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LeTourneau Women’s Tennis Trio Earns ASC Postseason Awards
RICHARDSON, Texas – The LeTourneau University women’s tennis team has landed three players to the American Southwest Conference postseason awards honors, with senior Katharine Waldthausen and junior Maddison Brackenreg being named second-team all-conference at doubles while Gracie Favela has been named ASC East Division Tri-Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year.
Waldthausen and Brackenreg earn the second-team All-Conference and first-team All-East Division after going 11-4 in doubles matches which included a pair of conference wins at number one doubles. The duo won their final seven doubles matches of the season and finished 8-2 in their last ten matches while being regionally ranked as high as number 13 in the ITA Division III West Region Doubles rankings.
Waldthausen would also add second-team All-ASC East Division honors at number one singles, after going 10-5 in singles play which included a 9-5 mark at number one singles. The Konigstein, Germany native, went 2-1 in ASC play at number one singles and was able to win the final three matches of her 2019 campaign.
Favela concluded her collegiate tennis career as ASC East Tri-Sportsmanship athlete of the year after playing in a variety of positions for the YellowJackets this season with most of her time coming at number two and three singles. In total, Gracie would go on to win seven doubles matches with partners Terin Murray and Waldthausen while also scoring five wins in singles which included two wins in ASC play.
LeTourneau Baseball Wins ASC Tournament Blue Bracket With 10-7 Win Over Wildcats.
SAN ANGELO, Texas – LeTourneau needed just one victory in a possible two games to advance into next weekend’s American Southwest Conference Baseball Tournament Gold Bracket Championship Series. LeTourneau University baseball team also needed just one game to dispatch Louisiana College by a final score of 10-7 and win the ASC Tournament Blue Bracket at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium on the campus of Angelo State University on Sunday, May 5.
LETU finishes the weekend a perfect 3-0 with wins over Howard Payne, Texas-Dallas and Louisiana College to improve to 24-19 overall on the season while the Wildcats see their season end with a 31-12 overall record.
The YellowJackets would face their first deficit of the postseason in the bottom of the first inning as Louisiana College would snag a leadoff single and put up a pair of runs on a Clayton Noakes two-run home run to go up 2-0. LeTourneau responded by putting their first two batters of the top of the second on base but would see a strikeout and inning-ending double play put an end to the first rally.
Facing the exact-same scenario in the top of the third, LETU would catch a break as an error on a fielder’s choice throw to third would allow Lee Hosie and Eli Birriel to score and tie the game at 2-2. The YellowJackets would keep the inning going with singles from Bryce Brueggemeyer and Will Bradshaw to push across another run and take a 3-2 lead before seeing the inning end with two runners left on base.
A five-hit inning for LeTourneau in the top of the fourth would get started with a Jacob Jones leadoff single as Brandon Ramirez, Bradshaw, and Kyle Guevara would deliver with big RBI hits to plate four runs for LETU as the lead would grow to 7-2 heading to the bottom of the fourth. The five-run edge would allow starting pitcher Raul Martinez to attack the zone and work around a two-out single as the score would wind up remaining the same through six innings.
LeTourneau would find themselves in a bit of a jam in the bottom of the seventh as an error, and one-out double would put runners on second and third for the Wildcats before an RBI single plated the first run for LC since the bottom of the first. A pitching change to Bradshaw would see one more run scored on an RBI single to cut the lead to 7-4 before back-to-back strikeouts stranded a pair of runners and left LETU with some breathing room.
Insurance runs were found by the YellowJackets in the top of the eighth as a hit batter, and three one-out hits allowed three runs to come across home plate with Ramirez delivering a big two-RBI double to break things open once again with a 10-4 lead. Louisiana College managed to get one run back with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth. They would push across two more runs in the ninth on a two-out, two-run home run to make things interesting once more, but it would be LeTourneau getting a pop out to the first base to end the game and advance in the ASC Tournament.
Martinez went 6.1 innings strong, allowing four runs on eight hits while never truly allowing the Wildcats to mount a serious comeback. Bradshaw earned his second save of the weekend by throwing the final 2.2 innings and striking out four and allowing five hits in his outing.
Just two of LeTourneau’s 14 hits would go for extra-bases, but it would be more than enough as Ramirez would lead all players with three hits, three RBI, and three runs scored in five plate appearances. The top five players in the YellowJacket lineup combined for 11 hits and eight RBI while striking out just once in the contest.
Following the game, LeTourneau would have five players named to the ASC Tournament Blue Bracket All-Tournament Team, with Eli Birriel taking home the honor of Tournament MVP. Kolton Eberlan, Ryder Lognion, Martinez, and Ramirez also were named to the all-tournament team for their performances throughout the three-game weekend.
What’s Next?
LeTourneau makes their first-ever appearance in the American Southwest Tournament Gold Bracket Championship Series as the current ASC Tournament format was instituted in the 2016 postseason. LETU will travel to Austin, Texas to take on Concordia University Texas in a best-of-three series with the Tornadoes beginning Thursday, April 9, at 6:00 p.m. CTX went 3-0 in the ASC Tournament Red Bracket this past weekend, defeating Sul Ross State and East Texas Baptist twice to earn the right to host next weekend’s series. The winner of the series will make the ASC automatic berth into the 2019 NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament.
LeTourneau Track Improves Marks At War Hawks Classic.
ABILENE, Texas – Posting four school-record marks, the LeTourneau University track and field team would earn a total of two wins and 13 top-eight finishes at the 2019 McMurry University War Hawk Classic at Wilford Moore Stadium in Abilene, Texas on Saturday, May 4.
Leading the way for LETU at the meet would be Victoria Hood for the women with a win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 12:36.91 while Alex Hindman would take victory in the pole vault by clearing 4.78 meters (15 ft. – 8.25 in.). Jack Miller (4.56 meters, 14 ft. – 11.50 in.) and Arvin Hrushka (4.26 meters, 13 ft. – 11.75 in.) also competed in the pole vault for the YellowJackets, finishing second and third in the event behind Hindman.
Earning a school-record in the discus throw would be Rebekah Stevenson with a throw of 31.40 meters (103 ft. 00 in.) while also recording a mark of 37.38 meters (122 ft. – 8 in.) in the hammer throw. LETU’s other school records would come in the 100 meters from Stanley Williams(10.90), the 400-meter hurdles from Jaylon Williams (55.98) and the 4×100 meter relay team of Solomon Siniard, Jones, Jaylon Williams, and Stanley Williams (42.55).
LeTourneau would also have a trio of athletes compete in the long jump with Stanley Williams (6.70 meters, 21 ft. – 11.75 in.) placing fourth while Javaughn Dantzler (6.67 meters, 21 ft. – 10.75 in.) took fifth and Hrushka (5.51 meters, 18 ft. – 1 in.) finishing ninth. Hrushka also posted a time of 16.63 in the 100-meter hurdles while Dalton Heichelheim finished eighth in the 100 meters (11.64) and Colton Pounders eighth in the 400-meter hurdles (58.99).
What’s Next?
LeTourneau will make a return trip to Abilene on Sunday, May 12, to take part in the Abilene Christian University Last Chance Meet. It will mark the fourth-consecutive weekend that the YellowJackets will be making a trip to Abilene in hopes of recording NCAA Division III Outdoor National qualifying marks.
LeTourneau Baseball Wins 7-3, Moves On To ASC Tournament Blue Bracket Finals
SAN ANGELO, Texas – Using an early two-run home run to go along with four runs in the final two innings of play, the LeTourneau University baseball team kept their postseason mojo alive and well. The last was a 7-3 win over the University of Texas-Dallas in the 2019 American Southwest Conference Baseball Tournament Blue Bracket winner’s bracket game hosted at Foster Field at First Credit at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium on the campus of Angelo State University on Saturday, May 4.
LETU has now won three of their past four games to improve to 23-19 overall on the year and will play tomorrow against either Texas-Dallas or Louisiana College. The Comets will now face elimination for the first time in the postseason with a game currently ongoing against the Wildcats after falling to 21-20 overall on the season.
Each team would strand a runner in a scoreless first inning before the YellowJackets would break through in the top of the second with a Noah Mahoney one-out single and Cody Lee two-run home run that managed to stay fair down the left field line. Things would remain a 2-0 LeTourneau lead until the bottom of the third as Texas-Dallas made the most of a leadoff single to push across a run with a two-out RBI single and cut the YellowJacket lead in half.
The second run for UTD in the bottom of the fourth would tie things at 2-2, but it would be LeTourneau who would reclaim the lead with an Eli Birriel sacrifice fly to score Lee and give LETU their second lead of the game. Texas-Dallas would threaten to tie things once again with a one-out walk and single to put two runners on in the bottom of the fifth, but LeTourneau would get out of the jam and strand both runners to maintain their lead.
Not much action would be seen in the sixth or seventh inning, leaving things a 3-2 ball game until the top of the eighth when a one-out single from Brandon Ramirez sparked a two-run inning on two hits and three walks to give LeTourneau breathing room with a 5-2 lead. Back-to-back singles for UTD to lead off the bottom of the eighth would make things interesting once again, but a pair of groundouts and strikeout stranded both runners for the Comets and kept things at a three-run margin.
More insurance runs for LETU would be found in the top of the ninth as Lee Hosie would draw a leadoff walk and be brought home on a Birriel two-run home run to give the YellowJackets their largest lead of the game at 7-2. Texas-Dallas would manage to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth and push across a run on a sacrifice fly to force a LeTourneau pitching change, but it would be all that the Comets could do as a groundout and strikeout ended the game and allowed LETU to advance to Sunday’s final.
Another strong performance on the mound for LETU would come from the trio of Jared Schurig (4.1 innings), Ryder Lognion (4.0 innings), and Will Bradshaw as the three allowed UT-Dallas to score no more than one run in an inning. Lognion managed to pick up his fourth win of the year after coming on in relief and struck out three while allowing just one run on four hits while Bradshaw earned his first save of the year by recording the final two outs of the game and ending a late Comet rally.
Offensively, it would be Lee and Birriel who would come up with each drive in three runs while accounting for two of the three extra-base hits for the YellowJackets. LETU would also swipe three bags in the game with pinch-runner Chaz Jackson accounting for two while Bryce Brueggemeyer stole one base.
What’s Next?
Another waiting game ensues for the LeTourneau baseball team as the YellowJackets will play against the winner of tonight’s elimination game between Louisiana College and Texas-Dallas at 1 p.m. on Sunday in the ASC Tournament Blue Bracket Championship. LETU needs just one win to advance to next weekend’s ASC Tournament Gold Bracket Championship Series while their opponent would have to knock off the YellowJackets twice on Sunday to advance.
LeTourneau Baseball Scores Early And Often In 11-3 ASC Tourney Victory Over Howard Payne.
SAN ANGELO, Texas – Having waited a total of 26 hours to get their 2019 postseason underway, the LeTourneau University baseball team scored the first three runs. They took advantage of four Howard Payne University errors and took an 11-3 win. It was in the American Southwest Conference Blue Bracket opener at Foster Field at First Credit at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium on the campus of Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas on Friday, May 3.
LETU improves to 22-19 overall on the season after picking up their third win of the year over the regular-season ASC champions while HPU falls to 26-15 overall and faces postseason elimination when they take on Louisiana College tonight.
LeTourneau would put up a single run in the top of the first as Brandon Ramirez, and Bryce Brueggemeyer would each collect one-out singles before a Kyle Guevara two-out RBI single get LETU on the board. Things would remain a 1-0 lead for LeTourneau until the top of the third when Eli Birriel would get aboard with a leadoff single and come around to score on a Will Bradshaw two-out homer to left field to make the score 3-0. A solo homer would allow HPU to get a run back in the bottom half of the third as LETU would hold a two-run lead going to the fourth.
Birriel would get in on the action again in the fourth as leadoff Noah Mahoney double, and Lee Hosie walk would set the stage for a two-out, two-RBI double to add to the LeTourneau lead and make things 5-1 in favor of LETU. Howard Payne managed to push across another run in the bottom of the inning to try and keep pace with LeTourneau as the score would be 5-2 going to the fifth.
Errors would begin to pile up for Howard Payne in the middle innings as LeTourneau plated a runner on a throwing error by the HPU pitcher on a pickoff but conceded a run in the bottom of the fifth to keep things at a three-run LETU lead. A scoreless sixth inning would make way for a three-run LeTourneau seventh on two hits as two errors allowed all three runs to come home and break the game open with LETU doubling their lead to 9-3.
The six-run LeTourneau lead would be added to once again in the top of the eighth as a Birriel sacrifice bunt, and Brueggemeyer RBI single brought home two more runs as LETU would go up 11-3. LeTourneau would allow just two hits in the final two innings to Howard Payne as the game never would be in question with LETU picking up their first ASC Tournament-opening win since 2015.
A big outing for starter Kolton Eberlan would see the sophomore go 7.1 innings and allow three runs on 10 hits while striking out five batters and cruising to his fourth win of the year. Leading the LeTourneau offense would be Brueggemeyer with a three-for-five performance with one RBI while Birriel drove in a game-high three runs. Free bases would also prove to be a boon for LeTourneau thanks in part to six stolen bases and five walks in the game allowed by Howard Payne pitchers.
What’s Next?
The most-common opponent for LETU in the ASC Tournament, the YellowJackets will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. when they take on the University of Texas-Dallas as the Comets finished off an 11-2 win on Friday over Louisiana College. LETU and UTD will be meeting for the sixth-time in ASC Tournament history, with Texas-Dallas having won the past five postseason meetings. The game will mark the fourth time in a week that the two squads have met, with UTD taking two out of three games over the YellowJackets to close out the regular-season.
LeTourneau Softball Season Comes To a Close Against Hardin-Simmons In ASC Tournament.
MARSHALL, Texas – Taking on Hardin-Simmons University for the first time this season, the LeTourneau University softball team saw a late seventh-inning rally proves to be the difference in an 8-7 defeat in an elimination game at the 2019 American Southwest Conference Softball Tournament hosted at Taylor Field on the campus of East Texas Baptist University on Friday, May 3.
LETU ends their season with a 24-17 overall record while the Cowgirls improved to 21-22 overall and will play their third elimination-game tomorrow in three days tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. against either Mary Hardin-Baylor or East Texas Baptist.
It would be all HSU in the early going as the YellowJackets would surrender two runs in the top of the first inning on a two-out, two-RBI single before leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the first without pushing any runners across. Hardin-Simmons would tack on two more runs in the top of the second on three hits to go up 4-0 as LeTourneau would be held scoreless through the first two innings of play.
LETU managed to put together a three-hit bottom of the third inning as a Macey Mize triple, and Haydn Parker sacrifice fly would push across two to cut the HSU lead in half before Hardin-Simmons would be able to get a run back in the top of the fourth after a leadoff walk. A five-run bottom of the fourth for the YellowJackets would be sparked by a Katelyn Trombley bases-clearing three-RBI triple to tie things at 5-5, with Mize and Parker both collecting RBI singles to give LeTourneau their first lead of the game at 7-5.
Things would remain a two-run lead for LETU until the top of the sixth when Hardin-Simmons would get one-run back on a solo home-run as the YellowJackets would be unable to push across any insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Holding onto a one-run advantage and three outs away from advancing, LETU would see HSU put the game-tying runner aboard with an infield single before taking over on a home run to go up 8-7. LeTourneau would get out of the inning without any more damage, but the score change would ultimately prove to be the difference as the YellowJackets would be retired in order following a leadoff walk.
Four of LETU’s nine hits would come from the bats of Trombley and Mize as the duo would connect on two hits each while driving in five runs and scoring a total of four times. Nine stranded runners would prove costly for the YellowJackets as the Cowgirls would make the most of their runners on base by stranding only four while striking out just one time.
A record-breaking season for LeTourneau saw the YellowJackets set a single-season record for home runs (36) and wins (24) while making their four-ever appearance in the ASC Tournament. The 2019 American Southwest Conference All-Conference Softball selections will be announced Monday afternoon, so be sure to check back at www.letuathletics.com to find out which YellowJacket athletes will be honored for their on-field performances this season.
Pitcher’s Duel Drops LeTourneau Softball 1-0, To Play at 4:00 pm Friday Afternoon.
MARSHALL, Texas – Following a thrilling 8-7, nine-inning win over Texas-Dallas Thursday night, the LeTourneau University softball team would be held scoreless to drop a 1-0 decision to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in the double-elimination portion of the 2019 American Southwest Conference Softball Tournament at Taylor Field on the campus of East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas on Friday, May 3.
LETU falls to 24-16 overall with the defeat and will play against an opponent to be determined at 4:00 pm later today in an ASC Tournament elimination game. UMHB improved to 27-14 overall and advances into the ASC Tournament semifinal round scheduled for 7:00 pm this evening.
Facing off against the Crusaders for the fourth time this season, the YellowJackets would find themselves in a pitcher’s duel as each team would record one hit in the first inning before seeing the next two innings go hitless as part of a scoreless game through three innings. A leadoff single for Katelyn Trombley in the top of the fourth would be erased on a runner leaving early, but LETU would be able to work around a two-out single from UMHB to keep things deadlocked at zero, heading to the fifth inning.
LeTourneau would threaten to break through in the top of the fifth by getting a leadoff single from Ashley Crawford before Kennedi Dillow would be hit by a pitch with two outs in the inning and Macey Mize would draw a walk to load the bases. The threat would be averted by Mary Hardin-Baylor as a lineout ended the inning to strand all three base runners in what proved to be the best opportunity of the contest for LETU to push a run across.
Only one hit from either team would be seen throughout the next two innings of play as LeTourneau and UMHB would remain scoreless through six and a half innings with just six total hits before the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff double for the Crusaders and throwing error would put runners on first and second with no outs before a sacrifice bunt moved both runners 60 feet closer to home and the game-ending run at third. Trying to extend the game, LETU would be unable to do so as a base right through the right side of the infield would allow the Cru to take their first win of the season over the YellowJackets as LeTourneau would be shut out for just the second time this season.
The four hits for LETU would come off the bats of Trombley (two), Crawford, and Haydn Parker as Mize would draw three walks as part of five total free passes for the YellowJackets. Starting pitcher Leigh Luker would toss a complete game, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out one batter of the 25 she faced.
Game Two (Later Today):
LeTourneau now awaits the loser of Hardin-Simmons University, and East Texas Baptist for a 4:00 pm elimination game as the Cowgirls and Tigers will face off at 1:00 pm. Regardless of who LETU plays, it will mark the first-ever postseason contest between the two teams as LeTourneau will seek their fifth ASC Tournament victory in just their fourth postseason appearance. The YellowJackets did not play HSU in the regular-season and dropped a three-game series to ETBU in Marshall with the Tigers winning, 2-1, 6-2, and 6-2.
LeTourneau Softball Makes Three Separate Comebacks, Advances In ASC Tournament.
MARSHALL, Texas – Coming back from deficits of 4-2, 5-4, and 7-5, the LeTourneau University softball team extended their season with an 8-7, nine-inning walk-off victory over Texas-Dallas on the opening day of the 2019 American Southwest Conference Softball Tournament hosted at Taylor Field on the campus of East Texas Baptist University on Thursday, May 2.
LETU advances to the double-elimination portion of the tournament and will play on Friday, May 3 against Mary Hardin-Baylor while the Comets see their season end with a 17-21 overall record after splitting a pair of Thursday games.
Following two scoreless innings to open the game, the YellowJackets would break through in the bottom of the third with a Macey MizeRBI triple to score Kennedi Dillow who would spark a two-out rally with a double. Texas-Dallas knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth by putting together three hits but would strand two runners on a prime opportunity to take their first lead of the game.
The back-and-forth continued as LETU reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a Hana Bonner sacrifice fly before stranding two runners of their own to send things to the top of the fifth. Two errors by LeTourneau would allow a leadoff single to come around and score for the Comets as UTD found a way to tie things up yet again to grab momentum and work around a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning to keep things tied at two.
A two-run home run by UTD in the top of the sixth allowed the Comets to take their first lead of the game and put LETU in a late hole as the YellowJackets would have six outs to work with to try and tie things up. One run would be gained back in the bottom of the sixth as Ethel Warren would reach base on a hit-by-pitch and eventually come around to score on a Taylor Nichols sacrifice fly.
Defensively, LETU would get a one-two-three inning in the top of the seventh to try and keep the bats going as Mize would hammer a 3-0 pitch over the left-center field wall for a no-doubt home run to tie it back up at 4-4 and send things to extra innings.
Back-to-back one-out hits would be followed up by a two-out walk and RBI single for Texas-Dallas as the Comets would strike first in extra-innings to take a 5-4 lead. A bases-loaded groundout ended the threat by UTD as LeTourneau would keep the deficit at just one heading into their opportunity at the plate.
A throwing error would allow Warren to reach base and move to second to open the bottom of the eighth before a sacrifice bunt by Bonner put the game-tying run at third. Ashley Crawford would get in on the action and tie things at five-all with an RBI single as it would appear LETU would score a walk-off victory before being thwarted by an inning-ending double play.
The top of the ninth would see the Comets respond yet again by reclaiming the lead on a one-out RBI double and would add a second run later in the inning to go up 7-5 with another opportunity to put the YellowJackets away for good. Down but not out, LeTourneau would once again take advantage of a leadoff error with Mize getting aboard before Haydn Parker and Katelyn Trombley both hit singles to load the bases with no outs. A game-ending three-RBI double to the left-center field fence by Warren would prove to be the clutch hit needed as the YellowJackets cleared the bases and pulled out their fourth victory of the year over the Comets in thrilling fashion.
Pounding out 15 hits, LETU would see six different players end up with two singles and would be led by the three RBI from Warren to go along with two runs scored. Four of the 15 hits would end up going for extra-bases with Mize recording two of the extra-base hits while Silver Montgomery stole the only base of the game.
ASC Tournament
LeTourneau is now 4-6 all-time in the ASC Tournament and 1-1 against Texas-Dallas in postseason play. Tomorrow’s opponent in Mary Hardin-Baylor will be the third all-time meeting between the two teams in postseason play as the two sides have split the previous two games. LeTourneau’s win over the Crusaders in the ASC Tournament came in 2016 when the YellowJackets would pull out a 9-7, 17-inning victory in Tyler, Texas en route to a third-place finish in the tournament. Regardless of the outcome of the 10:00 a.m. game, LETU will play a second game on Friday at either 4:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. against either East Texas Baptist or the winner of Sul Ross State and Hardin-Simmons.
LeTourneau Women’s Tennis Ends Season In ASC Tournament Quarterfinals.
DALLAS, Texas – Battling back from a 2-1 doubles deficit, the LeTourneau University women’s tennis team would manage to tie things at 3-3 with three matches remaining before seeing their 2018-19 season come to a close. It ended with a 5-3 neutral-site defeat to McMurry University in the 2019 American Southwest Conference Women’s Tennis Tournament at the SMU Tennis Complex on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on Thursday, May 2.
LETU concludes their season with an 8-10 overall record while the War Hawks advance to tomorrow’s semifinal round to take on Texas-Dallas at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3.
Following an 8-2 victory by McMurry at number three doubles over Lauren Rockwell and Samantha Trevino, the YellowJackets would tie things at 1-1 with a decisive 8-3 win by Katharine Waldthausen and Maddison Brackenreg at number one doubles. The War Hawks would manage to pick up the point at number two doubles as Gracie Favela and Terin Murray would fall 8-1 to trail 2-1 heading into singles action.
In singles action, LETU would see Waldthausen manage to come back from a 6-3 first set defeat at number one singles to come back and win 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to tie the match at 2-2. LeTourneau would then take the lead thanks to Brackenreg at number two singles with a 6-3, 6-2 win but would see Rockwell drop a 6-1, 6-1 decision at number five singles that would tie things once again. McMurry would wind up going on to earn a 6-2, 6-1 win over Murray at number four singles and outlast Trevino in a 6-3, 6-4 match at number six singles to clinch the team victory. The only unfinished event would see Favela earn a 6-3, first-set win and lead her opponent at number three singles 6-3, 2-6, 5-2 when the match outcome was decided.
The 2019 American Southwest Conference Women’s Tennis All-Conference selections will be released on Monday, May 6th with numerous YellowJackets expected to be announced to the all-conference choices. Check back into www.letuathletics.com Monday afternoon to find out which YellowJacket women’s tennis student-athletes will find themselves a part of the all-conference teams in addition to any other postseason awards that LETU is awarded.
ASC Baseball Tournament Blue Bracket Postponed, Venue Changed To San Angelo.
BROWNWOOD, Texas – Due to continuous rain and unplayable field conditions in the Brownwood, Texas area, the LeTourneau University baseball team will have to wait one extra day until Friday, May 3, to open the 2019 American Southwest Conference Baseball Tournament Blue Bracket against Howard Payne University.
Due to the weather, a change in venue has also been announced as the remainder of the tournament has been moved 102 miles southwest to Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium on the campus of Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas. Play between Louisiana College and Texas-Dallas was suspended in the fifth inning with Texas-Dallas leading 8-1 and will be resumed at 1:00 p.m. on Friday to open day two of the tournament.
A revised tournament schedule finds LETU taking on HPU at 3:00 p.m. on Friday following the conclusion of game one between LC and UTD with the two losing teams facing off in an elimination game at 7:00 p.m. Friday night. Saturday will then feature the two remaining undefeated teams squaring off at 2:00 p.m. for a right to move on to championship Sunday while the loser will be back in action at 6:00 p.m. in an elimination game. Game six of the tournament will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday between the 2-0 team and 2-1 team with an if-necessary game taking place 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game six if both sides have one loss.
Preparations for live video and live statistics for the duration of the tournament are still being worked on due to the change in venue, as is information regarding admission prices and other pertinent information regarding the competition. Any additional changes regarding the ASC Baseball Tournament Blue Bracket will be announced on the tournament website which can be found here: 2019 ASC Tournament Blue Bracket Tournament Website.
LETU Athletics Present 2019 Department and Winter/Spring Sports Awards.
LONGVIEW, Texas – The LeTourneau University athletic department presented it’s Annual LETU Athletic Department Awards including the R.G. LeTourneau Legacy Award, Male and Female Athlete of the Year, and Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, May 1, at the final spiritual formation life group of the spring 2019 semester.
Also presented at the life group were the team awards for ten winter and spring sports for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, baseball, and softball. Their team received their awards to recognize achievements, both on-and-off the field, court, and course.
This year’s department award winners were nominated and selected by votes of the head coaches and athletics staff while each team was able to nominate and vote on their individual team awards.
R.G. LeTourneau Legacy Award: Bridey Davis (Women’s Cross Country)
Female Athlete of the Year: Alexis Segura (Women’s Cross Country/Women’s Soccer/Women’s Track and Field) & Macey Mize (Softball)
Male Athlete of the Year: Nate West (Men’s Basketball) & Alex Hindman (Men’s Track and Field)
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Sarah Harder (Women’s Soccer)
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Andrew Harlan (Baseball)
Sarah Harder and Andrew Harlan, as winners of the scholar-athlete awards, will be nominated for the American Southwest Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.
The individual sports that gave out their end-of-season awards and can be found below. Photos from the event can be found at the following link:
Photo Gallery By Christy Garrett
Men’s Basketball
The LETU Way Award – Chase Orlich
Comeback Award – C.J. Bird
Perseverance Award – Christian Seidl
Women’s Basketball
YellowJacket MVP – Keauna Whitfield
Men’s Golf
Most Valuable Player – Cory Gillespie
Newcomer of the Year – Reed Fisher
Best Attitude Award – Buster Byrnes
Women’s Golf
Most Valuable Player – Baylee Van Houten
Newcomer of the Year – Brittany Taylor
Best Attitude Award – Rachael Green
Men’s Tennis
Most Improved – Jeffrey Golladay
YellowJacket Award – Nathan Schmidt & Bobby Clark
Spirit & Leadership Award – Christian Farris
Women’s Tennis
Most Improved – Mimi Samdi
YellowJacket Award – Katharine Waldthausen
Spirit & Leadership Award – Gracie Favela
Men’s Track and Field
Outstanding Thrower – Arvin Hrushka
Outstanding Jumper – Alex Hindman
Outstanding Track Athlete – Colton Pounders
Most Valuable Athlete – Stanley Williams
YellowJacket Award – Lorien Nightingale & Adrik Kling
Newcomer of the Year – Collin Jones
Women’s Track and Field
Outstanding Thrower – Rebekah Stevenson
Outstanding Jumper – Georgianna Roeder
Outstanding Track Athlete – Alexis Segura
Most Valuable Athlete – Alexis Segura
YellowJacket Award – Lexi Funk
Newcomer of the Year – Georgianna Roeder
Baseball
Most Valuable Player – Bryce Brueggemeyer
Pitcher of the Year – Ryder Lognion
YellowJacket Award – Josh Raies
Softball
Team MVP – Macey Mize
Offensive MVP – Haydn Parker
Defensive MVP – Bailey Richey
LeTourneau Softball Awaits Opponent In ASC Tournament Opener Thursday Afternoon.
LONGVIEW, Texas- Following a program-best third-place finish in American Southwest Conference regular season play, the LeTourneau University softball team will enter this weekend’s American Southwest Conference tournament for the first time in three years as the number three seed in the eight-team tournament.
The YellowJackets are set to face the winner of a first-round matchup between the number six-seeded University of Texas-Dallas and seventh-seeded Howard Payne University. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, at Taylor Field on the campus of East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas.
This will be LeTourneau’s fourth appearance in program history as the YellowJackets are seeking their fourth tournament victory in the 20-history of the program. All four of LETU’s ASC Tournament Appearances have occurred in the past six years which includes a third-place finish in 2015. The YellowJackets will enter Thursday’s matchup with a combined 5-1 record against both Texas-Dallas and Howard Payne after facing both squads on their home field during their 2019 campaign.
LETU enters Thursday’s game with a school-record 23 wins after going 23-15 in the regular-season which included an 18-12 mark in conference play. On a neutral field, LeTourneau has played just two games and split a non-conference doubleheader to Transylvania University in Seguin, Texas back on March 10.
The survivor of Thursday’s single-elimination portion of the tournament will advance to the double-elimination part of the bracket and will face the second-seeded University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 3. UMHB enters the weekend with a first-round bye following a 26-14 overall record on the season and 21-6 mark in conference action.
Parking will be available on a first come, first serve basis in the softball parking lot with additional parking being available across from Taylor Field in the football parking lot. Ticket prices for the tournament are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students with a college ID with children ages five and under admitted for free. Please note the admission table is cash only and that the prices are for each day of the tournament meaning that a one-day pass will be suitable for all games that take place for the day.
LeTourneau Baseball Opens ASC Tournament On Thursday At Howard Payne.
LONGVIEW, Texas – Finding their way into the American Southwest Conference Baseball Tournament for the second consecutive season, the LeTourneau University baseball team will travel to regular-season champion Howard Payne to face off in a battle of the YellowJackets at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2.
LETU clinched a berth into the conference postseason tournament following a 6-3 win over the University of Texas-Dallas last Saturday as the YellowJackets enter as the number-eight seed and will play in the second game of the day in the “Blue Bracket” on Thursday. The opening match of the day on Thursday will take place at 11:00 a.m. and will feature fourth-seeded Louisiana College taking on fifth-seeded Texas-Dallas.
LeTourneau is 21-19 overall on the season and has faced off against all three teams also appearing in the “Blue Bracket” with all nine games against the teams coming in Longview. LETU is the only team in conference play to have beaten HPU multiple times, with both games coming in walk-off fashion after taking extra-innings to determine a winner. This season marks the fifth-all-time appearance for LeTourneau in the ASC Tournament, with all five appearances coming since 2014. LETU has won the ASC Tournament one time, with the tournament title coming in their inaugural appearance in 2014 as the YellowJackets boast an 8-7 overall record in the ASC Tournament.
Friday’s action will see the two losing teams from Thursday face off in an elimination game at 10 a.m. while the two winners will meet at 1:00 p.m. for a chance to advance to Saturday’s bracket championship round. A second elimination game will take place on Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. and will feature the two remaining teams with one loss each for a chance to advance to play against the remaining undefeated team on Saturday. Last season, LETU battled their way through the loser’s bracket to knock off site host Sul Ross State and then come back to defeat Hardin-Simmons University in extra-innings to advance to the tournament championship day. Both of LeTourneau’s ASC Tournament losses last season came to the University of Texas-Dallas as the Comets would go on to advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Matt Kinney
Sports Information Director
Office: 903-233-3735
Cell: 903-736-7669
MattKinney@letu.edu
www.letuathletics.com