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Author: Dave Riggert

Area High School Football Schedule – Friday, August 31

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CITY
Lee’s Summit North (1-0, 0-0 Suburban Red)
@ Central (0-1, 0-0 Suburban Red)

Center (0-0)
@ Lafayette (1-0, 0-0 MEC)

Benton (0-1, 0-0 MEC)
@ Excelsior Springs (1-0)

East Buchanan (1-0, 0-0 KCI)
@ Bishop LeBlond (0-1, 0-0 MEC)

North Andrew (0-1, 0-1 GRC)
@ St. Joseph Christian (0-1, 0-1 GRC)

AREA
Savannah (0-1, 0-0 MEC)
@ Pleasant Hill (1-0)

Harrisonville (0-1)
@ Maryville (0-1, 0-0 MEC)

Chillicothe (0-1, 0-0 MEC)
@ Kirksville (0-1)

Cameron (1-0, 0-0 MEC)
@ Kansas City East (0-1)

St. Piux X (0-1, 0-0 MEC)
@ St. Michael the Archangel (0-1)

Maysville (0-1, 0-0 GRC)
@ Mid-Buchanan (1-0, 0-0 KCI)

Hamilton (1-0, 0-0 KCI)
@ Gallatin (1-0, 0-0 GRC)

Princeton (0-1, 0-0 GRC)
@ North Platte (0-1, 0-0 KCI)

West Platte (1-0, 0-0 KCI)
@ South Harrison (0-1, 0-0 GRC)

Lathrop (1-0, 0-0 KCI)
@ Hogan Prep (1-0)

Lawson (1-0, 0-0 KCI)
@ Lafayette County (1-0)

Sumner Academy (0-0)
@ Plattsburg (0-1, 0-0 KCI)

Lexington (1-0)
@ Trenton (0-1, 0-0 GRC)

Mark Twain (1-0)
@ Milan (1-0, 0-0 GRC)

Polo (0-1, 0-0 GRC)
@ Slate (1-0)

8-MAN
Stanberry (1-0, 1-0 GRC)
@ Albany (1-0, 0-0 GRC)

Northwest Hughesville (0-1)
@ King City (1-0, 1-0 GRC)

Worth County (1-0, 0-0 GRC)
@ Bedford (IA)

Pattonsburg (1-0, 1-0 GRC)
@ Braymer (0-1, 0-1 GRC)

South Holt / Nodaway Holt (0-1, 0-0 275)
@ Southwest Livingston (1-0, 1-0 275)

Stewartsville (1-0, 1-0 275)
@ Mound City (1-0, 1-0 275)

Chillhowee (0-1)
@ DeKalb (0-1, 0-1 275)

Rock Port (1-0, 1-0 275)
@ Platte Valley (0-1, 0-1 275)

East Atchison (0-1, 0-1 275)
@ North-West Nodaway (0-1, 0-1 275)

Chiefs’ backups rally for 33-21 preseason win over Packers

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The biggest stars to play for the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night won’t be around for the season opener, and it won’t be because they’re backups about to get cut.

Demetrius Harris caught an early touchdown pass for Kansas City, and Aaron Jones ran for 34 yards and a score for Green Bay, then the Chiefs rallied in a game of backups and also-rans for a 33-21 victory in the preseason finale for both teams.

Harris, expected to back up Travis Kelce at tight end, is suspended for the season opener for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. And Jones, the Packers’ backup running back, is out the first two games for violating the same policy during the offseason.

They were two of a handful of recognizable names to even take the field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy and Chiefs counterpart Andy Reid had seen enough from their starters in training camp and the preseason, so they turned the game over to a plethora of backups trying to make the team — or, at least latch onto the practice squad when rosters are trimmed this weekend.

“It was great to see these young guys in there, give them an opportunity to play,” Reid said. “They made (general manager) Brett Veach’s job hard these next couple of days.”

Rookie safety Armani Watts intercepted two passes , and Makinton Dorleant returned another pick for a touchdown, as the Chiefs’ defense finally made some plays. Chad Henne, Matt McGloin and Chase Litton were all solid under center for Kansas City as Patrick Mahomes watched from the sideline, and undrafted free agent Byron Pringle had four catches for 122 yards before leaving with a hamstring injury.

Their only real starter to play, Harrison Butker, was perfect on four field-goal attempts.

“We’ve got a lot of depth, especially at wide receiver, tight end and running back. Those guys are starters on other teams,” Henne said, “and they showed it out there today.”

DeShone Kizer started for Green Bay and was 5 of 7 for 57 yards with a touchdown and a pick. The 2017 second-round draft choice of the Browns, Kizer is expected to back up Aaron Rodgers after the trade of erstwhile backup Brett Hundley to the Seahawks earlier this week.

“The quarterback focus was to get DeShone two series. Obviously he had the high throw on the first series,” McCarthy said. “We definitely accomplished that and it’ll be a good tape to evaluate.”

The Packers actually jumped to a 21-10 lead, but the Chiefs began to force turnovers against third-string quarterback Tim Boyle. McGloin and Litton were able to lead scoring drives, and Dorleant’s pick-6 early in the fourth quarter put an exclamation mark on their comeback victory.

“It’s a huge confidence boost,” Watts said, “having a bunch of young guys making plays out there, our first year, getting out there and showing what we can do and contribute to this team.”

TRADE NEWS

The Chiefs agreed to trade OL Parker Ehinger to Dallas for CB Charvarius Ward, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not expected to become official until Friday, a day before roster cuts.

HOME COOKING

McCarthy allowed most of his starters to remain in Green Bay rather than travel for a game in which they wouldn’t play. That included Rodgers, who a day earlier signed a four-year, $134 million extension that could keep him with the team through the 2023 season.

INJURIES

Among the Packers headed into the season with injury questions are LBs Oren Burks and WR Jake Kumerow, both of whom have shoulder injuries, and RB Devante Mays, who did not play against the Chiefs with a hamstring injury. Kansas City was without SS Eric Berry, who has missed most of camp with a heel injury and whose status for the opener remains unclear.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

No demonstrations were evident during the national anthem.

UP NEXT

Chiefs: visit AFC West-rival Chargers on Sept. 9.

Packers: renew NFL’s oldest rivalry by hosting Chicago.

— Associated Press —

Gant homers, pitches Cardinals to a 5-0 win over Pirates

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cardinals pitcher John Gant got a new label from teammate Jose Martinez — power hitter.

Harrison Bader and Gant hit back-to-back home runs, Gant pitched into the sixth inning and St. Louis beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-0 on Thursday night.

“You hit one, you’re lucky,” Martinez said of Gant’s second blast of the season. “You hit a second one, you’re a power hitter.”

The Cardinals have won 17 of 21 and took their tenth consecutive series, their longest series winning streak since 2009, when they also won ten in a row.

“It’s an important thing,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “We want to get better as the game goes and we want to get better as the series goes. And if you take care of the series, the rest of it just falls into place.”

Gant (6-5) pitched out of a bases-loaded situation in the first and a two-on, no-out jam in the third to win for the third time in his last four tries. He struck out six in 5 2/3 innings and has allowed one earned run in his last 12 2/3 innings.

“It was a great team win, a great series win,” Gant said. “Another series win, and we’re going to try to keep on chugging.”

Pirates starter Joe Musgrove (5-8) opened the game with 21 consecutive strikes, a first in the majors since pitch tracking began in 1988, according to Stats. That control didn’t do him much good, though. He gave up five runs in six innings.

“I came out sharp but I didn’t keep my foot on the gas,” Musgrove said. “I didn’t keep going. That’s got to be done against a good lineup like that.”

Musgrove’s strike streak ended with a first-pitch ball to Bader in the third, and two pitches later, Bader went deep to left. Gant then homered on a 2-1 pitch, giving St. Louis consecutive home runs for the seventh time this season.

“I’m just trying to make contact and contact was made tonight,” Gant said.

Gant tied Miles Mikolas for most home runs among St. Louis pitchers this season. After starting his career 0 for 30, Gant has homered twice in his last six at-bats. He is the third pitcher in the expansion era to have his first two career hits as home runs.

Shildt said Gant put in a gutty performance.

“He was making pitches,” Shildt said. “He missed a few spots and the guys made some plays, but John’s a really good competitor, he’s a mentally tough guy, so he was really just able to compete with what he had and used all his pitches.”

Martinez singled and scored in the fourth and drove in two more with a single in the fifth to give the Cardinals a 5-0 lead. Martinez has hit safely in 20 of 25 games in August and has a team-high 18 multi-RBI games.

“He was actually trying to mix in some pitches and he was throwing some different pitches than we were expecting,” Martinez said of Musgrove. “We just had to make the adjustments.”

Pittsburgh lost for the seventh time in its last nine games. The Pirates stranded 12 runners and went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position.

“There was hard contact,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “It’s not fair. There’s times when it’s not fair. You hit hard balls, you hit them right at people but you’ve just got to play man.”

FACE IN THE CROWD

St. Louis Blues star Vladimir Tarasenko signed autographs on the field before the game.

TRAINING ROOM

Cardinals: OF Marcell Ozuna (right shoulder inflammation) took batting practice Thursday and is on track to return from the 10-day disabled list when eligible on Sept. 1.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Jameson Taillon (10-9, 3.49 ERA) kicks off a three-game series on the road against the Atlanta Braves and RHP Anibal Sanchez (6-5, 3.05 ERA). Taillon has allowed three earned runs or fewer in his last 16 starts.

Cardinals: LHP Austin Gomber (4-0, 2.79 ERA) will open a three-game home series Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds and RHP Homer Bailey (1-12, 6.17 ERA). The Cardinals are 6-0 when Gomber starts.

— Associated Press —

Northwest Missouri State soccer wins opener against William Jewell

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MARYVILLE, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat soccer team posted a 2-1 victory over William Jewell on Thursday at Bearcat Pitch.

First-year head coach Marc Gordon’s squad put up 20 shots and got goals from Madie Krueger and Maddie Holtmann in the victory.

William Jewell took a 1-0 lead in the opening period on a goal from Kayla Crowder in the 28th minute.

Northwest wasted little time in equalizing the score at 1-1 on a goal from Krueger in the 30th minute. Krueger knotted the contest with an assist from Adrie Gunn.

The Bearcats scored the game-winning goal from Holtman six minutes into the second period. Holtman fired a shot that was blocked by William Jewell’s goalie Kaylie Kappelmann, but Holtman controlled the rebound and found the back of the net.

Northwest goalie Alexa Serna Castillo made 12 saves for the Bearcats.

Northwest will be in action Sunday at 6 p.m. at Rockhurst.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons kick off 2018 season Thursday at Northwest Missouri State

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ST. JOSEPH – A rivalry that has taken place at least once every season since 1981 gets a new wrinkle in 2018. For the first time since 1990, Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri will meet in the season opener when the Griffons travel to No. 5 Northwest Thursday night.

Only twice in the history of the series have the teams met in the first game of the season. It happened in back-to-back years during Missouri Western’s first two seasons as a member of the MIAA: 1989 and 1990. It will be the first time in three years the teams didn’t meet in the regular season finale. Northwest won 24-10 in St. Joseph in week nine of the 2015 season, the last time the rivals didn’t end the season against one another.

The timing of the rivalry game this season is far from the only story line. A shuffle of the MIAA schedule in 2018 left Missouri Western opening up its 49th season against three-straight opponents ranked inside the top-20 of the American Football Coaches Association Preseason Poll. Northwest, and the Griffons’ week two opponent Fort Hays State, enter the season tied for No. 5. Central Missouri, the Griffons’ week three opponent, debuted at No. 18 this season. Missouri Western’s first three opponents also finished as the top three football programs in the MIAA one season ago. Fort Hays State claimed the crown with Northwest finishing second, one game ahead of Central Missouri.

Missouri Western’s Matt Williamson and Northwest’s Rich Wright both begin their second year as head coaches this season. Williamson went 4-7 in his first season leading his alma mater. The two-time All-MIAA defensive lineman will have two new play callers on his staff in 2018. Dave Brown was hired as offensive coordinator in the offseason after Chet Pobolish was named head coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State. Brown was most recently quarterbacks coach at Colorado State-Pueblo, but is familiar with the MIAA having graduated from Central Missouri and getting his start in coaching at UCM as a student and graduate assistant. Last year’s offensive line coach and fellow MWSU alum, Patrick St. Louis will be the co-offensive coordinator in an offense that will feature the pistol in 2018. Brown had two stints at Nevada, including time when Colin Kaepernick illustrated the potential of the rare style. Justin Richter was elevated to defensive coordinator after one season as defensive backs coach. New to the staff in 2018 as linebackers coach, Gary Salgado will be the co-defensive coordinator after working under former Northwest Missouri assistant Will Wagner at Angelo State the past five seasons. Also new to the coaching staff in 2018 is running backs coach and special teams coordinator Andre Crenshaw. The former Oregon running back has had coaching stops at Dakota Wesleyan, Morehead State and Tennessee Tech.

The Griffon coaching staff will take nine returning offensive starters and six with starting experience on defense into Maryville. After having 11 players earn 12 All-MIAA honors in 2017, Williamson will see five of those Griffons on the field at Bearcat Stadium along with the return of 2016 second team All-MIAA linebacker James Huskey.
Some new names Griffon fans can expect to be hearing about in 2018 include James Bailey Jr. (running back), Marquis Caldwell (defensive lineman), Vayante Copeland (defensive back), Joe Horn Jr. (wide receiver), Damon Roberts (defensive end) and Donavan Lukens (defensive end). All those but Lukens transferred to MWSU for 2018. Bailey totaled more than 2,400 total yards as a dual-threat QB at William Chrisman before redshirting at Western Illinois last season. Copeland started seven games over two seasons as a corner at Michigan State. Horn. Jr. is the son of New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame receiver Joe Horn and the nephew of Griffon defensive line coach Scorpio Horn. Lukens showed promising signs during the spring game after redshirting last season and will figure into the mix on the defensive line along with Caldwell, Roberts, Kyle Dumler and another Arnold Crayton.

Northwest went 9-3 last season in Wright’s first season as head coach. The longtime Northwest assistant coach has 11 total returning starters, but will be searching for a new starting quarterback in 2018. Jadyn Kowalski is the returning leading passer for the team, completing one pass for 38 yards last season. Shawn Bane Jr. was one of the top receivers in the MIAA last season and returns after catching 51 passes for 675 yards and six TDs in 2017. Austin Eskew had 10 tackles for loss and six sacks last year and returns in 2018.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION TAILGATE AT NORTHWEST
Bring your grills, Griffon flags and other tailgating essentials and join members of the MWSU Alumni Association in Maryville Thursday before the game. Griffon tailgating begins at 3 p.m. in Lot number 26 across from the Administration Building. THIS IS A NEW LOCATION!!

— MWSU Athletics —

Mondesi homers, drives in four as Royals trounce Tigers 9-2

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adalberto Mondesi hit a two-run homer and finished with four RBI, Danny Duffy allowed two hits over six innings and the Kansas City Royals routed the Detroit Tigers 9-2 on Wednesday to sweep their two-game series.

Duffy (8-11) gave up both hits and his only run in the first inning, when Mikie Mahtook drove in Jose Iglesias with a two-out single. The left-hander labored through the frame but breezed the rest of the way, striking out six while working around a trio of walks.

Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer and Brett Phillips had a pair of RBI as the Royals pounded Tigers starter Michael Fulmer (3-10) in his second outing off the disabled list.

Fulmer, who tossed 4 2/3 shutout innings against the White Sox last week, allowed seven runs on eight hits before he was chased with two outs in the fourth. Fulmer is winless in his last seven starts, losing five of them, since beating the Twins on June 14.

Mahtook also homered off Wily Peralta in the ninth for Detroit.

Mondesi began Kansas City’s onslaught with his homer in the second, his second in as many days. Gordon went deep in the third, and the Royals added on with two triple and two doubles in the fourth.

Seven of the eight hits Fulmer allowed went for extra bases.

The Royals kept tacking on runs against the Detroit bullpen, sending the Tigers to their fifth consecutive loss. They’ve now lost 26 of their last 32 on the road.

Much like Fulmer, Duffy had been struggling much of the past month, going winless in three starts around a stint on the DL. But he was in complete control after the first inning, the only runners he allowed coming on a pair of walks and an error by third baseman Hunter Dozier.

Duffy’s performance was rather unexpected, too. He’d lost three straight to the Tigers, including two rough outings earlier this season, and was 3-8 with a 6.01 ERA in day games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: Iglesias left in the fourth inning with a lower abdomen strain. He singled in the first inning and flied out to center field in the third. Jim Adducci replaced him in the lineup.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (left oblique strain) was scheduled to make his first rehab start at Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday night. … OF Bubba Starling, a former first-round pick, will begin his rehab stint after a dislocated finger at rookie-level Idaho Falls.

UP NEXT

The Tigers head to New York on Thursday night with LHP Francisco Liriano (3-9, 4.82 ERA) facing Yankees LHP J.A. Happ (15-6, 3.80) in the opener of a four-game set. The Royals get the day off before facing Baltimore on Friday night in a matchup of the two worst teams in the majors.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western, Northwest partner for Safety in Football Campaign

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association (MoATA) has organized a “Safety in Football Campaign” in order to promote increased safety in football in the State of Missouri. It is the goal of the “Safety in Football Campaign” to help each and every football team in Missouri to identify ways in which they can lessen the risks of injury and keep the focus on the fun and camaraderie of football.

During the season opener on Thursday at Northwest Missouri, both the Griffon and Bearcat football teams will join numerous high schools and colleges by donning a small helmet sticker on the back of each player’s helmet. The sticker represents the cumulative efforts of these schools and the Athletic Training community towards improving safety in youth football in the state of Missouri.

Missouri Western head athletic trainer Blaise Kriley said he was happy to partner with Northwest Missouri and other colleges and high schools across the state on the initiative.

“This initiative is a great way for us to bring awareness to the positive work athletic training staffs across Missouri are performing,” Kriley said. “Our staff here at Missouri Western, the staff at Northwest Missouri and many others are constantly looking to do everything we can to ensure these young men are safe.”

All across the state of Missouri, athletic trainers are providing their clinical skill and expertise each and every day to improve the overall health and safety of their athletes. According to a study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the presence of athletic trainers in the secondary schools lowers overall injury rates, improves diagnosis and return-to-play decisions, and reduces the risk for recurrent injuries. In fact, the placement of athletic trainers in every secondary school that offers an athletic program is recommended by both the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.

However, even if a school or athletic association does not have access to the healthcare services of an athletic trainer, there are still simple steps that every program or association can put in place to improve safety in football.

*Providing a properly and regularly maintained Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at all practices and games
*Coordinating Venue-Specific Emergency Action Plans with your local Emergency Medical Services provider
*Helping provide CPR/First Aid/AED Training for those who oversee youth athletes
*Having immediate access to cold-water immersion tubs during periods of hotter and more humid climates
*Enforcing current safety measures designed to eliminate head-first collisions

There are tremendous benefits for athletes who participate in football. These athletes have increased self-esteem, lower dropout rates in school, and demonstrate a stronger involvement in their school and community. It is the goal of the “Safety in Football Campaign” to help each and every football team in Missouri identify ways in which they can lessen the risks of injury and keep the focus on the fun and camaraderie of football.

Throughout the regular season for the 2018 high school season the Missouri Athletic Trainers Association will send out a weekly tip/information through social media platform to help further educate important topics in the sport today. Please follow along as we do so @MOATA1984 on Twitter.

To learn more about Safety in Football, contact Missouri Western head athletic trainer Blaise Kriley at 816-271-4597 or by email at bkriley@missouriwestern.edu.

About The Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association (MoATA)
The Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association purpose is to advance the athletic training profession by enhancing professional and leadership abilities and by providing encouragement, mentorship and improvement of opportunities in the profession of athletic training in the State of Missouri. For more information on the Missouri Athletic Trainers Association, visit moata.net.

— MWSU Athletics —

Junis dominates Tigers again as Royals roll 6-2

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jakob Junis had just served up a home run to JaCoby Jones and a base hit to Jeimer Candelario, and the Royals’ young right-hander could feel the inning starting to get away from him.

So when he turned around to watch his infield turn a timely double-play on a grounder by Jose Iglesias, Junis wheeled right back around with the kind of fist pump rare for the soft-spoken starter.

“That was a big at-bat,” Junis said. “Who knows if I would have gotten a chance to go back out.”

Junis did indeed get to go back out for the ninth, and when he mowed through Detroit’s lineup one more time, he had his first career complete game. The six-hitter allowed Kansas City to roll to a 6-2 victory to begin a midweek, two-game set between AL Central rivals Tuesday night.

Not only was it his first big league complete game, it was his first as a professional.

“That’s a goal you set out to do,” said Junis, who improved to 4-0 with a 1.74 ERA in four starts against Detroit this season. “A great feeling to accomplish that. Hopefully more to come.”

The only runs Junis (7-12) allowed came in the third, when Candelario managed a sacrifice fly, and the eighth, when Jones went deep. Otherwise, the young right-hander worked briskly and efficiently, with seven strikeouts and no walks producing his second win since May 18.

“You have confidence against certain teams. Pitchers get that,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “You have success and that gives you confidence. You ride that.”

Junis’ three previous wins against Detroit came in April and May, when he was off to a hot start, but he struggled throughout June and landed on the disabled list with lower back inflammation. But he’s been solid in eight starts since his return, cutting down his walks and home runs.

“He wasn’t showing it, but he was very frustrated when he was going through that period. He’s not a robot,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Tonight he was pretty much in control the whole way.”

Adalberto Mondesi went deep off Matthew Boyd (8-12) to lead off the third inning, and the Royals wound up batting around. Jorge Bonifacio hit a sacrifice fly, Hunter Dozier added a two-run double and Alcides Escobar wrapped up the big inning with a two-out single that gave Kansas City a 5-1 lead.

That turned out to be plenty with Junis on the mound.

Boyd, who threw six shutout innings against the White Sox his last time out, wound up allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings. The Tigers’ right-hander dropped to 3-7 in 13 career starts against Kansas City, and he’s just 8-21 in 41 starts on the road.

“I just got away from my fastball. Hats off to Mondesi, he hit my pitch,” Boyd said. “I lost a little feel for the fastball as the inning went on and that’s what happened.”

Detroit could have used a gem from him as they opened a nine-game trip. They’ve lost four straight and five of six, their offense failing to score more than three runs in any of the defeats.

STATS AND STREAKS

Junis had the first nine-inning complete game by the Royals since Jason Vargas on June 2, 2017, against the Indians. … Royals 1B Hunter Dozier has six RBI in his last six games. He had four in his previous 35. … Tigers LF Mikie Mahtook has reached base in 13 straight games.

JONES RETURNS

Jones (right hamstring strain) was back in the lineup for the first time since hitting the DL on Aug. 13. OF Mike Gerber was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday to create a roster spot for him.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (left groin strain) could start Saturday against the Yankees in New York, Gardenhire said. Norris has been sharp in rehab outings at Toledo after compiling a 5.87 ERA in five appearances for Detroit before getting hurt.

Royals: OF Brian Goodwin (left groin strain) will rejoin the club when rosters expand Sept. 1, Yost said. … OF Jorge Soler (left toe fracture) will finish the season with Triple-A Omaha before he rejoins the Royals. That would mean Soler is expected back Sept. 4.

UP NEXT

Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer tries to build on a solid start in his return from the disabled list, when he threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the White Sox last Friday. The Royals counter with LHP Danny Duffy as the teams wrap up their two-game series with a matinee Wednesday.

— Associated Press —

Martinez, O’Neill homer as Cardinals beat Pirates

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — The month of August has been great for rookie pitcher Jack Flaherty and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Flaherty allowed just one run in seventh innings and Jose Martinez and Tyler O’Neill homered and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 Tuesday night in Mike Shildt’s first game since being promoted to full-time manager.

Flaherty (8-6) retired his first 12 batters and gave up one run and four hits with no walks. He is 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA in five August starts. Flaherty has allowed only 14 hits and three runs in 32 innings, walking nine and striking out 38 batters in those starts.

The recipe for his success is simple, Flaherty said.

“Get ahead and stay ahead. Try not to get into deep counts and try to stay from a 3-2 count,” Flaherty said. “Try to make things happen quick. Move the ball in and out. Trust in my stuff.”

A meeting two weeks ago with Cardinals legend Bob Gibson inspired Flaherty.

“I got the chance to talk to him,” Flaherty said. “I asked him what his mentality was every time he went out. I haven’t talked to him since then but it’s more on me to reach out to him and than the other way around.”

Flaherty improved to 3-1 against the Pirates.

“He’s gotten better the more we’ve faced him I think as this season has shown,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “His stuff has gotten better, the consistency of it, the execution of pitches.”

The Cardinals have won six of seven and are 20-5 in August. Earlier in the day, St. Louis took off the interim tag on Shildt, who was put in charge after Mike Matheny was fired last month a day before the All-Star break.

St. Louis is 27-12 under Shildt. He was rewarded with a contract through 2020 after guiding the Cards back into playoff contention.

“He’s been doing his thing and he hasn’t tried to do too much,” Flaherty said about Shildt. “He hasn’t tried to change anything. It’s just been him. I think the biggest thing is for everybody to be themselves and he’s done the same thing. I’m just happy for him.”

The Pirates have lost eight of 10.

Bud Norris pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 32 opportunities.

Martinez hit a two-run homer in the first off Ivan Nova (7-9). Martinez connected for his 16th homer after Matt Carpenter reached base on an infield single.

“I was trying to drive a ball middle in and he threw it there and I hit it out,” Martinez said.

O’Neill hit a 436-foot homer into the left field bleachers in the fourth inning for a 4-0 lead. Martinez singled ahead of O’Neil’s drive.

“The command, it was not as sharp as it was last time,” Nova said. “I gave up two two-run homers. The first home run, I thought that was a really good pitch that the guy just jumped on. The other one was down the middle of the plate. It’s frustrating.”

Josh Bell scored both runs for the Pirates. He doubled in the fifth and Colin Moran hit an RBI single.

Bell drew a leadoff walk from reliever Jordan Hicks in the eighth, took third on a bloop single by Moran and scored on a double play.

Paul DeJong was hit by a pitch to start the St. Louis eighth and an apparent two-run homer by Jedd Gyorko was overturned in a crew chief review. Gyorko was given a double and he was pulled because of discomfort in his left groin. Greg Garcia’s single made it 5-2.

Gyorko said he hurt himself leaving the batter’s box. He said it’s “tightness” and he will be looked at Wednesday.

“I thought it was a home run,” Gyorko said about his hit. “I ran around the bases. I haven’t looked at it yet.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: Josh Harrison didn’t start for the second consecutive game after tweaking his left hamstring Saturday running from first to third. He walked as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and stayed in the game at second base.

Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong was put on the 10-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain, retroactive to Aug. 26. Wong, who injured his hamstring while running out a ground ball in Saturday’s game in Colorado, was batting .244 with eight home runs and 32 RBI in 110 games.

WACHA START

Starter Michael Wacha (left oblique strain) left in the third inning with a trainer at Double-A Springfield after allowing five earned runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings Tuesday against Arkansas. He threw 52 pitches and exited because of fatigue, the Cardinals said. Wacha, who will be evaluated Wednesday, went on the disabled list June 21 and has missed 60 games.

ROSTER MOVE

With Wong going on the disabled list, the Cardinals recalled INF Patrick Wisdom from Triple-A Memphis. Wisdom, 27, is batting .288 with 15 home runs and 61 RBI in 107 games for Memphis. Wisdom was purchased from Memphis on Aug. 11 and played in nine games for the Cardinals, batting .333 (4 for 12) with a home run and three RBI. He had played in 747 career minor league game before his major league debut.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (10-9, 3.44) has allowed just four runs in his last seven starts covering 42 innings. He is 2-4 with a 6.93 ERA in 10 career appearances, including seven starts against St. Louis. He is 1-2 in four starts this year.

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (13-9, 2.94) allowed a season-high 12 hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings in last Friday’s start at Colorado. He lost to the Pirates on June 1 at Busch Stadium.

— Associated Press —

Griffon volleyball now ranked No. 21 in latest AVCA Top 25 poll

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western volleyball team is back in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll after a 4-0 start to the 2018 season.

Missouri Western reached No. 21 in the first regular season version of the poll. After finishing the 2017 season at No. 25, the Griffons debuted as the top team receiving votes outside the top-15 in the AVCA Division II Preseason Poll. A 4-0 weekend with four sweeps of teams with winning 2017 records at last weekend’s Illinois Springfield Capital Classic vaulted MWSU up to No. 21 in the poll. Stephanie Doak, Lauren Murphy and Rachel Losch were named to the Capital Classic All-Tournament Team.

The Griffons head to the Colorado Premier Challenge this weekend where they’ll open the prestigious event at No. 10 Regis. Missouri Western’s entry into the top 25 left seven of the 12 teams in this weekend’s pool-play style tournament ranked in the poll. Three others were receiving votes, including the Griffons Friday afternoon opponent, Angelo State.

— MWSU Athletics —

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