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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 1996)
Pettit hurt jogging; Noth takes control PETTIT from page 9 at 9 ajn, a hospital official said. After a 2 1/2-hour stay, he was re leased. Pettit—who will have surgery soon—said he was busy watching film and did not have time to talk about his injury. Returning to North Carolina would have been a homecoming for Pettit. He spent the first three years of his coaching career at Louisburg (N.C.) Junior College, about 35 miles northwest of Durham, where Nebraska will play Saturday. Noth, a former All-America set ter at NU, stepped in for Pettit last season during NU’s three-game win over Missouri. Pettit stayed in Lin coln because of a stomach ailment. Pettit, who is in his 20th season on the NU bench, has a career record of631 -137, the seventh high est win total of any Division I vol leyball coach. The former Husker outfielder led Class A Yakima with a .302 batting average. By David Wilson Staff Reporter After failing to qualify for the Big Eight baseball tournament as a senior, former Nebraska outfielder Matt Meyer said he had one thing on his mind: pursuing his dream of playing professional baseball. Meyer waited by his phone on draft day, but the call he wanted never came. So Meyer became a free agent and was invited—along with three other non-draftees—to the Los Angeles Dodgers draft pick minicamp in Vero Beach, Calif. “He impressed us with his power right off the bat,” said Mitch Webster, a coach at Class A Yakima (Wash.), where Meyer played this summer. “It’s pretty much a long shot, but someone of his ability re ally makes us take a longer look.” Meyer became the only non draftee at the minicamp to sign a pro contract with the Dodgers and re ported to Yakima of the Northwest League on June 18. Things worked out as planned, Meyer said, and he was able to live with his parents in his hometown of Yakima this summer. “The league here is awesome,” Meyer said. “The main difference I see is there are a lot more good pitchers on a team. But I’ve been hitting the ball well.” Meyer started nearly every game in rightfield, and finished the sea son hitting .302—first on the team and fourth in the league. The former Husker also led Yakima with 40 runs, six triples and a .384 slugging percentage. Meyer, who led Nebraska last season in runs, triples, and slugging percentage, attributed his quick suc cess to the Nebraska baseball pro gram and Coach John Sanders. “They helped me really get fo cused on my goals,” Meyer said. “(Sanders) is a good coach. He taught me how to swing a wood bat « The league here is awesome.” Matt Meyer former NU outfiedler using an aluminum. That’s been able to help me start fast.” . The highlight of his summer, Meyer said, was facing Seattle Mariner pitcher Randy Johnson— known as one of the hardest throwers in the major leagues. While on rehabilitation assign ment, Johnson made a two-inning appearance against Yakima, and he struck out five of the six batters he faced. Meyer, who grounded out to second, was the only player to make contact. Yakima, which finished-40-36, went on to win the league champi onship Sunday, sweeping the Eu gene Braves in the best-of-three se ries. Next season, Meyer said he ex pects to move up to advanced level Class A Vero Beach or San Bemadino. “He’s made some strides,” Webster said, “and he works hard. He’s going to move up as long as he keeps developing.” Two other former Huskers also made their debuts in professional baseball this summer. Mel Motley, the only Nebraska player to get drafted last June, played Class A ball in the Cleve land Indians organization; catcher Pete Jenkins left the Huskers as a junior and signed a free-agent con tract with the Milwaukee Brewers Class A club in Helena, Mont. “I think our program prepares players real well for professional baseball,” Sanders said. “The play ers know what to expect and nearly all of them experience success.” -_ j it HUSKER FALL Saturday, Sept. 14 9:30 a.m.: NU vs. Augustana a.m.: Augustana vs. Northern Iowai 1:30 p.m.: UNO vs. Iowa 3:30 p.m.: NU vs. UNO 5:30 p.m.: Northern Iowa vs. NU 7:30 p.m.: UNO vs. Augustana Sunday, Sept 15 9:00 a.m.: No. 2 vs. No. 3 11:00 a.m.: No. 1 vs. No.4 1:00 p.m.: Losers of first two 3:00 p.m.: Winners of first two ■ . ■ IUUUklluiMUUiilUallSHlUUIulOiH>JiiUstUCBllUi ■ ■ ' ^V . : -r ^ • Jason Peter tackles new leadership roll PETER from page 9 his neck in the collision. “That was just a freak accident,” Peter said. “I was walking off the field and all of a sudden I got blind-sided. Eric was there, and my first thought was, ‘Is he all right?’. Thank god it wasn’t JeffOgard run ning to catch a pass.” This season, Christian is living a much different life. He is at home in Locust, NJ., helping his family with its restaurant. Christian was released by the New England Patriots three, days after the National Football League draft in April. For now, Jason wants to focus on more than football; he wants to focus on all aspects of his life. “I want people to think of me as a great player and also a great per son,” he said. Although Christian experienced « I want people to think of me as a great player and also a great person.” Jason Peter NU defensive tackle numerous off the field problems, Jason said that his brother was also a great person. “I don’t want to say Christian’s a bad person. He’s a great person and people misjudged him a lot these past couple of years here.” CENTERVILLE STOP & SHOP Martell, ne • Lounge • Restaurant • Bait & Tackle • Horse Rentals • Sleigh Rides • Convenience 10 minutes south of Lincoln on HWY 77. SSKS lrTO Crete. 2 miles ^ JS from Hwy 77. 5 Phone:794-5260. Lincoln [ I 441-0222 Press: 1) .» CINEMA MIN 2) ■*• DOUGLAS 3) » EAST PARK 3 4) » EDGEWOOD 3 5) » THE LINCOLN « * PLAZA 4 7) *• STARSHIP * STUART Williams added to Butkuslist From Staff Reports Nebraska Sam linebacker Jamel Williams has been added to the Butkus Award preliminary watch list. Williams, a senior from Merillville, Ind., started the first game of his career last weekend against Michigan State. The Butkus Award is presented annually to the nation’s top colle giate linebacker. The watch list, which consists of 67 candidates, will be trimmed to 10 semifinalist on Oct. 17 and the three finalists will be announced on Nov. 14. The award will be presented Dec. 14 in Orlando. 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