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The State Hornet

The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

The student news site of Sacramento State University

The State Hornet

John Parker, Author

All content by John Parker

Title in sight after conference sweep

John Parker
May 9, 2006

The setting, most of the cast and the plot were all more or less the same for the Sacramento State softball team this time around. After ending each of the last two seasons in disappointment and watching...

Softball gives Strahan sweep for 50th birthday

John Parker
May 5, 2006

There were many presents for Sacramento State softball coach Kathy Strahan on her 50th birthday on Saturday all resulting a doubleheader sweep of Portland State. The Hornets also took an important step...

Softball could position itself for conference crown

John Parker
May 4, 2006

The last two Pacific Coast Softball Conference champions have celebrated their titles on the infield at Shea Stadium. Kathy Strahan's Hornets watched them rather than revelling themselves. In 2004 it was...

Getting a grip

John Parker
May 2, 2006

It really is more difficult than it looks. That is the mantra for softball pitchers ?" who may as well be awarded honorary physics degrees ?" as their windmill underhand delivery may appear simple but...

Hornets replaying same script

John Parker
April 18, 2006

Groundhog Day was more than two months ago but lately Kathy Strahan has been waking up to relive the same nightmare. The Sacramento State softball coach has witnessed an identical pattern of play since...

Splitsville

John Parker
April 14, 2006

In stark contrast to Friday's Pacific Coast Softball Conference doubleheader in which Sacramento State and Santa Clara combined to score 16 runs Saturday's set of games was much more tame. Santa Clara...

Another conference split for Sac State softball

John Parker
April 13, 2006

So it wasn't a walk-off in the traditional sense ?" the kind of shot that ends a closely contested game in extra innings ?" but Danielle Ackland will still treasure this one. The senior first baseman led...

Softball splits with a walk-off

John Parker
April 11, 2006

Faced with the prospect of losing three out of four games to the defending league champions Sacramento State softball coach Kathy Strahan asked her hitter to channel a happy memory. As she was walking...

An instant hit

John Parker
April 4, 2006

Keep telling yourselves that, Hornets. Under the tutelage of first-year assistant head coach Cara Hoyt, the Sacramento State softball team is on pace to break nearly every program batting record in the...

Hornets sweep Highlanders in softball doubleheader

John Parker
March 30, 2006

Jamie Schloredt is used to driving in runs when she puts the bat on the ball. The freshman catcher entered Tuesday's doubleheader with UC Riverside with 22 hits on the season and a team-leading 23 RBIs....

Pitcher mows down batters, team records

John Parker
March 29, 2006

During a cloudy practice last Friday Cassie Cervantes was alone in right field shagging batting practice fly balls ?" no one within 20 yards of her. Suddenly the clouds separated and a ray of sunlight...

Softball sweeps Princeton

John Parker
March 22, 2006

It appears as though the rain has stopped falling for now but there's something else that's been falling from the sky lately ?" Sacramento State softball program records. Senior centerfielder Lindy Winkler...

Capital battery

John Parker
March 22, 2006

Apparently Cassie Cervantes didn't want to leave any doubt about it. The freshman pitcher threw a no-hit shutout against Utah State on Sunday to clinch the Capital Classic Softball Tournament title for...

Capital Classic Ks

John Parker
March 19, 2006

Cassie Cervantes said she didn't have her best "stuff" on Sunday against Utah State after pitching 11 innings against Syracuse the day before. "I was really sore this morning," said the freshman pitcher...

Lucky 13

John Parker
March 18, 2006

Click to read the recap of Friday's game against Southern Utah Click to read the recap of Saturday's early game against Syracuse Sophomore Amy Tompkins hit her first career homerun in the Hornets' evening...

Orange Crushed

John Parker
March 18, 2006

With tension building in the bottom of the 11th inning of a thrilling softball duel that had lasted nearly three hours, Nikki Cinque strode the plate and what did she do? "I relaxed," said the senior pitcher...

Cinque steals show against Southern Utah

John Parker
March 17, 2006

According to the schedule it was supposed to be Sacramento State playning Southern Utah, but this softball contest could be more aptly described as Nikki Cinque vs. the Thunderbirds. Cinque struck out...

Freshman pitcher Cervantes strikes out 17

John Parker
March 15, 2006

Exclusive audio Click to hear Cassie Cervantes talk about her near-perfect game Nobody's perfect but now freshman pitcher Cassie Cervantes knows what it's like to come awfully close. Cervantes struck out...

Softball returns from two-week layoff with pair of wins

John Parker
March 11, 2006

SUNNYVALE ?" Against a backdrop of snow on low hilltops in the distance and despite near-freezing temperatures the Sacramento State softball team came back from a two-week layoff to post a pair of wins...

Capital Offense

John Parker
February 25, 2006

Bad blood with the town of Davis is nothing new to Jamie Schloredt. The freshman catcher on Sacramento State's softball team grew up in Woodland and played softball at Woodland High, which has a long-standing...

No. 9 Cal sweeps Hornets at home

John Parker
February 24, 2006

BERKELEY ?" For 11 games Jennifer Fryou waited for her first taste of playing time in the 2006 season. On Friday she stepped into the circle against one of the nation's best teams and made the most of...

Softball weathers preseason

John Parker
February 22, 2006

Sacramento State's softball team believes if it can "weather" its tough preseason competition that it will be in position for a conference title run. Head coach Kathy Strahan schedules the best teams in...

Cardinal stomps Hornets

John Parker
February 19, 2006

STANFORD, Calif. ?" Seventh-ranked Stanford jumped out to a big early lead and didn't look back as the Cardinal defeated Sacramento State 7-0 on Sunday at the Stanford Invitational. Sac State (3-6) was...

All work, no play

John Parker
February 15, 2006

Katie Rhoe's softball career at Sacramento State is certainly worthy of a Hollywood script ?" that is, if that movie didn't already exist. "Katie has become our 'Rudy' ?" straight out of the movie," Hornets...

Sac State looks to slap foes silly

John Parker
February 8, 2006

Senior center fielder Lindy Winkler and sophomore left fielder Hilary Johnson hit with the most power on the Sacramento State softball team. Not the kind of power that sends the ball over the fence, per...

Sac State signs Bobby Guillory to football letter of intent

John Parker
February 1, 2006

Bobby Guillory, a football and track standout at Vallejo's Bethel High, signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at Sacramento State on Wednesday afternoon. In all, Sac State football coach...

Hornet hitters pick up slack

John Parker
November 20, 2005

It happens time and time again in sports ?" from the professional ranks to college to high school to youths. A star player goes down with an injury and their teammates subsequently raise their level of...

High hopes for Hornet faithful

John Parker
November 9, 2005

Hype and the Sacramento State men's basketball program have historically gone together about as well as Terrell Owens and quarterbacks. But amid the 'hoop'la of Hornet Hollywood Hoopfest last Thursday...

Not another sports blog

John Parker
July 6, 2005

Warning: This edition of John Parker's blog is more offensive than usual. If you take things too seriously, are a fan of UCONN women's basketball or are nursing, navigate away now. For those about to read,...

Beauchene takes assistant coaching job at New Mexico

John Parker
June 15, 2005

Even if you can beat 'em, join 'em. Former Sacramento State volleyball standout Lisa Beauchene posted one of her 18 career triple-doubles on Sept. 20, 2003, against New Mexico, posting 44 assists, 12 kills,...

Colberg’s crew stays on top

John Parker
May 10, 2005

After 10-straight 20-win seasons, eight straight Big Sky titles, six Big Sky Coach of the Year awards and another brief NCAA tournament appearance Debby Colberg says that she and her team are stuck. "There...

Softball championship on the line

John Parker
April 26, 2005

After taking two out of three games in a tripleheader at Portland State on Sunday, the Sacramento State softball team enters this weekend with a chance to win its first-ever Pacific Coast Softball Conference...

Cheers boost morale

John Parker
April 19, 2005

The Sacramento State softball team is heading to Oregon this weekend to play Portland State, and when the Hornets travel, they bring the noise. For Sac State, coordinated chants and dugout cheering are...

Freshman’s defensive play saves day for Hornets

John Parker
April 15, 2005

Amy Tompkins knew it was do-or-die time. Trailing St. Mary's in the top of the sixth inning with two outs and another run coming to the plate, the freshman second baseman came up with a backhanded stop...

Aces high: Cal’s pitching too much for Sac State softball

John Parker
April 12, 2005

The Sacramento State softball team can usually depend on its ace pitching staff to carry it through games. Playing card decks don't come with five of one card, however, and on Wednesday afternoon third-ranked...

Winkler back to leading offense

John Parker
April 5, 2005

As Lindy Winkler was on the field last weekend in Santa Clara making catches on the run and hitting doubles, the scene was in stark contrast to her condition last summer. Beginning last May, the junior...

Softball opens conference play by splitting with Santa Clara

John Parker
April 2, 2005

SANTA CLARA--The Sacramento State softball team opened Pacific Coast Softball Conference play Saturday afternoon by splitting two games with host Santa Clara at Marsalli Park. The Broncos took the first...

Softball sweeps Utah Valley State

John Parker
March 16, 2005

A rich and storied career claimed another milestone Wednesday as young and burgeoning one just beginning to take flight recorded a first. Sacramento State softball coach Kathy Strahan got her 600th career...

Sac State paddles Santa Clara

John Parker
March 9, 2005

To the victors go the spoils; or rather, the victors are the spoiled. After Sacramento State women's rowing's season opening sweep of the Jim Farwell cup over Santa Clara, the Hornets pointed to the fact...

Men fall to Weber; women advance to Big Sky Tourney

John Parker
March 9, 2005

Even Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls lost in their first six playoff appearances. "Right now they're the old Pistons and we're the young Bulls," said head coach Jerome Jenkins after his Hornets' 74-71 Big...

A day of joy … a night of pain

John Parker
March 9, 2005

Even Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls lost in their first six playoff appearances. "Right now they're the old Pistons and we're the young Bulls," said head coach Jerome Jenkins after his Hornets' 74-71 Big...

Sac State softball drops painful double header to Spartans

John Parker
March 5, 2005

Sacramento State pitcher Brianne Ferguson suffered her first -- and likely only -- loss to her former team Saturday afternoon as she was beaten 1-0 by San Jose State. The senior ace went the distance in...

Rowing sweeps Farwell cup

John Parker
March 5, 2005

The Sacramento State women's rowing team claimed a full sweep of Santa Clara in the Jim Farwell cup Saturday morning at Lake Natoma to open its season. The varsity eight, second varsity eight, novice eight,...

Image: Harlem softball selects Hornet:Lesley Mayhorn is a co-captain of the softball team.Photo by Matt Swanson/State Hornet:

Ferguson hurls first career no-hitter

John Parker
March 3, 2005

DAVIS ?" She forgot her regular No. 14 jersey, but it just didn't matter for Brianne Ferguson against UC Davis on Thursday afternoon. The Sacramento State senior ace hurled her first career no-hitter,...

COLUMN: Transfers good investment

John Parker
February 23, 2005

I'll be honest; I had my doubts. Going to a Yuba College-Cosumnes River College basketball game wasn't exactly my idea of a fun Friday night out, no matter how much a friend of mine insisted it would be....

Newcomers lead softball to sweep of arch-rival UC Davis

John Parker
February 9, 2005

Although they're newcomers, they know all about the rivalry. The Sacramento State softball team relied on the efforts of two new players to propel them to a double-header sweep of causeway rival UC Davis...

Softball team eyes PCSC title

John Parker
February 9, 2005

Metallica's "Enter Sandman" roars on an old boom box near the practice field. Players sing a long as they go through drills, then the CD skips. The voice of junior catcher Joanna O'Neill can be heard carrying...

Image: Harlem softball selects Hornet:Lesley Mayhorn is a co-captain of the softball team.Photo by Matt Swanson/State Hornet:

Harlem softball selects Hornet

John Parker
January 26, 2005

Sacramento State leftfielder Lesley Mayhorn always has a smile on her face. Her main focus, however, is making sure others around her are having just as much fun as she is. The Harlem Diamonds, an all-African-American...

Gymnasts win home opener

John Parker
January 14, 2005

The Sacramento State gymnastics team tumbled its way to its first win of the season over Seattle Pacific Friday night in the Hornets Nest. Despite recording four falls toward its total score, Sac State...

Hornets fly into ‘Gael’ force winds

John Parker
December 3, 2004

BERKELEY -- This is not how Sacramento State volleyball wanted to go out. After receiving their most favorable seeding in five years in the NCAA Tournament the Hornets had high hopes entering their match...

Soaring Hornets NCAA-bound

John Parker
December 1, 2004

Happy just to be here? Not these Hornets. "For a lot of teams their biggest goal is just to make the NCAA Tournament," said head coach Debby Colberg who won her seventh Big Sky Coach of the Year award...

Sac State volleyball to play 10th-seeded St. Mary’s in NCAA first round

John Parker
November 28, 2004

Sacramento State volleyball's NCAA Tournament fate was revealed Sunday evening when the 64 team bracket was announced live on ESPN News. The Hornets will face 10th-seeded St. Mary's in the opening match...

COLUMN: Fans in Detroit-Indiana melee got what they had coming

John Parker
November 23, 2004

It looks like Ron Artest will be getting some time off to promote his soon-to-be released rap album after all. Actually, a lot of time after NBA commissioner David Stern handed down suspensions Sunday...

Setting the table

John Parker
November 17, 2004

Senior setter Stephanie Gamst had every reason to relish Sacramento State volleyball's victory over Pacific back on Oct. 19. Sacramento State volleyball's only fifth-year senior was grinning from ear to...

Seniors lead Hornets in regular season finale

John Parker
November 14, 2004

This one's for the seniors. That sentiment echoed throughout the Hornets Nest and within each and every player for Sacramento State volleyball Saturday night as they took to the bright yellow court for...

Bandimere’s new defense

John Parker
November 10, 2004

Sandra Bandimere is about to leap into the Hornet record books as she approaches yet another milestone. With two more digs on the season she will become the second Hornet in the past four years to tally...

Crew is third at ‘American’

John Parker
November 3, 2004

Sacramento State women's rowing started its fall rowing season Saturday with a strong showing at the Head of the American at Lake Natoma. Competing for the first time this season, the Hornets' "A" boat...

Sac State notches another Big Sky win

John Parker
October 28, 2004

Sandra Bandimere continued her assault on Big Sky Conference competition Thursday night with 24 kills and 22 digs in Sacramento State's 3-1 (30-22, 30-27, 28-30, 30-20) win over Montana at the Hornets...

Hornets crush Aggies

John Parker
October 26, 2004

For the 45th time under head coach Debby Colberg, Sacramento State volleyball defeated their regional rivals across the Yolo Causeway, UC Davis 3-0 (30-17, 30-19, 30-16), Tuesday night at the Pavilion...

Sac State chops down Lumberjacks

John Parker
October 23, 2004

Sacramento State volleyball began the second half of conference play Saturday night the same way it started the first half -- with a sweep of Northern Arizona. The Hornets swept NAU in Flagstaff, Ariz....

Lutes out for at least a month

John Parker
October 19, 2004

Sacramento State volleyball was dealt a serious blow over the weekend in its quest for an eighth straight Big Sky Conference championship. Sophomore libero Kristin Lutes hurt the knuckle above her pinky...

Sac State takes a bite out Tigers

John Parker
October 19, 2004

Cross this one off the list. Coming into the 2004 season, the list of goals for setter Stephanie Gamst and Sacramento State volleyball was as long as it was lofty. Near the top of the list was beating...

Offseason Report: Softball

John Parker
October 13, 2004

LODI -- Last Sunday was 'breezy' afternoon in Lodi. Sacramento State softball, playing in their first fall ball tournament of the offseason, split four games, losing their first Saturday two but coming...

Hornet volleyball defeats archrival Eastern Washington

John Parker
October 8, 2004

Maybe it was the Rice Krispie Treats. On her 55th birthday Saturday, Sacramento State volleyball coach Debby Colberg received one of the best gifts she could have imagined from her team: a sweep victory...

Sac State volleyball wins Big Sky home opener

John Parker
October 7, 2004

Sometimes a team can be its own harshest critic. Such was the case Tuesday night as Sacramento State volleyball swept Portland State 3-0, (30-14, 30-27, 30-17) in its Big Sky Conference home opener. "We...

Sac State perfect fit for Lutes

John Parker
October 5, 2004

To the untrained volleyball eye, the position of libero seems a little out of place. For one, they wear a different color jersey than the rest of their teammates -- like a goalie in soccer -- and for another,...

Sac State splits pair of matches in ‘Big Sky’ Country

John Parker
October 1, 2004

The Sandra Bandimere greatest hits tour rolled through Missoula, Mont. Saturday night. The senior outside hitter and Sacramento State team captain recorded a season-high 23 kills and 13 digs to go along...

Big Sky opener win kicks off title quest

John Parker
September 28, 2004

Sacramento State volleyball took the first step toward an unprecedented eighth Big Sky Conference crown Saturday night, sweeping its first conference foe Northern Arizona 3-0 (30-18, 30-20, 30-17), in...

Bump, set, spike, bringing it home

John Parker
September 21, 2004

Home sweet Hornets' Nest. Yosemite Hall has always been good to Sacramento State volleyball throughout the years, but the field of this year's Sacramento State Invitational found out just how well the...

Cartoon Web site entertains with sophomoric, fun humor

John Parker
September 21, 2004

You don't need violence or profanity to beentertaining. If you could ask Homestarrunner, he'd tell you.Unfortunately, he's a cartoon and thus unable to interactwithout being drawn and dubbed with a voice....

Column: Not Our Rivals

John Parker
September 21, 2004

There's a reason the Yankees are the most hated team in sports. It has less to do with arrogant Bronx fans or their payroll and more to do with one undeniable fact: They put a quality product on the field...

Former volleyball standout returns as coach

John Parker
September 21, 2004

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The first thing Seton Hall volleyball coach Maureen Rafferty Del Rossi noticed upon returning to the Hornets' Nest after five years was something she...

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