Sports – Page 521 – North Platte Post Archive

Storm Welcome New Staff, Promote Korte

Posted on June 11, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm have announced changes in the team’s front office, adding three Corporate Ambassadors and promoting staff member Alicia Korte.

The team’s newest full-time Corporate Ambassador is Andrew Snyderman, who comes to Kearney after earning his degree in sports administration from Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Originally from the greater Pittsburgh area, Snyderman served as a promotional events intern with the MLB’s Cincinnati Reds during the 2013 baseball season.

Also joining the staff of Corporate Ambassadors are Kyle Olson and Noah Whitaker.

Olson, who served as the Storm’s in-game music director during the 2013-14 season, is in the process of earning his graduate degree in sports management from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Whitaker will also complete a B.S. in sports management from UNK this summer.

“We wanted to have a greater one-on-one presence throughout central Nebraska,” said Storm President Greg Shea. “Through these additions, we feel as though it will give us that strength. The key role of the ambassadors will be to introduce and reintroduce our product and present a newly created marketing tool to a radius of 50 miles and beyond.”

In addition, the team has promoted Korte to a new position as the Director of Group Sales and Fan Relations. Korte, who is preparing for her fifth season with the organization, will be in charge of organizing group sales, fundraisers and fan experiences during Storm home games.

The Columbus, Neb. native will also continue to organize the team’s community relations efforts, including player appearances throughout the central Nebraska region.

The Storm will once again head to Las Vegas for tryout camp this summer, and will hold evaluations June 16-21 at the Las Vegas Ice Center.

First Nationals Swept by Hastings

Posted on June 11, 2014

The North Platte First Nationals Seniors dropped to 10-10 on the season after getting swept by Hastings in a Cornhusker League doubleheader Tuesday.

North Platte lost the first game of the day 6-1 to Hastings. Hastings scored a run in each of the first two innings before pulling away with three runs in the fourth inning. Dalton Pflughaupt took the loss on the mound for the First Nationals. He pitched a complete game and gave up six runs, three earned, on 13 hits. He also struck out three batters. Drew Callaghan led North Platte at the plate by going 2-3 with a run scored.

North Platte started in a hole in game two as well. Hastings scored a run in the first inning and three more in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. The First Nationals were able to cut the deficit in half by scoring two runs in the fourth inning, but Hastings scored four in the fifth inning to secure an 8-4 win. Alec Wesslund went 3-5 in the game for North Platte, Austin Chitty went 2-2 with two runs batted in and Luke Volz recorded the First Nationals only extra-base hit on the day with a double. Volz went 2-4 with two runs scored. Jayden Kruse started on the mound for North Platte and pitched four-plus innings, giving up seven runs, six earned, on just one hit. Kruse issued eight walks and struck out seven batters while taking the loss. Volz pitched the final two innings and gave up one run on two hits, struck out three batter and walked four. North Platte didn’t help themselves by issuing 12 walks in the game.

The First Nationals next play in a tournament in Canon City, Colo. North Platte plays Canon City at 3:30 pm on Thursday, followed by a game against Carlsbad, NM at 5:45 pm.

Klinsmann: Unrealistic for US to Expect Title

Posted on June 11, 2014

SAO PAULO (AP) — Jurgen Klinsmann maintains the United States shouldn’t be expected to win the World Cup, even if that stance is upsetting to some fans back home.

The U.S. said coach said Wednesday in his first news conference after arriving at the World Cup that “if it’s now American or not American, I don’t know. You can correct me however you want.”

Klinsmann won the 1990 World Cup as a player for West Germany and coached Germany to the 2006 semifinals. He caused a stir last weekend when he was quoted by The New York Times Magazine as saying in a December interview “we cannot win this World Cup, because we are not at that level yet.”

The U.S. opens Monday against Ghana, then plays Portugal and Germany in one of the more difficult first-round groups.

Braves Hit 3 Home Runs in 13-10 Win over Rockies.

Posted on June 10, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Andrelton Simmons hit his first career grand slam as part of a seven-run first inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Colorado Rockies 13-10 on Tuesday night.

Evan Gattis had a home run among his three hits and Freddie Freeman also homered for the Braves, who had season-highs of 16 hits and 13 runs.

The teams combined for 29 hits and neither starter made it out of the fifth inning. Rockies right-hander Juan Nicasio lasted just 3 2-3 innings and Atlanta’s Mike Minor left after giving up two hits to start the fifth.

David Hale (2-0) pitched 2 1-3 innings of relief for the win.

Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save in 21 chances.

Leonard, Record Half Help Spurs Roll in Game 3

Posted on June 10, 2014

MIAMI (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 29 points, and the San Antonio Spurs made an NBA Finals-record 75.8 percent of their shots in the first half in a 111-92 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night that gave them a 2-1 lead.

The Spurs made 19 of their first 21 shots and finished 25 of 33 in the first half, bettering the 75 percent shooting by Orlando against the Lakers in the 2009 finals.

Leonard finished 10 of 13 after two quiet games in San Antonio. Danny Green and Tony Parker each had 15 points and Tim Duncan scored 14.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade had 22 points for the Heat, who host Game 4 on Thursday.

Royals Hold on to Beat Hot-Hitting Indians 9-5

Posted on June 10, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jason Vargas cooled down hot-hitting Cleveland, Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homer and the Kansas City Royals held on for a 9-5 victory over the Indians on Tuesday night.

Hosmer also drove in a run during a four-run fourth inning. Alex Gordon homered in the eighth and Mike Moustakas hit a two-run shot later that inning as the Royals (32-32) moved back to .500 by matching their second-best run total of the season.

Vargas (6-2) gave up six hits and hit three batters with pitches, but didn’t allow a run until Jason Kipnis drove in a pair with a two-out double in the eighth. Tim Collins entered and gave up another run before Aaron Crow yielded two more in the ninth.

Corey Kluber (6-4), who dominated the Royals earlier this season, allowed six runs — three earned — and six hits over five innings. He struck out five and walked two.

Rockies Sign 1st-Round Draft Pick Freeland

Posted on June 10, 2014

DENVER (AP) — First-round draft pick Kyle Freeland signed with the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, less than a week after the club made the left-handed pitcher the eighth overall selection.

Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

Freeland was 10-2 with a 1.90 ERA for the University of Evansville this season. He had 128 strikeouts in 99 2-3 innings and did not give up a homer.

The Rockies were familiar with Freeland from his days as a star pitcher for Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver. He was drafted in the 35th round by the Phillies after going 8-2 with a 1.39 ERA as a senior.

Freeland will begin his career with the Grand Junction Rockies of the Pioneer League.

Rockies OF Gonzalez has Tumor Removed from Finger

Posted on June 10, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Colorado Rockies star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez had a small tumor removed from his left index finger Tuesday during a procedure at the Cleveland Clinic.

Gonzalez underwent exploratory surgery with Dr. Thomas Graham and a growth was found beneath the sheath around the muscle.

Rockies head athletic trainer said these type of tumors are common and the expectation is a biopsy will determine the tumor is benign.

Gonzalez had his left arm in a sling after the surgery. He is expected to return to Denver Wednesday.

Gonzalez has been experiencing soreness and swelling in the finger for a while. He was examined by Graham on May 29 in Cleveland. He continued to play but was placed on the 15-day DL on June 4 and is expected to miss a few weeks.

Broncos Get Their Rings but Not Ones They Wanted

Posted on June 10, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — So, they weren’t the gaudy rings they really wanted. Chris Harris Jr. said he’d wear his anyway.

The Denver Broncos received their AFC championship rings in a team meeting on the eve of their three-day minicamp — one that started with a bang Tuesday when first-round draft pick Bradley Roby smacked into wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders during a no-pads practice that left both players shaken but unhurt.

The sparkling rings feature the team’s orange-mane mascot atop a diamond-encrusted football amid a navy blue background.

Malik Jackson said they make his Rose Bowl ring and the three high school championship rings he owns look as if they came out of a Cracker Jack box.

Still, five-time MVP Peyton Manning admitted he’d “probably not” be wearing his anywhere.

Chiefs Cornerback Smith Cited after Alleged Wreck

Posted on June 10, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith was cited for driving under the influence and careless driving after an officer witnessed him lose control and strike a light pole early Monday.

According to a copy of the police report, Smith was attempting to make a turn in Kansas City’s Power & Light entertainment district when he struck the light pole around 12:30 a.m. The officer reported that Smith “appeared confused and began mumbling statements that I did not understand.”

Smith declined medical attention. Along with citations for driving under the influence, he was also cited for failure to provide insurance.

The Chiefs said in a statement issued to The Associated Press on Tuesday that they were aware of the matter. The statement called the situation “disappointing” but declined further comment.