LSC Roundup 5-13

MSU defeats Texas A&M-Internation 6-1 in game one of the SC regional softball championships.


Gholson: Tanner is not quite done yet - Nick Gholson, Times Record News
She started playing softball when she was 12 — "the girl in the outfield picking flowers and doing cartwheels."

Who back then would have ever thought that Brittney Tanner would some day be a dominating college pitcher?

Chris Gartman, that's who.

The coach of the Rag Dolls told David Tanner that he needed to get his daughter some pitching lessons.

Dad did just that, and boy is Midwestern State coach Brady Tigert glad he did.

Brittney has won 62 games and struck out 692 batters in four seasons at MSU. She is 27-6 with 291 strikeouts, a 1.53 ERA and 12 shutouts this year.

And she's not through yet.

Newcomers fill the void for Rambelles - Nathan Wright, San Angelo Standard Times
The Angelo State University softball team won back-to-back South Central Regional titles behind the arms of pitchers Chelsea Nelson and April Haywood.

The two combined for 47 victories last season and 49 the year before. Both seasons the Rambelles reached the Division II College World Series.

But both were seniors last season and left a void in the circle for the 'Belles this season.

ASU head coach Travis Scott had to make the pitcher position one of his priorities when it came to recruiting for this season.

He grabbed Heather Newton, from tradition-rich Coahoma High School. But Newton was injured in the fall and missed the entire season. He then had to turn to three other newcomers to carry the load this season.

Junior Claire Molina, a transfer from Midland College; Mary Kate McKay, a freshman from Madill, Okla.; and Jessica Newsome, a junior transfer from North Central Texas College, were left to provide the arm power for this year's squad.



ACU tennis teams knocked out in national quarterfinals - Abilene Reporter News
For the third straight season, the No. 6 Abilene Christian University women's tennis team fell to No. 3 Lynn University, this time 5-1 in the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals Thursday.

The No. 6 ACU men's season also came to a halt at the hands of defending NCAA DII national champion Barry (Fla.), with the Wildcats falling 5-0 in the quarterfinals.

The ACU men fell behind early against the defending champs, dropping three close doubles matches. The Bucs took a 3-0 lead into singles play needing only two wins to move into today's national semifinal.

"The whole thing I felt hinged on us going out and being ahead after doubles," ACU coach Hutton Jones said. "Not that there was any give up in us after we did not get it done in doubles. But they're a very solid singles team. They were down 2-1 to Armstrong Atlantic (Wednesday) and came back and won. We started too slow at No. 1 doubles, and he never got in it. We were ahead at No. 2 doubles until the end. We had some chances, and we needed at least one to stay in it."



LSC tabs Whipple as Assistant Commissioner - LSC Office
Lone Star Conference Commissioner Stan Wagnon announced Friday that Travis Whipple has been named Assistant Commissioner for Marketing and Broadcasting.

Whipple steps into a newly created position for the league starting Monday, May 16. As Assistant Commissioner for Marketing and Broadcasting, he will develop and maintain a conference marketing plan and serve as the lead conference administrator in organizing and selling corporate partnership opportunities. Also, Whipple will oversee the LSC’s various broadcasting endeavors in an effort to increase visibility of the conference and its member schools.

“I’m especially pleased that Travis is joining our staff,” said Wagnon. “Everything he’s done – from competing in basketball to overseeing corporate partnerships to engaging the community or enhancing the game environment – has been at the forefront of Division II, and that’s where I want the Lone Star Conference to be.”