LITTLE ROCK — BASKETBALL
SEC coaches put Ricketts on second team
Arkansas junior C’eira Ricketts has been named to the SEC coaches’ preseason All-SEC second team.
Ricketts, of Louisville, Ky., averaged 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds a game last season while leading the Razorbacks with 121 assists.
Coaches picked the Razorbacks to finish 11th in the 12-team league. Tennessee was tabbed as the coaches’ favorite to win the regular-season title. The Lady Vols received 121 votes and return all five starters from last year’s team. Kentucky was the second choice among league coaches.
Tennessee guard Shekinna Stricklen of Morrilton was named to the first team and finished second in the voting for SEC Player of the Year.
BASEBALL
Poldberg returning to Naturals
The Kansas City Royals announced Thursday that Brian Poldberg will return to Springdale next year for his fourth season as manager of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Poldberg, 52, has managed the Naturals in each of the three years since the Royals moved their Class AA affiliate from Wichita, Kan., to Springdale. He has spent the past 28 years in the Royals organization and carries a 691-691 career record as a minor league manager.
The Naturals advanced to the Texas League playoffs all three years under Poldberg, capping this past season with their first league title.
Pitching coach Larry Carter will return for his fourth season with the Naturals, and Terry Bradshaw will be back for his third year as hitting coach.
Dave Iannicca takes over as the Naturals’ athletic trainer after serving in the same role the past three years at Wilmington, the Royals’ advanced Class A affiliate.
Sports, Pages 27 on 10/29/2010