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Sports | Football 1087

SPORTS

Team heads east for record-setting 5th consecutive national tourney appearance

Evan Rondeau
April 29, 2004

This weekend, Hayley Techner will return to her home state and have the opportunity to face the school she almost attended. Techner, a California native, is part of the MSU women's water polo team, which will compete at California Polytechnic (CPU) in San Luis Obispo, Calif., in the three-day National Collegiate Club Championship - the Olympics of water polo. For her, the meeting will be personal: Techner grew up in Santa Cruz, a mere two hours north of CPU.

SPORTS

Spartans to face U-M 1st in conference playoffs

The MSU men's tennis team played its best tennis of the conference season at the end of league play, and the Spartans hope to ride that momentum into the Big Ten tournament today. "You can just tell by the way people are walking and carrying themselves and also in the way that they're playing," senior Chris Mitchell said. The ninth-seeded Spartans (16-12 overall, 3-7 Big Ten) face the eighth-seeded Wolverines (13-8, 4-6) in the first round of the 2004 Big Ten Men's Tennis Championships today at 10 a.m.

SOFTBALL

'U' outlasts Eastern in 3-0 win

Esther Gim
April 29, 2004

Jessica Beech pitched four perfect innings on the mound and chalked up three strikeouts as the MSU softball team defeated Eastern Michigan, 5-1, on Wednesday. Sophomore catcher Elizabeth Peterson knocked in two runs for the Spartans in this nonconference game.

FOOTBALL

Stanton leads the battle for 'U' No. 1 quarterback

Paul Day
April 28, 2004

By now, Jeff Smoker is a day away from departing to St. Louis to pursue a career in the NFL. With Smoker gone, a vacancy has been left in the MSU football team's lineup at quarterback, and three potential starters have submitted their résumés to head coach John L.

FOOTBALL

Spartans try free agency

Paul Day
April 27, 2004

After the 2004 NFL Draft ended Sunday, two former Spartans were contacted by pro teams and will pursue careers in the NFL this weekend as free agents. Offensive guard Joe Tate has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and linebacker Mike Labinjo is working on a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Tate said he has signed a free agent contract with the Jaguars for the league minimum. "It's great to get an opportunity to continue playing," he said.

SPORTS

Team provides aspiring athletes with competitive league after prep careers end

Scott Bartosiewicz
April 26, 2004

Junior Aaron Leong decided playing college baseball shouldn't require a scholarship - or the NCAA. After discovering that MSU didn't have a club baseball team, Leong, a finance major, contacted the National Club Baseball Association and an MSU adviser and arranged to have the Spartans added to the Great Lakes North Conference. "I still wanted to play baseball, like a lot of guys out here, because our careers basically end after high school, unless you go to a small school," he said. "This is another way for us to keep playing baseball." Leong started the MSU Baseball Club with some of his friends in September, passed out fliers and received permission to conduct tryouts at Kobs Field. "About 30 guys tried out and we currently have 17 players," said Leong, who now is the club's president.

SOFTBALL

Spartans continue to sputter

Esther Gim
April 26, 2004

Down by five at the top of the seventh inning Sunday, with one out and the bases loaded, the MSU softball team was hoping to pull off an upset against Indiana. Up to bat was senior third base Brittney Green, wanting to be the hero again after hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning in the first game of the afternoon's doubleheader. Green faced Megan Roark, the same Purdue pitcher in the second game as she did in game one, when she hit her fifth home run on the year. But this time, Roark struck out Green and then sophomore catcher Elizabeth Peterson to hang on for an 8-3 Hoosiers win. "We continually have inconsistencies in our performances," MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph said.

FOOTBALL

Green-White game showcases squad

Paul Day
April 26, 2004

The MSU football team concluded spring practice Saturday with the Green-White Spring Scrimmage at Spartan Stadium in front of about 16,000 fans. The two-hour, 115-play scrimmage was a game of two stories for the offense and the defense.

SPORTS

Selfless athlete sets bar for all true Americans

We often look at star athletes and dub them heroes. Whether hitting the game-winning shot, scoring a tying goal or leading a team to a championship, the "man of the moment" becomes a hero to his fans. But when it comes to the real meaning behind the word "hero", it is supposed to be connected with a person known for achievements of unparalleled courage and strength, especially those who sacrifice their lives. A true hero is someone who can (and does) give up everything for an honorable cause.

SPORTS

Scout teamers impress in scrimmage

Jeff Smoker's possible successor and MSU's potential next power running back showed their potential and inexperience in their first competition before an MSU crowd on Saturday. Redshirt freshmen Stephen Reaves and Jehuu Caulcrick - both scout teamers last year - could be the starting quarterback and running back, respectively, in the fall for the Spartans. In Saturday's Green-White Spring Scrimmage at Spartan Stadium, Reaves eventually settled into a rhythm after struggling early, and Caulcrick ran the ball with power and speed most of the day. Reaves, who played with the first-string offense Saturday, was 15-of-26 for 184 yards and two interceptions, while Caulcrick rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries "Early on, I thought I could've done some things better throwing the ball, made a little better reads," Reaves said.

BASEBALL

'U' blasts Purdue pitching Sunday, drops 3 of 4 during weekend

Chris Mackinder
April 26, 2004

On paper, the MSU baseball team outplayed the Boilermakers this weekend. The Spartans scored more runs (17-15), had more hits (30-25) and slammed more home runs (4-1). All the numbers point to a successful weekend, right? Except for the fact the Spartans didn't light up the scoreboard until Sunday, when they scored 12 runs, had 15 hits and laced three of their four home runs. Sunday's 12-1 slaughter ended the weekend on a high note, but it didn't erase the fact MSU lost the first three games by a combined score of 14-5 and, in the process, had lost six straight Big Ten games. "It's definitely disappointing," said freshman first baseman Sean Walker, who went 6-for-14 over the weekend and was the only Spartan to record a hit in each game.

SPORTS

Spartans to face cellar-dwellers

Esther Gim
April 23, 2004

With less than a month left in the regular season, this weekend marks a crucial point in the MSU softball team's year. The Spartans' two opponents this weekend, starting at 4 p.m.

BASEBALL

Big test

Chris Mackinder
April 23, 2004

The MSU baseball team knows that calling this weekend important is an understatement. With Ohio State on top of the Big Ten and four teams packed just one game back, this weekend might create some separation. The Spartans (19-15 overall, 7-5 Big Ten) begin their four-game series against the Boilermakers (16-17, 6-6) at 3 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Hard hitting

Scott Bartosiewicz
April 23, 2004

Sporting dreadlocks and a killer swing, senior first base Nat Furrow is carrying the MSU softball team to offensive greatness. Furrow leads the team and Big Ten with a .447 batting average, in addition to owning the most hits (63) and doubles (16). "I think as you get older, if you keep working, you become a better player," she said.

SPORTS

Former coaches honored with award

Evan Rondeau
April 23, 2004

Two legendary football coaches with long time MSU connections were honored for their contributions to the game Thursday at the Kellogg Center. Hayden Fry, one of college football's most prominent head coaches, and Al Fracassa, Michigan's winningest high school coach, received the 2004 Duffy Daugherty Memorial Award. Fry, 75, coached for 37 seasons in his career: at Southern Methodist (1962-72), North Texas State (1973-78) and, most notably, at Iowa (1979-98). Fry is Iowa's winningest football coach, with 143 wins in his 20 years there. From a personal standpoint, Fry said the award is the greatest he ever has received. "Duffy was such a super person, and to receive an award in his name is just great," Fry said.