College – Page 595 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Five Northwest softball players named to All-MIAA teams

Posted on May 2, 2013May 2, 2013

The Northwest Missouri State softball team had four seniors and one junior represent the Bearcats as they were tabbed to the All-MIAA Conference teams for 2013.

Senior second baseman Hailee Hendricks was name First Team All-MIAA after hitting .333 with 42 hits, five home runs and 35 RBIs. For Hendricks this is her third time being honored by the MIAA as she was twice named to the All-MIAA Honorable Mention team. The senior finishes a stellar four year career at Northwest ranking in the top 10 in total bases and hits, top five in RBIs and is the Bearcats all-time leader in doubles with 54.

Pitcher Jenna Creger made her third consecutive conference award by being name to the All-MIAA Honorable Mention team. Creger finished with a 13-9 regular season record during her senior campaign while carrying a 1.92 ERA and striking out 138 batters. The senior pitcher adds to her extensive resume at Northwest, finishing second in career wins with 48, second in career innings pitched with 582.2 and is the all-time strikeout queen for the Bearcats with 545 strikeouts.

First Baseman Rachael Schmitz is named All-MIAA Honorable Mention for the first time in her career at Northwest. Schmitz hit .252 with four home runs and 21 RBIs. The senior had 367 put outs in 2013 which is sixth best in Northwest single-season history. Schmitz racked up 558 total putouts in her four year career making her 10th on the all-time put outs list.

Right fielder, senior, Candace Miller is named All-MIAA Honorable Mention while spending one season with the Bearcats after transferring from Oklahoma Panhandle. Miller led Northwest hitting .370 with six extra base hits, 10 stolen bases, 24 RBIs to go along with 21 multi-hit games. The senior’s 60 hits in 2013, puts her ninth on the single-season hits list.

Center fielder Jordan Ereth is the only non-senior to be named All-MIAA Honorable Mention. Ereth started all 44 regular season games in center field for the Bearcats this season hitting .327 in the leadoff spot. The junior outfielder posted 53 hits with a team leading 11 stolen bases. Ereth finished 10th in the MIAA with 39 runs scored in 2013, making her eighth on the single-season runs scored list at Northwest.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Kansas releases 2013-2014 non-conference men’s basketball schedule

Posted on May 2, 2013May 2, 2013

Kansas men’s basketball annually has one of the toughest schedules in the nation and its 2013-14 non-conference slate will be as competitive as ever with the likes of Duke, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Georgetown and San Diego State along with several other major conference favorites.

“We’ve always played a schedule that has a great RPI (rating percentage index) and we’ve always played a tough non-conference schedule that prepared us for the league, but this year our schedule will rival any schedule that we’ve ever played,” said Kansas head coach Bill Self who enters his 11th season at KU in 2013-14. “Duke, at Colorado, at Florida, New Mexico, Georgetown, San Diego State, then you throw in the Battle 4 Atlantis and other schools that have experienced success of late – this will certainly be as difficult a schedule, especially when you’re replacing five starters. This is probably not the brightest thing I’ve done since I’ve been here, but it’s a schedule that will force us to get ready at an accelerated pace.”

The 2013-14 non-conference schedule, along with the Big 12 Conference’s round-robin format, will help keep Kansas’ strength of schedule among the nation’s best. Strength of schedule is a factor in the RPI, one of the tools the NCAA Basketball Committee uses to select and seed teams in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas’ RPI has checked in at No. 5 or better in five of the last six seasons under head coach Bill Self; it was No. 1 in 2010 and 2011, and fifth in 2012 and 2013.

The typically tough Kansas non-conference schedule potentially includes 10 opponents who advanced to the 2013 postseason (eight NCAA, two NIT), including five foes who either won their regular-season or conference tournament titles last year. The eight 2013 NCAA participants on the KU schedule for 2013-14 include: Colorado, Duke, Georgetown, Florida, Iona, New Mexico, San Diego State and possibly Villanova. Iowa and Tennessee, like Villanova, are in the Battle 4 Atlantis event and played in the 2013 NIT.

Kansas will play Duke Nov. 12 in the United Center in Chicago in the third annual Champions Classic doubleheader. Michigan State faces Kentucky in the other game of the event. the first Champions Classic was played at Madison Square Garden in 2011 and the second at the Georgia Dome last November.

Kansas will make its first appearance in the Battle 4 Atlantis at Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Jayhawks’ first game in the Battle 4 Atlantis will be in Allen Fieldhouse – Nov. 22 vs. Towson. From there KU will play three games in the Bahamas. The brackets have yet to be set, but the eight confirmed teams participating in the event include: Kansas, Villanova, Tennessee, Iowa, UTEP, Xavier, USC and Wake Forest.

The following is a breakdown and series information of the 2013-14 Kansas non-conference opponents:

–Louisiana Monroe (Nov. 8 in Lawrence) did not have a senior on its 2012-13 roster and will be KU’s season opener. Kansas won the lone meeting with ULM 107-78 on Nov. 9, 2007, in Allen Fieldhouse.

–Duke (Nov. 12 in Chicago at the Champions Classic) went 30-6 last season and won the Battle 4 Atlantis. The traditional powers are meeting for the first time since the title game of the 2011 Maui Invitational, when the Blue Devils edged the Jayhawks 68-61. Duke leads the series 7-2 and this will be the eighth time in its 10 meetings these two teams have met on a neutral floor.

–Iona (Nov. 19 in Lawrence) went 20-14 in 2012-13 and won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference post-season Championship.. The Gaels have gone to two consecutive NCAA Tournaments. They lost to Ohio State, 95-70, in the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Kansas leads the series with Iona, 2-1, with the last meeting at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., on Dec. 29, 1988, a 100-67 KU victory.

–Towson (Nov. 22 in Lawrence, first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis) had the largest turnaround in NCAA history, going 18-13 last season after finishing 1-31 in 2011-12. Towson’s 18 wins were its most since going 21-9 in 1993-94. KU is 2-0 against Towson, with both wins in Allen Fieldhouse: 87-61 on Nov. 19, 2006 and 100-54 on Nov. 11, 2011.

–Colorado (Dec. 7 in Boulder) went 21-12 last season and posted its third consecutive 20-win season for the first time in school history under head coach and former Jayhawk Tad Boyle. Kansas is 123-39 all-time against its former conference foe, including a 40-26 record in Boulder. The Jayhawks have won 21 straight against the Buffaloes dating back to 2003, including a 90-54 win in Allen Fieldhouse last season.

–Florida (Dec. 10 in Gainesville) won the 2013 SEC regular-season champions with a 14-4 record (29-8 overall). UF has advanced to the last three NCAA Tournament Elite Eights. This matchup will the first meeting between KU and Florida since the Jayhawks defeated the then-No. 1 Gators 82-80 in overtime in the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 25, 2006.

–New Mexico (Dec. 14 in Kansas City) won both the Mountain West Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2012-13 going 29-6 overall and 13-3 in conference play. The regular-season title was its fourth in the last five seasons. The KU-UNM Kansas City Shootout game in the Sprint Center will be the schools’ first meeting since 1964, a 59-40 KU victory in Allen Fieldhouse. UNM won the only other matchup the season before, 102-51, in Albuquerque.

–Traditional power Georgetown (Dec. 21 in Lawrence) won a share of the 2012-13 Big EAST Conference regular-season title going 25-7 overall and 14-4 in league play. The conference title was the third for head coach John Thompson III. The KU-Georgetown series is tied at 1-1, with Georgetown winning, 70-57, in the 1987 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in Louisville, Ky., and Kansas edging GU, 67-63, in the opening round of the 2011 Maui Invitational.

–Toledo (Dec. 30 in Lawrence) tied Western Michigan for first in the 2012-13 Mid-America Conference West Division with a 15-13 overall and 10-6 league record. KU won the lone meeting with Toledo, 68-58, on Dec. 9, 2006, at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo.

–San Diego State (Jan. 5 in Lawrence) is coming off a 23-11 season in which it advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament after defeating Big 12 foe Oklahoma in the second round. The KU-SDSU series is tied at 1-1, yet the two teams have not faced each other since 1979, a 79-66 KU win in Allen Fieldhouse. San Diego State won the first meeting the season before, 81-69, in San Diego.

Kansas will open the 2013-14 season with home exhibition games against Pittsburg State (Oct. 29) and Fort Hays State (Nov. 5).

For the third-straight year KU will have home-and-home meetings against all nine Big 12 Conference foes. Besides Kansas, other conference teams that participated in the 2013 NCAA Tournament included Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Baylor won the 2013 NIT. The Big 12 traditionally releases that schedule in July.

Season ticket sales for KU’s 18 home games, the 17 in Allen Fieldhouse and the Dec. 14 game against New Mexico in the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., will go on sale May 9 at 9 a.m. To order tickets fans must be active members of the Williams Education Fund, which can be done by making a minimum gift pledge of just $100.

KU has led its conference in home attendance each of the last 27 seasons, dating back to the 1986-87 season. The Jayhawks will look to capture a 10th consecutive Big 12 regular-season championship in 2013-14.

2013-14 Kansas Men’s Basketball Schedule (as of May 2, 2013)

Date (Day) – Opponent, Site (notes)
Oct. 29 (Tuesday) – PITTSBURG STATE, Lawrence, Kan. (Exhibition)
Nov. 5 (Tuesday) – FORT HAYS STATE, Lawrence, Kan. (Exhibition)
Nov. 8 (Friday) – LOUISIANA MONROE, Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 12 (Tuesday) – Duke, Chicago, Ill. (Champions Classic, United Center)
Nov. 19 (Tuesday) – IONA, Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 22 (Friday) – TOWSON, Lawrence, Kan. (Battle 4 Atlantis first round game)
Nov. 28 (Thursday) – TBD, Paradise Island, Bahamas (Battle 4 Atlantis)
Nov. 29 (Friday) – TBD, Paradise Island, Bahamas (Battle 4 Atlantis)
Nov. 30 (Saturday) – TBD, Paradise Island, Bahamas (Battle 4 Atlantis)
Dec. 7 (Saturday) – at Colorado, Boulder, Colo.
Dec. 10 (Tuesday) – at Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
Dec. 14 (Saturday) – NEW MEXICO, Kansas City, Mo. (Kansas City Shootout at Sprint Center)
Dec. 21 (Saturday) – GEORGETOWN, Lawrence, Kan.
Dec. 30 (Monday) – TOLEDO, Lawrence, Kan.
Jan. 5 (Sunday) – SAN DIEGO STATE, Lawrence, Kan.

— KU Sports Information —

Weather moves MWSU baseball series opener to Saturday

Posted on May 2, 2013May 2, 2013

With poor weather in the area the Missouri Western’s baseball first round MIAA Tournament series with the Fort Hays State Tigers has been moved back one more day.

The series will now begin on Saturday, May 4 with the first of the best of three game set getting underway at 1 p.m. from the Griffons Baseball Field in St. Joseph, Mo.

Game two will be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 5 with the if game be played on Monday, May 6 at 3 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Four Bearcats tennis players earn ITA regional awards

Posted on May 2, 2013May 2, 2013

The Northwest Missouri State men’s and women’s teams were well represented Thursday as the International Tennis Association (ITA) released its 2013 regional award winners as four Bearcats were honored.

The Bearcat men saw Guilherme Narducci named the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award winner after a solid season at No. 2 doubles and No. 5 singles. Freshman Sergio De Vilchez was tabbed the Central Region Rookie of the Year after posting a 22-6 record, while assistant coach Trevor Conner was named Assistant Coach of the Year for the Central Region.

On the women’s side, Alexis Bartek was named the Central Region Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award winner for her play this season at No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles.

The Northwest men will open action at the NCAA tournament Wednesday, May 8, in the Round of 16 from Surprise, Ariz. The Bearcats will take on Concordia (N.Y.) starting at 8 a.m. (CST) as the winner will advance to the national quarterfinals May 9. The national championship is set for May 11 from the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex.

— Northwest Sports Information —

SEC and ESPN announce new TV network and digital platform

Posted on May 2, 2013May 2, 2013

The Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network, which will launch in August 2014, it was announced today by SEC Commissioner Mike Slive and ESPN President John Skipper. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year.

The network will televise approximately 45 SEC football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games, and events from across the SEC’s 21 sports annually. Programming will also include studio shows, original content such as SEC Storied, spring football games, signing day and pro days coverage. Hundreds of additional live events from various sports will be offered exclusively on the digital platform. The network and its digital extensions will connect with each SEC institution and create opportunities for each school to produce and develop content.

“The SEC Network will provide an unparalleled fan experience of top quality SEC content presented across the television network and its accompanying digital platforms,” stated Slive. “We will increase exposure of SEC athletics programs at all 14 member institutions, as we showcase the incredible student-athletes in our league. The agreement for a network streamlines and completes an overall media rights package that will continue the SEC’s leadership for the foreseeable future.”

Each weekend throughout the season, the new network will air multiple top-tier matchups from the strongest conference in college football. Since 2006, the SEC has claimed seven consecutive football national championships. In 2011-12, SEC teams won eight national championships: football (Alabama), men’s basketball (Kentucky), gymnastics (Alabama), men’s indoor track and field (Florida), women’s tennis (Florida), women’s golf (Alabama), men’s outdoor track and field (Florida), and softball (Alabama). Since 1990, the SEC has won 149 national team championships for an average of more than six per year.

Skipper said, “The SEC is unmatched in its success on the field and its popularity with fans nationwide. The new network’s top-quality SEC matchups across a range of sports will serve all sports enthusiasts including the most passionate, die-hard SEC fans. Also, it will serve the needs of our multichannel distributors and advertisers by providing extremely attractive programming options across all platforms.”

As part of the agreement, ESPN will now oversee the SEC’s official Corporate Sponsor Program. In addition, ESPN and the SEC also agreed to extend their existing media rights agreement through 2034. ESPN has televised the SEC since 1982. ESPN’s existing networks present more than 1,600 hours of SEC action each year. The new network will focus exclusively on the SEC and add another outlet to deliver sports fans more SEC content than ever.

AT&T U-verse® has been secured as the network’s first national distributor. AT&T U-verse is the fastest growing TV provider in the U.S. and their subscribers will have access to an unprecedented amount of SEC content across all platforms. Subscribers receiving the live linear network via a multichannel subscription will also have access to the network on PCs, tablets, smartphones and select gaming devices like Xbox. Additional games and coverage will be available through an authenticated digital offering. Fans looking to learn more about how to get the SEC Network can visit GetSECNetwork.com for more information.

“We are pleased to be involved with the SEC and ESPN at the very beginning of this great alliance,” said Jeff Weber, President of Content and Advertising Sales, AT&T. “As the fastest growing and most advanced pay TV service, we want to bring our customers the highest value and most compelling product that we possibly can. Access to the SEC Network, across multiple platforms, will only increase the demand for U-verse.”

ESPN’s Justin Connolly, formerly senior vice president, ESPN affiliate sales and marketing, will oversee the network’s day-to-day operations. The network will originate from ESPN’s Charlotte, N.C., offices with additional staff located at the company’s Bristol, Conn., headquarters. Staff announcements and additional details will be made in the coming months.

— SEC Press Release —

Griffons drop to No. 3 in Central Regional rankings

Posted on May 1, 2013May 1, 2013

The Missouri Western baseball team fell to 3rd in the second Central Region poll which was released Wednesday, May 1. The Grriffons won their first ever MIAA Regular Season Title with a doubleheader sweep over Washburn last week and will be the #1 seed heading into this weeks MIAA Tournament. The Griffons are 35-8overall and 28-5in MIAA play.

The top six teams earn a regional bid with the highest seed hosting a double elimination tournament. The Griffons have made an NCAA Regional once in history which was back in 2006.

The only other MIAA school in the top eight is the University of Central Missouri who sits a top the rankings.

The Griffons open up the MIAA Tournament with a best of three game series with the 8th seeded Fort Hays State Tigers. The first game of the series is scheduled for 3:00 pm on Friday, May 3 from the MWSU Baseball Field in St. Joseph, Mo. Game two is on Saturday, May 4 at 1:00 pm and the if game is on Sunday, May 5 at 1:00 pm.

Click to view Central Regional Rankings.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western softball stays at No. 8 in regional rankings

Posted on May 1, 2013May 1, 2013

The Missouri Western Griffon softball team sits in 8th place in the third Central Regional Poll of the season which was released Wednesday (May 1) afternoon. The Griffons enter this week 36-14 and will be the 3rd seed in this weekends MIAA Tournament.

The top eight teams earn a regional bid with the first and second seeds hosting four team regionals which will be played the first weekend in May. The #1 seed will host the #8, #4 and #5 seeds while the #2 seed will host the #7, #3 and the #6 seeds. The winners of each regional will take on each other in a best of three series the second weekend in May at the highest seed for a chance to go to the elite eight.

Four other MIAA schools are in the top 10 with Fort Hays State coming in 1st, Central Oklahoma 3rd, Emporia State 9th and Truman State 10th.

The Griffons have been to a regional six of the last eight seasons (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012) which includes being the #4 seed in 2012.

The Griffons open up the MIAA Tournament on Friday, May 3rd with a contest with the Truman State Bulldogs at 2:00 pm. They will then play Fort Hays State or Pittsburg State at 4:00 pm. The trounament is being played in Overland Park, Kan. at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex.

Click to view Central Regional Rankings.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Western’s MIAA Tournament series with Fort Hays pushed back to Friday

Posted on May 1, 2013May 1, 2013

The projected weather forecast has forced a change in the schedule for Missouri Western’s baseball first round MIAA Tournament series with the Fort Hays State Tigers.

The series will now begin on Friday, May 3 with the first of the best of three game set getting underway at 3 p.m. from the Griffons Baseball Field in St. Joseph, Mo.

Game two will be played at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 with the if game be played on Sunday, May 5 at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Weather forces changes to MIAA softball tournament schedule

Posted on May 1, 2013

The projected weather forecast has forced a change in the schedule for the MIAA Softball Championships.

The tournament will now begin on Friday, May 3 with the first round games getting underway at 2 p.m. and second round games at 4 p.m. from the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kan.

The schedule for the second day will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 4.

The final day which features the championship and if necessary game will now begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 5.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest’s Abernathy named MIAA hitter of the week

Posted on May 1, 2013May 1, 2013

After a stellar final week of the season, Northwest Missouri State centerfielder, Ryan Abernathy, was tabbed as MIAA hitter of the week.

In five starts Abernathy saw 20 at bats this week and hit in ten of those at bats. With six extra base hits, two doubles, one triple, and three home runs, Abernathy gathered a 1.150 slugging percentage on the week. In the last three games at Pittsburg State Abernathy hit one home run in each game. He batted in seven runs in the three game series against Pittsburg State, while also crossing the plate seven times for the week. In game one against Pittsburg State, he went 3 for 3 in the 11-6 loss.

Abernathy struck out once in the week, and walked twice. He totaled an on base percentage of .565. He stole successfully on one attempt in the third game against Pittsburg State. Abernathy fielded perfectly with eight putouts, one assist, and no errors.

Abernathy hit his sixth home run of the year in the final game of the season, a 17-6 victory over Pittsburg State.

— Northwest Sports Information —