Daily Evergreen Sports Blog

By Thomas Rohrer

When talking to Coach Marbut it is clear that he does not take much from the Cougs 9-1 start to the season.  While he is pleased with the team’s performance so far but he has stressed that the team can not get to overconfident or look to far ahead in the season.

Starting this upcoming weekend, the Cougars begin possibly the toughest road trip any team in the country will take all season.  The Cougars will visit Texas A&M this Friday through Sunday for a three game series, followed by a two game series against Bethune Cookman on the 16th and 17th and will close out the trip against Wichita State for a three game series beginning a week from this Friday.

Coach Marbut touched on the upcoming opponents, his current pitching staff situation and what he hopes the team will accomplish on the road trip.

Daily Evergreen: Coach, talk about Chad Arnold and Spencer Jackson’s pitching performance this last weekend and what you expect from them this road trip.

Head Coach Donnie Marbut: “You’re obviously a little concerned when you go into a four game road-trip.  Were a little behind with having two of our top guys out, but for Chad to open up that Friday night with a complete game, didn’t have to go to the bullpen, now you have a three game series left and you haven’t used your pen.  It’s something that puts you into a really good frame of mind.  There is a lot of weight on Chad’s shoulders because he is our Friday night guy and they talk about the Friday night guy a lot in college baseball, how he has to set a tone and that’s the key to a Friday night guy, whether you win or lose he is out there 7-plus innings and your keeping your bullpen fresh.  He has proven he can do that obviously.  Spencer pitches completely different then Chad, from left handed to right handed, from softer to a little firmer.  He is still learning.  Obviously he had a great test, his first start on the road against Bethune (Cookman) and I think he got another test here against Utah.  Now, he is facing a completely different animal.  Playing Texas A&M on the road is completely different than a neutral field start against Bethune (Cookman) and no offense to Utah but Utah at our place.  It’s a different environment (at Texas A&M), it’s a great college baseball environment and you have to be physically and mentally ready for a start like that.”

DE: Are you more confident going down to Texas this weekend after your successful road trip to the same region two weekends ago?

DM: “No.  I mean, ha, not at all.  I know we know how to put the uniform on while on the road, wear the grays and when we travel now, we all wear the polo’s and the sweats and all look the same.  I know we can do that.  But like I said, we’re facing a completely different animal in Texas A&M and then I don’t want to look to the next trips but the entire trip includes Dallas Baptist and Wichita State, just three tremendous clubs.  So, no, I wouldn’t say confidence is something were really talking about now.

DE: Texas A&M likes to run and steal a lot of bases.  Do you tell (Catcher Jay) Ponciano to prepare any differently for a team that will put a lot of running work on the bases?

DM: “You know, a little bit, but we want him to play fast at all times anyways.  He needs to prepare himself, not so much us, but he needs to prepare himself.  We allow him to call pitches and control the tempo of the game.  He’s gonna have to pitch out more, he’s going to have to pitch up more, it’s his responsibility to control the game.  But you do have to throw better and it’s all about pitching too.  If you can limit base runners and limit their on base opportunities, it gives you’re team a better chance to win.”

After the Conference, Coach Marbut joked about how all the media questions reminded him of the daunting road trip ahead. “I forgot about it before today.” Marbut said.  “Thanks for bringing it up.”

Marbut has had success in building the program up at WSU, and he has total confidence in his players and their ability to come through in situations and win games. 

It’s not everyday you see a coach so confident in his team and their individual performances and it really shows why the team is off to a 9-1 start and could make a big run in the postseason.

By Brett Gleason

Well there’s not much to say about this one… except that I’m glad this season is finally over (never thought I’d be saying that before the season).

The free throws and turnovers killed us tonight. We did play competitively through the majority of the game, which was a nice change. Perhaps a sign of improvement? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves…

I’m going to cut it off hear for fear of rambling on and on and only blaming people.

For the live blog of the WSU-Oregon game, click here. Please allow for pop-ups, as a new window will open with the live blog.

Game coverage by Brett Gleason, live commentary by Adam Lewis.

By Brett Gleason

Tuesday the women’s golf team resumed play at the UNLV Spring Invitational in Boulder City, Nevada. Play was held at the par-72, 6,246-yard Boulder Creek Golf Club.

After two days (two rounds) of play, the Cougs have moved into 16th place after starting the day in 18th place by posting a 305 (+17) on the day.

Leading the team for the second day in a row was sophomore Kristen Allard with a 73 (+1) today and a two round total of 147 (+3). She is currently in 17th place individually, only three strokes away from the top-10.

WSU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: T17. Kristen Allard (74-73–147, +3), T52. Emma Betland (79-74–153, +9), T70. Ellen Park (78-79—157, +13), T80. Allison Travis (80-79–159, +14), T84 Ali Thompson (81-79–160, +15).

TEAM RESULTS: 1. UNLV (281-286–567 -9), 2. Baylor,  (293-291–584, +8), 3. Idaho (285-300–585, +9), 4. Texas Tech (294-294–588, +12), T5. Ball State (289-302–591, +15), T5. Nebraska (295-296–591 +15), 7. Tulsa (298-295–593 +17), 8. Texas (301-293–594, +18), 9. Wisconsin (298-301–599 +23), 10. Brigham Young (298-302—600, +24), 11. Missouri (290-312–602, +26), T12. Campbell (303-301–604, +28), T12. Portland State (294-310—604, +28), 14. Texas State (300-308–608, +32),  15. Oregon State (304-310–614, +38), T16. Washington State (311-305–616, +40), T16. New Mexico State (300-316–616, +40) 17. Wyoming (310-320-630, +54).

Play resumes tomorrow at 7:30 a.m.

By Brett Gleason

Monday the women’s golf team began play at the UNLV Spring Invitational in Boulder City, Nevada. Play was held at the par-72, 6,246-yard Boulder Creek Golf Club.

After day one the Cougs find themselves sitting in 18th place in the 18 team field, posting a 311 (+23).

Leading for WSU after day one is sophomore Ellen Park of 74 (+2), putting her in a tie for 29th place.

WSU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: T29. Kristen Allard (74, +2), T66. Ellen Park (78, +6), T75. Emma Betland (79, +7), T81. Allison Travis (80, +8), T87 Ali Thompson (81, +9).

TEAM RESULTS: 1. UNLV (281, -7), 2. Idaho (285, -3), 3. Ball State (289, +1), 4. Missouri (290, +2), 5. Baylor, (293, +5), T6. Texas Tech (294, +6), T6. Portland State (294, +6), 8. Nebraska (295, +7), T9. Wisconsin (298, +10), T9. Tulsa (298, +10), T9. Brigham Young (298, +10), T12. Texas State (300, +12), T12. New Mexico State (300, +12), 14. Texas (301, +13), 15. Campbell (303, +15), 16. Oregon State (304, +16), 17. Wyoming (310, +22), 18. Washington State (311, +23).

Here is the latest episode of Inside the Lines, a Cable 8 production. You can find Cable 8’s YouTube channel here.

Few sports players are more prolific than Brett Favre. With the media’s yearly retirement will-he wont-he debate and a recent appearance on Jay Leno, there are those who are hating on Favre.

Now, I need to post a few disclaimers about my own relationship with Favre so people don’t call me a Favre hater/Favre fan-boy and pass instant judgment. I was never much of a Packers fan. In fact I typically rooted against the Packers. When Favre was with the Packers he just wasn’t that interesting to me. Another franchise QB who won games and lost games. Sure he was gutsy and played with a lot of heart but that’s not too unique in the NFL.

Then he retired. Now look, I really don’t understand what a big deal it is to retire and change your mind. M.J came back, very few of us can imagine what it is like to play one sport everyday of your life and do nothing but think about it and then suddenly stop doing it. It’s got to be a mind trip.

Favre retired but changed his mind but Green Bay moved on. He wanted one last crack at the big one and was able to go to the Jets. But his arm didn’t hold up and he started throwing picks and the fit just wasn’t working, thus second retirement.

Then he came back to Vikings for a dream season that helped my girlfriend get 2^nd place in the fantasy league by starting Favre, Sidney Rice, and Vincent Shiancoe. Yeah there are people that might say otherwise but they did well in spite of Favre not because of him, they were already a good team.

That is stupid. They were a good team but if they had been starting Tavarious Jackson instead of Favre, they wouldn’t have played in the NFC Championship, much less came within five yards and a FG from winning it.

Now here is the big thing: I want Favre to come back. He is fun to watch, love him or hate him. I think anyone who ever played sports competitively has that thought, I bet I could still go out there and score a touchdown, nail a 3 pointer, or run a under 5 minute mile. Favre shows proves that age need not define ability. I mean Favre took a beating that plenty of young healthy QB’s have nightmares about against the Saints, his injury report apparently includes two ankles, both shoulders, his head and one knee. How many people can take that sort of beating? He was the embodiment of mind over matter.

Oh yeah and if you are saying he doesn’t have what it takes, remember this: the game before the NFC championship he had as close as you can get to a perfect game in the NFL, throwing four touch downs and zero interceptions against a Cowboy defense considered favorites by everyone, a team that had even beat the Saints.

Change one of the Vikings turnovers be it the 3 fumbles or Favre’s 2 picks into 3 points and this Super bowl would have been the most watched ever by an even large margin with Favre vs. Manning.

I sure hopes he comes back. My girlfriend likes him and that means I get to watch more football.

By Derrick Skaug

The WSU baseball team remained undefeated Friday after two dominating wins over the Visiting University of Utah Utes.

The Cougars won the first of two contests 5-1 and followed up with a 6-2 victory later in the afternoon.

Sophomore outfielder Derek Jones continued his hot hitting, tallying 4 hits and a long distance homerun to right field that flew over the trees surrounding Bailey-Brayton stadium and landed close to the street.

“I saw the ball well and it was kinda my day.” Jones said. “It was a fastball up and in and I stayed disciplined on it.”

WSU starting pitcher Chad Arnold threw his first ever complete game, tallying six strikeouts, one earned run and only 4 hits in the 5-1 victory.

Arnold had command of the strike zone all game, something he has made a priority as the Cougars ace on the pitching staff.

“I thought I did a decent job of pounding the fastball early, trying to work ahead in the count.” Arnold said. “I wanted to make things a lot easier on my self.”

The Cougars registered 26 hits, and 11 runs in the two games.

In the field, the Cougars posted two errors in the early game, doubling their season total. A diving stop by third baseman Matt Argyropoulos started a 5-4-3 double play that was the final out of game one.

Argyropoulos continued to show his fine leather, with another reach on a line drive in the 5th inning of the second game.

The Cougars move to 8-0 on the season after the two victories over the Utes and will look to improve to 9-0 today at 2 PM. James Wise will take the mound for the Cougars against left hander Bryn Card.

After two days of play (3 rounds) at the Border Olympics in Laredo, Texas, the WSU men’s golf team finished in a tie for 6th place in the 16-team field. The tournament was played on the par-72, 7,241-yard Laredo Country Club.

WSU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: T16. Austin Hurt (77-68-76—221, +5); T25. Kevin Tucker (74-78-71—223, +7); T38. Trent Sanders (79-67-80—226, +10); T38. Nick Ellis (77-73-76—226, +10); T51. Nick Grigsby (76-75-78—229, +13).

TEAM RESULTS: 1. Texas State (292-289-295—876, +12); 2. Oklahoma (293-287-300—880, +16); 3. Lamar University (291-282-308—881, +17); 4. UT-Arlington (298-286-298—882, +18); 5. Auburn University (289-299-295—883, +19); T6. Arkansas (287-299-302—888, +24); T6. Washington State (304-283-301—888, +24); 8. Baylor (301-282-308—891, +27); 9. Notre Dame (300-297-304—901, +37); T10. North Texas (290-311-302—903, +39); T10. Air Force (304-294-305—903, +39); 12. Rice (288-316-303—907, +43); 13. New Mexico State (309-298-305–912, +48); 14. Houston (304-299-314—917, +53); 15. UTSA (311-306-309—926, +62); T15. Texas El Paso (307-307-312—926, +62).

TOP 5 INDIVIDUALS: 1. Joakim Mikkelsen, Baylor (70-68-75—213, -3); 2. Kyle Kopsick, Auburn (68-75-72—215, -1); 3. Will McCurdy, Auburn (72-71-73—216, E); T4. Alastair Jones, Texas State (70-74-73—217, +1); T4. Tyler Rody, Oklahoma (74-69-74—217, +1); T4. MJ Daffue, Lamar (73-69-75—217, +1).

Today, the men’s golf team began the Border Olympics in Laredo, Texas.

The 16 team field consists of: Lamar University, Oklahoma, Texas State, Baylor, UT Arlington, Arkansas, Auburn, Notre Dame, Air Force, North Texas, Houston, Rice, New Mexico State, Texas El Paso and UTSA.

After day one of play (two rounds) the Cougs are sitting in a tie for 11th place with a 5-under par 288.

“We really did not play that bad in the morning,” said WSU Head Coach Walt Williams. “We just finished poorly and gave up ten strokes on the last three holes. The guys made a good run in the afternoon and got us back in the hunt and hopefully we can make another run up the leaderboard tomorrow morning.”

Here are the results after day one of play:

WSU INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: T13. Austin Hurt (77-68—145, +1); T16. Trent Sanders (79-67—146, +2); T36. Nick Ellis (77-73—150, +6); T42. Nick Grigsby (76-75—151, +7); T49. Kevin Tucker (74-78—152, +8).

TEAM RESULTS: 1. Lamar University (573); 2. Oklahoma (580); 3. Texas State (581); 4. Baylor (583); 5. UT Arlington (584); 6. Arkansas (586); 7. Washington State (587); 8. Auburn (588); 9. Notre Dame (597); 10. Air Force (598); 11. North Texas (601); 12. Houston (603); 13. Rice (604); 14. New Mexico State (607); 15. Texas El Paso (614); 16. UTSA (617).

Play concludes with one final round on Saturday. Look in Mondays issue of the Evergreen for a full story, including the results from the women’s team at the Bruin Wave Invitational.