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Show sports & Outdoors THE THUNDERBIRD SUSC MONDAY, MAY 14, 1990 PAGE 11 Softballers to join WAC beginning in 91 Capers finish L The Southern Utah State womens softball team has been accepted as a member of the Western Athletic Conference for competition beginning with the spring 1991 season. We were officially notified of our membership status this week by Margie McDonald, associate commissioner of the WAC, Kathryn Berg, SUSC associate athletic director, said. We were invited to apply for membership last fall. It was determined we could benefit from conference membership, so we did make formal application. The Thunderbird women will be one of six teams competing in the softball conference. Others will include Colorado State, University of Utah, University of New Mexico, San Diego State, and Creighton University. We are elated with achieving conference membership, Joy Peterson, SUSC softball coach, said. "It does a number of things for our program. We have achieved additional credibility, our scheduling will be much easier, and our recruiting should improve. Peterson also figures her team will have a much better shot at an NCAA playoff berth, since the conference winner is an automatic qualifier. SUSC has met several of the future conference opponents in recent years. Most of the conference teams are familiar with SUSC. They know the quality of our program, the ability level of our teams, and about our facilities, Berg said. We think those were all factors in our being asked to make application for membership. A tentative 1991 schedule including the six conference schools is being considered for adoption this week. That schedule calls for each team to meet each other team at one site during the season. Conference championship games are tentatively scheduled to be hosted in Omaha, Neb., by May 1 Creighton University. We can compete well in this conference, even though there are scholarship availability differences, if we play at the top of our game, Peterson said. Track year ends For SUSC, Saturdays track meet at Northern Arizona University was the last chance to earn a shot at the qualifying meet for the NCAA track and field national tournament. Though no one was able to reach that point, Jackie Curtis led the Thunderbird teams by setting a meet and stadium record in the womens javelin with a a mark over three feet throw of 133 11 shorter than her usual, according to Coach Joe Lopour. Other high finishes at the meet included Leo Biggs second in the javelin, second in the 800 meters for Jeff Dix, and second for Mary Gribble in the 1500-metrun. in final stats Final NCAA Division I mens basketball statistics for the 1989-9season show Southern Utah State ranked in the top 20 in two categories. finished the season The as the nations 20th most prolific scoring team with an average of 87.3 points per game. SUSC ranked 19th among the 293 Division I teams in free throw accuracy, hitting on 74.3 percent of its free throw attempts. We also had players close to the top 20 category in several individual player categories, says Head Coach Neil Roberts. SUSC finished its second year of Division I with a 5 record. Five of the top six scorers from last year including 6 forward William Allen and center Richard Barton, who ranked one-tw- o will return to compete for the Birds in 1990-9Barton and Allen also were last years top two rebounders. Seven of the 1 1 lettermen from the 0 squad will return. We have good experienced players returning, and weve had a good recruiting year, says Roberts. We are plenty optimistic about next seasons team. 0 13-1- 6-- 6-- 9 89-9- L... -3 """'"S " ill m iPAmilfifi tcaa tii ui 1JJ6) Div )$ iNriiimm- duel. - air rrtiXTUitai )d IRse CKHmanV , T-- 1... 'TUlSVibi! T1 fA ijj iV.' |