SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — In the dry, thin air of Colorado, fly balls are folly.
The Rockies believe the best way to escape the NL West basement is to keep everything on the ground floor.
Right-hander Jon Gray says you have to be a groundball pitcher to play for the Rockies.
The philosophy of keeping the ball low in the strike zone is apparent wherever you go in Colorado’s spring training complex. Manager Walt Weiss preaches it in team meetings and to reporters. Strings are often set up in front of the catchers in the bullpen to measure the success rate.
The Rockies saw the number of home runs allowed drop to 159 last year from 198 in 2012. But Colorado needs even more success if it hopes to become a contender.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Buffalo Bills and New York Giants will kick off the 2014 NFL preseason in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.
The league announced Thursday the matchup for the Aug. 3 game.
The contest will be played a day after the Hall of Fame inducts seven new members, including one each from the Bills and Giants.
Wide receiver Andre Reed played 15 of his 16 seasons with the Bills from 1985-1999. Defensive end Michael Strahan spent his 15-season career with the Giants from 1993-2007, winning a Super Bowl in his final season.
This is the first time the Bills and Giants will meet in the Hall of Fame Game.
NEW YORK (AP) — NBC says it worked with Olympic officials to stop some 45,000 instances of illegally posted video or pirate streams that surfaced to show competition during the Sochi games.
The chase after video pirates operates in the shadows with an intensity all its own. Broadcasters pay big money to the International Olympic Commission in return for exclusive TV and streaming rights and guard that exclusivity keenly. In NBC’s case, the network paid $775 million for the Sochi rights.
Officials estimated Thursday that some 20,000 Olympic videos were kept off YouTube and 20,000 more off other video-sharing sites around the world.
The anti-piracy police also said they located and stopped as estimated 5,000 illegal streams of Olympic material, much of it live competition.
North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team (15-12, 3-1 Region IX Division II) will host the Central Community Lady Raiders (19-12, 2-2 Region IX Division II) on Monday, March 3 at 6 p.m. for the Region IX Division II title. The winner will advance to the District F Playoff on March 9 to qualify for the Division II National Tournament.
The Lady Raiders advanced to the championship game by defeating the Southeast Community College Lady Storm (17-14, 1-3 Region IX Division II) last night 79-68 behind five players in double figures. Javona Wynne, Caitlin Fehringer and Adrianna Beck each scored 12 points, while Alyssa Foltz and Eleishia Bibbs each added 11 points. Wynne had a double-double as she added 12 rebounds.
The Lady Knights and Lady Raiders have split their two contests so far this year, with both teams defending their home court. The Lady Raiders won first 67-74 before the Knights returned the favor with a 57-50 victory of their own.
DaVontaye Merritt led the Knights in the loss with 21 points and 10 rebounds while Courtney Widick added 14 and April Stull scored 12. In the victory, Jordan Dickerson and Aliyah Brown led the Knights with 11 points each while Stull scored 10. Merritt only scored nine points, but racked up 18 rebounds.
For Central, Sophia Yarger led the Lady Raiders in victory with 16 points while Alyssa Foltz had 15 and Javona Wynne had 10. In defeat, Yarger was the only Lady Raider in double-figures with 17 points.
North Platte – Ethan Montalvo, Cameron Williams and Tim Simmons of North Platte Community College (25-4, 12-4 South Sub-Region) were all named to the 2013-14 Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference (NCCAC) All-Conference Team on Thursday. Head coach Kevin O’Connor was also named the NCCAC Coach-of-the-Year.
Ethan Montalvo of Omaha was named All-NCCAC First Team and was the leading vote getter. The sophomore is the Knights leading scorer at 19.0 points per game. Montalvo leads the team in steals (2.2 spg) and is tied for first in assists (2.7 apg). He averages 2.3 three-pointers a game, making a team high 67 while shooting 39 percent behind the arc. Montalvo also leads the team in free throw percentage at 82 percent from the charity stripe.
Montalvo currently sits 6th All-Time on the Knights career scoring list with 1,116 points in his career. Montalvo is 30 points from cracking the top five and passing Jason McDonald. Montalvo was named All-NCCAC First Team for the second consecutive year.
Cameron Williams of Omaha was also named All-NCCAC First Team. The freshman is the Knights second leading scorer at 13.7 points per game. Williams is tied for first on the team in assists (2.7 apg) and is second in steals (1.5 spg). Williams shoots 45 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free throw line. In his last outing, Williams scored a career-high 33 points in only 19 minutes of action to go along with six rebounds and three assists.
Tim Simmons of Stamford, Conn. was named All-NCCAC Second-Team after leading the Knights to the NCCAC Championship for the second consecutive season. The sophomore is third on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game and has been at his best in the biggest moments during his career at North Platte. Simmons is third on the team in rebounds at 4.5 per game. Simmons leads the Knights in field goal percentage at 54 percent from the field, 37 percent from the 3-point line and 72 percent from the free throw line.
Simmons currently sit 49th All-Time on the Knights career scoring list with 660 career points. Simmons can move up the scoring list rapidly as the next 10 spots have scored under 700 career points.
Kevin O’Connor
Kevin O’Connor was named the NCCAC Coach-of-the-Year after leading the Knights to their third consecutive NCCAC Championship and ninth in the last ten years. Coach O’Connor has won 15 conference championships in his 29 year career at North Platte Community College. He guided the Knights to a 25-4 regular season record and a 5-1 record in conference play. The 25 regular season wins is the second consecutive year of 25 wins and ties for third in program history with last year for a regular season trailing only the 1989-90 O’Connor coached team which finished the regular season 27-3 and the 1972-73 Doug Schakel coached team which finished the regular season 26-8.
NCCAC First-TeamNCCAC Second-Team
Ethan Montalvo- North Platte CC Tim Simmons- North Platte CC
Tyron Criswell- Central CC Riak Bol- Central CC
Tony Dobbinson- McCook CC David Plain- Central CC
Dominic Williams- McCook CC Tyrell Corlew- Southeast CC
Cameron Williams- North Platte CC (tie)
Josh Roberts- Southeast CC (tie)
NCCAC Honorable Mention
D’Andre Downey- McCook CC
Jarrod Gamble- Southeast CC
NCCAC Coach-of-the-Year
Kevin O’Connor- North Platte CC
North Platte – Ethan Montalvo, Cameron Williams and Tim Simmons of North Platte Community College (25-4, 12-4 South Sub-Region) were all named to the 2013-14 Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference (NCCAC) All-Conference Team on Thursday. Head coach Kevin O’Connor was also named the NCCAC Coach-of-the-Year. Ethan Montalvo of Omaha was named All-NCCAC First Team and was the leading vote getter. The sophomore is the Knights leading scorer at 19.0 points per game. Montalvo leads the team in steals (2.2 spg) and is tied for first in assists (2.7 apg). He averages 2.3 three pointers a game while make a team high 67 while shooting 39 percent behind the arc. Montalvo also leads the team in free throw percentage at 82 percent from the charity stripe. Montalvo currently sits 6th All-Time on the Knights career scoring list with 1,116 points in his career. Montalvo is 30 points from cracking the top five and passing Jason McDonald. Montalvo was named All-NCCAC First Team for the second consecutive year. Cameron Williams of Omaha was also named All-NCCAA First Team. The freshman is the Knights second leading scorer at 13.7 points per game. Williams is tied for first on the team in assists (2.7 apg) and is second in steals (1.5 spg). Williams shoots 45 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free throw line. In his last outing, Williams scored a career-high 33 points in only 19 minutes of action to go along with six rebounds and three assists. Tim Simmons of Stamford, Conn. was named All-NCCAC Second-Team after leading the Knights to the NCCAC Championship for the second consecutive season. The sophomore is third on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game and has been at his best in the biggest moments during his career at North Platte. Simmons is third on the team in rebounds at 4.5 per game. Simmons leads the Knights in field goal percentage at 54 percent from the field, 37 percent from the 3-point line and 72 percent from the free throw line. Simmons currently sit 49th All-Time on the Knights career scoring list with 660 career points. Simmons can move up the scoring list rapidly as the next 10 spots have scored under 700 career points. Kevin O’Connor was named the NCCAC Coach-of-the-Year after leading the Knights to their third consecutive NCCAC Championship and nine in the last ten years. Coach O’Connor has won 15 conference championships in his 29 year career at North Platte Community College. He guided the Knights to a 25-4 regular season record and a 5-1 record in conference play. The 25 regular season wins is the second consecutive year of 25 wins and ties for third in program history with last year for a regular season trailing only the 1989-90 O’Connor coached team which finished the regular season 27-3 and the 1972-73 Doug Schakel coached team which finished the regular season 26-8. NCCAC First-TeamNCCAC Second-Team Ethan Montalvo– North Platte CC Tim Simmons– North Platte CC Tyron Criswell- Central CC Riak Bol- Central CC Tony Dobbinson- McCook CC David Plain- Central CC Dominic Williams- McCook CC Tyrell Corlew- Southeast CC Cameron Williams– North Platte CC (tie) Josh Roberts- Southeast CC (tie) NCCAC Honorable Mention D’Andre Downey- McCook CC Jarrod Gamble- Southeast CC NCCAC Coach-of-the-Year Kevin O’Connor– North Platte CC
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man who badly beat a San Francisco Giants fan at Dodger Stadium will be held without bail on federal firearms charges.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Frederick Mumm’s decision Wednesday stopped the pending release of Marvin Norwood, who was sentenced to four years in prison for the beating of Brian Stow. The sentence came last week and with credit for time served, he could have been freed soon.
According to City News Service, Mumm said Norwood was a danger to the community and a flight risk and should be held pending trial.
Norwood and co-defendant Louie Sanchez pleaded guilty last Thursday to the beating of Stow on opening day in 2011.
Sanchez, who also faces the firearms charge, received an eight-year sentence and still has about five years left.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois freshmen Kendrick Nunn and Malcolm Hill combined for 23 points and the Illini ended Nebraska’s five-game win streak on Wednesday night, 60-49.
Nunn scored 13 on 4-of-6 shooting for the Illini (16-12, 5-10 Big Ten). He was 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Hill added 10 points and five rebounds.
Nebraska (16-11, 8-7) came into the game as one of the Big Ten’s hottest teams. The Cornhuskers had won seven of their last eight.
But Nebraska turned the ball over 15 times and was 0-8 from 3-poingt range in the first half before finishing 3-13.
Only one Cornhusker, Terran Petteway, finished in double figures. He had 13 points.
Rayvonte Rice added 10 point and nine rebounds for the Illini.
The victory gives Illinois back-to-back wins for the first time since the first two games of the conference season. They had lost 10 of 12.
LINCOLN – The Pine Ridge Unit Season 2 mountain lion season is closed following the harvest of a female mountain lion Feb. 26 in Sheridan County. The lion showed no signs of lactation or dependent young.
The 102-pound lion was approximately 5½ years old and appeared to have been in good health. One of its ears had a tag from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
The season closed immediately once the harvest subquota of one female was met. Season 1 in the Pine Ridge Unit closed when two male mountain lions were harvested Jan. 2. The season continues in the Prairie Unit, which encompasses most of the state.
For more information about mountain lions in Nebraska, visit the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s mountain lion web page at OutdoorNebraska.org.
BOSTON (AP) — This year’s Boston Marathon will have a “no bags” policy as part of stepped-up security following last year’s deadly bombing.
The Boston Athletic Association announced the policy changes Wednesday in advance of the April 21 marathon.
Runners will not be allowed to bring bags. Bags will also not be allowed in certain areas near the start or finish line or along the course.
Runners will be given a chance to check gear on Boston Common on the morning of the marathon to allow them to have a change of clothing at the end of the race. The BAA said it will provide clear plastic bags for that.
Twin bombs placed in backpacks near the 2013 finish line killed three people and injured more than 260. Prosecutors say two spectators were responsible.
KEARNEY, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm’s ‘Pack It In Purple’ jersey auction raised a total of $12,625 through the sale of 27 game-worn sweaters on Saturday night. All proceeds have been donated to the United Way in Kearney.
Saturday’s game and jersey auction, presented by Nebraska Lottery, was attended by a season-high sellout crowd of 4,025.
The United Way has partnered with the Storm and hosted the jersey auction for 14 seasons. This year’s event pushed the all-time total money raised to more than $200,000.
Chris Wilkie’s No. 44 jersey topped the list, going for $900, while defenseman Jalen Schulz’s sweater was second at $700.
Jalen Schulz
Goaltender Jacob Johansson’s No. 30 and Kyle Eastman’s No. 10 were tied for third, each selling for $650.
The mission of United Way in the Tri-Cities is to build a stronger community by uniting people who care with people who need. The organization serves six counties including Buffalo, Kearney, Franklin, Harlan, Phelps and Custer.
Through the services of its partner agencies, the United Way helps people faced with financial crisis, domestic abuse and disasters. It also helps area families find support for helping children and youth succeed, supporting the aging population and helping people with special needs.
The Storm are back in action on Friday night in Lincoln at 7:05 p.m.
Tri-City will then return home on Saturday to face the Fargo Force, also at 7:05. The Storm will finish the weekend on Sunday afternoon in an afternoon battle with Fargo that gets underway at 3:05.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — In the dry, thin air of Colorado, fly balls are folly.
