Sports – Page 481 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Northwest softball splits two one-run games Sunday in St. Joseph

Posted on March 20, 2016March 20, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State softball team came up on either side of a pair of one-run contests Sunday in St. Joseph, Mo.

The games were played at the Heritage Park Softball Complex as a part of the MWSU Apple Market Classic. 16 teams are participating in the midseason crossover, eight apiece from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

The Bearcats were on the losing end of a pitcher’s duel to open the day, falling to Augustana 1-0.

Northwest used a three-run fifth inning to sneak past Minnesota State in the nightcap, 4-3.

Northwest Missouri State will return to conference play when they hit the road to take on Lincoln on Friday, March 25. First pitch in the twin bill is set for 1 p.m. in Jefferson City, Mo.

— Northwest Athletics —

MWSU tennis bounces back with 8-1 win over Ottawa

Posted on March 20, 2016March 20, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team rebounded after their first loss of the season with a dominating performance against Ottawa, winning 8-1.

Missouri Western was able to record a sweep in singles competition as Yasmine El Ghazi and Sofia Aguilera earned victories in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots. Denise Chiao was able to earn a victory in the No. 6 singles spot by a score of 6-3 and 6-2.

The Griffons were able to take two of three doubles matches. El Ghazi and Aguilera won 9-8 in their match and Joanna Abreu Roman and Sarah Giraldo earned a convincing 8-0 victory in the No.2 doubles match.

Singles competition
1. El Ghazi, Yasmine (MWSU) def. Corfield,Allison (OU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Aguilera, Sofia (MWSU) def. Luedyke,Jennifer (OU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Giraldo, Sarah (MWSU) def. Bellew,Madeline (OU) 6-3, 7-6
4. Abreu Roman, Joanna (MWSU) def. Laures,Taylor (OU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Smith, Meara (MWSU) def. Hibbs,Lexis (OU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Chiao, Denise (MWSU) def. Rodriguez,Stephanie (OU) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Aguilera, Sofia/El Ghazi, Yasmine (MWSU) def. Corfield,Allison/Luedyke,Jennifer (OU) 9-8
2. Abreu Roman, Joanna/Giraldo, Sarah (MWSU) def. Good,Danika/Peterson,Kimisha (OU) 8-0
3. Bellew,Madeline/Laures,Taylor (OU) def. Beger, Lindsay/Chiao, Denise (MWSU) 8-4

Missouri Western will hit the road as they take on Fort Hays State on Friday afternoon starting at 2 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Benton defeats MICDS in 2 OTs to win Class 4 State Championship

Posted on March 20, 2016March 20, 2016

Click here to listen to Benton head coach Brett Goodwin talk about the win

The Benton girls’ basketball team won its second state championship in school history Saturday night in Columbia as they defeated MICDS in the Class 4 title game 41-34 in double overtime inside Mizzou Arena.

The Cardinals finish the season with a perfect 31-0 record, which is also the most wins in school history, surpassing their 2007 state title team that went 30-0.

Benton had to deal with a lot of adversity Saturday night as they were without freshman guard Jayde Williams, who was injured in the semifinal game Friday. Then freshman starting guard Bailey Russell injured her leg in the second quarter and wasn’t able to return.

The game was back-and-forth all night as neither team led by more than five points the entire game until Benton took a nine-point lead in the second overtime.

BHS was down 19-14 at halftime, but they used a 6-0 run to start the second half and the game was tied 23-23 after three quarters.

Both teams struggled to score all night but MICDS used a 5-0 run in the fourth quarter to take a 28-24 lead with about two minutes remaining. The Cardinals then got a three-pointer from Kylee Williams and one free throw from Daejah Bernard to tie game and send it to overtime.

Each team scored just two points in the first extra period, but then in the second overtime Bernard took over the game.

MICDS scored the first two points of the second OT, but then Bernard made a layup to tie the game and she forced three consecutive turnovers from the Rams’ point guard Rachel Thompson and Benton went on an 8-0 run to pull away and outlast MICDS. Bernard ended the game with 17 points, seven rebounds, five assists and six steals.

Kylee Williams made five threes in the game as she also scored 17 points and they two seniors combined for 34 of the Cards 41 points.

Benton’s defense was the story all season and Saturday night it was fantastic again as they held MICDS to a season-low 34 points. The Rams were averaging 64 points per game and had been held under 40 just one time all year, and they needed 40 minutes to reach 34.

The Cardinals held MICDS to 31.6 percent (12-38) shooting and the Rams committed 19 turnovers.

Fighting Irish fall to Vashon in Class 4 state title game

Posted on March 20, 2016March 20, 2016

Click to listen to Lafayette head coach Chris Neff on postgame

The Lafayette boys’ basketball team came up short in their bid for a state championship Saturday in Columbia as they lost the Class 4 title game to Vashon 69-58 inside Mizzou Arena.

The Fighting Irish finish as the state runner-up for the second time in three years as they end the season 28-4.

Lafayette got out to a great start Saturday as they went ahead 17-9 late in the first quarter, but Vashon scored the final four points of the first and then outscored the Irish 21-8 in the second quarter to take a 34-25 lead to the locker room at halftime.

LHS pulled to within six points several times in the third quarter, but could never get any closer as Lafayette struggled all night at the free throw line.

The Fighting Irish finished the game 21-of-42 from the foul line and because of that they were never able to make a serious run at the Wolverines in the fourth quarter.

Vashon wins its 12th state title in school history as Lafayette is still in search of its first since 1976.

Diego Bernard led LHS with 25 points, while Caleb Bennett scored 16.

Lafayette lost just four games all season, and all four teams they lost to when on to play for a state championship in their respective state and class. Two of the teams won state titles and two teams finished as the runner-up. It was the fifth all-time appearance in the Final Four for the Fighting Irish and third in the last six seasons.

Lafayette rolls past Helias in the Class 4 semifinals; will play Vashon for state title

Posted on March 19, 2016March 19, 2016

View highlights from Lafayette’s victory over Helias.

The Lafayette boys’ basketball team will play in a state championship game for the second time in three seasons as they were able to defeat Helias Catholic 68-51 in the Class 4 semifinals Friday inside Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The Fighting Irish will play Vashon (25-4) in the state title game Saturday at 8:10 p.m. as the Wolverines were able to take down Sikeston in overtime in the other Class 4 semifinal 69-66.

Lafayette trailed 15-13 after the first quarter to Helias Friday night, but they used an 8-0 run midway through the second quarter and they never trailed after that.

LHS took a 27-23 lead to the half and they took command of the game in the third quarter with a 10-2 run and they led by double figures the rest of the game. Lafayette made 18-of-20 free throws in the fourth quarter to cap off the win.

Sterling Hick led the Fighting Irish with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Caleb Bennett added 15 and Diego Bernard scored 14 points.

Lafayette is now 28-3 as they’ll try and win the schools second state championship and first since 1976. The Irish lost in the title game in 2014 to Republic 45-42.

The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ or you can click here to listen.

Benton defeats Owensville 37-25 to advance to Class 4 state championship

Posted on March 18, 2016March 19, 2016

View highlights from Benton’s victory over Owensville.

The Benton girls’ basketball team will play for its second state championship in school history as they were able to defeat Owensville 37-25 in their Class 4 semifinal Friday inside Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The Cardinals improve to 30-0 on the season and they’ll play MICDS (25-4) in the state title game at 6:20 p.m. Saturday at the University of Missouri.

Benton trailed 7-5 midway through the first quarter, but Deajah Bernard scored nine of her team-high 13 points in the first as they Cards led 11-8 after one and they never trailed again.

BHS couldn’t put the Dutchgirls away until the fourth quarter as Benton led 16-14 at halftime and 25-20 after three quarters. They used a 10-2 run to start the fourth and Owensville never made a serious run at the Cardinals.

Benton allowed only two second half field goals and they forced Owensville into 22 turnovers in the game.

Bernard led the Cardinals with 13, while Kylee Williams added 11.

Benton has only played for one state championship as they defeated Farmington in 2007 for their only title in school history. Saturday’s game with MICDS will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ or you can click here to listen.

Missouri Western softball opens Apple Market Classic with two wins

Posted on March 18, 2016March 19, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western Softball earned two non-conference victories on Friday afternoon, beating University of Mary 8-1 and Northern State University 11-1.

Game 1

The Griffons were able to score all eight of their runs in the first four innings of the game. Morgan Rathmann was the first to cross the plate as she scored on an error by the catcher as Paige Shifflett was stealing second base. The Griffons added a second run when Katie Klostermann singled to left field to score Shifflett.

Missouri Western continued to add to its lead as Shelbie Atwell tripled, bringing home two more runs. The Griffons added two more runs in the inning, giving the Griffons a 6-0 lead after the second inning.

Kailey Green added a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning for the final run, giving the Griffons an 8-1 victory. She finished the game two for three, scoring two runs and recording two RBIs. Rathmann finished the game with three runs scored.

Shyanne Saladino finished the game, pitching all seven innings. She struck out seven batters while allowing just four hits and one earned run.

Game 2

Missouri Western continued its dominance, scoring 11 runs in the second game of the doubleheader and limiting Northern State to just one run.

MWSU put together an eight run fifth inning. Rebekah Mueller eventually ended the game with her grand slam to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Griffons were able to get RBIs from Taylor Hamilton and Sydney Washington in the inning.

Paige Shifflett and Sydney Washington also tallied home runs in the game. Shifflett finished the game with two runs and one hit as well. Washington contributed three RBIs to go along with her two hits and two runs.

Janie Smith was solid in the circle as she recorded three strikeouts and allowed just one run on two hits.

The Griffons will continue the Apple Market Classic on Saturday, taking on Winona State at Noon and University of Sioux Falls at 2 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Griffons’ eight-game win streak snapped by Missouri Southern Friday

Posted on March 18, 2016March 19, 2016

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western baseball team’s eight-game winning streak came to a halt on Friday as the team narrowly avoided being no-hit in a 14-2, seven inning loss to Missouri Southern.

Missouri Southern starter Cody Hutchinson was perfect through four innings, but surrendered his first base runner with one out in the fifth when he hit Nick Gawley with a pitch. Missouri Western didn’t see another base runner until the sixth when Alex Heuring drew a one-out walk. With two down in the bottom of the sixth, Landon Mason singled, then David Glaude followed with a two-RBI double to right.

Hutchinson picked up the win, going six innings and allowing two hits, two runs, walking one and striking out nine. Mason, Glaude and Jeremy Alvarado were the only Griffons to pick up a hit in the game. Conner Schwienebart got the start and lasted two and two-thirds. He allowed five runs on four hits.

The loss dropped Missouri Western to 14-7 overall and 6-4 in the MIAA. The two teams play game two of the series, Saturday, at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Kansas routs Austin Peay to win 10th straight NCAA Tournament opener

Posted on March 17, 2016

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Kansas earned the top overall seed for the NCAA tournament without getting much of anything from Svi Mykhailiuk.

If the Ukranian guard steps up, look out.

Mykhailiuk scored a career-high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting and Perry Ellis had 21, leading the Jayhawks to a 105-79 victory over Austin Peay on Thursday.

Landen Lucas added 16 points for the Jayhawks (31-4), who will face Connecticut on Saturday with a chance to return to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013.

“We played pretty well in stretches. Didn’t guard as well as we needed to guard to have a chance to advance past Saturday,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “So we’ve got to tighten that up. I do like how our bench played.”

Kansas, the No. 1 seed in the South Region, jumped ahead by 20 by halftime and cruised to its 10th straight win in an NCAA tournament opener.

Josh Robinson scored 24 points for the Governors (18-18), who learned quickly that the magic they leaned on to win four straight and the Ohio Valley title was no match for the talented Jayhawks.

“I think it’s pretty clear Kansas is obviously a really talented basketball team. Great size, athletic ability,” Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said.

Kansas entered this year’s tournament as one of the favorites to win it all after dominating the brutal Big 12 for most the season. Self is looking for his second national championship, and the Jayhawks got off to a strong start by dismantling the overmatched Governors.

The most promising development was the play of Mykhailiuk.

Mykhailiuk, an 18-year-old reserve whose production often has failed to live up to his promise, didn’t even score in wins over Baylor and West Virginia in the recent Big 12 tournament. But he hit three of his first four 3-point attempts, and his three-point play early in the second half helped put Austin Peay away after it closed to 61-44.

“It’s like that all the time in practice. He didn’t surprise me because I see it all the time from him,” Kansas forward Jamari Traylor said. “He’s just got to stay confident like this.”

Kansas star Wayne Selden, who averaged a paltry 2.5 points in four previous NCAA tournament games and was shut out in a loss to Wichita State last March, also impressed with seven points in the first 12 minutes. He finished with 14 points.

Any hope the Governors had at pulling off a monumental upset, or even staying close, was done in by a brutal start from the floor. Austin Peay hit just seven of its first 24 shots, with many of those misses from close range.

Chris Horton had 14 points and 10 rebounds in his final game for the Governors.

TIP-INS

Kansas: Even though Kansas was barely bothered by the Governors, Self was his usual animated, well, self. After a rare Mykhailiuk mistake, Self screamed “Svi! What are you doing? Good God!”…The Jayhawks shot 56 percent from the field.

Austin Peay: The Governors fell to 2-8 in the NCAA Tournament. Their last win came in 1987 over Illinois, 68-67. … Austin Peay actually led for 1:18 in the first half before Kansas got rolling.

STAR POWER

Mykhailiuk didn’t score at all in the NCAA tournament last season. But he was the best player on the floor at times on Thursday, hitting four 3s and shooting 5-of-6 from inside 20 feet.

STAT LINES

The Governors were just 4-of-15 from 3-point range. But surprisingly, they got the free-throw line 10 more times than Kansas and went 25 of 37. … Devonte Graham went scoreless for Kansas but dished out six assists.

UP NEXT

Kansas will face ninth-seeded Connecticut in the second round on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Morales hits first homer, helps spark Royals past LA

Posted on March 17, 2016

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kendrys Morales hit his first home run this spring, helping the Kansas City Royals to a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

Morales hit a 2-run shot off Dodgers left-hander J.P. Howell over left field in a four-run fifth inning.

Morales also singled in the first off Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood, who gave up one run on four hits in three innings in his second spring start.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was pleased with Wood’s work.

“It was a productive outing,” Roberts said. “The ball was coming out of his hand really well. He mixed in some change-ups. He commanded the fastball.”

STARTING TIME

Royals: Right-hander Kris Medlen worked four innings in his third spring start, giving up one run on three hits and striking out four.

“I felt it was similar to my last start,” Medlen said. “I had to get used to the mound. I was able to make the adjustment. The hits I gave up for runs were strikes, on 0-2 and 1-2. I just tried to pound the zone.”

Dodgers: Woods was scratched from a scheduled start last weekend because of tightness in his forearm.

“It felt good, it was good,” Woods said Thursday. “I had one goal and that was to be efficient.”

Roberts said the Dodgers would probably break camp with Woods as the No. 4 starter behind Clayton Kershaw, Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda.

The fifth spot is still up for grabs, with Brandon Beachy, Mike Bolsinger and Zach Lee the contenders.

ROSTER MOVES

Julio Urias, a 19-year-old pitching prospect, was one of seven players cut Thursday by the Dodgers. He was re-assigned to minor league camp.

Urias had been in the hunt for the fifth spot in the rotation. But his inexperience led to mistakes in his two spring appearances. He gave up four runs on five hits over three innings. Still, his potential was evident when he struck out the first three batters he faced.

Other Dodger cuts were RHP Jose De Leon, RHP Yaisel Sierra, RHP Ross Stripling, LHP Ian Thomas, INF Micah Johnson and C Jack Murphy.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Jarrod Dyson (strained abdominal muscle) has begun throwing. There is no timetable on when he can begin hitting. He is expected to miss the first two weeks of regular season. . RHP Brian Duensing suffered a bruised ankle Wednesday in a 10-0 victory over the Cubs.

Dodgers: Howie Kendrick is expected to be back at second base Friday against the Diamondbacks. Kendrick, who was a designated hitter in a Tuesday game, is coming back from groin injury.

UP NEXT

Royals: Kansas City plays split-squad games Friday, one in San Antonio against the Rangers. RHP Dillon Gee is set to start against Rangers LHP Derek Holland. The other game is at the Royals’ spring home in Surprise, with Miguel Altamonte facing the Angels’ Matt Shoemaker in a match of right-handers.

Dodgers: Los Angeles travels to Scottsdale, with Beachy set to make his second start and his third appearance in spring against the Diamondbacks. Arizona plans to counter with RHP Zack Godley.

— Associated Press —