Posted 1:43 am Wednesday, May 18, 2011
East Texas Athletes Earn Murff Scholarship
By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer
A national champion in Division III junior college baseball will be crowned next week in Tyler for the fifth consecutive year.
More widely known as the NJCAA Division III World Series, the eight-team, double-elimination tournament will open Saturday with four games. The championship round is set to begin Wednesday, May 25.
Staff Writer
A national champion in Division III junior college baseball will be crowned next week in Tyler for the fifth consecutive year.
More widely known as the NJCAA Division III World Series, the eight-team, double-elimination tournament will open Saturday with four games. The championship round is set to begin Wednesday, May 25.
All the games will be played at historic Mike Carter Field, where the media luncheon was held Tuesday to announce this year's Sara Hightower Murff Scholarship winners — Robert E. Lee baseball player Andrew Stephens and Grace Community softball player Katie Gusa, both seniors.
“One of the things that we really want to continue to build on is the ability to give back to the community,” said former Tyler Junior College baseball coach Jon Groth, who helped coordinate the scholarships with Richard Solomon, regional president of Austin Bank. “We hope that by starting this out kind of modestly … that over time we can get more businesses and sponsors involved.
“One of the things that we really want to continue to build on is the ability to give back to the community,” said former Tyler Junior College baseball coach Jon Groth, who helped coordinate the scholarships with Richard Solomon, regional president of Austin Bank. “We hope that by starting this out kind of modestly … that over time we can get more businesses and sponsors involved.
“We had to turn some really good (candidates) down because we just don't have the resources to give more scholarship money. We would like to build that.”
The two scholarships this year are worth $750 each. The criteria involve not only high achievement on the field and in the classroom, but community service.
Sara Hightower Murff is the widow of Red Murff, the New York Mets scout who discovered Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.
Red Murff, who lived in Tyler when he passed away in 2008, was also a major league pitcher and pitched some legendary professional games at Mike Carter Field. Mr. Murff was married for 30-plus years to Sara, who taught first-grade reading for 28 years.
“We wanted to honor Red but we also wanted to honor Sara, and she graciously allowed us to put her name on these scholarships,” Groth said. “What a great way to honor a former educator … by providing some educational support to some deserving young people.”
Gusa, a shortstop by trade but a pitcher out of necessity at Grace, carries a 4.0 grade-point average in high school. She played for head coach Tom Alden.
Gusa's softball honors throughout the years include TAPPS 2-4A Defensive Player of the Year and district Offensive Player of the Year. She will attend Texas A&M and try out for the softball team, Gusa said.
Stephens, who played for head coach Mike Pirtle at Lee, has a 95.4 GPA. Stephens' baseball honors include District 11-5A Newcomer of the Year in 2010 and first-team, all-district infielder this season.
The Red Raiders' third baseman said he will attend Blinn College-Bryan for a year before transferring to Texas A&M.
The two scholarships this year are worth $750 each. The criteria involve not only high achievement on the field and in the classroom, but community service.
Sara Hightower Murff is the widow of Red Murff, the New York Mets scout who discovered Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.
Red Murff, who lived in Tyler when he passed away in 2008, was also a major league pitcher and pitched some legendary professional games at Mike Carter Field. Mr. Murff was married for 30-plus years to Sara, who taught first-grade reading for 28 years.
“We wanted to honor Red but we also wanted to honor Sara, and she graciously allowed us to put her name on these scholarships,” Groth said. “What a great way to honor a former educator … by providing some educational support to some deserving young people.”
Gusa, a shortstop by trade but a pitcher out of necessity at Grace, carries a 4.0 grade-point average in high school. She played for head coach Tom Alden.
Gusa's softball honors throughout the years include TAPPS 2-4A Defensive Player of the Year and district Offensive Player of the Year. She will attend Texas A&M and try out for the softball team, Gusa said.
Stephens, who played for head coach Mike Pirtle at Lee, has a 95.4 GPA. Stephens' baseball honors include District 11-5A Newcomer of the Year in 2010 and first-team, all-district infielder this season.
The Red Raiders' third baseman said he will attend Blinn College-Bryan for a year before transferring to Texas A&M.
NOTES:
Dr. Tim Drain, TJC athletic director, announced that JB and the Moonshine Band — an East Texas group — will sing the national anthem before Saturday's 4 p.m. game. … The annual free Little League Clinic will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at Mike Carter Field. … The tournament banquet will be at 7 p.m. Friday at TJC.
NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series
Saturday-May 26
At Mike Carter Field, Tyler
Saturday's Games
Game 1 — Suffolk-Selden (N.Y.) vs. Gloucester (N.J.), 9 a.m.
Game 2 — Joliet (Ill.) vs. Westmoreland (Pa.), noon
Game 3 — Eastfield (Mesquite) vs. Manchester (Conn.), 4 p.m.
Game 4 — Erie (N.Y.) vs. Rochester (Minn.), 7 p.m.
Sunday's Games
Game 5 — Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 9 a.m.
Game 6 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 7 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 8 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.
Monday's Games
Game 9 — Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, noon
Game 10 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 11 — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7 p.m.
Tuesday's Games
Game 12 — Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 13 — Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 25
Game 14 — Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 26
Game 15 (if necessary) — Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 7 p.m.
At Mike Carter Field, Tyler
Saturday's Games
Game 1 — Suffolk-Selden (N.Y.) vs. Gloucester (N.J.), 9 a.m.
Game 2 — Joliet (Ill.) vs. Westmoreland (Pa.), noon
Game 3 — Eastfield (Mesquite) vs. Manchester (Conn.), 4 p.m.
Game 4 — Erie (N.Y.) vs. Rochester (Minn.), 7 p.m.
Sunday's Games
Game 5 — Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 9 a.m.
Game 6 — Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 7 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 8 — Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7 p.m.
Monday's Games
Game 9 — Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, noon
Game 10 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 11 — Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7 p.m.
Tuesday's Games
Game 12 — Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 13 — Game 12 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 25
Game 14 — Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 26
Game 15 (if necessary) — Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 7 p.m.
