FREE PRE ss Page 10 Colby Free Press Thursday, March 17, 2011 SSPORTPORT SS Royals one short Bulldogs lose by 20 at state Spresser and Tristan Schwarz. The Bulldogs Chieftains put in 28 points to fin- of five-pitcher ish the game 72-52, advancing them to the semifinal round. end season Three Bulldogs were in double figures, with Christensen finish- starting rotation as substate, ing the game with 17 points; Rilee Spresser, 16; and Preston, 10. Rit- SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) – Hochevar said. “I don’t think league champs ter brought in 7 points and Weber With three days off early next my sinker is a pitch I can throw contributed 2. In other preliminary stats: month, the Kansas City Royals every pitch and I found that out. By Judy Rogers plan to start the season with a ... It’s just been a process and Spresser pulled down 11 rebounds; Golden Plains High School Christensen, 4; Preston, 4; Tyler four-man rotation and keep an a development for me, kind of [email protected] extra position player for the first finding my own. Last year I felt Stevenson, 2; and Grant Spresser, 13 games. like I did. I’m excited about this 1. Preston had 5 assists; Steven- The Royals open the season year, just keep it rolling into this Despite double-digit scoring son, 2; Spresser, 1; Ritter, 1; and March 31 against the Los An- year.” from a junior and two seniors, the Christensen, 1. Christensen had 2 geles Angels, but are not sched- Chen, who led the Royals Golden Plains High School boys’ blocks and 1 steal. Stevenson and uled to play April 4, 7 and 11. with 12 victories last season, is basketball team was never able to Spresser each had a steal. That means they can get by with the only one of the four who had take the lead in the Class 1A Divi- The Chieftains went on to play four starters working every fifth a winning record in 2010. Da- sion II state basketball preliminary the other Western Kansas Liberty day for the first two weeks. vies was 8-12 with a 5.34 ERA game in Hays last Thursday. League team in the tournament, “That’s my intention,” Roy- in 32 starts. Francis, who missed This was the first year for Class the Greeley County Jackrabbits als manager Ned Yost said. “I the 2009 season after having 1A to be split into two division. from Tribune. The Jackrabbits won’t need my fifth starter until shoulder surgery, was 4-6 with The boys entered the tournament defeated the Chieftains 39-31 and April 15th or 16th, so we’ll defi- a 5.00 ERA in 20 games with as the Palco substate champions, went on to win the state champi- nitely keep a four-man rotation the Colorado Rockies. seeded No. 5 with a 14-8 re- onship over Hope. The Chieftains through the middle of April.” Vin Mazzaro, who was ac- cord. This was the fourth time in finished the tournament in fourth Barring injuries, the four quired in a Nov. 10 trade with Golden Plains school history for a place behind Otis-Bison. starters appear to be right-hand- Oakland for David DeJesus, boys’ team to make the state tour- This loss finished the Bulldogs’ ers Luke Hochevar and Kyle and Sean O’Sullivan are the nament. state tournament play and con- Davies and left-handers Jeff leading candidates for the final The boys started the tournament cluded their season. Parents and Francis and Bruce Chen. rotation slot. playing the No. 4-seeded Kiowa- fans surrounded the boys follow- Hochevar is expected to start “Definitely, there are spots South Barber Chieftains, who held ing the game to congratulate them the season opener, followed by open,” Mazzaro said. “It’s a a 17-6 record. on a job well done. Francis, Davies and Chen. battle. In spring training, every- Senior Devinn Ritter started the Although the boys were sad- “I don’t like my lefties throw- one is playing for a job. The last game with a single free-throw, but dened to lose out at the tourna- ing back-to-back if I can help two years I’ve been fighting for that would be the Bulldogs only ment, they were proud of their it,” Yost said. “We’ll probably a spot in Oakland. I came over point throughout much of the first season accomplishments. Senior break them up in there some- here and it’s the same battle, the quarter as the Chieftains pulled Aaron Emigh proclaimed at the where.” same focus.” ahead to a 12-1 lead before senior pep rally before the game that Yost has said Hochevar, the O’Sullivan, who was 3-6 Rilee Spresser put in a bucket and the Bulldogs did “Look good, first player selected in the 2006 with a 6.11 ERA in 14 games the Bulldogs got their offense roll- JUDY ROGERS/Golden Plains High School feel good, play good!” all season. draft out of Tennessee, has the with Kansas City after being ac- ing. Golden Plains junior Cole Christensen went up for two at the They finished the season with a stuff to be a consistent 15-game quired in a July trade with the With under two minutes re- state basketball tournament in Hays last Thursday. Christensen 14-9 record, placed third in the winner in the majors. Hochevar Los Angeles Angels for Alberto maining in the quarter, Tate Pres- got 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal in the Bulldogs’ league tournament and were sub- has a 19-32 record with a 5.60 Callaspo, came to spring train- ton put in a three, followed by two first-round loss to Kiowa-South Barber High School. state champions. ERA in 69 games in the majors. ing 25 pounds lighter. buckets from underneath by Cole “Qualifying for state was a Hochevar said he is a differ- The Mazzaro and O’Sullivan Christensen to end the quarter making three for three from the Bulldogs’ scoring at 52. great way to finish our four years ent pitcher than early in his ca- competition for the final rota- with the Bulldogs trailing 17-10. line along with a couple of buckets Coach Preston gave every play- of Golden Plains High School reer. tion slot could continue beyond In the second quarter, both and a three pointer. Preston added er on the bench time on the court basketball,” said Rilee Spresser, “When I first came up, I felt spring training. Both could start teams put in 14 points to keep a bucket and Ritter put in two for – including senior Casey Gould, speaking for all the seniors. I was a little more finesse,” the season with Triple-A Omaha the 7-point spread at the half. The the Bulldogs. Junior Kalyn We- juniors Ethan Walter, Tyler Steven- “We achieved something I never Hochevar said. “I think I came to keep on a regular routine until Bulldogs got scoring from Chris- ber entered the game and put in son and Trey Schwarz, sophomore though we could until this year,” up more of a command guy, the Royals need a fifth starter. tensen, Spresser and Preston. The two more free throws to finish the Andrew Luna and freshmen Grant added Casey Gould. trying to induce early contact, Nate Adcock, a Rule 5 pick score stood at 31-24 at halftime. which obviously I still do, but from the Pittsburgh Pirates, The third quarter found both now I feel like more of a power has not allowed a run and only teams continuing to play aggres- guy. My mentality is I’m still at- seven hits in eight innings. He sively, but the Bulldogs struggled tacking the strike zone, still go- has been primarily a starter in to get the ball to fall. Christensen ing at them.” the minors, but the 23-year-old posted 7 points along with 2 from Initially, the Royals tried to right-hander has not pitched Ritter and 1 from Preston. The Want to know get Hochevar to be more of a above Class A. If he makes the Bulldogs held the Chieftains to 13 Brandon Webb-type pitcher, in- staff, it will likely be as a long points, but that extended their lead ducing ground balls. reliever to begin the season. to 44-34 by the end of the third. “I just don’t think that’s me,” During the last eight minutes, what’s happening? Spresser continued to hit shots, NEWSPAPER CARRIERS WANTED The Colby Free Press is looking for Carriers! After School; Monday - Friday About 1-2 hours per day Society Editor The Colby Free Press is looking for It requires accuracy, speed and a part-time society editor to do social attention to detail. Work week would notes, weddings, engagements, be 10-15 hours. Pay commensurate A great job for students, obituaries, church and club items, with experience and ability. Send features and other news of interest a letter or e-mail to Kevin Bottrell, moms, or retired people to the town. This is a great way to be editor, at 155 W. Fifth St., Colby, wanting a little “fresh air.” in touch with the pulse of your town Kan., 67701, kbottrell@nwkansas. and get to know a lot of people. com.This could be the job you’ve been looking for. EOE m/f/h. For more information call the Colby Free Press office: 785-462-3963 or stop in at 155 W.