LITTLE ROCK — FOOTBALL
North Alabama picked to repeat in GSC
North Alabama was the overwhelming favorite to repeat as Gulf South Conference champion by the league’s coaches after finishing 7-1 in conference play last season. The Lions earned 97 points with 8 of 11 first-place votes to top West Alabama (84 points, two first-place votes).
Valdosta State (81 points) was picked third and received one first-place vote, while Delta State and Arkansas Tech rounded out the top five. Ouachita Baptist was picked sixth, Henderson State was seventh, Arkansas-Monticello was eighth, Southern Arkansas ninth and Harding 10th. West Georgia was picked to finish last.
UCA’s Carter named to All-America team
Central Arkansas defensive end Markell Carter was named to The Sports Network Preseason All-America team Monday.
Carter, 6-4, 248 pounds, of Bartlesville, Okla., was named a second-team All-American. He was a second-team All-Southland Conference performer last season, finishing with 11 1 /2 tackles for loss and 6 1 /2 sacks. He recorded 47 total tackles and recovered two fumbles.
North Pulaski wants to elevate assistant
North Pulaski plans to promote assistant Terrod Hatcher to head coach, said Tony Bohannon, the school’s athletic director.
Pending board approval, Hatcher will replace Rick Russell, who left after one season to become head coach at Jacksonville.
- Robert YatesGOLF
Two UCA assistants moving on
Central Arkansas’ golf teams lost two assistant coaches to major conference schools this week.
Assistant coach Jack O’Keefe is headed to the SEC as an assistant at Ole Miss, while Jeff Jenkins will be joining the staff at Texas Tech.
O’Keefe, who has been at UCA since 2006, was an All-American at Arkansas and played professionally for 10 years. Jenkins spent two years at UCA after playing at Arkansas Tech.
BASEBALL
Arkansas-Monticello adds three
Arkansas-Monticello said Monday it had signed three players to national letters of intent - catcher Michael Smith of White Hall, pitcher/infielder Michael Gilley of Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove, and pitcher Tucker Hicks of Krum, Texas.
Cabot’s Erickson picks Ozarks
Cabot right-hander/infielder Tyler Erickson will play for the University of the Ozarks after going 3-2 with a 2.74 ERA and hitting .342 with 22 RBI as a senior.
SWIMMING
Hendrix adds one
Joe Clarie Robertson of Shreveport will swim for Hendrix, the college announced Monday. She was a four-time state champion in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke at Caddo Magnet High School.
MISCELLANEOUS
14 from Arkansas Baptist College sign
Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock saw several athletes sign athletic scholarships with four-year schools.
Jared Williamson, a 6-2 guard with the Buffaloes men’s basketball team, signed with Arkansas Tech in Russellville.
The Buffalo baseball team saw 13 student-athletes sign scholarship offers. Mike Brown signed with UALR, Daniel Short signed with Arkansas State and Seth Hobbs signed with Central Arkansas. Jake House, Seth Tomboli, Clayton Fenton, Matt Epperson and Blake Mattison all signed with Central Baptist College in Conway. Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge signed Matthew Buie, Paul Welch and Cody Hill to scholarships. Cody Riley signed with Quincy College in Illinois.
Sports, Pages 17 on 07/27/2010