Sports – Page 446 – North Platte Post Archive

AP source: Chiefs’ Smith Agrees to 4-Yr Extension

Posted on September 1, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith has agreed to a four-year, $68 million extension that includes $45 million in guaranteed money, a person familiar with the contract told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the team had not announced the deal, which will keep Smith in Kansas City through the 2018 season.

The Kansas City Star first reported the agreement.

Smith and his representatives had been discussing an extension with the Chiefs for several months, and the veteran quarterback was hopeful a deal would be done before the regular season.

Turns out it was completed one day before the Chiefs were scheduled to have their first practice for their season opener Sunday against Tennessee.

Down at Half, US Beats Turkey in Basketball Worlds

Posted on September 1, 2014

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — Kenneth Faried scored 22 points, Anthony Davis all of his 19 in the second half, and the U.S. rebounded from a rare deficit at halftime to beat Turkey 98-77 on Sunday in the Basketball World Cup.

A night after beating Finland by 59 in its biggest rout ever while using NBA players in the former world championship, the Americans couldn’t take control against Turkey until early in the fourth quarter.

They trailed 40-35 at halftime and Turkey led by six early in the third before the Americans could finally get the game into the quicker tempo they prefer and pull away to win the rematch of the 2010 gold-medal game in Istanbul.

But it was a much tougher one than expected after the Americans hammered Finland 114-55 while Turkey was being outplayed for most of its opener by New Zealand before pulling out the victory.

Huskers Complete 3-2 Comeback Over Marquette

Posted on September 1, 2014

Milwaukee, Wis. – Facing a 2-0 deficit in the second half, the Nebraska soccer team (3-1) rallied with three goals over the final 26 minutes to defeat Marquette, 3-2, at Valley Fields on Sunday afternoon.

Sophomore Jaycie Johnson scored a pair of goals to increase her season total to four in just as many games in 2014. Johnson put the Huskers on the board in the 65th minute by coming straight up the middle before finding the back of the net.

Johnson earned her second goal of the day in the 83rd minute off an assist from senior Caroline Gray to put Nebraska up for good. Johnson snuck it past the Marquette goalkeeper on the left side after receiving the ball in the box. All three of Johnson’s shots on Sunday were on goal as Nebraska totaled seven against the Golden Eagles’ defense.

Senior Mayme Conroy also scored for the Huskers when she found the right corner of the net in the 69th minute. Conroy’s goal marks her first of the season as she took four shots during the game, two of which were on goal.

Nebraska goalkeeper Kelly Schatz earned four saves over 90 minutes of play. Marquette took 13 shots for the game as Jacie Jermier and Alex Heffron scored goals for the Golden Eagles. Jermier’s goal came in the 14th minute from a free kick, while Heffron scored in the 61st minute off an assist from Ann Marie Lynch.

Nebraska completes a 2-0 weekend after taking down Butler on Friday night at the Nebraska Soccer Field by a 1-0 margin following Caroline Flynn’s goal in the 83rd minute. Sunday’s victory marked NU’s first road win of the season in its first attempt away from home.

The Huskers return home for a pair of matches next weekend at the Nebraska Soccer Field. On Friday, NU hosts Oklahoma at 5:30 p.m. (CT) before a Sunday match against North Dakota at 1 p.m. Both games will be streamed on the Big Ten Digital Network.

Huskers Outdone by No. 3 Stanford

Posted on September 1, 2014

Lincoln – The seventh-ranked Nebraska volleyball team fell to No. 3 Stanford, 3-0, in front of 8,562 fans at the Devaney Center in the final game of the AVCA Showcase on Sunday.

Stanford (2-0) led most of the way in each of the first two sets and won both by identical 25-17 scores. The Huskers (0-2) jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the third set before Stanford took 13 of the next 17 rallies to go up 19-14 en route to a 25-19 win in the third and final game.

Junior Kelsey Fien led the Huskers with nine kills, while Mary Pollmiller and Alicia Ostrander each had five kills. Pollmiller’s five kills came on 11 attacks for a team-best .364 hitting percentage, and she added 24 assists. Freshman Annika Albrecht had 10 digs, as did sophomore Amber Rolfzen.

Jordan Burgess led three Stanford players with double-digit kills with a match-high 14. She also had 12 digs. Morgan Boukather added 13 kills and 18 digs, while Inky Ajanaku posted 10 kills and hit .500 to lead the Cardinal to a team hitting percentage of .365. The Huskers hit just .131 on the afternoon but committed 10 fewer errors than the 26 on Friday against Florida State. Madi Bugg had 46 of Stanford’s 53 assists and was successful four times on her five attacks.

The Huskers posted the first point of the match, but Stanford responded with three straight to go up 3-1 and never let the Huskers even up the set the rest of the way. NU cut the Cardinal lead to 9-8 on a kill by Ostrander and a Stanford error. But the Cardinal went on a 6-0 run to go up 15-8 after four straight attacking errors from the Huskers. Stanford built the lead to 20-10, but Nebraska tried to build momentum heading into set two with back-to-back kills by Ostrander and Amber Rolfzen to get within 24-17 before Stanford’s Boukather finished off the game. Seven of the Huskers’ 16 attack errors in the match came in the first set.

In set two, Stanford built an 8-5 lead before Fien and Pollmiller sandwiched kills around a Stanford error to even the set at 8-8. But an NU service error and kill by Boukather put Stanford back on top 10-8. Soon after, Kadie Rolfzen recorded a kill and another Cardinal attacking error tied the set at 12-12. But just like the previous time NU evened up the set, Stanford responded quickly with three points this time to go up 15-12. The Huskers were never able to get closer than three points the rest of the set as Stanford hit .450 in set two for the 25-17 win.

Freshman Sydney Townsend served the Huskers into a 3-2 lead in the third set with an ace, and Stanford hit into the net to put NU up 4-2. After a kill by Stanford, Albrecht posted a kill and the Cardinal hit into the net again to give NU a 6-3 lead to force a Stanford timeout and bring the Devaney Center crowd into the match. Stanford crept back to within 7-5 on a McGehee kill, but the Huskers took three of the next four rallies for a 10-6 lead. NU maintained the four-point edge at 12-8, but Stanford put together a 5-0 run to claim a 13-12 lead. A service error by Stanford evened the game at 13-13, but the Cardinal pulled away with six points in the next seven rallies for a 19-14 lead. Burgess had two kills during the run. The Huskers could get no closer than three points the rest of the way as the Cardinal finished off the match with a 25-19 win in game three.

The Huskers will hit the road for the first time this season at the Flyer-Raider Invitational next weekend in Dayton, Ohio. NU will play at Dayton on Friday at 6 p.m. (Central) and then face CSU Bakersfield at 10 a.m. and Eastern Kentucky at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Chiefs Claim DT Square, Release TE Gordon

Posted on September 1, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs claimed defensive tackle Damion Square off waivers and released tight end Richard Gordon as they began final assembly of their roster for the season opener.

Unlike last year, when the Chiefs were atop the waiver claim priority list, they were just 23rd in line this season. That means 22 other teams skipped on Square, who was active for 10 games with Philadelphia last year but was among the Eagles’ final cuts Saturday.

Gordon was the fourth tight end kept by the Chiefs and was unlikely to be kept long.

The Chiefs also began assembling their 10-game practice squad Sunday, though they had not yet officially announced any of the signings.

Indians Beat Royals 3-2 in 11 Innings

Posted on August 30, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana each had an RBI single in the 11th inning, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 3-2 victory over the sliding Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

Kansas City has lost three in a row to fall into a first-place tie with Detroit, which split a doubleheader at Chicago. Cleveland is just 3 1/2 back in the bunched AL Central.

The Royals got a run back in the bottom of the 11th when Salvador Perez’s two-out double scored Jarrod Dyson. But Erik Kratz struck out to end the game.

Matzek, Rockies Beat D-Backs’ Hard-Luck Nuno 2-0

Posted on August 30, 2014

PHOENIX (AP) — Rookie Tyler Matzek gave up three hits in seven innings, Matt McBride and Charlie Blackmon homered and the Colorado Rockies handed Arizona’s Vidal Nuno another hard-luck loss with a 2-0 victory over the Diamondbacks on Saturday night.

Maztek (4-9) struck out four and walked three.

Nuno (2-9) allowed a run on two hits, fanned seven and walked none. After McBride’s second-inning home run, Nuno retired the next 20 before leaving after eight innings, trailing 1-0.

He is 0-4 in 10 starts since coming to Arizona in the trade that sent Brandon McCarthy to the New York Yankees. In seven of those starts, he’s allowed two or fewer runs.

Blackmon homered off reliever Matt Stites in the ninth.

LaTroy Hawkins walked a batter and gave up a single in the ninth before fanning Didi Gregorius for his 22nd save in 23 tries.

No. 15 NPCC Lady Knights 5-0 at McCook Tournament

Posted on August 30, 2014

McCook – The No. 15 North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team went 5-0 at the McCook Tournament over two days. The Lady Knights travelled down to McCook on Friday afternoon where they defeated Dodge City Community College in four sets 27-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-18, Southeast Community College in four sets 25-22, 25-14, 17-25, 25-21 and Lamar Community Collge in straight sets 25-13, 25-12, 25-19. North Platte then returned on Saturday where they knocked off Eastern Wyoming College in four sets 25-13, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20 before defeating the host McCook Community College in straight sets 25-16, 25-15, 25-18.

In the opening game of the tournament the Lady Knights were led by freshman Valerie Most and sophomore Samantha Kennedy who finished with 16 kills and 15 kills respectively in their four set victory. Both Most and Kennedy had three blocks. Sophomore Samantha Byrn was also in double-figures with 10 kills. Joli Hopping paced North Platte with 26 assists while Gabbie Nickel had 16. Erika Goodwin had 21 digs while Aryn Meisinger had 12 and Byrn had 11.

Against Southeast Kennedy was the lone Lady Knight in double-figures in kills with 12 to go along with six blocks as they won in four sets. Hopping again led the way in assists with 18 while Nickel had 14. Goodwin had 24 digs while Byrn had 15 and Meisinger had 12.

In the third and final game of the first day, the Lady Knights won in straight sets and were again led by Kennedy (11 kills) and Most (10 kills). Kennedy, sophomore Kylie Wroot and sophomore Abby Kurtzer all had four blocks. Hopping contributed 17 assists and Nickel chipped in 14. Goodwin was the lone Lady Knight in double-figures for digs with 17.

On Saturday, the Lady Knights defeated Eastern Wyoming for the second time already this year in four sets. Kennedy and sophomore Taylor King both had 10 kills for North Platte. Nickel led the way for the Lady Knights with 22 assists and Hopping had 20. Goodwin had 27 digs while Byrn had 21 and Meisinger had 12.

In the final game of the tournament, North Platte knocked off their rival and the host McCook in straight sets. Kennedy and Byrn led the strong showing with 12 kills apiece while Hopping had 27 assists and Goodwin had 23 digs. Meisinger and Byrn each had 11 digs.

“We had a good weekend going 5-0,” said head coach Sally Thalken. “Next week will be very tough with Hastings College JV and Northeastern Junior College. I hope we step up to the challenge.”

The Lady Knights return to action on Tuesday September 2 as they travel to Hastings to take on the Hastings College JV at 7 p.m. North Platte then returns home on Thursday September 4 to host No. 16 (D1) Northeastern Junior College in newly remodeled McDonald-Belton Gymnasium at 7 p.m.

No. 22 Nebraska Rolls over Florida Atlantic 55-7

Posted on August 30, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Ameer Abdullah and Tommy Armstrong Jr. had career games and Nebraska had its most productive offensive day in almost a quarter century.

Maybe there is something to this “Red Storm” nickname that the Cornhuskers’ offensive players came up with. Florida Atlantic was in the path Saturday, and the Huskers rolled to a 55-7 victory.

Abdullah, the nation’s top returning rusher, ran for a career-high 232 yards and a touchdown before leaving in the middle of the third quarter. Tommy Armstrong Jr. passed for a career-high 271 yards and two TDs before sitting down late in the third.

The Cornhuskers rushed for 498 of their 784 total yards and won their 29th straight opener, the longest streak in the nation. Nebraska’s offensive total was the fifth highest in program history and most since the Huskers gained 787 against Utah State in 1991.

“I know what this offense has the potential to do, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves now,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “Our captains said we didn’t come into this season to beat Florida Atlantic. So we won a game we should have won. I do like the fashion we won it.”

Abdullah had 178 yards by halftime while becoming the eighth Nebraska player to go over 3,000 yards rushing in a career. Terrell Newby added 107 yards rushing.

Florida Atlantic, with first-year coach Charlie Partridge, was paid $1 million to visit Lincoln and will get another $1 million for playing at No. 2 Alabama next week. The Owls of Conference USA went 75 yards on their first series to tie it at 7, but they gained just 51 more before Nebraska’s defense began freely substituting after the third quarter.

“There were times we looked like we’d have a powerful offense. At times it looked like we needed to get better at some things,” Partridge said.

About the only negative for Nebraska was the loss of star defensive end Randy Gregory, who went out with a left leg injury in the first quarter and was in street clothes for the second half. Pelini said he didn’t know the nature of the injury.

Abdullah’s best run came in the second quarter when he broke through the line and sidestepped cornerback Cre’von LeBlanc on his way to a 47-yard touchdown. It was among his nine runs of 10 yards or longer.

Abdullah left the stadium without speaking to the media. Armstrong said Abdullah ran the same way he had been in practice.

“He went out there to prove something,” Armstrong said.

Asked what Abdullah had to prove after running for almost 1,700 yards last season, Armstrong said, “That he’s the best back in the nation. I think (some analysts) have him the No. 2 or 3 back in the Big Ten. I think he’s taken that to heart and proven to everyone why he should be one of the contenders for the No. 1 spot.”

Jay Warren led the Owls with 77 yards rushing, and Jaquez Johnson and Greg Hankerson combined to go 11 of 30 for 95 yards.

Jordan Westerkamp had seven catches for 125 yards and Kenny Bell four for 116 for the Huskers. Westerkamp made the catch of the game when he put his hands behind his back to snag a tipped pass along the sideline. The 16-yard play on a third-and-6 kept alive a drive that put the Huskers up 38-7.

“I ran a corner route and saw the ball get tipped,” Westerkamp said. “I put my hands back and the ball landed perfectly. It was a crazy play.”

Crazy, indeed.

“I’ve coached a lot of football, and I’ve never seen that one,” Pelini said. “Even to have the wherewithal to throw your hands back there. I always say he catches anything that’s near him. He showed that right there.”

Armstrong, who completed 15 of 29 passes, finished with 333 yards of total offense and was relieved by Ryker Fyfe late in the third quarter.

The game originally was billed as the Pelini Bowl because it was to have matched Nebraska coach Bo Pelini against his brother, former FAU coach Carl Pelini. But Carl Pelini was forced out with four games left last season amid allegations of drug use, which Carl denied. Offensive coordinator Brian Wright led the Owls to four straight wins and a 6-6 finish as interim coach.

Royals Send Colon to Double-A to Make Room for Nix

Posted on August 30, 2014

Jayson Nix when he played for the New York Yankees.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals have optioned rookie infielder Christian Colon to Double-A Northwest Arkansas, opening a roster spot for infielder Jayson Nix.

The moves were made before Saturday’s game against Cleveland.

Colon batted .302 in 19 games with the Royals. Nix was claimed off waivers Thursday from Pittsburgh and arrived in time for Saturday’s game.

The 32-year-old Nix hit .111 in 16 games with the Pirates. He began the season with Philadelphia.

Colon, who started seven games at second base and three at third, was the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft out of Cal State Fullerton. Kansas City plans to recall him Tuesday after Northwest Arkansas’ season ends and major league rosters can be expanded to 40.