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Hammond, LA
February 11, 2020
S O U T H E A S T E R N L O U I S IA NA U N I V E R S I T Y BRYNN LUNDY Staff Reporter
Lady Lions softball opens 2020 season with five wins
The Lady Lions softball team concluded the 2020 Lion Classic with five victories, taking the lead in every game of the opening tournament at North Oak Park on Feb. 7-9. In game one versus Buffalo, the Lady Lions took an eight-run lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, enforcing the mercy rule with a final score of 11-3. In game two versus Alabama State, the Lady Lions finished the fifth inning 12-4, enforcing the mercy rule once again. On day two of the Lion Classic, the team closed out game three versus Buffalo after the top of the seventh inning with a final score of 4-0. Game four versus UT Martin ran into nine innings, but the Lady Lions broke the tie and brought home another win, 6-5. Sunday’s game versus Grambling State concluded in yet another mercy rule, Lions taking the win 10-2. Head softball coach Rick Fremin shared his thoughts on the beginning of the Lady Lions’ season. “It’s great,” expressed Fremin. “Really excited about the start of the season. You always want to try and get off to a good start. I think we had a good one. Looking forward to the rest of the season.” Fremin claimed the pitching staff and the team’s defense were key components to their success in the tournament. “I think we had a balanced attack,” said Fremin. “The pitching staff did well. It was good speed throughout our lineup. We showed some power on Friday and Saturday. For the most part, we took care of the
ball defensively.” The Lady Lions ended every game early except for Saturday’s game against UT Martin, which went into nine innings after matching zeroes in the sixth and seventh. Fremin elaborated on his coaching tactics for whenever the game reached that point. “They gotta understand, in ITB, when we’re in the International Tie Breaker, that we’re trying to keep that runner from scoring,” explained Fremin. “There’s not pressure because we get that last at-bat. You’re just trying to calm their nerves, put them in a situation to be successful and play the tendencies and look at what the other team’s doing. Majority of the teams are gonna try to bunt that runner over. We just kind of kept trading blows. I was really proud of our team, the way we responded.” Sophomore utility player Briahna Bennett shared that practice and excitement put the Lady Lions at an advantage going into the tournament. “We knew we were prepared for everything, and it’s just really exciting to get back out here,” expressed Bennett. “We’ve been working hard all fall and when we came back from winter break.” Junior utility player Madisen Blackford said the team’s aggression helped them get ahead and finish each game with a victory. “The thing we do best is being aggressive,” claimed Blackford. “I think our aggressiveness is what helped us win all these games. Pushing the extra bases and scoring those extra runs that we needed to end the games early.”
Karlee Kraft, a sophomore pitcher/utility player, is met by her team at home plate after she hit her first home run of the season against Alabama State University. Senior catcher and outfielder Madisen Blackford gets a Grambling State Tiger out at first base during the last game of the 2020 Lion Classic tournament. The game made the fifth win for the Lady Lions, opening the season undefeated. Jacob Summerville, Brynn Lundy/The Lion’s Roar
Student blacksmith brings home flaming cash prize GERARD BORNE Staff Reporter
A university student made a big spark on the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire” television series when he took home the $10,000 prize. Cade Jenkins, a freshman industrial technology major, won first place in season seven, episode 20 of the “Forged in Fire” TV series. The TV series “Forged in Fire” involves four bladesmiths competing in four rounds to create the best blade. A native of Loranger, Jenkins shared his experience being on a television series. “It was awesome to be honest with you,” said Jenkins. “It made me feel like a celebrity for a little while. The whole experience was really cool. Getting to fly out to New York and meet and compete with some fellow blacksmiths was pretty awesome. It felt good to be around a group of people who feel the same way about blacksmithing as I do. It’s an experience that I will never forget in my life.” Jenkins’s journey with the TV series started when he was watching the show with his mother.
“One night, I was watching the show with my mom, and I was critiquing everything that I thought they did wrong, and she told me to apply,” explained Jenkins. “I applied and emailed someone about being on the show, and then I got accepted.” Jenkins shared how he developed close bonds with the other three blacksmiths on “Forged in Fire.” “I still speak to all three of them until this day,” said Jenkins. “They were a really neat group of people who are some of my closest friends.” After starting to learn how to blacksmith at the age of 12, Jenkins shared how his grandfather taught him the trade. “My grandfather was a blacksmith for 40 years,” said Jenkins. “After his health digressed, I decided to try and learn the trade and started to learn how to blacksmith. I learned the trade and have not stopped since then.” After graduation, Jenkins hopes to combine his current knowledge of metallurgy through blacksmithing and use his trade to launch his career.
Weather
Tuesday H 75 L 64
University freshman Cade Jenkins won first place in History channel’s TV series “Forged in Fire,“ taking home the $10,000 cash prize. Courtesy of Cade Jenkins
Index
Wednesday H 76 L 53
Campus Life.................................2 Opinions.....................................3 A&E............................................4
Horoscope, Crossword, Sudoku....5 Sports & Fitness...........................6 News..........................................8
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