Sports – Page 400 – North Platte Post Archive

Royals Run to World Series has Kansas City Buzzing

Posted on October 16, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City fans who long ago became accustomed to having one of the worst teams in baseball suddenly find their team in the World Series.

Nearly three decades after beating St. Louis in the 1985 World Series, the Royals have embarked on an improbable playoff run that has them back in the hunt for a championship.

The excitement surrounding the team has created a whole new generation of Royals fans who are learning how to celebrate winning baseball for the first time.

Sports bars around the metro area shook Wednesday afternoon as Kansas City clinched the pennant right in the middle of happy hour. Thursday morning, fans gathered outside sports apparel stores hours before they opened, eager to buy newly minted AL Championship gear.

Nebraska Adds Akron to 2018 Football Schedule

Posted on October 16, 2014

Nebraska has completed its 2018 non-conference football schedule with the addition of a home game against the University of Akron.

The Huskers will play host to the Zips in the season opener on Sept. 1, 2018. The matchup will be the second all-time meeting between Nebraska and Akron. The Huskers defeated Akron, 59-14, in the 1997 season opener at Memorial Stadium.

Akron is coached by Terry Bowden, who is in his third season at the school. The Zips own a 4-2 record in 2014, including a victory at Pittsburgh.

The matchup with Akron completes a 2018 non-conference schedule that also includes home games against Colorado (Sept. 8) and Troy (Sept. 15).

Nebraska will play nine Big Ten games in 2018, including four home contests against Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State. The Huskers’ 2018 road schedule includes games at Michigan, at Wisconsin, at Northwestern, at Ohio State and at Iowa.

With the exception of one non-conference game to be scheduled in 2017, Nebraska’s future schedules are complete through the 2019 season.

Theriot Earns Preseason All-Big Ten Honors

Posted on October 16, 2014

Nebraska point guard Rachel Theriot earned preseason first-team All-Big Ten honors from conference coaches and media, when the Big Ten announced its preseason awards on Thursday, Oct. 16.

The awards were announced while Theriot and Nebraska Coach Connie Yori were in Chicago attending Big Ten Basketball Media Day.

Theriot, a 6-0 junior from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, averaged 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game last season to help the Huskers to a 26-7 overall record and a trip to the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. She was even better in Big Ten play, averaging 15.6 points, 3.6 boards and 7.3 assists per contest while carrying a Big Ten-best 2.7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. She helped the Huskers to a 12-4 conference mark.

Theriot was at her best during Nebraska’s run to the Big Ten Tournament title, averaging 18.7 points and 10.0 assists, including a Big Ten Tournament-record 18 assists in a second-round win over Minnesota. They were the most assists by a Big Ten player against a Big Ten opponent in history.

A first-team All-Big Ten selection as a sophomore, Theriot added Big Ten Tournament MVP honors, before being named an honorable-mention All-American by the Associated Press.

Theriot was joined on the Big Ten coaches’ five-player preseason team by Iowa senior point guard Samantha Logic, Michigan State sophomore guard Aerial Powers, Northwestern sophomore forward Nia Coffey and Minnesota senior guard Rachel Banham, who was named preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by both the coaches and the media.

The media chose Theriot, Logic and Banham along with Ohio State junior guard Ameryst Alston, Minnesota sophomore center Amanda Zahui B., and Maryland sophomore guard Lexie Brown.

As a team, Nebraska was picked to finish third in the media’s preseason conference power rankings, trailing preseason favorite Maryland and No. 2 Michigan State. Maryland, which enters its first season in the Big Ten, is coming off a trip to the NCAA Women’s Final Four. Michigan State shared the 2014 Big Ten regular-season title with Penn State.

Iowa was the preseason No. 3 pick by the conference coaches behind Maryland and Michigan State. The Big Ten does not announce a full preseason team poll, but chooses only the top-three teams in the conference.

2014-15 Big Ten Coaches Preseason Rankings

1. Maryland
2. Michigan State
3. Iowa

2014-15 Coaches All-Big Ten Team

Rachel Theriot, Jr., G, Nebraska
Aerial Powers, So., G, Michigan State
Nia Coffey, So., F, Northwestern
Samantha Logic, Sr., G, Iowa
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, Minnesota (Player of the Year)

2014-15 Big Ten Media Preseason Rankings

1. Maryland
2. Michigan State
3. Nebraska

2014-15 Media All-Big Ten Team

Rachel Theriot, Jr., G, Nebraska
Ameryst Alston, Jr., G, Ohio State
Lexie Brown, So., G, Maryland
Amanda Zahui B., So., C, Minnesota
Samantha Logic, Sr., G, Iowa
Rachel Banham, Sr., G, Minnesota (Player of the Year)

BTN to Debut Brook Berringer Documentary

Posted on October 16, 2014

The story of Brook Berringer, a beloved Husker quarterback who is best remembered for his resilience and selflessness in the face of adversity and his tragic death two days before the NFL draft, is legendary in the Cornhusker State.

On Oct. 18, BTN Originals debuts “Unbeaten: The Life of Brook Berringer.” The hour-long documentary, presented by Physicians Mutual, will be shown immediately following the Huskers-Northwestern game on BTN/BTN2Go.

Bill Friedman, BTN’s coordinating producer for original programming, said “Unbeaten” is just not a sports story, but a story about human character.

“Brook was way ahead of his time,” Friedman said. “He built a reputation for giving back and he is beloved because so many think he represents what a Nebraskan should be.

“His life is a great college football story that happens to take place in Nebraska.”

Berringer began the 1994 season as the Huskers’ backup quarterback but was thrust into the starting role when Heisman Trophy candidate Tommie Frazier was diagnosed with blood clots. Berringer helped lead the team to seven straight wins and a berth in the Orange Bowl against Miami. While Frazier returned to start the game, Berringer entered in the second quarter and helped spark a comeback. The win capped off the undefeated season, and gave Coach Tom Osborne his first national championship.

As the 1995 season dawned, Berringer and Frazier engaged in a spirited battle for the starting job, which Frazier won by a narrow margin. Berringer selflessly accepted his backup role that season as Frazier and the Huskers rolled to a second straight national championship.

The following spring, two days before the 1996 NFL draft, Berringer lost control of the two-seater plane he was piloting and died when the plane crashed. He was 22.

“Unbeaten” features rare footage of Berringer on camera, highlights of some key Husker games leading up to the national championship and interviews with Frazier, Osborne, and Brook’s mother, Jan Berringer, who shares some of the thousands of letters she received in the wake of his death.

The BTN Originals crew also was in Lincoln in September when the 1994 championship team was honored before the Huskers’ 41-31 victory over Miami. The crew captured exclusive footage and an interview with Berringer’s teenage nephew, who walked onto the field wearing a No. 18 jersey in honor of the uncle he never met.

“Unbeaten” is directed by Matthew Engel and Kevin Shaw, who together also directed “Tiebreaker,” the story of the 1973 Ohio State-Michigan football game that ended in a 10-10 tie and its controversial aftermath. The “Unbeaten” premiere will have limited commercial interruptions.

Maryland Picked to Win Big Ten

Posted on October 16, 2014

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Big Ten newcomer Maryland is the pick to win the conference in women’s basketball in a vote by coaches and media. Minnesota’s Rachel Banham is the Preseason Player of the Year.

Maryland and Rutgers are playing in their first season in the conference. The Terrapins won 28 games and reached the Final Four last season. They beat out Michigan State for preseason conference honors, with Iowa picked third.

Banham, a senior, averaged 22.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.3 steals last season.

She was joined on the coaches’ preseason team by Iowa’s Samantha Logic, Michigan State’s Aerial Powers, Nebraska’s Rachel Theriot and Northwestern’s Nia Coffey. Six players were chosen because of a tie.

The results of the vote were announced Thursday.

Petteway Named to Preseason All-Big Ten Team

Posted on October 16, 2014

Chicago — Nebraska junior guard/forward Terran Petteway was honored Thursday morning, as he was chosen for the preseason All-Big Ten team.

The five-member team, which is selected from media members from around the Big Ten region, were announced prior to the opening session of Big Ten Media Day in Chicago. Petteway is a returning first-team All-Big Ten pick after averaging a conference-high 18.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 2013-14.

He is the first Husker chosen to a preseason all-conference team since Aleks Maric in 2007.

In 2013-14, Petteway became the first Husker to lead the conference in scoring in over 60 years en route to earning first-team all-district accolades by the NABC (coaches) and U.S. Basketball Writers Association (writers). He was a consistent scorer for the Big Red, reaching double figures 30 times in 32 games, including a pair of 30-point outings. He had a career-high 35 point game – the most by a Husker since 2008 – against Minnesota. Petteway had many of his best games against NU’s toughest opponents, averaging 20.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in 12 games against top-50 RPI teams last season.

Petteway is joined on first team by Indiana’s Yogi Ferrell, Caris LeVert of Michigan and the Wisconsin duo of Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky. In addition, the conference released the top three teams in the preseason poll. Wisconsin was a unanimous choice to win the league with Michigan State and Ohio State picked second and third, respectively.

Huskers Dominate Northwestern on “Pink Night”

Posted on October 16, 2014

Lincoln – The No. 13 Nebraska volleyball team made quick work of Northwestern on “Pink Night,” sweeping the Wildcats 3-0 (25-12, 25-22, 25-13) on Wednesday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

The Huskers improved to 11-5 overall and 5-2 in Big Ten action, while Northwestern dropped to 13-5 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten.

The Huskers outhit Northwestern .290 to .000, the lowest a Husker opponent has hit this season.

Alicia Ostrander led a balanced Husker attack with 12 kills, her third straight match with double-digit kills and seventh in eight matches. Ostrander hit a career-best .440 on the night. Kadie Rolfzen had nine kills and 13 digs while hitting .500. Meghan Haggerty had five kills and six blocks, while Cecilia Hall had five kills and four blocks. Mary Pollmiller had 28 assists.

The Huskers had an 11-6 edge in blocks. Although the Wildcats entered the match second in the Big Ten in digs per set in conference play, Nebraska outdug them 42-40 and also had a 7-0 advantage in service aces.

Katie Dutchman led Northwestern with seven kills. Nebraska held the Wildcats’ best offensive threat, Symone Abbott, to just three kills and a -.150 hitting percentage. She came in averaging 3.48 kills per set.

In the first set, the Huskers turned a 2-1 deficit into an 8-2 lead with a 7-0 run, keyed by two blocks and back-to-back Justine Wong-Orantes aces. The Huskers showed considerably improved passing from Sunday’s loss at Michigan and were hitting .433 in taking a 14-5 lead. Nebraska finished out the 25-12 win, its largest margin of victory in a Big Ten set this season. The Huskers hit .391 in the frame, while Northwestern struggled to a -.091 clip.

In set two, Nebraska needed a timeout after Northwestern staked an 11-8 lead. The Huskers came out of the break with a kill by Ostrander and a Wildcat wide shot to get within 11-10. Soon after, the Huskers leveled the set at 12-12 on another Wildcat hit out of bounds. But Northwestern responded with four points in a row to reclaim a 16-12 edge. Northwestern led 18-14, but Haggerty terminated and Northwestern misfired twice and committed a net violation to bring the score level at 18-18. Haggerty swung down from the right side to give Nebraska a 20-19 lead, its first in the set since it was 5-4 Huskers. Haggerty then stuffed Taylor Tashima’s set attack to make it 21-19 Big Red. But the Wildcats rallied to take a 22-21 lead with two kills by Savannah Paffen. Pollmiller caught Northwestern with a surprise attack to tie the set at 22-22, and Alexa Ethridge served an ace straight to the floor to make it 23-22 Huskers. Ostrander then hit off a block and out to give Nebraska set point, and the Huskers finished it off, 25-22, with a chicken-wing save and kill from Ostrander.

The Huskers took any potential drama out of the third set immediately, bolting to an 8-0 lead with some incredible defensive saves along the way. The seventh point of the run came after one of the longest rallies of the season resulted in a block by Hall and Amber Rolfzen to force a Wildcat timeout. Ostrander killed after the timeout to make it 8-0 Huskers, and Nebraska never looked back in closing out the sweep with a 25-13 victory.

The Huskers host No. 15 Illinois on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Devaney Center. The match will be streamed live online on ESPN3.com and will air tape-delayed on ESPN2 on Sunday at Noon.

Cain is Able: Royals Center Fielder Wins ALCS MVP

Posted on October 15, 2014

Lorenzo-Cain-Kansas-City-Ro — Lorenzo Cain

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lorenzo Cain has been selected MVP of the AL Championship Series after helping the Kansas City Royals to a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 2-1 victory Wednesday.

The Royals are headed back to the World Series for the first time since beating the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in 1985, the last time Kansas City even reached the playoffs.

Along with making a series of splendid defensive plays in center field, Cain had eight hits in the series, matching the franchise record for an ALCS set by Willie Wilson in 1985 against Toronto.

Cain matched a Royals record with four hits in Game 2 on Saturday, and scored Kansas City’s first run in Game 3 on Tuesday night. He also laid down a key sacrifice bunt — the first of his career — that helped the Royals take a 2-0 lead in the first inning Wednesday.

Royals Hold Off Orioles 2-1, Finish ALCS Sweep

Posted on October 15, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — With more dominant defense, an opportunistic offense that plated two runs in the first inning and a bullpen that shut down the Baltimore Orioles once again, Greg Holland and the Kansas City Royals wrapped up a sweep of the AL Championship Series with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday.

Next stop: the Royals’ first World Series since 1985, when they last made the playoffs.

Kansas City hosts the first two games beginning Tuesday against the winner of the NLCS between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals.

Jason Vargas combined with three relievers on a four-hitter, with Holland earning his fourth save of the ALCS. It was the first time the AL East champion Orioles have been swept in 21 postseason series.

Players’ Lawyer Defends NFL Concussion Deal

Posted on October 15, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — More than a dozen objections have been filed over the NFL concussion settlement, but a lead players’ lawyer says he negotiated the best deal he could.

Lawyer Christopher Seeger says the plan was designed to help men with life-altering dementia or brain disease.

Lawyers challenging the class-action settlement this week say it doesn’t cover many of the neurological problems their clients face.

Retirees with serious dementia or Alzheimer’s disease could get $1 million or more. But former players battling depression or other mood disorders wouldn’t be covered.

A federal judge in Philadelphia will weigh objections next month. She declined Wednesday to let critics question Seeger under oath over the negotiations.

The NFL has agreed to pay at least $765 million over 65 years. The fund would offer awards or medical monitoring to nearly 20,000 former players.