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Arizona Sports (AZCentral)
Archive for March, 2011
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Jim Click Shootout draws Big-10 track teams to UofA
Although we’re several weeks into the college outdoor track & field season, Arizona is looking at this weekend’s “shoot out” as the first true meet on its 2011 outdoor schedule. The University of Arizona women’s track team is set to defend its Jim Click Shootout title Saturday, when Pac-10 foe, Washington State, rolls into Drachman [...] -
High school baseball targeted in smokeless tobacco ban
The number of high school baseball players that are spitting out that ugly brown juice during games is increasing. And it’s causing ripple effects all the way up to the Major Leagues. Health officials in 15 cities with Major League franchises are calling for a ban on smokeless tobacco used by professional players, managers, coaches, [...] -
GCU baseball turning around under interim head coach
It’s been 13 games and almost three weeks since Grand Canyon University unexpectedly fired its head baseball coach, Dave Stapleton, who had been involved with the program for the past 17 years. So how’s the bold, mid-season move working out for the Antelopes? Actually, pretty well… so far. Stapleton’s assistant coach, Ryan Bethel, was given [...] -
Chandler Rotary draws top HS track talent as records fall
With 14 champions from last year’s Chandler Rotary Invitational back again this year, it’s no surprise that there were many repeats. There were actually 46 state champions from 107 high schools in four states on hand over the weekend to celebrate the event’s 71st year, making it the biggest and most competitive meet in Arizona. [...] -
After Region snub, Samantha Murphy named nation’s best
Samantha Murphy got the last laugh this week. The Xavier Prep graduate and career scoring leader at Grand Canyon University was named the NCAA Division II Women’s Player of the Year. The senior was also selected as the Pacific West Conference Player of the Year, but was snubbed for the West Region honor, which went [...] -
UA, ASU baseball to break rivalry series tie today
Beautiful spring weather, the excitement of the opening baseball games in Pac-10 play, and a match-up between two nationally-ranked teams that lead the conference in most offensive categories. All that combined this weekend to bring sell-out crowds to Sun Devil Stadium as Arizona State hosts University of Arizona in a three-game series. And then add [...] -
Miller, Williams lead Arizona basketball out of the desert
Lute who? My, how soon we forget. That’s what winning does, particularly when it leads to a berth in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The basketball program that Lute Olson built at the University of Arizona fell into disarray when he retired in 2008 after 25 years at the helm of the Wildcat [...] -
Spring has sprung…ASU football takes the field again
Footballs are in the air again on the Arizona State campus. Spring practice started yesterday. But there is something else in the air at this year’s annual pigskin ritual. Let’s call it optimism. “This spring feels quite a bit different,” ASU head coach, Dennis Erickson, told the media earlier this month. “What’s exciting to me, [...] -
ASU’s new wrestling champs: a strange study in contrast
Anthony Robles and Bubba Jenkins both won national wrestling titles over the weekend. Both wore the maroon and gold of Arizona State. But that’s where the similarities end. Their personalities are as different as the paths they took to their ultimate goal of winning a national championship. They even won their NCAA crowns in different [...] -
Local basketball players carry GCU to best-ever season
Grand Canyon University used a roster loaded with local athletes this year to make a run at a women’s basketball national championship. The Antelopes climbed to a No. 7 national ranking, but came up just a little short of the final goal. But what a ride it was! Seven of the 11 players on this [...]
