RUNZA SENIORS FALL FROM GAME WINNER IN FINAL FRAME:
The Runza Seniors of Kearney fell to North Platte FNBO Wednesday night 4-3 after the game winning, RBI Single from North Platte’s Cooper Hill zoomed past the second base gap to drop Kearney to 11-16 on the season.
The Runza Seniors battled hard throughout the contest, continually tying the game by single run scores in the fourth, fifth, and seventh, but a host of mistakes darkened Kearney’s chances of stealing a win on the road.
Kearney now battles Lexington in a doubleheader matchup at Memorial Field tonight to wrap up the week’s action. Pregame coverage of the doubleheader begins at 4:45 PM with Austin Jacobsen and campers from UNK’s Digital Expressions camp joining him throughout the broadcast. Listen to coverage on 1340 AM, 96.1 FM, online at KGFW.com, and anywhere through the KGFW mobile app.
UNK BRINGS BACK MEN’S TENNIS THROUGH PRIVATE DONOR:
The University of Nebraska at Kearney will once again have a men’s tennis program, beginning in 2023-24.
The decision, announced Thursday by UNK Director of Athletics Marc Bauer comes four years after men’s tennis was eliminated as part of $2.8 million in university budget reductions.
UNK is able to bring back men’s tennis after a private donor agreed to create a $3.4 million endowment that will fully fund the program’s operating and scholarship needs.
Bauer said the decision was driven by “donor priority” and discussions began in 2018 when the donor approached UNK shortly after the program was eliminated.
The Lopers will play home matches at Kearney’s Harmon Park and the new indoor Ernest Grundy Tennis Center, which opened this spring at University Village.
Scott Shafer joined the UNK tennis program in 2013 as an assistant and was elevated to head coach in 2019. He will serve as head coach of the team and will also continue to coach the women’s tennis team. The men’s team will carry a roster of about 10 players and begin play with the 2023-24 season.
USC, UCLA EXPLORE MOVE TO BIG TEN:
USC and UCLA are in negotiations to join the Big Ten, per a source through Sports Illustrated. The two schools could leave the Pac-12 as early as 2024
The Trojans and Bruins have been exploring the move for the past few months. The financial disparity between Big Ten’s revenue and the projected Pac-12 revenue reportedly is the biggest factor behind it.
The news comes a year after Texas and Oklahoma agreed to leave the Big 12 to join the SEC. The move sparked a big realignment among other conferences. The Big 12 is welcoming four new teams in 2023 as a result – BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF.
With USC and UCLA, the Big Ten would field a total of 16 teams, the same as the SEC once Texas and Oklahoma officially join the mix ahead of the 2025 season. The Pac-12’s current membership has been together since 2011.
ROGERS STATE AND NEWMAN JOIN MIAA CONFERENCE:
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is welcoming Newman University and Rogers State University as full members of the Association. With the approval of the MIAA CEO Council, Newman and Rogers State will become the Association’s 13th and 14th full-time members beginning July 1, 2022.
Both the Jets and Hillcats joined the MIAA as associate members in 2019. They become the MIAA’s 21st and 22nd NCAA Division II institutions to join the Association.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
WEDNESDAY:
- POST 52 Juniors: @ North Platte
- POST 52 11 – 1 FNBO North Platte Juniors
- Runza Seniors: @ North Platte
- FNBO North Platte Seniors 4 – 3 Runza Seniors
THURSDAY:
- Runza Seniors: v. Lexington (Doubleheader) @ Memorial Field – 5 PM
- Pregame on KGFW @ 4:45 PM & 7:15 PM
FRIDAY:
- N/a
SATURDAY:
- N/a
SUNDAY:
- N/a
