NEBRASKA BASEBALL RETURNS TO BIG TEN PLAY BATTLING MICHIGAN:
Nebraska returns to Big Ten play this weekend with a three-game series at Michigan on today through Sunday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The series opener is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT today, while Saturday’s first pitch is set for 1 p.m. The series finale between the Huskers and Wolverines is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Nebraska has played Michigan 32 times on the baseball diamond and holds a slim 17-15 advantage in the all-time series. Michigan won the series in the Lincoln last year, posting wins on Saturday and Sunday after NU won the series opener.
The Huskers’ last trip to Ann Arbor was back in 2016, where the Wolverines swept the three-game series over the Big Red.
KGFW’s pregame coverage begins at 2:30 PM with first pitch at 3 from the Huskers Radio Network.
STORM SET FOR ROAD SHOWDOWN AT SIOUX CITY:
The Tri-City Storm is set for a road showdown with the Sioux City Musketeers tonight at the Tyson Events Center.
The Storm will play back-to-back road games this weekend before returning home for a two-game series next weekend against the Des Moines Buccaneers.
Tonight’s road game is the final meeting of the regular season between the Storm and Musketeers. Puck drop for the matchup is scheduled for 7:05pm CT.
HAC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT BRACKETS SET:
The Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament brackets have been released.
The Kearney Bearcats (4-8) are placed as the eighth seed and face ninth seeded Norfolk (5-5) on Tuesday, April 11 at 12 PM at Den Hartog Field in Lincoln.
The winner of the Bearcat/Panther matchup will face top-seeded Lincoln East at 3 PM at the same location.
More details can be found at KGFW.com.
THREE BEARCAT HOOPERS NAMED TO NEBRASKA ALL-STAR GAME:
Two Kearney Girls Basketball players and one Boys Basketball star were named to the 2023 Nebraska Coaches’ Association All-Star game set for Monday, July 24 at Lincoln North Star High School.
Kearney’s Tatum Rusher and Maddy Province were named to the Girls “Blue” Team, led by head coach Noah Malsby of Ravenna and assisted by Clayton Carlton of Yutan.
Rusher is the career leader in made three pointers in Bearcat history and led the team in scoring the past two seasons, while Province was a major force leading the team in assists, steals, and blocks this season. Both were multiple year starters.
Jack Dahlgren will represent the Bearcats on the “Blue” Team led by Head Coach Kelan Buhr of Doniphan-Trumbull and assisted by Lucas Albrecht of Wilber-Clatonia. Dahlgren ended his Bearcat career No. 12 all-time in Kearney Boys Basketball scoring with 774 career points.
Both boys and girls contests will be held on Monday, July 24.
KEARNEY BASEBALL SPLITS RYDER PARK TRIANGULAR:
The Kearney Bearcats ended splitting their day at Grand Island’s Ryder Park, shutting down Norfolk 13-2 with dominant bats, but ultimately leaving with missed chances in a 5-4 loss to the Islanders in the nightcap.
The Bearcats (4-8) now head back to Lincoln’s Densmore Fields taking on Lincoln High and Lincoln North Star on Saturday prior to a busy week with the HAC Tournament on Tuesday through Wednesday, followed by home contests against Hastings on Friday and Fremont on Saturday.
Full game recaps from each game can be found at KGFW.com.
BEARCAT BOYS GOLF CLAIMS HOME VICTORY; THREE IN TOP TEN:
The Kearney Boys Golf team earned a home invite victory on Thursday, taking down North Platte in a shoot-off late.
The Bearcats shot 324 as a team and ended with three in the top ten including Perry Swarm (75) finishing second, Koji Kitabatake (79) at seventh, and Dylan Dahlstadt (81) at ninth.
Kearney and North Platte were both tied at 324, as Kearney won the final hole to take the victory.
HUSKER VOLLEYBALL SPRING MATCH TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY:
The Nebraska volleyball team will play its 2023 Spring Match against Wichita State at the new Bison Activity Dome in Central City on Saturday, April 29. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m., with doors opening 90 minutes prior to first serve. The Huskers will sign autographs after the match.
Tickets will go on sale to the public in person only at the main entrance of the Central City Performing Arts Center (2815 17th Avenue) at 8 a.m. on Monday, April 10.
A select number of reserved courtside seats will be for sale ($27), while most of the tickets for sale will be general admission ($12) and standing room only ($12).
For the second consecutive year, the Huskers’ spring match will be televised statewide on Nebraska Public Media and streamed online on B1G+. In addition to television and streaming coverage, the match will air on select Huskers Radio Network affiliates and the official Huskers App.
The Bison Activity Dome, with a capacity of 2,098, opened in December 2022 and is home to Central City High School athletics. This will be the Huskers’ first trip to Central City and will be the eighth different town in Nebraska to host the spring volleyball match.
HUSKER FOOTBALL PRACTICE COMMENTS – THURSDAY:
RHULE – IRON SHARPENS IRON IN COACHING:
Matt Rhule, Nebraska Football Head Coach, was asked how accountability is relayed in his program and during his first round of spring practices…
The Huskers wrapped up their final spring practice prior to the Easter weekend, as Nebraska returns back to spring ball on Tuesday, April 11.
RHULE – ESTABLISHING EARLY MINDSETS:
Nebraska Football Head Coach Matt Rhule spoke about the mindset he is attempting to establish after the ninth practice for the Huskers on Thursday…
Nebraska will take time off for Easter Weekend then returning to the practice field on Tuesday, April 11.
RHULE – QUARTERBACKS NEEDED LIVE REPS:
Matt Rhule addressed the need for his quarterbacks to see live reps during spring practices, and praised the signal callers for their performances from last Saturday’s scrimmage…
Casey Thompson and Logan Smothers have yet to participate in spring ball due to injury, with Jeff Sims allegedly making early impressions in the first nine practices.
RHULE – TIGHT ENDS VERY TALENTED; FIDONE CONTINUES TO WORK:
Nebraska Football Head Coach Matt Rhule was asked about his impressions of the tight end room, and who has been making the most waves from the position…
Fidone has missed most of his first two years as a Husker due to separate knee injuries that have limited him to only late fall snaps in both of his two years in Lincoln.
RHULE – SPRING PRACTICE TEACHES WINNING:
The expectation level changes in the spring according to Husker Football Head Coach Matt Rhule, who added his coaching staff is trying to reverse the thoughts of his players from prior years…
The Huskers have not been to a bowl game since Mike Riley’s second season in 2016. Nebraska has not appeared in a conference championship game since Bo Pelini’s tenure – more than a decade ago.
RHULE – NEBRASKA FOOTBALL MUST BE INTENTIONAL:
Husker Football Head Coach Matt Rhule spoke at length after Thursday’s practice about the importance of being intentional with his players and his entire team…
Nebraska is off this weekend for Easter and returns to spring practices on Tuesday.
HUSKER SOFTBALL TRAVELS TO MARYLAND:
The Nebraska softball team (25-12, 5-3 Big Ten) travels to College Park to take on Maryland in a three-game series this weekend. Game one is set for 5 p.m. (CT) today.
Nebraska currently is in the top three in the Big Ten in numerous offensive categories including batting average (.323), hits (316), doubles (62), home runs (43), RBI (185) and slugging percentage (.529).
The Huskers are second in the Big Ten in shutouts with nine and are ranked 29th in the NCAA. Maryland leads the Big Ten with 11 shutouts.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Boys Golf: @ Kearney Invite @ Meadowlark Hills
- TEAM: KHS = 1st (324)
- INDIVIDUAL:
- Perry Swarm = 2nd (75)
- Koji Kitabatake = 7th (79)
- Dylan Dahlstadt = 9th (81)
- Track & Field: v. Kearney Invite @ Kearney High School
- GIRLS: KHS = 2nd (151.5); LSW = 1st (177.25)
- BOYS: KHS = 3rd (102.5); Creighton Prep = 1st (142)
- Baseball: @ Grand Island Triangular @ Ryder Park
- GAME 1: KHS 13-2 Norfolk
- GAME 2: GISH 5-4 KHS
- Boys Soccer: @ Lincoln East @ Seacrest Field
- LE 3-1 KHS
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Girls Tennis: @ Omaha Westside Invite @ Koch Family Tennis Center – 8 AM
- Girls Soccer: @ Lincoln High @ Beechner Athletic Complex – 1 PM
- UNK:
- Women’s Soccer: v. Iowa Western C.C. @ Foster Field – 1 PM
- Softball: @ Emporia State – 3 PM
- M/W T&F: @ Jo Meaker Classic @ Canyon, TX – 3 PM
- Softball: @ Emporia State – 5 PM
- M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS – 6 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS – 6 PM
- Baseball: v. Northwestern @ Duncan Field – 1 PM
- Baseball: v. Northwestern @ Duncan Field – 3:30 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Baseball v. Michigan (2:30 PM – 7 PM)
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- Baseball: @ Double Dual @ Lincoln’s Densmore Fields
- GAME 1 v. Lincoln High – 10 AM
- GAME 2 v. Lincoln North Star – 1 PM
- Baseball: @ Double Dual @ Lincoln’s Densmore Fields
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- M/W T&F: @ Jo Meaker Classic @ Canyon, TX – 12:30 PM
- M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS – 12 PM
- Women’s Tennis: @ Missouri Western
- Softball: @ Washburn – 1 PM
- Softball: @ Washburn – 3 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- M/W T&F: @ K.T. Woodman Classic @ Wichita, KS – 12 PM
- Baseball: v. Morningside @ Duncan Field – 1 PM
- Softball: v. Mount Marty – 1 PM
- Softball: v. Mount Marty – 3 PM
- Baseball: v. Morningside @ Duncan Field – 4 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Baseball @ Michigan (12:30 PM – 5 PM)
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- N/a
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- N/a
