HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 28, 2009) The University of Houston swimming and diving team finished second at the 2009 Conference USA Swimming and Diving Championships which concluded Saturday evening at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center (CRWC) Natatorium.
The Cougars earned the silver medal with 623 points followed by Rice's 595 points. SMU grabbed first place with 857.5 points. Houston's second place finish was their highest finish ever at the C-USA Championships. Their previous best was a third place finish at the 2006 Championships.
Houston swept the meet's specialty awards. Head coach Mark Taylor earned his first C-USA Championship Swimming Coach of the Meet award, snapping SMU's Steve Collins' two-year stint, while head diving coach Jane Figueiredo earned her eighth consecutive Diving Coach of the Year award.
In the only women's diving event of the evening, Anastasia Pozdniakova earned the top spot in platform diving with a final score of 277.55. With her win on Saturday, Pozdniakova became the first diver to win all three events since former Cougar Tania Cagnotto in 2006.Pozdniakova was named the 2009 Championship Diver of the Meet, her second C-USA Diver of the Meet award.
Courtney Forcucci finished in third place with 234.75 points and Jessalyn Almond placed fourth with 170.60 points.
Sasha Schwendenwein set a C-USA Championship meet record on Saturday morning in the women's 200-yard butterfly event in a preliminary heat with a time of 1:58.87. She later surpassed her own record with a 1:56.48 to capture the gold Saturday evening with an NCAA `B' time. Schwendenwein completed the Cougar award sweep with Championship Swimmer of the Meet honors.
Andrea Kells (2:02.43) placed seventh and Lubbers (2:11.13) finished 16th to join Schwendenwein in the 200-yard butterfly final.
Andrea Pa'lmai and Kim Eason put up top performances in the first event of the night, earning the gold and silver medals in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Pa'lmai's time of 16:38.87 gave her a spot in the UH record books. Pa'lmai shattered the previous school record of 16:51.88 which was set in 1978 by Cyndi McCullam.
Natalie Newcomb finished in the 15th place with a time of 17:35.15, while Danica Lubbers (18:33.21) followed in 17th place and Rachel Holcomb (18:42.20) finished 23rd.
Jess Shamburger (2:01.82) earned fourth place in the women's 200-yard backstroke and Pa'lmai's time of 2:05.06 was good enough for seventh in the event. Paige Bissett finished first in the consolation final with a time of 2:02.63.
Beccy Hillis (2:14.78) brought in a fourth place finish for the Cougars in the 200-yard breaststroke. Natalie Newcomb placed 15th in the event, receiving a time of 2:25.01.
Hillis also finished in fifth place in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:03.44.
To wrap up the meet, the Cougars (Sasha Schwendenwein, Andrea Pa'lmai, Paige Bissett, Kimberley Eeson) finished the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:26.12 to finish in fifth place.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Home Energy Solutions to Introduce Turfcats at Kite Day
AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 28, 2009) Friends and families are invited to Zilker Park to attend Kite Day Sunday where Home Energy Solutions and BMC West will introduce the public to Austin’s newest professional sports team: the Austin Turfcats of the Southern Indoor Football League.More than 5,000 special inaugural postcards will be handed out by the Travis County Sherriff’s Department.
“We are very excited to be a part of bringing the Turfcats to Austin,” said Steve Rosenbaum of BMC West. “Kite Day is always a lot of fun, and we look forward to telling everybody about the Turfcats. Make sure to come by the Sherriff’s booth. We’ll have Turfcats postcards and other neat giveaways!”
Opening day for the Turfcats is April 18 versus the Acadiana Mudbugs. Affordable sponsorship opportunities are still available to local businesses and are a great way to associate your company with a professional sports team.
Great locations are still available for the 2009 season! Act now to reserve the best seats. Call a Season Sales Representative today at 866-969-8228 (TCAT) to reserve your seats today. The Austin Turfcats are committed to being a premier team in the Southern Indoor Football League and being involved in the community for which we serve.
For more information or get photos for media outlets or to get your 2009 Austin Turfcats season tickets, contact the Turfcats office at (866) 969-8228 (TCAT) or by electronic mail at roswalt@turfcats.com
Friday, February 27, 2009
UH's Turner, McPherson Grab Gold on Day 1 of C-USA Championships
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 27, 2009) Sophomore Ed Turner claimed his second straight Conference USA long jump championship on Friday, as the Cougars swept the top three places in the event on the first day of competition at the 2009 C-USA Indoor Championships.At the end of day one, the Cougar men look to be in good shape to contend for their third-consecutive team title, leading the pack with 42.50 points. Rice stands in second with 40 points, while Tulsa rounds out the top three with 32 points.
The women's team also stands atop the championship leaderboard with 31 points and will look to clinch its first title since 2006 on Saturday. Rounding out the top three are Rice with 30 points and UCF with 27 points.
The 2008 C-USA Indoor Freshman of the Year and indoor long jump gold medalist, Turner set a NCAA provisional qualifying mark with a season-best leap of 7.56m (24-09.75) to defend his conference title.
Joining Turner on the awards podium were junior Lamar Delaney and freshman Isaiah Sweeney. Delaney cleared a season-best 7.26m (23-10.00) to take silver, while Sweeney posted a mark of 7.17m (23-06.25) to take bronze.
Junior Quin'shundolyn McPherson claimed her first individual conference title, winning gold in the long jump with a personal best clearance of 5.99m (19-08.00). Senior Dayo Ogunniyi finished fourth with a leap of 5.88m (19-03.50), while freshman Tai'shea Reese took sixth with a mark of 5.75m (18-10.50).
Sophomore Bryan Brown grabbed the Cougars' first medal of the day, taking silver in the men's pole vault competition. Brown's clearance of 4.76m (15-07.25) set a new personal best and currently ranks third in conference this season.
Currently ranked fourth in the nation in the 60-meter hurdles, senior Seun Adigun turned in the second fastest time in qualifying to advance to Saturday's finals with a time of 8.26. Adigun briefly held the conference meet record with the mark before UCF's Jackie Coward snatched it back from her with an 8.19 finish.
Junior Steven Jones posted the fastest mark in the 60m hurdle prelims with a personal best time of 8.03. Also qualifying for the men was freshman D'Korian Ford (8.27) and junior Darryl Cloud (8.41).
After the first day of competition in the heptathlon, senior Morgan Floyd sits in second place behind Leonard McLeggon of Southern Miss.
Floyd racked up a total of 2,961 points during the first four events, finishing in the top three in each. He trails by just over 110 points with three events still remaining on Saturday.
In the 60-meter dash, Sweeney turned in the top time in the prelims with a season best finish of 6.81. Also qualifying for the finals with season-best marks were sophomore Tyron Carrier (6.91) and Turner (6.91).
Freshman Kevin Hobson (6.97), Jones (6.97) and Ernest Imade (7.00) also ran in the 60m prelims and each, too, set season best times.
Entering the championships atop the conference standings in the 60m, sophomore Christie Jones turned in a provisional qualifying time of 7.43 in the prelims to advance to the finals. Also advancing were senior Seun Adigun, sophomore Kalyn Floyd and freshman Grecia Bolton.
Freshmen Doug Kelley and Joe Irabor both qualified for the 400m finals, turning in times of 48.53 and 49.39, respectively. Irabor's mark set a season best.
For the women, freshman Whitney Harris also qualified for the finals with a mark of 56.05.
Qualifying for the Cougars for the 200m finals was Carrier and Hobson for the men's team with times of 22.30 and 22.31, respectively. For the women, Floyd (24.15), McPherson (24.51) and Jones (24.57) swept the top three spots to advance. Floyd and McPherson marks also set season bests.
Junior Brandon Hubbard set a new season best in the weight throw to finish in sixth with a mark of 16.14m (52-11.50). Fellow junior Amanda Villanueva competed for the women and finish with a heave of 14.99m (49-02.25).
In the 800-meter run prelims, freshmen Jesse Rodriguez and Nate Pineda qualified for the finals, turning in times of 1:57.16 and 1:57.92, respectively. Pineda's mark set a season best. Also running was freshman Anthony Jordan who also finished with a season best time of 1:58.26.
Freshman Stephanie Aldea turned in a solid anchor leg to help lead the women's distance medley relay team to a second place finish with a time of 11:53.32. Joining Aldea were junior Erica Hannemann, sophomore Lindsey Marshall and freshman Ciera Johnson.
The men's distance medley team of Pineda, Cloud, Jordan and Rodriguez finished in fifth place with a time of 10:24.06.
Sophomore Laura Allred tied her season best in the high jump clearing 1.65m (5-05.00) to finish in fourth.
For the women, Hanneman set a new personal best with a time of 2:18.05 in the 800m.
In the women's pentathlon competition, senior Kim Brown placed 11th for the Cougars. Brown finished with a total of 3,078 points.
Single-day tickets are available for $10 for adults and $5 for students with ID. All students from Conference USA schools are admitted free with a valid student ID.
Fans who can't attend can follow all the action live on the web by logging on to www.FlashResults.com/FlashTexas.
Competition resumes on Saturday begining with the conclusion of the heptathlon competition with the final three events slated to start at 11 a.m. The men's shot put starting at 1 p.m. will lead off the field events, while running events get under way with the men's mile at 3 p.m.
Baseball Drops Opening Game of College Classic to Baylor, 3-2
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 27, 2009) The University of Houston baseball team lost its opening game of the Houston College Classic 3-2 to Baylor Friday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.Both teams were held scoreless until the fourth inning, when junior Zak Presley hit a home run to left field to open the inning, his first home run of the season.
Baylor would answer the score with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Dustin Dickerson singled to left center and he would score on a single up the middle from Aaron Miller.
The Bears added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning before Houston would tie the ball game in the seventh inning. Junior Chris Wallace started the inning off with a double to right center and he would score on sophomore Caleb Ramsey's double to left field.
But once again Baylor answered the Cougars score with one of their own. In the bottom of the seventh inning Baylor scored its final run off a double from Adam Hornung.
With the loss, Houston falls to 2-4 on the season. The Cougars are now 60-85 all-time against the Bears.
Houston will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for a noon game against UC Irvine at Minute Maid Park. The Tournament will conclude on Sunday at 6 p.m. against Texas A&M.
UH Swimming and Diving Team Continues to Break Records
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 23, 2009) The University of Houston swimming and diving team stands in second place with 419 points at the end of competition on day three of the Conference USA Swimming and Diving Championships at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.Kicking off the night Kim Eeson, Sasha Schwendenwein, Jessica Shamburger and Paige Bissett finished in fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle relay breaking a school record with a time of 1:33:14.
In the 1-meter diving competition Anastasia Pozdniakova won with a final score of 346.10, beating her own personal best of 338.40. Following behind her in second place was Courtney Forcucci with a final score of 283.10, while Jessalyn Almond finished in sixth place with a final score of 239.45.
Andrea Pa'lmai won the 400-yard IM, beating her personal best and breaking a school record with a time of 4:19:52. Beccy Hillis followed in third place with a time of 4:22:56.
Beating a personal best in the 100-yard butterfly, Andrea Kells finished sixth place with a time of 55.28. Following in 14th place, Doreen Polotzek also set personal best with a time of 56.99.
Schwendenwein yet again etched her name in the school record book on Friday, this time in the 200-yard freestyle with a program best time of 1:45.79, setting a NCAA `B' qualifying time. Eeson came in fourth with a time of 1:48:54.
Hillis took fifth place in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:03:44 and Polotzek bested her personal best with a time of 1:06:47 and to take 14th.
Shamburger finished in third place in the 100-yard backstroke breaking a school record and a personal best with a time of 55.14. Bissett also broke a personal best, finishing in tenth place with a time of 57.23.
Competition will continue Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. with women and men's 200-yard backstroke, women and men's 100-yard freestyle, women and men's 200-yard breaststroke, women and men's 200-yard butterfly, and women and men's 1,650-yard freestyle event prelims, while the finals are scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.
UH Swimming and Diving Team Continues to Break Records
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 27, 2009) The University of Houston swimming and diving team stands in second place with 419 points at the end of competition on day three of the Conference USA Swimming and Diving Championships at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.Kicking off the night Kim Eeson, Sasha Schwendenwein, Jessica Shamburger and Paige Bissett finished in fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle relay breaking a school record with a time of 1:33:14.
In the 1-meter diving competition Anastasia Pozdniakova (above, left)won with a final score of 346.10, beating her own personal best of 338.40. Following behind her in second place was Courtney Forcucci with a final score of 283.10, while Jessalyn Almond finished in sixth place with a final score of 239.45.
Andrea Pa'lmai won the 400-yard IM, beating her personal best and breaking a school record with a time of 4:19:52. Beccy Hillis followed in third place with a time of 4:22:56.
Beating a personal best in the 100-yard butterfly, Andrea Kells finished sixth place with a time of 55.28. Following in 14th place, Doreen Polotzek also set personal best with a time of 56.99.
Schwendenwein yet again etched her name in the school record book on Friday, this time in the 200-yard freestyle with a program best time of 1:45.79, setting a NCAA `B' qualifying time. Eeson came in fourth with a time of 1:48:54.
Hillis took fifth place in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:03:44 and Polotzek bested her personal best with a time of 1:06:47 and to take 14th.
Shamburger finished in third place in the 100-yard backstroke breaking a school record and a personal best with a time of 55.14. Bissett also broke a personal best, finishing in tenth place with a time of 57.23.
Competition will continue Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. with women and men's 200-yard backstroke, women and men's 100-yard freestyle, women and men's 200-yard breaststroke, women and men's 200-yard butterfly, and women and men's 1,650-yard freestyle event prelims, while the finals are scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.
Aggies Drives UC Irving, 9-2, at Houston College Classic
By Robert H. KellyCopyright 2009 TexSport Publications
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 27, 2009) In the first game of the 2009 Houston College Classic, action got underway with top ranked Texas A&M Aggies facing off against # 5 University of California at Irvine.
The Aggies (6-1), showed why they are rank number one in the country by Baseball America, exploding for seven hits in the top of the sixth inning, to defeat UC Irvine 9-2 to give the Anteaters their second loss of the season.
The Aggies’ slug fest were lead by Luke Anders who when 3-5 with one run and four RBIs to raise his average for the season to .385. Nick Anders, Luke’s younger brother, also added to the offensive production, going 2-4 with two runs.
UC Irvine starting pitcher Daniel Bibona had trouble on the mount, giving up seven hits and five runs, all earned, while striking out six and walking two. He was pulled, after 5 1/3 innings of work and replaced by Matt Dafour who did not fair much better. He pitched 2/3 innings, giving up three hits, 3 earned runs while walking two.
Brooks Raley was credited with the win for the Aggies, raising his season record to 2-0. He gave up five hits, two earned runs, while striking out two and walking four. He finished the day with a 2.25 ERA.
Bobina was given the loss and the Aggies’ Kyle Thebeau, after pitching three complete innings was credited with the save.
The Aggies will face off against the Rice Owls on Saturday night at 7:00 pm while the Anteaters will meet Houston in the 12 noon game on Saturday.
All action is played at Minute Maid Park, home of the 2005 National League Champion Houston Astros.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Swimming and Diving in Second After Day Two of C-USA Championships
(Sasha Schwendenwein sets school record in 500-yard freestyle-Photo courtesy of University of Houston Media Relations)HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 26, 2009) The University of Houston swimming and diving team sits tied for second place with Rice with 214 points following the second day of competition at the Conference USA Swimming and Diving Championships at the Campus recreation and Wellness Center.
Sasha Schwendenwein started Thursday's final off for the Cougars with a win in the 500-yard freestyle, coming in with a school record time of 4:42.58. She was followed in second by teammate Kim Eeson, who turned in a time of 4:47.31. Both final times are NCAA `B' qualifying times.
Schwendenwein beat her school record time of 4:49.99 set earlier in the day during the prelims.
Anastasia Pozdniakova added to the Cougars' win total by taking top honors in the 3-meter competition with 397.20 points, setting a meet record. Her final point total is also the 10th best finish in school history and her highest point total this season.
Finishing second in the 3-meter competition was Courtney Forcucci with 330.65 points. Jessalyn Almond added a fifth place finish with 272.40 points.
Andrea Kells also set a personal best in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:05.54 for a seventh place finish. Paige Bissett won the consolation finals with a time of 2:04.70.
In the final individual swimming event of the night, Jessica Shamburger won the consolation finals in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best time of 23.54.It ranks as the seventh fastest performance in school history.
Houston's 400-yard medley relay team of Shamburger, Beccy Hillis, Schwendenwein, and Eeson finished second with a time of 3:41.65, setting a school record. The previous record of 3:46.18 was set in 2006. In the leadoff split, Shamburger's time of 54.71 was an NCAA `B' time.
Competition will continue through Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. each day with event prelims and the finals are scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.
During the first day of competition, the Cougars set three school records, including a record that was set 25 years ago.
In the 800-yard freestyle relay, the team of Schwendenwein, Kimberley Eeson, Olga Bordatcheva and Andrea Pal'mai finished third with a time of 7:21.60, setting a new school record. The previous record of 7:27.20 was set in 1983.
Schwendenwein's lead-off split in the 800-yard freestyle relay was also a school record performance. She turned in a time of 1:45.43 to improve on her own record of 1:47.55 set last season.
During the first event of the championship, Jessica Shamburger, Beccy Hillis, Andrea Kells and Paige Bissett combined to set a school record of 1:42.26 in the 200-yard medley relay. They finished fourth and erased the previous record of 1:44.30 set in 2006.
Track & Field Preps for C-USA Indoor Championships
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 26, 2009) The University of Houston men's track team will eye a third consecutive Conference USA Indoor team championship this weekend when the Cougars return to action at the 2009 C-USA Indoor Championships.Houston will host the two-day conference championships for the ninth-straight year and the 11th time in the last 13 seasons inside Yeoman Fieldhouse on Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28.
All-session tickets are available for only $15 for adults and $8 for youth. Single-day tickets are available for $10 for adults and $5 for students with ID. All students from Conference USA schools are admitted free with a valid student ID.
Last year, the Houston men's team collected 152 points, surpassing second place Rice with 116.5 to snatch its second-straight team title. UTEP finished third, scoring 104 points.
Leading the way for the Cougars were Ed Turner and Chris Carter, who grabbed gold medals in the long jump and triple jump, respectively. Turner would be named the 2008 C-USA Indoor Freshman of the Year following his performance. Each looks to defend his conference title this weekend.
Turner, a sophomore, currently sits second in the league standings behind teammate Thomas Lang in the long jump with a season-best mark of 7.21m (23-08.00).
Fellow sophomore Carter set a provisional qualifying mark in the triple jump with a personal-best leap of 15.89m (52-01.75). His mark is tops in C-USA this season and currently stands 16th in the nation.
Senior Seun Adigun will attempt to lead the women to their first team title since 2006. She will also look to close her collegiate career with a third-consecutive C-USA championship in the women's 60-meter hurdles.
Adigun recorded an NCAA automatic qualifying mark earlier this month, crossing the finish line in a school record time of 8.09 at the New Balance Invitational. That mark currently stands as the fourth-fastest posted in the nation this season.
Fans who can't attend can follow all the action live on the web by logging on to www.FlashResults.com/FlashTexas or by clicking HERE
Competition opens at 9 a.m., Friday, with the beginning of the men's heptathlon and women's pentathlon. Field events get under way at 2 p.m. with the women's weight throw, while running events start at 5 p.m. with the men's 5,000m final.
Saturday's action will see the conclusion of the mutli-event competitions, which begin at 11 a.m. The men's shot put starting at 1 p.m. will lead off the field events, while running events get under way with the men's mile at 3 p.m.
All 12 C-USA member schools - East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF, and UTEP - will compete for the women's title. Marshall, SMU, Tulane, UCF and UAB do not sponsor men's track and field.
UH Swimming and Diving in Second After Day Two of C-USA Championships
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 26, 2009) The University of Houston swimming and diving team sits tied for second place with Rice with 214 points following the second day of competition at the Conference USA Swimming and Diving Championships at the Campus recreation and Wellness Center.Sasha Schwendenwein (right) started Thursday's final off for the Cougars with a win in the 500-yard freestyle, coming in with a school record time of 4:42.58. She was followed in second by teammate Kim Eeson, who turned in a time of 4:47.31. Both final times are NCAA `B' qualifying times.
Schwendenwein beat her school record time of 4:49.99 set earlier in the day during the prelims.
Anastasia Pozdniakova added to the Cougars' win total by taking top honors in the 3-meter competition with 397.20 points, setting a meet record. Her final point total is also the 10th best finish in school history and her highest point total this season.
Finishing second in the 3-meter competition was Courtney Forcucci with 330.65 points. Jessalyn Almond added a fifth place finish with 272.40 points.
Andrea Kells also set a personal best in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:05.54 for a seventh place finish. Paige Bissett won the consolation finals with a time of 2:04.70.
In the final individual swimming event of the night, Jessica Shamburger won the consolation finals in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best time of 23.54.It ranks as the seventh fastest performance in school history.
Houston's 400-yard medley relay team of Shamburger, Beccy Hillis, Schwendenwein, and Eeson finished second with a time of 3:41.65, setting a school record. The previous record of 3:46.18 was set in 2006. In the leadoff split, Shamburger's time of 54.71 was an NCAA `B' time.
Competition will continue through Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. each day with event prelims and the finals are scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.
DAY ONE HIGHLIGHTS
During the first day of competition, the Cougars set three school records, including a record that was set 25 years ago.
In the 800-yard freestyle relay, the team of Schwendenwein, Kimberley Eeson, Olga Bordatcheva and Andrea Pal'mai finished third with a time of 7:21.60, setting a new school record. The previous record of 7:27.20 was set in 1983.
Schwendenwein's lead-off split in the 800-yard freestyle relay was also a school record performance. She turned in a time of 1:45.43 to improve on her own record of 1:47.55 set last season.
During the first event of the championship, Jessica Shamburger, Beccy Hillis, Andrea Kells and Paige Bissett combined to set a school record of 1:42.26 in the 200-yard medley relay. They finished fourth and erased the previous record of 1:44.30 set in 2006.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
SMU Lead After Day 1 at C-USA Swimming-Diving Championships
By Robert H. KellyCopyright 2009 TexSport Publications
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 25, 2009) SMU leads the field after day one action at the 2009 Conference USA Swimming & Diving Championship at the CRWC Natatorium on the campus of the University of Houston.
SMU began the evening by setting a new meet and pool record in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Therese Svendsen, Devon Callaghan, Elzanne Werth and Petra Klosova smashed the old record, which was set by the Mustangs in 2006, by almost three seconds, touching the wall in 1:38.08, which was good for an NCAA `B' qualifying time.
Invitational member North Dakota took second (1.41.67), while the Rice claimed third place in 1:41.98, bearly touching out Houston (1:42.26) for the bronze medal.
In the 800-yard freestyle relay, SMU showed their dominance over the field with the foursome of Candace Blackman, Sasha Van den Branden, Petra Klosova and Christy-Leigh Lategan finishing in 7:07, eleven seconds ahead of second place Rice (7:18.01).
The squad of Sasha Schwendenwein, Kim Eeson, Olga Bordatcheva and Andrea Pa'lmai of host Houston took third place in the final relay, touching in 7:21.60.
SMU lead the field and all Conference USA teams with 80 points, followed by Rice in second with 66 points, Houston in fourth with 62 points, East Carolina (5th-56 points), and Marshall (6th-52 points). Invitational invitees make up the remaining places with North Dakota in 3rd place with 64 points, Northern Colorado (7th-48 points) and California State-Bakersfield (8th place-22 points)
Men's teams from league schools East Carolina and SMU along with Hawaii, Cal State Bakersfield and North Dakota are also competing in the C-USA men's invitational. SMU leads that event after day one with 114 points, followed by Hawai'i with 112 points. North Dakota sits in third with 81 points, while East Carolina (72) is in fourth and Cal State Bakersfield (56) is in fifth.
The meet resumes at 10 a.m., Thursday with the preliminaries of the 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley and the 50-yard freestyle. The women's 3-meter diving preliminaries will begin around 1 p.m. The finals for those events are slated to begin around 6 p.m.
All-session tickets are available for only $25 for adults and $10 for youth. Single-day tickets are available for $10 for adults and $5 for students with ID. Youth includes children from 3 years old to high school. Children who are 2 years old and younger are admitted free.
Houston Baseball falls to Rice, 9-2
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 25, 2009) The University of Houston baseball team fell 9-2 to cross-town rival Rice Wednesday night at Reckling Park.
With the loss, Houston falls to 2-3 on the season and falls to 68-78 in the all-time series against the Owls.
For the second consecutive game, Houston put up at least one run in the first inning. Junior Zak Presley started things off for the Cougars, reaching base on a single to left field. He would advance to second on a passed ball and eventually score on a double by sophomore Chase Dempsay.
Rice followed that up by scoring three runs in the second inning and one in the third to take the lead, 4-1.
Houston cut the lead in half, scoring a run in the fourth inning after sophomore Matt Murphy reached base on a walk. He advanced to second when freshman Jake Runte reached base on an error by third base and he would score on a single to left field by redshirt freshman Tom Wertz.
But the Owls would pull away once again in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs behind a three-run shot to left field from Rice's Anthony Rendon.
In their final at bat, freshman Codey Morehouse looked to extend the inning, reaching on a walk with one out, but he was thrown out at second in the next at bat as leadoff hitter sophomore Blake Kelso reached base on a fielder's choice. Kelso advanced to second after a bunt from Presley and Dempsay loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. The trio would be stranded on base to end the game after junior Chris Wallace grounded out to first base.
Houston will face the Owls four more times this season, all at Cougar Field, as part of the Silver Glove series.
LOOKING AHEAD
Houston will be back in action this weekend for the Houston College Classic. The Cougars will open the weekend with a 3:30 p.m. game against Baylor on Friday and the tournament will continue at noon on Saturday against UC Irvine. Houston will wrap-up the weekend at 6 p.m. on Sunday against Texas A&M.
With the loss, Houston falls to 2-3 on the season and falls to 68-78 in the all-time series against the Owls.
For the second consecutive game, Houston put up at least one run in the first inning. Junior Zak Presley started things off for the Cougars, reaching base on a single to left field. He would advance to second on a passed ball and eventually score on a double by sophomore Chase Dempsay.
Rice followed that up by scoring three runs in the second inning and one in the third to take the lead, 4-1.
Houston cut the lead in half, scoring a run in the fourth inning after sophomore Matt Murphy reached base on a walk. He advanced to second when freshman Jake Runte reached base on an error by third base and he would score on a single to left field by redshirt freshman Tom Wertz.
But the Owls would pull away once again in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs behind a three-run shot to left field from Rice's Anthony Rendon.
In their final at bat, freshman Codey Morehouse looked to extend the inning, reaching on a walk with one out, but he was thrown out at second in the next at bat as leadoff hitter sophomore Blake Kelso reached base on a fielder's choice. Kelso advanced to second after a bunt from Presley and Dempsay loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. The trio would be stranded on base to end the game after junior Chris Wallace grounded out to first base.
Houston will face the Owls four more times this season, all at Cougar Field, as part of the Silver Glove series.
LOOKING AHEAD
Houston will be back in action this weekend for the Houston College Classic. The Cougars will open the weekend with a 3:30 p.m. game against Baylor on Friday and the tournament will continue at noon on Saturday against UC Irvine. Houston will wrap-up the weekend at 6 p.m. on Sunday against Texas A&M.
Dynamo midfielder Danny Cruz named to United States U-20 qualifying roster
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 23, 2009) Houston Dynamo midfielder Danny Cruz was named to the United States U-20 national team roster for the upcoming CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Trinidad & Tobago March 6-15, U.S. Soccer announced. Four teams from the tournament will qualify for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, to be held in Egypt Sept. 25-Oct. 17.The U.S. will open its qualifying campaign on Friday, March 6, taking on Jamaica at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago at 7 p.m. local time (5 p.m. CT). Rongen’s squad will face the winner of a playoff game between Honduras and St. Vincent & the Grenadines on March 8 at 6 p.m. (4 p.m. CT) and round out Group A play on Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. (5 p.m. ET).
Cruz, a third-round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of UNLV, is one of six Major League Soccer players named to the 19-man roster.
“It is an honor to play for your country,” Cruz said. “I’m fortunate to be one of the 20 players going to Trinidad and Tobago. I’m honored and proud to be part of something so special.”
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Turfcats Tickets Going Fast
AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 25, 2009) Management at the Austin Turfcats ticket offices have announced that only 1,200 seats are still available in the (SIFL Package) middle section for home games this season.“We knew we were the ‘fastest game on the turf,’ but now we have the fastest box office sales,” said Turfcat General Manager and Vice President Ronald Oswalt. “With the lower levels already sold out, we are encouraging fans to buy middle tickets before it is too late.”
Oswalt explained that there is really not a bad seat in the house, but the organization wants fans to know that tickets are going quickly due to the team’s affordable ticket prices. The Turfcats will begin their inaugural season on April 18 at the Travis County Exposition Center in Austin.
“The central location of Austin seems to be appealing to ticketholders in the surrounding communities as well,” Oswalt said. “This has inspired us to sponsor community nights recognizing the great communities surrounding the Austin area.”
The team already has planned a Lake Travis and San Marcos night with more special events being planned daily.
To find out when your community will be recognized and to purchase the remaining tickets, visit www.turfcats.com
Great locations are still available for the 2009 season! Act now to reserve the best seats. Call a Season Sales Representative today at 866-969-8228 (TCAT) to reserve your seats today. The Austin Turfcats are committed to being a premier team in the Southern Indoor Football League and being involved in the community for which we serve.
UT Pan Am's Mendoza, Janecka Earn Weekly Baseball Honors
By Chris Price
EDINBURRG, TEXAS (February 24, 2009) In the first action of the 2009 spring season, Texas-Pan American lost one-run decisions to Texas Tech and Southern Utah and received solid performances by two of its players, earning them the first Great West Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week honors for the season.
Jose Mendoza hit safely in all four games last week as UTPA dropped 6-5 decisions in two of the four contests. The sophomore third baseman from Corpus Christi, Texas, went five-for-15 (.333 average) with two RBI, two runs scored and one stolen base. His best game came in a 6-5 loss to Texas Tech when he went two-for-four with two RBI.
In two relief appearances last week, Shane Janecka pitched 6.2 innings, giving up seven hits and just one earned run while striking out four and walking one. His 4.2 innings of work in a 8-1 loss to Southern Utah was a career high. In both games, he entered the game after his team trailed and his effort kept the Broncs from falling farther behi
EDINBURRG, TEXAS (February 24, 2009) In the first action of the 2009 spring season, Texas-Pan American lost one-run decisions to Texas Tech and Southern Utah and received solid performances by two of its players, earning them the first Great West Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week honors for the season.
Jose Mendoza hit safely in all four games last week as UTPA dropped 6-5 decisions in two of the four contests. The sophomore third baseman from Corpus Christi, Texas, went five-for-15 (.333 average) with two RBI, two runs scored and one stolen base. His best game came in a 6-5 loss to Texas Tech when he went two-for-four with two RBI.
In two relief appearances last week, Shane Janecka pitched 6.2 innings, giving up seven hits and just one earned run while striking out four and walking one. His 4.2 innings of work in a 8-1 loss to Southern Utah was a career high. In both games, he entered the game after his team trailed and his effort kept the Broncs from falling farther behi
FROGS JUMP TO NO. 32, FACE MORE RANKED TEAMS THIS WEEK
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 24, 2009) TCU made the leap to No. 32, a season-high position, Tuesday in the latest release of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) national team rankings.The national rankings are decided by a vote of national coaches early in the season until moving to a computerized system later in the spring when more results become available.
The Frogs, which were ranked 39th last week, posted an upset victory on the road Saturday over then-No. 17 Tulsa to help improve their national ranking. The win marked the highest-rated opponent the squad has defeated in third-year Head Coach Dave Borelli's tenure.
TCU, currently 2-5 on the season, is in the midst of a brutal stretch of 11 straight matches to start the spring against squads currently ranked among the ITA's top-56 teams.
"I'm happy where we are based on the schedule we have played and the fact that we are 2-5," Borelli said. "That indicates the understanding the coaches have of our schedule. We may drop a bit once the rankings become computerized, but I'm not worried about that because we will continue to get wins once the season moves along."
One area where Borelli has seen marked improvement already in the opening weeks of the spring are from his team's doubles units.
"I'm very pleased where our doubles are at," Borelli said. "We won the doubles point against three top-20 teams in our last three matches. If we continue to improve, I think we'll be in good shape the rest of the year."
TCU’s difficult schedule continues this week with two more matches against highly rated foes in No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 29 Texas Tech. The Frogs and Rebels square off Thursday in a 1 p.m. neutral-site match in Waco, Texas, with the squad thentraveling to Lubbock, Texas, Saturday for a 1 p.m. match against the Red Raiders.
Ole Miss enters Thursday’s match with a 6-1 record after posting a 2-1 showing at the National Team Indoor Championships in Chicago two weeks ago. The squad’s lone loss came at the hands of USC, which is currently ranked No. 4.
The Rebels field a loaded lineup featuring four nationally ranked singles players in No. 32 Kalle Norberg, No. 39 Jonas Berg, No. 40 Devin Britton and No. 79 Bram tenBerge. Jonas Berg and Bram tenBerge pair up as the ITA’s fourth-ranked doubles tandem.
Texas Tech is 2-3 so far this spring with both wins coming over ranked teams in No. 52 Denver and No. 53 San Diego. Freshman Raony Carvalho is the Raiders’ top-ranked singles player at No. 34. Carvalho teams with teammate Christian Rojmar in doubles as the nation’s No. 17 duo.
Owls Travel to UCF For Midweek Game
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 24, 2009) Rice begins the final two weeks of the regular season Wednesday when the Owls take on UCF in Orlando. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CST and the game will be broadcast by ESPN 97.5 the Ticket in Houston.
The Owls are coming off their second, three-point loss in as many road games,falling at SMU 69-66 last Saturday. Rice also dropped a 91-88 overtime decision at EastCarolina the previous week.
Rice has now lost its last three to drop to 8-18 overall and 3-9 in Conference USA play.
If the conference season ended today, Rice would face UCF in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament in a meeting of the No. 6 and No. 11 seeds. But a lot can happen in the final two weeks of the regular season before the C-USA tournament which is set for March 11-14 in Memphis, Tenn.
The Knights, 16-6 and 6-6, have lost junior forward Tony Davis who last week was suspended for the remainder of the season. In a 77-52 win over Rice earlier in the year, Davis scored 17 points, going 7-for-11 from the field, and pulled down 12 rebounds. He started 20 of the 22 games in which he appeared this season and was averaging 9.8 points and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds.
While UCF has lost Davis, the Knights return the nation’s fourth-leading scorer in Jermaine Taylor. The senior is averaging 25.3 points per game after scoring 35 points in last week’s 77-72 loss at Houston. Prior to the UH game, Taylor averaged 36.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in a pair of games en route to the previous week’s Conference USA Player of the Week award.
Led by freshman A.J. Rompza’s 5.04 assists per game (third in C-USA), UCF leads Conference USA in assists, averaging 15.85 per game (412 total).
While Rice has seen improved play over the past month, the Owls have struggled on the boards. Over the last six games, Rice has a -5.2 rebounding margin. The Owls will look for a better performance on the glass this time around against the Knights who have a +2.8 rebounding margin to rank third in C-USA.
UCF outrebounded Rice 39-24 back in January. The Knights scored 12, second-chance points to the Owls’ one while grabbing 11 offensive boards.
League opponents are averaging 13 offensive rebounds against Rice this season.
Rice will benefit from the return of senior forward Aleks Perka who missed two games with a sprained ankle before coming off the bench to score 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting against SMU. He also had four rebounds and two assists in the game.
Rodney Foster averages 12 points a game to lead Rice in scoring. He leads Conference USA in both three-point shooting (.443) and free throw percentage (.870).
Following Wednesday’s game at UCF, Rice returns home to play host to Houston Saturday in Tudor Fieldhouse. Tip-off for Saturday’s game is 3 p.m.
The Owls are coming off their second, three-point loss in as many road games,falling at SMU 69-66 last Saturday. Rice also dropped a 91-88 overtime decision at EastCarolina the previous week.
Rice has now lost its last three to drop to 8-18 overall and 3-9 in Conference USA play.
If the conference season ended today, Rice would face UCF in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament in a meeting of the No. 6 and No. 11 seeds. But a lot can happen in the final two weeks of the regular season before the C-USA tournament which is set for March 11-14 in Memphis, Tenn.
The Knights, 16-6 and 6-6, have lost junior forward Tony Davis who last week was suspended for the remainder of the season. In a 77-52 win over Rice earlier in the year, Davis scored 17 points, going 7-for-11 from the field, and pulled down 12 rebounds. He started 20 of the 22 games in which he appeared this season and was averaging 9.8 points and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds.
While UCF has lost Davis, the Knights return the nation’s fourth-leading scorer in Jermaine Taylor. The senior is averaging 25.3 points per game after scoring 35 points in last week’s 77-72 loss at Houston. Prior to the UH game, Taylor averaged 36.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in a pair of games en route to the previous week’s Conference USA Player of the Week award.
Led by freshman A.J. Rompza’s 5.04 assists per game (third in C-USA), UCF leads Conference USA in assists, averaging 15.85 per game (412 total).
While Rice has seen improved play over the past month, the Owls have struggled on the boards. Over the last six games, Rice has a -5.2 rebounding margin. The Owls will look for a better performance on the glass this time around against the Knights who have a +2.8 rebounding margin to rank third in C-USA.
UCF outrebounded Rice 39-24 back in January. The Knights scored 12, second-chance points to the Owls’ one while grabbing 11 offensive boards.
League opponents are averaging 13 offensive rebounds against Rice this season.
Rice will benefit from the return of senior forward Aleks Perka who missed two games with a sprained ankle before coming off the bench to score 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting against SMU. He also had four rebounds and two assists in the game.
Rodney Foster averages 12 points a game to lead Rice in scoring. He leads Conference USA in both three-point shooting (.443) and free throw percentage (.870).
Following Wednesday’s game at UCF, Rice returns home to play host to Houston Saturday in Tudor Fieldhouse. Tip-off for Saturday’s game is 3 p.m.
Turfcats Getting Talent For Inaugural Season
AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 24, 2009) Ronald Oswalt, general manager and vice-president of the Austin Turfcats, announced the signing of several players for the 2009 season in addition to the signing of first year player Clint Toon.Toon, who played in six games for Texas State this past season, said the transition to indoor football seemed natural.
“I think it is more of my game,” he said. “My game is short, quick passes.”
The short and quick passes employed by Toon during his time at Texas State came in handy as he slammed a career best 117-yard game against Central Arkansas and led the offensive dominance over Stephen F. Austin State University in the team’s 52-29 victory.
Before joining Texas State, Toon played one season at Kilgore Junior College, which won the Southwest Junior College Football Conference. Before that, the Kilgore, Texas native played for his hometown high school football and baseball teams. The Kilgore Bulldogs finished with a 21-5 record during Toon’s two-year tenure on the football team.
The Turfcats also signed the following players to a contract to attend camp and compete for a spot in the inaugural team.
Darrick Wallace – 5’8 – 175 – Grambling State
Tim Cook – 6’4 – 285 – NA
David Banks – 5’10 – 225 – Langston University
Mycal Catchings – 6’2 – 198 – Tarleton State
Kelly Hancock – 6’2 – 220 – Tarleton State
Keith Clay – 5’9 – 210 – Nichols State
Joseph Turner, Jr. – 6’3 – 200 – Texas A&M Kingsville
Iran Hodge – 6’4 – 293 - Texas A&M Kingsville
Clint Toon – 6’0 – 195 – Texas State
Franswan Mackey – 6’2 – 215 - Texas A&M Kingsville
Ray Hall – 5’10 – 215 – Ferris State
Corry Perez – 5’6 – 165 – Blinn College
Deron Ellis – 6-4 – 285 – Texas Southern
Rico Troup – 5’10 – 209 – NA
Kevin T. Earvine – NA
Reggie Smith – 5’7 – 160 – McMurry University
Mike Rose – 6’1 – 220 – NA
NOTABLE PLAYERS
Derrick Wallace – This speedy receiver and return man played for Doug Williams at Grambling State University. He has extensive indoor football experience and he has played on the af2 level.
Kelly Hancock – He plays on both sides of the ball with quarterback and linebacker experience. He is a former Austin Wrangler of the af2.
Keith Clay – This running back/wide receiver is a Nichols State product and played af2 with the Austin Wranglers. He also has played for the former Centex Barracudas of the Intense Football League.
Iran Hodge – He rejoined with the team’s Vice-President/General Manager as both were with former division champions with the Katy Copperheads.
The team expects to sign several more players in the next few weeks and is preparing for their mini-camp slated to start in mid-March.
“These players will set the tone for this team and leave their footprint on this franchise,” Oswalt said. “We have spent extensive time on this roster and we are only about halfway there, this next month will be a building process.”
Head Coach Chris Duliban, is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of competing in the Southern Indoor Football League and helping the Austin Turfcats achieve their goal of having a championship season this year.
Duliban added, ”The team is coming together and there is no lack of talent here in Central Texas, the players are in good shape and are ready to get their gear and start hitting each other.”
Monday, February 23, 2009
Texas State Raises $40,000 At Annual Bobcat Bonanza
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS (February 23, 2009) Texas State assistant athletic director for development Chris Park announced that the 21st Annual Bobcat Bonanza raised $40,000 to help fund scholarships for Bobcat student-athletes.
This year’s Bobcat Bonanza was held at the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch last Friday night, Feb. 20, and included a dinner provided by Texas Roadhouse restaurant, an exciting live auction and music by David Conger.
“This year’s event was a tremendous success because we raised 10,000 more than last year’s event,” Park said. “We sold more than 35 tables for the dinner and a crowd of over 450 attended this year.”
In addition, Texas State Athletics also addressed an excited and captive audience about the new construction projects within the department, in particular the new club and suite levels being built at the Bobcat Football Stadium. Construction for 15 luxury suites and 450 club seats began in January and is scheduled to be completed for use before Texas State’s first football game in 2009 against Angelo State.
“We want to thank our title sponsor Texas Roadhouse, Brown Distributing, G&M Catering and the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch for their support,” Park added. “We could not have been so successful without their help.”
This year’s Bobcat Bonanza was held at the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch last Friday night, Feb. 20, and included a dinner provided by Texas Roadhouse restaurant, an exciting live auction and music by David Conger.
“This year’s event was a tremendous success because we raised 10,000 more than last year’s event,” Park said. “We sold more than 35 tables for the dinner and a crowd of over 450 attended this year.”
In addition, Texas State Athletics also addressed an excited and captive audience about the new construction projects within the department, in particular the new club and suite levels being built at the Bobcat Football Stadium. Construction for 15 luxury suites and 450 club seats began in January and is scheduled to be completed for use before Texas State’s first football game in 2009 against Angelo State.
“We want to thank our title sponsor Texas Roadhouse, Brown Distributing, G&M Catering and the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch for their support,” Park added. “We could not have been so successful without their help.”
Texas State Raises $40,000 At Annual Bobcat Bonanza
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS (February 23, 2009) Texas State assistant athletic director for development Chris Park announced that the 21st Annual Bobcat Bonanza raised $40,000 to help fund scholarships for Bobcat student-athletes.This year’s Bobcat Bonanza was held at the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch last Friday night, Feb. 20, and included a dinner provided by Texas Roadhouse restaurant, an exciting live auction and music by David Conger.
“This year’s event was a tremendous success because we raised 10,000 more than last year’s event,” Park said. “We sold more than 35 tables for the dinner and a crowd of over 450 attended this year.”
In addition, Texas State Athletics also addressed an excited and captive audience about the new construction projects within the department, in particular the new club and suite levels being built at the Bobcat Football Stadium. Construction for 15 luxury suites and 450 club seats began in January and is scheduled to be completed for use before Texas State’s first football game in 2009 against Angelo State.
“We want to thank our title sponsor Texas Roadhouse, Brown Distributing, G&M Catering and the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch for their support,” Park added. “We could not have been so successful without their help.”
FROGS DROP 5-2 DECISION TO COWBOYS
TULSA, OKLAHOMA (February 23, 2009) TCU suffered a 5-2 setback to No. 18 Oklahoma State Sunday at Tulsa’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center. The Frogs finished the weekend 1-1 following Saturday’s victory over No. 17 Tulsa.The loss dropped the 39th-ranked Horned Frogs to 2-5 on the season. Each of their matches this spring have come against teams currently listed among the ITA’s national rankings.
The Frogs claimed the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead on OSU. Senior Kriegler Brink and freshman Slah Mbarek notched their second win in as many days, 8-5 over Igor Sobolta and Andon Bobytsky before sophomores Zach Nichols and Christopher Price closed out the doubles point with an 8-4 victory over Aleksy Bessonov and Mikhail Trukshan.
Brink provided the other half the Frogs’ scoring total with a victory at No. 2
singles. His season record in dual matches improved to 5-1 with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Trukshan.
Junior Adrian Simon fell in a three-set super tiebreaker at the No. 5 position to Bobtysky to close out the evening, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 11-9. Mbarek (No. 3), Nichols (No. 4) and sophomore Jack Seider (No. 6) dropped respective straight-set decisions to Byrnes (6-2, 6-2), Bessonov (7-6 (6), 6-0) and Sobolta (6-2, 6-0).
Emanuel Brighiu, playing at No. 1 singles, was forced to retire due to injury
against Oleksandr Nedovyes, the nation’s No. 2-ranked player, while trailing 6-0, 1-0.
“We didn’t play quite as well as we did yesterday,” Head Coach Dave Borelli said. “We have some more tough matches coming up, so we’ll just have to continue to try and get better.”
TCU continues its season-opening stretch of matches against highly ranked opponents Thursday, when it faces No. 9 Ole Miss in Waco, Texas.
Results
No. 18 Oklahoma State 5, No. 39 TCU 2
Feb. 22, 2009
Tulsa, Okla. (Michael D. Case Tennis Center)
Doubles
1. (39) Oleksandr Nedovyes/Nathan Brynes (OSU) def. (32) Emanuel Bighiu/Adrian
Simon (TCU) – 8-3
2. Slah Mbarek/Kriegler Brink (TCU) def. Igor Sobolta/Andon Bobytsky (OSU) – 8-5
3. Christopher Price/Zach Nichols (TCU) def. Aleksy Bessonov/Mikhail Trukshan
(OSU) – 8-4
Singles
1. (2) Oleksandr Nedovyes (OSU) def. (68) Emanuel Brighiu (TCU) – 6-0, 1-0 (ret.)
2. Kriegler Brink (TCU) def. Mikhail Trukshan (OSU) – 6-2, 6-2
3. Nathan Byrnes (OSU) def. Slah Mbarek (TCU) – 6-2, 6-2
4. Aleksy Bessonov (OSU) def. Zach Nichols (TCU) – 7-6 (6), 6-0
5. Andon Bobtysky (OSU) def. Adrian Simon (TCU – 4-6, 7-6 (3), 11-9
6. Igor Sobolta (OSU) def. Jack Seider (TCU) – 6-2, 6-0
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Rayner Noble Earns 500th Win Over Kansas State
By Chris Price
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 22, 2009) University of Houston head coach baseball Rayner Noble earned his 500th career win as his Cougars came from behind and defeated Kansas State, 3-2, in 10 innings in the series finale on Sunday at Cougar Field.
Junior Zak Presley scored on a single through the right side from sophomore Matt Murphy to give Houston the win in the bottom of the 10th inning. Presley reached base on a single to second base and he would advance to second when freshman David Murphy grounded out to the shortstop. Presley scored the go ahead run when Matt Murphy came in to pinch hit.
The Cougars trailed the game 2-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning but with one out sophomore Blake Kelso hit a solo shot over the left field fence to tie the game. Freshman Taylor White and sophomore Caleb Ramsey field out to left field to end the inning.
Kansas State had a chance to win the game in the 10th inning. The Wildcats had two runners on base with one out but sophomore Chase Dempsay threw out Adam Muenster at home and he would strike out the next batter to end the inning.
Houston scored its only other run in the fourth inning when junior Chris Wallace scored when David Murphy doubled down the left field line. He reached base on a double of his own to left center.
With the win Houston improves to 1-2 on the season. They will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Stephen F. Austin. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. The Cougars will also have a mid-week match-up with cross-town rival Rice on Wednesday at 4 p.m. before the Houston College Classic on Feb. 27-March 1 at Minute Maid Park.
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 22, 2009) University of Houston head coach baseball Rayner Noble earned his 500th career win as his Cougars came from behind and defeated Kansas State, 3-2, in 10 innings in the series finale on Sunday at Cougar Field.Junior Zak Presley scored on a single through the right side from sophomore Matt Murphy to give Houston the win in the bottom of the 10th inning. Presley reached base on a single to second base and he would advance to second when freshman David Murphy grounded out to the shortstop. Presley scored the go ahead run when Matt Murphy came in to pinch hit.
The Cougars trailed the game 2-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning but with one out sophomore Blake Kelso hit a solo shot over the left field fence to tie the game. Freshman Taylor White and sophomore Caleb Ramsey field out to left field to end the inning.
Kansas State had a chance to win the game in the 10th inning. The Wildcats had two runners on base with one out but sophomore Chase Dempsay threw out Adam Muenster at home and he would strike out the next batter to end the inning.
Houston scored its only other run in the fourth inning when junior Chris Wallace scored when David Murphy doubled down the left field line. He reached base on a double of his own to left center.
With the win Houston improves to 1-2 on the season. They will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Stephen F. Austin. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. The Cougars will also have a mid-week match-up with cross-town rival Rice on Wednesday at 4 p.m. before the Houston College Classic on Feb. 27-March 1 at Minute Maid Park.
C-USA Announces Multimedia Plans for C-USA Men's Basketball Championship
IRVING, TEXAS (February 22, 2009) Conference USA fans dress in reds, blues and also purple, orange, gold and black as they cheer on their basketball teams to victory. As C-USA men’s basketball teams prep for the upcoming 2009 C-USA Men’s Basketball Championship in Memphis, Tenn., the league will expand on the excitement of the event with a multimedia plan that includes blogging, live streaming and the opportunity for fans to rock their video cameras.Even if you can’t make the trek to Memphis, you can still follow along on ConferenceUSA.com. Watch your team in action as they pace up and down the court, lounge at the hotel, enjoy a good meal and share their personal superstitions and traditions. Complete coverage will include all of the above and much more. Don’t let your schedule or the distance keep you away from all the excitement.
The plan calls for an expansion to the already successful “C-USA Blog Network” on ConferenceUSA.com that has reported from all of the major C-USA Championships for the past three seasons. New additions will include behind-the-scenes video coverage from the 2009 C-USA Men’s Basketball Championship as well as live streaming of first-round games, highlight packages, additional video blogs and live streaming of all press conferences that will also be available on member institution websites.
The second phase of the plan is a fan contest called “C-USA Ultimate Fan”, launching on ConferenceUSA.com. Fans are asked to visit C-USA’s You Tube channel and submit a 90 second video telling us why you are your school’s “Ultimate Fan”. Videos can be submitted beginning Feb. 2 and will be accepted through Feb. 23.
The league will pick 12 finalists (one from each school) that will receive two 2009-10 season tickets to their school’s home basketball games. The video finalists will then be featured on ConferenceUSA.com from Feb. 25-Mar. 4, where fans will decide the Grand Prize winner to be announced on March 5.
The fan vote winner receives a pair of club seats to both the 2009 and 2010 C-USA Basketball Championship in Tulsa, as well as another chance to record their life as an Ultimate Fan at both events.
Visit ConferenceUSA.com for updated information and blogs regarding C-USA men’s basketball and don’t forget to grab your video cameras so you can tell us why you are the “C-USA Ultimate Fan”. The C-USA men’s basketball championship will take place at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., March 11-14.
Ultimate Fan Entry - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crcQVy-62Eo
Ultimate Fan Information - http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/ot/c-usa-ultimate-fan.html
C-USA's You Tube Channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/conferenceusa
Men's Basketball Championship Central - http://conferenceusa.cstv.com/championships/09-m-baskbl-championship.html
Former Bobcat to Become Austin Turfcat
AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 22, 2009) Former Texas State University star quarterback Clint Toon signed to play with the Austin Turfcats Saturday.Toon, who played in six games for Texas State this past season, said the transition to indoor football seemed natural.
“I think it is more of my game,” he said. “My game is short, quick passes.”
The short and quick passes employed by Toon during his time at Texas State came in handy as he slammed a career best 117-yard game against Central Arkansas and led the offensive dominance over Stephen F. Austin State University in the team’s 52-29 victory.
Before joining Texas State, Toon played one season at Kilgore Junior College, which won the Southwest Junior College Football Conference. Before that, the Kilgore, Texas native played for his hometown high school football and baseball teams. The Kilgore Bulldogs finished with a 21-5 record during Toon’s two-year tenure on the football team.
Ronald Oswalt, Turfcats Vice-President/General Manager noted, “Toon has a quick release which is good for indoor football and he is really strong at his position. I saw him play a few times last season for the Bobcats and met him at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting and he is a mature athlete.”
After graduating from Texas State in December 2008, Toon returned to the San Marcos University to start work on his master’s degree.
Toon stated he still felt like playing the game he loved so much and wanted to look back and have no regrets. This mentality encouraged him to tryout for Austin’s “fastest game on the turf” along with about 75 other Turfcats hopefuls in Hutto, Texas on Feb. 21.
“It feels good,” Toon said after learning that he was selected for the team.
The former Bobcat will open his career as a Turfcat on April 18 during the team’s inaugural game.
UTSA Men, SFA Women Win 2009 Southland Indoor Meet
(Photo courtesy of Southland Conference Media Relations Department)HOUSTON, Texas (February 22, 2009) The UTSA men’s team and the Stephen F. Austin women’s team were crowned the 2009 Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Champions at the Yeoman Fieldhouse in Houston, Texas.
UTSA won its fourth consecutive indoor title scoring 120.50 points. UT Arlington took second (101) and Southeastern Louisiana came in third (81.50). The Roadrunners join Lamar University as the league’s only programs to win four consecutive indoor titles.
"It's pretty hard to put into words what these guys have accomplished. To have some of our guys get a ring every year is amazing, and to come back each season with freshman and still compete is just amazing." said Coach Aaron Fox regarding UTSA’s fourth consecutive indoor title.
Leading UTSA was junior All-American Teddy Williams. The Tyler, Texas, native repeated as the 60-meter dash champion setting the Southland indoor record at 6.64 seconds and took first place in the 200-meter (21.84).
Houston native, senior Will Vese won his third consecutive 60-meter hurdles champion joining former UTSA athlete Carl Johnson as the only three-time winners of the event. Both Williams and Vese’s times were NCAA provisional scores as well.
UTSA senior Tommy Wolfe took first place in the heptathlon for the second consecutive season. A native of Raymondville, Texas, Wolfe had a slim 11 point lead after day one, and won by 21 points over Southeastern Louisiana junior Cory Roberts (5,235). In Friday’s events, he took first place in the 60-meter dash (7.16), tied for sixth in the long jump (21-7 ½), first in the shot put (45-7 ¾), and tied for fourth in the high jump (6-4). Since the event’s inception in 2004 UTSA has won of five-out of-six heptathlons.
Francis Kasagule of Lamar University came away with individual high-point honors edging UTSA’s Teddy Williams by half a point. A native of Uganda, Kasagule took first place honors in the one mile (4:15.58), the 3,000-meter (8:23.95), and the 5,000-meter runs (14:31.71).
On the women’s side, Stephen F. Austin won its third indoor title and first since consecutive titles in 2005 and 2006.
The SFA Ladyjacks tallied 156 points to lead the all women’s teams to its third indoor league title, and its first since consecutive titles in 2005 and 2006. Texas State received runner-up recognition (113.66) and defending champion Sam Houston State came in third (84).
“"I just can't believe we put up 158 points. We had 76 points on day one, which is the most points we've ever had on day one and we had everybody back on day two. We knew that if we didn't let up we could come away on top, and we did, and I really have to give all the credit to God."” said Coach Phil Olson on the Ladyjacks third indoor title.
Leading the way for SFA was junior Frednisha Marshall with a record-setting toss in the weight throw (67-1 ½), also an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. Joining Marshall on the first place podium was junior Kaitlyn Andrews in the shot put (47-5 ¼), junior Silent-Joy Egoboba-Waye in the long jump (19-6 ¾).
In Friday’s events, sophomore Ebbonye Johnson took first place in the long jump (17-9 ¾), and freshman Stephanie Ganter won the 5000-meter (17:27.47).
Texas State junior Asiya Iskakova came away with high-point honors with 26 points edging teammate junior Iris Darrington by three points. Iskakova won the pentathlon claiming third or better in four of the five events. The Russian native tied for first in the high jump (5-8 ½), was third in the shot put (34-7 ½), second in the long jump (17-11) and in the 800-meter (2:28.21). In other events Iskakova took third in the high jump (5-7).
The 2009 Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship final results can are available at http://flashresults.com/flashtexas/slcindoor09/.
Men's Standings
UTSA 120.50
UT Arlington 101
Southeastern Louisiana 81.50
Lamar 79
Stephen F. Austin 75
Texas State 62
Sam Houston State 46
McNeese State 39
Northwestern State 37
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 12
Central Arkansas 9
Men's Individual High Point Scorer: Francis Kasagule, Lamar (20.50 points)
Women's Standings
Stephen F. Austin 158
Texas State 113.66
Sam Houston State 84
UT Arlington 76
UTSA 74
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 41.33
Southeastern Louisiana 36
McNeese State 35
Northwestern State 24
Nicholls State 11
Lamar 10
Women's Individual High Point Scorer: Asiya Iskakova, Texas State (26 points)
Men’s Individual Medalists:
Heptathlon - Tommy Wolfe, UTSA (5,256)
Pole Vault - Wade Hayes, UTA (16-7.25)
High Jump - Johnathan Whittake, UTSA (6-11)
Long Jump - Michael Rheams, SLU (23-9)
Weight Throw - Adonson Shallow, SLU (65-2.25)*
5,000m - Samuel Kosgei, LU (14:31.71)
Distance Medley - Lamar (10:07.43)
Triple Jump – Corey Billizone, SLU (52-2)
Shot Put – Kemuel Morales, TXST (59-8.25)*
One Mile – Francis Kasagule, LU (4:15.28)
60m Hurdles – Will Vese, UTSA (7.87)*
60m – Teddy Williams, UTSA (6.64)*$
400m – Chris Moody, SFA (48.20)
800m – Idilio Campos, UTA (1:52.91)
200m – Teddy Williams, UTSA (21.834)
3,000m – Samuel Kosgei, LU (8:23.95)
1,600m Relay – UT Arlington (3:17.51)
Women’s Individual Medalists:
Pentathlon – Asiya Iskakova, TXST (3,605 points)
Pole Vault – Jennifer Matthew, TXST (11-11.75)
High Jump – Dess Meek, SHSU (5-8.75)
Long Jump – Ebbonye Johnson, SFA (17-9.75)
Weight Throw – Frednisha Marshall, SFA (67-1.50)*
5000m – Stephanie Ganter, SFA (17:27.47)
Distance Medley – UTSA (12:15.90)
Triple Jump - Asiya Iskakova, TXST (39-9.75)
Shot Put – Kaitlyn Andrews, SFA (47-5.25)
One Mile – Dana Mecke, UTSA (5:00.35)
60m Hurdles – Jessica Jones, UTSA (8.48)
60m – Jasmine Walls, UTA (7.62)
400m – Christi McRae, McN (55.06)
800m – Dana Mecke, UTSA (2:13)
200m – Jasmine Walls, UTA (24.43)
3,000m – Meghan Lemke, AMCC (10:16.09)
1,600m Relay – Sam Houston State (3:48.09)
*NCAA Provisional Mark
$Southland Indoor Record
Saturday, February 21, 2009
FROGS UPEND NO. 17 TULSA
TULSA, OKLAHOMA (February 21, 2009) The No. 37 TCU men’s tennis team earned a thrilling 4-3 victory Saturday evening over No. 17 Tulsa at the Hurricane’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center. The win marked the highest-ranked opponent the Horned Frogs have defeated under third-year Head Coach Dave Borelli.TCU improved to 2-4 on the season with the win, which ended a three-match Frog losing streak. Each of TCU’s matches this season has been against squads listed among the ITA’s national team rankings.
“This is why we are playing this type of schedule,” Borelli said. “We are 2-4 against six great teams. I would much rather be 2-4 against this kind of schedule than be 6-0 against lesser competition. If we want to continue to elevate our program, we are going to have to go toe-to-to with these great teams.”
The team decision came down to a three-set thriller at No. 3 singles between Frog freshman Slah Mbarek and Tulsa’s Alberto Sottocorno. After dropping the first set, Mbarek rallied to win each of the final two sets with 7-5 scores to give the Frogs the team victory.
Mbarek trailed 5-3 in the third set before making a gutsy comeback. He won the next game, then fought off two match points while down 5-4 to even up the match at 5-5. With the match tied up, Mbarek won each of the eight points over the final two games to close out a 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory.
Facing a 3-2 deficit earlier in the evening, TCU gained a huge victory from sophomore Zach Nichols at No. 4 singles to keep the team’s victory hopes alive. Nichols triumphed in a pair of tiebreakers over Wojciech Starakiewicz to earn a two-set win, 7-6, 7-6. He trailed by a 7-6 margin in the final tiebreaker before winning five of the final eight points.
Senior Kriegler Brink notched the Frogs’ first singles win in three sets over Philip Stephens after dropping the first set, 6-4. Brink responded in dominating fashion by taking the next two sets, 6-1, 6-2, to improve his season record in dual matches to 5-1.
Sophomore Emanuel Brighiu fell to the nation’s top-ranked player in Arnau Brughes, but it took Brughes three sets to close out the Frogs’ No. 1 player, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2. The Hurricane also notched wins by Ashley Watling over junior Adrian Simon (6-4, 6-4) at No. 5 singles and Ross Cunningham over Kelubia Mabatah (6-3, 6-1) at No. 6 singles.
TCU jumped on top of the Hurricane early by winning two of three doubles matches to claim a 1-0 advantage. Brighiu and Simon, ranked 32nd in the latest ITA doubles rankings, upended the nation’s No. 5-ranked tandem of Brughes and Stephens, 8-6. Mbarek and Brink also helped seal the doubles point with an 8-2 victory over Cunningham and Starakiewicz.
“Slah was incredible the way he battled, and I was pleased with the way Kriegler was able to come from behind and win,” Borelli said. “Our doubles also played well. I’m just very proud of the way our guys competed.”
TCU faces another highly ranked opponent Sunday, when it travels to Stillwater, Okla., to take on No. 18 Oklahoma State.
Results
No. 37 TCU 4, No. 17 Tulsa 3
Feb. 21, 2009
Tulsa, Okla. (Michael D. Case Tennis Center)
Doubles
1. Emanuel Brighiu/Adrian Simon (TCU) def. Arnau Brughes/Philip Stephens (Tulsa)
– 8-6
2. Slah Mbarek/Kriegler Brink (TCU) def. Ross Cunningham/Wojciech Starakiewicz
(Tulsa) – 8-2
3. Ashley Watling/Alberto Sottocorna (Tulsa) def. Christopher Price/Zach Nichols
(TCU) – 9-8
Singles
1. (1) Arnau Brughes (Tulsa) def. (68) Emanuel Brighiu (TCU) – 6-0, 4-6, 6-2
2. Kriegler Brink (TCU) def. Philip Stephens (Tulsa) – 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
3. Slah Mbarek (TCU) def. Alberto Sottocorno (Tulsa) – 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
4. Zach Nichols (TCU) def. Wojciech Starakiewicz (Tulsa) – 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (11-9)
5. Ashley Watling (Tulsa) def. Adrian Simon (TCU) – 6-4, 6-4
6. Ross Cunningham (Tulsa) def. Kelubia Mabatah (TCU) – 6-3, 6-1
Baseball Drops Game Two of Kansas State Series, 9-2
Ramsey Hits Home Run in Fifth InningHOUSTON, TEXAS (January 21, 2009) The University of Houston baseball team fell to 0-2this season after dropping the second game of a three-game series against Kansas State, 9-2, on Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field.
Kansas State set the tone for the game early. After scoring in the first and third innings, the Wildcats put up five runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-0 lead.
Trailing by seven it would take Houston five innings before they would score a run. With one out in the fifth, sophomore Caleb Ramsey hit a solo home run over the right field fence to give Houston its first run. Sophomore Chase Dempsay followed that up with a double to left center but was left on base to end the inning.
The Wilcats would cap their scoring for the afternoon after scoring a single run in the seventh and the ninth innings.
In their last at bat, Houston tried to put together a run. With one out, junior Chris Wallace singled up the middle and freshman David Murphy walked. Both runners advanced a base after Ramsey grounded out to shortstop but Wallace would score in the next at bat on a single from Dempsay. The momentum would be short lived as freshman Taylor White struck out to end the game.
LOOKING AHEAD Houston will close out the series against Kansas State at noon on Sunday. Following Sunday's contest the Cougars will play two midweek games at Stephen F. Austin (Tuesday) and Rice (Wednesday) before participating in the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park on Feb. 27-March 1.
TCU Keeps It Rolling Against Wolfpack, 6-1
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 21, 2008) The TCU women’s tennis team dominated No. 62 North Carolina State, 6-1, at the indoor complex of the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center Saturday. The Frogs move to 4-2 for the year, while the Wolfpack drop to 1-7.
“I’m proud of our performance today,” TCU head coach Jefferson Hammond said. “We came prepared to do a nice job and we looked good. Tomorrow we’ve got to be mentally tough and come out with a lot of fight and we will give ourselves a chance to win against Miami.”
TCU jumped out to an early lead after sweeping through doubles play. Sophomore Katariina Tuohimaa and freshman Kayla Duncan picked up the first victory, taking down the duo of Diana Mortlock and Neils Barringer, 8-1. Sophomore Maria Babanova and newcomer Gaby Mastromarino clinched the point with an 8-2 decision over the Wolfpack’s tandem of Pender Sessoms and Jackie Ussery.
In the third win, senior Macall Harkins and junior Nina Munch-Soegaard teamed up for the first time this season to defeat N.C. State’s top duo of Lenka Hojckova and Berkeley Brock, 8-6.
In singles action, sophomore Idunn Hertzberg and Babanova jumped on their opposition in the Nos. 5 and 6 positions, both gliding by with 6-0, 6-0 sweeps. It was Babanova’s first singles match for the season, while Hertzberg advanced to 2-1 for the year.
Duncan followed with the match-clinching point for the Frogs. The Winston-Salem, N.C., product rolled through the first set, 6-2, but would struggle in the middle frame to fall, 6-1. However, the Tar Heel State native rebounded and slammed the door shut on her home state school, putting the final set to rest, 6-2.
Harkins, ranked 85th in the country, also enjoyed a three-set win Saturday, taking down No. 123 Lenka Hojckova from the No. 1 spot, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3. The win is Harkins’ third of the season and 70th as a Horned Frog in singles play. Tuohiima represented the Purple and White with a victory from the No. 2 position, defeating Berkeley Brock in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6.
TCU will be back on the court Sunday, hosting No. 10 Miami at 11 a.m. at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. Live results and recaps can be found at GoFrogs.com.
No. 21 TCU 6, No. 62 North Carolina State 1
SINGLES
1. No. 85 Macall Harkins (TCU) def. No. 123 Lenka Hojckova (NCST) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
2. Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) def. Berkeley Brock (NCST) 6-3, 7-6
3. Kayla Duncan (TCU) def. Neils Barringer (NCST) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
4. Diana Mortlock (NCST) def. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU) def. Pender Sessoms (NCST) 6-0, 6-0
6. Maria Babanova (TCU) def. Jackie Ussery (NCST) 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: (5,6,3*,2,1,4)
DOUBLES
1. Harkins/Munch-Soegaard (TCU) def. #33 Brock/Hojckova (NCST) 8-6
2. Duncan/Tuohimaa (TCU) def. Mortlock/Barringer (NCST) 8-1
3. Mastromarino/Babanova (TCU) def. Sessoms/Ussery (NCST) 8-2
Order of Finish: (2,3*,1)
“I’m proud of our performance today,” TCU head coach Jefferson Hammond said. “We came prepared to do a nice job and we looked good. Tomorrow we’ve got to be mentally tough and come out with a lot of fight and we will give ourselves a chance to win against Miami.”
TCU jumped out to an early lead after sweeping through doubles play. Sophomore Katariina Tuohimaa and freshman Kayla Duncan picked up the first victory, taking down the duo of Diana Mortlock and Neils Barringer, 8-1. Sophomore Maria Babanova and newcomer Gaby Mastromarino clinched the point with an 8-2 decision over the Wolfpack’s tandem of Pender Sessoms and Jackie Ussery.
In the third win, senior Macall Harkins and junior Nina Munch-Soegaard teamed up for the first time this season to defeat N.C. State’s top duo of Lenka Hojckova and Berkeley Brock, 8-6.
In singles action, sophomore Idunn Hertzberg and Babanova jumped on their opposition in the Nos. 5 and 6 positions, both gliding by with 6-0, 6-0 sweeps. It was Babanova’s first singles match for the season, while Hertzberg advanced to 2-1 for the year.
Duncan followed with the match-clinching point for the Frogs. The Winston-Salem, N.C., product rolled through the first set, 6-2, but would struggle in the middle frame to fall, 6-1. However, the Tar Heel State native rebounded and slammed the door shut on her home state school, putting the final set to rest, 6-2.
Harkins, ranked 85th in the country, also enjoyed a three-set win Saturday, taking down No. 123 Lenka Hojckova from the No. 1 spot, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3. The win is Harkins’ third of the season and 70th as a Horned Frog in singles play. Tuohiima represented the Purple and White with a victory from the No. 2 position, defeating Berkeley Brock in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6.
TCU will be back on the court Sunday, hosting No. 10 Miami at 11 a.m. at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. Live results and recaps can be found at GoFrogs.com.
No. 21 TCU 6, No. 62 North Carolina State 1
SINGLES
1. No. 85 Macall Harkins (TCU) def. No. 123 Lenka Hojckova (NCST) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
2. Katariina Tuohimaa (TCU) def. Berkeley Brock (NCST) 6-3, 7-6
3. Kayla Duncan (TCU) def. Neils Barringer (NCST) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
4. Diana Mortlock (NCST) def. Gaby Mastromarino (TCU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Idunn Hertzberg (TCU) def. Pender Sessoms (NCST) 6-0, 6-0
6. Maria Babanova (TCU) def. Jackie Ussery (NCST) 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: (5,6,3*,2,1,4)
DOUBLES
1. Harkins/Munch-Soegaard (TCU) def. #33 Brock/Hojckova (NCST) 8-6
2. Duncan/Tuohimaa (TCU) def. Mortlock/Barringer (NCST) 8-1
3. Mastromarino/Babanova (TCU) def. Sessoms/Ussery (NCST) 8-2
Order of Finish: (2,3*,1)
Friday, February 20, 2009
Baseball Falls 16-2 to Kansas State on Opening Day
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 20, 2009) The University of Houston baseball team lost a 16-2 decision to Kansas State Friday night at Cougar Field to open the 2009 season.Houston jumped on the board early in the contest on a run scored by sophomore Matt Murphy in the third inning. Murphy reached base on an error by Kansas State second baseman Carter Jurica and advanced to second on a single to center from junior Chris Wallace. He would go on to score when sophomore Caleb Ramsey reached base on a fielder's choice and Wallace advanced on an error by third base.
The Cougars added another run later in the inning when Wallace scored on a single to left field by Ty Stuckey. That would be all the run support that the Cougars would be able to get the rest of the way.
Kansas State responded in the bottom of the third scoring three run to take the lead. They would go on the score at least two runs all but one of the final six innings.
Junior lefthander Wes Musick got the start on the mound on Opening Day and with the loss he snapped a two game win streak in season openers.
The loss also snapped a three game winning streak on Opening Day for the Cougars. Houston dropped an 8-6 decision to Baylor on opening day in 2005 at Minute Maid Park in the Houston College Classic.
Despite not being able to come away with the win, three Cougars made their first career starts on Friday. William Kankel started at right field, David Murphy started at third base and Taylor White started at second base.
Houston will continue the series against the Wildcats at 2 p.m. on Saturday and the series will conclude at noon on Sunday. Sophomore righthander Jared Ray will face off against senior lefthander Lance Hoge of Kansas State in Saturday's game.
Houston Cougars Baseball Season Kicks Off Today
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 20, 2009) After winning the Conference USA Tournament Championship in 2008, the University of Houston baseball team returns in 2009 with high expectations. The Cougars return, 2009 C-USA Preseason All-Conference Team selections, junior Wes Musick and sophomore Chase Dempsay, in addition to sophomore Blake Kelso, who was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team a year ago.UH put together a thrilling comeback at the Conference Tournament that included playing its way through the losers bracket to defeat Marshall, 3-2, to take home the title and advance to the 18th NCAA Regional appearance in school history. Joining the Cougars this season are 12 newcomers that will be looked upon to make an immediate impact.
"We've got good young talent that is going to contribute from the field and on the mound," head coach Rayner Noble said. "We have some marvelous freshman walk-ons and at the same time as our returners can make strong contributions in what we're doing."
PITCHING
The Cougars return junior left-hander pitcher Wes Musick and sophomore right-hander pitcher Chase Dempsay to the pitching staff. Both earned numerous post-season honors in 2008 and were named to the 2009 Preseason All-Conference Team.
Musick finished last season 8-4, with a 4.35 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 97.1 innings of work. Dempsay recorded a season-high 11 saves and became only the fourth Cougar in program history to record double-digit saves. The Baytown native also finished with a 2.53 ERA and pitched 64.0 innings.
"Those are two guys that we are going to rely heavily on," Noble said. "I call them bookends, because you've got your Friday night starter and then you've got your closer. The Friday guy has to set the tone for the weekend and your closer, he's got to close."
Sophomore right-hander Jared Ray looks to become a regular in the weekend lineup. Last season, he finished with a 4-2 record and had a breakout performance at the NCAA College Station Regional. Hours after recording his second save against Illinois-Chicago, he pitched a complete-game win against No. 9 Texas A&M during the first championship game. For his performance he was named to the NCAA College Station Regional All-Tournament Team.
Junior right-hander John Touchton emerged last season as the team's No. 2 starter and finished with 57 strikeouts, a 4.18 ERA and a 5-4 record. Touchton along with sophomore Ty Stuckey and junior Donnie Joseph will compete for starting positions as left-handers. Stuckey, as a freshman last season, had three saves while striking out 54 batters in 63.1 innings of work. Joseph added 40 strikeouts in 11 starts and finished with a 2-1 record.
In addition to Dempsay, senior right-hander Chris Wright will be used in the closing role when necessary and out of the bullpen. In addition, senior right-hander Jimmy Raviele, sophomore left-hander Matt Taylor will be used out of the bullpen for the Cougars.
Returning this season is junior right-hander Barry Laird, who sat out the 2008 season after shoulder surgery, while junior Taylor Hammack's status for the season is still undecided after shoulder surgery.
Newcomers to the staff include, junior transfers William Kankel and Frank Corolla, redshirt freshman David McClain and freshmen Mo Wiley and Michael Goodnight.
CATCHING
The Cougars have three athletes on the roster this season that will compete for the play at that catcher's position. The incumbent, junior Chris Wallace will start for UH.
"Chris is doing a nice job handling the pitching staff and throwing the ball to second very well," Noble said. "He's improved a lot behind the plate."
Last season, he competed in 57 games with 38 starts at catcher. In addition, he recorded a .318 batting average, the third highest batting average among returners.
Newcomers John Cannon and Joey Cesario will be added to the mix. Noble expects Cannon to share the starting duties with Wallace. While Wallace will start the majority of the weekend games, Cannon could catch the mid-week games. Cesario, according to Noble, is learning the speed of the game as a freshman and will contribute for the Cougars.
INFIELD
Sophomore Blake Kelso had an impressive freshman campaign in 2008 and should build on that success this season. Last season, he was one of two players to start all 66 games and was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America in addition to being named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team.
Kelso started the season batting in the No. 9 position but moved to the leadoff position in the third game and stayed there for the remainder of the season. In that role, he finished with a .288 batting average, the second highest among returners, 79 hits, 15 doubles and 35 RBIs. He will look to nail down the started spot at shortstop this season.
Dempsay and Stuckey are expected to share duties at first base; in addition sophomore Matt Murphy, who is returning from arm surgery, may see action at first.
Two freshmen will be called upon in a starting role this season at second and third base. Taylor White, according to Noble, has locked down the starting position at second, with redshirt freshman David Murphy in a back-up role. At third base, freshman Codey Morehouse will open the season at third base. Noble feels Morehouse is a swing player and while he will start at third he may also see action at shortstop or second base.
Freshmen Carols Reyes, Tom Wertz, Jake Runte, Reed Watson and Tony Montalbano are also expected to be used in a back-up role in the infield.
OUTFIELD
Looking to lead the group of outfielders in 2009 is junior Zak Presley. He will start at center after a standout sophomore year, where he finished with a .310 batting average, the highest among returners, 63 hits, 30 RBIs and a .408 on base percentage.
Presley also rattled off an 18-game hitting streak midway through the season, which tied as the seventh longest hitting streak in UH history.
At left field sophomore Caleb Ramsey will get the starting nod and junior transfer from Seminole State College William Kankel will settle into right field.
"Our outfield core is a little bit light, although we can take some of the infielders and move them into the outfield picture," Noble said.
SCHEDULE
After playing a challenging schedule in 2008, this season will be no different. The Cougars will play 28 games at Cougar Field, opening the season in a weekend non-conference series against Kansas State on Feb. 20-22. After the season-opening series, the Cougars will spend the next three weeks on the road beginning with two mid-week games against Stephen F. Austin (Feb. 24) and Rice (Feb. 25).
Then Houston is slated to play in the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park on Feb. 27-March 1. At the tournament UH will play Baylor (Feb. 27), UC Irvine (Feb. 28) and Texas A&M (March 1).
Following a mid-week game at Louisiana-Lafayette (March 3), Houston will return home for a single game against Texas-San Antonio (March 4) before hosting Cal Poly on March 6-8 and Sam Houston State on March 10.
Houston will travel out of the state of Texas for only the second time in 2009 when they head west for a series against Pacific on March 13-15 and before returning to the Lone Star State for a single game against Lamar (March 17) and Rice (March 18) prior to opening conference play.
In the opening weekend of C-USA play, the Cougars host the UAB Blazers March 20-22 and travel the next weekend to Tulane (March 27-29). In between those two series, UH will host Louisiana-Lafayette in a single game on March 24. Three-straight Texas opponents will be next on the schedule in a trip to Texas-San Antonio (April 1) and Texas A&M (April 6) and a home series against Texas-Pan American (April 3-5).
Conference play picks up the next weekend against Southern Miss on April 10-12 and Memphis (April 17-19) with a single game against Sam Houston State on April 14. The month of April will close out will contests against Stephen F. Austin (April 21), Lamar (April 22), at Marshall (April 24-26) and at McNeese State (April 29).
The final month of the season will see the Cougars welcome Rice (May 1-3), McNeese State (May 5) and East Carolina (May 8-10) to Cougar Field before closing out the season at UCF (May 14-16).
The 2009 Conference USA Championship will be hosted by Southern Miss on May 20-24. The league's top eight teams will head to the tournament, with the winner of the championship earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals, which begin on May 29.
"It's a good schedule for us and we're capable of doing some damage in the league," Noble said. "If we can score enough runs, we'll be a Super Regional team, but we got our work cut out for us. We've got so many new faces and we have just got to get the offensive personnel together."
Thursday, February 19, 2009
2009 Rice Baseball Preview
HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 19, 2009) There never seems to be a shortage of optimism regarding Rice baseball, and with good reason. Under head coach Wayne Graham, now entering his 18th season at the helm of the program, the Owls have now been to NCAA Regionals 14 years in a row, won or shared a regular season conference championship for 13-straight years, and been to the College World Series in Omaha seven times in the last dozen years.
This year's Owls team has something a little different. The team has a distinct mix of confidence and motivation.
The confidence comes from the fall training sessions of 2008 where the team played and won four exhibitions against Division I opponents. As a team Rice hit a composite .348 and averaged 15 runs per exhibition. The Owl pitchers meanwhile maintained a 2.21 ERA and held the Division I foes to a .210 batting average. It was hard not be confident because even with some major position changes and newcomers in key roles, Rice looked like it deserved a high preseason ranking for 2009.
The confidence is not a factor and neither is motivation. Rice has now gone to the College World Series three-straight years, but no Owl team has been to Omaha four-straight years. It goes without saying the Blue & Gray would not be content merely making the trip.
Catchers
When looking at the offense and defense for 2009, the place to start is behind the plate. Diego Seastrunk, who was named to the all-College World Series Team as a freshman third baseman in 2007, moved from third base to catcher during the 2008 fall training period and started behind the plate in the Owls' scheduled exhibitions. The good news is the coaches were pleased with his progress in making the change and how he handled the pitching staff. The better news is that Seastrunk is still the same switch-hitter who batted a team-leading .353 with 19 doubles a year ago. The opposing coaches in C-USA are so convinced of his hitting the last two years that the group named Seastrunk its 2009 preseason all-conference catcher before the junior from Channelview, Tex., had ever played a game at that position.
The physical demands on a catcher's body means that no matter how well Seastrunk hits or fields his new position, it's rare that any Division I player could start every single game behind the plate. The Owls have some solid options. Senior Jess Buenger along with a trio of promising young stars including sophomore Nick DeBiasse and freshmen Craig Manuel and Dave Peterson, are all viable options. Peterson is a 6-foot-0 rookie from Villa Park, Calif., who caught the coaches attention in the fall with his versatility. Manuel is a 6-foot-2 prep standout from Satellite Beach, Fla., who could have a role based on his left-handed hitting. DeBiasse worked his way into six games as a true freshman last season. The 6-foot-3 Lawrence, Kan., native did not see game-action behind the plate, but he is a competitor with potential to hit. Don't rule out Buenger possibly making a contribution as a catcher. He trained for the role last season, but his ability to bat equally well from both sides of the plate helped steer him to playing time as the designated hitter.
Infielders
Any questions Rice may have had about the infield were answered loud and clear in the fall. The pairing of newcomers Anthony Rendon and Brock Holt, with veterans Rick Hague and Jimmy Comerota, could prove to be another Rice super-group. Like Seastrunk moving to catcher, the Owls made another big off-season switch to keep an eye-on.
Comerota made 51 starts in the middle infield (48 at second base), but the junior from Hightower High School in Missouri City, Tex., will begin 2009 at first base. Though he may not be the game's typical first baseman, stealing 12 bases to go along with a .291 average in 2008, Comerota showed in the fall that he is one of the team's steadiest defenders. He also showed he has become a pretty tough player to get out, batting a composite .519 in the team's four Division I fall exhibitions.
Hague is a sophomore infield returnee who worked his way into 59 starts at shortstop as a true freshman. A year ago the Spring, Tex., standout hit .348 with eight home runs and 19 doubles to earn Freshman All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball. Hague is also an exceptional defensive player who turned or started 44 of the Owls' 63 double plays.
There will be new faces in the infield on Hague's left and right. Junior transfer Brock Holt won the job at second base with a sensational fall. The Stephenville, Tex., native was a shortstop at Navarro College but is versatile enough to start at second base with no drop in defensive range. He hit .474 with a .579 slugging percentage in the exhibitions and simply could not be taken out of the lineup.
Having a player talented enough even to consider moving an all-conference player like Seastrunk out of his familiar spot at third base is certainly a lot to ask, but the Owls found it by signing one of the best high school stars in the city of Houston in freshman Anthony Rendon. Not only did Rendon hit .435 in the fall exhibitions, he had a .522 slugging percentage and he was third on the team in RBI.
Rice has some infield depth to give the group some rest if it needs any. In addition to having Seastrunk available to play third, Holt at short and Comerota able to play anywhere in the infield, the Owls also have DeBiasse and Peterson to possibly see action at first base.
Sophomore Trey Crain redshirted a year at Rice in 2007, gained some valuable experience playing at Weatherford College in 2008, and is back with the Blue & Gray in 2009. Crain has potential to hit for power and diverse defensive skills. Six-foot-six, 220-pound freshman Luke Willson played football for the Owls in the fall, but the Ontario native also has elite international baseball experience after playing first base for Team Canada last summer. Willson bats from the left side with tremendous home run potential.
Outfielders
Rice is very happy with its infield prospects and the same can be said of the outfielders. Sophomore Chad Mozingo started 58 games as a rookie last season and he is the team's No. 3 returning hitter (.301 avg.) from a year ago. The right fielder from Spring caught fire late in the year, highlighted by a .417 average in the Owls' run through the NCAA Tournament. Mozingo then carried that over into the summer where he led the California Collegiate League in hitting (.470). He is an improved hitter with outstanding speed and a strong arm.
The team has a new center fielder in Steven Sultzbaugh, an experienced veteran from Weatherford College. Sultzbaugh was the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference player of the year in 2008, setting new school records for batting average (.514), RBI (65), runs scored (53) and slugging percentage (.850). The 6-foot-3, 200-pound, Austin native was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 2006 after an outstanding prep career at Westwood High School.
The starting left-fielder's spot may begin with two or more players getting a chance to shine. At the end of the fall sophomore Michael Fuda and freshman Jeremy Rathjen and were at the top of the list. Rathjen is another of the Owls' highly-decorated local players from the high school ranks. The 6-foot-5 Houston native from Memorial High School caught the coaches' attention with a .333 average in the fall and sound defensive skills. Fuda is a former two-sport varsity athlete at Rice (also played football) who quickly ascended to a possible starting role once he focused solely on baseball. After seeing action at second base last year, his speed and strength may be better utilized in the outfield.
Fuda may have hung up the football pads for the last time but a second Owl (along with Luke Willson) is making a run at two-sport status in 2009. Owl quarterback Ryan Lewis is a left-handed hitting freshman who could see playing time in the outfield. Daniel Gonzales-Luna had a standout high school career at nearby Lamar High School and is likewise making a serious push for game-action. Sophomore Nick Natale returns for the Blue & Gray after working his way into four appearances last season. His superior speed makes him equally valuable as a defensive or base-running option.
Pitchers
With five former Owls pitching in the major leagues last year and another seven selected in the 2008 major league draft, it's easy to see pitching has long been a cornerstone of Rice teams in the Wayne Graham era. The pitching forecast for 2009: more premium performers.
There are a total of 10 returning pitchers from a year ago, highlighted by two experienced starters. The veteran duo are right-handed juniors Ryan Berry and Mike Ojala. Berry has been the opening starter of a weekend series, the "Friday pitcher," for each of the last two years. No matter where the Owl ace has pitched, Berry has made the most of his outings. The Humble, Tex., native has compiled 19 career wins, a 3.30 ERA and more than 200 strikeouts in his first two seasons.
Ojala's improvement from his freshman year, where he pitched in middle relief, earned him a promotion to mid-week starter as a sophomore last season. He continued to improve over the course of last season, working into the sixth inning four times late in the year and holding opponents to a composite .239 batting average in his last seven starts. In addition to an undefeated record in his college career (7-0), the standout from Kingwood averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings and he had the second-best strikeouts-to-walks ratio (3.2-to-1) on the staff.
Two true freshmen have emerged to the fore-front for two open spots as regular starters. Taylor Wall is left-hander from nearby Westside High School. He was named the All-Greater Houston pitcher of the year after finishing with a 14-1 record and 0.64 ERA. Anthony Fazio is a rookie right-hander from Beaumont who caught the coaches' attention in the fall workouts. He led the staff in strikeouts and maintained a 1.50 ERA in the exhibitions.
There are almost a dozen more pitchers capable of making a significant contribution this season so expect plenty of competition for innings. Sophomore left-hander Matt Evers has the most Division I experience (42 innings) of the remaining pitching candidates. He could be the team's new closer in 2009, but he's versatile enough to succeed in various situations. Evers held opposing hitters to a .232 average and fanned 11.6 batters per nine innings as a freshman.
Keep an eye on a number of talented right-handers who could see action. Senior Jordan Rogers is a disciplined veteran who could start or relieve after a solid fall. Junior Jared Rogers (no relation) is a transfer from Navarro College in his first season at the Division I level. He went 8-1 with a 2.48 ERA for the Bulldogs last season. Mark Haynes is a junior who worked 13.0 innings on the mound for the Owls last season. He held opponents to a composite .220 batting average. Zack Harwood is a sophomore right-hander and another pleasant surprise from the fall. The redshirt from Groves, Tex., has been sidelined for most of the last two seasons and is anxious to make a bigger contribution. Travis Wright is another redshirt sophomore who showed potential with extensive work in the fall.
The coaches certainly like what they have seen of freshmen right-handers Andrew Benak and Matthew Reckling. Benak is a 6-foot-5 Houston native who played different positions at Langham Creek High School. He continues to improve while focusing only on pitching. Reckling, who stands 6-foot-4, was third on the staff in innings in the fall. Both young right-handers have potential.
That's a wealth of talented pitching, but it's only the right-handers. Sophomores Abe Gonzales and Doug Simmons along with redshirt freshman Andy Hamilton could have an immediate impact for the Owls working from the left side. Gonzales played some first base for the team last season before getting sidelined in the second half of the year. He is projected to contribute as a left-handed reliever with spot duty as a potential left-handed hitter. It's almost the identical scenario for Simmons, who made 15 starts as a left-handed designated hitter as a rookie in 2008. The 2009 campaign has him possibly taking the mound for the first time. Hamilton is an imposing 6-foot-8, 280-pound, southpaw who was sidelined during his freshman season a year ago. His taking the mound for the first time in 2009 could give the team a lift.
This year's Owls team has something a little different. The team has a distinct mix of confidence and motivation.
The confidence comes from the fall training sessions of 2008 where the team played and won four exhibitions against Division I opponents. As a team Rice hit a composite .348 and averaged 15 runs per exhibition. The Owl pitchers meanwhile maintained a 2.21 ERA and held the Division I foes to a .210 batting average. It was hard not be confident because even with some major position changes and newcomers in key roles, Rice looked like it deserved a high preseason ranking for 2009.
The confidence is not a factor and neither is motivation. Rice has now gone to the College World Series three-straight years, but no Owl team has been to Omaha four-straight years. It goes without saying the Blue & Gray would not be content merely making the trip.
Catchers
When looking at the offense and defense for 2009, the place to start is behind the plate. Diego Seastrunk, who was named to the all-College World Series Team as a freshman third baseman in 2007, moved from third base to catcher during the 2008 fall training period and started behind the plate in the Owls' scheduled exhibitions. The good news is the coaches were pleased with his progress in making the change and how he handled the pitching staff. The better news is that Seastrunk is still the same switch-hitter who batted a team-leading .353 with 19 doubles a year ago. The opposing coaches in C-USA are so convinced of his hitting the last two years that the group named Seastrunk its 2009 preseason all-conference catcher before the junior from Channelview, Tex., had ever played a game at that position.
The physical demands on a catcher's body means that no matter how well Seastrunk hits or fields his new position, it's rare that any Division I player could start every single game behind the plate. The Owls have some solid options. Senior Jess Buenger along with a trio of promising young stars including sophomore Nick DeBiasse and freshmen Craig Manuel and Dave Peterson, are all viable options. Peterson is a 6-foot-0 rookie from Villa Park, Calif., who caught the coaches attention in the fall with his versatility. Manuel is a 6-foot-2 prep standout from Satellite Beach, Fla., who could have a role based on his left-handed hitting. DeBiasse worked his way into six games as a true freshman last season. The 6-foot-3 Lawrence, Kan., native did not see game-action behind the plate, but he is a competitor with potential to hit. Don't rule out Buenger possibly making a contribution as a catcher. He trained for the role last season, but his ability to bat equally well from both sides of the plate helped steer him to playing time as the designated hitter.
Infielders
Any questions Rice may have had about the infield were answered loud and clear in the fall. The pairing of newcomers Anthony Rendon and Brock Holt, with veterans Rick Hague and Jimmy Comerota, could prove to be another Rice super-group. Like Seastrunk moving to catcher, the Owls made another big off-season switch to keep an eye-on.
Comerota made 51 starts in the middle infield (48 at second base), but the junior from Hightower High School in Missouri City, Tex., will begin 2009 at first base. Though he may not be the game's typical first baseman, stealing 12 bases to go along with a .291 average in 2008, Comerota showed in the fall that he is one of the team's steadiest defenders. He also showed he has become a pretty tough player to get out, batting a composite .519 in the team's four Division I fall exhibitions.
Hague is a sophomore infield returnee who worked his way into 59 starts at shortstop as a true freshman. A year ago the Spring, Tex., standout hit .348 with eight home runs and 19 doubles to earn Freshman All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball. Hague is also an exceptional defensive player who turned or started 44 of the Owls' 63 double plays.
There will be new faces in the infield on Hague's left and right. Junior transfer Brock Holt won the job at second base with a sensational fall. The Stephenville, Tex., native was a shortstop at Navarro College but is versatile enough to start at second base with no drop in defensive range. He hit .474 with a .579 slugging percentage in the exhibitions and simply could not be taken out of the lineup.
Having a player talented enough even to consider moving an all-conference player like Seastrunk out of his familiar spot at third base is certainly a lot to ask, but the Owls found it by signing one of the best high school stars in the city of Houston in freshman Anthony Rendon. Not only did Rendon hit .435 in the fall exhibitions, he had a .522 slugging percentage and he was third on the team in RBI.
Rice has some infield depth to give the group some rest if it needs any. In addition to having Seastrunk available to play third, Holt at short and Comerota able to play anywhere in the infield, the Owls also have DeBiasse and Peterson to possibly see action at first base.
Sophomore Trey Crain redshirted a year at Rice in 2007, gained some valuable experience playing at Weatherford College in 2008, and is back with the Blue & Gray in 2009. Crain has potential to hit for power and diverse defensive skills. Six-foot-six, 220-pound freshman Luke Willson played football for the Owls in the fall, but the Ontario native also has elite international baseball experience after playing first base for Team Canada last summer. Willson bats from the left side with tremendous home run potential.
Outfielders
Rice is very happy with its infield prospects and the same can be said of the outfielders. Sophomore Chad Mozingo started 58 games as a rookie last season and he is the team's No. 3 returning hitter (.301 avg.) from a year ago. The right fielder from Spring caught fire late in the year, highlighted by a .417 average in the Owls' run through the NCAA Tournament. Mozingo then carried that over into the summer where he led the California Collegiate League in hitting (.470). He is an improved hitter with outstanding speed and a strong arm.
The team has a new center fielder in Steven Sultzbaugh, an experienced veteran from Weatherford College. Sultzbaugh was the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference player of the year in 2008, setting new school records for batting average (.514), RBI (65), runs scored (53) and slugging percentage (.850). The 6-foot-3, 200-pound, Austin native was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 2006 after an outstanding prep career at Westwood High School.
The starting left-fielder's spot may begin with two or more players getting a chance to shine. At the end of the fall sophomore Michael Fuda and freshman Jeremy Rathjen and were at the top of the list. Rathjen is another of the Owls' highly-decorated local players from the high school ranks. The 6-foot-5 Houston native from Memorial High School caught the coaches' attention with a .333 average in the fall and sound defensive skills. Fuda is a former two-sport varsity athlete at Rice (also played football) who quickly ascended to a possible starting role once he focused solely on baseball. After seeing action at second base last year, his speed and strength may be better utilized in the outfield.
Fuda may have hung up the football pads for the last time but a second Owl (along with Luke Willson) is making a run at two-sport status in 2009. Owl quarterback Ryan Lewis is a left-handed hitting freshman who could see playing time in the outfield. Daniel Gonzales-Luna had a standout high school career at nearby Lamar High School and is likewise making a serious push for game-action. Sophomore Nick Natale returns for the Blue & Gray after working his way into four appearances last season. His superior speed makes him equally valuable as a defensive or base-running option.
Pitchers
With five former Owls pitching in the major leagues last year and another seven selected in the 2008 major league draft, it's easy to see pitching has long been a cornerstone of Rice teams in the Wayne Graham era. The pitching forecast for 2009: more premium performers.
There are a total of 10 returning pitchers from a year ago, highlighted by two experienced starters. The veteran duo are right-handed juniors Ryan Berry and Mike Ojala. Berry has been the opening starter of a weekend series, the "Friday pitcher," for each of the last two years. No matter where the Owl ace has pitched, Berry has made the most of his outings. The Humble, Tex., native has compiled 19 career wins, a 3.30 ERA and more than 200 strikeouts in his first two seasons.
Ojala's improvement from his freshman year, where he pitched in middle relief, earned him a promotion to mid-week starter as a sophomore last season. He continued to improve over the course of last season, working into the sixth inning four times late in the year and holding opponents to a composite .239 batting average in his last seven starts. In addition to an undefeated record in his college career (7-0), the standout from Kingwood averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings and he had the second-best strikeouts-to-walks ratio (3.2-to-1) on the staff.
Two true freshmen have emerged to the fore-front for two open spots as regular starters. Taylor Wall is left-hander from nearby Westside High School. He was named the All-Greater Houston pitcher of the year after finishing with a 14-1 record and 0.64 ERA. Anthony Fazio is a rookie right-hander from Beaumont who caught the coaches' attention in the fall workouts. He led the staff in strikeouts and maintained a 1.50 ERA in the exhibitions.
There are almost a dozen more pitchers capable of making a significant contribution this season so expect plenty of competition for innings. Sophomore left-hander Matt Evers has the most Division I experience (42 innings) of the remaining pitching candidates. He could be the team's new closer in 2009, but he's versatile enough to succeed in various situations. Evers held opposing hitters to a .232 average and fanned 11.6 batters per nine innings as a freshman.
Keep an eye on a number of talented right-handers who could see action. Senior Jordan Rogers is a disciplined veteran who could start or relieve after a solid fall. Junior Jared Rogers (no relation) is a transfer from Navarro College in his first season at the Division I level. He went 8-1 with a 2.48 ERA for the Bulldogs last season. Mark Haynes is a junior who worked 13.0 innings on the mound for the Owls last season. He held opponents to a composite .220 batting average. Zack Harwood is a sophomore right-hander and another pleasant surprise from the fall. The redshirt from Groves, Tex., has been sidelined for most of the last two seasons and is anxious to make a bigger contribution. Travis Wright is another redshirt sophomore who showed potential with extensive work in the fall.
The coaches certainly like what they have seen of freshmen right-handers Andrew Benak and Matthew Reckling. Benak is a 6-foot-5 Houston native who played different positions at Langham Creek High School. He continues to improve while focusing only on pitching. Reckling, who stands 6-foot-4, was third on the staff in innings in the fall. Both young right-handers have potential.
That's a wealth of talented pitching, but it's only the right-handers. Sophomores Abe Gonzales and Doug Simmons along with redshirt freshman Andy Hamilton could have an immediate impact for the Owls working from the left side. Gonzales played some first base for the team last season before getting sidelined in the second half of the year. He is projected to contribute as a left-handed reliever with spot duty as a potential left-handed hitter. It's almost the identical scenario for Simmons, who made 15 starts as a left-handed designated hitter as a rookie in 2008. The 2009 campaign has him possibly taking the mound for the first time. Hamilton is an imposing 6-foot-8, 280-pound, southpaw who was sidelined during his freshman season a year ago. His taking the mound for the first time in 2009 could give the team a lift.