Big House, big win By David Leisering, Sports Information Director
This year’s game coincided with the Big House Band Invitational featuring the Michigan Marching Band and select high school bands.
Mercyhurst’s brand-new marching band was also on hand to perform. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our program – our student-athletes, coaches, staf , parents and fans – to play a great program at one of The Michigan Wolverines weren’t at home on Oct. 18, 2014, but Michigan the most historic venues in the country,” said Director of Athletics Joe Stadium was rocking anyway as Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock faced of Kimball in announcing that the previously scheduled Mercyhurst- there in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) contest. Slippery Rock game was being moved more than 270 miles west. “I sure Michigan has announced Slippery Rock football scores during its games wasn’t going to say no to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our kids.” for decades and twice previously has invited the Rock to play a game in The “Big House Battle” proved to be Mercyhurst’s third consecutive its famed stadium. This third visit was part of Slippery Rock University’s victory after four straight losses to open the season. Quarterback 125th anniversary celebration, and marked the 35th anniversary of SRU’s Brendan Boylan threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns, lifting the frst visit t o the “Big House” in 1979. More than 61,000 fans attended that Lakers to 31 unanswered points and a 45-23 thumping of Slippery Rock game, setting a Division II attendance record that still stands. in front of 15,121 fans.
- person,” said Mercyhurst head coach Joe Spano. “Dan is one of the hardest working athletes I have ever coached. He is a terrifc t eammate, a terrifc pit cher, a terrifc studen t…he’s the total package. I couldn’t be happier.” Altavilla’s 2014 season at the Hurst – arguably the best by a pitcher in program history – resulted in an avalanche of honors. He received the inaugural Brett Tomko Award as Division II’s Most Outstanding Pitcher, was named the in the baseball draft; outfelder Da vid Lough, who’s now playing with the Baltimore Orioles, was the previous high draft pick when he was taken by the Kansas City Royals in the 11 th round in 2007. “This couldn’t happen to a more deserving ABCA/Rawlings Division II National Pitcher of the Year, and earned a place on the ABCA/ Rawlings First Team All-American Team, among many other awards.
He also excelled in the classroom and was named a Capital One Academic All-America® First Team selection with a 3.71 GPA in sports medicine and pre-physical therapy. Following the draft, Altavilla was sent to the Everett (Washington) AquaSox, the Mariners’ Single A Short Season aflia te. He posted a 5-3 record and struck out 66 batters in 66 innings of work there, and was then invited to the Instructional League in Peoria, Arizona. He’s not sure where he’ll be playing in 2015. “At spring training, every player has to come ready to showcase their hard work and dedication in the of-season, ” he said. “From there, players will be placed on teams based on their talent and consistency.” In the meantime he returned to campus this fall to continue working toward his degree. He hopes to fnish b y spring, or by fall at the latest.
MARINERS DRAFT ALTAVILLA
- By David Leisering, Sports Information Director Pitcher Dan Altavilla became the highest draft pick in Mercyhurst baseball history when the Seattle Mariners took him in the ff th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. The righthander is the 15 th Laker to be selected
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