Show 1 B2 — T(ie Herald Journal Logan Utah Thursday March 21 2002 is here will lead die Mustang pitching staff Hansen said Nick Eliason a right fielderdesignated hitter last season Dustin Smith and Casey Jorgenson will round out the staff “We feel like we have four or five solid pitchers” Hansen said “We try to develop as many pitchers as we can You have to have pitchers to win die state tournament plain and simple And that’s what we’re gunning for is to dwelop (the pitchers) and hope we do something in the state tournament” These Cats are kittens With only three seniors — Todd Barr Chase Sorensen and Preston Petkes — on this year’s team Thome knows his Bobcats are going to have to get some experience Quickly! “There’s nowbere to hide this year” Thome Mustangs se'ek fourth straight league crown By Gregg Hardy staff writer Cache Valley’s boys of summer — well spring — are ready to take the field Just one problem Snow And a good amount of it Some of the white stuff is still on the local high school fields causing most of the valley teams to practice indoors The Region 4 baseball season gets underway today but only the Logan Grizzlies will see action — against Box Elder in Brigham City where the temperatures have been considerably higher than those in Cache Valley Sky View and Mountain Crest were supposed to play each other today in Hyriim but the Mustangs' field is still covered with snow for another couple and may nqt be game-read- y of weeks according to head coach Stephen a Hansen Instead the Bobcats will host the opener between the two valley rivals on Friday at the more usable Richard V Hansen Park in ' Smilhfirid Logan's field is also lightly covered with snow while Preston's ballpark has been cleared and is ready for action “We can throw and do stuff like that inside but (lilting is what’s really going to suffer” said Hansen whose S tangs are the region’s champions “The only defending three-tim- e live pitching (our players) have had is during the (preseason) games and that is what’s hurting right now is hitting” Mountain Crest'concluded its preseason schedule with a 4-- 2 record Logan went 2 in finished with a 3 preseason while Sky View ' ' ' mark Unlike Mountain Crest Sky View and Logan the other three region teams — Bori- neville Roy and Box Elder — have been outside practicing and hosting games for the last few weeks Hansen Sky View coach Rick Thome and Logan coach Eric Markworth believe this gives the Weber and Box Elder County teams a slight advantage heading into region play “I would definitely think so especially early on” Hansen said “They’ve been outside they 3-- 3-- ' Brent 8tevensHendd Journal left from to snow Schmidt the and Smith Rob dear Palmer attempt Logan High's basebal Jimmy Greg field Tuesday afternoon The Grizzlies begin Region 4 play today in Brigham City against Box Elder know what it’s like We’re not ever going to use that as an excuse We’re doing everything we can inside to prepare” Said Markworth: “We just deal with it You get cabin fever inside You can only do so much You never get a bad hop inside You It almost gets to the never get a bad pitch that you go point places that are bait just to go out and play" While the Mustangs are Region 4’s threetime defending champions they had to share that honor last year with the Roy Royals who Hansen said may be the team to beat this year Guy Andersen replaces Jasen Dowdy as ' Roy’s coach and pitching phenom Marcus Moore now a senior returns as its ace “I’m not sure we’re really the team to beat” Hansen said “I think we’re one of the top teams I believe Roy’s the team to beat They’ve got some good pitching back and some good players But we plan on battling there (for the top spot) at the end that’s for sure” the region’s top team “I’ve only lived here about six years but I think they’ve won the region almost eyery single year” Markworth said “Any time you talk about Region 4 you’re going to talk about Mountain Crest” With Fremont and Weber no longer in Region 4 each team will play die league’s other five squads three times this season In southern Idaho the Preston Indians 4-- 0 in preseason are looking to defend their District S A regular-seaso-n title They are scheduled to open district Tuesday with a home game against Bear Lake : 3-- Stangs try to maintain dynasty During their recent run of sutcess the Mustangs have had one common denominator pitching Mountain Crest lost its top two starters from last year Rick Hansen Cache Valley’s Player of die Year and Randon Parkinson a first-teaselection Ryan Zimmerman and Jory Jensen who both By Rick Watt staff writer BRIGHAM CITY— What a difference a bus drive can make Here in Logan die Grizzly track team has mostiy trained indoors because its trade is covered with snow Thirty minutes away in Brigham City the weather has been warmer and die trade has been clear On Wednesday it was obvious which team has been able to train and which team hasn’t Boa Elder New out the visiting Grizz sweeping both die boys and girls scores Team scores werenot available “This is to get our tuning down This is a practice” Logan coach Kelly Bennett said about the meet Even though the Bees stung hard in almost evety event Logan did have several shiming : ’ Memphis Wagner made nine of his first 14 shots to help advance to a Memphis (24-9) I ‘4 by far we’ve played all year” v - BYU head coach Steve Cleveland on the Memphis Tigers third-roun- game Saturday at d home against Tennessee Tech Antonio Buries added 18 for Memphis ami Chris Massie scored 16 “The last four games Chris : Massie has been an absolute monster and (tonight) again he made big plays” Calipari " AP photo drives past Memphis guard Dajuan Wagner during the first half of Wednesday riighfs NIT gam In Memphis Tbnn Mark Bigelow and Travis Hansen each scored 17 points for BYU (18-1-2) Daniel shot 30 percent from die field Memphis maintained the double-dig- it advantage early in the second half but the Cougars steadily whittled away cutting it to nine twice mark before the and eventually trailing by seven 8 when Bigelow hit two free throws with 8:39 - BYLTs Mark Bigelow (3) said'1 : - Bobik had 13 points Connecting on all five of his shots from the field including f4 from range Memphis took control in the fiifet half with a 15-- 2 run that : put the Tigers up 22-- with 12:31 left Memphis ly extended'the lead to 20 at int 65-5- ' 9 : 4 Wagner had 15 at the half and Burks had 11 as Memphis : “We got a sense and a feel of what it feels like playing in f ' ' Gordon strained a groin back in ary and has been limited to vault (965) and floor (9775) : “I realty wanted to do the but it didn’t happenGor-do- n said “Tm glad I’m able to' compete and help the team on vault and floor Sometimes tilings happen You can’t change what happens you can only do your best” ' Schannan can relate to Seeley and Cordon and not only because she came from the same chib The! 4 Salt Lake Gty native also walked on But shedidn’t get her break until last yeac Shemade sure theAggiecoaching staffdidn’t regretits decision tp give nd Kirn since we were waltons? Gordon said “It's been a cool expe- rience Hersenior reason has not been A exaedy what she had hoped for After diis X training to 6e an ’ performances This Grizzlies’ strength this year may be in the female field events The team is anchored by Katrina Smart one of die best jumpers and middle-distanrumen in the state: Smart won the most thrilling race of die afternoon when die held off a Bax Elder sprinter had the inside lane in the 400 meters Smart also won die high jump with a mark of 4 feet 10 inches and she took second in the long jump (14-51-2) In the throwing events Trisha Slddmorie Sarah McCann and Ifcresa Barren are a strong and wpwiHimyl myM Shdm ce : ' many of diem “We don’t haveany depth" Nate Needham said “Quality not quantity Needham will fikety be die best distance runner this year for die boys andhe took second in the mile (5:0308) to Box Elder’s phenom runner Shaun Kelley In sprints Logan fens should watch for Kevin Brady who easily won the 100 meters on Wednesday In the r jumping events Brady will be and Tera strong rell White should be a good ' surprise in die high jump in his first year of competition Of course the highest expectations tiiis year are reserved for Ian Jenkins The pole vaulter has been a unique story for two years As a sophomore Jenkins surprised everyone by winning a state championship Then as a junior the overwhdming favorite failed to qualify for state This last indoor track season Jenkins vaulted his best mark ever (16-and finished with a top 6 national ranking Now he is the favorite once again to take state Logan hopes the snowmelts off its trade before its first ' home meet of die year 'J WednesdayagainstBon- neville long-jump-er ' : : 5) her achancecm bars At the Big West did it magnificently” ' Conference Championships it came This year she has scored a 990 on down to her routine to decide the barsandhas been a regular on the v teaifa champion She scored a career-(ream with a high qf 970 “I love doing the tvro events I do” high 980 to clinch the title for USU “frwas time for me to break out Of Schannan stud' She is looking to add the floor my shell” Schannansaid ' had realty ever heard of me i exercise next year if she returns knew who I was I rallied ' First dieren tlx the team For me tpat was a great this Friday v moment w That was amazing for me Tm confident that wb are going to Com agreed do well” Schannan said “A long “She had struggled for a couple of we are competing with passion and from die hnrtifwe do that then we years” the coaimsaid“Alotof !are guaranteed a good meet” pie bad teir finger crossed (at I You can bet all four aemota wiUbe Wtot) for her to get through her too-- ’ tine Sdie niot onty got dnough it but doing their best to do just Hurt ' v : ’ : I’ve realty enjoyed competing this year” Seeley sakL “Usually I get super nervous JUs year I haveq different attitude I’m excited to ge( up on the iequipmentand see what lean kx” - S Gordon has the same attitude as Seeley The duo also Sharp something else Both are married Gordon changed her I a last name trom nun alter marrying Beni Gordon and Seefey used to be The 5--2 walk-o-n from Kaysvilk said Degener before manying Matt Seeley she will miss the sport but is also excited'about moving on with her life Spanish Fork was a bit surprised to She has been a stalwart on the uneven find herself in die lineup doing two bars and beam Seeley set a career-be- st V events as freshman score Cuban (9875) and has the sec- “That was reallybbol for me and ondbest averageonbeamtoAbrego : left a big time tournament” Cleveland said “We could have been really blown out against a team that can really put you away”: Biit the Tigers went on a 6-1 run to build the lead back to 12 with 4:26 to go and BYU never got it under double figures the rest of the wa “They never quit and they never went away” Calipari said “They got it to seven but I’m proud of my team because when (BYU) made a run we came back at diem” - : 4-o- $4-i- Shaw will be the Grizz’s top sprinter and she should score many points this season: On the boy's team there are several good athletes The problem is there aren’t very te the most athletic team ' See BASEBALL on B4 Bees sweep Grizz ' : long-tim- Prepltracklandlfield with NIT victory is e Markworth who replaces Grizz Stu in the he Howell belieyes dugout skipper has several talented players tnat may surprise some people within the region this year Like Sky View the Grizzlies are also a young team with seven of their starters being juniors All of their pitchers are either juniors or sophomores The staff will be anchored by junior Tyson Harris who also plays shortstop Harris went 3 in region last year while batting 400 with 13 RBIs “I really feel like we have one of the deepest saw significant time on the mound in 2001' Markworthstill believes the Mustangs are "r “It That's what Markworth had to say on the eve of his team’s region opener at Box Elder 3-- m Memphis ends BYU’s season MEMPHIS Tenn (AP) — Like most teams still in the National Invitation Touma-ment the Memphis Tigers ' wonder if they deserve to be in the NCAA field But after Memphis beat - Brigham Young 80-6- 9 in die NIT’s second round Wednes- ' day' night Tiger coach John Calipari said his team just ' ' wants to move on to salvage ' whatever possible from the season ' “The only way we can prove we should be (in the NCAA) is to keep Winning” Calipari said “That's the only ‘ way you prove it and you know what? We’re where we ' are and we’re going to take of it" advantage ' B YU coach Steve Cleve- - -land didin’t say the Tigers deserved to be playing in the J NCAA but said they were probably the best team his Cougars have faced “It is obvious there’s a litde difference in athleticism and ' quickness between the two teams” Cleveland said “It is by far the most athletic team we’ve played all year” ‘ Dajuan Wagner had 24 points and nine assists to lead “We’ve only got three seniors and they’re going to have to step up and produce We’re excited about where we’re at” Sky View lost its top two starters from last season in Dan Nelson and Ryan Sharpe Chandler Robinson saw some time on the mound last year and will be the Cats’ No 1 hurier Thorne said Clint Lee look like the No 2 and Ryan Doyle is available for quit starts and relief work Barr a preseason Player of die Year candidate should be primed for an even bigger campaign than his junior year which saw him belt five home runs knock in 23 RBIs hit 436 and post a 795 slugging percentage “He had a big year for us hut year” Thorne said of his senior outfielder “I mink he knows he’s got to carry us a little bit But sometimes I think that affects his play a litde He tries to do too much and presses a little bit He’s got to learn to relax and let die game come to him a little bit” A fresh start in Logan “It’s kind of a new beginning for Logan High 1 ! : u 5-- ‘ ' : ' er - 3 X 1 i' i -'i' - Vr v '! : |