Sports – Page 466 – North Platte Post Archive

Huskers to Make Two Super Tuesday Appearances in 2014-15

Posted on August 13, 2014

Lincoln – Nebraska will make its first Super Tuesday appearance since 2011 this upcoming season, as ESPN and the Big Ten Conference announced its Super Tuesday schedule Wednesdayafternoon.

The Huskers, who return all five starters from a team that went 19-13 in 2013-14 including All-Big Ten performers Shavon Shields and Terran Petteway, will make a pair of Super Tuesdayappearances this season on ESPN. The nine-game schedule is traditionally one of ESPN’s highest-rated basketball series during the season.

Nebraska will travel to Ann Arbor to take on defending Big Ten regular-season champion Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 6 p.m. (central). On Tuesday, Feb. 10, Pinnacle Bank Arena will host its first Super Tuesday game when the Huskers welcome Final Four participant Wisconsin to town. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (central).

The only Big Ten programs making more Super Tuesday appearances in 2014-15 are Wisconsin (four) and Michigan (three). Nebraska’s only previous Super Tuesday appearance since joining the Big Ten came in 2011, when the Huskers played Wisconsin in their Big Ten debut at the Devaney Center.

Today’s games were the first announced regular-season Big Ten Conference games for the 2014-15 season. The full conference schedule will be announced later this summer.

ESPN Super Tuesday Schedule

Date Matchup Time TV

Jan. 6 Ohio State at Minnesota 8 p.m. ESPN

Jan. 13 Michigan at Ohio State 6 p.m. ESPN

Jan. 20 Iowa at Wisconsin 8 p.m. ESPN

Jan. 27 Nebraska at Michigan 6 p.m. ESPN

Feb. 3 Indiana at Wisconsin 6 p.m. ESPN

Feb. 10 Wisconsin at Nebraska 8 p.m. ESPN

Feb. 17 Michigan State at Michigan 8 p.m. ESPN

Feb. 24 Wisconsin at Maryland 6 p.m. ESPN

March 3 Iowa at Indiana 6 p.m. ESPN
All times listed are central

MLB Owners Meet to Elect Next Commissioner

Posted on August 13, 2014

BALTIMORE (AP) — Major League Baseball owners have begun two days of meetings that could lead to the election of Commissioner Bud Selig’s successor.

MLB Chief Operating Officer Rob Manfred, Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner and MLB Executive Vice President of Business Tim Brosnan were picked by the seven-man succession committee as candidates and were slated to make presentations Wednesday to the delegations from the 30 teams.

Selig has ruled baseball since September 1992, first as chairman of baseball’s executive council and since July 1998 as commissioner. He announced last fall that he plans to retire in January 2015.

Balloting is planned for Thursday and a three-quarters majority — 23 — is needed for election. Owners have estimated Manfred has the support of 20-21 teams headed into the meetings.

Pelini Praises Spirited Competition

Posted on August 13, 2014

Lincoln, Neb. – The Nebraska football team held the first of two Wednesday practices with a 90-minute morning practice at the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields outside of the Hawks Championship Center.

Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini met with the media following practice, noting that he has been impressed with what he has seen so far out of the team.

“We have made good progress, and we have good competition going on,” Pelini said.

With the loss of sophomore linebacker Michael Rose-Ivey, there has been some shuffling in the linebacker corps. Redshirt freshmen Marcus Newby and Courtney Love both have impressed Pelini and will likely be contributors for the Blackshirt defense.

“Newby is playing the Buck linebacker and Love is playing the Will, Pelini said. “Both of those guys have made some good progress over the last few weeks. Those guys are getting better.”

Newby, a North Potomac, Md., native, was a highly touted linebacker out of Quince Orchard High School, the same high school that produced recent NU defensive end and current Houston Texan Jason Ankrah. Love is a Youngstown, Ohio, native and graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School, Pelini’s alma mater.

Pelini also gave high praise to the Huskers’ depth at defensive line, noting that a few freshman have been impressive.

“There is a lot of good competition going on there as well,” Pelini said of the defensive line. “Those guys are getting better, (Joe) Keels, (A.J.) Natter, (Jack) Gangwish and some of the true freshmen,” Pelini said. “(Mick) Stoltenberg, he has not played a lot of defensive end and is a little behind but I think he is going to be good. (Peyton) Newell has also done a nice job over the last couple of days.”

Pelini noted that it has been highly competitive when the offense and defense have faced each other during practice.

“They have gone back-and-forth a lot,” he said. “I think a couple of days ago the offense really got after the defense and it was really vice-versa last night. It has been pretty spirited competition.

“The thing is, it is about executing both offensively and defensively. It is not about who wins and losses in a particular drill. We are looking at execution on both sides of the ball, guys doing the right thing. We are mixing a lot of things personnel wise, and I am seeing a lot of good things but I see we have a ways to go.”

Nebraska fans are reminded about their opportunity to be on hand at Memorial Stadium as the Huskers kick off the 2014 season. Fans can purchase the Cornhusker Kickoff Combo package for the Florida Atlantic game on Aug. 30 and the matchup with McNeese State on Sept. 6. The two-game package can be purchased at Huskers.com for $100. Fans can also purchase single-game tickets to all games other than the Miami and Minnesota games at Huskers.com.

NP Lady Bulldogs Softball to Begin Season with a Scrimmage Monday

Posted on August 13, 2014

Bulldogs Pitcher Katie Franzen Delivers a Pitch Against Omaha Gross last season.

The 2014 North Platte High School girls softball team will have an exhibition intrasquad softball scrimmage at 5:30 pm Monday, August 18 at the Wayne Dowhower Softball Complex.

The Lady Bulldogs are coming off a season where they went 25-11 and advanced to the Class B State Tournament in Hastings. North Platte went 0-2 at state but have a great chance to make it back to the state tournament. This year will have to be a different path though for the Lady Dawgs since they have moved back into Class A.

North Platte lost only one senior off of last year’s team and returns its entire pitching staff. The Lady Bulldogs also have a new head coach. Last year’s coach, BJ Songster, moved with her family to Idaho and last year’s assistant coach Les O’Donnell is the new head coach. His staff is completed with assistants: Molly Morales, Rick Titus and Jeff Barner.

Monday’s scrimmage will kickoff the season for North Platte and the public is invited to attend. The cost of admission is a bottle of water, Gatorade or other sports drink. A special invitation is extended to the youth softball players in the North Platte area.

The NPHS softball teams, varsity and junior varsity, will officially begin the 2014 season when they travel to Hastings on Thursday, August 21 to play Adams Central in double header contests. The First games of the double headers will begin at 5:00 pm.

Nebraska’s Armstrong: Expectations High for Him

Posted on August 13, 2014

Tommy Armstrong Jr. Nebraska Huskers — Tommy Armstrong Jr.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. knows expectations for him will be higher this season.

Armstrong had never taken a meaningful snap when he was thrust into the starter’s job after Taylor Martinez was injured last year. Armstrong helped the Cornhuskers to a nine-win season that ended with a bowl victory over Georgia.

Armstrong says he feels more like a leader now.

Ameer Abdullah, the nation’s top returning rusher, remains the top offensive threat for seventh-year coach Bo Pelini.

The Huskers are playing in the new Big Ten West Division. They’re looking for their first conference title since 1999.

Their opener is Aug. 30 at home against Florida Atlantic.

Despaigne’s Pitching Lifts Padres to 4-1 Win over Rockies

Posted on August 13, 2014

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Odrisamer Despaigne pitched five-hit ball for seven innings, leading the San Diego Padres to a 4-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win.

Despaigne (3-3) struck out eight and walked two for San Diego, which has won 10 of 13. Chris Nelson drove in two runs in the eighth inning for the Padres.

Alexi Amarista and Abraham Almonte also drove in runs. Yasmani Grandal had two of the Padres’ six hits.

Yohan Flande (0-5) went six innings and gave up four hits and two runs as Colorado lost for the fifth time in six games.

Lester Leads Athletics Past Royals, 11-3

Posted on August 12, 2014August 12, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jon Lester pitched six strong innings and Josh Donaldson homered twice and drove in four runs as the Oakland Athletics beat Kansas City 11-3 Tuesday night, snapping the Royals’ eight-game winning streak.

Lester (13-7) has won all three of his starts since the A’s acquired him in a July 31 trade for All-Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. Lester struck out nine and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks.

The Royals have won 11 of 13 with both losses to Lester, who is 9-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 13 career starts against Kansas City.

Donaldson homered in the seventh and eighth off left-hander Bruce Chen for his third multi-homer game of the season.

Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie (8-10) allowed six runs on 11 hits in 4 2-3 innings.

Game and Parks, UNL to Survey Hunters About Public Land Use in Nebraska

Posted on August 12, 2014

LINCOLN – This fall the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Nebraska will begin a three-year survey of hunters who use public lands in Nebraska.

Beginning Sept. 1, hunters at wildlife management areas or private lands enrolled in the Open Fields and Waters program may be approached by UNL researchers or Game and Park staff, who will ask a series of questions about their hunting experiences. Game and Parks will use insights gained from the surveys to improve opportunities and access on existing public hunting lands, as well as to help guide future land purchases. Hunters’ participation in the survey is voluntary, but they are encouraged to share their experiences and opinions.

“Hunters are important conservation partners, and we want to ensure that they have ample hunting opportunities in Nebraska,” said Karie Decker, assistant wildlife division administrator for Game and Parks. “Learning more about how hunters use and perceive public lands is a critical component of making sure our hunters have quality places to hunt.”

The research is funded by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Restoration Grant administered by Game and Parks. More information on the project is available at FishHunt.unl.edu.

Royals Place LHP Downs on 15-Day DL

Posted on August 12, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals placed left-hander Scott Downs on the 15-day disabled Tuesday with a stiff neck.

The Royals had to open a roster spot with the arrival of Josh Willingham, acquired in a trade Monday with Minnesota. Willingham was in the lineup as the designated hitter and batting sixth for the second game of a four-game series with Oakland.

Downs, who had not pitched since Aug. 2, is 0-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 12 relief appearances with the Royals. The 38-year-old was signed July 6 after the Chicago White Sox released him.

Selig Eager to Step Aside and Introduce Successor

Posted on August 12, 2014

BALTIMORE (AP) — Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is looking forward to writing a book, teaching history and relaxing when he retires this winter.

Before that happens, however, he hopes to introduce his successor — perhaps as soon as Thursday.

Baseball’s 30 owners will meet in Baltimore this week to vote on Selig’s replacement. A seven-man committee whittled down an expansive list to three candidates: MLB Chief Operating Officer Rob Manfred; Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner and Tim Brosnan, MLB Vice President of Business.

Speaking at Camden Yards on Tuesday, Selig said, “The process has worked just the way I thought it would. I gave them a great list of names, and these names were on it.”

To win Thursday’s vote, a candidate must receive approval from 23 owners.