Aug. 16, 2006

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - After having stellar careers in the Brown and White, Kyle Collina and Matt McBride have reached new levels in their professional careers. For Collina, he earned his first professional win with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers on Thursday, August 10 against the Jamestown Jammers, while McBride was recently named a New York-Penn League All-Star, with the annual All-Star game scheduled to take place on Wednesday evening.

In earning his first pro victory, Collina came in during the bottom of the eighth and only allowed one run. After a five-run rally in the top of the ninth, Mahoning hung on capture the win. Since being called up to Mahoning Valley two weeks ago, Collina has only allowed three earned runs and struck out six batters in 5.1 innings pitched.

As the New York-Penn League enters into its two-day All-Star break, McBride won't have much time off. The former Mountain Hawk standout was selected to represent the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the All-Star game taking place in Aberdeen, Md. on Wednesday, as he joins five teammates - three pitchers, one outfielder and one infielder. As of August 15, McBride had the team's second-best batting average (.312) and a team best .456 slugging percentage. In just 35 games, he's registered 39 hits, 17 runs and 23 RBIs.

Both of these former Mountain Hawks stars closed out their Lehigh careers on a high mark. Collina was the 2006 Patriot League leader in number of innings pitched with 85.2 - which is fifth all-time on Lehigh's single season record list - as well as games started with 15. Collina also set a school record for strikeouts with 87, which was good for second overall in the league. By the end of his four-year career, Collina ranked second in strikeouts (239) and appearances (58) and fifth in number of wins (15).

McBride spent most of the 2006 season rewriting the single season portion of the Lehigh record book. In 2006, he had four new school records - at bats, runs, RBIs and hits - and tied for two others (games in a single season and home runs). McBride also ranks in the program's single season top five in batting average and stolen bases. By the end of his three-year career, the former Mountain Hawk catcher set the school's new career record for doubles (56) and finished in the top five for at bats (565 - second), homeruns (17 - T-fifth), runs (125 - T-fourth) and hits (198 - second).