Dave Riggert – Page 593 – St. Joseph Post Archive

USA wins World University Games opener against Turkey

Posted on July 3, 2015July 4, 2015

GWANGJU, Korea – Kansas men’s basketball, representing the USA National Team, gave its home country a little more to celebrate on Independence Day by defeating Turkey 66-57 in the opening round of the 2015 World University Games at Dongkang College Gymnasium in Gwangju, Korea.

Behind 19 points from Wayne Selden, Jr., the USA Team (1-0) used a 12-2 run to open the second half and overcome a 36-32 deficit en route to the victory in Pool D play. The USA Team was powered by a 10-player rotation that eventually wore the Turkey squad down.

“We didn’t play very good individually but we did defend really well the last 45 minutes as a team,” USA head coach Bill Self said. “I think that was a difference and I also think conditioning was a difference. They were so much better than us early on. From the 15-minute mark on, I felt like if we could push the pace, that eventually they would wear down. They got tired.”

Selden led all scorers, just missing a double-double with nine rebounds, which also led both teams for the game. Forward Perry Ellis scored 17 points and pulled down six rebounds, while guard Frank Mason III added 12 points and four assists. Guard Nic Moore had nine points, which included two three-pointers. Turkey (0-1) was led by Muhammed Senli who scored 18 points, including 15 in the first half before being limited due to an injury.

“We wanted to try and get out and run as much as we could,” Ellis said. “They slowed us down a little bit, but we still grinded the game out and won. That’s all that counts.”

The USA squad scored the first five points of the contest on an Ellis three and a lay-in from forward Jamari Traylor, but that did not phase the Turkey squad as they scored the next 12 points to take a 12-5 lead. Included was two of Turkey’s four three-pointers in the first period alone. Two Mason buckets cut the lead to 19-11 with just over two minutes in the opening period.

“The competition was high level against a team we’re not familiar with,” Moore said. “But we stuck it out and played all four quarters.”

Trailing 21-12 heading into the second quarter, Moore capped a 7-0 USA run by draining a three-pointer from the corner. A minute later, the USA would tie the game at 23-23 on a Hunter Mickelson follow. Turkey then made two threes to build back a six-point cushion at 29-23 with 3:55 before half. Ellis would later get a steal and basket to cut the lead to one at 33-32, yet Sertac Sanli drained a three with seven seconds to give Turkey a 36-32 edge at intermission.

After its 12-2 run to open the second half, the USA Team led 39-38 and never gave the lead back to Turkey. Selden ended the third quarter with an alley-oop dunk from Moore to give the USA Team a 54-47 lead heading into the fourth stanza. Out of the break, Selden then recorded a traditional three-point play off an offensive rebound and put back to give USA its largest lead of the game at 57-47 with 8:54 to play in the contest.

Turkey was able to cut the lead to four at 61-57 with just over four minutes left, but forward Landen Lucas followed an Ellis miss with a lay-in and Mason iced the game with one of his signature driving layups and a free throw as the Rock Chalk Chant started by the couple hundred KU faithful in attendance with just over 30 seconds remaining.

UP NEXT

The USA team will return to Dongkang College Gymnasium for its second game in as many days when it plays Brazil, a Pool D contender. Tip is set for 8:30 p.m. local which is 6:30 a.m. in Kansas. The game will be televised on ESPNU and the Watch ESPN app.

— KU Sports Information —

Cain has 3 hits to lead Royals over Twins 3-2 in 10 innings

Posted on July 3, 2015July 4, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lorenzo Cain had a hand’s on approach in the Kansas City Royals’ come-from-behind victory.

Cain had three hits and scored the winning run in the 10th inning as the Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 on Friday night to snap a season-high four-game losing streak.

Cain led off the bottom of the 10th with a double, went to third on a wild pitch by Aaron Thompson (1-3) and scored on Jarrod Dyson’s fielder’s choice grounder to first baseman Joe Mauer.

“I knew I was definitely safe,” Cain said. “I felt my hand get in there before he tagged me. I was going on contact, but I kind of hesitated for a split second.”

Cain’s head first slide beat catcher Kurt Suzuki’s tag.

“He beat it,” Suzuki said. “He’s pretty fast. The play happens so fast. You have to be ready to make the play, to catch it and put the tag down. He’s going on contact. It was a chopper. Speed kills.”

The Twins challenged the call, but after a 99-second review the ruling on the field stood.

Wade Davis (4-1) worked a spotless 10th and lowered his ERA to 0.26.

The Royals tied it 2-2 in the eighth off Casey Fien when Kendrys Morales’ two-out single drove home Cain, who had singled and stole second. Morales leads the Royals with 51 RBI.

“We definitely need this win,” Cain said. “We lost four in a row and it was definitely tough to go through. We found a way to get it done in the 10th.”

The Royals muffed a chance to win it in the ninth when they loaded the bases with one out, but came away empty after Mike Moustakas flied out to Aaron Hicks in shallow right-center. Pinch-runner Dusty Coleman, making his major league debut, was at third and started home, but then stopped about half way down and was caught in a rundown.

“It’s my fault,” Coleman said. “I should have been at full speed, making them make the play at home.”

Coleman ran for Salvador Perez, who led off the inning with a single. After Alex Rios’ single, Omar Infante’s sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third and Alcides Escobar was walked intentionally to load the bases.

Minnesota super prospect Miguel Sano had a double, an RBI and scored a run in his second major league game.

Sano opened the fifth with a double to left-center, advanced to third on Eduardo Escobar’s infield single and scored on Hicks’ sacrifice fly.

Sano’s second-inning single scored Eddie Rosario, who led off with a double.

Left-hander Tommy Milone limited the Royals to one run and five hits, while striking out five and walking two in six innings.

Milone gave up a run and three hits in the third. Cain’s two-out single scored Rios.

Royals right-hander Jeremy Guthrie allowed two runs and six hits over 7 1/3 innings, throwing a season-high 110 pitches.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: OF Shane Robinson was placed on the family emergency list to be with his 8-month-old daughter Harper in Boston after complications from esophagus surgery. Robinson is not anticipated to rejoin the team until Monday at the soonest. The Twins recalled Hicks from Triple-A Rochester, where he was on a rehab assignment. He went on the DL on June 13 with a strained right forearm.

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura (irritated ulnar nerve) threw about a 30-pitch bullpen session Friday. He will likely require another rehab start before coming off the DL.

UP NEXT:

Twins: RHP Mike Pelfrey is winless in his past four starts with an 8.85 ERA. He yielded eight runs and nine hits in two innings Monday in a loss at Cincinnati, his shortest outing since May 21, 2013.

Royals: RHP Joe Blanton is 5-6 with a 4.50 ERA in 11 starts against Minnesota.

COLON SENT DOWN

INF Christian Colon, who was the fourth pick in the 2010 draft, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. Manager Ned Yost said they want to get more playing for Colon, who had only 78 at-bats in the Royals’ first 76 games. The Royals promoted Coleman from Triple-A Omaha, where he hit .280 in 43 games.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals fall to San Diego for fourth consecutive loss

Posted on July 3, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jedd Gyorko homered in the seventh inning to tie the game and then had a run-scoring single in the ninth to lead the San Diego Padres to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

San Diego won the first two games of the four-game series after losing three straight.

St. Louis lost a season-high fourth straight home game but the Cardinals are still a major league-best 29-11 at home.

Gyorko hit a 3-2 pitch from closer Trevor Rosenthal (1-1) to bring in Yangervis Solarte, who hit a one-out triple.

Joaquin Benoit (5-3) picked up the win in relief.

Craig Kimbrel recorded his 21st save in 22 opportunities. He got Jason Heyward to ground into a game-ending double play.

St. Louis starter Michael Wacha, in his first career appearance against the Padres, gave up one run and five hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked one.

San Diego starter Andrew Cashner allowed one run and three hits in six innings.

The Cardinals scored in the fifth inning on a double-play groundout by Xavier Scruggs. Heyward and Yadier Molina singled to start the rally. Randal Grichuk coaxed a nine-pitch walk after falling behind 0-2 to load the bases.

Justin Upton of the Padres broke an 0-for-17 skid with a single in the sixth.

TRAINER’S ROOM:

Cardinals: OF Jon Jay was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 1 with a stress reaction in his left wrist. Jay was hitting .223 with one homer and 10 RBIS. He is on the DL for the second time this season with an earlier stint from May 14-28 with left wrist tendinitis.

Padres: INF Will Middlebrooks did not start for the fourth straight game after rolling his ankle Sunday against Arizona. Middlebrooks pinch hit on Tuesday and Thursday.

UP NEXT:

St. Louis RHP Carlos Martinez (9-3, 2.80) will face RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (3-6, 4.94) in the third game of the four-game set on Saturday. Martinez leads the Cardinals with 100 strikeouts. Despaigne has allowed eight earned runs over his last two starts covering 11 innings.

— Associated Press —

St. Joseph uses five-run sixth inning to take down Clarinda

Posted on July 2, 2015

The St. Joseph Mustangs won their second consecutive game as they defeated Clarinda 7-3 Thursday night inside Phil Welch Stadium.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team is now 23-9 this season and 20-8 in the MINK League.

The Mustangs took a 2-0 lead as Josh Cassidy hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning and they added an unearned run in the third.

Clarinda tied the game with two runs in the top of the sixth inning, but St. Joseph answered right back with a five-run bottom half of the sixth inning.

Jackson Schnurbusch hit a two-run double in the sixth and Jacob Richardson capped it off with his first home run that also scored two runs.

Humberto Medina earned the win in relief as he threw 1.1 scoreless innings. Miles Gully started for the Mustangs and he allowed two runs on five hits in 5.2 innings of work.

Jordan Powell had three hits to lead St. Joe, while Richardson and Brett Bond each had two.

The Mustangs are back at home Friday night as they play a group of All-Stars from the Ban Johnson League in Kansas City. The first pitch is at 7:00 p.m.

Royals lose fourth straight as they drop series opener to Twins

Posted on July 2, 2015July 2, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kyle Gibson threw eight innings of four-hit ball, Danny Santana and Eduardo Escobar had RBI triples, and the Minnesota Twins beat the AL Central-leading Kansas City Royals 2-0 Thursday night.

Gibson (6-6) stranded a pair of runners in the eighth before turning the lead over to Glen Perkins, who remained perfect in 26 save attempts. Perkins is two saves shy of matching Eddie Guardado (116) for third-most in Twins history.

The Royals’ Chris Young (7-4) dodged trouble for most of 5 1/3 innings, the only run he allowed coming on a triple by Santana in the fifth. The big, lanky right-hander turned over a 1-0 deficit to the game’s best bullpen, but his offense was unable to bail him out.

It was a good way to start the four-game set for the second-place Twins, who dropped four of their first six on a 10-game road trip.

Kansas City has lost four straight. Two of them have been shutouts.

The fact that the Royals were even in the game was surprising. The Twins collected five extra-base hits — including the run-scoring triples — and had runners advance three times when Young threw a pitch that got away from Royals catcher Salvador Perez.

Then again, all Minnesota needed was a run against the slumping Royals.

Two of Kansas City’s four hits were bunts against the shift, and the hardest-hit ball — a single by Lorenzo Cain in the fourth — led to the most frustrating frame of the night: Kansas City went on to load the bases before Perez struck out looking to end the inning.

Not that it should have been surprising that Gibson shut them down.

The former University of Missouri star came into the game with 4-2 record and 2.68 ERA in six starts against the Royals. Even in a relatively poor start against them in June, when he took the loss at Target Field, Gibson’s sinker still drove the Kansas City hitters to fits.

Just as it did again on Thursday night.

SANO’S DEBUT

Miguel Sano, one of baseball’s top prospects, made his big league debut for Minnesota. The power hitter from the Dominican Republic was the designated hitter and beat out an infield single for his first career hit in the ninth inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: RHP Ricky Nolasco received another opinion on bone chips in his right ankle, but no decision has been made on a course of treatment. … CF Byron Buxton (sprained left thumb) is still dealing with swelling, though manager Paul Molitor said he is improving.

Royals: 1B Eric Hosmer (sprained right ring finger) was back in the starting lineup. … LHP Jason Vargas (left flexor strain) threw 40 pitches in a simulated game. He’ll throw 60 pitches on Tuesday. “It was very encouraging,” manager Ned Yost said.

UP NEXT

Twins: Molitor officially announced that RHP Ervin Santana will return from his suspension to start the series finale Sunday. LHP Tommy Milone takes the mound Friday night and RHP Mike Pelfrey gets the start Saturday.

Royals: RHP Jeremy Guthrie tries to continue his dominance Friday at Kauffman Stadium, where he is 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA over his last four starts.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis falls to San Diego in 11 innings

Posted on July 2, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Will Venable hit a pinch-hit two-run home run in the top of the 11th inning and the San Diego Padres snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the suddenly scuffling St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.

Venable had been 1 for 17 coming off the bench before connecting on the first pitch from Carlos Villanueva (3-3) after the Padres successfully challenged a fair-foul ruling that resulted in a ground-rule double by Clint Barmes. The ball appeared to tick the line as right fielder Jason Heyward made an unsuccessful attempt at a sliding catch near the stands. Venable followed with his sixth homer of the year.

Shawn Kelley (1-2) had four strikeouts in two scoreless innings and Craig Kimbrel earned his 20th save in 21 chances.

Heyward and Matt Carpenter had two hits and an RBI apiece for the Cardinals.

— Associated Press —

USA rolls past China in final exhibition for World University Games

Posted on July 2, 2015

GWANGJU, Korea – Kansas men’s basketball, representing the USA National Team at the 2015 World University Games, ran past China 93-56 in a scrimmage game Thursday afternoon at the Seolwol Girls School Gymnasium in Gwangju, Korea.

Down 11-7 midway through the first quarter, guard Tyler Self started a USA 11-2 run by hitting a jumper followed by a Perry Ellis alley-oop from guard Evan Manning to put the Americans up 18-13. USA took a 20-16 advantage into the second quarter.

With a 26-22 lead, the USA squad went on a 10-0 run midway through the second period to build a 14-point cushion. Forward Landen Lucas scored eight of the team’s 10 points, including three dunks. The China team cut the lead back to single digits by scoring the final five points of the half giving the Americans a 36-27 lead at intermission.

“We played fast, so we looked pretty athletic,” USA coach Bill Self said following the victory. “The biggest thing is everybody got to play. We still make the game harder for us than it actually is at certain times. If we could just get to where we guard the ball and become a better rebounding team, I think we could be pretty good. We don’t have the full complement of our guys but the guys who are playing are doing a really nice job. I’m happy to be around them and happy to coach them.”

Once again, the USA Team used it athleticism to blow by the China squad as it opened the third quarter with a 12-3 stretch which included six points from forward Hunter Mickelson and four from guard Julian DeBose to give the USA a 48-31 lead.

The USA Team saved it best energy for the fourth quarter as it outscored China 36-18 in cruising to the victory. In the run the Americans had five fast-break dunks and drained four three-pointers.

Opening Ceremonies are set for Friday, July 3 and the USA delegation said the event is sold out and expect more than 40,000 people inside Gwangju Universiade Main Stadium. The Opening Ceremonies are set to being at 7 p.m., 5 p.m. in Kansas, can be seen live online at http://www.livefisu.tv/home.

The USA will begin World University Game Pool D competition when it plays Turkey on July 4 at noon, which is July 3 at 10 p.m. in Kansas. The game will be played at Dongkang Gymnasium and televised on ESPNU.

— KU Sports Information —

Missouri State’s Lusk finalizes coaching staff with hiring of Corey Gipson

Posted on July 2, 2015July 2, 2015

SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State men’s basketball coach Paul Lusk put the final piece for his coaching staff in place Thursday with the announced hire of assistant coach Corey Gipson, a native of Sikeston, Mo.

Gipson has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., where he helped lead the Governors to consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championships as a player in 2002-03 and 2003-04.

“I’m excited to add coach Gipson to our staff,” said Lusk who is entering his fifth season at the helm of the Bears. “He played for Gene Bess and Dave Loos, two guys I have a great amount of respect for. He has roots in the state of Missouri, and he will do a great job recruiting the Midwest as well as other parts of the country.”

Gipson previously spent two seasons as associate head coach at North Carolina Greensboro (2010-12) after one year (2009-10) there as assistant coach. He earned his promotion to associate head coach at UNCG primarily due to his exceptional recruiting skills. His coaching history also includes a stop at Division II Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va., where he coordinated the Trojans’ recruiting efforts for head coach Tony Collins from 2005-09. Collins was a longtime assistant at APSU and recruited Gipson out of junior college.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get back to my home state where I have a lot of Missouri and regional ties,” Gipson said. “Having watched him from afar, I feel like I’ve known Coach Lusk for a long time. I’ve watched him as a player at SIU and as a coach at Purdue and Missouri State, and I have a great deal of respect for him. It’s truly a blessing to be part of the Missouri State program, the great tradition there, and the community in Springfield.”

As a player at Austin Peay, Gipson was a two-year starter at point guard for coach Loos, helping the Govs become the top defensive team in the OVC in both of his seasons. APSU went 45-18 in that span and never lost a home game (27-0) in two seasons. He averaged 7.7 points, 2.1 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game during his career. He also made 94 three-pointers, shooting 34.1 percent from three-point range. He was part of an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003 and NIT run in 2004.

Gipson earned both his bachelor’s (2004) and master’s degrees (2005) from Austin Peay. He also earned an associate’s degree from Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., where he played two seasons for legendary coach Gene Bess before transferring to Austin Peay.

As a prep standout at Richland High School, near Sikeston, he was a Missouri Mr. Show-Me Basketball nominee as a senior, averaging 30.9 points per contest in 1999. He also earned consensus all-state honors that season.

Gipson will join current assistants Brad Korn, who begins his third season at MSU, Matt Sligh, who joined the program in April, and newly-named Director of Basketball Operations, Cody Seidel, on Lusk’s staff this season. His hire is contingent upon final approval by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at its next scheduled meeting in August.

— MSU Sports Information —

Cards fire scouting director amid hacking scandal

Posted on July 2, 2015

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Cardinals said Thursday that they have fired scouting director Chris Correa, the first known fallout from the hacking scandal that has resulted in a federal investigation into whether the team illegally got inside the player personnel database of the Houston Astros.

The Cardinals declined to say why Correa was fired but confirmed that he had been let go a day earlier after a team-imposed leave of absence. The team is investigating the alleged hacking, as is the FBI.

“At this time, it’s still an ongoing investigation and there’s really nothing more I can add at this point,” general manager John Mozeliak said before a game against the San Diego Padres.

Jim Martin, an attorney hired by the Cardinals in February, declined to say how long Correa had been on leave. Correa, who was promoted to director of amateur scouting during the offseason, shepherded some of the team’s top draft picks this season to interviews at Busch Stadium just a few weeks ago.

Martin said no other employees had been terminated and the investigation wasn’t done.

“I can’t give you an end point,” he said, “but our internal review is still ongoing.”

Nicholas Williams, an attorney for Correa, said in a statement that Correa “denies any illegal conduct” and instead pointed at the Astros.

“The relevant inquiry should be what information did former St. Louis Cardinals employees steal from the St. Louis Cardinals organization prior to joining the Houston Astros, and who in the Houston Astros organization authorized, consented to, or benefited from that roguish behavior,” said Williams, who didn’t return a message left seeking additional comment.

Jeff Luhnow, who headed the Cardinals’ scouting and player development department and was a key proponent of the team’s Redbird database, was hired as the Astros general manager in December 2011. At least one former Cardinals employee — Sig Mejdal, a former NASA employee and analytics expert — joined Luhnow in Houston.

Asked about Williams’ comment, Astros general counsel Giles Kibbe would only say “We look forward to the FBI concluding their investigation.”

The hack was first reported in June 2014 after some trade talk was published online. The Astros rely heavily on analytics in their evaluation of players and use an online database called Ground Control to house proprietary information.

The FBI has declined to confirm it is investigating the Cardinals. But a person familiar with the investigation has told the Associated Press that federal authorities are looking at whether members of the team were to blame for what Major League Baseball called a breach of the Astros database. There has been no indication of how many employees might be under investigation, and any motive for the hack remains unclear.

Last month, Martin said Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and Mozeliak were not targets of the investigation. DeWitt also used the term “roguish behavior” last month in a news conference in which the team confirmed the investigation.

Mozeliak said Jared Odom of baseball operations would handle Correa’s day-to-day operations but added “anything high level will come through my office.”

— Associated Press —

Marble, Harper throw combined one-hitter in Mustangs 12-0 win over Nevada

Posted on July 1, 2015

The St. Joseph Mustangs rolled to an easy win Wednesday night at Phil Welch Stadium as they shutout the Nevada Griffons 12-0.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team improves to 22-9 and 19-8 in the MINK League.

Dixon Marble threw a gem as the Mustangs’ starter allowed only one hit in eight innings as he improves to 3-1 on the summer. Marble struck out four and walked two. Jake Harper threw a perfect ninth inning to finished off the combined one-hitter.

St. Joseph gave Marble a huge cushion early as they scored six runs in the first inning. They added a single run in the second and added five more in the sixth inning.

Ramsey Scott hit his third home run of the season and drove in three runs, Kyle Richards added two runs and two RBI, while Jerry Houston and Scott Braren had two hits each.

The Mustangs are at home again Thursday night as they host Clarinda inside Phil Welch Stadium at 7:00 p.m.