KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals owner John Sherman believes that plans are progressing toward a new downtown ballpark, which would replace the nearly 50-year-old Kauffman Stadium as early as 2027 or 2028. The club has had dialogue with fans, business leaders and politicians about potential sites, though none has been decided. The idea is to build a $1 billion stadium as the centerpiece of a $1 billion residential and commercial development. Meanwhile, the owner is similarly optimistic about the current team, which lost nearly 100 games a year ago. The Royals have a new manager in Matt Quatraro and several promising young prospects that they believe will continue to develop throughout the upcoming season, which begins Thursday against Minnesota.

UNDATED (AP) — A major shift is coming to Major League Baseball, starting on opening day this Thursday. New rules are now in effect. There will be clocks at stadiums to hurry along pitchers and hitters, and there are restrictions on defensive shifts for fielders. The full slate of 15 games includes matchups at Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge will aiming at his own home run record, Shohei Ohtani will be trending with every pitch and swing and Houston manager Dusty Baker is trying to win another World Series ring.

UNDATED (AP) — Major league pitchers and batters aren’t the only ones going on the clock this season. Big league broadcasters have also been using spring training to adjust to baseball’s new rhythm amid a series of rules changes. When the season opens Thursday, Major League Baseball will usher in an age of sharper, quicker and more concise commentary. For a generation of play-by-play pros who grew up idolizing loquacious storytellers like Hall of Famer Vin Scully, it’s been an adjustment. But not necessarily an unwelcome one.

NEW YORK (AP) — Minor league baseball players reached a historic initial collective bargaining agreement with Major League Baseball on Wednesday that will more than double player salaries, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. The sides reached the five-year deal on Wednesday, two days before the start of the minor league season and hours after a federal judge gave final approval to a $185 million settlement reached with MLB last May of a lawsuit filed in 2014 alleging violations of federal minimum wage laws. Under the new deal, minimum salaries in Triple-A will rise from $17,500 to $45,800.

HOUSTON (AP) — A toxic cauldron on social media is one of the minefields players in the NCAA Tournament must navigate. In an era of increased sensitivity to athlete mental health, never have there been more outside voices scrutinizing their every move. In the third part of a series on social media's impact on March Madness, The Associated Press found that turning off social media is an option but not really a practical one. It's unrealistic with the way society interacts in the 21st century. And many athletes need to use social media for endorsement deals. All of that, the AP found, comes with a toll best illustrated by spikes among athletes in anxiety and depression over the past two years.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU guard Mike Miles Jr. has declared for the NBA draft, and he says he is leaving this time. Miles had also declared for the draft last year, but pulled his name out of consideration and returned for his junior season with the Horned Frogs. He says the time is right to turn pro. He was second in the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 17.9 points while playing in 27 of TCU’s 35 games. He missed five games in a row after hyperextending his right knee in late January. He missed two earlier games with a left foot issue and sat out another with an illness.

UNDATED (AP) — A congressional hearing targeting what one lawmaker called “NIL chaos” in college sports drifted into the consequences of college athletes being deemed employees. A subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held the first hearing Wednesday related to college sports in the House or Senate in more than two years. The intended focus was name, image and likeness compensation for athletes. College sports leaders have been asking for a federal law to bring uniform regulation to the way athletes can earn money through sponsorship or endorsement deals.

NEW YORK (AP) — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says he's hopeful that a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players can get done by the end of this week, though he stopped short of predicting that a deal would actually get struck. The league and the National Basketball Players Association are facing a midnight Friday deadline for either side to decide that they will opt out of the deal and end the current CBA on June 30. That opt-out deadline already has been extended twice, and Silver said the NBA’s plan is to exercise that option if there is no deal by Friday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680170778822.jpeg" alt="Sports Headlines for Thursday" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines for Thursday</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals owner John Sherman believes that plans are progressing toward a new downtown ballpark, which would replace the nearly 50-year-old Kauffman Stadium as early as 2027 or 2028. The club has had dialogue with fans, business leaders and politicians about potential sites, though none has been decided. The idea is to build a $1 billion stadium as the centerpiece of a $1 billion residential and commercial development. Meanwhile, the owner is similarly optimistic about the current team, which lost nearly 100 games a year ago. The Royals have a new manager in Matt Quatraro and several promising young prospects that they believe will continue to develop throughout the upcoming season, which begins Thursday against Minnesota.UNDATED (AP) — A major shift is coming to Major League Baseball, starting on opening day this Thursday. New rules are now in effect. There will be clocks at stadiums to hurry along pitchers and hitters, and there are restrictions on defensive shifts for fielders. The full slate of 15 games includes matchups at Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge will aiming at his own home run record, Shohei Ohtani will be trending with every pitch and swing and Houston manager Dusty Baker is trying to win another World Series ring.UNDATED (AP) — Major league pitchers and batters aren’t the only ones going on the clock this season. Big league broadcasters have also been using spring training to adjust to baseball’s new rhythm amid a series of rules changes. When the season opens Thursday, Major League Baseball will usher in an age of sharper, quicker and more concise commentary. For a generation of play-by-play pros who grew up idolizing loquacious storytellers like Hall of Famer Vin Scully, it’s been an adjustment. But not necessarily an unwelcome one.NEW YORK (AP) — Minor league baseball players reached a historic initial collective bargaining agreement with Major League Baseball on Wednesday that will more than double player salaries, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. The sides reached the five-year deal on Wednesday, two days before the start of the minor league season and hours after a federal judge gave final approval to a $185 million settlement reached with MLB last May of a lawsuit filed in 2014 alleging violations of federal minimum wage laws. Under the new deal, minimum salaries in Triple-A will rise from $17,500 to $45,800.HOUSTON (AP) — A toxic cauldron on social media is one of the minefields players in the NCAA Tournament must navigate. In an era of increased sensitivity to athlete mental health, never have there been more outside voices scrutinizing their every move. In the third part of a series on social media's impact on March Madness, The Associated Press found that turning off social media is an option but not really a practical one. It's unrealistic with the way society interacts in the 21st century. And many athletes need to use social media for endorsement deals. All of that, the AP found, comes with a toll best illustrated by spikes among athletes in anxiety and depression over the past two years.FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU guard Mike Miles Jr. has declared for the NBA draft, and he says he is leaving this time. Miles had also declared for the draft last year, but pulled his name out of consideration and returned for his junior season with the Horned Frogs. He says the time is right to turn pro. He was second in the Big 12 in scoring, averaging 17.9 points while playing in 27 of TCU’s 35 games. He missed five games in a row after hyperextending his right knee in late January. He missed two earlier games with a left foot issue and sat out another with an illness.UNDATED (AP) — A congressional hearing targeting what one lawmaker called “NIL chaos” in college sports drifted into the consequences of college athletes being deemed employees. A subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held the first hearing Wednesday related to college sports in the House or Senate in more than two years. The intended focus was name, image and likeness compensation for athletes. College sports leaders have been asking for a federal law to bring uniform regulation to the way athletes can earn money through sponsorship or endorsement deals.NEW YORK (AP) — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says he's hopeful that a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players can get done by the end of this week, though he stopped short of predicting that a deal would actually get struck. The league and the National Basketball Players Association are facing a midnight Friday deadline for either side to decide that they will opt out of the deal and end the current CBA on June 30. That opt-out deadline already has been extended twice, and Silver said the NBA’s plan is to exercise that option if there is no deal by Friday night.WEDNESDAY SCORESNATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal Milwaukee 149 Indiana 136Final New York 101 Miami 92Final Brooklyn 123 Houston 114Final Philadelphia 116 Dallas 108Final L.A. Lakers 121 Chicago 110Final L.A. Clippers 141 Memphis 132Final Oklahoma City 107 Detroit 106Final Sacramento 120 Portland 80Final Phoenix 107 Minnesota 100Final Utah 128 San Antonio 117NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal SO N-Y Islanders 2 Washington 1Final OT Florida 3 Toronto 2Final Minnesota 4 Colorado 2

Sports Headlines for Thursday

<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=887943cbeb&amp;e=33e05464a3" target="_blank">Box Score</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=85d0ce2438&amp;e=33e05464a3" target="_blank">Postgame Notes</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=0f94e4eaff&amp;e=33e05464a3" target="_blank">Season Stats</a>

LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks led for more than 33 minutes Wednesday night and dominated Washington 61-36 in the Fab 4 of the WNIT.

With the convincing win, the Jayhawks (24-11) will now host Columbia out of the Ivy League in the WNIT Championship Game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The contest will also be televised nationally by CBS Sports Network.

"I thought we got off to a slow start offensively, just because of nerves," said Head Coach Brandon Schneider. "We missed some shots that normally, we would make. You can't blame the girls in a setting like this, probably for the first time. Our defense was locked in and they were really good all night long. It was great to see us, even the last couple of minutes, really stay attentive and take pride in trying to get a stop."

Taiyanna Jackson posted her 22nd&nbsp;double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks, while Zakiyah Franklin led all scorers with 14 points and Holly Kersgieter and Wyvette Mayberry each had 11 points apiece.

Kansas will now appear in the WNIT Championship Game for the second time in program history after falling to South Florida in the 2009 title contest.

Wednesday’s game opened as a defensive battle on both ends of the court, with Washington taking a 6-2 lead at the first media timeout with 4:38 to play in the first quarter. The Jayhawks held the Huskies to a 3-for-9 start from the field and a 0-for-2 start from deep.

Kansas got hot out of the media timeout and immediately went on a 7-0 run over just a 54-second stretch. After a layup from Washington, a Sanna Strom three-pointer made it a 10-2 run for the Jayhawks and made the score 12-8 Kansas with just more than two and a half minutes to play in the opening quarter. Washington cut it to two, but a three-point play from Mayberry in the final minute made the score 15-10 at the end of the first.

The hosts extended their lead to open the second quarter. After a basket from Washington, Kansas went on a 6-0 run to extend its lead to nine at 21-12 and force a timeout for the Huskies with 5:37 to play in the first half. Kersgieter converted a fast break with a layup to force the Washington timeout and get the home crowd of 7,229 in a frenzy.

It turns out the Jayhawks were just getting started. Washington hit a layup out of the timeout to break the 6-0 run, but Kansas then went on a 9-0 run right after the bucket that ballooned the score to 30-14. The 9-0 run came via six points from Jackson and a three-point play from Kersgieter. Washington’s Hannah Stines converted on a jumper in the final minute of the half to make the score 30-16 at the break.

The intermission did nothing to cool off the Jayhawks, who kept their foot on the gas in the second half. Kansas began the third quarter on a 12-2 run to extend the lead to 42-18 with less than five minutes to play in the quarter. Kansas closed out the quarter, leading 48-28 to take a 20-point lead into the final quarter. The Jayhawks got six points from Mayberry in the third and held Washington to 4 of 13 shooting from the floor with five turnovers in the quarter.

The Jayhawks led by at least 21 points the entire fourth quarter and held Washington to 7 of 31 shooting in the second half with 11 turnovers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680170522781.jpeg" alt="KU WBB atdvance to WNIT Championship" />
 <figcaption>KU WBB atdvance to WNIT Championship</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=887943cbeb&amp;e=33e05464a3" target="_blank">Box Score</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=85d0ce2438&amp;e=33e05464a3" target="_blank">Postgame Notes</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=0f94e4eaff&amp;e=33e05464a3" target="_blank">Season Stats</a>LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks led for more than 33 minutes Wednesday night and dominated Washington 61-36 in the Fab 4 of the WNIT.With the convincing win, the Jayhawks (24-11) will now host Columbia out of the Ivy League in the WNIT Championship Game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The contest will also be televised nationally by CBS Sports Network."I thought we got off to a slow start offensively, just because of nerves," said Head Coach Brandon Schneider. "We missed some shots that normally, we would make. You can't blame the girls in a setting like this, probably for the first time. Our defense was locked in and they were really good all night long. It was great to see us, even the last couple of minutes, really stay attentive and take pride in trying to get a stop."Taiyanna Jackson posted her 22nd&nbsp;double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks, while Zakiyah Franklin led all scorers with 14 points and Holly Kersgieter and Wyvette Mayberry each had 11 points apiece.Kansas will now appear in the WNIT Championship Game for the second time in program history after falling to South Florida in the 2009 title contest.Wednesday’s game opened as a defensive battle on both ends of the court, with Washington taking a 6-2 lead at the first media timeout with 4:38 to play in the first quarter. The Jayhawks held the Huskies to a 3-for-9 start from the field and a 0-for-2 start from deep.Kansas got hot out of the media timeout and immediately went on a 7-0 run over just a 54-second stretch. After a layup from Washington, a Sanna Strom three-pointer made it a 10-2 run for the Jayhawks and made the score 12-8 Kansas with just more than two and a half minutes to play in the opening quarter. Washington cut it to two, but a three-point play from Mayberry in the final minute made the score 15-10 at the end of the first.The hosts extended their lead to open the second quarter. After a basket from Washington, Kansas went on a 6-0 run to extend its lead to nine at 21-12 and force a timeout for the Huskies with 5:37 to play in the first half. Kersgieter converted a fast break with a layup to force the Washington timeout and get the home crowd of 7,229 in a frenzy.It turns out the Jayhawks were just getting started. Washington hit a layup out of the timeout to break the 6-0 run, but Kansas then went on a 9-0 run right after the bucket that ballooned the score to 30-14. The 9-0 run came via six points from Jackson and a three-point play from Kersgieter. Washington’s Hannah Stines converted on a jumper in the final minute of the half to make the score 30-16 at the break.The intermission did nothing to cool off the Jayhawks, who kept their foot on the gas in the second half. Kansas began the third quarter on a 12-2 run to extend the lead to 42-18 with less than five minutes to play in the quarter. Kansas closed out the quarter, leading 48-28 to take a 20-point lead into the final quarter. The Jayhawks got six points from Mayberry in the third and held Washington to 4 of 13 shooting from the floor with five turnovers in the quarter.The Jayhawks led by at least 21 points the entire fourth quarter and held Washington to 7 of 31 shooting in the second half with 11 turnovers.

🏀 WBB: Jayhawks advance to WNIT Championship after dominating Washington

LAWRENCE, Kan.—Another Jayhawk is leaving the nest. Kansas wing&nbsp;MJ Rice&nbsp;intends to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. Rice is set to depart&nbsp;KU after his freshman season with the Jayhawks.&nbsp;The 6-foot-5, 225-pound small forward ended the season averaging 2.2 points per game on 40 percent shooting from the field, while adding 1.0 rebounds per contest. He will have three seasons of playing eligibility left at his next school.

It was an up-and-down season for Rice and one that was impacted due to his availability. He missed the Omaha game in the first week of the season before he didn’t travel to the Champions Classic due to an illness. He came back and played against Southern Utah but suffered from kidney stones before the NC State game in Battle 4 Atlantis and missed that contest. Over a three-game span against Tennessee, Texas Southern and Seton Hall, Rice notched double-digit minutes. After the Seton Hall contest, Rice averaged six minutes per game and played in 17 of KU's next 27 contests.

Rice committed to KU in August of 2021 and signed with the program during the early period. He took official visits to Kansas and Oklahoma State and held offers from seven other program.&nbsp;He was the No. 28-ranked recruit nationally, the No. 8-ranked small forward and the No. 5-ranked player in California in the 247Sports rankings for the class of 2022. Per the 247Sports Composite, Rice was the No. 25-ranked prospect nationally with the same position and state rankings.

Rice is the latest KU player to enter the transfer portal in what is shaping up to be a roster overhaul.

In the first year of the portal windows, the college basketball transfer portal begins March 13 and runs until May 11.&nbsp;Numerous graduate transfers already entered the transfer portal prior to the March 13 opening, but that date kicked off the 60-day window for the rest of the prospective transfers to hop in the portal to examine their options. The one-time transfer rule is still intact, per usual. If a player has not transferred yet, they are immediately eligible. In Martin's case, he is a graduate transfer and is immediately eligible at his next school.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609550863288.jpeg" alt="KU basketball&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>KU basketball&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan.—Another Jayhawk is leaving the nest. Kansas wing&nbsp;MJ Rice&nbsp;intends to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. Rice is set to depart&nbsp;KU after his freshman season with the Jayhawks.&nbsp;The 6-foot-5, 225-pound small forward ended the season averaging 2.2 points per game on 40 percent shooting from the field, while adding 1.0 rebounds per contest. He will have three seasons of playing eligibility left at his next school.It was an up-and-down season for Rice and one that was impacted due to his availability. He missed the Omaha game in the first week of the season before he didn’t travel to the Champions Classic due to an illness. He came back and played against Southern Utah but suffered from kidney stones before the NC State game in Battle 4 Atlantis and missed that contest. Over a three-game span against Tennessee, Texas Southern and Seton Hall, Rice notched double-digit minutes. After the Seton Hall contest, Rice averaged six minutes per game and played in 17 of KU's next 27 contests.Rice committed to KU in August of 2021 and signed with the program during the early period. He took official visits to Kansas and Oklahoma State and held offers from seven other program.&nbsp;He was the No. 28-ranked recruit nationally, the No. 8-ranked small forward and the No. 5-ranked player in California in the 247Sports rankings for the class of 2022. Per the 247Sports Composite, Rice was the No. 25-ranked prospect nationally with the same position and state rankings.Rice is the latest KU player to enter the transfer portal in what is shaping up to be a roster overhaul.In the first year of the portal windows, the college basketball transfer portal begins March 13 and runs until May 11.&nbsp;Numerous graduate transfers already entered the transfer portal prior to the March 13 opening, but that date kicked off the 60-day window for the rest of the prospective transfers to hop in the portal to examine their options. The one-time transfer rule is still intact, per usual. If a player has not transferred yet, they are immediately eligible. In Martin's case, he is a graduate transfer and is immediately eligible at his next school.

🏀 MBB: Kansas wing MJ Rice intends to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Are you ready for Royals Opening Day? It's almost here! Join us at The K on Thursday, March 30th vs. the Minnesota Twins! With a brand-new bobblehead, exciting LIVE music, and the return of powder blues, this is a game you DO NOT want to miss! Tickets start at just $29, or save even more with a bundled ticket pack below. Bring your mom, your dad, your brother, your sister, your cousin, your neighbor, your dog... well, don't bring your dog yet. Wait until Bark at the Park to do that. Anyway, we can't wait to see you!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679898458513.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Are you ready for Royals Opening Day? It's almost here! Join us at The K on Thursday, March 30th vs. the Minnesota Twins! With a brand-new bobblehead, exciting LIVE music, and the return of powder blues, this is a game you DO NOT want to miss! Tickets start at just $29, or save even more with a bundled ticket pack below. Bring your mom, your dad, your brother, your sister, your cousin, your neighbor, your dog... well, don't bring your dog yet. Wait until Bark at the Park to do that. Anyway, we can't wait to see you!<h2>Game Day Activations</h2><ul>
 <li>Parking lots will open at 9:00 a.m. and stadium gates will open at 12 p.m.Parking must be purchased in advance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/royals/ballpark/transportation">here</a>.</li><li>Parking must be purchased in advance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/royals/ballpark/transportation">here</a>.</li><li>Bobby Witt, Jr. Bobblehead gate giveaway presented by Price Chopper</li><li>On it's 50th Anniversary, full powder blue uniforms return and make their debut at The K</li><li>Pre-game Concert by Grammy-award winning Country Rock duo Brothers OsborneLocated on the&nbsp;Miller Lite Fountain Bar Deck&nbsp;(above the left-center field fountains facing the field)Concert will take place from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.Must have an Opening Day game ticket to attend</li><li>Located on the&nbsp;Miller Lite Fountain Bar Deck&nbsp;(above the left-center field fountains facing the field)</li><li>Concert will take place from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.</li><li>Must have an Opening Day game ticket to attend</li><li>Pre-game Opening Day ceremonyCelebration of the 50th anniversary of the Kauffman Stadium FountainsMembers of the 1973 Royals Opening Day team will be in attendance. This was the first team to wear full powder bluesFlyover by aircraft from Whiteman Air Force Base</li><li>Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Kauffman Stadium Fountains</li><li>Members of the 1973 Royals Opening Day team will be in attendance. This was the first team to wear full powder blues</li><li>Flyover by aircraft from Whiteman Air Force Base</li>
 </ul>

⚾ MLB: Opening day at the 'K'; Royals vs Minnesota

PHOENIX (AP) — Dan Snyder’s departure from the NFL is moving closer to reality. A group led by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales and another group led by Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos have submitted fully financed bids for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Two people confirmed the bid from Harris. Both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because details of the bid have not been publicly announced. The Harris/Rales group includes basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta also has been in the running. Snyder had yet to accept an offer when the league’s finance committee met Monday so his future wasn’t openly discussed.

PHOENIX (AP) — Lamar Jackson’s frustration over contract negotiations reached a boiling point when he announced Monday that he has requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens. Staying in Baltimore might be his best and only option. If the two sides can’t agree on a long-term deal by July 17, Jackson could play this season on the $32.4 million franchise tag. The 2019 NFL MVP hasn’t generated any interest in free agency after the Ravens placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on him. Some teams immediately said they wouldn’t pursue Jackson. The Washington Commanders joined that list Monday.

CHICAGO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani watch is on. Not Ohtani’s home runs or strikeouts or any of his magnificent numbers from the field. Nothing like that. It’s all about how much his next contract will be worth. Ohtani is among a group of players going into their final season before they are eligible for free agency. There is still time for signatures and press conferences before opening day, but history shows a new contract becomes less likely once the real games begin. The list of impending free agents also includes Aaron Nola, Matt Chapman, Teoscar Hernández, Ian Happ and Julio Urías.

DALLAS (AP) — LSU coach Kim Mulkey is returning to Texas for another Final Four. The former Baylor coach says some people with ties to her lengthy tenure in Texas will be in the stands when the Tigers play Virginia Tech in the national semifinals Friday night in Dallas. Mulkey is the third coach to lead multiple schools to the Final Four. She made four trips with Baylor. It's her first with LSU in her second season. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley returns to the scene of her first national championship five years ago. The Gamecocks play Iowa.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Rodney Terry says he always felt confident he'd earn the chance to be the full-time head basketball coach at Texas. The school removed the interim tag from his title and gave him the full-time job after leading the Longhorns to the Elite Eight following the midseason firing of Chris Beard. Terry said at a news conference Tuesday that his previous experience as a Longhorns assistant had prepared him for the job. The chairman of the school's Board of Regents said Terry got a five-year contract at $3 million per year.

UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA has taken a seat on the bench in the political game. The organization that governs college athletics was once at the forefront of hot-button issues such as the Confederate flag and transgender rights. But that stance evolved quickly as one Republican-controlled state after another rushed to pass laws that cover everything from abortion to transgender rights to drag shows. The NCAA’s new approach came into sharper focus this week as Texas prepares to host both the men’s and women’s Final Four. Not a word has been spoken about moving these events out of Houston and Dallas.

UNDATED (AP) — The number of college athletes who are monetizing their social media followings has grown over the past 18 months. The NCAA cleared the way for athletes to cash in on their celebrity in July 2021. Many of those influencers are female athletes. Some say they are aware their growing popularity can draw attention from fans who may overstep their bounds. Sometimes it's in the comments on their social media posts. And sometimes they show up at sporting events just to meet the athletes.

GENEVA (AP) — Some Russian athletes can soon return to international sports, although their status for the Paris Olympics is still up in the air. The International Olympic Committee has recommended that individual athletes from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to return to competition under a neutral status as long as they have no military links. But the IOC held off on deciding whether they can compete at next year’s Paris Olympics. While the IOC said Russia and Belarus should remain barred from team sports such as soccer and basketball, it still defied repeated calls by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to exclude all Russian athletes while his country is being occupied and attacked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680085628575.jpeg" alt="Sports Headlines for Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines for Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>PHOENIX (AP) — Dan Snyder’s departure from the NFL is moving closer to reality. A group led by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales and another group led by Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos have submitted fully financed bids for the NFL’s Washington Commanders, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Two people confirmed the bid from Harris. Both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because details of the bid have not been publicly announced. The Harris/Rales group includes basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta also has been in the running. Snyder had yet to accept an offer when the league’s finance committee met Monday so his future wasn’t openly discussed.PHOENIX (AP) — Lamar Jackson’s frustration over contract negotiations reached a boiling point when he announced Monday that he has requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens. Staying in Baltimore might be his best and only option. If the two sides can’t agree on a long-term deal by July 17, Jackson could play this season on the $32.4 million franchise tag. The 2019 NFL MVP hasn’t generated any interest in free agency after the Ravens placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on him. Some teams immediately said they wouldn’t pursue Jackson. The Washington Commanders joined that list Monday.CHICAGO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani watch is on. Not Ohtani’s home runs or strikeouts or any of his magnificent numbers from the field. Nothing like that. It’s all about how much his next contract will be worth. Ohtani is among a group of players going into their final season before they are eligible for free agency. There is still time for signatures and press conferences before opening day, but history shows a new contract becomes less likely once the real games begin. The list of impending free agents also includes Aaron Nola, Matt Chapman, Teoscar Hernández, Ian Happ and Julio Urías.DALLAS (AP) — LSU coach Kim Mulkey is returning to Texas for another Final Four. The former Baylor coach says some people with ties to her lengthy tenure in Texas will be in the stands when the Tigers play Virginia Tech in the national semifinals Friday night in Dallas. Mulkey is the third coach to lead multiple schools to the Final Four. She made four trips with Baylor. It's her first with LSU in her second season. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley returns to the scene of her first national championship five years ago. The Gamecocks play Iowa.AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Rodney Terry says he always felt confident he'd earn the chance to be the full-time head basketball coach at Texas. The school removed the interim tag from his title and gave him the full-time job after leading the Longhorns to the Elite Eight following the midseason firing of Chris Beard. Terry said at a news conference Tuesday that his previous experience as a Longhorns assistant had prepared him for the job. The chairman of the school's Board of Regents said Terry got a five-year contract at $3 million per year.UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA has taken a seat on the bench in the political game. The organization that governs college athletics was once at the forefront of hot-button issues such as the Confederate flag and transgender rights. But that stance evolved quickly as one Republican-controlled state after another rushed to pass laws that cover everything from abortion to transgender rights to drag shows. The NCAA’s new approach came into sharper focus this week as Texas prepares to host both the men’s and women’s Final Four. Not a word has been spoken about moving these events out of Houston and Dallas.UNDATED (AP) — The number of college athletes who are monetizing their social media followings has grown over the past 18 months. The NCAA cleared the way for athletes to cash in on their celebrity in July 2021. Many of those influencers are female athletes. Some say they are aware their growing popularity can draw attention from fans who may overstep their bounds. Sometimes it's in the comments on their social media posts. And sometimes they show up at sporting events just to meet the athletes.GENEVA (AP) — Some Russian athletes can soon return to international sports, although their status for the Paris Olympics is still up in the air. The International Olympic Committee has recommended that individual athletes from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to return to competition under a neutral status as long as they have no military links. But the IOC held off on deciding whether they can compete at next year’s Paris Olympics. While the IOC said Russia and Belarus should remain barred from team sports such as soccer and basketball, it still defied repeated calls by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to exclude all Russian athletes while his country is being occupied and attacked.TUESDAY SCORESMAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLINTERLEAGUEFinal Washington 3 N.Y. Yankees 0Final Philadelphia 6 Toronto 5Final Minnesota 7 Pittsburgh 5Final Atlanta 7 Boston 5Final Chicago Cubs 8 Chicago White Sox 5Final Arizona 3 Cleveland 1Final L.A. Angels 13 L.A. Dodgers 5AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal Texas 5 Kansas City 3Final Houston 5 Sugar Land 1NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal Milwaukee 8 Colorado 1NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal Washington 130 Boston 111Final Toronto 106 Miami 92Final Atlanta 120 Cleveland 118Final Memphis 113 Orlando 108Final Charlotte 137 Oklahoma City 134Final Golden State 120 New Orleans 109NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal Philadelphia 3 Montreal 2Final N-Y Rangers 6 Columbus 2Final Tampa Bay 4 Carolina 0Final Nashville 2 Boston 1Final Detroit 7 Pittsburgh 4Final OT St. Louis 6 Vancouver 5Final Dallas 4 Chicago 1Final Calgary 2 Los Angeles 1Final Edmonton 7 Vegas 4Final San Jose 3 Winnipeg 0

Sports Headlines for Wednesday

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/cole-johnson/10953">Cole Johnson's</a>&nbsp;grand slam, 14 hits and eight unanswered runs led K-State to a 12-9 comeback victory over Air Force on Tuesday afternoon at Falcon Field. "Today showed great toughness for our program," said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/pete-hughes/1939">Pete Hughes</a>. "Coming from behind on the road with extremely difficult conditions builds toughness for our program." "We had some big hits from a lot of people, specifically&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/cole-johnson/10953">Cole Johnson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-goodwin/10950">Nick Goodwin</a>," Hughes said. After falling behind 9-4, Johnson launched his second grand slam of the season to trim the lead to one before Goodwin's two-run homer guided the Cats (18-8) to their fourth straight victory. Three Cats went deep on Tuesday with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/raphael-pelletier/10960">Raphael Pelletier</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/cole-johnson/10953">Cole Johnson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-goodwin/10950">Nick Goodwin</a>&nbsp;while six different players drove in an RBI led by Johnson with four. "Overall a real solid offensive performance but we don't win without&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyler-heyne/10982">Kyler Heyne</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyson-neighbors/10958">Tyson Neighbors</a>&nbsp;coming in and pitching as well as they did." Heyne, a right-hander from Frisco, Texas, picked up his first victory in relief with the Wildcats after he allowed just two runs (two earned) during his 3 1/3 innings. Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyson-neighbors/10958">Tyson Neighbors</a>&nbsp;tossed two shutout innings to register his fourth save of the season. HOW IT HAPPENED K-State fell behind in the first frame when the Falcons' Jake Greiving hit into left field to plate a pair of runs. The Cats quickly responded in the top of half of the second led off by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/dom-hughes/10952">Dom Hughes'</a>&nbsp;single through the right side before the junior came around on a sacrifice fly.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/brendan-jones/10954">Brendan Jones</a>&nbsp;doubled into left center to tie the game at 2-2 until a grounder to short gave the Cats the one-run lead. Air Force regained the lead with Jay Thomason's two-RBI double to shift momentum back in favor of the Falcons. AF scored four runs to expand their lead to five, 8-3, before&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/raphael-pelletier/10960">Raphael Pelletier</a>&nbsp;ended the drought with his fourth homer of the season. The Canada product drove the first pitch into right to keep the game within four. The Falcons tagged their ninth run to the board with a double from Greiving but was answered with Johnson's game-changing grand slam in the seventh to put the Cats back in the game. <a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kaelen-culpepper/10947">Kaelen Culpepper</a>&nbsp;roped double into center field before&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-goodwin/10950">Nick Goodwin</a>&nbsp;was hit to place two Cats on base until a fielding error at third loaded the bases to bring Johnson to the plate. The senior from Southlake, Texas launched a bases-clearing homer into left field to trim the lead to one. With one out in the eighth, Jones hit his second double into center before scoring on a balk to level the game at 9-all. The Cats took control just one pitch later as Goodwin blasted his 27th&nbsp;career home run into left to give K-State the go-ahead 11-9 lead. INSIDE THE BOX

ON DECK The Cats will finish their time in Colorado on Wednesday at Falcon Field at noon MT. The non-conference game will be streamed on the Mountain West Network with radio coverage on KMAN (93.3FM/1350AM) and a free live audio available at&nbsp;<a href="https://kstatesports-my.sharepoint.com/personal/jballard_kstatesports_com/Documents/Documents/2022-23/Baseball/Archives/kstatesports.com/watch">kstatesports.com/watch</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680075653147.jpeg" alt="K-State Baseball win at Air Force. K-State Sports" />
 <figcaption>K-State Baseball win at Air Force. K-State Sports</figcaption>
 </figure>

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/cole-johnson/10953">Cole Johnson's</a>&nbsp;grand slam, 14 hits and eight unanswered runs led K-State to a 12-9 comeback victory over Air Force on Tuesday afternoon at Falcon Field. "Today showed great toughness for our program," said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/pete-hughes/1939">Pete Hughes</a>. "Coming from behind on the road with extremely difficult conditions builds toughness for our program." "We had some big hits from a lot of people, specifically&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/cole-johnson/10953">Cole Johnson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-goodwin/10950">Nick Goodwin</a>," Hughes said. After falling behind 9-4, Johnson launched his second grand slam of the season to trim the lead to one before Goodwin's two-run homer guided the Cats (18-8) to their fourth straight victory. Three Cats went deep on Tuesday with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/raphael-pelletier/10960">Raphael Pelletier</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/cole-johnson/10953">Cole Johnson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-goodwin/10950">Nick Goodwin</a>&nbsp;while six different players drove in an RBI led by Johnson with four. "Overall a real solid offensive performance but we don't win without&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyler-heyne/10982">Kyler Heyne</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyson-neighbors/10958">Tyson Neighbors</a>&nbsp;coming in and pitching as well as they did." Heyne, a right-hander from Frisco, Texas, picked up his first victory in relief with the Wildcats after he allowed just two runs (two earned) during his 3 1/3 innings. Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyson-neighbors/10958">Tyson Neighbors</a>&nbsp;tossed two shutout innings to register his fourth save of the season. HOW IT HAPPENED K-State fell behind in the first frame when the Falcons' Jake Greiving hit into left field to plate a pair of runs. The Cats quickly responded in the top of half of the second led off by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/dom-hughes/10952">Dom Hughes'</a>&nbsp;single through the right side before the junior came around on a sacrifice fly.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/brendan-jones/10954">Brendan Jones</a>&nbsp;doubled into left center to tie the game at 2-2 until a grounder to short gave the Cats the one-run lead. Air Force regained the lead with Jay Thomason's two-RBI double to shift momentum back in favor of the Falcons. AF scored four runs to expand their lead to five, 8-3, before&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/raphael-pelletier/10960">Raphael Pelletier</a>&nbsp;ended the drought with his fourth homer of the season. The Canada product drove the first pitch into right to keep the game within four. The Falcons tagged their ninth run to the board with a double from Greiving but was answered with Johnson's game-changing grand slam in the seventh to put the Cats back in the game. <a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kaelen-culpepper/10947">Kaelen Culpepper</a>&nbsp;roped double into center field before&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-goodwin/10950">Nick Goodwin</a>&nbsp;was hit to place two Cats on base until a fielding error at third loaded the bases to bring Johnson to the plate. The senior from Southlake, Texas launched a bases-clearing homer into left field to trim the lead to one. With one out in the eighth, Jones hit his second double into center before scoring on a balk to level the game at 9-all. The Cats took control just one pitch later as Goodwin blasted his 27th&nbsp;career home run into left to give K-State the go-ahead 11-9 lead. INSIDE THE BOX<ul>
 <li>Wildcats scored 12 runs on 14 hits with a pair of errors and seven left on base</li><li>K-State pitching staff combined for five strikeouts and five walks</li><li>Six different players recorded two hits</li><li>Pena went 2-for-4 with two RBI</li><li>Johnson led with four RBI on his second grand slam of the year</li><li>The Cats and Falcons combined for 13 extra-base hits</li><li>Thomason went 3-for-3 for the Falcons with two doubles and a home run</li><li>Goodwin was hit by a pitch twice</li><li><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/mason-buss/10969">Mason Buss</a>&nbsp;earned his first collegiate start tossing 3 2/3 innings</li>
 </ul>NOTES<ul>
 <li>K-State leads the all-time series 14-4</li><li>Cats move to 5-2 in true road games against the Falcons</li><li>K-State improves to 7-4 on the road this season</li><li>The Wildcats have hit four grand slams this season; two from Johnson</li><li>Cats were 4-7 on the road at this time in 2022</li><li>Neighbors hasn't allowed a single run in his last four outings</li><li>Culpepper returned to the diamond for the first time since Feb. 24 against LSU</li><li>Cats have sent out 35 homers this season</li><li>Goodwin and Johnson lead the pack with six home runs this season</li>
 </ul>ON DECK The Cats will finish their time in Colorado on Wednesday at Falcon Field at noon MT. The non-conference game will be streamed on the Mountain West Network with radio coverage on KMAN (93.3FM/1350AM) and a free live audio available at&nbsp;<a href="https://kstatesports-my.sharepoint.com/personal/jballard_kstatesports_com/Documents/Documents/2022-23/Baseball/Archives/kstatesports.com/watch">kstatesports.com/watch</a>.

⚾ Johnson’s slam propels K-State to comeback win

WICHITA, Kan.—<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/brock-rodden/7450">Brock Rodden</a>&nbsp;hit a two-out, go-ahead, three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Wichita State rallied past Oklahoma 8-7 on Tuesday night at Riverfront Stadium. The win marks the first time since 2006 that the Shockers have beaten the Sooners twice in the same season. Dating back to 2022, Wichita State has now won three straight games in the series. The Shockers (14-10) trailed 7-4 with two outs and a runner at second in the home half of the eighth.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jack-little/7464">Jack Little</a>&nbsp;chopped a ground ball to third base that seemed to end the inning, but Oklahoma third baseman Wallace Clark bounced his throw past first base, allowing the runner from second to score and keeping the inning alive. Now trailing 7-5,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/chuck-ingram/7448">Chuck Ingram</a>&nbsp;battled back from a 1-2 count to work a walk, bringing Rodden to the plate. Rodden also fell into a 1-2 hole, but turned on the next pitch from Sooners reliever Carson Pierce (2-1) and drove it over the wall in the right field corner for a three-run homer. The go-ahead shot capped a monster offensive performance for the Shockers second baseman, who set a new career high with five RBI as part of a 3-for-5 day at the plate. After taking the lead, the Shockers turned the ball over the&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/cameron-bye/7444">Cameron Bye</a>, who struck out the side in the ninth to nail down his first career save. It was an evening of resiliency for Wichita State, who overcame two different multi-run deficits to secure the victory. After the Shockers took a 2-0 lead in the second on a double steal from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jack-little/7464">Jack Little</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyte-mcdonald/7459">Kyte McDonald</a>&nbsp;and a Rodden RBI single, Oklahoma (13-12) responded with three runs in the fourth and two in the seventh to build a 5-2 advantage. Rodden and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/garrett-pennington/7468">Garrett Pennington</a>&nbsp;each slammed run-scoring doubles in the bottom of the seventh to pull the Shockers back to within 5-4, but the Sooners got the two runs right back in the top of the eighth to set the stage for Rodden's heroics. <a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/matt-wilkinson/7476">Matt Wilkinson</a>&nbsp;(1-0) picked up his first win as a Shocker in relief, one of six different WSU pitchers who appeared in the game. Starter&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/caden-favors/7446">Caden Favors</a>&nbsp;settled for a no-decision after three scoreless innings, his second straight start against the Sooners in which he did not allow a run. Pierce took the loss for Oklahoma, allowing four unearned runs in 1.2 innings out of the Sooner bullpen. The Shockers hit the road to open conference play this weekend at Cincinnati. First pitch of Friday's series opener is scheduled for 4:00 pm CT.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680072981094.jpeg" alt="WSU slips past OU in the bottom of the 8th" />
 <figcaption>WSU slips past OU in the bottom of the 8th</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan.—<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/brock-rodden/7450">Brock Rodden</a>&nbsp;hit a two-out, go-ahead, three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Wichita State rallied past Oklahoma 8-7 on Tuesday night at Riverfront Stadium. The win marks the first time since 2006 that the Shockers have beaten the Sooners twice in the same season. Dating back to 2022, Wichita State has now won three straight games in the series. The Shockers (14-10) trailed 7-4 with two outs and a runner at second in the home half of the eighth.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jack-little/7464">Jack Little</a>&nbsp;chopped a ground ball to third base that seemed to end the inning, but Oklahoma third baseman Wallace Clark bounced his throw past first base, allowing the runner from second to score and keeping the inning alive. Now trailing 7-5,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/chuck-ingram/7448">Chuck Ingram</a>&nbsp;battled back from a 1-2 count to work a walk, bringing Rodden to the plate. Rodden also fell into a 1-2 hole, but turned on the next pitch from Sooners reliever Carson Pierce (2-1) and drove it over the wall in the right field corner for a three-run homer. The go-ahead shot capped a monster offensive performance for the Shockers second baseman, who set a new career high with five RBI as part of a 3-for-5 day at the plate. After taking the lead, the Shockers turned the ball over the&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/cameron-bye/7444">Cameron Bye</a>, who struck out the side in the ninth to nail down his first career save. It was an evening of resiliency for Wichita State, who overcame two different multi-run deficits to secure the victory. After the Shockers took a 2-0 lead in the second on a double steal from&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jack-little/7464">Jack Little</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/kyte-mcdonald/7459">Kyte McDonald</a>&nbsp;and a Rodden RBI single, Oklahoma (13-12) responded with three runs in the fourth and two in the seventh to build a 5-2 advantage. Rodden and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/garrett-pennington/7468">Garrett Pennington</a>&nbsp;each slammed run-scoring doubles in the bottom of the seventh to pull the Shockers back to within 5-4, but the Sooners got the two runs right back in the top of the eighth to set the stage for Rodden's heroics. <a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/matt-wilkinson/7476">Matt Wilkinson</a>&nbsp;(1-0) picked up his first win as a Shocker in relief, one of six different WSU pitchers who appeared in the game. Starter&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/caden-favors/7446">Caden Favors</a>&nbsp;settled for a no-decision after three scoreless innings, his second straight start against the Sooners in which he did not allow a run. Pierce took the loss for Oklahoma, allowing four unearned runs in 1.2 innings out of the Sooner bullpen. The Shockers hit the road to open conference play this weekend at Cincinnati. First pitch of Friday's series opener is scheduled for 4:00 pm CT.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⚾ Rodden's homer rallies Shockers past Oklahoma

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/files/Jayhawk_1_-_Final_Team.pdf">CLICK FOR FINAL JAYHAWK NO. 1 TEAM RESULTS</a> <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/files/Lindenwood_-_Day_1_Player.pdf">CLICK FOR FINAL JAYHAWK NO. 1 PLAYER RESULTS</a>

MANHATTAN – All-American&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/saffell_blake_2ov2">Blake Saffell</a>&nbsp;carded a season-best 68 on Tuesday to earn a five-stroke victory in Jayhawk No. 1, the KJCCC's first of three league-designated tournaments.

Saffell's individual victory paced the No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's golf team to a tie with No. 5 Dodge City for the team championship on Tuesday at Colbert Hills Country Club.

The Blue Dragons had a slim two-stroke lead over Dodge City after 36 holes. The Conquistadors shot 290 on Tuesday to the Blue Dragons' 292. The teams tied for the tournament title with 54-hole totals of one-over par 865.

Each team receives 9.5 points in the season team standings. Garden City was third at 921. Barton and Kansas City was tied for fourth at 936.

In addition to Saffell's 68 in the final round, the Blue Dragons counted scores of 73 by&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/anderson_marco_z2pq">Marco Anderson</a>, 75 by&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/galvin_louis_mscz">Louis Galvin</a>&nbsp;and 76 by&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/lindstrom_alex_7wqw">Alex Lindstrom</a>.

Saffell entered the final round tied for second just one stroke out of the lead. With five birdies and just one bogey, Saffell tied for the low round of the tournament with a 4-under-par round of 68

Saffell won his first collegiate tournament and posted his ninth Top 10 career finish at 6-under-par 210. He also takes the Jayhawk Conference individual lead with 10 points.

Two other Blue Dragons finished in the Top 10 on Tuesday as Lindstrom and Galvin tied for sixth at 2-over 218.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/clemons_dominic_18vf">Dominic Clemons</a>&nbsp;tied for 11th after a final-round 77 to close at 223. Anderson tied for 14th at 226.

Individual Blue Dragon player&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/svederman_kalle_hvj9">Kalle Svederman</a>&nbsp;tied for 12th at 224 after posting a 77.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/sauder_brooks_5d71">Brooks Sauder</a>&nbsp;had a 75 on Tuesday to finish tied for 24th at 234.

Jayhawk No. 2 is in two weeks at Crestview Country Club South in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680073667300.jpeg" alt="Blake Saffell sinks a birdie putt on his way to a 4-under 68 on Tuesday to win Jayhawk No. 1 at Colbert Hills Country Club in Manhattan. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Blake Saffell sinks a birdie putt on his way to a 4-under 68 on Tuesday to win Jayhawk No. 1 at Colbert Hills Country Club in Manhattan. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/files/Jayhawk_1_-_Final_Team.pdf">CLICK FOR FINAL JAYHAWK NO. 1 TEAM RESULTS</a> <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/files/Lindenwood_-_Day_1_Player.pdf">CLICK FOR FINAL JAYHAWK NO. 1 PLAYER RESULTS</a>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationMANHATTAN – All-American&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/saffell_blake_2ov2">Blake Saffell</a>&nbsp;carded a season-best 68 on Tuesday to earn a five-stroke victory in Jayhawk No. 1, the KJCCC's first of three league-designated tournaments.Saffell's individual victory paced the No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's golf team to a tie with No. 5 Dodge City for the team championship on Tuesday at Colbert Hills Country Club.The Blue Dragons had a slim two-stroke lead over Dodge City after 36 holes. The Conquistadors shot 290 on Tuesday to the Blue Dragons' 292. The teams tied for the tournament title with 54-hole totals of one-over par 865.Each team receives 9.5 points in the season team standings. Garden City was third at 921. Barton and Kansas City was tied for fourth at 936.In addition to Saffell's 68 in the final round, the Blue Dragons counted scores of 73 by&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/anderson_marco_z2pq">Marco Anderson</a>, 75 by&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/galvin_louis_mscz">Louis Galvin</a>&nbsp;and 76 by&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/lindstrom_alex_7wqw">Alex Lindstrom</a>.Saffell entered the final round tied for second just one stroke out of the lead. With five birdies and just one bogey, Saffell tied for the low round of the tournament with a 4-under-par round of 68Saffell won his first collegiate tournament and posted his ninth Top 10 career finish at 6-under-par 210. He also takes the Jayhawk Conference individual lead with 10 points.Two other Blue Dragons finished in the Top 10 on Tuesday as Lindstrom and Galvin tied for sixth at 2-over 218.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/clemons_dominic_18vf">Dominic Clemons</a>&nbsp;tied for 11th after a final-round 77 to close at 223. Anderson tied for 14th at 226.Individual Blue Dragon player&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/svederman_kalle_hvj9">Kalle Svederman</a>&nbsp;tied for 12th at 224 after posting a 77.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/sauder_brooks_5d71">Brooks Sauder</a>&nbsp;had a 75 on Tuesday to finish tied for 24th at 234.Jayhawk No. 2 is in two weeks at Crestview Country Club South in Wichita.

⛳ KJCCC Golf: Saffell wins Jayhawk; Blue Dragons-Conqs tie for team title

<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=ba6723ef67&amp;e=33e05464a3" target="_blank">Box Score</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=1f3bd2126c&amp;e=33e05464a3" target="_blank">Season Stats</a>

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –&nbsp;Kansas softball (18-12) took care of business posting a 6-0 shutout at Kansas City (5-25) Tuesday night at Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City.

“We needed this game tonight, to kind of get things going again,” Kansas head coach Jennifer McFalls said. “Having the weekend off was really good for us, to catch our breath and clear our minds a little bit. We still have work to do, and now it’s all about Baylor. We have to get back to work tomorrow, work on some things offensively that we didn’t get done tonight. Overall, I was really pleased with our compete factor and am looking forward to getting work done before heading to Waco.”

Junior right-hander Addison Purvis got another quality start in the circle for Kansas, pitching 4.0 scoreless innings and picking up the win. Purvis allowed just one hit with two strikeouts as she improved to 6-2 for the season.

After two scoreless innings, the Jayhawks got on the board in the top of the third. Freshman outfielder Presley Limbaugh reached first thanks to a Kansas City error. After stealing third, Limbaugh advanced home thanks to another throwing error by the Roos, giving KU a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Kansas added four runs off of two hits and one Kansas City error. After junior catcher Lyric Moore reached first on a fielding error, freshman outfielder Aynslee Linduff took a walk, putting runners on first and second. In the next at-bat, both Moore and Linduff stole a base, putting both in scoring position. Junior utility player/pitcher Savanna DesRochers hit her first single of the night over the second baseman’s head, scoring two runs and giving the Jayhawks a 3-0 lead.

Later in the fourth, senior center fielder Shayna Espy doubled to left center scoring two runs and extending the Jayhawk’s lead to 5-0.

DesRochers came in for relief in the bottom of the fifth. She threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk.

Kansas was held scoreless until the top of the seventh. After a Limbaugh triple, sophomore Olivia Bruno hit a line drive single through the left side, enough to score Limbaugh and extending the Jayhawk’s lead to 6-0.

Espy, Limbaugh and DesRochers posted multiple hits for the contest.

Kansas opens Big 12 play at No. 21 Baylor March 31-April 2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680073415443.jpeg" alt="KU Shuts out Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>KU Shuts out Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=ba6723ef67&amp;e=33e05464a3" target="_blank">Box Score</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=1f3bd2126c&amp;e=33e05464a3" target="_blank">Season Stats</a>KANSAS CITY, Mo. –&nbsp;Kansas softball (18-12) took care of business posting a 6-0 shutout at Kansas City (5-25) Tuesday night at Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City.“We needed this game tonight, to kind of get things going again,” Kansas head coach Jennifer McFalls said. “Having the weekend off was really good for us, to catch our breath and clear our minds a little bit. We still have work to do, and now it’s all about Baylor. We have to get back to work tomorrow, work on some things offensively that we didn’t get done tonight. Overall, I was really pleased with our compete factor and am looking forward to getting work done before heading to Waco.”Junior right-hander Addison Purvis got another quality start in the circle for Kansas, pitching 4.0 scoreless innings and picking up the win. Purvis allowed just one hit with two strikeouts as she improved to 6-2 for the season.After two scoreless innings, the Jayhawks got on the board in the top of the third. Freshman outfielder Presley Limbaugh reached first thanks to a Kansas City error. After stealing third, Limbaugh advanced home thanks to another throwing error by the Roos, giving KU a 1-0 lead.In the top of the fourth, Kansas added four runs off of two hits and one Kansas City error. After junior catcher Lyric Moore reached first on a fielding error, freshman outfielder Aynslee Linduff took a walk, putting runners on first and second. In the next at-bat, both Moore and Linduff stole a base, putting both in scoring position. Junior utility player/pitcher Savanna DesRochers hit her first single of the night over the second baseman’s head, scoring two runs and giving the Jayhawks a 3-0 lead.Later in the fourth, senior center fielder Shayna Espy doubled to left center scoring two runs and extending the Jayhawk’s lead to 5-0.DesRochers came in for relief in the bottom of the fifth. She threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk.Kansas was held scoreless until the top of the seventh. After a Limbaugh triple, sophomore Olivia Bruno hit a line drive single through the left side, enough to score Limbaugh and extending the Jayhawk’s lead to 6-0.Espy, Limbaugh and DesRochers posted multiple hits for the contest.NOTES<ul>
 <li>The Jayhawks improved to 11-0 when they score at least six runs this season.</li><li>Olivia Bruno extends her hitting streak to a team-high seven games with a single in the seventh inning.</li><li>Presley Limbaugh recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the season, recording a single and a triple.</li>
 </ul>UP NEXTKansas opens Big 12 play at No. 21 Baylor March 31-April 2.

🥎 Kansas Shuts Out Kansas City

By: D. Scott Fritchen At 3:55 p.m., Kansas State head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/1856">Jerome Tang</a>&nbsp;held his last Sharpie and took his last selfie with three girls who giggled. It had been a long day of travel from the Big Apple to the Little Apple. The morning featured a bus ride through packed streets in downtown Manhattan, New York. The afternoon featured wide-open land as far as the eye could see as the charter jet sliced through low-hanging clouds over the Flint Hills. Saturday blurred into Sunday and every day seemed to slide into the next one along this march through March. But alas, this was the final stop, Manhattan Regional Airport, and the purple-clad welcoming party pressed against the black rope in the airport terminal, and they chanted "K-S-U!", and a boy held a sign that read "TANG GANG," and a girl held a sign that said "YOU'RE MY CHAMPIONS," and somebody else in the crowd held a sign that read: "WHEN YOU LOVE PEOPLE IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH."

The crowd reserved cheers for each player as he entered the terminal.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/markquis-nowell/9650">Markquis Nowell</a>&nbsp;was the last one off the plane. Tang wrapped his arm around Nowell and they walked into the terminal together. The crowd went wild. "THANK YOUUUUU!!!" the crowd shouted in unison. And then the entire K-State basketball team, wary from the six-day trip to New York City for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, slid their backpacks from their shoulders, and began signing autographs. They had done this before. They took selfies and signed autographs after each game, after each game during this unbelievable season. They were tired. They were worn. After Saturday night's 79-76 loss to Florida Atlantic in the Elite Eight, they simply seemed spent. Yet they smiled and signed autographs for K-State faithful, who'd waited for an opportunity to thank the coaches and players for a wonderful season. "Love. Pride," said Cindy Neff of Junction City. "I'm proud of them, what Coach Tang and his guys have done in one year, it's been an awesome turnaround 100%." Mark Campfield of Manhattan has been a basketball season-ticket holder since 1985. "Absolutely amazing," Campfield said. "You start with two players and go to the Elite Eight — unachievable, unbelievable. I've followed K-State for 40 years. Season tickets for football and basketball forever. It's been an amazing year for Kansas State."K-State was the only school in the nation to have a football team in a New Year's Six bowl and a basketball team in an Elite Eight this year. When K-State football won the Big 12 Championship, things were just getting warmed up for the K-State basketball season — a five-month journey that featured a school-record eight wins against AP Top 25 teams, a No. 15 final ranking in the AP Poll, a third-place finish in the Big 12 Conference, and an Elite Eight appearance in Madison Square Garden. "It's something to look forward to every week," Campfield said. "Things slow down, you get into the winter months and in past years things have gotten a little slow. It just kept going this year. Excitement every week." Longtime Arrow Stage Lines motor coach driver Bill Hassett knew it so well. "This season has been a blast," Hassett said. "It's just a dream come true. It really is. It's something that's just unbelievable because this is his first season. It can only go up from here. It's been a blast. I'm blessed to be their driver. I love Coach Tang's overall sense of family. It's unbelievable. He's like a dad to all these guys." Beth Weishaar posed for a photo with Tang. "Pretty exciting," she said as she stepped away with a photo and a lasting memory. "I've been wanting to do that for a while. I'm very appreciative for everything he's done for this program, and I'm really excited about the years ahead." K-State's NCAA Tournament run this year started with a 77-65 win over Montana State and a 75-69 win over Kentucky before a 98-93 overtime thriller against Michigan State. "Very fun," Weishaar said. "Our heart rates were a lot higher than they ever have been. It was great. Very proud of them."

Prior to stepping onto the New York City-bound plane for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight last Tuesday, Tang said, "We're going to win a national championship while we're here." Tang's first season ended one game shy of the Final Four. "It's more than I ever could've dreamed of as far as the joy the young fellas brought to my life," Tang said, "and how great it was to live life with them." There's more to come.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680076166594.jpeg" alt="K-State welcomed home" />
 <figcaption>K-State welcomed home</figcaption>
 </figure>

By: D. Scott Fritchen At 3:55 p.m., Kansas State head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/1856">Jerome Tang</a>&nbsp;held his last Sharpie and took his last selfie with three girls who giggled. It had been a long day of travel from the Big Apple to the Little Apple. The morning featured a bus ride through packed streets in downtown Manhattan, New York. The afternoon featured wide-open land as far as the eye could see as the charter jet sliced through low-hanging clouds over the Flint Hills. Saturday blurred into Sunday and every day seemed to slide into the next one along this march through March. But alas, this was the final stop, Manhattan Regional Airport, and the purple-clad welcoming party pressed against the black rope in the airport terminal, and they chanted "K-S-U!", and a boy held a sign that read "TANG GANG," and a girl held a sign that said "YOU'RE MY CHAMPIONS," and somebody else in the crowd held a sign that read: "WHEN YOU LOVE PEOPLE IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH." <figure>
 <img src="https://www.kstatesports.com/images/2023/3/26/20230326_LC_MBB_Sweet-16-Coming-Home_002_WEB.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The crowd reserved cheers for each player as he entered the terminal.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/markquis-nowell/9650">Markquis Nowell</a>&nbsp;was the last one off the plane. Tang wrapped his arm around Nowell and they walked into the terminal together. The crowd went wild. "THANK YOUUUUU!!!" the crowd shouted in unison. And then the entire K-State basketball team, wary from the six-day trip to New York City for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, slid their backpacks from their shoulders, and began signing autographs. They had done this before. They took selfies and signed autographs after each game, after each game during this unbelievable season. They were tired. They were worn. After Saturday night's 79-76 loss to Florida Atlantic in the Elite Eight, they simply seemed spent. Yet they smiled and signed autographs for K-State faithful, who'd waited for an opportunity to thank the coaches and players for a wonderful season. "Love. Pride," said Cindy Neff of Junction City. "I'm proud of them, what Coach Tang and his guys have done in one year, it's been an awesome turnaround 100%." Mark Campfield of Manhattan has been a basketball season-ticket holder since 1985. "Absolutely amazing," Campfield said. "You start with two players and go to the Elite Eight — unachievable, unbelievable. I've followed K-State for 40 years. Season tickets for football and basketball forever. It's been an amazing year for Kansas State."K-State was the only school in the nation to have a football team in a New Year's Six bowl and a basketball team in an Elite Eight this year. When K-State football won the Big 12 Championship, things were just getting warmed up for the K-State basketball season — a five-month journey that featured a school-record eight wins against AP Top 25 teams, a No. 15 final ranking in the AP Poll, a third-place finish in the Big 12 Conference, and an Elite Eight appearance in Madison Square Garden. "It's something to look forward to every week," Campfield said. "Things slow down, you get into the winter months and in past years things have gotten a little slow. It just kept going this year. Excitement every week." Longtime Arrow Stage Lines motor coach driver Bill Hassett knew it so well. "This season has been a blast," Hassett said. "It's just a dream come true. It really is. It's something that's just unbelievable because this is his first season. It can only go up from here. It's been a blast. I'm blessed to be their driver. I love Coach Tang's overall sense of family. It's unbelievable. He's like a dad to all these guys." Beth Weishaar posed for a photo with Tang. "Pretty exciting," she said as she stepped away with a photo and a lasting memory. "I've been wanting to do that for a while. I'm very appreciative for everything he's done for this program, and I'm really excited about the years ahead." K-State's NCAA Tournament run this year started with a 77-65 win over Montana State and a 75-69 win over Kentucky before a 98-93 overtime thriller against Michigan State. "Very fun," Weishaar said. "Our heart rates were a lot higher than they ever have been. It was great. Very proud of them." <figure>
 <img src="https://www.kstatesports.com/images/2023/3/26/20230326_LC_MBB_Sweet-16-Coming-Home_014_WEB.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Prior to stepping onto the New York City-bound plane for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight last Tuesday, Tang said, "We're going to win a national championship while we're here." Tang's first season ended one game shy of the Final Four. "It's more than I ever could've dreamed of as far as the joy the young fellas brought to my life," Tang said, "and how great it was to live life with them." There's more to come.

🏀 Prideful fanbase welcomes K-State home

Hutchinson’s Garrett Robertson was voted by the fans as the Wichita Large School Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Robertson led the Salthawks to a league title and fourth place finish at the 5A State Tournament.

“This season was a great experience,” Robertson said. “Coming into this season, our team made goals that we believed we could meet: to win our respective league and to make it to state. During the season, we faced unexpected hardships. These obstacles shaped our team and brought us together. This made us push harder in practice and built our team chemistry. Our team was blessed to have great coaches that would come in everyday and push us to be the best we can be.”

Robertson also led the Salthawks to an accomplishment they had not achieved since 1986.

“One memory that stood out to me this year was our midseason tournament,” Robertson said. “We went to Dodge City to play in the Tournament of Champions. Coming into the tournament, we were the one seed. In my high school career, none of us&nbsp;have ever been to TOC so we didn’t know what to expect. Lots of memories were made, including winning the tournament for the first time since 1986.”

The Hutchinson basketball program was instrumental in Robertson’s growth, not only as a player, but a person as well. He will forever look back fondly on his time as a Salthawk.

“Coach Miller created a culture that we will remember forever,” Robertson said. “Each season, Hutch High basketball has gained more respect.&nbsp;As the seniors of the team, we showed the upcoming players what is expected to have a successful season. As for me, I contributed by being a leader and showing others what putting in the extra work can do. Throughout my four years, we put Hutchinson back on the radar and made Hutch High basketball relevant again.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://ksvype.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/03/IMG-4499.jpg" alt="Courtesy of Vype Magazine" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Vype Magazine</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson’s Garrett Robertson was voted by the fans as the Wichita Large School Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Robertson led the Salthawks to a league title and fourth place finish at the 5A State Tournament.“This season was a great experience,” Robertson said. “Coming into this season, our team made goals that we believed we could meet: to win our respective league and to make it to state. During the season, we faced unexpected hardships. These obstacles shaped our team and brought us together. This made us push harder in practice and built our team chemistry. Our team was blessed to have great coaches that would come in everyday and push us to be the best we can be.”Robertson also led the Salthawks to an accomplishment they had not achieved since 1986.“One memory that stood out to me this year was our midseason tournament,” Robertson said. “We went to Dodge City to play in the Tournament of Champions. Coming into the tournament, we were the one seed. In my high school career, none of us&nbsp;have ever been to TOC so we didn’t know what to expect. Lots of memories were made, including winning the tournament for the first time since 1986.”The Hutchinson basketball program was instrumental in Robertson’s growth, not only as a player, but a person as well. He will forever look back fondly on his time as a Salthawk.“Coach Miller created a culture that we will remember forever,” Robertson said. “Each season, Hutch High basketball has gained more respect.&nbsp;As the seniors of the team, we showed the upcoming players what is expected to have a successful season. As for me, I contributed by being a leader and showing others what putting in the extra work can do. Throughout my four years, we put Hutchinson back on the radar and made Hutch High basketball relevant again.”&nbsp;

🏀 Fan’s Choice! Wichita Large School Boys Basketball Player Of The Year (Presented By WSU Tech)

WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State right-handed pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/clark-candiotti/7475">Clark Candiotti</a>&nbsp;and outfielder&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/chuck-ingram/7448">Chuck Ingram</a>&nbsp;were selected to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll, the conference announced Monday. This is the second such selection of the season for each player; Candiotti was selected on March 13 and Ingram on March 20. Candiotti set a new season high with nine strikeouts on Friday against UMass, earning the win with six solid innings. The righty allowed six hits and one run, holding the Minutemen off the scoreboard over his final five innings of work. Candiotti also recorded his first pick off of the season to end the first inning.

WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State right-handed pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/clark-candiotti/7475">Clark Candiotti</a>&nbsp;and outfielder&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/chuck-ingram/7448">Chuck Ingram</a>&nbsp;were selected to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll, the conference announced Monday. This is the second such selection of the season for each player; Candiotti was selected on March 13 and Ingram on March 20. Candiotti set a new season high with nine strikeouts on Friday against UMass, earning the win with six solid innings. The righty allowed six hits and one run, holding the Minutemen off the scoreboard over his final five innings of work. Candiotti also recorded his first pick off of the season to end the first inning.

⚾ Candiotti, Ingram double-up on Weekly Honor Roll

For the fourth consecutive ranking period, the Hutchinson Community College softball team has moved up in the NJCAA Division I Softball Rankings.

The Blue Dragons (27-4) jumped up two spots to No. 13 in the latest rankings released on Monday. That is the highest ranking this season and the highest Division I Ranking since being ranked No. 7 at the end of the 1988 season.

The Blue Dragons extended their winning streak to 12 games with a 4-0 week with four run-rule victories. The Blue Dragons rolled by Seward County 28-2 and 13-5 last Wednesday in Liberal. The Dragons&nbsp;&nbsp;then downed Pratt 14-0 and 12-1 on Saturday in Pratt.

After Tuesday’s game at Neosho County were cancelled, the Blue Dragons have just one doubleheader scheduled this weekend, which comes on Saturday at Colby.

The Blue Dragons continue to be the highest ranked Jayhawk Conference team this week. Butler is ranked No. 18 this week. Former opponent Weatherford is ranked 20th. Murray State continues to be the No. 1 team in NJCAA Division II.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Record&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Points&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Last Poll

1. Florida SouthWestern (8)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;33-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;140&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2

2. Grayson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;28-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;133&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3

3. Northwest Florida State&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;36-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;126&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1

4. Walters State&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;30-0&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;119&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4

5. Wallace State&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;24-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;112&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5

6. Odessa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;28-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;105&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6

7. Chattanooga State&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;26-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;98&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10

8. Central Florida&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;35-9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;91&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8

9. McLennan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;24-8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;84&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11

10. Seminole State (FL)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;34-8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;77&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9

11. Seminole State (OK)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;18-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;70&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7

12. Galveston&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;28-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;63&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;12

13. Hutchinson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;27-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;56&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15

14. Volunteer State&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;22-6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;49&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;13

15. Indian River&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;33-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;42&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;18

16. Salt Lake&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;16-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;35&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;16

17. Lake Land&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;28&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14

18. Butler&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;21-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;21&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19

19. Southern Idaho&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19-10&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;17

20. Weatherford&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;24-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;20

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Receiving Votes: Temple, Eastern Arizona, Central Arizona, Gulf Coast State

HutchCC Sports InformationFor the fourth consecutive ranking period, the Hutchinson Community College softball team has moved up in the NJCAA Division I Softball Rankings.The Blue Dragons (27-4) jumped up two spots to No. 13 in the latest rankings released on Monday. That is the highest ranking this season and the highest Division I Ranking since being ranked No. 7 at the end of the 1988 season.The Blue Dragons extended their winning streak to 12 games with a 4-0 week with four run-rule victories. The Blue Dragons rolled by Seward County 28-2 and 13-5 last Wednesday in Liberal. The Dragons&nbsp;&nbsp;then downed Pratt 14-0 and 12-1 on Saturday in Pratt.After Tuesday’s game at Neosho County were cancelled, the Blue Dragons have just one doubleheader scheduled this weekend, which comes on Saturday at Colby.The Blue Dragons continue to be the highest ranked Jayhawk Conference team this week. Butler is ranked No. 18 this week. Former opponent Weatherford is ranked 20th. Murray State continues to be the No. 1 team in NJCAA Division II.NJCAA DIV. I SOFTBALL RANKINGS&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Record&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Points&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Last Poll1. Florida SouthWestern (8)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;33-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;140&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;22. Grayson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;28-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;133&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;33. Northwest Florida State&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;36-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;126&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14. Walters State&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;30-0&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;119&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;45. Wallace State&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;24-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;112&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;56. Odessa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;28-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;105&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;67. Chattanooga State&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;26-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;98&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;108. Central Florida&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;35-9&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;91&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;89. McLennan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;24-8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;84&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1110. Seminole State (FL)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;34-8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;77&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;911. Seminole State (OK)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;18-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;70&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;712. Galveston&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;28-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;63&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1213. Hutchinson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;27-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;56&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1514. Volunteer State&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;22-6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;49&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1315. Indian River&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;33-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;42&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1816. Salt Lake&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;16-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;35&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1617. Lake Land&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;28&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1418. Butler&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;21-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;21&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1919. Southern Idaho&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;19-10&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1720. Weatherford&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;24-7&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;20&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Receiving Votes: Temple, Eastern Arizona, Central Arizona, Gulf Coast State

🥎 Hutchinson CC Softball Release: Dragons No. 13 in NJCAA Rankings

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;&nbsp;–&nbsp;On the heels of K-State’s 2022 Big 12 football championship and 2023 men’s basketball run to the Elite Eight, Athletics Director Gene Taylor has been named the 2022-23&nbsp;Cushman &amp; Wakefield&nbsp;FBS AD of the Year by the&nbsp;National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Taylor’s K-State program has taken the college athletics world by storm in 2022-23 as Chris Klieman’s football team won the 2022 Big 12 Championship and played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and Big 12 Coach of the Year Jerome Tang and his men’s basketball squad made a remarkable run to the Elite Eight following a preseason poll that picked the Wildcats to finish last in the league. Both coaches were hired at K-State by Taylor, who also currently serves on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee and the LEAD1 Board of Directors.

Taylor will be recognized in conjunction with the 58th&nbsp;Annual NACDA &amp; Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 13, starting at 4 p.m.

“I am very thankful and appreciative to be honored by my peers,” Taylor said. “The success that we have had at K-State is the direct result of the passion and hard work that our entire staff puts forth each and every day, and I am blessed to be a part of such a special place, at a special university, filled with very special people.” Named the eighth-best Athletic Director among FBS programs by Stadium in 2020, Taylor was named the Director of Athletics at K-State in April 2017. During his tenure, K-State has also seen the football program qualify for four bowls, the men’s basketball team win a Big 12 Championship, earn two Elite 8 appearances and advance to three NCAA tournaments, the women’s basketball team advance to two NCAA tournaments and the women’s track and field team win back-to-back Big 12 Outdoor Championships. &nbsp; Additionally, Taylor and staff have fundraised and begun to implement a department-wide facility master plan that will benefit all Wildcat teams, including the baseball and soccer projects in addition to Building Champions, an initiative focused on the South End Zone of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the new Morgan Family Arena for volleyball, an Olympic training Center and the Shamrock Practice Facility for football. From a fundraising perspective, overall pledges and cash gifts to the department during the 2022 fiscal year totaled $58.9 million, of which $20.4 million was designated for the Ahearn Fund annual giving program and surpassing its budgeted goal previous record of $18.9 Million in FY19.&nbsp;The department also received $42.6 million in cash giving, marking only the third time in history it has eclipsed the $40 million mark.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679953594597.png" alt="Gene Taylor named NACDA Athletic Cirector of the Year" />
 <figcaption>Gene Taylor named NACDA Athletic Cirector of the Year</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;&nbsp;–&nbsp;On the heels of K-State’s 2022 Big 12 football championship and 2023 men’s basketball run to the Elite Eight, Athletics Director Gene Taylor has been named the 2022-23&nbsp;Cushman &amp; Wakefield&nbsp;FBS AD of the Year by the&nbsp;National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Taylor’s K-State program has taken the college athletics world by storm in 2022-23 as Chris Klieman’s football team won the 2022 Big 12 Championship and played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and Big 12 Coach of the Year Jerome Tang and his men’s basketball squad made a remarkable run to the Elite Eight following a preseason poll that picked the Wildcats to finish last in the league. Both coaches were hired at K-State by Taylor, who also currently serves on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee and the LEAD1 Board of Directors.Taylor will be recognized in conjunction with the 58th&nbsp;Annual NACDA &amp; Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 13, starting at 4 p.m. “I am very thankful and appreciative to be honored by my peers,” Taylor said. “The success that we have had at K-State is the direct result of the passion and hard work that our entire staff puts forth each and every day, and I am blessed to be a part of such a special place, at a special university, filled with very special people.” Named the eighth-best Athletic Director among FBS programs by Stadium in 2020, Taylor was named the Director of Athletics at K-State in April 2017. During his tenure, K-State has also seen the football program qualify for four bowls, the men’s basketball team win a Big 12 Championship, earn two Elite 8 appearances and advance to three NCAA tournaments, the women’s basketball team advance to two NCAA tournaments and the women’s track and field team win back-to-back Big 12 Outdoor Championships. &nbsp; Additionally, Taylor and staff have fundraised and begun to implement a department-wide facility master plan that will benefit all Wildcat teams, including the baseball and soccer projects in addition to Building Champions, an initiative focused on the South End Zone of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the new Morgan Family Arena for volleyball, an Olympic training Center and the Shamrock Practice Facility for football. From a fundraising perspective, overall pledges and cash gifts to the department during the 2022 fiscal year totaled $58.9 million, of which $20.4 million was designated for the Ahearn Fund annual giving program and surpassing its budgeted goal previous record of $18.9 Million in FY19.&nbsp;The department also received $42.6 million in cash giving, marking only the third time in history it has eclipsed the $40 million mark.

K-State’s Taylor named FBS Athletics Director of the Year

MANHATTAN – With 10 of the Top 11 individual players in the individual standings either from Hutchinson or Dodge City, the No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons and No. 5 ranked Conquistadors are locked in a tight battle for the first Jayhawk Conference tournament title of the 2023 spring season after 36 holes on Monday.

The Hutchinson Community College men's golf team leads Dodge City by two strokes after two round of Jayhawk No. 1, the first of three league-designated tournament. Hutchinson leads the tournament at Colbert Hills with a 3-under-par team score of 573. Dodge City is at 1-over 575. Garden City is third at 616.

The final round of the 54-hole events begins with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at Colbert Hills.

Led by sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/saffell_blake_2ov2">Blake Saffell</a>'s 2-under 70, the Blue Dragons shot even par 288 in the morning round and led Dodge City by one stroke. The Dragons counted scored in the first round of 71 by&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/lindstrom_alex_7wqw">Alex Lindstrom</a>, 73 by&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/clemons_dominic_18vf">Dominic Clemons</a>&nbsp;and 73 from Louis Gavin.

Galvin paced the Blue Dragons in the afternoon round with a season-best round of 69 and Lindstrom shot a second-straight round of 71 as Hutchinson shout a 3-under 285. Dodge City shot 286. Saffell carded a 72 in the second round and Clemons shot a second-straight 73 to count toward the team score.

Saffell and Lindstrom lead the Dragons individually with both players in a four-way tie for second at 2-under 142.

Galvin is sixth at 1-under 143. Clemons is eighth at 2-over 146.

<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/anderson_marco_z2pq">Marco Anderson</a>, the fifth Blue Dragons in the group of five who could figure in the team scoring is 15th after 36 holes at 153 around rounds of 75 and 78.

One of the Blue Dragon individual players is also in the individual Top 10 through 36 holes. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/svederman_kalle_hvj9">Kalle Svederman</a>&nbsp;is tied for ninth at 3-over 147. Svederman had rounds of 74 and 73 on Monday.

<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/sauder_brooks_5d71">Brooks Sauder</a>&nbsp;is tied for 26th at 159 after Monday rounds of 84 and 75.

Dodge City's Arthit Kruaprayong is the tournament leader after two rounds with a 3-under 141 (70-71).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680007965134.jpeg" alt="Tied for 2nd after 36 holes, Blake Saffell chips onto a green at Colbert Hills Country Club on Monday during Jayhawk No. 1. (Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Tied for 2nd after 36 holes, Blake Saffell chips onto a green at Colbert Hills Country Club on Monday during Jayhawk No. 1. (Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationMANHATTAN – With 10 of the Top 11 individual players in the individual standings either from Hutchinson or Dodge City, the No. 1-ranked Blue Dragons and No. 5 ranked Conquistadors are locked in a tight battle for the first Jayhawk Conference tournament title of the 2023 spring season after 36 holes on Monday.The Hutchinson Community College men's golf team leads Dodge City by two strokes after two round of Jayhawk No. 1, the first of three league-designated tournament. Hutchinson leads the tournament at Colbert Hills with a 3-under-par team score of 573. Dodge City is at 1-over 575. Garden City is third at 616.The final round of the 54-hole events begins with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at Colbert Hills.Led by sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/saffell_blake_2ov2">Blake Saffell</a>'s 2-under 70, the Blue Dragons shot even par 288 in the morning round and led Dodge City by one stroke. The Dragons counted scored in the first round of 71 by&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/lindstrom_alex_7wqw">Alex Lindstrom</a>, 73 by&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/clemons_dominic_18vf">Dominic Clemons</a>&nbsp;and 73 from Louis Gavin.Galvin paced the Blue Dragons in the afternoon round with a season-best round of 69 and Lindstrom shot a second-straight round of 71 as Hutchinson shout a 3-under 285. Dodge City shot 286. Saffell carded a 72 in the second round and Clemons shot a second-straight 73 to count toward the team score.Saffell and Lindstrom lead the Dragons individually with both players in a four-way tie for second at 2-under 142.Galvin is sixth at 1-under 143. Clemons is eighth at 2-over 146.<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/anderson_marco_z2pq">Marco Anderson</a>, the fifth Blue Dragons in the group of five who could figure in the team scoring is 15th after 36 holes at 153 around rounds of 75 and 78.One of the Blue Dragon individual players is also in the individual Top 10 through 36 holes. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/svederman_kalle_hvj9">Kalle Svederman</a>&nbsp;is tied for ninth at 3-over 147. Svederman had rounds of 74 and 73 on Monday.<a href="https://hutchinson.prestosports.com/sports/mgolf/2022-23/bios/sauder_brooks_5d71">Brooks Sauder</a>&nbsp;is tied for 26th at 159 after Monday rounds of 84 and 75.Dodge City's Arthit Kruaprayong is the tournament leader after two rounds with a 3-under 141 (70-71).

⛳ Blue Dragons, Conqs in tight battle at Jayhawk Tourney

Fort Hays State University women's basketball will have a new, but very familiar face as its leader going into the 2023-24 season. On Monday, head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/tony-hobson/1136">Tony Hobson</a>&nbsp;announced his retirement after putting together a phenomenal career record of 745-227 in 31 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including a 332-121 mark over 15 years that made him the winningest coach in Fort Hays State program history. The university and Director of Athletics Curtis Hammeke looked no further than the individual who has been instrumental in helping Hobson build the program into one of the strongest in NCAA Division II the last 11 years. Assistant coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/talia-kahrs/1137">Talia Kahrs</a>&nbsp;will elevate into the role of head coach. A press conference to officially introduce Kahrs as the next head coach will be held on Thursday, April 13, at the FHSU Memorial Union Lobby at 5 p.m. On Saturday, April 15, the university will be holding a celebration of&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/tony-hobson/1136">Tony Hobson</a>'s coaching career at the Robbins Center at 11 a.m. The delay for these in-person celebrations is to allow for family members to be in attendance. Hobson has elevated the FHSU women's basketball program to heights it never saw at the NCAA Division II level prior to his arrival, serving as head coach from 2008 to 2023. The program has won 20 or more games in 12-straight seasons going back to the 2011-12 campaign, which is the longest-running streak in NCAA Division II. He guided the Tigers to 30 or more wins three times and the Tigers were the No. 1 seed in the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament four times under Hobson's leadership, making the regional final three times (2015, 2019, 2022) and the regional semifinals twice. FHSU was an NCAA Tournament qualifier seven of the last nine years after qualifying for the NCAA national tournament just once before Hobson became head coach. The Tigers enjoyed six MIAA Championships under Hobson's guidance, which included four regular season titles (2015, 2019, 2021, 2022) and two tournament titles (2019, 2022). He was the MIAA Women's Basketball Coach of the Year four times (2015, 2016, 2019, 2021). Hobson was also the WBCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2019 and was named the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Four-Year College Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2022. "Tony has done an outstanding job with our women's basketball program over the past 15 years," said Hammeke. "Our program has become consistently competitive at the conference, regional, and national levels during his tenure." Hobson started his career as head coach at Cloud County (Kan.) Community College in 1983-84, where he coached for six years. Eventually, he became head coach at Barton County (Kan.) Community College for three years from 1997 to 2000. Hobson notched 202 wins as a head coach in nine years as a junior college head coach. He then moved on to Hastings College (Neb.), where he put together a national powerhouse program at the NAIA level for seven years from 2001 to 2008. Hastings won three NAIA national titles (2002, 2003, 2006) under Hobson's guidance and won 211 games, reaching the 30-win plateau in five of his seven seasons. Hobson then came to FHSU, where he enjoyed his longest tenure as a head coach and tacked on 332 wins to his career total of 745. "Everybody in their career knows this time will come, and hopefully you get to go out on your own terms like I get to," said Hobson. "It's good timing for me to retire. I always hoped I'd be able to leave a really good team and have somebody take over for me that I'm confident in and will take really good care of that group that I'm leaving. Both of those things have happened. We've been able to sustain success for a long period of time and hopefully the way we are transitioning into this next phase of the program will give us the best chance of keeping that going. This is a great group of players we have right now and I think it's going to be about as seamless of a transition as possible." Helping Hobson push FHSU to new heights in the NCAA Division II realm since the 2012-13 season has been FHSU graduate&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/talia-kahrs/1137">Talia Kahrs</a>&nbsp;(formerly Miller), who played for Hobson at FHSU from 2008-11. She then served as a student assistant coach in 2011-12 and elevated to assistant coach in 2012-13, highly instrumental in the success of the team and several great players that have been a part of the program the last 12 years. She has been here as both a player and coach during Hobson's entire 15-year tenure at FHSU. "I really believe in Talia," said Hobson. "She is a really intelligent, hard-working person and one of the more unselfish individuals I've ever been around. I know she has the players' respect and I think that is of utmost importance. She has turned into a really good recruiter, and to recruit kids you have to be genuine and she is that. You can't try to be something you're not because kids are smart, they figure that out. As far as X's and O's go, she's on top of it. The hard part of coaching is getting individuals here that fit into what you want to do, on and off the court. Talia has been one of the main reasons why we have been able to sustain what we have going here at FHSU because we have stability as a coaching staff. She has had plenty of interest from the outside the last few years and she has been very patient on doing her job at a very high level, waiting for her opportunity. As much of I think of her as a coach, I think even more highly of her as a person. I think she will do an excellent job." The Tigers have garnered 42 All-MIAA selections while Kahrs has been on the sideline with Hobson since 2011 to go with the six conference championships and seven NCAA Tournament appearances. They have also coached three All-America players in that span, including Kate Lehman, Tatyana Legette, and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jaden-hobbs/6437">Jaden Hobbs</a>. Lehman and Legette also garnered MIAA Player of the Year honors in their time as Tigers. "I'm just really thankful for this opportunity and to have spent as much time as I have with Tony. To learn under him with as successful as he has been over the years," said Kahrs. "I'm thankful for the way he allowed me to do more in my role as assistant over the years to get me to this point where I feel confident that I'm prepared to be head coach. I'm very excited and willing to take the opportunity to lead this group of women, a team that we've worked really hard to put together." "Talia possesses all the traits we want to see in a coach to lead our program forward," said Hammeke. "She is passionate, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and has a strong work ethic. These characteristics coupled with her personality, love for the game, and care for our student-athletes, makes her well suited to take over where Tony left off." Kahrs will be the seventh head coach of women's basketball at Fort Hays State since 1969.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679968005868.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFort Hays State University women's basketball will have a new, but very familiar face as its leader going into the 2023-24 season. On Monday, head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/tony-hobson/1136">Tony Hobson</a>&nbsp;announced his retirement after putting together a phenomenal career record of 745-227 in 31 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including a 332-121 mark over 15 years that made him the winningest coach in Fort Hays State program history. The university and Director of Athletics Curtis Hammeke looked no further than the individual who has been instrumental in helping Hobson build the program into one of the strongest in NCAA Division II the last 11 years. Assistant coach&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/talia-kahrs/1137">Talia Kahrs</a>&nbsp;will elevate into the role of head coach. A press conference to officially introduce Kahrs as the next head coach will be held on Thursday, April 13, at the FHSU Memorial Union Lobby at 5 p.m. On Saturday, April 15, the university will be holding a celebration of&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/tony-hobson/1136">Tony Hobson</a>'s coaching career at the Robbins Center at 11 a.m. The delay for these in-person celebrations is to allow for family members to be in attendance. Hobson has elevated the FHSU women's basketball program to heights it never saw at the NCAA Division II level prior to his arrival, serving as head coach from 2008 to 2023. The program has won 20 or more games in 12-straight seasons going back to the 2011-12 campaign, which is the longest-running streak in NCAA Division II. He guided the Tigers to 30 or more wins three times and the Tigers were the No. 1 seed in the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament four times under Hobson's leadership, making the regional final three times (2015, 2019, 2022) and the regional semifinals twice. FHSU was an NCAA Tournament qualifier seven of the last nine years after qualifying for the NCAA national tournament just once before Hobson became head coach. The Tigers enjoyed six MIAA Championships under Hobson's guidance, which included four regular season titles (2015, 2019, 2021, 2022) and two tournament titles (2019, 2022). He was the MIAA Women's Basketball Coach of the Year four times (2015, 2016, 2019, 2021). Hobson was also the WBCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2019 and was named the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Four-Year College Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2022. "Tony has done an outstanding job with our women's basketball program over the past 15 years," said Hammeke. "Our program has become consistently competitive at the conference, regional, and national levels during his tenure." Hobson started his career as head coach at Cloud County (Kan.) Community College in 1983-84, where he coached for six years. Eventually, he became head coach at Barton County (Kan.) Community College for three years from 1997 to 2000. Hobson notched 202 wins as a head coach in nine years as a junior college head coach. He then moved on to Hastings College (Neb.), where he put together a national powerhouse program at the NAIA level for seven years from 2001 to 2008. Hastings won three NAIA national titles (2002, 2003, 2006) under Hobson's guidance and won 211 games, reaching the 30-win plateau in five of his seven seasons. Hobson then came to FHSU, where he enjoyed his longest tenure as a head coach and tacked on 332 wins to his career total of 745. "Everybody in their career knows this time will come, and hopefully you get to go out on your own terms like I get to," said Hobson. "It's good timing for me to retire. I always hoped I'd be able to leave a really good team and have somebody take over for me that I'm confident in and will take really good care of that group that I'm leaving. Both of those things have happened. We've been able to sustain success for a long period of time and hopefully the way we are transitioning into this next phase of the program will give us the best chance of keeping that going. This is a great group of players we have right now and I think it's going to be about as seamless of a transition as possible." Helping Hobson push FHSU to new heights in the NCAA Division II realm since the 2012-13 season has been FHSU graduate&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/talia-kahrs/1137">Talia Kahrs</a>&nbsp;(formerly Miller), who played for Hobson at FHSU from 2008-11. She then served as a student assistant coach in 2011-12 and elevated to assistant coach in 2012-13, highly instrumental in the success of the team and several great players that have been a part of the program the last 12 years. She has been here as both a player and coach during Hobson's entire 15-year tenure at FHSU. "I really believe in Talia," said Hobson. "She is a really intelligent, hard-working person and one of the more unselfish individuals I've ever been around. I know she has the players' respect and I think that is of utmost importance. She has turned into a really good recruiter, and to recruit kids you have to be genuine and she is that. You can't try to be something you're not because kids are smart, they figure that out. As far as X's and O's go, she's on top of it. The hard part of coaching is getting individuals here that fit into what you want to do, on and off the court. Talia has been one of the main reasons why we have been able to sustain what we have going here at FHSU because we have stability as a coaching staff. She has had plenty of interest from the outside the last few years and she has been very patient on doing her job at a very high level, waiting for her opportunity. As much of I think of her as a coach, I think even more highly of her as a person. I think she will do an excellent job." The Tigers have garnered 42 All-MIAA selections while Kahrs has been on the sideline with Hobson since 2011 to go with the six conference championships and seven NCAA Tournament appearances. They have also coached three All-America players in that span, including Kate Lehman, Tatyana Legette, and&nbsp;<a href="https://fhsuathletics.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jaden-hobbs/6437">Jaden Hobbs</a>. Lehman and Legette also garnered MIAA Player of the Year honors in their time as Tigers. "I'm just really thankful for this opportunity and to have spent as much time as I have with Tony. To learn under him with as successful as he has been over the years," said Kahrs. "I'm thankful for the way he allowed me to do more in my role as assistant over the years to get me to this point where I feel confident that I'm prepared to be head coach. I'm very excited and willing to take the opportunity to lead this group of women, a team that we've worked really hard to put together." "Talia possesses all the traits we want to see in a coach to lead our program forward," said Hammeke. "She is passionate, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and has a strong work ethic. These characteristics coupled with her personality, love for the game, and care for our student-athletes, makes her well suited to take over where Tony left off." Kahrs will be the seventh head coach of women's basketball at Fort Hays State since 1969.

🏀 Hobson to retire; Kahrs new head coach of FHSU women’s basketball

SEATTLE (AP) — Elizabeth Kitley scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Georgia Amoore added 24 points and top-seeded Virginia Tech advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history with an 84-74 win over No. 3 seed Ohio State in the Seattle 3 Regional final. Playing in its first regional final, Virginia Tech won its 15th straight game and will head to the Final Four having not lost in more than two months. The Hokies will face LSU in the national semifinals on Friday in Dallas. Taylor Mikesell led Ohio State with 25 points, but 19 of those came in the first half.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Aliyah Boston had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Zia Cooke scored 18 points and top-seeded South Carolina used its smothering defense to outlast second-seeded Maryland 86-75 to reach its third straight Final Four. The Gamecocks improved to 36-0 on the season with their 42nd straight win dating to last year's NCAA title run. They're now just two victories away from consecutive titles and the 10th undefeated season in the history of the women's game. Maryland used a fast pace to lead in the opening period. But South Carolina turned on its trademark defense to grab control.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas on Monday named Rodney Terry as full-time head basketball coach, removing the interim tag after he led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight following the midseason firing of Chris Beard. The school scheduled a Tuesday news conference to introduce him as the head coach going forward. Financial terms and years of the deal were not immediately available. Rewarding Terry with the promotion was no surprise. He took over Texas when Beard was first suspended on Dec. 12 after a felony domestic violence arrest, and the Longhorns made their deepest NCAA tournament run in 15 years.

UNDATED (AP) — Lamar Jackson says he has requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens, saying the team “has not been interested in meeting my value.” The star quarterback said Monday in a series of tweets that he requested a trade as of March 2. On March 7, the Ravens put the nonexclusive franchise tag on Jackson and said they were still hopeful they could reach a long-term deal with him. That version of the franchise tag allowed Jackson to negotiate with other teams, but it also gives Baltimore a chance to match any agreement he makes.

PHOENIX (AP) — Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said he’s not requiring a first-round pick in a potential trade sending four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets but added he’d want “fair value.” Gutekunst and Jets general manager Joe Douglas both discussed trade talks involving the 39-year-old Rodgers on Monday at the NFL annual meeting. Rodgers said March 15 during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on SiriusXM and YouTube that he intends to play for the Jets in 2023.

UNDATED (AP) — Baseball has transformed in the 145 days since Dusty Baker and the Houston Astros sealed the franchise’s second title in six seasons. As New York Mets owner Steve Cohen dominated an offseason that saw billions spent, the sport braced for a new world that includes pitch clocks, bigger bases, limits on defensive shifts and pickoff throws, and an overarching attempt to reverse decades of lengthening games and the Analytics Era domination of the Three True Outcomes — strikeouts, walks and home runs. No player will be watched more closely this season than Shohei Ohtani, a two-way megastar in the final year under contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sergio Romo retired as a San Francisco Giant just as he wanted to do. The entertaining reliever and three-time World Series champion called it a career Monday night when he pitched against another of his former clubs — the Oakland A's — in the seventh inning of the exhibition finale for both teams at Oracle Park. The Giants reached out a few weeks back asking whether Romo might consider a last time on the mound. He drew a rousing ovation when he came into the game and again when he walked off. The 40-year-old Romo gave up two singles and a walk without getting an out. He also was called for two clock violations before his first pitch, but it hardly mattered on this emotional night in the Bay Area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680006721184.jpeg" alt="Sports Headlines for Tuesday" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines for Tuesday</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) — Elizabeth Kitley scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Georgia Amoore added 24 points and top-seeded Virginia Tech advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history with an 84-74 win over No. 3 seed Ohio State in the Seattle 3 Regional final. Playing in its first regional final, Virginia Tech won its 15th straight game and will head to the Final Four having not lost in more than two months. The Hokies will face LSU in the national semifinals on Friday in Dallas. Taylor Mikesell led Ohio State with 25 points, but 19 of those came in the first half.GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Aliyah Boston had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Zia Cooke scored 18 points and top-seeded South Carolina used its smothering defense to outlast second-seeded Maryland 86-75 to reach its third straight Final Four. The Gamecocks improved to 36-0 on the season with their 42nd straight win dating to last year's NCAA title run. They're now just two victories away from consecutive titles and the 10th undefeated season in the history of the women's game. Maryland used a fast pace to lead in the opening period. But South Carolina turned on its trademark defense to grab control.AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas on Monday named Rodney Terry as full-time head basketball coach, removing the interim tag after he led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight following the midseason firing of Chris Beard. The school scheduled a Tuesday news conference to introduce him as the head coach going forward. Financial terms and years of the deal were not immediately available. Rewarding Terry with the promotion was no surprise. He took over Texas when Beard was first suspended on Dec. 12 after a felony domestic violence arrest, and the Longhorns made their deepest NCAA tournament run in 15 years.UNDATED (AP) — Lamar Jackson says he has requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens, saying the team “has not been interested in meeting my value.” The star quarterback said Monday in a series of tweets that he requested a trade as of March 2. On March 7, the Ravens put the nonexclusive franchise tag on Jackson and said they were still hopeful they could reach a long-term deal with him. That version of the franchise tag allowed Jackson to negotiate with other teams, but it also gives Baltimore a chance to match any agreement he makes.PHOENIX (AP) — Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said he’s not requiring a first-round pick in a potential trade sending four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets but added he’d want “fair value.” Gutekunst and Jets general manager Joe Douglas both discussed trade talks involving the 39-year-old Rodgers on Monday at the NFL annual meeting. Rodgers said March 15 during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on SiriusXM and YouTube that he intends to play for the Jets in 2023.UNDATED (AP) — Baseball has transformed in the 145 days since Dusty Baker and the Houston Astros sealed the franchise’s second title in six seasons. As New York Mets owner Steve Cohen dominated an offseason that saw billions spent, the sport braced for a new world that includes pitch clocks, bigger bases, limits on defensive shifts and pickoff throws, and an overarching attempt to reverse decades of lengthening games and the Analytics Era domination of the Three True Outcomes — strikeouts, walks and home runs. No player will be watched more closely this season than Shohei Ohtani, a two-way megastar in the final year under contract with the Los Angeles Angels.SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sergio Romo retired as a San Francisco Giant just as he wanted to do. The entertaining reliever and three-time World Series champion called it a career Monday night when he pitched against another of his former clubs — the Oakland A's — in the seventh inning of the exhibition finale for both teams at Oracle Park. The Giants reached out a few weeks back asking whether Romo might consider a last time on the mound. He drew a rousing ovation when he came into the game and again when he walked off. The 40-year-old Romo gave up two singles and a walk without getting an out. He also was called for two clock violations before his first pitch, but it hardly mattered on this emotional night in the Bay Area.MONDAY SCORESINTERLEAGUEFinal Minnesota 8 Pittsburgh 4Final Atlanta 6 Boston 1Final St. Louis 8 Baltimore 2Final Philadelphia 5 Toronto 2Final San Diego 4 Seattle 2Final L.A. Angels 5 L.A. Dodgers 4Final Arizona 7 Cleveland 6Final Oakland 12 San Francisco 6Final Chicago White Sox 6 Chicago Cubs 6AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal N.Y. Yankees 8 Tampa Bay 4Final Houston 3 Sugar Land 1Final Kansas City 4 Texas 4NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal Colorado 12 Milwaukee 8NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal Dallas 127 Indiana 104Final Milwaukee 126 Detroit 117Final New York 137 Houston 115Final Phoenix 117 Utah 103Final Denver 116 Philadelphia 111Final New Orleans 124 Portland 90Final Minnesota 119 Sacramento 115Final L.A. Clippers 124 Chicago 112NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal Ottawa 5 Florida 2Final SO Montreal 4 Buffalo 3Final N-Y Islanders 5 New Jersey 1Final Minnesota 5 Seattle 1Final Colorado 5 Anaheim 1Final Edmonton 5 Arizona 4

Sports Headlines for Tuesday

HOUSTON, Texas—A startling Connecticut show of force. A Florida Atlantic ride that hardly anybody saw coming. A foul that sent San Diego State to the Final Four and will live in Creighton infamy. An astonishing rally from 13 points down by a Miami team without a single 3-pointer in the second half.

Can it get any weirder in college basketball this season? Well, there’s still another week.

A most irregular season has given birth to a most unconventional Final Four, intriguing because of not only who will show up in Houston, but who won’t.

“It’s moments like that you can’t make up,” Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther said the other day, after his shot that beat UCLA. But he could have been talking about most of this entire tournament, from the palm trees of Boca Raton to the beaches of Miami to the golf courses of San Diego. The whole country gets involved in March and two of the survivors for the Final Four are not 50 miles away from one another on the Atlantic Ocean. If not for Connecticut, this list of teams would sound like a cruise ship itinerary.

Consider the climbs made by the finalists.

When the season began, Connecticut was nowhere to be found in the top 25 rankings. Nor Miami.

When March began, 237 schools in the nation could claim an NCAA tournament win in their history. Florida Atlantic wasn’t one of them.

MORE COVERAGE:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/basketball-men/d1/mens-march-madness-upset-tracker?utm_campaign=inline-article" target="_blank">Upset tracker</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/basketball-men/d1/track-how-many-perfect-ncaa-brackets-are-left-2023?utm_campaign=inline-article" target="_blank">How each bracket was busted</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.com/video/basketball-men?utm_campaign=inline-article" target="_blank">Latest highlights and previews</a>

When last Friday began, San Diego State had never won a Sweet 16 game, never beaten a No. 1 seed, never knocked off a top-ranked opponent. The Aztecs took care of all that in one night.

When last week began, Miami was faced with the scary task of probably facing both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the Midwest, the one region where the big names had not keeled over. Houston first, then Texas.

But all four are&nbsp;going to the Final Four. What San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher called “the volatility of this tournament.”

None of the teams seeded Nos. 1 or 2 or 3 will be there, the first time since seeding was introduced 44 years ago. UConn is the ranking member of the foursome at No. 4 seed. Miami and San Diego State are No. 5, Florida Atlantic No. 9, and let the record show no fifth or ninth seed has ever won the national championship. Ever. For that matter, only one No. 4 has done it, and that was Arizona 26 years ago.

None of the top 18 in the preseason Associated Press rankings will be there.

Nobody who has ever been to a Final Four will be there, except for Connecticut. It has been 53 years since the Final Four had three first-timers.

No one who has been in the past eight Final Fours will be there.

The Big Ten won't be there, nor the Big 12, nor the SEC or Pac-12.

Who will be there is a pack of fresh faces who have taken a variety of paths to Houston.

Connecticut will roll into town like a thunderstorm, having won every tournament game by at least 15 points, establishing itself on paper as the most fearsome team in the land. The fact the Huskies — the fact that&nbsp;anyone —&nbsp;would ever be ahead of Gonzaga by 33 points suggests the momentum they are bringing with them. The 82-54 shellacking was the Zags’ worst loss in tournament history and the most lopsided Elite Eight game in 31 years.

“We didn’t have any answers,” Mark Few said, and how often has he said that? “They’re very different.”

Florida Atlantic has gotten there by winning four tournament games by a combined 19 points, engaging in a classic display of survive and advance, constantly shunning the Cinderella tag even as the Owls seem to fit it like a foot into a glass slipper. A team that plays its home games in an arena with fewer than 3,000 seats will this weekend be in front of 72,000.

“We don’t feel like we’re Cinderella,” Alijah Martin said. “We feel like we’re supposed to be here, doing exactly what we’re supposed to do.”

San Diego State will be there on a dramatic twist of fate, having escaped Creighton with a Darrion Trammell free throw with 1.2 seconds left Sunday.

“We’re making the next step and it’s something we’ve always talked about and I’m sure there were people that doubted we could do it, but we never doubted for a minute,” Dutcher said.

CHECK YOUR BRACKET:&nbsp;<a href="https://mml.smart.link/gwdaynct3?cid=mbcg_partner_ncaa_editorial_articles" target="_blank">2023 Bracket Challenge Game</a>

Miami will be there, outdefending a Houston team known for its defense and outshooting a Texas team known for its firepower. “No one wanted to go home,” said guard Jordan Miller, and apparently that included him. He made all seven of his field goal attempts, all 13 of his free throws.

In a way, the four have all been on curving roads, demanding reevaluation as this chaotic year careened along.

The Huskies were unranked before the season, and did&nbsp;that&nbsp;ever get their notice. “We have something on our shoulders," forward Adama Sanogo said, “Every time we play basketball we’re trying to show people wrong.”

A roaring 14-0 start carried them to No. 2 in the polls, but then they stalled in Big East play, losing six of eight. Had Connecticut flowed, and was now ebbing? Nah, just regrouping.

Now this team has steamrolled through its first four tournament wins. The Huskies trailed all of 47 seconds at the East Regional last weekend. They’ve allowed 35.4 percent shooting in the tournament, turning the nation’s top offense from Gonzaga into a 54-point water pistol, 33 points under the Zags’ average. They have had 82 assists on their 120 field goals and outscored four tournament opponents 123-54 just from the 3-point line.

Coach Dan Hurley traced some of the conference woes to Big East teams just knowing each other so well. “Sometimes when people are seeing us for the first time it’s overwhelming,” Hurley said.

If the Owls have been continually overlooked, it’s due to pedigree and not performance. Pretty hard to ignore a 35-3 record. And yet they continue to be driven by the fire of being taken lightly nationally.

“I expect the prognosticators to pick us fifth in the Final Four,” coach Dusty May said.

There is more than magic to Florida Atlantic, of course. The Owls have spent the past two weeks coming up with big plays, one after another. Let one of the victims explain how.

“When you draw up plays with X’s and O’s, on some teams, all the O’s don’t have to be guarded so you can put your X’s in the right spot to make it hard for the team to score on offense,” Kansas State coach Jerome Tang said. “Every one of their O’s can score the ball and that’s what makes them hard to guard.”

The Aztecs almost always have a good record but have not been large on the March radar screen, mostly because they never have lasted very long. How to explain them doing this now?

“Pretty good defense to begin with,” Dutcher said.

Indeed, the Aztecs have made shooting a maddening and frustrating ordeal for the opponents, especially from the outside. Creighton expired with 2-for-17 shooting from behind the 3-point arc, including 0-for-10 the second half. Two nights before it was Alabama going 3-for-27.&nbsp;

Still, San Diego State needed one critical whistle to clinch advancement, Ryan Nembhard bumping Trammell as he drove the lane in the final seconds of a 56-56 tie. The foul depended upon perspective. There was certainly contact. But there had been a lot of that all day, and up to that moment the two teams had shot only 15 free throws.

Trammell: “I think I got fouled but that’s up to the refs to decide.”

Nembhard: “I tried to make a rearview contest. Called a foul. So yeah, it’s a tough feeling.”

Trammell missed the first free throw to increase the tension. That included for the folks up in the stands, where Diema Adams-Parham and Lester Parham — his mother and step-father — were anxiously watching.

“I’ve been doing this for 22 years and it never gets any easier,” she would say later. But that moment after the first miss? “The hardest. It was the most pivotal moment of his career.”

Lester bit on the towel he was holding before the second attempt.

At the line, Trammell had his own thoughts, which he mentioned later: “That the moment was not too big for me.”

“When you play defense like that,” Lester Parham said later, “all you need is one.”

The way it ended was an echo from Dutcher’s past. “This is not the first time fouls have been called at the end of NCAA tournament games,” he said. He should know. He was an assistant on the Michigan bench in the 1989 national championship game when Rumeal Robinson was fouled with three seconds left in overtime and the Wolverines behind a point, a call the Seton Hall camp contests to this day and always will. Robinson made both free throws to win 80-79. So Dutcher is on a roll with timely tournament whistles.

What a way for a losing team to exit, but Creighton coach Greg McDermott took the high road out of town.

“All the credit goes to San Diego State and it’s on us that we didn’t quite get it done,” he said. “Not anyone else.”

But that call? “We’re not going to go there.”

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k4heS0vNcbI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>HOUSTON, Texas—A startling Connecticut show of force. A Florida Atlantic ride that hardly anybody saw coming. A foul that sent San Diego State to the Final Four and will live in Creighton infamy. An astonishing rally from 13 points down by a Miami team without a single 3-pointer in the second half.Can it get any weirder in college basketball this season? Well, there’s still another week.A most irregular season has given birth to a most unconventional Final Four, intriguing because of not only who will show up in Houston, but who won’t.“It’s moments like that you can’t make up,” Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther said the other day, after his shot that beat UCLA. But he could have been talking about most of this entire tournament, from the palm trees of Boca Raton to the beaches of Miami to the golf courses of San Diego. The whole country gets involved in March and two of the survivors for the Final Four are not 50 miles away from one another on the Atlantic Ocean. If not for Connecticut, this list of teams would sound like a cruise ship itinerary.Consider the climbs made by the finalists.When the season began, Connecticut was nowhere to be found in the top 25 rankings. Nor Miami.When March began, 237 schools in the nation could claim an NCAA tournament win in their history. Florida Atlantic wasn’t one of them.MORE COVERAGE:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/basketball-men/d1/mens-march-madness-upset-tracker?utm_campaign=inline-article" target="_blank">Upset tracker</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.com/live-updates/basketball-men/d1/track-how-many-perfect-ncaa-brackets-are-left-2023?utm_campaign=inline-article" target="_blank">How each bracket was busted</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncaa.com/video/basketball-men?utm_campaign=inline-article" target="_blank">Latest highlights and previews</a>When last Friday began, San Diego State had never won a Sweet 16 game, never beaten a No. 1 seed, never knocked off a top-ranked opponent. The Aztecs took care of all that in one night.When last week began, Miami was faced with the scary task of probably facing both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the Midwest, the one region where the big names had not keeled over. Houston first, then Texas.But all four are&nbsp;going to the Final Four. What San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher called “the volatility of this tournament.”None of the teams seeded Nos. 1 or 2 or 3 will be there, the first time since seeding was introduced 44 years ago. UConn is the ranking member of the foursome at No. 4 seed. Miami and San Diego State are No. 5, Florida Atlantic No. 9, and let the record show no fifth or ninth seed has ever won the national championship. Ever. For that matter, only one No. 4 has done it, and that was Arizona 26 years ago.None of the top 18 in the preseason Associated Press rankings will be there.Nobody who has ever been to a Final Four will be there, except for Connecticut. It has been 53 years since the Final Four had three first-timers.No one who has been in the past eight Final Fours will be there.The Big Ten won't be there, nor the Big 12, nor the SEC or Pac-12.Who will be there is a pack of fresh faces who have taken a variety of paths to Houston.Connecticut will roll into town like a thunderstorm, having won every tournament game by at least 15 points, establishing itself on paper as the most fearsome team in the land. The fact the Huskies — the fact that&nbsp;anyone —&nbsp;would ever be ahead of Gonzaga by 33 points suggests the momentum they are bringing with them. The 82-54 shellacking was the Zags’ worst loss in tournament history and the most lopsided Elite Eight game in 31 years.“We didn’t have any answers,” Mark Few said, and how often has he said that? “They’re very different.”Florida Atlantic has gotten there by winning four tournament games by a combined 19 points, engaging in a classic display of survive and advance, constantly shunning the Cinderella tag even as the Owls seem to fit it like a foot into a glass slipper. A team that plays its home games in an arena with fewer than 3,000 seats will this weekend be in front of 72,000.“We don’t feel like we’re Cinderella,” Alijah Martin said. “We feel like we’re supposed to be here, doing exactly what we’re supposed to do.”San Diego State will be there on a dramatic twist of fate, having escaped Creighton with a Darrion Trammell free throw with 1.2 seconds left Sunday.“We’re making the next step and it’s something we’ve always talked about and I’m sure there were people that doubted we could do it, but we never doubted for a minute,” Dutcher said.CHECK YOUR BRACKET:&nbsp;<a href="https://mml.smart.link/gwdaynct3?cid=mbcg_partner_ncaa_editorial_articles" target="_blank">2023 Bracket Challenge Game</a>Miami will be there, outdefending a Houston team known for its defense and outshooting a Texas team known for its firepower. “No one wanted to go home,” said guard Jordan Miller, and apparently that included him. He made all seven of his field goal attempts, all 13 of his free throws.In a way, the four have all been on curving roads, demanding reevaluation as this chaotic year careened along.Connecticut, for instance.The Huskies were unranked before the season, and did&nbsp;that&nbsp;ever get their notice. “We have something on our shoulders," forward Adama Sanogo said, “Every time we play basketball we’re trying to show people wrong.”A roaring 14-0 start carried them to No. 2 in the polls, but then they stalled in Big East play, losing six of eight. Had Connecticut flowed, and was now ebbing? Nah, just regrouping.Now this team has steamrolled through its first four tournament wins. The Huskies trailed all of 47 seconds at the East Regional last weekend. They’ve allowed 35.4 percent shooting in the tournament, turning the nation’s top offense from Gonzaga into a 54-point water pistol, 33 points under the Zags’ average. They have had 82 assists on their 120 field goals and outscored four tournament opponents 123-54 just from the 3-point line.Coach Dan Hurley traced some of the conference woes to Big East teams just knowing each other so well. “Sometimes when people are seeing us for the first time it’s overwhelming,” Hurley said.Or take Florida Atlantic.If the Owls have been continually overlooked, it’s due to pedigree and not performance. Pretty hard to ignore a 35-3 record. And yet they continue to be driven by the fire of being taken lightly nationally.“I expect the prognosticators to pick us fifth in the Final Four,” coach Dusty May said.There is more than magic to Florida Atlantic, of course. The Owls have spent the past two weeks coming up with big plays, one after another. Let one of the victims explain how.“When you draw up plays with X’s and O’s, on some teams, all the O’s don’t have to be guarded so you can put your X’s in the right spot to make it hard for the team to score on offense,” Kansas State coach Jerome Tang said. “Every one of their O’s can score the ball and that’s what makes them hard to guard.”Take San Diego State.The Aztecs almost always have a good record but have not been large on the March radar screen, mostly because they never have lasted very long. How to explain them doing this now?“Pretty good defense to begin with,” Dutcher said.Indeed, the Aztecs have made shooting a maddening and frustrating ordeal for the opponents, especially from the outside. Creighton expired with 2-for-17 shooting from behind the 3-point arc, including 0-for-10 the second half. Two nights before it was Alabama going 3-for-27.&nbsp;Still, San Diego State needed one critical whistle to clinch advancement, Ryan Nembhard bumping Trammell as he drove the lane in the final seconds of a 56-56 tie. The foul depended upon perspective. There was certainly contact. But there had been a lot of that all day, and up to that moment the two teams had shot only 15 free throws.Trammell: “I think I got fouled but that’s up to the refs to decide.”Nembhard: “I tried to make a rearview contest. Called a foul. So yeah, it’s a tough feeling.”Trammell missed the first free throw to increase the tension. That included for the folks up in the stands, where Diema Adams-Parham and Lester Parham — his mother and step-father — were anxiously watching.“I’ve been doing this for 22 years and it never gets any easier,” she would say later. But that moment after the first miss? “The hardest. It was the most pivotal moment of his career.”Lester bit on the towel he was holding before the second attempt.At the line, Trammell had his own thoughts, which he mentioned later: “That the moment was not too big for me.”He made the second.“When you play defense like that,” Lester Parham said later, “all you need is one.”The way it ended was an echo from Dutcher’s past. “This is not the first time fouls have been called at the end of NCAA tournament games,” he said. He should know. He was an assistant on the Michigan bench in the 1989 national championship game when Rumeal Robinson was fouled with three seconds left in overtime and the Wolverines behind a point, a call the Seton Hall camp contests to this day and always will. Robinson made both free throws to win 80-79. So Dutcher is on a roll with timely tournament whistles.What a way for a losing team to exit, but Creighton coach Greg McDermott took the high road out of town.“All the credit goes to San Diego State and it’s on us that we didn’t quite get it done,” he said. “Not anyone else.”But that call? “We’re not going to go there.”The last to come aboard was Miami.Jim Larrañaga is 73 years old and recent films suggest he might have lost a step on his locker room dancing, but certainly not his coaching.The Hurricanes were supposed to be on the periphery of the ACC race, and so it seemed in January when they went 3-4 in a stretch, Later, they even blew a 25-point lead and lost at home to 9-23 Florida State. Hardly the look of a team destined for late March. But they ended up sharing the ACC season title.Larrañaga understands this road. It was 17 years ago he led George Mason to a shocking Final Four bid. Know who his team upset along the way? Connecticut, same team the Hurricanes will be facing Saturday.“It's the same exhilaration, just the jubilant attitude, because you just love when your players accomplish a goal they set out before the season,” Larrañaga said of then and now. “What we said the first day of practice, we've got to start visualizing right now what we want to accomplish and be working toward that every single day. And that's what these guys have done.”All five starters scored in double figures in both the Houston and Texas wins and the Hurricanes shot over 50 percent against both. They outscored Texas 37-17 the last 13 minutes of the 88-81 victory. For the weekend in Kansas City, Miami shot 51 free throws against Houston and Texas. The Hurricanes missed seven. And that’s how they took care of the state of Texas teams who wanted so badly to get to Houston.What this quartet creates is a Final Four rainbow of tradition.Florida Atlantic, San Diego State and Miami are first-timers. There is something powerful about a sense of destiny in March, when it is a team’s chance at last.“I still remember being a child watching the ’87 Hoosiers (national champions on Keith Smart’s famed late shot) and because of that, I became a fan forever,” said Florida Atlantic’s May, whose journey started in small-town Indiana. “So we’ve never had our moment. And when we made the tournament this year we felt like this could be our moment to really captivate an area, a fan base, a student body. And I think we’ve exceeded that moment but there’s no reason why we wouldn’t just continue to ride this wave.”Dutcher spent much of his career at Steve Fisher’s right hand, both at Michigan and San Diego State, and credits Fisher’s vision for starting the path to this high spot.“We recruited and told people this is what we were going to do,” he said. “They all thought it was recruiting talk, but here we sit.”Miami didn’t even have a basketball team for 14 years through the 1970s and ‘80s, dropping the sport before deciding to revive the program. Now look at the Hurricanes.“Last week I went through the lobby of the hotel, and our cheerleaders and dance team were all there studying,” Larrañaga said. “Two of them are going to be doctors. One of them is going to be a lawyer. I sat and talked with them because to be at the University of Miami is a very, very special place. It's like a resort.”Well, maybe not at practice.Connecticut is the outlier here, both in climate and a glorious Final Four past. Four national championships in the past 25 years and no other program in America can say that. Not Duke, not North Carolina, not Kentucky. Three of those four titles, incidentally, came in the state of Texas. Same as where this Final Four will be.“We sold it to these guys. We’ve done it here before, we can do it again,” Hurley said. “But I think it becomes a little bit of a mental hurdle, especially like early rounds of the NCAA tournament where you feel maybe the burden of the history and the tradition.“So the climb to get to this point has been real and it’s been more challenging than I thought.”But they have taken these last steps to the Final Four in a single bound.&nbsp;“UConn’s back,” guard Jordan Hawkins said at the post-Gonzaga bashing press conference.“Back,” guard Andre Jackson Jr. agreed sitting next to him. “But we never left.”The Connecticut men have even lasted a week longer than the Connecticut women and that hadn’t happened in 24 years. This season just keeps putting stranger and stranger. And now there is one week to go.