Sports – Page 538 – North Platte Post Archive

Fresno St. WR Following in Welker’s Footsteps, Signs with Denver

Posted on May 21, 2014May 21, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Isaiah Burse patterned his game after Wes Welker’s. After going undrafted, he’s even followed his idol’s path into the NFL.

The Fresno State speedster signed with Denver moments after the draft ended.

An undrafted free agent has made the Broncos’ 53-man roster for 10 consecutive seasons and Burse aims to extend that streak this summer as a wide receiver and returner, where there’s a big void following free agent Trindon Holiday’s departure to the New York Giants.

At 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds, Burse is built just like Welker (5-9, 185), who also started out as a return man after going undrafted out of Texas Tech before building a name for himself as the league’s premiere slot receiver.

Suh at Practice, Talks Contract, 2010 Draft

Posted on May 21, 2014

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Ndamukong Suh is practicing with the Detroit Lions again, and he says his approach to this offseason isn’t much different from any other year.

Suh skipped the team’s voluntary minicamp last month, but he was at practice Wednesday, part of organized team activities. He says this is the same time he arrived last year, and that he tries to stay consistent with his offseason program and preparation.

Suh is entering the last year of his contract, and when asked why he would want to stay in Detroit long term, Suh said it was actually his choice to play for the Lions when they drafted him in 2010 with the second overall pick. Suh said he had an opportunity to go elsewhere, but he did not elaborate.

First Nationals Notch First Win of the Season

Posted on May 21, 2014

The North Platte First Nationals (1-2) made the short trip to Hershey on Tuesday and earned its first win of the season.

North Platte jumped on top of Hershland early by scoring three runs in the first inning of a 13-0 win. The First Nationals added two more runs in the third inning before going off in the fourth inning for eight runs. The game ended after five innings with the run-rule in effect.

North Platte only had five hits in the game and none of them were for extra bases. The First Nationals were also issued 10 walks in the game. Drew Callaghan continued his hot start to the season by going 1-2 with two RBI and a walk. Callaghan is currently hitting .444 to lead the team. He also leads the team with five RBI and one double.

Jayden Kruse earned the win on the mound by pitching a complete game shutout. Kruse gave up two hits in the game and struck out nine batters compared to just one walk. The First Nationals defense backed Kruse up as well. North Platte didn’t commit any errors in the game for the first time this season.

The First Nationals were scheduled to play their home opener today in a doubleheader against Columbus, but Columbus had a conflict and had to cancel. The games will be postponed to a later date. Because of the postponement North Platte doesn’t have a home game until Monday, May 26 vs. Norfolk. The First Nationals next game is Friday in Lincoln against JC Brager. The doubleheader will begin at 5:00 pm at Lincoln Sherman.

Arenado Lifts Rox to 5-4 Win over Giants in 9th

Posted on May 21, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit a two-run double off the wall in the ninth inning, lifting the Colorado Rockies to a 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.

It’s the second straight game the Rockies have won in walkoff fashion, with Justin Morneau hitting a two-run homer in the 10th against San Diego on Sunday.

The NL West-leading Giants took a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth on an RBI double by Tyler Colvin against closer LaTroy Hawkins (2-0).

Arenado hit a 2-2 pitch off closer Sergio Romo (3-1) that glanced off the top of the fence in left and bounced back into the outfield, easily scoring Troy Tulowitzki and then a hustling Carlos Gonzalez with the winning run.

White Sox Edge Royals 7-6

Posted on May 21, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer and the Chicago White Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-6 on Tuesday night.

Andre Rienzo (4-0) limited the Royals to two runs and five hits over six innings. He struck out a career-high eight.

The Royals’ record dropped to 5-15 against American League Central opponents.

Gordon Beckham and Conor Gillaspie, who each had three hits, singled before Dunn homered in the eighth off right-hander Aaron Crow, who had allowed two three-run homers in his past two appearances.

Beckham has hit safely in 13 of his past 15 games, while Gillaspie increased his average to .347.

Royals rookie right-hander Yordano Ventura (2-4) took the loss, allowing four runs and seven hits, including a Tyler Flowers home run, in six innings.

Cavs Continue Lottery Luck, get No. 1 Pick Again

Posted on May 21, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers have continued their remarkable lottery luck, winning the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft for the second straight year.

It’s the third time in four years the Cavs will be atop the draft after moving up from the ninth spot. They had just a 1.7 percent chance of winning the top spot Tuesday night.

They drafted Kyrie Irving first in 2011 and will hope to do better with this win than last year, when they took Anthony Bennett, who had a forgettable rookie season.

The Milwaukee Bucks fell one spot to second and the Philadelphia 76ers will draft third.

Longshot Linebacker Playing in His 5th Pro League

Posted on May 21, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Chase Vaughn called in sick last week, telling his bosses at National Jewish Health where he answered phone calls from people wanting to stop smoking or lose weight that he had the stomach flu.

He was actually interviewing for another job.

And when he was hired for that new gig this week, he had to go back to the hospital and ‘fess up.

Vaughn is a 25-year-old long-shot linebacker who was added to the Denver Broncos’ 90-man offseason roster this week after an impressive tryout at the team’s rookie minicamp last weekend.

Huskers Selected for Big Ten Sportsmanship Awards

Posted on May 20, 2014

The Big Ten Conference announced its 2014 outdoor track and field individual award winners on Tuesday. Nebraska senior Travis Englund was selected as the Huskers’ sportsmanship award honoree for the men, while senior Annie Jackson was honored on the women’s side. Englund and Jackson join Trevor Vidlak and Ellie Grooters, who were both named sportsmanship award honorees during the indoor season.

The Huskers competed at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships last weekend, with the women finishing second and the men third. Earning first-team All-Big Ten honors for the women were Annie Jackson and Maggie Malone, while Ellie Ewere claimed second-team accolades. Jake Bender, Levi Gipson, Cody Rush, Miles Ukaoma, Drew Wiseman and Chad Wright captured first-team honors for the men, while Patrick Raedler and Christian Sanderfer earned second-team accolades.

Nebraska will now turn its attention to the NCAA West Regional in Fayetteville, Ark., on May 29-31.

Minneapolis Awarded 2018 Super Bowl

Posted on May 20, 2014

ATLANTA (AP) — Minneapolis has been awarded the 2018 Super Bowl by NFL owners.

The owners rewarded the Vikings for arranging to build a new stadium on the site of the old Metrodome by choosing Minneapolis over New Orleans and Indianapolis.

The big game will be staged in the Twin Cities for the second time. It was there in 1992, when Washington beat Buffalo.

Minneapolis’ new $1 billion stadium is scheduled to open in 2016.

New Orleans has staged the Super Bowl 10 times, tied with South Florida for the most, but its bid might have been damaged by the blackout that interrupted the 2013 title game. Indianapolis had it in 2012.

Next year’s game is in Glendale, Arizona, followed by Santa Clara, California, for the 50th Super Bowl, then Houston.

California Chrome Arrives in NY for Triple Try

Posted on May 20, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — California Chrome has arrived in New York to begin preparations for his bid to become horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 36 years.

The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner arrived at Belmont Park by van from Baltimore on Monday.

He was backed off the van and then led into the barn by assistant trainer Alan Sherman. California Chrome walked several laps around the barn before being taken outside to pose for the cameras on the grass and settling into his stall.

California Chrome will start training on the track daily beginning Wednesday.

The 3-year-old colt is set to run in the Belmont Stakes on June 7. He owns a six-race winning streak. No horse has swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont since Affirmed in 1978.