Apr 29, 2014 By The 2 min read

Track & field

Friend top track athlete

California University of Pa. freshman Julie Friend was named the PSAC Track Athlete of the Week after breaking her school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The Uniontown graduate finished seventh with a time of 10:59.73 in the college flight at the Penn Relays, improving upon her NCAA Championship provisional time and knocking six seconds off her previous best time.

Friend has qualified in three events for this weekend’s PSAC Outdoors Track & Field Championships. She has the third-fastest time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase coming into the conference meet.

Softball

Conference honors Smarra

California University of Pa. sophomore Natalya Smarra was named the PSAC-West Hitter of the Week after helping the Vulcans finish with an undefeated conference record for the first time since 1998.

The third baseman led the Vulcans with a .643 batting average and a 1.143 slugging percentage in five games. Smarra belted two home runs and finished with eight RBI, eight runs scored and an on-base percentage of .688. She ranks in the top five on the team in batting average (.352), hits (32), runs scored (26), and home runs (4).

California opens the conference tournament on Thursday in Quakerstown with a first-round game against Mansfield.

Baseball

Cal players lauded

California University of Pa. junior shortstop Matt Peters and senior first baseman Derrik Zeroski were named to the All-PSAC West first-team, with three teammates also honored with a spot on all-conference team.

Sophomores Jack Dennis (starting pitcher), Mick Fennell (third baseman), and David Marcus were named to the second team.

Tennis

Vulcans top seed

The California University of Pa. women’s tennis team, ranked No. 12, earned the top seed in the Atlantic Region and will host the opening two rounds on Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.

The Vulcans received a first-round bye and face the winner of the Mercyhurst-West Liberty State (W.Va.) on Sunday.