Sports – Page 221 – North Platte Post Archive

Peyton Manning Donating $3 Million to Tennessee

Posted on April 24, 2015

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is donating $3 million to Tennessee to benefit the Volunteers’ football program and Manning’s scholarship endowment.

The university issued a release Friday saying Manning and wife Ashley announced a “$3 million leadership commitment.” Manning starred for Tennessee from 1994-97.

Manning’s donation honors Gus Manning, who isn’t related to the quarterback, and Carmen Tegano. Gus Manning has served Tennessee’s athletic program since 1951 in many roles. Tegano, an associate athletic director, has worked at Tennessee for over three decades.

Gate 16 at Neyland Stadium will be called the Gus Manning Gate. A student-athlete dining hall in a residence hall under construction will be named after Carmen and Deborah Tegano.

The Peyton Manning Scholarship for students in Tennessee’s honors program has been awarded annually since 1998-99.

NPCC Knights Softball Advances to Region IX Championship Game

Posted on April 24, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights advance to the championship game of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II tournament by defeating Southeast Community College 2 – 0 on Friday afternoon.

The only runs in the game were scored in the first inning on a two-run home run by Sara Runia scoring Sara Villalobos who reached base on a walk.

That was all North Platte would need as pitcher Baileigh Oleson was nearly flawless in her seven innings pitched. Oleson allowed only three hits and no walks . She also struck out nine Lady Storm hitters and allowed only five base runners.

Oleson’s pitching out dueled the performance of Southeast’s Megan Hartman who also only allowed two runs on two hits and walked three.

The Knights will play the winner of the Southeast versus Central Community College game. Southeast upset Central in the first game of the tournament 5 – 2. Southeast came into the tournament as the number three seed.

The North Platte game will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. ESPN Radio 1410 will be broadcasting the North Platte games or on www.northplattepost.com.

All tournament games are live streamed on www.coachesaid.com.

Yost Insists Royals Not to Blame for String of Fights

Posted on April 24, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — Manager Ned Yost insists his Kansas City Royals are not to blame for a string of fights and that opponents are mostly at fault.

Yost says his team has not started “any of this.” He says opponents are trying to get under his players’ skin and that his team has to remain composed.

Yost spoke before Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, a day after the teams were involved in a benches-clearing melee that resulted in five players being ejected. It could also lead to discipline from the league.

The defending AL champion Royals were leading the Central division at 12-4. But while the wins are mounting, so are the skirmishes.

The latest was at the end of the seventh inning Thursday, when Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura snagged a grounder by Adam Eaton and the men appeared to have words.

Royals Promote Finnegan from Minors

Posted on April 24, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — The Kansas City Royals have recalled left-hander Brandon Finnegan from Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Finnegan was the 17th overall pick in last year’s draft. He had a 1.29 ERA in seven regular-season appearances with the Royals in 2014, and then went 1-1 with a 10.50 ERA in seven postseason games.

The 22-year-old Finnegan was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts with Northwest Arkansas at the time of the promotion. Royals manager Ned Yost said Finnegan will work as a reliever with the major league club.

Kansas City used five relievers in a 13-inning victory at the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.

The Royals also optioned infielder Orlando Calixte to Triple-A Omaha on Friday. Calixte was hitless in two at-bats for the Royals.

Alma’s David Ehrke Will Sing National Anthem at State Games of America

Posted on April 24, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (April 23, 2015) — At first, David Ehrke didn’t even know he was entered in a competition to sing the national anthem at the State Games of America (SGA). Now he’s excited for the opportunity to take his talent to Memorial Stadium at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he’ll perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” for thousands during the opening ceremonies of SGA 2015 on July 31.

Ehrke, 15, of Alma, Nebraska, was chosen by voters at the State Games of America Facebook page. His video of a past national anthem performance at a Lincoln Saltdogs game earned 1,457 “likes,” edging Marlana Vanhoose of Denver, Kentucky. Ehrke’s video was submitted by his brother Jared without his knowledge. A panel of judges selected Ehrke to be one of five finalists from a pool of 52 entrants from 21 states.

“It was amazing when I found out I’d won,” said Ehrke. “I’ve always dreamed of performing at Memorial Stadium. It will be an honor.” He says a grassroots social media campaign led by his brother and sister helped put him over the top, and he’s thankful for all the people who supported him in the contest.

Ehrke is the youngest of five children in a family known for performing at local churches and special events in the Alma area. He began singing solos at age seven and enjoys learning and performing a wide variety of music.

The 2015 State Games of America is scheduled for July 28–August 2 in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska. With nearly 20,000 competitors, the event will be the largest amateur sports festival in the U.S. SGA 2015 is open to all Nebraskans and qualifying athletes from throughout the nation. In addition to Ehrke’s performance, the opening ceremonies will feature the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team and the Metal Mulisha motocross daredevils.

Details regarding events, eligibility, hotel accommodations and the host city of Lincoln are available at SGA2015.com. Follow State Games of America on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.

Chiefs’ Dorsey Still Speaking with Houston’s Representatives

Posted on April 24, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey says he’s spoken to representatives of All-Pro linebacker Justin Houston “in the last three days” as the sides negotiate a long-term contract.

Speaking in advance of next week’s draft, Dorsey said Friday that the lines of communication remain open with Houston, who has been given the franchise tag but has yet to sign his tender.

The Chiefs began discussing a deal with Houston prior to last season, but were unable to come to an agreement. Houston then broke Derrick Thomas’s franchise record with 22 sacks last season, a virtuoso performance that sent his value soaring.

Houston has not reported to the Chiefs for their voluntary offseason workouts, which began on Monday. He has posted videos of himself working out independently on Twitter.

Nebraska National Anthem Try-Outs – May 6 & 9

Posted on April 24, 2015

The Nebraska Athletic Marketing department is holding National Anthem tryouts for individual singers, groups, and instrumental ensembles on Wednesday, May 6 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 9 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Individuals or groups that are interested in trying out for a chance to perform the National Anthem at Husker sporting events must pre-register with the Nebraska Athletic Marketing department by visiting and pre-registering at huskers.com/nationalanthem no later than Monday, May 4 at 4 p.m. Time slots are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Information needed for pre-registration will include the singer or group name; age of individual singer (if under 18); e-mail address; daytime phone number; cell phone number; and preferred tryout date. More details, including the assigned tryout date and time, will be provided after pre-registration.

Each performance is limited to two minutes or less. Selected performers will have a chance to perform the National Anthem at a variety of Nebraska Athletic sporting events, including men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, bowling, soccer, softball, track and field, wrestling and gymnastics.

Please contact Matt Tomjack at mtomjack@huskers.com with any questions.

Huskers Set for Showcase in Grand Island

Posted on April 24, 2015

The Nebraska volleyball team plays its only official match of the spring when it takes on Kansas State in Grand Island on Saturday at the Heartland Events Center. The match is set to begin at 6 p.m., with doors opening 60 minutes prior to first serve. The Huskers will sign autographs for a short time after the match, which sold out in less than an hour. While the Huskers will be playing for the first and only time this spring, Kansas State has already put 22 sets under its belt against eight different opponents enteringSaturday. The Wildcats also play Nebraska-Kearney early on Saturday before taking on the Huskers Saturday night.

SERIES HISTORY

Record: NU leads 82-4 (Last Meeting: KSU 3-2, Dec. 2, 2011 in Lincoln)

Notes: The last meeting was Kansas State’s upset of the Huskers in Lincoln in the NCAA Tournament Second Round. It snapped Nebraska’s 14-match win streak in the series. Nebraska last played in Grand Island in the 2011 spring season, topping Wichita State 3-2. A packed crowd of 5,522 fans filled the Heartland Events Center for that match.

NOTING THE HUSKERS

The Huskers are coming off a 23-10 (14-6 Big Ten) season in 2014 in which they advanced to an NCAA Regional Final for the third consecutive season. After defeating Hofstra and Utah to advance to the Seattle Regional, the Huskers upset No. 3 Washington 3-1 on its home court to reach the final eight teams. NU’s season came to an end at the hands of the BYU Cougars, who went on to reach the NCAA Championship match.
Outside hitter Kadie Rolfzen was an AVCA third-team All-American for the second time in 2014, earning Nebraska’s nation-leading 77th AVCA All-America certificate. She is the 27th Husker to earn multiple honors in her career. Rolfzen led Nebraska in kills with 405 (3.55 per set) and posted a double-double in all four NCAA Tournament matches to help lift the Huskers to the Elite Eight for the third straight season. Rolfzen, a Papillion-La Vista South grad, finished second on the team in digs with 316 (2.77 per set), establishing herself as one of the top all-around players in the nation, region and Big Ten for the second straight season.
Kelsey Fien earned honorable-mention All-America honors following her junior season. The outside hitter from Bakersfield, Calif., was second on the team in kills with 286 (3.21 per set) and was particularly strong in conference play, posting 3.39 kills per set while hitting .303, the best mark by an NU player and third among all B1G outside hitters.
Briana Holman and Alicia Ostrander were selected to the U.S. Collegiate National Team Program this spring. Holman is one of 12 players who will represent the U.S. Collegiate Natioanl Team at the 2015 World University Games July 2-12 at Gwangju, South Korea. It’s her second career selection to the team. Ostrander is one of 36 players who will train and compete conjunction with the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships from June 21-29 in New Orleans, La.

SCOUTING KANSAS STATE

The Wildcats finished 22-9 (9-7 Big 12) last season. Their season came to an end in Lincoln in an NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Utah. KSU is led by outside hitter Kylee Zumach, who was the unanimous Big 12 Freshman of the Year and was an All-Big 12 first-team selection with setter Katie Brand in 2014. Saturday’s match marks a homecoming for the GI native Brand, who led Grand Island Central Catholic to a state title in her junior year of high school. Brand is coming off an honorable-mention All-America season as a sophomore with the Wildcats.

Royals beat White Sox 3-2 in 13 Innings after Brawl

Posted on April 24, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — A benches-clearing fight led to five ejections several innings before Eric Hosmer hit the go-ahead double in the 13th to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.

With two outs, Hosmer’s hit off Chicago’s Jake Petricka (0-1) brought in Jarrod Dyson. Wade Davis then pitched a scoreless 13th for his fourth save, giving Franklin Morales (2-0) the victory.

Kansas City won for the fourth time in five games in a game in which tempers flared.

Yordano Ventura snagged a grounder from Chicago outfielder Adam Eaton and they appeared to exchange words before Ventura threw to first to end the seventh inning. Eaton was restrained from Ventura.

Players from both dugouts and bullpens ran onto the field and punches were thrown during a fight that lasted a couple of minutes.

Friday’s Series Opener at Iowa Moved to 4:05 p.m.

Posted on April 24, 2015

Due to projected rain in the Iowa City area Friday night, Nebraska’s series opener with Iowa has been moved from 6:05 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. tomorrow.

All three games of the series are scheduled to be streamed on Hawkeye All-Access.

Always check Huskers.com for the latest schedule announcement regarding all of Nebraska’s teams.