Dave Riggert – Page 783 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Central Missouri advances to Division II National Championship game

Posted on March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

TJ White made a layup with one second left and Metro State’s last second three was off the mark as Central Missouri beat No. 1 Metro State 71-69 in the national semifinals on Thursday night. With the win, UCM advances to the second national championship game in school history on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will air live on ESPN 1550 AM.

White scored the layup on an assist from Daylen Robinson, who drove to the bucket with under five seconds to play and passed the ball around a double team for the point blank shot. The top-ranked Roadrunners (32-2) had rallied from 11 points down in the second half to tie the game as the teams battled back and forth down the stretch.

Central Missouri (29-5) led by eight, 58-50, with 8:57 to play in the game, but Metro State rallied to tie the game at 62-all with 3:41 to play in regulation. The game was tied three times from that point on, but the Mules never got behind and White’s layup gave them their first national title game appearance since 1984.

The Mules jumped out to an early four point lead as they were hot from the field to start. Brennen Hughes layup at the 13:07 mark gave UCM a 15-11 lead, but a 7-0 run by the Roadrunners put Metro State in front 18-15. Charles Hammork scored a three-point play to tie the game at 18 and Dillon Deck’s layup gave UCM a two-point advantage.

The teams traded buckets through much of the first half before a 9-2 spurt gave Central Missouri a 35-26 lead with 3:26 to play in the half. Metro State cut the deficit to five, but a three from Jordan Epps gave UCM a 42-34 halftime lead.

The Roadrunners cut the Mule lead back to five right out of the intermission, but a three-point play from Hammork and a jumper from Daylen Robinson gave UCM a 48-37 lead with 17:41 to play. A quick 4-0 spurt by Metro State cut the lead back to single digits as they began to whittle away at the lead.

White scored back to back buckets near the 14:00 mark to push UCM back in front by 11, but the Roadrunners answered right back with four consecutive points of their own.

The lead was nine at 58-49 with 9:54 to play in the game, but a 6-0 run for Metro State cut the lead to three and a bigger 13-4 run tied the game at 62-62.

Hammork led the way for Central Missouri with a double-double 14 points and 10 rebounds. Robinson had 13 points and Deck finished with 12. White added 11 off the bench to go along with seven rebounds.

UCM shot 47 percent for the game, 23 of 49, and made 6 of 17 three-point attempts for 35 percent. The Mules struggled at the foul line going 19 of 33 for 58 percent. After shooting a perfect 9 for 9 in the first half, UCM went just 10 of 24 in the second half.

The Mules turned the ball over 11 times leading to 18 Metro State points.

The Roadrunners were led in scoring by Brandon Jefferson’s 21 points. The National Player of the Year was 4 of 17 from the field, but tied an Elite Eight record going 12 of 12 at the free throw line.

Nicholas Kay had 17 points on 6 of 20 shooting and Mitch McCarron finished with 13 points. MSU was 19 of 59 from the field for 32 percent. They were just 2 of 14 from three-point range for 14 percent, but made 29 of 32 at the charity stripe for 91 percent.

Metro State held a 30-22 advantage in points in the paint, 18-6 in points off turnovers,but the UCM bench outscored MSU’s 25-7.

The win is the first in the semifinals for Mules head coach Kim Anderson and advances the Mules to their first national championship game in 30 years.

— UCM Sports Information —

Northwest picked eighth in preseason MIAA Track & Field polls

Posted on March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State men’s and women’s track and field teams were each ranked eighth in the 2014 MIAA Preseason Outdoor Track and Field Coaches Poll on Thursday. The men were eighth with 20 points while the women were tied with Fort Hays State for eighth place with 31 points.

Lincoln was picked to win the women’s poll with 100 points while Pittsburg State was chosen to top the men’s poll with 79 points.

Northwest will send host the Herschel Neil Decathlon and Ashley Nally Heptathlon starting on March 29. The Bearcats will also send a limited number of athletes to the Washington University (Mo.) Invite on March 28 in St. Louis, Mo.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Griffons score 23 runs as they blow out William Jewell

Posted on March 26, 2014

The Missouri Western baseball team had an outstanding day at the plate scoring 23 runs and pounding out 19 hits in 23-1 non-conference victory over William Jewell on Wednesday afternoon. The 23 runs is the second most since 2001 as the Griffons pushed their overall record above .500 sitting at 13-12 on the season. Missouri Western has won five of the last six games including their last three.

All nine of the Griffon starters got a hit in the game with David Chew, Jake Schrader and Cody Childs all getting three. Matt Russell and Chew each had five RBI in the contest. Mark Spreckels got the victory for the Griffons going three innings giving up five hits while striking out four.

The Griffons scored four or more runs in four of the seven innings which included six in the first inning and five in both the second and third innings. It didn’t take long for the Griffons to get on the board as Trevor LaHonta led off the game with a double and later scored on a double by Ryan Degner. Missouri Western continued the scoring getting four more hits and five more runs taking a 6-0 lead after a half an inning.

Spreckels got out of a bases loaded jam in the first and then MWSU put five more runs on the board in the second. LaHonta, Dylan Koch, Chew, Schrader, Hunter Weiss and Cody Childs all had hits in the inning helping the Griffons extend its lead to 11-0.

In the third the Griffons continued the onslaught when Russell blasted a home run helping the Griffons to a 16-0 lead after three. In the fourth MWSU scored just one run which came on back-to-back doubles by Chew and Scharder. Things did not get any better the rest of the way as the Griffons scored six more runs claiming the 22 run victory.

William Jewell falls to 6-12 on the season as they had seven hits in the contest.

The Griffons return to MIAA play this weekend with a road series against the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers. The teams open the series on Friday, March 28 with a single nine inning game with first pitch starting at 3:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Ravens’ Wallrapp earns NAIA All-America honors

Posted on March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

Following the conclusion of the Benedictine College Men’s Basketball team’s run into the 77th annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Div. I Men’s Basketball National Championship, Raven forward Charlie Wallrapp earned All-America honors.

Wallrapp, who was also a first-team All-HAAC selection this season, was among the list of NAIA Div. I players to earn the honor at the conclusion of the season on Tuesday when the NAIA released the team.

“This All-America Honorable Mention Recognition is the direct result of Charlie’s dedication to his teammates and his personal development as a player,” said Raven head coach Ryan Moody. “He has worked hard to make everyone around him better. We are excited about the honor and proud of him. He is well deserving.”

He led the Ravens in scoring this season with a 15.5 points per game average and also led the team in rebounds with an average of 8.

The All-America selection is the second for Wallrapp as he joins an exclusive club of multiple All-America honorees for Benedictine. He becomes just the third multiple All-America selection in program history, joining Darryl Jones and Chic Downing.

Jones was a four-time NAIA All-America selection from 1964 to 1968 while Downing earned the honor during the 1969-’70 and 1971-’72 seasons. Wallrapp earned his first All-America selection last season, making him the first back-to-back selection since Jones.

In all the St. Benedict’s-Benedictine men’s basketball program has earned 13 All-America selections over the programs 93 year history with seven different players receiving the recognition.

He finishes his career at Benedictine with 1,443 points, which places him 11th on the Ravens All-time scoring list.

Benedictine went 23-8 this season, qualifying for the Div. I National Tournament for the first time since 1969-’70 season. The 23 wins marks the fourth-most in program history and the most wins by a Raven squad since the 1966-’67 NAIA National Championship team went 27-2.

After winning the programs first-ever HAAC Championship, the Ravens played their way into the second round of the tournament, where they lost 81-70 to eventual National Champions Vanguard (Calif.) University.

— BC Sports Information —

Shields, Royals roughed up in another spring training loss

Posted on March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — James Shields gave up seven runs in the first inning Wednesday before settling down to throw three scoreless ones in his final start before opening day in the Kansas City Royals’ 9-5 loss to the San Diego Padres.

Shields gave up six hits, walked one and hit a batter as the Padres sent 11 to the plate in the first. Shields allowed only one hit after that and finished with a 4.74 spring ERA.

“They were just hitting groundballs that found some holes,” Shields said. “I was trying to stay aggressive. Walking the first guy didn’t help. But other than the first inning, I thought it was a pretty good effort.”

Shields will start Monday at Detroit as the Royals try to end a 28-year postseason drought, longest in the majors.

Padres starter Ian Kennedy gave up solo home runs to Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez on consecutive pitches in a two-inning stint that included three runs and six hits.

Perez left in the third after he has hit in the head by Johnny Barbato’s curveball. A team spokesman said he didn’t sustain a concussion.

“The one Perez hit was hit hard. The one Gordon hit was a flyball the wind got,” Padres manager Bud Black. “Pitch count (53) was a little high for two innings.”

Robbie Erlin, a candidate to start for San Diego while Josh Johnson (forearm) is sidelined, allowed six hits and struck out six in five shutout innings.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Five times in the first inning, the Padres swung at Shields’ first pitch. it resulted in four hits and a sacrifice bunt.

“Last game of spring training, they’re swinging early,” Shields said.

Padres: It was a mediocre spring for Kennedy, who finished with a 6.33 ERA. He’s scheduled to start San Diego’s second regular-season game Wednesday against the Dodgers.

PEREZ SCARE

Perez was the batter who hit the liner into Cincinnati reliever Aroldis Chapman’s face last week, causing a facial fracture that required surgery.

This time, the catcher was on the other end of a scary incident, being hit in the head with a pitch.

“I’m fine,” Perez said through a team spokesman.

GRANDAL TO DL?

The Padres will decide this weekend whether to carry three catchers or place Yasmani Grandal on the disabled list.

Grandal has made a rapid recovery from right knee ACL surgery in July. He caught nine innings in a minor league game Monday, but is not ready to catch consecutive days.

“I’ll be in San Diego, but I think it’s going to be more of a see what happens in the next five days, see how it feels,” Grandal said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Reliever Louis Coleman, who has a 13.50 ERA this spring while pitching with a bruised right middle finger, will stay behind in Arizona and is expected to start the season on the disabled list. . Second baseman Omar Infante (elbow) went 2 for 5 and played five innings in the field in a minor league game. Manager Ned Yost said he’ll DH in a minor league game Thursday and if that goes well he’ll rejoin the team in Milwaukee.

Padres: Outfielder Carlos Quentin was a late scratch with left knee pain. . Outfielder Chris Denorfia (shoulder) will stay in Arizona and play in a minor league game Thursday. Black said he’s “still optimistic” Denorfia will be ready for the opener. . Outfielder Cameron Maybin (torn biceps) is swinging in the batting cage and playing catch this week. He’s expected to miss another two to four weeks. . Right-hander Joe Wieland had surgery to remove loose cartilage in his elbow and won’t resume a throwing program for six weeks.

PAYROLL BOOST

The Padres’ payroll will surpass $90 million this season for the first time, according to a study of all contracts by The Associated Press.

San Diego ranks 21st among 30 teams, with the Royals 19th at just over $92 million.

UP NEXT

Both teams were leaving Arizona after the game for two final exhibitions.

The Padres return home to play the Indians on Friday and Saturday at the University of San Diego.

The Royals will face the Brewers in Milwaukee on Friday and Saturday.

“I’m excited about taking a good team in there,” said Yost, a former Brewers player and manager.

— Associated Press —

Northwest tennis teams pick up two victories at Truman State

Posted on March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State men’s and women’s tennis teams each picked up non-conference victories over Truman State on Wednesday. The men moved to 8-1 on the season with a 9-0 sweep over the Bulldogs. The women beat Truman State, 7-2, to move to 8-8 on the season.

The men picked up victories from Sergio De Vilchez, Romain Boissinot, Alvaro Riveros, Julien Currone, Hicham Azzaoui and Fin Glowick on the singles side. De Vilchez and Altimires won at No. 1 doubles, Riveros and Currone won at No. 2 doubles and Romain Boissinot teamed with Amery Clews for a win at No. 3 doubles.

On the women’s side, Lorena Rivas Jarolim, Alexis Bartek, Aniek Kolen, Stephanie Mannix and Marianne Hull all won on the singles side for the Bearcats. In doubles, the team of Jarolim and Bartek won at No. 1 while Kolen and Mannix won at No. 2.

Both Northwest men’s and women’s teams will take on Harding University on Friday, March 28 in Bolivar, Mo.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Benedictine’s Rutledge named NAIA Honorable Mention All-American

Posted on March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

The Benedictine women’s basketball team earned another individual honor on Wednesday as the NAIA released the annual All-America team.

Forward Chayla Rutledge was named to the honorable mention team for her efforts this season for the Ravens and head coach Chad Folsom.

Rutledge, who was also named to the All-HAAC first team this season, led the Ravens in scoring with a 14.9 ppg average in her second full season with the program. She was also the Ravens third-leading rebounder, averaging 4.5 rebounds per game.

She led the Ravens in scoring in 15 of their 31 games this season, which included a single-season high of 27 points in a 83-79 win over Graceland University on Feb. 20 inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.

In addition to leading the Ravens in scoring, she also reached double figures in 22 games, recording a double-double in the win over Graceland.

She led the team in field goal percentage this season, converting on 160 field goals to hit 44.6 percent from the field.

Rutledge joins Justice Payne and Abby Winder as the Ravens three NAIA Div. I All-Americans and becomes the ninth Raven to earn All-America honors. She is the fifth Raven under Coach Folsom to earn the honor and the honor gives the program its 12th overall All-America selection.

Benedictine went 20-11 this season to earn its eighth 20-win season under Coach Folsom. They finished fourth in the HAAC with a conference record of 12-6.

— BC Sports Information —

Molina leads Cardinals to spring training win over Washington

Posted on March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper was ejected Wednesday after being called out at first base in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Harper led off the fourth inning with a slow roller that second baseman Mark Ellis barehanded and flipped to first. The throw appeared to beat Harper and umpire Jeff Gosney called him out.

The 21-year-old Harper kept his head down, screaming his displeasure as he passed Gosney on his way to the third-base dugout. Gosney threw out Harper, who didn’t seem to initially realize he’d been ejected.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said he asked third base umpire C.B. Bucknor whether they could wait until the end of the inning before Harper had to leave the dugout. Williams said the crew wanted the All-Star outfielder to go immediately.

“I just didn’t want him to be embarrassed by him having to walk in front of everybody down the line,” Williams said.

The game was briefly delayed while Harper gathered his belongings and walked to the visiting clubhouse beyond the left-field wall.

Fans extended their pens and papers requesting autographs as Harper passed the corner of the left-field bleachers that sit about 10 feet from the foul line.

“We love the way he plays the game because he plays all out and he desperately wants to win so we love that about him,” Williams said. “In a situation like that, he has to not take it too far, that’s all.”

“The umpire told me that (Harper) said something to him,” he said. “The question I had is, `Did he say something?’ I didn’t see him make a gesture to him or anything, but he said the magic word.”

The Nationals didn’t make Harper available for comment.

“I don’t know what (Harper) said to him, but as he was walking off the field I said to him, `That was a great at-bat,’ because it was,” Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright said.

“He fouled off a bunch of pitches,” he said. “He kind of turned away and started walking off, then he looked back and said, `Thanks, by the way.”

Yadier Molina drove in all three Cardinals runs. Trevor Rosenthal worked around a two-out triple to earn the save.

STARTING TIME

Nationals: Washington has yet to make a decision on its fifth starter. Tanner Roark and Taylor Jordan, the two competitors for the spot, will both pitch in the Nationals’ exhibition against Detroit on Sunday in Washington.

Cardinals: Wainwright threw five scoreless innings of one hit ball to cap his spring. The Cardinals’ opening day starter allowed four runs in 22 2/3 Grapefruit League innings, striking out 18 while walking one.

“I’m ready for them to start counting,” he said. “I feel good. Spring has flown by. I’ve had a lot of fun down here and now it’s time to get going.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Manager Mike Matheny doesn’t expect injured pitchers Jaime Garcia and Jason Motte to make the trip north with the club for the Cardinals’ exhibition game at Triple-A Memphis on Friday. Matheny also wasn’t sure whether the two pitchers will be part of St. Louis’ home-opener festivities.

Nationals: Washington pitcher Doug Fister will start a minor league game on Thursday as he tries to build up his pitch count. He battled elbow inflammation earlier this spring but is scheduled to start the season with the major league club.

AARDSMA ABOARD

Newly signed reliever David Aardsma made his first appearance for St. Louis, allowing one hit and walking one in a scoreless inning of work. The Cardinals have spent much of spring searching for their final bullpen arm and the 32-year-old right-hander likely leaps to the front of a list of candidates that includes Kevin Butler, Scott McGregor and Jorge Rondon.

Aardsma began the spring with Cleveland as a non-roster invitee. He is 23-15 with 69 saves and a 4.23 ERA during a seven-year major league career.

EXTRA SWINGS

Washington left third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and first baseman Adam LaRoche at their spring training complex so that the pair could get multiple at-bats in minor league games.

— Associated Press —

Kansas’ Wiggins earns All-America honors from NABC

Posted on March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins was named to the 2014 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-America Second Team, the NABC announced Tuesday.

Wiggins set the Kansas freshman single-season scoring record with 597 points, surpassing the 589 points by Ben McLemore set in 2012-13. The Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, guard, Wiggins had 11 games of 20 or more points during the 2013-14 season, including a KU freshman record 41 at West Virginia (3/8). Wiggins led Kansas in steals with 41 and tied for the team high in three-pointers made with 43. His 5.9 rebound average was third-best on the team and his 34 blocked shots were second-most for the Jayhawks.

Besides his 597 points, other Kansas freshman season records Wiggins set include: scoring average (17.1), field goals attempted (422), free throws made (176) and free throws attempted (227).

Historically, Wiggins’ selection to the NABC All-America team marks the 34th time a Jayhawk has been named to the NABC All-America Team (list below). Since 2007, Kansas has had at least one player named to one of the three NABC All-America teams every year. In 2012-13 McLemore was named second team and Jeff Withey third team All-America by the NABC.

Kansas went 25-10 in 2013-14 and won its 10th-straight, 14th Big 12 and NCAA-leading 57th conference regular-season title with a 14-4 league record.

— KU Sports Information —

Bearcats’ Cooper named to Division II NABC All-America Team

Posted on March 25, 2014March 26, 2014

Northwest Missouri State senior guard DeShaun Cooper has been named to the Division II All-America team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The team is selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC.

Cooper was the MIAA Player of the Year for the Bearcats. He was also a first team All-Central Region selection from CoSIDA/Daktronics and was a first team All-Central District honoree from the NABC.

He earned All-Central Region tournament honors as Northwest finished the year at 24-9 after reaching the Sweet 16.

Cooper finished his Northwest career ranking first in assist average (4.3 apg), second in career assists (489), third in three pointers (170), third in free throws made (440), fourth in points (1,702), sixth in field goals made (546) and seventh in steals (132).

— Northwest Sports Information —