BASEBALL
Killian gets USA invite
Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said in early June that one or two of his Razorbacks might get a look on the USA collegiate national team, and as the coach of that team Van Horn knew what he was talking about.
Razorbacks right-hander Trey Killian has been invited to compete for a spot on the USA team's roster and is expected to arrive at the training center in Cary, N.C. on Thursday.
The Mountain Home graduate is among the 33 players on the current roster who are vying for a spot on the final 24-man roster, which is expected to carry 12 pitchers. Killian made 14 starts for Arkansas, moving into the Friday night position early during SEC play, and finished with a 4-9 record and 2.30 earned run average. Killian's record was impacted by the team's lack of run support during his starts.
The USA national team will play a lengthy schedule against international teams in July in the United States, the Netherlands and Cuba.
Fisher, Hentges agree to contract terms
Former Arkansas first baseman Eric Fisher recently signed his initial pro contract with the Miami Marlins and has begun play for the Batavia Muckdogs in a short-season Class A league.
Fisher, drafted in the 17th round by the Marlins, hit .268 with 45 RBI and led the Razorbacks with 9 home runs.
The Spring, Texas, native is the third known Razorback from the amateur draft earlier this month to sign, following pitcher Chris Oliver with the Phillies and Brian Anderson, also with the Marlins.
Arkansas pitching signee Sam Hentges has agreed to terms with the Cleveland Indians and will receive a $700,000 signing bonus, according to Baseball America. Hentges, from Mounds View, Minn., was a fourth-round pick by Cleveland.
-- Tom Murphy and Bob Holt
Arkansas Baptist College to hold tryout
The Arkansas Baptist College baseball team will hold an open workout/troyout at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Junior Deputy Park in Little Rock. Any recent high school graduate interested in participating may contact Coach Shawn Regan at 501-772-3772.
GOLF
Cappelen named All-American
Arkansas senior Sebastian Cappelen was named a second team All-American by Golfweek on Tuesday.
Cappelen, the second player in Arkansas history to earn All-SEC honors in four consecutive years, is the first Razorback to be named an All-American in each of his four years. He is a three-time PING All-American and has been named by Golfweek in each of the past two years.
Cappelen will make his pro debut this week at the Air Capital Classic on the Web.com Tour in Wichita, Kan.
TRACK AND FIELD
Three ASU athletes honored
Senior Sharika Nelvis, freshman Roelf Pienaar and senior Chris Nicasio were named NCAA Division I All-Americans by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Nelvis was named to the first team for the second consecutive season after winning the 100-meter hurdles Saturday at the NCAA Championships in a world-best time of 12.52 seconds. Pienaar was a second-team selection after a ninth-place finish in the men's long jump (24 feet, 3.73 inches). Nicasio was an honorable mention selection after a 20th-place finish in the hammer throw.
BASKETBALL
WNIT sites, opponents named for ASU, UCA
The Arkansas State women will host Jackson State, while the Central Arkansas women will play at Western Kentucky in first-round games of the Preseason WNIT.
Brackets for the tournament were released Tuesday. Both ASU and UCA will play on Friday, Nov. 14, with UCA's game starting at 7 p.m. Central and ASU's starting at 7:05 p.m.
If they win, Arkansas State would advance to play the winner of Mercer at Mississippi State in their next game, while Central Arkansas would face the winner of North Dakota at Colorado.
Beschta to coach John Brown men
Jason Beschta, who coached at Oklahoma Wesleyan for each of the past three seasons, was hired to coach the John Brown men's team Tuesday.
Oklahoma Baptist was 25-10 last season under Beschta and was an at-large berth in the NAIA Division II National Championships. At the national tournament, Oklahoma Wesleyan knoced off then-No. 12 Morningside (Iowa) in the round of 32 before losing to eventual national champion Indiana Wesleyan in the next game.
Beschta takes over a team that finished 21-11 last season, including a 10-10 record in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
SOFTBALL
Sampley named Lyon College coach
Elliott Sampley will return to his alma mater as the sixth head coach in the history of the Lyon College program, Athletic Director Kevin Jenkins announced Tuesday.
Sampley, 43, graduated from Lyon in 1996 who played baseball in the first four years it was played at the school. He was inducted into the Lyon Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008.
Sampley worked as a head coach for 19 years and as an assistant for 11 years in semi-professional and collegiate baseball.
Lyon College had a 17-23 record last season, improving by six victories over the 2013 season and posting the third-most victories in program history while finishing tied for seventh in their second season in the American Midwest Conference.
Sports on 06/18/2014