Bryan College Triangle

By Meredith Kreigh
Triangle Writer

After college, Audrey Nelson will try to continue her golf career / Photo courtesy Audrey Nelson

In the last few months, Audrey Nelson, senior, broke through challenges in her golf game and enjoyed success. But she’s aiming higher.

“Anything can happen,” she said.“It’s all words like ‘luck’ because that’s what golf is. It’s luck. Tomorrow, anything could happen—I could throw my back out.”

The Bryan golfer, 22, began the sport when her father started teaching her at age 5. Now, her aspirations—aspirations that may be within her reach—reach far beyond any school.

While her stats have been unimpressive on the collegiate level, Nelson proved herself over the summer, making a 74, her personal best, in Cleveland, Ohio. She competed alone, without the Bryan Golf Team, in the Public Links qualifier last year. The score brought her handicap down to a 3.0, which allows her to compete in the U.S. Open qualifier, for which a handicap of 4.4 or below is required.

Nelson travelled to West Orange, N.J., to compete in the Amateur Public Links tournament last August. While there, she was able to see the Golf Hall of Fame in the United States Golf Association Museum.

“I got to walk through the hall of fame in Jersey. I got to see the trophy with the names of all of these amazing golfers. I got to picture what it might be like for me one day,” Nelson said.

Nelson struggled through several health issues with her lower back, shoulder and arthritis in her hands. There have also been personal problems, as Nelson said she has had to deal with the pain of loss.

Bryan competed in the NAIA National Qualifier (Greenville, Tenn.) last Saturday, April 20. Nelson said it was difficult, in some aspects, to play when the rest of the team was so focused on this last tournament of this year’s collegiate golf season. The Bryan season is winding down while she is focusing on her summer full of golf and what her future in golf could look like.

Three days after school lets out, Nelson will drive to Atlanta to play 36 holes in a single day at the qualifier for the U.S. Open, with one tee time in the morning and another in the afternoon. If she places there, she will have the opportunity to compete for the first time in the U.S. Open, held in the second week of June.

Recently, her father has been switching out her clubs, teaching her to be adaptable. She uses new clubs practically every month.

New clubs. New tournaments. New rank? The possibilities are taking form for Nelson.

Josiah Newport
Sports Editor

Junior catcher Tyler Latham after an at bat/ photo courtesy of Triangle archives

The AAC at the start of April

The Bryan Lions baseball team will open their last month of play Wednesday, April 3, against Oakwood College (Huntsville, Ala.).

This season has had its ups and downs, including a five game losing streak over spring break.

The Lions are currently 18-16 overall, 6-9 in the AAC. Compared to last year, at this point, they were 29-11 overall and 11-4 in the AAC.

The biggest difference between last year and this year, has been the conference play. The Lions dropped key series against Virginia Intermont College (Bristol, Va.), Tennessee Wesleyan College (Athens, Tenn.) and Reinhardt University (Waleska, Ga.) during the month of March.

The Lions, however, are not out of the race for the AAC or the AAC Tournament.

They play three very important series against St. Andrews University (Laurinburg, N.C.), Milligan College (Tenn.) and Point University (East Point, Ga.). All three of these teams sit right above the Lions in the AAC standings. St. Andrews, however, is the only team that has a better overall record than the Lions. Point University faces Tennessee Wesleyan early this month, which could help the Lions in the AAC standings.

At this point, the Lions sit five and a half games back from Tennessee Wesleyan in the AAC standings. This month Tennessee Wesleyan, besides facing Point, also faces Reinhardt, Montreat College (N.C.), and Virginia Intermont. If Wesleyan wins out that would help the Lions’ AAC standing, given they win out as well.

Key to Success?

One of the many keys to the Lions’ success and hopes of finishing the season strong, is junior catcher Tyler Latham.

Latham ranks eighth in NAIA Division 1 in Total Doubles (15), twenty-fifth in Home Runs (5), twenty-sixth in Total Runs Batted In (34), and twenty-eight in Batting Average (0.419).

Latham leads the Lions in Batting Average, Runs Batted In, Doubles, Slugging Percentage, and is tied for first for Total Hits.

When looking at the Lions’ season so far, an interesting statistic stands out.

In the 16 games that the Lions have lost, Latham has batted .370 with four RBIs and three Runs.

On the other hand, in the 18 games that the Lions have won, Latham batted .481 with 27 RBIs and 12 Runs.

Obviously all parts of a team—pitchers, fielders and batters—are crucial for the team to win. The pressure for success should not be totally on any one player.

However, when there is a player that can change the game single-handedly (like Latham did Saturday with his walk-off grand slam) that player is needed to be at his best as the season ends and the tournament approaches. Latham’s ability to put the ball into play and drive in runs is very crucial to the Lions’ success and ability to win out this month and go deep into the tournament.

A Word from Coach Hasty

I asked baseball head coach Taylor Hasty what he expected from the team as they close out the season.

He said, “We have experienced a lot of growth this season and I expect that over the last month of the season for the team to begin to peak and get hot as we head into post season play.”

One of the issues the Lions have had this season has been the pitching staff—there have been several blown saves and poor performances from the starting rotation. I asked Hasty what the importance of a strong closer and bullpen meant to the team.

“The bullpen always plays a key role in a team’s success because in order to win games you have to be good on the mound late in the game. While we have had some shifting roles this year and battled some injuries, I believe our pitching staff has improved as the season has gone along and will be ready to be great down the stretch and into the postseason. Our bullpen will play a key role in our success both in these last regular season games and especially come tournament time.”

Finally Hasty talked about the tournament and what it would take for the Lions to go deep in the AAC tournament.

“In tournament play it is always important to have a team that plays selfless baseball. A team that is able to work together offensively and have great pitching and defense is able to be very successful in the postseason. I believe we have a roster of young men who are willing to do what it takes to be successful and make a lot of noise in the conference tournament and beyond.”

The Lions face off against Hiwassee College (Monroe, Tenn.) Friday, April 5, at 6 p.m. and then again on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Be there to cheer on your Lions as they look to finish the season strong.

By Meredith Kreigh
Triangle Writer

The Lady Lions faced two opponents this week, with Saturday’s game against St. Andrews University (Laurinburg, N.C.) postponed until April 5, due to the rainy forecast.

The Lady Lions’ April 18 game against Rogers State University (Claremore, Okla.) was rescheduled for April 20 because of rain. In this double-header, the Lady Lions lost the first game 2-10 and lost the second 6-9.

Head Softball Coach Rocky Stinson attributed the loss to the perspective that Rogers State simply has a really solid team. They are currently undefeated and ranked number four in the nation.

The next day, the Lady Lions played against Cumberland University (Lebanon, Tenn.) who also proved to be tough opponents. They lost the first game 2-11 and the second 4-5.

This leaves the team with a current record of 8-14.

Katie Vaughn, second baseman, stepped away from her normal position to fill in this week. Since the catcher is injured, Vaughn played the position after not filling that role for three years. Also, she played right fielder for the first time ever, according to Stinson.

Stinson anticipates a winning streak starting this coming week.

The Lady Lions will be playing be hosted at University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, Ky.) April 27, Asbury University (Wilmore, Ky.) April 29 and Midway College (Midway, Ky.) April 30.

By Meredith Kreigh
Triangle Writer

Christine Marino

Junior named softball player of the week

As the Lady Lions prepare to face three opponents in the upcoming week, Christine Marino receives AAC’s Softball Player of the Week.

Before transferring from Miami Dade College in 2012, Marino made first all-conference team in both her freshman and sophomore years.

Marino, junior third baseman, from Miami, Fla., was named AAC’s Softball Player of the Week after evaluation of her performance Feb. 25 through March 3.

“I didn’t even think I played that well. It was definitely better than our first week, but average compared to what I know I am capable of,” said Marino.

She maintained a 1.000 slugging average and a batting average of .364, while recording two hits. She also batted in four runs, including a three-run walk-off homerun leading to the Lady Lions’ victory over Milligan College.

Softball over spring break

The Lady Lions are scheduled to play in a doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m.at Virginia Intermont College (Columbia, Tenn.). Virginia Intermont is home to the AACs Pitcher of the Week, freshman Micalah Sacre

Over Spring Break, they are scheduled to compete at Tennessee Temple (Chattanooga, Tenn.) for a doubleheader on March 11 at 4 p.m. This is the second series for these two teams this semester. Week one led with the Lady Lions splitting the match 1-1 on Feb. 12.

A second doubleheader is set for Feb 12 against Point University (Bristol, Tenn.) at Bryan. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Their final match over break is at Columbia College (Columbia, S.C.) on March 14 at 3 p.m.

This is the only opportunity this season for Bryan softball to compete against Virginia Intermont, Point and Columbia.

During the 2011-12 season, the Lady Lions went 1-1 against Columbia and 0-2 against Point. When they faced Temple, the Lions came out on top: 3-0.

By Josiah Newport
Sports Editor

The Lady Lions softball team has started the season 4-4, after sweeping Bluefield College (Va.), splitting series with Martin Methodist College (Pulaski, Tenn.) and Tennessee Temple (Chattanooga, Tenn.), and losing to Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.).

Martin Methodist proved to be tough opponents as they stole one game from the Lady Lions in their double header. Martin Methodist beat the Lady Lions in game one 9-3, but the Lady Lions came back in game two and edged Martin Methodist by a score of 9-6 before the game was called due to darkness after five innings. Martin Methodist were receiving top 25 votes.

In game two against Martin Methodist, Heather Daniel had a 2-run homerun and finished with 3 RBIs, 2 hits, and 1 run scored.

After losing two tough games to Lee University (#11 in NAIA Top 25) on Friday, by scores of 8-3 and 1-0 (5), the Lady Lions bounced back to put up 17 runs in two games against the Lady Rams of Bluefield College on Saturday. The Lady Lions only allowed one run by the Lady Rams.

The Lady Lions are again at home this Friday and Saturday as they face Asbury University (Wilmore, Ky.) at 2 p.m. on Friday and Hiwassee College (Monroe, Tenn.) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.