FOOTBALL
Local bidder to coach ASU in spring game
The owner of a northeast Arkansas realty company and Arkansas State supporter has placed the winning bid in an online auction to coach ASU in Friday’s final scrimmage of spring practice, the school announced Monday.
Angie Gallaher, of Jonesboro, placed the $8,700 winning bid in the online auction that closed Saturday. Galleher, a member of the Red Wolves Foundation and season ticket-holder, will get to draft her team Friday, give pregame and halftime talks to her team and determine whether to punt or go for it on fourth down. She will be introduced during a Friday morning news conference, while receiving a mock contract and an ASU jersey with her name stitched on the back.
Gallaher, who owns United Country Real Estate in Imboden, will also get the chance to choose the coach for the other team.
Last year’s “Coach Experience” netted ASU $11,700 — funds go to the Red Wolves Foundation — and winning bidder Nick Bardwahj, of San Francisco, led the Red team to a 48-17 victory.
BASEBALL
Rockwell honored by Sun Belt
UALR’s Tanner Rockwell tied a school record with five hits in Saturday’s victory over Texas State. On Tuesday, the Heber Springs native was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week. Rockwell is the first UALR player to earn the award this season. In five games last week, Rockwell had 11 hits, 6 RBI, 3 doubles and 3 runs scored. Rockwell is hitting .364 this season, and leads the Sun Belt with 31 hits and 23 RBI in conference games.
GOLF
Three at UALR picked as all-conference
Three players from the UALR women’s golf team were selected first-team all-Sun Belt Conference, the most from the school since 1999, the league announced Monday.
Junior Stina Resen, senior Sofie Kvarnstrom and freshman Sabrina Bonanno were each selected to the six-member first-team. Resen entered the Sun Belt Championships ranked second in the conference in scoring average (74.07), five top-10 finishes and won the USA Women’s Invitational in February.
Kvarnstrom has six top-20 finishes, including one third-place finish. Bonanno has four top-10 finishes and tied for the lead at the Delta Gamma Challenge in February.
Play at the Sun Belt Championships in Loxley, Ala., was suspended Monday and Tuesday because of rain.
BASKETBALL
Bradley to speak at ArBCA banquet
Former University of Arkansas player Pat Bradley will be the featured speaker at the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association banquet, which will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Event Center in Benton.
Awards will be presented to boys and girls players and coaches in all classifications. There will also be an overall player and coach of the year.
Tickets are $10 for ArBCA members and $20 for all others. Tickets must be reserved ahead of time and may be made by e-mailing Cliff Garrison (garrison@hendrix.edu), Charles Hervey (chervey@uca.edu(chervey@uca.edu) or Roger Franks (roger.franks@pulaskiacademy.org).