Southern Polytechnic State University

1100 South Marietta Parkway

Marietta, GA 30060-2896

March 14, 2000                                                                 For more information, contact

                                                                                           Tommy Knight (678) 915-5545 (baseball)

    Relatively new squads will lead Southern Polytechnic State University's baseball and tennis teams this year. The Hornet's baseball team is coached this year by Tommy Knight, former head baseball coach at LaGrange College and Georgia Athletic Conference Baseball Coach of the Year in 1997. "Our team will be young with only three seniors and five juniors, but I think we have the chance to be very successful. We have a good group of newcomers that will mix well with those from last year's team," said Knight.

Returners include senior Jeff Timothy and juniors Darrell Edwards and Miguel Maldonado. Knight's team began their season February 13 and continue until late April. After an away game against Tennessee Temple April 27, SPSU will play in the Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference.

After an away match against Reinhardt College March 15, SPSU's tennis team kicks off its home schedule Tuesday, March 21, with a match against LaGrange College.

Returning to the Hornets are senior Glenn Hill and sophomore Jorge Altamirano. New faces on the roster are seniors Nathan Heinlein, Chris O'Steen and Elizabeth Varnadoe, sophomores John Hedberg, Jeff Wilder and freshman Jason Jirasakhiran.

The Hornets are coached by SPSU's Lee Tucker, in his 29^th season. SPSU finished .500 last year and Tucker is optimistic about being more competitive this year. "It's a fairly new team. We have one of the strongest conferences in the nation, but our team is tough and I think we should do well," he said.

The Hornets finish their season at home April 24 with a match against Brewton-Parker College. The Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference tournament will be held April 28-29 at Stone Mountain Tennis Center.