LSC Roundup 6-8

Four named Track & Field Athletes of the Year

Abilene Christian’s Desmond Jackson and Nick Jones, Incarnate Word’s Elodie Barre`, and Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Samantha Alvarez claimed the 2011 Lone Star Conference Track & Field Athletes of the Year awards. The honors were announced Tuesday following a vote of the league’s head coaches.

The Wildcats Jackson and Jones earned the top male track and field honors after pacing ACU to its 19th NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championship.

On the women’s side, the Cardinals Barre` and Javelinas Alvarez seized the top female track and field awards, respectively.

Jackson won the 200-meters along with a second-place finish as part of the 4x100 relay and third in the 100-meters to contribute 18 points at the NCAA championships for the Wildcats.

Jones helped ACU to a national outdoor team title with an NCAA individual title in the discus and second-place points in the shot put. In the discus, the redshirt junior won nationals for the third time, becoming the first three-time winner of the event since Northwest Missouri's Clint Prange (2002-2003-2005). In addition, Jones had two meet-record discus tosses, claiming 198-10 on his first attempt before throwing the 199-4 on his third to win by nearly 15 feet.

Barre` competed in four events –100-meters, 200-meters, 4x100 relay and long jump – at the NCAA championships. She went 19-3.25 in the long jump to finish seventh, and added a ninth-place showing in the 200-meters (24.31). The freshman was timed at 11.84 in the 100-meters and anchored the relay team (46.84). Barre` is just the second UIW all-American.

At the national meet, Alvarez finished second in the high jump. After being the only jumper to clear the first three heights on her first jump, the sophomore topped 5-7.25 before missing three attempts at 5-8.5 to become the first women’s all-American since 2007 for Kingsville.


Baseball: Atlanta Braves Snatch Up Cameron's Chase Larsson In Ninth Round Of Draft - CU Baseball
Lawton, OK – One day after being named the Tino Martinez D2 Player of the Year, Cameron outfielder Chase Larsson was selected with the 296th pick of MLB’s 2011 draft by the Atlanta Braves.

“It’s awesome,” Larsson said. “It’s a dream come true.”

Larsson, who had tried out with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels, said he was not expecting to be drafted by Atlanta until they day of the draft.

“They called earlier in the day and said they hoped they were the ones who drafted me,” Larsson said.

The Vancouver native led DII in home runs (29), RBI (84), slugging percentage (1.000) and total bases (190), while finishing 11th overall in batting average (.432). Larsson also excelled defensively, starting in centerfield for the Aggies and completing the season with a .984 fielding percentage, with five outfield assists. He finished the season with only two errors and 115 put-outs.

Head Coach Todd Holland said his all-around game will translate to the next level, but his ability to hit will provide support at the major league level immediately.

“He’ll hit at any level,” Holland said. “He just has a good swing. Everyone’s worried because he’s coming from a D2, but we faced guys throwing 89, 90 miles per hour. The guys that give him fits are the guys that don’t throw hard. I think he’ll do great. “

This season Larsson tied a school record with eight RBIs in a single game and matched a school and conference record when he belted three home runs in a single contest. His most dominant power surge came during a stretch in March, when Larsson established a new NCAA Division II record by smashing a homerun in nine consecutive games.

Holland told him to keep that same drive and not let the fact he is in the major leagues get to him.

“I told him, you just gotta’ go and do it and not worry about the other things,” he said. “He has the ability to get there (to the professional level). He just has to get in system and get going. He’s done it on every level. He even played on national team for Canada.”

Larsson is now in negotiations to begin his big league tenure, but already knows where he is headed.

“I’ll be going down to their team in Orlando,” he said. “I’m just ready to get going and play ball.”


UCO Signee Drafted By Yankees  - UCO Baseball
EDMOND (June 7) – Central Oklahoma baseball signee Hayden Sharp was taken by the New York Yankees in the 18th round of the Major League Baseball Draft Tuesday.

The 6-foot-6, 200-pound pitcher from Morris was the 569th selection and will decide in the coming days whether to sign with the Yankees. Sharp was an All-State selection this year after going 6-1 with an 0.91 earned run average and 91 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.

Sharp was one of 16 players to sign with the Bronchos.

“Hayden is one of the best high school arms we have ever signed here and is one of the top pitching prospects in the region,” UCO coach Dax Leone said after signing Sharp. “He has a chance to pitch in the big leagues someday with his fastball touching 96 miles an hour right now.”



Baseball: Miller Taken by Padres in MLB Draft - SOSU Baseball
DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern center fielder Justin Miller has been selected by the San Diego Padres in the 30th round of the Major League Baseball first year player draft on Tuesday afternoon.

Miller, a native of Sumner, Texas, was an All-America selection by Daktronics and the American Baseball Coaches Association following the 2011 season, as well as earning first team all-Lone Star Conference and all-region honors.

He was the 923rd draft pick overall and fifth outfielder selected by the Padres, but the only center fielder thus far.

Miller led the Storm with a .433 batting average, collecting 87 hits with 21 doubles, two triples and a team-high 11 home runs.

He also added 47 RBI as well as 26 stolen bases. He slugged .721 on the season and posted an on-base percentage of .551 and scored 72 runs on the year.

The Savage Storm finished the year at 35-19 with a Lone Star Conference Championship and the school’s fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The final 20 rounds of the MLB draft will be held on Wednesday and can be followed on MLB.com.