April 2014 – Page 69 – North Platte Post Archive

NSAA Changes Mind, Allows Gender Identity Poem

Posted on April 3, 2014

(AP) — A state champion speech student will be allowed to perform a poem about gender identity for television after originally being asked not to by a statewide schools organization.

Michael Barth, a senior at Gordon-Rushville High School, was asked to change the content of a performance to be recorded for Nebraska Educational Television.

Barth won the Class C-1 poetry division with poems that combined lyrics from hip-hop artist Macklemore’s “Same Love” and a slam poem called “Swing Set” by Andrea Gibson.

Earlier, Rhonda Blanford-Green, executive director of the Nebraska School Activities Association, said she doesn’t want the showcase to promote personal agendas.

Later, she said the intent of her decision was not to stifle freedom of speech, but to avoid any negative connotations for individuals involved in the production.

2 Injured in Omaha House Fire

Posted on April 3, 2014

(AP) — Authorities say two people have been injured following a house fire in Omaha.

Omaha Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim McCaw says the fire was reported Wednesday afternoon at a house in north Omaha.

The two people, a man and a woman, were inside the house at the time of the fire. They were taken to local hospitals in critical condition. Their names have not been released.

The blaze was quickly contained. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Neb. Lawmakers Advance Water Sustainability Bill

Posted on April 3, 2014April 3, 2014

(AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill designed to steer the state toward long-term water sustainability.

Senators gave the proposal first-round approval on Wednesday, but say they’ll make additional changes before it comes to a second vote.

The bill by Sen. Tom Carlson, of Holdrege, would expand the state’s Natural Resources Commission from 16 to 27 members. Members would have to come from a variety of major water users, including surface and groundwater irrigators.

The measure would require the commission to set goals and a ranking system for water conservation projects, paid for out of a new state water sustainability fund.

Senators postponed action on an amendment that would require a basin-wide management plan within the Republican River Basin.

NSP Pushes Initiative on Safe Teen Driving

Posted on April 3, 2014

(AP) — Nebraska officials are ramping up their efforts to encourage safe driving from teenagers.

The Nebraska State Patrol says an education initiative will involve safe driving presentations. Officials will use simulators that show people the effects of using a seat belt and what it’s like to be in a rollover crash.

The initiative will begin in April and end in September.

The Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, which is helping to pay for the programming, says nearly 80 percent of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes in Nebraska were not using seat belts.

AP Nebraska All-State Boys Basketball Teams

Posted on April 3, 2014

Here are the 2014 AP All-State Boys Basketball Teams as voted on by sportswriters and sportscasters throughout the state.

CLASS A

Position-Name, School, Height, Grade

First team

Mitch Hahn, Fremont, 6-7, Sr.

Malik Hluchoweckyj, Bellevue West, 6-0, Jr.

Kevin Metoyer, Omaha Westside, 5-9, Sr.

Khyri Thomas, Omaha Benson, 6-5, Sr.

Tre’Shawn Thurman, Omaha Central, 6-6, Sr.

Second Team

BJ Day, Lincoln Southeast, 6-4, Sr.

James Dumes, Omaha South, 6-4, Sr.

Luke Gifford, Lincoln Southeast, 6-4, Sr.

Tyler Hagedorn, Norfolk, 6-8, Jr.

Michael Herrmann, Omaha Westside, 6-4, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Christian Hatterle, CJ Johnson, Austin Moore, Bellevue West; Drew Homa, Tommy Pritchard, Chad Witecy, Creighton Preparatory School; Weston Spalding, Noah Voss, Fremont; Pierce Almond, Jake Morrow, Ben Witkowski, Grand Island; Brian Arp, Damien Austen, Dakota Schriner, Kearney; Bryan Reimers, Lincoln East; Jason Towery, KeShawn Wilson, Lincoln High; Connor Musiel, Triston Simpson, Nate Tederman, Lincoln North Star; Payton Helmstadter, Connor Springman, Lincoln Northeast; Trey Beamon, Danny Clare, Clayton Peterson, Lincoln Southeast; Conner Works, Lincoln Southwest; Troy Sedlacek, Millard South; Taylor Reedy, Logan Strom, Brandon Villalpando, Norfolk; Drew Callaghan, Kade Erickson, Shane Mauch, North Platte; Thik Bol, Tyree Peter, Omaha Benson; Grant Cannon, Akot Tiak, Omaha Bryan; Trey Carr, Wanjang Tut, Omaha Burke; Jarek Coles, Rashad McCoy, Austin McGaugh, Omaha Central; Justin Patton, Omaha North; Ronny Barnes, Omaha Northwest; Mike Kiger, Jake Meyers, Brock Nemecek, Omaha Westside; Kevin Harkins, Karlon McSpadden, Omaha South; Aaron Rothermund, Papillion-La Vista South; Alex Borchers, South Sioux City.

CLASS B

Position-Name, School, Height, Grade

First team

Ty Danielson, York, 6-3, Sr.

Matt Thomas, Elkhorn South, 6-0, Sr.

Johnny Trueblood, Elkhorn South, 6-2, Jr.

Wills Wallrapp, Omaha Skutt Catholic, 6-3, Jr.

Rylee Zimmerman, Beatrice, 6-3, Sr.

Second Team

Zach Flott, Ralston, 6-5, Sr.

Bart Hiscock, Bennington, 6-5, So.

Vance Janssen, Blair, 6-0, Jr.

Jakson Reetz, Norris, 6-1, Sr.

Brandon Utrup, Lincoln Pius X, 6-1, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Trevor Kamerzell, Alliance; Austin Allen, Aurora; Alex Cromer, Hunter Zarybnicky, Landon Zarybnicky, Beatrice; Seth Dotzler, Riley Rischling, Bennington; TJ Loudner, Blair; Stratton Discoe, Nathan Sliva, Parker Smejkal, Columbus; Cooper Anthony, Mark Braunberger, Alex McGinnis, Luke Siedhoff, Crete; Alec Cowger, Caleb Craven, Elkhorn; Josh Alberts, JJ Zumrennen, Elkhorn South; Christian Groskopf, Grant Olsson, Joses Palomo, Gering; Jared Samuelson, Gretna; Andrew Maaske, Holdrege; Lewis Lewis, Trevor McKeone, Lexington; Noah Appleget, Gus Mattern, Marcus Sanders, Alex Utrup, Lincoln Pius X; Mack Alspaugh, Wes Burkert, McCook; Tanner Breazile, Logan Riege, Nebraska City; AJ Flodman, Norris; Darrek McNelis, Northwest; Jake Hansen, Nick Wonder, Omaha Gross Catholic; Jody Bryant, Cole Meister, Omaha Roncalli Catholic; Nick Bouda, Christopher Harrison, Ty O’Brien, Omaha Skutt Catholic; Chris Mackevicius, Platteview; Connor Dukes, Hunter Hermida, Travis Sabatka, Nolan Siemonsma, Plattsmouth; Josh Belling, Ralston; Mitch Kassmeier, Daniel Maganda, Schuyler; Austin Clarkson, Trent Harris, Jackson Hinze, Scottsbluff; Ben Klenke, Brevin Sloup, Seward; Pax Ehler, Lane Harvey, Sidney; Dylan Janecek, Ross Sheridan, Waverly; Ryan Dolan, Jonah Otte, JJ Schulz, York.

CLASS C1

Position-Name, School, Height, Grade

First team

Grant Lahm, Columbus Scotus, 6-0, Jr.

Logan Power, Lincoln Christian, 6-4, Sr.

Rylee Reinertson, Gibbon, 6-3, Sr.

Ben Scheef, Wahoo, 6-2, Sr.

Austin Woita, Bishop Neumann, 6-3, Sr.

Second Team

Justin Anderson, West Point-Beemer, 6-7, Sr.

Jalen Barry, Wayne, 5-11, Sr.

Youhanna Ghaifan, Grand Island Central Catholic, 6-4, Jr.

Tyler Hedlund, Boone Central/Newman Grove, 6-0, Sr.

Lane Rohrich, Pierce, 6-1, Sr.

Honorable Mention

David Bohlen, Adams Central; Trevor Koger, Ross Miller, Arlington; Tyler Craven, Bo Kitrell, Ashland-Greenwood; Zachary Ahrens, Connor Loos, Nate Meduna, Ben Simons, Bishop Neumann; Derek Gentrup, Travis Kennedy, Pierce Koch, Boone Central/Newman Grove; Marcus Miller, Grayson Minnick, Broken Bow; Andrew Lee, Ross Wagner, Central City; Travis Holcomb, Nathan Lemburg, Centura; Spencer Eliason, Chadron: Isaac Purcell, Ethan Scheffler, Matt Schrunk, Jack Shadley, Columbus Lakeview; Nate Ebner, Derek Kaslon, Tyler Morton, Cody Mroczek, Columbus Scotus; Zach Schmidt, Conestoga; Jake Paulsen, Conor Young, Cozad; Ben Danielson, David City; TJ Egbarts, Douglas County West; Dalton Hinrichs, Nate Klaumann, Fairbury; Mitchell Harling, Jack Hartman, Reese Hogue, Jordy Stoller, Falls City; Leyton Hopken, Kurt Karcher, Devon Thompson, Fillmore Central; Ben Everswick, Tyler Pace, Jace Schwarz, Fort Calhoun; Tanner Borchardt, Dawson Graham, Blake Ristine, Gothenburg; Grant Badertscher, Mitch Faris, Johnson County Central; Blake Holtmeier, Matt Moore, Kearney Catholic; Leighton Chicoine, Evan Mathers, Lincoln Christian; Jacob Eley, Lincoln Lutheran; Jonathan Horvatich, Austin Kremke, Logan View; Trever Carroll, Corbin Ruth, Dallas Schroeder, Tyler Webster, Malcolm; Jake Mensick, Zac Morley, Milford; Mitchell Muller, Minden; Jamie Fegler, Bo McVay, Mitchell; Dylan Borer, David Engelhaupt, Matt Miller, Beau Schommer, Norfolk Catholic; Matt Ortmeier, Chase Wietfeld, North Bend Central; Jared Jaeger, Ogallala; Ben Fletcher, Mitchell Kuntz, Omaha Concordia; Charley Burtwistle, Brock Schueth, O’Neill; Taggart Bailey, Noah Fisher, Nick Murray, Pierce; Christian Benes, Raymond Central; Josh Harrahill, St. Paul; Brooks Coleman, Quin Conner, Valentine; Gavin Iversen, Josh Langemeier, Jake Ruzicka, Jake Scheef, Wahoo; Jared Anderson, Ben Hoskins, Wayne; Ty Haase, Jake Hansen, Karsten Schuetze, West Point-Beemer; Jacob Sykes, Wilber-Clatonia; Lucas Bradfield, Logan Godbersen, Wisner-Pilger; Nate Bahe, Matt Rennau, Wood River.

CLASS C2

Position-Name, School, Height, Grade

First team

Creighton Buhr, Doniphan-Trumbull, 6-5, Sr.

Mike Daum, Kimball, 6-9, Sr.

Adam Dykman, Archbishop Bergan, 6-7, Jr.

James Kaiser, Hartington Cedar Catholic, 6-0, Jr.

Matt McLeod, Ainsworth,6-4, Sr.

Second Team

Brooks Asher, Hastings St. Cecilia, 6-1, So.

Nate Fisher, Yutan, 6-2, Sr.

Isaac Frerichs, Freeman, 6-1, Jr.

Connor Heier, Twin River, 6-3, Sr.

Hunter Quinn, Southern Valley, 6-3, Jr.

Honorable Mention

Brady Delimont, Tanner Fuelberth, Ainsworth; Nathan Kovar, Trev Semrad, Aquinas Catholic; Brady Rasmussen, Robbie Ritz, Arcadia/Loup City; Colton Brdicko, Nate Griffen, Jonah Madsen, Archbishop Bergan; Jared Bellar, Zach Bellar, Kobe Lade, Battle Creek; Mitch Ruybalid, Blue Hill; Kaleb DeCora, Jaime Gonzalez, Bridgeport; Logan Clonce, Kyle Gierhan, Centennial; Austin Bruhn, John Steffensmeier, Clarkson/Leigh; Austin Diedrichsen, Seth Wilmes, Creighton; Eric Kleinschmit, Brock Mueller, Crofton; Grady Koch, Jordan Slough, Riley Wiltfong, Doniphan-Trumbull; Cade Dubel, Trey Haislip, Kameron Krutsinger, Dundy County-Stratton; Matt Smaus, Colin Wade, East Butler; Dylan MacKichan, Cole Schuster, Derek Veerhusen, Freeman; Kyan Hass, Trent Ortmeier, Guardian Angels Central Catholic; Grant Howell, Taylor Kathol, Hartington Cedar Catholic; Zach Kitten, Alex Sheehy, Hastings St. Cecilia; Jake Brand, Laine Calvillo, Homer; Brayden Frauendorfer, Duncan Hanzel, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family; Jake Reader, Kimball; Mitch Klooz, Dillon Wolfgram, Laurel-Concord/Coleridge; Keagan Jewell, Johnny Tsent, Nebraska Christian; Grant White, Neligh-Oakdale; Nick White, Niobrara-Verdigre; Cameron Kinder, Mitchell Lindstrom, Oakland-Craig; Ty Ehresmen, William Haskell, Omaha Brownell-Talbot; Alex Fahey, Trevor Fahrenholz, Ord; Riley Reynoldson, Dallas Ringland, Palmyra; Sam Meuret, Plainview; Connor Brandt, Aaron Carlson, Ponca; Brendan Lipovsky, John Sock, Sandy Creek; Marshall Glock, Nick Schindel, Shelby-Rising City; Alex Kaup, Seth Miller, Jeremiah Perkins, Southern Valley; Cody Carlson, Josh Krentz, Stanton; Alex Hinkle, Stapleton/McPherson County; Noah Johnson, Cole Wiseman, Sutton; Jay Cottam, Thayer Central; Gus Cromwell, Twin River; Josh Dolph, Evan Nicholson, Wakefield; Collin Heath, Weeping Water; Conner Osborne, West Holt; Cory Cleveland, David Wingett, Mathew Wingett, Winnebago; Nick Josoff, Matt Oviatt, Wyatt Zaugg, Yutan.

CLASS D1

Position-Name, School, Height, Grade

First team

Luke Hegemann, Howells-Dodge, 6-5, Sr.

Andy Kerkman, Clearwater/Orchard, 6-6, So.

Adam Moon, St. Mary’s, 6-8, Sr.

Nolan Nordhues, Randolph, 6-1, Sr.

Tanner Ryan, Overton, 6-3, Sr.

Second Team

Dominic Abbott, Amherst, 6-1, Sr.

Mark Mayfield, North Platte St. Patrick’s, 6-3, Sr.

Keaton Klimek, Burwell, 5-11, Sr.

Cole Taylor, Sandhills/Thedford, 6-4, Sr.

Garrett Watters, Randolph, 6-4, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Brennan Koller, Caden Weverka, Arapahoe; Adam Ljundeen, Brandt Runge, Axtell; Adam Haigh, Bloomfield; Dylan Reiman, Caleb Rihanek, Boyd County; Troy Lusk, Nate Sitorius, Brady; Grant Norder, Wyatt Schoenholz, Riley Tegtmeier, Bruning-Davenport/Shickley; Will McClintic, Burwell; Taylor Kubik, Jake Witte, Cambridge; Taylor Keeney, Maverick Sukstorf, Cedar Bluffs; Trevor Mlnarik, Tate Schutt, Clearwater/Orchard; Travis Eller, Cross County; Kyle Dlouhy, Deshler; Jake Bartling, Nic Crowley, Zach Johnson, Elm Creek; Travis Emmons, Eric Hansen, Emerson-Hubbard; Asgar Hansen, Josh Nickel, David Segner, Friend; Gage Horacek, Ethan Shotkoski, Fullerton; Trevin Derr, Harvard; Jordan Heinrichs, Cole Nickels, Heartland; Trevor Blume, Jesse Faltys, Casey Wisnieski, Howells-Dodge; Brandon Weidner, Chayse Wemhoff, Humphrey St. Francis; Kirby Neufeld, Nick Stahl, Johnson-Brock; Marco Fabietti, Mitch Gude, Noah Vasa, Lourdes Central Catholic; Alex Preslicka, McCool Junction; Chase Barthel, Sage Schmidt, Medicine Valley; Sam Green, Schuyler Hemphill, Ben Pohlman, Nebraska Lutheran; Trevor Ferguson, Tyler Knox, North Central; Alex Harms, Andrew O’Neill, North Platte St. Patrick’s; Austey Buckingham, Omaha Christian; Donovan Cook, Marcus Walker, Omaha Nation; Hayden Cahoy, Caleb Ecklund, Creighton Ryan, Joel Shafer, Overton; Scott Borcher, Chase Grizzle, Pawnee City; Trevor Harms, Tyler Magninie, Potter-Dix; Luke Andrew, Logan Nordhues, Randolph; Skylar Brumbaugh, Wyatt Bell, Red Cloud; Justin Lee, Jacey Nutter, Sandhills/Thedford; Darrek Ellis, Spencer Weyers, Shelton; Eamon Schwarz, South Loup; Matt Kelly, Kyle Pardun, St. Mary’s; Tyler Fear, Sutherland; Ivan Damit-og, Shane Farley, Wilcox-Hildreth.

CLASS D2

Position-Name, School, Height, Grade

First team

Chad Dunn, Falls City Sacred Heart, 6-0, Sr.

Logan Fleming, High Plains, 6-0, Sr.

Cole Klingsporn, High Plains, 5-10, Jr.

Nick Sjuts, Bancroft-Rosalie, 6-3, Sr.

Nolan White, Exeter-Milligan, 6-2, Sr.

Second Team

Austin Blume, Hitchcock County, 6-0, Sr.

Matt Goltz, Falls City Sacred Heart, 6-3, Sr.

James Sluka, Exeter-Milligan, 5-8, Sr.

Brandon Stevens, Spalding/Spalding Academy, 5-11, Jr.

Drew Zitek, Bancroft-Rosalie, 6-1, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Trent Geiser, Troy Gilligan, Anselmo-Merna; Gunner Walker, Arthur County; Kenny Appleton, Preston Peters, Carsten Tietz, Bancroft-Rosalie; Robert Edgren, Jame Samuelson, Bertrand; Dustin Gourd, Cody-Kilgore; Ely Hough, Alek Klepper, Brady McMurray, Austin Vitosh, Diller-Odell; Kevin Donohoe, Riley Zahourek, Dorchester; Kendall Albin, Jayson Larson, Elkhorn Valley; Zack Hackbart, Blake Summer, Skyler Werger, Elwood; Blake Cunningham, Robert Nordby, Ben Ramold, Ewing; Kyle Jensen, Derek Luzum, Exeter-Milligan; Austin Malone, Colin Niemeyer, Falls City Sacred Heart; Jared Hastings, Garrett Poppen, Giltner; Zach Cook, Seth Gohl, Tristan Johnson, Hayes Center; Logan Engel, Ben Nunnenkamp, Dylan Shenk, High Plains; Daniel Arp, Nathan Rick, Alex Whipps, Hitchcock County; Trevor Burr, Kenesaw; Daniel Schroer, Lawrence-Nelson; Cutter Singleton, Lewiston; Dylan Brenner, Brennan Cruise, Leyton; Brandon Pickworth, Alex Quinn, Dylan Taylor, Mead; Ty Brakhage, Kyle Schwisow, Jakub VanWesten, Meridian; Lance Moore, Tye Spies, Mullen; Eric Hays, Chase Zelasney, Osceola; Zach Kumm, Osmond; Dan Ngoyi, Andrew Smith, Parkview Christian; Justin Corfield, Chance Morland, Paxton; Journey Ericsson, Seylor Monroe, Silver Lake; Joe Glaser, Cain Haschke, Tanner Hudson, Spalding/Spalding Academy; Mason Dexter, Tate Schmaderer, Stuart; Landon Swedberg, Wallace; Orion Lamotte, Kobe Smith, Walthill; Wes Anderjaska, Hayden Pollmann, Wauneta-Palisade; Austin Conn, Spencer Roseberg, Wausa; Austin Lange, Brady Stratman, Jackson Sudbeck, Davis Wieseler, Wynot.

North Platte Weather-April 3rd

Posted on April 3, 2014April 3, 2014

Today: Rain and snow likely, becoming all snow after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Breezy, with a north wind 17 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Blustery, with a northwest wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 50. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. South southeast wind 7 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 59. South wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Faried Leads Nuggets’ 137-107 Rout of Pelicans

Posted on April 3, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Kenneth Faried scored a career-high 34 points and added 13 rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 137-107 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.

The Nuggets raced out to a 40-26 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looked back, making 15 of 27 3-pointers compared to 2 of 9 for New Orleans.

The Pelicans also had no answers inside for Faried, who went unchecked numerous times for backdoor dunks and easy short jumpers in surpassing his previous career best, 32 points against the Lakers on March 7.

Tyreke Evans scored 27 points for New Orleans, which was without All-Star forward Anthony Davis in the second half because of back spasms. He finished with six points and three rebounds.

Nuggets reserve Aaron Brooks had 24 points, going 6 of 8 from beyond the arc.

Rockies Hold on for 6-5 Win over Marlins

Posted on April 2, 2014

MIAMI (AP) — Jordan Pacheco had three hits, Jordan Lyles won in his Colorado debut as the Rockies held on for a 6-5 victory over the Miami Marlins Wednesday night for their first win of the season.

Charlie Blackmon and Michael Cuddyer each had two hits and an RBI for Colorado, which lost the first two games of the season-opening series.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, all after Miami fell behind 6-1.

Rockies two-time All-Star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez left the game in the sixth inning as a precaution because of dizziness.

Lyles (1-0) was acquired in an offseason trade the sent Dexter Fowler to the Houston Astros. Lyles allowed four runs and five hits in five innings while striking out five and walking one.

Rockies Place RHP Chatwood on 15-Day Disabled List

Posted on April 2, 2014

MIAMI (AP) — Colorado Rockies right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood was placed on the 15-day disabled list and Jordan Lyles was recalled to start Wednesday against the Miami Marlins.

Chatwood has a strained left hamstring and is on the DL retroactive to March 29. He was injured running out a triple in a spring training game.

Chatwood went 8-5 with a 3.15 ERA last season.

Lyles, who went 7-9 with a 5.59 ERA last season with the Astros, was acquired in a trade along with Brandon Barnes for Dexter Fowler.

Vargas Strong but Royals Lose 2-1 to Tigers in 10

Posted on April 2, 2014April 2, 2014

DETROIT (AP) — Under last year’s rules, the Kansas City Royals would have had men on first and third with two out in the 10th inning of a tie game.

Instead, their rally ended after a replay review — but that was OK with manager Ned Yost.

“That’s exactly why the system is there — to get the call right,” Yost said.

The Royals ended up losing 2-1 to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday when Ian Kinsler hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th. The game included two replay reviews — both of which were overturned in Detroit’s favor.

Kansas City tied it in the ninth against Tigers closer Joe Nathan, but Tim Collins (0-1) walked Austin Jackson and Nick Castellanos before allowing Kinsler’s two-out single.

“Obviously, you don’t want to walk the first guy, because then you are pitching uphill. I just couldn’t find the plate today — I had no command,” Collins said. “Kinsler’s a great hitter, and he hit a good pitch, but I would have been awfully lucky to get out of that inning after walking those two guys.”

Kinsler also homered in the fourth.

Max Scherzer pitched eight scoreless innings for the Tigers, allowing four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. But Nathan blew his first save chance with Detroit after signing with the Tigers in the offseason.

Alex Gordon’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the ninth tied it.

In the 10th, Kansas City’s Norichika Aoki was called safe at first, and it looked like the Royals would have two on against Al Alburquerque (1-0). But upon further review, the throw barely beat Aoki. He was called out to end the threat.

There was another replay overturn in the sixth when Detroit’s Tyler Collins was initially called out at first, giving Kansas City a 4-6-3 double play. The play was reviewed and Collins was ruled safe, although Detroit didn’t score that inning.

Scherzer can become a free agent after this season, and if he keeps pitching like this he’ll be in line for quite a payday. With men on first and third and one out in the first, Billy Butler grounded into a double play on a 3-0 pitch.

“I thought he was swinging there 3-0,” Scherzer said. “I knew it was an early part of the game. I was throwing a fastball. He knew I was throwing a fastball, so I thought there was a chance he was swinging. So I knew we needed to get it away. Fortunately enough, he was able to roll it over. That was a huge play. I was kind of on the ropes there.”

That turned out to be the best chance Kansas City would have against Scherzer. He wasn’t in trouble again until the eighth, when Salvador Perez doubled leading off.

Scherzer rebounded to strike out Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain. Alcides Escobar followed with a flyout on Scherzer’s 110th and final pitch.

Jason Vargas, who signed a $32 million, four-year contract in the offseason, was sharp in his first start for Kansas City. He allowed a run and five hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out six.

“He was great,” Yost said. “That’s a really good offense, and the only thing they got off him was Kinsler hitting a great pitch. I’ll take that kind of pitching performance every game right now.”

NOTES: The Royals announced OF Carlos Peguero was sent outright to Triple-A Omaha after clearing waivers. He was designated for assignment March 25. … Collins made his first major league start in LF. His debut came in Monday’s opener, when he scored the winning run as a pinch-runner. On Wednesday, he made a nice catch in the second while sliding on his stomach. … Kansas City rookie Yordano Ventura takes the mound Thursday against Detroit’s Anibal Sanchez.