Sports – Page 517 – North Platte Post Archive

Husker Cowboys Pepper Contestant List for Buffalo Bill Rodeo

Posted on June 16, 2014

Steer wrestler Brady Hageman, McCook, competes with the help of a fellow Nebraskan, Jeff Johnston, from Thedford. World champions and Huskers alike will be in North Platte for the Buffalo Bill Rodeo June 18-21.

North Platte, Neb. – June 16, 2014 – The contestant list has been set for the 2014 Buffalo Bill Rodeo, and 362 cowboys and cowgirls will make their way to town for thrills and spills for rodeo fans, and gold buckle dreams for the contestants.

The list is peppered with world champions and hometown cowboys alike. The reigning Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association Saddle Bronc champion Chad Ferley is entered, along with past champions like Will Lowe (bareback riding), Jeff Willert (saddle bronc riding), and Nebraska’s own two-time steer wrestling world champion Dean Gorsuch.

For Gorsuch, a Gering resident, the North Platte rodeo will be his first pro rodeo in several weeks. He tore an elbow ligament in practice and even though it doesn’t hurt while he’s steer wrestling, it hurts to do everyday things. “I tore it just practicing, and I didn’t know I’d tore it. It’s all braced up.” He will hit the rodeo road after North Platte, competing in Pleasant Grove, Utah and Reno, Nevada next week. Gorsuch will have Tommy John surgery in December, after he hopefully qualifies for his ninth National Finals Rodeo, pro rodeo’s world championship.

Dan Barner, Hershey, is another of the five dozen Huskers who will be at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo. The steer wrestler has won money at the rodeo, but has never won it. “I’ve come in about every place but first,” he joked. “It’s my hometown rodeo, and it’s a hard one to win.”

Barner and Gorsuch both competed at the Wild West Arena for state high school finals rodeo in the late 1990’s, and now it’s Dan’s son Braxten’s turn. Braxten, the five year old son of Dan and his wife Kellie, will compete on the Sunday after the rodeo. “He was in his first junior rodeo there last year,” Barner said, “and we’ve got him entered again this year. He loves it, he really loves it. It’s fun to watch him get into something I’ve enjoyed so much.”

For Gorsuch, it’s enjoyable to compete close to home. “A lot of the Sandhills people I know are there, a lot of family and friends.” Dean and his wife Bekah have three sons, ages nine, five and 14 months, and they will be in North Platte, cheering him on.

Of the eight champions from last year’s rodeo, five are returning to compete again. Jesse Bail (saddle bronc riding), Ty Blasingame (team roping), Nick Guy and Reed Petersek (who tied for the steer wrestling title), and Brittany Pozzi (barrel racing) will all ride or run in North Platte.

The rodeo, which runs June 18-21, begins at 8 pm each night. Rodeo clown and barrelman Justin Rumford will entertain. Bullfighters Quirt Hunt, Hershey, and Andy Burelle, Ardmore, Okla., will work the bull riding, and Hadley Barrett and Randy Corley, the father-in-law/son-in-law duo, will announce. Barrett grew up in the North Platte area, and Corley lived there for about twenty years. Beutler and Son Rodeo Co., Elk City, Okla., will provide the bucking horses and bulls.

Slack, the extra competition that doesn’t fit into the performances, will be at 7:30 am on June 18 and 19 and is free to the public.

Tickets for the rodeo are $20 for reserved seating and $13 for adults and $7 for kids ages twelve and under in the upper grandstand. They can be purchased at the NebraskalandDays office, online at NebraskalandDays.com, and at the gate. For more information, visit the website or call the office at 308.532.7939.

Nebraska cowboys by event and day they will compete at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo

Note: Cowboys and cowgirls may not compete due to injury or other reasons, or they may compete in a different performance than listed.

(Subject to change.)

Bareback riding

Wednesday, June 18

Wyatt Gewinner, Weeping Water

Friday, June 20

Nate McFadden, Elsmere

Steer wrestling (2 go-rounds)

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and Performance Saturday, June 21

Logan McDonald, Alliance

Dillon Simonson, Purdum

Collin Chytka, Broken Bow

Jeff Richardson, Fullerton

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and Performance Friday, June 20

Jake Kraupie, Bridgeport

Brett Gumb, Burwell

Del Ray Kraupie, Bridgeport

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and slack Thursday, June 19

Richard Coats, Hastings

Brady Hageman, McCook

Carter Coble, Ogallala

Brady Wakefield, O’Neill

Kyle Sanderson, Chambers

Ty Talsma, Verdigre

Chad Johnson, Thedford

Trevor Haake, Grand Island

Jeff Johnston, Thedford

Kyle Whitaker, Chambers

Ty Melvin, Arthur

Mike Stephen, Springview

Dustin Dailey, Long Pine

Gabe Taylor, Valentine

Linn Churchill, Valentine

Dru Melvin, Hebron

Performance Wednesday, June 18 and slack Thursday, June 19

Dan Barner, Hershey

Miles Spickelmier, Henderson

Tyler Kester, York

Slack Thursday, June 19

Dean Gorsuch, Gering

Tie-down roping (2 go-rounds)

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and Performance Saturday, June 21

Troy Pruitt, Gering

Bridger Chytka, Curtis

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and Performance Friday, June 20

Kyle Whitaker, Chambers

Garrett Nokes, McCook

Brady Wakefield, O’Neill

Boe Brown, Valentine

Riley Pruitt, Gering

Slack Wednesday, June 18 and Slack Thursday, June 19

John Klooz, Purdum

Levi Fisher, Hershey

Saddle bronc riding

Wednesday, June 18

Bryce Miller, Nelson

Thursday, June 19

Tanner Olson, Bartlett

Callan Connelly, Ogallala

Friday, June 20

Ryan Bestol, Hyannis

Saturday, June 21

Travis Sheets, Hyannis

Team roping (2 go-rounds)

Performance Wednesday, June 18 and Performance Saturday, June 21

Terry Graff, Long Pine

Jeff Johnston, Thedford

Matt Kasner, Cody

Ken Kohl, Surprise

Dustin Harris, O’Neill

Brady Wakefield, O’Neill

Ty Talsma, Verdigre

Performance Thursday, June 19 and Performance Friday, June 20

Jeff Richardson, Fullerton

Todd Pinneo, Rising City

Brandon Wyckoff, Bayard

Dustin Wyckoff, Broken Bow

Trent Barrett, North Platte

Levi Tyan, Wallace

Travis Warren, Mullen

Tucker White, Hershey

Performance Thursday, June 19 and Performance Friday, June 20

Brent Reichmuth, Humphrey

Barrel racing

Slack Thursday, June 19

Brenna Kohle, Stuart

Ginalee Tierney, Broken Bow

Cheryl Wallace, Broken Bow

Becky Pearson, Broken Bow

Lindsey Salestrom, York

Bailey Lord, Potter

Robyn Neal, North Platte

Performance Thursday, June 19

Jimi Hurlbut, Overton

Gayle White, Dickens

Performance Saturday, June 21

Jessica Leach, Rockwell

June Holeman, Arcadia

Kori Conley, Roca

Annie Haselbalch, Bennet

Bull riding

Wednesday, June 18

Bart Miller, Oshkosh

Thursday, June 19

Cody Sierks, Brewster

Buck Moon, Sargent

Jordan McAllister, Gering

Trey Kerner, Sutherland

College World Series Day 2 Recap

Posted on June 15, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Mike Papi’s RBI double into right-center with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Virginia a 2-1 victory over Mississippi in the College World Series on Sunday night.

The Cavaliers’ win came after Nathan Kirby and Artie Lewicki combined for the first one-hitter at the CWS since 1983.

The Rebels elected to pitch to Virginia’s top hitter and RBI leader even though first base was unoccupied. Aaron Greenwood (3-2) ran the count full before Papi drilled the ball into the gap, allowing Nate Irving to score from second.

Virginia (50-14) plays TCU in a winners game on Tuesday night. Ole Miss (46-20) meets Texas Tech in an elimination game in the afternoon.

Lewicki (2-0) earned the win in relief after Kirby gave up one hit and one run over seven innings. Ole Miss converted two walks and a groundout to tie it in the eighth.

Earlier in the day Boomer White drove in the go-ahead run in a dramatic eighth inning, and TCU beat Big 12 rival Texas Tech 3-2 in the College World Series on Sunday.

The Horned Frogs (48-16) fell behind in the top of the eighth after starting pitcher Preston Morrison left the game, but they came back in the bottom half against Tech closer Jonny Drozd.

TCU, the No. 7 national seed, moves to a Tuesday game against Virginia, a 2-1 winner over Mississippi on Sunday night. Texas Tech (45-20), in the CWS for the first time, will play the Ole Miss in the afternoon.

TCU closer Riley Ferrell (3-1) earned the win in relief of Preston Morrison, who allowed five singles and struck out a career-high 10 in 7 1-3 innings. Drozd (7-1) took the loss.

Spurs Beat Heat 104-87 in Game 5 to Win NBA Title, Leonard MVP

Posted on June 15, 2014

Manu Ginobli dunks over Chris Bosh in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs won their fifth NBA championship, beating the Miami Heat 104-87 on Sunday night to win the series in five games.

Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who added this title to the ones they won in 1999, 2003, ’05 and ’07. They nearly had another last year, but couldn’t hold off the Heat and lost in seven games. Leonard was named the MVP for his efforts in the final three games, all blowout wins for San Antonio.

The rematch was no match at all.

San Antonio rebounded from an early 16-point deficit by outscoring the Heat 37-13 from the start of the second quarter to midway in the third.

LeBron James had 31 points and 10 rebounds as Miami’s two-year title reign ended.

First Nationals are Champions of Bubba’s Bash Tourney in Colorado

Posted on June 15, 2014

The North Platte First Nationals went 5-0 this weekend in Canon City, Colo. and brought home the championship trophy of the Bubba’s Bash 2014 tournament.

The tournament featured eight teams from four different states, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and of course Nebraska. The First Nationals went 3-0 in pool play Thursday and Friday to earn the No. 1 seed in the National League division. North Platte (15-10) had Saturday off before playing the No. 2 seed from the American League Division, Air Academy (Colorado) Sunday.

Air Academy struck first with a run in the top of the second inning, but the First Nationals quickly responded by scoring four runs in the bottom half to take a 4-1 lead. All four of North Platte’s runs in the second inning were with two outs and the inning was highlighted by an RBI triple from Jack Kenny. The First Nationals scored one run in the third inning to add to their lead before scoring three runs in the fifth inning. Luke Volz led the fifth inning off with a double to get the bats rolling. North Platte gave up three runs in the top of the sixth inning then shut the door in the seventh to get the 8-6 win.

Riley Vierya pitched the first five and one-third innings for the First Nationals giving up six runs on eight hits while striking out five batters and earning the win. Kenny came in for the final one and two-thirds innings to earn the save. Kenny didn’t allow a base runner and struck out two batters. The win propelled North Platte to the Bubba’s Bash Championship game.

In the Championship North Platte played the No. 1 seed from the American League Division, Hays, Kan. The championship was more of a pitcher’s duel as the First Nationals won 4-3. Hays took an early 2-0 lead by scoring two runs in the top of the second inning. North Platte took its first lead in the fourth inning by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Volz highlighted the inning with an RBI double and Drew Callaghan drove in two runs as the first four batters of the inning got a hit for North Platte. Hays tied the game in the top of the fifth inning with a run scored before the First Nationals scored the winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a passed ball that Alec Wesslund came home on.

Darian Allberry pitched a complete game and earned the win for North Platte. Allberry gave up three runs, one earned, on seven hits and struck out nine batters.

The First Nationals return to Bill Wood Field on Tuesday, June 17 to play a doubleheader against Scottsbluff. North Platte traveled to Scottsbluff for the first two games of the season and lost 7-0 and 11-10. Tuesday’s games begin at 5:30 and 8:00 pm.

Morneau’s Big Hit Gives Rockies 8-7 Win vs Giants

Posted on June 15, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Justin Morneau hit a two-run double in the eighth inning as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 8-7 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep with another comeback victory.

Morneau’s pinch-hit highlighted a four-run rally for the Rockies, who scored in the ninth in each of the first two games of the series for the win.

Troy Tulowitzki had three hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs for the Rockies, who won extended their season-high winning streak to five games.

Madison Bumgarner pitched seven innings and homered for the Giants, who have lost six of seven and were swept at home for the first time.

Matt Belisle (2-2) pitched an inning for Colorado. Juan Gutierrez (1-2) allowed four runs on three hits for the Giants.

Kaymer Closes Out Wire-to-Wire US Open Win

Posted on June 15, 2014

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Martin Kaymer of Germany won the U.S. Open on Sunday with four days of dominance at Pinehurst No. 2.

Kaymer won his second major championship. He made a 15-foot par putt on the last hole for a 1-under 69, giving him an eight-shot victory over Rickie Fowler and Erik Compton.

He became only the seventh player in 114 years of the U.S. Open to go wire-to-wire, and no one ever had a chance. Kaymer led by at least four shots for the final 48 holes of this U.S. Open.

Compton, a two-time heart transplant recipient, was the only player to give him a serious challenge until consecutive bogeys early on the back nine. He closed with a 72 and gets a reasonable consolation prize — a trip to the Masters.

Perez Homers to Lift Royals over White Sox 6-3

Posted on June 15, 2014

CHICAGO (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a three-run homer and the Kansas City Royals completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox with a 6-3 win Sunday.

James Shields (8-3) won his fifth straight decision and the Royals extended their season-high win streak to seven games. He pitched out of trouble throughout his outing.

Shields allowed three runs and scattered 10 hits in six innings. Greg Holland pitched a scoreless ninth for his 20th save in 21 chances.

The Royals haven’t lost with Shields on the mound since May 2, and he’s 5-0 in eight starts because of the Royals’ 42 runs of support.

Eric Hosmer also hit a two-run home run for the Royals.

Alejandro De Aza had a two-run double for the White Sox, who lost their fourth straight game. Starter Andre Rienzo (4-4) allowed six runs on six hits in six innings.

The White Sox have lost 10 of their last 11 home games against the Royals been outscored 53-20 in them.

With one out in the first inning, Hosmer connected on a 1-2 pitch for a two-run shot to center. It was his fourth of the season.

With the Royals up 2-1 in the third inning with two outs, Billy Butler was hit by Rienzo’s pitch. Alex Gordon drew a walk then Perez followed with a tape-measure home run to left, giving the Royals a 5-1 lead. It was Perez’s seventh of the season.

Mike Moustakas scored from second on Jarrod Dyson’s RBI single in the fourth inning after he was initially ruled out on a force at second base. The call was overturned after a challenge.

Adam Eaton led off the first inning with a hard grounder that went underneath Hosmer’s mitt at first. Eaton wound up with a stand-up triple. One pitch later, Shields appeared to have Eaton picked off at third base, but plate umpire Paul Emmel ruled that Shields did not step off the rubber and awarded Eaton home. Royals manager Ned Yost argued the balk and was tossed by Emmel as he was headed back to the dugout. Yost then confronted Emmel for another animated conversation before leaving the game.

De Aza had a two-run double off Shields in the fourth inning.

NOTES: Yost was ejected for the third time this season. … White Sox LHP John Danks is scheduled to start on Tuesday against the Giants. He is 2-1 with a 2.11 ERA in his last three starts. … Eaton finished the game with three hits.

Lincoln County Raceway Results – June 14

Posted on June 15, 2014

Trying their best to outrun the oncoming storm were the IMCA challengers that competed at Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte, Nebraska on Saturday evening. Bryan Herrick, Kyle Bond and Charlie Blowers tamed the storm to claim top honors and earn a trip to the winners circle.

Grabbing the lead when it counted the most; the Rubber Duck, Bryan Herrick of Curtis floated around the top five for much of the IMCA feature event to eventually drive his way to the front of the field on the white flag lap to hold on for the win in the IMCA Sport Modified division. Herrick started in the fifth row and was able to avoid incident and be among the leaders throughout the contest. Finishing second overall after leading the first 13 laps of the feature was Robby Kosmacek of North Platte. Heat race winner Terry Dressel of North Platte earned a podium finish with a third place drive. Along with Dressel, Sutherland’s Henry Henderson won an opening night heat race.

In the IMCA stock car division, Casey Werkmeister of Maywood and Wallace’s Kyle Clough won opening night heat races, but with the impending weather approaching, the Feature event was postponed until the next regular season race night.

Driving his way to the front and then running away and hiding was Kyle Bond of Gibbon in the IMCA Hobby Stock Feature. Bond started in the fourth row and snared the lead on the fourth circuit, after winning an earlier in the evening heat race. Following Bond through the traffic was the Benkelman Bullet Austin Davis, who was high on the wheel in hopes of running down Bond, but he was forced to settle with runner-up honors. Recovering quite nicely from an early in the feature spin, Robert Leonard of Gibbon was third overall. Bond and Leonard won the heat races in the Hobby Stock division.

Scoring his first ever Feature victory was Charlie Blowers of Arnold in the IMCA Sport Compact division. Blowers started in the second row and was able to complete the pass for the lead of Devin Bjorklund of Cozad on the eighth lap and drive to the win. Sutherland’s Alex Fletcher was the runner-up with a consistency filled effort on the North Platte oval. The leader for the initial seven laps, Bjorklund crossed the finish line to earn show accolades. In one of the most impressive efforts of the night, Andrew Baumgardner of North Platte lost a wheel on the final laps of the Feature and finished fourth place overall on just three tires.

Coming up on Tuesday night at the Lincoln County Raceway is the Second Annual ‘Buffalo Bill Wild West Challenge,’ where over $10,000 purse will be awarded to the competitiors that challenge for the checkered flags. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the racing action is set to start with the drop of the green flag at 7 p.m.

Unofficial Results

–Northern Sport Modified Feature: 1. 0-Bryan Herrick; 2. 15r-Robby Kosmacek; 3. 13-Terry Dressel; 4. 11h-Henry Henderson; 5. 3-Gary Long; 6. 12j-Kerry Jones; 7. 69-Adam Kackmeister; 8. 88-Eric Kackmeister; 9. 11-Tim Cooper; 10. 848-Troy Douglas.

Heat 1: 1. 11h-Henry Henderson; 2. 15r-Robby Kosmacek; 3. 0-Bryan Herrick.

Heat 2: 1. 13-Terry Dressel; 2. 11-Tim Cooper; 3. 1-Paul Donovan.

–IMCA Hobby Stock Feature: 1. 0-Kyle Bond; 2. 22-Austin Davis; 3. 85-Robert Leonard; 4. 88j-Jacob Olmstead; 5. 72h-Kevin Hagan; 6. 22w-Brady Weinman; 7. 7s-Scott Gibson; 8. 2c-Tyson Canas; 9. 33-Ben Arvdahl; 10. 72b-Jacob Hagan.

Heat 1: 1. 0-Kyle Bond; 2. 72h-Kevin Hagan; 3. 22-Austin Davis.

Heat 2: 1. 85-Robert Leonard; 2. 88j-Jacob Olmstead; 3. 22w-Brady Weinman.

–IMCA Sport Compact Feature: 1. 22b-Charlie Blowers; 2. 67-Alex Fletcher; 3. 28d-Devin Bjorklund; 4. 44u-Andrew Baumgardner; 5. 33-Andrew McClellen; 6. 67x-Blake Fletcher; 7. 12t-Tanner Jones.

Heat 1: 1. 44u-Andrew Baumgardner; 2. 22b-Charlie Blowers; 3. 28d-Devin Bjorklund.

CWS Day 1 Recap

Posted on June 14, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Dansby Swanson doubled in two runs and Adam Ravenelle pitched 2 1-3 innings of shutout relief to help Vanderbilt beat Louisville 5-3 in the College World Series on Saturday night.

The Commodores (46-19) won in a grinding, 3-hour, 40-minute game that saw Louisville (50-16) issue nine walks, its third-most of the season. One of the Cardinals’ two wild pitches produced a Vanderbilt run.

Another run, and a big one, came home on a passed ball after the Commodores saw their 4-0 lead shrink to 4-3 in the seventh. It looked like catcher Kyle Gibson was setting up for a pitch-out, but reliever Kyle McGrath pitched to the plate and Gibson let the ball get past him, allowing Vince Conde to score.

Carson Fulmer (7-1) worked six innings for the win, and Ravenelle retired seven of the last eight Louisville batters for his first save. Kyle Funkhouser (13-3) took the loss.

Earlier in the day Taylor Sparks hit his nation-leading ninth triple of the season to fuel UC Irvine’s three-run eighth inning Saturday in the Anteaters’ 3-1 victory over Texas in the opening game of the College World Series.

The Anteaters had been shut out for seven innings before they broke through against Texas starter Nathan Thornhill (8-3) and reliever John Curtiss.

One of the last four teams selected for the NCAA tournament, UC Irvine (41-23) continued to amaze during a postseason run in which it knocked off No. 1 national seed Oregon State and swept a super regional at Oklahoma State.

The Anteaters advanced to a winner’s game Monday against Vanderbilt, a 5-3 winner over Louisville in the night game. The Longhorns (43-20) play Louisville.

Evan Brock (9-6) earned the win, pitching 2 1-3 innings of no-hit relief and striking out the side in the ninth.

Coburn Sticks by Criticism of Triple Crown Process

Posted on June 14, 2014

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — California Chrome co-owner Steve Coburn was gracious as he and partner Perry Martin received the Kentucky Derby trophy for their horse’s triumph last month at Churchill Downs.

That doesn’t mean Coburn has changed his mind that the Triple Crown process needs fixing.

After California Chrome’s bid to become the first Triple Crown champion in 36 years failed with a fourth-place tie behind winner Tonalist in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, Coburn said in a postrace interview that skipping the Derby and Preakness to only run in the Belmont was “the coward’s way out.”

Coburn apologized on Monday, but on Saturday night said that he has received “thousands” of texts and voicemails this week and “97 percent of these people agree with me. … What’s that tell you?”