Sports – Page 322 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Royals struggle again in 9-1 loss at Minnesota

Posted on April 5, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins were halfway through the first month of the season before they picked up their second win last year, a putrid start that weighed on their shoulders for the rest of a miserable season.

A fresh start has done wonders for the Twins and slugger Miguel Sano.

Eduardo Escobar homered and drove in four runs and Sano added a bases-loaded triple to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 9-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

Hector Santiago (1-0) gave up one run and four hits and struck out four in five innings for the Twins. After starting last season 0-9 to set the stage for a 103-loss season, the Twins are 2-0 for the first time since 2007.

“Everybody is playing happy,” said Sano, who homered in the season opener and just missed two more on Wednesday. “It’s a game. It’s got a name: game. Everybody try to play normal. Nobody like in a hurry or something like that. No pressure. Only play and win.”

Ian Kennedy (0-1) gave up three runs and three hits with five strikeouts and five walks in five innings for Kansas City. Paulo Orlando drove in the lone run for the Royals, who walked nine Twins batters on the day.

“You’re just putting yourself in a position for them to put big numbers on the board when that happens,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Sano broke the game open with his triple that almost cleared the high wall in right-center field and Escobar’s three-run drive just reached the seats in left field.

“I’m not a home run hitter, so as soon as I hit the ball I started hustling like I usually do,” Escobar said. “Once I got to second base and saw my teammates celebrating I was able to slow down and enjoy it.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Alex Gordon was hit on the right hand by a pitch from Santiago in the first inning, but remained in the game after being examined by team athletic trainers. He went 0 for 3.

PITCHING FOLLIES

Kennedy couldn’t find the strike zone, walking three in the Twins’ three-run second inning. That followed a season opener on Monday in which Royals pitchers walked seven Twins hitters, a troubling sign for a team that had its title defense done in last season in large part to a lackluster starting rotation.

The bullpen has been the bigger problem this season, with Nate Karns and Matt Strahm giving up all six runs in the seventh.

“Just starting off on a bad foot, really,” Karns said. “I don’t think there’s anything that can point to why we’re not doing really well right out of the gate. We’ll tighten it up and get it going tomorrow.”

HOT HANDS

Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer might have had the play of the day in the sixth inning when Eduardo Escobar sent a line drive screaming toward him. Hosmer got his glove on it, but the ball popped out. Hosmer snared the ball with his throwing hand, but had to do a bit of a juggling act before securing it and stepping on first to double up Juan Castro.

BUXTON SEARCHING

Twins center fielder Byron Buxton is being counted on to have a breakout season after looking overmatched at times at the plate last season. Manager Paul Molitor is hitting Buxton third in the order, a spot generally given to one of the team’s top hitters.

The early returns have not been promising. He has struck out six times in 10 at-bats with just one infield single.

SMALL CROWD

After selling out the opener on Monday, the Twins announced a crowd of 15,171 for Game 2 on an overcast day in which the temperature at first pitch was a cool 47 degrees. It’s the smallest crowd announced at Target Field and indicative of a fan base skeptical of the team’s chances after minimal changes were made to a roster that lost 103 games last season.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Jason Hammel will make his debut for the Royals in the series finale against the Twins.

Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson starts for Minnesota.

— Associated Press —

Mizzou announces men’s basketball assistant coaches

Posted on April 5, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Men’s Basketball head coach Cuonzo Martin announced additions to his coaching staff on Wednesday with more than 30 years of Division I coaching experience represented between the trio of new Tiger assistant coaches.

Chris Hollender, Cornell Mann and Michael Porter, Sr., have been selected by Martin to assist him in coaching the Black & Gold, starting with the 2017-18 season. Hollender, most recently in the same role at UMKC, spent three seasons coaching in the Southeastern Conference at Mississippi State from 2012-15. Previously at Iowa State from 2011-15, Mann was on staff at Oakland for the 2016-17 campaign. A familiar face to Mizzou Athletics, Porter spent the 2016-17 season coaching at Washington.

“It’s exciting to get this staff officially announced, because it’s time to get to work,” Martin said. “Each of these coaches help us get better from a basketball standpoint, on the recruiting trail and as a family. I’m looking forward to our Mizzou fans getting to know these three outstanding coaches. All three of them have unique coaching backgrounds, teachings, life lessons and upbringings that will form a balanced staff for our Mizzou Basketball program. Chris, Cornell and Mike each bring energy and passion for basketball, but most importantly, they will be incredible mentors to our student-athletes.”

Hollender brings strong Midwest ties and SEC experience to Martin’s staff, as the Mattoon, Illinois, native starred as a player at Evansville before embarking on his coaching career that landed him stops at Army (2002-09), his alma mater (2009-12), Mississippi State (2012-15) and UMKC (2015-17). At UMKC this past season, the Roos recorded the second-most wins (18) in school history.

During Hollender’s tenures at Army, Evansville, Mississippi State and UMKC, each basketball program saw a significant improvement in performance on the court and on the recruiting trail. The 2006-07 Black Knights improved by an astounding 10 wins to a 15-16 record. Hollender’s final class he helped recruit to Evansville went on to claim 84 victories over their career. At Mississippi State, Hollender’s work included developing All-SEC forward Gavin Ware, who became one of only seven players in MSU history to score at least 1,000 points and grab 800 or more rebounds.

Hollender was an all-conference player for the Purple Aces in 1998 before turning professional, enjoying a stint in Europe with Bremerhaven of Germany. He then returned to the United States to play in the CBA from 1999-2002 before beginning his coaching career.

Hollender earned a degree in marketing from Evansville in 1998. He and his wife, Kathryn, have a son, Jackson, and twin daughters, Madeline and Elyse.

Mann was part of an outstanding run of success at Iowa State from 2011-15, with his tenure coinciding with four consecutive NCAA Tournament selections. The Royal Oak Township, Michigan, native recruited and tutored one of the top point guards in college basketball in Flint, Michigan, native Monte Morris, who finished his ISU career with the best assist-to-turnover ratio in NCAA history (4.65-1).

Bringing NCAA Tournament coaching experience to Martin’s staff from four different basketball programs, Mann was on staff at Dayton (2008-11) for three-straight postseason berths. In his first season with the Flyers, Mann helped coach Dayton to the second-most wins in school history (27) and a second round NCAA Tournament appearance.

Prior to Dayton, Mann served stints on coaching staffs at Western Michigan (2003-08) and Central Michigan (2001-03), with the Broncos making a Big Dance appearance in 2004 and the Chippewas advancing to the tournament in 2003, respectively.

Mann earned a degree in family development from Akron in 1995, playing his final three seasons of eligibility for the Zips after starting his collegiate career at Colorado. Mann has two children, a daughter, Cyncere, and a son, Maliq.

No stranger to Columbia and Mizzou Arena, Porter rejoins the Mizzou family after an assistant coaching stop at Washington for the 2016-17 season. Experienced on the recruiting trail and well-versed on the travel ball circuit, Porter spent the previous six years before coaching the Huskies on Robin Pingeton’s women’s basketball coaching staff, serving his last three seasons as an assistant coach.

Under Porter’s watch, the Tigers improved their win total each season, culminating in the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2000-01 season in his final campaign on staff in 2015-16. The Black & Gold also benefited from Porter’s previous three seasons as Mizzou’s Director of Operations (2011-13), as practices and individual workouts were organized and structured by Porter.

A major part of Porter’s basketball experience comes from service to others. Porter served as head coach of Upward Basketball from 2003-06. With the Upward Sports league, Porter worked with young athletes to not only develop basketball skills, but also skills needed to build stronger character and confidence. Porter also played professionally for five seasons with Athletes in Action (AIA), competing around the country and world and spreading spiritual guidance.

Porter graduated from the University of New Orleans in 1989, where he was a four-year member of the basketball team. He and his wife, Lisa, have eight children, Bri, Cierra, Michael, Jr., Jontay, Coban, Jevon, Izaak and Jayda. Bri and Cierra are teammates on the Mizzou women’s basketball team.

All hires are official pending the completion of the University hiring process.

— Mizzou Athletics —

MWSU’s postponed softball games rescheduled for next week

Posted on April 5, 2017

ST. JOSEPH – Mother Nature has given the Missouri Western softball team a break from what was supposed to be 10-straight road games.

Two postponed MIAA doubleheaders have been re-scheduled for next week and a road, non-conference doubleheader has been canceled.

Missouri Western will now host Northwest Missouri State April 11 at 4 p.m. and Central Missouri April 12 at 4 p.m. The Northwest Missouri State doubleheader has twice been re-scheduled and will replace a canceled non-conference doubleheader between the two teams in Maryville on April 11. The games against Central Missouri were re-scheduled from March 31.

NEW DATES & TIMES
Tuesday, April 11 vs. Northwest Missouri State at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, April 12 vs. Central Missouri at 4 p.m.
Non-Conference doubleheader at Northwest Missouri State, April 11, canceled

It gives the Griffons a pair of home series in between four road doubleheaders that begin this weekend with trips to Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. Weather has created imbalance in the MIAA standings with MWSU playing a league-low eight conference games so far this season. Two MIAA members have already played 16 conference games.

The schedule changes will also mean Missouri Western has to play 14 games over a 10-day period. MWSU will play doubleheaders at Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State this weekend; at home versus Northwest Missouri and Central Missouri next week then on the road again at Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney next weekend before a make-up doubleheader with Lincoln at home on April 17.

It also sets up a busy schedule at the Spring Sports Complex. Griffon Baseball hosts Central Oklahoma April 7-10 then Northwest Missouri on April 11, and Fort Hays State April 13-15.
— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcat baseball rallies to defeat Nebraska-Kearney 5-4

Posted on April 4, 2017

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team scored in the bottom of the ninth to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 5-4, on Tuesday night at Memorial Field in Kearney, Neb.

– The win moves Northwest to 21-10 on the year and 10-8 in MIAA play. The Lopers fall to 9-22 on the season and 2-16 in conference action.

– Ever member of the Bearcat lineup got a hit on Tuesday.

– Northwest was designated as the home team even with the game being played at UNK since it was originally scheduled to be played in Maryville, Mo.

Key Northwest Statistics

– Northwest scored one in the second, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the ninth. The Lopers scored one in the first and three in the fourth.

– The Bearcats had five runs on 10 hits with two errors. Nebraska-Kearney scored four runs on 10 hits with no errors.

– Garrett Fort went 2-for-4 with a run scored, a double and a stolen base.

– Luke Hassman went 1-for-4 with two runs driven in. He hit his sixth home run of the year in the fourth inning.

– James Holler was 1-for-4, his lone hit being a solo home run in the second inning.

– Jay Hrdlicka was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

– Landon Figg went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. He was also hit by a pitch.

– Kolby Greenslade was 1-for-4 with the game-winning RBI double in the ninth.

– Ozzie Adams and Kevin Handzlik each went 1-for-3 with a walk.

– Logan Rycraft was 1-for-3 on the day.

– Eddy Kraber got the start, going 5.0 innings. He allowed three earned runs on eight hits. He struck out six and did not issue a walk.

– Quintin Van Ackeren, Jacob Wagner and Austin Battaglia each helped hold the Lopers scoreless for 2.2 innings of relief. The trio allowed just two hits with no walks allowed.

– Nikko Pablo got the win, recording the final out of the eighth and working a flawless ninth. He did not allow a hit or a walk while recording one strikeout.

Key Northwest Innings
– Holler tied the game, 1-1, in the second, taking the first pitch he saw in his at bat over the right field fence for his third home run of the year.

– Figg led off the fourth by getting hit with a pitch. Hassman made the Lopers pay, blasting his sixth home run over the right field wall to make it a 4-3 ballgame.

– With two down in the fifth, Fort hit a double to right field. Adams drew a walk and Figg hit an 0-2 pitch to center for an RBI single, scoring Fort to tie the game, 4-4.

– Hrdlicka hit a one-out single to center in the ninth after battling through a 10-pitch at bat. After a lineout, Hrdlicka was able to advance to second on a passed ball. Greenslade delivered the winning blow with his fifth double of the season, this time to right field, driving in the winning run.

Up Next
– The Bearcats will host Missouri Southern starting on Friday at 3 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

MWSU men’s golf finishes fourth in Arkansas; McCarthy falls in playoff

Posted on April 4, 2017

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark – Missouri Western freshman golfer Patrick McCarthy shot a two-under-par 214 to tie for first place but fell in a one-hole playoff for the individual championship at the Southern Bancorp Invitational. It’s McCarthy’s best finish and lowest three round score as a Griffon as MWSU finished fourth as a team with an 897.

Kevin Kim finished with an eight-over-par 224 and finished in 15th. Jakob Majeske shot a 231 to finish just outside the top 25. Lucas Horseman carded a 234 and Cole Roberts ended with a 236 for MWSU.

Henderson State claimed the team title with a score 883 as HSU’s Drew Greenwood won individual honors by defeating McCarthy in the playoff. Missouri Western travels to Hays, Kansas on April 17 for the Tiger Classic.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State adds Cunningham to football coaching staff

Posted on April 4, 2017

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University head football coach Rich Wright has announced the hiring of Mike Cunningham to the coaching staff for the 2017 season. Cunningham will serve as the Bearcats’ offensive line coach after spending the past two seasons at Winona State University as the Warrior’s run game coordinator and offensive line coach.

“I am very excited to join coach Wright and his staff at Northwest,” said Cunningham. “I am looking forward to helping build on the success that Northwest has achieved over the years.”

While on staff, Winona State went 5-6 during the 2015 season and improved to 8-3 last year. In his first season in 2015, the Warriors allowed just 19 sacks, half of the 38 allowed the year prior to his arrival. In 2016, Winona State ran for 21 rushing touchdowns, surpassing the 13 scores in both 2015 and 2014. The team averaged 160.8 rushing yards per game, an improvement of nearly 37 yards per contest and gained 28 more first downs on the ground.

Prior to his time at Winona State, Cunningham worked with Nebraska football as an offensive staff assistant. He helped with game planning and scouting reports for the Huskers in 2014. In 2013 he served as the offensive line coach at the University of North Dakota. From 2006-12 he was the offensive line coach and running game coordinator at Minnesota State. He was also Concordia-St. Paul’s offensive line coach during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

Cunningham graduated from New Mexico State University in 2001 where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Family Sciences. He is married to his wife, Andrea, and the couple has three children, Trevin, Alyssa and Alex.

— Northwest Athletics —

St. Joseph Mustangs announce additions to front office staff

Posted on April 4, 2017

The St. Joseph Mustangs are proud to announce recent additions to front office.

Tim Hannah and Stan Weston will be filling the positions of Assistant General Manager and Director of Stadium Operations respectively for the upcoming season.

Tim Hannah, a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a degree in Sports Media, is a native of Kansas City, MO. He formerly worked as a Media Intern with the Mustangs last season and says he is eager to return to work with the team. Hannah also worked as a news and sports reporter for the NPR affiliate 90.5 KXCV Maryville and 88.9 KRNW Chillicothe. He was also the play by play voice of 8 man football for Pick-Up Country KNIM in Maryville.

Stan Weston has worked and lived in St. Joseph for much of his life. He was formerly an elementary physical education teacher and coached baseball for almost 30 years at St. Joseph Lafayette High School before moving to St. Joseph Central High School, where he coached for 5 seasons. In the past, Weston has worked on the grounds crew for the College World Series in Omaha. Weston looks forward to joining the Mustang family.

Mustangs General Manager Ky Turner says he is excited to add Hannah and Weston to the team.

“We’re excited to bring Stan and Tim to the team. Stan is going to do a wonderful job on the facility and field. We’re very fortunate to have someone with his experience and knowledge. Tim has a great skill set and personality, and he already has some great ideas to add to the fan experience at Mustangs games. Both Stan and Tim are going to bring the guest experience at Phil Welch to a new level of satisfaction.”

The St. Joseph Mustangs season home opener is set for Wednesday, May 31st against the Midwest A’s at Phil Welch Stadium. Game time is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are available by visiting Phil Welch Stadium or calling the Mustangs box office at 816-279-7856.

— Mustangs Press Release —

Bearcats’ Caenepeel earns MIAA Baseball Pitcher of the Week honor

Posted on April 4, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University senior Anthony Caenepeel has been named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week in a release from the league office on Tuesday. Caenepeel becomes the third Northwest pitcher to earn MIAA weekly honors, joining Brad Roberts (March 7) and Joseph Hietpas (Feb. 7).

Against Pittsburg State on Friday, Caenepeel recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts in a nine-inning shutout victory. He walked just two batters and gave up five hits for his fifth victory of the season. During the game, he set the Northwest career strikeout record with 225.

— Northwest Athletics —

Northwest’s Blackford named MIAA Softball Pitcher of the Week

Posted on April 4, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University softball junior Taylor Blackford has been named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week. Blackford led Northwest to a pair of shutout victories this weekend over Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri.

Blackford threw 6.0 innings on Friday in an 8-0 victory. She struck out five while allowing just four hits. On Saturday against Central Missouri, Northwest got an 11-0 run-rule victory in which Blackford struck out one while allowing just two hits in 5.0 innings.

— Northwest Athletics —

Royals drop season opener at Minnesota 7-1

Posted on April 3, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For the Minnesota Twins, the memory of that 0-9 start and 59-103 finish last year was still uncomfortably fresh.

They couldn’t have asked for a better way to start the new season than this.

Miguel Sano homered and drew the third bases-loaded walk during a dreadful seventh inning for Kansas City’s bullpen, as Ervin Santana and the Twins beat the Royals 7-1 on Monday for their first opening victory in nine years.

“We didn’t try to overemphasize anything about today other than the fact that we’ve been on a little bit of a mission in spring training to try to come out and play a little bit better,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

Santana (1-0) gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out three over seven innings, aided by two diving catches of sinking line drives by center fielder Byron Buxton that highlighted a stellar afternoon of defense by the Twins.

Mike Moustakas homered leading off the fourth for the Royals, but Sano came back in the bottom of the inning with a tying 425-foot drive into the second deck off Danny Duffy. Six straight balls by Santana to start the seventh gave Molitor pause, but he responded to the mound visit with three straight outs to finish the frame.

“I try to get him to stay positive,” Sano said. “Let’s go. You’re the man over there.”

After signing a $65 million, five-year contract to assume the role as the ace of the rotation, Duffy’s first career opening day start was a dazzler with eight strikeouts over six innings with three hits and three walks.

Then manager Ned Yost turned to Matt Strahm (0-1) for the seventh, and the Royals unraveled while the Twins rallied with two bunts and four walks.

“Just one bad game. We have 161 left,” Duffy said. “Our bullpen is great, and I have ultimate confidence in them.”

The key play was Max Kepler’s hustle to beat out a sacrifice attempt for a single, following a replay reversal of the initial out call. Brian Dozier was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs, and Robbie Grossman, Joe Mauer and Sano all forced in runs with unintentional walks.

Jason Castro tacked on a two-run single, and Jorge Polanco followed with an RBI single as Molitor’s new-look, new-age lineup with Buxton batting third and Mauer in the cleanup spot worked well for the first try.

“Just keep grinding out at-bats,” Mauer said. “That was pretty fun out there.”

UNFAMILIAR FALTER

After finishing in the top five in the major leagues in relief ERA in each of the last two seasons, using a lights-out bullpen to win the World Series in 2015, Royals relievers had a rather ominous debut. Peter Moylan struck out Buxton with the bases loaded, his only batter, but Strahm and Travis Wood each allowed four runners while retiring only one batter.

“That’s not Woody. I didn’t anticipate that. He’s a strike thrower,” Yost said. “He’s a veteran strike thrower. He’s not a guy that gets frazzled.”

FOR STARTERS

The Twins won their first game of the season for the first time since 2008, delighting a sellout crowd announced at 39,615. This was only the second time in eight years since Target Field opened that the schedule put them in Minnesota to start the season.

“There’s just something about opening day,” Molitor said, “that I think kind of tingles everybody’s spine a little bit differently than the rest of the season.”

Mauer made his 13th opening day start, tying Harmon Killebrew for the most in Twins history.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Paulo Orlando was in RF for Jorge Soler, who began his first season with Kansas City on the 10-day DL with a strained left oblique muscle. Soler, who did some light work in the field before the game, is eligible to return on Sunday.

Twins: Santana, who reached 30-plus starts last year for the eighth time in his career, became Minnesota’s second two-time opening day starter of the last 10 seasons. Carl Pavano was the other, in 2011-12.

UP NEXT

Royals: After the scheduled off day on Tuesday, RHP Ian Kennedy will take the mound for Kansas City in the middle game on Wednesday afternoon, followed by new RHP Jason Hammel in the series finale.

Twins: LHP Hector Santiago comes up next in the rotation for Minnesota, with Kyle Gibson on tap for Thursday afternoon.

— Associated Press —