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Author: Dave Riggert

Chiefs sign defensive tackle Xavier Williams

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Wednesday that the club has signed defensive tackle Xavier Williams.

“With Xavier you are talking about another player that we feel has a tremendous upside,” General Manager Brett Veach said. “He’s an athletic defensive tackle who can push the pocket and contribute for us in both the run and pass game.”

Williams (6-2, 309) has played in 23 games (two starts) in three NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2015-17). His career numbers include 28 tackles (22 solo), 0.5 sacks (-5.0 yards), two tackles for loss and one forced fumble. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Cardinals on May 5, 2015. The Kansas City, Missouri, native, played collegiately at Northern Iowa and prepped at Grandview High School in Grandview, Missouri.

— Chiefs Communications —

Missouri Western moves up Pittsburg State baseball series

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ST. JOSEPH – Due to the forecast, Griffon Baseball’s three-game home series against Pittsburg State has been moved up one day.

The series will now begin Thursday, March 22 with a 1 p.m. first pitch. Game two will be March 23 at 1 p.m. with the finale on March 24 at 1 p.m.

Missouri Western (14-9, 7-3) extended its win streak to nine games Tuesday night with an 11-inning win over Emporia State. Pittsburg State (16-9, 8-5) has lost four of its last five following a 7-6 loss at Northeastern State, Tuesday.

— MWSU Athletics —

KU’s Graham named First Team NABC All-American

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas senior Devonte’ Graham has been named to the 2018 All-America First Team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the organization announced Wednesday.

The NABC is among the outlets used for the official NCAA consensus All-America team and Graham is 3-for-3 on consensus All-America first teams as he was previously named to The Sporting News and USBWA All-America squads.

Joining Graham on NABC All-America First Team is Jalen Brunson (Villanova), Deandre Ayton (Arizona), Marvin Bagley III (Duke) and Trae Young (Oklahoma). There were three teams selected by the NABC which has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men’s basketball coaches. KU head coach Bill Self is the current president of the NABC.

This is the second-straight year a Kansas player has earned NABC All-America First Team honors. Jayhawk Frank Mason III earned the distinction last year and was also named the 2017 NABC Player of the Year, one of 10 national player of the year honors he garnered.

Graham has been named the 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team, one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and All-America First Team by The Sporting News, NCAA.com, the USBWA and the NABC. On the court, he also earned Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team honors after averaging 14.3 points and 10.0 assists in guiding Kansas to the tourney title.

On every national player of year watch list, Graham is the only player in NCAA Division I this season averaging 17.0-plus pts, 7.0-plus assists, 1.6-plus steals and fewer than 3.0 turnovers per game. Graham is fourth nationally, second in the Big 12, in assists per game at 7.5. The Raleigh, North Carolina, guard is second the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.7, which is 33rd nationally. Graham is scoring 17.3 points per game, which is fourth in the conference and he is sixth in free throw percentage (83.3), fourth in 3-point field goals made (2.8), eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (40.4) and fifth in steals (1.6).

This season, Graham is logging 37.6 minutes per game this year, which ranks as the fifth highest average in a single season at KU and his 1,355 minutes are a KU single-season record. His 98 3-pointers made are fifth on the KU season list as last week he passed his own season high mark of 94 set in 2016-17. Graham’s 254 assists this season are second on the KU list.

No. 1 seed Kansas will play No. 5 seed Clemson (25-9, 11-7 ACC) in the Sweet 16 of the 2018 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional on Friday, March 23, at 6 p.m. (Central) at CenturyLink Center Omaha.

— KU Athletics —

Griffons get a walk-off win against Emporia State in 11 innings

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ST. JOSEPH – Nolan Meyer delivered the Missouri Western baseball team its ninth-straight win with a walk-off bunt single in the 11th inning against Emporia State on Tuesday. The Griffons defeated the Hornets 7-6 as they improve to 14-9 and 7-3 in the MIAA.

Meyer’s game winner seemed improbable after the Griffons failed to get down successful bunt attempts for three-straight innings prior to his hit. The game winning hit was set up by Dusty Stroup’s leadoff single in the 11th. Casey Danley tried to bunt Stroup over but popped up to the first baseman. Will Jibas got Stroup to third on a hit and run single and set up Meyer’s bunt toward first base that won the game 7-6 on Meyer’s head-first dive into the bag.

After tying the game at six in the bottom of the ninth, Missouri Western had runners at second and third with nobody out, but couldn’t get the winning run across the plate. Meyer led off the 10th by being hit by a pitch before Levi Schreiner reached on an error giving MWSU two on with no outs. Ryan Smith struck out in a pinch hit at bat before two infield pop ups ended the threat.

After blowing a save opportunity by giving up four runs in the top of the ninth, Nate Hunter settled in to hold the Hornets scoreless over the final 2 1/3 on three hits with two strikeouts. Hunter picked up the win (6-2), his fifth in relief during the team’s nine-game win streak.

Emporia State led 2-0 after one inning. Meyer scored the tying run in the fourth on an RBI-single by Ryan Fisher. Emporia State scored four in the top of the ninth to take a 6-4 lead but an RBI triple by Brooks Day and an RBI-single from Casey Danley sent the game into extra innings.

NOTABLES
– Missouri Western moved to 3-0 in extra-inning games this season

– It’s the second straight year the program had a nine-game win streak after last year’s Griffons rattled off nine-straight MIAA wins between April 9th and 23rd

– Meyer had a team high three hits, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI

– Fisher drove in two as the starting designated hitter on a 2-for-2 day with a walk

– Stroup also drove in a pair and went 2-for-5

– Day also went 2-for-5 at the plate with one RBI

– Levi Abrahmson and Kellan Richards combined to retire 12-straight Hornets between the fifth and the eighth innings

– Hunter went 3 1/3 allowing four earned runs on seven hits

– Preston Bailey pitched the first three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits. He struck out one and walked three

– After starting conference play 0-3, the Griffons left Tuesday’s win in third place in the MIAA standings

UP NEXT
The Griffons put their streak on the line in a three-game, home MIAA series against Pittsburg State (16-9, 8-5). The series is currently scheduled to begin on Friday at 4:00 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 25 Missouri baseball rolls past Arkansas State 11-1

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 25 Mizzou Baseball won the first of two games vs. Arkansas State, 11-1, Tuesday evening at Taylor Stadium, improving the Tigers to 16-5. Mizzou has now won 10 consecutive home games to open the 2018 campaign and has won 13 straight at home dating back to last season.

LHP Junior Tyler LaPlante (Blue Springs, Mo.) earned the win, improving to 3-0 on the year. In his third start of the season, LaPlante went 5.0 shutout innings, and surrendered just three hits in the outing. He struck out four and walked just one in another stellar midweek start.

Mizzou pitchers had an impressive game, striking out 10 batters while keeping Arkansas State off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. Mizzou pitching threw just 111 pitches in 9.0 innings of work Tuesday.

Arkansas State drops to 8-9 for the season. The two teams will play the second and final game of the midweek series Wednesday at 4 p.m.

TURNING POINT
Mizzou scored a run on an RBI single in the first inning as Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) ripped a fastball past down the right field line to put Mizzou on the board before an out was recorded in the frame. Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) opened the inning by reaching on a hit-by-pitch before stealing second base. It was the 10th time in Mizzou’s last 12 games that it has scored in the first inning.

Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante (Blue Springs, Mo.) took over from there, tossing 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just three hits in his third win of the season. Mizzou scored three more runs in the second, two in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth to back another great outing from LaPlante. Mizzou’s bullpen allowed just one run over the final four innings on an RBI groundout while the staff threw just 111 pitches in the outing.

TOP TIGERS
– Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante was again outstanding in his third start of the season, going 5.0 innings while scattering only three hits with four strikeouts against one walk. On the year, he is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 20.0 innings, striking out 14.

– Senior 3B Alex Samples tallied his first career three-hit game and drove in a career-high five runs Tuesday.

– Junior OF Connor Brumfield tallied his third game with three or more hits this season Tuesday, going 3-for-3. He scored three runs in the game.

– Mizzou senior OF Trey Harris stole his team-leading eight base in the first inning. He now has 33 career steals, which is tied for eighth in school history with Dick Dickinson.

– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner reached base in four of four plate appearances, notching his team-leading 10th multi-hit game of the season. He had an RBI single in the first and an RBI double in the fifth.

NOTES
– Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Arkansas State, 19-8.

– Mizzou is now 3-0 on Tuesdays this season.

– Mizzou moves to a perfect 10-0 on the year at home and has won 13 consecutive home games dating back to last season.

– Mizzou improves to 5-0 this season in midweek games and 12-4 in midweek games under second-year head coach Steve Bieser.

– Mizzou scored in the first inning for the 10th time in the last 12 games. Mizzou is outscoring opponents 27-8 this season and has 86 runs in the first inning under head coach Steve Bieser (80 games, 1.08 per game).

– Mizzou scored 10+ runs for the fifth time this season and is 5-0 in such games.

– Mizzou did not commit an error for the third consecutive game and has just one error in its last eight contests. Mizzou’s fielding percentage is up to .983 on the year.

UP NEXT
Mizzou and Arkansas State will close the two-game midweek series Wednesday at 4 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Western women’s golf team finishes fifth at MWSU Holiday Inn Express Invite

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women’s golf team shot a two-round total of 661 and finished tied for fifth place at the MWSU Holiday Inn Express Invitational at the St. Joseph Country Club. It is Missouri Western’s third top-five finish of the season.

The Griffons were led by Shi Qing Ong and Chong Yong. Ong and Yong both shot a 161 over the two days and tied for seventh place. Tiffanie Yabut dropped six strokes off her first day score to card a total of 168. Katie Irvin finished the tournament inside the top 30 with a 171. Jenna Kosmatka trimmed off 12 strokes from her opening round total to record a 184.

William Woods won the team title with a 633 and WWU’s Katie Warren claimed the individual championship with a three-over-par 147. Missouri Western travels next to the Pack Springs Invitational in Pueblo, Colorado on Monday, March 26 and Tuesday, March 27.

— MWSU Athletics —

MWSU’s Shelby Uhl named MIAA Hitter of the Week

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second time this season Missouri Western centerfielder Shelby Uhl has been named the MIAA Softball Hitter of the Week.

Uhl’s historical accomplishment on March 17 against Wayne State helped push her to the honor. She hit for the cycle with a single, double, triple and home run in an 18-2 win over Wayne State College. The junior from Pleasant Hill, Iowa added a walk, three runs and six RBIs on the remarkable day. She did it all in five innings. It is believed to be the first time a Griffon has ever hit for the cycle.

On the weekend, Uhl helped her team to a 3-1 record with .533 batting average; .933 slugging percentage and .588 on base percentage. She scored nine runs, drove in nine runs and was 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts.

While the rare achievement pushed Uhl into the limelight, she actually ranked third on the team in batting average over the weekend. Morgan Frost and Shelbie Atwell each batted .583 for the Griffons who hit .352 as a team during the Hy-Vee Classic. Frost drove in eight runs while Atwell pushed seven across. Atwell also added four doubles and seven runs scored over the four games this past weekend.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest’s Rachel Smith earns weekly MIAA softball honor

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University sophomore pitcher Rachel Smith has been named the MIAA co-Pitcher of the Week in a release by the conference office on Tuesday. Smith threw 12.0 scoreless innings for the Bearcats this weekend, going 2-0.

On Saturday, Smith threw a complete game five-inning shutout against Upper Iowa, allowing two hits. She did not issue a walk and struck out six. She followed it up with a seven-inning complete game shutout against Northern State, allowing four hits. She did not allowed a walk and struck out eight batters.

Northwest hosts Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State this week. The Bronchos will play at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday while the RiverHawks visit for a noon and 2 p.m. double header on Friday.

— Northwest Athletics —

Northwest hires Austin Meyer as new women’s basketball coach

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MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University has announced the hiring of Austin Meyer as its next head women’s basketball coach. Meyer has served the past 10 seasons on Northwest’s men’s basketball staff, including the last three seasons as its associate head coach.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead our women’s basketball program,” said Meyer. “Northwest is a special place with so many great people. Our program will have very high standards in everything we do. We will be very active in the community and will deliver a great college experience for our young women. I look forward to the challenge of building a winning culture, graduating our kids and preparing them for life after college.”

With Meyer on the bench as a full-time coach with the men’s basketball program, Northwest has won 215 games (21.5 wins per season average), captured six MIAA regular season titles, four MIAA Tournament titles and one NCAA Division II National Championship. Thirty-three Bearcats earned MIAA honors in the past decade and three were named the conference’s Player of the Year. In addition, seven student-athletes were named to the All-Defensive Team, three earned MIAA Freshman of the Year accolades and two Bearcats earned NABC All-America honors.

Meyer served as the men’s program’s lead recruiter. His other duties included organizing and running the Center Court Cat Club, organizing and presenting opponent scouting reports, coordinating official visits, coordinating team travel, community engagements, summer camps, social media, skill development and more.

Meyer was a four-year letter winner for the Bearcat men’s basketball team from 2002-06. He scored 1,294 career points and held the then-Northwest career record with 215 made three-pointers. He graduated from Northwest with his bachelor’s degree in corporate recreation in 2006 and earned his master’s in physical education in 2008. He served as a graduate assistant on Steve Tappmeyer’s staff for two seasons before being promoted to assistant coach prior to the 2008-09 season.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons complete sweep at Southwest Baptist; win streak now at eight

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BOLIVAR, Mo. – There was no comeback needed for the Missouri Western baseball team on Sunday as they stretched their win streak to eight with a second consecutive MIAA sweep.

Missouri Western (13-9, 6-3) took a 4-0 lead after the fourth and never looked back in a 6-1 win at Southwest Baptist (8-16, 2-10).

Six Griffon pitchers combined to hold Southwest Baptist to one unearned run on six hits. They struck out five and walked three. Preston Bailey (1-1) picked up the win in relief and Kellan Richards earned his second-straight save, pitching two innings of two-hit baseball.

NOTABLES
– Dusty Stroup went 3-for-5 on the day with two runs scored and a double

– Maurice Bruce went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored

– Casey Danley was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored

– Will Jibas drove in two and walked three times

– Bruce went 9-for-14 (.643) in the series with seven runs scored and six RBIs

– Danley hit .467 in the series with four RBIs

– Brooks Day hit .400 in the series and walked five times

– Jibas walked six times in the series

– Richards appeared in all three games of the series, giving up two hits and no runs in 3 1/3 innings

UP NEXT
Missouri Western returns home for its next four games, beginning with a mid-week game against Emporia State on Tuesday.

— MWSU Athletics —

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