Ryan showed flashes of the ability last year that made him a junior college All-American two years ago and if he can get that ability to appear more frequently this year, he may make for some tough decisions for the coaching staff regarding the pitching rotation. Part of one of the deepest and most talented pitching staffs in Penn State history, Ryan has the versatility to either start or pitch out of the bullpen, which he did both of last year. That versatility will give the coaching staff that flexibility when deciding how to attack the four-game weekends in the Big Ten.
Summer 2007: For the second straight summer, pitched for the Lombard Orioles, which played in the Chicago Suburban Baseball League....Went 2-0 with a 4.05 ERA in six appearances, including four starts, and 20 innings and also had one complete game....Allowed nine earned runs and struck out 16 and walked just three.
'Ryan gained some experience as a starter and reliever last season which has helped him develop as a pitcher. He will play a critical role on our pitching staff again this year by giving us some quality innings and having the ability to pitch in different situations.'
From the Coaches[apos] Suite
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2007 (Junior): Made 17 appearances in his first year at Penn State, eight in starts and nine in relief....Compiled more strikeouts (25) than walks (14)....Had a 1.93 ERA and a 1-0 record in his nine appearances out of the bullpen....Out of the bullpen, had 18.2 innings of work and allowed 14 hits, nine runs, only four of which were earned, four walks and eight strikeouts and also combined on a shutout while limiting opposing hitters to a .222 average....Finished the year strong by not allowing an earned run in two Big Ten Tournament appearances, spanning four innings, including a one-hit, three-strikeout performance in relief in Penn State[apos]s final game of the tournament vs. Minnesota.
Game-by-Game Highlights: Pitched well in his first appearance for Penn State, throwing five innings out of the bullpen and allowing five hits, just one earned run and striking out four vs. Centenary (2-16)....Threw a scorless 1.1 innings of relief at North Carolina (3-4)....Gave up just two earned runs in 5.0 innings of work in his first career start at Wichita State (3-9)....Pitched two scoreless innings and combined with Seth Whitehill and Drew O[apos]Neil on a shutout vs. Central Connecticut (3-24)....Picked up his first win of the year as he threw six innings, scattering nine hits but allowing just two runs while not walking any and striking out three to help Penn State to its only win in the Minnesota series (3-31), which was also Penn State[apos]s first Big Ten win of the year....Threw three scoreless innings out of the bullpen at Iowa (4-8)....Allowed two earned runs in four innings in a start at Michigan State (4-15)....Tossed one inning of relief and picked up the win over Duquesne (4-24)....Allowed just two earned runs in a complete-game effort at Indiana (4-28) but suffered the loss in a 3-1 Penn State setback....Left the game as the pitcher of record on the winning side after a 2.2-inning relief stint in which he allowed just one hit and struck out three against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament (5-26).
Summer 2006: Played for the Lombard Orioles, which played in the Wisconsin State League, where he was a teammate of Scott Kelley....Threw 24 innings and had a 3-1 record with a 2.63 ERA....Allowed 19 hits and seven runs and had 17 strikeouts.
Oakton CC (Sophomore): Played one season for Oakton Community College in Des Plains, Ill. under head coach Bill Fratto....Helped lead the team to a Chicago Skyway Conference championship and a 40-18 record....Was named the conference MVP and the league[apos]s Pitcher of the Year....Went 9-2 with a 1.31 ERA in 82.2 innings pitched. Allowed only 12 earned runs and 57 hits and struck out 92 with just 29 walks in 17 games....Was sixth in the country in ERA and tied for third in wins and was named an All-American.
Southern Illinois (Freshman): Appeared in two games for the Salukis during the 2005 season....Pitched two innings, allowed four hits, one earned run and struck out three.
St. Viator HS: Earned three varsity letters at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Ill. and served as a team captain in his final two years...Helped lead his team to a regional championship as a junior in 2003, during which he pitched a 14-inning complete game shutout....Named all-East Suburban Catholic Conference,first-team all-area and All-State as a senior and was also the Conference PLayer of the Year as a senior in 2004....Had 127 strikeouts and only 27 walks in 84.2 innings of work during his senior season to go along with a 2.23 ERA....Played in the Chicago White Sox[apos]s all-star wooden bat game during his junior and senior years....Received a special invitation to a pitching workout at Wrigley Field prior to the 2004 draft....Also participated in golf.
Background: Ryan Christopher Stobart was born on July 8, 1986 in Barrington, Ill....The son of Michael and Carla Stobart, he has an older brother, Mike (26), and two older sisters, Kelly (34) and Dawn (30)....He is majoring in business and would like to go into marketing for a professional sports team.