|
|
Category: Sports
Nichols leaving Lafayette to take over West Platte boys’ basketball program
Lafayette High School is now in search of a new boys’ basketball coach as Ryan Nichols has stepped down as the head coach of the Fighting Irish after just two seasons.
Nichols is leaving Lafayette to become the head boys’ basketball coach at West Platte High School.
Nichols came to LHS in 2016 after Chris Neff resigned to take the head boys’ basketball job at Staley High School. Nichols spent the previous four years at Oak Park High School and also coached at DeKalb for three years. He went 36-19 overall in his two season at Lafayette and 12-2 in MEC play. The Fighting Irish captured two district championships but lost to Kearney in the Class 4 Sectional both seasons.
Nichols will try and turn around a West Platte program that struggled in 2017-2018 as the Blue Jays went just 3-20.
Royals lose third straight as they fall to Angels 7-1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a bases-loaded triple in a five-run seventh inning to help the streaking Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.
Ian Kinsler homered on his first swing in his return to the Angels’ lineup, and Nick Tropeano (1-0) pitched shutout ball into the seventh for his first major league win since 2016.
Los Angeles has won eight of nine.
Ohtani drove a 1-2 pitch from Brandon Maurer to right-center, scoring Kole Calhoun, Andrelton Simmons and Luis Valbuena. The Royals walked Ohtani intentionally in the sixth with first base open and Simmons on second.
Ohtani is tied with Mike Trout for the Angels’ lead with 11 RBI in 26 at-bats. Trout went 3 for 4 with his fifth home run and has 55 at-bats.
Kinsler led off the game with a home run for the 47th time in his career, driving a 1-0 pitch from Ian Kennedy (1-1) out to left. Kinsler missed the previous 11 games with an adductor strain.
Tropeano, making his first big league appearance since July 18, 2016, limited the Royals to six hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He had elbow surgery in August 2016 and missed last season.
Tropeano threw 88 pitches, struck out six and walked two.
Kennedy was removed after six innings and 100 pitches. He allowed seven hits but just the one run on Kinsler’s homer.
The Royals, who have lost eight of 11, have scored a total of 32 runs — and 10 of those came in Monday’s victory over Seattle.
Lucas Duda singled home Mike Moustakas, who doubled, with two outs in the eighth for Kansas City.
LINEUP CHANGES
Royals DH Whit Merrifield hit fifth for the second time in his career. He batted second in the first 10 games of the season. “Whit has been a good table-setter, now let’s see if we can take him from a table-setter to a table-cleaner-upper,” manager Ned Yost said. Jorge Soler replaced Merrifield in the 2-hole and struck out four times. Merrifield went 0 for 4 and stranded three runners. . Angels INF Zack Cozart, who had started the first 13 games, 12 at second base, was given the night off.
ROSTER MOVES
The Angels optioned RHP Jamie Barria, who won his big league debut on Wednesday at Texas, and INF Ryan Schimpf to Triple-A Salt Lake.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: OF Alex Gordon, on the disabled list with a left labrum tear, had 2009 surgery on a right labrum tear. He said this feels similar to 2009. “I feel like I’m a different stage of my career right now and surgery is the last thing I want to do right now,” said the 34-year-old five-time Gold Glove winner. He received a cortisone shot Monday and has been shut down since. “They’re pretty optimistic about it,” Gordon said. “The first thing they (the medical staff) said was, this doesn’t have to be surgery. You hear the labrum tear and you get down in the dumps. This is my last day of not doing anything. After today, I’ll have a lot better answers for you as far as how it feels and maybe the timetable upon the return.”
UP NEXT
Angels: LHP Andrew Heaney gets the ball Friday night in Kansas City, his first start of the year after beginning the season on the disabled list with elbow inflammation.
Royals: RHP Jason Hammel will try to build off Sunday’s strong outing. He threw six scoreless innings in a no-decision at Cleveland.
— Associated Press —
MWSU softball extends win streak to five with sweep of Fort Hays State
ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Softball (21-22, 12-6) earned its second-straight MIAA sweep with 7-2 and 1-0 wins over Fort Hays State (11-33, 7-15), Thursday.
Missouri Western flashed its offensive ability in game one and got a complete game shutout from Kaili Hinds in game two to extend the team’s win streak to five games, currently the longest in the MIAA.
NOTABLES
- Missouri Western has now won five straight games and sits alone in fifth place in the MIAA standings with eight games remaining in the regular season
- The Griffons improved to 13-7 overall at home this season and 7-1 at the Spring Sports Complex in MIAA games
- MWSU had 11 hits and two home runs in game one
- Gabi Carter led the Griffon offense with three hits, all in game one
- Lonnie Groves had three RBIs on the day, driving in two with one of two Griffon home runs in game one. She also drove in the lone run in game two
- Hinds allowed six hits and didn’t walk a batter in her second shutout of the season
- Kenzie Hilzer held Fort Hays State to one earned run on five hits
- Markee Brown went 2-for-4 in the doubleheader
- Tamara Hicks was 2-for-5 on the day
UP NEXT
The Griffons won’t wait long for their next doubleheader. Friday’sSenior Day twin-bill was moved up to 9 a.m. against Nebraska Kearney. The team will honor its four seniors on Friday with the regular season home finale coming Tuesday, April 17 in a re-scheduled doubleheader with Pittsburg State.
— MWSU Athletics —
Bearcat baseball loses twice to Pitt State Thursday
 The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team dropped a pair of conference games against Pittsburg State in Maryville, Mo.The Bearcats fall to 20-17 overall and 15-8 in conference while the Gorillas improve to 24-13 overall and 16-9 in conference play. Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 3, Pittsburg State 16) – After an out, Rycraft singled to the second baseman and advanced to third on a double to left center by Bilodeau. Rycraft would come in to score on an out and conclude the scoring for the Bearcats. – Handzlik started the bottom of the sixth inning with a single and advanced to second on an error. He would then advance to third on a wild pitch and come in to score when Nick Howard reached safely on an error. Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 0, Pittsburg State 5) Up Next — Northwest Athletics — |
St. Louis rolls past Cincinnati 13-4 in series opener
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jose Martinez drove in six runs Thursday night and Yadier Molina homered in his return from a one-game suspension, powering the St. Louis Cardinals to a 13-4 victory that left the Cincinnati Reds mired in their worst start since 1955.
The Cardinals homered a season-high four times while piling up a season high in runs. The Reds helped by walking 11 batters, three of them with the bases loaded.
The Reds fell to 2-10, the worst record in the majors and their worst start since an identical mark in 1955.
Infielder Cliff Pennington pitched the ninth for Cincinnati and gave up a pair of walks and Martinez’s second RBI single of the game.
Paul DeJong’s solo shot deep into the upper deck in center off Austin Brice (0-2) snapped a 4-4 tie in the sixth. Martinez and Molina hit back-to-back drives in the seventh, when St. Louis put it away with seven runs. Martinez added a two-run double in the inning.
Michael Wacha (2-1) went five innings and extended his streak of beating Cincinnati. The right-hander is 9-1 career against the Reds. The Cardinals have won Wacha’s last 11 starts against the Reds since Sept. 20, 2014.
Molina served a one-game suspension on Wednesday for making contact with plate umpire Tim Timmons during an altercation with Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. Molina singled home a run in the first inning off Sal Romano and connected for his fourth homer in the seventh.
Marcell Ozuna also had a solo shot that extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
VOTTO RESTS
Joey Votto was out of Cincinnati’s lineup for the first time since Sept. 2, 2016, ending his streak of 202 consecutive games started. It was the longest for the Reds since Pete Rose started 370 straight games from 1973-76. Manager Bryan Price decided that Votto, who turns 35 in September, should get an occasional day off this season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: RH Sam Tuivailala went on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Tuesday with a strained left knee. RH Mike Mayers was recalled from Triple-A Memphis to take his spot in the bullpen. Mayers pitched the last three innings for his first save.
Reds: LH Brandon Finnegan expects to be activated and join the rotation. He has been sidelined since spring training with a strained left biceps, but had no issues in a rehab appearance this week. “I threw 98 pitches and I came out feeling good,” Finnegan said Thursday.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RH Luke Weaver (1-0) won both of his starts against the Reds last season, allowing two earned runs and fanning 13 in 11 innings.
Reds: RH Tyler Mahle (1-1) gave up a career-high five runs in 4 2/3 innings of a 5-0 loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
— Associated Press —
Northwest softball takes two from Nebraska-Kearney
The Northwest Missouri State University softball team swept a double header against Nebraska-Kearney in Maryville, Mo.
The Bearcats are now 20-12 overall and 11-5 in conference, while Nebraska-Kearney falls to 13-26 overall and 9-13 in conference play.
Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 5, UNK 4)
– Northwest scored two runs in the first, two in the third adn one in the fifth inning. The Lopers scored two in the first adn two in the third inning.
– The Bearcats had five runs on seven hits and one error. Nebraska-Kearney scored four runs on nine hits and two errors.
– Kaitlyn Weis was perfect from the plate going 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBIs, a double and a homerun.
– Abigail Gilson finished 2-for-3 with one RBI.
– Erin Keeney went 1-for-2 and drew one walk.
– Jessica Rawie was 1-for-3.
– Regan Thompson picked up the win for the Cats after she threw 4 scoreless innings and did not allow a hit.
Game One Key Innings
– In the bottom of the first after an out, Jaedra Moses drew a walk and Weis hit a single through the right side. Both runners advanced on a fielding error to put runners on second and third. Moses came in to score on a wild pitch and Weis would come in to score on the next wild pitch to make the score 2-2.
– Sydne Brashear started the inning off when she reached safely on an error and moved to second on a dead ball. She would come around to score on a line drive homerun over the right field fence by Weis to tie the game at four.
– After an out, Weis started the hitting with a double to center field and Keeney drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Weis came in to score on a single through the left side by Gilson to give the Bearcats the lead.
Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 3, Nebraska-Kearney 2)
– The Bearcats scored one run in the third and two in the fifth inning. UNK scored one in the first and one in the seventh inning.
– Northwest had three runs on six hits and no errors. The Lopers had two runs on ten hits and one error.
– Rebecca Maher finished 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.
– Moses went 2-for-3 with a stolen base.
– Brashear was 1-for-3 with one RBI.
– Kiana Baderdeen finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
– Rachel Smith picked up the win after throwing five innings striking out five batters and allowed one run.
– Holly Posegate claimed her first save of the year after throwing two innings and allowing one run.
Game Two Key Innings
– Baderdeen reached on a fielder’s choice and with one out Maher sent a single up the middle to score Baderdeen to tie the game at one.
– To start the fifth inning, Baderdeen hit a single past the third baseman, Maher had a bunt single to the pitcher and Moses reached safely on a bunt to the third baseman to load the bases. Weis would then hit a deep sacrifice fly to right in foul territory to score Baderdeen from third. Keeney drew a one out walk to load the bases again for the Bearcats. Brashear hit a soft grounder to the short stop to score Maher and put the Bearcats up 3-1.
Up Next
– Northwest will take on Fort Hays State, Friday, April 13 in Maryville, Mo., at 10 a.m.
— Northwest Athletics —
Griffons fall at home to Northwest Missouri State 13-9
ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western baseball team lost to Northwest Missouri State Wednesday at the Griffons Spring Sports Complex 13-9. The Griffons fall to 18-17 and 11-11 in the MIAA, while the Bearcats improve to 20-15 and 15-6 in league play.
The rivals combined for 33 hits, 22 runs and 12 pitchers used in the three hour and 42 minute game.
Missouri Western trailed by four runs heading into the eighth inning but started the inning with a strong rally. An error allowed Maurice Bruce to reach base in the first at-bat of the inning and a Casey Danley single put runners on board with no outs. Brooks Day doubled down the left field line to score both runners and cut the Bearcat lead to 11-9. Back-to-back base hits from Dusty Stroup and Nolan Meyer loaded the bases with no outs. However, NWMSU escaped the threat with three straight outs.
The Griffons had timely hitting in the first inning as they got back-to-back RBI singles with two-outs. MWSU hit three home runs, the second most in a game this season. Casey Danley hit his sixth home run in the second inning and has now homered in five of the last six games.
NOTABLES
- 15 hits by the Griffons are tied for the most this season
- Missouri Western had five players record multiple hits
- Casey Danley was 3-for-6 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs
- Nolan Meyer went 3-for-5 on the evening with two RBIs and a run scored
- Ryan Smith scored two runs and drove in one run on a 3-for-4 batting performance
- Both teams combined to make six errors
UP NEXT
Missouri Western opens a three-game series with Lindenwood Thursday. Game one begins at 6 p.m. from the Spring Sports Complex.
— MWSU Athletics —
Royals lose second straight to Seattle
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Scott Servais reclined in a chair in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, a big smile on the Seattle manager’s face, and spoke before the first reporter could ask a question.
“Long road trip, happy road trip,” he said. “Cold road trip.”
Most of it.
The weather finally turned Wednesday and gave Seattle a warm, sun-splashed afternoon in Kansas City, and Servais’ club made sure to relish the spring-like temperatures. Kyle Seager hit a go-ahead homer with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Mariners held on to beat the Royals 4-2 to wrap up a winning seven-game journey that covered 10 days and about 5,200 miles.
Seattle went 4-3 on its visits to San Francisco, Minnesota and Kansas City.
“I thought we played really good baseball, and getting these wins the past two games really sets the pace for us going home,” said James Paxton, who matched a career-best with 10 strikeouts over six sharp innings before turning the game over to the Seattle bullpen.
Nick Vincent (1-0) worked a perfect seventh, and Juan Nicasio retired three in a row after putting runners on the corners, before closer Edwin Diaz entered for the ninth.
Diaz worked around shortstop Jean Segura’s second error of the game to earn his fourth save.
“Our guys up and down the lineup, but probably the top of the lineup, have been outstanding, really driving the train for us,” Servais said. “I like where we’re at.”
The Royals’ Danny Duffy and Brad Keller turned a 2-2 game over to reliever Justin Grimm (0-1), and he quickly got the first two outs in the eighth. But after walking Mitch Haniger, the reliever hung a 1-1 pitch that Seager popped into the Royals’ bullpen in right field.
Seager also drove in a run with sacrifice fly in the first to provide most of Seattle’s offense.
“After the first inning really good, but you don’t get to subtract any inning from any outing,” Duffy said. “When I take the ball, I expect the bullpen not to be used much, and that hasn’t been the case. I was off in the first inning. There was no excuse for that.”
What turned into a pitchers’ duel Wednesday looked as if it’d be a high-scoring affair early.
Duffy gave up a single, walked three, withstood an ugly error by his catcher and at one point loaded the bases, only to escape the inning having surrendered just two runs.
Paxton countered by walking his first batter and allowing a single, but came through unscathed when Jon Jay was thrown out trying to steal third and Cheslor Cuthbert grounded out to end the inning.
The Royals eventually knotted the game at 2 in the fourth on Paulo Orlando’s two-out double.
Duffy’s pitch count did him in, and the left-hander was lifted after getting the first out in the fifth inning. He allowed four hits and three walks but also struck out seven.
Paxton scattered six hits and a walk while keeping the Royals at bay.
“Paxton did a great job of bearing down when we got runners in scoring position. We were 1-for-11,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Not real productive in that phase of our game today.”
STATS AND STREAKS
The Mariners’ Dee Gordon extended his hit streak to 16 games dating to last season. … Seager had four go-ahead homers in the eighth inning or later last season. … The Royals fell to 3-7, their worst start through 10 games since 2012. They’ve allowed 42 runs in their seven losses and no runs in their three wins. … The Royals’ Mike Moustakas went 2 for 4, his fourth straight multi-hit game.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: DH Nelson Cruz (sprained ankle) did some running before the game. Servais said he hopes Cruz will be able to return to the lineup this weekend.
Royals: RHP Nate Karns (elbow inflammation) continues to throw side sessions, and Yost said the last hurdle to his return is some fluid on the outside of his elbow dissipating. Yost says that Karns will likely head to the bullpen when he returns.
UP NEXT
Mariners: After a day off, RHP Mike Leake takes the mound Friday night when the Mariners open a seven-game homestand with three games against the Oakland Athletics.
Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy tries to build on a solid start to his season when the Royals begin a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.
— Associated Press —
Chiefs’ preseason opponents set for 2018
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Football League officially announced its 2018 preseason schedule on Wednesday.
The Kansas City Chiefs will kick off their preseason slate at Arrowhead Stadium against the Houston Texans followed by back-to-back road contests against the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears. Kansas City will close out the preseason at home against the Green Bay Packers.
Dates and times will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
CHIEFS 2018 PRESEASON OPPONENTS
Game #1 vs. Houston
Game #2 at Atlanta
Game #3 at Chicago
Game #4 vs. Green Bay
— Chiefs Public Relations —