2013 marked the 1st year that the NSAA State Baseball Championships were hosted in separate communities, with the Class A Championships being hosted by Sarpy County and the Class B Championships being hosted by the city of Lincoln.

The 2013 Nebraska School Activities Association State Baseball Championships, held May 11-16, had a total attendance count of 14,364. This is a 16.8% increase in total attendance from the 2012 NSAA State Baseball Championships.

“The opportunity to showcase the NSAA baseball championships in two of the best facilities in the state, speaks to the level of commitment by these communities and the Visitor’s Bureaus.” said Executive Director, Rhonda Blanford-Green. “The increase in attendance continues to highlight the states interest in high school baseball.”

North Platte gives a nod to its heritage this week, and turns into Rodeo Town for four days.

Several hundred cowboys and cowgirls will stampede into town, along with their mounts, bucking horses and bulls, and roping calves and steers.

The Buffalo Bill Rodeo takes place June 12-15 at the Wild West Arena, and it’s the largest pro rodeo in the nation this weekend.

Cowboys across the nation, including Nebraska talent, choose to enter the rodeo, and that’s in part because of the payout, says rodeo chairman Jack Morris. “With $5,000 added money per event, the total purse money is pretty significant.” Last year, the rodeo paid out $97,000 to its winners. And the rodeo offers good amenities for contestants, too, with meals and hookups for their trailers. “When cowboys come in in the middle of the night, they can hook up and don’t have to check in.” The rodeo also gives away buckles, a disappearing tradition, Morris said, “with engraved and raised letters.”  

Among the 423 entries are 37 bareback riders, 45 saddle bronc riders, 49 tie-down ropers, 70 team ropers, 93 steer wrestlers, 86 barrel racers, and 60 bull riders. Two-time world champion steer wrestler Dean Gorsuch, Gering, will compete, as will five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Steven Dent, Mullen,1990 world champion tie-down roper Troy Pruitt, Gering, and his son, Riley Pruitt. Other Nebraskans competing in North Platte include Garrett Nokes, McCook, Dan Barner, Hershey, six-time Linderman winner Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, June Holeman, Arcadia, and two-time NFR qualifier Cort Scheer, Elsmere.

For McCook’s Nokes, the North Platte rodeo is like a hometown rodeo. Since he began pro rodeo in 1996, he’s only missed one year in North Platte, and has won a “trifecta” of sorts: the tie-down roping title in 1997, the steer roping in 1999, and last year, with heeler Matt Wilken, he tied for the team roping title. It’s the closest pro rodeo to home for Nokes, and “I’ve always really enjoyed it and seemed to do well there.” 

Saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer looks forward to seeing friends and family when he rides in North Platte. “I love coming back and seeing people I don’t get to see through the year. It’s always good to rodeo in your home state, and Bennie (Beutler, stock contractor) has a lot of good broncs to get on, and there’s good money added. It makes sense to come back.”

The rodeo kicks off each night at 8 pm. Rodeo clown and barrelman John Harrison will provide the comedy. Harrison’s grandfather Freckles Brown, the 1962 world champion bull rider, competed in North Platte. ProTour FMX Freestyle Motocross entertains fans following the rodeo each night. Barrel racing slack competition is at 8 am on Wed., June 12 and Thurs. June 13, with tie-down roping and steer wrestling also in slack on Thursday.

Tickets for the rodeo are $20 for reserved seating and $13 for adults and $7 for kids ages twelve and under in the upper grandstand. They can be purchased at the NebraskalandDays office, online at NebraskalandDays.com, and at the gate. For more information, visit the website or call the office at 308.532.7939.

(AP) — Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer each had run-scoring singles in the eighth, Luis Mendoza pitched seven innings of four-hit ball and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 2-0 on Sunday for their fifth straight win.

Aaron Crow (2-1) worked a scoreless eighth to earn a victory that gave the Royals their longest winning streak since taking seven in a row form Sept. 10-17, 2011.

With one out in the eighth, Chris Getz singled and stole second off reliever Hector Amrbiz (1-3). Gordon, who was 1 for 18 on this homestand, singled to center for the first run. Gordon moved to third on center fielder Trevor Crowe’s errant throw home and scored on Hosmer’s single.

Greg Holland pitched a spotless ninth for his 12th save in 14 opportunities.

Astros starter Lucas Harrell held the Royals to two Salvador Perez singles in seven scoreless innings.

Three players with ties to the Nebraska baseball program heard their names called on the final day of the MLB First-Year Player Draft.

Husker signee Derek Burkamper was first to come off the board on Saturday in the 20th round, when the right-handed pitcher from Muscatine, Iowa, was selected by the Boston Red Sox, Two rounds later, the Red Sox took another high school product in NU signee Ryan Boldt from Red Wing, Minn.

Chad Christensen heard his named called for the second straight year on Saturday when he was picked in the 25th round by the Minnesota Twins.

Christensen’s selection marks the 35-straight year that at least one Husker has been picked in the MLB Draft.

Derek Burkamper, RHP (20th Round – Boston Red Sox)
One of two Iowa products to sign with the Huskers in November, Burkamper recently started his senior season and is 4-0, notching 46 strikeouts to just three walks in 24 innings of work. The right-handed pitcher was named a second-team all-state pick by the Iowa Newspaper Association and the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association in 2012.

Tabbed as the 121st national recruit and the 32nd-best right-handed prep pitcher in the country by Perfect Game, Burkamper was 8-5 as a junior with a 1.17 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 83.2 innings of work.

Last season, Burkamper played for the Reds Midwest Scout team with fellow Huskers signee Bryce Only at the 2012 WWBA World Championships in Jupiter, Fla. He was named to the 2012 WWBA Kernels Foundation Championship all-tournament team after throwing three no-hit innings with five strikeouts.

Burkamper opened the 2012 Iowa 4A sub-state playoffs with an 11-strikeout performance against Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Ryan Boldt, OF (22nd Round – Boston Red Sox)
Boldt signed with the Huskers in November and is a cousin of current Nebraska all-conference second baseman Pat Kelly.

Boldt was primed for a successful senior season at Red Wing, Minn., under Head Coach Jim Bohmbach, but was sidelined in the second game of the season with a knee injury. As a junior, Boldt led Red Wing’s 2012 team to a 22-2 record and its first state tournament appearance since 1977. Boldt ranks as the No. 15 overall recruit and the No. 3 outfielder in the nation by Perfect Game USA.

Boldt was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2012 Perfect Game All-American Classic at PETCO Park in San Diego, Calif., after going 2-for-3 with a triple to lead the West squad to a 7-6 win. He earned a spot on the Team USA’s Under-18 squad in August 2012 and was coached by former Major Leaguer and three-time World Series champion Scott Brosius. Boldt was the first Minnesota product to earn a spot on the team since current Minnesota Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer was selected in 2000. Boldt competed with Team USA at the XXV IBAF Under-18 Baseball World Championships in Seoul, Korea, helping Team USA win its first world championship at the under-18 level since 1999 with a 6-2 win over Canada in the championship game. Boldt led all players at the 12-team event with a tournament-record 12 stolen bases and added a tournament-high 11 runs. He was the only player in the tournament to hit double figures in either category. He also set a tournament single-game record with five stolen bases in a 11-1 win over Columbia

Chad Christensen, OF (25th Round – Minnesota Twins)
After choosing not to sign with the Miami Marlins last season after being picked in the 35th round, Christensen returned for this senior season in 2013. A first-team all-conference pick for the second-straight season, Christensen moved to the outfield in 2013 after spending his first three seasons at shortstop. Christensen made a smooth transition to the outfield, where he has eight assists on the year and no errors. His eight outfield assists rank in the top-five nationally.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native led or tied for the 2013 team lead in average (.364), on-base percentage (.436), runs (45) and triples (3), while finishing the year with career-high 82 hits, three hits shy of Pat Kelly’s team-high 85 hits.

During conference play, Christensen led all players in batting average (.431), hits (44) and runs scored (26). He was one of four players in the Big Ten that was nominated as the league’s player of the year.

Christensen ended his career with 247 hits, ranking seventh in Husker history. Christensen played in 213 games, making 202 starts, and finished his four-year career with a .313 batting average, 19 home runs and 118 RBIs.

(AP) — For three quarters, LeBron James was statistically terrible. And then one sequence summed up why he’s simply the best player in the game.

A sensational block on a dunk try. An assist to set up a 3-pointer. A deflection, a runout and then a slam of his own, twisting on the rim and waving his arms for good measure as the Miami Heat celebrated.

It all came in a span of 38 seconds of the fourth quarter, and when it was over the San Antonio Spurs surrendered. Game 2 would soon belong to the Heat, and the NBA Finals are knotted at a game apiece.

This was the “off” night for James: 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. And the Heat won in a blowout nonetheless, 103-84.

(AP) — Dexter Fowler’s single with two outs in the 10th inning scored DJ LeMahieu from third base and the Colorado Rockies rallied for an 8-7 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Fowler finished with four hits and Troy Tulowitzki had two, including his 16th home run.

Nick Hundley, Cameron Maybin and Mark Kotsay homered for the Padres, who missed an opportunity to take three of four in the series after blowing a three-run lead in the ninth.

Three of the games were won in the winning team’s last at-bat. Sunday, it was Colorado’s turn.

Rex Brothers (2-0) pitched the 10th for the win.

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team announced the singing of four players to National Letters of Intent. Aliyah Brown of Omaha Burke High School, Alleyah Evans of McKinney North High School, Kirra Hill of Melbourne, Australia and Kristian Roth of Friend High School are the newest members of the Lady Knights.

Aliyah Brown is a 5’5 guard from Omaha. Brown was an All-Metro Honorable Mention for Burke High School.

Alleyah Evans is a 6’3 post player from McKinney, Tex. Evans averaged 13 points while shooting 62 percent from the field.

Kirra Hill is a 5’7 point guard from Melbourne, Australia where she competed for the Broadmeadows Broncos.

Kristian Roth is a 5’8 wing from Friend. Roth helped lead Friend to a 20-3 record and an appearance in the 2013 Nebraska State Basketball Tournament.

“We are very excited to add all four girls to our program,” said head coach Richard Thurin. “Alleyah (Evans) gives us height that we didn’t have this past year while Aliyah (Brown), Kiarra and Kristian give us good depth at the guard and wing positions.”

Four former Husker greats, including a trio of defensive backs, lead the 2013 class of inductees into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.

All-American defensive back Keyuo Craver and All-Big Eight safeties Reggie Cooper and Russell Gary anchor an award-winning group of Blackshirts being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The trio of ball-hawking defenders is joined by All-Big Eight offensive lineman John Havekost, who helped his 1978 Husker team lead the nation in total offense.

All four of the Huskers being inducted into the Hall of Fame were either drafted or played in the NFL. Gary, a seven-year NFL veteran who played with the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles, brings the most NFL success to the group.  Craver, who also spent three seasons with the Saints, also spent seven seasons in professional football by adding four years in the Canadian Football League.

Nebraska Wesleyan All-America wide receiver Tim Beebe will join the Huskers in this year’s class of Hall of Famers. Beebe earned All-America honors at NWU in 1987.

The Hall will also recognize Ernie and Jan Thayer of Grand Island with its Clarence E. Swanson Meritorious Service Award. Tom and Mary Hansen of Papillion will be honored with the Lyell Bremser Special Merit Award.

The Nebraska Football Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Nebraska Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. The College Football Hall of Fame opened in South Bend, Ind., in 1995.

This year’s Nebraska Football Hall of Fame class will celebrate with an induction dinner on the University of Nebraska campus on Friday, Sept. 20. The class will be introduced prior to Nebraska’s football game with South Dakota State at Memorial  Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Nebraska’s largest and fastest growing athletic department is growing again. Midland University officials announced Tuesday the addition of Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey programs, pushing the number of varsity sports on the campus to 27.

“We are excited to bring quality college hockey to Fremont,” said Midland President Ben Sasse, “We aren’t content to field a team. We want to establish a championship program that embodies the discipline and sacrifice necessary to attain excellence in competition and in life.”

With an agreement reached to make the Sidner Ice Arena the program’s permanent home, University officials have already begun securing scholarship support for future student athletes. With recruiting of the first teams set to get underway this fall, an announcement of a coaching search is expected in the near future.

Since 2009, the University has invested in expanding programs while elevating expectations and quality within extant sports. In the past year alone, the University has enjoyed a trip to the NAIA Men’s Basketball elite eight, a Dance National Championship, a top ranked volleyball program, and a trip to the NAIA National Baseball Tournament.

Though no official decisions have been made regarding alignment, Midland aims to leverage a state of the art facility to quickly build another championship caliber varsity program.

“Very few colleges are fortunate enough to have such a high quality venue located within walking distance of campus,” said newly named athletic director Dave Gillespie. “These students will have everything they need to succeed close at hand and readily accessible.”

As part of the University’s commitment to creating opportunities for students to pursue their passions, and develop skills for life, Midland has added 11 varsity sports in the past three years. The commitment to expanded opportunities to compete and become involved within a residential campus has driven record enrollment growth and resulted in an Athletic Department comprised of more than 600 student-athletes.

In that time enrollment on the Fremont campus has increased more than 86% and is now at record levels.

The unique combination of a very large athletic program existing within a small, tight-knit community has been at the heart of rising attendance levels and enhanced game day atmospheres across the campus.

Midland is working with an exploratory committee to examine opportunities to help grow hockey programs in the region, evaluate leagues where Midland would best fit, and determine a coaching selection process.

While some details remain to be finalized, varsity college hockey is coming to Fremont in 2014.