Tuesday, 11.8.11 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net 8 sports PRESS DAKOTAN SPORTS DEPARTMENT: [email protected] Twins Dismiss GM Smith, Return Ryan As Interim MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When Jim spect and sensitivity to Bill Smith and his Pohlad and St. Peter both side-stepped grooming and choosing his eventual suc- Punto and Carlos Silva for Milton; and Pohlad came to what he called “a stom- family.” numerous questions about the specific cessor, but both he and Pohlad said they landing Francisco Liriano and Joe Nathan ach-churning” conclusion that general Widely recognized for their stability, reasons for the decision, saying it came hoped things went well enough where for A.J. Pierzynski. manager Bill Smith needed to be fired, the class and ability to make the most out of a down to “philosophical differences” in the Ryan would want to keep the job for a Smith’s decisions haven’t turned out as Minnesota Twins owner was making the medium-range payroll, this was a startling direction of the baseball operations. while. well, dealing Johan Santana, Matt Garza, kind of decision rarely seen in one of the move for the Twins despite the embarrass- Ryan stepped down from the position “I don’t know if it will be for one year or J.J. Hardy and Delmon Young for little pro- most loyal and patient organizations in ment and deep disappointment of the 2011 in 2007, citing burnout and growing in- 10 years,” Ryan said. “(I’m) going to see duction in return. Japanese shortstop baseball. season following two straight AL Central creasingly impatient with some aspects of how it goes and see exactly the direction Tsuyoshi Nishioka, the headliner acquisi- A 99-loss season is equally unique in titles. the job, including working with some and success and workload and all the tion last winter, was hurt for much of the these parts, so Pohlad swallowed hard, This is the first time since the franchise agents and, occasionally, dealing with the things that about 4 1/2 years ago we talked season and a bust at the plate and in the made the move and turned to one of the moved from Washington to Minnesota in media. about over at the Dome.” field. most trusted and revered figures in the or- 1961 that the Twins have fired a general Ryan remained in the organization on Ryan’s moves helped turn the Twins Pohlad added that the Twins will speak ganization to pick up the pieces. manager. Calvin Griffith was the owner and the scouting level and said he turned from one of the worst teams in baseball in with Smith about “an ongoing role within Terry Ryan reclaimed the job he had general manager until selling the team in down several inquiries from other teams the mid-90s to one of the best the next the organization.” Smith has been with the for 13 years on Monday, taking over for the 1984. Andy MacPhail became the full-time about taking over a front office again. On decade. They won four division titles over club since 1986. man he recommended to take his place successor, leaving for a prime job with the Monday, he said his “batteries are Ryan’s last five full seasons, without “This is going to be good for the Min- when Ryan stepped down four years ago. Chicago Cubs, and Ryan followed him. recharged” and he’s ready to get back to spending much money in free agency and nesota Twins organization,” Smith said in a “In the past week, it was clear to all of They’ve also had two managers — Tom work. instead drafting and developing their core phone interview. “It’s always tough when it us that a change in leadership was in the Kelly and Ron Gardenhire — since 1984. “I’m going to take this job head-on,” players. involves you, but at the same time I re- best interest of our organization,” Twins “We do this with a heavy heart,” Pohlad Ryan said. Shrewd trades were part of his success, spect the decision that the Pohlads had to President Dave St. Peter said. “We proceed said. “But we also do this knowing that it It appears to be an interim job in name too, fetching Cristian Guzman and Eric Mil- make. We have to do it with players all the with that change with a high level of re- is what’s best for the organization.” only. Ryan said he would have a role in ton for Chuck Knoblauch; getting Nick time, and it’s no fun.” Lancers’ Schmidt Revamped MMC Set For Season Named Preseason NAIA All-American Lancers Optimist As They Prep KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mount Marty College senior shortstop Jason Schmidt has been named a For Friday’s Season Opener preseason All-American by the Na- BY JEREMY HOECK junior college ranks. He averaged tional Association of Intercolle- [email protected] 5.9 points and 1.64 assists in his giate Athletics. Schmidt and Doane limited duty last season. pitcher Chance Brull were the only Though he tries to remain Eddie will start this season as Great Plains Athletic Conference cautiously optimistic, Jim Thor- an off-guard in the backcourt players selected. son’s enthusiasm is evident. with senior transfer Mitch Ackel- Schmidt earned With his program coming off son, who comes to MMC from honorable mention its first Great Plains Athletic Con- NCAA Division II Missouri-St. All-American hon- ference (GPAC) post-season win, Louis — where he played in 26 ors in 2011 after the Mount Marty College men’s games a year ago. being named the basketball coach was asked if the Referencing Eddie and Ackel- GPAC’s Player of the Year. He batted Lancers are ready to take the son, Thorson joked, “We needed .364 with team- next step in their progression. guard help and we definitely got highs of 13 home “At this point, I would say it.” runs and 53 RBI. yes,” he said Monday. “I think Another transfer, junior for- He also went 2-0 Schmidt we’re capable of doing that.” ward Scott Odekirk, also comes with three saves Doing so will be a relatively to Mount Marty from the junior and a 2.76 ERA as the Lancers’ new-look Lancers squad, which college level — Southwestern closer. opens its season Friday night at Oregon Community College. He For his career, Schmidt is bat- home against Ashford (Iowa). will be joined in the front court ting .396 with 23 home runs and Mount Marty returns just one by fellow reserves Austin Harms, 122 RBI. As a pitcher, he is 8-0 with starter, but brings back a key a junior who averaged 7.5 points 17 saves and a 2.62 ERA, a Mount player who was limited by in- in just 15 games, junior Jeff Marty record for saves. juries and two other senior trans- Larsen (who saw time in just 13 MMC, 19-27 a year ago, opens fers. games) and senior Tom Kahler the 2012 season on Feb. 18, facing Another significant change for (2.9 ppg, 2 rpg). Dallas Christian and Park Univer- the 2011-12 squad, Thorson said, “We needed some depth in sity in games to be played in Dal- is attitude. those spots, and even though we las, Texas. “Our attitude’s been really didn’t really bring in a lot of guys, good and the guys have worked we’ve got some strength there,” hard so far,” said the 17th-year Thorson said. coach, who guided the Lancers Other varsity reserves include to a 10-20 overall record last sea- Chevy Fischer (So.), Zach Wevik Jund Named son. (So.), Jordan Knippling (So.), “We’ve got people who can along with freshmen Tyler Payer score and defend the ball, and (Tripp-Delmont-Armour), Hayden Region Coach we’re just a little tougher all Barker and Matt Hilgers. around,” he added. “I’m encour- In all, the Lancers return 69 Of The Year aged by what I’ve seen so far.” percent of its scoring from a team Forward Spencer Yackley (Sr., that averaged 67.6 points per WATERTOWN — Dakota Valley’s 9.5 ppg) is the only starter back game. A pre-season exhibition Jason Jund has been named the Re- for Mount Marty, which gradu- with S.D. Tech, in which four gion 6 Coach of the Year by the ated two, lost one to transfer and MMC players scored in double South Dakota Football Coaches As- had another move back to a re- figures, should be a good indica- sociation. This award is chose by fellow serve role for this season. tion of the offense for the season, coaches in their region for their Yackley will be joined in the Thorson said. outstanding contributions and ef- frontcourt by sophomore for- “We’ll have pretty balanced forts in the area of football. The ward Jeff Viereck, who averaged scoring again,” he said. “I don’t presentation will be made during 8.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in 13 see any 20 or 30 point a game the Class 11B championship game games a year ago after getting in- type of players. I feel if we’re on Thursday in the DakotaDome. jured. Junior guard Joe Hieb (6.2 going to be good, that’s how it’s Jund, the current president of ppg) moves into a starting role going to be.” the South Dakota Football Coaches this season after what Thorson Though they were picked the Association, has coached for 16 called a “very strong finish” to finish 11th — last — in the GPAC, years, including the last seven at last season.