Steier Receives Fulbright Scholarship

Posted Jun 26, 2008 by Bill Ward

Updated Jun 26, 2008 at 04:50 PM

Former Berkeley Prep and Stanford University distance running star Rolf Steier has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student scholarship to Norway in Education, the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced.

Steier, an eight-time state champion and a three-time state runner-up at Berkeley and an All-American at 1,500 meters while at Stanford, is one of over 1,450 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad for the 2008-2009 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since its inception in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, more than 100,000 Americans have taught, studied or conducted research overseas. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields.

Steier expects to travel to Norway later this summer, where he will continue to train and compete in track with an Oslo-based club. He had hoped to qualify for this week’s U.S. Olympic track trials in the 1,500 but was hampered by an injury.

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One-hitter for Garza

Posted Jun 26, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Jun 26, 2008 at 02:53 PM

MIAMI—Matt Garza was almost untouchable today, facing one batter over the minimum as he threw a one-hitter against the Marlins.

The only blemish on Garza’s record this afternoon was a first-pitch homer by Hanley Ramirez leading off the seventh. He allowed only one other base-runner, walking Jeremy Hermida with one out in the fourth, but immediately erased him when Jorge Cantu grounded into a double play.

Garza struck out 10 and needed just 108 pitches, 76 of them strikes, to get the job done. His previous career-long outing was eight innings against the Rangers on May 28.

It was the second one-hitter for the Rays this season. James Shields tossed a one-hit shutout against the Angels on May 9 for a 2-0 Rays victory capped by an Evan Longoria walk-off homer.

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NHLPA, NHL Announce Team Payroll Range for 2008-09

Posted Jun 26, 2008 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Jun 26, 2008 at 02:52 PM

This brief press release from the NHL speaks for itself:

“NEW YORK/TORONTO (June 26, 2008) – The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association announced today that the Team Payroll Range established for the 2008-09 League Year, pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, provides for a Lower Limit of $40.7 million, an Adjusted Midpoint of $48.7 million and an Upper Limit of $56.7 million.”

The Upper Limit for the 2007-08 season was $50.3 million

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Ex-Jesuit RB Allen Lands At Georgia Tech

Posted Jun 26, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jun 26, 2008 at 03:12 PM

Former Jesuit High running back Anthony Allen, who led Louisville in rushing yardage in 2007 but announced shortly after the season he would transfer, has transferred to Georgia Tech, according to several published reports.

Allen, a junior, must sit out the 2008 season due to NCAA transfer rules and will have two years eligibility remaining.

Allen led the Cardinals last season with 696 rushing yards. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns. In Louisville’s Sept. 6 victory over Middle Tennessee State, Allen rushed for a school-record 275 yards.

Allen will be the fifth former Jesuit High player on the Yellow Jackets’ roster, joining defensive back Michael Peterson, receiver Andrew Smith and offensive linemen Phil Smith and A.J. Smith.

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Bodine, Betsarakis Fall In Semifinals

Posted Jun 26, 2008 by Nick Murray

Updated Jun 26, 2008 at 02:26 PM

Rebecca Bodine of Tarpon Springs and Garrett Betsarakis of St. Petersburg both fell in their respective semifinals at the Florida Tennis Open in Fort Myers on Wednesday.

Bodine, who had upset No.1 seed Amy Simidian of Naples in the quarterfinals of the girl’s under-18 draw, couldn’t repeat the feat against No.3 seed Bianca Sanon of Plantation. The No.9 seed lost in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.

Boys under-16 division No.5 seed Betsarakis struggled all match against No.9 seed Jeremy Efferding of Lake Worth, and fell 6-2, 6-0.

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The Rays Report jinx?

Posted Jun 26, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Jun 26, 2008 at 02:40 PM

MIAMI—Yeah, sorry about that, Matt.

On the first pitch delivered by Garza after I decided to blog about the no-hitter, Hanley Ramirez crushed one out to left-center.

I’m sure the two events were connected.

Anyway, Garza can now concentrate on trying to help the Rays record their fifth one-hitter in team history (and first since 2003). OK, short-term memory problems. Shields had a one-hitter against the Angels earlier this season, so it’d be six.

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Garza making it interesting

Posted Jun 26, 2008 by Marc Lancaster

Updated Jun 26, 2008 at 02:08 PM

MIAMI—We’re through six innings here at Dolphin Stadium and Matt Garza has yet to allow a hit.

You had to figure he was feeling too after his Fresno State Bulldogs captured the College World Series last night, but this is ridiculous…

Garza has faced the minimum 18 batters to this point, throwing 74 pitches. He walked Jeremy Hermida with one out in the fourth but immediately erased that mistake when Jorge Cantu grounded into a double play.

Stay tuned for updates as warranted…

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Plant Players Make College Plans

Posted Jun 26, 2008 by Katherine Smith

Updated Jun 26, 2008 at 01:34 PM

When Plant High School held its annual National Signing Day ceremony back in February, Cornelius Gallon hung out in the back of the room watching his teammates celebrate.

After months of grueling rehabilitation, Gallon finally got to celebrate his college decision. On Thursday, the former Panthers wide receiver announced he will be attending Central Michigan.

Gallon has been one of Hillsborough County’s leading receivers the past two years. His senior season was cut short when he tore his ACL in Plant’s Oct. 26 game against Chamberlain. He finished the season with 34 receptions for 714 yards and 13 touchdowns. As a defensive back, he tied for the team lead with three interceptions.

Also on Thursday, former Plant defensive lineman Jamar Williams signed with Fort Scott Junior College. Williams, who was fifth on the team with 96 tackles and five sacks, was one of the leaders on defense that limited opponents to an average of 15 points per game last season.

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Offers Still Rolling In For Jackson

Posted Jun 26, 2008 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jun 26, 2008 at 01:09 PM

Armwood’s Mywan Jackson continues to attract the attention of college recruiters, and the Hawks’ rising senior quarterback picked up three scholarship offers recently to run his total to 18.

Jackson said Auburn, West Virginia and Colorado are the latest programs to offer, joining a list that already includes Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina and USF, among others.

Jackson isn’t the only Armwood rising senior to pull in an offer recently, though.

Defensive back Angelo Hadley picked up one from Kansas, and linebacker Casey Callahan picked up his first offer from Division I-AA Stony Brook.

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Can Posey Not Win Golden Spikes?

Posted Jun 26, 2008 by Aaron Knox

Updated Jun 26, 2008 at 01:04 PM

On July 16 in New York, Buster Posey will learn whether he is the 2008 Golden Spikes Award winner, considered amateur baseball’s most prestigious individual honor.

The other four finalists on this year’s ballot include Georgia’s Gordon Beckham, Missouri’s Aaron Crow, San Diego’s Brian Matusz and Arizona State’s Brett Wallace.

That said, Posey should become Florida State’s fourth winner of the Golden Spikes Award, joining J.D. Drew (1997), Mike Loynd (1986) and Mike Fuentes (1984). Well, that’s if the voters have any sense of history and appreciation of offensive numbers.

If you need more proof of how impressive a junior season the FSU catcher had, he became on the fourth player in Atlantic Coast Conference history to win the ACC Triple Crown. Posey led the league in hitting (an ACC and FSU record .463 average), home runs (26) and RBIs (92).

The other three players to do that are FSU’s Marshall McDougall (.419, 28, 106 in 1999), Maryland’s Derek Hacopian (.421, 23, 84 in 1992) and Clemson’s Denny Walling (.421, 13, 60 in 1975).

Do you think there is a chance Posey gets edged out for the award? If so, who do you like?

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