Cousin of Missouri football player shot and killed

Aaron Hobson, 22, of Kansas was shot to death outside of a Break Time Convienience Store on Saturday.

The Break Time, located at 110 Nifong Blvd., was the scene of a murder that began as a robbery.

According to a Columbia Police Department news release, Aaron Hobson, the cousin of Missouri defensive back Trey Hobson, was at the convenience store at about 1:15 a.m. when several suspects approached his car.

The suspects demanded Hobson’s money and shot him after he handed it over, the release stated. The suspect who shot him was identified as Daron M. Peal. He and his brother, Darris A. Peal, are still at large and are being considered armed and dangerous.

CPD spokeswoman Jill Weineke said she was unsure why Hobson was in Columbia that morning.

In total, there were five suspects involved in the robbery. According to the news release, three have turned themselves into Columbia Police.

Tony L. Lewis, 27, of Booneville and Leo D. Roland, 19, of Columbia, were the first to turn themselves in. Both voluntarily went to the CPD and implicated themselves in the robbery.

The third suspect to turn himself in was Deshon Huston, 20, of Columbia. Huston also implicated himself in the robbery, but also told investigators that he struck Hobson during the robbery.

According to a news release, the robbers gathered at Huston’s vehicle before descending on Hobson’s vehicle.

After the robbery was complete and after Hobson was shot dead, the suspects fled the scene, the release stated. An officer responding to gunfire at the scene identified Lewis and Roland, who turned themselves in the next day.

Huston did not turn himself in until later the same day.

All the suspects that turned themselves in were arrested on the charge of second-degree murder. Both Lewis and Roland were also charged with first-degree robbery.

All three suspects’ bonds have been set at $1 million, accepted in cash only.

The suspected shooter, Daron M. Peal, has been identified as the sole gunman.

Weineke said she doesn’t have any idea as to why Peal shot Hobson.

“Damon Peal has been identified as the shooter,” she said. “You would have to ask him why he shot Aaron Hobson.”

The hunt for the gunman and his brother are ongoing, and until they are apprehended, Columbia residents are advised to be on the lookout.

This was one of two homicides over the weekend. Sunday morning, CPD officers were dispatched to a homeless camp between Everett’s Restaurant and I-70. They found the victim, 55, deceased with injuries to his face and head.

The injuries were not consistent with an accident, a CPD news release stated.

Police have not released the victim’s name because the family has not been notified. CPD is actively investigating the crime but has no suspects identified at this time, the release stated.

Anyone with information about these cases can call Crimestoppers at 875-TIPS.

Rock the roof off with Sevendust this weekend

“Wall of Death, Wall of Death!” is a popular chant that can be heard at almost any hard rock or metal show. If you’re passing by Friday at The Blue Note, you’ll probably hear that alongside thundering guitar riffs because Sevendust will be in town.

Sevendust is a hard rock band, formed in 1995, from Atlanta. Its sound is comparable to artists such as Earshot, Taproot and Dark New Day. One of the reasons Dark New Day might be similar is because the lead guitarist of Sevendust, Clint Lowery, is a former member of Dark New Day.

Lowery left Sevendust in 2004 to play alongside his brother, Corey. His departure was shortly after the release of Sevendust’s fourth studio album, Seasons, and the album’s supporting tour. The album was the band’s most successful at that point.

“It was healthy for me,” Lowery said. “It kept me from getting burnt out and allowed me to bring some positive energy back with me when I rejoined in 2008.”

The band released its seventh studio album, Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow and was reunited with Lowery for the subsequent tour.

“I really missed the guys,” Lowery said. “I learned a lot while I was gone. I took all of my good and my bad experiences back with me to Sevendust, and we’re better because of it.”

Lowery played a crucial role in the making of Cold Day Memory, the band’s highest-rated album to date. He was given no boundaries by the band and essentially told to do what he thought would sound best.

“I was gone for three records,” Lowery said. “They wanted to recapture the sound that I brought to Sevendust, so they just let me do my own thing. They wanted me to be able to retake my role in the band, and I feel I’ve done that.”

The best part of any show for a real hard rock fan is the ability to go out and knock around some of your fellow metal-heads and at the end of the day, leave the venue with bumps, severely sore necks and battle scars. Where else can you go, punch a guy to the floor, reach down and help him up, only to both bang your heads to the upcoming riff?

After having Lowery back for one full tour and by letting him get comfortable with Sevendust again, the upcoming show promises to be one of the band's best to date. The harmonizing vocals of lead singer Lajon Witherspoon and the superb screaming vocals of drummer Morgan Rose culminate to form the best duo of singer/screamer to be heard.

In retaining its members, the band hasn’t lost the love and respect of its fans — or its “family,” as the band prefers to address them. The group’s original sound has also been kept intact through its 15 years of existence.

“We started out with the intention to be as heavy as Pantera,” Lowery said. “I feel like we are as heavy as any of their records. Sure, our sound is going to be different because Lajon sings different than (Pantera lead singer) Phil (Anselmo), but that’s what we aimed for, and I think we succeeded.”

Do yourself a favor, Columbia, go see Sevendust rock the roof off The Blue Note and get some real heavy metal pumping through your veins this Homecoming weekend.

Tiger softball stays unbeaten in fall with two wins Saturday

Echoes of M-I-Z-Z-O-U could be heard far from University Field on Saturday as the Tiger softball team trounced Three Rivers Community College 21-2, and Lake Land Community College 16-1.

The Tigers got off to a quick start, getting on the board in the second inning. Senior first baseman Marla Schweisberger started off the inning with a solo shot to right field. It was her first home run of the fall. With the game at 1-1, freshman catcher Maddison Ruggeberg stole second, aided by a catcher’s error. The error was the first in a series of errors, as the Raiders of Three Rivers Community College would finish the game with nine. The Tigers would capitalize on the errors, scoring seven runs in the second inning.

“I think the combination of the errors made by the other team and our improved hitting enabled us to score a lot of runs in a short period of time,” coach Ehren Earleywine said. “If you make a mistake against us, you will pay for it.”

Early in the fifth inning, sophomore Nicole Hudson blasted a grand slam over the right wall, which skipped on to a practice green at A.L. Gustin Golf Course and hit the flagstick. As a sophomore, she already leads the team this season in homeruns and looks to continue that into the spring.

“I’ve been working really hard to get to this point,” she said. “I felt like I really got where I wanted to be for the first time today.”

Hudson led the team in RBIs with six, and scored a total of four runs.

The second game of the afternoon, the final of the preseason, began with excitement. Junior pitcher Kristin Nottlemann struck out all three Lakers that she faced in the first inning of play.

“I wanted to make sure I struck out the first batter,” she said. “After that, I just went after them.”

Contrary to the norm all preseason, the Tigers got off to a fast start offensively in the second game. They registered five runs off of only three hits in the first inning, making the score 5-0. The game was quiet from then on until the third inning, when Rhea Taylor hit a single, batting in a run in the process. The Tigers also tacked on three more in the third, pushing their lead to 9-0.

“We hit the ball pretty solid today,” Earleywine said. “We only had one batter strike out, and I think that speaks volumes about our lineup.”

Nottelmann had a very impressive day, notching seven total strikeouts. She only allowed three hits en route to the win.

“We really tried to focus on the movement of the ball rather than speed,” she said.

In the sixth inning, Hudson came in to relieve Nottelmann, showing more signs of her versatility.

“I don’t do that often,” she said. “It was fun. I just want the team to know I’m more than willing to do whatever it takes to win.”

The Tigers scored another three runs in the fourth inning and another five in the fifth, putting the game out of reach for the Lakers at 16-0.

Senior outfielder Rhea Taylor led the team at the plate against the Raiders, going 3 for 5 with an RBI and one run scored.

The Tigers have high expectations after going 8-0 in the preseason and aim to carry their success over into the regular season on February 18, 2011, when they travel to San Diego to take on Fresno State in the San Diego Classic.

Missouri softball takes two, improves to 6-0 in fall season

The Tigers worked their way closer to a perfect preseason Saturday, notching a pair of victories over Columbia College and Johnson County Community College.

Junior pitcher Kristin Nottelmann was the girl with the golden arm when the team played Columbia College in game one. Her arm was about the only thing shining bright in the mid-afternoon sun as the Tigers snuck past the Cougars 3-1.

Nottelmann recorded 10 strikeouts in only five innings of work.

“I’ve been working on my spin,” she said. “The rise and drop of my pitches was really good today.”

The game was uneventful until the fifth inning, when the Cougars got on the board with one run to go up 1-0.

The Tigers followed suit with a pair of runs. Senior first baseman Marla Schweisberger singled and started the scoring push. After senior outfielder Shana White pinch ran for Schweisberger, senior second baseman Abby Vock tripled to right-center field, driving in White to put the Tigers on the board. Virtually in the exact same fashion, senior outfielder Rhea Taylor, who went two for three at the plate on the day, followed with a triple of her own, allowing Vock to score the go-ahead run, putting the game at 2-1. The lead was one they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.

“The game was close, really close,” coach Ehren Earleywine said. “Columbia had a great pitcher. Our problem when we face a really good pitcher is that we back off. You can’t get hits if you don’t swing the bat, it’s as simple as that.”

Next up for the Tigers were the Cavaliers of Johnson County Community College. Cavaliers’ pitcher Katie Williams had an impressive speed to her fastball, but the Tigers weren’t intimidated.

“She threw strikes,” Earleywine said. “Her location was very good.”

Kathryn Poet, the Tigers' leading hitter in the game, said she loved the challenge of facing such a talented pitcher.

“She was fast,” she said. “Once I got up to the plate I was a little nervous.”

Those nerves must not have lasted long. The game began with a single by White. White stole second base and advanced to third after sophomore third baseman Ashlie Ortega popped out. Poet then drove in the first two runs, scoring one of them herself as she blasted a home run to left field. It was her first of the fall season.

“I thought it was a popup to short,” she said. “Then the crowd cheered and I was just so happy.”

Missouri held the Cavaliers to just three hits for the entire game. Senior pitcher Lisa Simmons lead the team, pitching through five innings.

The Tigers started to pull away in the third inning, scoring three runs to put the game at 5-0. They also recorded three hits during that time.

Simmons had held the Cavaliers to zero hits through three innings, but hopes of a fall season no-hit bid were shattered when the Cavaliers’ Kim Smith doubled to the center wall in the fourth.

Missouri tacked on another run in the fifth inning and six more in the sixth, putting the game out of reach for the Cavaliers at 11-0.

The Tigers were led by Poet, who went three for four at the plate with three runs and four RBIs.

“I had a terrible week of practice,” Poet said. “But everything just came together today. My timing was finally on.”

Missouri will host one final set of games on Saturday, Oct. 16 before opening up its regular season schedule in February.

Con artist peddles fake laptops

A con artist is preying on local shoppers by selling fraudulent laptops, according to a Columbia Police Department news release.

The man, who is described as a 5-foot-11-inch man in his thirties with two gold front teeth, has already swindled two Columbia residents, possibly more, the news release stated.

On Sept. 19, a man approached a 22-year-old woman while she was pumping gas at the Petro Mart on East St. Charles Road, asking if she wanted to buy a laptop computer. According to a news release, the man said the computer was one of three left behind in a delivery truck, and that he was the driver.

The man gave her the price of $300 for the computer, but she refused. The two eventually negotiated a price of $100.

According to the news release, the man handed her a sealed FedEx box and left. When the woman got home, she found the laptop she thought she had purchased was merely a block of wood with a mock price tag on it.

The Columbia Police Department advised people to refer to the age-old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said to avoid offers that seem shady.

“People get intimidated by these fast-talking and sometimes aggressive con artists,” Jessie Haden said. “If it seems shady at all, don’t be afraid to call for help or to simply say no.”

On Sept. 21, the suspect struck again at the Walmart on West Broadway.

According to the news release, the man approached a 21-year-old male as he left the Walmart. The suspect offered to sell a computer the suspect claimed was left in his wife’s office by a deliveryman.

Haden said the man originally declined the offer to purchase the laptop.

“Con artists aren’t typically the type of criminals that will harm you,” she said. “Their weapon is their mouth, and all you have to do is say no to disarm them.”

The victim eventually purchased the computer when the suspect told him he would sell it for $110.

According to the news release, the suspect advised the victim to take a look inside the box to make sure everything that was agreed upon was present. The man partially opened up the box to reveal what appeared to be a blue laptop, and a power cord.

When the victim arrived at home, he found the computer was, again, a block of wood, only this time it had been covered in blue masking tape to give the illusion of a laptop, the news release stated. The cord he saw was simply a cut extension cord placed inside the box, which was submitted to police as evidence.

The only lead police have is the short description of the suspect. Haden said it is unlikely that CPD will catch the suspect.

“It’s likely that he isn’t from Columbia,” she said. “Con artists usually blow into town, run their scam and leave.”

Haden said police are doing their best in tracking down the suspect.

“We contacted Walmart for their surveillance tapes and we plan to do the same for Petro Mart,” she said. “It’s all dependent on whether the tapes caught him or his vehicle, and whether they give an identifiable angle of the suspect.”

Haden said none of the victims could be reimbursed if the man isn’t caught.

“It’s not a function of our department to reimburse fraud,” she said.

Missouri swimming and diving shines at Show-Me Showdown

Relays were the word when the Missouri swimming and diving team hosted St. Louis University, Drury University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Washington University and Lindenwood University on Saturday. Tiger relays claimed the number one finish in every single relay in both the men and women’s meets.

“We just went out and raced,” senior captain Jordan Hawley said. “Drury had some great teams, but we managed to pull out the win.”

Missouri started out the day at the sixth annual Show-Me Showdown with finishes of first, second, fourth and fifth in the Women’s 200 Free Relay. They finished in first place with a time of 1 minute 36 seconds.

The men’s team placed in first, fifth and sixth. The first place finish was recorded with a time of 1 minute 23.65 seconds. Senior captains Jordan Hawley and Anders Melin anchored the team.

“I was pleased with the effort we put forth today,” Melin said. “We could’ve been a bit faster, but you can’t be unhappy with a win.”

In terms of individual races, the team placed first in seven out of 10 races. In the men’s 100-yard freestyle, Hawley took first.

“I think I did well,” Hawley said. “I put up a solid first showing. We all need to iron out our mistakes, but in terms of individual events, this team is better than it has ever been before.”

The team put up a strong showing in the breaststroke, winning both the men and women’s 100-yard events. Junior Emy DiBenigno took first place for the women and junior Michael Lopresti took the crown for the men.

Missouri didn’t place in either men’s or women’s three meter diving events. St. Louis University dominated both events.

“Our diving team is one of the best in the nation,” coach Greg Rhodenbaugh said. “We just had some tough competition today. Coach Jamie Sweeney is great. He really makes them compete as a team.”

Overall, Rhodenbaugh was pleased with the effort Missouri put forth.

“We fought hard,” he said. “We were very tired because we swam a lot in the Intersquad meet yesterday. We haven’t done much other than get into shape, so we will go back to the drawing board and work on our mechanics. I think we could turn a bit faster.”

The meet ended with the men’s 200 Medley Relay, which the Tigers won by about two seconds.

Missouri won the meet on both the men and women’s sides. The women won by a landslide. Their final point total was 700, whereas the next closest was Drury University with 526. The men won by almost as big of a margin with 670.5 points. The second place finisher was Drury University with 548.5.

Missouri will continue its season Oct. 16 in Carbondale, Ill.

Tigers sweep doubleheader Saturday, now 4-0 in fall season

Missouri softball continued its impressive fall season with two wins Saturday. The Tigers started off the afternoon by trouncing the Meramec Magic 17-0 and beat Jefferson College 4-0 in the second game.

The Tigers raced out to an early 4-0 lead in the first game, aided by a two-run shot by sophomore third baseman Nicole Hudson. It was her second home run of the fall.

The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the third inning, and two more in the fourth, pushing the lead to 9-0. The Tigers recorded 10 hits in just the first four innings, despite the windy conditions. Senior first baseman Marla Schweisberger and senior outfielder Kathryn Poet led the Tigers offense, both going four for five at the plate with three runs apiece.

The sixth inning was the most eventful of the afternoon, as the Tigers scored a total of eight runs, pushing the lead to 17-0, and putting the game out of reach.

“I’m very happy with the way I played today,” Poet said. “It wasn’t perfect, but I got into a groove where I was comfortable at the plate again.”

Senior pitcher Lisa Simmons also put up a strong performance, allowing only four hits in the five innings she pitched, while recording two strikeouts. Simmons said she wasn’t concerned with the lack of strikeouts.

“I’m just not that type of pitcher,” Simmons said. “I just try to throw strikes and let the other eight girls out there help me out. That’s what this team is about, working together.”

The second game of the afternoon was not so spectacular. Nevertheless, the Tigers still produced a 4-0 victory over Jefferson College.

The Tigers got off to a slow start with only five hits in the first three innings.

“I’m not worried about the slow start,” coach Ehren Earleywine said. ”We had a lot of different people at different positions, so that’s going to happen.”

The Tigers capitalized on errors in the first inning. Senior outfielder Rhea Taylor started the game off with a bunt, and reached second on a throwing error by the pitcher. After a walk and another error, Simmons blasted one to the center field wall to drive in two runs, making the score 2-0.

Missouri would strike again in the third and fourth, scoring one run in each inning.

The Tigers seemed sluggish at the plate in the second game, posting only six hits and four runs by the fourth inning. Despite the cold bats, the team was very mechanically sound, committing no errors en route to the victory.

The highlight of the game was the performance of junior pitcher Kristin Nottelmann. She struck out four batters, and had zero earned runs. Nottelmann is coming off of a season ending hand injury last season. Nicole Hudson came to the mound to close the game.

Coach Earleywine said that he was pleased with the team’s performance.

“The games went well,” he said. “We aren’t so much worried about the scores, but we made some changes and it paid off.”

He said he was more pleased with the second of the two games.

“It was great to see (Kristin) Nottelmann back to full strength,” he said. “This team is headed places.”

Missouri swimming and diving prepares for season opener

The Missouri swimming and diving team opened up the season on Friday with its annual Black and Gold Intersquad meet. Swimmers and divers alike showed promise for the upcoming season, which begins with the sixth annual Show-Me Showdown on Oct. 2 in Columbia.

At the Intersquad meet, each team had two captains. Representing the Black team was Morgan McCleery, and Anders Melin. The Gold team captains were Francie Szostak, and Jordan Hawley. All of the captains are seniors and hope to replace a considerably strong class of seniors from the previous year.

All of the captains seemed to feel the same way about being nominated by their teammates.

“It is a great privilege,” senior captain Anders Melin said. “It’s humbling to have the respect of the entire team.”

Melin is one of three swimmers on the team from overseas. He started swimming in South Carolina at a division two school, and when the opportunity to come to the University of Missouri came, he jumped on it.

“It is a great thing for international students to come to America,” Melin said. “The education system is top of the line. To be able to combine that with something we love, swimming, is something amazing you can’t get in Europe or wherever you may be from.”

First year coach Greg Rhodenbaugh was pleased with the teams’ performance at the meet.

“The team swam well overall,” Rhodenbaugh said. “They were swimming just as fast in relays as they did in individuals. That shows pride.”

Relays were the focus of team goals for the season.

“We want to get a relay team to the NCAA meet this year,” senior Jordan Hawley said. “That is our biggest goal.”

Melin had a bigger goal in mind for the team.

“We want to make it to the men’s championships,” he said. “We have so much talent. We are going to get there. There is no doubt about it, nothing can stop us.”

On the diving side of things, junior Jordan Morcom, coming off of a season in which she qualified for the NCAA meet, hopes to improve and go even further. At the Intersquad meet, she did well, placing first in the Women’s three meter diving.

Coach Rhodenbaugh said that the team has been doing well in practices. He was very pleased with the team’s performance in Friday’s meet.

“I’m still on the honeymoon of my first year here but I expect great things,” he said. “Everything is going well.”

Rhodenbaugh was the assistant coach at the University of Arizona last year. When he came in, he brought with him an entirely new coaching staff.

“I am very fortunate that all the people I asked to come build this thing with me wanted to come,” he said. “They’re all fine coaches.”

The team has responded well to the coaching staff change. They have been very supportive of the things coach Rhodenbaugh has done, and have responded well to his teachings.

“I expect a lot of my team,” Rhodenbaugh said. “They have accepted the changes I have made. I’m very excited for the season we have ahead of us.”

Captains Morgan McCleery and Francie Szostak had one particular goal in mind for the girl’s teams.

“We want to get more girls to the NCAA meet,” Szostak said. “Last year we felt very unfulfilled because we felt our team wasn’t adequately represented. We can do better than that.”

McCleery also said that she wanted more girls to make the trip, adding that she feels the team has the potential to be one of the best Missouri has had in recent memory.

The Intersquad meet concluded with the Gold team victorious by two points.

Nonpoint feat. Egypt Central, Abused Romance and Decadent Nation

Nonpoint and Egypt Central came to Columbia last Wednesday. The Blue Note hosted the concert that consisted of four different bands. On the bill were Decadent Nation, Abused Romance, Egypt Central and Nonpoint.
At the beginning of the show, there weren’t very many people in attendance, maybe 45 at the most. The audience was pleased with the performance of Decadent Nation, a band of Columbia natives. They played some popular hits such as “Independence Day,” and “Little Mushrooms.” They aren’t a very widely known band, but their sound has been compared to that of popular rock band Chevelle.
The next band on tap was Abused Romance. They were the band that seemed out of place when put with the others. Their sound was as heavy and in your face as the others, but the vocals were high pitched and more of an emo style. I would say their guitars may have been the heaviest of the four bands, but that was probably because they brought out more amps and speakers than other bands. The audience echoed my concern for whether they fit on the bill. They weren’t received by jeers and boos, but the audience didn’t pay much attention.
When Egypt Central took the stage, many were curious who they were. They are a nationally recognized band, but apparently they hadn’t reached Columbia’s ears…yet. They killed the show, captivating the entire room, and being the first band to start a mosh pit. I, along with a few other fans, was loudly singing every one of their songs and those who weren’t appeared as if they wished they knew the words so they could be more involved in the amazing sound. They closed the show with their hit single, “You Make Me Sick,” and the crowd went wild.
The headliner Nonpoint walked out on to the stage last, and it was obvious, they were the band everyone came to see. The meager crowd of 45 had grown throughout the evening and peaked around 100 when Nonpoint took the stage. They took the stage and made it clear that it was their stage. They opened with their latest single, “Miracle,” and every song from then on the crowd sang loudly. Their sound got the crowd really moving and at one point, they even got the entire venue jumping up and down. The band ended the show with its cover of “In The Air Tonight” by Genesis and the fans soulfully sang along. Nonpoint exited the stage to chants of “Encore!” and “Nonpoint.” They obliged and played two more songs, finally closing with their heaviest two songs to date, an older one, “What A Day,” and “Bullet With A Name.”
It was a fantastic show, but the odd placement of Abused Romance knocks it down a peg. They were a good band, but just didn’t fit. This show, which left fans with sore necks, and bruised limbs, receives a four out of five stars.

Missouri softball opens up fall season with sweep

The Missouri softball team launched its fall season Sept. 25 with a doubleheader. The Tigers are beginning this exhibition season with high hopes after making their second consecutive trip to the Women’s College World Series in the spring.

Morale among players is high after a strong start to the fall season. In its home doubleheader, Missouri swept Maple Woods Community College and North Central Missouri College. The competition consists of all junior and community colleges but coach Ehren Earleywine maintains its usefulness.

“Sure, the scores probably won't be close, but it gives me a chance to see people in different spots,” he said. “The competition really comes from our team. You have another girl breathing down your neck at all times competing for that starting spot.”

Earleywine said the team looks good overall. The team is returning 17 players, and junior pitcher Kristin Nottelmann and redshirt sophomore pitcher Chelsea Thomas are healthy again.

Nottelmann sat out the post-season last year with a stress fracture in her throwing hand. This fall she is working to get her hand back to full strength.

“The hand is healed 100 percent,” Nottelmann said. “I just need to get used to throwing again. It’s been a while.”

The number one problem already plaguing the team is injuries. Several players are suffering from minor injuries. Although not serious enough to keep them off the field, the players are still hindered by them.

“All of the injuries we have are preexisting conditions,” Earleywine said. “None of them have happened in practice.”

Among the more seriously injured are freshman outfielder Taylor Duplechain and senior catcher Megan Christopher. Both had surgery and are not expected to be back to full strength until at least 10 games into the spring season.

“It's unfortunate that we lost these two,” Earleywine said.

Duplechain and Christopher will be back in plenty of time to make a difference in the spring season, but the fact they have to sit out the fall means they can’t show coaches what they can do. This is detrimental for Duplechain, who is a freshman.

In preparation for the spring season, coach Earleywine wants to focus on mechanics and the little things rather than wins.

“In the spring, you’ll do anything to get a W,” Earleywine said. “In the fall, we don’t really want to focus on our record, but perfecting things like hitting and throwing.”

Another important thing Earleywine stressed was finding the weaknesses in their game and shining a spotlight on them. Senior first baseman Marla Schweisberger echoed his concern.

“We need to find each other’s weaknesses and exploit them, so we can fix them,” she said. “It all comes down to execution.”

Nottelmann has a few specific things to work on this season.

“My speed on pitches is good, but I want to work on my location, especially on the changeup,” Nottelmann said. “My spin is another thing that needs a little bit of tweaking. I’m putting in the extra time to make sure it’s where I want it come spring time.”

When spring does roll around, the team has high expectations after losing its second straight World Series. The players were asked to put last year’s season into one word, which generated mixed responses. Words such as adversity, improving and encouraging were thrown around. When it came time to pick a word for this season, the consensus among players was obvious: championship.

“We feel like the third time’s the charm,” Schweisberger said. “We have returned so many players, and we feel like the chemistry on this team is too much to not win the National Title.”

The players summarized the season appropriately, but none did it better than coach Earleywine. In his mind, the word for this season: redemption.

“We’ve got some things to take care of back in Oklahoma City,” he said.

The Tigers will continue their fall season with a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday at University Field.