B4 | Thursday, March 18,2021 | beaumontenterprise.com |Beaumont Enterprise SPORTS

NCAA TOURNAMENT Izzo, Spartans in new position in First Four By Cliff Brunt AP SPORTS WRITER

INDIANAPOLIS — Michi- gan State and Tom Iz- zo are in an unfamiliar posi- tion. Last time there was an NCAA Tournament, the Spartans reached the Final Four in 2019 — the most re- cent of eight trips under Iz- zo. This time, Michigan State needed a late surge just to get into the Big Dance, and they’ll have to win an extra game, too. The Spartans (15- 12) will face UCLA (17-9) to- Michael Conroy /Associated Press day in a First Four matchup Michigan State and Tom Izzo are in an unfamiliar of No.11 seeds in the East Re- position: playing in the First Four, a play-in for a gion. spot in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Izzo is just thankful to be playing, all things consid- nament,” Izzo said. “I don’t for our guys to digest be- ered. feel comfortable with UCLA cuase they play so many “You know and I know and BYU or Texas, but I guys,” he said. “Some of that three weeks ago no- don’t feel afraid of UCLA, that is him searching, and body gave us a chance, in- BYU or Texas or anybody some of it’s strategy to cluding probably most of else because we truly, truly match up with his oppo- you and probably even have played the best teams nent.” me,” Izzo said. “We fought in the country on a night-in Cronin said as long as Iz- our way through, and that and night-out basis and es- zo is around, the Spartans took some courage and pecially in the last two to are a threat. guts, and I’m proud of them three weeks.” “It means we’ve got to for that.” With all the complica- beat a Hall of Fame coach,” It’s fitting that the Spar- tions this season, Izzo is Cronin said. “One thing tans will have just a little bit simplifying the situation. about coach Izzo — the rea- tougher road ahead than “I still want to win the son he has survived so long most of the qualifiers. Even weekend,” he said. “The and he’s had such a great in the most difficult of weekend just became a lit- career is that they’re never years, Michigan State faced tle longer. So, in this year of easily defeated. He refuses extra challenges. the pandemic, in this year to give in. That’s why he Izzo contracted CO- of 2020-21, I might as well was able to rally his team.” VID-19 early in the season, experience some more new UCLA counters with a yet the Spartans opened things.” trio of sophomore guards. CITY OF SOUR LAKE with six straight wins. They Aaron Henry, a junior Johnny Juzang has averaged Planning and Zoning Ordinance started Big Ten play with forward from Indianapolis, 14 points per game in his The City of Sour Lake on March 16, 2021 at a Regular City Council Meeting ap- three straight losses on leads the Spartans with 15.3 first season since transfer- proved an Amendment to change Railroad Street from Residential Zoned Area to a their way to dropping 9- points and 5.7 rebounds ring from Kentucky. Jaime Commercial Zoned Area within the State of-13 overall, but they even- per game. Joey Hauser, an- Jaquez Jr. averages 11.7 of Texas and providing for a penalty for vi- olations hereof by the City of Sour Lake, tually bounced back late in other junior forward, aver- points and 6.0 rebounds, Hardin County. the season with victories ages 9.7 points and 5.7 re- and Tyger Campbell averag- These Ordinances may be seen in its over Ohio State, Michigan bounds. Senior guard Josh- es 10.5 points and 5.6 as- entirety at City of Sour Lake and Illinois — which all fin- ua Langford averages 9.6 sists. 625 Hwy 105 W ished in the top seven of the points per contest. Izzo likes how they play Sour Lake, Texas final AP poll. Michigan State has had 11 for Cronin. Now, the Spartans will players start at least five “He’s got kids that have need to win today’s match- games. UCLA coach Mick bought in, and I have a lot of NOTICE TO BIDDERS up in West Lafayette to Cronin is impressed with respect for Mick and the The County of Jasper will accept sealed reach the final 64 and play how Izzo has made it work. way he has done it and do- bids (clearly marked as such) until Thurs- day April 1, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. in the of- No. 6 seed BYU on Satur- “He’s got a different kind ing it in an environment fice of the County Auditor, 150 N. Austin, day. That winner will face of team this year because that’s not as easy to do it in,” Jasper, Texas 75951, for the following re- quirements of the County: No. 3 seed Texas or No. 14 he’s played many, many dif- Izzo said. “He brings a 2016 Deere 6705G w/ Front Scarifer seed Abilene Christian on ferent lineups — they can smash mouth kind of team, 6 CYL JD ENGINE Monday. change at the drop of a hat and it will be a different 235 HP 8 SPD TRANSMISSION “I’m not worried about and go with different guys, team than maybe some 14FT BLADE FRONT SCARIFER facing anybody in this tour- so there’s a lot of personnel we’ve played out West.” 17.5 R 25 TIRES BACK UP CAMERA AM/FM RADIO W/ BLUETOOTH HEATED SEAT Video on the iPads will be- you cannot see yourself ENCLOSED CAB W/AC & HEAT ASTROS gin after a catcher displays when you’re out there The bids will be publicly opened in the From page B1 Commissioners’ Courtroom Thursday his signs and run on a half- swinging the bat. Having April 1, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. and tabulated inning delay, a person with the video to rely on and for presentation to the Commissioners’ Court for action at their special meeting league’s operations manu- knowledge of the rules make those adjustments is on Thursday April 1, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. Jasper County reserves the right to accept al banned all players and said. going to be huge.” or reject any and all bids. staff from replay rooms. It In any form, the access In spring training, Breg- Further information may be obtained by suggested the rule promot- will be welcomed by most man can often be seen contacting Mellissa Smith, ed safety, but the measure hitters in baseball — espe- studying one of the Astros’ Jasper County Auditor, Jasper, Texas. had obvious deeper roots cially the core of Astros vet- iPads after finishing a tied back to Houston. erans, who struggled so round of batting practice. The 2017 Astros and 2018 mightily last season. He acknowledged Tuesday Red Sox engineered illegal “We definitely like vid- that he likes having in- sign-stealing schemes in- eo,” third-year Astros hit- game video available but side their replay rooms. ting coach Troy Snitker said doesn’t “get too much The punishments commis- this week. “We don’t like to caught up” in it. Others, sioner Rob Manfred issued guess about things. We like former Astros outfield- in January 2020 for the As- want to make sure that er George Springer, almost tros’ wrongdoings led the when we’re making adjust- never use in-game video. sport to a crossroads about ments, we’re making them Springer finished last sea- agrowing problem that had for the right reasons. We son with a team-high .540 long been either ignored or have a lot of veteran players slugging percentage and silently acknowledged. In a who know what they want .899 OPS. and February 2020 interview to see. They know what posted with ESPN, Manfred vowed they’re looking for, they above average seasons, too, to “have really serious re- know how to make adjust- despite the dearth of video. strictions on player and ments, and sometimes one Players utilize the video player personnel access to of the most important for their own approach and video in-game” during the things is knowing which ad- aquick scouting report on 2020 season. justment to make, because the opposition. Houston Manfred’s words co- they’re capable of doing it hitters often gather around alesced with COVID-19 often in a game.” Snitker and hitting coach health and safety protocols Last season, while his Alex Cintron while a new to form a narrative around hitters struggled to sustain reliever throws his warmup baseball. In lamenting his any rhythm, Snitker men- tosses. All focus is on an lack of video last Septem- tioned the lineup’s uncan- iPad. ber, Cubs shortstop Javy ny ability to make midgame “It’s definitely helpful in- Baez told reporters “we’re adjustments. Video, he game to be able to see some not cheating, and we have said, is crucial to it. Snitker pitch shapes and things to pay for all this.” A month described video as a valida- that might be a little bit dif- earlier, Rays Kev- tion of sorts, a way players ferent than what you pre- in Cash lambasted the can “bridge the gap” be- pared for going in,” catcher league’s protocols, telling tween what they’re think- said. “I think MLB Network Radio that ing and what is actually oc- that was the biggest thing. in-game video “(has) been curring. Some days a guy might be taken away from us be- “Not being able to know throwing something that’s cause of one team, or a cou- things that you’re doing alittle bit different than ple teams’ stupid choices.” wrong mechanically with you’ve maybe seen in the “It is asinine,” Cash told your swing — if you’re strid- past. the radio station. “The en- ing too long, striding too “Getting that feed in- tire protocol system, how open, if you’re too closed game to be able to make they came up with that, it is off with your upper body — some adjustments is really wrong. They’re doing an all those little things that important, especially with injustice to players.” you see on the video, you guys coming out of the The league will bring vid- go out in the next at-bat and (bullpen) and being able to eo back to dugouts in 2021. fix can’t be done without be on top of those things. The operations manual still video,” said Correa, who It’s definitely something prohibits any “communal slugged .383 last regular we’ll look forward to.” video terminals” like re- season before exploding in play rooms but will allow the playoffs. [email protected] iPads inside the dugout. “At the end of the day, twitter.com/chandler_rome