Local/State Briefs

BASEBALL

Former Husker Duensing selected to U.S. Olympic team

LINCOLN – Former University of Nebraska pitcher Brian Duensing will get an opportunity to represent his country, as he was added to the U.S. Olympic baseball team.

"It's a very big surprise," the left-handed starter told the Rochester (N.Y). Democrat and Chronicle following the announcement.

Duensing was not on the original 24-man U.S. roster, but was added when Clayton Richard was recalled by the Chicago White Sox over the weekend.  The left-hander from Omaha played a major role in Team USA qualifying for the 2008 Olympics, as the United States won the IBAF Baseball World Cup last fall in Taiwan with Duensing as one of the team's top starters.

Duensing, who pitched at Nebraska from 2002 to 2005, made two starts for Team USA last fall, going 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA as the United States won the event for the first time since 1974. He earned a win over bronze medalist Japan, allowing one run on three hits over five innings in a 5-1 win. Duensing also pitched well in the gold medal game against Cuba, taking a shutout into the fifth before allowing a pair of runs in Team USA's 6-3 victory. It was the first Baseball World Cup title in 33 years for the United States and snapped Cuba's streak of nine straight gold medals in the competition.

This season, Duensing is 5-10 with a 4.18 ERA in 22 starts for Rochester, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. He was originally a third-round draft pick by Minnesota in 2005 and has spent the majority of the last two years with Rochester. Duensing enjoyed his share of success in 2007, compiling a 15-6 record between stints in Double-A and Triple-A. He finished the season ranked third in the International League in ERA and eighth in wins in 2007.

He will make his next scheduled start for Rochester on Friday night before departing for North Carolina, where Team USA will begin an exhibition series with Canada beginning on Aug. 1. In North Carolina, he will see another former Husker, as outfielder Adam Stern was selected to the Canadian Olympic team earlier this month.

During his Husker career, Duensing compiled a 17-2 career record in 45 games, helping the Huskers to a pair of Big 12 titles and College World Series appearances in both 2002 and 2005. In his final year at NU, he was a perfect 8-0 with a 3.00 ERA, as Nebraska swept the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles and won a school-record 57 games.



SOFTBALL

GISH to host clinic for incoming players next week

The Grand Island Senior High girls softball program will be holding a softball clinic for incoming freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors for the 2008-2009 school year. The clinic will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the softball fields north of Grand Island Senior High School. There will be a player/parents meeting for girls interested in trying out for the fall softball season at 8 p.m. Thursday  following the camp. There is no cost to participate in this camp. If you have questions please contact coach K.C. Hehnke by e-mail at kchehnke@gips.org

Greeley to host men's tourney Aug. 16-17

Greeley 1s will host  their 32 annual men's slow pitch softball tournament on Aug. 16-17. The entry fee is $100 and the softballs will be supplied by the host. Brackets will be drawn on Aug. 11, which is the deadline for registration. Bats must be stamped as official softball or they will not be allowed to be used. The Greeley Sons of the American Legion are the tournament directors and proceeds will go to support the baseball program. For more information, contact Jim at 308-428-3395 or Shawn at 308-428-2645.



TRACK AND FIELD

UNK track team earns national academic recognition

KEARNEY -- The Nebraska-Kearney women's track and field team, plus seven individuals (four men and three women), recently earned national academic honors from the U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association.

Last week, the USTFCCCA released its national list of All-Academic teams and list of All-Academic individuals.

As a team, the UNK women cracked the Top 40 by having a 3.206 cumulative GPA. The University of Tampa led Division II with a 3.670 GPA.

Making the individual list were Jacquelyn Dibbern (York), Michelle Dill (Imperial) and Shayna Fruit (Ogallala) and Chris Campbell (Beatrice), Brandon Karlin (Phillipsburg, Kan.), Andrew Smith (Barlett) and Seth Yount (Fremont) from the men's squad.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic team, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and have met the Division II indoor/outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.



COLLEGE SPORTS

UNK announces tickets prices for 2008-09

KEARNEY-- The Nebraska-Kearney athletic department announced Tuesday ticket prices for the upcoming season.

Loper fans can save money if they buy their tickets by Aug. 8. After that date, each ticket package increases.

By buying a season ticket package, fans can have reserved seating for all home football and basketball games. Seating for home volleyball, wrestling and track is on a general admission basis. Overall, season ticket packages are good for over 90 home athletic events.

This year, with the purchase of a season ticket package, fans will receive a coupon good for the Official Game Day T-Shirt of the UNK Lopers, courtesy of the Antelope Bookstore. Wearing this shirt will qualify Loper fans for fantastic giveaways throughout the 2008-09 athletic season.

And, for the second year in a row, UNK is offering a general admission ``Family Pass.`` This ticket package is for a family of four (two adults and two children ages 5-18) and costs $188 ($198 after Aug. 8th).

For those who've previously bought UNK season tickets, a renewal brochure was sent out on July 21.

Individual game tickets are as follows: $10 for reserved adult, $7 for G.A. adult and $5 for G.A. senior citizens (ages 60 and up) and children. UNK students, with valid ID, get in to all games for free. As in previous years, UNK fans can by individual game tickets -- and season tickets -- online at www.pickmytickets.com. Single game tickets will be available for purchase on-line starting  at 5 p.m. Aug. 25.

For more information, contact the UNK ticket office at (308) 865-1563.