Sports – Page 566 – North Platte Post Archive

Ethan Montalvo Named Honorable Mention All-American

Posted on April 10, 2014

North Platte – Sophomore Ethan Montalvo was named to the 2013-14 Honorable Mention All-American Team on Tuesday afternoon. Montalvo becomes the 8^th player in program history to be named an All-American.

“Ethan will go down as not only one of the school’s all-time great players,” said head coach Kevin O’Connor “but did so with character and class. His work ethic and desire helped him achieve great things as a Knight. He was a privilege to coach and will be hard to replace.”

Montalvo joins Glover Cody (1989-90), LeMont Daniels (1993-94), Doug Rogers (1996-97), Jason McDonald (1998-99), Donta Watson (2003-04), Eugene Bain (2008-09) and Joseph Ragland (2009-10) as All-Americans to wear a North Platte Knights uniform.

Click here to see previous All-Americans

“I am extremely honored and blessed to be named an All-American,” said Montalvo. “I want to thank my teammates and coaches for helping me along the way. It is a perfect way to end my career at North Platte Community College.”

Along with being named an All-American, Montalvo was named All-Region IX 1^st Team, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC 1^st Team. As a freshman, Montalvo was All-Region IX 2^nd Team, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC 1^st Team.

This season Montalvo led the Knights in scoring at 18.9 points per game and in steals at 2.2 per game while also contributing 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Montalvo finishes his career with 1,173 points to finish 5^th All-Time and ties Chase Grabau, Ben Wilson and Aboubacar Casse for most games played in a Knights uniform at 68. Montalvo started every single game of his Knights career.

Montalvo has been a part of the most successful two year stretch in program history as the Knights compiled a 57-11 record during his career, including a Region IX Championship in 2013 and National Tournament appearance. The 57 wins are the most in program history in a two year stretch and the 11 losses are the fewest. Montalvo has never known defeat at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium finishing a perfect 28-0 in two years, also a school record.

Click here to see the 2013-14 All-Americans

Big Ten Conference Announces New York City Office

Posted on April 10, 2014

Rosemont, Ill. — The Big Ten Conference announced it will open a second office in New York City to help serve the needs of its 14 member institutions. The Big Ten New York City office will be located at 900 Third Avenue and will be fully staffed and operational by June 1.

The office is located in Midtown Manhattan, with easy access to airports and other transportation, and will feature both office and meeting space. Three Big Ten staff members working in branding, championships, communications and compliance will be based in the New York City office to provide expanded coverage and service, while Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany and senior staff will maintain a presence in both the New York City office and the conference’s current headquarters located in Rosemont, Ill. In addition, other conference and institutional administrators will utilize the space as necessary when conducting business on the East Coast. The Big Ten and its member institutions will also have access to satellite office space in Washington, D.C.

“We are excited to be on the East Coast and to open a second office in New York City,” Delany said. “With the addition of Maryland and Rutgers, we have become a conference with a significant presence in two regions of the country. While the space will be utilized full time by Big Ten staff, it will also be open to our member institutions conducting business in the city. New York is one of the world’s greatest cities, and this provides an opportunity for connecting with our many conference partners, media and alumni in that area.”

“As we look forward to officially joining the Big Ten, we’re thrilled that the conference has opened offices on the East Coast to strengthen the bond with our institution,” Rutgers University President Robert L. Barchi said. “Rutgers University has a significant presence in New York City with alumni, students and business partners, and we’re happy that the Big Ten and its member institutions will be joining us in the metropolitan area.”

“The Big Ten has been a terrific partner as we have prepared to join the conference. The establishment of offices on the East Coast is just another example of their ongoing outreach efforts,” University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh said. “The University of Maryland draws students from across the country and the world, but the region between College Park and New York City is especially important to us. We’re glad that the Big Ten will have an expanded presence on the East Coast.”

“Indiana University is thrilled that the Big Ten has given member institutions office space in New York City,” Indiana University Director of Athletics Fred Glass said. “It is a strong display of commitment to our new members and a substantial investment in the eastern part of the conference’s expanded footprint. New York has one of the largest concentrations of IU alumni in the country, and it is terrific that we now have a home base of operations in the nation’s largest city.”

“The Big Ten now stretches from the Atlantic Ocean across the Missouri River, and establishing a base of operations in New York City for all 14 institutions is a natural next step,” Northwestern University Director of Athletics Jim Phillips said. “As a university with a large alumni population in New York, and one that recruits students, faculty and student-athletes from throughout the Northeast, we’re very much looking forward to what will be a home-away-from-home in Manhattan.”

The Big Ten has made a series of announcements highlighting the conference’s increased presence on the East Coast, beginning with the addition of Maryland and Rutgers as future conference members in November 2012. Last June, the Big Ten announced the acceptance of Johns Hopkins University as the conference’s first sport affiliate member for men’s lacrosse and also announced an agreement to take part in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, sending conference football teams to play at Yankee Stadium on an annual basis.

Maryland and Rutgers are set to officially join the Big Ten on July 1, 2014, giving the conference more than 520,000 total students and 5.7 million living alumni. The broad-based athletic programs of the 14 institutions will feature almost 9,500 student-athletes on 350 teams in 43 different sports. With the debut of men’s and women’s lacrosse during the 2014-15 academic year, the Big Ten will sponsor 28 official sports. Maryland and Rutgers are already members of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, an academic consortium of Big Ten universities and the University of Chicago that is a model for effective and voluntary collaboration among top research universities. In 2012, Big Ten institutions produced over $9.5 billion in research expenditures.

NBA to Play Preseason Games in China, Brazil

Posted on April 10, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao will play an NBA game back home in Brazil for the first time when Cleveland takes on the Miami Heat in an exhibition in October.

The NBA announced five international preseason games Thursday. The Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings will meet twice in China — Oct. 12 in Shanghai and Oct. 15 in Beijing.

The Spurs will also play two Euroleague Basketball teams. San Antonio faces eight-time German champion Alba Berlin in Berlin on Oct. 8 and five-time Turkish champ Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul in Istanbul on Oct. 11.

The Cavs-Heat matchup is also Oct. 11 in Rio de Janeiro.

The NBA will later announce regular-season international games for 2014-15 as part of its efforts to promote the league around the world.

Foye Leads Nuggets Past Rockets, 123-116

Posted on April 9, 2014

DENVER (AP) — Randy Foye scored 24 of his 30 points in the second half, and the Denver Nuggets hung on to beat the Houston Rockets 123-116 on Wednesday night.

Kenneth Faried had 23 points and Timofey Mozgov added 22 for the Nuggets, who beat the Rockets for the first time in three tries this season.

Jeremy Lin led eight Houston players in double figures with 18 points.

Both teams were missing key players heading into the game and the Rockets got a scare when James Harden, leading a fast break, appeared to bang his left shin in a collision with Aaron Brooks midway through the third quarter. Fouled on the play, Harden made both free throws and left the game briefly to have the leg tended to before returning to action.

Neb’s Bell Says Colter Asks for Help in Union Push

Posted on April 9, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska football player Kenny Bell says Kain Colter has approached him about enlisting the Cornhuskers in the movement that could lead to the formation of a college athletes union.

Bell and Colter, the former Northwestern quarterback, are longtime friends from Colorado. Bell, who will be a senior receiver this fall, said Wednesday he and Colter have been discussing possible unionization for about a year.

Colter spearheaded an effort at Northwestern that ended up with a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board ruling that football players at that school meet the definition of employees and can unionize. The Northwestern players are set to vote April 25 on whether to proceed. The school is appealing the ruling.

Bell said he isn’t sure a union is the answer to athletes’ concerns.

National Walk at Lunch Day to Benefit Nebraska Trails

Posted on April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

LINCOLN – On April 30, Nebraskans from across the state will make time to walk for 30 minutes at lunchtime.

In doing so, they’ll take part in National Walk at Lunch Day, an annual event intended to encourage participants to engage in healthy lifestyle choices. Participants will also help raise money for the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation.

For every organization that registers walkers for the annual event, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska will contribute $20 to the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation and the Special Olympics Nebraska. The Foundation will use donations to develop and improve hiking and biking trails. The $8,000 generated last year for Game and Parks led to the construction of new trails at Platte River State Park.

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska is dedicated to promoting healthy living across Nebraska,” said Kathy Nellor, wellness business consultant at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. “As a result, it makes sense to support the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation and its biking and hiking statewide trails system.”

All together, the Game and Parks statewide system offers more than 1,200 miles of trails.

“The Game and Parks Foundation is grateful for the support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska and this annual event,” said Roger Kuhn, Parks Division Administrator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “National Walk at Lunch Day helps enhance our trails, which in turn enhance our state park system.”

Schools, businesses, organizations and individuals can visit nebraskablue.com to register. Participants can choose a convenient time and place to walk – perhaps one of the state’s many trails.

In 2013, more than 57,000 Nebraskans registered to take a 30-minute walk at lunch. Most walked with their business or school, and in all, more than 360 organizations participated. This year, Blue Cross and Blue shield of Nebraska is hoping to register 62,700 walkers, a 10 percent increase from last year.

Walking is part of a healthy lifestyle that can lower the risk of heart disease, increase weight loss and improve sleep.

LeMahieu Leads Rockies to 10-4 Win over White Sox

Posted on April 9, 2014

DENVER (AP) — D.J. LeMahieu’s two-run single broke a tie in a six-run eighth inning, sending the Colorado Rockies to a 10-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

LeMahieu finished with three hits, including an RBI double in the sixth that tied the game at 4.

Colorado broke open the game in the eighth with its biggest inning this season. Justin Morneau started the rally with a single off Scott Downs (0-2). The Rockies sent 10 batters to the plate, with LeMahieu coming up with a big hit to center. Pinch-hitter Josh Rutledge and Michael Cuddyer added run-scoring singles, while Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run double down the line.

Rex Brothers (1-0), who got two outs in the eighth as the Rockies took two of three in the series from the White Sox.

Chicago lost right fielder Avisail Garcia after he jammed his left shoulder diving for LeMahieu’s low liner in the sixth. The teams said X-rays were negative for a fracture or a separation.

Family Fishing Events Scheduled for 2014

Posted on April 9, 2014

LINCOLN – Another spring and summer of family fishing fun is scheduled with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Family Fishing Events.

Family Fishing Events provide opportunities for people of all ages who have never fished or have not fished in years to learn and enjoy the activity. Rods and reels, as well as bait and fishing instruction, will be available for free. Look for the Family Fishing Trailer at each site. Appropriate fishing and park permits are required.

All events are from 6-8 p.m., unless otherwise noted. The schedule is:

April 28 – Terry’s Pit, Scottsbluff, 5-7:30 p.m.; May 10 – Fort Kearny State Recreation Area (SRA), Kearney, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; May 28 – Lake Halleck, Papillion;May 29 – Holmes Lake, Lincoln

June 3 – Skyview Lake, Norfolk; June 4 – Pawnee Park East, Columbus; June 7 – Yanney Park, Kearney, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; June 10 – Fremont Lakes SRA No. 3, Fremont; June 11 – Benson Park Pond, Omaha; June 11 – Recharge Lake, York;June 17 – Walnut Creek Reservoir, Papillion; June 18 – Bowling Lake, Lincoln; June 21 – Carp-O-Rama, Pawnee SRA, Emerald, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; June 24 – City Pond, North Platte; June 25 – Cottonmill Lake, Kearney; June 26 – Mormon Island SRA No. 1, Grand Island

July 8 – Johnson Lake, Fremont; July 9 – Holmes Lake, Lincoln; July 10 – Lake Halleck, Papillion; July 12 – Carp-O-Rama, Maloney Reservoir, North Platte, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; July 15 – Skyview Lake, Norfolk; July 16 – Pawnee Park East, Columbus; July 22 – Bowling Lake, Lincoln; July 23 – Benson Park Pond, Omaha

Aug. 6 – City Pond, North Platte; Aug. 7 – Mormon Island SRA No. 1, Grand Island;Aug. 8 – Fort Kearny SRA, Kearney; Aug. 12 – Lake Halleck, Papillion; Aug. 13 – Holmes Lake, Lincoln; Aug. 14 – Recharge Lake, York; Sept. 20-21 – Missouri River Outdoor Expo, Ponca State Park, Ponca, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Gordon Homers, Drives in 4 as Royals Beat Rays 7-3

Posted on April 9, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Gordon hit a three-run homer and matched a career high with four RBIs, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 7-3 rout of the Tampa Bay Rays in their series finale Wednesday.

Nori Aoki, Johnny Giavotella and Billy Butler also drove in runs for the Royals, who have struggled to find offense all season. They had only scored more than four runs once in their first seven games, and lost 1-0 to Tampa Bay the previous night.

Jeremy Guthrie (2-0) recovered from a sloppy start to hold the Rays to four hits over seven innings. The only run he allowed came on Desmond Jennings’ homer in the fourth.

The Royals broke the game open with a five-run fifth off Jake Odorizzi (1-1), who was part of the blockbuster trade in 2012 that brought James Shields from Tampa Bay to Kansas City.

The Royals went ahead on Butler’s RBI groundout and Gordon’s run-scoring single in the fourth inning.

Lorenzo Cain singled off Odorizzi to lead off the fifth, Aoki followed two batters later with a triple to right, and the flood gates were open.

Giavotella, recalled from Triple-A Omaha to replace injured second baseman Omar Infante, hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1. Hosmer and Butler followed with back-to-back singles, and Gordon popped a pitch to right-center that hung up long enough in the wind to land over the fence.

It was a rough way for Odorizzi to return to Kauffman Stadium, where he made his big league debut with the Royals in 2012. He allowed all seven runs on 10 hits and a walk in five innings.

The Royals squandered a scoring chance with runners on first and second and one out in the second inning when Mike Moustakas struck out and Gordon was thrown out heading to third.

Royals manager Ned Yost trundled onto the field and challenged the call. After a review of 2 minutes, 10 seconds, the ruling made by third base umpire Quinn Wolcott was upheld.

It hardly mattered the way the Royals were swinging — and the way Guthrie was pitching.

The right-hander, who turned 35 on Tuesday, was coming off a rough start against the White Sox. But Guthrie navigated trouble in each of the first three innings, leaving five Rays on base, and then retired his final 12 batters to hand the lead to his bullpen.

Kelvin Herrera gave up two runs in the ninth for Kansas City.

Notes: The Royals activated RHP Louis Coleman (bruised finger) from the DL and optioned RHP Aaron Brooks and LHP Donnie Joseph to Omaha prior to the game. … Rays 3B Evan Longoria reached base three times. … The Rays visit Cincinnati for a three-game set this weekend. They’ve never won at Great American Ball Park. … Kansas City plays 13 of its next 16 on the road beginning Friday night in Minnesota.

Storm Represented Well At Frozen Four

Posted on April 9, 2014

KEARNEY, Neb. – Three former Tri-City Storm players will be in Philadelphia this weekend, attempting to capture a national championship at the 2014 Frozen Four.

The standouts include goaltender Adam Wilcox with Minnesota, forward Michael Vecchione with Union and forward Andrew Panzarella of North Dakota.

Vecchione’s Union Dutchmen will go up against the Boston College Eagles on Thursday at 5 p.m. EST, before Wilcox’s Golden Gophers face-off against Panzarella and North Dakota at 8:30. Both semifinal games can be seen on ESPN2.

The national champion will be crowned at the completion of the final game, Saturday night at 7:30 on ESPN.

Wilcox, who was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, has been outstanding all season for Minnesota. The netminder has won 25 games while posting a 1.89 goals against average and a .934 save percentage.

In regional play, Wilcox backstopped the Gophers to a 7-3 win over Robert Morris, before shutting out St. Cloud State 4-0 the following day.

The goaltender played 34 games for the Storm in 2011-12 and led Tri-City to the 2012 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs.

Vecchione, who led the Storm with 26 goals a season ago, has had a breakout year as a freshman. The Saugus, Mass. native has put up 31 points in 36 games in his first season on campus that included 12 goals and 19 assists.

With Union as a No. 1 seed in the East Regional, Vecchione played a big role as one of the team’s top centers in a 5-2 win over Vermont and a 3-1 triumph against Providence.

North Dakota winger Andrew Panzarella also played in both his teams’ regional wins over Wisconsin and Ferris State. The junior has registered a goal and an assist in 20 games.

Panzarella, a Washington, DC native, had a four-year USHL career with Des Moines, Tri-City and Waterloo.

The up-to-date 2014 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey bracket can be found here.