March 2015 – Page 73 – North Platte Post Archive

NCAA Reports Big Jump in Home Runs with New Flat-Seam Ball

Posted on March 4, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The new flat-seam ball in college baseball is having the desired effect, with teams hitting 40 percent more home runs so far this season.

The NCAA announced Wednesday that teams are hitting a home run about every other game. Last year, teams homered about once every three games through the first three weeks of the season.

The actual average is 0.47 home runs per team compared with 0.33 at this point in 2014. Last season’s final average of 0.39 per team was a record low.

The NCAA approved use of the flat-seam ball in an attempt to punch up a game that has seen steep declines in offense since new bat standards took effect in 2011. Studies show the flat-seam ball travels 20 feet farther than the old raised-seam ball.

NPCC Knights Softball to Travel to Play Adams State JV

Posted on March 4, 2015March 4, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team will travel to Alamosa, Colorado and play the Adams State University Grizzlies Junior Varsity in a doubleheader on Friday, March 6.

The Knights enter the contest with a 1 – 9 record and are coming off a loss to Division I 15^th rated Western Nebraska Community College.

The Knights are led offensively by Shannon Lieber, who is batting 0.345 in 35 plate appearances. Lieber has a slugging percentage of 0.621 with five doubles and one home run. Sara Villalobos and Brittney Odum each have two home runs for the Knights.

Lieber also anchors the pitching staff. Lieber has a 5.28 earned run average in 29.0 innings pitched. She has 14 strikeouts and has allowed four home runs.

Game times are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. CST.

Huskers Visit Texas for Houston College Classic

Posted on March 4, 2015

Following a 2-1 series victory over the Loyola Marymount Lions in Los Angeles, the Nebraska baseball team (6-4, 0-0 Big Ten) heads back on the road for the fourth straight weekend with a trip to Houston, Texas, for the Houston College Classic. One of the premier tournaments of the college baseball season, the event is held at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros.

Nebraska will be joined in Houston this weekend by Texas A&M, Baylor, LSU, Houston and Hawaii, but will not play Houston or Baylor.

The Huskers have a tough slate this weekend, starting on Friday afternoon at 3:35 p.m. when they take on undefeated and No. 14 nationally-ranked Texas A&M (13-0, 0-0 SEC). It will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2011, when they were both members of the Big 12 Conference.

Senior Chance Sinclair is scheduled to start the opener and will look to snap a two-game losing streak after posting a 10-1 record last season.

Nebraska and Hawaii then open the second day of the tournament on Saturday at 12:05 p.m. The Rainbow Warriors hold a 15-7 advantage over the Huskers all-time, but this will be the first time the two teams have ever met in the Continental United States.

Senior Kyle Kubat is scheduled to get the ball on Saturday. The lefty is 1-0 on a year and has gone at least 7.0 innings in each of his last two starts.

The Huskers wrap up the tournament on Sunday at 11:05 a.m. against the No. 7 nationally-ranked LSU Tigers (11-1, 0-0 SEC), the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Sophomore Derek Burkamper is scheduled to start on Sunday for the second straight weekend and is coming off his best outing as a Husker. Last Sunday against Loyola Marymount, Burkamper allowed only two hits and one walk over 7.0 innings of work, while striking out five.

Fans interested in attending the Houston College Classic can buy tickets in advance through the Houston Astros. Single-day and tournament passes are available.

Texas A&M | Friday, March 6 – 3:35 p.m. (CT)
Probable Starters: RHP Sinclair (1-2) vs. LHP Minter (2-0)
TV: ROOT Sports Southwest
Stream: Free Radio (Huskers.com) | Video Stream: None
Radio: Husker Sports Network

Hawaii | Saturday, March 7 – 12:05 p.m. (CT)
Probable Starters: LHP Kubat (1-0) vs. RHP Brashears (2-1)
TV: ROOT Sports Southwest
Stream: Free Radio (Huskers.com) | Video Stream: None
Radio: Husker Sports Network

LSU | Sunday, March 8 – 11:05 a.m. (CT)
Probable Starters: RHP Burkamper (1-0) vs. TBA
TV: ROOT Sports Southwest & Cox Sports
Stream: Free Radio (Huskers.com) | Video Stream: ESPN3
Radio: Husker Sports Network

School: Student Brings Moonshine to Class; Teacher in Trouble

Posted on March 4, 2015

DE GRAFF, Ohio (AP) — Officials say a 13-year-old Ohio boy was suspended for bringing moonshine to school, and a science teacher who knew he was making the illegal alcohol was reprimanded for not reporting that the boy brought it to class.

The boy brought the liquid to school in De Graff, about 50 miles northwest of Columbus, in January. Riverside Local Schools Superintendent Scott Mann tells the Dayton Daily News he thinks the teen wanted to show it to the teacher but didn’t mean any harm. The teacher dumped it into a drain.

She later received a written reprimand for not immediately reporting the situation.

The Bellefontaine Examiner reports sheriff’s investigators determined the teen and another boy had discussed the moonshine-making process with the teacher, and she’d warned them it could be dangerous.

Former Lincoln County District Judge, John Murphy, Dead at 67

Posted on March 4, 2015March 4, 2015

Former Lincoln County District Court Judge, John Murphy, has died at the age of 67.

According to family members, Murphy and his wife were returning from a trip to California when he became ill. He died Monday in a Santa Fe, New Mexico hospital.

Murphy had reportedly suffered from heart and other health problems in recent years.

Murphy became the Lincoln County Public Defender in 1981, and was appointed as a District Judge, in Lincoln County, in 1983.

Murphy was known as a judge who was not afraid to make his opinion known.

He retired in 2010, after a failed attempt to remove him from the bench, and moved to Omaha.

Murphy is survived by his wife, Marie, and three sons, Timothy, Patrick and Daniel.

North Platte Weather-March 4

Posted on March 4, 2015

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28. Wind chill values as low as zero. Northwest wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 5. Wind chill values as low as -4. Northwest wind 9 to 14 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 45. Wind chill values as low as -4 early. South southwest wind 5 to 11 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. West wind 6 to 9 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 58. West northwest wind 9 to 13 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Arcidiacono Saves No. 4 ‘Nova in 76-72 Victory over Bluejays

Posted on March 3, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Ryan Arcidiacono converted a three-point play to give No. 4 Villanova the lead in the last minute and came up with the game’s final rebound, allowing the Wildcats to turn back Creighton’s upset bid and win its 11th straight game, 76-72 on Tuesday night.

Austin Chatman’s 3-pointer pulled the Bluejays within 74-72 with 6 seconds left, and Creighton got the ball back after Arcidiacono ran into Chatman as Villanova tried to inbound. Will Artino missed what would have been the tying layup, and Arcidiacono grabbed the ball, got fouled and made the free throws.

Arcidiacono finished with 23 points and Dylan Ennis matched his career high with 19 for the Wildcats (28-2, 15-2 Big East), who trailed by nine points in the first half.

Chatman scored 21 points to lead the Bluejays (13-17, 4-13), who lost for the seventh time when leading in the final minute.

Gallinari Scores 26 as Nuggets beat Bucks, 106-95

Posted on March 3, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Danilo Gallinari scored a season-high 26 points, Kenneth Faried had 14 points and 14 rebounds and Denver beat the Milwaukee Bucks 106-95 on Tuesday night, hours after Brian Shaw was fired as Nuggets coach.

Guard Ty Lawson had 16 points and 10 assists for Denver, which ended a six-game losing streak and won at home for the first time since Jan. 14.

Shaw was fired after 1 1/2 seasons with the team at 20-39. Assistant coach Melvin Hunt was named interim head coach.

Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 20 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks, who have lost five of six.

Denver led by six after three quarters and started the fourth on an 11-2 run to go up 87-72.

‘FREAK Attack’ Flaw Affected Apple, Android Browsers

Posted on March 3, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Millions of people may have been left vulnerable to hackers while surfing the web on Apple and Google devices, thanks to a newly discovered security flaw known as “FREAK attack.”

There’s no evidence any hackers have exploited the weakness, which companies are working to repair. Researchers who reported the problem this week blamed an old government policy, abandoned several years ago, which required U.S. software-makers to use weaker security in encryption programs sold overseas.

Many popular websites and some Internet browsers can still be tricked into accepting the weaker software. That could make it easier for hackers to break encryption that’s supposed to prevent digital eavesdropping when a visitor types sensitive information into a website. Apple and Google say they’re distributing software updates to fix the flaw.

University of Nebraska Budget Request Questioned by Panel

Posted on March 3, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A University of Nebraska budget request for “economic competitiveness” projects is drawing scrutiny from lawmakers.

The request to the Appropriations Committee on Tuesday would cost the state an additional $20 million. Some lawmakers expressed skepticism, saying economic development should be left to the private sector.

If approved, the money would help pay for improvements at the Nebraska Innovation Campus, the Peter Kiewit Institute and the Rural Futures Institute, among other programs. Many of the initiatives allow private businesses to work with university officials on new inventions, businesses and technology.

Sen. Galen Hadley of Kearney, the speaker of the Legislature, says the projects would help grow businesses and keep young people in Nebraska.