Dave Riggert – Page 786 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Benton falls to Dexter in Class 4 girls semfinal

Posted on March 21, 2014March 21, 2014

The Benton girls’ basketball team had their 10-game win streak snapped Friday afternoon as they lost to Dexter 54-21 in the Class 4 semifinals.

The Cardinals fall to 20-9 and they’ll play for 3rd Place Saturday at 11:00 AM against Marshfield. The Blue Jays lost to Incarnate Word in their semifinal, 59-33.

Benton hung in early as they trailed 6-5 halfway through the first quarter, but then the Bearcats took over.

Dexter scored the final six points of the first quarter and then led 29-9 at halftime.

It’s was a 31-4 run for Dexter befor the Cardinals got a three-pointer to fall from Mallory McAndrews, but Benton never got closer than 19 points of the rest of the game.

McAndrews, the Cards leading scorer, was to to 1-for-7 from the field and scored just three points. Morgan Domann led Benton with nine points and five rebounds, while Deajah Bernard added five points and eight rebounds.

Benton’s 3rd Place game with Marshfield will air on 680 KFEQ and here on StJosephPost.com.

Ravens’ season ends with loss to Vanguard in NAIA Sweet 16

Posted on March 21, 2014March 21, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Despite a subpar shooting effort, No. 6 Vanguard (Calif.) out-lasted No. 11 Benedictine (Kan.), 81-70, in the second round of the 2014 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National, Friday night in Municipal Auditorium. The Lions, who will play in their first-ever Quarterfinal tomorrow against No. 14 Georgetown (Ky.) at 4 p.m. CDT, went 25-of-67 (.373) from the floor overall. Their key was 16 points off turnovers.

Benedictine led early, 9-4, after a Jallen Messersmith free throw, but Vanguard bumped up the defensive focus. After three early field goals, Benedictine made just four more during the final 14 minutes of the first half. Meanwhile, during that span, Vanguard turned the five-point deficit into a 31-19 halftime advantage.

“The key for us was pressure,” said Vanguard head coach Rhett Soliday. “We wanted to pick up full court and get up in the floor a little bit to disrupt their offense. We knew they were a team that is really organized and very difficult to stop when they can get to the middle of the floor like you saw in the second half.”

The Ravens had no answer for DeAngelo Jones on the Vanguard offensive end. Jones almost out-scored Benedictine by himself in the first 20 minutes as he went for 15 points.

The Ravens tried to use the loud crowd, decked in Black and Red, to rally back from the double-digit deficit. At least seven bus loads of fans traveled the nearly 50 miles to Municipal Auditorium. But, Vanguard used its balanced scoring to never let the lead shrink under seven in the second half.

Seven free throws in the final minute for Vanguard iced the game away.

Jones ended his night with a game-high 25 points as he connected on 15-of-18 free throws. The made free throws ties a tournament-high this year. Preston Wynne chipped in 20 points, while Chris Gorman and Keith Mason each had 11.

For the Ravens, Charlie Wallrapp heated up in the second half to the tune of 17 points. He posted totals of 21 points and 11 rebounds. John Harris Jr., joined him with a 20-point effort.

Both teams made 24 free throws, with Vanguard hitting on 75 percent and Benedictine going for 73 percent.

“We always fight,” said Benedictine head coach Ryan Moody. “This group has never gone away or stopped and our body language doesn’t get bad at games. We always try to keep ourselves in it and they’re a competitive group. This stings and it’s tough to lose the last one of the year only one team doesn’t.

Benedictine, in the championship for the first time since 1970, its season with a record of 23-9.

Game notes:
Vanguard (Calif.) – This is the first appearance in the championship since 2006 and second overall… The Lions help the Golden State Athletic Conference teams improve to 3-1 this year… The Lions entered the game ranked No. 8 in the NAIA in offensive rebounds per game (14.4) – tonight, they had 14…With 25 points, DeAngelo Jones has now put in at least 10 points in five of his last six games.

Benedictine (Kan.) – Benedictine was held to a season-low four three-point shots after averaging 7.7 per game on the season… Charlie Wallrapp recorded his sixth double-double of the season and finished his four-year career with 1,422 points… Benedictine won its first-ever Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season title this season to end its 44-year drought at the National Championship… The Ravens shot 22.2 percent from three-point range after entering the game ranked No. 4 in NAIA Division I in three-point percentage (.407).

— by Chad Waller, NAIA Staff —

Griffons split with No. 22 Central Oklahoma Friday

Posted on March 21, 2014March 21, 2014

Missouri Western split a pair of MIAA games with No. 22 ranked Central Oklahoma Friday afternoon at the Spring Sports Complex.

The Griffons took the first game from their opponents, winning 6-3 before falling in the second game 4-2. The Griffons are now 10-12 and 7-9 in the conference, while the Bronchos are 17-5 and 13-5 in the MIAA.

Game 1

Missouri Western fell behind 2-0 after the top of the third when Broncho outfielder Dylan Raper scored on a Matt Johnson single up the middle. After that, it was all Missouri Western.
The Griffons scored all six of their runs in the bottom of the third.

Hunter Weiss hit a triple to left center followed by Trevor LaHonta’s single to right field which put the Griffons on the board for the first time. Dylon Koch and Ryan Degner each singled on bunts afterward, and Matt Russell doubled to left field to score two more runs.

After that, infielder Cody Childs singled to left to score another two runs. Will Carter, who started the inning out, then doubled which scored Childs. The six runs came off seven hits in that inning.

Central Oklahoma added another run late but it was not enough as Grant Woods picked up the win in a complete outing for the Griffons.

Game 2

Central Oklahoma picked up the second game with a 3-0 start in the first three innings.

Johnson’s solo home run in the top of the first started the game off for the Bronchos. Two innings later, Central Oklahoma scored two more runs to mark the score 3-0 through two and a half innings.

Missouri Western scored in the third inning to cut into the lead.

LaHonta’s single to left center field scored Weiss, who singled to right center earlier in the inning.

The Griffons added another run in the next inning after Degner scored on Russell’s single. But Missouri Western couldn’t tie the game, and the Bronchos added another run in the final inning to mark the final.

Central Oklahoma pitcher Ricky Reeves picked up the win to go 5-0 on the year.

The two teams play again Saturday at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bearcats score 18 runs in win at Fort Hays State

Posted on March 21, 2014March 21, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team’s offense came alive on Friday evening in an 18-4 series opening victory over Fort Hays State at Larks Park. The Bearcats pounded out 18 hits as every Northwest hitter who came to he plate recorded a hit. Northwest moves to 13-8 overall and 9-5 in MIAA play.

Eric McGlauflin and Austin Wulff each had a homerun and four RBIs on the day. It was McGlauflin’s first homer of the season and Wulff’s team-leading fifth longball. Luke Wilkinson had a pinch hit two-run homerun in the seventh. Steven Garber went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Zack Ferreira crossed the plate three times as he went 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Jon Pomatto also crossed the plate three times for the Bearcats. Brandon Huske, Blake Hardegree and Paul Johnson each collected two hits, scored two runs and drove in a run on the day. Ryan Abernathy drove in two runs and also crossed the plate once.

Ryker Fox went all seven innings for the Bearcats, allowing just four runs on eight hits. He struckout five batters.

The Bearcats scored once in the first before they exploded for 12 runs in the third on eight hits and one error. Fort Hays would add one in the bottom of the third but Northwest would tack on two more in the fourth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh. The Tigers scored three in the bottom of the seventh.

Northwest will play a doubleheader against the Tigers tomorrow at Larks Park in Hays, Kan., starting at 1 p.m. The four-game series will conclude Sunday at 1 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Western softball splits on first day of MWSU Invitational

Posted on March 21, 2014March 21, 2014

The Missouri Western softball team split a double header on day one of the MWSU Softball Invite. The Griffons lost a close battle with Northern State 3-2 before Jackie Bishop pitched her third no hitter of the season in a 10-0 run rule victory over St. Cloud State. The Griffons improve to 16-12 overall and will take on Wayne State (Neb.) and #5 Augustana (S.D.) tomorrow at 10 am and 12 pm respectively.

Game 1
Northern State 3
Missouri Western 2

The Griffons had two errors that cost them the game against Northern State falling 3-2. Missouri Western also had just five hits and left eight runners on base. The Griffons fall to 15-12 on the season while Janie Smith falls to 5-7 on the season going all six innings giving up four hits while striking out seven.

The Griffons jumped on top of the Wolves in the bottom of the first inning when Bre Fleschner nailed her second home run of the season. The score stayed that way until the top of the third when Northern State used a hit and a Griffon error claiming a 2-1 lead. The Wolves got a two out double to left center by Rachel Albright to go on top.

The Griffons left runners on in every inning the rest of the way including stranding a lead off triple in the 5th by Morgan Rathmann and a lead off double by Taylor Anding in the sixth. In the seventh the Griffons got one run but stranded a runner in the first falling 3-2.

Fleschner led the Griffons with two hits in the contest. Northern State improves to 5-6 overall while Kami Smesmo picked up the victory going all seven inning with five strikeouts and four walks.

Game 2
Missouri Western 10
St. Cloud State 0 (5 innings)

In game two Bishop tossed her third no hitter of the season and fourth of her career in a 10-0 victory over the St. Cloud State Huskies. Bishop struckout 11 in the contest which included six straight at one point. She improves to 11-5 with the victory.

The Griffons pounded out 10 hits with Brooke Schaben, Tiffany Gillaspy and Michelle Stevenson all getting two apiece. Schaben had four RBI while Gillaspy added three.

The Griffons scored four runs in the second and third innings and two in the fourth. Gillaspy hit a bases clearing double in the 2nd while Fleschner hit a to RBI single in the third.

Franks got the loss for the Huskies as they fall to 4-9 on the season. It is the second time this season that the Griffons run ruled St. Cloud State.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest softball goes 1-1 on first day in St. Joseph

Posted on March 21, 2014March 21, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State softball team took game one from Concordia-St. Paul Friday, 11-6 and fell to Wayne State in game two, 6-2 on the first day of the Missouri Western Divisional Crossover.

CU plated two runs in the bottom of the second inning to go up early on Northwest in game one.

The Bearcats answered back in the top of the third inning as they scored five runs on three hits.

Both teams traded two runs each in the fifth inning as Northwest held a 7-4 lead going into the sixth.

Stephanie Mark hit a three run home run over the center field fence to put her team up 10-4. The Bearcats would add one more run in the top of the seventh.

Taylor Blackford was able to shut CU down in the seventh to bring home the 11-6 victory. It was the first complete game and win for the freshman pitcher this season.

Torri Blythe and Mark combined to go 4 for 6 with six RBIs, five runs scored and one stolen base.

The Bearcats jumped out in front in the first inning of game two as Mark hit her second home run in as many games. It was a two run shot to left center field, her fifth of the season.

Northwest held a 2-1 lead over WSU going into the fifth inning when the Wildcats tied it up at 2-2 with a solo home run.

WSU took the lead in the top of the sixth as they were able to push one run across and then pulled away in the seventh inning with three more runs.

The Bearcats were unable to comeback as they fell 6-2.

Sarah Baldwin was tagged with the loss moving her record to 5-5 on the season.

Northwest is now 9-14 on the season and will take on Northern State in game one tomorrow, followed by St. Cloud State in game two. First pitch in game one is scheduled for noon, with game two set to follow immediately.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Missouri AD Mike Alden up for national award

Posted on March 21, 2014March 21, 2014

University of Missouri Director of Athletics Mike Alden has been named a finalist for the Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year Award, as announced by Sports Business Journal.

Alden, in his 16th season leading Mizzou Athletics (second only in longest tenure at MU to the legendary Don Faurot, who served as A.D. for 27 years from 1935-42 and 1946-66), is one of five up for the award, which will be presented at a ceremony on May 21st in New York City.

The 2014 nominees are being recognized for excellence and outstanding achievement in the business of sports for the period of March 1, 2013, to Feb. 28, 2014. During that window, Mizzou has won Southeastern Conference championships in football and volleyball, as well as a Mid-American Conference title in wrestling. Mizzou also ranked second in the SEC in Academic Progress Rate when reports were released in June of 2013, and later that month, Alden was named president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics for the 2013-14 season.

The A.D. award will be judged by the editorial staff of Sports Business Journal. Alden is a finalist along with Greg Byrne (Arizona), Judy Rose (UNC-Charlotte), Kevin White (Duke) and Scott Woodward (Washington).

“I’m very honored to be among this group of outstanding leaders,” said Alden. “To be a finalist for this kind of award says more about our organization and the type of leaders we have than it does about me personally. We’re very proud of what we have built at Mizzou, and we will continue to work very hard to represent Mizzou in a way that brings pride to the people of Missouri. We’re grateful for this recognition, and certainly wish all the other finalists the best,” he said.

— MU Sports Information —

Benedictine rallies past Westminster in 1st round of NAIA National Tournament

Posted on March 19, 2014

No. 11-seeded Benedictine (Kan.) overcame a 12-point deficit in the first half and claimed a 70-65 win over Westminster (Utah), Wednesday evening in the first round of the 2014 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.

The Ravens will take on sixth-seeded Vanguard (Calif.) on Friday at 6:15 p.m.

Charlie Wallrapp scored a game-high 19 points, 17 in the second half, and grabbed eight rebounds for Benedictine, while Jallen Messersmith came off the bench to record 15 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots. The Ravens shot 47.1 percent from the field for the game and made 13-of-18 free throws in the second half to finish 17-of-24 from the foul line.

“I thought our guys fed off the crowd and this was a big win,” said Benedictine head coach Ryan Moody, whose team was bolstered by a student section that filled the north end of the lower level. “You can see from the celebration in our guys. I’m not sure that’s so much because it’s the game or because that could be the first time we won after we trailed at half. To come back from seven down at the half, you can see the emotion in the guys that it was a hard-fought battle and that was a really good team we beat out there tonight.”

Westminster was in control the majority of the first half thanks to a pressure defense that forced Benedictine into 14 turnovers. The Griffins used a 12-2 run over 3:47 to stretch a two-point advantage into a 37-25 lead with 1:31 until the half.

Benedictine (23-8) scored the final five points of the first half, a momentum swing that carried over into the second half. The Ravens scored the first nine points of the second half to complete a 14-0 run over both halves to take their first lead since the 8:27 mark of the first half.

Westminster ended its scoring drought with a basket by Nick Jenson, only to see Benedictine run off seven-consecutive points for their biggest lead of the game, 50-42. Though the Ravens led the rest of the game, a basket by Messersmith with 30 seconds remaining provided a five-point advantage that was enough to secure the win.

“They were the aggressors coming out of halftime and they got us on our heels,” said Westminster head coach Adam Hiatt. “We went from up seven to down seven in what seemed like a flash. We weren’t ready for that initial full-court pressure that they gave us.”

Jenson and Tallon Robertson led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points for Westminster with the duo combining for 10 rebounds and four steals. Colton Moon, Blake Skidmore and Jordan Pryor each chipped in with 10 points for the Griffins, who were held to 39.7 percent shooting for the game that included a 29.6 percent clip (8 of 27) in the second half.

Westminster finishes its season with a record of 19-13.

Game notes:

Benedictine improves to 13-6 all-time in the championships, making their first appearance in the Division I tournament since a first round loss in 1970 … Benedictine has won two national championships (1954, 1967) … The Ravens ranked #4 in NAIA Division I in three-point percentage (.409), but was held to 31.3 percent from beyond the arc … Messersmith ranks #3 in NAIA Division I in blocked shots per game (2.6).

— NAIA Press Release —

Griffon softball splits with No. 20 Winona State

Posted on March 19, 2014March 19, 2014

The Missouri Western softball team split a pair of games with 20th ranked Winona State Wednesday. The Griffons lost a heart breaker in game one 2-1 in eight innings before picking up a 4-0 victory in game two.

Western was led by Jackie Bishop as she pitched all 14 inings picking up 18 strike outs on the day. She sits at 10-5 overall while the Griffons are 15-11. The Griffons return to action this weekend hosting the MWSU Softball Invitational. The Griffons open up play on Friday, March 21 with games against Northern State University and St. Cloud State University. Game times are set for 12 pm and 2 pm respectively.

Game 1
WSU 2
MWSU 1

The Griffon softball team lost a heartbreaker in game one falling 2-1 in eight innings against #20 Winona State University. The Griffons outhit the Warriors five to four but could not get the big hit when they needed it.

Jackie Bishop gave up just four hits while striking out a season high 12 batters. She did give up a home run in a triple that cost the Griffons. She falls to 9-5 on the season with the loss.

The Warriors took the lead in the top of the second inning when Morgan Lintz blasted her second home run of the season.

The Griffons tied it up in the fourth as Kailey Green and Taylor Anding led off the inning with singles. Shelby Elliott pinch ran for Green and scored on a ground out by Katie Klosterman tying the score at one after four innings.

The score stayed that way until the top of the 8th. They used the international tie breaker putting a runner on second to start the inning. Bishop got the first two hitters out but then a triple by Brooke Piotrowski gave Winona State the 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the inning Michelle Stevenson was put on second and Morgan Rathmann led off by popping up a bunt to the catcher. Stevenson got out trying to advance to third on a fielders choice to shortstop by Bre Fleschner. Brooke Schaben singled to right center putting runners on first and third before Tiffany Gillaspy grounded out to second base ending the game.

Ashley Walker picked up the victory for the Warriors going all eight innings giving up five hits with three strikeouts. Piotrowski had two hits and an RBI.

Five different Griffons got hits in game one with Klosterman getting an RBI.

Game 2
MWSU 4
WSU 0

In game two the Griffons jumped on top in the first inning when Gillaspy drove in Fleschner who led the game off with a single to right field. After one the Griffons led 1-0.

In the third inning the Griffons used the long ball scoring three more runs. Freshman Morgan Rathmann led the inning off with her first career home run. Three batters later Gillaspy nailed her 6th homer of the year giving the Griffons the 4-0 lead after three innings of play.

That was all Bishop would need as she struck out six batter and gave up just five hits. Gillaspy drove in three runs for the Griffons while Fleschner scored two runs.

Hanna Lythberg went all six innings for the Warriors giving up five hits and four earned runs. She falls to 8-1 on the year while the Warriors fall to 17-3. Lintz led the way with two of Winona State’s five hits.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest’s Cooper named to NABC All-Central District First Team

Posted on March 19, 2014

Northwest Missouri State senior guard DeShaun Cooper was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) 2014 Coaches’ Division II All-Central District first team on Wednesday. The NABC recognizes the best men’s collegiate basketball student-athletes and coaches in the division. Selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC in NCAA Division II, these 88 student-athletes and eight coaches represent the finest basketball players and coaches across America.

Cooper, who was a first team CoSIDA/Daktronics first team all-district performer, was named the 2014 MIAA Player of the Year. He was the team’s leading scorer at 17.4 points per contest. He was twice named the MIAA Athlete of the Week and was named to the All-Central Region Tournament Team.

The Bearcats finished the season at 24-9, reaching the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Division II Tournament.

— Northwest Sports Information —