College – Page 415 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Husker freshman Tarin Smith announces decision to transfer

Posted on March 31, 2015March 31, 2015

Lincoln, Neb. – University of Nebraska men’s basketball coach Tim Miles announced Tuesday evening that freshman guard Tarin Smith has decided to transfer from the Husker program following the spring semester.

“My family and I have intensely thought about this decision, and we feel that it is best if I transfer at the end of this school year,” Smith said. “I would like to thank the University of Nebraska and the fans for this opportunity and their support and encouragement throughout the year.”

Smith, a 6-foot-2 guard from Ocean Township, N.J., played in all 31 games as a true freshman this season, averaging 4.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. He had a career-high 13 points in a loss to Ohio State on Feb. 26.

“I am disappointed in Tarin’s choice to transfer, but I support him and understand his decision,” Miles said. “Our entire program will miss him, and we wish him nothing but a successful future.”

— NU Sports Information —

NWMSU’s Schieber, Mark earn weekly MIAA softball honors

Posted on March 31, 2015March 31, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State softball junior Kendle Schieber has been named the MIAA/AstroTurf Softball Pitcher of the Week while teammate Stephanie Mark was given Hitter of the Week honors for the second time this season.

Schieber recorded 13 1/3 scoreless innings, tallying two shutouts while striking out 13 batters. The Conception Junction, Mo. native allowed just six baserunners (four hits, one walk and one HBP), holding opponents to a .093 batting average.

After coming out of the bullpen to record the final four outs (all strikeouts) against William Jewell on Wednesday, the junior was one strike away from a perfect game against Lincoln on Friday. Schieber finished with a one-hit shutout in that contest and followed it up with a two-hit shutout against Lindenwood on Saturday.

Mark finished the week 9-for-16 with three home runs and a pair of doubles, scoring eight runs and knocking in five more. In the field, the Ogden, Utah native recorded 39 putouts at first and did not commit an error. On Wednesday at William Jewell, Mark clubbed three home runs and drove in four runs.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Former Griffon, Indian Michael Hill signs with Redskins

Posted on March 30, 2015March 30, 2015

by Andrew Walker – Redskins.com

Last week, Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said he wouldn’t hesitate to bring in some competition at the running back position behind perennial starter Alfred Morris.

On Monday, the team acted on that claim, signing free agent running back Michael Hill. Terms of the contract were not released.

Hill – who stands at 5-foot-10 and weighs 210 pounds – is a Missouri Western State product who has played in eight career games, all in 2013 with the Green Bay Packers (two games) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (six games).

The St. Joseph Central High School graduate has nine career rushes for 23 yards, and has also showed the ability to catch the ball in limited action, hauling in two career passes for 23 yards – all with Tampa Bay.

Hill originally signed with the San Diego Chargers as a college free agent on April 27, 2013, starting a wave of roster moves over the past two seasons for the St. Joseph, Mo., native.

The Chargers released Hill during final cuts that year, and he joined the Packers practice squad in September and jumped between the active roster and practice squad for about the next month, making his NFL debut Oct. 6, 2013, vs. the Detriot Lions and also appearing the next week against the Baltimore Ravens.

He was signed to the Buccaneers’ active roster from the Packers’ practice squad Nov. 13, 2013, and appeared in six games with Tampa that season.

Last season, Hill was waived by the Packers during final cuts and signed to the team’s practice squad. He eventually joined the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad Nov. 18 before his release a week later. He ended the season on the Redskins’ practice squad, signing Dec. 9.

The Redskins are looking for a leading candidate to take over their backup running back duties after the departure of free agent Roy Helu Jr., who signed with the Oakland Raiders.

The team currently features burner Chris Thompson and the shifty Silas Redd, but Gruden said last week at the annual Owners Meetings that he wanted to create more competition at the position.

“It’s very deep running back draft in my opinion, and we’re excited to add another piece at some point, hopefully. We have seven picks,” he said. “Hopefully one of them will be a running back, or a free agent to compete. There are some good free agents that haven’t been signed yet. But, giving Chris an opportunity, Silas, Alfred, that’s where it starts. And we’ll add some more later on for competition.”

— Redskins.com —

Griffon women’s golf team sit in 2nd after day one at UNK Spring Invite

Posted on March 30, 2015March 30, 2015

KEARNEY, Neb. – The Missouri Western women’s golf team currently sits second after day one at the University of Nebraska-Kearney Spring Invitational at Awarii Dunes Country Club in Axtell, Nebraska.

The Griffons are just three shot back of Nebraska-Kearney as they shot a 328 on day one.

Western is led by Tiffanie Yabut who currently sits second individually with a score of 79. Amber Chivington is tied for fourth overall with a score of 81.

UNK’s Samantha Crawford is the individual after shooting a 76 on the day.

The final round starts at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday with a shot gun start.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western to hold girls basketball individual camp July 20-22

Posted on March 30, 2015March 30, 2015

Missouri Western will be holding a girls basketball camp for girls grades 3-8 on July 20-22.

This camp is designed to help younger players develop proper skills at an early age. A typical day includes station drills (with a twelve to one player coach ratio in order to ensure individual attention), a different individual contest each day (ie. Free throw, speed dribble, hot-shot, etc) along with game competition. We start with 3 on 3, gradually progress to 5 on 5. All games and competitions are divided among equal age groups. For an up and coming player this is a camp you do not want to miss!

– Early Bird Special-Camp costs $60 if enrolled by June 15th, 2015.
– Camp cost of $70 required with your application to reserve your spot in camp. Enrollment will be limited!

Rob Edmisson is in his third season as the Griffon’s head coach, and is the eighth head coach in Griffon Women’s Basketball history. He came to MWSU from Oklahoma City University where he won the 2012 NAIA National Championship. Edmisson has coached 10 all -Americans, 38 all – conference players, three SAC player of the year honorees. His overall coaching record in 24 years on all levels is 540 -178.

Go to GoGriffons.com for full details and how to sign up.

Please contact either head coach Rob Edmisson or assistant coach Roger Smith if you have any questions at 816-271-5863 or 816-271-4509.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri’s Eye selected to compete in State Farm College Three-Point Championship

Posted on March 30, 2015March 30, 2015

Indianapolis, Ind. – Mizzou senior Morgan Eye has been selected to compete at the 27th annual State Farm College Slam Dunk & Three-Point Championships, as announced on Monday by Intersport. Eye will compete in the Women’s Three-Point Championship contest on Thursday, April 2 at 6 p.m. CT. The competition is set to air on ESPN.

Eye has been nothing short of a three-point shooting all-star as she set the Mizzou single-game, single-season and career three-pointers records at Mizzou. Not only that, but the Tiger team set the single-game and single-season SEC three-pointers made records as well.

In addition to the Women’s Three-Point Championship, the event will feature the Marines’ Men’s Three-Point Championship, Fitbit Battle of the Champions (Men’s winner vs. Women’s winner) and the Denny’s Slam Dunk Championship.

The event will be held at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Tickets for the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships can be purchased on Ticketmaster.

— MU Sports Information —

Nebraska’s Pitchford to forgo senior season of basketball

Posted on March 30, 2015March 30, 2015

Lincoln, Neb. – University of Nebraska forward Walter Pitchford announced Monday that he is giving up his final season of eligibility with the Husker basketball program. Pitchford will remain at the University of Nebraska and finish his undergraduate degree in ethnic studies.

“I thank Coach Miles for giving me the opportunity when I transferred from Florida,” Pitchford said. “I have learned a lot about myself in the three years I’ve been at Nebraska and it is not an easy decision to give up playing basketball. I believe it is in the best interest of both the team and myself that I devote my time to completing my degree at Nebraska and eventually go into a career in business.

“I appreciate all the support I have received from the coaching staff, my teammates and the fans during my time at Nebraska and it has become home for me,” Pitchford said. “I know my teammates support me on this difficult decision, and I will be there to support them.”

“I completely support Walter in his decision,” Nebraska basketball coach Tim Miles said. “It shows a great deal of courage for a young man to see his career path and pursue it. I know leaving behind basketball is not easy for Walter or his family, but I also believe this is the best thing for Walt because it targets what he wants to do.”

As a junior, he played in 30 games, including 26 starts, and averaged 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game to rank third on the team in both scoring and rebounding. Pitchford reached double figures nine times in 2014-15, including a career-high 19 points against Tennessee-Martin and at No. 16 Maryland.

He averaged 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds as a sophomore in 2013-14, helping the Huskers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. That season, he ranked among the Big Ten leaders in both field goal percentage (.473, 10th) and 3-point percentage (.410, seventh).

Pitchford began his career at the University of Florida in 2011-12, helping the Gators to an appearance in the Elite Eight.

In the classroom, Pitchford is a two-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll member.

— NU Sports Information —

Griffons drop series finale to No. 17 Missouri Southern 20-16

Posted on March 29, 2015

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Despite what the scoreboard said, the Missouri Western and Missouri Southern football teams did not play a spring game at the Griffon Baseball Field. Instead it was a 20-16 win for No. 17 Missouri Southern baseball over Missouri Western that clinched the series for the Lions, three games to one.

The teams combined for 36 runs, 36 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs and four errors in a game that seemed to be headed for a run-rule in favor of Missouri Southern. Five runs from the Griffons in the fifth and five more in the seventh prolonged the game that lasted three hours. Missouri Southern jumped out to a 7-0 lead after four in the second and three in the top of the third. The Griffs added one in the bottom of the third, but two more from Southern in the fourth started a run of multi-run innings.

Griffon starter Grant Woods was chased after the second. He allowed four runs on four hits, striking out two and walking two. In the game, Missouri Western pitchers walked 13 Lion batters and hit two. Down 15-2 going into the bottom of fifth, MWSU scored five to pull within eight. Mitch Thorman got the scoring going in the inning with an RBI single that bought Trevor LaHonta home. Cosimo Cannella drove in two with a single through the left side and David Glaude put the fourth and fifth runs of the inning on the board with a two-run home run down the right field line.

The Griffons pulled within four at 16-12 in the seventh on an RBI double by Cannella and back-to-back home runs from Matt Russell and Corbin Duffy. The Griffons added one more in the eighth and three in the ninth but it was too little to late as Missouri Southern had built a 20-13 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

Glaude finished 3-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. LaHonta was 3-5 with two RBIs and a runs scored. Woods took the loss as the first of seven pitchers used by the Griffons. The loss dropped MWSU to 18-12 on the year and 12-8 in the MIAA. The team plays next at Fort Hays, playing a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State splits four-game series with Pitt State

Posted on March 29, 2015

Pittsburg, Kan. – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Pittsburg State, 8-6, on Sunday in MIAA action.

Northwest falls to 15-15 overall and 11-9 in MIAA play. Pitt State improves to 9-18 and 5-11 in conference action.

With the loss, the Gorillas earned a series split after winning one game on Saturday. The Bearcats won on Friday and in game two of yesterday’s doubleheader.

Northwest Missouri State scored six runs on eight hits and did not committ an error. Northwest got single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before putting together a four-run seventh inning.

Pitt State scored eight runs on 13 hits but kept the door open by committing four errors. The Gorillas scored two in the second, one in the third, four in the fifth and one in the sixth.

Nikko Pablo got the loss, going 4.1 innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits. He walked two batters and struck out one.

Paul Johnson was 3-for-5 on the day with a triple and an RBI.

Nick Gotta and Austin Wulff each picked up a pair of hits. Both recorded doubles, had an RBI and scored a run.

Catcher Derek Meyer was 1-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

The Bearcats will return home for five straight games beginning on Tuesday, March 31, with a non-conference nine-inning game against Peru State. MIAA play continues on Thursday, April 2, with Lindenwood.

— Northwest Sports Information —

No. 23 Tigers lose final game of three-game series at No. 1 Texas A&M

Posted on March 29, 2015March 29, 2015

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 23 Mizzou baseball dropped the series finale against top-ranked Texas A&M, 14-6, on Sunday afternoon at Blue Bell Park.

Junior starter Peter Fairbanks (St. Louis, Mo.) allowed four runs and two home runs over the first three innings and the Tigers hit into three double plays in the middle innings to quell rallies before A&M broke the game open late. The loss drops the Tigers to 20-9 and 6-3 in the SEC. Texas A&M improves to 27-2 and 7-2 in the SEC.

The 14 runs allowed by the Tigers are a season-high as are the 17 hits by the Aggies on Sunday. The Aggies broke the game open in the sixth, sending 13 batters to the plate while scoring nine runs on seven hits. Mizzou rallied with five runs in the top of the seventh, but it was too little, too late for the Tigers.

Fairbanks took the loss, his third of the season. Sophomore Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) tallied his third three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Freshmen Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) and Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) each tallied multi-hit games as well. Brett Peel (St. Charles, Mo.) reached base safely for the 26th consecutive game.

Fairbanks struggled through three innings, allowing a pair of homers as Texas A&M opened a 4-0 lead after three innings. Mizzou threatened to score in the third and fourth innings, putting a pair of runners on with one outs and nobody out, respectively. But A&M starter Matt Kent induced a couple of double plays to escape jams in both of those innings.

Fairbanks issued a four-pitch walk to open the fourth inning and that ended his day in favor of senior reliever Andrew Schwaab (St. Charles, Mo.), who retired the side on eight pitches in the fourth. Schwaab then got into some trouble in the fifth inning, allowing back-to-back, one-out singles. J.B. Moss then hit a two-out single through the left side to give A&M a 5-0 lead.

The Tigers again threatened in the top of the sixth as three consecutive singles loaded the bases for the middle of the order and cleanup hitter Josh Lester (Columbus, Ga.). He struck out swinging on a 3-2 fastball and Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) bounced into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat as the Tigers came up empty.

A&M then made the Tigers pay for missing that chance, plating nine runs in the bottom of the frame, four coming on a grand slam by Logan Taylor. Mizzou rallied in the seventh for five runs in the top of the seventh, but the damage had been done as the Tigers tacked on another run in the ninth.

Mizzou will be back in action, facing a nationally-ranked Illinois team Tuesday at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., at 6:35 p.m.

— MU Sports Information —