Cactus Classic: Opening Weekend

■ College baseball will help fill spring training void (AZStarNet.com)

One year before losing its two remaining spring training teams, Pima County is positioning itself as a warm-weather home for college baseball clubs.

Monday, organizers announced the Cactus Classic Collegiate Baseball Event, which will take place Feb. 18-21 at Kino Sports Complex.

Washington, Gonzaga, Missouri and New Mexico State will participate in the round-robin event, which organizers say will grow to 12 teams starting in 2011.
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The University of Washington, the official host of the event, booked the teams.
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This year, the teams will use practice fields that once belonged to the Chicago White Sox. Seven of the eight tournament games will be held at Tucson Electric Park and will be open to the public.

■ Soldiers, Aggies hope for heavy offensive firepower in 2010 (Las Cruces Sun-News)

There is a buzz surrounding the New Mexico State baseball program.

Especially surrounding the team's offensive firepower.

"Every year, I expect to break the school record for home runs, which we have done four or five times," Aggies coach Rocky Ward said. "It's getting harder to do."

■ The Washington Huskies have a new head coach that should be familiar to Mizzou: Lindsay Meggs, who formerly was head coach of the Indiana State Sycamores.