Baseball player Reese plays in ESU's 91-66 win over Friends
By Jesse Newell
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The most excitement in Emporia State’s 91-66 victory over Friends came at the end of Monday’s game.
It was then that ESU baseball player Ty Reese — who was put on the basketball roster for one game earlier in the day — received his one shining moment with less than three minutes to play.
With most of the baseball team in the student section, the ESU pitcher went 0-for-3 in his limited time, missing his only attempt from the three- point line as fans cheered him on enthusiastically.
“If I made a shot, we didn’t have weights in the morning, and I missed,” Reese said. “I missed my opportunity.”
Reese’s appearance came about because of a deal thought up by ESU basketball coach David Moe and ESU baseball coach Bob Fornelli.
Under the conditions, if Reese were to play in a game, then ESU basketball player Jordan Fithian would be allowed to suit up and also get an at-bat in an ESU baseball game.
Fithian and Reese grew up good friends in McPherson, with Reese helping Fithian train for the basketball season during the summer.
Fithian said he hoped his end of the swap would come true in a few months.
“I played baseball when I was younger, and I’d like to devote my life to baseball after this basketball season,” Fithian said with a smile. “I think I could really come out and help our team.”
As far as the game went, ESU dominated after Friends kept things close in the first half.
The Hornets enjoyed a good defensive first half — even if the scoreboard didn’t show it.
ESU forced 17 Friends turnovers but couldn’t keep the Falcons’ shots from going in.
Friends made 15 of its 24 field-goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes to shoot an impressive 63 percent.
“First half was one of the best halves we’ve played defensively,” Fithian said, “and they still score 40 points.”
Most of those buckets came from a dazzling shooting performance from Justin Rone. The senior had 24 points in the first half alone, making six of his seven three-point attempts.
Many of those shots came with a high degree of difficulty, as Rone often had a hand in his face or was fading away from the basket.
“You’re not going to lose to that shot he was making,” Moe said. “There’s not many guys in the world that can continue to make those kinds of shots.”
ESU was able to maintain a 50-40 halftime lead because of good free-throw shooting.
The Hornets made 14 of 18 free throws in the first half, while the Falcons shot just three.
ESU outscored Friends 33-11 during a 12-minute second-half stretch to push the lead to as high as 33.
Wes Book led the team for the second straight game, scoring 28 points and grabbing eight rebounds. DeAndre Townsend contributed 19 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting performance from the floor, while freshman Matt Boswell added 10 points.
Still, the night was about Reese, who said he’d reluctantly lift weights with his baseball teammates today because he couldn’t get his shot in.
“I don’t think they’ll be too mad,” Reese said. “There was a lot of pressure with my name being chanted out.”
Emporia State 91, Friends 66
Monday at White Auditorium
Friends 40 26 — 66
No. 23 ESU 50 41 — 91
FRIENDS
Justin Rone 9-17 2-2 27, Donte Rogers 3-5 2-4 9, Justin Speer 2-3 0-0 5, Drew Kanngiesser 2-3 0-0 5, Matt Garvey 2-8 0-0 4, Joe Christmore 1-1 1-1 3, Gregory Hudspeth 1-3 0-0 3, Ryan Waterson 0-0 2-4 2, Tim Ellis 1-3 0-0 2, Matt Muncy 1-6 0-0 2, Chadd Dunn 0-1 2-2 2, T.P. Martin 1-2 0-0 2, Tyler Thompson 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 9-13 66.
EMPORIA STATE (2-0)
Wes Book 8-17 7-7 24, DeAndre Townsend 8-8 2-4 19, Matt Boswell 4-8 2-2 10, Caleb Tegtmeier 4-4 1-1 9, Dustin Andrews 3-4 0-0 7, Andrew Davison 2-7 0-0 6, Marvin Lee 2-10 2-2 6, Jordan Fithian 1-1 2-4 4, Dane Kelly 1-2 0-0 2, Doug Moore 1-3 0-0 2, Spencer Allen 0-0 2-2 2, Ty Reese 0-3 0-0 0, Alex Pyle 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Stout 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-67 18-22 91.
3-point goals — Friends 11-19 (Rone 7-10, Speer 1-2, Kanngiesser 1-2, Rogers 1-1, Hudspeth 1-2, Muncy 0-1, Thompson 0-1); Emporia State 5-15 (Davison 2-5, Townsend 1-1, Book1-4, Andrews 1-1, Reese 0-1, Lee 0-2, Boswell 0-1). Fouled out — Friends: Kanngiesser; Emporia State: None. Rebounds — Friends 26 (Thompson 4, Rone 4); Emporia State 41 (Book 8). Assists — Friends 9 (Dunn 3); Emporia State 17 (Townsend 7). Total fouls — Friends 23, Emporia State 16. Att —1448.