SPORTS
- Inside the Huddle
- Bears claw Ospreys in weekend series Ryan Clarke
- Ospreys run into new records
- Team splits conference wins Kaelena Incinelli
- Catching the wave Scott Dye
Inside the Huddle
 Ross Brooks Assistant Features Editor |
 Ryan Clarke Freshman, Communications |
 Ace Stryker Production Manager |
 Maple the Goose Goose |
| Question 1: Should off-the-field issues impact NFL prospects on draft day? | |||
| Players are trained to smash the opposition, and yet people always seem surprised when they smack their wives or run over a meter maid. | Well, they do. Just ask Dee Webb, who was going to go on the first day last season and almost ended up being Mr. Irrelevant. | If Lawrence Phillips' brief career is any indication, dragging your girlfriend down the stairs by her hair may become a liability. | Honk [I like to poop on the field.] |
| Question 2: Where should the Jacksonville Barracudas play next year now that their contract is up? | |||
| In a more northernly climb. Probably somewhere close to Canada, the original site of America's infection with hockey. | The UNF Arena. We're already home to one of the minor league franchises that nobody cares about. Why not a second? | Probably Canada. | Honk [Barracudas play in water, so I think the St. Johns River would suffice.] |
| Question 3: Is David Beckham really worth $250 million dollars? | |||
| Manchester United certainly didn't think so. In the summer of 2003 they sold him to his current team, Real Madrid, for 24.5 million pounds. | That's the Yankee's payroll. Though I suppose if his team wins a championship next year he will be worth it. | Let's put this in perspective. Microsoft guru Charles Simonyi just spent two weeks in space for $25 million. Are Beckham's soccer skills worth 10 trips to space? Not a chance. | Honk [Really, money means nothing to me.] |
| Question 4: Which is more of a sport: bowling or billiards? | |||
| Bowling takes more strength, but there's always the off-hand chance of an impromptu cue fight breaking out in a game of pool, so billiards wins my vote. | They're both on ESPN, but billiards has a Trick Shot Challenge. Beat that with a stick. | Bowling, because it takes bigger balls. | Honk [Bowling represents my cousin the turkey.] |
Bears claw Ospreys in weekend series
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Senior pitcher Derek Bell hits a ball against Mercer University. |
The University of North Florida baseball team (17-24, 7-11 Atlantic Sun Conference) lost two games in its weekend series against Mercer University April 20-22, losing 10-0 and 4-3 and finishing with a 8-2 win.
The Ospreys were shut out for the fourth time this season, falling to the Bears 10-0 in seven innings.
North Florida tallied three hits in game one, giving little run support to pre-season all-conference senior pitcher Brad Johnson. Johnson dropped his record to 3-6, six wins down from a year ago when he recorded 9-1. The senior gave up eight of the ten runs in 5 1/3 innings.
In the second game, the Ospreys fell behind 1-0 early in the fourth inning, but rallied
in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead. Senior catcher James Belyea hit a grounder
to bring in freshman infielder T.J. Thompson in from third. Freshman infielder Mycal Jones followed, driving in sophomore outfielder Brian Wilson and junior pitcher Travis Martin put UNF ahead 3-1.
The Ospreys held the lead until the top of the seventh, when the Bears loaded the bases and walked in a run against senior pitcher Derek Bell.
Sophomore pitcher Tyler Stohr took over the mound in the final inning and gave up the tying
run, taking the 3-3 game into extra innings. The Bears scored the winning run in the top of
the tenth.
The Ospreys avoided getting swept for the second straight weekend, winning 8-2 in the final game against Mercer.
Senior first baseman Jimmy Glanville scored the first UNF runs with two home runs over the
left field fence. Glanville increased his season home run total to eight, doubling his total from a year ago, and recorded five RBIs for the third time in his Osprey career.
Freshman pitcher John Atteo pitched the entire game, striking out seven batters and throwing 105 pitches.
The Bears managed to tally two runs, one in the top of the sixth, and one in the top of the ninth, but were never able to keep pace with the Ospreys' combined 13-for-33 performance.
"It doesn't get any easier," head coach Dusty Rhodes said. "There are still some games we've got
to win."
The Ospreys will take a one- week hiatus for final exams, coming back for a three game series against Jacksonville University May 4-6. The game will decide the winner of this year's Jacksonville River City Rumble.
Contact Ryan Clarke at uspinnak@unf.edu -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Ospreys run into new records
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The University of North Florida women's track and field team has performed a record-breaking season, as
six Ospreys set university records.
"Event by event, we're moving our
way up in conference," head coach
Julie Stackhouse said.
The Ospreys have three weeks before the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship. They plan to continue to improve and set new records, Stackhouse said.
Compiled by Holli Welch
1. 100 meter Dash - Charisma Anderson
Freshman, set a university record with time of 12.31 seconds April 14 at the Florida State University Invite. Anderson broke the previous 12.37 record set in 1995.
2. Long Jump - Emily Kohler
Junior, set a university record with a distance of 5.57 meters.
3. Triple Jump - Emily Kohler
Junior, set a university record with a distance of 10.97 meters.
4. High Jump- Amy Stroder
Junior, set a university record with a height of 1.78 meters (5'10'') April 14 at the FSU Invite. Stroder broke the
previous 1.72 m (5'8") record set in 1989.
5. 100 meter Hurdles -
Mary Beth Renfro
Freshman, set a university record with a time of 15.33 seconds April 14 at the FSU Invite. Renfro broke the previous record set by herself March 9.
6. Shot Put - Karissa Sullivan
Team splits conference wins
The University of North Florida softball team (32-21, 8-8 Atlantic Sun Conference) doubled up wins against Mercer University April 20 and lost 4-0, 2-1 to Kennesaw State University April 21.
Freshman pitcher Devyn Findley held the Mercer Bears to one run through two games,
as the Ospreys beat Mercer 2-0 and 5-1.
North Florida used the long ball to score all seven runs against Mercer. Findley, junior shortstop Ashley Parenteau and junior second baseman Gwen Williams led the Ospreys with a combined four home runs.
In the second game, Parenteau hit her 17th career home run and tied the record set by Tracy Jester in 2000.
Williams also hit her eighth of the season, and 14th as an Osprey, placing her fourth on the home run records list.
The Ospreys did not have the same offense against Kennesaw State, however, as UNF loaded the bases twice in game two but did not drive anyone in.
North Florida's lone run of the doubleheader came as freshman outfielder Kara Rutenbar knocked one out in the third inning. Rutenbar's hit tied the game 1-1.
The Ospreys and Owls remained tied until the eighth inning, when Kennesaw State's April Keasler drove in the winning run.
The team will take a week off from competition for finals, before traveling to Florida State University May 4.
Contact Kaelena Incinelli at uspinnak@unf.edu -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE
Catching the wave
Baseball players join UNF surf team in the water
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As the University of North Florida Spring semester ends, students' routines are about to change, whether it's a new job, traveling abroad or just summer classes. For a few Osprey athletes, the summer means paddling out to catch some waves.
Though not an NCAA team, the UNF surf team ranks as one of the top teams in the area.
Matt Radacz, the co-captain of the team, said the Osprey surf squad is ranked No. 2 in its conference by the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA).
They sit below Daytona Beach Community College and right above the University of Central Florida.
"Nobody knows about the team at school," Radacz said. "We don't receive funding from UNF, this is just something that we've come together and done ourselves."
The surfers usually practice at Jacksonville Beach but travel to Bethune Beach at their own expense for competitions roughly once a month.
The team, which Radacz said has been around for three to four years, has an upcoming tryout April 27 at Hannah Park to fill out a roster that includes one longboarder and six shortboarders.
The tryout is open to any UNF student.
Over the summer, the surf squad will compete at the national competition after qualifying at the East Coast Regional
contest.
Osprey junior baseball players T.J. Gaudy and Mike Smith are experienced competitors, but are usually at the ballpark. When the two have free time, however, they try to get some surfing in.
"I try to get out there at least once or twice a week during the school year," Smith said.
For Gaudy and Smith, the time spent out in the surf has a calming effect.
"It takes your mind off school and work," said Gaudy, who has surfed for 15 years. "It's enjoyable just hanging out with your buddies and family out there."
Smith agreed.
"It's relaxing," he said. "It just puts you in a good state of mind."
As the end of the baseball season approaches, the athletes will take advantage of the warm weather and plan to hit the beach more regularly, Gaudy said.
Smith, who will travel to Hawaii to play in a summer college baseball league, will have an opportunity to surf waves Florida residents can only dream about, he said.
"I'm sure I'll be doing some surfing in Hawaii," Smith said. "You can't pass up that kind of surf."
Contact Scott Dye at uspinnak@unf.edu -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE