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Author: Dave Riggert

KU’s Robinson, Taylor selected in the NBA Draft

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Big 12 Player of the Year and First Team All-American Thomas Robinson was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Sacramento and All-Big 12 First Teamer Tyshawn Taylor was selected 41st overall by the Portland Trailblazers, but his draft rights are believed to have been traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the 2012 NBA Draft Thursday night. Robinson is the highest drafted Jayhawk since Drew Gooden was the No. 4 overall selection in the 2002 NBA Draft.

The Washington, D.C. native, is the 10th Jayhawk to be drafted in the lottery since 2000, which is tied for the lead in the nation with Connecticut and North Carolina. The selections make Robinson the 14th and Taylor the 15th Jayhawk drafted under head coach Bill Self.

Since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996-97, KU has had 23 players drafted in the NBA, which is the most of any league member. Over the last decade, KU among the top-five for producing the most NBA Draft picks in the nation with 17. Three KU draft picks recently played for the 2012 NBA Championship, with 2008 second-rounder Mario Chalmers helping the Miami Heat win the crown.

“I want to thank the organization for taking me with the fifth pick and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the organization,” Robinson said. “I didn’t really know where I was going to end up at, but this is a bit of a surprise. I didn’t work out for Sacramento at all and I probably talked to them once. I’m here, so I’m meant to be here.”

Robinson and Taylor helped lead Kansas to 32-7 record on the season, advancing to the school’s 14th Final Four where it finished runner-up, won its school-record eighth straight and 12th Big 12 regular-season championship and finished the year No. 2 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll and No. 6 in the Associated Press poll, which is released prior to the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, KU finished the season 16-0 in Allen Fieldhouse, upping its home-court winning streak to 22 games.

Robinson leaves Kansas as one of the most decorated players in school history. Declaring for the 2012 NBA Draft, the Washington, D.C., native became Kansas’ 28th Consensus All-American following his junior year where he was the only player in the Big 12 to average a double-double with 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. The 2012 Big 12 Player of the Year who was also named the conference’s player of the week four times, Robinson set a Kansas single-season record and led the nation with 27 double-doubles and his 463 rebounds were second only to former KU legend Wilt Chamberlain’s 510 boards in 1956-57. His 11.9 rebound average was second in NCAA Division I in 2011-12.

Taylor, from Hoboken, N.J., was a four-year starter at Kansas amassing a 127-21 record with four Big 12 regular-season titles, two Big 12 tourney championships, two NCAA Elite Eights and one Final Four. A Bob Cousy Award finalist as a junior and senior, Taylor was a two-time Big 12 Player of the Week in 2011-12 where he averaged 16.6 points and a team-best 4.8 assists per game. Taylor, who was named to numerous 2012 All-America teams as either a third team or an honorable mention selection, had 13 games of 20 or more points scored his senior season.

Robinson and Taylor are the 71st and 72nd Jayhawks to be drafted in Kansas men’s basketball history. It marks the third-straight year in which at least two Jayhawks have been selected in the draft.

— KU Sports Information —

Four Royals’ prospects selected to Triple-A All-Star Game

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The Pacific Coast League announced their selections for the 25th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game to be held on July 11 at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, N.Y.  The contest, which features the PCL All-Star squad and the International League’s best, will air live on MLB Network at 6:00 p.m. CDT.  Omaha outfielder Wil Myers has been selected as a starter for the PCL.  First baseman Clint Robinson will represent the Storm Chasers in a reserve role along with left-handed pitchers Tommy Hottovy and Ryan Verdugo.

Myers, 21, began the season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas before joining Omaha in mid-May.  He has a combined .325 average with 19 doubles, 25 home runs and 65 RBI, including 12 home runs and 35 RBI in 40 games with Omaha.  Kansas City’s third-round pick in 2009, Myers currently leads the entire minor leagues in home runs.  He will also participate in the XM All-Star Futures Game for the second straight year.

Robinson, 27, the Royals’ 25th-round selection in 2007, is batting .313 with 21 doubles, 10 home runs, 44 RBI and 41 runs scored in 71 games.  Robinson made his Major League debut on June 8 at Pittsburgh.  He appeared in four games with Kansas City, all in a pinch-hitting role.

Hottovy, who will turn 31 on July 9, is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and seven saves in 20 relief appearances for Omaha.  The Kansas City native also appeared in five games for his hometown Royals, recording a 3.38 ERA over 5.1 innings.  A graduate of Park Hill South High School and Wichita State University, Hottovy signed with the Royals as a minor league free agent on November 18, 2011.  A fourth-round selection by Boston in 2004, Hottovy made his Major League debut with the Red Sox on June 3, 2011.

Verdugo, 25, has compiled a 5-2 mark and a 3.65 ERA over 14 starts in his first action at the Triple-A level.  He was on Kansas City’s 25-man roster in early June, but did not appear in a game.  The LSU product was selected by San Francisco in the ninth round of the 2008 June Free Agent Draft and acquired by Kansas City in a trade on November 7, 2011.

— Royals Media Relations —

Mustangs start fast and hang on to win at Ozark

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The St. Joseph Mustangs won their fifth consecutive road game Wednesday night with a 14-11 victory at Carthage, Missouri, against the Ozark Generals.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team improves to 18-7 this summer and 14-7 in the MINK League.  They’ve won four in-a-row overall and ten of their last 11 games.

The Mustangs jumped out to a quick start with a two-run home run from Kris Koerper in the first inning, but Ozark bounced back in the second and tied the game with a two-run homer from Jay Rollinson.

St. Joseph then took over with three runs in the third, two in the fourth inning and six runs in the fifth to take a 13-2 lead.

Ozark chipped away at the lead and pulled to within three runs in the eighth inning after scoring four runs, but that was as close as they’d get.

Koerper had three hits and drove in a career-high five runs.  Kyle Simpson and Mark Robinette also had three hits each and they both had two RBI.  Jordan Guida and Will Mulligan each had two hits and drove in one run.

Staten Jones improved to 3-0 with the win on the mound.  He went 5.2 innings and allowed nine hits and seven runs, but he struck out 11 Ozark batter and walked three.

Chris Green struck out the side in the ninth inning for his first save of the season.

St. Joseph is back at home Thursday as they host Clarinda at 7:00 p.m. inside Phil Welch Stadium.  The game will be broadcast on ESPN 1550 AM.

Royals complete three-game sweep of Tampa Bay

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On the hottest day this year in Kansas City, dehydration was starting to become a concern. Players were exhausted. Royals manager Ned Yost was starting to feel sorry for Tony Randazzo behind the plate, and he wasn’t even the umpire whose face had been bloodied in the game.

Billy Butler’s tiebreaking home run in the eighth was an especially welcome sight, leading the Royals to a 5-4 victory and three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays.

”It was really, really hot out there,” said Butler, who greeted reliever Burke Badenhop with his 15th home run. ”It was over 100 degrees. Guys were starting to get dehydrated. It was not a good day to go extra innings.”

Yost said trainers had IVs waiting in the locker room.

”We were going to start losing guys,” Yost said. ”We had some guys who were starting to cramp. Eric Hosmer’s elbow was starting to get a little stiff. The umpire was about ready to fall out behind home plate. The heat out there was pretty oppressive. When Billy hit that ball, I was just hoping it was high enough.”

Aaron Crow (1-1), the fifth Royals pitcher, was the winner after getting two outs in the eighth as the Royals recorded their first home sweep of the Rays in 11 years.

”It’s been hot the last few days,” said Rays manager Joe Maddon. ”But I tell you what, you didn’t hear one guy complain. They played right down to the last out. They were great.”

Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar also homered for the Royals, who managed to sweep a team three games immediately after getting swept themselves. After a potentially ruinous 12-game losing streak in April, the youthful Royals have fought back to five games under .500 (34-39).

”It would be nice if we made things easier for ourselves once in a while,” said Jeff Francoeur. ”This is the third time now we’ve fought back to get to five games under .500, but then we just take a few steps back. Our goal was to get back to .500 by the All-Star break.”

The Rays had tied it 4-4 in the top of the eighth after Carlos Pena reached leading off on an error that left first base umpire Brian Gorman wiping off blood. Pena’s hot grounder glanced off first baseman Hosmer’s glove and struck Gorman on the left side of the face as he was signaling the ball fair.

The veteran ump cleaned some blood off his face but stayed in the game after being attended to by the Royals’ trainer. Then Tim Collins walked Jeff Keppinger and Ben Zobrist unloaded a two-run triple.

”He had a little cut,” said Yost. ”But he’s fine. Gorman’s fine.”

Zobrist was 3 for 4 with three RBIs but made three outs on the bases. He was thrown out twice at home plate trying to score from third on ground balls.

”It’s a tough way to end the road trip,” said Zobrist. ”They (Royals) were playing great over there. They did everything. They hit the ball really well, they pitched well, and played good defense. We couldn’t get anything going.”

Jonathan Broxton pitched the ninth for his 19th save in 22 opportunities.

Badenhop (1-2) recorded only one out after starter Matt Moore labored through 7 1-3 innings, giving up 10 hits and four runs.

Moustakas, who had two home runs on Sunday, hit the first pitch he saw from Moore in the first inning for his 13th home run. Escobar, who has seven multihit games in his last 12, was 3 for 3 with a double, a single and a solo homer that made it 2-0 in the third.

Yuniesky Betancourt had a two-run single in the fifth as the Royals completed a 3-3 homestand after getting swept by St. Louis.

Just hours after being recalled from Triple-A Omaha, Everett Teaford was charged with two runs on four hits in 5 innings. The left-hander was relieved by Kelvin Herrera with runners at first and second in the sixth and the Rays made it 4-2 on RBI singles from Keppinger and Zobrist before Zobrist ended the inning attempting to steal second.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis loses series finale at Miami

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It took a few minutes, but the umpires’ verdict was worth the wait for the Miami Marlins.

John Buck and pinch hitter Logan Morrison connected for consecutive home runs in the seventh inning, rallying the Marlins past St. Louis 5-3 Wednesday night and ending their eight-game losing streak against the Cardinals.

Buck tied it with one out when he homered off Fernando Salas. Morrison then sent a drive off Sam Freeman (0-1) that hit the top of the right-field fence, bounced off a nearby railing and dropped back into play.

”I thought it hit the back of the concrete and went out, I didn’t even know it came back onto the field,” Morrison said.

After being stopped at second base while the umpires reviewed the play, Morrison was allowed to finish his home-run trot. It was Morrison’s first career pinch-hit home run.

”Thank God we had instant replay because if not that would have been double,” Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen said. ”It also helps the umpires. I don’t think it killed anybody in baseball for that idea. It helped the game.”

The Cardinals had won five in a row overall. Miami won for just the second time in 10 games.

”Any time you beat the Cardinals, it’s a good win especially when they’re playing that well,” Buck said. ”Hopefully it can be momentum we can build on and start our own little stretch here.”

Tony Cruz’s first career homer in the top of the seventh put the Cardinals ahead 3-2.

”I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and I got it,” Cruz said. ”Thankfully, it went out. It’s a great feeling. I had a lot of family here tonight. They knew I was playing. I thank Mike (manager Matheny) for giving me the opportunity of letting me play in front of my family. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win, though.”

Buck has seven home runs this season, including three in his last six games. This was the second time the Marlins have hit back-to-back home runs this season – Justin Ruggiano and Morrison accomplished the feat on June 1 at Philadelphia.

”Any time Buck is at the plate we know he has a chance to hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Guillen said. ”We need that from him.”

Omar Infante’s RBI double in the eighth gave the Marlins an insurance run.

Anibal Sanchez (4-6) ended his three-game losing streak, allowing three runs in seven innings.

”We have a great team so if we keep playing like that we can start winning a lot of games,” Sanchez said.

Steve Cishek pitched the eighth and Heath Bell recorded his 15th save in 19 chances by pitching the ninth. He got Allen Craig to pop up with Matt Carpenter on second to end the game.

”Five consecutive wins is always a positive,” Matheny said. ”Guys are always going to remember that. That was a good run.”

The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Beltran and an RBI double by David Freese.

The Marlins tied it at 2 in the fifth against Joe Kelly on an RBI single by Buck and a groundout by Jose Reyes.

— Associated Press —

Mustangs sweep doubleheader at Chillicothe

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The St. Joseph Mustangs stayed hot after a day off Monday as St. Joe’s summer college baseball team swept a doubleheader at Chillicothe Tuesday night.

The Mustangs won game one, 6-0, and cruised to a 6-2 win in game two.

St. Joseph improves to 17-7 and 13-7 in the MINK League and they’ve won three straight games.  The Mustangs have also won nine of their last 10 games and they’re 15-3 in their last 18 ballgames.

In the opener, Missouri Western’s Kyle Simpson led the way with three hits and four RBI.  Mark Robinette added two hits and he drove in two runs, while Maxime LeFevre scored twice.

Adam Maddox picked up his first win this season as he threw six shutout innings in the seven inning game.  He allowed just one hit, struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.

In game two, St. Joe fell behind 2-1 after two innings but then the Mustangs scored single runs in the third and fourth inning and pulled away with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth inning.

St. Joseph took advantage of five Chillicothe errors as they scored six unearned runs.

Benton graduate Jake Kretzer finished 3-for-3 with three RBI, while Patrick Burkhart added two hits and Robinette scored three runs.

Carson Smith earned the win in relief as he went 1.1 innings and allowed just one hit and no runs.

Bubba Blau started the game lasted only 3.2 innings.  He gave up five hits and two runs, while striking out five batters and walking three.

The Mustangs are back on the road Wednesday as they play at Ozark.  The first pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. and you can listen to the game on 680 KFEQ.

Five Griffon football players earn preseason All-America honors

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The Missouri Western State University football team had five players named to the Beyond Sports College Network’s (BSN) 2012 Preseason All-America Team which was released earlier this week.

The five Griffons consist of two defensive players, three offensive players and a special teamer. Senior defensive end David Bass (St. Louis, Mo./University City HS) and junior punter Scott Groner (Tecoma, Victoria (Australia)/Blackburn HS)) were named to the first team while senior offensive lineman Macon Allan (King City, Mo./King City HS) was named to the second team. Senior running back Michael Hill (St. Joseph, Mo./Central HS) and senior strong saftey Shane Simpson (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs South HS) were part of the honorable mention squad.

This marks the second preseason all-America honor for both Bass and Allan as they were named first team all-American’s by Lindy’s Magazine back on June 14.

Last season Bass was named to numerous all-america teams which included first team honors from D2Football.com, Don Hansen Football Gazette, AP “Little” All-American and Beyond Sports College Network. His 20 tackles for a loss set a school record for most in a season while his 14.5 sacks led the MIAA and left him one-half sack short of the Griffons single season record. He has 28.5 sacks in his career which is 1.5 short of the school record. He tied a single game high with four sacks in a game twice and was fourth in the nation in sacks per game at 1.21. He earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors twice and was the D2Football.com Player of the Week once.

He finished the season with 55 tackles with 35 being solo. He had eight quarterback hurries, four pass break-ups and one forced fumble. He was named first team all-MIAA for the first time in his career last season.

In his first season of college football Groner had an outstanding season. He played in all 12 games punting the ball 50 times for 2,193 yards. His 43.9 yards per punt average set a single season record. Thirteen of his punts went for 50 or more yards while he dropped 17 inside the 20. He was an honorable mention all-MIAA selection as well as a Don Hansen second team all-American. He was also named Beyond Sports College Network’s Punter of the Week on November 23, 2011 as well an honorable mention all-America selection by Beyond Sports College Network.

Allan has been a rock on the offensive line since he got to Western. He has started all 36 games in his three years of playing. Last season he was first team all-MIAA for the first time in his career. He was also named to the Don Hansen Honorable Metion all-America team as well as the Don Hansen second team all-Region. He helped the Griffons rush for 240 yards per game and almost six yards per carry in 2011.

Hill has been solid at the running back position as he enters 2012 just 595 yards away from breaking the MWSU career record and just 76 rushing attempts away from setting the Griffon career mark. Last season hill started all 12 games rushing for 1,305 yards on 265 carries which included rushing for over 100 yards five times. He had a career high 246 yards on 41 carries against Southwest Baptist on October 28, 2011. He also caught 31 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns averaging 130.2 all-purpose yards per game. He was a first team all-MIAA selection for the first time in his career and was the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week on October 30 for his his performance against SBU. He was a second team Daktronics Super Region Four selection as well as second team Don Hansen all-Region, honorable mention Beyond Sports College Network all-American and honorable mention all-American by Don Hansen.

Simpson has been a leader in the secondary for the Griffons for the past two seasons. Last season he started all 12 games making 46 tackles with 20 being solo. He tied for the team lead with five interceptions. He also defended eight passes and had three pass break-ups. He had 127 return yards off his five interceptions which included a 55 yards interception return for a touchdown in the Griffons playoff game against Northwest Missouri State on NOvember 19, 2011. He was a first team all-MIAA selection for the first time in his career.

The Griffons finished 9-3 last season, which tied them for the most wins in a season. They have won nine games in six of the last nine seasons. They have also had a winning record in 11 of 15 seasons under head coach Jerry Partridge. The Griffons are set to return a total of 17 starters on offense and defense next season, including 10 of 11 on offense and seven of 11 on defense.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Mizzou Athletics receives $30 million gift for facility plans

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The University of Missouri is just five days away from officially joining the Southeastern Conference – but Mizzou Athletics isn’t waiting for July 1st to show the nation it is eager to compete in the league that is known widely as the nation’s best.  As announced today, a $30 million private gift from the Kansas City Sports Trust will help jump-start a $200 million master plan resulting in facility improvements seen as vital to MU’s future success in the SEC.

The gift has been identified as the second-largest single donation in University of Missouri history, and it will play an integral role in getting a $200 million facilities master plan off and running.  The comprehensive plan, which will change the landscape of the MU Sports Park for years to come, was reviewed and approved this afternoon by the MU Board of Curators.

The initial focus will be on projects totaling an estimated $102 million, and facilities involved will include football’s Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field, baseball’s Taylor Stadium/Simmons Field, softball’s University Field, and tennis’ Mizzou Tennis Complex, as well as new team and practice facilities for the men’s and women’s golf teams at The Club at Old Hawthorne.  A new indoor football practice facility, an additional weight room to better support MU’s 500-plus student-athlete population, and other Olympic sport facility upgrades will also be part of future plans.

A capital campaign is underway to help raise funds for the master plan.  Called “Going for Gold: A Vision for Excellence,” the campaign will encourage donors and supporters to join the action and help Mizzou achieve its facilities vision.  Information will be forthcoming shortly detailing how people can get involved in the Going for Gold campaign through the Tiger Scholarship Fund.

“This is indeed an historic day for the University,” said MU Chancellor Dr. Brady J. Deaton.  “What a poignant and symbolic showing of the support we have as we move into the Southeastern Conference.   I’ve said many times that Athletics is the front porch of the institution, and that a strong program benefits Mizzou immeasurably.  These planned facility projects will go a long way toward helping guide the future success of our program which is already very strong, and they will help us attract the very best and brightest student-athletes in the nation,” he said.

“We are so very grateful to the Kansas City Sports Trust for their unwavering support of our mission,” said MU Director of Athletics Mike Alden.  “This historic gift is putting into motion a series of improvements that will impact Mizzou Athletics for generations to come.  We are moving into the nation’s best and most competitive conference, and by committing to this master plan, we feel this is a statement that Mizzou is going to be a factor on the conference and national levels,” he said.

— MU Sports Information —

Royals pound Rays for second straight win

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Bruce Chen went seven innings in another workmanlike start, Jeff Francoeur and Yuniesky Betancourt both went deep and the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on Tuesday night.

Betancourt hit a two-run shot during a four-run third inning against Chris Archer (0-2), and Francoeur added a three-run homer during a four-run eighth to give Kansas City some breathing room.

Alex Gordon and Billy Butler also drove in runs to pace a Royals offense that was outscored by St. Louis 30-14 over the weekend, but has trumped Tampa Bay 16-2 so far this series.

The Royals will go for the sweep on Wednesday afternoon.

Chen (7-6) gave up a run in the first and Brooks Conrad’s solo shot in the second to win for the seventh time in his last nine decisions.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals defeat Miami for fifth straight win

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Yadier Molina hit a three-run homer and Kyle Lohse pitched into the eighth inning to lead the St. Louis Cardinals past the staggering Miami Marlins 5-2 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

One night after Molina’s tying homer in the ninth inning keyed a huge comeback, St. Louis scored five unearned runs in the first.

The Marlins have lost eight of nine and are 3-17 in their last 20 games. Miami manager Ozzie Guillen was ejected for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Dan Bellino.

Lohse (7-2) allowed two runs and four hits while striking out four to lower his ERA to 2.82. Jason Motte pitched the ninth for his 16th save in 20 chances.

The Cardinals jumped out to a big early lead, aided by errors from Marlins starter Carlos Zambrano (4-6) and shortstop Jose Reyes. Molina took advantage of the miscues with his 12th homer. Carlos Beltran had an RBI single.

Molina has homered in three straight games and is two shy of tying his career best set last season. His two-run shot with two outs in the ninth Monday night off Miami closer Heath Bell capped a four-run inning, and St. Louis went on to win 8-7 in 10 innings.

Giancarlo Stanton’s 17th home run and Greg Dobbs’ sacrifice fly pulled the Marlins to 5-2 on Tuesday.

Miami threatened in the sixth after Reyes and Hanley Ramirez reached, but Lohse got out of the jam when shortstop Rafael Furcal snagged a hard-hit grounder by Logan Morrison and turned a double play.

Guillen was tossed in the seventh. Following a walk issued by Zambrano to Allen Craig that loaded the bases, Guillen came out of the dugout to lift Zambrano. Guillen walked by Bellino to voice his displeasure with a call and was ejected. It was Guillen’s first ejection as the Marlins’ manager.

Zambrano pitched 6 2-3 innings, allowing five unearned runs and seven hits. He struck out five and walked five while throwing 73 of 125 pitches for strikes.

— Associated Press —

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