Sports

Lady Rams softball, track win SIAC

• The Albany State softball team defending its SIAC title, while the ASU women's track team wins its fourth in a row.

Scott Chancey

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Albany State softball went back-to-back, and the Lady Rams' track team went back-to-back-to-back. To back.

Coach Robert Skinner's softball team won its second consecutive crown, defeating Miles, 4-1, and coach Kenneth Taylor's track team finished with its fourth in a row at the SIAC Spring Sports Championships.

In softball, Albany State completed an overall 24-0 conference record including SIAC invitational and crossover games.

"It's a beautiful feeling," said Skinner, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Coach. "It all came together in the end."

Last year's tournament MVP, Mindy Mager, struck out six batters and walked five and allowed four hits. The Lady Rams, however, got a boost at the plate by this year's MVP, Kandis Tate, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

"We didn't expect that close of a game, but Miles gave it everything they had," said Tate, who was named to the All-Tournament team along with Samantha Hastings. "Deep down inside, we knew we had a great chance to win the conference."

The Lady Rams took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning and never looked back.

Albany State has other goals now that its conference schedule is behind it.

"We want to get our first win in region," Skinnner said of his team that is ranked 10th in the South. "We have some other games where we can improve our ranking."

TRACK

The Lady Rams scored 294.50 points. Candice Camp finished first in the triple jump, second in the heptathlon and sixth in the shot put, third in the long jump, high jump and javelin and was named Most Valuable Field Athlete. Estella Moore (100), Cherissa Brockington (heptathlon), Roxie Griffin (200, 400), Candace Edmonds (400 intermediate hurdles), Tamika Kinchen (800, 1,500), Shanika Birdsong (100 high hurdles), 4x100 and 4x400 all finished first in their events.

"Every championship is special in its own way," said coach Taylor, who was named the meet's Most Outstanding Coach.

The Albany State men were second with 186 points, and Westover product Eric McCrary was named the meet's Most Outstanding Field Athlete. He won the javelin (49.86 meters) and pole vault (3.65 meters). Garrion Martin won the 200 (21.04) and 100 (10.65) and the Rams won the 4x100 (40.23), Ronnie McGirt won the 110 hurdles (15.03).

BASEBALL

Albany State's season came to an end against defending champion Stillman, 9-5. The Rams (35-16) defeated Miles, 18-10, to advance to that next round in the double-elimination tourney.

Roger Jones hit a home run for Albany State in the first game and Samuel Murphy was the winning pitcher. In the second game, the Rams tried to rally late but fell short.

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