OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Pavin Smith homered and drove in three runs and Brandon Waddell turned in another strong College World Series pitching performance, leading Virginia over Vanderbilt 4-2 on Wednesday night for the school’s first baseball national championship.
The Cavaliers (44-24) prevailed in the CWS finals rematch against the defending champion Commodores and brought the Atlantic Coast Conference its first title in baseball since Wake Forest in 1955.
Waddell (5-5) went seven innings and allowed only two hits after Vanderbilt (51-21) scored twice in the first. He retired the last 11 batters he faced. It was Waddell’s fifth career CWS start, and Virginia won each of them.
Nathan Kirby pitched the last two innings and struck out five for his first save. John Kilichowski (3-4) took the loss.
Making the trip into the winners circle and earning the bragging rights of being the 2015 Wild West Challenge champion was achieved by Eddie Belec, Shawn Harker, Jason Rogers, Jacob Olmstead and Ramsey Meyer during a special event that featured some of IMCA’s best at Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte, Nebraska during the Nebraskaland Days celebration on Monday evening.
The Arvada (CO) Assassin Eddie Belec started on the pole and was among the frontrunners throughout the IMCA Modified Feature and it was during the final lap that Belec slide underneath leader Jay Steffens of North Platte out of the final corner to earn the victory. Steffens was close behind in earning the runner-up accolades after holding onto the lead for the first 19 laps while rocking and rolling on the cushion. John Hansen of Brush, Colorado was up on the wheel with authority to earn the podium finish in third place overall. Jeremy Frenier of Ft. Morgan (CO) and Columbus hotshoe Anthony Roth finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Hansen, Cole Hodges of Ogallala and Tom Svoboda of David City were the heat race victors in early action in the division.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Surprise starter Adam Haseley and Josh Sborz combined on the shutout, senior utility man Thomas Woodruff drove in two runs, and the Cavaliers defeated Vanderbilt 3-0 on Tuesday night to force a winner-take-all game in the College World Series.
For the second year in a row, these two teams will go the distance in the best-of-three finals. Vanderbilt (51-20) will be playing for a second straight national title on Wednesday. Virginia (43-24) will be looking for its first.
Haseley, the Cavaliers’ regular center fielder, hadn’t pitched since May 23. The freshman gave coach Brian O’Connor all he could have hoped for, working into the sixth inning for his longest outing and turning over a scoreless game to Sborz (7-2).
Virginia broke through against Vandy starter Phil Pfeifer (6-5) for three unearned runs in the sixth after he had retired the first two batters.
SEATTLE (AP) — Rookie Mike Montgomery tossed a four-hitter against the team that drafted him, Dustin Ackley singled, doubled and homered for his first three-hit game of the season and the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 7-0 on Tuesday night.
Montgomery (2-2) became the second Mariners pitcher this season to toss a complete game, joining Felix Hernandez, and he became the 10th rookie in Seattle history to toss a complete game. Montgomery retired 17 straight batters at one point, striking out a career-high 10 and allowing only two base runners after the second inning.
Montgomery was originally drafted by the Royals, but was eventually traded to Tampa Bay before landing in Seattle via trade before the start of this season. He walked none and escaped a bases loaded jam in the first inning before overpowering Kansas City the rest of the way.
DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit two home runs, including a go-ahead three-run shot in Colorado’s six-run fifth inning, and the Rockies rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-5 on Tuesday night.
Wilin Rosario, D.J. LeMahieu and Brandon Barnes also homered to help Kyle Kendrick (3-9) win at Coors Field for the first time in seven home starts since signing with Colorado in the offseason as a free agent. The game included a 38-minute weather delay because of lightning and a brief downpour.
Kendrick withstood back to back home runs in the second inning by Welington Castillo and Nick Ahmed and a solo shot by A.J. Pollock in the fifth to improve to 1-4 this season at Coors Field. He allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings.
Chase Anderson (3-2) gave up a season-high eight runs on eight hits in 4 2-3 innings, his shortest outing of the year.
After picking up their first win in Kearney since 2005 earlier this season, the North Platte First Nationals senior legion couldn’t complete the season sweep of Kearney, falling 4-1 at home on Tuesday night at Bill Wood Field.
Kearney (19-4) took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never would surrender the lead. North Platte (21-11) closed the score to 2-1 before a 2-run 6th inning by Kearney closed the door.
The senior legion continues their home-stand Wednesday night hosting Scottsbluff in a senior legion double-header starting at 5:30 pm.
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The Junior Legion First Nationals (16-6) were once again upended by Kearney in a one-run loss, falling 7-6. It was the second time this season that North Platte has lost by a single run to Kearney. The Juniors are on the road Wednesday night at Scottsbluff for a double-header beginning at 5:30 pm.
Between the games, two players were honored with the Team Leadership Award. The Junior Legion recipient was Braiden Ruffin and the Senior Legion recipient was Alec Wesslund.
Left to Right: Marco Pascolo, Clara Vinton, Luke Pittle
Three North Platte Community College basketball players were awarded Superior Academic Achievement for the 2014-2015 school year. The awards were announced by the National Junior College Athletic Association. The players are Marco Pascolo, Luke Pittle and Clara Vinton.
Superior Academic Achievement is awarded to athletes by the NJCAA who have a cumulative grade point average between 3.8 and 3.99.
Pascolo from Udine, Italy received an Associate of Science degree from North Platte Community College with a cumulative grade point average of 3.96.. He will continue his education at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and major in electrical engineering. Pascolo averaged 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Knights this past season.
Pittle from Brisbane, Australia received an Associate of Science degree from North Platte Community College with a cumulative grade average of 3.98. Pittle majored in math and science.. Pittle played sparingly for the Knights and averaged 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds this past season in 17 games.
Vinton from Mullen, Nebraska transferred from Eastern Wyoming College and played only one season for the Lady Knights. Vinton received an Associate of Science degree from North Platte Community College with a 3.93 grade point average. Vinton will be attending University of Nebraska at Kearney to continue her education. Vinton was injured the first part of the season playing in 18 games. She averaged 3.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game for the Lady Knights.
Since the 2005 -2006 school year, North Platte Community College has produced 34 Academic All- American athletes.
LINCOLN – The NSAA Board of Directors discussed and approved the resignation of NSAA Executive Director, Rhonda Blanford-Green effective June 30, 2015. Blanford-Green has served as the NSAA’s Executive Director since July, 2012.
Within Blanford-Green’s three-year term, the organization has made significant strides to achieve its mission, goals, and objectives. The Board expressed their gratitude for Blanford-Green’s hard work and dedication.
A transition plan for naming an interim Director has been outlined by the NSAA Board of Directors. “We will work to minimize any disruption of the NSAA’s operations and management. The Board is pursuing a proactive approach to fill the interim position.” said Dr. Brian Maher, NSAA Board Chairman. “We are highly committed to continuing our progress in fulfilling the organization’s mission. Our goal is to fill the position with a highly qualified and dynamic individual as soon as is reasonable.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The executive director of the Nebraska School Activities Association has resigned a month after the association’s board of directors voted not to extend her contact.
Rhonda Blanford-Green, a former All-America track athlete at Nebraska, took over as executive director in July 2012. She’d spent 16 years as an administrator with the Colorado High School Athletic Association.
She said Monday that her decision to resign “is in the best interests of the association.”
In May the board decided not to lengthen her contract beyond June 2016. Board chairman Brian Maher, who voted to extend the contract, cited personnel privacy in declining to say why the board’s majority voted against the extension. A year ago the board voted unanimously to extend Blanford-Green’s contract for a year.
SEATTLE (AP) — Joe Blanton pitched six-plus innings of two-hit ball, Alcides Escobar had three hits and the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 4-1 on Monday night.
Blanton (2-0) struck out seven and worked into the seventh inning before being lifted after allowing a leadoff double.
Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland all pitched one inning of relief. Holland earned his 14th save in 15 opportunities.
Felix Hernandez (10-4) took the loss after allowing four runs, nine hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five.
Escobar had three singles, drove in a run and scored a run. Mike Moustakas had two hits including an RBI double.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Pavin Smith homered and drove in three runs and Brandon Waddell turned in another strong College World Series pitching performance, leading Virginia over Vanderbilt 4-2 on Wednesday night for the school’s first baseball national championship.
