Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp;

DENTON, Texas —Wichita State dropped both games of Friday's doubleheader at North Texas by one run, 4-3 and 1-0.

Wichita State (21-21, 12-11) will look back at several missed opportunities on the night that cost them a pair of games.&nbsp; The Shockers dropped the first game on a walk-off home run in the ninth inning. In the nightcap Wichita State had nine hits and held North Texas to just three hits, but left 14 runners on base and went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Game 1 | Wichita State 3, North Texas 4 (9 innings)

<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/krystin-nelson/7568">Krystin Nelson</a>&nbsp;reached base all three times via two singles and a walk.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/caroline-tallent/7571">Caroline Tallent</a>&nbsp;hit a solo home run and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/taylor-sedlacek/7570">Taylor Sedlacek</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-urban/7572">Bailey Urban</a>&nbsp;both had a hit and an RBI.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/cc-wong/8967">CC Wong</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/addison-barnard/7558">Addison Barnard</a>&nbsp;rounded out the hit column with a single apiece.

<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-howell/7566">Lauren Howell</a>&nbsp;got the start in the circle, going 2.2 innings. She allowed two runs on five walks and a pair of hits.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/alex-aguilar/7557">Alex Aguilar</a>&nbsp;was solid in 4.1 innings of relief until the game-tying home run in the seventh. That was the lone run she allowed on six hits and one walk.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/alison-cooper/7561">Alison Cooper</a>&nbsp;(5-8) was on the losing end in the circle. In 1.1 innings, she allowed the lone run on two hits and a walk.

With one out in the bottom of the second North Texas grabbed the lead on a solo home run. In the third, two walks and a bunt single loaded the bases for the Mean Green which led to another walk, scoring a run. The Shockers turned to Aguilar out of the bullpen to prevent any further damage, and she delivered. Aguilar struck out the first batter she faced to end the inning.

The Shockers finally broke into the scoring column in the top of the fifth on Tallent's two-out solo home run, cutting the deficit in half.

In the sixth Wichita State grabbed momentum after loading the bases on three straight singles from Nelson, Wong and Barnard. A sac fly from Sedlacek tied the game at 2-2 and then Urban's single off the wall in center gave the Shockers a 3-2 lead.

Needing three outs to secure the win, North Texas immediately led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to tie the game at 3-3. Aguilar would retire the next three hitters to send the game to extra innings.

Cooper escaped the eighth after a leadoff double, sending the game to the ninth. Wichita State went down in order, paving the way for Molly Rainey's walk-off solo home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth.

Game 2 | Wichita State 0, North Texas 1

The Mean Green spoiled another masterful pitching performance from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/chloe-barber/7573">Chloe Barber</a>. On the heels of a complete game shutout with 15 strikeouts in her last outing, all she did was strikeout 14 tonight, allowing just one run on three hits and no walks. She carried a perfect game into the bottom of the fifth when North Texas' Mikayla Smith sent a one-out solo home run over the wall in right.

Barber now has four games with 14 or more strikeouts this season and 29 punch outs in her last 13.0 innings.

All nine of Wichita State's hits were singles.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/addison-barnard/7558">Addison Barnard</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lainee-brown/7559">Lainee Brown</a>&nbsp;had two each, while&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/cc-wong/8967">CC Wong</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/taylor-sedlacek/7570">Taylor Sedlacek</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-urban/7572">Bailey Urban</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/sami-hood/7565">Sami Hood</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/caroline-tallent/7571">Caroline Tallent</a>&nbsp;all had one.

Wichita State loaded the bases in each of the first two innings, but failed to score.

Barber struck out the side in three of the first four innings.

Up Next Wichita &nbsp;State and North Texas wrap up the series Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. on ESPN+.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714244446169.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp; DENTON, Texas —Wichita State dropped both games of Friday's doubleheader at North Texas by one run, 4-3 and 1-0. Wichita State (21-21, 12-11) will look back at several missed opportunities on the night that cost them a pair of games.&nbsp; The Shockers dropped the first game on a walk-off home run in the ninth inning. In the nightcap Wichita State had nine hits and held North Texas to just three hits, but left 14 runners on base and went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position.Game 1 | Wichita State 3, North Texas 4 (9 innings)<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/krystin-nelson/7568">Krystin Nelson</a>&nbsp;reached base all three times via two singles and a walk.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/caroline-tallent/7571">Caroline Tallent</a>&nbsp;hit a solo home run and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/taylor-sedlacek/7570">Taylor Sedlacek</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-urban/7572">Bailey Urban</a>&nbsp;both had a hit and an RBI.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/cc-wong/8967">CC Wong</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/addison-barnard/7558">Addison Barnard</a>&nbsp;rounded out the hit column with a single apiece.<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-howell/7566">Lauren Howell</a>&nbsp;got the start in the circle, going 2.2 innings. She allowed two runs on five walks and a pair of hits.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/alex-aguilar/7557">Alex Aguilar</a>&nbsp;was solid in 4.1 innings of relief until the game-tying home run in the seventh. That was the lone run she allowed on six hits and one walk.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/alison-cooper/7561">Alison Cooper</a>&nbsp;(5-8) was on the losing end in the circle. In 1.1 innings, she allowed the lone run on two hits and a walk.With one out in the bottom of the second North Texas grabbed the lead on a solo home run. In the third, two walks and a bunt single loaded the bases for the Mean Green which led to another walk, scoring a run. The Shockers turned to Aguilar out of the bullpen to prevent any further damage, and she delivered. Aguilar struck out the first batter she faced to end the inning.The Shockers finally broke into the scoring column in the top of the fifth on Tallent's two-out solo home run, cutting the deficit in half.In the sixth Wichita State grabbed momentum after loading the bases on three straight singles from Nelson, Wong and Barnard. A sac fly from Sedlacek tied the game at 2-2 and then Urban's single off the wall in center gave the Shockers a 3-2 lead.Needing three outs to secure the win, North Texas immediately led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to tie the game at 3-3. Aguilar would retire the next three hitters to send the game to extra innings.Cooper escaped the eighth after a leadoff double, sending the game to the ninth. Wichita State went down in order, paving the way for Molly Rainey's walk-off solo home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth.Game 2 | Wichita State 0, North Texas 1The Mean Green spoiled another masterful pitching performance from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/chloe-barber/7573">Chloe Barber</a>. On the heels of a complete game shutout with 15 strikeouts in her last outing, all she did was strikeout 14 tonight, allowing just one run on three hits and no walks. She carried a perfect game into the bottom of the fifth when North Texas' Mikayla Smith sent a one-out solo home run over the wall in right.Barber now has four games with 14 or more strikeouts this season and 29 punch outs in her last 13.0 innings.All nine of Wichita State's hits were singles.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/addison-barnard/7558">Addison Barnard</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lainee-brown/7559">Lainee Brown</a>&nbsp;had two each, while&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/cc-wong/8967">CC Wong</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/taylor-sedlacek/7570">Taylor Sedlacek</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/bailey-urban/7572">Bailey Urban</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/sami-hood/7565">Sami Hood</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/caroline-tallent/7571">Caroline Tallent</a>&nbsp;all had one.Wichita State loaded the bases in each of the first two innings, but failed to score.Barber struck out the side in three of the first four innings.Up Next Wichita &nbsp;State and North Texas wrap up the series Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. on ESPN+.

🥎Missed opportunities haunt shockers in doubleheader sweep

University of Kansas Sports Information

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704598537251.jpeg" alt="Kansas center Hunter Dickinson celebrates after his basket that gave his team a win over TCU during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas center Hunter Dickinson celebrates after his basket that gave his team a win over TCU during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)</figcaption>
 </figure>University of Kansas Sports Information<div>LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Kansas center Hunter Dickinson has announced he will return to Kansas for the 2024-25 season.
<blockquote style="text-align: center;color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">
 &ldquo;This is great news,&rdquo; Kansas head coach Bill Self said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve had a lot of good things happen since the end of the season and Hunter coming back has definitely added to that. Hunter made a huge impact on our team last year. He played and fought through injuries and was still one of the most consistent players in the Big 12 and nationally. Not only is Hunter a terrific player, he&rsquo;s a great leader and teammate. We expect him to contend for first-team All-American next season.&rdquo;
 </blockquote>
A two-time Consensus All-America Second Team and two-time Wooden Award All-American, Dickinson led the Big 12 and ranks eighth nationally in rebounds per game at 10.8 in 2023-24. The 2024 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team selection from Alexandria, Virginia, Dickinson recorded his 17 double-doubles which led the Big 12 and ranked 12th nationally. With a 17.9 scoring average, which was second in the Big 12 behind teammate Kevin McCullar Jr.&rsquo;s 18.3 ppg, Dickinson was the only player in the Big 12 to average a double-double. Dickinson also led the Big 12 with 14 games of 20-plus points and led Kansas with 47 blocked shots.
Dickinson ended 2023-24 with 2,208 career points and 1,148 career rebounds and was one of four active players in&nbsp;NCAA&nbsp;Division I to surpass both 2,200 points and 1,100 rebounds for his career. Others included Zach Edey (Purdue), Amanda Bacot (North Carolina) and Baylor Schereman (Creighton).
2023-24 Hunter Dickinson Accolades Wooden All American; Consensus All-America Second Team; USBWA All-America Second Team; NABC All-America Third Team; Associated Press All-America Second Team; NABC All-District 8 First Team; The Sporting News All-America Second Team; Big 12 Newcomer of the Year; All-Big 12 First Team; Big 12 All-Newcomer Team; Wooden Award Ballot (1 of 15); Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award Finalist (1 of 5); Oscar Robertson Trophy and All-America Watch List (1 of 40); Naismith Trophy Midseason Team (1 of 30); Big 12 Player of the Week (2.5.24); Big 12 Player of the Week (1.8.24); Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (1.8.24); Maui Invitational All-Tournament Team; Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week (11.21.23); Big 12 Player of the Week (11.20.23); Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (11.20.23); Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (11.13.23)
&nbsp;</div>

🏀 MBB: KU's Dickinson to return for one final season

AP Sports Report in a Minute for April 26th, 2024.

Quarterbacks Williams, Daniels, Maye, Penix, McCarthy and Nix selected in top 12 of NFL draft

DETROIT (AP) — Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades. Five other teams selected quarterbacks among the top 12 picks, setting a record with five in the top 10 and tying a record for the most in the first round. The Bears selected Williams at No. 1 overall in the NFL draft on Thursday night after deciding weeks ago to bank on the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC. The Washington Commanders followed up by taking 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels from LSU and the New England Patriots took North Carolina's Drake Maye at No. 3, making it the fourth draft with quarterbacks going with the first three picks.

NFL Draft Latest: Caleb Williams to Bears, record six QBs taken in first 12 picks

DETROIT (AP) — The Chicago Bears picked USC quarterback Caleb Williams to open the 2024 NFL draft, the first of six QBs in the top 12 picks. The Commanders selected Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick overall. With the first pick since parting ways with Bill Belichick, the Patriots picked quarterback Drake Maye at No. 3 overall. The Falcons made the first stunning pick of the NFL draft by taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick overall. Then Minnesota traded up to take J.J. McCarthy at No. 10, and Bo Nix went to Denver at No. 12.

The first round of the NFL draft turns into a QB bonanza with a record-setting 6 taken in the top 12

Quarterbacks went off the draft board at a record-setting pace. This was the fourth time in the common draft era starting in 1967 that QBs went with the top three picks, with three more going in the top 12 in the fewest number of picks for six QBs to be drafted. This marked the first time five quarterbacks were drafted in the top 10 and matched the famed 1983 class with six first-rounders in all as teams throughout the league were in search of a big-time passer who can turn the fortunes of a franchise.

Colts snap record streak of 14 straight offensive players taken in NFL draft with UCLA DE Latu

UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player selected in the NFL draft, going No. 15 overall to Indianapolis to snap a record streak of 14 straight offensive players taken. The previous latest a defensive player was drafted came in 2021, when the Carolina Panthers took cornerback Jaycee Horn eighth overall. Not only were the 14 straight offensive players to start the draft a record, it was the first time 14 straight offensive players were taken at any point in the draft.

Gordon, Jokic lead the Nuggets to the brink of a sweep with a 112-105 win over the Lakers in Game 3

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Denver Nuggets moved to the brink of the second round with a 112-105 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the first-round series. Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Jamal Murray added 22 points and Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with the Lakers since 2022. Anthony Davis had 33 points and 15 rebounds, and LeBron James added 26 points and nine assists in the Lakers' seventh consecutive postseason loss to Denver over the past two years.

Joel Embiid scores 50 points to lead 76ers past Knicks 125-114 to cut deficit to 2-1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter on Thursday night to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-114 win over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Embiid boldly stated "we're going to win this series" after the 76ers dropped Game 2. With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive. The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Sergei Bobrovsky makes 26 saves, Panthers beat Lightning 5-3 to take 3-0 series lead

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves, Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round playoff series. Brandon Montour, Sam Reinhart and Steven Lorentz also scored for the Panthers, who will seek a sweep Saturday night in Tampa. Tkachuk had a first-period goal and added an empty-netter with 32 seconds left. Steven Stamkos, Tyler Motte and Nicholas Paul scored for Tampa Bay, with Paul cutting it to 4-3 with 5:10 left. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots.

Falcons provide an NFL draft surprise by taking Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. with No. 8 pick

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons provided the first major surprise of the NFL draft by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of Washington with the No. 8 pick. The Falcons extended their recent trend of selecting offensive skill players in the first round by drafting Penix one month after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. Using a draft slot normally targeted for players expected to make an immediate impact, the Falcons chose Penix as the apparent long-term successor to the 35-year-old Cousins. The Falcons had been expected to use the pick to boost their pass rush.

Roger Goodell envisions more overseas games, more streaming and more cities hosting the NFL draft

DETROIT (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he thinks the league will dramatically increase its number of international games in the next decade. The NFL will host five games abroad this season. Goodell says during an ESPN interview at the draft that he thinks the league will go up to 16 international games by 2034. Goodell also says the draft will continue to rotate to different locations. This year's draft is in Detroit. Next year's is in Green Bay.

Reggie Bush plans to continue his fight against the NCAA after the return of his Heisman Trophy

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Reggie Bush says the return of his Heisman Trophy is the biggest step yet in his fight against the NCAA to restore his reputation and his records from his incredible career at Southern California. Bush and his family celebrated the restoration of his Heisman honors Thursday during a news conference atop the venerable Coliseum, where Bush played three outstanding seasons with the Trojans. Bush and his attorneys made it clear their fight against the NCAA has not ended. Bush indicated he doesn't plan to drop his defamation lawsuit filed last year against the NCAA over the governing body's characterization of the circumstances that led to Bush's troubles.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for April 26th, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for April 26th, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Report in a Minute for April 26th, 2024.<div><iframe title="April 26th, 2024 AP Sports in a Minute" 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=3wnww-15f7c91-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>Quarterbacks Williams, Daniels, Maye, Penix, McCarthy and Nix selected in top 12 of NFL draftDETROIT (AP) — Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades. Five other teams selected quarterbacks among the top 12 picks, setting a record with five in the top 10 and tying a record for the most in the first round. The Bears selected Williams at No. 1 overall in the NFL draft on Thursday night after deciding weeks ago to bank on the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC. The Washington Commanders followed up by taking 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels from LSU and the New England Patriots took North Carolina's Drake Maye at No. 3, making it the fourth draft with quarterbacks going with the first three picks.NFL Draft Latest: Caleb Williams to Bears, record six QBs taken in first 12 picksDETROIT (AP) — The Chicago Bears picked USC quarterback Caleb Williams to open the 2024 NFL draft, the first of six QBs in the top 12 picks. The Commanders selected Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick overall. With the first pick since parting ways with Bill Belichick, the Patriots picked quarterback Drake Maye at No. 3 overall. The Falcons made the first stunning pick of the NFL draft by taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick overall. Then Minnesota traded up to take J.J. McCarthy at No. 10, and Bo Nix went to Denver at No. 12.The first round of the NFL draft turns into a QB bonanza with a record-setting 6 taken in the top 12Quarterbacks went off the draft board at a record-setting pace. This was the fourth time in the common draft era starting in 1967 that QBs went with the top three picks, with three more going in the top 12 in the fewest number of picks for six QBs to be drafted. This marked the first time five quarterbacks were drafted in the top 10 and matched the famed 1983 class with six first-rounders in all as teams throughout the league were in search of a big-time passer who can turn the fortunes of a franchise.Colts snap record streak of 14 straight offensive players taken in NFL draft with UCLA DE LatuUCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu was the first defensive player selected in the NFL draft, going No. 15 overall to Indianapolis to snap a record streak of 14 straight offensive players taken. The previous latest a defensive player was drafted came in 2021, when the Carolina Panthers took cornerback Jaycee Horn eighth overall. Not only were the 14 straight offensive players to start the draft a record, it was the first time 14 straight offensive players were taken at any point in the draft.Gordon, Jokic lead the Nuggets to the brink of a sweep with a 112-105 win over the Lakers in Game 3LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Denver Nuggets moved to the brink of the second round with a 112-105 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the first-round series. Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Jamal Murray added 22 points and Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with the Lakers since 2022. Anthony Davis had 33 points and 15 rebounds, and LeBron James added 26 points and nine assists in the Lakers' seventh consecutive postseason loss to Denver over the past two years.Joel Embiid scores 50 points to lead 76ers past Knicks 125-114 to cut deficit to 2-1PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter on Thursday night to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-114 win over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Embiid boldly stated "we're going to win this series" after the 76ers dropped Game 2. With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive. The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.Sergei Bobrovsky makes 26 saves, Panthers beat Lightning 5-3 to take 3-0 series leadTAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves, Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 on Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round playoff series. Brandon Montour, Sam Reinhart and Steven Lorentz also scored for the Panthers, who will seek a sweep Saturday night in Tampa. Tkachuk had a first-period goal and added an empty-netter with 32 seconds left. Steven Stamkos, Tyler Motte and Nicholas Paul scored for Tampa Bay, with Paul cutting it to 4-3 with 5:10 left. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 26 shots.Falcons provide an NFL draft surprise by taking Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. with No. 8 pickFLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons provided the first major surprise of the NFL draft by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of Washington with the No. 8 pick. The Falcons extended their recent trend of selecting offensive skill players in the first round by drafting Penix one month after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. Using a draft slot normally targeted for players expected to make an immediate impact, the Falcons chose Penix as the apparent long-term successor to the 35-year-old Cousins. The Falcons had been expected to use the pick to boost their pass rush.Roger Goodell envisions more overseas games, more streaming and more cities hosting the NFL draftDETROIT (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he thinks the league will dramatically increase its number of international games in the next decade. The NFL will host five games abroad this season. Goodell says during an ESPN interview at the draft that he thinks the league will go up to 16 international games by 2034. Goodell also says the draft will continue to rotate to different locations. This year's draft is in Detroit. Next year's is in Green Bay.Reggie Bush plans to continue his fight against the NCAA after the return of his Heisman TrophyLOS ANGELES (AP) — Reggie Bush says the return of his Heisman Trophy is the biggest step yet in his fight against the NCAA to restore his reputation and his records from his incredible career at Southern California. Bush and his family celebrated the restoration of his Heisman honors Thursday during a news conference atop the venerable Coliseum, where Bush played three outstanding seasons with the Trojans. Bush and his attorneys made it clear their fight against the NCAA has not ended. Bush indicated he doesn't plan to drop his defamation lawsuit filed last year against the NCAA over the governing body's characterization of the circumstances that led to Bush's troubles.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___INTERLEAGUE Final	Chicago Cubs	3	Houston	1	___AMERICAN LEAGUE Final	Minnesota	6	Chicago White Sox	3	Final	Kansas City	2	Toronto	1	Final	Cleveland	6	Boston	4	Final	Seattle	4	Texas	3	Final	Oakland	3	N.Y. Yankees	1	___NATIONAL LEAGUE Final	Milwaukee	7	Pittsburgh	5	Final	Philadelphia	5	Cincinnati	0	Final	Colorado	10	San Diego	9	Final	L.A. Dodgers	2	Washington	1	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS Final	Orlando	121	Cleveland	83	Final	Philadelphia	125	New York	114	Final	Denver	112	L.A. Lakers	105	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS Final	Florida	5	Tampa Bay	3	Final	Carolina	3	N-Y Islanders	2	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___INTERLEAGUE L-A Dodgers	at	Toronto	7:07 p.m.	Chi Cubs	at	Boston	7:10 p.m.	Cleveland	at	Atlanta	7:20 p.m.	Cincinnati	at	Texas	8:05 p.m.	N-Y Yankees	at	Milwaukee	8:10 p.m.	Arizona	at	Seattle	9:40 p.m.	___AMERICAN LEAGUE Kansas City	at	Detroit	1:10 p.m.	Oakland	at	Baltimore	7:05 p.m.	Tampa Bay	at	Chi White Sox	7:40 p.m.	Minnesota	at	L-A Angels	9:38 p.m.	___NATIONAL LEAGUE St. Louis	at	N-Y Mets	7:10 p.m.	Washington	at	Miami	7:10 p.m.	Philadelphia	at	San Diego	9:40 p.m.	Pittsburgh	at	San Francisco	10:15 p.m.	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS Milwaukee	at	Indiana	5:30 p.m.	L.A. Clippers	at	Dallas	8 p.m.	Minnesota	at	Phoenix	10:30 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS N-Y Rangers	at	Washington	7 p.m.	Vancouver	at	Nashville	7:30 p.m.	Winnipeg	at	Colorado	10 p.m.	Edmonton	at	Los Angeles	10:30 p.m.	___

📢📰🎧 Sports Headlines for Friday

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs traded up to select Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the No. 28 pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, giving Patrick Mahomes the kind of speedy deep threat they have not enjoyed since Tyreek Hill was on the roster.

The Chiefs were supposed to pick last in the first round after winning their second consecutive Super Bowl and third in five years, but they managed to trade up with one of their biggest AFC rivals in Buffalo. The Chiefs sent the 32nd pick along with a fourth-rounder and seventh-rounder to the Bills for No. 28, a fourth-rounder and a seventh-rounder.

“Listen, I like the wide receivers we've got,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “but to go add somebody of this quality is important, or a good move to strengthen it. I don't want to slight the guys we have but he's a nice addition.”

So nice that Mahomes, who was attending a gala in New York, instantly took to social media to approve of it.

“We told Patrick," Reid said with a smile. “Patrick is curious. He loves this stuff. It doesn't matter if it's offense or defense. He just loves the draft. He's texting away at us and we get back to him. He's great with it.”

Worthy broke the NFL combine record when he ran a 4.21-second 40-yard dash, exhibiting the kind of raw speed that Kansas City last enjoyed when Hill was on the team. But Worthy is more than just a deep threat, showing promise as a route runner and cutting down on the number of drops last season, when he caught 75 passes for 1,014 yards and five TDs.

“It doesn’t hurt to have down-the-field speed,” Reid said. “We’ve functioned without the great speed down the field and done well, but if you have an opportunity to get somebody you think is a good player, you probably need to take advantage of that.”

The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year with a patchwork wide receiver corps, and they were in the market for help even before second-year pro Rashee Rice — their biggest breakout star of last season — got embroiled in legal trouble in Texas.

Dallas police allege that Rice was driving a Lamborghini well over 100 mph when he and a friend, who was driving a Corvette, lost control and began a chain-reaction crash that resulted in injuries to several people. Rice left the scene without seeing if anyone was injured, but turned himself in when police issued warrants for his arrest.

Rice has been released on bond, and Reid has said he would continue to participate in the Chiefs' offseason program as the legal situation plays out. But the Chiefs must prepare for the possibility they will be without him for at least the first part of the season — if not the entire season — as they try to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.

“It's a quarterback league and a speed game,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said, “and the more speed you have on the field, the harder it is for defenses to take away different elements of the game. We have a couple of guys now that can keep a defense guessing, and we're excited about what this will do.”

The Chiefs signed Hollywood Brown in free agency, and tight end Travis Kelce has been every bit as productive as any wide receiver. But otherwise, the Chiefs were faced with heading into the summer with Justin Watson, drop-prone Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore, and journeymen such as Montrell Washington filling out the receiver corps.

So the trade to get Worthy wasn't a surprise. But the fact that the Bills picked up the phone raised some eyebrows.

Along with the fact that Kansas City has frequently ended their season in the playoffs, the Chiefs also swung a memorable first-round trade with them in 2017: They sent Buffalo their first- and third-round picks that year and a first-round pick the next year to move up to No. 10 and select Mahomes, which ultimately altered the trajectory of the entire franchise.

“Everyone goes into the process with their own list of priorities of what they want to do and what they want to accomplish,” Veach said. “I think they had a mindset of what they wanted to do. They've done a great job over the years. I'm sure it made sense to them. We were on our own agenda. We saw value there.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707336003255.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs traded up to select Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy with the No. 28 pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, giving Patrick Mahomes the kind of speedy deep threat they have not enjoyed since Tyreek Hill was on the roster.The Chiefs were supposed to pick last in the first round after winning their second consecutive Super Bowl and third in five years, but they managed to trade up with one of their biggest AFC rivals in Buffalo. The Chiefs sent the 32nd pick along with a fourth-rounder and seventh-rounder to the Bills for No. 28, a fourth-rounder and a seventh-rounder.“Listen, I like the wide receivers we've got,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “but to go add somebody of this quality is important, or a good move to strengthen it. I don't want to slight the guys we have but he's a nice addition.”So nice that Mahomes, who was attending a gala in New York, instantly took to social media to approve of it.“We told Patrick," Reid said with a smile. “Patrick is curious. He loves this stuff. It doesn't matter if it's offense or defense. He just loves the draft. He's texting away at us and we get back to him. He's great with it.”Worthy broke the NFL combine record when he ran a 4.21-second 40-yard dash, exhibiting the kind of raw speed that Kansas City last enjoyed when Hill was on the team. But Worthy is more than just a deep threat, showing promise as a route runner and cutting down on the number of drops last season, when he caught 75 passes for 1,014 yards and five TDs.“It doesn’t hurt to have down-the-field speed,” Reid said. “We’ve functioned without the great speed down the field and done well, but if you have an opportunity to get somebody you think is a good player, you probably need to take advantage of that.”The Chiefs won the Super Bowl last year with a patchwork wide receiver corps, and they were in the market for help even before second-year pro Rashee Rice — their biggest breakout star of last season — got embroiled in legal trouble in Texas.Dallas police allege that Rice was driving a Lamborghini well over 100 mph when he and a friend, who was driving a Corvette, lost control and began a chain-reaction crash that resulted in injuries to several people. Rice left the scene without seeing if anyone was injured, but turned himself in when police issued warrants for his arrest.Rice has been released on bond, and Reid has said he would continue to participate in the Chiefs' offseason program as the legal situation plays out. But the Chiefs must prepare for the possibility they will be without him for at least the first part of the season — if not the entire season — as they try to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls.“It's a quarterback league and a speed game,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said, “and the more speed you have on the field, the harder it is for defenses to take away different elements of the game. We have a couple of guys now that can keep a defense guessing, and we're excited about what this will do.”The Chiefs signed Hollywood Brown in free agency, and tight end Travis Kelce has been every bit as productive as any wide receiver. But otherwise, the Chiefs were faced with heading into the summer with Justin Watson, drop-prone Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore, and journeymen such as Montrell Washington filling out the receiver corps.So the trade to get Worthy wasn't a surprise. But the fact that the Bills picked up the phone raised some eyebrows.Along with the fact that Kansas City has frequently ended their season in the playoffs, the Chiefs also swung a memorable first-round trade with them in 2017: They sent Buffalo their first- and third-round picks that year and a first-round pick the next year to move up to No. 10 and select Mahomes, which ultimately altered the trajectory of the entire franchise.“Everyone goes into the process with their own list of priorities of what they want to do and what they want to accomplish,” Veach said. “I think they had a mindset of what they wanted to do. They've done a great job over the years. I'm sure it made sense to them. We were on our own agenda. We saw value there.”

🏈 Chiefs trade up for wide receiver in first round

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals manager Matt Quatraro was frustrated that his team was left hanging in limbo. Blue Jays counterpart John Schneider was equally perturbed that his team wasn't being given a chance to finish out a game it was losing.

At least Quatraro felt a bit better in the end.

After playing five innings, then waiting out a bizarre rain delay that stretched to 3 hours, 38 minutes, the Royals finally were declared a 2-1 winner Thursday — their third straight one-run victory to wrap up their four-game set with Toronto.

Salvador Perez provided both of their runs with a two-out, two-run homer off José Berrios (4-1) in the first, and Cole Ragans (1-2) earned the win by allowing the lone Blue Jays run on three hits and three walks in five rain-soaked innings.

“What was getting frustrating to me,” Quatraro said, "was just like, ‘All right. Let’s make the decision, one way or the other. Tell us to get out there and play or tell us to go home.”

The strange sequence of events began when the fifth inning ended, and an early drizzle had turned into a steady rain.

Umpire chief Chris Guccione called for the tarp to cover the infield, but Schneider came out and objected, arguing that his club deserved another opportunity to tie or take the lead. Guccione told the grounds crew to roll the tarp back and attempt to get the field in playing shape, but about 10 minutes later, the umpire summoned the tarp again.

The field was covered for about 2 hours. When the rain stopped, the grounds crew went to work, pouring dozens of bags of dry dirt on it. But after another hour-plus spent working on the field, Guccione made the decision to call the game complete.

“They tried to work their magic to try to scrape all that old dirt off, get new dirt on there, rake it as much as they could,” he said. “It was just like, the whole shortstop area, the whole third base area, was so spongy and soft that I couldn’t imagine Bo Bichette or Bobby Witt Jr. trying to field the ball to their left or right and planting and trying to make a successful throw. That’s not good for the game, and for sure, the safety of the players is the No. 1 priority.”

The decision still didn't sit well with Schneider.

“I think the entire day was handled kind of poorly, just from the start of the game,” he said. “What was said out there was the fact that the field was unplayable and they didn’t want to continue the game. In my opinion, the field was significantly better than it was in the third, fourth and fifth inning.”

Long forgotten was what had transpired in the game: Berrios had a streak of 22 1/3 scoreless innings end when Perez, following Vinnie Pasquantino's two-out walk, deposited&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BallySportsKC/status/1783563442760094190">the first pitch he saw into the left-field bullpen</a>&nbsp;in the first inning.

In the fourth, the Blue Jays bookended Davis Schneider's walk with hits by Justin Turner and Ernie Clement to cut the Royals' lead in half, but Ragans bounced back to retire Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk and maintain a 2-1 lead.

The Blue Jays had another chance in the fifth, when center fielder Kyle Isbel made&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BallySportsKC/status/1783578273974239339">a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch</a>&nbsp;of Isiah Kiner-Falefa's drive to the warning track. Isbel also raced down George Springer's blooper. Then, after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drew a walk, Bichette popped foul to end what turned out to be the Blue Jays' final at-bat.

“It’s kind of an awkward state," Isbel said. "You obviously want to play, but it’s out of our control. The field was pretty messed up. I didn’t really go back down there after the rain stopped. It was just kind of a waiting game.”

Royals: RHP Alec Marsh (bruised right elbow)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-kansas-city-93cf6c8a1cdfb0119a804ce31af76b98">went on the injured list Thursday</a>&nbsp;after taking a 91 mph line drive off his elbow the previous night. RHP Will Klein was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to take his spot on the roster.

Blue Jays: RHP Bowden Francis (right forearm tendinitis) was placed on the IL after pitching two scoreless innings Wednesday night. LHP Brendon Little was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take his spot in the bullpen.

Blue Jays: Start a six-game homestand that includes a visit by Kansas City next week. Up first are the Los Angeles Dodgers with RHP Chris Bassitt (2-3, 3.90 ERA) getting the nod against them in Friday night's series opener.

Royals: Begin a six-day trip against the Tigers on Friday with a rare 12:10 p.m. CDT start so that it any minimizes interference with the NFL draft in Detroit. RHP Seth Lugo (3-1, 2.03) is on the mound for the series opener.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708710110872.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals manager Matt Quatraro was frustrated that his team was left hanging in limbo. Blue Jays counterpart John Schneider was equally perturbed that his team wasn't being given a chance to finish out a game it was losing.At least Quatraro felt a bit better in the end.After playing five innings, then waiting out a bizarre rain delay that stretched to 3 hours, 38 minutes, the Royals finally were declared a 2-1 winner Thursday — their third straight one-run victory to wrap up their four-game set with Toronto.Salvador Perez provided both of their runs with a two-out, two-run homer off José Berrios (4-1) in the first, and Cole Ragans (1-2) earned the win by allowing the lone Blue Jays run on three hits and three walks in five rain-soaked innings.“What was getting frustrating to me,” Quatraro said, "was just like, ‘All right. Let’s make the decision, one way or the other. Tell us to get out there and play or tell us to go home.”The strange sequence of events began when the fifth inning ended, and an early drizzle had turned into a steady rain.Umpire chief Chris Guccione called for the tarp to cover the infield, but Schneider came out and objected, arguing that his club deserved another opportunity to tie or take the lead. Guccione told the grounds crew to roll the tarp back and attempt to get the field in playing shape, but about 10 minutes later, the umpire summoned the tarp again.The field was covered for about 2 hours. When the rain stopped, the grounds crew went to work, pouring dozens of bags of dry dirt on it. But after another hour-plus spent working on the field, Guccione made the decision to call the game complete.“They tried to work their magic to try to scrape all that old dirt off, get new dirt on there, rake it as much as they could,” he said. “It was just like, the whole shortstop area, the whole third base area, was so spongy and soft that I couldn’t imagine Bo Bichette or Bobby Witt Jr. trying to field the ball to their left or right and planting and trying to make a successful throw. That’s not good for the game, and for sure, the safety of the players is the No. 1 priority.”The decision still didn't sit well with Schneider.“I think the entire day was handled kind of poorly, just from the start of the game,” he said. “What was said out there was the fact that the field was unplayable and they didn’t want to continue the game. In my opinion, the field was significantly better than it was in the third, fourth and fifth inning.”Long forgotten was what had transpired in the game: Berrios had a streak of 22 1/3 scoreless innings end when Perez, following Vinnie Pasquantino's two-out walk, deposited&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BallySportsKC/status/1783563442760094190">the first pitch he saw into the left-field bullpen</a>&nbsp;in the first inning.In the fourth, the Blue Jays bookended Davis Schneider's walk with hits by Justin Turner and Ernie Clement to cut the Royals' lead in half, but Ragans bounced back to retire Daulton Varsho and Alejandro Kirk and maintain a 2-1 lead.The Blue Jays had another chance in the fifth, when center fielder Kyle Isbel made&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BallySportsKC/status/1783578273974239339">a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch</a>&nbsp;of Isiah Kiner-Falefa's drive to the warning track. Isbel also raced down George Springer's blooper. Then, after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drew a walk, Bichette popped foul to end what turned out to be the Blue Jays' final at-bat.“It’s kind of an awkward state," Isbel said. "You obviously want to play, but it’s out of our control. The field was pretty messed up. I didn’t really go back down there after the rain stopped. It was just kind of a waiting game.”TRAINER'S ROOMRoyals: RHP Alec Marsh (bruised right elbow)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-kansas-city-93cf6c8a1cdfb0119a804ce31af76b98">went on the injured list Thursday</a>&nbsp;after taking a 91 mph line drive off his elbow the previous night. RHP Will Klein was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to take his spot on the roster.Blue Jays: RHP Bowden Francis (right forearm tendinitis) was placed on the IL after pitching two scoreless innings Wednesday night. LHP Brendon Little was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take his spot in the bullpen.UP NEXTBlue Jays: Start a six-game homestand that includes a visit by Kansas City next week. Up first are the Los Angeles Dodgers with RHP Chris Bassitt (2-3, 3.90 ERA) getting the nod against them in Friday night's series opener.Royals: Begin a six-day trip against the Tigers on Friday with a rare 12:10 p.m. CDT start so that it any minimizes interference with the NFL draft in Detroit. RHP Seth Lugo (3-1, 2.03) is on the mound for the series opener.

⚾ Royals win rain-shortened game Wednesday over Blue Jays

EL DORADO, Kan. — Caiden Beavers recorded his first four-hit game of the season to go along with three RBI, as the Hutchinson High School baseball team beat El Dorado 14-4 in a non-league game at McDonald Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

The Salthawks scored three in the top of the first inning, as Landon Parks drove in a run with a groundout, followed by an RBI single to center from Jack Yoder. Yoder then scored a few pitches later on an errant throw into left field on a stolen base.

Hutchinson plated three more runs in the second inning, all with two outs. Beavers drove in two with a double to the left-center gap, followed up by an RBI single from Cole Bleything.

The Salthawks scored one more in the fourth, and then plated four runs in the fifth inning. In the fifth, Carter Morgan drove in a run with an RBI double into the right field corner, while Beavers followed him up with an RBI single into left-center.

Hutchinson scored two more in the sixth and scored its final run in the seventh.

Morgan tossed five strong innings on the mound, allowing one hit and four runs, but no earned runs. Landon Parks tossed two scoreless innings of relief, striking out two and allowing one hit.

The Salthawks are now 12-8 on the season and will travel to Goddard on Tuesday for a doubleheader against the Eisenhower Tigers with first pitch at 4 p.m.

Hutchinson - 330 142 1 - 14 12 2 El Dorado - 000 020 0 - 4 3 2 WP: Carter Morgan (2-0). LP: Sam Greene. Time: 2:15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714084291127.jpeg" alt="Carter Morgan delivers a pitch in the third inning of a single-game at McDonald Stadium on Thursday, April 25, 2024 in El Dorado. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)" />
 <figcaption>Carter Morgan delivers a pitch in the third inning of a single-game at McDonald Stadium on Thursday, April 25, 2024 in El Dorado. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)</figcaption>
 </figure>EL DORADO, Kan. — Caiden Beavers recorded his first four-hit game of the season to go along with three RBI, as the Hutchinson High School baseball team beat El Dorado 14-4 in a non-league game at McDonald Stadium on Thursday afternoon.The Salthawks scored three in the top of the first inning, as Landon Parks drove in a run with a groundout, followed by an RBI single to center from Jack Yoder. Yoder then scored a few pitches later on an errant throw into left field on a stolen base.Hutchinson plated three more runs in the second inning, all with two outs. Beavers drove in two with a double to the left-center gap, followed up by an RBI single from Cole Bleything.The Salthawks scored one more in the fourth, and then plated four runs in the fifth inning. In the fifth, Carter Morgan drove in a run with an RBI double into the right field corner, while Beavers followed him up with an RBI single into left-center.Hutchinson scored two more in the sixth and scored its final run in the seventh.Morgan tossed five strong innings on the mound, allowing one hit and four runs, but no earned runs. Landon Parks tossed two scoreless innings of relief, striking out two and allowing one hit.The Salthawks are now 12-8 on the season and will travel to Goddard on Tuesday for a doubleheader against the Eisenhower Tigers with first pitch at 4 p.m.Hutchinson - 330 142 1 - 14 12 2 El Dorado - 000 020 0 - 4 3 2 WP: Carter Morgan (2-0). LP: Sam Greene. Time: 2:15.

⚾ Beavers 4-hit day leads Salthawks to road win

EL DORADO, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School Salthawks trek East to El Dorado for a a non-league game against the El Dorado Wildcats this afternoon at McDonald Stadium.&nbsp;

First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.&nbsp; Hutchinson is 11-8 overall, while El Dorado is 7-10.

Catch the audio only broadcast below with Sean Boston on the call.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714044539563.png" alt="Game Day vs El Dorado 4-25-24" />
 <figcaption>Game Day vs El Dorado 4-25-24</figcaption>
 </figure>EL DORADO, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School Salthawks trek East to El Dorado for a a non-league game against the El Dorado Wildcats this afternoon at McDonald Stadium.&nbsp;First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.&nbsp; Hutchinson is 11-8 overall, while El Dorado is 7-10.Catch the audio only broadcast below with Sean Boston on the call.&nbsp; &nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://eagle-media-sports-hutch.mixlr.com/embed" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="200px" width="100%"></iframe><a href="https://mixlr.com/" style="color:#1a1a1a;display:block;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:left;padding: 4px 0;">Eagle Media Sports - Hutchpost Sports is on Mixlr</a></div>

⚾🎧 Salthawks travel to El Dorado for non-league tilt

LAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas men’s basketball will play at Creighton on Dec. 4 in the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle, the two conferences announced Thursday. The Big 12-BIG EAST Battle is a men’s basketball non-conference scheduling alliance, which is in its sixth year.

Each conference has added member schools since the start of the original agreement. The Battle will include 11 matchups for the second straight season. The BIG EAST will host six games in 2024-25 while the Big 12 will host five. The 2024 matchups will feature seven teams ranked in the final AP Top 25 poll of the 2023-24 season, including defending national champion Connecticut. Five of the 11 participant teams made it to the Sweet 16 in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Kansas leads the overall series with Creighton, 11-6, and the Jayhawks have won the past six meetings. The two teams last met March 19, 2022 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, a KU 79-72 win en route to the 2022 NCAA National title.

The Battle matchups are jointly determined by the two conferences, with the home team choosing&nbsp;the venue of its game. Broadcast arrangements for the contests will be determined by the national television rights holder of the home team, which is FOX Sports for the BIG EAST and ESPN for the Big 12.

Game times and television networks will be announced when available.

Kansas is 4-1 in the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle. Last season, Kansas defeated UConn, 69-65, on Dec. 1, 2023, in Allen Fieldhouse. The previous season, the Jayhawks defeated Seton Hall, 91-65, on Dec. 1, 2022, in Allen Fieldhouse. KU won at St. John’s, 95-75, in 2021 and defeated Creighton, 73-72, in 2020 in Lawrence. Kansas’ sole loss in the battle was at Villanova, 56-55, in 2019.

2024 Big 12-BIG EAST Battle Schedule Dec. 3 – Cincinnati at Villanova; BYU at Providence Dec. 4 –&nbsp;KANSAS AT CREIGHTON; Baylor at Connecticut; DePaul at Texas Tech; Marquette at Iowa State Dec. 6 – Georgetown at West Virginia; Xavier at TCU Dec. 7 – Kansas State at St. John’s; Butler at Houston Dec. 8 – Oklahoma State at Seton Hall

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714055520216.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>University of Kansas Sports InformationLAWRENCE, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas men’s basketball will play at Creighton on Dec. 4 in the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle, the two conferences announced Thursday. The Big 12-BIG EAST Battle is a men’s basketball non-conference scheduling alliance, which is in its sixth year.Each conference has added member schools since the start of the original agreement. The Battle will include 11 matchups for the second straight season. The BIG EAST will host six games in 2024-25 while the Big 12 will host five. The 2024 matchups will feature seven teams ranked in the final AP Top 25 poll of the 2023-24 season, including defending national champion Connecticut. Five of the 11 participant teams made it to the Sweet 16 in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.Kansas leads the overall series with Creighton, 11-6, and the Jayhawks have won the past six meetings. The two teams last met March 19, 2022 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, a KU 79-72 win en route to the 2022 NCAA National title.The Battle matchups are jointly determined by the two conferences, with the home team choosing&nbsp;the venue of its game. Broadcast arrangements for the contests will be determined by the national television rights holder of the home team, which is FOX Sports for the BIG EAST and ESPN for the Big 12.Game times and television networks will be announced when available.Kansas is 4-1 in the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle. Last season, Kansas defeated UConn, 69-65, on Dec. 1, 2023, in Allen Fieldhouse. The previous season, the Jayhawks defeated Seton Hall, 91-65, on Dec. 1, 2022, in Allen Fieldhouse. KU won at St. John’s, 95-75, in 2021 and defeated Creighton, 73-72, in 2020 in Lawrence. Kansas’ sole loss in the battle was at Villanova, 56-55, in 2019.2024 Big 12-BIG EAST Battle Schedule Dec. 3 – Cincinnati at Villanova; BYU at Providence Dec. 4 –&nbsp;KANSAS AT CREIGHTON; Baylor at Connecticut; DePaul at Texas Tech; Marquette at Iowa State Dec. 6 – Georgetown at West Virginia; Xavier at TCU Dec. 7 – Kansas State at St. John’s; Butler at Houston Dec. 8 – Oklahoma State at Seton Hall

🏀 MBB: KU to play at Creighton in 2024 Big 12-BIG EAST Battle

The Hutchinson Community College softball team earned a Jayhawk Conference doubleheader sweep of Garden City on Wednesday in the final home games of the 2024 season at Fun Valley.

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/brawner_brie_9nkv">Brie Brawner</a>&nbsp;tied a career high with three RBIs and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lake_dakota_j57w">Dakota Lake</a>&nbsp;tied a career high with 13 strikeouts in Hutchinson's 9-2 victory in Game 1. Then&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lozoya_tamara_njkf">Tamara Lozoya</a>&nbsp;hit a three-run home run while&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lies_korri_k1mj">Korri Lies</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/nowlin_jaala_tjnf">Jaala Nowlin</a>&nbsp;combined on a three-hit shutout in a 13-0 five-inning run-rule victory in Game 2.

The Blue Dragons are now a season-high 30 games over .500 at 39-9 overall and remain in second place in the KJCCC at 26-4. Hutchinson closes out the regular season on Saturday at Barton. Garden City is now 8-36 overall and 6-24 in the league. Hutchinson sweeps the regular-season series with the Broncbusters and have won nine-straight games over Garden City.

The 39 victories tie for the fifth-most wins in team history, matching the 1992 and 2011 teams.

GAME 1 RECAP – Hutchinson 9, Garden City 2 Lake surpassed 10 strikeouts in a game for the fourth time this season, tying a career high with 13 strikeouts she first accomplished on February 1 against the Ottawa University JV. Her 13 strikeouts tied for the fourth-most in single-season program history.

The Blue Dragon freshman improved to 8-3 for the season with her fourth complete game of the year. Lake allowed five hits, two earned runs and four walks. She gave up single runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

Lake's teammates gave her plenty of run support, breaking open a two-run game with six combined runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Hutchinson out-hit Garden City 11-5. Lies had the only extra-base hit for Hutchinson, a double in the third inning.

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_bailey_6uk7">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;had her 25th multi-hit game and ninth with three or more hits, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored, an RBI and stolen base.

Brawner tied a season high with three RBIs, going 2 for 3. She had an RBI infield single in the first inning and a two-run single in the sixth.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/mastin_alexis_jxjs">Alexis Mastin</a>&nbsp;drove in a pair of runs with an RBI single in the first and her sixth sacrifice fly of the season in the fourth.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/sandoval_olivia_ydnf">Olivia Sandoval</a>&nbsp;had a two-run single in the fourth inning.

The Blue Dragons were hit with pitches a season-high six times.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/darnell_jaeleigh_5kwl">Jaeleigh Darnell</a>&nbsp;was plunked twice in the game.

GAME 2 RECAP – Hutchinson 13, Garden City 0 (5 innings) The Blue Dragons followed pretty much the same recipe against Garden City in the second game – strong pitching and bunching runs together.

Lies improved to 5-1 in the pitching circle with four shutout innings. She allowed three hits and walked one with one strikeout. Lies stranded three baserunners in scoring position, including Cadence Mallet, who led off the fourth inning with a double and reached third with one out. Lies got a key infield pop-up caught by Lozoya and a line-out to shortstop&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/dice_emily_aof6">Emily Dice</a>&nbsp;to get out of the inning unscored upon.

Nowlin retired Garden Cit in order in the fifth inning to close out Hutchinson's 23rd run-rule win of the season.

The Blue Dragons out-hit Garden City 13-3 in Game 2 with three extra-base hits. Five different Blue Dragons had two hits each in the game.

Sandoval was 2 for 3 with RBI singles in the second and third innings for her 25th multi-hit game of the season.

Lies helped herself out going 2 for 3 with a two-run triple in a seven-run third inning.

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_brooke_06ze">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;was 2 for 2 with a walk and two two-out RBI singles in the first and second innings.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/divis_madi_gofs">Madi Divis</a>&nbsp;and Darnell both had two hits each.

Lozoya was 1 for 2, but her lone hit was a three-run home run – her third of the season – in the third inning.

With her stolen base in the third inning,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_bailey_6uk7">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;reached 20 stolen bases for the season.

GAME NOTES&nbsp;– The Blue Dragons finish the home portion of the schedule 15-3 this season at Fun Valley. …&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/sandoval_olivia_ydnf">Olivia Sandoval</a>&nbsp;is now ranked second on the Blue Dragon single-season hits list with 83 hits and fifth on the season RBI list with 61. … Sandoval now ranks third on the career hits list with 160, second on the career runs scored list with 126 and third on the career RBI list with 120. …&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/darnell_jaeleigh_5kwl">Jaeleigh Darnell</a>&nbsp;now ranks fifth on the Blue Dragon single-season hits list with 79 and sixth on the season RBI list with 60. … Darnell now ranks 17th on the career hits list with 120. …&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_bailey_6uk7">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;is now sixth on the single-season hits list with 78. …&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/mastin_alexis_jxjs">Alexis Mastin</a>&nbsp;is now third on the single-season RBI list with 63 and fifth on the career RBI list with 113.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714050864743.jpeg" alt="Dakota Lake ties a career high with 13 strikeouts in Blue Dragon softball's 9-2 win over Garden City in Game 1 in a doubleheader sweep over the Broncbusters on Wednesday at Fun Valley (Steve Kappenman/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Dakota Lake ties a career high with 13 strikeouts in Blue Dragon softball's 9-2 win over Garden City in Game 1 in a doubleheader sweep over the Broncbusters on Wednesday at Fun Valley (Steve Kappenman/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationThe Hutchinson Community College softball team earned a Jayhawk Conference doubleheader sweep of Garden City on Wednesday in the final home games of the 2024 season at Fun Valley.<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/brawner_brie_9nkv">Brie Brawner</a>&nbsp;tied a career high with three RBIs and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lake_dakota_j57w">Dakota Lake</a>&nbsp;tied a career high with 13 strikeouts in Hutchinson's 9-2 victory in Game 1. Then&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lozoya_tamara_njkf">Tamara Lozoya</a>&nbsp;hit a three-run home run while&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lies_korri_k1mj">Korri Lies</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/nowlin_jaala_tjnf">Jaala Nowlin</a>&nbsp;combined on a three-hit shutout in a 13-0 five-inning run-rule victory in Game 2.The Blue Dragons are now a season-high 30 games over .500 at 39-9 overall and remain in second place in the KJCCC at 26-4. Hutchinson closes out the regular season on Saturday at Barton. Garden City is now 8-36 overall and 6-24 in the league. Hutchinson sweeps the regular-season series with the Broncbusters and have won nine-straight games over Garden City.The 39 victories tie for the fifth-most wins in team history, matching the 1992 and 2011 teams.GAME 1 RECAP – Hutchinson 9, Garden City 2 Lake surpassed 10 strikeouts in a game for the fourth time this season, tying a career high with 13 strikeouts she first accomplished on February 1 against the Ottawa University JV. Her 13 strikeouts tied for the fourth-most in single-season program history.The Blue Dragon freshman improved to 8-3 for the season with her fourth complete game of the year. Lake allowed five hits, two earned runs and four walks. She gave up single runs in the fourth and sixth innings.Lake's teammates gave her plenty of run support, breaking open a two-run game with six combined runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Hutchinson out-hit Garden City 11-5. Lies had the only extra-base hit for Hutchinson, a double in the third inning.<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_bailey_6uk7">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;had her 25th multi-hit game and ninth with three or more hits, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored, an RBI and stolen base.Brawner tied a season high with three RBIs, going 2 for 3. She had an RBI infield single in the first inning and a two-run single in the sixth.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/mastin_alexis_jxjs">Alexis Mastin</a>&nbsp;drove in a pair of runs with an RBI single in the first and her sixth sacrifice fly of the season in the fourth.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/sandoval_olivia_ydnf">Olivia Sandoval</a>&nbsp;had a two-run single in the fourth inning.The Blue Dragons were hit with pitches a season-high six times.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/darnell_jaeleigh_5kwl">Jaeleigh Darnell</a>&nbsp;was plunked twice in the game.GAME 2 RECAP – Hutchinson 13, Garden City 0 (5 innings) The Blue Dragons followed pretty much the same recipe against Garden City in the second game – strong pitching and bunching runs together.Lies improved to 5-1 in the pitching circle with four shutout innings. She allowed three hits and walked one with one strikeout. Lies stranded three baserunners in scoring position, including Cadence Mallet, who led off the fourth inning with a double and reached third with one out. Lies got a key infield pop-up caught by Lozoya and a line-out to shortstop&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/dice_emily_aof6">Emily Dice</a>&nbsp;to get out of the inning unscored upon.Nowlin retired Garden Cit in order in the fifth inning to close out Hutchinson's 23rd run-rule win of the season.The Blue Dragons out-hit Garden City 13-3 in Game 2 with three extra-base hits. Five different Blue Dragons had two hits each in the game.Sandoval was 2 for 3 with RBI singles in the second and third innings for her 25th multi-hit game of the season.Lies helped herself out going 2 for 3 with a two-run triple in a seven-run third inning.<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_brooke_06ze">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;was 2 for 2 with a walk and two two-out RBI singles in the first and second innings.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/divis_madi_gofs">Madi Divis</a>&nbsp;and Darnell both had two hits each.Lozoya was 1 for 2, but her lone hit was a three-run home run – her third of the season – in the third inning.With her stolen base in the third inning,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_bailey_6uk7">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;reached 20 stolen bases for the season.GAME NOTES&nbsp;– The Blue Dragons finish the home portion of the schedule 15-3 this season at Fun Valley. …&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/sandoval_olivia_ydnf">Olivia Sandoval</a>&nbsp;is now ranked second on the Blue Dragon single-season hits list with 83 hits and fifth on the season RBI list with 61. … Sandoval now ranks third on the career hits list with 160, second on the career runs scored list with 126 and third on the career RBI list with 120. …&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/darnell_jaeleigh_5kwl">Jaeleigh Darnell</a>&nbsp;now ranks fifth on the Blue Dragon single-season hits list with 79 and sixth on the season RBI list with 60. … Darnell now ranks 17th on the career hits list with 120. …&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_bailey_6uk7">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;is now sixth on the single-season hits list with 78. …&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/mastin_alexis_jxjs">Alexis Mastin</a>&nbsp;is now third on the single-season RBI list with 63 and fifth on the career RBI list with 113.

🥎 Dragons close home slate with sweep of Garden City

GREAT BEND – The Hutchinson Community College baseball team accomplished many things in its 7-2 victory in Game 1 of a four-game Jayhawk West series with the Barton Cougars on Wednesday at Lawson-Biggs Field.

First, and foremost, the Blue Dragons clinched the 2024 Jayhawk West championship, the program's first since 2021 and 13th overall in the 50-year history of the program. Combined with the conference-clinching win was:

+ The Blue Dragons clinched their first 40-win season since 2019 and 10th 40-win season overall;

+ First-year head coach Brock Nehls joins Gene Torczon and Kyle Crookes as Blue Dragon head coaches to win a conference championship in their first season (Torczon in 1975 and Crookes in 2005);

+ Nehls also became the first Blue Dragon head coach to win 40 games in his first season;

+ The Blue Dragons earned their 1,500th all-time victory.

+ With two stolen bases, Blue Dragon sophomore centerfielder&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/babin_kael_g1ow">Kael Babin</a>&nbsp;broke the Blue Dragon single-season record for stolen bases with his 48th and 49th steals of the season, surpassing Nick Thigpen's 2003 record of 48. Babin also had two steals in the second game to become the first Blue Dragon to reach 50 steals in a season.

The Blue Dragons and Cougars split the opening two games of the series on Wednesday – the series was pushed up a day because of forecast severe weather in central Kansas on Thursday. Barton rallied from eight runs down to defeat Hutchinson 10-9 in nine innings in Game 2.

Hutchinson is now 40-11 overall and 25-5 in the Jayhawk West. Barton is now 33-17 overall and 15-11 in the Jayhawk West. The final two games of the series are scheduled for Friday at 1 and 3:30 p.m. at Hobart-Detter Field.

GAME 1 RECAP – Hutchinson 7, Barton 2 Sophomore starting pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/giesbrecht_ethan_qz2n">Ethan Giesbrecht</a>&nbsp;became the first Blue Dragon nine-game winner in a season since Kyle Simonds won 13 games in 2014 with five solid innings of shutout ball.

Giesbrecht (9-2) allowed just one hit and walked two with four strikeouts over his five innings. He allowed two walks in the first inning and a single-inning single before retiring the final 11 Barton batters he faced, closing his outing with back-to-back strikeouts in the fifth inning.

Giesbrecht was backed offensively with a six-run third inning. The Blue Dragons broke the scoreless tie when&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/pimental-guerrero_luis_ubag">Luis Pimentel-Guerrero</a>&nbsp;hit a three-run home run to left-center for a 3-0 lead. Four batters later, after the Dragons loaded the bases,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/wesslund_cooper_2jkh">Cooper Wesslund</a>&nbsp;hit a three-run double to right-center to give the Blue Dragons a 6-0 lead.

After the Cougars scored two runs in the sixth inning, the Dragons got one of those runs back with a&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/gunderson_cody_npi8">Cody Gunderson</a>&nbsp;RBI single in the seventh inning for a five-run cushion.

Babin and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/cymbalista_colin_rw61">Colin Cymbalista</a>&nbsp;had two hits each to lead Hutchinson.

Babin tied Thigpen's stolen base record with a steal in the first inning and broke the record with a seventh-inning steal. Cymbalista had two doubles.

GAME 2 RECAP – Barton 10, Hutchinson 9 (10 innings) Cymbalista's eighth home run of the season to lead off the seventh inning gave the Blue Dragons a 9-1 lead, but Barton mounted a furious comeback with nine unanswered runs to rally to defeat the Dragons in 10 innings.

Barton scored two runs in the seventh, tied the game with six runs in the eighth and won the game with a sacrifice fly in the 10th.

Babin led the Blue Dragons' 12-hit attack, going 4 for 5 with two doubles, two runs and two stolen bases.

Cymbalista was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Wesslund was 2 for 4 with a double, run scored and a stolen base. Pimentel-Guerrero was 2 for 5 with two RBIs.

Barton had 10 hits and took advantage of two Dragon errors and a season-high eight walks by four Blue Dragon pitchers.

Landon Snyder (0-1) took the loss for the Dragons.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/toureau_cole_aswi">Cole Toureau</a>&nbsp;worked 4 2-3 innings in his first start for the season. He allowed just one run and one hit with four strikeouts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714050796158.jpeg" alt="The Blue Dragon baseball team celebrates winning the 2024 Jayhawk West championship after a 7-2 victory over Barton in Game 1 on Wednesday in Great Bend. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>The Blue Dragon baseball team celebrates winning the 2024 Jayhawk West championship after a 7-2 victory over Barton in Game 1 on Wednesday in Great Bend. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationGREAT BEND – The Hutchinson Community College baseball team accomplished many things in its 7-2 victory in Game 1 of a four-game Jayhawk West series with the Barton Cougars on Wednesday at Lawson-Biggs Field.First, and foremost, the Blue Dragons clinched the 2024 Jayhawk West championship, the program's first since 2021 and 13th overall in the 50-year history of the program. Combined with the conference-clinching win was:+ The Blue Dragons clinched their first 40-win season since 2019 and 10th 40-win season overall;+ First-year head coach Brock Nehls joins Gene Torczon and Kyle Crookes as Blue Dragon head coaches to win a conference championship in their first season (Torczon in 1975 and Crookes in 2005);+ Nehls also became the first Blue Dragon head coach to win 40 games in his first season;+ The Blue Dragons earned their 1,500th all-time victory.+ With two stolen bases, Blue Dragon sophomore centerfielder&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/babin_kael_g1ow">Kael Babin</a>&nbsp;broke the Blue Dragon single-season record for stolen bases with his 48th and 49th steals of the season, surpassing Nick Thigpen's 2003 record of 48. Babin also had two steals in the second game to become the first Blue Dragon to reach 50 steals in a season.The Blue Dragons and Cougars split the opening two games of the series on Wednesday – the series was pushed up a day because of forecast severe weather in central Kansas on Thursday. Barton rallied from eight runs down to defeat Hutchinson 10-9 in nine innings in Game 2.Hutchinson is now 40-11 overall and 25-5 in the Jayhawk West. Barton is now 33-17 overall and 15-11 in the Jayhawk West. The final two games of the series are scheduled for Friday at 1 and 3:30 p.m. at Hobart-Detter Field.GAME 1 RECAP – Hutchinson 7, Barton 2 Sophomore starting pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/giesbrecht_ethan_qz2n">Ethan Giesbrecht</a>&nbsp;became the first Blue Dragon nine-game winner in a season since Kyle Simonds won 13 games in 2014 with five solid innings of shutout ball.Giesbrecht (9-2) allowed just one hit and walked two with four strikeouts over his five innings. He allowed two walks in the first inning and a single-inning single before retiring the final 11 Barton batters he faced, closing his outing with back-to-back strikeouts in the fifth inning.Giesbrecht was backed offensively with a six-run third inning. The Blue Dragons broke the scoreless tie when&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/pimental-guerrero_luis_ubag">Luis Pimentel-Guerrero</a>&nbsp;hit a three-run home run to left-center for a 3-0 lead. Four batters later, after the Dragons loaded the bases,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/wesslund_cooper_2jkh">Cooper Wesslund</a>&nbsp;hit a three-run double to right-center to give the Blue Dragons a 6-0 lead.After the Cougars scored two runs in the sixth inning, the Dragons got one of those runs back with a&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/gunderson_cody_npi8">Cody Gunderson</a>&nbsp;RBI single in the seventh inning for a five-run cushion.The Blue Dragons out-hit Barton 7-5.Babin and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/cymbalista_colin_rw61">Colin Cymbalista</a>&nbsp;had two hits each to lead Hutchinson.Babin tied Thigpen's stolen base record with a steal in the first inning and broke the record with a seventh-inning steal. Cymbalista had two doubles.GAME 2 RECAP – Barton 10, Hutchinson 9 (10 innings) Cymbalista's eighth home run of the season to lead off the seventh inning gave the Blue Dragons a 9-1 lead, but Barton mounted a furious comeback with nine unanswered runs to rally to defeat the Dragons in 10 innings.Barton scored two runs in the seventh, tied the game with six runs in the eighth and won the game with a sacrifice fly in the 10th.Babin led the Blue Dragons' 12-hit attack, going 4 for 5 with two doubles, two runs and two stolen bases.Cymbalista was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Wesslund was 2 for 4 with a double, run scored and a stolen base. Pimentel-Guerrero was 2 for 5 with two RBIs.Barton had 10 hits and took advantage of two Dragon errors and a season-high eight walks by four Blue Dragon pitchers.Landon Snyder (0-1) took the loss for the Dragons.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/toureau_cole_aswi">Cole Toureau</a>&nbsp;worked 4 2-3 innings in his first start for the season. He allowed just one run and one hit with four strikeouts.

⚾ Dragons clinch Jayhawk West title with milestone win

HAYS – Hutchinson Community College freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/thid_david_jvzs">David Thid</a>&nbsp;broke his own school record in the 400-meter hurdles on Wednesday at the FHSU Alex Francis Classic at Fort Hays State University.

Thid led a list of one school record, four event titles, three all-time Top 10 performances and two national qualifiers at the Alex Francis Classic, which was moved from Thursday to Wednesday because of impending severe weather forecast for Thursday.

Thid won the 400-meter hurdles with a Blue Dragon-record time of 51.14 seconds. That beat his own record he set at the KT Woodman Classic by 0.36 seconds.

Thid's 400-meter hurdle record marks the third Blue Dragon outdoor school record and fifth overall track and field record to be broken this season.

The Blue Dragons upped their total of 2024 national qualifiers to 17 on Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/roland_ty-rique_n9sc">Ty'Rique Roland</a>&nbsp;qualified in the high jump after placing second with a PR height of 6 feet, 10 inches. That mark ties for the ninth-highest high jump in program history.

Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/brown_christopher_1wqz">Christopher Brown</a>&nbsp;placed second in the shot put with a national-qualifying mark of 51 feet, 6 inches (15.70 meters). Brown tied for 12th all time in Blue Dragon history. Brown also placed second in the discus with a throw of 170 feet, 0 inches (51.82m), which is the fifth-best mark in Blue Dragon history. Brown added a fourth-place finish in the hammer throw at 161 feet, 1 inches (49.11m).

The Blue Dragons added three more event victories – three individual events and one relay – on Wednesday.

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/johnson_chris_pj8c">Chris Johnson</a>, the nation's No. 1 pole vaulter, won the Alex Francis pole vault clearing 16 feet, 4 1/4 inches (5.00m).

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/seamster_ezekiel_gysy">Ezekiel Seamster</a>&nbsp;won his third 100-meter title of the outdoor season with a time of 10.34 seconds, a PR time that is the ninth-fastest mark in Blue Dragon outdoor history.

Seamster rank the anchor leg of Hutchinson's winning 4x100-meter relay on Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/warren_d-antonio_xcf2">D'Antonio Warren</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/smith_omari_gc69">Omari Smith</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/bronaugh_trenton_omnd">Trenton Bronaugh</a>&nbsp;teamed up with Seamster to win the relay with a time of 41.12 seconds.

The Blue Dragons will now compete at the Region 6 Outdoor Championships next Thursday through Saturday at Pratt Community College.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714051091535.jpeg" alt="David Thid breaks the Blue Dragon 400-meter hurdle record for the second time this season after winning the FHSU Alex Francis Classic with a time of 51.14 seconds. (Photo courtesy Ryan Prickett/FHSU Media Relations)." />
 <figcaption>David Thid breaks the Blue Dragon 400-meter hurdle record for the second time this season after winning the FHSU Alex Francis Classic with a time of 51.14 seconds. (Photo courtesy Ryan Prickett/FHSU Media Relations).</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationHAYS – Hutchinson Community College freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/thid_david_jvzs">David Thid</a>&nbsp;broke his own school record in the 400-meter hurdles on Wednesday at the FHSU Alex Francis Classic at Fort Hays State University.Thid led a list of one school record, four event titles, three all-time Top 10 performances and two national qualifiers at the Alex Francis Classic, which was moved from Thursday to Wednesday because of impending severe weather forecast for Thursday.Thid won the 400-meter hurdles with a Blue Dragon-record time of 51.14 seconds. That beat his own record he set at the KT Woodman Classic by 0.36 seconds.Thid's 400-meter hurdle record marks the third Blue Dragon outdoor school record and fifth overall track and field record to be broken this season.The Blue Dragons upped their total of 2024 national qualifiers to 17 on Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/roland_ty-rique_n9sc">Ty'Rique Roland</a>&nbsp;qualified in the high jump after placing second with a PR height of 6 feet, 10 inches. That mark ties for the ninth-highest high jump in program history.Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/brown_christopher_1wqz">Christopher Brown</a>&nbsp;placed second in the shot put with a national-qualifying mark of 51 feet, 6 inches (15.70 meters). Brown tied for 12th all time in Blue Dragon history. Brown also placed second in the discus with a throw of 170 feet, 0 inches (51.82m), which is the fifth-best mark in Blue Dragon history. Brown added a fourth-place finish in the hammer throw at 161 feet, 1 inches (49.11m).The Blue Dragons added three more event victories – three individual events and one relay – on Wednesday.<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/johnson_chris_pj8c">Chris Johnson</a>, the nation's No. 1 pole vaulter, won the Alex Francis pole vault clearing 16 feet, 4 1/4 inches (5.00m).<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/seamster_ezekiel_gysy">Ezekiel Seamster</a>&nbsp;won his third 100-meter title of the outdoor season with a time of 10.34 seconds, a PR time that is the ninth-fastest mark in Blue Dragon outdoor history.Seamster rank the anchor leg of Hutchinson's winning 4x100-meter relay on Wednesday.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/warren_d-antonio_xcf2">D'Antonio Warren</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/smith_omari_gc69">Omari Smith</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mtrack/2023-24/bios/bronaugh_trenton_omnd">Trenton Bronaugh</a>&nbsp;teamed up with Seamster to win the relay with a time of 41.12 seconds.The Blue Dragons will now compete at the Region 6 Outdoor Championships next Thursday through Saturday at Pratt Community College.

👟 Thid breaks own 400 hurdle record at Alex Francis Classic

HAYS – Hutchinson Community College sophomores&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/limon_liberty_pn63">Liberty Limon</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/burke_hayleigh_qa6g">Hayleigh Burke</a>&nbsp;both punched tickets to the 2024 NJCAA Outdoor National Track and Field Championships, qualifying on Wednesday at the FHSU Alex Francis Classic at Fort Hays State University.

Limon and Burke became the 12th and 13th national qualifiers for the Blue Dragons heading into next week's Region 6 Championships in Pratt.

Limon, after several weeks of being right on the cusp of qualifying, cleared 5 feet, 4 1/4 inches (1.63) meters to finally reach the 2024 qualifying standard in a second-place showing on Wednesday. Limon's PR performance tied for 10th on the Blue Dragon all-time outdoor women's high jump chart.

Burke placed 12th in the hammer throw, but did so with a qualifying throw of 143 feet, 10 inches (43.84 meters), which is 11th all time in Blue Dragon women's track and field history.

The Blue Dragons had four event winners on Wednesday at the Alex Francis Classic, a meet moved up one day because of potential severe weather on Thursday.

Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/hawkins_brooke_1fkd">Brooke Hawkins</a>&nbsp;was a double-event winner for Hutchinson. Hawkins won the high jump at 5-4 1/4 (1.63 meters), which was Limon's highest clearance. But Hawkins won the event based on less misses than Limon. Hawkins also won the triple jump with a best jump of 39-1 (11.91m). Hawkins was seventh in the long jump at 16-6 3/4 (5.05m).

Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/kuepker_jenna_arvk">Jenna Kuepker</a>&nbsp;continued her strong season in the javelin with a winning throw of 145-5 (44.33m). Kuepker earlier this season broke the Blue Dragon outdoor javelin record.

Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/james_kaylee_rvey">Kaylee James</a>&nbsp;won her fourth 100-meter hurdle title of the 2024 outdoor season. James won the event at 14.12 seconds. James added a third-place finish in the 400 meters with a PR time of 58.07 seconds, the third-fastest outdoor 400-meter time in Blue Dragon history.

Other top Blue Dragon performances at the Alex Francis Classic:

+ Pole vaulters&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/o-hair_nakaela_53zq">Nakaela O'Hair</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/noll_alivia_6yww">Alivia Noll</a>&nbsp;finished third and fourth, respectively. Both Blue Dragons cleared 10-2.

+ Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/moreno_yaya_hio8">Yaya Moreno</a>&nbsp;placed third in the long jump with a PR mark of 17-5 1/2 (5.32m). Moreno was also sixth in the triple jump at 33-10 3/4 (10.37m).

+&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/dominique_kemisha_fekc">Kemisha Dominique</a>&nbsp;posted the ninth-best time in the 400 meters in Blue Dragon history with a fifth-place performance in the 400 meters with a time of 59.72 seconds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714051016857.jpeg" alt="Sophomore Liberty Limon finished second in the FHSU Alex Francis Classic in the women's high jump and qualified for nationals at 5 feet, 4 1/2 inches. (Photo courtesy Ryan Prickett/FHSU Media Relations)" />
 <figcaption>Sophomore Liberty Limon finished second in the FHSU Alex Francis Classic in the women's high jump and qualified for nationals at 5 feet, 4 1/2 inches. (Photo courtesy Ryan Prickett/FHSU Media Relations)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationHAYS – Hutchinson Community College sophomores&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/limon_liberty_pn63">Liberty Limon</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/burke_hayleigh_qa6g">Hayleigh Burke</a>&nbsp;both punched tickets to the 2024 NJCAA Outdoor National Track and Field Championships, qualifying on Wednesday at the FHSU Alex Francis Classic at Fort Hays State University.Limon and Burke became the 12th and 13th national qualifiers for the Blue Dragons heading into next week's Region 6 Championships in Pratt.Limon, after several weeks of being right on the cusp of qualifying, cleared 5 feet, 4 1/4 inches (1.63) meters to finally reach the 2024 qualifying standard in a second-place showing on Wednesday. Limon's PR performance tied for 10th on the Blue Dragon all-time outdoor women's high jump chart.Burke placed 12th in the hammer throw, but did so with a qualifying throw of 143 feet, 10 inches (43.84 meters), which is 11th all time in Blue Dragon women's track and field history.The Blue Dragons had four event winners on Wednesday at the Alex Francis Classic, a meet moved up one day because of potential severe weather on Thursday.Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/hawkins_brooke_1fkd">Brooke Hawkins</a>&nbsp;was a double-event winner for Hutchinson. Hawkins won the high jump at 5-4 1/4 (1.63 meters), which was Limon's highest clearance. But Hawkins won the event based on less misses than Limon. Hawkins also won the triple jump with a best jump of 39-1 (11.91m). Hawkins was seventh in the long jump at 16-6 3/4 (5.05m).Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/kuepker_jenna_arvk">Jenna Kuepker</a>&nbsp;continued her strong season in the javelin with a winning throw of 145-5 (44.33m). Kuepker earlier this season broke the Blue Dragon outdoor javelin record.Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/james_kaylee_rvey">Kaylee James</a>&nbsp;won her fourth 100-meter hurdle title of the 2024 outdoor season. James won the event at 14.12 seconds. James added a third-place finish in the 400 meters with a PR time of 58.07 seconds, the third-fastest outdoor 400-meter time in Blue Dragon history.Other top Blue Dragon performances at the Alex Francis Classic:+ Pole vaulters&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/o-hair_nakaela_53zq">Nakaela O'Hair</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/noll_alivia_6yww">Alivia Noll</a>&nbsp;finished third and fourth, respectively. Both Blue Dragons cleared 10-2.+ Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/moreno_yaya_hio8">Yaya Moreno</a>&nbsp;placed third in the long jump with a PR mark of 17-5 1/2 (5.32m). Moreno was also sixth in the triple jump at 33-10 3/4 (10.37m).+&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wtrack/2023-24/bios/dominique_kemisha_fekc">Kemisha Dominique</a>&nbsp;posted the ninth-best time in the 400 meters in Blue Dragon history with a fifth-place performance in the 400 meters with a time of 59.72 seconds.

👟 Limon, Burke become 12th, 13th Blue Dragon national qualifiers

SAN ANTONIO, Texas—Travis Adams&nbsp;surrendered just two runs across five innings while five different Wind Surge batters drove in runs across a 9-6 loss against the San Antonio Missions.

Carson McCusker&nbsp;grounded an RBI single to bring in&nbsp;Andrew Cossetti&nbsp;in the top of the second.&nbsp;Tanner Schobel&nbsp;one-upped his teammate on a two-run single past the hole to left field later in the frame to score McCusker and&nbsp;Jorel Ortega&nbsp;to compile a 3-0 lead.

The Missions got two runs back an inning later in the third on an RBI double and a sacrifice fly to right field against Adams.

Wichita designated hitter&nbsp;Jeferson Morales&nbsp;singled to center field to pile on another run in the form of Schobel.&nbsp;Kala’i Rosario&nbsp;later worked an RBI Fielder’s Choice to allow&nbsp;Emmanuel Rodriguez&nbsp;to cross home plate for a 5-2 Wind Surge advantage.

San Antonio broke out for seven consecutive runs in the following two innings, including a five run bottom of the seventh after the stretch. The spree came against a trio of Wind Surge relievers over five hits and two walks.

Jake Rucker&nbsp;put up the sixth Wind Surge run after Wichita loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on a fielder’s choice before the game ended on a McCusker strikeout. Wichita remains one of two MiLB teams who are winless on the road at 0-8 alongside the Bradenton Marauders (Single-A Pittsburgh Pirates Affiliate).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714043820515.jpeg" alt="Wind Surge give up win to the Missions." />
 <figcaption>Wind Surge give up win to the Missions.</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN ANTONIO, Texas—Travis Adams&nbsp;surrendered just two runs across five innings while five different Wind Surge batters drove in runs across a 9-6 loss against the San Antonio Missions.Carson McCusker&nbsp;grounded an RBI single to bring in&nbsp;Andrew Cossetti&nbsp;in the top of the second.&nbsp;Tanner Schobel&nbsp;one-upped his teammate on a two-run single past the hole to left field later in the frame to score McCusker and&nbsp;Jorel Ortega&nbsp;to compile a 3-0 lead.The Missions got two runs back an inning later in the third on an RBI double and a sacrifice fly to right field against Adams.Wichita designated hitter&nbsp;Jeferson Morales&nbsp;singled to center field to pile on another run in the form of Schobel.&nbsp;Kala’i Rosario&nbsp;later worked an RBI Fielder’s Choice to allow&nbsp;Emmanuel Rodriguez&nbsp;to cross home plate for a 5-2 Wind Surge advantage.San Antonio broke out for seven consecutive runs in the following two innings, including a five run bottom of the seventh after the stretch. The spree came against a trio of Wind Surge relievers over five hits and two walks.Jake Rucker&nbsp;put up the sixth Wind Surge run after Wichita loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on a fielder’s choice before the game ended on a McCusker strikeout. Wichita remains one of two MiLB teams who are winless on the road at 0-8 alongside the Bradenton Marauders (Single-A Pittsburgh Pirates Affiliate).

⚾ Wind Surge continue search for first road win after 7-run Missions comeback

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alec Marsh and four relievers combined for a six-hitter as the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 Wednesday night. Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez each had two hits and an RBI for Kansas City, which bounced back from a loss in the series opener on Monday to win two straight. John Schreiber (2-0) picked up the win in relief. James McArthur earned his sixth save. Yariel Rodríguez (0-1) gave up three runs on six hits in four innings. He struck out two and walked two. George Springer homered for Toronto.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lars Nootbaar drove in two runs and Kyle Gibson pitched six effective innings, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of three-game series. Gibson allowed one run and five hits. Gibson struck out six and walked two. Former Cardinal Jordan Montgomery went seven innings in his second start for Arizona since signing a one-year, $25 million deal as this season began. He allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits and struck out four and walked one. The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. With one out, Brendan Donovan singled and Willson Contreras doubled. Nolan Arenado’s single scored Donovan. Contreras scored on a wild pitch before Montgomery retired the next two hitters.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh was hit on his throwing arm by a line drive, forcing him to leave in the fifth inning against Toronto on Wednesday night. After Marsh (3-0) pitched four scoreless innings, Addison Barger hit a 91-mph fastball back up the middle leading off the fifth. After being struck, Marsh picked up the ball and threw to first to retire Barger. The Royals said Marsh had a forearm contusion. Angel Zerpa took over for Marsh on the mound.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Shohei Ohtani had three doubles to improve his major league-leading batting average to .371, rookie Landon Knack got his first victory and the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Washington Nationals 11-2 on Wednesday night. The Dodgers had a season-high 20 hits en route to their third straight victory, with Mookie Betts and Will Smith each having four hits and Andy Pages homering. Nick Senzel homered for Washington. The Nationals didn’t have a baserunner after the second inning. Ohtani went 3 for 6, hitting RBI doubles in the eighth and ninth innings. He leads the majors in slugging percentage, OPS, extra-base hits and doubles.

BOSTON (AP) — Tyler Herro hit six of Miami’s franchise playoff-record 23 3-pointers to lead the Heat to a 111-101 victory over the Boston Celtics and tie their first-round playoff series at one game apiece. Herro had 24 points and 14 assists to lead Miami. Bam Adebayo had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and new Celtics nemesis Caleb Martin also had 21 for the Heat. Miami shot 53.5% from beyond the arc to bounce back after a Game 1 blowout. Jaylen Brown scored 33 points for top-seeded Boston. Jayson Tatum scored 28. The series moves to Miami for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Chet Holmgren had 26 points and seven rebounds and Jalen Williams added 21 points for the top-seeded Thunder. Oklahoma City shot 59% from the field and made 14 of 29 3-pointers. Jonas Valanciunas scored 19 points and Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram added 18 each for the Pelicans. New Orleans continued to struggle on offense without top scorer Zion Williamson. He remained out with a strained left hamstring.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Reggie Bush has been reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner more than a decade after Southern California returned the award. Bush gave up the trophy in 2010 following an NCAA investigation that found he received what were impermissible benefits during his time with the Trojans. Heisman Trust President Michael Comerford said the trust considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years that now make some forms of athlete compensation permissible. Bush amassed more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns in 2005. He received the fifth most first-place votes in Heisman history.

DETROIT (AP) — Jayden Daniels handled the media with the same poise and command he displays in the pocket. Asked a few times about speculation that he doesn’t want to play for Washington and whether he prefers going to another team, Daniels understandably took a diplomatic approach one day before the NFL draft. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner from LSU is expected to be one of the top three players selected Thursday night. After USC quarterback Caleb Williams goes to Chicago first overall, Daniels is the odds-on favorite to be the No. 2 pick, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Thursday, April 25th, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Thursday, April 25th, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports in a Minute Report:<div><iframe title="April 25th, 2024 AP Sports in a Minute" 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=6i2mp-15f638f-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alec Marsh and four relievers combined for a six-hitter as the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 Wednesday night. Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez each had two hits and an RBI for Kansas City, which bounced back from a loss in the series opener on Monday to win two straight. John Schreiber (2-0) picked up the win in relief. James McArthur earned his sixth save. Yariel Rodríguez (0-1) gave up three runs on six hits in four innings. He struck out two and walked two. George Springer homered for Toronto.ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lars Nootbaar drove in two runs and Kyle Gibson pitched six effective innings, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of three-game series. Gibson allowed one run and five hits. Gibson struck out six and walked two. Former Cardinal Jordan Montgomery went seven innings in his second start for Arizona since signing a one-year, $25 million deal as this season began. He allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits and struck out four and walked one. The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. With one out, Brendan Donovan singled and Willson Contreras doubled. Nolan Arenado’s single scored Donovan. Contreras scored on a wild pitch before Montgomery retired the next two hitters.KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Royals right-hander Alec Marsh was hit on his throwing arm by a line drive, forcing him to leave in the fifth inning against Toronto on Wednesday night. After Marsh (3-0) pitched four scoreless innings, Addison Barger hit a 91-mph fastball back up the middle leading off the fifth. After being struck, Marsh picked up the ball and threw to first to retire Barger. The Royals said Marsh had a forearm contusion. Angel Zerpa took over for Marsh on the mound.WASHINGTON (AP) — Shohei Ohtani had three doubles to improve his major league-leading batting average to .371, rookie Landon Knack got his first victory and the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Washington Nationals 11-2 on Wednesday night. The Dodgers had a season-high 20 hits en route to their third straight victory, with Mookie Betts and Will Smith each having four hits and Andy Pages homering. Nick Senzel homered for Washington. The Nationals didn’t have a baserunner after the second inning. Ohtani went 3 for 6, hitting RBI doubles in the eighth and ninth innings. He leads the majors in slugging percentage, OPS, extra-base hits and doubles.BOSTON (AP) — Tyler Herro hit six of Miami’s franchise playoff-record 23 3-pointers to lead the Heat to a 111-101 victory over the Boston Celtics and tie their first-round playoff series at one game apiece. Herro had 24 points and 14 assists to lead Miami. Bam Adebayo had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and new Celtics nemesis Caleb Martin also had 21 for the Heat. Miami shot 53.5% from beyond the arc to bounce back after a Game 1 blowout. Jaylen Brown scored 33 points for top-seeded Boston. Jayson Tatum scored 28. The series moves to Miami for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday.OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Chet Holmgren had 26 points and seven rebounds and Jalen Williams added 21 points for the top-seeded Thunder. Oklahoma City shot 59% from the field and made 14 of 29 3-pointers. Jonas Valanciunas scored 19 points and Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram added 18 each for the Pelicans. New Orleans continued to struggle on offense without top scorer Zion Williamson. He remained out with a strained left hamstring.LOS ANGELES (AP) — Reggie Bush has been reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner more than a decade after Southern California returned the award. Bush gave up the trophy in 2010 following an NCAA investigation that found he received what were impermissible benefits during his time with the Trojans. Heisman Trust President Michael Comerford said the trust considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years that now make some forms of athlete compensation permissible. Bush amassed more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns in 2005. He received the fifth most first-place votes in Heisman history.DETROIT (AP) — Jayden Daniels handled the media with the same poise and command he displays in the pocket. Asked a few times about speculation that he doesn’t want to play for Washington and whether he prefers going to another team, Daniels understandably took a diplomatic approach one day before the NFL draft. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner from LSU is expected to be one of the top three players selected Thursday night. After USC quarterback Caleb Williams goes to Chicago first overall, Daniels is the odds-on favorite to be the No. 2 pick, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.WEDNESDAY SCORESMAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLINTERLEAGUEFinal Chicago Cubs 4 Houston 3AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal Baltimore 6 L.A. Angels 5Final Boston 8 Cleveland 0Final Tampa Bay 7 Detroit 5Final N.Y. Yankees 7 Oakland 3Final Minnesota 6 Chicago White Sox 3Final Kansas City 3 Toronto 2Final Texas 5 Seattle 1NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal St. Louis 5 Arizona 1Final N.Y. Mets 8 San Francisco 2Final Milwaukee 3 Pittsburgh 2Final L.A. Dodgers 11 Washington 2Final Cincinnati 7 Philadelphia 4Final Atlanta 4 Miami 3Final San Diego 5 Colorado 2NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFSFinal Miami 111 Boston 101Final Oklahoma City 124 New Orleans 92NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFSFinal Boston 4 Toronto 2Final Vegas 3 Dallas 1