Sports Roundup

Commodores Finish 2009 Baseball Season with Strong Showing

The Commodores found their bats and dug in defensively in postseason play to advance to the championship game of the SEC Tournament and the championship game of the Louisville Regional round of the NCAA Tournament. The team ended the regular season with a 31–24 overall record and a 12–17 record in conference play. In the SEC Tournament championship game, the Commodores dropped a 6–2 decision to LSU at Regions Field in Hoover, Ala. In NCAA Tournament play, Vanderbilt reached the championship game at the Louisville Regional, falling short in a 5–3 contest.

Bowling: Women Roll to National Honors

Vanderbilt spent much of the 2008–2009 bowling season ranked No. 1 in the nation and placed three bowlers on the All-America squad. Junior Josie Earnest was named the 2009 Player of the Year, and freshman Brittni Hamilton received Division I Rookie of the Year honors. Joining them on the All-America first team was senior Michelle Peloquin. The team finished in fifth place in the 2009 NCAA Bowling Championship held in Canton, Mich., in April. The Commodore keglers won a school-record five tournaments during the regular season.

Men’s Basketball: Ogilvy and Taylor Earn SEC Honors

For the second consecutive year, center A.J. Ogilvy has been named second-team All-SEC as determined by the conference’s 12 coaches. After battling illness and injury early in the conference season, he finished the last nine games averaging 18.5 points per game, scoring a career-high 33 at LSU on March 4. Jeffrey Taylor, a guard/forward, was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. He was the fifth-leading freshman scorer in the SEC and third overall scorer for Vanderbilt with 12 points per game, second in rebounds and steals, and tied for third in blocked shots.

Football: Moore and Langford Are NFL Bound

Cornerback D.J. Moore was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the NFL draft in late April. The 119th pick, he joins former Commodores Jay Cutler, Earl Bennett, Hunter Hillenmeyer and Chris Williams on the Bears’ squad, making Chicago the Vanderbilt of the North. “I’m happy for D.J. and think he will become a tremendous player for the Bears,” said Vanderbilt Head Football Coach Bobby Johnson. “D.J. is a tremendous talent who put together three fantastic years for the Commodores.” In his three seasons at Vanderbilt, Moore had 13 interceptions, was named first-team All-SEC, and was named an All American last season. He also caught two touchdown passes.

Safety Reshard Langford signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. He had 48 consecutive starts as a Commodore (the most ever by a Vanderbilt defensive back) and, during his senior season, accounted for 49 solo tackles, 76 total tackles and three interceptions—one of which he returned for a touchdown against Tennessee. “Reshard will make a huge impression on the Philadelphia coaches with his talent, effort, and desire to help any way he can,” Johnson said. “Reshard Langford is one of those guys you build a winning team around.”

Lacrosse: Vandy Rates 10th in National Rankings

At the end of regular season play, the Commodores had a 9–5 record (2–2 in the American Lacrosse Conference) and were ranked the 10th team in the nation in several national polls. Along the way several players earned individual honors. Junior midfielder Sarah Downing was named ALC Offensive Player of the Week on April 20; freshman goalkeeper Natalie Wills was named ALC Rookie of the Week on March 23 and ALC Defensive Player of the Week on April 6; and freshman midfielder Ally Carey was named ALC Rookie of the Week on April 6.