MCC softball adds Canadian catcher

Meridian Community College head softball coach, Robert Eakins, announced the signing of Marlee Kereliuk of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada.

“Our program is in the transition process from NJCAA Div. II to Div. I. The addition of this young lady is a big step in our rebuilding process. She is quality international player that fits right in with the previous players we have from there,” said Eakins.

“As catcher, her primary position, she has good knowledge of the game and works well with pitchers. Her experience of playing in several National tournaments will definitely bring some great leadership skills. I was very much impressed with her blocking skills at this position which will be a great plus for us. Not only will she help us offensively she will bring versatility to our team because she can double up and play middle infield for us. She will be a cornerstone that we build around and we look forward to working with her.”

Douglas Tkachuk, coach of the Edmonton Warriors, has these comments on her: “Marlee is a very intense and competitive player. She has great mechanics and a quick release with her throws to the bases. She can also play second base and in the outfield. She has good speed and arm for the outfield, and soft hands for the infield. Marlee works very hard on her hitting. She is a good contact hitter that will get on base.”

Cliff Lee in a hurry to join Phillies

Phillies land former MCC pitcher, Cliff Lee, in trade with Indians
Form AP

By STEVE LOWERY
Form The Philadelphia Daily News

The World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies acquired Cy Young winning pitcher Cliff Lee in a trade with the Cleveland Indians Wednesday.

The Phillies, who lead the National League East by seven games over Florida, sent four prospects to Cleveland for left-hander Lee, who is 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA this season after claiming Cy Young honors with a 22-3 mark in 2008.

Word that pitcher Cliff Lee had been traded to the Phillies spread through the Cleveland Indians' clubhouse like an ice storm.

Having just been beaten by the Los Angeles Angels, 9-3, the Indians came off the field to find out, for the second season in a row, their club had traded away the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.

The news did not go over well.

Quiet and subdued, Indians players moved deliberately around the clubhouse; that is, with one nearly manic exception: Cliff Lee.

Lee burst in from the showers and bolted to his locker, where he made like a quick-change artist, throwing on clothes like his life depended on it. You got the feeling his baseball life did.

"I've got to hurry," he said, somehow managing to button his shirt and put on his socks in one motion. "Obviously I'm going to miss these guys. But this is an opportunity to join a team in first place, the defending world champions. Right now I'm just trying to figure out how to meet up with them and help them win."

Lee said he had heard rumors throughout the day about a possible trade but nothing was certain. It wasn't until after yesterday's game, he said, that he got the word he was on the move. And boy, did he move.

"It's real now so I just have to find a way to meet up with them and just get acclimated," he said. "I'm anxious and excited to get there. It's the National League. I'm going to have to figure out how to get a bunt down more consistently."

It's a safe bet that if Lee figures out how to maintain his lifetime .634 winning percentage - best in Cleveland history - as well as his 3.14 ERA this season - seventh best in the American League - the Phillies will be just fine with him holding either end of the bat.

The addition of Lee, along with outfielder Ben Francisco, to a Phillies team just hitting its stride wasn't lost on anyone in Anaheim, including the Angels.

Marveled Angels outfielder Torii Hunter: "Man, the Phillies won the World Series last year with one great starter [Cole Hamels] . . . Now they have two. They're going to be tough."

For those he leaves behind in Cleveland - both teammates and fans - Lee seemed genuinely sad, and a little upset, and understood if they felt the same way.

"As a fan, it's gotta be hard to lose a Cy Young winner one year and another the next," he said, referencing last year's deal of CC Sabathia to Milwaukee. "That's got to be hard to swallow. You'll have to ask [Cleveland general manager Mark] Shapiro about it. Obviously, he thinks he's making the team better."

In a statement, Shapiro said, "At the root of this deal was balancing the conviction of our ability to compete in 2010 with the opportunity to impact the team's construction for years to come. Without the sense of confidence in the team's ultimate competitiveness, we acted aggressively to add players that will impact the organization in 2010 and beyond.''

There were no illusions in the Cleveland clubhouse about the Indians getting better immediately.

"Philadelphia's getting a great guy, a team leader," said Cleveland rookie pitcher David Huff. "He's the kind of guy who leads by example. He helped me out a lot, especially in the maturing process. I've been pretty much a sponge ever since I first got here, just trying to soak up everything I could. And Cliff was the one guy I watched and listened to the most."

It was a nice sentiment, but one Lee didn't have much time to listen to. Lee said he did not know if he would be pitching for the Phillies tomorrow against the Giants to remain on his regular turn. Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee said in Arizona that he was not sure when Lee would make his Phillies debut.

"Right now, all I know is I'm going to the defending world champions," Lee said. "That's a good thing."

MCC Soccer Getting Ready for 2009

Meridian Community College head soccer coach, Alex George, and assistant soccer coach, Michael Smith, have spent the final weeks of summer preparing C.D. Smith Soccer Field for the 2009 season just a few weeks away.

Optimism is running high for both the Eagles and Lady Eagles as they enter the fall campaign with a strong nucleus of sophomores returning and a talented addition of freshmen.

“It’s been a remarkable recruiting year for us and we are very pleased with the teams we have put together for this fall,” said George.

“I can feel that it’s going to be a good year for us”.

The Lady Eagles are coming off back-to-back championship seasons, which is remarkable considering that the program was started from scratch just a few seasons ago.

In 2007, the Lady Eagles not only qualified for postseason play for the first time in school history, they went on to capture the MACJC State championship and claim Runners-Up in the NJCAA Region 23 tournament.

Last year, in 2008, the Lady eagles continued their remarkable run with another championship year but claiming the NJCAA Region 23 title for the first time in program history and by doing so advanced to the NJCAA District tournament, but one step away from the NJCAA National Championship Tournament.

Meanwhile, the men’s team has put together a respectable 16-9-3 record the past two seasons, finishing above .500 both years and claiming the 2007 Runners-Up in the South Division.

MCC begins fall practice for 2009 on August 10th with their first pre-season game scheduled for August 22nd at Jones County Junior College.

Fans can get their first look at the teams while both will participate in alumni games scheduled to be played at the annual Eagle Day event on August 15th.

MCC’s first home date is scheduled for August 27th when the Lady Eagles host Mississippi College at 6:00 PM. The Eagles first home game comes on August 30th when they play host to Darton (GA) College at 10:00 AM.

MCC Golf Set To Continue Tradition

The Meridian Community College golf team continued their winning ways last season as they once again finished the season with a top ten (6th) National Championship finish and had one of their freshman named NJCAA All American.

The Eagles, who are the only Division I golf program in NJCAA Region 23, will start the 2009 fall season by playing in the Wallace State Fall Invitational in Cullman, AL on Sept. 14-15. Then the Eagles will host the Jim Redgate Fall Invitational at Briarwood Country Club on Sept. 28-29.

The Eagles then have a week to prepare for the NJCAA Division I National Championship Preview on Oct. 12-13. The Preview will be held at the popular Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Huntsville, AL.

MCC will round out the fall portion of the schedule at 7th Annual Hilton Garden Inn Invitational hosted by Mississippi Gulf Coast. The tournament will be contested at Windance Country Club on Oct. 19-20.

“This will be our second season at the DI level and now we know we can compete for a national title,” said Covich.

“Being the only DI Juco team in Mississippi and Louisiana comes with a great deal of responsibility to represent this State well and to continue the winning MCC golf tradition at a higher level.”

The Eagles will be led this year by returning All American Garrett Westbrook (Baton Rouge, LA).

“Garrett matured a lot over his freshman season with us last year,” said Covich.

“This summer it showed, as he won the Baton Rouge Open and the Louisiana State Four-Ball Championships.”

Two other sophomores who started in the NJCAA National Championship for MCC last year will return, Nick Hawkes (Essex, England) and Cory Williamson (Collins, MS). Tanner Sparks (Belmont, MS), who finished runner-up medalist at the Mississippi College Fall Invitational last season, will round out the sophomore class.

The rest of the team will include Mississippi prep standouts Bo Reed of Tupelo High School and JT Soley of West Jones High School. Out of state players, Brandt Garon of Baton Rouge, LA and Adam Monsen, San Antonio, TX will join international players Clemens Dvorak (Vienna, Austria) and Oscar Mariscal (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) .

“Both of our international freshman players are ranked No. 1 in their respective counties,” added Covich.

“They were really impressed by our tradition here and the support of the community for MCC golf.”

MCC All American Golfer Enjoys Championship Summer

Garrett Westbrook of Baton Rouge, LA became the first NJCAA All American golfer at the Division I level for Meridian Community College this past May and has seemingly used that one tournament to springboard into a successful summer golf schedule.

The summer was kick-started back in May as Westbrook shot 76-72-76-73 at the NJCAA Division I National Championship to finish 11th out of 130 golfers en route to leading the MCC Eagles to their ninth top ten national finish in the past 12 years. Upon his top 15 national finish, Westbrook was named NJCAA All America and was also named to the NJCAA DI National Championship All Tournament Team. MCC finished in sixth place thanks to Westbrook’s team best 297 four day total at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail-Hampton Cove River Course in Huntsville, AL.

Since that event, Westbrook has gone on to claim two amateur titles back in his home state.

At the end of June, Westbrook shot a 4-under par 68 and then a 1-over par 73 to win the 2009 Baton Rouge Open Championship. Played in his home-town at Santa Maria Golf Course, Westbrook bested 150 golfers to claim the title, including incoming MCC freshman golfer, Brandt Garon, who tied for second with rounds of 76-70.

Just this past weekend, Westbrook teamed up with Blake Kelley to capture the 2009 Louisiana State Four-Ball Championship played at the TPC Louisiana, home of the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic.

Westbrook and Kelley survived a four-hole playoff on Sunday to take home the championship. Finishing 36 holes in a tie with Darell Benoit of Belle Chasse and Scott Sterbcow at 14-under par, Westbrook sank a three-foot putt for birdie on the fourth hole at the TPC Louisiana to finally end the playoff.

In addition to his two championship wins, Westbrook also claimed a top 25 finish in the prestigious Spirit of America Championship played on the July 4th weekend in Decatur, AL. Over 150 collegiate golfers from schools such as Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, and others were entered into the event. Westbrook represented MCC and placed tied for 23rd with rounds of 72-73-72-75.

The Baton Rouge native will return to the MCC campus on August 17th to begin the Fall semester and returns to action for the Eagles on September 14th-15th as the Eagles travel to play in the Wallace State Fall Invitational to start their 2009-2010 campaign.

MCC golfer, Garrett Westbrook, and So. Alabama golfer, Blake Kelley, take home the Louisiana State 4-Ball Championship

July 19, 2009 -- New Orleans, LA -- Garrett Westbrook of Baton Rouge and Blake Kelley of Mandeville survived a four-hole playoff on Sunday to take home the 2009 Louisiana Golf Association 4-Ball Championship. Finishing 36 holes in a tie with Darell Benoit of Belle Chasse and Scott Sterbcow of Mandeville at 14-under par 130, Westbrook sank a three-foot putt for birdie on the fourth hole at the TPC Louisiana to finally end the playoff that seemed as if it might never end.

Heading into the 17th hole in regulation, Westbrook and Kelley held a precarious one shot lead over Benoit and Sterbcow, both teams playing in the final group of the day. A birdie by Sterbcow on #17 brought them all even at 13-under par, then birdies by Kelley and Sterbcow on #18 necessitated the playoff.

Kelley hit his second shot to eight feet on the first playoff hole (#1), with Benoit hitting it inside him to three feet. After Kelley ran his putt into the middle of the hole, Benoit matched the birdie with the three footer to send the teams on to the second tee. Pars on the par five second hole set up four birdie putts on #3 that all burned the lip but none fell.

After Sterbcow’s second shot ended just short on the par four 4th, Kelley hit his second to the back of the green, then Westbrook knocked his to three feet, and Benoit hit his to about 10 feet. Benoit’s putt slid by on the high side, then Westbrook wasted no time in ending the suspense, hitting his putt firmly into the back of the hole.

Westbrook will be a sophomore at Meridian (MS) Community College for the upcoming 2009-2010 season and was named a 2009 NJCAA Div I All American after leading MCC to a 6th place finish in the NJCAA National Championship last season playing under head coach Sean Covich. Kelley will be a freshman at the University of South Alabama staring next season.

Rounding out the Top Five teams, and ending in a tie for third were: Dusty Green of Boyce and Justin Lowe of Ball, 66/66-132; Robert Shelton and Ben Thibeaux of Lafayette, 63/69-132; and Kevin Morvant and Mark Leblanc of Houma, 66/66-132.

The Pete Dye designed TPC Louisiana track was in great condition for this field of the top players in the state. It played to a par of 72 on Sunday at 6,858 yards and continued to draw rave reviews from the field. Sunday’s weather was unseasonably cool with a tad less humidity than normal for south Louisiana. A swirling breeze did make club selection somewhat more difficult than on Saturday.

TPC Louisiana will serve as host to the 2010 LGA Senior Amateur Championship in August of 2010. The 2010 LGA 4-Ball Championship will also be held in the New Orleans area, hosted by English Turn Golf & Country Club.

Getting Ready

Meridian Community College head soccer coach, Alex George, and assistant soccer coach, Michael Smith, put the final touches on C.D. Smith Soccer Field at MCC.

Optimism is running high for the fall campaign with a strong nucleus of sophomores returning for both the men and women’s soccer teams and a talented addition of freshmen to add.

“We can’t count the day’s quick enough,” says Smith.

“We are very excited about the talent we have this fall and are looking forward to getting the ball rolling.”

Coach George adds, “It’s been a remarkable recruiting year for us and we are very pleased with the teams we have put together for this fall. I can feel that it’s going to be a good year for us”.

MCC begins fall practice on August 10th with their first pre-season game schedule for August 22nd at Jones County Junior College.

Fans can get their first look at the teams while both will participate in alumni games scheduled to be played at the annual Eagle Day event on August 15th.

USM Baseball Names Former MCC Coach To Staff

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss head baseball coach Scott Berry announced today the addition of Michael Federico to the Golden Eagle baseball staff as an assistant coach with emphasis on pitching. Federico's hiring is pending approval by the Board of Trustees, Institute of Higher Learning.

"We are very excited to add Mike to our staff," Berry said. "He has an excellent knowledge of pitching and is an outstanding recruiter both of which will be a tremendous asset to our program."

If anyone understands the Southern Miss baseball program, Federico does. He was a player for the Golden Eagles under Hill Denson from 1995-97 and became a graduate assistant coach under Corky Palmer from 1998-99, helping the Golden Eagles to a NCAA Regional in 1999.

After his stint at Southern Miss he became an assistant coach under Scott Berry at Meridian Community College in 2000, a team that played in the JUCO world series, and while the head coach at Meridian C.C. current Golden Eagle associate head coach Chad Caillet was his top assistant from 2002-04.

Since leaving Meridian in 2004, he has competed against Southern Miss each season as the top assistant at Conference USA foe Memphis.

"My family and I are extremely excited to come back home to Southern Miss," Federico said. "I am just as excited to join such a great program with two great coaches who I have known for a long time."

At Memphis, Federico was the Tigers top assistant coach the previous five seasons where he was in charge of the pitching staff, worked with the catchers and led the Tigers recruiting efforts.

Under Federico's coaching, the Tiger pitching staff improved in his first two years, and then, despite an influx of injuries to its starting pitching rotation, earned a berth in the 2007 NCAA Tournament, the Tigers first appearance since 1994.

Prior to joining the Memphis staff in 2004, he was the head coach at Meridian Community College (2002-04), where he was a two-time Junior College Coach of the Year honoree, In 2003 and 2004, he led his squad to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.

Federico led MCC to a 46-14 finish and a ninth-place finish in the JUCO World Series in 2004. Several of his players received accolades following the 2004 season, as two players were named as All-Americans, four players received All-Region 23 honors, and nine Eagles were voted to the All-State team. Federico was named Region XXIII and Southeastern District Coach of the Year.

In 2003, he led the Eagles to a fifth-place finish in the Alpine Bank JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. The Eagles also won the MACJC Central Division, Region XXIII and Southeastern Regional Championships. Federico was honored with Region XXIII and Southeastern District Coach of the Year accolades for his accomplishments in 2003.

Before taking over the head duties, Federico served as the assistant coach for two years, working with pitchers and catchers. As an assistant, he helped lead the Eagles to two conference championships, one region, and one sectional championship and a trip to the 2000 JUCO World Series.

Prior to joining the staff at Meridian, Federico served as a graduate assistant coach Southern Miss for two years under Corky Palmer. In 1999, his last year with the Golden Eagles, he helped the black and gold to the NCAA Southeast Regional, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

As a player, Federico was a catcher at Southern Miss from 1995-97, serving as the team captain his senior year. He started his collegiate career at Hinds Community College (1993-95), where he was the starting catcher and helped his teams to back-to-back Division II World Series appearances.

Federico received both his undergraduate degree in physical education (1998), and his master's degree in sports administration (1999) from Southern Miss.

A native of Slidell, La., Federico attended Pope John Paul II High School, where he was the starting catcher for four years. During this time, he was named All-State, All-District, All-Metro and team captain.

Federico, 34, is married to the former Hannah Sosa of Bush, La., who is also a Southern Miss graduate (1999) and former Golden Eagle Diamond Darling. The couple has two sons, Hayden (3) and Brycen (15 months).

Courtesy of SouthernMiss.com