Blue Raiders have won last two meetings
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - After posting victories in each of the past two meetings with SEC foe Tennessee, the Middle Tennessee baseball team will look to close out the 2012 non-conference slate in style on Tuesday evening when it welcomes the Volunteers back to Reese Smith Jr. Field.
The Blue Raiders are coming into the game with a 27-25 record this season, and despite his .263 average, Ryan Stephens will look to factor in helping MT to a 28th win. The sophomore outfielder, perhaps known more for his defensive prowess, has played a major role in each of the past two victories over the Vols, coming up with the 10th inning game-winning hit in February's 5-4 win in Knoxville and finishing a single shy of the cycle in last season's 12-3 rout in Murfreesboro.
MT will also be looking for offense from the trio of Justin Guidry, Trent Miller and Hank LaRue. The group has combined for .347 average with 107 runs scored and 104 batted in.
Paul Mittura will be making the start on the mound for the Blue and White, and it marks his first of the year. The sophomore carries a 2-1 record with a team-best 2.05 earned run average in 22 appearances. He's played in each of the past two games vs. UT, allowing an unearned run earlier this season and pitching a perfect ninth in last year's win.
MT is 10-25 vs. the Vols since head coach Steve Peterson took control of the baseball program in 1988. A win on Tuesday would mark the third consecutive against UT, a feat that has not been accomplished by MT since taking home four in a row from 1987-88.
UT enters the meeting with a 24-27 mark this year, and currently sit sixth in the SEC East with an 8-19 conference record.
First pitch is on Tuesday is set for 6 p.m.
Courtesy of Athletic Communications, GoBlueRaiders.com
Men finish third, women sixth
LAFAYETTE, La. -- The Middle Tennessee men’s track & field team captured a third-place finish while the Blue Raider women finished sixth at the 2012 Sun Belt Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The men came away with 108 total points while the women’s squad amassed 75. North Texas took the women’s team title while Western Kentucky won on the men’s side.
The Blue Raiders were led on Sunday by their relay teams as both the men and women claimed runner-up finishes in the 4x100-meter relays. In addition, Geoffrey Akena, Roscoe Payne, Steven Palmer and Noah Akwu guided the men to victory in the 4x400-meter relay, winning with a time of 3 minutes, 10.03 seconds.
Middle Tennessee had another nice day in the jumps events on Sunday. Senior Nyeisha Wright captured a runner-up finish in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 41 feet, 5 inches (12.62 meters). She was followed in third place by France Makabu who posted a measurement of 41-2.50 (12.56m). Euphemia Edem closed out the top five, jumping 40-6.25 (12.35).
On the men’s side, 2012 Sun Belt Indoor Triple Jump Champion Cordairo Golden also placed second. The sophomore recorded a leap of 50-6.25 (15.40m) to come away with the runner-up result.
Golden also placed fifth in the men’s high jump competition, successfully clearing the bar at 6-5.00 (1.96m). Cameron Zeman cleared the bar at the same measurement and came in sixth place as a result of the number of jumps.
Payne and Akwu led the Middle Tennessee men in the sprints events. Payne captured victory in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 13.91 seconds. Fellow Blue Raider Junior Cadet finished sixth in the event in 14.77 seconds. Payne also placed third in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 50.76 seconds.
Meanwhile Akwu won the 200 meters in 20.74 seconds. He also led a trio of Blue Raiders in the 400 meters, clocking a time of 46.90 seconds to place fifth. Palmer and Rycine Ellison followed in fifth and sixth with times of 48.00 and 48.68 seconds.
In the men’s 100 meters, Kenneth Gilstrap placed fifth with a time of 10.54 seconds.
Kiara Henry closed out her Middle Tennessee career with a great day on Sunday. She claimed a runner-up finish in the women’s 200 meters with a time of 24.11 seconds while also placing third in the 100-meter dash, recording a time of 11.62 seconds.
The women meanwhile were led in the 400-meter hurdles by Christal Wilson. The freshman notched a runner-up finish as she completed the competition in 1:00.24.
Justus David once again led the way for the Blue Raider distance runners as he logged a time of 3:50.96 to post a second-place finish in the men’s 1,500 meters. Meanwhile in the 800 meters, Robinson Simatei placed eighth while running a 1:59.19. Autumn Gipson and Stephanie Smith paced the women’s distance runners, placing 10th and 11th in the women’s 1,500-meter run on Sunday.
Fans are encouraged to continue follow the teams on Twitter @MTTrackField and on Facebook at the MT Track & Field page as photos will be posted as the teams make their way back home on Monday.
A number of Blue Raiders will head to Jacksonville, Fla., to compete in the NCAA Regionals which take place May 24-26. Please stay posted to the teams' Facebook and Twitter pages as well as GoBlueRaiders.com as the competitors are made known.
Also, stay up-to-date on the teams on the new Track & Field Notebook, which can be found here as well as linked on the Track & Field page on GoBlueRaiders.com.
Courtesy of Athletic Communications, GoBlueRaiders.com
Dudley runner-up in high jump
LAFAYETTE, La. -- Middle Tennessee Indoor All-American high jumper Ann Dudley captured a runner-up finish in the women’s high jump to lead the Blue Raiders on the second day of the 2012 Sun Belt Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday.
The junior cleared the bar at 5 feet, 9.25 inches (1.76 meters), good enough to place second. Shahaf Bareni of North Texas won the event as she leaped 5-11.25 (1.81m).
Solomon Atosona led the Blue Raider men in the long jump competition. The sophomore finished fourth with a measurement of 23-4.75 (7.13m). Kameron Rory placed 10th while Cordairo Golden and Junior Cadet came away with respective 12th and 13th-place finishes.
On the women’s side, senior Kiara Henry collected a fifth-place result with a jump of 19-7.50 (5.98m). Nyeisha Wright followed shortly behind in seventh as she posted a measurement of 19-6.00 (5.94m). The rest of the Middle Tennessee women’s competitors mirrored the men’s results as Euphemia Edem finished 10th while Amber Dandy was 12th and Rosina Amenebede took 13th.
Robinson Simatei led the Blue Raider distance runners on Saturday as he logged a time of 9:24.65 to finish fifth in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase event. Autumn Gipson also notched a fifth-place finish in the women’s race with a time of 11:24.43.
Roscoe Payne led the way for the men’s sprinters in Saturday’s preliminary races as he advanced to both the 110 and 400-meter hurdle events with respective times of 14.23 and 51.70 seconds. Rycine Ellison, Steven Palmer and Noah Akwu also advanced to Sunday’s final of the men’s 400-meter hurdle event.
Christal Wilson posted the top time in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, finishing the race in one minute, 0.47 seconds to capture a spot in the finals.
In the 100 meter dashes, Kenneth Gilstrap crossed the finish line in 10.49 seconds while Drayton Calhoun came away with a time of 10.52 seconds as they both advanced to the finals of the men’s race. Kiara Henry advanced to the women’s final as she recorded a preliminary time of 11.72 seconds.
In the men’s 200 meters, Noah Akwu clocked the fastest time in the preliminaries as he finished the race in 20.81 seconds. Gilstrap will also run in Sunday’s final of the event as he advanced with a time of 21.44 seconds.
The disappointing result of the day came in the women’s 100-meter hurdles as Amenebede and Dudley both fell and failed to advance to the event finals. Wilson also was unable to advance as she finished 11th overall.
The meet will continue Sunday at 10 a.m. with the men’s hammer throw leading off the day. Complete 2012 Sun Belt Outdoor Track & Field Championship information including a schedule of events, heat sheets and live results can be found here.
Fans are encouraged to follow the teams this weekend on Twitter @MTTrackField and on Facebook at the MT Track & Field page as photos and videos will be posted throughout the weekend.
Also, stay up-to-date on the teams on the new Track & Field Notebook, which can be found here as well as linked on the Track & Field page on GoBlueRaiders.com.
Phillip Jones to join MT for 2012-13 season
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Mississippi high school basketball standout Phillip Jones has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Middle Tennessee next season, announced head coach Kermit Davis on Thursday. Jones averaged 27 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks for Piney Woods High School during his senior campaign.
“We’re really excited about Phillip joining our program,” Davis said. “He comes from a winning background, having won a state championship at Piney Woods. He has played for an excellent high school coach in Lemeul Jones, who has done a great job developing him over two years.
“Phillip is the most athletic player in state of Mississippi and has put up some unbelievable offensive numbers. When you ask high school coaches around the state of Mississippi, they say one of his biggest assets is the motor he has and how hard he plays.”
Jones, a 6-7 forward, led the Golden Tornadoes to the state title in 2011 as a junior. A native of Freeport, Bahamas, Jones was named the district MVP last season and earned honorable mention all-state honors. He also participated in the 2011 Mississippi North vs. South All-Star Game.
“Middle Tennessee is a nice school with a great academic program,” said Jones of his decision. “I really liked the coaching staff and with the players that are coming back next year, I feel as if we have a chance to make the NCAA tournament because they had a really good record this year. I just want to focus on academics and basketball and do whatever I can to contribute to the team as a freshman.”
A two-sport athlete at Piney Woods, Jones has also been a star for the track and field team. He won the state title last year in the triple jump and will look to defend his title this weekend. Jones also runs the anchor leg for the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.
“Phillip has been a joy to coach,” Lemeul Jones said. “He is a very talented young man with a hard-hat mentality. Not only is he a very exciting player, but he’s also a tough individual. Phillip has a high motor and plays hard all the time.”
Jones began his high school career in Florida before moving to Mississippi. He was a highly recruited prospect who ultimately chose MT over Louisiana, UT-San Antonio and Northwestern State. To see video of Jones making his decision, click here.
MT finishes season 19-8
OXFORD, Miss. - The No. 46 Blue Raider men’s tennis team ended its season with a 4-0 defeat at the hands of the No. 21 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday morning in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship at the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center on the campus of Ole Miss. Middle Tennessee finishes the 2012 campaign with a 19-8 record.
“I’m extremely proud of my team and the season we put together,” head coach Jimmy Borendame said. “We fought hard today and if it played out, we had a chance to put some points on the board in the end. But we’ll take this experience, especially with five freshmen on the team, and build on it for next season. With such a strong contingent coming back, we’ll be even better next year.”
Michigan claimed the doubles point with wins in the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. Ben Davis and Christoph Lang were leading 6-5 on court two before play was halted after the clinching point.
The Wolverines took a 2-0 lead in the match after claiming the victory in the No. 5 singles position, with Barrett Franks defeating Dimitri Pippos, 6-1, 6-1.
MT continued to battle, forcing a third set in three matches before Michigan claimed the final two points. Christoph Lang won the first set, 6-3, before dropping the second, 2-6, in the third spot. Ettore Zito also dominated in his first set, 6-1, but fell in the second, 5-7. Forrest Edwards bounced back from a 3-6 loss in the first set to take the second, 6-4. All three matches were unfinished, though, as the Wolverines took two more points before any three-setters concluded.
Matthew Langley, the Blue Raiders’ lone senior, dropped a 6-2, 6-3 decision in the two-hole before Ben Davis’ 6-2, 6-3 defeat to No. 6 Evan King proved to be the clinching point.
“I’m really proud of Matthew Langley and all he accomplished during his time here,” Borendame said. “To leave with three Sun Belt championship rings in four years is quite a feat.”
NCAA REGIONAL – OXFORD, MISS. (PALMER/SALLOUM TENNIS CENTER)
#21 Michigan 4, #46 Middle Tennessee 0
Singles competition
1. #6 Evan King (UM) def. Ben Davis (MT) 6-2, 6-3
2. Alex Petrone (UM) def. Matt Langley (MT) 6-2, 6-3
3. Christoph Lang (MT) vs. Shaun Bernstein (UM) 6-3, 2-6, 1-2, unfinished
4. Ettore Zito (MT) vs. Michael Zhu (UM) 6-1, 5-7, unfinished
5. Barrett Franks (UM) def. Dimitri Pippos (MT) 6-1, 6-1
6. Forrest Edwards (MT) def. Alex Buzzi (UM) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #29 Evan King/Shaun Bernstein (UM) def. Yannick Born/Marlon Brand (MT) 8-2
2. Ben Davis/Christoph Lang (MT) def. Barrett Franks/Alex Buzzi (UM) 6-5, unfinished
3. Alex Petrone/Michael Zhu (UM) def. Ettore Zito/Matt Langley (MT) 8-4
Match Notes
Middle Tennessee 19-8; National ranking #46
Michigan 18-7; National ranking #21
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,2,1)
Second-consecutive year for a Blue Raider
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Middle Tennessee second baseman Kayla Toney was selected to the 2012 All-Sun Belt Softball First Team, as announced by the league office Tuesday evening.
Toney becomes the eighth Blue Raider to be named to the league’s first team since Middle Tennessee joined the Sun Belt prior to the 2001 season. She is also just the second Blue Raider in the past six seasons to earn such an honor, joining Corrie Abel who garnered a First-Team selection last season.
"We are extremely proud of Kayla for receiving this honor," said Middle Tennessee head coach Sue Nevar. "She had an outstanding season despite missing three weeks of action in the middle of the year. She is a tremendous hitter with great softball instincts. Hopefully she will take this accomplishment and build on it next season."
Even with missing 14 games due to injury, Toney led the Blue Raiders in numerous offensive categories in 2012. She finished the year leading the team with a .414 average at the plate, the highest year-ending average for a Middle Tennessee player since Cortney Mitchell hit .427 in 2004. The sophomore also paced the team in slugging (.657), on-base percentage (.479) and doubles (12). Meanwhile she placed second on the squad with 26 runs scored and third on the team with nine stolen bases.
Follow the Blue Raider softball team on Twitter @MT_Softball and on Facebook at the MTSU Softball page. Also, stay up-to-date on the team with the latest softball news and information at the brand-new “Softball Notebook” page which can be found here.
Courtesy of Athletic Communications, GoBlueRaiders.com
Will compete in Norman Regional May 17-19
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – For the fifth consecutive year, Middle Tennessee’s men’s golf program is headed to the postseason. The Blue Raiders earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Regionals as announced on NCAA.com Monday night.
Middle Tennessee will be one of 14 teams participating in the regional at the Jimmy Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla., hosted by the University of Oklahoma May 17-19. The low five teams from six regionals will advance to the NCAA National Championships at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif., May 29 - June 3.
Middle Tennessee's spot among the nation's top 81 teams came during the second to last announced regional by the Men's Golf Selection Committee's selection show on NCAA.com. The Blue Raiders will be the No. 8 seed in a field that includes No. 1 ranked Texas, No. 12 ranked Georgia Tech, No. 13 ranked Washington, No. 23 ranked Florida State, and 31st ranked Oklahoma. It matches the second highest seed for the Blue Raiders in school history. MT was also an eight seed in last year’s regional.
It is the sixth NCAA berth in program history and the fourth as an at-large. The Blue Raiders also made NCAA Regional appearances in 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. In 2008, Middle Tennessee advanced all the way to the NCAA Championships where it finished 15th nationally.
Head Coach Whit Turnbow believed Middle Tennessee's body of work was easily strong enough to gain an at-large berth after the team finished second in the Sun Belt Conference. Middle Tennessee is ranked No. 48 nationally and owns two tournament wins.
"This is a testament to the hard work the players have put in all season and a sign our program continues to move in the right direction,” said Head Coach Whit Turnbow. “They were really excited to hear Middle Tennessee’s name called tonight.
“This is the most difficult field we will play in all year so we have to be ready. We still have a little more than a week to prepare but we look forward to the opportunity to compete against the best.”
The Blue Raiders' lineup will be led by senior Hunter Green, a three-time all-conference performer. Green, who ranks first in the SBC and 65th nationally in scoring average, will be appearing in his third straight NCAA Regional.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for this team and we can’t wait to compete," said Green. "For our program to make five straight regionals says a lot about our consistency."
Follow all the scoring at golfstat.com or ncaa.com.
Jimmy Austin OU Golf Club – Norman, Oklahoma
Hosted by the University of Oklahoma
Teams:
1.Texas
2.Georgia Tech
3.Washington
4.Florida State
5.Oklahoma
6.St. Mary’s
7.Illinois
8.Middle Tennessee
9.South Carolina
10.San Diego
11.Arizona
12.Sacramento State
13.IUPUI
14. Loyola (Ill.)
Courtesy of Athletic Communications, GoBlueRaiders.com
Four camps in June, two in July
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The annual Rhoden Soccer Academy (RSA) Summer Camps, held annually at the Middle Tennessee practice field, are just over a month away as preparations continue for a fun-filled June. Head Blue Raider coach Aston Rhoden returns as the director of all camps, with assistance from his MT staff of Chris Cahill and Allison Whitworth, along with Blue Raider student-athletes.
“Camp is always one of our more enjoyable times of year because it’s about giving back and teaching youth that have an aspiration to become a better soccer player,” Rhoden said. “We make our camps fun and teach the fundamentals, helping each camper improve his or her game from the start to the end of each session.”
The schedule begins June 11-15 with the Boys Only and First Touch camps. Both camps will be held each day with the Boys Only from 9 a.m. to Noon and the First Touch from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
The following week, June 18-22, RSA will host the Girls Only and Junior Raiders camps. Girls Only will also be from 9 a.m. to Noon, while the Junior Raiders goes an extra half-hour from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Rhoden Soccer Academy camps are open to all ages and abilities.
After nearly a month break, the two largest camps will be held in July with the Girls High School Team session held the 16th-19th, while the Girls College ID Weekend is the 20th-22nd.
Click here for complete information regarding the Rhoden Soccer Academy Summer Camps, including registration forms, detailed camp descriptions, facilities, directions and photos.
Courtesy of Athletic Communications, GoBlueRaiders.com
Played on same team as Holt
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Former Middle Tennessee women’s basketball All-American Alysha Clark collected a number of honors following her season playing for Ramat Hasharon in Israel during the team’s 2012 campaign.
Clark was tabbed the Eurobasket.com Domestic Player of the Year in addition to being selected to the website’s All-Israeli League First Team. She also was named to the All-Domestic Players Team.
Clark averaged 14.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, placing second and third on the squad in the respective categories. She connected on 54.0 percent of her field goals, including 38.5 percent from behind the 3-point arc, and added an 83.0 percent mark at the foul line.
Clark played alongside another former Blue Raider All-American, Amber Holt, who averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds for the squad which reached the semifinals of the Israeli League this season.
Clark is currently in WNBA Training Camp with the Seattle Storm, while Holt has returned to the Tulsa Shock, where she has played the last two seasons in her four-year WNBA career.
Courtesy of Athletic Communications, GoBlueRaiders.com
Third baseman hit .727 with 1.091 slugging percentage
NEW ORLEANS - Middle Tennessee third baseman Hank LaRue has been named the Sun Belt Player of the Week, as announced on Monday by the league office. It marks the first weekly award of LaRue’s career and second this season for a Blue Raider.
LaRue hit .727 over the weekend to go along with a 1.091 slugging percentage in MT’s three games against FIU. The Evansville, Ind., native recorded multiple hits in all three games and at least one RBI in two contests. He collected a pair of hits in the opener then belted his third home run of the season in the second game. It gave the Blue Raiders a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and marked his seventh multi-RBI game of the season. LaRue capped off the weekend with his second 3-for-4 performance in a 13-3 rout of the Panthers, giving him 19 multi-hit performances this year.
The sophomore currently sits third on the team with a .330 average and is tied for second on the team with 30 RBI. He joins Hunter Adkins, who earned the league’s Pitcher of the Week honor on Feb. 27, as the two Blue Raiders to earn weekly awards this season.
LaRue and the Blue Raiders will play their final conference home series this weekend against Louisiana at Reese Smith Jr. Field. First pitch is slated for Friday at 6 p.m. CT.
Courtesy of Athletic Communications, GoBlueRaiders.com
