p.m.

Jan. 30 Fredonia 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 Buffalo State 7 p.m.

Feb. 20 Plattsburgh 7 p.m.
Feb. 21 Potsdam 7 p.m.

Ryan Maloney

Jackson Shelled As New Paltz Eliminates Oswego

Oswego State pitcher Michelle Jackson allowed eight runs on eight hits while walking four as New Platz beat the Lakers 8-0 in the fourth game of the SUNYAC softball tournament. The game marked the second of the day for each squad, the Red Hawks were no hit by Cortland earlier while the Lakers lost to Plattsburgh on a walk-off home run. The Lakers are now eliminated from their first-ever SUNYAC tournament.

Ryan Maloney

Cortland's Finch No-Hits New Paltz

Cortland pitcher Katie Finch has no-hit the New Paltz Red Hawks in the opening round of the SUNYAC tournament. The Red Dragons won the game 3-0 and advance to play Brockport tomorrow at 11 a.m.

The shutout was Finch's seventh of the season. She had pitched a pair of one-hit shutouts, including one against Oswego State, earlier in the year before today's no-hitter.

New Paltz will now face Oswego State today at 3 p.m. The loser of that game will be eliminated from the SUNYAC tournament.

Ryan Maloney

Walk-Off Home Run Spoils Laker Upset Bid

Laker hurler Michelle Jackson threw six shutout innings of two-hit ball, but surrendered a two-run blast in the seventh to Amy Woo as Plattsburgh topped the Lakers 2-1 in the SUNYAC tournament opener.

More to come...

BOX SCORE

Women's Softball Departs For SUNYAC Playoffs

Neither the world wide web nor the SUNYAC Commissioner's Office could tell me the last time the Oswego State softball team qualified for their conference tournament. Head coach Chyrisse Conte cleared that up for me with one word.

"Never."

Yes, for the first time in their 58-year history, Birnie Bus Service, Inc. is transporting a playoff-bound Oswego State softball team. The Lakers finished sixth in the conference with a 12-10 mark. They'll play top-seed, and host, Plattsburgh bright and early tomorrow at 9 a.m. The Cards recently swept a doubleheader from Oswego at Laker field, but that did little to quell the confidence of the playoff rookies.

"We can totally beat Plattsburgh," said senior catcher Sarah Castaldo. "We came close in the first game. If we can hit tomorrow, we'll be fine." Castaldo's demeanor is mirrored in her teammates according to coach Conte.

"I said to the kids we have to be up at six and onto the bus at seven. They all shrugged and said, 'Bring [Plattsburgh] on," said Conte. "We played them tough, so I think we have a real good shot at being competitive with them." Just moments before the team bus (pictured) departed, no one seemed more poised than pitcher Michelle Jackson. The junior has yet to defeat the Cardinals in her Laker career, but felt that her offense wouldn't need to give her much to change that.

"I'd say three or four runs. Three or four and we'll get the win," said Jackson. The ace may not feel as though she needs much from her teammates at the plate, but they'll need plenty from her on the rubber.

"I think she's gonna [pitch] about 98% of the post season," said Castaldo. "We're pretty much relying on her." The Lakers may be saying the same about Castaldo in the top half of each inning this weekend. The Oswego native leads the Lakers in batting average (.456), home runs (7), RBI (30), total bases (73), on base percentage (.500), and is second on the team in steals (5 in 6 chances).

"Every coach this year has mentioned Sarah Castaldo to me during the game," said Conte. "Her skills are amazing. I can't replace her. She catches every single game, her legs are bruised, she's a mess, but she plays hard all the time. She's the toughest kid I've ever coached."

Castaldo's toughness may meet its greatest test this weekend. Should the Lakers lose their early-morning game with Plattsburgh, they'll play again Thursday at 3 p.m. If they win, it's back to the field Friday for another 9 a.m. contest. The tournament is double-elimination format and could last until Sunday.

Ryan Maloney

Laker Baseball Falls Six Outs Short Of SUNYACs

Brockport swept today's doubleheader from Oswego State to move into the fourth and final playoff spot in the SUNY Athletic Conference. The Lakers were a game up on the Golden Eagles entering today. After an 11-1 rout in game one, the Eagles put up four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a come-from-behind 7-6 victory in game two. Laker hurler Dustin Lefave (4-1) suffered his first collegiate loss in relief.

Storm Throttles Lakers in Season Finale'

The Keuka Storm beat Oswego State 15-8 in men's lacrosse action at Laker Field today. The Lakers end the season with a record of 3-12, their sixth straight losing season and fifth straight with 10 or more losses. During that stretch, head coach Dan Witmer's (pictured) career record has fallen from 130-118 to 169-199. The Lakers' 12 losses tie them with the 2005 team for most losses in program history.

Brohm Hits Century Mark

Oswego State senior Mike Brohm became the 19th member of the Oswego State men's lacrosse 100-point club just moments ago in a 20-5 Laker victory over Morrisville. Brohm reached the milestone with a goal late in the fourth quarter. Oswego is now 3-11 on the year and will close out their fifth-consecutive double-digit loss season tomorrow when they host Keuka at 1 p.m. The Mustangs fell to 0-11 with the loss.

UPDATE: I am retarded. Mike Strohm reached the century mark on Saturday. No word on what Mike Brohm did that day.

NOW ON AIR: Laker Baseball

Mike Toper and Ernie Acosta are live at Laker Field for today's doubleheader between CCNY and Oswego State. The Lakers have lost four of their last five and will look to right the ship with three games against the Beavers in two days.

WNYO Sports Exclusive: 2008-09 Hockey Recruits

WNYO has just learned the names of several Oswego State Lakers men's hockey recruits. Here is part one of this six-post series.

Paul Beckwith - Starting goaltender for Canada's #1 ranked junior team, the Pembroke Lumber Kings. Beckwith earned a shutout on Apr. 15 in Game 5 of the CJHL championship to help the Kings clinch their second-straight Bogart Cup.

BIO: After leading the Cleveland Junior Lumberjacks to the National Championships in 2006, he once again proved himself as a "big game" goalie as he was nearly unbeatable during the Kings 2007 championship run which saw him get recognized as the MVP of the CJHL playoffs.

YEAR	TEAM	GP	W	L	T	SO	GA	GAA	SV%
2007/2008	Pembroke	44	29	9	2	6	100	2.40	0.911

BIO & STATS COURTESY OF PEMBROKE LUMBER KINGS WEBSITE

Ryan Maloney

Hockey Recruits: Eric Selleck

Eric Selleck - Forward for the Pembroke Lumber Kings. Selleck assisted on the game-winning goal in the Kings' Game 5 CJHL Championship victory. He may be called upon to fill the role vacated by the graduating C.J. Thompson as a "power" forward.

BIO: Eric returns to the Kings after scoring 23 goals last season and developing into one of the top power forwards in the CJHL with a reputation as a tough and competitive player. He was named the Lumber Kings rookie of the year for the 2005-2006 season.

YEAR	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	PPG	PPA	SHG	SHA	GWG
2007/2008	Pembroke	49	43	38	81	120	14	14	1	0	6

BIO & STATS COURTESY OF PEMBROKE LUMBER KINGS WEBSITE

Hockey Recruits: Andrew Mather

Andrew Mather - Forward with the Nepean Raiders who has the near-identical listed build of Derrell Levy (Levy listed as 5-10, 187 lbs while Mather listed as 5-10, 185 lbs). Currently plays center and could be a valuable addition to a Laker power play group that struggled in 2007-08 (18.7 % success rate), although Nepean wasn't any better (18.4 %).

YEAR	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	PPG	PPA	SHG	SHA	GWG
2007/2008	Nepean	57	28	43	71	64	10	14	2	2	4

STATS COURTESY OF NEPEAN WARRIORS WEBSITE

Hockey Recruits: Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson - Captain defensemen for the Wellington Dukes. Anderson was an OHPHL All-Star this season and will join a strong Laker defensive unit that returns all of its members from the 2007-08 season. That means Anderson will have his work cut out from him if he is going to earn ice time as a freshman.

Bio: Steady, mobile and tough, Jared makes a great first pass and is a gifted skater.

Season	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		+/-	PPG	SHG	GW
2007 (R)	31	2	11	13	57		0	0	0	0

Hockey Recruits: Hank Van Boxmeer

Hank Van Boxmeer - Defensemen for the Salmon Arm River Backs. At 6-1, 195 he will be one of the bigger bodies on the Lakers for the 2008-09 season. He also appears to be rocking a sweet retro 'stache.

GP: 41 G:1 A: 12 Pts: 13 PIM: 76

Hockey Recruits: Cory Callen

Cory Callen - At 5-10, 165 pounds this New Jersey native may need to pack on some pounds before he sees serious ice time for Oswego. By comparison, he is about three inches taller than Laker midget forward Brendan McLaughlin, but weighs the same.

YEAR	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	PPG	PPA	GWG
2007/2008	Jersey Hitmen	44	16	29	45	99	3	7	2