Will Claye’s latest music video features the trials of the Olympic postponement

April 9, 2020

By Scott Mammoser

Athletes around the world are coping with the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games from 2020 to 2021 in different forms. For Will Claye, the Tempe native who is a three-time Olympic medalist in track and field, his mechanism was his music.

Claye produced “Dreams Don’t Die” from his home studio and shows clips of athletes continuing to train despite the delaying of the Games until July 23, 2021, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Claye, who will turn 29 in June, won silver medals in the triple jump at both the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics. He also added a bronze in the long jump to his medal haul during his Olympic debut in 2012. A state record holder at Phoenix’s Mountain Pointe High School, Claye won an outdoor NCAA title with Oklahoma and later an indoor NCAA title with Florida. He went on to win two indoor world championships and four outdoor world championship medals in the triple jump.

Eighteen other athletes appear in the video, including Breanna Stewart - of the Seattle Storm and U.S. basketball team, Ivanna Spanovic - the defending women’s world indoor long jump champion from Serbia, and Mondo Duplantis – the Swedish pole vaulter who won silver at the recent Doha World Championships.

Full song link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-InomB_oUY

Gym Devils edge Pittsburgh for fourth-straight win

March 8, 2020

By Scott Mammoser

TEMPE, Ariz. – In the final home meet of the regular season, the Arizona State gymnastics kept its winning streak alive with a 196.825 to 196.2 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday.

It was the fourth-consecutive meet the Gym Devils recorded more than 196 points and the fifth time this season. Meanwhile, the Panthers were coming off a 196.5-point outing at West Virginia, the program’s second-highest ever score.

“It shows the resilience all season,” said ASU coach Jay Santos, whose team beat the No. 24 Arizona Wildcats in Tucson on Friday night. “It’s (the streak) huge rankings wise. We had some low scores, and we had a chance to replace them. This week, we had more meets than practices, and now we will get some much deserved rest.”

 Senior Morgan Wilson recorded a 9.85 in her final balance beam routine at home.

Juliette Boyer of ASU posted 9.9s on both the uneven bars and the floor exercise and equaled Morgan Wilson with the top all-around score of 39.35. ASU’s Gracie Reeves won the vault with 9.925 points, and Pitt’s Michaela Burton was the leader on the balance beam at 9.9. Wilson also executed a career high 9.875 on bars in addition to her personal best all-around score.

“It was really important to get it done,” Wilson said. “With my teammates, we trusted each other to this point. It’s impressive that every week we were consistent and kept the ball rolling.”

Sunday’s meet was the final one at Desert Financial Arena for seniors Wilson, Morgan Hart, Ashley Szafranski, Jessica Ginn, and Graycee Zaugg.

“I can’t believe four years have gone by,” said Santos, who took the ASU job in 2016 and recruited these seniors. “I was excited to meet them face to face.”

The Sun Devils will be at No. 5 LSU on Friday before they head to Salt Lake City for the Pac-12 Championships on March 21. Pittsburgh is at Ohio State on Saturday before the East Atlantic Gymnastics League Championship is held on March 21 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Devils hold off the Bulldogs in Weekend Opener

Mike Stockman

PHOENIX, AZ - All around the valley are the sounds and smells of baseball games on this perfect weekend. On Friday evening, the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team pulled off a victory after a late rally by the Fresno State Bulldogs, winning 4-3 on March 6, 2020 with the weather touching the low 80's during the day, dropping to mid 70's after sunset.

In what seemed to be a poor start for the Devils - allowing the bases to be loaded to start the game - the inning ended leaving all of the runners on base.   When the Devils stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, they went straight to work, producing three hits, two of which were doubles, and scoring two runs. The Devils led 2-0 going into the second inning.

Bulldogs tied up game in top of seventh inning

As the game progressed, the Devils pitching got tougher and the batting got hotter. By the bottom of the third inning, the Devils' freshman pitcher Cooper Benson had six strike outs. The Devils added another run in the bottom of the third, 3-0.

In the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs scored two runs when a shot to the hole between left and center field couldn't be pulled in with a diving attempt. Benson threw his ninth strike-out to end the inning.

The Bulldogs tied it up in the top of the seventh 3-3, scoring Andrew Kachel from third base while a double play happened behind him.

Call at first led to ejection in bottom of seventh

In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Devils took the lead on a single RBI to center field by Hunter Jump (jr) allowing Spencer Torkelson to score the go ahead run making the final score 4-3.

After this series, the Bulldogs host Pacific for a single game on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at 6:05 p.m.

The Devils host the Arizona Wildcats for the first time this season on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. The game will be covered by Pac-12 Network starting time set for 6:30 p.m. 

New Mexico State stuns No. 17 Sun Devils in softball

March 6, 2020

By Scott Mammoser

TEMPE, Ariz. – The New Mexico State softball team responded from a blowout loss in the ASU Invitational to upsetting No. 17 Arizona State, 2-0, in a whirlwind Friday at Farrington Stadium.

New Mexico State upsets ASU 2-0

The Aggies were just minutes removed from an 11-3 mercy rule loss to Wright State, an opponent that ASU handled 12-0 on Thursday, when it lined up for the night cap that no one was expecting.

“I told them they’re in the driver’s seat,” ASU coach Trisha Ford said of her team. “Anybody can beat anybody and every pitch counts. We’re taking things for granted. We’re swinging at ball fours, and that’s not who we are. We got some runners on base, but we weren’t getting the hits that we needed.”

The Aggies struck first when catcher Shelby Shultes drove in Asa Vigil off the third baseman’s mitt in the top of the fourth. ASU’s offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth, when  Maddi Hackbarth doubled down the left field foul line with one out, but two were left on base.

Matalasi Faapito drove in Jeanelle Medina for a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth, as NMSU cemented its lead.

A DeNae Chatman double in the bottom of the sixth put two runners in scoring position with one out, but the Aggies brought Felicia De La Torre out of the bullpen, and the freshman struck out the final two ASU batters.

ASU had one more chance in the bottom of the seventh with two outs. Second baseman Bella Loomis was inches away from a solo home run, but the ball ricocheted off the fence and she would up on second. On the next play, Jazmine Hill grounded out to end the game.

“We are young, and we just need that confidence and grow,” ASU senior outfielder Kindra Hackbarth added. “We need to show up better and keep fighting. We can’t be laid back; we need to fight every pitch and every at bat. Our pitching staff showed up today, but our bats didn’t.”

Madison Preston and Samantha Mejia each recorded six strikeouts for ASU, with Preston given the loss. Starter Analise De La Roca was the winner for NMSU with one strikeout in five innings.

NMSU will play Oregon State at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, while ASU plays two games at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. against Nebraska and Lehigh.

No. 15 Sun Devils obliterate Wright State to open ASU Invitational

March 5, 2020

By Scott Mammoser

TEMPE, Ariz. – Freshman right fielder Jazmine Hill’s two-run home run to center in the bottom of the first opened a 12-0 mercy rule win for the 15^th-ranked Arizona State softball team over Wright State on Friday. It was a rough day for the Raiders (5-19), who lost to Oregon State, 8-0, earlier in the day.

Jazmine Hill hits home run in mercy rule win.

“It was a great game, we did what we were supposed to do offensively,” ASU coach Trisha Ford said. “I didn’t say a lot to them after the game, we took care of business today. We need to refocus and get ready for tomorrow. It’s important for our offense to do what they did tonight, and for some of our young arms to get into these games they are just going to get better and better.”

Following Hill’s first-inning homer, Makenna Harper knocked a grand slam over the left field fence with two strikes and two outs to increase the Sun Devils’ lead to 7-0.

“It made it better because all of my teammates were on base,” the sophomore Harper said of her first home run. “I feel like we’re putting in all of this hard work and it’s paying off. I was just trying to execute and get some runs for the team. I was just trying to get the job done.”

Hill followed up in the second with a lead off triple that was nearly an inside the park home run. Then, Maddi Hackbarth executed a two-run home run with no outs to make it 10-0, followed by a DeNae Chatman solo shot.

“Going into each at bat, I have the same approach,” Hackbarth said. “I love these types of games, I root for us to get seven runs in the first inning, I love that experience.”

The good news for the Raiders is that sophomore pitcher Carly Tuner kept ASU off the boards for the final two innings after she came from the bullpen in the bottom of the second. Samantha Mejia struck out six for ASU, which improved to 17-6.

The ASU Invitational continues through Sunday, with Friday’s games including Wright State’s two games with Nebraska and New Mexico State. The Sun Devils will face NMSU at 7 p.m., their lone game of the day, before they play doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday. The team has now won five of six, following a three-game losing streak.

No. 24 Sun Devils shut down Cal to open final weekend of season

February 28, 2020

By Scott Mammoser

TEMPE, Ariz. – Jamie Ruden waited until her penultimate game at Desert Financial Arena to record one of her finest outings with 18 points, and the 24^th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils demolished California, 77-54, on Friday night.

The Sun Devils (20-9, 10-7 Pac-12) have now won four of their last five games, after a stretch that saw them lose four of five, and they will close the regular season at noon on Sunday against No. 4 Stanford. The Golden Bears (10-18, 2-15 Pac-12) lost their third consecutively, and finish the season at No. 13 Arizona on Sunday in their first campaign under rookie head coach Charmin Smith.

“I thought we had a great team win,” ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “Our defense was more consistent, and it was great to get everybody out there and play team basketball. In the first quarter (a 14-12 lead), the turnovers were giving them points.”

Ruden was one point off her career-high of 19 points, set against Idaho in December 2017, and her three at the buzzer put the Sun Devils ahead at the half, 35-23.

#24 ASU demolish California, 77-54

“When our energy is good, we are more relaxed on our shots,” Ruden said. “We just had to be relaxed a bit and stay connected, and that helped. I am really proud of our younger players and to see their fresh energy, that hypes us. I want us to leave a legacy for this program.”

Eboni Walker had a big night for ASU, as well, with a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds. Taya Hanson scored all nine of her points in the first half, and Ja’Tavia Tapley scored 11 for the game.

Two minutes into the fourth quarter, Reili Richardson dished out her 553^rd career assist to break the school record for both men and women. She already overtook Briann January two weeks ago in a win over Washington.

“I didn’t even know the records when I came to this school,” said Richardson, who scored nine with six assists on Friday. “It’s just awesome, and I give the credit to my teammates. 

They hit the shots. Time has just flown by. We looked up the seniors our freshman year, and now we are leaving the program in good hands.”

Cailyn Crocker led the Golden Bears with 11 points, while Evelien Lutje Schipholt scored 10 with a team-best seven rebounds.

Following the Stanford game, five seniors will be honored for their 84 wins and soon-to-be four NCAA Tournament appearances: Ruden, Richardson, Robbi Ryan, Tapley, and Kiara Russell. From there, the team heads to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Tournament.

“The seniors have met everything to us,” the sophomore Hanson added. “We want to bring that energy and do it for them.”

Arizona State ties Washington, but records its highest marks in 14 years

February 23, 2020

By Scott Mammoser

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State gymnastics team was back in action on Sunday, tying No. 13 Washington at 196.875, the program’s highest team total since 2006.

“It’s been coming for a while,” ASU coach Jay Santos said. “I am thrilled they put it together the way they did, and they are building off each other’s energy. This was the best meet of the year.”

ASU ties Washington, records highest team total since '06

The Gym Devils posted above a 9.8 on all 12 vault and bars routines, with Cairo Leonard-Baker recording a leading 9.9 and 9.95 on each. Leonard-Baker also performed the team’s best floor exercise with a 9.9.

“Our energy is so good,” Leonard-Baker said. “We are helping each other, and it shows what we are capable of this season.”

Gracie Reeves and Hannah Scharf equaled for the best ASU performance on beam at 9.85, while Hannah Vandenkolk of the GymDawgs scored a meet-high 9.9. Kristyn Hoffa of Washington won the floor with a 9.925, and Geneva Thompson notched the team high on bars with a 9.9 and tied Madison Copiak with a 9.85 on vault. Reeves, Scharf and Evanni Roberson of Washington comprised a three-way tie for the all-around high with a 39.35.

The Gym Devils have meets at Stanford on March 2 and at Arizona on March 6, before returning home for the final meet at Desert Financial Arena on March 8 against Pittsburgh. 

Washington, which is coached by 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Elise Ray-Statz, will host Utah on March 1 in its next meet.

“We want to just keep getting better,” Santos added. “We need to keep working on the things we do in the gym and show it in competition.”