Sports – Page 709 – North Platte Post Archive

Huskers Host Miami on ESPNU

Posted on August 15, 2013

Lincoln – Nebraska’s game against Miami could be the decisive game of the 2013 Big Ten/ACC Challenge, as television and start times for the annual event were announced Thursday morning.The Huskers’ game with the Hurricanes from Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 4, will be televised nationally on ESPNU with a start time of 8:30 p.m. central. It is final game of the 12-game series, as the Big Ten looks to hold on to the Commissioner’s Cup for the fifth consecutive year.

The Huskers are 1-1 all-time in ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups, including a win at Wake Forest in 2012. The ACC leads the all-time series, 10-3-1, with the Big Ten winning three of the last four matchups.

The Huskers fared well on ESPNU in 2012-13, going 4-0 on the network, including three Big Ten victories.

Nebraska, under second-year Coach Tim Miles, returns three starters from a team that went 15-18 in his first season, including senior guard Ray Gallegos and forwards David Rivers and Shavon Shields. Gallegos, who averaged 12.5 ppg in 2012-13, led the Big Ten in 3-pointers per game and ranked second in school history with 83 3-pointers, while Shields averaged 8.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as a true freshman. Rivers started NU’s final 17 games at forward and averaged 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. In all, nine letterwinners return for the Huskers in 2013-14, while eight newcomers, including three redshirts, will suit up for the Scarlet and Cream for the first time this season.

Complete matchups, start times and television information are listed below.

Tuesday, Dec. 3

Indiana at Syracuse: 7:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m.CT (ESPN)

Illinois at Georgia Tech: 7:15 p.m. ET/6:15 p.m. CT (ESPN2)

Penn State at Pittsburgh: 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT (ESPNU)

Michigan at Duke: 9:15 p.m. ET/8:15 p.m. CT (ESPN)

Notre Dame at Iowa: 9:15 p.m. ET/8:15 p.m.CT (ESPN2)

Florida State at Minnesota: 9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. CT (ESPNU)

Wednesday, Dec. 4

Maryland at Ohio State: 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT (ESPN/ESPN2)

Wisconsin at Virginia: 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m.CT (ESPN/ESPN2)

Northwestern at North Carolina State: 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT (ESPNU)

North Carolina at Michigan State: 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT (ESPN)

Boston College at Purdue: 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT (ESPN2)

Miami (Fla.) at Nebraska: 9:30 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. CT (ESPNU)

Torre Gives Committee Instant Replay Proposal

Posted on August 15, 2013

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Major League Baseball Executive Vice President Joe Torre has given his instant replay proposal to the executive committee to consider as baseball’s brass huddled for two days of meetings.

Commissioner Bud Selig was to address the media on Thursday morning to discuss what’s on the table.

Selig says he thinks “it was very thoughtful and well-done.” The commissioner says it’ll be discussed in more detail on Thursday morning.

Major League Baseball is looking at a vast expansion of video review for the 2014 season and is examining whether all calls other than balls and strikes should be subject to instant replay.

16 Teams Gather for Little League World Series

Posted on August 15, 2013

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Sixteen teams gathered for the Little League World Series, some from thousands of miles away, but all feeling right at home.

“It’s beyond exciting to be here, said Sammamish, Wash., assistant coach Matt Fitzgibbons. “We’ve kind of talked about it among the coaches and we were calling it the Augusta National of baseball. Everything is first class. The people are first class. The facilities are first class. It’s exceeded our wildest expectations.”

Newark, Del., pitcher Nate Hardcastle, 12, called it “probably the most exciting thing to happen to me so far in my life.”

The 67th World Series begins in Thursday, when Panama will face Puerto Rico at 1 p.m.

Other games are Corpus Christi, Texas, vs. Sammamish, Wash., Australia vs. Mexico and South Nashville, Tenn., vs. Westport, Conn. The final is Aug. 25.

Marlins Slip by Sloppy Royals for 5-2 Win

Posted on August 15, 2013

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Justin Ruggiano picked the scuffed-up ball off the carpet, smiled a toothy smile and proudly held it up for everyone to see in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium.

A souvenir from his first career hit? Nope.

Just his first hit in a while.

Ruggiano snapped a franchise-worst 0-for-42 slump by hitting that ball for a single in the first inning Wednesday, and then added two more hits and drove in a run as the Miami Marlins beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 to wrap up a winning three-game series.

“It became a mental issue. I wouldn’t wish that on anybody in the world,” said Ruggiano, whose last hit came on July 12. “I’m just glad it’s over with. Now I can get back to doing what I do.”

Ruggiano drove in the Marlins’ first run, but they still trailed 2-1 when Koyie Hill doubled off reliever Tim Collins (2-6) to start the seventh. Christian Yelich then hit a grounder toward third that utility man Elliot Johnson let through his legs to put runners on second and third.

Donovan Solano and Logan Morrison followed with RBI groundouts to give the Marlins the lead.

That was enough for the Marlins bullpen. Dan Jennings (2-3) got through the sixth, A.J. Ramos worked the seventh and eighth, and Steve Cishek handled the ninth for his 26th save.

Cishek struck out Alex Gordon with runners on first and second to end the game.

“This is a resilient group of guys,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. “They keep coming back and battling, and I think you saw some big hits by guys out there.”

Solano and Morrison each finished with a pair of RBIs for Miami.

“It’s always good to go out there and play well against teams that are making a push for a playoff spot,” Redmond said. “That’s a good feeling heading home.”

Indeed, the Royals were rolling when the series began. They’d won 17 of 20 after taking the opener to climb into playoff contention, but now limp off to play five games in four days against AL Central-leading Detroit with their first defeat in eight series.

Now, the Marlins have won two straight to finish off a long road trip.

The Royals, blanked 1-0 in 10 innings Tuesday night, got off to a good start when Eric Hosmer doubled in the first inning and eventually scored on a single by Salvador Perez.

The Royals failed to take advantage of the erratic Jacob Turner, though. The Marlins starter walked six without a strikeout in five-plus innings, but Kansas City could only squeeze out one more run against him on a groundout by David Lough in the fourth.

The Marlins got their first run when Ruggiano drove in Adeiney Hechavarria in the top half of the fourth. They were otherwise hamstrung by Royals starter Ervin Santana, who dodged eight hits and two walks over six innings to hand his bullpen the lead.

The Royals’ relievers — with little help from their defense — failed to hold on. Johnson’s error turned the game, Royals manager Ned Yost said, and eventually led to the go-ahead runs.

“In Elliot’s defense, it was cue-ball shot with a lot of English. It had a lot of spin on it, it hit and then boom, it stayed down,” Yost said. “It changed the whole complexion of the inning.”

For his part, Johnson refused to make any excuses.

“We’re in the middle of the hunt and they’re not going to tolerate that sort of stuff. It seems like an easy play,” Johnson said. “It wasn’t as easy as it seems, (but) still I should have made it. I’m playing in the big leagues and you’ve got to make those kinds of plays.”

Solano and Morrison tacked on run-scoring singles off Luke Hochevar in the ninth, and Cishek finished up for his 21st straight save, the third-best streak in the majors.

NOTES: The Royals acquired INF-OF Emilio Bonifacio from the Blue Jays for a player to be named or cash. They made space for him on the 40-man roster by transferring INF Miguel Tejada (right calf strain) to the 60-day DL. … Johnson went 0 for 3 for the Royals, extending his slump to 0 for 30. He doesn’t have a hit since July 6. … Turner is still winless in 12 career road starts. … The Marlins’ previous four wins this month had been shutouts.

De La Rosa, Torrealba, Rockies Tag Padres 4-2

Posted on August 15, 2013

DENVER (AP) — Jorge De La Rosa pitched seven solid innings, catcher Yorvit Torrealba completed a remarkable double play by tagging out two runners and Colorado Rockies hung on to beat the San Diego Padres 4-2 Wednesday.

Corey Dickerson doubled twice, tripled and drove in two runs. Troy Tulowitzki had two hits and a pair of RBIs as Colorado completed a 5-1 homestand.

De La Rosa (12-6) allowed two runs on eight hits in running his record in eight day-game starts this season to 6-0 with a 1.57 ERA. He struck out six and walked one.

Rex Brothers pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save.

Andrew Cashner (8-7) gave up three runs on six hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked none.

Conferences End Licensing Deals with EA Sports

Posted on August 15, 2013

The Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern are following the NCAA’s lead and will no longer allow EA Sports to use league logos in its college football video games.

The NCAA announced last month it will no longer allow Electronic Arts Inc. to use its logo starting next year. The move comes as the NCAA fights a high-profile lawsuit that says the governing body owes millions of dollars to former players for allowing their likenesses to be used for free.

ESPN first reported the SEC would end its licensing agreement with EA, and a spokesman confirmed that to the AP Wednesday.

Spokesmen for the Big Ten and Pac-12 say their conferences also will not renew agreements with EA.

The conference contracts do not cover individual schools.

Broncos’ Miller Arrested for Failure to Appear

Posted on August 15, 2013

DENVER (AP) — Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller has been arrested on a warrant alleging he failed to appear in court on a traffic misdemeanor.

Arapahoe County sheriff’s detention chief Louie Perea says Miller was arrested Sunday and then released.

The Broncos released a statement saying they and NFL officials are aware of the allegation that Miller didn’t appear at a court hearing.

The statement says the matter is “being handled through the legal system.”

KMGH-TV in Denver reported that Miller was supposed to go to court on charges of careless driving, driving without a license and no proof of insurance.

Separately, Miller is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s drug-abuse policy. He has appealed and a hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Husker Basketball Enjoys Attendance Surge

Posted on August 15, 2013

Lincoln – Nebraska’s national attendance ranking was its highest since 1996-97, as the NCAA released its men’s basketball attendance figures from the 2012-13 season on Wednesday. The Huskers were 38th nationally in attendance in 2012-13, drawing an average of 10,352 fans per game in the final season of the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

The average was NU’s highest since the 2006-07 season, while the No. 38 ranking marked its best performance since a No. 34 ranking during the 1996-97 season. Nebraska’s per-game average is also 10 percent higher than it was during its final season in the Big 12 two years ago.

The Huskers’ average attendance will make a sizeable leap next year Nebraska moves into the brand new Pinnacle Bank Arena in the Haymarket District of Lincoln. All 2013-14 tickets in the 15,147 seat arena have already been presold since last May.

Once again, the Big Ten led all conference in average attendance with 13,114 fans per game, which is over 2,400 more fans per game than the next-closest conference. It marks the 37th consecutive year the Big Ten has led the nation in attendance. During the 2012-13 regular season, the Big Ten welcomed 2,937,630 fans over 224 games, which set the conference’s all-time total attendance record for the second-straight season, and is the 21st straight year the conference eclipsed the two-million mark.

Seven of the conference’s 12 schools ranked among the top 25 nationally, while no other conference had more than three top-25 programs.

In addition, the 2013 Big Ten Basketball Tournament set the total attendance record, as the conference welcomed 124,543 fans to the United Center in Chicago for the four-day event. The mark out-paced the previous record for total attendance of 109,769, which was set during the 2001 event in Chicago. All six sessions of the tournament were officially sold out, with an average of 20,757 patrons attending each session.

Media members will see Pinnacle Bank Arena on a media tour on Tuesday, Aug. 27, while the ribbon cutting and open house will take place on Thursday, Aug. 29. The open house will continue on Aug. 30-31, while fans can also watch the Huskers’ football game against Wyoming on the HD video board and purchase concessions on Aug. 31.

Huskers Set to Host Friday Exhibition Match

Posted on August 15, 2013

Lincoln – The Nebraska soccer team will begin its 2013 season when it hosts an exhibition match against Colorado College at the Nebraska Soccer Field this Friday, Aug. 16, at 4 p.m. Admission is free for the exhibition contest.

The Huskers and Tigers last met for a preseason tilt in 2009 where NU took a 2-0 decision. NU holds a 2-1 advantage all-time during the regular season against Colorado College, with the last contest occurring in 2005.

Head Coach John Walker returns an experienced squad in 2013 with six seniors, including second-team All-Big Ten selection Ari Romero and fellow defender Maritza Hayes who has started every game of the past three seasons, while starting goalkeeper Emma Stevens has started all but one match in net for NU over the past two seasons.

The Huskers also welcome back 2011 all-conference second-teamer Jordan Jackson, who was set to play her senior season in 2012, but an injury resulted in her receiving an extra year of eligibility.

Junior Mayme Conroy had a breakout season for the Huskers in 2012 on her way to earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. Conroy led the Huskers with 14 goals, which ranked sixth in the Big Ten and tied for 23rd in the country.

Nebraska welcomes eight new players to their squad in 2013, including one in-state product, along with three players from Missouri, as well as one each from Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas and an international newcomer from Brazil. The incoming class will join a Nebraska program that made its first appearance at the Big Ten Tournament in 2012 during the team’s second season in the conference.

The Huskers are set to play 19 games in their third season as members of the Big Ten Conference in 2013. NU faces eight NCAA Tournament qualifiers from last year, including two Sweet 16 teams in Denver and Michigan, an Elite Eight finisher in BYU, and Penn State, who fell in the national title game.

NU will open the regular season next weekend as it hosts the Husker Classic beginning on Friday, Aug. 23, when it faces Southeast Missouri State at 6 p.m. The weekend will commence on Sunday, Aug. 25, with a match against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Noon. The two contests are the first of nine regular-season home games.

For more information, including TV and video stream information, check out the soccer schedule page at Huskers.com.

Nebraska-Kearney Selects New Athletic Director

Posted on August 14, 2013August 15, 2013

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska at Kearney has selected a Wisconsin administrator as its new athletic director.

UNK Chancellor Doug Kristensen said Wednesday that Paul Plinske will take over Sept. 1. The post was vacated by Jon McBride, who stepped down for health reasons.

Plinske has been athletic director at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater since 2004. The Division III school has a 20-sport NCAA program that includes 700 students and 50 coaches and staff members.

Among the four UNK finalists was Jean Berger, who has been senior associate athletic director/senior woman administrator at the University of Northern Iowa since 2008.