Dave Riggert – Page 610 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Chiefs sign four, release three players after rookie minicamp

Posted on May 19, 2015May 19, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs have signed four players from their rookie minicamp this past weekend and waived three other players to make room for them on their roster.

With a big need for depth on the offensive line, the Chiefs kept former Kansas center Daniel Munyer, South Alabama offensive guard Melvin Meggs and Baylor offensive tackle Kelvin Palmer.

The Chiefs also signed Sam Houston State running back Keshawn Hill.

To make room for them, the Chiefs waived offensive lineman Charles Sweeton along with fullback Manasseh Garner and tight end Earnest Pettway.

The Chiefs begin their optional full-squad workouts next week.

— Associated Press —-

Northwest Missouri State men add point guard from Des Moines

Posted on May 19, 2015

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum has announced the signing of Chris King to a National Letter of Intent. King, a 6-0 point guard from Hoover High School in Des Moines, Iowa, was a two-year all-state performer for the Huskies.

“Chris has a great feel for the game,” said McCollum. “He shoots the ball extremely well and does a great job making plays off the dribble. He can score from the perimeter, has a mid-range game and finishes well around the basket. He is also very unselfish and does a lot of things to help his team win. Chris is a great kid off the floor as well and we are extremely excited he chose to be a Bearcat.”

During his career, King scored over 1,000 points and led Hoover to a pair of CIML conference titles. As a senior King earned first-team All-State honors and led the Huskies to a 12-0 record in CIML play. King was named first team All-CIML twice and was also named the All-CIML Elite team captain. An all-district performer, King was named to the all-state tournament team and earned a spot in the Iowa All-Star game.

— Northwest Sports Information —

High School District Baseball Scores – Monday, May 18

Posted on May 19, 2015

CLASS 3 DISTRICT 16 FIRST ROUND @ PHIL WELCH STADIUM
Bishop LeBlond 10, Alta Vista 0
Plattsburg 2, Lathrop 1

SEMIFINALS – TUESDAY
Lawson vs. Plattsburg – 4:30
East Buchanan vs. Bishop LeBlond – 6:30

CLASS 4 DISTRICT 16 FIRST ROUND @ MISSOURI WESTERN
Maryville 17, Lafayette 1
Chillicothe 14, Cameron 4

SEMIFINALS – TUESDAY
Savannah vs. Maryville – 4:30
Benton vs. Chillicothe – 6:30

CLASS 5 DISTRICT 16 FIRST ROUND @ PARK HILL HS
Oak Park 4, St. Joseph Central 2
Park Hill 4, Platte County 2

SEMIFINALS – TUESDAY
Staley vs. Park Hill – 2:30
Park Hill South vs. Oak Park – 5:00

Mizzou’s Williams, Houck, Harris earn All-SEC baseball honors

Posted on May 18, 2015

HOOVER, Ala. – Mizzou baseball had three players honored by the Southeastern Conference on Monday (May 18) as the league announced its All-Conference selections for 2015. Highlighting the honorees was junior reliever Breckin Williams (Oronogo, Mo.), who earned Second-Team All-SEC. Freshmen Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) and Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Mo.) each earned a spot on the All-SEC Freshman Team as well. The All-SEC honorees were chosen by the league’s 14 coaches.

Williams is Mizzou’s first All-SEC honoree since Keaton Steele took home first team honors in 2013 as a utility player. The Tiger closer finished the regular season with 12 saves, tied for the most ever in a single season at Mizzou (Ryan Stegall had 12 in 2000 as well). Williams was named to the Stopper of the Year Award Midseason Watch List and has a win or save in all nine of Mizzou’s one-run wins this season. His 15 career saves are the fourth-most in program history as well. He finished the season with a 4-3 record and 12 saves with a 1.89 ERA in 23 appearances. He tossed 33.1 innings, striking out 35 and walking just eight. He allowed just five extra-base hits all season.

Harris and Houck are the first Tiger freshmen to take home All-SEC Freshman Team honors since current junior Josh Lester (Columbus, Ga.) did so in 2013. Harris earns a spot as one of three outfielders while Houck made the team as one of two starting pitchers. Harris hit .249 with 24 runs and 20 RBI, 16 of which came in SEC games. He tallied a walk-off hit over South Carolina earlier this season and hit his first career homer; a three-run, go-ahead homer at Georgia, just an hour from where he grew up. He earned the Tigers’ starting right field job in his first year with the program.

Houck has put together one of the best freshman seasons in Mizzou baseball history. His eight wins are the most by a Tiger freshman since Kyle Gibson (a former first-round draft pick) in 2007 and his 92.2 innings are the most ever by a Tiger freshman under Tim Jamieson. He also leads all freshman nationally in innings pitched. He compiled a 3.40 ERA on the season, striking out 83 batters over 92.2 innings while walking just 11 in 14 starts as a freshman. He was named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List earlier this season.

Williams, Houck and Harris will open the SEC Tournament on Tuesday at approximately 12:30 p.m. against No. 10 seed South Carolina at Hoover Met.

— MU Sports Information —

Cardinals rally in 9th, but lose in 14 innings at New York

Posted on May 18, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. had an RBI infield hit with one out in the bottom of the 14th inning, lifting the New York Mets to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night after blowing another lead for Matt Harvey.

Lucas Duda beat a shifted, drawn-in infield with an opposite field hit for a run-scoring single off John Lackey in the fourth, but Jason Heyward had a sacrifice fly in the ninth off closer Jeurys Familia as the Mets wasted another 1-0 lead for their ace.

The division leaders then struck out a combined 12 times in extras before Sam Tuivailala (0-1) walked Eric Campbell and Duda to open the 14th. Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal relived and got Michael Cuddyer to ground into a fielder’s choice. Rosenthal then walked intentionally Daniel Murphy to load the bases.

Mayberry, who entered batting .114, grounded the first pitch off diving drawn-in shortstop Jhonny Peralta’s glove. Campbell slid home ahead of a late throw that stretching catcher Yadier Molina could not reach.

Carlos Torres (2-2) pitched two innings for the NL East-leaders’ third straight win after a five-game skid. The Mets were the last major league team to play extra innings this season.

Heyward doubled with one out in the 14th but reliever Seth Maness had to bat because St. Louis was out of position players. The Central-leading Cardinals didn’t get into New York until after 3 a.m. following their Sunday night game in St. Louis, a 2-1 win.

The Cardinals went 0 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

It was the third consecutive start in which New York gave Harvey one run of support. Harvey outpitched Lackey in a taught duel before giving way to Familia in the ninth.

Familia gave up one out singles to Matt Adams and Molina. Heyward then hit a 245 foot flyball to right field, but Curtis Granderson’s throw was several feet up the third base line and pinch-runner Pete Kozma easily slid home safely. It was Familia’s first blown save in 14 chances.

Harvey gave up six hits and matched a season-high with nine strikeouts in running his scoreless innings streak to 16 and lowering his ERA to 1.98 from 2.31.

Pitching on the same night his beloved New York Rangers were facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Harvey was not his usual dominant self. But he got out of each jam with timely strikeouts and solid defense — including a diving catch by struggling shortstop Wilmer Flores to start a double play in the fourth.

Lackey, at 36, more crafty than his overpowering opponent who is 10 years his junior, but he was every bit as good. Facing the Mets for just the third time and first since 2008, when he was with the Angels, Lackey stifled New York for seven efficient innings, allowing three hits and a run.

He held the Mets hitless until Granderson doubled leading off the fourth. Granderson advanced to third on Eric Campbell’s grounder to first. The Cardinals brought the infield in and put three fielders on the right side for the left-handed swinging Duda, who slapped an away pitch to the left side of second base for an RBI single. Lackey flailed in frustration as St. Louis fell behind 1-0.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (setback from thoracic outlet syndrome) is set to make his first start of season Thursday in the series finale and he had a bullpen session Monday. Manager Mike Matheny didn’t sound too concerned with the results of the `pen. “He’s in,” Matheny said. “He’ll be ready Thursday.”

Mets: C Travis d’Arnaud (broken right pinkie) swung for first time Monday. Manager Terry Collins said d’Arnaud started with dry swings. He’ll build up to facing pitching so he doesn’t hurt his hand. … 3B David Wright (hamstring, back) was cleared for baseball activities. “The big thing now is to see how he wakes up tomorrow,” Collins said of seeing how Wright will feel after his first time on the field.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: St. Louis is 7-0 when RHP Michael Wacha (5-0) starts. In three career starts against New York, Wacha has held the Mets to a .220 batting average.

Mets: Jonathon Niese (3-4) is coming off a difficult outing in which he gave up six runs — four earned — in 6 1/3 innings to the Cubs, boosting his ERA to 2.49. While with Atlanta, Jason Heyward hit .328 (9 for 28) with two homers and eight RBIs against the LHP.

— Associated Press —

Ex-Mizzou DL Justin Smith retires after 14 NFL seasons

Posted on May 18, 2015May 18, 2015

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – When Justin Smith decided that his body wouldn’t let him perform up to his own lofty standards, he knew it was time to stop playing.

Smith announced Monday that he is retiring after 14 seasons as one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL, dealing yet another blow to the San Francisco 49ers in a rough offseason.

“They all want you to keep playing, and I want to keep playing as well, but when you get on the bald tires, you’re on the bald tires,” Smith said.

One of the most durable players at one of the most physically demanding positions, Smith had been hampered the past two seasons by a bum left shoulder that he first hurt in training camp in 2013.

That shoulder absorbed the brunt of the punishment as a right defensive end going up against 300-pound linemen all game and Smith did not feel up to playing another season.

“It doesn’t respond like I want it to respond anymore,” he said. “If you don’t have the tools, you can’t do the job. It’s time to go.”

While Smith could still be an effective player, he could no longer be the dominant one he had been for so long in his career and that’s what led to his decision.

“People are going to compare him to everybody else,” coach Jim Tomsula said. “Justin Smith doesn’t compare himself to anybody else. He compares himself to himself. That’s the bar he sets. … I’ve always known with Justin that if he didn’t feel like health-wise he can play at the level he plays at, he’s not going to do it.”

Smith had just two sacks in the final 14 games last season as his practice time, snap count and effectiveness dwindled toward the end of the season.

Smith is the third defensive star to retire from the 49ers this offseason, joining linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. Coach Jim Harbaugh is also gone, along with running back Frank Gore, guard Mike Iupati, receiver Michael Crabtree, linebacker Dan Skuta and cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox.

Smith played 14 seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the first round by Cincinnati in 2001. After seven successful seasons with the Bengals, he signed as a free agent in San Francisco and had his best success in seven years with the 49ers.

Smith was the anchor of San Francisco’s 3-4 defense that made three straight trips to the NFC title game from 2011-13 and one Super Bowl appearance. He tied up blockers and broke down protection to help the team’s stellar linebacker corps of Willis, Navorro Bowman and Aldon Smith succeed.

While Smith never recorded double-digit sacks in a season in his career, he was so well-regarded that he was selected as an All Pro first-team defensive tackle and second-team defensive end in 2011. He was the first player ever to make the AP’s first and second team at different positions.

“Justin is the consummate professional whose impact on this organization can never be measured by statistics alone,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said. “His durability, competitiveness, work ethic, strength and rare stamina helped set him apart over his 14-year career. Cowboy will go down as one of the best to ever wear a 49ers uniform and his candidness, work ethic and pure passion for the game will be missed.”

Smith also was picked as a second-team All Pro defensive end and defensive tackle in 2012 and made five Pro Bowls in his seven seasons in San Francisco.

During his career, Smith started 217 of 221 games played, including a streak of 185 consecutive starts from his rookie season through December 2012. He finished his career with 1,370 tackles, 87 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, three interceptions and 30 passes defensed.

Smith posted at least 5.0 sacks in 12 of his 14 seasons played and is one of 13 players to register 5 or more sacks in at least 12 seasons since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

“Whether it was chasing down a wide receiver and forcing a fumble to seal a win, or driving a tackle back into the quarterback’s chest, he gave everything he had every play,” 49ers CEO Jed York said. “Justin has earned the respect of the entire NFL community and he will always be remembered as one of the 49ers all-time greats.”

— Associated Press —

Nebraska finalizes 2017 football schedule

Posted on May 18, 2015May 18, 2015

The University of Nebraska football team will open its 2017 season against Arkansas State at Memorial Stadium. The Nebraska Athletics Department announced the latest addition to the Huskers’ future non-conference schedule on Monday.

The Red Wolves will visit Lincoln on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, kicking off the 2017 campaign. The game will mark the third all-time meeting between the schools, with Arkansas State also playing at Memorial Stadium in 2009 and 2012. Nebraska defeated the Red Wolves 38-9 in 2009, and won 42-13 in the 2012 matchup.

Arkansas State has played in a bowl game five times since making the move to the FBS ranks. The Red Wolves have played in the postseason each of the past four years and have won three Sun Belt Conference titles in the past four seasons. In addition to its 2017 trip to Lincoln, Arkansas State has upcoming non-conference games against USC, Missouri, Auburn and Miami among others.

The addition of Arkansas State completes Nebraska’s 2017 schedule. The Huskers’ non-conference schedule also includes a Sept. 9 game at Oregon and a matchup with Northern Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Sept. 16, 2017. The Huskers will also play nine Big Ten Conference games in 2017, including home contests against Rutgers, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Northwestern and Iowa.

The agreement with Arkansas State completes Nebraska’s schedules through the 2019 season. The Huskers will play four non-conference games and eight Big Ten games in 2015, before the conference shifts to a nine-game conference schedule in 2016.

— NU Sports Information —

Former Jayhawk Wiggins, former Tiger Clarkson named to All-Rookie first team

Posted on May 18, 2015May 18, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins of Minnesota is the only unanimous selection for the NBA’s All-Rookie first team.

Wiggins received all 130 votes Monday from a panel of sports writers and broadcasters in the U.S. and Canada. He averaged 16.9 points, tops in the class, and his 36.2 minutes per game ranked fourth in the NBA.

The rest of the first team was Chicago’s Nikola Mirotic, Philadelphia’s Nerlens Noel, Orlando’s Eldrid Payton and Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson.

The second team included Boston’s Marcus Smart, Minnesota’s Zach LaVine, Brooklyn’s Bojan Bogdanovic, Denver’s Jusuf Nurkic and New York’s Langston Galloway.

The panel chose five players for the first team and five for the second, regardless of position. Two points were awarded for first-team votes and one for a second.

— Associated Press —

No. 10 Tigers hold off Kansas to win regional title

Posted on May 17, 2015

Missouri Softball vs. Kansas - May 17, 2015 Photo by Mike Krebs — Missouri Softball vs. Kansas – May 17, 2015
Photo by Mike Krebs

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sophomore C Kirsten Mack drove in career high five runs on a grand slam and a double to lead the 10th-seeded Mizzou softball team past Kansas and into an NCAA Super Regional with a 7-6 1win Sunday at University Field. Mizzou (42-14) advanced to play either No. 7-seed UCLA or San Diego State next weekend for a spot in the Women’s College World Series.

The Jayhawks ended their campaign with a 40-15 record.

Tiger sophomore P Cheyenne was credited with the win, improving to 3-1 on the year. She scattered four hits and allowed four runs, all unearned, in 4.2 innings of work. Freshman P Paige Lowary came on for the final 1.1 innings to earn her fourth save of the season.

Kansas struck early with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. With the bases loaded and two outs, C Jessie Roane lofted a single just over the glove of Tiger 2B Sami Fagan and into center to plate the first run. A single through the right side brought home the Jayhawks’ second run of the inning for the quick 2-0 advantage.

The Tigers erased their early deficit immediately with three runs of their own in the top of the second. A HBP from freshman DP Amanda Sanchez and a walk from senior SS Corrin Genovese put runs on first and second with one out. Sophomore C Kirsten Mack roped a double to right center, her first hit of the Regional, to score Sanchez from second base. Genovese then scored on a bloop single to shallow left from senior 3B Angela Randazzo and Mack scampered home on a wild pitch for a 3-2 Mizzou lead.

Mack’s two-out grand slam in the top of the third stretched Missouri’s advantage to 7-2. A single from Sanchez sandwiched between walks to Fagan and Genovese set the stage for Mack. The sophomore got a hold of a 1-1 pitch and sent a laser through a stiff wind and over the left field bleachers for her team-leading 15th dinger of the year.

A four-run sixth for the Jayhawks cut the Tigers’ lead to just 7-6 with one inning remaining. Three Mizzou errors, a HBP and a walk scored the runs and got Kansas right back in the game.

Lowary worked around a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the Missouri win and send the Tigers to Super Regionals.

Jayhawk P Alicia Pille dropped to 25-8 on the season with the loss.

— MU Sports Information —

Volquez, Royals blank Yankees in series finale

Posted on May 17, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Edinson Volquez had such violent movement on his fastball Sunday that Royals manager Ned Yost said catcher Salvador Perez actually turned around to ask plate umpire Chris Guccione whether there was anything he could do to help out.

Slide over a bit to offer Guccione a better view? Perhaps frame the pitches longer?

The Yankees probably wish Perez asked whether he could help them out.

Volquez baffled them with three-hit ball for seven innings, Perez homered and drove in two runs and Kansas City rolled to a 6-0 victory, the first time New York had been shut out this year.

“He was fantastic. He had all kinds of movement and action on his fastball,” Yost said. “For the most part, if Eddie’s executing his pitches, he’s going to be very good.”

Volquez (3-3) struck out five without issuing a walk. He never allowed a leadoff man on base, and just one of his three base runners to reach second all afternoon.

“That’s as good as I’ve ever seen him,” Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said.

The Royals got production from throughout their lineup against Chris Capuano to take the rubber game of their three-game set with the Yankees, whom they face again next week in New York.

Capuano (0-1) made his season debut after rehabbing a quad strain that he sustained in spring training. The veteran left-hander gave up four runs on four hits and two walks, and left New York in a big hole when he was pulled four batters into the third inning.

The loss was the Yankees’ fifth in their last six games.

“It’s certainly not the outing I wanted for my first outing,” Capuano said. “I wanted to try to give the team a little boost heading into the off day, but there were a lot of good things that happened the first three innings to build on for next time.”

Perez gave the Royals all the offense they needed in the second, when he golfed a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left field. For a moment, it looked as if Brett Gardner leaped up to grab it, but a stiff breeze blowing out carried it just far enough.

The Royals put the game away with a big fourth inning.

Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer led off with walks, and Kendrys Morales and Perez followed with back-to-back RBI singles to knock Capuano from the game. Esmil Rogers came in and gave up another RBI double to Omar Infante before getting the Yankees out of the jam.

Paulo Orlando and Alcides Escobar drove in two more runs in the sixth.

Not that Kansas City really needed them.

Working his sinker with a low-90s fastball and paralyzing changeup, Volquez retired the first 11 batters he faced. Alex Rodriguez finally doubled off the wall in the fourth, but the Yankees were unable to get him home. Brian McCann eventually struck out to end the inning.

Volquez also gave up a one-out single to Chase Headley in the fifth, breezed through a perfect sixth, then allowed another single to McCann before finishing off the seventh.

His bullpen tossed two shaky innings to preserve the shutout.

“All my pitches were there today. I was able to throw a lot of strikes, attack hitters, keep the ball down,” Volquez said. “They’re pretty good hitters. I was able to make some good pitches.”

NEGRO LEAGUES SALUTE

The Royals honored the Negro Leagues by wearing throwback jerseys of the Kansas City Monarchs, while the Yankees honored “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks — who began his career with the Monarchs — with a patch on their sleeve. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is located in Kansas City.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: 1B Mark Teixeira left the game in the seventh inning with a bruised right big toe. X-rays were negative. Asked whether he would play Tuesday, he replied: “That’s the goal. With the day off tomorrow, it’s well-timed.”

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (left flexor strain) threw a side session before the game. “He feels really good,” Yost said. “He doesn’t feel anything getting off the mound.”

UP NEXT

Yankees: After its day off, New York heads to Washington for a two-game set beginning Tuesday night. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for the Yankees.

Royals: The Reds visit Tuesday night to open a two-game set. Yordano Ventura will pitch the opener and fellow right-hander Jeremy Guthrie will start Wednesday night.

— Associated Press —