Wednesday Morning Sports – Kearney Baseball Moves on to HAC Semifinals, Husker Baseball Suspends and Cancels Creighton Contest in Fourth, Nebraska Softball Earns Doubleheader Sweep, Collegiate Signing Day at Kearney High, Local Sports Results/Schedule

KEARNEY BASEBALL DOWN PIUS, ADVANCES TO HAC SEMIFINALS:

The Kearney High Baseball team traveled to Lincoln Tuesday afternoon and got off to a hot start leading 6-0 into the fifth inning before Pius began a resurgence, nearly pulling off the upset but eventually giving the Bearcats the game in a 8-7 victory. 

The Bearcats finished the day with 9 hits and one error with 8 runs scored, while Pius had 13 hits with 7 runs and one error. 

The #2 seeded Bearcats now take on Lincoln Southeast at 3 PM today from Den Hartog Field in Lincoln. Kearney opened their season with a 7-1 win over Southeast at Memorial Field back on Friday, March 18. Pregame on KGFW begins at 2:50 PM. Winner of the contest advances to the HAC Championship contest battling the winner of Lincoln East and Lincoln Southwest. 

HUSKER BASEBALL CANCELED AFTER FOUR INNINGS:

Due to inclement weather in Lincoln Tuesday evening – including rain, heavy winds, and a tornado watch – the Husker baseball contest with Creighton was suspended in the fourth inning. 

An update on a possible makeup date has yet to be announced. Nebraska currently sits at 12-18 overall and 4-5 in conference play, as the Huskers await BYU coming for a series starting on Thursday. 

HUSKER SOFTBALL CLAIM SWEEP OVER IOWA: 

The Nebraska softball team claimed its 15th consecutive win with an 8-3 five-inning victory over Iowa on Tuesday in the second game of a doubleheader that was cut short due to inclement weather.

Nebraska earned the game one victory with a 14-0 explosion in just five innings of work. 

With its 15 straight win overall and 10th consecutive conference victory, Nebraska moved to 30-9 on the season and 10-0 in conference play.

The Huskers remain at Bowlin Stadium this weekend, April 15-17 for a three-game series against Minnesota. Game one is set for Friday at 5 p.m.

NLI COLLEGIATE SIGNING DAY AT KEARNEY HIGH TODAY:

Nine Kearney High Bearcat athletes are signing their letters of intent today to continue their athletic careers. The ceremony will be held at Kearney High School’s auditorium beginning at 4 PM. 

Signees include: Olivia Flood signing for UNK’s Tennis team; Emma Bonsall signing for Cross Country and Track & Field for UNK; Cole Feddersen will golf for Southeast Community College; Tate Kuchera takes his wrestling talents to UNK; Kaden Miller will run Track & Field for UNK; Spencer Kearn will compete in Track & Field at Concordia; Katie Gomez will dance at UNO; Analise Luke will play volleyball at Cedarville University; and Flavia Nagatani will compete in wrestling at Iowa Western. 

UNK SOCCER FINDS A NEW HEAD COACH (AGAIN)

Nebraska-Kearney Athletic Director Marc Bauer announced Monday that Rob Breton is the Lopers new head women’s soccer coach.

The Maryland native replaces Neil Piper, who accepted the position in February but recently left UNK due to unforeseen family circumstances back in Texas. Breton will be the fourth head coach in school history; the program began in 2009. He begins his duties Monday.

Breton spent the past three years as an assistant women’s coach at Division II Alderson Broaddus University (Philippi, W.V.). With an enrollment of 800, the school competes in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) with the women’s soccer team led by head coach and former Creighton assistant Jaron Hulme.

He helped coach three all-conference players, had one player sign an overseas professional contract, saw the team’s cumulative grade point average rise to 3.63, and had 45 student-athletes earn a 4.00 semester GPA.

Breton played at Division II West Virginia Wesleyan (Buckhannon, W.V.), helping the Bobcats reach the 2010 Elite Eight and earn a No. 2 national ranking. The team co-captain also helped Wesleyan reach the conference finals three straight seasons.

FORMER HUSKER GREAT GREEN RETIRES, JOINS USAW STAFF:

Husker great James Green announced his retirement from wrestling on Friday, April 8. While he will no longer be competing, Green will step into a new role as the developmental coach for Team USA.

As a competitor, Green won a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships. The former Husker competed on six U.S. Senior World Teams and most recently wrestled for the Southeast Regional Training Center and the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club.

NBA PLAY-IN GAMES BEGIN; NETS TAKE DOWN CAVS & WOLVES UPSET CLIPPERS:

Kyrie Irving had 34 points and 12 assists, Kevin Durant added 25 points and 11 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets own the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference after downing the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-108 on Tuesday night. Their victory earns them a matchup with the Boston Celtics on Sunday to begin Game 1 of their series. 

The Cavs will have another chance to earn the No. 8 seed, hosting the winner of Atlanta-Charlotta on Friday. 

In the Western Conference, Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russeell combined for 59 points to power Minnesota past the LA Clippers 109-104. The T-Wolves now claim No. 7 and face Memphis in the first round. The Clippers must regroup to face the winner of San Antonio-New Orleans Friday night. 

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: HAC Tournament
    • #2 KHS = First Round Bye.
    • KHS v. Lincoln Pius
      • KHS 8-7
  • BOYS SOCCER: @ Lincoln Southeast
    • KHS 3-2
  • GIRLS SOCCER: v. Lincoln Southeast
    • LSE 5-3
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • GIRLS SOCCER: @ Columbus Scotus
    • Scotus 8-0
  • BOYS SOCCER: @ Columbus Scotus
    • KCHS 2-0
  • BASEBALL: HAC Tournament
    • #2 KHS = First Round Bye.
      • KHS v. Lincoln Pius
        • KHS 8-7

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: HAC Tournament
    • #2 KHS v. #3 Lincoln Southeast – 3 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BASEBALL: HAC Tournament
    • #2 KHS v. #3 Lincoln Southeast – 3 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • MENS/WOMENS TENNIS: v. Concordia – 11 AM, 1 PM
  • SOFTBALL: v. College of St. Mary (Doubleheader) – 4 PM, 6 PM

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS TENNIS: Kearney Invite – 9:30 AM
  • BOYS GOLF: @ Lochland Country Club – 10 AM 
  • T&F: @ Omaha Central Invite – 4 PM
  • GIRLS SOCCER: @ Norfolk – 5 PM
  • BOYS SOCCER: v. Norfolk – 7 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • T&F: @ Gothenburg Invite – 2:30 PM
• UNK:
  • MENS TRACK: @ Mt. Sac Relays – @ Walnut, CA
  • WOMENS TENNIS: @ Northeastern State – 3 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • BASEBALL: v. Midland University (Doubleheader) – 3 PM, 5 PM

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • MENS TRACK: @ Bryan Clay Invite @ Azusa, CA
  • WOMENS TENNIS: @ Central Oklahoma – 11 AM
  • M/W T&F: v. Loper Invite – 11 AM, 3 PM
  • SOFTBALL: v. Lincoln (Doubleheader) @ Patriot Park – 2 PM, 4 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BOYS SOCCER: v. Omaha Central – 1:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • SOFTBALL: v. Central Missouri (Doubleheader) @ Patriot Park – 12 PM, 2 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ UNK Invite
  • BASEBALL: v. Mount Marty University (Doubleheader) – 4 PM, 6 PM
  • MENS/WOMENS TENNIS: @ Midland University – 11 AM