by Jameson Roper | Apr 19, 2010 | Sports
The Nashville Predators hockey team is one of the National Hockey League’s recent fairy tale stories. At a time in the sport where it seems as though only marquee names like Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby gain any attention, the Predators are a breath of fresh air. While the team quietly climbed up the standings eventually to finish the regular season with 100 points, they have done so with a roster comprised of no definitive stars. Since the team’s inception, they have always chosen to draft little-known players and grow them. David Poile, the Predators’ Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, has never been the type to sacrifice a potential talent for a hot player in the short term. The Predators have established a mentality of producing “homegrown” players– players that go through the system and are bred to play a style of hockey befitting to the club. Anyone who watched the Winter Olympics this past February in Vancouver will probably remember the names Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. The Canadian gold medalist and U.S. silver medalist, respectively, received praise from media outlets and analysts after both playing major roles in their countries’ play. Both were drafted and bred within the organization, and have become premier defensemen in the game of hockey. Both are prime examples of the homegrown players, a process this organization has stressed from day one. Despite making trips to the postseason in five of the previous six seasons and consistently being a force within the league, the attendance has suffered. Hockey has always been a hard sell in southern America, especially in...
by Hunter Patterson | Apr 18, 2010 | Sports
Lipscomb battled back to take the lead in 8th after being down 7-o earlier in the game, however, FGCU rallied to beat the Bisons 11-9 on Sunday.Just like in all three games of the weekend series with the Eagles, the Bisons were able to score enough runs to win. Allowing runs in the late innings would be where the Bisons struggled. Although the pitchers struggled, both Ryan Wilkins and Zach Messer both had three hits in the game. Wilkins also had three RBIs on the day. Sophomore Davey Hackett started the game for the Bisons. Hackett was coming off a strong performance after shutting out Kenwood. Hacket struggled today though, giving up five runs (four earned) in four innings of work. Hackett was relieved by Chad Fromm and Matt Bowling. Bowling (0-5) was given the loss. After FGCU went up 7-0, the Bisons rallied back to take the lead 9-8 in the 8th. Lipscomb scored two runs in the 5th, followed by a one-run 7th inning. The Bisons scored six in the 8th, three courtesy of a Ryan Wilkins home run. Florida Gulf Coast however scored three runs in the top of the ninth to put the Eagles back on top. Lipscomb was shut out in the bottom half of the inning. The Bisons are now 5-7 in the Atlantic Sun and 12-24 overall. For the box score, click here. For the game story from LipscombSports.com, click here. The Bisons host nationally ranked Vanderbilt on Tuesday. Game time is at 6 p.m. Be sure to come out to Ken Dugan field and cheer on your...
by Hunter Patterson | Apr 18, 2010 | Sports
The Bisons dropped game two of the weekend’s three game series on Saturday, losing 10-9 to Florida Gulf Coast.Lipscomb lead for most of the game, however allowed four runs in the 8th. That allowed FGCU to improve their already good record in to the A-Sun to 13-4. The Bisons were not able to rally in the bottom half of the 9th with runners on base. Lipscomb loaded the bases with one out. The game ended with the Bisons leaving all three on base, losing 10-9. Lipscomb’s record is now 12-34 overall and 5-6 in the Atlantic Sun. Kyle Henry and M.L. Williams both had three RBIs on the day for the Bisons. Andrew Nickerson had a three-hit game, while junior Corey Hale tallied two hits. Josh Cotham was given the loss, giving up four runs in three innings. Alex Ross started the game for the Bisons. The box score can be viewed here, along with a full recap from...
by Hunter Patterson | Apr 18, 2010 | Sports
The Lady Bison softball team tallied two wins (4-1, 6-0) on Saturday, defeating Florida Gulf Coast 4-1 and 6-0. The wins lifted Lipscomb to 14-2 in the A-Sun and 37-9 overall.In game one the Lady Bisons got on board quickly, just as they have all season. Courtney Billington singled to bring in Lauren Dortwegt to put Lipscomb up 1-0 early on. In the third inning the Lady Bisons capitalized on a FGCU error, scoring three runs to bring the score to 4-0. Pitcher Whitney Kiihnl struck out a season high 17 hitters, getting her 24th win of the year. Game one’s box score can be viewed here. In game two Lipscomb pitcher Alaina Jacobson earned her third shutout of the year. Lipscomb would find out that the fourth inning would be their inning in game two. Abby Keese homered, her 12th of the season. She is only two away from her tying career high of 14 that she set last season. Lipscomb would go on to score 5 more runs in that inning to bring the score to 6-0. Courtney Billington and Whitney Kiihnl each had two hits in the game. Lauren Dortwegt also had two RBIs. Game two’s box score can be viewed here. The Lady Bisons are back in action Tuesday when Alabama-Birmingham visits Draper Diamond. The first game of the doubleheader starts at 3. This is a make-up of a doubleheader that was postponed due to weather conditions earlier in the...
by Cooper Torrez | Apr 17, 2010 | Sports
The Bisons earned a hard fought victory over Florida Gulf Coast Friday night at Ken Dugan Field. The Bisons faced Florida Gulf Coast’s pitcher Chris Sale, who has been getting much attention from pro scouts after being named MVP of the Cape Cod League. Sale came into the game with a 5-0 record and a 1.41 ERA on the season, however, the Bisons were not intimidated. Senior Tyler Wilson was the early contributor for the Bisons with a single in the bottom of the first. Two batters later he would score on a Cory Hale sac fly that put the Bisons on top early 1-0. In the bottom of the third Wilson continued to lead the Bisons with a solo homerun that put the Bisons up 2-0. In the bottom of the fourth Zach Messer wanted in on some of the action as he homered over the left field fence to increase the Bisons lead to 3-0. Tyler Wilson continued his dominance with another base hit in the bottom of the fifth. He advanced to second base on an errant pitch by Sale, and then scored on a single by his brother Lee Wilson that put the Bisons up 4-0. Cory Hale, who also had a great night at bat going 2 for 3, singled to advance Wilson to third. Zach Messer then hit a triple that brought both Wilson and Hale across the plate. Messer would score on an errant pitch, and the Bisons ended the inning with the score 7-0. However, the Eagles did not come into the game with a 21-12 record for nothing. In the...
