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Lone Star Conference results, 05/10Buffs' Dandridge wins discusWildcats narrowly edge out RamsRambelles win team title again LONE STAR CONFERENCE TRACK & FIELD: Records fall in heptathlon
Watch The D-II Selection Show Live Monday at 9:00 a.m. ! INDIANAPOLIS – Central Oklahoma received an at-large bid into the NCAA Division II Softball ChampionshipMonday morning, with the Bronchos set to go to Emporia, Kan. this weekend for the South Central Regional.
UCO, 32-19 on the year and runners-up of the Lone Star Conference North Division, will meet LSC South Division rival Angelo State in a first-round game Friday at a time to be determined. Host Emporia State will take on Texas Woman’s in the other game.
Three games will be held Saturday, with the championship game and “if necessary” contest scheduled for Sunday.
The champion moves on to face the winner of the other four-team South Central Regional that will be held in Wichita Falls, Texas this weekend. Host Midwestern State, St. Mary’s, Nebraska-Omaha and West Texas A&M will compete in that regional.
The two regional winners face off in a best-of-three series the weekend of May 21-22, with the champion advancing to the eight-team Division II World Series in St. Joseph, Mo. May 27-31.
“We’re excited about being in the national tournament again and look forward to seeing what we can do this weekend,” said 13th-year UCO coach Genny Stidham. “It’s great to still be playing and our players are ready for the challenge.”
The Bronchos will be making their fifth Division II national tournament appearance since 2002. UCO won its only South Central Regional title in 2006 en route to a fifth-place national finish. Redskins' tryouts, rookies put in long days at Shanahan's minicamp
Doyle ready for whatever role comes his wayBy BRAD KEITH
Sports Editor
brad.keith@empiretribune.com
From the moment he signed his letter of intent with Tarleton State, Evant product Aaron Doyle has been the subject of much speculation.
First, coaches debated whether to redshirt Doyle or play him as a true freshman, a decision made easier when he broke his hand just before the start of the 2009 season.
Then, Scott Grantham announced he would forego his final season of eligibility and Doyle was immediately viewed as one of the frontrunners to replace him as the Texans' starting quarterback.
He had an impressive spring, dazzling coaches and fans alike with his mobility. He then ran the 40 in 4.46 seconds shortly after the conclusion of spring ball.
Then Nick Stephens, a 6-4, 230-pound quarterback with three years of experience at Tennessee, decided to transfer to Tarleton.
Just like that, questions about Doyle and how Tarleton would utilize him have surfaced again.
Doyle welcomes the speculation, and says he doesn't care what his role is, he's just glad to know he will have one.
"I'll play any position the coaches want me to," he said. "I love playing quarterback but I'll do anything to help the team win."
When Doyle says any position, he means it.
He was recruited by the likes of Oklahoma State and Baylor, among others, as a linebacker, and Fowler says Tarleton planned to use him on all special teams and in special offensive packages last fall.
"There are a lot of things we could have done with Aaron. He was going to start on all our special teams until he broke his hand," Fowler said. "I'm glad we redshirted in the end, though, because now we have him for four more years."
Doyle knew there was a possibility he would play last fall.
"I understand now that all the coaches wanted to redshirt me except Coach Mac (former head coach Sam McElroy)," Doyle said. "I'm glad to know they think highly of me, but I'm also happy with the way it worked out. I needed that year to get ready."
Fowler says the uses for Doyle, who is listed at 6-2, 218, are endless.
"He can play just about every position on the field. He can line up at quarterback and bring his own offense to the field with him, or we can use him as a receiver," Fowler said. "I'm sure he can help us a lot of ways on special teams."
Doyle was a first-team all-state selection and district MVP as a high school senior, when he passed for 2,400 yards and 33 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,300 yards and 13 scores. He made 178 tackles defensively.
But he has learned one thing for sure - the level of competition in the NCAA Division II ranks is much stiffer than it was at a Class A high school.
"The level of play and speed of the game are totally different," Doyle admits. "It's taken some getting used to, but I've been working on that."
Now that he's had a year to get acclimated, Doyle says he's ready to go this fall.
"I can't wait," he says. "When we come back for the fall, it's for real."
It will be for real, beginning Sept. 2 when the Texans host Northeastern State in the season opener at Tarleton Memorial Stadium.
And Doyle is sure to be a big part of Tarleton's plans that night and for much of the season - wherever he plays.
Basketball NewsU of H center says he's coming to TarletonBy BRAD KEITH
Sports Editor
brad.keith@empiretribune.com
With the bulk of it's 2009-10 men's basketball team that went 24-8 and reached the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs returning, Tarleton State wasn't looking to add much.
But the Texans may have added a lot with one commitment Friday.
Nick Mosley, a 6-9 center/power forward formerly of the University of Houston announced he will play his final season of eligibility at Tarleton.
Tarleton head men's basketball coach and athletic director Lonn Reisman declined to comment except to say no commitment is official until the appropriate paper work has been signed and received by school officials.
But Mosley, who says he also visited Lone Star Conference South Division members Midwestern State and Angelo State, says the decision has been made.
"The winning program, the tradition and the family environment at Tarleton were the main things," he said. "The coaches and the (players) all made me feel welcome and wanted."
Mosley's cousin, former Tarleton football standout Mike Jackson, helped make his decision easier.
"Mike talked to me and played a significant role in me going there," Mosley said. "He told me how the program is one of the best in the country, and he said he knew Coach (Lonn) Reisman from when he played football there and that he's a great guy."
Mosley was ranked among the top 20 high school players in the state by texashoops.com after averaging a solid double-double of 21.5 points and 13.8 rebounds as a senior in 2005-06. He filled up the stat sheet for Class 3A Bellville, also averaging 7.6 blocked shots, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals.
Mosley picked Houston over the likes of Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Rice and Wichita State, and lettered three years with the Cougars before not playing in 2009-10.
"The system wasn't fit for my game," Mosley said. "It was more guard oriented."
Still, Mosley had moments when he shined at Houston, none bigger than his 11-point, nine-rebound performance against Conference USA rival Rice in 2008-09. He also started and scored six points while grabbing seven boards in 30 minutes against Memphis that season.
In his three seasons at Houston, Mosley appeared in 74 games and started in two, averaging 10.1 minutes per contest. He was a 47.7 percent shooter from the floor and averaged 2.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
Mosley believes he has the skills - especially on the defensive end - to excel at any level.
"I'm a versatile forward. I feel like I can guard all five positions on the floor," Mosley said. "I'm mainly a defensive player, but offensively I can post up or shoot threes."
