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Matt Lane is host of The Weekend Rundown which airs from 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays on News-Talk-Sports 1630 AM. He can be reached at mattlane28@gmail.com.
Matt Lane
Matthews 2.0 After providing the area the early favorite for 2011’s Inside Railroad Job of the Year award — a category they’ve dominated for some time now — Lakeside High has found their man to fill the baseball coaching vacancy. They didn’t have to thumb through their evaporating Rolodex long to find a name familiar to the program. The last time we heard from Jay Matthews on the high-school level, he was leaving as Lakeside’s head baseball coach and moving over to Riverside Middle School. It was a move that had more to deal with the full-time commitment expected of a high school head coach than wins and losses. You can only slice the pie so many ways before you run out of it, and, as much as he enjoyed the day-today with the players, increased attention was necessary at home. “It’s an opportunity to continue to coach and work with kids, but in the same sense, you don’t have the 12-month commitment it takes for the high-school program,” said Matthews. “It’s something, when my kids get a little bit older, I may give another shot.”
You can get a formidable read on a coach by listening to what his fiercest competitors have to say about him. And at the time of Matthews’ resignation, that sample size was vast. Even the iconic Jimmie Lewis of Harlem had something to say on the prospect of Matthews not returning to coach on the high-school level. “If he don’t, it will be a travesty,” Lewis said. “He needs to be in the high-school ranks somewhere, because he’s a dang good coach.” Well there you have it. A former player and coach from the school who is wellrespected and liked by his peers as well as his competitors. An amiable guy who is finally back in a position where he can log the hours necessary of a head coach. Let me speak as a local high school baseball fan by saying good luck, but, as you know, beware. While cheers from the stands during games might sound a lot like, “Let’s go Lakeside!” or “Big bats this inning, Panthers!” You already know what you’re actually hearing is, “Tread softly or reap the booster’s club big stick, coach!”
ASU Athletics Provide Excitement Year-Round With the Jaguars baseball team making their recent push to the conference championship game, they’ve shined a light on what an impressive year it’s already been for ASU. And the success doesn’t even include what the golf team, ranked sixth nationally, has done because they play as an independent. That means they basically play the entire regular season with a huge target on their backs. But more on them in a minute. Including the Jaguars’ appearance in the Peach Belt championship baseball game, they became the fourth ASU team in 2010-11 to advance to the league’s championship game, joining men’s basketball, softball and men’s tennis. And while I have Joey Warren, ASU’s indefatigable media relations director for athletics, to thank for reminding me of that last stat, I also must pass great thanks to the members of the baseball team who gave us an endearing story whether we were ready for it or not.
ASU Golf Schedule
Note: All rounds take place at Golden Ocala Golf Club, Ocala, Fla., all day. Live scoring is available at golfstat.com.
Thursday, May 19 — NCAA Florida Regional, First Round Friday, May 20 — NCAA Florida Regional, Second Round Saturday, May 21 — NCAA Florida Regional, Third Round
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While Ashton Kutcher should fit well into his new role on “Two and a Half Men,” Rob Lowe would have been a home run. Hey, Carlos Santana. There is a better way to go about doing things. Shut up and just play the guitar. Book Recommendation: “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand. Do it.
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Now it’s onto the NCAA Regional for Head Coach Josh Gregory and company, as they begin defending their title in Ocala, Fla., as the No. 2 seed in the threeday 54-hole regional. They must finish in the top five to advance to the NCAA Championships. Best of luck to the Jags.
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