Sports – Page 501 – North Platte Post Archive

NCAA Suggests Contact Limits for Football Practice

Posted on July 7, 2014

The NCAA is suggesting that football teams hold no more than two contact practices per week during the season in guidelines that grew out of a safety and concussion summit early this year.

Practice limits were among several recommendations released Monday by the NCAA, which called them guidelines that could change “in real time” rather than rules passed through legislation.

The practice guidelines also recommend four contact practices per week during the preseason and no more than eight of the 15 sessions during spring football.

The NCAA is also suggesting that schools have independent doctors to evaluate injuries and a “return to learn” process for integrating athletes back into their academic work after they have been diagnosed with a concussion.

The Safety in College Football Summit was in Atlanta in January.

Abdullah, Bell, Gregory Named to Watch Lists

Posted on July 7, 2014

Husker seniors Ameer Abdullah and Kenny Bell and junior Randy Gregory were each named to watch lists announced on Monday morning.

One of the nation’s top returning rushers, Abdullah was named to watch lists for both the 78th annual Maxwell Award and the Paul Hornung Award. Bell was also named to the Hornung Award Watch List, while Gregory was listed on the watch list for the 20th annual Chuck Bednarik Award.

The Maxwell Award has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937 and is presented by the Maxell Football Club. The club also presents the Bednarik Award, given annually to the College Defensive Player of the Year, since 1995. The Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse is given annually by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in college football.

Abdullah rushed for 1,690 yards last season, the most by a Nebraska player since 1997, and this fall he could become the first Husker to record three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He is also the nation’s active career leader in all-purpose yards and is on track to become Nebraska’s all-time leader in that category.

Like Abdullah, Bell is a dual threat for the Huskers, excelling as a receiver and kickoff return specialist. Bell enters his senior season poised to become the school’s all-time leader in both receptions and receiving yardage. He is also one of the nation’s top returning kickoff returners after averaging 26.5 yards per return last season, including a 99-yard touchdown.

Gregory became one of the Big Ten’s top defenders last season and has earned preseason All-America accolades in 2014. In his first year with the Huskers, Gregory led the Big Ten with 10.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Nine of Gregory’s sacks came in Big Ten Conference play, including a season-high three sacks at Michigan.

Semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced Nov. 3, while the three finalists for each award will be unveiled on Nov. 24. The winners will be announced as part of the ESPN College Football Awards show on Dec. 11.

Monday’s announcements were first of several watch lists which will be unveiled over the next two weeks. The National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the complete 2014 preseason watch list calendar:

Mon., July 7: Bednarik Award / Maxwell Award

Tue., July 8: Mackey Award / Rimington Trophy

Wed., July 9: Lou Groza Award / Ray Guy Award

Thurs., July 10: Bronko Nagurski Trophy / Outland Trophy

Fri., July 11: Jim Thorpe Award

Mon., July 14: Butkus Award / Rotary Lombardi Award

Tue., July 15: Biletnikoff Award

Wed., July 16: Davey O’Brien Award

Thurs., July 17: Doak Walker Award

Fri., July 18: Walter Camp Award

Kemp’s 4 Hits Leads Dodgers past Rockies 8-2

Posted on July 6, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Matt Kemp had four hits and drove in two runs, Adrian Gonzalez had three RBIs and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 8-2 on Sunday.

Juan Uribe added three hits for the Dodgers, who won three of four in the weekend series. They head to Detroit in first place in the NL West, a half-game ahead of San Francisco.

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, an All-Star starter with an NL-best 5.3 million votes, scored both runs for the Rockies.

Colorado was 26-20 on May 20 but has lost 17 of 20 to fall into a tie for last in the NL West with Arizona.

Josh Beckett (6-5) allowed just three hits in five scoreless innings.

Colorado left-hander Yohan Flande (0-2) allowed five runs in 4 1-3 innings.

North Platte Loses Final Game of Holiday Weekend Tournament against Norris

Posted on July 6, 2014

The North Platte First Nationals lost its final game of the Fourth of July weekend tournament held in Lincoln, 5-4 to Norris in extra innings on Sunday.

North Platte (26-17) lost its first two games of the tournament on Friday before winning two games on Saturday then finishing with the eight-inning loss to Norris on Sunday.

Norris struck first Sunday morning with a run in the top of the first inning, but the First Nationals took a 3-1 lead by scoring three runs in the second inning. The inning was highlighted by an Alec Wesslund RBI double. Norris tied the game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but North Platte responded by regaining the lead 4-3 with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Norris again tied the game in the seventh inning to force extras then got the 5-4 win by adding another run in the eighth and holding North Platte scoreless.

Jayden Kruse pitched the first seven innings for the First Nationals and gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits while striking out six batters and walking four. Jace Barker came in for the final inning and took the loss by giving up one run on two hits. Luke Volz led the way at the plate by going 2-3 with an RBI and Drew Callaghan went 1-4 with two runs batted in.

The First Nationals return home to Bill Wood Field on Wednesday with a Junior Senior doubleheader against Gering. The Seniors game will start at 8:00 pm with the first pitch of the Juniors game being thrown at 5:30 pm.

The North Platte Juniors played Fremont in Grand Island on Sunday and won 13-4. The Juniors are now 22-8 on the season.

Rockies Place Nick Masset on 15-Day DL

Posted on July 6, 2014

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have placed right-hander Nick Masset on the 15-day disabled list and recalled righty Brooks Brown from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Brown is available for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Masset was placed on the disabled list with a left patellar tendon strain after pitching in Saturday’s win over the Dodgers. Masset is 1-0 with a 4.94 ERA in 28 appearances this year. He missed the previous two seasons with a right shoulder injury that required thoracic outlet surgery.

The 29-year-old Brown was 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA and six saves in 31 appearances for the Sky Sox this year. He was signed as a free agent in the offseason. He has never appeared in a major league game.

To make room for Brown on the 40-man roster, the Rockies designated right-hander Raul Fernandez for assignment.

Indians’ Kluber Dominates Royals in 4-1 Win

Posted on July 6, 2014

CLEVELAND (AP) — Corey Kluber allowed four hits and struck out 10 in 8 1-3 innings, and Carlos Santana and Yan Gomes homered, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 4-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Kluber (8-6) took a three-hitter into the ninth before Eric Hosmer started the inning with a double. The right-hander, who gave up a solo homer to Mike Moustakas in the fifth, was pulled after striking out Salvador Perez.

Cody Allen recorded the final two outs for his ninth save.

Both of Cleveland’s home runs came off Danny Duffy (5-8) in the second. Santana led off the inning with a line drive that barely cleared the fence in right. Gomes followed with a two-run homer to center.

The First Nationals End Losing Streak, Win Twice on Saturday

Posted on July 6, 2014

The North Platte First Nationals snapped a five-game losing streak on Saturday by beating Beatrice and Lincoln NE Judds in a tournament in Lincoln.

North Platte (26-16) beat Beatrice 8-3 in its first game of the day then finished with a 6-3 win over Lincoln NE Judds in the nightcap.

The First Nationals jumped on Beatrice early by scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning. The inning was highlighted by a Luke Volz RBI double and a two-run home run by Drew Callaghan. North Platte added two more runs in the third and their final run in the fifth inning to go up 8-0. Beatrice scored a run in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh to get on the board as the First Nationals won 8-3.

Dalton Pflughaupt pitched the complete game for North Platte and earned the win by allowing three runs, two earned, on 10 hits, while striking out five batters and walking two. Volz led the way at the plate by going 3-4 with a double, a triple and three runs batted in and a run scored. Alec Wesslund was 2-3 with a run scored and Callaghan’s home run was his second this year.

North Platte ended the day with a 6-3 win over Lincoln NE Judds. Judds took the early lead by scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. North Platte took control of the game in the top of the third inning by scoring three runs thank in part to an RBI double by Darian Allberry. Lincoln NE made it a 3-2 game by scoring a run in the bottom of the third inning. The First Nationals scored a run in the fourth, sixth and seventh inning to go up 6-2 before Judds scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-3 final.

Riley Vierya earned the complete game win on the mound for North Platte by allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits. He also struck out two batters and walked two. Volz stayed hot by going 2-4 at the plate with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Alex Harms and Marcos Silos each had two hits and Jayden Kruse led North Platte with two RBI.

North Platte continues play in the Lincoln tournament on Sunday with a 10:00 am game against Norris. The First Nationals return to Bill Wood Field Wednesday with an 8:00 pm game against Gering.

The North Platte Juniors won two games on Saturday as well. The Juniors beat Millard Sox 7-3 and Lincoln Carpetland 8-6 in Hastings. The First Nationals Juniors are now 21-8 and play Fremont in Grand Island at 10:00 am Sunday. They also play Gering on Wednesday at Bill Wood Field with a 5:30 pm first pitch.

House Records 1st Major-League Win for Indians over Royals

Posted on July 5, 2014

CLEVELAND (AP) — T.J. House allowed three runs over 6 2-3 innings for his first major league win and the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Saturday night.

House (1-2) scattered nine hits, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter. The rookie left-hander was making the eighth appearance, and seventh start, of his career.

Michael Bourn’s leadoff homer sparked a three-run third inning while Nick Swisher’s bases-loaded single scored two runs in the fifth and finished Jeremy Guthrie (5-7).

Michael Brantley had three hits, including an RBI single in the eighth, for Cleveland.

Rockies Hold On for 8-7 Win over Dodgers

Posted on July 5, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Drew Stubbs hit a two-run homer, Jorge De La Rosa pitched six strong innings before giving way to a shaky bullpen and the Colorado Rockies snapped a five-game skid by holding off the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 8-7 on Saturday.

The Rockies are 3-16 since June 16 — with De La Rosa (9-6) accounting for each win. The lefty allowed two runs and three hits, all in the first inning. He then watched the bullpen almost completely unravel.

The Dodgers turned this into a game with a five-run seventh, but Adam Ottavino put the brakes on the rally.

Dan Haren (8-5) gave up a season-high eight runs in 5 1-3 innings while striking out eight. He had a hard act to follow after teammate Clayton Kershaw’s masterful performance the night before, when he allowed two hits in eight innings.

Tulowitzki Takes Another Day Off with Tight Groin

Posted on July 5, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Troy Tulowitzki is being cautious with a tight groin and will miss a second straight game to rest.

The Colorado Rockies shortstop said before the game Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers that earlier in his career he might have tried to play. Give his injury-plagued past, he’s learned to listen to his body.

Tulowitzki believes he could be back in the lineup Sunday. He leads the National League in hitting (.350) and is second in homers (18). He will also serve as the NL captain for the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game in Minnesota.

Josh Rutledge started in Tulowitzki’s place Saturday.

Before the game, the Rockies activated left-handed reliever Boone Logan (elbow) from the 15-day disabled list. The team optioned infielder Ryan Wheeler to Triple-A Colorado Springs.