Sports Muskogee Phoenix
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Section B, Page 1
Roughers win in summer league
PREP FOOTBALL
Trey Gatzman’s one-out solo home run lifted Muskogee to a 7-6 victory against Sallisaw in the Green Country Baseball League opener for both teams at Muskogee’s diamond on Tuesday. The game ended after five innings because of the twohour time limit. The game was also originally scheduled for today, but both coaches decided to change it to Tuesday. Earlier in the game, John Singler slugged a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. Chris Sommers pitched two innings to pick up the win. Singler was the starting pitcher. Muskogee plays at Hilldale at 6 and 8 p.m. on Thursday. Other games scheduled for opening day include Keys facing Fort Gibson, Tahlequah meeting Haskell, Checotah taking on Hilldale, Vian clashing with Stilwell and Sallisaw Central playing Muldrow. Games are scheduled for Thursday, June 7, June 10, June 14, June 17, June 21 and June 24.
No-huddle Hornets Jenks coach reinstated
Cowgirls’ Hedwall adds to honors
Hilldale’s new offense takes root in spring By Kenton Brooks Phoenix Sports Writer
When Hilldale High School’s football team takes the field this fall, the Hornets will have a new look. Chad Kirkhart, entering his first season as Hildale’s coach, has made the change to a nohuddle offense from the run-oriented attack. The adjustment has gone well, Kirkhart said. “We got most of our stuff in during spring ball,” he said. “We’re not adding much right now. We’re just building what we put during the spring. It hasn’t been that difficult for the players. I think they’re having fun with it. “The biggest adjustment for them is they have to be in good
shape. We found that out during our spring drills. We’re going to have a lot of players playing both ways. That’s why the summer conditioning and time in the weight room will be important.” The Hornets wrap up their portion of team camp at Inola today after being at a similar camp in Stigler on Tuesday. Kirkhart, named as Hilldale’s coach in April to replace the late Don Hendrix, said he’s always liked the no-huddle offense. It was the offense he ran in his five seasons at Haskell. “I like setting the tempo on offense,” the Fort Gibson native said. “It doesn’t always have to be fast-paced. If needed, we can (See NO-HUDDLE, 2B)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jenks coach Allan Trimble, who leads one of the state’s most high-profile prep football programs, was reinstated from suspension Tuesday by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association board of directors. But the board took no action to end the suspension of another wellknown coach, Trimble Antwain Jimmerson, formerly of Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa. Jimmerson was out of state tending to family issues and could not attend the meeting, OSSAA Executive Secretary Ed Sheakley said. Jenks and Tulsa Washington long have been among the state’s elite programs and the coaches’ suspensions last October for rules violations led many Oklahoma school districts to re-exam-
ine procedures for following OSSAA eligibility guidelines. Trimble has been Jenks’ head coach for 14 years and has guided the Trojans to nine titles in Class 6A, Oklahoma’s highest classification. Dozens of Jenks players have gone on to play for NCAA Division I colleges and some have reached the NFL. “The events of the past year have been difficult for me, for my family, for Jenks,” Trimble said after the meeting in his first public comments since he was suspended. “But I’ve learned a great deal from this experience, which I believe will make me a better person, a better teacher and a better coach. “Most of all, I just want to return to my passion, to what I do, to work with the great kids we have at Jenks.” Trimble was suspended by the district in October after a report found the football program vio-
NEW YORK (AP) — Caroline Hedwall of Oklahoma State has won the Honda Sports Award for golf. The sophomore is this year’s NCAA individual champion. A native of Loddekopinge, Sweden, Hedwall tied the NCAA scoring record by shooting 12 under at the NCAA championships. She beat three other nominees: Auburn junior Cydney Clayton, Arizona State freshman Jennifer Johnson and Southern California sophomore Jennifer Song. The Honda Award is given annually to the top female athlete in each of 12 NCAA sports.
Sooner prez: OU athletic department has clean bill of health
Pokes’ opener adds to OU, OSU TV tilts OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma State’s 2010 season opener against Washington State will be televised on Fox Sports Network. The Big 12 Conference announced Tuesday that the Cowboys will play host to Washington State Sept. 4 in a 6 p.m. game in Stillwater. Oklahoma State’s game against Texas A&M is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30 on ESPN, and the Cowboys’ game against Louisiana-Lafayette is schedAP uled for 8 p.m. Oct. 8 on ESPN2. Switzerland’s Roger Federer, left, shakes hands with Sweden’s Robin Soderling after being defeated in a quarThe Bedlam matchup beter final match for the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Tuesday. tween Oklahoma and Oklahoma State is set for Nov. 27 on ABC. On Sept. 11, the Sooners’ game against Florida State in Norman is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on ABC. Oklahoma’s Sept. 18 game against Air PARIS (AP) — His tournament will not inin consecutive years since Force also is set for 2:30 p.m. FRENCH OPEN in Norman and will air on FSN. French Open reign sud- volve 16-time Grand Slam another Swede, Mats Wi-
Au revoir to Federer’s French reign
denly over, his record of 23 consecutive LeBron: Edge to streak Grand Slam semifinals Cavs in signing done, too, Roger Federer paused briefly as he CLEVELAND (AP) — One trudged off court at dusk, month from the start of the NBA’s free agency frenzy, Le- acknowledging the fans’ applause with a polite Bron James said he’s not close to making any decision. smile and a quick wave. However, he has handiHe’s certainly not used capped his field of suitors. to bidding adieu so soon. The Cleveland Cavaliers Bothered by the pouring lead the pack. rain and his big-hitting In his first interview since the Cavs’ season ended with a foe, the top-seeded Federshocking, second-round loss er wasted a lead and plento Boston, James told CNN’s ty of openings Tuesday, Larry King that Cleveland has succumbing to No. 5 Robin “an edge” to re-sign him when Soderling of Sweden 3-6, the greatest collection of free 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in the quaragents in league history hits terfinals at Roland Garthe open market on July 1. “Absolutely,” James said in ros. If Soderling’s name sounds familiar, it’s bea portion of the interview released by the network. “Because he stunned fourcause, you know, this city, time champion Rafael these fans, I mean, have givNadal in the French en me a lot in these seven Open’s fourth round last years. And, you know, for me, year, before losing to Fedit’s comfortable. So I’ve got a lot of memories here. And so it erer in the final. does have an edge. For the first time in six years, the men’s semifinals at a major tennis Hole in one Dalton Rhoden, 14, of Fort Gibson aced the 155-yard No. 3 hole at Pecan Valley Golf Course on Monday. Witnesses were Braden Carr and Jeremy Rhoden.
(See HENNESY, 2B)
champion Federer. “They all come to an end at some stage. You hope they don’t happen, but they do. It was a great run,” Federer said, before injecting a little humor by adding with a wry smile: “Now I’ve got the quarterfinal streak going, I guess.” Look at it this way: Federer had won 117 matches in a row — 117! — in the first five rounds at majors, dating to a loss to Gustavo Kuerten in the third round at the French Open on May 29, 2004 (Federer advanced twice when opponents withdrew). “I mean, I respect everyone, but I’m always — how do you say? — I’m honest enough to myself that I know I can win them all,” said Federer, who would cede his No. 1 ranking if Nadal wins the title. Among the many rea-
sons why Tuesday’s result was so unexpected is that Federer was 12-0 against Soderling, having won 28 of the 30 sets they’d played. “Even though I lost so many times, I always have a chance to win,” said the 25-year-old Soderling, who’d never been past the third round at a Grand Slam tournament until last year’s French Open. “I always believe that I can win. This is a big win, but it’s not the final. Still have at least one more match to play, and I don’t want to celebrate too much.” That next match will be in Friday’s semifinals against No. 15 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic. Still, Soderling has every right to relish what he’s already accomplished: He is the first man to beat the French Open defending champion
lander, did it in 1984-85. Nadal, remember, was 31-0 in the French Open until losing to Soderling. Berdych advanced to his first Grand Slam semifinal by beating No. 11 Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3, 6-1, 6-2. In today’s men’s quarterfinals, Nadal meets No. 19 Nicolas Almagro of Spain, and No. 3 Novak Djokovic of Serbia faces No. 22 Jurgen Melzer of Austria. In Tuesday’s women’s quarterfinals, No. 17 Francesca Schiavone gave Italy its first female semifinalist at the French Open since 1954 by knocking off No. 3 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-3, 62. Schiavone now plays No. 5 Elena Dementieva, who defeated No. 19 Nadia Petrova 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 in an all-Russian quarterfinal.
OSU shares first-round lead in NCAA
OOLTEWAH, Tenn. — Oklahoma State’s men’s Contact us golf team fired a 283 on • Mike Kays, sports editor, Tuesday, grabbing a share of the first-round lead at 684-2904, mkays@muskothe NCAA Championship geephoenix.com • Kenton Brooks, sports at The Honors Course. reporter, 684-2912, The top-ranked Cowkcbrooks@muskogee boys’ 5-under total knotphoenix.com ted them with Florida • Fax: 684-2865. • General delivery e-mail: State. Oregon held down the third spot at 284, sports@muskogeephoenix. while Texas A&M fincom • Coaches calling in ished in fourth at 285. scores: 800-709-5808 or Texas is the third Big 12 866-684-2910 school in the top 10, in a
tie there with Georgia Tech at 290. Eight squads among the 30 in the field broke par at the par-72, 7,395yard layout. “There couldn’t have been better scoring conditions,” OSU coach Mike McGraw said. “It is a hard course, but the conditions made scoring possible today.” Co-leaders, Arizona State’s Jesper Kennegard
COLLEGE GOLF and Henrik Norlander of Augusta State each fired 4-under 68s. Ten players came in one shot back at 69, including OSU sophomore Peter Uihlein. The Orlando, Fla., native’s round included six birdies, three on each nine. A pair of Cowboys finished at 2-under for the day and tied for 13th
place. Sophomore Morgan Hoffmann and Sallisaw senior Trent Whitekiller each carded an opening 70. Junior Kevin Tway finished the day tied for 65th place with a 74, while Einhaus, a redshirt freshman, made his NCAA debut with a 75 to stand in a tie for 90th. OSU will tee off today at 6 a.m. (CST) and will again be paired with Oregon and Stanford.
NORMAN (AP) — University President David Boren sent a letter to the NCAA stating that Oklahoma’s athletic department conforms to the association’s rules, despite an investigation into potential violations by the men’s basketball program. Boren sent the letter to the NCAA’s James Elworth last week as Oklahoma’s probation for major rules violations by the football and men’s basketball programs was set to expire. It was obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday through an open records request. Boren stated that Oklahoma’s “athletic policies and practices conform to all the requirements of NCAA regulations as required at the conclusion of our probationary period.” Oklahoma’s probation was due to end May 23, but the university and NCAA are investigating whether the basketball team broke any rules before then. The letter was required to complete the series of penalties levied against Oklahoma for its previous violations and copies the terminology set out by the NCAA. Oklahoma has disclosed that it shared phone records with the NCAA showing that former assistant coach Oronde Taliaferro made contact with Jeffrey Hausinger, a Tampa, Fla.-based financial representative who reportedly wired $3,000 to former Sooners center Keith "Tiny" Gallon and his mother. Gallon told an online blog last week after a predraft workout with the New York Knicks that Hausinger gave his family the money so he could get his transcript from Oak Hill Academy and be cleared to play with the Sooners. The NCAA issued a statement indicating Gallon had not complied with its requests for cooperation by providing documents associated with the investigation. Taliaferro’s phone logs show he exchanged at least 46 calls and 31 text messages with numbers associated with Hausinger and his former employer, Merrill Lynch, between May 2009 and this March. New phone records released to the AP on Tuesday show Taliaferro received one final text message from Hausinger the morning of March 17, less than 24 hours before TMZ.com first reported (See BASKETBALL, 2B)