Connors State rallied from a 2-0 deficit by pounding out 15 base hits, including three home runs to rout top-seed Northeastern A&M 10-2 and advance in the NJCAA Region 2 Baseball Tournament Friday at Hinch Field.

Cowboys will take a 34-23 record into Saturday’s elimination game at 3:30 p.m. against the loser of Seminole State and Eastern State. A Cowboy win in Saturday’s game would mean a second game at 7 p.m. Northeastern A&M closes the season 35-14.

It took the Cowboys five innings before it warmed up it bats, scoring three runs in the fifth, one in the eighth and six in the ninth frame, which included two home runs.

Phil Diedrick led the Cowboys hitting attack with a 3-for-3 performance, which included a two-run homer in the ninth inning. Chris Tavares connected on a solo blast in the ninth and Braden Cook hit a solo homer in the eighth.

Kelvin Rivas got the win on the mound going seven innings, scattering six hits, walking seven. Rivas is now 7-1 for the season. Caleb Banks pitched the final two innings facing six NEO batters, and not giving up a hit.

NEO took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Rivas was touched for two base hits and walked home the Norsemen’s first run after the Norsemen loaded the bases on a base hit, fielder’s choice and a base hit. The second NEO run came on an RBI single by Samuel Dominque.

Connors’ Diedrick saved a run when after fly ball put out right field, threw a perfect strike to Tavares to nail Calvin Ellis at the plate to complete a double play.

Connors struck for three runs in the fifth inning on just one base hit, two fielder’s choices, an error and a wild pitch.

Ryan Clarke opened the fifth by reaching on an error, followed by an Angel Flores single to left field. Jake Barton then reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Diedrick singled to right field scoring Clarke for the Cowboys’ first run. Barton then tied the game at 2-2 when he scored on a wild pitch.

Tavares then reached on a fielder’s choice and Victor Claudio drove home Diedrick with a fly ball to center field, giving Connors a 3-2 lead.

Cook opened the eighth inning with a towering home run over the left field wall, giving Connors State a 4-2 lead. It was Cook’s 4th home run of the season.

Connors assault continued in the 9th when Diedrick blasted a two-run homer over the centerfield wall at the 370-foot mark, giving the Cowboys a 6-2 lead. Diedrick’s blast, his 6th of the season, plated Barton, who had reached on a walk.

NEO replaced Travis Remillard, who took over for Norse starter Dany Coulombe in the sixth, was greeted on the first pitch by Tavares’ solo blast over the left field fence for a 7-2 Cowboys lead. It was Tavares’ 7th homer of the year.

Claudio followed with a double and moved to third on Korey Keith’s infield base hit that sent Kyle Willard to the showers for NEO and he was replaced by Ricardo Rivera. Rivera was greeted by an RBI single by Cook up the middle that scored Claudio for an 8-2 CSC lead.

Connors made it 10-2 when Flores doubled to left center field scoring Keith and Cook.

GAME TWO- CONNORS VS ROSE STATE

– Connors State behind the pitching of Chris Romano and the power hitting of Phil Diedrick and Angel Flores, overwhelmed Rose State 10-3 at Hinch Field Saturday to advance to the championship game of the NJCAA Region 2 Baseball Tournament.

Connors (35-23) will play the winner between Seminole State and Eastern State, at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Trojans and Mountaineers played the late game Saturday.

“We got to Sunday and that’s what counts,” said a jubilant Connors State head coach Perry Keith.

Romano threw his first complete 9-innning game of the year in recording the win. Romano is 3-3 on the season. The sophomore right hander from Markham Ontario, Canada, scattered 7 hits, and struck out nine, while walking two and hitting two batters.

“Romano was just awesome,” said Keith. “He got a little tired in the middle, but found his way back and got Rose to hit balls right at our guys in the middle innings. He was just great. We were able to hit them in the mouth at the git-go and he came out and didn’t let them peck away.”

Diedrick went 2-for-4 at the plate with 3 runs-batted-in that included a 3-run homer in the first inning. He also scored three times. Flores was a 3-for-4 at the plate, including a home run with an RBI and scored twice, with Eli Roundtree going 2-for-4 and two runs scored.

“Phil (Diedrick) has gotten better and better,” said Keith. “It’s all about strike zone with him and he  really has lifted us. Angel makes us go and we have started to put it all together. These guys believe in themselves and we’ve got to Sunday and that’s all you can do.”

The Cowboys jumped on Rose starting pitcher Chalmer Wyatt, who last only 1/3 of an inning, giving up 5 Connors runs on four base hits in the first inning.

The big blow in the inning was a 3-run blast by Diedrick over the over the right field wall. Diedrick’s homer, his 7th of the season, plated Flores who reached on a single to right field. Jake Barton’s fly ball to right field was misplayed and was dropped by the Raiders’ Brandon Weddie.

Keith Korey drew a walk, and Eli Roundtree singled to right field and both came home on Braden Cook’s double off the centerfield wall, giving the Cowboys a 5-0 lead.

Connors increased its lead to 6-0 in the top of the second when Diedrick, who collected his second base hit, scored on Victor Claudio’s double to the left field fence.

Rose put its first run on the scoreboard in their half of the second, taking advantage of two Cowboys’ throwing errors and a sacrifice fly, cutting CSC’s lead to 6-1.

Cowboys’ home run barrage continued in the fourth inning as Flores connected for his first homer of the season, a solo shot over the center field wall, giving Connors a 7-1 advantage.

Connors kept its offensive attack going in the fifth, with two more base hits to put a run across the plate. Roundtree, who singled to right field, scored on Flores’ third base hit of the game, a single to left field, giving the Cowboys a comfortable 8-1 lead.

Cowboys made it a 10-1 game in the sixth with two more runs. Tavares sent home Barton with a double to right field and Keith’s sacrifice fly plated Diedrick.  Barton had reached on a walk and Diedrick on a fielder’s choice.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME-CONNORS VS EASTERN STATE

Connors State could not overcome an early 8-1 deficit against Eastern State in the championship game of the NJCAA Region 2 Baseball Tournament Sunday at Hinch Field and the Cowboys’ season came to an end falling to the Mountaineers 12-8.

Connors advanced to the title game by defeating Seminole State 11-4 in an elimination game. The Cowboys end the year 35-24 while Eastern advances to the NJCAA South Central District tournament next week in Missouri with a 36-19 record.

“We let the first two innings get away from us and just couldn’t overcome them’: said Connors State head coach Perry Keith. “They really didn’t hit anything, we just had a lot of walks and hit batsman.”

The Cowboys used four pitchers, starter Jordan Morales, relievers Arnaldo Hernandez, Chad Backward and Bernard Sawyer against the Mountaineers. The four combined for six walks and six hit batters, while scattering 10 base hits.

“Jordan wasn’t really wild, he was just out of the zone just enough, said Keith. “If we could just have gotten ahead of them. We got close.

“But what a great testament for these kids. We could have mailed it in when we were down 8-1. But we kept chipping away. This guys showed how big a heart they have. I am so proud of them. They’ve been through so much as a group and hung in there. They gave themselves a chance.”

In the championship game against Eastern State, Connors scored in the top of the first without a base hit. Angel Flores opened the game with a walk and following a Jake Barton sacrifice, Flores moved to third on a wild pitch.  Flores then scored on an infield error on a Victor Claudio ground ball for a 1-0 Cowboys lead.

Eastern responded with a 4-run first, on two base hits and an error, against Morales for a 4-1 Mountaineers lead.

Mountaineers made it an 8-1 contest with four runs in the second, as Connors used two relief pitchers in the inning Hernandez, who took over for Morales followed by Backward for Hernandez.

Cowboys fought back to make it 8-4 on a pair of home runs. Barton connected on a solo blast over the left field wall. Diedrick then walked and came home on Chris Tavares two-run blast to make it 8-4.

Connors made it an 8-6 game in the fourth with two runs on two base hits, RBI single by Diedrick that scored Flores and Barton scored on an Eastern error.

Eastern added two runs in the last of the fifth on a 2-run RBI base hit by Codey McElroy, giving the Mountaineers a 10-6 lead.

Cowboys continued to chip away at Eastern’s lead scoring in the sixth slicing the Mountaineers lead to 10-7. Flores scored on a fly ball to left field by Tavares that was dropped which allow Flores to score.

The score got closer in the top of the seventh when CSC’s Braden Cook hit a solo home run over the right field wall making it a 10-8 contest which was as close the Cowboys managed. Eastern added two more runs in their half of the seventh.

Against Seminole State the Cowboys rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the opener erupting for five runs in the fourth inning and four more in the fifth for an 11-4 advantage. It was a lead that Seminole could not overcome as Kylar Trumbla in relief of Caleb Banks got the win.

Trumbla went 6 innings, scattering five hits and walking just 2, while striking out four in getting the win.

Cowboys had 7 base hits with Cook leading the attack with a 3-for-5 performance, including a RBI and three runs scored. Diedrick continued his home run assault with a 2-run blast over the right field wall in the fifth inning.

Seminole entered the tournament ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA and the No. 2 seed. The Trojans close the year 41-15.

Four Cowboys were named to the All-Tournament team, Diedrick, Cook, Flores and Chris Romano.

View the Cowboy Roster here!

July 12-Sara Richter from OK Panhandle State University School of Liberal Arts will be speaking about the book, Dr. Jekyll  and Mr. Hyde.

August 9-Joyce Bender from Alva, OK will be speaking about the book, Northanger Abbey

September 13-William Hagen from Oklahoma Baptist University will be speaking about the books, Dracula and Salem’s Lot

October 11- Kay Meyers from Oral Roberts University will be speaking about the book, Frankenstein

November 8-Lewis Parkhill from Tishomingo, OK will be speaking about the book, Mistress of Mellyn

Sessions will be held at the NSU Muskogee Conference Center at the Connors State College West Campus, 2400 West Shawnee beginning at 6:30 in the evening. For more information please visit www.connorsstate.edu or visit http://www.okhumanitites.org/lets-talk-about-it-oklahoma

If you have exciting news, please submit information to Lyndsey Sullivan at lyndsey.sullivan@connorsstate.edu

To view pictures from last nights event click here!

Statistic have shown that Oklahoma is ranked 48^th in the nation in overall health. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Terry Cline said, “About 23.7 percent of Oklahomans smoke, including about 20 percent of high school students. It’s killing a lot of people.” The harmful effects of smoking are well documented. It harms nearly every organ in the body and accounts for nearly 443,000 deaths a year in the United States. Anyone who has tried to quit smoking can attest to the fact that it is a tough habit to break. But even if it is tough, the benefits of quitting smoking start right away. Medical experts have found that a person’s health improves minutes after taking their last puff and continues in the years to come.

The Connors State College Wellness committee and the Student Government Association surveyed the campus to gain a better understanding of how our students, staff and faculty felt about going tobacco-free. The results showed that 78% of those surveyed supported a tobacco-free campus.

Connors State College plans to move forward with the steps necessary to make this a smooth transition for the Connors family. “We plan to offer classes and programs to help people with tobacco cessation. We want to support people as much as possible,” said President of Connors State College, Dr. Tim Faltyn.  As of July 1, 2012, Connors State College will be a Tobacco free campus; this new ban will apply to all three campuses.  Over the next four months Connors will be taking the appropriate measures to prepare the campus to meet the requirements for the new directive. Cessation classes and publications will be available by April 1.  Plans to sponsor an “I love a healthy campus” health fair are underway, as well as a set of comprehensive initiatives to ensure that the ban is a way to help everyone adjust to a new way of life on campus. These are just a few ways Connors State plans to support the change coming in July.   

The Relay is only a few weeks away and we need to start raising money to help this important cause. Every dollar you help raise is one more dollar to help in the war against cancer, a disease which has touched us all at some point in our life.

To get involved with this year’s Relay and assist the American Cancer Society in its pursuit of victory over this disease, just contact Jolene Armstrong at 918-463-6210 or at jolene.armstrong@connorsstate.edu. It can be you alone who joins or you can bring a group and join. Jolene can give you the details of how to do so.

We hope to see you there!

Muskogee West Campus

May 7 – 11

Monday – Friday

Mon, Wed 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Tues, Thurs 1:00 PM – 6:30 PM 

Friday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Connors ID Required

Connors buyback is not affiliated with any other buyers.

Bring All CDs, DVDs And Supplemental Material Purchased With Your Textbooks

Our 103rd Graduating Class

Congratulations to our graduating sophomores!

Connors State College’s Spring 2012 Commencement ceremony will be held at the Muskogee Civic Center, downtown Muskogee, 5^th and Boston Streets, Friday, May 11, 2012 at 7:00 in the evening. The ceremony will celebrate the academic accomplishments of our December graduates and our May and summer candidates for graduation. The processional will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. with the program immediately following, along with a reception for our graduates, guests, families and friends in the foyer.

Due to the size of our venue, tickets are not required for the ceremony. Seating for handicapped individuals is available. Contact the Admissions Office.

Family and guests will be seated in the balcony area on a first-come, first-served basis. Access to the arena floor will not be permitted during the ceremony.

Commencement

Friday, May 11, 2012

6:00 p.m. – Reception

7:00 p.m. – Muskogee Civic Center

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. To Be Announced.

CANDIDATES FOR SPRING 2012 GRADUATION. Candidates for graduation are those who have or will have completed ALL requirements for graduation in May 2012 and have been certified by the Registrar. Candidates for graduation must be cleared by the Admissions Office, Financial Aid Office, Library, Business Office and Housing (if applicable) and must complete Outcomes Assessment.

GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS. Herff Jones is our designated vendor for your graduation announcements and thank you notes. They have the graduation announcements for Connors State College in a variety of packages. It is customary for announcements to be sent to family and friends two weeks before commencement. You may write “No gifts, please” at the bottom if you wish.

Orders for Announcements may be placed online with a credit card at http://www.herff-jones.com/college/graduation

to view the various packages available to announce your accomplishments.

DRESS AND DECORUM

CAP AND GOWN INFORMATION. Each candidate for graduation that indicated that he or she would be participating in the commencement ceremony will be given a keepsake cap, gown and tassel to wear for the commencement ceremony. All graduates are required to wear the academic attire provided by the college through the campus bookstore. Those participating in the ceremony can pick up their cap and gown in the campus bookstores beginning May 1st. Orders are sent to the campus location students listed on the graduation application. Your CSC student ID card is required when picking up your regalia.

HONORS CORDS. A student’s honors designation, if appropriate, will be listed on the permanent academic record (transcript). The list of students eligible for the honors designations will be in the possession of the person(s) issuing the academic attire. Honors designation will be made based on the last academic semester prior to the semester the candidate applies for graduation. Eligible students (Bookstore staff will have the list) may purchase their honor cords in the campus bookstores in Warner/Muskogee between April 25 and May 5. The cost is under $20.00, payable at the Bookstore. Candidates are those that have earned a grade point average of 3.65 or higher. Students will need their CSC student ID card to purchase honor cords.

NAMES IN THE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM. The names of candidates appearing in the Commencement program will be for those students who had a graduation application submitted to the Office of the Registrar prior to the close of business on Monday, March 26, 2012. Any applications received after this date will not be listed in the commencement program.

COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL. There will be no commencement rehearsal; however, there will be a rehearsal for the ushers and student marshals at the Muskogee Civic Center the morning of commencement. Friday evening, graduates and candidates for graduates are to arrive promptly at 6:00 p.m. and meet in the lobby of the Civic Center. Commencement staff will direct you to the line-up area.

GENERAL INFORMATION. Please arrive at the Civic Center in time to join the commencement line at 6:00 p.m. Faculty will begin their process at 6:30 p.m. We recommend that personal items be left with family members or friends (cell phones, purses, cameras, etc) as we are unable to provide a location to secure these items.

MORTAR BOARDS. (hats) are worn with the tips in a horizontal position—not tilted. Candidates for graduation march with the tassels on the right side of their hats. Males wear hats throughout the ceremony EXECEPT during the Invocation, National Anthem and Benediction. The women do not remove their hats during the ceremony. No signs, symbols, corsages, decorative or other extraneous items are to be attached to the mortarboard or robe. Only official honor cords and collars are to be worn. Please refrain from bringing in flowers, balloons, banners, etc., to the arena floor area.

Graduates will not be seated alphabetically this year. Staff will line students as they arrive.

GRADUATION CEREMONY. A professional photographer will take a photo of the presentation of your diploma cover as you cross the stage, as a service to you and your family. This optional souvenir photo is available for purchase with no obligation on your part. Information concerning the proof and purchase will be available on our website, www.connorsstate.edu. It is permissible for Commencement guests to photograph proceedings from the upper arena area only and are asked not to block the aisles. Only those participating in the commencement ceremony will be allowed on the arena floor during the program. Family and friends will have an opportunity to take additional pictures after the ceremony in our staging area (outside the arena) after the ceremony. Everyone is invited to join us for the reception, immediately following, in the foyer.

CONFERRING OF DEGREES. After President Faltyn has conferred the degrees, graduates will begin their walk toward the stage to receive their diploma, one row at a time. Upon proceeding to the stage, the student will hand their name card to the reader, Mrs. Beaver. Once the student’s name is called the degree recipient will proceed to the stage, accept the diploma cover with his/her left hand, and shake the President’s hand with his/her right hand. Upon returning to their seats, students will remain standing until the last person in the row has returned, whereupon the entire row may be seated at once. When the program has concluded graduates will follow the student Marshals out of the arena.

PAYMENT OF FEES. Please remember that all financial balances owed to Connors State College must be paid in full. Any additional financial or academic obligations (including outcomes Assessment) must be completed. Neither transcripts nor diplomas will be released until all obligations have been met.

FINAL GRADES. Final grades are available to all students with clear accounts after May 12. Official transcripts are processed, in writing, or in person through the Office of the Registrar, Warner Campus. The Transcript Request form is available on our website at connorsstate.edu/studocs. Unofficial transcripts are available on the website through SIS (Student Information Services). Student with cleared accounts have full accesses to their unofficial transcript via SIS on the web.

Procedures on how to request official transcripts is located online at connorsstate.edu/transcripts. The standard processing time is 3 to 5 business days. Gradates with outstanding balances and/or holds on their accounts will not receive their diploma/transcript until the hold is satisfied.

POSTING OF DEGREE. Official transcripts with degrees posted for our May graduates will not be available until after June 15.

DIPLOMA. Diplomas are mailed to the address listed on the Graduation Application. Please make sure that the mailing address is correct and allow a minimum of eight weeks after Commencement before making an inquiry about the diploma. Questions concerning diplomas may be directed to the Office of the Registrar at (918) 463-2931.

CONNORS STATE COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. Future Alumni, congratulations on your anticipated graduation from Connors State College and welcome to the Connors State College Alumni Association. You are an important part of the College and of the Association. As an alumnus of the College, you play a key role in its further development and improvement, as well as contributions to the experience of current and future students. In return, your Alumni Association works hard to create benefits for you to use and enjoy. As a graduation gift, the Alumni Association is delighted to extend to you a complimentary one-year membership in the Association, making you eligible for the full range of benefits available through the Association. Membership in the CSC Alumni Association is a great opportunity to link you to a powerful network of thousands of alumni worldwide. Again, our congratulations!

Accommodations for mom, dad, and the entire family!

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS. Hotel information in Muskogee. (50 rooms or more)

Comfort Inn

3133 Azalea Park Dr
(918) 682-3724

Fairfield Inn
1650 N 32nd Street
(918) 683-6700

Hampton Inn
3100 Military Blvd
(918) 682-2587

Holiday Inn Express
2701 W Shawnee
918) 687-4224

La Quinta Inn & Suites
3031 Military Blvd

(918) 687-9000

Pets Allowed

Motel 6
903 S. 32nd St. (Hwy 69)
(918) 683-8369
Pets Allowed

Quality Inn

800 S. 32nd St. (Hwy 69)
(918) 682-7400
Pets Allowed for $25 fee.

Travelodge
534 S. 32nd St. (Hwy 69)
(918) 683-2951

Super 8 Motel

2240 S. 32^nd Street (Hwy 69)

(918) 683—8888

(Pets allowed for $8 fee)

 Honors night award recipients included:

 English Composition:  Maxx McReynolds, Melinda Busch, Trey Stach, Allison Mitchell, Lacey DeCou, Justin Hendrix, Charity Pearce, Kelvin Gomez, Adam Frelekin

 World Literature:  Adam Frelekin, Justin Hendrix, Trenton White, Sarah Girty

 Journalism:  Kayla Kamp

 Psychology:  Jessica Monks, Kaila Crawford 

 Anatomy and Physiology I:  Melinda Busch        Anatomy and Physiology II:  Melinda Busch

 College Algebra:  Melinda Busch, Stanley Wilkinson, Paige Morse, Hutch Anderson, Morgan Boley, Lindsey Burk, Clay Carlson

 Economics: Emma Wilbourn, Michael Randolph     Accounting: Danny Scott, Michael Randolph

 Business Graduate: Kasandra Johnson, Trenton White        Business:  Colby Brown

 Agriculture Economics:  Jordan Richburg, Gavin Wisecarver

 Plant Science: William Greuel         Soil Science:  Debra Neumeyer

 Agriculture Leadership:  Dusty Hayes          Agriculture Communications:  Gavin Wisecarver

 Physics I:  Stephanie Anderson         Physics II:  Kasey Elerick

Environmental Science:Laine Martin    Human Anatomy :Davaun Bevins

Human Physiology:Patricia Gilliland  General Zoology:Clay Carlson   General Botany: Michael Carroll

Student Government Association President:  Lee Stewart

Student Government Association Vice-President:  Tell Runyan

CSC Academic Team: Kayley Lewis, Stephanie Anderson, James Stone, Scarlet Rock, Glynna Drew, Patricia Gilliland, Jessica Monks

Presidents Leadership Class: Kristina Bautista, Taylor Johnson, Skye Norwood, Lee Stewart, Taylor Toon, Bradley Womack

Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges: Stephanie Anderson, Holly Brown, Susan Bryant, Marie Cameron, Ramiro Chavarria, Kasey Elerick, Olivia Foster, Adam Frelekin, Patricia Gilliland, Alyssa Harmon, Lynne Harry, Justin Hendrix, Kasandra Johnson, Monica Jones, Britanee Miller, Jessica Miller, Debra Neumeyer, Maggie Mattox,  Michael Randolph, Melanie Rivas Ovalle, Melinda Shatto, Adam Smith, Lee Stewart, Jennifer Stirlen, Jeffery Sweeten, Derek Williams

 Click here to view the Honors Nights photos!