BCSP Notes . . .
CIAA Spring Coaches Awards
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic
Association has named its CIAA Spring Coaches of the Year.
Larry Keen of North Carolina Central was named the softball coach of the year. Keen entered the softball championship as the Western Division regular-season champion (10-0, 21-1, 23-16), and finished the tournament as runners-up to Elizabeth City State.
Merrill Morgan of Virginia State earned the baseball coach of the year for 2005. His VSU Trojans finished their regular season in third place (9-17, 12-17) and finished as runners-up to Elizabeth City State in the championship game.
Sunday Enitan of Shaw swept the honor
for both men's and women's tennis coach of the year.
This is his second honor on the men's side. He directed both Bear
squads to outstanding championship finishes. After landing one point shy
of the 2004 CIAA championship, the Bears defeated always
dominant Johnson C. Smith for their first-ever men's itle. The Bears
regular season record was 6-0 in the division, 14-0 in the conference and
19-3 overall. The Shaw Lady Bears finished the
regular season undefeated in divisional play (10-0, 15-1,
17-3) and came in second in post-season championship
competition.
Pete Hayes of North Carolina Central has also been honored for the second year in a row as the golf coach of the year. His Eagles finished behind the FSU Broncos as runners-up in this year's CIAA Golf Championship.
Bowie State's Marc Harrison is the outdoor women's track and field coach of the year, having guided his team to a second place finish in this year's championship. The Lady Bulldogs were the closest team in contention for the CIAA Championship title against the eventual victors, the St. Augustine's Lady Falcons.
The men's outdoor track and field Coach of the Year, Leslie Young of Virginia State, moved the Trojans from a third place finish in the 2004 championship meet to second place this year with 105 points behind the championship slot.
The 2005 CIAA Coaches of the Year will be honored at the Annual CIAA Coach of the Year Luncheon on May 27, 2005 at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley in Raleigh, NC.
Div. I Softball matchups; Bethune-Cookman makes MEAC history
The Florida A&M women's softball team
will head to Auburn, Ala. for an NCAA Regional
Tournament beginning Friday evening at Jane B. Moore
Field on the Auburn University campus.
FAMU (37-31), will face top-seed Baylor (47-12), of the Big 12 Conference at 7:30 p.m.
This will be Florida A&M's fifth NCAA Tournament trip in softball and their first since 1999 when they participated in the West Regional at Fresno State.
In Friday's other opening round game, host Auburn (49-16), will take on Florida State (33-26), at 5:00 p.m.
In other NCAA Tournament news, Bethune-Cookman (47-17), became the first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school to receive an at-large bid to the softball playoffs Sunday.
The Lady Wildcats, who had their run of
five straight MEAC titles derailed by the Lady Rattlers
in this year's conference tournament final in Orlando,
will face the University of Florida in Gainesville Friday.
AUBURN REGIONAL SCHEDULE (Central Time)
Friday-Sunday, May 20-22, 2005 · Moore Field· Auburn
FRIDAY, MAY 20
·GAME 1 - 5:00 pm
#2 Auburn (49-16) vs. #3 Florida State (33-26)
·GAME 2 - 7:30 pm
#1 Baylor (47-12) vs. #4 Florida A&M (37-31)
SATURDAY, MAY 21
·GAME 3 - 12 noon - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
·GAME 4 - 2:30 pm. - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
·GAME 5 - 7:00 pm. - Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
SUNDAY, MAY 22
·GAME 6 - 1:00 pm - Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
·GAME 7 - 3:30 pm - Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6
(if necessary)
The Mississippi Valley State Devilettes softball team, champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference have drawn #12 University of Alabama in the opening round of the 2005 NCAA Softball Regional. Alabama is hosting the Regional at the UA Softball Complex in Tuscaloosa, AL.
"Alabama is a very good team coming off of two big wins over Tennessee and Georgia to win the SEC Tournament," said MVSU head coach Lee Smith. "Although we've never played each other we are very familiar with each others team. Having both been sent to the same Regional last year in California we had the opportunity to see each other play several games."
The Devilettes and Crimson Tide will face off in game two Friday May 20th at 6:30 PM. Arizona State and Hofstra will open play as they face each other at 4:00 PM.
"We're looking forward to returning to the Regionals. Because of the success we had last year there will be added pressure on us to do even better," Smith said.
Albany State, Elizabeth City eliminated in D-2 Softball Regionals
SIAC champion Albany State was
eliminated from the 2005 NCAA Div. II Softball South
Regional when they lost their second game of the
tournament, 11-3, to Florida Southern.
Lynn University rode a strong pitching performance and a seven-run inning to a comfortable 8-0 win over the Lady Rams in a first round game.
"It's our first trip, and in just our fourth year of playing softball," said ASU head coach Robert Skinner. "Of course, I'm real pleased with what we've been able to do in such a short period of time, but we can never be satisfied with just coming. We got a lot of fire now to come back next time, and do a lot better than what we did [this year]."
The Indiana (Pa.) Indians overcame a pitchers dual in the early innings for a 6-1 win over Elizabeth City State in the NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Region championships on Friday afternoon. It was the second loss of the competition for the CIAA champion Lady Vikings (16-14) who were eliminated.
Jamie Wilson pitched six innings of no-hit ball to lead the Bloomsburg University softball team to an 8-0 win over Elizabeth City State on Tuesday afternoon.
Davis out at Bowie State
Bowie State University has announced that
head women's basketball coach Russell Davis
has been relieved of his duties, effective immediately.
"After careful consideration and evaluation, it has been decided a leadership change in our women's basketball program is necessary at this time," said BSU Athletic Director Derek Carter. "We want to thank Coach Davis for his five years of service to Bowie State University and wish him the best in his future endeavors."
Davis just completed his fifth season at Bowie State and ended the 2004-2005 season with a record of 16-12 overall,9-6 in the conference. During his tenure, the Lady Bulldogs advanced to the CIAA Tournament quarterfinals in 2004 and 2005. In his first season in 2000-2001, Davis went 9-18, followed by 12-14 in 2001-2002, 12-15 in 2002-2003 and 14-15 in 2003-2004. Davis' career record at Bowie State is 64-75.
The Department of Athletics will begin the search for a new head coach of the Lady Bulldogs immediately.
Central State football is back; Schedule to include six games
Central State University held a press
conference and pep rally at Court House Square in
downtown Dayton to announce the Marauders' first football
schedule since 1996 and promote their participation in
the inaugural Dayton Classic.
"This is a continuation of the long journey to
bring back football to Central State," said head football coach
Theo Lemon. "We are looking forward to
the season with plenty of optimism and determination."
The Marauders will play six games this year as Coach Lemon begins to rebuild the program. Only one game will be played on campus, and that is the homecoming game on October 8.
The Marauders will kick off the season in Topeka, Kansas on August 27 when they meet Lincoln (MO) University in the Capital Freedom Classic. Game time is 7:00pm Central.
CSU will play in nearby Dayton in the Dayton Classic at the 12,000-seat Welcome Stadium on Sunday, September 4 at 5:00pm. The opponent will be the Fighting Tigers of Saint Paul's College from Lawrenceville, VA. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
On September 17, CSU will travel down I-75 to Lexington, Ky., to take on long-time rival Kentucky State in the Lexington Heritage Football Classic. The Marauders have faced the Thorobreds more than any other team in the school's history. Kickoff is 5:00pm.
On October 1, the Marauders will travel north to Tiffin, Oh., to face the Dragons of Tiffin University for the first time. Game time is 1:00pm. CSU then returns home to McPherson Stadium on October 8 for homecoming against Glenville State with a 1:30pm kickoff.
A trip to Savannah, GA on October 29 for a 1:30pm contest against Savannah State will complete the season for CSU.
"We are bringing back Marauder Football primarily for our students so they can enjoy a more complete and enhanced college experience," added CSU Director of Athletics, Theresa Check.
© 2005 Azeez Communications, Inc.