Sports – Page 623 – Hays Post Archive

11 runs not enough for the Tigers in loss at Drury

Posted on April 10, 2014April 10, 2014

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State scored 11 runs and held leads twice, but it was not enough against a red-hot Drury University squad on Wednesday night in Springfield, Mo. The Panthers ran their win streak to 16 games with a 22-11 run-rule win over FHSU in eight innings. The Tigers moved to 12-21 overall on the season, while Drury improved to 22-7.

The Tigers were just the second team to reach double digits in runs on Drury’s home field this year, tying the most Drury has allowed at home this year. All the offense came early for the Tigers, scoring all 11 runs within the first four innings.

FHSU had an early 2-0 lead on a Horarace Johnson two-run home run in the first. After Drury scored one in the opening frame, Nick Hammeke had a RBI groundout in the second to make it 3-1.

Tiger starter Ty Thomas ran into trouble in the second, giving up three consecutive hits to start the inning and Drury scored four, taking a 5-3 lead to the third inning. The Tigers answered though with two runs in the third to tie the game 5-5, getting back-to-back doubles from Gus Strunk and Clayton Garland to produce the first run an a double by Cooper Langley later in the inning to score Garland.

Thomas got the first Drury batter out in the third, but then a walk, two-run homer, hit batter, and walk ended his day. Drew Martineau entered in relief and the Panthers scored five before the inning was over. Thomas was charged with nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout. Drury led 10-5 heading to the fourth.

The Tigers answered the big inning of the Panthers with six runs in the fourth to take the lead back at 11-10. Three straight singles from Hammeke, Jordan Miller, and Strunk triggered the rally. Strunk picked up an RBI on his hit, Garland followed with a sacrifice fly RBI, and then Johnson singled home a run. Kevin Czarnecki had a single and Langley followed with a two-RBI double to tie the game. Casey Sedbrook pushed the Tigers into the lead with a RBI single.

Martineau held the Drury offense scoreless in the fourth, the first half inning in the game without a run scored, but he then ran into trouble in the fifth allowing a home run and two singles to open the inning. Nathan Zimmerman came on in relief and Drury went on to put up five runs in the inning, taking the lead back at 15-11. Martineau finished with 1.2 innings of relief, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk. He would eventually be tagged with the loss and he is now 0-1 on the season.

Brian Quasebarth was the answer Drury needed out of the bullpen to hold the Tiger offense silent. Stopping the rally in the fourth, he went on to throw 2.2 innings and hold the Tigers to just one hit and one walk, picking up his first win and decision of the season. The Tigers faced three more relievers and only managed two hits over their combined two innings of work.

Drury went on to score three in the seventh, all charged to Zimmerman who finished with five runs allowed (four earned) on six hits and two walks. The Panthers walked off by run-rule in the eighth with a grand slam off Tiger reliever Nathan Briar, who threw 1.1 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and one walk with two strikeouts.

The Tigers take a day off before starting the four-game conference series at Southwest Baptist on Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 pm in Bolivar, Mo.

Gordon homers, drives in 4 as Royals beat Rays

Posted on April 9, 2014

By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals’ Alex Gordon knew he put a good swing on the pitch, and he knew that his high fly ball had a chance to clear the outfield wall the way the wind was gusting out.

He just wasn’t sure until the ball finally disappeared.

Gordon’s three-run shot, the first home run by Kansas City this season, highlight a five-run fifth inning Wednesday, and carried the Royals to a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

“This is a big park. We’re never going to hit a lot of home runs here,” Gordon said. “I hit it pretty good, but in this park you never know. Luckily I caught it enough.”

Gordon finished with four RBIs, matching a career high. Nori Aoki, Johnny Giavotella and Billy Butler also drove in runs for the Royals, who have struggled to find offense all season.

They had only scored more than four runs once in their first seven games, lost 1-0 to Tampa Bay the previous night, and were the last team in the majors without a home run.

“The offense gave us a lot of breathing room,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Runs are nice. Home runs are nice too. But I don’t care how we get them.”

Jeremy Guthrie (2-0) recovered from a sloppy start to hold the Rays to four hits over seven innings. The only run he allowed came on Desmond Jennings’ homer in the fourth.

The right-hander, who turned 35 on Tuesday, was coming off a rough start against the White Sox. But Guthrie navigated trouble in each of the first three innings, leaving five Rays on base, and then retired his final 12 batters to hand a 7-1 lead to his bullpen.

“You’re going to make good pitches and they’re going to hit them hard sometimes,” Guthrie said. “But if you make good pitches, more often you’re going to get an out.”

Jake Odorizzi (1-1) mowed through the Kansas City lineup the first three innings before allowing Butler’s RBI groundout and Gordon’s run-scoring single in the fourth.

Everything unraveled for him in the fifth.

Lorenzo Cain singled off Odorizzi to lead off the inning, and Aoki followed two batters later with a triple to right. Giavotella, recalled from Triple-A Omaha to replace injured second baseman Omar Infante, hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1.

Hosmer and Butler followed with back-to-back singles, and Gordon popped a pitch to right-center that hung up long enough in the wind to land over the fence.

“I was making my pitches, getting what we wanted. Balls were on the ground, not hit very hard, they just didn’t find anybody,” Odorizzi said. “That’s baseball.”

It was a rough way for Odorizzi to return to Kauffman Stadium, where he made his big league debut with the Royals in 2012. He allowed all seven runs on 10 hits and a walk in five innings.

“He didn’t do anything wrong today. He threw really well,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “Those numbers are highly deceiving. Aoki’s ball was well-struck and the home run was part of natural forces of nature. People who look at that line are going to misinterpret that outing because he threw the ball extremely well. It was just an unfortunate game for him.”

The Royals squandered a scoring chance with runners on first and second and one out in the second inning when Mike Moustakas struck out and Gordon was thrown out heading to third.

Royals manager Ned Yost trundled onto the field and challenged the call. After a review of 2 minutes, 10 seconds, the ruling made by third base umpire Quinn Wolcott stood.

It hardly mattered the way the Royals were swinging — and the way Guthrie was pitching.

“They’ve played really well against us the last couple of years. You’ve got to give them credit,” Maddon said. “Just keep doing that stuff and it will come back to us.”

Notes: Kelvin Herrera gave up two runs in the ninth for KC. … The Royals activated RHP Louis Coleman (bruised finger) from the DL and optioned RHP Aaron Brooks and LHP Donnie Joseph to Triple-A Omaha prior to the game. … The Rays optioned LHP Jeff Beliveau to Triple-A Durham after the game. … The Rays visit Cincinnati this weekend. They’ve never won at Great American Ball Park. … Kansas City plays 13 of its next 16 on the road beginning Friday night in Minnesota.

Kansas center Joel Embiid to enter the NBA Draft

Posted on April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

Kansas Athletics

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas freshman Joel Embiid has declared for the 2014 NBA Draft, the 7-0 center announced Wednesday in a formal press conference alongside head coach Bill Self at Allen Fieldhouse.

Courtesy FHSU Athletics — Courtesy Kansas Athletics

“I just want to thank God first for giving me this opportunity to come to the (United States) and play ball,” Embiid said. “I want to thank the coaching staff, my teammates, the fans – everyone that’s helped me through my journey. After thinking a lot, I’ve decided to declare for the NBA Draft.”

The 2014 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Embiid broke the KU freshman record for blocked shots with 72 and his 2.6 blocked shots per game finished second in the league. Named to the 2014 All-Big 12 Second Team, Embiid led KU with 8.1 rebounds per game – also a KU freshman record – and good for sixth in the Big 12. The 7-0 Yaoundé, Cameroon, native averaged 11.2 points per game and his 62.6 field goal percentage broke yet another KU rookie record. Additionally, Embiid was named to the 2014 Freshman All-America Team, along with teammate Andrew Wiggins, by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

Embiid was a two-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week – Dec. 2, 2013 and Jan. 20, 2014 – and was named the Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Week and CBSSports.com National Player of the Week on Jan. 21, 2014 after averaging a double-double with 14.5 points and 10.0 rebounds to go along with 13 blocked shots in KU victories against then-top-10 opponents Iowa State (1/13) and Oklahoma State (1/18). Included was a KU freshman-record eight blocked shots against OSU.

On March 10, Kansas announced that Embiid would miss the final two regular-season games and the Big 12 Championship due to a stress fracture in his lower back. He was sidelined from KU’s two NCAA Tournament contests, as well. The injury does not require surgery. Embiid has continued a rehabilitation program and is progressing as scheduled.

Parker no hitter helps HHS baseball to split in WAC opener

Posted on April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

The Hays High baseball team split their Western Athletic Conference opening doubleheader at Dodge City Tuesday. The Red Demons get a two-out bases loaded single in the bottom of the seventh to win game one 2-1. Kade Parker pitched a no-hitter in the Indians 5-0 win in game two.

Lane Downing allowed just one unearned run on seven hits in the complete game loss in the first contest. He also drove in the Indians only run with a solo home run.

Parker walked one and struck out seven in the second game, picking up his first win of the season. Hays scored two in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth. Cole Schumacher, Kade Parker and Marcus Altman all had two hits.

Hays is now 2-2 on the year and 1-1 in the WAC. They’re off until next Tuesday when they host Junction City.

Ellis baseball swept in home opener

Posted on April 9, 2014

The Ellis baseball team was swept in their home opener by Larned. The Railers lost 12-6 in the opener then 13-0 in game two. They are now 2-2 on the season. They continue their six-game homestand Friday against Leoti.

Game 1: Larned 12, Ellis 6
The Railers struck for four runs in the bottom of the first but Larned came back with two in the second then took the lead for good with a five-run third.

Freshman Easton Smith went 2-for-4 and scored two runs. Senior Braden Parke doubled and drove in two.

Game 2: Larned 13, Ellis 0
Larned scored in every inning but one, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the first. They were up 5-0 when they put the game away with an with an eight-run sixth.

The Railers were held to two singles in the game.

Keltner’s basketball clinic set for May 27 to 29

Posted on April 9, 2014April 9, 2014

Hays High School coach Rick Keltner will offer a basketball camp for boys age second- through eighth-grade from May 27 to 29 at the HHS gym.

Cost is $40 per person, $35 if more than one family member attends.

Boys sixth- through eighth-graders will meet form 8 to 10 a.m., and boys second- through fifth-graders will meet from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Campers will receive a T-shirt, basketball and videotape shot analysis.

Registration forms are available at www.hayshighindians.com, at area schools or Hays Recreation Commission.

TMP-Marian softball sweeps Sylvan-Lucas

Posted on April 9, 2014

The TMP-Marian softball team wins two at Sylvan-Lucas Tuesday by scores of 18-2 and 12-4. Laurel Hageman and Alison Helget combine on a no-hitter in the opener. Heidi Gottschalk had two of TMP’s 11 hits including a triple.

In game two, Hageman pitched six innings striking out 10. Katelyn Zimmerman went 2-for-2 and Kelli Veach drove in three.

The Monarchs are now 3-3. They play a makeup doubleheader at Garden City Thursday.

HHS girls’ soccer defeats Dodge City in OT

Posted on April 9, 2014

The Hays High girls’ soccer team ended their two-game skid with a 2-1 overtime win at Dodge City Tuesday.

Wendy Zimmerman scored with an assist from Rachel Luedders with 32:01 to play in the second half to tie the match 1-1. Talyn Kleweno tallied the game winner with 3:23 to play in overtime off a corner kick from Brooke Russell.

The Indians are now 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the WAC. They travel to Liberal tomorrow.

Loney’s 9th inning single lifts Rays over Royals

Posted on April 9, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – James Loney hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Tampa Bay Rays over the Kansas City Royals 1-0 on Tuesday night.

Rays starter Chris Archer wriggled out of two bases-loaded jams and went seven innings in an impressive pitchers’ duel between top young arms. Royals rookie Yordano Ventura dazzled in his 2014 debut, holding Tampa Bay to two hits in six shutout innings.

Looney’s grounder to right scored Wil Myers, who snapped an 0-for-15 slump when he reached on an infield single to start the ninth. Myers advanced on a two-out wild pitch by Greg Holland (0-1).

Joel Peralta (1-1) got one out for the win and Grant Balfour worked the ninth for his second save.

FHSU tennis wins despite forfeiting two matches

Posted on April 8, 2014April 9, 2014

FHSU Sports Information

Despite battling health issues, Fort Hays State defeated Hastings College by a score of 6-3 on Tuesday (Apr. 8) in Hastings, Neb. The Tigers were without McKenzie Haynes due to illness and still without Camille Caron-Bedard due to injury, but managed to win six of the seven matches played to secure the non-conference win. The Tigers moved to 7-8 overall on the season.

The Tigers took both of the doubles matches contested to go up 2-1 early. The No. 1 team of Brittney Ricci and Katie Hipp won 8-0 and the No. 2 team of Michelle Miller and Reinette Strydom won 8-1. FHSU had to forfeit the No. 3 doubles match with just five players available on the day.

Fort Hays State won the No. 1 through No. 4 singles matches to secure the win. Brittney Ricci defeated Elizabeth Harlow at No. 1 6-2, 6-0 and Michelle Miller won at No. 2 over Whitney Bridger by shutout, 6-0, 6-0. At No. 3, Katie Hipp allowed just two points, winning 6-1, 6-1 over Hallie Bauer, and at No. 4 Reinette Strydom defeated Bailey Christy 6-3, 6-1.Raven Dick was the only Tiger to fall in singles play in a couple of tight contested sets, 7-5, 7-5 to Molly Mitchell at No. 5. FHSU had to forfeit at No. 6.

The Tigers return to conference play this weekend in Hays in the final two home matches of the season. FHSU hosts Emporia State on Friday (Apr. 11) at 2 pm, then Washburn on Saturday (Apr. 12) at 10 am. The Tigers are currently eighth in the MIAA standings.

Update on Royals second baseman Omar Infante

Posted on April 8, 2014

Kansas City Royals Media Relations

KANSAS CITY, MO – Overnight tests on Kansas City second baseman Omar Infante revealed he suffered a non-concussive head injury when he was struck by a pitch in the seventh inning of last night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Infante, 32, who was diagnosed at the University of Kansas Medical Center, suffered a laceration on the lower left side of his face that required six stitches. He also incurred a sprain of his right jaw due to the impact of the pitch. The immediate plan is to evaluate him over the next 48 hours, though based on the Kansas City medical team’s initial diagnosis it does not appear he’ll miss a significant amount time. There is no determination at this time as to whether this will necessitate a stint on the disabled list.

Vargas, Escobar lead Royals to win over Rays

Posted on April 8, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Jason Vargas took a shutout into the ninth inning, Alcides Escobar hit a three-run double and the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 Monday night in a game that included two significant injuries.

Rays starter Matt Moore (0-2) came out in the fifth inning with a sore left elbow. The All-Star lefty grimaced after throwing a pitch to Norichika Aoki and was immediately removed by manager Joe Maddon.

Two innings later, Royals second baseman Omar Infante was hit in the face by a pitch from reliever Heath Bell. Infante also left the game, walking off under his own power with Kansas City trainers Nick Kenney and Kyle Turner.

Infante, struck on the left cheek, was spitting blood and had blood on his forehead as trainers held a towel to his face.

Royals put LHPs Collins, Bueno on disabled list
Left-handed relievers Tim Collins and Francisley Bueno have been put on the 15-day disabled list by the Kansas City Royals.

The Royals recalled right-hander Michael Mariot and left-hander Donnie Joseph from Triple-A Omaha on Monday.

Collins, who walked two and gave up a hit while retiring only one batter against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, is out with a flexor strain in his left elbow.

Bueno, who allowed a double and a single while getting two outs Sunday, has a sprained little finger on his left hand.

Tiger Talk (AUDIO)

Posted on April 7, 2014April 7, 2014