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Author: Dave Riggert

Several Griffons earn personal bests at Rim Rock Farm Classic

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LARWENCE, Kan. – Missouri Western Men’s and Women’s Cross Country competed at the Rim Rock Farm Classic on Saturday. The women finished eighth in the team standings in the 6k run while the men finished tenth in the 8k. The meet featured 16 teams from various NCAA division ranks.

The Griffon women’s team earned an average time of 24:08.16. In a field of 149 runners, three Griffons finished in the top-50. Megan Gillen was again the top-finisher for the Griffons with a time of 23:22.8, good for 32nd place. Not far behind Gillen was Allison Goos who placed 38th with a time of 23:34.2. Kelsey Cox was the next Griffon at 24:04.3.

The men’s team finished tenth with an average time of 26:35.74 in the 8k race. Riley Gorham was the leading Griffon for the first time this season. Gorham placed 36th out of the 189 runners with a team-best 26:06.3 time. Brandon Colner was again one of the top performers for the men’s team as he ran a 26:24.6. Christian Arbuthnot rounded out the top-three performers for the Griffons on Saturday.

Missouri Western Cross Country will be back in action on October 6 as both teams travel to Emporia State for the ESU Invitational.

— MWSU Athletics —

Area High School Football Scores – Friday, September 28

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CITY
Lee’s Summit 15 (4-2, 3-1 Suburban Red)
@ Central 6 (1-5, 1-4 Suburban Red)

Chillicothe 6 (1-5, 1-3 MEC)
@ Lafayette 56 (5-1, 3-1 MEC)

Benton 8 (1-5, 1-3 MEC)
@ Maryville 58 (5-1, 4-0 MEC)

St. Piux X 51 (4-2, 3-1 MEC)
@ Bishop LeBlond 26 (0-6, 0-4 MEC)

Worth County (5-0, 3-0 GRC)
@ St. Joseph Christian (0-4, 0-4 GRC)

AREA
MEC
Cameron 20 (2-4, 0-4 MEC)
@ Savannah 77 (4-2, 4-0 MEC)

KCI
Mid-Buchanan 28 OT (3-3, 1-3 KCI)
@ East Buchanan 34 (6-0, 4-0 KCI)

Lawson 7 (5-1, 3-1 KCI)
@ Lathrop 21 (6-0, 4-0 KCI)

North Platte 18 (2-4, 2-2 KCI)
@ West Platte 14 (1-5, 0-4 KCI)

Hamilton 42 (4-2, 2-2 KCI)
@ Plattsburg 6 (1-5, 0-4 KCI)

GRC
Polo 18 (0-6, 0-4 GRC)
@ Maysville 24 (1-5, 1-3 GRC)

South Harrison 22 (4-2, 3-1 GRC)
@ Gallatin 23 (5-1, 4-0 GRC)

Milan 43 (6-0, 4-0 GRC)
@ Trenton 22 (1-5, 1-3 GRC)

Putnam County 15 (1-5, 0-4 GRC)
@ Princeton 42 (4-2, 3-1 GRC)

8-MAN
GRC
Stanberry 44 (6-0, 6-0 GRC)
@ North Andrew 36 (3-3, 1-3 GRC)

Albany 66 (3-3, 2-2 GRC)
@ Braymer 18 (0-6, 0-4 GRC)

Norborne / Hardin-Central 8 (3-3)
@ Pattonsburg 66 (5-1, 4-1 GRC)

King City 66 (3-3, 1-3 GRC)
@ Rock Port 20 (4-2, 4-1 275)

275
East Atchison 12 (4-2, 4-2 275)
@ Mound City 62 (6-0, 5-0 275)

Stewartsville 8 (1-5, 1-4 275)
@ South Holt / Nodaway Holt 58 (3-3, 3-2 275)

DeKalb 42 (2-4, 1-4 275)
@ North-West Nodaway 40 (0-6, 0-6 275)

Platte Valley 6 (1-5, 1-4 275)
@ Southwest Livingston 52 (5-1, 5-1 275)

MWSU volleyball falls in three sets to No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney

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ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western (9-9, 2-4 MIAA) fell in three sets (25-21, 25-20, 28-26) to the No. 4-ranked Nebraska Kearney Lopers (18-1, 5-1 MIAA) on Friday night in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

NOTABLES

  • The No. 4-ranked Lopers entered Friday’s night game as the highest-ranked opponent the Griffons have faced this season.
  • Friday’s loss was only the third time the Griffons have been swept this season, with one of the other sweeps coming against another ranked team in No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State.
  • The Griffons nearly won the third set and were leading 22-17 after an Ali Tauchen solo block.
  • Last year, the Griffons were swept in their first match against Nebraska Kearney before winning the rematch at the end of the season against the then fifth-ranked Lopers.
  • Missouri Western will have another chance to take down Nebraska Kearney on November 2.

STATS AND LEADERS

  • The Griffons totaled nine blocks as a team, with five of those coming in the third set.
  • Rachel Losch was the most efficient player on the court tonight, hitting .571 on her nine kills.
  • Liv Winker led all players with 34 assists.
  • The Griffons struggled to hit consistently on offense. Their best-hitting set came in the first at .209.

UP NEXT

  • Missouri Western will face off against Fort Hays tomorrow on Saturday September 29 at 2:00 p.m.
  • The Tigers have lost eight straight matches and have been swept in seven of those eight losses.
  • Saturday’s match will be the second match of five straight at home for the Griffons.

    — MWSU Athletics —

Bearcat volleyball sweeps Fort Hays State for ninth straight win

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MARYVILLE, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State volleyball team ran its win streak to nine in a row with a decisive 3-0 victory over Fort Hays State Friday in Bearcat Arena. Northwest won by set scores of 25-18, 25-11, 25-17.

Northwest (14-3 overall, 6-0 MIAA) hit .375 and posted an 80.9 sideout percentage in the sweep. Fort Hays State (6-12 overall, 0-6 MIAA) hit .141 for the match.

Senior Maddy Bruder and sophomore Hallie Sidney provided the offensive punch against the Tigers. Bruder had a match-high 15 kills (.438), while Sidney added 14 kills (.467). Sophomore Maddy Ahrens tallied 42 assists. Senior Olivia Nowakoski paced the defense with 13 digs.

Northwest jumped out to an 11-5 advantage in the opening set and never looked back in a 25-18 win. The Bearcats hit .318 in the opening set with 17 kills to go against three attack errors. Senior Sofia Schleppenbach went for five kills in five attempts in the first set.

The Bearcats rolled to a 25-11 triumph in the second set. The Bearcats opened up a 17-5 lead. Northwest pounded out a .522 hitting percentage with 14 kills and two errors, while holding Fort Hays State to .000 attack percentage with seven kills and seven errors. Bruder went 6-for-7 in kills in the second.

Northwest closed out its 13th sweep of the season with a 25-17 triumph in the third set. Fort Hays State trailed 14-13 before Northwest compiled a 6-1 run to open up a 20-14 lead. The Bearcats rode Sidney in the final set with a six kills.

Northwest will return to its home floor Saturday at 6:30 p.m. against Nebraska-Kearney. Admission is free.

NOTES: Northwest’s nine-game win streak is tied for the fourth-longest in school history … Northwest had a pair of nine-game win streaks in 1984 and 1994 … Northwest is 6-0 in MIAA for the first time in school history … Nowakowski moved into third place in school history in career digs … Nowakowski has posted 1,497 digs and trails only Page Spangenberg (2007-2010) with 2,489 digs and Jill Quast (1997-2000) with 1,924 digs) … Nowakowski moved past Jennifer Pittrich (1993-1996), who posted 1,488 digs, and Tori Beckman (2010-2012), who tallied 1,488 digs.

— Northwest Athletics —

Western soccer rallies for dramatic OT win over Emporia State

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ST. JOSEPH – The fans at Spratt Stadium earned every penny of their ticket on Friday night, as the Griffons outlasted the Hornets in a back-and-forth game that saw three ties and four lead changes. Griffon Soccer (6-3) defeated Emporia State (6-2-1) in overtime on Friday night by a score of 4-3 to pick up their first MIAA conference win. The Griffons were down 3-2 with under a minute left when Claire Meyers kept the team’s hopes alive with her game-tying goal to take the game into overtime. In overtime, it was Menke who sent the Hornets home after converting on the penalty kick.

NOTABLES

  • Claire Meyers’ goal to send the game into overtime came with just 14 seconds left in the game. Her third goal of the season now ties her for the second-most on the team.
  • Claire Meyers also drew the caution in the box in overtime that set up the game-winning goal for the Griffons.
  • Cassidy Menke drilled the game-winning penalty kick goal in the right corner to give Missouri Western its first MIAA conference win of the season.
  • The Griffons’ last overtime game came on October 8 of last season, a 1-0 double-overtime loss to Fort Hays.
  • Missouri Western’s last overtime win came on October 7, 2016 in a 2-1 win at Nebraska Kearney.
  • Friday night’s game against the Hornets marked the first time the Griffons scored four goals in an MIAA game since scoring five against Missouri Southern on September 29 of last season.

STATS AND LEADERS

  • Cassidy Menke’s two-score performance on Friday night elevates her team-leading goal total to five and puts her tied for fourth in the MIAA.
  • Lillian Davis led all Griffons with three shots on goal, with one of those earning Davis her second goal of the season.
  • Anna Mayer’s win move her up to 6-2 on the season.
  • Friday’s four-goal game puts Missouri Western into the top-five in MIAA scoring average.

UP NEXT

  • Missouri Western will host Washburn on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at Spratt Memorial Stadium.
  • The Ichabods come to St. Joseph with a 5-4 overall record after defeating Northwest Missouri on Friday night to pick up its first conference win.

    — MWSU Athletics —

Royals give up 10-run seventh inning in loss to Cleveland

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KANSAS CITY (AP) — Josh Donaldson hit a grand slam and double during a 10-run seventh inning, powering the Cleveland Indians past the Kansas City Royals 14-6 Friday night.

The AL Central champion Indians improved to 90-70, marking the third time in team history they’ve won at least 90 in three straight years.

Jason Kipnis’ homer in the Cleveland third was the game’s only run in the first six innings.

But the Indians then broke loose for their first 10-run inning since doing it on Sept. 30, 2012, against the Royals in Cleveland.

Cleveland began the nine-hit inning with a double before singles by Yonder Alonso and Melky Cabrera chased Royals started Ian Kennedy (3-9).

Kipnis and Roberto Perez greeted reliever Tim Hill with singles. Francisco Lindor followed with a chopper to first baseman Ryan O’Hearn against a drawn-in Royals infield, and his wild throw home let two more runs score.

One out later, reliever Jake Newberry walked Jose Ramirez and gave up an RBI single to Edwin Encarnacion. Donaldson, acquired Aug. 31 in a trade with Toronto, launched his fifth career grand slam and second this season. He also had one in April for the Blue Jays.

Adam Rosales, who pinch-ran for Alonso earlier in the inning, doubled and later scored on a double by Greg Allen, who pinch-ran for Kipnis.

The 10 runs were the most the Royals had allowed in an inning this season.

It was a welcome outburst for the Indians, who had only scored two runs in the first 16 innings of the series.

Mike Clevinger (13-8) was the beneficiary of the bonanza. He allowed three hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Brian Goodwin hit a grand slam in the Royals ninth off Adam Plutko. It was the second career grand slam for Goodwin, acquired in a July trade with Washington. He also had one March 31 for the Nationals.

Whit Merrifield extended his hitting streak to 18 games for the Royals. It’s the longest active streak in the majors and one shy of his career best.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: Manager Terry Francona essentially ruled out INF Erik Gonzalez for the remainder of the weekend. He said Gonzalez, who was hit in the head by a pitch Wednesday at the Chicago White Sox, remains in concussion protocol. The team hopes Ramirez will be available for an intrasquad game Tuesday in preparation for the AL Division Series, which starts Friday in Houston.

NEXT UP

Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber (20-7, 2.83 ERA) will make his final appearance before the ALDS. RHP Jakob Junis (8-12, 4.42) is scheduled to start for the Royals.

— Associated Press —

Northwest soccer gets blanked by Washburn

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The Washburn Ichabods defeated the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats at Bearcat Pitch, 2-0.

The Bearcats were able to create some scoring opportunities with 10 shots on target but Whitney Bockover was there for Washburn to save them.

The Ichabods’s goals were both scored by Olivia Grasso one in the first half assisted by Ellie Karloff and the other in the second half which was assisted by Mackenzie Hieman.

The Bearcats will play at home again on Sunday against the Emporia State Hornets starting at 1 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Cardinals drop opener at Chicago 8-4

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CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs are closing in on the NL Central championship and have their sights set on another deep playoff run.

It sure would help if Kyle Hendricks keeps pitching like this. They’ll take a few more big home runs from Kris Bryant, too.

Hendricks went eight innings in another strong start, Bryant connected and the Cubs moved closer to the division title while dealing another hit to St. Louis’ playoff hopes, beating the Cardinals 8-4 on Friday.

“This is what you look for,” Hendricks said. “These are the games you want to play in, games that have meaning like this. That’s why we play the game. Hopefully, we’ve got a lot of these left.”

The Cubs came into the final weekend of the regular season with a franchise-record fourth straight trip to the postseason assured and their third division title in a row in sight. They began the day with a one-game lead over Milwaukee, with the Brewers playing Detroit on Friday night.

St. Louis matched a season high with its fourth straight loss after being swept by Milwaukee. The Cardinals came in trailing Los Angeles by a game for the second wild card, with the Dodgers visiting San Francisco.

“Clearly the back is completely against the wall,” manager Mike Shildt said.

Hendricks (14-11) gave up two runs and seven hits . The right-hander is 5-1 with a 1.52 ERA in his past seven outings and has thrown a career-high 199 innings.

“He’s pitched with his best stuff since I’ve known him,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “There’s not many strikeouts, not a lot of swing-and-misses. But the velocity on the fastball, he’s back to the weaker contact in general. He looks strong. … I just see a stronger version of Kyle.”

Bryant made it 3-0 with a long solo drive to center against Adam Wainwright in the fourth.

That gave the 2016 NL MVP just two homers in 27 games and 13 total in a season marked by injuries. Bryant missed the previous two games because of a bruised left wrist after getting hit by a pitch and was on the disabled list two times this year because of left shoulder inflammation.

Daniel Murphy had two hits, two runs and an RBI. He singled and scored in a two-run first, doubled and came around in the fifth, and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Anthony Rizzo had an RBI single and sacrifice fly.

Albert Almora drove in two with a single against Dominic Leone to cap a three-run eighth, making it 8-2, and the Cubs won their third in a row after losing four of six.

“We’ve been here before,” Bryant said, referring to three straight appearances in the NLCS and a World Series championship in 2016 that ended a drought dating to 1908. “We’ve been under pressure situations. I think we know how to handle it.”

Wainwright (2-4) is now 11-3 lifetime at Wrigley Field. He lasted five innings, allowing four runs and five hits, in what could be his final start for the Cardinals. Though he didn’t sound like a player ready to walk away, the three-time All-Star has an expiring contract and was on the disabled list three times this season because of hamstring and elbow injuries.

“If you had asked me that question about two months ago, I would have already checked out on you,” Wainwright said. “But the way I’m feeling right now, if that is my last start, it would be kind of hard to walk away knowing the way I’m feeling right now.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said he wasn’t sure if reliever Pedro Strop (strained left hamstring) will pitch this weekend. The right-hander still feels some discomfort on the landing throwing off the mound. Strop has been sidelined since Sept. 13, when he was hurt running to first on a double-play grounder at Washington. … The Cubs activated C Bobby Wilson, who was acquired Aug. 30 from Minnesota on Friday. The Twins placed him on the 10-day disabled list Aug. 24 because of a sprained right ankle.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (17-4, 2.94 ERA) looks to win his fifth straight start, after holding San Francisco to two runs and two hits in seven innings on Sunday.

Cubs: LHP Cole Hamels (4-2, 2.47) tries to shake off back-to-back losses after going 4-0 in his first nine starts for Chicago following a trade from Texas. He homered against Pittsburgh on Monday but got outpitched by Jameson Taillon.

— Associated Press —

LeBlond golf coach Pat Clark named NFHS Coach of the Year

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St. Joseph, Mo. – MSHSAA staff has selected Pat Clark as the NFHS Coach of the Year for the sport of Boys Golf from the 2017-2018 school year.

“Coach Clark has been a tremendous representative of not only our golf program, but Bishop LeBlond High School overall. His commitment and passion in teaching and coaching our student-athletes creates an environment of excellence that kids want to succeed in. He has been blessed to have some outstanding golfers come through Bishop LeBlond and has been by their side the entire way helping them achieve their goals both in the classroom and on the course.” Michael Evans, Bishop LeBlond High School Athletic Director

Only one Coach (in each sports category) in the State of Missouri is presented this award. A number of criteria is considered in the selection of the NFHS Coach of the Year which includes but is not limited to: Belief in Educational Interscholastic Competition and Student Opportunities, Display of good character and integrity, Display of sportsmanship and being a good role model, Understanding of life lessons and experiences precede winning, Support of and desire to follow MSHSAA bylaws, board policies and NFHS Playing Rules, Display of courtesy and appreciation to the state association and other member schools, and Evidence of Success and administering a successful program

“Coach Clark has been a foundation of golf, not just at Bishop LeBlond, but in the St. Joseph and Northwest Missouri areas for over 35 years. He is a priceless asset to our school not only for what he does with the student athletes on the golf course, but also for his passion and talents for the arts that he bring to all the students in his classes. This is a well-deserved honor for Coach Clark” Jeff Sullivan, Bishop LeBlond High School Principal.

Pat Clark is entering his 37th year as the Boy’s Golf Coach and Art Teacher at Bishop LeBlond High School. Clark also coaches the Girl’s Golf Team.

— Bishop LeBlond Press Release —

Perez’s single in 10th gives Royals 2-1 win over Indians

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez slashed a two-out RBI single in the 10th inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.

Neil Ramirez (0-3) retired the first two hitters in the 10th before he walked Aldaberto Mondesi, who stole second and third to reach 30 steals on the season. Alex Gordon also walked before Perez hit Ramirez’s first pitch into left field to score Mondesi for the walk-off win.

Mondesi also homered for the Royals (57-102), who are no longer in danger of matching the franchise record of 106 losses, set in 2005.

Jason Hammel (4-14) worked a scoreless 10th, following three Kansas City relievers who pitched four scoreless innings.

The AL Central champion Indians (89-70) got their only run in the first. Francisco Lindor led off with a single, took second on a botched pickup attempt and went to third on a balk by Royals starter Glenn Sparkman. Lindor scored on Jose Ramirez’s one-out sacrifice fly.

Sparkman worked a career-high five innings, allowing five hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

Josh Tomlin went 4 2/3 innings for the Indians, allowing Mondesi’s homer in the third.

The Indians had runners at second and third with two out in the eighth when Yandy Diaz chopped a slow roller between third baseman Hunter Dozier and shortstop Mondesi, who made a quick scoop and an off-balance throw to get Diaz.

HITS LEADER

The Royals’ Whit Merrifield had two hits and moved into the major league lead with 188, one ahead of Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman. Merrifield has 53 multi-hit games on the season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: The Royals are healthy except for four players on the long-term disabled list — 3B Cheslor Cuthbert (strained lower back), OF Jorge Soler (fractured toe), RHP Jesse Hahn (elbow surgery) and RHP Nate Karns (elbow inflammation). LHP Danny Duffy (shoulder inflammation) also has been shut down for the season.

Indians: INF Erik Gonzalez entered the concussion protocol after getting hit in the head by a pitch against the White Sox on Wednesday. Manager Terry Francona said Gonzalez experienced some nausea after getting beaned, but “is doing much, much better.” Gonzalez traveled with the team but there is no timetable for his return. … 1B Yonder Alonso got the day off. … Francona said OF Michael Brantley, who left Tuesday’s game after fouling a pitch off his right calf and then returned to the lineup Wednesday, sat for his regular day off and has no lingering effects.

UP NEXT

Indians RHP Mike Clevinger (12-8, 3.07 ERA) will make his final start of the regular season opposite Royals RHP Ian Kennedy (3-8, 4.59) as Francona gets his rotation set for the playoffs.

— Associated Press —

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