Stories from Saturday, June 11, 2016

If spring is all about fresh and new, then the announcement Saturday of the Semoball Awards spring sport finalists fit the bill. Of 45 area student-athletes chosen as finalists and announced on-air during the SEMO ESPN Radio spring selection show, only 12 were finalists a year ago, as a bevy of new faces were recognized in the sports of baseball, softball, boys tennis, golf, girls soccer, and both girls and boys track and field...

Southeast MIssouri State senior track and field athlete Kevin Farley wrapped up his career Friday with an All-America finish at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Farley grabbed eighth-place in the discus with a mark of 57.90 meters (189 feet, 11 inches)...

Today in History Today is Saturday, June 11, the 163rd day of 2016. There are 203 days left in the year. Today's Highlights in History: On June 11, 1776, the Continental Congress formed a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence calling for freedom from Britain...

Construction of a railroad spur into the Southeast Missouri Regional Port is underway, port commissioners were advised Monday; executive director Allan Maki told the board that a notice to proceed with construction was given Thursday to CRW Construction Co. of Little Rock, Arkansas, and work began Saturday...

Joey Lucchesi was totally caught off guard. He'd stepped into the kitchen at his family's home in Newark, California, to make himself something to eat, thinking that a couple more rounds of the MLB Draft would pass before he heard his name called when it happened...

The moment Branden Boggetto told Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Steve Bieser that he wouldn't be able to play anymore after recording the final out of the fourth inning of the Redhawks' NCAA Regional opener vs. Mississippi State was the moment that it sank in that it might be the end of his playing days...

PITTSBURGH -- Carlos Martinez came within two outs of his first career complete game and wasn't upset after falling short. If he keeps throwing like he did Saturday night, he'll finish nine innings eventually. Martinez notched his third consecutive win and Matt Holliday had a three-run homer among his three hits as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1...

KELSO, Mo. -- It's been three years since Pete's Blues fielded a team to compete in the Kelso Klassic. For Jim Pecararo and the Blues, there was some added incentive this year to round up the old gang. The Blues, from Mascoutah, Ill., hold the distinction of the only team in the 31-year history of the annual fastpitch softball tournament to win three consecutive Klassic titles. And the Bloomington Stix were taking aim at that record...