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Author: Dave Riggert

Eight Missouri football players named to Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Teams

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football kicks off its 2019 season in just 99 days and the preseason accolades are already rolling in for this year’s talented group that is ranked among the top-25 nationally in several preseason polls. Mizzou picked up more individual preseason honors as eight players from its 2019 squad were named to the Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Teams, announced this week. Mizzou’s eight selections are fifth-most among the league’s 14 schools while its three first-team selections are the third-most, trailing only Alabama (seven) and Georgia (four). Below are Mizzou’s designations on the four teams:

Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC First Team

  • Senior LB Cale Garrett
    • SEC’s top-graded returning LB, 264 career tackles … 2018 team captain … 2018 All-SEC First Team (PFF)
  • Junior TE Albert Okwuegbunam
    • 2018 Mackey Award Finalist … 2017 All-SEC Second Team … 17 career TDs
  • Senior OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms
    • 2018 First Team All-SEC (AP) … played more than 1,000 snaps without allowing a sack or committing a penalty last year

Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Second Team

  • Junior RB Larry Rountree III
    • SEC’s second-leading returning rusher from a season ago … 1,919 career yards are most ever for a Mizzou running back through his first two seasons … 1,216 yards in 2018 were fourth-most in the SEC

Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Third Team

  • Senior CB DeMarkus Acy
    • 2018 Second Team All-SEC (coaches) … three INTs and 13 passes defended as a junior
  • Senior DT Jordan Elliott
    • 2018 All-SEC Second Team (PFF) … SEC Defensive Player of the Week (11/26/18)

Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team

  • Junior C Trystan Colon-Castillo
    • Two-year starter at C … 2017 All-SEC Freshman Team
  • Senior K Tucker McCann
    • Fourth nationally and second in the SEC in FGs made per game as a junior

Mizzou Football, ranked 23rd by Athlon Sports in the preseason, opens its season on Aug. 31 in a true road tilt at Wyoming before returning home the following week for the home opener against West Virginia on Sept. 7.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Savannah defeats Pembroke Hill to advance to Class 4 Final Four

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The Savannah baseball team is headed to the Class 4 semifinals for the first time since 2012 as they defeated Pembroke Hill Thursday 7-3 in the quarterfinals at Raytown South High School.

The Savages improve to 25-1 this season and they play their Final Four game next Thursday at CarShield Field in O’Fallon at 6:30 p.m.

Savannah will play either Westminster Christian Academy or St. Dominic. Those two play their quarterfinal game Friday at 4:15 p.m. at St. Dominic High School.

Helias Catholic has also advanced to the semifinals as they’ll play either Sikeston or St. Francis Borgia at 4:00 p.m. next Thursday.

Griffons’ Williams finishes 16th in the 400 at NCAA Track & Field Championships

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KINGSVILLE, Texas – Missouri Western’s Hanna Williams wrap up her sophomore season Thursday at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championship in Kingsville, Texas. Williams failed to advance to the finals in the 400 meter dash but she did finish 16th in the nation in the 400 meter preliminaries on Thursday.

Williams became the first Missouri Western female track & field qualifier for the NCAA outdoor national championships with the 17th fastest time in Division II this season. Thursday, she ran a 56.62 at Javelina Stadium on the campus of West Texas A&M University. She was sixth in her heat that included Lincoln’s (MO) Renea Ambersley and Christine Moss who were two of the eight qualifiers for Saturday’s finals.

The sophomore from Trimble, Missouri, qualified for her second national championship appearance. This past winter, she became the program’s first-ever automatic qualifier, but was unable to participate in the indoor track & field championships due to an injury suffered at the MIAA Championships.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest’s Klein, Austin earn 2nd team All-America honors

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The Northwest Missouri State men’s track team had two athletes that earned second team All-America honors. Marcus Klein placed 11th in the long jump with a leap of 24-7.5 to make him an All-American. Omar Austin placed 11th in the 400m dash with a time of 47.27 to become a second team All-American as well.

Jordan Hammond qualified for the finals of the 400m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships Thursday. She had the third fastest qualifying time with a time of 59.68s. The finals of the 400m hurdles will take place at 7:20 p.m. on Saturday.

Here is the schedule for other Northwest athletes this weekend at the NCAA Championships.

Fri., May 24
Discus – 1:30 p.m. (Haley Craig)
100m Hurdles 1st Round – 6:40 p.m. (Jordan Hammond)

Sat., May 25
Triple Jump – 4:45 p.m. (Mercedes Isaacson-Cover)
High Jump – 5:30 p.m. (Kevin Schultz)
400m hurdles – 7:20 p.m. (Jordan Hammond
Women’s 4×400 Relay – 8:55 p.m. (Mercedes Isaacson-Cover, Moe Bianchi, Hiba Mahgoub, Jordan Hammond)

— Northwest Athletics —

MSHSAA Track and Field championships moved to Saturday at three sites

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Columbia, Mo. – The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA)’s Class 3, 4 and 5 Track & Field Championships will be held on Saturday now because of damage done from a tornado that hit Jefferson City Wednesday.

Originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday (May 24 & 25) at Dennis Licklider Track Complex in Jefferson City, the championships will now be held at three different sites.

The Class 3 Championships will be held at Audrey J. Walton Track & Field facility on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia. All Para-events will also be held at Walton Track.

The Class 4 Championships will be held at Washington High School in Washington, Mo.

The Class 5 Championships will be held at Battle High School in Columbia, Mo.

Gates will be opened at 8 a.m. as all field events will begin at 9 a.m. The running events will begin at 10 a.m. Admission for the day will be $8 for anyone over the age of 5.

For those traveling to Washington, please note that the bridge crossing over the Missouri River will be closed Saturday morning. An alternate route will be needed.

— MSHSAA Press Release —

Missouri Western’s Castaneda earns another All-Region honor

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ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Baseball pitcher Anthony Castaneda picked up his second all-region honor following his senior season. Castaneda was named second team All-Central Region by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

The first team All-MIAA selection was also tabbed second team D2CCA All-Central Region. He went 6-3 with one save and a 2.34 ERA in his senior season. His 111 strikeouts this season ranked as the second most ever by a Griffon pitcher and were compared to just 18 walks over 88 1/3 innings. Castaneda allowed just 23 earned runs all season and didn’t allow an earned run to score over his final five appearances, a string of 14 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. He posted a 0.99 WHIP and struck out 11.3 per nine innings. He twice tied the Missouri Western single game record with 14 strikeouts and posted back-to-back 12-strikeout games on Feb. 24 and Mar. 1. He also struck out 11 on Apr. 14 against Northwest Missouri.

All-NCBWA Division II Central Region First Team

Player of the Year: Erik Webb, Central Missouri, Junior
Pitcher of the Year: Max Steffens, Augustana, Junior
Coach of the Year: Tim Huber, Augustana

Starting Pitcher
Zach Parrish, Missouri Southern, Junior
Max Steffens, Augustana, Junior
Dominic Austing, St. Cloud State, Senior

Relief Pitcher
Jonathan Sprinkle, Central Missouri, Sophomore

Catcher
Ramon Enriquez, Oklahoma Baptist, Junior

First Base
Reed Hjelle, Minnesota Crookston, Senior

Second Base
Teddy Petersen, Minnesota State, Junior

Third Base
Freddie Landers, Missouri Southern, Senior

Shortstop
Caleeb Sneed, Southwest Baptist, Senior

Utility Player
Jordan Barth, Augustana, Sophomore

Designated Hitter
Kane Koenigseder, Southern Arkansas, Senior

Outfield
Erik Webb, Central Missouri, Junior
Jordan Hart, Minnesota State, Senior
Johnuelle Ponce, Northwest Oklahoma State, Senior

All-NCBWA Central Region Second Team
Starting Pitcher
Dylan Hall, Central Oklahoma, Junior
Anthony Castaneda, Missouri Western, Senior
Matt Lundh, Arkansas Monticello, Junior

Relief Pitcher
Matt Kortendick, Southern Arkansas, Junior

Catcher
Hunter Hisky, Southwest Baptist, Senior

First Base
Connor Quick, Northwest Missouri State, Junior

Second Base
J.T. Mix, Augustana, sophomore

Third Base
Tristan Thomas, Arkansas Tech, Junior

Shortstop
Nick Altermatt, Minnesota State, Freshman

Utility Player
Cam Kline, Minnesota State, Sophomore

Designated Hitter
Andrew Hanson, Wayne State, Sophomore

Outfield
Mason Janvrin, Central Missouri, Junior
Michael Borst, Minot State, Senior
Jake Gozzo, Oklahoma Baptist, Senior

All-NCBWA Central Region Honorable Mention Selections
Catcher
Tom Imholte, Minnesota State, Senior
Will Olson, Augustana, Sophomore

First Base
Mathew Meyer, St. Cloud State, Senior

Second Base
Austin Baker, Southern Arkansas, Junior

Third Base
Kyle Thompson, Wayne State, Senior

Shortstop
Jordan Joseph, St. Cloud State, Senior

Utility Player
Dylan McDearmon, Arkansas Tech, Senior

Designated Hitter
P.J. Harris, Oklahoma Baptist, Senior
Rafael Villela, Southwest Oklahoma State, Junior

Outfield
Riley Johnson, Augustana, Junior
Mitch Mallek, St. Cloud State, Senior
D.J. Miller, Lindewood, Senior

Starting Pitcher
Ryan Obrecht, Wayne State, Freshman
Issac Hale, Arkansas Tech, Senior
Luke Chevalier, Northern State, Senior

Relief Pitcher
Ryder Yakel, Harding, Junior

— MWSU Athletics —

Kansas defeat K-State 15-14 in 11 innings in opening round of the Big 12 Tournament

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Kansas’ James Cosentino delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning Thursday to give the fifth-seeded Jayhawks a 15-14 win over No. 8 K-State in an elimination game at the 2019 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

KU (32-25) scored all four of its runs in the 11th inning with two outs after the Wildcats (25-33) put up three in the top half of the inning. K-State catcher Chris Ceballos knocked a go-ahead single before a two-RBI double byDylan Phillips put the Cats ahead 14-11.

“It was a battle and we fought until the very end,” head coach Pete Hughes said after the game. “They are a good team and that’s just how it goes sometimes. We are a good team and we never gave up. We never cut any corners. We always try our best and sometimes you don’t end up on top, that’s baseball. I am excited for this team. We have a great group of guys and good things will come from the years to come. Guys like this, their fingerprints are all over it.”

Phillips registered a career-high five runs batted in, including a three-run homer, and finished the season tied for the team lead with 10 home runs – a freshman record by a Wildcat. Phillips’ five RBI set a K-State single-game record at the Big 12 Championship.

Ceballos went 3-for-6 with two RBI while Spurlin finished 2-for-5. Cameron Thompson also had a three-hit day, going 3-for-6 with a double.

Six different Wildcats produced multi-hit games, as K-State matched a season high with 15 hits while scoring a season-best 14 runs.

Cosentino’s game-winning single scored Casey Burnham, capping a string of five consecutive two-out hits. Jack Wagner tied the game with a single to left field to score Casey Burnham, as KU scored four runs on six hits off reliever Caleb Littlejim.

Littlejim had held the KU offense, which had put up 11 runs over the first seven innings, scoreless on one hit over his first three innings of work before suffering the loss. Littlejim (5-4) struck out one and walked one.

K-State erased an early five-run deficit after KU jumped out to a 6-1 lead after two frames. The Cats scored 10 runs from the fourth to the sixth inning and took an 11-7 lead after a five-run sixth. Phillips lifted a three-run home run as part of a four-run fourth inning.

The Jayhawks responded with three in the sixth before tying the game with a run in the seventh. Brett Vosik’s two-run double in the sixth cut K-State’s lead to a run at 11-10.

In K-State’s three-run 11th, Littlejim led off with a single and later scored on Ceballos’ single. Ceballos and Terrence Spurlin both scored on Phillips’ one-out double.

Thompson gave the Cats an early 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the first. In the bottom half, nine Jayhawk hitters came to the plate in a five-run frame. Metcalf and Sems each recorded RBI doubles as Kansas tallied four hits to go with two walks off K-State starter Will Brennan.

Senior Mitch Zubradt would pitch the next four innings in relief – a career high – with five strikeouts. Zubradt retired eight of nine over a stretch and finished with three earned runs on six hits.

KU starting pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn went on to put down eight of the next nine he faced after yielding a first-inning run. Thompson sparked a string of four straight hits with a leadoff single in the fourth, capped by Phillips’ three-run opposite field home run, bringing the Cats within a run.

Trailing 7-6 after five innings, K-State tagged Zeferjahn with five runs on four hits in the sixth. Brennan’s two-out, two-run double put the Wildcats ahead for the first time since the top of the first.

Zeferjahn ended with nine runs allowed (eight earned) on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Vosik led KU with four RBI while Skyler Messinger had a game-high four hits (4-for-6). The first seven Jayhawks in the order had multi-hit games.

K-State’s season ends at the Big 12 Baseball Championship for the first time since 2016.

“Our goal every year is to make the NCAA Tournament,” added Hughes. “It always has been and always will be as long as I am wearing this jersey right here. We will continue to work hard and try to fix our mistakes going into next year in order to work towards a championship.”

 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • K-State scored 14 runs on 15 hits with five errors and left six on base.
  • Kansas scored 15 runs on 20 hits and committed three errors with seven stranded baserunners.
  • K-State scored a season-high 14 runs and matched its season-best output with 15 hits.
  • Phillips drove in five, a career high, with a three-run home run.
  • Phillips ended the season with 10 homers, tied for the team lead with Ceballos.
  • Six Wildcats had multi-hit games, including three hits from Ceballos and Thompson.
  • K-State’s 20 base hits and nine doubles allowed were both season highs.
  • The teams used a combined 10 pitchers.
  • The first seven Jayhawks in the order had two or more hits.
  • KU produced six two-out RBI to K-State’s three.
  • K-State went 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position and 2-for-12 with two outs.
  • Kansas finished 12-for-25 with runners in scoring position and 7-for-17 with two outs.

NOTES

  • K-State leads the all-time series with KU 180-174-1.
  • K-State is 5-3 against KU in the postseason.
  • It was the first meeting in the Big 12 Championship between the in-state rivals since 2010.
  • K-State is 2-8 as the No. 8 seed at the Big 12 Championship.
  • The 29 combined runs marked the third-highest scoring game in Big 12 Championship history, and the highest scoring game since 2009.
  • Phillips’ five RBI is a single-game high by a Wildcat at the Big 12 Championship.
  • Thomas Hughes drew five walks in the tournament, a K-State Championship record.
  • The Cats finished 0-4 against the Jayhawks in 2019.
  • K-State’s 54 home runs this season are the most since hitting 58 in 2009.
  • K-State went 0-2 in extra-inning games this season and 4-6 in one-run games.

— K-State Athletics —

Former Tiger Cunningham makes Phoenix Mercury opening night roster

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PHOENIX – Mizzou Women’s Basketball’s Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) made the opening night roster for the Phoenix Mercury, as announced by the team Thursday. Cunningham and the Mercury will open the 2019 WNBA season on Saturday, May 25 at 1:30 p.m. CT when Phoenix faces the 2018 WNBA champion Seattle Storm.

Cunningham became Mizzou’s highest ever selection in the WNBA draft when she was selected by the Mercury with the first pick in the second round on April 10. In two preseason games for the Mercury, Cunningham scored 9.5 points per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three and drained a game-winning three-pointer against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 11.

Cunningham received AP and USWBA All-America Third Team and WBCA All-America Honorable Mention honors after helping guide Mizzou to its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018-19. She earned AP All-America Honorable Mention honors after outstanding sophomore and junior campaigns.

Cunningham was named to her third straight All-SEC First Team by the league’s coaches, becoming the first player in program history to earn All-Conference First Team honors in three consecutive seasons. In addition, she was named to the All-SEC First Team by the Associated Press for the second straight season.

Cunningham closed her Mizzou career as Mizzou’s all-time scoring leader, finishing her historic career with 2,187 points. Among program records, Cunningham also ranks first in free throws made (537), second in three-pointers made (238), third in three-point percentage (40.3), third in free throw percentage (83.9), fourth in points per game (17.0) and fourth in assists (390).

In her senior campaign, Cunningham was the only player in the nation to average 17.0 ppg, make 80 three-pointers, make 150 free throws and record 200 rebounds. In conference play, Cunningham led the SEC in three-point shooting (46.5 percent) and threes per game (2.9). She reached 20 points in 16 games this season, including 10 times against SEC opponents, and 30 points four times.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Bearcat tennis loses to No. 2 Indianapolis in NCAA Quarterfinals

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ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Florida – The Northwest Missouri State University women’s tennis team fell to the University of Indianapolis (24-0 overall) in the national quarterfinals of the 2019 NCAA Division II Tournament, 4-0.

Northwest completes its 2018-19 season with a mark of 20-7 overall. It is the eighth 20-win season in program history and the first 20-win campaign for the Bearcats since the 2007-08 season. It is the third time that Northwest has reached the national quarterfinals in program history (1997, 2003, 2019).

No. 2-seeded UIndy grabbed an early 1-0 lead in doubles. UIndy topped Northwest at No. 1 doubles and at No. 3 doubles.

UIndy’s No. 1 doubles team of Nikol Alexeeva and Anya Novikova came into the match ranked No. 6 in the national ITA rankings. Alexeeva and Novikova tallied a 6-1 win over Northwest’s Tania Teruel and Marta Ferrando. Teruel and Ferrando were ranked No. 15 by the ITA.

UIndy’s duo of Maja Pindelska and Anna Valiaeva scored a 6-3 triumph over Northwest’s Julie Rinderknech and Tess Lovig at No. 3 doubles.

The Greyhounds scored singles wins at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 to clinch the dual victory and advance to the national semifinals.

At No. 1 singles, UIndy’s Volikova posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Northwest’s Irene Recuenco.

At No. 2 singles, the Greyhounds’s Alexeeva scored a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Northwest’s Tania Teruel.

At No. 5 singles, UIndy’s Alina Kislitskaya notched a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Northwest’s Rinderknech.

Northwest had captured a set in the other three singles matches but all three were called when Kislitskaya clinched the dual win at No. 5 singles. Ferrando took the first set and led 5-4 in the third at No. 3 singles. Julia Aliseda bounced back to take the second set and led 4-1 in the final set. Sara Grozdanovic took the first set in her match at No. 6 singles.

NOTES: Northwest’s 20 wins ties for the fourth-most in a single-season in program history … it’s the most dual victories in a season since the Bearcats posted 23 wins in 2008 … senior Julie Rinderknech’s 25 singles wins rank tied for the fourth-most in a single season … junior Marta Ferrando’s 23 singles wins is tied for No. 7 on Northwest’s single-season victory chart … sophomore Irene Recuenco tallied 22 singles wins (T-10th single season) and 22 doubles wins (T-8th single season) … the 4-0 shutout was the 17th on the year for the Hounds, and their 12th in a row … the Greyhounds have not allowed an opponent a point in more than two months – since March 15.

— Northwest Athletics —

Cardinals hit four HRs as they split doubleheader with Royals

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ST. LOUIS — Marcell Ozuna and Matt Carpenter went deep as part of a four-homer barrage and the St. Louis Cardinals split a doubleheader with the Kansas City Royals by winning the second game 10-3 on Wednesday night.

Brad Keller threw seven-plus innings of two-hit baseball to snap a six-start winless streak and Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer as the Royals beat the Cardinals 8-2 in the first game.

Severe storms around St. Louis forced Tuesday night’s game to be postponed and created the day-night twinbill.

Dexter Fowler and Kolten Wong also homered as St. Louis had as many home runs in the second game as it did hits in the opener.

Adam Wainwright (4-4) battled through control issues with 55 of his 103 pitches going for strikes. In five innings, he allowed three runs, six hits, walked four and struck out two.

John Gant, Andrew Miller, Carlos Martinez and John Brebbia combined for four scoreless innings of relief.

Ozuna capped a 12-pitch at-bat by blasting a three-run homer off Homer Bailey over the right field wall to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead in the first. Carpenter set the tone against Bailey, who threw 42 pitches in the inning, with a nine-pitch walk.

Ozuna also doubled, walked and scored twice. He drove in the Cardinals’ only runs in the first game, giving him five RBI on the day.

Carpenter’s two-run homer in the second inning landed in the right field bullpen. Fowler added a solo homer in the sixth as part of a three-hit night. Wong’s three-run homer capped a four-run seventh.

Bailey (4-5) threw 66 pitches, but lasted just 1 2/3 innings and gave up five runs. The right-hander has allowed 10 earned runs in his last two starts (six innings) and he hasn’t beaten St. Louis since 2014 (eight starts).

Hunter Dozier’s 10th home run of the year off of Wainwright in the fifth inning travelled 420 feet. Adalberto Mondesi had a pair of hits, scored and drove in a run.

ROSTER MOVES

Royals: RHP Kevin McCarthy was recalled from Triple-A Omaha after RHP Heath Fillmyer was optioned on Sunday.

Cardinals: RHP Luke Gregerson cleared waivers and was given his unconditional release, making him a free agent.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Jakob Junis (3-5, 5.69 ERA) kicks off a three-game series against the New York Yankees, who have not named a starter, on Friday night. Junis has lost his last three starts.

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (4-4, 4.88 ERA) will look to bounce back in the opener of a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves and RHP Mike Foltynewicz (0-3, 6.91 ERA). Miles gave up seven runs in a caree- low 1 1/3 innings in his last start at Texas last Friday.

— Associated Press —

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