Spring sports are in full swing and a number of local graduates are featuring for their teams at the college level, including two Lakeside graduates at the state's two largest universities.
LAKESIDE
Tatum Rice
The Arkansas Razorbacks' women's tennis team is slumping through the month of March, but 2017 Lakeside graduate Tatum Rice and her doubles partner, junior Ana Oparenovic, are storming through the spring season as the team's most dominant pairing.
Arkansas (5-9, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) was 5-4 and 1-0 in the SEC after a 4-1 victory at Missouri on March 2. The Razorbacks have since lost four in a row to conference opponents.
A comeback bid in singles play came up short Saturday as Texas A&M (12-4, 3-3) held off the Razorbacks, 4-2, at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center. Arkansas claimed the doubles point, as usual, before the Aggies picked up four singles points.
"You've got to give both teams so much credit for their performances out here today," said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty. "The match came down to a few points, and I was so impressed with the hunger and fight we displayed from start to finish."
Rice and Oparenovic won, 6-4, at No. 1 doubles to improve to 11-1 in the spring and 3-1 in conference play. They were ranked No. 30 in Division I by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in the last rankings released on March 6.
Rice's sister, Thea Rice, will join the team next year after signing with Arkansas in November.
Luke Lefler
Hendrix College's men's tennis team is in the middle of an extended break. The Warriors dropped to 0-5 on March 2 with a 7-2 loss to Blue Mountain College, but Lakeside graduate Luke Lefler picked up a come-from-behind win in the No. 3 spot in singles for one of the team's two points.
Lefler is now in his junior season with the Warriors.
Hendrix's next match is March 30.
Bo Ritter
Lakeside alum Bo Ritter had five appearances and a 2.63 ERA, second-best for the Arkansas State Red Wolves (8-9, 0-3 Sun Belt Conference), before a road game against the Missouri Tigers (16-5) Wednesday.
The senior pitched a scoreless inning for the Red Wolves in the first game of the midweek series on Tuesday. He pitched four scoreless innings in his last outing, a 3-1 home loss to Coastal Carolina (16-7, 3-0) on March 16.
Ritter gave up three earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in his first appearance this season and has since given up only one run in 11 innings of relief.
The Red Wolves will head to Louisiana-Monroe (11-8, 1-2) for a conference series this weekend.
Race Tittle
Race Tittle, a 2017 graduate, is a freshman for the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (6-10, 3-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference).
Pine Bluff will be on the road this weekend for a SWAC series in Houston with Texas Southern (7-13, 4-1).
Erick Aguirre, Brandon Hall
Lakeside graduate Brandon Hall is listed as a sophomore first baseman and third baseman on Arkansas Baptist College's baseball roster. Fellow Lakeside alum Erick Aguirre is listed as a freshman catcher.
The Buffaloes are currently 1-17.
Hall and Aguirre are both listed with batting averages of .111, according to stats reported to the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Arkansas Baptist is scheduled to play at Connors State today.
Carter West
North Arkansas College was 8-18 heading into Wednesday's home game against State Fair Community College from Missouri. Lakeside graduate Carter West is a freshman first baseman and third baseman for the Pioneers.
West is batting .306 with four home runs, three doubles, 24 RBIs, 10 runs, an on-base percentage of .394 and a slugging percentage of .548 in 23 games this season.
Logan DeRosier, John Youngblood
Henderson State (16-10, 11-4 Great American Conference) has a weekend series starting Friday at league-leading Arkansas-Monticello (17-7, 12-3) after a midweek 7-1 loss to Mississippi College (18-4).
Henderson senior Logan DeRosier, a Lakeside graduate and a transfer from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, pitched an inning of scoreless relief Tuesday in his first appearance in a month to improve his ERA to 15.75.
Redshirt freshman Jon Youngblood has not appeared this season for the Reddies.
Tucker Pratt
Lakeside alum Tucker Pratt ran with Hendrix teammates Levi Jones, Avery Gauthier, and Michael Spainhour at Central Arkansas to place fourth on March 10 in the UCA Relays in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 42.68 seconds.
Pratt is a junior on the roster and competes in sprint events.
Hendrix is scheduled to compete in the Dan Veach Invitational at Southern Arkansas in Magnolia on March 30.
Cameron McRae
Lakeside alum Cameron McRae shot a 1-under-par 71 on March 13 in the second round of the Dave Falconer Classic at Chamberlyne Country Club to finish in a tie for 11th place overall.
McRae competed as an individual for Henderson State. He lettered last season for the Reddies after transferring from Arkansas State, where he competed in eight tournaments as a freshman.
Henderson competed in Central Oklahoma's Broncho Invitational Monday and Tuesday. The Reddies will host the HSU Invitational on April 2-3 at Big Creek Golf Course & Country Club in Mountain Home.
Kirsten Garner
The Arkansas State women's golf team placed ninth in the Texas State Invitational in February, third in the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational in Arizona a month ago and tied for seventh place in the Spring Break Shootout in Florida March 11-13.
Lakeside alum Kirsten Garner is listed as a senior on the roster, but has not competed for the team this semester.
The Red Wolves are scheduled to co-host the A-State/Little Rock Invitational Monday and Tuesday in Maumelle.
Natalie Renaud
Southern Arkansas senior Natalie Renaud shot rounds of 88 and 81 in the Diffee Ford Lincoln Invitational tournament hosted by Southern Nazarene earlier this month in Oklahoma.
Renaud's average of 84.5 was second-best on the team.
Up next for Southern Arkansas is the HSU Invitational on April 2-3 at Big Creek Golf Course & Country Club in Mountain Home.
LAKE HAMILTON
Zach Muldoon, Ryan Sinclair
The Southern Arkansas baseball team (16-8, 10-5 Great American Conference) will be at home this weekend to face Northwestern Oklahoma State (13-14, 7-8) for a conference series at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
Redshirt sophomore Zach Muldoon, of Lake Hamilton, has started 14 games at catcher and has played in 16 overall. He ranks third on the team with a .282 batting average on 11 hits. He has one double, one home run and eight RBIs.
A dozen walks gives Muldoon the team's best on-base percentage at .451. He currently has a fielding percentage of .993.
Lake Hamilton alum Ryan Sinclair is listed on the roster as a redshirt freshman pitcher.
Korey Wasson
Lake Hamilton graduate Korey Wasson has a 3.38 ERA in 2 2/3 innings pitched in three appearances for the Arkansas State Red Wolves (8-9, 0-3 Sun Belt Conference).
Wasson is a true freshman at Arkansas State after competing in multiple sports for multiple high schools in Garland County.
The Red Wolves will head to Louisiana-Monroe (11-8, 1-2) for a conference series this weekend.
Nathan Sawrie
Arkansas-Pine Bluff senior Nathan Sawrie pitched one inning and gave up one run in a 7-1 loss to TCU (11-7) Tuesday at Charlie and Marie Lupton Baseball Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.
Sawrie currently has an 8.83 ERA in 19 innings pitched in seven appearances for the Golden Lions (6-10, 3-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) in his final year of eligibility.
Pine Bluff will be on the road this weekend for a SWAC series in Houston with Texas Southern (7-13, 4-1).
Zach Ross
Arkansas-Fort Smith is 14-6 after taking three of four games with Oklahoma Christian (9-9) on Friday and Saturday.
The Lions will have another four-game series this weekend with Texas A&M International (8-13) in Laredo, Texas.
Lake Hamilton graduate Zach Ross is listed as a freshman pitcher on the roster.
Jacob Crumpler
Ouachita Baptist's baseball team improved to 10-17 overall and 6-9 in Great American Conference play with two wins in last weekend's series against East Central (2-22, 1-14).
A non-conference game against Lyon College in Batesville was canceled on Tuesday. The Tigers will be on the road Friday and Saturday for three games against Southeastern Oklahoma State (11-16, 6-9).
Lake Hamilton alum Jacob Crumpler is listed as a sophomore outfielder on the roster.
Elijah Ballard
Hendrix College's men's tennis team is in the middle of an extended break. The Warriors dropped to 0-5 on March 2 with a 7-2 loss to Blue Mountain College
The team's next match is March 30.
Lake Hamilton alum Elijah Ballard is listed as a junior on the team's roster.
Spencer Turner
University of the Ozarks senior Spencer Turner, of Lake Hamilton, is 6-2 in singles play for the Eagles (4-7). He picked up a doubles victory with teammate Melle Van Duijn on March 9 in a 5-4 loss to Texas Wesleyan. He also won the No. 3 singles match 6-1, 7-6 over Mace Brasher.
The Eagles will return to the court on March 30 for a road match at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The team's first American Southwest Conference match will follow on April 6 at Texas-Tyler.
Kami Ward
Arkansas Tech sophomore Kami Ward, of Lake Hamilton, and her doubles partner, junior Katharina Drebka, a native of Germany, lost their doubles match 8-5 in the No. 1 spot against West Alabama (7-3) on Tuesday in Pensacola, Fla. Ward also fell 6-1, 6-7, 10-3 in No. 4 singles.
The Golden Suns (7-2, 1-0 Great American Conference) will have another match in Pensacola today against West Florida (15-0).
Ward is currently 9-5 overall and 1-0 conference play. She won in her only match at No. 2 singles and is 4-2 at No. 4.
Drebka and Ward were 5-0 together before Tuesday's match. Drebka is the team's No. 1 singles player.
The Golden Suns will return to GAC play Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia.
Hunter Tucker
Little Rock freshman Hunter Tucker, a middle distance runner from Lake Hamilton, posted his best time of 2:02.09 in the 800-meter run during the indoor season at the A-State Invitational in January at Arkansas State in Jonesboro.
His best time in the mile, 4:32.74, during the indoor season was on Feb. 4 at the South Alabama Jaguar Invitational.
Tucker ran a time of 2:00.81 in the 800-meter on Saturday in Little Rock's first meet of the outdoor season, the Rhodes Invitational in Memphis, Tenn.
The Trojans will next run in the Victor Lopez Classic Friday and Saturday at Rice in Houston.
Bror Thirion
Central Arkansas senior Bror Thirion, of Lake Hamilton, ran a time of 2:01.39 last weekend as the Bears kicked off their outdoor track and field season at the Rhodes Invitational in Memphis, Tenn.
His best time of 1:57.25 in the 800 was also in the Rhodes Invitational in 2015.
The Bears will compete this weekend at North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla.
Madison Shinn
Southern Arkansas freshman pole vaulter Madison Shin recorded a personal best on Friday at the Louisiana Classics hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette.
Shinn bettered her previous personal best by an inch as she logged an eighth-place showing among a heavy Division I field with a final mark of 11 3-4.
Southern Arkansas will compete Saturday in Search at the Harding Invitational.
Nick Johnson
South Dakota sophomore Nick Johnson placed 11th Saturday in the pole vault event at 5.05 meters (16-6.75 feet) in Arizona State's Baldy Castillo Invitational in Tempe.
Johnson's height of 4.60 meters (15-1 feet) was good for ninth place in the Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships last month in Fargo, N.D.
His best college finish was at Minnesota's Jack Johnson Indoor Classic a year ago when he posted a second-place height of 5.25 meters (17-2.75 feet).
South Dakota will compete Wednesday in the 91st Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin.
HOT SPRINGS
Katie Welch
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts graduate Katie Welch's fifth place finish in the women's pole vault at 3.05 (10-0 feet) was the best result of the day Saturday for Hendrix at the Rhodes Invitational in Memphis, Tenn. She also competed in the 4x100-meter relay, 100-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash.
Hendrix is next scheduled to compete in the Dan Veach Invitational at Southern Arkansas in Magnolia on March 30.
FOUNTAIN LAKE
Dilan Holcomb
Arkansas State's rugby club improved its record to 3-4 this spring with a 57-21 victory over Clemson Saturday at Curt Huckaby Field in Jonesboro.
The convincing victory broke a two-game losing streak for the Red Wolves, who suffered losses of 36-32 and 54-3 to rugby powers Lindenwood and Life the previous two Saturdays.
Arkansas State won 14-10 at Clemson in South Carolina on Feb. 17. The club's other win this season came in the opening match, 30-10, over Iowa Central Community College.
Dilan Holcomb is listed as a front wing on the team's roster.
The Red Wolves will host Davenport at 1 p.m. on Saturday to close out a three-game home stand. Arkansas State knocked off the Panthers, 44-29, on the road in November in a matchup that counts as a Mid-South Conference game for both teams.
JESSIEVILLE
Nick Marshall
Arkansas State's rugby club improved its record to 3-4 this spring with a 57-21 victory over Clemson Saturday at Curt Huckaby Field in Jonesboro.
The convincing victory broke a two-game losing streak for the Red Wolves, who suffered losses of 36-32 and 54-3 to rugby powers Lindenwood and Life the previous two Saturdays.
Arkansas State won 14-10 at Clemson in South Carolina on Feb. 17. The club's other win this season came in the opening match, 30-10, over Iowa Central Community College.
Nick Marshall is listed at second row on the team's roster.
The Red Wolves will host Davenport at 1 p.m. on Saturday to close out a three-game home stand. Arkansas State knocked off the Panthers, 44-29, on the road in November in a matchup that counts as a Mid-South Conference game for both teams.
Dylan Anderson
Jessieville alum Dylan Anderson is listed with a 19.73 ERA in 8.2 innings pitched across five appearances for the Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes (1-17) as a freshman, according to statistics reported to the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Arkansas Baptist is scheduled to play Connors State today.
Kaleb Moody
North Arkansas College was 8-18 heading into Wednesday's home game against State Fair Community College from Missouri.
Kaleb Moody, of Jessieville, is listed as a freshman catcher on the team's roster.
The Pioneers are scheduled to travel to Missouri Saturday for a doubleheader with Mineral Area College in Park Hills.
Mary Carter
Southern Arkansas is currently atop the Great American Conference softball standings with a 25-3 record overall and 14-2 in GAC play.
The team will travel to Alva, Okla., this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders with Northwestern Oklahoma State (7-15, 6-10).
Jessieville graduate Mary Carter is listed as a freshman pitcher and utility player on the team's roster.
CUTTER MORNING STAR
Neriah Brown
Southern Arkansas' men's golf team placed 15th out of 15 teams Monday and Tuesday in Central Oklahoma's Broncho Invitational Monday and Tuesday.
Senior Neriah Brown, a graduate of Cutter Morning Star, did not compete with the team.
The Reddies will host the HSU Invitational on April 2-3 at Big Creek Golf Course & Country Club in Mountain Home.
Sam Byrd
The Hendrix College men's track and field team has a two-week break after Saturday's Rhodes Invitational in Memphis, Tenn.
The Warriors will next compete in the Dan Veach Invitational at Southern Arkansas in Magnolia on March 30.
Sam Byrd, a graduate of Cutter Morning Star, is listed as a junior middle distance runner on the roster.
BISMARCK
Cole McSwain
The Lyon College baseball team improved to 20-7 Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep of Drury (8-13). The Scots are 11-2 in American Midwest Conference play.
Bismarck alum Cole McSwain is listed as a sophomore pitcher on the team's roster.
Lyon will next face Lindenwood-Belleville for a three-game conference series on Friday and Saturday.
CENTERPOINT
Emmery Boyd
Henderson State's softball state (15-12, 7-9 Great American Conference) dropped three of four games to Southeastern Oklahoma State (18-11, 12-4) last weekend.
The Reddies is scheduled to host East Central (13-13, 8-8) for two doubleheaders at Dee White Field on Friday and Saturday.
Emmery Boyd, a graduate of Centerpoint, is listed as a freshman utility player on the team's roster.
MAGNET COVE
Peyton Penny
Magnet Cove alum Peyton Penny is a sophomore on the Hendrix College women's golf team.
The team is next scheduled to compete in the Southern Athletic Association's conference tournament April 20-22 in Dickson, Tenn.
Conner Wells
The Southern Arkansas baseball team (16-8, 10-5 Great American Conference) will be at home this weekend to face Northwestern Oklahoma State (13-14, 7-8) for a conference series at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
The Muleriders took two of three last weekend on the road at Southwestern Oklahoma State (16-11, 10-5).
Junior Conner Wells, a graduate of Magnet Cove and a transfer from Central Arkansas, gave up on unearned run in a 20-6 non-conference loss to Henderson State (16-10, 11-4) in his only appearance of the season.
MALVERN
Marc Davis, Matt Davis
Matt Davis and Marc Davis, both of Malvern, shot a +18 to tie for 27th and a +21 to tie for 33rd Monday and Tuesday for Central Baptist College's B team in the CBC Invitational at the Country Club of Arkansas in Maumelle.
Davis and Davis are the only two seniors on the roster.
Trace Collie
The Southern Arkansas baseball team (16-8, 10-5 Great American Conference) will be at home this weekend to face Northwestern Oklahoma State (13-14, 7-8) for a conference series at Walker Stadium at Goodheart Field.
The Muleriders took two of three last weekend on the road at Southwestern Oklahoma State (16-11, 10-5).
Redshirt freshman infielder Trace Collie is 0-1 in his only at-bat this season.
Sports on 03/22/2018