by Erika Plunkett | Jun 13, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Former Lipscomb pitcher Chris Kachmar was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 28th round of the Major League draft. The right-hander, who finished his senior campaign with a record of 9-3 and a 3.61 era, was a first-team all-conference selection in the ASUN. He also earned ASUN pitcher of the week awards in two consecutive weeks at the end of the regular season for his performances against North Florida and Liberty. “I think the thing that stands out to everybody about Chris is just his work ethic and how much he has improved since we got him,” said Lipscomb coach Jeff Forehand. “He and our pitching coach, James Ogden, have worked really hard. It’s both of them, but it’s Chris’s work ethic and discipline to be the best that he can be that put him in that position to make all-conference this year and for the Cubs to recognize him as a draft pick.” Kachmar, from East Greenville, Pennsylvania, transferred before the 2017-18 season to Lipscomb from Palm Beach State College. At Palm Beach he compiled an earned run average of 3.79 as a sophomore. At Lipscomb in his junior year, Kachmar was able to step in and provide an immediate impact, but his season was cut short due to an injury. “He finished last May pretty much unable to pitch, so he went home for a few weeks, let that rest, came back, enrolled in summer classes and just started training and rehabbing his bad back,” Forehand said. “He got better, and he just continued to look forward every day to those 15 or 16 starts that...
by Russell Vannozzi | Oct 2, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
BALTIMORE – Caleb Joseph has never been one for moral victories, and a historically-bad MLB season did nothing to change his mind. Joseph’s Baltimore Orioles were inept from the outset and finished the year with a 47-115 record. The former Lipscomb standout refused to sugarcoat the franchise’s worst season since its inception in 1901. “It’s been a disappointment to say the least,” he said. “We lost a historical amount of games. It’s quite a different atmosphere [from what] I’ve been used to in Baltimore.” Joseph drew national media attention in mid-September when he spoke his mind to The Athletic’s Dan Connolly. By that point, Joseph’s frustrations had nearly boiled over. “I’ve never seen sports teams survive seasons like this without people losing jobs, period,” Joseph told Connolly. “Players, you name it. It’s a privilege to be here, but you don’t lose a record number of games and not expect some retribution. Everybody. Every single locker in here should be thinking, ‘You know, I should be fired because I sucked. Period.’” The 32-year-old catcher did not back down from his previous statements, but he emphasized that he’d like to be part of the team’s solution following a fire sale that included trading top players like Jonathan Schoop, Manny Machado, Kevin Gausman, Zach Britton and Brad Brach. “There was a lot that was on my mind that day,” Joseph said of his candid September remarks. “I feel strongly about this organization. This is the only organization I’ve known. I want to fight for it. I had some things to say that were potentially controversial, but I’m a hard worker, and I...
by Erin Turner | Feb 7, 2015 | News Slider, Sports
Major League Baseball stars Rex Brothers and Caleb Joseph joined the Lipscomb baseball team at the First Pitch Dinner Saturday evening in Allen Arena. After attending Lipscomb, Brothers was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2009. He was the 34th overall pick in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft. Joseph also attended Lipscomb, leading the Bisons with a .342 batting average during his junior year. Joseph spent six years in the minors before he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2014. The two major leaguers, along with members of the 2015 ballclub and coaches, signed autographs before the dinner began. With the 2015 baseball season just around the corner, head coach Jeff Forehand and the team are looking forward to defeating strong contenders such as Kennesaw State. The 2015 season will begin on Feb. 13 with a three-game set against Butler at Dugan Field. Carousel photo by Sam...
by Erin Turner | Jan 24, 2015 | News Slider, Sports
Ernie Banks, known as “Mr. Cub,” died Friday night at 83. The Baseball Hall of Famer spent his 19-year MLB career with the Chicago Cubs, hitting 512 home runs. The legendary baseball player shared some of his wisdom with Lipscomb during the sixth annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence. Here is former Lumination Editor-in-Chief Cory Woodroof’s story about Banks’ message last April. Baseball great Ernie Banks advocates learning, friendship at Don Meyer Evening of Excellence Just because someone is king of his craft doesn’t mean he’ll ever stop learning, and for one of sports’ most respected and successful individuals, learning is something that never ceases. At the sixth annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence, Baseball Hall of Famer and legendary Chicago Cub Ernie Banks taught all in attendance at Allen Arena the values of the learning process. “I’m just a learning person,” Banks said. As a part of the event, attendees got the chance to learn a little bit about Banks’ past, hear about his interactions with some of baseball’s great players and take to heart some of the wisdom he shared in a conversation with Jonathan Seamon. Banks, 83, is one of baseball’s most admired individuals. An icon in Wrigley Field on Chicago’s north side, the man beloved as “Mr. Cub” has amassed a large number of honors. Not only is he a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. His Cubs’ jersey number was retired and there’s a statue in his honor at Wrigley Field. He’s also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom – an award given him by President Barack Obama, another well-known Chicagoan, in 2013. Banks shared ballfields...
by Logan Butts | Jul 1, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
The summer of 2014 has reached the halfway mark, and Nashville has had its full share of sports news in May and June. Here is a recap on what you may have missed. Lipscomb Baseball: Former Lipscomb baseball stars Rex Brothers and Caleb Joseph have been performing well in the MLB. Joseph, who was called up to the majors on May 7, hit his first home run on June 22 against the New York Yankees. After coming very close to making the MLB All Star team last summer, on June 14 Brothers became the first pitcher in Colorado Rockies history to pitch an “immaculate inning,” which means he struck out three batters on only nine pitches in the inning. Rex’s younger brother Hunter was drafted by his brother’s team, the Rockies, in the 30th round of the 2014 MLB draft. Brothers is currently pitching for the Grand Junction Rockies of the Pioneer League. Former Bisons Chris Nunn and Josh Smith are also currently playing in the Minor Leagues. Nunn is pitching for the Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League, while Josh Smith is suiting up for the Louisville Bats of the International League. Lipscomb Track and Field: The Lipscomb track and field team continued their run of success from the fall semester into the spring and concluded their triumphant run through the summer thanks to appearances at the NCAA Nationals by Gemikal Prude and Madi Talbert, as well as participation in the NCAA East Preliminaries by Prude, Talbert and Colin Dempster. Talbert was named a Second Team All-American, while Prude earned an honorable mention All-American spot. Vanderbilt Baseball:...
