The Kansas City Royals, following Friday’s rainout, made four roster moves in Major League Spring Training camp. Following the moves, the Royals have 57 players in Major League camp.
Three players have been returned to minor league camp: right-handed pitcher Sugar Ray Marimon; left-handed pitcher Ryan Verdugo; and catcher Julio Rodriguez.
In addition, left-handed pitcher Noel Arguelles was optioned Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
— Royals Media Relations —
It wasn’t the finish he had envisioned at his final indoor competition at Northwest Missouri State, as senior Tyler Shaw missed advancing to the finals in the 60-meter hurdles Friday.
Shaw, who claimed a runner-up finish in 2009, a sixth place finish in 2010 and a fourth place finish in 2011, narrowly missed the cut off at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships. The St. Louis native finished 14th with a time of 8.14.
Moussa Dembele of St. Augustine’s earned the top time to advance to Saturday’s finals at 7.84. Two MIAA individuals also advanced to the finals, Emporia State’s Andrew Etheridge and University of Lincoln’s Sabiel Anderson with identical times of 7.96.
Shaw and the Bearcat track and field teams will now turn their attention to the outdoor season. Northwest opens competition March 14 at the Emporia State Spring Twilight.
— NWMSU Sports Information —
Junior forward Dillon Starzl stepped to the free throw line for Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team with 30 seconds left and his team clinging to a two-point lead.
Confidence level was high that he would make both free throws and put away a stubborn Northeastern State squad Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the MIAA Tournament at Municipal Auditorium.
The day belonged to Starzl. He was nearly unstoppable with his post moves.
Starzl used major body english to will the first free throw in. He swished the second attempt. Those turned out to be the final points in Northwest’s 69-65 victory.
“I wasn’t trying to think about it too much,” Starzl said of his free throws. “I knew I missed some early. I just had to go up and hit these two and we would be good if we get stops on defense.”
The Bearcats, 20-9, move on. They will face No. 1 seed Fort Hays State noon Saturday.
Starzl, who played high school basketball at Kearney High School in Kearney, Mo., was great throughout. He finished with a game-high 25 points.
Starzl was part of the hot start by the Bearcats in the second half when Northwest extended its halftime lead from 39-36 to 46-36. His first basket in the second half gave the Bearcats the 10-point lead.
“I knew they were going to play straight behind me in the post,” Starzl said. “We were focused on going inside pretty much the whole game. I was able to get a rhythm going and I was able to keep it going the whole game.”
A little later, Starzl hit another bucket to put Northwest ahead 55-43. Freshman Conner Crooker followed with a basket that gave the Bearcats a 57-43 lead with 12 minutes left.
Northeastern slowly whittled away its deficit and even took a 65-64 lead 3:59 left. The RiverHawks didn’t score again.
It was a gritty win for the Bearcats, who played a near-perfect first half on offense.
Starzl went 7 for 7 from the field in the first 20 minutes, and Crooker, who finished with 13 points, made all three of his shots in the first half.
The Bearcats shot 71 percent from the field in the first half, but needed a three-pointer by DeAngelo Hailey at the buzzer to go into halftime with a three-point lead.
“I didn’t realize we shot that well until we went into the locker room,” Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. “We shot 71 percent and we are up three points on a lucky three we hit at the buzzer. No, it wasn’t lucky. He works on those every day. That is the shot he works on.
“I thought we did a good job of executing. We went inside. If we didn’t have so many turnovers we would have been better off.”
It was a good win for the Bearcats. The only negative occurred late in the second half when Crooker had to leave the game when he was elbowed in the head.
— NWMSU Sports Information —
The Northwest Missouri State baseball team combined for 22 hits and 13 runs in two games to defeat Washburn in both games of a double-header Thursday winning 5-1 in game one and 8-3 in game two.
Austin Warren picked up his first win of the season as he went 5.2 innings giving up five hits, no walks and one earned run. Warren faced 21 batters and collected four strikeouts.
Two Bearcats crossed home plate in the first two innings to put Head Coach Darin Loe’s team up early. Washburn picked up their lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth to make the game 2-1.
Northwest did the majority of their damage in the top of the seventh inning starting with JJ Baccari who hit a sac fly to score Brandon Huske. Eric Swain followed Baccari with a double down the right field line scoring Cam Bedard to move the score to 4-1. Tyler Durant knocked in the final run with a double to left field.
Nathanial Horton picked up his second save of the season in the 5-1 victory in game one.
The bats picked up where they left off in game two scoring in the first four innings of the nine inning affair.
Huske scored in the first inning on a wild pitch from the WU pitcher. Charlie Krueger scored on a double by Derek Meyer in the second inning. Eric Swain singled in Huske in the third, but was thrown out trying to beat out a double.
The Bearcats added two runs in the top of the fourth and two more in the six to go up 7-2. Cam Bedard scored the team’s final run in the seventh inning after he reached on an error, stole second and was knocked in by Durant on a sac fly.
Chase Anderson moves to 1-2 on the season as he went a solid seven innings for the Bearcats striking out two and giving up only four hits and two earned runs.
Northwest improves to 4-12 on the season and 4-8 in MIAA play. The Bearcats plan to host Central Missouri Saturday for a double-header starting at noon and single nine inning game Sunday with first pitched scheduled for 1 p.m. Central Missouri is ranked No. 2 in the latest NCBWA poll.
— NWMSU Sports Information —
Felix Hernandez waited almost two weeks to get in a game for the Seattle Mariners. The Kansas City Royals went just as long without a loss.
Hernandez pitched two innings in his Cactus League debut and Stefen Romero had seven RBIs to help a Mariners split squad beat Kansas City 12-2 on Thursday, handing the Royals their first defeat this spring after 11 straight wins.
“Finally, I’m part of the Seattle Mariners,” Hernandez said. “I’m just kidding. I think it (went) better than my debut last year. I feel pretty good.”
The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner allowed one run and two hits. He struck out two and walked none in his first start since signing a $175 million, seven-year contract last month, the richest ever for a pitcher.
With spring training elongated because of the World Baseball Classic, the Mariners held Hernandez out of their first 12 games, knowing he still has ample time to get ready for the April 1 opener at Oakland.
The right-hander, who turns 27 next month, threw 14 pitches in the first inning and 19 in the second. He struck out Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas to end the first.
“I look strong from the windup,” Hernandez said. “From the stretch, I was too quick, opening too much. I’ve got to work on that in my bullpen. I was trying to get my work in.”
Romero homered twice and finished 4 for 5. He hit a grand slam in the fourth inning and a three-run shot in the ninth.
Casper Wells had a three-run drive in the eighth for the Mariners, who have 10 consecutive multihomer games and top the majors with 29 home runs this spring. Wells also doubled home a run in the third.
Hisashi Iwakuma allowed one hit in three scoreless innings for the victory.
Royals starter Ervin Santana struck out four and walked none in three innings. He allowed a run and three hits, throwing 30 of 42 pitches for strikes.
Hernandez had Lorenzo Cain down 0-2 in the count before he singled to center leading off the second. Kansas City rookie David Lough doubled to right to score Cain with one out.
“The double was a fastball in the middle,” Hernandez said.
Royals utility man Elliot Johnson has seen Hernandez at his best, last Aug. 15 against Tampa Bay.
“I was part of his perfect game last year, so he’s been sharper,” Johnson said. “His (velocity) wasn’t where he normally is and probably not as much bite on the breaking ball he threw me. He was not throwing his changeup with quite as much, intensity would probably be a good word to use. It was pretty noticeable the difference today and that day in August.
“Overall he’s still awesome. He was probably holding back a little bit. They gave him $175 million for a reason.”
Moustakas, who struck out in his only at-bat against Hernandez, was impressed.
“He was moving the ball in and out,” Moustakas said. “For his first time out in the spring, he looked really good.”
— Associated Press —
The Lafayette and Central boys’ basketball teams had their season come to end Wednesday night in the sectional round of the state playoffs. Lafayette lost to Liberty North, 49-43, while Central was defeated by Fort Osage, 53-34.
At the Class 4 sectional at Staley High School, Lafayette allowed a 13-0 run in the third quarter to Liberty North and fell behind 36-25. The Irish rallied to within two points, 42-40, with about four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, but that was as close as they’d get and Liberth North went on to a 49-43 victory.
Lafayette was led by Jeff Leeson’s 13 points, while Xavier Kurth added 11. The Fighting Irish end their season 24-4.
At the Class 5 sectional at Independence Events Center, Central jumped out to a quick start and led 13-7 after the first quarter before falling behind 19-18 at halftime. That was as close as the Indians would get as Fort Osage extended its lead to 37-25 after three and went on to a 53-34 victory.
Central ends its season 12-14 as they were led by
The Missouri Western baseball team ran its win streak to eight with an MIAA doubleheader sweep over the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Wednesday afternoon. Brandon Simmons (27) tied the school record for wins in a career in the first game improving to 3-0 on the season as Western won 7-4. In game two, the Griffons got another solid pitching performance Ethan Ward in an 11-1 victory. Missouri Western improves to 9-3 overall and 5-0 in MIAA play.
Game 1
MWSU 7, Nebraska-Kearney 4
Missouri Western got off to a shaky start in the field once again giving up three hits and making two errors which allowed the Lopers to an early 2-0 lead after a half of a inning.
After the first inning Griffon pitcher Simmons settled down giving up just five hits and two runs in the final four an one third innings that he pitched. Simmons picked up his third victory of the season and 27th of his career which ties Nick Finn (1972-75) for most victories in a career.
The Griffons responded in their half of the first getting one run on two hits. Michael Schulze led off with a single and scored on a double by Bubba Dotson. The score remained 2-1 Lopers until the bottom of the third when Grant Fink hit a two out, two run triple giving the Griffons the 3-2 lead after three.
The teams traded runs in the fourth and in the top of the fifth the Lopers tied the score at four. The rest of the game would belong to the Griffons scoring three unanswered runs claiming the three run victory.
In the bottom of the fifth MWSU strung together four hits with RBI singles coming from Fink and Jake Schrader. In the sixth Nate Ramler singled in Dotson giving MWSU its final run of the game.
The Griffons scattered 15 hits with three doubles and two triples. Schulze, Dotson, Simpson, Ramler, Fink and Jimmy Smelcer all had two hits in the contest. Fink led the way with three RBI.
Simmons went 5.1 innings giving up eight hits and three earned runs with four strikeouts while Logan Hollingsworth picked up his second save of the season going 1.2 innings giving up two hits.
The Lopers had 10 hits with Brian Wuest going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Scott Jameson got the loss going three innings giving up six hits and three earned runs with one strikeout.
Game 2
MWSU 11, Nebraska-Kearney 1 (7 innings)
Missouri Western used a seven run fourth inning claiming a 11-1 run rule game against the Lopers. The Griffons left 10 runners on base with 13 hits.
Ward improves to 1-0 going five innings giving up two hits with five strikeouts. Mark Spreckels went one inning while Kyle Kelly closed out the game going one inning.
In the second inning the Griffons got on the board capitalizing on the only error of the game. The Griffons got RBI singles from Schulze, Dotson and Simpson taking a 3-0 lead after two.
In the fourth the Griffons got five hits and used four hits scoring seven runs. Shawn Egge, Dotson, Simpson, Fink and Smelcer all got hits in the inning. After four the Griffons lead 10-0.
The Lopers pushed one across in the top of the seventh but MWSU used three straight hits which included the game winning RBI single from Jeremy Monty which scored Dotson.
Seven Griffons had hits in the game with Simpson going 4-for-5 with two hits and one run scored. Dotson, Fink and Smelcer all had two hits in the game. Dotson had three RBI and walked three times.
Drew Postgate picked up the loss for the Lopers going just 3.2 innings giving up 10 hits and five eraned runs. The Lopers had three hits with Anthony Pacheco getting the RBI single. The Lopers fall to 5-7 on the season adn 5-5 in MIAA play.
The Griffons return to action on Tuesday, March 12 when they travel to Topeka, Kan. to play the Washburn Ichabods in an MIAA doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
— MWSU Sports Information —
The Northwest Missouri State softball has postponed its MIAA opening double-header scheduled for Friday against Lincoln to April 11 at Bearcat Field.
The Bearcats will again sit idle this weekend after their Missouri Southern Tournament was canceled last weekend. Northwest has not seen action since Feb. 23 at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover in Rochester, Minn. and sit at 8-4 on the season.
The next action for Northwest is a double-header against Rockhurst, slated for Tuesday, March 12, in Kansas City. The home opener for the Bearcat softball team is now March 15 when Southwest Baptist travels to Maryville.
— NWMSU Sports Information —
USA Baseball announced Wednesday that Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer has been added to the U.S. roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Hosmer, 23, recorded 14 home runs and 60 RBI in 2012, his second season in the Major Leagues. He batted .389 for Team USA at the 2010 Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico.
Hosmer joins Royals left-handed reliever Tim Collins on Team USA. The Royals now have a total of nine players on 2013 World Baseball Classic rosters: Hosmer, Collins, left-handed pitcher Atahualpa Severino (Dominican Republic), right-handed pitchers Kelvin Herrera (Dominican Republic) and Luis Mendoza (Mexico), catcher Salvador Perez (Venezuela), infielders Irving Falu (Puerto Rico) and Miguel Tejada (Dominican Republic); and outfielder Paulo Orlando (Brazil).
— Royals Media Relations —
Brittany Griswold’s fifth three snapped a 65-65 tie with 24 seconds to play helping the Griffons to a 71-67 victory in the first round of the MIAA Tournament over the Pittsburg State Gorillas. The Griffons advance to play the 2nd seed University of Central Missouri Jennies on Friday, March 8 in Kansas City, Mo. at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. Griswold finished the game with 19 points as the Griffons improve to 16-11 on the season. The Griffons improve to 6-0 (5-0) against the Gorillas in the MIAA tournament with one win being vacated in the 2006-2007 season.
The Griffons could not have gotten off to a better start opening up a 15-4 lead just four minutes into the game. The Griffons made seven of its first nine field goals which included a fast break layup by KC Clouser giving MWSU the 11 point lead.
The Griffons went scoreless the next five minutes getting into foul trouble and taking poor shots. The Gorillas went on a 13-4 run cutting the Griffon lead to 19-17 after a Y’Cedria Devers free throw.
The Griffons remained calm going on a 15-1 run capped by Alex Saxen’s three with 6:57 to play giving MWSU the 34-18 lead. During the run Alicia Bell and Griswold had three’s.
Free throws kept the Gorillas in the game as the Griffons had 17 personal fouls allowing the Gorillas to shoot 26 free throws. The Gorillas made just 13 but were able to close the half on an 14-8 run.
MWSU took a 42-32 halftime lead with its leading scorer Heather Howard scoring just three points in just eight minutes of action due to foul trouble.
The Griffons shot 48.3-percent (14-29) from the field and 6-of-12 from long range. They also made 8-of-10 free throws and out rebounded the Gorillas 16-15. Griswold led the way with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting form the field. She also had led the way with three rebounds.
The Gorillas shot 52.9-percent (9-17) from the field and made just 1-of-6 long range shots. Lauren Brown and Lizzy Jeronimus led the way for PSU with seven points apiece. Brown also had five rebounds and three blocks.
The second half was a back and forth battle between the two teams as the Gorillas came out cutting the Griffon lead to 46-40 after Jeronimus hit a layup with 15:05 to play. The Griffons came right back with a 5-0 run capped by a JaQuitta Dever tip in with 13:38 to play giving the Griffons the 51-40 lead.
The next 12 minutes belonged to the Gorillas as they went on a 22-9 run taking its first lead of the game with 1:33 to play when Jeronimus hit a layup.
The Griffons hung in there as Howard tied the score at 62 with 1:11 to play. Griswold hit two three’s in the final minute while Lanicia Lawrence and Dever hit three of four free throws sealing the victory.
The Griffons shot 41.1-percent (23-56) from the field and 36-percent (9-25) from long range. They also made 66.7-percent (16-24) of their free throws. Howard and Alicia Bell both had 11 points while Dever and Lawrence pitched in nine. Dever had five assits while Griswold led the way with six rebounds. MWSU also scored 25 points off 18 PSU turnovers.
The Gorillas season ends with a record of 17-10. They were led by Jeronimus with 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Brown and Devers pitched in 11 points apiece. PSU shot 59.5-percent (22-37) from the field but made just two threes and 21-of-38 free throws.
— MWSU Sports Information —
