SPORTS Monday, April 29, 1996 SIDELINES team tied for conference lead Robservotions APSU loss Sunday; Rob Nunley Raider rain-out puts Middle in tie Sports editor for OVC first place

By Sean P. OToole / staff gives credit

Mother Nature helped put the Blue Raider baseball team in a tie for where it's due the lead this Sunday, if only temporarily. Well, folks, it's been almost a year The Raiders' scheduled game with and a half since yours truly began filling up space in your MTSU the Southeast Missouri Indians was community newspaper with rants, cancelled due to rain. Middle split a jokes and other little bits of fluff I like doubleheader with SEMO Saturday, to call "Robservations." So, as this is while the split the last issue of Sidelines during my a twin bill of their own with Eastern tenure as sports editor, I thought I'd Kentucky. take this space to give some Austin Peay went into the recognition to the people that helped - weekend witha 12-5 OVC record, one both professionally and personally - to half game ahead of the Raiders. allow me to have this much fun. Middle entered the series with SEMO • Last week, I filled out a staff survey which contained the question: with a record of 12-6. On Sunday after "What made you decide to work for APSU fell to the Eastern Kentucky student publications?" The multiple- Colonels. 3-1, both the Govs and choice answer that I circled was "A Raiders sat atop the OVC standings friend twisted my arm." with records of 13-7. Bryan, you are the one that Middle started the season wrap-up literally made me come after a in impressive fashion, with a 10-5 win sportswriting job here. You talked me over visitor Western Kentucky up to the sports editor and stayed on my back over the whole Christmas Thursday night at Reese Smith Field. photos by Brian G. Miller/staff The Raiders carried a 5-3 lead into break until I applied for a job. Then the bottom of the sixth, then tacked on once I became editor, you used your connections to give me the scoop on five more runs in that same inning to OVC race coming more than one occasion. And now pace the win. you're a big-time TV man, and I'm Chad Kirby picked up the win to about to leave here with my degree improve his record to 4-4 on the year, down to the wire and a whole lot more experience than and Andrew Thompson hit a homerun I would have had if you hadn't been so to fuel the Raider win, giving them the insistent that I take the job. momentum going into this weekend's Austin Peay's 3-1 loss to Eastern Kentucky No amount of lunches or green showdown with SE Missouri. Sunday placed the Blue Raider baseball team in fees can repay you for that. In Saturday's doubleheader, the a tie for first place in the Ohio Valley • Of course, all his persistence Raiders blew a lead in the late innings Conference. Above: outfielder Jordan Beddies would've gone for naught if Janet hadn't hired me sight-unseen. All I to drop the first half of the twinbill, 6- connects with a pitch. Left: second baseman did was say I wouldn't mind doing a 3. Shane Shoemake loosens up before going to few stories, to which she replied, The Raiders got on the board first the plate in a recent game. "O.K, can you give me 600 words on in the top of the second, when Jamie tonight's game, and have it Hill's sac fly allowed Doug Barner to written by 10:30?" It was the fastest Tuesday night the Raiders will travel to job interview in the history of the score, giving the Raiders a 1-1 lead, Nashville to face the . but SEMO left fielder Lance Craft led world. the SEMO attack in the bottom of that Vandy handed the Raiders a 5-2 defeat in their Then when she left as editor, I first meeting this season April 9 at Smith Field. took her job. I felt really bad about inning, hitting his first homerun of the that for a while, but she never seemed season, to give SEMO the 2-1 lead. Tuesday's game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. bitter toward me, and still helped me The Raiders added a run in the top out from the SID office with whatever of the fourth to tie the score at two, The Ohio Valley Conference tournament will I needed. Another ex-boss in the and Barner gave the Raiders a 3-2 take place May 4-5 at the home field of the same situation might have left me lead in the top of the sixth with a sac regular season champion. hung out to dry, but as a friend she fly to plate Jeremy Owens. wouldn't do that. • I've also got to give a loud shout But that lead would be short-lived. out to Jim Horten at Sports Shawn Clark hit a solo homer off Chad Information. I remember calling him Kirby to tie the game at 3-3 in the teams this season....with offense. the loss, as the Raiders in all pounded press time. almost every day when I was writing bottom of that inning. Head Coach Andrew Thompson's double in the out 12 runs on 14 hits. Tuesday night the Raiders will weekly stories for my News Writing Steve Peterson then called on reliever first inning with the bases loaded gave Senior third baseman Doug travel to Nashville to face the class, and he even helped me back George Oleksik. the Raiders an early 3-0 lead. Barner hit his 18th homerun of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vandy then. After I got this job and didn't Oleksik was greeted rudely, Will Fraley hit a double in the year in the game, bringing him just handed the Raiders a 5-2 defeat in know anything, Jim still gave me all the information I asked for, even however, as Jim Gerwitz and Lance second also, sending Ty Curley and one away from tying the single-season their first meeting this season April 9 though I wasn't the "real" media, Craft each hit singles to put runners Chris Snyder plateward, to give the record (held by Mike Messerly.19) and in Murfreesboro. on for SEMO. Matt Miller then hit a Raiders an early 5-0 advantage. also one away from the all-time record without becoming annoyed. Now that Tuesday's game is scheduled to I've had this job for a while I still don't double to give SEMO the 4-3 edge, and The Raiders cruised from there on (held by Chris Whitehead.35). begin at 7 p.m. know a great deal, but a lot of what I late Raider errors allowed two more out, scoring at least one run in every The Saturday afternoon split, The Ohio Valley Conference do know came from him. runs to score, giving them the 6-3 win. inning except the fifth, to give the coupled with Austin Peay's split with And if just doing his job and Troy Pehle pitched a near-perfect Raiders the 12-2 victory. Eastern Kentucky, left the Haiders tournament will take place May 4-5 at providing me with all the schedules, ninth to pick up his third save of the Brian Early pitched the complete still a half-game behind the Govs the home field of the regular season media guides and press releases I season for SEMO, and Oleksik picked game, giving up just two runs on two heading into the showdown on Sunday champion. Following the tournament needed wasn't enough. Horten even up the defeat (2-3). hits, to up his record to 5-3 on the afternoon which was eventually rained the Raiders will head to Knoxville for hooked me up with an internship for But in the second half of the season. out. a game against the University of after graduation. That takes media double, the Raiders beat the Indians Of the Indians' five pitchers, Time tor any scheduled make up scheduled to begin at 7 relations to a whole different level. You're underrated, Horten. One of the way they have beat so many other starter Dave Siboda 13-31 picked up of Sunday's game was unknown at p m • these days, when you own Murphy Center and they rename the football stadium after you, people will realize how much you did for this school. Assistant sports editor says his goodbyes as semester ends Of course you'll be making big money on the PGA tour by then, so just my last chance to do a little semester and take American I ever become wealthy guys, you'll you probably won't care. brown-nosing, let me remind you: I am Government from him. I guarantee at have an indoor center. • I have to give special thanks towo graduating and leaving this least one story about beer. College really is about friends. people who have taught me the most Joel Frey institution, so now really, what would Finally, there are two professors in And my best friends here at MTSU important "lessons I have had in assistant sports be the point? Give me a little credit. the journalism department I owe a have been made through my job in becoming at least something Where to begin? In my four years great debt of gratitude: Dr. Glenn resembling a writer. The first is Dr. editor University Housing. As an RA and Glenn Himebaugh, who taught me at Middle, rarely, have I run into a Himebaugh and Dr. David Badger. As Hall Director over the last three years, how to write - period. He wasn't the professor who did not maintain a high an aspiring journalist four years ago, I I have met so many different people I only professor I had over my college sense of professionalism in the really thought I knew what it took to probably would not have otherwise. I career, but I dare say he was one of Everything was unpacked. His bed classroom. Of course, there have been be a newspaperman. Both these men, will miss you all. the few teachers. was made neatly and all the towels a few who stood above the rest. on more than one occasion, have Special thanks to my boss, Area I Secondly, I have to credit Tony folded and in place. It was time for In all the classes I have taken, in helped me with the intricacies of coordinator. Tracey Holt. Tracey is a Stinett of the Daily News Journal for them to go. Only they didn't want to. all departments across campus, I don't writing which have, I think, made me truly unique individual and someone I not only giving me countless pointers on the specifics of sportswriting, but He stood in the parking lot and think I have learned more than I did better. Journalism students: Don't be work with and not for. watched his teary-eyed parents head in the history classes I had with Dr. more importantly for showing me that afraid of their classes. You're really I could not have had a better back home. Man did he want to go Robert Taylor. While there were times, doing yourself a disservice if you it is O.K. to be a reporter and still be a golfing buddy than Chuck Groves. fan. If I have one piece of advice for with them. But he stayed... particularly while studying for his purposely avoid them. Thanks for all the laughs and future sports writers (other than to It hardly seems imaginable that it LONG exams, I questioned my While on the subject of journalism, Saturday morning sessions at Cracker learn to tak e your own photos), that was almost four years ago in the decision to take upper-division history I need to pass along my regards to the Barrel over a cup of Joe and the would be it. parking lot of Nicks Hall that my folks from him, I realize now he presented folks here at Sidelines. It has been a "Country Boy Breakfast." • Over the last year I've had an dropped me off, headed back to me with a challenge every time I pleasure working with you all. Special immeasurable number of"staff Memphis and worried endlessly about stepped into his classroom. If you get thanks to sports editor Rob Nunley for Finally, there are three "brus" out writers." but a few have stuck around me as I started my college career. the chance, take a class from him. I usually letting me get my way as to there who I can not thank enough. I and really made a big difference. One In a word, it has been a blur. promise you it won't be easy, but you where my stories were placed. Good need not mention there names. They of those is Joel Frey. Like me, Joel And as I anticipate graduation in a will see just how smart you are. luck, buddy. know who they are. And they probably will be leaving here in a couple of couple of weeks and continue my As a political science minor, I was I have also had the distinct would be embarrassed if I did. So I weeks, and he will definitely be fervent searches for meaningful also fortunate in having Dr. Mark pleasure of covering the MTSU tennis won't. Just remember fellas. Reynolds missed. Not only did Joel help with layout, employment across the country, there Byrnes on three different occasions. teams for the last three semesters. Hall will never be the same and if I have ever wind up in AA, I have you planning and editing, he worked his are several people I wish to thank Dr. Byrnes made it easy to come to Thanks to coaches Dale Short and three to blame for it. UHHHHH!!!!l" beat harder than any other writer on before leaving MTSU. class. I could always expect, yes, an David Thornton for their unending That's all for me folks. May the And by the way, any of you out interesting lecture as well as a few willingness in giving me the scoop Please see ROB on page 8 there who know me and think this is laughs. Do yourself a favor one about the men's and women's teams. If force be with you. •