Due to some overnight rain and a 100 percent chance for most of the afternoon today, the remainder of the SE ‘South Central Shootout’ has been canceled.
The Griffon softball team sits at 7-2 on the season and returns to action tomorrow when they take on the Northeastern State Riverhawks in Talequah, Okla. The will play at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.
The Kansas City Royals have announced that the club has agreed to terms on 2012 Major League contracts with right-handed pitcher Luis Mendoza, infielders Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, and outfielder Lorenzo Cain. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
The Royals now have seven unsigned players on the 40-man roster with zero to three years of service time: right-handed pitchers Louis Coleman, Greg Holland and Vin Mazzaro; left-handed pitcher Danny Duffy; catcher Salvador Perez; and infielders Alcides Escobar and Johnny Giavotella.
Pitchers and catchers will report to Surprise, Ariz., next Monday, February 20. Workouts for pitchers begin the following afternoon, Tuesday, February 21. The remainder of the squad will report next Friday, February 24 and begin workouts for the 2012 campaign on Saturday afternoon, February 25.
— Royals Media Relations —
BOYS
Central 62, North Kansas City 37
Lafayette 53, Smithville 50
Benton 66, Bishop LeBlond 45
East Buchanan 54, St. Joseph Christian 47
GIRLS
St. Joseph Christian 59, East Buchanan 44
The 23rd ranked Griffons exploded offensively in its first two games of the SE ‘South Central Shootout’ defeating Newman University 8-1 and Southeastern Oklahoma State University 7-3. Western pounded out 28 combined hits and got two complete games from Emily Moe and Jackie Bishop. The Griffons sit at 6-2 after the two victories.
Game 1
MWSU 8, Newman 1
The Griffons pounded out 17 hits in their opening game with leadoff hitter Kendall Sorenson collecting four hits. Taylor Anding and Kat Steponovich both had three hits with one run scored and one RBI in the game.
The Griffons started slow leaving one runner on base in the first inning and not gettting anyone on in the second. The Griffons caught fire the next four inning scoring at least one run each inning including four in the fourth.
Maegan Roemmich had the big hit in the fourth with a three run home run putting Western up 7-0. Anding also had a home run in the game which marked her second of the season.
Moe was solid on the mound giving up eight hits and one earned run while striking out three. She kept her composure as she stranded nine Jets on base which included the bases loaded in the Newman third. She improves to 2-0 on the season.
The Jets only run came off the bat of Sarah Fipps in the sixth inning when she knocked one over the fence. Sarah Balderas had two of the Jets eight hits as they fell to 0-1 on the season. Fipps got the loss giving up 12 hits in five innings which included seven earned runs.
Game 2
MWSU 7, Southeastern Oklahoma State 3
The hot bats continued for the Griffons in game two as they pounded out 11 hits with thee different players collecting two hits. Jackie Bishop continued her dominating pitching going all seven giving up just four hits while striking out 13. She improves to 4-0 with the victory.
Western got on the board in the first as Blair Stalder reached on catchers interference. She then scored on a throwing error by Storm third baseman Sam Vrska.
Western opened up the game in the fourth as four straight hits which included a two RBI single by Keri Lorbert put Western up 3-0. Another Storm error allowed the Griffons to score two more in the inning giving them the 5-0 lead.
Bishop continued keeping the Storm off balance and the Griffons were able to push accross to more in the fifth off an RBI double by Kim Robinson and an RBI single by Sorensen.
Bishop did give up two home runs in the bottom of the seventh but it was to little to late for the Storm as they fell to 6-7 on the season.
Stalder, Lorbert and Roemmich had two hits for Western as they left eigth on base.
The Savage Storm had four hits with Katie Campbell getting two hits. Whitney Hamilton had one hit with two RBI. Jacee Bennett falls to 1-2 on the season going three innings giving up seven hits and two earned runs.
Western will take on Texas Permain-Basin and Angelo State tomorrow. Game times are set for 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. The Texas Permian-Basin contest could be played tonight, but is yet to be determined.
— MWSU Sports Information —
It was not the ideal conditions for a season opener or the outcome Northwest Missouri State was looking for as the Bearcat fell 6-5 in extra innings Friday at Central Oklahoma in non-conference baseball action.
The Bearcats dropped to 0-1 while future MIAA foe Central Oklahoma picked up its fifth win of the season to improve to 5-2. Finishing the final innings in wet and drizzling conditions forced tomorrow’s double header to be moved to Sunday as the two teams will only play a single game on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.
Behind starting pitcher Chris Green the Bearcats raced out to an early 2-0 lead plating runs in the first and third innings. Green would silence the Bronchos’ bats early as the senior pitch five solid innings, giving up only three hits while walking none and striking out five.
However, UCO would come back to tie the game, scoring a run in the home half of the seventh and eighth before both teams added a run in the ninth to force extra innings.
In the first extra frame both teams plated two as the Bearcats got a RBI double from pinch hitter Charlie Krueger and a RBI single off the bat of left fielder Jake Kretzer to put Northwest up 5-3.
UCO would push two runs across in its half of the 10th as well when JP Maples belted a homerun in the alley to left, forcing another frame.
Working out of the bullpen Nathan Horton worked a scoreless 11th inning before giving up a walk-off homerun to Kevin Blue with two outs in the bottom of the 12th giving UCO a 6-5 comeback win.
Tyler Durant had a pair of RBIs for the Bearcats and three hits on the day. Eric Swain and Cameron Bedard also had multiple hits for the Bearcats in the loss.
First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m. with a twin bill on Sunday to close out the series starting at 11 a.m. from Simmons Field.
— NWMSU Sports Information —
The Kansas City Royals have announced that the club has agreed to terms on a 2012 Major League contract with left-handed pitcher Tim Collins. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
The 22-year-old Collins made 68 appearances for the Royals in 2011, his rookie campaign. The lefty was 4-4 with a 3.63 ERA, striking out 60 and walking 48 in 67.0 innings. Collins was acquired by the Royals from the Atlanta Braves on July 31, 2010.
The Royals now have 11 unsigned players on the 40-man roster with zero to three years of service time: right-handed pitchers Louis Coleman, Greg Holland, Vin Mazzaro and Luis Mendoza; left-handed pitcher Danny Duffy; catcher Salvador Perez; infielders Alcides Escobar, Johnny Giavotella, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas; and outfielder Lorenzo Cain.
Pitchers and catchers will report to Surprise, Ariz., on Monday, February 20. Workouts for pitchers begin the following afternoon, Tuesday, February 21. The remainder of the squad will report on Friday, February 24 and begin workouts for the 2012 campaign on Saturday afternoon, February 25.
— Royals Media Relations —
It was a tough opening day for the Northwest Missouri State softball team as they dropped a pair at the Southwestern Oklahoma Tournament on Friday with a 2-1 extra inning loss to the host Bulldogs and a 12-5 decision to William Jewell.
The Bearcats slide to 0-2, but will have revenge on their mind as they face Southwestern Oklahoma and William Jewell on Saturday to close out the Southwestern Oklahoma Tournament.
Game One – Box Score
Solid pitching was on display in game of the Southwestern Oklahoma Tournament Friday as the Bulldogs came up with a 2-1 win over Northwest in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Northwest jumped out early on the Bulldogs after an RBI single to right field from Angela Wright put the Bearcats up 1-0 in the top half of the first. However, that would be the only run Northwest would assemble as Katie Raines shut down the Bearcat bats.
Jenna Creger was also impressive in her first outing of the season scattering six hits and only allowing two runs. It was the second run, however, that came with one out in the bottom half of the seventh that propelled the Bulldogs in game one.
Creger also struck out five and only walked two batters on the day, but her second walk proved costly. She would walk the leadoff batter for SWOSU in the seventh after moving to third on a single. The winning run for the Bulldogs would come across the plate on Audra Chambless’ second hit of the day.
Raines also walked two for the Bulldogs as she scattered five hits in a complete game win while striking out one.
Game two – Box Score
After taking an early 3-0 lead, the Bearcat bats fell silent as William Jewell benefited from 11 runs over the final three innings to secure a 12-4 win in game two.
Angela Wright blasted a two-run homer and Haile Hendricks came up with a RBI double to give the Bearcats the early lead in the first inning.
Northwest starter Morgan Brunmeier also got off to a hot start keeping the Cardinal offense at bay through the first four innings only allowing one run.
Trouble would strike in the fifth as a single and an error set-up a Faith Song double for Jewell pulling the Cardinals within one. William Jewell would take the lead just three batters later after a pair of walks, Rach Hayden sent a 2-RBI double in the gap making it a 4-3 Cardinal lead.
The Bearcats would battle back to tie the game in the bottom half of the fourth as Kristen Uthe picked up her only RBI on a sacrifice fly.
However, the Northwest bullpen could not hold the Cardinals as they erupted for four runs in the sixth and seventh to ice game. The Bearcats would stage a late rally in the bottom of the seventh, but only manage one run, falling 12-5.
— NWMSU Sports Information —
Kansas State head football coach Bill Snyder finalized his 2012 staff today with the promotion of Tom Hayes to defensive coordinator, Joe Bob Clements to defensive run game coordinator and the hiring of Mike Cox as linebackers coach.
Hayes, a 30-year coaching veteran with previous coordinator experience at three BCS institutions, was instrumental in the Wildcats’ resurgence on defense in 2011 during his first year on the staff, while Clements has been an integral member of Snyder’s staff for over a decade while working with the Wildcat defensive ends. Cox brings 20 years of college experience with him to Manhattan, most recently serving three years as linebackers coach at the University of Washington.
A University of Iowa graduate with extensive Big 8 and Big 12 coaching ties, Hayes just completed his 23rd year of coaching experience at the collegiate level and participated in his 14th career bowl game when the Wildcats advanced to the 2012 AT&T Cotton Bowl.
“Coach Hayes, in his first year here, had a significant role in the continued improvement of our defense and brings a great deal of experience to the program,” Snyder said. “He and Coach Clements work very well together.”
Tutoring the K-State secondary and serving as the pass game coordinator, Hayes helped Nigel Malone become an instant playmaker at cornerback as the junior was named a Walter Camp All-American after leading the Big 12 with seven interceptions. David Garrett, Tysyn Hartman and Ty Zimmerman all earned All-Big 12 honors in 2011 from their positions in the defensive backfield, while the Wildcat defense overall ranked fifth in the Big 12 in total defense, second in interceptions (18) and second in turnover margin (+12) in 2011.
Prior to joining the Wildcat staff in 2011, Hayes was the defensive backs coach at Tulane (2010) while also serving as the defensive backs coach with the New Orleans Saints in 2006 and 2007.
During his career, Hayes has served as defensive coordinator at BCS institutions Stanford, UCLA, Oklahoma and Kansas and also coached the defensive backs for the Washington Redskins for five years.
At Oklahoma, Hayes was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach. He helped the Sooners to a pair of nine-win seasons and three bowl games, including a win over Virginia in the 1991 Gator Bowl and a victory over Texas Tech in the 1993 Hancock Bowl.
He was the Assistant Head Coach and secondary coach for two seasons at Texas A&M. He helped direct the Aggies to a combined 17-7-1 record and trips to the Hancock Bowl in ’89 (lost to Pittsburgh) and the Holiday Bowl in 1990 (victory over BYU).
Hayes worked for nine years as an assistant coach under Donahue at UCLA (1980-88). He was the secondary coach in 1980-81, then was promoted to co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach from ’82-88. In nine seasons in Westwood, Hayes was part of a Bruin program that won four Pac-10 Championships, played in three Rose Bowls and eight bowl games overall, went 7-1 in bowl competition and finished among the top-5 nationally five times and among the top-20 eight times. The Bruins never won less than seven games during Hayes’ nine-year tenure.
Clements, a Kansas native and K-State graduate, will enter his 11th season overall at Kansas State as an assistant coach and his fourth under Snyder since his return to the sidelines in 2009. Entering his first season as the new run game coordinator, Clements also will continue to tutor the Wildcat defensive ends.
“Coach Clements has been a loyal and highly competent member of our program for many years and is more than deserving of this advancement,” Snyder said. “He has been a great asset to our program for many years.”
Clements tutored All-Big 12 defensive end Meshak Williams last season as the Wildcats made significant strides on defense, particularly in the running game. K-State ranked fifth in total defense and fourth in rush defense in the Big 12 last season.
In 2009, Clements coached All-Big 12 defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald and helped a Wildcat defense improve from 117th nationally in 2008 to No. 39 in total defense. Fitzgerald went on to sign a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs after collecting 40 tackles, 10 for losses, and 7.0 sacks as a senior to lead the Wildcat defensive front.
Clements has been a part of 12 bowl games as both a player and coach at K-State and served a total of 10 seasons on Snyder’s staff, the final six as an assistant coach in charge of the defensive ends. He also served as the Wildcats’ recruiting coordinator in 2004 and 2005.
In his first year mentoring Kansas State’s defensive ends in 2003, Clements’ unit helped the Wildcats lead the nation in sacks in 2003. The unit was also integral in helping K-State finish the year sixth in the nation in total defense, eighth in scoring defense, 12th in pass efficiency defense and 17th in rushing defense.
It marked the second straight season that the Wildcats finished in top 10 nationally in both total and scoring defense, and the seventh consecutive year that K-State ranked in the top six in total defense. While at K-State, Clements coached one of the most prolific defensive ends in school history, Andrew Shull, who ranks among the top 10 in three sack categories in school history and was a second team All-Big 12 selection in 2003.
And Clements’ touch also continued in 2004 and 2005 as Scott Edmonds was named second team All-Big 12 by the Dallas Morning News in 2004 and Alphonso Moran garnered Freshman All-America and All-Big 12 honors in 2005.
Clements began his coaching career at K-State in 1999, spending the first of two seasons as a student assistant before moving up to a graduate assistant role working with the secondary from 2001-02.
A standout player in his own right, Clements came to Kansas State as a walk-on before earning a scholarship prior to the 1996 season. He went on to earn four letters and appear in 41 games during his career, finishing with 107 tackles, including 18 for loss and 7.5 quarterback sacks.
Cox, a 1989 graduate of the University of Idaho, spent the 2009-2011 seasons as Washington’s linebackers coach. Prior to joining the Huskies, Cox worked two seasons (2007-08) for the St. Louis Rams, coaching the secondary and linebackers.
“Mike brings experience and knowledge as well as the appropriate intrinsic values to our program,” Snyder said. “He is a quality person, a caring and competent teacher, a hard worker and works very well within a unified system. Our players will have a great appreciation for him.”
Prior to tutoring Cort Dennison to All-Pac-12 honors in 2011, Cox coached one of the conference’s top linebacker groups in 2010. Senior Mason Foster led the league and finished second in the nation with 163 total tackles, most by a Pac-10 player since the UW’s James Clifford in 1989. Foster earned first team All-Pac-10 and first team All-America. Meanwhile, Victor Aiyewa finished first the conference and seventh in the nation in tackles per loss, while Dennison was seventh in the league in total tackles.
In his first season as the UW linebackers coach in 2009, Cox helped oversee one of the Huskies’ strongest units.
Washington’s 2009 linebackers corps was led by veterans Donald Butler, E.J. Savannah and Foster. Those three combined for 193 tackles, including 94 from Butler, who was a second-team All-Pac-10 selection.
Cox also helped coach a defense that made vast improvements over the previous season as opponents’ total offense was reduced by an average of 62 yards per game and opponents scored 12 fewer points per game than in 2008.
Cox, a native of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, joined the UW staff from the St. Louis Rams, where he worked for two seasons. In 2007, he was a defensive quality control/defensive line coach before moving to assistant secondary coach in 2008. After a mid-season coaching change, he became linebackers coach for the Rams.
Before his time in the NFL, Cox spent four seasons as linebackers coach at Michigan State, where he was also recruiting coordinator in 2006.
Much of Cox’s coaching career has been spent on the various coaching staffs of John L. Smith. In all, Cox served 17 seasons on a Smith staff at Michigan State, Louisville, Utah State and Idaho.
He coached the linebackers for five seasons at Louisville (1998-2002), helping the Cardinals to consecutive Conference USA championships in 2000 and 2001. He coached three All-CUSA selections and, in 2000, was part of a defense that forced an NCAA-best 37 turnovers. The 2002 Louisville team was 17th in the nation in rushing defense and 22nd in total defense.
From 1995-97, he was on the staff at Utah State, where he coached a pair of All-Big West linebackers, David Gill and Tony D’Amato. In 1995, Gill broke Utah State’s season record for tackles with 168. Utah State won back-to-back Big West Conference championships in 1996 and 1997.
As an assistant at Idaho (1987-94) coaching linebackers and defensive line, Cox helped his alma mater to a combined record of 73-26 (.733) from 1987-94, winning four Big Sky Conference championships and finishing in the top 10 five times. In 1994, the Vandals led the Big Sky in rushing defense, allowing only 65.3 yards per game.
Cox earned four letters as a linebacker at Idaho from 1983-86, starting for three seasons. He played for head coaches Dennis Erickson and Keith Gilbertson. He still ranks among the Vandals’ all-time leaders with 252 career tackles.
Cox earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies from Idaho in 1989. He and his wife, Jill, have three children, Zac, Jake and Addison.
K-State, which opens spring practice April 4, 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 Arthur Brown (LB), while 2011 Walter Camp All-Americans Nigel Malone (DB) and Tyler Lockett (KR/WR) also return.
— KSU Sports Information —
The Missouri Western men shot just 35-percent (21-60) from the field falling 79-67 against the Lincoln Blue Tigers in Jefferson City, Mo. Western falls to 7-16 overall and 2-15 in MIAA play.
The Griffons led just once in the first half at 2-0 after TJ Johnson opened the game with a jumper. The Blue Tigers caught fire sinking six first half three pointers on their way to a nine point halftime lead (35-26).
Lincoln opened up a 15 point lead twice in the first frame both off Cedric Ridle long range shots. Western regained their composure going on a 10-0 run cutting the lead to 31-26 after two TJ Johnson’s free throws with 1:24 to play. LU finished the half scoring the final four points.
Western shot just 29.6-percent (8-27) from the field and 22.2-percent (2-9) from long range. Johnson led the charge with 11 points while Lavonte Douglas pitched in nine.
Lincoln shot 45.2-percent (14-31) from the field with Ridle connecting on 7-of-13 shots for 16 points. He also had eight rebounds in the frame.
Lincoln continued shooting the ball well early in the second half opening up a 23 point lead after two Gregory Motley free throws with 12:51 to play. The Blue Tigers scored seven straight points off free throws in the second half which were aided by three MWSU technical fouls.
Despite being down 23 with 6:18 to play in the game the Griffons never gave up going on a 12-2 run cutting the Blue Tiger lead to 13 with 3:26 to play after two Johnson free throws.
Western ran out of gas down the stretch and Lincoln hit its free throws as the Blue Tigers improve to 4-19 overall and 4-13 in MIAA action.
Western was led by Johnson and Douglas with 19 points apiece while the Blue Tigers Ridle collected a double double scoring 24 points and snaring 13 rebounds.
Western will close out the road portion of their MIAA schedule on Saturday, February 18 when they travel to Kirksville, mo. to take on the Truman State Bulldogs. Game time is set for 1:00 pm from Pershing Arena.
— MWSU Sports Information —
It was a total team effort that included two extra periods Wednesday night as the 14th-ranked Bearcats survived Truman State 94-87 on the road in MIAA action from Pershing Arena.
Northwest, who is in search of its first MIAA regular season title since 2007, got one step closer as they improved to 20-3 on the year and 14-3 in league play. The Bulldogs fell to 7-18 overall and 4-13 in the MIAA as they continue to battle for the eighth and final spot in the MIAA tournament.
Each period saw a different Bearcat step-up as they claimed their first 20 season since 2006-07.
Senior Kyle Haake scored early and often in overtime, including draining a big three-pointer and hitting two clutch free throws in the second overtime to seal the win.
DeAngelo Hailey knocked down big shots in the first overtime period while Justin Clark guarded the Bulldogs hottest shooter, Tom Norton. Norton scorched the Bearcats for 34 points going 8-of-12 from behind the three-point line hitting back-to-back 40-footers to force the extra periods.
Junior DeShaun Cooper scored a team high 22 points before fouling out to help send the Bearcats into the first overtime period after trailing almost the entire second half.
Omaha native Jake Reinders shared team high honors with Cooper scoring 22 points and shattering his previous career high grabbing 21 rebounds. Reinders’ 21 boards were just two shy of a Northwest single-game record.
The Bulldogs would take a 29-27 lead into halftime after Northwest fought hard to pull within two points at the break. TSU shot lights out the entire game, but gave the Bearcats all they could handle in the second half shooting blistering 52 percent including six three-pointers.
TSU would go on to make 13 three-pointers in the game, eight of which came from Norton.
However, the top free throw shooting team in the MIAA stepped up to the challenge. Northwest shot 82 percent from the line as a team going 32-of-39 including 16-of-17 in the second half to send the game to overtime and 10-of-12 in the extra period.
The Bearcats out-rebounded the Bulldogs by a 50-30 margin after struggling last week on the boards.
The win also marks Head Coach Ben McCollum’s first win at Truman in his three-years at the helm.
Northwest continues its search of the regular season title as they host Central Missouri on Saturday. The Bearcats and Mules tipoff from Bearcat Arena at 3:30 p.m.
— NWMSU Sports Information —
