Ford has record ’08 for Bears

HICKORY, N.C. — Dan Ford of Boardman enjoyed an All-American and record-breaking season with the Lenoir-Rhyne College baseball team this year.

A junior third baseman for the Bears from Boardman High and then Manatee Community College in Bradenton, Fla., Ford was named to the NCAA Division II All-American team (honorable mention), selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Last month, he also was voted to the All-South Region first team and the All-South Atlantic Conference first team.

Ford led Lenoir-Rhyne in most of the major offensive categories this year: batting average (.426), hits (92), RBIs (60), runs scored (54), home runs (10), doubles (20), total bases (146), slugging percentage (.676) and on-base percentage (.488 ).

His 92 hits set a school record while his 60 RBIs tied the school standard.

Lenoir-Rhyne (23-32, 10-11 SAC) is coached by Paul Knight who was in his first season.

Sharon’s Papay misses chances in discus event

AKRON — Auston Papay of Sharon, a senior weight thrower on the University of Akron track and field team, failed to qualify for the finals in the discus event at the NCAA outdoor championships at Drake University, after placing in the finals the previous two years.

Papay, who placed 25th in 2006 and 15th in 2007 in the national discus finals, ran into problems this year as he committed fouls in all three discus throws Wednesday to prevent him from making the finals.

In the Midwest Region, he has placed among the top four discus throwers three times.

Papay did make All-American in the shot put at the NCAA indoor championships in March by placing eighth.

Entering this season, Papay owned the Akron outdoor records in the shot put (60-83‚Ñ4) and discus (187-6). His other personal bests were indoor shot put (57-61‚Ñ4) and outdoor javelin (189-7).

Papay will return to the Akron team for the 2009 indoor season only.

Swimmers Barringer, Brooks to Westminster

NEW WILMINGTON — Boardman High swimmers Michael Barringer and Mark Brooks will attend Westminster College and resume their swimming careers on the highly-rated Titans team coached by Rob Klamut.

Under Klamut, Westminster has won four Presidents’ Athletic Conference championships since 2003.

Barringer, the son of Terry and Mary Ann Barringer, is planning to major in pre-veterinary and medicine at Westminster.

Brooks, the son of Keith and Elizabeth Brooks, plans to major in history.

Barringer, a member of the National Honor Society who also gained Academic All-America honors, was a four-year letterman, served as team captain and set four school records.

He also gained All-American, All-Federal League and All-Ohio for four years in the the 200 free relay, and was NEAC meet champion in the 100 breaststroke and the 100 flystroke as a senior.

His best times in three other events have been 52.43 in the 100-yard butterfly, 21.03 in the 50 freestyle and 59.72 in the 100 breaststroke.

Brooks, meanwhile, also served as team captain and was an NEAC All-Star and an All-Federal League Second Team selection.

He placed sixth in the 100 backstroke at the NEAC meet as a senior, and 13th in the backstroke and 15th in the flystroke at the Akron Sectionals.

Brooks’ best times include 58.46 in the 100-yard backstroke and 57.76 in the 100 butterfly.

XJohn Kovach writes about area college athletes for The Vindicator. Write to him at kovach@vindy.com.