Sports – Page 454 – North Platte Post Archive

Five Seniors Named 2014 Team Captains

Posted on August 25, 2014

Nebraska announced Monday that five seniors have been selected as captains for the 2014 season.

The group includes three offensive players in I-back Ameer Abdullah, receiver Kenny Bell and offensive guard Jake Cotton. The defense is represented by cornerback Josh Mitchell and safety Corey Cooper.

The players come from five different states including Nebraska (Cotton), Alabama (Abdullah), Colorado (Bell), Illinois (Cooper) and California (Mitchell). Cooper and Cotton have already earned their undergraduate degrees, while Abdullah, Bell and Mitchell are all on track to graduate this December.

This marks the second consecutive season Nebraska has elected season-long captains after choosing game captains during Bo Pelini’s first five seasons as head coach.

Last season, Nebraska selected four captains prior to the season and added two captains at season’s end, including Abdullah, who now joins a rare list of two-time Husker team captains. Abdullah is just the eighth player in school history to be a captain for two seasons, including five under Pelini.

Others on the list include Taylor Martinez, Rex Burkhead, Brett Maher and Alex Henery in recent years. Prior to Henery in 2009 and 2010, the most recent two-time captain was Ed Weir in 1924-25, while the first two-time captains were James H. Johnson in 1891-92 and John Westover in 1901-02.

Cotton’s selection as a captain marks the ninth straight year a native Nebraskan has been named a team captain, including five Lincoln natives in the group. Cotton is the only returning starter on the offensive line for the 2014 season and is set to line up at left guard for the Huskers for the second straight year.

A fifth-year senior, Bell is in position to become the first player in school history to lead Nebraska in receptions for four straight seasons. He could also become Nebraska’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards this season. Bell’s selection marks the second straight year a receiver has been elected a captain, joining Quincy Enunwa last season.

The defense is represented by a pair of fifth-year senior defensive backs in Cooper and Mitchell. Cooper, a native of Maywood, Ill., has started 17 games over the past two seasons and is Nebraska’s leading returning tackler. A California native, Mitchell has started 15 games during his Nebraska career and has been a contributor in the secondary and on special teams each of the three previous seasons.

Mitchell and Cooper mark the first pair of captains from the same position group since defensive linemen Zach Potter and Ty Steinkuhler were team captains in 2008. The last time two defensive backs were selected as captains in the same year came in 1999, when Mike Brown and Ralph Brown both served as team captains.

Chiefs Trim 11 Ahead of First Roster Deadline

Posted on August 25, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have waived 11 players and placed safety Sanders Commings on injured reserve as they pare down their roster before the first deadline.

The Chiefs have 78 players on their active roster. They need to have 75 by Tuesday afternoon.

Wide receiver Weston Dressler, a star in the CFL, was among the first round of cuts. Also waived were wide receivers Darryl Surgent, Jerrell Jackson and Deon Anthony; defensive backs Jerron McMillian, Brandon Jones and Vernon Kearney; defensive lineman Jairus Campbell; offensive lineman Otis Hudson and tight end Adam Schiltz.

The Chiefs play Green Bay on Thursday night in their final preseason game. The roster must then be trimmed to 53 players by Saturday afternoon.

This Week in Nebraska Athletics

Posted on August 25, 2014

Friday Aug. 29 Soccer Butler Nebraska Soccer Field 5:30 p.m.

Friday Aug. 29 Volleyball Florida State (AVCA Showcase) Devaney Center 7 p.m.

Saturday Aug. 30 Football Florida Atlantic (BTN) Memorial Stadium 2:30 p.m.

Sunday Aug. 31 Volleyball Stanford (AVCA Showcase) Devaney Center Noon

Sunday Aug. 31 Soccer at Marquette Milwaukee, Wis. 1 p.m.

9-Year Tackle Winston Justice Among Broncos Cuts

Posted on August 24, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have parted ways with 11 players, including nine-year veteran tackle Winston Justice and undrafted rookie running back Brennan Clay of Oklahoma.

Sunday’s moves reduced Denver’s roster to 77 players with two more cuts necessary by Tuesday afternoon.

Among those waived was Chase Vaughn, a 25-year-old defensive end who was playing in his fifth professional league after being signed following an impressive showing at the team’s rookie minicamp in the spring. Vaughn injured a knee in the beginning of training camp and was waived/injured.

Injured fifth-year linebacker Jamar Chaney’s contract was terminated.

Also waived were wide receivers Greg Hardin and Greg Wilson, quarterback Bryn Renner, running back Jerodis Williams, linebacker Jerrell Harris, safety Charles Mitchell and defensive tackle Will Pericak.

Bergman Earns 1st Win as Rockies Beat Marlins 7-4

Posted on August 24, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer and Christian Bergman pitched into the seventh to earn his first major league win, helping the Colorado Rockies beat the Miami Marlins 7-4 on Sunday.

Bergman (1-2) was reinstated from the disabled list earlier in the day after missing 51 games with a broken left hand. He gave up nine hits and four runs in his first start since June 20.

Arenado kept up his torrid month by going 2 for 4, raising his average to .388 in August. He also was hit on the right elbow in the fifth but stayed in the game.

No. 15 NPCC Lady Knights Split Four Games of Subway Invite

Posted on August 24, 2014

North Platte – The No. 15 North Platte Community College Lady Knights started off their 2014 season by earning a split in the opening weekend of the their season and the 2014 Subway Invite.

In the opening game of the year, the Lady Knights defeated the Eastern Wyoming Lady Lancers in straight sets 25-15, 25-16, 25-18. North Platte then dropped their first game of the season to the Sheridan College Lade Generals in a hard fought five match battle 25-23, 17-25, 25-21, 15-25, 14-16. On Saturday the Lady Knights returned to the court where they were defeated by the Casper College Lady Thunderbirds in four sets 25-19, 14-25, 22-25, 20-25. North Platte then earned the split on the weekend by defeated the No. 16 ranked team in Division I, the Northeastern Junior College Lady Plainsmen, in four sets 25-22, 19-25, 25-19, 25-21.

Against the Lady Lancers the Lady Knights were led by freshman Valerie Most who finished with eight kills while sophomore Samantha Kennedy ended with six kills and recorded seven kills to lead North Platte. Sophomore Erika Goodwin was the leader in digs with 15 while sophomore Joli Hopping recorded 19 assists to pace the Lady Knights.

In the second game of the night, North Platte lost a hard fought five set battle to the Lady Generals. Kennedy led the way for the Lady Knights as she recorded 13 kills six blocks. Most was not far behind as she finished with nine kills. Goodwin again led the way with 19 digs while Hopping (12), Samantha Byrn (10) and Gabbie Nickel (10) all finished in double-figure digs. Hopping paced North Platte with 25 assists while Nickel chipped in 14.

On Saturday against Casper no Lady Knight was in double-figures for kills as Valerie Most led the way with nine followed closes by Samantha Kennedy with eight. Erika Goodwin (29) and Samantha Byrn (15) paced North Platte with double-figure digs. Joli Hopping had 23 assists while Gabrielle Nickel chipped in 10.

In the final game of the Subway Invite, the Lady Knights knocked off the nationally ranked Lady Plainsmen behind 16 kills from Kennedy and 12 from Most. Kennedy also paced the Lady Knights with five blocks. Hopping again was in double-figures in assists with 26 as was Nickel with 18. Four Lady Knights were in double-figures in digs led by Goodwin with 25 followed closely by Byrn (22), Hopping (19) and Aryn Mesinger (13).

The Lady Knights return to action next week as they travel to McCook for the McCook Invite on Friday August 29 and Saturday August 30.

Huskers Drop 2-1 Decision to Blue Demons

Posted on August 24, 2014

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska soccer team (1-1) came up short in its attempt at an opening weekend sweep, falling to DePaul 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Nebraska Soccer Field.

Sophomore Jaycie Johnson scored for the Huskers in the 89th minute off an assist from Caroline Flynn to give NU a chance in the closing minutes. Johnson’s tap-in score marked her second goal of the 2014 campaign. She led the Huskers on Sunday with two shots as NU compiled five for the game.

The Blue Demons opened the scoring in the 16th minute as Elise Wyatt rebounded a shot that hit the left post and knocked it in. Abby Reed put DePaul up for good with her unassisted goal in the 85th minute.

DePaul compiled six shots on goal for the game, three of which came from Wyatt. Nebraska goalkeeper Kelly Schatz earned four saves over 90 minutes of work.

The Huskers return to the Nebraska Soccer Field on Friday against Butler at 5:30 p.m. The game will be streamed on Huskers.com. Following its matchup with the Bulldogs, NU travels to Marquette for a Sunday showdown at 1 p.m.

Rangers Avoid Sweep with 3-1 Win over Royals

Posted on August 24, 2014

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Scott Baker won as a starter for the first time in more than three years and the Texas Rangers beat the AL Central-leading Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep.

Adrian Beltre put Texas ahead to stay with an RBI double in the first. Beltre had his fifth straight mulithit game, including all three games against Kansas City to extend his hitting streak against the Royals to 17 games.

Baker (2-3) went five innings in a spot start, 12 days after winning with two relief innings against Tampa Bay on Aug. 12. That was his first victory since a start for Minnesota against Detroit on July 23, 2011.

Pheasant Show Some Improvement in 2014, Quail Outlook Good

Posted on August 24, 2014

LINCOLN – Nebraska pheasant hunting opportunities in 2014 should be on par with last year or slightly better, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s upland game hunting outlook.

The consensus among Game and Parks’ field staff is that habitat conditions have improved across most of the state, providing suitable nesting and brood-rearing habitat for pheasants. However, spring storms seem to have negatively impacted pheasant hatch. Replacement nests for those lost to these early storms might yet compensate for some of the losses.

Pheasant populations are beginning to recover from the drought of 2012-2013. The southwest and Panhandle regions should have the best hunting opportunities. The abundance of pheasants in the southwest should be similar to 2013 but still lower than before the drought. Habitat loss in the eastern part of the state continues to be a concern, particularly east of U.S. Highway 81.

The outlook is based on spring and summer upland game surveys, and conditions reported by biologists. Regional weather events that could impact populations are considered.

Bobwhite quail abundance was higher across the state based on surveys and field observations. Southeast Nebraska, especially Johnson, Pawnee and Richardson counties, should offer the best opportunities for hunting quail, but conditions should be good rangewide.

Abundance of grouse is higher in the Sandhills and central part of the state than in any other region and is higher than 2013 in both regions. Cottontail abundance is higher overall than in 2013, with the highest abundance in the northeast and central parts of the state, where the best hunting opportunities should exist.

To view the full report, visit OutdoorNebraska.org, then click on Hunting, Upland Game, and Forecast.

Hwang, Choi Beat Chicago as South Korea Wins LLWS

Posted on August 24, 2014

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Jae Yeong Hwang drove in two runs and Hae Chan Choi weathered a late Chicago rally to lead South Korea to an 8-4 win in Sunday’s Little League World Series championship game.

Hwang gave up one hit in two-plus innings while striking out four. He also drove in the Asia-Pacific Region champs’ first two runs as they built an 8-1 lead before Jackie Robinson West made it close.

Choi, who had a homer and scored twice, pitched the last four innings for South Korea, which won its third title after back-to-back championships in 1985 and ’85.

International teams have won the last three and four of the last five titles.

Brandon Green went 5 2-3 innings for Chicago, which had survived four straight knockout games before the final.