Around the Ohio Valley Feb. 22

Austin Peay
Governor baseball, who were the pre-season pick to finished first in the Ohio Valley Conferences regular season, are set to begin an eight game home stand that starts this weekend. The first game of the stand is today in the first game of a weekend series against Illinois State which wraps-up on Sunday the 24th. That series is followed by midweek games hosting Southern Illinois and Indiana State. The stand is then finished with a series hosting Michigan State March 1-3.

Belmont
Former Belmont men’s tennis assistant coach emeritus Brian Baker is set to be honored at the men’s basketball bracketbuster game against Ohio on Saturday. Baker has been chasing his dream in professional tennis while injuries have continually hindered his progress. Last season Baker advanced to the round of 16, and had a strong start to this season before suffering a meniscus tear in the second round of the Australian Open.

Eastern Illinois
The Panthers play host to the 2013 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships this weekend at Lantz Fieldhouse in Charleston, Illinois. The competition begins this afternoon and will finish Saturday. EIU will also be defending their conference titles in both the men’s and the women’s competitions after claiming team championships each of the last four years.

Eastern Kentucky
Former Colonel wide receiver Tyrone Goard is looking to leave his mark as he participates in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana. He will be the first Colonel do so since 2008. Goard earned his spot at the combine by posting four 100-yard receiving games last season including a 175-yard game against UT Martin. The combine will be broadcast on NFL Network Feb. 23-26 for fans who would like to follow his progress.

Jacksonville State
Gamecock rifle program has been selected to compete in the NCAA Championships for the 12th time in school history. They are one of eight teams who have the chance to win the 2013 National Championship. The competition will be hosted by The Ohio State University March 8-9 at OSU’s French Field House in Columbus, Ohio. JSU played 6th in the championship last season.

Morehead State
For the Kelly-Tenyer family, Morehead State Athletics has been a family affair. The family has a connection to MSU athletics that now spans over 50 years and three generations. There are currently four members of the family that come to campus everyday.

Murray State
Racer football has set its schedule for the 2013 season. The schedule features six home games, which will be the first time since 2008. The road schedule features games at Missouri and Bowling Green. The game against Missouri will be their first game against SEC competition since 2005. Click here to check out the full schedule.

Southeast Missouri
The Redhawks head into the OVC Indoor Track and Field Championships with some momentum as sophomore Reggie Mille, Jr. was named Ohio Valley Conference Male Indoor Athlete of the Year this week and junior Blake Carter earned adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Male Field Athlete of the Week for the week prior. Miller, Jr. holds the OVC-best height in the high jump with a mark of 7’0.25”, and Carter holds the OVC-best and school record in the long jump with a distance of 25’6”.

SIUE
Coaches and athletes often form special bonds from the time spent together over four-year periods, but the bond between coach Scott Block and athlete Greg Block is brotherly. Literally. Scott holds the SIUE record for indoor and outdoor shot put and the outdoor record for discuss, which earned him All-American honors. He now coaches his younger brother in those events and has high hopes for him. “He’s the hardest working kid you will ever meet,” Scott said of his brother. “I’m not just saying that because it sounds good. He is a tremendously hard worker. He takes everything to the max.”

Tennessee State
97 Tennessee State student athletes were recognized for their academic achievements at halftime of the women’s basketball against UT Martin on Monday night. The honorees were met at half-court by many members of the administration including President Glenda Baskin Glover and Director of Athletics Teresa Philips to congratulate them for their achievements. To be recognized the student-athletes had to maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher during the 2012 year.

Tennessee Tech
When the Golden Eagles host Eastern Kentucky in an OVC Doubleheader on Thursday, February 28 they will also be hosting Military Appreciation Night as well as Scout Night. Both groups will receive free admission to the game. For scouts to earn free admission they will need to come to the game in their scouting uniform and present a scouting ID. Military will need to provide the proper identification to enter for free. The women’s game tips at 5:30 p.m. and the men will follow at approximately 7:30 p.m. at the Eblen Center.

UT MartinThe Skyhawk golf team won the Frito Lay/Taco Bell Intercollegiate at Dancing Rabbit Golf Course in Philadelphia, Miss. The Skyhawks shot a first round 284 and led the field of 11 teams by 19 strokes. They were only team to finish the round under par. In the second the team shot a 292, which put them at even par for the tournament, and was good enough to claim the title.