Baseball – Page 85 – North Platte Post Archive

NPCC Lady Knights Win Back-to-Back Region IX Division II Championships

Posted on March 4, 2014March 4, 2014

North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team (16-12, 3-1 Region IX Division II) defeated the Central Community Lady Raiders (19-13, 2-2 Region IX Division II) Monday night at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium in the Region IX Division II Championship in overtime 90-86.

The Lady Knights struggled out of the gate to find any rhythm offensively and got down early. However, a 12-2 run would even the score up at 34 before the Lady Raiders would score four points to the Lady Knights two to take a 36-38 lead into the locker room.

The second half went much the same as the first half with the Lady Raiders playing well and taking a large lead at 55-72. The Lady Raiders would keep the Lady Knights at bay for the next several minutes and led by 15 points with five minutes to play.

The Lady Knights would then use their largest run of the evening at 18-1 to tie the game at 73 apiece. The Lady Raiders would score the next three points, but a free throw from April Stull and a lay-up from Aliyah Brown with eight seconds left tied the game. Central was unable to get off at the end of regulation and the game headed to overtime.

In overtime, the teams would exchange baskets as the lead went back and forth several times. Finally, with the game tied Stephanie Casteel was fouled and calmly sank both free .throws to give the Lady Knights a two point advantage. After a steal by the Lady Knights, Jordan Dickerson was fouled and calmly hit both free throws to give the Lady Knights the winning margin.

“The girls never gave up,” said head coach Richard Thurin. “Our press was very effective throughout the game and the 18-1 run to end the game was huge. All of our girls gave a great effort.”

DaVontaye Merritt once again the Lady Knights with a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. April Stull also had a double-double as she finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Dickerson was second on the team in scoring with 18 points and Aliyah Brown finished with 17. Courtney Widick scored six points, but pulled down 10 rebounds for the Lady Knights.

Adrianna Beck led all scorers with 28 points while Paris Crenshaw scored 12 points and Alyssa Foltz scored 11. The Lady Knights out-rebounded the Lady Raiders 56-38.

The Lady Knights now advance to the District F Playoff in Bottineau, North Dakota on Sunday March 9 against the Dakota College at Bottineau Lady Jacks (13-17) to qualify for the Division II National Tournament. The Lady Jacks defeated Gogebic Community College (21-8) 86-75 in the opening round of the Region XIII Tournament and then defeated the host United Tribes Technical College (8-23) by a score of 77-71 to win the Region XIII Title.

1st Look with Expanded MLB Replay: The Call Stands

Posted on March 3, 2014

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The first review under Major League Baseball’s expanded replay system has taken place and after a further look that took 2½ minutes, the call stood.

Toronto manager John Gibbons used his challenge to ask umpires to review a play in the sixth inning of Monday’s game against Minnesota.

Chris Rahl of the Twins was called safe at first base when shortstop Munenori Kawasaki’s throw pulled Jared Goedert off the bag.

The umpires gathered in front of the first base dugout while umpire Brian O’Nora watched the replays from a satellite truck outside the ballpark. After a wait of 2 minutes, 34 seconds, first base umpire Fieldin Culbreth spread his hands in the safe sign.

MLB has expanded replay this year beyond potential home runs and boundary calls. This season, most every play except for balls-and-strikes is subject to a review, with calls coming from a replay booth in New York.

Royals Agree with 10 Players on 1-Year Contracts

Posted on February 27, 2014

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Royals have agreed to terms with 10 players not yet eligible for arbitration on major league contracts, including outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Jarrod Dyson.

Kansas City also agreed Thursday to deals with left-handers Francisley Bueno, Chris Dwyer, Donnie Joseph and John Lamb; right-handers Yordano Ventura and Michael Mariot; and infielders Pedro Ciriaco and Christian Colon.

The flurry of agreements leaves just three players unsigned for the 2014 season: left-hander Danny Duffy, infielder Johnny Giavotella and outfielder Carlos Peguero.

If deals can’t be reached with pre-arbitration players, contracts can be renewed at the club’s discretion provided they meet a series of salary criteria.

Rockies Aim to Keep Season on the Down Low

Posted on February 27, 2014

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.

Man Who Admitted Giants Fan Beating to Stay Jailed

Posted on February 27, 2014

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.

Rockies’ Tulowitzki: Winning Will End Jeter Talk

Posted on February 25, 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Troy Tulowitzki grew up idolizing Derek Jeter. It’s the reason he wears No. 2.

Now Tulowitzki hears daily chatter about possibly taking over for the retiring Jeter at shortstop in New York.

Tulowitzki says it’s an “honor” to be mentioned as Jeter’s possible replacement. But that doesn’t mean the three-time All-Star shortstop wants to leave Denver.

It’s just that he knows after four straight years out of the playoffs, after all the injuries that have sidelined him, this season could determine his future.

The 29-year-old Tulowitzki still has seven years left on a $157.5 million contract that runs through the 2020 season, a figure that will weigh on the Rockies if they don’t contend soon.

Torre: Banning Home Plate Collisions Not Realistic

Posted on February 25, 2014

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Joe Torre says Major League Baseball’s playing rules committee leaned toward banning all home plate collisions but concluded it would be unrealistic because contact between catchers and baserunners is sometimes unavoidable.

Torre, MLB’s executive vice president for baseball operations, spoke Tuesday at San Diego’s spring training facility before meeting with representatives from eight clubs training in Arizona. Torre was there to answer questions and address concerns regarding the new collision rule, which was announced Monday, and expanded instant replay for umpirest replay.

Torre said when it came to the rule on home plate collisions he had to “put the uniform back on” because there is never a perfect play at the plate and throws can make contact unavoidable.

MLB could not have implemented the rule this year without approval from the players’ association.

Rockies’ Chacin Out at Least Another Week

Posted on February 25, 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin will be sidelined at least another week with a sore throwing shoulder.

The Rockies learned the results of Chacin’s MRI on Tuesday morning. The team announced he has right shoulder inflammation, but no structural damage.

Chacin was Colorado’s top right-handed starter in 2013, going 14-10 with a 3.47 ERA. But he was limited since the start of spring training and had yet to throw off the mound before he was shut down on Sunday.

Chacin said Tuesday that his shoulder was feeling better, but the injury could prevent him from being ready for the start of the regular season.

MLB Collision Rule Leaves Open Exceptions

Posted on February 24, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball and its players have banned most home plate collisions but left open an exception if the catcher has the ball and is blocking the runner’s direct path to home plate.

A new rule, 7.13, was adopted by MLB and the players’ association on a one-year experimental basis, the sides said Monday.

A comment attached to the rule states “the failure by the runner to make an effort to touch the plate, the runner’s lowering of the shoulder, or the runner’s pushing through with his hands, elbows or arms, would support a determination that the runner deviated from the pathway in order to initiate contact with the catcher in violation.”

A runner who violates the rule shall be declared out even if the catcher drops the ball. If a catcher blocks home plate without possession of the ball, the runner shall be safe. However, a catcher may block the plate to field a throw if the umpire determines the catcher could not have otherwise fielded the ball and that contact with the runner could not have been avoided.

Rockies P Chacin Shut Down with Sore Shoulder

Posted on February 23, 2014

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin is being shut down in spring training due to inflammation in his throwing shoulder.

Chacin will undergo an MRI on Monday. He’s been limited in his throwing so far in camp.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss says Chacin has had similar pain in the past and has tried to pitch through it. Weiss added he’s “not overly concerned” with the injury and wouldn’t rule out still considering Chacin as the opening day starter.

Chacin was Colorado’s top right-handed starter a year ago. The 26-year-old went 14-10 with a 3.47 ERA.