Thursday, May 21, 2009

Peveto profile Monday in Town Talk

Alexandria Town Talk sports editor Randy Benson spent the morning in Natchitoches working on a profile of new Demon football coach Bradley Dale Peveto. The story should run in Monday's edition, available online at www.thetowntalk.com

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Newschannel 6 live on Front Street this evening

A feature package on Joe Delaney will be the focal point of Brandon Dunn's sportscasts this evening on KTAL-TV Newschannel 6 out of Shreveport. The station is originating its 5 and 6 o'clock newscasts from the north end of Front Street near the traffic circle.

Last night, Dunn interviewed former Demon players and Delaney teammates Mike Almond, David Causey and Britt Brittain as they enjoyed supper at Superior Grill in Shreveport.

Dunn also has action footage of Joe D. from his college and pro football days.

Causey was a football and track teammate of Delaney's at Haughton High and NSU.

If you can't catch the newscasts, they should be available on the station's website, www.arklatexhomepage.com tonight or tomorrow.

SLC Tourney update

Big inning for starting pitcher Ryan Zimmerman in the bottom of the third inning. After letting the first two UTSA batters reach base, a sac bunt moved them to second and third, then got a strikout and a ground out to end the threat. Demons looking to get the bats that have been so hot lately, going.

Early wake up call

Here in Corpus Christi for the 2009 SLC baseball tournament, it was an early wake up call for the Demons as they get ready for their 9 a.m. contest against UTSA.

Loading the bus at 7:15 a.m. to head to the ball park, the Demons were greeted with a bowl of fruit, two bacon and egg biscuits and orange juice.

Here at Whataburger Field, home of the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks of the Houston Astros' organization. A beautiful venue with the USS Lexington visible beyond center field.

First pitch upcoming as the Demons are wearing purple tops with gray bottoms and a positioned in the first base dugout.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Check Wednesday's papers

At www.shreveporttimes.com, reporter Kelly Morris will write about how Northwestern State athletics is addressing the current budget challenges.

At www.thetowntalk.com, sports editor Randy Benson plans to write a column about the potential for visit to Tiger Stadium for the Demon football team for a 2010 or 2011 game.

And Thursday, Shreveport Times baseball writer Jason Pugh will spotlight record setting Demon right-hander Jimmy Heard, who like Pugh graduated from Bossier City's Airline High. Pugh was taught English there by Connie McConathy, the Demon basketball mom (Michael and Logan)/wife (coach Mike).

No go for J.O.

Word from Demon baseball coach J.P. Davis Tuesday afternoon was not surprising but still disappointing -- star first baseman Justin O'Neal is out for the Southland Conference Tournament and any NCAA Tournament action with a fractured jaw.

O'Neal took a grounder to the face off a bad hop last Friday night in the sixth inning against Southeastern.

Despite a cut, he finished the play. He recorded the out. That's just J.O.

But Tuesday morning, consulting with an oral surgeon in Corpus Christi, he found out he can't finish the season.

This from a guy who reportedly told teammates on Senior Day Saturday - "they can't wire my jaw shut, I like to eat too much!"

So a bad hop grounder, to a first baseman who fielded .989 this season, did what pitchers could not do this year - it shut down Justin O'Neal.

So he's gone from the lineup card, but won't be forgotten for a long while. Just look at the Demon record book next year. His impact will be obvious there.

One encouraging thought for this week - with O'Neal watching Saturday against SLU, the Demons piled up 19 runs. One thing we know, this team will compete.

Baseball SID Matt Bonnette sent a text with the news of J.O. going on the shelf while he and Demon Sports Network broadcaster Patrick Netherton were hurtling through the Houston area on the way to Corpus Christi.

They left a day after the Demons departed. The team had a morning workout Tuesday at Whataburger Field, the home of the Class AA affiliate of the Houston Astros -- the Corpus Christi Hooks.