Tuesday Morning Sports – Kearney Baseball Nabs Wildcard for State Tourney, Storm Face Elimination in WCF, Rosenthal Tabbed All-MIAA, Raiola Picks Ohio State, District T&F Action, Local Sports Schedule

KEARNEY BASEBALL ADVANCES TO STATE TOURNAMENT AS WILDCARD:

After awaiting the final results from the Class B District Finals across the state, Kearney Baseball heard their name called as the final wildcard selection for the 2022 NSAA Baseball State Tournament. 

The Bearcats backed into the final eight teams with a 15-9 overall record after falling 2-0 to Lincoln North Star on Saturday in the A-6 District Semifinal. 

Kearney now faces a steep challenge in #1 Millard West on Friday at 10 AM, a team that clipped Kearney 5-3 back on April 2. 

The state tournament is a double elimination tourney, with the second contests held on Monday. KGFW will provide coverage all tournament long with Austin Jacobsen on the call. 

STORM FIGHT FOR SEASON IN WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS ROAD MATCH:

Tri-City (#1 Seed, 2-2-0) returns to action tonight in the Clark Cup Playoffs following last Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Sioux City Musketeers at the Viaero Center. The Storm nearly erased a four-goal deficit in the game, but fell short of completing the comeback.

Sioux City (#2 Seed, 4-1-0) is one win away from advancing to the 2022 Clark Cup Final following back-to-back road wins over the Storm.

The Storm must win tonight’s third game of the series to force a fourth game tomorrow night at the Tyson Events Center. Puck drop for Game #3 of the Western Conference Finals tonight in Sioux City is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.  

ROSENTHAL TABBED ALL-MIAA TOURNAMENT TEAM:

Nebraska-Kearney sophomore pitcher Madison Rosenthal represents the Lopers on the 2022 MIAA All-Tournament team.

Rosenthal (Johnstown, Colo.) threw a no-hitter in an elimination game win over Emporia State on Saturday and threw 3.1 innings of strong relief to help the Lopers upset No. 5 Central Oklahoma the day before.

Against the Hornets, she needed just 88 pitches (54 strikes) to record UNK’s first no-no in nine years. She fanned three and allowed no earned runs in the 3-1 win with the Hornets flying out 15 times. A day earlier, she blanked UCO over the final 3.1 innings while fanning four, walking one and giving up just a hit.

On the year, Rosenthal tied for the team lead in wins (seven) while being first in ERA (3.41), K’s (87), innings (113.0), appearances (33) and starts (20).

DYLAN RAIOLA PICKS OHIO STATE OVER HUSKERS, OTHERS:

Dylan Raiola, a five-star prospect and the No. 8 overall player in the 247Sports Composite rankings, announced his commitment to Ohio State on Monday night. Raiola, the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the 247Sports rankings, chose the Buckeyes over Alabama, Georgia, Oregon and USC. He surprised everyone with the announcement during his birthday celebration. 

Raiola, a 6-foot-3, 225-pounder from Chandler (Arizona) High School, has emerged as a bonafide superstar in his recruiting class.

Raiola threw for 3,241 yards, tossed 32 touchdown passes and posted nine rushing touchdowns in 12 games as a sophomore despite his relative inexperience as a starter in high school.

He is the son of former Nebraska center and 14-year NFL veteran Dominic Raiola; despite the Cornhuskers not being listed among his finalists, he also attended the Nebraska spring game.

NCAA CLARIFIES NIL RULES: 

Eleven months after the NCAA lifted most of its restrictions against athletes cashing in on their fame, college sports leaders are trying to send a warning to schools and boosters it believes have crossed a line: There are still rules here and they will be enforced.

The NCAA’s Division I Board of Directors on Monday approved guidance developed by a group of college sports administrators, clarifying the types of NIL payments and booster involvement that should be considered recruiting violations.

The guidance defines as a booster any third-party entity that promotes an athletics program, assists with recruiting or assists with providing benefits to recruits, enrolled student-athletes or their family members. The definition could include ‘collectives’ set up to funnel name, image and likeness deals to prospective student-athletes or enrolled student-athletes who might be considering transferring.

HUSKER SOFTBALL SEEDED No. 2 IN BIG TEN TOURNEY:

Nebraska has earned the No. 2 seed for this week’s Big Ten Softball Tournament and will face the winner of No. 7 Penn State and No. 10 Indiana on Thursday at 10 a.m. (Central) on the Big Ten Network. The 2022 Big Ten Softball Tournament is being hosted by Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., and the single-elimination event runs from Wednesday to Saturday. 

The Huskers posted their best conference finish since 2014, when they earned a share of the Big Ten title.

Semifinals are set for Friday, May 13 at 1 p.m. (Central) with finals set for Saturday, May 14 at 12 p.m. (Central). 

Every game of the 2022 Big Ten Tournament will be televised live on the Big Ten Network

NBA PLAYOFFS SCORES:

MONDAY RESULTS:

Boston Celtics 116 – 108 Milwaukee Bucks (Tied 2-2)

Golden State Warriors 101 – 98 Memphis Grizzlies (GSW 3-1)

TUESDAY SCHEDULE:

Philadelphia 76ers @ Miami Heat – 6:30 PM (Tied 2-2)

Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns – 9 PM (Tied 2-2)

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • T&F: District Track @ Kearney High School – 12 PM
  • GIRLS TENNIS: Varsity Dual v. GISH – 4 PM @ Harmon Park
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BOYS GOLF: @ Tri-City Invite @ Hastings – 9 AM
  • T&F: @ District Track @ Broken Bow – 10 AM
  • GIRLS TENNIS: @ Hastings St. Cecilia – 4 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS TENNIS: @ Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament – 9 AM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BOYS GOLF: @ Awarii Dunes Invite – 8:30 AM 
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BOYS GOLF: @ Awarii Dunes Invite – 8:30 AM
  • GIRLS TENNIS: v. Gothenburg Dual – 4 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • BASEBALL: State Tournament v. #1 Millard West – 10 AM
    • KGFW Pregame at 9:45 AM
  • BOYS GOLF: @ Norfolk Invite – 9 AM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BASEBALL: State Tournament v. #1 Millard West – 10 AM
    • KGFW Pregame at 9:45 AM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Concordia Twilight Meet – 2 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ Concordia Twilight Meet – 2 PM

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: v. Loper Twilight Meet – 3 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: v. Loper Twilight Meet – 3 PM