Sports – Page 252 – North Platte Post Archive

Huskers Continue Homestand, Host Cal State Fullerton

Posted on March 23, 2015

Fresh off a three-game sweep of the Michigan Wolverines to open Big Ten play, the Nebraska baseball team (17-6, 3-0 Big Ten) will now play seven non-conference games before paying a visit to Big Ten newcomer Maryland on Friday, April 3.

The Huskers are in the home stretch of a 16-game homestand and after winning the first 10 games of the homestand NU is set to host the Cal State Fullerton Titans (11-11, 0-0 Big West) for a pair of games starting on Tuesday, March 24, at 6:35 p.m. The teams will then meet on Wednesday at 1:35 p.m.

Tuesday’s series opener will be the ninth all-time meeting between the two teams, but the first-ever game between the teams in Lincoln. Five of the previous eight meetings took place in Fullerton, while the other three happened in the NCAA Tournament, including a pair of games at last year’s NCAA Regional in Stillwater and a game at the 2001 College World Series. The Titans are 8-0 all-time against the Huskers.

The Huskers enter Tuesday on a 10-game winning streak, their longest since 2008, and they are a perfect 10-0 at Hawks Field this season. The Titans are 4-6 in their last 10 games and are just 2-7 away from Goodwin Field, including a 1-5 record in road games. The Titans notched their first road win of the season this past weekend when they won the middle game of their series with Long Beach State by a score of 2-1 in 10 innings.

Husker freshmen right handers Garett King and Zack Engelken are scheduled to throw on Tuesday and Wednesday for the third straight week. Each notched a career-long outing against Indiana State last week, with Engelken producing a career-high five strikeouts over 4.1 innings.

The Titans will start freshman right hander Connor Seabold on Tuesday and have yet to announce a starter for Wednesday.

Tuesday, March 24 (6:35 p.m.)

Probable Starters: RHP King (1-0) vs. RHP Seabold (2-1)

TV: None

Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: HuskersNSide

Radio: Husker Sports Network

Wednesday, March 25 (1:35 p.m.)

Probable Starters: RHP Engelken (1-0) vs. TBA

TV: None

Audio Stream: Huskers.com | Video Stream: HuskersNSide

Radio: Husker Sports Network

NCAA Tournament Ratings Enjoy Record Opening Weekend

Posted on March 23, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — The opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament drew the highest ratings in 22 years for CBS Sports and Turner Sports.

The networks announced Monday that the weekend’s third-round coverage of the NCAA Tournament across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV delivered a 7.3/16 overnight rating/share. That’s a 7 percent increase from last year.

The four days of the men’s tournament through Sunday also had the highest overnight ratings for CBS Sports and Turner Sports, averaging a 6.7/14 overnight rating/share.

Those numbers are the best since the tournament expanded to its current television format in 1991. The overnight rating increased 6 percent from 2014.

2015 National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame Nebraska Inductees

Posted on March 23, 2015

It is with great pleasure that the National High School Athletic Coaches Association and the Nebraska Coaches Association announces the upcoming induction of Randy Cordes of York and Del Schoenfish of Cambridge into the NHSCA National Hall of Fame. Both Cordes and Schoenfish were long time successful high school coaches in Nebraska that also served terms as President of the Nebraska Coaches Association.

This year’s induction ceremony for the Class of 2015 will take place at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s national convention at the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester, MN on June 19, 2015. This year’s class includes thirty coaches from sixteen states across the nation.

Cordes and Schoenfish were selected for this national honor by the Nebraska Coaches Association. This selection was based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, and other specific state criteria. The National High School Athletic Coaches Association is the oldest coaches association in the nation formed by coaches, for coaches, and has honored coaches from across the nation with induction into the NHSACA National Hall of Fame since 1996.

11 Storm Alumni Reach NCAA Tournament

Posted on March 23, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. –11 former Tri-City Storm players will represent eight different schools in the 2015 NCAA men’s ice hockey tournament this weekend, attempting to move on to this year’s Frozen Four in Boston on April 9.

Tri-City is well represented on two of the No. 1 seeds in North Dakota and Miami. Austin Poganski (2013-14) and Andrew Panzarella (2009-10) will be in the lineup for the Fighting Sioux, while Chris Joyaux (2009-11), Cody Murphy (2009-11) and Blake Coleman (2009-10) are on the roster for the RedHawks.

Murphy has had a big year with Miami in his senior season, scoring 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points in 39 games. The RedHawks, who recently won the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Championship, will battle Providence College in the East Regional on Saturday.

One of Providence’s leading scorers is Trevor Mingoia (2012-13), who has 27 points on 13 goals and 14 assists during 36 games this season. The sophomore was one of Tri-City’s leaders two seasons ago, scoring 39 points in just 43 games.

The other contest in the East Region features Denver University and forward Trevor Moore (2011-13). Moore was recently named Forward of the Year in the NCHC after leading the conference in scoring with 42 points on 21 goals and 21 assists. The Thousand Oaks, Calif. native had 95 points during his two seasons in Kearney.

Poganski has played in 35 games for North Dakota during his freshman season, scoring four goals and assisting on 10 others. An NHL draft pick of the St. Louis Blues last summer after appearing in 55 games for Tri-City, Poganski and his Fighting Sioux teammates will go up against Quinnipiac on Friday night in Fargo, N.D. at Scheels Arena.

Quinnipiac also has a former Storm forward on their roster in junior Soren Jonzzon (2010-12). Jonzzon has eight goals and seven assists in 37 games with the Bobcats this season.

Former Storm goaltender Adam Wilcox will make his third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament with the Golden Gophers, after helping lead his team to a Big Ten conference title last weekend.

Wilcox has 22 wins this season with a 2.38 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. The junior expects to be in between the pipes when Minnesota takes on Minnesota-Duluth in Manchester, N.H. on Friday night. The goaltender played 34 games for the Storm in 2011-12 and led Tri-City to the 2012 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs.
Other Storm alums in the tournament include Joel L’Esperance (2012-14) with Michigan Tech and Tim Bonner (2011-13) with Yale University.

In his freshman season with the Huskies, L’Esperance has been a big contributor, scoring 16 points in 28 games. Michigan Tech takes on St. Cloud State in their opening game in Fargo, while Yale battles Boston University in Manchester.

All NCAA Tournament regional games will take place March 27-28 and will be televised on the ESPN family of networks. The 2015 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey National Championship bracket can be found here.

The full list of former Storm players to reach the tournament can be seen below.

Tri-City continues their six-game homestand this weekend when the Fargo Force come to town for a weekend series. Friday’s game starts at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’scontest begins 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.

Former Storm Players In The 2015 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament
Tim Bonner – Forward – Yale University
Blake Coleman – Forward – Miami University
Soren Jonzzon – Forward – Quinnipiac University
Chris Joyaux – Defense – Miami University
Joel L’Esperance – Forward – Michigan Tech University
Trevor Mingoia – Forward – Providence College
Trevor Moore – Forward – Denver University
Cody Murphy – Forward – Miami University
Andrew Panzarella – Defense – University of North Dakota
Austin Poganski – Forward – University of North Dakota
Adam Wilcox – Goalie – University of Minnesota

NPCC Knights Softball to host Western Nebraska

Posted on March 23, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team will host the Western Nebraska Community College Lady Cougars in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 25 at the Wayne Dowhower Memorial Softball Complex.

The Knights come into the contest with a 10 – 18 record. The Knights are led offensively by Sara Villalobos with a .460 batting average. Villalobos has a .644 slugging percentage, four home runs, 20 runs and 19 runs batted in. Brittney Odum leads the Knights with six home runs and 22 runs batted in. Odum is also hitting .425 and has a .667 slugging percentage.

In the ring, the Knights pitching staff has a 3.85 team earned run average. Baileigh Oleson leads the team with a 3.19 earned run average. Oleson is 2 – 6 on the year, has allowed 31 earned runs, 27 walks, 13 home runs and has struck out 27 hitters. Shannon Lieber has a 3.60 earned run average, has allowed 23 earned runs, seven home runs and 15 walks. Lieber has struck out 46 batters and has a 3 – 6 record.

The Lady Cougars are 29 – 11 on the season. The Lady Cougars lead the nation in National Junior College Athletic Association Division I softball in runs scored, triples, extra base hits, total bases, stolen bases and runs batted in. Individually, they are led by Jessica Ball. Ball has a .504 batting average, a 1.060 slugging percentage, nine home runs and 59 runs batted in and has 16 triples, which leads the nation in that category. Kenzie Sawyer has 12 home runs, which leads the nation. Sawyer is batting .402 and has 34 runs batted in.

Times for the games are scheduled for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

ESPN Radio 1410 will be broadcasting both games. It can also be heard on the internet on www.northplattepost.com. It will be live streamed on www.coachesaid.com.

NFL Suspending TV Blackouts for 2015 Season

Posted on March 23, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) — The NFL will not block any games from local television during the 2015 season.

The league said Monday that team owners voted for a one-year suspension of the long-standing blackout policy for the preseason and regular season. There were no blackouts last season, because the minimum number of tickets were sold for every game, and only two blackouts in 2013.

Still, the experiment is a huge step for the NFL, whose blackout policy dates back decades. With low ticket sales in cities such as Jacksonville, Oakland and San Diego, the league is taking a bit of a gamble for 2015.

This Week in Nebraska Athletics

Posted on March 23, 2015

Tuesday, March 24 Softball at Iowa (DH) (BTN) Iowa City, Iowa 4 p.m.

Tuesday, March 24 Softball at Iowa (DH (BTN) Iowa City, Iowa 6 p.m.

Tuesday, March 24 Baseball Cal State Fullerton Hawks Field 6:35 p.m.

Wednesday, March 25 Baseball Cal State Fullerton Hawks Field 1:35 p.m.

Wednesday, March 25 Women’s Tennis at Loyola Marymount Los Angeles, Calif. 2 p.m.

Wednesday, March 25 Softball at Iowa State Ames, Iowa 4 p.m.

Wednesday, March 25 Sand Volleyball at Arizona State Tempe, Ariz. 8 p.m.

Thursday, March 25 Sand Volleyball at Grand Canyon Phoenix, Ariz. 8 p.m.

Friday, March 27 Sand Volleyball vs. CS Northridge (Wildcat Spring Challenge) Tucson, Ariz. 2 p.m.

Friday, March 27 Track & Field at ASU Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Invitational Tempe, Ariz. 3 p.m.

Friday, March 27 Men’s Tennis Michigan State Lincoln, Neb. 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 28 Track & Field at ASU Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Invitational Tempe, Ariz. 5 p.m.

Friday, March 27 Softball Minnesota Bowlin Stadium 5:30 p.m.

Friday, March 27 Men’s Gymnastics at Big Ten Championships University Park, Pa. 6 p.m.

Friday, March 27 Sand Volleyball vs. Boise State (Wildcat Spring Challenge) Tucson, Ariz. 6 p.m.

Friday, March 27 Baseball Texas (NET/BTN Plus) Hawks Field 6:35 p.m.

Saturday, March 28 Sand Volleyball at Arizona (Wildcat Spring Challenge) Tucson, Ariz. 11 a.m.

Saturday, March 28 Softball Minnesota Bowlin Stadium 1 p.m.

Saturday, March 28 Baseball Texas (BTN) Hawks Field 2:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 28 Men’s Gymnastics at Big Ten Individual Finals University Park, Pa. 4 p.m.

Sunday, March 29 Softball Minnesota Bowlin Stadium Noon

Sunday, March 29 Men’s Tennis Michigan Lincoln, Neb. Noon

Sunday, March 29 Baseball Texas (BTN Plus) Hawks Field 12:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 29 Women’s Tennis at Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 3 p.m.

Gallinari Scores 40, Nuggets beat Magic 119-100

Posted on March 22, 2015

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Danilo Gallinari scored a career-high 40 points and former Magic guard Jameer Nelson came off the bench to ignite a big rally Sunday night, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 119-100 victory over Orlando.

Gallinari made 12 of 21 shots, including six 3-pointers, for the Nuggets, who broke a three-game losing streak.

Nelson finished with 15 points, 13 during a 43-12 run over a 10-minute span of the first half which gave the Nuggets a 63-37 lead.

Victor Oladipo led the Magic with 20 points. Elfrid Payton, who on Friday night became the first NBA rookie in 18 years to record two straight triple-doubles, finished with six points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five turnovers.

The Nuggets broke an 11-game losing streak against Eastern Conference opponents on the road.

Rockies Release Right-Hander Jhoulys Chacin

Posted on March 22, 2015

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — In a surprise move, Colorado released right-hander Jhoulys Chacin after the former Rockies’ ace struggled this spring.

After going 1-7 with a 5.40 ERA last year, Chacin had a 6.52 ERA in four appearances in Cactus League games, two starts. He walked four and struck out five in 9 2-3 innings.

“It’s a tough day,” manager Walt Weiss said. “A tough day for us, for me having to have that conversation with Jhoulys, who has been a warrior for us.”

The reason for the move, Weiss said, was that the club had brought in a number of starting candidates and, “We just felt like Jhoulys was behind a few of the other guys.”

Chacin was 38-48 in six seasons with Colorado with a 3.78 ERA, including 14-10 with a 3.47 ERA in 2013.

Royals Demote Pitcher Brandon Finnegan

Posted on March 22, 2015

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Kanas City Royals have optioned Brandon Finnegan, who became the first player to play in the College World Series and the World Series the same year, to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Sunday.

The Royals’ first-round pick out of TCU last year, will be used as a starter in the minors after pitching out of the Kansas City bullpen last September and in the postseason.

The left-hander yielded a two-run walkoff homer to Courtney Hawkins in a 6-4 loss Saturday to the White Sox. He had an 8.53 ERA in four spring training appearances.

Manager Ned Yost said Finnegan has the stuff to be” a quality major league pitcher, but I won’t pigeonhole him as a starter or reliever.”