KFDM COOP

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Lamar beats Arkansas St. at Cardinal Classic finale BEAUMONT - There's nothing like raising his batting average by 100 points over a three-game stetch to put a baseball player in a better disposition. Advertisement Click here to go to JK Chevrolet That's exactly what Dan Hernandez did over the weekend as Lamar University swept to the Cardinal Classic championship with victories over Northwestern, Creighton and Arkansas State. Hernandez entered the tournament on Friday night with a .261 average. He had six hits in 23 at-bats in the Cardinals' first six games with one double and two runs batted in. Hernandez started the weekend rather meekly with one hit in four at-bats against Northwestern. The big first baseman, who the ripped the ball for a .350 average last season, finished the tournament on a tear, however, by putting together a pair of 3-for-4 outings. In Sunday afternoon's tournament finale - an 8-5 win over Arkansas State, Hernandez boomed a double in each of his first three at-bats and came within one of his career high of five RBI in a game. Hernandez's handiwork before Sunday's crowd of 628 in Vincent-Beck Stadium was typical of what the Cardinals did in the tournament sweep. They averaged 13.7 hits and 12.0 runs in stretching their winning streak to five games and their early record to 6-3. "I struggled a little bit at the beginning of the season," said the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Hernandez, who is a nephew of former major league All-Star Keith Hernandez. "It was like I was way too anxious to hit the ball. "I finally said, 'To heck with this. I need to slow myself down and get myself out of this funk.' I worked in the cages on a few drills I learned from a hitting coach back in California (his home is in San Carlos, Calif.). "I started the season having way too much pull action on the ball. I needed to get out of that and just try to meet the ball where it's pitched." Hernandez certainly met the ball where it was pitched Sunday afternoon. In the first inning, he powered a double over ASU centerfielder Aaron Ferguson's head to drive in Erik Kanaby and Collin DeLome with the game's first two runs. "That was a two-out situation, and I kinda had a feeling they would throw some breaking stuff up there," said Hernandez, who is now batting .371. I told myself to wait and to try and stroke the ball and not to jump at it. That was a key hit, because it's a lot easier to play with a lead than it is to play from behind." With DeLome again on base in front of him in both the third and fifth innings, Hernandez again delivered RBI doubles, the first to tie the score at 4-4 and the second to give the Cardinals the lead for keeps at 5-4. In addition to Hernandez's contributions, DeLome went 2-for-5 and scored three runs, and Michael Ambort, Ryan Baker and Kanaby each had a run-producing hit. Kanaby's sixth-inning single extended his hitting streak to 14 games dating back to last season, and Brian Lloyd's leadoff single that led to a second-inning run gave him at least one hit in all nine games this spring. The Cardinals also received a strong relief performance from Tim Erickson. The junior left-hander replaced starter Matt Morgal in the third inning and pitched the final 6 2/3 innings to earn the victory. He allowed five hits and one run while striking out two and walking one. "I'll tell you what, Erickson did a great job," said Jim Gilligan, Lamar's head coach. "That's the second time he's done that. He gave us seven innings of no-hit ball in Texas-Pan American's tournament down in the (Rio Grande) Valley. "I was really planning on going with Tim for just two or three innings since we have a bunch more games this week, but they (the Indians) didn't match up too well on him. He was in such good control I decided to let him stay out there, and I'm really proud of what he did. "After that game down in the Valley, I told Tim he had earned a start, but he told me he would rather come in in relief. That's kind of a team deal, and I like to see that in a pitcher, because most college kids want to be starters." The pace picks up for the Cardinals this week. They'll host LeMoyne University in single games Tuesday night and Wednesday night, then they'll stage the Lamar Classic Friday, Saturday and Sunday. California-Santa Barbara, Kansas State and St. John's are coming to town for that one. Northwestern 4, Creighton 3 Northwestern catcher Chad Noble slugged a solo home run to snap a 1-1 tie in the third inning, and the Wildcats went on to post a 4-3 victory over Creighton in Sunday's first game of Day 3 of the Cardinal Classic. The Wildcats padded their lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning when Aaron Newman scored on a wild pitch and Geoff Dietz had an RBI single. The Blue Jays closed to within 4-3 by pushing across single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but that's as close as they got. Meanwhile, Wildcat pitchers Ryan Myers and David Jensen combined on a seven-hitter with Myers getting his first win of the season and Jensen his second save. Myers worked the first six innings and allowed six hits and two runs while striking out five, and Jenzen finished up with three innings of one-hit, one-run ball.

All-District 21-3A girls hoop team Leader Sports The Orange Leader Here is the All-District 21-3A Girls Basketball Team as selected by the 21-3A coaches: MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Brittney Scott, WO-S OFFENSIVE MVPS: Denitra Kellum, Kirbyville; Ang Green, Silsbee DEFENSIVE MVP: Kristy Sanders, Orangefield COACH OF THE YEAR: Bob Killam, Silsbee FFIRST TEAM Brandi owler, Silsbee Memri Carmon, Hamshire-Fannett Janae Hendreson, WO-S Kaylin Little, Orangefield Samieka Buckley, Silsbee Jessica Shores, Orangefield Kia Hartfield, WO-S Katelyn Bernsen, Hardin-Jefferson SECOND TEAM Laura Riddick, Orangefield Paige Roy, Orangefield Latricia Moore, Hardin-Jefferson Cheyenne Craigen, Hamshire-Fannett Brittany Henry, Silsbee Chelsye Tyler, Silsbee Brittany Bronson, Jasper Georgina Kelly, Kirbyville

All-District 24-2A girls hoops Leader Sports The Orange Leader Here is the All-District 24-2A Girls Basketball Team as selected by the 24-2A coaches: MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Whitney Balch, Hardin OFFENSIVE MVP: LaQuisha Sanders, Hardin DEFENSIVE MVP: Charlia Thomas, East Chambers NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Kaila Johnson, Kountze COACH OF THE YEAR: Danny Balch, Hardin FIRST TEAM Tera Gibson, Deweyville Laural Arthur, Hardin Kayla Hargraves, Kountze Katie Trammel, East Chambers Tiffany Weise, Warren Ashlie Arthur, Buna SECOND TEAM Jana Fountain, Buna Krista Goleman, Deweyville Teresa Brown, Deweyville Nicole Mammarow, Hardin Anna Jackson, Hardin Megan Stanford, Kountze Megan Richard, East Chambers Angel Hopkins, Anahuac Leader Sports The Orange Leader Here is the All-District 24-2A Girls Basketball Team as selected by the 24-2A coaches: MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Whitney Balch, Hardin OFFENSIVE MVP: LaQuisha Sanders, Hardin DEFENSIVE MVP: Charlia Thomas, East Chambers NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Kaila Johnson, Kountze COACH OF THE YEAR: Danny Balch, Hardin FIRST TEAM Tera Gibson, Deweyville Laural Arthur, Hardin Kayla Hargraves, Kountze Katie Trammel, East Chambers Tiffany Weise, Warren Ashlie Arthur, Buna SECOND TEAM Jana Fountain, Buna Krista Goleman, Deweyville Teresa Brown, Deweyville Nicole Mammarow, Hardin Anna Jackson, Hardin Megan Stanford, Kountze Megan Richard, East Chambers Angel Hopkins, Anahuac

Bears, Mustangs rack up powerlifting medals Van Wade The Orange Leader The West Orange-Stark and Little Cypress-Mauriceville powerlifting teams walked away with a bunch of first-place finishes at their respective meets over the weekend with LC-M competing at the Lumberton Meet and WO-S at the Newton Meet. Mustang Mario Rose continues to dominate in the 181-pound division as he claimed it by a 210-pound lifting margin with 1,345 pounds after squatting 475 pounds, bench pressing 325 pounds and dead-lifting 545 pounds. ‘Mario is ranked No. 1 in the region and is just doing a great job,†said Mustang head coach Randy Crouch. “Weightlifting isn’t exactly the funnest thing to do but Mario takes great pride in it and works so hard.†Rose had plenty of help from his teammates. Cedric Dantzler won the 114-pound class with 705 pounds (275 squat, 130 bench, 300 d-lift). Leatrice Robinson captured the 132-pound division with 955 pounds (325 squat, 195 bench, 435 d-lift). Robert Jiles won the 165-pound class by a close five-pound margin, totaling 1,060 pounds (400 squat, 210 bench, 450 d-lift). Mustang Eric Arnold claimed the 242-pound division with 1,200 pounds (500 squat, 260 bench, 440 d-lift). In the 181-pound class WO-S also received a fifth-place finish from Carltives (1,010 pounds). Mustang Josh Lynch finished fourth in the 198-pound class with 1,050 pounds. “The kids have had an excellent season thus far,†Crouch said. “We’re bringing a solid group to regionals. Leatrice is ranked No. 2 in the region going in. It would be nice to get some of these guys to the state meet.†The Bear boys finished second overall and the Lady Bears notched third. Chris Sonnier captured first place in the 114-pound class with 985 pounds and was named the most outstanding lifter at his meet for the fourth consecutive week. Bear teammate Kevin Greer nabbed first in the 132-pound division with 1,080 pounds. Joseph Viator placed second in the 181-pound class with 1,235 pounds. All three Bears will compete at the Class 4A Region III Meet at Houston Westside this Saturday. “Those guys have had a phenomenal year,†said Bear head coach Brian Waguespack. “Chris is ranked not only No. 1 in the region but No. 1 in the state by 45 pounds. The guy behind him in state right now is the one that beat him at state last year so I’d say Chris is certainly motivated. Kevin is also ranked No. 1 in the region.†On the girls’ side, Lady Bear Falon Sheppard won first in the 123-pound class with 680 pounds. Megan Stanley was second in the 114-pound division with 650 pounds and Rachel Warren claimed second in the 220-pound class with 710 pounds. Maegan Fontenot was third in the 105-pound division (405 pounds) and Amanda Ellison was fourth in the 105-pound class (370 pounds). In the junior varsity division at Newton WO-S’ Brandon Arnold won the 198-pound division with 950 pounds (380 squat, 205 bench, 365 d-lift). Sheppard, Stanley and Warren will be at the regional meet as well. “I’m so thrilled to be able to work with all the kids,†said Waguespack. “They have such great work ethics and energy. It’s not easy to come up to the fieldhouse on Saturdays and lift weights all the time. That takes someone special.â€

Very well said.

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Congrats Eagles!

kogt Shon Landry knocked in two runs as McNeese State improved to 2-9, beating LeMoyne College 8-5 in Lake Charles Sunday.

LET US kNOW ASAP!!!

2-1 Woodville Wins.

13-6 West Brook over Central.

11-5 WB after 5.

9-4 WB after 3.

Reutimann's crash among hardest ever recorded The g-force impact during David Reutimann's crash Sunday at California Speedway is among the hardest ever recorded, NASCAR officials told ESPN.com on Monday. NASCAR doesn't disclose exact figures. "We can't say it's the hardest [impact], period, because there are so many variables involved," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "But it is among the hardest impacts we've recorded." Reutimann was riding along one lap down with 11 laps remaining in the Auto Club 500 when Greg Biffle approached from behind. Biffle tapped Reutimann, sending the No. 00 Toyota head-on into the outside wall. The car lifted off the ground and was completely destroyed. The in-car video feed showed Reutimann slumped over the steering wheel, appearing to be knocked unconscious. But MWR vice president Ty Norris told ESPN.com Monday that Reutimann stressed to the team he was not unconscious, but rather was unable to breathe upon impact. Norris said Reutimann's left foot is badly bruised, having gotten hung up in the pedals during the crash. Reutimann flew home with the team Sunday night and slept for some 80 percent of the flight, Norris said. Norris said Reutimann's speech is clear, but he's walking with a noticeable limp. Reutimann is resting at home, and still plans to run the NASCAR Busch Series race this weekend in Mexico City, Norris said.

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No kidding! Kansas is looking mighty good.

4-0 WB after 1. Murphy with a HR.

Congrats!

Monday, February 26 Central at West Brook Colmesneil at Sabine Pass Pollock Central at Woodville

Coach Green has them playing well now that's for sure.

Avery Johnson sets an all-time coaching record!!! ACCOLADES FOR AVERY: Head Coach Avery Johnson earned his 100th career coaching victory on 12/31 at Denver, becoming the fastest coach in league history to reach the century mark (131 games). The late Red Auerbach was the previous fastest to do so (135 games coached).

Talk about a showdown!

When i spoke with Coach Gilligan Sunday he feels real good about this series coming up.

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