June 15, 2008
Owls recruiting North Jersey tackle
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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Temple is hoping to pluck New Jersey offensive lineman Sean Pearson away from many of its former Big East rivals.
Pearson, a 6-foot-5 inch, 300-pound tackle from St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, NJ, is also being courted by Rutgers, Syracuse, Connecticut, Pittsburgh Penn State, West Virginia, Maryland and Hofstra.
The mammoth tackle helped lead the Panthers to an 11-1 record last season.
"We all had a desire to win and help the team," Pearson said in an interview with OwlScoop.com. "What made us so successful was that we put the team first for everything we do."
While he had a successful junior season, Pearson knows he must get better in order to really make an impact at the next level.
"I am far from a perfect player," Pearson said. "There is always work be done and improvements to be made. I want to get faster and work on my quickness. I feel I need to shed some weight. I weighed myself today and I was just over 300. I want to get down to 280."
Pearson has yet to receive an offer from Temple, but he was impressed with what he saw when he took his visit in late May. He is also leaning toward majoring in business and is very interested in Temple's Fox School of Business.
And in areas pertaining to football, Pearson also liked what he saw of Temple's coaches.
"I am impressed with what Al Golden has done there," Pearson said. "When I visited, he had no voice so I didn't get a chance to talk to him much, but I can tell he's a great coach."
Pearson has played mostly at offensive tackle throughout high school, but has also seen a few snaps at guard.
"They tell me that I may be a guard in college," Pearson said. "I'm barely 6-foot-5, so moving me to guard makes sense. Our other tackle last year is an even bigger prospect than me, and he is going to move to guard this season. I'm going to stay at tackle for now and just try to get better."
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Ryan reeling in offers
May 27, 2008
Ryan reeling in offers
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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If Temple wants to get a commitment from class of 2009 cornerback Logan Ryan, it will have to duke it out with some of college football's heavy hitters.
Owls head coach Al Golden has made a scholarship offer to the 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back from nearby Eastern High School in Voorhees, NJ, and Ryan said he has also received offers from Boston College, Maryland, Northwestern, Rutgers, Virginia, and West Virginia. Iowa, Penn State and Wake Forest have also shown interest.
"I'm just looking to go to the place that puts me in the best position to do well," Ryan told OwlScoop.com. "I view Temple as a team improving a lot. Look at what they've done under Coach Golden. They improved so much last season, especially on defense. They are really young and still did a lot of good things last year."
Ryan attended Temple's Junior Day last weekend and came away impressed.
"I think it was great meeting the coaches and seeing the area," Ryan said. "I definitely left their thinking 'Wow.' It was more than I expected."
Temple's facilities, both athletic and academic, caught Ryan's eye.
"I was blown away with the school," Ryan said. "The technology center was the best I've seen, possibly the best in the country. The locker room and everything for the team was very nice. The whole school was very impressive."
Golden and his coaching staff made an impression on Ryan as well.
"I think Golden has done a great job here," Ryan said. "Growing up in Camden County, everyone always thought Temple football was a joke. It's not a joke anymore. They won four games last year with a young team and should win more this season."
The 2007 season was Ryan's first as a full-time defender. He had 50 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries. He also had 625 rushing yards and 13 offensive touchdowns to lead Eastern to a 9-2 record and a NJSIAA state playoff berth, where they lost to Mainland Regional.
Ryan, who has been clocked at 4.40 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said distance will not be a factor in his decision.
"Distance doesn't matter," Ryan said. "If Temple is the best place for me, then so be it. But if a place farther away from home puts me in the best situation, then I'll go there."
Ryan reeling in offers
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
If Temple wants to get a commitment from class of 2009 cornerback Logan Ryan, it will have to duke it out with some of college football's heavy hitters.
Owls head coach Al Golden has made a scholarship offer to the 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back from nearby Eastern High School in Voorhees, NJ, and Ryan said he has also received offers from Boston College, Maryland, Northwestern, Rutgers, Virginia, and West Virginia. Iowa, Penn State and Wake Forest have also shown interest.
"I'm just looking to go to the place that puts me in the best position to do well," Ryan told OwlScoop.com. "I view Temple as a team improving a lot. Look at what they've done under Coach Golden. They improved so much last season, especially on defense. They are really young and still did a lot of good things last year."
Ryan attended Temple's Junior Day last weekend and came away impressed.
"I think it was great meeting the coaches and seeing the area," Ryan said. "I definitely left their thinking 'Wow.' It was more than I expected."
Temple's facilities, both athletic and academic, caught Ryan's eye.
"I was blown away with the school," Ryan said. "The technology center was the best I've seen, possibly the best in the country. The locker room and everything for the team was very nice. The whole school was very impressive."
Golden and his coaching staff made an impression on Ryan as well.
"I think Golden has done a great job here," Ryan said. "Growing up in Camden County, everyone always thought Temple football was a joke. It's not a joke anymore. They won four games last year with a young team and should win more this season."
The 2007 season was Ryan's first as a full-time defender. He had 50 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries. He also had 625 rushing yards and 13 offensive touchdowns to lead Eastern to a 9-2 record and a NJSIAA state playoff berth, where they lost to Mainland Regional.
Ryan, who has been clocked at 4.40 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said distance will not be a factor in his decision.
"Distance doesn't matter," Ryan said. "If Temple is the best place for me, then so be it. But if a place farther away from home puts me in the best situation, then I'll go there."
Monday, December 22, 2008
Looking to get comfortable in LA
May 2, 2008
Looking to get comfortable in LA
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
If things fall into place, Temple's Lady Comfort could join former teammates Candice Dupree and Kamesha Hairston in the WNBA this season.
Comfort, who completed her senior campaign back in March, recently signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Sparks. She flew to California with the hopes of impressing her coach, Michael Cooper, and a team that features former MVP Lisa Leslie and No. 1 overall pick Candace Parker.
"I'm excited to get the chance to play with them," Comfort told OwlScoop.com. "I played against Parker a little when I was a sophomore. It's going to be different to play with her."
So far, Comfort is sticking around, but the non-guaranteed contract means she's not exactly a lock to make the team. With that in mind, Comfort knows she must improve to make an impact at the next level.
"I have to work on finishing better around the basket," Comfort said. "When playing at a higher level, I have to show my strengths and try to hide my weaknesses."
Comfort is coming off an NCAA tournament berth, Atlantic 10 regular season title and a senior season that saw her average 9.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. As senior point guard Ashley Morris shouldered more of the offensive load, Comfort actually saw her scoring average go down from 12.7 points per game as a junior, when she was named the A-10 and Big 5's Most Improved Player.
Cooper, who's entering his fifth season as the Sparks' coach, won five championships in the 1980s with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. Comfort is anxious to play for a former member of the "Showtime" Lakers teams, and she knows she can call upon another former pro, Temple coach Dawn Staley, for advice when she needs it.
"Having her by my side should really help me," Comfort said.
If Comfort sticks with the Sparks, she'll become the third Owl in three years to make the league. Two years ago, Dupree was drafted sixth overall by the Chicago Sky. She has averaged 15.1 points and 6.6 rebounds through her first two seasons. She also plays professionally in Poland when the WNBA is not in session. Hairston was drafted 12th overall by the Connecticut Sun in 2007 but struggled in her first season in the league, averaging just 1.9 points on 24 percent shooting from the floor.
Comfort still remains in close contact with Hairston.
"I talk to Kamesha still," Comfort said. "It's hard to talk to Candice because she is in Europe, but I've talked to Kamesha about what I should do first when I get out to LA."
Comfort is in Los Angeles now, and because she left with just over two weeks of classes remaining in the semester, she still wanted to make arrangements to finish her work accordingly.
"I worked it out with all my teachers that I will finish all my work online," Comfort said. "So I'm done actually going to class, but I am still going to finish everything up on time."
Comfort's success at the next level is going to depend upon how well she finishes around the hoop. With Leslie's ability to face up in the post and Parker's versatility, Comfort hopes she will be able to pick up easy baskets.
Looking to get comfortable in LA
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
If things fall into place, Temple's Lady Comfort could join former teammates Candice Dupree and Kamesha Hairston in the WNBA this season.
Comfort, who completed her senior campaign back in March, recently signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Sparks. She flew to California with the hopes of impressing her coach, Michael Cooper, and a team that features former MVP Lisa Leslie and No. 1 overall pick Candace Parker.
"I'm excited to get the chance to play with them," Comfort told OwlScoop.com. "I played against Parker a little when I was a sophomore. It's going to be different to play with her."
So far, Comfort is sticking around, but the non-guaranteed contract means she's not exactly a lock to make the team. With that in mind, Comfort knows she must improve to make an impact at the next level.
"I have to work on finishing better around the basket," Comfort said. "When playing at a higher level, I have to show my strengths and try to hide my weaknesses."
Comfort is coming off an NCAA tournament berth, Atlantic 10 regular season title and a senior season that saw her average 9.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. As senior point guard Ashley Morris shouldered more of the offensive load, Comfort actually saw her scoring average go down from 12.7 points per game as a junior, when she was named the A-10 and Big 5's Most Improved Player.
Cooper, who's entering his fifth season as the Sparks' coach, won five championships in the 1980s with the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. Comfort is anxious to play for a former member of the "Showtime" Lakers teams, and she knows she can call upon another former pro, Temple coach Dawn Staley, for advice when she needs it.
"Having her by my side should really help me," Comfort said.
If Comfort sticks with the Sparks, she'll become the third Owl in three years to make the league. Two years ago, Dupree was drafted sixth overall by the Chicago Sky. She has averaged 15.1 points and 6.6 rebounds through her first two seasons. She also plays professionally in Poland when the WNBA is not in session. Hairston was drafted 12th overall by the Connecticut Sun in 2007 but struggled in her first season in the league, averaging just 1.9 points on 24 percent shooting from the floor.
Comfort still remains in close contact with Hairston.
"I talk to Kamesha still," Comfort said. "It's hard to talk to Candice because she is in Europe, but I've talked to Kamesha about what I should do first when I get out to LA."
Comfort is in Los Angeles now, and because she left with just over two weeks of classes remaining in the semester, she still wanted to make arrangements to finish her work accordingly.
"I worked it out with all my teachers that I will finish all my work online," Comfort said. "So I'm done actually going to class, but I am still going to finish everything up on time."
Comfort's success at the next level is going to depend upon how well she finishes around the hoop. With Leslie's ability to face up in the post and Parker's versatility, Comfort hopes she will be able to pick up easy baskets.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Stewart takes a step in spring ball
April 26, 2008
Stewart takes a step in spring ball
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff
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By now, most people in and around the Temple football program know what quarterbacks Adam DiMichele and Vaughn Charlton can do.
Saturday's annual Cherry and White intrasquad scrimmage at Ambler was a chance for redshirt freshman quarterback Chester Stewart to show what he could do.
Unfortunately for the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Stewart, his day did not get off to the best start. A bad snap on the first play of the day had Stewart scrambling for the loose ball and ultimately banging his thumb against a teammate's helmet. He immediately came out of the game and sat on a trainer's table with ice on his thumb for the rest of the half.
Stewart came back into the game in the second half, but not because the pain subdued.
"The pain never went down," Stewart said after the game. "It actually got worse as the game went on. I felt like I was good enough to go back in. The hardest part is getting the snap from the center, but when I'm in there the adrenaline from the game helps me forget about my thumb."
Stewart shared snaps in the second half with junior Colin Clancy for the White team. Stewart looked good at times as he drove his squad down the field. Running a 2-minute offense late in the fourth quarter, he connected on 5 of 8 passes for 71 yards.
Taking over at the White 17-yard line with 1:52 remaining, Stewart hit wide receiver Nyles Bynum for a 30-yard completion before getting 26 more yards on the next play on a sharp throw to wideout Michael Campbell. After completing short throws of five and four yards, respectively, to fullback Lamar McPherson and tight end Matt Balasavage, Stewart threw his first incompletion of the drive when he couldn't connect with Bynum on third-and-1 from the Cherry 18.
Stewart's 7-yard run on fourth-and-1 kept the drive alive, but the game ended four plays later when Cherry defensive back Geore Coleman picked off Stewart's pass in the end zone. The pick sealed a 21-6 Cherry victory, and Stewart finished the afternoon 7 of 15 for 123 yards.
"I didn't play well," Stewart said. "The thumb did bother me out there, but I made some mental mistakes that I shouldn't make."
Stewart is still very much a developing talent. He did not see time at quarterback until his senior season at Dematha Catholic High School just outside Washington, D.C., playing for the same program that produced Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westrbrook.
Saturday's scrimmage concluded Stewart's first season of spring football. Parallels can be made between Stewart's final drive and how he has performed all spring.
"I've had some really good days," Stewart said. "I've also had some bad days."
With DiMichele unable to participate in the Cherry and White game as he continues to recover from the fractured left tibia injury that ended his 2007 season, he has taken on the role of coaching the other quarterbacks, particularly Stewart. He even spent Saturday sending in plays to Clancy and Stewart.
"Having Adam around really helps everyone out," Stewart said. "He is such a great player and a great leader."
Stewart takes a step in spring ball
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff
Talk about it in the Message Boards
By now, most people in and around the Temple football program know what quarterbacks Adam DiMichele and Vaughn Charlton can do.
Saturday's annual Cherry and White intrasquad scrimmage at Ambler was a chance for redshirt freshman quarterback Chester Stewart to show what he could do.
Unfortunately for the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Stewart, his day did not get off to the best start. A bad snap on the first play of the day had Stewart scrambling for the loose ball and ultimately banging his thumb against a teammate's helmet. He immediately came out of the game and sat on a trainer's table with ice on his thumb for the rest of the half.
Stewart came back into the game in the second half, but not because the pain subdued.
"The pain never went down," Stewart said after the game. "It actually got worse as the game went on. I felt like I was good enough to go back in. The hardest part is getting the snap from the center, but when I'm in there the adrenaline from the game helps me forget about my thumb."
Stewart shared snaps in the second half with junior Colin Clancy for the White team. Stewart looked good at times as he drove his squad down the field. Running a 2-minute offense late in the fourth quarter, he connected on 5 of 8 passes for 71 yards.
Taking over at the White 17-yard line with 1:52 remaining, Stewart hit wide receiver Nyles Bynum for a 30-yard completion before getting 26 more yards on the next play on a sharp throw to wideout Michael Campbell. After completing short throws of five and four yards, respectively, to fullback Lamar McPherson and tight end Matt Balasavage, Stewart threw his first incompletion of the drive when he couldn't connect with Bynum on third-and-1 from the Cherry 18.
Stewart's 7-yard run on fourth-and-1 kept the drive alive, but the game ended four plays later when Cherry defensive back Geore Coleman picked off Stewart's pass in the end zone. The pick sealed a 21-6 Cherry victory, and Stewart finished the afternoon 7 of 15 for 123 yards.
"I didn't play well," Stewart said. "The thumb did bother me out there, but I made some mental mistakes that I shouldn't make."
Stewart is still very much a developing talent. He did not see time at quarterback until his senior season at Dematha Catholic High School just outside Washington, D.C., playing for the same program that produced Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westrbrook.
Saturday's scrimmage concluded Stewart's first season of spring football. Parallels can be made between Stewart's final drive and how he has performed all spring.
"I've had some really good days," Stewart said. "I've also had some bad days."
With DiMichele unable to participate in the Cherry and White game as he continues to recover from the fractured left tibia injury that ended his 2007 season, he has taken on the role of coaching the other quarterbacks, particularly Stewart. He even spent Saturday sending in plays to Clancy and Stewart.
"Having Adam around really helps everyone out," Stewart said. "He is such a great player and a great leader."
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tribue Takes in Cherry and White Day
April 23, 2008
Tribue takes in Cherry and White Day
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
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With the sun beating down on Temple's Ambler Sports Complex Saturday, Central York High School offensive lineman and Temple recruit Wayne Tribue took a seat on the grass to catch a glimpse of his future teammates. The 6-foot-3, 276-pound guard was one of a handful of recruits on hand for Temple's annual Cherry and White Day intrasquad football scrimmage.
Tribue has been mentioned by Owls coach Al Golden as one of the freshman that could contribute as a true freshman in 2008.
"Coaches have made sure that I know that I need to come into camp in my best physical shape, conditioning-wise and strength-wise," Tribue told OwlScoop.com Saturday. "I just need to give everything my best effort."
Tribue has been selected to play in June's prestigious Big 33 game, an all-star showcase that matches up the top players from Pennsylvania against the best from Ohio. He received offers from Army, Duke and Central Florida but said he felt good about his decision to sign with Temple.
"I just like the whole coaching staff and the team itself," Tribue said. "I like the way they handle football and academics."
At the Cherry and White game, Tribue had a chance to talk to Pat Boyle and Sean Boyle, twin brothers and offensive linemen from Maryland's Calvert Hall High School who also signed with Temple as part of the 2008 class. And although the game itself, won 21-6 by the Cherry squad, got off to a slow, sloppy start, Tribue still enjoyed himself.
"It's a nice day out," Tribue said. "It's good after all the off-season workouts and practices to get a gauge on where they're at and what they still need to work on."
Tribue has made several trips from York to the Edberg-Olson Hall Complex and Chodoff Field to take in some of the Owls' spring practices. He's joining an offensive line that includes senior center Alex Derenthal, the veteran leader of the line, sophomore left guard Colin Madison and senior right guard Andre Douglas, who's been moved to that position after playing at right tackle in 2007. And if Tribue wants to vie for playing time at guard, he'll also have to contend with redshirt freshman John Palumbo and sophomore Lloyd Codada, who are currently listed as the backup guards on the post-spring depth chart.
Golden has repeatedly said that "competition is king," and Tribue will be glad to join the fray once he arrives on North Broad Street. He's also encouraged by the overall progress of Temple's program, one that went from winning one game in 2006 to four in 2007.
"We're definitely getting better," Tribue said. "And with more time, I guess we will keep getting better."
Tribue takes in Cherry and White Day
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff Writer
Talk about it in the Message Boards
With the sun beating down on Temple's Ambler Sports Complex Saturday, Central York High School offensive lineman and Temple recruit Wayne Tribue took a seat on the grass to catch a glimpse of his future teammates. The 6-foot-3, 276-pound guard was one of a handful of recruits on hand for Temple's annual Cherry and White Day intrasquad football scrimmage.
Tribue has been mentioned by Owls coach Al Golden as one of the freshman that could contribute as a true freshman in 2008.
"Coaches have made sure that I know that I need to come into camp in my best physical shape, conditioning-wise and strength-wise," Tribue told OwlScoop.com Saturday. "I just need to give everything my best effort."
Tribue has been selected to play in June's prestigious Big 33 game, an all-star showcase that matches up the top players from Pennsylvania against the best from Ohio. He received offers from Army, Duke and Central Florida but said he felt good about his decision to sign with Temple.
"I just like the whole coaching staff and the team itself," Tribue said. "I like the way they handle football and academics."
At the Cherry and White game, Tribue had a chance to talk to Pat Boyle and Sean Boyle, twin brothers and offensive linemen from Maryland's Calvert Hall High School who also signed with Temple as part of the 2008 class. And although the game itself, won 21-6 by the Cherry squad, got off to a slow, sloppy start, Tribue still enjoyed himself.
"It's a nice day out," Tribue said. "It's good after all the off-season workouts and practices to get a gauge on where they're at and what they still need to work on."
Tribue has made several trips from York to the Edberg-Olson Hall Complex and Chodoff Field to take in some of the Owls' spring practices. He's joining an offensive line that includes senior center Alex Derenthal, the veteran leader of the line, sophomore left guard Colin Madison and senior right guard Andre Douglas, who's been moved to that position after playing at right tackle in 2007. And if Tribue wants to vie for playing time at guard, he'll also have to contend with redshirt freshman John Palumbo and sophomore Lloyd Codada, who are currently listed as the backup guards on the post-spring depth chart.
Golden has repeatedly said that "competition is king," and Tribue will be glad to join the fray once he arrives on North Broad Street. He's also encouraged by the overall progress of Temple's program, one that went from winning one game in 2006 to four in 2007.
"We're definitely getting better," Tribue said. "And with more time, I guess we will keep getting better."
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Owls whiff on home opener, lose to Wagner
Owls whiff on home opener, lose to Wagner
Posted on 08 March 2008 by Kenny Walter
The baseball team had no answer for Wagner University’s balanced attack in their home opener, losing 11-3, at Skip Wilson Field on Temple University’s Ambler campus.
The second game of the scheduled double-header was cancelled due to rain.
Against Wagner, the Owls (3-5 overall) managed nine hits, but were unable get any offense until the later innings.
After two scoreless innings, Temple gave up a run in the third and then imploded in the fourth. The Owls defense, which committed a season-high five errors, could be blamed for most of the Seahawks (2-3) offensive production.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Temple’s senior lefty Tom Dolan surrendered an RBI single to Brian Martutartus. That was followed by three unearned runs contributed to by an error by the third basemen Matt Heltz.
A pair of errors in the fifth by junior right fielder Sean Barksdale and junior shortstop Matt Ortega helped Wagner score two more runs to take a 7-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Wagner’s ace southpaw, senior Joe Testa, continued to baffle the Owls hitters.
Testa gave up just five hits and one run in seven innings of work. He surrendered his only run in the seventh but may have earned with a shutout if he got a break from the umpire. With one out and junior Lenny DelGrippo on first, senior Stan Orzechowski hit a screaming ground ball right at Wagner second basemen, Seth Boyd. The expected double play ball struck the umpire in the leg and caromed out of play. Two batters later, Barksdale hit a grounder to third, and beat out the double play to score DelGrippo.
At that point, it was too little, too late.
Also, by striking out junior Carmen Del Mastro in the seventh, Testa became Wagner’s all-time strikeout king, passing Oakland A’s farmhand Andrew Bailey. He had three strikeouts for the game and now has 238 career strikeouts, besting the program’s previous high of 237.
An early 11 a.m. start, cold weather and a steady flow of rain may have caused a few of Temple’s pitchers to lose their control late in the game.
Temple sophomore pitcher Mike Click recorded the first out of the eighth inning, but followed that by plunking Tom DiPietro. He was relieved by sophomore Rob Chamra, who subsequently gave up four walks and recorded just one out. Sophomore Kyle Monohan relieved Chamra and stopped the bleeding by recording the final out of the inning.
With the loss, Dolan drops to 0-3 on the season, while Testa improves to 1-1. Thirteen Owls reached base, but the squad left 12 men on.
The loss also drops Temple’s all-time home opener record to 39-9. With Saturday’s scheduled game versus Cornell cancelled, the Owls will look to bounce back against Hartford Sunday at noon.
Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Posted on 08 March 2008 by Kenny Walter
The baseball team had no answer for Wagner University’s balanced attack in their home opener, losing 11-3, at Skip Wilson Field on Temple University’s Ambler campus.
The second game of the scheduled double-header was cancelled due to rain.
Against Wagner, the Owls (3-5 overall) managed nine hits, but were unable get any offense until the later innings.
After two scoreless innings, Temple gave up a run in the third and then imploded in the fourth. The Owls defense, which committed a season-high five errors, could be blamed for most of the Seahawks (2-3) offensive production.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Temple’s senior lefty Tom Dolan surrendered an RBI single to Brian Martutartus. That was followed by three unearned runs contributed to by an error by the third basemen Matt Heltz.
A pair of errors in the fifth by junior right fielder Sean Barksdale and junior shortstop Matt Ortega helped Wagner score two more runs to take a 7-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Wagner’s ace southpaw, senior Joe Testa, continued to baffle the Owls hitters.
Testa gave up just five hits and one run in seven innings of work. He surrendered his only run in the seventh but may have earned with a shutout if he got a break from the umpire. With one out and junior Lenny DelGrippo on first, senior Stan Orzechowski hit a screaming ground ball right at Wagner second basemen, Seth Boyd. The expected double play ball struck the umpire in the leg and caromed out of play. Two batters later, Barksdale hit a grounder to third, and beat out the double play to score DelGrippo.
At that point, it was too little, too late.
Also, by striking out junior Carmen Del Mastro in the seventh, Testa became Wagner’s all-time strikeout king, passing Oakland A’s farmhand Andrew Bailey. He had three strikeouts for the game and now has 238 career strikeouts, besting the program’s previous high of 237.
An early 11 a.m. start, cold weather and a steady flow of rain may have caused a few of Temple’s pitchers to lose their control late in the game.
Temple sophomore pitcher Mike Click recorded the first out of the eighth inning, but followed that by plunking Tom DiPietro. He was relieved by sophomore Rob Chamra, who subsequently gave up four walks and recorded just one out. Sophomore Kyle Monohan relieved Chamra and stopped the bleeding by recording the final out of the inning.
With the loss, Dolan drops to 0-3 on the season, while Testa improves to 1-1. Thirteen Owls reached base, but the squad left 12 men on.
The loss also drops Temple’s all-time home opener record to 39-9. With Saturday’s scheduled game versus Cornell cancelled, the Owls will look to bounce back against Hartford Sunday at noon.
Kenny Walter can be reached at kenneth.walter@temple.edu.
Plenty to play for
March 8, 2008
Plenty to play for
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff
Talk about it in the Message Boards
For Temple women's basketball players Lady Comfort and Ashley Morris, their senior season has been special.
Picked to finish fourth in a preseason vote by the media, the Owls responded by winning the regular season Atlantic 10 Conference championship. A 12-2 league mark landed Temple a first-round bye in the A-10 tournament, and the Owls (19-11) will play Richmond this afternoon in the tournament's quarterfinal round.
The game, originally scheduled to start at noon at Saint Joseph's Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, has been pushed back to what tournament officials hope will be a 1:40 p.m. tip-off as they attempt to control leaks in the gym's roof brought on by rain.
Weather aside, it's been a nice ride so far for Comfort and Morris. Just don't expect them to be satisfied yet.
"I'm going to remember the team the most, the fight we gave," Comfort said. "But it's not over yet. … We still have many games to play."
Through much of their first three seasons at Temple, Morris and Comfort played in the shadow of players like Candace Dupree and Kamesha Hairston, both of whom are now in the WNBA.
Morris, a 5-foot-5 guard out of Philadelphia's Central High School, averaged just 3.2 points per game in her first three seasons. Her numbers jumped up this year, as she led the team in scoring at 15.1 points per game and assists with 4.3 per contest.
"I think Ashley played a minimal role her first three years," Temple coach Dawn Staley said. "She is leading our team. We don't get to where we are without her play on a nightly basis."
Ron Davis
Lady Comfort is averaging 9.5 points and leading the team by rebounding at a 8.4 boards-per-game clip.
Comfort, a 6-2 center from Pensacola, Fla., came into the season averaging 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds. This season, she is averaging 9.5 points and leading the team by rebounding at a 8.4 boards-per-game clip.
"Lady has been an integral part of our success the past four years," Staley said.
What Comfort adds to the team is a physical presence on the glass and in the post.
"I just try to go in every game to make sure they don't get second or third opportunities," Comfort said, "to try and go in there and rebound."
Comfort was named the most improved player in the conference last season, and Morris, fittingly enough, won the award this year.
Hairston was named A-10 Player of the Year last season, and Staley had been campaigning for Morris to win it this year. The honor instead went to George Washington's Kimberly Beck.
Awards are nice, but Morris knows they don't win basketball games.
"We didn't have an All-American on our team," Morris said. "We just had a group of girls that wanted to win."
Plenty to play for
Kenny Walter
OwlScoop.com Staff
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For Temple women's basketball players Lady Comfort and Ashley Morris, their senior season has been special.
Picked to finish fourth in a preseason vote by the media, the Owls responded by winning the regular season Atlantic 10 Conference championship. A 12-2 league mark landed Temple a first-round bye in the A-10 tournament, and the Owls (19-11) will play Richmond this afternoon in the tournament's quarterfinal round.
The game, originally scheduled to start at noon at Saint Joseph's Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse, has been pushed back to what tournament officials hope will be a 1:40 p.m. tip-off as they attempt to control leaks in the gym's roof brought on by rain.
Weather aside, it's been a nice ride so far for Comfort and Morris. Just don't expect them to be satisfied yet.
"I'm going to remember the team the most, the fight we gave," Comfort said. "But it's not over yet. … We still have many games to play."
Through much of their first three seasons at Temple, Morris and Comfort played in the shadow of players like Candace Dupree and Kamesha Hairston, both of whom are now in the WNBA.
Morris, a 5-foot-5 guard out of Philadelphia's Central High School, averaged just 3.2 points per game in her first three seasons. Her numbers jumped up this year, as she led the team in scoring at 15.1 points per game and assists with 4.3 per contest.
"I think Ashley played a minimal role her first three years," Temple coach Dawn Staley said. "She is leading our team. We don't get to where we are without her play on a nightly basis."
Ron Davis
Lady Comfort is averaging 9.5 points and leading the team by rebounding at a 8.4 boards-per-game clip.
Comfort, a 6-2 center from Pensacola, Fla., came into the season averaging 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds. This season, she is averaging 9.5 points and leading the team by rebounding at a 8.4 boards-per-game clip.
"Lady has been an integral part of our success the past four years," Staley said.
What Comfort adds to the team is a physical presence on the glass and in the post.
"I just try to go in every game to make sure they don't get second or third opportunities," Comfort said, "to try and go in there and rebound."
Comfort was named the most improved player in the conference last season, and Morris, fittingly enough, won the award this year.
Hairston was named A-10 Player of the Year last season, and Staley had been campaigning for Morris to win it this year. The honor instead went to George Washington's Kimberly Beck.
Awards are nice, but Morris knows they don't win basketball games.
"We didn't have an All-American on our team," Morris said. "We just had a group of girls that wanted to win."
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