Sports – Page 233 – North Platte Post Archive

State Games of America National Anthem Finalists Announced

Posted on April 14, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (April 14, 2015) — State Games of America (SGA) officials have announced five finalists in the SGA 2015 National Anthem Contest.

Finalists include: David Ehrke, 15, from Alma, Nebraska; Teena Handline, 25, from Glen Mills, Pennsylvania; Jaden Nandkeshwar, 12, from Layton, Utah; Andrew Portnoy, 40, from Austin, Texas and Marlana VanHoose, 19 from Denver, Kentucky.

The contest now moves to the public voting phase on the SGA Facebook page. The performer with the most likes by 11:59 p.m. CDT on April 20 earns the honor of performing the Star Spangled Banner at the SGA Opening Ceremonies on July 31.

The finalists were chosen from among 51 contestants from 22 states who submitted audition videos via YouTube. A selection team ranked the auditions and the consensus top five was chosen for the public-voting phase. Travel and lodging expenses for the winner are underwritten by the contest sponsor Amigos / Kings Classic, a popular Nebraska restaurant chain.

The State Games of America is expected to draw more than 18,000 participants to Lincoln and Omaha from July 28–August 2 for competition in 63 sports. Besides the national anthem, the Opening Ceremonies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Memorial Stadium includes the traditional parade of athletes, a freestyle motocross exhibition by the Metal Mulisha and a torch lighting finale including Olympians Lolo Jones and Jordan Burroughs.

Participant registration is open through May 15 for non-Nebraskans and July 1 for resident athletes. More than 1,500 competitors from 40 different states are already registered. 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.

Big Score: College Bowl Game Payouts Surpass $500 Million

Posted on April 14, 2015

Bowl games paid more than a half billion dollars to college football conferences and schools last season, an increase of almost $200 million from the final season of the Bowl Championship Series to the first of the College Football Playoff.

According to an NCAA report to be released Tuesday, the 39 postseason FBS games distributed $505.9 million to the participating conferences and schools. The schools spent $100.2 million to take part in bowl games.

Total payouts from 35 postseason games from the 2013-14 season were $309.9 million while schools spent $97.8 million to participate.

The increase in payouts is due mostly to the increased value of media deals with the seven games — six bowls and a national championship game — that are part of the College Football Playoff.

Gov. Ricketts Proclaims Rodeo Week

Posted on April 14, 2015

Governor Pete Ricketts (center) rides down Goodhue Boulevard with members of the UNL Rodeo Team in front of the Nebraska State Capitol after proclaiming Rodeo Week. — Governor Pete Ricketts (center) rides down Goodhue Boulevard with members of the
UNL Rodeo Team in front of the Nebraska State Capitol after proclaiming Rodeo Week.

Lincoln – Monday afternoon, Governor Ricketts joined members of the UNL Rodeo Association and UNL Rodeo Team on horseback to proclaim Rodeo Week in Nebraska ahead of the 57^th Annual UNL Rodeo, which will be held April 17^th and 18^th at the Lancaster County Events Center. Before joining members of the UNL Rodeo Team for a ride down Goodhue Boulevard just south of the State Capitol, the Governor signed and read the proclamation designating April 12^th-18^th as Rodeo Week from horseback at the Governor’s Residence.

For more information on the 57^th Annual UNL Rodeo visit: https://www.facebook.com/unlrodeo.

Ex-NFL and Husker Running Back Suspected of Killing Prison Cellmate

Posted on April 14, 2015April 14, 2015

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips is suspected of killing his cellmate in a Central California prison.

Prison officials said Monday that Phillips’ cellmate at Kern Valley State Prison was found lifeless over the weekend and later pronounced dead.

Phillips, 39, was once one of the nation’s top college football players at Nebraska. He played for the St. Louis Rams, until he was released in 1997 for insubordination. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.

Phillips is serving a sentence of more than 31 years.

He was convicted of twice choking his girlfriend in 2005 in San Diego and later that year of driving his car into three teens after a pickup football game in Los Angeles.

It wasn’t clear if Phillips has an attorney.

Adrian Fiala, Former Nebraska LB and broadcaster, Dies at 67

Posted on April 14, 2015April 14, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Adrian Fiala, who played football for Nebraska in the 1960s and later worked as a broadcaster covering the Cornhuskers, has died. He was 67.

Fiala’s wife, Fran, said that her husband had been battling an incurable lung condition for eight years. He died Monday afternoon.

Fiala played at Ryan High School in Omaha before joining Bob Devaney’s up-and-coming football program. He lettered three years as a linebacker, with the Huskers finishing 9-2 and tying for first place in the Big Eight in his senior season in 1969. He also was the catcher on the baseball team.

Fiala was a color analyst on Huskers radio broadcasts from 2000-10 and also was a fixture on the popular statewide “Big Red Wrapup” show on public television.

Clippers Eke Out 6th Straight Win, 110-103 over Nuggets

Posted on April 14, 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Blake Griffin scored 22 points, DeAndre Jordan had a double-double and the Clippers eked out a 110-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, moving Los Angeles into a three-way tie with San Antonio and Houston for the No. 2 playoff seed in the West.

Jordan had 20 points and 21 rebounds — making a pair of clutch free throws with 2:49 to go — and J.J. Redick scored 20 points in their sixth straight win. Griffin just missed a triple-double, finishing with nine rebounds and eight assists.

The Clippers could end up with the second, third or fifth seeds in the West. They play at Phoenix on Tuesday night and then wait to find out their playoff opponent while the rest of the league ends the regular season on Wednesday.

Wilson Chandler scored a season-high 32 points and Kenneth Faried added 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Nuggets, who have 51 losses and won’t be making the playoffs.

Rockies Beat Giants to Spoil San Francisco’s Home Opener

Posted on April 14, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Eddie Butler outdueled fellow rookie Chris Heston and shut down the Giants, and the Colorado Rockies spoiled San Francisco’s latest World Series championship celebration at their home opener with a 2-0 win Monday.

Troy Tulowitzki, back in the lineup after a day off, had the only RBI of the game with a run-scoring single in the fourth against Heston (1-1). San Francisco raised its third World Series championship flag in five years before the game.

Facing the Giants for the first time, Butler (1-0) tossed 5 1-3 innings of five-hit ball, walking six with one strikeout. Colorado’s 2012 first-round pick worked out of bases-loaded jams in the first and second innings.

The Giants were shut out in a home opener for only the third time in the San Francisco era and first since home run king Barry Bonds’ final season of 2007.

Royals Remain Unbeaten with 12-3 Romp over Twins

Posted on April 14, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Kansas City Royals became the only unbeaten team in the majors as Danny Duffy pitched into the seventh inning and Kendrys Morales homered in a 12-3 romp over Minnesota, spoiling the Twins’ home opener Monday.

The defending American League champions improved to 7-0. It’s the second-best start in Kansas City’s history, behind the 2003 club that won nine in a row to begin the season.

Detroit, which had been the only other undefeated team in the big leagues, lost 5-4 at Pittsburgh earlier in the day.

Duffy (1-0) went 6 1/3 innings, giving up three runs. He’s 4-1 with a 2.37 ERA in his career against the Twins and is undefeated in four starts at Target Field.

The Twins lost their fourth straight opener, but on a sunny 61-degree day they still packed the place with an over-capacity crowd of 40,123. Minnesota Timberwolves icon Kevin Garnett threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his long-time friend Torii Hunter.

Huskers Visit TD Ameritrade Park Tuesday, Host Mavericks Wednesday

Posted on April 13, 2015

Lincoln – Coming off a series victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the No. 23 Nebraska baseball team (26-11, 5-4 Big Ten) is scheduled to play the Creighton Bluejays (20-9, 5-1 Big East) and Omaha Mavericks (16-16, 9-6 Summit) during the midweek before hosting the Ohio State Buckeyes next weekend at Hawks Field.

The Huskers and Bluejays are set to meet at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday night at TD Ameritrade Park for the second game of a three-game season series between the two teams. The game will be shown nationally on the CBS Sports Network.

The Huskers won the first meeting of the year between the two teams, 5-1, on March 31 at Hawks Field and Tuesday night will be a rematch on the mound between Nebraska’s Garett King and Creighton’s Jeff Albrecht. King allowed two hits over 8.0 innings in the win two weeks ago, while Albrecht took the loss after giving up three runs on three hits and two walks over 1.2 innings.

The Huskers have struggled on the road this season, as they are 9-9 away from Hawks Field, including a 5-6 record in true road games. On the other side, the Jays have been great at home with an 11-3 mark at TD Ameritrade Park. The Jays enter Tuesday winners of nine straight at home, tied for their longest streak at TD Ameritrade Park.

After making the short trip to Omaha on Tuesday, the Huskers will be back at home on Wednesday night for a 6:35 p.m. showdown against the Mavericks. As of now, neither team has announced a starter.

The Huskers are 17-2 at Hawks Field this season and will look to sweep the season series from the Mavs after earning a 3-2 extra-innings road win on April 1 at Werner Park. Freshman Scott Schreiber untied the game in the top of the 10th with a solo home run and Josh Roeder closed the game with a perfect inning of relief.

Tuesday, April 14 (7:05 p.m.)

Probable Starters: RHP King (3-0) vs. LHP Albrecht (1-2)

TV: CBS Sports Network

Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: None

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Wednesday, April 15 (6:35 p.m.)

Probable Starters: TBA vs. TBA

TV: None

Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: BTN Plus

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Rockies Move LaTroy Hawkins Out of Closer Role for Now

Posted on April 13, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — LaTroy Hawkins is being moved out of Colorado’s closer role for the time being, though manager Walt Weiss isn’t ruling out the right-hander returning to ninth-inning duties.

Manager Walt Weiss spoke with Hawkins on Monday and called it a “breather” for the 42-year-old, who is planning to retire after this season. Hawkins blew a save in a 6-5 loss to the Cubs on Sunday at Coors Field.

Weiss expected to use Rafael Betancourt in a save situation Monday against the San Francisco Giants.

Colorado exercised a $2.25 million option for Hawkins this season, his 21st in the majors. He went 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA and 23 saves in 26 chances for the Rockies last year.