Sports – Page 960 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Royals’ rally comes up short against Cleveland

Posted on July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera each drove in a pair of runs, and the Cleveland Indians took advantage of some wild pitching by the Kansas City Royals in a 6-5 victory Tuesday night.

Mark Reynolds and Jason Giambi also drove in runs for the Indians, who capitalized on eight walks by Royals starter Luis Mendoza and his bullpen to win their fifth straight game.

Cody Allen (3-0) earned the win in relief for Cleveland, while Chris Perez survived putting two aboard in the ninth for his eighth save of the season.

The AL Central-leading Indians led 4-0 before Alex Gordon’s grand slam in the fifth. But Royals reliever Tim Collins (2-3) walked the only two batters he faced in the seventh, Aaron Crow walked another to load the bases and Santana came through with a go-ahead sacrifice fly.

Giambi added a run-scoring double later in the seventh that proved invaluable when the Royals’ Billy Butler hit an RBI double off Vinnie Pestano to make it 6-5. David Lough came to the plate with runners on the corners, but grounded into an inning-ending double play.

It was Cleveland’s fifth win in its past six games against the Royals.

After going on a 14-5 run to close out June, the Indians (45-38) built on a four-game sweep of the White Sox by taking the opener of a three-game series from another division rival. It was their ninth win in 11 road games and put them seven games over .500 for the first time since May 24.

The Indians wasted little time getting on the board.

They loaded the bases with one out against Mendoza in the first before Santana recovered from a 0-2 count to walk in a run. Mendoza then uncorked a pitch that nicked Reynolds in the shoulder – and just barely missed his head – to force in another run.

Mendoza got out of the inning with a bases-loaded double play, but his erratic ways resulted in more trouble when the fourth inning rolled around.

This time, Mendoza gave up consecutive singles to Giambi and Lonnie Chisenhall and a one-out walk to Michael Brantley to load the bases. Cabrera slipped a single through the right side of the infield to make it 4-0 before Jason Kipnis grounded into another inning-ending double play.

Corey Kluber, who gave up seven runs without making it through the fifth his last time out, was having his way with the Royals’ still-scuffling lineup the first couple times through it.

The right-hander ran into trouble in the fifth inning.

Mike Moustakas and Lough singled and Johnny Giavotella walked to load the bases with nobody out. Jarrod Dyson flied to left field, and Moustakas thought about tagging up, but he ultimately thought better of it and scampered back to third base.

No matter: Gordon was waiting in the on-deck circle.

The Royals’ leadoff hitter was swinging on a 3-0 pitch and drilled the ball to right field, clearing the fence with ease and pulling the Royals into a 4-4 tie. It was Gordon’s second grand slam of the season and the third for Kansas City.

It was also the Royals’ biggest highlight once their bullpen started to falter.

— Associated Press —

Mizzou announces addition of Louisville transfer Zach Price

Posted on July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

Missouri Basketball Head Coach Frank Haith announced on Tuesday that Zach Price has signed a financial aid agreement to attend the University of Missouri and will play for the men’s basketball program.

A 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward from Cleveland, Ohio, Price will sit out the 2013-14 season (per NCAA transfer rules) and will be classified as a redshirt junior for the 2014-15 campaign.

“We are really excited to welcome Zach into our basketball family,” Head Coach Frank Haith said. “Obviously Zach has great size and this redshirt season will be critical for him as he works to develop his body and improve his low-post skill. We’ve had a very good track record developing our post players over the last two years and that played a big role in him deciding to come to Mizzou. We like to play from the inside out and I believe Zach has the ability to be a very good low-post scorer and defender in the Southeastern Conference.”

Price began his career at the University of Louisville and made seven starts last season, averaging 7.7 minutes per game. As a sophomore he averaged 1.3 points and 1.4 rebounds and played a season high 19 minutes and scored four points and grabbed three rebounds in his first career start vs. Duke in the 2012 Battle 4 Atlantis championship game. He also played two minutes in the semifinal matchup vs. Mizzou on Nov. 23.

“I’m excited to be at the University of Missouri and knew this was where I wanted to be once I got to campus and had a chance to see the facilities and meet with everyone,” Price said. “I’ve seen what the coaching staff has done with guys like Alex Oriakhi and Laurence Bowers and felt like Missouri would be the best place for me to continue my education, improve my game and compete for championships. I’m excited to get to school and ready to get to work.”

For his career Price played in 35 games at Louisville and scored a career high six points on two occasions. He scored six points and grabbed six rebounds vs. Fairleigh Dickinson as a freshman in 2011 and scored six points in a start at College of Charleston last year.

Considered one of the country’s Top 100 players in the class of 2011, Price spurned offers from Ohio State, Wisconsin and others to sign with the Cardinals. He averaged 11.6 points and 6.9 rebounds as a senior at Jeffersontown High School in Louisville, Ky., helping the program to a 25-7 overall record and a regional final berth. Price began his high school career at St. Edward’s in Lakewood, Ohio, before transferring for his senior season.

Individually he was ranked a “four star” prospect by virtually every recruiting service, including Top 100 national rankings by ESPN (No. 56), Rivals.com (No. 67), USA Today (No. 63) and Scout.com (No. 65).

He earned first team all-state honors in Kentucky in 2011 and was selected to play in the Derby Festival Classic in Louisville and the NeXt All-American Classic in Chicago.

— MU Sports Information —

Floyd, Swain lead St. Joseph to 4-2 win at Clarinda

Posted on July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

The St. Joseph Mustangs got back in the win column Monday night as they built a early lead and hung on for a 4-2 victory at Clarinda.

St. Joe’s summer college baseball team is now 17-11 this season and 13-11 in the MINK League.

The Mustangs scored all four of their runs in the top of the first inning. Zac Johnson drove in a run with a groundout and then Eric Swain hit a three-run triple with two outs.

That’s all St. Joseph starter Redmond Floyd would need as he improved to 2-1 this summer. Floyd went eight innings and allowed just two runs on six hits.

Ethan Appleby earned his fourth save of the season as he worked a perfect ninth inning, striking out two.

Griff Gordon led the Mustangs’ offense as he went 3-for-4 and Shane O’Connell finished with two hits.

St. Joe wraps up its three-game road trip Tuesday night as they play a 7:00 p.m. game at Omaha.

Missouri Western golfers earn academic honors from WGCA

Posted on July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

Four Missouri Western women’s golfers have earned scholar honors from the Women’s Golf Coaches Association. Amber Chivington (Elementary Education), Cassie Wilson (Accounting), Natalie Bird (Recreation Sports Management) and Shelby Stone (Nursing) have been named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Division II Team as announced Monday afternoon.

These four are just two of 644 golfers nationwide at all levels to receive the recognition. The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics. The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.50.

Chivington (St. Joseph, Mo.) and Wilson (Hermantown, Minn.) just completed their freshman seasons at MWSU while Stone (St. Paul, Neb.) will be a senior this fall at MWSU.

Bird, a Carl Junction, Mo. native, just complete her career as a Griffon. She leaves MWSU as the most decorated golfer to got through the program. She became the Griffons first ever player to earn a bearth to the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament, which was held in St. Joseph, Mo.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Royals’ Duffy named PCL Pitcher of the Week

Posted on July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

Kansas City Royals minor league pitcher Danny Duffy was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher the Week for June 24-30, as announced by the league office Monday.

Duffy, 24, compiled a 2-0 mark over 10.2 scoreless innings for the Omaha Storm Chasers, Kansas City’s Triple-A affiliate.

The left-hander started and tossed 5.0 innings in a 2-0 win at Oklahoma City on June 25, then struck out seven over 5.2 innings of relief in Omaha’s 3-0 victory over Iowa yesterday.

Kansas City’s third-round pick in the 2007 June Free Agent Draft, Duffy is returning from “Tommy John” surgery on June 13, 2012. He made a combined 26 starts with the Royals in 2011 and 2012.

— Royals Media Relations —

Kansas men’s basketball trio to be inducted into Kansas Sports Hall of Fame

Posted on July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

Three members of the 1952 Kansas men’s basketball national championship team – Al Kelley, Bob Kenney and Bill Lienhard – will be inducted into State of Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (KSHOF) in October. The eight-member Class of 2013 will be enshrined in ceremonies on October 6 at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in the Wichita Boathouse.

Joining Kelley, Kenney and Lienhard in the KSHOF Class of 2013 are Wichita Carroll’s All-American defensive end Mike Bell; Pittsburg State’s three-time national football coach-of-the-year Chuck Broyles; K-State’s two-time All-American place kicker Martín Gramática; and Clay Center’s two-time All-American basketball player Nicole Ohlde of Kansas State. University of Kentucky basketball All-American and former Boston Celtic Bob Brannum of Winfield will be enshrined posthumously.

The 2013 eight-person class raises the total number of inductees to 227 in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, which is celebrating its 52nd anniversary this year.

AL KELLEY

A native of McCune, Kan., Earl Allen “Al” Kelley was a standout on the University of Kansas basketball teams from 1952 to 1954 and went on to become an Olympic gold medalist in 1960. Kelley saw limited playing time on the 1952 KU national championship team as a sophomore but came into his own during his junior season in 1953 when the Jayhawks finished as the national runner-up. Kelley averaged 12.9 points per game as a junior and 12.4 points per game as a senior co-captain of the team in 1954. He was named to the All-Big Seven team in both 1953 and 1954. Kelley still ranks in the top 10 all-time at KU for season free throw percentage when he dropped in 86.2 percent in 1954. Following his collegiate career, Kelley was drafted in the seventh round of the 1954 NBA draft, although he instead chose to play for the AAU powerhouse Peoria (Ill.) Caterpillars. In his first season with the Caterpillars in 1954, Kelley helped lead the team to the AAU national title and the 1954 World Basketball Championship in Brazil. He was selected to play on the Olympic team for the 1960 Rome Games where the United States claimed gold, beating every opponent by an average score of over 40 points per game. As a result of the historic run, the entire 1960 US Olympic team, including Kelley, was the first Olympic team to be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

BOB KENNEY

Robert “Bob” Kenney (Winfield, Kan.) was also a member of the 1952 Kansas national championship team and was a member of the 1952 Olympic gold medal team. A three-sport star for Winfield High School in the late 1940s, Kenney played both football and basketball at KU in 1950 and 1951 before deciding to just play basketball during his senior year of 1952. He was second on the team in scoring in both 1951 and 1952 and was a captain of the 1952 championship squad. Kenney was also an All-Big Seven selection in 1952. One of seven Jayhawks selected to play on the 1952 U.S. Olympic team, Kenney was second on the U.S. team in scoring and averaged 10.9 points per contest. He scored in double digits four times in eight games and was a major contributor for the gold medal team. He was also a member of the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1955 Pan American Games.

BILL LIENHARD

William B. “Bill” Lienhard (Newton, Kan.) was another standout on the star-studded 1952 KU national championship team and a member of the 1952 Olympic gold medal squad. After earning All-State honors and leading the state in scoring his senior year for Coach John Ravenscroft at Newton High School in 1948, Lienhard attended KU where he was a three-year starter for Coach Phog Allen. Lienhard was named a captain of the 1952 team and averaged 5.8 points per game during that championship season. His calling card was an outstanding one-handed set shot which the KU game program described as “deadly against zone defenses” and described Lienhard as the “finest one-hand set shooter in Kansas basketball history.” He was selected to play on the 1952 Olympic team where he averaged 4.0 points per game on the way to winning a gold medal.

— KU Sports Information —

K-State’s Matthys earns second Freshman All-American honor

Posted on July 2, 2013July 2, 2013

Right-handed reliever Jake Matthys, the Kansas State record holder for wins and saves by a freshman, picked up his second Freshman All-America accolade Monday as he was named to the second team by Baseball America.

Matthys, who became the sixth Wildcat to earn Freshman All-America honors since 2006 when he was honored by Collegiate Baseball last month, was one of just two relief pitchers and the lone Big 12 player to be mentioned by Baseball America.

A product of Spring Lake Park, Minn., Matthys finished his rookie campaign with a 9-2 record and a stellar 2.05 ERA to go along with nine saves. Aside from the school freshman records, Matthys broke the school record for single-season appearances, tied for second in K-State history in wins and tied for fifth in saves. He also recorded the most wins by a K-State relief pitcher in the Big 12 era and finished the year ranked eighth in single-season ERA. Matthys continually performed well under pressure, allowing just three of his 31 inherited runners to score and retiring 25 of his 33 first batters faced out of the bullpen.

Matthys earned two saves during the NCAA Manhattan Regional to help the Wildcats win their first-ever regional title. He was also the winning pitcher against No. 19 Oklahoma when K-State claimed its first conference championship in 80 years and tallied a victory in the opener of the Corvallis Super Regional as the Wildcats won, 6-2, in 10 innings.

The honor from Baseball America continued a long list of accolades for the right-hander as he was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, an All-Big 12 First Team performer and a member of the Big 12 All-Freshman team.

— KSU Sports Information —

Mustangs falter late and lose at Nevada, 12-5

Posted on July 1, 2013

The St. Joseph Mustangs had their three-game win streak snapped Sunday at Nevada as St. Joe’s summer college baseball team lost to the Griffons, 12-5.

The Mustangs led 2-0 in the third inning and eventually led 5-3 in the sixth inning, but they faltered late and gave up nine unanswered runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to lose to Nevada.

Kris Koerper drove in Griff Gordon in the first inning and Gordon had an RBI ground out in the third, before the Griffons scored three runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead.

Koerper then hit a two-out, two-RBI double in the fith inning to give St. Joe the lead back before the Griffons took control.

Nevada tied the game in the sixth with a two-out, two-RBI single by Cal Hogan and they broke the tie in the seventh with another two-out, two-RBI single by Fico Kondla.

The Griffons added insurance in the eighth with five runs off Mustangs’ reliever Jace Anderson.

Blake Kolons suffered the loss in relief as he allowed two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings.

Dixon Marble started the game for St. Joseph and he lasted 5.2 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits.

Koerper led the Mustangs 12-hit attack as he finished 4-for-5 with one double, one run and three RBI. Brandon Huske and Griff Gordon added two hits and two runs each.

St. Joe falls to 16-11 this season and 12-11 in the MINK League. They’re back on the road Monday for a 7:00 p.m. game at Clarinda. It’ll be broadcast on 680 KFEQ and here on StJosephPost.com.

Lough’s big day helps Kansas City split series at Minnesota

Posted on July 1, 2013July 1, 2013

Last in the American League in home runs, the Kansas City Royals connected twice Sunday at the most opportune times.

David Lough hit three doubles, then launched a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning that led the Royals over the Minnesota Twins 9-8.

Lough hit his second homer of the season, sending a solo drive off Jared Burton (1-5) into the right-field seats for an 8-7 lead.

Eric Hosmer added a solo homer in the ninth for the Royals. Johnny Giavotella had three hits.

”We’re just trying to find ways to score runs, and if that comes from the home run or through small ball, we honestly don’t care,” Hosmer said.

The Royals have just 49 homers this year, 24 fewer than the next-closest team in the league: Minnesota.

Hosmer and Alex Gordon have seven home runs, Billy Butler has six and Mike Moustakas five. The quartet combined for 77 last season.

”They’ve got some hitters over there. Those guys can swing the bats. I know they haven’t been consistent doing it, but they’ve got some good young hitters who can pop a baseball,” Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Aaron Crow (5-3) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings for the Royals. Greg Holland got his 17th save in 19 chances despite giving up a home run to Trevor Plouffe in the ninth.

Minnesota, which trailed 5-1 after four innings, got a two-run homer from Justin Morneau and an RBI double by pinch-hitter Josh Willingham to tie it at 7 in the seventh.

Ervin Santana allowed three earned runs and five hits in six innings for Kansas City. He has gone at least six innings in each of his 16 starts this season, the longest active streak in majors.

It was been a strong June for the right-hander. In six starts, he has a 1.99 ERA, limiting opponents to 27 hits and two home runs in 40 2-3 innings. He struck out four, but also had a season-high four walks.

The Royals led 5-4 when Lough, the Royals’ eighth-place hitter, doubled in the sixth off reliever Ryan Pressly and took third as Giavotella blooped a double to left-center between three fielders. Gordon was walked to intentionally load the bases before Alcides Escobar hit a two-run single.

”I don’t think I’ve ever had a day like this, not even in the minor leagues,” Lough said. ”It was one of those games where our offense was going to have to put together some runs.”

This was just the fourth time in 12 games that the Royals scored more than three runs.

”We’ve never lost confidence as an offense,” Hosmer said. ”We always knew we had the potential to put up days like this.”

Kevin Correia, the Twins’ most consistent starter, gave up five earned runs in five innings.

The Royals scored three times in the fourth. Lough hit an RBI double off the right-field wall and Giavotella had an RBI single for a 5-1 lead. Giavotella was recalled Saturday from Triple-A Omaha when the Royals designated outfielder Jeff Francoeur for assignment.

”They had a lot of hits today, between me and the bullpen, that weren’t well struck but got in spots to keep a rally going or get on base and start a rally,” Correia said. ”It’s just one of those games. We scored eight runs. That should be enough to win the game.”

Clete Thomas homered in the Minnesota fifth.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals lose series finale at Oakland

Posted on July 1, 2013July 1, 2013

Josh Donaldson is pushing for a spot on the American League All-Star team with his bat and glove.

Donaldson homered, reached base safely four times and made a pair of stellar defensive plays, including a tumbling catch while crashing over a roll of infield tarp in foul territory, to help preserve Oakland’s 7-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

”If someone wants to say that I’m having an All-Star year so far, that’s fine,” said Donaldson, who also doubled. ”I’ve said it a hundred times, if I just focus on helping our team win and try to do something productive for the team, the individual stuff is going to take care of itself.”

Donaldson went into the day ranked in the top five among AL third basemen in batting average, home runs and RBIs but was fifth in the most recently released All-Star voting.

That could change the more the A’s win and the more Donaldson flashes his defensive skills.

His catch on Matt Carpenter’s foul in the fourth ended a two-on, two-out threat. Donaldson later made a diving stop on Allen Craig’s grounder to end the seventh with the tying run on second.

Oakland needed it to overcome a rocky outing by starter Tommy Milone.

Milone gave up three home runs and pitched with runners in scoring position in four of the six innings he worked, but got the win after the A’s rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 5-2.

”Probably not his best command … but he fought his way through,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. ”Against a team like that, to give us six innings, you wouldn’t have forcasted that after the first inning.”

Jed Lowrie also homered for the A’s, who padded their AL-best home record by taking two of three in this interleague series. Oakland has won 16 of its last 19 games at the Coliseum.

Carlos Beltran, Craig and Carpenter homered for the Cardinals.

The slugfest in the series finale was in stark contrast to the first two games when starting pitchers Bartolo Colon of the A’s and Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals put together dominant performances.

”That was kind of the game I anticipated happening but with us on the other side,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. ”We came out swinging the bats. I’ve seen them enough to know this series was going to be like. Today could have gone either way.”

Oakland had seven extra-base hits – five off St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook. Westbrook (4-3) lasted just four innings and gave up six runs and 10 hits overall.

Lowrie’s go-ahead two-run blast was the big blow, while Donaldson’s solo shot off reliever Trevor Rosenthal in the seventh capped the A’s best offensive day in two weeks.

Oakland remained a half-game behind Texas in the AL West and improved to 26-13 at home. The A’s are also 48-35, their best record after 83 games since 1992.

Milone (7-7) overcame his rocky outing to win for the first time since June 3. Oakland’s left-hander allowed seven hits over six innings with five strikeouts and two walks. The three home runs allowed by Milone also matched a season-high.

Sean Doolittle and Ryan Cook each pitched a scoreless inning of relief, and Grant Balfour worked the ninth for his 19th save.

”It makes it a lot easier when we come back and score some runs,” Milone said. ”We just kept coming back.”

St. Louis, which began the day one game behind Pittsburgh in the NL Central, took a pair of early leads but couldn’t make them hold up.

Beltran and Craig hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. It was Beltran’s team-leading 19th homer while Craig’s blast was his third on the Cardinals current road trip.

The A’s pulled within one when Lowrie singled in Seth Smith and scored on an RBI double by Yoenis Cespedes in the bottom of the inning.

Carpenter’s solo home run in the third off Milone made it 4-2. Lowrie, Oakland’s shortstop, later let Matt Holliday’s grounder go through his legs and was slow to retrieve the ball, allowing Beltran to score from second.

Oakland scored twice in the third with the help of two errors, and then went ahead 6-5 on Lowrie’s two-run homer off Westbrook in the fourth after Chris Young’s leadoff single.

”I just didn’t have it,” Westbrook said. ”It seemed like I was fighting it all day. The ball was all over the place.”

— Associated Press —