Pitt-Johnstown’s spring sports season is winding down with each team’s regular season finishing April 25. Like every year, this year’s seniors end their collegiate careers.
Senior Mountain Cat baseball player Mike Palkovitz said that, after this season is over, he will miss playing the game he loves most.
“I have met my best friends playing this game and nothing can replace playing competitively with a team that feels like a family,” said Palkovitz.
The Mountain Cat baseball team so far has an overall record of 4-28 and a conference record of 4-12.
The team still has California (Pa.) University and Slippery Rock University left to play before they complete their season.
Now that he is ending his career, Palkoviz said that he remembers his favorite game he played.
“It was a doubleheader to end the season my sophomore year (2012-2013) against Shepherd University (Shepherdstown W. Va.) when I hit a walk-off double to win the series,” he said.
During the first game, former player Kyle Morrow hit a walk-off home run to get head coach Todd Williams his 400th career win.
“It was awesome to end that season on a high note,” said Palkovitz.
The Mountain Cat baseball team ended that season with a winning overall record of 27-19 and a conference record of 15-15 in the team’s last year as members of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The Pitt-Johnstown men’s track team also comes to the end of their season, having only the Slippery Rock University David Labor Invitational and the Shippensburg University Paul Kaiser Classic left to compete in.
So far this outdoor season, senior javelin thrower Jim Kaufman placed third at the Towson (Md.) University Invitational with a mark of 145-10.
During that meet, Kaufman threw a personal record.
“It felt good to have my hard work pay off,” said Kaufman.
Now that he is ending his career, Kaufman said he remembered a nervousness at first.
“I remember how nervous I was before I ran my first event ever my freshman year, which was the 400 meter sprint,” said Kaufman.
“I am going to miss my teammates and coaches the most because everyone really came together to support each other,” said Kaufman.
“I will also miss competing at meets and representing Pitt-Johnstown.”
