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Baseball Tyler Schueck, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Mertz helping out Golden Bears anyway possible

JOHNSTOWN, PA (April 30, 2010) – The Kutztown University baseball team have set themselves up in a prime position for a run at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) title.

After Wednesday's win over Mercyhurst (12-5) and Thursday's defeat of Indiana (8-3) the Golden Bears can sit back and let the other team's battle against each other. Mercyhurst and IUP will play an elimination game at 12:30 p.m., the winner will play KU at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening at Point Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on the Golden Bears Network, beginning at 6:15 p.m., to listen click here or follow live stats.

In the other bracket, California (PA) is in the same position as Kutztown and will await the winner of the Slippery Rock/West Chester contest being played at 9:30 a.m.

The Golden Bears, ranked No. 1 in the region and No. 14 in the nation, have improved their record to 36-11. KU has been playing four to five games each week since March 19 up until the current conference playoffs.

Although it's not quite the dog days of summer that a major league team will go through, it can be a bit much for a college player not used to that many games. That's where Trent Mertz has found himself helping out most since missing valuable time due to injury.

Mertz has found a way to keep things loose in the dugout, which is needed over the course of a season that typically runs over 50 games.

“You can get worn out by the time playoffs come along,” said Mertz. “We know that you have to have fun, but not lose focus.”

Mertz is a Kutztown native and by his estimation lives less than a mile and half from the pitcher's mound that he works on. He started going to Golden Bears games in his junior and senior season of high school, deciding to attend after not many offers came his way.

“We knew that he was a good pitcher,” said head coach Chris Blum. “I talked to Trent and his father that his role with KU may be a limited one. I was wrong with that assessment, he proved me and a lot of others wrong with his performance.”

Mertz and the Golden Bears had to find their own fun, which is never a tough task, after the team bus broke down during the trip to North Carolina in March.

“We thought it was a joke the first time the bus was acting up,” said Mertz. “Then it shut down we started skipping stones through puddles, playing two-ball and rolling dice. Everyone was so happy to get back to Kutztown.”

Now in his junior season, Mertz has learned his limitations in the dugout.

“I have been yelled at or received a stare from the coaches,” says Mertz with a laugh. “I've definitely pushed the limits a few times, but I know my boundaries now.”

“Trent is a good athlete and a great student,” says Blum. “He is someone that we know we don't have to worry about off the field.”
--KU--
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