KEVIN WEMPE
Three of our area teams were in play today at national tournaments, and two came off with big wins, including Friends University picking up its first national tournament win, 6-5 over Park (Mo.) in Decatur, Ala. More on that later because I just got off the phone with some guy who was impersonating the SID at Friends, and wanted to call the score in. Except for Friends doesn’t have an SID. And he didn’t know much about the game, so he wasn’t doing a good job of faking it.
As for ESU … The No. 17 Hornets beat No. 16 Angelo State 23-0 in the first round of NCAA Division II Tournament South Central Regional in Warrensburg, Mo. No typo. They’re really having it in Warrensburg. Just kidding … yes, that was Twenty-three to nothing. A couple of Hornets had really big days in this berserker outing, with Kevin Wempe and Kenny Burkhead both going 5 for 5 with one home run apiece and 7 RBIs apiece. MIAA player of the year Conner Crumbliss was 4 for 6 with 3 RBIs and 5 runs. They’ll play Nebraska-Omaha Friday at 7.
ANNIE MATTHEWS
As far as Friends … big win. Real big win. They needed that — Tony Segovia told me that they got to Decatur last year, lost the first game, and tumbled to an 0-4 showing after winning 32 straight to get there. This year, they said they were going to have fun and … voila! Friends trailed 6-1 in this one after Park had a 1-0 lead, then Park rallied for 4 runs in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Annie Matthews had 2 RBIs in the win and KCAC player of the year Megan VinZant walked over from shortstop to pick up the save. They play Hastings (Neb.) today at 4:30 p.m.
Here’s where to go if you want to follow the game live.
The Cowley softball team split in its NJCAA Tournament debut, beating Macomb (Mich.) 4-3 behind 10 Ks from Jacey Juden then losing, 3-0, to Kankakee, only mustering three hits. And on the Cowley note, the baseball team won Region VI last night and are headed to Grand Junction.
I’m out. -TA