Sports – Page 249 – North Platte Post Archive

Nuggets Roll to 107-91 Win as Jazz drop 4th Straight

Posted on March 27, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Ty Lawson and Jameer Nelson each scored 18 points as the Denver Nuggets beat Utah 107-91 on Friday night, handing the Jazz their fourth straight loss.

Right around tip-off, the Jazz announced Hot Rod Hundley, the former NBA player who broadcast Jazz games in New Orleans and Utah for 35 years, had died. He was 80. Hundley called 3,051 Jazz games from 1974-2009. There was a tribute to Hundley before the game.

Danilo Gallinari played with a sore right triceps and finished with 13 points for the Nuggets, who never trailed after he gave them a 3-0 lead on a long jumper moments into the game.

Denver improved to 8-6 since interim coach Melvin Hunt took over for Brian Shaw.

Gordon Hayward scored 24 points in his return after sitting out two games with a sprained shoulder. Rudy Gobert finished with 14 points and 14 points for his 18th double-double.

Yon Scores Twice As Fargo Earns Win Over Tri-City

Posted on March 27, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. – Zach Yon scored twice and the Fargo Force (24-26-6) used a three-goal second period to defeat the Tri-City Storm (34-15-6) 4-2 at the Viaero Event Center on Friday night.

Kevin Kerr had a goal and an assist in the loss for Tri-City, while Garrett Gamez scored a short-handed goal for his 15th tally of the season.

After a scoreless first period in which the Storm outshot Fargo 12-8, Yon made it 1-0 at 7:04 of the middle period with assists from Justin Baudry and Brody Stevens.

Yon then notched his second of the game eight minutes later at 15:11 on the power play to put Fargo ahead 2-0. The tally was set up by a perfect passing play which gave Denis Smirnov and Alec Marsh assists on the goal.

With time running out in the second period and the Storm on a power play, Fargo forward Dixon Bowen raced into the Tri-City end on a breakaway. Bowen was taken down on the play and awarded a penalty shot. The forward converted with a wrist shot over Storm netminder Alec Dillon’s glove to give the Force a 3-0 lead at the end of the middle period.
Tri-City mounted a comeback in the third, starting when Kerr scored on the power play just 1:10 into the final frame. Kerr’s shot found the back of the net after a cross-ice feed from forward Cody Milan found him open at the left point. Chase Berger, who provided the screen in front on the goal, was awarded the second assist on the play.

With less than six minutes remaining in regulation, Gamez found the back of the net late in a Fargo power play on a rebound in front to make it 3-2. The initial shot was taken by Mason Appleton, who was led in to the offensive zone by Kerr. The multi-point game was Kerr’s second in his past three games and sixth of the season.

Fargo goaltender Mathias Israelsson made 39 saves to earn the victory, while Dillon stopped 23 shots in the loss for Tri-City. The Storm outshot Fargo 41-27 in the game.

Tri-City is currently in second place in the USHL’s Western Conference with 74 points. Five games remain in the regular season and the Storm have clinched a spot in the USHL’s Clark Cup Playoffs.

The Storm and Force will finish their four-game season series in Kearney on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Notes: The Storm scratched forwards Matthew Freytag, Wade Allison and Joel Herbert, along with defensemen Tory Dello and Mattias Goransson…

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Period
(no scoring)

2nd Period

Fargo – Zach Yon (unassisted) 7:04
Fargo – Zach Yon (Denis Smirnov, Alec Marsh) 15:11
Fargo – Dixon Bowen (penalty shot) 19:59

3rd Period
Tri-City – Kevin Kerr (power play) (Cody Milan, Chase Berger) 1:10
Tri-City – Garrett Gamez (short-handed) (Mason Appleton, Kevin Kerr) 14:26
Fargo – Alec Marsh (empty net) (Denis Smirnov, Mathias Israelsson) 19:01

PENALTIES

1st Period
(no penalties)

2nd Period
Fargo – CJ Hayes – (High Sticking), 2 min, 2:22
Tri-City – Nick Master – (Hooking), 2 min, 14:08
Fargo – Chuck Bennis – (Abuse of Officials) (Misconduct), 10 min, 15:47
Fargo – Byron Pool – (Abuse of Officials) (Game Ejection), 10 min, 15:47
Fargo – Sean Mostrom – (Roughing) (Double Minor), 4 min, 16:22
Tri-City – Mason Appleton – (Roughing) (Double Minor), 4 min, 16:22
Fargo – Christian Cakebread – (Boarding), 2 min, 19:07

3rd Period
Fargo – Jake McLaughlin – (Hooking), 2 min, 11:58
Tri-City – Bobby Nardella – (Hooking), 2 min, 12:30

Power Play

Fargo – 1/2

Tri-City – 1/3

Shots

Fargo: 8, 11, 8 = Total: 27
Tri-City: 12, 9, 20 = Total: 41

Saves
Fargo – Mathias Israelsson – 39/41
Tri-City – Alec Dillon – 23/26

NPCC Knights Split Doubleheader with Trinidad State

Posted on March 27, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights split a double header with the Trinidad State Junior College Lady Trojans Friday afternoon at Wayne Dowhower Memorial Softball Complex.. The Knights won the first game 12 – 11 in extra innings, but lost the night cap 10 – 2 in five innings.

In the first game the Lady Trojans jumped out to a 2 – 0 lead in the top of the first on a single by Macie Christian. Two hitters later, Brooke Stevens lined one over the right field fence.

The Lady Trojans added four more runs in the top of the second and one in the top of the third to increase their lead to 7 – 0.

In the bottom of the third the Knights’ Brittney Odum reached on a bloop infield hit. Jessica Jarvis doubled to drive in Odum. With the bases loaded Sara Runia singled between short and third to bring in Jarvis.

Shannon Lieber knocked in Sara Villalobos and Mehana Chang on a two-run single. Runia scored on an infield single by Caroline Motis to cut the Lady Trojan lead to two, 7 – 5.

In the top of the fourth, after a single by Courtney Vigil and a walk to Stevens, Shelby Cornett hit a three-run home run over the left field fence to increase the Lady Trojan lead 10 – 5.

The Knights added a run to make the score 10 – 6 when Villalobos scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrea Quiroga.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the sixth. Chang and Runia opened up the inning by hitting back-to-back home runs. Quiroga and Lieber walked. They scored on a single up the middle by Tara Crouch to tie the score at 10. That was the score at the end of regulation.

In the eighth inning the Lady Trojans had Brooke Stevens on second because of the international tie breaker rule. Samantha Glover had a bunt single to advance Stevens to third. Stevens scored on a sacrifice fly by Cornett to make the score 11 – 10.

In the Knights half of the eighth Christina Rodie started at second, she was sacrificed to third by Motis. Crouch hit the ball to Christian, the Lady Trojan shortsop, who threw to home to get Rodie into a rundown. The ball hit Rodie in the helmet and caromed into left field which allowed Rodie to score. Crouch advanced to third on the play. Crouch scored the winning run on a single by Jarvis.

The win for the Knights broke a six-game losing streak for the Knights. It also broke a 12 game winning streak for the Lady Trojans.

In the second game, the Lady Trojans jumped out to a 5 – 0 lead in the top of the first. They added single runs in each of the second, third and fourth inning to take an 8 – 0 lead.

The Knights were able to push across two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Runia reached first on an error. Lieber singled to advance Runia at first. Rodie pinch run for Lieber. Shelby Clark singled to load the bases. Motis singled to score Runia and Rodie and ended up on third on the throw to the plate that put Clark out at the plate.

That was all the Knights could muster against Ally Grywusiewicz, the Lady Trojan pitcher.

The Lady Trojans scored two runs in the fifth to win in five innings. Lauren Bending singled to left. Vicki Gonzalez doubled to advance Bending to third. Vigil singled to score Bending and Gonzalez to allow the Lady Trojans to eight run the Knights.

The Knights move to 11 – 19 on the season. The Lady Trojans are now 19– 9.

The Knights are back in action on Tuesday, March 31 when they host the Hastings College Junior Varsity.

The games can be heard on ESPN Radio 1410 or on the Internet at www.northplattepost.com. It will be live streamed at www.coachesaid.com .

Game times are at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m CDT.

Sinclair Dominates No. 16 Texas in 3-1 Win

Posted on March 27, 2015

Lincoln – Behind 7.2 innings of two-hit work from starter Chance Sinclair along a three-run fifth inning from the Husker offense, the Nebraska baseball team opened its series against the No. 16 Texas Longhorns on Friday night at Hawks Field with a 3-1 victory. The Huskers are now 19-7 on the year and are 12-1 at Hawks Field in 2015.

After starting the year 1-3, Sinclair produced his third straight win to improve to 4-3 on the year and 13-4 during his career at Nebraska. The third-team preseason All-American didn’t give up a hit until the sixth inning, when No. 9 hitter Zane Gurwitz lined a single up the middle, and only allowed four base runners on the evening. Sinclair struck out six Longhorns, including five over the first three innings.

Texas starter Parker French matched Sinclair early, allowing only a pair of hits through the first four innings. The wheels fell off for French in the fifth when the Huskers started the frame with four straight hits. The senior lasted a season-low 4.1 innings and gave up a season-high three earned runs on a season-high tying seven hits.

Austin Darby got NU’s three-run fifth started with a base hit and the Huskers quickly had two runners in scoring position when Austin Christensen, who had missed the last 10 games with a hamstring injury, followed with a double. Freshman Elijah Dilday broke the scoreless game with a RBI single, his first RBI as a Husker, and Jake Placzek loaded the bases with a bunt single. Ryan Boldt gave the Huskers a 2-0 lead with a RBI groundout and Jake Schleppenbach chased French from the game with a RBI single, the Huskers fifth hit of the inning. Reliever Ty Culbreth took over and stopped the bleeding with an inning-ending double play.

With a 3-0 lead, Sinclair hung zeros in the sixth and seventh innings, but got into a jam in the eighth when he walked leadoff batter Bret Boswell and then gave up a single to Michael Cantu. Kacy Clemens laid down a sacrifice bunt that put two runners in scoring position and Gurwitz followed with a sac fly that cut NU’s lead to 3-1. With the tying run at the plate in leadoff man Ben Johnson, the Huskers turned the ball over to junior relieve Colton Howell, who promptly ended the Texas threat with a three-pitch strikeout.

Josh Roeder, a native of Plano, Texas, took the mound in the ninth and struck out the first batter he faced. Collin Shaw then roped his 14^th double of the year into right field to give the Longhorns life. Roeder bounced back and retired UT’s No. 4 and 5 hitters in order for his eighth save of the season and the 26^th of his career.

The Huskers and Longhorns will be back at Hawks Field tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. for the second game of their three-game series. The game will be shown nationwide on the Big Ten Network.

Former Vandy Coach to Replace Manning on Playoff Committee

Posted on March 27, 2015

Archie Manning is leaving the College Football Playoff selection committee and will be replaced by former Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson.

In a statement Friday, Manning says other commitments and time demands made it too difficult for him to serve on the committee. Manning was one of the original 13 members of the committee picked by the FBS conference commissioners who run the playoff.

The former Mississippi quarterback took a leave of absence during last season to deal with undisclosed health issues. CFP executive director Bill Hancock had said earlier this year Manning was expected to return for the 2015 season.

Johnson played at Clemson and was a head coach at Furman (1994-2001) and Vanderbilt (2002-2010). He says he is happy to “serve the game” as a member of the committee.

Arrowhead, Kauffman Stadiums’ Food Service Fires Manager

Posted on March 27, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A food safety manager at Kauffman and Arrowhead stadiums in Kansas City says he was fired after complaining about dirty conditions.

Jon Costa shared with ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” a letter that he said came from his former employer, Aramark. The March 17 letter said Costa was being fired “for cause” for several reasons, including that he violated the company’s media policy by taking his concerns public.

ESPN says Costa’s complaints prompted a Nov. 3 inspection that found violations at 20 out of 26 food stands. The stadiums later passed a follow-up inspection.

Aramark said in a written statement that it considers personnel matters confidential. It added that food safety is “a top priority.” Costa’s attorney, Ryan McClelland, didn’t immediately return phone or email messages from The Associated Press.

NPCC Unveils New Athletic Logo

Posted on March 27, 2015

The NPCC Knights new logo

The Mid – Plains Community College Board of Governors approved new athletic logos for North Platte Community College.

The full new logo is similar to the old one with the arched spelling of North Platte with a different Knight in the middle. The Knight in the middle sports a shield with NPCC Knights in the shield. The words “Community College” were added to the bottom of the logo.

The logo will be implemented immediately. The old logos will remain on items currently in use. As items are replaced, they will include the new logo.

The new logo coincides with the remodeling of the gymnasium at the North Platte Community College McDonald – Belton building. The Knight alone will be in the center of the basketball court. The full logo with North Platte Community College will be imprinted on the gym wall safety mats at each end of the gymnasium.

The MPCC Rodeo Team new logo

The board also approved the logo for the Mid-Plains Community College Rodeo Team. The rodeo team is the only area wide sport. The new rodeo team logo will feature the Mid-Plains Community College shield with horns on the side.

30 is the New 40 When it Comes to Home Runs These Days

Posted on March 27, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Whether it’s steroid testing, all those power arms in the bullpen or a lower strike zone, baseballs just aren’t flying out of the park like they did a decade or two ago.

Sluggers who came of age in the days of 50, 60 and 70 home-run seasons have been forced to recalibrate what’s a successful power season.

And 30 is the new 40.

Home runs have hit their lowest rate in more than two decades. Only 11 players reached the 30-homer mark last season, the fewest in a full season since 1992, when there were four fewer teams, no interleague play and Fay Vincent was still commissioner.

NPCC Knights’ Williams Commits to Eastern Kentucky

Posted on March 26, 2015March 27, 2015

North Platte Community College Knights basketball player Cameron Williams, on his Twitter account, announced that he has verbally committed to Eastern Kentucky University.

Williams averaged 21 points per game for the Knights this season and finished seventh on the Knights all-time scoring list. He was on the Region IX All – Region and All – Tournament teams his sophomore season.

The Colonels are a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I program. They are a member of the Ohio Valley Conference and finished 21 – 12 on the season. The Colonels have been in post season tournaments the last three seasons. They appeared in the NCAA tournament in 2014, losing to the University of Kansas in the second round. This season the Colonels were in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT), losing to University of Tennessee – Martin 70 -69 in the quarterfinals. They also appeared in the CIT in 2013.

Williams cannot officially sign until April 8.

Huskers Renew Rivalry with Texas

Posted on March 26, 2015

Lincoln – This weekend the Nebraska baseball team (18-7, 3-0 Big Ten) will host the No. 16 Texas Longhorns (17-8, 5-1 Big 12) at Hawks Field for the first time since 2011, when both teams were still members of the Big 12 Conference. This weekend’s series, which opens on Friday night at 6:35 p.m., will mark the second series between the two teams since the Huskers left for the Big Ten Conference following the 2011 season, as the Huskers made a trip to Austin for a three-game series in 2013.

During the 15 years from 1997 to 2011 that both teams were in the Big 12, the Huskers and Longhorns were league’s top two teams, combining to win 10 (Texas – 7, Nebraska – 3) regular-season titles and eight tournament titles (four each). The teams also combined for 10 appearances at the College World Series.

Two of Nebraska’s home series with Texas rank among the top five in conference series attendances at Hawks Field – the 2005 series ranks third with an attendance of 22,595 and the 2007 series ranks fourth at 21,898.

Both teams enter the series playing good baseball, as the Huskers are 9-1 over their past 10 games, while the Longhorns have posted a 8-2 record. The Huskers are in the backend of a 16-game homestand and have posted a 11-1 record over the first 12 games of the stretch.

The Longhorns are just 5-5 away from Austin this season. In two road series the Longhorns are 4-4, as they went 2-2 at both Rice and Stanford. UT’s other two road games were midweek contests in the state of Texas, including a win at Texas State and a loss at UT Arlington.

Senior Chance Sinclair will get the ball for the Huskers on Friday night and will look to win his third straight start following wins over Florida Gulf Coast and Michigan. The third-team preseason All-American has gone at least 6.0 innings in each of his last three starts and has 10 strikeouts to two walks. The Longhorns are scheduled to counter with senior Parker French, who started against the Huskers on Friday night two years ago in Austin. The 6-2 Dripping Springs, Texas, native enters Friday with a 2-1 record and a 1.69 ERA in six starts. As a sophomore in 2012, French earned the win after allowing two runs on eight hits and one walk with six strikeouts over 6.1 innings in a 8-2 Texas victory.

Senior Kyle Kubat will climb the hill on Saturday and will be in search of 20th career victory. Kubat is coming off a win over Michigan where he struck out a career-high nine batters and is now 4-0 on the year with a 1.60 ERA. UT is scheduled to start sophomore Kacy Clemens, son of seven-time Cy Young award winner Roger Clemens. The 6-2 right hander is 2-1 on the year with a 4.68 ERA in six appearances, including five starts. Over 25.0 innings, Clemens has struck out 11, but walked 13. Clemens started 63 games at first base last season as a freshman and didn’t make an appearance on the mound.

Sunday’s pitching matchup is scheduled to be Nebraska’s Derek Burkamper against Texas’ Chad Hollingsworth. Burkamper is 3-1 on the year and the sophomore has gone at least 5.0 innings in each of his five starts this season. Hollingsworth is also 3-1 on the year with a 2.97 ERA in five starts, with 12 strikeouts to eight walks in 30.1 innings. Hollingsworth earned the win in the second game between the Huskers and Longhorns in 2013, as he got the last out of the top of the ninth before the Longhorns posted a walk-off win in the bottom of the frame.

Friday, March 27 (6:35 p.m.)

Probable Starters: RHP Sinclair (3-3) vs. RHP French (2-1)

TV: NET

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

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Saturday, March 28 (2:05 p.m.)

Probable Starters: LHP Kubat (4-0) vs. Clemens (2-1)

TV: BTN

Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: BTN2Go

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Sunday, March 29 (12:05 p.m.)

Probable Starters: RHP Burkamper (3-1) vs. Hollingsworth (3-1)

TV: None

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

Radio: Husker Sports Network