May 25
May 21, 2007Sheila Boudreaux
May 23, 2007
From Sports Information
The Nicholls Colonels were unable to close out the 2007 season on a good note, dropping Saturday afternoon’s game to Southeastern Louisiana by a score of 7-2. The victory gave the Lions a sweep of the three-game series, but due to Stephen F. Austin’s victory over Sam Houston State on Saturday, Southeastern would finish in seventh place in the Southland Conference, and fail to qualify for the post-season conference tournament.
The Colonels finish the 2007 campaign with an overall record of 10-45, 6-24 in Southland Conference action.
Making his final start in a Nicholls uniform, Michael Bartek (2-11) suffered the loss, going six innings, allowing six runs, three earned, on six hits, while walking two, and striking out three.
Rene LeBlanc (3-0) started for the Lions (34-21,16-14), and lasted five innings, to take the win. LeBlanc surrendered two runs, one earned, on four hits, his five innings of work. The Southeastern bullpen held the Colonels scoreless for the final four innings, with reliever Chris Province accounting for three of those innings, to collect his eight save of the season.
Nicholls was led at the plate by Anthony Wray (2-for-3, RBI) and Shane Barksdale (2-for-3, run). Bryan Frichter finished 3-for-5, with a double and 3 RBI, to lead the Lions.
Southeastern scored first, plating three runs, all unearned, in the bottom of the second inning. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Bartek issued a walk to Will Lefever. Newman followed with an infield single, moving Lefever to second. Bartek appeared to get out of the inning unscathed, getting Scott Viator to hit a groundball to third, but Nicholls third baseman Wray’s throwing error allowed Lefever to score from second base, with the initial run of the game. Frichter then lined a two-run double into right field, giving Southeastern the early 3-0 lead.
The Colonels chipped into the Lion lead with two runs in the top of the fourth. Ryan Bledsoe and Barksdale began the inning with back-to-back singles, putting runners on first and second. One out later, Anthony Marino was able to advance the runners with a groundout to first base. Wray then atoned for his throwing error earlier in the game by ripping a two-out single into center field, scoring Bledsoe. Barksdale would also come around to score on the play after Lion centerfielder Frichter could not come up with the ball cleanly.
Southeastern widened their lead again by putting up three additional runs in their half of the fourth. After Ricky Newman was plunked by Bartek with one out in the inning, a single by Viator moved him down to second base. Frischter then grounded out to shortstop, advancing the runners to second and third. A two-run single by Ty Summerlin gave the Lions a three-run margin again, at 5-2. Richard Imhoff followed with a double to right field, scoring Summerlin with the third run of the inning, making it a 6-2 ballgame.
Nicholls threatened in both the sixth and eighth innings, but was unable to get the big hit in the key situations, stranding two runners on base in both innings.
The Lions added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning, to make the final score 7-2.
Women’s basketball signs two
Nicholls head women’s basketball coach Mark Cook announced Wednesday afternoon that Christie Bryant and Mycal Smith have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Lady Colonels next season.
Bryant and Smith join Arkeyea Wiggins who signed earlier this year.
A 6-0 forward, Bryant comes to Nicholls from Merced College in Merced, Calif. As a freshman, Bryant earned All-Central Valley Conference First Team honors, and went on to lead her team in points per game (15.9) and rebounds per game (11.0) as a sophomore.
“Christie is an experienced post player who is expected to see playing time for us next year,” said Cook. “In addition to being able to run the floor well, she is a good shooter down low, but isn’t afraid to pull out and shoot from the wing. We are looking forward to seeing her in a Lady Colonel uniform next year.”
Smith, a 6-0 post player, hails from Memphis, Tenn., where she was a four-year letterwinner at Ridgeway High School. Despite missing the entire first half of the 2007 season recovering from an injury, Smith was selected to the Tennesseee District 15-3A All-Tournament Team after averaging eight points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and two steals per game. Academically, Smith was a recipient of three U.S. National Achievement Academy Awards in Mathematics, Arts and Leadership and Service.
“Mycal is an exceptional high school player who played very competitive basketball in Memphis,” commented Cook. “She is a very strong player on the low block and will be a great asset to our team in her freshman year.”
Soccer schedule announced
Nicholls head soccer coach Cindy Piper announced the 2007 Colonel soccer schedule Friday morning.
“I am excited about the new season,” said Piper. “Our schedule has us playing against some top quality programs.†With our mixture of returning players and new recruits I look forward to being involved in these competitive matches.”
The Colonels will open the season with three consecutive home games, beginning on Friday, August 31 when they host Troy.
Prior to conference play, Nicholls will participate in two tournaments. On the weekend of September 7-9, the Colonels will travel to Boiling Springs, N.C. to play in the Gardner Webb Tournament. Nicholls will be participating in the Southeastern Louisiana Tournament in Hammond on the weekend of September 21-23.
The Colonels will begin Southland Conference action on the weekend of October 5-7. On Friday they will host Texas-San Antonio and on Sunday, Texas State will travel to Thibodaux to take on the Colonels.
Nicholls will also host conference foes Lamar and McNeese State during the weekend of Oct. 19-21. The Colonels will take on Lamar on Friday and then do battle with 2006 SLC Tournament Champion McNeese State on Sunday.
The 2007 Southland Conference Tournament will be held on Nov. 7-11.
The Southern Jaguars baseball team used a strong pitching performance and took advantage of six Nicholls errors to get past the Colonels, 8-2.Photo by Doug Keese3/13/07
