Miami Ohio University Athletics
Spring Sports Extravaganza Weekend-Day 2 Recap
4/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
April 19, 2009
What started out as a three-day event titled the "Spring Sports Extravaganza Weekend" ended up being squeezed into two days. Due to potential rain on Sunday, baseball and softball moved their originally-scheduled Sunday games to Saturday doubleheaders.
It was a stretch to staff five venues pretty much simultaneously throughout several hours of the day, but all got covered with some "pinch-hitting" from several volunteers, and it was a very successful day for the RedHawk sports teams.
Miami's equipment sale, headed by Director of Equipment Services Darrell Hallberg and his staff, started at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The equipment sale closed during the spring game but reopened following the game until 5 p.m. The sale looked to be a big success as several items were seen being worn in the crowds at the various events throughout the day.
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At 10 a.m., the second day of the All-Ohio Track and Field Championships got underway. Thirty-eight events were contested on Saturday. The RedHawk women's track and field team finished third, while the men's team finished fifth. Amanda Mirochna set a school record in the 1500 meters, while Alexis Lape (400 Hurdles) and Katie Lenahan (800 meters) each earned berths in the NCAA Mideast Regional. (WOMEN'S RECAP) On the men's side, Michael McCarty won the decathlon with a total score of 6719. (MEN'S RECAP) Men's track and field/cross country alumni in attendance were honored on the field at noon during the meet and were able to mix and mingle throughout the day in a hospitality tent at George L. Rider Track. On Sunday, both men's and women's teams will have a brunch with family, friends and alumni.
ALL-OHIO CHAMPIONSHIPS GALLERY
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Prior to the spring football game, football alumni gathered for a cookout at Yager Stadium. Yesterday, several former football players participated in an alumni golf outing at Indian Ridge. Several alumni--including two-time Super Bowl Champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger--gathered on the sidelines to watch the spring game, and the 2003 team was honored at halftime of the game. The White Team, featuring the No. 1 offensive and the No. 2 defensive units, nipped the Red Team (No. 1 defense and No. 2 offense) by a score of 13-7 in the public debut of Head Coach Michael Haywood's RedHawks. (RECAP) Miami opens the 2009 regular season with the RUMBLE at the RIVER on Sept. 5 when the RedHawks take on the University of Kentucky at Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium.
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While the spring football game was going on, Miami softball began the first game of a doubleheader against Northern Illinois. Prior to the first game, the RedHawks' three softball seniors -- Kelly Cabana, Alexis Javier and Ashley Gartland -- were honored. After sweeping Western Michigan yesterday, the RedHawks manufactured another sweep, downing the Huskies 4-3 and 7-0. (RECAP) It was the second straight weekend Miami went 4-0 in conference play. Saturday also was the continuation of "Pooch at the Park Weekend" at Miami softball. Additionally, several softball alumni were in attendance at today's games.
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Women's soccer hosted Wright State at 4 p.m. in a spring exhibition game. The RedHawks topped the Raiders 2-1 to remain undefeated in spring exhibition action. Julie Thompson scored a goal in the 83rd minute to lift the RedHawks to the win. (RECAP)
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Baseball's doubleheader got underway at 3 p.m. Alumni gathered for a cookout at McKie Field at Hayden Park prior to the game and were then honored between the doubleheader games. Numerous alumni were in attendance, and 1932 baseball alumnus Clarence Wheeler, who turns 101 years old next week, threw out the first pitch for Saturday's second game. Miami pulled out an 18-15 win in the first game and blanked the Bulls in Saturday's second game, 11-0. (RECAP) On Wednesday this week, Miami baseball will have their "Think Pink" game to help promote breast cancer awareness. The RedHawks take on local-rival Xavier at 6 p.m. and will be wearing pink jerseys for the game.
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The women's tennis team completed a perfect Mid-American Conference season, winning 4-3 at Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon. (RECAP) The RedHawks had clinched the regular-season title outright with Friday's 4-3 win at Western Michigan and went 8-0 in league action with Saturday's win against the Falcons. The team returned to campus around 8:20 p.m. and was led into Oxford with a police escort, courtesy of the Miami Police Department. The team was then recognized between innings at the baseball game for their outstanding achievements. They head to the MAC Tournament next week, seeking a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
While the tennis team was en route to Oxford, another team was celebrating a sensational season on campus as the ice hockey team had their end-of-season banquet. The RedHawks staged a tremendous run in the NCAA Tournament, making the first Frozen Four appearance in school history and competing in the national championships game. Congratulations to Head Coach Enrico Blasi, his staff and the Miami ice hockey team for a truly outstanding season. (RECAP)
Other teams in action on the road this weekend were golf, volleyball and field hockey. Golf sits in fifth place after two rounds at the Boilermaker Invitational. (RECAP) Volleyball and field hockey competed in spring exhibition games.
Next weekend, you can watch Miami's synchronized skating teams perform in the 2009 Spring Ice Show on Friday and Saturday. Miami's senior and collegiate teams captured national titles earlier this season, and the senior team earned a berth to the ISU World Championships where they placed seventh. The synchronized skating teams will celebrate their successful seasons at their end-of-year banquet next Saturday.
Miami's men's basketball team also has its end-of-year banquet on the horizon. They will gather to celebrate their season with friends and family on Tuesday, April 28. Head Coach Charlie Coles, Miami's all-time winningest coach, recently signed a three-year contract extension to continue guiding the RedHawks.
A very special thanks to Sarah Jones, Zack Butterfield, Chris McMillan and Drew Davis for taking photos for the Spring Sports Extravaganza photo galleries over the past two days.
It has been a very busy weekend in Oxford, but also a very good one. Hopefully all who took part in Spring Sports Extravaganza Weekend, especially the alumni who were back on campus, had an enjoyable weekend at Miami University.
