KNOXVILLE – University of Tennessee assistant softball coach Marty McDaniel had a heart attack Wednesday but is recovering and may be released Sunday from UT Hospital. McDaniel, who grew up in Chattanooga and starred as a baseball catcher for Central High School and Chattanooga State, was stricken “following a prolonged exercise session” and had two stents placed in his right coronary artery, UT softball spokesman Brian Davis reported. He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2011 season. McDaniel, who went into fastpitch softball coaching after converting from catching to pitching in the old Martin-Thompson men’s league in Chattanooga, was expected to be moved from intensive care to a private room Friday and to stay in the hospital until Sunday “as a precaution,” Davis related. “He is not only an exceptional coach but also a very dear friend. He, his wife Kelly and his daughter Lindsey Jo are like family to us,” Lady Vols co-head coach Ralph Weekly said on behalf of himself and his wife and co-head coach, Karen. “We are thankful for the outstanding care he’s gotten and pray for his speedy recovery.”
Football
* Sophomore running back Brett Murray from Lookout Mountain and Baylor School was one of 10 Washington and Lee football players to earn 2010 all-conference recognition in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Murray was a second-team choice as an all-purpose back from the league champion Generals, who went 8-3. He ran 103 times for 738 yards and nine touchdowns and scored three times on pass receptions. He was second on the team with 147 receiving yard on 14 catches and led the Generals with 1,381 all-purpose yards. He had three 100-yard rushing games and averaged 7.6 yards per touch on offense.
Basketball
* ATHENS, Tenn. – The Bryan College and host Tennessee Wesleyan men’s basketball teams won the opening games Friday night in the Dwain Farmer Round Ball Classic. Bryan (6-2) defeated Southern Virginia 86-78 in overtime as Keith Bauer and Xavierian McCall scored 18 and 17 points and Demond Craig, Derek Batt, Scott Newton and Dominique Clements added 14, 13, 11 and 10. Bauer and Newton grabbed nine and eight rebounds. Spenser Briggs scored 22 points for Southern Virginia (2-6), which got 17 and 15 from Anders Jacobson and Isaac Jacobson and 13 points and 12 rebounds from Derek Cutler. Wesleyan won 102-58 over Warren Wilson with Matt Harper scoring 26 points and Matt Towry adding 18 points with 10 rebounds.
* HARROGATE, Tenn. – Despite 34 points by Zack Williams, Hiwassee lost 95-75 to Carson-Newman in men’s basketball Friday night at Lincoln Memorial. John Holleman had 32 for the winning Eagles.
Soccer
* Colombia will be hosting the Under-20 World Cup next summer and is one of the favorites, and the Colombia U-20 team will be facing rival Mexico in an exhibition match Tuesday night at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. Friday night in Atlanta, Colombia edged the United States U-20 team 2-1 in penalty kicks. Earlier this week, the Colombians beat Paraguay and Bolivia, tied Uruguay and lost 2-0 to Argentina in a showcase tournament in Bolivia. “Our performance in Bolivia was exceptional, and we are in form as we prepare to compete for the Under 20 World Cup next year,” team spokesman Roberto Sabbagh said in a statement released by the Chattanooga Football Club, which is hosting Tuesday’s contest. “We are excited about the upcoming match we have with Mexico. Mexico has always been a tremendous opponent, and we look forward to the challenge on the field,” Sabbagh added, noting that he expected the Finley crowd to be “pro-Mexico.” Scott Spencer, tour organizer for the teams, said Tuesday’s 7 p.m. event “very well may be the best soccer talent that has ever set foot in Chattanooga.” Tickets will cost $20 at the gate but are available in advance for $15 at www.mexicovscolombia.eventsbot.com and at area El Meson and Loa Carniceria locations.
Water Skiing
* SANTIAGO, Chile – Hixson’s Caroline Hensley tied for second place in the Open Ladies slalom preliminaries with two United States teammates Friday in the 2010 Pan American Water Ski Championships. Hensley, Rhoni Barton and Regina Jaquess each scored 868.42 points and another American, Danyelle Bennett, was fifth with 842.11. Canada’s Whitney McClintock led with 1,000. The competition continues today.