Dave Riggert – Page 591 – St. Joseph Post Archive

St. Louis drops both games at Chicago Tuesday

Posted on July 7, 2015July 7, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — Addison Russell hit a tying single and scored during a three-run rally in the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 Tuesday to complete a day-night doubleheader sweep.

The Cubs won the opener 7-4 behind a strong start by Jake Arrieta, then came back late in the nightcap to beat the NL Central leaders for just the fourth time in 12 games.

Chicago scored three in the seventh to grab a 4-2 lead. Seth Maness (3-1) got ejected after giving up the tying single and replacement Kevin Siegrist threw away a grounder and allowed two more runs.

Travis Wood (5-3) pitched a scoreless seventh. Hector Rondon retired the side in the eighth.

Jason Motte gave up an RBI single to pinch-hitter Tony Cruz in the ninth. But he escaped with his fifth save in as many chances after Matt Carpenter fouled out and Jhonny Peralta grounded into a force to end the game.

Down 2-1, Chicago had runners on first and second with one out in the seventh when Russell hit an RBI single just inside the first base line.

As first base umpire Pat Hoberg called a fair ball, first baseman Mark Reynolds threw his arms up. Maness ran over and was tossed.

Siegrist came in, fielded Dexter Fowler’s comebacker and threw the ball into center field, trying for a forceout at second. That allowed Jonathan Herrera to score from third, and Anthony Rizzo had a sacrifice fly that made it 4-2.

Chicago got another run in the eighth when Jorge Soler doubled and Starlin Castro drove him in with a sacrifice fly.

The Cardinals scored two in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead while chasing out Dallas Beeler. The right-hander left to loud cheers with a 1-0 lead and runners on first and third.

Jason Heyward had an RBI grounder and Mark Reynolds drove in a run with an infield hit.

Beeler was charged with two runs over five-plus innings. He gave up four hits, struck out six and walked two after being called up from the minors as the 26th man.

Rookie Tim Cooney, making his third start, allowed one run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings for St. Louis.

In the opener, Arrieta (9-5) pitched into the seventh inning and also got a career-high two hits.

Rizzo launched his 16th homer, a two-run drive off Randy Choate that highlighted a four-run eighth after St. Louis pulled within one.

Arrieta gave up two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings and improved to 3-0 in his past four starts. He contributed a pair of singles and scored a run after starting the season 1 for 33.

Chris Denorfia had two hits and drove in three runs, knocking in two with a single in the third off Tyler Lyons (2-1).

HIT MAN

Rizzo set a modern franchise record in the first inning of the second game when he was hit by a pitch for the 18th time.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong was held out of the second game after banging his head in the opener. Wong was woozy after he sprawled out to catch a fly by Miguel Montero in shallow right field in the fifth inning. He was slow to get up and was replaced in the seventh. With Wong out of the lineup for the late game, Carpenter made his first start at second since 2013.

Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said he got a good report on RHP Rafael Soriano, who struck out three in an inning of relief Monday for Double-A Tennessee — his first appearance for the organization. Soriano, who has 207 career saves, signed last month and had to wait for his immigration paperwork to go through before coming to the United States from the Dominican Republic.

UP NEXT

All-Star Michael Wacha (10-3, 2.66) starts for St. Louis while RHP Jason Hammel (4-5, 2.89) pitches for Chicago.

— Associated Press —

Missouri’s Brothers, Hansbrough, Mauk earn spots on preseason watch lists

Posted on July 7, 2015July 7, 2015

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Maxwell Football Club announced its preseason 2015 Maxwell Award and Bednarik Award Watch Lists on Tuesday (July 7) and a trio of Mizzou Football standouts were represented. Senior LB Kentrell Brothers (Guthrie, Okla.) was named to the 21st Annual Bednarik Award Watch List, while senior RB Russell Hansbrough (Arlington, Texas) and junior QB Maty Mauk (Kenton, Ohio) each earned a spot on the 79th Annual Maxwell Award Watch List.

Brothers, the SEC’s top returning tackler from a season ago, is on the Bednarik Watch List for the first time in his career. The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995. Brothers accounted for 122 total tackles in 2015 (62 solo, 60 assists) while totaling 5.0 tackles-for-loss, four pass break-ups and a team-leading three forced fumbles. He started all 14 games a season ago and was an All-SEC Second Team pick by the Associated Press.

Hansbrough and Mauk, who combine to give Mizzou the most productive returning backfield in the SEC in 2015, both land on the Maxwell Award Watch List. The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937.

A veteran tailback who has rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in his Mizzou career, Hansbrough is on the Maxwell Award Watch List for the first time in his career. He led Mizzou with his first 1,000-yard season in 2014, totaling 1,084 yards, a mark that ranked sixth in the SEC despite starting just three games – he was also seventh in the SEC in rush yards per game. He was SEC Offensive Player of the Week and National Tailback of the Week following a 199-yard outburst at Texas A&M, the 10th-best single-game rush total in program history.

Mauk, a dual-threat playmaker, has won 14 of the 18 games he has started at quarterback in his career and gives Mizzou one of the most seasoned signal callers in the nation this season. He started all 14 games a season ago and threw for 2,648 total yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for 373 yards and two more scores. In 2014, he was sixth in the SEC in total offense and closed the season with seven consecutive games with a passer rating of 100.0 or better. He is sixth in program history with his 36 career TD tosses.

— MU Sports Information —

K-State’s Barnett on Bednarik Award watch list

Posted on July 7, 2015July 7, 2015

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State senior safety Dante Barnett was one of 80 players nationally to be named to the watch list for the 2015 Bednarik Award as the College Defensive Player of the Year, the Maxwell Football Club announced Tuesday.

Coming off a season in which he tallied 77 tackles, four tackles for loss, three interceptions and 11 total passes defended, Barnett earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches in addition to earning all-conference accolades from ESPN and Phil Steele.

A 2015 team captain and the top active Wildcat with 176 career tackles, Barnett earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors following last year’s Texas game when he totaled seven stops and four passes defended. He also had a season-high 12 tackles, including a career-best three tackles for loss against UTEP, while he had three interceptions in a four-game stretch against Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Kansas.

Barnett’s inclusion on the list marks the sixth time a Wildcat has been named a candidate for the Bednarik Award, including the fifth in the last four seasons. Cornerback Chris Canty was one of three finalists in 1996, while linebacker Arthur Brown was a semifinalist in 2012. Other previous Wildcat candidates include cornerback Nigel Malone (2012), defensive back Ty Zimmerman (2013) and defensive end Ryan Mueller (2014).

Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award will be announced on November 2, while the three finalists for the award will be unveiled November 23. The winner will be announced as part of The Home Depot College Football Awards Show held December 10, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

— KSU Sports Information —

NU’s Armstrong, Collins named to national award watch lists

Posted on July 7, 2015July 7, 2015

Nebraska juniors and team captains Tommy Armstrong Jr. and Maliek Collins were named to watch lists for prestigious national awards on Tuesday.

Armstrong was among the players named to the watch list for the 79th annual Maxwell Award, given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937. Collins was among the defensive players named to the watch list for the Bednarik Award, which has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1995.

The 6-1, 220-pound Armstrong has engineered the Nebraska offense each of the past two seasons, compiling a 16-5 record as the Huskers’ starting quarterback. In 2014, Armstrong compiled 3,400 yards of total offense, the third-best single-season total in Nebraska history. Armstrong passed for 2,695 yards and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 705 yards. The Cibolo, Texas, native set Nebraska sophomore records for passing yards, passing touchdowns and total offense in 2014.

Armstrong is one of 12 Big Ten players named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award.

Collins will man the interior of the Nebraska defensive front in 2015. Last season, the Kansas City native emerged as a dominant force at defensive tackle, leading the team with 14 tackles for loss, while adding 4.5 sacks. The 6-2, 300-pound Collins was at his best against the toughest foes, with 12 of his 14 tackles for loss coming in Big Ten Conference games or the bowl game against USC. Collins was named co-Defensive MVP for the Huskers in 2014, and was a second-team All-Big Ten pick.

Collins was among a group of 12 Big Ten defensive standouts on the watch list for the Bednarik Award.

Watch list announcements will continue throughout the next two weeks, with the watch lists for the Rimington Trophy (Center) and the Mackey Award (Tight End) unveiled on Wednesday.

— NU Sports Information —

USA stays unbeaten at World University Games with 106-41 win over Chile

Posted on July 7, 2015

JEOLINAMDO, Korea – Behind 23 points from guard Frank Mason III, the USA men’s basketball team jumped all over Chile from the start in posting a 106-41 win in its third contest of the World University Games Tuesday at Muan Indoor Gymnasium in Jeolinamdo, Korea. The facility is located an hour west of Gwangju, the host city for the Games.

With the win, the USA, which is comprised mainly of University of Kansas student-athletes and staff, improved to 3-0 in Pool D play, setting up a contest of undefeated teams when it will play Serbia on Wednesday, July 8, at noon local, 10 p.m., July 7 in Kansas. Also on Tuesday, Serbia defeated Turkey 61-43 to improve to 3-0. The top two of six teams from each of the four pools will play in the medal bracket in the World University Games.

Guard Nic Moore recorded two of his four first-half three-pointers within the first three minutes of the game. Guard Wayne Selden, Jr., sandwiched another three-pointer between Moore’s two to give the Americans a 9-2 lead. On USA’s next possession, Perry Ellis made a lay-in and then Carlton Bragg, Jr., hit a jumper to pile onto the Americans’ quick start, 13-2. USA led 22-11 at the end of the first quarter. Bragg, without his mask worn from a broken nose suffered in practice, started the game for USA.

Selden ended the contest with 18 points, while forward Hunter Mickelson scored 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Moore had 15 points, all from three-point range. Ellis had nine points and eight rebounds, while forward Landen Lucas led all rebounders with 14 boards to go along with six points. All-in-all, 11 of the 12 USA players reached the scoring column for the contest. Fernando Schuler led Chile with 17 points.

“We haven’t shot the ball over here very well at all,” head coach Bill Self said. “So it was great to come out like this and Nic (Moore) got us out to a good start. Of course, Wayne (Selden, Jr.) is playing at a ridiculously high level right now. Frank (Mason) made shots. Even though it wasn’t as competitive of a game, it was good to see our guys score real points to give ourselves a big lead.”

Mason led all scorers with 23 points, which included three traditional three-point plays. He had all 11 of his first-half points in the second quarter, which included two three-point plays and another trey. USA took its largest lead of the first half, 47-19, which was the halftime score, when Mason completed his second three-point play with 1:30 before intermission.

“It was huge,” Ellis said of the start. “We haven’t been getting out to quick starts these first couple games and coach was emphasizing that. We got out tonight and knocked down some shots and played some great defense. It was great for us.”

The second half was more of the same as the USA team scored 11 of the first 13 points after intermission with Mason scoring six, Selden three and Ellis two on one of many dunks for the Americans for the contest. In the fourth quarter, the USA team went on a 16-0 run to make the score 100-36.

USA dominated the boards for the second-straight game. The Americans outrebounded Brazil 50-27 on July 5 and then Chile, 52-28, Tuesday afternoon.

UP NEXT

The USA team will return to Dongkang College Gymnasium to take on Serbia in the battle of the Pool D undefeated teams on Wednesday, July 8, at noon, which is 10 p.m. on July 7 in Kansas. The game will be televised on ESPNU and seen on the Watch ESPN app.

— KU Sports Information —

Lackey outduels Lester, leads St. Louis to 6-0 win over Cubs

Posted on July 7, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — John Lackey threw seven scoreless innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0 on Monday night, despite Jon Lester’s taking a no-hitter into the seventh.

Signed to a six-year, $155 million deal the past offseason, Lester (4-7) remains winless in nine straight starts since he beat Pittsburgh on May 16. He allowed two hits and two unearned runs while striking out eight for Chicago, which had won five of six.

Lester’s bid for his second career no-hitter ended with one out in the seventh, when Kris Bryant couldn’t handle Jhonny Peralta’s sharp grounder in back of third base. That also ended Lester’s streak of 18 batters retired.

The Chicago defense then let Lester down when Bryant’s throw to second on a Jason Heyward grounder went into right field. That was followed by Yadier Molina’s run-scoring sacrifice fly to right and Kolten Wong’s RBI single to left that put St. Louis ahead 2-0.

Lackey and two relievers combined on a six-hit shutout.

Lester recorded the first hit of his MLB career when he hit an infield single in the second off John Lackey. He had been 0-for-66 overall, the longest such streak to start an MLB career, and 0-for-30 this season.

Unfortunately for Lester, Lackey (7-5) continued the offensive woes for the Cubs, who have scored three runs in just two of their past 13 games.

Lackey, who was a teammate of Lester’s in Boston from 2010-2014, struck out four and gave up six hits while walking one and getting enough support from a Cardinals offense that scored more than three runs for the first time since June 28.

The Cubs had a good chance in the sixth, when Anthony Rizzo and Bryant started the inning with singles. Miguel Montero struck out before Wong made a diving play on a sharp Starlin Castro grounder to start a double play and end the inning.

With that defense and the offense showing some signs of improvement, especially in a four-run ninth against Edwin Jackson, the Cardinals stayed hot and won their third straight and in a game delayed by rain for more than an hour in the middle of the eighth inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Jon Jay (left wrist) has been told to do nothing for the next week, in hopes the inaction will help the healing.

Cubs: RHP Rafael Soriano joined Double-A Tennessee after a brief time in Mesa, Arizona. Soriano was signed June 9 and had been in the Dominican Republic waiting for his immigration situation to clear up.

UP NEXT

Cardinals LHP Tyler Lyons (2-0, 5.09) faces Chicago RHP Jake Arrieta (8-5, 2.80) in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader. In the nightcap, St. Louis LHP Tim Cooney (0-0, 5.40) will oppose Cubs RHP Dallas Beeler, who is expected to be called up from Triple-A Iowa before the game.

— Associated Press —

Davis, Herrera make it six Royal All-Stars; Moustakas on fan ballot

Posted on July 6, 2015

NEW YORK — A record six Kansas City Royals were picked for the All-Star Game, with players electing pitcher Wade Davis, and AL manager Ned Yost of Kansas City selecting reliever Kelvin Herrera.

They join Royals outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon, catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Alcides Escobar, who were elected on Sunday as starters.

“The one thing that Kelvin did that a lot of these guys didn’t do was pitch in Game 7 of the World Series last year,” said Royals manager Ned Yost, who will manage the AL squad. “That was kind of the deciding factor for me.”

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas is among the five players on the AL fan ballot for the 34th and final roster spot.

Less than three months after making his major league debut, Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is an All-Star, one of two rookies selected along with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson.

The 23-year-old Bryant made his big league debut April 17 and began Monday with a .279 average, 12 homers and 49 RBIs.

“Obviously, I’ve been at some All-Star Games, but I don’t think anything can compare to making the major league All-Star team,” he said. “It is kind of weird right now. We have a game in an hour, so I’m trying not to get too excited and whatnot, but obviously it’s pretty cool.”

He’s open to participating in the Home Run Derby.

“It’s all happened so quick. I’ve just been having so much fun with this, my baseball career,” Bryant said. “Right now, it’s a pretty special feeling for me.”

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal also was a first-time selection Monday for the July 14 game in Cincinnati. Grandal became the third All-Star this year who served a drug-related suspension following MLB’s investigation of the Biogenesis of America clinic. Seattle slugger Nelson Cruz and St. Louis shortstop Jhonny Peralta were elected by fans to start.

Albert Pujols of the Angels will start at first base for the AL in place of Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera, who injured a calf muscle Friday. Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen will start in the NL outfield instead of Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton, who broke his hand June 26.

There was no room on the roster for Alex Rodriguez, who is enjoying a renaissance in his return to the New York Yankees following a season-long drug suspension.

The three-time MVP, who turns 40 on July 27, has 16 home runs and 47 RBIs for the Yankees after missing last year because of a drug suspension.

“We talked a lot about Alex Rodriguez,” Yost said. “I just felt very strongly if we could get another infielder or another outfielder out of that five-man vote, it would help us.”

The league that wins the All-Star Game gets home-field advantage in the World Series.

Rodriguez is hitting .284 during a season in which he passed Willie Mays for fourth on the career home-run list and topped 3,000 hits. But Texas’ Prince Fielder, who was elected by players, joined Cruz as the only DHs on the AL roster.

“As I’ve said all season, my number one goal is helping the Yankees win a championship. I’m excited that we’re in a good position to get there,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Of course, it would have been an honor to represent the American League next week, but I’ll have fun cheering on the guys who were put on the team and watching them protect home field.”

Yankees reliever Dellin Betances was elected by players, and first baseman Mark Teixeira was picked to fill Cabrera’s roster spot. But this will be the first All-Star Game with no Yankees starters since 1999.

St. Louis tops the NL with five players. Peralta was elected to start along with outfielder Matt Holliday, who isn’t sure when he’ll be activated from the disabled list. Catcher Yadier Molina and reliever Trevor Rosenthal were elected by players, and NL manager Bruce Bochy of San Francisco picked pitcher Michael Wacha.

Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman was elected by players and is the second member of the hometown Reds on the NL roster. Third baseman Todd Frazier was elected to start.

Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett, in his 17th and what he says will be his final season, became an All-Star for the first time. At 38, he’s the oldest player headed to the game.

Washington outfielder Bryce Harper, a three-time All-Star at age 22, is the youngest. Harper said Monday he won’t participate in the Home Run Derby because his father isn’t available to pitch to him following shoulder surgery.

There are 16 All-Stars born outside the 50 states, including six Venezuelans, five Dominicans, three Cubans, one Canadian and one Puerto Rican.

AL starting pitchers include Seattle’s Felix Hernandez, Detroit’s David Price, Chicago’s Chris Sale, Houston’s Dallas Keuchel, Oakland’s Sonny Gray and Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer. Among the NL starting pitchers are Washington’s Max Scherzer, San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner, the Dodgers’ Zack Greinke, the Mets’ Jacob deGrom, Pittsburgh’s Gerrit Cole and Atlanta’s Shelby Miller.

“New team. New league. It’s just getting a look at everybody,” said Scherzer, who left Detroit to sign a $210 million deal with the Nationals. “Everybody’s getting their first look at me and the things I’ve done. I’m sure they’ll make adjustments the rest of the year. That’s why it’s going to be a difficult challenge for me.”

Joining Moustakas on the ballot for the AL’s final spot are Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Detroit outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier and Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner. The NL ballot includes pitchers Johnny Cueto of Cincinnati, Jeurys Familia of the Mets, Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers and Carlos Martinez of the Cardinals along with Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Voting runs until Friday afternoon.

— Associated Press —

Northwest promotes Meyer to men’s basketball Associate Head Coach

Posted on July 6, 2015

by David Boyce

MARYVILLE, Mo. – During the 2010-11 season, Austin Meyer was in his third season as assistant men’s basketball coach at Northwest Missouri State when the Bearcats suffered their third straight losing season.

The last two of those seasons were under Ben McCollum, a young head coach learning the ropes in the rugged MIAA. A 22-31 record in those two years might cause some assistant coaches to do much more than dust off the resume.

But that’s not in Meyer’s DNA. Meyer, who played fours at Northwest, believed in McCollum.

“Playing with him as a teammate, he was that guy who had that drive,” Meyer said. “He went full throttle every time he was on the floor. He was the same way when I started working for him as a coach.

“There were still plenty of positive people who felt like we were going to get the job done. I’m sure there were some who thought these guys don’t know what the heck they are doing. I was very confident that with his competitiveness and work ethic that we would be able to get it going in the right direction.”

Considering the last four years of incredible success – three trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament and three MIAA regular-season championships, it is hard to remember Northwest was 12-15 in the 2009-10 season and 10-16 in 2010-11.

Loyalty through the two lean years meant a lot to McCollum.

“That is very difficult to do when you are with a 27-year-old, 28-year-old head coach,” McCollum said. “He stuck with me through that and with the program. He stuck with the process. That says a lot about his character.

“A lot of guys would have jumped ship or you would have heard them around town about how coach Mac can’t coach. I never heard that from anybody regards to him and that means a lot.”

As an assistant coach, Meyer did much more than just believe in McCollum. He worked and worked hard. Some of his duties included working with post players and being the top recruiter.

A big reason for Northwest’s four-year run is the recruitment and then development of high school players.

“He is an excellent recruiter,” McCollum said. “If you put him on one or two guys, he generally gets the job done.”

McCollum appreciates the job Meyer has done so much that he is elevating him to associate head coach, starting July 1.

“I think he is ready to be a head coach,” McCollum said. “He has been extremely valuable in a lot of different ways. The thing for my coaching staff and me is he is opposite from the way I am. He is laidback and goes with the flow. I’m a little more high strung. We fit perfectly together. He keeps the job fun. I try to do the same.”

Meyer said the promotion means a lot to him.

“I’ve been here for a while,” Meyer said. “I really like working for him. He has always fought for everybody, players and staff.”

Meyer loves Northwest. He arrived from Blue Springs High School more than a decade ago. He played four seasons for Steve Tappmeyer. When Meyer’s basketball playing days ended, he thought about going to Europe and playing professionally.

“But the graduate assistant position opened up and they hired me,” Meyer said. “After the graduate assistant position was done, a slot opened up as a fulltime assistant and I was fortunate enough that Tapp took a chance on me. I didn’t know what I was doing at that age.”

Meyer soaked in a lot of basketball knowledge in those seven years with Tappmeyer. And Meyer’s easygoing personality fit perfectly for the staff. Tappmeyer and McCollum bring a lot of intensity, but part of that comes with being a head coach.

One day, Meyer wants to be in those shoes.

“I have a very strong desire to be a head coach,” Meyer said. “I’ve talked a lot with people who have asked. I am not in any hurry to get out. I know there are a lot of people who job jump, always looking for the next job. I am a little different. I feel very comfortable where I am. I love the people I work with and work for and the kids we recruit. I enjoy going to practice every single day and seeing these kids.

“If a job opens up that I have a chance at and I don’t see a great chance of winning or great support, I am not going to take it just to say I am a head coach.”

In his new role, Meyer will get a little more taste of what it is like to be a head coach.

“I will put more decisions on him where he has to be the final say rather than suggesting,” McCollum said. “That is the big thing between assistant and head coach. Now you have to make the decision. It makes a big difference in how you do things.”

Don’t expect Meyer’s personality to change when he is given an opportunity to make a decision. He understands perfectly that McCollum is the head coach. Meyer’s job is to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

But Meyer is ready for that moment in practice or a game when McCollum turns to him and ask for a decision that the Bearcats will follow.

“He has used a lot of suggestions I have said,” Meyer said. “I think it is tough sometimes because as a head coach, you have everybody on the bench telling you something.

“I will give a suggestion when I strongly feel about something. But a lot of times I am confident that what he is doing is the right thing and I am going to support him on whatever he does. It is easy to second guess things after it happens.”

One of these years down the road, Meyer will depart Northwest for his own program. For now, Meyer is happy helping to make the Bearcats the best team in the MIAA and in NCAA Division II.

“This is my alma mater,” Meyer said. “There are some great people who work here and are associated with our university.”

— Northwest Athletics —

Nine Mustangs selected to MINK League All-Star Game

Posted on July 6, 2015

The St. Joseph Mustangs will be well represented in the inaugural MINK League All-Star Game this Thursday inside Phil Welch Stadium as nine members of St. Joe’s summer college baseball team have been selected to the North roster.

Catcher Francisco Alvarez, first baseman Ramsey Scott, third baseman Josh Cassidy, Outfielders Jacob Richardson and Orencio Fisher, designated hitter Trent Hill and pitchers Preston Felgate, Austin Aspegren and Steve D’Amico.

The Mustangs have the most of any North or South team as each roster will consist of 30 players.

There will be a home run derby that begins at 5:20 p.m. on Thursday and the All-Star game will take place around 7:15 p.m.

Each team got to choose one player to compete in the home run derby and St. Joseph’s Trent Hill will represent the Mustangs.

The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ AM and here on StJosephPost.com.

Below is the entire list of 2015 MINK League All-Stars:

North All-Stars
C- Francisco Alvarez- St. Joseph
C- John Remick- Chillicothe
1B- Ramsey Scott- St. Joseph
1B- Derek Rodigo- Chillicothe
2B- Dakota Woods- Clarinda
2B- Trey Harris- Sedalia
SS- Landen Mason- Sedalia
SS- Clayton Daniels- Clarinda
3B- Josh Cassidy- St. Joseph
3B- Jonathan Ramon- Sedalia
OF- Jacob Richardson- St. Joseph
OF- Thomas Lerouge- Chillicothe
OF- Michael Haun- Chillicothe
OF- Jarod Perry- Sedalia
OF- Jordan Dey- Sedalia
OF- Orencio Fisher- St. Joseph
OF- Justin Holt-Sedalia
DH- Zack Belanger-Clarinda
DH- Trent Hill-St. Joseph
P-Preston Felgate- St. Joseph
P-Sam Perez- Sedalia
P-Justin Hoyt- Clarinda
P- Michael Johnson- Clarinda
P-Dylan Hastings- Sedalia
P- Austin Aspegren- St. Joseph
P- Robert Beltran- Chillicothe
P- Travis Booth- Chillicothe
P- Caleb Bounds-Chillicothe
P- Justin Murphy- Sedalia
P- Steve D’Amico- St. Joseph

South All-Stars
C- Nathan Schwertner- Ozark
C- Nelson Mompierre- Branson
1B- Andrew Kendrick- Ozark
1B- Taylor Walker- Nevada
2B- Tanner Allen- Ozark
2B- Robert Prieto- Ozark
SS- Brad Jelinek- Branson
SS- Garrett Mays- Branson
3B- Kurt Becker- Nevada
3B- Daltan Lovell- Joplin
OF- Jaime Graeser- Nevada
OF- Kasey Cooper- Branson
OF- Brandon Pugh- Joplin
OF- Jake Stafford- Ozark
OF- Dusty Wright- Nevada
OF- Trey Turner- Branson
DH- Josh Vanderpool- Joplin
DH- Kolby Follis- Branson
P- Shea Nixon- Nevada
P- Josh Green- Nevada
P- Trey Watson- Ozark
P- Jake Lawrence- Ozark
P- Ryan Logan- Branson
P- Austin Kretchmar- Branson
P- JC Hatcher- Joplin
P- Ethan Moore- Joplin
P- Tucker Mettlach- Joplin
P- Luke Kelly- Joplin

Missouri State finalizes 2015-2016 men’s basketball non-conference schedule

Posted on July 6, 2015

SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State men’s basketball coach Paul Lusk has put the finishing touches on his team’s 2015-16 non-conference schedule, the Bears’ fifth-year mentor announced Wednesday (July 1). The 12-game slate will feature up to seven opponents that finished in the top 60 of the NCAA’s RPI last season with six NCAA Tournament foes and nine postseason qualifiers in all lined up for potential matchups with the Bears this winter.

“We have worked very hard to put together a competitive schedule for our team and our fans, and I think we have achieved that,” Lusk said. “We will have six home games against some quality teams like Tulsa and Utah State. And then we play three true road games – all against teams that played in the postseason last year. We are also excited to play in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in November which is stacked topped to bottom, including three NCAA Tournament teams.”

The Bears won’t have to wait long to head south for the Ninth Annual Puerto Rico Tip-Off, opening at Oral Roberts on Nov. 13 before traveling to San Juan, Nov. 19-22. The Bears split last season’s regular-season series with the Golden Eagles who were 19-15 overall a year ago while advancing to postseason play in the CBI. Oral Roberts will return the trip to Springfield on Dec. 16.

The Puerto Rico Tip-Off will be played at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan and televised in its entirety on ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3, giving the Bears three games on national television against some fashionable foes. Three teams in the field made NCAA Tournament runs in 2015, including Butler which was 23-11 overall with an RPI of 30. Utah finished with the No. 13 RPI in the Division I ranks last season after going 26-9, while Temple was 33rd with a 26-11 ledger. The field in San Juan also features Miami (Fla.) which advanced to Madison Square Garden in the 2015 NIT after a 25-13 season and RPI of 47.

The rest of the field includes Minnesota (18-15), Texas Tech (13-19) and Mississippi State (13-19). Pairings for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off will be announced in August with more tournament information and travel packages available at PuertoRicoTipoff.com.

Upon returning from Puerto Rico, MSU will play its home opener at JQH Arena on Friday, Nov. 27 against in-state NAIA foe William Woods to lead off six games at The Q in less than a month’s span.

December begins with a home matchup with Utah State in the revamped Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge. The Aggies finished 18-13 last season and will be playing the Bears for the first time.

The Bears travel to Oklahoma State on Saturday, Dec. 5 in what will be the fourth matchup between the two clubs in a six-year span. The Cowboys had the nation’s 59th-best RPI and are coming off an 18-14 campaign that culminated in an NCAA Tournament berth.

A three-game home stand follows with IUPUI (Dec. 10), Tulsa (Dec. 13) and Oral Roberts (Dec. 16) visiting JQH Arena in a week’s span. Tulsa boasted a top 50 RPI in 2014-15, finishing 23-11 overall with a run to the NIT.

Another NCAA Tournament foe awaits MSU on Saturday, Dec. 19 when the Bears travel to former Mid-Continent rival Valparaiso. The Crusaders finished 28-6 last season with a final RPI of 56. It will be the third contest between Missouri State and Valpo in the last six seasons.

Lusk’s troops wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule on Dec. 22 with a visit from long-standing rival Southeast Missouri State. The Redhawks and new head coach Rick Ray – who coached alongside Lusk as a fellow assistant at Purdue – will play the Bears for the 145th time in the longest-standing rivalry for the basketball Bears.

The 18-game Missouri Valley Conference portion of the schedule will be finalized and announced by the league later this summer. The MVC Tournament will return to Scottrade Center in St. Louis, March 3-6.

Lusk returns eight players, including all five starters, for his fifth year in Springfield. He also has added three transfer players and three incoming freshman for the upcoming season.

— MSU Sports Information —