Sports digest 4/9/02

AREA

SOUTHEAST SOFTBALL HOSTS EASTERN ILLINOIS TODAY

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team will try to climb in the Ohio Valley Conference standings today when the Otahkians host Eastern Illinois in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

The Otahkians (7-17, 4-5) are in fifth place in the eight-team league. The Panthers (10-15, 2-6) are tied for sixth.

Junior Brooke Nett has been the hottest Otahkian as she went 9-for-17 last week to raise her average to .328. Senior Dawn Piantino is batting .315 while leading the squad in home runs (2) and RBIs (12).

Women's Golf Association holds first event of season

The Women's Golf Association held their first event of the season Thursday at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. Play of the day in the 18-hole event was a four person scramble, and winners were Linda Grosebeck, Leslie Steele, Mary Alice Regenhardt, and Bobbie Woodard. Lorene Schmitz was closest to the pin on hole No. 6 in the nine-hole event.

WGA officers also have been elected. They are: Judi Brey, president; Janet White, vice-president; Dana Underwood, treasurer; and Joan Morgan, secretary.

ELSEWHERE

BASKETBALL

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory met with the NBA relocation committee in a last-ditch effort to keep the Hornets from moving to New Orleans.

McCrory met with commissioner David Stern and the seven owners on the committee, which has until May 17 to issue a recommendation on whether the Hornets should be permitted to relocate.

Colleges

Indiana's Jared Jeffries, a 6-foot-10 sophomore forward who helped lead Indiana to the NCAA championship game, added his name to the NBA draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility. Jeffries was the Big Ten's player of the year and a second-team All-American. He led the Hoosiers in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.0 points and 7.6 rebounds.

Even though Nebraska has not released a depth chart midway through spring practice, Nebraska coach Frank Solich said Jammal Lord is the clear-cut choice at quarterback with sophomore Mike Stuntz and true freshman Curt Dukes behind him, in no particular order.

Saint Louis assistant coach Cameron Dollar and senior manager Jason Grunkemeyer are leaving the school to join former Billikens' coach Lorenzo Romar, hired last week as new coach at Washington. Saint Louis assistant Brad Soderberg is running the program while the school conducts a search to replace Romar.

-- From staff, wire reports