FEBRUARY 2,1996 — THE DECREE — PAGE 7
Men improving, but women struggling
By GRANT LONG
Now that both the men’s and
women’s basketball teams have
completed half their schedules, it
is time for the Swami to make his
mid-season report.
In October, I said that the
women’s team was capable of
winning 16-20 games and to be
competitive in their conference.
Currently, they are 6-5 going into
their Jan. 17 game with Ferrum,
the conference leader.
In the same October article, I
predicted that the men’s team
could win 12-15 games, depend
ing on how well they played as a
team.
Which brings me to the bas
ketball double-header in the gym
on Jan. 17. Both teams were play
ing Ferrum, but in the women’s
game a share of the conference
lead was at stake. The men, how
ever, were playing to improve
their conference standings.
Even though the first half of
the women’s’ game started off
slow, with questionable calls by
the referees, the game did end on
an exciting note.
Midway through the second
half, Ferrum went on an 11-2 run,
but Wesleyan went 9-4 on its own
and came within two points with
4:04 left to play. But despite the
Lady Bishops’ valiant effort,
Ferrum won 63-58.
As for the men’s game, even
the Earps would have been jeal
ous, because is was an old-fash
Sports
ioned shootout from start to fin
ish.
Both teams got off to a blaz
ing start, but Wesleyan went into
the locker room down by three.
At the start of the second half, the
men came out playing on all cyl
inders. With 16:31 left to play,
Randy Little hit a jumper to give
the men a 45-44 lead. The Bish
Baseball team faces challenge
to continue last yearns success
It’s going to be hard for the
Battline Bishops baseball team
this year to equal last year’s suc
cess.
The Battling Bishops finished
the 1995 season with a 34-12
overall record. The team finished
in second place in the Dixie Con
ference regular season, won the
second annual Dixie Conference
tournament for the second year in
a row, earned a 13th consecutive
bid to the NCAA tournament but
lost in the finals of the NCAA
South Regional Championships.
Considering the loss of six
starting position players and num
ber one pitcher from the 1994
team that went 42-4, the season
was a tremendous success. The
Battling Bishops have now won
or shared 12 of the last 15 Dixie
Conference championships.
Thirteenth year Coach Mike
Fox’s team will have to deal with
the loss of four outstanding se
niors from the 1995 squad and
junior Chris Bryant who signed
with the Baltimore Orioles after
being selected in the 14th round
of the major league draft. Bryant
was a two-time first team All
DIAC and All-South Region per
former. He was a two-time first
team All America and one of the
best hitters in school history.
Bryant was a three year infield
starter and the Bishops in every
offensive category in 1994 and
1995. He was also named the
college’s 1994-95 Male Athlete
of the Year.
Marvin Johnson was a four-
year starter at second base and
center field and was named first
team All-Conference and first
team All-South last season. He
was one of the fastest players in
school history and led the team in
stolen bases with 42 (fifth on the
single season record list). He
ended his career with 111 stolen
bases, third best in school his
tory.
Pitcher Carroll Lewis was the
team’s number one pitcher in
1995 finishing with a 9-2 record,
72 strikeouts and a 3.41 ERA. He
threw 97.6 innings which was the
fourth highest total in school his
tory.
T.R. Cannon and Rocky
Seagroves will also be missed.
Both played sparingly but showed
great leadership and work ethic.
Seagroves now serves as assis
tant coach for the Battling Bish
ops.
The Battling Bishops will once
again rely heavily on its seniors
in 1996. Two senior position play
ers and four senior pitchers will
be called upon to lead the Bish
ops. Pitchers Stan Mohn, John
Cinnamond, Jason Jenkins and
Eddie Mintz will anchor the pitch
ing staff
Catcher Ricky Martin and out
fielder Kurt Cunningham must
have great senior seasons and pro
vide leadership. Martin hit .333
in 1995 and made second team
All-Conference.
Cunningham, a transfer from
St. Mary’s in Maryland, had a
solid junior season but will be
counted on for more timely of
fensive production this season.
“We have our work cut out for
us this year. After losing five start
ers an dour number one pitcher
from ‘95, we have a fairly young
team in which to compete against
a very good schedule,” Fox said.
“Our pitching staff will need to
carry us early until we can jell
and improve offensively. I hope
we are up to the challenge.”
The Student Government
Association Needs YOU!
There are still jobs to do
that need enthusiastic
people. If you are inter
ested, please contact
an SGA member at ext.
5225!
ops never really looked back af
ter that, winning by a score of
100-89.
As for my mid-season report,
I still am going to stand by what I
said in October. I think that the
women still have a shot at win
ning their conference, but they
are going to have to go on a tear
to do it.
The men also have a shot to
do well in their conference. I also
think they are starting to come
together as a team.
TOP TEN
MOST CLUELESS
PEOPLE ON EARTH
10. Rainforest chainsaw
operator.
9. Millionaires in prison.
8. Drivers with turn signal
perpetually on.
7. Las Vegas lounge acts.
6. Unregistered voters.
5. Frozen dinner
enthusiasts.
4. Javelin catcher.
3. Someone in express
checkout line with eleven
items.
2. Chain-smoking gas
station attendant.
1. Drug users.
PARTNERSHIP FOR A
DRUG-FREE AMERICA