Southern Jaguars start with series against UNO

Southern University Head Baseball Coach Roger Cador

That loud, bold belly-laugh could’ve only come from one place. That wide, toothy grin could’ve only come from one face. Thursday afternoon at Lee-Hines Field, members of the Southern University baseball team took turns at the plate, pounding line drives and ground balls in final their batting practice before the season opener.

Suddenly, a sound came from one end of the third-base dugout — that loud, distinct laugh. It belonged, of course, to Roger Cador. From the look (and sound) of it, he was in his element. The winter weather had given way to a sunny, mild day, and another baseball season neared. What could be better?

“I was very concerned with the way things were going,” a smiling Cador said. “But the weather we have now — oh, it feels like spring. Life is good. It’s a beautiful day. ... Of course, when you get to be my age, everything is beautiful.”

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Privateers, Jaguars Open 2011 Baseball Season This Weekend

BATON ROUGE, La. - The University of New Orleans baseball program will open its 2011 campaign on Friday when it travels to face in-state rival Southern in the first game of a split three-game series at Lee Hines Field.

First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the series moving to Maestri Field on Saturday for a 4 p.m. start before turning to Baton Rouge for the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

There will be no live audio or video over the weekend, with live stats and Twitter updates planned for Saturday's home contest.

UNO posted a 13-39 mark last year and will compete as an NCAA Division I Independent in 2011 as part of the school's intended reclassification to NCAA Division II competition.

The Privateer baseball program previously participated as an NCAA Division I Independent from 1980 through 1987 under coaches Ron Maestri and Tom Schwaner, qualifying for the NCAA tournament on six separate occasions during the eight-year span of time, including a 1984 College World Series appearance, the first by a Division I program in the state of Louisiana.

This year's squad under head coach Bruce Peddie will have a different task laid before them.

With just three scholarship players on the roster, the team will proceed to play a schedule full of Division I opponents and just 11 contests on the Lakefront.

Of the three weekend starters against Southern (25-22 in 2010), just Friday starter Cory Myers (0-2, 10.24 ERA in 2010) has pitched for the Privateers.

Saturday starter Zach Kelt and Sunday starter Robert Ormbsee are making their first appearance for UNO after transferring in from Hinds Community College and LSU-Alexandria, respectively.

Nolan Church is the top returning bat for the Privateers after leading the team with a .328 batting average last year. JUCO transfers Cameron Wheeless at third base and Andrew Garcia in the outfield could also factor in offensively for UNO.

SU has two former Privateer players on the roster in Clint Ourso and Roddarick Jones.

Ourso made 13 appearances as the third-string catcher for the Privateers last season, while Jones who is sitting out this season, was the regular left fielder for UNO in 2009 and 2010.

Jaguars' head coach Roger Cador will send RHP Daniel Garcia to the mound on Friday and LHP Jesse Holiday on Saturday with a starter. Garcia will be making his first appearance since posting a 4-1 record with a 3.08 ERA in 2009 with Holiday going 5-0 with a 4.17 ERA in 2010 with four starts amongst 13 appearances. A Sunday starter has not been named.

Following this weekend's series, UNO will face nationally-ranked LSU on Tuesday at Alex Box Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Courtesy: UNOPrivateers.com             Release: 02/17/2011

GSU's Kim Young Named UNO Volleyball Head Coach

NEW ORLEANS, LA - University of New Orleans interim athletic director Amy Champion announced the hiring of Kim Young as the school's new head volleyball coach on Wednesday afternoon.

Young comes to UNO after spending the last six years in a similar role at Grambling State University, where she compiled a 128-79 overall record and an impressive 45-2 mark in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play.

In five of the last six years, Young's season has come to a conclusion in the league tournament's championship game with all six campaigns highlighted by a SWAC West Division championship.

"Kim has a very successful track record as a coach and recruiter here in the state of Louisiana," said Champion. "When she came in for her interview, the energy and enthusiasm that she had for becoming our next volleyball coach was recognized quickly by our staff."

"We are excited to have Kim as part of our staff and feel that the experience she provides, both as a head coach and a former student-athlete and will give her the tools to build on the recent success of our volleyball program."

An accomplished player during her time at Grambling, Young was a three-time SWAC Player of the Year for head coach Fredrick Payne from 1996-1998, leading the Tigers to league titles in 1996 and 1997.

Her success as a collegiate player led to a stint at the next level with the United States Professional Volleyball League. The East St. Louis, Illinois native had the opportunity to play for the nearby St. Louis Quest while also participating in professional competition in Japan and the Dominican Republic.



Coach Young was a 2009 inductee into the Grambling State University Alumni Hall of Fame Gallery of Distinction.

Young returned to Grambling as an assistant coach in 2003 and earned her Masters' degree in Sports Administration in 2004 before rising to the position of head coach later that year.

"I've had a vision of coaching outside the SWAC," said Young. "UNO has available what I need to complete that vision from great facilities to a great education."

"I believe competing in Division III at UNO will afford me the opportunity to compete for national championships. The school has the heritage, recent success and location that will assist in getting quality student-athletes."

This year, UNO will compete as a Division I Independent in all sports as part of a multi-year transition to Division III status.

Young has already began working to finalize a roster that currently includes returning starters Cassidy Asebroek and Edina Dobi at setter and outside hitter, respectively.

The 2009 Privateer volleyball team posted a 20-13 overall mark while winning the Sun Belt Conference West Division title under then-head coach Jozsef Forman.

The new head coach will make her UNO debut against a familiar foe from her days in the SWAC as the Privateers open the 2010 campaign at Jackson State on Aug. 27.

By: Jason Plotkin
Director of Athletic Media Relations
University of New Orleans
Office: (504) 280-6284
www.UNOPrivateers.com
On Twitter @UNOPrivateers

New Orleans eliminates TSU in NCAA baseball

BATON ROUGE, La. — Texas Southern entered the NCAA Tournament with the worst record in the 48-team field. Accordingly, the Tigers didn’t last long, dispatched Saturday from the Baton Rouge Regional by the University of New Orleans, 18-5.

SWAC-champion TSU, crushed by host LSU 12-1 on Friday, ended its season 16-34. The Tigers were kept in check by UNO’s Jim McGonigle, a sophomore right-hander from Houston’s Second Baptist High School who improved to 2-2 as he kept the Privateers (43-20) alive for a 1 p.m. Sunday game against the loser of Saturday’s later game between LSU and Southern Miss.

Texas Southern learned a hard lesson that playing in the NCAAs is no SWAC picnic when you are undermanned in pitching talent.

“We didn’t play as well as I expected to play, but we played hard each game,” said TSU coach Candy Robinson, who finished his 19th season at the helm with his ninth losing season in a row.

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What's right with this picture? Ninth losing season in a row and getting stomped 30-6 in two NCAA games for a 0-2 Tournament record. TSU's Candy needs to be canned!