Sports – Page 635 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Griffons and Bearcats split first two games of series

Posted on April 23, 2015

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team started off their final regular season series with a split against Northwest Missouri State. MWSU took game one with a 3-2 win and dropped the second game 2-1.

Game 1 – MWSU 3, Northwest 2

Missouri Western earned the first win of the series in exciting fashion with a 3-2 victory.

The Griffons were first on the board in the second inning as they managed to get three runs on three hits and two errors.

Cosimo Cannella started off the second inning with a double down the right field line. David Glaude singled to the pitcher and eventually advanced to second and put Cannella on third.

Zach Taylor hit a sac fly to left field to score Cannella from third, scoring the Griffons first run of the ball game. Glaude advanced to third on a pass ball and senior Michael Yeager singled to right field to pick up the RBI. Yeager worked himself around the bases to score on a wild pitch to score the third run.

Northwest Missouri scored one run in the fourth inning and one in the seventh inning.

Banks Born moved his record to 6-1 on the season. He went six innings, allowing eight hits and struck out five batters.

Game 2 – Northwest 2, MWSU 1

The Griffons and Bearcats got into a pitching battle in the second game with A.J. Martinez and Joseph Hietpas on the mound. Both teams were held scoreless until the top of the seventh inning when the Bearcats scored two runs.

Nick Gotta was the Bearcats first runner on base when he was walked by Martinez. Two batters later, Paul Johnson came up with a huge two out single to centerfield. Steven Garber singled to centerfield and eventually advanced to second on an error by centerfielder Ryan Degner. The error allowed two-runs to score.

The Griffons only run came from Cosimo Cannella in the bottom of the seventh inning when he hit his fifth home run of the season.

A.J. Martinez suffered his first loss of the season and now has a record of 4-1 on the season.

Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State will wrap up their four-game series Friday with a doubleheader that begins at 5:00 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Royals beat White Sox 3-2 in 13 innings after brawl

Posted on April 23, 2015April 24, 2015

CHICAGO (AP) — A benches-clearing fight led to five ejections several innings before Eric Hosmer hit the go-ahead double in the 13th to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.

With two outs, Hosmer’s hit off Chicago’s Jake Petricka (0-1) brought in Jarrod Dyson. Wade Davis then pitched a scoreless 13th for his fourth save, giving Franklin Morales (2-0) the victory.

Kansas City won for the fourth time in five games in a game in which tempers flared.

In the seventh, Yordano Ventura snagged a grounder from Chicago outfielder Adam Eaton and they appeared to exchange words before Ventura threw to first to end the inning. Eaton had to be restrained from Ventura, who was ejected from a second straight start.

Players from both dugouts and bullpens ran onto the field and punches were thrown during a fight that lasted a couple of minutes.

The play was the culmination of tensions that seemed to rise during the game and carry over from their season-opening series earlier this month when the teams combined to hit six batters. In the bottom of the fourth, Ventura hit Jose Abreu. In the top of the fifth, Chris Sale hit Mike Moustakas.

Ventura was thrown out after the fight. On Saturday, after he allowed a three-run homer to the Athletics’ Josh Reddick, he hit Brett Lawrie and was ejected.

The four others tossed Thursday were Kansas City outfielder Lorenzo Cain and pitcher Edinson Volquez, along with Chicago’s Sale and pitcher Jeff Samardzija.

For Ventura, it was his fourth consecutive start that ended abruptly. Besides the ejections, on opening day against the White Sox he left with a thumb cramp. He was replaced April 12 against the Los Angeles Angels because of a right calf cramp.

Kansas City has been in a fighting mood for a week now.

In that three-game series against Oakland last weekend, the Royals and A’s cleared their benches each day. Nearly as many people were hit by pitches as hit home runs. And five players and coaches were ultimately thrown out of the finale Sunday, when things boiled over.

Among those tossed was reliever Kelvin Herrera, who threw a fastball behind the head of Lawrie, then pointed to his own head in a threatening manner. Herrera was suspended five games for it pending an appeal, a punishment that could have easily been stiffer.

Before the fight, Ventura pitched seven innings and allowed two runs while striking out eight. He also survived a scare in the third when Micah Johnson beat him to first base and accidentally kicked the pitcher’s right leg, though after a couple precautionary tosses the hard-throwing righty stayed in the game.

Sale only gave up two first-inning runs and lasted seven innings and allowed nine hits.

Chicago only had seven hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: INF Omar Infante (left groin) was not in the lineup. He left Sunday’s game after suffering the injury and hasn’t appeared since, though manager Ned Yost said “he’s getting to the point where he’s getting ready to play.” . Yost said RHP Greg Holland (right pectoral muscle) will be evaluated Saturday. . RHP Luke Hochevar (right elbow) threw a scoreless inning during a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha.

White Sox: Petricka (right forearm) made his debut Wednesday and said he felt “great” before Thursday’s game. “Normal soreness. That’s a great feeling,” Petricka said.

UP NEXT

Royals LHP Danny Duffy (1-0, 5.51) faces White Sox LHP Jose Quintana (1-1, 8.40). Duffy is 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA at U.S. Cellular Field, while Quintana is 0-6 with a 4.66 ERA all-time against Kansas City.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western softball splits doubleheader against Washburn

Posted on April 23, 2015

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team split a doubleheader with Washburn Thursday to move their record to 33-15 on the year and 17-7 in the MIAA.

GAME 1: Washburn 4, MWSU 3 (9 innings)

The Griffons lost an extra inning game, giving up two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game and then losing on a solo home run in the top of the ninth.

Leading 3-1 in the seventh, Janie Smith gave up a solo home run to lead off the inning. The next batter reached on an error by Katie Klosterman. Smith retired the next batter with a fly out to center then a single from the next batter put two on with one out. A sacrifice fly brought in Washburn’s second run and tied the game at three.

Bekah Mueller led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk but the next three Griffons were retired to force extra innings. Neither team scored in the eighth and Smith retired the first batter of the ninth with a groundout. Then came the dagger, with a solo home run to right center that put Washburn up 4-3. The first two Griffon batters in the bottom of the ninth grounded out before Brooke Schaben reached on an error. Morgan Rathmann ended it with a ground out to the pitcher.

Washburn scored first with a run in the top of the fifth. The Griffons answered and took the lead with three in the bottom half of the inning.

Smith took the loss, going nine innings and giving up four runs – three earned – on nine hits. She struck out six and walked four. Her record dropped to 16-8 on the year. Rathmann went 2-5 at the plate while Kailey Green was 2-4.

GAME 2: MWSU 9, Washburn 4

The Griffon bats woke up in the second game of the day, getting two runs in the second and four in the third to take a 6-2 lead. MWSU tacked on two more in the sixth and survived a little threat in the top of the seventh to win 9-4.

Washburn jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a solo home run off Shyanne Saladino in the second but an RBI single by Mueller and a sac fly from Rathmann gave MWSU a 2-1 lead after two. Washburn tied it up in the top of the third before the Griffons got four in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-2 lead.

Shelbie Atwell got things started in the third with an RBI single. Then Brooke Schaben pushed a run in with a bases loaded walk. Rathmann and Tiffany Gillaspy followed with RBI singles to give the Griffs a more comfortable lead. Atwell would drive in two more in the fourth with an RBI single and an RBI double. She finished the game 3-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Rathmann, Gillaspy, Paige Shifflett and Sydney Washington all had two-hit games. Saladino was solid, moving to 17-7 on the season. She went the distance allowing four runs, just one earned, on eight hits.

The Griffons are scheduled to host their final two regular season games on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader against Emporia State.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest softball goes 1-1 against Emporia State

Posted on April 23, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State softball team split Thursday’s doubleheader against #20 Emporia State in Maryville.

The Hornets tied game one in the seventh inning before winning in extra innings, 4-3.

The Bearcats won game two, 2-1, on Stephanie Mark’s two-run home run in the first inning.

Northwest is now 22-22 on the year and 14-10 in the MIAA, while Emporia State is now 32-18 this season with a 14-10 mark in the conference.

In game one, Kendle Schieber tallied three base hits and drove in one run on a double in the sixth.
Baylee Scarbrough reached base on a pair of singles and Rebecca Maher drove in two runs on one hit.

Sarah Baldwin took the loss after throwing her 13th complete game this season. The righty gave up four runs on eight hits while striking out six.

In game two, following an unearned run coming around to score for the Hornets in the first, Maher started a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning by driving a double to right center. Then Stephanie Mark drove her in with a soaring home run down the left field line.

Kendle Schieber earned her ninth victory on the year after hurling seven innings of three-hit ball. The junior surrendered just one unearned run in the first inning and struck out eight Hornet batters.

Northwest Missouri State will wrap up play in the regular season on Sunday when they host Washburn at 1 p.m. Before the game, the team will be honoring this year’s seniors.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Wacha out duels Scherzer as St. Louis beats Washington

Posted on April 23, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — One of these days, Michael Wacha might be the guy who forces the other team’s starting pitcher to excel.

For now, the St. Louis Cardinals right-hander is having a delightful time trying to outdo the opposing team’s ace.

Wacha got the best of Max Scherzer, Matt Adams singled in the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning and the Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 4-1 Thursday for their fourth straight series win.

In his previous two starts, Wacha outpitched Cincinnati star Johnny Cueto. This time, he was better than Scherzer — the 2013 Cy Young winner who came in with a sparkling 0.83 ERA.

“You know you’re going to have to go out there and try to match zeros against those guys,” Wacha said.

He did better than that.

Wacha (3-0) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings while lowering his ERA to 1.33. He walked two and struck out six, including Jose Lobaton three times.

“He was great,” manager Mike Matheny said. “I think he’s doing a nice job of not being distracted by who he’s facing.”

Scherzer (1-2) also went seven innings, giving up two runs and six hits. It was the first time in his four starts with Washington that he surrendered more than one earned run.

Scherzer hurt his wrist in the fifth inning while at the plate, but he dismissed the injury as a minor inconvenience.

“I haven’t batted too much and I jammed it a little bit,” the right-hander said. “I look forward to going out there and pitching my next start.”

Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman was slow on the bases, a shortcoming that manager Matt Williams suspected was a minor case of plantar fasciitis.

“He has a little pain in the bottom of his foot,” Williams said. “Been bothering him for a while. Pretty soon we’re going to have to give him a break and sit him down.”

Matt Carpenter had two hits and scored a run for the Cardinals, who have won seven of eight. St. Louis took two of three from the Nationals in a matchup of 2014 division champions and remained unbeaten in series play this year (4-0-1).

Scherzer allowed the first two batters to reach base, then retired 16 of 17 before Jason Heyward singled with two outs in the sixth. The right-hander hit Matt Holliday with a pitch before Adams delivered a single to left for a 2-1 lead.

St. Louis added two runs in the eighth.

Jordan Walden got three outs in the bottom of the inning for the Cardinals and Trevor Rosenthal pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save.

Facing the Cardinals for the first time since 2009, Scherzer, a St. Louis native, got off to a wobbly start. Carpenter lined the first pitch of the game into center field for a double, moved up on a single by Heyward and scored on a wild pitch.

In the Nationals fifth, Danny Espinosa led off with a double and Scherzer reached when a replay determined that Adams took his foot off first base before taking a throw. Denard Span followed with an RBI single.

With runners on the corners, Wacha retired Ian Desmond on a popup, struck out Bryce Harper and got Zimmerman to ground into a fielder’s choice.

HAVE A SEAT

Cardinals: C Yadier Molina was out of the starting lineup for the first time this season, despite a seven-game stretch in which he had 12 hits and six RBIs. “We had (the non-start) on the calendar a while back,” Matheny said.

Nationals: OF Jayson Werth didn’t play after going 4 for 19 in his previous five games. The slugger is batting .167 with no homers and two RBIs.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Peter Bourjos is expected to return from paternity leave on Friday in Milwaukee.

Nationals: OF Anthony Rendon (left knee sprain) worked out the squad before the game and will start a rehabilitation assignment Friday with Double-A Harrisburg.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (1-0, 2.08 ERA) gets his third start of the season Friday night in the opener of a three-game set against the Brewers.

Nationals: Washington sends Jordan Zimmermann and his 6.14 ERA to the mound vs. the Marlins to launch a 10-game road trip that goes through Miami, Atlanta and New York.

— Associated Press —

Central hires Jared Boone as girls’ basketball coach

Posted on April 23, 2015

Central High School has hired Jared Boone as its next girls’ basketball coach.

Boone was the top assistant coach for the Indians the last two seasons under Jessica French, who resigned at the end of the season.

Boone is a St. Joseph native as he graduated from Benton High School. He went on to play college basketball at North Central Missouri College for two years and he finished his career at Lincoln University.

Boone was an assistant coach for the Central boys for one season before moving over to the girls side the last two years.

The Indians went 7-18 last season and 3-7 in Suburban League play, but they’ll bring back a strong nucleus as they had just two seniors on the roster.

Kansas City loses series finale to Minnesota 3-0

Posted on April 22, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Pelfrey pitched seven scoreless innings to pick up his first victory since 2013 as the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 3-0 Wednesday night.

Joe Mauer reached base four times with two hits and two walks and scored a run.

Pelfrey’s last victory was Sept. 23, 2013, against Detroit. He went 0-3 in five starts last year before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery on June 10.

Pelfrey (1-0) gave up five singles, walked two, hit two batters and struck out four. It was his longest outing since he went seven innings against Texas on Aug. 31, 2013.

Glen Perkins got the last three outs for his third save

Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie (0-1) gave up all three runs and six hits with a career high-tying six walks in five innings.

The Twins scored all their runs in the first on three hits, two walks and a hit batter. Oswaldo Arcia was hit by Guthrie with the bases loaded to bring home Brian Dozier. Kennys Vargas and Dozier singled in the other two runs. Guthrie induced Kurt Suzuki to ground into a double play with the bases loaded to end the inning and prevent further damage.

The Twins loaded the bases in the second on Torii Hunter’s double and walks to Joe Mauer and Dozier. However, Hunter was out trying to steal home to end the inning.

Guthrie did not allow a run after the first, but he was never sharp, throwing only 50 percent strikes in 98 pitches.

Yohan Pino replaced Guthrie and threw three scoreless innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: LHP Brian Duensing (right intercostal strain) started soft tossing Wednesday.

Royals: 2B Omar Infante (strained left groin) missed his third straight game. Manager Ned Yost said Infante could have played, but did not want to push him.

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Phil Hughes (0-3, 5.30 ERA) starts against the Mariners on Friday.

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura (2-1, 4.80 ERA), fined Tuesday for hitting Oakland’s Brett Lawrie Sunday, starts Thursday against the Chicago White Sox.

— Associated Press —

Griffons move up to No. 5 in Central Region softball rankings

Posted on April 22, 2015

ST. JOSEPH – After taking a break from competition last week, the Missouri Western softball team has moved up one spot in the latest NCAA Division II Central Regional Rankings.

The Griffons came in this week at No. 5 after debuting sixth last week. At 32-14 overall and 16-6 in the MIAA, MWSU sits in position to make its eighth trip to the regional tournament in the last 10 years. Ahead of the Griffons are Augustana (1st), Arkansas Tech (2nd), Central Missouri (3rd) and Central Oklahoma. Missouri Western holds a pair of victories over Augustana. Central Missouri and Central Oklahoma both swept the Griffons earlier this season. Fellow MIAA member and upcoming Griffon opponent Emporia State fell to seventh in the regional ranking.

Eight teams will advance to the regional tournaments that will be split into two locations. The MIAA, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Great American Conference tournament champions will earn automatic bids into regional play.

The Griffons have already earned their way back to the MIAA tournament after winning the event in 2014. The final two series of the regular season could have serious tournament seeding and regional ranking implications. MWSU is currently tied for second in the MIAA with Central Oklahoma, just one game behind Central Missouri. Emporia State is scheduled to visit St. Joseph on Saturday. With four games left on their schedule, the Griffons could earn their second MIAA regular season championship and possibly move up in the regional rankings.

CENTRAL REGION RANKINGS
Team Record, In-Region Record
1 Augustana (SD) 39-7, 32-7
2 Arkansas Tech 34-12, 34-12
3 Central Missouri 33-13, 32-12
4 Central Oklahoma 35-14, 33-14
5 Missouri Western 32-14, 31-14
6 Henderson State 33-10, 33-10
7 Emporia State 31-15, 31-15
8 Winona State 36-9, 29-8
9 Minnesota State 32-18, 27-16
10 East Central 24-13, 22-13

— MWSU Sports Information —

Wong’s tiebreaking double in 8th helps Cardinals top Nats

Posted on April 22, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kolten Wong homered and drove in the tiebreaking run with a double in the eighth inning to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

Wong finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs. He had a two-run homer in the second inning and a single in the fourth.

Jon Jay drew a one-out walk off Blake Treinen (0-2) in the eighth and moved to third on Yadier Molina’s single. Wong then sliced a double down the left-field line, scoring Jay to break a 5-5 tie.

Matt Adams added a solo homer in the ninth off Rafael Martin to close the scoring.

Kevin Siegrist (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Trevor Rosenthal got the last three outs for his fifth save.

St. Louis won for the sixth time in seven games.

Wong also made two spectacular defensive plays at second base, ranging into short center field to grab grounders and throw out Yunel Escobar to end the fifth and Wilson Ramos starting the sixth.

The Cardinals appeared headed for an easy night after taking a 5-0 lead in the third inning.

Matt Carpenter led off the game with a homer off Washington starter Doug Fister, and Wong added his two-run shot in the second. The Cardinals added two more in the third before Washington rallied to tie it.

The Nationals bounced back with five runs in the third, tying the game on Escobar’s three-run double with two outs off St. Louis starter John Lackey.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Randal Grichuk is making progress toward a return. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Wednesday that Grichuk is moving around well but have yet to talk about a rehab assignment. Grichuk went on the disabled list with a lower back strain last Friday.

Nationals: 3B Anthony Rendon (sprained left knee) played five innings in extended spring training on Wednesday and is coming back to Washington for a workout with the Nationals on Thursday. He’ll then head to Double-A Harrisburg to begin a rehab assignment on Friday. Manager Matt Williams said he wasn’t sure of a timeline for Rendon returning to the Nationals but they wanted to get him up to playing nine innings and a bunch of at-bats.

WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES

Nationals left-hander Matt Grace made his major league debut in this game. Called up earlier in the day when LHP Felipe Rivero (intestinal bleed) went on the 15-day disabled list, Grace threw a scoreless seventh inning, walking one without giving up a hit while the teams were locked in a 5-5 tie.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Lackey made two errors on one play in the bottom of the fourth inning. Denard Span hit a grounder back to the box that Lackey fielded, then dropped and then threw wildly past first. However, the Nationals stranded Span at second.

UP NEXT

Cardinals RHP Michael Wacha (2-0, 1.35) has beaten the Reds in his first two starts, giving up a total of two runs while winning both times.

Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer (1-1, 0.83), a St. Louis native, is coming off a stellar eight-inning effort in a victory over the Phillies last Friday. He has already struck out 25 in 21 2/3 innings this season.

— Associated Press —

Both Griffon golf teams finish seventh at MIAA Championship

Posted on April 22, 2015

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Missouri Western men’s golf team finished in seventh place at the MIAA Championship on Wednesday.

Scott Sheldon finished with his lowest round of the week, tallying a 75 in his third round of play. Sheldon finished with a 235 overall and 14th place. Jakob Rudosky and Ryan Hand both provided their best scores of the tournament, shooting a 77 in their final round. Rudosky finished with a 243 and Hand finished with a final score of 244.

Central Missouri claimed the team title with a team score of 897 on the tournament and Central Oklahoma finished 27 strokes behind them for second place.

The Griffons were one stroke back from Southwest Baptist and four strokes back of Northeastern St. for fifth place.

The individual title went to Central Oklahoma’s Eric Kline, scoring a 221 in his three rounds of play at the Alvamar Golf Club.

The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished in seventh place at the MIAA Championship, shooting a 1022 over the three rounds.

Freshman Celine Lim was the top-finisher for the Griffons, recording an overall score of 246 and finishing 12th place in the tournament. Tiffanie Yabut finished her season with a 256 in her three rounds of golf and finished in a tie for 23rd. Sophomore Madison Romjue fired a 257 and shot an 87 in her final round to finish in the top-25. Callie Wilson and Amber Chivington recorded a 267 and 268 respectively.

The Griffons finished three strokes behind Northwest Missouri for sixth place and 16 strokes behind Central Missouri for fifth place.

Central Oklahoma took home the team title with an overall score of 934 and Lindenwood finished second with a 966.

Marla Souvannasing of Central Oklahoma was the individual winner, scoring a 228 beating second place finisher Baylee Price of Northeastern St. by two strokes.

— MWSU Sports Information —