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Cougars Head to Nationals |
by Jason Anschutz |
 You
would expect a team that's just a few days away from
nationals to be a little nervous, but instead the
USF tennis team is doing a lot of smiling. Returning
to the tournament for the second straight year has
allowed them to enjoy their journey.
Juan Mata says, "Since we already experienced it
last year at nationals, I think we have a better
chance this year just because we know what to
expect."
They also say it gives them a better chance to win
down in Alabama.
Michel Marcoux says, "We don't have any pressure
because all the teams we're gonna play are higher in
the ranking than us, so, nothing bad can happen.
We're just gonna play stress-free and do our best
all the time."
The Coo lost in the first round of last year's
tournament, but this time around they play a
familiar foe. Earlier this year, with two of their
starters out injured, the Coo lost to Graceland of
Iowa nine matches to zero. Now they've drawn them in
the first round.
Kevin Grebin says, "We are a much improved team
since the middle of March. The guys are looking
forward to kind of a revenge factor at this end.
That we're playing at least a team that we have a
little bit of knowledge about."
And with everyone healthy, they think they have a
chance to surprise their foes and make it out of the
first round.
Grebin says, "Everybody cheers for the underdog most
of the time."
These underdogs have nothing to lose. Maybe that's
part of the reason they're smiling. |
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Pearson Back on Bench for LHS |
By KDLT Sports |
 Lyle
Pearson has been named the head girls basketball
coach at Lincoln High School beginning with the
2008-09 school year. Lyle has been teaching at
Lincoln HS for 22 years and was the head boys
basketball coach for 18 years.
Lyle replaces Shawn Bergan. |
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Johnson and Dickhausen Honored |
By KDLT Sports |
 Southwest
Minnesota State softball players Erin Dickhausen and
Amanda Johnson were both named Louisville Slugger/NFCA
first team all-region on Thursday afternoon. The
announcement came from the National Fastpitch
Coaches Association.
For Dickhausen, it is the third time in her career
that she has earned NFCA first team all-region
honors, while Johnson was named to the second team
in each of her first two seasons.
Dickhausen, a senior catcher from Watertown, Minn.,
is second for the Mustangs with a .348 batting
average and leads the team with 57 hits, 38 runs
scored, 14 stolen bases and five triples. She also
has 23 runs batted in, 10 doubles and two home runs.
Last week, she was named first team All-NSIC and
NSIC Player of the Year. She also earned NSIC Player
of the Week honors on Mar. 31. She currently holds
career records at SMSU for runs scored (154), hits
(220), triples (22), home runs (26), runs batted in
(126), total bases (371) and stolen bases (72).
Dickhausen is also second in slugging percentage
(.597) and fifth in batting average (.354).
Johnson, a junior pitcher from Fremont, Neb., leads
the Mustangs with a 1.11 ERA in 220 innings with 259
strikeouts. She has 23 complete games and nine
shutouts, while posting a 27-4 record with five
saves. Opponents have just 164 hits against her
(.201 opponents¹ batting average) and she has walked
just 23 batters. Last week, she was named first team
All-NSIC and NSIC Pitcher of the Year. She has been
named NSIC Pitcher of the Week twice this spring.
She already holds career school records for
strikeouts (834), strikeouts per seven innings
(8.69), fewest walks per seven innings (1.18), wins
(77), saves (13), shutouts (25), complete games
(75), innings pitched (671.2), appearances (119),
games started (86) and is second in ERA (1.34).
Southwest is currently ranked No. 12 in NCAA II will
play at 12:30 p.m. today (May 8) against Northwest
Missouri State in the NCAA North Central Regional
Tournament in Emporia, Kan. The Mustangs earned the
second seed in the region after going 38-10 in the
regular season and capturing the regular season NSIC
title with a 17-1 record in the conference. The
regional tournament appearance is SMSU¹s third
consecutive and third in school history. |
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Kampsen Named 2008 NSIC Co-Player of
the Year |
By KDLT Sports |
 Northern
State senior Adam Kampsen has been named a 2008 NSIC
Baseball Co-Player of the Year, announced today by
the conference office. He shares the title with Marc
Manganaro of Wayne State College. The only other
Northern State baseball player to be named Player of
the Year was Deacon Burns, who also shared the title
in 2004. Kampsen is a three-time All-NSIC First Team
honoree.
A Paynesville, Minn. native, Kampsen finished second
in the league with a .435 batting average. He led
the nation in slugging percentage through the
regular season with a mark of 0.968 and topped all
NSIC players with 57 RBI’s and hit 15 homeruns on
the season. Additionally, Kampsen was the 2008 NSIC
Champion for RBI’s (39) and homeruns (11) (all
official statistics Champions are based on NSIC
contests only). He was named NSIC Player of the Week
three times and was also honored as a DII
Ping!Baseball Spotlight Player of the Week.
Kampsen played in 181 games for the Wolves in his
career. He batted .391 over four years and racked up
227 hits, which ranks second all-time at Northern
State. Kampsen leads NSU’s career record lists in
RBI’s (174), homeruns (45) and doubles (tied, 42)
(records excluding 1993-98 seasons). Kampsen had a
career slugging percentage of .731 and was
successful on 32 of 36 stolen bases. Fielding
various positions in the infield throughout his
reign, Kampsen had a career fielding mark of .915. |
|
Lincoln Has New Wrestling Coach |
By KDLT Sports |
 Mark
Ernster has been named the head wrestling coach at
Lincoln High School beginning with the 2008-09
school year. Mark is a graduate of the University of
Sioux Falls and is currently teaching and is the
assistant wrestling coach at Washington HS.
Beginning in the fall of 2008, Mark will teach
physical science at Lincoln High School.
Mark replaces Cory Smidt who took a teaching job in
Minnesota. |
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Augie Women's Golfers Rally from 16
Shots Down to Finish Second at Regional |
By KDLT Sports |
 Augustana
staged a tremendous comeback, rallying from a
16-shot deficit at the start of the day to finish in
second place at the NCAA Division II North Regional
Women's Golf Championships Wednesday at King's Walk
Golf Course in Grand Forks, N.D. By finishing
second, the Vikings qualify for the NCAA Division II
Women’s Golf Championships for the first time in
school history.
The Vikings shot a 308 as a team to finish the
54-hole tournament with a team score of 940. They
edged Minnesota State and Upper Iowa by 1 shot as
both the Mavericks and Peacocks finished at 941.
Nebraska-Omaha won the team title at 913 and will
also advance to the national championships.
Augustana was in sixth place after each of the first
2 rounds. The Vikings entered Wednesday’s action
with a team score of 632, 16 shots behind Minnesota
State and 6 shots behind Upper Iowa.
The Vikings were among the first three teams to tee
off, along with North Dakota and Truman State. Augie
fired a 308 to jump ahead of UND and TSU which shot
316 and 317. The Vikings then had to wait for the
final three teams to finish.
In addition, Carley Roach and Courtney Belanger were
watching the scoreboard to see what their chances
were to qualify for nationals as individuals. In
order to do that, they would need to be one of the
top two individuals not on qualifying teams.
Roach began the day in eighth place, while Belanger
was tied for second, three shots off the lead. Roach
opened the final round with a pair of birdies en
route to an even-par 72, giving her a final score of
225, good enough for fourth place, but not good
enough for an individual berth. Belanger briefly had
the lead after shooting 1-under par after seven
holes. She remained in contention for an individual
berth after 13 holes, but Belanger bogeyed three of
the final five holes to finish in a fifth-place tie
at 226 for the tournament.
However, Minnesota State shot 6-over par as a team
over the final three holes to finish at 325 for the
day, while Upper Iowa was +12 over the final three
holes to finish with a 315 for the day, opening the
door for Augustana to jump into second place.
Head coach Peggy Kirby also received strong
performances from her other three golfers. Kelly
Lauer shot a 78 on Wednesday to finish in a tie for
23rd place at 244. Joelle Kowalczyk was next in 29th
place at 248, while Kaari Espeland tied for 30th
place at 251.
Kaytie Spangler of Truman State and Rachael Schmidt
of Upper Iowa earned the individual qualifying
berths after tying for second place at 224.
The NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships will
be held May 13-16 in Houston, Texas. The 72-hole
tournament, which will be a part of the Division II
National Championships Festival, will be played at
Memorial Park Golf Course.
Team Scores
1 Nebraska-Omaha, 303-303-307 = 913
2 Augustana (SD), 322-310-308 = 940
T3 Minnesota State, 310-306-325 = 941
T3 Upper Iowa, 316-310-315 = 941
T5 Truman State, 318-311-317 = 946
T5 North Dakota, 319-311-316 = 946
Augustana Results
4. Carley Roach, 78-75-72 = 225
T5. Courtney Belanger, 76-73-77 = 226
T23. Kelly Lauer, 84-82-78 = 244
29. Joelle Kowalczyk, 84-83-81 = 248
T30. Kaari Espeland, 84-80-87 = 251 |
|
Canaries Prepare for Thursday Opener |
By KDLT Sports |
 Last
year's Sioux Falls Canaries team came out of nowhere
to win 53 games, just two shy of the franchise
record. In 2008, they'll be looking to improve on
that mark, and maybe make the playoffs in the
American Association.
Steve Shirley, Canaries Manager says, "We've got a
very difficult division as far as independent
baseball and I think that we'd love to get off to a
hot start so that maybe we can get a little
separation."
The bird’s strength may very well be in their
pitching staff. Returning from last year are the
likes of Lenny Bays who went 8-1, mostly out of the
bullpen, as well as reliever Kris Regas who had a
1.45 era. The rotation looks even better, returning
last year's ace, Pat Mahomes.
Pat Mahomes, birds veteran pitcher says, "Our
starting pitching should be good with me, Ford and
Cheppenko coming back and a couple of new guys, so
hopefully we can go out and get off to a fast start
like we did last year and try to hold on from
there."
The lineup isn't bad either. Just ask Will Smith,
who hit .367 last year before an injury ended his
season early.
Will smith, batting leader says, "So far from what
I've seen in the games, it looks pretty good. We've
got a couple guys who've hit 3rd or 4th in
affiliated ball and they come here and they're
hitting bottom of the order and still raking."
There are a few new faces as well, including Josh
Patton. The all-star second basemen helped the
Lincoln Saltdogs make the playoffs in 2007. Now he's
looking for something more.
Josh Patton, League All-star says, "That's the only
reason why I'm here is to win a championship. I know
I'm a little bit older than some people, Pat and I.
I don't know if I'm ever gonna get picked up, but my
goal and the reason why I still play baseball is I
love it and I want to win a championship."
For a team that's only been to the playoffs once,
those are big words...but with this group, maybe
they aren't so out of the question. |
TWINS REINSTATE KEVIN SLOWEY FROM D.L.AND PLACE
SCOTT BAKER ON THE D.L.
|
By KDLT Sports |
 Glen
Perkins Named Probable Starter for Saturday
The Minnesota Twins announced today that they will
return Kevin Slowey from his rehab assignment and
reinstate the righthanded pitcher from the 15-day
disabled list in time for Thursday’s game at
Chicago. Slowey was originally placed on the
disabled list April 12 (retro to April 4) with a
right biceps strain. He has made one start for the
Twins this season and is 0-1, 8.10 (3.1 ip, 3 er)
with no walks and two strikeouts.
To make room for Slowey on the 25-man roster, the
Twins have placed righthanded pitcher Scott Baker on
the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to May 4) with
a right groin strain. Baker is 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA
(33.0 ip, 15 er) in six starts this season.
Additionally, the Twins plan to recall lefthanded
pitcher Glen Perkins from Triple-A Rochester and
have named him the probable starter for Saturday’s
game with the Boston Red Sox at the Metrodome. In
seven games (six starts) with the Red Wings, Perkins
went 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA (33.1 ip, 11 er). Perkins
pitched for the Twins in parts of both the 2006 and
2007 seasons and has a career ERA of 2.88 (34.1 ip,
11 er) in 23 games. Saturday would be his first
Major League start. |
|
Kristin Kono named USF head softball
coach |
By KDLT Sports |
 University
of Sioux Falls Director of Athletics William Sanchez
is pleased to name Kristin Kono as the next
University of Sioux Falls head softball coach.
“This is an exciting hire for USF,” Sanchez said.
“We are thrilled to have Kristin taking over the
leadership of our softball program. We are ready to
help Kristin put USF in contention to be a perennial
powerhouse in the GPAC and beyond.”
Kono replaces Kristi Gillen, who resigned at the
conclusion of the 2008 season after a four-year
coaching stint at USF.
“I’m really honored to return to USF and lead a
program that I was fortunate enough to be a member
of as an athlete,” Kono said. “I consider this a
homecoming and embrace the challenge of taking us to
the next level.”
Kono has spent the past two seasons as a graduate
assistant coach on the Augustana College softball
coaching staff.
Kono enjoyed a standout collegiate career as a
softball and basketball player at the University of
Sioux Falls before joining the Viking coaching
staff.
A four-year starter for the Cougar softball team,
Kono was a three-time All-Great Plains Athletic
Conference performer. She was a first team selection
in 2004 and 2006 as well as a second team pick in
2005. In addition, Kono was chosen to the All-Region
III Team as a sophomore and senior.
During her career, Kono set numerous single-season
school records, including batting average (.477),
runs scored (40), doubles (11), walks (24) and on
base percentage (.571).
Kono was a key figure in the Cougars’ 29-16 season
in 2005. That year, USF won the GPAC and Region III
championships to advance to the NAIA National
Tournament.
Kono began her coaching career as an assistant
softball coach at Sioux Falls Lincoln High School in
2005. She also served one year as the ninth grade
girls B team head coach at Sioux Falls Washington
High School. During that time she was also an
assistant girl’s varsity basketball coach for the
Warriors.
A Sioux Falls native, Kono earned a bachelor’s
degree in elementary education from USF in 2006 and
is nearing her completion of a master’s degree. |
|
Krogman, Yackley receive state
basketball awards |
By KDLT Sports |
 Players
from two state champion teams have received
season-ending basketball awards.
Louie Krogman of White River was named Mr.
Basketball, and Alexis Yackley of Sully Buttes was
named Ms. Basketball.
Both teams won Class B state titles this year.
Krogman averaged thirty-three points a game and set
the state's all-time career scoring record. He's a
6-foot-1 guard who'll play at the University of
South Dakota.
Yackley is a 5-7 guard who averaged eighteen points
a game. She has signed to play basketball at Iowa
State. |
|
Gulseth Hired As NSU Baseball Coach |
By KDLT Sports |
 Northern
State University athletics director, Bob Olson, has
announced that Mark Gulseth has been hired as the
head baseball coach for the Wolves. Gulseth was
brought onto the NSU staff as an emergency hire last
June and was asked to accept the permanent position
following a recent hiring search. Gulseth is also an
admissions counselor at Northern.
"We are excited that Coach Gulseth came to the
forefront in our search process," said Olson. "He
has established a good foundation within his first
year and we feel that the future looks bright for
the baseball program under Coach Gulseth's
leadership."
Gulseth wrapped up his first season as skipper of
the Wolves baseball squad last weekend. He brought
the inherited Wolves to a final record of 15-28
overall and 11-21 in the Northern Sun Conference.
This is just the third time in the past ten years
that an NSU squad posted fifteen or more wins.
Additionally, it is the most NSIC wins for any
Northern team since conference play expanded to 20+
games in 2002. The Wolves wrapped up the year with
wins in six of their last eight games.
Gulseth has years of experience coaching baseball in
the Aberdeen area. He has led the Aberdeen Smitty's
Legion baseball team since 2001 and served as head
coach of the Smitty's high school team for the first
four years of its inception. Gulseth was named South
Dakota High School Coach of the Year in 2004 and
2005. His Smitty's won the 2007 State Championship,
just one of three titles earned in the four years
under his reign.
Gulseth played collegiate baseball at the University
of New Mexico, where he was named a Western Athletic
Conference All-Star in 1992 and 1993, and was a 1993
NCAA baseball All-American. He was a 19th round
draft pick (526th overall) for the San Francisco
Giants in 1993 and spent seven seasons with the
organization playing first base and outfield.
Gulseth received a degree in physical education from
Moorhead State University in 1996 and earned a
Master's degree in health and physical education
from Northern State University in 2006. He was a
physical education, health and mathematics teacher
at Leola Public Schools prior to taking the position
at NSU. While there, he coached the Leola boy's and
girl's golf team from 2000-04 and was named South
Dakota High School Golf Coach of the Year in 2001
and 2002. |
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