PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals has been hit in the helmet by a pitch and left the game against San Diego.
The Royals say Perez didn’t sustain a concussion Wednesday. Perez relayed through the club that he’s “fine.”
Perez was hit by a breaking ball above his left ear. The Royals catcher fell to the ground and was down for a few seconds before walking off, holding the left side of his head.
Perez was hit by reliever Johnny Barbato in the third inning. An inning earlier, Perez hit a solo home run off San Diego starter Ian Kennedy.
Last week, Perez hit the line drive that struck Cincinnati reliever Aroldis Chapman and caused facial fractures.
KEARNEY, Neb. – When the 2014 NCAA men’s hockey tournament kicks off on Friday afternoon across the family of ESPN networks, 10 former Storm players will represent eight different teams attempting to capture this year’s national championship.
The No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, Minnesota, led by Big Ten player and goaltender of the year Adam Wilcox, will be in the West Regional.
Wilcox has been outstanding all year for the Golden Gophers, winning 23 games and posting a 1.91 goals against average and a .933 save percentage. The sophomore will be right at home when the Gophers open up against Robert Morris in his hometown of St. Paul, Minn.
The goaltender played 34 games for the Storm in 2011-12 and led Tri-City to the 2012 USHL Clark Cup Playoffs.
Three Storm alums represent the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional, Ferris State. Jason Binkley, Dominic Panetta and Simon Denis help comprise a Bulldogs roster that will look to get back to the Frozen Four for the second time in three seasons.
Binkley has been one of the Bulldogs’ top defenseman in his junior year, scoring three goals and 21 assists in 39 games. Panetta, teammates with Binkley in Tri-City during the 2010-11 season, has two goals and five assists in 22 games.
Denis, another member of the 2010-11 Storm team, played six games before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Three members of the Storm’s 2012-13 roster from last season have also earned a place in the tournament. They include Michael Vecchione, Trevor Mingoia and Trevor Moore.
Vecchione, who led the Storm with 26 goals in 2012-13, has had a breakout season as a freshman at Union College. The Saugus, Mass. native scored 31 points in 34 games in his first season on campus that included 12 goals and 19 assists. His contributions helped Union to an ECAC Championship and a No. 1 seed in the East Regional.
Mingoia made a big impact with Providence College during the season’s final stretch, scoring 13 points in 24 games. The Friars have a first round matchup with Quinnipiac and could potentially see Vecchione and Union in the East Regional Final.
Moore also played an important offensive role in his freshman season at the University of Denver, scoring 13 goals and 18 assists in 41 games. Denver secured their spot in the tournament by winning the first ever NCHC Frozen Faceoff last weekend. The Pioneers will play Northeast Regional No. 1 seed Boston College in the first round.
A year ago, Moore was the leading scorer for the Storm, accounting for 63 points on 20 goals and 43 assists.
Other Storm alums in the tournament include the University of Vermont’s Mario Puskarich (2009-11), the Hockey East’s Rookie of the Year, Quinnipiac forward Soren Jonzzon (2010-12), and North Dakota defenseman Andrew Panzarella (2009-10).
All NCAA Tournament regional games will take place from March 28-30. The Frozen Four gets underway April 10 in Philadelphia.
The 2014 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey National Championship bracket can be found here.
Tri-City will now hit the road for four games over the next two weekends in Fargo, Sioux City and Des Moines. Catch all the action on The Breeze 94.5 FM beginning with the Viaero Wireless Pre-Game Show from Fargo on Friday night at6:45 p.m.
The Storm’s final game of the 2013-14 season, Fan Appreciation and Anderson Cup Tribute Night, is scheduled for April 5 against Lincoln at 7:05 p.m. at the Viaero Event Center.
CHICAGO (AP) — Northwestern University says it disagrees with the decision from a federal agency that found that the school’s football players qualify as employees, and can create the nation’s first union of college athletes.
The university, based in Evanston, Illinois, says it will appeal to labor authorities in Washington. The school has argued that college athletes, as students, don’t fit into the same category as factory workers, truck drivers and other unionized workers.
A regional director of the National Labor Relations Board, Peter Sung Ohr, found that the players “fall squarely within” the definition of “employee” under federal labor law.
An employee is generally regarded by law as someone who gets compensation for a service and is under the direct control of managers. Players argued that their scholarships are compensation, and that their coaches are their managers.
The College Athletes Players Association, which would take the lead in organizing the players, wants guaranteed coverage of sports-related medical expenses for current and former players. It also wants better procedures to reduce head injuries. Other goals include potentially letting players pursue commercial sponsorships.
But critics say letting players unionize could raise the prospects of strikes by disgruntled players, or lockouts by athletic departments.
For now, the push is on to unionize athletes at private schools such as Northwestern. The federal agency doesn’t have jurisdiction over public universities.
—Previous Story—
CHICAGO (AP) — In a ruling that could revolutionize college sports, a federal agency has given football players at Northwestern University the green light to unionize.
Wednesday’s landmark ruling by a regional director of National Labor Relations Board means the players are deemed employees under federal law and so can create the nation’s first college athletes’ union.
Union lawyers argued the Big Ten school’s football players are part of a commercial enterprise that generates hefty profits through their labor.
The NCAA, Big Ten Conference and the private school vehemently opposed the union drive. Northwestern argued that college athletes are students and can’t be put in the same category as factory workers.
The ruling in Chicago by director Peter Ohr can be appealed to the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Rosemont, Ill. — The Big Ten Conference on Wednesday recognized a total of 678 winter sports student-athletes who have been named to the Academic All-Conference team. The list of honored student-athletes features 34 men’s and 49 women’s basketball players, 51 men’s and 52 women’s gymnasts, 69 hockey players, 143 men’s and 183 women’s swimmers and divers and 97 wrestlers. To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, student-athletes must be letterwinners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
At least nine of these student-athletes have maintained unblemished cumulative GPAs:
Nicholas Caldwell, Wisconsin men’s swimming & diving (Jr., Chemistry)
David Zoltowski, Michigan State men’s swimming & diving (Jr., Electrical Engineering)
The conference office also awards Academic All-Big Ten distinction in the fall and spring seasons and will present the Distinguished Scholar Award at the end of the academic year. Student-athletes eligible for the Distinguished Scholar Award must be letterwinners in at least their second year in residence at their institution. Qualifying student-athletes must have earned a GPA of 3.7 or higher for the current academic year, excluding summer school. The Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award was established by conference Faculty Representatives as an addition to the conference’s Academic All-Big Ten program.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says it’s possible the playoffs could expand next season.
Goodell said Wednesday at the spring meetings that “it’s not out of the question.” He says he “wouldn’t rule it out, but I wouldn’t say that’s the direction we’re heading.”
The owners discussed adding two playoff teams to the current 12, one in each conference. The topic is certain to come up when Goodell meets with the players union April 8, and again at the owners’ May meeting in Atlanta.
Goodell adds that there was a “tremendous amount of interest in this, possibly even to the point of support.” He believes it will make the late-season division and wild-card races even more compelling.
Adding two postseason games also would increase TV revenues.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The NFL will experiment with extra-point kicks from the 20-yard line for two weeks in the preseason this summer, but implementing longer PATs for the regular season has been tabled.
Team owners preferred to see how the longer extra points work in exhibition games before making any decisions on a permanent switch.
On Wednesday, the owners also rejected proposals to move kickoffs to the 40-yard line and to allow more than one player to be placed on injured reserve, then return to the roster during the season.
Adopted on the final day of the spring meetings were proposals to extend the length of the goalposts 5 feet to 35 feet to better determine if kicks are good, and no longer stopping the clock on sacks.
As expected, no vote was taken on expanding the playoffs, although the topic was discussed.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska spring turkey hunting season has opened for archers.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says adult hunters may use only archery equipment through April 11 and may use either archery equipment or a shotgun April 12-May 31. Youth hunters may use only archery equipment through April 4 and may use either archery equipment or a shotgun April 5-May 31.
Hunters under age 16 need a youth spring turkey permit; hunters age 16 and older need a spring turkey permit.
Permits may be purchased online at OutdoorNebraska.org.
KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm’s Jerseys For a Cause program raised a total of $1,965 in the month of March. All proceeds have been donated to Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings, Neb.
Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, the program benefits a different organization each month. At each home Tri-City Storm game, a limited edition pink jersey worn by the team during Pink In The Rink night on Oct. 4against Sioux City is raffled off to fans who donate.
The Storm are proud to have such a great growing partnership with Mary Lanning Healthcare. On Saturday, March 8, over 750 Mary Lanning Healthcare employees and families participated in a pre-game party featuring a Hockey 101 session led by Storm head coach Jim Hulton.
Also during the month of March, Tri-City Storm players visited Mary Lanning Hospital where they handed out pucks and teddy bears to patients and interacted with the staff.
“This is the second year we’ve been able to partner with Mary Lanning Healthcare and it was a great success for everyone involved,” said Alicia Korte, Group Sales and Customer Relations Manager. “We look forward to expanding our relationship and bringing more players to their great facility in the future.”
The Jerseys For a Cause program will combine the months of February and April with a donation to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Tri-City will now hit the road for four games over the next two weekends in Fargo, Sioux City and Des Moines. The series with the Force at Scheels Arena starts on Friday night at 7:05 p.m.
The Storm’s final home game is scheduled for April 5 against Lincoln at 7:05 p.m.
NEW YORK (AP) — People familiar with the negotiations tell The Associated Press that baseball players and management hope to reach a new drug agreement this week that would increase initial penalties for muscle-building steroids and decrease suspensions for some positive tests caused by unintentional use.
The deal would also eliminate the loophole allowing Alex Rodriguez to earn almost $4 million during his season-long ban, the people said. They spoke on condition of anonymity in recent days because talks are ongoing.
The sides hope to reach an agreement by Sunday, when the Los Angeles Dodgers open the U.S. portion of the major league schedule at the San Diego Padres.
North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights’ Shannon Liewer signed a National Letter of Intent Tuesday afternoon to play volleyball next year at Peru State College, a NAIA institution, for her junior season.
“I am very excited to be continuing my career at the next level,” said Liewer. “North Platte Community College has been a great place for me the past two years and has prepared me for the next step in my career. I want to thank everyone at NPCC who has made my career here successful and very memorable.”
Liewer will join a Lady Bobcat team that went 21-14 overall in 2013, including a 4-5 conference record. The Lady Bobcats ended their season in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Quarterfinals.
“I am unbelievably excited for Shannon to continue her career,” said Lady Knight’s head coach Sally Thalken. “She has been a huge part of our success here the last two years and we will greatly miss her. We hope that all of our players aspire to be like Shannon to continue their careers at the next level.”
Liewer was a captain in 2013 for the 22-15 Region IX Division II Runner-Up Lady Knights and etched her name in the Lady Knights Record Book in two season categories and three career categories. Liewer was named to the NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention team and All-Region IX Division II team earlier this year.
Liewer 2013 season goes down as the 8th best all-time for total digs as she finished with 831. Liewer played in 141 sets, good for a 5.9 digs per set average that places 10th all-time in season digs per set.
As a Lady Knight, Liewer ranks 6th all-time in career digs with 1,342. She has played in 274 sets in her career to place 5th all-time in career digs per set with a 4.90 average. Liewer also checks in at 17th all-time in career aces as she finished with 96. As a sophomore in 2013 she had 49 aces to go along with 47 as a freshman.
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals has been hit in the helmet by a pitch and left the game against San Diego.
