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Ford living a dream at TSU

Boling grad to take the hill in regionals for Tigers

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  • Wes Bloomquist •
  • Originally published May 29, 2008 at 10:44 p.m., updated May 29, 2008 at 10:44 p.m.

For some, facing Louisiana State in the first game of a regional baseball tournament would be a nightmare.

Rashad Ford sees it as a dream come true.

The Texas Southern pitcher is the possible starter for today’s regional-opening game against the Southeastern Conference champions, who enter the game with a 20-game winning streak. Ford, a graduate from Boling, helped lead his team into the Baton Rouge Regional tournament with a 9-2 complete game win over Jackson State in the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.

“It’s been a great experience for me,” said Ford of playing for TSU. “It’s totally different than playing at Boling. I’ve got to play against the big guys, like Texas and now against LSU. I always dreamed about it, but I never really thought it would come true. I’ve gone from playing in small country town fields to playing at big stadiums like the one they have at LSU.”

Louisiana State is the No. 1 seed in the regional and the No. 6 seed nationally. Southern Mississippi is the second seed in the regional and the University of New Orleans No. 3. TSU enters as the fourth seed.

Ford (3-5) was named to the SWAC all-tournament team for his effort, but is even more proud of the way his team has turned things around. Record-wise, Texas Southern (16-32) is the worst in the NCAA tournament field.

“It’s been a roller coaster for us this season,” Ford said. “We started really badly. We always knew we had the talent to win though. It started with us hitting and fielding a lot better and at the right times. It just seemed like we started playing from the heart.”

The SWAC tournament championship is Texas Southern’s and Ford’s second in four years. Ford is a senior who has pitched for the team throughout his time in Houston.

He comes into the tournament with 70 strikeouts and an ERA over five, but is looking for success and to having a good time in what could be his last college baseball experience.

“I’m going to have to, and we’re all going to have to step up our game to win,” said Ford of the reality of facing a national power. “We all would like to make it to Omaha and win the national championship. That’s going to be tough though.”

TSU has experience this season playing tough competition. The Tigers played the Texas Longhorns tough through five innings, but fell 7-4 in the beginning of April.

Even if Ford doesn’t start against LSU, he said he’ll be ready to go when needed.

“I want to give the team at least seven good innings when I start,” he said, “but if I don’t start, I’m always willing to come in to help in relief. I’ve always been the type of person who just wants to help my team win games.”

College Softball

Shiner St. Paul grad was one of three university of Houston players selected to the 2008 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American team. Valis, who was selected to the thir dteam, led the Cougars with a .431 average and 20 stolen bases and set a career mark for triples at 12 after hitting five this season. She also had nine doubles and 26 RBIs.

Jessica and her twin sister, , went 4-for-16 with two runs, a double and a stolen base as the Cougars lost to Louisiana-Lafayette in the NCAA Super Regionals.

College Golf

Memorial grad carded rounds of 85-75-83-81-324 at the NCAA Division I Championships.



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