November 22, 2009
Andy Meyer - Sports Reporter
WHAT WE LEARNED — Week 1
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
Mound City stops St. Joseph Christian
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009
Friday, Aug. 28, 2009
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
Monday, Aug. 10, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Nurski, Korell slam door on defending champs in SJCC Invitational
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Mustangs stretch their home record to 8-0
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Craig, Cameron pole vaulters take different paths toward lofty goals
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Benton’s Woodruff sets personal best in mile
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Maryville’s Farmer takes flight
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009
Sometimes in this business, I start to think I’ve got a pretty good grasp on what’s going on. I speak with coaches and players, look at lots of numbers and get a fairly good idea of what should transpire on a week-to-week basis.
It’s always fun to figure out just how much we don’t know once the teams actually take the field.
Mound City stops St. Joseph Christian
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009
Gage Rosier and company had no intentions of making a statement. Not in this fashion, anyway.
But the defending state champion Panthers sent a resounding shot across the bow to the rest of the 8-man world when they throttled St. Joseph Christian on Friday night at Ceglenski Field, 34-0.
Even with a new cast of characters filling new positions, Mound City (1-0) rolled up 380 yards of offense against a stout Lion line and ran away with the contest midway through the third quarter.
Friday, Aug. 28, 2009
Sitting in the interview room at Edward Jones Dome, David Welchert and Luke Mathes didn’t have the look of crestfallen runners-up.
The pair of St. Joseph Christian standouts grinned at times behind the microphones nine months ago while discussing the Lions’ loss to Mound City in the 8-man state championship. Despite a 48-16 loss. The pair of Christian juniors had plenty to be pleased with after avoiding the type of embarrassing blowout the team suffered during Week 1.
“On the scoreboard, it looked kind of lopsided, but we could tell we were playing with them,” Mathes said. “It’s just a couple things here and there, and we’re right there.”
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009
The next wave of St. Joseph quarterbacks showcased their diverse skill sets Friday night at the City Football Jamboree.
A few fresh faces lined up under center for each of the city’s four 11-man schools, and each starting quarterback drew mixed reviews based on his respective preseason performance.
Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
After months of preparation and anticipation, football returns to St. Joseph tonight.
Prep activities poised to get started todayMonday, Aug. 10, 2009
Jim Brockhoff has been biding his time for the past week and not always with an abundance of patience.
Central's Yates commits to AshfordThursday, July 23, 2009
As Central’s last line of defense, Uriah Yates had plenty of practice handling wave after wave of attackers on the soccer field.
Hochevar finding his way in big leaguesWednesday, July 22, 2009
KANSAS CITY — Luke Hochevar doesn’t believe in light bulb analogies. If only it were so easy.
Instead, the Royals’ right-hander turned the tide of his career the old-fashioned way — the only method he knows, really — hard work and perseverance.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Though football season doesn’t kick off for another six weeks, Chuck Borey recently suffered through bouts of nerves normally reserved for Friday nights.
Olivo responds to his status as regular with hot June clipSaturday, July 4, 2009
KANSAS CITY — As he returns to the dugout to another warm welcome, Miguel Olivo flashes his infectious smile, beaming after yet another home run.
The sight has been a common one as of late.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
KANSAS CITY — On a gorgeous July afternoon, another black cloud appeared Wednesday amidst the gathering gloom at Kauffman Stadium.
Mustangs' comeback bid falls shortFriday, June 26, 2009
Fueled by another late burst, the St. Joseph Mustangs seemed to time their comeback bid perfectly.
But the team’s fiery finish fizzled in the final frame as the Mustangs dropped a wild 8-7 affair Thursday against Topeka at Phil Welch Stadium.
Victory looked imminent after St. Joseph plated three in the bottom of the eighth to even the score. But the Golden Giants pushed across a run in the top of the ninth, and a contested call at first base led to the ejection of Mustangs manager Matt Johnson in the bottom of the inning.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The district titles and endless stream of medals were great and all. But Derek Hawkins wanted more.
Girls Track Athlete of the Year: Lindsay VollmerSunday, June 14, 2009
Not even a jarring brush with mortality could quell Lindsay Vollmer’s competitive nature.
Boys Track Athlete of the Year: Will HaerSunday, June 14, 2009
As a scrawny freshman, Will Haer didn’t have aspirations of grandeur when he first picked up a pole and leapt into the sky. Four years and countless vaults later, his goals couldn’t have been loftier.
Nurski, Korell slam door on defending champs in SJCC Invitational
Sunday, June 14, 2009
One year ago, Brad Nurski and Mark Korell endured the heartbreak of playoff defeat. Not this time around. The duo dominated en route to their second St. Joseph County Club Invitational victory in three years Saturday with a relentlessly steady effort
Mustangs stretch their home record to 8-0
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Different Mustang slugger. Same Phil Welch Stadium magic. Mired in a year-long slump, Landinn Eckhardt took his turn to play the hero for St. Joseph Friday night. The compact catcher and former Central standout jolted the Mustangs to a 5-4 victory with a bases-loaded triple against Beatrice and kept his team perfect inside the friendly confines of its home ballpark.
Trio of local products go in MLB draftThursday, June 11, 2009
More than a thousand miles from home, Benton’s Jake Kretzer welcomed the arrival of yet another life-altering decision.
Kretzer — along with fellow Benton graduate Kyle Heim and Missouri Western’s AJ Huttenlocker — had his name called in the waning rounds of Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft Thursday as he competed in a summer league tournament in Surprise, Ariz. After coming off the field, the Cardinals’ outfielder learned the Minnesota Twins had selected him in the 46th round.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
For a group of relatively unknown underdogs, a talented bunch of local basketball players sure didn’t look overmatched against some of the best players in the state last week.
Central coach Reynolds has developed state hurdling contenders for 30 yearsThursday, May 28, 2009
Three decades ago, Barry Reynolds set up shop just off Turn 4 at Noyes Field with a handful of hurdles and a fierce passion for the sport.
Much has changed in the years since he arrived, but not Reynolds and not his location. Widely recognized as one of the premier mentors around, the Central coach of 29 years has been the driving force behind one of the most consistently successful hurdling programs in the state.
“I’m most comfortable and most in my element when I’m right here in this corner, coaching hurdlers,” Reynolds said. “It’s just what I love doing.”
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
WICHITA, Kan. — The seasons of two Kansas golfing standouts ended with a whimper Tuesday.
Maur Hill-Mount Academy’s Alder Pruett and Atchison’s Dylan Watts finished outside of medal contention at their respective state meets. Luckily for Watts, he still has next year to bounce back.
Monday, May 25, 2009
SALISBURY, Mo. — With a lineup full of mashing marauders, you couldn’t blame Plattsburg’s powerful lineup for getting a little antsy and swinging for the fences on occasion.
But patience seems to be a virtue these Tigers possess in spades.
Using a calculated hitting approach, Plattsburg dissected Salisbury’s entire pitching staff Monday during a 9-0 blowout victory during a Class 2 sectional matchup at Philpott Field. The Tigers rapped out 12 hits, drew seven walks and put the Panthers on edge with unyielding pressure on the base paths.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Hamilton’s victorious girls stoically strode across the track to receive their trophy, icy cool in their demeanor.
Such is typical behavior for a team in the thick of a dynasty.
Behind Ashley Flook and Lindsay Vollmer, the Hornets followed their simple game plan to a “T” and hauled in their third consecutive Class 2 championship Saturday at the Missouri Track and Field Championships in Jefferson City.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Will Haer wasn’t interested in breaking the Class 1 pole vault record. He wanted to shatter it.
The Craig senior confidently rewrote the Class 1 pole vault record book at Dwight T. Reed Stadium on Saturday when he cleared the 15-foot mark during his second attempt in front of a raucous grandstand. He broke the previous mark, set by Polo’s Mike Housh in 1987, by a foot and won his second straight state title in the event.
“I was feeling really confident on the pole and wasn’t really worried about getting 15 as much as anything else above that,” Haer said.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Alexa Taff lingered atop the medal stand, savoring the moment of her first state title. She must have enjoyed the view.
St. Joseph Christian’s unassuming freshman ran wild Saturday and climbed to the top of the podium at Dwight T. Reed Stadium three times in all — once as a member of the Lions’ 4x200-meter relay. With solid victories in the 100 and 200, Taff became the school’s first state champion and lifted Christian to a best-ever fifth-place finish in the team standings.
“We were definitely taking our time up there,” Osborn said.
Friday, May 22, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A constant grimace was the only indication that Alexa Taff wasn’t at full strength.
Taff, a St. Joseph Christian freshman, scorched the track Friday at Dwight T. Reed Stadium on three occasions despite battling a painful, nagging ligament injury in her left foot. You’d never know it by looking at her times, however.
Friday, May 22, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Dealing with some unmatched frustration, Lindsay Vollmer lined up for the perfect event to release it.
The Hamilton sophomore coped with the loss of her Class 2 long jump record Friday by reeling off the fastest qualifying time in the 300-meter hurdles at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
Friday, May 22, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — In his first event at Dwight T. Reed Stadium, Princeton freshman Blake Goodin bellowed out a guttural roar as he crossed the finish line.
Maybe he just wanted to vocally announce his much-anticipated arrival.
Goodin burst onto the scene Friday during the Class 1 Track and Field Championships by destroying the rest of the field in the 1,600-meter run and putting the Tigers atop the team standings through the first day.
Craig, Cameron pole vaulters take different paths toward lofty goals
Friday, May 22, 2009
Amidst the remote, sprawling farmland of Northwest Missouri, Will Haer pauses, anxiously toeing the 85 feet of worn-out, grain-way belting that serves as his makeshift runway. After a beat, the Craig senior bursts down the straightaway and prepares to take flight.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
WATHENA, Kan. — When his bat fell strangely silent, Colin Greaser found another way to make a statement.
In a game dominated by offense, the Troy senior southpaw looked equally solid atop the hill for Doniphan County during Wednesday’s Class 3A regional tournament championship at Wathena City Park.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
With two solid rounds, Derek Hawkins left no doubt that he belonged in the state title discussion. But his championship aspirations will have to wait one more year.
Tarkio’s standout junior finished second at the Class 1 Golf Championships by just two strokes at Springfield’s Twin Oaks Country Club behind Andy Godwin of Greenwood. It marked his second straight top 10-finish in his third trip to state after he finished seventh a year ago.
“I’m satisfied, but I know I should have played a lot better,” Hawkins said. “I didn’t quite have my game today.”
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Sometimes the only way to understand a lesson is to learn it the hard way.
That’s the way it was for Bishop LeBlond’s golf team, which saw its chance for a trophy slip through its grasp a year ago at the state tournament.
After last year’s shortfall, the Golden Eagles hope to apply those hard-luck lessons today when they tee off at the Class 2 Golf Championships in Sedalia, Mo.
“If you have a bad shot, forget about it and go on to the next hole,” LeBlond senior Brian McCullough said. “You can’t let one bad hole ruin your round, and I think that happened a lot last year that second day.”
Saturday, May 16, 2009
RICHMOND, Mo. – Given a chance to grab a victory in the 4x800-meter relay, Blake Goodin relented and eased his way into a second-place finish.
He knew better than to wear himself out this early with the long day ahead.
Princeton’s freshman distance phenom relinquished the early victory in the two-mile relay to Canaan Fairley and Newtown-Harris but stole the show during his other events at Saturday’s Class 1 sectional. Goodin stayed unbeaten outdoors in the 800 and 1,600 on a day when he circled the track an exhausting 16 times — four miles in all.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
RICHMOND, Mo. — Lindsay Vollmer knows better than to take this season — or her career, for that matter — for granted.
The Hamilton sophomore went through, by her own admission, a life-changing experience last month when she was involved in a car accident that left her miraculously unscathed.
On Saturday afternoon, Vollmer distanced herself a little more from her wreck and a lot more from her competition. The Hornets’ full-fledged superstar coasted to four individual victories at the Class 2 sectional meet and set the table for next week’s state meet.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
KANSAS CITY — In perhaps the most crucial set of their respective seasons, Zack Lipira and Zack Hicks appeared to have everything rolling in their direction.
The Central juniors had just claimed six straight games and owned a serious tide of momentum heading into Thursday’s pivotal third set in the Class 2 District 8 tournament, where a trip to state was on the line.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
For as long as they’ve competed against each other, you’d think that Cole Rosier and Kyler Hiatt would have developed a full-blown rivalry by now.
The two seniors played vital roles in the area’s best 8-man contests — Mound City versus Worth County — throughout the prep careers and remember running the hurdles against each other in seventh grade. As much as I’d like to believe the pair are sworn enemies who constantly seek revenge against the other, the inverse proves true in this case.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Stephen Culver wasn’t about to let a slow start ruin his regulation round at Fairview Golf Course.
Sitting at 1-over after four holes, the Bishop LeBlond senior locked himself into an 11-hole groove that propelled him near the top of the leaderboard Monday at the Midland Empire Conference tournament. Between holes No. 5 and 15, he notched three birdies and went without a single bogey on the way to a 1-over 73.
His stellar, second-place effort paced LeBlond to a closely contested conference championship during the school’s first year back in the MEC.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
MOUND CITY, Mo. — Their spot in sectionals secured, Will Haer and Jessica Borey set their sights on rarefied air.
The pair of picturesque pole vaulters launched themselves — feet first — into the clear blue skies at the Class 1 District 8 meet. When they came back to the mats, each senior had a first-place finish and district record to call their own.
The odds-on favorites for the state title, Haer (Craig) and Borey (Worth County) both already are looking beyond a place atop the medal stand in Jefferson City, however. Especially Borey, who has three runner-up finishes to her credit.
Friday, May 8, 2009
MARYVILLE, Mo. — DJ Shallenberger doesn’t mind when his teammates show him up. He actually prefers it.
Siler tabbed as new West Platte coachThursday, May 7, 2009
Not long ago, Chuck Siler didn’t know if his chance to coach would come along.
Siler won’t have to fret anymore after West Platte’s school board unanimously approved him, 7-0, as the school’s next football coach Wednesday.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
After choosing the junior college route, Luke Engelken faced a long and winding road to the Division I level.
Following two years of hard work away from the spotlight, however, the former Mid-Buchanan superstar turned into the opportunity he always dreamed of — a shot at playing at college basketball’s highest level.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
PLATTE CITY, Mo. — By his count, Elijah Hall missed his chance at a district title by roughly 25 feet — maybe less.
A series of uncharacteristic misses inside 5 feet frustrated the Cameron sophomore throughout Monday’s round during the Class 3 District 8 tournament. No matter.
Hall shrugged off his struggles at Shiloh Springs Golf Course with unnatural poise and was one of three Dragons to qualify for the state meet in Nixa, Mo. Paired with eventual district champ Robert Neumann of Kearney, he settled for a three-way tie at fourth place by shooting a 3-over 74.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Maryville’s Seth Staashelm took the baton with every reason to finish second.
The anchor on the 4x400-meter relay, he’d exhausted himself all Saturday, racking up points with gutsy performances at every turn. The potential excuses, numerous as they were, never entered his mind.
Staashelm capped a tremendous team performance at the Midland Empire Conference meet with a come-from-behind victory in the final event at Alumni Stadium. Following a fourth-place finish a year ago, Maryville won the battle with defending champion Chillicothe by just five points, while the Spoofhounds’ girls also staved off the Hornets in the standings to earn the sweep.
Friday, May 1, 2009
If you compared the entire season to a lap around the track, we’d be on the final strides of the backstretch right now, getting ready to round the corner.
The front runners already set the pace and established themselves as contenders in the early going, but there’s still enough time for some late surprises along the way.
I’ve seen a ton of track the past two weeks. Good track at that. As we enter the thick of conference season, I thought I’d take a couple moments to recap some of the best subplots and goings-on from around the area.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Two high-profile coaching openings won’t stay vacant for much longer.
Bishop LeBlond and West Platte are set to announce their selections for their respective head football coaches early next week, according to officials from each school.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Benton tennis coach Bob Nash never thought a second-place finish would feel so good.
His third-seeded Cardinals shrugged off a dismal stretch of recent losses by finishing as runners-up at Thursday’s Benton-Savannah Invitational at Noyes Tennis Complex. Brandon Richey returned to the hardtop for the first time since being temporarily disqualified and gave the team a swagger that had been lacking during three consecutive losses last week.
“It brings an emotional lift to our team, really,” Nash said. “After last week, our guys were kind of down on themselves. It kind of brings back the chemistry that we had earlier in the year.”
Friday, May 1, 2009
KANSAS CITY — Zack Greinke doesn’t like attention. Never has. And not just a mild aversion to it, either. Enough to chase him from baseball, make his bosses wonder if he’d ever come back.
So as the spotlight grew with all those zeros he kept putting up on the scoreboard, how did the Royals right-hander handle it? He went deeper within himself, shut off the outside world even more.
“I’m not paying any attention to any of that nonsense,” he said. “I don’t hear much about it. I haven’t even paid any attention to it.”
Benton’s Woodruff sets personal best in mile
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
PLATTE CITY, Mo. — When Benton coach Duane Kimble shouts, Taylor Woodruff listens. Not that she has much choice in the matter.
The Cardinals’ accomplished distance runner took her coach’s advice to heart during Tuesday’s Pirate Invitational, where she set herself up for a successful stretch run. Woodruff shattered her season-best time in the mile by 13 seconds thanks to a pivotal final lap and Kimble’s booming words.
Maryville’s Farmer takes flight
Saturday, April 25, 2009
MARYVILLE, Mo. — When he burst from his blocks, John Farmer nearly took flight.
With gusting winds at his back, the Maryville senior tore down the track with astonishing speed and continued to pull away from his competition as he crossed the finish line. Even Farmer had to chuckle as he saw the time on the stopwatch.
Friday, April 24, 2009
After watching his teammates tee off all game long, Bryce George wasn’t about to miss his turn in the extra-base hit parade.
JOB SEARCH
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