Sports – Page 536 – North Platte Post Archive

Rockies’ Arenado Suffers Apparent Hand Injury

Posted on May 23, 2014May 25, 2014

ATLANTA (AP) — Nolan Arenado has left the Rockies’ game against the Braves after he apparently hurt his left hand on a head-first slide into second base.

Arenado led off the second inning of Friday night’s game with a double to left field. Arenado’s slide beat shortstop Andrelton Simmons’ tag. The play stood following a review that lasted 3 minutes, 48 seconds.

Arenado grabbed his hand following the slide but remained in the game to score from third on Jordan Pacheco’s groundout. Charlie Culberson replaced Arenado at third base in the bottom of the inning.

There was no immediate report from the Rockies on Arenado’s injury.

Ramiro Pena replaced Braves third baseman Chis Johnson after Johnson’s strikeout to lead off the second. The Braves did not say why Johnson left the game.

Broncos Exec Sentenced in DUI Case

Posted on May 23, 2014May 25, 2014

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. (AP) — A Broncos executive accused of crashing into two cars while driving drunk has been sentenced to seven months in jail after he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and careless driving resulting in injury.

Director of player personnel Matt Russell was charged after a vehicle ran into the back of a police car in Summit County over the 4th of July holiday.

County Court Judge Edward Casias on Friday sentenced Russell to jail time and approved Russell for work release and participation in a court-ordered treatment plan as part of his sentence. Russell was also ordered to perform 120 hours of community service.

Russell was suspended indefinitely from the team and was told to get treatment, rehabilitation and counseling after the accidents.

Williams Fills GA Position on Husker Staff

Posted on May 23, 2014May 25, 2014

Former Husker forward Meghin Williams will begin her pursuit of a coaching career as a graduate assistant manager on the Nebraska women’s basketball staff in 2014-15, Coach Connie Yori announced on Friday.

Williams’ primary responsibilities at Nebraska will include assisting with practice preparation and administrative duties, while coordinating Nebraska’s efforts on Twitter and Facebook. She will also help coordinate Nebraska’s practice players and will play a role with Nebraska Women’s Basketball Camps.

“We’re excited to give Meghin a chance to begin her career as a coach,” Yori said. “Meghin played a major role in developing great team chemistry on some of the best teams in school history here at Nebraska. She has a great personality and had to overcome quite a bit of adversity as a player, which should serve her well in her future as a coach.”

Williams, a four-year contributor on the court for Nebraska from 2009-10 through 2012-13, was a member of NU’s first two NCAA Sweet 16 teams as a freshman in 2010 and a senior in 2013. She also helped the Huskers to the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

Williams overcame nagging foot injuries throughout her career to play 98 career games. An outstanding leader, Williams helped the Huskers average nearly 24 wins per season during her four-year career.

Following the completion of the 2013-14 campaign when she worked as a student-assistant in the women’s basketball office, Williams participated in the “So You Want to be a Coach” program at the WBCA National Convention in Nashville.

Williams earned her bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from Nebraska in May of 2014 and is pursuing a master’s degree in education administration.

Judge Orders NCAA Suit to go to Trial Next Month

Posted on May 23, 2014May 25, 2014

A federal judge has denied the NCAA’s request to delay the trial on the antitrust suit by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon and others.

The trial will begin June 9 in Oakland, California, and has the potential to reshape the way major college sports operate.

It will center on claims that the NCAA conspired to restrain competition in Division I sports and in the group licensing of broadcasts and videogames.

Judge Claudia Wilken also set another trial for next March on claims by other athletes that the NCAA and the videogame maker Electronic Arts misappropriated athletes’ names and likenesses for NCAA-branded videogames. That case previously had been combined with the O’Bannon case.

Broncos’ Ward Appears in Court on Misdemeanor

Posted on May 23, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Broncos safety T.J. Ward has appeared in court on misdemeanor charges that allege he threw a glass mug at a bartender at a Denver strip club.

Bond was set at $1,900 for the 27-year-old Ward. His next court appearance is June 23.

Ward is charged with misdemeanor assault and disturbing the peace. Court documents say Ward tossed the mug at the bartender on May 10 after he was told he couldn’t bring a drink into the club.

Police had issued an arrest warrant for Ward on Thursday.

Ward is coming off a Pro Bowl season in Cleveland and this spring signed a four-year, $22.5 million deal with Denver.

Storm Take Newell Third Overall In Dispersal

Posted on May 23, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm got their man in the dispersal draft of Indiana Ice players on Friday morning, selecting forward Patrick Newell of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

The Ice franchise has been granted dormancy for the 2014-15 season and temporary withdrawal from on-ice competition as the organization focuses on development of a new facility and permanent home.

The entire roster, including affiliate list, was divided up amongst the current USHL franchises Friday.

Tri-City had the third overall pick and Newell was the player the Storm coaching staff was looking for.

“We are very excited to add a player of Patrick’s pedigree to our group,” said Storm head coach and general manager Jim Hulton. “He addresses a need as a playmaking, high end center who also brings a wealth of playoff experience following his recent Clark Cup Championship performance. We look forward to seeing Patrick in a Storm jersey!”

Newell played in 59 of the Ice’s 60 regular season games during 2013-14, and was fourth on the team in scoring with 13 goals and 30 assists and a plus-24 rating.

The forward, who is committed to play collegiately at St. Cloud State, also contributed to the Ice’s Clark Cup championship run, scoring four goals and three assists in the team’s 12 playoff games. Two of those tallies were game-winners.

In 91 career USHL games, Newell has 20 goals and 45 assists.

With their second round selection, Tri-City chose forward Karl El-Mir of the Selects Academy. El-Mir spent the 2013-14 season on the Ice’s affiliate list.

The forward is committed to the University of Connecticut and hails from Greenfield Park, Que.

In the third and final round, the Storm chose defenseman Austin Kosack. The blueliner is committed to play at Ferris State and plans on attending school next season.

In 57 games with the Ice this season, Kosack had three goals and 26 assists with a plus-40 rating. He is also an import, hailing from Oakville, Ont.

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.

Bummer Carries Huskers to Win Over Spartans

Posted on May 22, 2014

Omaha – In front of more than 11,000 fans at TD Ameritrade Park on Thursday night, the Nebraska baseball team (39-18) improved to 2-0 at the Big Ten Tournament with a 3-2 victory over the Michigan State Spartans (30-24). With the win, the Huskers will have tomorrow off and will be back on the field at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning against either Iowa, Michigan or Indiana.

Junior lefty Aaron Bummer brought his best stuff to the park, as he allowed just four hits and two unearned runs over 7.0 innings of work, while striking out a career-high tying seven. Outside of the fifth inning when the Huskers committed a pair of errors that turned into two unearned runs, Bummer never allowed more than one base runner in an inning, including no one past second base. Bummer picked up his seventh win of the season in the victory, while Zach Hirsch earned his fourth save of the year with 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.

The top of Nebraska’s lineup combined to go 6-for-14 at the plate with three RBIs, including two hits, two RBIs and a double from freshman Ryan Boldt. Along with Boldt, four other Huskers notched a double on the night, including the eventual game-winning RBI double by Michael Pritchard in the seventh. Thursday night marked the fifth time this season the Huskers have had at least five doubles in a game, while their last five-double game came in their series opener at Michigan on April 25.

With a 10-to-5 advantage in hits, the Huskers notched their 29th double-digit hit game of the year and improved to 30-1 on the year when out-hitting their opponent.

Nebraska took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Steven Reveles led off with his 11th double of the season and Boldt followed with a double on the ninth pitch of his at-bat for his 28th RBI of the year. Jake Placzek then laid down a bunt single and the Huskers had runners on the corners with no outs for their 3-4-5 hitters. MSU starter Cam Vieaux would only allow one run in the inning though, as he escaped major damage by striking out Pritchard, getting Pat Kelly to pop up and Blake Headley to line out.

After Bummer set the Spartans down in order in the bottom of the third, Tanner Lubach nearly notched the Huskers first ever home run at TD Ameritrade Park, but the 1-2 offering from Vieaux hit the top of the left field wall and Lubach had to settle for a leadoff double. Austin Darby moved Lubach to third base with a sacrifice bunt, but then Vieaux struck out Ben Miller looking on a full-count. With a runner still on third and two down, Reveles worked a walk that rolled over the Husker lineup and Boldt delivered again with a RBI single that put NU ahead 2-0.

With Bummer allowing just two hits through the first four innings, Nebraska’s defense let down its pitcher in the fifth by committing two errors and the Spartans took advantage with a pair of unearned runs to tie the game. Ryan Richardson led off the frame and reached on a throwing error by Placzek. Richardson later scored on a one-out single by Justin Hovis, who then moved to second on the play on a throwing error by Headley. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, Blaise Salter hit what would have been the third out of the inning, but instead it was a sacrifice fly that scored Hovis. With the go-ahead run at third base, Bummer ended the inning on his own with his fifth strikeout of the night.

Nebraska’s offense got the lead back for Bummer in the seventh with its fourth and fifth doubles of the game on consecutive pitches. Placzek ripped the first pitch he saw into the left-field gap and then Pritchard followed with his 20th double of the year to put the Huskers ahead 3-2.

With his 20th double of the season, Pritchard became the eighth NU hitter to notch 20 or doubles in a season since 2000.

Holding a one-run lead, Bummer toed the rubber in the seventh and sat the Spartans down in order, including his seventh strikeout of the night to end the inning.

The Spartans made a late rally in the eighth when they got a two-out single and a walk to put the tying run in scoring position, but Hirsch got Richardson to groundout 6-3 to end the threat. The senior lefty then sat down MSU in order in the ninth to secure the win.

Nebraska continues through the winners bracket and will play on the Big Ten Network at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. The loser of tonight’s game between Indiana and Michigan will play an elimination game against Iowa tomorrow, with the winner of tomorrow’s game facing the Huskers on Saturday.

Giants, Rockies Suspended Due to Rain

Posted on May 22, 2014

DENVER (AP) — The game between the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants was suspended after the second rain delay Thursday, with the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

A makeup date was still being determined. The Giants next visit Coors Field on Sept. 1-3.

The game was interrupted for 82 minutes before the fourth. The rain moved back in two innings later, delaying the game for another 84 minutes and leading the umpires to suspend action.

Wilin Rosario tied the game at 2 when he hit into a double play in the fifth.

Hunter Pence had a solo homer for the Giants in the fourth and Pablo Sandoval drove in a run with a double.

Sandoval also had a solo homer overturned by a challenge in the second.

Police Issue Warrant for Broncos Safety T.J. Ward

Posted on May 22, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Police have issued an arrest warrant for Broncos safety T.J. Ward on an assault charge stemming from a fight at a Denver strip club on May 9.

The Broncos issued a statement saying, “We have been aware of this issue and will continue to review all of the facts.”

Court records show the disturbance happened at PT’s All Nude. Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson did not know details of the incident but described it as “some type of disturbance at a nightclub.” He said Ward will be charged with a misdemeanor count of assault.

Ward is coming off a Pro Bowl season in Cleveland and this spring signed a four-year, $22.5 million deal with Denver, where he’ll play strong safety.

Broncos Backfield Wide Open Behind Montee Ball

Posted on May 22, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning has thrown 100 touchdown passes in his two seasons in Denver. Although the five-time MVP has another group of tantalizing targets with the additions of Emmanuel Sanders and Cody Latimer, the Broncos want more balance in 2014.

With 1,000-yard rusher Knowshon Moreno going to Miami, second-year pro Montee Ball takes over as the Broncos’ starting running back.

After that, it’s anybody’s guess.

C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman could move up the pecking order or they might be unseated by one or more of the college free agents who signed with Denver after the Broncos chose not to draft a running back.