Sports – Page 391 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Cardinals agree to contract extension with manager Mike Matheny

Posted on November 3, 2016

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, whose team missed the playoffs in 2016 for the first time in his five-year tenure, has agreed to a three-year contract extension.

The Cardinals announced the new contract Thursday, a day after the rival Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Terms were not disclosed. Matheny had one year remaining on his previous contract, and the extension keeps him with the team through 2020.

The Cardinals have averaged 92 wins per season since Matheny took over after Tony La Russa retired following the World Series-winning 2011 season. Overall, Matheny is 461-349.

Matheny, 46, a former Gold Glove catcher, led the Cardinals to playoff appearances in 2012 through 2015 before falling one game short this season, including NL Central titles in 2013-2015. He also led St. Louis to the 2013 World Series, losing in six games to Boston.

Matheny was lauded for leading the Cardinals to baseball’s best record in 2015, a 100-win season in which they lost to the Cubs in the first round of the playoffs. But they dropped to 86 wins last season, 17 1/2 games behind the Cubs.

The Cardinals, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants were in a three-way race for the final two playoff spots, with the Cardinals falling just short.

“Mike has continued the Cardinals tradition of winning in his first five years as manager and we are happy to extend his contract leading our club on the field through 2020,” Cardinals principal owner and CEO, Bill DeWitt Jr., said in a statement.

The Cardinals also announced changes in their coaching staff. Bill Mueller, who served as third base coach in Jose Oquendo’s absence, will return to his former duty as assistant hitting coach. Oquendo missed the entire season after undergoing knee replacement surgery.

Oliver Marmol, who was manager of the Class A Palm Beach affiliate, will be first base coach in 2017. Triple-A Memphis manager Mike Shildt moves to quality control coach for the major league team. The Cardinals said all of the other major league coaches will return except assistant hitting coach Derrick May.

One of the Cardinals’ themes has been continuity. Since owner Bill DeWitt Jr. bought the team in 2005, the Cardinals have had just two managers, Matheny and LaRussa, and two general managers, Walt Jocketty and John Mozeliak.

“I know if you read Twitter or the blogs, [Matheny] definitely takes a black eye out there, but when you watch even the most recent World Series, two of the most highly respected managers in the game were being second-guessed and I think what it really tells you is managing is hard,” Mozeliak said. “It’s certainly hard to appease the masses.

“With Mike, whether you agree with how he calls a game or not, he certainly has the respect of his players and he gets the most out of them.”

— Associated Press —

MWSU loses in a shootout at Fort Hays State in MIAA Tournament opening round

Posted on November 2, 2016

HAYS, Kan. – The Missouri Western soccer team had its record breaking 2016 season come to an end Wednesday night in the longest game in program history.

The team lost in a shootout at No. 2-seeded Fort Hays State, 5-3, in the first round of the MIAA Tournament. The seventh seeded Griffons held the MIAA regular season co-champions scoreless through the first 110 minutes. Bridget Blessie tied the shootout 1-1 then Cassidy Menke kept it even at 2-2. Ashlyn Powers’ try was saved, leaving Fort Hays State with a 3-2 advantage. The Tigers scored on their next kick before Maddy Cowell drove her kick into the top right corner to make it a 4-3 Fort Hays State advantage. The deciding kick went off the fingertips of a diving Lexie Martin and just inside the left post to end the Griffons’ season.

For the game, Fort Hays State took just a 12-10 advantage on shots with the Griffons taking five shots on goal to Fort Hays State’s four. Missouri Western had seven corner kicks to Fort Hays State’s four as well. Martin was credited with four saves and ended the season with a 6-2-1 record.

Missouri Western set a new program record with 11 wins in a season (11-7-1) and finished higher than any previous Griffon Soccer team in the MIAA standings (t5th). The season also saw Cassidy Menke break the season record for goals (9) and become the program’s first, first team All-MIAA selection.

— MWSU Athletics —

Chiefs’ Smith ruled out, Charles undergoing surgery on knee

Posted on November 2, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid had just declared Alex Smith out with a head injury, announced Jamaal Charles was undergoing knee surgery and revealed that Spencer Ware had yet to pass a battery of concussion tests.

Then it started to rain.

It was a fitting soundtrack for a stunningly gloomy midweek briefing.

Reid went on to say defensive lineman Jaye Howard is dealing with a hip flexor injury and offensive lineman Mitch Schwartz will be resting his sore ankle in practice. There is also the belief offensive lineman Parker Ehinger is done for the season with a knee injury.

“It’s part of the National Football League,” Reid said with a shrug.

The biggest news was that Smith, whose head was slammed off the hard turf in Indianapolis twice last weekend, had been ruled out for the Chiefs’ game against Jacksonville.

Smith passed concussion tests after both of the hits, the second of which knocked him from the game, but decided to err on the side of caution.

The decision was made after consulting with an independent neurologist, talking with Reid and others in the front office — including team owner Clark Hunt — and having the results of his concussion tests reviewed by a concussion expert at the University of Pittsburgh.

“There’s no blood test where you can go in and take it and they say, ‘Yeah, you have a concussion,'” Smith said. “I’ve got three little kids. You only get one brain, far as I know. The last thing I wanted was to go out there and yeah, something happens again and all of a sudden you’re asking different questions.

“I’m not ready for that,” Smith added. “I don’t want to be thinking about any of that.”

Nick Foles will start in his place on Sunday and Tyler Bray will serve as the backup, and Smith and Reid both expressed confidence that he will be available the following week at Carolina.

“Any kind of head trauma, whatever you want to call it, time to heal is important. Precaution here was the weighing factor,” Smith said. “This was a decision we came to together.”

Foles was sharp in relief last Sunday, going 16 of 22 for 223 yards with two touchdowns and no picks in a 30-16 victory. While he does not have the scrambling ability of Smith, he has a bit more arm strength that could give the Chiefs a different look against the Jaguars.

“I feel pretty good that he’s got a grasp of the offense,” Reid said. “We didn’t have to change anything when he went in. I wasn’t looking at the sheet, wondering what I can call and can’t call.”

Just who Foles will be handing off to Sunday is another question.

Charles had exploratory surgery Wednesday to determine why there is lingering pain in his surgically repaired right knee. The operation was performed by Dr. James Andrews, who has repaired both of the running back’s ACLs, and the belief is that Charles may have some meniscus damage.

He’s been placed on injured reserve, which means he will miss at least eight weeks. The four-time Pro Bowl running back could conceivably return for the playoffs, though that appears to be a longshot.

“Since he’s come back from this rehab he’s had pain in both knees, it’s gone back and forth,” Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said. “He had some damage in that meniscus before. Dr. Andrews wants to see if it has a little flap in it or something that’s causing the discomfort.”

His loss is compounded by the fact that Ware is still going through the NFL’s concussion protocol. The Chiefs’ fill-in is unlikely to play against Jacksonville, even though he’s not been ruled out.

With only Charcandrick West available on the active roster, the Chiefs signed former second-round pick Bishop Sankey to shore up the position. Sankey has been on the Patriots practice squad, and Reid said it is possible that he will be active against the Jaguars.

“He’s got to get caught up, quickly, if he’s going to be in there,” Reid said.

The Chiefs also waived linebackers Sio Moore and Sam Barrington this week. They used the roster spots to add offensive lineman Mike Person and promote linebacker Terrance Smith from the practice squad.

The net result has been a chaotic three days for the Chiefs (5-2), who are a half-game back of Oakland and Denver in the AFC West after rattling off three consecutive wins.

“We’ve all got confidence in each other,” Reid said, “so we go out and next man comes in and goes. We’re not going to have to do a whole lot of different things. We’ll just play.”

Five Griffons earn All-MIAA soccer honors; Menke named 1st Team

Posted on November 2, 2016November 2, 2016

ST. JOSEPH – Five members of the Missouri Western women’s soccer team earned All-MIAA honors Wednesday.

The 2016 All-MIAA team includes the Missouri Western soccer team’s first-ever first team selection, Cassidy Menke. Menke was joined on the All-MIAA list by third team selection Bailey Dervin and honorable mentions: Ashlyn Powers, Paige Phipps and Taylor Gant.

Menke set an MWSU single season record with nine goals in the regular season and ranks third in the MIAA in goals scored. The sophomore forward’s 19 points this season are also a new single-season record as are her six game winning goals.

Dervin is in the midst of her best season as a Griffon. The senior mid-fielder scored a career-high three goals in the regular season, and a career-high seven points, while playing in 18 games and taking 15 shots on goal. It was Dervin’s first All-MIAA selection.

Powers repeated as an honorable mention. The defender has played in all 18 games this season and has been credited with 16 shots.

Phipps returned to the All-MIAA squad after being selected as an honorable mention in 2014. The junior defender played in 15 games this season. She had one assist and four shots.

Gant became Griffon soccer’s first three-time All-MIAA selection. The senior defender started all 18 games this season and has started all but one game in her Griffon career.

Missouri Western makes its third-straight MIAA Tournament appearance Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Hays, Kansas.

2016 ALL-MIAA SOCCER TEAM
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jada Scott, F, Central Missouri

CO-DEFENDERS OF THE YEAR
Emily Eldridge, D, Central Missouri
Hannah Smith, MF, Fort Hays State

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Ana Dilkes, GK, Central Missouri

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Izzy Romano, MF, Northwest Missouri

COACH OF THE YEAR
Craig Shaw, Fort Hays State

FIRST TEAM
GK: Ana Dilkes, Jr., Central Missouri^
D: Emily Eldridge, Jr., Central Missouri**^
D: Bailey Schmitz, Jr., Fort Hays State
D: Kayla Hamner, Sr., Central Missouri
MF: Taylor Thompson, Jr., Central Missouri**@
MF: Hannah Smith, Sr., Fort Hays State
MF: Kat Roe, Jr., Lindenwood
MF: Megan Woolley, Jr., Central Missouri
F: Jada Scott, So., Central Missouri**%
F: Katie Killion, So., Central Oklahoma%
F: Julia Mathis, Jr., Northeastern State
F: Kelsey Steffens, Jr., Fort Hays State
F: Cassidy Menke, So. Missouri Western
^=2014 & 2015 First Team Selection
@=2014 First Team Selection
%=2015 First Team Selection
Results reflect tie in the voting
**Unanimous Selection

SECOND TEAM
GK: Abbie Flax, So., Fort hays State
GK: Jordan Woodruff, Sr., Northeastern State
D: Rebecca Gleason, Jr., Northeastern State
D: Kelsey Gordon, Fr., Central Oklahoma
D: Taryn Schnell, So., Fort Hays State
MF: Eden Stoddard, Jr., Fort Hays State
MF: Izzy Romano, Fr., Northwest Missouri
MF: Caitlin Moore, So., Central Oklahoma
F: Hannah Pyle, Sr., Central Missouri
F: Anastasia Robinson, Sr., Northeastern State
F: Thayla Dwyer, Jr., Fort Hays State
F: Becky Roberts, Jr., Lindenwood

THIRD TEAM
GK: Yadira Rivera, Sr., Emporia State
D: CheyAnn Queener, Sr., Fort Hays State
D: Jaide Allenbrand, Jr., Emporia State
D: Kenzie Sublett, Sr., Central Oklahoma
D: Miranda Huebner, Sr., Lindenwood
MF: Baylie Edwards, Jr., Central Missouri
MF: Bailey Dervin, Sr., Missouri Western
MF: Elin Hammar, Sr., Southwest Baptist
MF: Kelsey McIntyre, Sr., Northeastern State
F: Asha Haile, Fr., Central Oklahoma
F: Mikayla Lowery, Jr., Central Oklahoma
F: Emily Stauffer, Jr., Washburn

HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Allysa Gann, D.
Central Oklahoma: Courtney Essary, MF.
Emporia State: Maria Walden, MF; Tanna Benefiel, MF.
Fort Hays State: Hannah Jurgens, MF; Dani Harris, MF; Jasmine Beaulieu, MF.
Lindenwood: Jackie Lindner, MF.
Missouri Southern:.Ronise Miller, D; Carly Cecil, D; Bailey North, MF; Taylor Beck, F.
Missouri Western: Ashlyn Powers, D; Paige Phipps, D; Taylor Gant, D.
Nebraska-Kearney: Allie Prososki, GK; Marika Van Brocklin, D; Kelsie Ienn, D; Tori Weber, MF; Carly Brown, MF.
Northeastern State: Rachel Gleason, NSU.
Northwest Missouri: Hannah Goetz, D.
Washburn: Kaitlin Minnich, GK; Cadence Bourne, D; Morgan El-Attrache, MF.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest’s Romano named MIAA Women’s Soccer Freshman of the Year

Posted on November 2, 2016November 2, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University’s Izzy Romano was named the MIAA’s Women’s Soccer Freshman of the Year in a press release by the conference office on Wednesday. Romano was also named to the All-MIAA Second Team while teammate Hannah Goetz garnered All-MIAA Honorable Mention accolades.

Romano and Goetz each started all 17 matches for the Bearcats. Romano led the Bearcats with 14 points, finishing atop the MIAA with six assists. She had four total goals as well, tying for the team lead with Danielle Wolfe. Her 2.88 shots per game ranked fifth in the conference this season. She becomes the first Bearcat in program history to earn Freshman of the Year honors.

Goetz logged 1,505 total minutes on the Northwest back line, ranking second on the team. She was part of three clean sheets for the Bearcat defense which also allowed just one goal on five different occasions. She had four shots on the year, one coming on goal.

— Northwest Athletics —

Cunningham duo leads No. 24 Mizzou women to exhibition win against Central Missouri

Posted on November 1, 2016

COLUMBIA, MO. – No. 24 Mizzou Women’s Basketball improved to 13-0 in exhibition games under head coach Robin Pingeton by defeating Central Missouri, 65-35, at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers’ gritty defense was on full display as Mizzou held UCM to just 17 percent shooting and forced 23 turnovers en route to a 30-point victory.

As a team, Mizzou dominated down low all game, outscoring the Jennies 28-8 in the paint. Mizzou also racked up seven blocks and 10 steals leading to eight fast break points.

Sophomore guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) finished the game with a team-high 21 points on 53 percent shooting (8-for-15). Last season’s SEC Freshman of the Year added a pair of assists and six rebounds in the warmup contest.

Senior guard Lindsey Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) led the team with seven rebounds during the exhibition. She also tallied 19 points, thanks to a remarkable 75 percent shooting night (6-for-8). Lindsey also played a big role on defense for Mizzou, contributing two blocks and three steals in 33 minutes of action.

Together, the Cunningham sisters accounted for 40 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Tigers.

Senior guard Sierra Michaelis (Mercer, Mo.) was the third Tiger to score in double digits. She collected 11 points on 50 percent shooting and a perfect 4-for-4 effort from the foul line. Michaelis drilled two three pointers on three attempts.

Mizzou received excellent defensive play from freshman guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.). Smith, who started the contest, led the team with three blocks. She also added two assists, four rebounds and two points.

After allowing an early three-pointer to start the game, Mizzou went on a 21-2 run to give the Tigers a 21-5 lead early in the second. Mizzou continued to build on that lead throughout the game, leading by as much as 34 points in the fourth quarter.

Mizzou will take the court once again for its second and final exhibition game of the season against Truman State on Monday, Nov. 7 at Mizzou Arena. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. and admission is free for all fans. The Tigers will begin regular season play Nov. 11 against Abilene Christian as a part of the Preseason WNIT.

— Mizzou Athletics —

No. 3 Kansas defeats Washburn 92-74 in exhibition opener

Posted on November 1, 2016

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas faithful received their first chance to welcome KU basketball’s group of newcomers inside game-atmosphere Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday night as the third-ranked Jayhawks defeated Washburn, 92-74.

Senior guard Frank Mason III led the Jayhawks in scoring, nearly reaching a triple-double, with 21 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Junior guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk drained four 3-pointers to finish with 16 points, while freshman guard Josh Jackson poured in 14 second-half points.
Josh Jackson

Jackson was in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s contest, highlighting five Jayhawks who made their debut. Joining Jackson who ran under the tunnel to James Naismith Court for the first time were freshmen Mitch Lightfoot and Udoka Azubuike, and juniors Dwight Coleby and Tucker Vang.

“It was good for our freshmen to get an eye-opening experience,” Kansas head coach Bill Self said. “I’d say we labored; it wasn’t a great outing by our freshmen but certainly I don’t know that that is all bad because it opens their eyes to things we need to do a lot better.”

Kansas shot 54 percent from the floor, while holding the Ichabods to 38 percent shooting. The majority of Washburn’s 45-to-44 rebounding advantage came from pulling down 19 offensive boards off the glass.

Washburn struck first with a 3-pointer by David Salach just under a minute into regulation. KU junior Devonte’ Graham responded by making the first bucket of the season for the Jayhawks – a 3-point to tie the game at three. Azubuike was the first player off the bench for Lucas, who committed two fouls in the first two minutes of the game. The 7-footer from Nigeria contributed early with a blocked shot, followed by a dunk on the opposite end of the floor to put Kansas up, 7-3.

KU’s defense began to clamp down in the lane as Kansas began to pull away in the first half. Kansas held a 7-6 lead before going a 13-2 run to take a 20-8 lead at the 11:11 mark on a layup by sophomore guard Legerald Vick.

Washburn didn’t have a solution for Mason’s dribble-drive penetration, converting on a number of contested layups to pad the Jayhawks’ double-digit lead.

Graham connected with sophomore forward Carlton Bragg Jr., for a dunk to give Kansas a 26-16 lead at the 8:01 mark of the first half.

Jackson registered his third foul at the 5:37 mark of the first half, which limited his first-half playing time to nine minutes.

Lightfoot got fouled going to the bucket on three-straight possessions and converted three of his six free throws during that stretch as Kansas maintained a 39-28 lead.

Mason continued to go aggressive to rim as the first half was coming to a close, making an and-1 layup, 44-29. A late Washburn 5-0 flurry with a minute remaining in the first half cut KU’s lead to 10, but Graham and Mykhailiuk restored KU’s cushion to 16 points with a pair of 3-pointers with under 35 second to go in the half.

Mason headlined the opening half with 11 points, eight assists and four rebounds as Kansas went into the locker room with a 50-34 lead. The Jayhawks shot 61 percent from the floor in the first half.

Washburn started the second half on a run 9-2 run, cutting KU’s 16-point lead down to nine points with 17:01 left to play.

Jackson began to show glimpses of his offensive prowess which garnered him so much attention during the recruiting process as one of the top prospects in the country. The Detroit native scored his first basket as a Jayhawk on a layup with 13:50 reminding in the game, putting Kansas up 62-49.

Kansas pulled away in the closing stages of regulation with an 11-0 run, capped off by a pair of free throws by Mykhailiuk with 4:26 remaining which gave KU a 85-63 lead.

Fan-favorite, senior guard Tyler Self, checked in the game late and scored two points before ushering in a 92-74 victory for the Jayhawks.

— KU Athletics —

AP source: Chiefs’ Charles going back on IR with knee issue

Posted on November 1, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is going back on injured reserve after developing swelling in his surgically repaired right knee, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the Chiefs had not announced the move.

The designation means the four-time Pro Bowl running back will miss at least eight weeks, so he could return for the end of the regular season and the playoffs.

Charles only had 12 carries for 40 yards in three games this season.

The Chiefs, already thin at running back after Spencer Ware sustained a concussion Sunday, signed former Titans second-round pick Bishop Sankey on Tuesday.

They cut linebackers Sam Barrington and Sio Moore.

— Associated Press —

Northwest Missouri State men No. 6 in NABC preseason Top 25

Posted on November 1, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball team was ranked sixth in the 2016-17 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Pre-Season Poll which was released on Tuesday. The Bearcats received 270 votes after finishing 27-6 last season, winning the MIAA’s regular season and tournament titles. West Liberty (W.Va.) was first in the poll with 394 votes.

For the third straight year, the Bearcats reached the NCAA’s Central Regional Championship game. Northwest returns four starters off last year’s squad including MIAA Player of the Year Justin Pitts. Ben McCollum enters his eighth season at the helm, compiling a 141-70 career mark. The Bearcats were picked first in the 2016-17 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Washburn was only other MIAA team to receive votes, getting eight in the initial poll. Northwest begins the season on Friday, Nov. 11, against Upper Iowa in St. Joseph, Mo., at 3 p.m. The home opener for the Bearcats will be on Thursday, Nov. 17, against defending NCAA champion Augustana at 7 p.m. The Vikings were ranked No. 18 in the poll.

— Northwest Athletics —

Two MIAA women’s basketball teams ranked in preseason Top 25; MWSU receiving votes

Posted on November 1, 2016

Kansas City, Mo. – Two MIAA women’s basketball teams will begin the season ranked in the top 25 as the preseason poll was released today by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

Emporia State is fourth in the poll after being picked a top the MIAA preseason poll released earlier this season. Pittsburg State who was picked second in that poll was picked 12th in the national poll. Missouri Western and Washburn are also receiving votes in the inaugural poll.

Exhibition play for the women’s basketball teams started on Oct. 30 with teams taking to the court for real starting on Friday, Nov. 11. League play is slated to get underway on Nov. 30 with team pushing towards the MIAA Championship which will run Feb. 28, March 3-5 of 2017 for the women from campus sites and Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

— MIAA Press Release —