Men's Golf to be Featured in CBS Sports' Spring Championship Show this Saturday
Television footage of Oglethorpe University's men's golf team capturing the NCAA 2009 Division III Men's Golf Championship can be seen on CBS this Saturday, July 4th at 2:00 p.m. The show, which runs from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., highlights all of the NCAA Champions from the spring sports season and will display footage of the Stormy Petrels celebrating the school's first title in any sport.

Dale Named NGCA All-American Scholar
Oglethorpe University women's golfer Katie Dale has been named to the 2009 National Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team for her outstanding performance in both the classroom and on the links.

The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics. The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.50 and student-athletes must have competed in at least 50% (Division I) or 66% (Division II & III) of the college’s regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year.

 

Dale, a junior Biology major from Peachtree City, Georgia, was also an All-SCAC Women's Golf Second Team selection for her efforts on the course this season that included a season-best second place finish at The Orchard Fall Invitational.

NCAA Champs Garner Media Attention
The Oglethorpe University men's golf team and head coach Jim Owen, after securing the school's first NCAA title in May, continue to receive national media attention for their outstanding efforts.

On Sunday, head coach Jim Owen told the story of the championship run in an Atlanta Journal sports feature penned by Darryl Maxie. To read the article, go here.
 
The most recent issue of Golf Georgia magazine also devotes an entire page to the Stormy Petrel championship including a photo of the team hoisting the title trophy. To view the Golf Georgia article, go here and use the arrows to navigate to page 32.

Sarisky Signs with Houston
Only days after being selected by the Houston Astros in the 40th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft, Oglethorpe sophomore Daniel Sarisky has agreed to terms with the big league squad.

Details of the contract have yet to be released but, with his signing, Sarisky has forgone his amateur status and will now begin to pursue a big league career.
 
"This is a huge accomplishment for Daniel and the beginning of a new challenge," said Petrel head baseball coach Dan Giordano. "We are extremely excited for him and wish him the best as he pursues a career in professional baseball. He is fulfilling every boy’s dream to play baseball for a living."
 
Set to begin his professional baseball career in the minors, Sarisky will try to become the tenth former Petrel baseball player to play for a Major League Baseball team. The most famous Petrel to play ball at the highest level was another sophomore who left the campus early to pursue a big league career, Hall of Famer Luke Appling. Appling was signed by the Atlanta Crackers in 1930 and went on to play twenty big league seasons for the Chicago White Sox, compiling a career .310 batting average. Appling was inducted to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.
 
The other former Petrels to play Major League Baseball - with their last year on campus in parentheses - are Al Wingo (1918), Lucas Turk (1921), Ron Carlyle (1921), Dave Barbee (1926), Jay Partridge (1925), Greek George (1933), Harry Dean (1941) and Phil McCullough (1938).

Petrel Ace Sarisky Drafted by Houston Astros
Oglethorpe University sophomore pitcher Daniel Sarisky was selected by Major League Baseball's Houston Astros in the 40th Round of the 2009 MLB Draft.

Sarisky, a sophomore from Duluth, Georgia, was dominant on the mound this season for Oglethorpe. In 15 appearances, Sarisky compiled a 5-1 record with a sparkling 2.68 ERA. Additionally, Sarisky struck out a ridiculous 65 batters in only 40.1 innings while walking only 14 opponents. Sarisky was named as an All-SCAC First Team pitcher and an American Baseball Coaches Association award winner for his stellar work on the mound this season.
 
Sarisky is just the sixth player in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference history (founded in 1991) to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft. Previous selections from the SCAC are Millsaps' Peter Austin (1997, 40th round by Pittsburgh), Trinity's Jason Armstrong (2004, 20th round by Toronto), Millsaps' Garner Wetzel (2005, 10th round by Colorado), Trinity's Nick Vera (2007, 32nd round by St. Louis) and Trinity's Evan Bronson (2008, 36th round by Milwaukee). After returning to their respective schools, Wetzel was drafted again by San Diego in the 2006 18th round and Bronson was re-drafted by Washington in the 2009 29th round.
 
If he signs with Houston, Sarisky, a sophomore eligibility-wise, will be trying to become the tenth former Petrel baseball player to play for a Major League Baseball team. The most famous Petrel to play ball at the highest level was another sophomore who left the campus early to pursue a big league career, Hall of Famer Luke Appling. Appling was signed by the Atlanta Crackers in 1930 and went on to play twenty big league seasons for the Chicago White Sox, compiling a career .310 batting average. Appling was inducted to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.
 
The other former Petrels to play Major League Baseball with their last year on campus in parentheses are Al Wingo (1918), Lucas Turk (1921), Ron Carlyle (1921), Dave Barbee (1926), Jay Partridge (1925), Greek George (1933), Harry Dean (1941) and Phil McCullough (1938).
 

 

Sarisky, Rizzo Collect American Baseball Coaches Association Awards
The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) announced its 2009 postseason award winners last week and Oglethorpe sophomores Daniel Sarisky and J.J. Rizzo each received recognition for their outstanding seasons.

Sarisky, a sophomore from Duluth, Georgia, was dominant on the mound this season for Oglethorpe and was named to the 2009 ABCA All-South Region Team for his efforts. In 15 appearances, Sarisky compiled a 5-1 record with a sparkling 2.68 ERA. Additionally, Sarisky struck out a ridiculous 65 batters in only 40.1 innings while walking only 14 opponents. Sarisky was named as an All-SCAC First Team pitcher for his sparkling work on the mound this season.
 
Rizzo, a sophomore from Coral Springs, Florida, started all 36 games this year for the Petrels and was named a 2009 South Region Rawlings Gold Glove recipient for his outstanding glove-work at third base this year. Rizzo compiled a .923 fielding percentage in 2009, committing only nine errors in 117 chances at third base. Additionally, he was at the top of several team offensive categories including 2nd in batting average (.362), 3rd in RBI and tied for first in extra base hits (16). Rizzo made the All-SCAC First Team as a third baseman for his efforts.

Owen Named SCAC Men's Golf Coach-of-the-Year for 10th Time
The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference named Oglethorpe men's golf coach Jim Owen the 2009 SCAC Men's Golf Coach-of-the-Year. Owen, who has received the prestigious honor in ten of the twelve times it has been awarded, recently guided Oglethorpe to its first national championship in any sport in May.

The Petrels won their league-high eighth SCAC men’s golf title at this year’s conference tournament at Tunica, Miss., and went on win the 2009 NCAA Division III men’s championships – the school’s first-ever NCAA championship in any sport and the program’s eighth consecutive Top 10 finish at the national championships. With his 10 men’s golf COTY awards, Owen joins an exclusive list of SCAC coaches (Paul McGinlay, Trinity – men’s soccer and Steve Mohr, Trinity – football) who have won 10 COTY honors in the same sport.

Men's Golf Featured in NCAA On-Campus TV Show Today
The Oglethorpe University men's golf team will be featured in the May version of the NCAA On-Campus television show which will first run on ESPN Classic on Wednesday, May 20 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

The piece will focus on the yearly successes of Oglethorpe's men's golf program under the guidance of head coach Jim Owen. The segment will also highlight Petrel sophomore Olafur Loftsson from Reyjakavik, Iceland and how he's brought his golf game to America.
 
The show will re-air on Friday, May 22 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPNU. For a complete listing of air times and a description of the show, go here.