Family affair for YSU baseball

When Youngstown State takes to the field Wednesday afternoon to play its opening round game in Horizon League tournament at Eastwood Field, one former Penguin will be sitting at home in Dallas, Texas with his eyes and ears glued to the Internet.

Joe Iacobucci, who played baseball for the Penguins from 1977-80 under then-coach Dom Rosselli, will be watching closely as his nephew, also named Joe Iacobucci, tries to help the Penguins win a second Horizon championship.

The elder Iacobucci was a Cardinal Mooney High graduate in 1976, where he earned All-Steel Valley Conference honors as a senior.

He was a four-year letterman at YSU and was captain in 1980. He started for three seasons in the Penguins’ outfield. He led the team in hitting in 1979 and batted .323 for his four-year career.

His nephew, a redshirt freshman and a Boardman High graduate, is also a starter in the outfield for the Penguins and he too leads the team in hitting with a .379 average. He’s also tied for the team lead in RBIs with 33.

“I’m extremely proud of my nephew,” Iacobucci said. “It’s so cool to think that two people with the same name and playing the same sport in the same position for the same college team and 26 years apart.”

Earned district all-star honors

The elder Iacobucci also received postseason honors, being named to the Great Lakes District IV all-star team in 1979. His nephew stands a good chance at earning some honors himself, which will be announced during the Penguins’ opening round game.

The uncle graduated from YSU with a degree in business and has been employed with Kellogg’s in sales management for the last 26 years.

He’s been back to town to see his nephew play this year, but won’t be able to be here for the tournament. He’ll be following the action over the Internet very closely.

All of the tournament games will be video broadcast live and free at “http://horizonleaguenetwork.tv.

Youngstown State’s staff will be broadcasting Tuesday through Friday at Eastwood Field. Saturday’s two webcasts and Sunday’s game if necessary will be produced by MyYTV with Chad Krispinsky and Kyle Sobecki handling the announcing duties.

The awards for the Horizon League season will be presented on the field prior to each team’s first game in the tournament.

Awards will be given out for regular season team champion, newcomer of the year, player of the year, pitcher of the year, relief pitcher of the year, coach of the year, all-league first and second team and the all-newcomer team.

U.S. Army is sponsor

The U.S. Army, as presenting sponsor of the tournament, has also planned several events and activities.

They will have a rock climbing wall at the field, Army Humvee military vehicle on display and will also provide T-shirts and Horizon League and YSU centennial T-shirts.

The YSU athletic department will also be giving away Dom Rosselli bobbleheads.

Eastwood Field will also have their concession stands in operation for the tournament.

Tickets for the tournament are available for $6 a day or $20 for a tournament pass, while seniors and youths cost $4 and $14. Horizon League students can get in free by showing their school ID.

XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.