There's no telling what's going to happen in the rest of the game, but for the first inning at least it was easy to tell JSU righthander Nick Hetland was hitting his spots.
Even though he gave up a run in the first inning Saturday against Murray State, all 19 pitches Hetland threw in the inning went for strikes.
His first four pitches in the second were for a strike, too. That's 23 in a row. He didn't throw his first ball until the second pitch to Daniel Miller in the second inning, then came back and threw a strike.
He wound up with 28 strikes in his first 29 pitches. Check out Sunday's Star to learn if he stayed sharp or became a hard-luck loser (he trailed 3-0 after his first three innings).
Murray's Mike Perconte was sharp, too. He threw eight pitches in the first and five of those were for strikes.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Basketball boost or bust
Bravo for the Ohio Valley Conference for trying to enhance its basketball profile, but there’s a very real application in the solution that could negatively impact what league officials are trying to accomplish.
The OVC presidents approved Wednesday a basketball enrichment plan that affects the way teams will be able to schedule in the future. It goes into effect beginning in the 2009-10 season, obviously taking into account existing contracts for the upcoming season.
The plan calls for reducing the number of guarantee games to a maximum of two per season, allowing teams to play as many non-Division I games as they play guarantees, and play a minimum of half their non-OVC games at home (neutral site games not included).
To satisfy that plan, Jacksonville State could play Tennessee, Temple and Tennessee Temple twice or it could schedule Tennessee or Temple and Tennessee Temple. But the days of Tennessee State or anyone else playing four or more guarantee games are no more.
Back when JSU was in the TAAC/Atlantic Sun, Florida Atlantic once played its entire non-conference schedule in guarantee games.
If the purpose of the OVC's plan is to enhance the league’s basketball RPI -- it was the 29th-rated conference (of 32) this week -- limiting the number of games against the power conferences that it has little chance of winning is a good thing, but knowing coaches as we do, what’s likely to happen is teams will trade those high-major slots with winnable games against teams behind them in the RPI.
For Jax State, which is No. 339 (of 341) this week, that would be a difficult proposition, but you get the idea. It may help them get more games, though.
Other mid-major conferences have tried in the past to put safeguards in place to prevent that kind of thing, but there are no RPI minimums in place in the OVC’s plan. Final decisions on whether institutions are in compliance will be made by commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. Compliance with the plan will be tied to the league’s revenue-sharing program.
“I applaud our membership for their willingness to commit to systemic changes that should enhance our opportunity to succeed,” Steinbrecher said in a statement. “This shows that the OVC membership is not satisfied with the status quo. The basketball enrichment plan is part of a series of strategic decisions intended to enhance the Conference’s basketball programs.”
The OVC presidents approved Wednesday a basketball enrichment plan that affects the way teams will be able to schedule in the future. It goes into effect beginning in the 2009-10 season, obviously taking into account existing contracts for the upcoming season.
The plan calls for reducing the number of guarantee games to a maximum of two per season, allowing teams to play as many non-Division I games as they play guarantees, and play a minimum of half their non-OVC games at home (neutral site games not included).
To satisfy that plan, Jacksonville State could play Tennessee, Temple and Tennessee Temple twice or it could schedule Tennessee or Temple and Tennessee Temple. But the days of Tennessee State or anyone else playing four or more guarantee games are no more.
Back when JSU was in the TAAC/Atlantic Sun, Florida Atlantic once played its entire non-conference schedule in guarantee games.
If the purpose of the OVC's plan is to enhance the league’s basketball RPI -- it was the 29th-rated conference (of 32) this week -- limiting the number of games against the power conferences that it has little chance of winning is a good thing, but knowing coaches as we do, what’s likely to happen is teams will trade those high-major slots with winnable games against teams behind them in the RPI.
For Jax State, which is No. 339 (of 341) this week, that would be a difficult proposition, but you get the idea. It may help them get more games, though.
Other mid-major conferences have tried in the past to put safeguards in place to prevent that kind of thing, but there are no RPI minimums in place in the OVC’s plan. Final decisions on whether institutions are in compliance will be made by commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. Compliance with the plan will be tied to the league’s revenue-sharing program.
“I applaud our membership for their willingness to commit to systemic changes that should enhance our opportunity to succeed,” Steinbrecher said in a statement. “This shows that the OVC membership is not satisfied with the status quo. The basketball enrichment plan is part of a series of strategic decisions intended to enhance the Conference’s basketball programs.”
Monday, February 11, 2008
Alexandria native scores OVC honor
If anybody saw Allie Barker hit in high school, you had the feeling that it was only a matter of time before her bat went wild in college.
This weekend it did, in a big way.
Barker, a 5-foot-8-inch native of Alexandria, hit .308 with a pair of homers, 6 RBI and two runs scored in helping guide the Gamecocks (2-2) to a pair of splits at the Hampton Inn Bama Bash in Tuscaloosa.
The junior hit the first grand slam of her career in the season opener against Purdue. So added a solo homer later in the weekend.
Barker and the Gamecocks will make their home debut on Tuesday, when they host UAB in a doubleheader at 4 p.m. at University Field. Admission is free for all fans.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Walk D overseas
Looks like former Jacksonville State standout basketball player Walker Russell Jr. (that's him pictured right) is heading to Spain.
According to the Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne, Ind., the guard has left the NBA's Developmental League (NBDL) to pursue the European dream.
He didn't get Walk D on the phone, but you can read the story here.
This all comes on the heels of this ... After two impressive performances this week, Fort Wayne Mad Ants' forward Sammy Mejia and point guard Walker Russell Jr. were named to the 2008 NBA D-League Showcase Honorable Mention Team.
In our quest to keep you, the reader, informed, I continued to search the internet for information. I found a Web site that had a story, only problem was it was in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish too well, despite spending the better half of my college career trying to learn it.
However, Google.com does this thing where it automatically translates the article for you. Below is the translation:
Walker Russell Jr arrives at MMT Students from the airborne magnetic detection Ants de Fort Wayne, equipment of the league of development of the NBA, the NBDL.
With this equipment it has divided equally 14.5 points, 2.8 bounces and 4.8 attendances by party. Russell Jr, bases of 1´83 been born the 6 of October of 1982, had begun the season forming part of the group of the New York Knicks of the NBA after to have convinced in the summer league, but it did not materialize in this tax exemption. One formed in the University of Jacksonville State, that disputes in Division I of the NCAA, the American university league.
In this equipment it played four seasons good level, something that the fact that demonstrates it continues being the player of Jacksonville State with more points (1.182), attendances (590), better percentage of shots free (84,2%) and divided played like titling (83) since they play in that category. After being chosen by any tax exemption of the NBA in draft of 2006 it did not prove in the leagues of summer of this league to obtain his first professional contract in the equipment Fort Worth Flyers of the NBDL, with which it divided equally 5.6 points and 3.6 attendances in 15 parties.
From there, that same campaign, marched to a destiny so little habitual as the Czech Republic, enlisting itself in the rows of the CEZ Nymburk, the present champion of the Czech league.
Walker Russell Jr is son of the player of the same name that played in the NBA in years 80 in the rows of equipment like Detroit Pistons, with Adrian Dantley, John Salley, Thomas, Dumars, Laimbeer... in which was the famous roots of "the Bad Boys".
In fact it even conserves good relation with Isiah Thomas, to whom it helps in the workings of ojeador for the New York Knicks. After passing the pertinent medical examination with the medical services of MMT Students, Walker Russell Jr will be to disposition of Velimir Perasovic to train with its companions and power to make debut if it needs in the party of the next Sunday before AXA FC Barcelona.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Volleyball's European Vacation
The Jacksonville State volleyball team’s European Vacation is getting closer to becoming a reality. As close as it can be without actually having tickets in hand.
That’s the next step.
The Gamecocks’ trip of a lifetime has them visiting six cities in four countries over 13 days in May. They are scheduled to visit Prague; Vienna; Maribor, Slovenia; and three cities in Italy, including Venice and Rome.
"We’ve very close," JSU coach Rick Nold said. "I’m getting ready to buy the tickets; once you get them, you’re going.
"We’ve still got a ways to go to get it the absolute right way. If you’re doing it one time, you want to do it right. It’s just a matter of getting the final piece of the puzzle together." But they're going."
The trip is a reward for the program’s two straight OVC regular-season titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
It will be part volleyball, part life experience and part career planning. All-American Abbey Breit and Rebekah Nichols (Oxford) both are interested in playing professionally in Europe, and if the Gamecocks can put together the right package, trip organizers can get them in front of more of the right people.
"I'm kind of excited," said Nichols, who has international experience having played before in Australia. "I'm really interested to see how all the younger ones do."
That’s the next step.
The Gamecocks’ trip of a lifetime has them visiting six cities in four countries over 13 days in May. They are scheduled to visit Prague; Vienna; Maribor, Slovenia; and three cities in Italy, including Venice and Rome.
"We’ve very close," JSU coach Rick Nold said. "I’m getting ready to buy the tickets; once you get them, you’re going.
"We’ve still got a ways to go to get it the absolute right way. If you’re doing it one time, you want to do it right. It’s just a matter of getting the final piece of the puzzle together." But they're going."
The trip is a reward for the program’s two straight OVC regular-season titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
It will be part volleyball, part life experience and part career planning. All-American Abbey Breit and Rebekah Nichols (Oxford) both are interested in playing professionally in Europe, and if the Gamecocks can put together the right package, trip organizers can get them in front of more of the right people.
"I'm kind of excited," said Nichols, who has international experience having played before in Australia. "I'm really interested to see how all the younger ones do."
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Softball by the numbers: 2, 500, 1,000
The Jacksonville State softball team was picked a familiar second in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason coaches poll released Wednesday.
The Gamecocks, who've finished second each of the last two years, may not be picked to win the league, but it promises to be a year of milestones nonetheless.
The program will play its 1,000th all-time game this season and coach Jana McGinnis could post her 500th victory.
The Gamecocks, who started softball in 1988, have an all-time softball record of 575-391. At the earliest, Game No. 1,000 would come in Game 34 – at home in the final game of the UT-Martin series, March 22.
McGinnis needs only 27 victories for No. 500, and if it doesn’t happen, the Gamecocks will have suffered their worst season in a number of years. The team has won at least 33 games each of the last six years.
The Gamecocks may have lost slugger Daniela Pappano, but they do return five All-OVC players among their seven returning starters and four pitchers from last year’s 35-23 team. Among the returnees is senior outfielder Rachel Flemming, who led the OVC in stolen bases last year (12), while ranking among the league’s best in hitting (.357), hits (66) and runs (42).
As for the OVC poll, the Gamecocks picked up two first-place votes and 71 points — eight shy of favored Tennessee Tech.
The Golden Eagles, who picked up the other eight first-place votes, picked up their fifth OVC regular-season title and sixth conference tournament crown last year. They also became the first OVC team since 2002 to win a game in the NCAA Tournament, beating Alabama and Cal before losing twice to the Crimson Tide.
Here’s the poll: 1. Tennessee Tech (79), 2. Jax State (71), 3. Eastern Kentucky (60), 4. Samford (58), 5. UT Martin (46), 6. Southeast Missouri (40), 7. Tennessee State (36), 8. Eastern lllinois (27), 9. Austin Peay (23), 10. Morehead State (10).
Fan Day for JSU softball is Super Bowl Sunday -- for the second year in a row -- Feb. 3. It'll run from 2-4 p.m., plenty of time to get back home to watch the big game
The Gamecocks, who've finished second each of the last two years, may not be picked to win the league, but it promises to be a year of milestones nonetheless.
The program will play its 1,000th all-time game this season and coach Jana McGinnis could post her 500th victory.
The Gamecocks, who started softball in 1988, have an all-time softball record of 575-391. At the earliest, Game No. 1,000 would come in Game 34 – at home in the final game of the UT-Martin series, March 22.
McGinnis needs only 27 victories for No. 500, and if it doesn’t happen, the Gamecocks will have suffered their worst season in a number of years. The team has won at least 33 games each of the last six years.
The Gamecocks may have lost slugger Daniela Pappano, but they do return five All-OVC players among their seven returning starters and four pitchers from last year’s 35-23 team. Among the returnees is senior outfielder Rachel Flemming, who led the OVC in stolen bases last year (12), while ranking among the league’s best in hitting (.357), hits (66) and runs (42).
As for the OVC poll, the Gamecocks picked up two first-place votes and 71 points — eight shy of favored Tennessee Tech.
The Golden Eagles, who picked up the other eight first-place votes, picked up their fifth OVC regular-season title and sixth conference tournament crown last year. They also became the first OVC team since 2002 to win a game in the NCAA Tournament, beating Alabama and Cal before losing twice to the Crimson Tide.
Here’s the poll: 1. Tennessee Tech (79), 2. Jax State (71), 3. Eastern Kentucky (60), 4. Samford (58), 5. UT Martin (46), 6. Southeast Missouri (40), 7. Tennessee State (36), 8. Eastern lllinois (27), 9. Austin Peay (23), 10. Morehead State (10).
Fan Day for JSU softball is Super Bowl Sunday -- for the second year in a row -- Feb. 3. It'll run from 2-4 p.m., plenty of time to get back home to watch the big game
Monday, January 21, 2008
10 is OK, fewer games better
No one knows if expansion in the Ohio Valley Conference is imminent except the commissioner – and he says it’s not, but the league’s basketball coaches are for anything that keeps them from beating each other up.
Last week, the OVC presidents unanimously voted to take the football playing component off the table for any prospective new members.
Generally speaking, the coaches were encouraged by the presidents’ decision for what it could mean for the future of the league, but they’re equally comfortable with the upcoming 10-team alignment.
"The fewer games we play in the league … from a basketball perspective, I think that is better," Eastern Kentucky coach Jeff Neubauer said on Monday’s coaches teleconference. "I don’t think we have any problem with having 10 teams in the conference.
"In a I-A conference, having football is probably an important thing; here in I-AA where it’s not the moneymaker it is at I-A, I think it makes sense to get rid of that requirement for the OVC. I think having a 10-team league does make more sense, so there’s probably not a need for expansion at this time."
With 11 teams in the league, the OVC currently plays a 20-game double round-robin schedule. When Samford moves out next year, that drops to a more favorable 18 games.
If the OVC were to expand -- two makes the most sense -- it would set the stage for divisional play and a 16-game slate.
While that would ramp up the pressure for coaches to find additional non-conference games, it would also -- the coaches believe -- do wonders for the conference's reputation outside the league.
The coaches espouse the balance in the league, but outsiders see only the conference's won-loss record and its No. 30 billing in the RPI among 32 conferences and independents. John Moriello lists the OVC No. 6 on his FoxSports.com "Bottom 10" feature because it has the bottom two teams in the RPI.
"I know the commissioner and the presidents and everyone are looking out for what the best interests of the league would be, and we all respect that and trust in that as well," Eastern Illinois coach Mike Miller said. "I think the only thing from a basketball perspective is what way we can go about this where we keep our league games down.
"… The less conference games that we play in the OVC, I think you will see non-conference records improve. Not that it’s different, just that you can build a schedule early and balance that out a little bit better than what we’ve been able to playing four or maybe five games before Christmas; build your team up a little bit before you get into the most important part of your schedule, which is your league play."
Last week, the OVC presidents unanimously voted to take the football playing component off the table for any prospective new members.
Generally speaking, the coaches were encouraged by the presidents’ decision for what it could mean for the future of the league, but they’re equally comfortable with the upcoming 10-team alignment.
"The fewer games we play in the league … from a basketball perspective, I think that is better," Eastern Kentucky coach Jeff Neubauer said on Monday’s coaches teleconference. "I don’t think we have any problem with having 10 teams in the conference.
"In a I-A conference, having football is probably an important thing; here in I-AA where it’s not the moneymaker it is at I-A, I think it makes sense to get rid of that requirement for the OVC. I think having a 10-team league does make more sense, so there’s probably not a need for expansion at this time."
With 11 teams in the league, the OVC currently plays a 20-game double round-robin schedule. When Samford moves out next year, that drops to a more favorable 18 games.
If the OVC were to expand -- two makes the most sense -- it would set the stage for divisional play and a 16-game slate.
While that would ramp up the pressure for coaches to find additional non-conference games, it would also -- the coaches believe -- do wonders for the conference's reputation outside the league.
The coaches espouse the balance in the league, but outsiders see only the conference's won-loss record and its No. 30 billing in the RPI among 32 conferences and independents. John Moriello lists the OVC No. 6 on his FoxSports.com "Bottom 10" feature because it has the bottom two teams in the RPI.
"I know the commissioner and the presidents and everyone are looking out for what the best interests of the league would be, and we all respect that and trust in that as well," Eastern Illinois coach Mike Miller said. "I think the only thing from a basketball perspective is what way we can go about this where we keep our league games down.
"… The less conference games that we play in the OVC, I think you will see non-conference records improve. Not that it’s different, just that you can build a schedule early and balance that out a little bit better than what we’ve been able to playing four or maybe five games before Christmas; build your team up a little bit before you get into the most important part of your schedule, which is your league play."
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