HottyToddy.com Sports Roundup May 19-25

Baseball
Rebels move on with a decisive win over Vanderbilt on Thursday. Click Here to read full game review.
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Track and Field
Ole Miss’ Nail, Nichols Make SEC Community Service Team 

Ole Miss seniors Mary Ashton Nall and Alex Nichols were named to the 2014 Southeastern Conference Community Service Teams for women’s and men’s track and field, respectively.
An All-American in the heptathlon and a decorated scholar in the classroom, Nall has been equally as dedicated to helping members of her community. The Auburn, Alabama, native is an active participant in Reading with the Rebels, a program in which Ole Miss athletes read and mentor local elementary school students. She has helped with More than a Meal, serving food and helping tutor children of needy families from 2012-14. She was a fundraising volunteer at St. Jude Hospital, participating in a letter-writing campaign, and the Carson Pitcock Foundation from 2010-14. She has been a Mississippi Blood Drive donor from 2010-14. Other efforts include Adopt-A-Basket, Shoebox Foundation for South American children, Toys for Tots, Feed the Hunger Pack-a-Thon, Race Reconciliation project, Martin Luther King Day and Mississippi tornado relief. She served as a counselor for the 2014 Girls in Sports Day Camp and 2014 Move Mississippi. She’s been a Lafayette County Foster Family sponsor the last two years. A three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and a 2013 USTFCCCA All-Academic, she was named to the 2013-14 Who’s Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges. She has also served as a student assistant in the Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations department.
Nichols has also been an active participant in Reading with the Rebels and More than a Meal. He has helped with Toys for Tots, Adopt-A-Basket, Martin Luther King Day and Mississippi tornado relief. The Mobile, Alabama, native is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and was named to the 2013-14 Who’s Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges.
The SEC presents a community service team for each of its 21 league-sponsored sports, looking to highlight a male and female athlete from each school who gives back to his or her community through superior service efforts.
The full teams are listed below.
2014 SEC Women’s Track and Field Community Service Team

• Claire Turner, Alabama
• Chrishuna Williams, Arkansas
• Lizzie Briasco, Auburn
• Lorraine Graham, Florida
• Megan Malasarte, Georgia
• Michelle Canterna, Kentucky
• Meghan Charbonnet, LSU
• Mary Ashton Nall, Ole Miss
• Jessica Comer, Mississippi State
• Maya Evans, South Carolina
• Allison Outerbridge, Tennessee
• Heather Sterling, Texas A&M
• Brionne Williams, Vanderbilt

2014 SEC Men’s Track and Field Community Service Team

• Diondre Batson, Alabama
• Nathanael Franks, Arkansas
• Jason Miller, Auburn
• David Levin, Florida
• Luke Baker, Georgia
• Isiah Kent, Kentucky
• Quincy Downing, LSU
• Alex Nichols, Ole Miss
• Joshua Suttmeier, South Carolina
• J.R. Creekmore, Tennessee
• Clifton Harlin, Texas A&M
• John Ewing, Vanderbilt

– Ole Miss Sports Information
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Two League Titles Spur Rebels To Big Finish At SEC Championship 

Ricky Robertson and Sam Kendricks stole the show Sunday with sensational SEC titles to lead the Ole Miss men’s team to their best outdoor finish in 30 years at the 2014 Southeastern Conference Track & Field Championships.
Led by second-year head coach Brian O’Neal, the Rebels placed fifth in the men’s team standings with 78 points. It’s their highest outdoor finish since they were runners-up in 1984 and their second-most points ever scored at an outdoor league meet.
“I’m proud of the team and proud of their efforts,” O’Neal said. “We challenged our athletes to compete at a high level, and I thought everyone gave their absolute best. When people upped the ante, we upped the ante right along with them.”
Robertson, a fifth-year senior from Hernando, Mississippi, capped his SEC career in style with his seventh league high jump crown, clearing 7-3.25. Combined with his performances in the triple and long jumps, he captured the SEC Commissioner’s Trophy for scoring the most points at the meet (23). It was the second time in his career to win the award (2012 indoors), and he’s the second-straight Rebel to win the outdoor award (Isiah Young last year).
Robertson impressively competed in the triple jump at the exact same time as the high jump. He finished runner-up despite leading most of the way. On the sixth and final attempt, Florida’s Marquis Dendy overtook him with a nation’s best mark of 54-2.5 and then Robertson responded with the nation’s second-best mark of 53-11.75. It was a huge PR for Robertson, who is third in school history in the event. He also placed fourth in the long jump on Saturday with a PR of 25-3.5.
“Coach said just do what I do best, and I came out and won,” said Robertson. “It meant a lot to me coming out and competing for my teammates.”
“You can’t quite put into words what Ricky has meant to this program,” O’Neal said. “Everyone knows he’s a great athlete, but the things he’s willing to do to help this team be successful is what true leadership is about. To go out there and simultaneously compete at the level he did, that’s a tremendous sacrifice and I’m just proud of him.”
Not to be outdone, Kendricks was crowned SEC champion in the pole vault with a Kentucky facility record of 18-6. The reigning NCAA outdoor and SEC indoor champion added his first SEC outdoor title to his ever-growing list of achievements. The junior from Oxford, Mississippi, was one of two vaulters to clear 18-6 (along with Tennessee’s Jake Blankenship), but won the title based on fewer misses.
“I thought Sam really battled today,” O’Neal said. “He had swirling winds and some unpredictable conditions. But he’s one of our leaders. We know we can count on him week in and week out to do big things for us.
“The leadership that Ricky and Sam provide this team is special. To know coming into today that we could rally around those guys and that they would put big points on the board gave our guys confidence to relax and compete.”
The 1,500 meters turned out to be a great event for Ole Miss, as well, with three Rebel freshmen placing in the top eight.Robert Domanic was runner-up with a time of 3:49.02, while Sean Tobin was fourth in 3:49.97 and Trevor Gilley eighth in 3:51.58. Domanic’s second-place result was the best finish ever by a Rebel in the SEC 1,500 meters.
“That was a gutsy run in the 1,500 today. In the heat of the battle, I was proud of the way our young men stuck their nose in there and competed,” O’Neal said. “We scored a lot of points in a one-hour span and that gave us a shot of adrenaline.”
The Rebels posted a whopping 67 points on Sunday alone, which was third-most among teams behind team champion Texas A&M and runner-up Arkansas.
“We knew we would have a lot of points on the board and we challenged the team to maximize those points,” O’Neal said. “I thought we did a great job of that today.”
Junior Phillip Young placed third in the triple jump a day after he was fifth in the long jump. He turned in a mark of 52-4 to finish third behind the dramatic efforts of Dendy and Robertson.
Tobin came back in the 5,000 meters later on Sunday to place third in that event with a time of 14:16.74. It was his first collegiate outdoor race at that distance and he moved into the top 10 in the school record books.
Every athlete who placed in the top three of an individual event will receive All-SEC distinction.
Other men’s scorers were Holland Sherrer in the 800 (7th, 1:49.98), Robert Domanic in the 5,000 (7th, 14:24.13), the 4×100 relay (7th, 39.81), the 4×400 relay (6th, 3:08.66), Malcolm Davis in the high jump (5th, 6-9.75) and Nathan Loe in the hammer throw (7th, 201-7).
The women’s 4×100 relay team of Kiannah Alexander, Shari Russell, Breanna Tate and Asia Cooper placed eighth with a season-best time of 45.30 that earned them a point. They added to the effort from Mary Ashton Nall, who earlier in the meet placed sixth in the heptathlon.
The NCAA East Preliminary is up next. The top 48 athletes in each individual event and top 24 relays from the East region will compete May 29-31 in Jacksonville, Florida, for the right to advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 11-14.
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Student-Athlete Quotes 
Ricky Robertson – SEC Commissioner’s Trophy winner, High Jump Champion, Triple Jump Runner-Up
On winning his seventh SEC high jump title… “It meant a lot to me coming out and competing for my teammates. Coach said just do what I do best. And I came out and won.”
On getting runner-up in the triple jump… “Dendy’s a good jumper. I was leading through the finals until the sixth jump. He put one out there I tried to go get him, but unfortunately it wasn’t good enough. Good competition, though.”
On his career at Ole Miss… “It was wonderful. I’ve had a nice time at Ole Miss. They showed me much love and I appreciate it.”
Sam Kendricks – Pole Vault Champion
On his victory… “This is my second SEC championship. There’s no greater honor. (Tennessee’s Jake Blankenship, Arkansas’ Andrew Irwin and Texas A&M’s Chase Wolfle) are some of my greatest friends. It’s great to jump with them. To win against those guys on this day, I can go home a happy man.”
On winning his first SEC outdoor crown… “Winning a national championship is awesome; you can’t ask for better. The SEC Championships has more of a home feel to it. You’re jumping against guys in your own conference that you see every meet. And you’re competing strictly for your school with your whole team out here. There’s no bigger championships where you can look in the stands and see your distance teammates, your long jump teammates and even Ricky doing the triple and high jump at the same time.”
On the team’s success on Sunday… “You can’t ask any more from those guys on this day. We’ve been working hard all year. I’ve been there with them every step of the way. Every early morning. Every late afternoon. These guys deserve it.”
Robert Domanic  – 1,500 Meter Runner-Up
On his race… “I felt good pretty much the whole race. I put myself in a bad position running in lane two for most of it. But I felt good. I just didn’t have the kick to beat the Kentucky guy.”
On finishing so well as a freshman… “It feels great. I was going for the win, but it’s still a success.”
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
MEN 1. Texas A&M – 155.5 2. Arkansas – 116 3. Florida – 93 4. Georgia – 92 5. Ole Miss – 78 6. Kentucky – 65.5 7. Auburn – 50 8. LSU – 43 9. Alabama – 34 10. Mississippi State – 26 11. Tennessee – 24.5 12. South Carolina – 23 13. Missouri – 18.5
WOMEN 1. Arkansas – 123 2. Florida – 116.5 3. Texas A&M – 113 4. Kentucky – 104 5. Georgia – 70.5 6. LSU – 65.5 7. Missouri – 62 8. Alabama – 36 9. Auburn – 30 10. Tennessee – 28 11. Mississippi State – 26 12. South Carolina – 25.5 13. Vanderbilt – 15 14. Ole Miss – 4
– Ole Miss Sports Information
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Golf
Morris Completes Play At NCAA Regional

Junior Blake Morris posted a 4-over par 76 in the third and final round of the NCAA Auburn Regional in Auburn, Alabama, Saturday.
Morris birdied the second and sixth holes and finished the front nine just 1-over par at the par-72 Auburn University Club, but carded a 3-over par on the back nine en route to a 76 in the final round of play. He tied for 64th place and finished fifth among individuals with a three-round score of 235.
The top individual finisher and the top five teams will advance to the NCAA Championships, which will take place May 23-28 at the Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas.
SEC champion Alabama captured the regional crown, while Kennesaw State, Auburn, Virginia Tech and Texas rounded out the top five. Marco Iten of Austin Peay State claimed the individual title and will advance as an individual to the NCAA Championships.
– Ole Miss Sports Information
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Baseball
Weathersby Named to SEC Community Service Team
Right-handed pitcher Scott Weathersby has been named as the Ole Miss representative to the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team the league office has announced with the release of its annual service team.
Weathersby is one of 14 baseball student-athletes selected for recognition for his service efforts in the Ole Miss and Oxford communities and around the country. The Hattiesburg, Mississippi, native has been an active member of the community since setting foot on campus while also maintaining a service presence in Hattiesburg and in his travels around the United States.
He has served as a representative to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on campus at Ole Miss and has been a heavily involved in community outreach projects on campus and in town, earning him the distinction of being named the Male Community Service Athlete of the Year at Ole Miss. He also helped plan the Rebels Choice Awards on campus.
Weathersby has been a regular volunteer with the Reading with the Rebels program and visited local elementary schools to read with students and promote literacy. He has also participated in book drives at Della Davidson Middle School.
The junior has also helped with the SEC’s Together We Can Food Drive to stock local food pantries. He has also been active in the Books and Bears Christmas fundraiser for area families and participated in the Adopt-A-Basket program to help feed local families at Thanksgiving. Weathersby also volunteered at the Fall Festival at Oxford High School.
He has worked with area youth in promoting exercise and physical activity with the Bats and Balls Clinic in Oxford and been an active participant in the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. Through FCA, Weathersby also traveled to California and worked with area youth as he witnessed to them and helped develop their spiritual relationships through baseball.
Weathersby has also visited St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital as a part of his community outreach efforts.
– Bill Bunting, Ole Miss Sports Information
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Athletics
Ole Miss Sports Productions Nominated for Six Emmys
In what has become a tradition of sorts at Ole Miss, the Ole Miss Sports Productions team has once again been recognized for its impressive and creative work, earning six Emmy nominations and winning another six AVA Digital Awards.
“It’s a huge honor to have been recognized for the work we do here, and our staff at Ole Miss Sports Productions has worked extremely hard,” director of creative services Micah Ginn said. “I think it’s also a tribute to the exciting times we are in here at Ole Miss. We have a lot of good material to work with.”
Ole Miss received Emmy nominations in five different categories. The game highlights from the 2013 Egg Bowl between Ole Miss and Mississippi State was nominated for the TV News and Program Specialty Excellence award in the Program Feature/Segment category. The Season: Ole Miss Football, Ole Miss’ weekly documentary-style production similar to the popular HBO series “Hard Knocks,” was nominated in the Daily or Weekly Program category of TV News and Program Specialty Excellence.
The productions team’s More and Beauty commercials were each nominated in the TV Special Achievement Excellence (Commercial) category.
Finally, Chris Sabo earned a nomination in the TV Crafts Achievement Excellence award for Director – Post Production, and grad student Will Trapp was nominated for the College/University Student Production – Non-News Program award for his Moments Like This video.
Ole Miss Sports Productions is competing against any broadcast entity within the southeast region, which includes the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina, as well as the city of Asheville, North Carolina.
“Video has become such a critical component of telling the Ole Miss story,” said Michael Thompson, senior associate athletics director for communications and marking. “Our creative team is as talented as any I have worked with, and it’s rewarding to see their hard work being recognized with such prestigious nominations.”
Emmy winners will be announced June 7 in Atlanta. In addition to the team’s Emmy nominations, it also earned two platinum, one gold and three honorable mention wins in the AVA Digital Awards.
The video Ole Miss Soccer 2013: “Beauty” won the platinum award for Commercials/Ad Campaign category, and the 2013 Shots of the Year: Football video won platinum for Creativity (Video Production) Videography. The 13th episode of The Season; Ole Miss Football won gold for TV Broadcast & Cable Sports, while Ole Miss was given honorable mention in the categories of Creativity (Video Production) Editing, Creativity (Video Production) Cinematography, and Creativity (Video Production) Directing.
“Our department strives to be the best at what we do,” manager of creative services Shane Sanford said. “Our goal is to personalize our student-athletes in a way that not only engages our fans, but also shines a brighter light on our sports programs as a whole. So, to see all the countless hours of hard work pay off in this manner is truly an honor.”
“These nominations are a testament to our hard work, and it’s an honor to be recognized in one of the most competitive regions in the nation,” producer/director Chris Sabo said.
Below is a list of all the nominations and winners with an embedded link to each video.
EMMY NOMINATIONS
Outstanding Achievement: Television News and Program Specialty Excellence:
SPORTS – PROGRAM FEATURE/SEGMENT
1) OLE MISS SPORTS PRODUCTIONS OLE MISS VS. MSU: GAME EDIT
MICAH GINN, CHRIS SABO, SHANE SANFORD
Jonathan Evans, Kim Duff, Will Trapp, Jordan Berger and Gregory Gray
Outstanding Achievement: Television News and Program Specialty Excellence
SPORTS  – DAILY OR WEEKLY PROGRAM
2) OLE MISS SPORTS PRODUCTIONS THE SEASON: OLE MISS FOOTBALL
MICAH GINN, CHRIS SABO, SHANE SANFORD
Jonathan Evans, Kim Duff, Stewart Pirani, Will Trapp, Jordan Berger, Houston Settle and Gregory Gray
Outstanding Achievement: Television Special Achievement Excellence
COMMERCIAL
OLE MISS SPORTS PRODUCTIONS
3) MORE
MICAH GINN, CHRIS SABO, SHANE SANFORD
Matthew Nothelfer
4) BEAUTY
MICAH GINN, CHRIS SABO, SHANE SANFORD
Matthew Nothelfer
Outstanding Achievement: Television Crafts Achievement Excellence
DIRECTOR – POST PRODUCTION
5) OLE MISS SPORTS PRODUCTIONS
CHRIS SABO
Outstanding Achievement: Television Student Production Excellence
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY STUDENT PRODUCTION – NON-NEWS PROGRAM
6) OLE MISS SPORTS PRODUCTIONS MOMENTS LIKE THIS
WILL TRAPP
AVA Digital Awards
Creativity (Video Production)
Videography
2013 Shots of the Year: Football
PLATINUM
Editing
Closer Look: LSU vs. Ole Miss 2013
HONORABLE MENTION
Cinematography
Ole Miss Baseball 2013 Promotional
HONORABLE MENTION
Commercials/Ad Campaign
Ole Miss Soccer 2013: “Beauty”
PLATINUM
Directing
The Season; Ole Miss Football Episode 11
HONORABLE MENTION
TV Broadcast & Cable Sports
The Season; Ole Miss Football Episode 13
GOLD