2014 SIAC Baseball All-Conference Team Announced

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference today announced its 2014 SIAC Baseball All-Conference Teams, as voted by the SIAC Baseball Coaches Association.

The list of All-Conference and Superlative award winners is highlighted by Fernando Tanaka of Stillman College. Tanaka, a junior shortstop from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been selected as the 2014 SIAC Baseball Player of the Year. Tanaka registered a .394 batting average (54-of-137) in 41 games for the Western Division Champion Tigers, scoring 48 runs, driving in 38 additional and stealing 18 bases in the process. Tanaka's average of runs scored per game (1.17) ranked 21st nationally, while his 48 runs scored (25th) and four triples (28th) also ranked in Division II Baseball annals.

Stillman pitcher Joseph Falletta has been named the SIAC Starting Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season. Falletta, a senior from Franklin, Tennessee, made 11 appearances on the mound this season, posting a 7-1 record and an ERA of 2.07. Over the course of 61.0 innings pitched, Falletta recorded 58 strikeouts with 18 walks, en route to securing two shutouts. He also engineered six complete games, a number that ranked 12th nationally.

Stillman pitcher Tyler Vails has been selected as the 2014 SIAC Relief Pitcher of the Year. This marks Vails third straight Relief Pitcher of the Year honor, as he posted a 6-1 record with two shutouts, two complete games and one save on the year. Vails, a senior from Gordo, Alabama, ended his season with a 2.01 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 58.1 innings pitched. His WHIP of 0.94 ranked 32nd nationally.

Daniel Young of Benedict College has been chosen as the 2014 SIAC Utility Player of the Year. Young, a sophomore third baseman from Columbia, South Carolina, hit .350 (48-of-137) from the plate while notching six home runs, 14 doubles and two triples on the season. He also swiped 11 stolen bases and secured 14 walks to round out his second season with the Tigers. Young's eight sacrifice flies ranked third nationally, while his average of 1.2 RBI's per contest and total of 48 RBI's ranked 13th and 14th in Division II, respectively.

Reise McDaniel, an outfielder from Albany State University, has been named the 2014 SIAC Freshman of the Year. McDaniel, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, registered a .365 (58-of-159) batting average with 38 RBI's, 14 doubles, one triple and 13 stolen bases for the Golden Rams. His 50 runs scored during the season ranked 15th nationally, while his average of 1.16 runs scored per contest ranked 25th.

For the second consecutive season, Albany State head coach Kenyan Conner has been selected as the SIAC Coach of the Year. Conner guided his Golden Rams club to a perfect 20-0 record in conference play, capturing his second Eastern Division title in successive seasons. Albany State ended its campaign with a 28-16 overall mark.

The Panthers of Claflin University were named the 2014 SIAC All-Academic Champions.

2014 SIAC Baseball First Team All-Conference
Name Position Class School
Robert Latner C Senior Albany State
Nick Baldelli-Boggs 1B Senior Stillman
Ryan Latner 2B Junior Albany State
Fernando Tanaka SS Junior Stillman
Cash Oliver 3B Senior Tuskegee
James Campbell OF Senior Albany State
Daniel Young OF Sophomore Benedict
Reise McDaniel OF Freshman Albany State
Joseph Falletta SP Senior Stillman
Tyler Vails RP Senior Stillman

2014 SIAC Baseball Second Team All-Conference
Name Position Class School
Johnny Surry C Sophomore Clark Atlanta
Andre Collum 1B Sophomore Albany State
Kevin Davis 2B Junior Benedict
Allen Hardy SS Junior Albany State
Paul Winterbottom 3B Junior Stillman
Caleb Pyscher OF Freshman Morehouse
Jonathan Richey OF Senior Paine

Sixto Guerrero OF Sophomore Claflin

John Paul Bernard SP Freshman Albany State

Justin Langdale RP R-Sophomore Miles

Player of the Year: Fernando Tanaka, Stillman
Starting Pitcher of the Year: Joseph Falletta, Stillman

Relief Pitcher of the Year: Tyler Vails, Stillman

Utility Player of the Year: Daniel Young, Benedict

Freshman of the Year: Reise McDaniel, Albany State

Coach of the Year: Kenyan Conner, Albany State

2014 SIAC Baseball All-Academic Team

Name School Class GPA Major
 Justin Vreeland Claflin Junior 4.00 Sports Management

Kent Fuller Lane Sophomore 4.00 Biology

James Cogman Claflin Sophomore 3.90 Politics & Justice Studies

Sixto Guerrero Claflin Sophomore 3.90 Finance

Theodore Woodward Kentucky State Junior 3.85 Psychology

Christopher Emerson Tuskegee Sophomore 3.82 Electrical Engineering

Anthony Ford Claflin Junior 3.80 Sports Management

Reginald Grimes Kentucky State Junior 3.77 Social & Political Science

Jalen Thompson Claflin Sophomore 3.70 Biology

Nick Baldelli-Boggs Stillman Senior 3.67 Psychology

2014 SIAC Baseball All-Academic Team Champions: Claflin

COURTESY THESIAC.COM 

Alcorn Braves add a ‘Monsta’ in Johnson

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Reginal Johnson Sr. wanted to create a monster.

That is, a monster on the basketball court.

He felt he accomplished that in his son Reginal Johnson Jr., who signed with Alcorn State on Wednesday.

“I didn’t have a dad in my life to tell me you need to play defense, block out, rebound,” Johnson Sr. said. “I thought I just needed to shoot.

“Well I got a rude awakening when I got in the military and learned you have to do more than that. What I did was make sure that everything I didn’t have, I was going to make sure my son had. And so I’d put all that together and create a monster.”

A Monroe, La., native, the younger Johnson averaged 32 points and 15 rebounds for Richwood High School, helping his team to a Class 3A runner-up finish, and was chosen as Mr. Basketball in Louisiana. He earned two Class 3A MVPs and also played on the Nike D1 circuit.

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North Carolina A&T Nursing School: Future Uncertain

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- North Carolina A&T's nursing degree program is in peril after the UNC Board of Governors decided to temporarily suspend enrollment.

In 2010 and 2011, fewer than 75 percent of A&T's nursing school passed the National Council Licensure Examination on the first try. That could have terminated the program, but the Board of Governors gave the nursing school two more years to get passing scores above 85 percent.

A&T fell short again in 2013, with only 81 percent of students passing on the first try. Now, the board of governors has put the brakes on the 2015 school year. They have 60 days to set up a review panel, which will then consider whether to close the degree program.

Inez Tuck is the Dean of North Carolina A&T's School of Nursing. She said they have improved curriculum, hired ...

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UAPB downs UALR, 6-5 in extra innings

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- A Mike Wieland single to right field scoring Mitch Bruckshaw propelled the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Baseball team to a 6-5 win over Arkansas-Little Rock in the bottom of the 10th inning, here Tuesday afternoon at the Torii Hunter Baseball, Softball Complex.

UALR (16-22) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning with Ben Crumpton scoring on a Tanner Rockwell sacrifice to right field, followed by a Joseph Paulino single scoring Austin Pfeiffer and then a Sam Vogel fielder's choice scored Justin Steelmon.

UAPB cut the Trojans' lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the third inning as Jose Hernandez scored on a wild pitch, followed by an Andre Davis single scoring Wieland.

The Trojans added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning with a Paulino ground out to shortstop scoring Pfeiffer, making the score 4-2 in favor of UALR.

Wieland scored his second run of the game on an error, cutting UALR's lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

UAPB took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning as both Isias Alcantar and Wieland scored on a pair of throwing errors, giving the Golden Lions a 5-4 lead.

UALR tied the contest at 5-5 on a Petr Sila bases loads walk scoring Crumpton in the top of the ninth inning.

UAPB (17-23) finished the contest with 11 hits with Davis going three-for-five from the plate to lead the Golden Lions, whereas UALR tallied six hits in the contest with Paulino going two-for-four from the plate to lead the Trojans.

Redmond Floyd (1-0) picked up the win for UAPB as he pitched one scoreless inning in the three batters he faced. Samuel Olson, the UAPB starter pitched three innings, allowing two hits, three earned runs and striking out two in the 14 batters he faced.

Travis McDonald (2-6) received the loss for UALR as he pitched one and two-third in
nings, allowing three hits, one earned runs and striking out two in the eight batters, he faced, while Jake Busiek the Trojan starter pitched two and one-third innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs and striking three in the 13 batters he faced.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION

AAMU Spring Football #13

NORMAL, Albabama – Head coach James Spady wrapped up his thirteenth practice of the spring semester at Alabama A&M with something rarely seen.

During a situational scrimmage the first year head coach made everyone live including the quarterbacks.

The players immediately celebrated the announcement as they have had to hold back during every meeting of live tackling drills.



The result was similar to previous drills with the players who have hit each other through the last 12 practices playing in a similar style remembering these were not only their teammates but classmates.

A&M will return to the field on Friday, April 25, at 4 p.m. in Louis Crews stadium for their final practice of the new year before the spring game.

The Maroon & White spring scrimmage is set for Saturday, April 26, at 3 p.m. in Louis Crews stadium.

Fans will be able to tailgate for free and are encouraged to come out and enjoy themselves on "The Hill".

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hill set to play ball at Fayetteville State

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina -- Jordan Hill spent two seasons playing basketball at the junior college level. Not only did the New Bern native mature as a player, she became a dominant one at Lenoir Community College.

Hill, who led the Division II JUCO ranks with 24.4 points per game this past season, signed her National Letter of Intent to play women’s basketball at Fayetteville State.

“I made it. It’s like a dream come true,” Hill said.

Fayetteville State, a Division II program, competes in the CIAA conference. The Broncos finished 21-7 and lost by three points in the conference tournament championship game.

They are led by head coach Eva Patterson-Heath.

“I’m going to give them my all. Whatever they want me to do, I am going to do it,” Hill said.

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CIAA Names Donnell Leathers as Coordinator of Football Officials

HAMPTON, Virginia – After a 39-year career at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), Mr. Charles Bartlett retired from his position as coordinator of football officials at the end of December 2013. Bartlett worked as a CIAA official for 18 years and served as the coordinator of football officials for 21 years.

"We are thankful for all of Mr. Bartlett's hard work serving the CIAA for almost 40 years," said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams. "The CIAA congratulates him on his well-deserved retirement."

Bartlett's successor will be Mr. Donnell Leathers, who has an extensive officiating resume. Liberty University alumni and a retired member of the United States Army, Leathers is currently a CIAA and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) football official. He has been with the CIAA since 1989 and with the MEAC since 2000 and has officiated more than 115 NCAA FCS college football games and over 120 regular season NCAA Division II college football games. He is an active member of the Southeastern Athletic Officials Association as well as three college Football Officials Associations.

Leathers also has been an active basketball official for the CIAA and the South Atlantic Conference (SAC-8) since 1989. He has officiated many regular season CIAA and SAC-8 basketball games and postseason games for NCAA Division II.

"Mr. Leathers is a longtime member of the CIAA family," said McWilliams. "We look forward to having him take the next step in his career as the new coordinator of football officials."

The CIAA Football mini-camp was held April 4-6 and had 62 attendees, 40 of which were trying out for the 2014 CIAA staff. The CIAA Annual Football Clinic will be August 1-2, and will only be open to CIAA staff. The next tryout will be held spring 2015.

COURTESY THECIAA.COM