Former Northwestern High standout sets sets College of Charleston's high jump record

By Earl Gault - Herald correspondent

College of Charleston freshman track and field athlete Emily Smith, a former Northwestern High School standout, was selected Southern Conference Female Athlete of the Month for January.

The 5-foot-7 Smith started the new year tying for first place in the high jump at the University of North Carolina Classic indoor competition. She cleared 5-6.

Smith followed that with a jump of 5-8 1/2 at the Niswonger Invitational at East Tennessee State to win the competition.

In her first three meets, Smith either won or tied for first place and is already the school record holder in the high jump.

CUMBERLAND: Senior guard Thomas Douglas (Rock Hill) remains the second-leading scorer for the Bulldogs, who are second in the TranSouth Athletic Conference race with an 11-3 record.

The 5-11 Douglas is averaging 11.7 points a game, 13th among conference scorers.

Douglas, who is averaging 1.2 assists a game, has helped the Lebanon, Tenn., school to a 21-4 overall record.

PRESBYTERIAN: Fort Mill native Katlin Moore, a sophomore guard on the Blue Hose women's basketball team, has been chosen the Presbyterian College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's Athlete of the Week.

In two games last week, the 5-7 Moore, who played her prep basketball at Charlotte Catholic, scored 26 points, had 17 assists and 11 rebounds.

Moore shot 43.8 percent from the floor in the Blue Hose's 77-42 victory over Allen.

Moore, a point guard, is averaging 11.3 points a game, second on the Blue Hose, and 3.7 rebounds a game.

QUEENS: Royals sophomore basketball guard Shakendra Hicks (Rock Hill) was featured in a recent game program section, "Getting to Know the Athletes."

Hicks was asked a series of questions so fans could know a little bit more about her.

Hicks' twin sister, Markeisha Hicks, is also a member of the Royals basketball team.

USC LANCASTER: Eight Herald-area athletes are listed on the Lancers' first-year baseball team, which will play a 56-game schedule in 2009.

The Lancers are coached by Steve Williams and will play their home games at the Lancaster High School diamond. They will compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Among the area players on the Lancers' roster are left-handed pitchers Harrison Çulp and Chad Thompson of Chester; infielder David Stone of Clover; infielder-outfielder Kyle Heffner of Great Falls; right-handed pitcher Shawn Thomas of Indian Land; and right-handed pitcher Christian Dickson, first baseman Khoury Hammond and infielder Derek Parker of Lancaster.

WINTHROP: Three members of the Eagles baseball team have received recognition by Baseball America.

Catcher John Murrian and shortstop Kevin Nolan, juniors, were named to the preseason All-Big South Conference team. Murrian batted .301 with seven homers and 27 RBIs last year. Nolan hit .319 with two homers, 33 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.

Eagles right-handed pitcher Dom Patterozzi, a transfer from Logan Community College in Edwardsville, Ill., was listed among the BSC's top newcomers to watch.

Baseball America picked coach Joe Hudak's Eagles to finish second in the BSC race this season behind Coastal Carolina.