Sports – Page 236 – North Platte Post Archive

Huskers Even Series with 7-4 Win

Posted on April 11, 2015April 12, 2015

Lincoln – With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, the Nebraska baseball team (25-11, 4-4 Big Ten) plated four runs with two outs to take a 7-3 lead over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-18, 3-8 Big Ten). Josh Roeder took the mound in the ninth with the Huskers ahead 7-4 and picked up his 11^th save of the season with perfect frame of relief.

After Minnesota reliever Brian Glowicki retired NU’s first two batters in the seventh, Austin Darby started a two-out rally with a single and Austin Christensen then untied the game with a RBI double into the right-field corner. Glowicki then issued back-to-back walks to load the bases and Ryan Boldt broke the game open with a bases-clearing triple.

The Gophers got a run back in the eighth to cut NU’s lead to three runs, but Roeder made quick work of the top of UM’s lineup with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout for his 29^th career save. Roeder is now two saves away from tying Brett Jensen’s career save mark.

Freshman Jake Meyers, who earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the year, kept the Huskers in the game after starter Kyle Kubat gave up three runs (two earned) on 11 hits in 4.2 innings. Meyers came in with two outs in the top of the fifth and runners on first and second. The freshman lefty struck out Toby Hanson to end the frame and then went on to retire all seven Gophers he faced, while notching three strikeouts.

Dan Motel started the game with a double for the second straight night and later scored to give the Gophers a 1-0 lead. After being shutout on Friday, the Huskers answered in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs on three hits, including a double by Blake Headley.

Minnesota retook the lead in the top of the fourth, and the inning started with an error by Jake Placzek. The error resulted in an unearned run and the Gophers tacked on another to take a 3-2 lead.

Tanner Lubach evened the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth when he a one-out solo homer run into the left-field berm, his third home run of the season.

The Huskers and Gophers meet for the rubber match of the series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on BTN Plus.

Spieth Sets Another Scoring Record, leads Big at the Masters

Posted on April 11, 2015

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Jordan Spieth set another Masters scoring record Saturday, shooting a 2-under 70 that gave him the lowest 54-hole score in tournament history and sends him to the final round with a four-stroke lead.

Spieth’s total over three mostly brilliant days at Augusta National was 16-under 200, breaking the mark of 201 set by Raymond Floyd in 1976 and matched by Tiger Woods in 1997.

The 21-year-old Texan set the record even with a double-bogey at the 17th, giving a glimmer of hope to those who’ll be chasing him Sunday.

Justin Rose birdied five of the last six holes for a 67 that got him into the final group with Spieth on Sunday. Rose was at 204 overall, and three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson was another stroke behind after shooting 67.

Riley Amazed as 76,000-Plus Show up for Huskers’ Spring Game

Posted on April 11, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Mike Riley agrees with his new school’s fight song, which says there is no place like Nebraska.

When he came out of the tunnel Saturday, there were 76,881 fans waiting to watch his first Red-White Game as the Cornhuskers’ coach.

Riley says he’s been in great football environments, but never one like that for a spring game.

The Red squad was stacked with most of the experienced players and outscored the White 24-15 in front of the second-largest crowd for a spring game at Nebraska. The school record of 80,149 was set in 2008 for Bo Pelini’s first spring game.

Riley alternated sidelines and was with the Red team as time ran out. Players doused him with Gatorade.

Rivals Faceoff In Western Conference Semifinal

Posted on April 11, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. – The USHL announced the seeding and schedule for the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2015 Clark Cup Playoffs Saturday. The second-seeded Tri-City Storm will take on the third-seeded Omaha Lancers in a best-of-five series starting on Tuesday night at the Ralston Arena.

Tri-City will return home for Games 2 & 3 of the series on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets for those two games are on sale now at the Viaero Event Center Box Office and can be purchased in person, online at stormhockey.com, or over the phone by calling 308.338.8011.

The full schedule for the series can be found below.

The teams’ most recent playoff meeting came in 2010, with the Lancers advancing after winning a best-of-five series 3-0. During the 2014-15 regular season, Tri-City went 4-2-2 against Omaha.

Cunningham’s Journal in Kearney will host official watch parties for all road playoff games, beginning on Tuesday night.

Fans that purchased the ‘Pay As We Play’ ticket package can now pick up their tickets at the Viaero Event Center Box Office. Box Office hours are from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.Monday–Friday.

The Storm finish up its regular season schedule on Saturday night in Des Moines, taking on the Buccaneers at 7:05 p.m.

#2 Tri-City Storm vs. #3 Omaha Lancers

Game 1: Tuesday, April 14^th, 7:05 PM – Tri-City @ Omaha (Cunningham’s Journal)

Game 2: Thursday, April 16^th, 7:05 PM – Omaha @ Tri-City (Viaero Event Center)

Game 3: Saturday, April 18^th, 7:05 PM – Omaha @ Tri-City (Viaero Event Center)

Game 4: Sunday, April 19^th, 7:05 PM – Tri-City @ Omaha** (Cunningham’s Journal)

Game 5: Tuesday, April 21^st, 7:05 PM – Omaha @ Tri-City** (Viaero Event Center)

** – If Necessary

Morales, Vargas lead Unbeaten Royals past Angels, 4-2

Posted on April 11, 2015

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Kendrys Morales homered, Lorenzo Cain drove in two runs and the Kansas City Royals remained unbeaten with a 4-2 victory over Los Angeles on Friday night in the Angels’ home opener.

Eric Hosmer drove in an early run and Jason Vargas pitched six solid innings against his former team for the defending AL champion Royals. They followed up their season-opening sweep of the White Sox with a win in the same ballpark where they won the first two games of last October’s AL Division Series.

David Freese homered and Kole Calhoun had an early RBI double for the Angels, who have lost their last three home openers.

Vargas (1-0) yielded five hits and two runs over six innings.

Wade Davis pitched the ninth for his first save.

Hector Santiago (0-1) gave up six hits and three runs while pitching into the sixth.

NPCC Knights Softball Splits with Central

Posted on April 11, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team split a double header against the Central Community College Lady Raiders, losing the first game 12 – 3 and winning the night cap 8 – 6 in a key National Junior College Region IX Division II match up

In the first game the Lady Raiders scored six runs in the first inning highlighted by a double by Janey Pasold. The Lady Raider added two runs in the second on a home run by Morgan Uldrich and a single by Blake Kappington which scored Logan Zeleny.

The Knights scored in their half of the second when Brittney Odum doubled and was batted in by Jessica Jarvis.

The Lady Raiders came back with three runs in the bottom of the third on home runs by Kira Ramirez and Jayd Roberts to make the score 11 – 1. The Knights scored two runs in the fourth on a single by Sara Villalobos which scored Odum and Carol Motis.

The Lady Raiders added a run in the top of the fifth when Ramirez singled and then scored on an error.

In game two, the Knights jumped out to an early lead. Mehana Chang homered in the first to give the Kinights a 1 – 0 lead. Sara Runia scored on a fieler’s choice by Tara Crouch to take a 2 – 0 lead.

The Knights made it 6 – 0 in the second on runs by Motis, Jarvis, Chang and Runia.

The Lady Raiders started to come back in the fourth by scoring two runs by Dittmer and Alissa Edwards to pull within four runs.

The Knights added some insurance runs with runs by Jarvis and Crouch.

The Knights improve to 14-20 on the season and 5 – 1 in region play. The Lady Raiders are 14 – 17 on the season and 5 – 3 in region play.

The Knights are back in action tomorrow when they face Southeast Community College. The game times are at 2 pm and 4 pm.

The games may be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 or on www.northplattepost.com. They will also be live streamed on www.coachesaid.com.

Felton lifts Mavs to 144-143 Win over Nuggets in 2 OTs

Posted on April 11, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Raymond Felton hit a layup with 1.5 seconds remaining in double overtime, then blocked a last-second shot to help the Dallas Mavericks beat the Denver Nuggets 144-143 on Friday night.

Felton drove past Randy Foye and banked in a shot high off the glass. He then got a piece of Kenneth Faried’s jumper at the buzzer, causing the ball to wind up short.

Danilo Gallinari scored a career-high 47 points, including eight in the first overtime and nine in the second.

Denver had a chance to win in regulation, but Faried’s jumper rolled off the rim. Dallas had a shot to claim victory at the end of the first overtime, only to have Monta Ellis’ long shot clang off the iron.

Dirk Nowitzki had 25 points and Richard Jefferson added a season-high 24.

Dubuque Skates Past Storm 4-1

Posted on April 10, 2015

DUBUQUE, Ia. – Three power play goals were enough for the Dubuque Fighting Saints to defeat the Tri-City Storm (36-17-6) 4-1 on Friday night at the Mystique Community Ice Center.

Forward Chris Wilkie scored his USHL league leading 35th goal of the season on the power play, while goaltender Alec Dillon made 28 saves in the loss.

With the loss, the Storm are solidified in second place in the Western Conference. Tri-City will battle the Omaha Lancers in the opening round of the playoffs. Game 1 will take place in Omaha on Tuesday night before the Storm host games 2, 3 and 5.

Dubuque defenseman Keegan Ford scored the only goal of the first period on the power play at 16:05 on a wrist shot from the right point.

The Fighting Saints increased their lead to 2-0 on another power play goal by Seamus Malone at 10:24 of the second. Malone found a rebound in front off a shot by Ford, and scored his first goal of the night.

Tri-City cut the lead in half late in the middle period when Wilkie scored the only Storm goal of the evening on the power play at 18:58. The tally came off a face-off win by forward Cody Milan. Milan got the puck back to defenseman Bobby Nardella on the left point and a quick pass found Wilkie open for the goal on a shot over Dubuque goaltender Jacob Nehama’s glove.

Wilkie’s 35 goals have tied the Storm’s single season record set by Rastislav Spirko during the 2003-04 season. He also broke the record for most power play goals in a season by a Storm skater with 17 tallies. The record was set by current NHL forward Jaden Schwartz of the St. Louis Blues.

But Dubuque got their third power play goal of the night from forward Jacob Benson to make it 3-1 at 7:40 of the third and added an empty net tally from Malone to seal the win. The final goal was Malone’s second of the night.

The Storm finish up their its regular season schedule on Saturday night in Des Moines, taking on the Buccaneers at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Matthew Freytag, Nick Master and Mason Appleton along with defenseman Jason Krych…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
Dubuque – Keegan Ford (power play) (Willie Knierim, Robby Jackson) 16:05

2nd Period

Dubuque – Seamus Malone (power play) (Keegan Ford, Dylan Gambrell) 10:24
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie (power play) (Bobby Nardella, Cody Milan) 18:58

3rd Period
Dubuque – Jacob Benson (power play) (Seamus Malone, Dylan Gambrell) 7:40
Dubuque – Seamus Malone (empty net) (Nate Sucese) 17:24

PENALTIES

1st Period
Tri-City – Wade Allison – (High Sticking), 2 min, 14:07

2nd Period
Tri-City – Chris Wilkie – (Cross Checking), 2 min, 10:02
Dubuque – Keegan Ford – (Roughing) (Double Minor), 4 min, 14:34
Tri-City – Jake Wahlin – (Roughing), 2 min, 14:34
Dubuque – Andrew Kerr – (Roughing), 2 min, 18:53

3rd Period
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Hooking), 2 min, 7:29

Power Play

Tri-City – 1/2

Dubuque – 3/3

Shots

Tri-City: 5, 12, 6 = Total: 23
Dubuque: 8, 12, 12 = Total: 32

Saves
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 28/31
Dubuque – Jacob Nehama – 22/23

Huskers Shutout, 3-0, in Series Opener

Posted on April 10, 2015

Lincoln – The No. 23 Nebraska baseball team (24-11, 3-4 Big Ten) was unable to find a rhythm at the plate on Friday night and was shutout, 3-0, in its series opener against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-17, 3-7 Big Ten). The Gophers outhit the Huskers, 6-5, on the night and the Huskers were shutout at home for the first time since March 11, 2012, when NU lost to Cal, 4-0.

Senior Chance Sinclair allowed two runs on five hits and one walk, while striking out five, but fell to 4-5 on the year. After posting a 6-0 record in Big Ten play last season, Sinclair is 1-2 in league play this year.

Minnesota’s Ben Meyer went 6.2 innings in his second win of the season. The right hander gave up four hits and four walks, while striking out two.

The Gophers started the game with a double by Dan Motl and two groundouts later he crossed the plate to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead. It looked like the Huskers would answer in the bottom of the frame when Meyer walked the first two Huskers of the game. After a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position, Tanner Lubach hit a chopper to Meyer, who got Jake Schleppenbach at third base and Ryan Boldt was caught in a run down between third and home, and was tagged out for an inning-ending double play.

Minnesota pushed its lead to 2-0 in the third when Jordan Smith started the inning with a single and quickly scored on Motl’s second double of the game.

The Huskers got back-to-back singles to start the home half of the third, but Meyer settled in and retired the next three Huskers he faced to keep his 2-0 led intact.

Nebraska threatened again in the seventh when Austin Darby started the inning with a single and Jake Placzek worked a two-out walk to put the tying runs on base. The Gophers went to reliever Jordan Jess, who struck out Boldt on three pitches to end the threat.

Minnesota extended its lead to 3-0 in the ninth when Toby Hanson launched a two-out solo home run deep to right field. The Huskers got a one-out single from Darby in the ninth, but nothing else, and Jess picked up his first save of the season.

Game two between the Huskers and Gophers is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. tomorrow night, and the game will be streamed live on HuskersNSide.

Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky Wins John R. Wooden Award

Posted on April 10, 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Frank Kaminsky of national runner-up Wisconsin has won the John R. Wooden Award as college basketball’s top men’s player.

The senior center received the trophy Friday night at the first College Basketball Awards from Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, where his name was announced by Greg Wooden, a grandson of the late UCLA coach. Earlier, Kaminsky won the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year trophy.

Kaminsky led the Badgers to the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, and the NCAA Tournament championship game, where they lost to Duke after upsetting undefeated and No. 1 Kentucky in the semifinals.

He received 3,385 points in voting from nearly 1,000 national college basketball experts and online fan voting.

Jahlil Okafor of Duke finished second with 3,060 points. Willie Cauley-Stein of Kentucky was third at 2,361. Jerian Grant of Notre Dame finished fourth at 1,870, and D’Angelo Russell of Ohio State was fifth at 1,583.

Kaminsky averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 blocks as a senior. He was named Big Ten Player of the Year, one of several player of the year awards he has collected.