Friday, March 21, 2003

After having five games canceled due to wet conditions, Valpo (3-5-1) travels to play one game against Youngstown State and two against Akron this weekend. All of the games will be played at Youngstown. On Saturday, the Crusaders will play YSU (3-9) at 3 p.m. EST and Akron (2-8) at 6 p.m. EST. On Sunday, Valpo is scheduled to play Akron at noon EST. The Crusaders have not played a game since March 11.

Sadler, Boggio Lead Hitting Attack

Through nine games, seniors Brandon Sadler (Hartville, Ohio/Hoover) and Marc Boggio (West Bloomfield, Mich.) are Valpo's top hitters. Sadler, a first baseman, tops the Crusaders with a .424 batting average (14-for-33). A Second Team All-Mid-Con selection last year, Sadler has six RBIs. Valpo's leader in slugging percentage (.636), Sadler has a team-best four doubles and has belted one homer. Boggio, a shortstop who earned Second Team All-Mid-Con honors last season, is hitting .378 (14-for-37) and has a team-high eight RBIs. Jeff Mandsager, another senior, is batting .368 with five RBIs in five games.

Young's Slam Provides Early-Season Drama

In Valpo's last game at Xavier on March 11, Kyle Young (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) provided the most dramatic hit of the season. The senior catcher hammered a grand slam with nobody out in the ninth to tie the game at 5-5. The Crusaders' lone slam of the season proved to be the last runs scored in the 11-inning game that ended on the count of darkness. Young stands second on the team with seven RBIs.

Evans, Peickert Impressive On The Mound

Seniors Todd Evans (Valparaiso, Ind./HS) and Sean Peickert (Roseville, Minn./HS) have led the Crusader pitching staff thus far. A righthander, Evans owns a 1-1 record with a 3.18 ERA in 11 1/3 innings. Peickert, a righthander, has compiled a 1-1 mark with a 3.29 ERA in a team-most 13 2/3 innings. Sophomore Jordan Smolar (Valparaiso, Ind./Highland) leads Valpo with a 1.42 ERA, allowing just one earned run in 6 1/3 innings. Kyle Obenauf (Salem, Wis./Westosha Central), a freshman, owns a 1-0 record and 3.60 ERA in 5 innings. Adam Paetznick (Eagan, Minn./HS) has Valpo's lone save.