Sports – Page 262 – North Platte Post Archive

Headley Knocks Pair of Triples, Huskers Win 9-2

Posted on March 11, 2015

Lincoln – For the second straight game senior Blake Headley roped a pair of triples, and freshman Scott Schreiber add another, to power the Nebraska baseball team to a 9-2 win over the Northern Colorado Bears. The Huskers improved to 9-6 on the year in front of 3,067 fans at Hawks Field.

Headley went 3-for-5 on the day and went 5-for-10 in the two-game series against the Bears with four triples, three runs scored and three RBIs.

Along with Headley and Schreiber, Ben Miller and Tanner Lubach also added multi-hit performances. Seven different Huskers notched an RBI on the day, including a career-high three from Schreiber on a bases-loaded triple in the seventh that was part of a five-run frame.

Freshman Zack Engelken started his first career game at Nebraska and went 3.1 innings. The Overland Park, Kan., native gave up a pair of runs on three hits on and struck out two. The Bears’ two runs on the afternoon came on a two-run homer in the fourth that just snuck over the left field wall off the bat of Payton Tapia.

Four Husker reliever combined to throw 5.2 innings of scoreless relief, and junior Jeff Chesnut earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the year. Nebraska’s pitching staff notched nine strikeouts on the day, while giving up just six hits.

The Huskers continue their 16-game homestand on Friday afternoon then they open a three-game series against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles. Friday’s series opener is scheduled for 4:05 p.m., while Saturday’s game is set for 2:05 p.m. and the finale on Sunday is scheduled to start at 1:05 p.m.

NBA: Union Won’t Agree to Salary Cap Smoothing in 2016-17

Posted on March 11, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA says the Players Association has informed the league that it won’t agree to smoothing in the increased revenues from the national TV deals, which will create a significant spike in the salary cap.

The league’s new contracts with ESPN and TNT begin in 2016-17 and will be worth more than $2.6 billion. Because the salary cap is tied to revenues, that will cause it to soar in the first season, giving many teams spending money they otherwise wouldn’t have.

To prevent that, the league has sought to set a cap figure that would lead to gradual increases, but executive vice president of communications Mike Bass says Wednesday the union rejected that approach.

NBPA executive director Michele Roberts said last month the union had turned down the league’s first smoothing proposal.

Nebraska Game and Parks to Stock Rainbow Trout

Posted on March 11, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will stock catchable-size rainbow trout in several city ponds and lakes across the state this month.

The locations include Bridgeport State Recreation Area’s northwest pit on Tuesday; CenturyLink Lake at Mahoney State Park on March 19; Melham Park in Broken Bow on March 20; TaHaZouka Park in Norfolk and Barnett Park in McCook on March 21; Terry’s Pit in Terrytown and Lake Ogallala on March 24.

All anglers fishing in Nebraska, except residents under age 16, must have a fishing license.

Chiefs Announce Signing of Wide Receiver Jeremy Maclin

Posted on March 11, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Jeremy Maclin to a five-year deal, adding the down-the-field threat that their wide receiver group was sorely lacking last season.

The contract is worth up to $55 million, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because those details were not announced.

The Chiefs planned an afternoon news conference to introduce their newest addition.

Maclin started all 16 games for the Eagles last season. He set career highs with 85 catches for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns, and showed no lingering effects from the torn ACL that caused him to miss the entire 2013 season.

His addition could mean the end of Dwayne Bowe’s tenure in Kansas City. The veteran wide receiver is due to count $14 million against the salary cap.

Jerseys For A Cause Benefits Phelps Memorial

Posted on March 11, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. –The Tri-City Storm’s Jerseys For a Cause program raised a total of $1,774 in the month of February. All proceeds have been donated to benefit the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.

Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, the program benefits a different organization each month. At each home Storm game, a limited edition game-worn jersey from Color Out Cancer Night on Oct. 17 is raffled off to fans who donate.

Home games in the month of March, starting with this Friday’s contest against Lincoln, will benefit Mary Lanning Hospital. The one exception is March 20 vs. Des Moines, which will benefit the Stay In The Game Foundation.

Tri-City has 10 games remaining in the 2014-15 season and will play seven in Kearney at the Viaero Event Center.

The Storm will return to the VEC for a pair of games this weekend. Both contests will close Tri-City’s season series with its two in-state rivals, Lincoln and Omaha. Friday night’s game with the Stars starts at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s tilt vs. the Lancers 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.

Suh Arrives in Miami as Dolphins Close in on Record Deal

Posted on March 11, 2015

MIAMI (AP) — Ndamukong Suh has arrived in Miami and is soon expected to sign a contract with the Dolphins that will make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

In anticipation of sealing the deal Wednesday, the Dolphins released defensive tackle Randy Starks, who had been with the team since 2008, the longest tenure of any position player. Starks started 96 games for Miami but struggled late last season.

His release clears $5 million in salary cap space, which will be needed to make room for Suh’s huge contract. Suh was a three-time first-team All-Pro defensive tackle with the Detroit Lions.

The Dolphins brought in free agent cornerback Brice McCain for a visit. McCain has 19 career starts, including nine last year for the Steelers.

Has Rough Season for College Hoops Taken Luster off March?

Posted on March 11, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — There is concern about the current state of men’s college basketball with the NCAA Tournament little more than a week away.

Scoring is at a near-record low this season. Fouls are a pervasive problem. Attendance has dropped precipitously in many places, and television ratings are struggling to reach last year’s levels.

Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s vice president for men’s college basketball, says the game could be hurt if scoring stays down and physical play continues.

Attendance in men’s Division I basketball has fallen seven straight seasons, from an average of 5,327 in 2006-07 to 4,817 last year. Both CBS and ESPN are weathering ratings declines this season.

The NCAA tried to intervene last year, instituting a series of rules reforms designed to boost scoring. They have largely failed to stick.

NPCC Knights Softball Splits with Dawson

Posted on March 10, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team split their doubleheader with the Dawson County Community College Lady Buccaneers on Tuesday at the Wayne Dowhower Softball Complex.

The Knights lost the first game 14-12 in extra innings and won the second game 5 – 1.

The Lady Buccaneers Jackie Thomas led off the first game by being hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on a wild pitch that was ball four to Rachael Dillon. Both of them scored on ground outs to give the Lady Buccaneers the early 2 – 0 lead at the top of the first inning. In the bottom half of the first, the Knights scored five runs on four infield hits to make the score 5 – 2 in favor of the Knights. In the second inning with Jacey Schleicher on base, the Lady Buccaneers Dillon homered to cut the lead to 5 – 4.

Shannon Lieber, the Knights first baseman led off the bottom of the third with a home run. An inning later, with Sara Villalobos on base, Lieber doubled and later scored to make the score 8 – 6.

The Knights were leading going into the seventh inning 9 – 7. The Lady Buccaneers rallied to tie the score at nine on runs by Haley Swan and Venessa Quintero.

In the eighth inning, the Lady Buccaneers were able to push across five runs to take the lead 14 – 9. The Knights rallied for three runs in the eighth inning by Audrie Conner, Villalobos and Sara Runia but it was not enough to win.

In the second game, the Knights scored four runs in the second inning by Brittney Odum, Shelby Clark, Toree Polsley and Andrea Quiroga.

Lieber added a run in the fourth on a solo home run to make the score 5 – 0.

Pitcher Baileigh Oleson was able to hold the Lady Buccaneers scoreless for 4.1 innings. Dillon scored the only run for the Lady Buccaneers in the second game.

The Knights are now 4 – 12 on the season and the Lady Buccaneers are now 3 – 1 on the season.

The same two teams will face each other again on Wednesday in a doubleheader. Game times are 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. CDT.

The games will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1410 and on the internet at www.northplattepost.com. They will also be live streamed on www.coachesaid.com.

Huskers Post 37th Straight Home Opening Win

Posted on March 10, 2015March 11, 2015

Lincoln – The Nebraska baseball team (8-6, 0-0 Big Ten) won its 37^th straight home opener on Tuesday afternoon at Hawks Field with a 9-3 win over the Northern Colorado Bears (2-6, 0-0 WAC). The Huskers scored seven of their runs in the first two innings, and senior Blake Headley led the NU offensive attack with a pair of triples.

4,121 fans came out to watch the Huskers on a beautiful afternoon, as temperatures reached the low 70’s. It was the largest crowd for a home opener since 2012, when 4,169 fans came out to watch the Huskers beat Kansas State.

After freshman Garett King notched a 1-2-3 first inning in his the start of his NU career, the Husker offense gave King some run support with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Following a pair of walks to Jake Schleppenbach and Ryan Boldt, Headley delivered his first triple of the game to give the Huskers a 2-0 lead. Headley then crossed the plate on an RBI by Ben Miller.

The Huskers loaded the bases with no outs in the second and the Bears forced in a pair of runs when reliever Dylan Shiraki hit Miller and walked Luis Alvarado. Austin Darby then pushed NU’s lead to 7-0 with a two-RBI double.

The Bears cut into Nebraska’s lead with a run in the fourth and a pair of runs in the eighth to make it a 7-3 game, but another triple by Headley along with Miller’s third RBI of the game in the bottom of the eighth pushed NU’s lead back to six runs at 9-3.

Colton Howell polished off the win in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts and King earned the win, his first as a Husker.

The Huskers and Bears will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at 1:35 p.m. for the second game of their two-game series. A pair of freshmen right handers are scheduled to start tomorrow, Zack Engelken for the Huskers and Zach Heath for the Bears.

McNabb, Quick lift Kings to 5-2 Win over Avalanche

Posted on March 10, 2015

DENVER (AP) — Brayden McNabb had a goal and two assists, Jonathan Quick stopped 21 shots and the Los Angeles Kings beat Colorado 5-2 on Tuesday night to end the Avalanche’s three-game win streak.

Marian Gaborik, Jeff Carter, Kyle Clifford and Jake Muzzin also scored as the reigning Stanley Cup champions crept closer to playoff contention with 16 games remaining.

Tyson Barrie and Alex Tanguay scored for the Avalanche, who dropped the first contest in a pivotal three-game homestand as their postseason aspirations dwindle.

Rookie goaltender Calvin Pickard filled in after Semyon Varlamov injured his groin over the weekend. Pickard’s night didn’t last long, with the Kings scoring three early goals and chasing him from the game at 14:15 of the first period. Reto Berra took over the rest of the way.