LSC Roundup 4-3

Now at ACU, talented Fox knows studies key part of college football (with video)
After a sensational freshman season at Angelo State, Kyle Fox's collegiate football career took a long detour. Now, the 22-year-old running back is trying to revive his career at Abilene Christian University.

Fox ran for 1,417 yards and 15 touchdowns on 160 carries as a freshman at ASU in 2005. The Converse Judson graduate also caught 19 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Rams to a 9-3 season and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Fox was named the Lone Star Conference South Division freshman of the year and also was named to the all-LSC South first team.

But after so much promise on the football field, Fox failed in the classroom.

"Reality kicked in after that," Fox said. "I always thought football, football, football. My mom used to tell me, 'You're a student-athlete, not an athlete-student.' I guess I had to learn the hard way."

UCO football notebook: Brandon Noohi looks to improve with new offensive line
Central Oklahoma quarterback Brandon Noohi made great strides last season, but he’s still searching for perfection, and an offensive line.

UCO has had four spring practices and will scrimmage at 10 a.m. Saturday at Wantland Stadium. The Bronchos overcame an 0-4 start to finish 7-4 last season, winning the Lone Star Conference North Division Championship.

Noohi, who played at Mount Saint Mary’s, was instrumental in the turnaround, finishing the season with 2,200 total yards and 19 touchdowns. Only trouble is, most of UCO’s line graduated last season.

"We’ve been working on getting on the same page,” Noohi said. "It’s a learning process like everything else, but they’ve been playing pretty well.”

Finally getting his chance
After two seasons of limited action at Lamar University, Keith Towne decided he wanted to see more playing time.

He wanted to show a team his true potential. He wanted a chance to play every day.

The junior first baseman/designated hitter found that at Angelo State. And the Rams are benefiting from it every time the team takes the field.

After a successful high school career at Katy Taylor High School that saw him hit .358 with six home runs and 28 RBIs as a senior and hit .413 with eight home runs and a school-record 41-RBIs as a junior, Towne took the best opportunity presented to him and signed with Lamar.

"In high school, I had a couple of good years back-to-back and got some attention," Towne said. "A friend of mine that played there made a call to Lamar and got the coach to come out and take a look. He made an offer a couple of days later. I hadn't really heard anything from anybody else so I decided it was my chance to play college baseball."

ACU teams face rival ASU
The Abilene Christian baseball team opens a key Lone Star Conference series against Angelo State at 7 tonight in San Angelo. ACU leads the conference with a 21-7 record, one game ahead of Cameron (28-9 overall, 20-8 LSC) and two games ahead of Angelo State (26-12, 19-9).

"It's going to be fun," ACU coach Britt Bonneau said. "We get to play a team that, looking on paper, is very equal to what we are, and they do a lot of things we do. It looks like a good matchup. It's a series we know every year is a big series, not only for our program, but their program. There's always a lot of excitement around it. So we're looking forward to seeing what they have, and, hopefully, we'll find out one or two things about them that will help us in tournament time."

This Lady Buff carries a big stick
While many hitters might not enjoy batting in the ninth spot in the lineup, one left fielder thrives in it.

West Texas A&M's Erin Hartigan enjoys breaking the stereotype of the ninth hitter being the weak stick in the lineup.

Hartigan started the season batting in the sixth slot but gradually moved down to the final spot where she seems more comfortable. The senior is batting .400 and ranks second on the team with seven homers and 33 RBIs in 39 games.

"It wouldn't be a far stretch to say that Erin is probably the best nine-hole hitter in Division II softball this year," WT coach Kevin Blaskowski said. "She has always been solid, but this year she has taken her play to another level."

Buffs continue bid to qualify for LSC tourney
West Texas A&M hits the road to play at Cameron University in Lone Star Conference baseball action today, seeking to build on the momentum it gained earlier this week.

The Buffs took three of four games from Tarleton State on Sunday and Monday to push its LSC record to 10-18, good for a ninth-place tie with Texas A&M-Kingsville.

With 16 games left in the LSC season, the Buffs need to climb into at least sixth place to earn a trip to the LSC Tournament. Eastern New Mexico and Central Oklahoma are tied for fifth place with 14-14 records.

Javelinas baseball, softball aim for playoffs
The baseball and softball teams from Texas A&M-Kingsville have opportunities this weekend to move into position for postseason play with home series against Tarleton State and Texas Woman’s, respectively.

A&M-Kingsville’s baseball team entertains Tarleton in doubleheaders today and Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, at Nolan Ryan Field. The Javelinas softball team hosts the Pioneers in a doubleheader today at 5 p.m. and a single game at noon Saturday at Hubert Field.

Both squads are reeling slightly. The baseball team is 10-18 in the Lone Star Conference, tied for ninth with West Texas A&M and East Central (Okla.). The Javelinas (14-22) have dropped six of their past eight ballgames despite posting season bests in hits and runs in an 18-8 win over Northeastern (Okla.) State to salvage a split in last weekend’s four-game series.