Published: March 03, 2009 12:54 am      

College scene: Settling in fine

Toole already impressing Cougars’ coaches

Making the transition from playing junior college baseball to NCAA Division I ball can be an arduous task, but pitcher Jeremy Toole is coming along quite nicely at Brigham Young.

In his two starts this season against Oklahoma State on Feb. 21, now ranked No. 11 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll, and Portland, Toole, a former Huntsville Hornet, has shown to be quite relaxed on the mound.

Toole held OSU hitless through four innings before having one forgetful fifth inning. On the day, Toole allowed two hits and struck out five, but walked seven in 4 2/3 innnings of work.

He didn’t let that one inning get him down. In the home opener just five days later, Toole was impressive, scattering six hits over seven innings and fanning five.

“Toole is a pitching arm that throws hard and it’s tough to catch up to him,” BYU head coach Vance Law said following the game.

“It was my second start, but my first one at home,” Toole said. “I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It was a slow first inning, but it felt good after that. I just went out there and did my best. It was what I’ve been practicing for my whole life.”

Prior to pitching for the Cougars, Toole spent the previous two seasons playing for Alvin Community College.

“My pitching coach approached me with a list of schools and asked me where I wanted to go,” Toole said. “I chose BYU. The BYU coaches came by to look at me and here I am.

“It’s been great so far. I couldn’t be at a better place.”

A third-place finisher in the Mountain West Conference last season, Toole has high hopes for the Cougars this season.

“I think we can be a pretty good team,” the right-hander added. “We have a lot of guys that are really talented. We’ll see. Hopefully, it all works out for us. in the end.”



Former Hornets also in action

Blinn Lady Buccaneer shortstop Caley Jeter continues to have a fantastic season. On Friday, the Lady Bucs hosted Coastal Bend in a doubleheader. Blinn won impressively in both games 13-0 and 14-3 in the nightcap. Jeter went 4-for-4, including a triple and batted in four runs.

Jeter’s teammate at Huntsville and at Blinn, Bre’Neka O’Bryant also had a productive outing. O’Bryant went 3-for-3 and scored every time she got on base.

Centenary’s Jessica Marquart, a transfer from Nicholls State, helped the Ladies win the team championship and won the individual championship in a playoff with teammate Jessica Garza in the Centenary Spring Invitational in Haughton, La. Marquart recorded a two-round score of 158. Jessica Marquart used a par on the first playoff hole to defeat Garza on a blustery day at Olde Oaks Golf Club on Feb. 24.

“It’s exciting,” Marquart told the Shreveport Times. “Hopefully winning can help boost our egos a little bit.

“It’s nice that we took first and second (individually) and won the team.”