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March 28, 2019
S ports
The Lorian
March Madness: Down to 16 by XAVIER SANCHEZ sports writer
The start of this year’s NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament brought few surprises for the viewers. After the first round of games, 14 of the 16 teams that advanced were seeded 1 through 4 in their regions. The two with a higher ranking are No. 5-seeded Auburn and No. 12-seeded Oregon. There has been a handful of blowouts in what should have been competitive games. (Yes, this is about you, Villanova and Kansas). Games like the Duke-UCF nail-bitter and the near-Iowa comeback against Tennessee are the types fans want to witness. Here are some teams and upcoming matchups to look out for this weekend. #2 Tennessee vs. #3 Purdue Defending champions Villanova turned out to be no-match for the Boilermakers. Carson Edwards put on a clinic as he had a career night. He scored 42 points, which included nine 3-point shots and a perfect showing from the free-throw line (9-9). Matt Harmes also had a strong game as well with a near double-double. Purdue will need similar efforts when it faces Tennessee on Thursday. Tennessee has been at or near the top of the college basketball rankings all season long. A late-season slide prevented the team from gaining a No. 1 seed in the tournament. Last weekend, the Volunteers started strong against Iowa. They kept the Hawkeyes scoreless for more than five minutes while jumping to a 25-point lead late in the first half. Iowa showed pride in the second half, coming all the way back to erase the huge deficit and force overtime. At the end of the day, though, Tennessee advanced with some clutch play in the second half. Star player Admiral Schofield took himself out of the game in the second half and did not touch the court in overtime. Tennessee will need a full game out of Schofield to move on in the tournament. Illinois Influence Among the 68 teams selected to the NCAA tournament, there are 54 Illinois-based players competing. Their impact has been felt early and often. Many players from Illinois remain even though the field has been cut to 16 teams. A few of the big-name starting players still competing are Michigan’s Charles Matthews, Gonzaga’s Zach Norvell Jr., Tennessee’s Admiral Schofield and Oregon’s Paul White. Apparently, having an Illinois-based player gives a team a better chance of winning the tournament. Eight of the past 10 national champs had an Illinois player. #1 Duke Once again, Duke receives their own portion because they are the best team in college basketball and are about to win their sixth National Title. They took care of North Dakota State with ease. R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson combined for 51 of Duke’s 85 points. The next game turned out to be an intense battle between Williamson and UCF’s Tacko Fall. Can’t fault Duke for giving fans a enjoyable game for the viewers’ eyes. Next up is Virginia Tech. VT beat the Blue Devils in a Zionless game back on Feb. 26. Throw out the regular season, it’s March! Duke will reign supreme when it’s all said and done. Since Zion’s return, he is averaging 27.6 points and 8.8 rebounds while Barrett averages 19.4 points and 9 rebounds. This tag-team cannot be stopped and they don’t plan to anytime soon.
No surrender in these guys by PATRICK COSTELLO sports writer
The baseball team concluded the non-conference portion of its season with a 6-4 record, which seems to align with the American Rivers Conference preseason coaches poll that picks the Duhawks to finish midway up the standings in conference play. The 6-4 record doesn’t tell the full story, however. In three of its four losses, Loras lost by just one run. The other loss was a two-run defeat. It could be a good sign that the team has either been victorious or fought to the photo courtesy LORAS COLLEGE ATHLETICS last out in all 10 games it has Senior catcher Cole Thompson connects against Nebraska Weslyan. The team won two of played. three games against Wesleyan to start conference play.. “For the season so far, I feel Nonetheless, heading into the bottom of “It really is (important to win the first like a majority of our success the ninth inning, the Duhawks still trailed series of conference play]; we didn’t play is based with the fight that this team has. by four runs. well in the first (game), but coming out We have pitchers that are constantly batCenterfielder Danny Paluch got the Du- here and taking the sweep (of the doubletling and our sticks have been a huge proponent to the success we have had,” hawks going by drawing a lead-off walk. This header) was a must,” Coach Carl Tebon senior co-captain Robbie Agerbeek said. was immediately followed by another patient said. “This conference is so good from “As for the remainder of our season, I am at-bat by Agerbeek, who also drew a base on top to bottom; we can’t take any win for encouraged by the young arms stepping balls. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch granted.” The Duhawks jumped to a three-run into major roles, and the lineup being and scored. An RBI single by sophomore solid from top to bottom. As long as we third basemen Dylan Pardoe enabled the lead in the third inning by creating some havoc on the basepaths. With runners on continue to battle and have good outings Duhawks to cut the lead in half. However, the Loras rally faltered soon first and third, Cole Thompson got into a from our staff and good at-bats from our rundown between first and second, dislineup, big things should be expected after, and Wesleyan claimed a 5-3 win. The second and third games of the se- tracting the Wesleyan defense just enough from this team.” Loras entered conference play Sunday ries were played Monday. The Duhawks to allow the runner at third, Luke Fennelly, against the Prairie Wolves of Nebraska bats went to work in both of the games, to break for home. Fennelly scored and Wesleyan. The first game of the series was scoring 7 and 8 runs, respectively. In forced an errant throw as he scored. Later in the inning, Agerbeek and Palplayed on a miserable day: cold, windy the first game of the doubleheader, Loras gained some separation in the sixth uch teamed up together on another firstand misty under a dark-gray sky. Nebraska Wesleyan struck first with a inning. Until then, the score was dead- and-third double steal to plate the final run on the inning. solo home run in the third inning, then locked at 2. But a string of hits by Agerbeek, ParThis was all the support first-year gradually stretched the lead to 4-0 headdoe and Luzzo drove in a total of four pitcher Curtis Lilienthal and the relief ing into the eighth inning. Despite being shut out for eight innings, runs. In the meantime, solid pitching ef- staff would need to win the decisive third the Duhawks have faith in their lineup’s po- forts by sophomore Erik Edminster and game, 8-2. Loras will travel to Storm Lake, Iowa, tential to rally at any given time. The other first-year Ethan Peters held the Prairie senior so-captain, Austin Konagel, sparked Wolves in check. Loras won the second this weekend to take on another conference the bats with an RBI double that drove in game of the series, 7-2, to set up the de- opponent, Buena Vista, beginning with Frijunior outfielder Bill Luzzo. cisive “rubber match.” day night’s game that starts at 6 p.m.
Track athletes hit their stride by CHRISTOPHER PONTON sports writer
This past weekend marked the transition from indoor to outdoor competition for the men’s and women’s track-and-field teams. The athletes have used the past two weeks to recharge their batteries as they work their way toward the first meet of the outdoor season, which will take place Saturday at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. Although the indoor season saw multiple record-breaking performances, many Duhawks are eager to get some fresh air and showcase their talents outside. Following individual performances in the NCAA Division III Indoor National Championships from juniors Gabrielle Noland and Patrick Mikel, they hope for another chance to compete in the outdoor national meet that will take place in May. For Mikel, he will be hunting for a national crown in the 400-meter dash after getting edged by Mount Union’s A.J. Digby last spring. Mikel was also a part of the men’s 4×4 team that
qualified for the national meet. Junior Tyson Morrison and senior Anakin Hall also competed on that relay team. Looking back on the third-place finish of the 4×4 indoor team comprised of Mikel, Morrison, as well as newcomer first-years Josh Smith and Mike Jasa, the squad has shown it belongs on the national stage. Senior Bella Solis looks to culminate her prodigious collegiate career. At last year’s outdoor conference meet, Solis placed in the top five in multiple events, including the 100- & 400-meter dashes, the high jump, and she was a member of both the 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams. She also placed fifth in the nation in the 400-meter dash, earning her All-American honors. Another all-around athlete to keep an eye on this outdoor season is sophomore Ryan Rogers. He is coming off a fourthplace finish in the heptathlon at the Indoor National Championships. Overall, many Duhawks either qualified to compete in the indoor meet or narrowly missed the top-20 qualifying mark.
