Several Bryant products are still playing

By Rob Patrick

If things go as they should, Amanda Grappe’s tremendous career for the Arkansas Tech Golden Sun isn’t quite over yet despite the fact that her team was knocked out of the Gulf South Conference post-season tournament on Thursday.

In her senior season, Grappe, playing alongside her sister, point guard Ashley Grappe, may be the Player of the Year in the Gulf South, leading the league in scoring at 19.8 points per game and averaging 8.1 rebounds.

The Sun should gain an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II championship tournament on Sunday despite their quarterfinal loss to Valdosta State in the league tourney.

Of course, Ashley Grappe, who leads the Sun in assists, and Amanda are Bryant High School alums.

Read more about them at (copy and paste addresses into your browser): http://athletics.atu.edu/ros-bballw.htm

They are just two Bryant grads that are still playing.

Can you name others? Here's some:[more]

Travis Wood is plying his trade on the mound in spring training, awaiting assignment in the Minor Leagues as he continues his quest to make the Majors. Travis will be trying to bounce back from a rugged season that included injury as a starter for the Chattanooga Lookouts in Class AA. This year, the Cincinnati Reds have moved their AA affiliate to Carolina and Wood is slated to start their for the Mudcats. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Travis%20Wood&pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=475243

Last summer, Aaron Davidson was also headed to a Minor League assignment. But I haven't been able to find anything on him. Do you know?

And what about the Bryant Razorbacks? There are three.

Amie Hubbard has started all 17 games on the infield for the Lady Backs softball team, hitting .268 with a .318 on-base percentage. http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=11659&SPID=686&DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=1240443&Q_SEASON=2008

Spencer McCorkel, as a freshman pole vaulter for the Razorbacks last year, and was a Regional and National qualifier. http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=30838&SPID=2430&DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=1248548&Q_SEASON=2008

Justin Wells is back in the bullpen this year for the Hogs baseball team, working on a regular basis. He started there last year but wound up the 2008 season as one of the team’s weekend (conference) starters. So far, he’s tied for the team lead in appearances, had a 1-0 record with a 3.38 ERA and a save. http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=30676&SPID=2415&DB_OEM_ID=6100&ATCLID=1388252&Q_SEASON=2008

Speaking of pole vaulters. Jason Pelletier is at Penn State with the indoor season getting under way. His bio is at: http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/c-track/mtt/pelletier_jason00.html

The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has two former Bryant players on its baseball team. Sophomore Joey Winiecki had a tremendous season last year (.444 average, 30 stolen bases in 36 tries) and is off to a good start again (.382, 5 home runs, 10 stolen bases in 10 attempts). Word is, he’ll continue his career at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa next year. And Trent Daniel has started three games for UAFS, posting a 1-0 record with a 0.79 ERA, 14 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings.

Check them out at: http://www.uafortsmith.edu/Baseball/Players

In his first appearance of the season, James Leigh pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing one run and fanning seven to help the Southeast Missouri Red Hawks defeat the 16th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. In three games this year, he’s 1-0 with an 0.61 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings. More on James at: http://gosoutheast.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/leigh_james00.html

At Henderson State University, Todd Bryan and Richie Wood are helping the nationally-ranked Reddies. Bryan, who transferred in from North Alabama, has started three games and has an 0-1 mark so far on the mound.Wood is hitting .357 in nine starts with a homer, 10 RBI’s and three steals. More info at: http://www.hsu.edu/athcontent.aspx?id=45722

Tyler Pickett is a redshirt freshman at Southern Arkansas University and has yet to play this season. http://muleriderathletics.com/mens-sports/baseball/roster/

At Arkansas State, there’s Danny Riemenschneider and Cory Lambert. Danny’s bio is here: http://www.astateredwolves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=35026&SPID=2740&DB_OEM_ID=7200&ATCLID=723377&Q_SEASON=2008

Cory’s is here: http://www.astateredwolves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=35026&SPID=2740&DB_OEM_ID=7200&ATCLID=723525&Q_SEASON=2008

Through five games as of March 2, Riemenschneider had batted once and Lambert had pitched 1 1/3 in two games as a reliever.

Michael Haydon’s had a hit in three at bats for the Ouachita Baptist University baseball team. His bio is at: http://gotigers.obu.edu/baseball/2009Profiles/Haydon.asp

David Guarno is at Crowder College and has played in six games with one hit in 10 at bats. His bio is at: http://www.crowder.edu/athletics/baseball/player%20profile%20d%20Guarno.shtml

And, of course, there's a bevy of beauties from the Bryant dance team that are now leading the UCA squad in award-winning performances like the one in the BryantDaily entry at: http://bryantdaily.com/post/Continuing-the-Tradition/ 

I’m sure there are more. Send me an email at rob@bryantdaily.com or add a comment to tell about them.