Mizzou Baseball Game Day: Lemoyne Dolphins

■ Rankings and Ratings

• Boyd's World ISR: Mizzou 175th; Lemoyne 146th
• Boyd's World RPI: Mizzou 202nd; Lemoyne 149th
• Boyd's World Strength of Schedule: Mizzou 100th; Lemoyne 2nd
• Warren Nolan RPI: Mizzou 199th; Lemoyne 141st

■ Lemoyne Baseball to reclassify to Division II beginning 2011-2012 (lemoynedolphins.com)

Le Moyne College has announced its intention to reclassify its baseball program from Division I to Division II, effective August 1, 2011. The College will follow the defined NCAA reclassification process, with the intent to compete alongside its 15 other programs as a member of the Division II Northeast-10 Conference.

■ Salukis blow lead to Lemoyne in home opener (dailyegyptian.com)

The Salukis scored early, but the Dolphins scored often, in SIU’s 10-9 loss to Le Moyne on Wednesday.

SIU (4-7) hosted the Le Moyne Dolphins (2-9) at Abe Martin Field for the first home game of the season.

The Salukis had problems at the plate with 13 strikeouts and also struggled on the mound as Le Moyne scored eight runs in the first six innings.

■ Why does a university located in Syracuse, NY, call their athletic teams the Dolphons?

The dolphin is the symbol and mascot of Le Moyne College. The use of the sign of the dolphin became common among Christians of the second century A.D. It was popularly considered to be friendly toward man and represented both love and tenderness. Noted for its grace and swiftness, the dolphin also symbolizes the desire for knowledge.

A figure of the dolphin appears on the seal of the bishop of the ancient See of Syracuse (the official seat, center of authority, jurisdiction or office of a bishop) in Sicily, as well as the seal of the Bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse. Rev. Walter A. Foery, the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse, made one of his priorities the establishment of a Catholic college. On April 14, 1945, Bishop Foery purchased the 103-acre Gifford Farm and promptly sold it to the Jesuits for $50,000. The Gifford Farm is now home to the College and Foery Hall is so named in honor of Bishop Foery