Sports – Page 540 – North Platte Post Archive

No. 20 Nebraska Opens Big Ten Tournament with Ohio State

Posted on May 19, 2014

After wrapping up the regular season with a 2-1 series win over the Illinois Fighting Illini, the No. 20 Nebraska baseball team (37-18, 18-6 Big Ten) enters the postseason as the No. 2 seed at the Big Ten Tournament.

The Huskers open tournament play on Wednesday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. when they meet the No. 7 seed Ohio State Buckeyes (30-26, 10-14 Big Ten) at TD Ameritrade Park in downtown Omaha.

The Huskers and Buckeyes met earlier this season for a three-game series in Lincoln, with NU sweeping the series. All three games were close, as Nebraska posted three-straight comeback victories, including a pair of walk-off wins, while NU’s starting rotation of Christian DeLeon, Chance Sinclair and Aaron Bummer each threw complete games.

Wednesday will be the fourth time in three years that the Huskers and Buckeyes have meet at the Big Ten Tournament.

At the 2012 tournament in Columbus, Ohio, the Buckeyes ended NU’s season with a 6-2 win in an elimination game. Last season in Minneapolis, the Buckeyes knocked the Huskers out of the winner’s bracket with a 3-2 win, before the Huskers eliminated the Buckeyes two days later, 5-0.

Nebraska Starter – Chance Sinclair

Chance Sinclair is scheduled to make his 15th start of the season on Wednesday, and will be in search of his 10 win of the year. The junior is 9-1 and ranks second in the Big Ten with a 1.88 ERA

Sinclair is coming off his 12th start of at least 6.0 innings, following a 7.0-inning outing against Illinois.

Sinclair is one of three pitchers in the Big Ten with an ERA under 2.00, as Joey DeNato leads the league with a 1.83 ERA and DeNato’s teammate Christian Morris ranks third with a 1.99 ERA.

In Sinclair’s start against the Buckeyes on April 5, the junior gave up three runs (all unearned) on seven hits and no walks in his first career complete game.

On the Radio this Week

Fans across Nebraska and around the world can listen to Greg Sharpe and Ben McLaughlin call all of the action on the Husker Sports Network – including KLIN 1400 AM and 94.5 FM in Lincoln – and live on the Internet at Huskers.com or the Official Husker App.

TV Coverage for Ohio State Game

None

Web Streams for Ohio State Game

None

Nebraska-Ohio State History

The Huskers lead the all-time series against the Buckeyes, 8-6, with NU also holding a 7-5 advantage since the Huskers joined the Big Ten Conference for the 2012 season.

The all-time series started in 1991 when the Buckeyes earned a 5-2 victory in Phoenix, Ariz. The Huskers evened the series in 2001 with a 10-5 victory at the Mardi Gras Ball in Lafayette, La.

Ohio State won the first ever conference meeting, 10-2, in April 13, 2012, but the Huskers won the series in Columbus two days later with a doubleheader sweep.

The Buckeyes eliminated the Huskers from the 2012 Big Ten Tournament with a 6-2 victory.

Last season the Huskers took the first game of a three-game set in Lincoln, but then the Buckeyes came back and won the next two games, including a 6-5 winning in 11 inningson Saturday.

OSU knocked the Huskers into the losers bracket at the 2013 Big Ten Tournament, but the Huskers got revenge two days later with a 5-0 victory that eliminated Ohio State from postseason play.

Nebraska swept the Buckeyes this season in Lincoln, with NU’s weekend starters each throwing complete games.

AT&T Eyes Football in DirecTV Buy

Posted on May 19, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) — One of the hidden benefits of AT&T’s planned purchase of DirecTV is that it raises the possibility of making DirecTV’s programming crown jewel, NFL Sunday Ticket, available on mobile devices.

Making exclusive live NFL game programming available on AT&T smartphones could trump Verizon’s deal with the NFL for certain live game streams on its phones. That’s because NFL Sunday Ticket involves all NFL games, not just ones on certain nights of the week.

AT&T Inc. announced Sunday that it has agreed to buy DirecTV for $48.5 billion.

DirecTV CEO Michael White says he’s “confident” that it can renew its Sunday Ticket deal with the NFL after it expires at the end of the upcoming season, but he stops short of saying it would definitely be available on AT&T smartphones.

Broncos’ Franklin Adjusting to Life at Left Guard

Posted on May 19, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Orlando Franklin is still smarting over his poor performance in the Super Bowl. Not so his switch from right tackle to left guard.

All 57 of Franklin’s starts for the Broncos, including five in the playoffs, have been at right tackle, where the 6-foot-7, 320-pound Jamaican made quite the name for himself.

He became the first rookie right tackle in team history to start every game in 2011, when he helped the Broncos lead the league in rushing. He led all NFL players at his position by allowing just 3½ sacks in 2012 and was part of a line that gave up just 20 sacks last season.

That group then kept Peyton Manning’s jersey clean in the playoffs until the night the Seattle Seahawks’ front four manhandled Denver’s O-line in the Super Bowl.

NBA’s Biggest Losers Look for Lottery Win

Posted on May 19, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — They lost often, as in 67 times for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Sometimes they lost always, as in 26 straight times for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Now the NBA’s biggest losers have a chance for a huge win.

The draft lottery is Tuesday, a night some teams appeared to be aiming toward for months during a season featuring plenty of talking about tanking.

The winner gets the No. 1 pick in next month’s draft, when an Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker might make all of this season’s misery worth it.

It’s a potential make-or-break night for some teams, which is why a program about the results of a random drawing ends up as the prime-time lead-in for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Owners to Decide on 2018 Super Bowl Site

Posted on May 19, 2014

ATLANTA (AP) — NFL owners will vote Tuesday on the site of the next Super Bowl, choosing between New Orleans, Indianapolis and Minneapolis.

Next year’s game is in Arizona, followed by the San Francisco Bay Area for the 50th Super Bowl in 2016. The 2017 game will be in Houston.

Owners also will discuss potentially expanding the playoffs by two teams, one in each conference. Commissioner Roger Goodell has said it’s still possible such a change to 14 playoff teams could happen this year if it is voted on and passed in Atlanta. It would require 24 yes votes out of 32.

More likely, 2015 would be the target date for expanded playoffs.

The workplace environment also will be a topic of conversation for the owners.

Buffalo Bill’s Tradition Continues

Posted on May 19, 2014May 12, 2014

D.V. Fennell, Porum, Okla., rides at the 2013 Buffalo Bill Rodeo.

North Platte, Neb. (May 19, 2014) – North Platte is the home of the original Western Showman, Buffalo Bill Cody, and his entertainment.

And June 18-21, the tradition continues.

Several hundred cowboys and cowgirls, horses, bulls, calves, steers, and trucks and trailers will converge on North Platte for the annual rodeo named after the showman, to compete for prize money and gold buckles.

For cowboys, the Buffalo Bill Rodeo is the unofficial kick-off to the Fourth of July run, the most lucrative time of the year for pro rodeo cowboys and cowgirls. With North Platte’s central location, cowboys compete and often go on to the Reno, Nev. rodeo.

For the fans, the Buffalo Bill Rodeo committee hires some of the best personnel in the business and several with local ties. Announcers Hadley Barrett and Randy Corley call the action. Barrett was born and raised in the North Platte area and Corley lived there part of his adult life. Bullfighters Andy Burelle, Ardmore, Okla., and Quirt Hunt, Hershey, will work to protect bull riders each night. Beutler and Son Rodeo Co., Elk City, Okla., will bring their bucking bulls and horses to North Platte. They’ve provided their award-winning livestock to the Buffalo Bill Rodeo since 1949.

New to this year’s rodeo is barrelman and clown Justin Rumford. The Ponca City, Okla. man, who is a two-time Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association Clown of the Year, will bring his brand of comedy to entertain fans.

The committee works hard to make it good entertainment for fans. “It’s a top-notch rodeo,” said Shelli Arensdorf, co-chair of the committee and a resident of Hershey. “Good personnel translates to a good rodeo for fans. (Personnel) really involve the fans, keep them entertained, involved and informed, and that two hours of rodeo flies by.”

And the aura from the old showman, Buffalo Bill, doesn’t hurt, either. “It’s where Buffalo Bill got his start. He had one of the first rodeos in North Platte,” Arensdorf said. The Wild West Arena is within view of Buffalo Bill’s home, which he built in 1886. “We’re across the parking lot from his home and the barn” where the shingles proclaim “Scout’s Rest Ranch.

The Buffalo Bill Rodeo takes place at 8 pm each night, June 18-21. Tickets 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.

Lincoln County Raceway Opening Night a Success

Posted on May 19, 2014

Getting the season started off right were the foursome of Bryan Herrick, Mikey Dancer, Kyle Bond and Tanner Jones along earning trips to the winners circle in IMCA competition along with Rocky Mountain Lightning Sprint Association (RMLSA) hotshoe Troy Ullery during opening night at Lincoln County Raceway in North Platte, Nebraska on Saturday evening.

Earning the hardcharger award should have been Bryan Herrick of Curtis, Nebraska; as he led the final five laps of the Feature race in the IMCA Northern Sport Mod division to finish where he left off this past season after starting in the fifth row. Herrick is the reigning champion in the division. North Platte’s Dillon Schultz snared the led at the end of lap six from his brother Zach Schultz, who retired from the feature with mechanical issues after leading the initial six laps of the event. Dillon Schultz held on to earn runner-up honors. Earning a place on the podium with a third place finish was heat race winner Terry Dressel of North Platte.

Storming to the front and then being consistent on each and every lap, Mikey Dancer of North Platte claimed the checkers in the IMCA Stock Car division on opening night. Dancer started in the third row and drove around the top on the opening circuits to get the lead on the third lap. Dancer never looked back and won the feature in fine fashion. One step away from getting the top honors, Wallace, Nebraska driver Kyle Clough was heavy on the loud pedal in charging into contention during the waning laps to earn runner-up honors. Heat race winner Casey Werkmeister of Maywood, Nebraska finished third overall, using the cushion to his advantage to overcome his fifth row starting position. Kyle Werkmeister of Maywood and North Platte’s Dan Eller won opening night heat races as well.

Running away and hiding from the field throughout the feature was Gibbon’s Kyle Bond in winning the IMCA Hobby Stock Feature in dominant fashion. Bond started in the third row and was able to drive to the lead on the seventh lap and never look back to earn the victory. Making the long haul from the fourth row into the runner-up finishing position was the Benkelman Bullet Austin Davis. Davis didn’t get into second place until there were just two laps remaining, so his chances to run down Bond dwindled as the final laps were completed. Hobby Stock rookie Jacob Olmstead of Overton, Nebraska had a stellar opening night at North Platte, with a third place finish after leading the five six laps of the event. Bond and Davis won the heat races in the Hobby Stock division.

Starting on the pole and staying up front was the winning formula for North Platte’s Tanner Jones to win the IMCA Sport Compact Feature. Jones extinguished all challengers to lead every lap of the feature. Cozad, Nebraska’s Devin Bjorklund started in the second row and was able to advance into the runner-up position near the halfway point and hold onto the place position. North Platte’s Andrew Baumgardner slipped back on the opening circuits, only to charge back into contention with gumption to finish third overall after winning the heat race earlier in the evening.

During the first of two visits this season, Troy Ullery of Lakewood, Colorado won the Feature for the RMLSA. Ullery would complete the pass on the highside to win after leading only the final three circuits. In the mix to win throughout the whole feature was Jeff Gieg of Johnstown, Colorado. Gieg finished the night in second place in his winged sprinter. Driving a new car didn’t diminish the hopes of Steve Becker of Lakewood, as he earned third place honors. Scott Wilson of Thornton, Colorado led the first 17 laps of the feature before having mechanical issues.

Racing action returns to the fast-paced dirt oval on the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in North Platte, Nebraska this coming Saturday night, May 24th with the drop of the green flag at 7 p.m.

Unoffical Results:

–Northern Sport Modified Feature: 1. 0-Bryan Herrick; 2. 55d-Dillon Schultz; 3. 13-Terry Dressel; 4. 848-Troy Douglas; 5. 1-Paul Donovan; 6. 22w-Brady Weinman; 7. 20b-Brandon Clough; 8. 3-Gary Long; 9. 69-Adam Kackmeister.

Heat Race 1: 1. 55z-Zach Schultz; 2. 55d-Dillon Schultz; 3. 11h-Henry Henderson.

Heat Race 2: 1. 13-Terry Dressel; 2. 20b-Brandon Clough; 3. 11-Tim Cooper.

Heat Race 3: 1. 0-Bryan Herrick; 2. 848-Troy Douglas; 3. 79s-James Stewart.

–Stock Car Feature: 1. 45-Mikey Dancer; 2. 11k-Kyle Clough; 3. 24w-Casey Werkmeister; 4. 50c-Colton Osborn; 5. 42w-Kyle Werkmeister; 6. 6c-Cale Osborn; 7. 24-Bob Chalupa; 8. 09h-Bob Hoing; 9. 75-Dan Eller; 10. 99k-Dave Easterday.

Heat 1: 1. 75-Dan Eller; 2. 09h-Bob Hoing; 3. 00-Sara Klein.

Heat 2: 1. 42w-Kyle Werkmeister; 2. 50c-Colton Osborn; 3. 72-Robert Walker.

Heat 3: 1. 24w-Casey Werkmeister; 2. 11k-Kyle Clough; 3. 45-Mikey Dancer.

–Hobby Stock Feature: 1. 0-Kyle Bond; 2. 22-Austin Davis; 3. 88j-Jacob Olmstead; 4. 2c-Tyson Canas; 5. 72h-Kevin Hagan; 6. 7s-Scott Gibson; 7. 1-Tanner Clough; 8. 72b-Jacob Hagan.

Heat 1: 1. 0-Kyle Bond; 2. 72h-Kevin Hagan; 3. 5-Chuck Ledbetter.

Heat 2: 1. 22-Austin Davis; 2. 2c-Tyson Canas; 3. 7s-Scott Gibson.

–Sport Compact Feature: 1. 12t-Tanner Jones; 2. 28d-Devin Bjorklund; 3. 44u-Andrew Baumgardner; 4. 22b-Charlie Blowers; 5. 33-Andrew McClellen.

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

–RMLSA Feature: 1. 1t-Troy Ullery; 2. 18-Jeff Gieg; 3. 31-Steve Becker; 4. 56-Troy Simpson; 5. 11-Glenn Waterland; 6. 96-Shane Stanley; 7. 7-Scott Wilson; 8. 69-Paul Babich.

Heat 1: 1. 11-Glenn Waterland; 2. 1t-Troy Ullery; 3. 18-Jeff Gieg.

Boating Safety Courses Offered Throughout Nebraska

Posted on May 19, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says state-required boating safety courses are offered throughout the state.

State law requires that anyone who operates a motorboat or personal watercraft, born after Dec. 31, 1985, must complete a boating safety course. Operators also must have course certificates when operating the boats or watercraft.

People must be at least 14 to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft in Nebraska.

Go online at BoatSafeNebraska.org for a list of boating safety classes or to see boating regulations.

Morneau Hits Homer in 10th, Rox Beat Padres 8-6

Posted on May 18, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Colorado Rockies turned just the third triple play in team history as they beat the San Diego Padres 8-6 on Sunday.

After Carlos Gonzalez singled earlier in the inning, Morneau lined a 3-2 fastball from Dale Thayer (2-2) to straightaway center. The first baseman rounded the bases and flipped his helmet off after passing third. It was the second walkoff homer for Colorado this season.

Nick Masset (1-0) pitched a perfect 10th for his first win with Colorado. LaTroy Hawkins blew his first save in the ninth as he surrendered a game-tying two-run homer to Everth Cabrera.

The triple play in the third was Colorado’s first since Tulowitzki turned an unassisted one April 29, 2007, against Atlanta.

Seth Smith and Rene Rivera hit solo homers for the Padres, who return home following a 3-3 road excursion.

Gordon’s 2 HRs, 6 RBIs Power Royals past Orioles

Posted on May 18, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Gordon went 4 for 4 with a pair of three-run homers and a career-high six RBIs as the Kansas City Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-6 on Sunday.

Gordon drove a 1-1 pitch from Ubaldo Jimenez out to right with two outs in the fifth with Nori Aoki and Billy Butler aboard. Gordon, who led the Royals with 20 home runs last year, had gone 134 at-bats without a home run.

Gordon homered in his next at-bat, a three-run shot off left-hander Troy Patton in the seventh after Eric Hosmer walked and Butler doubled for his third hit.

Adam Jones hit a three-run homer off Royals reliever Aaron Crow in the ninth. It was the first runs Crow allowed in 20 relief appearances and 17 innings.

Greg Holland got the final two outs for his 12th save in 13 appearances.