Pitt Hosts Lackawanna in Final Fall Scrimmage

10/21/2017 2:43:00 PM | Baseball

Panthers, Falcons Square Off Sunday Afternoon

PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team will compete in its final scrimmage of the fall season Sunday afternoon, hosting Lackawanna County Community College at Charles L. Cost Field.

First pitch is set for 2 p.m. between the Panthers and Falcons. The scrimmage is open to the public and admission is free.

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LACKAWANNA ALUM
Panther outfielder Connor Perry transferred to Pitt prior to the start of the fall season, making the transition from Lackawanna County. He was a two-year starter as a member of the Falcon lineup and a two-time all-region selection. In his time at Lackawanna, he tallied more than 100 hits, 35 stolen bases, 60 runs, 50 walks, 35 RBI and five home runs.

LAST TIME OUT
The Panthers took part in their first of two scrimmages on Oct. 10, hosting the Ontario Blue Jays at Charles L. Cost Field. Pitt downed the Blue Jays 15-2 in the outing, as 10 different batters recorded at least one hit. The Panthers used six pitchers on the afternoon, limiting the Blue Jays to two runs off eight hits, fanning nine. FULL RECAP | BOX SCORE

JORDANO'S 21ST
Head coach Joe Jordano enters his 21st season at the helm of the Pitt program, having taken over the skipper duties in November of 1997. Jordano is the longest tenured head coach at the University of Pittsburgh and the winningest coach in Pitt baseball history, having amassed 559 wins with the Panthers. The 2013 and 2014 Big East Coach of the Year has seen 42 players drafted in his tenure at Pitt, and has coached 13 All-Americans, 19 All-Region selections and 53 All-Conference honorees.

WELCOME BACK
The Panthers welcome the return of four players expected to see significant game time, all of whom missed the majority of the 2017 season. On the hill, Blair Calvo (Tommy John) and Derek West (knee) return after season-ending injuries and will compete for spots in the weekend rotation. Infielder's Liam Sabino and David Yanni will also look to contribute on the left side of the diamond, as Sabino missed the 2017 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules after joining the Panthers from Vanderbilt. Yanni suffered a season-ending injury in Pitt's second week of action at Historic Dodgertown, competing in just six games in 2017.

FOUR GO PRO
Four members of the 2017 Panther squad signed professional contracts with MLB teams, as Josh Falk, Isaac Mattson and Josh Mitchell were drafted, and catcher Manny Pazos signed a free agent deal. Falk was taken in the 17th round by the Oakland A's to be the first Panther taken off the board. Mattson was selected in the 19th round by the Los Angeles Angels and was followed by Mitchell in the 22nd round by the Kansas City Royals. Pazos would ink a deal with the Seattle Mariners.

FRESH FACES
There will be plenty of new faces in the Panther lineup this season, as 16 of the team's 33 student-athletes are new to the program. Of the 16 newcomers, 10 are freshmen, while five are transfers and one is a walk-on.

ALL-FRESHMAN TURNED SOPHOMORE
Alex Amos is back for his sophomore season after earning ACC All-Freshman recognition in his rookie campaign, marking the second straight year in which a Panther was named to the league's rookie team. In his rookie campaign, Amos led the Panther offense with a .304 average and a .456 on-base percentage. He added seven doubles, 17 RBI and two stolen bases. He was one of just two Panthers to earn the start in all 53 outings.

RECORD WATCH
Redshirt seniors Frank Maldonado and Caleb Parry are inching closer to a multitude of individual accolades as they enter their fifth seasons with the program. Maldonado, already Pitt's all-time hit by pitch leader, has seen action in 142 games, while Parry sits at 130, with the top 20 breaking in point at 154. Maldonado has made 133 starts, with Parry checking in at 114, and the top 20 sitting at 137. Additionally, Parry has tallied 24 doubles, with Maldonado sitting at 21, and the top 20 at 29.

Maldonado also has his sights set on a few more records, as he is 30 at bats back from the top 20, nine hits out from the top 20 and six bases away from the top 20 in total bases. Already ranking in the top three in career triples, he is just four three baggers away from being the all-time leader.

SUMMER IN THE CAPE
A pair of Panther hurlers spent their summers on Cape Cod, as Dan Hammer and RJ Freure pitched for the Chatham Anglers in the prestigious Cape Cod League. After throwing 59.0 innings as a true freshman starter in Pitt's weekend rotation, Hammer tossed 23.0 innings in the Cape, earning six starts. He struck out 20 men, allowing just nine walks. Freure saw action in 12 games out of the bullpen for the Anglers, striking out 25 in 18.1 innings, surrendering just 10 walks.

The Chatham Anglers are no stranger to Pitt pitchers, having hosted 2016 First Round Draft Pick T.J. Zeuch, as well as 2017 19th round pick Isaac Mattson.

GETTIN' DRAFTED
Pitt has 17 draft eligible players this season, as the team hosted its annual Scout Day on Oct. 4 in anticipation of the 2018 MLB First Year Player Draft. Frank Maldonado, Connor Perry, Caleb Parry, Yaya Chentouf, Liam Sabino, Blair Calvo, David Yanni, Brandon Krennrich, Nick Banman, RJ Freure, William Kirwan, Matt Pidich, Lucas Maldonado, Cole MacLaren, TJ Pagan, Derek West and Kevin Henriksen are all eligible to pursue professional careers at the completion of the 2018 season.

PANTHERS UNITE
The University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department unveiled its Panthers Unite initiative, designed to showcase the program's 19 varsity sports teams. One event from each of the programs will be designated as a Panthers Unite event, where all Pitt student-athletes are encouraged to attend to cheer on their fellow athletes. Pitt baseball will host its Panthers Unite game on Tuesday, April 17 when it welcomes rival West Virginia.

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