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Section
®E)e CIiarlottE
SPORTS
THURSDAY APRILS, 2006
Better
by leaps
and
bounds
49ers’ Johnson
aims to regain
winning form
By Eric Bozeman
FOR THE CHABLOTTE PO^
Sharonda Johnson is mak
ing her presence knovm in
the triple jump. Again.
The Charlotte 49ers senior
rebounded from two knee
surgeries to triple jump 41
feet, 7 inches at the
Charlotte Invitational on
April 1. Johnson finished
second in the competition,
improved on her season’s
best by 3.25 inches, and
qualified her for the NCAA
Regionals (improving on her
qualifying leap of 41-3.5 at
the 49er Classic on March
18).
‘1 had one knee surgery
last April and another last
July, they went in and
cleared up some stuff,”
Johnson said. “I feel good
that I was able to come back
fixim knee surgery and qual
ify for regionals at the first
meet, I’m pretty happy so
far, but I think I stUl have a
long way to go.”
Charlotte coach Robert
Olsen believes Johnson has
used her peission for compe
tition to bring her back from
rehab a lot sooner than
many expected.
“Her quest for excellence
makes her successful in
track and field, being that
driven made me know that
she would blaze through her
rehab,” Olsen said. “She
looks great, she looks as
good or better than she did a
year ago.”
Johnson said rehabilita
tion was not an easy part of
training, but she was able to
make the best of the situa
tion until she could return to
ccanpetition.
“Rehab was very impor
tant,” she said. “I was in
rehab for almost a year geri
ting the ligaments around
my knees strong and taking
(pain relievers) every day to
keep the inflammation
down.
“There were times when I
was down on myself, but I
Please see 49ERS/4C
PHOTOAVADE NASH
Charlotte 49ers triple
jumper Sharonda Johnson
is looking to return to all-
America form after two
knee surgeries.
PITCHING FOR 30-WIN SEASON
PHOTOSAlVADE NASH
J.C. Smith freshman pitcher Teresa Vorwerk is the Golden Bulls’ top hurler and a major part of
their softball resurgence.
Diamond gems
After 4 year absence, J.C. Smith back in softball rankings
By Herbert L. White
lierb.^vhite@tliecharlonepostx^om
Johnson C. Smith softbaQ is
moving into rare territory
The Golden Bulls (25-11, 13-
2 CIAA) and fourth in the Mid-
Atlantic Region for the second
time in school history and on
pace for their best season ever.
After years of struggling, their
success is due in part to a boost
of confidence.
“I think a lot of it has to do
with coaching and our atti
tude, instilling in US a drive
and intensity,” said seriior
third baseman and co-captain
Brandi Young. “Our team has
changed a lot this year. I think
our attitude has changed,
knowing we can go out there
and win.”
Second-year coach Rod
Robinson implemented a sense
of discipline that included
cleaning house in favor of a
younger, defense-oriented
team. Freshman Tferesa
Vorwerk (Concord J.M.
Robinson High) is the ace
pitcher and the Bulls are pro
lific enou^ on offense to get in
finnt and stay there.
“Defense wins games, offense
sells tickets,” Yotmg said. “We
work mostly on defense in
practice. We hit ev^y now and
then, but we figure if we keep
See GOLDEN/2C
FeUon
flmlsliis
grooiK
in lime
As minutes go up, East
rookie of month benefits
By Herbert L. White
herb.whi!e®lltecliarloneposix'om
Time is turning Raymond Felton into a
dependable NBA point guard.
The Charlotte Bobcats guaiti was named
Eastern Conference rookie of the month for
February his second straight honor. Felton, the
fifth pick in the NBA Draft, averaged 15.6
points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.45 steals
in 11 games. He connected on 45.7 percent ofhis
three-point attempts and 85.7 percent finm the
fiee throw fine.
“I’m in the situation now where I’m comfort
able with the offense, comfortable with every
body out there and comfortable with what I can
bring to the team,” he said. “I’m definitely much
better than my first game of the season.
While New Orleans’ Chris Paul has been all
but given the rookie of the year award, Felton
has grown in his understanding of the pro
game, and the Bobcats are responding as a
result. Coach Bemie Bickerstaff switched to the
point full-time, with incumbent Brevin Knight
moving to off’-guard.
“Its a learning process. I’m getting a lot of
minutes now and getting the opportunity to be
out there and do a lot of things. You’re going to
PHOTO/CURTIS WILSON
Charlotte Bobcats guard Raymond Felton is
benefiting from increased time at point guard.
He earned a second straight Eastern
Conference rookie of the month award.
MCNAIR’S DAYS NUMBERED?
Titans owner says
he’s looking to
Marlins looking for prospective home Qg
By Kristie Rieken
THE.ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON - Florida Marlins
owner Jeffi^y Loria said Sunday
that discussions with San
Antonio officials about the possi
bility of relocating the team to
the Thxas dty are serious.
San Antonio has been trying to
lure the team and county offi
cials have offered to put up $200
million toward an estimated
$300 million ballpark if voters
approve extending a tax on hotel
and car rentals.
The Marlins slashed Iheir pay
roll to about $15 million in the
offseason because of poor atten
dance and no progress in Loria’s
bid for a baseball-specific stadi
um. Florida plays at Dolphins
Stadium, home of Miami’s NFL
team.
‘We’re still looking at all our
options, but our talks in San
Antonio are serioios,” Loria said
Simday at Minute Maid Park
before addressing his team.
Loria said several officials
See MARLINS/2C
Top prep players at All-Star Classic
By Herbert L. White
herb.whUe®tliecharlottepost£om
Ihe 14th annual Charlotte All-
Star Classic win put some of the
best high school basketball play
ers on one floor.
The classic at Providence Day
School start at 1:30 p.m. with
the girls game, followed by the
boys at 3 p.m. Both rosters are
stacked with Division I and II
signees, including prospects
heading to the SEC and Big Tbn.
Among girls, South
Mecklenburg’s Erica Williamson
(Notre Dame), Vance’s Wendy
Stywalt (Charlotte) and "Victory
Christian’s Kendria Holmes
(Providence or Ifliode Island)
will play The boys’ game will
include Davidson signee
Stephen Curry (Charlotte
Christian) South Carolina
signee Brandis Raley
(Statesville Christian).
THe ASSOCIATED PRESS
NASHVILLE, Tfenn. - The last time the Titans
had a No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft
was 1995 when they selected
Alcorn State’s Steve McNair to
take over as quarterback.
The Titans again have the No. 3
pick in the April 29-30 draft, and
owner Bud Adams is ready to
draft another quarterback.
We ought to get a pretty good
quarterback out of this draft,”
Adams said Wednesday at the
NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla.
“Drafting No. 3, we ought to get a pretty good
quarterback in that spot ri^t there. I hope we
get a guy who can be our leader for about 10
years. It’s time for that, I think.”
McNair wants to remain the starter for sever
al seasons and isn’t interested in grooming a
potential successor with only a one-year con-
See TITANS/3C
McNair
lOOC