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Sports | 1117

FOOTBALL

Defensive backs ready to anchor season's success

Benita Mehta
April 18, 2003

While much of the secondary is unproven, two defensive backs are set to anchor the group and provide the necessary leadership to get this unit through the season.Junior free safety Jason Harmon and junior cornerback Roderick Maples are the "elder statesmen" in the defensive backfield - each is stepping up and accepting the leadership role they have been assigned."Roderick and Jason stay on us all the time because we're young," sophomore strong safety Derron Ware said.

ICE HOCKEY

Players take home awards at banquet

James Jahnke
April 18, 2003

There weren't many surprises at the MSU hockey team's annual awards banquet Thursday night - which was good news for John-Michael Liles. The senior defenseman took home three honors, including the team's Most Valuable Player Award, to headline the evening at the Holiday Inn South, 6820 S.

SOFTBALL

Spartans shut out Chippewas

Dawn Klemish
April 17, 2003

An explosive first inning was all the MSU softball team needed to down Central Michigan 4-0 on Wednesday at Old College Field.The Spartans (27-11 overall, 6-3 Big Ten) lit up Chippewa pitcher Amber Puchalski for four hits in their first at-bats.MSU also benefited from a wild pitch and aggressive base running to jump to a quick four-run lead."The first inning really set the tone for us," MSU sophomore second base Janette Hurtado said.

BASKETBALL

Izzo slim on coaches following departures

With the defections of assistant coach Mike Garland (Cleveland State) and associate head coach Brian Gregory (Dayton) for head-coaching jobs, MSU head coach Tom Izzo is in search of two replacements.Izzo said his challenge will be to replace two monumental parts of his staff and two close friends."Those two guys are 66 percent of my staff," he said.

BASEBALL

'U' wins sloppy game

Chris Mackinder
April 16, 2003

It wasn't a day the Spartans will want to remember for the way they played, but Tuesday's end result was acceptable.In a sloppy slugfest, it was MSU sophomore second baseman Travis Gulick that stole the show, helping his team to a 13-12 victory over Wayne State.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Wide receiver to play for Smith next season The MSU football team will get a boost to a thin position on the depth chart. Samuel Champagne, a wide receiver from the Spartiates du Vieux-Montreal team in Canada, accepted an offer for financial aid to MSU.

BASKETBALL

Izzo to lose another assistant

Kris Karol
April 16, 2003

MSU assistant coach Mike Garland is en route to Cleveland State to become the Vikings' new men's basketball head coach. The former assistant coach told senior Brian Westrick the news, as the two crossed paths in the Union on Tuesday morning. Garland's departure means MSU will have two vacancies to fill on its coaching staff next season.

BASEBALL

Hurler to make debut

Former high school standout Jeremy Dow is slated to make his collegiate baseball debut today when MSU (9-20) hosts Wayne State. The right-hander will take the mound at 3 p.m.

SPORTS

Lugnuts break even

After their first seven games were postponed, the Lansing Lugnuts finally started the season this weekend, compiling a 2-2 record on the road. Lansing evened its record on Sunday by splitting a twinbill with the South Bend Silver Hawks (2-5) in South Bend, Ind. Two runs in the fifth inning was all it took for South Bend to earn a 2-1 win.

FOOTBALL

Linebackers to be more aggressive

Benita Mehta
April 14, 2003

The MSU football team hopes a new defensive setup will result in more aggressive and productive linebackers this fall.The new schemes allow them to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.And they're just chomping at the bit to get started."The way the defense is set up now, it allows us to be more free," junior linebacker Ronald Stanley said.

SPORTS

Red Wings will pull out series

The heads of all Red Wings fans are hanging low at the moment and with good reason. This was supposed to be another easy postseason, ending with Lord Stanley taking a tour through downtown Detroit.

SOFTBALL

Spartans split key road series

Benita Mehta
April 14, 2003

MSU head softball coach Jacquie Joseph said she wanted to use the team's first Big Ten road contests to see how her team measures up to tougher squads.By splitting a four-game series with Minnesota and Wisconsin, Joseph said her team is still good enough to be mentioned with the top teams in the Big Ten."I felt we should have come out of this weekend 3-1," she said.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Gymnasts place 5th in last meet of season The MSU gymnastics team placed fifth out of six teams at the NCAA Central Regional on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Spartans amassed a total score of 194.575 to finish above Kent State, but behind Alabama, Auburn, Central Michigan and Oklahoma.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Sluggers go on road to take on Hoosiers The MSU baseball team will look to gain some ground in the Big Ten this weekend with four games. The Spartans will face Indiana in a four-game series beginning today at 3 p.m.