Sterling College

By KCAC Sports Information Directors 

Bethany 5, Sterling 4

Bethany won the opening game of the 2008 KCAC conference tournament 5-4 over Sterling . Bethany took an early 4-1 lead but allowed Sterling to score three in the 8^th inning to tie it up. Justin Long then came up huge by singling in Hop Sullivan in the bottom of ninth to win the game.

Both teams hit the ball well all day, with Bethany getting fourteen hits while Sterling pounded out ten, but the pitchers didn't allow many runners to score and a lot of players were left stranded on the bases.

Justin Long pitched 7.1 innings for Bethany , giving up four runs on nine hits while striking out eight and walking four. Dustin Vaughn then came in and pitched the remaining 1.2 innings and gave up no runs on one hit to pick up the win for the Swedes.

Brett Ormiston went the distance for Sterling , pitching 8.2 innings and giving up five runs on fourteen hits while striking out one and walking one.

Hop Sullivan and Joel Sundquist led the way for Bethany with three hits, while Holbert Harold and Justin Long each added two.

Matt Elliot and Murri Lazaroff-Babin each had two hits apiece for Sterling .

Sterling will face Ottawa University on Friday in the elimination game at 11:00 am at Dean Evans Stadium. Ottawa lost to Saint Mary 4-5 in 10 innings in the other game yesterday. The winner will play again at 7:00 PM against the loser of Saint Mary/Bethany.

April 18, 2008 - Sterling College sports information has announce the 2008 Warrior Volleyball schedule.

September 2nd will start the Sterling College 2008 academic year with the first day of classes and will also start the Warriors Volleyball season with its season and home opener verses Central Christian College from McPherson, Kansas at 7pm. 

The Warriors will open the tournament season at NCAA DII Oklahoma Pan Handle State University.  At the invite the Warriors will be challenged by four NCAA DII teams; Southwestern OK State University, Angelo State University, University of New Mexico-Highlands, and Colorado Christian University.  

The KCAC schedule will begin away at Southwestern College (Winfield, KS) followed by a trip to McPherson College (McPherson, KS), then hosting the 2007 KCAC season and tournament runner up Bethany College on September 16th at 7pm. 

Knowing that the GPAC conference yields some of the top programs in the country, the Warriors look forward to their trip to South Dakota to face University of Sioux Falls (Sept. 19th), Dana College and Mount Marty College(Sept. 20th).  The trip will entail two prep team matches and three varsity matches on the weekend. 

The Warriors will be hosting three non-conference matches in 2008.  Visiting Sterling College will be: Manhattan Christian College who placed fifth at 2007 NCCAA National Tournament, St. Gregory’s from the very credible Red River Conference - Johnson and Wales University, who is in their sophomore year as a program and York College who has returned their volleyball program after a one year break.   

This season the Warriors will have two specialty events, Family Weekend and Faculty Appreciation Night.  Family weekend will be October 24-25, and will consist of two prep and three varsity matches for the Warriors.  The weekend will be a time for both the families and the foster families of the ladies in the program to enjoy volleyball and time together.  The weekend will conclude on Saturday with a senior recognition before the York College match scheduled at 7pm.  Tabbed for November 4th at 7pm, Faculty Appreciation Night will be an evening to honor the work of the Faculty of Sterling College that have invested so much in the lives of our athletes.  Both events will be special in the hearts of the Warriors.   

The 2007 season concluded with the Warriors just missing the KCAC post season tournament by finishing 7th.  Picked as a preseason 9th by the KCAC coaches, the surpassed the KCAC coaches opinions.  After a 10 year drought the Warriors defeated Bethel College in the conference opener and later defeated Ottawa on the road.  The Warriors were sitting in first place with a 2-0 record in the KCAC and overall 5-1 before suffering the loss of All-Conference outside, Renee Swisher.  The Warriors pushed through the rest of the season finishing 11-16 and 7-11 in conference play.  The 2008 season looks to be an exciting time as the Warriors look to mark their mark with-in the KCAC. 

“There is a lot excitement about the 2008 season.  We are returning a large core of our team including most of our primaries and have quality players coming in that will complete our team needs.  We plan to come out strong by continuing to work hard and enjoy the sport.” Comments, Coach Balogh   

Sterling College, established in 1887 competes as an NAIA institution with-in the Kansas Colligate Athletic Conference (KCAC).  Sterling College is widely respected for having one of the premier athletic traditions in the Midwest.  The men’s and women’s teams bring their passion and their faith to the field of competition.  For the Warriors, athletics is more then a sport – “It’s a laboratory for life.”  

The Sterling College Baseball team will be the # 3 seed in this weekend’s KCAC Baseball tournament hosted by Kansas Wesleyan University. Due to conflicts with Dean Evans Stadium in Salina, Thursday’s first round games will be played in Lindsborg at Bethany College’s Anderson Baseball Field beginning at 1:00pm. Games on Friday and Saturday will be played at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina, starting at 11 a.m., both days.

#3 Sterling will face the #2 seed Bethany College at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday while #1 Saint Mary will face the #4 seed Ottawa University at 4:00 p.m.. Kansas Wesleyan and Friends University who finished first and second respectively will not participate in the KCAC Baseball Tournament and have earned automatic bids to the NAIA Region IV tournament next week in Hutchinson, KS at Hobart-Detter field.

The winner of the KCAC Baseball Tournament will earn the last automatic bid to the region tournament.

The Sterling College Softball team will be the # 7 seed in this weekend’s KCAC Softball double elimination tournament hosted by Kansas Wesleyan University. All games will be played at Bill Burke Park located in Salina, KS on Thursday and Friday.

#7 Sterling will face the #2 seed Bethany College at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday on field six. Friends University who finished first respectively has earned the automatic bid to the upcoming Region IV Softball Tournament held in McPherson May 7-9^th. The winner of the KCAC Tournament will receive the other automatic bid to the Region Tournament as well.

The winner of the Sterling/Bethany game will play the winner of the Kansas Wesleyan /McPherson at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.

For more information and brackets log onto www.kcacsports.com

April 29, 2008 - Sterling College volleyball coach Melvin Balogh is pleased to announce the signing of Miranda Bradshaw who will join the Warrior program in the fall of 2008.

Bradshaw, a 5’9 outside/rightside hitter from Macksville, Kansas - prepped out of Macksville High School comes to the Warrior program as a stand out 2 sport athlete. Bradshaw, a two time all conference volleyball player for Macksville and also a stat leader for basketball, leading the conference in blocked shots. Bradshaw will be adding her athleticism and determination to the Warrior volleyball program.

A Special Education major, Bradshaw comes to Sterling College as a dedicated student-athlete. Bradshaw is an active student, a member of the National Honors Society and senior class Vice-president. She is also a 2x State participant in Forensics. Outside of the classroom, Bradshaw is the president of K-Ups. The K-ups program is a group that involves the students with community advancement.

Bradshaw will join former Macksville Mustang, Kyla Renfro. Renfro a 2006 MHS graduate was a three year teammate of Bradshaw.

“It is great to get a player like Miranda; I am excited to have the chance to coach such a wonderful young lady. She is a strong willed student-athlete and will fit right in with our team.” Comments Coach Balogh

Sterling College, established in 1887 competes as an NAIA institution with-in the Kansas Colligate Athletic Conference (KCAC). Sterling College is widely respected for having one of the premier athletic traditions in the Midwest. The men’s and women’s teams bring their passion and their faith to the field of competition. For the Warriors, athletics is more then a sport – “It’s a laboratory for life.”

Pictured:

Left to Right front row; Father-Kenny Bradshaw, Miranda Bradshaw, Mother-Cindy Bradshaw

Left to Right back row; Macksville Principal-Rusty Wrinkle, Sterling College Head Coach-Melvin Balogh, former Macksville coach-Jennifer Gillespie, current Macksville coach Cassie Bradshaw.

Sterling College junior Samantha Gonzalez was named the KCAC “Pitcher of the Week” after going 2-0 last week and giving up no earned runs in eleven innings pitched. Sterling improved to 19-17-1 overall and 5-8 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference after earning wins over Kansas Wesleyan and the University of Saint Mary last week.

“Sam did a great job last week,” said Sterling College Head Softball Coach Hosea Bell. “She came in and got the save for us in the Saint Mary game and then pitched a complete game against KWU only giving up five hits on the day. With two games left and then the tournament I hope she can fuel the fire a bit to get us deep into the post-season.

Samantha is majoring in psychology. She originally from Houston, Texas

Sterling Collegebaseball player Brett Ormiston earned weekly KCAC “Player of the Week” honors this past week after helping the Warriors go 1-1 in KCAC play.

Ormiston, 5’10, senior from Haysville, KS garnered KCAC “Pitcher of the Week” honors after pitching a complete game against Kansas Wesleyan University and snapping the Coyotes 12 game win streak. Brett only gave up one hit on the day and struck out three with no walks.

Sterling is currently 16-27 overall and 8-10 in KCAC play.

Ormiston is majoring in Exercise Science at Sterling College.

The Warriors will be on the road this Saturday at the University of Saint Mary.

April 14, 2008 - Sterling Collegevolleyball coach Melvin Balogh is pleased to announce the signing of Natalie Bailey who will join the Warrior program in the fall of 2008.