Over the next three weeks, we will be posting a daily review of the top 10 sports stories, moments and accomplishments of the 2009-10 school year in Concordia athletics, as determined by Sports Information Director Tony Baldwin.  Today's entry features a list of the honorable mention stories that didn't quite reach the top 10.  The No. 10 story will be posted on Wednesday.  Check back each weekday for a new entry in the top 10 list.  The No. 1 story will be revealed on May 25.  The full year in review will be posted on May 31.  Agree or disagree with the selections?  Comment by sending an e-mail to Tony Baldwin, SID, at tony.baldwin@concordia.edu.

The 2009-10 academic year was an exciting one at Concordia.  We saw the construction of a new baseball field, the induction of our first hall of fame class, and various individual and team honors were collected throughout the season.  We narrowed down the full list of 20 stories/moments/accomplishments down to a top 10 list, and the following 10 stories were listed as "honorable mention" worthy.

Lauren Vansickle's walk-off two-run homer against UMHB -- The Tornados softball team needed a couple of wins in a four-game series with Mary Hardin-Baylor to clinch the No. 2 seed in the American Southwest Conference tournament.  The series began with an extra-inning affair that ended with the swing of the bat from #Lauren Vansickle#.  CTX plated a first-inning run and UMHB answered in the top of the second.  Five straight scoreless innings were put up by Erica White and #Haylee Staton# before Vansickle's heroics.  In the bottom of the eighth inning, #Vicky Recek# singled with one out.  Vansickle followed Recek's single up with a two-run blast to right field, which sent the stands into a frenzy.

Eddie Diaz de Leon shoots under par, finishes second -- Freshman golfer #Eddie Diaz de Leon# did something no other golfer in Concordia history has ever done.  Diaz de Leon fired a one-under par 71 in the final round of the West Region Invitational at Teravista Golf Course.  In doing so, he became the first golfer to shoot under par.  His final round vaulted him into a second-place tie in the tournament.

Jessica Rattan breaks all-time home run record at Concordia -- In just her third season with the Concordia softball team, #Jessica Rattan# hit her 21st career home run, passing former greats Cara Patranella and #Karen Smart#.  She swatted the record-breaking round tripper in an 18-4 win over Sul Ross State.  Rattan also broke the school's career record in doubles.

Justin Beasley's phenomenal opening weekend -- The Concordia baseball team opened up the 2010 season with a three-game sweep at Southwestern.  During the series, junior third baseman #Justin Beasley# was 6-of-14 with four runs scored, three doubles and a grand slam.  The Franklin, Texas, native drove in 11 runs and slugged .857 in three games.  He won ASC West Hitter of the Week honors for his performance.

Candace Velasquez's outburst of power -- Sophomore second baseman #Candace Velasquez# had a series for the record books at Sul Ross State.  The Tornados received a huge burst of power from Velasquez in the scoring outburst.  Velasquez posted amazing offensive numbers in the four-game series.  She batted .846, slugged 1.769 after collecting 11 hits, including three doubles and three home runs.  She drove in 10 runs, scored 11 and tallied 23 total bases.  Her performance was rewarded by her being named ASC West Hitter of the Week.

Kiera Ruck's game-winning penalty kick -- It isn't often you see a penalty kick take place in a soccer match.  It's even more rare when it happens near the end of a match.  However, that's exactly what happened for the Concordia women's soccer team against Louisiana College.  Sophomore midfielder #Victoria Williams# was shoved to the ground in the box and the Tornados were awarded a penalty kick with just over a minute remaining in the second half.  #Kiera Ruck# stepped up and calmly drove the ball over the end line past the diving LC goalkeeper, which gave the Tornados a 1-0 win.

Women's basketball's dramatic comeback wins -- In the 2009-10 Concordia women's basketball season opener, the Tornados trailed by as much as 14 points in the first half at Ozarks.  However, CTX battled and led by two at halftime.  The Tornados went on to win by 13 over the Lady Eagles.  However, that was not the most dramatic comeback win the Tornados had during the season.  On Dec. 7, Concordia hosted a hot-shooting East Texas Baptist team.  ETBU scorched the nets and jumped out to a 28-10 lead in the first half.  However, Concordia would chip away at the Lady Tigers' lead.  With 10:46 in the second half, CTX tied the game up 60-60 with a free throw from #Margaret Milling#.  Over the next few minutes, the Tornados went on a 15-6 run, which put them in the lead by 10. Concordia would hold on to win by 10 (83-73), in a game that saw them complete a 28-point swing.

Men's basketball's big wins -- During the 2009-10 season, the Tornados men's basketball teams secured a pair of big wins over opposing teams.  On Nov. 24, the Tornados went across town and defeated St. Edward's, an NCAA Division II opponent, 98-91.  It was the Tornados first win over St. Ed's since the 2003-04 season.  On Jan. 7, Concordia shocked the undefeated No. 10 Mississippi College Choctaws at Concordia Fieldhouse.  The Tornados defeated MC 81-72, which was CTX's first win in over seven years against the Choctaws.

Micah Runnels ties ASC hits record -- In the Concordia baseball team's 26-6 win over Howard Payne on March 12, senior second baseman #Micah Runnels# tied the conference single-game record for hits.  Runnels was 6-for-6 at the plate against the Yellow Jackets.  He also drove in six runs during the game.

Quincy Braxton's 200 time -- In Concordia's first season with track and field, freshman sprinter #Quincy Braxton# had the nation's fastest time in the 200 meter dash.  Braxton finished the 200 in 22.01 seconds at the Tarleton State University Track & Field Invitational on March 12.  At the time, Braxton's 200 time was the fastest NCAA Division III outdoor time in the nation.



Check back tomorrow for the number 10 story in the top 10 list of top moments/stories/accomplishments of the 2009-10 season at Concordia.