Volleyball rolls in home opener,Men's Soccer falls to SWIC
The #3 ranked PC Volleyball team (4-1) took control early on Tuesday night as they rolled past Kankakee (4-2) by the scores of 25-11, 25-15, 25-27, 25-17 in the team's first home match of the season. Susie Jean dominated the match defensively for the Cobras with season high 27 digs while Devin Houser added 20 digs of her own. Two freshman broke out with their best matches of the young season as Jenna Einck tallied 15 kills, 17 digs, and 4 services aces while Nechelle Veal had a great defensive effort with 6 blocks.
The Cobras will head east to Toledo, Ohio for the weekend where they will participate in the Owens CC Tournament. PC will play seven matches in three days highlighted by a match against #16 Kalamazoo Valley on Friday night.
Schedule:
Friday: 4:30 Mott MI 7:30 Kalamazoo Valley
Saturday: 11:30 St. Clair, 2:30 Oakland, 5:30 Macomb
Sunday: 10:00 Jackson, 11:30 Lansing
The Men's Soccer team remained winless on the year as they fell to Southwestern Illinois College 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon. PC scored first when Gregg Flores connected on a goal on an assist from Victor Martinez at the eight minute mark. The lead would be short lived as SWIC 's Matt Bearley hit the back of the net just four minutes later. SWIC would take the lead for good on a Tim Hankins goal at the 19th minute mark. The Blue Storm would control the remainder of the half but could not increase their lead.
The second half was a completely different story as the Cobras controlled the ball and out shot SWIC but could not net the tying goal. PC had several chances that sailed just over or just wide of the goals including a header in the final minute of play. The loss drops PC to (0-2) ahead of a 3:00 game Saturday at home against the Greenville College JV. SWIC improves to (2-0) with the victory.
Good opening weekend for Cobra Sports Teams
Led by a strong start by the Parkland College Volleyball squad, four Cobra Sports teams got the 2010 campaign off to a quick start.
The #3 ranked Volleyball team was particularly impressive, finishing 2nd at the prestigious Johnson County Classic. With all six teams entered ranked in the NJCAA Pre-Season Top 20 and all having participated in the National Tournament last fall, the Cobras did more than hold their own. In match #1, PC overcame a 2-1 deficit to knock off #18 East Central, MO. PC won 25-15, 23-25, 17-25, 25-20, and 15-8 as Alexis Braghini paced the offense with 13 kills. Emily Rose added 9 and Jenna Einck 8 while Molly Goodrich had 36 assists and Susie Jean added 26 digs and 4 aces.
Parkland stunned #1 Cowley County CC in another 5 game thriller winning by the scores of 25-23, 18-25, 20-25, 25-23, and 15-8. Braghini once again led the way with 24 kills and had 21 digs. The win was especially sweet as Cowley handed PC three of our six losses last season.
Saturday PC won another 5 set marathon, defeating rival #12 Kishwaukee 25-22, 23-25, 25-14, 14-25, and 15-13. Alexis Braghini exploded on offense with 27 kills on 49 attempts and 4 blocks. Jenna Einck added 11 kills and 4 blocks as well. Susie Jean and Devin Houser had 23 and 19 digs respectively while Goodrich dished out 39 assists.
In the finale, the Cobras ran out of gas as they fell to #4 Johnson County 25-21,12-25, 14-25, and 17-25. Playing their fourth tight match in less than 20 hours, the Cobras battled but could not put together another rally. Alexis Braghini added 14 more kills giving her 78 for the weekend and earning her Parkland Athlete of the Week Honors. The Cobras are now (3-1) on the season and will host Kankakee (4-1) at 6:00 on Tuesday in the home opener.
Kim Vega and Sadie Somers each scored twice to lead the Parkland Women's Soccer team (1-0) to a 7-0 rout of Indian Hills IA. on Saturday afternoon. Jenny Musick connected on a first half goal on a pass from Nashla Vega as the Cobras took a 1-0 lead to the break. After a scoreless first seven minute after intermission, PC exploded for six second half goals. Kim Vega scored back to back goals on assists from Somers and Kelsi Donley to make it 3-0 and Donley added another assist as she fed Kara Breedlove for a goal to make it 4-0. Somers and Alexis Sokol scored the final three goals as PC scored three times in three minutes in the final 10 minutes of the match. While in Iowa, PC also won a"friendly" match on Friday night defeating Central College 5-2. Next up for PC will be three matches at the Minnesota Kickoff Classic @ Dakota Technical College. Parkland will face Bismark State ND (0-1) on Friday at 5:30, will take on powerhouse Navarro TX on Saturday at 1:00, and play Lackawanna PA at 11:30 on Sunday.
The Men's Soccer team could not hang on to an early lead and lost to Jefferson College MO 5-3 in the season opener for both teams. After falling behind 1-0 early, PC answered right back as Khody Ellis scored on an assist from Andrew Reutiman. The Cobras would score again as Ellis assisted Douglas deAndrade for a goal at the 35 minute mark to take a 2-1 lead only to see Christos Balafoutis score an unassisted goal just before half to tie the match.
PC seemed to take control early in the second half as Ellis and deAndrade teamed up again for Ellis's second goal of the match. Unfortunately, PC would not score again and the Vikings would score 3 unanswered goals to earn the win. PC will try to pick up their first win of the season as they host Southwestern Illinois College (1-0) at 4:00 on Tuesday. The Blue Storm opened their season with a 2-0 win over St. Louis Flo. Valley on Saturday.
And finally, the youthful PC Golf Team struggled out of the gate as they placed 7th at the Rend Lake Invite on Friday at Franklin Country Club in West Frankfort. PC had a two round total of 619 (309-310) finishing 20 strokes behind the winning team John A Logan. Andrew Weuthrich (ICC) was the medalist firing a 36-hole total of 145 (72-73). Parkland was led by the trio of Kobe Watson (77-75 152), Lewis Martin (74-78 152), and Bryan Ideus (74-79 153).
Sunday, the Cobras competed in the first day of the John A Logan Invite and find themselves in 5th place of the eight team affair. Once again, Logan leads the event but by just 3 strokes over Rend Lake. Mississippi Gulf Coast stands in 3rd and Vincennes in 4th as the Cobras are just seven strokes out of third place.
Bryan Ideus (76) and Lewis Martin (77) were the lone PC golfers to break 80 on Sunday while Logan's Filip Timmerman leads the event with a first round 72. The last 18 holes is being completed on Monday at Kokopelli Golf Course in Marion.
Cobra Baseball Players shine in Minors,Kiermaier named Rays Most Popular Player
Two members of the 2009 Parkland Baseball National Championship team are excelling in their first season in the Minor Leagues.
Nate Roberts leads the first place Appalachian West Elizabethton Twins (37-20), as they try to hang on for a spot in the playoffs. Despite signing late and missing part of the season due to a shoulder injury, Roberts has come on strong for the Twins. The left-handed hitting outfielder/designated hitter is hitting .339 with 5 home runs and 17 RBI. He leads the team in on base percentage (.446) and walks (20), and is in the top three in batting average, home runs, doubles, and stolen bases. He has been red hot in August leading the team with a .390 batting average this month while hitting .387 with runners on base and .400 with men in scoring position.
2009 World Series MVP Kevin Kiermaier, is playing for the Princeton Rays, a Tampa Bay affiliate. The Ft. Wayne native is hitting an even .300 which is second highest average on the team. He leads the team in six categories: on-base-percentage (.832), hits (57), runs scored (40). stolen bases (12), base on balls (24), and triples (7) batting anywhere from first to third in the lineup. He too has played his best baseball as of late. After hitting a torrid .370 in June, Kiermaier struggled in July but has regained his stroke in August hitting a team high .379 to raise his average nearly 90 points.
Over the weekend, Kiermaier was selected as the Princeton Rays Most Popular Player, in a summer-long vote of Rays fans. Kevin has missed three of the last four games nursing a forearm injury. Kiermaier hopes to be back in the lineup by the weekend as the two former teammates will face off against each other for the second time this summer. Princeton will travel to Elizabethon for a three game series starting on Saturday as the regular season wraps up on August 31.
Parkland Sports teams start play this week!
For those of you who are used to reading updates of PC Sports teams via e-mail, this will be my only "ALL" e-mail of the Fall semester. In the future you can keep up by checking out our web page or going to the portal where I will post recaps.
Four Parkland College Athletic teams will jump into action this week as the fall sports are allowed to begin play. The #3 ranked Volleyball team will begin their season at the top NJCAA event of the opening weekend as they travel to the Johnson County Invite in Overland Park, Kansas. The Cobras will take on #18 East Central Mo. at 5:00 Friday before taking on #1 Cowley County at 7:00. Saturday PC will face #12 Kishwaukee @ 10:00 and the host school #4 Johnson County at Noon.
The Men’s Golf team will take part in two tournaments over the weekend as they travel to the Fall Preview at Franklin County Country Club on Friday before taking part in the John A Logan Invite on Sunday and Monday. National qualifier Bryan Ideus will lead a young group as he and five freshman will make the opening trip.The Women’s Soccer team will play two matches over the weekend, a scrimmage on Friday and a regular season match on Saturday. On Friday, PC will play Central College of Pella, Iowa before squaring off against Indian Hills on Saturday at 2:00.
And finally, the Men’s Soccer team will get things going with a home game as they host Jefferson College, Mo. at 4:00 on Saturday. All games are free of charge and are played at the soccer field on the north side of campus near the track.
Kiermaier signs with Rays
Congratulations go out to former Cobra Kevin Kiermaier who signed over the weekend with the Tampa Bay Rays. Kiermaier, who had committed to play at Purdue next season, will be assigned to the Princeton Rays of the Appalachian League. After a quick trip to Florida, it will be off to West Virginia where the Rays begin play on June 22nd in the 10 team league. He joins left handed pitcher Tyler Cox who is currently playing for the Bradenton Marauders a minor league affiliate of the Pirates as the lone Cobras currently in professional baseball. Former Cobra Nate Roberts is expected to sign with the Twins sometime this summer.
Kiermaier drafted by Rays, Winkler selected by Cubs
Two-time NJCAA All-American Kevin Kiermaier was drafted today in the 31st round by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Purdue signee, was the MVP of the 2009 World Series and is the career leader in five hitting categories at PC.
Danny Winkler, a University of Central Florida recruit, was selected today in the 43rd Round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago Cubs. Winkler was 9-4 for the Cobras this year with a 3.11 earned run average. He struck out 81 hitters in 81 innings of work and was a First Team All-Region and All-MWAC selection.
Former Cobra Drafted in Major League Baseball Draft
Former Parkland College Baseball standout Nate Roberts has been selected in the 5th round with the 165 pick over-all by the Minnesota Twins. The center fielder played this past season at High Point University where he was named the Big South Player of the Year. Roberts, was a key member of the 2009 Parkland World Series Champions, breaking the NJCAA record with a .710 batting average and a .763 on base percentage at the Series.. He holds the Parkland record for batting average, hitting an amazing .514. Roberts played just one season at PC after transferring to Champaign from Northwestern University.
Three Named Athletes of the Year at Parkland
Parkland Baseball Standout Kevin Kiermaier has been named the Parkland College Male Athlete of the Year while Volleyball setter Jeni Sykes and Softball shortstop Sarah Gray share the honor on the Women’s side.
Kiermaier, a two-time NJCAA All-American, set three Parkland records this season in guiding the Cobras to a 50-13 record and a 5th place finish at the D-II World Series. The Purdue signee will be a member of the NJCAA All-Star team representing the USA in the Honkbal National Tourney in the Netherlands this July. Kiermaier holds 5 career PC Baseball records and is a two-time All-Conference and All-Region selection and was the MVP of the 2009 World Series when the Cobras won the National Championship.
Sykes was a First Team All-American selection and the sophomore setter led the PC Volleyball team to a 3rd place finish at the NJCAA Nationals. The Cobras finished 3rd in Sykes freshman year as well. The Wisconsin native also was the M-WAC Player of the Year in 2009 and was a First Team All-Region selection. She led the nation in assists per set at 10.15. Sykes is the third straight setter from PC to earn All-American honors following in the footsteps of Brooklyn Robbins and Kylie Cavanah. Jeni will attend Bradley University on an Athletic Scholarship next season.
Softball shortstop Sarah Gray is a Co-Female Athlete of the Year honoree along with Sykes. The freshman earned 1st Team All-American recognition after being named the Region 24 Player of the Year and the M-WAC Freshman of the Year. She hit .477 this season leading the team with 105 hits and 86 runs. She broke the school record for stolen bases with 50 and also led the team in walks and triples. In addition to her outstanding play at the plate, she finished the season with a .950 fielding percentage in over 260 attempts.
Congratulations to all three on their outstanding performances this year!
Former Cobra named Big South Player of theYear, Walthers earns second ring!
Junior outfielder Nate Roberts, a member of the 2009 World Series Champion Cobras, was selected the Big South Conference Player of the Year. At High Point, he led the team in batting with a .416 average with 87 hits in 209 at-bats. Roberts pounded out a league leading 19 home runs and drove in 69. He scored 88 runs and was hit by 25 pitches, which ranked among the national leaders. He also stole 36 bases and had a .989 fielding average.
His former teammate Mark Walther, earned his second championship ring in as many season as the right hander was part of the University of Southern Indiana team which won the NCAA D-II title. The Screaming Eagles knocked off the University of San Diego for the title on May 29. Walther appeared in two of USI's five games at the Series. The set-up man was 1-2 this year walking just 6 while striking out 24 in 35 innings of work. Taylor Dennis, older brother of current Cobra Adam Dennis, was named the Most Valuable Pitcher of the Series.
McManus named Gold Glove and All-American, Kiermaier an All-American and selected for Team USA!!
Sophomores TJ McManus and Kevin Kiermaier have been named NJCAA D-II Baseball All-Americans. The pair led the Cobras to a 5th place finish at the recently complete World Series at David Allen Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma. Parkland reached the 50 win plateau for the 5th time in the past 9 season finishing 50-13 this year.
McManus was a First Team All-American selection hitting .415 with 15 home runs and a school record 88 runs batted in. The Ohio State University transfer also broke the school record for doubles with 27 and is second all-time in home runs (15) and fifth in hits (90). In addition to his outstanding hitting, McManus was a standout on defense earning the NJCAA Rawlings Gold Glove award honoring the top fielding first baseman in all of NJCAA D-2 Baseball. He is only the second Cobra to earn a Gold Glove following fellow first baseman Mike Hamby who was the NJCAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2000.
Kiermaier, the Cobras Most Valuable Player, is undoubtedly the best hitter in Cobra history. The center fielder, who will attend Purdue Univerity next fall, was a 3rd Team All-American selection for the second straight year while breaking numerous Parkland records this season. He hit .430 this year with 17 home runs and 71 runs batted in. He also led the team in runs scored, stolen bases, and triples. The Ft. Wayne, In. native broke the season school record for home runs (17), runs (90) and walks (51). He already holds the school record for triples (13) from last season.
For his career, Kiermaier has the all-time best career batting average (.429), and is also the career leader in home runs, runs scored, triples, and walks. He is second in runs batted in and total hits, and third in stolen bases. Kevin was the 2009 World Series MVP and was an All-Tournament selection again this year after breaking the NJCAA record for runs batted in for a World Series with 12. He is a two-time All-Region and All-MWAC honoree. He has been selected as an NJCAA All-Star and will compete for Team USA in the upcoming Honkbal Tourney in the Netherlands from July 9-18.
The Honkbal Tournament is one of the most prestigious international amateur baseball tournaments in the world. The event runs every other year and the 2010 tournament marks the 25th anniversary of the event. USA Baseball’s collegiate team won the 2008 tournament by defeating Cuba in the title game. Over 70,000 fans attended the 20 games back in 2008. The USA, Cuba, Netherlands, Japan, China, and Venezuela are all expected to compete in the event.
Parkland Award Winners:
All-American: TJ McManus (1st) Kevin Kiermaier (3rd)
Gold Glove: TJ McManus
All-Region: Kevin Kiermaier, TJ McManus, Danny Winkler
All-Conference:
First Team: Danny Winkler, TJ McManus, Kevin Kiermaier
Second Team: Darin Worman and Brandon Stevens
All-World Series Team:
Kevin Kiermaier
Gray and Inman earn Softball All-American Honors
Freshmen Sarah Gray and Sam Inman have earned All-American recognition from the National Junior College Athletic Association. Gray, the Cobras shortstop, was named a 1st Team All-American after leading the Cobras (47-18) to a 9th Place finish in this year's D-II National Tournament. The Decatur Eisenhower graduate has earlier been named the Region 24 Player of the Year, M-WAC Freshman of the Year, the Cobras Most Valuable Player, as well as being a First Team All-Conference and All-Tournament team selection. Gray led PC with a .477 batting average while also leading in hits, runs, triples, and stolen bases. Her 50 stolen bases is a school record and placed her in the top 5 in the NJCAA this season.
Inman, a Okaw Valley HS graduate, was outstanding patrolling center field for the Cobras while putting some impressive numbers at the plate. Inman hit .386 this season while hitting 13 home runs and driving in 64. She was a perfect 23-23 in stolen bases. Inman was also a First Team All-Region and 2nd Team All-MWAC selection for the Cobras who won their first Region 24 tournament since 2007.
Parkland Award Winners:
All-American: Sarah Gray (1st) and Sam Inman (2nd)
All-Region:
Sarah Gray- Player of the Year
Samantha Inman
Megan Jones
Chuck Clutts-Coach of the Year
All-Conference:
First Team: Jenna Harshbarger (P), Sarah Gray (INF.), Megan Jones (DH), Chuck Clutts (Coach)
Second Team: Megan Jones (P), Sam Inman (OF)
Honorable Mention: Jenna Lehr (INF.)
Sarah Gray-Freshman of the Year
Parkland Awards:
MVP: Sarah Gray
Offensive Player of the Year: Sarah Gray
Golden Spike: Sarah Gray
Defensive Player of the Year: Rachel Perez
Cobra Spirit Award: Jordan Chapell
Pitchers of the Year: Jenna Harshbarger, Kesli Hoey, and Megan Jones
CobraSportsNet will be on the bus to Enid!
We've brought you every home baseball game this season, and all of the magical tourney run that is taking the Cobras to Enid. OF COURSE, we'll be also there in Oklahoma to bring you the play-by-play excitement as the Cobras defend their national championship. Brian Schutte, a very talented student from Quincy will produce the web-casts, which will be posted within minutes after each game ends. To hear any of the tourney games, just drop by the web site:
http://CobraSports.Net
Thanks for your support!
There will also be a link at www.davidallenballpark.com where you can watch the game live and get the most recent tournament information and statistics from DakStats
Cobras World Series Bound for 2nd Straight Year!!
The defending National Champion Parkland College Baseball team accomplished something never before done in a Region 24 Baseball tournament, losing their opening round game but coming back to win six straight games to earn a trip back to the NJCAA D-II World Series. The Cobras knocked off arch-rival Heartland Community College 10-9 in a completed Tuesday night after being suspended due to heavy rains last night. PC had forced the second game by rallying to knock off the Hawks 11-7 earlier on Monday. Parkland had earned a right to play in the title game by eliminating four other schools, defeating Lincoln Land 4-2, Illinois Central 7-2, Lewis and Clark 14-1, and Springfield 13-9 before ousting Heartland.
Tournament MVP Darin Worman preserved the win by tossing two scoreless innings in relief to earn his second save in as many days. The sophomore lefty, worked 12.2 innings in the tourney allowing just two runs, winning a game and saving a pair. Winning pitcher Dane Krone (3-0) picked up his third straight win in the tournament, pitching solid in relief in all three contests.
In the title game, Kevin Kiermaier's towering home run put PC up early but the Hawks hit three home runs of their own to build a 8-3 lead after just four innings. Bryce Feller's two-run double made it 8-5 before HCC tacked on their final run of the game in the fifth. Bob Glover's RBI single made cut the lead to three and TJ McManus home run over the right field wall tied the game at 9. In the 7th, Glover delivered an RBI single to break the tie and solid Cobra relief pitching nailed down the win. It was Glover's walk-off home run last year, which sent the Cobras to the 2009 World Series. The sophomore left fielder was a perfect 4-4 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI in the title game. Kiermaier, McManus, and Feller each had two hits for PC.
Parkland (48-11) advances to the World Series for the sixth time in the last 10 years and will face 2008 Champion LSU-Eunice (47-12) at 4:00 Saturday in Game 3 of the World Series. Heartland (46-11) is eliminated by PC from the Regional tourney for the third consecutive year and is now 0-6 against the Cobras in the post-season.
PC 200 124 100 10 14 1
HCC 212 310 000 9 13 0
Winkler, Everson (6), Krone (7), Worman (8) and Kuper
Napoleon, Razo (6), Zarate (8) and Sanchez, Mattishad (7)
W-Krone (3-0) L-Razo (9-3)
HR-Kiermaier (PC), McManus (PC), Igara (HC) 2 , Aguilera (HC)
Baseball holds off elimination cant hold off rain
The Parkland College Baseball team rallied to win game 1 of the Region 24 Championship series against Heartland on Monday by the score of 11-7 when Tyler Watts, Brandon Stevens, and Dylan Drury all homered in the final two innings as PC overcame a 6-4 deficit to force a second game.
Parkland also trailed in the finale as the Hawks built an 8-3 lead only to see TJ McManus tie it with a three run home run in the 6th. PC scored a single run in the seventh to grab a 10-9 lead before the skies opened up as heavy rains and lightening in the Springfield area caused the game to be suspended in the top of the 8th inning. The two teams will pick up where they left off at 5:00 on Tuesday night at Lanphier Park in Springfield. For the winner, a trip to the NJCAA D-II World Series awaits while for the loser, the season will come to an end.