By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

TOPEKA, Kan. – Washburn took advantage of five walks and four hit batters and knock off the Fort Hays State Tigers 4-2 Tuesday afternoon at Falley Field. The Ichabods (19-12, 14-7 MIAA) scored two runs in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 the then held the Tigers (15-16, 10-11 MIAA) to one hit the rest of the game as they win their fifth straight and end FHSU’s three-game win streak.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

 

Game Highlights

 

Will Amen, who walked three in 2/3 innings of relief takes the loss. Clayton Basgall, who made his first career stgart, gave up two runs on three hits over 3 1/3 innings. The LaCrosse redshirt sophomore struck out two, walked one and hit three batters.

Nick Hammeke scored on an Alex Weiss single to give Fort Hays State a 1-0 lead in the first. Washburn used three hit batters and a walk to tie the game with a run in the second. Casey Sedbrook led off the third with a double then scored on a Nick Hammeke double to give the Tigers the lead back. The Ichabaods tied the game with a run in the fourth then coaxed four walks in the decisive two-run fifth.

Ty Redington and Nick Hammeke both had two of the Tigers six hits.

Fort Hays State is back on the road this weekend with a three game series at Lindenwood beginning Friday night.

MIAA Release

Kansas City, Mo. – Eleven Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association legends have been elected to the MIAA Hall of Fame Class of 2016, the conference office announced today. Included is an inaugural legacy member that is part of this 2016 class.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on June 1, 2016 in the Truman Forum Auditorium at the Kansas City Public Library – Plaza Branch, 4801 Main Street in Kansas City, Mo. Reservations for the event are available by visiting www.themiaa.com/sb_output.aspx?form=4 and filling out the form. Reservations will be given out on a first come, first served basis.

Below are the bios for the 2016 Hall of Fame class.

Becky Belland, Volleyball Athlete
Central Missouri, 1987-90
Belland was a three-time All-American earning NCAA Division II Player of the Year honors in 1990, the only Jennies volleyball player in history to receive that award. She was named the MIAA Player of the Year in 1989 and 1990. She still holds school records in career blocks, solo blocks and block assists.

Chris Brown, Football Athlete
Pittsburg State, 1992-95
Brown earned All-American honors three times between 1993 and 1995 earning consensus first team honors as a senior in 1995. He was a three-time first team All-MIAA selection and he was the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year during the 1995 season. He finished his career holding the school record in tackles. He also established a Division II Championship Game record with 21 tackles in the 1992 game.

Eric Czerniewski, Football Athlete
Central Missouri, 2006-10
Czerniewski was the 2010 Harlon Hill Trophy winner for the top player in Division II also earning consensus first team All-American honors. He set MIAA records for career passing yards, single season passing yards, completions and passing touchdowns.

Jim Frazier, Football Coach/Athletic Director
Missouri Southern, 1971-2000
Frazier led MSSU to the NAIA National Football Title during the 1972 season and is the school’s all-time winningest football coach. Frazier would then serve as the director of athletics where under his tenure the school won 23 conference championships and one NCAA Division II National Championship. Frazier helped in the development and improvement of several MSSU facilities including Young Gymnasium, Fred G. Hughes Stadium and the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center.

Kenneth Gardner, Track and Field/Football/Basketball Coach, Director of Athletics
Truman, 1939-88
Gardner served as a football, basketball and track and field coach at Truman where from 1959 until 1968 he won every indoor and outdoor MIAA Championship in track and field. He coached 39 individual NCAA Division II All-Americans and 11 individual National Champions. He also served as the Athletics Director for the Bulldogs from 1974 until his retirement in 1988.

Aaron McConnell, Football Athlete
Pittsburg State, 2000-03
McConnell was named an All-American in each of his four seasons with the Pittsburg State football program including being a consensus first team selection and the MIAA Defensive Player of the year in 2003.

Jeanette (Mott) Owens, Cross Country/Track and Field Athlete
Pittsburg State, 1998-2002
Owens earned five All-American honors in track and field including winning the National Championship in the steeplechase in 2002 for Pittsburg State. In cross- country she also earned two All-American honors winning the MIAA Cross Country title twice. She was named a COSIDA Academic All-American in 2002 as well as the Ken B. Jones award winner for Female Student Athlete of the Year.

Neal Philpot, Football Athlete
Pittsburg State, 2001-04
Philpot was named a two-time All-American at quarterback for the Gorillas during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He set MIAA career records for total offense and rushing yards for a quarterback.  In his career he went 38-8 as the PSU starting quarterback, which was the second highest win total in NCAA Division II at the time.

Eddin Santiago, Men’s Basketball Athlete
Missouri Southern, 1998-2002
Santiago holds the MIAA career record in both steals and assists.  His 383 steals mark ranks second all-time in Division II. He was a three-time first team All-MIAA selection and was twice named an All-American earning MVP of the 2000 NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament.

Delanie Walker, Football Athlete
Central Missouri, 2004-05
Walker was a two-time All-MIAA and All-Region selection for the Mules.  He has the third highest single game reception total in UCM program history. He has played in the NFL after being drafted in 2005 where he has 340 career receptions for over 4,000 yards and 234 touchdowns scored. He was named to the pro-bowl at the end of the 2015 season.

A.J. McDonald, Basketball and Golf Coach (LEGACY Inductee)
Southwest Missouri State, 1925-69
The first legacy member inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame, McDonald won five conference titles as a basketball coach and 17 MIAA titles as a golf coach. He would coach the golf team to six straight regional titles between 1959 and 1963 with the team winning the national title in the 1963 season.

Full bios will be available online following their induction into the MIAA Hall of Fame at the June 1 event.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Ty Redington hit a three-run home run to left field with two outs in the eighth inning to lift Fort Hays State to a 7-6 win over Northeastern State Sunday afternoon at Larks Park. Nick Hammeke set up the horoics with a two-out RBI single to center as the Tigers (16-5, 10-10 MIAA) scored four runs with two outs for the comeback win and three-game weekend sweep. Northeastern State (15-15, 9-11 MIAA), who had scored a run in the sixth and two in the seventh to go up 6-3, has now lost eight of their last 11.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

 

Game Highlights

 

Austin Unrein pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for his first win. Unrein struck out four and walked three in only third outing of the season. Starter Logan Herd allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits over 5 2/3 innings with four walks and two strikeouts.

Alex King and Nick Hammeke both had three of the Tigers 13 hits. King went 9-for-15 for the series with four RBIs and six runs scored. Hammeke finished 6-for-10 with 5 RBIs. Redington’s second home run of the season was the Tigers only extra base hit of the game.

Thomas Murray, who is normally the RiverHawks closer, looked like he might win his first start of the season by holding to Tigers at bay before faltering in the eighth.

Fort Hays State tries to extend their winning streak Tuesday when they travel to Washburn for a 4 pm game which can be heard on KJLS (103.3-FM).

FHSU Athletics

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Fort Hays State could not avoid a third consecutive sweep in MIAA play on Sunday as they lost twice at the hands of Northwest Missouri State Sunday. The Bearcats won by scores of 7-1 and 3-0 as the Tigers went 0-4 on their weekend road trip to Missouri. FHSU is now 13-24 overall and 7-13 in the MIAA, while NWMSU improved to 29-9 overall and 13-5 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Northwest Missouri State 7, Fort Hays State 1
The Bearcats were in full control of the first game, jumping in the lead during the third inning and they never looked back. A two-run double and a run-scoring triple pushed the Bearcats out to a 3-0 lead.

Northwest Missouri put up three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. A pair of Tiger errors in the inning were critical to runners moving extra bases, leading to the three runs.

The Tiger bats struggled all game, only able to scrape together three hits off of Kendle Schieber. FHSU scored their only run of the day in the top half of the sixth. Kylie Strand led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, and ended up on second after a sacrifice bunt from Rilee Krier. Strand then scored after a single from Claudia Vazquez and a throwing error from the Bearcats.

The Bearcats added one more in the bottom of the sixth and held the Tigers scoreless in the seventh to walk away with the 7-1 win.

Paxton Duran took the loss after giving up seven runs (3 earned), on 14 hits, with four strikeouts, in 6.0 innings. Schieber improved to 16-4 on the season by not allowing an earned run, while striking out six.

Game 2: Northwest Missouri State 3, Fort Hays State 0
The Tiger bats were silent once again in game two, going hitless through the first four innings against NWMSU starter Sarah Baldwin. FHSU finally broke through in the fifth when Erin Elmore singled and then had runners at second and third with one out. But a popped up bunt and a foul fly ended a great scoring opportunity for the Tigers in a scoreless game.

Fort Hays State starter Carrie Clarke held the Bearcats hitless through the first three innings, but finally allowed her first hit in the fourth. She ran into trouble in the fifth as Madison Jones broke the scoreless tie with a solo homer to lead off the inning. An error and a double led to another run scoring as the Bearcats led 2-0 through five innings.

Northwest Missouri tacked on an insurance run in the sixth with a double and then an RBI single by Jones. Singles by Courtney Dobson and Mackenzie Villarreal in the seventh at least brought the tying run to the plate for FHSU, but a pinch-hitting Paxton Duran grounded out to end the game.

Baldwin allowed just three hits to FHSU and struck out four, moving to 7-4 on the season. Clarke allowed just five hits and two of the three runs were earned. She walked one and struck out one.

The Tigers now look to snap a seven-game losing streak in a non-conference doubleheader at Newman on Tuesday evening (Apr. 5), starting at 3 pm. With the four losses, FHSU has now slipped to 11^th in the MIAA standings and will need to play well at home next weekend in doubleheaders against Emporia State and Washburn to get back into the mix of staying alive for the MIAA Tournament. FHSU has only three conference doubleheaders remaining on the schedule.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS. Kan. – Kyle Vogt pitched seven solid innings and the Fort Hays State offense exploded for eight runs in the final two innings in an 11-4 win over Northeastern State Saturday afternoon at Larks Park. Vogt (4-5) allowed three runs, one earned, on six hits and struck out a career-high seven. The Tigers (15-15, 9-10 MIAA) won their second straight and sixth of their last seven games.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

 

Game Highlights

 

 

Home runs from Connor Ross and Caleb Cherryholmes helped the Tigers build a 3-1 lead but the RiverHawks (15-14, 9-10 MIAA) tied the game on a Cody Begovich two-out two-run double. NSU threatened to take the lead after a Charles Sims leadoff double in the seventh but Vogt retired the next three batters to keep the game tied 3-3.

Fort Hays State scored four in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead for good. An Alex Weiss groundout scored Caleb Cherryholmes from third. Alex King added a two-out two-run double followed by a Nick Hammeke single.

The Tigers tacked on four more in the eighth for the final margin.

Giles Fox pitched the final 1 2/3 innings without allowing a hit for his third save of the season.

Alex King led FHSU’s 15-hit attack going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Cherryholmes added three hits and scored three runs. Hammeke had two hits and knocked in two.

The Tigers go for the sweep in the series finale Sunday at noon. You can hear the game on KAYS (1400-AM).

FHSU Athletics

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Fort Hays State softball dropped a pair of games to No. 22 ranked Missouri Western on Saturday. The Griffons took game one 7-5 on a walk-off homerun, and then took game two 12-3 in a six-inning run-rule victory. Suffering the two losses, the Tigers drop to 13-22 overall and 7-11 in the MIAA. Missouri Western improved to 28-10 overall and 13-3 in the conference.

Game 1: Missouri Western 7, Fort Hays State 5
Fort Hays State held the lead twice, but could not hold on as Missouri Western rallied late with a run in the sixth and three in the seventh.

The Griffons got out to an early lead in game one as the Tigers committed two errors on the same play in the first inning allowing a run. Missouri Western returned the favor in the second, as the Tigers tied the game on a Griffon error.

The Tigers jumped in the lead for the first time scoring two runs in the third. Rilee Krier singled to lead off, swiped second, then ended up on third after a ground out. With one out, Tori Beltz walked to put runners on the corners. Samantha Villarreal plated Krier with a groundout RBI, giving the Tigers the 2-1 lead. Three batters later, Beltz came across to score making it 3-1, thanks once again to a Griffon error.

The Griffons fought back in the fourth, tying the game with a pair of runs. With one out and a runner on first, Taylor Hamilton cut the Tiger lead to one with an RBI single, then tied the game when she scored on a double by Kailey Green.

The even score did not last long as the Tigers jumped out front again with a two-run fifth. Beltz doubled and then Villarreal put the Tigers up 5-3 with a two-run home run.

In the sixth, the Griffons cut the Tiger lead to 5-4 with a bases loaded walk. But the Tigers escaped any further damage to keep their lead. But they could not hold off the Griffons in the seventh. A leadoff triple by Morgan Rathmann set the table for the big inning. She tied the game, scoring on a ball hit in play by the next batter. Two batters later with one out, a walk-off two-run home run by Hamilton ended the game.

Paxton Duran took the loss in the circle for the Tigers, dropping to 8-13 this season. Duran went 6.1 innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits, while striking out five, and walking just two.
Janie Smith recorded the win for the Griffons, going all seven innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits, with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Game 2: Missouri Western 12, Fort Hays State 3
The Griffons started game two the way they finished game one by putting up a three spot in the first. With two outs, the Griffons rallied with four consecutive hits plating two runs. Toss in an error that scored another run, and FHSU was looking at an early 3-0 deficit.

The Tigers chipped away at the lead as they were able to get a run in both the second and third. Courtney Dobson led off the second with a triple, then came in to score on a Mackenzie VIllarreal ground out cutting the Griffon lead to 3-1. In the third, the Tigers made it a one-run game thanks to the speed of Krier. After leading off with a single, Krier swiped second and third and then came in to score on a Claudio Vazquez groundout.

The Griffon bats exploded in the fifth as Hamilton, Green, and Katie Klosterman hit back-to-back-to-back homeruns for the second time this week (the first occurrence came against Northwest Missouri State on Tuesday, Mar. 29). The sudden break out of homers resulted in a six-run inning that extended Missouri Western’s lead to 9-2.

The Tigers managed to get one more run on a Dobson sacrifice fly that scored Vazquez in the sixth, but the Griffons put up a three spot in the bottom half of the inning to claim the 12-3 run-rule victory.

Carrie Clarke suffered the loss for the Tigers, lasting 4.0 innings.  She gave up eight runs (seven earned), on 10 hits, with a strikeout, and no walks. Duran entered in relief and gave up four runs, on three hits and a walk in 1.1 innings of work.

The Tigers look to bounce back on Sunday as they head to Maryville, Mo., for another MIAA doubleheader against Northwest Missouri State. First pitch is set for 12 pm.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – D.J. Carr overcame a sluggish start to throw his third complete game of the season and help Fort Hays State to a 10-7 comeback win over Northeastern State Friday night at Larks Park. The Tigers (14-15, 8-10 MIAA) have now won five of their last six games while the RiverHawks (15-13, 9-9 MIAA) have dropped four of their last five.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

 

Carr (3-3) gave up seven runs, five earned, through the first four innings then settled down and allowed only three hits the rest of the game. He struck out six and walked two while throwing 143 pitches in his second straight complete game victory.

The Tigers trailed 7-2 before Alex King started the comeback with a leadoff home run in the fourth. Austin Unrein added a three-run blast later in the frame to cut the margin to 7-6. Jace Bowman tied the game on a groundout in the fifth. He then gave the Tigers the lead on a double in the seventh.

Connor Ross and Caleb Cherryholmes both had three of the Tigers 17 hits. Cherryholmes hit a two-run homer in the first inning which gave Fort Hays State a brief 2-1 lead. Ross made a diving catch in center field in the third then a leaping catch on the warning track in straight away center field with a runner at first for the second out of the ninth.

Zach Poehl (1-1) allowed three runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief and suffered the loss for the RiverHawks.

The two teams play game two of the three-game series Saturday at 2 pm.

 

FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State’s 2016 football schedule has been released. The Tigers will play five games at home in 2016, with the first being the season opener on Thursday, September 1 against Missouri Southern. Fort Hays State is coming off its first postseason game appearance in 20 years, earning a spot in the Mineral Water Bowl in 2015.

2016 FHSU Football Schedule

All home games in 2016 are against teams outside the state of Kansas. FHSU hosts four Missouri schools and one Oklahoma school at Lewis Field Stadium. Missouri Southern serves as the opponent for the Kickoff Classic and Lindenwood will be the Homecoming opponent on October 1. Missouri Western comes to town for the annual Hall of Fame Game on October 22, and defending national champion Northwest Missouri State will be in town for Senior Day on November 5.

2016 Home Games
September 1 – Missouri Southern, 7 pm (Kickoff Classic)
September 17 – Central Oklahoma, 7 pm
October 1 – Lindenwood, 2 pm (Homecoming)
October 22 – Missouri Western, 2 pm (Hall of Fame Game)
November 5 – Northwest Missouri State, 2 pm (Senior Day)

All games in the regular season will be conference games for the third straight year with 12 schools in the conference for football (Southwest Baptist and Lincoln do not compete in the MIAA in football). The Tigers are coming off an 8-4 record last year, tying for third in the MIAA standings, the highest finish ever for FHSU in the MIAA. The eight wins tied a single-season school record and gave FHSU its first-ever bowl game appearance, selected to the Mineral Water Bowl where it played Minnesota-Duluth. The Tigers have seen a one-win improvement every year under head coach Chris Brown, who enters his sixth season guiding the Tigers in 2016.

FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State women’s soccer coach Craig Shaw announced the signing of 12 student-athletes for the 2016 season. Ten of the newcomers are true freshmen and two are junior college transfers. The class looks to help build on two consecutive winning seasons in which the Tigers finished among the top four teams in the MIAA.

Five states and the country of Australia are represented by this year’s signing class. Five of the recruits are from Colorado, while there are two each from the states of Kansas and Missouri. The Tigers also gain one player each from the states of Texas and Wisconsin, and one player from Australia.

The ten that have committed to the Tigers from the prep ranks are Carrie Brick, Alex Franks, Ashley Garrison, Bayly Herman, Catalina Hernandez, Darby Hirsch, Darian Malone, Jordyn Perry, Shayla Podlena, and Kylie Thomas. Junior transfers incoming include Thalya Dwyer and Eden Stoddard.

Click HERE for information and comments from Coach Shaw on the 12 signees.  A complete list of the commitments is below…

Carrie Brick
Freshman, Defender
Waukesha, Wisc.
Waukesha West HS
Club: Madison Wisconsin Rush

Thalya Dwyer
Junior, Forward/Midfielder
Littleton, Colo.
Otero (Colo.) JC
Club: Real Colorado ECNL

Alexa Franks
Freshman, Forward
St. Joseph, Mo.
Central HS
Club: Kansas City Premier FC

Ashley Garrison
Freshman, Defender
Pueblo, Colo.
Centennial HS
Club: Pride Predators

Bayly Herman
Freshman, Forward
Lyons, Colo.
Silver Creek HS
Club: FC Boulder

Catalina Hernandez
Freshman, Forward
Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Classical Academy
Club: Corinthians

Darby Hirsch
Freshman, Forward
Topeka, Kan.
Washburn Rural HS
Club: Kansas City Premier FC

Darian Malone
Freshman, Midfielder
Independence, Mo.
Raytown HS
Club: KC United Rangers

Jordyn Perry
Freshman, Defender
Wylie, Texas
Wylie East HS
Club: Sting Royal ’97

Shayla Podlena
Freshman, Defender
Topeka, Kan.
Topeka Seaman HS
Club: Kansas City Premier FC

Eden Stoddard
Junior, Midfielder/Forward
Young, Australia
Laramie County (Wyo.) CC
Club: Canberra Football Club

Kylie Thomas
Freshman, Midfielder
Broomfield, Colo.
Legacy HS
Club: Broomfield Blast

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Washburn hit four home runs and took advantage of seven walks and four hit batters as they knock off Fort Hays State 12-9 Wednesday afternoon at Larks Park, ending the Tigers four-game winning streak.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

 

The Ichabods (15-12, 10-7 MIAA) scored two in the first on a Riley Krane two-run homer. They led 3-0 before the Tigers (13-15, 7-10 MIAA) answered with six in the second which was highlighted by a Nick Hammeke three-run homer.

Washburn came right back with three off starter Logan Herd to tie the game 6-6 after three. They then scored five runs in the fourth of Clayton Basgall. Krane hit his second two-run blast of the game and Tanner Triggs added a three-run homer.

The Tigers scored two in the seventh to close the gap to three and had runners at first and second with no outs in the eighth but a line drive off the bat of Caleb Cherryholmes turned into a double play. Alex Weiss then struck out after narrowly missing a three-run homer, to end the threat.

Basgall (1-1) takes the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits over 2 1/3 innings.

FHSU Athletics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State javelin thrower Estefania Lopez was named the MIAA Women’s Co-Field Athlete of the Week on Monday for her efforts at the Friends University Spring Open this past Friday.

Lopez won the javelin with a throw of 166 feet, 1 inch to win the event and post the nation’s top mark in NCAA Division II this young outdoor season. She was the national leader for a good portion of last year as well. Both her and Madison Wolf (161 feet, 6 inches) threw automatic qualifying marks at the event, placing them both in the top three nationally. Both qualified automatically for the NCAA Outdoor Championships with their efforts.

Lopez shares the Field Athlete of the Week honors this week with Victoria Jackson of Central Missouri. Jackson won the heptathlon at the Arkansas Spring Invitational. She scored 4,986 points, and provisionally qualified for nationals. Her score currently is number one in the country.