POWERS CONCLUDES BASEBALL’S EARLY SIGNING PERIOD BY INKING TWO MORE RECRUITS

Reno, Nev. - University of Nevada head baseball coach Gary Powers has concluded baseball’s early signing period by inking pitchers Jayson McClaren and Branden Petrangelo. The two signed a national letters of intent to play for the Wolf Pack in 2009. With 12 seniors on the 2008 squad the Pack signed eight during the early period to help fill those roster spots.

McClaren is a 6′1″, 175-pound right-handed pitcher who will be playing his senior season at Durango High School in Las Vegas in the spring. As a junior he went 6-3 with a 3.04 ERA and 44 strike outs in 53 innings on the mound. He helped DHS to a 23-11 record last season and earned second-team All-Southern Nevada honors.

A 5′9″, 155-pound right-handed pitcher Petrangelo attends Freedom High School in Oakley, Calif. The past two seasons he struck out 188 in 120 innings on the mound for FHS. He pitched for the San Francisco Giants scout last fall and has been named a 2008 preseason Under Armor All-American.

“Jayson and Branden are the final pieces in what we feel are a solid group of eight players we signed during the early period,” said Powers. “We are not done filling our needs for 2009 but this group is a great start toward building for the future.”

BASEBALL SIGNEES

Name Pos. Ht. B/T Wt. Class at Nevada Hometown/Previous School

Jayson McClaren RHP 6′1″ R/R 175 Fr. Las Vegas, Nev./Durango HS

Brandon Petrangelo RHP 5′9″ R/R 155 Fr. Oakley, Calif./Freedom HS

NEVADA FINALIZES 2008 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

RENO, Nev. — The University of Nevada football team has completed its 2008 schedule with the addition of the season-opener against Grambling State at Mackay Stadium on Aug. 30. 

The deal with Grambling State includes the travel of the school’s heralded Tiger Marching Band to Reno. The “Best Band in the Land” will perform at halftime of the game and will also give a public performance on the day before the game. 

“I have said before that we are committed to bringing high-quality opponents to Mackay Stadium and I think the 2008 schedule represents that commitment,” said Nevada athletics director Cary Groth. “We have a quality schedule that will provide plenty of excitement for our fans. We are very excited to play host to Grambling State and their terrific band.” 

“It is not very often that Grambling State University travels to the West Coast, so we are excited about this opportunity to go to Reno and face the Nevada Wolf Pack,” said Troy Mathieu, Grambling State athletics director. “Both the team and our band look forward to our visit.” 

The addition of Grambling State gives the Wolf Pack a pair of non-conference home games to go along with its two non-conference road games. Nevada will play host to Texas Tech and travel to Missouri, currently the top-ranked team in the country. The non-conference schedule is rounded out by the annual Battle for the Fremont Cannon with UNLV. The WAC schedule will not be released until early next year, but the Pack will have home games against Boise State, San Jose State, Utah State and New Mexico State and road games against Hawai`i, Idaho, Louisiana Tech and Fresno State. 

“With the home conference games we have combined with two great home games against Grambling State and Texas Tech, I think our fans have the opportunity to see a first-rate schedule at Mackay Stadium,” said Rory Hickok, Nevada’s associate athletic director who handles football scheduling. 

For just the second time since 2004, Nevada will open up the season at home at Mackay Stadium. The schedule marks the second time Nevada will open up a season with two home games since 1994. 

“It is great to be opening up the season at home. And in playing Grambling State – which is the biggest name in FCS football – will add a lot of excitement to the opener,” head football coach Chris Ault said. 

This will be the second ever football meeting between Nevada and Grambling State as the Tigers won the first meeting in 1972. Ault was the 1991 recipient of the Eddie Robinson Award, given annually to the top coach in the Football Championship Subdivision. The award is named after the legendary former Grambling State coach. 

“Eddie and I were good friends and we served on a lot of committees together. I have a lot of fond memories of our conversations,” Ault said. 

2008 Nevada Football Schedule (non-conference games)Date                      Opponent           LocationAug. 30                 Grambling St.     RenoSept. 6                  Texas Tech          RenoSept. 13                Missouri               Columbia, Mo.Sept. 27                UNLV                    Las Vegas, Nev. 

DISCOUNTED TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR NEVADA-LOUISIANA TECH FOOTBALL GAME SATURDAY AT MACKAY STADIUM

RENO, Nev. —  There are a number of ways for Wolf Pack football fans to buy discounted tickets for Saturday’s regular season finale against Louisiana Tech on Saturday at Mackay Stadium.

The athletics department has several promotions available for the game, though each requires purchase prior to the day of the game.FAN APPRECIATION DAY: Fans can purchase general admission tickets in groups of 10 or more for just $8 per ticket.MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY: The Pack’s previous Military Appreciation discount was such a success that the school is offering it again for the final home game. All retired and active military can purchase up to four general admission tickets for just $8 per ticket. A valid military ID or verification of service is required.YOUTH FOOTBALL DAY: Children eighth grade or younger who participate in Pop Warner Football or Sierra Youth Football League (player or cheerleaders) can purchase a general admission ticket for just $5. Tickets for family members and coaches are available for just $12.For more information about any of the above promotions, please contact Meredith Montoya, director of sales, at 775-682-6905 or mmontoya@unr.edu. To receive the discounted price, tickets must be purchased by Friday, Nov. 30, at 5 p.m. The Legacy Hall ticket office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.Also, Wolf Pack season-ticket holders are encouraged to redeem their coupons for a free general admission ticket if they have not previously done so this season.Kickoff for the game is set for 1:05 p.m. The game will not be televised. Out-of-town Pack fans can view the game on the Internet at www.nevadawolfpack.com. 

 

Hawai‘i’s Bess Apologizes to Nevada Fans

DENVER – University of Hawai‘i football player Davone Bess has been reprimanded by the Western Athletic Conference for his actions following the game between Hawai‘i and the University of Nevada, played in Reno on Nov. 16.At the conclusion of the game – won by Hawai‘i 28-26 – Bess ran onto the field and into the endzone at which time he taunted Nevada fans that were seated in the stands.Said WAC commissioner Karl Benson, “His actions clearly violate the WAC sportsmanship code and won’t be tolerated. Any further actions of this type may result in a one game suspension.”Said Bess, “I apologize to the Nevada fans for my behavior at the end of the game that night. It was an emotional win and my actions were inappropriate. I can assure you that it will not happen again.”-WAC-

Nevada vs. UNLV Post Game Notes

Nevada Postgame Notes:Nevada dropped its second consecutive game in the series to UNLV, falling 79-67 on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The loss also snapped the Wolf Pack’s two-game winning streak on its in-state rival’s home court.- Saturday’s game at UNLV marked the third road game in Nevada’s first four contests this year. The team will return home to Lawlor Events Center for a match-up with California on Wednesday, Nov. 28 and then travels to Stockton, Calif., to take on Pacific on Saturday, Dec. 1.- Nevada is now 32-9 in road contests over the last three-plus seasons (since the start of the 2004-05 season).- Sophomore JaVale McGee turned in his first career double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds (both game highs) to lead the Wolf Pack. His 20 points tied his career best, while the 13 boards marked a career high. McGee made 8-of-12 attempts from the field and added two assists and one blocked shot.- Freshman Armon Johnson also scored a career-best 15 points in the game, his third contest in double figures in four games this year.- Senior Marcelus Kemp added 11 points and moved past Garry Hill-Thomas (2000-04, 1,340 career points) for ninth on the Nevada career scoring list with 1,345 points.- Kemp also extended his streak of consecutive games in double figures for scoring. He has now scored in double figures in 66 games in his career, including 45 of the last 47 contests.

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