Sports

Game-by-game

• Albany State’s baseball team does not want to focus on defending SIAC champion Stillman just yet heading into today’s SIAC Spring Championships.

Scott Chancey

ALBANY — The Albany State baseball team has won five of the past seven SIAC championships. But the Rams don’t have one to defend this year, being runners-up against Stillman last spring.

Before even thinking about facing the Tigers for the crown again, however, Albany State has other things to worry about — such as Benedict and Paine, which beat the Rams during the regular season.

“There is no lock that we will even make it to the championship game or that we will play Stillman if we do,” ASU coach Edward Taylor said of a possible rematch with Stillman. “If it happens, it happens; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

Clarence Brown is the projected starter for Thursday’s 11 a.m. SIAC opener against the Kentucky State/Lane winner, and Larry Johnson is the next to take the mound. He is expected to be followed by Brandon Griffin and either Deaontate Hann or Samuel Murphy. The Rams also have had solid offensive performances from the middle of their lineup by Chuncey Ward, Nathan Coggins, De’Marcus Price and Demetrice Johnson.

Being a senior, Griffin knows this is his final chance to get another ring.

“My time here is about up,” he said. “We just want to win conference again. It’s time for the seniors to step up.”

TRACK & FIELD

The Albany State women’s track team is attempting to win its fourth consecutive conference crown this week, and third under current coach Kenneth Taylor (the coach of the first team, Willie Laster, has retired). Taylor’s team has a chance to successfully defend titles in five events.

Robin Thomas (800 meters), Estella Moore (100), Roxie Griffin (400) and the 4x100 and 4x400 teams are those chasing second consecutive crowns.

“Everything has been building up to this,” Taylor said.

The men are hoping to successfully defend titles in the 110 hurdles (Ronnie McGirt) and 4x100.

McGirt will compete in a variety events this weekend, including the decathlon, triple jump, 110 hurdles, shot put, high jump, pole vault, discus, 4x100 and javelin “He’s blind to the fact he’ll be tired,” Rams coach Marvin Oliver laughed.

NEW ASSISTANT

Former Albany State star Darlene Moore, who once guided Fort Valley State to four consecutive conference titles in track and cross country, is in her first year as an assistant. She once held the Lady Rams’ record in the 400 for eight years.

She was coached at Albany State, coincidentally, by Laster and Oliver.

“It’s just a great opportunity to come back to a winning program as well as my Alma Mater,” Moore said.

LOCAL CONTENDER

Oliver said Ex-Westover High School standout Eric McCrary has the conference’s best entries in the hammer throw and javelin.

“I’m just trying to put it all together,” said McCrary, who also will be joined in the decathlon by fellow Westover product Derrick Cubbage.

TENNIS

The Lady Rams’ tennis team is also in this spring’s tournament led by first-year coach Khadijah Ali. In the most-recently posted Albany State tennis result on the SIAC’s Web site, dated March 22-23, the Lady Rams’ Tonya Huggins-Vire and Dominique Green won their matches against Benedict, and it was only fitting they combined to win in doubles.

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