Just Take A Minute: July 6-10, 2009

July 13, 2009

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   Friday, July 10

Happy Friday UMass Fans! Today's Just Take A Minutes is packed full of news on former UMass hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball and lacrosse standouts as well as a recap of a stellar performance on the mound by a current Minuteman in summer league baseball action. Also in JTAM, news on members of the women's basketball program volunteering in the community this summer.

Ron Chimelis has a great story on Gary Forbes and Tony Gaffney who are currently vying for roster spots while competing in the NBA summer leagues. Both will be in action in the Las Vegas Summer League, which opens tonight. In addition to Forbes and Gaffney, former UMass forward Stephane Lasme will be competing for the San Antonio Spurs' team in Las Vegas.

Not to be outdone by Mike Gedman's stellar performance on the mound with his summer league team, the Brainerd Area Lunkers, earlier this week, fellow UMass southpaw Nick Serino baffled the third-best offense in the NECBL last night. Serino threw a five-hit shutout in the Lowell All-Americans' 1-0 victory over the Vermont Mountaineers and fanned 12. Here is the box score from the NECBL site.

In honor of the the U.S. Women's Soccer National Team winning the World Cup 10 years ago today, UMass' Briana Scurry, who was the goalkeeper on that squad, reflects on the anniversary of the "shootout victory that became a landmark in women's sports" in this feature from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The Press & Sun-Bulletin out of Binghamton has an article on UMass hockey alumn Greg Mauldin signed with the New York Islanders earlier this month. Mauldin was the MVP of the Binghamton Senators this past season and will likely return to the AHL with Bridgeport in 2009-10.

Baseball's Mitchell Clegg is mentioned a minor league notebook on MASNsports.com, Clegg was selected by Washington in the 21st round of 2009 First-Year Player Draft and is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 4 games, 2 starts, to begin his pro career.

Former UMass lacrosse standout attackman Sean Morris is mentioned in this recap of the Boston Cannons' one-goal loss to the Long Island Lizards last night at Hofstra University's Shuart Stadium. Morris registered an assist on a third quarter goal.

The Amherst Bulletin has a feature on the ACT NOW! film workshop for young girls and mentions that members of the UMass women's basketball team will serve as guest mentors at the upcoming July 13-17 workshop.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The 2009-10 UMass swimming and diving schedules have been posted. Check out the announcement, which was made yesterday.

   Thursday, July 9

Good morning UMass fans. This Thursday edition of JTAM has a variety of UMass sports being covered. One current UMass pitcher was in action on Wednesday for his summer team, while a former Minuteman hurler started on the mound for his AA team. Also included is some coverage of men's basketball, hockey, and women's lacrosse.

The Niagara Gazette has a story on basketball player Tyrell Lynch as he gears up to play a bigger role for the Minutemen in his sophomore campaign. The former Niagara Falls High star is quoted as saying, "I think I've transformed my game. I'm in the best shape of my life. Running faster than I ever did, jumping higher."

UConn released its 2009-10 hockey schedule on Wednesday. It mentions one of the highlights of their schedule is when the Huskies welcome "Hockey East powerhouse UMass" to Storrs, along with Union and Bentley, for the Toyota UConn Classic on December 29-30.

The Source has a story on the Hand High School women's lacrosse team that won the Southern Connecticut Conference title again this year. The team was led by UMass-bound senior Allie Bernardo.

In summer baseball action, UMass pitcher Jared Freni started on the hill for the North Shore Navigators on Wednesday, striking out five batters in four innings while allowing three runs. Unfortunately, Freni and the Navigators fell to Sanford Mainers, 5-0.

The Providence Journal has coverage of Tuesday's NBA summer game between the Utah Jazz and Gary Forbes' Philadelphia/New Jersey squad. The game had plenty of A-10 flair to it with former URI star Jimmy Baron scoring eight for Utah, former Xavier star Josh Duncan scoring 12 for the Jazz, while Forbes and Temple's Dionte Christmas both played for the Sixers/Nets.

Former UMass pitcher Matt Torra continued his fine season with the Southern League's Mobile BayBears on Wednesday. Torra allowed just one run over seven innings of work, but he got little help from his offense and bullpen as the BayBears fell to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, 3-2. The 2005 first round sandwich pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks is now 6-7 on the season and has been named a Southern League All-Star. Our Sports Central, The Press-Register, andThe Jackson Sun all have coverage of the game.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Gary Forbes and Tony Gaffney NBA Summer League News - Forbes' Philadelphia/New Jersey team takes on Oklahoma City at 3 p.m. today.

   Wednesday, July 8

Happy Wednesday folks. In today's edition of JTAM you will find news on a variety of different UMass sports. Mike Gedman from the baseball team, hockey news on the schedule and a former coach, a lacrosse alum, a track alum, and men's basketball news are all included.

In summer baseball action, Mike Gedman threw a gem to get the victory for his Brainerd Lunkers over the Eau Claire Express, 4-3, on Monday. The southpaw hurled seven innings, scattered only four hits and one run, walked just one, and struck out three. He picked up his third victory of the year and lowered his ERA to 2.23.

UMass lacrosse alum Kevin Leveille was named Major League Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending July 4. The Chicago Machine star recorded a game-high 8 points against the Toronto Nationals this past Saturday, as he led the Machine to an impressive 24-19 victory. Four of his goals came on assists from his brother, Mike, while Kevin's lone assist came on a Mike goal.

The Springfield Republican has a story on the release of the 2009-10 UMass hockey schedule. The story talks about how the Mass Attack starts the season with seven out of nine games at home, including an October 16 clash with national champ Boston University at the Mullins Center.

Andy Katz' blog on ESPN.com talks about Xavier men's basketball landing former Purdue recruit Jeff Robinson, a 6-9 forward from Indianapolis. Andy goes on to say that Xavier will need Robinson's help this season, as "sleeping on teams such as Charlotte and UMass ... would be a mistake."

At the North Andover/Merrimack Valley Striders Fourth of July Road Race over the weekend, a former Umass track athlete showed he's still got it. 26-year old Jon Korhonen pulled away at the end to record a time of 15:51 and win the 5K event.

Former Umass hockey graduate assistant coach Darren Yopyk has been named Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations for the Westside Warriors of the British Columbia Hockey League. Yopyk spent the last four years assisting another UMass alum, Mark Dennehy at Merrimack.

Former Minuteman Gary Forbes scored four points and had one assist in 13 minutes of playing time on Tuesday as his Philadelphia/New Jersey team lost to Utah, 83-68, at the Orlando Magic Summer League.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: Gary Forbes and Tony Gaffney NBA Summer League News - Keep up to date as Gary and Tony compete against some of the NBA's top young talent.

Don't miss this: Be sure to check in throughout the week on Just Take A Minute as the UMass men's and women's swimming and diving teams will release their 2009-10 schedules.

   Tuesday, July 7

Good Tuesday morning UMass fans! Today's edition of JTAM is heavy on basketball news as NBA Summer League action is off and running. Gary Forbes was in action with the 76ers on Monday, while Tony Gaffney's LA Lakers don't begin until next week. There is also news on former UMass baseball player Mitchell Clegg, who is playing preofessionally with the Vermont Lake Monsters of the New York-Penn League.

Former UMass hoopster Gary Forbes hauled in two rebounds in his debut in the NBA Summer League. His combined Philadelphia 76ers/New Jersey Nets team fell to the Indiana Pacers, 75-67, in Orlando.The Boston Globe and ProBasketballNews.com have coverage.

That's not all on Forbes. It was announced that the NBA D-League Select Team will play a five-game schedule at the NBA Summer League beginning later this week. The former Minuteman, who averaged 17.4 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Sioux Falls SkyForce last season, is one of 10 D-League players from last season to be named to the team that will compete in Las Vegas.

Fans can follow Forbes with the 76ers/Nets in this week's Summer League hosted by the Orlando Magic that runs through Friday. Here are links to the schedule, stats, and rosters. One of Forbes' coaches this summer is Aaron McKie, star of some the great John Chaney Temple teams that battled with UMass in the 1990's.

NBA.com listed its 10 Must-Watch Summer League games. Tony Gaffney's LA Lakers' match-up with top pick Blake Griffin and the LA Clippers on July 13 is one that made the list.

Speaking of the Clippers. Former UMass star Marcus Camby's Clippers had the top pick in the draft and are expected to improve. The Bleacher Report predicts that with the help of the inside duo of Camby and Griffin, LA will get the #8 seed in the Western Conference this season.

Former UMass pitcher Mitchell Clegg, a Washington Nationals draft pick, suffered the first loss of his professional career on Monday. Clegg didn't receive much run support in his Vermont Lake Monsters' 2-1 loss to Hudson Valley in New York-Penn League action. The big lefty is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts and four appearances overall.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The women's soccer team's schedule has been released for the 2009 season. Check out who the Minutewomen will be taking on this season.

   Monday, July 6

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Happy Monday everyone. UMass Athletics hopes everybody had a great holiday weekend. Today's edition of JTAM features news on a bunch of UMass lacrosse alums in action with Major League Lacrosse teams, some news on Gary Forbes and the Philadelphia 76ers, diver Karen Upperco receiving an academic honor, a 2010 baseball freshman, and softball players in summer league action with the Stratford Brakettes.

CollegeChalkTalk.com features men's basketball assistant coach Antwon Jackson in its "Five Questions" feature. Coach Jackson chats about the state of UMass hoops, efforts to replace the production of Tony Gaffney... and much more.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story on the Sixers NBA Summer League team that, before heading to Las Vegas, will go to Orlando for a 15-game event hosted by the Magic. Former Minuteman Gary Forbes will be teaming up with former Temple rival Dionte Christmas for the 76ers.

A few of UMass lacrosse alums had big weekends in the MLL. Kevin Leveille was Bud Light MVP for Chicago in a huge 24-19 win over Toronto. Leveille had seven goals and one assist. For Toronto, Jeff Zywicki had 2 goals and two assists. Doc Schneider played in goal but lost, recording six saves. Sean Morris had three goals and three assists in Boston's 17-16 win over Denver.

CollegeSwimming.com has posted the 2009 CSCAA Scholar All-Americans. Women's diver Karen Upperco, the three-time Atlantic 10 Diver of the Year, was named to the Honorable Mention team.

The Eagle Tribune announced its high school baseball All-Stars, with North Andover senior centerfielder, and soon to be UMass Minuteman, Ryan Sifferlen making the team. Sifferlen led the Knights in runs (30), hits (37) and RBIs (17), while his .463 batting average ranked fifth in the region.

The Stratford Brakettes played in the Topton Fourth of July Tourney in Lyons, Pa. over the weekend. UMass catcher Jessica Serio helped lead the team to a win in the tournament opener. The Brakettes went on to fall in the tournament finals to the Topton VIP's.

UMassAthletics.com Feature To Check Out: The Hockey Team's Schedule has been released for the 2009-10 season. Check out who the Mass Attack will be taking on this season.

Don't miss this: Be sure to check in throughout the week on Just Take A Minute as the UMass men's and women's swimming and diving teams will release their 2009-10 schedules.

Look Back To The Week Of: June 29-July 3 | June 22-26 | June 15-19 | June 8-12 | June 1-5 | May 25-29 | May 18-22 | May 11-15 | May 4-8 | April 27-May 1 | April 20-24 | April 13-17 | April 6-10 | March 30 -Apr. 3 | March 23-27 | March 16-20 | March 9-13 | Mar. 2-6 | Feb. 23-27 | Feb. 16-20 | Feb. 9-13 | Feb. 2-6 | Jan. 26-30 | Jan. 19-23 | Jan. 12-16 | Jan. 5-9 | Dec. 29, 2008-Jan. 2, 2009 | Dec. 22-26 | Dec. 15- 19 | Dec. 8-12 | Dec. 1-5 | Nov. 24-28 | Nov. 17-21 | Nov. 10-14 | Nov. 3-7 | Oct. 27-31 | Oct. 20-24, 2008 | Oct. 13-17, 2008 | Oct. 6-10, 2008 | Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2008 | Sept. 22-26, 2008 | Sept. 15-19, 2008 | Sept. 8-12, 2008 | Sept. 1-5, 2008 | Aug. 25-29, 2008 | Aug. 18-22, 2008

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