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Roman Augustoviz spends Minnesota's winters covering college hockey, specifically the Gophers, and other University of Minnesota sports. During the summer, he writes about the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx, with a dose of U sports sprinkled in. Follow him on Twitter @RomanStrib.
Posts about Sports
Gophers women muddle through tune-up for basketball opener
Posted by: Roman Augustoviz Updated: November 4, 2012 - 9:20 PM
The Gophers women's basketball team has one proven scorer in sophomore guard Rachel Banham.
She was the Big Ten's rookie of the year last season when she averaged 16.1points per game. And she will score this season, too.
Banham had a team-high 20 points as the Gophers beat Minnesota State Mankato 66-56 on Sunday at Williams Arena. She was six-for-12 from the field and made all eight free throws she took. She drove to the basket at times, scored on fast breaks and popped several outside shots.
She supposed to do that.
Offering more promise was the play of Micaella Riche, the 6-2 junior forward from Gloucester, Ontario. She had 19 points and 12 rebounds. Last season Riche averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds coming off the bench. She played only 15.7 minutes per game.
In looking at her stats, though, one has to consider the opposition, too. MSU starts three guards and two forwards, one 6-1, the other 6-0. The Gophers won't face many teams as short as that. Riche was eight-for-14 from the floor, scoring mostly inside, making one nice spin and under move. Hitting a medium jumper, too.
The Gophers need another big scorer or two besides Banham and Riche is a candidate.
Nobody else scored in double figures for the maroon and gold.
And Gophers coach Pam Borton was not pleased.
"thought we took a step backwards from Thursday," Borton said, referring to a 76-49 victory over Concordia (St. Paul) in the team's first exhibition.
"As a group, I thought we were a very undisciplined group out there, didn’t look like a team, that’s why I’m not even using the word team. We didn’t even look like a team out there. We have a lot of work to do before we open up on Saturday. I just felt like we took a couple of steps backwards from the other day.”
The Gophers play Washington State at noon Saturday in the Best Buy Classic.
Against the Mavericks, the Gophers committed 25 turnovers and went for almost 7 1/2 minutes without a field goal in the second half as a 55-33 lead dwindled to 60-51.
Ali Wilkinson, a 6-foot junior, scored 24 points and hadf 11 rebounds for MSU which shot only 31.3 percent.
The Gophers shot 47.3 percent, but were not much of a threat from behind the arc, making only two of seven attempts.
Junior guard Sari Noga of the Gophers often created havoc, good and bad. Here was her lines: eight points, seven rebounds, five steals and four assists. But she also had a team-high five turnovers, several times trying to force the ball inside.
Besides Noga, the other four starts all had at least three turnovers as the Gophers tried to push the pace with mixed results.
Kayla Hirt, a 6-2 redshirt freshman, continued to show signs she could help. Hirt missed her senior season at Bemidji with a torn ACL and then missed last season with the Gophers with a torn ACL on the other knee. She word black knee braces Sunday and had eight points and seven rebounds.
The Gophers outrebounded the Mavericks 41-28.
Etc.
* Katie Loberg, a 6-4 senior center who averaged 9.1 points last season, didn't play. She apparently is either sick or injured.
* Guard Leah Cotton, a senior who has often been a sparkplug off the bench in her career, made all three shots she took in 13 minutes of playing time. She had six points and three assists and tried to be aggressive (four fouls).
* The Gophers took a 22-7 lead and the rout was on ... Actually, no.
* Banham got the crowd roaring with an over-the-shoulder basket on a layup in the middle of the first half.
* Junior forward Kionna Kellogg of the Gophers was shaken up in a collision 6:21 into the second half. She lay on the floor for a long time before walking off on her own power.
* Hirt, the Gopher with two surgically repaired knees, scored on a slick drive to the basket with 4:37 left to put the home team ahead 64-52. Means more when she does that. But she missed the free throw and the U scored only one more basket after that.
It was time to 'Play ball' Tuesday at new Siebert Field! Or at least practice
Posted by: Roman Augustoviz Updated: October 2, 2012 - 5:27 PMThe temperature was 68 on Tuesday afternoon. And it felt warmer in the sun, standing on the artificial turf at new Siebert Field.
Longtime Gophers baseball coach John Anderson was there, surrounded by TV cameras and voice recorders, talking a little baseball and a lot about the progress being made on his team's new ballpark.
Everywhere one looked there was something to see. The artificial grass looked pretty, whatever color it was. It was mostly green, except in the basepaths and down the lines. There it was reddish brown, imitating the color of a normal diamond. The only real dirt visible at the new Siebert was on the mound and in the batter's box.
The cement foundation of the stands behind home plate were in, but not chairback seats. The framing of the press box was in. The chain link outfield fence was in. But there was no batter's eye in center yet nor a scoreboard in right field.
Ballplayers were trickling to the field for another practice. Their first practice at the new Siebert was held Saturday. Anderson hopes to have about 18 to 20 more practices this month. Weather-permitting in October. Tuesday was ideal, of course.
Anderson said, according to the construction timeline, all the work is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 31.
When the ballpark officially opens next April, it will fulfill a dream Anderson has had had for years. "It's like a new pair of shoes," Anderson said. "It takes a while to break it in. It has to settle some here. But I couldn't be happier from what I have seen of the playing surface so far.
"Next spring it is going to play a little quicker. And that's what we want. But I am really, really impressed with the work that has been done here. ... We have a team of people here that have taken a level of pride that we feel like we have invested in this program the last 125 years. And they have given us, what I think, is a great playing surface here and the looks of a ballpark here that is going to be exciting for anybody associated with the Golden Gophers baseball program."
The new field is already helping with recruiting. Anderson has five commitments for 2014. "That's the earliest we have had five commitments," he said, "so I have to believe [this ballpark] has had some impact. I have said that all along over the last 20 years we have tried to put this together, that you facilities state a commitment to your program. And obviously with the Metrodome and a chance to play there in February and March and then transition out here to Siebert Field and back to campus, I think the students are going to enjoy coming out to [this] ballpark.
"We built a berm out there in left field that is going to be a free area, a place they can sit in the sun and watch the game. So we think we have added some parts to this facility that we think is going to make it user friendly and fun to come to the ballpark and watch the ballgame."
Anderson said he feels kind of weird coming out to his new field. "It has been a long time coming," he said. "There are days I walk out here I keep thinking something is going to happen to sidetrack it or push it backwards. It surely hasn't. We got a couple weeks behind on the front end because of the contaminated soil, but the weather has obviously helped us catch up a little bit. We are making progress."
The Gophers will open the new ballpark on April 5 against Ohio State.
"It will be an exciting time, a new era in Gophers baseball," Anderson said. "The Chief, [the late coach] Dick Siebert is up there and I think he would be smiling down on us, no question about it. He would be happy with what we have been able to bring from the old to the new here."
The old Siebert Field opened in 1971, when it was called Bierman Field at first.
Anderson said Siebert was a baseball traditionalist, but even he would have probably supported the artificial turf over grass today because it will permit the Gophers to avoid some rainouts. And he said the state-of-the-art turf from Mondo will "play like grass."
In batting practice, it is also like the old Siebert. "When the wind blows out we get some carry here," Anderson said. "And that is what we were hopeful for. It plays like the old Field."
Among other features Anderson likes:
* A sunken field. 'We have been able to bring the seats down to field level."
* Big dugouts. "When you get 40 people in there at home, there is a lot of people and equipment."
* Small area of foul territory. The backstop and dugouts are close to home plate. "Dick Siebert built the old ballpark. Didn't like a lot of foul territory. Didn't want the game to be decided in foul territory."
* Grass berms on both sides of visitors' dugouts until seating finished.
* Wide concourses, 17 feet wide.
* A food and drink railing in front of the concession stands where fans can watch the game.
* A big plaza entry area.
* A parking lot for tail-gating.
* The underground drainage system. "It will handle a flood, if it needs to."
* A well-designed bullpen area by the first-base line.
* A $500,000 video scoreboard in right field.
"It has got a lot of features," Anderson said. "It has come together better than I envisioned it when we put it all on paper. ... We are going to try to make game day a lot of fun for people to come out and give them some options and choices to enjoy the whole day out here, not just the ballgame."
CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE
June 11: Ground-breaking ceremonies
June 18: Start of construction
End of July: Demolition of old Siebert Field finished
September: new synthetic turf put in
December: First phase of project, costing $7.5 million, essentially done
New ballpark will seat 1,400 in Phase 1, and later expand to 2,000 ... footings for lights will be put in, but $400,000 still has to be raised to have lights for night games. ... Altogether, Phase 2 construction will cost about $6-7 million.
A LONG WAIT
First baseman Dan Olinger, a redshirt junior, can't wait to play at the new Siebert next spring.
"Even the guys before me here, they were promised a new field when they came," he said. "I am one of the lucky few to realize that dream.
"The construction guys have done such an unbelievable job with the field. Getting it up so quick. We are playing here this fall. I am exciting to see it completed."
As for the switch from real grass to artificial turf, Olinger said that he and his teammates are used to playing on it because the Gophers have played so many games in the Metrodome.
"People coming in, it is going to be a little different for them," he said. "And that, I guess, is our home-field advantage."
Olinger is eager for that first series: "Oh man, Ohio State. I can't wait. It is going to be a blast. You couldn't ask for a better opponent. for the first game. Ohio State has been a longtime rival of the Gophers" in baseball.
92 Gopher athletes receive Big Ten academic awards
Posted by: Roman Augustoviz Updated: July 11, 2012 - 2:34 PMThe Big Ten Conference has released its list of 587 athletes who received distinguised scholar awards for maintained GPA's of at last 3.7 the previous academic year.
The Gophers had 92 names on it representing 19 different teams:
Name, Year. Major, Hometown
Baseball (3)
Troy Larson, Sr. Genetics/Cell Biology Maplewood
Ethan Liederman, Sr. Psychology New York City
David Schultz, Sr. Sport Management Forest Lake
Women's Basketball (1)
Jackie Voigt, Women’s Basketball Gr. Sport Management Cottage Grove
Women's Cross Country (5)
Ashlie Decker, So. Undeclared Des Moines, Iowa
Rachel Drake, Jr. Kinesiology White Bear Lake
Laura Koch, Sr. Child Psychology Waukesha, Wis.
Danielle LeBreck, Sr. Spanish Studies Cary, Ill.
Stephanie Price, Sr. Nursing Mankato, Minn.
Football (6)
Brendan Beal, Football Sr. Business and Marketing Education Bangor, Pa.
Austin Hahn, Gr. Special Education Hartford, Wis.
Michael Henry, Jr. Business and Marketing Education Mahtomedi
Gabriel Mezzenga, So. Undeclared Shoreview
John Rabe, Jr. Business and Marketing Education Iowa Falls, Iowa
Troy Stoudermire, Sr. Youth Studies Dallas, Texas
Women's Golf (1)
Jaclyn Shepherd, Jr. Accounting Delafield, Wis.
Men's Gymnastics (2)
Nathan Fortunato, So. Recreation Resource Management Bedford, Ohio
Jesse Moravec, Sr. Linguistics Rochester, Minn.
Women's Gymnastics (3)
Janell Campbell, Jr. Communication Studies Germantown, Wis.
Lucy Ennis, Sr. Inter‐College Program Roseville
Briana Jones, Sr. Physiology Grand Forks, N.D.
Men's Hockey (2)
Zach Budish, Jr. Business And Marketing Education Edina
Jake Kremer, Sr. Kinesiology Eden Prairie
Women's Hockey (2)
Alyssa Grogan, Women’s Ice Hockey Sr. Business And Marketing Education Eagan
Ashley Stenerson, Women’s Ice Hockey So. Undeclared Moorhead, Minn.
Rowing (8)
Caitlin Boon, Gr. Applied Kinesiology Eagan
Maddy Bourgeois, Sr. Rec/Park/Leisure Studies Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Alissa Haws, Sr. Supply Chain And Operation Management Libertyville, Ill.
Molly Kalmoe, Sr. Ecology Evolution/Behavior St. Croix Falls, Wis.
Leah Rogotzke, Sr. Global Studies Duluth
Emilie Sabourin, Sr. Microbiology St. Paul
Sarah Sobek, So. Undeclared Madison, Wis.
Katherine Windsor, So. Undeclared Shoreview
Women's Soccer (7)
Stephanie Brandt, Jr. Biology Rochester, Minn.
Katherine Carlson, Gr. Special Education Apple Valley
Alexandra Pafko, Sr. Business and Marketing Education Blaine
Catherine Parkhill, Sr. Entrepreneurial Management Apple Valley
Allison Phillips, Jr. Biology Vadnais Heights
Marissa Price, Jr. Business And Marketing Education Apple Valley
Kathleen Thyken, So. Lower Division Eden Prairie
Softball (3)
Bree Blanchette, So. Undeclared Eagan
Kelsey Klucas, Sr. Environmental Sciences Policy & Management Aitkin, Minn.
Danielle Skrove, Sr. Business And Marketing Education Zimmerman
Men's Swimming and Diving (6)
Jared Anderson, Sr. Journalism Baxter, Minn.
Joshua Hall, Jr. Inter College Program Wausau, Wis.
Nathan Jobe, Sr. Sport Management Fergus Falls, Minn.
Andy Knaak, Sr. Political Science Stillwater
Matt Papenfuss, Sr. Statistics Winona, Minn.
Derek Toomey, So. Undeclared Madison, Wis.
Women's Swimming and Diving (6)
Megan Braun, Gr. Applied Kinesiology Edina
Erin Caflisch, So. Undeclared Eyota, Minn.
Marissa Davies, Sr. Finance Winnipeg, Man.
Natalie Herrild, Sr. Economics Lakeville
Melissa Nelson, Sr. Human Resources/Industrial Relations Maple Grove
Ashley Steenvoorden, Sr. Elementary Education East Brunswick, N.J.
Women's Tennis (4)
Peta Forsyth, Sr. Kinesiology Wagga Wagga, Australia
Elianna Kantar, Jr. Agricultural Industries/Marketing Minneapolis
Alexa Palen, Jr. Business And Marketing Education Rochester, Minn.
Emilie Renault, So. Undeclared Rochester, Minn.
Men's Track and Field (8)
Trey Davis, Gr. Applied Kinesiology Farmington
Pieter Gagnon, Sr. Mechanical Engineering Minneapolis
Matthew Malm, Sr. Kinesiology Grand Forks, N.D.
Quentin Mege, Sr. Mechanical Engineering Chelles, France
David Pachuta, Sr. Neuroscience Eagan
Drew Paradis, Jr. Kinesiology Alexandria, Minn.
Steven Sulkin, Jr. Mathematics Elmhurst, Ill.
Ryan Todhunter, Sr. Biomedical Engineering Grand Forks, N.D.
Women's Track and Field (23)
Sharyn Dahl, Sr. Inter‐College Program Hudson, Wis.
Ashlie Decker, So. Undeclared Des Moines, Iowa
Caitlyn Dongoske, Sr. English Mound
Rachel Drake, Sr. Spanish Studies White Bear Lake
Rebecca Gusmer, Sr. Kinesiology Green Bay, Wis.
Leah Hansen, Jr. Elementary Education: Foundations Shoreview
Katelynn Hill, Jr. Sociology Of Law, Criminology, and Deviance Onalaska, Wis.
Jillian Johnson, So. Microbiology Green Bay, Wis.
Laura Koch, Sr. Child Psychology Waukesha, Wis.
Amy Kubat, Sr. Psychology Owatonna, Minn.
Danielle LeBreck, Sr. Spanish Studies Cary, Ill.
Rachel Melum, So. Undeclared Iola, Wis.
Katelyn Moraczewski, Sr. Graphic Design White Bear Lake
Kaitlin Murgic, So. Child Psychology Rosemount
Nicole Murphey, So. Undeclared Blaine
Chimeremodo Okoroji, Sr. Child Psychology Eau Claire, Wis.
Rebecca Pilkerton, Sr. Biochemistry Dexter, Mich.
Stephanie Price, Sr. Nursing Mankato, Minn.
Claire Rindo, Sr. Family Social Science Berlin, Wis.
Kathryn Ritter, Sr. Biology, Society, & Environment Mukwonago, Wis.
Megan Smith, Sr. Education Eden Prairie
Stephanie Solfelt, Jr. Elementary Education: Foundations Eden Prairie
Kelly Stalpes, Sr. Biology Plymouth
Volleyball (1)
Ariana Filho, Sr. Child Psychology Monument, Colo.
Wrestling (1)
Zachary Sanders, Sr. Business And Marketing Education Wabasha, Minn.
Ace of Gophers staff signs with Colorado Rockies
Posted by: Roman Augustoviz Updated: June 11, 2012 - 2:11 AMGophers junior TJ Oakes has signed with the Colorado Rockies, who drafted him last week in the 11th round.
“Everyone has told me that their organization is a good fit for me," said Oakes, whose father Todd is the Gophers pitching coach, "and I’m happy to be included with the club.
"They took a chance on me, are giving me this shot and couldn’t be more excited,” said Oakes, according to a U of M news release.
Oakes, a 6-5-inch right-hander, will report to the Tri-City Dust Devils in Pasco, Wash. Its the Rockies' Class A affiliate which starts its season on Friday and runs to September.
Oakes was a first team all-Big Ten pitcher this season. He was 7-3 record with a 2.31 earned run average
“It was an honor and privilege to put on a Gopher baseball uniform the last three years and be a part of the history and tradition,” Oakes said. “I have memories that I will cherish for a lifetime and got to know some great teammates and coaches.”
U pitcher drafted by Colorado, vote on new stadium this week
Posted by: Roman Augustoviz Updated: June 5, 2012 - 9:23 PMGophers pitcher TJ Oakes was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 11th round (348th overall) of the Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday.
The 6-5, 225-pound right-handed junior from Jordan, was a first team all-Big Ten pick this season. He was 7-3 with a 2.31 ERA.
BALLPARK VOTE COMING
The U of M board of regents will vote on Thursday whether to approve the first phase of construction for the new Siebert Stadium. They are expected to give the go-ahead.
For a closer look at the plans, click here.
The new ballpark will be a little closer to Jane Elizabeth Cowles Softball Field and angled slightly different than the present field, which needs to be replaced. The bleachers on both sides of the grandstand there have been removed because they are unsafe. As for the field itself, it has a two-foot slope from home plate to center.
It will have seating for 1,400 initially and artificial turf. Estimated cost for Phase 1 construction is $7.134 million.
The field, according to the documents the board of regents received a month ago, will be completed by December, the ballpark by December.
It's annual operating budget will be $73,000.
Parking will be primarily provided by a lot and a ramp across the tracks. Pedestrians can got up a hill to the top of a bridge on 5th St. and then down to the new ballpark.
* A storm in mid-May apparently knocked down one of the nine 30-foot poles holding up the batter's eye in center field, It took part of the outfield fence with it. The pole was very rotten at its base.
The university wisely cut down the other eight poles since then and the batter's eye, of course, came down to. So did more of the outfield fence because the poles were cut to fall that way. Only one of the other looked decay, but it was still a safety issue because there is a little used walking path nearby.
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