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http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080515/sports030103/80515017 5/15/08 Ole Miss junior reliever Scott Bittle is one of 10 semi-finalists for the 2008 Clemens Award, the Greater Houston Baseball Administration announced today. Bittle, who has a 5-1 record and seven saves, leads the nation in strikeouts per nine innings, 16.33. The right-hander has struck out 99 in 54‚ innings. The other nine on the list are Brian Matusz of San Diego, Aaron Crow of Missouri, Joshua Fields of Georgia, Scott Gorgen of UC Irvine, Chris Hernandez of Miami (Fla.), Shooter Hunt of Tulane, Mike Leake of Arizona State, Andrew Liebel of Long Beach State, and Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State. Named after seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, the award is given each year to the pitcher voted tops in the nation by a committee comprised of Division I baseball coaches, media and past finalists for the award. The award will be presented at a dinner July 11 in Houston. Clarionledger.com posted 5/15/08

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080515/SPORTS/80514043/1006 5/15/08 BATON ROUGE — School’s out and all LSU’s baseball team has to worry about it is baseball, but be careful what you wish for. The Tigers got a taste of what they will see should they play in the minor leagues. LSU defeated the University of New Orleans 7-6 in 15 innings in a five-hour, 14-minute marathon that started Tuesday night at Zephyr Field in Metairie and ended at 12:22 a.m. Wednesday. The game started nearly two hours before the New Orleans Hornets NBA playoff game downtown and ended about an hour afterwards. After showers, the players boarded a bus for Opelika, Ala., in order to open a three-game series at Auburn at 6 tonight. The Tigers arrived at their hotel at 7 a.m. Wednesday. “I can’t really tell you how we are right now,” LSU coach Paul Mainieri said on the weekly Southeastern Conference teleconference shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday. “I got 25 guys sleeping right now.” Monroe News Star posted 5/15/08

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/23117-The-Darren-McFadden-Effect-How-Oakland-s-Newest-RB-Will-Revive-an-Offense 5/14/08 With rookie mini-camps underway, many NFL teams are getting a first look at their investments from this past April’s draft. The Oakland Raiders are no different. Of course the highlight of camp in Alameda, California has to be former Arkansas Razorback, and fourth-overall pick, Darren McFadden, who had a stellar college career and an equally impressive pre-draft combine. The Raiders' mini-camp was the first chance for the coaching staff and public alike to get a glimpse of McFadden in the pros, and the young rookie only confirmed what most already knew, that he is fast and versatile.Head coach Lane Kiffin, who helped mastermind the “Thunder and Lightning” offence of USC’s BCS National Championship, was “wowed” at his new running back’s skill set, and has already begun discussing his plans to utilize the two time Heisman runner-up’s unique and versatile abilities, stating that fans and opponents should expect to see him not only line up at halfback, but receiver and possibly quarterback on a few gadget plays. bleacherreport.com posted 5/15/08