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Upcoming Events March 26 *2 p.m. JV Baseball vs. North Lake College (Sycamore Park) March 28 *3 p.m. Baseball vs. Paul Quinn March 29 Noon Baseball @ Paul Quinn March 30 Noon Softball @ Bacone 3 p.m. Baseball @ LSUAlexandria March 31 1 p.m. Softball @ Langston *3 p.m. Baseball vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor April 1 *2 p.m. Baseball vs. LSU-Shreveport April 2 5 p.m. Softball @ Texas Woman’s 2 p.m. JV Baseball @ Richland College *denotes home game
March 26, 2008 5
Wesleyan president followed his father to a career in baseball, now reflects on a lifetime of memories kicking leg. Schools like Florida, Florida State and Alabama wanted me to kick for them,” he said. SPORTS EDITOR Jeffcoat decided to take the baseball route when the San Francisco Giants drafted him with their 72nd overall pick in 1965 when he was just In the Grapefruit League in Florida and Cactus League in Arizona, 17 years old. baseball action is underway, and there are sure to be many great moments “I promised my dad that I would get my college degree by taking throughout the season. classes in the off-season. He was supportive and helped me invest the America’s pastime hosts great memories each and every season, and money from my first contact wisely.” for many years, Texas Wesleyan President Dr. Harold When he went off to his first spring training, it wasn’t long Jeffcoat was involved with professional baseball. before he started crossing paths with many historic baseball Jeffcoat hails from a lineage of baseball tradition. His figures. uncle George Jeffcoat played for Brooklyn in the 1930s, “One season in the Giants organization, my roommate was and his father, Hal Jeffcoat, enjoyed success in the pro an outfielder named Bobby Bonds. He had a young kid ranks as well. named Barry (now the all-time home run leader) at the time, He first became a hero during World War II with the and I used to help look after him.” 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team. He sustained Jeffcoat witnessed another legend at a young age when he serious injuries, and was the lone survivor in his regiment was playing down the road in Arlington. after an attack in France. “There was a team called the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs that After recovering, he met an American woman who was played at Turnpike Stadium, where the Rangers ballpark is also serving in the armed forces in Naples, Italy. They fell located now. My team was playing there one day, and there in love and got married in 1945. Their first child, Harold, was born in 1947. Photos courtesy of google images was this kid running around and chasing balls. The manager for their team was Cal Ripken Sr., and the kid was his son, The senior Jeffcoat got his first break in professional Before his career in higher Cal Ripken Jr.” baseball in 1946 with the Nashville Vols of the Southern education, President Harold The young Ripken went on to become a hall-of-fame playAssociation. Jeffcoat enjoyed 10 years of er and is recognized as the greatest “Iron Man” in baseball At the time, the Vols were associated with the Chicago professional baseball. He played seven years in the history. Cubs, and after a great season, Hal’s contract was purGiants organziation and three Although Jeffcoat had many productive seasons in the chased by the Cubs in 1948 for $40,000. minors, a big league call-up always managed to evade him. “Dad could run like a deer and was a great defensive with the Cardinals. “San Francisco was the wrong place to be as a young pitcher. They had outfielder and good hitter at that level. $40,000 was a lot of money at that an outstanding rotation led by Juan Marichal, and it was nearly impossible time for a player,” Jeffcoat said. to break in,” Jeffcoat said. The senior Jeffcoat established himself with the club, and when young “I could have just as easily tried to Jeffcoat was old enough, he experienced one of Jeffcoat wasn’t the first advance playing second base and hitting, but the greatest jobs a boy could ask for. Starting in in his family to achieve they were paying me to pitch. The problem 1952, he was a clubhouse helper at historic baseball success. His was I didn’t quite throw hard enough or Wrigley Field while his father was out on the uncle George pitched throw a sharp enough breaking ball to be a field. for Brooklyn in the big league pitcher. I had to get people out “I polished cleats and did other jobs with 1930’s and his father with my control and determination.” clubhouse manager Yosh Kawano. I grew up with Hal played outfield and Jeffcoat walked away from baseball in great players like Ernie Banks and got to go up in pitcher for the Cubs, 1975 after a stint with the Cardinals. He said the media box and enjoy hot dogs and lemonade Reds and Cardinals. he has many great memories and few regrets with Jack Brickhouse.” (Brickhouse was a baseJeffcoat enjoyed many about his career. ball announcer during that time). thrills during his childhood as a clubhouse “One of the toughest things to do in life As the father’s career went on, he was strughelper at Wrigley Field. is to accept your own faults. Once I did that I gling to consistently hit major league pitching, was able to overcome them and have a good but the team loved his arm. To prolong his career, career. I had fun and used baseball to pay he changed positions when the team tried him out for my education, which carried me through as a pitcher. In his first appearance, he had to trot Photos courtesy of google images life once I was done with baseball.” to the mound in the middle of the game straight Life after baseball has been successful from the outfield. for Jeffcoat. He and his wife have three kids The move proved to be beneficial, and Jeffcoat’s father continued his and two grandchildren. Professionally, career as a pitcher for the Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. Jeffcoat has been involved in higher educaThe junior Jeffcoat continued to help in the club house at Crosley Field tion with several universities. in Cincinnati and Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. “Once my career was over, I got very After each baseball season, the Jeffcoat family retreated to Tampa, serious about academics, and it has paid off Fla., for the school year. Raised in sports, the young Jeffcoat eventually for me. My career in baseball was great, and became a highly-touted football and baseball prospect coming out of I am part of a closely knitted group that has high school. a spot in the history of the game.” “I was a pretty good quarterback, but my best skill in football was my
BRYCE WILKS
Too much madness Loss in Kansas City ends productive season for Wesleyan basketball team
Photo courtesy of athletic office
Hopes for a national tournament run came to an end March 8 with a 73-71 loss to McKendree University.
2008 National Honors: No. 7 in field goal defense No. 7 in scoring defense No. 10 in total rebounds No. 11 in offensive rebounds
2008 Conference Honors: No. 1 in total defense No. 1 in scoring defense No. 1 in rebounding First ever conference championship
Wesleyan awards table champs match with Hazinski. Hazinski played well in the preliminaries, but was not ready for the exceptional blocking and counter attack of Owens. Despite In spite of savage Texas weather (light snow- early leads in several games, Hazinski was unable fall) earlier in the week that led to closing business- to mount a consistent successful attack, winning es, schools and the airport, the Four Star Texas only the fourth game. The veteran Owens conWesleyan University Open began in bright sun- trolled the match winning 9, 10, 8,-8, 6. shine March 8. From across the nation, 131 players The final showdown began with Lupulesku assembled for competition and the chance to win starting a bit tight. Owens, continuing his excellent more than $12,000 in play, forced both of cash prizes and equipthe first two games to ment. deuce, only to lose in Despite some specthe tie breakers. In the tacular play in the third game, Round Robins and Lupulesku, appearing early cross-over matchmore relaxed, brought es, by the Semi-Finals on a blistering crowdonly the top four seeds rousing attack to win remained. Ilija the Open Lupulesku faced Shu Championship in Sara Fu in the first straight games: 10, S e m i - F i n a l . 12, 4, 7. Sophomore athletic For his win, Photo by Mike Lin Lupulesku won the training major Mark Hazinski would face off Ilija Lupulesku (left) emerged from the field to claim $2,000 top prize with with TWU alumnus victory in his event at the Four Star Texas Wesleyan Owens taking the Eric Owens in the other. Open March 8. Lupulesku walked away with a $2,000 $1,000 second place. prize. Lupulesku looked relaxed against Fu who, Top three events nonetheless, used her skill to take advantage of results (Open Singles, U-2400 rating and Under every opportunity allowed her by Lupulesku. The 18 years old): match featured consistent high-level, crowd-pleas- Open Singles: First: Ilija Lupulesku, Second: Eric ing play with Lupulesku winning in straight games: Owens, Third/fourth: Mark Hazinski, Shu Sara Fu 9, 9, 9, 9. U-2450: First: Timothy Wang, Second: Carlos Owens completed two close matches with Chiu, Third/fourth: Shu Sara Fu, Nigel Webb Nigel Webb and junior international business major Under 18: First: Timothy Wang, Second: Chance Carlos Chiu and was primed for the Semi-Final Friend, Third/fourth: Judy Wang, Andrew He Chen
DAVID LIVINGS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
