Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Times Leader staff
Friday, March 07, 2003 Page: 3C
SCRANTON – Derek Elphick scored 19 points and Dan Loftus added 15 as the
Scranton men’s basketball team edged Buffalo State 58-56 in the first round of
the NCAA Division III Tournament Thursday night at the Long Center.
Scranton led 27-16 at halftime in a game in which the lead changed hands
six times. Buffalo State drew to within two points in the closing seconds, but
the Royals held on.
The Royals (23-5) advanced to second-round action tomorrow. They will host
Ursinus (21-6).
Joshua Becker led Buffalo State with a game-high 25 points.
WRESTLING
King’s set for NCAAs
WILKES-BARRE – A year ago, they earned all-American honors. This time
around, King’s College wrestling standouts Mitch Marcks and Jim Morgan have
their sights set on bigger game when they compete in the NCAA Division III
National Tournament today and tomorrow at Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio.
Both wrestlers are highly ranked on the national level. Marcks is 33-1 and
stands third at 125 pounds, while Morgan owns a 36-1 mark and is third at 141
pounds, according to the Brute-Adidas/National Wrestling Coaches Association
National Rankings.
They won Middle Atlantic Conference championships for the second time last
week and are making their third consecutive trip to nationals. A year ago,
Marcks placed eighth at 125 when the national tournament was held at First
Union Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre.
Morgan, meanwhile, was fourth at 149 pounds last season, but dropped to 141
this season, where he completed the first undefeated dual meet season at
King’s since 1994.
At the 2002 national tournament, Marcks placed eighth despite suffering a
sprained knee ligament in his second match.
Morgan’s only loss came in King’s first tournament of the year, when he was
at 149 pounds and dropped a 5-2 decision to Messiah College two-time
all-American Andy Vogel in the finals of the Messiah Invitational. Since then,
Morgan has won 33 consecutive matches.
BASEBALL
King’s drops pair
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – The King’s College baseball team dropped a pair of games
on its spring trip, leaving the Monarchs at 3-3. King’s dropped a hard-fought
6-4 game to Muhlenberg in nine innings before falling to NAIA Division II
Madonna College for the second time in their southern swing by a 10-4 margin.
In the Muhlenberg game, Jason Melendez led the Monarchs with a 3-for-4
effort, including a run and two RBI.
In the loss to Madonna, King’s outhit its opponents by a 12-5 margin, but
the Fighting Saints pushed across seven unearned runs off of Monarch hurler
Kyle Ehlis.
Wilkes swept
COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Wilkes dropped a pair of games – 5-1 to Catholic and
5-4 to Widener.
Against Catholic, Matt Kaskie had a pair of hits, including a triple, while
Chris Caccavale smacked a pair of singles.
Widener scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to post the win
over Wilkes.
Misericordia wins two
COCOA EXPO, Fla. – Misericordia improved to 4-1 with a 10-9 victory over
Catholic University and a 1-0 shutout of Grace Lutheran.
Against Catholic, Chris Lamarra was 2-for-3 with triple and a
bases-clearing double in the eighth. Matt O’Brien was 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Zack Kepczynski pitched three innings of relief and recorded a key strikeout
with the bases loaded in the fifth. Albie Biggs got the save.
Jerry Lukach pitched a complete game and struck out eight vs. Grace
Lutheran. Crestwood graduate Greg Stanislow hit an RBI triple in the eighth to
produce the game’s only run.
SOFTBALL
King’s sweeps Neumann
FORT PIERCE, FLA. – King’s swept Neumann, 15-0 and 13-4, to improve to 4-2.
In the opener, Suzanne Smith tossed a two-hitter while striking out six
batters to pick up the win. Maria Zangardi was 3-for-4 with four RBI,
including a three-run home run.
In the nightcap, Melissa Boyda, Sarah Genewski, and Meghan Adams all
pitched during the King’s win. Zangardi again led the way with a 4-for-4
effort with four more RBI.
HIGH SCHOOL
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Ebenezer loses twice
LAKE ARIEL – Ebenezer Faith Christian dropped a pair of games in the
Northeasten Pennysylvania Christian Academy Tournament – 25-20 to Fundamental
Baptist and 25-17 to Muhlenberg Christian.
Ebenezer’s Jessica Callahan scored eight points against Fundamental and six
points against Muhlenberg.
The Blue Knights will play Canaan Christian in the sixth-place game at 8
a.m. today.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Damascus Christian 47, Ebenezer 21
LAKE ARIEL – Ebenezer’s Evan Negroni had 14 points in the loss at the
Northeasten Pennsylvania Christian Academy Tournament.
Ebenezer will play Gateway Christian at 9:30 a.m. today in a
consolation-round game.