BASEBALL RIDING HOT STREAK
After a disappointing regular season where the Flames received the #7 seed in the Big South Tournament, Liberty has gotten hot at the right time. After taking 2 of 3 from High Point last week, the Flames entered the tournament winners of 6 out of 7 games. In the first game of the tournament, the Flame Train knocked off 2 seed High Point, 6-1, thanks to 7 stellar innings from Jack DeGroat. On Wednesday, the Flames beat 3 seed Longwood, 9-3 to advance to the semifinals and just 2 wins shy of a Big South Championship.
ALL-BIG SOUTH HONORS
Outfielder D.J. Artis was named the 2016 Big South Freshman of the Year. He’s the 5th Flame to win the award and first since Parker Bean in 2014. Artis entered the Big South Tournament 2nd in the conference with a .509 on base percentage. He also set the single-season program record of 49 walks set by Jeff Edwards in 1986. Artis also ranks among conference leaders in batting average (.379), hits (78), runs scored (39), and stolen bases (22). In addition to being the freshman of the year, Artis was also named to the all-conference first team. Joining Artis on the first team is teammate Andrew Yacyk. Yacyk entered the Big South Tournament with a .316 batting average, 33 runs scored, 7 home runs.
THEO JOHNSON TRANSFERRING TO D2
Verbalcommits.com reports that former Liberty basketball player Theo Johnson is transferring to Division 2 Cal State Dominguez Hills. After transferring to Liberty from the College of Charleston, Johnson averaged 10 points and 4.6 rebounds per game during the 2014-15 season. Coach McKay suspended Theo Johnson indefinitely for a violation of team rules prior to the start of the 2015-16 season. He never rejoined the team. Johnson has one season of eligibility remaining.
MBB ONLINE ROSTER UPDATED
The complete 2016-17 men’s basketball roster has been posted online including all of the new players and jersey numbers. One notable is incoming freshman Hayden Koval is not listed. Koval signed with Liberty back in November as a walk-on, but apparently won’t make it to campus next season. He is a 7’0” center who was homeschooled and played for CHANT homeschool in Texas.
SAM MATHESON IN NCAA 1ST ROUND
Sam Matheson of the Liberty men’s tennis team advanced to the 2016 NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships after a historic season. He dropped a 6-1, 6-3 match to #32 Wayne Montgomery of Georgia. Matheson is the first player in program history to earn a national ranking, individually qualify for the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship and earn Big South Player of the Year. He finished his spring season with an 18-2 overall record, best in the Big South.
