SFA Outlasts Rival SHSU To Claim SLC Track Title
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Both the Sam Houston men’s and women’s teams finished as runners-up to Stephen F. Austin at the 2013 Southland Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
The event was held Friday and Saturday at the Mosier Center on the campus of the University of Oklahoma.
Led by Lygia Foreman who medaled in three events and Alyssa Dooley who took gold in a pair of races, the Bearkat women totaled 117.5 points.
Stephen F. Austin won its fifth consecutive women’s indoor league title with 173 points.
Charles White, who tied as the meet’s men’s top scorer, powered the Bearkat men to 119.5 points, just 4.5 points behind SFA.
Foreman, a sophomore from Fort Worth Eastern Hills, won the 400 meters (54.74), anchored Sam Houston’s winning 4×400 relay and placed third in the 200 meters (24.67).
She finished third among the women’s leading point scorers for the meet.
Alyssa Dooley, a senior from Flower Mound Marcus, won the mile run (4:58.71) and anchored the Bearkats distance medley champion relay (12:09.53).
Dooley placed fifth in the women’s point standings with 18.
Other members of the 4×400 squad were Simbi George, Ruth Amaku and Taylor Sanders.
The first three runners for the distance medley were Johanna Saellinew, Tonicia Wimberley and Nicole Aponte.
Morgan Davis produced Sam Houston’s first gold medal of the indoor event Friday as she successfully defended her 2012 indoor pentathlon crown.
Davis totaled 3,632 points in the women’s multi-events.
White won both the long jump (24’ 6.25”) and the triple jump (51’ 8.25”).
His 20 points tied him with Jon Arthur of SFA and David Rooney of McNeese for men’s high scorer honors.
Matt Viverette and Matt Johnson each brought home a gold medal.
Viverette won the 60 meter hurdles (8.01) while Johnson took first place in the men’s hepthalon (4,164 points).
Danielle Dumas was the runner-up in the women’s 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.76 seconds.
Three other Bearkat women earned third place medals.
Ashley Jenkins posted a 56’ 10.75” mark in the weight throw, Shelbie Zotyka pole vaulted 12’ 9.5” and Allyson Pettit was third in the pentathlon.
Viverette joined Clint Anders, Freddy Arellano and Karl Schreider as members of SHSU’s runner-up distance medley relay (10:11.18).
De’Quad Binder was the runner-up in the 800 meters (1:54.18).
Trey Jones, Leroy Harris, Rodney Jones and Brian Helaire posted a 3:17.61 time in the 4×400 relay to finish second.
Third place finishers for the Bearkat men were Karique Stephen in the triple jump (49’ 6.5”) and Rodney Jones in the 400 meters (48.36).
All individuals who finish first, second or third in an event earn All-Southland Conference honors.
Bearkat Women Leads Charge In SLC Track And Field Tournament
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Norman, Okla. – Morgan Davis became the first Sam Houston women’s athlete to win back-to-back titles in the Southland Conference Indoor multi-events competition.
Davis, a senior, opened the meet for the Bearkats with a win in the women’s pentathlon, finishing 245 points ahead of the field with a total of 3,632.
The Sam Houston women also picked up points from the pentathlon with a third place finish by Allyson Pettit (3,387 points) and an eighth place performance by Nicolle Jenrette (3,199). Francis Porter was ninth with 2,912 points.
Davis earned her pentathlon victory with finishes of first in the high jump (5′ 1.75″), second in the shot put (38′ 5″) and third in the 60 meter hurdles (8.99), long jump (17′ 4.75″) and 800 meter run (2:26.78).
“Coming back and winning this event again this year is just so exciting, especially since I didn’t think I’d be back this season,” Davis said. “I graduated in May and then remembered that I red-shirted my freshman year so I had one more opportunity to come back. It’s truly a grueling event but I wouldn’t change a thing. This medal means everything to me.”
On the men’s side, Sam Houston’s Matt Johnson and Josh Sigmon finished the first day of the men’s heptathlon in medal contention.
Johnson won both the 60 meter hurdles (6.97) and the shot put (44′ 2.75″), finished second in the high jump (6′ 0.5″) and was third in the long jump (21′ 7.5″).
Sigmon was the runner-up in the shot (44′ 0.75″) and placed sixth in the high jump (5′ 10″) and 60m hurdles (7.31).
Friday night’s action brought the Bearkats two more gold medals. Charles White won the men’s long jump with a mark of 24′ 6.25″. The Bearkat women’s distance medley relay also took first place with a time of 12:09.53. The Sam Houston squad consisted of Johanna Saellimen, Tonicia Wimberley, Nicole Aponte and Alyssa Dooley.
The men’s distance medley quartet of Clint Anders, Matt Viverette, Fred Arellano and Karl Schreiber were runners-up with a clocking of 10:11.18.
In other action for the women, Shelbie Zotyka placed third in the pole vault with a mark of 12′ 9.5″.
Through the first day’s action, Sam Houston leads the women’s standings with 52.5 points. Stephen F. Austin is in second place with 50 followed by McNeese (35) in third and Central Arkansas (20) in fourth.
Sam Houston stands fourth in the men’s team standings with 29.5 points. SFA leads the men wiwth 42 points. Southeastern Louisiana (37.5) and McNeese State (30) are second and third, respectively.
WOMEN
Weight Throw Ashley Jenkins 56′ 10.75″ 3
Adrienne Quilliln 51′ 5.5″ 10
Pole Vault Shelbie Zotyka 12′ 9.5″ 3
Ashley Thompson 12′ 15″ 7
Katelyn Wynn 11′ 7.75″ 9
Kara Whitson 11′ 7.75″ 10
60m Dash Lauren Nwegbo 7.61 (p) 2
Prelims Elizabeth Ene 7.78 11
Taylor Sanders 7.80 12
200m Dash Lygia Foreman 24.70 (p) 2
Prelims Elizabeth Ene 25.32 11
Taylor Sanders 25.50 15
800m Run Allyssa Dooley 2:19.32 3
Prelims
5000m Solenn Riou 18:23.71 4
Ana Moreno 18:34.74 5
60m Hurdles Danielle Dumas 8:84 2
Prelims Winnie Ileso 9.02 12
Morgan Davis 9.09 13
MEN
Weight Throw Brek Christensen 57′ 4.75″ 5
Trevor Sealy 57′ 2.75″ 6
Ammaad McCarthy 54′ 11.25″ 9
Long Jump Charles White 24′ 6.25″ 1
Matt Johnson 23′ 3.5″ 7
Karique Stephen 21′ 9″ 20
Pole Vault Garrett Rose 15′ 1.75″ 6
Matthew Johnson 15′ 1.75″ 8
Cutter Bernhard 15′ 1.75″ 8
60m Dash Leroy Harris 6.86 7
Prelims Kristen Mitchell 6.89 8
Jarrick Wright 7:01 14
200m Dash Rodney Jones 20:09 5
Prelims Kristen Mitchell 22:24 9
Leroy Harris 22:47 13
Treyvion White 22.85 22
Jarrick Wright 23.02 27
400m Dash Rodney Jones 48.74 2
Prelims Brian Helaire 49.19 5
Trey Jones 49.19 5
800m Run Freddy Arellano 1:56.08 1
Prelims De’Quad Binder 1:58.25 3
Andrew Waller 1:59.08 12
Clint Anders
5000m Palo Ponce 15:29.55 12
Ryan Saam 15:39.52 13
60m Hurdles Matthew Viverette 8.06 1
Prelims Matthew Johnson 8.25 3
William Stark 8.34 7
Reggie Davis 8.51 8
UL-Monroe Steals First Game of Weekend Series
By Cheval John
Huntsville, TX-SHSU were ready to prove that they were capable of getting out of their slow start in the first game of a three-game series against the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Friday night.
With a pitching duel between Bearkat starter Caleb Smith and Cane Wine, it was a matter of which team would provide the needed offense to break their opponent.
The Warhawks were able to break through thanks to a go-ahead, game-winning two-run single by Corben Green in the top of the eight inning that proved to be the difference in the Warhawk 2-1 win over the Bearkats.
Green went three for four in the game and was the reason why the Warhawks were able to pull out a win.
“Our kids came to play,” coach David Pierce said. “They had good energy. … They had a good week of preparation. We have to fight through adversity right now.”
The Bearkats (1-4) out hit the Warhawks 9-6 and had opportunities to score, they couldn’t capitalized as they left six runners on base.
Smith mixed his pitches that kept the batters off balanced. He was able to get of jams and kept the Bearkats in the game.
Wine equaled his counterpart as he went the distance and got his second win of the season.
He didn’t walked a single batter and struck out seven.
“Anytime you got a college pitcher that can throw more pitches for strikes and he’s got some velocity, it’s going to be a tough night,” Pierce said. “He’s a solid Friday night guy.”
The Warhawks had opportunities to score in the second and seventh inning.
Green led off the second inning with a single and stole second to put himself in scoring position.
But Smith got the force out and struck out Kodie Tidwell to end the threat
Green again led off the seventh with a single to right field.
He advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Tidwell ripped a single up the middle and Green tried to score from second, but center fielder Colt Atwood threw him out to keep the game scoreless.
The Warhawks tried again in the eighth inning when broke through in the eighth inning when pinch hitter Taylor Abdalla led off the eighth inning with a walk.
He was forced out at second when Logan Fiasco laid down a bunt to try to advance Abdalla to second, but Smith forced him out at second and Fiasco reached first.
It seemed as if they were going to come up short again, but things started to go their way after Fiasco advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Dalton Herrington followed with a walk and Jason Simms came in relief of Smith.
He was able to strike out Judd Edwards to get the second out, but walked Justin Stawychny to load the bases that brought up Green.
Green took advantage and lined a single to right field that scored the two important runs for the Warhawks.
“The key was he got the strike out against Edwards and the walk against Stawychny was the key because it brought Green up and he’s their hottest hitter,” Pierce said. “Green should not have come to the plate there.”
The Bearkats loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to singles by Kevin Miller, Luke Plucheck and Colt Atwood and had an opportunity to either tie the game or take the lead.
After Ryan Farney grounded into a double play and Miller scored to pull within 1, the Bearkats had an opportunity to either tie the game or take the lead.
But Anthony Azar grounded out to end the inning.
The second game of the series begins at 4 p.m.
Bearkat’s WBB and MBB Tournament Bound
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
With two weeks left in the regular season, both the Sam Houston men and women’s basketball teams have already clinched berths in the 2013 Southland Conference Tournament.
The 33rd annual Southland Tournament will be held Wednesday, March 13 through Saturday, March 16 at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy.
The Southland Conference’s NCAA Championships automatic berth is the prize for the tournament winner.
Sam Houston State’s men’s team won the tournament and advanced to the NCAA regional in both 2003 and 2010.
The Bearkat men’s team will be making its 11th consecutive tournament appearance.
The Sam Houston women are headed to Katy for the fourth year in a row.
The tournament will feature a new format with lower seeded teams dueling in the first round and the top four seeds earning byes.
The tournament schedule shapes up like this:
Wednesday, March 13
Women’s Game #1 – No. 5 seed vs. No. 8 seed – 11 a.m.
Women’s Game #2 – No. 6 seed vs. No. 7 seed – 1:30 p.m.
Men’s Game #1 – No. 5 seed vs. No. 8 seed – 5 p.m.
Men’s Game #2 – No. 6 seed vs. No. 7 seed – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 14
Women’s Game #3 – No. 4 seed vs. Game 1 winner – 11 a.m.
Women’s Game #4 – No. 3 seed vs. Game 2 winner – 1:30 p.m.
Men’s Game #3 – No. 4 seed vs. Game 1 winner – 5 p.m.
Men’s Game #4 – No. 3 seed vs. Game 2 winner – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 15
Women’s Semifinal #1 – No. 1 seed vs. Game 3 winner – 11 a.m.
Women’s Semifinal #2 – No. 2 seed vs. Game 4 winner – 1:30 p.m.
Men’s Semifinal #1 – No. 1 seed vs. Game 3 winner – 5 p.m.
Men’s Semifinal #2 – No. 2 seed vs. Game 4 winner – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 16
Women’s Championship Game – 1 p.m.
Men’s Championship Game – 7:30 p.m.
The Sam Houston women’s basketball team can assure itself of at least a tie for the Southland regular season title by winning its final four games.
Last year’s Bearkat squad earned the women’s highest tournament ranking ever as the No. 3 seed.
The No. 1 or 2 seeds would put the Kats automatically in the semifinals.
Sam Houston has four more Southland doubleheaders left on the schedule.
The Bearkats will play their final two games at home at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum Thursday, Feb. 28 vs. Nicholls State and Saturday, March 2 against Southeastern Louisiana.
The teams will finish on the road at Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, March 7 and at Northwestern State on Saturday, March 9.
Tournament seedings will be announced Sunday, March 10.
Directions to the Merrell Center, parking information, brackets and tie-breaker procedures for the tournament are available on the Southland Conference Tournament web site.
For more information call the Sam Houston State ticket office at (936) 294-1729.
UH “Walks” Off With 6-3 Win Over Bearkats
By Cheval John
The Bearkats’ home opener against the Houston Cougars didn’t go exactly as planned on Tuesday night at Don Sanders Stadium.
A combination of bad pitching and errors caused the Bearkats to lose to the Cougars 6-3.
Reliever David Rumsey threw a base-loaded walk to Kyle Survance that started led to a three-run ninth inning for the Cougars.
Michael Burchett, who went down with the loss, issued back-to-back walks to Justin Montemayor and pinch hitter Casey Grayson to load the bases with one out in the top of the ninth.
“I think they were some timidness and I don’t know why” coach David Pierce said. “I really encourage them to go for it.”
Both teams combined for six errors in the game.
The first one occurred in the bottom of the first inning when Colt Atwood hit a ground ball that went under the glove of Cougar’s third baseman Kyle Kirk.
Atwood would later score the Bearkats’ (1-3) first run of the night thanks to an error by Cougars’ starting pitcher Aaron Garza that made it 1-0.
Kirk made up for the error as he ripped an RBI single to right field to tie it up at 1.
Hayden Simerly lauched a first pitch homerun to right field to put the Kats up 2-1.
The Cougars (3-1) tied it at 2 in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Davis.
Luke Plucheck’s sacrifice fly to center field made it 3-2.
Though the Bearkats were able to get out of jams, the errors eventually caught up to them
Landon Appling led off the seventh on a two-base throwing error by Carter Burgess.
He reached third on a single by Frankie Ratliff. Barker was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs
That allowed Montemayor’s sacrifice fly to tied the game at 3.
Coach Pierce feels that his team will bounce back from this loss.
“They going to come out of it, but they got to work hard to come out of it,” Pierce said.
The Bearkats play University of Louisiana-Monroe this weekend at home.