Sports – Page 565 – North Platte Post Archive

Creighton’s Doug McDermott Accepts Wooden Award

Posted on April 11, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Doug McDermott of Creighton has accepted the John R. Wooden Award, one of several honors the senior won this year as college basketball’s player of the year.

The women’s award went to Chiney Ogwumike of Stanford on Friday night.

McDermott received 3,930 points in nationwide voting. He was announced as the winner last week at the Final Four in Arlington, Texas. Jabari Parker of Duke finished second with 2,569 points.

McDermott’s father, Greg, who coached his son at Creighton, was on hand.

Russ Smith of Louisville finished third with 2,228 points, followed by Cleanthony Early of Wichita State with 1,907, and Nick Johnson of Arizona with 1,758.

Players Know Pitchers Try for Better Grip on Ball

Posted on April 11, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Using a suspicious substance for a better hold of the baseball on cool days is not such a sticky situation.

Whether it’s the Yankees’ Michael Pineda with a mysterious brown goo on his hand, Boston’s Jon Lester with a green smudge in his glove or Houston’s Josh Zeid spraying something on his forearm before entering a recent game, most major leaguers don’t care whether pitchers get a little help — even though it’s against the Official Baseball Rules.

To some, it’s preferable.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino says “it’s an unwritten rule in the game. I’m sure a lot of pitchers do it.”

NPCC Knights Siarra Velasquez Signs with William Penn

Posted on April 11, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knight’s Siarra Velasquez signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her softball career at William Penn University, a NAIA institution, for her junior season.

“I chose to go to William Penn because I like both the academic and athletic opportunities I am offered through the school and softball program,” said Velasquez.

Last season, Velasquez appeared in 36 games and had 108 at bats. She compiled 36 hits, including eight doubles and two homeruns to go along with 10 RBIs and 25 runs scored. Her batting average was .380.

This season Velasquez has appeared in all 24 games and leads the team with 69 at bars. She has compiled 20 hits, including a double, two triples and two home runs good for a .290 batting average. Velasquez also leads the team with 22 runs scored 10 walks.

“Coach Christner’s coaching philosophy is very straight forward and similar to what I experienced here at NPCC,” said Velasquez

“Although I am leaving a great program here at NPCC with Coach Higgins, I will take everything I learned both on and off the field and transfer it over to continue to grow both as a student and athlete into the program at William Penn University. I am very blessed and excited for this opportunity that I have been given.”

“We are excited to have Siarra here at William Penn University,” said William Penn head coach Mike Christner. “Siarra is a hard worker and we believe will be a good fit here at WPU. We look for her to be a contributor to the Statesmen program over the next couple of years.”

NPCC Knights Softball Signs Shelby Clark of Greeley, Colo.

Posted on April 11, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Softball team announced the signing of a National Letter of Intent by Shelby Clark of Greeley, Colo. Clark will play 1st and 3rd base for the Knights.

“I’m excited to play softball at the next level here at North Platte Community College,” said Clark. “I loved that I fit in not only with the team, but on campus as well.”

“I’m looking forward to what the next two years will bring and being a part of Coach Higgins’ program,” said Clark.

“Shelby will give us depth on our corner positions,” said head coach Janelle Higgins. “She will be able to add depth power wise in our batting line up.”

Bulldogs Boys Track and Field Team Places 3rd, Girls 5th at the GI Invite

Posted on April 11, 2014

The North Platte Bulldogs track and field team competed in the Grand Island Invitational on Thursday. The Bulldogs boys placed third as a team and the girls tied for fifth out of the six schools competing.

The Grand Island boys and girls each won their home invitational. The Islanders boys team scored 175 points, far outdistancing second place Lincoln Southeast’s 105 points. North Platte finished third with 88 points.

The Lady Islanders scored 145 points to win the meet. Norfolk finished second with 103 points and Lincoln Southeast rounds out the top three with 94 points. The North Platte Lady Bulldogs finished tied for fifth with 48 points.

Top three finishers in individual events for the Lady Dogs include, Pole Vault winner Rachel Kosmacek. Tori Kurth placed second in the Pole Vault, Kaitlynn Harvey finished third in the Long Jump, and Hope Wilke placed third in the Shot Put.

For the boys Jake Zimbelman took third in the 100 meter dash, Wyatt McGuire placed first in the 800 meter run, Brandon Edwards finished second in the 3200 meter run, the 4×100 meter relay team took third, the 4×400 meter relay team placed third, Evan Lamphear won the Pole Vault, Zimbelman took first in the Long Jump, Trevon Weaver placed third in the Long Jump, and Chase Hohnholt finished third in the Discus Throw.

The full results can be seen by clicking on the link below.

Grand Island Track & Field Invitational Results

Expanded Replay Might Make for Better Manners

Posted on April 11, 2014

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Baseball’s new expanded replay rules this season might mean most managers start minding their manners.

That seems to be the case so far, with managers calmly leaving the top dugout step to chat with an umpire to either challenge a play or request that the umpire take a second look via review.

Through Wednesday’s games, in a count by baseball and STATS, there were 64 replays with 21 of those overturned. Nineteen of 48 were on manager challenges, and two were among 16 umpire-initiated reviews.

There could be a missing element for the baseball purists so accustomed to those screaming matches between manager and umpire made famous by by the late Hall of Famer Earl Weaver, retired Braves skipper Bobby Cox or cap-kicking Lou Piniella.

Faried’s Shot Lifts Nuggets over Warriors 100-99

Posted on April 11, 2014

Kenneth Faried made a turnaround hook shot over Draymond Green with a half-second remaining, and the Denver Nuggets made Golden State wait at least one more game to secure a playoff berth with a stunning 100-99 win over the Warriors on Thursday night.

Stephen Curry’s floater over Faried put the Warriors up 99-98 with 4.7 seconds to play, sending the announced sellout crowd of 19,596 roaring to their feet. Faried quieted fans moments later, backing down Green for the winning shot.

Curry’s quick 30-footer rimmed off as time expired.

Timofey Mozgov tied a career high of 23 points and set a career best with 29 rebounds, and Faried finished with 18 points and 17 boards to rally the Nuggets from 20 points down in the first half. Denver, which had lost six straight on the road, won both games at Golden State this season.

North Platte Soccer Girls Win, Boys Lose to Grand Island

Posted on April 10, 2014April 11, 2014

The North Platte Bulldogs boys and girls soccer teams hosted Grand Island on Tuesday and split victories with the Islanders.

The Lady Dogs (4-1) continued to score seemingly at will as they beat the Lady Islanders (1-5) 10-0 at Madison Middle School. North Platte led seven to nothing at the half before calling off the dogs and scoring three more times in the second half.

Taylor Banark led the way for North Platte with four goals and an assist. Madalynn Doughty and Samantha Tagwerker each scored two goals for the Lady Dogs and Marisa Martinez and Alex Neff each added one. Doughty also had two assists to lead the team. Abby Stark earned the shutout inside the net.

The Bulldogs boys soccer team lost their third match in a row to fall below .500 at 2-3 on the season. The Islanders improved to 3-3 with the 5-1 win. Brady Mason scored North Platte’s lone goal.

The Bulldogs will now compete in the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference tournament beginning Friday.

Morneau Settles in at 1st Base for Rockies

Posted on April 10, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Justin Morneau laces up his cleats right next to the locker once belonging to Todd Helton, the first baseman whose shoes he’s now trying to fill.

Merely a coincidence, though. The Colorado Rockies slugger selected that space in the clubhouse only because good friend Michael Cuddyer resides on the other side.

Morneau insists he’s not trying to replace the retired Helton, only “do the things I’m capable of doing.”

He’s certainly off to a solid start, hitting .387 and scooping up just about everything thrown in his vicinity at first — just like Helton used to do.

Cuddyer says of Morneau, his longtime teammate in Minnesota: “Justin’s a relentless worker and continues to get better, to make our team better.”

Some Mobile Hunting and Fishing Permits Now Available

Posted on April 10, 2014

LINCOLN – Some Nebraska hunting and fishing permits now may be purchased, accessed or displayed on a mobile device.

The image of a mobile permit may be displayed and saved on a device such as a phone or tablet. The mobile permit fulfills the requirement of carrying a permit while eliminating the need to carry a paper version.

Mobile permit purchase options are currently limited to hunt (small game), fish, and resident fur harvest permits, as well as associated stamps. Mobile big game permits and park entry permits are not available.

Users should remember that Internet service is required to access a mobile permit or the mobile site. Precautions, such as saving the image of the permit to your device, should be made in the event Internet service is not available in the field. A paper copy of a permit could be a backup, as well.

To access or purchase a mobile permit, a user must first have created a profile in Game and Parks’ electronic permitting system. A profile cannot be created on a mobile device. On the mobile site, permits may be purchased with a credit or debit card. Previously purchased permits and stamps also may be displayed and saved on mobile devices.

Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a link to the mobile site on the bottom of the home page, where users can view information and instructions on accessing mobile permits.