Extra Points: Honors given to two Tigers

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association named pitcher Max Scherzer to its preseason All-American first team. Scherzer, last season’s Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year and second team All-American, led the Big 12 with 131 strikeouts and a 1.86 ERA during the 2005 season.

Outfielder Hunter Mense was named to to the third team after hitting .327 with 43 RBI last season. The two juniors played on Team USA’s traveling summer team and have been named to the Wallace Award Watch list, which recognizes the nation’s top player.

MISSOURI WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: The Tigers are sponsoring a holiday Toys for Tots drive prior to their game Sunday against Southern Illinois. Beginning 90 minutes before the 6 p.m. tipoff, fans can donate new or slightly used toys and receive a free ticket to the game. All donations will go to the Toys for Tots program.

MISSOURI TRACK AND FIELD: The Tiger track and field team signed seven athletes, including three state champions, for next season. The signees include: Emily Baker, a middle distance runner from Wildwood; Lindsey Bolt, a heptathlete from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; Meaghan Brougher, a high jumper from Highland Village, Texas; Katie Wenger, a hurdler from St. Joseph; Nick Adcock, a hurdler and sprinter from Kansas City; Brian Hancock, a pole vaulter from Monroe City; and Andy Oaker, a shot-putter and discus thrower from Steeleville.

ROYALS: The Kansas City Royals are attempting to sign Doug Mientkiewicz, a Gold Glove first baseman.

“We definitely have an interest and we are pursuing it,” Kansas City general manager Allard Baird said Tuesday. “I do not get the feeling that anything is imminent.”

Mientkiewicz, who turns 31 in June, is a career .268 hitter with 55 home runs and 305 RBIs. He has 25 errors in 6,377 chances. He spent last year with the New York Mets. Slowed by a hamstring injury, he hit .240 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs in 275 at-bats. His best year was 2001 with Minnesota, when he hit .306 with 15 home runs and 74 RBIs and won a Gold Glove. In 2003, he hit .300 with 11 home runs and 65 RBIs.

The Royals have a preliminary agreement on a $700,000, one-year contract with free-agent catcher Paul Bako, a career .239 hitter who would be a backup to John Buck.