It might be the final day of April, but football is the sport of the day here at UMass as the team hosts its "Spring Fling" at McGuirk Stadium. Tailgating begins at 4 p.m., with the spring football game slated for just after 7 p.m. There's more football news as many NFL rookie mini camps get underway today including the New York Jets' session featuring second-round draft pick from UMass Vladimir Ducasse.
FOOTBALL
With the first-ever night spring football game upon us, the Daily Hampshire Gazette has a preview with a look at UMass' quarterback situation between Kyle Havens and Octavius Hawkins.
Anthony Gurley has declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft, but expects to be back with the Minutemen for his senior season. Gurley, who would be the top scorer returning to UMass after averaging 13.6 points per game last season, is taking advantage of a rule that allows underclassmen to declare for the draft and still return to school if they do not hire an agent. Here are a few stories: Springfield Republican, Boston Herald, Daily Hampshire Gazette, WWLP NBC22, ABC40, Boston Globe, Daily Collegian.
UMass' Marcus Camby had his NBA season end last night as his Portland Trailblazers lost to the Phoenix Suns, 99-90 to lose the series 4-2. Camby had four points and four rebounds in 21 minutes.
The Daily Collegian also has a sidebar looking at specialty teams as a key to the game at Drexel.
Huge game in the CAA with deep postseason implications on the line at Penn State as Delaware plays at the Nittany Lions. The Penn State Daily Collegian breaks it down.
The Daily Collegian has a preview of this weekend's series with George Washington.
Pitching has been key to the Minutemen increased success in Atlantic 10 play. The Daily Collegian has a look at the Minuteman hurlers.
UMass senior star Mike Donato is a finalist for the LOWE'S Senior Class Award. The Daily Collegian has a feature on the well-rounded student-athlete.
In the minors last night, UMass product Matt Torra started for the Reno Aces, who dropped an 8-6 affair in 14 innings at the Tacoma Rainers. Torra threw 6 1/3 innings allowing six hits and three runs with 4 strikeouts. He has a 3.32 ERA this season.
SOFTBALL
After a long period of time off -- due to UConn canceling Thursday's game, UMass will host Dayton in a doubleheader on Sunday. Here is a preview from the Daily Collegian.
Here's a preview from the Daily Collegian of the crew team's event at Dartmouth this weekend.
Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: With tons of UMass action this weekend, follow all of it on the Watch & Listen Page with links to all the video, audio an live stats.
Don't Miss This: Tonight is the UMass Football "Spring Fling" join us at McGuirk Stadium starting with some tailgating at 4 p.m.
We are just one day away from the "Spring Fling" as UMass football will hold its annual spring game. This season will mark the first time the event will be held under the lights at McGuirk Stadium. Tailgating starts at 4 p.m., with the game set for 7 p.m. JTAM has a great feature on American Idol hopeful Whitney Williams of the softball team. Check it out.
FOOTBALL
Join us at the "Spring Fling" Friday night at McGuirk Stadium.
SOFTBALL
UMass fans, keep watching American Idol as shortstop Whitney Williams might appear soon! Check out the feature from the Daily Collegian about Williams and her aspiring musical career.
Rhode Island's student newspaper The Good 5 Cent Cigar has a look back at UMass' doubleheader sweep of the Rams on Tuesday.
The Daily Collegian has its weekly Atlantic 10 notebook on softball.
TRACK & FIELD
The Daily Collegian has a feature on the Atlantic 10 Track & Field Championships this weekend at UMass.
HOCKEY
In the AHL Playoffs, the Worcester Sharks suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the Manchester Monarchs last night at the DCU Center. The series stands tied at 1-1. UMass alum Justin Braun had an assist in the loss. Cory Quirk also played in the game. In the postseason, Braun has three assists while Quirk has a goal and assist. James Marcou has played in one playoff game as well.
Alum Matt Anderson continues to shine with the Chicago Wolves. Heading into their next playoff series against Texas Stars starting Friday. Anderson paces the Wolves and shares seventh in the AHL with six assists during the postseason ... Shares first on the team with six points ... Notched 10 points (2G, 8A) in 30 career Calder Cup playoff matchups ... Shared third on the team with a career-high 29 assists, sixth with a career-most 16 goals and ranked seventh with a career-best 45 points in 63 regular-season games.
BASEBALL
In his second pro season, Mitchell Clegg picked up his second pro win last night. He came on in relief for the Hagerstown Suns and helped them to a 7-2 win over the Augusta Greenjackets. Clegg got the victory with 4 1/3 innings of two-hit pitching with five strikeouts.
UMass alum Matt Torra will be on the mound tonight for the Reno Aces as they take on the Tacoma Rainers in Triple-A baseball.
Torra is also staying involved with his local community. The site iBerkshires.com has news on Torra's golf outing set for Sept. 18, 2010. Torra will host his sixth annual Conor Dillon Memorial Golf Tournament. Presented by Pittsfield Co-operative Bank, this year's scramble tournament will take place at Waubeeka Golf Links. Proceeds from the event benefit the Pittsfield Little Leagues and related scholarship programs, as well as the Pittsfield Girls Softball League.
MEN'S LACROSSE
As UMass preps for its huge game at Drexel on Saturday, Inside Lacrosse has an interesting look at parity in the sport of lacrosse.
The Washington Stealth finished the 2010 National Lacrosse League regular season schedule with a league-best 11-5 record. But this weekend, when the Stealth take on the Minnesota Swarm in the opening round of postseason play. UMass alum and perennial all-star Jeff Zywicki is averaging more than five points a game with the pro indoor team. Here is a preview.
No student-athlete birthdays today.
Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: The UMass Online Store ranked among the Top 50 CBS College Sports stores for the first quarter of 2010 (Jan.-Mar.). Pick up your favorite item today.
Don't Miss This: Tonight at 10:30 p.m. on TNT, watch Marcus Camby and the Portland Trailblazers try to stay alive in the NBA Playoffs as they battle the Phoenix Suns. Tomorrow is the UMass Football "Spring Fling" join us at McGuirk Stadium starting with some tailgating at 4 p.m.
A trio of UMass student-athletes will be honored today at the Sports Luncheon. Join us in the Campus Center at 12:15 p.m., as track's Brian Miller and Lisa Wilson along with lacrosse star Jackie Lyons will be honored. JTAM has plenty of news on the squads including the softball team as the Minutewomen moved to 11-0-1 in Atlantic 10 action.
The Springfield Republican has a look at various stories on UMass' Vladimir Dcuasse and his chances at being the New York Jets starting left guard.
BASKETBALL
The Boston Celtics won their first-round series 4-1 over the Miami Heat with a 96-86 win last night. Tony Gaffney of UMass was on the bench again for the C's.
BASEBALL
Even though the team's game vs. Siena was called off due to weather, the Minutemen were bestowed with three honors. Read about it in the Daily Collegian.
Big day on campus with three games. Hopefully Mother Nature cooperates and the rain ends early in the day. The softball team hosts URI in a pair starting at 3 p.m., the baseball team welcomes Siena at 3 p.m. If you happen to be near a TV, you can watch a replay of the men's lacrosse dramatic 13-12 win over Georgetown today at 4:30 p.m., on ESPNU.
This Saturday's huge game at Drexel will be televised locally on Comcast SportsNet New England starting at 4 p.m., with Jon Gurevitch and Jack Piatelli on the call.
He was among the top five in the league until an injury sidelined him late in the season. After missing three games, he came back with two goals and assist in the Stealth's finale vs. Rochester.
The Boston Blazers made the playoffs as the last team in, in the Eastern Conference. Alums Sean Morris and Jack Reid have played key roles throughout the season. Morris has four goals and eight assists. Reid has three assists and 35 loose balls. The Blazers play at the Orlando Titans, Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
BASKETBALL
The Portland Trailblazers fell 107-89 last night to the Phoenix Suns and trail the series, 3-2. UMass' Marcus Camby had seven points and 11 rebounds.
BASEBALL
UMass alum Mitchell Clegg picked up his first win of the season, with the Hagerstown Suns over the weekend. Pitching in relief, he was credited with the win in the Suns, 11-7 win.
ROWING
The Daily Collegian recaps the crew team's event this past weekend as UMass took first place.
TRACK & FIELD
The Daily Collegian has the look back at UMass' meet this past weekend at New Hampshire.
TENNIS
The tennis team finished in fifth place in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Read the recap in the Daily Collegian.
No UMass student-athlete birthdays on April 27.
Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: Buy your favorite UMass photos in the UMass Photo Store.
Don't Miss This: Take your pick, At 3 p.m.: The UMass Softball Complex for a twinbill vs. Rhode Island or Earl Lorden Field for baseball's game vs. Siena.
What an amazing weekend for UMass Athletics. A top NFL Draft pick (Vladimir Ducasse by the Jets in the second round), a confernce championship (women's lacrosse team winning the A-10s), a last-second win over a Top 10 team on national TV (men's lacrosse beat #10 Georgetown, 13-12 on ESPNU) and two school records (by track's Lisa Wilson).
The Salem News has news on Kyle Harrington earning a tryout with the Chicago Bears. Harrington was also invited to Washington Redskins camp, which takes place the week after the Bears.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
The Providence Journal has a sensational feature story on UMass' Tony Gaffney, who is enjoying his run with the Boston Celtics in the NBA Playoffs.
After broadcasting UMass' 13-12 win over Georgetown, ESPNU's Quint Kessenich has the Minutemen at No. 10 in his weekly poll in Inside Lacrosse.
BASEBALL
The diamond nine had great showing with a doubleheader sweep of Saint Louis on Saturday. The twinbill is recapped in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Sophomore Joe Popielarczyk of Florence pitched three scoreless innings in relief to earn his first collegiate victory for the University of Massachusetts baseball team in the first game of a doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. The Minutemen (10-21, 7-8 Atlantic 10) rallied to win the first game 10-9, before a dominating 12-0 victory in the second.
In the minors, UMass alum Matt Torra pitched in his second game as a Triple-A hurler with the Reno Aces. Check the recaps from the Reno Gazette Journal, as Torra allowed two runs on six hits over 6.2 innings of work.
A Philly.com article on the high school softball pitching rubber being moved back three feet next season has a quote from UMass signee Caroline Raymond.
The North Andover Ctizen has a story on the North Andover High softball team that features signee Candace Waldie. (with photos)
HOCKEY
The Franklin County Gazette has a super feature on UMass alum and Pond Club executive Mike Merchant.
The season came to an end for UMass' Jon Quick last night as his L.A. Kings lost to the Vancouver Canucks, 4-2, as the Canucks won the series by the tally. Quick made 18 saves.
Check This Out On UMassAthletics.com: Sign up for wireless updates on all UMass teams with Mobile Headlines & Scores Update. When the games end you will get the instant updates.
Don't Miss This: Monday will bring conference weekly honors as well as the UMass Athlete of the Week announcement. Also check back to see where the men's lacrosse team is ranked in the USILA and Inside Lacrosse polls after a win over a Top 10 team.
