Valpo's Suiter showing versatility for TCU baseball program headed to Super Regionals

COLLEGE STATION, Texas | There were some adjustments Jerrick Suiter needed to make when he moved to Fort Worth for his freshman year at Texas Christian University.

He bought his first pair of cowboy boots to fit in better. He also decided to focus all his attention to baseball after an elbow injury in the first few weeks of football practice.

Maybe it wasn’t in that order of importance, but Suiter -- a 2011 Valparaiso High School product -- has made the necessary changes, and positive results are starting to fall into place.

When TCU senior left fielder Jason Coats went down with an ACL tear in late May, Suiter was inserted in the lineup, trying to replace a First-Team All Mountain West player with 300 career hits and 200 RBIs.

“It kills me to see Jason Coats in our dugout not playing,” TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “(Jason) was one of the greatest players in the history of the school. We feel real confident in Jerrick, though, and what he can do.”

Originally recruited as a pitcher, Suiter’s bat proved to be too good to not be in the everyday lineup. Schlossnagle has penciled his name in the lineup as designated hitter, center fielder, right fielder, left fielder and catcher.

Suiter still works on developing command and breaking balls in practice to go along with his low-90s fastball. Last June, he was drafted as a pitcher in the 35th round of the amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

“We still have aspirations of him being on the mound,” Schlossnagle said. “He missed a lot of development time in the fall because of football. But we’re pretty fired up about the hitter, outfielder and catcher that he can become.”

His bat has been particularly effective as of late with adjustments to his hitting stance.

Following a loss to Mississippi on Friday, TCU played itself out of the loser’s bracket and defeated the Rebels on Sunday and Monday to advance to the Super Regionals. They will travel to Los Angeles to begin a best-of-three series against UCLA on Friday for a bid into the College World Series.

On Saturday, Suiter slapped a career-high five hits in TCU’s 28-12 thrashing of Dayton in College Station’s Regional postseason game. He upped his average .314 for the season after going 9-for-20 and being named on the College Station Regional All-Tournament team. This came after the weekend before, when he was named to the Mountain West All-Tournament team after going 7-for-11 in three games in the Las Vegas tournament.

“I’ve been working the past few weeks on the changes, and it has kind of turned things around,” Suiter said after Saturday’s game. “Yeah, the games are regionals, and it’s a big deal, but you have to take it as just another game.”

Suiter is one of 10 highly-touted freshmen who have made an immediate impact on a Horned Frogs club that was 40-20 after Monday’s win. They were Mountain West co-champions, marking the seventh consecutive season with a conference title.

Although Suiter has found the field and enjoyed success his freshman year, it was a stark adjustment to the skill level of a different kind of baseball that’s featured in the South.

“It’s kind of hard to even talk about,” he said. “It’s completely different. Baseball up north and baseball down here is different.”

Even with 23 of the 30 players on TCU coming from in-state, Suiter has shown his ability and usefulness.

After doubling on his fifth hit Saturday afternoon in the eighth inning, he walked back to the dugout, and instead of any slap on the back of recognition, he found he needed to throw on the catcher’s gear for the final inning of work on the 98-degree day.

“Wherever coach needs me I’ll go,” he said.

Published in the Northwest Indiana Times on June 5, 2012.

Shannon Bixler top women's finisher at Livestrong Austin Marathon

Unaware of the final results of the Livestrong Austin Marathon, Craig Bixler met his daughter a few blocks from the finish line shortly after she had crossed it.

He approached her holding a takeout order of pancakes, the post-race meal 24-year-old Shannon Bixler had requested the day before the marathon.

Before handing her the food, he asked his daughter how she finished.

Shannon Bixler simply raised her index finger, indicating No. 1.

Competing in her eighth marathon, Bixler — a former cross country runner at Saint Louis University — picked up her biggest victory in the event Sunday. Her finishing time of 3 hours, 2 minutes and 28 seconds topped the women's field at the Livestrong Austin Marathon and set a career best.

Inna Vishik , of Stanford, Calif., placed second in 3:08:51, while Austinite Pia-Maria Molin took third in 3:08:51 . Defending champion Desiree Ficker, whose finishing time a year ago was 2:50:35, dropped out after about five miles because of a leg injury.

Bixler learned she was in second place at the midway point of the 26.2-mile race, and she averaged a 6:57-per-mile pace.

"The goal was to get to mile 20 and start picking up the pace," said Bixler, who moved to Austin from Chicago last month. "That pushed me when I found out my position because I was excited.

"I started out conservatively. My goal was never to win. I thought maybe I could place. My strategy was run my race by feeling good, stay smooth, be safe and strong."

Bixler started out running with the 3:10-pace group, and she ran with her father from mile 15 to mile 22.

"My fingers were crossed," said Craig Bixler, a longtime runner who founded the Fox Valley Marathon in St. Charles, Ill. "I dropped off at mile 22, but I knew how well she finishes. It was an exciting moment when I found out that she was able to get first place."

Bixler said her co-workers at Luke's Locker, a local running apparel store, served as training partners before the race, and she covered the final yards with a Texas flag — a gift from race organizers — spread behind her as a cape.

"I'm glad that I can say that I'm from Austin coming across that finish line," she said. "They gave me the Texas flag to hold because I'm an Austinite now."

Published in the Austin American-Statesman on Feb. 19, 2012.

Susan G. Komen Austin Race returns downtown

By Ryan Metz

AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT

For the past two years the Susan G. Komen Austin Race for the Cure has been held at The Domain shopping complex. On Sunday morning, it returns downtown, where it had been held the previous 11 years.

Organizers of the Austin’s largest five-kilometer race of the year hope the change of location will attract more participants and improve the finances of an event that raised $1.1 million last year.

“The race has always wanted to be downtown,” said Kheira Ardjani, chairwoman of the Austin event. “The downtown course is really beautiful, and we’d like to give our participants the best place that we could. We really saw an impact in our numbers in a negative way when we were out at The Domain.”

About 19,000 people participated in 2010. In previous years downtown, as many as 24,000 people participated.

The participant base for the Race for the Cure has become the largest locally, nationally and internationally since the event began in 1983 with 800 people in Dallas. Last year, Race for the Cure events were staged in 10 Texas cities and drew a total of more than 150,000 participants.

Participants may run individually or as part of a team. As many as 1,200 breast cancer survivors will be distinguishable because they will wear pink shirts. Statistics show that 1 out of 8 women will have to fight breast cancer in her lifetime.

“Everyone that I talk to has a mother, a sister, a best friend that has been impacted,” said Ardjani. “It’s really moving and touching the people that you run into.”

At a recent Anderson High School football game, the off-the-field theme was Trojeans for a Cure. The cheerleaders wore pink, and the school raised $750.

At the game, Ardjani said she ran into a mother who had been diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. The woman’s heart had stopped at one point during her treatment, yet she survived. The woman’s spirit is something that Ardjani took away from the visit.

The nonprofit’s goal is to raise $1.5 million, and organizers say 75 percent of the money is used in Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop and Caldwell counties to improve the lives of those affected by the disease.

“We’re making a push to let people know that their money isn’t going away,” Ardjani said. “The fundraising allows Komen Austin to grant out money and to make early prevention available to low-income areas and support women who already have breast cancer.”

Jo Ann McWhorter of the Austin Radiological Association began participating in the Komen race in 1994, 10 years after her mother, Iris Van Etten, died of breast cancer at the age of 59.

“I continue walking and fundraising each year not only in her memory and in memory of others who have lost their battles with this disease, but I also participate in honor of all the survivors,” McWhorter said. “It is extremely inspiring and emotional every year to walk with the survivors in pink. I am excited about the race moving back downtown because the scenery is so beautiful, and it’s easier to view the ‘sea of pink’ survivors as they walk ahead of me.”

Last year, Rob Wetzell finished in 15 minutes, 17 seconds to win. Jennifer Harney led the timed women at 18:28. Ellen Gold paced the survivors at 20:17.

This year, the race begins just north of the Capitol at Congress and 16th Street. Runners will go north toMLK Boulevard, then east to Red River, south to 15th Street, then west to Brazos. The route turns south skirting the east side of the Capitol, then west on 11th Street before turning south on Congress.

At 6th Street, runners turn west to Colorado, then north to 9th Street. After a one block diversion to the west, runners continue north to 11th Street before skirting the west side of the capitol north to 15th. The final stretches are east on 15th to San Jacinto, then north to 18th Street and a left turn to the finish.

Timed runners start at 7:30 a.m., and a staggered start allows non-timed runners and walkers to start as late as 10 a.m.

In addition to the 5K, there also is a Family Mile.

Published in the Austin American-Statesman on Nov. 7, 2011.

Timberwolves clinch playoff spot with shutout win over Marble Falls

Brian Hogan adds three TDs on ground, as 12 rushers combine for 367 yards

By Ryan Metz

Correspondent

Early in the fourth quarter with Cedar Park holding a commanding lead, the Marble Falls quarterback lofted a deep pass over the middle of the field. Safety Zach Espinosa and cornerback Grayson Cotham converged on the ball without an offensive player within five yards. Both players had different reasons – and both legitimate – to intercept the ball. It would have been Espinosa’s third interception of the night, while Cotham was vying for his first career pick.

The ball was fought for by the teammates and dropped.

Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Cotham got another chance later in the quarter and came down with his first career interception, while Espinosa put more than his stamp on Cedar Park’s 52-0 shutout of Marble Falls at John Gupton Stadium on Friday night.

“There is nothing wrong with a little friend firefight for a ball,” said Espinosa, who returned his first pick 40-yards for a score with 3:43 in the first quarter. “If it would have been between me and a receiver I would have been even more mad. Grayson wanted to get his first pick, and I can’t blame him. I would have done the same thing.

“We like to call ourselves “the ball hawks” out there. Whenever a ball goes up we want to compete for it. Tonight was one of those nights that we came up on top and executed.”

The “ball hawks” finished with five interceptions.

Cedar Park’s (7-1, 4-0 District 25-4A) defense limited Marble Falls (4-3,1-2) to 102 yards and seven first downs, while converting one of 11 third downs. Christopher McCalla and Travis Reim combined for the other two interceptions.

Brian Hogan led the rushing attack with 136 yards on the ground, as 12 ball carriers piled up 367 yards on 44 carries (8.3 ypc). Hogan scored touchdowns on the ground on three of the team’s first four drives in the first half, making it 28-0 at the break.

Alex Curl added a 12-yard touchdown reception from Hogan on Cedar Park’s first drive in the third quarter. Dean Collier and Michael Bernardo finished the scoring with two rushing touchdowns in the middle of the third quarter. The Timberwolves overcame four turnovers.

“I’m pleased at the tempo we played at tonight,” said Cedar Park coach Chris Ross, whose team secured a playoff spot with the win. “I thought our kids played extremely hard. We came into the game and wanted to tempo them. We wanted to play at a level of intensity and speed that they couldn’t keep up with, and to a degree we felt like we did.

“The hardest part of our schedule is in front of us, not behind us. These guys understand what’s in front of them.”

Hogan was pleased with the offense, but wanted to praise his teammates on the defensive side.

“We only go up against our defense once a week on Tuesdays to get a little competition,” he said. “They’re a great defense. One of the best in the state, and our defensive line is great; hey came off the ball and really put pressure on the quarterback.”

The leader of the defense, Espinosa – a Rice commit – is trying to get his team to play its best ball of the season.

“It seems like we’re getting better and better each week,” he said. “This week we really preached getting the shutout and executing. I’m progressing and trying to fine-tune during the course of the season, as well.”

While the offense has taken many of the headlines – and deservedly so with their rushing attack – Ross knows his team is better because of the Espinosa.

“His leadership, as well as his ability to play the game makes us a complete football team on the defensive side,” Ross said. “He has been doing that all season long. Zach’s a winner all the time.”

Published in the Cedar Park Citizen on Oct. 20, 2011.

Round Rock wins baseball opener 2-1 in last at bat

Dragons defeat defending 4A state champion Brenham in Rock Hardball Classic

By RYAN METZ

Special to the Leader

Travis Evans admits that his adrenaline was pumping pretty hard in the first inning.

Round Rock’s senior ace pitcher saw the dozens of scouts turn the radar guns on behind home plate Thursday morning at The Dell Diamond when he threw his first pitch. Not making it any easier was the fact that in the other dugout was a talented Brenham lineup that saw The Dell last June, capturing the 4A state championship.

Evans set the tone, pitching six strong innings and delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh inning leading Round Rock to a 2-1 win in their opener over Brenham in the Rock Hardball Classic.

“To say that I was nervous coming into here would be an understatement,” said Evans, a TCU baseball commit. “I knew that it was a tough game coming in to the season.”

The left-hander worked through a tough first inning when three runners were left on base. Evans gave up consecutive two-out doubles to Brenham’s Chance Bolcerek and Colton Walla in the third, with Bolcerek coming into score. With the last out in the third he went on to retire seven hitters in a row while finding his groove.

“In the first four guys, two of them are D1, it’s kind of intimidating,” said Evans, after allowing the lone run on three hits and striking out three with three walks. “That team is nothing to snicker at and it definitely helps our confidence getting that win.”

Brenham brought back four starters from their championship team from last year. Their shortstop, Drake Roberts, has signed with the University of Arkansas and Chance Bolcerek, the centerfielder, signed with Texas A&M along with Thursday’s starter Ty Schlottmann who also is an A&M signee.

Round Rock’s Matt Munoz singled in Colton Turner in the third to tie the game.

Following the sixth inning, the tarp was rolled on the field as both teams waited nearly two hours in the rain.

Luke Byars picked up the win after pitching a scoreless seventh for the Dragons (1-0). Daniel Linan got in scoring position with a one-out double for Round Rock before Evans drove a 1-2 count pitch to right-center for the winning hit.

“Our kids are real excited, they wanted that game,” Round Rock coach John Carter said. “That’s what high school baseball is all about right there.”

The Hardball Classic features 16 elite teams across the state getting a chance to play in front of a slew of scouts.

The competition is a nice tune-up for the Dragons before district play that starts on Tuesday.

“Six guys that are going to pitch for us this weekend,” Carter said. “We’re going to have to have good arms because our district is going to be a barn burner like it always is.”

The lefty Schlottman pitched 5.0 innings and allowed one run for Brenham (1-1), before Garrett Webb threw a scoreless sixth and Jesse Baker earned the loss in the seventh.

Published in the Round Rock Leader on Feb. 28, 2011.

McNeil ends season with area playoff loss to The Woodlands

Mavericks gave up late fourth quarter lead to state-ranked Highlanders

By RYAN METZ

Special to the Leader

COLLEGE STATION – In a lot of ways McNeil executed their game plan on Friday night.

They knew that The Woodlands would like to put on a 3-point shooting clinic. Earlier this season they hit 23 treys in a game led by their leading scorer Wes Cole’s 10 in that game.

They also knew that they would need to play a perfect game in order to beat a team that hasn’t lost a game since Dec. 3, a span of 22 straight wins coming in.

As the Mavericks held a 48-45 lead early in the fourth quarter it looked like the game plan was being executed perfectly.

They had the No. 20 state-ranked Highlanders deep in the corner but were unable to deliver the knockout blow as The Woodlands pulled out a 61-58 area round playoff victory over McNeil at A&M Consolidated High School.

Tied at 57 with 61 seconds left in regulation, The Woodland’s Garret Colonna drove the lane to and get his shot blocked but his put-back went in to gave the Highlanders a two-point lead they never gave up.

“We made them do something they hadn’t had to do and I was proud of the way we played, “McNeil coach Darrell Hagemann. “A possession here or there changes the game.”

The Highlanders (31-13) finished with seven 3-pointers, not without trying to shoot themselves out of their slump, led by Cole who finished with six points.

“We wanted to come out and really contest shots,” said Mavs’ senior Blair Williams, who scored on hanging jack-knife layups all night. “We were the more athletic team, but they were the more solid group today.”

Williams scored 16 points, but was equaled by the Highlanders’ 6-foot-3 sixth-man Brian Nordstrom who totaled 16. Three other Highlanders joined Nordstrom in double figures.

Nordstrom, a Rice football commit, countered his team’s poor shooting night by having his own in the paint, scoring on an array of low-post moves.

“(Cole) is the guy we prepared for all week, and we really didn’t think they’d have a presence inside like (Nordstrom),” Mavs’ post man Max Pepper said. “When he came in he got the best of me and it was tough to stop,”

Added Hagemann: “We were worried about (Nordstrom) but we were more worried about their perimeter game.”

McNeil (18-13) grabbed the first bucket of the game before a half-court trap helped The Woodlands jump ahead 9-2. Williams scored six first quarter points as they came back and held a 15-12 advantage before a last-second half court 3-pointer went in for the Highlanders tying the game at 15 at the end of the first.

The Woodlands went on a 10-3 run to open the second and give them their largest lead at 25-18. Treys by Robert Waters, Max Pepper, Jeremiah Jones and Jacob Jiongo to close the quarter gave the Mavs a 37-34 advantage at the break.

Both teams entered the fourth tied at 45 before Josh Jones buried a three to give the Mavs the three-point advantage, the team’s largest of the night. Both teams traded leads before Colonna’s put back gave the Highlanders the lead they iced away for the win.

“We just wanted to come out and play strong and we couldn’t get it done at the end,” Williams said. “We’ve played hard all seasons but this is one of our best games, I think.”

Hagemann told his team in the locker room following the game that the effort was never in question.

“I told them not to look back and say what-if because I thought it was a heckuva high school basketball game,” he said.

Published in the Round Rock Leader on Feb. 27, 2011.

Ten Westwood student athletes sign their services to colleges

Athletic Coordinator Anthony Wood leads lights out ceremony with blow horn

By RYAN METZ

Special to the Leader

For the 10 Westwood student athletes that signed letter of intents Wednesday morning, it will be a time that’s pretty memorable.

Forget the fact that they inked their names to scholarships to play collegiately, it’s the matter of the way they did it.

With freezing temperatures triggering rolling blackouts throughout Texas, Athletic Coordinator Anthony Wood emceed the ceremony in the gymnasium with a blow horn. Many of the athletes actually signed their papers with lights emanating from cell phones in the dark.

“Not how I thought it was going to go,” said an excited Ellie Arends, who will be running distance at North Texas next fall. “It’s definitely very eventful with no lights on.”

The Warriors football team, which finished 5-6 last season, had the most student athletes signees with three. Offensive lineman Zach Crawford signed with Texas State, receivers Grant Peterson signed with Rice and Kyle Jacobson signed with Austin College.

“We’ve put a lot of hard work here. It’s good that the hard work is paying off,” said Crawford, whose recruiting class will be one of Texas State’s foundations as they enter the FBS and WAC in 2013.

Added Peterson, who will bulk up and move to tight end for Rice: “It’s exciting because I feel like I accomplished one of my goals. I want to keep working hard to continue playing. I really loved Rice and the academics. It was a win-win.”

The girl’s softball team had Emily Mayfield sign with St. Edward’s and Jonelle Feikis with The University of Texas at Dallas.

“I’m super excited to start a new chapter,” Feikis said. “(St. Edward’s is) a really competitive D-III program.

Mikayla Engel will take her soccer talents to St. Edward’s next fall. Her teammate Nicole Frank signed with Texas at Dallas.

Baseball player Brooks Eady signed to play at McLennan Community College.

Arguably highlighting the event was track star Aikan Graham who signed on to be a hurdler at Texas A&M. The two-time regional qualifier hopes to make a name for himself, following in the footsteps of his Olympic medal-winning father Winthrop Graham.

“My goal started when I was in middle school,” said Graham, who joins the reigning track and field national champions. “I went there on the visit and I really liked the facility. My host there was dedicated to track and that’s the kind of people I want to be with.”

Published in the Round Rock Leader on Feb. 4, 2011.

IN HIS FATHER'S SHADOW NO MORE

Leonard Allen Jr. is starting his own basketball journey after growing up with a dad who played in the NBA

By RYAN METZ

Special to the Leader

After scoring seven points, snagging three rebounds and blocking five shots in a district win over Georgetown on Jan. 28, Leonard Allen Jr. emerged from the home team's locker room.

"I'm not very good at these," he muttered before the postgame interview.

Draped in his maroon and white Round Rock Dragon sweat suit, the sophomore's confidence has yet to match his imposing 6-foot-10-inch frame.

Much like his nascent game, his communication skills are still a work in progress. Understandable, given the fact that Allen Jr. just turned 16 on Jan. 12 and doesn't own a driver's license.

You get the sense that Allen Jr. would rather scramble home and play video games than have the spotlight on him for an interview, but this year's spotlight is dim compared to what it is projected to be by scouts in coming years.

HEIGHT IS IN THE GENES

Allen Jr.'s aircraft-carrier length and height are no shock if you've ever seen his parents. His father, Leonard Allen Sr., is 6-10 and a former professional basketball player. His mother, Cheryl, is 6-4 and, though she never played basketball, she still beams when she talks about her hook shot.

At Lincoln High in Port Arthur, Allen Sr. won a state title - while being named the tournament's MVP - in 1981 before playing collegiately at San Diego State.

After a four-year career with the Aztecs, the Dallas Mavericks selected him with their fourth pick, as the 50th player chosen in the 1985 NBA draft.

The Mavericks were glutted with big men, so Allen Sr. took his talents to Europe. He played in Spain, France, South America and the CBA.

He settled back in San Diego with Cheryl where they started their family.

As the price of living in Southern California rose they uprooted and moved to Round Rock.

"Our house was getting a little too small," Allen Sr. said. "Leonard was in sixth grade and it was a good time to move and we looked for the best place to raise a child."

While Allen Jr. shies away from the spotlight, Allen Sr. is on the other end of the spectrum. He's a cheery, loquacious man who works at a height-modified desk as a computer tech supporter.

"Like everyone else in Round Rock, I work at Dell," he said smiling. "Believe it or not we have some tall guys on my department. One guy is 6-7, another is 6-6."

The Allens' youngest son, Jarrett, is 6-3 and attends Walsh Middle School. His seventh grade basketball team is undefeated and routinely blows teams out by 20 points, according to Jarrett's proud dad.

LIKE FATHER LIKE SONS

It comes as no surprise that the Allen boys learned the game from their dad, whether it's through a friendly game of 21 in the driveway or a lesson on fundamental post moves.

"He's the one that has started me with the game," Allen Jr. said. "We work with medicine balls, jump rope and all that stuff helps."

Adds his dad: "We get out there and play, and it's really a bonding time. It's hard to find the time during the season but during the summer we really like to play together."

And does Allen Jr.'s game resemble his dad's?

"His shot is almost as pretty as mine," Allen Sr. joked. "It's such a sweet stroke and if he can get his shot off over me he can get it over a lot of people."

Allen Jr.'s shot is well ahead of his post moves at this point. It is flawless in form with a high arch and perfect backspin. His range extends to about 18 feet on the court, and he's even buried a 3-pointer this season.

"We want him to have that range because can shoot anywhere inside the arc and he has great touch," Round Rock coach Cody Blake said. "Now, we don't want him to be a perimeter player because there aren't any other 6-10 kids in this area."

His game is blossoming at the pace his coach and father expect.

Allen Jr. finished the season averaging 7.7 points per game, while shooting 61 percent from the field. He pulled down 4.1 rebounds per game, while blocking 2.0 and altering countless more as the keystone of the Dragons' zone defense.

"The beauty of it is he hasn't played a lot, but his potential is there," said Blake, whose team finished 15-20 and didn't make the playoffs.

Allen Jr. played on the freshman team last year as he adjusted his play to a faster-paced game.

"When he got to high school we told him he's got to learn to play above the rim," Blake said. "In middle school he was always a foot taller than everyone."

GROWING HIS GAME

To stand nearly 7-foot and have a basketball pedigree is one thing, but Allen Jr. is slowly becoming a student of the game.

"People used to always criticize me and say 'Why don't you have those kids with a basketball in their hands 24 hours a day,' but you know what, they're kids," Allen Sr. said. "Go ahead and play your video games and enjoy your life.

"When the time comes people are going to be all over him and he doesn't need to worry about that now. I really do feel that because he's a kid that still has that joy for learning."

Along with learning the game and what it takes to improve, he is growing into his body, adjusting to the physical play inside the paint.

"I am getting more comfortable on the offensive side. I'm learning to do more moves," Allen Jr. said. "(Teammates) Zach (Chambers) and Lavelt (Francois) have helped me get more physical."

Right now he's a spindly 190 pounds, but the six meals he eats each day should help him reach his goal weight of 210 pounds for next season. Before a recent game he wolfed down a foot-long sandwich and a box of chicken.

"When the season started he was afraid to go inside on us," said Chambers, a senior with a football mentality and one of the most physical players in District 16-5A. "Now he's inside hitting me as hard as a linebacker on the football team. His strength and confidence has improved a lot."

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

Allen Jr.'s doctors forecasted that he will be 7-2 when fully grown and he already has a wingspan of 7-6.

"It's something incredible, something like he can touch both ends of Texas," his dad said.

Allen Jr.'s measurements right now are enough to bring a parade of top-tier college basketball coaches to the stands in the Round Rock High gymnasium.

He's receiving several letters a month from schools, including Syracuse and North Carolina.

Allen Sr. understands the interest in his oldest son, but he said he's not buying into the hype or being corralled by AAU coach clingers and their big promises.

"Coaches out in Houston are offering to fly him out for the week," he said. "Come on now, that's crazy. We live in Round Rock."

Allen Jr. will play AAU ball for the Elite ATX team this summer.

"His best basketball might not come on this court," said his dad following a game at Round Rock. "You see those glimpses and plays every now and it's like 'wow'. It's not awkward. You start to see that there is something special."

His high school coach hopes he gets to reap the benefits.

"I think over the next two years you're going to see him turn into a special player," Blake said. "As far as Leonard is concerned it's all upside. He's taking AP classes and is a good student. We're just excited to have him here."

Allen Jr. understands a lot is expected.

"I plan on being a major contributor next year," he said. "I want to body up everyone I see. Be the big man on the court."

Published in the Round Rock Leader on Feb. 24, 2011.

Mitchell keeps Round Rock winless in district

By RYAN METZ

Special to the Leader

Round Rock coach Cody Blake doesn't mince his words when describing Pflugerville guard Deon Mitchell's game. He doesn't quite throw roses at the feet of the Northern Iowa recruit, but you understand the respect.

"He's the best guard in Central Texas. He knows it. I know it," said Blake, following his Dragons' 59-47 loss to the Panthers. "Our goal was not to stop him, but to stop the rest of (his teammates)."

Mitchell netted 23 points and had six rebounds, while piloting the Panthers (20-4, 5-0 District 16-5A), who are the lone team without a blemish in district play. The 6-foot point guard is averaging 20.8 points a game.

His teammates, Storm Woods (11) and T.J. Williams (10) were also in double figures for the Panthers. Jamal Shabazz, the team's second leading scorer, sat out the game after suffering a mild concussion last Friday against Leander.

The Dragons (12-16, 0-5) held an 18-17 advantage, before Pflugerville went on a 10-1 run late in the second quarter to give them momentum heading into the half.

"We flipped our defense and were lucky enough to get a couple of steals," said Panthers coach Mike Murphy, who brought his team out of a zone into a half-court trap.

Pflugerville didn't help itself, shooting only 28 percent from the field in the first half.

Mitchell came out and scored eight of his team's 10 points early in third. Round Rock cut the lead to eight, 47-39, early in the fourth before the Panthers stalled on offense and hit free throws down the stretch to ice the game away.

The Dragons' two post players, Zach Chambers and Leonard Allen - who each had 12 points - led Round Rock. Lavelt Francois had a team-high 13 rebounds.

"We tried to fight back but once you're in the hold against them it's tough to get back," Chambers said. "Deon's pretty good. Even when he's not having a good game he'll make his teammates better."

Published in the Round Rock Leader on Jan. 19, 2011.

Westwood forward Harris continues to step up game

By RYAN METZ

Special to the Leader

It's hard to extrapolate an athlete's progress and confidence from one moment or particular play in a given game, but on Tuesday night one stood out for Michael Harris.

The 6-foot-3 forward for Westwood received a pass deep in the lane in the third quarter and extended his left arm to shoot a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era hook shot. The shot fell through the basket and it was a simple, unremarkable play in a game in which Westwood lost 63-51 to McNeil, but it revealed so much more about Harris' progress.

Last season, the all-arms-and-legs Harris didn't get a sniff of varsity action, while playing on the junior varsity squad. This year he has earned a starter's role after beginning the season on the bench.

"I feel like I've added a lot to my game from last year to my game," he said, after scoring 10 points in the loss. "I can shoot now. I can shoot jumpers and do a lot of different things now. I've made myself a better player."

The work was done in the summer where he spent countless hours working on all facets of a game.

The work hasn't stopped once the season began for the Warriors however, as Harris now wakes up at 7 a.m. and joins his team for shooting practice before classes begin for the day.

"I like to be in the gym. I like to be there early and work hard," he adds.

The hard work hasn't gone unnoticed by his coach.

"He's come a long way. He's a great kid," Westwood coach Brad Hastings said. "He's a junior, and has a lot of things he needs to improve at, but if he improves like he did from this year to last year he's going to be a really good player."

The improvement and offensive output need to happen soon for the Warriors who are 0-3 in district contests.

"We're a good team, I really do think that," Harris said. "I worked on that hook shot all off-season and now I feel like if I get the ball inside I can score on anybody. I still am working on my game. I want to be able to make more shots."

Westwood is looking for more of those types of shots to fall, too.

Published in the Round Rock Leader on Jan. 12, 2011.

Godfrey, Tiger v-ball reaching new heights

By RYAN METZ

Special to the Leader

When Eboni Godfrey was in middle school she tried out for her school's basketball team. Surely there would be a spot for someone who has shown she can jump out of the gym. There wasn't. She didn't make the team, and says she was the only girl who didn't make the squad.

The Stony Point volleyball team is appreciative that her focus shifted to the volleyball court. The senior has led the Tigers (32-9, 11-1) to their winningest season in school history, along with capturing their first District 16-5A title.

The Tigers will play Anderson on Tuesday in their first playoff match at Pflugerville High.

"This year has been pretty amazing," said Godfrey, who has played on varsity since her freshman campaign. "It's all coming together. I think including coach (Jayson Langman), it's been a struggle for all of us."

In Godfrey's freshman season - Langman's first year as coach - the team won only five games and knew they had an uphill battle in the competitive district. Steadily, they improved each season and last year they finished 24-19, while having the program's first winning record.

"All the work is starting to pay off," Langman said. "This is a year we've been working at for four years."

The senior trio of Godfrey, Brittney Garcia and Katey Griffith has led the change.

"Our attitude has been the difference between last year and this season," Godfrey said. "You could see everyone's attitudes changing in the offseason. Everyone went 100 percent and was working harder."

In April, Godfrey verbally committed to play at North Texas. Now that she is having a standout senior season where she is averaging 5.3 kills per game, more schools are starting to look her way. She isn't backing off her commitment, however.

"Now I feel if you cut my arm open, I bleed green," she said, while estimating she owns about six Mean Green T-shirts. "I'm really excited and anxious to get up there."

As an outside hitter, ideally schools look for players that are 6-feet tall or higher, but Godfrey is 5-foot-7. She makes up the height in her jaw-dropping vertical leap.

"I think my vertical has helped me out," she said.

"If I didn't have it I'd be in trouble, and even in more trouble in college."

Her coach points out that she is more than just an athlete, though.

"She's worked very hard to be where she's at," Langman said. "It's not only her athleticism, she has worked very, very hard at the game.

"She's had the ability to take over games this season. She can frustrate an opponent and take over a match. If she gets a certain attitude in a game, there is not a lot that is going to stop her."

Even Stony Point girl's basketball coach Danny Cage has taken notice now.

"He's been telling me to try out and play with them," Godfrey said. "All he wants me to do is jump up and grab rebounds and pass. I think it's better for me to just focus on one thing, and that's volleyball."

Published in the Round Rock Leader on Oct. 30, 2010.

South African’s Cunnama wins Longhorn Ironman

Austin’s Cunningham takes third; Spirig is top woman

By Ryan Metz

AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT

A nagging ailment sent down Richie Cunningham early this season and sent back his training. The two-time defending Longhorn Ironman champion, said he had to play catch up in his preparation in order to defend his home turf title.

On Sunday, an up and coming South African had a different idea, however.

James Cunnama pulled away from the competition in the 11^th mile of the run, and topped the field at the Longhorn Ironman 70.3, winning in 3 hours, 53 minutes and 57 seconds.

Marko Albert of Estonia, the pacesetter for much of the morning, finished second at 3:55:06. Cunningham finished in third place, with a 3:57:04 pace.

Cunnama, 27, had nearly a seven minute deficit to start the run, but ran a blistering split (1:12: 56) on the 13.1-mile off road terrain course.

“The run is certainly my strength but I had to use every ounce of that today,” he said. “The course today suited a very strong runner with all the off road and the up and down of everything. It all came together perfectly.”

The South African participated in his first Ironman in 2007.

“There is no more flying under the radar, anymore,” Cunnama said. “I was an outsider with not much pressure on me, which is a nice place to be. But as a professional athlete I’m ready for that now.”

Cunningham, who lives in Austin and trains on Town Lake Trails, said he felt the added pressure of winning his third straight title, but was pleased with the third place finish.

“I’ve struggled early on in the year,” said the 37-year-old, who was hampered by a tooth and gum infection early this season. “It’s slowed me down and I haven’t felt right since September.”

On the women's side, Nicola Spirig of Switzerland, ran away from the competition with a 4:09:34. She had the fastest splits in all three events and was nearly 8 minutes faster than her closest competitor, Angela Naeth of Canada.

“The weather was great today and I took advantage,” Spirig, 28, said. “I’ve been doing more short course, but today I was ready for the long course after training with the guys.”

Spirig and Cunnama are both teammates of Team TBB, who trains in Switzerland in the summer.

The men and women from the Army dominated the collegiate standings, as four of the top eight men and the top three women were from West Point.

A total of 2,148 competitors started the race Sunday, with the first wave of triathletes hitting the water at 7:30 a.m. at Decker Lake in Walter E. Long Park. After a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, the participants finished the 13.1-mile run inside Luedecke Arena at Travis County Expo Center.

Published in the Austin American-Statesman on Oct. 24, 2010.