Crowder College athletic events rescheduled due to rain

(From Crowder College)

Crowder College Athletic Events Weekend Update

Basketball: Will play at Three Rivers Community College, Poplar Bluff, Feb. 24 at 2pm.

Due to weather changes to baseball & softball for the weekend are:

Softball: Friday game against Neosho County has been moved to Monday, Feb 26th at Pitt State University's field, 2&4pm. Sunday, Feb 25th games against Independence CC have been moved to Joplin High School, 2&4pm.

Baseball: Iowa Western games have been moved to Sunday, Feb. 25, 4 & 6pm, Joplin High School.

Monday, Feb. 26, Iowa Western games at Crowder College Roughrider field, 1&3pm.

For updates go to: crowderathletics.com

Vavra, MSSU women's track, cross country teams to be inducted into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

(From Southern News Service)

Two university sports programs and their longtime coach will soon join the Sports Hall of Fame in Missouri.

The Missouri Southern Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country programs and coach Patty Vavra will be honored during the Sports Hall of Fame’s annual Women’s Sports Luncheon in Springfield on Wednesday, March 28.

Vavra, now an associate professor of Kinesiology, came to Missouri Southern in 1994 as the Head Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Coach and instructor for the Kinesiology Department. She had an illustrious career, spending 22 years as coach of the teams until her phased retirement in 2016.

She led Southern to seven MIAA Cross Country Championships as well as numerous indoor and outdoor titles. She also coached the Lions to an MIAA Triple Crown in 2007-08, winning championships in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field.

She has earned 12 MIAA Coach of the Year awards, seven in cross country (including four in a row), two in indoor track and field, and three for outdoor track and field. Vavra earned the prestigious USTFCCCA Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award in 2014.

“It’s quite an honor to be recognized and inducted to the Sports Hall of Fame,” Vavra said. “It is equally gratifying to see the Missouri Southern Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field programs receiving such an award. It is an accomplishment that has been earned by the efforts of numerous athletes and coaches over the decades and is an amazing recognition for MSSU.”

The event, which is sponsored by the Bee Payne Stewart Foundation and presented by Central Bank and Central Trust will be held at the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door.

For information regarding tickets, contact the Hall of Fame at 417-889-3100.

Newsmakers- Cardinals Caravan visits Missouri Southern

The Cardinals Caravan visited Missouri Southern State University January 13.

In this MSTV Newsmakers video with Judy Styles, current Cardinals Alex Mejia, Greg Garcia and Jose Martinez are interviewed, as well as former Cardinals players Danny Cox, Tom Lawless and Kyle McClellan.

Cardinals' Alex Reyes pitching off the mound, preparing to return after Tommy John surgery

St. Louis Cardinals fans were electrified by the performance of rookie pitcher Alex Reyes in 2016, but Reyes missed the entire 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

In this St. Louis Post-Dispatch video, Reyes is shown throwing off the mound and preparing for his return. He is expected to pitch from the bullpen when he is activated.