While scouts rave over Lugnuts outfielder Travis Snider's potential stardom in the big leagues, Snider is content to write his own blossoming story in baseball archives using a bat, glove and the confines of Oldsmobile Park. Snider, a 19-year-old from Mill Creek, Wash., was the Toronto Blue Jays' 2006 first-round draft pick and 14th overall selection.
MSU senior guard Drew Neitzel has accepted an invitation to try out for the 2007 USA Basketball Pan American Games on July 12-14 at Haverford College (Pa.). Neitzel will compete against 29 other top collegiate players in the country for the chance to make the final 12-player roster. Of the 30 players partaking in the trials, 14 will be seniors in 2007-08, 11 will be juniors and five will be sophomores.
"Bittersweet." It's the one word that can describe the type of season his team had, said MSU men's golf head coach Mark Hankins. After qualifying for the NCAA Championships in Williamsburg, Va., the MSU golf team's season came to an end Friday afternoon after finishing in 23rd place at the 30-team tournament.
MSU baseball head coach David Grewe met with his team last week and commended the players for battling back toward the end of the season.
The NCAA Division I men's golf championship began on Wednesday in Williamston, Va., with MSU finnishing the first day with a score of 283 — tied for ninth place. The Spartans slipped to 15th place Thursday after posting a 287 on the second day.
MSU sophomore Raymar Morgan has been invited to a tryout for the 2007 Men's under-19 World Championship basketball team.
SM — It's a new era for the football team. New coaching staff, new players and now fans will receive their first taste of the team's new jerseys for the 2007 season. The new uniforms have an old school, traditional look to them.
Lansing — In his first season with the Lansing Lugnuts, Gary Cathcart has directed the team to a 25-21 record through Sunday's game and has earned the respect of his recently inherited team.
MSU women's basketball head coach Suzy Merchant finalized her coaching staff by hiring Evelyn Thompson as an assistant coach. Thompson, an assistant at Buffalo for the past five seasons, will join assistant coaches Shane Clipfell and Mike Geary, director of basketball operations Julie Pagel, video coordinator Monique Govan and director of basketball operations intern Patrice McKinney.
Lansing — The Lansing Lugnuts split a two-game home stand with the Great Lakes Loons on Friday and Saturday. The Lugnuts continued their winning ways on the road Sunday in Midland with a 10-5 victory against Great Lakes. Lansing and Great Lakes traded quality hitting performances, with the Loons winning 13-6 Friday, and Lansing prevailing 10-3 on Saturday.
MSU sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg earned second-team Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America.
The MSU women's golf team finished 16th at the NCAA Championships with a total score of 1,232. The team finished the four-day tournament Friday, held at LPGA International Legends Course in Daytona Beach, Fla. Seniors Mandi McConnell, Rachel Meikle and Heather Rose came within the top 50 in the nation, the first time in school history MSU recorded three top-50 finishes at the NCAA Championships. McConnell led the Spartans with a 30th-place finish following a four-day total of 302, and finished the season with a 76.18 stroke average in 40 rounds, the ninth best in school history.
He's not the original "MJ," but he should certainly help matters for the MSU football team.
Several MSU baseball players earned All-Big Ten honors Tuesday afternoon. The announcements came after MSU narrowly missed the Big Ten Tournament with a 8-7 loss to Illinois on Sunday.
The Lansing Lugnuts took three of four games against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers this past weekend.
Despite jumping out to a 7-0 lead, the MSU baseball team fell to Illinois 8-7, Sunday afternoon at Illinois Field, putting an end to the Spartans' hopes of playing in the postseason Big Ten Tournament.
The No. 26 MSU men's golf team earned a spot in the NCAA Championships for the first time in 14 years after finishing eighth in the NCAA Central Regional tournament this past weekend. MSU finished 18-over par 306 on the final day of the three-day competition Saturday in Sugar Grove, Ill., for an overall total of 51-over par 915. Junior Ryan Brehm was the top team finisher, finishing 9-over par 225. Tulsa and Alabama came in first and second, respectively. MSU earned its first trip to the NCAA Championships under seventh-year head coach Mark Hankins and will compete in Williamsburg, Va., starting May 30.
The Lansing Lugnuts placed second baseman Chris Gutierrez on the 7-day disabled list after the infielder suffered a hamstring injury.
The MSU baseball team hopes to ride a hot streak all the way to the Big Ten Tournament as they head to Champaign, Ill.
Four more women's basketball positions were filled Tuesday, when head coach Suzy Merchant announced her latest hirings for MSU.