Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp; MANHATTAN, Kan. — The eyes of the nation will be on Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Friday, September 13, as FOX Sports has announced that Kansas State's non-conference matchup with Arizona will kick off at 7 p.m. as the inaugural game of the new FOX College Football Friday television package.

This will be Kansas State's first home weeknight game since playing on a Thursday night in 2015, while it is the Wildcats' first Friday home game since 2013. The non-conference matchup against new Big 12 foe Arizona is the first game of a previously scheduled non-conference series that was announced in 2016. It is the eighth meeting all-time between the two Wildcats but the first in Manhattan, and the schools have not met on the gridiron since a contest in Tucson in 1978. Announced earlier this year, FOX College Football Friday is a dedicated primetime window showcasing elite college football Friday nights on FOX throughout the fall. The new package will lead off FOX Sports' unrivaled weekend football lineup – followed by college football's most-watched window, Big Noon Saturday. The Wildcats enter the 2024 season with a current streak of three eight-plus win seasons, the only team in the Big 12 and one of only 11 Power 4 squads to claim that feat. They finished the 2023 campaign ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25, No. 19 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 25 in the College Football Playoff Top 25 after registering a 9-4 record.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716466685656.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp; MANHATTAN, Kan. — The eyes of the nation will be on Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Friday, September 13, as FOX Sports has announced that Kansas State's non-conference matchup with Arizona will kick off at 7 p.m. as the inaugural game of the new FOX College Football Friday television package.This will be Kansas State's first home weeknight game since playing on a Thursday night in 2015, while it is the Wildcats' first Friday home game since 2013. The non-conference matchup against new Big 12 foe Arizona is the first game of a previously scheduled non-conference series that was announced in 2016. It is the eighth meeting all-time between the two Wildcats but the first in Manhattan, and the schools have not met on the gridiron since a contest in Tucson in 1978. Announced earlier this year, FOX College Football Friday is a dedicated primetime window showcasing elite college football Friday nights on FOX throughout the fall. The new package will lead off FOX Sports' unrivaled weekend football lineup – followed by college football's most-watched window, Big Noon Saturday. The Wildcats enter the 2024 season with a current streak of three eight-plus win seasons, the only team in the Big 12 and one of only 11 Power 4 squads to claim that feat. They finished the 2023 campaign ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25, No. 19 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 25 in the College Football Playoff Top 25 after registering a 9-4 record.

🏈 K-State’s week three matchup set for FOX college football Friday

MANHATTAN, Kansas –&nbsp;K-State goalkeeper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/murphy-sheaff/11656">Murphy Sheaff</a>&nbsp;has been named among the 24-player New Zealand Women's National Team for two upcoming international friendlies.

New Zealand will face Japan (FIFA rank no. 7) on Friday, May 31, and Monday, June 3, at Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia, Spain. Both matches will be available to watch live and free on FIFA+. Following the two friendly matches, New Zealand will return to action on July 25 at the 2024 Paris Olympics against Canada in pool play. In addition to Canada, New Zealand will face Colombia (July 28) and host France (July 31) as part of its pool.

The Ford Football Ferns enter the friendlies with a seven-match unbeaten streak following a five-match unbeaten run through the OFC Women's Olympic Football Tournament in Samoa and the two-game unbeaten run against Thailand in April.

This is the second time Sheaff has received the call from the senior national team, as she was named to the active roster for a pair of friendlies against the U.S. Women's National Team in January in preparation for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.&nbsp;

The product of Sunshine Coast, Australia, has previous experience as a New Zealand national team member, as she started all three matches for the Junior Football Ferns in the 2022 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica and helped the squad to a pair of draws against Mexico and Colombia in pool play.

Sheaff finished her first season in the Little Apple by playing in and starting all 18 matches in 2023. Her total minutes in frame (1,590:29) ranked fourth in school history for a single season. She faced the second most shots in a single season (291) in program history and the most by a K-State keeper since 2017.

Sheaff carded the fourth-best goals against average in a single season in school history (1.30). Her 82 saves were the fourth most in a single season and she had eight matches with five or more saves and was second in the Big 12 and ranked 71st in the nation for total saves (82) and was second in the league for saves per game (4.56).&nbsp;

At BYU on October 10, Sheaff recorded a career-high 12 saves. Her 12 saves were the most in a match in the 2023 season by any goalkeeper in the Big 12. She tied for the second-most saves in a match in program history and were the most since Alaina Werremeyer set the school record with 13 against Baylor on October 10, 2021.

She was second in school history for shutouts in a sophomore season (4). Sheaff carded a career-best streak and school record of 416:44 of shutout soccer. This surpassed her previous high of 325:28 in her freshman season of 2022 at Jacksonville.

&nbsp;She hauled in five saves at 18th-ranked Northwestern on August 20 to register the first of three straight shutouts. Sheaff was the second goalkeeper in program history to card a shutout against a ranked opponent, joining Werremeyer's 2021 shutout of 23rd-ranked Baylor.

Sheaff collected her first shutout in Big 12 play, hauling on four saves against Houston on October 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716398234261.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State Athletics&nbsp; MANHATTAN, Kansas –&nbsp;K-State goalkeeper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/murphy-sheaff/11656">Murphy Sheaff</a>&nbsp;has been named among the 24-player New Zealand Women's National Team for two upcoming international friendlies.New Zealand will face Japan (FIFA rank no. 7) on Friday, May 31, and Monday, June 3, at Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia, Spain. Both matches will be available to watch live and free on FIFA+. Following the two friendly matches, New Zealand will return to action on July 25 at the 2024 Paris Olympics against Canada in pool play. In addition to Canada, New Zealand will face Colombia (July 28) and host France (July 31) as part of its pool.The Ford Football Ferns enter the friendlies with a seven-match unbeaten streak following a five-match unbeaten run through the OFC Women's Olympic Football Tournament in Samoa and the two-game unbeaten run against Thailand in April.This is the second time Sheaff has received the call from the senior national team, as she was named to the active roster for a pair of friendlies against the U.S. Women's National Team in January in preparation for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.&nbsp;The product of Sunshine Coast, Australia, has previous experience as a New Zealand national team member, as she started all three matches for the Junior Football Ferns in the 2022 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica and helped the squad to a pair of draws against Mexico and Colombia in pool play.Sheaff finished her first season in the Little Apple by playing in and starting all 18 matches in 2023. Her total minutes in frame (1,590:29) ranked fourth in school history for a single season. She faced the second most shots in a single season (291) in program history and the most by a K-State keeper since 2017.Sheaff carded the fourth-best goals against average in a single season in school history (1.30). Her 82 saves were the fourth most in a single season and she had eight matches with five or more saves and was second in the Big 12 and ranked 71st in the nation for total saves (82) and was second in the league for saves per game (4.56).&nbsp;At BYU on October 10, Sheaff recorded a career-high 12 saves. Her 12 saves were the most in a match in the 2023 season by any goalkeeper in the Big 12. She tied for the second-most saves in a match in program history and were the most since Alaina Werremeyer set the school record with 13 against Baylor on October 10, 2021.She was second in school history for shutouts in a sophomore season (4). Sheaff carded a career-best streak and school record of 416:44 of shutout soccer. This surpassed her previous high of 325:28 in her freshman season of 2022 at Jacksonville.&nbsp;She hauled in five saves at 18th-ranked Northwestern on August 20 to register the first of three straight shutouts. Sheaff was the second goalkeeper in program history to card a shutout against a ranked opponent, joining Werremeyer's 2021 shutout of 23rd-ranked Baylor.Sheaff collected her first shutout in Big 12 play, hauling on four saves against Houston on October 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⚽ K-State's Sheaff named to New Zealand national team 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kyle Fisher was introduced as the 16th head men's basketball coach in Hutchinson Community College history on Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

"It's incredible to be named the next men's basketball coach at Hutchinson," Fisher said. "When I walk into this place, I'm in awe, so now when I walk in here and have an office in here, pinch me, because it's so special. I take a lot of pride in the seat I get to sit in and I will work as hard as I can to maintain the proud tradition of this program."

HutchCC athletic director Josh Gooch formally introduced Fisher to the Blue Dragon fans and media seated on Sam Butterfield Court.

"The next men's basketball coach at Hutch needed to be someone that could lead," Gooch said. "Someone that could lead the program in all aspects, someone that could respect the past accomplishments of Blue Dragon basketball, while having a vision of what it needed to be moving forward. The goal will always be to hang banners, and a national championship banner at that."

Fisher said the past couple of weeks have been pretty intense.

"It's been an emotional whirlwind," Fisher said. "I knew how special Hutchinson was, but I knew what we had built and I take pride in what we had built. The opportunity to be the head coach at Hutch was tremendous, so it's been going real fast, but we take a lot of pride in the way we do things and the people we want to surround ourselves with, so it's been a lot of fun."

Fisher comes to Hutchinson after five successful seasons as the head coach at Butler Community College in El Dorado, where he led the Grizzlies to a 113-42 record, including 78-34 in the Jayhawk Conference. Fisher led the Grizzlies to 20-plus wins four times in his five-year tenure.

Although it has been a whirlwind, Fisher was thrilled when he received the call from Gooch telling him it was his gig.

"Coach Gooch and I spent two days together where it seemed like we talked all day," Fisher said. "I was in Florida on family vacation when I officially accepted the job, so we started making arrangements to come back early and get to work. It was clear to me that this opportunity was too good to pass up, and I truly think we can do some great things with this program moving forward."

The Hutchinson Sports Arena is known to many as the mecca of junior college hoops, and Fisher is excited to call it home.

"I've got a lot of great memories in here on different sidelines in this conference," Fisher said. "It certainly is a big responsibility, you know a lot of people talk about rivalries and Hutch, but the reality of it is when you're at Hutch, everyone is your rival."

Although Fisher is now officially the head coach, he knows there is still a lot of work to get done and it starts with getting his staff complete.

"The roster will take care of itself, but I want to make sure I have the right people around me," Fisher said. "If I have the right people in the room then we will be able to go find the right players that will fit our style and the way we want to play, and be able to meet our expectations as a staff and as a program."

Fisher hopes to have his coaching staff complete by later this week.

"I do see some clarity in a staff and being able to finalize that unofficially by the end of the weekend," Fisher said. "We'll be recruiting all the way through August. The good thing is there are still a lot of really good players available, and a lot of guys that will want to come play at a place like Hutch, so we'll get all of the right pieces in place."

While off the court, Fisher enjoys spending time with his wife, Kathryn, and daughters, Grace and Rose.

"They're everything to me," Fisher said. "The first thing I tell recruits when I meet them or they're on a visit is I'm about family and I'm about winning. The program and the players and their families are an extension of my family. We'll look out after them as if they're my own."

As a player, Fisher was a four-year member of Washburn's basketball team where he played for Hall of Fame coach Bob Chipman.

A native of Liberty, Missouri, Fisher graduated from Liberty High in 2003. Fisher holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Washburn University and an M.S. in Sports Administration from the University of Central Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716401635227.jpeg" alt="HutchCC men's basketball head coach Kyle Fisher, his wife, Kathryn, and daughters Grace (8) and Rose (7) at the introductory press conference at the Hutchinson Sports Arena on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)" />
 <figcaption>HutchCC men's basketball head coach Kyle Fisher, his wife, Kathryn, and daughters Grace (8) and Rose (7) at the introductory press conference at the Hutchinson Sports Arena on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kyle Fisher was introduced as the 16th head men's basketball coach in Hutchinson Community College history on Wednesday afternoon at a news conference at the Hutchinson Sports Arena."It's incredible to be named the next men's basketball coach at Hutchinson," Fisher said. "When I walk into this place, I'm in awe, so now when I walk in here and have an office in here, pinch me, because it's so special. I take a lot of pride in the seat I get to sit in and I will work as hard as I can to maintain the proud tradition of this program."HutchCC athletic director Josh Gooch formally introduced Fisher to the Blue Dragon fans and media seated on Sam Butterfield Court."The next men's basketball coach at Hutch needed to be someone that could lead," Gooch said. "Someone that could lead the program in all aspects, someone that could respect the past accomplishments of Blue Dragon basketball, while having a vision of what it needed to be moving forward. The goal will always be to hang banners, and a national championship banner at that."Fisher said the past couple of weeks have been pretty intense."It's been an emotional whirlwind," Fisher said. "I knew how special Hutchinson was, but I knew what we had built and I take pride in what we had built. The opportunity to be the head coach at Hutch was tremendous, so it's been going real fast, but we take a lot of pride in the way we do things and the people we want to surround ourselves with, so it's been a lot of fun."Fisher comes to Hutchinson after five successful seasons as the head coach at Butler Community College in El Dorado, where he led the Grizzlies to a 113-42 record, including 78-34 in the Jayhawk Conference. Fisher led the Grizzlies to 20-plus wins four times in his five-year tenure.Although it has been a whirlwind, Fisher was thrilled when he received the call from Gooch telling him it was his gig."Coach Gooch and I spent two days together where it seemed like we talked all day," Fisher said. "I was in Florida on family vacation when I officially accepted the job, so we started making arrangements to come back early and get to work. It was clear to me that this opportunity was too good to pass up, and I truly think we can do some great things with this program moving forward."The Hutchinson Sports Arena is known to many as the mecca of junior college hoops, and Fisher is excited to call it home."I've got a lot of great memories in here on different sidelines in this conference," Fisher said. "It certainly is a big responsibility, you know a lot of people talk about rivalries and Hutch, but the reality of it is when you're at Hutch, everyone is your rival."Although Fisher is now officially the head coach, he knows there is still a lot of work to get done and it starts with getting his staff complete."The roster will take care of itself, but I want to make sure I have the right people around me," Fisher said. "If I have the right people in the room then we will be able to go find the right players that will fit our style and the way we want to play, and be able to meet our expectations as a staff and as a program."Fisher hopes to have his coaching staff complete by later this week."I do see some clarity in a staff and being able to finalize that unofficially by the end of the weekend," Fisher said. "We'll be recruiting all the way through August. The good thing is there are still a lot of really good players available, and a lot of guys that will want to come play at a place like Hutch, so we'll get all of the right pieces in place."While off the court, Fisher enjoys spending time with his wife, Kathryn, and daughters, Grace and Rose."They're everything to me," Fisher said. "The first thing I tell recruits when I meet them or they're on a visit is I'm about family and I'm about winning. The program and the players and their families are an extension of my family. We'll look out after them as if they're my own."As a player, Fisher was a four-year member of Washburn's basketball team where he played for Hall of Fame coach Bob Chipman.A native of Liberty, Missouri, Fisher graduated from Liberty High in 2003. Fisher holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Washburn University and an M.S. in Sports Administration from the University of Central Missouri.

🏀 MBB: Kyle Fisher introduced as 16th head coach in Blue Dragon history

WICHITA, Kan. — The 2024 Kansas State High School Activities Association state track &amp; field championships will take place on Friday and Saturday at Cessna Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University.&nbsp;

Below you will find the boys qualifiers from schools within the Hutch Post coverage area. You can find the girls list <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/21ecce02-86c9-4b4a-b3f1-811416cf54c7">here</a>.

<a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/Track/PDF/StateSchedule24.pdf">STATE SCHEDULE</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;|&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/Track/PDF/perflist2024boys.pdf">BOYS PERFORMANCE LIST</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;|&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://heartlandtiming.com/">LIVE RESULTS</a>

👟 Area boys state track & field qualifiers

Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp; ARLINGTON, Texas — A record-breaking outing from left-hander&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/owen-boerema/11457">Owen Boerema</a>&nbsp;and an explosive seven-run fourth led No. 6 seed K-State to an 8-4 triumph over fourth-seeded West Virginia Wednesday in an elimination game at Globe Life Field. Boerema's complete game set the record for the longest outing in the NCAA game held at Globe Life Field, while he also became the first pitcher in K-State history to throw a complete game in a conference tournament. "Life in the loser's bracket is all about surviving, advancing, not panicking, having people pick up each other, and save your bullpen," said head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/pete-hughes/2461">Pete Hughes</a>&nbsp;following his team's tournament win. "Those are the themes you think about as a head coach in the loser's bracket. Luckily, we have a team and a foundation of our pitching staff that does not panic when bases are loaded with no outs in the first inning in the loser's bracket because we've got a great competitor and a confident leader on the mound who continues to throw out zeros by settling in, believing and giving his offense time to get back in their game." In his 17th start of the season, Boerema struck out 10 batters and scattered seven hits in his career-long outing, as he held the Mountaineers to four earned runs (6-3). The lefty graduate's 10 strikeouts are the most by a Wildcat in a single conference tournament game, breaking the previous record of nine. Boerema's 17th start set a new program record as just seven pitchers in K-State history have started in 16 games in a single season. "I'll just give a lot of credit to our pitching coach [<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/rudy-darrow/2465">Rudy Darrow</a>]. It's so difficult to call pitches when you have to maneuver your way through a lineup four-five times with the best hitter in our conference. That constant attention to detail and changing of patterns, it was as good a repertoire I saw in the field between the pitching coach calling a game and a pitcher I've seen in a long time," Hughes mentioned. Trailing 3-0 heading into the fourth inning, K-State (32-23) sent 13 batters to the plate and rallied for seven unanswered runs led by back-to-back two-RBI hits from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/brady-day/11461">Brady Day</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/david-bishop/11518">David Bishop</a>. Offensively, six different Wildcats generated a hit Wednesday led by a two-hit day from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyan-lodice/11469">Kyan Lodice</a>, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of bunt singles. Bishop drove in a game-high three runs followed by Day with two, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/brendan-jones/11466">Brendan Jones</a>&nbsp;scored twice for the Cats. "Obviously the key to that whole game was Owen's performance. Absolutely. Number one. Number two, not panicking early in the game and trusting your offense and being super disciplined at the plate, getting the walk to be a weapon for us again and take advantage of the inning. These are the things we haven't done up late, but it doesn't happen without Owen unselfishly going beyond his normal pitch count so we can save our bullpen for future games. It was as good as a performance that I've been around so it was awesome to watch." West Virginia's (33-22) pitching staff issued 11 walks to K-State, marking the Wildcats' second game this season with double digit walks. K-State will face ninth-seeded TCU (32-20) in an elimination game Thursday at 9 a.m. at Globe Life Field. THE RUNDOWN WVU opened scoring in the bottom of the first frame, as each of the top four hitters of the Mountaineers lineup reached base, that included a two-run single from Brodie Kresser. After surrendering three runs in the first, Boerema settled in and retired eight consecutive batters to keep K-State in the game. After three scoreless innings, K-State exploded with seven runs to take control of the game. &nbsp;Jones was issued a seven-pitch walk and advanced to third on back-to-back singles from Lodice and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kaelen-culpepper/11460">Kaelen Culpepper</a>. With bases loaded and no outs, Day doubled into right center to bring the game within one until the Cats took the lead with Bishop's two-run single. A run was walked in to force the Mountaineers to make their second pitching change of the inning. In total, four runs were walked in to stretch that Cats' lead to four, 8-3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716436906187.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp; ARLINGTON, Texas — A record-breaking outing from left-hander&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/owen-boerema/11457">Owen Boerema</a>&nbsp;and an explosive seven-run fourth led No. 6 seed K-State to an 8-4 triumph over fourth-seeded West Virginia Wednesday in an elimination game at Globe Life Field. Boerema's complete game set the record for the longest outing in the NCAA game held at Globe Life Field, while he also became the first pitcher in K-State history to throw a complete game in a conference tournament. "Life in the loser's bracket is all about surviving, advancing, not panicking, having people pick up each other, and save your bullpen," said head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/pete-hughes/2461">Pete Hughes</a>&nbsp;following his team's tournament win. "Those are the themes you think about as a head coach in the loser's bracket. Luckily, we have a team and a foundation of our pitching staff that does not panic when bases are loaded with no outs in the first inning in the loser's bracket because we've got a great competitor and a confident leader on the mound who continues to throw out zeros by settling in, believing and giving his offense time to get back in their game." In his 17th start of the season, Boerema struck out 10 batters and scattered seven hits in his career-long outing, as he held the Mountaineers to four earned runs (6-3). The lefty graduate's 10 strikeouts are the most by a Wildcat in a single conference tournament game, breaking the previous record of nine. Boerema's 17th start set a new program record as just seven pitchers in K-State history have started in 16 games in a single season. "I'll just give a lot of credit to our pitching coach [<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/rudy-darrow/2465">Rudy Darrow</a>]. It's so difficult to call pitches when you have to maneuver your way through a lineup four-five times with the best hitter in our conference. That constant attention to detail and changing of patterns, it was as good a repertoire I saw in the field between the pitching coach calling a game and a pitcher I've seen in a long time," Hughes mentioned. Trailing 3-0 heading into the fourth inning, K-State (32-23) sent 13 batters to the plate and rallied for seven unanswered runs led by back-to-back two-RBI hits from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/brady-day/11461">Brady Day</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/david-bishop/11518">David Bishop</a>. Offensively, six different Wildcats generated a hit Wednesday led by a two-hit day from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyan-lodice/11469">Kyan Lodice</a>, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of bunt singles. Bishop drove in a game-high three runs followed by Day with two, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/brendan-jones/11466">Brendan Jones</a>&nbsp;scored twice for the Cats. "Obviously the key to that whole game was Owen's performance. Absolutely. Number one. Number two, not panicking early in the game and trusting your offense and being super disciplined at the plate, getting the walk to be a weapon for us again and take advantage of the inning. These are the things we haven't done up late, but it doesn't happen without Owen unselfishly going beyond his normal pitch count so we can save our bullpen for future games. It was as good as a performance that I've been around so it was awesome to watch." West Virginia's (33-22) pitching staff issued 11 walks to K-State, marking the Wildcats' second game this season with double digit walks. K-State will face ninth-seeded TCU (32-20) in an elimination game Thursday at 9 a.m. at Globe Life Field. THE RUNDOWN WVU opened scoring in the bottom of the first frame, as each of the top four hitters of the Mountaineers lineup reached base, that included a two-run single from Brodie Kresser. After surrendering three runs in the first, Boerema settled in and retired eight consecutive batters to keep K-State in the game. After three scoreless innings, K-State exploded with seven runs to take control of the game. &nbsp;Jones was issued a seven-pitch walk and advanced to third on back-to-back singles from Lodice and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kaelen-culpepper/11460">Kaelen Culpepper</a>. With bases loaded and no outs, Day doubled into right center to bring the game within one until the Cats took the lead with Bishop's two-run single. A run was walked in to force the Mountaineers to make their second pitching change of the inning. In total, four runs were walked in to stretch that Cats' lead to four, 8-3.

⚾ Boerema’s record-breaking day advances K-State in Big 12 tournament 

Wichita, Kan.&nbsp;— The Wichita Sports Commission announced today the semifinalists for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award. A&nbsp;selection committee made up of Division I Baseball Coaches, Sports Information Directors&nbsp;and Major League Scouts selected the sixteen catchers from 69 nominations submitted by Division I college schools.

The finalists for the Buster Posey Award will be announced June 6. Those three catchers will be invited to Wichita, KS with the winner being announced June 26th&nbsp;during the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet and Buster Posey Award presentation. The National Collegiate Catcher of Year Award was established in 2000.&nbsp;

Ethan Anderson, Junior, University of Virginia

Ariel Armas, Junior, San Diego University

Ryan Campos, Junior, Arizona State University

Josh Caron, Junior, University of Nebraska

Connor Caskenette, Senior, Purdue University

Jacob Cozart, Junior, North Carolina State

Mac Guscette, Senior, University of Alabama

Brandon Heidal, Senior, Oakland University

Caleb Lomavita, Junior, California-Berkeley

Cole Messina, Junior, University of South Carolina

Malcolm Moore, Sophomore, Stanford University

More information and player stats can be seen at&nbsp;<a href="https://wichitasports.com/buster-posey-award/">https://wichitasports.com/buster-posey-award/</a>

The Greater Wichita Sports Banquet will be held at INTRUST Bank Arena in downtown Wichita. Tickets will go on sale to the public June 10. For updates on the events and tickets, visit wichitasports.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716393150049.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita Sports Commission" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita Sports Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita Sports CommissionWichita, Kan.&nbsp;— The Wichita Sports Commission announced today the semifinalists for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award. A&nbsp;selection committee made up of Division I Baseball Coaches, Sports Information Directors&nbsp;and Major League Scouts selected the sixteen catchers from 69 nominations submitted by Division I college schools.The finalists for the Buster Posey Award will be announced June 6. Those three catchers will be invited to Wichita, KS with the winner being announced June 26th&nbsp;during the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet and Buster Posey Award presentation. The National Collegiate Catcher of Year Award was established in 2000.&nbsp;Buster Posey Award SemifinalistsEthan Anderson, Junior, University of VirginiaAriel Armas, Junior, San Diego UniversityBurke Camper, Senior, Utah Valley StateRyan Campos, Junior, Arizona State UniversityJosh Caron, Junior, University of NebraskaConnor Caskenette, Senior, Purdue UniversityJacob Cozart, Junior, North Carolina StateMac Guscette, Senior, University of AlabamaBrandon Heidal, Senior, Oakland UniversityIke Irish, Sophomore, Auburn UniversityWalker Janek, Junior, Sam Houston StateCaleb Lomavita, Junior, California-BerkeleyCole Messina, Junior, University of South CarolinaMalcolm Moore, Sophomore, Stanford UniversityRyan Stafford, Junior, Cal PolyAlex Stone, Senior, Duke UniversityMore information and player stats can be seen at&nbsp;<a href="https://wichitasports.com/buster-posey-award/">https://wichitasports.com/buster-posey-award/</a>The Greater Wichita Sports Banquet will be held at INTRUST Bank Arena in downtown Wichita. Tickets will go on sale to the public June 10. For updates on the events and tickets, visit wichitasports.com

⚾ 16 catchers named semifinalists for prestigious Buster Posey Award

Below you will find the girls qualifiers from schools within the Hutch Post coverage area. Stay tuned for the boys list.

<a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/Track/PDF/StateSchedule24.pdf">STATE SCHEDULE</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;|&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/Track/PDF/perflist2024girls.pdf">GIRLS PERFORMANCE LIST</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;|&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://heartlandtiming.com/">LIVE RESULTS</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716307943427.png" alt="Photo Courtesy KSHSAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy KSHSAA</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. — The 2024 Kansas State High School Activities Association state track &amp; field championships will take place on Friday and Saturday at Cessna Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University.&nbsp;Below you will find the girls qualifiers from schools within the Hutch Post coverage area. Stay tuned for the boys list.<a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/Track/PDF/StateSchedule24.pdf">STATE SCHEDULE</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;|&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/Track/PDF/perflist2024girls.pdf">GIRLS PERFORMANCE LIST</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;|&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://heartlandtiming.com/">LIVE RESULTS</a><div>BUHLER (Class 4A) 4x800 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Krysten Hamby, senior; Ava Koster, junior; Makayla Little, senior; Corbin Starkweather, freshman) 100 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Lillie Ledford, freshman) 1600 Meter Run&nbsp;(Corbin Starkweather, freshman) 400 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Lillie Ledford, freshman; Jenna Lackey, sophomore) 200 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Lillie Ledford, freshman) Discus (Sophia Rose, senior) High Jump&nbsp;(Aften Woodbury, junior; Ava Koster, junior; Ashlynn Gumm, junior) Long Jump&nbsp;(Alycea McCoy, senior) Javelin (Sophia Rose, senior) Triple Jump&nbsp;(Alycea McCoy, senior; Brynlee Frank) Pole Vault&nbsp;(Alycea McCoy, senior; Jenna Lackey, sophomore)
&nbsp;
HALSTEAD (Class 3A) &nbsp;Discus&nbsp;(Kahlyn Davis, junior) High Jump&nbsp;(Dominique Schutte, senior)
&nbsp;
HAVEN (Class 3A) &nbsp;Shot Put&nbsp;(Angelina Forsythe, senior)
&nbsp;
HESSTON (Class 3A) &nbsp;3200 Meter Run&nbsp;(Reese Quinn, freshman) 4x800 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Reese Quinn, freshman; Corynn Nickel, freshman; Ava Magill, junior; Jaden Williams, freshman) 100 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Ashley Lehman, sophomore) 400 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Ashley Lehman, sophomore; Jaden Williams, freshman) 200 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Ashley Lehman, sophomore) 4x400 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Taylin Frick, freshman; Jaden Williams, freshman; Sophia Hickman, freshman; Kylie Warden, freshman) Shot Put&nbsp;(Kaycee Mason, junior) Discus (Kaycee Mason, junior) Pole Vault&nbsp;(Ashley Lehman, sophomore)
&nbsp;
HUTCHINSON (Class 5A) &nbsp;Discus&nbsp;(Kyndra Gaines, junior) Long Jump&nbsp;(KeiRre Martinez, junior)
&nbsp;
HUTCHINSON CENTRAL CHRISTIAN (Class 1A) &nbsp;100 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Belle Barnett, junior) 400 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Jessa Losew, sophomore) 200 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Jessa Losew, sophomore) High Jump&nbsp;(Jessa Losew, sophomore; Belle Barnett, junior) Triple Jump&nbsp;(Jessa Losew, sophomore)
&nbsp;
INMAN (Class 2A) &nbsp;100 Meter Hurles&nbsp;(Madilyn Heflin, senior; Brooklyn Black, freshman) 100 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Brooklyn Black, freshman) 4x100 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Rebecca Black, senior; Madelyn Brunk, senior; Brooklyn Black, freshman; Madilyn Heflin, senior) 300 Meter Hurdles&nbsp;(Madilyn Heflin, senior; Brooklyn Black, freshman) 800 Meter Run&nbsp;(Madelyn Brunk, senior) 4x400 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Leah Black, freshman; Dakota Nees, junior; Madilyn Heflin, senior; Madelyn Brunk, senior) Shot Put&nbsp;(Taylor Froese, freshman; Chloe Schmidt, senior) Discus (Morgan Froese, sophomore; Chloe Schmidt, senior) High Jump&nbsp;(Katie Nichols, junior) Long Jump&nbsp;(Katie Nichols, junior) Javelin&nbsp;(Chloe Schmidt, senior) Triple Jump&nbsp;(Katie Nichols, junior; Suttyn Harris, sophomore)
&nbsp;
LITTLE RIVER (Class 1A) &nbsp;100 Meter Hurdles&nbsp;(Aubrey Olander, senior; Havana Olander, sophomore) 4x100 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Alaina Eck, senior; Kami Grasser, senior; Ashley Stephenson, senior; Saelyn Raleigh, freshman) 300 Meter Hurdles&nbsp;(Aubrey Olander, senior) 4x400 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Raleigh Saelyn, freshman; Kami Grasser, senior; Alaina Eck, senior; Ashley Stephenson, senior) Triple Jump&nbsp;(Havana Olander, sophomore) Pole Vault&nbsp;(Kate Ellwood, senior)
&nbsp;
McPHERSON (Class 4A) &nbsp;3200 Meter Run&nbsp;(Lexi Patterson, junior) 100 Meter Hurdles&nbsp;(Arihanna Koehn, junior) 4x800 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Lexi Patterson, junior; Izabel Backhus, junior; Ada Prose, junior; Maryn Sandbo, sophomore) 1600 Meter Run&nbsp;(Eva Ramey, junior) 300 Meter Hurdles&nbsp;(Arihanna Koehn, junior) 4x400 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Addison Chapman, junior; Izabel Backhus, junior; Andi Buschbom, sophomore; Jayla McLeod, senior) Shot Put&nbsp;(Brooke Davidson, junior; Hunter Wilson, senior)
&nbsp;
McPHERSON ELYRIA CHRISTIAN (Class 1A) &nbsp;3200 Meter Run&nbsp;(Laney Reiff, sophomore) 1600 Meter Run&nbsp;(Laney Reiff, sophomore) 4x100 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Addison Chapman, junior; Andi Buschbom, sophomore; Alexa Casebeer, senior; Jayla McLeod, senior) 800 Meter Run&nbsp;(Laney Reiff, sophomore) 200 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Jayla McLeod, senior) Discus (Kenna Cass, senior) Triple Jump&nbsp;(Mallory Holmes, senior)
&nbsp;
MOUNDRIDGE (Class 2A) &nbsp;3200 Meter Run&nbsp;(Haylee Jantz, sophomore) 100 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Cammi Unruh, sophomore) 1600 Meter Run&nbsp;(Haylee Jantz, sophomore) 4x100 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Avery Schrag, junior; Hattie Hecox, freshman; Halle Hecox, freshman; Landree Forester, freshman) 200 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Cammi Unruh, sophomore) 4x400 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Avery Schrag, junior; Halle Hecox, freshman; Hattie Hecox, freshman; Cammi Unruh, sophomore) Long Jump&nbsp;(Cammi Unruh, sophomore) Javelin&nbsp;(Hattie Hecox, freshman) Triple Jump&nbsp;(Hattie Hecox, freshman)
&nbsp;
NEWTON (Class 5A) &nbsp;100 Meter Hurdles&nbsp;(Anai Fernandez, junior) 100 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Mackenzie Sauerwein, junior) 4x100 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Ady Klug, freshman; Maisie Brubacher, freshman; Anai Fernandez, junior; Mackenzie Sauerwein, junior) 400 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Maisie Brubacher, freshman) 300 Meter Hurdles&nbsp;(Anai Fernandez, junior) 200 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Mackenzie Sauerwein, junior) Javelin (Abigail Koontz, senior)
&nbsp;
NICKERSON (Class 3A) &nbsp;100 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Destiny Ponds, senior) 400 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Centhiyan Bankston, sophomore) Shot Put&nbsp;(Rachel Nisly, junior) Discus&nbsp;(Rachel Nisly, junior) Long Jump&nbsp;(Destiny Ponds, senior; Centhiyan Bankston, sophomore)
&nbsp;
PRATT (Class 4A) &nbsp;4x100 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Miranda Webb, sophomore; Gabriella Cervantes, freshman; Wendy Candia, junior; Adelyn Fields, junior) 400 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Adelyn Fields, junior) 800 Meter Run&nbsp;(Kamryn Duecy, sophomore) 4x400 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Wendy Candia, junior; Miranda Webb, sophomore; Gabriella Cervantes, freshman; Adelyn Fields, junior) Discus (Corinne Donnenwerth, senior) Javelin&nbsp;(Corinne Donnenwerth, senior)
&nbsp;
PRETTY PRAIRIE (Class 1A) &nbsp;4x800 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Claire Miller, junior; Ava White, sophomore; Kayleigh Vogl, freshman; Amity White, freshman)
&nbsp;
SMOKY VALLEY (Class 3A) &nbsp;4x800 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Katja Blanchat, junior; Emma Chaput, freshman; Esther Clark, junior; Sophia Eyer, freshman) 1600 Meter Run&nbsp;(Esther Clark, junior) 200 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Breanne Peters, senior) Long Jump&nbsp;(Breanne Peters, senior) Triple Jump&nbsp;(Breanne Peters, senior; Trista Spitler, sophomore) Pole Vault&nbsp;(Breanne Peters, senior) &nbsp; &nbsp; STERLING (Class 2A) &nbsp;3200 Meter Run&nbsp;(Faith Ekart, senior) 1600 Meter Run&nbsp;(Faith Ekart, senior) 400 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Julia Kilgore, sophomore) 800 Meter Run&nbsp;(Faith Ekart, senior) 200 Meter Dash&nbsp;(Julia Kilgore, sophomore) 4x400 Meter Relay&nbsp;(Faith Ekart, senior; Katie Inwood, freshman; Cora Svaty, sophomore; Julia Kilgore, sophomore)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;</div>

👟 Area girls state track & field qualifiers

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="May 22nd, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=gxw4z-161c143-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 LISTEN: ⚾ Royals continue hot streak; 🥎 HutchCC eliminated in NJCAA World Series

OXFORD, Alabama – The Hutchinson Community College softball team's best season in program history came to an end in its third game of the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series at Choccolocco Park.

Just a couple of hours after No. 2 Indian River State dropped No. 15-seed Hutchinson into the losers' bracket of the 20-team double-elimination field on Tuesday, the Blue Dragons fell to another Florida team, No. 16 Lake Land College, 5-2, in an elimination game.

Making their first every appearance in the NJCAA World Series after winning the program's first regional championship since 1987, the Blue Dragon close their historic season with a 47-12 record, the most wins in program history.

The 2024 Blue Dragon sophomores won 92 games, the 2023 Jayhawk Conference championship – the program's first in 32 years – at the 2024 Region 6 championship. Head Coach Jaime Rose completes her 20th season with the Blue Dragons with 618 wins.

Falling quickly behind 2-0, the Blue Dragons immediately responded in the bottom of the first. After&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_bailey_6uk7">Bailey Backhaus</a>' leadoff single and a walk to&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/sandoval_olivia_ydnf">Olivia Sandoval</a>, they both moved up on a wild pitch.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/mastin_alexis_jxjs">Alexis Mastin</a>'s sacrifice fly to center scored Backhaus and an RBI groundout by&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/darnell_jaeleigh_5kwl">Jaeleigh Darnell</a>&nbsp;plated Sandoval with the tying run.

From that point, the Dragon offense was quiet as Lake Land pitchers Tinley Beecham and Bryanna French allowed just two Hutchison base runners to reach on an error in the third and a walk in the fifth. The Blue Dragons were held to a season-low one hit.

Lake Land took a 3-2 lead in the fourth with a Karah Moore RBI single. The Lakers scored two unearned runs as insurance in the top of the seventh to build three-run lead.

Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/tomlinson_morgan_sq65">Morgan Tomlinson</a>&nbsp;(16-3) started and worked the first 3 1-3 innings. She allowed seven hits and three runs with three strikeouts and three walks.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lake_dakota_j57w">Dakota Lake</a>&nbsp;finished the game with 3 2-3 innings or work. She had three strikeouts and allowed three hits, two unearned runs and a walk.

POSTGAME NOTES: +&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lake_dakota_j57w">Dakota Lake</a>&nbsp;completes her freshman season with 216 strikeouts in 138 1-3 innings, second most in Blue Dragon single-season history.

+ The 2024 Blue Dragons break the team record for season batting average hitting .406 over 59 games.

+&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_bailey_6uk7">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;finished with 104 hits, the most in Blue Dragon single-season history.

+ With Backhaus's 104 hits,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/sandoval_olivia_ydnf">Olivia Sandoval</a>'s 96 hits and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/darnell_jaeleigh_5kwl">Jaeleigh Darnell</a>'s 88 hits, that trio behind the first team history with 80 or more hits in the same season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716380099880.jpeg" alt="Second baseman Tamara Lozoya makes a diving stop late in Tuesday's NJCAA Softball World Series game with Lake Land College in Oxford, Ala. The Dragons fell 5-2 to end its historic season at 47-12. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Second baseman Tamara Lozoya makes a diving stop late in Tuesday's NJCAA Softball World Series game with Lake Land College in Oxford, Ala. The Dragons fell 5-2 to end its historic season at 47-12. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationOXFORD, Alabama – The Hutchinson Community College softball team's best season in program history came to an end in its third game of the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series at Choccolocco Park.Just a couple of hours after No. 2 Indian River State dropped No. 15-seed Hutchinson into the losers' bracket of the 20-team double-elimination field on Tuesday, the Blue Dragons fell to another Florida team, No. 16 Lake Land College, 5-2, in an elimination game.Making their first every appearance in the NJCAA World Series after winning the program's first regional championship since 1987, the Blue Dragon close their historic season with a 47-12 record, the most wins in program history.The 2024 Blue Dragon sophomores won 92 games, the 2023 Jayhawk Conference championship – the program's first in 32 years – at the 2024 Region 6 championship. Head Coach Jaime Rose completes her 20th season with the Blue Dragons with 618 wins.Falling quickly behind 2-0, the Blue Dragons immediately responded in the bottom of the first. After&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_bailey_6uk7">Bailey Backhaus</a>' leadoff single and a walk to&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/sandoval_olivia_ydnf">Olivia Sandoval</a>, they both moved up on a wild pitch.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/mastin_alexis_jxjs">Alexis Mastin</a>'s sacrifice fly to center scored Backhaus and an RBI groundout by&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/darnell_jaeleigh_5kwl">Jaeleigh Darnell</a>&nbsp;plated Sandoval with the tying run.From that point, the Dragon offense was quiet as Lake Land pitchers Tinley Beecham and Bryanna French allowed just two Hutchison base runners to reach on an error in the third and a walk in the fifth. The Blue Dragons were held to a season-low one hit.Lake Land took a 3-2 lead in the fourth with a Karah Moore RBI single. The Lakers scored two unearned runs as insurance in the top of the seventh to build three-run lead.Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/tomlinson_morgan_sq65">Morgan Tomlinson</a>&nbsp;(16-3) started and worked the first 3 1-3 innings. She allowed seven hits and three runs with three strikeouts and three walks.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lake_dakota_j57w">Dakota Lake</a>&nbsp;finished the game with 3 2-3 innings or work. She had three strikeouts and allowed three hits, two unearned runs and a walk.POSTGAME NOTES: +&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lake_dakota_j57w">Dakota Lake</a>&nbsp;completes her freshman season with 216 strikeouts in 138 1-3 innings, second most in Blue Dragon single-season history.+ The 2024 Blue Dragons break the team record for season batting average hitting .406 over 59 games.+&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_bailey_6uk7">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;finished with 104 hits, the most in Blue Dragon single-season history.+ With Backhaus's 104 hits,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/sandoval_olivia_ydnf">Olivia Sandoval</a>'s 96 hits and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/darnell_jaeleigh_5kwl">Jaeleigh Darnell</a>'s 88 hits, that trio behind the first team history with 80 or more hits in the same season.

🥎 Blue Dragons' historic season comes to an end

OXFORD, Alabama – Two of the top pitchers in the nation locked up in an old-fashioned pitcher's duel Tuesday in the second round of the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series.

Hutchinson Community College pitcher of the year&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lake_dakota_j57w">Dakota Lake</a>, the Jayhawk Conference Pitcher of the Year, went toe-to-toe with No. 2 Indian River State's J'daj Girigorie at Choccolocco Park and pitched one of her best games of the season.

Indian River State scratched out two runs in the first inning and the Pioneers made it stand up as the No. 15-seeded Blue Dragons fell to the losers' bracket after a 2-0 loss.

The Dragons (47-11) played Lake Land College later Tuesday in an elimination game.

Lake (12-4) struck out nine and gave up only four hits to the Pioneers (52-9), just two from the third inning on.

Indian River State took advantage of two first-inning walks, though, getting a two-out, two-run double from Maddox Thomas to take a 2-0 lead over the Blue Dragons.

Lake then raised her level and kept the Pioneers' potent offense in check.

After a leadoff IRSC single and sacrifice bunt in the second, Lake ended the inning with a pair of strikeouts. After a 1-2-3 third, Lake allowed a leadoff double in the fourth, but two strikeouts and a groundout to second baseman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lozoya_tamara_njkf">Tamara Lozoya</a>&nbsp;ended that threat. Then in the sixth, Lake struck out the first two batters she faced and allowed a two-out single. The inning quickly ended when catcher&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/divis_madi_gofs">Madi Divis</a>&nbsp;threw out Ciara Gendron trying to steal second base to end the inning.

Girigorie simply didn't let the Blue Dragons offense get rolling. The Dragons struck out a season-high 15 times against Girigorie (33-6). She didn't walk a batter.

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_brooke_06ze">Brooke Backhaus</a>' single to center to lead off the third inning was the Dragons' first hit of the game. Divis and Lozoya had the other Dragons hits.

Hutchinson mounted a threat in the seventh as both Divis and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lies_korri_k1mj">Korri Lies</a>&nbsp;reached base on a pair of Pioneer errors. Pinch runner&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/dice_emily_aof6">Emily Dice</a>&nbsp;and Lies made it even more interesting with a delayed double steak of second and third, but Girigorie's 15th strikeout of the game ended the threat.

POSTGAME NOTES: +&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lake_dakota_j57w">Dakota Lake</a>&nbsp;now has 213 strikeouts for the season.

+ Hutchinson's three hits tied the second-fewest by the Blue Dragons this season.

+ Lake has nine games of nine or more strikeouts this season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716380008686.jpeg" alt="Korri Lies pops one up during the Blue Dragons' NJCAA Softball World Series matchup vs. No. 2 Indian River State on Tuesday at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. The Dragons lost the game 2-0. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Korri Lies pops one up during the Blue Dragons' NJCAA Softball World Series matchup vs. No. 2 Indian River State on Tuesday at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala. The Dragons lost the game 2-0. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationOXFORD, Alabama – Two of the top pitchers in the nation locked up in an old-fashioned pitcher's duel Tuesday in the second round of the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series.Hutchinson Community College pitcher of the year&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lake_dakota_j57w">Dakota Lake</a>, the Jayhawk Conference Pitcher of the Year, went toe-to-toe with No. 2 Indian River State's J'daj Girigorie at Choccolocco Park and pitched one of her best games of the season.Indian River State scratched out two runs in the first inning and the Pioneers made it stand up as the No. 15-seeded Blue Dragons fell to the losers' bracket after a 2-0 loss.The Dragons (47-11) played Lake Land College later Tuesday in an elimination game.Lake (12-4) struck out nine and gave up only four hits to the Pioneers (52-9), just two from the third inning on.Indian River State took advantage of two first-inning walks, though, getting a two-out, two-run double from Maddox Thomas to take a 2-0 lead over the Blue Dragons.Lake then raised her level and kept the Pioneers' potent offense in check.After a leadoff IRSC single and sacrifice bunt in the second, Lake ended the inning with a pair of strikeouts. After a 1-2-3 third, Lake allowed a leadoff double in the fourth, but two strikeouts and a groundout to second baseman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lozoya_tamara_njkf">Tamara Lozoya</a>&nbsp;ended that threat. Then in the sixth, Lake struck out the first two batters she faced and allowed a two-out single. The inning quickly ended when catcher&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/divis_madi_gofs">Madi Divis</a>&nbsp;threw out Ciara Gendron trying to steal second base to end the inning.Girigorie simply didn't let the Blue Dragons offense get rolling. The Dragons struck out a season-high 15 times against Girigorie (33-6). She didn't walk a batter.<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_brooke_06ze">Brooke Backhaus</a>' single to center to lead off the third inning was the Dragons' first hit of the game. Divis and Lozoya had the other Dragons hits.Hutchinson mounted a threat in the seventh as both Divis and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lies_korri_k1mj">Korri Lies</a>&nbsp;reached base on a pair of Pioneer errors. Pinch runner&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/dice_emily_aof6">Emily Dice</a>&nbsp;and Lies made it even more interesting with a delayed double steak of second and third, but Girigorie's 15th strikeout of the game ended the threat.POSTGAME NOTES: +&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lake_dakota_j57w">Dakota Lake</a>&nbsp;now has 213 strikeouts for the season.+ Hutchinson's three hits tied the second-fewest by the Blue Dragons this season.+ Lake has nine games of nine or more strikeouts this season.

🥎 Dragons drop pitchers duel to No. 2 Indian River State

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a 468-foot, three-run homer into the upper deck fountains, leading the Kansas City Royals past the Detroit Tigers 10-3. Witt homered twice, driving in six, and stole a base. Maikel Garcia tripled twice among four hits, extending his season-best hitting streak to nine games. Hunter Renfroe hit his fourth homer of the season. Alec Marsh allowed three runs with five strikeouts in six innings. The Royals haven’t trailed in the 45 innings of the current homestand. Casey Mize allowed six runs in the shortest outing of his career.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles will have to wait a day to finish Tuesday night’s game, which was suspended in the middle of the sixth inning tied at 1 after a 91-minute rain delay. The game will resume at 12:15 p.m. EDT on Wednesday with the teams’ regularly-scheduled matinee slated to start after the conclusion of the suspended game.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cade McGee hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to lift 10th-seeded Texas Tech to a 6-4 upset over third-seeded Texas to cap the opening day of the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Gavin Kash opened the ninth with a single and was sacrificed to second by Drew Woodcox. McGee then drove the next pitch from Dandre Duplantier II (2-1) over the left-field wall for his 15th home run. The Red Raiders face second-seeded Oklahoma State while the Longhorns play Cincinnati in an elimination game on Wednesday. Drew Woodcox and Austin Green also homered for Texas Tech. The Longhorns got home runs from Jared Thomas and Jack O'Dowd.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Danny Neri’s third home run, with two outs in the top of the 11th inning, lifted eighth-seeded UCF to a 6-5 win over fifth-seeded Cincinnati in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Neri, who had a career-high four hits, rescued the Knights on a 3-2 pitch after they allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth that tied the game at 5. UCF’s next game will be determined by the result of the late game between No. 3 Texas and No. 10 Texas Tech. Neri had a home run in the second and added a two-run shot in the seventh for a 5-1 lead. Christian Mitchelle had a run-scoring single with two outs in the ninth and Josh Hegemann followed with a two-run single to tie the game for Cincinnati.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Caedmon Parker and Braeden Sloan combined to pitch a three-hitter and No. 9 seed TCU beat eighth-seed West Virginia 5-2 on Tuesday to begin its defense of the Big 12 championship title. TCU (32-19) advances to play top-seeded Oklahoma on Wednesday. West Virginia (33-21) drops to the consolation side of the double-elimination bracket and will face Kansas State on Wednesday in an elimination game. Brody Green tripled and homered to power the TCU offense. His solo home run into the TCU bullpen made it 5-2 in the ninth. Chase Brunson, Ryder Robinson and Karson Bowen also had an RBI for TCU. Sam Myers, who entered the tournament on a 13-game hitting streak, went 0 for 4.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hunter Cranton struck out two in the ninth inning to help earn his seventh save and No. 7 seed Kansas held off sixth-seeded Kansas State 2-1 in the opening game of the Big 12 Tournament. Kansas (30-21), which is playing in the tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2017-19, avenged last year’s season-ending 7-1 tournament loss to Kansas State to advance to the winner’s bracket. Kansas State (31-23) also continues in the double-elimination tournament. Kansas broke a tie in the ninth when Lenny Ashby sent a fly ball to the wall, resulting in a triple and Collier Cranford hit a sacrifice fly to bring in pinch runner Sam Hunt. Cranton struck out the first two batters, then got the previously 3-for-3 Kaelen Culpepper to fly out.

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 36 points, including 10 in overtime after Jaylen Brown’s tying 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Boston Celtics rallied just in time for a 133-128 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Jrue Holiday added a season-high 28 points and Brown finished with 26. Game 2 is Thursday night in Boston. Tyrese Haliburton had 25 points and 10 assists for the Pacers.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns has seen the payoff this spring for his commitment to and sacrifice for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They're in the Western Conference finals for the first time in 20 years due in large part to the offense and defense supplied by the four-time All-Star over the first two rounds. They host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 on Wednesday night. The Mavericks have also hit their stride with the Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving duo that didn't take off on the first try last season. Both teams used record-setting rallies to clinch their second-round series wins.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Bryson DeChambeau believes golf is as much about entertainment as winning trophies. Xander Schauffele won the Wanamaker Trophy at the PGA Championship. DeChambeau delivered the entertainment and came away with a victory of his own. The LIV Golf player always has been polarizing. He can rub people the wrong way with his preaching about physics and golf and how to revolutionize the game. But he delivered passion that golf has been lacking over the last several months. He pumped fists. He bumped fists. He even called out a fan who had tried to sneak off with a kid's golf ball.

Baltimore at St. Louis 12:15 p.m. (Suspended)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Report for May 22nd, 2024:<div><iframe title="AP Sports Report for May 22nd, 2024" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=bftkn-161c034-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a 468-foot, three-run homer into the upper deck fountains, leading the Kansas City Royals past the Detroit Tigers 10-3. Witt homered twice, driving in six, and stole a base. Maikel Garcia tripled twice among four hits, extending his season-best hitting streak to nine games. Hunter Renfroe hit his fourth homer of the season. Alec Marsh allowed three runs with five strikeouts in six innings. The Royals haven’t trailed in the 45 innings of the current homestand. Casey Mize allowed six runs in the shortest outing of his career.ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles will have to wait a day to finish Tuesday night’s game, which was suspended in the middle of the sixth inning tied at 1 after a 91-minute rain delay. The game will resume at 12:15 p.m. EDT on Wednesday with the teams’ regularly-scheduled matinee slated to start after the conclusion of the suspended game.ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cade McGee hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to lift 10th-seeded Texas Tech to a 6-4 upset over third-seeded Texas to cap the opening day of the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Gavin Kash opened the ninth with a single and was sacrificed to second by Drew Woodcox. McGee then drove the next pitch from Dandre Duplantier II (2-1) over the left-field wall for his 15th home run. The Red Raiders face second-seeded Oklahoma State while the Longhorns play Cincinnati in an elimination game on Wednesday. Drew Woodcox and Austin Green also homered for Texas Tech. The Longhorns got home runs from Jared Thomas and Jack O'Dowd.ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Danny Neri’s third home run, with two outs in the top of the 11th inning, lifted eighth-seeded UCF to a 6-5 win over fifth-seeded Cincinnati in the first round of the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Neri, who had a career-high four hits, rescued the Knights on a 3-2 pitch after they allowed three runs in the bottom of the ninth that tied the game at 5. UCF’s next game will be determined by the result of the late game between No. 3 Texas and No. 10 Texas Tech. Neri had a home run in the second and added a two-run shot in the seventh for a 5-1 lead. Christian Mitchelle had a run-scoring single with two outs in the ninth and Josh Hegemann followed with a two-run single to tie the game for Cincinnati.ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Caedmon Parker and Braeden Sloan combined to pitch a three-hitter and No. 9 seed TCU beat eighth-seed West Virginia 5-2 on Tuesday to begin its defense of the Big 12 championship title. TCU (32-19) advances to play top-seeded Oklahoma on Wednesday. West Virginia (33-21) drops to the consolation side of the double-elimination bracket and will face Kansas State on Wednesday in an elimination game. Brody Green tripled and homered to power the TCU offense. His solo home run into the TCU bullpen made it 5-2 in the ninth. Chase Brunson, Ryder Robinson and Karson Bowen also had an RBI for TCU. Sam Myers, who entered the tournament on a 13-game hitting streak, went 0 for 4.ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hunter Cranton struck out two in the ninth inning to help earn his seventh save and No. 7 seed Kansas held off sixth-seeded Kansas State 2-1 in the opening game of the Big 12 Tournament. Kansas (30-21), which is playing in the tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2017-19, avenged last year’s season-ending 7-1 tournament loss to Kansas State to advance to the winner’s bracket. Kansas State (31-23) also continues in the double-elimination tournament. Kansas broke a tie in the ninth when Lenny Ashby sent a fly ball to the wall, resulting in a triple and Collier Cranford hit a sacrifice fly to bring in pinch runner Sam Hunt. Cranton struck out the first two batters, then got the previously 3-for-3 Kaelen Culpepper to fly out.BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 36 points, including 10 in overtime after Jaylen Brown’s tying 3-pointer with 6.1 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Boston Celtics rallied just in time for a 133-128 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Jrue Holiday added a season-high 28 points and Brown finished with 26. Game 2 is Thursday night in Boston. Tyrese Haliburton had 25 points and 10 assists for the Pacers.MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns has seen the payoff this spring for his commitment to and sacrifice for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They're in the Western Conference finals for the first time in 20 years due in large part to the offense and defense supplied by the four-time All-Star over the first two rounds. They host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 on Wednesday night. The Mavericks have also hit their stride with the Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving duo that didn't take off on the first try last season. Both teams used record-setting rallies to clinch their second-round series wins.LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Bryson DeChambeau believes golf is as much about entertainment as winning trophies. Xander Schauffele won the Wanamaker Trophy at the PGA Championship. DeChambeau delivered the entertainment and came away with a victory of his own. The LIV Golf player always has been polarizing. He can rub people the wrong way with his preaching about physics and golf and how to revolutionize the game. But he delivered passion that golf has been lacking over the last several months. He pumped fists. He bumped fists. He even called out a fan who had tried to sneak off with a kid's golf ball.TUESDAY SCORESMAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLINTERLEAGUEBaltimore at St. Louis 12:15 p.m. (Suspended)Final Cleveland 7 N.Y. Mets 6Final Minnesota 10 Washington 0Final Philadelphia 5 Texas 2Final Oakland 5 Colorado 4AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal Boston 5 Tampa Bay 2Final Chicago White Sox 5 Toronto 0Final Kansas City 10 Detroit 3Final Seattle 6 N.Y. Yankees 3Final Houston 6 L.A. Angels 5NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal Cincinnati 2 San Diego 0Final Milwaukee 7 Miami 5Final Pittsburgh 7 San Francisco 6Final Chicago Cubs 4 Atlanta 3Final Arizona 7 L.A. Dodgers 3NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS

📢📰🎧 Sports Headlines for Wednesday

WICHITA, Kan.—The Wichita Wind Surge dropped the series opener 3-2 against the San Antonio Missions at Riverfront Stadium. Despite the Wind Surge loading the bases and getting a run back in the ninth on a passed ball, Wichita loses their fourth straight.

A trio of singles for the Missions allowed them to strike first in the leadoff frame of the series. Michael De La Cruz had the last such to allow Cole Cummings to score. Cummings followed with a solo home run to right-center in the bottom of the third to push the San Antonio lead to 2-0 a third of the way through.

Tanner Schobel&nbsp;finally brought the Wind Surge on the board in the bottom of the fifth. He pushed an RBI single to the opposite way to right field to score&nbsp;Emmanuel Rodriguez&nbsp;from second.

Brandon Valenzuela matched Cummings by slugging a solo home run in the top of the seventh to make the score 3-1 Missions heading into the stretch.

Despite the Wichita leadoff batter striking out to begin the bottom of the ninth, the following three batters drew walks to load the bases. Rodriguez scored from third on a passed ball, sliding just beneath the tag by Jayvien Sandridge. The next batter grounded into a force out at second to end the game by a 3-2 final.

Andrew Morris&nbsp;was pinned with the loss in his Double-A debut, giving up two earned runs on seven hits in five and one-third innings alongside three strikeouts.

The Wind Surge continue their series with the San Antonio Missions on Wednesday, May 23, with a 7:05 PM first pitch on Winetastic Wednesday at Riverfront Stadium. You can listen to Wind Surge games on ESPN Wichita 92.3 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>&nbsp;or watch online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/MiLB.TV">MiLB.TV</a>&nbsp;and Bally Live. For ticket information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716376263960.jpeg" alt="Wind Surge Falter In Series Opener Versus San Antonio" />
 <figcaption>Wind Surge Falter In Series Opener Versus San Antonio</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan.—The Wichita Wind Surge dropped the series opener 3-2 against the San Antonio Missions at Riverfront Stadium. Despite the Wind Surge loading the bases and getting a run back in the ninth on a passed ball, Wichita loses their fourth straight.A trio of singles for the Missions allowed them to strike first in the leadoff frame of the series. Michael De La Cruz had the last such to allow Cole Cummings to score. Cummings followed with a solo home run to right-center in the bottom of the third to push the San Antonio lead to 2-0 a third of the way through.Tanner Schobel&nbsp;finally brought the Wind Surge on the board in the bottom of the fifth. He pushed an RBI single to the opposite way to right field to score&nbsp;Emmanuel Rodriguez&nbsp;from second.Brandon Valenzuela matched Cummings by slugging a solo home run in the top of the seventh to make the score 3-1 Missions heading into the stretch.Despite the Wichita leadoff batter striking out to begin the bottom of the ninth, the following three batters drew walks to load the bases. Rodriguez scored from third on a passed ball, sliding just beneath the tag by Jayvien Sandridge. The next batter grounded into a force out at second to end the game by a 3-2 final.Andrew Morris&nbsp;was pinned with the loss in his Double-A debut, giving up two earned runs on seven hits in five and one-third innings alongside three strikeouts.The Wind Surge continue their series with the San Antonio Missions on Wednesday, May 23, with a 7:05 PM first pitch on Winetastic Wednesday at Riverfront Stadium. You can listen to Wind Surge games on ESPN Wichita 92.3 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>&nbsp;or watch online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/MiLB.TV">MiLB.TV</a>&nbsp;and Bally Live. For ticket information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>.

⚾ Wichita Wind Surge drop series opener

DALLAS (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice won't face charges from the injured person over his reported involvement in an alleged assault a little over a month after Rice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-dallas-crash-kansas-city-chiefs-b9c772b81b1b64ad111e249b38c8c4b5">was one of the speeding drivers</a>&nbsp;in a chain-reaction crash that led to multiple charges.

Dallas police said Tuesday the reporting party had signed an affidavit of non-prosecution over the incident at a downtown nightclub, but that the investigation is continuing.

Law enforcement officials have told The Dallas Morning News that Rice was suspected of assaulting a person early May 6, and that the person went to a hospital after the encounter.

Dallas police did not name Rice as the suspect in detailing a report of the incident to The Associated Press.

Rice’s attorney, Texas state Sen. Royce West, didn’t respond to a message from the AP seeking comment. The NFL declined to comment.

Rice reported to the Chiefs for voluntary workouts last month, not long after turning himself in to Dallas police over multiple charges, including aggravated assault, involving the high-speed crash.

West has previously acknowledged Rice was speeding in a Lamborghini SUV when the crash involving six vehicles happened March 30. Police said Theodore Knox was driving a Corvette.

According to a&nbsp;<a href="file:///C:/Users/sdixon/AppData/Local/Temp/%7B400B23C9-0EF0-4A07-93CE-D39A922EB852%7D/%7B5CF7D52C-2DEA-4D14-BD70-BA7B7CA0EF78%7D/Rice%20Crash%20report.pdf">Texas Department of Transportation report</a>, Rice was driving the Lamborghini at a top speed of 119 mph before impact, while the Corvette that Knox was driving had a top speed of 116 mph.

Rice, a former SMU and Dallas-area high school player who turned 24 last month, and Knox have been charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. Knox also played for SMU.

Four people were injured in the crash, and police said the occupants of the Lamborghini and Corvette left the scene without providing information or determining whether anyone needed medical attention.

Rice was drafted in the second round by Kansas City last year and played in 20 games, including the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over San Francisco in the Super Bowl. He led the team with seven touchdowns receiving in the regular season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716371721361.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice speaks to the media before the NFL football team's practice, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. Rice won't face charges from the injured person over his reported involvement in an alleged assault a little over a month after Rice was one of the speeding drivers in a chain-reaction crash that led to multiple charges. Dallas police said Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2024, the reporting party had signed an affidavit of non-prosecution over the incident at a downtown nightclub, but that the investigation is continuing. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice speaks to the media before the NFL football team's practice, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. Rice won't face charges from the injured person over his reported involvement in an alleged assault a little over a month after Rice was one of the speeding drivers in a chain-reaction crash that led to multiple charges. Dallas police said Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2024, the reporting party had signed an affidavit of non-prosecution over the incident at a downtown nightclub, but that the investigation is continuing. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice won't face charges from the injured person over his reported involvement in an alleged assault a little over a month after Rice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-dallas-crash-kansas-city-chiefs-b9c772b81b1b64ad111e249b38c8c4b5">was one of the speeding drivers</a>&nbsp;in a chain-reaction crash that led to multiple charges.Dallas police said Tuesday the reporting party had signed an affidavit of non-prosecution over the incident at a downtown nightclub, but that the investigation is continuing.Law enforcement officials have told The Dallas Morning News that Rice was suspected of assaulting a person early May 6, and that the person went to a hospital after the encounter.Dallas police did not name Rice as the suspect in detailing a report of the incident to The Associated Press.Rice’s attorney, Texas state Sen. Royce West, didn’t respond to a message from the AP seeking comment. The NFL declined to comment.Rice reported to the Chiefs for voluntary workouts last month, not long after turning himself in to Dallas police over multiple charges, including aggravated assault, involving the high-speed crash.West has previously acknowledged Rice was speeding in a Lamborghini SUV when the crash involving six vehicles happened March 30. Police said Theodore Knox was driving a Corvette.According to a&nbsp;<a href="file:///C:/Users/sdixon/AppData/Local/Temp/%7B400B23C9-0EF0-4A07-93CE-D39A922EB852%7D/%7B5CF7D52C-2DEA-4D14-BD70-BA7B7CA0EF78%7D/Rice%20Crash%20report.pdf">Texas Department of Transportation report</a>, Rice was driving the Lamborghini at a top speed of 119 mph before impact, while the Corvette that Knox was driving had a top speed of 116 mph.Rice, a former SMU and Dallas-area high school player who turned 24 last month, and Knox have been charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury. Knox also played for SMU.Four people were injured in the crash, and police said the occupants of the Lamborghini and Corvette left the scene without providing information or determining whether anyone needed medical attention.Rice was drafted in the second round by Kansas City last year and played in 20 games, including the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over San Francisco in the Super Bowl. He led the team with seven touchdowns receiving in the regular season.

Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice won't face charges from person over alleged assault, Dallas police say

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. homered twice as the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 10-3 for their fifth straight win on Tuesday night.

Maikel Garcia led off the first with a triple and scored on Witt’s infield hit. Witt stole second and scored when Salvador Perez hit a single to right.

After Kyle Isbel and Garcia singled in the second, Witt hit Casey Mize’s splitter 468 feet — the farthest of his career —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/746309/video/bobby-witt-jr-s-468-foot-home-run">into the upper deck fountains.</a>

“I didn’t really watch it,” Witt said. “I just kind of hit it and started running, but yeah, it felt good.”

“That’s probably one of the longest balls I’ve ever seen hit,” said Royals starting pitcher Alec Marsh. “Unbelievable. He’s a generational talent. You think you’d get used to it being around him every day, and then he does something new that you haven’t seen and it’s just ‘wow.’ The wow factor is unbelievable.”

Mize (1-3) surrendered six runs on nine hits with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings, the shortest outing of his career.

“They were taking really good swings off him,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He threw some chase pitches that got hit for base hits. He threw some pitches in the strike zone that got hit hard. It just wasn’t his day.”

Garcia drove an RBI triple to right and scored on Witt’s third-inning sacrifice fly to give the Royals an 8-0 lead. Garcia scored three runs while matching a career best with four hits, extending his hitting streak to nine games.

“Maikel setting the tone kind of gave me excitement,” Witt said. “He’s doing the job, I’ve got to do my part.”

Witt added a solo homer leading off the sixth. It was his fourth multihomer game as he matched a career best with six RBIs.

In the seventh, Hunter Renfroe’s fourth homer of the season capped the scoring.

Kansas City collected six extra-base hits and has at least one extra-base hit in all 50 games this year, one game shy of their franchise record set in 1978.

Marsh (4-1) allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings. The Royals have won all but one of his eight starts.

“Anytime we play like that we’re going to win a lot of games,” Marsh said of the Royals’ early offense. “First three innings I wasn’t paying attention. Sitting there for 20 or 30 minutes, I was like ‘what’s going on out there?'”

Kansas City has led or been tied for all 45 innings of the current homestand and hasn’t trailed since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-mariners-score-0b62bf25f1441178eafb446f901ba9f2">Wednesday’s loss at Seattle.</a>

Matt Vierling hit a two-run triple in the fourth and scored on Colt Keith’s single. Keith had three of Detroit’s six hits.

Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (6-0, 1.80 ERA) opposes Royals LHP Cole Ragans (3-3, 3.70) in Wednesday's series finale.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716370954315.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. backs up to avoid getting doused by a teammate after their baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 10-3. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. backs up to avoid getting doused by a teammate after their baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 10-3. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. homered twice as the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 10-3 for their fifth straight win on Tuesday night.Maikel Garcia led off the first with a triple and scored on Witt’s infield hit. Witt stole second and scored when Salvador Perez hit a single to right.After Kyle Isbel and Garcia singled in the second, Witt hit Casey Mize’s splitter 468 feet — the farthest of his career —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/746309/video/bobby-witt-jr-s-468-foot-home-run">into the upper deck fountains.</a>“I didn’t really watch it,” Witt said. “I just kind of hit it and started running, but yeah, it felt good.”“That’s probably one of the longest balls I’ve ever seen hit,” said Royals starting pitcher Alec Marsh. “Unbelievable. He’s a generational talent. You think you’d get used to it being around him every day, and then he does something new that you haven’t seen and it’s just ‘wow.’ The wow factor is unbelievable.”Mize (1-3) surrendered six runs on nine hits with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings, the shortest outing of his career.“They were taking really good swings off him,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He threw some chase pitches that got hit for base hits. He threw some pitches in the strike zone that got hit hard. It just wasn’t his day.”Garcia drove an RBI triple to right and scored on Witt’s third-inning sacrifice fly to give the Royals an 8-0 lead. Garcia scored three runs while matching a career best with four hits, extending his hitting streak to nine games.“Maikel setting the tone kind of gave me excitement,” Witt said. “He’s doing the job, I’ve got to do my part.”Witt added a solo homer leading off the sixth. It was his fourth multihomer game as he matched a career best with six RBIs.In the seventh, Hunter Renfroe’s fourth homer of the season capped the scoring.Kansas City collected six extra-base hits and has at least one extra-base hit in all 50 games this year, one game shy of their franchise record set in 1978.Marsh (4-1) allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings. The Royals have won all but one of his eight starts.“Anytime we play like that we’re going to win a lot of games,” Marsh said of the Royals’ early offense. “First three innings I wasn’t paying attention. Sitting there for 20 or 30 minutes, I was like ‘what’s going on out there?'”Kansas City has led or been tied for all 45 innings of the current homestand and hasn’t trailed since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-mariners-score-0b62bf25f1441178eafb446f901ba9f2">Wednesday’s loss at Seattle.</a>Matt Vierling hit a two-run triple in the fourth and scored on Colt Keith’s single. Keith had three of Detroit’s six hits.UP NEXTTigers LHP Tarik Skubal (6-0, 1.80 ERA) opposes Royals LHP Cole Ragans (3-3, 3.70) in Wednesday's series finale.

⚾ Bobby Witt Jr.’s 2 homers and 6 RBIs lead Royals past Tigers

The high school boys golf season wrapped up on Tuesday with state championships concluding at seven different sites across the state of Kansas.

Find leaderboards from all sites <a href="https://www.highschoolgolfscores.com/ks/index.php?state=ks&amp;db=boys">here</a>.&nbsp;

Team Titles 6A: Shawnee Mission East 5A: Kapaun Mt. Carmel 4A: Wamego 3A: Hesston 2A: Salina-Sacred Heart 1A: South Gray Sand Greens: Lakeside

Below you will find how area student-athletes faired at their respective state tournaments.

Class 5A (Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton) T47: Winston Johnson, Hutchinson, 84, 89, 173 50: Roman Kulick-Hart, Hutchinson, 84, 91, 175

Class 4A (Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson) 1: Blaise Hoover, McPherson, 69, 70, 139 T4: Grant McAtee, Pratt, 71, 76, 147 11: Hudson Krehbiel, McPherson, 80, 75, 155 41: Owen Pyle, McPherson, 88, 85, 173 42: Paxton Ingels, McPherson, 87, 87, 174 T45: Cale Dahlstrom, McPherson, 76, 101, 177 50: Teagan Haines, McPherson, 87, 99, 186

Class 3A (Emporia Municipal Golf Course in Emporia) T7: Palmer Welsh, Hesston, 76, 78, 154 9: Grant Waterson, Hesston, 79, 77, 156 T14: Cooper Frey, Hesston, 76, 83, 159 T27: Carter Frey, Hesston, 81, 85, 166 T43: Easton Roth, Hesston, 92, 88, 180 45: Cade Unruh; Hesston; 87, 94, 181

Class 2A (Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City) 11: Lincoln Barnes, Trinity Catholic, 79, 84, 163 19: Miles Blaylock, Trinity Catholic, 78, 91, 169 34: Eric Armour, Trinity Catholic, 89, 88, 177 38: Tyler Casebolt, Trinity Catholic, 89, 93, 182 46: Matt Armour, Trinity Catholic, 94, 102, 196 47: Seamus Hogan, Trinity Catholic, 94, 104, 198

Class 1A (Hesston Golf Course in Hesston) 2: Cael Kooiman, Central Christian School, 72, 74, 146 T15: Ryland Kooiman, Central Christian School, 85, 81, 166 T15: Nathan Reed,&nbsp;Central Christian School, 83, 83, 166 T43: Dale Oatney,&nbsp;Central Christian School, 90, 99, 189 54: Brody Froese,&nbsp;Central Christian School, 98, 114, 212 56: Tarren Scripsic,&nbsp;Central Christian School, 125, 116, 241

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716340314655.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy @SwatherAD on X" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy @SwatherAD on X</figcaption>
 </figure>The high school boys golf season wrapped up on Tuesday with state championships concluding at seven different sites across the state of Kansas.Find leaderboards from all sites <a href="https://www.highschoolgolfscores.com/ks/index.php?state=ks&amp;db=boys">here</a>.&nbsp;Team Titles 6A: Shawnee Mission East 5A: Kapaun Mt. Carmel 4A: Wamego 3A: Hesston 2A: Salina-Sacred Heart 1A: South Gray Sand Greens: LakesideBelow you will find how area student-athletes faired at their respective state tournaments.Class 5A (Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton) T47: Winston Johnson, Hutchinson, 84, 89, 173 50: Roman Kulick-Hart, Hutchinson, 84, 91, 175Class 4A (Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson) 1: Blaise Hoover, McPherson, 69, 70, 139 T4: Grant McAtee, Pratt, 71, 76, 147 11: Hudson Krehbiel, McPherson, 80, 75, 155 41: Owen Pyle, McPherson, 88, 85, 173 42: Paxton Ingels, McPherson, 87, 87, 174 T45: Cale Dahlstrom, McPherson, 76, 101, 177 50: Teagan Haines, McPherson, 87, 99, 186<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">State Champion!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bullpupnation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bullpupnation</a> <a href="https://t.co/GIj8wKtnpY">pic.twitter.com/GIj8wKtnpY</a>&mdash; McPherson HS (@MHSBullpups) <a href="https://twitter.com/MHSBullpups/status/1793036602152763418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Class 3A (Emporia Municipal Golf Course in Emporia) T7: Palmer Welsh, Hesston, 76, 78, 154 9: Grant Waterson, Hesston, 79, 77, 156 T14: Cooper Frey, Hesston, 76, 83, 159 T27: Carter Frey, Hesston, 81, 85, 166 T43: Easton Roth, Hesston, 92, 88, 180 45: Cade Unruh; Hesston; 87, 94, 181Class 2A (Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City) 11: Lincoln Barnes, Trinity Catholic, 79, 84, 163 19: Miles Blaylock, Trinity Catholic, 78, 91, 169 34: Eric Armour, Trinity Catholic, 89, 88, 177 38: Tyler Casebolt, Trinity Catholic, 89, 93, 182 46: Matt Armour, Trinity Catholic, 94, 102, 196 47: Seamus Hogan, Trinity Catholic, 94, 104, 198Class 1A (Hesston Golf Course in Hesston) 2: Cael Kooiman, Central Christian School, 72, 74, 146 T15: Ryland Kooiman, Central Christian School, 85, 81, 166 T15: Nathan Reed,&nbsp;Central Christian School, 83, 83, 166 T43: Dale Oatney,&nbsp;Central Christian School, 90, 99, 189 54: Brody Froese,&nbsp;Central Christian School, 98, 114, 212 56: Tarren Scripsic,&nbsp;Central Christian School, 125, 116, 241

⛳ Area state roundup: Hesston wins 3A; McPherson's Hoover wins 4A title

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716323161553.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Athletics<div>ARLINGTON, Texas &ndash; Kansas scored a go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning to beat Kansas State 2-1 in the opening game of the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship at Globe Life Field Tuesday. Lenny Ashby led off the inning with his first triple of the season and Collier Cranford drove him in with a sacrifice fly.
Kansas has now won the opening game of the Big 12 Championship in back-to-back seasons after defeating No. 1-seeded Texas a year ago. The Jayhawks improved to 30-21 overall this season.
Kansas starter Evan Shaw tossed five innings and allowed only run while walking four and striking out six. The combination of Ethan Lanthier, Cooper Moore, Tegan Cain and Hunter Cranton combined to throw four shutout innings of relief. All of them pitched a single inning, with Cain earning the win and Cranton recording the save.
HOW IT HAPPENED &bull; Both teams were scoreless through the first three innings. &bull; Kansas broke the scoreless battle in the fourth inning. Ben Hartl hit a solo home run to give the Jayhawks a 1-0 lead. &bull; Kansas State (31-23) evened up the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning with an RBI single by Kaelen Culpepper. &bull; The Wildcats threatened to score in the sixth and seventh innings with two runners on base, but Kansas was able to escape both innings unscathed with strikeouts to end each frame. &bull; The Jayhawks had two runners on in the eighth inning but were unable to score. &bull; In the ninth, Kansas got the go-ahead run after Ashby&rsquo;s leadoff triple and Cranford&rsquo;s sacrifice fly to take a 2-1 lead. &bull; Cranton then pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to finish it off.
PITCHERS OF RECORD Win: Tegan Cain (1-2) Final line: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO Loss: Tyson Neighbors (1-2) Final line: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 SO Save: Hunter Cranton (7) Final line: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO
PLAYERS OF THE GAME Cooper Moore, Ethan Lanthier, Tegan Cain, Hunter Cranton: The four pitchers threw four shutout innings and helped hold Kansas State to only one run and seven hits on the day. All four of them had at least one strikeout, including inning-ending strikeouts with two runners on base by both Moore and Lanthier.
SOCIAL POST OF THE GAME
<blockquote data-twitter-extracted-i1716323081663955286="true" style="text-align: center;color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">
 BALLGAME. ROCK CHALK. <a href="https://t.co/jxyZw2ZYdH" style="color: transparent;font-size: 22px;border: 0px;">pic.twitter.com/jxyZw2ZYdH</a>
 
 &mdash; Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUBaseball/status/1792961106119668008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: transparent;font-size: 22px;border: 0px;">May 21, 2024</a>
 </blockquote>
QUOTABLES &amp; NOTABLES &ldquo;Great ballgame. I loved how our guys competed. To think that 23 months ago we started on a journey of rebuilding this thing, and to have these guys and all their teammates be playing the way they are is pretty awesome, against a really good K-State team. We had great preparation. These guys love playing together. We&rsquo;ve got a really tight group. I couldn&rsquo;t be more proud of these guys.&rdquo; &ndash; Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald
&ldquo;Evan Shaw had a great start and really gave us an opportunity to win. The bullpen did their job. The defense worked behind them, they filled up the zone and gave us every opportunity to win.&rdquo; &ndash; Ben Hartl
&ldquo;Runner on third and nobody out &ndash; we do it every single day at practice. We call it making your free throws. I was just trying to get a ball up in the zone, touch it, get it to the outfield and let Sam [Hunt&rsquo;s] speed get him home.&rdquo; &ndash; Collier Cranford
&bull; Kansas has won the opening game of the Big 12 Championship in back-to-back seasons for only the second time in program history (2017-18). &bull; Kansas improved to 2-2 all-time at Globe Life Field. The Jayhawks are now 14-24 all-time in the Big 12 Championship, including 4-6 against Kansas State. &bull; Kansas has 30 wins for the first time since the 2021 season. &bull; Kansas pitching set a program record for the most strikeouts in a game in the Big 12 Championship (12). &bull; Hartl hit his 11th home run of the season. &bull; Ashby hit his first triple of the season in the ninth inning. &bull; Cranton recorded his seventh save of the season. That is the most saves by a KU pitcher since Jonah Ulane in 2021.
UP NEXT Kansas will play either No. 1-seeded Oklahoma on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. CT or take Wednesday off and advance to Thursday if No. 9-seeded TCU were to beat No. 4-seeded West Virginia.</div>

⚾ Jayhawks edge Wildcats in Big 12 tournament opener

Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics

&nbsp; CLEARWATER, Fla.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/caden-favors/7628">Caden Favors</a>&nbsp;pitched shutout ball into the seventh and Wichita State hit a pair of two-run homers to blow open a close game as the #4 seed Shockers defeated #5 seed UAB 8-2 on Tuesday morning at BayCare Ballpark.

The Shockers advance to take on the winner of Tuesday afternoon's game between #1 East Carolina and #8 Rice. First pitch of the winner's bracket contest will be Thursday at noon CT.

Favors (9-4) was excellent over 6.1 innings, allowing six hits and one run while striking out seven and walking just one. The southpaw got help from a pair of sterling defensive plays in the early going and pitched out of jams in the middle innings to earn the win. In the second inning, centerfielder&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/dayvin-johnson/7596">Dayvin Johnson</a>&nbsp;made a spectacular diving catch in right center to deny Tyler Harrington of extra bases and in the third,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/seth-stroh/7543">Seth Stroh</a>&nbsp;threw out Darryl Buggs at first base after he rounded the bag&nbsp;too far. Favors then stranded a runner at third base in the fourth, men at the corners in the fifth and another Blazer aboard in the sixth before exiting with two on and one out in the seventh.

Meanwhile, Wichita State took advantage of several UAB miscues to take an early lead. In the second inning, the Shockers (30-27) scratched across three runs; with the bases loaded and one out,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/kam-durnin/7604">Kam Durnin</a>&nbsp;bounced a ground ball to shortstop that should've been an inning-ending double play, but the flip from Gavin Lewis Jr. to second base was wide, bringing home the first run and keeping the bases loaded.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/dayvin-johnson/7596">Dayvin Johnson</a>&nbsp;followed by working a walk to make it 2-0 and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jordan-rogers/7538">Jordan Rogers</a>&nbsp;was hit by a pitch to push across the third run of the inning.

In the fourth, another potential inning-ending double play ball was bobbled by Lewis Jr. to load the bases and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/derek-williams/7627">Derek Williams</a>&nbsp;followed with a run-scoring fielder's choice grounder to extend the WSU lead to 4-0.

UAB finally got on the board in the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Logan Braunschweig chopped a ground ball to Durnin at shortstop, whose flip to second baseman&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jordan-rogers/7538">Jordan Rogers</a>&nbsp;was not in time for the force out. The play brought UAB to within 4-1, but&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/hunter-holmes/8976">Hunter Holmes</a>&nbsp;recovered by getting another grounder to Durnin that ended the inning.

The Shockers then blew the game open with a pair of two-run blasts in the seventh. After Rogers led off the inning with a double,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-livingston/7602">Josh Livingston</a>&nbsp;slammed a long home run onto the berm in right-center for a 6-1 lead.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/mauricio-millan/7532">Mauricio Millan</a>&nbsp;was then hit by a pitch and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/seth-stroh/7543">Seth Stroh</a>&nbsp;followed with a titanic two-run shot of his own, making it 8-1.

<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/nate-adler/7515">Nate Adler</a>&nbsp;took the game the rest of the way for Wichita State, recording the final five outs out of the Shocker bullpen. UAB got a two-out RBI single from Nick Hollifield in the top of the ninth for the final margin.

Colin Daniel (7-4) took the loss for UAB, allowing eight hits and six runs (three earned) over 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Rogers, Livingston and Millan each recorded a pair of hits to lead the Shocker attack.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716323232086.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp; CLEARWATER, Fla.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/caden-favors/7628">Caden Favors</a>&nbsp;pitched shutout ball into the seventh and Wichita State hit a pair of two-run homers to blow open a close game as the #4 seed Shockers defeated #5 seed UAB 8-2 on Tuesday morning at BayCare Ballpark.The Shockers advance to take on the winner of Tuesday afternoon's game between #1 East Carolina and #8 Rice. First pitch of the winner's bracket contest will be Thursday at noon CT.Favors (9-4) was excellent over 6.1 innings, allowing six hits and one run while striking out seven and walking just one. The southpaw got help from a pair of sterling defensive plays in the early going and pitched out of jams in the middle innings to earn the win. In the second inning, centerfielder&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/dayvin-johnson/7596">Dayvin Johnson</a>&nbsp;made a spectacular diving catch in right center to deny Tyler Harrington of extra bases and in the third,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/seth-stroh/7543">Seth Stroh</a>&nbsp;threw out Darryl Buggs at first base after he rounded the bag&nbsp;too far. Favors then stranded a runner at third base in the fourth, men at the corners in the fifth and another Blazer aboard in the sixth before exiting with two on and one out in the seventh.Meanwhile, Wichita State took advantage of several UAB miscues to take an early lead. In the second inning, the Shockers (30-27) scratched across three runs; with the bases loaded and one out,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/kam-durnin/7604">Kam Durnin</a>&nbsp;bounced a ground ball to shortstop that should've been an inning-ending double play, but the flip from Gavin Lewis Jr. to second base was wide, bringing home the first run and keeping the bases loaded.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/dayvin-johnson/7596">Dayvin Johnson</a>&nbsp;followed by working a walk to make it 2-0 and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jordan-rogers/7538">Jordan Rogers</a>&nbsp;was hit by a pitch to push across the third run of the inning.In the fourth, another potential inning-ending double play ball was bobbled by Lewis Jr. to load the bases and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/derek-williams/7627">Derek Williams</a>&nbsp;followed with a run-scoring fielder's choice grounder to extend the WSU lead to 4-0.UAB finally got on the board in the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, Logan Braunschweig chopped a ground ball to Durnin at shortstop, whose flip to second baseman&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jordan-rogers/7538">Jordan Rogers</a>&nbsp;was not in time for the force out. The play brought UAB to within 4-1, but&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/hunter-holmes/8976">Hunter Holmes</a>&nbsp;recovered by getting another grounder to Durnin that ended the inning.The Shockers then blew the game open with a pair of two-run blasts in the seventh. After Rogers led off the inning with a double,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-livingston/7602">Josh Livingston</a>&nbsp;slammed a long home run onto the berm in right-center for a 6-1 lead.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/mauricio-millan/7532">Mauricio Millan</a>&nbsp;was then hit by a pitch and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/seth-stroh/7543">Seth Stroh</a>&nbsp;followed with a titanic two-run shot of his own, making it 8-1.<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/nate-adler/7515">Nate Adler</a>&nbsp;took the game the rest of the way for Wichita State, recording the final five outs out of the Shocker bullpen. UAB got a two-out RBI single from Nick Hollifield in the top of the ninth for the final margin.Colin Daniel (7-4) took the loss for UAB, allowing eight hits and six runs (three earned) over 6.1 innings with seven strikeouts and two walks.Rogers, Livingston and Millan each recorded a pair of hits to lead the Shocker attack.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⚾ Shockers down Blazers in AAC tournament opener

🎧 LISTEN: ⚾ Royals win again; 🥎 HutchCC run rules Connors State

KANSAS CITY, Mo.&nbsp; — Right-handed reliever Matt Sauer was designated for assignment Monday, the Kansas City Royals announced. The move came after Sauer appeared twice out of the bullpen in this past weekend’s three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics.

In an appearance Friday and Sunday, the 25-year-old Sauer pitched an inning each, allowing 2 and 3 earned runs apiece, including a 2-out, 3-run home run in the ninth inning Sunday that cut Kansas City’s 8-1 lead into an 8-4 win.

Sauer was drafted by Kansas City in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft from the Yankees organization. He appeared in 14 games for the Royals in 2024 and pitched 16.1 innings, amassing a 7.71 ERA.

If he clears waivers, he has to be offered back to the Yankees.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708710110872.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo.&nbsp; — Right-handed reliever Matt Sauer was designated for assignment Monday, the Kansas City Royals announced. The move came after Sauer appeared twice out of the bullpen in this past weekend’s three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics.In an appearance Friday and Sunday, the 25-year-old Sauer pitched an inning each, allowing 2 and 3 earned runs apiece, including a 2-out, 3-run home run in the ninth inning Sunday that cut Kansas City’s 8-1 lead into an 8-4 win.Sauer was drafted by Kansas City in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft from the Yankees organization. He appeared in 14 games for the Royals in 2024 and pitched 16.1 innings, amassing a 7.71 ERA.If he clears waivers, he has to be offered back to the Yankees.

⚾️ Royals Sauer designated for assignment

<a href="https://kuathletics.com/voegele-wins-big-12-freshman-of-the-year-eight-jayhawks-receive-conference-honors/">Via KU Athletics</a>

IRVING, Texas — True freshman Dominic Voegele was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a total of eight Jayhawks received postseason conference baseball honors the league office announced Monday.

Jake English was voted to the All-Big 12 First Team, Reese Dutton, Kodey Shojinaga, and Voegele were selected to the All-Big 12 Second Team and Michael Brooks, Hunter Cranton, Ben Hartl and John Nett were awarded All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. Voegele also was selected for the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

"We are proud of all of the Big 12 awards our players received. We have worked hard to recruit the right players and develop them at a high level - but ultimately, it’s the players who commit to the development process. These guys are very deserving of the recognition."

Voegele, a true freshman who was a 2023 MLB Draft pick, had a monster freshman season. The right-handed pitcher from Columbia, Illinois, went 7-2 in the regular season with a 3.32 ERA in 76.0 innings pitched. He recorded 74 strikeouts compared to only 29 walks this season. Voegele tossed eight quality starts and allowed three earned runs or less in 12 of his 14 starts. He finished the regular season tied for third in the Big 12 in wins, tied for fifth in ERA, seventh in opponent batting average (.228) and tied for seventh in strikeouts. Against Big 12 competition, Voegele was 5-2 with a 3.60 ERA.

"I’m very proud of Dom. He is very deserving of the award, which is saying something given an incredibly talented Big 12 freshman class. Dom is incredibly mature and competes at a very high level. He’s an outstanding teammate and worker and will be the foundation of our rotation for the next two years. We are proud that we’ve had back-to-back Big 12 Freshman of the Year," said KU coach Dan Fitzgerald.

Kansas has been the home to the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Shojinaga was the Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year in 2023 and now Voegele in 2024. Kansas never had a player win Big 12 Freshman of the Year prior to Shojinaga last season and now has won in back-to-back years. The last time a school had the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in consecutive seasons was Texas Tech in 2017 and 2018.

English, a four-year Jayhawk from Olathe, Kansas, was voted as the best catcher in the Big 12 this season as he earned All-Big 12 First Team honors. He hit 10 home runs a season ago and followed that up with 13 homers in 2024. English became the first Jayhawk in more than 15 years to hit double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons. He started 40 of 50 games behind the plate for a pitching staff that posted a team ERA of 4.68, more than 1.5 runs lower than last season. In Big 12 competition, English led the league with 28 walks, while he ranked second overall this season with 47 free passes.

"Jake had a huge year for us at the plate and behind the plate. He is an elite teammate and has shown incredible durability over the past two years. The Big 12 is loaded at the catcher position, so this award is very impressive. Jake’s production has been a massive piece of our success - equally important has been Jake’s attitude and leadership. He’s been an amazing Jayhawk," Fitzgerald said.

Dutton, a fifth-year transfer from USC Upstate and Heartland Community College, took advantage of his opportunity to move up to the Power Five level and was the Friday night starter all season. The Kenosha, Wisconsin, native went 7-4 with a 3.59 ERA in 80.1 innings pitched this season. After suffering a loss in the season opener, Dutton rattled off six consecutive wins, which made him the first KU pitcher since 1994 to win six straight games. He had eight quality starts, received Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors once and was named Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week twice.

Shojinaga, the reigning Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year, had a strong sophomore campaign as he earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors as an infielder for a second consecutive season. He led the team in doubles in 2024 with 18 and ranked sixth in the conference with 72 hits. A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Shojinaga was the second toughest to strikeout in the Big 12 this season with 10.8 at-bats per strikeout. Shojinaga was awarded Big 12 Co-Player of the Week following his performance the opening weekend of the season.

Brooks, a versatile player in his second year at KU, has produced an impressive season offensively while also playing multiple infield positions. The Wellington, Florida, native has slugged .612 this season and has an active 18-game hitting streak that raised his season batting average from .279 to .331. Brooks has spent time at both third base and second base, which includes a switch between positions based on the handedness of the hitter.

Cranton, a flame-thrower from Newport Beach, California, has transitioned into the closer role for the Jayhawks this season. Cranton led the pitching staff with 13.91 strikeouts/nine innings pitched. With a fastball in the upper 90s, Cranton has a strikeout in 18 of his 23 appearances this season. He did not allow an earned run through his first 11 appearances of the season.

Hartl, a junior transfer from Heartland Community College, proved to be a huge asset for the Jayhawks this season. Recruited as a catcher, Hartl started 28 games at first base in 2024. The Springfield, Illinois, native was second on the team with 10 home runs and with a .461 on-base percentage that included 15 hit by pitches, which ranked third in the conference. Hartl was known for his late game heroics this season as he had a walk-off RBI single against Texas Tech and a go-ahead ninth inning home run against Texas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716288486108.jpeg" alt="True freshman Dominic Voegele was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a total of eight Jayhawks received postseason conference baseball honors, the league office announced Monday. Photo Courtesy KU Athletics." />
 <figcaption>True freshman Dominic Voegele was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a total of eight Jayhawks received postseason conference baseball honors, the league office announced Monday. Photo Courtesy KU Athletics.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://kuathletics.com/voegele-wins-big-12-freshman-of-the-year-eight-jayhawks-receive-conference-honors/">Via KU Athletics</a>IRVING, Texas — True freshman Dominic Voegele was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a total of eight Jayhawks received postseason conference baseball honors the league office announced Monday.Jake English was voted to the All-Big 12 First Team, Reese Dutton, Kodey Shojinaga, and Voegele were selected to the All-Big 12 Second Team and Michael Brooks, Hunter Cranton, Ben Hartl and John Nett were awarded All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. Voegele also was selected for the Big 12 All-Freshman Team."We are proud of all of the Big 12 awards our players received. We have worked hard to recruit the right players and develop them at a high level - but ultimately, it’s the players who commit to the development process. These guys are very deserving of the recognition."HEAD COACH DAN FITZGERALDVoegele, a true freshman who was a 2023 MLB Draft pick, had a monster freshman season. The right-handed pitcher from Columbia, Illinois, went 7-2 in the regular season with a 3.32 ERA in 76.0 innings pitched. He recorded 74 strikeouts compared to only 29 walks this season. Voegele tossed eight quality starts and allowed three earned runs or less in 12 of his 14 starts. He finished the regular season tied for third in the Big 12 in wins, tied for fifth in ERA, seventh in opponent batting average (.228) and tied for seventh in strikeouts. Against Big 12 competition, Voegele was 5-2 with a 3.60 ERA."I’m very proud of Dom. He is very deserving of the award, which is saying something given an incredibly talented Big 12 freshman class. Dom is incredibly mature and competes at a very high level. He’s an outstanding teammate and worker and will be the foundation of our rotation for the next two years. We are proud that we’ve had back-to-back Big 12 Freshman of the Year," said KU coach Dan Fitzgerald.Kansas has been the home to the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Shojinaga was the Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year in 2023 and now Voegele in 2024. Kansas never had a player win Big 12 Freshman of the Year prior to Shojinaga last season and now has won in back-to-back years. The last time a school had the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in consecutive seasons was Texas Tech in 2017 and 2018.English, a four-year Jayhawk from Olathe, Kansas, was voted as the best catcher in the Big 12 this season as he earned All-Big 12 First Team honors. He hit 10 home runs a season ago and followed that up with 13 homers in 2024. English became the first Jayhawk in more than 15 years to hit double-digit home runs in consecutive seasons. He started 40 of 50 games behind the plate for a pitching staff that posted a team ERA of 4.68, more than 1.5 runs lower than last season. In Big 12 competition, English led the league with 28 walks, while he ranked second overall this season with 47 free passes."Jake had a huge year for us at the plate and behind the plate. He is an elite teammate and has shown incredible durability over the past two years. The Big 12 is loaded at the catcher position, so this award is very impressive. Jake’s production has been a massive piece of our success - equally important has been Jake’s attitude and leadership. He’s been an amazing Jayhawk," Fitzgerald said.Dutton, a fifth-year transfer from USC Upstate and Heartland Community College, took advantage of his opportunity to move up to the Power Five level and was the Friday night starter all season. The Kenosha, Wisconsin, native went 7-4 with a 3.59 ERA in 80.1 innings pitched this season. After suffering a loss in the season opener, Dutton rattled off six consecutive wins, which made him the first KU pitcher since 1994 to win six straight games. He had eight quality starts, received Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors once and was named Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week twice.Shojinaga, the reigning Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year, had a strong sophomore campaign as he earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors as an infielder for a second consecutive season. He led the team in doubles in 2024 with 18 and ranked sixth in the conference with 72 hits. A native of Honolulu, Hawaii, Shojinaga was the second toughest to strikeout in the Big 12 this season with 10.8 at-bats per strikeout. Shojinaga was awarded Big 12 Co-Player of the Week following his performance the opening weekend of the season.Brooks, a versatile player in his second year at KU, has produced an impressive season offensively while also playing multiple infield positions. The Wellington, Florida, native has slugged .612 this season and has an active 18-game hitting streak that raised his season batting average from .279 to .331. Brooks has spent time at both third base and second base, which includes a switch between positions based on the handedness of the hitter.Cranton, a flame-thrower from Newport Beach, California, has transitioned into the closer role for the Jayhawks this season. Cranton led the pitching staff with 13.91 strikeouts/nine innings pitched. With a fastball in the upper 90s, Cranton has a strikeout in 18 of his 23 appearances this season. He did not allow an earned run through his first 11 appearances of the season.Hartl, a junior transfer from Heartland Community College, proved to be a huge asset for the Jayhawks this season. Recruited as a catcher, Hartl started 28 games at first base in 2024. The Springfield, Illinois, native was second on the team with 10 home runs and with a .461 on-base percentage that included 15 hit by pitches, which ranked third in the conference. Hartl was known for his late game heroics this season as he had a walk-off RBI single against Texas Tech and a go-ahead ninth inning home run against Texas.Nett, a transfer from Division II St. Cloud State, made the jump to the Division I level for his final year of eligibility. Nett hit in the leadoff spot for nearly the entire season and set the tone for the offense as he reached base safely in 47 of 50 games. The Appleton, Wisconsin, native had a 20-game hitting streak in the middle of the season where he hit .424 during the stretch. Nett started every game in center field this season and did not commit an error.AWARDS + STATISTICSRHP&nbsp;Dominic Voegele, Big 12 Freshman of the Year, All-Big 12 Second Team, Big 12 All-Freshman TeamOverall: 7-2, 3.32 ERA, 14 G, 14 GS, 76.0 IP, 29 BB, 74 SO in 14 startsConference: 5-2, 3.60 ERA, 10 G, 10 GS, 55.0 IP, 21 BB, 50 SO in 10 startsC&nbsp;Jake English, All-Big 12 First TeamOverall: .324/.466/.614, 12 2B, 13 HR, 47 RBI, 51 R, 47 BB, 108 TB in 50 games (49 starts)Conference: .327/.457/.561, 7 2B, 6 HR, 24 RBI, 29 R, 28 BB, 60 TB in 30 games (all starts)RHP&nbsp;Reese Dutton, All-Big 12 Second TeamOverall: 7-4, 3.59 ERA, 14 G, 14 GS, 80.1 IP, 32 BB, 76 SO in 14 startsConference: 4-3, 4.03 ERA, 10 G, 10 GS, 60.1 IP, 22 BB, 55 SO in 10 startsINF&nbsp;Kodey Shojinaga, All-Big 12 Second TeamOverall: .333/.400/.486, 18 2B, 5 HR, 43 RBI, 40 R, 23 BB, 20 SO in 50 games (all starts)Conference: .317/.382/.413, 9 2B, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 20 R, 15 BB, 13 SO in 30 games (all starts)INF&nbsp;Michael Brooks, All-Big 12 Honorable MentionOverall: .331/.425/.612, 13 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 38 RBI, 26 R, 23 BB, 22 SO in 37 games (all starts)Conference: .324/.392/.577, 7 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 8 R, 7 BB, 9 SO in 18 games (all starts)RHP&nbsp;Hunter Cranton, All-Big 12 Honorable MentionOverall: 3-3, 2.45 ERA, 23 G, 22.0 IP, 9 BB, 34 SO, 6 SV in 23 appearancesConference: 1-2, 2.92 ERA, 13 G, 12.1 IP, 2 BB, 23 SO, 5 SV in 13 appearancesC/1B&nbsp;Ben Hartl, All-Big 12 Honorable MentionOverall: .304/.461/.607, 11 2B, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 34 R, 26 BB, 35 SO in 41 games (37 starts)Conference: .269/.440/.505, 7 2B, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 21 R, 18 BB, 27 SO in 28 games (26 starts)OF&nbsp;John Nett, All-Big 12 Honorable MentionOverall: .357/.434/.531, 16 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR, 35 RBI, 51 R, 28 BB, 34 SO, 9 SB in 50 games (all starts)Conference: .339/.408/.449, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 27 R, 17 BB, 26 SO in 30 games (all starts)