Month: August 2011
Huskers Earn Sixth 2012 Commitment, Meredith Named To Hendricks Award Watch List
The Nebraska football team secured their sixth commitment to their recruiting class of 2012 in Louisiana linebacker Deion Jones. Jones had over 100 tackles last season for New Orleans Jesuit High School and led his team to the state quarterfinals. He’s rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com. Jones picked the Huskers over offers from fellow Big Ten schools Illinois and Minnesota, as well as Kansas State, Kentucky, Arizona and Pittsburgh. As for current Huskers, they returned to the practice field for the fourth day of fall camp yesterday. Defensive end Cameron Meredith was honored yesterday as one of 35 players named to the preseason watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, handed out annually to the nation’s best defensive end. Meredith had previously been named to the Lombardi Award watch list as well.
Fowler, Tulowitzki Help Rockies Past Reds
The Colorado Rockies made the most of their offensive opportunites and a patchwork bullpen held on for a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds last night, their second win in a row to start a seven-game road trip. Dexter Fowler’s RBI single in the top of the fifth broke a 2-2 tie and held up thanks to six strong innings from starter Esmil Rogers, who earned his sixth win of the season, and scoreless relief work from the only four relievers the Rockies had available due to injury and workload concerns. Rafael Betancourt worked the ninth inning for his first save of the season. Troy Tulowitzki smacked his 22nd homer of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth, to get the Rockies on the board. Game three of the four game series between the Rockies and Reds is tonight. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action with pregame coverage at 5:30 and the first pitch at 6:10.
Broncos Rest Two Ailing Receivers On Eve Of Preseason Opener
After a brief training camp, the Denver Broncos are one day away from taking the field. The Broncos open their preseason schedule tomorrow night in Dallas against the Cowboys. While the listed starters on the depth chart aren’t expected to play a significant number of snaps, the Broncos are taking no chances with their top two returning wide receivers from last season. Eddie Royal, who is recovering from hip surgery, sat out yesterday’s practice as a precautionary measure, while Brandon Lloyd, the Broncos leading pass-catcher last year, left the practice session early with minor knee swelling. The absences of Royal and Lloyd led to more first-team snaps for Eric Decker, Matthew Willis and Britt Davis. At quarterback, Kyle Orton continued to take all the first-team snaps and will start tomorrow night’s game.
Pentagon: Marine from Omaha killed in Afghanistan
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Defense Department says a 29-year-old Omaha man has been killed in Afghanistan. Officials said Tuesday that Marine Sgt. Joshua Robinson died Sunday while on combat operations in Helmand Province. He was shot twice in the left side of his chest while on patrol. Robinson was on his first deployment to Afghanistan but had been deployed to Iraq twice before. He enlisted in the Marines in 2003. Robinson earned a Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon during his service. Robinson was an infantryman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, which is based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Robinson’s wife and two sons, ages 4 and 5, moved back to Bennington, Neb. earlier this year to be close to family while he was deployed. The number of service members with Nebraska connections killed in Afghanistan or Iraq since September 11, 2001 continues to grow. The latest U.S. military casualties in Afghanistan bring the total of deaths with Nebraska ties to 70. The Defense Department said Tuesday that Marine Sgt. Joshua Robinson from Omaha was killed Sunday in Afghanistan during combat operations. Family members say two other soldiers from Nebraska died Saturday when a military helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. Twenty-six-year-old Navy SEAL John Douangdara and 30-year-old Nebraska National Guard Sgt. Patrick Hamburger were among the 30 American troops killed in the crash. Douangdara is from South Sioux City. Hamburger is a Lincoln native who lived in Grand Island.
Nebraska teen imprisoned for gang shooting
COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) – A 17-year-old Columbus youth convicted as an adult for a gang-related shooting last year has been given 11-to-22 years in prison. Court records say Anthony Ramirez was sentenced last week for four felonies: using a firearm to commit a felony, intentional discharge of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and possessing a short rifle. Investigators say Ramirez fired the sawed-off rifle at a pursuing vehicle after firing at a house on Oct. 31. Rival gang members were partying at the house. Ramirez was 16 at the time. No injuries were reported. The Columbus Telegram reports that Ramirez had received probation four times for juvenile offenses. Prosecutor Demi Herman says Ramirez is a dedicated gang member who wanted to raise his gang standing on the night of the shooting.
Rockies Hope To Keep On Slugging Tonight In Cincy (TONIGHT on ESPN 1410)
The Colorado Rockies take on the Cincinnati Reds tonight in game two of their four-game series at Cincinatti’s Great American Ballpark. The Rockies struck first in the series with a 10-7 win last night, sparked by four two-run home runs – two blasts from Seth Smith, one from Todd Helton, and the eventual game-winner from Carlos Gonzalez. Tonight, Esmil Rogers will take the mound for the Rockies. Rogers earned the win in his first start since replacing Ubaldo Jimenez in the Rockies rotation last Thursday against Washington. He’ll be opposed by Cincinnati lefty Dontrelle Willis. The 2003 NL Rookie of the Year is still looking for his first big league win since beating the Rockies on June 5 of last year. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action tonight. Pregame coverage starts at 5:30 with first pitch at 7:10.
Worker impaled in fall at Grand Island job site
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) – A construction worker has been impaled in an accident at a Grand Island job site. Authorities say the upper thigh of one of Dennis Schwarz’s legs was impaled when he fell Monday morning at the Success Academy construction site. He landed on some concrete reinforcement bar. The Grand Island Independent reports that Schwarz was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover from his injury.
North Platte man ruled competent to stand trial
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A North Platte man charged with second-degree murder in the death of his wife has been found competent to stand trial. The attorney for 34-year-old Rogelio Diaz had asked for the evaluation. Diaz was seen by a state expert, and a judge ruled on Monday that Diaz was competent. Police say Diaz killed 35-year-old Michelle Diaz in their backyard around 2 a.m. on June 25. An ambulance crew found Michelle Diaz unresponsive. She died at a local hospital. Police say Roger Diaz told officers his wife fell from the backyard steps, but he later changed his story. Diaz is being held on $2 million bail. His attorney did not immediately return a call Tuesday. A hearing is set Aug. 22.
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