NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball and its teams will conduct an Autism Awareness campaign this season.
Each club selected a home game as part of the effort, which will be joined by the advocacy organization Austism Speaks.
Some teams will have designated “quiet zones,” the commissioner’s office said Thursday, designed to be a sensory-friendly environment. The campaign will include ceremonial first pitches, national anthems, “God Bless America” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Dove Valley is beginning to look like a class reunion. Veteran defensive lineman Antonio Smith is the fifth player to reunite with coach Gary Kubiak in Denver.
The 12th-year pro who signed a one-year deal Thursday recorded 27 of his 44 1(backslash)2 sacks in his five seasons (2009-13) in Houston, where Denver’s new coach was in charge of the Texans from 2006-13.
Smith played in Oakland last year. He also played in Arizona from 2004-08. Overall, he’s appeared in 156 regular season games (133 starts) and eight playoff games (seven starts).
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The College Football Playoff selection committee plans to release its first weekly rankings of the 2015 season on Nov. 3.
Committee chairman Jeff Long said the committee will recommend to the conference commissioners that there should be no changes to the rankings routine. Following the ninth week of the regular season, the 13-member panel will meet in person in the Dallas area and the rankings will come out each Tuesday.
The college football season starts a week later this season so there will be six total rankings instead of seven. The final rankings used to determine the four teams participating in the College Football Playoff will be released Dec. 6.
Commissioners had previously talked about tweaking the schedule and paring back the frequency of the rankings.
Registration is now available for all sessions of the 2015 Big Red Football School, conducted by Nebraska football coaches and staff. Youth football players have several options for affordable and specialized camps through the Big Red Football School.
The camps will be conducted from June 1 to June 12 on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. Available camps include Big Man Camp, Quarterback and Skill Positions Camp, Youth Camp, Specialist Camp and Friday Night Lights Elite Camp.
The Friday Night Lights Elite camps will be held on Friday, June 5 and Friday, June 12 for boys entering grades 10-12. This camp will offer players with higher skill levels the opportunity to continue to progress and improve their football ability. The Big Man camps will be offered on Monday, June 1 and Monday, June 8. These specialized camps for boys entering grades 9-12 emphasize the development of the basic fundamentals, technique and concepts of offensive and defensive line play.
The Specialist day camps will be held on the afternoons of Friday, June 5 and Friday, June 12 and are open to boys entering grades 9-12. This camp emphasizes the development of the basic fundamentals of snapping, holding, kicking and punting. The Quarterback and Skill Positions camps will be held on Tuesday, June 2 and Tuesday, June 9. The camp for boys entering grades 9-12 emphasizes the development of the basic fundamentals of both offensive and defensive positions, specifically quarterback, wide receiver, running back, tight end, linebacker, cornerback and safety.
The Nebraska staff will also offer two sessions of Youth Camp on June 3-4 and June 10-11. The camp is open for boys and girls entering grades 3-8 and has an emphasis on the fundamentals of the game and is geared toward children of all football abilities. Campers will be grouped according to age/grade, height and ability level. Current Nebraska student-athletes will assist with the camp coaching and instruction.
Cost for the Youth Camp is $100, the Big Man, Friday Night Lights and QB and Skills Camp are all $50 and the Specialist Camp is $30. More information and registration is available now by visiting https://www.bigredfootballschool.com/.
2015 Big Red Football School Summer Camps
Big Man Camp (Grades 9-12)
Session 1: Monday, June 1, 1-4 p.m., $50
Session 2: Monday, June 8, 1-4 p.m., $50
QB & Skill Positions Camp (Grades 9-12)
Session 1: Tuesday, June 2, 1-4 p.m., $50
Session 2: Tuesday, June 9, 1-4 p.m. $50
Youth Camps (Grades 3-8)
Session 1: Wednesday–Thursday, June 3-4, 1-4 p.m. , $100
Session 2: Wednesday–Thursday, June 10-11, 1-4 p.m., $100
Specialist Camp (Grades 9-12)
Session 1: Friday, June 5, 1:30-3 p.m., $30
Session 2: Friday, Jun 12, 1:30-3 p.m., $30
Friday Night Lights Elite Camp (Grades 10-12)
Session 1: Friday, June 5, 6-9 p.m., $50
Session 2: Friday, June 12, 6-9 p.m., $50
KEARNEY, Neb. – Power play goal scored by Chris Wilkie. Assisted by Bobby Nardella.
Those words have been used by USHL public address announcers to describe a lot of Tri-City Storm goals this season.
Most Storm fans know Wilkie’s been at the top of the pile among the league’s goal scoring leaders for the majority of the season. After another strike on Saturday night, the Omaha native leads the USHL with 15 man-advantage tallies.
But while Wilkie has gotten the credit for putting the puck in the net, the Robin to his Batman has been defenseman Bobby Nardella. The blueliner leads the team with 29 assists, 19 of which have come with an opponent in the penalty box. In fact, Nardella has been credited with assists on 11 of Wilkie’s 15 power play goals.
“The power play runs off Bob,” says Wilkie. “When he’s moving the puck, that’s when we really click.”
Nardella has another description for why his point total is so high.
“With Chris Wilkie and the amount of goals he scores, whenever you give him the puck he has a chance,” Nardella said.
The duo’s most recent strike gave Nardella the team record for most assists and points by a defenseman in a single season; smashing a mark that was set back in 2003.
Raised in Rosemont, Ill., Nardella was acquired by the Storm in a trade with Sioux City at the end of last season after completing a full year with the Musketeers. From his first day on the ice with his new teammates, he never felt like the new guy.
“We had a good start,” Nardella said. “Everyone was working really hard in the beginning of the year. We had a good team and good chemistry so all the guys here made it pretty easy to transition.”
Wilkie said he knew the acquisition could make a difference this season.
“Coming in he was probably going to be our best defenseman,” Wilkie said. “He knew some of us already and I think that definitely helped him to be more comfortable.”
“He’s been one of our best players every night. He can control the pace of the game and that really helps our offense.”
The chemistry among the two and their success on the power play has made Tri-City one of the top threats in the league with the man-advantage all season. Most point to Head Coach Jim Hulton for the reason, but Nardella said Hulton let the players run with it.
“Coach put it on us as a unit to talk together and all be on the same page,” Nardella said. “He didn’t really tell us ‘do this’ or ‘do that’. He had the confidence in us to go out there and make the plays because he thinks we’re smart enough hockey players to do that ourselves.”
That confidence is something Nardella has grown into this season.
“When we made that trade last year, we were hoping Bobby would be that transitional, mobile defenseman that would be the quarterback on the power play,” Hulton said. “He certainly hasn’t disappointed. Almost right from the first day of camp he developed chemistry with Wilkie in particular.”
“I think this year my confidence is a lot higher than it was last year for me to make plays and create,” Nardella said. “I think it has been the main difference for me.”
As for giving a bunch of 18-year-olds that much control over his most effective special teams unit, Hulton said the players took ownership of it right from day one.
“They’re the eyes and the ears on the ice so they’re the best ones to make adjustments and figure out what’s going on,” Hulton said. “Maybe it’s an unorthodox approach, but I have that much trust and faith in the players and they’ve been terrific.”
Through the team’s 56 games, Nardella’s power play assist total is third-best in the USHL.
“We have a great unit,” Nardella said. “I think communication is key with the power play so we talk a lot. We’re pretty much on the same page and it has worked so far.”
Hulton is just happy to keep watching the puck go in the net and see numbers piling up in the win column.
“They have great complementary skills,” Hulton said of Wilkie and Nardella. “Chris is a pure shooter and a goal-scorer and Bobby is a pass-first guy. He’s great on the breakout, and he walks the blue line with poise and patience. You always have to have that one key ingredient to distribute the puck, and he’s been that right from day one.”
The Storm are back on the ice on Friday night in Sioux Falls, facing the Stampede at 7:05 p.m. They will then complete their home schedule the following evening against Cedar Rapids on Fan Appreciation Night at the Viaero Event Center at 7:05.
For more information and to purchase tickets, contact the Viaero Event Center Box Office at 308.338.8011 or visit www.stormhockey.com.
CLASS A
Name, School, Height, Grade
First team
Tyler Hagedorn, Norfolk, 6-9, Sr.
Malik Hluchoweckyj, Bellevue West, 6-1, Sr.
Drew Homa, Creighton Preparatory School, 6-6, Jr.
Ben Kositzke, Millard West, 6-8, Sr.
Justin Patton, Omaha North, 6-11, Sr.
Second team
Pierce Almond, Grand Island, 6-1, Sr.
Ryan Garver, Lincoln Northeast, 6-2, Sr.
Karlon McSpadden, Omaha South, 6-2, Jr.
Triston Simpson, Lincoln North Star, 6-1, Jr.
Jason Towery, Lincoln High, 6-4, Sr.
Honorable mention: Eric Lenear, Bellevue East; Brad Cluff, AJ Jackson, Clester Johnson, Kael Strawmier, Bellevue West; Dallas Oberg, Nathan Sliva, Parker Smejkal, Columbus; Tommy Pritchard, Will Schenken, Nate Schimonitz, Tyson Smiley, Creighton Preparatory School; Matt Hahn, Hunter Horrocks, Ryan Williams, Fremont; Chuol Biel, Tanner Shuck, Grand Island; Brian Arp, Austin Murray, Peyton Pocock, Jake Waller, Kearney; Clay Reimers, Ben Stephens, Lincoln East; Jamie Davis, Jaden Jilg-Brown, KeShawn Wilson, Lincoln High; Logan Cale, Lincoln North Star; Derrick Curtis, Khan Kailech, Liem Liem, Tyson Shadegg, Trace Tupper, Lincoln Northeast; Jace Anderson, Trevor Dockum, Sam Morris, Lincoln Southeast; Brian Augilar, Lincoln Southwest; Ethan Morrison, Zarek Steed, Millard North; Garren Pauli, Millard South; Logan Anderjaska, Austin Hall, Adam Staashelm, Millard West; Lane McCallum, Logan Strom, Brandon Villalpando, Norfolk; Rashawn Bryant, Shane Mauch, North Platte; Brandon Reed, Mar’shun Stewart, Omaha Benson; Goy Lew, Omaha Bryan; Junub Char, Wanjang Tut, Omaha Burke; Maguy Agau, Christian Harmon, K’Zhan Jimmerson, Omaha Central; Davion Reed, Omaha North; Troy Tegels, Omaha Northwest; Makoor Arop, Noah Fant, Monte McGary, Anthony Naimie, Omaha South; Anthony Bratton, AJ Meeks, Trae Meeks, Omaha Westside; Ayo Akinwole, Tyler Dougherty, Papillion-LaVista; Zach Bussard, Aaron Rothermund, Papillion-LaVista South; Alex Borchers, Tanner Christensen, Jacob Schmiedt, South Sioux City.
CLASS B
Name, School, Height, Grade
First team
Alec Cromer, Beatrice, 6-6, Jr.
Trent Harris, Scottsbluff, 6-1, Sr.
Bart Hiscock, Bennington, 6-6, Jr.
Jared Samuelson, Gretna, 6-2, Jr.
Johnny Trueblood, Elkhorn South, 6-4, Sr.
Second team
Vance Janssen, Blair, 6-1, Sr.
Jordan Mills, Alliance, 6-3, Sr.
Brevin Sloup, Seward, 5-9, Jr.
Wills Wallrapp, Omaha Skutt Catholic, 6-3, Sr.
Tyler Wintholz, Sidney, 6-4, Jr.
Honorable mention: David Bohlen, Adams Central; Austin Luger, Alliance; Austin Allen, Jake Kittle, Tommy Leininger, Aurora; Ty Bardsley, Landon Zarybnicky, Beatrice; Eric Fritch, Riley Rischling, Bennington; Damon Jorgenson, Blair; Jake Harms, Rhett Harms, Alex McGinnis, Crete; Trey Neil, Elkhorn; Chad Carlos, Justin Costello, Michael Kardell, Jake Muraskin, Jace Patras, Elkhorn South; Trey Moore, Nate Skrdla, Gretna; Addison Belau, Morgan Karloff, Hastings; Trevor McKeone, Lexington; Chad Quigley, Lincoln Pius X; Greg Gaston, Peyton Stagemeyer, McCook: Mohamad Elradi, Tommy Farhart, Mount Michael Benedictine; Tanner Breazile, Jose Garcia, Nebraska City; Garrison Gustin, Norris; Brook Brown, Northwest; Jordan Pechar, Jeff Pospichal, Austin Sidzyik, Omaha Gross Catholic; Andrew Lamer, Cole Meister, Omaha Roncalli Catholic; Nick Bouda, Omaha Skutt Catholic; Dylan Bartley, Nate Thayer, Platteview; Connor Dukes, Travis Sabatka, Plattsmouth; Jackson Hinze, Dru Kuxhausen, Landon Walker, Scottsbluff; Adam Holtorf, Ben Klenke, Seward; Lane Harvey, Jake Heeren, Cutter O’Connell, Jared Ross, Sidney; Jaron Bricker, Ben Warner, Waverly; Drew Hoffman, Jonah Otte, JJ Schulz, York.
CLASS C1
Name, School, Height, Grade
First team
Youhanna Ghaifan, Grand Island Central Catholic, 6-5, Sr.
Grant Lahm, Columbus Scotus, 6-0, Sr.
Jake Scheef, Wahoo, 6-3, Sr.
Jaxon Simons, Bishop Neumann, 6-1, So.
David Wingett, Winnebago, 6-5, So.
Second team
Tanner Borchardt, Gothenburg, 6-9, Sr.
Tyler Craven, Ashland-Greenwood, 6-3, Sr.
Brady Delimont, Ainsworth, 6-1, Jr.
Ben Simons, Bishop Neumann, 6-0, Jr.
Matt Wingett, Winnebago, 6-3, Sr.
Honorable mention: Hunter Martin, Ainsworth; Bryce Chudomelka, Jeb Vavak, Ashland-Greenwood; Noah Vedral, Bishop Neumann; Zac Glidden, Scott Ketteler, Boone Central/Newman Grove; Knowledge Darby, Rodney Rosier, DeAngelo Saunsoci, Boys Town; Josey Evans, Travis Kleeb, Broken Bow; Tanner Barth, Kyle Gierhan, Centennial; Mitch Carlson, Andrew Lee, Jeremiah Ohlman, Central City; Vonsinh Sayaloune, Jayden Stack, Chadron; Cody Mroczek, Nathan Ostdiek, Miles Putnam, Dalton Taylor, Columbus Scotus; Zach Schwindt, Skyler Vondra, Conestoga; Jason Finnegan, Colin Wetovick, Conor Young, Cozad; Ben Danielson, Jonah Scheffler, David City; TJ Egbart, Jeff Windhelm, Douglas County West; Jack Hartman, Jordy Stoller, Weston Witt, Falls City; Leyton Hopken, Fillmore Central; Tyler Pace, Fort Calhoun; Dawson Graham, Gothenburg; Brady Brokaw, Eli Hunter, John Rohweder, Grand Island Central Catholic; Mitch Faris, Michael Purcell, Johnson County Central; Brady Holtmeier, Zach Jackson, Kearney Catholic; Jared Bubak, Dalton McGerr, Lincoln Christian; Garett Wachal, Lincoln Lutheran; Hunter Dillon, Daniel Stohlmann, Louisville; Zach Wells, Madison; Dalton Engelbart, Tucker McHugh, Mason Warrelmann, Malcolm; Jake Mensik, Daniel Mitchell, Jaidon Policky, Milford; Adam DeLaet, Nic Werner, Minden; Antonio Barrios, Mitchell; David Engelhaupt, Matt Miller, Norfolk Catholic; Matt Ortmeier, Jake Wietfeld, North Bend Central; Jordan Cogdill, Ogallala; Alex Johnston, Bryan Moore, Omaha Concordia; Tyson Hostert, Jake Young, O’Neill; Tony Smith, Colton Zulkoski, Ord; Taggart Bailey, Noah Fisher, Brady Starkel, Pierce; Mitchael Sieh, Kyle Sperl, Stanton; Aaron Halvorsen, Tanner Harsin, Syracuse; Derek Haber, Tekamah-Herman; Gavin Iversen, Dalton Lamprecht, Jake Ruzicka, Wahoo; Payten Gamble, Ben Hoskins, Wayne; Ty Haase, Karsten Schuetze, West Point-Beemer; Alec Munro, Jacob Sykes, Carter Zlab, Wilber-Clatonia; Cory Cleveland, Isaiah Medina, Kobe Smith, Winnebago; Logan Godbersen, Wisner-Pilger; Nate Bahe, Matt Rennau, Wood River.
CLASS C2
Name, School, Height, Grade
First team
Brooks Asher, Hastings St. Cecilia, 6-2, Jr.
Adam Dykman, Archbishop Bergan, 6-8, Sr.
Isaac Frerichs, Freeman, 6-1, Sr.
James Kaiser, Hartington Cedar Catholic, 6-0, Sr.
Trev Semrad, Aquinas Catholic, 5-8, Sr.
Second team
Quentin Baxter, Bridgeport, 6-6, Jr.
Zach Bellar, Battle Creek, 5-11, Sr.
Zach Kitten, Hastings St. Cecilia, 6-5, Jr.
Hunter Quinn, Southern Valley, 6-3, Sr.
Dillon Wolfgram, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge 6-2 Jr.
Honorable mention: Nate Kovar, Aquinas Catholic; Robbie Ritz, Arcadia-Loup City; Wes LaBelle, Brian Wilmes, Archbishop Bergan; Jared Bellar, Kobe Lade, Battle Creek; Jason Amateis, Wyatt Pankowski, Bridgeport; Keaton Klimek, Burwell; Alex Burke, Evan Jones, Cambridge; Travis Holcomb, Grant Myers, Centura; Chris Konicek, Matt McMullin, Clarkson-Leigh; Tyler Koch, Brock Mueller, Crofton; Travis Eller, Jeff Wright, Cross County; Noah Keller, Doniphan-Trumbull; Trevor Havlovic, Colin Wade, East Butler; Austin Closner, Nick Goudie, Elmwood-Murdock; Brett Oltman, Holden Scott, Calan Sedlacek, Freeman; Gareth Stroh, Gibbon; Brandon Hass, Dylan Slaughter, Kobe Slaughter, Guardian Angels Central Catholic; Stephen Hillis, Hartington Cedar Catholic; Tanner Fischer, Hartington-Newcastle; Derek Boyd, Seth Kirkegaard, Dayton Sealey, Hastings St. Cecilia; Colt Foster, Brady Turek, Matthew Wood, Hemingford; Eli Herr, Nolan Schafer, Humboldt-Table Rock-Steinauer; Tyler Campbell, Brayden Frauendorfer, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family; Jordan Jansen, Laurel-Concord-Coleridge; Jonathon Horvatich, Jordan Polk, Logan View; Logan Faeh, Jerad Prettyman, Nebraska Christian; Grant White, Neligh-Oakdale; Bryce Byrn, Drew McClellen, Andrew O’Neill, North Platte St. Patrick’s; Cameron Kiner, Garrett Seagren, Oakland-Craig; Ryan Ehresman, Joe Tunzer, Omaha Brownell-Talbot; Marquis Buchanan, Riley Reynoldson, Palmyra; Derick Mosel, Colin Wright, Plainview; Blake Chramosta, Brady Standage, Ravenna; Brendan Lipovsky, Gabe Munoz, Sandy Creek; Marshall Glock, Nate Grossnicklaus, Shelby-Rising City; Seth Miller, Jeremiah Perkins, Southern Valley; Ethan Roberts, Superior; Nicholas Hohensee, Noah Johnson, Andrew Pawlowski, Sutton; Preston Connelly, Matt Euse, Twin River; Colton Feist, Wyatt Zaugg, Yutan.
CLASS D1
Name, School, Height, Grade
First team
Breyden Eckhout, Amherst, 6-1, Jr.
Andy Kerkman, Clearwater/Orchard, 6-8, Jr.
Cole Klingsporn, High Plains Community, 5-11, Sr.
Riley Tegtmeier, Bruning-Davenport/Shickley, 5-11, Jr.
Chayse Wemhoff, Humphrey St. Francis, 6-3, Sr.
Second team
Jordan Heinrichs, Heartland, 5-10, Sr.
Cole Nickels, Heartland, 6-3, Sr.
Grant Norder, Bruning-Davenport/Shickley, 5-11, Sr.
Caleb Rihanek, Boyd County, 6-5, So.
Thomas Young, High Plains, 5-11, So.
Honorable mention: Ty Hadwiger, Trey Taubenheim, Amherst; Brady Rohde, Landon Rohde, Ansley-Litchfield: Junior Hilker, Brennan Koller, Arapahoe; Marcus Kring, Adam Lundeen, Axtell; Sam Christensen, Cody Garland, Chris Rohr, Bruning-Davenport/Shickley; Cody Beckmann, Quinn O’Brien, Bloomfield; Drew Stahlecker, Boyd County; Troy Lusk, Nate Sitorius, Brady; Taylor Keeney, Maverick Sukstorf, Cedar Bluffs; Zach Martin, Trevor Mlnarik, Jagger Smith, Clearwater/Orchard; Colin Brott, Brett Godfrey, Creek Valley; Ashton Oakman, Jared Pohlmann, Deshler; Ely Hroch, Austin Vitosh, Diller-Odell; Kameron Krutsinger, Phalen Sanford, Dundy County-Stratton; Nic Crowley, Gabe Hubbard, Elm Creek; Tyler Haberman, Nate Hogan, Emerson-Hubbard; Emmett Beckler, David Segner, Friend; Tyson Hellbusch, Gage Horacek, Fullerton; Allen Brand, Tristan Kalvoda, Harvard; Tyler Brown, Keshawn Camacho, Colton Siebert, Heartland; Cale Harless, Kyler Van Housen, Jabe Wurtz, High Plains Community; Jesse Faltys, Tyler Polacek, Howells-Dodge; Damien Baumgart, Zach Huettner, Humphrey St. Francis; Preston Schnitzler, Carson Woodman, Kenesaw; Tom Gress, Hayden Miller, Noah Vasa, Lourdes Central Catholic; Marco Dusi, J.T. Hamm, McCool Junction; Alex Quinn, Tristan Hoover, Dylan Taylor, Mead; Tyler Know, Justin Palmer, North Central; Caleb Ecklund, Creighton Ryan, Overton; Connor Freeman, Ted Gyhra, Tyler Gyhra, Pawnee City; Cameron Purcell, Potter-Dix; Landyn Anderson, Logan Nordhues, Randolph; Bruce Schulenberg, Darnell Sims, Scribner-Snyder; Brent Shoemaker, St. Mary’s; Tanner Shea, Jordan Wenzl, Sterling; Brook Blomstedt, Kadin Copeland, Sutherland.
CLASS D2
Name, School, Height, Grade
First team
Kenny Appleton, Bancroft-Rosalie, 5-9, Sr.
Tanner Hudson, Riverside, 6-5, Jr.
Derek Luzum, Exeter-Milligan, 6-3, Sr.
Austin Malone, Falls City Sacred Heart, 6-0, Sr.
Chance Morland, Paxton, 6-4, Jr.
Second team
Kyle Jensen, Exeter-Milligan, 5-11, Sr.
Yovan Perez, Minatare, 5-8, Jr.
Jake Samuelson, Bertrand, 6-0, Sr.
Henry Tanksley, Parkview Christian, 6-2, So.
Carsten Tietz, Bancroft-Rosalie, 6-0, Sr.
Honorable mention: Chase Konert, Parker Janicek, Alma; Trent Geiser, Troy Gilligan, Anselmo-Merna; Gunner Walker, Arthur County; Mario Aldrich, Ian Nottlemann, Bancroft-Rosalie; Tyson Dahlgrin, Banner County; Dakota Fitzgerald, Tyrell Younger, Bertrand; Micheel Colton, Crawford; Corey Bird, Nixon Nerud, Dorchester; Zack Hackbart, Skyler Werger, Elwood; Sam Zeleny, Exeter-Milligan; Bryant Jorn, Logan Scheitel, Bailey Witt, Falls City Sacred Heart; Brett Good, Jared Hastings, Giltner; Jon Simonson, Brent Suchanek, Heartland Lutheran; Daniel Arp, Justin Kershaw, John Rippen, Hitchcock County; Jaxson Balm, Devon Clark, Johnson-Brock; Cody McKay, Leyton; Alec Anderson, Chevy Henneman, Lyons-Decatur Northeast; Javier Guerrero, Dominic Longoria, Minatare; Lance Moore, Mullen; Luke Ericson, Bennett Nelson, Osceola; Nosa Iyagbaye, Parkview Christian; Cody Blackwell, Justin Corfield, Paxton; Jake Kennedy, Collin Martinsen, Noah Valasek, Riverside; Justin Lee, Jacey Nutter, Sandhills/Thedford; Journey Ericson, Seyler Monroe, Silver Lake; Kyle Westover, Nathan Woodrum, Sioux County; Micah Dexter, Mitchell Dvorak, Tate Schmaderer, Stuart; Brandon Stevens, Spalding Academy; Jason Line, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller; Triston Farley, Matthew Hinrichs, Wilcox-Hildreth.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Four teams, four drug-testing policies.
Players at Kentucky, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Duke operated under the same rules on their road to the Final Four this season — except when it came to the frequency of their doping tests and the penalties they faced for failing.
All players fall under the umbrella of the NCAA drug-testing program, which tests urine for performance-enhancing and recreational drugs at its championship events and for PEDs during infrequent visits to campus the rest of the year. The main source of deterrence? The programs in place at individual schools.
There are some small changes up for consideration. However, even if those changes occur, the standards could be as varied as the 351 Division I universities.
Lincoln – The No. 18 Nebraska baseball team (23-7, 3-0 Big Ten) will play its first Big Ten road series of the season this weekend three-games against the No. 17 Maryland Terrapins (19-7, 4-2 Big Ten) in College Park, Md. Friday night’s series opener will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.
The series opens at 6:05 p.m. (CT) on Friday night and will be carried nationally on the Big Ten Network. The teams are then scheduled to play at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday before wrapping on the series on Sunday at 11:05 a.m. Sunday’s finale will also be show on BTN, but will be broadcast on tape delay at 2 p.m. Fans can watch Sunday’s game live on BTN2Go.
The Terrapins were the preseason favorite to win the conference by the league’s coaches, while the Huskers were picked second. The Huskers enter the weekend atop the conference standings with a 3-0 conference record, while Maryland is in a four-way tie for third place with a 4-2 league record.
Nebraska is 9-1 over its last 10 games and has posted a 18-3 record since the start of March. Maryland enters the weekend a perfect 7-0 at Bob Smith Stadium this season, including a series sweep of Minnesota in its first ever Big Ten series two weeks ago. The former ACC member was on the road in Ann Arbor, Mich., last weekend and dropped a series against Michigan, 2-1.
Friday night will see a showdown between two of the league’s top pitchers in Nebraska senior Chance Sinclair and Maryland sophomore Mike Shawaryn. Sinclair is 7-0 all-time in nine Big Ten starts and has won each of his last three starts entering Friday. A freshman All-American by multiple publications last season, Shawaryn is 6-0 this season in seven starts with a 2.11 ERA. The Carneys Point, N.J., product has struck out 54 and walked just seven over 47.0 innings of work.
Saturday’s 1:05 p.m. meeting with be between a pair of lefties, with senior Kyle Kubat scheduled to start for Nebraska against Maryland sophomore Tayler Stiles. Kubat will be in search of his 20th career win and is coming off of consecutive starts where he totaled nine strikeouts. Stiles is a 6-2 native of Bowie, Md., and is 2-2 on the year with a 3.81 ERA. In 26.0 innings he has allowed 26 hits, walked five and struck out 25.
After starting sophomores in the first two games, the Terrapins are scheduled to throw senior right hander Bobby Ruse on Sunday against Nebraska sophomore Derek Burkamper. Burkamper is 4-1 on the season and has won each of his past three starts. The Muscatine, Iowa, native is coming off a career-long 8.1 innings outing against Texas, where he also struck out a career-high six batters. Ruse set a Maryland single-season record last year with 31 appearances, including four starts. This year he has made three starts in eight appearances and has a 4-1 record with a 5.19 ERA. In 26.0 innings he has struck out 25, while walking eight.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Scott Hannan and Chris Tierney scored goals to help the San Jose Sharks keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a 5-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.
Patrick Marleau also scored and Logan Couture and John Scott added empty-net goals for the Sharks, who have won 13 straight regular-season home games against Colorado. Alex Stalock made 19 saves in his third straight start in place of sick starter Antti Niemi.
Matt Duchene scored a power-play goal for the Avalanche, who began a three-game road trip with a loss. Reto Barra made 25 saves.
The Sharks moved within five points of Winnipeg for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with five games remaining.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Rudy Gobert scored a career-high 20 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had two blocks as the Utah Jazz cruised past the Denver Nuggets 98-84 on Wednesday night.
Gobert was coming off his 22nd double-double of the season Monday.
There wasn’t much on the line with both teams out of the playoff race, but Jazz coach Quin Snyder said there’s plenty to work on during the final eight games of the season. That was clear after a lackluster first quarter.
The Nuggets scored 29 first-quarter points, then 30 in the second and third quarters combined.
Derrick Favors scored 19, had seven rebounds and three blocks as the Jazz frontcourt dominated. Dante Exum had a career-high 12 assists.
Kenneth Faried scored 19 points and added 10 rebounds for the Nuggets, while Ty Lawson finished with 15.
