Think of the prototypical pitcher. What comes to mind is probably a strong-armed thrower who launches 95-mph fastballs that leave batters swinging at air, not realizing the ball has already smacked into the catcher's mitt, the kind of pitcher that 'wows' fans and scouts with incredible velocity and racks up K's. The power pitcher is what every baseball team looks for in an ace.
For Najja Johnson, it happened during a scout team scrimmage in 2009. For Jeff Quinn, it was during 2009-10 winter conditioning. For Fred Lee, it was during a game at Tennessee in 2011. Everyone who's been around the University at Buffalo football program the past four years has had a moment of epiphany: the sudden realization that Khalil Mack was Khalil Mack.
Though UB Athletics claimed two Mid-American Conference East titles and made a bowl game in 2013-14, perhaps its greatest victory came in the realm of fundraising. April 19, prior to the football team's annual spring game, UB alum and donor Tunney Murchie put an exclamation point on the year, surprising the program by donating $3 million - the biggest donation in school history - toward improvements to the football headquarters at the south end of the West Grandstand of UB Stadium.
It has been a season of firsts for the Buffalo softball team. The Bulls have won the most games in program history and claimed their first-ever Mid-American Conference East regular season title. They took a step toward another first Wednesday with a victory in the opening game of the MAC Tournament. The Bulls (28-20, 11-5 MAC) defeated Northern Illinois (22-30, 10-12 MAC), 11-6, in Akron, Ohio.
Last season, the softball team did not score its 29th run until its 14th game. This season, the team accomplished that feat in two games. Buffalo's hot start, in which it began the season 6-0, set a precedent for a new era and mindset under first-year head coach Trena Peel - a mindset that has helped the team win the most games in program history and claim its first-ever Mid-American Conference East title. After a historic regular season, the Bulls (27-20, 11-5 MAC) will make their third-ever MAC Tournament appearance Wednesday as the No.
James Starks' historic career at the University at Buffalo began because he never wanted to leave the area. The Niagara Falls native wanted to set a precedent.
The final home game for the men's tennis team was its most important match. The Bulls were fighting for the fourth and final seed for the Mid-American Conference tournament and needed all the support they could get. The Bulls trailed 3-2 after the first five decisions and needed to sweep the final two matches to earn the victory.
When the men's lacrosse team made it to the first round of the playoffs, it knew both phases of its game would need to be superb to escape with a victory.
Softball (27-20, 11-5 Mid-American Conference) The Bulls won their first-ever MAC East regular season championship after sweeping Kent State (24-18, 10-6 MAC) this weekend.
Your coach thinks there is something wrong with you. All the girls on your softball team have to run a mile and a half in 12 minutes to fully participate in practice, but you can't.
After losing 14-8 Sunday afternoon against Ohio - the last-place team in the Mid-American Conference East - head baseball coach Ron Torgalski is prepared to make changes to the lineup when his team plays Miami Ohio (22-25, 12-9 MAC) next weekend. Friday, the Bulls (21-18, 12-8 MAC) began its last road trip of the season against the Bobcats (10-33, 6-15 MAC) with a 4-3 loss, earning just six hits for the evening.
Junior forward Will Regan recalls multiple times this past season he watched Javon McCrea and sophomore forward Justin Moss battle in practice. Moss, being a strong, physical player, was one of the few on the court that could match McCrea's strength.
Senior pitcher Tori Speckman's first no-hitter of this season came April 5. It was historic because it was just the third no-hitter in program history. Her second no-hitter, which happened Saturday, was historic for more than one reason: she became the first pitcher in program history to throw more than one no-hitter, and it helped the softball team clinch its first-ever Mid-American Conference East title. The Bulls (27-20, 11-5 MAC) swept Kent Sate (24-18, 10-6 MAC) in a two-game series this weekend to earn their first MAC East title and set a new single-season wins record (27). The team also tied the program's record for conference wins (11). The softball team enters the MAC Tournament as the No.
It starts with a quick glance and subtle smirk. There is a connection between sophomore tennis players Sergio Arevalillo and Pablo Alvarez that requires no words for them to understand each other. "We just look at each other and know what's going on," Alvarez said.
Baseball (20-16, 11-6 Mid-American Conference) After having their doubleheader against Niagara (13-24, 6-10 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) Tuesday postponed, the Bulls go on the road to face Ohio (8-31, 4-14 MAC), which is currently in last place in the MAC East.
Brittney Kuras needed to be two tenths of a second faster. She swam in the preliminaries of the 100-yard freestyle at the 2014 Mid-American Conference Championships and finished with a time of 48.9.
As Reggie Witherspoon answered the final question and his in-home press conference concluded, the friends, family members and former players sitting behind Witherspoon in support proclaimed, "Roll Tide." Wednesday, Witherspoon announced he is heading to the SEC to become an assistant coach at the University of Alabama.
On April 6, senior pitcher/infielder Mike Burke hurled a complete game for the baseball team, allowing only two earned runs and striking out five to improve his season record to 4-2. When he left the mound after the ninth inning, the Bulls' coaching staff had surprising news for him: he had set a new school record with 18 wins. Many athletes would soak up the moment and celebrate their historic feat.
Solutions by The State News
