SPORTS
Interim coach in for MSU soccer
Michael Meachum, who served as the associate head coach and assistant coach for the last seven seasons under the legendary Doug Elder, will lead Midwestern State University of Texas into the 2018 season as interim head soccer coach.
Elder announced his retirement effective at the end of August earlier this week.
“I thank (MSU Texas) President (Dr. Suzanne) Shipley and (Athletic Director) Kyle Williams for not only trusting in coach Elder in his recommendation for me, but having their own trust in what I can bring not only to the soccer program but to the university as a whole,” Meachum said.
The Mustangs have been nothing short of exception during Meachum’s tenure on campus. MSU Texas is a combined 103-19-13 (.811) since the start of the 2011 season which includes six NCAA Division II postseason appearances and a pair of unbeaten regular seasons.
“Michael has proven he is ready to be a head coach,” MSU Texas Athletic Director Kyle Williams said. “He has been here at MSU for seven years and each year Michael continues to grow. He has become a great listener and a great student of the game. Michael deserves a shot at the position and we look forward to him continuing the great MSU soccer tradition. Congratulations to Michael, Meagan, Hadley and Hayden.”
Meachum has shown a penchant for recruiting mixing talent from across Texas adding the diversity with international flavor resulting in 15 United Soccer Coaches’ All-Americans, eight D2CCA All-Americans, 28 USC all-region selections, 27 D2CCA all-region performers and 18 all-conference picks.
“I am thankful coach Elder put me in a position to take over a program at a university that has meant so much to him and many others,” Meachum said. “Not only has he been a big part of men’s soccer, but the university as well. For him to think that I can help carry the program forward is humbling and exciting at the same time. This means so much to me and my family.”
The coaching staff of Elder, Meachum and student assistant Noah Fazekas earned the United Soccer Coaches’ South Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year honor in 2017 leading the Mustangs to their first unbeaten season in program history at 20-0-1 ending the season in the national quarterfinals.
“My staff and I will work hard each day to make sure you can continue to be proud of our student-athletes and team both on and off the field.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
The Nocona Lady Indians beat Saint Jo at home on Saturday morning.
The Lady Indians won 16-1 after four innings due to run-rule against the smaller school.
Nocona was coming off a competitive loss at Collinsville earlier in the week while the Lady Panthers were hoping to compete after a busy week of their athletes doing everything else besides just softball.
The Lady Indians easily won the first matchup between the teams in March, 19-2 and it was more of the same on Saturday.
Saint Jo struck first to start the game off well. Jordyn O’Neal hit a one out single. Krista Reeves followed with a walk after O’Neal had stolen second base and had advanced to third thanks to an error trying to throw her out. A wild pitch then allowed her to score to put the Lady Panthers up 1-0.
The lead did not last long. Nocona’s first two batters drew walks which set up Abby Hill to drive them both in with a single to right field.
Despite giving up a single and a walk later in the inning, Saint Jo’s defense did not allow another run. A line out and groundout to the shortstop while picking off a runner attempting to steal got the Lady Panthers out of the inning unscarred.
The Lady Indians led 2-1.
That was about as competitive as it got. In the second inning, Nocona’s bats got going. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases up with no outs.
Reagan Phipps drew a walk that drove in a run. Hill hit another two RBI single. Skye Kirby followed with a two RBI double.
After the first out, Allie Sutton drove in one run with a single. There was a fly out for out two, before a runner came in to score after a passed ball. Finally, an error allowed two more runs to score on the base paths.
Nocona had scored nine runs and led 11-1 to break the game open heading into the third inning.
Taylor Patrick hit a double, with O’Neal and Reeves following with singles. Unfortunately for Saint Jo, Patrick was thrown out before the hits attempting to steal a base so the Lady Panthers scored no runs from this.
The Lady Indians kept pouring on the runs. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases up with no outs. Tinley Cable then hit an RBI single. Shelby Swell was hit by a pitch that drove in another run.
After two strikeouts, Evelyn Marquez drove in two more runs on a double to put Nocona up 15-1, coming up one run short of ending the game early.
The Lady Indians scored that one run in the fourth inning. After Phipps drew a leadoff walk, Hill hit a triple that drove her in to end the game.
Nocona won 16-1.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
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