LSC Roundup 4-30

No changes for LSC, ASC plans
The Lone Star Conference baseball and softball postseason events scheduled this weekend at Abilene Christian University will go on as planned.

Stan Wagnon, commissioner of the LSC, said "as of right now (late Wednesday afternoon), they are going on as planned. Of course, we'll be monitoring (the swine flu) situation."

The LSC Softball Championship between ACU and Angelo State begins with a single game Friday and possibly two games Saturday at ACU's Poly Wells Field. The LSC Baseball Championship begins Saturday at ACU's Crutcher Scott Field. Six teams are in the tournament field, including ACU and Tarleton State. The tournament will continue through Tuesday.

"We've talked to all the right people," Wagnon said.

Jared Mosley, ACU's director of athletics, said the school remains wary of any threat posed by the swine flu. "At this point, we're monitoring the situation," he said. "On campus, we've had a couple of meetings just to raise awareness. and we're closely monitoring students who may be coming in. We're trying to track anything that may be popping on the radar in Abilene. At this point, we don't get a sense that we've got an issue with it here in Abilene that would affect anything we'd host here. Right now, things are just moving forward as is, but we're continuing to watch it."

The LSC track and field championship is scheduled May 7-9 in Kingsville. That event also still is on as scheduled. Wagnon said the campuses at the 15 LSC member institutions remain open, though The Texas A&M University System was conferring Wednesday by conference call.

"We'll have a lot better idea (today)," Wagnon said.

'Cats, A&M-Commerce to play in Cotton Bowl
The Abilene Christian University football team will play in the Cotton Bowl next season.

The Texas A&M University-Commerce athletic department announced on Wednesday that ACU and A&M-Commerce will play in the second annual Harvey Martin Classic at 5 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Cotton Bowl.

The Wildcats beat A&M-Commerce, 45-14, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game Sept. 13 in Abilene.
Related: Texas A&M University-Commerce announces 2009 football schedule

Mustangs at home 6 times in '09
The Midwestern State Mustangs will kick off the 2009 football schedule with a showdown against New Mexico Highlands on Aug. 29 at Memorial Stadium.

The Cowboys are one of six home games for the Mustangs and one of two non-conference games. They will also face the University of the Incarnate Word on Sept. 19 at Benson Stadium in San Antonio.

The Mustangs draw Lone Star Conference crossover games against Southeastern Oklahoma, Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma for the second straight season.

MSU fills out the 11-game slate against the LSC South with home games against West Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Abilene Christian. The Mustangs hit the road to face Angelo State, Tarleton State and Eastern New Mexico.

Hounds prepare for LSC tournament
PORTALES — Freddy Carmona’s neck hurts a little bit. But the Eastern New Mexico University catcher won’t complain about that. Or when his bicep got hit by a foul tip. Or when he had wrist problems.

Tough to complain when first baseman/pitcher Seth Clabaugh lost teeth when he collided with a post at Central Oklahoma. Or when outfielder Jereme Johnson separated his shoulder. Or that shortstop Garrett Cook still has numbness in his arm from being hit by a pitch. And so on, but the Greyhounds are still a playoff team for the first time in 15 years despite the litany of injuries.

“I would say (we’re) pretty tough,” said Carmona, who’s batting .406 and is one hit away from tying his own school record for hits in a season. “I’d definitely say we were tougher than previous teams I’ve played for.”

A&M-Commerce vs Abilene Christian in the Cotton Bowl

2009 Harvey Martin Classic To Be Held on September 12th

The Texas A&M University-Commerce athletic department announced on Wednesday that the 2009 Harvey Martin Classic will take place on September 12^th at the Cotton Bowl. The game will include Texas A&M-Commerce against Abilene Christian with kickoff at 5 p.m.

Prior to the game, there will be a press conference, luncheon and a golf tournament. For more information about the events, please call the athletic department at (903) 886-5558.

The contest is named after former East Texas State and Dallas Cowboys standout, Harvey Martin, who was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame in 1987. He was selected an Associated Press Little, Football News and NAIA All-American en route to leading the Lions to a national title as a senior in 1972.

In 2007, Martin was selected to the Lone Star Conference 75th Anniversary Football Team and was named LSC Defensive Player of the Decade for the 1970's. In addition, he earned first team defensive lineman honors for the LSC Football Team of the 1970's and was selected to the LSC All 25-Year Team, where he was recognized as the Best Defensive Player and a first team defensive lineman. Martin was a first team all-Lone Star Conference selection as a junior in 1971 and as a senior in 1972.

Martin went on to become a third round selection by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1973 NFL Draft. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) and four-time all-pro selection (1976, 1977, 1979, 1982). He was named to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1970's and was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1977. In Super Bowl XII, he was named the game's MVP along with teammate Randy White.

A&M-Commerce maintains a perfect 7-0 record in the Cotton Bowl, including a 27-15 win last year in the inaugural Harvey Martin Classic over East Central.

Per LionAthletics.com

Updated **LSC Baseball Weekly Release**

Link to Complete Release

Diamond Players of the Week
LSC Hitter - Trey Carter, Angelo State
LSC Pitcher - Preston Vancil, Abilene Christian

Here's a look at the tournament schedule:
SATURDAY, MAY 2
Game 1 - Cameron (#1) vs. Tarleton State (#6), 11 a.m.
Game 2 - Angelo State (#2) vs. Eastern New Mexico (#5), 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Abilene Christian (#3) vs. Southeastern Oklahoma (#4), 7 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 3
Game 4 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game 5 - Winner Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 6 - Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.

There are several possibilities after this, so we will update Monday morning....

Collegiate Baseball Magazine Poll
6. Cameron
8. Emporia State
16. Angelo State
17. UT-Permian Basin
19. Central Missouri
25. Abilene Christian
RV - St. Marys, Incarnate Word, Nebraska-Omaha and Missouri Southern

PingBaseball.com Poll
4. Central Missouri
9. Emporia State
14. Cameron
22. St. Marys
25. Angelo State
26. Abilene Christian

South Central Regional Poll
1. Cameron
2. Emporia State
3. Angelo State
4. Central Missouri
5. Abilene Christian
6. Nebraska-Omaha
7. Missouri Southern
8. St. Marys

LSC Roundup 4-29

New Softball Regional Rankings
1. Angelo State
2. Southeastern Oklahoma
3. Abilene Christian
4. Nebraska-Omaha
5. Central Missouri
6. Missouri Western
7. Midwestern State
8. West Texas A&M
9. Emporia State
10. Texas A&M-Kingsville

Mustangs release 2009 football slate
WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State kicks off its 2009 slate which features six home games with a showdown with New Mexico Highlands on Aug. 29 at Memorial Stadium. The Cowboys are one of two non-conference games for Midwestern which will also face the University of the Incarnate Word on Sep. 19 at Benson Stadium in San Antonio.

The Mustangs draw Lone Star Conference crossover games against Southeastern Oklahoma, Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma for the second-straight season. MSU fills out the 11-game slate with traditional LSC South with home games against West Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Abilene Christian. The Mustangs hit the road to face Angelo State, Tarleton State and Eastern New Mexico.

The Mustangs open the season against New Mexico Highlands on Aug. 29 at Memorial Stadium against New Mexico Highlands of the Rocky Mountain Atheltic Conference. Current NMHU coach Chad Roanhaus passed for 339 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Cowboys to a 40-23 win over Midwestern in the teams' only meeting at Perkins Stadium in Las Vegas, N.M. on Sep. 23, 1995.

New Mexico Highlands was 3-8 last season, but claimed wins in two of its last three games. The Mustangs are 2-4 against the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, winning their last contest against the league taking a 41-15 decision over Adams State on Aug. 25, 2007 in Alamosa, Colo.
Midwestern opens crossover play at Southeastern Oklahoma State on Sep. 5 in Durant before returning to Memorial Stadium to face Northeastern State on Sep. 12.

The Mustangs have dominated the LSC North since 2000, going 29-4 against the North and had a 16-game winning streak against the Oklahoma-based schools snapped by Central Oklahoma late last season.

Midwestern State travels to San Antonio to face future LSC South Division foe Incarnate Word on Sep. 26. The Cardinals enter the league in 2010.

The Mustangs open South Division play at Angelo State on Sep. 26. MSU has beaten the Rams three-straight times and in five of the last six meetings, but that's when the schedule has turned.
In each of the last three seasons, the Mustangs have taken perfect 5-0 marks into its rivalry games with West Texas A&M and Tarleton State. In each of the seasons, MSU has taken consecutive losses. In fact, since the current South Division schedule format took effect in 2005, Midwestern has lost consecutive midseason games to the Buffs and Texans.

The Mustangs then close with three of four games at home down the stretch.

MSU plays host to Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 17 before finishing off crossover play by taking on Central Oklahoma for Homecoming on Oct. 24.

The Mustangs travel to Blackwater Draw to face Eastern New Mexico on Halloween before closing the regular season against Abilene Christian.

Midwestern has strung together an LSC-best nine-straight winning seasons and is 52-24 (.684) in seven seasons under Bill Maskill which includes playoff appearances in 2004 and 2006.

Aug. 29 New Mexico Highlands
Sep. 5 at Southeastern Oklahoma
Sep. 12 Northeastern State
Sep. 19 at Incarnate Word
Sep. 26 at Angelo State*
Oct. 3 West Texas A&M*
Oct. 10 at Tarleton State*
Oct. 17 Texas A&M-Kingsville*
Oct. 24 Central Oklahoma (HC)
Oct. 31 at Eastern New Mexico*
Nov. 7 Abilene Christian*

More LSC players sign with Rams

UCO's Asiodu signs with Rams
ST. LOUIS (April 28) – Central Oklahoma outside linebacker K.C. Asiodu has signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Rams and will attend a mini-camp with the NFL team starting Thursday.

The 6-3, 230-pound Asiodu was the Lone Star Conference North Division co-Linebacker of the Year in 2008 after compiling 74 tackles, including 13.5 for loss with 4.5 sacks. He also intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown, and had three forced fumbles with five passes broken up.

A two-time LSC North Division Defensive Player of the Week selection during the season, Asiodu picked the Rams after mulling over offers from several other teams following last weekend’s NFL draft.

“The Rams were the best fit for us and what we’re trying to do,” Asiodu said Tuesday from his father’s house in Los Angeles. “We wanted to go to a team that didn’t draft heavy at linebacker and had some need at that position. They (Rams) only drafted one linebacker, and that was a middle, so they definitely have a need on the outside.

“We saw this as a great opportunity and took it. As a rookie trying to make the roster, special teams will be essential and I’m going in there with the mindset of doing anything I can to help the team. I’ll play on as many special teams as possible and do whatever they want me to do.”

Asiodu came to the Bronchos for his senior season after playing three years at UNLV. A superb athlete with great speed, he had an immediate impact and was a major force in UCO’s drive to the LSC North Division championship.

Now it’s off to the NFL.

“It’s definitely been a lifelong dream of mine to play in the NFL and this is a major blessing,” Asiodu said. “There’s been a lot of hard work on my part and a lot of other people who have helped me get to where I am today. It’s been a great experience.”

Jarrett Byers Signs Free Agent Deal with St. Louis Rams
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. ---- Northeastern State University (OK) wide receiver Jarrett Byers, was signed Monday as a free agent by the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League.
Byers, a native of Kansas City , Kan. , will report to the Rams on Wednesday for physicals before mini camp begins later in the week. Byers was the only RiverHawk chosen during the recent NFL draft.

“I am really excited about the opportunity to get my foot in the door, it is something I have always wanted to do,” said Byers. “I just want to go out and impress the coaches during mini camp and get to know the rest of the guys on the team.”

A three-year starter at Northeastern State, Byers established three school records during his career and was selected by the Football Gazette as a All-American return specialist as a senior. Byers owns the RiverHawks record for receptions in a career (165), receiving yards in a career (2,545) and touchdowns in a career (28).

Selected as the Lone Star Conference North Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, Byers missed much of that season after suffering a broken jaw on the third play of the game at Eastern New Mexico . However, Byers received a medical hardship ruling and returned for an additional season in 2008 where he earned First Team All-LSC North honors. He was also selected to the All-Conference team in 2005 & 2006.

According to the stlrams.com web site, a receiver is “perhaps the position where a young undrafted player might have his best position to stick.” Northeastern State football head coach Kenny Evans thinks Byers has the tools to play in the NFL.

“Jarrett is an extremely deserving young man and I know her will take full advantage of this special opportunity,” said Evans. “Very few people get a chance to go to the NFL and we are excited about one of our own getting this chance to perform at the next level.”

Afternoon Update

Oliver taking second chance to come to Eastern
As an assistant under Harold “Bud” Elliott, Kenneth Oliver had a chance to come to Eastern New Mexico University in 1994 as an assistant football coach. But he was doing master’s courses at Northwest Missouri State, and the timing wasn’t right.

Now, 15 years later, a more seasoned Oliver comes back with his sights on the top sports job at ENMU — athletic director.

“The timing is almost perfect for us,” Oliver said. “I think Eastern’s a situation where good things can happen.”

The current athletic director, dean of students and vice president of campus life at Central Methodist University in Defiance, Mo., was the first of four finalists to interview for the position.


Orange stops White, 20-13
Saturday’s Orange and White Game marked the end of spring camp for East Central University’s football team and, for the most part, ECU athletics for the 2008-2009 school year.

For “new” Tiger head coach Tim McCarty, though, the last month — capped by the Orange team’s 20-13 victory in Saturday’s fast-paced, 110-minute scrimmage — was just the beginning of what he believes will be a renaissance for the ECU football program.

“I don’t know if the foundation is in, but this spring I think we got the forms up so we can pour the foundation,” said McCarty, who was ECU’s head coach in 2004 and 2005 and returned in December after three years as assistant head coach at Kansas State.



A&M-Commerce Men's Basketball sign three newcomers
The Texas A&M University-Commerce men's basketball coaching staff announced the signing of three high school standouts - Andrew Davis, Kyle Sandlin and Preston Whitley on Thursday.

Davis, a 6-9 forward who spent last year at St. Thomas More Prep, comes back to East Texas after a standout high school career at Garland Christian Academy.

At Garland Christian Academy, he was a first team all-state, all-region and all-district selection. Davis was ranked No. 36 in the state in 2008 by Texashoops, and played on the Team Texas Swoosh AAU team along Sandlin and Whitley. They were coached by Ray Forset and Wes Grandstaff.

Sandlin is a 6-1 guard from Rockwall, where he was named co-offensive player of the year, first team all-district and all-region by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. He was the district leader in 3-point field goals made and second in scoring, and was fourth in 3-point field goals made per game and 10th in scoring in the area.

Sandlin averaged 18.1 points and 2.4 assists per game, in addition, he also made 85 3-pointers and connected on 120 of 144 free throws at an 83 percent clip. Sandlin was recently selected to play in the North Texas Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game.

Whitley, a 6-3 guard from Frisco Wakeland High School, earned all-region honors by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. He also was an all-district selection, where he led the district and was third in the area in scoring (22.0 ppg). He also averaged a district-leading 7.8 rebounds to go along with 1.7 assists and 1.3 3-point field goals made per game. Whitley is ranked No. 44 in the latest 2009 rankings by Texashoops.

All three high school standouts were recruited by Division I programs including the likes of Centenary, Southeast Missouri State and SMU before settling on the A&M-Commerce campus.

LSC Roundup 4-28

Draft and Free Agent Stories

QB Keith Null Talks after Selected by Rams
Rams 6th round pick QB Keith Null talked with the media Sunday. Null discussed if he expected being drafted, on if he knew the Rams were interested, on the style of offense he played at West Texas A&M, and on his skill set.

(On how he’s doing right now)“Oh, I’m doing fabulous right now.”

(On if he expected to be drafted)“Man, we’ve been watching it and we were just like, me and dad were talking like, ‘Man, I might just end up being a free agent.’ We’ve heard from the beginning that it was going to be a late round (draft choice), a free agent (signing) and by the way things were shaping out, I was like, ‘Man, I just don’t know.’ And I got called and we were just sitting here. I was not expecting it at all. It was totally amazing.”

Bears see a big upside with 5-9 corner Moore
Big-time speed: G.M. Jerry Angelo admits he was surprised Abilene Christian wide receiver Johnny Knox was still on the board when the Bears took him early in the fifth round with the 140th overall pick.

"I thought he would be gone in the fourth round given the speed, the workout, (and he) had a real good (Texas vs. the Nation) all-star game," Angelo said. "Obviously the speed factor played heavily when we saw him on the board there in the fifth."

Knox ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he played just two years at Division-II Abilene after two years at Tyler Community College. Bears coach Lovie Smith did not share the opinion of those who downgraded Knox because he didn't play "big-time" college football.

"I know a little bit about (Tyler) because it's close to my hometown (Big Sandy, Texas)," Smith said. "It is a big-time junior college; let's get that on record. We got a chance to see Johnny at the Combine with all the big-school guys. He caught the ball well, and he looked like he was one of the guys from one of the bigger schools."

Devaney, Spagnuolo Discuss 2009 Draft
Rams GM Billy Devaney and Coach Steve Spagnuolo talked Sunday after the Draft about WR Brooks Foster, RB Chris Ogbonnaya's assets, what attracted them to QB Keith Null, how much of a need they have for a veteran wide receiver, and if there's anything that they weren't able to accomplish with this draft.

(On what attracted him to QB Keith Null)
Devaney: “The scouts. Steve Kazor was in there on the school call. He (Null) played in the Cactus Bowl, (offensive coordinator) Pat Shurmur was there, Dick Daniels was there and they were all like this guy’s got size, he’s got arm strength. He moves around pretty good. Not a great athlete, but has slide ability. He’s a smart guy, all those things.”

(On what separates Null from a QB like Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell)
Devaney: “I kept asking that as we started talking. Not how does he compare to Graham Harrell, but why is this guy at West Texas A&M and there wasn’t any reason. He was overlooked coming out of high school and went to a place where they were going to throw the ball around a lot. I don’t know why he winds up at West Texas and Graham Harrell winds up at Texas Tech. I don’t know how those kinds of things happen.”

(On if Null has good arm strength)
Devaney: “Really good arm strength. He had a heck of a game at the Cactus Bowl. Trying to measure him against better competition, it’s not the Senior Bowl, but it’s still pretty good, draftable players and he had a heck of a game.”(Spagnuolo) “He was one of those guys that in the room, everybody, coaches, scouts, really liked.”

(On what separated Null from other potential quarterbacks left to draft)
Spagnuolo: “I think at that time he stuck out as the guy, quarterback-wise.”

Epps: Abilene tops Vols in NFL draft choices
Abilene Christian University boasts a quality football program. The Wildcats averaged 52.3 points per game last season, scored 93 points in a playoff win and finished the season with one loss. It was a good year.

Still, Abilene Christian, a fine NCAA Division II school, should not be more represented in the NFL draft than the University of Tennessee. But it happened over the weekend, two Abilene Christian players selected to Tennessee’s one, and now we’re left to wonder what the draft means for the present and future of Volunteers football.

Bengals Defend Troubled Draft Pick
I doubt anyone was truly surprised on Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals announced their sixth-round pick.

Yes, Abilene Christian running back Bernard Scott is a talented football player. However, it's worth noting that the Bengals seem to have once again ignored the rap sheet of a player before using a draft pick on him. As Ryan Wilson pointed out Sunday, Scott has been arrested on at least five separate occasions, and actually hit a coach during one of his college stops.

It was doubtful that the Bengals would defend this choice by saying that they weren't aware of Scott's past. Naturally, they were quick to defend their pick, a player whose last college (Abilene Christian) was his fourth since 2003.

"I think at that point in the draft it was worth the opportunity," (head coach Marvin) Lewis said. "He has kind of gotten his life back together. Wherever this guy has been, he has succeeded and run for a lot of yardage. We had a lot of time talking with people around him the last couple of years, and we felt really good about him." Said running backs coach Jim Anderson: "I think that the image is what (media) project. Give the kid a chance. I think that's the American way - to give someone a chance. Let him come in and do what he can do."

For his part, Scott is trying to make it clear that he's matured.

"I cleared up the issues of my past. All of the mistakes I have made, I have learned from them," Scott said. "I have become a better person. I am not ashamed to talk about what I did. I made those mistakes and I have to answer those questions and go forward from there."

Now, it's likely that someone else would have either drafted Scott or pursued him as a free agent once the seventh round ended. However, these are the Bengals, and given the problems they've had with off-field behavior, they really should know better. Let some other team take the public relations hit that comes from drafting a player with Scott's background.

Ram were 'hell-bent' on getting good players
The Rams took a developmental quarterback -- West Texas A&M's Keith Null -- in the sixth round. The selection of Null probably didn't go over well with Missouri fans who watched Chase Daniel go undrafted.

The Rams feel like 6-foot-2, 222-pound Null has the right physical tools and intelligence to make it as a quarterback in the NFL.

"He's got size and he can throw the football and he's got some feet and you go from there," Spagnuolo said. "The quarterback in any system has to do certain things, and we saw those in this guy and that's why we decided to take him."

Three Lone Star Conference players selected in NFL Draft
Former Lone Star Conference standouts Johnny Knox, Keith Null and Bernard Scott were selected Sunday on the second day of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Knox went to the Chicago Bears with the fourth pick of the fifth round (140th overall), Null was 23rd pick of the sixth round (196th overall) by the St. Louis Rams and Scott was the final pick of the sixth round (209th overall), going to the Cincinnati Bengals.

WT's Null Selected in 6th Round of NFL Draft by St. Louis
West Texas A&M quarterback Keith Null was selected in the sixth round of the 2009 National Football League draft by the St. Louis Rams, while receiver Charly Martin has inked a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers.

Null was the 196th overall pick in the draft.

Just moments after the seven-round draft process concluded, it was announced that WT wide receiver Charly Martin had signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers.

From the ACU Website
* ACU quarterback Billy Malone said Sunday night that the Bengals were among the teams that called him after the draft to discuss his interest in signing a free-agent contract. The Lone Star Conference's all-time leading passer said he would know something Monday from the Bengals, who earlier this spring sent quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese to Abilene for a private workout with Malone.

Ricky Hope Invited to Free Agent Workout with the NFL's Detroit Lions
Texas A&M University-Commerce's Ricky Hope has been invited to a free agent workout camp by the NFL's Detroit Lions.

Hope, who recently earned the Bobby Fox Award for the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player, will report to the Lions on Thursday. Among the ties between the Poulan, Georgia native and the Lions is the new assistant defensive line coach, Kris Kocurek, who served as the defensive line coach at A&M-Commerce in 2006.

In 2008, Hope led the Lions with 19.5 tackles for minus 107 yards to set a new school single-season record. He also had 11 sacks for minus 76 yards to set another school record, recorded seven quarterback hurries and forced six fumbles. For his efforts, he earned All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press, Daktronics, and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette and first team all-LSC North Division and LSC North Division Defensive Lineman of the Year.

And now for the idiotic quote of the day...
Pair of Big 12 quarterbacks left out in cold
Ten quarterbacks were taken in the draft, including Texas A&M's Stephen McGee. Listen, I know McGee has some ability, but he is to Harrell and Daniel what I am to Ernest Hemingway.

Also drafted was West Texas A&M's Keith Null, who went to the St. Louis Rams. There is no evidence that Null, or West Texas A&M for that matter, exists.

Afternoon Update 4-27

PV alumnus signs with NFL's Chargers
Charly Martin, a 2003 graduate of Piedra Vista and wide receiver for Division II school West Texas A&M, signed with the San Diego Chargers as a priority free agent on Sunday. Martin, projected as high as a sixth round pick, was not drafted.

Helton to Become 11th Greyhound Basketball Coach
Steven Gamble, Eastern New Mexico University president, has announced the selection of Andrew Helton as the new Greyhound men’s basketball coach. With his selection, Helton becomes the 11th coach in the 73 year history of the program.

Helton will be introduced at a press conference at 9 a.m. (Mountain Time) on Tuesday, April 28, in Greyhound Arena.

“Eastern is fortunate to employ a coach the caliber of Andrew Helton,” said Gamble. “In addition to a very strong basketball background, he had enthusiastic references. He emerged as our top choice from a strong pool of candidates, and I am certain he will be successful.”

For the past two seasons, Helton has served under University of South Alabama head coach Ronnie Arrow.


Hounds defense dominates at Green-Silver scrimmage
As the saying goes, defense wins championships. For Eastern New Mexico University, it was more than enough to win a scrimmage.

A veteran Greyhound defense showed experience mattered as it ran up a 42-3 halftime lead, and settled for a 57-51 win in the team’s Green-Silver Scrimmage after a second half that was extremely favorable to a young ENMU offense.

With the university’s athletic department more tasked on the baseball team’s playoff fortunes this weekend, no yards or tackles were tracked for the game, the ending point of ENMU’s spring football season.

Instead, a scoring system gave the offense a point for each first down plus all of its offensive points, and the defense got points for stops (1) three-and-outs (2), turnovers (6) and defensive touchdowns (8).


North Pole seniors to test football skills at West Texas A&M
FAIRBANKS — So how do three Interior Alaskans end up signing national letters of intent to play football for a nationally ranked school in faraway Texas?

It went something like this: Jon Rogers, a graduate of Eielson High School, was a cornerback last season for Central Washington, which competed in the NCAA Division II playoffs against West Texas A&M University. Rogers was impressed enough by the Buffaloes that he let his friend Steve Wright of North Pole High School know about them.

Then Wright passed the word on to fellow Patriots defensive stalwarts Jackson Collins and Philip Warwick and North Pole coach Richard Henert sent film of his stars to WTAMU head coach Don Carthel.

“The coach was kind enough to take a look at the tape and see that these kids are for real,” Henert said. “It’s a hard thing for Alaskan athletes to get a look, you know. Most of the tapes probably get thrown in the garbage.”

But not this one. On Friday afternoon at their high school, Collins, a 6-foot, 245-pound defensive lineman, Warwick, a 6-2, 230-pound outside linebacker and Wright, a 5-9, 170-pound cornerback, all signed their NLI’s and will begin attending WTAMU in Canyon, Texas, this fall.

LSC Roundup 4-27

LSC Softball Championship: ACU, ASU advance to championship series
Abilene Christian and Angelo State both prevailed at the four-team tournaments of the 2009 Lone Star Conference Softball Championship to advance to the three-game championship series next weekend. ACU earned the right to host the best-of-three series by virtue of being the higher seed to advance as South Division regular season champions. The Wildcats and Rambelles will play the first game on Friday at 5 p.m. With the second and if-necessary contests set for Saturday beginning at 12 p.m.

The two teams have played three times this season with ASU winning two of the three contests in early April.

Click here for photos from the ACU-UCO game
Click here for photos from the ASU-SE game
Relaed: Power, Partin lead ACU to LSC finals
Related: ASU softball team advances to LSC championship against ACU
Related: Wildcats Eliminate UCO
Related: Rambelles Advance to LSC Final

LSC Baseball Championship field set
The top six Lone Star Conference baseball squads will meet in Abilene, Texas, next weekend for the annual LSC Baseball Championship. The tournament features six teams for the fourth straight year. The double-elimination event starts on Saturday and concludes on Tuesday.

LSC champion Cameron is the top seed, while Angelo State is the No. 2 seed. Abilene Christian is seeded third, followed by Southeastern Oklahoma at No. 4, Eastern New Mexico at No. 5 and Tarleton State at No. 6.

All games will take place at Crutcher Scott Field on the campus of Abilene Christian University. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here. Fans interested in pre-ordering an all-session tournament pass can order those online for $20, or they can order single-day tickets for $10 apiece.

Click here for the championship web page
Related: ACU salvage series split
Related: Baseball Sweeps Javelinas
Related: Hounds Punch Ticket for Abilene, Texas, with Series win over West Texas A&M
Related: Texans split with Wildcats, earn No. 6 in LSC Tournament
Related: Baseball Tournament Bid Ended

Knox, Null and Scott selected in 2009 NFL Draft
Former Lone Star Conference standouts Johnny Knox, Keith Null and Bernard Scott were selected Sunday on the second day of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Knox went to the Chicago Bears with the fourth pick of the fifth round (140th overall), Null was 23rd pick of the sixth round (196th overall) by the St. Louis Rams and Scott was the final pick of the sixth round (209th overall), going to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Knox will join former Abilene Christian all-America defensive back Danieal Manning on the Chicago Bears' roster. He became ACU's all-time leader in touchdown receptions in 2008, finishing his two-year career with 30 TD receptions. He also finished in the top 10 in ACU history in catches and receiving yards.

Null, the offensive MVP of the 2009 Cactus bowl, concluded his career holding the West Texas A&M single-season and career records for passing yardage, TDs and total offense and became the first WT quarterback to pass for 9,000 yards during his career. He ranked first, nationally, in passing yards per game and second in total offense and threw for at least 300 yards in all but two games this past season (he was pulled after throwing for 227 yards and two TDs against Tarleton and 261 yards and two TDs in two quarters against Northeastern State). He recorded his second 500-yard passing game of the season when he completed 42-of-63 passes for 595 yards and sevens TDs at Abilene Christian in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Scott, the 2008 Harlon Hill Award winner as the top player in NCAA Division II football, became ACU's all-time leading rusher in just two seasons, piling up 4,321 yards in just 25 games (172.8 yards per game). He topped the 2,000-yard mark twice, becoming the only player in LSC history to put together multiple 2,000-yard rushing seasons. His 63 rushing touchdowns are second in ACU history, and his 73 total touchdowns are second in both ACU and LSC history.
Related: Knox goes to Bears in 5th; Bengals grab Scott in 6th
Related: Wildcats' Knox, Scott taken in NFL draft
Related: Rams draft WT's Null in sixth round
Related: Wrap-up: Defense takes major step
Related: Bengals are headed in the right direction
Related: NFL: CenTex trio Miller, Iglesias, Null drafted on second ...
Related: Bears' fifth-round pick clocked 4.34 40 time
Related: D-II offers Day 2 bright spots
Related: Bengals take a chance on troubled RB Scott
Related: Bengals Draft Bernard Scott, Another Player With Extensive Legal ...

LSC Roundup 4-24

ACU was a big hit with softball slugger Shiery
Four years ago, during her freshman year at the University of Utah, Jessica Shiery thought about giving up her glove and cleats for a chef's hat. Fortunately for Abilene Christian, she gave softball a second chance.

Shiery hit .289 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs to earn first-team all-Mountain West Conference honors and help the Utes reach the finals of the Austin Regional in 2006. The Utes (40-21) lost to Cat Osterman and the University of Texas in the championship game.

Despite the success, the Windsor (Calif.) High School graduate wasn't happy at Utah. The coach who recruited her was forced to resign, and Shiery didn't like the school or her teammates.

"I hated the school," she said. "The coaches were horrible. It just wasn't the right fit."

Nathan Wright: ASU baseball team gets momentum for LSC tourney
For three seasons, Laura Lopez has been a mainstay behind the plate for the Angelo State University softball team.

In that time, she has accomplished a great deal, both from a team and an individual perspective, from conference and regional titles to all-conference and all-regional tournament honors.

She and the rest of the fifth-ranked ASU softball team will begin postseason play at the Lone Star Conference tournament this weekend in Durant, Okla. The Rambelles will open tourney play against Cameron today at noon.

WT pitchers strive to be stingy
Offense got them there, but pitching will have to keep them there.

West Texas A&M made the Lone Star Conference softball tournament for the first time in program history by boasting the highest batting average (.338) and most runs scored (375) in the conference.

Javelinas softball rolling into LSC tournament
KINGSVILLE — To say Texas A&M-Kingsville’s softball team slipped into the Lone Star Conference postseason tournament wouldn’t be stretching the truth. To say the Javelinas didn’t earn their spot in the eight-team field would border on drawing the ire of the players.

“In is in. There’s a couple of ballgames we should’ve won,” said Javelinas junior outfielder Cassie Anderson, the LSC’s leading hitter at .448. “But when it comes down to it, we’re still going and we’ll take what we can.”

ENMU-WT baseball capsule
ENMU is currently seventh in the 11-team LSC, but is one of five teams vying for the final three spots in next week’s six-team LSC tournament. Southwestern Oklahoma is currently fourth at 21-19, followed by Southeastern Oklahoma and Tarleton State at 20-19, ENMU at 20-20 and Central Oklahoma at 19-21. Other season-ending series this weekend impacting the outcome have co-leader Cameron at Southwestern, last-place East Central at Southeastern, co-leader Abilene Christian at Tarelton State, Northeastern State at Central Oklahoma.
Of note: ENMU, seeking its first LSC tournament berth since 1994, missed out by one-half game last season. The team which finished sixth, Texas A&M-Kingsville, ended up winning the tournament.

Wt baseball team enters final weekend
West Texas A&M concludes its first season under coach Matt Vanderburg this weekend hoping to play spoiler during a four-game Lone Star Conference series at Eastern New Mexico in Portales, N.M.

The Buffs and ENMU are scheduled to open with a doubleheader at 4 p.m. today, then conclude the season with a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Javelinas baseball to take on Angelo State in season's final series
Texas A&M-Kingsville's baseball team closes the season with a four-game series against 20th-ranked Angelo State University at Nolan Ryan Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader at 3 p.m. today and a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.

The Javelinas (15-25 Lone Star Conference, 20-31 overall) were eliminated from LSC postseason contention last weekend when Southeastern (Okla.) State swept a four-game series in Durant, Okla.

A&M-Kingsville is led by senior left-hander Sam Strickland (5-3, 4.37 earned-run average, 80 strikeouts). Strickland needs 10 strikeouts to become the fifth player in school history with 200 strikeouts in a career.

ASU baseball update for April 24
The Rams close the regular season this week at Kingsville and still have a shot to win the LSC regular-season title. ASU is in third place, but just one game behind Cameron and Abilene Christian for the top spot. ... The Rams are coming off a 7-6 extra-inning victory against St. Edward's on Tuesday. Keith Towne broke the LSC single-season home run record in the eighth inning. His two-run home run tied the game at 6-6 in the eighth inning. The Rams won the game three innings later when Trey Carter drew a walk with the bases loaded. ... TAMUK was swept by Southeastern Oklahoma last weekend. ... The Rams are 12-5 all-time against the Javelinas. ASU took three of four from TAMUK last season. ... The Rams will be back in action at the Lone Star Conference tournament, which begins on May 2 at ACU against an opponent to be determined.

ACU men, women reach LSC tennis finals
MSU snaps skid, falls in semis

Rams see promise, peril in No. 2 pick
Quarterbacks: Could Stafford be Lions' cure

LSC Softball Awards

All Academic Team
Link to Complete Release
LSC North Division Softball Academic Player of the Year: Jenna Boren, Cameron and
Jami McAdoo, Southeastern Oklahoma

Jenna Boren, 1B Cameron
Jami McAdoo, P Southeastern Oklahoma
Lauren Craig, DH Midwestern State
Molly Shivers, P/OF Central Oklahoma
Kaci Carpenter, P Southwestern Oklahoma
Ashton McBride, P Cameron
Nicole Sanchez, OF East Central
Ashley Geter, 1B/OF Central Oklahoma
Shaelyn Moore, SS Northeastern State
Kristi Goins, OF Southeastern Oklahoma


NORTH DIVISION COMMISSIONER'S HONOR ROLL
Cameron: Courtney Clifford, Jr.; Chelsey Jordan, Sr.;
Central Oklahoma: Brittany Zimmerman, Jr.;
East Central: Laura Kuestersteffen, Sr.; Kelly Littleton, Sr.; Dana McLaren, Sr.;
Northeastern State: Amy Derichsweiler, Sr.;
Southeastern Oklahoma: Cassy Tice, So.; Brittanie Swift, So.;
Southwestern Oklahoma: Brittany Strickland, Sr.; Alex Zukerman, Sr.; Stacy Creger, Jr.


LSC South Division Softball Academic Player of the Year: Alix Dean, Angelo State
Alix Dean, 2B Angelo State
Alex Mayo Otis, OF Eastern New Mexico
Billie Callahan, OF Texas Woman's
Courtney Rigamonti, P Texas A&M-Kingsville
Erin Hartigan, OF West Texas A&M
Jessica Ruzicki, OF West Texas A&M
Kim Partin, P Abilene Christian
Alli Packer, P Texas Woman's
Carly Case, P Texas Woman's


SOUTH DIVISION COMMISSIONER'S HONOR ROLL
Abilene Christian: Nancy Sawyers, Jr.; Brooke Whittlesey, Sr.; Kim White, So.;
Angelo State: Chelsea Nelson, Jr.;
Eastern New Mexico: Michelle Anderson, Jr.; Amanda Terry, So.; Nikki Darnell, Sr.;
Tarleton State: Nicole Cone, Sr.; Tamra Bradley, Sr.; Lauren Zearfoss, So.;
Texas Woman's: Tiffanie Boone, Sr.; Hayley Siebman, So.;
West Texas A&M: Amber Farr, Jr.; Kaitlyn Witte, So.; Breanna Adams, Sr.; Audrey Wallace, So.


LSC All Conference Awards
Link to Complete Release
NORTH DIVISION - SPECIAL AWARDS
Player of the Year: Jenna Boren, Cameron and Alley Roberts, Central Oklahoma
Pitcher of the Year: Marjorie Johnson, Southeastern Oklahoma
Freshman of the Year: Carrie Harvey, Cameron
Newcomer of the Year: Erika Bernal, Southeastern Oklahoma
Coach of the Year: Ron Faubion, Southeastern Oklahoma

SOUTH DIVISION - SPECIAL AWARDS
Player of the Year: Jessica Shiery, Abilene Christian
Pitcher of the Year: Courtney Rigamonti, Texas A&M-Kingsville
Freshman of the Year: Sandy James, Angelo State
Newcomer of the Year: Chelsea Nelson, Angelo State and Kasey Henderson, West Texas A&M
Coach of the Year: Chantiel Wilson, Abilene Christian

North Division First Team
P Carrie Harvey Cameron
P Marjorie Johnson Southeastern Oklahoma
C Kelsey Tiger Central Oklahoma
1B Jenna Boren Cameron
2B Tabitha Yannetti Midwestern State
SS Megan Young Cameron
SS Alley Roberts Central Oklahoma
SS Bailey Mathes Southeastern Oklahoma
3B Stacey Creger Southwestern Oklahoma
OF Erika Bernal Southeastern Oklahoma
OF Maranda Bishop Midwestern State
OF Shareena Pulse Cameron
DP Lauren Craig Midwestern State
UT Molly Shivers Central Oklahoma

South Division First Team
P Courtney Rigamonti Texas A&M-Kingsville
P Jacque Gregoire Abilene Christian
C Jessica Shiery Abilene Christian
1B Sandy James Angelo State
2B Alix Dean Angelo State
SS Macy Baker Angelo State
3B Nancy Sawyers Abilene Christian
OF Cassie Anderson Texas A&M-Kingsville
OF Kasey Henderson West Texas A&M
OF Laura Thompson Eastern New Mexico
DP Brittnee Rice Tarleton State
UT Kristen Cruickshank Eastern New Mexico

LSC Weekly Baseball Release

Link to Complete Release

Diamond Players of the Week
LSC Hitter - Ryan Schoonover, Central Oklahoma
Co-LSC Pitcher - Brad Bichel, Cameron
Co-LSC Pitcher - Matt Hinds, Southeastern Oklahoma
Co-LSC Pitcher - Danny Morris, Tarleton State


Regional Rankings
1. Emporia State
2. Cameron
3. Abilene Christian
4. Angelo State
5. Central Missouri
6. Texas Permian Basin
7. Nebraska-Omaha
8. St. Marys



Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Poll
3. Emporia State (3)
11. Cameron (21)
16. Texas Permian Basin (15)
17. Abilene Christian (9)
20. Angelo State (24)
28. Nebraska-Omaha (16)
29. Central Missouri (RV)
RV Incarnate Word, St. Marys, Missouri Southern


PingBaseball.com Poll
3. Emporia State (4)
7. Central Missouri (14)
17. Cameron (NR)
18. Abilene Christian (8)
22. St. Marys (22)
25. Nebraska-Omaha (20)

LSC Roundup 4-23

LSC Tennis Championship starts Thursday
Midwestern State is the host of the 2009 Lone Star Conference Men's and Women's Tennis championships which begin Thursday morning at three tennis centers - Hamilton Park, Weeks Park and Midwestern State University.

2009 Lone Star Conference Women's Championship Tournament Central

2009 Lone Star Conference Men's Championship Tournament Central


Nathan Wright: ASU baseball team gets momentum for LSC tourney
The Angelo State University baseball team, with a dramatic comeback and a Lone Star Conference tournament berth in hand, will close out the regular season with a three-game series at Texas A&M-Kingsville this weekend.

The Rams are currently in third place in the LSC standings, but ASU is just one game behind Cameron and Abilene Christian. There was a shake-up at the top of the standings over the weekend because Cameron took three of four from the defending conference champions.

A lot riding as ACU, Tarleton meet in baseball
Abilene Christian and Tarleton State will have different goals and yet each will have plenty to play for when the teams meet in a four-game Lone Star Conference series this weekend at Stephenville.

By dropping three of four at Cameron, the Wildcats (37-15, 28-12) fell into a first-place tie with the Aggies. Since Cameron won the season series, the Aggies own the tiebreaker if the teams finish tied. Meanwhile, the Texans (24-25-11, 20-19-1) are currently in fifth place and only the top four teams qualify for the playoffs.

WT turnaround
Four newcomers changed the fortunes of the West Texas A&M softball program, leading the Lady Buffs to their first postseason tournament.

"I don't know if it has sunk in completely yet," WT fourth-year coach Kevin Blaskowski said. "It is huge to put up 34 wins with this team in the fourth year, especially in the Lone Star Conference."

The Lady Buffs received solid offensive contributions from three freshman and a sophomore transfer from Chipola Junior College to turn things around. WT was a combined 51-124 the last three seasons.

"I think the key has been how our newcomers have come in and taken the challenge of trying to take this program to the next level," Blaskowski said. "Without these newcomers it wouldn't have been possible to be where we are right now."

Javelinas baseball cages Jaguars
For the third time this season the Texas A&M-Kingsville baseball team defeated UH-Victoria. On Wednesday night the Javelinas won 7-4 on the road.

The Javelinas (20-31) only scored in one inning during the game, but crossed the plate seven times during the second inning. The Javs took advantage of two Jaguar (28-14) errors to score seven unearned runs. Robert Cox had a double and drove in a run while Thomas Miller cracked a three-run homer to cap off the inning.

Puhl ejected in Jaguars' loss to Javelinas
Terry Puhl didn't make it through the eighth inning, and the University of Houston-Victoria's bid for a win against Texas A&M-Kingsville all but disappeared in the second.

Puhl was ejected for the first time since becoming the head coach of the Jaguars, and his team had its seven-game winning streak end in a 7-4 loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville before their biggest crowd of the season on Wednesday night at Riverside Stadium.

Mustangs sweep RiverHawks
Katie Petersen extended her scoreless streak to 20 innings and drove in three runs at the plate as Midwestern State shutdown Northeastern State 7-0 in Game 2 Wednesday afternoon to finish off a sweep at RiverHawks Park.

From the Bullpen, April 23
The NFL draft is a place where careers begin and end in 10-minute intervals. For some it can also be a place for second chances. For ex-Abilene Christian University running back Bernard Scott, it could be his last chance.

I don’t know him personally, but it seems like the fleet-footed runner has two natural abilities. One is for carrying the pigskin across the goal line. The other is for finding a way to be the center of controversy.

Ex-Wildcats anxiously await call from NFL team
Johnny Knox could be facing a restless night on the eve of the NFL draft Friday night. Even now, with the draft a few days away, the former Abilene Christian receiver is having a hard time waiting for the big day.

"I'm just trying to be patient," he said. "I feel like a little kid all over again. It's like Christmas in April."

ACU coaches' children get bonus of growing up with their coach
The relationships between coach and player have been particularly strong this tennis season at Abilene Christian University.

The Wildcats men's and women's teams are a close-knit group, more so because head coach Hutton Jones Sr.'s son, Hutton Jr., and assistant coach John Walker's daughter, Jaclyn, are on the team. And it's especially strong between the Joneses because Hutton Jr. is a senior.

Jaclyn, who is a sophomore, and Hutton Jr. are Abilene High graduates and their fathers are former ACU tennis players, tying this story more tightly together.

LSC Softball Weekly Release

Link to Complete Release

Players of the Week
LSC North Hitter - Molly Shivers, Central Oklahoma
Co-LSC North Pitcher - Marjorie Johnson, Southeastern Oklahoma
Co-LSC North Pitcher - Carrie Harvey, Cameron
LSC South Hitter - Macy Baker, Angelo State
LSC South Pitcher - Carly Case, Texas Woman's

The eight-team field has been set for this week's Lone Star Conference Softball Championship, which will be played as four-team tournaments in both Durant, Okla., and Abilene, Texas. The winner of each tournament advances to a 3-game championship series May 1-2 to determine the conference champion.

Link to Brackets
Durant Bracket
Game 1 - Friday 12:00 PM - Cameron vs. Angelo State
Game 2 - Friday 2:30 PM - Texas A&M Kingsville vs. Southeastern Oklahoma
Game 3 - Saturday 11:00 AM - Winners of Games 1 & 2
Game 4 - Saturday 1:30 PM - Losers of Games 1 & 2 (Elimination Game)
Game 5 - Saturday 4:00 PM - Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 (Elimination Game)
Game 6 - Sunday 1:00 PM - Winners of Games 3 & 5 (possible Elimination Game)
Game 7 (if necessary) - Sunday 3:30 PM Game 6 rematch (Elimination Game)

Abilene Bracket
Game 1 - Friday 4:00 PM - West Texas A&M vs. Central Oklahoma
Game 2 - Friday 6:30 PM - Midwestern State vs. Abilene Christian
Game 3 - Saturday 1:00 PM - Winners of Games 1 & 2
Game 4 - Saturday 3:30 PM - Losers of Games 1 & 2 (Elimination Game)
Game 5 - Saturday 6:00 PM - Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 (Elimination Game)
Game 6 - Sunday 2:00 PM - Winners of Games 3 & 5 (possible Elimination Game)
Game 7 (if necessary) - Sunday 4:30 PM Game 6 rematch (Elimination Game)

Regional Rankings
1. Southeastern Oklahoma
2. Angelo State
3. Abilene Christian
4. Nebraska-Omaha
5. Central Missouri
6. Midwestern State
7. Missouri Western
8. West Texas A&M
9. Emporia State
10. Cameron

NFCA Top 25 Poll
4. Southeastern Oklahoma (5)
5. Angelo State (4)
12. Abilene Christian (13)
21. Nebraska-Omaha (19)
RV Central Missouri, Midwestern State, West Texas A&M

LSC Roundup 4-22

Northeastern State captures LSC Golf men's championship
Northeastern State won its fourth title in five years with a 7-under par final round to claim the 2009 men's crown at the Lone Star Conference Golf Championships as play concluded at WinStar Golf Course in Thackerville, Okla.
Related: MSU golfers finish third in LSC Tournament
Related: Phemister leads Buffs to fifth place

Tarleton State wins LSC women's golf championship
Tarleton State led from start to finish en route to its third Lone Star Conference Women's Golf Championship as play ended at WinStar Golf Course in Thackerville, Okla.
Related:Tarleton women win LSC tourney

Cuero native leads Javelinas
Jason Gonzales has been coaching baseball for 15 seasons, but it rarely matters when people find out he played on Cuero's 1987 state championship football team.

"The first thing they always ask is do you know Robert Strait," Gonzales said of his former teammate. "Football always comes up first. That's always the way it's been. But people forget that we won a few games in baseball, too."

Gonzales was an all-state shortstop, and the Gobblers advanced to the Class 3A regional final during his senior year before he embarked on a path that led to his being named the head baseball coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville in August.

Longball lifts Rams, sets record
When the Angelo State University baseball team needed a home run from its longball leader the most, Keith Towne delivered.

And in the process, the junior designated hitter became the Lone Star Conference single-season home run record-holder.

With a runner on and the Rams down by two in the bottom of the eighth inning, Towne hit his 24th home run of the season over the right-centerfield wall, extending his single-season home run record and setting a new LSC mark in the process.

Javelinas softball closes regular season in style
KINGSVILLE — The Texas A&M-Kingsville softball team will head into the Lone Star Conference postseason on a positive note after sweeping a doubleheader from University of the Incarnate Word, 7-1 and 5-2, on Senior Day Tuesday at Hubert Field.

Senior pitcher Courtney Rigamonti added to her already lofty statistics this season for the Javelinas (31-20) by shutting down the Cardinals (24-29) in the first game, then closed out the second game. In game 1, Rigamonti allowed just two hits and walked a batter while allowing a lone unearned run. She struck out seven en route to picking up her LSC-leading 26th victory of the season. In game 2 she pitched two perfect innings to earn her fourth save of the season.

D-II: Central Washington's Reilly worth an NFL look
Reilly is one of the top half-dozen players in the Division II ranks this season and is one of a likely 10 or 12 small schools players who are expected to be drafted. A handful of other players will likely earn free agent looks from the NFL.

1. Johnny Knox, Abilene Christian, 6-0, 181, Wide Receiver
Knox came from the junior college ranks (Tyler J.C.) to establish himself as a star in the high-powered Abilene Christian offense (118 catches for 2,227 yards in two years). His soft hands, concentration skills and 4.3 speed could make him the first small-school player drafted. Knox also showed some ability as a return man in college. He improved his stock with a fine week at the Texas vs. the Nation all-star game. Projection: 4th round.

6. Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian, 5-11, 195, Running Back
Scott has rebuilt his reputation at Abilene Christian after some off-field issues, including several arrests, early in his career. The Central Arkansas transfer (1,026 yards, 11 TDs, 6.3 average in one year there) finished second in Division II with 2,156 rushing yards and also piled up 28 touchdowns as a senior. He performed solidly during his week at the Texas. vs the Nation all- star game. Scott is a speedy all-around back, who is strong for his size and can run inside or outside. He should also be a factor in the passing game. Projection: 6th round.

17. Charly Martin, West Texas A&M, 6-1, 205, Wide Receiver
Martin came on strong during his final two seasons, taking advantage of his size to become a prospect. He has a reputation for catching almost any ball near him, but doesn't have elite speed and struggled some with shoulder and ankle injuries during his college career. Martin has plenty of intangibles, and was a good student and team captain. He could develop as a possession receiver in time, though he is somewhat raw. Projection: Free agent.

19. Keith Null, West Texas A&M, 6-3, 232, Quarterback
Null has the size and throwing ability to get an NFL look after finishing second in Division II in passing last season. Null threw for 5,097 yards and 48 touchdowns in the high-octane West Texas A&M attack, but he was intercepted 15 times. He also completed 68.5% of his passes. But Null is still very unpolished and would be a developmental player in the NFL. Projection: Free agent.

Other players, by position, who might end up in NFL camps include:
Quarterback: Billy Malone, Abilene Christian
Running Back: Ben Birmingham, Central Oklahoma
Wide Receiver: Jarrett Byers, Northeastern Oklahoma State
Offensive Line: Tommy Crowley, West Texas A&M; Joseph Thompson, Abilene Christian
Defensive Line: Dexter Manley, West Texas A&M; Brandon Swain, West Texas A&M
Linebacker: Courtney Vincent, Tarleton State
Cornerback: Tremaine Wright, Tarleton State
Free Safety: Dominique Brooks, East Central Oklahoma

Former ACU star Bernard Scott believes he'll be a draft-day steal
CARROLLTON, Texas — Abilene Christian running back Bernard Scott didn’t know much about Randy White before Scott began training under him earlier this year. He was, after all, only 4 years old when White’s 14-year career with the Dallas Cowboys ended.

“I knew that he played for the Cowboys, but I didn’t realize how good he was,” said Scott, who was a standout player at Vernon High School. “I didn’t realize he was a Hall of Famer.”

Florida's Harvin must overcome dubious past
Texas ties
Johnny Knox, Abilene Christian, 6-0, 185, 4.29 One of the fastest players in the draft, he will be drafted after catching 118 passes for 2,227 yards and scoring 30 touchdowns.
Related: Bengals feel a draft

Afternoon Update

This won't help their SOS any...

ACU adds Fort Lewis for 2009
ACU director of athletics Jared Mosley announced Tuesday that the Wildcats have added Fort Lewis College to the 2009 football schedule, filling ACU's open date and giving it an 11-game schedule.

The Wildcats and Skyhawks will play on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Shotwell Stadium with a 6 p.m. kickoff. The Wildcats will not return the game in 2010 as the schools signed just a one-year contract. Fort Lewis had a game to fill after Northern Arizona dropped the Skyhawks from its schedule.

The Skyhawks are part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and finished 2-9 in 2008. The Skyhawks are just 3-18 in the last two seasons and have only scored 209 combined points, including 111 last season when they averaged 10.1 points per game.


So far, so good
When Tim McCarty talks about the positives from his first spring camp as East Central University’s head football coach since 2005, he uses words like “enthusiasm”, “intensity”, “effort”, “hustle” and “attitude”.

Depth and talent? We’ll see.

“There has been a very, very good enthusiasm and high intensity — that’s one thing you’re looking for, and we’ve seen that kind of effort and self-motivation,” said McCarty, who inherited a team that went 3-8 in 2008 and a program that won just eight games in three seasons under former coach Kurt Nichols. “Defensively, I’ve been pleased this spring, especially this last week. You can see the kids are starting to understand how they should fit in their area and understanding technique, and there’s been a general hustle and getting to the ball with an attitude.

“There’s still plenty of work for our staff to do,” McCarty noted. “We’re chewing at the bit to put the pieces together. I don’t think anybody sits back and say ‘we’ve got what we want’. We’re pleased with effort and enthusiasm, but we have a lot of work to do in the talent department.”

LSC Roundup 4-21

Men's Golf: Northeastern State leads LSC Championships at 32-under par
Link to scoring
Northeastern State started out hot with a school-record 19-under par 269 over the first 18 holes and followed that up with a 13-under round to take the lead after 36 holes of play at the Lone Star Conference Championships.

Women's Golf: Tarleton State leads after first round at LSC Championships
Link to scoring
Tarleton State put together a solid round to take a nine-stroke lead after the first day of play at the Lone Star Conference Championships. The TexAnns utilized a team effort for a first-day 293 total and lead over Central Oklahoma (302) and Angelo State (303). LSC Player of the Year Carla Cooper led the Tarleton surge with an even-par 72 to finish tied for third individually. Katy Ward (73), Andrea Lowe (74) and Melanie Tham (74) joined her atop the leaderboard.


ECU men's basketball signs two juco players
ADA - East Central University men's head basketball coach Terry Shannon announced Monday the signing of two junior college transfers for the 2009-10 season.

The Tigers have signed guards Terrence Hill, out of Pima Community College (Ariz.), and Maurice Abraham, from Clarendon Junior College. Hill, at 6-1, averaged 17 points and five rebounds for Pima, while Abraham, at 6-3, averaged 11 points and five boards at Clarendon.

Hill and Abraham are the third and fourth players to sign with ECU in this recruiting class. Last week, the Tigers signed Lanard Donnell, out of Eastfield College (Texas) and Mill Creek High School's Toby Blevins.


Four arrested for drug possession
After a lengthy investigation of a suspected drug dealer, Stephenville police arrested four individuals for possession of marijuana Thursday at a home located in the 500 block of Crow Street.

While a tactical team attempted to execute a search warrant at the home of the suspect, Justyn Turner Henderson, 23, a pit bull inside the house charged the officers, who shot and killed the dog.

Four suspects were inside the home at the time, and slammed the door shut on the officers, who then used a battering ram to gain entry.

Police Chief Roy Halsell said a tactical team was used because investigators had credible evidence that there was an SKS rifle inside the home.

Officers found a rifle, pistol and two pounds of marijuana inside the house.

Henderson, Darriel Collins, 19, and Sheldon Monseque, 20, were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. Henderson and Collins are students at Tarleton State University. Monseque is a former Tarleton football player, who no longer attends the university. A fourth suspect, Shaketha Lambert, 22, was also arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and theft.

LSC Roundup 4-20

LSC Softball Championship field set
The eight-team field has been set for this week's Lone Star Conference Softball Championship, which will be played as four-team tournaments in both Durant, Okla., and Abilene, Texas.

The top four teams from both the North and South Divisions advanced to the NCAA Regional format double-elimination event. The tournaments have been cross-bracketed with two teams from each division competing at each site.

Click here for the brackets

The field includes Southeastern Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, Cameron and Midwestern State from the North and Abilene Christian, Angelo State, West Texas A&M and Texas A&M-Kingsville from the South.

SE is the North's top seed and will host South No. 2 seed ASU, North No. 3 Cameron and South No. 4 seed Texas A&M-Kingsville. The tournament begins in Durant on Friday at 12 p.m. with first-round games.

ACU won the South Division and will host North No. 2 UCO, South No. 3 West Texas A&M and North No. 4 Midwestern State. Action begins in Abilene on Friday at 4 p.m. with first-round games.

The winner of each tournament advances to a 3-game championship series May 1-2 to determine the conference champion.

Mustangs to face ACU in first round of LSC
ACU sweeps, wins LSC South
Rambelles win regular-season finale
Javelinas Sneak Into Playoffs
Lady Buff softball team gets playoff
Hosting spot slips away

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LSC Golf postseason awards announced

Golf: UCO's Farthing leads women's academic awards
Golf: Northeastern State's Cox tops men's academic honors

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Rams split doubleheader with East Central
With a chance to move into a tie for first place in the league standings, the Angelo State baseball team dropped the nightcap of the doubleheader, 3-2 in 10 innings, at East Central in Lawton, Okla., after taking the opener, 14-5, Sunday afternoon.

SOSU baseball takes brooms to Javelinas
Storm take series from Javs

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Green & White Scrimmage

BROKEN ARROW — A late afternoon downpour cut short Northeastern State University’s Green-White spring game in half Saturday. But, it couldn’t dampen second-year coach Kenny Evans’ enthusiasm.

“We’re definitely more athletic, bigger and stronger than last year,” Evans said. “We showed we have guys who can make big plays.”

Trey McVey caught two touchdown passes and Jared Homer kicked a 23-yard field goal to push the White to a 17-7 victory at Broken Arrow High School’s Memorial Stadium. McVey caught a 15-yard strike from Kaelin Woods in the first quarter and made a leaping grab for a 40-yard score from Pat Cook in the second quarter. Homer, who had a 23-yard field goal to cap White’s first possession, kicked both extra points as White lead 17-0 at half.

Green’s only score came early in the third quarter when Johnny Evans returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown. Joe Kok, a Broken Arrow graduate and normally NSU’s punter, kicked the extra point. In controlled setting, the scrimmage did not have punts or kickoffs.

Moments later, lightning sent players and fans scurrying below the bleachers. After a 15-minute delay, the rest of the scrimmage was scrubbed. White’s LaRon Elmer led all rusher with 60 yards on four carries while Chris Davis had 54 yards on five carries. Green’s Prince McKinney had six carries for 51 yards.

Evans said the RiverHawks showed an improvement aside from football. “This bunch grew together as a team,” he said. “We have so many new players who showed they can work together. It’s a big step in the right direction.”

Midwestern State names new basketball coach

MSU picks McCasland as coach
Grant McCasland, who led Midland College to a junior college national championship two years ago, has accepted the position of head basketball coach at Midwestern State University. MSU Athletic Director Charlie Carr said McCasland will be introduced at a press conference today.

“We just felt like he was such a good fit for our program and what we are trying to do,” Carr said. “He has a great passion for the game, and he came across as having a great passion for the kids in the meetings he had with them.”

McCasland replaces Jeff Ray, who stepped down as head coach following the 2008-09 Lone Star Conference championship season to become life skills coordinator at the school. Ray is also the men’s golf coach and will head up the new women’s golf program.

The other known finalists for the job were Sam Houston assistant coach Jason Hooten and SMU assistant Steve Lutz.

Incarnate Word - 2009 Recruiting Class

Need Help:
Everywhere - they have no returning starters at any position.

The Cardinals had a good second recruiting class, with the UIW staff spreading out their recruiting efforts to more parts of the state. QB Shane Knight, RB Bryden McClure, WRs Colton Palmer and Derrick Walls, OLs Tim Dixon and Carlos Salas, DLs Klayton Smith and Brandon Terry, and LB Rashaad Patterson should all compete for playing time.

Overall Grade - B
Coach Santiago's initial recruiting class was very heavy on San Antonio high schoolers, several of whom were top-notch. This year's class looks to be best on the offensive and defensive lines, along with the wide receiver position. Other spots were not overlooked, but did not have the same depth.

Thank you Fred Nuesch

Mr. Nuesch was kind enough to include us in his weekly Javelina Highlights (page 3, bottom left hand side of the page, you know, just in case you are interested).



We appreciate the acknowledgement.

LSC Roundup 4-16

Local roundup: 'Belles sign hoops players, Robert Lee and Garden City win district golf titles; CHS grad in club tennis finals
Angelo State University women's basketball coach Sally Walling Brooks announced Wednesday that four high school players have signed national letters of intent to join the 'Belles for the 2009-10 season.
Brooks was pleased to announce that Waco's Ashley James, Corpus Christi's Leah LeMaire, and twin sisters Lindsey and Morgan Youngblood from Thorndale will be added to the ASU roster next season.

Ray's Williams to join Javelinas basketball team
CORPUS CHRISTI — One by one, Desiree Williams signed her name on multiple scholarship papers Wednesday that will extend her basketball career next season at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

It was tedious work, to be sure. It was nowhere near the effort, however, the Ray High School senior had to conjure simply to walk onto the basketball court the past two years.

Williams has played for the Texans with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament for the past two seasons. The first-team All-South Texas pick is coming off surgery two weeks ago to repair the tear and is in the process of rehabilitating the knee.

Javelinas Notebook
Kingsville High School's Amanda Arriaga will be staying at home for her college softball career after signing a national letter of intent on Wednesday to play with Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The 5-foot-8, third baseman-pitcher has helped the Brahmas to a 23-1 record and No. 5 ranking in the state Class 4A poll.

She has the potential to fill the shoes of Courtney Rigamonti and could get double digit wins as a freshman, said A&M-Kingsville coach Blake Miller, comparing Arriaga to the Javelinas current pitching standout. She is very strong, has a lot of power at the plate and will be a good corner infielder for us.

The Texas Sports Writers Association named Arriaga to its first-team all-state squad as a third baseman as a junior when she helped Kingsville to the regional finals. She was a second-team all-district pick as a sophomore and an honorable mention choice as a freshman.

TexAnns add Bowman to roster
STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton head women’s basketball coach Ronnie Hearne has announced the signing of Shedera Boman to play for the TexAnns next season.

Bowman, a 6-0 forward out of Brownsboro, transfers to Tarleton from McClennan County College where she averaged 8.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. She earned North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference First Team honors and was also named Newcomer of the Year.

ECU nabs first men's basketball signee
East Central University men’s head basketball coach Terry Shannon has announced his first signing for the 2009-10 season in junior college transfer Lanard Donnell, a 6-4 wing out of Eastfield College in Mesquite, Texas.

Donnell averaged 9 points and 4 rebounds for a 21-11 Eastfield team this past season. The Harvesters, coached by Anthony Fletcher, came within one victory from advancing to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament after going 2-1 at regionals. Donnell, who will be a junior next season, played at Lincoln High School in Dallas, where his team captured a state championship his senior year.

Football Features New Look
Spring football drills are winding down at Northeastern State University (OK). With each passing day, enthusiasm and expectations grow as head coach Kenny Evans and staff prepare the RiverHawks for the 2009 campaign.

Despite the season opener is still some four months away, it doesn’t hide the fact this squad will be more skilled and experienced than what Evans inherited when he took over the reins a little more than a year ago.

If the adage, “Perception is reality” applies, the RiverHawks are headed for a breakout year in 2009. In addition to elevating talent at several key positions on both sides of the ball, a new look for Northeastern State’s football program is being unveiled this year. Uniform jerseys, with a return to the true Northeastern State green, and a redesigned helmet logo will be donned by the RiverHawks when they take the field on Aug. 27 against Arkansas Tech.