VIEW THE MOBILE ALPHA VERSION OF THIS SITE

----------

News Nuggets, 04.26.04
----------
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

Previous Day Nuggets...             Next Day Nuggets...

Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Day two draft action picks up for C-USA

East Carolina's Brian Rimpf was among 10 Conference USA players selected in the 2004 NFL Draft, which concluded on Sunday afternoon in New York City.

Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman was the first player chosen from a league school, going to the Buffalo Bills in the first round with the 22nd overall selection. He was the only C-USA player drafted on Saturday, when the first three rounds were conducted.

Sunday was more productive for the league, with nine players getting the call in rounds four through seven. Rimpf was the final C-USA pick, being tabbed by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round as the 246th selection.

Several additional players from Conference USA are expected to sign as free agents with NFL clubs. The rookie free agency period begins immediately following the draft.

Here are Conference USA's 2004 NFL draft picks:

Round/No. Overall/Player/Pos./School/NFL Team
First 22 J.P.Losman QB Tulane Buffalo Bills
Fourth 103 Bo Schobel DE TCU Tennessee Titans
Fourth 119 Mewelde Moore RB Tulane Minnesota Vikings
Fourth 129 J.R. Reed S USF Philadelphia Eagles
Fifth 155 Rod Davis LB Southern Miss Minnesota Vikings
Fifth 174 Rex Hadnot G Houston Miami Dolphins
Sixth 183 Greg Brooks CB Southern Miss Cincinnati Bengals
Sixth 186 Etric Pruitt S Southern Miss Atlanta Falcons
Seventh 212 Eric Taylor DT Memphis Pittsburgh Steelers
Seventh 246 Brian Rimpf OT East Carolina Baltimore Ravens

New York prep star joins 49ers backcourt

Charlotte basketball coach Bobby Lutz has announced the signing of standout high school player Jerrell Lewis of Brooklyn (NY) New Hampton Prep to a National Letter of Intent.

Lewis, a 6-2, 195 lb. point guard who played for four years at New Hampton Prep, averaged 18 points, five assists and three rebounds and was named to the New England Class A All-Star Team this past season. He had some high-scoring efforts, including his play at the Fork Union Tournament, where he scored 28 vs. Bridgton and 19 vs. Hargrave.

Tom Konchalsky, of HSBI, a recruiting publication out of New York City, writes that Lewis is "explosive. He plays with tremendous confidence. He can get to the rim and can hit deep, NBA threes. He has a big upside."

Lewis joins a well-stocked 49ers recruiting class that already includes 6-8 junior college all-America forward E.J. Drayton (Charlotte, N.C./Colby C.C.); 6-8 junior college post player Chris Nance (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Redlands C.C.) and 6-1 point guard Leemire Goldwire (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer H.S.), who all signed in the fall. The 49ers return four starters from their 2004 NCAA Tournament team: sophomore forward Curtis Withers, junior swing Eddie Basden; junior guard Brendan Plavich and freshman center Martin Iti.

'Stiff-armed' NAIA pitcher whiffs 25

MUSKOGEE, OK — Warming up before the game, Johnny Spencer wondered how much he had in his left arm. Turned out he had plenty.

The Bacone College senior struck out 25 against Jarvis Christian in a 4-0 victory last Thursday, one shy of the NAIA record.

Spencer used an 88 mph fastball and a hard slider to strike out the first eight batters before Eric Word snapped the streak with a bunt. Third baseman Dustin Abel threw him out.

``It kind of ticked me off that he would bunt on me,'' Spencer said. ``He bunted with two strikes. You don't do that.''

Spencer pitched a two-hitter. Only four batters put the ball in play against Spencer, who went into the game just wanting to strike out 13 to reach 100 for the season.

``I didn't feel good when I was warming up in the bullpen,'' Spencer said. ``I didn't know if I could get it. My arm was stiff.''

Miami of Ohio pitcher Buddy Schultz fanned 26 against Wright State on April 30, 1973, for the NCAA record. He later pitched for the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, striking out 193 in 240 innings.

Cary Spain of Belmont (Tenn.) struck out 26 in 1979 in a 15-inning game forthe NAIA mark.

The major league record is 20, held by Roger Clemens (twice), Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson.

Spencer, of Sallisaw, Okla., was a Red River Athletic Conference all-star last year.

Pirates assert control over first place

(Conference USA standings and scores through April 25)

                  CONFERENCE        OVERALL
TEAM             W  L  T  Pct.    W  L  T  Pct.
East Carolina   15  3  0 .833    35  6  0 .854
Tulane          13  5  0 .722    30 12  0 .714
Southern Miss   12  6  0 .667    30 11  0 .732
Texas Christian 12  6  0 .667    26 15  0 .634
Houston         12  6  0 .667    20 22  0 .476
Memphis          9  8  0 .529    20 16  0 .556
South Florida    8  9  0 .471    26 15  0 .634
Louisville       8 10  0 .444    20 20  0 .500
UAB              7 10  0 .412    20 19  0 .513
Charlotte        6 12  0 .333    16 21  0 .432
Saint Louis      2 15  0 .118    11 30  0 .268
Cincinnati       2 16  0 .111     8 31  0 .205

---

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007