KRISTV.com http://www.kristv.com/ KRISTV.com Sports - Islanders Sports - Islanders en-us Copyright 2013, KRISTV.com. All Rights Reserved. Feed content is not avaialble for commercial use. () () Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:06:16 GMT Synapse CMS 10 KRISTV.com http://www.kristv.com/ 144 25 Foss, Weiss Selected by Angels on Day Three of MLB Draft http://www.kristv.com/news/foss-weiss-selected-by-angels-on-day-three-of-mlb-draft/ http://www.kristv.com/news/foss-weiss-selected-by-angels-on-day-three-of-mlb-draft/ Sports - Islanders Sat, 8 Jun 2013 5:48:33 PM Foss, Weiss Selected by Angels on Day Three of MLB Draft

CORPUS CHRISTI - Senior right-handed pitcher Trevor Foss and senior outfielder Eric Weiss were both selected by the Los Angeles Angels on the third day of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Saturday. Foss was selected in the 22nd round (667th overall), while Weiss was chosed in the 35th (1057th overall), the fifth and sixth players in the last four years selected from the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi baseball team.

This marks the third time in program history that two Islanders were selected in the same draft, joining the 2011 class of Todd Simko and Matt Holland and the 2005 duo of Trey Hearne and Chuck Carter. They are the eighth and ninth players ever chosen, and the fifth and sixth in head coach Scott Malone's tenure. They are the first two players in school history to be drafted by the Angels.

Foss is the third-highest draftee in school lore. Only Daniel Minor, who went 279th overall to the Houston Astros in 2012, and Todd Simko, who went 637th to the Washington Nationals in 2011, were selected higher.

Foss had an outstanding senior campaign for the Islanders, earning Third Team All-Southland Conference recognition for his efforts on the mound. He went 8-6 on the year with a 3.09 ERA, posting 103 strikeouts, the fourth-most in Islanders history. He finished third in the league with his total, and he and Oral Roberts' Alex Gonzalez were the only two among the Southland strikeout leaders to post more than one punchout per inning pitched.

The Janesville, Wis., native tossed three complete games on the year, including a shutout of Texas-Pan American where he registered a career-high 15 strikeouts. That effort earned him Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. It also earned him the first of two Southland Pitcher of the Week nods. He earned the second following a three-hit shutout against McNeese State, when he struck out 10. He posted 10 strikeouts or more three times and held his opponents to five hits or fewer in each of his last four starts on the year.

Weiss was a First Team All-Southland selection in his senior campaign after leading the Islanders and placing ninth in the conference with a .327 average. He added 11 doubles, four triples and four home runs, driving in 42 runs. His .406 on-base percentage and .474 slugging average both were tops among A&M-Corpus Christi players. He was also an outstanding leader for the Islanders and played strong defense, going errorless on the season while patrolling centerfield.

Weiss was amazingly consistent, registering a hit in 46 of the Islanders' 57 games on the season. He was also crucial in the clutch, his most notable performance a 4-for-6 outing with three RBI in the Islanders' come-from-behind 17-15 win over Lamar on Senior Day. He posted four games on the season with at least three runs driven in, and had 17 games with at least two hits.

Islanders signee Glenn Sparkman, a product of Wharton Junior College, was also selected on Day Three of the MLB Draft, going in the 20th round to Kansas City. Sparkman came off the board with the 594th overall pick. The native of Ganado, Texas, has until July 12 to decide whether to sign with the Royals or whether he will join the Islanders for the fall.

The MLB Draft is still ongoing on Saturday afternoon, with several other Islanders players in the running to hear their name called.

 


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Islanders Eliminated From Southland Conference Tournament http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-eliminated-from-southland-conference-tournament/ http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-eliminated-from-southland-conference-tournament/ Sports - Islanders Fri, 24 May 2013 2:04:16 PM Islanders Eliminated From Southland Conference Tournament

SUGAR LAND, Texas - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi baseball team saw its 2013 season come to a close on Friday morning, falling in an 8-1 final against Central Arkansas at the Southland Conference Tournament.

The Islanders (33-24) battled the Bears to a scoreless tie until the top of the seventh, when UCA plated eight runs to put the game out of reach. Matt Danton (5-3) was tagged with the loss, pitching a shutout into the top of the seventh before giving up a single and committing an error on a sacrifice bunt. He was lifted after the first run and the Bears used six more hits to break the game open.

Before that point Danton had worked around hits in the first four innings to keep the game at 0-0.

After a final scoreless inning in the sixth, Danton gave up a single to start the seventh and made an error trying to get the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt. After the two runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt and giving up another single for the first run of the game, Franco Pace came on in relief and hit the only batter he faced to load the bases. O'Shea Dumes came in following the hit-by-pitch, but he was unable to get the Islanders out of the inning as he surrendered a grand slam that made it a 5-0 game. UCA added three more to take the 8-0 lead.

The Islanders got on the board for the only time in the bottom of the ninth as Jonathan Gonzales led off with a single, moved to second on an error as Zach Taylor reached on a fielder's choice, and advanced to third on a single by Jordan Lee that loaded the bases. After the first out of the inning, Stafford Brantley singled through the left side to plate Gonzales and make it 8-1 and keep the bases loaded.

It would be all the Islanders could get however, as a double play on the last pitch of the game ended it at 8-1.

Despite the finish in the Southland Conference Tournament, it was perhaps the most successful season in school history, with the team earning its highest ever finish in the league at second place. They also posted 33 wins to tie the second highest total in school history. They also had eight players recognized by the Southland Conference, including three First Team All-Southland members, the most in school history.

"You hate being the last man standing in that circle after talking to those 10 seniors," said head coach Scott Malone. "I want to talk about where they are taking our program, from where we were four or five years ago to finish second in the regular season. You look at the number of all-conference players, it's unheard of for Islanders baseball.

"The talent level is growing. 10 unbelievable seniors, you hate to see their season end. They really changed our program, and they really changed our guys."

 

 

 

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Islanders Fall Short vs Oral Roberts In Second Round of Southland Tournament http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-fall-short-vs-oral-roberts-in-second-round-of-southland-tournament/ http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-fall-short-vs-oral-roberts-in-second-round-of-southland-tournament/ Sports - Islanders Thu, 23 May 2013 8:09:54 PM Islanders Fall Short vs Oral Roberts In Second Round of Southland Tournament

SUGAR LAND, Texas - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi baseball team came up short on Thursday afternoon, falling 6-1 against Oral Roberts in the second round of the Southland Conference Tournament. The Islanders will face Central Arkansas at 9 a.m. on Friday in an elimination game of the tournament.

The Islanders (33-23) got off to a slow start offensively, not registering a hit until the seventh inning, and were unable to post a rally as they did on the opening day of the tournament. Trevor Belicek (9-2) was tagged with the loss after going 5.2 innings and giving up four runs, three of them earned, on eight hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

After the first two innings went six up, six down for both teams, Oral Roberts picked up three runs on five singles in the bottom of the third to take a 3-0 lead.

The Islanders were down 4-0 before finally breaking through for their first hits and only run of the game in the top of the seventh. Cody Stephens started the inning with a leadoff single, and he advanced to second after Eric Weiss drew a walk. Jonathan Gonzales hit into a double play that moved Stephens to third, and Brad Porras singled up the middle to plate him and make it a 4-1 deficit.

The Golden Eagles responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to put the game out of reach at 6-1.

The Islanders did threaten in the bottom of the eighth, getting a Brandon Tierney single and a pinch-hit walk from Dominic Lopez to put another pair of runners on with no outs, but a foul out, a flyout and a strikeout looking ended the rally.

Next up for the Islanders will be an early morning affair against Central Arkansas. The teams will play for the second time in three days, with the winner moving on to face Oral Roberts at 4 p.m. in another must-win game. In all, the Islanders will need to win three games in two day to reach the finals of the Southland Conference Tournament.

Live stats and video will be available for all contests by visiting the Southland Conference Tournament Website.

 

 

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Islanders Rally For Southland Tournament Victory Over Central Arkansas http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-rally-for-southland-tournament-victory-over-central-arkansas/ http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-rally-for-southland-tournament-victory-over-central-arkansas/ Sports - Islanders Wed, 22 May 2013 6:14:11 PM Islanders Rally For Southland Tournament Victory Over Central Arkansas

SUGAR LAND, Texas - Texas A&M - Corpus Christi held a 2-0 lead into the top of the eighth inning before falling behind by a 3-2 margin, but the Islanders rallied for three in the bottom half and held off a determined Central Arkansas team in the ninth for a 5-3 final in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament.

The team will move on to play Oral Roberts at 4 p.m. on Thursday at Constellation Field.

The Islanders (33-22) got a huge pinch-hit RBI single from Dominic Lopez in the bottom of the eighth for what would be the winning run, and they added an insurance run to make it a 5-3 game. O'Shea Dumes (2-2) got the win after coming on in the eighth in relief of starter Trevor Foss. Matt Danton came on with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth to induce a game-ending double play for his second save of the year.

In a matchup between two of the top starting pitchers in the conference, Foss and Caleb McClanahan did not disappoint during their appearances. Each pitcher finished seven innings, with both giving up two runs on four hits as Foss struck out nine and McClanahan finished with seven.

The Islanders were held hitless for the first three innings of the game, but their first one was a big one, with Russell Vaughan reaching on an error to start the fourth and Cody Stephens followed with a two-run home run to left field for the 2-0 lead.

That would be the only runs scored until the top of the eighth, as UCA drew two straight walks from Foss to start the inning to force him out of the game. The first batter Dumes faced reached on a hit-by-pitch to load the bases, but he got the next two batters on a strikeout and a foul out to put the team one out away from ending it with no damage. The next batter followed with a single however, and the game was tied at 2-2. After an error on a pickoff attempt advanced a runner to third, a balk scored the go-ahead run to make it a 3-2 deficit.

The Islanders struck back quickly though, plating three runs in the bottom half to take the lead. Bryce Biggerstaff was brought on in relief for UCA, and Texas A&M - Corpus Christi quickly went to work. After a flyout to start the inning, Vaughan drew a walk and was lifted for pinch runner Kyle Danford. Zach Taylor followed with a double to deep left center and Danford was sent home, but he was tagged out at the plate for the second out of the inning. Taylor moved to third on the same play, and Stephens followed with an RBI single on the infield to tie it up at 3-3.

With the game tied, Eric Weiss singled to move Stephens over to second, and Lopez followed with his pinch-hit RBI single to give the Islanders a 4-3 lead while Weiss advanced to third. With runners on the corners, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi executed the next play perfectly, with Lopez getting himself in a rundown long enough to allow Weiss to score from third and make it a 5-3 lead.

Franco Pace started the ninth and walked a batter before going 2-0 to the second batter of the inning. That brought head coach Scott Malone out of the dugout to bring in closer Jacob Dorris. Things did not start much better, with Dorris hitting the first batter he faced to put the tying run on base. Brad Lambert, who came in to catch at the start of the inning, came up big with a caught stealing against UCA at third base to eliminate the lead runner and leave just one on base. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with just one out, Danton came out of the bullpen for a rare relief appearance since taking on a starting role midway through the season. He calmly ended the game, getting a 4-6-3 double play on his second pitch to give the Islanders a 5-3 victory.

Next up for the team will be a showdown against Oral Roberts at 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon at Constellation Field. Trevor Belicek will get the ball for the Islanders, with the ORU starter TBA.

Live stats and video will be available for the matchup on the Southland Conference Tournament Website.

 

 

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Islanders Set For Southland Tournament Opener Against Central Arkansas http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-set-for-southland-tournament-opener-against-central-arkansas/ http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-set-for-southland-tournament-opener-against-central-arkansas/ Sports - Islanders Tue, 21 May 2013 6:34:36 PM Islanders Set For Southland Tournament Opener Against Central Arkansas

SUGAR LAND, Texas - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Baseball team will start play in the Southland Conference Tournament on Wednesday afternoon, taking on the Central Arkansas Bears in the opening round at 12 p.m. at Constellation Field, the home of the Sugar Land Skeeters.

The Islanders (32-22) finished in second place of the Southland Conference, and will take on the seventh-seeded Bears in the second game of the day at the tournament, with Stephen F. Austin and Oral Roberts starting the day in the 9 a.m. game. The winners of the first two games will meet at 12 p.m. on Thursday, with the losers facing elimination in a game against one another at 9 a.m. on day two of the tournament.

First Team All-Southland members Eric Weiss, Jonathan Gonzales and Brad Porras will lead the team into the game, with the trio comprising the largest first team contingent in Islanders history. Third team members Cody Stephens, Trevor Foss and Trevor Belicek, as well as honorable mentions Jordan Lee and Brandon Tierney, joined them in representing the program in the postseason honors.

Foss will get the start against UCA, with the senior looking for redemption from his earlier loss this season against the Bears. He was mired in a midseason slump and suffered the second of three straight losses before getting back on track. Since the third loss in a row, Foss has picked up three straight wins to help the Islanders into second place.

Caleb McClanahan will get the start against Foss, with the UCA senior earning First Team All-Southland honors after producing a 9-5 record with 2.18 ERA over the course of the season.

Fellow first team member Forrestt Allday leads the offense, with the outfielder finishing the regular season batting .383 with 34 RBI. Catcher Michael Marietta led the entire Southland Conference with 49 RBI, and was second on the team with a .311 batting average.

Live stats and video will be available by visiting the official Southland Conference Tournament Website.

 

 

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Weiss, Gonzales, Porras Make Islanders History As First Team All-Southland Selections http://www.kristv.com/news/weiss-gonzales-porras-make-islanders-history-as-first-team-all-southland-selections/ http://www.kristv.com/news/weiss-gonzales-porras-make-islanders-history-as-first-team-all-southland-selections/ Sports - Islanders Mon, 20 May 2013 3:08:13 PM Weiss, Gonzales, Porras Make Islanders History As First Team All-Southland Selections

FRISCO, Texas - A trio of Texas A&M - Corpus Christi seniors made more program history on Monday, with Eric Weiss, Jonathan Gonzales and Brad Porras each being named First Team All-Southland after the finish of the regular season.

The Southland Conference announced teams and individual awards this afternoon, with a total of eight Islanders players receiving recognition. In addition to the three seniors on the first team, senior Trevor Foss, junior Cody Stephens and sophomore Trevor Belicek earned third team honors for the Islanders. Junior Brandon Tierney and sophomore Jordan Lee each received honorable mention from the league.

The vocal leader of the team, Weiss was one of the top outfielders in the league as well as one of the top hitters in Southland contests. The centerfielder hit for a .337 average overall, and had a .350 average against league opponents. He had 42 RBI, second only to Gonzales on the team, and picked up 11 doubles, four triples and four home runs while not committing an error the entire season in the outfield. It is the first All-Southland honor in his Islanders career.

Gonzales was picked as the first team designated hitter after leading the team with 43 RBI and five home runs, while adding 16 doubles on a .321 batting average. In conference he hit .305 with eight doubles, two home runs and 21 RBI. He split time between designated hitter and first base, earning the second highest fielding percentage on the team in a part-time role. It is the second time he has been named All-Southland, earning a third team spot last year as the designated hitter.

Porras was another versatile player for the team, spending some time at third base, but making his mark on the league at first base. His First Team All-Southland recognition comes after he hit .317 on the year with a team high 17 doubles to go along with three home runs and 30 RBI. In conference play, Porras upped his average to .322, picking up 18 of his RBI behind eight doubles and two home runs while scoring 14 runs. It is also the first time Porras has been honored on the All-Southland teams.

Foss led the team contingent on the third team, with the senior going 8-6 with a 3.13 ERA during the year. His 94 strikeouts were good for third in the league while his eight wins were tied for fourth among all pitchers. He earned National Player of the Week honors after striking out 15 batters in a complete-game shutout during his first start of the year, and was named Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week twice during the course of the season.

Belicek put up outstanding numbers during the entire regular season, but was particularly strong against league teams, finishing with the best record (7-0) of any Southland Pitcher in league play. He had a 3.00 ERA during the entire season, but bettered it to a 2.58 ERA in league competition. The sophomore lefty had 55 strikeouts against just 20 walks over the course of the 2013 season.

 

 

Stephens earned the third team spot at second base, finishing fourth in the league with 19 stolen bases, and hitting .316 near the top of the lineup for the Islanders. He added four doubles, two triples and one home run while scoring a team high of 45 runs during the year.

Tierney earned honorable mention after battling through an early injury and switching positions from shortstop to third base without missing a beat. He hit .264 with three doubles and two home runs while driving in 19 runs and scoring 18 during the season.

Jordan Lee earned his second straight honorable mention as an Islander, hitting .314 with seven doubles, one triple, one home run and 23 RBI. He also scored 36 runs while tying for second on the team with nine stolen bases.

The Islanders finished in second place of the Southland Conference and will look to win their first league tournament starting Wednesday, with a 12 p.m. game against Central Arkansas on tap to begin play in the event. The team will travel to Sugar Land for practice day on Tuesday, taking part in a workout at Constellation Field, host site of the 2013 Southland Conference Tournament, and home to the Sugar Land Skeeters, an independent minor league baseball club.

For all the latest on Islanders Baseball, like the team on Facebook (Islanders Baseball), follow them on Twitter (@CorpusBaseball) and visit www.GoIslanders.com.



2013 Southland Conference Baseball Postseason Awards


2013 Southland All-Conference Teams

First Team

Pos. Name University Class Hometown

1B Brad Porras A&M-Corpus Christi Sr. Needville, Texas

2B V.J. Bunner Lamar Sr. Vidor, Texas

3B Kevin Miller2 Sam Houston State Sr. Pearland, Texas

SS Hunter Dozier2 Stephen F. Austin Jr. Denton, Texas

OF Darian Johnson2 Lamar Sr. Chandler, Ariz.

OF Eric Weiss A&M-Corpus Christi Sr. Houston, Texas

OF Forrest Allday2 Central Arkansas Sr. Friendswood, Texas

C Anthony Azar2 Sam Houston State Jr. The Woodlands, Texas

DH Jonathan Gonzales2 A&M-Corpus Christi Sr. Buda, Texas

P Alex Gonzalez Oral Roberts Jr. Delray Beach, Fla.

P Caleb McClanahan Central Arkansas Sr. Wynne, Ark.

P Eric Harrington2 Lamar Sr. Groves, Texas


Second Team

Pos. Name University Class Hometown

1B Brad Picha Lamar Sr. Stevensville, Texas

2B Jessie Plumlee Sam Houston State Sr. Rowlett, Texas

3B Aaron Olivas Lamar Sr. El Paso, Texas

SS Sam Bumpers Lamar Jr. Bourbornnais, Ill.

OF Luke Plucheck Sam Houston State Jr. Tomball, Texas

OF Ricardo Sanchez Stephen F. Austin Jr. Houston, Texas

OF Jackson Gooch McNeese State Jr. Delta, British Columbia

C Michael Marietta Central Arkansas Sr. Oak View, Calif.

DH Seth Dornak Lamar Sr. Pearland, Texas

P Caleb Smith2 Sam Houston State Jr. Huntsville, Texas

P Jonathan Dziedzic Lamar Jr. Humble, Texas

P Brett Higginbotham Stephen F. Austin Sr. Hutto, Texas


Third Team

Pos. Name University Class Hometown

1B Chayse Marion McNeese State Jr. Red Deez, Alberta

2B Cody Stephens A&M-Corpus Christi Jr. Concord, Calif.

3B Jesse Buratt Southeastern La. Jr. Gonzales, La.

SS Ben Hernandez Southeastern La. Sr. Zachary, La.

OF Harry Slade Southeastern La. Sr. Baltimore, Md.

OF Matt Richard Nicholls State Sr. Gonzales, La.

OF Jonathan Davis3 Central Arkansas Jr. Camden, Ark.

C Jose Trevino Oral Roberts So. Corpus Christi, Texas

DH Tyler Boss Oral Roberts Jr. Spring, Texas

P Trevor Foss A&M-Corpus Christi Sr. Janesville, Wis.

P Trevor Belicek A&M-Corpus Christi So. Uvalde, Texas

P Blake Ware McNeese State Sr. White Oak, Texas


Honorable Mention - First Base: Max Lamantia, Stephen F. Austin. Second Base: Blake Marchal, Central Arkansas; Freddy Villalobos, Stephen F. Austin. Third Base: Brandon Tierney, A&M-Corpus Christi. Shortstop: Carter Burgess, Sam Houston State. Outfield: Will Watson, Northwestern State; Jordan Lee, A&M-Corpus Christi; Colt Atwood, Sam Houston State; Kevin Cho, Oral Roberts. Catcher: Zach Luevanos, Lamar. Designated Hitter: Jameson Fisher, Southeastern La.; Hayden Simerly, Sam Houston State. Pitchers: Cody Dickson, Sam Houston State; Chase Greening, Stephen F. Austin; Bryce Biggerstaff, Central Arkansas; Bryce Kingsley, McNeese State; Jeff Enloe, Central Arkansas; Tate Scioneaux, Southeastern La.

 

2013 Southland Conference Individual Awards

Player of the Year: Hunter Dozier, Stephen F. Austin

Hitter of the Year: Hunter Dozier, Stephen F. Austin

Pitcher of the Year: Alex Gonzalez, Oral Roberts

Relief Pitcher of the Year: Brett Higginbotham, Stephen F. Austin

Freshman of the Year: Bryce Kingsley, McNeese State

Newcomer of the Year: Sam Bumpers, Lamar

Clay Gould Coach of the Year: David Pierce, Sam Houston State

 

 

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Islanders Come Up Short in Regular Season Finale at SFA http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-come-up-short-in-regular-season-finale-at-sfa/ http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-come-up-short-in-regular-season-finale-at-sfa/ Sports - Islanders Sat, 18 May 2013 4:41:34 PM Islanders Come Up Short in Regular Season Finale at SFA

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Baseball team came up short in their bid for a series sweep on Saturday afternoon, falling 6-1 against Stephen F. Austin in the regular season finale at Jaycees Field.

The Islanders (32-22, 17-10 Southland) were unable to solve Lumberjacks starter Justin Choate, with the team registering just one hit through six innings against the SFA senior. Adam Hoelscher (2-4) was tagged with the loss after giving up the first three runs of the game in his appearance.

Neither team could push a run across through the first five innings, with Islanders starter Matt Danton pitching well before being lifted in the sixth inning. That is when SFA did their damage, getting four singles, a walk and a hit-by-pitch to score five runs and gain a 5-0 lead.

The Islanders showed fight in the top of the seventh, with Cody Stephens reaching on a hit-by-pitch but being eliminated on an Eric Weiss fielder's choice. After the second out of the inning, Weiss stole second base and came home on an RBI single by Brad Porras to make it 5-1. Jordan Lee followed with an infield single to put runners on first and second, but Brandon Tierney's hard grounder was knocked down by the pitcher and thrown to first base for the final out of the inning.

The Lumberjacks added a run in the bottom half of the inning to finish the scoring at 6-1.

Next up for the Islanders will be the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament in Sugar Land, Texas. The team will play Central Arkansas at 12 p.m. on Wednesday at Constellation Field.

 

 

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Islanders Clinch Second Seed in Southland Conference Tournament With Win http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-clinch-second-seed-in-southland-conference-tournament-with-win/ http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-clinch-second-seed-in-southland-conference-tournament-with-win/ Sports - Islanders Fri, 17 May 2013 10:18:42 PM Islanders Clinch Second Seed in Southland Conference Tournament With Win

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Baseball set a new best for the program on Friday night, winning 6-3 over Stephen F. Austin to clinch the second seed in the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament.

The Islanders (32-21, 17-9 Southland) earned the series win with the victory over SFA (27-27, 14-12 Southland) in the middle game. Trevor Belicek (9-1) earned the victory, pitching 7.0 innings while allowing just two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five. He allowed just one hit through the first six innings as he pitched another gem. Jacob Dorris came on in the ninth and slammed the door for his 13th save of the season, getting a pair of strikeouts while holding the Lumberjacks scoreless.

Zach Taylor and Cody Stephens did the bulk of the damage with back-to-back hits in the fifth inning that drove in the first four runs of the game. They finished with two RBI each, Taylor on one hit and Stephens on a pair of hits. Stafford Brantley also picked up a pair of hits on the night, while Eric Weiss, Jonathan Gonzales, Brad Porras, Jordan Lee, Brandon Tierney and Brad Lamberti finished with one hit apiece. Tierney and Brantley provided the other two RBI for the Islanders.

The scoring starting in the fifth as Tierney singled and moved to third on a single by Lamberti to put runners on the corners. Lamberti moved up to second on a wild pitch and Brantley walked to load the bases. Taylor followed with a two-RBI double down the left field line to make it 2-0. With Brantley and Taylor in scoring position, Stephens immediately followed with a two-RBI single to center to make it 4-0.

The score remained the same until the top of the sixth, with the Islanders getting a leadoff single by Porras and him moving to second on a single through the right side by Lee. After a pitching change for SFA, the Islanders recorded two straight outs before Brantley came through with an RBI single right side to make it 5-0.

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi would add one more in the seventh, plating the run after a pair of errors allowed Stephens and Weiss to reach to leadoff the inning. After a walk was issued to Lee that loaded the bases, Tierney drew a walk of his own to force in Stephens to make it a 6-0 game.

The Lumberjacks added a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh and one in the eighth, but they would get no more as Dorris shut them down in the final frame.

The series finale is set for a 1 p.m. start at Jaycees Field on Saturday afternoon. Live stats will be available through www.GoIslanders.com, while live video can be found at www.SFAJacks.com.

 

 

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Maxey, Francis Will Not Return for Islanders Basketball http://www.kristv.com/news/maxey-francis-will-not-return-for-islanders-basketball/ http://www.kristv.com/news/maxey-francis-will-not-return-for-islanders-basketball/ Sports - Islanders Fri, 17 May 2013 2:52:12 PM Maxey, Francis Will Not Return for Islanders Basketball

CORPUS CHRISTI - Sophomore Nate Maxey and freshman Dale Francis will not return to the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi men's basketball team, head coach Willis Wilson announced today. Maxey has been granted a release to transfer to another Division I institution, while Francis has decided to step away from basketball at this time.

"We want to wish Nate and Dale the best of luck as they seek to do what is best for their families," Wilson said. "We hope they will be successful in their future endeavors."

Maxey played in 28 games as a sophomore, making five starts, and averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 rebounds on the season. He finished third in the Southland in blocks per game, averaging 2.0 per contest with a total of 57 on the year. In his two-year career, he played in 57 games for the Islanders.

Francis averaged 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in his debut season for Texas A&M - Corpus Christi, playing in 29 games while making 18 starts. He shot 46.8 percent from the field and recorded a total of 441 minutes as a freshman.

The Islanders return nine letterwinners from last year's team in addition to sophomore Jake Kocher and freshman Jerred Kite, who both redshirted in 2012-13. The team has signed forwards Jeff Beverly (Houston/Clear Lake) and Rashawn Thomas (Oklahoma City/Southeast) to National Letters of Intent for the 2013-14 season.

 

 

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Islanders Grab Series-Opening Victory Over Stephen F. Austin http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-grab-series-opening-victory-over-stephen-f-austin/ http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-grab-series-opening-victory-over-stephen-f-austin/ Sports - Islanders Thu, 16 May 2013 6:14:31 PM Islanders Grab Series-Opening Victory Over Stephen F. Austin

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Baseball team earned a 4-2 win on Thursday afternoon, taking the first game of a three-game Southland Conference series against Stephen F. Austin at Jaycees Field. The teams will play the second game at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

The Islanders (31-21, 16-9 Southland) got an early run and led the entire way against the Lumberjacks (27-26, 14-11 Southland) in the opener of the final regular season series. Trevor Foss (8-6) was in control throughout, surrendering just four hits and two runs in the final inning on a home run by Hunter Dozier, the favorite to win the Southland Conference Player of the Year award. He walked one and struck out eight SFA batters.

The win keeps the Islanders in contention for the regular season Southland Conference Championship, with the winner being decided over the final three games of the season. The Islanders would need one more win and a Central Arkansas sweep of Sam Houston State, or two more wins and UCA taking two-of-three from SHSU.

All but two Islanders picked up a hit, with Eric Weiss and Jordan Lee leading the way with two apiece. Zach Taylor, Cody Stephens, Jonathan Gonzales, Brad Porras and Kyle Danford recording one hit each. Weiss, Porras and Brandon Tierney each added an RBI for the team.

The scoring started immediately, with Texas A&M - Corpus Christi plating the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. Taylor led off the game with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. He advanced to third when Stephens hit a ball to the shortstop, with Taylor beating the throw to third base on the fielder's choice. Weiss hit into another fielder's choice on the next play, with Stephens beating the throw to second and Weiss beating it out at first for the RBI as Taylor came in to score for a 1-0 lead.

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi added three more runs in the top of the sixth, with Weiss starting the inning with a leadoff single and moving to third on a single by Gonzales. Porras hit an RBI single through the left side to score Weiss as Gonzales moved up to second.

Lee added a hit in the inning, reaching on a bunt single to the left side and forcing a bad throw to allow Gonzales to score on an error by the third baseman and Porras to move over to third base. Tierney followed with an RBI groundout to the shortstop that allowed Porras to score an unearned run that made it a 4-0 game.

It would be all the Islanders needed, as Foss did not allow SFA's third hit of the game until the bottom of the sixth inning. He gave up just four hits total in the game, the last coming with two outs in the ninth as Dozier hit a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall with a runner on as Foss was working towards getting the final out. He induced a fly out to center against the final batter of the game as the Islanders claimed the 4-2 victory.

The two teams will play a night game on Friday, with Trevor Belicek getting the start against Kyle Cross of SFA.

Live video will be available through www.SFAJacks.com, while live stats can be found on www.GoIslanders.com.

 

 

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Eric Weiss Named Southland Conference Hitter of the Week http://www.kristv.com/news/eric-weiss-named-southland-conference-hitter-of-the-week/ http://www.kristv.com/news/eric-weiss-named-southland-conference-hitter-of-the-week/ Sports - Islanders Mon, 13 May 2013 5:36:21 PM Eric Weiss Named Southland Conference Hitter of the Week

FRISCO, Texas - Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Baseball's Eric Weiss capped off the final home series of his Islanders career in big-time fashion, and he was recognized for his efforts on Monday as he was named the Southland Conference Hitter of the Week following the Islanders series win over Lamar.

He was the Hitter of the Week, while Sam Houston State pitcher Caleb Smith was named the league's Pitcher of the Week.

Weiss hit .533 over the three-game series, including an RBI single that tied the series finale at 15-15 as the Islanders had to rally for the victory. In all, Weiss produced five RBI while scoring six runs to lead the way.

Weiss had a hit and an RBI in the Islanders 9-7 win on Friday, and he followed with three hits, including a home run, in the Saturday game. He saved the best for last however, recording the first four-hit game of his Islanders career on Senior Day as the team won a thrilling 17-15 victory. Weiss had three singles and a double on Sunday while recording the game-tying RBI in the 8th at 15-15 as the Islanders rallied for the clinching win of the series.

Weiss leads the Islanders in hitting, with the senior raising his batting average to .340 with his torrid weekend against Lamar. He has helped the team to second place in the Southland Conference with just one series to go. It is the latest the Islanders have ever been in contention for the league title as the team trails Sam Houston State by two games.

The Islanders face Stephen F. Austin on the road to close out the 2013 regular season. The teams will face off in a Thursday - Saturday series to accommodate the early start to the Southland Conference Tournament next week in Sugar Land, Texas.

 

 

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Islanders Win 17-15 Thriller on Senior Day at Chapman Field http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-win-17-15-thriller-on-senior-day-at-chapman-field/ http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-win-17-15-thriller-on-senior-day-at-chapman-field/ Sports - Islanders Sun, 12 May 2013 7:14:45 PM Islanders Win 17-15 Thriller on Senior Day at Chapman Field

CORPUS CHRISTI - It was Senior Day for the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Baseball team, and the group did not disappoint, with the trio of Brad Porras, Jonathan Gonzales and Eric Weiss combining for nine hits and eight RBI as the team won a wild, come-from-behind victory by a 17-15 margin over the Lamar Cardinals. The win gave the Islanders a series victory over the Cardinals and second place heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

The Islanders (30-21, 15-9 Southland) won their 30th game for the second time in two years, and just the fourth time in program history. With all the seniors contributing offensively, it was true freshman Kaleb Keith (1-0) who got the win, pitching 2.1 innings of shutout baseball, giving up just one hit and walking two while getting the biggest strikeout of the day to end the eighth inning.

The game featured 405 total pitches between the teams in 3:54 of game time, with the Islanders out-hitting the Cardinals by a 21-16 margin.

Weiss led the way with four hits on the day, while Porras, Brandon Tierney and Kyle Danford had three apiece. Gonzales, Jordan Lee and Jacob Hubert each picked up two, while Cody Stephens and Russell Vaughan had one each. Porras had a game-high four RBI, followed closely Weiss with three on the day. Lee had two RBI, one of which was the game winner, while Stephens also added two. Gonzales, Tierney, Danford, Vaughan and Hubert had one RBI apiece to round out the offensive output.

In a sign of things to come, Lamar started the scoring quickly by plating two runs with one out in the top of the first inning.

The Islanders cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the first, with Stephens drawing a leadoff walk, and scoring on an RBI double by Porras to make it 2-1.

After a scoreless top of the second, Texas A&M - Corpus Christi took a brief lead as Hubert singled to center, moved to second on a single by Stephens and scored on an RBI single by Porras. Stephens advanced to third on the play and came in to score on an RBI groundout by Gonzales that made it a 3-2 Islanders lead.

Lamar responded with four in the top of the third to chase starter Matt Danton from the game as O'Shea Dumes came on to get the final out as the Islanders trailed 6-3.

Both teams went scoreless in their next half-inning before the Islanders plated nine runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth as they seemingly took control. All nine runs came after the first two batters were set down, with the big hit of the inning coming on a two-out, three-RBI double by Porras with the bases loaded that just missed being a grand slam, as the ball hit the base of the wall in left center. The team sent 13 batters to the plate before Lamar recorded the final out with the Islanders leading 12-6.

Lamar cut the lead by one run in the top of the sixth, and followed with eight more in the top of the seventh as two errors costing the Islanders five unearned runs as they trailed 15-12.

Despite getting behind by three with just nine outs left for their offense, the team responded immediately, plating two runs in the bottom half of the eighth to cut the deficit to 15-14. Lee started the rally with a one-out walk, moved to second on an infield single by Danford and came around to score on an RBI single by Vaughan. Hubert drew a walk to load the bases, and Stephens picked up his second RBI on a sacrifice fly to center that scored Lee to make it 15-14.

The first two batters of the top of the eighth inning walked as Keith got into trouble, but he got a fly out and fielder's choice from the next two batters to put Cardinal runners on first and third with two outs. With Lamar just 90 feet away from extending the lead, the freshman came up with a huge strikeout swinging to end the threat and preserve the one-run game.

The Islanders offense did the rest of the work, picking up three in the bottom half to put the game out of reach. Gonzales led it off with a double to right center field, and he came around to score on an RBI single by Weiss to knot it at 15-15. Tierney doubled to left center to put runners on second and third, and Lee followed with an RBI single up the middle to give his team a 16-15 lead as Weiss came home to score. Tierney moved to third on the play, and he came in to score on a wild pitch, breaking as soon as the ball got away and sliding in just before the tag from the catcher, as the ball ricocheted off the backstop and came right back to fielder, but Tierney beat him back to the plate to make it 17-15.

Keith got two quick outs in the top of the ninth before giving up his only hit of the day, a double down the left field line, but he induced a game-ending foul out to Porras at third base to finish off the game for the Islanders.

In what turned out to be a memorable Senior Day for all those involved, 10 players were recognized for their contributions to the program before the start of the contest. Stafford Brantley, Eric Weiss, Trevor Foss, Adam Hoelscher, Tim Keller, Jonathan Gonzales, Franco Pace, Tim Beard, Brad Porras and Seth Horton were honored at the start of the contest on Mother's Day, with the moms of the players throwing out ceremonial first pitches to the seniors to kick things off.

Next up for the Islanders will be the final series of the regular season, with the team traveling to Stephen F. Austin on an important weekend for the Islanders Southland Conference title hopes and seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. The Islanders currently sit two games behind Sam Houston State for first place in the league with just three games to go.

 

 

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Islanders Rally Not Enough As Cardinals Even Series http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-rally-not-enough-as-cardinals-even-series/ http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-rally-not-enough-as-cardinals-even-series/ Sports - Islanders Sat, 11 May 2013 8:34:57 PM Islanders Rally Not Enough As Cardinals Even Series

CORPUS CHRISTI - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Baseball team rallied from four runs down in the game, but they were not able to come back a second time as Lamar claimed a 10-7 victory to even the Southland Conference series at one game apiece. The rubber game is set for a 1 p.m. start on Senior Day at Chapman Field.

The Islanders (29-21, 14-9 Southland) led early on and then fell behind by four runs before a Jonathan Gonzales grand slam tied it up at 6-6 in the seventh, but Lamar would go on to score four more to put the game out of reach. O'Shea Dumes (1-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs on three hits while recording just two outs.

Jordan Lee and Eric Weiss both had three hits on the day, while Brad Porras had two on Saturday. Cody Stephens, Jonathan Gonzales, Kyle Danford and Jacob Hubert had one hit each. Gonzales had the big day with four RBI on the first grand slam of his career, while Lee, Weiss and Porras had one apiece.

The game was scoreless until the third inning, with Brad Lamberti drawing a leadoff walk, and then moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stephens. Lee followed with his second hit of the game to plate Lamberti for the first run of the game and a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals tied the game with two soft singles and a sacrifice fly to even it up at 1-1 in the top of the fourth.

It did not take long for that to change however, as Porras blasted his third home run of the season on the first pitch in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 2-1 game. Porras launched it over the left field wall and placed it on top of the berm beyond the fence.

Lamar came right back with three runs, one of them unearned, in the top of the fifth to take their first lead of the series at 4-2. They added two unearned runs in the top of the sixth to extend the advantage to 6-2.

The Islanders had their chances in both the fifth and sixth innings, but they left a pair of runners stranded in each frame, as they were unable to close the gap.

That would not be the case in the bottom of the seventh inning. Stephens started things off by reaching on an error, moved to second on a single by Lee and Weiss loaded the bases on a single to left.

That set the stage for Gonzales, who hammered a 1-0 pitch over the left center field wall for the first grand slam of his career and his fifth home run of the season to make it 6-6.

The Islanders could not complete the comeback however, allowing four runs on five hits in the top of the 8th as Lamar regained a four-run advantage at 10-6.

Weiss picked up his fourth home run of the season to open the bottom of the ninth, and the Islanders got the tying run to the plate twice, but they were unable to get any more as they fell by a 10-7 final against the Cardinals.

The Sunday contest will feature Matt Danton starting for the Islanders, while Lamar has yet to announce a starter for the game. It will also be Senior Day for 10 players, with Stafford Brantley, Eric Weiss, Trevor Foss, Adam Hoelscher, Tim Keller, Jonathan Gonzales, Franco Pace, Tim Beard, Brad Porras and Seth Horton being honored before the game for their time as an Islander.

Live stats and video of the game will be available by visiting www.GoIslanders.com.

 

 

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Maingot Doesn't Fear Texas - Islander Tennis Heads to NCAA Tournament http://www.kristv.com/news/maingot-doesn-t-fear-texas-islander-tennis-heads-to-ncaa-tournament/ http://www.kristv.com/news/maingot-doesn-t-fear-texas-islander-tennis-heads-to-ncaa-tournament/ Sports - Islanders Wed, 8 May 2013 9:13:07 PM Tyler Garrett - tgarrett@kristv.com Maingot Doesn't Fear Texas - Islander Tennis Heads to NCAA Tournament

CORPUS CHRISTI - Former Carroll standout Andrew Maingot is hoping to make the most of this trip to the NCAA Tournament, as it's his last ride before heading out into the working world.

Maingot and A&M-Corpus Christi Men's Tennis Team will take on Texas, a team they have never beaten on Friday in the Texas A&M Regional in College Station.

"Being the underdog in this match motivates us because we are a scary team and a good team and we are gonna fight and we believe in one another and iI' not scared to play them we will do fine," he said.

The two met earlier this season with Texas winning 6-1, but since then the Islanders have won 16 of 18 matches.

Last year Maingot played strictly doubles, posting a record of 1-3, while the year before he was 1-5 in Singles and 3-14 in Doubles.

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Malone's Contract Extended Through 2015 Season http://www.kristv.com/news/malone-s-contract-extended-through-2015-season/ http://www.kristv.com/news/malone-s-contract-extended-through-2015-season/ Sports - Islanders Wed, 8 May 2013 4:03:35 PM Malone's Contract Extended Through 2015 Season

CORPUS CHRISTI - Head Baseball Coach Scott Malone has signed a contract extension with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi through the 2015 season, Director of Athletics Scott Lazenby announced today. Malone is currently in his sixth season at the Island University.

"Scott runs his program with a tremendous amount of class and integrity," Lazenby said. "In his time here, he has elevated our baseball program to a new level of success on the field while also raising the quality of his student-athletes off it. We always preach the importance of having Islanders student-athletes as well-rounded ambassadors for our university, and our baseball program has lived up to these standards in Scott's tenure."

Malone and the Islanders sit in second place in the Southland Conference with two weekends remaining in the regular season, the closest the team has been to a conference title in program history. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has already clinched a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament, slated for May 22-25 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. Malone has led the Islanders to three consecutive appearances in the Southland Tournament, a first in program history.

"I'm so grateful to Scott Lazenby and the University administration for the commitment they have shown to our baseball program," Malone said. "With the improvements that our program has experienced to Chapman Field, our locker rooms and many other areas, we can now compete for the top players in the state of Texas. I'm honored that they have expressed their continued faith in me to lead the Islanders to new heights on the diamond."

This season has seen A&M-Corpus Christi post series sweeps of Nicholls and McNeese State, as well as a non-conference trifecta against Dallas Baptist. Sophomore Jacob Dorris has already broken the school record with 11 saves on the season, while on the offensive side, five regulars in the lineup are hitting .307 or better. Cody Stephens has also broken the Islanders' all-time mark with 19 stolen bases this year.

Malone's marquee season came in 2011, when the Islanders went 37-24 and earned the third seed in the Southland Tournament. The squad opened the season 20-8, including a win over No. 6 Texas. The Islanders then heated up again at the close of the season, finishing with 12 wins in its last 13 games to head into the tourney with momentum.

The Islanders followed that up with a solid 2012 season, as Southland Newcomer of the Year Daniel Minor led the team back to the postseason and a first-round upset of top-seeded Sam Houston State in the conference tournament. Minor went on to become the highest draft pick in Islanders history, as he was chosen with the first pick in the ninth round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft to the Houston Astros.

Malone came to the Island University in 2008, and led his first team to the Southland Tournament, the first postseason appearance in program history. He saw Coastal Bend products Trey Hernandez and Jeramie Marek earn Freshman All-America honors in back-to-back seasons (2008 and 2009, respectively). In 2010, the Islanders were one of the top offensive teams in the conference, led by Hernandez, who hit 17 home runs and slugged .707.

Prior to arriving at the Island University, Malone spent three seasons at UNLV, overseeing the team's recruiting efforts and hitters. He also spent two seasons each at UTSA and UT Arlington, coaching First Round MLB Draft Picks (UTA's Hunter Pence and UTSA's Mark Schramek) at each stop. Before beginning his coaching career, he was an All-American at TCU, and was recently inducted into the school's Hall of Fame.

The Islanders will play host to their final home series of the year this weekend, as Lamar comes to town for a pivotal three-game series. Friday night's contest will start at 6 p.m., with a Saturday contest slated for 4 p.m. and the Sunday finale at 1 p.m.

 


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Shadrack Songok Selected for Southland Conference Hall of Honor http://www.kristv.com/news/shadrack-songok-selected-for-southland-conference-hall-of-honor/ http://www.kristv.com/news/shadrack-songok-selected-for-southland-conference-hall-of-honor/ Sports - Islanders Wed, 8 May 2013 2:09:59 PM Shadrack Songok Selected for Southland Conference Hall of Honor

FRISCO, Texas - Three-time national champion Shadrack Songok (2006-08) has been selected for the Southland Conference Hall of Honor Class of 2013, the league announced today. Songok has been chosen as the lone member and will be recognized at the Southland Conference Awards Dinner May 21 in Grapevine, Texas.

"It's an awesome honor and Shadrack is an awesome athlete," Islanders Head Coach Shawn Flanagan said. "It's a rare privilege to be able to work with someone that is the best at what they do and for two years Shadrack was the best in the nation. It's a once in a lifetime experience to work with him and he is exactly the person that should be inducted into the hall of honor. When you get on the national stage and perform that well, it brings great honor to not just your school but also to the conference. It's a well deserved honor."

Songok won three NCAA Championships, two outdoor (10,000-meter run in 2007 and 2008) and one indoor (5,000-meter run in 2008) during his time as an Islander, becoming the first national champ in Islanders lore and the only individual in Southland history to claim the title in either event.

He competed twice at the Cross Country National Championships and earned All-America honors, finishing 19th in 2006 and seventh in 2007. The seventh-place finish marked the highest finish by an athlete from the Southland Conference in league history and his All-America honor in 2006, marked the first All-American in Texas A&M - Corpus Christi history.

"Shadrack is probably the greatest student-athlete of the Islanders era at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and we're thrilled to have him recognized by the Southland Conference for his achievements," Islanders athletics director Scott Lazenby said. "This is just the latest in a multitude of ways that he has been an outstanding ambassador for our university and department of athletics. I couldn't think of a better person to be our school's first representative in the Southland Hall of Honor."

The Kapsabet, Kenya, native, broke Southland Conference records in the indoor 5,000-meter run and outdoor 5,000-meter run along with the 10,000-meter run. He currently holds seven school records, three indoor and four outdoor.

In 2007 and 2008, Songok earned All-America honors in the outdoor 10,000-meter run and in 2008 he also earned All-America accolades in the indoor 5,000-meter run. Prior to that in 2006 and 2007, Songok clinched the Southland Conference Cross Country Championships to earn Southland Conference Student-Athlete of the Year honors. He was also named the 2008 Southland Conference Outdoor Track Student-Athlete of the Year after he won the title in the 3,000-meter run at the Southland Indoor Championships and the 1,500- and 5,000 meter run titles at the Southland Outdoor Championships.

The former Islander became the first Southland Conference runner to repeat as the champion in 26 years and altogether he competed in seven NCAA Championship meets in his time as an Islander. In February, he was inducted into the Islanders Hall of Honor.

Songok received his undergraduate degree in chemistry and has recently completed his master's degree in accounting. Since the fall of 2009, Songok has been an assistant coach for the Islanders Cross Country and Track and Field teams.

The Southland Conference Hall of Honor was established to recognize individuals who have played an instrumental role in the history, growth and development of the conference while inducting its first members in 1999.

 

 


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Schwirtlich Sisters Named SLC Newcomer & Freshman of the Year, Lyles 2nd Team http://www.kristv.com/news/schwirtlich-sisters-named-slc-newcomer-and-freshman-of-the-year-lyles-2nd-team/ http://www.kristv.com/news/schwirtlich-sisters-named-slc-newcomer-and-freshman-of-the-year-lyles-2nd-team/ Sports - Islanders Tue, 7 May 2013 3:05:49 PM Tyler Garrett - tgarrett@kristv.com Schwirtlich Sisters Named SLC Newcomer & Freshman of the Year, Lyles 2nd Team

CORPUS CHRISTI - Former Tuloso-Midway standouts, turned Houston Baptist stars Lauren and Kirsten Schwirtlich were named Freshman of the Year and New Comer of the Year, the league office announced on Tuesday. Lauren was named Newcomer of the Year and First-Team All Southland, while Kirsten earned Freshman of the Year and Second-Team All Southalnd Honors. A&M-Corpus Christi's Lindsey Lyles, meanwhile also named to the Southland Conference Second-Team.

"We are so proud of Lindsey being named all conference," Head Coach Stephanie Hughes said. "She has worked so hard on her swing and her hard work has paid off. It's a great honor."

Lyles, a native of Lufkin, Texas, led the Islanders in conference play with 16 RBIs and played in all 27 league games. She finished second on the team with a .288 conference batting average while recording 23 hits and four doubles. The sophomore also chipped in a triple, a home run and 32 total bases while splitting time between second base, third base and designated player.

It is the first Southland Conference honor for Lyles, who is a walk-on and finished as one of the top five hitters on the team. Lyles had arguably her best game in the second game against Lamar when she cranked her first career grand slam.

2013 All-Southland Conference Softball Teams

Individual Awards

Player of the Year: Tori Benavidez, Sam Houston State
Hitter of the Year: Tori Benavidez, Sam Houston State
Pitcher of the Year: Kelsie Armstrong, Central Arkansas
Freshman of the Year: Kirsten Schwirtlich, Houston Baptist
Newcomer of the Year: Lauren Schwirtlich, Houston Baptist
Coach of the Year: Mike Smith, McNeese State

 


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Baseball Gets Series Sweep Over McNeese to Clinch Southland Tournament Bid http://www.kristv.com/news/baseball-gets-series-sweep-over-mcneese-to-clinch-southland-tournament-bid/ http://www.kristv.com/news/baseball-gets-series-sweep-over-mcneese-to-clinch-southland-tournament-bid/ Sports - Islanders Sun, 5 May 2013 4:41:48 PM Baseball Gets Series Sweep Over McNeese to Clinch Southland Tournament Bid

CORPUS CHRISTI - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Baseball team completed a three-game sweep of McNeese State on Sunday afternoon, winning 9-1 over the Cowboys to clinch a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament. The tournament will be held in Sugar Land, Texas from May 22-25 at Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters.

The Islanders (28-20, 13-8 Southland) got a big start from Matt Danton (5-2) and the Islanders offense provided the runs behind him. Danton went 6.1 innings, giving up just one run on five hits while striking out four and walking none on just 60 pitches. The Islanders bullpen closed the game with 2.2 innings of no-hit baseball, with Franco Pace going 1.2 perfect innings, while Thomas Casey finished it in the ninth with one walk and one strikeout.

In addition to clinching a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament, the Islanders moved into a tie for second place in the conference standings with two weeks to go.

Brad Porras got a pair of hits, a double and a two-run home run, to go along with three RBI as he led the way. Jonathan Gonzales, Brandon Tierney and Jordan Lee each added two hits, while Cody Stephens, Eric Weiss, Kyle Danford and Brad Lamberti added one hit apiece. Zach Taylor, Tierney, Lee, Danford and Lamberti also each picked up an RBI in the game.

The Islanders got on the board first, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Tierney started it off with a single and moved to second when Lee reached on a hit-by-pitch to put a pair of runners on. Tierney was cut down on a double steal attempt while Lee moved to second, and then Lee advanced to third on a wild pitch. Danford followed with a double down the left field line to score the first run as Lee came across to make it 1-0. Lamberti made it a 2-0 game after an RBI single plated Danford for the second run.

The Cowboys cut the lead in half during the top of the fifth, with Danton giving up his only run of the game on a solo home run by Skylar Barrentine to make it 2-1.

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi answered with two more runs in the sixth to extend the lead. Gonzales started the inning with a leadoff double and came around to score when Taylor laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him to third, and reached on an error by the catcher. Gonzales came around to score on the error, while Taylor advanced to second on the play. Tierney put down a sacrifice bunt to move Taylor to third, and Lee picked up an RBI on a single to center that made it 4-1.

Stephens helped add to the lead in the seventh, starting the inning off with a single, and scoring on an RBI double by Porras down the left field line. Porras advanced just one base on a double by Weiss, as he had to hold up to see if the ball dropped down the right field line. The Cowboys loaded the bases with an intentional walk to Gonzales, and Taylor picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly to center that plated Porras. Tierney followed with a single up the middle to score Weiss and make it a 7-1 score.

The final runs came in the bottom of the eighth, with Dominic Lopez drawing a leadoff walk, and Porras followed with his second home run of the year, blasting a 0-1 pitch over the wall down the left field line to make it 9-1 and finish the scoring.

Next up for the Islanders will be the final home series of the season, a three-game set against Lamar at Chapman Field from May 10-12. The Sunday game will be Senior Day for Stafford Brantley, Eric Weiss, Trevor Foss, Adam Hoelscher, Tim Keller, Jonathan Gonzales, Franco Pace, Tim Beard, Brad Porras and Seth Horton.

 

 

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Softball Clinches Series with 6-5 Victory over Bears on Senior Day http://www.kristv.com/news/softball-clinches-series-with-6-5-victory-over-bears-on-senior-day/ http://www.kristv.com/news/softball-clinches-series-with-6-5-victory-over-bears-on-senior-day/ Sports - Islanders Sun, 5 May 2013 4:38:20 PM Softball Clinches Series with 6-5 Victory over Bears on Senior Day

CORPUS CHRISTI - The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team rallied in the third and held the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth to pick up their first Southland series win of the season with a 6-5 victory over Central Arkansas to wrap the season on Meagan McKinney's Senior Day at Chapman Field

The Islanders (11-39, 6-21 SLC) outhit the Bears (36-18, 15-10 SLC) 10-7 and were led by Mickayla Cochran who went 3-for-4 and Cassie Carroll who recorded two hits.

The Bears scored a run in the top of the second and two in the top of the third to take an early 3-0 lead. Melanie Bryant tripled to right center to lead off the top of the second and scored on a Lissa Avitia RBI sacrifice fly to left field. Central Arkansas tacked on two runs on two hits in the top of the third after Tiffany Roby reached on a walk and Sam Forrest followed with a single and scored on an Islanders' fielding error.

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi rallied back in the bottom of the third with four runs on five hits to push ahead 4-3. Cochran ripped a single to third base before the Islanders drilled three consecutive doubles to score three runs. With two outs, Lindsey Lyles hit a RBI double to right field and scored Cochran before Valerie Perez followed suit with a RBI double to left center to plate Lyles. The Islanders' third run scored after McKinney cranked a RBI double to right field to score Perez. Carroll then brought McKinney around to score after hitting a RBI single to center field.

The Islanders padded their lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth with two runs on four hits. Carroll ripped a single through the right side and Laura Phillips blasted a RBI single to right center. With runners on the corners, Dani Tefft singled through the left side to score Carroll. Cochran then plated the Islanders final run of the day with a RBI double down the left field line.

The Bears battled back in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs. Melissa Bryant tripled to right field to score Sarah Bigej who reached on a walk. Melanie Bryant then scored her sister with a RBI sacrifice fly to left field, but it wasn't enough as the Islanders escaped with the victory.

Bethany Slick (3-6) picked up the victory for the Islanders. The sophomore allowed three hits and two runs while walking four and striking out one in four innings.

Kelsie Armstrong (28-12) took the loss for the Bears. She allowed 10 hits and six runs while walking one and striking out 10 in six innings.

 

 

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Islanders Take Game Two of Series, 3-1 over McNeese http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-take-game-two-of-series-3-1-over-mcneese/ http://www.kristv.com/news/islanders-take-game-two-of-series-3-1-over-mcneese/ Sports - Islanders Sat, 4 May 2013 8:03:55 PM Islanders Take Game Two of Series, 3-1 over McNeese

CORPUS CHRISTI - Trevor Belicek pitched a solid seven innings, and the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi baseball team got all the offense it needed in the first inning of a 3-1 victory over McNeese State on Saturday night at Chapman Field. The Islanders improved to 12-8 in Southland play with the win to keep pace with the rest of the conference.

Zach Taylor and Jordan Lee each had two hits for the Islanders offensively. Belicek improved to 8-1 with the victory, while Jacob Dorris collected his 11th save with a perfect ninth inning.

Bryce Kingsley pitched eight strong innings for McNeese, scattering nine hits and allowing just one earned run, falling to 6-5 with the tough-luck loss. Each of the nine hitters for the Cowboys had a solitary base hit in a losing effort.

Early on, it didn't appear as if it would be such a pitcher's duel. McNeese came out aggressively against Belicek, with Reed Gordy starting the rally with a one-out triple to deep right center. Michael Sullivan followed with a single to bring home Gordy and give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

But the Islanders came right back with a three-spot in the bottom of the frame. Taylor started it with a bang, ripping the first pitch he saw for a triple to deep right center. Cody Stephens followed with a walk, and then Eric Weiss dribbled a grounder to deep second. Klouser tried to touch the bag at second, but Stephens beat him there and then the McNeese second baseman threw it away, sending the runners to second and third with nobody out. Johnathan Gonzales followed with a sac fly, and then Brad Porras added an RBI groundout to make it 3-1.

But from there on, it was all zeroes on the scoreboard. In the top of the second, though, McNeese made it look like it might be a short outing for Belicek. The sophomore got the first two Cowboys with ease, but three straight singles loaded the bases with two down. Belicek rebounded to retire Gordy on a popout to short to end the inning, however. The Cowboys amassed six hits in the first two frames off the southpaw.

At that point, both pitchers took over. The Islanders threatened in the bottom of the fourth, with Lee and Stafford Brantley each singling to put two on and one out, but Kingsley got Russell Vaughan on strikes and Taylor grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning. McNeese got a pair of runners on in both the sixth and the seventh, but both times Belicek was able to emerge unscathed.

The Islanders went to O'Shea Dumes out of the pen in the eighth, and he posted a strong outing, working around a two-out walk to hand it over to Dorris. The righty got a pair of easy groundouts to start the ninth, then the game ended on a sparkling play by Taylor, as he went deep in the hole and used a jump throw to gun down Gordy at first to end the ballgame. The game took just 1:48 to complete.

The two teams will finish off their three-game series on Sunday at Chapman Field. The game is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch, as Matt Danton will get the ball for A&M - Corpus Christi. Jason Gibson is the projected starter for the Cowboys. Live stats and video will be available on GoIslanders.com, and updates will be provided throughout the game on Twitter (@CorpusBaseball).

 

 

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