Friday Morning Sports – Grand Island Boys Soccer Coach Out, Husker Baseball Defense Shines in Shutout, Nebraska Softball Hosts Minnesota, Nebraska Athletics Open NIL Marketplace, Local Sports Schedule

GRAND ISLAND SOCCER COACH OUT OVER SOCIAL MEDIA BLAST:

Jeremy Jensen is out as the Grand Island Senior High boys soccer coach, following a dispute between Jensen and Grand Island Public Schools.

Jensen announced the removal on Facebook yesterday, with the official word from GIPS being released at 3:30 PM Thursday afternoon.

According to GIPS, Jensen disclosed confidential student information through recent posts on social media.

As for Jensen, he released a statement on his Facebook page, stating that “They asked me to identify who had provided me the information that I posted, and I told them to pound sand.”

GISH currently sits at 2-7 on the year. James Panowicz will take over as the team’s interim coach. Grand Island played at Lincoln Pius yesterday, falling 2-1. The Islanders next contest is on the road at Kearney on Tuesday, April 19. 

HUSKER BASEBALL DEFENSE SHINES IN SHUTOUT WIN:

Nebraska edged out BYU in the series opener with a 1-0 victory behind a combined one-hitter by Koty Frank, Tyler Martin and Braxton Bragg on Thursday night at Hawks Field.

The combined one-hitter is the first for the Huskers since Nate Fisher, Robbie Palkert and Colby Gomes teamed up in a 2-0 win at Baylor on March 9, 2019.

Nebraska (13-18) scored one run on three hits, while the Cougars (17-13) were limited to one hit and had no errors.

Nebraska and BYU continue the series with a doubleheader tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. The doubleheader begins with a seven-inning game, followed by a nine-inning game approximately 45 minutes after game one.

NEBRASKA ATHLETICS LAUNCHES NIL MARKETPLACE:

Nebraska announced today it has created the Nebraska Huskers Marketplace, one of the first licensed school NIL marketplaces in college sports. The Opendorse-powered marketplace will maximize NIL support for Husker student-athletes

Nebraska is among the first programs nationwide to provide a single marketplace platform to send supporters to access student-athletes and offer NIL opportunities. The marketplace gives Nebraska fans, brands and sponsors the ability to browse, book, pitch and pay any Husker student-athletes for NIL activities in one compliant platform, built specifically for the athletes’ needs.

All current Husker student-athletes can be found in the Nebraska Huskers Marketplace. In addition, former Nebraska athletes who use Opendorse can also be accessed through the marketplace.

NEBRASKA SOFTBALL HOSTS GOPHERS FOR THREE GAME SERIES:

The Nebraska softball team hosts Minnesota in Lincoln, Neb., this weekend.

The Huskers will face the Gophers in game one on Friday starting at 5 p.m.Game two is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. while the final game of the series will be Sunday at 12 p.m.

Nebraska has won its last 15 games with an offense that ranks first in the conference in runs (261), hits (346), home runs (61), RBIs (244), total bases (604), slugging percentage (.561), walks (144) and on-base percentage (.408).

Minnesota (19-15-1) is 5-4 in conference play. The Gophers are coming off of a 2-1 series win over Iowa.

Minnesota travels to Nebraska for the first time since 2019. The Gophers lead in Lincoln 12-5

KEARNEY GIRLS GOLF NAMES REPLACEMENT FOR CARSON:

Carrie Johnson has been hired as the Kearney High School Head Girls Golf Coach to replace JD Carson who is taking over the Head Girls Basketball position for the Bearcats.  Johnson was a state tournament varsity golfer all four years at Wahoo High School and lettered all four years on the Hastings College golf team and competed at Nationals.

Johnson has taught for KPS for the last 20 years. Johnson currently teaches third grade at Windy Hills Elementary. She has also taught special education, fourth grade, and fifth grade at Emerson Elementary School for 12 years. Prior to teaching in KPS, she taught in Omaha Public Schools and Hastings Public Schools. 

KEARNEY BASEBALL FINISHES AS HAC TOURNAMENT RUNNER-UP:

The Kearney High baseball team were powered by big bats in the semifinal matchup of the HAC Tournament Wednesday night in Lincoln to power over Lincoln Southeast in a 12-10 offensive slugfest victory, pushing the Bearcats into the championship round against Lincoln Southwest. 

The Silverhawks had outlasted the Lincoln East Spartans 10-9 in a nine-inning affair that ran over three hours. 

As Kearney and Lincoln Southwest began play well past 9 PM Wednesday night, the Bearcats fell behind and could not keep pace with the Silverhawks, ending as runner-up in the HAC Tournament and falling 6-3. 

The Bearcats have the weekend off until Monday, when Kearney will return to Memorial Field to take on Millard North at 1 PM. 

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS SOCCER: @ Norfolk
    • KHS 3-2
  • BOYS SOCCER: v. Norfolk
    • KHS 3-0
  • GIRLS TENNIS: v. Kearney Doubles Invite
    • KHS = 2nd out of 10
    • Paige Moffett/Emilee Anderson CHAMPIONS
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • BASEBALL: v. Midland University (Doubleheader)
    • GAME 1: Midland 0-2
    • GAME 2: Midland 9-3

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • MENS TRACK: @ Bryan Clay Invite @ Azusa, CA
  • WOMENS TENNIS: @ Central Oklahoma – 11 AMM/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