Bucknell University Athletics
Ebner Happy Being a One-Sport Star After Busy Start to Bucknell Career
2/10/2012 7:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 10, 2012
By Todd Merriett, Bucknell Athletic Communications
Baseball. Basketball. Engineering. It takes a moment to write those three activities. Now, imagine having to balance the time commitment each of those commands at an academic-oriented Division I institution. One person on the Bucknell University campus doesn't have to imagine. He experienced it.
Senior Ryan Ebner entered Bucknell in the fall of 2008, fresh off a post-graduate year at The Hill School in Pottsville, Pa., with a lot on his plate. He was recruited by longtime coach Gene Depew to play baseball. He walked on to the men's basketball team, under the direction of new head coach Dave Paulsen. And, oh yeah, he was majoring in civil engineering, not the easiest academic path.
"Looking back it was a whirlwind," says Ebner, a Sinking Spring, Pa., native. "It was so hectic and so much was going on. I really did like it as an experience, especially because I did get some playing time in basketball, but at the end of the season I knew I couldn't do that for four years in a row. As my grades reflected, it was just too much to handle."
Ebner, who now owns a grade-point average above 3.0 and has been named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll while focusing on civil engineering, joined the basketball team as part of a class that included current seniors Enoch Andoh, Bryan Cohen and Probese Leo just a few months after record-setting Pat Flannery had stepped down as head coach. A 6'7" forward, Ebner appeared in 21 games, starting three, and averaged 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game on a team that posted a disappointing 7-23 record just three years removed from an NCAA Tournament victory over Arkansas.
"We had a bad record, but when I look back I don't see that," comments Ebner. "I see the friendships I built with the team and how much mentally tougher I got being a freshman walk-on under Coach Paulsen. The things I look back on are the positives, even though the season might not have turned out the way we wanted."
Thanks to his basketball schedule and commitments, Ebner did not join the Bison baseball team full time until March of his freshman year. The lefty hurler appeared in 10 games, but pitched just 12.0 innings, mainly as a reliever. His ERA was 12.00, but he showed plenty of promise with 10 strikeouts.
"I missed that camaraderie of being with the baseball team in the fall of my freshman year, but I really loved it (baseball) once basketball was over," remembers Ebner, who made the decision to stop playing basketball after one season. "It was so nice. I could actually breathe. Baseball is so much more relaxed. It was really nice to get to baseball season."
As with any student-athlete at Bucknell, especially one majoring in engineering, Ebner's current schedule is not an easy one, but it is at least manageable. That freshman year was difficult on Ebner and he thinks all areas suffered because of it.
"I lost a lot of sleep," reflects Ebner. "There were very few nights I was able to get the amount of rest I needed. There wasn't much free time and it made me look ahead and focus. I had to look a week or a month out. I did a decent job in my classes, but I wouldn't say I was happy with the grades I got.
"It's a live-and-learn situation. I now know how to handle balancing academics and athletics. As far as baseball goes, we are an academic-first team. Coach Depew and (assistant) Coach (Scott) Heather are very willing to allow us to miss something if it is necessary. My biggest suggestion for others is to not have a TV in your room, though. It can be very distracting when you need to study after a long day."
Since the conclusion of his grueling freshman year, Ebner has concentrated solely on baseball and academics with his performance steadily rising in both.
On the field, Ebner was one of the Bison's top relievers as a sophomore, appearing in 15 games and pitching 28.1 innings. He concluded the campaign on a high note by earning a spot on the Patriot League All-Tournament Team after going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA and yielding just five hits in 10.0 postseason innings. He helped Bucknell to the conference title by pitching five scoreless innings of relief in the Patriot League Championship-series clinching game at Holy Cross.
"I have to say that last day at Holy Cross when we won the Patriot League Championship and I got to pitch in both of those games might be my favorite memory so far," recalls Ebner. "That was one heck of an experience. I will never ever forget that day as long as I live. We lost in heartbreaking fashion the night before under the lights. We can laugh about it now, but we had a pizza party afterward and guys were crying and moping around. After we won the next day it was known as the worst pizza party in history."
Ebner used his sophomore-year postseason performance as a springboard to a season for the ages last spring when he was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-Patriot League selection. Just the fourth Bison to earn the league's top pitching honor, Ebner helped Bucknell to wins in each of his final 10 starts. He finished with a 6-1 record and a 3.53 ERA, striking out 33 and allowing just 54 hits in 66.1 innings. Take away his first start of the season at James Madison that featured the Dukes plating 12 runs on 10 hits in 2.1 innings and Ebner's numbers look even better. In fact, his ERA after that James Madison contest was a stellar 1.97.
The clutch Ebner once again concluded his season on a high note as he was the starting pitcher in the longest game in the 124-year history of the Bison baseball program last May. Bucknell ended up defeating Navy by a 1-0 score in 16 innings in the first game of the Patriot League Tournament, and Ebner held the Mids without a run for 8+ innings, lowering his career Patriot League Tournament ERA to a miniscule 1.00.
Afterward, Ebner gave credit to reliever and fellow All-Patriot League selection Alex Cillo, who also pitched eight shutout innings and earned the win. It is commonplace for Ebner to credit his teammates. When asked the secret to his breakout season last spring, he quickly shifted all praise to catcher Scott Reed.
"I don't have any secrets," says Ebner. "I just get into my routine. I know what I need to do during the week to be successful. Scott Reed and I work really well together. There are plenty of times I mess up and he makes me look good in a bad situation. I don't know how he does it."
While Reed is most instrumental in helping Ebner look good, Ebner also credits other teammates with helping him improve. This past fall Ebner was not pitching up to the standard he set last spring and his teammates were hitting him hard during practice, keeping him humble.
"It's nice that they say `congratulations, but we're still going to kick your butt every chance we get,'" says Ebner.
Thanks to his teammates' help and his strong work ethic, Ebner is expecting to continue in his role as the staff ace. One year ago he was the No. 3 or No. 4 starter and just trying to keep up with the experienced veterans ahead of him. Now he will be setting the tone for a starting rotation that will feature at least two new members.
Ebner knows he is capable of much more in 2012 and is currently hoping to receive a phone call from a Major League Baseball organization the first week of June saying he was drafted. Former MLB pitcher and local resident Steve Kline has been working on Ebner's changeup and will remain in town until March, while recent Bucknell draftee B.J. LaRosa worked out with the team in the fall. Additionally, assistant coach Jason Neitz is a recent former professional player, giving Ebner plenty of people to turn to for guidance should the pro ranks come calling.
Should Ebner reach his goal and be drafted, this summer should be pretty easy for him. After all, he'll only have one focus, rather than the three he started with at the beginning of his Bucknell career.
Note: This story appeared in a recent edition of the Bucknell Basketball Gameday Program.
