Baseball team remains afloat in A-10 standings
3-3 week includes two wins over A-10 opponent Ricmond
Emily Neubauer Sports Writer
Dani Meiners
Sophomore Zac Richard hit his fifth home run of the season against Indiana State on April 2.
The 2008 Xavier Baseball season is officially in full swing.
Xavier won three of the five games played this past week, including a doubleheader sweep Sunday.
Xavier jumped out to a 9-1 lead over the Wright State Raiders last Tuesday.
The Raiders refused to give up and banged out 11 more runs of their own to defeat the Musketeers by a final score of 12-11. Sophomore Bobby Freking went 3-for-5 on the day, scoring two runs and tallying two RBIs.
Relief pitcher Ben Thomas took the loss for Xavier, giving up four runs in three innings.
On Wednesday, Xavier was able to defeat the Indiana State Sycamores by a score of 6-5. ISU played small ball in the first scoring one run via a single, bunt, stolen base and ground out.
After the third, Xavier led 4-1 on a solo homerun by Zac Richard and doubles by both Adam Pasono and Steve Brown.
Xavier led 6-3 going into the ninth. ISU attempted a comeback, scoring two runs in the top of the frame.
Stellar defense and pitching secured the 6-5 victory. Brian Muransky got the win, striking out four and walking only one in six innings of work.
Jordan Conley recorded his third save of the season. In the A-10 home opener, a doubleheader against the Richmond Spiders, Xavier went 2-2.
The Musketeers banged out 19 hits in both games with junior Steve Brown leading the way, going an impressive 9-for-10 from the plate.
Xavier won the first game 14-3 and the second game 14-5.
In the first game, Xavier had three big scoring innings as players put up four runs in the second, five in the third and four more in the eighth.
In the second game, Xavier enjoyed more offensive dominance, scoring two runs in the first, third and sixth, and seven in the seventh.
Junior Charlie Leesman won the first game, going 7.2 innings. Senior Michael Lucas earned the win in the second game, striking out a career-high nine batters in seven innings of work.
The final game of the series wasn’t as exciting, as Xavier fell 9-2. Zac Richard led the Musketeers offensively, going 2-for-3. XU scored their two runs in the bottom of the first.
But Richmond answered with four of their own in the second and five in the third. Sophomore Danny Rosenbaum took the loss for Xavier, going only 2.2 innings.
The Musketeers now stand at 12-15 overall, and 6-3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference as they head into Wednesday’s game with Bowling Greeen at home, then travel on Friday to Charlotte for a three game set.
Chatting with Bobinski
XU Athletic Director discusses Selection Committee, 08-09 Schedule
Doug Tifft
Sports Editor
goxavier.com
Xavier Assosiate Vice President and Athletic Director Mike Bobinski.
Xavier Associate Vice President and Athletic Director Mike Bobinski is in his 10th year with the university and was recently named to the NCAA Basketball Tournament Committee. Newswire sports editor Doug Tifft caught up with Bobinski to discuss the Tournament Committee, the 2008-09 schedule and some other topics of interest to the Xavier basketball community:
Newswire: Congratulations on your NCAA Tournament Committee selection. Can you go over some of your responsibilities?
Mike Bobinksi: First of all it’s a five year term. I’m one of 10 individuals who serve on the committee. I believe the official name is the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. We do the most visible thing, which is select and seed the teams for the NCAA Tournament each year. On top of that, there are other things that the group does that I think are pretty interesting. The group is the primary liaison with CBS for the television agreement that covers the basketball championship and all of the other NCAA sports that are part of that whole contract. So having that relationship with the CBS folks will be very interesting.
Picking sites for the Final Four, first and second rounds and the regionals going forward is something that this committee gets involved with, as well as the operations of all of those things. I will be on site for every year going forward at a first and second round, a regional and then the Final Four in some capacity with that committee where we will be responsible for what goes on at those different sites.
And then officiating also. This group gets involved in selecting officials to work the NCAA Tournament and also making a decision on which officials move on through the tournament and ultimately make their way to the Final Four.
XN: What are some of the out-of-conference highlights for next year?
MB: We have some returns that are still part of existing agreements. We go to Kansas State, actually on their campus. The agreement was two neutral site games and then one game at their place.
Then we go to Virginia, Auburn will return the game to our place, obviously at Cincinnati and Miami (OH) at home. We are going to start a series with Butler. That series will begin at Cintas Center next year. Then we will return that the following year. We are playing at the ESPN event in Puerto Rico in the early season of next year, the second week of the regular season. So we will get three really great games in Puerto Rico. I think some of the other teams in the field are Southern California and Missouri. When we go to those events we get great competition like we have in recent years. So we will continue to do that again next year.
There is still a highly anticipated game that we are not ready to announce yet. We think it would be a big time game of interest for our program. We won’t be at home, but it will be at a neutral site. It will be a great one. It will be a national television game, on CBS actually. So it should be a great game if we are able to pull it off.
Plenty of contenders in A-10 in 08-09
Tyler Grote
Sports Writer
The 2008 season provided a much needed revival for the Atlantic 10.
There were three teams ranked in the top 25 at one point, with the addition of several other teams hanging in the top 100 in the Ratings Percentage Index.
Update: Xavier lures Four-star point guard Terrell Holloway from Indiana.
Even though Xavier would be the only A-10 team to stay in the top 25, March was more welcoming to the A-10 as it was extended three invitations to the NCAA Tournament.
While Xavier, St. Joseph’s and Temple were preparing for their first round games, four other A-10 teams in Charlotte, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Dayton were also continuing their seasons in the NIT.
With Xavier reaching the Elite Eight and Massachusetts reaching the finals of the NIT, it’s safe to say this was a great year for the conference.
But what’s in store for next year? Can we expect to see three or more nationally ranked A-10 teams again?
It’s a possibility. Many teams are set to bring in a decent recruiting class, along with the returning of some of their prime time players.
St. Bonaventure set up shop in the cellar of the A-10 last year, and from the look of things, they should get comfortable. Their best recruit Malcolm Eleby comes with a grade of 79 by ESPN. Not to mention their leading scorer Michael Lee graduated.
George Washington had an uncharacteristically bad season. Their leading scorer, Rob Diggs, will be back but it doesn’t look like they’ll have any stand-out recruits to rely on.
Saint Louis could be a real contender next year. They are returning their two leading scorers in Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell. Remember Lisch, Xavier fans? By the way, St. Louis is bringing three guys graded in the 80s by ESPN.
Temple can expect an early holiday in November next year; Dionte Christmas is coming back and bringing his 19.7 points per game with him. Not a real solid recruiting class for Temple, though.
Duqesne may provide some problems next year. They’re returning their top two point scorers in Shawn James and Kojo Mensah. They’re bringing in a point guard in Johnny Higgins with a grade of 77.
Charlotte is bringing back Lamont Mack and his 12.8 points per game, along with a forward in Charlie Coley who grabs just over six rebounds per game. Charlotte is bringing in a guard that’s deadly from the arc in Shamarr Bowden who had originally committed to Virginia Tech.
A young Richmond team is bringing back three guys who averaged double digits. There could be something there.
La Salle’s Rodney Green and his 13. 4 points per game will return, along with their 6’8” forward Jerrell Williams who grabbed over six rebounds a game. Other than that, their top recruit was graded in the 40s.
Rhode Island should be right back up in the mix with Jimmy Barron and Kaheim Seawright (who averaged nearly a double-double in points and rebounds last year) returning. They are also bringing in an excellent rebounder in Orion Outbridge who is 6-9 and is graded in the high 70s.
Aside from Brenton Butler returning, Fordham can look forward to their new point guard, Jiovanny Fontan, who’s graded in the 80s.
Expect nothing different from Saint Joseph’s; Ahmad Nivens and Tasheed Carr are both coming back. Incoming freshman Bryant Irwin will look to fill in for graduated Pat Calathes and try to compensate for his 7.5 rebounds a game.
How about our neighbors up I-75? Chris Wright along with three other starters are coming back. Oh, by the way, Dayton is bringing in two outstanding freshmen in Paul Williams and 6’10” Josh Benson. Both received grades in the high 80s by ESPN.
As for the Musketeers, nothing to worry about. Returning starters Derrick Brown, Jason Love and C.J. Anderson will be joined by 6’11” center Kenny Frease and Michigan’s Mr. Basketball, Brad Redford, who has been labeled as one of the “best shooters in the country” by ESPN. Don’t forget about Pennsylvania’s Gatorade Player of the Year, Brian Walsh.
It should be an interesting season in the Atlantic 10 conference.
‘Ocho Cinco’ is all about numero uno
Ken Burton
Sports Writer
Do you remember the old Budweiser commercials that featured “Leon,” the flashy, self-absorbed wide receiver? In one, Leon is in an interview after a tough loss, speaking in the third person, saying that football is a team sport so the fault of the loss was that of his supporting cast despite his four fumbles. The commercial was supposed to be a satirical jab at the modern athlete who cares only about himself.
I thought the commercial was funny because it seemed so absurd in today’s world of publicists and PR-conscious sports stars. I thought there was no way any player would make such ridiculous and obnoxious statements.
Then I saw Chad Johnson’s interview with “SportsCenter’s” Brian Kenny last week.
In the interview Johnson speaks in the third person, scoffs at the idea that Marvin Lewis wants to reconcile with him, praises himself for not having off-field troubles (I thought that was to be expected?), and at the conclusion of the interview, says, “That’s it?,” as if Kenny was wasting Johnson’s time. When Kenny gave Johnson an open forum to say whatever he wanted to say, Johnson just mumbled contradictory statements until the interview ended in an awkward abyss.
For years the Bengals front office put up with the Leon-like antics, the self-proclaimed nicknames, and even accusations that Johnson sucker punched head coach Marvin Lewis during halftime of the 2005 playoff game because he put up numbers. But now the act is becoming too much of a distraction to tolerate.
Here is a short rundown of Chad Johnson’s off season: he attempted to steal the spotlight at the Super Bowl by going on television and demanding a trade. Only about a month ago he shoved a reporter who asked him about his off-season venting to the media. He has called out Marvin Lewis multiple times. He has skipped off-season work- outs. He has specifically demanded to be traded to the Patriots, then the Dolphins and now the Dallas Cowboys. After watching this charade go on over the past few months, I can say Chad Johnson doesn’t want more money, better coaching or even a trade; Chad Johnson just wants to be seen. Constantly. The interview with ESPN’s Kenny just solidified that feeling.
All Bengals fans can do is hope that their team steps up and takes the salary cap hit in order to get rid of the distraction that is Chad Johnson. Pray that “Chad does what’s right for Chad” and takes his whining act to Dallas (or Miami or New England or…). If they keep him, Bengals fans won’t just have to endure the “Eighty-Five” act or “Ocho-Cinco” act or “Seven-Eleven” act. Apparently there is a newly acquired alter ego this off-season, and it goes by the name of “Leon.”
Doug Tifft
Sports Editor
Tennis team heads to NCAAs
The Xavier University men’s tennis team earned its first A-10 Conference Championship since joining the confernece in the 1995-96 season with a 4-0 sweep over top-seeded George Washington at the A-10 tournamnet. The victory gives Xavier the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tennis tournament. It will be Xavier’s first ever NCAA appeareance.
Xavier won the doubles point by taking two of the three matches and then proceeded to clinch the victory with wins in each of the top three flights. Juniors Doug Matthews and Ra’ees Ismail and sophomore Chris Herrlinger all won their matches in three sets.
Head coach Eric Toth said of the victory, “The top of our lineup got it done for us today and I couldn’t be happier for this team.”
