MSSU football hires defensive coordinator

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern football coach Denver Johnson has announced the hiring of Joplin native and former Lion Joe Bettasso as the Lions' Defensive Coordinator. Bettasso replaces Kenny Evans who recently accepted the Defensive Coordinator position at Rogers High School.

"I'm thankful for the opportunity that Coach Johnson has given me," Bettasso said. "I'm excited to be back home and I can't wait to get back to Joplin and get going to work."

Bettasso comes to Southern after three seasons at McKendree University where he served as the Bearcats' Defensive Coordinator.

The 2017 Bearcats' defense helped the team to a 7-4 record and was led by Austin Weltha who had 129 total tackles with 12.5 for a loss and five interceptions with two sacks. McKendree ranked second in the GLVC in sacks and led the league in interceptions.

The Bearcats' 2016 defense ranked among the top units in the Great Lakes Valley Conference once again. For the second year in a row, McKendree led the league in scoring defense, allowing a paltry 18.4 points per outing. The Bearcats also had the conference's top overall defensive squad, giving up just 315.7 yards per contest. As a team, McKendree set a new program record with 53 sacks and ranked among NCAA Division II team leaders in the category.

Bettasso guided two of the top defensive players in the GLVC during their final seasons in a Bearcat uniform in 2016. Linebacker A.J. Wentland set a school single-season record for the third consecutive year with 145 tackles and became the Bearcats' career leader in stops with 421. For his efforts, Wentland was named the 2016 GLVC Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the second McKendree player in three seasons to capture the honor.

The other McKendree GLVC Defensive Player of the Year, defensive end Lucky Baar (who was the 2014 winner) made his assault on both the McKendree and NCAA record books in 2016. In just nine games, Baar registered 17 1/2 sacks and 21 1/2 tackles for loss, which led the Bearcats. With the final sack of his career, Baar became the NCAA Division II career leader in the category, finishing his playing days with 46 1/2 sacks. He also collected 65 1/2 tackles for loss, which is also a new McKendree program mark.

Bettasso came to McKendree after spending three years on the coaching staff at Quincy University. Bettasso joined the Hawks' staff as a defensive backs coach before being elevated to the role of defensive coordinator prior to the 2013 season. He was responsible for all facets of the Quincy defensive scheme, including play-calling. Under his leadership in 2014, the Hawks ranked second in Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) in total defense and rushing defense.

Before his time at Quincy, Bettasso spent five seasons at McPherson College in Kansas. From 2007-09, He served the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator during that time while also coaching the program's linebackers and defensive backs. Following the 2009 season, Bettasso was promoted to the role of head football coach at McPherson, a position he held for two years before heading to Quincy.

In 2010 - Bettasso's first as the head coach at McPherson - he led the Bulldogs to a school-record 10 victories and the program's highest NAIA national ranking at No. 6. He was named as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) and American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 4 Coach of the Year for his efforts. Bettasso guided McPherson to the school's first KCAC championship since 1952 and the program's second NAIA Football Championship Series berth. Ironically, McPherson hosted McKendree in a first-round playoff game that year, with the Bearcats posting a 38-14 win in the meeting. That game marked the Bearcats' final post-season football victory as members of the NAIA. It was also the 200th collegiate coaching win for former McKendree head coach Carl Poelker.

Bettasso began his coaching career as a student assistant and later a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Missouri Southern State University. Bettasso was also a four-year letterman as a defensive back with the Lions. He paced Missouri Southern with 8 tackles for loss as a junior in 2004 and followed that with a team-leading two fumble recoveries during his senior season of 2005.

"I'm very excited to have Joe join our staff," Johnson said. "First and foremost, he is an outstanding coach and a great human being. I believe Joe will capitalize on the progress we've made over the past few months, add his flavor to our defense and lead those guys with great passion. It was important to me to find a guy who loved football and not only understood the true challenge that is the MIAA, but was excited to meet that challenge.

"The fact he is a Joplin native and an MSSU grad is a bonus. He truly loves his alma mater and is fully in tune with the process we are committed to in building our program. I couldn't have found a better fit. I'm anxious for our players to meet Joe and I think they'll be just as excited to meet him."

Cardinal Hall-of-Famer Red Schoenienst dead at 95

(From the St. Louis Cardinals)

The St. Louis Cardinals organization, the St. Louis community and baseball fans everywhere were saddened this evening to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst at the age of 95. Schoendienst, who is survived by his four children -- Colleen, Cathleen, Eileen and Kevin -- eight living grandchildren (he had 10 total grandchildren) and seven great grandchildren, was the oldest living member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

"Red was one of the greatest Cardinals of all time, and a beloved member of the Cardinals organization for over six decades," said Cardinals Principal Owner & Chief Executive Officer William O. DeWitt, Jr. "His influence on this organization cannot be overstated. Red was a great player, a great manager, and a wonderful mentor to countless players, coaches, and members of the front office. He was also a fan favorite who connected with millions of Cardinals fans across multiple generations. He will be sorely missed."

The Schoendienst family provided the following statement: "Red Schoendienst has passed away today surrounded by his family. He had a life full of happiness for 95 years. He inspired all that knew him to always do their best. Red was a great ball player, but his legacy is that of a great gentleman who had respect for all. He loved his family, friends, teammates, the community and his country. He will be greatly missed."

Schoendienst, who was serving as a Senior Special Assistant for the Cardinals, entered his 67th season with the Cardinals and 76th in professional baseball in 2018. The Germantown, Illinois native was part of the Cardinals as a player (1945-56, 1961-63), coach (1964, 1979-95), manager (1965-76) and interim manager (1980, 1990) and had been in his current executive role with the team since 1996.

It all started in 1945, when the switch-hitting Schoendienst joined the club to fill in for left fielder Stan Musial, who was serving in the U.S. Navy. Schoendienst batted .278 with 47 RBI and a National League-leading 26 stolen bases. The following year, Musial returned to the Cardinals, and Schoendienst moved to third base and then shortstop before settling in at second base. St. Louis won the World Series over the Boston Red Sox as Schoendienst began to develop into one of the best hitting and fielding second basemen of all time.

In 1953, Schoendienst put together his finest season. He established career highs with a .342 batting average - second in the league to Carl Furillo of the Brooklyn Dodgers (.344), 15 home runs and 79 RBI. In a surprising trade, Schoendienst was dealt to the New York Giants along with outfielder Jackie Brandt, pitcher Dick Littlefield, catcher Bill Sarni and shortstop Bobby Stephenson in exchange for shortstop Alvin Dark, catcher Ray Katt, pitcher Don Liddle and outfielder Whitey Lockman on June 14, 1956.

The following year, Schoendienst was traded to the Milwaukee Braves, who won the 1957 World Series and the 1958 N.L. pennant. He subsequently returned to St. Louis in 1961. On the Cardinals' career lists, Schoendienst ranks fourth in at-bats (6,841) and pinch-hits (54), fifth in games played (1,795), sixth in runs (1,025) and hits (1,980), seventh in doubles (352), and eighth in total bases (2,657).

Schoendienst served as a coach on the 1964 World Championship team and was named manager when Johnny Keane resigned at the conclusion of the season. Schoendienst piloted St. Louis to a World Series victory over the Red Sox in 1967 and another N.L. pennant in 1968 in route to a 12-year tenure as skipper, the longest in franchise history until Tony La Russa surpassed him in 2008. Schoendienst ranks second in franchise annals with 1,041 wins.

Schoendienst was the second baseman on the Cardinals' 1946 World Championship team, and he piloted the Redbirds to a World Series victory over the Boston Red Sox in 1967 and another National League pennant in 1968. He served as a coach on the Cardinals' 1964 and 1982 World Championship squads.

A 10-time N.L. All-Star, Schoendienst socked a game-winning home run in the 14th inning of the 1950 Mid-Summer Classic. It marked the switch-hitter's first career homer batting right-handed. Schoendienst later managed the Senior Circuit to All-Star Game victories in 1968 and 1969. Schoendienst amassed 2,449 career hits, including a league-leading 200 in 1957. He either led or tied for the N.L. lead in fielding percentage seven times.

Schoendienst was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 by the Veterans Committee and was an inaugural member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. His uniform No. 2 was retired by the Cardinals in 1996. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

The 2015 season marked Schoendienst's 70th in Major League Baseball, and the Cardinals honored the milestone with a season-long celebration that encouraged fans to demonstrate their affection for him via social media using the hashtag #LoveRed2.

Schoendienst (born February 2, 1923) coached for the Oakland A's in 1977 and 1978. He was married to the late Mary Eileen O'Reilly Schoendienst for 53 years. Mrs. Schoendienst passed away in December of 1999.

MSSU's Abi Corbett named to Academic All-American first team

(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)

Missouri Southern senior outfielder Abi Corbett secures spot on the Google Cloud Academic All-American first team after being selected by the
College Sports Information Director of the America (CoSIDA) for the second year in a row.

Corbett majored in marketing and produced a 4.0 GPA, earning first-team All-District honors earlier in the spring on her way to All-American status.

The Wentzville product competed in all 52 games and recorded 71 hits for first in the MIAA and fourth in the entire Division II softball landscape while also leading the conference in stolen bases (35) toward an All-MIAA first-team selection.

On top of grabbing those numbers, the veteran capped off her career first in at-bats (741), hits (270), and stolen bases (107), to go along with a second place showing in games played (216) and runs scored (138) to ink herself into the MSSU softball record books.

Twenty-two of the 33 members of the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America Division II Softball teams have at least a 3.90 G.P.A., with 12 student-athletes maintaining a perfect 4.00 GPA. The 11 members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.93.

FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
P Jamie Fisher Northern State University Jr. 4.00 Elementary Education
P Valerie Hohol University of Minnesota Duluth Sr. 4.00 Chemical Engineering
C Mariah Jameyson Texas A&M University-Commerce Sr. 3.77 Kinesiology & Sport Studies
INF Bethany Allen Henderson State University Sr. 4.00 Recreation / Sports Management
INF Megan Durante Tarleton State University Sr. 3.90 Kinesiology
INF Hannah Thieroff California Baptist University Jr. 3.73 Criminal Justice
INF Alyssa Williamson (3)Merrimack College Sr. 3.90 Psychology
OF Abi Corbett (2) Missouri Southern State University Sr. 4.00 Marketing
OF Riley Curtis Urbana University Sr. 4.00 Pre-Med / Physical Therapy
OF Brooke Hodgson Colorado Mesa University Sr. 3.39 Kinesiology / K-12 Education
DP Hannah Coursey (3) Georgia College Sr. 4.00 Accounting

SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
P Allie Grys Grand Valley State University Sr. 3.91 Clinical Exercise Science
P Mallory Teunissen Davenport University Jr. 3.92 Human Resource Management
C Jessica Brown Cal State San Bernardino Sr. 3.80 Kinesiology
INF Kylie Asmus Ashland University Jr. 4.00 Exercise Science
INF Clara Larson Colorado School of Mines So. 3.69 Electrical Engineering
INF Brenna Martini (1,#) Adelphi University Sr. 3.83 Physical Education
INF Hazel Puempel Texas Woman's University So. 4.00 Business Administration
INF Destiny Riddle Southeastern Oklahoma State University Jr. 4.00 Psychology
OF Holland Coursey Georgia College Sr. 3.94 Accounting
OF Christa Reisinger (3) Truman State University Jr. 3.70 Agricultural Science
OF Whitney Weber University of Colorado Colorado Springs Sr. 3.95 Criminal Justice
DP Alyssa Carney Washburn University Sr. 4.00 Kinesiology

THIRD TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
P Alexis Eastman Le Moyne College Sr. 3.71 Accounting
P McKenzie Surface Colorado Mesa University Jr. 3.89 Psychology
C Katelyn Wobken Wayne State College Sr. 3.92 Chemistry / Health Science
INF Sara Ercolani (3) West Chester University Sr. 3.93 Math / Actuarial Science
INF Mariah Ewy East Central University Jr. 4.00 Biology
INF Becky Smith University of Minnesota Duluth Sr. 3.72 Environmental Science
OF Jessica Boone Northeastern State University Sr. 3.99 Elementary Education
OF Abbey Fortin LIU Post So. 3.92 Criminal Justice
OF Delaney Hiegert Newman University Sr. 4.00 Communication
DP Marley Parker Saint Augustine's University Sr. 3.87 Exercise Science

Google Cloud Academic All-America of the Year: Mariah Jameyson, Texas A&M University-Commerce