Thursday, April 30, 2009

Five Things to Watch for at This Weekend's Atlantic 10 Championships


This weekend could be huge for the Niner tracksters as the squad hosts the 2009 Atlantic 10 Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Belk Track and Field Facility. Here is a list of five things to look for on Saturday and Sunday.


1. In the history of the Atlantic 10 there has never been an individual athlete win four straight individual titles in the same event. In a conference that has seen the likes of the Penn State and West Virginia, you would think someone has made a career sweep in an event, but no one finished the task. Watch for Charlotte All-American long jumper Pat Springs to set A-10 history this weekend in the long jump. Springs, the three-time defending long jump champ, comes into the meet with a seven plus inch lead over Temple's Brittany Clybourn.


2. Eight straight championships. Many teams have won three straight titles (think Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan or the new millenium Lakers with Kobe and Shaq), but only one major sports team has ever won eight straight titles (Boston Celtics: 1959-66). Even those ridiculous UCLA teams under John Wooden couldn't get past seven in a row, which the Niner women have already matched. Charlotte's women's squad will be searching for an unprecendented eighth straight title overall and fourth straight outdoor title. Imagine a class going through their entire 49ers career winning every conference championship possible, it could happen this weekend.


3. Performer of the Year defense. Sophomore Darius Law has taken the conference by storm. At Rhode Island last season, Law took home a rare double by earning Rookie of the Year and Performer of the Year honors at the 2008 Outdoor Championships. If you need a frame of reference here, just think Ichiro, Wilt the Stilt or Earl Campbell.


4. Multi-event winners. Charlotte could boast as many as five multi-event winners if things go as planned. First, on the men's side, Darius Law could pull the double in the 200m and 400m dash events, while Jake Deaton/Jason Roberts could possibly pull in victories in the discus and shot put if they have sensational weekends. On the women's side, Aja Jackson and Lamarra Currie could win two events a piece. Jackson could be victorious in the 800 and 1500m runs, while Currie should win the 100m and 200m dash events. Finally, Pat Springs could pull the Jackie Joyner Kersee by pulling off a win in both the sprint and field events. Springs is of course the favorite in the long jump, but could look to defend her 100m hurdles title as well. And yes, we know the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th century combined heptathlon and long jump, but close enough.


5. Twelve-time A-10 Coach of the Year. Where would he possibly put them all? If you want to know, just ask Niner mentor Bob Olesen. Olesen has already raked in 10, yes 10, A-10 Coach of the Year awards. Some coaches just dream of getting one, but Olesen has one, with a zero after it! If the Niners sweep this weekend, Olesen could make it an even dozen Coach of the Year awards. Does anyone has an oversized egg carton for this guy?


Action starts on Saturday with the heptathlon and decathlon at 9:00 a.m. and wraps up with the award ceremony on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. To watch the action live click the following links: Day One

Sunday, April 26, 2009

A-10 Men's Golf

Corey Nagy, Stefan Wiedergruen and Paul Ferrier are 1-2-3 in the A-10 golf individual standings entering Sunday's final round. If one of them emerges as conference medalist, he would become the fourth 49er in school history to win a conference tournament. Matt Mincer won the A-10 individual title in 2007, Russell Killough won C-USA in 2002 and David Winesette won Metro Conference title in 1992.

The 49ers have not had a 1-2-3 sweep before but they have taken the top two spots once before: 2007 - Mincer (1st), Andrew DiBitetto (2nd). Charlotte has had at least three players finish in the top five in each of the last three years:

2008: Nagy (2nd), Jonas Enander Hedin (3rd), Stefan Wiedergruen (T5th)
2007: Mincer (1st), DiBitetto (2nd), Nagy (5th)
2006: Ray Sheedy (3rd), Mincer (4th), DiBitetto (T5th), Jonas Enander Hedin (T5th)

In 2006, the 49ers landed all five golfers in the A-10's top 10: Sheedy (3rd), Mincer (4th), DiBitetto (T5th), Enander Hedin (T5th) and Trevor Murphy (9th). In 2007 four 49ers placed in the top 10 (Mincer, DiBitetto, Nagy and Jonas Enander Hedin, 9th).

Freshman Tyler Mitchell is currently tied for 6th, giving the 49ers a chance to match 2006 with four players in the top 5.

Live scoring at www.golfstat.com.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

A-10 Tennis - Charlotte Defeats SJU, 4-0

Senior Ricky Cuellar came back from a one-set deficit to win at #5 singles and #6 single Chris Huynh clinched the match as Charlotte advanced to the 5th-place match (Sunday at 8:00 vs. Temple or Duquesne) with a 4-0 victory over Saint Joseph's. Charlotte won the doubles point and freshman Anthony Davison won his match at #3 singles.

A-10 Men's Tennis

The 49ers have two matches left in the consolation bracket. A win in the 11:00 a.m. match vs. #8 seed Saint Joseph's will land the 5th-seeded 49ers in the 5th-place match -- pretty good for a lineup that includes a total of six freshmen and sophomores.

Doubles play is currently underway with four sophomores on the court: the #1 doubles pair of top single Moritz Bernhoerster and Jeff Archer, #2 doubles player Chris Huynh and #3 doubles player Michael Anders, the 49ers #2 single. Freshmen Anthony Davidson (#3) and Charles Martin Lecamp (#4) will get into the action in singles play.

The 49ers have posted the win at #1 doubles and are leading, 7-2, at #3 in hopes of grabbing the doubles point.

Friday, April 24, 2009

A-10 Men's Tennis

The 49ers dropped their second round match to #4 seed St. Bonaventure, 4-1. The 49ers lost the doubles point and after a straight set win by Moritz Bernhoerster evened the match at 1-1, the Bonnies defeated Michael Anders at #2, Anthony Davison at #3 and Chris Huynh at #6.

Charlotte will play Saint Joseph's at 11:00 a.m. in the consolation bracket, Saturday morning.

A-10 Men's Golf

Stefan Wiedergruen shot 3-under par to lead the 49ers to a 12-stroke lead after the first round of the A-10 Championships. The 3-time defending champs finished the first round at 2-under par, 282 while Temple and Xavier are tied for 2nd at +10, 294.

Wiedergruen leads the tournament at -3, 69 while freshman Paul Ferrier and Corey Nagy are tied for 4th at even par. All five of Charlotte's golfers finished round one in the top 10.

A-10 Men's Tennis: First Round

The #5 seed 49ers made short work of their first round match with #12 seed Fordham, winning 4-0. The match lasted less than an hour and half ... important in that the 49ers will play again today at 2:00 p.m. against #4 seed St. Bonaventure. In singles play, Brad Clinard posted a 6-2; 6-2 win at #6, Anthony Davison won 6-2; 6-0 at #3 and Charles Martin-LeCamp clinched the match with a 6-3; 6-0 win at #4. The 49ers were leading in each of the other three singles matches as well, with wins in the first set of each. Charlotte won the doubles point with wins at #2 and #3 doubles.

A-10 Men's Tennis Championships

Charlotte was up early for its 8:00 a.m. first round match with Fordham. The 5th-seeded 49ers won the doubles point in quick fashion against the #12-seeded Rams and are now preparing for the singles matches. The Niners singles lineup has Moritz Bernhoerster at #1, Mike Anders at #2, Anthony Davison at #3, Charles Martin-Lecamp at #4, Ricky Cuellar at #5 and Brad Clinard at #6.

Clinard and Chris Huynh won their #2 doubles match, 8-1 while the #3 doubles pairing of Mirza Beciragic and Anders won, 8-0.

The Championship are held at Club 4 Life, an indoor facility in Monroeville, Pa., just south of Pittsburgh. Good to be indoors today with thunderstorms in the area. No threat for delays on a busy first day. If the 49ers win they will play again at approx. 2:00 this afternoon against #4 seed St. Bonaventure, which received a first round bye. Matches are scheduled today at 8:00, 11:00, 2:00 and 5:00.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Beyond the Diamond: On the Road with Niner Baseball



49er Baseball Coach Loren Hibbs opened the dugout and gave charlotte49ers.com an exclusive look into what goes on before, during and after a traditional day road game when the Niners battled USC Upstate Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Jeffery Featured in Charlotte Observer


In the midst of a career year, junior hurler Emily Jeffery finds herself being the focus of media attention in the Charlotte area as she was the focus of a feature story in Tuesday's edition of the Charlotte Observer. To read the feature story about Emily, click here.
Photo courtesy of the Charlotte Observer.

Maine Hurls on Primetime: ESPN (8:15 EST)


Former 49er and CUSA Pitcher of the Year John Maine will throw tonight vs. St. Louis on ESPN!


Maine is currently (0-1) on the year with a 7.20 ERA. He looks to lower that tonight, his counterpart Joel Pineiro (2-0, 5.40 ERA).


According to ESPN...

Maine, who failed to get a decision in his season debut against Florida on April 10, has received just four runs of support so far. That's not been the case when he faces St. Louis -- in three career starts, Maine is 2-1 with a 5.63 ERA and 16 runs of support.


John has plenty of history vs. the Cards. What Niner fan can forget watching him take the hill in the 2006 NLCS as a rookie and picking up the win in a 'must win' game 6 for the Metropolitans.


Set your TIVO, DVR, VCR (anyone still use those things?) or just watch live!


Saturday, April 18, 2009

Rumbles Blast Leads Niners To Come-From-Behind Victory in Game Two


Senior left fielder Jenny Rumbles smashed her first career homerun to catapult the Charlotte 49ers softball team to victory in game two of today's doubleheader at Saint Bonaventure. Charlotte fell behind by a 4-0 margin early before clawing its way back into the contest with a trio of two-run tallies in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to sweep the Bonnies in A-10 action. Game one winner Emily Jeffery was victorious in relief, picking up her 19th win of the year.

Tracksters Turn In Multiple Season Bests

It's mid-day in the Yellowhammer State and the Niners are besting previous season-best times in what has turned out to be a strong day thus far at the War Eagle Invitational. This morning's two-hour drive doesn't seem like it has effected the Niners much, as the sprinters continue to take out many of their own top conference times. In the sprint event prelims, Sunita Brathwaite's 13.94 second performance paced the way as the hurdler was the sixth-best short hurdler after the prelims. Both 4x100 meter relay squads bested their season-best times with the women's team turning in a 45.49 second finish and the men's team finishing in a time of 41.16 seconds. In the steeplechase, Jordan Rickard placed second, by crossing the line in a time of 9:32.57. In the men's field events, Jason Roberts turned in a five-plus foot PR with a 161'6" toss to finish eighth in the event. Mike Moore blew away his personal-best in the javelin with a 194'10" throw. Moore's throw bested his former top time by over four feet. More updates will come in when the sprint event finals take place.

Jeffery Sets Single Game Strikeouts Record


Junior hurler Emily Jeffery broke her own single-game strikeout record when she recorded her 15th strikeout of the day in the seventh inning of Charlotte's 2-1 victory at Saint Bonaventure. Jeffery has matched her previous record of 14 during her last four outings, but finally was able to get over the top in today's win. Jeffery allowed the lone run off of a solo homer in the fifth and scattered three hits on the afternoon. Game two of the doubleheader will begin at approximately 2:00 p.m.

Day Two With Track at Auburn

We finally made it back to Auburn after spending the night in Atlanta. Auburn is extra busy today with their Spring Game, I guess that gives the Niners a quick glimpse at what's just a few years down the road for the Charlotte athletic department. More updates will come throughout the day as the 49ers get fired up for their final meet before the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championships in the Queen City.

Niners Turn In Hot Times On Crazy Day

Wow!! What a day. On their final weekend of competition before the Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championships, the Charlotte 49ers track and field team had some exceptional performances from the distance squad at Princeton, while the rest of the Niners put in a lot of distance on a trip to "Auburn." Charlotte got things started in the steeplechase with a pair of personal-best performances in the event on both the men's and women's side. Keara Thomas turned in a regional qualifying performance in the women's steeplechase by posting a 15 second PR with a time of 10:39.47, while male counterpart Dakota Lowery posted an 11 second PR with a 9:14.39 second finish. Thomas' finish was second on the all-time list, while Lowery's time is good enough for second all-time. Junior Aaron Kauffman turned in a personal-best finish in the 800m run with a time of 1:52.66. Senior Stephanie Snyder turned in a career best in the 5,000m run with a 17:21.09, which puts Snyder in eighth place on the all-time Niner list. Senior Erin Macauley turned in a season-best time in the steeplechase with a time of 11:09.33. Finally, Aja Jackson was victorious in her heat of the 1500m run with a 4:28.52 second performance, which was a season-best for the Queen City native. For the rest of the Niners, what was going to be a regular day of travel and relaxation, turned into a 13 hour day on the road. Just a side note: There is no Country Inns and Suites off of Exit 62 on I-85 outside of Auburn, we will just let it go at that. Following an hour and a half trip back to Atlanta, the Niners hit the hay at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday morning as they looked to pick up much needed rest for the final meet before the conference championships. Come back to Touch of Green for up to the minute results when the Niners arrive at Auburn tomorrow.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Charlotte Athletics Now on Twitter!



It's the cool thing to do, right?

Everyone is tweeting (or is it twittering?) anyway you slice it Charlotte Athletics is now on Twitter.

To follow us just click the link...
http://twitter.com/charlotte49ers

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

This Day in Niner History...No-No was thrown!


So the baseball team is about to load the bus and make the hour and a half trip up Interstate 85 to Winston-Salem and battle Wake Forest in a midweek non conference matchup.

The diamond Niners fell to the Deacs earlier in the season (15-7) at home. They try for redemption today in the rematch.

But anyhow, time for the true reason of the post...

On April 14, 1987 Ronnie Honeycutt took the bump for Charlotte and tossed a no hitter vs UNC-Asheville.

It was the last no-hitter thrown in Charlotte history.

Keith Moreland takes the hill today for the Niners and more than likely will not throw a no hitter (in 4years he hasn't thrown 1 complete game), but today we can look back and admire the perfection of Honeycutt 22 years ago...

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Brooks Sets Career RBI Mark


With her two RBI single in the top of the first in game two of today's doubleheader, senior Cee Brooks drove in her 108th career run to set the career RBI mark. Brooks has 14 RBI on the season. Charlotte leads game two of the twinbill by a 4-1 score in the top of the fourth.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Jeffery Sets Single Season Strikeouts Record; Malene Ties Stolen Bases Mark

Junior Emily Jeffery struck out her 12th batter of the day and 177th batter of the year to set the single season strikeouts record. The game is in the top of the sixth, more updates to come. Second baseman Sarah Malene tied the single season stolen bases record with her 30th swiped bag of the season in game one against Elon.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Mills starts season with Portland Sea Dogs


Spring training is over (thank goodness) and opening day has come and gone. Former Niner hurler Adam Mills will not be a part of the festivities today in Boston with the Red Sox (at least not in 2009), Mills was designated to Double-A Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League. He had a brief stint with the dogs last season.

'07 A-10 Pitcher of the Year/1st Team All-American will be the dog's #2 starter behind Junichi Tazawa. Their season starts Thursday April 9 against the Connecticut Defenders.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Malene Snaps Career Stolen Bases Record


After second baseman Sarah Malene tied the all-time career stolen bases mark in the top of the first in game one, fan would have to wait until the top of the first in the second game for the Woodbridge, Va. native to put herself in sole possession of the career stolen bases mark. Malene's stolen base in the top of the first in Charlotte's game two victory over La Salle gave the senior her 78th career swiped bag. The former standard had stood for 16 plus years until Malene eclipsed it on Saturday in Philadelphia. Malene now owns the career and single season runs records to go along with the stolen bases mark.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Coley in Sportscenter Top 10 Plays/Dunk Contest Highlight Vid

Oh what a night it was! Congrats Charlie, you put on quite a show and garnered a lot of buzz on message boards/sports sites across the country. I'm sad today not because he lost, but because I have most likely seen my last CC3 dunk in a Niner uniform.



Thursday, April 2, 2009

ESPN Slam Dunk Preview

The college slam dunk contest is just hours away. 8 men will soar gracefully through the air with sphere in hand only to ruthlessly jam it through the cylinder in front a the motor city crowd in Detroit.

Something of note...The judges are Cheryl Ford, Desmond Howard, Calvin Johnson, Braylon Edwards and Jalen Rose. Maybe after a Coley slam he turns to Desmond and strikes the Heisman with the basketball?

So, with that said why not dish out a little preview? I've scanned youtube in search of contestant highlights and this is what I found...and no I was not surfing youtube during work hours ;)

Wesley Matthews

The 'JR Rider'. Impressive!

Jermaine Taylor

Check out 1:31...Not a great contest dunk, but there is something about jamming it right over somebody! Couple of nice alley-oops, he wont have his teammates in detroit though.

Tony Danridge

EDIT: After further investigation, Giddens completed last year and did not make the finals. This vid is from last years basketball madness.
You can argue both Danridge and Giddens should be in the contest! The Giddens between the legs is cleaner than Wesley Matthews above. Looked to be a good battle at Madness.

Terry Evans

Likes to slam it with two hands and hand on the rim. Versatile dunker with power and finess.

Jeremy Pargo

I've watch this vid 20 times now, only to hear Kevin Harlen "UP HIGH, DOWN HARD!" haha love it! But seriously, Pargo is the shortest guy in the competition. Normally they get a lot of love,(ie Nate Robinson stealing the slam dunk crown from Howard this year).

Charlie Coley

The windmill 360 with grace and determination. If he pulls that out tonight, in the words of Mike Goldberg from the UFC, "It's all over!"

I know where I will be tonight at 9pm. Sitting in front of a television glued to every second.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Maine gets first win in Spring Training for Mets


Former 49er and CUSA Pitcher of the Year, now New York Met, John Maine battled for his first win of Spring Training Tuesday afternoon against the Marlins (9-2)in his final start before heading to the show.

Maine's line..
5.2IP, 6H, 2R/ER, 1BB, 3K, 1HR (yielded to Marlins Cody Ross)
But forget about his work on the bump. Maine helped his own cause at the plate drawing a walk and pushing a run across in the victory. Maine's career stats at the plate...(.093BA, 12H, 6RBI) so I'm trying to not get too excited...

Maine has admitted struggling with mechanics this spring.

"I'm just in the process of working out things," said Maine (in a recent interview with Alden Gonzalez of mlb.com), who finished 10-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 25 starts in 2008. "I'm trying to fix things and get back on the right path. I think the last two starts, it's just gotten better and better. And it's a good time, leading up to the season.
"I still think I'm a couple miles per hour off on my fastball, but that will come just in long toss and things in the bullpen. I feel comfortable right now, and one more outing and I'll be good to go."


Maine is slated to open the season at the 4 spot in the rotation for the Mets behind Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez. His first start will come @ Dolphin Stadium vs. the Marlins on April 11.
...Updates on other Niners in the pros coming soon...