LSC Roundup 5-21

Daktronics Softball All-American Team
From the LSC

First Team
Pitcher - Marjorie Johnson, SOSU
Catcher - Jessica Shiery, ACU
OF - Cassie Anderson, TAMK

Second Team
1B - Sandy James, ASU

Honorable Mention
SS - Bailey Mathes, SOSU
OF - Kasey Henderson, WTAM

2009 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-Americans
No LSC players on the first team???? Winona State led the way with 3 first team (and one second team) selections, while North Georgia College & State University, Alabama-Huntsville, and Georgian Court University each had two first teamers.

Second Team
Pitcher - Marjorie Johnson, SOSU
Catcher - Jessica Shiery, ACU
1B - Sandy James, ASU
SS - Macy Baker, ASU
OF - Cassie Anderson, TAMK

Third Team
2B - Alix Dean, ASU
OF - Kasey Henderson, WTAM


'Belles won't overlook 'Hounds
SALEM, Va. — It’s no surprise that the NCAA Division II national softball tournament is loaded with some of the top-ranked teams in the country.

There’s one exception — the University of Indianapolis.

Angelo State’s first-round opponent wasn’t ranked in the top 25 in the most recent national poll. In fact, the Greyhounds didn’t even receive a single vote.

But they got hot at the right time and won their regional title with a string of upsets to advance to the national championships for the first time in school history.

That’s why the Rambelles — ranked No. 4 and one of the favorites to win it all — aren’t underestimating the biggest underdog in the field.

“Obviously, they’re good enough to make it here, and we are too, so it’s gonna be tough competition from here on out,” ASU freshman Sandy James said. “We always have to bring our ‘A’ game and come to the field prepared.”

ASU head coach Travis Scott said the Greyhounds’ lack of a national ranking doesn’t mean much to him. After all, only two teams were ranked lower than ASU when the ’Belles won the title in 2004.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” Scott said. “They’re feeling good about themselves, they’re here, and they feel like they’ve got a chance to win it all just like everybody else does.”


Adams, Reid Earn National Honors
Angelo State head track and field coach James Reid and sophomore multi-event specialist Aisha Adams were honored Wednesday night as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its National Athletes and Coaches of the Year.

Adams, a sophomore from Covington, Tenn., was named the Women's Field National Athlete of the Year prior to competing in six events in this weekend's NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships at the LeGrand Sports Complex in San Angelo. She enters the event as the top performer in NCAA D-II this season in the heptathlon and the high jump. Adams led all scorers in the 2009 Lone Star Conference Championships, held earlier in the month in Kingsville, and was honored as the David Noble Award recipient as the top female field athlete of the meet. She was named the South Central Female Field Athlete of the Year to be eligible for the national honor.

A six-time LSC Women's Track & Field Coach of the Year, Reid was named the NCAA D-II National Women's Coach of the Year Wednesday night. Reid guided the Rambelles to the highest point total (331) in LSC Championships history earlier this month as his squad claimed its third conference title in six seasons. Reid was honored as the South Central Region Women's Coach of the Year to be eligible for the national award.

ASU Track
Adree Lakey and Culley Jo Dawson have long since established themselves as two of the greatest track performers in Angelo State University history. But they have a chance this weekend to add some accomplishments that have eluded them so far.

Lakey and Dawson are both entered in all four throwing events (discus, shot put, hammer and javelin) at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which begin today at the LeGrand Sports Complex on the ASU campus.

The two seniors are two of the most decorated track athletes in school history.

Lakey is a seven-time All-American with two national titles under her belt — a 2008 discus championship and a 2007 hammer crown. She was honored with the 2008 David Noble Award for top female field athlete for the third consecutive year. At the national meet this weekend, she’s ranked first in the shot put (16.06 meters), third in the discus (50.44 meters), eighth in the hammer (54.67 meters) and seventh in the javelin (45.03 meters).

Dawson, who is from nearby Water Valley High School, red-shirted last season. She earned All-America status in the discus at the 2007 national meet. Unlike Lakey, an individual national championship has eluded Dawson heading into this weekend’s meet. Her best showing was a second-place finish in the discus two years ago when she received All-America honors. Her older brother Curry was a three-time national champion thrower at ASU. This weekend, Dawson is ranked second in the discus, fourth in the shot put, seventh in the hammer and eighth in the javelin.

The ASU women’s team is expected to contend for the team championship this weekend. If the Rambelles could pull that off, it would be the first time in school history for them to be national champions in track and field.
Related: ASU Men's Track Qualifiers
Related: Angelo St. trio make DII Hall of Fame

Four receivers try out for the Edmonton Eskimos
EDMONTON — Four new pass catchers will hope to pass muster with the Edmonton Eskimos after signing contracts with the CFL team on Wednesday. The Eskimos announced that import receivers Efrem Hill, Jason Barnes, Willie Thornton and Alan Turner have signed on and will be at training camp early next month.
Thornton, 23, set Texas A&M — Commerce school records for receiving yards (266) and touchdowns (3) in a game last Sept. 20.