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Author: Dave Riggert

Western football fills 2012 schedule with William Jewell

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The 2012 schedule is once again complete for the Griffon Football team as Director of Athletics Kurt McGuffin announced Thursday that the Griffons will host William Jewell in Spratt Stadium on Saturday, September 8th at 6 PM.

The open date became available when Central State of Ohio pulled out of the game contract.

“It was highly important to us and especially for our fan base to schedule a sixth home game against a NCAA Division II opponent,” said Director of Athletics Kurt McGuffin.  “It’s a plus that the opponent is a recognizable name from the local area and we look forward to hosting William Jewell this fall.”

The Cardinals finished 4-6 a year ago and will be entering their second season as a NCAA Division II member and competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

— MWSU Sports Information —

MWSU’s Bishop earns more honors from NFCA

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Missouri Western sophomore pitcher Jackie Bishop has been named to the 2nd Team all-South Central Region which was announced on Thursday afternoon by the NFCA. Bishop finished her season with a 24-5 overall record with a 1.42 ERA. The Griffons finished the season 42-13 and have won 40 or more games five times which includes the last two.

This year’s teams are comprised of 204 student-athletes from 89 institutions spread out over the eight NFCA regions, with a first and second team for each region.

NFCA member coaches in each of the eight regions selected this year’s All-Region teams and all honorees are now eligible to be selected to one of three All-American teams.

The 2012 NFCA Division II All-American teams will be announced on NFCA.org on the evening of Wednesday, May 16.

Bishop continues to add to her list of awards garnering NFCA 2nd Team all-South Central Region honors. She earned Daktronics NCAA Division II South Central Region Pitcher of the Year and First Team honors on Wednesday, May 9. She was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Year as well as First Team all-MIAA. Last season Bishop was the MIAA Freshman of the Year and first team selection.

Bishop is the first Griffon pitcher to earn South Central Region Pitcher of the Year as well as MIAA Pitcher of the Year. Bishop finsished the season leading the MIAA with a 24-5 overall record and 1.42 ERA. She made 29 apperances with 26 starts. She pitched 26 complete games throwing eight shutouts. She pitched 183 innings with 243 strikeouts which is a new MWSU single season record. She held her opponents to a .180 batting average and gave up just 37earned runs. She was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week four times. She had a career high 16 strikeouts against Pittsburg State on April 6. She has struckout ten or more batters ten times which includes her first seven.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Six Griffons earn All-MIAA baseball honors

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The Missouri Western State University baseball team landed six players on the All-MIAA team which was announced by the conference Thursday. Brandon Simmons and Spencer Shockley earned first team All-MIAA honors while Nik Juardo, Grant Fink and Nate Ramler earned second team All-MIAA honors. Shortstop Michael Schulze was the only Griffon named to the Honorable Mention squad.

Brandon Simmons had an outstanding season tying the MWSU single season record for victories with 11. He also leads the MIAA and the nation in victories. He made 13 aperances with 12 starts, pitching 10 complete games with two shutouts. He has thrown 85.1 innings giving up just 70 hits while striking out 56. He leads the Griffons with a 1.58 ERA giving up just 15 earned runs. He has won his last nine starts and has lost just one game he has stared all season. He gave up two or less runs in 12 of his 13 outings. He was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week on Monday, May 7. The marks the first time he has been named to the first team. He was honorable mention his first two seasons.

Spencer Shockley has had an outstanding season for the Griffons leading the way in batting average (.405), hits (64), total bases (99), slugging percentage (.627), on base percentage (.447) and putouts (358). He has struckout just eight times whlie walking 14 times. He has a .992 fielding percentage making just three errors with 11 assists. He has a hit in 19 of his last 20 games which includes eight straight. In his last eight games he has 18 hits which includes six multiple hit games. He has started 47 games and has scored 37 runs and knocked in 32. This is the first time he has been named to the first team.

Nik Jurado has been named to the second team for the first time in his career. Jurado had an outstanding regular season going 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA. He has made 12 starts with five complete games and one shutout. He has thrown 80.1 innings giving up just 16 earned runs whlie striking out 68 and walking just 11. He has giving up just 76 hits holding his opponents to a .255 batting average.

Grant Fink earned second team honors starting 47 games at third base for Western. He is fourth on the squad in hitting with a .313 batting average. He has scored 31 runs with 50 hits. Twenty three of his 50 hits have been for extra bases. He has 14 doubles, two triples and seven home runs. He has 29 RBI with 89 total bases. Fink was named MIAA Hitter of the Week back on April 17, 2012 for his performance against Pittsburg State.

Nate Ramler eanred second team honors at the designated player position. Ramler was third on the team with a .315 batting average in 47 games played. He had 51 hits with 22 of them going for extra bases. He led the Griffons with nine home runs. He had 12 doubles and one triple. Ramler scored 25 runs and knocked in a team hit 42.

Michael Schulze was named to the honorable mention squad at the shortstop postion for the Griffons. Schulze has played extreamly well as of late lifting his batting average to .356. He has started all 48 games leading the team with 47 runs scored, 14 doubles and five triples. He is second on the team with 63 runs scored and 96 total bases. He also leads the team with 13 stolen bases. He has a .963 fielding percentage making just seven errors. He had 56 putouts and 125 assists. He was named MIAA Hitter of the Week this past week for his performance against Fort Hays State.

The Griffons will face Missouri Southern, Washburn or Emporia State on Friday, May 11 at 2:30 pm in the MIAA Tournament from CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Mo.

2012 ALL-MIAA BASEBALL TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bret Schwartz, Sr., SS, Central Missouri

PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Lee Stoppelman, Sr., Central Missouri

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Shawn Talkington, P, Emporia State

COACH OF THE YEAR
Tommy Myers, Central Missouri

FIRST TEAM
SP: Lee Stoppelman, Sr., Central Missouri
SP: Brandon Simmons, Jr., Missouri Western
SP: Cody Griebling, Sr., Missouri Southern
RP: Brett Macari, Sr., Fort Hays State
C: Drew Miller, So., Southwest Baptist
1B: Spencer Shockley, Jr., Missouri Western
2B: Eric Dawson, Jr., Emporia State
SS: Bret Schwartz, Sr., Central Missouri** [r1]
3B: John Calhoun, Sr., Washburn**
OF: Ryan Busboom, Jr., Fort Hays State**
OF: Gabe Thibodeau, Sr., Central Missouri
OF: Ryan Abernathy, So., Northwest Missouri
DH: Joe Vaskas, Sr., Emporia State [r1]
UT: Chris Pfau, Sr., Lincoln
**Unanimous Selection
[r1] – Repeat first team selection from last season

SECOND TEAM
SP: Brett Ash, Jr., Washburn
SP: Nik Jurado, Sr., Missouri Western
SP: Kurtis Schuyler, So., Central Missouri
RP: Travis Unthank, Sr., Central Missouri
C: Chase Graskewicz, Jr., Central Missouri
1B: Brad Alberts, Jr., Washburn
2B: Luke Acosta, Sr., Missouri Southern
SS: Ashton McCoy, Jr., Emporia State
3B: Grant Fink, Jr., Missouri Western
OF: Nash Smith, Sr., Fort Hays State
OF: Tyler Christophel, Sr., Southwest Baptist
OF: Dorian Williams, Sr., Emporia State
DH: Nate Ramler, Jr., Missouri Western
UT: Tyler Bean, Sr., Washburn

HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Dane Krone, Jr., RP; John Oropeza, Jr., 1B; Jon Cotter, Jr., 2B; Jordan Coons, Sr., 3B; Albert Selanders, Jr., OF; Ben Cox, So., DH.

Emporia State: Derek Brooks, Sr., SP; Brandon Faulkner, Sr., SP; Joe Kornbrust, Sr., OF.

Fort Hays State: Shawn Lewick, Sr., SP; Mace Krol, Sr., DH.

Missouri Southern: David Reese, So., SP; Sam Ryan, Jr., C; Michael McCoy, Jr., OF; Jesse Kinzey, Sr., UT; Cullen Baxter,Sr., UT.

Missouri Western: Michael Schulze, So., SS.

Northwest Missouri: Steven Garber, Fr., 1B; Cameron Bedard, Jr., 2B; Eric Swain, Jr., SS; Eric McGlauflin, So., UT.

Pittsburg State: Matt Stalcup, Jr., SP; Chase Barnes, Sr., OF.

Southwest Baptist: Jacob Sullinger, Jr., RP.

Truman: Devon Myers, Sr., C.

Washburn: Kerry Schachenmeyer, Sr., SP; Richard Swan, Jr., C; Marcus Peavler, Sr., OF.

— MWSU Sports Information —

NWMSU’s Abernathy named to All-MIAA baseball first team

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Sophomore Ryan Abernathy earned a spot on the All-MIAA First-Team to highlight five Northwest Missouri State players earning all-conference accolades released by the conference office Thursday.

Abernathy becomes the first Bearcat to earn a spot on the first-team since 2007, when Ryley Westman and John White earned respective honors. The Chesterfield, Mo., native led the league in hits with 71 as he also led Northwest in runs (49), doubles (17) and stolen bases (11). His hits rank tied for fifth on the single season list at Northwest as does his 17 doubles.

Earning Honorable Mention All-MIAA nods were juniors Eric Swain and Cameron Bedard along with sophomore Eric McGlauflin and freshman Steven Garber. Swain led the Bearcats and finished second in the league with 10 homeruns while also leading the team with 41 RBIs.

McGlauflin finished in the top 10 in the league in batting average (.387) and on base percentage (.474) while Bedard finished at a .339 clip with a .448 on base percentage. Garber started in 39 games for Northwest at first base hitting .308 with 35 RBIs and was third on the team with a .525 slugging percentage in his first season.

2012 MIAA Champion Central Missouri nearly swept the end of year awards as Bret Schwartz was named Player of the Year and teammate Lee Stoppelman earned Pitcher of the Year accolades. The Mules head coach, Tommy Myers, earned his third Coach of the Year honors while Shawn Talkington of Emporia State was named Freshman of the Year.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Missouri State dismisses starting QB Wooden

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Missouri State University has dismissed starting quarterback Trevor Wooden from its football program due to violations of team rules, head coach Terry Allen announced Thursday (May 10).

Wooden, from High Springs, Fla., was expected to be the Bears’ starter again this fall after leading the Missouri Valley Football Conference in total offense last season.

“This is obviously a very difficult situation, and it’s never easy to make a call like this,” said Allen. “But based on the circumstances, I feel it is in the best interest of our program to make a clean break and start moving forward.”

Director of Athletics Kyle Moats said he supports Allen’s decision and noted the behavioral expectations of every MSU student-athlete are clearly defined.

“We expect Missouri State student-athletes to abide by the rules set forth by the University, the athletic department and their respective teams,” Moats said. “When they fail to meet those obligations and responsibilities, there are consequences.

“I know there were a lot of people counting on Trevor to be a leader on this team and be the face of our program this fall. However, our coaches have to enforce the rules consistently regardless of whether a player is a starter or a role player. That’s the right thing to do, and I support our coaches when they have to make tough calls like this.”

On Aug. 25, 2011, Allen suspended Wooden for one game at the onset of his sophomore season for a separate violation of team rules. Wooden served the suspension during the 2011 season opener at Arkansas but went on to start the remaining 10 games.

He compiled a conference-best 2,420 yards of total offense in his only season as MSU starting quarterback. He also ranked 14th nationally among all Division I FCS signal callers in pass efficiency and earned All-MVFC honorable mention honors. As a redshirt freshman wide receiver in 2010, Wooden played in 11 games, started 10 contests and collected 21 receptions for 284 yards.

He was one of 24 returning players on the 2012 MSU roster with starting experience from last season.

The Bears will open fall camp on Aug. 2 with at least two scholarship quarterbacks in sophomore Kierra Harris (Texarkana, Ark.) and newcomer Brodie Lambert (Fr., Arlington, Texas).

— MSU Sports Information —

KSU’s Brown named to Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list

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Kansas State senior linebacker Arthur Brown is one of 42 defensive players nationally and seven from the Big 12 Conference to be named to the 2012 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List.

In his first season in a Wildcat uniform, Brown was named the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year after collecting a team-high 101 tackles, 9.5 for losses, 2.0 sacks and one interception. Brown was named First Team All-Big 12, a Bednarik Award Semifinalist and earned All-America honors from numerous outlets following his breakout season in 2011.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy was established by The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation to honor college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.

The award is unique because it represents the first trophy to give equal weight to personal character as well as athletic performance from a defensive college player and is the first national college football award based on the West Coast.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy was named in honor of Ronnie Lott – a two time All -American for USC and College Football Hall of Fame inductee. Ronnie Lott went on to win four Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, ten trips to the Pro Bowl and a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Always known as a fierce competitor, he was a leader who had IMPACT both on and off the field.

The Wildcats returns eight starters on offense, six on defense and both kickers from its 10-3 squad that advanced to the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic in 2011. The Wildcats will be led by All-America candidates Collin Klein (QB) and Brown (LB), while 2011 Walter Camp All-Americans Nigel Malone (DB) and Tyler Lockett (KR/WR) also return.

K-State opens the 2012 season September 1 with a home game against Missouri State.

— KSU Sports Information —

Griffon baseball enters regional rankings for the first time

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For the first time this season the Missouri Western baseball team has cracked the top eight in the South Central Regional rankings which was released Wednesday afternoon. The Griffons are 33-15 overall and 29-13 in regional play entering this weeks MIAA Tournament where they will be the #2 seed. Western will play at 2:30 pm on Friday, May 11 against Missouri Southern, Washburn or Emporia State at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

The top six teams in the region make the national tournament which will start next week. The winner of the MIAA Tournament will earn an automatic bid into the national tournament.

The Griffons have been to a regional one time in school history which was in 2006.

SOUTH CENTRAL
1     Central Missouri     41-7     41-7
2     St. Mary’s (Texas)     41-8     36-8
3     Angelo State     38-14     38-13
4     Southern Arkansas     36-15     34-14
5     Texas A&M-Kingsville     31-16     24-14
6     St. Edward’s     35-12     30-11
7     Southeastern Oklahoma     34-17     30-15
8     Missouri Western State     33-15     29-13

— MWSU Sports Information —

Chen wins first game as Royals defeat Red Sox

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Bruce Chen can relax a bit — he’s in the win column.

Chen, the Royals’ opening day starter, picked up his first victory of the season Wednesday night as Kansas City held off the Boston Red Sox 4-3.

Alcides Escobar drove in the go-ahead run as the Royals solved Jon Lester for the first time in a while. Jonathan Broxton worked around a leadoff single and walk in the ninth inning for his seventh save in eight opportunities.

The Royals were winless in Chen’s first six starts this year, although he had been pitching deep into games.

“You try not to think about it,” Chen said. “You try not to let it bother you, but at the end of the day you have no wins and it’s almost the middle of May.

“I know I’ve been pitching well. I didn’t worry. I didn’t try to do too much. I trust my stuff, my teammates. Today was a huge win. Even though it’s in the win column for me, but I feel like the whole team contributed.”

The Royals finished 4-3 on their homestand against Boston and the New York Yankees. The Red Sox have lost seven of eight.

Chen (1-4) gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out five and walking none.

“That’s the first time in a long time I felt like we were firing on all cylinders, facing a guy that’s been extremely tough on us,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

“Clutch hitting, clutch pitching. I thought Bruce threw a tremendous game. They had seven hits and five were off the end of the bat or jam shots that just found holes or hit the line. And to get four runs off Jon Lester was huge. It was good to finally beat him. He’s a guy who has handled us for a long time,” he said.

The Royals beat Lester (1-3) for the first time since Aug. 8, 2006. The left-hander came into the game with a 5-1 record and 1.30 ERA in seven career starts against Kansas City, including a no-hitter in 2008.

Escobar’s double in the fourth Irving Falu, who led off the inning with a double, to put the Royals ahead 4-3.

Lester’s pitch count rose early with a 38-pitch first inning, but 12 of those were after center fielder Marlon Byrd’s error led to three unearned runs.

Lester was pulled after 108 pitches and five innings, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk.

In the first inning, Byrd misjudged Johnny Giavotella’s two-out liner and the ball ricocheted off his glove as he jumped for it. The misplay allowed Billy Butler, who had walked, to score.

Brayan Pena then hit a two-run double to left-center that Cody Ross nearly caught. Ross had his glove on the ball, but it came loose and hit the wall. Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine debated Ross held onto the ball long enough — the umpires held a conference on the field, but did not change the ruling.

“It hit his glove, then popped out and bounced off the wall,” Valentine said. “It’s not a catch unless you get it out of the glove voluntarily.”

“The ball on Marlon really took off on him. It was tough on Jon — they scored three runs. Cody went a long way, caught it and popped out of his glove. He’s frustrated. He battled. He wanted to go out and pitch the sixth.”

Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run double in the Boston third, driving in Byrd, Ryan Sweeney and Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia’s single extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games.

— Associated Press —

MWSU golf adds Junior College transfer for 2012-2013 season

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Missouri Western men’s golf coach Jim Perry has announced the signing of one student athlete to the National Letter of Intent for the 2012-2013 season. The Griffons welcome junior college transfer Weston Apple of St. Charles, Ill. to next year’s squad.

Apple originally from St. Charles, Ill. will transfer to Missouri Western from Iowa Western Community College out of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Apple played in 17 events with a scoring average of 76 at Iowa Western. As a senior at St. Charles East high school he had a scoring average of 74.9 which was in the top 15 in school history. He was the MVP and a team captain as a senior. He also tied for 11th at the 3A state tournament. He was an all-Conference performer in 2010. His greatest sports thrill was qualifying for the Illinois State High School Tournament in back-to-back season and being named Kane County Chronicle Golfer of the Year twice. He plans on majoring in sports marketing at Western.

“Weston will bring the experience we need to compete in the MIAA”, commented coach Perry.  “He has played in numerous junior college tournaments and will help us out right away. He has a great attitude and we are excited to have him at Western,” stated Perry.

— MWSU Sports Information —

MWSU’s Bishop named South Central Region Pitcher of the Year

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Missouri Western sophomore pitcher Jackie Bishop has been named the 2012 Daktroics NCAA Division II South Central Region Pitcher of the Year, it was announced Tuesday. Bishop was also named to the First Team for the second time in her career. The Griffons finished the season 42-13 and have won 40 or more games five times which includes the last two.

The South Central Region is made up of schools from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, Heartland Conference, Lone Star Conference and Great American Conference along with independents University of Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State.

The team is voted on by sports information directors of schools in the region. All first-team selections will appear on the national ballot for All-America honors.

Bishop continues to add to her list of awards garnering Daktronics NCAA Division II South Central Region Pitcher of the Year. Bishop was also named to the First Team. She was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Year as well as First Team all-MIAA. Last season Bishop was the MIAA Freshman of the Year and first team selection. Bishop is the first Griffon pitcher to earn South Central Region Pitcher of the Year as well as MIAA Pitcher of the Year. Bishop finsished the season leading the MIAA with a 24-5 overall record and 1.42 ERA. She made 29 apperances with 26 starts. She pitched 26 complete games throwing eight shutouts. She pitched 183 innings with 243 strikeouts which is a new MWSU single season record. She held her opponents to a .180 batting average and gave up just 37earned runs. She was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week four times. She had a career high 16 strikeouts against Pittsburg State on April 6. She has struckout ten or more batters ten times which includes her first seven.

2012 Daktronics Softball South Central Region

Player of the Year
Kacie Edwards, Central Oklahoma

Pitcher of the Year
Jackie Bishop, Missouri Western St

First Team
C          Nathalie Timmermans, Central Oklahoma
1B        Emily Kennemer, East Central
2B        DeeshanaLynn Tafiti, Angelo State
SS        Bailey Vrazel, Texas Woman’s
3B        Kacie Edwards, Central Oklahoma
OF        Courtney Bingham, Midwestern State
OF        Kayce Raines, Central Oklahoma
OF        Addison Staley, Texas Woman’s
UT        Katie Hines, Texas Woman’s
DP       Stephanie Goodwin, Emporia State
P          Jackie Bishop, Missouri Western State
P          Claire Molina, Angelo State
P          Kayla Jackson, Arkansas-Monticello

Second Team
C          Kacie Easley, Angelo State
1B        Megan Whitmire, Central Oklahoma
1B        Tricia Vogel, Emporia State
2B        Brittany Weaver, Central Oklahoma
SS        Amanda (Mannie) DeCastro, Pittsburg State
3B        Elsamartina Apo, Angelo State
OF        Bridget Schade, Truman State
OF        Morgan Spearman, Angelo State
OF        Julie Cross, Oklahoma Panhandle State
UT        Katie Welborn, Tarleton State
DP       Tiffany Brown, Pittsburg State
P          Maddie Holub, Fort Hays State
P          Samantha Swanda, Tarleton State
P          Emily Brittain, State Mary’s

— MWSU Sports Information —

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