Wagon Wheel Challenge Update!

Hi again everybody!

Recently, the Golden Flashes softball team came from behind to win two games at Akron's Lee Jackson Field over their arch rivals. The two wins on the road came in dramatic fashion for KSU, which was trailing late in both games! Due to the sweep, the softball team earned a full point for the Kent State in this year's PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge.

Their timing was impeccable as the good guys were trailing the third annual challenge by two points prior to the weekend.

Since we are once again coming down to the wire in the challenge, I decided to perform by best Ace Rothstein and handicap the remaining events. But first, lets recap how we arrived to the current score of Akron 5 1/2, Kent State 4 1/2.

FALL

While the Golden Flashes lost the coveted football Wagon Wheel trophy, head coach Don Gromala's volleyball team offset that flip by sweeping two intense regular season encounters from the Zips.

"Well both matches went the full five which is what you would want as a fan in a rivalry match-up," Gromala said. "I think winning in five at Akron sort of catapulted us to a good season and it wasn't just good for us, it was big for the whole department. Then in the second match we were kind of reeling a little and the importance of the weekend really helped to motivate us."

The Flashes also got a point for the second straight year when the soccer team protected Zoeller Field in a 2-0 shutout. Goals by senior Jessacca Gironda fueled KSU's triumph over Akron in October.

The Zips claimed two points by finishing ahead of Kent in both men and women's cross country at the MAC Championships.

AKR 3 - KSU 2

WINTER

Another dominating performance by head coach Bill Lawson's women's track and field team and a near-miss by the men's squad gave each school a point for indoor track and field. And Akron's best season in women's basketball history plus a regular season split on the men's basketball side gave the Zips a lead coming out of the winter sports season for the second year in a row.

Darren Goodson's miracle three-point shot against the Zips in early February may prove to be a critical moment in this year's challenge. Since the two teams' paths did not cross in tournament play, the point stands permanently as a split.

AKR 5 1/2 - KSU 3 1/2

SPRING

On back-to-back days in Akron, head coach Karen Linder's softball team rallied dramatically in the sixth inning. In the first game, a huge grand slam by Abbey Ledford highlighted a seven-run sixth inning which turned around a 2-1 score and gave KSU an 8-3 win. And the very next day the sixth inning magic was prevalent again. This time, Maddy Grimm - whom the Zips had elected to walk the previous day - smacked a three-run home run to left that supported rookie Ronnie Ladines on the mound and secured an emotional weekend sweep.

"I'm ecstatic about the weekend," head coach Linder said. "Obviously the sixth inning was huge both days and to have our players do their part in helping out in the Wagon Wheel Challenge is really exciting."

AKR 5 1/2 - KSU 4 1/2

STILL TO COME...

Women's Golf

Men's Golf

Baseball

Men's Track and Field

Women's Track and Field

There is one point available in each of the five remaining sports. Of those five, KSU won the point in four of the sports in each of the previous two challenges. The Flashes, it would be fair to say, would be favored in both golfs. The track record (no pun intended) for outdoor track and field is to split. And while Kent has swept Akron in baseball the last two years, the two teams are dead even at the time of this writing in the MAC standings. Perhaps a slight edge to the Golden Flashes for being at home, although the first game is at Canal Park in downtown Akron. Either way, even the most hardened Akron foe has to feel slightly happy for former KSU baseball coach Rick Rembielak, He has the Zips in position for their first MAC Tournament appearance since 2005.

While it's fun to sit back and assume wins here and losses there, it is sports and crazy things can happen. That's why we play the games! Either way, the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge is a great little side drama to the end of another good season of athletics for KSU and Akron.

Good luck to both teams! And may the best team win!

(Again.)

TL