Bewerbungen » Johnny Caspers, a fifth-year senior,

NEW YORK -- Right in the middle of a pennant race, the New York Mets were robbed.In an electrifying finish to a pressure-packed game for the Mets, center fielder Ender Inciarte took away a three-run homer from Yoenis Cespedes for the final out of Atlantas 4-3 victory Wednesday night.Tremendous catch, New York manager Terry Collins said. One of the best youll ever see.With two runners on in the bottom of the ninth inning, Cespedes made a bid for a game-winning homer by launching a drive to deep right-center. Inciarte raced a long way to the wall and timed his jump perfectly, catching the ball just above the orange line atop the fence.Probably the best catch Ive ever made, Inciarte said. I thought that ball was gone right (off) the bat. But it was the last play of the game. I was just giving everything Ive got.And with that, the Mets were handed another damaging defeat by the last-place Braves after squandering a three-run lead.Rather than regaining sole possession of the NL wild-card lead, New York remained tied with San Francisco and St. Louis for the leagues final two playoff spots. The Giants lost to the Dodgers, and the Cardinals were routed in Colorado.At his locker, a disappointed Cespedes would answer only one question from reporters.I knew I hit the ball well, he said through a translator. I knew there was a good chance it was going to make it out, but he made a better play.Once he landed, Inciarte held up his glove in excitement and then kissed the ball as he jogged toward the infield to greet teammates. Cespedes turned and walked slowly off the field.Guys were flying over the railing, Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. It just erupted. I dont think you could have won the World Series and had a bigger explosion than that right there.Some fans in the stunned crowd of 32,187 at Citi Field still had their hands on their heads as they filed up the aisles toward the exits.I still cant wrap my mind around that, how he did that. Just incredible, Braves slugger Freddie Freeman said.Bartolo Colon and Jeurys Familia failed to protect a 3-0 lead for the Mets. An error by normally sure-handed first baseman James Loney helped Atlanta tie the game with an unearned run in the eighth.Inciarte had an RBI groundout against Familia (3-4) in the ninth, sending the feisty Braves to their fifth straight victory. They completed their second consecutive three-game sweep at Citi Field, including one in June.Ian Krol (2-0) struck out pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki with the bases loaded to end the eighth -- moments after Cespedes nearly put New York ahead. His high fly to deep left field was knocked down by a leaping Matt Kemp at the top of the fence, with the ball glancing off Kemps glove and dropping to the ground for a double.Cespedes thought he had a go-ahead homer. He tossed his bat aside and started to trot before digging for second when the ball stayed in play.Jim Johnson got three outs for his 17th save.Asdrubal Cabrera and Rene Rivera homered to help the Mets build their 3-0 lead. Colon carried a three-hit shutout into the seventh before ex-Met Anthony Recker started Atlantas comeback with a two-run homer.Seeking a five-out save from his All-Star closer, Collins turned to Familia with two runners on. But the Braves surprised New York with a double steal on Familias second pitch, and Kemp made it 3-all with a sacrifice fly.FABULOUS FREDDIEFreeman extended his hitting streak to a career-best 25 games and has reached base safely in 41 straight for Atlanta.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: RHP Mike Foltynewicz threw about 25 fastballs in a bullpen session and said he felt normal. As long as that continues, he plans to mix in all his pitches during a longer bullpen Friday and hopes to make at least one more start this season. Foltynewicz has been sidelined since getting hit on the left calf by a line drive Sept. 12.Mets: Rookie LHP Steven Matz (shoulder) threw a bullpen and is tentatively scheduled to start Friday night against Philadelphia, assuming he feels fine Thursday. Matz would likely be limited to around 50-60 pitches, with rookie RHP Gabriel Ynoa lined up to follow. Matz has not pitched since Aug. 14. ... INF Wilmer Flores (right wrist) remained out of the lineup and is not expected to play Thursday night against Philadelphia. Flores has been sidelined since Sept. 10, when he was injured in a home-plate collision at Atlanta. Hes received two injections, the second one on Monday, but still was unable to swing a bat Wednesday, according to Collins. ... RHP Jacob deGrom had season-ending surgery to reposition the ulnar nerve in his right elbow and is expected to be ready for spring training next year, the team said.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Josh Collmenter (2-0, 4.61 ERA) starts Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Miami.Mets: Rookie RHP Seth Lugo (4-2, 2.35) gets the ball Thursday night when New York begins its final home series of the regular season with the first of four games against Philadelphia. Cheap Air Max Plus Authentic .ca! Hi Kerry, Its another day and here we are looking at another dubious hit to the head. 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EUGENE, Ore. -- Every team has one of them: A player who hasnt gotten much attention from outside the program but has made a significant impact on his teammates.It might be a scout-team regular, or even a walk-on. It might be someone who just grinded it out every day and never complained.At Oregon, that guy is senior running back Jarret LaCoste.LaCoste was a walk-on at Oregon two years ago when the Ducks went to the first College Football Playoff championship game. Hes since become a key contributor on the scout team -- last week he was tasked with simulating Stanfords Christian McCaffrey.Ask his teammates and theyll all say hes a beast in the weight room, helping younger players to keep up their offseason lifting regimens.LaCoste, who played this season against Washington and gained 55 yards on 10 carries, has already graduated and hes about to embark on a job with a Portland accounting firm. He was never on scholarship during his career with the Ducks -- but he jokes hes gotten some stylish Nike team gear.Honestly, I never would have dreamed I was going to play Division I football, ever, he said. So my expectations just from the start were low, I was like, `Wow, Im just so honored to be on this team, I cant believe they let me on. This is awesome. But then I thought, `I feel very privileged and honored to be on this team, so I better give them everything I can and never let anyone down.Arizona tight end Josh Kern was originally recruited by then-coach Mike Stoops as a quarterback but switched positions after a redshirt year. Hes had only had a dozen touches.But Kern has been the heart of the Wildcats. He gave the eulogy for senior outside linebacker Zach Hemmila, who died in his sleep in August. Kern also spoke at the funeral of fan Andrew Valdez, a local teen who lost his battle with cystic fibrosis last year.Ive never had to worry about him doing the right thing, coach Rich Rodriguez said. Hes a leader in the community. Hes our top service guy. I dont know if you can be a better role model for all of our players than Josh Kern.His teammates echoed the sentiment.People dont see the stuff that goes on inside of here, but like when we come home from a game and get off the bus, Josh is like, `Hey, you need you ride? Samajie, you want a ride? running back Samajie Grant said. Josh, even though he hasnt been playing like he wants to, is still bringing it every single day.At Colorado, quarterback Sefo Liufau pointed to junior cornerback Andrew Bergner, who joined the Buffaloes last season as a walk-on and provides the offense with a challenge during practice.Sometimes you cant always get the best looks from your scout team, sometimes you dont have the depth, Liufau said. SSometimes you dont have the players to go out there and give us a half-decent look.dddddddddddd. Hes done a really good job this year of going out there and playing ball.Some unsung heroes are players who paid their dues for years and were finally rewarded with a shot. At UCLA that guy is quarterback Mike Fafaul, a former walk-on who became a starter with Josh Rosen sidelined by a shoulder injury.A fifth-year senior, Fafaul was a scout team regular while the starting job was held by Brett Hundley and later Rosen. Last season he appeared in just one game.He learned hed make his first career start during warmups before the Bruins game at Washignton State on Oct. 15. In a 52-45 loss to Utah back the following week, Fafaul set school records for completions and pass attempts (40-for-70) while amassing 464 yards passing with five touchdowns.He got his first career win -- and the game ball -- last week when the Bruins defeated Oregon State 38-24.Hes everything that you want in a quarterback in terms of studying the game and it being serious to him, coach Jim Mora said.Sometimes an unsung hero can be a senior who has just worked unselfishly throughout his career. At Oregon State thats safety Devin Chappell, who has had to shift positions because of injuries that have struck the Beavers defense.Chappell,a walk-on transfer from nearby Western Oregon, started eight games last season, and this spring his teammates named him one of the captains.Devin is one of those guys. Hes a self-made guy, coach Gary Andersen said. He walked on, got a scholarship -- which was so important to him. Hes a good player in this league and hes proven. Hes a team captain and a great leader. He would definitely be labeled a grinder.Stanford guard Johnny Caspers, a fifth-year senior, is much like that, too, Cardinal Coach David Shaw said.Even before the coaches get to everybody, there are guys like Johnny Caspers setting the table saying, `Heres what were going to do. So theres a connection between the coaches and the leaders of the football team, Shaw said. When things are going well, Johnny is one of those guys who say `Hey, hey, hey, hey, we havent won a Super Bowl yet. We got a game this week, lets get back down to things that were supposed to do.---AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Colorado and Greg Beacham in Los Angeles contributed to this report, as did AP freelancers Rick Eymer in California and Anthony Gimino in Arizona.---For more college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Anne M. Peterson at www.Twitter.com/anniempeterson ' ' '