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Beugli to play for SOU By JOE ZAVALA Ashland Daily Tidings When a coaching legend comes calling, it's hard to turn him down. Spurred by a conversation with four-time state championship softball coach Larry Binney, former Ashland High all-star pitcher Megan Beugli has abandoned plans to try to be a walk-on at the University of Oregon, instead choosing to stay in town. Beugli will attend Southern Oregon University - where Binney was recently hired to take over the softball program - and will attempt to play both sports she excelled in as a Grizzly: volleyball and softball. Beugli was considering what dorm furniture she would haul to U of O about a month ago when Binney called and asked Beugli to play for the Raiders. Beugli liked the idea, but said she would do it on one condition: "I told him the only way I would come is if I could play both sports, and he said, 'Go talk to (SOU head volleyball coach Paul Elliott),' " Beugli said. "So I talked to Paul and they're both cool about it. "The only way I would stay in Ashland at SOU is if I could play both sports for two amazing coaches. It would be such a great experience." As coach at North Medford High, Binney coached against Beugli several times during her prep years and liked what he saw enough to make contacting her one of his first priorities as SOU's new coach. Binney was named interim head coach in early July for James Gravelle, who resigned after five years with the club. Tuesday, the "interim" tag was removed. "Well, I've coached against (Beugli) since she was very young (in ASA ball) and she's a good athlete," Binney said in a phone interview this morning. "She's real versatile - she can pitch, she can play outfield; she played practically every position on the field, is a good hitter and a good competitor and I think she'll be able to help us." Binney likes Beugli's pitching, but said it's too early to tell where she'll fit in at SOU. "We have some kids coming back that I don't know that well and new kids coming in, so kids are going to be competing for spots," Binney said. "We're expecting about 30 kids trying out. We'll just have to see who shows up the first day and get after it." As a softball player for the Grizzlies, Beugli was voted a first-team all-Southern Oregon Conference utility player her senior year, following consecutive seasons in which she garnered second-team all-league pitching honors. She was also an honorable mention pitcher her senior year. Beugli was the starting setter for the volleyball team in the fall, helping to lead the Grizzlies to a perfect 14-0 league record while picking up first-team all-league honors. Elliott said Beugli will battle two other setters for backup playing time this season. "She's got a lot of volleyball knowledge and she's an athlete," Elliott said. "She's too good of an athlete to say no to." LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -