The North Platte First Nationals juniors needed two wins for a district title on Sunday in Scottsbluff, and nearly pulled it off. After topping Kearney Post 152 8-7 in the first game of the day, the Juniors lost 8-7 to Kearney in the nightcap to fall just short of the District A-7 crown and the accompanying state tournament berth. The First Nationals seniors knew they were headed to state regardless of how their District A-7 tournament came out, thanks to being the host team for the National Division state tournament. But they also went into Sunday with a chance to win the district outright, needing to beat Kearney Runza twice in a row in Kearney. The First Nationals fell short in a 10-5 loss in the opener, ensuring that they will stay at home for the National Division state tournament this coming weekend.

The Colorado Rockies’ Sunday futility continues. The Rockies lost their 12th consecutive Sunday contest in a 4-3 defeat against the Milwaukee Brewers in Denver yesterday afternoon. The Rockies had the tying and winning runs on base in the ninth inning, but Troy Tulowitzki struck out to end the game and secure a four-game series split for the Brewers. Aaron Cook took the loss for the Rockies on the mound, falling to 0-5 on the season after failing to get out of the fifth inning. Jason Giambi homered, his tenth of the season, in the losing cause. The Rockies welcome the Atlanta Braves to Denver for a four-game series beginning tonight. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action with pregame coverage at 7:05 and the first pitch at 7:40.

Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead joins the long list of honored Huskers this preseason, as he has been named to the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. The junior becomes the ninth Husker to be nominated as a semifinalist for a postseason trophy. Burkhead rushed for 951 yards and seven touchdowns last season as a backup to starter Roy Helu. He accumulated three one-hundred yard games, including a career high 129 yards against Iowa State. Burkhead is one of seven Big Ten running backs to be named to the watch list for the Walker Award, given yearly to the nation’s best back. Burkhead’s backfield mate, Taylor Martinez, also received more recognition as he was named to the watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback. Martinez had previously been named to the Maxwell Award watch list.

Senior Legion District Tournament, Kearney:
North Platte First Nationals 18, Westco Zeyphrs 8 (7 inn.)

Jordan Enderle led the First Nationals with five RBI in a game shortened by the mercy rule. Jamie McKain picked up the victory on the mound. The First Nationals play Kearney Runza tonight at 8.

Junior Legion District Tournament, Scottsbluff
Kearney Post 52 10, North Platte First Nationals 3

By virtue of Hastings’ first-round victory, the winner of tonight’s game between North Platte and Scottsbluff is guaranteed a trip to the state tournament.

DENVER (AP)—Ryan Spilborghs had a home run among four hits, Ubaldo Jimenez pitched six solid innings and the Colorado Rockies beat the Milwaukee Brewers 12-3 on Thursday night.

Spilborghs finished a triple shy of the cycle while registering his first four-hit games in more than two seasons. Ty Wigginton and Ian Stewart had three hits each for the Rockies, who had a season-high 20 hits.

“I don’t know if we could have done it much better offensively than we did tonight,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “We drove in runners from third with less than two outs, we got two-out base hits, we moved runners along.”

Spilborghs was the catalyst at the top of the lineup. Filling in for the injured Gonzalez, Spilborghs led off the bottom of the first with his third homer and drove in four runs on the night.

“It felt good to just string together some quality at-bats. Even my non-hits I felt I was hitting the ball hard,” he said.

The Rockies’ offense was a welcome sight for Jimenez. The Rockies had scored seven runs in his last four starts.

Jimenez (5-8) allowed two runs and six hits, walked two and struck out four to earn just his second win at home in 2011. Jimenez has won four of his last six starts after beginning the season 1-7.

From The Nebraska Athletic Department:

Senior linebacker Lavonte David earned a spot on his fourth watch list of the fall, as he was named to the Butkus Award Watch List on Thursday.

David is one of the favorites for the 2011 Butkus following a record-setting campaign in 2011. The Miami, Fla., native racked up a school-record 152 tackles in his first season at Nebraska, breaking Barrett Ruud’s mark of 149 set in 2003. His emergence helped the Blackshirts rank in the top 12 nationally in both scoring defense and total defense in 2010.

A first-team All-Big 12 pick and the league’s newcomer of the year, he ranked 11th nationally in tackles per game and was second on the team in sacks (six), tackles for loss (15 for 60 yards) and pass breakups (10) to earn first-team All-America honors from several outlets. David had eight games with at least 10 tackles, including a season-high 19 against South Dakota State and 17 in the Big 12 title game against Oklahoma.

He is one of five Big Ten players on the Butkus Award list this season, representing the nation’s top linebacker. David has already been named to watch lists for the Bednarik and Lombardi Awards, as well as the Nagurski Trophy.

Nebraska center Mike Caputo continues the parade of Huskers named to preseason award watch lists. Caputo has made the shortlist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded yearly to the best center in the nation and named for legendary Husker center Dave Rimington. Dominic Raiola is the lone Husker to win the award, taking the inaugural honor back in 2000. Caputo started every game at center last season and is one of three players with starting experience returning on Nebraska’s offensive line for 2011. He anchored a unit that helped the Huskers lead the Big 12 in rushing last season. Caputo is one of seven Huskers that have made a preseason award watch list. Jared Crick, Taylor Martinez, Alfonzo Dennard, Cameron Meredith, Lavonte David and Kyler Reed have also been so honored.

The Major League Baseball regular season resumes tonight after the three-day All-Star Break. The Colorado Rockies begin an eight-game homestand with the first of four contests against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Rockies lost six of their last eight games heading into the break and are eight and a half games off the pace in the National League West with a 43-48 record. It’s only the second time in the last six seasons that the Rockies have been below the .500 mark at the break. Milwaukee comes into Denver with a tie for the lead in the NL Central, but are a league worst 16-29 on the road. Ubaldo Jimenez gets the start on the mound for the Rockies tonight. The Brewers will counter with Yovanni Gallardo. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action tonight, with pregame coverage at 7:05 and the first pitch at 7:40.