Libeg, Banks lead YSU's conference-clinching win

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- For the first time in the 50-year history of Youngstown State baseball, the Penguins have won a conference championship and an NCAA tournament berth.
Sophomore Kevin Libeg pitched 71/3 outstanding innings and sophomore Justin Banks had three hits and four RBIs as the Penguins cruised past Cleveland State 10-1 for the Horizon League Tournament title Sunday at Eastwood Field.
The Penguins (22-30) finished unbeaten in the tournament after coming into the event as the No. 7 seed.
They advanced to the NCAA regionals, with their opponent and site to be announced today at noon on ESPN2.
Banks, who had eight hits in the four games, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Libeg and second-game winner Eric Shaffer were named to the All-Tournament team for the Penguins.
Libeg, who had not pitched in more than two weeks because of rainouts, had eight strikeouts and scattered seven hits before being relieved by senior Mike Hosterman in the eighth inning. Senior Paul Yates pitched the ninth inning.
Happy coach
"It's just unbelievable," said YSU coach Mike Florak. "I'm so happy for these kids, especially the seniors who have worked so hard this season."
Libeg added, "This is the greatest feeling. Nobody really believed in us -- but us -- and we had such great senior leadership all year long."
Libeg said his layoff didn't really affect him.
"I pitched several practice games against our players, so it's not like I hadn't been throwing," he said. "I threw a few more pitches in the bullpen today warming up.
"I went out there just trying to keep the ball down and to keep the hitters off balance, and it went pretty well."
Banks said winning MVP honors was a great accomplishment.
"It was really something, but winning the tournament in four straight means a lot more," Banks said. "We knew Cleveland State was a good team and we knew that we had to get after them early, and we did."
The Penguins scored first in the second inning when senior Adam Cox led off with a single, moved to second on a groundout and scored when Jim Phillips reached on an error by Vikings shortstop Ben Smith. It was one of six Cleveland State errors in the game.
Crushing home run
The Penguins added another run in the fourth when senior Clint Ford crushed a home run over the left-field wall.
They went up 4-0 with a pair of runs in the fifth on Banks' double and an RBI single by Cox.
In the sixth the Penguins broke the game open with a five-run rally as sophomore Charles Schultz and Banks each had two-run singles.
Cleveland State broke Libeg's shutout in the bottom of the sixth as it got three of its seven hits, with Gian Testa driving in the lone tally.
YSU added its final run in the eighth inning when Schultz reached on an error, went to second on a groundout and scored on Banks' third hit of the contest.
David Boyza started for the Vikings and suffered the loss, lasting 51/3 innings. Matt Kaltenbach relieved and lasted only 1/3 of an inning, allowing four more runs, while Gary Ball and Brandon Hewitt finished for the Vikings (19-33).
mollica@vindy.com