Column: Exciting time for spring sports

By: Kevin Murphy / Sports Editor

Posted: 4/13/09

After a lackluster fall season, the Eastern spring sports scene is running full-speed.

The Eastern baseball team (24-6, 8-1 Ohio Valley Conference) headlines the group of teams. Receiving votes in national polls, and ranked 27th in another, the Panthers had their 13-game winning streak snapped Friday against Tennessee Martin.

That's OK. They rebounded with a 30-3 win.

While they can't win them all, going on 13-, 14- and 15-game win streaks is certainly fine with the Panther Nation.

The Eastern softball team (24-14, 8-3 OVC) moved themselves into a prime position this weekend with a sweep of Tennessee Tech and now, the Panthers are in second place in the league. They also snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Golden Eagles and will play their next 11 games at home.

This includes hosting fourth place Morehead State and defending league and conference tournament champions - Jacksonville State. They will also play Illinois (22-12), a team that has received notes in national polls as well this season.

The Eastern women's tennis team (8-12, 4-5 OVC) reached the OVC Tournament without any controversy.

"They accomplished one of their biggest goals - to make it to their conference tournament," said Eastern head tennis coach John Blackburn. "It was settled on the court. They got in with their play, not anything else."

Last season, the Eastern women's tennis team finished in a three-way tie for fifth place with Tennessee Martin and Tennessee Tech. The Panthers were left out on a coaches' vote. The OVC coaches not involved in the tiebreaker were called to vote in the final two teams invited to the six-team tournament.

This season, the Panthers did not have to worry about a tiebreaker. It was a big sigh of relief.

This season, the Eastern men's tennis team did need a tiebreaker to enter the OVC Tournament. The Panthers (10-11, 3-5 OVC) finished tied for sixth place with Tennessee Martin (5-11, 3-5). But since the Panthers defeated Tennessee Martin, they made the league tournament.

The track teams, which are picked to win their conference meets, gained momentum this weekend by winning the team titles at the Western Illinois Lee Calhoun Classic.

We can only see what next weekend will bring for Eastern sports.

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.