The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 102, No. 5, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 Page: 5 of 6
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February 18, 2009
Sports
The Rambler 5
Quick Quote
"Losing streaks are funny.
If yon lose at the beginning,
you get off to a bad start. If
you lose in the middle of the
season, you 're in a slump.
If you lose at the end, you 're
choking. "
- Gene Mauch
Former MLB manager
Upcoming Events
Feb. 19
*5:30 p.m. Women's Bas-
ketball vs. Wiley
*7:30 p.m. Men's Basketball
vs. Wiley
Feb. 20
*10 a.m. Softball vs. North-
western Oklahoma State
*1 p.m. Softball vs. Kansas
Wesleyan
*3 p.m. Softball vs. Univer-
sity of Science & Arts
Feb. 21
*5:30 p.m. Women's Bas-
ketball vs. Southwestern
Assemblies of God
*7:30 p.m. Men's Basketball
vs. Southwestern Assem-
blies of God
Feb. 23
*1 p.m. Baseball vs. LSU-
Shreveport
*3 p.m. Baseball vs. LSU-
Shreveport
*5:30 Women's Basketball
vs. Paul Quinn
*7:30 Men's Basketball vs.
Paul Quinn
Feb. 24
*1 p.m. Baseball vs. Texas
College
*3 p.m. Baseball vs. Texas
College
Sports Briefs
Rams run past HTU
Feb. 14
The basketball team defeat-
ed Huston-Tillotson 79-63
and in the process, amassed
their highest regular season
win total since the 1982-83
team went 22-6. They also
pushed their current winning
streak to 11 games. That
is tied for the sixth longest
streak in school history and
the longest since a 12 game
streak in 1983.
Lady Rams pick up forfeit
win against HTU
Jan. 24
The Huston-Tillotson
women's basketball team
forfeited their game against
the Lady Rams to give
Wesleyan their fourth
conference win
No. 17 Rams knock off
Lubbock Christian
Feb. 14
The baseball team handed
Lubbock Christian their first
loss of the year, 4-0. Pitcher
Cody Poche went 8.1
scoreless innings and
allowed no runs on two hits
while striking out five.
Softball sweeps home
opener
Feb. 13
The softball team took their
first two victories of the sea-
son over the LSU-Alexandria
Generals. Ashley Oldham
took the win in both games,
running her pitching record
to 2-2.
Log on to
www. ramsports. net
for the latest game
information and
profiles of your
favorite Wesleyan
teams and athletes
Historic run
Conference award winners
Photo by Jose Valdez
With an 11 game winning streak, the basketball team has captured 21 wins so far,
just one short of the all-time regular season record. The 1982-83 squad went
22-6, and the current team has five regular season contests remaining. The
winning streaks ranks as the longest since 1983 as well, when that team strung
together 12. Senior guard Kennith Gober (above) averaged 18 points per game
over the Rams past five wins.
Om is where the heart is
Weekly yoga class offered on campus by vice
president, certified yoga instructor Alexander
Rene' Edwards
STAFF WRITER
Now there are no more excuses for not getting your exercise. Students,
faculty and staff are invited to attend a free yoga class held at noon each
Wednesday. The class is taught by Pati Alexander, vice president of enrollment
and student services and certified yoga instructor.
"I have more energy and flexibility," said Alexander, who began practicing
yoga approximately 10 years ago for relaxation. "It forces me to quiet my mind
and listen to my body as I practice the postures."
She said she started the class as a means to give back to Wesleyan where
she received her bachelor's and master's degrees and has worked since 1984.
"I love the family atmosphere here," she said.
Upon becoming certified last May, Alexander also teaches at yoga class for
Burleson Independent School District and for a continuing education class at
Tarrant County College's south campus.
Alexander claims that anyone, even those who have physical handicaps,
can practice yoga.
"One of the things I love about yoga is you have to quiet the mind first in
order to get the maximum benefit from the postures," said Alexander. "Quieting
the mind is very relaxing to me."
Stressed out students should take advantage of this free and valuable
opportunity that has unlimited benefits. You can relax and channel stress all
while gaining physical endurance. If everyone did yoga everyday, Alexander
claims the world would be "more peaceful and less focused on physical
ailments."
The free yoga class meets every Wednesday from noon to 12:50 p.m.
in the renovated Baker Building on the corner of Wesleyan Street and
Rosedale.
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Baseball:
Pitcher Cody Poche was named
conference pitcher of the week
after tossing a two-hitter against
ranked opponent Lubbock
Christian Feb. 14.
Softball:
Shawn a Henderson was named
conference offensive player of
the week and Ashley Oldham was
named pitcher of the week
for their performances against
LSU-Alexandria Feb. 13.
Henderson went six of seven with
four runs scored and Oldham
picked up two wins.
Men's Basketball:
Chris Berry picked up his
seventh nod for conference player
of the week after turning in two
25 point games against Langston
and Huston-Tillotson.
Photo by Gasten Schoonover
Senior golfer Kevin Doskocil perfects his warrior pose in preparation for
Wesleyan's yoga class. Doskocil took the class last semester and said it has
helped his focus and flexibility.
Grateful for the game
Catcher 'Rags' uses baseball platform to display faith
Martin Garcia
NEWS EDITOR
God is life. Baseball is just a detail. That's what Ryan Ragsdale
used to wear as he strutted around the halls of Smithfield Elementary
School. No one can question Ragsdale's passion for the game, but
his love for Christ is what has been evident in his demeanor and in
his life. This guidance and conviction has ultimately translated into
production on the diamond for the junior catcher.
Baseball has been a part of Ragsdale's life as long as he can
remember- 15 years to be exact. What now seems like so many
days ago, he ventured out (like many athletes do) and took a stab at
basketball, football and cross country, but once he got to high school,
Ragsdale knew that his main focus was on baseball.
"I love everything about the game, and I wouldn't trade one
minute of my time on the field for anything," he said. "The drama, the
intensity, the heartbreak and victory - there's just nothing like it."
It's this kind of passion and love for the game that drives head
coach Mike Jeffcoat's team to success. The Rams are currently riding
back-to-back 40-win seasons—something that hasn't been done since
the '79 and '80 seasons.
In the current streak the Rams have captured one Red River
Conference tournament championship, and the team has also
advanced to the Region VI final.
It's evident that Jeffcoat's major league presence has influenced
his teams, but by adding Texas Rangers Hall-of-Famer and Rams
assistant coach Rusty Greer to the coaching staff, he has created an
environment that is unmatched by many of the Rams' opponents.
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Courtesy of Ryan Ragsdale
Ryan Ragsdale boasts a .370 lifetime batting average, but the junior
catcher is more involved with his faith than his statistics.
"It's pretty awesome to have two former big league players as
coaches, especially two that achieved what they did on the field,"
Ragsdale said.
He and the rest of the 2009 squad show no signs of mercy and
anticipate their next bid to the championship this season.
"I think we honestly have the best talent I've ever played with,"
Ragsdale said. "As cliche' as it may sound, I think we can go further
than any baseball team we have ever had here at Wesleyan."
He also noted that the team is well-rounded, deep at every
position and has really good chemistry, a vital part of any successful
ride.
Ragsdale is geared up mentally and physically to bring home the
glory in Wesleyan's favor. Along with the spiritual certainty associated
with his life, he is motivated day in and day out by knowing that every
time he suits up and steps on the field he can get better.
Better yet, he has strong desires to perfect his game.
"I know life could be a lot worse, and I know that I'm very
blessed to still be playing," Ragsdale said. "Everyday is a new
challenge, a new chance to do something great."
Although Ragsdale comes from a high school team that saw
multiple district championships and area tournament bids, he said
he couldn't put a price tag on how valuable his Rams experience has
been.
To him, playing for the Rams brings to a whole new level the
meaning of being a team. Jeffcoat and company preach and reaffirm
the value of hard work, and it shows.
The .370 career hitter plans to play as long as he can, while he
still has fun doing it.
Considering baseball's current state of affairs in the "steroid era,"
Ragsdale admits that he frequently gets the 'are you on steroids'joke
from his friends, but the impressive Wesleyan lifetime batting average
speaks for itself. Ragsdale has never made performance enhancers
part of his game, and he hasn't let them affect him personally.
After the time comes to hang up his cleats, Ragsdale said he plans
to attend dentistry school and train to be an orthodontist. Success will
surely follow him wherever he goes, as his determination to triumph
hasn't surrendered too much.
For being only a detail, the game of baseball has positively
impacted the Rams' redshirt junior to an end that is unimaginable.
He's truly a role model to his teammates, his friends and to everyone
else around him.
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Nugent, Tiara. The Rambler (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 102, No. 5, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 18, 2009, newspaper, February 18, 2009; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth201274/m1/5/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Wesleyan University.