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Category: Missouri Western

Griffons open MIAA Tournament with 12-8 win over Washburn

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Michael Schulze, Nate Ramler, and Grant Fink each blasted home runs for No. 2 seed Missouri Western as the Griffons defeated No. 4 seed Washburn, 12-8, Friday afternoon in a wild game four of the MIAA Centennial Baseball Championship at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Missouri Western (34-15) moves on to face top-seeded Central Missouri in the winners’ bracket game Saturday at 11 a.m.  The game will air live on ESPN 1550 AM.

Washburn got things started quickly in the first inning, as leadoff hitter John Calhoun singled to right center, advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher, and scored from second on a fielding error by the third baseman. Tyler Bean followed with a two-run, inside-the-park home run to give the Ichabods a 3-0 lead on a play where Missouri Western outfielders Bubba Dotson and Shawn Egge collided.

Missouri Western responded in the bottom of the first with a three spot of its own. Schulze led off with a towering home run over the right field wall that landed at the top of the grass berm to make the score 3-1 in favor of Washburn. Two batters later, Spencer Shockley doubled to right center to score Jake Graham. Shockley would later score on an RBI ground ball by Grant Fink to tie the score at 3-3 after one.

Missouri Western took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the third inning when Nate Ramler laced a three-run shot over the left field wall just inside the foul pole to give the Griffons a 6-3 advantage. After a Jimmy Smelcer walk and a David Chew single, Smelcer scored on a throw to second as Chew stole the base. Andre Pieper followed with an RBI single to right center, scoring Chew and giving MWSU an 8-3 lead after three.

In the bottom of the fourth, Fink powered a two-run home run deep over the center field wall to extend the Missouri Western lead to 10-3.

Washburn made it interesting in the top of the sixth, recording four runs on five hits. With runners on first and second, Blaine Matthews singled to left field to score Brad Alberts. Blake Hageman followed with an RBI single up the middle, scoring Bean. The next batter, Richard Swan, continued the hit parade with an RBI single of his own to left field, bringing Matthews home. Calhoun finished up the sixth inning scoring with an RBI single to right center, scoring Hageman to bring the Ichabods to within three at 10-7.

After holding Missouri Western scoreless in the bottom half of the sixth inning, Washburn cut the lead to two when Bean connected on his second home run of the game, a solo shot over the right field wall to make the score 10-8 in the top of the seventh.

Missouri Western extended the lead back to four in the bottom of the seventh inning when Shockley hit a two-RBI single to left field that scored Schulze and Tony Loeffler and gave the Griffons the final 12-8 cushion.

Shockley finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored for Missouri Western. Ramler was 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Fink was 2-for-5 with three RBIs as well and a run scored for the Griffons. Brandon Simmons (12-2) set a MWSU school record with his 12th win of the season. The junior from Kansas City, Kan., went 7.1 innings, giving up eight runs (five earned) on 11 hits.

Bean led the way for Washburn, going 3-for-4 with the two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored. Calhoun was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Ichabods.

Western will take on the University of Central Missouri tomorrow morning at 11:00 am at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Mo.

— MIAA Press Release —

Western football fills 2012 schedule with William Jewell

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The 2012 schedule is once again complete for the Griffon Football team as Director of Athletics Kurt McGuffin announced Thursday that the Griffons will host William Jewell in Spratt Stadium on Saturday, September 8th at 6 PM.

The open date became available when Central State of Ohio pulled out of the game contract.

“It was highly important to us and especially for our fan base to schedule a sixth home game against a NCAA Division II opponent,” said Director of Athletics Kurt McGuffin.  “It’s a plus that the opponent is a recognizable name from the local area and we look forward to hosting William Jewell this fall.”

The Cardinals finished 4-6 a year ago and will be entering their second season as a NCAA Division II member and competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

— MWSU Sports Information —

MWSU’s Bishop earns more honors from NFCA

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Missouri Western sophomore pitcher Jackie Bishop has been named to the 2nd Team all-South Central Region which was announced on Thursday afternoon by the NFCA. Bishop finished her season with a 24-5 overall record with a 1.42 ERA. The Griffons finished the season 42-13 and have won 40 or more games five times which includes the last two.

This year’s teams are comprised of 204 student-athletes from 89 institutions spread out over the eight NFCA regions, with a first and second team for each region.

NFCA member coaches in each of the eight regions selected this year’s All-Region teams and all honorees are now eligible to be selected to one of three All-American teams.

The 2012 NFCA Division II All-American teams will be announced on NFCA.org on the evening of Wednesday, May 16.

Bishop continues to add to her list of awards garnering NFCA 2nd Team all-South Central Region honors. She earned Daktronics NCAA Division II South Central Region Pitcher of the Year and First Team honors on Wednesday, May 9. She was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Year as well as First Team all-MIAA. Last season Bishop was the MIAA Freshman of the Year and first team selection.

Bishop is the first Griffon pitcher to earn South Central Region Pitcher of the Year as well as MIAA Pitcher of the Year. Bishop finsished the season leading the MIAA with a 24-5 overall record and 1.42 ERA. She made 29 apperances with 26 starts. She pitched 26 complete games throwing eight shutouts. She pitched 183 innings with 243 strikeouts which is a new MWSU single season record. She held her opponents to a .180 batting average and gave up just 37earned runs. She was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week four times. She had a career high 16 strikeouts against Pittsburg State on April 6. She has struckout ten or more batters ten times which includes her first seven.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Six Griffons earn All-MIAA baseball honors

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The Missouri Western State University baseball team landed six players on the All-MIAA team which was announced by the conference Thursday. Brandon Simmons and Spencer Shockley earned first team All-MIAA honors while Nik Juardo, Grant Fink and Nate Ramler earned second team All-MIAA honors. Shortstop Michael Schulze was the only Griffon named to the Honorable Mention squad.

Brandon Simmons had an outstanding season tying the MWSU single season record for victories with 11. He also leads the MIAA and the nation in victories. He made 13 aperances with 12 starts, pitching 10 complete games with two shutouts. He has thrown 85.1 innings giving up just 70 hits while striking out 56. He leads the Griffons with a 1.58 ERA giving up just 15 earned runs. He has won his last nine starts and has lost just one game he has stared all season. He gave up two or less runs in 12 of his 13 outings. He was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week on Monday, May 7. The marks the first time he has been named to the first team. He was honorable mention his first two seasons.

Spencer Shockley has had an outstanding season for the Griffons leading the way in batting average (.405), hits (64), total bases (99), slugging percentage (.627), on base percentage (.447) and putouts (358). He has struckout just eight times whlie walking 14 times. He has a .992 fielding percentage making just three errors with 11 assists. He has a hit in 19 of his last 20 games which includes eight straight. In his last eight games he has 18 hits which includes six multiple hit games. He has started 47 games and has scored 37 runs and knocked in 32. This is the first time he has been named to the first team.

Nik Jurado has been named to the second team for the first time in his career. Jurado had an outstanding regular season going 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA. He has made 12 starts with five complete games and one shutout. He has thrown 80.1 innings giving up just 16 earned runs whlie striking out 68 and walking just 11. He has giving up just 76 hits holding his opponents to a .255 batting average.

Grant Fink earned second team honors starting 47 games at third base for Western. He is fourth on the squad in hitting with a .313 batting average. He has scored 31 runs with 50 hits. Twenty three of his 50 hits have been for extra bases. He has 14 doubles, two triples and seven home runs. He has 29 RBI with 89 total bases. Fink was named MIAA Hitter of the Week back on April 17, 2012 for his performance against Pittsburg State.

Nate Ramler eanred second team honors at the designated player position. Ramler was third on the team with a .315 batting average in 47 games played. He had 51 hits with 22 of them going for extra bases. He led the Griffons with nine home runs. He had 12 doubles and one triple. Ramler scored 25 runs and knocked in a team hit 42.

Michael Schulze was named to the honorable mention squad at the shortstop postion for the Griffons. Schulze has played extreamly well as of late lifting his batting average to .356. He has started all 48 games leading the team with 47 runs scored, 14 doubles and five triples. He is second on the team with 63 runs scored and 96 total bases. He also leads the team with 13 stolen bases. He has a .963 fielding percentage making just seven errors. He had 56 putouts and 125 assists. He was named MIAA Hitter of the Week this past week for his performance against Fort Hays State.

The Griffons will face Missouri Southern, Washburn or Emporia State on Friday, May 11 at 2:30 pm in the MIAA Tournament from CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Mo.

2012 ALL-MIAA BASEBALL TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Bret Schwartz, Sr., SS, Central Missouri

PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Lee Stoppelman, Sr., Central Missouri

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Shawn Talkington, P, Emporia State

COACH OF THE YEAR
Tommy Myers, Central Missouri

FIRST TEAM
SP: Lee Stoppelman, Sr., Central Missouri
SP: Brandon Simmons, Jr., Missouri Western
SP: Cody Griebling, Sr., Missouri Southern
RP: Brett Macari, Sr., Fort Hays State
C: Drew Miller, So., Southwest Baptist
1B: Spencer Shockley, Jr., Missouri Western
2B: Eric Dawson, Jr., Emporia State
SS: Bret Schwartz, Sr., Central Missouri** [r1]
3B: John Calhoun, Sr., Washburn**
OF: Ryan Busboom, Jr., Fort Hays State**
OF: Gabe Thibodeau, Sr., Central Missouri
OF: Ryan Abernathy, So., Northwest Missouri
DH: Joe Vaskas, Sr., Emporia State [r1]
UT: Chris Pfau, Sr., Lincoln
**Unanimous Selection
[r1] – Repeat first team selection from last season

SECOND TEAM
SP: Brett Ash, Jr., Washburn
SP: Nik Jurado, Sr., Missouri Western
SP: Kurtis Schuyler, So., Central Missouri
RP: Travis Unthank, Sr., Central Missouri
C: Chase Graskewicz, Jr., Central Missouri
1B: Brad Alberts, Jr., Washburn
2B: Luke Acosta, Sr., Missouri Southern
SS: Ashton McCoy, Jr., Emporia State
3B: Grant Fink, Jr., Missouri Western
OF: Nash Smith, Sr., Fort Hays State
OF: Tyler Christophel, Sr., Southwest Baptist
OF: Dorian Williams, Sr., Emporia State
DH: Nate Ramler, Jr., Missouri Western
UT: Tyler Bean, Sr., Washburn

HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Dane Krone, Jr., RP; John Oropeza, Jr., 1B; Jon Cotter, Jr., 2B; Jordan Coons, Sr., 3B; Albert Selanders, Jr., OF; Ben Cox, So., DH.

Emporia State: Derek Brooks, Sr., SP; Brandon Faulkner, Sr., SP; Joe Kornbrust, Sr., OF.

Fort Hays State: Shawn Lewick, Sr., SP; Mace Krol, Sr., DH.

Missouri Southern: David Reese, So., SP; Sam Ryan, Jr., C; Michael McCoy, Jr., OF; Jesse Kinzey, Sr., UT; Cullen Baxter,Sr., UT.

Missouri Western: Michael Schulze, So., SS.

Northwest Missouri: Steven Garber, Fr., 1B; Cameron Bedard, Jr., 2B; Eric Swain, Jr., SS; Eric McGlauflin, So., UT.

Pittsburg State: Matt Stalcup, Jr., SP; Chase Barnes, Sr., OF.

Southwest Baptist: Jacob Sullinger, Jr., RP.

Truman: Devon Myers, Sr., C.

Washburn: Kerry Schachenmeyer, Sr., SP; Richard Swan, Jr., C; Marcus Peavler, Sr., OF.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Griffon baseball enters regional rankings for the first time

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For the first time this season the Missouri Western baseball team has cracked the top eight in the South Central Regional rankings which was released Wednesday afternoon. The Griffons are 33-15 overall and 29-13 in regional play entering this weeks MIAA Tournament where they will be the #2 seed. Western will play at 2:30 pm on Friday, May 11 against Missouri Southern, Washburn or Emporia State at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

The top six teams in the region make the national tournament which will start next week. The winner of the MIAA Tournament will earn an automatic bid into the national tournament.

The Griffons have been to a regional one time in school history which was in 2006.

SOUTH CENTRAL
1     Central Missouri     41-7     41-7
2     St. Mary’s (Texas)     41-8     36-8
3     Angelo State     38-14     38-13
4     Southern Arkansas     36-15     34-14
5     Texas A&M-Kingsville     31-16     24-14
6     St. Edward’s     35-12     30-11
7     Southeastern Oklahoma     34-17     30-15
8     Missouri Western State     33-15     29-13

— MWSU Sports Information —

MWSU golf adds Junior College transfer for 2012-2013 season

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Missouri Western men’s golf coach Jim Perry has announced the signing of one student athlete to the National Letter of Intent for the 2012-2013 season. The Griffons welcome junior college transfer Weston Apple of St. Charles, Ill. to next year’s squad.

Apple originally from St. Charles, Ill. will transfer to Missouri Western from Iowa Western Community College out of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Apple played in 17 events with a scoring average of 76 at Iowa Western. As a senior at St. Charles East high school he had a scoring average of 74.9 which was in the top 15 in school history. He was the MVP and a team captain as a senior. He also tied for 11th at the 3A state tournament. He was an all-Conference performer in 2010. His greatest sports thrill was qualifying for the Illinois State High School Tournament in back-to-back season and being named Kane County Chronicle Golfer of the Year twice. He plans on majoring in sports marketing at Western.

“Weston will bring the experience we need to compete in the MIAA”, commented coach Perry.  “He has played in numerous junior college tournaments and will help us out right away. He has a great attitude and we are excited to have him at Western,” stated Perry.

— MWSU Sports Information —

MWSU’s Bishop named South Central Region Pitcher of the Year

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Missouri Western sophomore pitcher Jackie Bishop has been named the 2012 Daktroics NCAA Division II South Central Region Pitcher of the Year, it was announced Tuesday. Bishop was also named to the First Team for the second time in her career. The Griffons finished the season 42-13 and have won 40 or more games five times which includes the last two.

The South Central Region is made up of schools from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, Heartland Conference, Lone Star Conference and Great American Conference along with independents University of Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State.

The team is voted on by sports information directors of schools in the region. All first-team selections will appear on the national ballot for All-America honors.

Bishop continues to add to her list of awards garnering Daktronics NCAA Division II South Central Region Pitcher of the Year. Bishop was also named to the First Team. She was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Year as well as First Team all-MIAA. Last season Bishop was the MIAA Freshman of the Year and first team selection. Bishop is the first Griffon pitcher to earn South Central Region Pitcher of the Year as well as MIAA Pitcher of the Year. Bishop finsished the season leading the MIAA with a 24-5 overall record and 1.42 ERA. She made 29 apperances with 26 starts. She pitched 26 complete games throwing eight shutouts. She pitched 183 innings with 243 strikeouts which is a new MWSU single season record. She held her opponents to a .180 batting average and gave up just 37earned runs. She was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week four times. She had a career high 16 strikeouts against Pittsburg State on April 6. She has struckout ten or more batters ten times which includes her first seven.

2012 Daktronics Softball South Central Region

Player of the Year
Kacie Edwards, Central Oklahoma

Pitcher of the Year
Jackie Bishop, Missouri Western St

First Team
C          Nathalie Timmermans, Central Oklahoma
1B        Emily Kennemer, East Central
2B        DeeshanaLynn Tafiti, Angelo State
SS        Bailey Vrazel, Texas Woman’s
3B        Kacie Edwards, Central Oklahoma
OF        Courtney Bingham, Midwestern State
OF        Kayce Raines, Central Oklahoma
OF        Addison Staley, Texas Woman’s
UT        Katie Hines, Texas Woman’s
DP       Stephanie Goodwin, Emporia State
P          Jackie Bishop, Missouri Western State
P          Claire Molina, Angelo State
P          Kayla Jackson, Arkansas-Monticello

Second Team
C          Kacie Easley, Angelo State
1B        Megan Whitmire, Central Oklahoma
1B        Tricia Vogel, Emporia State
2B        Brittany Weaver, Central Oklahoma
SS        Amanda (Mannie) DeCastro, Pittsburg State
3B        Elsamartina Apo, Angelo State
OF        Bridget Schade, Truman State
OF        Morgan Spearman, Angelo State
OF        Julie Cross, Oklahoma Panhandle State
UT        Katie Welborn, Tarleton State
DP       Tiffany Brown, Pittsburg State
P          Maddie Holub, Fort Hays State
P          Samantha Swanda, Tarleton State
P          Emily Brittain, State Mary’s

— MWSU Sports Information —

Griffons sweep weekly MIAA baseball awards

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Missouri Western baseball players Michael Schulze and Brandon Simmons have been named MIAA Baseball Student-Athletes of the Week for the week May 1-7, as selected by a conference SID panel.

MIAA BASEBALL HITTER OF THE WEEK

Michael Schulze, SS, Missouri Western

The sophomore shortstop has played extremely well as of late hitting in 13 of his last 15 games, which included every game last weekend. In the Griffons’ first three games, Schulze went 10-for-13 with six runs scored and five RBI. He also had four doubles and two walks. On the week he hit .647 with 11 hits in 17 at bats, scoring nineruns and knocking in five. He also had four doubles and four walks on the week. He had a slugging percentage of .882 and an on base percentage of .714. He stole four bases and had 11 putouts and five assists.

MIAA BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Brandon Simmons, RHP, Missouri Western

Simmons won his team-high 11th game on Saturday in a 5-1 victory against the Tigers. Simmons is 11-2 on the season and tied the MWSU single season record for wins in a season. He threw his 10th complete game of the season, giving up just seven hits and one earned run. Simmons has won his ninth straight start after falling in a relief appearance against Emporia State back on March 27. Simmons holds a 1.58 ERA while holding his opponents to a .234 batting average.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western softball camp set for end of May

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The Missouri Western softball coaching staff has announced that they will be conducting a youth camp at the end of May. The camp will run from Tuesday, May 29 – Thursday, May 31 with two sessions each day. The first session is for ages 6-11 and runs from 8:00 am – 11:00 am while session two runs from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm and is for players aging from 12-16. If it is raining the camp will be held in the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex otherwise it will be out at the Softball Field at the Spring Sports Complex.

Each participant will need to bring a personal bat, cleats, helmet and balls. Younger girls will need to bring an 11” ball. The camp is $70 per person and includes a free t-shirt. For more information or to RSVP please contact assistant softball coach Mandie Berneking at anocita@missouriwestern.edu or call 816-271-4256 (Please include t-shirt size).

— MWSU Sports Information —

Griffons lose wild regular season finale at Fort Hays State

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Missouri Western could not complete the sweep over the Fort Hays State Tigers on Sunday afternoon falling in the regular season finale by a score of 12-11 at Larks Park in Hays. After winning the first three games of the series, the Griffons were unable to get the the last game finishing the regular season portion of their schedule at 33-15 overall and 26-12 in the MIAA.

As they had done all series, the Griffons jumped on top early with a pair of runs in the top of the first of Spencer Shockley’s sixth homer of the season. Unfortunaly the lead did not last long as Tigers punched back in the bottom half of the inning with four runs off Griffon starter Oliver Kadey who went just 0.2 innings.

Missouri Western pounded out four hits in the third inning taking  the lead back at 5-4 and then pushed the lead to 6-4 in the fourth. In the third Shockley singled in his third run of the game and then Jimmy Smelcer singled to left field scoring David Chew and Shockley. In the fourth Shawn Egge scored on a double by Chew.

Once again FHSU responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth on Nash Smith’s second home run of the game, a two-run blast.

Fort Hays State finally took the lead back with three runs in the bottom half of the fifth when Chris Santoscoy had a two-RBI single with the bases loaded, then Smith followed with his fourth RBI of the game on another single.

A walk and error to start the top of the sixth triggered a three-run rally by the Griffons tying the score once again at 9-9 and the Griffons reclaimed the lead 10-9 on a solo home run by Bubba Dotson in the seventh. The homer marked Dotson’s fifth of the season.

The Tigers punched right back in the bottom of the seventh as Luke Kordsmeier hit a solo home run down the left field line to lead off the inning.

Missouri Western once again took the lead with a run in the eighth when Smelcer singled in his third run of the game giving the Griffons a 11-10 lead with an inning and a half to play.

The Tigers responded in the bottom of the eighth  a Shane Shade solo home run tying the score at 11-11. A pair of singles and a walk led to a Sheldon Howell RBI sacrifice fly giving the Tigers the 12-11 lead heading to the ninth.

Bret Macari shut the door on the Griffons in the ninth. He allowed a walk with one out, but got a pop up and strikeout to end the game. He moves to 4-1 on the season with the win.

Western had 13 hits with Shockley leading the way going 4-for-6 with four RBI and four runs scored. Chew, Grant Fink and Smelcer all had two hits apiece. Matt Bergin picked up the loss pitching three innings in releif. He gave up seven hits and three earned runs falling to 2-5 on the season.

FHSU starter Andy Lewten went 4.0 innings, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks. Fort Hays State pounded out 17 hits as they finish the regular season 26-22 and 20-19 in MIAA play. They will be the No. 6 seed next week in the MIAA Tournament.

The Griffons will be the No. 2 seed in the MIAA Tournament and will face the highest remaining seed on Friday, May 11 at 2:30 pm. They are automatically in the four-team double-elimination bracket as they get a by in the opening round. See the tournament bracket at the start of the article for all your game times and participants.

— MWSU Sports Information —

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