TODAY AT FCHS
***Weather Permitting***
Mules Baseball @ Red Hill 4:30pm. JV innings to follow ****THIS GAME HAS BEEN CANCELED****
Cisne Baseball & Softball vs Dieterich today (Friday, April 4th) has been canceled
FREELAND TAKES NEW HEAD COACHING POSITION
A respected head coach with a proven track record of building championship-caliber programs, LeAnn Freeland was hired Tuesday as the head women’s basketball coach at Florida Atlantic University. Freeland, a former Wayne County resident and Wayne City High School Alumni is married to John Curry and they reside in Plantation, Fla.
The announcement was made by Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White, who signed Freeland to a five-year contract following an impressive run leading nearby Nova Southeastern University. As NSU’s head coach, she led the Sharks to the NCAA Tournament eight times, including four Elite Eight appearances and one Final Four, in her 13 seasons in Fort Lauderdale.
In 29 seasons as a player, assistant coach and head coach, Freeland has been part of just two below-.500 seasons (just one as a head coach), amassing a combined record of 634-244 (.722), participating in the NCAA Tournament 18 times (seven Elite Eights and twice reaching the national championship game) and combining for 11 conference regular season or tournament titles. As a head coach, she owns a 19-11 (.633) record in the NCAA Tournament.
A highly decorated college player, Freeland was the College Sports Magazine Division II National Player of the Year in 1995 and remains the all-time leading scorer in University of Southern Indiana’s history. She graduated with 2,269 points (ranks first all-time), 961 rebounds (second), 192 blocks (first) and a .612 career field goal percentage (first). Her 50-point scoring effort in a 1995 game remains the program’s single-game standard.
Freeland earned a pair of degrees from USI, and undergraduate degree in education in 1998 and a graduate degree in education in 2000.
She was inducted to the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Hall of Fame in 2004 and was one of 10 players nominated for the NCAA Division II 25th Anniversary Team in 2005.
FAIRFIELD’S LANDON ZURLIENE NAMED AS NEW COUGARS COACH
South Central High School has a new Boys Basketball Coach. Landon Zurliene, a native of Fairfield. Growing up in Fairfield, he excelled at the grade school and high school level, and also played AAU travel ball for the Southern Illinois Bears. Landon recently completed his college basketball career, where he played at McKendree University.
Zurliene will become one of the youngest head coaches in the area, as he takes over the Cougars program from Blake Doehring, who just stepped down as AD and Head Coach. South Central was 19-13 this past season. They are located in Farina, and are members of the National Trail Conference.
Zurliene was also a standout football player in high school for the Mules, where he played for his father, Justin Townsend. Landon was the Mules Quarterback.
“I always knew I wanted to get into coaching at some level, whether it was basketball or football,” said Zurliene. “Playing for my dad, I kinda got the coaching itch when I was a Junior or Senior in high school.”
Landon majored in Physical Education at McKendree and has been hired to be a high school PE teacher as well as the Middle School Athletic Director for the South Central School District. Zurliene said, “I’m excited about the opportunity. I have been exposed to many coaching styles and a huge variety of offensive and defensive schemes.” “I plan to hit the ground running, and will probably put together a youth basketball camp this summer, as well as the summer contact days that we will get with the high school players.”
NBA
Milwaukee Bucks 126, Philadelphia 76ers 113
Orlando Magic 109, Washington Wizards 97
Minnesota Timberwolves 105, Brooklyn Nets 90
Memphis Grizzlies 110, Miami Heat 108
Portland Trail Blazers 112, Toronto Raptors 103
Golden State Warriors 123, Los Angeles Lakers 116
MLB NEWS
The St. Louis Cardinals hit the road for the first time this season when they begin a series with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park today. The Cardinals dropped two of three against the Angels earlier this week. St. Louis is in first place in the NL Central at 4-and-2. Erick Fedde takes the mound this afternoon. First pitch is at 1:10PM. Cardinal Baseball on WOKZ-FM 105.9 with the pregame show around 12:15PM
The Chicago Cubs return to Wrigley Field for their home opener against the San Diego Padres this afternoon. Chicago is 5-and-4 after a three-game sweep of the Athletics earlier this week. The Northsiders send Shota Imanaga to the mound in today’s game. First pitch is at 1:20PM.
MLB American League
Boston Red Sox 8, Baltimore Orioles 4
Houston Astros 5, Minnesota Twins 2
MLB National League
Philadelphia Phillies 3, Colorado Rockies 1
Milwaukee Brewers 1, Cincinnati Reds 0
MLB Interleague
New York Yankees 9, Arizona Diamondbacks 7
NHL
Colorado Avalanche 7, Columbus Blue Jackets 3
Dallas Stars 5, Nashville Predators 1
St. Louis Blues 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (OT) ( St. Louis is on an 11-game winning streak and moved into fourth place in the Central Division with 91 points. The Blues host Colorado tomorrow night.)
Montreal Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 1
Calgary Flames 4, Anaheim Ducks 1
Los Angeles Kings 4, Utah Hockey Club 2
Ottawa Senators 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Winnipeg Jets 4, Vegas Golden Knights 0
Edmonton Oilers 3, San Jose Sharks 2
PGA
Valero Texas Open (at San Antonio, TX)
1. Sam Ryder (-9)
2. Keith Mitchell (-8)