PORT ORANGE, Florida -- Jelani Bland picked an opportune time to turn in a breakout performance.
With several college coaches in attendance, Bland returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown and added a blocked punt and a sack in Spruce Creek's 35-14 loss to Viera. Following the game, Hawks defensive coordinator DJ Mayo said, the rising senior linebacker picked up his first Division I offer from Florida A&M.
"It just shows that hard work does pay off," Bland said after the game Wednesday. "I'm going to keep putting in more work to be the best I can be."
Coaches from Florida, Lehigh and Valdosta State stood along the sidelines in Viera.
Bland (6-foot-1, 188 pounds) could be one of a handful of seniors to monitor when the football season rolls around. Spruce Creek has produced three Division I signees the last two seasons — Collin Olsen (Florida International), Lawrence Edwards (Georgia Southern) and Bradley Osborne (Navy).
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Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Florida A&M’s Baseball Season Comes to a Close with 4-2 Loss to Norfolk State
Alec Wong (2-for-4) and Dillard (2-for-4) had the only two multi-hit games for the Rattlers against the Spartans. Kendal Weeks came in to pitch the final three innings of relief and allowed just one run on three hits with one strikeout.
NSU scored first with an unearned run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Brian Beard singled to right with two outs and was able to move to second on a fielding error by Peter Jackson. Beard then came home to score from second as Roger Hall reached on a throwing error to first by AJ Elkins that would have ended the inning.
The Rattlers tied the game at 1-1 with an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning. Ben Ellzey singled to right field with one out and Willis McDaniel was then hit-by-pitch to put runners at first and second. Both runners would move up a base on a groundout to short by Elkins. Ellzey later scored the tying run from third as a failed pickoff attempt at second base from Devin Hemmerich sailed over the shortstop and into center field.
Norfolk State regained the lead for good with another unearned run in the fifth inning for a score of 2-1. Ismael Herrera led off with a single up the middle and went to second as Chase Anderson reached on a fielding error by Jacky Miles, Jr. trying to field a sac bunt attempt. Runners would then advance to second and third on Denathan Duke’s sac bunt back to the pitcher before Herrera scored from third on a groundout to short by Angel Rosario.
The Spartans extended their lead to 3-1 with another run in the sixth inning. Hall doubled to the wall in center field to start the inning and took third on a wild pitch with one out. Alex Mauricio then drove in Hall with an RBI single to right field to give NSU a two run lead.
For FAMU in the eighth inning, Dillard blasted his eighth home run of the season, a solo shot to left field, to bring the Rattlers within one run at 3-2.
Norfolk State added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning in what proved to be the final score of 4-2. Duke’s two-out RBI single that dropped in just past Elkins at shortstop scored Justin Lee from second base for the game’s final run.
NSU’s Devin Hemmerich (5-4) pitched a complete game and threw 148 pitches for the win. Hemmerich allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits with nine strikeouts and just one walk.
BOX SCORE
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Monday, May 23, 2016
BCU Diamond Cats Advance to MEAC Title Game
SALISBURY, Maryland – Bethune-Cookman scored three runs in the sixth inning en route to a 5-2 victory over in-state rival Florida A&M on Monday afternoon in a winner’s bracket semifinal matchup as part of the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Championships at A.W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland.
Bethune-Cookman (28-25) trailed 2-1 heading into the top of the sixth inning.
With the bases loaded and one out for the Wildcats, senior right fielder Nathan Bond (Orlando, Fla.) registered a two-run scoring single to left field, allowing Danny Rodriguez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Michael Cruz (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico) to score on the play.
That gave the Wildcats the lead, 3-2.
After Jameel Edney (West Palm Beach, Fla.) was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat, freshman centerfielder Josten Heron (Miami, Fla.) scored Bond from second courtesy a double down the line in left.
With Bethune-Cookman ahead at 4-2, Wildcats fifth-year head coach Jason Beverlin looked towards senior Clint Clymer (Ormond Beach, Fla.) on the hill to try and shut the door on the win in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively.
In the top of the ninth, freshman second baseman Nate Sterijevski (Clermont, Fla.) lifted his first home run of the season over the wall in left, pushing the Maroon and Gold advantage to 5-2.
In the ninth, B-CU reliever Joseph Calamita (Lake Worth, Fla.) closed the game on the mound and earned his third save of the year, advancing the Wildcats to the title game of the MEAC Baseball Championships for a league-record 11th consecutive season.
The Rattlers got on the board first in the ball game when third baseman Bell Ellzey collected a fielder’s choice RBI to score second baseman Alec Wong from third.
That gave FAMU (31-20) the 1-0 lead.
Bethune-Cookman answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning when freshman first baseman Danny Rodriguez recorded his 10th home run of the season with a solo shot to left center. For Rodriguez, it was his third home run of the MEAC Championships in as many games.
The Rattlers stepped back in front in the bottom of the fifth, using a Jacky Miles, Jr. fielder’s choice RBI to plate Wong for the second time in the contest.
The Rattlers had a chance to score more earlier in the game, but B-CU senior right-hander German Hernandezbounced back to collect three consecutive outs after loading the bases with no outs in the second inning.
The win went to B-CU reliever sophomore Alexis Herrera (Miami, Fla.) to improve his record at 2-0 on the year. Herrera tossed 1.2 innings of relief action, allowing one run on two hits, adding a walk and a strikeout. Failing to factor into the decision, Hernandez worked four innings, allowing one run on six hits, two walks and registering six strikeouts.
Calamita picked up the save with an inning of relief work in the ninth.
The loss went to FAMU starter JoJo Durden, dropping him to 2-3 on the year. He went six full innings for the Rattlers, allowing four runs on eight hits, but added seven strikeouts.
Bethune-Cookman will now wait to see who it will face in Tuesday’s MEAC title game. First pitch for the contest is slated for 1 p.m.
Follow Bethune-Cookman Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BCUDiamondCats) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/BCUBaseball) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year, via the social media outlets or www.BCUathletics.com.
COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Alabama State Baseball Wins SWAC Championship
ESPNU REPLAY: http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/id/2811517/size/condensed
NEW ORLEANS – The Alabama State baseball team completed an unprecedented run by winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship with a 7-5 win over defending champion Texas Southern.
Tournament MVP Dillon Cooper capped off a week to remember by going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI. He hit .714 for the week (10-14), with five doubles, three home runs, nine runs scored and 14 RBI.
Tyler Howe, Yamil Pagan, and Eriq White joined Cooper on the All-Tournament team, as the Hornets (38-15) set a school record for wins while going 28-0 against conference teams this season.
After Diandre Amion and Carlos Ocasio led off the third inning with singles, Cooper's three-run homer to right field on the first pitch gave the Hornets a 3-0 lead.
Alabama State extended the lead in the fifth. Ocasio reached based on an error, Cooper hit a bunt single, andChris Biocic walked to load the bases. A RBI groundout by Ray Hernandez scored Ocasio, and Hunter Allen's double to left field scored Cooper for a 5-0 Hornet lead.
After Texas Southern (24-26) got on the board in the sixth, the Hornets added a run in the home half of the inning. Pagan walked with one out, and advanced to second on a passed ball. After a groundout and Ocasio was hit by a pitch, Cooper nearly homered again, drilling a 1-2 pitch off the top of the right center field wall to score Pagan for a 6-2 ASU lead. The Hornets added a run on a throwing error in the seventh for a 7-2 lead.
Angel Alicea (3-0) got the win, throwing six innings, allowing only four hits and two runs, walking six but striking out a career-high nine batters.
Tyler Howe pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run, striking out three. Joseph Camacho came in to get the final out in the eighth and worked out of trouble in the ninth to get the save.
The Hornets will learn their NCAA Tournament destination during the selection show on Monday, May 30 at 11 a.m. on ESPNU.
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
MEAC Baseball Tournament Postponed for Second Straight Day
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| COURTESY MEAC SPORTS.COM |
SALISBURY, Maryland -- The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Championship tournament schedule has been adjusted and pushed back another day due to inclement weather.
Game 7 between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman, scheduled to occur on Sunday at 12 p.m., will now start on Monday, May 23 at 12 p.m. Game 8 between Coppin State and Norfolk State, scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 p.m., will now follow approximately one hour following the first game. The scheduled 7 p.m. game (Game 9) between the losers of Game 7 and Game 8, will begin approximately one hour after the conclusion of the previous game.
All games are played at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, home of the Delmarva Shorebirds, in Salisbury, Md.
For an up-to-date bracket, please visit www.MEACsports.com.
Fans should refer to the official conference website (www.MEACSports.com), twitter (MEACsports) and or facebook.com at www.facebook.com/MEACsports for up-to-the minute schedule changes, as well as the latest news, live stats, scores and highlights.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
ASU Football adds Charleston Southern to 2016 schedule
Albany State and Chalreston Southern will play on October 8th in Charleston, South Carolina.
ALBANY, Georgia -- The Albany State Golden Rams football program has added a huge addition to its 2016 schedule. Instead of having an open date on Oct. 8, ASU has will play Division I Charleston Southern University in Charleston, S.C. The game with Big South Conference competitors gives the Golden Rams a 10-game slate for the season.
"We're glad to have the opportunity to add Charleston Southern to our schedule," ASU head football coach Dan Land said. "Charleston Southern had great success last year, and they will provide us with some good, solid competition."
During the 2015 season, Charleston Southern finished with a 10-3 overall record and 6-0 league mark in the Big South, winning the conference championship. The Buccaneers earned a spot in the 2015 NCAA FCS Playoffs. They lost in the quarterfinals to Jacksonville State by a 58-38 score.
The Albany State-Charleston Southern game will be played at CSU's Whitfield Stadium Center on Buccaneer Field on Oct. 8. The game time will be determined at a later date.
2016 Albany State Football Schedule (Updated)
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Despite strong start, XULA Rush finish as NAIA runner-up
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| Results |
The Gold Rush (17-8), ranked and seeded third, finished as national runner-up. This was the first XU team in any sport to reach an NAIA final.
The Grizzlies (26-0), a unanimous No. 1 in every coaches poll this season, won their third consecutive NAIA championship and stretched their winning streak to 32. They were 2-0 this season against Xavier.
Xavier won 2-of-3 doubles. Tushar Mandlekar and Adam Albrecht of the Gold Rush defeated Gilad Berman and Lachlan McPhee 8-5 on the third court, then Xavier took a 2-0 lead when Kyle Montrel and Karan Salwan won 8-3 on court two against Matias Hatem and Connor Clements, the ITA's third-ranked NAIA doubles team.
But Xavier missed a doubles sweep by losing in a tiebreaker on the first court for the second straight day. Thomas Setodji and Kevin Chaouat led 6-4 and 7-6 against the nationally top-ranked tandem of Kevin Konfederak and Jordan Cox, but Konfederak and Cox rallied for a 9-8 (7-3) decision.
"We had a realy good start in doubles," Xavier coach Alan Green said. "It would've been nice to have a 3-0 lead, and we had some good opportunities to get that third point, but we didn't. Still we were happy with a 2-1 lead. It was a reversal from the last time we played Georgia Gwinnett."
Georgia Gwinnett then won four consecutive times in singles and led in the two unfinished matches. Berman beat Chaouat 6-1, 6-0, Konfederak — the NAIA's No. 1 singles player — defeated Salwan 6-2, 6-4, Clements beat Albrecht 6-0, 6-4 and Hatem clinched with. 6-2, 6-2 decision against Montrel.
"Overall, Georgia Gwinnett's guys took it to us," Green said. "At times it seemed like there was nothing we could do to stop them."
The Setodji-Cox match did not result in a decision — Cox led 7-6 (7-0), 2-0 — so Setodji, a freshman, ended the season with a 17-0 singles record.
"Xavier was outstanding," Georgia Gwinnett coach Chase Hodges said. "We were fortunate."
It was the final XU competition for Montrel and Chaouat, both seniors. A third senior,Manav Chakma, did not play.
"Even though we didn't get the win, it just felt like we won in some way," Montrel said. "We became a closer team. Next time I think we could get it."
The appearance at nationals was the eighth overall and eighth in a row for the XU men. They reached the quarterfinals each of the previous four seasons before breaking through with a quarterfinal victory Thursday against sixth-ranked Keiser and a semifinal victory Friday against seventh-ranked Lindsey Wilson. Xavier's 17 victories match the second-most in a season during Green's coaching tenure.
XU-produced graphic which promoted the Gold Rush appearance in the NAIA championship final.
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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