Sunday, August 31, 2014
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Former MSSU outfielder wins minor league batting title
(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)
Former Missouri Southern outfielder Logan Moon went 1-1 in the season finale Friday for the Burlington Royals and with that performance, Moon won the Appalachian League batting title in his first professional season.
Moon came into the game with the Princeton Rays on Friday night, needing to go just 1-1 to win the league batting crown. He led off the bottom of the first with an infield single and Burlington manager Tommy Shields pinch ran for Moon to secure the title. Moon finished the season with a .332 batting average in his first season of professional baseball.
"It was nice to get him the batting title," Shields said after the game. "Not a lot of guys get to win a batting title, it's hard to do with one a year per league. He earned it."
Moon was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round of this summer's Major League Baseball draft. He picked up his first professional hit in his second game where he went 2-4 at the plate. He picked up his first professional home run on July 13 as he belted two against Johnson City.
Throughout the season, Moon had 18 multi-hit games, including eight games with three or more hits and two four-hit games. In that July 13 game where he hit his first two pro home runs, Moon went 3-4 with three runs scored and three driven in.
For the season, Moon hit .332, with two home runs, 24 RBIs, 23 runs scored, five triples, ten doubles and a team-record 75 hits.
Former Missouri Southern outfielder Logan Moon went 1-1 in the season finale Friday for the Burlington Royals and with that performance, Moon won the Appalachian League batting title in his first professional season.
Moon came into the game with the Princeton Rays on Friday night, needing to go just 1-1 to win the league batting crown. He led off the bottom of the first with an infield single and Burlington manager Tommy Shields pinch ran for Moon to secure the title. Moon finished the season with a .332 batting average in his first season of professional baseball.
"It was nice to get him the batting title," Shields said after the game. "Not a lot of guys get to win a batting title, it's hard to do with one a year per league. He earned it."
Moon was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the sixth round of this summer's Major League Baseball draft. He picked up his first professional hit in his second game where he went 2-4 at the plate. He picked up his first professional home run on July 13 as he belted two against Johnson City.
Throughout the season, Moon had 18 multi-hit games, including eight games with three or more hits and two four-hit games. In that July 13 game where he hit his first two pro home runs, Moon went 3-4 with three runs scored and three driven in.
For the season, Moon hit .332, with two home runs, 24 RBIs, 23 runs scored, five triples, ten doubles and a team-record 75 hits.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Missouri Southern golfers picked to finish eighth
(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)
In the first men's golf poll to be released by the MIAA the Central Missouri men were an unanimous decisions to win the league championship. The Mules are coming off season's where they were able to win the conference tournament.
Central Oklahoma is picked second coming in just four points ahead of Northeastern State who received the other first place vote and is picked third. Lindenwood has been picked to finish fourth just six points ahead of Nebraska-Kearney who is picked to finish fifth by the coaches. Washburn is picked to finish sixth in the poll while Missouri Western has been picked to finish in seventh place.
Lincoln and Missouri Southern tied in their votes form the coaches as they are both picked to finish eighth overall. Fort Hays State has been picked to finish tenth ahead of Southwest Baptist who is picked to finish in eleventh overall.
Lincoln and Missouri Southern tied in their votes form the coaches as they are both picked to finish eighth overall. Fort Hays State has been picked to finish tenth ahead of Southwest Baptist who is picked to finish in eleventh overall.
2014 MIAA Preseason Men's Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri (10) 100
2. Central Oklahoma 85
3. Northeastern State (1) 81
4. Lindenwood 71
5. Nebraska-Kearney 65
6. Washburn 56
7. Missouri Western 41
T8. Lincoln 33
T8. Missouri Southern 33
10. Fort Hays State 30
11. Southwest Baptist 10
1. Central Missouri (10) 100
2. Central Oklahoma 85
3. Northeastern State (1) 81
4. Lindenwood 71
5. Nebraska-Kearney 65
6. Washburn 56
7. Missouri Western 41
T8. Lincoln 33
T8. Missouri Southern 33
10. Fort Hays State 30
11. Southwest Baptist 10
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
MSSU men's cross country picked to win it all
(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)
The Missouri Southern men's cross country team has been picked to win the 2014 MIAA Cross Country Title as the league announced the pre-season coaches' poll today.
The Lions return ten runners from last year's squad that finished 19th at the 2013 NCAA Division II Championship. Four of the top five runners that helped the Lions to a second place showing at the 2013 MIAA Championships and a third place finish at the Central Region return to action.
The Lions received eight of the nine first-place votes (teams can't vote for themselves) for 64 points. Southwest Baptist was picked to finish second, followed by Central Missouri, which received the other first-place vote. Nebraska-Kearney was picked fourth, followed by Northwest Missouri, Pittsburg State, Fort Hays State, Lindenwood and Emporia State to round out the poll.
The Lions will open up the regular season with the 2014 Southern Stampede on September 20 at the MSSU Cross Country Course.
2014 MIAA Preseason Men's Coaches Poll
1. Missouri Southern (8) 64
2. Southwest Baptist 53
3. Central Missouri (1) 48
4. Nebraska-Kearney 41
5. Northwest Missouri 36
6. Pittsburg State 31
7. Fort Hays State 28
8. Lindenwood 15
9. Emporia State 8
MSSU women's cross country picked to finish third
(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)
The Missouri Southern women's cross country team has been picked to finish third in the 2014 MIAA Women's Cross Country Coaches Poll, the league announced today.
The Lions earned three of the possible 11 first-place votes (teams can't vote for themselves). The top four teams were packed as just eight points separated first-place from fourth.
Southern returns 11 runners from a season ago and virtually every point scorer from last year's fourth-place finishing squad at the MIAA Championships. Southern also returns Kaitlyn Belisle who sat out last year with an injury, as well as NCAA qualifier Dora Eastin.
2013 MIAA Champion Southwest Baptist was picked to repeat as champs this year, earning five of the 11 first-place votes. Pittsburg State earned one first-place vote and picked up 86 points, while the Lions had three top votes and earned 85 points. Nebraska-Kearney was picked to finish fourth, while Central Missouri, Northwest Missouri, Fort Hays, Central Oklahoma, Lindenwood, Lincoln and Emporia State round out the poll.
The Lions will open up the regular season with the 2014 Southern Stampede on September 20 at the MSSU Cross Country Course.
2014 MIAA Preseason Women's Coaches Poll
1. Southwest Baptist (5) 91
2. Pittsburg State (1) 86
3. Missouri Southern (3) 85
4. Nebraska-Kearney (2) 83
5. Central Missouri 63
6. Northwest Missouri 51
7. Fort Hays State
47
8. Central Oklahoma 36
9. Lindenwood 31
10. Lincoln 20
11. Emporia State 12
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Monday, August 25, 2014
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Friday, August 15, 2014
Video- Carl Junction High School Football Preview
A report from KOAM Sports
KOAM TV 7 Joplin and Pittsburg
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Missouri Southern volleyball picked to finish 11th
(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)
The Missouri Southern Volleyball team has been picked to finish 11th in the 2014 MIAA Pre-Season Coaches Poll as announced by the league office today.
The Lions, under first-year coach John Napier, return seven players off a squad that went 4-26 last season. Southern returns All-MIAA hitter Katie Politte, as well as five of its six starters from a season ago. Politte led the Lions in 2013 with 3.34 kills per set as she amassed 304 kills in 24 matches played.
Defending league champion Central Missouri was picked to repeat, earning six of the 12 first-place votes. Washburn was picked second, followed by Nebraska-Kearney, Central Oklahoma and Emporia State to round out the top five. Missouri Western was sixth, followed by Pittsburg State, Northwest Missouri, Lindenwood, Fort Hays State, Southern and Southwest Baptist.
Southern starts the season on September 5th and 6th at the Angelo State Tournament.
2014 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll1. Central Missouri (6) 115
2. Washburn (4) 110
3. Nebraska-Kearney (2) 108
4. Central Oklahoma 86
5. Emporia State 76
6. Missouri Western 68
7. Pittsburg State 59
8. Northwest Missouri 55
9. Lindenwood 42
10. Fort Hays State 38
11. Missouri Southern 1812. Southwest Baptist 17
2. Washburn (4) 110
3. Nebraska-Kearney (2) 108
4. Central Oklahoma 86
5. Emporia State 76
6. Missouri Western 68
7. Pittsburg State 59
8. Northwest Missouri 55
9. Lindenwood 42
10. Fort Hays State 38
11. Missouri Southern 1812. Southwest Baptist 17
Monday, August 11, 2014
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Coaches, media pick MSSU football to finish seventh
The Missouri Southern football team has been picked to finish seventh in both the coaches and media polls that were released today as part of the 2014 MIAA Football Media Day held at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.
The Lions are coming off of a 7-3 season that saw the team finish fifth in the final regular season standings at 5-3 and defeat ninth-ranked Pittsburg State on the road to finish the season.
Nine Lions were named All-MIAA in 2013 and eight of the nine return to the team. Chris Barnwell was named All-Region and All-American, while Giresse Forchu was an Academic All-District selection. The Lions ended the 2013 campaign as Division II's leader in time of possession, holding onto the ball for an average of 35:14 each game. Southern also ranked second nationally in both rushing yardage and fewest passes intercepted. In all, the Lions ranked in the top ten nationally in nine different categories, while ranking 14th in turnovers lost.
The Lions, in one fewer game than the old record took, destroyed the rushing record set in 2012 (3,043) by rushing for 3,684 yards in 2013. The team also broke a record set in 2012 in largest gain per rush by averaging 6.2 yards per carry, while also breaking the record for rushing attempts with 597. The Lions broke the single-game rushing record with 607 yards put up against Lincoln in 2013, besting the old record by more than 100 yards.
The Lions return nine starters on offense, including five All-MIAA performers in Jay McDowell, Barnwell, Forchu, Caleb Benner and Austin Wolfe, while six starters return on defense, including three All-MIAA players (Gaige Washington, Dalvin Taylor, Johnquavious McBride).
Southern starts the 2014 season at Emporia State on September 4 with a 7 pm, Thursday night kickoff. The Lions' home opener will be on Thursday, September 11 against defending National Champion Northwest Missouri. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium inside the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex is slated for 6:30 pm.
2013 NCAA Division II National Champion Northwest Missouri was picked to win in both polls. The coaches chose Pittsburg State to finish second, while Central Missouri, Emporia State and Missouri Western rounded out the top five. Washburn was sixth, followed by Southern, Fort Hays, Lindenwood, Central Oklahoma, Nebraska-Kearney and Northeastern State.
In the Media Poll, the top two schools remained the same, but Emporia State was picked third, followed by Missouri Western and Washburn to round out the top five. Central Missouri was sixth, followed by Southern, Fort Hays, Lindenwood, Nebraska-Kearney, Central Oklahoma, and Northeastern State.
Both complete polls are listed below.
2014 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (11) 121
2. Pittsburg State (1) 106
3. Central Missouri 94
4. Emporia State 88
5. Missouri Western 82
6. Washburn 79
7. Missouri Southern 67
8. Fort Hays State 50
9. Lindenwood 39
10. Central Oklahoma 26
11. Nebraska-Kearney 23
12. Northeastern State 17
2014 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (37) 466
2. Pittsburg State (1) 422
3. Emporia State (1) 353
4. Missouri Western 348
5. Washburn 306
6. Central Missouri 285
7. Missouri Southern 258
8. Fort Hays State 191
9. Lindenwood 142
10. Nebraska-Kearney 109
11. Central Oklahoma 96
12. Northeastern State 66
Monday, August 4, 2014
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Southern distance runner training in Kenya for U. S. Marathon Trials
(From MSSU Lions Athletic News)
Former Missouri Southern distance runner Jake Benton will look to further his running career by traveling to Kenya to train to qualify for the US Marathon Trials to be held in Los Angeles in 2016.
Benton is in his last semester of classes at Missouri Southern and currently carries a 4.00 GPA in biology and pre-med and plans to enroll in medical school after college. His dream of becoming a doctor, however, will take a short backseat to his other dream of competing in the Olympics.
Benton, a four-year distance runner for the Lions out of Wentzville, Mo., helped continue the tradition of dominance for the MSSU program during his career. A cross country All-MIAA and All-Region selection his final two seasons, Benton helped the Lions to two appearances in the NCAA XC Championships, finishing 8th in 2012 and 19th in 2013. During his tenure, the team finished no lower than third at the MIAA XC meet.
He ran his first half-marathon in Springfield recently and placed first, 15 minutes in front of the second-place runner. That time qualified him for the American Development (sub-elite) corral in the Chicago Marathon to take place this fall. Having done that, Benton has decided to try to qualify for the 2016 US Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles, California. That event will take place in February of 2016. The top three from that race will qualify for the 2016 US Olympic Team to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
With that goal in mind, Benton has decided to take his training international and will be moving to Iten, Kenya in January 2015 to train for a year with some of the world's most elite distance runners. He will be staying in a running compound called Run Kenya.
Benton will first compete in the Chicago half marathon this September and then the full marathon in October. He will start training in Kenya in January. Part of his training will include a half marathon in Milan, Italy in March of 2015, as well as the Berlin Marathon in November of 2015. Leading up to his move to Kenya, Benton will graduate this December from Missouri Southern and will train with the MSSU cross country team this fall.
When he's not training in Kenya, Benton plans to keep up on his education by taking online, continuing education courses in biology, while also volunteering at a local hospital.
Benton has developed various ways people can follow his training overseas, from a website entailing every detail, as well as a support page on Facebook for people to not only keep up with him, but also as a way to help donate to his cause. Links to each page can be found at the top of this story. If he qualifies for Los Angeles in 2016, he will be the second former MSSU runner to do so as former All-American Kimi (Shank) Reed has already qualified for the trials herself.
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