The Skyline Newspaper

Jim Hector. Photo by Sara Schultz

Sully Sprint Triathalon Enjoys Third Successful Year, Drawing Competitors from TX and NM

This year’s triathalon, which took place Sunday, March 9, saw 47 competitors line up on brisk Sunday morning. According to Director of Recreational Programs Ryan Baade, numbers were on par with previous Sully triathalons. Division Winners:

Age 15 and Under
Joseph Rodriguez  01:52.2
Age 20-24
Jacob Rodriguez 1.27.37
Age 25-29
Jeff Cowan 01:22.1
Maritza Dominguez 1.22.22
Age 30-34
Mat Emrich 01:14.1
Karen Hancock 01:38.5
Age 35-39
Matthew Shetrone 02:00.0
Cynthia Menchaca 02:15.0
Age 40-44
Steve Hansen 01:16.0
Grace Duffy 01:34.4
Age 45-49
Bobby Gonzales 01:02.4
Age -50-54
Read Johnston 01:22.0
Debra Wess 01:33.4
Age 55-59
Mark Ballsinger 01:15.2
Mariana Ballsinger 01:32.5
Age 70+
Kenneth O Conner 01:30.1
Team
Andy & Felix 01:10.5 1st

Lady Lobos Trip LeTourneau Yellowjackets for Season’s First Win

A pair of three-run innings provided the offense as Sul Ross State University gained its first win of the 2008 softball season, 6-5 over LeTourneau University Saturday (March 8).

Coach Sandra Chambers’ Lady Lobos finished 1-3 in the American Southwest Conference Crossover Tournament, losing to the University of the Ozarks 13-1 and Mississippi College 21-0 in Friday’s action.

East Texas Baptist University edged Sul Ross 4-1 in Saturday’s second contest.

Sul Ross, 1-7 overall will host Texas Lutheran University Friday (March 14, 4 p.m.) and Saturday (March 15, noon) in a pair of ASC West Division doubleheaders at Lady Lobo Field.

The Lady Lobos travel to Hobbs, NM Tuesday (March 18, noon) for a non-conference twin bill against College of the Southwest.

On March 19-20, Sul Ross plays Hardin-Simmons University in a four-game ASC West set at Abilene. Games begin at 2 p.m. March 19 and 11 a.m. March 20.

Kara Lick (Gatesville) scattered 13 hits while Valerie Olivarez (San Antonio) and Gabriela Cordero (Fort Stockton) drove in two runs each in Saturday’s win over LeTourneau. The Lady Lobos spotted the Lady Jackets a 3-0 lead after two frames, but Olivarez rapped a two-run single and Vanadie Carpio (Houston) added a run-scoring hit to tie the score in the third.

Lick blanked LeTourneau through the fifth, and Sul Ross claimed a 6-3 edge in the bottom of the frame as Olivarez and Carpio singled and advanced on an error. De De DeLao (Alpine) grounded out to score Olivarez for a 4-3 edge. Kassie Fuller (Alpine) was hit by a pitch and advanced on a passed ball, then Cordero singled both Carpio and Fuller home.

LeTourneau tallied an unearned run in the sixth and cut the margin to 6-5 with four straight one-out hits in the seventh. Lick steadied and retired the next two hitters on outfield flies to preserve the win.

Olivarez doubled and singled twice to lead Sul Ross’ nine-hit attack. Carpio and Vanessa Pena (San Antonio) both singled twice and Cordero and Lick also hit safely.

Meghan Fisher’s three-run homer snapped a 1-1 tie as ETBU edged Sul Ross in Saturday’s tournament finale.

The Lady Tigers scored a run in the first on a walk and two singles, while Fuller evened the score in the second with a solo homer to center, her second of the tourney.

ETBU’s Randi Wright blanked the Lady Lobos thereafter, finishing with a four-hitter, and Fisher provided the winning runs in the third, homering to center after a walk and single.

Bianca Espinoza (San Antonio) started and took the loss for Sul Ross, with relief from Olivarez. Fuller doubled and homered in three trips, while Olivarez and Celina Canderia (El Paso) singled.

Fuller’s second-inning homer provided the Lady Lobos’ lone offense in Friday’s first game. U-Ozarks slammed 13 hits, scoring seven in the third and three each in the fourth and fifth to win by the 10-run rule.

Lick took the loss, while Carpio had the only other Sul Ross State University hit.

Mississippi College bombed 21 hits and jumped to a 12-0 lead after two frames in a 21-0 win in the nightcap.  Cordero doubled for the Lady Lobos’ only hit, and eight errors led to 12 unearned MC runs. Olivarez was the losing pitcher.

Lobo Tracks...Fuller leads the team in batting (.316), with two homers, four RBI, a double, triple and .789 slugging percentage....Olivarez (.292) has a team-high seven hits, including a double and homer, and has stolen three bases in four tries.

Athletes Earn ASC Academic Honors

Seven Sul Ross State University student-athletes have been selected to the American Southwest Conference Basketball Academic All-Conference team for 2007-08.

In women’s basketball, junior Angelique Benton (art, El Paso Parkland), sophomore Stephanie Marshall (mathematics, Kermit) and seniors Janice Mitchell (accounting, Round Rock, Stoney Point) and Nitra Woods (communication, Andrews) received academic all-conference awards.

Senior Art Gonzalez (kinesiology, El Paso Eastwood), junior Moises Morales (political science, Fort Hancock) and sophomore Filiberto Torres (kinesiology, Clint) represented the Lobo men’s basketball team on this year’s conference honor roll.

To be eligible for ASC All-Academic honors, student-athletes must have lettered in the 2007-08 season, be in at least the second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or better.

Track Athletes Place in Abilene

SRSU senior Austin Davidson (Hallsville) placed third in the javelin at the Oliver Jackson Open in Abilene Saturday (March 8).

Davidson’s toss of 55.44 meters (181 feet, 11 inches) placed him behind two Texas Tech contestants. Tech’s Mike Cast won with a throw of 60.07 meters and Paden Behrens was second with 55.72.

Ben Ahrens (Cuero) placed 14th with a throw of 35.05 meters.

In other events, Cruz Tovar (Canutillo) finished ninth in the 400 meters, 55.49 seconds; Peter Ojeda (Del Rio) was 15th in the 1500 meters, 5:02.7; Larry Lovato (Lubbock) was 19th in the 5000 meters, 17:17.08; and the Lobo men’s 4x100 relay team placed fourth in 45.86 seconds.

In women’s competition, Cecile Mendez (La Feria) paced eighth in the 100 meter hurdles, 19.62 seconds; and Isabel Rubenstein (Fort Davis) finished 10th in the 1500, 7:17.66.

Lobos Lose ASC West Series to UMHB

Host University of Mary Hardin-Baylor swept an American Southwest Conference West Division baseball series from visiting SRSU State University, winning 1-0, 10-1, 11-3.

Friday’s (March 7) scheduled doubleheader was moved to Saturday due to wet grounds, and the Crusaders, 14-3, 3-0 ASC West, gained the sweep with the help of nine unearned runs in Sunday’s contest.

Coach Mike Pallanez’ Lobos, 3-14, 0-3, host Schreiner University at Kokernot Field Friday (March 14, 7 p.m.) and Saturday (March 15, 1 p.m.) in a three-game ASC West set. On March 19-20, SRSU will travel to Austin to play Concordia University.

Righthander Jaime Rojo (Alpine) was a hard-luck loser in Friday’s opening game. The senior allowed just five hits and one walk over six innings, losing on an unearned run in the fifth. He struck out two.

UMHB’s Garza blanked SRSU on thre hits, walking one and fanning five. The Crusaders scored in the fifth on a hit batsman, double and throwing error.

Zach Denson (Fredericksburg), Chris Rodriguez (San Angelo) and James Johnson (Killeen) singled for the SRSU hits.

Homers by Volz, Reinle and Pena sparked an 18-hit attack in Saturday’s nightcap, as UMHB cruised to a 10-1 win. The winners built leads of 5-0 after three and 7-1 after four frames.

SRSU scored in the fourth as Isaiah Rayos (Pecos) doubled and scored on Johnson’s groundout. Eric Castillo (Del Rio) and Rayos each doubled and singled for the Lobos, while Ryan Kassner (Corpus Christi) added a single.

Cody Kemmerling (Hitchcock) started and took the loss, with relief from Ritchie Ortega (Clint) and Robby Lopez (Del Rio).

Reinle’s three-run homer and Volz’ two-run double keyed a seven-run fourth as the Crusaders snapped a 1-1 tie in the series finale. UMHB collected ll hits in the contest and four Lobo errors led to nine unearned runs.

SRSU scored in the top of the first as Kassner rapped a lead-off single, stole second and scored on Rayos’ single. UMHB tallied an unearned run in the third, then broke the game open in the fourth.

The Lobos tallied single runs in the eighth on Andrew Ramos’ (El Paso) infield out and in the ninth as Kassner reached on a fielder’s choice. Rayos singled twice and Kassner and Javier Arrieta (El Paso) once each for the SRSU hits.

Michael Otero (Houston) worked the first four innings, giving up seven hits and eight unearned runs. Lucas Garza (Hebbronville) allowed one hit and one unearned run over three frames and Eddie Vela (Pecos) was touched for three hits and two runs in one frame.

Lobo Tracks...Rojo has a 3.71 earned run average and three complete games in six starts despite a 1-3 record. Opponents are batting just .252....Arrieta leads the team in hitting with a .397 average, 23 hits, three doubles, two triples, three homers, 15 RBI and 14 runs scored. He has 10 stolen bases in as many attempts.

Lobo Tennis Teams Compete at Western New Mexico

SRSU’s tennis teams dropped decisions to Glendale Community College, Grand Canyon University and Western New Mexico University in competition at Silver City, N.M. Friday and Saturday (March 7-8).

Coach Kay Whitley’s teams resume American Southwest Conference action Friday (March 14, 1 p.m.), hosting the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on the Lobo Courts.

Glendale CC scored 9-0 and 8-1 victories, respectively, over the Lobo men’s and women’s team Friday. Western New Mexico defeated the Sul Ross men 9-0 Saturday, while the Lady Lobos fell 9-0 to Grand Canyon University.

Against Glendale, Sandra Torres (Castroville) and Christine Gallardo (El Paso) scored the lone win, an 8-5 doubles triumph over Anela Pehlic/Kristina Sauer.

In other doubles play, Fernanda Busch(Sanderson)/Ashley Hairgrove (Odem) lost 8-1 to Shawn Jenson/Ashley Kildoo and April Areliano (Fabens)/Judith Loya (Marfa) lost 8-0 to Cody Andelin/Sara Tosuner.

In singles, Pehlic defeated Gallardo, 6-2, 6-2; Torres lost 6-2, 5-7, 11-9 to Andelin; Busch lost 6-0, 6-0 to Jenson; Hairgrove dropped a 6-2, 6-1 match to Kildoo; Areliana lost 6-0, 6-1 to Sauer; and Loya lost 6-0, 6-0 to Tosuner.

In men’s singles play, Nolan Pritchard (Monahans) lost 6-2, 6-1 to Jakub Szymanski; John Langerock (Austin) lost 6-2, 6-2 to Andy Green; Jeff Ivey (El Paso) dropped a 6-3, 6-4 contest to George Laura; John Taylor (Godley) lost 6-0, 6-0 to Matt Fesko; Felix Zapien (Alpine) lost 6-0, 6-1 to Julio Herrera; and James Aldridge (El Paso) lost 6-0, 6-2 to Marz Padres.

In doubles, Szymanski/Green defeated Ivey/Langerock 8-2; Laura/Fesko downed Pritchard/Taylor 8-5; and Herrera/F. Herrera defeated Joseph Torres (Alpine)/Zapien 8-2.

Against WNMU, Pritchard lost 6-0, 6-1 to Francisco Periera; Langerock was defeated 6-0, 6-1 by Luke Salazar; Ivey lost 6-0, 6-0 to Emmanuel Hecher; Taylor lost 6-0, 6-0 to Devin Stroman; Zapien lost 6-0, 6-0 to Billy Wilton; and Aldridge fell 6-1, 6-1 to Omar Melendez.

In doubles, Ivey/Langerock lost 8-4 to Hecher/Periera; Pritchard/Taylor lost 8-4 to Wilton/Stroman; and Torres/Zapien lost 8-0 to Valu Fa/ Melendez.

Women’s action against Grand Canyon saw Gallardo lose 6-0, 6-1 to Marie Legros; Torres lost 6-2, 6-2 to Stefanie Griffin; Busch lost 6-0, 6-1 to Camelia Tsosie; Hairgrove lost 6-0, 6-0 to Shelia Johnson; Areliano lost 6-0, 6-0 to Emily Rios; and Loya lost 6-0, 6-0 to Paola Rodriguez.

In doubles, Legros/Griffin defeated Torres/Gallardo 8-1; Johnson/Stephanie Haldeman defeated Busch/Hairgrove 8-0; and Rios/Amanda Jackson won 8-1 over Areliano/Loya.