November 22, 2009
Ross Martin - Prep-Sports Reporter
PICK ‘EM BLOG: Week 1
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009
Heroics propel Lafayette at City Football Jamboree
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009
Local schools start fall sports practice
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009
Baade outlasts Haskell for men's city golf title
Monday, Aug. 10, 2009
Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009
Friday, Aug. 7, 2009
Friday, Aug. 7, 2009
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009
Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Haskell, Carter advance to Missouri Amateur quarterfinal round
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Pair of Griffons steal show at Missouri Amateur
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Several city golfers take next step at Mo. Amateur
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Garton helps Benton overcome bad start to eliminate LeBlond
Monday, May 18, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Erickson's complete game helps Lafayette past Central
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009
The Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association released its preseason poll this week. Mosports.com also finished up its top 10 with plenty of time for fans to peruse the rankings.
Heroics propel Lafayette at City Football Jamboree
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009
The City Football Jamboree moved to the preseason prior to last year’s edition, turning the annual event into a scrimmage with no official winner.
That’s done little to quell the city rivalries. During the pivotal matchup Friday between Lafayette and Central, Fighting Irish junior quarterback Tim Nelson looked at coach Paul Woolard and exclaimed, “We trying to win this.”
Nelson then heeded his own decree, tossing an 11-yard touchdown pass to junior Ian Toalson on Lafayette’s 12th and final play against Central to give the Irish a 12-6 win against the Indians at Spratt Stadium. Lafayette also beat Benton, 6-0, and Bishop LeBlond, 24-6.
Local schools start fall sports practice
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009
Dylin Anderson received two rude introductions to life in Missouri on Monday.
A transfer from Georgetown, Ky., the Benton junior took not one but two bites from a garter snake during the first day of fall sports practice. Assistant coach Eric McDowell corralled the nonpoisonous serpent from Benton’s practice field and released it unharmed.
Cardinals’ coach Matt Tabor figures Anderson’s reptilian encounter which left the potential starting tackle with minor wounds can go one of two ways.
Baade outlasts Haskell for men's city golf title
Monday, Aug. 10, 2009
As play backed up ahead of the final group, Derek Baade couldn’t help but calculate his advantage. The recent Savannah graduate held a three-shot lead with five holes to play during Sunday’s third and final round of the City Golf Championship, but five-time city champion Brian Haskell was his chaser. Baade responded by matching his veteran pursuer shot-for-shot down the stretch, closing out a 7-under 65 at Fairview Golf Course for a three-stroke victory.
Lisenbee rides roller-coaster round into leadSunday, Aug. 9, 2009
Aaron Lisenbee’s lead slipped away in a barrage of a backside bogeys.
The Savannah native and Missouri Western graduate needed a lucky bounce off a tree and one magical shot with his gap wedge to fix his round Saturday afternoon at Moila Country Club. After falling behind with four bogeys in a span of five holes, Lisenbee played the final three holes in 4-under — complete with the third hole-in-one of his life on No. 17.
Friday, Aug. 7, 2009
When Brad Nurski and Harry Roberts both missed makable birdie putts on their second hole Friday, the St. Joseph duo knew it could be a long match in the quarterfinals of the Heart of America Four-Ball tournament.
Nurski and Roberts ground out 18 holes against Jordan Smith and Keith Erickson but lost 2-up to the Olathe duo at The National Golf Club in Kansas City. Nurski and Roberts made only three birdies and bogeyed two holes, bringing their total for the tournament to four in 85 holes.
Friday, Aug. 7, 2009
Aaron Lisenbee made the turn and 2-under and hit only 24 total putts Friday at St. Joseph Country Club.
Yet at the end of the first round of the City Golf Championship, the Savannah native looked down and saw a 1-over 72 on his scorecard. Credit that to an adventurous final nine holes.
“It was pretty ugly on the back,” Lisenbee said.
Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009
Brad Nurski and Harry Roberts needed a furious comeback to survive the first-round of match play Thursday during the Heartland Four-Ball Tournament.
After passing that test, the St. Joseph duo found the second round a little more comfortable. Nurski and Roberts didn’t lose a hole and made only one bogey in a 5-and-4 victory against Jon Platz and Matt Fitzmorris at the National Golf Club in Kansas City, propelling them into today’s quarterfinals.
But Nurski and Roberts wouldn’t have seen the afternoon session without overcoming a three-hole deficit in the first match against Drew Carlson and Max Currnow.
Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009
Harry Roberts hovered over a 6-foot downhill birdie putt on No. 18.
The veteran golfer knew exactly what to expect, but Roberts lingered maybe just a couple of extra seconds, knowing he needed to make it to secure St. Joseph Country Club’s Club Championship for a fourth time.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Byron Polley always told his wife Michelle he would retire from boxing at 30.
Then the St. Joseph fighter’s two most recent bouts allowed him to box outside of the United States for the first time. Despite back-to-back defeats in Canada and Germany, the 29-year-old professional started to think he had two to five years left in him.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Local boxer Byron Polley suddenly and unexpectedly announced his retirement Thursday afternoon, ending his 10-year professional career.
Countdown to high school football starts with final week of campsWednesday, July 29, 2009
SAVANNAH, Mo. — Halfway through team camp, Savannah football coach Mark Cole senses a change from the previous years of week-long drills and training.
It has nothing to do with starting his second campaign with the Savages. Or replacing all-conference and all-district quarterback Travis Partridge. Or even a lack of team unity.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
When the NASCAR Sprint Cup stars take the Brickyard on this afternoon, J.J. Yeley will find himself hundreds of miles away on a less paved road.
The Brickyard 400 highlights this racing weekend on the hallowed motorsports ground of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Yeley — a former top-flight NASCAR driver — will find himself in a midget car at Osborn’s U.S. 36 Raceway.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
KANSAS CITY — Mark Teahen barely remembers the view from second base.
A spring training experiment with the versatile fielder was supposed to finally give Teahen a dedicated daily spot in the field. Instead, Teahen resumed his journey throughout the confines of major league parks.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
One bad pitch, one bad inning were enough to make a loser out of St. Joseph and starter Blake Thomas.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Brad Nurski is on his way to a repeat performance in the Fairview Golf Course Men’s Club Championship. But he’ll have to wade through a crowded field to earn back-to-back titles.
Non-league opponent gives reserves chance to shine for MustangsThursday, July 9, 2009
A downtrodden non-league opponent provided Billy Gura with a chance Wednesday night at Phil Welch Stadium.
St. Joseph manager Matt Johnson gave the precision right-hander his first start of the season against the Kansas City Blues, a Ban Johnson League opponent. Gura responded with seven innings of stellar work, earning the win in the Mustangs’ 10-0 eight-inning, run-rule victory.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Skip Berkmeyer knows all of the emotions that come along with losing the Missouri Amateur Championship. Playing in the finals for a fourth time, the 35-year-old St. Louis resident didn’t let another opportunity slip away.
Justin Bardgett and Berkmeyer completed the 36 holes of regulation Sunday at St. Joseph Country Club all square. Going to a playoff hole in a rematch of last year’s championship match, Berkmeyer stuck his short approach on No. 1 to 3 feet. Bardgett missed a 30-foot birdie try, and Berkmeyer controlled the nerves to make the winning putt and win 1-up after 37 holes.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Even playing at St. Joseph Country Club couldn’t help a local golfer with the Missouri Amateur Championship.
More than five decades since St. Joseph produced its last Amateur champion, Brian Haskell came up agonizingly short of reaching today’s championship match. The 43-year-old’s typically consistent play failed in his afternoon matchup Saturday.
St. Louis native Skip Berkmeyer took advantage with a comfortable 6-and-5 victory to reach the final for a second straight year. After dominating in four match play victories, Haskell suddenly had no answers for his off appearance in the semifinals.
Haskell, Carter advance to Missouri Amateur quarterfinal round
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Brian Haskell’s emotions don’t always reflect his competitive spirit that seeks victories.
Most times the veteran golfer’s words belie how easy he can makes wins look.
The Maysville, Mo., native and St. Joseph resident needed only 26 holes to win two match play matchups Friday at St. Joseph Country Club, advancing into the Missouri Amateur Championship quarterfinals. Haskell beat Springfield’s Glenn Scott 5-and-4 in the round of 32 then pasted Don Walsworth of Overland Park, Kan., 7-and-6.
Pair of Griffons steal show at Missouri Amateur
Friday, June 26, 2009
While veteran standouts Brian Haskell, Brad Nurski and Harry Roberts recorded comfortable victories, a pair of Missouri Western teammates gave St. Joseph five qualifiers for the match play round of 32 at Missouri Amateur Championship.
Benton graduate Caleb Carter and Central graduate Dan Crawford each overcame some miscues on the backside to win their matchups Thursday afternoon at St. Joseph Country Club. Carter defeated Ryan Weinhaus of Chesterfield 2-and-1 then returned to the course to watch Crawford.
Just a case of one Griffon supporting another.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Jason Meyers might be the defending champion in the Missouri High-Banked Nationals, but the driver of the No. 14 sprint car has a hard time remembering that win.
The World of Outlaws sprint car series last raced at Osborn, Mo.’s U.S. 36 Raceway in 2007. Last year’s scheduled race was rained out in June, and the rescheduled event in September also fell victim to foul weather.
Several city golfers take next step at Mo. Amateur
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Brad Nurski always approaches the Missouri Amateur Championship trying to reach match play — regardless of seed.
After firing a second-round 67 Wednesday at St. Joseph Country Club, St. Joseph’s top golfer not only found his way into the second portion of the tournament; he earned the No. 2 seed with a 4-under two-day total.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Brad Nurski and Justin Bardgett ensured a formidable afternoon group during the opening day of the Missouri Amateur Championship.
Bardgett started his title defense playing alongside St. Joseph’s top golfer at his home course, St. Joseph Country Club. But the youthful third member of their threesome thrust himself to the top of the leaderboard for most of the day.
Recent Warrensburg High School graduate Ryan Marks carded a 4-under 67 and sits in a tie for a second, besting Nurski’s 71 and Bardgett’s 72.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Colin Greaser finished his high school baseball career on the mound as a winner.
Girls Soccer Player of the Year: Alex OlsonSunday, June 14, 2009
Alex Olson kept finding ways to contribute during Smithville’s record-breaking season.
Boys Tennis Player of the Year: Ryan WalkerSunday, June 14, 2009
Coming off his first two losses of the season, Bishop LeBlond junior Ryan Walker found solace in his draw at the Class 1 State Tennis Championships.
Plattsburg heads to state looking to rival ’04 Tiger teamTuesday, June 2, 2009
PLATTSBURG, Mo. — Taylor Davis knows his Plattsburg High School history, especially when it comes to athletics.
The three-sport standout senior started the year wanting to leave his mark, and now Davis and his baseball teammates have one final opportunity. Plattsburg starts its quest for a state title Wednesday during the Class 2 semifinals at Meador Park in Springfield.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Alexis Bates couldn’t be disappointed — not after coming so far and covering the final 100 meters of her season in 11.77 seconds.
The Central senior and 2007 state champion in the 100 used a strong tail-wind to match a career best Saturday during the Class 4 Track and Field Championships at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Her time would have been the fourth-fastest in state meet history, if not for her competition.
Bates came in third behind Gateway Tech senior Olivia Lewis (11.75) and Fox sophomore Shawntanay Johnson (11.76).
Saturday, May 30, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Jordan Stiens flashed just a hint of a smile in the direction of the Maryville coaches and fans in the bleachers at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
The Spoofhounds junior knew her long jump of 18 feet, 9 1/4 inches would be enough. Stiens seventh career medal at the Class 3 Track and Field Championships proved to be her first gold.
But the hurdling specialist never thought her initial first place would come in the jumping pits.
Friday, May 29, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — John Farmer found a simple solution for his struggles during the preliminary round of the long jump.
After three below-his-standard efforts, the Maryville senior reeled off a jump of 22 feet, 1 inch on his first of three finals jumps. Each of his next two jumps were better than the first, and Farmer briefly took the lead in the event.
Friday, May 29, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Alexis Bates made the finals, and that was the only positive the Central junior took from Friday afternoon’s Class 4 100-meter preliminaries.
After an off week at sectionals, Bates — the 2007 state champion — came in third during the first of two prelims at this year’s Track and Field Championships. Her 12.12-second qualifying time is fourth best overall, but Bates will run from Lane 2 or 7 today at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Ryan Hook lives for scenarios of playing the University of Missouri in the NCAA baseball Regionals.
But instead of travelling to Oxford this weekend with his Western Kentucky teammates to play the Tigers, Hook made his debut in right field Thursday night with the St. Joseph Mustangs. Playing in front of a hometown crowd for the 2006 Benton graduate helps ease the missed opportunity.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Benton senior Tyler Deatherage needed a partner in his search for redemption. Fellow senior Brandon Richey just wanted an opportunity.
One year after Deatherage and doubles partner Mike Weil missed out on a state trip, Deatherage and Richey make the journey to the Class 1 State Tennis Championships in Springfield, Mo., where they begin competition today in the doubles bracket.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
In a breakthrough season, Josh Carrithers supplied one final highlight for Lafayette baseball.
Plattsburg earns trip to Class 2 semifinalsThursday, May 28, 2009
PLATTSBURG, Mo. — Erik May couldn’t help but watch.
After watching his fifth-inning line drive settle into center field for a hit, the Plattsburg senior rounded first and watched the baserunner rounding third. May and the rest of the Tigers celebrated after Nick Norris safely slid into home.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — Savannah finally ran out of answers.
During Tuesday’s Class 3 sectional, Harrisonville built leads of three, five and three runs but gave away the first two. Savannah nearly erased the third one as well.
But the Savages never led, and Caleb Riekhof’s groundout to second in the bottom of the seventh inning finished off Harrisonville’s 11-10 win at Wildcat Field, ended Savannah’s season and closed the career of the Savages’ nine seniors.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
KEARNEY, Mo. — Dustin Menk took 39.62 seconds to forget about a tolling 36 hours.
The Platte County senior blitzed to a season best and won the 300-meter hurdles at Saturday’s Class 3 sectional meet, but Menk’s thoughts immediately turned to his older sister, Cheri. Just 20 years old, Cheri Menk woke up with a headache on Friday morning and lost consciousness at the family home in Platte City, Mo., hours later.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Beth Lewis couldn’t stop the tears or crack a smile after Saturday afternoon’s discus throw.
Give the Savannah junior some more time, and she’ll come back around. After a stellar performance in the morning shot put competition qualified Lewis for state, she struggled in the second throwing event during the Class 3 sectional at Kearney High School.
Now, Lewis has all week to prepare for the shot put and try to earn the first medal for a Savannah track athlete since 2006.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
When Graham Kearns decided not tag up, Savannah centerfielder Brett Smith made the wayward Platte County baserunner pay.
Platte County appeared in the midst of a game-changing third inning when Jeff Cline hit a rocket toward the left-center field gap and one out. Instead, Smith made a full extension diving catch.
Kearns tried to go back and tag up, but Smith hit shortstop Blake McFadden with the throw from the outfield. McFadden’s relay was right on target to catcher Lee McFadden to nail Kearns at the plate.
Garton helps Benton overcome bad start to eliminate LeBlond
Monday, May 18, 2009
Colton Garton didn’t have many positive thoughts in his head.
Already down two runs, the Benton senior came on to replace beleaguered sophomore starter Matt Pritchett in the first inning of Monday’s Class 3 District 16 opener. Bishop LeBlond still had the bases loaded and only one out, so a month removed from his last pitching appearance, Garton took the only acceptable frame of mind.
“I just knew I had to come out and get the game going,” he said. “I went out there with mentality I’m going to do the best I can.”
Garton induced a first-inning-ending double play on his third pitch and finished with 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. He earned the win in Benton’s 12-2 five-inning victory and helped the second-seeded Cardinals avoid an upset against No. 7 LeBlond.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Bishop LeBlond and Benton battled back and forth during Saturday’s Class 1 District 8 tournament.
In the end, neither could catch Excelsior Springs, and so the city rivals finished in the middle slots of the four teams to reach the state tournament. That means the teams will meet for a fourth time at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Noyes Tennis Complex in the Class 1 team regionals — just as they did last year.
LeBlond (13-0) beat Benton in each of the three previous matchups. Last year, Benton ended LeBlond’s three-year undefeated run in regular season duals then eliminated the Golden Eagles from the playoffs.
An ongoing rivalry indeed.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Sitting inside MWSU Fieldhouse in March 2007, Ryan Nichols soaked in the atmosphere of a boys basketball sectional between West Platte and Putnam County.
The 2000 Platte County graduate was working in promotional marketing but never lost his love for basketball. Watching that playoff matchup finally convinced Nichols to make a life-altering choice.
“This is what I’m supposed to be doing,” Nichols said of his thoughts. “It got my heart going. I’d always loved basketball, but it took something to make me want to go back to school and make less money but follow my passion.
“That was the moment.”
Erickson's complete game helps Lafayette past Central
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Chris Erickson didn’t feel like a pitcher working on a complete-game, one-hit victory during the seventh inning Wednesday against Central.
Bearcats head to track championshipsTuesday, May 12, 2009
A pair of school record-setting conference champion hurdlers will lead a contingent of seven Northwest Missouri State athletes into the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships, to be held May 21-23 at Angelo State University.
Senior Audrey Bailey and freshman Tyler Shaw both qualified for the national meet by virtue of their performances at the MIAA Championships on May 3. Bailey became the first Bearcat woman to break the 1-minute barrier in the 400-meter hurdles when she won the event in 59.98 seconds. That’s the second-fastest time in Division II this season, second only to the 58.86 clocked by Christine Merrill of the University of California at San Diego.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Kelly Walker surprised freshman teammate Sidney Olinger, Cameron goalkeeper Sarah Adamek, the Dragons’ defenders and maybe even herself.
As Bishop LeBlond’s junior forward neared the end-line, she sent a neat little back-heel touch pass to Olinger, who paused trying to decide what to do. Olinger blasted a right-footed, point-blank shot over Adamek’s shoulder, highlighting LeBlond’s goal barrage in an 8-0 victory Tuesday at Eagles Stadium.
“It kind of just happened,” said Walker, who finished with two goals and one assist, “but our team is just built on assisting. We don’t really focus on the goals because then it becomes like a shark-feeding frenzy is how coach puts it, so we always try and look for the person that has a better shot than we do.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Central’s defense trapped starter Jonathan McCann on the mound during the second inning Wednesday.
During a third straight solid start, McCann made the appropriate pitches during a tumultuous early frame against Lee’s Summit, but the Indians’ defense faltered behind him. Three errors led to four unearned runs in the top of the second.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
In an otherwise non-descript game, I witnessed my first ever crime-related delay during a high school event.
Savannah ends MEC streak for CardinalsTuesday, May 5, 2009
After years of playing second fiddle to Benton, Savannah found the right tune Monday night to end a monumental streak against its rival.
Travis Smither went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple, Mike Scanlan drove in three runs and Savannah wowed the home crowd with a 9-6 victory against Benton. But without a lot of hoopla, the victory snapped the Cardinals’ string of 33 straight Midland Empire Conference victories.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Grant Richardson struck out nine and baffled Benton for most of five innings.
But an early bout of control problems for Lafayette’s junior starting pitcher gifted the Cardinals two first-inning runs without the benefit of a hit. Benton made the early lead stand up in a 3-0 Midland Empire Conference victory on Tuesday at Hyde Park No. 6.
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