Latest news with #D-I
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jack Hopko sits atop D-I in RBIs in Record-Breaking Season
KINGSTON, RI (WIVT/WBGH) – At the D-I level, it's a competitive atmosphere, but one local we've covered quite a bit since the season opened continues to light it up. Maine-Endwell product Jack Hopko's incredible season continues as the Rhode Island Rams inch their way toward the A-10 conference tournament. As the season has progressed, he has continued to impress and bring in the accolades. 'Obviously, stats are something you try not to think about, but when you see it all over the place, it's kind of hard not to, said Hopko on how he leads D-I in RBIs. 'So, I mean, yeah, it's obviously a great stat to have. It's just a credit to the guys in front of me that are getting on base.' Hopko leads not only the Rams and the conference but the entirety of Division I in runs batted in, currently sitting at 69, and he has one less game than the man he sits atop the list with. 'The game just becomes easier,' he said. 'When there's guys on base, it changes from you're trying to create something to just producing runs and getting the guys in.' Hopko is currently batting a team best .367. The Rams currently sit atop the Atlantic-10 conference, with it being a close race at the top of the standings where 1st and 5th are separated by a game and a half. The Rams in 1st at 14-6, and 5th is Davidson at 13-8. In Rhode Island's most recent game, Hopko went 4/6 with 7 RBIs and 3 home runs in a win against George Mason, who currently sits 3rd in the conference at 13-7. Despite going 1-2 in that weekend series, it's about how you bounce back. 'Getting that last win was kind of just a bounce back for us and showed us what we're capable of,' said Hopko. 'I mean, our offense kind of exploded in that last game, and our pitching staff threw well too.' Next up, Hopko and the Rams face off against UConn, where there is a chance he could stand across from an old high school rival and former U-E Tiger, Jude Abbadessa, who could be on the mound when he steps to the plate. That game gets underway at 6 pm and can be watched on UConn+. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
The first pitch takes Shepard freshman Carly Edmiston by complete surprise. But now? ‘Able to figure it out.'
The first time that freshman Carly Edmiston caught a pitch from DePaul recruit Kailey Selvage was during tryouts. And Shepard coach Bridget McDermott remembers it well. 'It was like, 'All right, let's see the freshman catching the senior,' and that first pitch, she kind of like jerked back a little bit,' McDermott said of Edmiston. 'That first one took her by surprise. 'But from there, she was able to figure it out and get used to it.' That was evident Thursday. Edmiston made her second start behind the plate and Selvage struck out 18 for a 7-1 win over Tinley Park in a South Suburban Conference crossover in Palos Heights. The left-handed-hitting Edmiston, who shares duties at catcher and third base on a game-by-game basis with Madison Scapardine, came up with a hit and three walks with two RBIs for the Astros (4-1, 1-0). Scapardine added three hits and scored two runs. Leah Cruz led Tinley Park (3-3, 0-1) with two hits. The Titans scored their only run when Loyola commit Megan Piotrowski singled home Aubrey Spilde in the fourth inning in a game that was scheduled to take place in Tinley Park but was switched because the Titans' fields were too wet. Selvage, meanwhile, has the luxury of throwing to two quality catchers. She opened the season with a perfect game in a 7-0 win over Homewood-Flossmoor with Scapardine behind the plate. But having a catcher three years younger than her is working out well, too. 'I'm sure that being a freshman up here can be scary,' Selvage said. 'When we had our first practices in the offseason in the gym, we were like, 'Who is this girl?' 'Just to see her come out and bring it right away is super cool. And as a freshman, it's important because she's only going to grow.' Growing up in Alsip, Edmiston started playing the softball when she was 4 years old and vowed to be better than her sister. Emily, by the way, is 10 years older than Carly. Carly attended Emily's games at Shepard but wasn't always watching her older sister. 'I would be playing around,' Carly said. 'I didn't pay attention.' Despite the significant age gap, Carly said she learned a lot from Emily but doesn't get to see her much anymore because her sister lives in South Carolina. 'We stay in contact,' Carly said. 'She's happy for me.' The Astros also are happy with their red-hot start to the season, which included the aforementioned 7-0 victory over H-F and a nice 10-0 win over Providence. Their only loss is a 4-0 setback to Andrew, with a big test coming up Monday against Marist. Edmiston is having fun with the success, which comes on the heels of her playing with the Chicago Cheetahs 16U team and taking second in the nation at the USSSA Tournament in Florida. Next up came the high school season, playing varsity and now occasionally catching Selvage. 'I went into that first game and I was scared,' Edmiston said. 'I knew I would be catching a D-I commit. But right at the start of warming her up, I could tell we clicked as a pitcher-catcher duo. 'When we got in the game, it was going well.' Edmiston took to being a left-handed hitter as soon as she started playing softball. 'I just went up to the plate and went to the lefty batter's box,' she said. 'I throw righty … I don't know.' She did bat right-handed once in her career, however. 'When I was 10, my coach told me to bat right-handed, so I did,' Edmiston said. 'I did get a hit, but it was a terrible swing.'
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
M-E's Jack McFadden enters Transfer Portal after 3 years at Rider
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ (WIVT/WBGH) – One-time Maine-Endwell Spartan now Rider Bronc junior Jack McFadden has made his name in basketball, playing D-I. Now, he is looking to move on from the university. McFadden announced on his 'X' account that he would enter his name in the transfer portal. He still has two years of eligibility remaining. In his past three seasons with the Broncs, he has played in 12 games, scoring 7 points and recording 7 boards. This season Rider went 14-19, getting knocked out in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference quarterfinal to Quinnipiac. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
13-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: After accepting job in finance, Geneva's Mitch Mascari gets Drake to NCAA tourney instead. ‘A tough call.'
Geneva alum Mitch Mascari had it all last spring or so it seemed. A 6-foot-5 guard and 3-point shooter extraordinaire, Mascari completed five years at Northwest Missouri State. It was the premier NCAA Division II program over the past decade, winning four national titles under coach Ben McCollum. Mascari played on four NCAA Tournament qualifiers, including back-to-back champs in 2021 and 2022 while earning a degree in financial management and his MBA. The real world beckoned, so he accepted a job in asset management for a Wheaton firm, starting in June. What more could he ask for? Turns out, there was one thing. Due to the pandemic, Mascari had another season of eligibility, 'Like many high school players, I always thought I was good enough to play Division I,' Mascari said. 'I received some D-I looks but no offers.' Northwest Missouri State didn't disappoint, either. 'We had pretty wild talent,' Mascari said. 'One guy, Trevor Hudgins, went on and played two years with the Houston Rockets and is still playing professionally. Another transferred to Creighton and was all-Big West the first year. 'And my redshirt year, we played Duke and only lost by six points.' After 15 years of leading the Bearcats, McCollum — 'Coach Mac' as Mascari and his teammates refer to him — was also wondering how his act would play in Division I. When the Drake job opened, McCollum applied for it. He then received the offer to coach at the Des Moines school in his native Iowa. Needing to rework the roster, McCollum offered the Division I carrot to four of his Northwest Missouri State players, including Mascari. 'It was a tough call,' Mascari said. 'It was weird having to tell my boss I'm not coming because it was a good job. But there was always the possibility of us succeeding at D-I.' The competitor in him won out. So, too, did Drake. All four Bearcat players made the move and started the whole season. Drake won its first 12 games and took the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title, then gained the conference's NCAA Tournament berth by winning the postseason tournament final 63-48 over Bradley. Geneva coach Scott Hennig, who was an assistant under Phil Ralston when Mascari was promoted to the varsity as a sophomore, said the youngster could always shoot. 'Even as a freshman, we knew he could shoot,' Hennig said. 'We had a lot of gym rats led by the likes of Nate Navigato, who went on to a great career at Toledo. Mitch followed suit.' Practice was the key, according to Mascari, who shot 44% (77 of 177) on 3-pointers as a senior at Geneva and 47% (56 of 120) and 48% (82 of 171) his last two years at Northwest Missouri State. He's averaging 9.8 points and shooting 41% (86 of 210) for Drake (30-3). 'When it comes down to it, it's just repetition,' Mascari said. 'When Ralston brought me up to varsity, I was a skinny kid, probably 6-3, but I was a twig.' He said his parents would drop him off at the Geneva Park District's Pershing Rec Center on Kaneville Road and he would shoot for hours on one of its two courts. He has filled out to 200 pounds. 'He has an elite skill in that he can shoot it very well and from very deep,' Hennig said. 'He fits the game today, being a bigger kid who can shoot and stretch the floor. 'He's hard to guard, especially if you have guys around him who can drive. They benefit each other.' Drake learns its destination for the first round of the NCAA Tournament during Sunday's selection show. Pairings are announced at 5 p.m. on CBS. Hennig has ordered a Drake jersey with Mascari's name and No. 22 on it, hoping the first round is within driving distance so he can wear it to the game. 'At first, I wanted to go to the coolest city possible, but that doesn't matter,' Mascari said. 'It's not like we're going to see much of it anyway. Hopefully, a lot of our fans can get there. 'As a player, you don't want to win any more than you do in D-II, but the national recognition in D-I is a bit of a change. It's easier for people to keep tabs on you.' Could there be another next level? 'I'm taking the season as it goes,' Mascari said. 'If there's a good opportunity, I'll handle it. 'I don't want to distract myself with it right now.' Wisely done. Originally Published: March 13, 2025 at 11:38 AM CDT
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
D-II Drake? After roster overhaul, Bulldogs are showing they're no joke
For 15 seasons, Ben McCollum ran the best Division II basketball program in the country at Northwest Missouri State. He had an 81.3 winning percentage, including a seven-year stretch of 224-16 (.933), and four national titles, with COVID stopping a potential fifth for a 31-1 squad in 2020. The teams were good. So were the players, who had futures as transfers to high-major D-I ball, European pro leagues and even stops in the NBA. And so there were times McCollum would do what everyone who has ever coached or played in a lower division does, let alone everyday work life: He wondered how he and his guys would fare if they ever got the chance to compete at the highest level. A small-town lawyer arguing in front of the Supreme Court. An architect designing a Manhattan skyscraper instead of a local, low-slung office. In McCollom's case, it was: What could one of his great D-II teams do in Division I? 'You always wonder,' McCollum said. 'We would sit around and discuss it.' The D-II titles were glorious. But still … 'Playing in the Division I NCAA tournament is more of a personal thing, a chance to challenge yourself to a certain level,' he said. A year ago, Drake, the Des Moines, Iowa-based member of the the D-I Missouri Valley Conference, hired McCollum to take over after Darian DeVries left to coach West Virginia. Drake had won 28 games last year, but upon DeVries' departure, the roster was immediately gutted — 12 players transferred out, two more graduated and another appears to have just quit basketball. McCollum needed an entirely new team, and although he didn't set out to prove as much, what has resulted is a chance to answer that age-old question of what happens when the small-time get a shot at the big-time. Four of Drake's starting five all arrived with McCollum from Northwest Missouri, each of them previously deemed by all of Division I to be not good enough for Division I. Another top scorer is a junior college transfer and two more contributors are freshmen. Of the nine Drake players who regularly see action, seven were not in Division I last year, while two players transferred in from Wyoming. When rival fans took a look at the Bulldogs roster last offseason, the team was dubbed 'D-II Drake.' D-II coach. D-II players. The Bulldogs are 27-3. No one is laughing now. The Missouri Valley is no joke either. Ten different league teams have reached the Sweet 16 since 2000, including two runs to the Final Four — Wichita State in 2013, Loyola in 2018. The Bulldogs won the regular season title by two games and are deserving of a NCAA bid no matter what happens in the conference tournament this weekend. This is proving to be more than just another dangerous, potential bracket-busting team; it's a social/sporting experiment worth cheering on. It's been a magical run for the 43-year-old coach and his roster of believers. They arrived together with little idea what was to come because there was almost no D-I experience — the two Wyoming transfers, Cam Manyawu and Kael Combs combined for 11 career starts. 'I didn't really have any expectations on the season,' McCollum said. Then, at an early season tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, the Bulldogs beat ACC member Miami, recent Final Four participant Florida Atlantic and then Vanderbilt of the SEC, all by double digits to win the title. 'I thought, 'OK, we might be pretty good,'' McCollum said. From there it was no different than any team he ever coached, where player development, even incremental, is his focus. You don't get ready-made lottery picks at Northwest Missouri State. You have to work. 'We want to make players better,' McCollum said. 'We are old school in that regard. It's a cliché, but it works — get a little bit better each and every day and let the results take care of themselves.' His D-II transfers quickly looked like D-I stars. His top three leading scorers all came from Northwest Missouri — Bennett Stirtz (18.9 ppg), Daniel Abreu (11.0) and Mitch Mascari (10.4) — with Stirtz being named the Larry Bird Missouri Valley Player of the Year. Turns out what they used to do to Missouri Western and Fort Hays State, they could do to almost anyone. McCollom didn't set out to prove that his D-II teams could play with all but the best of D-I. Nor did he expect them to be as successful as they've been. He said he took the guys he knew because he was trying to reconstruct the Drake program and wanted to install the proper mindset and work ethic. 'The biggest thing for me was to build the program for the long haul,' McCollom said. 'We wanted to sell out on the character of the kids. I knew these kids. I knew their character. I knew their toughness, I knew what they would be like through thick and thin. I knew their mental makeup. 'If you focus on building for the long haul, the success will come,' he continued. 'If you try to pursue results too quickly, you are going to struggle.' It turns out doing it the right way for the future proved to be the right way for the present, meaning one of the best stories of March might serve as a clarion call for all those players and coaches and teams and everyday people who dream of being more than just a label.
