FOOTBALL Petrino sets 2009 date for spring game Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino won’t have to worry about juggling his spring practice plans in 2009 like he did this spring. Petrino announced Friday that next year’s Red-White spring game will be held April 18. Petrino had originally wanted to have his first Red-White game April 19, but other events in Fayetteville, such as the Real Deal on the Hill basketball tournament, were already on the calendar. The Red-White game April 26 drew a school-record estimated crowd of 40, 200 for a spring game. BASKETBALL UA’s Sanchez playing on China tour Arkansas forward Michael Sanchez, a redshirt freshman from Springdale, is among nine college players selected for a Reach USA team that will play exhibition games in China over a two-week span. The Reach USA team, a division of a Christian sports ministry, will play eight games against Chinese pro teams from Sunday through May 25. Sanchez is one of four SEC players on the team, along with Mississippi State forward Elgin Bailey, Vanderbilt guard Jermaine Beal and Georgia guard Zach Swansey.
— Bob Holt Forward signs with UA women The Arkansas Lady Razorbacks have signed forward Ashley McCray, 6-3, of Chipola College in Florida. McCray, who averaged 12. 7 points and 5. 2 rebounds a game this past season, considered South Carolina, West Virginia, Miami and Florida. She signed with South Florida out of high school in Lake Mary, Fla., but fell short academically. McCray made an official visit to Fayetteville on April 25-27. She cited team chemistry and assistant coach Zenarae Antoine as reasons she chose Arkansas. “The main thing was I wanted to go far away from home,” McCray said. “But I wanted to find a school with a home environment. When I went on my visit, I felt accepted and part of the family. “ Coach Z showed more interest in me than any other coach that recruited me. She really pulled me into the school.” — Richard Davenport BASEBALL Arkansas-Fort Smith avoids elimination Closer Jake Waddle worked out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning Thursday night and Arkansas-Fort Smith held on for a 4-2 victory over Rose State in an elimination game in the NJCAA Region II tournament in Bartlesville, Okla. Arkansas-Fort Smith (41-17 ) beat Rose State for the fourth time in five games this season, getting Waddle’s sixth save of the season after he took over for starter Jordan Pratt, who pitched six scoreless innings before two unearned runs scored in the seventh. Adam Robertson hit a leadoff home run in the third, and Blake Doty added a two-run single to put the Lions ahead 3-0.
SOCCER Arkansas gets former Ohio State starter Lauren Hallauer has been added to the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks as a transfer from Ohio State, where she started last fall as a freshman. Hallauer, a defender, played in all 23 games and a teamhigh 2, 105 minutes for the Buckeyes, who won the Big Ten championship game and played in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Ohio State gave up 29 total goals and had seven shutouts. “Obviously, the fact that she played and started as a freshman is impressive,” Arkansas Coach Gordon Henderson said. “The quality of soccer played at Ohio State is impressive and speaks volumes about Lauren’s ability and potential impact on our program.” At Arkansas, Hallauer reunites with former teammates Ally Atkins, Kelly O’Connor and Claire Hakim. They played together for the FCV Rockets club team in Virginia. SOFTBALL Springdale’s Turner gets honor Missouri Southern junior catcher Angie Turner of Springdale has been named second-team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Turner was a first-team selection her freshman and sophomore seasons at Missouri Southern. This year, she led the Lions in almost every offensive category, including average (. 393 ), runs (28 ), hits (46 ), home runs (6 ), RBI (23 ), total bases (71 ), slugging (. 607 ) and on-base percentage (. 442 ). Turner also is the career home run leader at the school with 16 total.
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