Sports – Page 297 – North Platte Post Archive

John Axford Agrees to Minor League Contract with Rockies

Posted on February 3, 2015

John Axford with the St. Louis Cardinals

DENVER (AP) — Reliever John Axford has agreed to a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies and will try to earn a job as a setup man for closer LaTroy Hawkins.

Axford was 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA in 62 games with Cleveland and Pittsburgh last year, when he struck out 63 and walked 36.

In six seasons in the major leagues, Axford is 24-23 with a 3.40 ERA and 116 saves, including 10 for Cleveland in last year.

He would get a $2.6 million, one-year contract if he’s added to the 40-man roster and have the chance to earn performance bonuses.

Raftery, Grant Hill to Call Final Four in Place of Anthony

Posted on February 3, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Bill Raftery and Grant Hill will call the Final Four this season, taking the place of the suspended Greg Anthony.

CBS and Turner Sports said Tuesday that Raftery and Hill will work as analysts alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz.

Anthony was suspended for the rest of the season Jan. 17 after he was arrested in Washington on charges he solicited a prostitute.

Raftery will get to call his first Final Four for TV after more than three decades of broadcasting the NCAA tournament. This will be Hill’s first year working as a game analyst during the tourney.

Hill won two national titles at Duke and played 19 seasons in the NBA before retiring and joining Turner Sports in 2013.

UNC Hires Former Nebraska Defensive Coordinator Papuchis

Posted on February 2, 2015

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina has hired former Nebraska defensive coordinator John Papuchis as an assistant coach.

Papuchis coached at LSU under Nick Saban before joining Bo Pelini’s staff at Nebraska in 2008, spending the past three seasons as defensive coordinator.

Papuchis joins a staff looking to reshape a defense that gave up more points and yards than any team in program history, including allowing school records of 70 points and 789 yards in a loss at East Carolina.

Last month, the Tar Heels hired former Auburn head coach Gene Chizik as its new defensive coordinator. Head coach Larry Fedora says the 36-year-old Papuchis has “quickly earned a reputation as an outstanding teacher and recruiter.”

Team spokesman Kevin Best says Papuchis’ position assignment has yet to be determined.

The Top 10 Most-Watched Super Bowl Games

Posted on February 2, 2015

The most-watched Super Bowl games in history, according to the Nielsen Co.:

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1. 2015, New England vs. Seattle, 114.4 million viewers.

2. 2014, Seattle vs. Denver, 112.2 million.

3. 2012, N.Y. Giants vs. New England, 111.3 million.

4. 2011, Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh, 111 million.

5. 2013, San Francisco vs. Baltimore, 108.7 million.

6. 2010, New Orleans vs. Indianapolis, 106.5 million.

7. 2009, Arizona vs. Pittsburgh, 98.7 million.

8. 2008, N.Y. Giants vs. New England, 97.4 million.

9. 1996, Dallas vs. Pittsburgh, 94.1 million.

10. 2007, Chicago vs. Indianapolis, 93.2 million.

Huskers Host Wildcats Tuesday Evening

Posted on February 2, 2015

The Nebraska men’s basketball team looks to snap a two-game losing streak, as the Huskers return home to take on Northwestern Tuesday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

A limited number of 300 Level tickets are available for $10 each by visiting Huskers.com, calling 800-8-BIGRED or at the Pinnacle Bank Arena box office Tuesday evening beginning at 5 p.m.

Tipoff is set for 6:31 p.m. and the contest will be televised nationally on BTN with Kevin Kugler and Jim Jackson on the call. Tuesday’s game is also available online and on mobile devices on BTN2Go.

The game will be broadcast across the state of Nebraska on the 37-station IMG Husker Sports Radio Network, including KLIN 1400 AM in Lincoln, 1110 KFAB in Omaha and KRVN 880 AM in Lexington with Kent Pavelka calling the action and Matt Davison adding color commentary. The game can be heard for free on Huskers.com and is available on the Huskers’ app on iOS or android devices, as well as on TuneIn Radio and on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.

The Huskers (12-9, 4-5 Big Ten) ran into tough sledding in their last outing, falling at Minnesota, 60-42, Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis. Nebraska shot just 37 percent from the field against the Gophers, and were doomed by 20 turnovers, which was twice the Huskers’ average in Big Ten play entering the contest. NU had 15 of the turnovers in the first half, as the Huskers dug themselves a seven-point deficit. Despite the turnovers, the Huskers were within seven and had a chance to cut into the lead in the final four minutes, but Minnesota closed out the win by scoring the final 11 points.

Junior forward Shavon Shields led Nebraska with 11 points in Saturday’s loss and is now nine points away from reaching 1,000 career points. The 6-foot-7 junior is enjoying his best season as a Husker, ranking sixth in the Big Ten with 16.3 points per game and has topped NU in scoring in each of the past two contests. Shields also received good newsSaturday night, as his father, Will, was announced as one of the 2015 inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Northwestern (10-11, 1-7 Big Ten) is looking to snap a seven-game losing streak, as the Wildcats fell to Purdue, 68-60, on Saturday. Northwestern has had its fair share of close games in conference action, as six of its eight Big Ten games have been decided by five points or less or in overtime.

NPCC Knights Softball Signs Ramirez from Scottsbluff

Posted on February 2, 2015

The North Platte Community College Knights added Lou Ramirez to their 2015-2016 softball recruiting class. Ramirez is from Scottsbluff, Nebraska and played for the Scottsbluff High School Lady Bearcats. Ramirez said that her favorite position is the outfield but can play various other positions.

Scottsbluff High School softball coach Mike Gentry said about Ramirez, “Lou is just a really hard worker and she’s one of those kids that you can just pretty much put wherever on the field. If we had somebody that would go down she is very versatile, we could plug her in at any different positions.”

Knights softball coach Janelle Higgins said, “We are looking for someone to come in and help us in the outfield, but also be that utility player. At the college level, you are never just an outfielder or infielder.”

Ramirez batted in the lead off position for the Lady Bearcats. Coach Gentry added about Ramirez, “She is just a very dynamic player and really took hold of the leadoff spot for us this past year. She really made us click. She is a great player and really glad she has this opportunity. Her hard work and dedication sets her apart.”

Ramirez said that she was planning on just staying in Scottsbluff and going to school and not playing softball but when the opportunity came up she took it. “It’s pretty exciting that I get to go play softball. I really wasn’t expecting to, but Coach Higgins got a hold of Coach Gentry and asked about us. I went to a camp and really liked it. I really loved the campus, so it’s pretty exciting” Ramirez said. “It’s really exciting, softball is the only sport I play that I’m good at so to further it makes me happy.”

Ramirez plans to major in Early Childhood Development while attending North Platte Community College.

Ramirez took part in the Mid-Winter Softball Clinic that was held January 17 at the North Campus Hitting Facility at North Platte Community College. Coach Higgins said, “She came to camp not knowing what she was coming into. We had a little talk before letting them know what they are getting into; what college softball life is like. She really meshed with the freshmen who will be returning and with recruits who were also there.” Higgins added, “Seeing how hard she worked in camp, she stood out and proved that she is there to play.”

Ramirez in her senior year with the Bearcats appeared in 28 games and batted .410 with six doubles and four triples. She also scored 26 runs and knocked in 15 runners. Ramirez had a .471 on base percentage and a .569 slugging percentage. She also stole 18 bases.

Ramirez also played in the summer for the Twisters, a travelling team who went 81-9-1 in 2013 and won the Nebraska 16 and under state tournament. She plans to play for 23 club this summer to prepare for college.

Higgins said “I really think she will be able to step in and help us out. We look for those kids that want to work hard and play softball.”

Ramirez is the fourth recruit for the Knights softball program for 2015-2016. The others include: Shelby Belloni, of Lakewood, Colorado; Sami Gill, of Gilcrest, Colorado; and Antonia Villani, of Frederick, Colorado.

US Judge Wants NFL Concussion Settlement to Aid More Players

Posted on February 2, 2015

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The judge presiding over thousands of NFL concussion lawsuits wants lawyers to tweak the proposed settlement to benefit more retired players.

Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody in Philadelphia is considering a plan that could pay out $1 billion over 65 years.

Brody has granted preliminary approval but asked Monday that players get credit for time spent with NFL Europe. She also wants families to have more time to file for deaths involving traumatic brain injury.

Brody has asked the NFL and players’ lawyers to file revisions by Feb. 13.

The NFL expects 6,000 of nearly 20,000 retired players to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or moderate dementia someday.

Critics say former players exhibiting mood disorders would be left out of the settlement, but Brody did not reference those concerns Monday.

The Top Twenty Five College Basketball Rankings

Posted on February 2, 2015

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Feb. 1, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:

	Record	Pts	Prv
1. Kentucky (65)	21-0	1,625	1
2. Gonzaga	22-1	1,503	3
3. Virginia	19-1	1,470	2
4. Duke	18-3	1,416	4
5. Wisconsin	19-2	1,381	5
6. Arizona	20-2	1,338	6
7. Villanova	19-2	1,209	7
8. Kansas	18-3	1,177	9
9. Louisville	18-3	1,114	10
10. Notre Dame	20-3	1,072	8
11. Iowa St.	16-4	892	15
12. North Carolina	17-5	861	13
13. Utah	17-4	824	11
14. N. Iowa	20-2	792	18
15. West Virginia	18-3	779	17
16. Wichita St.	19-3	678	12
17. Maryland	18-4	508	16
18. VCU	17-4	479	14
19. Baylor	16-5	420	20
20. Ohio St.	17-5	358	—
21. Oklahoma	14-7	312	24
22. Butler	16-6	250	25
23. SMU	18-4	221	—
24. Georgetown	15-6	162	21
25. Texas	14-7	106	19

Others receiving votes: Texas A&M 40, Seton Hall 22, Arkansas 21, Indiana 18, San Diego St. 18, Colorado St. 11, Dayton 9, Tulsa 8, Xavier 8, Stephen F. Austin 5, Providence 3, Stanford 3, Louisiana Tech 2, Murray St. 2, Oklahoma St. 2, Temple 2, Georgia 1, Michigan St. 1, Rhode Island 1, Valparaiso 1.

Record Overnight Ratings for Game

Posted on February 2, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Despite the scandals that have plagued the NFL, last night’s Super Bowl may have set a record for viewership.

The Nielsen company says the preliminary overnight ratings were the highest-ever for the game — up four percent from last year in the nation’s largest media markets.

Fans were treated to a thriller — with New England’s win over Seattle not sealed until an interception on the goal line with seconds remaining.

Last year’s contest between Seattle and Denver was seen by 111.5 million viewers, as the annual game set a record for the most-watched TV event in U.S. history for the fourth time in five years.

This Week in Nebraska Athletics

Posted on February 2, 2015

Tuesday, Feb. 3 Men’s Basketball Northwestern (BTN) Pinnacle Bank Arena 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 5 Women’s Basketball Rutgers (BTN) Piscataway, N.J. 6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 6 Track & Field Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Devaney Indoor Track Noon

Friday, Feb. 6 Softball vs. Colorado State (Hotel Encanto Invite) Las Cruces, N.M. 2:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 6 Women’s Tennis Drake Lincoln Racquet Club 4 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 6 Softball at New Mexico State (Hotel Encanto Invite) Las Cruces, N.M. 5 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 6 Wrestling at Michigan (BTN Plus) Ann Arbor, Mich. 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7 Track & Field Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational Devaney Indoor Track 10 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7 Softball vs. Montana (Hotel Encanto Invite) Las Cruces, N.M. 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7 Women’s Tennis Drake vs. Eastern Michigan Lincoln Racquet Club 11 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7 Softball vs. Texas Tech (Hotel Encanto Invite) Las Cruces, N.M. 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7 Men’s Basketball at Penn State (ESPNU) University Park, Pa. 3 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7 Men’s Tennis at Denver Denver, Colo. 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7 Women’s Gymnastics Iowa (Power of Pink) Devaney Center 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7 Men’s Gymnastics at Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 8 Women’s Tennis Eastern Michigan Nebraska Tennis Center 10 a.m.

Sunday, Feb. 8 Softball vs. UTSA (Hotel Encanto Invite) Las Cruces, N.M. 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, Feb. 8 Wrestling at Michigan State (BTN Plus) East Lansing, Mich. 11 a.m.

Sunday, Feb. 8 Women’s Basketball at Maryland (ESPN2) College Park, Md. 3 p.m.