Dave Riggert – Page 1000 – St. Joseph Post Archive

MWSU’s Michael Hill named a candidate for Harlon Hill Trophy

Posted on November 9, 2012

Missouri Western running back Michael Hill was announced as one of 24 candidates for the 2012 Harlon Hill Trophy honoring the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year Friday (Nov. 9) by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee.

The list includes six players from each of the four Division II Super Regions.

Players are nominated and voted on by the sports information directors at the 168 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions. The 24 initial candidates will be placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes on November 17.

The winner of the 2012 award, which is presented by the National Harlon Hill Award Committee, will be announced at the 27th annual Harlon Hill Trophy Presentation Banquet on Friday, Dec. 14 at the Florence Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. (CST). This year’s Hill Trophy Banquet will also include the 14th induction class into the Division II Football Hall of Fame.

Hill a senior from St. Joseph, Mo., currently leads the MIAA and is second in Division II in rushing yards per game (168.8 ypg) and is averaging 7.5 yards per carry. He has rushed for over 100 yards nine times this season finding the end zone 14 times on the ground and three threw the air. He also leads the league in points scored per game (10.80) which ties him for 8th nationally and is second in all-purpose yards in the MIAA and 5th in the nation at (186.70). Hill is coming off his best day as a Griffons rushing for 259 yards and three touchdowns in the Griffons 56-28 victory over then 25th ranked Washburn. Hill is the Griffons all-time leader in carries, rushing yards and yards in a season with 1,688 through 10 games.

He has also set or on the verge of setting records for most point scored in a season and career, most touchdowns scored in a season and career, most rushing attempts in a season, most rushing touchdowns in a season and career, highest average per carry in a season, highest rushing average per game in a season, most 100-yard rushing games in a season and career and most all-purpose yards in a season and career.

Hill earned All-America honors as a junior in 2011 while helping guide the Griffons to a 9-3 record and their second straight NCAA Division II Playoff appearance.

Hill (5-11, 205) is joined on the 2012 Super Region Three Ballot by Emporia State quarterback Tyler Eckenrode (6-0, 195, SR), Henderson State quarterback Kevin Rodgers (6-3, 215, SO), Pittsburg State wide receiver John Brown (5-11, 171, JR), St. Cloud State quarterback Phillip Klaphake (6-1, 196, JR) and Winona State running back Rayon Simmons (5-10, 220, SR).

Candidates were initially nominated by the sports information directors at their respective schools and those nominations were then reviewed by the Hill Regional Advisory Committees, which trimmed the list of candidates.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Royals sign three players to Minor League contracts

Posted on November 9, 2012November 9, 2012

The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has signed three players to minor league contracts for the 2013 season. The club plans to announce Major League Spring Training invitations at a later date.

Catcher Manuel Pina was re-signed by the Royals after appearing in 49 minor league contests for Surprise (R) and Northwest Arkansas (AA) in 2012, as well as one game with the big league club in September. The 25-year-old from Venezuela missed the first three months of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee during Spring Training.

Ian Gac, 27, spent 2012 with Double-A Mississippi in the Atlanta system, batting .247 with seven home runs and 35 RBI in 75 games. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound first baseman/designated hitter was the Carolina League MVP in 2011 after hitting .279 with 33 home runs and 96 RBI in 140 games with Winston-Salem (AA). The slugger has connected for 167 home runs in his professional career since being selected out of Edmonds-Woodway (Wash.) High by the Texas Rangers in 2003.

26-year-old outfielder Luis Durango hit .289 and stole an International League-leading 46 bases in 62 attempts for Triple-A Gwinnett in 2012, serving as the club’s primary centerfielder. The 5-foot-9 switch-hitter from Panama has played 39 games in the Major Leagues for the San Diego Padres in 2009 and 2010, hitting .292 with seven stolen bases in eight attempts. Durango is currently competing for Caribes in the Venezuelan Winter League, batting .324 with five steals and playing all three outfield positions.

— Royals Media Relations —

Benedictine’s Lile steps down as volleyball coach

Posted on November 9, 2012

Benedictine College Athletic Director Charlie Gartenmayer announced Thursday that Raven head volleyball coach Mary Lile has stepped down from her duties at Benedictine.

“We thank Coach Lile for her efforts and leadership of the volleyball program over her time at Benedictine,” Gartenmayer said. “We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.”

A nation-wide search for Lile’s replacement will begin immediately.

Lile came to Benedictine in the fall of 2006 and guided the Ravens to a 101-73 record over her first six seasons. Benedictine went 7-23 this past season, falling in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Tournament to nationally-ranked MNU.

Under Lile’s leadership, the Raven volleyball program produced four Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes, 27 all-conference selections, an NAIA All-American and an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American.

— BC Sports Information —

Missouri Western’s Yardley named to Academic All-District team

Posted on November 8, 2012November 9, 2012

Missouri Western senior center Michael Yardley has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District team, presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

This marks Yardley’s second Academic All-District (2011) award in his career. The senior transfer from Nebraska-Omaha has anchored the offensive line the past two seasons making 21 starts in the Griffons 22 games. This season he has started all 10 games and has helped the Griffons rush for 300.9 yards per game which is the highest avearge in school history. In his career MWSU has rushed for over 200 yards as a team 18 times. When the Griffons rush for over 200 yards since Yardley has been under center they are 17-1. This season the Griffons have rushed for over 300 yards three times and over 400 yards once. They rushed for 418 yards in the 56-28 victory over then 25th ranked Washburn on Saturday, November 3 in St. Joseph, Mo. The Griffons have rushed for 3,009 yards on the season for a 6.7yard per carry average. If the season ended today it would be the highest per carry average in school history as the highest is 5.4 which was set last season.

An accounting & finance major, Yardley entered the 2012-13 academic year with a 3.71grade-point average.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at her institution and be nominated by her sports information office. The terms “Academic all-American” and “Academic all-District” are trademarked by CoSIDA and are the officially tracked academic awards by NCAA institutions.

Western wraps-up the regular season on Saturday, November 10th in Maryville, Mo. against rival #4 Northwest Missouri State University. Kickoff is set for 2:37 pm from Bearcat Stadium. The winner will claim the MIAA Title.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Mizzou’s Pressey named to Wooden Award Preseason Top 50

Posted on November 8, 2012November 9, 2012

For the fourth consecutive year a Missouri Tiger was named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list. Guard Phil Pressey was the latest Mizzou Basketball standout to receive the preseason recognition as the Los Angeles Athletic Club named the junior an early front runner for college basketball’s most prestigious individual honor.

Pressey joins former teammates Marcus Denmon (2011-12) and Kim English (2010-11) on the Preseason Wooden Award listing, as well as former point guard J.T. Tiller who made the list at the start of the 2009-10 campaign.

Pressey is also the second current Tiger to earn the preseason mention over the years. Senior transfer Alex Oriakhi was a member of last season’s Wooden Award watch list before his junior season at Connecticut.

Named the SEC Preseason Player of the Year by the league media last month, the Dallas native was selected a Preseason First Team All-American by CBS Sports and spent his summer competing at the LeBron James, Chris Paul and Deron Williams elite camps.

Pressey was a First Team all-league pick by CBS Sports last season and was a Big 12 All-Tournament Team selection after the Tigers claimed the league title in Kansas City.

He averaged career highs in scoring (10.3), rebounding (3.3), assists (6.4) and steals (2.1) last season for the 30-5 Tigers.

Missouri Basketball opens the 2012-13 campaign on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. vs. SIUE.

— MU Sports Information —

Royals’ Billy Butler earns Silver Slugger Award

Posted on November 8, 2012November 9, 2012

Louisville Slugger announced this evening that Royals player Billy Butler is the 2012 Silver Slugger™ Award winner at Designated Hitter in the American League. Butler becomes the seventh-different Royals player to win a Silver Slugger award (10th time overall), the first since third baseman Dean Palmer in 1998.

The Silver Slugger award winners were determined by a vote of Major League Baseball coaches and managers who named the players they felt were the best offensive producers at each position in both the American and National leagues in 2012. Selections were based on a combination of offensive statistics, including batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, as well as the coaches’ and managers’ general impressions of a player’s overall offensive value. Managers and coaches were not allowed to vote for players on their own teams. Tabulation of the balloting was verified by the accounting firm of Mountjoy Chilton Medley LLP.

Butler, 26, was awarded his third Les Milgram Royals Player of the Year award (also 2009 and 2010) yesterday. Appearing in 138 games as the Royals designated hitter, Butler batted .315 (170-for-539) with 23 home runs, 29 doubles and 93 RBI. He led all designated hitters with 61 runs, 170 hits, 29 doubles and 93 RBI while ranking second in average and home runs. Overall, Butler batted .313 with 32 doubles, 29 home runs and 107 RBI in 161 contests.

Royals Silver Slugger Award winners (award was instituted in 1980):

George Brett – 1980, 1985 and 1988 (1980 and 1985 at third base, 1988 at first base)

Willie Wilson – 1980 and 1982 (outfield)

Hal McRae – 1982 (designated hitter)

Frank White – 1986 (second base)

Gary Gaetti – 1995 (third base)

Dean Palmer – 1998 (third base)

Billy Butler – 2012 (designated hitter)

— Royals Media Relations —

KU’s Johnson & Withey on Wooden Award Preseason Top 50

Posted on November 8, 2012

Kansas seniors Elijah Johnson and Jeff Withey were name to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 for the 2012-13 season by the Los Angeles Athletics Club Thursday. The list is comprised of 50 student-athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the early front-runners for the John R. Wooden Award and Wooden Award All-America Team, consisting of 10 players.

Kansas is one of eight schools that have two or more players named to the list.

A 6-foot-4 guard from Las Vegas, Johnson is Kansas’ leading returning scorer from last season’s Big 12 regular-season champion and Final Four team which advanced to the NCAA title game with a 10.2 point per game average. As a junior, Johnson led Kansas with 69 three-pointers made and 55 steals. He was second on the team and ninth in the Big 12 with 3.5 assists per game and his 1.4 steals per contest were fifth in the conference. He had 19 games with multiple three-pointers in 2011-12 and had his first double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Ohio State in the 2012 Final Four semifinals.

A 7-foot center from San Diego, Withey was recently selected Associated Press Preseason All-America Honorable Mention, a candidate to the Senior CLASS Award and to the All-Big 12 preseason team by the conference coaches. Withey was the 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and an all-conference third-team selection who set the Kansas and Big 12 single-season blocked shots record with 140 last season. Included in his 140 blocked shots were an NCAA Tournament record 31 in KU’s run to the NCAA National Championship title game and a conference games only record of 65. Withey averaged 9.0 points and 6.3 rebounds for Kansas last season and shot a team-best 79.5 percent from the free throw line.

Transfers, freshmen and medical redshirts are not eligible for the Preseason Top 50. The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the midseason list and the official voting ballot, both of which are open to freshman and transfer students. The national ballot consists of approximately 20 top players who have proven to their universities that they are also making progress toward graduation and maintaining at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA. The Wooden Award All American Team will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament.

The 37th annual Wooden Award ceremony will honor the Men’s and Women’s Wooden Award winners, and will include the presentation of the Wooden Award All American Teams and the Legends of Coaching Award, which in 2013 will go to Kansas head coach Bill Self. The event will take place the weekend of April 12-13, 2013.

— KU Sports Information —

Kansas City trades Jeffress to Blue Jays for cash

Posted on November 8, 2012

The Kansas City Royals announced on Thursday that the club has traded right-handed pitcher Jeremy Jeffress to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations.

Jeffress, 25, was designated for assignment on November 2. The right-hander was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in 13 relief appearances for the Royals in 2012.

— Royals Media Relations —

Listen to Missouri Western’s 56-28 victory against Washburn

Posted on November 7, 2012

Click the links below to listen to Missouri Western football’s 56-28 win against Washburn on Saturday, November 3.

Griffons move up to No. 9 in D2Football.com poll; Hill honored by BSN

Posted on November 7, 2012November 7, 2012

Missouri Western football defeated the Washburn Ichabods last week 56-28, and now sit 9th in the nation according to d2football.com’s latest media poll released Wednesday morning.

The Griffons, who were No. 10 last week, moved up one spots after the final home victory of the regular season, and now play on the road against 33 Northwest Missouri State University on Saturday at 2:37 pm in Maryville, Mo. The winner will win the MIAA Title outright.

MWSU is 9-1 on the year with a 8-1 conference record. Missouri Western is 3-0 against the top-25 after defeating Pittsburg State, Emporia State and Washburn, and all three teams were ranked when the Griffons played them.

MWSU was also recognized on Beyond Sports College Network’s website, as the Griffons running back Michael Hill was voted the running back of the week for his 259 yard, three touchdown performance against Washburn.

Click here to view the D2football.com Top 25.

Click here to view the award winners from Beyond Sports College Network.

— MWSU Sports Information —