St. Louis Rams-Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
Even after shoulder surgery and injury concerns, Bradford is still the most pro-ready quarterback in this year’s draft. The Rams need someone who can throw the ball to take pressure off running back Stephen Jackson and keep opposing defenses from stacking the line of scrimmage. This pick is a no-brainer and any other choice would be a mistake by St. Louis.

Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
The hype that surrounded Suh early in the offseason has since cooled off, but his draft stock has stayed the same. Suh is a dominant defensive tackle that could potentially anchor the middle of the Detroit defense for years to come. For the Lions to continue improving, they must start on the defensive line and Suh would be a great addition.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
Many experts have made the comparison of McCoy to former defensive star Warren Sapp. McCoy has an unstoppable motor and never gives up on any play. His combination of size, strength and quickness allows him to do things that most 300-pound men only dream of. In order for Tampa Bay to return to its winning ways, the defense must return to top form.

Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
Okung is without a doubt the best offensive lineman in this year’s draft. His athleticism makes him well suited for new head coach Mike Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme on offense. After aquiring Donovan McNabb via trade, the Redskins must do all that they can to protect his blindside and give him the opportunity to succeed in Washington.

Kansas City Chiefs: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
The Chiefs need to protect quarterback Matt Cassell and will make this their top offseason priority. By giving Cassell time to throw the ball to his young wide receivers, the Chiefs’ offense will improve immediately. Williams is one of the top rated tackles in this year’s draft and Kansas City would love to add his athleticism and strength to the offensive line.

Seattle Seahawks: Byan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
The second most pro-ready offensive tackle, Bulaga’s stock has been on the rise of late. With two picks in the first round, Seattle can afford to secure an offensive lineman and worry about a quarterback or running back with their second pick.

Cleveland Browns: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
Cleveland would be fortunate to have Berry available at this spot in round one and it may be a possibility because of more pressing needs for teams picking ahead of the Browns. In recent years, safety has become one of the most important positions on the field due to a shift to pass-happy offense. Berry is the guy to fill the impact role and make an immediate difference.

Oakland Raiders: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
We all know how Raider’s owner Al Davis loves speed and Spiller has plenty of it. The Raiders may go with an athletic defender such as South Florida’s Jason Pierre-Paul with this pick but Spiller would fill a need for a steady player on both offense and on the special teams unit.

Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
The Bills could choose from many different positions here, but this team needs a quarterback. Buffalo’s offense was terrible in 2009 and without a quarterback, 2010 will not be much different. Clausen is a born leader with a strong arm and pinpoint accuracy. The Bills need a franchise quarterback and picking Clausen is a great place to start.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
Jacksonville’s leading wide receiver in 2009 amassed only 869 yards and seven touchdowns. While those numbers may be all right they are more related to most team’s number two wide out, not a number one. If the Jaguars are going to stick with David Garrard behind center, they must give him someone to throw to.

It is simple; any time pitcher Drew Provence has stepped on the mound for the Crusaders this season, it has resulted in a big win. Not to mention he has helped lead North Greenville to a record breaking 36 wins thus far this season.

Provence has accumulated a perfect 10-0 record as a starter this season, and North Greenville has earned a win in each of his 11 starts. This breakout performance from the sophomore ace can be attributed to his hard work during the offseason, as well as some key additions to the Crusader ball club.

“I put in a great summer workout routine last year and was able to build up a lot of important areas in my game,” said Provence. “Our new pitching coach, Chris Dennis, has also been instrumental to my success.”

Holding his competition to a cumulative .201 batting average and striking out a total of 59 batters on the season, Provence presents all kinds of challenges for opponents when he takes the hill. Having pitched a total of 68.2 innings, he has also acquired an impressive 1.73 earned run average this season. Provence admits that his success is partially due to the amount of runs the Crusader offense puts up when he is pitching.

“Run support [from the offense] is great. It’s always great to have some breathing room when I am pitching,” said Provence.

Head coach Travis Henson believes that Provence is a vital part of North Greenville’s success and that the ace has endless potential.

“There is not a better Division II pitcher than Drew Provence,” said Henson. “Drew is an extremely hard worker, a very dedicated individual.”

The outstanding season has Provence not only looking to rack up some individual awards, but it also has him on some MLB draft radars. The second year marketing major said that baseball has always been his dream, and he would not mind playing after college.

“It would be an honor to be drafted,” said Provence. “That is every young athletes dream at some point in their life, and I definitely want to pursue a career in baseball.”

With professional baseball dreams still a couple of years away, it is clear that Provence is focused on propelling his Crusader squad to reach some of their highest goals this season. North Greenville has been reaching for the stars the entire season, and for these players, there is only one happy ending.

“Right now we are trying to finish strong, get to 40 wins, and win a national championship,” said Provence. “Once we accomplish that, we will be satisfied.”

Despite a disappointing 2009 season, the North Greenville football team concluded their spring practices in strong fashion on April 17, hosting the annual Red and White spring game.

“When you take over a program you are trying to establish a foundation,” said head coach Jamey Chadwell. “This spring we got better in a lot of areas, and we were able to come out in this game and do some positive things.”

“You try to use the spring as a confidence builder [for the team] going into the summer and the fall, so I was very pleased with the progress we made this spring.”

The spring game, however, did not give Crusader fans a true picture of what the 2010 North Greenville football team will look like. After all, the Crusaders will be adding 24 freshmen to their depth chart this fall, and Chadwell believes they will make up a key part of this North Greenville team.

“The freshmen are going to bring a competitive winning spirit to the program,” said Chadwell. “We are expecting them to come and play. We played a lot of freshmen last year and we expected to play a lot of freshmen next season.”

Offensive lineman James Thurn, junior broadcast media, also believes that the talented group of freshmen will really benefit the Crusaders in the fall.

“Freshmen are going to have to step up because of the nature of where we are at right now,” said Thurn. “We are going to have some guys coming in offensively that are going to be expect to perform well early.”

North Greenville has had a rough off-season, as injuries have plagued the Crusaders at many different positions. Richard Harb, junior history, who was the starting quarterback last season, is coming off of a torn ACL. Backup quarterback Aaron Seigler, freshman business administration, has also been experiencing the injury bug, as he has been dealing with a toe injury.

“We are coming through adversity,” Thurn said of the injuries. “Its not about how many times you succeed, it’s about how many times you fail and get back up.”

Chadwell said that despite the injuries, the Crusaders will be back and better than ever in the fall.

“If you are going to have injuries you would rather have them happen in the spring rather than in the fall,” said Chadwell. “The silver lining in all of this is that our young guys are getting to play.”

Chadwell believes that he has the program moving in the right direction, and hopes to accomplish his goals next year.

“Our ultimate goal is to get to the Victory Bowl,” said Chadwell. “But our secondary goal is to play the very best we can play every game.”

The North Greenville baseball team kept its momentum going last week by winning series over Brevard College and Tennessee Temple University. The Crusaders, who have broken the record for most wins in a season, now stand at 36-10 on the season.

North Greenville kicked off the week by sweeping the Tornadoes of Brevard in a double header on April 13.

The Crusaders got strong outings from Michael Benjamin, junior business administration, who was credited with the win, and Nate Richards, sophomore interdisciplinary studies, who came in for relief.  Richards pitched two strong innings late in game one, allowing no runs and propelling the Crusaders to an 8-3 win.

Game two also ended in a 8-3 victory for North Greenville, as the Crusaders got hot from the plate. Derek Fulmer, sophomore business, was 2-4 with a home run, and Rand Stegall, senior business, also had a successful day with the bat going 2-4.

North Greenville ran into a feisty Truett-McConnell College team on April 14, as the Crusaders dropped a tough battle 11-10.

“This was a tough game for us,” said Henson. “Honestly we just didn’t pitch well enough to win the ball game.”

The Crusaders lead the game 6-5 in the fourth inning, but the Bears got hot in the fifth inning, reeling off six straight runs.

North Greenville bounced back quickly against Tennessee Temple on April 17, however, as ace Drew Provence pitched eight no-hit innings in a 7-3 win. Adam Taylor, freshman business administration, had the hot bat for the Crusaders going 2-4 with two runs scored. Fulmer also had an impressive game going 2-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.

After gaining a win over Tennessee Temple the day before, tyhe Crusaders then split a double header with TTU on April 18.

Game one was a heartbreaker for North Greenville, as the Crusaders had the lead until the fifth inning but could not handle the Tennessee Temple rally, dropping the game 4-3. Fulmer was 2-3 with an RBI, and Taylor also contributed offensively going 2-4 with a run scored.

Game two held better results, as the Crusaders came through with a late game rally to win 6-4. Fulmer had the game-tying RBI in the final inning, and the Crusaders added two more runs to squeak out the hard-fought win.

“Our goals are still right in sight,” said Henson. “We couldn’t be in a better spot as a team. We are closer to it, but we’re still not there.”

After losing four straight games, the North Greenville softball team was looking to rebound against Brevard College on April 15 in Tigerville. Strong performances from the pitching staff and offense led to a sweep of the Lady Tornadoes by scores of 4-3 and 9-1.

In game one, the Lady Crusaders were led by Allison Bailey, senior studio art, and Taylor Roof, sophomore health and wellness, who each finished the game 2-3 with two RBI. Kristyn Smith, junior biology, pitched 5 2/3 strong innings, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out 10 batters.

The Lady Crusaders erupted on offense in game two, scoring nine runs on 12 hits. Roof led the offense going 3-4 including a three-run home run in the sixth inning. Roof also picked up the win in the game after pitching a complete game allowing only one run on four hits. Roof also recorded three strikeouts.

North Greenville continued its winning ways on April 18, as they team swept a double header against Truett McConnell 5-1 and 11-2. Laura Hopper, freshman intercultural studies, was given the start in game one and pitched a complete game, giving up one run on four hits while striking out nine batters.

The Lady Crusaders had a strong offensive performance in game two and were led by Tia LaFreniere, senior outdoor leadership, who had three RBI in the game. Rachel Holeman, freshman biology, was 3-4 in the game with four RBI and three runs scored.

The Lady Crusaders will return home on April 21 to take on in-state rival Southern Wesleyan University. Game time is set for 3 p.m. at the Softball Complex.

The North Greenville baseball team continued its impressive season by acquiring wins over Emmanuel College, Limestone College and Mars Hill College last week.

“This was a big week for us,” said head coach Travis Henson. “We are proud of our guys. There is still a long way to go, but we are proud of the position we are in.”

North Greenville started their week on April 6 by sweeping a double header with the Emmanuel College Lions.

The Crusaders dominated offensively in game one, as the Lions’ defense had no answer in a 13-3 blowout. North Greenville got of to a hot start with six quick runs in the second inning and the Crusaders would never look back, adding seven additional runs to the scoreboard by the fifth inning. Dayton Lupton, senior sport management, led the way from the plate going 3-3 with two RBI and Brian Giles, junior sport management, also contributed offensively going 2-2 with a run batted in.

Game two was closely contested until the fifth inning when the Crusaders exploded for five straight runs propelling them to an 8-5 win. David Frazier, sophomore sport management, was feeling it from the plate, going 2-3 with one RBI. Derek Fulmer, sophomore business, also played well going 2-2 with three runs scored.

North Greenville tripled their number of wins from last season with a big 8-7 win over Limestone College on April 7. It was a close game the whole way through, as the Crusaders were down one run heading into the eighth inning. The game went into extra innings where Giles found himself playing hero, knocking in the game-winning run in the bottom of the eleventh. Giles led the Crusaders offensively going 3-4 on the day. Other leading contributors included Frazier, who went 2-5 with four RBI, and Lupton who was 2-6 on the day.

After picking up three consecutive wins, the Crusaders gave their seniors a proper farewell on senior day with a 6-5 win over Mars Hill College on April 9. Ace Drew Provence, sophomore marketing, was on the mound for the Crusaders, where he picked up his ninth win of the season. Provence is now 9-0 as a starter. Markus Duckworth, junior social studies, had the hot bat for North Greenville, going 3-4 with a home run and four RBIs.

The Crusaders wrapped up the busy week on April 10 by splitting a series winning double header with the Lions of Mars Hill.

North Greenville would not be able to handle the Lion’s offense in game one, as they lost the game 11-7. Tyler Callicut, junior accounting, led the way offensively in the first game, blasting a two-run homer in the second inning and going 2-4 on the day.

The second game was a different story, however, as the Crusaders were able to put a staggering number of runs on the board in a 25-14 win. Ben Stechschulte, sophomore sport management, and Fulmer both had grand slams in the contest. Anthony Foulk accounted for two home runs on the day and Frazier also added one homer.

“I think the key to this season so far has been great starts from starting pitchers and relief pitching,” said Henson. “Giles and Richards have been two key relievers for us.”

The Crusaders (32-8) took on Brevard College yesterday, and will play again today against Truett-McConnell College in Hiawassee, Ga. at 3 p.m.

On April 10, the North Greenville softball team looked to honor its seniors on Senior Day with two victories over Truett McConnell College in a weekend double header. The seniors took over on the field and lead the Lady Crusaders to a sweep of the Lady Bears, winning game one 1-0 and game two 6-1.

In game one, fans witnessed a pitching duel between North Greenville and Truett McConnell.  Kristyn Smith, junior biology, was on the mound for North Greenville and pitched three solid innings, giving up only three hits and recording six strikeouts. Taylor Roof, sophomore health and wellness, pitched four innings of relief and did not allow a hit while striking out six batters.

On offense, the Crusaders were held in check. Jessica Turner, senior mathematics, and Shealy Broome, senior health and wellness, and Tia LaFreniere, senior outdoor leadership, each finished the game 1-2 and Sarah Griffith, sophomore mathematics, recorded the game’s only RBI when she drew a bases-loaded walk in the third inning.

The bats of the Lady Crusaders would come alive in game two as North Greenville scored six runs on eight hits. Turner was once again the top performer at the plate, finishing 2-2 with a three-run home run in the second inning. Broome was 2-3 in the game and LaFreniere, Rachel Holeman, freshman biology and Krysta Laird, senior outdoor leadership, each drove in a run.

Laura Hopper, freshman intercultural studies, started the game for North Greenville and pitched 2 2/3 innings of no-hit softball while striking out two. Kimberly Robertson, freshman biology, picked up her fourth win of the season as she pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief, allowing only one run on five hits and recording two strikeouts.

The Lady Crusaders (20-15) played in a double header against Mars Hill College on Monday. North Greenville’s next game will be played tomorrow in a double header against Brevard College beginning at 2 p.m. at the North Greenville Softball Complex.

North Greenville senior football players Johnell Bell, defensive line, Joe Novotasky, linebacker, and Justin Jones, kicker/punter, wrapped up their careers on the gridiron by competing in the All-American Bowl on March 27 in Charleston, W. Va.

“The experience was great,” said Bell. “We had an opportunity to meet and network with a lot of different people that are involved in the football industry, as well as competing with different players from across the nation.”

Bell, who had an impressive two sacks in the all-star game, was awarded the Jim Marshall Award for being the most outstanding defensive lineman on his team.

Novotasky was able to record one unassisted tackle in the game and Jones punted twice with distances of 42 and 47 yards respectively.

“It was a good experience to be able to travel to West Virginia and play with some of the better Division II football players,” said Novotasky. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing that I will never forget.”

The All-American seniors admitted that their bowl experience was even better with a couple of teammates by their side.

“It felt like old times having those guys out there,” said Bell. “It was good to have the opportunity to compete with former teammates one last time.”

For the North Greenville seniors, the bowl game was not only a celebration of their football careers, but hopefully a chance to earn a spot on a professional team. Novotasky and Bell both intend to follow their football dreams after graduation and showcasing their talent for scouts at the All-American Bowl was a step in the right direction.

“I plan on trying to play football somewhere after graduation,” said Novotasky. “There is a chance I could play overseas and I’m probably going to try out for some arena teams.”

Bell also expressed his eagerness to continue his football career, but said he has a back-up plan as well.

“I am going to briefly pursue football, but if nothing works out, I will begin my career in sales,” said Bell.

No matter what the future may hold for these seniors, they will always be able to say they ended their college careers as All-Americans

“It meant everything to me because God has blessed me far more than I could have ever imagined,” said Jones. “This may or may not be the last football game I will ever play and I just wanted to do my best. And I think I did.”

Before I let you all in on my final mock draft, which will be in next week’s issue, I have decided to take an in-depth look at a position in the 2010 NFL Draft that has been overlooked by many fans and experts. I am talking about the position of running back. Aside from Clemson’s C. J. Spiller, who is a lock to be chosen in the first round, not many more backs are expected to be impact players in their first year out of college. Based on how much immediate impact a player may make, here are the five most intriguing running backs from the 2010 draft class.

C. J. Spiller, Clemson

Spiller is a human highlight film waiting to happen. Every time the ball is placed in his hands, he is a threat to break out a big play. Spiller runs the 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds and has the ability to make any defender miss a tackle. One aspect of Spiller’s game that is overlooked is his strength. Known more for his speed and agility, Spiller can run between the tackles on occasion and gain positive yardage. At the next level, Spiller will begin his career mainly as a special teams player returning kickoffs and punts while getting some action on third down passing situations. As his career progresses, Spiller will develop as an every down back and is sure to make a name for himself at the professional level.

Ryan Matthews, Fresno State

The NCAA’s second leading rusher in 2010, Matthews is a between-the-tackles type of runner who lacks elusive speed but more than makes up for that with his ability to break tackles. Matthews hits the hole with great quickness and does not waste time dancing in the backfield. He is a prototypical finisher who teams will use in short yardage situations on third downs and near the goal line. As the two-back system grows more and more popular among teams in the NFL, Matthews’ punishing running style may be coveted by some eager enough to take him in the first round.

Jahvid Best, California

Best is an elite athlete who has blazing speed and great vision. He is certainly not a physical running back, but he does have quick feet and above-average acceleration that allows him to get out of the backfield untouched on most occasions. Best will not be an every down running back but does provide the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and make an impact in the return game. If he recovers from a neck injury that sidelined him for the second half of the 2009-10 season, Best may prove to be the steal of the draft on day two.

Toby Gerhart, Stanford

Like Matthews, Gerhart is a downhill runner with average speed but great strength. He led the nation in rushing yards with 1, 871 and touchdowns with 27 as a senior. Although he may be used as a third down back who is on the field to block on pass plays and get yards on third-and-short situations, Gerhart has the ability to be a running back who can provide a power compliment to a speedy running back. At the next level, Gerhart may see more time as a fullback simply because coaches want a hard-working guy like him on the field any way they can.

Dexter McCluster, Ole Miss

McCluster is a hybrid back who many project to be made in the Percy Harvin mold of a do-everything type of athlete. At only 5’ 8”, he is a little on the short side to be a featured back, but his quickness and versatility will warrant that coaches get him on the field at any cost. McCluster will be drafted as a running back but may be converted into a wide receiver who takes handoffs on occasion and uses his explosiveness to change a game at any given time. He is a projected second round draft pick.

Having played under three different coaches during their four years at North Greenville, the seven senior members of the softball team have undoubtedly experienced some dramatic changes.

The senior Lady Crusaders Hope Brewer, Krysta Laird, Tia LaFreniere, Jessica Turner, Kasey Templeton, Shealy Broome and Allison Bailey have had the task of adapting to an ever-changing softball program as a team and as individuals.

“It’s been hard for the seniors,” LaFreniere said of the coaching changes. “We have had to come back each year and re-earn our spot, but I think it keeps us in good competition.”

For these players, the roller coaster ride began on February 28, 2008 with the tragic passing of former head coach Buster Sturkie. Sturkie, who was only 59, died suddenly after a yearlong battle with cancer but coached the North Greenville softball team for each of its first nine games in the 2008 season.

“When Coach B passed it really brought us [the seniors] together,” said Brewer “We really meshed and we are so much closer because of our memory of him.”

After the passing of Sturkie, Athletic Director Jan McDonald accepted the interim head coaching position, where she remained for the 2008-2009 season and led the team to an even 18-18 record. Knowing the position was temporary, McDonald hired current head coach Sarah Hall to lead the Crusaders in 2010. Hall has coached her team to a 20-15-2 record and she believes the seniors have played a big role in her success this season.

“The seniors have been really patient with me and very respectful,” said Hall. “I know it’s a hard transition and I am a very different coach. They have really rolled with the punches and tried to do things the way I want them done.”

Although the seniors have had to adjust to three different coaching styles, they believe they have become better players because of it.
“All of the coaches have been different and have brought different things to the program” said team captain Bailey. “We have just been able to take certain aspects from each coach and build on it.”

Brewer believes that even though her career at North Greenville has not gone as expected,  it has been successful. Brewer also said that the team is setting some high goals for the end of this season.

“In the past years we have gone to the regional tournament and gotten really close to winning it,” said Brewer. “We want to win Regionals this season and have a chance to compete in Nationals.”

After a sub-par performance in the Georgia College Invitational, the North Greenville University golf team returned to Tigerville to host the Cherokee Valley Invitational on its home course on April 5-6.

Competing against North Greenville were Mars Hill College, Limestone College, King College and Brevard College.

The Crusaders used the advantage of playing on their home course and shot a two-day total of 580 to finish in first place overall for the second time this season. Limestone turned in a team total of 620 to finish in a distant second place. Mars Hill shot a 634 to take home third place, while King and Brevard shot 636 and 640 to finish fourth and fifth respectively.

On the individual scoreboard the Crusaders brought home the top five positions. Brandon Coggins, senior elementary education, shot 73 and 66 to finish with a tournament best total of 139. Brad Caldwell, senior sport management, was the invitational’s runner-up as he turned in a 72 and 73 for a total of 145. Danny Dippel, freshman sport management, finished close behind in third place with a tournament total of 148 while Richard Smith, junior marketing, finished fourth with a total score of 150 and Andrew Beck, junior marketing, finished in fifth place with a 153.

The Crusaders final tournament of the season will come in the Independent College Invitational held on April 12-13 in Etowah, N.C.

Crusader second baseman Brian Giles races down the base line to beat out a throw. The Crusaders, who are now 27-2 on the season, are on a five-game winning streak after sweeping last week’s contests against Southern Wesleyan and Brevard. (Photo by Gabe Franco)

The North Greenville baseball team has had a dominating week, winning five straight games to move its overall record to 27-7.

“The team’s confidence is really peaking right now,” said outfielder Adam Taylor, freshman business administration. “We know that we can beat anyone we play as long as we play the right way and execute our game plan.”

The Crusaders began their week by securing a 9-3 win over Truett McConnell College. Anthony Foulk, sophomore sport management, was the story for North Greenville offensively, going 2-3 with two RBI and a home run. Rand Stegall, senior business, also had a hot bat, going 3-5 with three runs scored.

The Crusaders continued their success by sweeping a double header with Southern Wesleyan University on March 31.

The Crusaders were hot offensively in the first game, scoring 12 runs in the first five innings in their 12-2 win. Derek Fulmer, sophomore business, led the way for North Greenville, going 3-4 with five RBI. Taylor also had an impressive performance in the first game, going 2-4 with 3 RBI.

North Greenville was in for a tough battle in the second game, but the results were still the same, as the Crusaders ground out a 9-6 win. The Crusaders were down by five runs in the fifth inning before exploding for nine straight runs on just three hits. Taylor was 2-4 with a run batted in, and Dayton Lupton also contributed two RBI in the contest. Nate Richards only pitched 1 2/3 innings, but it was enough to earn him the win, as he pitched a solid outing with no hits and no runs. The two wins gave North Greenville the 4-0 series victory over Southern Wesleyan.

“The season is very strenuous,” said star freshman Taylor. “So it is good to know that we have a lot of depth.”

The Crusaders off started their Easter weekend right, as their ace pitcher Drew Provence, sophomore marketing, propelled them to a14-2 victory. Provence is now a perfect 8-0 on the season from the mound, and he pitched a stellar game, throwing six innings and only giving up one run on six hits. Offensively, the Crusaders were led by Fulmer, who was 2-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Foulk was also a key for North Greenville’s success, as he was a perfect 2-2 from the plate with four runs scored and two RBI.
Brevard did not have an answer for the North Greenville offense all weekend, as the Crusaders swept a double header with the Tornadoes on April 3.

Michael Benjamin, junior business administration, got the start on the mound for the Crusaders in game one. He pitched seven innings, gave up four runs and struck out three batters in a 5-4 win. Benjamin got some help from Stegall, who went 1-3 with one RBI, and Fulmer, who went 1-1 on the day.

The second game of the double header was dominated by Jeff Witt, freshman accounting, who pitched an 8-0 shutout, striking out eight batters. Taylor and Fulmer both contributed offensively going, 2-4 in game two.

The success continues to come for North Greenville, but the team has not yet reached its ultimate goal. And they don’t plan to stop until they do.

“We are on pace to accomplish our goals,” said Taylor. “But we will not accomplish the main goal until we have a ring on our fingers from a National Championship.”

The Crusaders (27-7) took the field again yesterday against Emmanuel College, and will play again today at 2 p.m. against Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.

The Lady Crusaders softball team continued its 10-game road trip on March 31 with a trip to Milligan, Tenn., to play in a double header against Milligan College.

Both games went into extra innings, but the Lady Buffaloes were victorious in both winning, game one 2-1 and game two 3-2.

In game one, the offense was led by Allison Bailey, senior studio art, who finished the game 2-4 with the Lady Crusaders’ only RBI in the game. Hope Brewer, senior sport management, and Kansas Wofford, freshman early childhood education, each went 1-3 from the plate and Shealy Broom, senior health and wellness, scored the team’s lone run.

Kristyn Smith, junior biology, started on the mound for North Greenville and pitched three innings. Smith allowed one run on two hits and recorded seven strikeouts in the game. Kimberly Robertson, freshman biology, pitched four innings of relief, giving up one run on three hits and striking out three batters.

Game two of the day was another nail-biter as the Lady Buffaloes scored two runs in the eighth inning to sweep the series.

The Lady Crusaders got on the scoreboard first in the third inning when Bailey drove in Jessica Turner, senior mathematics, with a single. Turner finished the game 1-2 and scored both runs in the game for North Greenville. Brewer had two hits in the game and also drove in a run. Courtney Campbell, freshman biology, finished the game 2-3, and Tia LaFreniere, senior outdoor leadership, went 2-2 from the plate.

Taylor Roof, sophomore health and wellness, went 7 2/3 innings on the mound and gave up three runs on six hits while striking out seven.

The Lady Crusaders’ road trip continued on April 1 when they traveled to Greeneville, Tenn., to play in a double header against Tusculum College.

The Lady Crusaders and Lady Pioneers split the two games as North Greenville won the first game 5-3 but dropped game two 5-1.

In game one, Tusculum held a one-run lead until the fifth inning when North Greenville scored three runs on four hits to secure the come-from-behind victory.

Wofford started the rally with a two RBI triple that scored Broome and Roof. Wofford later scored on a single by Brewer to open the lead to three runs for North Greenville. Wofford finished the game 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Robertson, Bailey and Brewer each knocked in one RBI.

The Lady Crusaders used three different pitchers to secure the victory as Laura Hopper, freshman intercultural studies, Smith and Robertson each played a crucial role on the mound. Hopper got the start and went 1 1/3 innings giving up no runs on one hit with one strikeout. Smith pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits while striking out four. Robertson picked up the win as she threw 3 1/3 innings allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts.

In the second game of the double header, the Lady Crusaders were unable to get any offensive production as the team amassed 10 hits but scored only one run.

Broome led the North Greenville offense, as she was 2-3 from the plate with the team’s only RBI. Wofford and Campbell each recorded two hits in the game while LaFreniere scored a run.

Robertson started game two for the Lady Crusaders but pitched just 1 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on one hit. Roof continued to struggle on the mound as she pitched only 1/3 of an inning and gave up three runs on two hits. Smith pitched 4 1/3 innings in the game, allowing no runs on only one hit while striking out five batters.

North Greenville (18-15) will conclude its road trip with a double header against Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, N.C., tomorrow, April 8, at 2 p.m.

The Lady Crusaders return home on Saturday, April 10, when they take on Truett McConnel College in a double header beginning at 1 p.m.

In her first year as head softball coach at North Greenville University, Sarah Hall has signed three prospects for the spring of 2011.

High school seniors Brittany Dunn from Travelers Rest, Kelsey Burgess from Charlotte, N.C. and Kirsten Brown from Greenville. make up Hall’s first recruiting class at North Greenville, and in an interview on www.ngcrusaders.com she said that she is very excited about the talented signees.

“I feel good about moving forward,” said Hall. “Brittany, Kirsten and Kelsey will be the foundation for a great recruiting class and a successful future.”

The three prospects have each accumulated their fair share of accolades over the course of their high school careers, and coach Hall will be looking for similar production in the future for North Greenville.

Burgess will be starting at shortstop in her last year at Gaston Christian School in Charlotte, N.C.

Brown is a seven-year starter at Woodmont High School in Greenville, S.C. and can play catcher or shortstop. Brown is no stranger to awards, receiving the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2007, and the team’s Offensive Player of the Year award in both 2006 and 2008. She was also named to the Western Conference Class AAA All-Region team in 2009.

Dunn, who is a Greenville local, played her high school softball at Travelers Rest High, where she has spent six years on the varsity team. Dunn is a very talented pitcher, throwing a no hitter in 2007, and a perfect game in 2006. She was also named to the Class AAA All-Region team in 2006 and 2009.

Dunn, a future biology major at North Greenville, said she wanted to be a part of a winning team and believes that coach Hall has the players’ best interests in mind.
“I was really impressed with how the softball team is growing and becoming a better program,” said Dunn. “I would love to be a part of a team with winning capability.”

Dunn said that she plans to bring a lot to the softball program in her first year at North Greenville, including a sense of humor.

“I will bring some experience to the team,” said Dunn. “I also think that I will be able to bring a laugh or two.”

This recruiting class is just a start, but Hall hopes that these talented signees will make an immediate impact in 2011.

“The girls we signed last year greatly contributed this season, and we hope these girls and other signees will have the same impact when they put on a North Greenville uniform,” said Hall.

Just in case you do not own a television or radio, Tiger Woods will be making his return to gold tomorrow at the 2010 Masters.
His return is kind of a big deal in all realms of the news world. While Wood’s return is sure to be the talk of the town for the next week and a half, I want to focus on players who will be contenders this weekend. Although some of the names in this article may not be well known, an above-average performance in what many consider to be golf’s most prestigious tournament could propel one to immediate fame.
As you keep a close eye on Woods’ play at Augusta, here are few names and thoughts to store in the back of your mind.

Ernie Els
Els is a three-time major champion but has never worn the coveted green jacket. Of all the players in the field, he may have the most momentum heading into Augusta National this weekend. Already with two wins on the PGA Tour so far in 2010, Els is the only player on tour with multiple wins this season and leads all players in scoring average with 68.8. He has finished second in the Masters twice, once in 2000 and again in 2004, and is certainly one of the favorites to win his first Masters trophy.
Padraig Harrington
With three major championship victories since 2007, Harrington has certainly shown a knack for playing his best in the spotlight. His best finish at the Masters is a tie for fifth, which he accomplished in 2002 and 2008. Harrington has been on a hot streak of late, finishing in the top 10 in two of his last three events, and is among the list of favorites to have a strong showing at Augusta.
Retief Goosen
Another player with plenty of momentum heading in  to the Masters, Goosen has the most top10 finishes on tour with five in only seven events. Goosen, winner of two major championships, was runner-up in 2002 and tied for second in 2007. Coming off back-to-back top-five finishes, Goosen is looking to continue his consistent play and claim his first Masters championship.
Camillo Villegas
Villegas is second on tour in scoring average, third on the money list and is tied for fourth in driving distance. One of the most consistent players so far in 2010, Villegas picked up his third PGA Tour victory last month and has finished in the top five three times in five events this season. One of the tour’s emerging young stars, Villegas has a chance to make a name for himself by winning his first major championship.
Steve Stricker
Although he has never won a major, Stricker is the second ranked player in the World Golf Rankings and is playing the best golf of his career at age 43. After winning three events in 2009 and already with one win and four top-10s this season, Stricker has one of the best chances to string together four great rounds and sport the green jacket on Sunday.

The men’s and women’s tennis teams struggled over the weekend, as they were unable to tame the Mars Hill Lions in hard fought matches.

The North Greenville men (5-6) had a disappointing outing against the Lions on April 3, dropping their match 6-3. The Crusaders stumbled in their singles sets, losing all but one, before winning two of their three doubles sets. Hugo Ciarrocchi, freshman business administration, was the only Crusader to taste victory in his singles set, defeating his opponent 6-3, 4-6, 10-8. Timur Kamilov, freshman print media, and Louis Campos, freshman business, continued their doubles success by taking down their competition 8-5. Ciarrocchi and Sedov Innokentiy, junior media, also experienced doubles victory in their 8-4 win.

The Lady Crusaders (6-6) would not fare any better than the men, however, losing a hard-fought match to the Lions 4-5. Singles winners included: Cassie Curtis, freshman secondary education, who won her set 6-2, 6-1; Sarah Stanga, sophomore psychology, who won her set 6-1, 6-0; and Natalie Stewart, junior business administration, who took her set 6-0, 6-0. Stewart and Stanga would be the only Crusaders to secure a doubles victory as they shut out their opponent 8-0.

The Crusaders will have a chance to bounce back when they take the court again on April 20 against Carson Newman College at 2 p.m.

After taking a week off to rest and prepare for the final half of the season, the North Greenville softball team traveled to Columbia S.C., on March 25 to begin a 10-game road trip. The Lady Crusaders’ first test would come in a double header against Columbia College.  North Greenville’s offense was firing on all cylinders as the Lady Crusaders took down the Lady Koalas 9-1 and 15-0.

Kristyn Smith, junior biology, turned in a dominating performance in game one as she registered 11 strikeouts in only five innings. Smith gave up one run on two hits and only walked one batter.

The offense for North Greenville provided more than enough run support as the team scored nine runs on 12 hits. Hope Brewer, senior sport management, led the Lady Crusaders finishing 2-4 from the plate with a double and two RBI. Shealy Broome, senior health and wellness, also knocked in two RBI while Allison Bailey, senior studio art, Courtney Campbell, freshman biology, and Jessica Turner, senior mathematics, each had an RBI in the game.

Game two saw the North Greenville bats get hot as the Lady Crusaders scored runs in the first, second, third and fifth innings to score a season-high 15 runs on 13 hits.

Bailey and Taylor Roof, sophomore health and wellness, each hit home runs in the second game. Bailey finished the game 2-4 with four RBI and two runs scored while Roof was 2-2 from the plate with two RBI and two runs scored. Rachel Holeman, freshman biology, had her best game as a Lady Crusader, registering two hits and four RBI.

Roof broke out her recent slump on the mound as she pitched three innings, allowing only one hit and two strikeouts to pick up her sixth win of the season. Kimberly Robertson, freshman biology, pitched two innings of relief and allowed only one hit while striking out two.

The Lady Crusaders took on Carson Newman College on March 27 in Jefferson City, Tenn., in hopes of continuing their strong play. The Lady Crusaders’ five-game winning streak was ended by the Lady Eagles as Carson Newman took both contests in a double header, 5-4 and 5-0.

The Lady Crusaders struck first in game one as they scored two runs in the fourth inning but Carson Newman answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead. While trailing by two runs in the final inning, North Greenville put together a comeback but finished one run short.

At the plate in game one, third baseman Karli Taylor, sophomore sport management, went 1-3 with two RBI and a run scored and Bailey went 2-3 with a run scored.

Laura Hopper, freshman intercultural studies, was put on the mound and pitched 4 1/3 innings giving up five runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking three batters. Robertson continued to impress out of the bullpen pitching 1 2/3 innings, giving up only one hit while striking out four.

The North Greenville offense went cold in game two, as the team was unable to score any runs while registering only three hits.

Smith pitched six innings in the game, giving up five runs on five hits while striking out four batters.

The Lady Crusaders (17-12) will continue their road trip today against Milligan College in Milligan College, Tenn. in a double header beginning at 2 p.m.

Sophomore pitcher Nate Richards, a transfer from USC-Sumter, pitches against St. Andrews on March 26 in Tigerville. (Photo by Gabe Franco)

The North Greenville baseball team faced some adversity last week, but the Crusaders were still able to secure key wins over Erskine College and St. Andrews Presbyterian to move their overall record to 21-7 on the season.

The Crusaders began the week by splitting a series-ending double header with Erskine College on March 24. North Greenville dropped the first game 5-3, but quickly rebounded with a 6-2 win in the second game.

The Flying Fleet got off to a hot start in game one, scoring four runs in the first four innings to give them a 4-0 lead early. North Greenville answered with some offense of its own, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Erskine’s defense proved to be too strong, as the Crusaders were held scoreless for the remainder of the game. Offensive leaders for North Greenville in game one included Brian Giles, junior sport management, who went 1-3 with two RBIs, and Derek Fulmer, sophomore business, who was 2-3.

Game two held better results for the Crusaders, as Erskine was unable to cool the hot bats of the Crusaders in a 6-2 win. The win broke a three-game losing steak for North Greenville. Fulmer got the start on the mound for the Crusaders in game two, giving up two earned runs and striking out two batters. He also contributed from the plate going 3-3 with one run scored in the victory. Adam Taylor, freshman business administration, was also impressive offensively, jacking a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

“Derek [Fulmer] had an outstanding game for us,” said Henson. “We had some clutch hits that were key for us [in game two].”

After getting a much-needed win over Erskine, North Greenville was able to keep the momentum alive on March 26 with some late-game heroics by Markus Duckworth, junior secondary education, as the Crusaders downed St. Andrews Presbyterian 9-8 in the first game of their weekend series. Duckworth drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off double. Ace Drew Provence, sophomore marketing, got the start on the hill for the Crusaders, pitching 7 2/3 innings, giving up six earned runs and striking out five batters.

“He [Duckworth] exemplified what we have been able to do all season as a team,” said Henson. “The biggest key for us is playing with confidence.”

St. Andrews bounced back, however, edging out the Crusaders 5-3 in game one of a Saturday double header on March 27. St. Andrews built a 5-0 -advantage heading into the seventh inning before North Greenville scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh.  Fulmer and Taylor both went 1-3 with a run scored in the losing effort.

Game two of the double header was never really close, as North Greenville jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the fourth inning, propelling them to a 15-3 win. Dayton Lupton, senior sport management, was feeling it from the plate, going 3-5 with three RBI. Rand Stegall, senior business, scored four of the Crusaders 15 runs and Duckworth also contributed to the blowout with an RBI and two runs scored.

“We have to continued to be clutch and be opportunistic down the stretch,” said Henson. “Another big key for us is depth in the pitching staff. We have six games in the next two weeks, so we need six different starters to come out and give us great outings.”

The Crusaders took the diamond again yesterday against Truett-McConnell College and will play again today at 1 p.m. when they take on in-state rival Southern Wesleyan University.

The National League East will be one of the most competitive and exciting divisions in all of baseball in 2010. With less than a week left until the first game of the new season, I find it necessary to give baseball fans an outlook on a division worth watching.

Atlanta Braves (Last season: 86-76, 3rd in the NL East)

The Braves’ 2010 season is filled with many questions. Will Bobby Cox’s final season be one to remember? Can the pitching staff recover from key offseason losses? Will Troy Glaus stay healthy long enough to contribute? For Cox’s final season to end with a postseason run, the Braves will need a healthy rotation and a consistent offense. Tim Hudson continues his recovery from surgery in 2009 and he must make as many quality starts as he can for this team to have a chance. Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito replace Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez in the back half of the bullpen and are proven winners. If the pitching staff can stay healthy, they have the chance to be considered one of the best in the majors. On offense, the Braves need Troy Glaus to return to form and provide power in the middle of the lineup.

(2010 prediction: 89-73, 2nd in the NL East)

Florida Marlins (Last season: 87-75, 2nd in the NL East)

The 2009 Marlins were certainly a surprise. No one thought that last year’s team would finish second in the division but they did and they did it quietly. If shortstop Hanley Ramirez continues to develop into one of the best players in all of the majors, the Marlins will have a chance to win the Wild Card. The pitching staff is young but showed last year that they can get the job done. The bullpen, as always, is a soft spot and must be injury-free for Florida to contend. Outside of Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu, the offense lacks any ability to drive in runs. If the offense can be fixed and the relief pitchers show they can be consistent, the Marlins will finish among the top of the division once again.

(2010 prediction: 82-80, 4th in the NL East)

New York Mets (Last season: 70-92, 4th in the NL East)

Last season the Mets were plagued by injuries, specifically to leadoff hitter Jose Reyes and centerfielder Carlos Beltran. If those two players can come back at full strength, the Mets look like one of the best teams in the National League. But we all know not to pick the Mets to win anything after collapsing two years ago and letting everyone down. In the offseason New York did little to improve their trouble areas, mainly in the bullpen. However, the team did sign Jason Bay. The only problem here is that Citi Field, as proven by David Wright in 2009, is a place where power hitters go to die. If Bay can turn the tides on this myth, the Mets may surprise some teams.

(2010 prediction: 84-78, 3rd in the NL East)

Philadelphia Phillies (Last season: 93-69, 1st in the NL East)

The Phillies have been in back-to-back World Series and now have the best pitcher in the game anchoring their rotation in Roy Halladay. Cole Hamels should rebound from a disappointing 2009 and the rotation will recover to lead the team to another playoff appearance. The bullpen is improved but Brad Lidge as the closer still gives Philadelphia fans a scare because of his inconsistent play and knack for playing flat in clutch situations. The Phillies are still the best team in the NL East but must be on the lookout for a Braves team with something to prove.

(2010 prediction: 92-70, 1st in the NL East)

Washington Nationals (Last season: 59-103, 5th in the NL East)

Only a year ago the Nationals were the worst team in the majors. The team continues to makes strides toward winning but unfortunately it is stuck in the NL East and has no hopes of rising above last place. The only thing Washington has to look forward to is the midseason arrival of pitcher Stephen Strasburg who will begin the season in Triple A to further improve his mechanics.

(2010 prediction: 63-99, 5th in the NL East)

The men’s and women’s tennis teams have been struggling as of late, as the women have moved their overall record to 6-6 and the men now sit at 5-6.

It has been a tough two weeks for the Crusader men, as they have now lost three out of their last four matches.

The Crusaders struggled mightily in a double-header on March 20 against Division I teams Gardner Webb University and Pfeiffer University. North Greenville was unable to win a set in the two matches, dropping each game 9-0.

The Crusaders were able to bounce back, however, against Newberry College on March 23, winning the match 7-2. Guilherme Ferreira, junior international business, was impressive for North Greenville, shutting out his opponent 6-0 in his singles set. Kesha Sedov, junior media, Thomas Clack, junior business, and Timur Kamilov, freshman print media, also performed well, each winning their singles sets. Louis Campos, freshman business, also contributed a victory in his singles set, where he won by default.

North Greenville’s success was short-lived, however, as they dropped a closely contested match to Shaw University 5-4. Kamilov dominated his singles sets, winning with scores of 7-6 and 12-10. Clack also performed well in singles winning his sets 6-1 and 6-0.

The Lady Crusaders had slightly better luck than the men, winning two out of their last four matches. The Ladies also came up short against Division I programs Gardener Webb and Pfeiffer, losing each match 8-1.

The Crusaders rebounded, however, from the two tough losses to secure two straight wins over Newberry and Shaw.

Mirroring the men’s effort, the Lady Crusaders also dominated Newberry 7-2. The doubles duo of Cassie Curtis, freshman secondary education and Cherie Curtis, junior elementary education, could not be stopped, as they handled their set with an 8-2 win. Sarah Stanga, sophomore psychology, and Natalie Stewart, junior business administration, also won their doubles set 8-1.

With a win over Newberry, North Greenville was able to pick up some confidence and edge out a tightly contested match against Shaw University, 5-4. Stanga and Stewart were impressive once again for the Crusaders, this time in singles. Stanga won her singles set with scores of 6-1 and 6-0 and Stewart came up big with set victories of 6-1 and 10-7. Allison Martin, freshman psychology, also came up victorious with scores of 6-2 and 7-5.

With only three matches remaining in the regular season, the Crusaders will be working hard to end the season with a winning record.  North Greenville will take the court again on April 4, when they take on Mars Hill College at 1 p.m. in Mars Hill, N.C.

The Lady Crusader softball team continued its long streak of double headers on March 13 as they took on Mars Hill College in Tigerville. North Greenville would split the double header, losing the first game 3-2 but turning the tables and winning game two 3-2.

Laura Hopper, freshman intercultural studies, was on the mound for game one. Hopper gave up only three runs and struck out four batters but walked four and did not receive much run support.

Tia LaFreniere, senior outdoor leadership, provided the offense for North Greenville as she finished the game 2-3 with a solo home run. Jessica Turner, senior mathematics, knocked in the second run for the Lady Crusaders and Allison Bailey, senior studio art, went 2-4 at the plate.

In game two, Kimberly Robertson, freshman biology, was given the start and did not disappoint. She pitched a complete game, giving up two runs on seven hits and registering two strikeouts en route to her first collegiate victory.

The offense in the second game was provided by a number of players. Courtney Campbell, freshman biology, finished the game 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored while LaFreniere finished with an RBI of her own. Marielana Santos, freshman business, went 2-3 with a run scored in the game.

On March 17, North Greenville finished off its six-game home stand with a double header against Piedmont College. The Lady Crusaders used a little St. Patrick’s Day luck to sweep both games over the Lady Lions 2-0 and 7-4.

Lady Crusaders’ ace Krystin Smith, junior biology, started on the mound and pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and striking out seven as she picked up her fifth win of the season. Robertson came in to retire the final batter of the game to record her first save of the year.

The Lady Crusaders had only two hits in the game but they were enough to get the job done. Kansas Wofford, freshman early childhood education, smashed a solo home run in the second inning to secure the victory.

Hopper was put on the mound for game two and gave up only three hits while striking out four to pick up her second straight victory. Taylor Roof, sophomore health and wellness, pitched two innings of relief.

The second game had more offense than the first as North Greenville scored seven runs on nine hits. Wofford hit her second home run of the day in the first inning as she sent a two-run home run over the left field fence. Bailey also had a home run in the game as she hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning and Roof made it back-to-back home runs when she knocked a solo shot out of the park.

North Greenville (13-10) has now won three games in a row and is showing no signs of slowing down. The next game on the Lady Crusaders schedule is against Columbia College in Columbia, S.C., tomorrow starting at 3 p.m.

The North Greenville baseball team is thriving on the diamond this year and senior leader Rand Stegall has a lot to do with it.

Senior centerfielder Rand Stegall stands in against a West Virginia State pitcher on Saturday at Ashemore Field. Stegall is currently fourth on the team with a .426 batting average and fourth in RBI with 15. His .602 on-base percentage is tops on the team as his leadership on and off the field has helped turn the Crusaders into National Championship contenders in 2010. Photo by Timur Kamilov / The Skyliner

Stegall has experienced his fair share of highs and lows on the baseball field during his four years at North Greenville, but he said that his overall experience as a Crusader has been extremely positive.

“Since I have been at North Greenville, we have improved every year,” said Stegall. “Not only have we improved on the field, but in the classroom as well.”

The Crusaders won a total of 18 games during Stegall’s sophomore and junior years, but North Greenville has already matched those numbers this season, posting an 18-5 record thus far in 2010. This dramatic turn-around can be attributed to Stegall’s leadership, amongst other changes within the Crusader clubhouse.

“After only winning 10 games last season, the returnees got together and decided to make a change. A change that we would fulfill on a daily basis,” said Stegall. “The change was to put ‘team before self’.”

The selfless attitude displayed by Stegall has lead to some pretty stellar numbers during his baseball career. Stegall has an impressive four-year batting average of .334 and a staggering cumulative slugging percentage of .398. The two-time All-American earned the team’s Offensive Player of the Year award in 2008 and was named the team captain in 2008.

“He is a complete player and a complete person,” said head coach Travis Henson. “He is a great leader, and probably the best lead-off hitter I have ever coached.”

Stegall believes that although he has had a successful career as a Crusader, North Greenville has taught him many valuable things that he can apply to his life after college.

“North Greenville has really helped me focus on the things that I need to be focused on,” said Stegall. “When my time here is up, everything that North Greenville stands for will truly be a foundation for me. I never believed it at first, but Christ really does make a difference here at NGU.”

As a senior outfielder, Stegall has been a part of some pretty big games and experienced some high and low moments in his career. Stegall stated that it is tough to pick out a single most memorable moment, but admitted there are many of them.

“The relationships and friendships that I have acquired while playing this game are all memorable,” said Stegall. “I thank God for that because, in reality, that’s what it is all about. Baseball is just a bonus.”

Although his career at North Greenville is nearly complete, Stegall still has some business to attend to this season. After all, his team has become a legitimate contender for a national championship, and that is something that the senior leader is taking very seriously.

“The goal is simple,” Stegall said. “One goal. One dream. Shock the nation and win a title. With God, all things are possible.”

The first two rounds of the 2010 NCAA Tournament have provided more excitement and intrigue than any other tournament in my recent memory. Every year we see huge upsets and teams from mid-major conferences making it farther than anyone expected. Well, 2010 is no different as Cornell, Butler, St. Mary’s and Northern Iowa have all advanced into the Sweet 16. After looking back at the most exciting weekend in college basketball, I ask myself one question, “Can there be four mid-majors in the Final Four?” The answer to that question is a resounding “Why not?” Here is a break down of each region and why each of these four teams has a legitimate shot at making the trip to Indianapolis.

Midwest: If Northern Iowa can take down mighty Kansas, then anything is possible. By taking down Kansas, I know the Panthers have a shot to take down Michigan State. It also does not hurt that the Spartans leading scorer Kalin Lucas will be ineffective due to an Achilles injury suffered against Maryland. And if the Panthers can keep the Jawhawks’ Sherron Collins and Xavier Henry from scoring in bunches, then this team at least has a shot to contain Ohio State’s Evan Turner and John Diebler. Northern Iowa has the uncanny ability to control the pace of the game and play hard-nosed defense, which is sure to produce results.

West: No one is surprised to see Butler in the Sweet 16. However, it would be a bit of a surprise to see the Bulldogs in the Elite Eight or even the Final Four. Butler is the hottest team in the field, having won 22 consecutive games. Sure, they do not play top-level competition but 22 wins is 22 wins no matter how you look at it. Butler actually matches up with Syracuse better than most people believe. The Bulldogs are a top-10 defensive team that is able to control game pace and limit opponents’ possessions. If they make it past Welsey Johnson and the Orange, they should advance to Indianapolis easily because they just have too much size for either Kansas State or Xavier.

East: In the Sweet 16, Cornell will be playing less than an hour away from campus and will need a home-court advantage if they have any hopes of defeating now-favorite Kentucky. The Big Red’s offense has heated up at the right time and is running on such a high gear that even Kentucky or West Virginia might not be able to stop it. Cornell was able to put up 87 points in a victory over Wisconsin, which is a top-20 defensive team. The Big Red are shooting 46 percent from behind the arc and start four seniors compared to none by the Wildcats, one by Washington and two for West Virginia. If Cornell’s offense continues to run as it is, do not be surprised to see the Big Red in Indianapolis.

South: St. Mary’s certainly has the toughest road to the Final Four simply because of matchup problems. In the Sweet 16, the Gaels play against Baylor whose size and athleticism should provide some problems. St. Mary’s advantage is that the Bears have played sloppy thus far in the tournament, and they are unable to matchup with Gaels’ center Omar Samhan. So far, Samhan has been the best offensive center in the region as he has averaged 31 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. If the backcourt can continue to be consistent, St. Mary’s chances get better to advance to the Final Four.

-My Predictions-

Elite Eight: Northern Iowa, Ohio State, Butler, Kansas State, Cornell, West Virginia, Duke, St. Mary’s

Final Four: Ohio State, Butler, West Virginia, Duke

Chamionship game: Ohio State vs Duke

2010 National Champion: Duke Blue Devils

The West Virginia State Yellow Jackets proved to be too much for North Greenville over the weekend, as the Crusaders dropped the series two games to one. The two losses move North Greenville’s overall record to 18-5 for the season.

When ace Drew Provence is on the mound, it has been a guaranteed win for the Crusaders this season. The first game of the series was no different, as Provence moved his record to 7-0 for the season in an impressive 18-5 win on March 19. The Crusaders jumped out to a hot start and would not lose the lead, scoring four runs in the first inning. Derek Fulmer, sophomore business, was on fire offensively, batting 3-4 with seven RBI and a grand slam. Adam Taylor, freshman business administration, was not far behind, also going 3-4 with three runs batted in.

Head coach Travis Henson said that he was pleased with the team’s performance in the first game of the series and believed his team played very hard.

“They are a very good baseball team,” said Henson. “Offensively we were very solid and it was a great win for us.”

North Greenville struggled on a sunny Saturday afternoon; however, as they were swept in a tough double header with the Yellow Jackets on March 20.

Game one of the double header looked promising for the Crusaders, but a late-game rally by West Virginia State proved to be too much to handle for the North Greenville defense, and the Crusaders were downed 7-2. Michael Benjamin, junior business administration, started on the mound for North Greenville, and was nothing short of dominating, striking out six batters and only allowing two earned runs in four innings.  Anthony Foulk, sophomore sport management, had the hot bat in the first game, going 2-4 with one RBI.

The second game in the hard-fought double header ended with the same result, as North Greenville’s comeback attempt was spoiled and the Yellow Jackets handled the Crusaders 6-3. Fulmer was doing it all for the Crusaders, pitching 2.1 innings, striking out two batters and going 2-3 with two RBIs from the plate. Rand Stegall, senior business, also had a successful day at the plate, going 1-1 with a run scored.

“We didn’t get hits in clutch times,” Henson said of the double header. “We had runners on base all day, but we just couldn’t get them in.”

Although North Greenville has had an enormous amount of success this season, matching their total number of wins in the past two seasons with 18, this is the first time the Crusaders have lost back-to-back games this season.

“Great teams are able to stop the bleeding,” said Henson. “We have a group of guys who hate to lose, so if we can keep working and doing what we’re doing we are going to be okay.”

The Crusaders will try to get back to their winning ways when they take on Erskine College today at Ashmore field. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

The men’s and women’s tennis teams snagged a couple of much needed wins over USC Lancaster on March 18.

The men secured their win in dominating fashion, sweeping all sets in a 9-0 blowout over the Lancers. Hugo Ciarrocci, freshman business administration, was impressive for the Crusaders, winning his singles sets 7-6, 6-4. Timur Kamilov, freshman print media, and Guillermo Ferreira, junior international business, also added a convincing win, dominating their doubles set 8-2.

The Lady Lancers were also victims to a blowout, as the North Greenville women’s tennis team won all sets in a 9-0 win over USC Lancaster.

Sarah Stanga, sophomore psychology, and Salem Erni, sophomore biology, were outstanding in their doubles match, winning the set 8-1. Erni was also impressive in her singles match, winning both sets 6-1, 6-3.

The Lady Crusaders were not able to keep their newly-found momentum alive, however, dropping a match on the road against Gardener Webb 6-1.

The Lady Crusaders will try to bounce back on March 23, as both the men (4-3) and women (4-5) will face off at home against Newberry College.

On March 4, North Greenville took on Tusculum College in a double header in Tigerville. The Lady Crusaders split with the Lady Pioneers, dropping the first game 6-2 and winning the second game 5-2.

Taylor Roof, sophomore health and wellness, started game one but struggled early, giving up six runs on five hits in only 2 2/3 innings. Allison Bailey, studio art, provided the only offense for North Greenville as she hit a two-run homerun in the second inning.

Kristyn Smith took the mound for the second game and pitched a complete game, allowing only two runs and striking out 10 Tusculum batters. Courtney Campbell, freshman biology, hit a two-run homerun in the second inning and Lauren Vick, sophomore early childhood education, hit a solo homerun in the fourth inning.

The Lady Crusaders traveled to Spartanburg, S.C., on March 5 to take part in the Mid-South Classic tournament.

In game one of the first day, North Greenville was matched up against the University of Charleston West Virginia. The Lady Golden Eagles shut down the Lady Crusaders as they came away with a 6-0 victory.

Roof once again had a rough outing, pitching only three innings and giving up two runs. Laura Hopper, freshman intercultural studies, came in to finish the game, pitching four innings and giving up four runs while striking out three batters.

Smith was given the start in the second game of the day against Coker College. The game was close throughout but the Lady Cobras used a four-run fourth inning to seal a 7-6 victory over the Lady Crusaders.

Smith pitched a complete game, striking out only two batters. Kimberly Robertson, freshman biology, led the offense, finishing 3-4 while Campbell was 2-4 from the plate with a homerun. Bailey had two hits and an RBI in the game.

The Lady Crusaders played three games in the second game of the tournament, picking up a victory over Lincoln Memorial College and dropping games against Brevard College and Newberry College.

Hopper was put on the mound for the game against Lincoln Memorial. She pitched three innings, giving up three runs and leading North Greenville to an 11-3 win over the Lady Railsplitters.

Robertson drove in two runs for North Greenville while Brewer, Campbell and Griffith each knocked in a run of their own.

There were no statistics provided for the games against Brevard and Newberry.

North Greenville’s next game will come today against Piedmont College at home at 2 p.m.

The North Greenville University baseball team is continuing to punish teams and has now moved its record to 17-3 with some big wins over spring break.

“The sky is the limit for this team,” said catcher Anthony Foulk, sophomore sport management. “We have worked hard to get to this point and as long as we continue to keep working, we will continue to be successful.”

The Crusaders began their two-week stretch by splitting a tough double header on March 5 with Indiana University of Pennsylvania, dropping game one 5-4, but pulling out an extra innings nail-bitter in game two 15-14.

Michael Benjamin, sophomore undecided, started on the mound for North Greenville in a game one loss, throwing five innings and giving up four runs on four hits. The Crusaders were able to rally in the sixth inning to tie the game at 4-4, but were not able to hold off the hot bats of IUP. The loss ended a nine-game winning streak for North Greenville.

Game two had better results for North Greenville, as they were able to put 15 runs on the board in an extra innings win. Despite struggles from the Crusader pitching staff, which gave up 14 runs on 13 hits, North Greenville was able to put together an impressive offensive display that began a fresh five-game winning streak.

The Crusader ball club continued its winning ways by sweeping a doubleheader with Emmanuel College on March 8. The Crusaders took the first game with a fifth inning rally that led them to a 12-10 victory. Brian Giles, sport management, came through with some clutch pitching, shutting out the Lions in the last two innings of the game.

The second game of the doubleheader again resulted in extra innings and a 9-7 Crusader Victory. Clutch hitting in the top of the ninth inning resulted in two go ahead runs that gave North Greenville the edge they needed to pull out a win.

“There have been times where we haven’t played our best,” Foulk said of the doubleheader. “But we have found ways to win.”

After coming up big with a couple of tough wins over Emmanuel College, the Crusaders responded by sweeping a doubleheader against Ohio Christian College. The first game was pure domination for the Crusaders, as they were able to shut out Ohio Christian 10-0. North Greenville gave up a quick 1-0 lead in the second game with the Trailblazers, but the Crusader bats were too hot and North Greenville reeled off 12 runs to take the game 12-2.

The Crusaders will take the field again on March 19 when they take on the Yellow Jackets of West Virginia State University.

After beginning the NCCAA National Tournament with a convincing 64-51 win over Bluefield College, the Lady Crusaders could not keep the momentum alive, falling in the semi-final game to Ecclesia College to place fourth in the tournament.

The Lady Rams of Bluefield College had no answer for the Lady Crusaders, as North Greenville jumped out to an 18-point lead in the first half. Nikki Wood, senior psychology, and Karly Stache, sophomore mathematics, each contributed 10 points in the contest, and Whitney Smith, senior accounting, was one point shy of a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.

“Our girls played extremely well the first 30 minutes of the game, probably some of the best basketball we have played,” said Arledge.

The South Regional Champs could not put together a National Championship run, however, as they were downed by the Lady Royals of Ecclesia College 53-50. The Lady Crusaders established a four-point advantage in the last four minutes of the game, but were unable to stop a Lady Royal comeback in a heartbreaking loss. Leading scorers for the Lady Crusaders included Jacquetta Golden, senior sport management, who scored eight points off the bench, and Smith, who had nine points on the night.

With the loss to Ecclesia College, the Lady Crusaders advanced to play in the third place game against top seed Mount Vernon Nazarene where they fell 74-50. Wood, Golden and Krisceda Cotton, freshman sport management, each contributed eight points to the losing effort. Wood was honored after the game, being named to the all-tournament team.

The North Greenville tennis teams both dropped matches to Tusculum College on March 5. The losses give the men a 3-3 record on the season, and the Lady Crusaders are now sitting at 3-4

It was a heartbreaking afternoon for the men as they were unable to come up with a win over the undefeated Pioneers in a 5-4 loss. Timur Kamilov, freshman print media, and Louis Campos, freshman business, both won their singles sets to give the Crusaders a strong start. The duo then lost their doubles set which contributed to a superior performance by the Pioneers.

The Lady  Crusaders  also  faced an undefeated Pioneer squad, and were unsuccessful dropping the match 9-0. Sarah Stanga, sophomore business administration, was unable to shake her opponent in a tough 7-6 loss. Doubles partners Natalie Stewart, junior business administration, and Cassie Curtis, freshman secondary education, also ran into a tough match, as they dropped their set 8-6.

The Crusaders can be seen again on March 17 when they take on the University of Virginia Wise at 2 p.m.

The North Greenville men’s basketball team traveled to Palm Beach, Fla., on March 8-10 to play in the NCCAA South Regional Tournament. Before the tournament began, the Crusaders were placed as they were ranked as the second overall team in the region after finishing the regular season with a 15-11 overall record.

Game one of the tournament took place on March 8 with the Crusaders playing against Truett McConnell College in the semi-finals. North Greenville used its size advantage on the inside and strong perimeter defense that limited the Bears to 35 percent shooting for the game as the Crusaders came away with a 78-61 victory.

Paul Harrison, sophomore sport management, led all Crusaders on offense as he scored a game-high 27 points. Zack Shields, sophomore accounting, and Luke Lattimer, freshman sport management, scored in double figures, finishing with 14 and 12 points each.

“Any time you can hold a team playing in postseason competition to 35 percent shooting, you are going to have a good chance to win,” said head coach Chad Lister.

On March 9, the Crusaders were matched up against Palm Beach Atlantic in the regional championship game. The tournament final went into overtime but the Crusaders came away on the losing end of the contest as the Sailfish made three late-game free throws to defeat North Greenville 73-71.

Harrison once again led all scorers with 34 points in the game. Lattimer scored 17 points and Shields finished with 11 for the Crusaders.

“We played with a great deal of intensity but they just made one more play than we did,” said Lister.

The Crusaders finished the 2009-10 season with a 16-12 record, which ties the school record for most wins in a season. With only one senior on the roster, the Crusaders are hoping to work hard this summer and continue their progress next season.

“We all learned that we work well together,” said Harrison. “Despite our lack of age, we know we can do big things.”

After denying North Greenville University entrance into the South Atlantic Conference, the South Atlantic Conference Council of Presidents has formed a four-year scheduling alliance with the North Greenville football program, beginning in the fall of 2011.

“Our President’s Council felt like it would be a good move for both North Greenville and the South Atlantic Conference, with regards to football scheduling, to form a scheduling alliance in the sport of football,” said SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz.

Britz stated that this alliance would be a huge benefit for the SAC.

“It provides our schools a guaranteed eight in-region Division II games and also helps with the costs of travel for our schools,” said Britz.

Head football coach Jamey Chadwell believes that this is a step in the right direction for the football program at North Greenville.

“This gives us some common opponents every year,” said Chadwell. “It will help us with scheduling and our travel budget, being able to play guys that are closer to you.”

North Greenville is within 150 miles of eight SAC schools and the alliance should help give the Crusaders more Division II competition. Chadwell believes that being denied membership into the SAC, and now forming a scheduling alliance with their football program, gives the SAC a win-win situation.

“It gives them all the benefits of playing us without having to give us any conference championships, players of the year and things like that,” said Chadwell. “It gives them a chance to check us out and see what they like.”

Britz stated that he does not know what the future holds for the relationship between the SAC and North Greenville, but “he is not ruling anything out.”

When asked if the alliance would eventually lead to an SAC membership for North Greenville Britz answered “At this time there has been no discussion of that, but I would never say yes or no to that.”

SAC teams include: Brevard College, Brevard, N.C.; Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.; Catawba College, Salisbury, N.C.; Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, N.C.; Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tenn.; Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, N.C.; Newberry College, Newberry, S.C.; Tusculum College, Greeneville, Tenn.; Wingate University, Wingate, N.C., and Anderson University in Anderson, S.C.

1. St. Louis Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

Suh and fellow lineman Gerald McCoy could be virtually interchangeable at this spot. In a day and age where much of the NFL is dominated by offense, it is critical to have a talented defense. Suh has size and speed that are rare among men his size (6’4”, 303 lbs).

2. Detroit Lions: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

No matter who is taken first, the Lions are sure to feel fortunate to have either McCoy or Suh in this spot. McCoy is more of a pass rushing lineman and in a league dominated by passing attacks, anything that can help a defense stop the passing game is a plus.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

As stated in my first mock draft, there is no better prospect at the safety postion than Eric Berry. He is a hard-hitting defensive back with a nose for the ball and above-average speed. The Buccaneers need to return to the defense that won them a Super Bowl title in 2002 and Berry is a step in the right direction.

4. Washington Redskins: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

While new head coach Mike Shanahan continues to evaluate his current quarterback Jason Campbell, this pick is very likely to change. But for now, Bradford is still the Redskins’ top choice. Based solely on potential, if Bradford recovers from shoulder surgery, as many think he will, he could be the top quarterback to come out of the 2010 draft.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

The Chiefs need to protect quarterback Matt Cassell and will make this their top off-season priority. By giving Cassell time to throw the ball to his young wide receivers, the Chiefs’ offense will improve immediately. Okung is the top rated tackle in this year’s draft and Kansas City would love to have his ability to anchor their line.

6. Seattle Seahawks: Byan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

The second most-pro-ready offensive tackle, Bulaga’s stock has been on the rise of late. With two picks in the first round, Seattle can afford to secure an offensive lineman and worry about a quarterback or running back with their second pick. This would give new head coach Pete Carroll plenty of things to think about going into the later parts of round one.

7. Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, CB, Florida

The Browns could go a number of directions with this pick but choosing the best corner in the draft would be the best thing to do. Landing the draft’s most complete defensive back should be above drafting for potential. Cleveland has a history of pretty decent draft picks and choosing Haden should continue that trend.

8. Oakland Raiders: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

We never know whom the Raiders will choose in the first round until after the 40-yard dash times from the NFL Combine are posted. However, until then we must go with the best fit, which is Anthony Davis. Davis will be ready to start from day one at left tackle and if JaMarcus Russell is going to be the quarterback, Oakland has to find a way to protect his blindside.

9. Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

The Bills could go choose from many different positions here, but this team needs a quarterback. Buffalo’s offense was terrible in 2009 and without a quarterback, 2010 will not be much different. Clausen is a born leader with a strong arm and pinpoint accuracy. The Bills need a franchise quarterback and picking Clausen is a great place to start.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Earl Thomas, S, Texas

Earl Thomas is known as a play-making safety and that is just what the Jaguars need. Thomas can cover, seems to always know where the ball is going to be and can come up to the line and deliver help against the run. A strong showing at the combine will help his stock continue to rise.

On Feb. 23, the Lady Crusaders softball team took its perfect record on the road to play in a double header against the Brevard Tornados in Brevard, N.C.  North Greenville would suffer its first loss of the season in game one, 4-2, but bounce back to split the series by winning game two, 5-3.

In game one, pitcher Kristyn Smith, junior biology, took the mound for the Lady Crusaders. Smith pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits while striking out four batters. Laura Hopper, freshman intercultural studies, recorded the final out for North Greenville by striking out the side.

Allison Bailey, senior studio art, provided the offense for North Greenville in game one going 1-2 with two RBI. Kansas Wofford, freshman early childhood education, went 2-3 from the plate and scored a run in the first inning.

The Lady Crusaders turned the tables in game two as the offense heated up scoring five runs on 10 hits. On the mound for the Lady Crusaders was Taylor Roof, sophomore health and wellness, who pitched a complete game, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out three Tornado batters.

Wofford led off game two with a single and later scored on a base hit by Karli Taylor, sophomore sports management. Wofford finished the game 3-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Taylor, Jessica Turner, senior mathematics, Shealy Broome, senior health and wellness, and Tia LaFreniere, senior outdoor leadership, each recorded an RBI in the game.

On Feb. 26 the Lady Crusaders hosted a double header against Milligan College. North Greenville was unable to get much offense as they dropped the first game 4-2 in extra innings but won the second game, 7-4.

Smith started on the mound in game one and pitched five innings, giving up two runs while striking out six. Kimberly Robertson, freshman biology, pitched four innings of relief and gave up the game-winning home run in the top of the ninth inning.

Offensively, the Lady Crusaders struggled in game one and only scoring two runs. Roof finished the game 1-4 with an RBI and LaFreniere also drove in a run.

In game two, North Greenville’s offense heated up, scoring four runs in the first inning and seven runs overall. Roof picked up her fifth win of the season by pitching a complete game and striking out six.

Hope Brewer, senior sports management, led the Lady Crusaders going 2-4 with two RBI in the game. Taylor and Roof each knocked in a pair of runs and catcher Rachel Holeman, freshman biology, got her first career RBI.

After playing the home series against Milligan, the Lady Crusaders traveled to Wingate, S.C., on Feb. 27 to take on the 15-1 Wingate Lady Bulldogs. North Greenville was stagnant on offense once again, losing both games in a double header 2-1 and 3-0.

Hopper would be on the mound for North Greenville in game one and pitch 7 2/3 innings, giving up only two runs while striking out 10 batters.

On offense for the Lady Crusaders, LaFreniere had the team’s lone RBI in the second inning.

Smith would pitch game two for North Greenville but come away with the loss as she gave up three runs in six innings with only two strikeouts.

The Lady Crusaders (8-4) will receive a much needed-break as the team’s next game will not come until March 3 in a double header against Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, N.C. The first game will begin at 2 p.m.

The men’s and women’s tennis teams had no trouble defeating Greensboro College, but the Lady Crusaders fell to Erskine College in a hard-fought match.

The Lady Crusaders began the week on Feb. 26 by dropping a 9-0 match at home against Erskine College. The Flying Fleet easily handled the Crusaders sweeping the singles and doubles matches. Cassie Curtis, freshman secondary education, and Cherie Curtis, junior elementary education, came up short in their doubles match after a tough 8-9 battle.

The men’s and women’s teams then traveled to Greensboro College on Feb. 27 where they dominated the Pride with scores of 8-1 and 9-0.

The men, who are now 3-2, were led by Tomas Clack, junior business, who won both of his singles sets 6-0, 6-0, and Timur Kamilov, freshman print media, who won his singles sets 6-2 and 6-1.

The Lady Crusaders were also able to put up an impressive effort by shutting out the Pride and moving their overall record to 3-3 on the season.

Cassie Curtis, who won her singles sets 6-1, 6-1, and Katherine Shaw, sophomore psychology, who won her singles sets 6-1, 6-3, were the top performers for North Greenville.

Both teams played yesterday at Brevard College and will play against Tusculum College on March 5.

Point guard Tim Franklin drives to the basket against a Carver defender in an overtime thriller on Feb. 23. (Photo by Timur Kamilov)

After winning two consecutive games, the North Greenville men’s basketball team traveled to Anderson University on Feb. 22 in hopes of gaining revenge on the Trojans, who downed the Crusaders 80-76 earlier this season.  North Greenville shot 53 percent from the field but only 43 percent from the free throw line leading to an 82-78 victory for Anderson.

Paul Harrison, sophomore sports management, recorded his fourth straight double-double, scoring 31 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Luke Lattimer, freshman sports management, and Zack Shields, freshman accounting, were the only other Crusaders to score in double figures, finishing with 12 and 10 points respectively.

The Crusaders returned home to Tigerville on Feb. 23 to close out the 2010 season against the Cougars of Carver Bible College. Thanks to a clutch performance by Shields, North Greenville defeated Carver 103-101 in overtime.

Shields, who scored a team-high 24 points, hit a game-tying three-pointer with seven seconds left to send the game into overtime. The Cougars and Crusaders traded baskets for much of the extra period but with four seconds left on the game clock, Shields was fouled and sent to the foul line. He once again came up big for the Crusaders, hitting both free throws and winning the game.

Other offensive performers included Harrison, who finished with 22 points and eight rebounds. Harrison now has more than 1,000 points in his young Crusader career. Lattimer finished the game with 20 points while Jonathan Bozymowski, sophomore undecided, scored 11 points in the contest.

“It was not very pretty but I was proud to see us grind out a win,” said head coach Chad Lister.

The Crusaders’ (15-11) next game will be in the NCCAA South Regional Tournament in West Palm Beach, Fla. on March 8-10.

North Greenville first baseman Tyler Callicutt stands in to face an Anderson Trojans pitcher on Feb. 24 at Ashemore Field in Tigerville. The Crusaders now have a 10-2 record on the season. (Photo by Kari Weaver)

The North Greenville baseball team took down Anderson University and Erskine College this past week. The Crusaders have now won their last seven games.

“It has been a big week for us,” said head coach Travis Henson. “Anderson and Erskine are two teams that are very strong in Division II baseball, so we had a chance to find out how we can do against some good baseball teams.”

The Crusaders started off their week strong by posting an 8-4 victory over Anderson University on Feb. 24, completing their three-game series with the Trojans.

Brian Westbrook, freshman secondary education, got the start on the mound for the Crusaders, but was unable to cool off the hot bats of the Trojans as he gave up three quick homeruns in the contest. The Crusaders bounced back offensively, however, being led by Markus Duckworth, sophomore social studies education, who went 3-4 with two RBI, and Adam Taylor, freshman business administration, who was 2-5 with two RBI.

“Our offensive versatility was a big key for us,” said Henson. “We were able to score in different ways. We had some clutch hits, but we also ran the bases very effectively.”

The Crusaders then traveled to Erskine College on Feb. 25, where they swept a double header with the 25th ranked Flying Fleet by scores of 19-2 and 6-1.

On the mound in game one for North Greenville was ace Drew Provence, sophomore marketing, who pitched a complete game, with five strike outs, two walks, and allowing only two earned runs. Offensively, the Crusaders were led by David Frazier, sophomore sports management, who went 4-5 with three RBIs, Randy Stegall, senior business, who went 3-6 with two RBI, and Taylor, who went 3-4 with three RBI.

“When your team is winning and everyone is playing good, it gives you confidence,” said Frazier. “It takes pressure off of individual people so that we can play the game like we know how to.”

Game two in the double header did not provide the same amount of offense, but resulted in another win for the Crusaders. Michael Benjamin, junior business administration, got the start on the mound, as he pitched a complete game, striking out two batters and only giving up one earned run.

The 10-2 Crusaders are off to a very strong start, and coach Henson believes the team is on the road to success.

“We’re 10-2 and people are starting to ask ‘what do we have to do to get ranked’,” Henson said. “Now we have a lot of people’s attention, but the question is what are we going to do now that they are looking.”

Provence, who is now 4-0 as a starting pitcher, said that although North Greenville has had some success, there is still a long road in front of them.

“We had a huge week beating some of the top teams in the state of South Carolina,” said Provence. “But we have only completed 20 percent of our schedule and we have to be able to perform under the spotlight now.”

Though he is new to North Greenville University this year, Greg Mosely is definitely not new to coaching volleyball.

While playing football at Liberty University, Mosely met his future wife, a volleyball player. From his wife, he gained a love for the sport of volleyball which continued to grow as their daughter grew up playing the sport as well. His desire to coach his daughter and to impact children through Christian education led to a long coaching career. Mosely has coached 15 years of high school volleyball and eight years of club volleyball.

More than just his love of volleyball, Mosely emphasizes his love of Christian education, particularly on the university level. Mosely has been attracted to NGU since his daughter attended from 2001 to 2005 and played volleyball for the school.

Mosely appreciates the success the volleyball program has experienced in the past and hopes to build on it in the future. He wants to include the mission of the school within the volleyball program, making Christ the focus. His overarching goal is to impact the players by using the sport of volleyball to help them gain lessons which can be applied to all of life.

Mosely describes his coaching philosophy with the following statement: “Volleyball is a microcosm of life.”

He sees volleyball, or any sport, as a reflection of life. Both sports and life have their own injustices, pressures and opportunities. Teamwork is important to exercise on and off the court, according to Mosely. He sees sports as a great way to prepare for facing life. He believes people should remember God can use every event that occurs in life to help individuals grow.

The Bible verse Mosely most looks to in relation to all aspects of life is Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” He believes if he is going to do something, he has to do it with all his heart. This verse applies to everything from academics to relationships, according to Mosely.

Mosely came to know Christ at the age of 11 when his Sunday school teacher visited him one Saturday morning. His teacher’s reiteration of the gospel message touched Mosely’s heart, leading him to accept Christ as his personal savior. Mosely later learned his teacher had been getting ready to leave for Vietnam when he witnessed to Mosely. Mosely was touched and inspired that his teacher took the time to share Christ.

When Mosely is not coaching, he enjoys fishing, hunting and attending car shows. In his eyes, his biggest accomplishment has been being a good dad to his daughter.

On Feb. 15, the North Greenville women’s basketball team took home the NCCAA South Regional Championship after defeating Southern Wesleyan University and Emmanuel College.

“It feels awesome,” said Karly Stache, sophomore mathematics. “Starting out 4-10, it was hard to think we could get over 10 wins, nonetheless go to nationals.”

The Lady Crusaders opened the tournament in dramatic fashion, pulling out a nail biting 82-80 win over Southern Wesleyan University. Stache led the Crusaders in scoring with 20 points on the night. Other top performers for North Greenville included Whitney Smith, senior accounting, who had 11 points and Christina Carlis, sophomore undecided, who had 16 points in the contest.

With a win against SWU, North Greenville advanced to the championship game where they snagged a 64-54 win over Emmanuel College. The Crusaders had four players score in double figures, which lead to a South Regional Championship. Top performers included Stache, who had 17 points, Nikki Wood, senior psychology, who scored 14, Carlis, who had 11 points and Smith with 10 points on the night.

“The regional championship was wonderful,” said head coach Jayne Arledge. “We played two really good games back to back, and we are super excited to play in the national tournament and represent North Greenville.”

After a forfeit by Hiwassee College, North Greenville finished off the regular season with a tough loss on senior day to Morris College on Feb. 20. The Lady Crusaders blew a 15-point halftime lead as Morris College rallied to defeat North Greenville 84-80. Top scorers for North Greenville included Smith, who had 24 points, Krisceda Cotton, freshman sport management, who had 17, and Stache who scored 18. The seniors were honored at halftime of the game and Arledge had nothing but good things to say about her players.

“Nikki [Wood] has been a great point guard for us. Whitney [Smith] has become a great scorer,” said Arledge. “Jacquetta [Golden] has been a defensive stopper her whole career and Bridgett [Smith] was able to come from a soccer program and add life to our team.”

Winning the regional championship gives North Greenville a chance to compete in the national tournament on March 11-13.

On Feb. 16, the Crusaders traveled to Charleston, S.C., to take on Division I-AA opponent Charleston Southern. North Greenville shot 45 percent from three-point range but had an abundance of turnovers leading to a 94-65 trouncing by the Buccaneers.

Paul Harrison, sophomore sport management, and Jimmy Ellis, freshman undecided, each finished the game with 11 points to lead the Crusader offense.

The Crusaders ended their road trip when they took on Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C., on Feb. 18. North Greenville shot well once again but dropped a heartbreaker 80-76.

Luke Lattimer, freshman sport management, continued his strong play as he finished the game with 16 points. Ellis scored a career-high 15 points in the game going a perfect five for five from beyond the arc while Zack Shields hit four three-pointers and had 14 points.

North Greenville returned home on Feb. 19 to take on Hiwassee College. The Crusaders set a team record for points and broke their four-game losing streak with a 118-105 victory.

Harrison asserted himself in the paint, leading to a 40-point, 14-rebound, double-double performance. Jamaal Pryor, freshman sport management, gave North Greenville a spark off the bench, finishing the game with 16 points.

The Crusaders defeated Morris College on Feb. 20 in Hayes Gymnasium for the team’s second win in as many days. North Greenville shot an even 50 percent from the field for the 79-67 win.

Harrison recorded his second straight double-double finishing with 32 points and 13 rebounds. Lattimer was the only other Crusader to finish in double figures as he scored 17 points in the game.

The Crusaders played Monday against Anderson University and last night against Carver College. North Greenville’s next game will come in the NCCAA South Regional Tournament on March 8-10 in Palm Beach, Fla.

New softball head coach Sarah Hall began her tenure at North Greenville on the right foot as the Lady Crusaders swept Southern Wesleyan University in a double header on Feb. 17 in Central, S.C.

In the first of two games, ace Kristyn Smith, junior biology, pitched six innings, giving up only two hits and striking out an astonishing 17 batters while leading North Greenville to a 10-3 season opening victory.

“I am very excited about the way we came out and started this season,” Hall said. “I think our pitching was outstanding and I am very pleased with our intesnsity on offense.”

The Lady Crusaders’ bats were hot from the start, led by Allison Bailey, senior  studio art, who finished the game 2-2 with two home runs and two runs batted in. Other offensive contributors in game one were Karli Taylor, sophomore sport management, who finished the game with two doubles and Marielena Santos, freshman business, who opened up her college career with two RBI.

After blowing out the Lady Warriors in game one, Hall turned to pitcher Taylor Roof, sophomore health and wellness, to finish the sweep. Roof pitched a complete game, finishing with eight strikeouts, leading North Greenville to a 10-2 win over Southern Wesleyan.

North Greenville continued to do damage on the offensive side of the ball as they racked up 13 hits in game two. Santos led the Lady Crusaders with two hits and two RBI. Taylor and left fielder Jessica Turner, senior mathematics, each finished the game with two RBI and Shealy Broome, senior health and wellness, knocked in a run of her own.

After opening the season with two straight wins, the Lady Crusaders returned to Tigerville with hopes of extending their winning streak against the Lady Bobcats of Lees-McRae College in a double header on Feb. 18. North Greenville continued their hot streak taking both games in the series 4-1 and 9-0 in front of their home crowd.

Roof started game one for the Lady Crusaders and pitched a complete game registering five strikeouts and allowing only two hits and one earned run, which came off of a solo homerun in the seventh inning. At the plate, Roof helped her own cause by going 3-3 and scoring a run. Broome finished the game 2-3 with an RBI while Santos, Kansas Wofford, freshman early childhood education, and Courtney Campbell, freshman biology, each accounted for an RBI.

Coach Hall put Smith on the mound in game two and she got all the run support she needed from the offense. North Greenville scored nine runs in five innings, forcing the game to be called due to the mercy rule. Smith fnished the game, pitching all five innings, striking out seven batters and allowing four hits.

Roof played first base in game two and provided power at the plate, hitting a three-run homerun in the fifth inning. Hope Brewer, senior sport management, went 3-3 from the plate and plated a run and Bailey was also 3-3 with two RBI in the game.

After winning four straight games, the Lady Crusaders traveled to Gaffney, S.C., on Feb. 20 to play in an early season tournament hosted by Limestone College.

In the first game of the day, North Greenville was matched up against West Virginia Wesleyan. Smith once again pitched a complete game, giving up only four hits and striking out seven as North Greenville defeated West Virginia Wesleyan 4-1.

In the game, Wofford went 2-3 with one RBI and Brewer hit a triple and collected an RBI. Roof was again hot from the plate finishing with three hits and one RBI,

Roof took the mound in the second game as the Lady Crusaders took on the Lady Battlers of Alderson-Broaddus College. Roof pitched a one-hit shutout as North Greenville came away with a 6-0 victory.

Sarah Griffith, sophomore mathematics, led the Lady Crusader offense finishing with a double and two RBI and Brewer was 1-3 with an RBI and one run scored. Brewer also stole a base in the game.

The Lady Crusaders (6-0) played last night against Brevard College in Brevard, N.C. and will take on Milligan College on Feb. 26 in a double-header in Elizabethton, Tenn.

In the 2009-10 Major League Baseball offseason few teams did as much to improve their team as the Seattle Mariners.

In a market such a Seattle, where rain is more common than wins, the Mariners were able to lure top-tier free agents and land one of the best pitchers in the MLB. At times, Seattle has been among baseball’s elite. In 2001, the Mariners had a historic season winning 116 games, and tying the record  for the most wins in a single season. This franchise is not just now emerging. They are re-emerging.

The Mariners’ rebuilding began with the hiring of general manager Jack Zduriencik, who has a reputation around the majors as one of the game’s best evaluators of talent. With money to spend, he took advantage of his opportunity and began to make major changes.

One change made by the front office was to let go of third baseman Adrian Beltre. Beltre was signed to a huge contract in the summer of 2005 after he hit 48 home runs with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, in his five-year tenure in Seattle, Beltre failed to hit more than 26 home runs in any season. After a subpar 2009 where he hit a measley .265 with only eight home runs, the Mariners knew they had to let the under-performing Beltre go his own way.

The first major change made was to sign infielder Chone Figgins to a four-year contract. At 32 years old, most teams were only offering Figgins two-year deals. When the Mariners came calling with more money and job security, they were able to land one of the game’s best utility players. Figgins gives this team more speed at the top of the order and will provide protection for Ichiro Suzuki. Figgins’ veteran presence will mesh well with the young talent in the clubhouse and prove to be one the offseason’s most notable moves.

A lesser-known and somewhat questionable move made by the Mariners was a trade for troubled outfielder Milton Bradley. Bradley, known for his locker room disruptions, was suspended by the Cubs for the final month of 2009 for “conduct detrimental to the team.” If he can keep quiet in the clubhouse, Bradley should prove to be a decent addition to the Seattle offense where he is projected to be the primary designated hitter.

After Seattle solidified their defense and offense, it was time to revamp the pitching staff to complete the makeover. Zduriencik pulled off the biggest trades of the offseason when he was able to join with Philadelphia and Toronto in a three-team deal, bringing right-hander Cliff Lee to the west coast.

Lee, the American League Cy Young award winner in 2008, was traded to Philadelphia midway through 2009 and helped lead the Phillies to a runner-up finish in the World Series. Lee, who finished 2009 with a 14-13 record, has amassed a career record of 90-52 to go along with a 3.97 ERA and 900 strikeouts. Lee will be paired with ace Felix Hernandez (19-5, 2.49 ERA, 217 Ks in 2009) to form one the most dominant one-two punches in the major leagues.

After taking a look at all the changes within the front office and on the field, it is easy to see that Seattle is a team that has turned the corner and is headed in the right direction. In an American League West Division normally dominated by the Anaheim Angels, the Mariners are now ready to be playoff contenders and make some noise around the league.

The North Greenville baseball team is maintaining its strong start as it has now moved to 7-2 on the season.

“People don’t realize that this team is a legitimate NCCAA/ NCAA Division II college baseball program, and our goal is to make people aware of what we can do,” said outfielder Adam Taylor, freshman business administration.

North Greenville began the week by splitting a double-header with Anderson University on Feb. 16. The Crusaders produced some strong offense that propelled them to a 6-3 win in the first game. Randy Stegall, senior business, and Dayton Lupton, senior sport management, had the hot bats for the Crusaders, each going 3-3 on the day.

Anderson would be too much in the second game of the double-header, putting up 10 runs to down the crusaders 10-3. North Greenville gave up five quick runs in the second inning and they were unable to put runs on the board, which gave Anderson University a big lead.

“We played well and came up with a good win in the first game [against Anderson],” said Lupton. “They just capitalized on a few situations, which allowed them to pull out a win in the second game.”

The Crusaders bounced back quickly from their loss to Anderson, as they were able to sweep a three-game weekend series with Southern Wesleyan University.

North Greenville began the series on Feb. 19 with a dominating 16-7 win over the Warriors. Taylor had the hot bat for the Crusaders, hitting a grand slam in the fifth inning. Drew Provence, sophomore business administration, was on the mound for the Crusaders, as he moved his record to 2-0 as a starting pitcher.

The Crusaders continued their series with the Warriors by sweeping a double-header on Feb. 20. Neither contest was very close, as the Crusaders took the first game 16-4 and the second 14-9. Overall, North Greenville outscored Southern Wesleyan 46-20 in the series.

“Our team is very good this year,” said Lupton. “We have a lot of depth and we surely showed it this weekend.”

“We are really good right now but we could be so much better, and I expect that we will improve in every aspect of the game as the season continues. We just have to stay focused,” said Lupton.

The Crusaders will take the diamond again today at 2 p.m. in a rematch with Anderson University.

The North Greenville men’s and women’s tennis teams opened the 2010 season by splitting their first four matches.

The men began the season on Feb. 8 by shutting down Coker College in a 9-0 win. The Crusaders then traveled to Lander University on Feb. 11, where they suffered a 9-0 loss. It was a tough afternoon for the Crusaders as Timur Kamilov, freshman print media, and Louis Campos, freshman business, had the lead in their doubles match before having to forfeit the match due to an injury suffered by Campos.

The Crusaders would not be able to rebound against King College on Feb. 16 as they were downed in a 4-6 loss. North Greenville then took on Roberts Wesleyan University on Feb. 17, where they were able to come up with a much-needed 6-3 win. Kamilov and Kesha Sedov, sophomore broadcast media, began the match by winning their doubles set and Kamilov continued his performance by winning his singles set and propelling the Crusaders to a win.

The Lady Crusaders opened their season by grinding out a win against Coker College on Feb. 8. Cherie Curtis, junior elementary education, and Katherine Shaw, sophomore psychology, were able to come up with key wins that led to a 6-3 victory. The Lady Crusaders then mirrored the men’s effort against Lander University on Feb. 11, dropping the match 9-0.

The Lady Crusaders bounced back against King College on Feb. 16, as they were able to come up with a closely contested 5-4 win. Shaw, Cassie Curtis, freshman secondary education, and Natalie Stewart, junior business administration, all came up with singles victories. North Greenville then came up on the short end of a hard fought match on Feb. 17, as they dropped a match against Roberts Wesleyan University 4-5. Stewart and Sarah Stanga, sophomore international business, were able to win their doubles match, but it wouldn’t be enough.

The men (2-2) and women (2-2) will both take the court again on Feb. 25, as they take on Carson Newman University.

Staff Writer

The North Greenville football team will be looking to improve upon its two-win season in 2009. They signed 24 prospects on February 3, 2010.

“We are excited about the number of guys that decided to sign with North Greenville,” said head coach Jamey Chadwell. “We feel really good about the quality of these men and the type of students they will be at the university.”

The Crusaders are hoping that the abundance of new faces will bring more wins and support to the football program.

“These are guys that have really bought into what we are selling,” said Chadwell. “Hopefully some of these guys can come in and play right away and give us some difference makers that we didn’t have last year.

The Crusader coaches believe that moving the ball on offense was one of their key struggles last season, and that is something  prospect Kyle Peck believes he can help with.

“Florida athletes are known for their speed,” said Peck. “That is one thing I have that I’m confident will help the team.”

Not only will North Greenville be looking to improve their offensive attack, they have also signed some defensive players that they really feel can do the job. Signee Davontè Alexander, who was a multi-sport athlete in high school, says he hopes he can be a big asset for this Crusader team.

“Personally, I don’t know what North Greenville was lacking,” said Alexander. “But I can bring God-given talent, friendship, trust and leadership to the team.”

The incoming freshman class for the Crusaders is one of the biggest recruiting classes the North Greenville football program has ever seen. Assistant Athletic Director Micah Sepko says that the large number of signees is due to the dedication of the coaches.

“Recruiting is how you win in college athletics, and we are finally getting out there and being a little more proactive,” said Sepko.

All of these changes are giving the coaching staff hope for a successful season on the gridiron this fall.

“When you sign a recruiting class, you don’t find out how good they are until about two or three years after they sign,” said Chadwell. “With these guys coming in, they are going to have to play early so we are counting on them to bring a lot of success to North Greenville.”

Sports Editor

Last week was “Rivalry Week” in the world of college basketball and the North Greenville Crusaders took part in the festivities on Feb. 9 as they played against in-state rival Southern Wesleyan University in Hayes Gymnasium. In a game marred by fouls, the Warriors defeated the Crusaders 93-91 in overtime.

The Crusaders were down 46-41 at the half but made a furious second half comeback thanks to hot outside shooting by Zack Shields, freshman accounting, and Jonathan Bozymowski, sophomore undecided, as well as the inside dominance of Paul Harrison, sophomore sport management.

Harrison recorded a double-double in the game, scoring 24 points and pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. Shields hit all four of his three-point attempts and finished the game with 12 points off of the bench. Bozymowski had the most complete game for North Greenville, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Luke Lattimer, freshman sport management, scored 13 points in the game and Millan Rodrigo, freshman sport management, scored 11 points and dished out five assists.

On. Feb. 11, North Greenville traveled to Columbia, SC for a rematch with the Yellow Jackets of Allen University. A poor shooting night haunted the Crusaders, as they were unable to avenge an early season loss dropping the game 74-56.

Harrison once again led the Crusader offense, scoring 14 points and collecting six rebounds. Shields was the only other Crusader to score in double figures as he finished the game with 11 points.

The Crusaders were on the road again yesterday against Charleston Southern University and will continue their road trip today in Gaffney, SC, with a game against Limestone College at 7 p.m. North Greenville’s next home contest will be this Friday, Feb. 19, against Hiwassee College at 7 p.m.

Screaming fans, marching bands and big hits are all signature elements of college football, one of the greatest sports in American history.

All fans look forward to having their favorite team make it to the national championship game, but few are able to explain how the two lucky teams get there.

The national championship and four other bowl games are determined by the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). Trying to interpret the BCS rules and regulations is almost as difficult as interpreting the United States Constitution.

The BCS takes into account the number of losses, strength of schedule, polls of the Associated Press writer and coaches, polls from seven computer ranking systems and how many top 10 teams a team has defeated. All the sections are added up and the two teams with the lowest numbers are chosen to play for the national championship title.

While it may sound like a good system, there are several flaws. According to the BCS website, the BCS is “managed by the commissioners of the 11 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) (formerly Division I-A) conferences, the Director of Athletics at the University of Notre Dame, and representatives of the bowl organizations. The conferences are Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, Pacific-10, Southeastern and Western Athletic.”

In other words, the BCS is run by a group of people with personal agendas in mind. The major conferences, like the South Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Coastal Conference, are favored and smaller schools are pushed to the side.

There have been several complaints regarding the BCS system, but the cries of the public are drowned out by the sounds of pockets being lined with money. For example, in December of 2009, the Fiesta Bowl was accused of encouraging employees to give donations to political candidates.

The BCS has too much room for error. A playoff system, instead of a ratings system, would be more impartial and rational.

In 2008, then President-elect Barack Obama stated his own concerns over the BCS and proposed his own plan.

“I think it’s about time we had playoffs in college football. I’m fed up with these computer rankings and this, that and the other. Get eight teams — the top eight teams right at the end. You got a playoff. Decide on a national champion,” he said.

A playoff system would look a lot like March Madness, the process used to determine the winner of the national championship in college basketball.

March Madness takes the top 64 college basketball teams and places them into four different brackets. Once a team loses, they are out of the tournament. The two remaining teams play for the national championship.

However, the BCS committee is very much against a playoff system.

“My colleagues and I on the BCS Presidential Oversight Committee have discussed the future of postseason football on many occasions and we do not believe a playoff would be in the best interest of the sport, the student-athletes or our many other constituencies,” said David Frohnmayer, chair of the BCS Presidential Oversight Committee.

While the committee may think that the BCS is in the “best interest of the sport,” they are wrong. The BCS is flawed and needs to be sidelined.

Now that the NBA All-Star game has come and gone, it is now time for the second half of the season to begin. After the All-Star break team try to improve their chances of making to the playoffs with blockbuster trades and free agent signings. Along with the playoff race, the discussion always arises about which player should receive which award, most notably the NBA MVP award. Other awards include Sixth Man of the Year, Coach of the Year, and many others. I have decided to share my thoughts on who the top performers of the first half were and the awards that they deserve.

Most Valuable Player: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

-King James is the most complete player in the NBA. On any given night he is able to fill up the stat sheet in every category. The debate for this award always comes down to Kobe Bryant and James. The Lakers have proven they can win without Bryant, going 3-1 in his absence with multiple injuries. The best player on the team with the best record deserves the first half MVP nod.

Sixth Man of the First Half: Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks

-Few bench players have been as important to their teams as Crawford has been to the Hawks. An instant spark off of the bench, Crawford scores 17.8 points per game (tops among players who do not start, 30^th overall) and shoots 39 percent from behind the three-point line. He has hit game-winning shots in multiple games this season and is always on the floor when the game is on the line.

Rookie of the First Half: Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings

-At the beginning of the season, voters were leaning toward Bucks’ guard Brandon Jennings. But after Jennings’ production went down, Evans has become the favorite for ROY because of his consistent play night in and night out. He lead all rookies in scoring with 20.3 points per game and despite the Kings losing record, Evans has shown a knack for hitting clutch shots and filling up the box score.

Coach of the First Half: Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder

-The Thunder won a total 23 games last season. So far through 51 games Oklahoma City is 30-21 and sits in seventh place in the loaded Western Conference. If all-star Kevin Durant continues his stellar play, the Thunder may be in the playoffs one year after being one of the worst teams in the league.

Most Improved Player of the First Half: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

-Noah, who many thought would be pushed around in the NBA and stay nothing more than a bench player, has quietly yet quickly become a nightly double-double threat. After averaging seven points and seven rebounds just a year ago, Noah has shown that hard work in the offseason can translate into regular season success. He is one of the few players averaging a double-double so far in the league scoring 12 points per game and pulling down 12 rebounds per game to go along with two blocks per game.

Senior third baseman Dayton Lupton gets ready to swing at a pitch on Friday, Feb. 12 against the Senators of Davis & Elkins College. The Crusaders defeated the Senators 10-1 behind the pitching of sophomore Drew Provence who had 12 strikeouts in the game. Lupton finished the game 2-4 from the plate with two RBI and also scored a run. The Crusaders are now 3-1, the team’s best start in four years. (photo by Gabe Franco)

The North Greenville baseball team dropped its first road test of the season to Limestone University 7-5 on Feb. 10, but on Feb. 12 the team was able to rebound with a 10-1 rout at home over Davis and Elkins.

The Crusader’s first loss of the season came against Limestone College, when they were unable to mount a rally in the ninth inning. The pitching staff for the Crusaders was not able to hold off the hot bats of Limestone as Mark Benjamin, junior business administration, gave up three earned runs and nine hits.  John Reinholz, freshman undecided, was unable to provide much relief, giving up another four runs out of the bullpen. The biggest pitfall for the Crusaders, however, was execution as they left a total of 10 runners on base.

“We just made some mistakes [against Limestone] that you really can’t afford to make on the road,” said head coach Travis Henson. “We left a few runners on base early and had some walks that really hurt us there at the end.”

Offensively, the Crusaders were led by Anthony Foulk, sophomore sport management, who went 2-5 with two RBI, and Dayton Lupton, senior sport management, who went 2-4 and also had two RBI.

The Crusaders were not going to stay down for long, as they were able to get another strong performance from their ace Drew Provence, freshman business administration, in a nine run win against Davis and Elkins.

“Drew is a great performer,” said Henson. “He’s off to a great start and it’s a testament to his work ethic and his talent and ability.”

Provence threw a shutout through six innings and had a staggering 12 strikeouts in the contest. Tyler Callicutt, junior accounting, was the big hitter for the Crusaders 1-3 with three runs batted in. Lupton was also a big contributor on offense, finishing 2-4 with two RBI and also scored a run in the game. Foulk, Adam Taylor, freshman undecided, and Markus Duckworth, sophomore social studies education, each finished the game with one run batted in.

“We backed up our pitching with some good support,” said Henson. “Our team has a lot of confidence when we have Drew on the mound and that carried over to our offense as well.”

“We just need to take advantage of situations and opportunities when we get them,” said Henson.

North Greenville played a double header against Anderson University yesterday and will take the field again at Southern Wesleyan University on Friday at 5 p.m.

Staff Writer

The Lady Crusaders dropped a tough game on the road to King College, then traveled to Allen University where they came up big with a 39-point win.

“We let King [College] take it to us a little more than we should have,” said head coach Jayne Arledge. “But we were able to go to Allen [University], set some team goals for ourselves, accomplish most of those goals and play a very good team game.”

An 18-point effort by guard Karly Stache, sophomore mathematics, was not enough to pull the Crusaders through a tough battle with King College, as they were downed 65-55 on Feb. 9.

Other top performers for the Crusaders included Nikki Wood, senior psychology, who had 10 points and five rebounds, and Krisceda Cotton, freshman sport management, who also racked up 10 points on the night.

“I felt like we were giving our best effort [against King College],” Whitney Smith, senior accounting, said. “We just couldn’t catch a break or get a run going at critical times.”

Despite the tough night against King College, the Crusaders were able to bounce back quickly on Feb. 11, dismantling Allen University 80-41.

“Allen was a great game for the entire team. We really had good ball movement which got the whole team involved in the game,” said Smith.

Team leaders for the Crusaders included Landrie Fox, freshman undecided, who had a career-high 10 points, and Stache who lead the team with 13 points including three three-pointers.

“If we can keep playing like we did [against Allen], playing good defense and passing the ball, it could be a huge benefit to us in the tournament,” said Arledge.

The Lady Crusaders (11-12) started the NCCAA Regionals Monday and will play their next game in Hayes Gymnasium Friday at 5 p.m. against Hiwassee College.

The Lady Crusaders kept their hot streak alive with an 82-75 win over Southern Wesleyan University on Feb. 4 in Hayes Gymnasium. This was North Greenville’s sixth win in their last seven games, and the team believes that they are now firing on all cylinders.

“At the beginning of the season, we knew we had the potential to be great, but we could never put the pieces together,” guard Karly Stache, sophomore mathematics, said. “Now it looks like we are putting them together.”

Stache, who led all scorers with 29 points, hit seven of 11 shots she took from behind the three-point line and shot a staggering 63 percent in the game. Stache said that her high scoring on the night could be attributed to her coaches and her teammates.

“Coach told us from the beginning that their defense was going to be easy to penetrate,” Stache said.

“Nikki [Wood] and Christina [Carlis] kept going at them and they had no choice but to slack off of me.”

Other top performers for the Lady Crusaders were Whitney Smith, senior accounting, who had 10 points and seven rebounds, and Jacquetta Golden, senior sport management, who finished with nine points on the night.

The Lady Crusaders are showing that they can win close games as well as blow teams out. During their four-game winning streak, North Greenville has beaten three teams by seven points or less, and defeated one team by 20. The Lady Crusaders believe that this may be something that will help them during tournament time, which is rapidly approaching.

“It did not look like the season was going to end very well for us,” Stache said. “But now, we have a really good chance to win Regionals. Obviously the next few weeks will be rough, but we have high hopes.”

The Lady Crusaders (10-11) have three more regular season games before they compete in the Regional Tournament on Feb. 15-17. North Greenville traveled to Bristol, TN yesterday to play against King College and will play again tomorrow against Allen University in Columbia, SC at 5:30 p.m.