Sports – Page 289 – North Platte Post Archive

NCAA Picks Schaus, White for Next Year’s Selection Committee

Posted on February 12, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Athletic directors Jim Schaus and Kevin White will become the newest members of NCAA men’s basketball selection committee next season.

The announcement came Thursday. Each will begin serving in September.

Schaus has been at Ohio since April 2008. He spent the previous nine years as athletic director at Wichita State and has worked at Oregon, Cincinnati, UTEP and Northern Illinois. He also served on the men’s basketball rules committee and the Division I committee on academic performance.

White has been Duke’s AD for six years. Previously, he led Notre Dame’s athletic department from 2000-08 and worked at Arizona State, Tulane, Maine and Loras. White also has served on several NCAA committees.

Oklahoma AD Joseph Castiglione will chair the 10-member selection committee in 2015-16.

NPCC Lady Knights Travel to Eastern Wyoming

Posted on February 12, 2015

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights travel to Torrington, Wyo. to play the Eastern Wyoming College Lady Lancers on Friday, Feb 13 at the Verle Petsch Jr. Activities Center and Gymnasium.

The Lady Knights who are 12-10 on the season are led in scoring by April Stull. Stull is averaging 15.7 points per game. Stull also leads the Lady Knights in rebounding with 8.6 rebounds per game. Aliyah Brown is the other Lady Knight to average in double figures with 10 points per game. Brown also has 3.6 steals per game.

The Lady Lancers are 16-9 on the season and have four players averaging in double figures. Joanna Perez leads with 14.2 points per game, Kara Babola averages 13.5 points per game, Asia Roper scores 10.1 points per game, and Arriel Fort is averaging 10 points per game. Babola leads the Lady Lancers in rebounding with 6.8 rebounds per game.

The Lady Lancers defeated the Lady Knights on January 10 by a score of 54-40.

Big Ten Baseball Teams Open 2015 Campaign this Weekend

Posted on February 12, 2015February 12, 2015

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Big Ten programs help open the 2015 NCAA baseball season this weekend as all 13 squads are scheduled to take the field for the first time Feb. 13-15. Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue and Rutgers each have opening-weekend series scheduled, while Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern and Ohio State are each slated to take part in various tournaments around the country.

Illinois’ first game is slated against New Mexico State at the Lamar University Cardinal Classic in Beaumont, Texas, while Indiana will play a three-game series at Stanford. Iowa takes on Kansas State in Port Charlotte, Fla., as part of the Snowbird Baseball Classic.

Maryland opens the Caravelle Resort Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C., against Western Kentucky, while Michigan travels to Long Beach State for a weekend series. Michigan State and Northwestern each travel to Surprise, Ariz., for the Oregon State Tournament.

Minnesota plays at Houston to open its season, while Nebraska is at UNLV. Like the Hawkeyes, Ohio State travels to the Snowbird Baseball Classic and will face George Mason. Penn State travels to Elon for its season opener, and Purdue is at Western Carolina. Rutgers opens its season with a weekend series at Miami.

Maryland was selected as the preseason Big Ten favorite following a vote of the conference coaches. The Terrapins were followed in the preseason poll by Nebraska in second place, No. 3 Illinois, Indiana in fourth place, No. 5 Michigan and Ohio State in sixth place. In addition, the conference coaches selected a Preseason Players to Watch list.

NCAA Women’s Basketball Committee Releases Top Seeds

Posted on February 11, 2015

Connecticut, South Carolina, Notre Dame and Tennessee would be the top seeds in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament if the season was over.

The NCAA women’s basketball committee decided for the first time to release its top four teams to this point in the season as well as the top 20 schools alphabetically. Wednesday’s list gives a snapshot of the top teams, but there is still a lot of basketball left to be played over the final month of the season.

For the first time since 2003, the women will have the top 16 teams host the opening two rounds of the NCAA tournament. Over 40 teams bid to host the first two rounds and it may not be as simple as just having the top four seeds in each region host.

Arizona State and Louisville both are on the NCAA’s list. Neither school submitted a bid to host because of scheduling conflicts.

Helmet Cams, Sideline Computers Coming to College Football

Posted on February 11, 2015

The NCAA football rules committee wants to experiment with helmet cameras, wireless communication between coaches and players on the field and the use of computers on the sideline.

The committee announced Wednesday after two days of meetings in Indianapolis that it was hoping to gather data about expanding the use of technology in college football with an eye toward implementing rules as soon as possible.

The NCAA says several conferences proposed experimenting with these rules and committee chairman and Air Force coach Troy Calhoun suggested the technology be used in some December bowl games during the 2015 season.

The committee also passed a proposal to adjust the ineligible downfield rule from 3 yards to 1 yard past the line of scrimmage and to allow for eight-man officiating crews.

NPCC Knights on the Road This Weekend with Six Games in Three Days

Posted on February 11, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights softball team travel down south to play six games in three days this weekend.

The Knights are 0-2 on the season, falling to Colby Community College in a doubleheader. The Knights are led at the plate by Jazmin Chang and Shannon Lieber, both are hitting .333. Chang has two stolen bases and Caroline Motis and Sara Runia each have one double. Lieber leads the pitching staff with a 1.17 earned run average in six innings pitched.

Knights coach Janelle Higgins said, “This weekend will be a good test for us and our endurance.”

The Knights start out on Thursday when they travel to play the Barton County Community College Cougars in Great Bend, Kan. The Cougars are 2-0 on the season after defeating Bethany College 11-3 and 9-3. In the wins against Bethany College Holly Posegate led the Lady Cougars in hitting by going four for six and one home run. Posegate also was the winning pitcher in the first game pitching a complete game and allowing four hits and three earned runs. Game times against the Cougars are at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m CST.

On Friday, the Knights travel to Denison, Texas to play the Grayson College Lady Vikings. The Lady Vikings are 2-2 on the season. The Lady Vikings are led at the plate by Moriah Mitcheson. Mitcheson is batting .500 going five for ten on the season with one home run. Marlee Boyd is 6 for 13 at the plate and has hit two home runs in the early season. The Lady Vikings pitchers are led by Jordan Gunderson who has a 0.58 earned run average in 12 innings pitched. Gunderson has allowed one earned run and 14 hits in her two games. Megan Rosewell is 1-1 with a 6.52 earned run average and McKensie Goodmen is 0-1 with a 4.20 earned run average. Game times against Grayson College are at 1 p.m and 3 p.m. CST.

Saturday the Lady Knights finish their weekend road trip by travelling to Tishomingo, OK to play the Murray State College Lady Aggies. The Lady Aggies are 1-5 on the young season. They split a doubleheader with Grayson College, losing 13-5, and then winning 7-6. Game times against Murray State are at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m CST.

Maryland Tabbed Big Ten Baseball Preseason Favorite, Nebraska Second

Posted on February 11, 2015

Rosemont, Ill. – Maryland was voted the preseason favorite to claim the 2015 Big Ten Baseball Championship as voted on by the conference coaches and announced on Wednesday. The coaches voted on the top six teams and also selected three student-athletes from their own squads to a Players to Watch list. The Terrapins were followed in the preseason poll by Nebraska in second place, No. 3 Illinois, Indiana in fourth place, No. 5 Michigan and Ohio State in sixth place.

Maryland is coming off its first Super Regional appearance in program history and returns All-American infielder Brandon Lowe and pitcher Mike Shawaryn. Lowe batted .348 last season and tied for the team lead in RBI (42). Shawaryn set the program record with 11 wins last season. Kevin Mooney, who notched a program record 13 saves in 2014, also returns for the Terrapins. Lowe, Mooney and Shawaryn were named Maryland’s Players to Watch.

Nebraska was picked to finish second after advancing to the NCAA Regional and finishing the season with a 41-21 record. The Huskers finished second in the Big Ten a year ago and return unanimous All-Big Ten first-team pitcher Chance Sinclair. Also comprising Nebraska’s Players to Watch are outfielder Ryan Boldt, a 2014 All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection, and senior pitcher Kyle Kubat, who earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team in 2013 and 2014.

Illinois welcomes back 18 letterwinners from last season, including five starting pitchers. Among the staff and Players to Watch are junior left handers Kevin Duchene and Tyler Jay. Duchene went 4-1 with a Big Ten-best 1.80 ERA, 35 strikeouts and 55 innings pitched in nine starts last season. Jay earned second-team All-Mideast Region and All-Big Ten honors a year ago, while sophomore shortstop Adam Walton was named second-team All-Big Ten and was a member of the All-Freshman team.

The Hoosiers won the 2014 outright Big Ten title and Big Ten Tournament Championship. Indiana returns three starters that hit over .300 last year, including first-team All-Big Ten selection Scott Donley, who was named to the Players to Watch list, along with pitchers Scott Effross and Ryan Halstead. Effross led the conference with 32 appearances and recorded an ERA of 1.98. The Hoosiers welcome back Halstead after redshirting last season. As a junior, he struck out 48 batters in 43.2 innings of work.

Michigan is coming off a 30-win season in 2014, with infielder and relief pitcher Jacob Cronenworth, outfielder Jackson Glines and shortstop Travis Maezes recognized as Players to Watch. On the mound, Cronenworth recorded 12 saves and posted a 1.75 ERA last season. Glines was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection after batting .332 in 2014, while Maezes hit .302 with 18 doubles, four triples and three home runs.

Ohio State rounded out the preseason poll’s top six teams. The Buckeyes return 21 letterwinners from the 2014 campaign, including seven position players and four starting pitchers. Ohio State’s southpaw, Tanner Tully, was named the 2014 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and returns as a Player to Watch this season. Ronnie Dawson and Travis Lakins were also recognized as the Buckeyes’ Players to Watch.

The 2015 Big Ten baseball season is set to begin on Friday, Feb. 13.

The top-six preseason poll and complete Players to Watch list can be found below.

2015 BIG TEN BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL (top six teams)

1. Maryland

2. Nebraska

3. Illinois

4. Indiana

5. Michigan

6. Ohio State

2015 BIG TEN BASEBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kevin Duchene, Jr., SP, Illinois

Tyler Jay, Jr., RP, Illinois

Adam Walton, So., SS, Illinois

Scott Effross, Jr., SP, Indiana

Ryan Halstead, Sr., RP, Indiana

Scott Donley, Sr., OF, Indiana

Jake Mangler, Sr., 2B, Iowa

Tyler Peyton, Jr., 1B/SP, Iowa

Eric Toole, Sr., OF, Iowa

Brandon Lowe, So., 2B, Maryland

Kevin Mooney, Jr., RP, Maryland

Mike Shawaryn, So., SP, Maryland

Jacob Cronenworth, Jr., IF/RP, Michigan

Jackson Glines, Sr., OF, Michigan

Travis Maezes, Jr., SS, Michigan

Jeff Kinley, Sr., RP, Michigan State

Blaise Salter, Sr., C, Michigan State

Mick VanVossen, Sr., SP, Michigan State

Ben Meyer, Sr., SP, Minnesota

Dalton Sawyer, Jr., SP., Minnesota

Connor Schaefbauer, Jr., 2B, Minnesota

Ryan Boldt, So., OF, Nebraska

Kyle Kubat, Sr., SP, Nebraska

Chance Sinclair, Sr., SP, Nebraska

Scott Heelan, Sr., C, Northwestern

Brandon Magallones, Sr., RHP, Northwestern

Kyle Ruchim, Sr., IF, Northwestern

Ronnie Dawson, So., OF, Ohio State

Travis Lakins, So., RHP, Ohio State

Tanner Tully, So., LHP, Ohio State

James Haley, So., SS, Penn State

Christian Helsel, So., 3B, Penn State

Taylor Lehman, Fr., LHP, Penn State

Kyle Johnson, Jr., CF, Purdue

Brandon Krieg, Sr., 3B, Purdue

Kyle Wood, Jr., 1B/RP, Purdue

Howie Brey, Jr., SP, Rutgers

Mike Carter, So., OF, Rutgers

Vinny Zarrillo, Sr., OF, Rutgers

Huskers Welcome Stanford for Senior Night

Posted on February 11, 2015

No. 10 Nebraska (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) hosts its final home dual of the season on Friday when the Huskers face Stanford for Senior Night at the Devaney Center.

Eight seniors will be honored before the dual, which starts at 7 p.m. (CT): Nyle Bartling (HWT), Luis DeAnda (149), James Green (157), Spencer Johnson (197), Robert Kokesh (174), Ian Ousley (165), John Svoboda (157) and Brandon Wilbourn (165).

The dual will be streamed on BTN Plus, with a subscription required to view the matches. Scoring will be available on TrackWrestling.com and Twitter updates can be followed from @HuskerWrestling.

The Huskers lead the all-time series against the Cardinal, 3-0-0. Last season, NU picked up a 28-12 triumph on Nov. 30, 2013, in Stanford, Calif.

This season, both teams enter the matchup on hot streaks. The Huskers have won seven consecutive duals in dominating fashion since the start of the New Year. Stanford has won eight straight duals since a loss to Oregon State on Jan. 10.

In its most recent outing, Nebraska completed a weekend sweep on the road in Michigan to finish the Big Ten dual season with an 8-1 record, which marked the Huskers’ best mark since joining the conference in 2011.

Head Coach Mark Manning enters Friday’s dual with 198 victories at Nebraska. With a win, he can tie Tim Neumann for the most wins in school history. Following Friday’s dual, Nebraska heads East to face Drexel and Princeton on Saturday, Feb. 21.

It’s Fast Becoming a Lost Season for Cold-Shooting Nebraska

Posted on February 11, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska coach Tim Miles is looking for answers to spark his offense after losses in four of the last five games.

The Cornhuskers (13-11, 5-7) are 10th in the 14-team Big Ten after Tuesday’s 65-55 loss to Wisconsin. The Huskers play at Purdue on Sunday.

Miles said the Huskers are an “incomplete team” that lacks a playmaking point guard and an inside scoring threat. Terran Petteway and Shavon Shields are among the top seven scorers in the Big Ten, but there isn’t much offensive support behind them.

Nebraska is last in scoring and 3-point shooting in Big Ten play. The Huskers have averaged 48.6 points and shot 20 percent on 3s in their five conference road games, all losses. Miles said the struggles have sapped his team’s confidence.

Former Knight Nick Tomsick Takes His Skills to Germany

Posted on February 11, 2015

Former North Platte Community College Knights basketball player Nick Tomsick has taken his skills to Germany to play for the BBG Herford team in the Regonalliga league.

Tomsick made his debut on Feb. 7 for Herford against Baskets Lüdenscheid. Tomsick was only able to attend one practice with Herford after a 30 hour long journey to Germany before his debut.

Tomsick said that he got to Germany mid-day on Thursday, practiced on Friday, and then started at point guard on Saturday.

“I had to learn two offenses, five plays, four defenses in German and some in English then started the game at point guard on Saturday,” Tomsick said.

During that game Tomsick scored 18 points, had seven rebounds, five assists and four steals in 21 minutes of playing time.

Tomsick said that the Regonalliga league that he plays in is not the Euroleague. In the Euroleague there are different teams in it each year.

Tomsick said, “You have to qualify from your country the previous year, so you have many teams from different countries in that each country has its own leagues. If you win the current league you are in you get to move up a league.”

The league that Tomsick plays in only allows one American on the team. Playing in a foreign country Tomsick has to overcome some language barriers.

Tomsick said, “Some players speak better than others. My coach speaks good English but uses German in practice and games most the time, unless he is speaking to me directly. I have one player here who usually translates in practice or tells me what to do if I do not understand.”

Tomsick, a native of Scottsdale, Arizona, played for the Knights during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. He was a first team All-Region IX player for the Knights in the 2011-2012 season. He finished his career with the Knights with 956 points, which is currently 19th on the Knights all-time scoring list. During his sophomore season with the Knights, Tomsick led the NJCAA Region IX and ranked third in the nation in scoring at 22.3 points per game. He also added 3.6 rebounds per game.

Tomsick said, “North Platte Community College and Coach Kevin O’Connor prepared me to be successful and be able to adjust in any situation that I have experienced including playing at Fort Lewis College and moving across the world to play in Germany, and for that I’m grateful.”

After Tomsick left North Platte Community College, he went to Fort Lewis College in Colorado. Fort Lewis is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) in NCAA Division II. Tomsick played for Fort Lewis during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. During his senior season, Tomsick averaged 20.0 points per game 3.1 rebounds per game and 2.3 assists per game.

Tomsick graduated from Fort Lewis with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with a Management option in May of 2014.

During his two years at Fort Lewis Tomsick left his mark at the four year school. He scored 1020 points, ranks 12th all-time in the Fort Lewis College career record books in three-point field goals (130) and 16th in free throws (232). He ranked second in both categories all time in a two year span. Tomsick was a team captain his senior year and named to the Second Team All-RMAC team his junior year and First Team All-RMAC his senior year. Tomsick was also selected as the Don Whalen Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year his senior year at Fort Lewis College.

BBG Herford is tied for first in their division with a 13-2 record.