Nebraska
Nebraska Baseball Opts for Carson Jasa, Not Overlooking South Dakota State
Will Bolt and Nebraska baseball are not interested in overlooking South Dakota State on Friday afternoon.
Even after earning the program’s first regional host bid since 2008, the Huskers made it clear Thursday that advancing is top of mind. Home-field advantage inside Haymarket Park should help, but taking advantage of the opportunity in front of them remains the goal.
With the Big Red preparing to begin what it hopes becomes a deep postseason run, Bolt and several players addressed the media following Thursday’s open practice. Here’s everything they had to say.
Electing to Throw Carson Jasa in Regional Opener
Nebraska’s ace is getting the nod, despite the fan base raising somewhat of a concern over the decision. For Bolt and his team, it comes based on respecting their opponent on Friday afternoon.
“He’s been our most consistent pitcher all year long,” Bolt said. “We feel like he gives us the best chance to set the tone for the weekend. No matter who you’re playing this time of year, it’s three wins to win the tournament. And we feel like he gives us a really good chance tomorrow to set a great tone for the entire weekend”.
Bolt continued by saying the decision was made far before the Huskers found out they’d host. About a month before postseason play began, Nebraska switched up its pitching rotation. Now, even after exceeding expectations, they’ll stick with the plan.
“We feel like sending Jasa out there is our only option,” Bolt said. “At the end of the day, respect your opponent. South Dakota State’s coming in here to beat us. So, our best bet to win the game tomorrow, in our opinion, is to throw Carson Jasa”.
Timmerman’s Confidence in Huskers Pitching Decision
NU’s players fully understand the decision made by the coaching staff, especially knowing the kind of challenge South Dakota State is expected to present. The two programs met back in early March, when the Huskers narrowly escaped with a victory. Entering Friday, Nebraska expects a similar battle.
“No matter who’s on the mound, everyone in the dugout, everyone in the bullpen has the utmost confidence in each and every person,” Tucker Timmerman said. “But, Carson, especially, we all love going out and watching him throw. His stuff’s electric. He gets everybody going in the dugout. He’s everyone’s No. 1 fan. So it’s great to have a guy on the mound like that to start us off on a weekend”.
The decision to start Jasa has the full backing of the locker room. With Omaha serving as the ultimate goal, nobody inside Nebraska’s program is under the impression that getting there will come easily. That much is clear.
National Attention Set on Lincoln
Senior infielder Rhett Stokes enters his third postseason run with Nebraska, understanding just how different this year feels. After spending the last tw,o NCAA Tournament appearances traveling on the road, the Huskers now have the opportunity to play on their home field. Something they’ve been very successful at defending this spring.
“This year’s a lot different than the last two years,” Stokes said. “We’re obviously hosting this year, which is a big advantage to us and gives us the best chance to move on to the next round”.
As the top seed in the Lincoln Regional, the Huskers enter Friday with clear advantages on paper. Even so, NU understands how difficult advancing through the postseason is sure to be. While respecting the challenge South Dakota State presents, NU knows it’ll be expected to win.
The Huskers’ Resiliency Could Be a Factor
Nebraska has built its season on resilience. Time and time again, the Huskers have found ways to battle back, keeping themselves alive in games that at times appeared out of reach. That mentality could become a critical characteristic of the team as postseason play begins this weekend.
“We’re a team that’s never out of the fight,” Timmerman said. “That’s a huge thing when you’re in postseason play. Even though we could be down a couple runs, up a couple runs, we’re still going to be playing as hard as we can for as long as the game is going on”.
The Lincoln Regional is the only regional in the country featuring three ranked teams, underscoring just how difficult the path ahead could be for the Big Red. With Nebraska posting a 23-1 record at home this season, continuing that level of play inside Haymarket Park will likely determine whether they make it to the supers.
Why Nebraska Can’t Afford to Overlook SDSU
Despite the Huskers having already beaten SDSU earlier in the year, the Big Red can’t afford to go into the matchup overconfident. They know that early March is much different than late May, and they’ll need their play on the field to reflect that.
“It’s postseason baseball,” Stokes said. “Anything can happen; that’s the nature of it. You can’t treat any one opponent differently. They’ve made it here for a reason. They’re a good team, and they’re hot. I mean, they won the Summit League, so there’s no difference in how we prepare for tomorrow”.
NU will prepare as if the Jackrabbits are a great team. Because, to this point in their season, they’ve proved to be. They won’t sleepwalk their way to a victory, and they know it. That mentality will need to be carried with them through every one of their remaining games.
Expected Attendance at Haymarket Park
Postseason ticket demand has become a serious topic of discussion in recent weeks, but Nebraska’s focus remains centered on the games themselves. Even so, the Huskers fully expect Haymarket Park to provide one of the best atmospheres the venue has ever seen this upcoming weekend.
“I haven’t thought a ton about the number,” Bolt said. “I know that tickets sold out pretty quickly. There’s going to be standing room only everywhere you look. It’s going to be a great environment. I’m not sure how many they’re going to let in the doors; I guess as many as the fire marshal allows, is what I’ve been told. [We’re] excited to play in front of our fans, and to treat them to postseason baseball here in Lincoln”.
Excitement around the program has reached its highest since the move to the Big Ten. Now, the challenge becomes matching that energy on the field and rewarding the fans in attendance who cheer them on.
Nebraska’s game against South Dakota State is set for 3:00 PM CDT on ESPN+. The second game between Arizona State and Ole Miss will follow at 8 p.m. CDT on ESPN2.
The full schedule is below. All times are central.
Friday, May 29
- Game 1: #1 Nebraska (home) vs. #4 South Dakota State (away) 3 p.m.
- Game 2: #2 Ole Miss (home) vs. #3 Arizona State (away) 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
- Game 3: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser 2 p.m.
- Game 4: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 31
- Game 5: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser 2 p.m.
- Game 6: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner 7 p.m.
Monday, June 1
- Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary) TBA
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Nebraska
Nebraska’s medical marijuana regulations are set to expire before commission’s next opportunity to renew them
One year since the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission’s first meeting, delays continue to plague the program, including county restrictions for licensed growers who hope to operate.
More immediately, the commission is up against a deadline: on July 15, its temporary regulations governing licensed growers will expire. Without a vote to renew the regulations, the regulations giving growers the authority to proceed will lapse. The commission’s next meeting isn’t until July 20.
Chair Lorelle Meuting said commissioners expect Attorney General Mike Hilgers to have approved permanent regulations and for Gov. Jim Pillen to have signed off on them by July 15. Both Pillen and Hilgers have openly opposed the medical marijuana program. Crista Eggers, executive director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijauana, worries about what consequences growers could face should the regulations lapse.
“I think there could be legal ramifications,” Eggers said. “Litigation could obviously come at that point if these [temporary regulations] expire and [permanent regulations] are not signed into law.”
Commissioners also approved a motion to begin accepting applications for manufacturers and to hire Jarrod Boitnott as legal counsel. The commission is also soliciting applications for a commission director.
Since the commission’s May meeting, only one of the four licensed growers, cultivation company MahaMoto, held and passed an inspection of their property. The others have rescheduled their inspections.
Kent Rogert, representing KRL Med LLC., said the company is just six work hours short of being ready for the inspection. But it had to reschedule the inspection after the Washington County zoning administration banned them from their property, arguing that growing cannabis is not considered agriculture and the project can’t be permitted. As the company appeals the decision, Rogert said it will have to postpone the growing season.
“Their ordinance is broad but we’re trying to do this with honey instead of vinegar,” Rogert said, adding that he believes the grower fits well within the county’s definition of agriculture. “We remain cautiously optimistic that we can get something done, but the days are ticking away pretty fast.”
Washington County’s Zoning Administrator Ryan Sullivan was not immediately available for comment. The county’s sheriff, Mike Robinson, opposed medical marijuana bills in the Nebraska Legislature last year.
“Today’s meeting made one thing clear, the people and patients of Nebraska deserve more than delay, confusion and dysfunction currently happening under [Republican] Attorney General Mike Hilgers,” Jocelyn Brasher, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, said after observing the meeting. “As Attorney General, I will uphold the will of the people and respect NE voters on medical cannabis.”
Hilgers’ office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
Advocates who hope to be part of the medical marijuana program scolded the commission in public comment, saying continual delays in starting the program have led to patients suffering. Melanie Knight said until the program is ready, patients are forced to turn to opiates for pain medication.
“By not pushing this through and doing what the people of Nebraska have told you to do, you’re actually creating more of an opioid crisis,” Knight said.
“I’m just always fascinated by the stuff that people bring in. You never know what’s going to come in. And we do our best. We can’t ever guarantee anything, but it’s always fascinating,” Kettler said. “I think for a lot of people it’s something that’s important to them. And then there’s the whole ‘I shouldn’t have to throw out everything.’”
James said the café has a way of turning a simple repair into something bigger. He mentioned one afternoon when the sewing table was backed up.
“The line was taking a little long, and the person second in line said, ‘All I wanted was a couple buttons sewed on,’ and the third in line said, ‘Well I know how to do that.’ And so, number three taught number two how to sew on a button. It’s like a sense of community teaching.”
Volunteers range from retired tradespeople to hobbyists, James said. Many, including himself, grew up fixing things out of necessity.
Repair Café International supports local chapters with a starter kit, documentation, branding and guidance.
The organization also advocates for right-to-repair legislation. James noted that Apple products and John Deere equipment were examples of items becoming increasingly difficult for owners to fix themselves.
The Lincoln Repair Café accepts new volunteers and welcomes walk-in visitors. More information is available through the group’s Facebook page.
Nebraska extended an offer to one of the top receivers in the class of 2028. Four-star receiver Malachi Lee earned the offer while competing on campus in the Battle of the Boneyard 7-on-7 Tournament, which the Huskers hosted this weekend.
Lee is the 50th overall player in the 2028 class, the eighth overall wide receiver in the class, and the top player in his class from the state of Virginia, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings. The wide receiver has an extensive offer sheet that includes Maryland, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Syracuse.
The 2028 recruiting class currently has no commitments. This is no reason for alarm, as the coaching staff is just putting the finishing touches on the 2027 class as we speak.
Nevertheless, it’s good for the Huskers to get a head start on the 2028 group, as talent is evident in the class.
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