Sports – Page 217 – North Platte Post Archive

NPCC Knights Softball to Play Kirkwood for District Title

Posted on April 29, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights Softball team will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa May 1 – 2 to play the Kirkwood Community College Lady Eagles for the National Junior College Athletic Association District G championship.

The Knights, (19 – 27) won the Region IX title with a win over Central Community College 5 – 4 on Saturday to advance to the district championship.

The Knights are led in hitting by Sara Villalobos with a batting average of .433 and runs scored with 37. Villalobos has seven home runs, 32 runs batted in, nine doubles and a slugging percentage of .645.

Brittney Odum, along with Sara Runia lead the Knights in home runs with 10. Odum is batting .400 with eight doubles, 41 runs batted in, 33 runs and a slugging percentage of .671. Runia is batting .388 with eight doubles, 32 runs batted in, 25 runs scored and a slugging percentage of .672.

In the ring, Baileigh Oleson is 8 – 11 on the season with a 3.16 earned run average. Oleson has struck out 70 batters which is a 4.03 strikeouts per game ratio. Shannon Lieber is 9 – 11 and a 3.94 earned run average. Lieber has struck out 64, which is a 3.71 strikeouts per game.

The Knights are 12^th in the nation in home runs in NJCAA Division II with 43.

Kirkwood is rated eighth in the country in the latest NJCAA Division II poll with a record of 43 – 8. The Lady Eagles defeated Southwestern Community College 17 – 3 to win the Region XI title.

The Lady Eagles have a powerful offense leading the nation as a team in runs scored with 523, doubles with 130, home runs with 109, runs batted in with 486 and stolen bases with 165. They are fourth in the nation in team batting average at.414.

Offensively they are led by Chasney Jenkins who is hitting .550 on the season and has 66 stolen bases. Jenkins has nine home runs, 20 doubles, 39 runs batted in, 85 runs scored and a .893 slugging percentage.

Lexie Biehl leads the Lady Eagles with 25 home runs. Biehl is hitting .457 with 13 doubles, 80 runs batted in, 65 runs scored and a slugging percentage of 1.053.

Other Lady Eagles to watch are Brooke Prior, who has 18 home runs, a .486 batting average, 16 doubles and a .979 slugging percentage. Alicia Crivaro has 12 home runs, a .380 batting average, 11 doubles and a .737 slugging percentage.

In the ring, the Lady Eagles have a team earned run average of 2.02. Nicolette Simpson is 18 – 5 with a 1.80 earned run average. Simpson has struck out 123 batters and has given up only five home runs. Prior is 13 – 0 with a 1.89 earned run average. She has struck out 101 batters and allowed seven home runs.

It is a best of three series. Game times are at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, May 1. If a third game is necessary, it will be played at noon on Saturday, May 2.

ESPN 1410 radio will be broadcasting the games. They can also be heard on www.northplattepost.com. There will be no video live streaming for these games.

Registration Underway for Bike Ride Across Nebraska in June

Posted on April 29, 2015

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Registration is underway for the 35th Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska, or BRAN.

This year’s ride runs Sunday, June 7, through Saturday, June 13, and spans 410 miles. The ride begins in Wauneta and travels through Cambridge, Eustis, Axtell, Clay Center, Wilber and Syracuse, with Conestoga High School near Murray the final stop.

Proceeds help provide scholarships at Nebraska trade schools, colleges and universities.

Cost is $180 for bicyclists 26 and older and $100 for bicyclists 25 and under.

To register, visit www.bran-inc.org .

Bradley Walks Off After Line Drive to Face, D-backs Win 12-5

Posted on April 29, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley was hit in the face by a line drive but walked off the field and gave a thumbs up to the crowd, apparently avoiding serious injury during Arizona’s 12-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

Mark Trumbo went 4 for 4 with a two-run homer and a two-run triple to lead the Diamondbacks, who ended a four-game skid after a frightening scene early on.

Bradley was struck on the right side of his face by a liner off the bat of slugger Carlos Gonzalez in the second inning. The 22-year-old rookie lay virtually motionless on the mound for several minutes as trainers attended to him and anguished teammates squatted nearby.

Eventually he was rolled over and helped to his feet.

Roeder Ties Career Saves Mark in Husker Win

Posted on April 28, 2015

Omaha – On a night when Josh Roeder notched his 31^st career save to tie Brett Jensen for Nebraska’s career saves mark, the Nebraska baseball team (31-16, 6-9 Big Ten) finished a season sweep of the Creighton Bluejays (24-13) with a 7-6 victory on Tuesday night in front of 10,513 fans at TD Ameritrade Park.

With a 7-5 lead going into the bottom of the ninth, Roeder gave up a triple and a double to start the frame, putting the tying run at second base with no out. The Jays used a sacrifice bunt to put the tying run 90 feet from home, but Roeder kept Reagan Fowler from scoring with a groundout and a swinging strikeout to end the game.

The Husker win was also made possible by an insurance run from Taylor Fish in the top of the ninth. Wes Edrington started the inning with a walk and scored on a RBI groundout from Fish to put the Huskers ahead 7-5 and it ended up being the game-winning run. Nebraska also got a key two-out hit from Jake Schleppenbach in the eighth. With the bases loaded and two out, Schleppenbach lined a two-RBI single into right field to put the Huskers back in front 6-5.

Schleppenbach, Ryan Boldt and Blake Headley combined for nine of NU’s 11 hits on the night, while Schleppenbach and Fish both drove in a pair of runs.

The Huskers led off the game with a single from Boldt, but then didn’t have another base runner until the top of the fourth when Boldt led off the frame with a walk. Headley followed with his 17^th double of the season and the Huskers quickly had two runners in scoring position. Miller got the Huskers on the board with a RBI groundout and Fish delivered a RBI single to cut Creighton’s lead to one run, 3-2.

The Jays jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second on three singles and a pair of wild pitches from Husker starter Garett King.

Nebraska even the game at 3-3 in the fifth on a two-out RBI from Boldt. The Huskers were in position for a big inning when Schleppenbach and Luis Alvarado started the frame with singles to put runners on the corners. The Jays caught a break though when Edrington hit into a 5-4-3 double play, leaving a Schleppenbach on third with two out. CU went to Will Bamesberger to face Boldt and the sophomore got in an 0-2 hole before ripping the third pitch of the at-bat into centerfield for a RBI single. Headley then drew a walk to put Boldt in scoring position, but Bamesberger retired Miller 4-3 to end the inning.

The Jays jumped back in front in the sixth with a pair of runs on two hits and two walks. With one run already plated and the bases loaded the Huskers nearly got out of the inning with a double play ball, but NU was unable to turn it and a run scored. Colton Howell then struck out Fowler swinging to end the inning.

Schleppenbach started the seventh with a single, he was quickly at third after stealing second and taking third on a throwing error by the catch on the steal. After Alvarado struck out, Edrington came through with an RBI groundout that cut CU’s lead to 5-4.

After Howell kept the Jays scoreless in the seventh, Headley got the Huskers going with a leadoff single in the eighth and was in scoring position when Miller drew a four-pitch walk. Fish moved both Huskers into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and to setup the double play, the Jays internationally walked Darby to load the bases. CU reliever David Gerber struck out Schreiber for the second out of the inning and needed to retire Schleppenbach to get out of the jam. The Husker second baseman took a strike before roping a two-RBI single that retook the lead for NU, 6-5.

Miller took the mound for NU in the bottom of the eighth and retired the Jays in order, Fish delivered a much needed insurance run in the ninth and Roeder closed the door to record NU’s first 3-0 mark over Creighton in a season since 2008.

Tuesday marked the final non-conference game of the season for the Huskers. Nebraska has nine Big Ten games left, including a three-game series with Northwestern this weekend in Evanston, Ill.

Royals Score 6 in 7th to Overtake Indians 11-5

Posted on April 28, 2015

CLEVELAND (AP) — Kendry Morales’ three-run homer capped a six-run seventh inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 11-5 on Tuesday night.

Kansas City’s big inning came after Cleveland had taken a 5-3 lead on Brandon Moss’ three-run homer in the sixth.

Alcides Escobar’s two-run double off Scott Atchison (0-1) tied the game. Escobar scored the go-ahead run from second on Mike Moustakas’ infield hit and Morales later hit his third homer of the season to dead center off Bryan Shaw.

Brandon Finnegan (1-0) picked up his first career win despite allowing Moss’ home run.

Alex Gordon homered and drove in two runs for the Royals, who had a season-high 18 hits.

Chiefs Sign Team President Donovan to Contract Extension

Posted on April 28, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs and team president Mark Donovan have agreed to a contract extension.

Terms of the deal, announced Tuesday, were not disclosed.

Donovan spent six years with the Eagles before joining the Chiefs as their chief operating officer in 2009. He was promoted to president two years later.

Donovan has been instrumental in updating the fan experience at Arrowhead Stadium, creating new membership programs, implementing new technology and building the season-ticket base. He has also helped to bring several events to the Chiefs’ stadium, including numerous college football games and concerts involving the Rolling Stones and Kenny Chesney.

Before joining the Eagles, Donovan spent several years working as the NFL’s senior director of sales and marketing. He also worked for the NHL and in the private sector.

NPCC Knights Softball Players Garner Postseason Awards

Posted on April 28, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team landed five players on the All-Region IX team and on the All-tournament team.

Brittney Odum, Sara Runia, Sara Villalobos, Shannon Lieber and Bailey Oleson were named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II all-region team

Runia, Villalobos, Lieber, Oleson and Jessica Jarvis were named to the Region IX Division II all-tournament team.

The Knights won the Region IX championship by defeating Central Community College 5 – 4 in the finals on Saturday.

Villalobos was also named Region IX Freshman of the year. She leads the Knights in hitting with a .433 average, 61 hits, nine doubles and 37 runs scored. Villalobos also has seven home runs on the season and 32 runs batted in. In the tournament Villalobos batted .500 with one run scored in the two games.

Odum is hitting .400 on the season, has eight doubles and a .671 slugging percentage. She leads the team in runs batted in with 41 and tied with Runia with 10 home runs.

Runia, besides leading the Knights in home runs with Odum leads the team in slugging percentage with .672. Runia is hitting .388 with 25 runs scored and 32 runs batted in. In the tournament Runia batted .400 and hit two home runs.

Lieber, is batting .274 on the season with eight doubles and seven home runs for a slugging percentage of .489. In the ring, Lieber was 9 – 11 on the season with a 3.94 earned run average. Lieber struck out 64 hitters.

Oleson, is batting .414 in 35 plate appearances with one home run. In the ring, Oleson is 8 – 11 with a 3.16 earned run average. She has struck out 70 batters. In the tournament, Oleson pitched both games and allowed four runs on seven hits. She struck out 12 hitters in the two games.

Jarvis, in the tournament batted .285 with one double. The double drove in the winning run in the championship game against Central. On the season Jarvis is hitting .308 with five doubles and 10 stolen bases.

Other members of the All – Region team are Janey Pasold, Shelbi Dittmer, Morgan Uldrich, all from Central Community College; Alexis Graewe, Megan Hartman and Kristin Thomas from Southeast Community College.

Pasold was named player of the year for Region IX.

Pasold and Uldrich, along with teammates Jacey Bretschneider and Logan Zeleney were selected to the All – Tournament team. Graewe and Hartman were the representatives from Southeast on the team.

Knights Head Coach Janelle Higgins was named Region IX Division II Coach of the year.

Southeast Community College won the Sheila Worley Sportsmanship award.

The Knights will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to face Kirkwood Community College in the District G playoff on May 1 – 2 to determine who will go to the NJCAA Division II National tournament in Cinton, Miss.

Peyton Manning Begins Working on Denver Broncos’ New Offense

Posted on April 28, 2015

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning is back on the football field learning a new offense under new coach Gary Kubiak.

Manning, who turned 39 last month, was without his top target when the Denver Broncos opened their first minicamp. Demaryius Thomas is skipping the offseason program after being franchise tagged, to the chagrin of GM John Elway.

Manning is acclimating to a shuffled O-line that lost Orlando Franklin and Will Montgomery and a new group of pass-catchers minus Julius Thomas, Jacob Tamme and Wes Welker.

Afterward, Manning is expected to meet with the media for the first time since pondering retirement following the 2014 season.

He agreed to the first pay cut of his career, a $4 million reduction that helped alleviate the Broncos’ cash crunch.

NFL Relinquishing Tax-Exempt Status

Posted on April 28, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Football League is giving up its tax-exempt status.

In a letter to team owners, Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league office and its management council will file tax returns as taxable entities for the 2015 fiscal year. Goodell says the NFL has been tax-exempt since 1942, though all 32 teams pay taxes on their income.

Goodell says the change will not alter the function or operation of the league, since all the teams already pay taxes.

Some members of Congress have criticized the NFL, which generates billions in revenue, for being tax-exempt. Goodell says the status has become a “distraction.”

Goodell forwarded the letter to the owners to Congressman Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee.

MPCC Rodeo Team Competes at Black Hills State

Posted on April 28, 2015

The Mid-Plains Community College rodeo team competed in the Black Hills State University rodeo this April 24 – 25 in Spearfish, South Dakota and the women’s team placed seventh with 60 points.

In individual events, Mati Humphrey placed fifth in barrel racing with a time of 28.72 seconds.

For the season, in the Great Plains region of the National Interllegiate Rodeo Association, the men’s team is currently in eighth place with 1,070 points. The women’s team is in 10^th place with 170 points.

Individually, Duell Puttergill is in sixth in saddle bronc riding. In bull riding, Keali’i’auka Kaai is in fourth place with 290 points, fifth place is Colter Glendy with 230 points. Tyler Viers is sixth with 190 points. Tyler Wriedt is in 11^th place with 80 points and Dakota Rice is tied for 12^th with 70 points. Tyler Murray is tied for 11^th in steer wrestling.

Mid-Plains has two more rodeos left in the season. May 1 – 2 they compete in the Hastings College rodeo. May 8 – 9 they travel to Dickinson N.D. to participate in the Dickinson State University rodeo.