Dave Riggert – Page 299 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Mizzou’s Sikkema earns spot on 2017 All-Freshman SEC Team

Posted on May 22, 2017

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mizzou Baseball LHP T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) earned a spot on the 2017 All-Freshman SEC Team, announced Monday by the league office. Sikkema earned a spot as a relief pitcher and is Mizzou’s first Freshman Team selection since Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) earned a spot in 2015.

Sikkema was arguably one of the top relievers in the SEC before switching to a starting role over the last two weeks, a role in which he has been equally as impressive. Sikkema leads the SEC in opponent batting (.169), hits per nine innings (5.28) and WHIP (0.80) while ranking fourth in ERA (2.28) and wins (eight). His eight wins are the most for a Mizzou true freshman since Houck won eight during his freshman campaign in 2015. He has also posted four saves and has made 21 appearances (two starts) while amassing 75.0 innings.

Since he moved to the starting rotation, he has been even better and is coming off a complete game shutout in which he struck out seven while walking none and scattering just five hits last Thursday at Tennessee. He has just one loss on the year in 21 appearances. He also earned SEC Co-Freshman of the Week honors Monday.

Mizzou opens the SEC Tournament on Tuesday, May 23, at approximately 1 p.m. against seventh-seeded Texas A&M.

— Mizzou Athletics —

McGuffin leaving Missouri Western to become AD at Tennessee-Martin

Posted on May 22, 2017May 22, 2017

St. Joseph, Mo. — Kurt McGuffin, Missouri Western State University’s director of athletics since 2011, has accepted the position of director of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Tennessee at Martin. His last day at Missouri Western will be June 27.

“Kurt has shown steadfast dedication to our student-athletes, coaches and the community,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “He has a lot to show for his time here, including facility improvements, the addition of six sports and the athletic and academic success of our student-athletes.”

McGuffin became Missouri Western’s director of athletics on Oct. 31, 2011. The athletic department has produced six MIAA team championships in his time. Facility improvements have included a nearly $8 million total renovation of Spratt Memorial Stadium. Six new teams – men’s and women’s cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field – will begin competition in the 2017-2018 school year. McGuffin, along with the department of health, physical education and recreation, also developed a master of applied science degree in sport and fitness management. The program has allowed Griffon athletics to bring more than 20 graduate assistants to help with various programs. He was also instrumental in retaining Missouri Western as the summer training camp home of the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I want to thank Dr. Vartabedian and the rest of the Missouri Western community for the opportunity to serve as the Director of Athletics the last five-and-a-half years,” McGuffin said. “I will cherish the many memories and successes that we were able to share together. All of those could not have been possible without tremendous community support, the outstanding work of our athletic administrative staff, coaches and most of all our student-athletes.”

A national search for Missouri Western’s eighth athletic director will begin immediately. Dr. Jeanne Daffron, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will chair the search committee.

“We are moving forward quickly, but thoroughly,” Dr. Vartabedian said. “We want a seamless transition in leadership to continue Missouri Western’s success on the field and in the classroom.”

— MWSU Press Release —

Royals hit seven home runs, split doubleheader with Twins

Posted on May 21, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Adalberto Mejia made the most of his brief stint back in the majors with the Minnesota Twins by getting his first big-league win.

Robbie Grossman, Max Kepler and Chris Gimenez all homered to help Mejia and the Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 8-4 in the second game Sunday to salvage a split of a doubleheader.

Mejia (1-1) was the Twins’ 26th active player for the second game and allowed three runs in seven innings, on two home runs by Salvador Perez — who also went deep in the first game.

Mejia’s reward for his first win? A trip back to Triple-A Rochester.

“I’m going to go down there and work on the things they told me work on,” Mejia said through interpreter Carlos Font. “Then it will be up to them to see when I get back.”

Grossman and Kepler each hit two-run homers in the first inning, and Brian Dozier had an RBI double in the second off Ian Kennedy (0-4) in his first game back from the disabled list.

Brandon Moss hit two of Kansas City’s four home runs in the opener of the doubleheader, and Perez and Jorge Bonifacio each hit two-run homers to lead the Royals to a 6-4 win earlier in the day.

With the split, the Twins are now 7-1 on the year against the Royals. Kansas City’s win in the first game snapped a seven-game losing streak against Minnesota.

Kennedy, who returned after missing time with a hamstring strain, said he felt fine physically. He walked three batters and gave up a pair of two-run homers in just two innings Sunday.

“He was way out of whack,” manager Ned Yost said. “His leg was fine. He felt normal, felt good. Just timing was off, rhythm was off.”

MINOR’S WIN

Mike Minor’s road back to the majors was not an easy one. Shoulder surgery kept him out of the majors for two years and resulted in a move to the bullpen.

Minor got his first victory since 2014 with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in the first game Sunday. He relieved Jake Junis with a 5-2 lead in the fifth, two outs and two on. The 29-year-old left-hander walked Max Kepler, then retired Kennys Vargas on a popup. Minor retired the side in order in the sixth.

Minor had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder in May 13, 2015, and did not appear in the major leagues in 2015 and 2016. Minor, who signed a $7.25 million, two-year contract with the Royals in February 2016, got his first major league victory since Aug. 28, 2014, for Atlanta.

JUNIS’ FIRST START

Kansas City’s Jake Junis, a 24-year-old right-hander, was recalled from Triple-A Omaha and made his first big league start after a pair of relief appearances. He allowed two runs, five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings, leaving after RBI singles from Brian Dozier and Miguel Sano.

Junis found out Saturday that he would be making his first career start. He didn’t pitch deep enough to get the win, but impressed manager Ned Yost before the Royals optioned Junis back to Omaha after the game.

“I thought he did a nice job,” Yost said. “We tried to get him through that fifth inning, but we needed to win this game.”

ROYALS MOVES

Kansas City left fielder Alex Gordon missed the second game to join his wife, who is due to give birth on Monday. Infielder Raul Mondesi replacing Gordon on the roster but was optioned to Triple-A Omaha after the game. That means LHP Miguel Almonte, initially the Royals’ 26th active player Sunday, remains on the 25-man roster. … RHP Al Alburquerque was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Junis.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Nate Karns had his pitching arm evaluated after Friday’s start against Minnesota. Manager Ned Yost said fluid was found in the elbow area but Karns does not have a strain. Karns exited his start Friday after five innings and threw just 72 pitches due to stiffness in his arm.

Twins: RHP Phil Hughes was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday with shoulder discomfort. Hughes took the loss in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader. Right-hander Kyle Gibson will take Hughes’ place on the roster.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (5-2, 2.03 ERA) starts Monday’s series opener at the New York Yankees.

Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (0-4, 8.20 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Rochester to start Monday against Baltimore.

— Associated Press —

Carpenter, Wainwright lead Cards past Giants to end skid

Posted on May 21, 2017

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright tried his best to keep up with Cardinals teammates Carlos Martinez and Michael Wacha. The veteran right-hander simply came up short.

Matt Carpenter homered and Wainwright turned in his second successive strong outing to lead St. Louis over the San Francisco Giants 8-3 on Sunday, snapping a four-game skid.

Wainwright (4-3) allowed one run and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Martinez threw nine shutout innings Saturday, and Wacha pitched six scoreless innings Friday.

“I blew it,” Wainwright joked.

But he was plenty effective.

Wainwright set down the side in order three times and retired seven in a row during one stretch. He struck out six, walked three and even hit an RBI double in the sixth.

“I’ve just been feeding off our other starters,” Wainwright said. “I wanted to keep that momentum going.”

Randal Grichuk drove in four runs for St. Louis, which handed San Francisco only its second loss in nine games.

Wainwright tossed seven sharp innings in a 5-0 win over the Chicago Cubs last Sunday. Before that, he had given up four earned runs in each of his previous three starts.

“I’ve made good adjustments and I feel like I’m in a good place,” said Wainwright, who has permitted one run in his last 13 1/3 innings.

He improved to 28-14 in May, his most wins in any month.

“I feel like he’s back to normal,” Grichuk said. “He looks great out there and the numbers the last few games really show it.”

Carpenter hit a two-run homer off Matt Cain (3-2) in the fifth. Cain gave up seven runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He is 0-4 in six regular-season starts at Busch Stadium.

“I’ve got all kinds of answers that would be funny,” Cain said. “But there’s no real reason that my record looks like that here. I just don’t know why.”

Cain is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA at home this season, but 0-2 with an 8.28 mark on the road.

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy was surprised to see Cain struggle. Cain had given up two earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts.

“He was just behind more than he’s normally been this year,” Bochy said. “You could see, he wasn’t as sharp today.”

Grichuk slammed a three-run double in the second to highlight a four-run outburst. He doubled home another run in the eighth.

“I feel like I’ve had a bunch of balls that have flown out at the track the last couple weeks,” Grichuk said. “It was good to see them fall for a change.”

Brandon Crawford and Eduardo Nunez hit back-to-back homers in the eighth for the Giants, who were looking for their first three-game sweep on the road this season.

The Cardinals lost five of eight games on their homestand, including three one-run defeats and a 3-1 setback in 13 innings.

“It certainly could have been much better,” manager Mike Matheny said. “Some late lapses really hurt us.”

YADI ON A ROLL

St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the third. He has reached safely in his last 16 games.

JHONNY IS BACK

Cardinals INF Jhonny Peralta is 4 for 5 since returning from the disabled list Friday. He missed 26 games with an upper respiratory ailment. Peralta singled twice and walked in his first three trips to the plate Sunday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: C Buster Posey was given the day off after catching all 13 innings of a 3-1 win over St. Louis on Saturday.

Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong did not start due to a stiff elbow. He is day to day.

UP NEXT

Giants: LHP Ty Blach (1-2, 4.15 ERA) faces Chicago Cubs RHP John Lackey (4-3, 4.37) on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series at Wrigley Field. Blach has replaced injured ace Madison Bumgarner in the rotation.

Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (4-2, 2.78 ERA) opposes Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.15) in the first of a three-game set Tuesday night at Los Angeles. Lynn has given up two runs or fewer in five of eight starts this season.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western’s Yong finishes tied for 58th in NCAA National Championship Tournament

Posted on May 20, 2017May 20, 2017

FINDLAY, Ohio – Missouri Western freshman Chong Yong of Griffon women’s golf shot a 79 in her final round at the NCAA national tournament at Findlay Country Club Saturday and finished tied for 58th with a four round total of 327.

She played her best round of the tournament on the final day as she dropped two strokes from the previous day. As the tournament went on, Yong continued to improve as she posted lower scores every round.

Yong became the first individual to qualify for the national tournament in program history. For back-to-back years, MWSU was represented at the national tournament as it qualified as a team last year.

Marie Coors of St. Leo won the individual title with a 295 as Barry University won the team championship with a four round total of 1222.

— MWSU Athletics —

Royals-Twins game postponed, will play doubleheader Sunday

Posted on May 20, 2017May 20, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins have postponed their game against the Kansas City Royals because of rain, prompting a doubleheader to finish the series.

The team made the announcement about an hour before the scheduled first pitch on Saturday afternoon, with the forecast predicting uninterrupted rain in the area for the rest of the day.

The Twins and Royals will play a straight doubleheader on Sunday, with one admission for fans. The makeup game will begin 30 minutes after the end of the regularly scheduled game at 1:10 p.m. local time.

Pitching has led to much uncertainty for both teams.

Minnesota will start Phil Hughes (4-2, 5.23 ERA) in the first game on Sunday. The team has announced rookie Adalberto Mejia (0-1, 5.79) will start the makeup game, but Mejia has not been added to the active roster yet.

The Twins have waited to make a roster move because of the weather and Mejia could be added as the 26th player for the doubleheader.

Minnesota also has to decide on a starter for Monday after the schedule was interrupted because of a postponement Wednesday, which was made up in a Thursday doubleheader.

This was Minnesota’s fifth postponement of the season, with three at home. One of those was at Kansas City on April 29, a game rescheduled for a doubleheader with the Royals on July 1.

Kansas City will start Ian Kennedy (0-3, 3.03) in the second game on Sunday, but Kennedy also hasn’t been added to the active roster. He’s been on the disabled list since May 5 with a right hamstring strain.

“He’s good to go, but we’ll wait,” Royals manager Ned Yost said Friday.

Yost also added that Friday’s starter, Nate Karns, would undergo more tests after leaving Friday’s game with stiffness in the top of his pitching arm.

— Associated Press —

Missouri completes three-game sweep at Tennessee

Posted on May 20, 2017

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Mizzou Baseball completed a sweep of Tennessee with a 8-2 win Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium to finish the regular season at 35-21, the most wins for Mizzou since 2009 and the most regular season wins since 2008. With the game tied 2-2, Mizzou scored four runs in the sixth inning to break the game open and secure its second SEC sweep of 2017.

Mizzou closes the regular season by winning the final six games, including the final two SEC series over South Carolina and at Tennessee. Mizzou has won seven of the last 10 games and finishes the regular season with nine RPI top-50 wins and 13 top-100 wins. That sets up a situation where the Tigers can play themselves into the NCAA Tournament at next week’s SEC Tournament. Mizzou will play an opponent at a time yet to be determined. Mizzou will be either the No. 9 or No. 10 seed at the tournament.

Junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.) earned the win Saturday to improve to 4-5 on the year. He tossed 5.0 innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts and two walks. Mizzou broke open a 2-2 game with four runs in the sixth inning and another in the seventh. The Tigers finish the season going 10-5 on the road in SEC play.

After holding the Vols off the board in the first two games while boasting a 21.0-inning team shutout streak, Mizzou finally allowed Tennessee to get on the board in the first inning. Senior 2B Jeff Moberg hit a leadoff homer on a 2-2 fastball from Montes De Oca and then tacked on another on a sacrifice fly, taking a 2-0 lead after the opening frame.

Mizzou got those two runs back in the top of the second inning as the Tigers loaded the bases after singles from Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) and Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) and a walk by Kirby McGuire (Round Rock, Texas). A sacrifice fly by Chris Cornelius (St. Louis, Mo.) and an RBI groundout from Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) tied the game at 2-2. Mizzou nearly went ahead as nine-hole hitter Matt Berler (Hoover, Ala.) roped a ball up the middle, but Tennessee SS Max Bartlett made a great play moving to his left to save a hit and a run.

Both pitchers settled in from there as Montes De Oca retired 10 straight until a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth. He pitched around that but again ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth inning as he allowed a leadoff double. A bunt moved the go-ahead run to third, but the big Tiger right-hander got a pair of strikeouts to strand the go-ahead run 90 feet away.

That gave the momentum back to Mizzou as it loaded the bases with no outs in the very next frame. McGuire then dumped a 1-2 pitch into left field for an RBI single and his second go-ahead hit of the series. Mizzou then got an RBI single from Cornelius and a big two-run single by Thursday night’s hero Berler.

Mizzou tacked on another run on an RBI single in the seventh inning by Bond. Junior RHP Andy Toelken (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) tossed shutout innings in the sixth and seventh. DH Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) roped a two-out double to score another in the eighth inning. Toelken then threw a shutout eighth inning and Mizzou closed it out from there to seal the win.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Griffons’ season ends as they blow ninth inning lead against UCO in NCAA Tournament

Posted on May 19, 2017May 20, 2017

EMPORIA, Kan. – The Missouri Western baseball team (32-22) fell to Central Oklahoma (34-20-1) 5-2 in an elimination game at the NCAA central regional Friday night. The loss ends the Griffons season after qualifying for back-to-back NCAA tournaments for the first time in program history.

NOTABLES
– Central Oklahoma took advantage of an early error but Missouri Western’s defense would limit the threat to just one run in the top of the third inning

– Alex Heuring tied the game at 1-1 as he scored on a Nick Gawley single to center field in the bottom of the third inning

– A sacrifice fly from Andrew Curry allowed David Glaude to put the Griffons up 2-1 in the sixth inning

– Nate Hunter retired 16 straight batters from the top of the 3rd inning to the top of 8th inning for Missouri Western

– Logan Marston led off the bottom of the eighth inning but MWSU would strand him at third base in the bottom of the eighth inning

– Three consecutive hits with two outs in the top of the ninth inning gave the Bronchos the lead 5-2

TOP PERFORMERS
– Nate Hunter tossed 8 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and allowed only one walk

– Nick Gawley was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI

– Central Oklahoma’s Kyle Miskovsky went 3-for-4 with two runs scored

– J.D. Cameron threw 7 1/3 innings for the Bronchos allowing two runs with five strikeouts

— MWSU Athletics —

Grifffons’ NCAA Tournament opener postponed to Friday

Posted on May 18, 2017

EMPORIA, Kan. – Missouri Western’s first round NCAA Central Regional tournament baseball game against St. Cloud State has been postponed to Friday at 10 a.m. due to inclement weather in the Emporia, Kansas area.

The teams were originally scheduled to play at 7:45 p.m. Thursday, but threatening weather delayed the game before tournament officials determined the game could not be played Thursday night.

If the 6th-seeded Griffons (32-20) defeat No. 3 seed St. Cloud State (39-16) on Friday, they will play Minnesota State at 10 a.m. on Saturday. That winner’s bracket game was originally scheduled for 7:45 p.m. on Friday.

If Western would lost to St. Cloud State they’ll play Central Oklahoma in an elimination game at 4 p.m. Friday.

All Missouri Western game can be heard on ESPN 1550 AM or click here.

— MWSU Athletics —

Duffy dominates as Royals top Yankees 5-1 to avoid sweep

Posted on May 18, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Danny Duffy knew his stumbling Royals desperately needed a win, so the left-hander showed up at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday night and began telling jokes and getting people laughing.

Anything to loosen them up.

Turned out Duffy had the last laugh.

He tossed seven innings of three-hit ball, Mike Moustakas hit a three-run homer and the Royals beat the New York Yankees 5-1 to avoid a three-game sweep.

“We’ve been in a little bit of a rut,” said Duffy (3-3), who struck out a season-best 10 while walking two and earning his first win since April 14. “I just wanted to get positive vibes going.”

Duffy, who had been 0-3 with two no-decisions in his last five starts, was lifted after 108 pitches. Mike Minor handled the eighth and Kelvin Herrera surrendered a run in the ninth.

“Danny was just on the attack all night,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He kept his pitch count down and really gave us seven strong innings.”

The Royals scored twice in the second off Jordan Montgomery (2-3) before Moustakas deposited his pitch into the bullpen in right in the fifth inning to break the game open.

Montgomery surrendered four hits and three walks over five innings.

“I’m just a 24-year-old with eight starts in my big league career and I’m trying to learn,” he said. “I know the fans expect more from me and I expect more from myself. I’ve got to do better.”

The Royals jumped ahead in the second thanks in part to the Yankees’ inability to turn a double play. They had runners on first and second when Jorge Soler sent a grounder to third base. The Yankees got the force at second but couldn’t convert the relay, keeping the inning alive.

Whit Merrifield and Drew Butera followed with RBI singles for a 2-0 lead.

Montgomery proceeded to set down the next seven batters he faced before Merrifield’s leadoff single in the fifth. Butera grounded into a fielder’s choice, Alcides Escobar walked and Moustakas sent the first pitch he saw into the bullpen in right for a three-run homer.

Meanwhile, Duffy was dodging all sorts of trouble.

After retiring his first nine batters, six by strikeout, Jacoby Ellsbury reached base with a well-timed bunt. He was initially called out but replays showed first baseman Eric Hosmer pulled his foot off the bag, and the call was overturned with Ellsbury getting a hit.

Duffy walked Matt Holliday later in the inning before escaping the jam.

“When you see a slider, you can always see the spin, but on his slider I didn’t see,” Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro said. “He don’t make too many mistakes.”

The left-hander also put two runners aboard leading off the fifth, one on an error by Moustakas and the other with a walk. But a double play and strikeout ended that inning without a run.

Duffy stranded a runner on third by striking out Aaron Hicks to end his night.

“You’re going to run into guys that have got good stuff and they’re on. On certain nights it’s going to be tough to put a lot up against them,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “We had a couple of chances, but weren’t able to get hits in those chances. Duffy did a really good job.”

STATS AND STREAKS

The Yankees were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. … New York had scored at least seven runs in each of its last four games. … The Royals avoided their first home sweep by the Yankees since May 10-12, 2013. … Kansas City committed two errors for the first time this season.

A-ROD’S DEBUT

Alex Rodriguez made his color commentating debut as Fox Sports broadcast the game. The former Yankees slugger chatted before the game with Girardi, who spent time broadcasting before becoming a manager. “The biggest thing as a broadcaster is you have to tell the story through your eyes. Don’t try to be something you’re not,” Girardi said. “The way you understood the game is the way you can probably tell the story the best.”

UP NEXT

Yankees RHP Luis Severino will start Friday night’s series opener at Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old Severino has pitched well enough for the Yankees to win three of his last four starts.

Royals RHP Nate Karns takes the mound as Kansas City begins a 10-game trip in Minnesota, where they were swept to start the season. The Royals were also swept by the Twins in a rain-shortened two-game set at Kauffman Stadium. Karns had a career-high 12 strikeouts against Baltimore his last time out.

— Associated Press —