2C » Friday, September 30, 2016 » THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL «« In the news WINGS from 1C Tiger women open AAC play with victory player ofensively and the Jessica Lisi scored in the 57th minute to give the Uni- team’s top defender. Craw- versity of Memphis women’s soccer team a 1-0 win over ford admittedly lost his Temple in its American Athletic Conference opener confidence ofensively last Thursday afternoon at the Temple Sports Complex. season, when he shot just The Tigers (7-2-1) had numerous scoring chances 13 percent from 3-point during the match, but the one goal was enough to seal range (3 of 23). While he’s the win. Memphis outshot Temple 26-4 and the Tigers’ probably never going to be had seven corner kicks to the Owls’ one. agoodperimetershooter, Memphis next travels to No. 21 UConn for a Sunday Crawford is solid enough game. in other facets of the game —likeslashing,defending Marlins’Fernandezlaidtorest and making plays for oth- ers — that he should be a Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez was remembered key contributor for this Thursday as a larger than life figure during a homily at team. He could also see his funeral. time at point guard and “Jose was too good for this league,” the Rev. Jose Al- shooting guard. varez said. “He’s a going to a higher league.” Lawson: We’ve reported Fernandez, a 24-year-old, two-time All-Star, died early that Lawson has nearly MARK WEBER/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL FILES Sunday along with two friends in a boating accident of fully recovered from the Markel Crawford (right) could be on the verge of a breakout season for the Tigers. The junior Miami Beach. Achilles injury that lim- is a slasher and should be a lock-down defender on the wing. His funeral service lasted more than two hours. Those ited him to just 10 games in attendance included Major League Baseball commis- last season. His father, ing 36.6 percent from the game and I expect him to is going to play a role this sioner Rob Manfred,currentandformerMarlinsplayers director of player devel- field. He needs to be bet- be more of a factor on the season, he’s going to have and two hall-of-famers, Marlins executives Tony Perez opment Keelon Lawson, ter with his shot selection glass this season. to be a better long-range and Andre Dawson. said K.J. has been granted and as a passer. Last year Craig Randall, sopho- shooter. The reports I’ve The private service drew about 300 mourners, who amedicalredshirtfor the ball had a tendency to more: Randall averaged gotten back this preseason nearly filled the large sanctuary at St. Brendan Catholic last season, meaning he stick when it got to K.J. 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds are that he’s shot well in Church in Miami. still has four years of eli- While there’s no question in limited action last sea- workouts, but Memphis Pallbearers wore black Fernandez jerseys as they car- gibility remaining. K.J. is Memphis needs him to be son (7.9 minutes per game), needs to see it in games. ried his casket. Memphis’ second-leading ahigh-levelscorer,K.J. yet he still managed to get If Randall can become a While Thursday’s funeral was private, fans got to say returning scorer at 8.8 still needs to involve his of43 3-pointers (the fifth- knockdown shooter, he their goodbyes a day earlier. points per game (he also teammates more than he most 3-point attempts on could also see time as a averaged 3.5 rebounds), did last year so the ofense the team last season). He reserve shooting guard. Yankees fans honor Red Sox slugger but he wasn’t efficient flows more efciently. K.J. made just eight of them Coming Saturday: A enough last season, shoot- has an excellent midrange (18.6 percent). If Randall breakdown of the posts. Playing in the Bronx one last time, Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz was given a 30-second standing ovation at Yankee Stadium instead of the usual boos. There were many fans in Red Sox colors in Thursday PREPS night’s crowd, which chanted his nickname “Pa-pi! Pa- pi!” Only a smattering of booing could be heard. Ortiz struck out in the second inning against CC Sa- SurgingSpartansreadyforNo.1Tigers bathia,droppingto0for10inthethree-gameseriesand hitless in his last 14 at-bats against the Yankees. Ortiz walked in the fourth and was replaced by pinch runner ■ (7) Ridgeway (4-2) at West Monroe- Brock Holt,thenreceivedanotherovationashejoggedto White Station offense faces area’s top ‘D’ La. (2-1-1), 7p.m.Storylines:After the Red Sox dugout. Ortiz pointed to the Yankees dugout being held in check for much of last in thanks as he headed to the third base side. By John Varlas (1) WHITEHAVEN (6-0, 3-0 week’s game at MUS, the Roadrunners lookstogetbackontrackwithavisitto [email protected] Hitting .315 with 37 homers and 124 RBIs, the 40-year- REGION 4-6A) VS. (12) WHITE one of Louisiana’s traditional powers. 901-529-2350 old designated hitter is having among the greatest final STATION (4-2, 3-0) AT THE The Rebels’ standouts are 6-1, 250- seasons in big league history. FAIRGROUNDS pound defensive lineman Dennis Collins When he was a freshman three Time: 7p.m.Storylines:TheTigers’ (committed to TCU) and Tennessee Seattle’s Stewart WNBA Rookie of Year years ago, Trevor Forbes was on the defense has given up only 62 points all commit Trey Coleman, a 5-11, 203-pound sidelines handing out water bottles year while the surging Spartans put up athlete. Seattle’s Breanna Stewart is the WNBA Rookie of the as his White Station teammates took 55 against Bartlett last week. Look for Year. The league announced Thursday that Stewart re- on Whitehaven. Whitehaven to try and eat up as much Westwood (3-2) at (8) Harding (4-1), ceived 38 of the 39 votes from a national media panel. Tonight, Forbes hopes to play a clock as possible behind Kylan Watkins 7p.m.Storylines:Thevisitorshavesome San Antonio’s Moriah Jefferson got the other vote. starring role in one of the area’s best (124.1 yards per game, 13 touchdowns) playmakers, most notably quarterback “It’s a tremendous honor to be able to come into the rivalry games. and the rest of the running game. Mercedes Byrd and receiver Kelton league and make a big impact like I did in my rookie Undefeated Whitehaven, ranked Arlington (4-2, 1-2 Region 4-6A) at (2) Neyland , and if they can make plays it could get interesting. season,” Stewart said. “It’s all you can ask for.” first in The Commercial Appeal’s Cordova (6-0, 3-0), 7p.m.Storylines: The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Con- Dandy Dozen, visits the Fairgrounds Tigers quarterback Tate Kolwyck (214 (10) Raleigh-Egypt (6-0, 3-0 Region necticut, Stewart averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and Friday to take on a surging Spartans yards per game, 15 touchdowns) will 8-3A) at Bolivar Central (6-0, 3-0), 1.9 blocks, becoming the sixth player in league history teamthathaswonfourstraightafter offer a stiff challenge to the Wolves’ fine 7p.m.Storylines:ThePharaohshitthe to reach those averages in the same season. She helped losing to CBHS and DeSoto Central defense, which leads the area by allowing road for the biggest game in school the Seattle Storm advance to the playofs for the first to start the season. just 115.8 yards per game. history and — more importantly — a time since 2013. It’s shaping up to be the toughest (T3) CBHS (5-1) at Briarcrest (5-1), 7 chance to take a firm hold of the region test of the season for Whitehaven’s p.m. Storylines: The D2-AA West Region title race. Defensive ends Cedric AUTOS excellent defense; after a slow start opener for both should be a good one. Henderson (two sacks, three fumble ■ Josef Newgarden has informed Ed Carpenter he will in the post-Dillon Mitchell era the Saints quarterback Jackson Walker leads recoveries, one touchdown) and Nate not return to the IndyCar team next season. The Ameri- Spartans have scored 136 points in Shelby County with 223.1 yards per game Thomas were terrific last week. can driver is thought to be highly coveted by Team Pen- their last three games, including 55 and 16 touchdowns. The Brothers will (11) Southaven (5-1, 1-0 MHSAA ske, which has been in limbo over the status of former against Bartlett last week. Forbes did counter with Keegan Voss, Dominick 1-6A) at Hernando (4-1, 0-1), 7p.m. Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya.Itcould his part in that one, scoring on runs Garrett and a ground game that ranks Storylines: Fresh off an impressive leadtoaseatswapwithNewgardengoingtoPenskeand of 50 and 47 yards. fourth at (258.8 yards per game). win over Olive Branch last week, the Montoya moving to ECR. Forbes said having quarterback St. Benedict (2-4) at (T3) MUS (6-0), 7 Chargers make their Dandy Dozen debut John Lyons back to something ap- p.m. Storylines: The Owls will honor their this year against one of the best pass- GOLF proaching full health has been cru- past by dedicating a statue of legendary catch combos in the area, quarterback ■ Ariya Jutanugarn birdied the final four holes for an cial; the Army commitment strug- coach Jake Rudolph during pre-game Robert Wilcke and receiver O.D.