Illinois Transfer Garza Hopeful He'll Be The Javelinas' Starting QB

Link to Story with Video

KINGSVILLE-The Javelinas football team landed a serious recruit this off-season, and it was one they were not even pursuing. His name is Billy Garza. He was an all-state selection in high school, but for the past three seasons was a member of the Big 10 - until now.

After beginning the last two seasons with true freshmen at quarterback, the Javelinas seem poised to bring in experience with the addition of Garza.

Javelinas Head Coach Bo Atterberry told KRIS 6 News, "He's mature. He is an older guy, and he has some of those leadership qualities you look for in a quarterback. He comes from a solid program and he seems very knowledgeable."

Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs add 2 LSC stars

Clay Added to Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs

Southeastern Oklahoma Sports Information



CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Southeastern baseball’s Randall Clay has signed with the Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs of the Continental Baseball League.

Clay was a concensus All-American following the 2008 season for the Savage Storm after hitting .407 and driving in 67 runs.
He pounded out 16 home runs in 2008 en route to slugging .712 for the year.

In his two seasons at SOSU, he hit .372 with 162 hits and scoring 108 runs. He drove in a career 109 runs and slugged .609 in playing 114 games, starting all of them.

Additionally, Clay was a first team All-Lone Star Conference selection, as well as a first team all-region selection.

The Continental Baseball League is an unaffiliated league with four teams from across the state of Texas. Teams are based in Texarkana, McKinney and Texas City, in addition to Corpus Christi.
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Livingston Signs With Beach Dawgs

From Texas A&M-Kingsville Sports Information

Former Texas A&M-Kingsville star Josh Livingston (Moody) has signed on with the Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs of the Continental Baseball League.

Livingston finished his Javelina career second in victories with 21 and went 5-6 this season, helping the Javelinas to the 2008 Lone Star Conference title and a spot in the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament. Josh was a four-year starter for the Hogs.

Livingston earned second team All-LSC honors this season and finished his career with a 21-14 career mark. He is the school record holder for most innings pitched (285.2), complete games (17), starts (47) and third in career strikeouts (211).

Former ACU pitcher has memorable debut

By Bill Hart (Contact
Saturday, June 28, 2008

Former Abilene Christian University pitcher Trey Watten may one day work his way to the major leagues, but he will always remember his first professional baseball appearance.

He is pitching for the Helena (Mont.) Brewers in an advanced rookie league. In his debut, he hurled six innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits, no walks and four strikeouts in the 10-0 victory.

It was the Brewers' first win of the season. They have won only three since Watten's gem. He was solid again Thursday night in a 5-4 win over Billings, giving up two runs and five hits in five innings, walking two and striking out two. His earned-run average is 1.64.

Go to Abilene Reporter News for rest of article.

Texas A&M Kingsville looking for new baseball coach

Stockton Leaves Hogs To Return To Alma Mater

from the TAMK Sports Information office (06/27/08)

The winningest coach in A&M-Kingsville history will move to Houston as an assistant coach.

After 10 successful seasons as head coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville, Russell Stockton will return to the University of Houston as an assistant baseball coach.

Stockton was the winningest baseball coach in Texas A&M-Kingsville history. In 10 seasons he won 275 games (275-273). His 275th win was a historic victory as the Javelinas beat top-seed and nationally ranked Abilene Christian to clinch the 2008 Lone Star Conference Tournament to advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

“What a way to go out,” said Stockton. “Winning the conference championship and beating Abilene at their place was a real highlight. The last game you won was against one of the best teams in Division II. It was fantastic. What a way to conclude my career by putting a ring on the kid’s fingers.”

Stockton played at Houston and was an assistant coach from 1991 to 1994 for his father Bragg.

“Things have come full circle,” said Stockton. “I started there (Houston) 17 years ago. My wife (Linda) was a three-time All-America diver there. Two of my sisters got their degrees there. It’s a great opportunity to go back home again and I’m real excited about it.”

Stockton won two conference championships, took the Javelinas to a top-10 national ranking and earned conference coach of the year honors.

Stockton’s teams were always known for solid pitching, an aggressive offensive approach and the ability to compete for a conference championship each season.

In his final year as head coach, he took the Hogs into the Lone Star Conference Tournament as the #6 seed and beat Abilene Christian twice on their home field to win the conference title.

Go to Javelinaathletics.com for the rest of the article.

Tarleton Basketball signs another

Texans add JC transfer Wilson

Courtesy: Tarleton State University
Release: 06/26/2008


STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton head coach Lonn Reisman has announced the signing of another men’s basketball student-athlete, Jeremiah Wilson.

Wilson, a 6-7, 200-pound forward from Chicago, Ill., will transfer to the Texans from Casper College.

“We are very excited about signing Jeremiah Wilson,” Reisman said. “Jeremiah has a lot of versatility for a player at 6-7; he is an outstanding outside shooter who averaged almost a double-double in a very tough junior college league. He made an official visit to a mid-major Division I school last year, and we really do feel he has the talent to play at that level. I really think he solidifies our team at the four position because he handles the ball well, he passes ball well and he truly understands the game. He reminds me a lot of Danny Jones, who is a former player that is playing professional basketball in Europe. He has his priorities in order and wants to get his education, but he will be a joy to watch and coach on the basketball floor.”


“The coaching staff and the players are all on the same page and want to win,” Wilson said. “They have coaches that care about the players and their basketball skill and their education. I could tell Coach Reisman was a nice guy that took care of business, and he does a great job with the basketball program. I am going to work hard and put my all into becoming the best player I can be so I can help the team become a better team and win.”

Last season at CC under head coach Gary Becker, Wilson averaged 15.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while helping his team to the regional semifinals and a 20-12 record. He ranked No. 28 in Division I junior colleges in rebounds per game. Wilson recorded 30 points and 12 rebounds against Laramie Community College, 26 points and 18 rebounds versus Arizona Western and 20 points and nine rebounds against Northeastern Junior College for his best games of the year. He had 15 double-doubles last season and was a first team all-conference selection as well as first team all-region IX selection.

Olympic Dreams

For Singleton, dream becomes reality on Friday

By BRAD KEITH
Sports Editor
brad.keith@empiretribune.com
Published: Thursday, June 26, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Many people have big dreams. Few are as dedicated to achieving them as Jeremy Singleton.

The former track and field All-American from Tarleton State University will see his dream become reality on Friday when competes in the 2008 US Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Singleton, a long jumper, is rated No. 23 among competitors who have qualified for the trials and declared their intention to compete. While only three will advance to the 2008 Olympic Games, Singleton says just qualifying for the trials is a dream he’s spent years working to achieve. “It’s finally happening,” Singleton said on Wednesday.

“I can’t believe it. I’m so excited because this is what I’ve been working so hard for.”The Stephenville resident qualified with a personal best jump of 7.89m (25 feet, 10-5/8 inches) during competition at the University of Texas-Arlington this spring.

Go to Empire Tribune for rest of article.
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Local athletes chase Olympic dreams

By Garner Roberts
Special to the Reporter-News
Friday, June 27, 2008

Abilene's Jonathan Johnson and as many as five other local athletes will be in "Track Town USA" this weekend, hoping to qualify for the U.S. team going to the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing Aug. 8-24.

The U.S. Olympic trials for track and field return to Eugene, Ore., for the first time since 1980.

The 26-year-old Johnson will be among the athletes competing today at historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. The quarterfinals, the first of three rounds of the men's 800, will begin at 10:20 p.m. Central time. The meet is being televised daily by NBC on broadcast television and USA on cable television.

Go to the Abilene Reportern News for the rest of the article.

Catching on in AFL

Former WT wide receiver Armstrong makes impact with Dallas

By Greg Jaklewicz gregory.jaklewicz@amarillo.com
Amarillo Globe-News

Since Anthony Armstrong's final season at West Texas A&M, things have gone much better for the player and the football team.

Armstrong missed out on the Buffs' resurgence. In the three years since his senior year, a 2-8 campaign, WT has posted a 33-5 record and has won three straight Lone Star Conference titles.
"We had a rough time, but it toughened me up," Armstrong said of his standout career at WT despite losing records.

Tonight, the former Buffs receiver takes the American Airlines Center field in Dallas as a key member of the Desperados, who begin the Arena Football League playoffs against the New York Dragons.

Dallas is the No. 3 seed in the AFL's National Conference, while New York is No. 6.

Armstrong finished the regular season as the team's third-leading receiver with 85 catches for 1,148 yards and 18 touchdowns. Dallas was 12-4, second to the Philadelphia Soul (13-3) in the conference's Eastern Division. The Desperados had the league's second-best record.


Go to the Amarillo Globe-News for the rest of the article.

Sporting News Preseason Poll

Sporting-News ranks ACU 5th

Courtesy: ACU
Release: 6/26/08

ABILENE -- The ACU Wildcats, who return three of the top skill-position players in the country in 2008, have been ranked No. 5 in the nation in the Sporting News' NCAA Division II top 25 pre-season poll.

The Wildcats finished 10-3 in 2007 and reached the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs before falling to Chadron State (Neb.), 76-73, in triple-overtime. ACU's 10-win campaign was the program's first 10-win season since the 1977 team went 11-1-1 on its way to the NAIA Division I national championship.

The Wildcats return quarterback Billy Malone, running back Bernard Scott and wide receiver Johnny Knox in 2008, three of the top players at their respective positions in NCAA Division II football. Scott rushed for 2,165 yards and finished as the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Award in 2007, while Malone set ACU single-season records for yards passing (3,914) and touchdowns (37). Knox set the LSC and ACU single-season record with 17 touchdown receptions in 2007.

Three-time defending Lone Star Conference champion West Texas A&M is ranked No. 11 in the poll, while Tarleton State -- another ACU rival in the LSC South Division -- is ranked No. 25. The Buffaloes return their own potent offensive trio in quarterback Keith Null, running back Keithon Flemming and wide receiver Charly Martin.

The Texans return their own potent offensive quartet in quarterback Scott Grantham, wide receiver Devin Guinn and running backs Roderick Smith and Michael Sampson. The Texans finished 9-2 last season, but were third in the LSC South Division behind West Texas A&M and ACU.

NCAA Division II powerhouse Grand Valley State (Mich.) is ranked No. 1 in the pre-season poll, followed by 2007 semifinalist California (Pa.) at No. 2. Defending national champion Valdosta State (Ga.) is ranked No. 3, followed three-time defending national runner-up Northwest Missouri State at No. 4. The Wildcats will open their season on Saturday, Aug. 30, in Maryville, Mo., against Northwest Missouri State in what could be one of the top gmaes in NCAA Division II football in 2008.

Other teams in the NCAA Division II Southwest Region that are ranked are Nebraska-Omaha at No. 9 and Pittsburg State at No. 19.

LSC Football game to be nationally televised

ASU and TSU football game to be nationally televised

From www.Lonestarconference.org

NCAA Division II and CBS College Sports Network have announced an expanded schedule of live national football broadcasts on the network this fall including the Angelo State and Tarleton State game on Thursday, October 30.

The Lone Star Conference South Division match-up kicks off at 7 p.m. from Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas. The broadcast will also be syndicated through regional sports networks and made available via broadband at www.ncaa.com.

The Rams and Texans have played each other 24 times in a series dating back to 1965. ASU holds a 14-10 advantage but TSU has won the last six meetings including a 38-10 victory in 2007.

The Division II-CBS College Sports Network partnership featured three games in 2006 (including Abilene Christian at West Texas A&M), four games in 2007 (with Texas A&M-Commerce at Pittsburg State) and has increased to six games for the upcoming 2008 season.

The CBS College Sports Network (formerly College Sports Television (CSTV)) is a multimedia network and the first dedicated exclusively to college sports 24 hours a day. It consists of CBS College Sports Network, a digital television service seen in more than 20 million homes via cable and satellite, and collegesports.com and its network of 215 official college websites.

Ex-Super Bowl foes work together at football camp

By Daniel Youngblood (Contact)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Close to 200 kids scattered across the Cooper High School practice fields Tuesday for a free football clinic as part of the Dominic Rhodes Summer Sportsfest.

The clinic, which was open to students in grades 1-8, gave local athletes a chance to get direct instruction from the Cooper coaching staff -- and from Rhodes and Danieal Manning, a pair of NFL players who played football in Abilene, either in high school or college. It also benefited the Cooper football program.

"This was (the turnout) we were hoping for," said Cooper defensive coordinator Todd Moebes, who was largely responsible for putting the camp together. "We didn't want to turn anyone away. We wanted to get everyone out here, so they could enjoy the experience with the Cooper staff and the celebrities."

For the rest of the article (with video) go to the Abilene Reporter News.

Tarleton Golf News

Cooper, Singh to play in ProAm at LPGA U.S. Open

Courtesy: Tarleton State University
Release: 06/23/2008

WOODBURY, Minn. – Two Tarleton golfers, Carla Cooper and Shraddhanjali Singh, have been invited to play in the Best Buy Charity Pro-Am Classic on June 27-28 at the Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury, Minn. as a part of the Ladies Professional Golf Association U.S. Open Weekend.

Cooper and Singh will join other NCAA All-Americans in a shotgun scramble at 8:30 a.m. on Friday before the TexAnn duo will join the other golfers at Interlachen Country Club to watch Saturday’s LPGA U.S. Open competition.

“This is an honor for our student-athletes,” said Tarleton head coach Jerry Doyle. “This is also a great recognition for our program because two TexAnns will be interacting with some of the best golfers in the nation on Friday before watching the best golfers in the world on Saturday. I am really proud of these two ladies for representing Tarleton and the TexAnn golf program.

”Cooper, a freshman from Arlington, and Singh, a sophomore from India, were each named National Golf Coaches Association All-Americans in May.

Over the past decade, this event, supporting the Best Buy Children’s Foundation, has encompassed a celebration of women’s professional golf which has proven to be mutually beneficial for both Best Buy and the LPGA professionals alike. In recognition of the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open to be held at Interlachen Country Club in Minneapolis, M.N. June 26-28, Best Buy has elected to alter the traditional format to honor the All-American selections of women’s collegiate golf. Invitations to the event were extended to Duramed FUTURES Tour NGCA All-Americans honorees of NCAA Division I, II and III women’s collegiate golf.

Tarleton Hoops add another recruit

Courtesy: Tarleton State University
Release: 06/24/2008

STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texans have added another important piece to the 2008-09 recruiting puzzle with the signing of Fort Worth native Cortney Hill to play for the men’s basketball team next season.

Hill, a 5-11, 175-pound guard, will transfer to Tarleton after playing two seasons at Weatherford College. He went to WJC after playing varsity basketball at Fort Worth’s Dunbar High School.

“Cortney comes from a very solid program at Weatherford College,” said Tarleton head coach Lonn Reisman. “He has been in some big games at Fort Worth Dunbar, including a state championship game. He knows what it takes to play in ‘pressure games.’ I have had the opportunity to see him play on several occasions, and we are getting a very good basketball player.”

Hill averaged 16.7 points per game his freshman season at WC and was selected to play in the Jerry Mullens Top 120, a jamboree of top junior college players in the country. He was a first team all-conference selection as a freshman and scored 35 points against Grayson County Community College. He also scored 22 points against eventual National Champion Midland College in his first collegiate season.

Go to Tarleton Sports for the entire article.
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Texans land junior college standout

By BRAD KEITH

Sports Editorbrad.keith@empiretribune.com
Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Limar Wilson and Mike Daniels split the point guard duties for South Central Regional finalist Tarleton State in 2007-08. With both gone, the Texans have wasted no time refilling the empty cupboard.

Tarleton announced the addition of a fifth student-athlete to its 2008 recruiting class Monday, signing its fourth point guard. Cortney Hill Jr. transfers to Tarleton after back-to-back first-team all-conference seasons at Weatherford College. Hill will be a junior during the 2008-09 season.

“I chose Tarleton because it's such a great program and because it's close to home where I have a lot of support,” said Hill, a native of Fort Worth. “My goal is to win a championship, and I think playing for Tarleton will provide an opportunity to achieve that.” Hill ran the point for legendary coach Robert Hughes, Sr. at Fort Worth Dunbar during his high school days before moving on to play for coach Mark Osina at Weatherford College.

Go to the Empire Tribune for the entire article

LSC Scholar Athletes Announced

From the LSC Office

The annual Lone Star Conference Scholar-Athlete Award winners for 2007-08 were announced on Monday, with 29 student-athletes honored by league officials.

Each academic year, the LSC presents a Scholar-Athlete Award to one male and one female student-athlete at each member institution. These student-athletes are selected as representatives of the outstanding accomplishments in athletics, scholarship and leadership that are displayed on each LSC campus during the year.
To be eligible for consideration, student-athletes must have participated at least two years in their sport and must have exhausted their athletic eligibility.

Besides representing each of the league's 15 member institutions, this year's recipients represent 10 of the 16 sports that are sponsored by the conference. Football and softball had the most Scholar-Athletes with seven selections each.

The 2007-08 Scholar-Athletes led their respective teams to six LSC divisional titles and one regular season championship.

Texas is home for 16 of the honorees, with five from Oklahoma, two from New Mexico and one each from Kansas, Colorado, Canada, South Africa, Missouri and Florida.

This year's LSC Scholar-Athlete Award recipients are:

Abilene Christian

Ben Maynard Baseball Loveland, Colo.
Alex Guiton Basketball Bedford, Texas

Angelo State

Whitney Meeks Softball Denton, Texas
Josh Hammerquist Football Flower Mound, Texas

Cameron

Merrisa Martinuzzi Basketball Ontario, Canada
Jorey Price Baseball Elk City, Okla.

Central Oklahoma

Alli Blake Softball Oklahoma City, Okla.
Chance Tatum Golf Pawnee, Okla.

East Central

Chris Kriel Tennis East London, S Africa

Betty Hernandez Cross Country Bowie, Texas

Eastern New Mexico

Keith Vargas Soccer Rio Rancho, N.M.
Stephanie Sanchez Soccer Belen, N.M.

Midwestern State

Kristen Stonecipher Softball Flower Mound, Texas
Tony Burson Football Bellville, Texas

Northeastern State

Nick Willson Football Douglassville, Texas
Kelsey Totten Softball Shawnee, Okla.

Southeastern Oklahoma

Cliff Eddings Football Coalgate, Okla.
Ashley Graham Softball Grand Prairie, Texas

Southwestern Oklahoma

Rachel Ingram Cross Country Springfield, Mo.
Josh Postin Football Andover, Kan.

Tarleton State

Kelli Gayle Softball Angleton, Texas
Ranardrick Phillips Football Madison, Fla.

Texas A&M-Commerce

Trae Grimes Football Round Rock, Texas
Jackie Orr Volleyball Mesquite, Texas

Texas A&M-Kingsville

Isaac Saldivar Track and Field Cotulla, Texas
Julia Canales Softball Kingsville, Texas

Texas Woman's

Romy Luna Soccer Lewisville, Texas

West Texas A&M

Jisel Bailon Cross Country El Paso, Texas
Tyler Cooper Basketball Amarillo, Texas

Arena Football Update - Playoffs for TAMK alums

Former Hogs Ready For AFL Playoffs

Courtesy: Texas A&M - Kingsville Sports Information

Former Texas A&M-Kingsville football players Jeff Chase, Brent Holmes, Eddie Moten and Van Nelson are all preparing for the postseason in the Arena Football League while playing for teams that posted the top two regular season records in the league.

Holmes and Moten are part of a Philadelphia Soul squad that posted a 13-3 regular season record and won the team’s first Eastern Division, clinching a first round playoff bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Holmes and Moten both played at Texas A&M-Kingsville in 2002 and 2003.

Both Holmes and Moten started their indoor football careers close to home in 2004. Holmes played with the Corpus Christi Hammerheads and Moten with the Rio Grande Valley Dorados, earned All-AFL2 honors.

Chase and Nelson are both offensive linemen for the Dallas Desperados. Dallas (12-4) will play host to the New York Dragons (8-8) in an AFL National Conference wild-card playoff game 6:30 p.m. Friday at American Airlines Center.

Holmes has caught 69 passes for 734 yards and 11 touchdowns in just 10 games this season while playing for three different teams.

He played for the Georgia Force in week one, catching eight passes for 156 yards and three scores against Dallas.

He was cut by Georgia and picked up by Tampa Bay and in four games with the Storm, caught 25 passes for 246 yards including a 9 catch, 109 yard effort against, you guessed it, the Philadelphia Soul.

Holmes played in his first game for the Soul on May 17 and in the five games he has played in, he has 36 receptions for 343 yards and six scores.

He had 11 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns against Cleveland and in the final minute of the game against Dallas the previous week, forced a fumble on a kickoff return and then made a 10-yard sideline grab for a first down to clinch a 71-64 victory.

Moten, one of the best defensive players in the AFL, leads the Soul with 93.5 total tackles and six interceptions.

He has been playing very well of late, intercepting a two-point conversion with five seconds remaining to give the Soul a 62-61 victory over the Cleveland Gladiators last week and pick off two passes, returning one for a touchdown in Sunday’s 59-30 win at New York. In his last three seasons he has intercepted 28 passes and returned seven of those for touchdowns.

Chase is in his fifth year as the starting center for Dallas, while Nelson was claimed off the Soul practice squad on May 20.

Ironically, these two teams met in one of the biggest AFL regular season games in league history when the Soul beat the Desperados 57-28 in a game marking the latest (Week 9) battle of undefeated teams in Arena Football League history.

The Scoop invades Facebook!

OK, so we are behind the curve. We get it.

But we've finally invaded Facebook!

If you have a Facebook profile, simply search The LSC Scoop and join our friend's list AND MAKE SURE you join our group. This is going to become an integral part of our daily updating process, and will keep you up to date with everything we are up to.

ALSO - Be sure to keep an eye out for an unrelated update from us. The LSC Scoop is in discussions to partner up with a MAJOR football source in Texas.

Stay tuned.

Javelinas Add Power Forward To Recruiting Class

Frank Phillips transfer Robert Williams now a Hog

Javelina men’s basketball coach Pete Peterson announced that Robert Williams has signed a national letter of intent to attend the university.

Williams had a solid sophomore season at Frank Phillips College in Borger, averaging 16.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while hitting 56 percent of his shots from the floor.

The 6-foot-6 forward led the team with 15 blocks and was second on the squad with 51 steals.

“His biggest asset is his overall athleticism,” says Peterson. “He is really good on the boards and attacks the basket with a vengeance. He likes to play defense and should fit into our style of play very well. He is very physical and aggressive. He can post up and face the basket and attack.”

Williams played high school basketball at Dallas Kimball and played as a freshman at McLennan College in Waco.

ENMU - Women's Basketball adds All-Stater

Jasmine Ivory to Join Zia Basketball Team from 2008-09 Season

Courtesy: Eastern New Mexico University
Release: 06/19/2008

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball coach Linden Weese has announced the signing of Jasmine Ivory (F, 5’11”, Turkey, Texas/Valley HS) to a National Letter of Intent for the upcoming 2008-09 season.

As a senior at VHS, Ivory averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots per game. She excelled both on and off the court, earning all-state, all-region, district Most Valuable Player and Academic All-State honors.

Track In WT's Future

School to reinstate sport in 2009-10 accademic year

Amarillo Globe News
By Greg Jaklewicz
gregory.jaklewicz@amarillo.com

Five years after adding softball, West Texas A&M plans again to expand its spring sports lineup.


WT will reinstate track and field as a men's and women's sport for the 2009-2010 academic year.

A member of the Division I Missouri Valley Conference, WT dropped track and field after the 1986 MVC meet when the university dropped its NCAA membership from Division I to Division II.

WT will become the seventh member of the Lone Star Conference to field track teams, joining national power Abilene Christian, Angelo State, Eastern New Mexico, Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Tarleton State.

ACU won the men's and women's titles in May at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Meet.

WT currently fields six men's and seven women's athletic teams.

"People are excited about us bringing back track," said Michael McBroom, WT's director of athletics. "I love the sport. There are so many different types of athletes, but it's all about pure physical ability. There are people who love that side of organized sports.

For the rest of story, go to Amarillo Globe News.

LSC announces Athletes of the Year

Belt, Brister tabbed LSC Athletes of Year

From the LSC Office

Basketball stars Sam Belt of Central Oklahoma and Emily Brister of West Texas A&M were selected as the 2008 Lone Star Conference Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively. The awards were announced Wednesday following a vote of the league's sports information directors.
UCO's Belt was named the LSC top male athlete after guiding the Bronchos to the Elite Eight for the second time in school history. For the third straight year, WTAMU's Brister earned the title of top female athlete in the league after leading the Lady Buffs to a LSC championship.

Belt received the most votes followed by Angelo State baseball standout Clay Calfee and Abilene Christian football star Jerale Badon. Brister grabbed the women's award ahead of UCO volleyball star Lacie Allen and Tarleton State golf sensation Shraddhanjali Singh.

Belt, a 6-5 senior from Broken Arrow, Okla., picked up numerous honors this season after leading UCO to the LSC North Division title, LSC Championship and the NCAA Division II South Central Regional crown. The Bronchos finished a best-ever 28-6 and made their first Elite Eight appearance since 1992.

The LSC North Division Player of the Year, Belt also earned Most Valuable Player honors in the LSC Championship after averaging 28 point and 9.7 rebounds in the event. He was an all-tournament selection at the South Central Regional as well.

Belt averaged 19.1 points and 7.8 rebounds a game for the season. He played in every game during his four-year UCO career and set school career records for three-pointers made (263) and attempted (698) and free throws made (511) and attempted (652). He finished second in career scoring with 1,918 points and third in career rebounding with 845 boards.



Brister, a 5-9 junior guard from Amarillo, Texas, continued her remarkable career at WTAMU. She guided the Lady Buffs to a 26-5 record, LSC championship and the NCAA Division II South Central regional quarterfinals.

Brister led the LSC in scoring (21.8) and steals (95), while pacing WTAMU in just about every category. She became the Lady Buffs all-time leading scorer this year and also the first WTAMU basketball player, male or female, to score 2,000 career points in a season. She now has 2,106 career points - 664 shy of all-time LSC leading scorer Claudia Schleyer of ACU.

In 2007-08, she was named the LSC South Division Player of the Year for the third straight time, Academic Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and LSC Championship MVP. Additionally, Brister was tabbed the Daktronics South Central Region Player of the Year for the second straight season, Daktronics first team All-America and honorable mention All-America by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and first team Academic All-America by ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA.

Here's a closer look at the voting breakdown for each award:

LSC MALE ATHLETE OF YEAR (Name, Year, School, Sport, Points): Sam Belt, University of Central Oklahoma, Sr., Basketball, 27; Clay Calfee, Angelo State University, Jr., Baseball, 14; Jerale Badon, Abilene Christian University, Sr., Football, 14; Daniel Brown, Midwestern State University, Sr., Soccer, 8; Randall Clay, Southeastern Oklahoma University, Sr., Baseball, 6; Scooby Johnson, Texas A&M-Commerce, Sr., Men's Basketball, 6; Ranardrick Phillips, Tarleton State University, Sr., Football, 4; Peter Svajlen, Cameron University, Jr., Men's Golf, 3; Sam Powell, Northeastern State University, Jr., Golf, 3; Marcus Johnson, East Central University, So., Football, 2; Robert Lee, West Texas A&M University, Sr., Men's Basketball, 2; Tyler Hayes, Eastern New Mexico University, Sr., Baseball, 1; Chris Morrison, Southwestern Oklahoma, Sr., Baseball, 0.
LSC FEMALE ATHLETE OF YEAR (Name, Year, School, Sport, Points): Emily Brister, West Texas A&M University, Jr., Women's Basketball, 34; Lacie Allen, University of Central Oklahoma, Sr., Volleyball, 10; Shraddhanjali Singh, Tarleton State, So., Women's Golf, 10; Adree Lakey, Angelo State University, Jr., Outdoor Track & Field, 9; Courtney Arno-Templet, Texas Woman's, Sr., Women's Gymnastics, 7; Britney Jordan, Texas A&M-Commerce, Jr., Women's Basketball, 6; Rachel Lynn, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Sr., Softball, 5; Allison Schreiber, Midwestern State, Jr., Volleyball, 3; Stephanie Bird, Northeastern State, Jr., Women's Golf, 3; Fernanda Queiroz, Cameron University, Sr., Volleyball, 2; Grace Anne Fath, Southwestern Oklahoma, Sr., Basketball/Cross Country, 1; Abbie Lowry, Abilene Christian University, Sr., Volleyball, 0; Lacey Goldwire, East Central University, Sr., Women's Basketball, 0; Laura Thompson, Eastern New Mexico, Jr., Softball, 0.

Angelo State Soccer coach leaving

Brown Headed to Sam Houston State

Courtesy: ASU Sports Information
Release: 06/18/2008

Angelo State Director of Athletics Kathleen Brasfield has announced that ASU's head women's soccer coach Tom Brown has resigned to take the same post at Sam Houston State in Huntsville.

The winningest coach in 'Belles soccer history, Brown guided ASU for 11 seasons and led the program to six appearances in the Lone Star Conference postseason tournament, including each of the past five years. Brown leaves ASU with a 90-93-21 record at Angelo State in his 11 seasons, including four campaigns of 10 or more wins.

"Tom Brown was an ambassador for soccer in the San Angelo community," Brasfield said. "He worked tirelessly to improve himself as a coach and to improve the sport of soccer. From being a member of the national rules committee to writing a weekly soccer column in the local newspaper, Tom was involved both locally and nationally in the advancement of soccer.

"A nationwide search for the fourth head women's soccer coach in program history will begin immediately with the goal to have a new coach in place by the end of July.

Midwestern State adds SAC foe to football schedule

After Adams State exercised their buyout option rather than travel to Wichita Falls to pen the 2008 football season, Midwestern State was left scrambling to find a tenth opponent. It put MSU in a challenging position, as most schools have finalized their schedules.

“We are working to find a replacement game for Adams State, although it is very difficult at this point in the year," MSU Athletics Director Charlie Carr said. "It is particularly disappointing after we fulfilled the away portion of a two year home and home agreement to have a school back out at this time.”

And find a replacement they have. Not only a replacement, but an upgrade in quality of opponent as well. The Newberry Indians will be coming to Wichita Falls to play MSU on September 20 (though not yet listed on the schedule on the Midwestern State website as of yet).

Newberry, 9-2 last year, will have one of the toughest schedules in the country. Four of Newberry's first five opponents finished in the Top 25 in the final polls in 2007. They include defend national champion Valdosta State to open the season, MSU in week 3, Carson-Newman in week 4, and Catawba in week 5.

Another DI transfer coming to LSC basketball

Tarleton adds Division I transfer from Bradley

Courtesy: Tarleton State University
Release: 06/17/2008

Tarleton head coach Lonn Reisman announced the addition of Tyrone Cole-Scott, another NCAA Division I transfer, to the men’s basketball roster for the 2008-09 season.

The senior point guard will come to the Texans from Bradley where he played in 27 games for the Braves last season as a junior.

“Tyrone brings our basketball program a very experience basketball player that has outstanding athletic ability,” Reisman said. “At 5-10, he has a very strong body that allows him to score at the basket where he finishes very well. He has a very good ability to go into the lane and distribute the basketball.”

Reisman is also excited about the ability Cole-Scott brings to both ends of the floor and the guidance he will bring to the locker room.

“He is an outstanding defensive player with the heart and soul to play the game of basketball,” Reisman said. “He has an excellent leadership ability, and he is a solid student-athlete who will graduate. Tyrone is the fit we were looking for at point guard, but he also has the ability to swing over to the two position. He is one of those players you can give the ball to when the game is on the line and know he will make a good decision.”

The 5-10, 186-pound Waterloo, Iowa native is excited to play his final year of collegiate eligibility as a member of the winning program at Tarleton.

“I was ecstatic to join the program because of the tradition and history,” Cole-Scott said. “I felt like I’m going to be a part of something special and help compete for a championship. The players work extremely hard, and that will push me to get better everyday. It is all about unity here.”

The newest Texan believes he can add to the foundation already established within the program.

“I want to contribute to the best of my abilities and to reach the ultimate goal with the team: winning a championship,” Cole-Scott said. “I feel the whole team shines when that happens. I truly want to have a great season, especially a great postseason when it really matters. I believe my experience and my abilities bring a lot to the team. I want to work hard everyday and uplift my teammates and get to where we all want to be.”

Go to Tarleton Sports for the rest of the article.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quick recap of Tarleton's announced basketball additions:

5-10 Tyrone Cole-Scott (Bradley/Tyler JC) one year remaining
6-0 Larry Petite (Arlington Heights HS)
6-6 Jean-Marc Melchior (Northwestern University) one year remaining
6-4 Tyler Rushing (Western Texas College) two years remaining

Tarleton loses 5 seniors from last years 25-7 South Central Region Runner-up. Those five combined for 46.6 points and 18.6 rebounds per game.

Tarleton alum named head baseball coach

By BRAD KEITH
Sports Editor
brad.keith@empiretribune.com
Published: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

Tarleton State University has turned to one of its own to resurrect the Texan baseball program.

Athletics Director Lonn Reisman announced the hiring of Tarleton graduate Bryan Conger as the school’s new head baseball coach on Monday.

Conger, currently a pitching coach at NCAA Division I Utah, won three letters playing baseball for the Texans from 1993-95, then played professionally for two years with Pine Bluff of the Texas-Louisiana League.

Following his playing days, Conger coached at both Lamar Community College (Col.) and Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan. before his five-year stint at Utah.

“I am confident Bryan will take our baseball program to where it needs to be in order to compete for both Lone Star Conference championships and NCAA playoff berths,” Reisman said. “He brings in a solid vision of where he wants our baseball program to be in the future. I was impressed with his enthusiasm, energy and knowledge of the game of baseball. I think our student-athletes will be very impressed with him, as well.”

For the rest of the story, go to the Empire Tribune.

ECU names new men's basketball coach

ECU's Alexander chosen to lead Aggies

Courtesy Cameron Sports

LAWTON, Oklahoma (June 16) – Wade Alexander, the assistant men’s basketball coach at East Central University (Ada, Oklahoma), a fellow Lone Star Conference school, was officially announced as the new head men’s basketball coach at Cameron University this morning. CU Athletic Director Jim Jackson has finalized the hiring and Alexander has already begun his duties at CU.

Alexander is from the Southwest Oklahoma area and grew up in Marlow, Oklahoma. He takes the place of recently departed Maurice Leitzke who left the Aggies for personal and family reasons.

“I’m very excited to hire Wade Alexander,” Jackson said. “What excites me is that he has the reputation of being one of the top recruiters in this area and in the LSC. He knows the LSC and he has been successful at three different institutions. He comes highly recommended and is ready to take over his own program. I’m delighted he is coming on board to join our family.”

Alexander, who has been a head coach of men’s and women’s golf (Bacone College) but never of men’s basketball, was equally excited about the move to Cameron and to Lawton.

“I think this is a great opportunity,” Alexander said. “I think Cameron University is a gold mine, and I think we can really get some big things done here. I am from the area and know a lot about the area. I’ve followed CU for many years and this is truly a place I have always wanted to be.”

Alexander served as the assistant men’s basketball coach under head coach Terry Shannon at East Central University from 2005-2008. While at ECU he helped lead the Tigers to a third-place finish in the LSC after the 2005-2006 season, and was instrumental in the development of seven LSC All-Conference players. He also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator under head coach Terry Shannon and was responsible for all of the administrative duties.

“Wade has a tireless work ethic and is driven to succeed,” Jackson said. “I expect great things from him. He’s paid his dues and he has been a very good assistant coach. There comes a point when you’re ready to become a head coach and somebody has to give you that break. I know Wade will do great things at Cameron.”

Link to rest of story at Goaggies.com

Former Texan named head baseball coach

Courtesy: Tarleton State University
Release: 06/16/2008

STEPHENVILLE - Tarleton athletics director Lonn Reisman has announced the hiring of Bryan Conger as the head coach of the Tarleton baseball program.

“Bryan brings in a solid vision of where he wants the Tarleton baseball program to be in the future,” Reisman said. “He brings in five years of NCAA Division I experience from Utah and that has helped him develop some great contacts across the country. I was impressed with his enthusiasm, his energy and his knowledge of the game of baseball. I think our players will be very impressed with Coach Conger and I have every confidence he will take our baseball program to where it needs to be in order to compete for both Lone Star Conference championships and NCAA playoff berths.

”A former three-year letterwinner as a Texan baseball player, Conger returns to Tarleton following stints at Lamar Community College, Cloud County Community College and the University of Utah.

“This is a great move for myself and my family,” Conger said. “We are all excited to move back home. It is a great opportunity professionally and a great challenge to turn the program back to where it can and should be. I’m looking forward to the opportunity and I cannot wait to get started.”

Link to rest of story at Tarletonsports.com.

Sheffield shares ‘Elite’ memories

By BRAD KEITH
Sports Editor
brad.keith@empiretribune.com
Published: Friday, June 13, 2008 11:08 AM CDT


LaShon Sheffield still says he didn’t travel.

Two seasons have passed since the 6-0, 160-pound guard from Memphis, Tenn. led Tarleton State to back-to-back NCAA Division II South Central Region championships and appearances in the Elite Eight, and Sheffield has nothing but positive memories of his time spent wearing the purple and white.

These days, Sheffield is still playing basketball, still loves the sport and still says the only way he knows how to play is all out, all the time. “Just work as hard as you can at every single thing you do,” Sheffield says.

That’s it. That’s the big secret Tarleton head men’s basketball coach Lonn Reisman has taught Sheffield and so many other Texans past and present who have lifted the program to the elite level where it now stands.

Work hard - and don’t travel.

Link to rest of story at Empire Tribune.

ACU finishes second in Director's Cup

Courtesy ACU
Release 6/12/2008

DALLAS -- For the fifth time in 13 years, Abilene Christian University finished second in the United States Sports Academy Director's Cup standings, which were announced Thursday.

ACU won three team national championships on the season and finished as the runner-up at the men's indoor track and field and championship meet on its way to earning an all-time best 808 points. Ten of ACU's 14 athletic programs reached NCAA post-season play with the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams contributing all three national championships and contributed 526.5 points to the Wildcats' cause.

However, those championships and all of those points weren't enough to overtake the Lakers, who won their fifth straight USSA Director's Cup title at the NCAA Division II level. Despite not earning a single individual championship, Grand Valley State captured the Division II Cup with 1028.75 total points. The Lakers placed in 17 postseason championships, earning points in the maximum of seven men's and seven women's sports. Grand Valley State finished third in women's cross country, women's soccer, football, women's golf, fourth in men's cross country, men's indoor track and field, and fifth in women's volleyball and men's basketball. The Lakers also placed sixth in men's outdoor track and field and women's indoor track and field, eighth in women's outdoor track and field, 14th in men's golf, 16th in women's swimming and 17th in men's tennis.

Last year ACU finished third in the Director's Cup standings with what was then a program-record 761.75 points. However, the Wildcats moved up one spot to the runner-up position this year with another program-record 808 points. The Wildcats were fourth in the standings after the fall with 222 points (100 from men's cross country, 69 from women's cross country and 53 from football) before falling to ninth after the winter standings with 379.5 points (90 from men's indoor track and 67.5 from women's indoor track).

However, a huge spring from the Wildcats helped push them back into the runner-up spot behind the Lakers. The men's and women's track and field teams contributed 200 points to the Wildcats' cause with a pair of national championships (100 points apiece), while the men's and women's tennis teams each contributed 64 points for ninth-place finishes. The softball team chipped in 50 points, while the men's golf team added 50.5 points. The ACU athletics department has asked the USSA why the ACU baseball team – which reached the regional tournament – wasn't awarded points for its NCAA appearance.

Since the Director's Cup became a part of collegiate athletics, ACU has finished in the top three seven times, in the top 10 in 10 seasons and in the top 15 all 13 years of the standings. ACU, in fact, is the only NCAA Division II institution to finish in the top 15 in the final standings in each of the 13 years of the program. Cal-Davis, which won six Director's Cups before making the move to NCAA Division I status after the 2002-03 academic year, appeared in the top five in all eight final standings while it was a Division II institution, and Cal State-Bakersfield appeared in the top 15 11 straight years before the Roadrunners made the move to NCAA Division I status.

"The USSA Director's Cup is something we're striving every year to win, and we're very proud of the way our student-athletes competed this year to allow us to finish second," ACU director of athletics Jared Mosley said. "ACU has one of the great athletic traditions in Division II and we're all proud that we have the chance to build on that tradition every year."

Shannon coaches USA team in Europe

Courtesy: ECU Sports Information
Release: 06/12/2008

ADA – East Central University men’s head basketball coach Terry Shannon recently guided a team of USA basketball stars on a 5-0 run in a nine-day span through Europe.

Shannon, a last-minute replacement as the team’s coach, led nine U.S. college players on the 2008 European Metropolis Tour which saw the team visit London, England; Paris, France; Bredene, Belgium; and the Netherlands from May 17-25.

In London, Shannon and the team were able to see the changing of the guard, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and Big Bend. They then took the Eurostar train to Paris and visited the Eiffel Tower. A French guide took them on a tour the next day to see Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre.

Over in Belgium, the squad got to tour the Breendonk Concentration Camp.

"It was awfully eerie," said Shannon. "That and Paris were the two things that stood out for me on the trip."

In Amsterdam, the team visited a cheese farm, went on a canal cruise and toured Anne Frank’s house.

Members of Shannon’s squad included: Peter Alexander (Lynchburg College), Adam Dorzeniecki (Purdue North Central), Isaiah Goodman (Washington & Lee), Kevin Mendez (Lynchburg), Kyle Pape (Colorado School of Mines), Terry Polk (Purdue North Central), Bradley Puffenbarger (Lynchburg), Zachary White (Washington & Lee) and Cody Gatton (California-Maritime).

"We had a good group of kids and it was an enjoyable trip," Shannon said.

Shannon’s squad defeated Richmond College in London, 96-78; Stade Francais in Paris, 75-73; BC Comware, 129-74 in Bredene, Balgium; Matrixx Magixx in Nijmegan, Netherlands, 97-85; and Utrecht Cangeroes in Utrecht, Netherlands, 91-85.

RiverHawks Men's Basketball Announces Five New Additions

Courtesy: Northeastern State University

Release: 06/12/2008

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. ----- Northeastern State University Head Men’s Basketball coach Larry Gipson announces the additions of five student-athletes to the 2008-2009 RiverHawks team.

The RiverHawks will welcome Ralph Monday of Citrus College, Marlon Burnett of Fresno City College, Tulio Cobos of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Kenny McKinney of Itawamba Community College and JC Snead of West Hills College.

“We’re really pleased with the recruiting class as a whole,” NSU Associate Head Coach Scott Reed said. “We had some things we felt we had to immediately address and we did that.”

Snead is a 6-5, 225 pound forward from Anchorage Alaska . He played two seasons at West Hills College where he averaged 16 points per game while earning All-Conference and All-State accolades.

McKinney is a 5-10, 180 pound point guard from Fulton , Mississippi . He played two seasons at Itawamba Community College where he led the Indians to a 30-4 mark last season that included a conference and regional championship. The Indians were ranked 5th in the national polls and won the 2008 Mississippi State championship and advanced to the national tournament in 2007&2008. McKinney led the Indians to a 57-10 record in two seasons.

Cobos is a 6-6, 265 pound forward/Post from Los Teques , Venezuela . He played two seasons at NEO. He led the Norseman to a 27-7 mark and a Region II championship and a berth in the national tournament in 2008. Cobos averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per contest.

Burnett is a 6-3, 200 pound guard from Milwaukee , Wisconsin . He played two seasons at Fresno City College , leading the Rams to the 2007 California JC state championship and Central Valley Conference title. The Rams repeated in 2008 as conference champions where Burnett was the CVC Player of the Year and All-State selection. He averaged 13 points per contest.

Monday is a 6-4, 180 pound guard/forward from Los Angeles , California . He played two seasons for Citrus College where he helped the Fighting Owls to a 35-1 mark and a California Junior College State Championship. Monday averaged seven points and four rebounds per contest.

Javelina Coach Blake Miller Named To USA National Team

Javelina softball coach Blake Miller has been named to the USA Softball Men’s National Team. Miller is one of just 18 players named to the national team after the selection camp May 23-26 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The team will represent the United States in the Tri-Nation Competition taking place July 3-6 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Canada, Japan and the U.S. are the three participating teams.

This is the sixth time that Miller has been selected to play on the men’s national team.

Miller will train in Kingsville until leaving to join the national team on June 30.

During his time with the national team, he has captured a Gold Medal in the 2002 Pan American Qualifier in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and a Silver Medal in the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Last year he played on the USA squad that finished second at the International Softball Federation World Cup in the Czech Republic and won the inaugural KFC American Challenge Series in Oklahoma City. As the team’s starting second baseman, Miller batted .300 with a double, a triple, two home runs and 10 RBI in the World Cup.

In his 16th year as a player, Miller also plays for the Kitchner (Ont.) River Shark Twins. The River Shark Twins are currently ranked third in the world and will play in the International Softball Congress World Tournament in Kimberly Wisc., in August.

"I felt confident I was going to get picked,” said Miller about his selection to team USA. “This is a young team, only three or four veterans are on the squad and only two or three of us have had a lot of international experience. I'm usually the young guy, but not this time. I'm very excited. It's a different kind of team. Now it's to the point where I'm in a leadership position. We need to teach the young kids how to compete in the international spotlight. That spotlight changes everything. Japan and Canada will both have very good teams. It will be interesting.”
Miller has to fit his training in around his already hectic schedule as head coach of the Javelinas.

“I fit my training in whenever I can. I'll take some swings and I play on club team on the weekends and see some great pitching. This is my second year with the River Shark Twins. I'm the only American on the team. There are eight Canadians and our catcher is on the New Zealand national team. I play about two weekends a month from May through August.”

Former Lions DB Earns Second Arena Football League Player of the Week Honor in 2008

Lionathletics.com

Former Texas A&M-Commerce and current Tampa Bay Storm defensive back Traco Rachal was named the Arena Football League ADT Defensive Player of the Week for Week 15. Rachal registered 10.5 tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception as the Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Orlando Predators, 71-61, last Saturday. On the first play of the second-half, Rachal recovered a fumble by WR DeAndrew Rubin on Orlando's 22-yard line. Tampa Bay scored on the ensuing play, extending its lead to 16 points. On first-and-goal from the Storm 13-yard line with 48 seconds remaining and Tampa Bay leading by 10, Rachal intercepted Predators QB Shane Stafford in the end zone to seal the victory.

Rachal earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after Week 11, when he made 12.5 tackles, one pass defensed and one interception as the Tampa Bay Storm defeated the New Orleans VooDoo. On fourth-and-goal from Tampa Bay's nine-yard line, with eight seconds remaining and the Storm leading by four, Rachal intercepted VooDoo QB Danny Wimprine to seal the victory and end the game. Tampa Bay's defense held New Orleans to season-lows in scoring with 16 first-half points and 37 for the game.

Rachal and the Storm travel to HP Pavilion to face the San Jose SaberCats (9-5) on Saturday, June 14 at 10:30 p.m. ET

LSC Baseballer signs free agent contract

Elkerson signs with Braves

Courtesy: ACU
Release: 06/09/2008

ABILENE -- Former ACU outfielder Mike Elkerson went undrafted in last week's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, but it didn't take long for him to find a job through free agency.

Elkerson, a first team all-America on three different post-season teams, signed a minor league free-agent contract with the Atlanta Braves on Monday and will join the club's Rookie League team in Danville, Va., later this week. The Braves will open the 2008 season on June 17 with a 7 p.m. road game against the Burlington (N.C.) Royals. The Royals are in Danville the next two nights as the two teams open the Appalachian League season with a three-game set.

Elkerson, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior outfielder from San Clemente, Calif., led the Wildcats to the NCAA South Central Region Tournament and an overall record of 44-17 to finish the season. The big-hitting left fielder finished the year batting .424 with 22 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs, and 86 RBIs. In 262 at-bats, Elkerson collected 111 hits and swiped 19 stolen bases for head coach Britt Bonneau's club. His 111 hits and 202 total bases established new Lone Star Conference records.

Elkerson was named first team all-America by Daktronics, Rawlings / American Baseball Coaches' Association and by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association teams. Elkerson and junior pitcher Trey Watten (who was named first team all-America designated hitter by Daktronics) are only the third and fourth ACU baseball players in program history to be voted first team all-America, joining second baseman Ronny Haring (1997) and relief pitcher Jameson Maj (2007) on the short list. Watten was drafted in the seventh round last Friday by the Milwaukee Brewers.

SWOSU Begins Search for New Athletic Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2008

SWOSU BEGINS SEARCH FOR NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University has begun the process of identifying candidates to replace veteran administrator Cecil Perkins as the school’s new director of athletics.

Perkins took over a new assignment as special assistant to the president on June 1 after serving as the school’s athletic director since 1981.

SWOSU president John Hays said he has taken a number of calls in regards to the position although the official posting was not until today (June 6).

“We'll go through the full process, take our time, and make the right decision," he said. “I’m confident this type of job will attract a number of well-qualified candidates.”

Kelli Litsch, the school’s associate athletic director and compliance officer, will continue to serve as the interim athletic director while the search proceeds.

SWOSU competes in the Lone Star Conference and is a member of the NCAA Division II. The school’s athletic program is home to nearly 300 student-athletes and three dozen staffers that include coaches, trainers and other department officials.

The Bulldogs field teams in 12 sports: football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, women’s soccer, women’s cross country men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s rodeo and men’s rodeo.

The official job description and posting can be viewed at the following website
http://www.swosu.edu/administration/hr/employ-opps.asp

A&M-Commerce Great Dies After Surgery

White, key member of Steelers dynasty, dies after surgery

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH -- Dwight White, the Steel Curtain defensive end known as "Mad Dog" who helped lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 58.

The Steelers said White died at a Pittsburgh hospital. The cause was not disclosed. The team said White was released from the hospital after having back surgery, but then was readmitted with complications.

White is the second member of the original four-man Steel Curtain to die this year. Defensive tackle Ernie Holmes died Jan. 17 in a car accident in Texas.

White, a two-time Pro Bowl player, was chosen as one of the 33 members of the Steelers' 75th anniversary all-time team last season.

White was best known for climbing out of a hospital bed to play in the Steelers' first Super Bowl victory, 16-6 over the Minnesota Vikings in 1975. White lost 18 pounds after being diagnosed with pneumonia and a lung infection, yet played nearly the entire game.

White made three tackles for no yards as the Vikings ran seven of their first eight running plays his way and went on to finish with only 17 yards rushing on 21 attempts. White also accounted for the only points of the first half when he sacked Fran Tarkenton in the end zone for a safety.

White, a former player at East Texas State (now Texas A&M-Commerce), gained his nickname because of his intensity. He often said that playing on the defensive line was like having "a dog's life."

Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said that inner drive was the reason the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder could play so well only hours after being hospitalized.

"He played with a relentlessness that led us to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s," Rooney said in a statement. "Dwight refused to be denied, as was evidenced when he walked out of the hospital with pneumonia to play in Super Bowl IX and had an outstanding game. Dwight will be remembered by those who knew him even more for being a wonderful and caring person."

Rooney's son, Steelers president Art Rooney II, said the organization "lost an important member."

"He always seemed to rise to the occasion when it counted most and added an element of toughness that was synonymous with our teams of the 1970s," Rooney II said.

White's death follows a trend in which former Steelers players have died at an uncommon rate. At least 38 former Steelers players have died since 2000, with 17 of them 59 or younger, as was White.

According to a Los Angeles Times survey in 2006, one-fifth of the former NFL players from the 1970s and 1980s who died through that year were former Steelers.

White was a fourth-round draft pick in 1971 after being a first-team All-Lone Star Conference player and team captain at East Texas State as a senior.

White made his first Pro Bowl in 1972, playing on a Steelers defensive line that also featured Hall of Famer Mean Joe Greene and defensive end L.C. Greenwood.

White repeated as a Pro Bowl selection in 1973 and his 46 sacks from 1971-80 are the seventh most in Steelers history. He had 33½ sacks from 1972-75, with three in the Steelers' 21-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the January 1976 Super Bowl.

White was chosen by The Associated Press as a first team All-AFC player in 1973.

White retired after the 1980 season -- one of the first players from the Steelers' Super Bowl teams to do so -- and became a prominent stock broker in Pittsburgh and one of the most successful former Steelers in the business world.

Most recently, he was senior managing director of public finance for Mesirow Financial in Pittsburgh. Before that, he was a partner and principal operator of the Pittsburgh office of W.R. Lazard & Co., plus a company board member, and worked for investment firms Balche-Halsey and Daniels & Bell.

"Let's just say, like Yogi Bear used to say, I'm smarter than the average bear," White told Pittsburgh author Jim O'Brien in 1991. In the same interview, he said his one vice was he smoked too much.

White, the oldest of three children who grew up in Hampton, Va., and Dallas, also was involved in numerous community events and charity activities.

"He had a special gift that enabled him to liven up any room that he entered," Rooney II said.

White also was chairman of the Pennsylvania Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

"His NFL nickname, Mad Dog, belied the fact that he was a true gentleman and an accomplished business leader," Gov. Ed Rendell said in a statement. "After retiring from football, he entered the financial services industry with the same tenacity and determination he showed on the football field."

Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

MLB Draft - ACU star taken by Brewers

Brewers draft Watten in 7th round

Courtesy: ACU
Release: 06/06/2008

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- The Milwaukee Brewers drafted ACU junior right-handed pitcher Trey Watten in the seventh round (pick No. 218) of Major League Baseball's 2008 First-Year Player Draft Friday morning.

Watten was the Brewers' 11th pick in the draft and their seventh pitcher selected. The seventh-round selection makes Watten the second-highest ACU player ever picked behind only Bill Gilbreth, a third-round pick by Detroit in 1969.

Watten made 16 appearances on the mound and went 10-3 for ACU in 2008. He pitched 98.1 innings and posted a paltry 2.56 ERA. He also struck out a Lone Star Conference-leading 113 batters en route to being named the conference Pitcher of the Year. His 113 strikeouts are the third-highest total in school history behind the 134 posted in both 1967 and 1968 by Gilbreth.

Watten was also a Daktronics first-team all-American pick as a designated hitter in 2008. At the plate, Watten hit .377 with five home runs and 45 RBI to go along with 15 doubles and 92 total bases.

MLB Draft - Two Rams selected

Calfee, Sullivan Selected By LA Dodgers

Courtesy: ASU Sports Information
Release: 06/06/2008


Angelo State first baseman Clay Calfee and third baseman Shan Sullivan became the first-ever Rams to be selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft when both were tabbed by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

Calfee, who re-wrote the ASU career-record book in 2008, and Sullivan, who led the Rams in runs batted in this season, had to sit through the first day of the draft on Thursday without receiving a phone call from a major league club. On Friday, Calfee was picked in the 14th round while Sullivan was picked in the 32nd round.

Calfee is projected as an outfielder by the Dodgers while Sullivan was picked as a third baseman. In his three years at ASU, Calfee has spent most of his time at first base with some appearances as a starting pitcher. Sullivan has played his entire career on the left side of the diamond, splitting time between shortstop and third.

Calfee led the Rams in 2008 with a .418 batting average and banged out a record-tying 13 home runs. He also led the Lone Star Conference with 75 runs scored, 24 doubles and a .517 on-base percentage. Sullivan had his best year as a Ram leading the team with 74 runs batted in. Calfee was received a Daktronics All-America honorable mention and an ABCA South Central Region first team selection while Sullivan was selected to the South Central Region second team. Both players were named to the All-LSC first team in 2008.

Two other players with Angelo State ties were taken in the draft. Tommy Rafferty, who played on the 2006 LSC South Division championship team, was taken in the 28th round by the Tampa Bay Rays while Zack Stewart, who was at ASU in 2005, was taken in the third round by the Cincinnati Reds.

Tarleton gets another basketball commit

Three-time 7-4A MVP commits to Tarleton

By BRAD KEITH

Sports Editor
brad.keith@empiretribune.com
Published: Friday, June 6, 2008 11:07 AM CDT

Larry Petite was looking for a way out. Basketball was his best chance.

Growing up in the ghetto of Southeastern Fort Worth, Petite was raised by a single mother. With four siblings, he had to maintain a part-time job, which he balanced with his school work and basketball.

For the Fort Worth Arlington Heights senior who graduates this weekend, signing a national letter-of-intent to take his game to the collegiate level at Tarleton State was a dream come true.
“Larry has had a real tough upbringing, and this is a great opportunity for him,” said Arlington Heights head basketball coach Gary Collier. “Stephenville is a world away for him, but at the same time it’s close enough to home that he can be here anytime he needs to.”

Tarleton announced the signing of Petite, a 6-0, 185-pound guard, for the 2008-09 season on Wednesday afternoon, adding him to a recruiting class that already includes junior college transfer Tyler Rushing and NCAA Division I move-in Jean-Marc Melchior. Head coach Lonn Reisman is expected to release at least three more signees in the coming weeks, and says he may add as many as six more.

Go to Stephenville Empire Tribune for rest of story.

A&M-Commerce and the Cotton Bowl - An Annual Event?

KXII News Report

LINK

By BRENT LYDAY
Herald-Banner Staff

The Texas A&M University-Commerce Lions will be heading back to the Cotton Bowl for the first time since 1977. The Lions will be matching up with the East Central Tigers on Oct. 18 for the first game of a three-year agreement between the teams and the stadium.

“I think it will be a unique experience,” said Lions head coach Scotty Conley, who has been a part of Cotton Bowl games in the past.

Conley coached with the University of Texas from 1982-86 and took part in four Texas-Oklahoma matchups.

“It’s very significant in my career – the unique atmosphere of the Texas-OU game during the state fair time,” said Conley. “So I’ve got very strong memories and I look forward to our players and our coaches having some similar opportunities, and it will be very historical being our (current team) first game there.

A&M-Commerce has played six games overall at the Cotton Bowl with the first dating back to 1948 when the Lions defeated West Texas A&M, 13-7. The team also played there in 1950 and from 1974-77, having won all six. The 1974-77 matchups were all with Prairie View A&M to open those respective seasons.

Playing at the Cotton Bowl for the first time in 31 years can give A&M-Commerce a chance to connect with the surrounding areas.

“For the university I think it’s more recognition within the metroplex area that we can use, certainly as a recruiting tool, not only for athletics but for the entire university,” said Conley.

The weekend before A&M-Commerce takes the field at the Cotton Bowl, the AT&T Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma will take place. The Lions can only hope they will follow the success of this and other annual series played in the stadium as well.

Prairie View A&M and Grambling State also play in the stadium each year and will play again this season on Oct. 4. State Fair of Texas President Errol McKoy reported that the Grambling-Prairie View A&M game started with an attendance of about 18,000 and grew to 65,000 last season. He also said, “we think the long-term potential is there for this game, too.”

The matchup between A&M-Commerce and ECU has the Lions playing as the home team in all three years. The Lions hold an 11-5-1 series advantage over East Central, including last season’s 43-21 rout over the Tigers in Ada, Oklahoma.

While the current plan has the Lions playing at the Cotton Bowl for three years, there is a possibility more games could be played at the stadium in the future.

“Hopefully, I think, what we’re looking at is after these three years, we’ll see it’s a mutual, beneficial situation for the Cotton Bowl association as well as our university,” said Conley.

While the games at the Cotton Bowl will bring recognition to the university, it could also give alumni from the metroplex a chance to see their alma mater play.

“We have so many alumni in the mextroplex area that might come to a game there that we haven’t been able to get to Commerce, but if they come there and see the type of team we’re putting on the field, then maybe they will start driving to Commerce to see our games,” said Conley.

Conley also said “I appreciate the work (athletic director Carlton) Cooper has done in working on this arrangement and having the idea to do it, the foresight to do it. I like the fact that we’re going to try to play there every year.”

Other LSC hopefuls for MLB Draft

High hopes for Watten, other locals in baseball draft

By Daniel Youngblood (Contact)
Abilene Reporter News
Wednesday, June 4, 2008

In his 16 years of playing baseball, Abilene Christian University junior Trey Watten has only spent two seasons as a pitcher.

Yet as the first day of the Major League Baseball 2008 First-Year Player Draft approaches, it's Watten's arm that has scouts across the country buzzing.

The two-day draft begins at 1 p.m. today and Watten headlines a group of four local players hoping to be taken in one of the draft's 50 rounds.
ACU seniors Mike Elkerson and Chris Wiman and McMurry standout Derek David also hope to hear their names called before the selections end Friday.

Mound man
While Elkerson, Wiman and David all have hopes of being drafted after strong finishes to their college careers, it's almost a given that Watten will be taken by one of the 30 major league teams.

The 6-foot-4 right-hander, who went 20-3 with a 2.74 ERA over the past two seasons, has thrown bullpen sessions for the Baltimore Orioles, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Detroit Tigers in the past week and is expected to be taken sometime in the first 10 rounds.

"From what I've seen him do, we thought he'd be taken for sure in the top eight rounds, but I'm thinking fourth or fifth round is probably realistic," ACU coach Britt Bonneau said.

Link to rest of story

UCO All-American

Carroll Named All-American

Courtesy: UCO Media Relations

Central Oklahoma's Tyler Carroll was named a first-team NCAA Division II All-American on the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-America team that was released Monday.

Carroll, a senior from Norman, made the elite first-team squad at designated hitter in voting of head coaches from around the country. He was selected as a third-team All-America outfielder on the Daktronics team that was announced last week.

"Tyler had a great year for us and he was certainly deserving of being on the All-America team," UCO coach Wendell Simmons said. "He was a tremendous offensive weapon this season and could hurt a team in a lot of ways."

Carroll hit for both average and power in 2008 while also possessing great speed on the basepaths for 36-23 Bronchos. He batted .414 with 17 home runs, 16 doubles and 62 runs batted in while also stealing 24 bases and finished with an impressive .466 on-base percentage.

Carroll ranked third in the Lone Star Conference in stolen bases, fourth in homers and total bases (161) and fifth in batting average, slugging percentage (.725) and hits (92). He recorded 24 multiple-hit contests this year and his 92 hits ranks fifth on UCO's single-season list while he finished his two-year career fifth on the school's all-time home run list with 29.

Consensus Draft Services D2 Pre-Season All-Americans

CDS Division II Preseason All-American Teams

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

QB Keith Null, West Texas A&M, 6'4", 222

WR Dusten Copeland, Western State, 6'0", 187

WR Charly Martin, West Texas A&M 6'2", 210

TE Jared Bronson, Central Washington, 6'5", 255

RB Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian, 5'10", 190

RB Brandon Ore, West Liberty, 6'0", 195

OL Josh Bzorek, Edinboro, 6'4", 305

OL Mark Ellis, Delta State, 6'3', 310

C Kennis Jones, West Chester, 6'2", 295

OL Roger Allen, Missouri Western, 6'3", 310

OL Nick Urban, Winona State, 6'5", 285

K Jared Keating, Mesa State, 6'0", 185

KR Andrew Jackson, Merrimack, 5'10", 190

DEFENSE

DE Dan Skuta, Grand Valley St., 6'3", 255

DT Kirby Griffin, California (PA), 6'2", 275

DT Louis Ellis, Shaw U., 6'3", 295

DE Brandon Swain, West Texas A&M, 6'4", 255

LB Matt Warner, Oklahoma-Panhandle, 6'1", 230

LB Kevin Noe, Ferris State, 6'2", 243

LB Mark Meng, Fort Lewis, 6'1", 222

LB Tom Korte, Hillsdale, 5'11", 239

CB Sherard Reynolds, Valdosta St., 5'10", 184

S Tyler Reed, SW Minnesota St., 6'2", 211

S Dre'Mail Hardin, Stillman, 6'1", 196

CB Devon Hughes, Henderson St., 5'9", 175

P Michael Podobnik, Arkansas Tech, 6'0", 230

PR Robert Brown, Shaw U. (JR)

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

QB Billy Malone, Abilene Christian, 6'2", 235

WR Cedric Jones, Valdosta State (JR)

WR Johnny Spevak, Central Washington (JR)

TE Covington Wright, North Alabama, 6'6", 260

RB Jarom Freeman, So. Conncticut St. (JR)

RB Brian McNeill, Nebraska-Omaha, 5'9", 180

OL Muhammad Abdullah, Wayne St. (MI), 6'6", 318

OL Jonathan Didier, Clark-Atlanta, 6'2", 300

OL Oliver Pazdry, Shaw U., 6'4", 300

OL Montrell Neal, Albany St. (GA), 6'3", 340

OL Dwaye Frost, Bowie St., 6'6", 305

K Matt Adams, Abilene Christian, 5'11", 185

KR Wayne McKnight, West Texas A&M, 5'10", 190

DEFENSE

DE Dexter Manley, West Texas A&M, 6'3", 275

DT Ryan Kees, St. Cloud St., 6'5", 280

DT Jake Visser, Ferris St., 6'2", 275

DE Marc Schiechl, Colorado Mines (SO)

LB Zach Watkins, Washburn (JR.)

LB Cedric Cursh, Arkansas Tech, 6'3", 239

LB Leroy Goulbourne, Northwood (MI), 6'0", 220

LB Parris Burt, Tiffin (JR)

CB Theo Hall, Mercyhurst, 5'8", 162

S AD Hale, Glenville St., 6'1", 180

S Broderick Mondy, Northeastern State, 6'2", 210

CB Terrance McGhee, Albany St. (GA) (JR)

P Jamie Hanson, Missouri Western, 5'11", 180

PR Greg Godfrey, Henderson St., 5'10", 175

HONORABLE MENTION

QB Mike Reilly, Central Washington

QB Steve Armstrong, So. Connecticut St.

QB David Knighton, Harding

WR Chris Bergeski, So. Connecticut St.

WR Aaron Waldie, Hillsdale

WR Jabari Taylor, Minnesota St.-Moorhead (JR.)

RB Rashad Cummings, North Greenville

RB Caleb Farabi, Pittsburg State

RB Torris Childs, Northwood

RB Jerry Seymour, Glenville State

OL Sam Collins, Abilene Christian

OL Jeremy Ashcroft, Arkansas Tech

DE Matt Cox, Western Oregon

DE Troy Pribnow, Wayne State (NE)

DE Vladimir Garbovsky, West Chester

DE Jarvis DeVaughn, Tuskegee

LB Jon Miller, Minnesota St.-Moorhead

LB Greg Embers, Kentucky Wesleyan (SO.)

LB Dustin Zitzmann, Assumption (JR.)

LB J.T. Gilmore, Western Oregon (JR.)

DB Darren Banks, West Liberty

DB Barry Tate, Lenoir-Rhyne

DB E.J. Whitley, Abilene Christian

DB Allen Minus, Lincoln (MO) (SO.)

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