After failing to earn a first-half playoff spot, the Lansing Lugnuts will try to build on a strong finish and nab one of the four remaining postseason spots.Lansing won nine of its last 11 games for a 37-32 first-half record.
A quartet of Spartan sophomores - led by center Jim Slater - expect to hear their names called at this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft in Toronto, but the players say they have no inkling as to which team will pick them. “I really don’t have a clue,” defenseman Duncan Keith said from his home in Penticton, British Columbia earlier this week.
Lansing - The 2002 Midwest League All-Star Game attracted everybody and their mother to Oldsmobile Park Tuesday night. The annual event, which showcased 63 of the top prospects in the league this year, was much more than a game. As attendants entered they were given inflatable plastic noisemakers to create an enthusiastic environment and the recipients wasted little time putting them to use. Prior to the summer classic, fans swarmed the All Stars to capture their autographs on baseballs, baseball caps and programs. Many people attended to take in the game, but just as many were at the park to take in at least one of the side attractions. Lansing native Shawn Gilmore, who tries to take in at least five Lugnuts’ games a season, was one of the many individuals taking part in pregame festivities. Although he didn’t know any of the players from the Kane County Cougars or Beloit Snappers, he was more than eager to get their signatures.
Jeonju, South Korea - On Monday afternoon, two old foes, the United States and Mexico, battled far from home.
Lansing - After the Quad City River Bandits scored four first-inning runs, the Lansing hurlers buckled down and watched the Lugnuts’ offense erase the deficit. In the final game of the first half of the season, the Lugnuts (37-32) defeated Quad City (31-35) 7-4 Sunday at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E.
Assistant coach Dave McAuliffe will be back with the Spartan hockey team next season, after being passed over for the vacant Northern Michigan head coaching job.McAuliffe, 36, was one of three finalists for the Wildcat position, but the school ultimately chose former Northern player and assistant coach Walt Kyle to succeed Rick Comley.
The Lansing Lugnutsare set to enjoy the three-day All-Star break.Lansing will have five representatives at the 2002 Midwest League All-Star Game at 7:05 p.m.
Daejeon, Korea - Expect the unexpected they say, but who really does? Anyone who expected the United States would actually beat Portugal and then allow Poland to score two goals in less than five minutes should have their garage searched for a time-traveling device, be stripped of any magic eight balls and then be questioned by Scotland Yard. The U.S.
They are separated by 23 years, but have found a home at a local academy. Although Connie Patterson and Teri Kim have experienced similar pleasures from tae kwon do, they have traveled separate roads. Kim has been virtually raised at Shinn’s Tae Kwon Do, 2189 W.
Sean McCarvel curiously watched as a tractor pulling two trailers loaded with grass modules growled by. Onlookers had to gaze through the dark, long and narrow tunnel at the field entrance of Spartan Stadium in hope of catching a small glimpse of the new grass being installed. Tractors dropped off their loads every 10 minutes and got back on the road just as another rig pulled in. If all goes according to plan, MSU will have its first grass football field since 1968 by Friday. “I think it’s great - great for the players and great for the university,” 1993 graduate McCarvel said.
With the season already finished, the baseball team set another record with five players drafted in Major League Baseball’s 2002 First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday and Wednesday. Senior center fielder Chris McCuiston and junior catcher Brady Burrill were selected Wednesday, setting the new record.
Saturday night’s heavyweight bout confirmed my belief that Mike Tyson has forever fallen off the plateau of boxing superiority. The man called “Iron Mike,” who used to intimidate opponents first with his psychological warfare - he was quoted as saying he would eat Lennox Lewis’ unborn children - then knock them out with brute strength, was beaten by Lewis, clearly the more skilled and tactical fighter. I suspected that Lewis’ height and reach advantage would be too much for Tyson to overcome.
The Lansing Lugnuts split a four-game road series with a 8-4 victory over the Burlington Bees on Saturday night at Community Field in Burlington, Iowa. The Lugnuts (30-31) dropped the third game of the series 4-0 and the opener 5-3. In game two, Lansing came away with a 3-0 shutout of the Bees (31-30). Lansing opened a four-game series against the Clinton LumberKings at 3 p.m.
After competing with 65 professional hopefuls at the Chicago predraft camp June 4-7, Marcus Taylor will soon cement his decision to leave MSU.The guard said he plans to return home Tuesday and sign with an agent before leaving to work out with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.Hiring an agent would end any dreams that Spartan fans have for Taylor to don the green and white for MSU next season.While in Chicago, Taylor said he was focused on displaying the skills that allowed him to lead the Big Ten in scoring and assists.
MSU freshman pitcher Tim Day continued a recent Spartan tradition by earning honorable mention status on the 2002 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America baseball team. Day became the third Spartan in as many years to be selected to the team.
A book shouldn’t be judged by its cover. But with one look at the Lansing Lugnuts’ first baseman it’s hard not to.“His size is the first thing that comes to mind,” Lugnuts hitting coach Mike Micucci said.
MSU’s newest hockey recruit has some Wolverine ties.Nenad Gajic, an 18-year-old center, has verbally committed to MSU coaches for next season.
Junior golfers Eric Jorgensen and John Koskinen were both named to the 2002 PING All-Midwest Region team by the Golf Coaches Association of America. The honor is the second in as many days for Jorgensen, who was named to the 2002 PING All-America third team Monday.
Women’s senior golfer Emily Bastel was named to the eight-member 32nd United States Curtis Cup team Monday, becoming only the second Spartan ever to earn the accolade.
Three MSU baseball players were drafted in Major League Baseball’s 2002 First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. Junior right fielder Bob Malek headlined the list as the first Spartan selected. He was drafted in the 4th round by the New York Mets.