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Author: Dave Riggert

Griffon RB Michael Hill finishes 2nd in Harlon Hill Award voting

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FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) — Shippensburg quarterback Zach Zulli won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in Division II after a record-setting junior season.

Zulli received the award Friday night on the eve of the national championship game at the University of North Alabama. He set NCAA Division II records by accounting for 336 points and 56 touchdowns, and tied the national record with 54 touchdown passes.

”This is just ridiculous. I never would have expected this,” said Zulli, who had never flown before the plane trip to Alabama. ”Being here is incredible. Sharing this award with my teammates, it just feels incredible.”

Zulli had 202 points in balloting by Division II sports information directors for a 64-point margin over Missouri Western State running back Michael Hill. Bloomsburg running back Franklyn Quiteh was third with 101 points.

Zulli, from Schwenksville, Pa., passed for 4,747 yards and led Shippensburg to an 11-2 record and the second round of the playoffs. He was the offensive player of the year in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division. Quiteh plays in the same league.

Zulli became the seventh underclassman to win in the award’s 27-year history and the first since Danny Woodhead of Chadron State in 2006.

Woodhead claimed the Harlon Hill again as a senior, becoming the third multiple winner.

Zulli completed 62.8 percent of his attempts, was intercepted just 10 times and was responsible for an average of 26.5 points per game.

Zulli ranked fourth in Division II in passing yards per game (365.2), third in total offense (382.4) and fifth in passing efficiency with a rating of 165.3.

The toughest part about the trip was flying for the first time. ”It was a little scary at first,” Zulli said.

He opened by bringing Quiteh and Hill to the podium tell a story of a prank pulled on their host.

Zulli concluded by not just thanking his teammates but running down the roster on both offense and defense and even throwing in some nicknames.

”This team overall won this award,” he said, ”not just me.”

— Associated Press —

Royals sign OF Xavier Nady to minor league contract

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The Kansas City Royals announced Friday the club has signed outfielder Xavier Nady to a minor league contract for the 2013 season.  The club plans to announce Major League Spring Training invitations at a later date.

Nady, 34, has played 11 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Padres (2000, 2003-05), Mets (2006), Pirates (2006-08), Yankees (2008-09), Cubs (2010), Diamondbacks (2011), Nationals (2012) and Giants (2012).  He is a career .270 hitter with 101 home runs and 406 RBI in 939 games.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound right-handed hitter and thrower split 2012 between the Nationals and Giants organizations, playing 59 games at the Major League level.  Nady’s best season came in 2008 when he hit .305 with 25 home runs and 97 RBI for the Pirates and Yankees.

— Royals Media Relations —

Missouri basketball announces future series with Arizona

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The University of Missouri and the University of Arizona announced a two-year agreement for a home-and-home college basketball series starting at the McKale Center in the 2015-16 season.

As part of the agreement Mizzou will travel to Tucson, Ariz., for a game on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, and Arizona will face the Tigers at Mizzou Arena on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016.

“This is a great series and will generate the type of national exposure fans and programs want early in the college basketball season,” Head Coach Frank Haith said. “I have so much respect for Sean (Miller) and the Arizona program and when you get two national brands playing in on-campus settings it’s great for all of college basketball.”

Missouri and Arizona have twice met on the hardwood. The most recent meeting was March 26, 1994, in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif. Arizona won that game, 92-72. The first meeting was a 76-73 Mizzou win on Dec. 29, 1984, in Honolulu, Hawaii, in the Hawaii Pacific Invitational.

Missouri will play at least two Pac-12 schools this season. The Tigers topped Stanford, 78-70, in the opening round of the 2012 Battle 4 Atlantis and will travel to UCLA on Dec. 28, 2012, to begin a home-and-home series with the Bruins. UCLA will return the game to Mizzou Arena next season.

— MU Sports Information —

Bearcat basketball moves up to No. 10 in NABC Top 25

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The Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball jumped two spots to No. 10 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25 released Tuesday.

The Bearcats move into the top 10 after jumping out to an 8-0 start on the season. The Bearcats are coming off a blowout win over Nebraska-Kearney and an overtime win against Lindenwood in last week’s action.

West Liberty (W. Va.) holds onto the top spot in the NABC rankings for the fourth straight grabbing 12 first place votes. The only other MIAA team represented in the top 25, Washburn, checks in at No. 2 and received one first place vote.

Metro State (Colo.) follows the Ichabods at No. 3 with Alabama-Huntsville at No. 4 and Bellarmine (Ky.) at No. 5. All three schools also received one first place vote.

Defending champion, Western Washington checks in at No. 6, followed by Southern Indiana at No. 7 and Cal Poly Pomona at No. 8. Rounding out the top 10 ahead of the Bearcats is Seattle Pacific at No. 9 with Northwest sitting at No. 10.

Northwest returns to the hardwood after finals week with tournament action at the Hawaii Classic Saturday and Sunday. The Bearcats face off with St. Edward’s Saturday and close out tournament action Sunday evening against Harding.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Three Griffons earn All-America honors from Daktronics

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Three Missouri Western football players earned All-American Honors from Daktronics as announced today. Senior running back Michael Hill was selected to the first team while senior offensive lineman Macon Allan and senior defensive end were second team.

This past season Hill rushed for over 100 yards in 12 of the Griffons 14 games which includes rushing for over 150 yards eight times and 200 twice. He has helped the Griffons to an 12-2 record which most victories in a season and helped the Griffons to their first ever playoff victory over Minnesota-Duluth 59-57 in triple overtime. He had a career high 259 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-28 victory over Washburn on Senior Day. He helped the Griffons win six straight games against top-25 opponents and helped the Griffons open up 6-0 for the first time ever under head coach Jerry Partridge and the first time since 1981. The six straight victories by the Griffons to start the season helped them garner a #4 ranking in the AFCA poll and #3 by D2Football.com which are the highest in school history. He helped the Griffons win four road games against teams that were ranked in the top-25 for the first time ever…beat #7 Pittsburg State 63-14, #15 Emporia State 57-28, #4 NW Missouri State 21-20 and #6 Henderson State 45-21 in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs. The Griffons secured a school record 12 victories  this season and nine or more for the seventh time in ten years. He rushed for a career long 92 yard touchdown against William Jewell College and had a rush for over 20 yards in 11 games. Finished the season with an MWSU single season record 2,168 yards rushing and is only the 7th player ever in the MIAA to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season.

Hill finished his career has MWSU’s all-time leader in rushing with 4,969 career yards and all-purpose yards with 5,851. He has the record for most carries in a career with 928 and most carries in a game with 41 and most carries in a season with 311. He helped the Griffons break the single game yards per rush average of 9.7 against William Jewell College. His 19 touchdowns this season is the record for most in a single season. He finished the season with 16 rushing touchdowns and his career record of 35 rushing touchdowns. He finished with 44 total touchdowns which was two away from tying the school record in a career. His 154.9 yards per game broke the single season record and his 114 points scored set a single season record.He has the second and third highest mark for rushing yards in a game with 259 against Washburn in 2012 and 246 against Southwest Baptist in 2011.

He helped the Griffons break the school record for highest average per rush in a game…MWSU averaged 9.7 against William Jewell which broke the old mark of 7.8. He helped the Griffon offense set records for Most Points Scored (582), Highest Scoring Average (41.6), Most Touchdown Scored (78), Most First Downs (318), Most Yards Gained (6,420), Most Yards Total Offense Per Game (458.6), Most Yards Gained Rushing (4,009), Most Rushing Yards Net (3,702), Highest Rushing Average Per Carry (6.2) and Highest Completion Percentage in a Season (65.2-percent). Helped the Griffons to three NCAA Division II Playoff Appearances and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.

Hill 2012 Award List

MIAA Offensive Player of the Year
First Team All-MIAA running back
Daktronics All-Region First Team
Daktronics Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year
Harlon Hill Finalist
AFCA All-American
BSN First Team All-American
First Team Dakronics All-American

Macon Allan will arguably be one of the best offensive linemen to wear a Griffon uniform. The senior started every game this year, adding to his streak of 50 consecutive starts for Missouri Western, Allan solidified the right tackle position for both Hill and Travis Partridge to become the best rushing attack in the MIAA, securing 3,702 yards and 44 TDs. Allan helped the Griffons rush for an average of 264.4 yards per game and 6.2 yards per carry this past season.

He helped the Griffons break the school record for highest average per rush in a game…MWSU averaged 9.7 against William Jewell which broke the old mark of 7.8. He helped the Griffon offense set records for Most Points Scored (582), Highest Scoring Average (41.6), Most Touchdown Scored (78), Most First Downs (318), Most Yards Gained (6,420), Most Yards Total Offense Per Game (458.6), Most Yards Gained Rushing (4,009), Most Rushing Yards Net (3,702), Highest Rushing Average Per Carry (6.2) and Highest Completion Percentage in a Season (65.2-percent). Helped the Griffons to three NCAA Division II Playoff Appearances and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.

Allan 2012 Award List

First Team All-MIAA Offensive Lineman
Daktronics All-Region First Team
BSN Third Team All-American
Second Team Dakronics All-American

Bass set the record for career sacks at Missouri Western, and finished with 11.5 sacks this year. He finished his career with 40.5 sacks. Bass set the record for most tackles for a loss in a career. He finished the season with 16.0 and  56 in his career. The senior recorded a career best 61 tackles, and has two interceptions – one for a touchdown – and a forced fumble as well as a fumble recovery. Bass had a solid day against Pittsburg State down in the Jungle on Oct. 20, 2012, as he recorded five tackles, 2 ½ sacks and scored a touchdown that helped set the tone in the Griffons dominating performance to end the regular season. In the Griffons opening round playoff victory over Minnesota-Duluth Bass tied his career high with 11 tackles. He also had a sack and a quarterback hurry. In his final game as a Griffon he had eight tackles with 3.5 being for a loss with one sack.

Bass 2012 Award List

First Team All-MIAA Defensive Lineman
Daktronics All-Region First Team
Gene Upshaw Finalis
BSN Third Team All-American
Second Team Dakronics All-American

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State releases 2013 football schedule

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Six home games highlight the 2013 Northwest Missouri State football schedule, including a nonconference season opener against Saginaw Valley State (Mich.).

The season opening date has not yet been set with the possibility of either Thursday (Sept. 5) or Saturday (Sept. 7) game still to be determined. Saginaw Valley finished the season 8-3 and claimed the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division title with a regular season finale win over Grand Valley State. This will be the first ever meeting between the Bearcats and Cardinals on the gridiron.

It will be the first time since 2007 the Bearcats will have six scheduled regular season home games. The 2007 season opener against Arkansas Tech was eventually canceled due to severe lightning near the end of the first quarter.

“We are pleased to have a great schedule in place for the 2013 season that includes six regular season games at Bearcat Stadium,” Northwest Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “We understand how important Bearcat game days in Maryville are for fans, local businesses and corporate partners.”

Northwest will begin the season with back-to-back home games when Central Missouri travels to Bearcat Stadium on Sept. 14 after three straight trips to Warrensburg. The Bearcats will also make their first trip in three seasons to Fort Hays State on Sept. 21, before returning home against Nebraska-Kearney for Family Weekend on Sept. 28 to close out the month.

The following week, Oct. 5 the Bearcats will travel to Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla., for the first time since 1940. The two teams met as MIAA members for the first time ever this past season in Maryville with the Bearcats prevailing 66-6. Seven days later Northwest will host another conference newcomer in Central Oklahoma on Oct. 12.

“The 2013 schedule will be very exciting and extremely challenging,” said second-year Head Coach Adam Dorrel. “Our home opener is against a great opponent, Saginaw Valley, who has most of their team back. Looking at our opponents and what they have coming back, I believe we will again have one of the toughest schedules in the country.”

Northwest and Pittsburg State will meet for the 12th straight time in Kansas City on Oct. 19. The Bearcats pulled off a dramatic 31-21 come-from-behind victory last year in the Fall Classic over the then number one ranked Gorillas.

Homecoming is scheduled for Oct. 26 against Missouri Southern, followed by a Nov. 2 Senior Day meeting with Washburn to finish up the home portion of the regular season.

Northwest will close out its final two regular season games on the road at Emporia State on Nov. 9 and against rival Missouri Western Nov. 16.

The Bearcats will host their annual spring game April 13 at Bearcat Stadium. Time and details of the spring game will be released at a later date.

Northwest is coming off a 10-3 season, their ninth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs – the longest current streak in Division II – and ninth straight 10-win season. Fans also packed Bearcat Stadium at an extremely high rate in 2012, leading to an average of 8,230 fans per contest and total attendance of more than 41,000 over the five regular season home games. Season ticket information for 2013 will be available later in the spring.

2013 Football Schedule

Start times for all contests will be released at a later date.

Sept. 5 or Sept. 7 vs. Saginaw Valley St (Mich.)
Sept. 14 vs. Central Missouri
Sept. 21 @ Fort Hays State
Sept. 28 vs. Nebraska-Kearney
Oct. 5 @ Northeastern State
Oct. 12 vs. Central Oklahoma
Oct. 19 vs. Pittsburg State (@ Kansas City)
Oct. 26 vs. Missouri Southern
Nov. 2 vs. Washburn
Nov. 9 @ Emporia State
Nov. 16 @ Missouri Western

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Royals sign three veterans to minor league contracts for 2013

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The Kansas City Royals announced on Tuesday the club has signed three additional players to minor league contracts for the 2013 season.  The club plans to announce Major League Spring Training invitations at a later date.

Left-handed pitcher George Sherrill, 35, is 19-17 with 56 saves and a 3.77 ERA in 442 career Major League appearances, all in relief, for the Mariners (2004-07, 2012), Orioles (2008-09), Dodgers (2009-10) and Braves (2011).  The 2008 American League All-Star made just two appearances for Seattle in 2012 before undergoing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on May 4.  Born and raised in Tennessee, the current Utah resident has held left-handed batters to a .186 batting average in his Major League career.

Dan Wheeler, who turned 35 on Monday, is 25-43 with a 3.98 ERA in 589 outings over a 13-year Major League career for the Rays (1999-2001, 2007-10), Mets (2003-04), Astros (2004-07), Red Sox (2011) and Indians (2012).  Born in Rhode Island but now living in Florida, Wheeler split the 2012 campaign between the Cleveland Indians and Triple-A Columbus.

Outfielder Willy Taveras, who will turn 31 on Christmas Day, is a seven-year Major League veteran who has compiled a .274 career average with 195 stolen bases for the Astros (2004-06), Rockies (2007-08), Reds (2009) and Nationals (2010).  The Dominican Republic resident led the National League with 68 stolen bases in 75 attempts for Colorado in 2008.  Taveras is currently batting .280 with eight stolen bases in 39 games for Obregon in the Mexican Winter League.

— Royals Media Relations —

Missouri Western RB Michael Hill named to AFCA All-America team

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Missouri Western senior running back Michael Hill has been named to the AFCA All-American team which was announced Monday, December 10. This marks the second consecutive season that a Griffon has earned this honor as former Griffon kicker Greg Zuerlein was named to the team a season ago. Hill is also one of the three finalists for the Harlon Hill Award which is awarded to the top player in Division II. The winner of that award will be announced on Friday, December 14 in Florance, Ala.

This past season Hill was the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MIAA as well as Daktronics Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year and First Team Daktronics Super Region 3. He was named to the BSN First Team All-American team as well. This past season Hill rushed for over 100 yards in 12 of the Griffons 14 games which includes rushing for over 150 yards eight times and 200 twice. He has helped the Griffons to an 12-2 record which most victories in a season and helped the Griffons to their first ever playoff victory over Minnesota-Duluth 59-57 in triple overtime. He had a career high 259 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-28 victory over Washburn on Senior Day. He helped the Griffons win six straight games against top-25 opponents and helped the Griffons open up 6-0 for the first time ever under head coach Jerry Partridge and the first time since 1981. The six straight victories by the Griffons to start the season helped them garner a #4 ranking in the AFCA poll and #3 by D2Football.com which are the highest in school history. He helped the Griffons win four road games against teams that were ranked in the top-25 for the first time ever…beat #7 Pittsburg State 63-14, #15 Emporia State 57-28, #4 NW Missouri State 21-20 and #6 Henderson State 45-21 in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs. The Griffons secured a school record 12 victories  this season and nine or more for the seventh time in ten years. He rushed for a career long 92 yard touchdown against William Jewell College and had a rush for over 20 yards in 11 games. Finished the season with an MWSU single season record 2,168 yards rushing and is only the 7th player ever in the MIAA to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season.

Hill finished his career has MWSU’s all-time leader in rushing with 4,969 career yards and all-purpose yards with 5,851. He has the record for most carries in a career with 928 and most carries in a game with 41 and most carries in a season with 311. He helped the Griffons break the single game yards per rush average of 9.7 against William Jewell College. His 19 touchdowns this season is the record for most in a single season. He finished the season with 16 rushing touchdowns and his career record of 35 rushing touchdowns. He finished with 44 total touchdowns which was two away from tying the school record in a career. His 154.9 yards per game broke the single season record and his 114 points scored set a single season record.He has the second and third highest mark for rushing yards in a game with 259 against Washburn in 2012 and 246 against Southwest Baptist in 2011

2012: MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MIAA running back; Daktronics All-Region First Team and Daktronics Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year; Harlon Hill Finalsit; AFCA All-American; BSN First Team All-American
2011 Award List • MIAA Offensive Player of the Week on October 31, 2011 • First Team All-MIAA • Second Team Daktronics Super Region Four • Second Team Don Hansen Super Region Four • Honorable Mention Don Hansen all-American • Honorable Mention Beyond Sports Network all-American 2010 Awards honorable mention All-MIAA.

He helped the Griffons break the school record for highest average per rush in a game…MWSU averaged 9.7 against William Jewell which broke the old mark of 7.8. He helped the Griffon offense set records for Most Points Scored (582), Highest Scoring Average (41.6), Most Touchdown Scored (78), Most First Downs (318), Most Yards Gained (6,420), Most Yards Total Offense Per Game (458.6), Most Yards Gained Rushing (4,009), Most Rushing Yards Net (3,702), Highest Rushing Average Per Carry (6.2) and Highest Completion Percentage in a Season (65.2-percent). Helped the Griffons to three NCAA Division II Playoff Appearances and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.

Hill is also the fifth Griffon to Earn AFCA All-American honors since 2003. Individuals that earned the honor before Hill were safety Pierre Thomas (2003), running back Jeremiah White (2005), offensive lineman Roger Allen (2008) and kicker Greg Zuerlein (2011).

The Griffons finished its best season in school history with a 12-2 overall record and won the MIAA Championship outright for the first time in school history. They also won its first two playoff games in school history advancing to the quarterfinals.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Royals trade Myers, prospects to Tampa Bay for Shields & Davis

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The Kansas City Royals on Sunday acquired right-handed starting pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis and a player to be named or cash considerations from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league outfielder Wil Myers, right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi, left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery and third baseman Patrick Leonard.

Shields, who will turn 31 on December 20, has established himself as one of the premier pitchers in the American League.  He followed up an All-Star campaign in 2011, in which posted a 16-12 record with a 2.82 ERA and finished third in the A.L. Cy Young voting, by posting a 15-10 record with a 3.52 ERA in 33 starts with Tampa Bay last season.  In 227.2 innings, Shields allowed 208 hits, walked 58 and struck out 223, just two shy of his career best set in 2011 and the third-most in the league.  Shields is joined by the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez, the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and the Tigers’ Justin Verlander as the only four pitchers in baseball to record at least 220 strikeouts in the last two seasons.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander has compiled an 87-73 career record with a 3.89 ERA in 218 games (217 starts) all for the Rays since making his debut in 2006.  Since tossing 124.2 innings in 21 starts during his rookie campaign, Shields has won at least 11 games, made at least 31 starts and topped the 200-inning mark in six straight seasons.  He joins the Jays’ Mark Buehrle, the Giants’ Matt Cain, the Yankees’ CC Sabathia and Verlander as the only five pitchers in baseball to post at least 200 innings in six straight seasons.  In 2011, his 11 complete games were the most by a Major League pitcher since Arizona’s Randy Johnson had 12 in 1999.

Shields and his wife, Ryane, reside in Clearwater, Fla., with their two daughters.  The couple is active with a number of charities specifically geared toward foster children and James was the Rays recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The 27-year-old Davis made a combined 64 starts for the Rays from 2009 to 2011 before pitching exclusively in the bullpen for Tampa Bay in 2012.  He went 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA last season, allowing 48 hits and 29 walks with 87 strikeouts in 70.1 innings.  The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder made 29 starts in both 2010 and 2011 and finished fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting after posting a 12-10 record with a 4.07 ERA in 2010.  Davis is 28-22 with a 3.94 ERA in 118 career outings, including 64 starts.  He is 25-22 in his career as a starter with a 4.22 ERA, including an 8-2 mark with a 3.38 ERA in 30 games (18 starts) against A.L. Central foes.

Davis and his wife, Katelyn, reside in Lake Wales, Fla.  Davis organized the Full Count Foundation to help children who are at risk or have special needs or chronic illnesses.

Myers, who will turn 22 on December 10, was the 2012 Baseball America, USA Today and Topps Minor League Baseball Player of the Year after hitting a combined .314 with 37 home runs and 109 RBI in 134 games for Northwest Arkansas (AA) and Omaha (AAA).  He was the Royals’ third round selection in the 2009 June Free Agent Draft.

The 22-year-old Odorizzi went 15-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 26 outings (25 starts) for Northwest Arkansas and Omaha in 2012 before making two starts for the Royals in September, going 0-1.  He was acquired by Kansas City in a six-player trade with the Milwaukee Brewers on December 19, 2012.

Montgomery, 23, split his season between Omaha and Northwest Arkansas, posting a 5-12 record with a 6.07 ERA in 27 starts.  He was the Royals’ supplemental first round selection (36th overall) in 2008.

The 20-year-old Leonard batted .251 with 14 home runs and 46 RBI in 62 games for Burlington (R) in 2012.  He was the club’s fifth-round pick in the 2011 Draft.

— Royals Media Relations —

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