Tulsa Area Professional Sports Light up Summertime
By GLENN HIBDON
GTR Sports Writer
GETTIN’ FIT: Tulsa Shock’s Ivory Latta works out with Life Senior Services athletes for Get Fit.
KYLIE MCMAINS for GTR Newspapers
TULSA TALONS
Piling up points and yards in bunches, the Tulsa Talons’ 81-51 victory over Utah at the Center on June 11 allowed the Arena Football League franchise to erase a two-game losing streak. The points were the most for Tulsa since joining the new and the most in the league this season.
Standing 5-7 in the National Conference’s Central Division, Tulsa was in third place, a game behind Dallas. Following a trip to Philadelphia on June 17, the Talons return home for a June 25 showdown against the Vigilantes.
Quarterback Justin Allgood has lit up the scoreboard since coming back to Tulsa in a three-team trade in May. The Talons all-time leader in passing yards and touchdown passes, Allgood hit 24-of-34 throws for six touchdowns in beating Utah. Receiver Troy McBroom caught four scores and 12 throws for 130 yards.
Tulsa leads the in team rushing, team rushing defense, field goal percentage, red zone defense and fewest penalty yards. Kicker Juan Bongarra is No. 1 in field goal percentage at .714.
Tulsa Drillers
Since joining the Tulsa Drillers on June 8, second baseman Erik Wetzel made a big splash with the Texas League club. Wetzel was assigned to the Drillers from the Colorado Rockies’ extended spring training and knocked in the winning run during a 10-inning victory at Springfield on June 11.
In his first five games, Wetzel was hitting .500 as the third place Drillers struggled to erase a 3-7 slump in the Northern Division. Tulsa also received pitcher Alan DeRatt on assignment from Modesto on June 12.
Hitting is a strength of the franchise, second in the TL with a .268 team average. Left fielder Scott Beerer stands fifth in the league with a .327 average while center fielder Tim Wheeler is seventh at .322 through June 12. Wheeler tops the TL with 17 home runs and 55 runs batted in. He’s also second in runs and tied for second in hits.
Tulsa Shock
Coach Nolan Richardson and his Tulsa Shock of the Women’s National Basketball Association were off to an 0-4 start following a 90-79 lost at Connecticut on June 12. One clear problem is the team’s shooting woes. Being outscored by 18 points per game, the Shock is hitting just 39 percent from the floor while allowing opponents 49 percent through the first four games.
However, the addition of 6’8 Australian Liz Cambage has helped. Cambage averaged 15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds in the first four games with guard Ivory Latta also scoring 15.5 points per game.
The Shock suffered an embarrassing 93-62 loss to San Antonio in its first game at the Center. Again, shooting was a sore spot. Tulsa hit 35 percent from the floor while San Antonio made 55 percent.
Tulsa Oilers
With a new two-year contract under his belt, Tulsa Oilers coach Bruce Ramsay is recruiting for the 2011-12 Central Hockey League season. Ace all-star defenseman Derek Eastman has already signed for another year and will again anchor the Oilers’ blue liners.
Eastman finished the CHL’s regular season with 13 goals and 38 assists, including 12 power play goals and 14 assists. Both totals were among the top marks for league D men. Eastman finished plus two, one of the few Oilers with a positive plus-minus mark, and Ramsay said he could again be joined by veteran team captain Tyler Fleck next year. Fleck had earlier announced his retirement, but the coach indicated he might change his mind.
Former Oiler David Alexandre Beauregard was considering rejoining the team, but has signed to again play in Europe next season.
Updated 06-27-2011
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