Published: July 28, 2007 12:03 am         

Metro roundup: Weather keeps Bobby Labonte from Terre Haute appearance

TERRE HAUTE — The scheduled autograph-signing session with NASCAR driver Bobby Labonte at Honey Creek Mall on Friday evening was postponed because of inclement flying weather in the Indianapolis area.

For safety reasons, Labonte was advised not to take a helicopter ride from Indianapolis to Terre Haute.

Mall officials said Labonte will try to reschedule a new autograph session for later this year.

Baseball

• Terre Town 11s victorious — In the Terre Town Invitational for 12-and-under teams, the Terre Town 11-year-old all-stars defeated the North Terre Haute 11-year-old all-stars 18-9 Thursday.

For Terre Town, Chris Spencer went 4 for 4 with two doubles and three runs batted in, Nick Lawson went 4 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI and Michael Sheets hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Terre Town 11s will continue tournament play by facing North Terre Haute’s 12-year-old all-stars at 3 p.m. today. Other games are on the schedule.

• North Terre Haute 9-10s — The opening game in the Tournament of State Champions for the North Terre Haute Little League 9-10-year-old all-stars was changed from 8 p.m. today to 3 p.m.

The North Terre Haute team will be the home team for all three pool-play games this weekend at Ceredo, West Va., after winning the coin flips, coach Hans Eilbracht said Friday.

Fans can listen to the game online at www.mitchstadium.com.

College

• ISU names compliance director — Indiana State University director of athletics Ron Prettyman named Joel McMullen assistant director of athletics for compliance Friday.

McMullen replaces Dennis Raetz, whose retirement becomes official at the end of August.

“Joel McMullen brings a wide range of experience to the Indiana State University Athletics Department administrative team,” Prettyman said.

“As an experienced coach, student-athlete and attorney, Joel has the qualities that will enable him to work successfully with student-athletes, coaches, administrators and the NCAA. We are pleased that we were able to attract a quality person like Joel McMullen to become part of our Sycamore family.”

McMullen comes to ISU from Eastern New Mexico University, where he served as compliance officer and head cross country coach. McMullen governed the regulations of ENMU, Lone Star Conference and NCAA rules, with his primary focus on the distribution of scholarships, monitoring recruiting and evaluating progress toward meeting NCAA eligibility requirements.

As a coach, he served as head men’s and women’s cross country coach and led ENMU to the best performances in the school’s 10-year program.

Prior to ENMU, McMullen worked as an compliance intern at Oklahoma State and was a private practice attorney. McMullen earned a bachelors degree in general science from Kansas in 1986 and a law degree from Washburn University School of Law in 1992.