Head Coach Matt Palm Announces 2008 Port Charlotte Schedule

Ninth-year head coach Matt Palm of the Heidelberg College baseball team announced the release of the Student Princes 2008 Port Charlotte Invitational schedule. The Berg is slated to open its season in Port Charlotte, Fla. with seven nine-inning games and two doubleheaders. Also on the schedule in its trip south will be seven developmental games, as the entire roster will be traveling.

Heidelberg will take part in the invitational March 8-17, which is highlighted by five fellow Mideast Region teams. Of its nine opponents, Heidelberg will face two members apiece of the North Coast Athletic Conference and the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

“Our trip down south to play in the Port Charlotte Invitational is an opportunity to face some top quality competition,” stated Palm. “We are excited to face fellow Mideast Region schools, which will help us in our quest for a trip to the postseason. The trip offers a chance for us to get numerous games in, which allows for our entire team to gain varsity experience heading into our Ohio schedule.”

Action begins on March 8 against Misericordia University (Pa.) in a nine-inning contest, before facing Anderson University (Ind.), a selection to the postseason in 30 of the last 32 seasons, in a doubleheader March 9. On March 10 and 11, the Berg will face two institutions from Michigan in MIAA members Albion College and Olivet College.

Following a day off, action resumes against the College of Wooster March 13 and with Fontbonne University (Mo.) March 14. Wooster made a trip to the NCAA postseason a year ago and was recently selected as the Preseason No. 1 pick in the Collegiate Baseball’s Division III poll. Following Fontbone, Heidelberg will face Loras College (Iowa) for a doubleheader March 15 and concludes its stay in Florida with contests against Worcester State College (Mass.) (March 16) and Allegheny College (Pa.) (March 17). 

Heidelberg resumes its 2008 schedule in Ohio on March 22 at Marietta College. The Berg will play nine Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheaders and 11 non-conference single-game contests to wrap up its regular season slate. Peaceful Valley, the home of Heidelberg baseball, will play host to five OAC regular season doubleheaders and five non-conference games in 2008.

In 2008, Heidelberg returns 16 letter winners from its 2007 OAC regular season championship team that finished 28-15 overall and 13-5 in league play. Leading the way is all-conference and all-region performers’ junior center fielder Jeremy Wentworth (Johnstown, Ohio / St. Charles) and junior left handed pitcher David Paddock (Westerville, Ohio / North). Wentworth returns after leading the Berg in bating average (.423), hits (69), runs scored (48), and doubles (10), while tying for the team lead with 14 stolen bases. Paddock led the pitching staff in 2007 with a 2.96 earned run average in 73.0 innings of work. Paddock, along with all-conference honoree senior right hander Andrew McFarland (Mansfield, Ohio / Madison), return after picking up seven wins apiece a season ago. The duo combined to start 21 games and threw 10 complete outings.

Also returning in 2008, following selection to the All-OAC team in 2007, is junior third baseman Tony Pawlowicz (Montpelier, Ohio / Montpelier), junior right fielder Jack Bault (Randolph, Ohio / Waterloo) and senior right handed pitcher Steve Calvero (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg).