Southern faces Alabama State in SWAC opener
TRAVIS SPRADLING/THE ADVOCATE
Southern coach Roger Cador, left, talks strategy with catcher Michael Thomas, right, and pitcher Jarrett Maloy during a game against LSU in February. Thomas and Maloy earned All-Southwestern Athletic Conference honors this season.
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
Advocate sportswriter
Published: May 14, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:15 a.m.
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The Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament returns today to Southern?s Lee-Hines Field for the first time since 2003, but the Jaguars are far from the dominant favorite they were with Rickie Weeks tearing up the basepaths.
This one, with a new format concluding with a single, TV-friendly championship game, features teams with plenty to prove.
Western Division champion Southern is trying to regain the feel of its recent run of eight titles in 10 years, ending in 2005. ? Prairie View is the two-time defending champion. ? Grambling, which once dominated the conference with Jackson State and SU, is in its first tournament since 2002. ? And Eastern Division champ Jackson State is looking for its first championship since 2000.
Plus, Mississippi Valley State, Alabama State and Alcorn State, with an explosive offense, are looking for a breakthrough tournament title, which Texas Southern notched in 2004.
?We?re all ready to go,? Southern coach Roger Cador said.
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