Bryan College Triangle

by Timothy Baldi
Staff Writer

AAC runner-up in the 2009 Outdoor 1,500 meter dash, sophomore Bryson Harper has been running track since eighth grade. He trained himself through high school but never experienced hardcore training until he was recruited by Coach Rodney Stoker to run track and cross country for Bryan College.

Now, Harper runs a 3 minute 59 second 1500-meter dash and set the school record with his 15:05 5-kilometer run.

At practice, Harper and the other members of the Track & Field team regularly run seven to 11 miles. However, Harper has been recovering from an injury to his left Achilles tendon that occurred early in the semester, so he is still working toward full running strength.

Harper had injured his right Achilles once already prior to his current injury this semester.

He said he has been more prone to injury since coming to Bryan, “not because Coach Stoker does anything wrong. I just have a tendency to keep pushing when my body needs a rest.”

Team practices begin at 6 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Harper also has practice every day in the afternoons. Read full story »

by Billy Findley
Sports Editor

The Lions baseball team thoroughly dismantled the Crusaders of Tennessee Temple (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 16-6 Tuesday evening. With this victory, the Lions now have a record of 16 wins and 23 losses for their overall record. They are 7-8 in the AAC.

At bat, the Lions were a force Tuesday night. The team finished the game with 22 hits and two home runs with 16 runs total. This is the second highest total of runs they’ve scored in a game this season.

“We really manufactured runs tonight,” Head Coach Taylor Hasty said after the game. “I think our team is really dangerous because we can really hit.”

The game was close for the first three innings with Tennessee Temple ahead just 2 – 1. However, the Lions were able to make a break away in the bottom of the third with junior outfielder Josh King pounding a home run with two men on base. The Lions continued the surge and were leading 10 – 3 by the end of the fifth inning. Defensively, the team stood their ground, turning a “huge” double play at the top of the sixth, according to Hasty.

One strength Hasty said he has observed with the team this year is their concern for each other on the field.

“This team really loves each other,” Hasty said. “They are passionate about seeing one another succeed.”

“We’re just like brothers out there,” sophomore outfielder Shane Clawson said.

Clawson said he, like Hasty, has observed the team chemistry and commented that it is important as players to know “we’ve got each other’s back.”

With only 15 games left in the season, the Lions are currently ranked fifth in the AAC. However, as nice as it may be to land a good seat in the playoffs, placing well in the tournament is still not a primary goal just yet, according to Clawson. King said the team likes to take things just one at a time.

The strengths of the team have undoubtedly come through in their hitting, according to King. He said he thinks the batting coaches deserve a lot of credit this season for helping the hitters to shine at the plate.

Overall, the baseball team has played exceptionally better this year than last, according to Hasty. Hasty said he attributes the better playing, not to mention much better record, simply to better playing all around in the game and he expects to see good results throughout the rest of the season.

Sophomore Ryan Hill makes a pitch during this weeks series against Covenant.

by Ericka Simpson
Staff Writer

The Bryan College baseball team hosted Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, Ga.) at Senter Field in a three-game series on March 26 and 27, losing the first two games but winning the third.

Lions lose first game

The Lions fell to the Scots 8-2 in the first game, despite taking the lead in the first two innings. Senior first baseman Pablo Rodriguez hit a home run in the first inning, which was the highlight of the game according to Head Coach Taylor Hasty.

Freshman outfielder Kevin Layne scored the Lions’ second and final run in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI from junior outfielder Josh King, according to Hasty.

Junior pitcher Tyson Latham started the game on the mound, and pitched well, according to shortstop junior Jonathan Davis. Latham threw nine strikeouts.

According to Hasty, in the fourth inning Davis had an error and the Scots’ next hitter banged out a home run. The Lions could not recover from the Scots taking the lead.

Lions fall to Scots in the second game of the series

In the second game, the Lions lost 14-5 to the Scots. Hasty said the team did not “execute on defense,” and the Scots’ pitcher threw multiple strikes, which eventually led to Bryan’s second loss.

“We did not make adjustments to the pitcher,” Hasty said. “We were really anxious on offense all weekend and as a result, we lost.

According to Davis, the game was “all around an ugly game.” The Lions were not consistent in offense, defense or pitching. Read full story »

by Ericka Smith
Staff Writer

Junior shortstop Jonathan (J.D.) Davis from Fayetteville, Ga., was named Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Week for his performance in the three game series against University of Virginia College at Wise on Mar. 5 and 6.

Johnathan (J.D.) Davis named AAC Player of the Week

“The AAC takes nominations from sports information directors around the conference and then picks the player who had the best statistical week,” Head Baseball Coach Taylor Hasty said.

Davis went 6 for 10 at the plate with a slugging average of .800 and three stolen bases, according to Hasty. Read full story »

by Britney Weber
Staff Writer

We see them out running nearly every day, whether it is warm or cold, sunny, raining or snowing. Sometimes even twice a day. They put hours into training their bodies, toning their muscles and refining their movements. P90X is a common phrase in their vocabulary. Nearly every weekend they trade extra sleep for long bus rides. Ice baths and ice wraps are routine. Even in the summer they receive emails outlining the workouts they are to complete.

All because they love running.

It’s no wonder with this high level of dedication that the Bryan College Track & Field team continues to set records. This season promises to be no different. Read full story »