Slugger coach looking for better defense against intrastate rivals

Joe Hindelang has just one wish for his Penn State baseball team -- to put together consecutive stellar defensive performances.

"We pitch well at times, we crush the ball at times," Hindelang said. "I'd like for us to string together good defensive performances. We haven't done that part of my wish list."

If the outcome of last season's games against the two schools is any indication of what will happen this year, the Nittany Lions are sitting pretty.

Against the Owls in a common doubleheader, the Lions swept both games and outscored Temple 26-2 in the process. In a four-game series against the Explorers Penn State outscored them 50-11 en route to a 3-1 record.

However, Hindelang isn't exactly hoping for a repeat performance.

"I'm hoping for close games," he said. "That was last year and it has no effect. This is a new team."

Penn State is coming off a week-long performance that saw the Lions capture the 51st Rollins Baseball Week Tournament in Winter Park, Fla.

During the course of one week many new faces emerged on the scene to help lead the Lions to victory. One player in particular is freshman walk-on Pete Yodis. Making his first career start, Yodis took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Miami of Ohio and recorded his first complete game.

"This was the first road trip where we started to come together as a team," Yodis said after the tournament. "We had some good pitching and the bats really came alive."

Alive and well.

Sophomore third baseman/pitcher Shawn Fagan has his bat living life to the fullest. Fagan is hitting at a team-high .490 clip with four homeruns and 17 RBIs. His 24 hits in 49 at bats is also tops on the squad.

Saturday will be a homecoming of sorts for Hindelang. He played baseball and basketball at Temple for head coach James "Skip" Wilson. Hindelang was a pitcher for the Owls from 1964-67.

"A lot of things I do in the game are a result of his influence on me," Hindelang said.

Wilson has been the head baseball coach at Temple for the past 38 seasons and sports an 855-596-23 overall record.

With two wins this weekend Penn State could make school history by recording victory No. 1,500. The 110-year overall record for Penn State baseball is 1,498-864-23.

"Those numbers are more important to those outside the game than to those involved," Hindelang said. "It shows that Penn State has had very, very good success in baseball. I'm flattered to be a part of it."