UCM Update

After growing up in a country where baseball is a national passion, a University of Central Missouri international student this spring got an inside-look at what it takes to keep professional players in top condition while also gaining experience to better prepare him for his own professional career.

Hoping to someday work in the Major Leagues, Takao Iwano, a 24-year-old junior athletic training major from Abiko, Chiba, Japan, was one of only seven individuals selected to participate in an internship program sponsored by the Japan Baseball Athletic Trainers Society in cooperation with the American Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society. The experience, in early March, took him to Arizona, where he spent a week with the Kansas City Royals at their training facility in Surprise, and the Seattle Mariners, in Peoria.  He was one of five Japanese interns who are attending school in the United States. Two other  interns work in Japan.

The Central Missouri Jennies volleyball team is set to embark on an 11-day trip to China beginning today. The Jennies are traveling to Beijing where they will play four games against Chinese competition, while also getting to sight-see and learn about the Chinese culture.  Fans can keep up to date on the Jennies' travels by following them on their social media accounts. The Jennies also have a blog that they will update throughout the trip with posts by coaches and players.

Behind Katie Shockley's arm and Alex Leonhart's late inning heroics, Central Missouri (47-14) defeated Henderson State to move to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Championship next weekend.  The win puts the Jennies in the Super Regional where they'll face the region's No. 1 overall seed, Augustana (S.D.). Being the No. 1 seed Augustana will host the best two-out-of-three series in Sioux Falls, S.D. Game one takes place Friday, May 15 with game two and three (if necessary) Saturday, May 16.