&nbsp;BALTIMORE (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32046/james-mccann">James McCann</a>&nbsp;hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning and the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-orioles">Baltimore Orioles</a>&nbsp;emerged from a five-hour rain delay to beat the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/kc/kansas-city-royals">Kansas City Royals</a>&nbsp;4-3 on Wednesday night.

Baltimore trailed 3-0 before scoring twice in the eighth against the Kansas City bullpen, which wasted a masterful performance by starter&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/41054/cole-ragans">Cole Ragans</a>.

It was 3-2 in the ninth when Royals closer&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31549/will-smith">Will Smith</a>&nbsp;(0-2) walked&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/34940/ryan-mountcastle">Ryan Mountcastle</a>&nbsp;and gave up a single to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/36084/anthony-santander">Anthony Santander</a>. After a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk to load the bases and a strikeout,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Orioles/status/1775693175442567540">McCann lined a single into left</a>&nbsp;to end it.

The deciding matchup in the three-game series was supposed to start at 1:05 p.m., but didn’t get under way until early evening. The Royals weren’t scheduled to return to Baltimore after the game, so waiting out a persistent rainstorm meant the teams wouldn’t have to play a makeup months down the road.

“It was described to us early why we were going to wait it out. The off days weren't great for either team,” McCann said. “This is a good clubhouse. We had a lot of fun during the delay. Some guys were playing pool, some guys watching a movie, some watching other games.”

The fans who endured the long wait were rewarded by being allowed to choose any open seat in addition to receiving a voucher for a future weekday game.

Ragans retired 18 of the first 19 batters, the lone exception a fourth-inning double by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/42178/adley-rutschman">Adley Rutschman</a>. The right-hander was pulled in the seventh after walking two and striking out Santander.

Ragan worked 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts.

<a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1775673254079770755"></a><a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/4905884/maikel-garcia">Maikel Garcia</a>&nbsp;homered and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31127/salvador-perez">Salvador Perez</a>&nbsp;had three hits and two RBI for the Royals, who lost both games in the series on Baltimore's final at-bat.

Orioles starter&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/39878/corbin-burnes">Corbin Burnes</a>&nbsp;gave up two runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. Although the right-hander kept the game close, his performance was a notch below his Orioles debut on opening day, when he limited the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/laa/los-angeles-angels">Los Angeles Angels</a>&nbsp;to one hit over six innings while striking out 11.

“It was a definitely a battle,” Burnes said. “Almost got through six innings with all we had to deal with, so I was definitely proud of that.”

Perez hit RBI singles in the first and third innings, and Garcia went deep against&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/40543/mike-baumann">Mike Baumann</a>&nbsp;in the seventh.

In the Baltimore eighth,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/42507/gunnar-henderson">Gunnar Henderson</a>&nbsp;hit a sacrifice fly and Rutschman singled in a run but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double.

<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/35536/yennier-cano">Yennier Cano</a>&nbsp;(1-0) got the win with a scoreless ninth.

“Our pitching won us that game,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “And James McCann, too.”

Royals:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/34873/seth-lugo">Seth Lugo</a>&nbsp;(0-0, 0.00 ERA) faces the visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/chw/chicago-white-sox">Chicago White Sox</a>&nbsp;on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Orioles: After a day off Thursday, the Orioles hit the road for the first time this season, sending&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/41196/grayson-rodriguez">Grayson Rodriguez</a>&nbsp;(1-0, 1.50) to the mound against the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-pirates">Pittsburgh Pirates</a>&nbsp;on Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708710110872.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;BALTIMORE (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32046/james-mccann">James McCann</a>&nbsp;hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning and the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/bal/baltimore-orioles">Baltimore Orioles</a>&nbsp;emerged from a five-hour rain delay to beat the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/kc/kansas-city-royals">Kansas City Royals</a>&nbsp;4-3 on Wednesday night.Baltimore trailed 3-0 before scoring twice in the eighth against the Kansas City bullpen, which wasted a masterful performance by starter&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/41054/cole-ragans">Cole Ragans</a>.It was 3-2 in the ninth when Royals closer&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31549/will-smith">Will Smith</a>&nbsp;(0-2) walked&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/34940/ryan-mountcastle">Ryan Mountcastle</a>&nbsp;and gave up a single to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/36084/anthony-santander">Anthony Santander</a>. After a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk to load the bases and a strikeout,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Orioles/status/1775693175442567540">McCann lined a single into left</a>&nbsp;to end it.The deciding matchup in the three-game series was supposed to start at 1:05 p.m., but didn’t get under way until early evening. The Royals weren’t scheduled to return to Baltimore after the game, so waiting out a persistent rainstorm meant the teams wouldn’t have to play a makeup months down the road.“It was described to us early why we were going to wait it out. The off days weren't great for either team,” McCann said. “This is a good clubhouse. We had a lot of fun during the delay. Some guys were playing pool, some guys watching a movie, some watching other games.”The fans who endured the long wait were rewarded by being allowed to choose any open seat in addition to receiving a voucher for a future weekday game.Ragans retired 18 of the first 19 batters, the lone exception a fourth-inning double by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/42178/adley-rutschman">Adley Rutschman</a>. The right-hander was pulled in the seventh after walking two and striking out Santander.Ragan worked 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts.<a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1775673254079770755"></a><a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/4905884/maikel-garcia">Maikel Garcia</a>&nbsp;homered and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31127/salvador-perez">Salvador Perez</a>&nbsp;had three hits and two RBI for the Royals, who lost both games in the series on Baltimore's final at-bat.Orioles starter&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/39878/corbin-burnes">Corbin Burnes</a>&nbsp;gave up two runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. Although the right-hander kept the game close, his performance was a notch below his Orioles debut on opening day, when he limited the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/laa/los-angeles-angels">Los Angeles Angels</a>&nbsp;to one hit over six innings while striking out 11.“It was a definitely a battle,” Burnes said. “Almost got through six innings with all we had to deal with, so I was definitely proud of that.”Perez hit RBI singles in the first and third innings, and Garcia went deep against&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/40543/mike-baumann">Mike Baumann</a>&nbsp;in the seventh.In the Baltimore eighth,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/42507/gunnar-henderson">Gunnar Henderson</a>&nbsp;hit a sacrifice fly and Rutschman singled in a run but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double.<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/35536/yennier-cano">Yennier Cano</a>&nbsp;(1-0) got the win with a scoreless ninth.“Our pitching won us that game,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “And James McCann, too.”UP NEXTRoyals:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/34873/seth-lugo">Seth Lugo</a>&nbsp;(0-0, 0.00 ERA) faces the visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/chw/chicago-white-sox">Chicago White Sox</a>&nbsp;on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series.Orioles: After a day off Thursday, the Orioles hit the road for the first time this season, sending&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/41196/grayson-rodriguez">Grayson Rodriguez</a>&nbsp;(1-0, 1.50) to the mound against the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-pirates">Pittsburgh Pirates</a>&nbsp;on Friday.

⚾ Royals lose in walk off Wednesday

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tylor-perry/11222">Tylor Perry</a>&nbsp;was among 21 players chosen to participate in the 2024 NABC-Reese's Division I College All-Star Game, which will be played on Friday (April 5) at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz., as part of Final Four festivities.

Friday's game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network at 5:30 p.m., CT with Jordan Kent, Steve Lappas, Chris Walker and AJ Ross on the call. Admission to the game as well as all of Reese's Final Four Friday is free to the public.

Perry will play on the West team, which will be coached by San Diego head coach&nbsp;Steve Lavin. Perry is the first Wildcat to play in the All-Star Game since&nbsp;Mark Smith&nbsp;in 2022.

Perry will be joined on the West team by a few familiar faces in 2023-24 opponents – West Virginia's&nbsp;Jesse Edwards&nbsp;and Nebraska's&nbsp;Keisei Tominaga. Other teammates include Utah's&nbsp;Branden Carlson,&nbsp;Missouri's Sean East II, Akron's&nbsp;Enrique Freeman, New Mexico's&nbsp;Jalen House&nbsp;and Washington State's&nbsp;Isaac Jones.

The East team, which will be led by Oakland head coach&nbsp;Greg Kampe, includes NCAA Tournament sensation&nbsp;Jack Gohlke, Providence's&nbsp;Josh Oduro, UNC Asheville's&nbsp;Drew Pember&nbsp;and Maryland's&nbsp;Jahmir Young.

A 5-foot-11, 180-pound guard from Fort Coffee, Okla., Perry earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors in his one season at K-State, where he averaged a team-best 15.3 points on 93 made 3-pointers to go with 4.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals in starting all 34 games this past season. He scored in double figures in 24 games, including a team-best 11 20-point games.

Perry put together one of the most impressive single-season scoring seasons in school history in 2023-24, as his 94 made 3-point field goals and 90.9 free throw percentage were the fourth-most by a Wildcat. It was the most 3-point makes since&nbsp;Nijel Pack&nbsp;had 95 in 2021-22, while his free throw percentage was the highest since&nbsp;Steve Henson&nbsp;shot 92 percent from the line in 1988-89.

Perry finished his college career with nearly 2,500 points, including 1,562 at the Division I level (North Texas). 

He led teams to 128 victories in his career, including 4 20-win seasons, one NJCAA national championship (Coffeyville Community College), one NIT title (North Texas) and two conference championships.

In addition to his Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors, he was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on March 4. In his career, he was the 2023 NIT Most Outstanding Player and the 2023 Conference USA Player of the Year as well as the 2022 C-USA Sixth Man of the Year and a two-time All-CUSA First Team selection. He was also a member of the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team.

K-State finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 record, including a tie for ninth in the Big 12 with an 8-10 mark, and advanced to the NIT. Among the Wildcats' 19 victories were 4 over Top 25 teams, including 3 in the Top 10. The team has won 45 games in head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2353">Jerome Tang</a>'s&nbsp;tenure, including consecutive postseason appearances.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712154421332.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy Kansas State Athletics&nbsp;MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/tylor-perry/11222">Tylor Perry</a>&nbsp;was among 21 players chosen to participate in the 2024 NABC-Reese's Division I College All-Star Game, which will be played on Friday (April 5) at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, Ariz., as part of Final Four festivities.Friday's game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network at 5:30 p.m., CT with Jordan Kent, Steve Lappas, Chris Walker and AJ Ross on the call. Admission to the game as well as all of Reese's Final Four Friday is free to the public.Perry will play on the West team, which will be coached by San Diego head coach&nbsp;Steve Lavin. Perry is the first Wildcat to play in the All-Star Game since&nbsp;Mark Smith&nbsp;in 2022.Perry will be joined on the West team by a few familiar faces in 2023-24 opponents – West Virginia's&nbsp;Jesse Edwards&nbsp;and Nebraska's&nbsp;Keisei Tominaga. Other teammates include Utah's&nbsp;Branden Carlson,&nbsp;Missouri's Sean East II, Akron's&nbsp;Enrique Freeman, New Mexico's&nbsp;Jalen House&nbsp;and Washington State's&nbsp;Isaac Jones.The East team, which will be led by Oakland head coach&nbsp;Greg Kampe, includes NCAA Tournament sensation&nbsp;Jack Gohlke, Providence's&nbsp;Josh Oduro, UNC Asheville's&nbsp;Drew Pember&nbsp;and Maryland's&nbsp;Jahmir Young.A 5-foot-11, 180-pound guard from Fort Coffee, Okla., Perry earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors in his one season at K-State, where he averaged a team-best 15.3 points on 93 made 3-pointers to go with 4.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals in starting all 34 games this past season. He scored in double figures in 24 games, including a team-best 11 20-point games.Perry put together one of the most impressive single-season scoring seasons in school history in 2023-24, as his 94 made 3-point field goals and 90.9 free throw percentage were the fourth-most by a Wildcat. It was the most 3-point makes since&nbsp;Nijel Pack&nbsp;had 95 in 2021-22, while his free throw percentage was the highest since&nbsp;Steve Henson&nbsp;shot 92 percent from the line in 1988-89.Perry finished his college career with nearly 2,500 points, including 1,562 at the Division I level (North Texas). He led teams to 128 victories in his career, including 4 20-win seasons, one NJCAA national championship (Coffeyville Community College), one NIT title (North Texas) and two conference championships.In addition to his Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors, he was named the Big 12 Player of the Week on March 4. In his career, he was the 2023 NIT Most Outstanding Player and the 2023 Conference USA Player of the Year as well as the 2022 C-USA Sixth Man of the Year and a two-time All-CUSA First Team selection. He was also a member of the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team.K-State finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 record, including a tie for ninth in the Big 12 with an 8-10 mark, and advanced to the NIT. Among the Wildcats' 19 victories were 4 over Top 25 teams, including 3 in the Top 10. The team has won 45 games in head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2353">Jerome Tang</a>'s&nbsp;tenure, including consecutive postseason appearances.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 MBB: Perry to play in NABC-Reese's College All-Star Game

Caitlin Clark can claim another record — the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-iowa-lsu-score-clark-6ed84515c128f0d413bc3c28ea79140d">Iowa’s 94-87 victory over LSU</a>&nbsp;in the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday night averaged 12.3 million viewers on ESPN, according to Nielsen. That makes it one of the most-viewed games in any sport other than NFL football over the past year.

Iowa-LSU outdrew all but one of the five games in last year’s NBA Finals, along with the clinching game of last year’s World Series (11.48 million).

Clark scored 41 points as the Hawkeyes avenged last year’s loss to the Tigers in the national championship game.

The viewership surpassed the 11.84 million who watched the 1983 NCAA championship game between Southern California and Louisiana Tech. LSU coach Kim Mulkey played for Louisiana Tech and was matched up against USC great Cheryl Miller in that game, which the Trojans won 64-58.

It was also the most-watched men’s or women’s college basketball game ever on ESPN, more than doubling the prior largest audience.

According to ESPN, the 2002 women’s national championship game between UConn and Oklahoma had the old mark at 5.68 million. ESPN’s most-watched men’s game was the 2008 regular-season matchup between Duke and North Carolina, which drew 5.61 million.

Only one men’s NCAA Tournament game this year had bigger viewership: North Carolina State’s win over Duke on Sunday in the men’s Elite Eight on CBS averaged 15.1 million.

According to Sports Media Watch, it was the most-viewed basketball game on ESPN since Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference finals, when the Cleveland Cavaliers’ victory over the Boston Celtics averaged 13.6 million.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-uconn-usc-score-56ce9ece7c278ce85af2e8042f4b1fe1">UConn’s 80-73 win over Southern California</a>, which was on after the Iowa game, was the second-most watched college game in ESPN history at 6.7 million. ABC had both regional finals on Sunday, with South Carolina averaging 3.1 million in its win over Oregon State and North Carolina State drawing 2.5 million against Texas.

Clark’s four&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">March Madness</a>&nbsp;games on ESPN and ABC have averaged 6.83 million. Iowa will face UConn in Friday’s second national semifinal on ESPN. The winner will face either South Carolina or North Carolina State on ABC on Sunday.

The Hawkeyes’ 89-68 win over Colorado in Saturday’s regional semifinal averaged 6.9 million viewers on ABC.

Iowa’s last five televised games have surpassed 3 million viewers, including the last three that have drawn at least 4.9 million.

The 60 women’s tournament games are averaging 1.5 million, a 127% increase over last year.

LSU’s victory over UCLA on Saturday, which preceded the Iowa game, averaged 3.8 million, the second most-watched Sweet 16 game on record.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712154265433.png" alt="Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) celebrates after defeating LSU in an Elite Eight round college basketball game during the NCAA Tournament, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)" />
 <figcaption>Iowa guard Caitlin Clark (22) celebrates after defeating LSU in an Elite Eight round college basketball game during the NCAA Tournament, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)</figcaption>
 </figure>Caitlin Clark can claim another record — the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-iowa-lsu-score-clark-6ed84515c128f0d413bc3c28ea79140d">Iowa’s 94-87 victory over LSU</a>&nbsp;in the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday night averaged 12.3 million viewers on ESPN, according to Nielsen. That makes it one of the most-viewed games in any sport other than NFL football over the past year.Iowa-LSU outdrew all but one of the five games in last year’s NBA Finals, along with the clinching game of last year’s World Series (11.48 million).Clark scored 41 points as the Hawkeyes avenged last year’s loss to the Tigers in the national championship game.The viewership surpassed the 11.84 million who watched the 1983 NCAA championship game between Southern California and Louisiana Tech. LSU coach Kim Mulkey played for Louisiana Tech and was matched up against USC great Cheryl Miller in that game, which the Trojans won 64-58.It was also the most-watched men’s or women’s college basketball game ever on ESPN, more than doubling the prior largest audience.According to ESPN, the 2002 women’s national championship game between UConn and Oklahoma had the old mark at 5.68 million. ESPN’s most-watched men’s game was the 2008 regular-season matchup between Duke and North Carolina, which drew 5.61 million.Only one men’s NCAA Tournament game this year had bigger viewership: North Carolina State’s win over Duke on Sunday in the men’s Elite Eight on CBS averaged 15.1 million.According to Sports Media Watch, it was the most-viewed basketball game on ESPN since Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference finals, when the Cleveland Cavaliers’ victory over the Boston Celtics averaged 13.6 million.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-uconn-usc-score-56ce9ece7c278ce85af2e8042f4b1fe1">UConn’s 80-73 win over Southern California</a>, which was on after the Iowa game, was the second-most watched college game in ESPN history at 6.7 million. ABC had both regional finals on Sunday, with South Carolina averaging 3.1 million in its win over Oregon State and North Carolina State drawing 2.5 million against Texas.Clark’s four&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">March Madness</a>&nbsp;games on ESPN and ABC have averaged 6.83 million. Iowa will face UConn in Friday’s second national semifinal on ESPN. The winner will face either South Carolina or North Carolina State on ABC on Sunday.The Hawkeyes’ 89-68 win over Colorado in Saturday’s regional semifinal averaged 6.9 million viewers on ABC.Iowa’s last five televised games have surpassed 3 million viewers, including the last three that have drawn at least 4.9 million.The 60 women’s tournament games are averaging 1.5 million, a 127% increase over last year.LSU’s victory over UCLA on Saturday, which preceded the Iowa game, averaged 3.8 million, the second most-watched Sweet 16 game on record.

🏀 WBB: 12.3 million: Iowa’s victory over LSU is the most-watched women’s college basketball game on record

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The future of the Royals and Chiefs in Kansas City was thrown into question Tuesday night when residents of Jackson County, Missouri, resoundingly voted down a sales tax measure that would have helped to fund a new downtown ballpark along with major renovations to Arrowhead Stadium.

Royals owner John Sherman and Chiefs president Mark Donovan acknowledged long before the final tally that the initiative would fail.

 More than 58% of voters ultimately rejected the plan, which would have replaced an existing three-eighths of a cent sales tax that has been paying for the upkeep of Truman Sports Complex — the home for more than 50 years to Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums — with a similar tax that would have been in place for the next 40 years.

The Royals, who had pledged at least $1 billion from ownership for their project, wanted to use their share of the tax revenue to help fund a $2 billion-plus ballpark district. The Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who had committed $300 million in private money, would have used their share as part of an $800 million overhaul of Arrowhead Stadium.

“We’re deeply disappointed as we are steadfast in our belief that Jackson County is better with the Chiefs and the Royals,” said Sherman, who left without taking questions. “As someone whose roots run deep in this town, who has been a dedicated fan and season-ticket holder for both of these teams, and now leading a remarkable ownership group.”

Donovan said the Chiefs would do “what is in the best interest of our fans and our organization as we move forward.”

That could mean many things: The Chiefs could try again with a reworked plan more agreeable to voters, change their entire funding approach to include more private investment, or they could even listen to offers from competing cities and states — such as Kansas, just across the state line to the west — that would provide the public funding they desire.

“We’ve been talking a lot about the democratic process. We respect the process,” Donovan said. “We feel we put forth the best offer for Jackson County. We’re ready to extend the longstanding partnership the teams have enjoyed with this county.”

The current lease lease at Truman Sports Complex lasts through Jan. 31, 2031. And while Sherman has said the Royals would not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season, the Chiefs are hopeful of remaining at Arrowhead Stadium.

The tax — or, more accurately, the stadium plans — received significant public pushback almost from the start, when the teams struggled to put concrete plans before voters and were accused of lacking transparency throughout the process.

Last fall, the Royals unveiled two potential locations for their ballpark district, one on the eastern edge of downtown and the other across the Missouri River in Clay County, Missouri.

But, a self-imposed deadline to finalize their location lapsed without a plan, and in February, they finally announced they had scrapped both concepts and chosen a different downtown spot.

The new area, known as the Crossroads, has a vibrant arts and restaurant scene, and it is just blocks away from the T-Mobile Center and the bustling Power &amp; Light entertainment district. It also is close to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the 18th &amp; Vine district, which is home to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

But even then, plans remained vague. The latest ballpark renderings were made obsolete just last week when the Royals acquiesced to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’ request that a major street that would have been part of the stadium footprint remain open; Lucas did not endorse the tax initiative until the Royals agreed to the change.

“I think everyone has the same mixed feelings,” said Deidre Chasteen, a voter from Independence, Missouri, who remembers attending games downtown at old Municipal Stadium when the Royals played there from 1969-72.

“It’s not that we mind paying the three-eighths-cent sales tax. I think the problem is putting the stadium where it is,” Chasteen said. “We’re saying don’t ruin businesses that have been established down there for years.”

The club also had not reached sales agreements with many landowners in the Crossroads, and other businesses had expressed concerns about traffic, congestion and parking in an already thriving residential neighborhood.

Sarah Tourville, the Royals’ executive vice president, said the goal was to move into the stadium for opening day in 2028.

The Royals moved from Municipal Stadium to Kauffman Stadium in 1973 and extensively renovated the ballpark from 2009-12. Arrowhead Stadium was built alongside Kauffman Stadium and also was renovated around the same time.

While the Royals insist on playing in a new ballpark, the Chiefs wanted to stay put with a renovation that would have touched every aspect of their 52-year-old building, from the seating bowl to luxury amenities to the tailgating scene.

“We would not be willing to sign a lease for another 25 years without the financing to properly renovate and reimagine the stadium,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, whose father, Lamar Hunt, helped get the existing stadiums built, said before Tuesday’s vote. “The financing puzzle is very important to us to make sure we have enough funds to do everything we’ve outlined.”

The Chiefs had hoped their success, including three Super Bowl titles in the last five years, would sway voters in their favor.

“What my dad loved best about the stadium was the connection the team had with our fanbase,” Hunt said. “He loved this building for what it means to the fans, and we still believe it is one of the best stadiums in the National Football League and a bucket-list destination for fans across the NFL.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712112749211.jpeg" alt="An Air Force B2 bomber flies over Kauffman Stadium before a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)." />
 <figcaption>An Air Force B2 bomber flies over Kauffman Stadium before a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel).</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The future of the Royals and Chiefs in Kansas City was thrown into question Tuesday night when residents of Jackson County, Missouri, resoundingly voted down a sales tax measure that would have helped to fund a new downtown ballpark along with major renovations to Arrowhead Stadium.Royals owner John Sherman and Chiefs president Mark Donovan acknowledged long before the final tally that the initiative would fail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712104528404.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure> More than 58% of voters ultimately rejected the plan, which would have replaced an existing three-eighths of a cent sales tax that has been paying for the upkeep of Truman Sports Complex — the home for more than 50 years to Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums — with a similar tax that would have been in place for the next 40 years.The Royals, who had pledged at least $1 billion from ownership for their project, wanted to use their share of the tax revenue to help fund a $2 billion-plus ballpark district. The Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who had committed $300 million in private money, would have used their share as part of an $800 million overhaul of Arrowhead Stadium.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A statement from John Sherman regarding today&#39;s Jackson County election: <a href="https://t.co/t85qx0Cwfh">pic.twitter.com/t85qx0Cwfh</a>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1775347697345610113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We’re deeply disappointed as we are steadfast in our belief that Jackson County is better with the Chiefs and the Royals,” said Sherman, who left without taking questions. “As someone whose roots run deep in this town, who has been a dedicated fan and season-ticket holder for both of these teams, and now leading a remarkable ownership group.”Donovan said the Chiefs would do “what is in the best interest of our fans and our organization as we move forward.”That could mean many things: The Chiefs could try again with a reworked plan more agreeable to voters, change their entire funding approach to include more private investment, or they could even listen to offers from competing cities and states — such as Kansas, just across the state line to the west — that would provide the public funding they desire.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/JacksonCountyMO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JacksonCountyMO</a>⁩ voters have spoken. I’ll say more on the election results and what happens next soon. Stay tuned! <a href="https://t.co/emqsBfJqYq">pic.twitter.com/emqsBfJqYq</a>&mdash; Frank White (@JCEFrankWhite) <a href="https://twitter.com/JCEFrankWhite/status/1775364416424280068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“We’ve been talking a lot about the democratic process. We respect the process,” Donovan said. “We feel we put forth the best offer for Jackson County. We’re ready to extend the longstanding partnership the teams have enjoyed with this county.”The current lease lease at Truman Sports Complex lasts through Jan. 31, 2031. And while Sherman has said the Royals would not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season, the Chiefs are hopeful of remaining at Arrowhead Stadium.The tax — or, more accurately, the stadium plans — received significant public pushback almost from the start, when the teams struggled to put concrete plans before voters and were accused of lacking transparency throughout the process.Last fall, the Royals unveiled two potential locations for their ballpark district, one on the eastern edge of downtown and the other across the Missouri River in Clay County, Missouri.But, a self-imposed deadline to finalize their location lapsed without a plan, and in February, they finally announced they had scrapped both concepts and chosen a different downtown spot.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/ijleg960iH">pic.twitter.com/ijleg960iH</a>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1775340879663825097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The new area, known as the Crossroads, has a vibrant arts and restaurant scene, and it is just blocks away from the T-Mobile Center and the bustling Power &amp; Light entertainment district. It also is close to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the 18th &amp; Vine district, which is home to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.But even then, plans remained vague. The latest ballpark renderings were made obsolete just last week when the Royals acquiesced to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’ request that a major street that would have been part of the stadium footprint remain open; Lucas did not endorse the tax initiative until the Royals agreed to the change.“I think everyone has the same mixed feelings,” said Deidre Chasteen, a voter from Independence, Missouri, who remembers attending games downtown at old Municipal Stadium when the Royals played there from 1969-72.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712112786193.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals owner John Sherman, left, address the media while Kansas City Chiefs president Mark Donovan looks on during a news conference about a plan to extend a sales tax to provide funding to build a new stadium for the Royals and stadium improvement for the Chiefs Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Jackson County, Mo. residents will vote on the question Tuesday, April 2. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)." />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals owner John Sherman, left, address the media while Kansas City Chiefs president Mark Donovan looks on during a news conference about a plan to extend a sales tax to provide funding to build a new stadium for the Royals and stadium improvement for the Chiefs Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Jackson County, Mo. residents will vote on the question Tuesday, April 2. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel).</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s not that we mind paying the three-eighths-cent sales tax. I think the problem is putting the stadium where it is,” Chasteen said. “We’re saying don’t ruin businesses that have been established down there for years.”The club also had not reached sales agreements with many landowners in the Crossroads, and other businesses had expressed concerns about traffic, congestion and parking in an already thriving residential neighborhood.Sarah Tourville, the Royals’ executive vice president, said the goal was to move into the stadium for opening day in 2028.The Royals moved from Municipal Stadium to Kauffman Stadium in 1973 and extensively renovated the ballpark from 2009-12. Arrowhead Stadium was built alongside Kauffman Stadium and also was renovated around the same time.While the Royals insist on playing in a new ballpark, the Chiefs wanted to stay put with a renovation that would have touched every aspect of their 52-year-old building, from the seating bowl to luxury amenities to the tailgating scene.“We would not be willing to sign a lease for another 25 years without the financing to properly renovate and reimagine the stadium,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt, whose father, Lamar Hunt, helped get the existing stadiums built, said before Tuesday’s vote. “The financing puzzle is very important to us to make sure we have enough funds to do everything we’ve outlined.”The Chiefs had hoped their success, including three Super Bowl titles in the last five years, would sway voters in their favor.“What my dad loved best about the stadium was the connection the team had with our fanbase,” Hunt said. “He loved this building for what it means to the fans, and we still believe it is one of the best stadiums in the National Football League and a bucket-list destination for fans across the NFL.”

Voters reject stadium tax for Royals and Chiefs, leaving future in KC in question

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for April 3rd, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for April 3rd, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="April 3rd, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=b9a3b-15cec62-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>

🎧 LISTEN: ⚾ Royals win in Baltimore ⚾ Sales tax rejected in KC ⚾ OU rolls past WSU 🏀 WBB: NJCAA Champs return home 🏀 KU gets transfer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The future of the Royals and Chiefs in Kansas City was thrown into question when residents of Jackson County, Missouri, voted against a sales tax to help to pay for a new downtown ballpark and renovations to Arrowhead Stadium. Royals owner John Sherman and Chiefs president Mark Donovan acknowledged about two hours after polls closed Tuesday night that the ballot measure would fail. They were hoping to replace an existing three-eighths of a cent sales tax that has been paying for upkeep of current stadiums with a new three-eighths of a cent tax that would have been in place for the next 40 years.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Alec Marsh pitched seven innings of two-hit ball, Maikel Garcia drove in three runs and the Kansas City Royals breezed past the Baltimore Orioles 4-1 on a wet, chilly night at Camden Yards. Marsh turned in the best performance of his budding career, dominating the defending AL East champions Tuesday night with an exceptional display of control. He struck out five, walked one and retired the side in order five times. Now in his second season, Marsh previously hadn’t gone more than six innings and never allowed fewer than three hits in any outing longer than an inning. In this one, he threw 72 pitches, only 18 of which were called balls.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 to win the first two of a three-game series. Miles Mikolas, who broke into the majors with San Diego in 2012, improved to 3-2 against his old squad. He allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings. Ryan Helsley worked the ninth for his first save in two chances. The Padres held a pregame moment of silence for Larry Lucchino, their CEO and president from 1995-2001 who led the push for Petco Park. Lucchino died early Tuesday morning of congenital heart failure. He was 78.

CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, Christopher Morel and Garrett Cooper homered, and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Colorado Rockies 12-2 on Tuesday night for their third straight win. Bellinger’s two-run drive off the right-field scoreboard at Wrigley Field was his first homer of the season. The 2019 NL MVP re-signed with the Cubs for a $80 million, three-year contract in February. Some fans in the crowd of 26,555 chanted “Cody! Cody! Cody!” when Bellinger stepped to the plate in the seventh on a chilly, breezy night. It only got louder when Bellinger launched his 425-foot shot on a 1-2 fastball.

DALLAS (AP) — An attorney says one of two speeding sports cars that police say caused a chain-reaction crash on a busy Dallas highway over the weekend was being leased by Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice. An attorney for a Dallas-based car rental company said Rice was leasing the Lamborghini sport utility vehicle involved in Saturday’s crash. Police have said the drivers of a Corvette and a Lamborghini were speeding on North Central Expressway when they lost control. Police said the occupants of the Lamborghini and Corvette left without determining if anyone needed medical attention or providing their information. Police said Tuesday they are still working to identify suspects. Police have not said whether Rice is among the people they are seeking.

UNDATED (AP) — Steve Lutz was hired Monday as the basketball coach at Oklahoma State after one season at Western Kentucky. The 51-year-old Lutz has a 69-35 career record and has led his teams to the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons as a head coach — this year at Western Kentucky and the previous two at Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi. Before that, he was an assistant at Purdue and Creighton. Lutz takes over for Mike Boynton, who was fired after going 119-109 in seven seasons. The Cowboys reached only one NCAA Tournament under Boynton as he dealt with the fallout from an NCAA investigation.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State is riding an emotional wave with its men's and women's basketball teams both reaching the Final Four. It marks the first trip to the Final Four for the men's team since Jim Valvano's “Cardiac Pack” won the 1983 NCAA title by stunning heavily favored Houston. For the women, it marks the first Final Four trip since 1998 under Hall of Famer Kay Yow. Sunday's wins marked a breakthrough moment for both programs. N.C. State is now the 11th school to have its men's and women's teams reach the Final Four in the same year.

UNDATED (AP) — Deion Sanders has brought in Hall of Fame defensive lineman Warren Sapp as a graduate assistant to work with the Colorado Buffaloes. The grad assistant position paves the way for the 51-year-old Sapp to work more closely on the field with the team. Sapp introduced himself to the team as the senior quality control analyst, but that role would limit his involvement on the field. The University of Miami standout spent 13 seasons in the NFL with Tampa Bay and the Oakland Raiders. Sapp was the 1999 AP defensive player of the year. He won a Super Bowl title with the Buccaneers following the 2002 season.

Detroit at N-Y Mets 1:10 p.m. (Postponed)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="April 3rd, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=b9a3b-15cec62-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) — The future of the Royals and Chiefs in Kansas City was thrown into question when residents of Jackson County, Missouri, voted against a sales tax to help to pay for a new downtown ballpark and renovations to Arrowhead Stadium. Royals owner John Sherman and Chiefs president Mark Donovan acknowledged about two hours after polls closed Tuesday night that the ballot measure would fail. They were hoping to replace an existing three-eighths of a cent sales tax that has been paying for upkeep of current stadiums with a new three-eighths of a cent tax that would have been in place for the next 40 years.BALTIMORE (AP) — Alec Marsh pitched seven innings of two-hit ball, Maikel Garcia drove in three runs and the Kansas City Royals breezed past the Baltimore Orioles 4-1 on a wet, chilly night at Camden Yards. Marsh turned in the best performance of his budding career, dominating the defending AL East champions Tuesday night with an exceptional display of control. He struck out five, walked one and retired the side in order five times. Now in his second season, Marsh previously hadn’t gone more than six innings and never allowed fewer than three hits in any outing longer than an inning. In this one, he threw 72 pitches, only 18 of which were called balls.SAN DIEGO (AP) — Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 to win the first two of a three-game series. Miles Mikolas, who broke into the majors with San Diego in 2012, improved to 3-2 against his old squad. He allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings. Ryan Helsley worked the ninth for his first save in two chances. The Padres held a pregame moment of silence for Larry Lucchino, their CEO and president from 1995-2001 who led the push for Petco Park. Lucchino died early Tuesday morning of congenital heart failure. He was 78.CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, Christopher Morel and Garrett Cooper homered, and the Chicago Cubs pounded the Colorado Rockies 12-2 on Tuesday night for their third straight win. Bellinger’s two-run drive off the right-field scoreboard at Wrigley Field was his first homer of the season. The 2019 NL MVP re-signed with the Cubs for a $80 million, three-year contract in February. Some fans in the crowd of 26,555 chanted “Cody! Cody! Cody!” when Bellinger stepped to the plate in the seventh on a chilly, breezy night. It only got louder when Bellinger launched his 425-foot shot on a 1-2 fastball.DALLAS (AP) — An attorney says one of two speeding sports cars that police say caused a chain-reaction crash on a busy Dallas highway over the weekend was being leased by Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice. An attorney for a Dallas-based car rental company said Rice was leasing the Lamborghini sport utility vehicle involved in Saturday’s crash. Police have said the drivers of a Corvette and a Lamborghini were speeding on North Central Expressway when they lost control. Police said the occupants of the Lamborghini and Corvette left without determining if anyone needed medical attention or providing their information. Police said Tuesday they are still working to identify suspects. Police have not said whether Rice is among the people they are seeking.UNDATED (AP) — Steve Lutz was hired Monday as the basketball coach at Oklahoma State after one season at Western Kentucky. The 51-year-old Lutz has a 69-35 career record and has led his teams to the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons as a head coach — this year at Western Kentucky and the previous two at Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi. Before that, he was an assistant at Purdue and Creighton. Lutz takes over for Mike Boynton, who was fired after going 119-109 in seven seasons. The Cowboys reached only one NCAA Tournament under Boynton as he dealt with the fallout from an NCAA investigation.RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State is riding an emotional wave with its men's and women's basketball teams both reaching the Final Four. It marks the first trip to the Final Four for the men's team since Jim Valvano's “Cardiac Pack” won the 1983 NCAA title by stunning heavily favored Houston. For the women, it marks the first Final Four trip since 1998 under Hall of Famer Kay Yow. Sunday's wins marked a breakthrough moment for both programs. N.C. State is now the 11th school to have its men's and women's teams reach the Final Four in the same year.UNDATED (AP) — Deion Sanders has brought in Hall of Fame defensive lineman Warren Sapp as a graduate assistant to work with the Colorado Buffaloes. The grad assistant position paves the way for the 51-year-old Sapp to work more closely on the field with the team. Sapp introduced himself to the team as the senior quality control analyst, but that role would limit his involvement on the field. The University of Miami standout spent 13 seasons in the NFL with Tampa Bay and the Oakland Raiders. Sapp was the 1999 AP defensive player of the year. He won a Super Bowl title with the Buccaneers following the 2002 season.TUESDAY SCORESMAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLINTERLEAGUEDetroit at N-Y Mets 1:10 p.m. (Postponed)Final Milwaukee 3 Minnesota 2Final L.A. Angels 3 Miami 1Final Chicago White Sox 3 Atlanta 2Final Arizona 7 N.Y. Yankees 0AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal Kansas City 4 Baltimore 1Final Tampa Bay 5 Texas 2Final Toronto 2 Houston 1Final Cleveland 5 Seattle 2Final Boston 5 Oakland 4NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal Philadelphia 9 Cincinnati 4Final Chicago Cubs 12 Colorado 2Final St. Louis 5 San Diego 2Final L.A. Dodgers 5 San Francisco 4NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal L.A. Lakers 128 Toronto 111Final Washington 117 Milwaukee 113Final Miami 109 New York 99Final Philadelphia 109 Oklahoma City 105Final Minnesota 113 Houston 106Final Cleveland 129 Utah 113Final Denver 110 San Antonio 105Final Sacramento 109 L.A. Clippers 95

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Wednesday

BALTIMORE (AP) — Alec Marsh pitched seven innings of two-hit ball, Maikel Garcia drove in three runs and the Kansas City Royals breezed past the Baltimore Orioles 4-1 Tuesday night at wet and chilly Camden Yards.

Marsh (1-0) turned in the best performance of his budding career, dominating the defending AL East champions with an exceptional display of control. He&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1775323645696495719">struck out five</a>, walked one and retired the side in order five times.

“He was outstanding,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Marsh. “Adverse conditions to pitch in against a really good lineup, and he did nothing but attack, right from the get-go.”

Now in his second season, Marsh previously hadn't gone more than six innings and never allowed fewer than three hits in any outing longer than an inning. In this one, the right-hander threw 72 pitches, only 18 of which were called balls.

“You couldn't ask for anything more,” Quatraro said.

Marsh received offensive support from Garcia, who hit a two-run double in the second inning and added an RBI triple in the fourth.

A persistent, light rain soaked the players and the announced crowd of 9,404. Temperatures dipped into the 40s soon after the game started, and a crisp breeze provided the stouthearted fans additional discomfort.

The Orioles gave their supporters little reason to stand up and cheer. Baltimore's only run came in the third inning on successive doubles by Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser, but that only served to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Kansas City answered in the fourth with a walk and a triple by Garcia on a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsKC/status/1775305527985062234">liner off the right-field wall</a>. That was more than enough backing for Marsh, who earned the fifth spot in the Royals rotation with a strong showing in spring training.

As a rookie in 2023, Marsh lost his first eight decisions before ending up 3-9 with a 5.69 ERA.

The solid finish, along with his productive spring, gave Marsh some momentum heading into the 2024 season.

“He's been on a mission,” Quatraro said. “That's one game. We don't want to proclaim this to be a finished product. He's a very young pitcher in his big league career, but there's a lot of upside and we're excited about it.”

When the Orioles got good wood on the ball, there always seemed to be someone there to catch it.

“Good fastball, curveball had a lot of depth on it,” Baltimore's Ryan O’Hearn said. “It was one of those nights. I feel like we had a lot of balls hit right at guys. Sometimes it happens that way.”

After Marsh put in his seven innings, the bullpen finished up without incident. John Schreiber gave up a single in the eighth and Will Smith got three straight outs for his first save.

Orioles starter Cole Irvin (0-1) gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings. The 30-year-old is attempting to bounce back from a disappointing season in which he went 1-4, endured three stints in the minor leagues and did not appear on Baltimore's postseason roster.

Royals reliever Jake Brentz threw in the bullpen for the first time since going on the IL last month with a left hamstring strain. Brentz, 29, hasn't pitched in the big leagues since undergoing elbow surgery in July of 2022.

The teams face a rainy forecast for Wednesday's series finale, which matches Orioles ace Corbin Burnes (1-0, 1.50 ERA) and Royals opening day starter Cole Ragans (0-1, 3.00).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708710110872.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BALTIMORE (AP) — Alec Marsh pitched seven innings of two-hit ball, Maikel Garcia drove in three runs and the Kansas City Royals breezed past the Baltimore Orioles 4-1 Tuesday night at wet and chilly Camden Yards.Marsh (1-0) turned in the best performance of his budding career, dominating the defending AL East champions with an exceptional display of control. He&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1775323645696495719">struck out five</a>, walked one and retired the side in order five times.“He was outstanding,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Marsh. “Adverse conditions to pitch in against a really good lineup, and he did nothing but attack, right from the get-go.”Now in his second season, Marsh previously hadn't gone more than six innings and never allowed fewer than three hits in any outing longer than an inning. In this one, the right-hander threw 72 pitches, only 18 of which were called balls.“You couldn't ask for anything more,” Quatraro said.Marsh received offensive support from Garcia, who hit a two-run double in the second inning and added an RBI triple in the fourth.A persistent, light rain soaked the players and the announced crowd of 9,404. Temperatures dipped into the 40s soon after the game started, and a crisp breeze provided the stouthearted fans additional discomfort.The Orioles gave their supporters little reason to stand up and cheer. Baltimore's only run came in the third inning on successive doubles by Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser, but that only served to cut the deficit to 3-1.Kansas City answered in the fourth with a walk and a triple by Garcia on a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsKC/status/1775305527985062234">liner off the right-field wall</a>. That was more than enough backing for Marsh, who earned the fifth spot in the Royals rotation with a strong showing in spring training.As a rookie in 2023, Marsh lost his first eight decisions before ending up 3-9 with a 5.69 ERA.The solid finish, along with his productive spring, gave Marsh some momentum heading into the 2024 season.“He's been on a mission,” Quatraro said. “That's one game. We don't want to proclaim this to be a finished product. He's a very young pitcher in his big league career, but there's a lot of upside and we're excited about it.”When the Orioles got good wood on the ball, there always seemed to be someone there to catch it.“Good fastball, curveball had a lot of depth on it,” Baltimore's Ryan O’Hearn said. “It was one of those nights. I feel like we had a lot of balls hit right at guys. Sometimes it happens that way.”After Marsh put in his seven innings, the bullpen finished up without incident. John Schreiber gave up a single in the eighth and Will Smith got three straight outs for his first save.Orioles starter Cole Irvin (0-1) gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings. The 30-year-old is attempting to bounce back from a disappointing season in which he went 1-4, endured three stints in the minor leagues and did not appear on Baltimore's postseason roster.TRAINER'S ROOMRoyals reliever Jake Brentz threw in the bullpen for the first time since going on the IL last month with a left hamstring strain. Brentz, 29, hasn't pitched in the big leagues since undergoing elbow surgery in July of 2022.UP NEXTThe teams face a rainy forecast for Wednesday's series finale, which matches Orioles ace Corbin Burnes (1-0, 1.50 ERA) and Royals opening day starter Cole Ragans (0-1, 3.00).

⚾ Royals win over Orioles Tuesday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The undefeated national champion Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons (37-0) returned home Tuesday night.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/03303cb3-2957-412e-92a1-33edbc221ecf">The women's basketball team defeated defending champion Northwest Florida State Monday night in Casper, Wyoming.</a>

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712109319428.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The undefeated national champion Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons (37-0) returned home Tuesday night.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/03303cb3-2957-412e-92a1-33edbc221ecf">The women's basketball team defeated defending champion Northwest Florida State Monday night in Casper, Wyoming.</a><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHutchPost%2Fvideos%2F383504397926644%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHutchPost%2Fvideos%2F258813677319396%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHutchPost%2Fvideos%2F280184391799191%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712110146648.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712110174617.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;

🎥 Champs return home

CASPER, Wyo. — Relive Monday nights NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Championship Game audio broadcast, as heard on Hutchinson's #1 Hit Music Station, My 93-1.

No. 1 Hutchinson finished off an unbeaten 37-0 season with an 88-80 win over No. 3 Northwest Florida State inside the Ford Wyoming Center.

The Blue Dragons claim their first-ever national title in the programs 50th year.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711773017269.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CASPER, Wyo. — Relive Monday nights NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Championship Game audio broadcast, as heard on Hutchinson's #1 Hit Music Station, My 93-1.No. 1 Hutchinson finished off an unbeaten 37-0 season with an 88-80 win over No. 3 Northwest Florida State inside the Ford Wyoming Center.The Blue Dragons claim their first-ever national title in the programs 50th year.<div><iframe title="2024 NJCAA DI Women's Basketball National Championship Game" 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=89iu3-15ccfe2-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>

🎧 LISTEN: NJCAA DI WBB National Championship Game: Hutchinson 88, NW FL St. 80

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="April 2nd, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=4bh2p-15cd07e-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>

🎧 LISTEN: 🏀 WBB: HutchCC wins first NJCAA Title ⚾ Royals in Baltimore 🏀 KU gets commitment

DALLAS (AP) — An
attorney for Kansas City Chiefs player Rashee Rice says the wide
receiver is cooperating with authorities after a speeding Corvette
and Lamborghini sport utility vehicle caused a chain-reaction crash
on a busy Dallas highway over the weekend. Police say the occupants
of both of the speeding sports cars left the scene after the crash
shortly before 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Police said Monday they were
working to identify the occupants of the Corvette and Lamborghini.
Sources told television station WFAA that one of the speeding
vehicles was registered to Rice. An attorney for Rice says his client
is cooperating with local authorities.

BALTIMORE (AP) —
Jordan Westburg hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the bottom of the
ninth inning to carry the Baltimore Orioles past the Kansas City
Royals 6-4. Westburg’s opposite-field drive to right came on an 0-2
pitch from Nick Anderson after the Royals rallied to tie the game in
the top of the inning. Ryan Mountcastle homered and drove in three
runs for the Orioles. Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez homered for
the Royals, the second straight game in which each went deep. Making
his Kansas City debut after signing a two-year, $32 million contract
in December, Michael Wacha gave up three runs in five innings.

SAN DIEGO (AP) —
Willson Contreras and Brendan Donovan each hit a two-run home run,
Kyle Gibson was dominant in his St. Louis debut and the Cardinals won
6-2 against their former manager Mike Schildt and the San Diego
Padres. Shildt managed the Cardinals from August 2018 until 2021,
when he was fired suddenly despite leading them to three straight
playoff berths and winning the 2019 NL Manager of the Year Award. He
worked in the Padres’ organization the last two seasons before
being promoted to manager in October after Bob Melvin left for his
hometown San Francisco Giants with one year remaining on his contract
in San Diego.

CHICAGO (AP) —
Shota Imanaga pitched six sparkling innings in his major league
debut, and the Cubs used another defensive mistake by Nolan Jones to
beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0 on Monday. Working in short sleeves on
a cold, gray afternoon, Imanaga struck out nine in Chicago’s home
opener. The Japanese left-hander, who signed a $53 million, four-year
contract with the Cubs in January, allowed two singles and walked
none — throwing 65 of his 92 pitches for strikes. Dakota Hudson
also was impressive in his first start for Colorado, but a pair of
errors on Jones on one play in the sixth sent the right-hander to the
loss.

HOUSTON (AP) —
Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros threw the first no-hitter in the
major leagues this season, blanking the Toronto Blue Jays 10-0. The
right-hander struck out seven and walked two. He walked George
Springer to start the game and again with two outs in the ninth. When
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to end it, Blanco smiled broadly
before raising his arms above his head just before being mobbed by
teammates. It was the 17th no-hitter in Astros history and the first
in the majors since Philadelphia’s Michael Lorenzen threw one
against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 9 of last year.

WASHINGTON (AP) —
Let other folks downplay the way the Pittsburgh Pirates have begun
2024. Manager Derek Shelton is thrilled that his club is 5-0 for the
first time in 41 years. Pittsburgh also has scored at least a
half-dozen runs each time out this deep into a season for the first
time in at least 124 years. The Pirates opened a three-game series at
the Washington Nationals with an 8-4 victory Monday night. That
followed a four-game sweep at the Miami Marlins to open the season.
Pittsburgh is coming off a 76-86 record a year ago and a fourth-place
finish in the NL Central.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) —
Caitlin Clark made nine 3-pointers and finished with 41 points and 12
assists in a sensational performance as Iowa knocked defending
national champion LSU out of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a
94-87 victory, advancing the Hawkeyes to their second straight Final
Four. Top-seeded Iowa will play UConn in the national semifinals
Friday night in Cleveland. Monday’s highly anticipated matchup was
a rematch of last year’s national championship game won by LSU,
which drew a record 9.9 million viewers. With the game tied at 45
after an entertaining first half, Clark took over in the third
quarter. She hit four 3-pointers in the period.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)
— After being a spectator a year ago, Paige Bueckers is headed back
to the Final Four after scoring 28 points and lifting UConn to a
80-73 win over Southern California in the women’s NCAA Tournament.
Bueckers outdueled fabulous USC freshman All-American JuJu Watkins,
sparking a decisive run over the final five minutes that sent
third-seeded UConn to its 23rd Final Four, the most of any school.
Leading 65-64, the Huskies scored 11 straight points, including seven
from Bueckers and a three-point play from Aaliyah Edwards to finally
put away the top-seeded Trojans. Edwards finished with 24 points.
Watkins scored 29 points for USC.

UNDATED (AP) —
Drake has hired Ben McCollum as its basketball coach. He replaces
Darian DeVries, who was hired by West Virginia after taking the
Bulldogs to three NCAA Tournaments in the last four years. The
42-year-old McCollum grew up in Storm Lake, Iowa, and played junior
college ball in the state before finishing his playing career at
Northwest Missouri State. He went into coaching at his alma mater,
spent four years at rival Emporia State, then returned to the
Bearcats in 2009 as a 27-year-old head coach. Over the next 15
seasons, Northwest Missouri State won four national championships
along with 12 regular-season conference titles and eight conference
tournament titles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="April 2nd, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=4bh2p-15cd07e-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>DALLAS (AP) — An
attorney for Kansas City Chiefs player Rashee Rice says the wide
receiver is cooperating with authorities after a speeding Corvette
and Lamborghini sport utility vehicle caused a chain-reaction crash
on a busy Dallas highway over the weekend. Police say the occupants
of both of the speeding sports cars left the scene after the crash
shortly before 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Police said Monday they were
working to identify the occupants of the Corvette and Lamborghini.
Sources told television station WFAA that one of the speeding
vehicles was registered to Rice. An attorney for Rice says his client
is cooperating with local authorities.BALTIMORE (AP) —
Jordan Westburg hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the bottom of the
ninth inning to carry the Baltimore Orioles past the Kansas City
Royals 6-4. Westburg’s opposite-field drive to right came on an 0-2
pitch from Nick Anderson after the Royals rallied to tie the game in
the top of the inning. Ryan Mountcastle homered and drove in three
runs for the Orioles. Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez homered for
the Royals, the second straight game in which each went deep. Making
his Kansas City debut after signing a two-year, $32 million contract
in December, Michael Wacha gave up three runs in five innings.SAN DIEGO (AP) —
Willson Contreras and Brendan Donovan each hit a two-run home run,
Kyle Gibson was dominant in his St. Louis debut and the Cardinals won
6-2 against their former manager Mike Schildt and the San Diego
Padres. Shildt managed the Cardinals from August 2018 until 2021,
when he was fired suddenly despite leading them to three straight
playoff berths and winning the 2019 NL Manager of the Year Award. He
worked in the Padres’ organization the last two seasons before
being promoted to manager in October after Bob Melvin left for his
hometown San Francisco Giants with one year remaining on his contract
in San Diego.CHICAGO (AP) —
Shota Imanaga pitched six sparkling innings in his major league
debut, and the Cubs used another defensive mistake by Nolan Jones to
beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0 on Monday. Working in short sleeves on
a cold, gray afternoon, Imanaga struck out nine in Chicago’s home
opener. The Japanese left-hander, who signed a $53 million, four-year
contract with the Cubs in January, allowed two singles and walked
none — throwing 65 of his 92 pitches for strikes. Dakota Hudson
also was impressive in his first start for Colorado, but a pair of
errors on Jones on one play in the sixth sent the right-hander to the
loss.HOUSTON (AP) —
Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros threw the first no-hitter in the
major leagues this season, blanking the Toronto Blue Jays 10-0. The
right-hander struck out seven and walked two. He walked George
Springer to start the game and again with two outs in the ninth. When
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to end it, Blanco smiled broadly
before raising his arms above his head just before being mobbed by
teammates. It was the 17th no-hitter in Astros history and the first
in the majors since Philadelphia’s Michael Lorenzen threw one
against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 9 of last year.WASHINGTON (AP) —
Let other folks downplay the way the Pittsburgh Pirates have begun
2024. Manager Derek Shelton is thrilled that his club is 5-0 for the
first time in 41 years. Pittsburgh also has scored at least a
half-dozen runs each time out this deep into a season for the first
time in at least 124 years. The Pirates opened a three-game series at
the Washington Nationals with an 8-4 victory Monday night. That
followed a four-game sweep at the Miami Marlins to open the season.
Pittsburgh is coming off a 76-86 record a year ago and a fourth-place
finish in the NL Central.ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) —
Caitlin Clark made nine 3-pointers and finished with 41 points and 12
assists in a sensational performance as Iowa knocked defending
national champion LSU out of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a
94-87 victory, advancing the Hawkeyes to their second straight Final
Four. Top-seeded Iowa will play UConn in the national semifinals
Friday night in Cleveland. Monday’s highly anticipated matchup was
a rematch of last year’s national championship game won by LSU,
which drew a record 9.9 million viewers. With the game tied at 45
after an entertaining first half, Clark took over in the third
quarter. She hit four 3-pointers in the period.PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)
— After being a spectator a year ago, Paige Bueckers is headed back
to the Final Four after scoring 28 points and lifting UConn to a
80-73 win over Southern California in the women’s NCAA Tournament.
Bueckers outdueled fabulous USC freshman All-American JuJu Watkins,
sparking a decisive run over the final five minutes that sent
third-seeded UConn to its 23rd Final Four, the most of any school.
Leading 65-64, the Huskies scored 11 straight points, including seven
from Bueckers and a three-point play from Aaliyah Edwards to finally
put away the top-seeded Trojans. Edwards finished with 24 points.
Watkins scored 29 points for USC.UNDATED (AP) —
Drake has hired Ben McCollum as its basketball coach. He replaces
Darian DeVries, who was hired by West Virginia after taking the
Bulldogs to three NCAA Tournaments in the last four years. The
42-year-old McCollum grew up in Storm Lake, Iowa, and played junior
college ball in the state before finishing his playing career at
Northwest Missouri State. He went into coaching at his alma mater,
spent four years at rival Emporia State, then returned to the
Bearcats in 2009 as a 27-year-old head coach. Over the next 15
seasons, Northwest Missouri State won four national championships
along with 12 regular-season conference titles and eight conference
tournament titles.MONDAY SCORESMAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALLINTERLEAGUEFinal	Atlanta	9	Chicago
White Sox	0	Final	L.A.
Angels	7	Miami	4	Final	Detroit	5	N.Y.
Mets	0	Final	N.Y.
Yankees	5	Arizona	2	AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	Baltimore	6	Kansas
City	4	Final	Texas	9	Tampa
Bay	3	Final	Houston	10	Toronto	0	Final	Boston	9	Oakland	0	Final	Seattle	5	Cleveland	4	NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Chicago
Cubs	5	Colorado	0	Final	Pittsburgh	8	Washington	4	Final	Cincinnati	6	Philadelphia	3	Final	St.
Louis	6	San Diego	2	Final	L.A.
Dodgers	8	San Francisco	3	NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Boston	118	Charlotte	104	Final	Memphis	110	Detroit	108	Final	Orlando	104	Portland	103	Final	Indiana	133	Brooklyn	111	Final	Atlanta	113	Chicago	101	Final	Phoenix	124	New
Orleans	111	NATIONAL HOCKEY
LEAGUEFinal	Columbus	4	Colorado	1	Final	Toronto	6	Florida	4	Final OT	N-Y
Islanders	4	Philadelphia	3	Final	Pittsburgh	5	N-Y
Rangers	2	Final	Detroit	4	Tampa
Bay	2	Final	Winnipeg	4	Los
Angeles	3	Final OT	St.
Louis	3	Edmonton	2

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Tuesday

<a href="https://kuathletics.com/english-dutton-garner-big-12-weekly-awards/">Via KU Athletics</a>

Kansas seniors Jake English and Reese Dutton each received Big 12 weekly honors, the conference office announced Monday. English was named the Big 12 Player of the Week and Dutton was selected as Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week.

The Big 12 award is the first of English’s career, while Dutton earned Big 12 Pitcher of the Week and Co-Newcomer of the Week earlier this season.

English hit .500/.571/1.167 (6-for-12), with two doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, six runs scored, two walks and a 1.738 OPS in a three-game sweep at BYU this past weekend. English homered in back-to-back games for the fifth time in his career and second time this season on Thursday and Friday against the Cougars.

English posted back-to-back three-hit games for the first time in his career on Thursday and the first game of a doubleheader Friday. He hit a double and home run in both of those games. The Olathe native caught game one and played first base in the second game of the doubleheader Friday. English played a big role in Kansas clinching its first doubleheader sweep on the road against a Big 12 team since 1997.

This season, English is second in the Big 12 in doubles (13) and slugging percentage (.728), tied for fourth in home runs (8) and walks (25), fifth in on-base percentage (.500) and tied for eighth in runs scored (29).

Dutton recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts as he pitched eight dominant innings and allowed only one run at BYU on Thursday. Dutton has won six-straight games, which includes five-consecutive quality starts. The six-straight wins are the most by a KU pitcher since 1994. Dutton’s 12 strikeouts were also the most by a Kansas pitcher since the 2020 season.

Dutton had two strikeouts in the first inning, one in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, one in the fifth, one in the sixth, two in the seventh and two in the eighth. The Kenosha, Wisconsin, native is the only Big 12 pitcher this season to win his first four starts in conference play.

Currently, Dutton ranks first in the Big 12 in wins (6), second in innings pitched (43.0), fifth in WHIP (1.05), sixth in opponent batting average (.204), seventh in ERA (2.30) and is tied for eighth in strikeouts (43). In conference games, he leads the league in wins (4) and innings pitched (28.0).

Dutton has won six of his first seven starts, making him the first KU pitcher to have six wins in his first seven starts since 2001.

Dutton is the first Jayhawk since James Cosentino in 2017 to win Big 12 Newcomer of the Week twice in the same season. Dutton also received the honor on March 11 after beating No. 3-ranked TCU.

English and Dutton are the first Kansas duo to receive a Big 12 weekly award in the same week since Casey Burnham and Ryan Cyr on May 6, 2019. English is the 20th player in Kansas history to win Big 12 Player of the Week and Dutton is the 16th Jayhawk to win Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors.

Kansas (15-10, 7-5 Big 12) recorded its first series sweep on the road since 2014 at BYU this past weekend. KU will play at Wichita State on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. CT. Then, the Jayhawks will host West Virginia for a three-game series this weekend at Hoglund Ballpark. Kansas currently sits in fourth place in the Big 12 standings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712054737816.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy KU Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy KU Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://kuathletics.com/english-dutton-garner-big-12-weekly-awards/">Via KU Athletics</a>Kansas seniors Jake English and Reese Dutton each received Big 12 weekly honors, the conference office announced Monday. English was named the Big 12 Player of the Week and Dutton was selected as Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week.The Big 12 award is the first of English’s career, while Dutton earned Big 12 Pitcher of the Week and Co-Newcomer of the Week earlier this season.English hit .500/.571/1.167 (6-for-12), with two doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, six runs scored, two walks and a 1.738 OPS in a three-game sweep at BYU this past weekend. English homered in back-to-back games for the fifth time in his career and second time this season on Thursday and Friday against the Cougars.English posted back-to-back three-hit games for the first time in his career on Thursday and the first game of a doubleheader Friday. He hit a double and home run in both of those games. The Olathe native caught game one and played first base in the second game of the doubleheader Friday. English played a big role in Kansas clinching its first doubleheader sweep on the road against a Big 12 team since 1997.This season, English is second in the Big 12 in doubles (13) and slugging percentage (.728), tied for fourth in home runs (8) and walks (25), fifth in on-base percentage (.500) and tied for eighth in runs scored (29).Dutton recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts as he pitched eight dominant innings and allowed only one run at BYU on Thursday. Dutton has won six-straight games, which includes five-consecutive quality starts. The six-straight wins are the most by a KU pitcher since 1994. Dutton’s 12 strikeouts were also the most by a Kansas pitcher since the 2020 season.Dutton had two strikeouts in the first inning, one in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth, one in the fifth, one in the sixth, two in the seventh and two in the eighth. The Kenosha, Wisconsin, native is the only Big 12 pitcher this season to win his first four starts in conference play.Currently, Dutton ranks first in the Big 12 in wins (6), second in innings pitched (43.0), fifth in WHIP (1.05), sixth in opponent batting average (.204), seventh in ERA (2.30) and is tied for eighth in strikeouts (43). In conference games, he leads the league in wins (4) and innings pitched (28.0).Dutton has won six of his first seven starts, making him the first KU pitcher to have six wins in his first seven starts since 2001.Dutton is the first Jayhawk since James Cosentino in 2017 to win Big 12 Newcomer of the Week twice in the same season. Dutton also received the honor on March 11 after beating No. 3-ranked TCU.English and Dutton are the first Kansas duo to receive a Big 12 weekly award in the same week since Casey Burnham and Ryan Cyr on May 6, 2019. English is the 20th player in Kansas history to win Big 12 Player of the Week and Dutton is the 16th Jayhawk to win Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors.Kansas (15-10, 7-5 Big 12) recorded its first series sweep on the road since 2014 at BYU this past weekend. KU will play at Wichita State on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. CT. Then, the Jayhawks will host West Virginia for a three-game series this weekend at Hoglund Ballpark. Kansas currently sits in fourth place in the Big 12 standings.

⚾ English, Dutton Garner Big 12 Weekly Awards

<a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/chiefs-signing-qb-carson-wentz-to-one-year-deal">NFL Network's</a> Ian Rapaport reported Monday that Carson Wentz&nbsp;is signing a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wentz, selected with the No. 2 pick of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, is now bound for his fifth team in as many seasons.

Blaine Gabbert was Patrick Mahomes' backup last year and Chad Henne did so before that.

Through parts of eight NFL seasons, Wentz has played in 95 games, posted a 47-45-1 record as a starter, and thrown for 22,292 yards, 153 touchdowns and 67 interceptions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707336003255.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/chiefs-signing-qb-carson-wentz-to-one-year-deal">NFL Network's</a> Ian Rapaport reported Monday that Carson Wentz&nbsp;is signing a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.Wentz, selected with the No. 2 pick of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, is now bound for his fifth team in as many seasons.Blaine Gabbert was Patrick Mahomes' backup last year and Chad Henne did so before that.Through parts of eight NFL seasons, Wentz has played in 95 games, posted a 47-45-1 record as a starter, and thrown for 22,292 yards, 153 touchdowns and 67 interceptions.

🏈 Wentz signing with Chiefs

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Former Buhler High standout Bradley Neill, currently a sophomore at HutchCC, announced via social media that's he's committed to Pittsburg State University to continue his baseball career. 

Thus far, Neill is having a stellar sophomore campaign with 8 appearances, over 34 innings pitched and an era of 1.30.  He is 5-0 as a starter with a save. 

 Neill tossed a one hit shutout against Butler earlier this year and was named the week 7 Jayhawk Conference pitcher of the week. 

 He is the son of John and Wendy Neill.   John Neill is the head baseball coach at Buhler.  Earlier this year, Bradley's brother Jeffrey, who's currently a senior at Buhler, committed to play baseball at HutchCC next season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1711995664967.jpeg" alt="Bradley Neill-Photo Courtesy HutchCC" />
 <figcaption>Bradley Neill-Photo Courtesy HutchCC</figcaption>
 </figure>ROB DREHER Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Former Buhler High standout Bradley Neill, currently a sophomore at HutchCC, announced via social media that's he's committed to Pittsburg State University to continue his baseball career. Thus far, Neill is having a stellar sophomore campaign with 8 appearances, over 34 innings pitched and an era of 1.30. He is 5-0 as a starter with a save. Neill tossed a one hit shutout against Butler earlier this year and was named the week 7 Jayhawk Conference pitcher of the week. He is the son of John and Wendy Neill. John Neill is the head baseball coach at Buhler. Earlier this year, Bradley's brother Jeffrey, who's currently a senior at Buhler, committed to play baseball at HutchCC next season.

⚾ Bradley Neill headed to Pitt State

BALTIMORE (AP) — Jordan Westburg hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to carry the Baltimore Orioles past the Kansas City Royals 6-4 on Monday night.

Westburg's opposite-field drive to right came on an 0-2 pitch from Nick Anderson (0-1) after the Royals rallied to tie the game in the top of the inning.

“I really wasn't trying to do too much, just trying to move the ball and get to the next man (in the lineup)," Westburg said.

Instead, the second-year infielder put an end to a tight contest.

“That was the coolest moment of my career so far,” Westburg said. “I've never had a walk-off in all my years I've played baseball. To have my first one here in Baltimore is pretty special.”

Ryan Mountcastle homered and drove in three runs for the Orioles.

Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez homered for the Royals, the second straight game in which each went deep.

With the score tied at 3 in the eighth, singles by Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman put runners at the corners with two outs for Mountcastle, who reached on an RBI infield single when first baseman Nick Loftin couldn't handle the throw from the shortstop Witt.

That gave closer Craig Kimbrel (1-0) a chance to seal the victory in his Baltimore debut. But Kyle Isbel singled, and pinch-runner Dairon Blanco stole second and third before scoring on a fly ball by Maikel Garcia.

Westburg delivered in the bottom half. He leaped in joy after rounding first base and was drenched in water after arriving at the plate.

“It just an euphoric feeling, seeing that ball go over the wall,” he said.

Making his Kansas City debut after signing a two-year, $32 million contract in December, Michael Wacha gave up three runs in five innings. The only three hits he allowed came in succession in the fourth, when Baltimore bounced back from a 3-0 deficit to pull even.

“Good one to build off of,” Wacha said. “I felt like I had good command of stuff early, and carried it toward the end of my outing as well.”

Orioles starter Dean Kremer allowed three runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Witt hit a solo shot in the third and Perez added a two-run drive to put the Royals up 3-0.

Rutschman doubled leading off the Baltimore fourth, Anthony Santander followed with an RBI single and Mountcastle went deep.

“Our guys went out and put up a three-spot, and as a pitcher you want to be able to hold that lead,” Wacha said. “It was frustrating giving it right back to them a couple innings later.”

The Orioles fumbled two grounders for errors in the first inning, but a pair of superb fielding plays kept the game tied in the seventh. After Nelson Velázquez hit a one-out double, Mountcastle dived to snare a grounder past first base and beat Isbel to the bag. Henderson then charged to pick up a short-hop grounder to shortstop and threw out speedy Maikel Garcia.

Orioles: LHP John Means (elbow) began his rehabilitation assignment by yielding two homers and seven runs in one-plus innings for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. “The numbers didn't show great success but he felt good physically,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday. “That's what matters in any rehab, for sure.”

Royals: INF Michael Massey (lower back strain) is “progressing well” and could begin a rehab assignment “in the next few days,” manager Matt Quatraro said.

There's rain in the forecast Tuesday night, when Orioles starter Cole Irvin is scheduled to face the Royals and Alec Marsh, who lost his first eight decisions as a rookie last year before finishing 3-9.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708710110872.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BALTIMORE (AP) — Jordan Westburg hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to carry the Baltimore Orioles past the Kansas City Royals 6-4 on Monday night.Westburg's opposite-field drive to right came on an 0-2 pitch from Nick Anderson (0-1) after the Royals rallied to tie the game in the top of the inning.“I really wasn't trying to do too much, just trying to move the ball and get to the next man (in the lineup)," Westburg said.Instead, the second-year infielder put an end to a tight contest.“That was the coolest moment of my career so far,” Westburg said. “I've never had a walk-off in all my years I've played baseball. To have my first one here in Baltimore is pretty special.”Ryan Mountcastle homered and drove in three runs for the Orioles.Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez homered for the Royals, the second straight game in which each went deep.With the score tied at 3 in the eighth, singles by Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman put runners at the corners with two outs for Mountcastle, who reached on an RBI infield single when first baseman Nick Loftin couldn't handle the throw from the shortstop Witt.That gave closer Craig Kimbrel (1-0) a chance to seal the victory in his Baltimore debut. But Kyle Isbel singled, and pinch-runner Dairon Blanco stole second and third before scoring on a fly ball by Maikel Garcia.Westburg delivered in the bottom half. He leaped in joy after rounding first base and was drenched in water after arriving at the plate.“It just an euphoric feeling, seeing that ball go over the wall,” he said.Making his Kansas City debut after signing a two-year, $32 million contract in December, Michael Wacha gave up three runs in five innings. The only three hits he allowed came in succession in the fourth, when Baltimore bounced back from a 3-0 deficit to pull even.“Good one to build off of,” Wacha said. “I felt like I had good command of stuff early, and carried it toward the end of my outing as well.”Orioles starter Dean Kremer allowed three runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings.Witt hit a solo shot in the third and Perez added a two-run drive to put the Royals up 3-0.Rutschman doubled leading off the Baltimore fourth, Anthony Santander followed with an RBI single and Mountcastle went deep.“Our guys went out and put up a three-spot, and as a pitcher you want to be able to hold that lead,” Wacha said. “It was frustrating giving it right back to them a couple innings later.”FIELDING GEMSThe Orioles fumbled two grounders for errors in the first inning, but a pair of superb fielding plays kept the game tied in the seventh. After Nelson Velázquez hit a one-out double, Mountcastle dived to snare a grounder past first base and beat Isbel to the bag. Henderson then charged to pick up a short-hop grounder to shortstop and threw out speedy Maikel Garcia.TRAINER'S ROOMOrioles: LHP John Means (elbow) began his rehabilitation assignment by yielding two homers and seven runs in one-plus innings for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. “The numbers didn't show great success but he felt good physically,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday. “That's what matters in any rehab, for sure.”Royals: INF Michael Massey (lower back strain) is “progressing well” and could begin a rehab assignment “in the next few days,” manager Matt Quatraro said.UP NEXTThere's rain in the forecast Tuesday night, when Orioles starter Cole Irvin is scheduled to face the Royals and Alec Marsh, who lost his first eight decisions as a rookie last year before finishing 3-9.

⚾ Orioles win over Royals Monday

Courtesy of HutchCC Sports Information

CASPER, Wyoming – Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball was indeed golden on Monday night.

Trailing by six points with 2:32 to play in the fourth quarter, the top-seeded Blue Dragons were able to force overtime and then dominate the extra session, outscoring defending national champion Northwest Florida State 19-11 in overtime, win the program’s first national championship with an 88-80 victory in the 2024 NJCAA Division I Women’s Tournament.

The Blue Dragons complete the season 37-0, a school record for wins, longest winning streak and best start to a season.

Freshman Kiki Smith was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She scored a 23 points to lead the Blue Dragons on 10 of 16 shooting with a 3-pointer.

Sophomore Journey Armstead and freshman Hailey Jackson were both named to the All-Tournament team.

Jackson had a team and career-high 25 points. Armstead had 11 points and three assists before fouling out with 5:09 to play in the fourth quarter.

Monae Duffy had 10 points and 9 rebounds.

The Blue Dragons led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, but Northwest Florida State rallied to take a 55-53 lead and led 68-62 with 2:27 to play.

The Dragons rallies back, closing with a 7-1 run, getting three free throws from Hailey Jackson with 0.7 seconds to play to tie the game at 69-all.

In overtime, Akaysha Muggeridge, Jackson and Smith scored on consecutive possessions for a 77-71 lead and upped the lead to eight at 81-73 on a Muggeridge hoop with 1:18 to go.

The Blue Dragons were 6 of 6 shooting from the floor and 7 of 10 from the foul line in overtime. Northwest Florida State was 5 of 12.

The Blue Dragon win their first national title in women’s basketball, second women’s national championship and 10th overall national championship.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712033565446.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Steve Carpenter/HutchCC Sports Information" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Steve Carpenter/HutchCC Sports Information</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of HutchCC Sports InformationCASPER, Wyoming – Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball was indeed golden on Monday night.Trailing by six points with 2:32 to play in the fourth quarter, the top-seeded Blue Dragons were able to force overtime and then dominate the extra session, outscoring defending national champion Northwest Florida State 19-11 in overtime, win the program’s first national championship with an 88-80 victory in the 2024 NJCAA Division I Women’s Tournament.The Blue Dragons complete the season 37-0, a school record for wins, longest winning streak and best start to a season.Freshman Kiki Smith was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She scored a 23 points to lead the Blue Dragons on 10 of 16 shooting with a 3-pointer.Sophomore Journey Armstead and freshman Hailey Jackson were both named to the All-Tournament team.Jackson had a team and career-high 25 points. Armstead had 11 points and three assists before fouling out with 5:09 to play in the fourth quarter.Monae Duffy had 10 points and 9 rebounds.The Blue Dragons led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, but Northwest Florida State rallied to take a 55-53 lead and led 68-62 with 2:27 to play.The Dragons rallies back, closing with a 7-1 run, getting three free throws from Hailey Jackson with 0.7 seconds to play to tie the game at 69-all.In overtime, Akaysha Muggeridge, Jackson and Smith scored on consecutive possessions for a 77-71 lead and upped the lead to eight at 81-73 on a Muggeridge hoop with 1:18 to go.The Blue Dragons were 6 of 6 shooting from the floor and 7 of 10 from the foul line in overtime. Northwest Florida State was 5 of 12.The Blue Dragon win their first national title in women’s basketball, second women’s national championship and 10th overall national championship.

🏀 WBB: NATIONAL CHAMPS; HutchCC wins first title in program history

DALLAS (AP) — An attorney for Kansas City Chiefs player Rashee Rice said Monday that the wide receiver is cooperating with authorities after a speeding Corvette and Lamborghini sport utility vehicle caused a chain-reaction crash on a busy Dallas highway over the weekend.

A total of six vehicles were involved in the crash shortly before 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the northbound lanes of North Central Expressway, Dallas police said Monday. The people in the Lamborghini and Corvette left the scene without determining if anyone needed medical attention or providing their information, police said. Two of the drivers in the other vehicles were treated at the scene for minor injuries, and two occupants of another vehicle were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

Dallas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-kansas-city-chiefs-wide-receiver-rashee-rice-collision/287-d3c39c05-b11e-4107-8c4f-87e4d12319a0">television station WFAA,</a>&nbsp;citing unnamed sources, reported that one of the speeding vehicles was registered to Rice. Police said Monday morning that they were working to identify the occupants of the Corvette and Lamborghini but did not release any information about the people they were seeking and would not confirm reports that Rice was among them.

Police spokesperson Kristin Lowman said early Monday evening that she could confirm that police had “spoken with members of legal counsel but have not conducted interviews with potentially involved individuals in Saturday’s crash.”

State Sen. Royce West, an attorney for Rice, said in a statement Monday that his client’s thoughts were with everyone impacted by the accident and that he was cooperating with local authorities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712017870514.png" alt="Rashee Rice-photo KC Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Rashee Rice-photo KC Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — An attorney for Kansas City Chiefs player Rashee Rice said Monday that the wide receiver is cooperating with authorities after a speeding Corvette and Lamborghini sport utility vehicle caused a chain-reaction crash on a busy Dallas highway over the weekend.A total of six vehicles were involved in the crash shortly before 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the northbound lanes of North Central Expressway, Dallas police said Monday. The people in the Lamborghini and Corvette left the scene without determining if anyone needed medical attention or providing their information, police said. Two of the drivers in the other vehicles were treated at the scene for minor injuries, and two occupants of another vehicle were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.Dallas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-police-kansas-city-chiefs-wide-receiver-rashee-rice-collision/287-d3c39c05-b11e-4107-8c4f-87e4d12319a0">television station WFAA,</a>&nbsp;citing unnamed sources, reported that one of the speeding vehicles was registered to Rice. Police said Monday morning that they were working to identify the occupants of the Corvette and Lamborghini but did not release any information about the people they were seeking and would not confirm reports that Rice was among them.Police spokesperson Kristin Lowman said early Monday evening that she could confirm that police had “spoken with members of legal counsel but have not conducted interviews with potentially involved individuals in Saturday’s crash.”State Sen. Royce West, an attorney for Rice, said in a statement Monday that his client’s thoughts were with everyone impacted by the accident and that he was cooperating with local authorities.West said in the statement that Rice “will take all necessary steps to address this situation responsibly.”Police said the drivers of the Corvette and Lamborghini were speeding in the far left lane when they lost control and the Lamborghini traveled onto the shoulder and hit the center median wall, causing the chain collision.Rice, a member of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-chiefs-dynasty-kansas-city-d16a308684d97a6be2d269c8d56404be">Super Bowl-winning Chiefs team</a>, is from the Dallas area. He played for Southern Methodist University and grew up in the Fort Worth suburb of North Richland Hills.Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in an interview Monday with KCMO Talk Radio's “Mundo in the Morning” that the team will “react accordingly” once more is known about what happened.“In all these situations you have to wait until you have all the facts, and frankly, we don’t have all the facts at this point,” Donovan said.Lowman said law enforcement is asking anyone with information on the crash to contact police.