Tuesday, 11.22.11 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net 8 sports PRESS DAKOTAN SPORTS DEPARTMENT: [email protected] Verlander Wins AL MVP, 1st Starting Pitcher In 25 Years NEW YORK (AP) — Detroit’s Justin baseman Miguel Cabrera 27-6 in 1990. Verlander pitched his second tion players) and it happens on rare occa- should be eligible for MVP. Verlander became the first starting with 193. career no-hitter at Toronto on May 7. sions, and I guess this year was one of “I’d wrestled with this for a long time. pitcher in a quarter-century voted Most “Not even in my Last week, he was a unanimous Cy those years.” If I was ever going to vote for pitcher for Valuable Player, adding it to the Cy Young wildest dreams had I Young winner. On Monday, he became the The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year, Verlan- MVP, it would be him this year,” Ingraham Award he won last week. thought of this,” Verlan- first pitcher voted MVP since Oakland’s der joined the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Don said. “He hasn’t appeared in 79 percent of Verlander earned the American League der said. “I want to say Dennis Eckersley in 1992 and the first Newcombe as the only players to win all their games, any starting pitcher really MVP honor Monday, receiving 13 of 28 this is a dream come true. starting pitcher since Boston’s Roger three major awards in their careers. doesn’t appear in 79 percent of his team’s first-place votes and 280 points in voting I can’t say that because Clemens in 1986. “I think this set a precedent,” Verlan- games in a year. announced by the Baseball Writers’ Asso- my dream had already “I think that a starting pitcher has to der said. “I’m happy that the voters ac- “Would you vote for an NFL quarter- ciation of America. had come true ... to win a Verlander do something special to be as valuable or knowledged that, that we do have a major back for MVP if he only appeared in three “Obviously pitchers are not just writ- Cy Young. And the next more so than a position player,” Verlander impact in this game and we can be ex- of his team’s 16 games, which would be ten off all of a sudden because they’re dream is to win a World Series. This was- said. “Obviously, having the chance to tremely valuable to our team and its suc- 21 percent? So that’s part of it. Another pitchers,” Verlander said. n’t even on my radar until the talk play in 160-some games in the case of cess.” part of it is I think they’re apples and or- Boston center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury started. And then all of a sudden it was a Miguel, they can obviously have a huge Verlander appeared on only 27 ballots anges. The guys that are in there every was second with four firsts and 242 this-could-actually-happen type of thing.” impact every day. That’s why, I’ve talked and was omitted by Jim Ingraham of The day, there’s a grind to a season that a points, followed by Toronto right fielder Verlander won the AL’s pitching triple about on my day, on a pitcher’s day, the Herald-News in Ohio, who voted Bautista starting pitcher doesn’t, I don’t think, ex- Jose Bautista with five firsts and 231 crown, going 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and 250 impact we have is tremendous on that first. Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon perience the way the everyday position points, Yankees center fielder Curtis strikeouts, the most wins in the major game. So you have to have a great impact Journal voted Verlander eighth. Granderson with 215 and Detroit first leagues since Oakland’s Bob Welch went almost every time out to supersede (posi- Ingraham doesn’t think pitchers VERLANDER | PAGE 9

Waverly-SS Trio COLLEGE BASKETBALL Lead Class 9B All-State List Stingy ‘D’ Has Lancers Rolling BY ROGER MERRIAM Watertown Public Opinion Women: Turnovers A Focus After Loss BY JEREMY HOECK WATERTOWN (AP) — There is n [email protected] “I’ve always consid- one very logical reason why Wa- ered it to be a two-year verly-South Shore’s football team Though in a small sample size, left a lot of its foes seeing double process, because it the Mount Marty College men’s seems to take a year for this fall. basketball team may actually be Senior twins — quarterback ahead of expectations. guys to get familiar with Taylor Zemlicka and wide re- Perhaps a scary thought for what we do.” ceiver Tyson Zemlicka — were the rest of the Great Plains Ath- two of the central figures for a letic Conference (GPAC)? COACH JIM THORSON Coyote team that went 12-0 and Through four games, Mount captured the first state football Marty (3-1, 1-0) has not allowed championship in school history. an opponent to score more than four double-digit scorers, led by The Zemlickas and 265-pound 70 points. As a result, the Lancers Trevor Wolterstorff (19.57), who senior center Ridge Lindberg are rank third in NAIA Division II in dropped 42 points in a non-con- among the 24 players named to field goal percentage defense ference game on Nov. 12. the South Dakota Football (.370) and eighth in scoring de- “You can have all the tech- Coaches Association’s Class 9B fense (57.25). nique in the world, but you still All-State It’s quite a start for a team have to get in there and make team re- that boasts two transfers — some plays,” Thorson said. “They leased Tues- Mitch Ackelson and Scott have a lot of guns, that’s for sure. day. also Odekirk — and another, Will It’ll take a good team effort to Taylor, an Eddie, with 11 games under his stop them.” honorable- n The Full Class belt a year ago in the starting Once again leading the Mount mention se- lineup. Marty offense, and has been lection on 9B All-State List Can Be Found “I’ve always considered it to proven, the defense, will be Ack- the All-State be a two-year process, because it elson. The senior transfer point team a year In Scoreboard. guard ranks sixth nationally in PAGE 9 seems to take a year for guys to ago, capped get familiar with what we do,” total rebounds per game (10). He a stellar ca- said head coach Jim Thorson, also leads the Lancers in scoring reer by com- whose team opened GPAC play (14.75), assists (2.25) and steals pleting 122 of with a 61-51 victory over Concor- (2.5). 186 passes for 2,176 yards and 32 dia on Saturday. “He’s been a huge addition for touchdowns. He also ran for 711 “And then we’ve usually seen us,” Thorson said. “He gives us yards and 19 touchdowns — es- an amazing difference after that another scorer that maybe we tablishing a new nine-man state first year,” he added. “But this were lacking a year ago or even record for total TDs (51) in a sea- year, the guys have picked it up before that. What we’re looking son. pretty fast.” for is consistency, obviously, and Tyson, a repeat All-State selec- Among Mount Marty’s non- we’ve been able to count on him tion, was on the receiving end of conference wins this season have in that way so far.” 44 of Taylor’s passes for 789 been Ashford, an NAIA Tourna- Even with Ackelson’s produc- yards and 16 touchdowns. He is ment team a year ago, and NCAA tion, the Lancers are still a rela- the state’s all-time leader in nine- Division III Presentation. tively balanced offensive squad. man career receptions, receiving Then came Saturday, when the Three players average double yards and TD receptions. Lancers held Concordia to 32 figures in scoring — Ackelson, “I think anybody would have percent shooting, including a 5- Austin Harms (11.25) and taken just one player like that but of-17 clip on three-pointers. It Spencer Yackley (10.75) — and to have two ... it was honor to was that performance that another, Joe Hieb, averages 9.5 coach those guys. It’s something showed MMC might just have points per game. that doesn’t come along very what it takes to slow down some “The one area that’s bee nice often,” said Waverly-South Shore of the league’s best teams, Thor- to see, our posts are getting great coach Billy Kirch. “They’re just son said. looks,” Thorson said. “If we can outstanding players, great ath- “Defense, the way we run it, get some pretty good scoring out letes and great leaders.” has been a real critical coaching of that position every night, then Certainly there were others point, and we’ve still got a way to we could be a very solid club.” who contributed to the dominant go,” he said Monday night. “Going season for the Coyotes, who into the season, we thought we Women Looking For outscored their foes 668-118 this had a chance to be very good on season — capped with a 58-24 that side of the court.” Improvement win over Avon in the state cham- Now comes the biggest test of It didn’t take long on Saturday pionship game. One of those was the young season. Lindberg, who was a force on to figure out what was going Tonight (Tuesday) at 8 p.m., wrong for the Mount Marty both sides of the ball. Mount Marty hosts No. 16- The All-State squad includes women’s basketball team. ranked Dordt, which ranks fourth The Lancers committed 26 21 seniors — seven of them re- in the country in scoring (90.71) peat all-staters, three from Class JEREMY HOECK/P&D turnovers — caused mostly by Mount Marty's Austin Harms goes up for a layup in transition during Saturday afternoon's GPAC men's and first in defensive rebounds 9A and three from Class 9AA in per game (32.0). 2010. game against Concordia at Laddie E. Cimpl Arena. The Lancers, who host Dordt tonight (Tuesday), rank third in the country in field goal percentage defense and eighth in scoring defense. The Defenders (7-0, 1-0) boast MMC | PAGE 9 Jacks Men Top Niagara In CBE Classic College Briefs: SDSU’s Sumner Named Rice Finalist BROOKINGS (AP) — South women’s basketball game Monday night in Or- day for the 25th Eddie Robinson Award. The MACON, Ga. — Niagara did game at 71-68 with 4:01 left to The Jackrabbits return to ac- Dakota State University quarter- ange City, Iowa. winner will be announced Jan. 6 in Frisco, not go down without a fight on play. tion today (Tuesday) against Sam back Austin Sumner is one of 20 fi- Tara DesLauriers led the Lancers (2-2) with Texas, the night before the national champi- Monday at the CBE Classic in The defense held on, and the Houston State. The Jacks face off 23 points, while Kelli Norrid added 18 points and onship game. nalists for the inaugural Jerry Rice Sarah Cosgrove chipped in with 11. Holly Bohl led the Bison to a 10-1 regular season Macon, Ga., but South Dakota Jacks made just enough free at 3:30 p.m. CT. Award as the top freshman in the State held off a late Purple Eagles throws down the stretch to se- NIAGARA (1-2) Hegge recorded 10 points, nine rebounds and record and a first-round bye in the playoffs. Green 7-17 3-4 18, Tanksley 2-5 4-5 8, Gillette 2-3 0-1 4, Football Championship Subdivi- five steals, while Cheyenne Lambley also pulled rally to secure a 79-71 win, be- cure the tournament-opening Mason 9-15 7-11 26, Jordan 2-11 0-0 5, Williams 2-2 0-0 4, sion. down nine rebounds. NDSU Gets First-Round hind 23 points from Nate Wolters. win. Jones 0-2 2-2 2, Langford 1-1 0-0 2, Thomas 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 26-57 16-23 71. Sumner is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound The Jackrabbits improve to Along with Wolters and his 23 S. DAKOTA ST. (2-2) redshirt freshman from Brandon. SDSU Basketball To Offer Playoff Bye an even 2-2 with the win, and points, three other Jackrabbits Wolters 8-16 6-9 23, Carlson 3-5 4-8 11, White 2-10 5-8 9, FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Callahan 4-9 3-4 13, Fiegen 6-11 2-4 14, Prince 0-1 1-4 1, Mon- He started the final eight games Online Ticket Promotion State University football team has landed the Wolters gets to 997 career points, scored in double digits. Tony aghan 0-2 0-0 0, Horstman 0-1 4-6 4, Heemstra 0-2 4-4 4. To- for the Jackrabbits and set a Mis- while Niagara falls to 1-2 on the Fiegen finished with 14 points, tals 23-57 29-47 79. BROOKINGS — To celebrate the traditional No. 2 seed in the Football Championship Sub- Halftime—S. Dakota St. 30-28. 3-Point Goals—Niagara 3- souri Valley Football Conference shopping holiday of Black Friday, SDSU Athlet- division playoffs and is getting a first-round bye. season. Callahan scored a season-high 13 12 (Mason 1-2, Jordan 1-4, Green 1-4, Tanksley 0-1, Jones 0- freshman record with 2,382 pass- ics announces the first-ever "Jacks Friday" ticket NDSU capped a 10-1 regular season with a The Jacks extended its lead to and Brayden Carlson tied a ca- 1), S. Dakota St. 4-20 (Callahan 2-7, Wolters 1-3, Carlson 1-3, Prince 0-1, Monaghan 0-1, Horstman 0-1, White 0-4). Fouled ing yards. promotion. 37-21 win over Western Illinois on Saturday. as many as 12 points in the sec- reer-high with 11 points. Callahan Out—Gillette, Jordan, Williams. Rebounds—Niagara 39 Sumner threw for more than Beginning at 12:01 a.m. this Friday (Nov. 25) The Bison won’t play again until Dec. 3, when ond half, but did let the Purples also tied with Chad White with a (Tanksley 7), S. Dakota St. 38 (Callahan, White 7). Assists—Ni- fans can purchase half-priced general admis- they will host the winner of a first-round playoff agara 10 (Green 4), S. Dakota St. 9 (Wolters 3). Total Fouls— 300 yards in five games, and threw Eagles make it a one possession team-high seven rebounds. Niagara 33, S. Dakota St. 16. A—161. sion tickets for all Jackrabbit Summit League game between James Madison and Eastern four touchdown passes in a game home basketball contests in December. Kentucky. on three occasions. The select contests include Dec. 28, Men's Unbeaten Sam Houston State is the top He was named conference basketball vs. IPFW, 7 p.m.; Dec. 29, Women's seed in the playoffs. MLB: Rangers Sign Nathan, Move Feliz To Rotation player of the week after passing basketball vs. Oakland, 7 p.m.; Dec. 30, Men's for 328 yards and four touch- basketball vs. Oakland, 7 p.m.; and Dec. 31, Houston Baptist Moving To ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — day, missed the ERA and 14 saves in 48 appear- Women's basketball vs. IPFW, 2 p.m. downs against Southern Illinois on These tickets will be available exclusively Southland In 2013 Joe Nathan and the Texas 2010 season fol- ances, losing his job as closer Nov. 5. Rangers have agreed to a two- lowing Tommy early in the season before re- online at GoJacks.com until 5 p.m. on Monday, FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Houston Baptist is The award will be presented on Nov. 28. moving to the Southland Conference in 2013. year contract with a club option John surgery on claiming it later. Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas, on the eve The league announced Monday that the cur- for 2014, a move that means his pitching elbow The Rangers say they have in- of the FCS national title game. NDSU’s Bohl A Finalist For rent Great West Conference member will be el- closer Neftali Feliz will shift to and struggled to formed Feliz that he will switch igible for conference championships in most the starting rotation. find his form with from the bullpen to the rotation, Basketball: MMC JV Falls FCS Coach Of The Year sports starting July 1, 2013. The two-time defending AL Minnesota this a move that would help offset the FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota State Houston Baptist rejoined Division I this year champions announced the year. The four- loss of free-agent starter C.J. Wil- At Northwestern head football coach Craig Bohl is a finalist for and announced last month that it was adding moves on Monday. time All-Star went Nathan son if he signs elsewhere. ORANGE CITY, Iowa — Northwestern de- coach of the year in the NCAA Football Cham- football. The HBU football program will join the feated Mount Marty 88-82 in a high-scoring JV pionship Subdivision. Southland in 2014, giving the conference a Nathan, who turns 37 on Tues- 2-1 with a 4.84 Bohl is among 20 finalists announced Mon- record nine teams. Mount Marty vs. Dordt SP:RPHQSP0HQ‡1RY‡/DGGLH(&LPSO$UHQD‡:WK6W‡