Ross Martin
Chillicothe holds off Maryville rally
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
Diminutive cornerback makes impact for Worth Co.
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008
Mound City puts on impressive show while taking apart Worth Co.
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
Prices at pump spilling over into high school athletics
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008
Savages maintain perfect record while running past Fighting Irish
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008
FORE THOUGHT: Savannah's Gallagher gives up volleyball to concentrate on golf
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008
Benton spoils LeBlond's return to the MEC
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
LeBlond's Shinn combines his religion with coaching
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
Craig, Fairfax unite for 1st game since co-op agreement
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008
City to host high school softball championships
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
Central makes most of reappearance in City Football Jamboree
Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008
Nurski charges on to another City Golf Championship
Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008
Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008
Friday, Aug. 8, 2008
Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008
The importance of being No. 1
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Arizona State adds to Coy's decision
Monday, June 9, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Chillicothe holds off Maryville rally
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Chillicothe’s biggest weapon during the second half Friday night against Marvyille wasn’t running back Bryce Young’s big-play ability or a turnover-forcing defense.
The difference for the Hornets was the right leg of running back/defensive end/punter Clint Dysart.
In a matchup of Midland Empire Conference powers, Dysart made the difference by pinning Maryville inside its 20-yard line four times in the final 24 minutes. The last punt put Maryville at its own 4 with only 1 minute, 31 seconds left.
Diminutive cornerback makes impact for Worth Co.
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
GRANT CITY, Mo. — Zach Harmening occasionally creates doubt in Kyler Hiatt’s mind.
Hiatt, one of the best runners in Missouri 8-man history, has confronted that uncertainty in practice numerous times during the past two-plus years. Coming around the corner, the 6-foot-2, 200-plus pound Hiatt will often see Harmening as the Worth County scout-team cornerback.
At 5-foot-6, 114 pounds, Harmening is a quandary for the bruising runner.
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
Maryville and Chillicothe have established themselves as teams competing for a state title. Only one will have the chance to pursue undefeated championship aspirations.
Ranked No. 2 in their respective classes, Maryville and Chillicothe meet tonight at “The Hound Pound” in possibly the marquee high school game in the state of Missouri. Maryville enters as undefeated defending Midland Empire Conference champions, and this matchup could determine the Spoofhounds ability to repeat.
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
DeKalb coach Vernon Pike waited for his quarterback to reach the sideline, ready to send in the play.
Instead, Jimmy Derry asked his coach if rather than a 2-point conversion try, the Tigers could go for an extra point. Not just any extra point — a drop kick.
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008
You win some, you lose some in the world of high school pick 'em.
Last week, Andy and I won eight each and lost two, which for me is good enough to retain my healthy five-game lead on my co-worker. This could be a week with some shuffle to it. There are many intriguing matchups out there, and by my count, six of this week's 10 games are nothing more than a coin flip.
Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008
Carl Edwards dove to the inside of Jimmie Johnson going into Turn 3 on the final lap.
The crowd at Kansas Speedway responded as the Columbia, Mo., native took the lead from Johnson. But it didn’t last long.
Edwards’ risky move — called a slide job — in the final turn of the Camping World RV 400 landed him against the wall. Johnson went around him for the win in the third of 10 races in Sprint Cup’s Chase for the Championship.
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Clint Bowyer wants to come home and win so badly, but the Emporia, Kan., native will have to wait until at least today.
Bowyer finished second in Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway, moving his string of top-10 finishes at his home track to four straight. But a win again eluded him with Denny Hamlin leading the final 43 of 200 laps for his fourth Nationwide Series win of the season.
“When you come back home, all you can ask for is hopefully be fast and run up front,” said Bowyer, who also finished second at last year’s Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway. “It means so much to me to come back here and have so much support people show me. It’s a lot of fun to be able to try to put on a show for them, try to win. You feel like you are winning for them.
Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008
Football teams only get three timeouts in a half, as far as I can figure.
Maybe Canadian football might be different -- scratch that -- I know it's different. But you still only get three timeouts per half.
Mound City puts on impressive show while taking apart Worth Co.
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008
GRANT CITY, Mo. — Mound City needed just 12 seconds of game time to score Friday night, and the Panthers didn’t even take the opening kickoff.
Mound City is just that impressive right now.
Worth County quarterback Kyler Hiatt fumbled on the game’s opening play, and Mound City’s first play went 22 yards for a touchdown, sparking a 52-6 blowout win at Worth County High School. Worth County saw its 16-game winning streak come to almost an unbelievable end with the head coaches agreeing to stop the game at halftime.
Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008
South Harrison coach Caleb Obert finds different ways to get Danan Knott the ball.
Some of them Obert doesn’t even draw up.
During last week’s 39-20 win against Maysville, Knott scored four touchdowns four different ways and racked up more than 200 all-purpose yards. One of the touchdowns came as a complete surprise to Obert.
Prices at pump spilling over into high school athletics
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008
Bruce Johnson makes budgets every year.
Going on 20 years in fact during stints as superintendent at Osborn and now Stanberry for the past 12-plus years. One line on his budget goes up every year, whether its the addition of sports, the prevalence of nonconference travels or rising gas prices.
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008
The long-awaited brackets for Missouri high school football were recently posted on the Missouri State High School Activities Association Web site.
As expected, the new format will bring little change.
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008
Bryston Williams finally looked comfortable as a quarterback, and Savannah coach Mark Cole could see the difference. Lafayette's first-year quarterback was nearly flawless against Cole's Savages.
Williams completed 13 of 17 passes for 149 yards, nearly doubling his total from the first three games. At one point, Williams completed 10 straight passes, and the only blemish came on a forced throw, when Brett Smith made a diving interception near Savannah's sideline.
Savages maintain perfect record while running past Fighting Irish
Friday, Sept. 19, 2008
Savannah quarterback Travis Partridge could see the goal line, but not Lafayette’s Bryston Williams.
Just 6 yards away from a third rushing touchdown, Williams yanked Partridge down from behind, and the Lafayette defense made a stand. The Savages didn’t score after Partridge’s 82-yard keeper, but with a 14-point lead in the first quarter, they didn’t seem in danger.
But that stand was the start of a larger momentum shift that put Savannah’s unbeaten mark in jeopardy.
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008
For anyone wanting to see Union Star at Craig on Friday night, cancel your plans. Same goes for anyone hoping to catch Worth County versus Heartland on Saturday at Christian Field.
Neither game will be played this week due to forfeits.
FORE THOUGHT: Savannah's Gallagher gives up volleyball to concentrate on golf
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008
Kate Gallagher stalked around Fairview Golf Course last Thursday muttering to herself and occasionally glancing up at the sky for answers.
The Central Invitational won’t mark the highlight of the Savannah junior’s season.
Yes, she won the tournament — by two strokes — but a 9-over 82 doesn’t suffice. Not when you’re the defending Class 1 state champion, not when you gave up volleyball to concentrate on the links.
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
Chillicothe enters Week 3 unbeaten, ranked No. 5 in the AP’s most recent Class 3 poll and possibly just a bit off the state championship map.
Why?
The Hornets travelled to Marshall in Week 1, then hosted out of area Odessa. Tonight’s matchup at Class 4 No. 9 Grain Valley marks a third straight nonconference game and another chance to prove Chillicothe’s mettle.
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
OSBORN, Mo. — The third annual Missouri High-Banked Nationals is slated for tonight at U.S. 36 Raceway, but Hurricane Ike might have other plans for the sprint car race.
The World of Outlaws event originally scheduled for early May could face inclement conditions with weather forecasts calling for large amounts of rain — the same conditions that forced the original postponement.
Track owner/promoter Mike Franks said Thursday night the track was in solid condition and had been sealed to promote drainage. A decision should be made by early this afternoon as to the race’s status
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008
Facing a defending league champion and top contender in Week 1, Troy responded with a nearly flawless performance against Pleasant Ridge.
Prep Pick 'em (Week 2 Review, Week 3 picks)Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008
While Andy's picks stunk for a second straight week, I was right there to look terrible with him. A few confusing big school matchups left both of us looking like Chris Berman as "The Swami." (That is not a compliment.)
A 6-4 performance wasn't a killer for me. Andy, well, he might be replaced in this column with a few more weeks of barely above the .500 mark picks.
Benton spoils LeBlond's return to the MEC
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
Dalton Helm kept tracking down loose balls and waiting for his offense to pick him up.
Benton’s senior linebacker recovered three fumbles Friday night against Bishop LeBlond, the second setting up a decisive 85-yard touchdown run from Jake Kretzer. Benton forced four LeBlond turnovers but converted them into only seven points during a 35-0 victory at Sparks Field.
That didn’t bother Helm, who kept believing in the power of turnovers.
LeBlond's Shinn combines his religion with coaching
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
With rain blanketing St. Joseph on Wednesday afternoon, Drew Shinn’s first task after school was to check the status of Bishop LeBlond’s practice field.
Conditions weren’t perfect.
But with no puddles forming, he brought his squad of Golden Eagles outside for 2 1/2 hours, enduring intermittent downpours. His players shivering and freezing, Shinn brought them together at the end, went over plans for Thursday’s practice and then asked for them to join in a benediction.
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
Everyone knows Matt Tabor coached four years at Bishop LeBlond, and he graduated from Benton, where he returned as head coach this season. Everyone also knows he’s following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Don, who coached at both LeBlond and Benton. But what don’t you know about Matt Tabor?
Known for his football prowess, he was a two-sport athlete in college, playing No. 1 singles on the tennis team.
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
I was tasked with coming up with interesting facts about Benton head football coach Matt Tabor, one of the most visible coaches in Northwest Missouri. While I knew some fun stuff would come up, I didn't realize how much.
We included five items in Friday's edition but thought we would flush it out with some additional information here. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did asking people.
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008
A few extra thoughts running through my brain after perhaps the best Week 1 matchup in the area:
Friday, Aug. 29, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Maryville’s coaches finally decided to pull some starters with about 4 minutes left Friday night against Hickman Mills.
Head coach Chris Holt thought he could finally breathe easily with time ticking away and a 15-point lead. Hickman Mills just kept going but didn’t have enough.
Maryville held on for a 34-25 win despite two turnovers and a late screen-pass touchdown for Hickman Mills.
Craig, Fairfax unite for 1st game since co-op agreement
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008
CRAIG, Mo. — Sixteen football players on one knee listened as coach Josh Petersen chided them for a lackluster practice Wednesday afternoon.
After soaking in the words, all sixteen — nine from Craig, seven from Fairfax — put a hand in the middle of a huddle. “One, two, three — TEAM,” they shouted in unison.
Two days before the cooperating programs’ first game, there was still work left to do. But they broke huddle as the Craig Hornets.
City to host high school softball championships
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
Mike Halloran’s brain provided an inkling Thursday of what was to come.
After three officials from the Missouri State High School Activities Association visited Heritage Park, Halloran liked St. Joseph’s chances to host the State Softball Championships.
“We kind of had a plan in mind of what we wanted to do,” said the senior recreation supervisor for St. Joseph’s Parks and Recreation Department, “and how we wanted to do it and how we wanted to showcase our facility and our town.
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
The Missouri State High School Activities Association voted unanimously today to bring the state championship softball tournament to St. Joseph.
Central makes most of reappearance in City Football Jamboree
Friday, Aug. 22, 2008
Ghaali Muhammad looked a little tired before the final snap of Friday’s City Football Jamboree.
But it didn’t change the Central senior’s intent.
Removing his hands from his knees, Muhammad rolled left behind quarterback Ryan Wallace and waited for the pitch. Muhammad took it and raced up the left sideline at Spratt Stadium, only to meet a wall of Benton defenders at the 15-yard line.
The Cardinals held.
“I was hoping to get into the end zone, and I should’ve got into the end zone. Sometimes plays don’t work out,” said Muhammad, the star of the preseason event including all four St. Joseph 11-man schools for the first time since 1986.
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008
As Plattsburg's players started to relax toward the end of their second practice Monday night, first-year coach Andy McNeeley tried to find a motivator.
"Forty-two points per game last year in districts?" the 29-year-old bellowed as the first-team defense worked against a second-team offense. "You're on a three-game losing streak. It's unacceptable."
Nurski charges on to another City Golf Championship
Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008
Brian Haskell’s chip on the first green rolled gracefully into cup for a birdie. A signal of intent from the five-time champion? Perhaps. But Brad Nurski held the lead and responded to each of Haskell’s challenges on the front side Sunday afternoon at St. Joseph Country Club. With a five-shot lead entering the third and final round of the City Golf Championship, Haskell twice trimmed the lead to three on the front nine, but Nurski held all the answers.
Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008
With nine pars on his scorecard at the turn, Brian Haskell felt as if he needed nine birdies on the backside.
The five-time city champion managed four in his final nine holes at Fairview Golf Course — plus one bogey — but even with nine birdies, it would’ve barely been enough to better Brad Nurski.
Friday, Aug. 8, 2008
Mark Korell spent part of his summer carrying Brad Nurski’s bag, trying to help Nurski qualify for the U.S. Open.
Korell will have his friend’s golf bag in the cart again today at Fairview Golf Course. Just not for the same reason.
Both shot 3-under 68s during the first round of the City Golf Championship on Friday afternoon at Moila Country Club. They enter the second round at Fairview tied for the lead and in the final group.
Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008
With the City Golf Championship starting today at Moila Country Club, defending champion Brad Nurski knows what he wants to do with the par-71 course.
“Moila’s probably my worst course,” the three-time champion said. “Get that out of the way hopefully with a lead, and go back to the home golf course at Fairview and hang on at Country Club, hopefully.”
The importance of being No. 1
Thursday, July 17, 2008
KANSAS CITY — Luke Hochevar experienced a pitching epiphany last Friday night ... or at least he hopes that’s what it was. “I guess you would say the light came on,” the Royals rookie starter said. But a seven-inning, one-run performance against the Seattle Mariners — baseball’s worst team — won’t justify the start of a Hall of Fame career for Hochevar. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, Hochevar’s first half-season in the big leagues was marked with ups and downs.
Nurski prevails in Fairview playoffSunday, July 13, 2008
Brad Nurski’s putt sat on the outside of the cup on the 10th green before gracefully disappearing for a birdie.
The clutch putt on the first playoff hole at the Fairview Club Championship shifted the pressure back to defending champion Mark Korell, who sank three birdie putts on the final four regulation holes.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Mark Ross wiped the tears from his eyes, momentarily allowing the moonlight over Charger Field in Horton, Kan., to flow into his vision.
That October night, the now-departed Horton senior quarterback left his home field for the final time after a 28-22 loss to Rock Creek in the Class 3A playoffs. A downtrodden team for most of the past two decades ended a magical season without achieving all of its goals.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Johnny Coy earned his second straight first-team all-state distinction as an infielder in Class 3, while two other city players made the cut for the first time on the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association all-state baseball teams, released today.
Benton junior Austin Garton joins Coy on the Class 3 squad, making the second team as a designated hitter/utility selection. Bishop LeBlond senior Ethan Lueckenhoff made first team infield on the Class 2 squad.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Johnny Coy will play basketball at Arizona State and baseball — somewhere.
A recent seventh-round draft pick of the in Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft, Coy still must decide whether to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies or take Arizona State’s offer of also playing collegiate baseball. That decision will be decided by money.
Brian Kohlscheen, Phillies central regional supervisor, met with the Coy family for the second time this week. In an hour-and-a-half conversation, the Phillies offered $50,000 more than their original offer, but according to Coy’s older brother, Dickie, it’s still not enough to assure the signing.
Friday, June 20, 2008
ST. LOUIS — Brad Nurski misplaced his driver during his morning match at the 101st Missouri Amateur Championship against St. Louis’ Darren Lundgren, then responded with his best golf of the week while his caddie looked for it.
Needing a win in the afternoon to reach the match play quarterfinals for the first time, Nurski was glad to have it back. Nurski won both of his match-play tilts Friday at WingHaven Country Club, the second a 19-hole victory against Mitchell Gregson of Waterloo, Ill.
On the first playoff hole against Gregson, Nurski blistered his drive down the fairway and put the pressure on Gregson, a golfer at Kansas State. Nurski eventually two-putted for par, while Gregson three-putted the win to Nurski.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
But Kansas took advantage of two first-half turnovers and built a 10-point halftime lead and held on for a 20-9 victory at Blue Valley Northwest High School in the exhibition presented by the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association.
“I didn’t care that we lost; I just had so much fun playing and making so many friends,” said Hill, who will play at Missouri Western next season.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The putter continued to work for Brian Haskell during Wednesday’s second round of the 101st Missouri Amateur Championship.
If not for a couple of errant shots from his other clubs, the 42-year-old St. Joseph resident might have shared medallist honors.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
ST. LOUIS — All six local golfers competing in the 101st Missouri Amateur Championship have a shot to make it to match play.
But they’re all chasing a player from Kansas.
Monday, June 16, 2008
ST. LOUIS — Brad Nurski’s last major venture turned into a one-stroke disappointment.
The St. Joseph amateur golfer enters this week’s Missouri Amateur Championship knowing the strokes don’t mean everything. The five-day tournament begins today at WingHaven Country Club with the first of two rounds of stroke play.
On Thursday, the field is trimmed to 64 and placed into a match-play bracket. The winner of five 18-hole matches and one 36-hole final will be the champion.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Needing a birdie to force a playoff, Brian Haskell cleared a tree and flew the ball 210 yards onto the 18th green with a 7-iron. He finished a two-putt birdie and headed back to the 18th tee with partner John Thomas for the first extra hole against defending champions Brad Nurski and Mark Korell.
After Thomas saw Haskell stripe the green with a monster drive, the result was almost inevitable.
Haskell sent his eagle putt to the left but made the 4-foot birdie coming back. Nurski and Korell only managed par giving the 56th annual St. Joseph Country Club Invitational championship to Haskell and Thomas, who was in the event for the 31st time.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Before many of the favorites in the 56th annual St. Joseph Country Club Invitational teed off, Harry and Ted Roberts posted a score to beat.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Instead of teeing off at Torrey Pines in San Diego seeking a U.S. Open Championship, Brad Nurski spent his Thursday morning preparing to defend a title closer to home.
Arizona State adds to Coy's decision
Monday, June 9, 2008
Just when Johnny Coy’s decision seemingly reached maximum difficulty, Arizona State came back and made another offer. Coy must now consider the possibility of not only playing Division I basketball, but D-I baseball as well.
Arizona State adds wrench to Coy's decisionMonday, June 9, 2008
Just when Johnny Coy’s decision seemingly reached maximum difficulty, Arizona State came back and made another offer.
Benton’s senior must now consider the possibility of not only playing Division I basketball, but baseball as well.
