Sports – Page 455 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Odom adds former Tiger A.J. Ofodile to Mizzou football staff

Posted on May 9, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom has added former Mizzou standout and NFL tight end A.J. Ofodile to his staff, as announced today. Ofodile, who has been a successful head coach at Columbia’s Rock Bridge High School since 2003, will serve as the football program’s Director of Recruiting Operations. Details of Ofodile’s appointment will be released once finalized, pending the completion of human resources procedures.

Ofodile, 42, served as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for Odom at Rock Bridge during Odom’s head coaching stint there from 2001-02. After Odom joined Mizzou’s coaching staff prior to the 2003 season, Ofodile took over as the program’s head coach. In 2013, his Bruins were state runners up, reaching the state championship game for the school’s first time since 1993.

A first-team All-Big Eight selection in 1993 for Mizzou, Ofodile was a three-year letterwinner (1991-93), and finished his Tiger career with 73 receptions for 851 yards and six touchdowns. After an outstanding 1993 season which included 55 catches for 589 yards and four TDs, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 1994 NFL Draft by Buffalo, and spent six years in the league with Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Baltimore through 1999.

“I’m very excited to have A.J. joining our staff, he will be a huge part of our entire program, and specifically our recruiting efforts,” said Odom. “I have tremendous respect for A.J. as a person and as a mentor and I’m excited for how he will represent our program and university. He cares deeply about Mizzou, and shares a lot of the same beliefs that I have on building Mizzou into a championship program,” he said.

“I’ve been very set about if I was to ever make the move to the college level, that who I was going to be working for was the most important aspect, and it couldn’t be a better situation for me at Mizzou with Coach Odom,” said Ofodile. “I have a world of respect for him, he’s a first-class person and I believe in his vision and the work that he and his staff are doing to build something special. Naturally, it’s very special for me to be coming back to my alma mater. Mizzou holds a very special place in my heart and I am very excited about doing anything I can to contribute to it,” he said.

A Detroit, Mich. native, Ofodile earned his bachelor’s degree in General Studies from Mizzou in August of 2001. His family includes wife Dianna, daughter Jasmyn and son Alex.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Griffons earn No. 4 seed in MIAA baseball tournament; open with Missouri Southern

Posted on May 8, 2016

The Missouri Western baseball team earned the No. 4 seed in the MIAA Tournament this week in St. Charles, MO.

The Griffons finished the regular season in a tie for third place with Washburn at 26-13 in MIAA play, but the Ichabods have the tiebreaker as they took two of three games from MWSU in February.

Missouri Western is 34-16 overall and they’ll face No. 5 seed Missouri Southern in the first round Thursday at 7:30 p.m. from the Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles.

The Lions are 32-18 this season and they went 22-17 in the MIAA. Southern also won two of three games against Western this season.

The MIAA Tournament is double elimination as the championship will be played on Sunday.

Here are the first round matchups on Thursday:

No. 3 Washburn vs. No. 6 Northeastern State – 9:00 AM
No. 2 Emporia State vs. No. 7 Central Oklahoma – 12:30 PM
No. 1 Central Missouri vs. No. 8 Northwest Missouri State – 4:00 PM
No. 4 Missouri Western vs. No. 5 Missouri Southern – 7:30 PM

Royals drop series finale at Cleveland 5-4

Posted on May 8, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) — Starter and stopper. Josh Tomlin is handling both roles for the Indians.

The dependable right-hander stayed unbeaten and again helped Cleveland bounce back after a loss, leading the Indians over the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Sunday.

Tomlin (5-0) worked into the seventh inning and became the first Indians pitcher to win his first five outings since Justin Masterson in 2011. He’s also been the one to get the Indians back on track, improving to 12-0 with a 2.82 ERA following a Cleveland loss since the beginning of last season.

“That’s why he’s a leader on this team,” catcher Yan Gomes said. “Anytime he comes in to pitch, whether he’s scuffling a little bit or not, he’s a bulldog.”

Carlos Santana and Mike Napoli homered off Edinson Volquez (3-3) as the Indians took two of three from the defending World Series champions.

Eric Hosmer homered for the struggling Royals, just 3-9 in their last 12.

Kansas City closed to 5-4 in the seventh, but Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor threw out Cheslor Cuthbert at the plate and reliever Bryan Shaw got Alcides Escobar to bounce into an inning-ending double play.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Cutberth, who was called up from the minors when third baseman Mike Moustakas went on the disabled list, should have reacted more quickly on Jarrod Dyson’s grounder.

“He just got a real late break on it,” Yost said. “It just wasn’t a good read.”

Shaw worked the eighth, and Cody Allen finished for his eighth save in eight chances.

The Indians have confidence in Tomlin, and he delivered another solid outing as Cleveland improved to 10-4 against the AL Central. Tomlin doesn’t have an overpowering fastball like most of Cleveland’s other starters, but there isn’t a pitcher the team trusts as much.

“You got to beat him, and sometimes you do, but he manages the game,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “You can say so many good things. He just loves competing. You can tell, he loves being out there.”

Not surprisingly, the unassuming Tomlin is taking his success in stride.

“I’m just doing my job,” he said. “It means I’m going out there and giving them a chance to win, not always the best statistical-wise maybe, but it’s a chance to win.”

Clinging to 3-2 a lead, Volquez didn’t like something with the mound and asked for maintenance before pitching in the fifth. The grounds crew fixed the dirt for him and then the Indians did some work on the right-hander, scoring three times to go ahead 5-3.

Michael Brantley tied it with an RBI single, and Lonnie Chisenhall’s bloop single gave Cleveland a 4-3 lead and chased Volquez, who walked four in 4 1/3 innings.

Marlon Byrd then made it 5-3 with a ground-rule RBI double off Danny Duffy.

Santana led off the first with his fifth homer, on Volquez’s second pitch. It was Santana’s second game-opening homer and first since April 22 against Detroit’s Justin Verlander in his first at-bat atop Cleveland’s lineup.

PRETTY IN PINK

Both teams used pink bats, wore pink-highlighted uniforms and several players wore pink cleats on Mother’s Day to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer.

“It’s very deserving,” Tomlin said of the tribute. “I know what my mom did for me growing up, taking me to tournaments, taking me to fall ball, summer ball, high school. She was always available, and it wasn’t for her being able to do that then I probably wouldn’t be here today.”

LONNIE IN CENTER

Chisenhall made his first career start in center field and handled all three balls hit his way.

“He’s a good outfielder,” Francona said of the converted third baseman. “With repetition, he’ll be more comfortable.”

SHAW’S TURNAROUND

After a rough start this season, Shaw has settled in. He’s given up just one hit in his six appearances, striking out seven.

“This is as good as we’ve seen him throw the ball,” Francona said.

UP NEXT

Royals: Chris Young (1-4) pitches the opener of a four-game series at the New York Yankees. Of the 19 runs Young has allowed, 13 have come on homers.

Indians: Corey Kluber (2-3), coming off a complete game shutout of Detroit, faces Houston’s Mike Fiers as Cleveland begins a three-game series with the Astros. Kluber is 4-1 with a 1.48 ERA in four starts against Houston.

— Associated Press —

St. Louis loses to Pittsburgh Sunday 10-5

Posted on May 8, 2016

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Gregory Polanco helped the Pittsburgh Pirates serve up a nice slice of victory pie.

Polanco went the opposite way for a three-run homer and John Jaso added a two-run drive, leading Gerrit Cole and the Pirates over the St. Louis Cardinals 10-5 Sunday.

Facing reliever Matt Bowman, Polanco capped a four-run seventh inning by slicing his homer barely over the wall in left field, just inside the foul pole.

“I was looking for a good pitch. He threw me one that was out and over the plate and it was something I could drive,” Polanco said. “Whenever you hit the ball to the opposite field, it’s good. I stayed with the pitch and hit it that way.”

“I was a little surprised it went out. I was more worried about it staying fair,” he said.

Cole (3-3) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

“He stayed aggressive and used all his pitches,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “I felt it was a really good bounce-back start from his last start. As the game went along, he got stronger.”

Mark Melancon relieved with the bases loaded in the ninth and got Yadier Molina to ground into a game-ending double play for his ninth save.

The Pirates took two of three at Busch Stadium and have won five of six from St. Louis this season.

“It’s always going to be a spirited series,” Hurdle said. “They play hard, they’re well-coached and they play to the finish. The way I look at it, we were a bad-bounce ground-rule double away from a sweep. It’s hard work to come in here and win, but we did it.”

Michael Wacha (2-3) lost his third consecutive decision for only the second time in his career, the first coming in 2014. He allowed four runs on six hits and two walks in six innings.

“I thought he was good,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “I thought his stuff looked very good. They were grinding out some of their at-bats.”

In his last three starts against the Pirates, Wacha has given up 15 runs and 20 hits in 14 1/3 innings.

Pittsburgh scored three times in the fifth for a 3-1 lead. After a one-out walk, Chris Stewart hit an RBI double.

“The one-out walk in the fifth got things going and it kind of snowballed,” Matheny said.

After fouling off several pitches, Jaso homered just over the wall in right field with two outs.

“He has a plan. He’s a very quiet guy but he’s a very cerebral guy,” Hurdle said. “He always goes up there with a plan. He’ll (swing) early, have extended at-bats.”

Wacha said Jaso hung tough in the at-bat that ended with the homer.

“I left a mistake changeup in the top of the zone and he didn’t miss,” Wacha said. “He put together a great at-bat.”

The Pirates added a run in the sixth when former Cardinals star David Freese hit an RBI single. He drove in Starling Marte, who doubled twice and singled.

Jaso, who had three hits, doubled home a run in the seventh against Bowman. Polanco added his homer for an 8-2 lead.

Rookie Jeremy Hazelbaker hit his sixth homer for St. Louis. Stephen Piscotty added four hits.

Molina had a two-run, two-out single in a three-run eighth for the Cardinals.

MOTHER’S DAY

Pirates: Pittsburgh wore new Mother’s Day uniforms and caps. The gray jersey had pink in the Pirates’ logo. The players all wore pink spikes. The Pirates also swung pink bats as teams have done since 2006 to raise funds and awareness to fight breast cancer.

Cardinals: St. Louis wore uniforms that incorporated pink in the Cardinals logo. Players wore dark gray hats highlighted by a hot pink STL logo and the jersey featured the Cardinals’ bird-on-the-bat logo in pink with uniform numbers in pink on the back. The Cardinals also wore pink spikes.

UMPIRES

Tom Woodring joined the crew and he umpired second base. Plate umpire Dana DeMuth left Saturday’s game after the second inning to be evaluated for a possible concussion. DeMuth was hit in the mask by a foul ball.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: 3B Jung Ho Kang was out of the starting lineup Sunday after playing back-to-back games. Kang made his season debut Friday in his return from a knee injury last September. He pinch-hit in the eighth inning.

Cardinals: Tommy Pham, out with a left oblique strain since opening day, remains on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis that began Wednesday. Pham hit an RBI single in a 2-1 loss Saturday. The Cardinals said there is no timetable for Pham’s return.

UP NEXT

Pirates: Jonathon Niese (3-1, 5.94) at Cincinnati on Monday. Niese will be making his seventh start. He lost his first decision in his last start, allowing six runs in five innings in a 7-1 home loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Cardinals: On Tuesday, Mike Leake (0-3, 6.03) at Los Angeles Angels. It will be Leake’s seventh start and he is looking to earn his first win of the season as a member of the Cardinals. He has allowed four or more runs in his first six starts. In his last four starts, Leake has given up six home runs.

— Associated Press —

Western softball ends season with loss to Southern Arkansas in Sub-Region Championship

Posted on May 7, 2016

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Missouri Western softball team suffered its worst loss of the season in what proved to be the team’s final game of 2016, 13-5 to Southern Arkansas in five innings. The Central Region 2 Tournament championship game loss ended the Griffons’ season at 45-13, the third most wins in program history.

Southern Arkansas took a 10-0 lead after three innings, but Missouri Western cut the lead in half over the next two innings. A a three-run home run with one out in the bottom of the fifth was the dagger that ended the Griffons’ season.

HOW THEY SCORED
1st Inning
Brooke Goad hit a two-run home run to right center: 2-0 SAU
Ashton Atwell drove in one with a single to right: 3-0 SAU
Tyler Casada drove in one with a double to right center: 4-0 SAU
Summer Ehrig hit a two-RBI single to right center: 6-0 SAU (all charged to Janie Smith)

2nd Inning
Atwell RBI single down the left field line: 7-0 SAU

3rd Inning
Goad single to center drove in two: 9-0 SAU
Maddie Dow singled to center, one RBI: 10-0 SAU

4th Inning
Shlebie Atwell doubled and advanced to third on a throwing error, Morgan Rathmann scored: 10-1 SAU
Paige Shifflett drove in Atwell with a bloop single to right: 10-2 SAU
Kailey Green hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Shifflett: 10-3 SAU

5th Inning
Shifflett singled to left to drive in Rebekah Mueller and Megan Korgie: 10-5 SAU
Dow hit three-run home run to left: 13-5 SAU

IN THE BOX SCORE
– Shifflett went 2-3 at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored.

– Taylor Hamilton had her first multi-hit game of the regional, going 2-3

– Shelbie Atwell and Green had the other two RBIs for Missouri Western

– The Griffons totaled five hits, all coming in the fourth and fifth innings. Southern Arkansas had allowed three combined hits in its two previous regional games

– Janie Smith took the loss (24-10), allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits in one inning

– Saladino pitched the rest of the game, giving up eight hits and seven runs, six of them earned

NOTABLES
– Griffons finish with third most wins in program history

– Team’s 23 conference wins were most in program history and tied for most ever by an MIAA team

– Two regional wins and sub-regional championship appearance for second time in program history

– First run-rule loss for Griffons all season

– Southern Arkansas one of three teams to beat Missouri Western twice this season (Augustana and Northwest Missouri)

– Last game for seniors Janie Smith, Shyanne Saladino and Emilie Laliberte

— MWSU Athletics —

Griffons advance to NCAA Sub-Regional Championship with 9-0 win over UCO

Posted on May 6, 2016

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Missouri Western softball team (45-12) kept its season alive with the team’s fifth win over Central Oklahoma this season, 9-0 in an elimination game Friday at the NCAA Central Region 2 Tournament.

The win sets up a rematch between the Griffons and Southern Arkansas in the Region 2 Tournament Championship on Saturday at 1 p.m. Missouri Western will have to defeat Southern Arkansas twice to advance to the Central Super Regional May 11 and 12.

HOW THEY SCORED
2nd inning
Sydney Washington doubled to drive in Kailey Green – 1-0 MWSU
Megan Korgie hit the team’s second straight double to score Washington – 2-0 MWSU
3rd inning
Katie Klosterman hit an RBI single through the left side to score Paige Shifflett – 3-0 MWSU
Washington hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Green – 4-0 MWSU
4th inning
Rebekah Mueller scored on a double-steal attempt; Shelbe Atwell thrown out a second – 5-0 MWSU
7th inning
Taylor Hamilton hit her 11th home run of the season on the first pitch of the inning – 6-0 MWSU
Mueller drew a bases loaded walk that scored Klosterman – 7-0 MWSU
Morgan Rathmann’s single up the middle drove in Korgie and Washington – 9-0 MWSU

IN THE BOX SCORE
The Griffons had 13 hits and took advantage of two Central Oklahoma errors, committing two themselves.
Rathmann was 2-3 with two RBIs. Washintgon was 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Klosterman was 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Janie Smith moved to 24-9 on the season, pitching seven innings and allowing six hits, walking four and striking out three. She stranded 12 base runners for UCO.

NOTABLES
– First time the Griffons have won two games in a regional since 2009

– First sub-regional championship appearance for the Griffons since 2009

– Smith shutout UCO for the second time in a week; two of four shutouts the team suffered this season

– Smith pitched her 10th shutout of the season; tied for second most in a season at MWSU

– Missouri Western held a team without an extra base hit for the second time in this regional (Minnesota Duluth)

– The two home runs Southern Arkansas hit in the sixth inning, Friday, were the only extra base hits Griffon pitchers have surrendered this regional

– UCO was 2-12 with runners in scoring position; MWSU was 6-15

– Only the second time MWSU has eliminated an MIAA team from a regional (UCM in 2009)

UP NEXT
Missouri Western faces elimination once again, Saturday at 1 p.m vs. Southern Arkansas. The Griffons were defeated 6-0 by Southern Arkansas, earlier Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bishop LeBlond hires Girres, Adkins as new basketball coaches

Posted on May 6, 2016May 6, 2016

Bishop LeBlond High School has hired new boys and girls basketball coaches as they introduced the two Friday at a press conference.

Mitch Girres will take over the LeBlond boys’ program after eight years at Benton High School. He coached the Cardinals’ freshman boys team from 2008 to 2010 and has been the JV and assistant Varsity girls coach the past six seasons.

Girres is a graduate of Cameron High School and Missouri Western State University. He takes over for Tom Tewell, who spent three years as the head coach at LB.

Bryan Adkins will take over the Eagles’ girls program as he has 13 years of experience as a head basketball coach.

Adkins coached the Wathena/Riverside girls team for 11 years and then was the Riverside boys coach the past two years. His combined record is 156-124.

He takes over for Jeff Sullivan who became the Bishop LeBlond principal last summer.

Bearcats’ season ends with loss to Upper Iowa in NCAA Regional

Posted on May 6, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State softball team lost an NCAA Central Region elimination game to Upper Iowa Friday afternoon, 3-0.

– The tournament is being hosted by Arkansas Tech University at the Chatwells Women’s Sports Complex in Russellville, Ark.

– The loss gives the Bearcats a 37-16 record this season, the second-most wins in program history. Upper Iowa improves to 40-17 and advances to play Minnesota State in the loser’s bracket final Friday evening.

Key Statistics
– Sarah Baldwin came out of the bullpen to throw five shutout innings, surrendering just one hit while striking out five Peacocks.

– Junior Torri Blythe turned in a 1-for-3 effort, reaching on a bunt single in the fourth. Blythe also stole her 22nd bag of the season, third-most in a single season in school history.

– Kiana Baderdeen finished 1-for-2 with an infield single.

– Jessica Rawie singled on a sharp line drive in the bottom of the fifth, finishing 1-for-2.

– Kendle Schieber (21-8) took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in two-plus innings pitched. The senior tallied one strikeout.

Key Innings
– The Peacocks scored all their runs on four hits in the top of the second inning.

– Baldwin retired final 10 batters she faced, including all five of her strikeouts.

– Baderdeen opened the sixth with a sharp single up the middle that bounced off the pitcher’s glove toward third base. The freshman moved up to second on a passed ball before heading to third on a fly ball to right, but was called out after it was ruled that she left before the catch was made, thwarting the final Bearcat threat of the game.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western baseball take down Lincoln Friday 9-1

Posted on May 6, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western Baseball picked up a 9-1 victory over Lincoln on Friday evening.

The Griffons jumped on the board early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. MWSU used two errors by the Lincoln defense. Jeremy Alvarado and Orencio Fisher both picked up RBIs in the inning.

Missouri Western added another run in the bottom of the second inning. The Griffons put together three consecutive hits in the third inning, producing two more runs. MWSU took a 5-0 lead into the top of the fourth inning.

The Blue Tigers first run came in the top of the sixth inning. Mason Price doubled to right center field, bringing home Dillon Walker.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Missouri Western added four insurance runs. The Griffons were able to get the first three batters on base. Fisher picked up an RBI and David Glaude drove in two RBIs with a double to left center field. Nick Gawley drove in the final run with a sac fly RBI to center field.

Fisher, Kody Matthews, and Brandon Downs all picked up two hits for the Griffons. Fisher scored twice and added two RBIs.

Missouri Western received a quality start from senior Weston Caindec. He went seven innings, facing 26 batters and allowed just one run on four hits while striking out seven batters. Chris Estrada pitched an inning, striking out all three batters.

The Griffons and Blue Tigers will play the final regular season game at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest baseball loses second straight at Fort Hays State

Posted on May 6, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell on Friday evening at Fort Hays State, 4-3, at Larks Park in Hays, Kan.

– The loss drops Northwest to 24-25 overall and 19-19 in MIAA play. Fort Hays improves to 22-26 and 16-21 in
conference action.
– Nick Gotta went 4-for-5 with a run scored. He also stole a base.

– Joseph Hietpas started and went 6.0 innings. He allowed four runs with three walks and struck out eight.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored single runs in the second, sixth and seventh innings. The Bearcats had three runs on 12 hits with no errors.

– The Tigers scored four runs on 11 hits with two errors. Fort Hays got one in the first, two in in the second and one in the fifth.

– James Holler went 2-for-4 with a run scored after he doubled to lead off the second.

– Garrett Fort was 2-for-5 with an RBI in the seventh.

– Kevin Handzlik was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt.

– Jay Hrdlicka went 2-for-4 on the day.

– Jake Lewis got an RBI in the second inning.

– Kolby Greenslade scored in the seventh after reaching on a fielder’s choice.

– Ross Davis pitched 0.2 innings of scoreless relief.

– Nikko Pablo came in to record the final four outs for Northwest. He allowed just one hit. He struck out one and did not issue a walk.

Key Northwest Innings
– Holler doubled to lead off the second and he went to third on a groundout to short. With one down, Lewis grounded out to short, allowing Holler to score to tie the game, 1-1.

– In the sixth, Gotta hit a leadoff single to right. After a flyout, Gotta stole second and Adams drew a walk to put two runners aboard. Holler grounded into a fielder’s choice which moved Gotta to third but a throwing error on the play allowed him to score to make it 4-2 Tigers.

– Hietpas worked a perfect sixth inning, needing just 10 pitches. He struck out the first batter and then got a foul out and a fly out.

– Hrdlicka singled with one out in the seventh but traded places with Greenslade on a fielder’s choice. With two down, Gotta hit an infield single and a throwing error allowed Greenslade to move to third. Fort came up with an RBI single to center to score Greenslade, cutting the Fort Hays lead one, 4-3.

Up Next
– The regular season concludes tomorrow with a 1 p.m. game against the Tigers.

— Northwest Athletics —