TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;—&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) has taken a significant step toward investing in Kansas student athletes by approving a new bylaw requiring all member colleges to reserve at least 25% of their athletic Letters of Intent (LOIs) for Kansas students.

The decision was made during this week’s KJCCC meeting, where participating colleges came together to support the change. The policy will take effect starting with the 2026-2027 academic year and will apply across all sports offered by the member institutions.

"This move reflects our commitment to the communities that support our colleges," said Dr. Michael Calvert, President of Pratt Community College. "We’re proud to give Kansas student-athletes more opportunities to compete close to home."

Dr. Ryan Ruda, President of Garden City Community College, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the unique relationship between community colleges and their local supporters. "One of the strengths of Kansas’ community college system is the strong support we receive from local communities and taxpayers. There’s a special sense of pride and excitement when local students are on the field or court," he said.

Over the past seven years, the KJCCC has revised 20 recruitment-related rules. At one point, the league allowed unlimited out-of-state athletic scholarships. The new policy now limits out-of-state LOIs to no more than 75% of total offers, underscoring a renewed focus on Kansas and Kansas student athletes.&nbsp;

“We all want to recruit the best athletes, regardless of where they come from,” said Brad Bennett, President of Seward County Community College. “But ultimately, we’re Kansas institutions with a responsibility to serve Kansas communities—whether through academics or athletics.”

With the proposed roster limits being discussed at the NCAA Division One level and the increasing number of Kansas athletes wanting to stay close to home to compete, this change is the first step to ensuring Kansas athletes know that Kansas community colleges are committed to them to continuing their higher education and athletic participation in the state.&nbsp;The range of sports programs across the 20 colleges varies widely, from football rosters with more than 100 players to tennis teams with fewer than 10. All athletic programs will be subject to the new Kansas athlete recruitment requirement.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584064511958.png" alt="KJCCC" />
 <figcaption>KJCCC</figcaption>
 </figure>KJCCCTOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;—&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) has taken a significant step toward investing in Kansas student athletes by approving a new bylaw requiring all member colleges to reserve at least 25% of their athletic Letters of Intent (LOIs) for Kansas students.The decision was made during this week’s KJCCC meeting, where participating colleges came together to support the change. The policy will take effect starting with the 2026-2027 academic year and will apply across all sports offered by the member institutions."This move reflects our commitment to the communities that support our colleges," said Dr. Michael Calvert, President of Pratt Community College. "We’re proud to give Kansas student-athletes more opportunities to compete close to home."Dr. Ryan Ruda, President of Garden City Community College, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the unique relationship between community colleges and their local supporters. "One of the strengths of Kansas’ community college system is the strong support we receive from local communities and taxpayers. There’s a special sense of pride and excitement when local students are on the field or court," he said.Over the past seven years, the KJCCC has revised 20 recruitment-related rules. At one point, the league allowed unlimited out-of-state athletic scholarships. The new policy now limits out-of-state LOIs to no more than 75% of total offers, underscoring a renewed focus on Kansas and Kansas student athletes.&nbsp;“We all want to recruit the best athletes, regardless of where they come from,” said Brad Bennett, President of Seward County Community College. “But ultimately, we’re Kansas institutions with a responsibility to serve Kansas communities—whether through academics or athletics.”With the proposed roster limits being discussed at the NCAA Division One level and the increasing number of Kansas athletes wanting to stay close to home to compete, this change is the first step to ensuring Kansas athletes know that Kansas community colleges are committed to them to continuing their higher education and athletic participation in the state.&nbsp;The range of sports programs across the 20 colleges varies widely, from football rosters with more than 100 players to tennis teams with fewer than 10. All athletic programs will be subject to the new Kansas athlete recruitment requirement.&nbsp;

KJCCC members join together to provide additional opportunities for Kansas student-athletes

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher" />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Early Morning Sports for Tuesday, April 29, 2025" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=fic8e-1894784-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 ⚾ Royals open series in Tampa, ⛳ HutchCC competing in Central District Championship 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745932297458.jpeg" alt="Freshman Corey Scullion is tied for first individually and the Blue Dragon men sit third after two rounds of the NJCAA Central District Championship in Kansas City, Missouri. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Freshman Corey Scullion is tied for first individually and the Blue Dragon men sit third after two rounds of the NJCAA Central District Championship in Kansas City, Missouri. (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Hutchinson CC Sports Information
KANSAS CITY, Missouri &ndash; After a rough opening round at the NJCAA Central District Championship on Monday, the No. 2-ranked Hutchinson Community College men's golf team made a 15-stroke improvement in the afternoon round to put itself in position for a 24th-straight trip to the NJCAA Tournament.
The Blue Dragons are in third place after 36 of 54 holes at Tiffany Greens Golf Course at 598. Hutchinson trails first-place Garden City (586) by 12 strokes and second-place Indian Hills (595) by three strokes. The Dragons have an 11-stroke lead over fourth-place Crowder (609) and a 12-stroke lead over fifth-place Barton (610). The top four teams earn automatic bids for the 2025 NJCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship on May 13-16 at Sand Creek Station in Newton.
BLUE DRAGON MEN'S GOLF NJCAA Central District Championship When: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 Where: Tiffany Greens Golf Course, Kansas City Round: 3 Tee Times: 8:30 a.m. (shotgun start) Live scoring:&nbsp;<a href="https://scoreboard.clippd.com/tournaments/236875/scoring/team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Clippd Scoreboard</a>
The final round of the Central District Championship begins with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start on Tuesday at Tiffany Greens.
Freshman Corey Scullion is the low Blue Dragon golfer, who is tied for first place individually at 3-under 141. He is tied with Garden City's Ilan Dufrenoy and is the only Blue Dragon in the Top 10 after two rounds.
The Blue Dragons dug an early 15-stroke hole after 18 holes shooting a 17-over 305. The Dragons counted Scullion's 70,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/ross_louis_6g3i">Louis Ross</a>' 76,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/razinskas_david_xbtl">David Razinskas</a>' 79 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/box_charlie_0808">Charlie Box</a>'s 80.
The Dragons rallied in the afternoon round and posted a 5-over 293, the second-best team round in the second round. Box rebounded with a 70 to lead Hutchinson in the second round. Scullion had a 71,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/northgraves_jack_mp7b">Jack Northgraves</a>&nbsp;carded a 75 and Ross counted with a 77, including an eagle on the final hole of the day.
Scullion had an eagle and two birdies with two bogeys in his opening-round 70. He had five birdies and four bogeys in his round of 71 in the second round. Dufrenoy was at 8-under late in the first round, but finished with rounds of 67 and 74.
Box is tied for 12th after 36 holes at 150. He shot a season-high 80 in the opening round and rebounded with a 2-under 70. He is one stroke out of the Top 10.
Ross is tied for 17th at 153 (76-77). Northgraves is tied for 23rd at 155 (80-75) and Razinskas is 36th at 164 (79-85).
NJCAA CENTRAL DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP Tiffany Greens Golf Course &ndash; Par 72 After 36 of 54 holes 1. Garden City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 290-296&mdash;586 2. Indian Hills&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 305-290&mdash;595 3. 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; 305-293&mdash;598 4. Crowder&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 304-305&mdash;609 5. Barton&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 307-303&mdash;610 6. Iowa Western&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 312-304&mdash;616 7. Dodge City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 318-299&mdash;617 8. John A Logan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 312-319&mdash;631 9. Coffeyville&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 338-359&mdash;697
INDIVIDUAL TOP 10 T1. Corey Scullion, Hutchinson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 70-71&mdash;141 T1. Ilan Dufrenoy, Garden City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 67-74&mdash;141 3. Rhys Nicholas, Dodge City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 75-69&mdash;144 4. Oliver Crowley, Garden City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 73-73&mdash;146 5. Emilio Arellano, Indian Hills&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 72-75 &ndash;147 6. Easton Chapman, Crowder&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 74-74&mdash;148 T7. Kaleb Lambert, Barton&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 74-75&mdash;149 T7. Jack Dyer, Garden City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 74-75&mdash;149 T7. Jackson Pierce, John A. Logan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 75-74&mdash;149 T7. Nathan Pochoulan, Indian Hills&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 77-72&mdash;149 T7. Roman Roth, Indian Hills&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 78-71&mdash;149
BLUE DRAGON GOLFERS T12.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/box_charlie_0808">Charlie Box</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 80-70&mdash;150 T17.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/ross_louis_6g3i">Louis Ross</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 76-77&mdash;153 T23.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/northgraves_jack_mp7b">Jack Northgraves</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 80-75&mdash;155 36.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/mgolf/2024-25/bios/razinskas_david_xbtl">David Razinskas</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 79-85&mdash;164</div>

⛳ Dragons 3rd in Central District Championship; Scullion tied for 1st

ARKANSAS CITY – The No. 3-ranked Cowley Tigers racked up 15 hits and scored 15 unanswered runs to defeat the Hutchinson Community College baseball team 17-3 in seven innings on Monday at Tigers Park.

The Blue Dragons (34-18) will now close out the 2025 regular season with a four-game Jayhawk West series against the Pratt Beavers. Games 1 and 2 will be at Hobart-Detter Field beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday. Games 3 and 4 will be at Stanion Field in Pratt at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Hutchinson and Butler are tied for third place in the Jayhawk West entering the final weekend with 15-13 records. Colby is one game behind in fifth place. Colby and Butler meet in the final weekend series.

One Monday, the Blue Dragons took a 3-2 lead with a three-run third inning. With the bases loaded and no outs,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/stokes_taber_u8n0">Taber Stokes</a>&nbsp;hit a sacrifice fly to left so score&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/maher_quinn_nqj4">Quinn Maher</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/hochstein_finn_ygit">Finn Hochstein</a>'s RBI groundout scored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/allen_griffin_bmj4">Nick Glantz</a>&nbsp;to tie the game at 2-all and the Dragons took a 3-2 lead one batter later on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/griffin_leo_z3t1">Leo Griffin</a>'s RBI double scored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/mustow_adam_sf8t">A.J. Mustow</a>.

But the Tigers answered right back with six runs in the third, five runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth inning.

Maher led the Blue Dragons offensively going 2 for 4 with a run scored.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/tygart_baker_ked6">C.J. Reid</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/mazza_antony_9347">Anthony Mazza</a>, Glantz and Griffin had the other Blue Dragon hits.

Cowley had 15 hits with three doubles and a home run against seven Blue Dragon pitchers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/usselman_reece_c48r">Reece Usselman</a>&nbsp;(2-1) was tagged with the loss.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745932257915.jpeg" alt="Sophomore Quinn Maher had two hits in the Blue Dragons' 17-3 loss to No. 3 Cowley on Monday in Arkansas City. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Sophomore Quinn Maher had two hits in the Blue Dragons' 17-3 loss to No. 3 Cowley on Monday in Arkansas City. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationARKANSAS CITY – The No. 3-ranked Cowley Tigers racked up 15 hits and scored 15 unanswered runs to defeat the Hutchinson Community College baseball team 17-3 in seven innings on Monday at Tigers Park.The Blue Dragons (34-18) will now close out the 2025 regular season with a four-game Jayhawk West series against the Pratt Beavers. Games 1 and 2 will be at Hobart-Detter Field beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday. Games 3 and 4 will be at Stanion Field in Pratt at 1 p.m. on Saturday.Hutchinson and Butler are tied for third place in the Jayhawk West entering the final weekend with 15-13 records. Colby is one game behind in fifth place. Colby and Butler meet in the final weekend series.One Monday, the Blue Dragons took a 3-2 lead with a three-run third inning. With the bases loaded and no outs,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/stokes_taber_u8n0">Taber Stokes</a>&nbsp;hit a sacrifice fly to left so score&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/maher_quinn_nqj4">Quinn Maher</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/hochstein_finn_ygit">Finn Hochstein</a>'s RBI groundout scored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/allen_griffin_bmj4">Nick Glantz</a>&nbsp;to tie the game at 2-all and the Dragons took a 3-2 lead one batter later on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/griffin_leo_z3t1">Leo Griffin</a>'s RBI double scored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/mustow_adam_sf8t">A.J. Mustow</a>.But the Tigers answered right back with six runs in the third, five runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth inning.Maher led the Blue Dragons offensively going 2 for 4 with a run scored.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/tygart_baker_ked6">C.J. Reid</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/mazza_antony_9347">Anthony Mazza</a>, Glantz and Griffin had the other Blue Dragon hits.Cowley had 15 hits with three doubles and a home run against seven Blue Dragon pitchers.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2024-25/bios/usselman_reece_c48r">Reece Usselman</a>&nbsp;(2-1) was tagged with the loss.

⚾ No. 3 Cowley rolls by Hutchinson

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745871142014.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
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IRVING, Texas &ndash;&nbsp;Kansas baseball sophomore&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/dominic-voegele/16130" rel="smarttag" rev="16130">Dominic Voegele</a></dfn>&nbsp;has been named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season, the conference office announced on Monday. &nbsp; Voegele was dominant on Friday night in a 2-0 victory at Utah. He pitched a career-high 8.2 innings and did not allow a run or walk. Voegele had five strikeouts in his outing and retired 12 consecutive batters from the final out of the fifth inning all the way through the first two outs of the ninth inning. It was Voegele's fifth quality start of the year. &nbsp; The 8.2 scoreless innings helped Kansas record the second of back-to-back shutouts, marking the first time in program history that Kansas had a shutout in consecutive road games against Division I opponents (9-inning games). &nbsp; A native of Columbia, Illinois, Voegele is third in the Big 12 with 66.2 innings pitched, tied for fifth in the conference with six wins and is ninth in the league with 60 strikeouts. &nbsp; Voegele won Big 12 Pitcher of the Week earlier this season on March 31.&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/brady-ballinger/16147" rel="smarttag" rev="16147">Brady Ballinger</a></dfn>,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/tommy-barth/16141" rel="smarttag" rev="16141">Tommy Barth</a></dfn>,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/michael-brooks/16122" rel="smarttag" rev="16122">Michael Brooks</a></dfn>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/jackson-hauge/16155" rel="smarttag" rev="16155">Jackson Hauge</a></dfn>&nbsp;have all won Big 12 weekly awards this season in addition to Voegele. &nbsp; No. 23 Kansas (35-10, 15-6 Big 12) is riding an eight-game winning streak, which includes back-to-back Big 12 series sweeps of Kansas State and Utah. The 35 wins are the most in a season for Kansas since 2014 and the 15 wins in Big 12 games are tied for the most in a season in program history. &nbsp; KU is currently in second place in the Big 12 standings. Kansas is back home at Hoglund Ballpark for four games this week, with a game on Tuesday against Missouri at 6 p.m. CT and a weekend conference series against Cincinnati from May 2-4.</div>

⚾ KU's Voegele named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745867599485.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
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WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;Fresh off an impressive showing on Senior Weekend,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-lucas/9314" rel="smarttag" rev="9314">Lauren Lucas</a></dfn>&nbsp;has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, it was announced Monday afternoon. The Little Elm, Texas, native was 7-for-12 (.583) with five home runs, eight runs scored and nine RBIs in four games last week. Lucas hit home runs in each of the four games, including a two-home run game in the series finale vs. Charlotte. She has already set a new career high in home runs this season with 13, besting her previous career high of 10 in 2022. Nine of those 13 home runs have come in conference play. This is the fourth AAC Player of the Week honor for Lucas in her career and second of the season. Lucas and the Shockers wrap up the regular season this week with their home finale Wednesday night vs. Kansas and then the final conference series at Memphis, May 2-4.</div>

🥎 WSU's Lucas tabbed as AAC Player of the Week for second time

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher.png" />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher.png</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Early Morning Sports - April 28" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=nmv2u-189317d-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 ⚾ Royals dropped series finale, 🥎 Blue Dragon Softball ties for conference title 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725282945901.png" alt="EAGLE Media" />
 <figcaption>EAGLE Media</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KHMY2">KHMY-FM (93.1)</a> <a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT">KHUT-FM (102.9)</a> <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KWBW">KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5)</a><div><h2>Monday,&nbsp;April&nbsp;28</h2>
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<h2>Tuesday,&nbsp;April&nbsp;29</h2>
Hutch High baseball at Salina Central - 4 p.m. &amp; 6 p.m. (HutchPost.com)
Royals&nbsp;at Rays -&nbsp;5:30 p.m. pregame, 6:05 p.m. first pitch (KWBW)
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<h2>Wednesday,&nbsp;April&nbsp;30</h2>
Royals&nbsp;at Rays&nbsp;-&nbsp;5:30 p.m. pregame, 6:05&nbsp;p.m. first pitch (KWBW)
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<h2>Thursday,&nbsp;May 1&nbsp;</h2>
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<h2>Friday,&nbsp;May 2</h2>
Hutch High baseball&nbsp;vs. Haven &amp; Andale&nbsp;-&nbsp;2 p.m. &amp; 6 p.m. (HutchPost.com)
Royals at Orioles - 5:30 p.m. pregame, 6:05 p.m. first pitch (KWBW)
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<h2>Saturday,&nbsp;May 3</h2>
Royals at Orioles - 5:30 p.m. pregame, 6:15&nbsp;p.m. first pitch (KWBW)
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<h2>Sunday,&nbsp;May 4</h2>
Royals&nbsp;vs.&nbsp;Astros&nbsp;- noon&nbsp;pregame, 12:35 p.m. first pitch (KWBW)
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🎧 EAGLE Media Sports Broadcast Calendar (April 28-May 4)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745807954969.jpeg" alt="Blue Dragon players celebrate after the final out of a come-from-behind 7-5 victory over Barton in Game 2 on Sunday in Great Bend to clinch the 2025 Jayhawk Conference Championship. (Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Blue Dragon players celebrate after the final out of a come-from-behind 7-5 victory over Barton in Game 2 on Sunday in Great Bend to clinch the 2025 Jayhawk Conference Championship. (Billy Watson/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Hutchinson CC Sports Information
GREAT BEND &ndash; Through the first 13 innings the 2025 season's final regular-season doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons were held to just two runs and nine hits by the Barton Cougars.
Then came the seventh inning of Game 2.
The Blue Dragons sent 10 batters to plate and erupted for five runs on six hits in their final at-bat as Hutchinson rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat the Cougars 7-5, clinching the 2025 Jayhawk Conference softball championship.
The celebration was delayed after the Dragons were shut out for just the third time this season &ndash; the first time since February 23 &ndash; as Barton's Meleia Ingram pitched a one-hit shutout in a 3-0 Cougar victory.
Hutchinson (35-9) won its second league crown in the last three seasons and sixth overall (1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 2023 and 2025) with a 27-5 KJCCC record. The Blue Dragons will open play in the Region 6 Tournament on Friday at Legends Park in Dodge City. Pairings and times will be released later this week.
Within the midst of winning the conference championship Sunday, sophomores&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/tomlinson_morgan_0v0v">Morgan Tomlinson</a>&nbsp;both reached individual season statistical milestones:
+ With her stolen base in Game 1, Backhaus broke Lexi Williams' single-season stolen base record with her 54th steal of the season. Williams had 53 steals in 2021. + Scoring the game-tying run in the top of the seventh in Game 2, Backhaus tied her own single-game record for runs scored with her 77th run. + Earning the pitching victory in Game 2, Tomlinson tallied her 20th win of the season. Now 20-6 in her sophomore year, Tomlinson is the first Blue Dragon 20-game winner since Holly Kelley in 2016.
GAME 2 RECAP &ndash; Hutchinson 7, Barton 5 Hutchinson's comeback attempt got a little tougher in the bottom of the sixth when then Cougars hit their third home run of the game for a 5-2 lead entering the Dragons' final at-bat.
That final at-bat started with an Addi Lutz leadoff single and one-out hits from&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/dice_emily_75aj">Emily Dice</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;to load the bases. The Dragons scored on a&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_kaibryn_wwcp">Kaibryn Kruger</a>&nbsp;fielder's choice to short to score Lutz, cutting the lead to 5-3.
<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/golly_taylor_l19d">Tailor Golly</a>&nbsp;singled through the left side to score Dice to make it 5-4. Then&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/stauffer_gabby_t8qf">Gabby Stauffer</a>&nbsp;singled up the middle, scoring&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;with the tying run and Kruger with the go-ahead run for a 6-5 lead. After a&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;infield single,&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/brawner_brie_hldl">Brie Brawner</a>&nbsp;hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Golly for a 7-5 Hutchinson lead.
Tomlinson worked around a two-out error in the bottom of the seventh to close out the victory.
Lutz and Golly both had three-hit games to lead Hutchinson's 14-hit attack. Lutz was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Golly was 3 for 4 with a double, run scored and an RBI.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;were both 2 for 4 and Dice was 2 for 3 with a run scored and RBI.
Barton took a 2-0 lead after two batters with the Cougars hitting back-to-back home runs to lead off the first inning.
Relief pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/schmidt_jessica_edec">Jessica Schmidt</a>&nbsp;entered the game in the first and went on to pitch a season-high five innings. She allowed four hits and three runs with one walk and one strikeout. Tomlinson pitched two shutout innings with one hit and one strikeout.
Trailing 2-0 after one inning, the Dragons tied the game at 2-all in the second after a&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_haley_h3bo">Haley Kruger</a>&nbsp;sacrifice fly scored Brawner and Dice's RBI single scored Lutz.
GAME 1 RECAP &ndash; Barton 3, Hutchinson 0 The Blue Dragons were limited to just two baserunners over the first five innings by Ingram and didn't get their first hit of the game until&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>' infield single in the sixth inning.
Ingram struck out 10 and walked three in her complete-game performance.
Tomlinson pitched a complete game and allowed six hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Barton hit two home runs, a solo shot in the third and a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth for the only offense of the game.
The Blue Dragons were out-hit 6-1.
GAME NOTES&nbsp;&ndash; Now with 136 stolen bases this season, the 2025 Blue Dragons are two steals shy of breaking the program record of 137 since in 2021. &hellip; Now with 102 doubles, the 2025 Blue Dragons move into fourth in program history for doubles. &hellip;&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/tomlinson_morgan_0v0v">Morgan Tomlinson</a>&nbsp;now has 36 career pitching wins. &hellip;&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;now has 199 career hits (second on the career list), 154 career runs (second on the career list) and 79 stolen bases (third on the career list).</div>

🥎 Late rally sends Blue Dragons to Jayhawk Conference title

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordan Alvarez’s long home run backed a solid start by Hunter Brown as the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Sunday in the series finale to avoid being swept.

Alvarez snapped Houston’s 26-inning scoreless streak, crushing Kris Bubic’s sinker 436 feet to center for a three-run homer and a 3-0 Astros lead in the third inning.

Brown (4-1), who allowed one run on seven hits and a walk with nine strikeouts over six innings, surrendered a lone hit in each of the first four innings but struck out seven while not allowing a runner past second.

Brown’s 28-inning shutout streak – fifth longest in franchise history – ended in the fifth inning on a two-out single by Jonathan India and an RBI double by Bobby Witt Jr.

Leading off the fifth, Chas McCormick doubled and scored on Jeremy Peña’s single. McCormick had three hits and scored three runs for the Astros.

Peña’s two-out, two-run double in the sixth extended Houston’s lead to 6-1. Peña collected three RBIs in his first game batting leadoff.

Yainer Diaz added a solo home run in the seventh.

Bubic (2-2) allowed four runs on five hits and three walks, striking out four in five innings.

India had a pair of singles and drove in a run while Witt extended his hitting streak to a career-best 19 games.

Isaac Paredes drew a four-pitch walk ahead of Alvarez’s three-run blast.

Alvarez, who led left-handed major leaguers with a .362 average against left-handed pitchers in 2024, hit his first homer of this season against a left-hander.

The Astros open a three-game homestand Monday against Detroit with Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (1-2, 2.63 ERA) opposing RHP Ronel Blanco (2-2, 5.01).

Tuesday, the Royals begin a three-game series against the Rays in Tampa with Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 3.90) against RHP Taj Bradley (2-1, 5.08).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745797590457.jpeg" alt="Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run with Chas McCormick (20) and Isaac Paredes (15) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)" />
 <figcaption>Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run with Chas McCormick (20) and Isaac Paredes (15) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordan Alvarez’s long home run backed a solid start by Hunter Brown as the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Sunday in the series finale to avoid being swept.Alvarez snapped Houston’s 26-inning scoreless streak, crushing Kris Bubic’s sinker 436 feet to center for a three-run homer and a 3-0 Astros lead in the third inning.Brown (4-1), who allowed one run on seven hits and a walk with nine strikeouts over six innings, surrendered a lone hit in each of the first four innings but struck out seven while not allowing a runner past second.Brown’s 28-inning shutout streak – fifth longest in franchise history – ended in the fifth inning on a two-out single by Jonathan India and an RBI double by Bobby Witt Jr.Leading off the fifth, Chas McCormick doubled and scored on Jeremy Peña’s single. McCormick had three hits and scored three runs for the Astros.Peña’s two-out, two-run double in the sixth extended Houston’s lead to 6-1. Peña collected three RBIs in his first game batting leadoff.Yainer Diaz added a solo home run in the seventh.Bubic (2-2) allowed four runs on five hits and three walks, striking out four in five innings.India had a pair of singles and drove in a run while Witt extended his hitting streak to a career-best 19 games.<h2>Key moment</h2>Isaac Paredes drew a four-pitch walk ahead of Alvarez’s three-run blast.<h2>Key stat</h2>Alvarez, who led left-handed major leaguers with a .362 average against left-handed pitchers in 2024, hit his first homer of this season against a left-hander.<h2>Up next</h2>The Astros open a three-game homestand Monday against Detroit with Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (1-2, 2.63 ERA) opposing RHP Ronel Blanco (2-2, 5.01).Tuesday, the Royals begin a three-game series against the Rays in Tampa with Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-3, 3.90) against RHP Taj Bradley (2-1, 5.08).

⚾️ Alvarez’s  home run backs Brown’s solid start in Astros win over Royals

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745806255918.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
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SALT LAKE CITY &ndash;&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/sawyer-smith/16138" rel="smarttag" rev="16138">Sawyer Smith</a></dfn>&nbsp;hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning to lift Kansas to a 12-11 win against Utah at Smith's Ballpark. The victory marked the eighth consecutive win for Kansas and completed the seventh series sweep of the season for the Jayhawks. &nbsp; Kansas has four Big 12 series sweeps this season which is the most in program history. The Jayhawks improved to 35-10 on the season and 15-6 in Big 12 play with the victory. The 35 wins are the most in a season for Kansas since 2014 and the 15 wins in Big 12 games are tied for the most in a season in program history. Kansas sits in second place in the Big 12 standings. &nbsp; KU trailed 10-7 heading into the eighth inning when the Jayhawks scored five runs with two outs. The first run came on an RBI single by&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/dariel-osoria/16146" rel="smarttag" rev="16146">Dariel Osoria</a></dfn>, who had a two-run homer in the seventh inning. Then, a dropped force out at second base allowed the inning to continue. A walk loaded the bases for Smith. He got behind 0-2 in the count and worked a full count before hitting a ball in the air to left field that carried out for a grand slam. &nbsp; HOW IT HAPPENED &bull; Kansas scored first for a third straight day. The Jayhawks plated two runs in the first inning on a two-run single by&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/jackson-hauge/16155" rel="smarttag" rev="16155">Jackson Hauge</a></dfn>. &bull; That lead did not last long as Utah had a response with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Santino Panaro scored on a wild pitch, while Austen Roellig and Drake Digiorno each had RBI singles. After one inning, Utah led 3-2. &bull; KU was able to take back the lead in the second inning.&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/derek-cerda/16140" rel="smarttag" rev="16140">Derek Cerda</a></dfn>&nbsp;hit a sacrifice fly to tie up the game at 3-3 and Hauge hit an RBI double that dropped between the shortstop, left fielder and center fielder to score a run. That gave Kansas a 4-3 lead. &bull; Utah (17-22, 5-16 Big 12) tied it up at 4-4 in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Roellig. &bull; The Utes grabbed the lead again in the third inning. An RBI single by Jake Long and a squeeze bunt from Matt Flaharty gave Utah a 6-4 advantage. &bull; A seventh run for the Utes came in to score on another RBI single from Long in the fifth inning. The run put Utah ahead 7-4. &bull; Cerda was able to help the Jayhawks get that run back in the top of the sixth on an RBI single. That cut the Kansas deficit to 7-5. &bull; Utah's Tyler Quinn hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to stretch the lead back to three runs at 8-5. &bull; Kansas continued to battle back as Osoria hit a two-run homer in the seventh to bring it to an 8-7 ballgame. The Jayhawks had a chance to do more in the inning with the bases loaded and two outs but were unable to score. &bull; The Utes got the two runs back in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI triple by Derek Smith and an RBI single from Panaro. The brought the Utah lead back to 10-7. &bull; For the first time since the second inning, Kansas was able to pull ahead and take the lead with a five-run eighth inning. Osoria had a two-out RBI single up the middle to pull the Jayhawks within two runs at 10-8. KU loaded the bases and Smith came up and hit a towering fly ball to left field that carried over the fence for a grand slam. That put Kansas ahead 12-10. &bull; An infield single by Utah's Cameron Gurney in the bottom of the eighth made it a 12-11 game. &bull; Each team had one base runner in the ninth inning, but both teams were held scoreless to end the game at 12-11. &nbsp; PITCHERS OF RECORD Win:&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/alex-breckheimer/16154" rel="smarttag" rev="16154">Alex Breckheimer</a></dfn>&nbsp;(3-0) Final line: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 0 SO Loss: Cameron Nielson Final line: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO Save:&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/eric-lin/16158" rel="smarttag" rev="16158">Eric Lin</a></dfn>&nbsp;(5) Final line: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 SO <iframe title="Video: Kansas at Utah Highlights - Game 3 - University of Kansas" src="https://kuathletics.com/showcase/embed.aspx?Archive=2176&amp;autoplay=false" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" align="" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> &nbsp; SOCIAL POST OF THE GAME
<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" class="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=%40KUBaseball&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1916617395751498043&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fkuathletics.com%2Fnews%2F2025%2F4%2F27%2Fbaseball-smith-grand-slam-powers-kansas-to-sweep-at-utah.aspx&amp;sessionId=d0a6f5952113bc68fd307965635499aac9a70a07&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" width="300" height="150" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-tweet-id="1916617395751498043"></iframe></div>
&nbsp; QUOTABLES &amp; NOTABLES "Sawyer rose to the occasion in a game where we needed someone to because we could not keep them off the board. We started chasing them in the seventh pretty good with two (runs) and then obviously the five-spot in the eighth. They went to the reliever and Coach Hancock had a spot on scouting report on him. Sawyer is really, really good at thinking through at-bats. He's got a great approach and communicates really well with his teammates. We had some information on the pitcher that we thought we knew what was coming and he battled through the at-bat and got it to the 3-2 count and drilled it&hellip;the way the outfielder reacted I knew it was gone. At that point, our bench exploded. We had a bunch of outs to still get. Great moment for Sawyer and really proud of him." &ndash; Head Coach&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/dan-fitzgerald/871" rel="smarttag" rev="871">Dan Fitzgerald</a></dfn> &nbsp; "I was just trying to get a good swing on the ball and drive in some runs. All you can do is get a good swing, so wherever the ball lands it lands. I went up there just trying to compete. Compete as hard as I can every pitch and get a good swing on it and see what happens." &ndash;&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/sawyer-smith/16138" rel="smarttag" rev="16138">Sawyer Smith</a></dfn> &nbsp; "I didn't start off the game really well, so I was trying to go up there with a clear mindset and just be prepared for this next opportunity. That's what I was really thinking the whole game after every at-bat even though I was struggling. I was like 'alright now's the time, new at-bat'. I just really tried to take advantage of it and put bat to ball." &ndash;&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/dariel-osoria/16146" rel="smarttag" rev="16146">Dariel Osoria</a></dfn> &nbsp; &bull; Kansas improved to 35-10 this season and 15-6 in conference play. The 35 wins are the most in a season for Kansas since it had 35 wins in 2014. The 15 wins in Big 12 games are tied for the most in program history (2009, 2014, 2024). &bull; Kansas has won eight consecutive games and has three winning streaks of at least eight games this season. &bull; Kansas has seven series sweeps this season (at Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi, at Tarleton State, vs. Milwaukee, vs. Oklahoma State, at UCF, vs. Kansas State, at Utah). The four Big 12 series sweeps are the most for Kansas in program history. &bull; Kansas has scored at least 10 runs in 17 games this season. The Jayhawks are 17-0 in those games. &bull; Kansas has hit multiple home runs in 23 games this season. The Jayhawks have a program-record 84 home runs this year. &bull; Kansas has hit five grand slams this season. &bull; Smith connected on his eighth home run of the season. He has reached base safely in each of the last 21 games. His four RBIs tied his season high. &bull; Osoria hit his fifth home run of the season. He has an 11-game on-base streak. &bull; Cerda matched his career high with three hits. &nbsp; UP NEXT Kansas will be back home at Hoglund Ballpark for four games this week, with a midweek game on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT against Missouri and a weekend conference series against Cincinnati from May 2-4. Fans can purchase tickets by clicking&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.evenue.net/list/BSB">here</a>.</div>

⚾ Jayhawks defeat Utes for eighth straight win

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745806378167.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas State Athletics
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MANHATTAN, Kan. &ndash;&nbsp;Tyler Cox's RBI double in the top of the ninth broke a 5-5 tie and handed Houston a 6-5 victory in the series finale Sunday at Tointon Family Stadium. "That was a disappointing game," head coach&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/pete-hughes/2603" rel="smarttag" rev="2603">Pete Hughes</a></dfn>&nbsp;said. "Good fight and battled back. That all sounds good, but in the end, when you lose, I really don't care how it looked. You get beat, you get beat, and we beat ourselves." K-State (26-18, 12-9 Big 12) erased a four-run deficit in the first inning and rallied to level the score with the help of home runs by&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/shintaro-inoue/12311" rel="smarttag" rev="12311">Shintaro Inoue</a></dfn>,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/dee-kennedy/12308" rel="smarttag" rev="12308">Dee Kennedy</a></dfn>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/keegan-o-connor/12317" rel="smarttag" rev="12317">Keegan O'Connor</a></dfn>. With the score knotted at 5-all, the Cougars' (23-20, 7-13 Big 12) second baseman Anthony Avalos was hit by a pitch and scored on Cox's double down the right-field line. "I think in the last three innings, it might've been four, they got the lead off runner on by a hit by pitch or walk. We were dancing around trouble all day long and doing that, we did a great job with damage control the entire game, but eventually you're going to let up a run," commented Hughes. <dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/james-guyette/12295" rel="smarttag" rev="12295">James Guyette</a></dfn>&nbsp;(4-3) fired five scoreless innings in relief before surrendering the game-winner in the ninth. He scattered two hits in his 5 1/3 innings of work, while striking out three with three walks and four hit batters. Alongside Inoue, Kennedy and O'Connor,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/sam-flores/12310" rel="smarttag" rev="12310">Sam Flores</a></dfn>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/aj-evasco/12312" rel="smarttag" rev="12312">AJ Evasco</a></dfn>&nbsp;also tallied a hit. Inoue registered a three-hit day followed by O'Connor with two, while five different players drove in a run. "I am disappointed. I thought we did a good job against Antoine Jean, but still, if you get a chance to tie the game at home in the eighth and ninth inning, you gotta win those games." Jean, who ranks second in the league with 88 strikeouts, held the Cats to two runs over his 6 2/3 innings in relief before handing the ball over to Richie Ramon. The right-hander limited K-State to one hit in the final two frames to pick up his first win of the season (1-5). K-State has sent out 77 homers this year, including 23 games hitting multiple. The Wildcats' 77 homers in 2025 ties third all-time in school history. Under Hughes, K-State has produced five of the six top season's in terms of home run production. HOW IT HAPPENED With a pair of two-out home runs by Avalos and Brandon Bishop, Houston sent nine to the plate and spotted K-State starter&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/lincoln-sheffield/12332" rel="smarttag" rev="12332">Lincoln Sheffield</a></dfn>&nbsp;for four runs in the first frame. <dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/jj-slack/12304" rel="smarttag" rev="12304">JJ Slack</a></dfn>&nbsp;relieved Sheffield, inheriting runners on second and third. The lefty struck out the first batter he faced to get the Cats out of the jam. Trailing 4-0, Inoue immediately answered with a 421-foot no-doubter over the centerfield wall &ndash; his fourth homer in the last four games &ndash; until Kennedy belted the team's 76th&nbsp;home run to left field to pull the game within two. With one out, Houston's starter Eric Van Valkenburg issued a walk to&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/seth-dardar/12320" rel="smarttag" rev="12320">Seth Dardar</a></dfn>&nbsp;to force a pitching change and bring Jean into the game. O'Connor and Flores responded to the change with a pair of singles to make it 4-3. &nbsp; Cougars' Cade Climie barreled a 1-1 pitch to right field to extend the lead, but Slack bounced back with his third strikeout of the inning to keep the score within two. Down 5-3, O'Connor recovered the run handed over in the top of the third with his 12th&nbsp;home run. The Cats knotted the score in the fifth, as&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/aj-evasco/12312" rel="smarttag" rev="12312">AJ Evasco</a></dfn>&nbsp;led off with a single and advanced to third on a balk and sacrifice bunt, before scoring on a chopper to the shortstop by&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/maximus-martin/12314" rel="smarttag" rev="12314">Maximus Martin</a></dfn>. After four scoreless innings, Houston regained the lead after a hit by pitch put the game-winning run on base. INSIDE THE BOX
<ul>
<li>K-State scored five runs on eight hits, committed one error and stranded seven runners on base.</li>
<li>Houston scored six runs on eight hits with one error and leaving 12 runners on.</li>
<li>Inoue, Kennedy and O'Connor each homered.</li>
<li>Guyette (4-3) suffered the loss in relief, allowing the go-ahead run in the ninth.</li>
<li>Slack and Guyette combined for nine strikeouts.</li>
<li>Roman (1-5) was credited with the victory in relief, holding K-State scoreless in the final two frames.</li>
<li>Inoue produced a team-high three hits followed by O'Connor with two, while five different Cats drove in a run. &nbsp;</li>
<li>K-State went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, while UH was 1-for-13. Houston scored five runs with two outs.</li>
</ul>
TEAM NOTES
<ul>
<li>K-State leads the all-time series, 7-3, with a 5-1 edge in Big 12 games.</li>
<li>With the win, Houston snapped its five-game losing streak to K-State.</li>
<li>K-State has homered in 33 of 44 games, totaling 77 with 28 in the month of April.</li>
<li>The 2025 team's 77 home runs ties third all-time in school history, alongside the 2023 squad.</li>
<li>Under Hughes, K-State has five of the program's top six seasons in terms of home run production.</li>
</ul>
UP NEXT The Wildcats complete their home-and-home series with the Nebraska Cornhuskers (21-23) on Tuesday at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Neb., starting at 6 p.m. Single-game tickets for the Wildcats final week (May 6-11) at Tointon Family Stadium can be purchased by visiting&nbsp;<a name="_Hlk192492882"></a>KStateSports.com, call 1-800-221-CATS (2287), or stopping by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.</div>

⚾ K-State drops series finale to Houston

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745806153524.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
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Lawrence, Kan.&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Kansas softball earned a thrilling 3-2 victory over 23rd-ranked Oklahoma State on April 27, 2024, at Arrocha Ballpark. The win marks Kansas' first victory over a ranked opponent this season and its first since defeating 19th-ranked Baylor on March 17, 2024. The Jayhawks improved to 21-24 overall and 6-15 in conference play, while Oklahoma State fell to 29-17 overall and 10-9 in the Big 12. "I&nbsp; told them, going into the last inning, do not think about what you have not done. Think about what you can do right now," said head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/jennifer-mcfalls/526">Jennifer McFalls</a>. "<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/presley-limbaugh/6855">Presley Limbaugh</a>&nbsp;got it started with a base hit, and things started to fall our way. I am just really proud of our response on a Sunday. We could have shown up today and just quit, but we did not. This team does not quit because they have a lot of heart. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/katie-brooks/6906">Katie Brooks</a>&nbsp;started in the circle for the Jayhawks in their final series game against Oklahoma State. Kansas kept the Cowgirls off the scoreboard in the opening inning, highlighted by Brooks recording her 200th career strikeout to end the frame. Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/hailey-cripe/6977">Hailey Cripe</a>&nbsp;recorded Kansas' first hit of the contest in the bottom of the first inning. Neither team was able to generate much offensively early, and the score remained tied at 0-0 entering the second inning. The Cowgirls struck first, scoring an RBI single to center field in the top of the second inning. However, the Kansas defense responded in the third, allowing just one hit and recording a double play. Kansas' offensive struggles continued through the second and third innings as the Jayhawks were unable to get on the board. Both defenses continued to dominate through the fifth inning, with neither team recording a hit and only two total base runners during that stretch. Kansas turned its second double play of the afternoon in the top of the sixth inning and carried that momentum into the bottom half of the frame. Junior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/presley-limbaugh/6855">Presley Limbaugh</a>&nbsp;led off with a single to left field, followed by junior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/aynslee-linduff/6968">Aynslee Linduff</a>&nbsp;reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/olivia-bruno/6949">Olivia Bruno</a>&nbsp;then launched a three-run homer to left, giving Kansas its first lead of the game at 3-1 and marking her tenth home run of the season. The blast gave the Jayhawks a surge of momentum to help close out the game. "I was sitting on anything high because that's what she had been throwing me all game, and she kept getting me on it," said senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/olivia-bruno/6949">Olivia Bruno</a>. " After I got to a one-two count, I knew it was coming, so I stayed locked in and swung as hard as I could to give my team the lift they needed." Despite a late Oklahoma State run in the seventh, Brooks and the Kansas defense held strong to complete the upset. Kansas secured a 3-2 victory over the 23rd-ranked Cowgirls, earning its first home conference win of the season and first win over a top-25 opponent this year (previously No. 19 Baylor on March 17, 2024). Pitchers of Record: Win:&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/katie-brooks/6906">Katie Brooks</a>&nbsp;(7-8) Line: 7.0 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 SO Loss: Ruby Meylan (19-7) Line: 5.1 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 SO Up Next: Kansas softball will travel to Wichita, Kansas, on Wednesday, April 30, to take on Wichita State at 6 p.m. CT for its final away game of the regular season. Notables:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Brooks recorded her 200th career strikeout in the opening inning against Oklahoma State. She finished the contest with two strikeouts and now has 38 strikeouts on the season.</li>
<li><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/olivia-bruno/6949">Olivia Bruno</a>&nbsp;recorded her team-high 10th home run of the season with a deep shot to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning.</li>
<li>With the 3-2 win over 23rd-ranked Oklahoma State, Kansas secured its first home conference victory of the season and its first win over a top-25 opponent this year (previous was No. 19 Baylor on March 17, 2024).</li>
<li>Kansas earned its first regular-season victory over the Cowgirls since March 27, 2021. The most recent Kansas victory over Oklahoma State was in the Big 12 Tournament on May 11, 2023.&nbsp;</li>
</ul></div>

🥎 KU knocks off No. 23 Oklahoma State

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745806018762.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
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WICHITA, Kan. --&nbsp;South Florida scored six times in the top of the third inning and rolled to a 13-4 win over Wichita State on Sunday afternoon at Eck Stadium. The Bulls (24-17, 12-6) separated early after the two teams traded zeroes through the first two innings. An error opened the top of the third inning, followed by a single and a dropped third strike. Sebastian Greico opened the scoring with a two-run single to right, then Lance Trippel cranked a three-run homer for a 5-0 South Florida lead. Jackson Mayo capped off the inning with a two-out, run-scoring single; all the damage came against Wichita State starter&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-dobbs/9176" rel="smarttag" rev="9176">Tyler Dobbs</a></dfn>&nbsp;(1-4), who did strike out six over 2.2 innings but allowed five hits and six runs (four earned). South Florida starter Jack Nedrow (5-2) made the early barrage stand up, working eight innings while allowing seven hits and four runs. Nedrow struck out just two but also handed out only a single walk. The Shockers (13-30, 5-13) did all their damage via the long ball.&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-livingston/9185" rel="smarttag" rev="9185">Josh Livingston</a></dfn>&nbsp;smacked a pair of solo homers and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/kam-durnin/9177" rel="smarttag" rev="9177">Kam Durnin</a></dfn>&nbsp;added a two-run shot of his own, but the Shockers never got closer than five runs as the Bulls tacked on four runs in the seventh, two in the eighth and one more in the ninth against the WSU bullpen. Shocker pitchers combined to strike out 12 but issued six walks, two hit by pitches and three wild pitches in addition to 11 hits allowed. Wichita State is back in action on Tuesday night at Oklahoma. First pitch from Norman is scheduled for 6:30 pm CT.</div>

⚾ Shockers drop series finale to Bulls

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745806820625.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita Wind Surge" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita Wind Surge</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita Wind Surge
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WICHITA, Kan. (April 27, 2025)&mdash;The Wichita Wind Surge fell 12-4 in the series finale against the Springfield Cardinals at Equity Bank Park. After tying the game in the bottom of the third, Springfield outscored Wichita 9-1 over the final six innings to end the week on top.
Jeremy Rivas swatted a three-run home run onto the left field berm in the top of the first for a 3-0 Cardinals lead. The long ball was the righty&rsquo;s fourth of the 2025 season, jumping ahead to become the new Springfield team-leader.
<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/ben-ross-805346">Ben Ross</a>&nbsp;worked a walk with the bases loaded, and then&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/rubel-cespedes-686438">Rubel Cespedes</a>&nbsp;smoked a two-run single to left center to tie the game 3-3 ahead of the final out in the bottom of the third.
An RBI single from Carlos Linarez and a sac fly to center by Darlin Moquete added a pair for the Cardinals in the top of the fourth.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/andrew-cossetti-681355">Andrew Cossetti</a>&nbsp;responded for the Wind Surge by swinging away on the first pitch of the home half of that frame for a long solo homer to left field.
<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" class="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1916579284782633069&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.milb.com%2Fnews%2Fwind-surge-drop-series-finale-versus-cardinals&amp;sessionId=fe5a229d2100b1f5514aca5d28e6e41c9ca83a08&amp;siteScreenName=milb&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" width="300" height="150" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-tweet-id="1916579284782633069"></iframe></div>
Springfield scored seven unanswered runs the rest of the way to take the series finale 12-3. Even with the loss today, Wichita won the series after taking four of the six games this week at Equity Bank Park.
John Klein (2-2) picked up the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts over two and two-thirds innings of relief.
POSTGAME NOTES
<ul>
<li>Today marked the final home game of April for the Wind Surge. Wichita ends April with a 9-3 total record at home; the nine wins are currently the most in the Texas League as of the end of this game.</li>
<li>Tanner Schobel recorded his second three-hit performance of the season as the leadoff hitter. He is up to a team-leading seven multi-hit games in 2025.</li>
<li>Kala&rsquo;i Rosario had his fifth multi-hit game of the year.</li>
<li>Rubel Cespedes improves his team lead in RBIs to 15.</li>
<li>The next 12 games for Wichita are on the road; this will be the first of two two-week road trips the Wind Surge take this season.</li>
</ul>
Wichita heads out on the road for a series against the Frisco RoughRiders on Tuesday, April 29, at 12:05 PM. The Wind Surge return to Equity Bank Park on May 13 for a series with the Arkansas Travelers. You can listen to Wind Surge games on ESPN Wichita 92.3 FM and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>&nbsp;or watch online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/MiLB.TV">MiLB.TV</a>&nbsp;and Bally Sports Live. For ticket information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com/tickets">windsurge.com/tickets</a>.
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⚾ Wind Surge drops series finale to Cardinals

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745805834298.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
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WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;Wichita State men's basketball added more frontcourt help with the signing of Jaret Valencia Sunday afternoon. Valencia, a native of&nbsp;Quibd&oacute;, Colombia, spent his first three seasons at Monmouth and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Valencia is an athletic, versatile 6-foot-9 forward that finished his prep career playing for former Shocker P.J. Couisnard at Legacy School of Sport Sciences in Houston, Texas. "I'm thrilled to welcome Jaret to Shocker Nation,"&nbsp;said Wichita State head men's basketball coach&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/paul-mills/1241" rel="smarttag" rev="1241">Paul Mills</a></dfn>. "His defensive ability is elite given that he can guard multiple positions and rim protect at a really high rate. He also gives us size on the perimeter and will enhance our rebounding on both sides of the ball. His strong desire to improve aligns perfectly with our program's commitment to player development and competitive excellence. Jaret will make an immediate impact for us." After redshirting as a true freshman, Valencia was named to the CAA All-Rookie and All-Defensive Team as a redshirt freshman in 2023-24. His 55 blocks led the team and ranked second in the CAA. He appeared in all 33 games, making 32 starts, and averaged 8.9 points and 4.4 rebounds on 49.8 percent shooting. As a redshirt sophomore this past season, Valencia put up 6.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 27 games. He scored a career-high 18 points on Nov. 21, 2024 vs. Youngstown State. He came up one rebound shy of his first career double-double at Seton Hall on Nov. 30 with 11 points and a career-high nine rebounds. In 60 career games, Valencia is averaging 7.9 points and 4.3 rebounds on 47.5 percent shooting and converting 37.9 percent of his three-pointers. As a junior and senior at LSS, he helped lead them to back-to-back Texas 6A state championships. He recorded&nbsp;single game career highs at LSS in points with 56, rebounds with 18 and blocks with 13. Valencia was named a top-100 power forward by 247Sports and earned a 3-star ranking by multiple recruiting services. 247Sports Composite listed Valencia as the No. 58 power forward in the class. He is the son of Gloria Valencia.</div>

🏀 WSU signs versatile forward Valencia

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Wacha scattered four hits over six innings, Vinnie Pasquantino homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 2-0 for the second straight night Saturday to run their winning streak to six.

Wacha (1-3) once again received little run support, but the veteran right-hander made the meager production stand up on chilly evening at Kauffman Stadium. He struck out six while walking two and never allowed a runner past second base.

Steven Cruz worked the seventh for Kansas City, his seventh appearance this season without allowing a run. John Schreiber left runners on the corners in the eighth, and Carlos Estévez had a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and scored in the first inning for the Royals, extending his career-best hitting streak to 18 games.

Framber Valdez (1-3) gave up a sacrifice fly to Mark Canha in the first inning and Pasquantino's shot down the right-field line in the fifth. Otherwise, the Astros left-hander kept Kansas City in check, allowing three hits and two walks over eight innings.

Valdez had tossed seven shutout innings against the Royals last August in a 3-2 victory.

The Astros, who have lost five straight at the K, have managed just nine hits while getting shut out over the first two games of the series. They had rolled into Kansas City having won three straight and five of their last six games.

Isaac Parades hit a two-out double and Jeremy Peña followed with a single to give Houston runners on the corners in the eighth inning. Schreiber bounced back to strike out Christian Walker with a four-seam fastball to end the threat.

The Royals have only scored seven runs in the 32 innings that Wacha has pitched this season.

RHP Hunter Brown (3-1, 1.16) tries to extend a 24-inning scoreless streak for Houston in the series finale Sunday. LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 1.45) gets the start for Kansas City after tossing seven shutout innings against the Rockies his last time out.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745720098244.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Wacha scattered four hits over six innings, Vinnie Pasquantino homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 2-0 for the second straight night Saturday to run their winning streak to six.Wacha (1-3) once again received little run support, but the veteran right-hander made the meager production stand up on chilly evening at Kauffman Stadium. He struck out six while walking two and never allowed a runner past second base.Steven Cruz worked the seventh for Kansas City, his seventh appearance this season without allowing a run. John Schreiber left runners on the corners in the eighth, and Carlos Estévez had a perfect ninth for his seventh save.Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and scored in the first inning for the Royals, extending his career-best hitting streak to 18 games.Framber Valdez (1-3) gave up a sacrifice fly to Mark Canha in the first inning and Pasquantino's shot down the right-field line in the fifth. Otherwise, the Astros left-hander kept Kansas City in check, allowing three hits and two walks over eight innings.Valdez had tossed seven shutout innings against the Royals last August in a 3-2 victory.The Astros, who have lost five straight at the K, have managed just nine hits while getting shut out over the first two games of the series. They had rolled into Kansas City having won three straight and five of their last six games.<h2>Key moment</h2>Isaac Parades hit a two-out double and Jeremy Peña followed with a single to give Houston runners on the corners in the eighth inning. Schreiber bounced back to strike out Christian Walker with a four-seam fastball to end the threat.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Royals have only scored seven runs in the 32 innings that Wacha has pitched this season.<h2>Up next</h2>RHP Hunter Brown (3-1, 1.16) tries to extend a 24-inning scoreless streak for Houston in the series finale Sunday. LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 1.45) gets the start for Kansas City after tossing seven shutout innings against the Rockies his last time out.

⚾ Pasquantino homers as KC beats Astros for the second straight night

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs general manager Brett Veach saw the same thing that everyone else saw during the Super Bowl:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">His team was beaten up front</a>&nbsp;on both sides of the ball by the Philadelphia Eagles in a lopsided and humbling defeat.

He certainly took some swings at rectifying the situation in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/nfl-draft-2025-picks-updates">the NFL draft</a>.

The Chiefs used the final pick in the first round on Thursday night to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-draft-kansas-city-chiefs-466de8bc6d14bf4192111f5a9100147b">select Ohio State’s Josh Simmons</a>, believed by many to be the most talented offensive tackle in the draft. The biggest reason Simmons fell to No. 32 overall is that he’s coming off a torn patellar tendon, but the Chiefs are confident after their medical checks that he will play this season.

Then, in the second round Friday night, they used the penultimate pick on Tennessee’s Omarr Norman-Lott, who will slide into the middle of the defensive line alongside perennial Pro Bowl tackle Chris Jones.

Throw in another draft pick on the defensive front in the third round — pass rusher Ashton Gillotte of Louisville — and the Chiefs were able to address their most pressing needs before they even reached the middle rounds of the draft.

“Well, certainly there was a lot of discussion about the offensive line following the Super Bowl, and Brett — as he often does — took advantage of free agency to go ahead and reinforce it,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said, alluding to the signing of offensive tackle Jaylon Moore and defensive lineman Jerry Tillery earlier in the offseason.

“That’s one of the best things that he does,” Hunt said, “is he puts us in a position going into the draft where we don’t have to draft based on need, and particularly when you’re drafting as late as we do every year. Taking the best player available gives you a chance of getting somebody who can stick with the organization and make an impact long-term.”

That is exactly what the Chiefs see in their first- and second-round picks.

The Chiefs believed so strongly in California cornerback Nohl Williams that they sent their 95th pick and a fourth-rounder next year to New England to move up 10 spots and pick him 85th overall. The Chiefs needed help at the position, and Williams certainly was productive in college, picking off 14 passes during five seasons.

Some draftniks thought Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals could go as high as the second round. So when he was still there in the fourth round, the Chiefs grabbed him to help fill out a young but exciting wide receiver room. The Chiefs should get Rashee Rice back from injury this season, and Xavier Worthy is coming off a breakout rookie season.

The Chiefs picked up a fifth-round pick in a first-day trade with Philadelphia, and they used it on Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa, who should provide depth while also having the versatility to play all four phases of special teams.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726291617671.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 27-20. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 27-20. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs general manager Brett Veach saw the same thing that everyone else saw during the Super Bowl:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">His team was beaten up front</a>&nbsp;on both sides of the ball by the Philadelphia Eagles in a lopsided and humbling defeat.He certainly took some swings at rectifying the situation in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/nfl-draft-2025-picks-updates">the NFL draft</a>.The Chiefs used the final pick in the first round on Thursday night to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-draft-kansas-city-chiefs-466de8bc6d14bf4192111f5a9100147b">select Ohio State’s Josh Simmons</a>, believed by many to be the most talented offensive tackle in the draft. The biggest reason Simmons fell to No. 32 overall is that he’s coming off a torn patellar tendon, but the Chiefs are confident after their medical checks that he will play this season.Then, in the second round Friday night, they used the penultimate pick on Tennessee’s Omarr Norman-Lott, who will slide into the middle of the defensive line alongside perennial Pro Bowl tackle Chris Jones.Throw in another draft pick on the defensive front in the third round — pass rusher Ashton Gillotte of Louisville — and the Chiefs were able to address their most pressing needs before they even reached the middle rounds of the draft.“Well, certainly there was a lot of discussion about the offensive line following the Super Bowl, and Brett — as he often does — took advantage of free agency to go ahead and reinforce it,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said, alluding to the signing of offensive tackle Jaylon Moore and defensive lineman Jerry Tillery earlier in the offseason.“That’s one of the best things that he does,” Hunt said, “is he puts us in a position going into the draft where we don’t have to draft based on need, and particularly when you’re drafting as late as we do every year. Taking the best player available gives you a chance of getting somebody who can stick with the organization and make an impact long-term.”That is exactly what the Chiefs see in their first- and second-round picks.“Well, certainly there was a lot of discussion about the offensive line following the Super Bowl, and Brett — as he often does — took advantage of free agency to go ahead and reinforce it,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said, alluding to the signing of offensive tackle Jaylon Moore and defensive lineman Jerry Tillery earlier in the offseason.“That’s one of the best things that he does,” Hunt said, “is he puts us in a position going into the draft where we don’t have to draft based on need, and particularly when you’re drafting as late as we do every year. Taking the best player available gives you a chance of getting somebody who can stick with the organization and make an impact long-term.”That is exactly what the Chiefs see in their first- and second-round picks.<h2>Trading up</h2>The Chiefs believed so strongly in California cornerback Nohl Williams that they sent their 95th pick and a fourth-rounder next year to New England to move up 10 spots and pick him 85th overall. The Chiefs needed help at the position, and Williams certainly was productive in college, picking off 14 passes during five seasons.<h2>Day 3 steal</h2>Some draftniks thought Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals could go as high as the second round. So when he was still there in the fourth round, the Chiefs grabbed him to help fill out a young but exciting wide receiver room. The Chiefs should get Rashee Rice back from injury this season, and Xavier Worthy is coming off a breakout rookie season.<h2>Depth at linebacker</h2>The Chiefs picked up a fifth-round pick in a first-day trade with Philadelphia, and they used it on Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa, who should provide depth while also having the versatility to play all four phases of special teams.<h2>What else is left</h2>

🏈 Chiefs solidify their offensive and defensive lines while plugging other holes during NFL draft

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745806541360.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas State Athletics
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MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;&ndash; Two more Kansas State football players received the call of a lifetime from NFL franchises on Saturday as running back&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/dj-giddens/11760" rel="smarttag" rev="11760">DJ Giddens</a></dfn>&nbsp;and safety&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/marques-sigle/11808" rel="smarttag" rev="11808">Marques Sigle</a></dfn>&nbsp;were selected on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft. Giddens was chosen with the 14th&nbsp;pick of the fifth round &ndash; No. 151 overall &ndash; by the Indianapolis Colts, while Sigle was selected nine picks later with the 23rd&nbsp;pick of the round &ndash; No. 160 overall &ndash; by the San Francisco 49ers. With&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/jacob-parrish/11797" rel="smarttag" rev="11797">Jacob Parrish's</a></dfn>&nbsp;selection in the third round by Tampa Bay on Friday night, the Wildcats have now had 10 players drafted over the last three years, their most over a three-year stretch since 12 players were selected between 2002 and 2004. A product of Junction City, Kansas, Giddens became the sixth Wildcat all time to be selected by Indianapolis, including the second in the last three years as he joins cornerback Julius Brents, who was taken in the second round of the 2023 draft. Sigle is the seventh Wildcat to be selected by San Francisco and the first since DJ Reed in 2018. Giddens finished his three-year K-State career by ranking in the top 10 in school history in 11 career categories, most notably a No. 2 ranking in rushing yards per attempt (5.97), third in rushing yards (3,087), fourth in total scrimmage yards (3,766) and receiving yards by a running back (679). He became just the fourth player in school history to produce multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, joining fellow NFL Draft picks Darren Sproles, Daniel Thomas, Deuce Vaughn. Giddens was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and All-Big 12 Second Team selection a year ago after rushing for 1,343 yards and seven touchdowns on 205 carries, while he hauled in 21 catches for 258 yards and a touchdown. He set a school record by averaging 6.55 yards per carry in 2024, breaking the previous record of 6.49 yards per carry by Darren Sproles in 2003. It was the sixth-highest average in Big 12 history (minimum 200 carries). Additionally, he finished eighth in the country in scrimmage yards per game (133.42), 10th in all-purpose yards per game (133.42), 13th in rushing yards per game (111.92) and 14th in in total rushing yards. Giddens had 13 career 100-yard rushing games with seven of those coming in 2024, including a 187-yard effort against Oklahoma State and a 182-yard output the next game at Colorado to become the first Wildcat with at least 180 rushing yards in consecutive games in six years. Sigle played in 50 career games &ndash; including the final 25 at K-State after transferring in from North Dakota State &ndash; as he totaled 174 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 26 total passes defended. As a senior, the Omaha, Nebraska, native posted career highs with three interceptions &ndash; including one he returned for a touchdown at West Virginia &ndash; and 6.5 tackles for loss in addition to 60 tackles and three pass breakups. He tied for eighth in the Big 12 in interceptions and ranked third in interception-return yards (93). During his first season in Manhattan in 2023, Sigle earned All-Big 12 honors after tallying a career-high 63 tackles and 10 total passes defended as he also earned votes for the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. More Wildcats could join NFL teams as organizations begin to sign rookie free agents in the coming days. Those will be announced as they made public by their respective organizations.</div>

🏈 K-State's Giddens, Sigle selected on final day of NFL Draft

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732427069361.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
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GREEN BAY, Wis.&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;The Kansas Jayhawks had a pair of players drafted on Saturday as running back&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/devin-neal/1356">Devin Neal</a>&nbsp;and offensive lineman&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/football/roster/bryce-cabeldue/1455">Bryce Cabeldue</a>&nbsp;were selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. &nbsp; Neal was picked by the New Orleans Saints at pick No. 184, while Cabeldue went to the Seattle Seahawks at pick No. 192. With two draft picks for the second-consecutive season, the Jayhawks have now had multiple selections in back-to-back drafts for the first time since 1996-97. &nbsp; Neal was a four-year starter at Kansas and graduated as the program's all-time leading rusher with 4,393 career rushing yards on 760 carries. He also holds the KU school record for career rushing touchdowns (49), scrimmage touchdowns (53) and 100-yard rushing games (20). Neal is the only player in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards three times in his career, doing so in 2022, 2023 and 2024. His rushing yardage totals of 1,280 yards (2023) and 1,266 yards (2024) rank No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, in school history for a single season. &nbsp; The Lawrence, Kansas native, Neal was a four-time All-Big 12 selection, highlighted by earning second team honors in 2023. He was named a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award as a senior. Neal received multiple National Player of the Week awards after rushing for 207 yards and three touchdowns vs. Colorado on Nov. 23, 2024, and he received four Big 12 weekly honors during his career. Following the season, Neal was selected to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl before participating at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. &nbsp; Neal becomes the first Kansas running back selected in the NFL Draft since Moran Norris was a fourth-round pick of the Saints in 2001. Neal is now the seventh Kansas player to be drafted by the Saints and first since Norris. &nbsp; Cabeldue was a four-year starter at tackle for the Jayhawks, starting 50 games during his time at Kansas, including every game in 2021, 2022 and 2024. As a senior, he helped pave the way for an offense that ran for 211.4 yards per game and allowed just 10 sacks. &nbsp; From Clovis, New Mexico, Cabeldue was the No. 34 ranked tackle in the country last season by PFF, receiving an 80.0 grade, which included marks of 80.2 as a pass blocker and 76.6 in run blocking. For his efforts, he was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection. Cabeldue becomes only the second Kansas player ever drafted by the Seahawks, joining Terry Beeson, who was a second round pick in 1977. He now becomes the third Jayhawk alum in Seattle, joining former teammate Mike Novitsky and Steven Sims on the Seahawks' roster.&nbsp; With Cabeldue's selection, Kansas has now had an offensive lineman selected in consecutive drafts for the first time since 1995-96. Last year, Dominick Puni was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round at pick No. 86.</div>

🏈 KU's Neal, Cabeldue selected in NFL Draft

SALINA, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School baseball team bounced back after a one-run loss in Game 1 to pick up a doubleheader split against Salina South on Friday at Dean Evans Stadium.

The Salthawks are now 9-8 on the season, wile the Cougars are 12-6.

Game 1 — Salina South 4, Hutchinson 3

Hutchinson saw a late lead slip away, falling 4-3 to Salina South in Game 1 of the doubleheader.&nbsp;

The Salthawks tied the game at 3 in the fourth inning, but the Cougars pulled ahead for good in the fifth when a wild pitch allowed the go-ahead run to score.

Hutchinson opened the scoring in the top of the first with an RBI double from Caiden Beavers. South responded in the bottom of the inning as Wyatt Breeden grounded out to score one run and Aidan Speilman added an RBI single to center.

Breeden pushed the Cougars’ lead to 3-1 in the third with another RBI groundout. Hutchinson answered in the fourth, tying the game on a South error and a sacrifice fly from Brodie McCuan.

South's Jace Humphrey picked up the win, allowing four hits and three runs — only one earned — over seven innings, striking out four and walking none. The earned run was the first allowed by Humphrey this season. Jack Davis took the loss for Hutchinson despite not allowing an earned run in six innings, striking out two.&nbsp;

Cole Bleything, McCuan, Carter Morgan and Beavers each tallied one hit for the Salthawks. McCuan and Beavers drove in one run apiece.

Breeden led South with two RBIs, while Landon Putman, Speilman, Landon Huffman and Yaden Montanez each had a hit. 

After a leadoff single by Bleything in the seventh, he was eliminated at second base on a game-ending double play.&nbsp;

Hutchinson - 100 200 0 - 3 4 3 Salina South - 201 010 x - 4 4 1 W: Humphrey (3-1). L: Davis (3-1). Time: 1:22.

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Game 2 — Hutchinson 6, Salina South 3

Hutchinson High School earned a 6-3 win over South on Friday, fueled by strong pitching from Carter Morgan and timely offense.

The Salthawks opened the scoring in the first inning when Gabe Valadez lined out to drive in a run. South tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a single by Jace Humphrey, then took a 2-1 lead in the second following a passed ball.

Hutchinson reclaimed the lead in the third, capitalizing on a South error and a groundout by Valadez to go ahead 3-2.

Morgan earned the win for Hutchinson, allowing five hits and three runs — only one earned — over six innings while striking out seven and walking four. Cole Bleything recorded the save. South starter Aidan Speilman took the loss, giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Jack Yoder led Hutchinson at the plate, going 2-for-3. Jack Davis, Caiden Beavers and Valadez each drove in a run. The Salthawks drew six walks, turned a double play and played error-free defense, with JuJu Lyons leading the way with eight chances in the field.

Humphrey and Caden Stauffer each had an RBI for South. Speilman, Landon Huffman and Yaden Montanez also added hits.&nbsp;

Hutchinson - 102 011 1 - 6 6 0 Salina South - 110 000 1 - 3 5 3 W: Morgan (3-1). L: Speilman (2-2). Time: 1:57.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745626536568.jpeg" alt="Hutchinson High School senior, Carter Morgan, delivers a pitch in game two of a doubleheader on Friday, April 25, 2025 against Salina South at Dean Evans Stadium, in Salina, Kan. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)" />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson High School senior, Carter Morgan, delivers a pitch in game two of a doubleheader on Friday, April 25, 2025 against Salina South at Dean Evans Stadium, in Salina, Kan. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)</figcaption>
 </figure>SEAN BOSTON Hutch PostSALINA, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School baseball team bounced back after a one-run loss in Game 1 to pick up a doubleheader split against Salina South on Friday at Dean Evans Stadium.The Salthawks are now 9-8 on the season, wile the Cougars are 12-6.Game 1 — Salina South 4, Hutchinson 3Hutchinson saw a late lead slip away, falling 4-3 to Salina South in Game 1 of the doubleheader.&nbsp;The Salthawks tied the game at 3 in the fourth inning, but the Cougars pulled ahead for good in the fifth when a wild pitch allowed the go-ahead run to score.Hutchinson opened the scoring in the top of the first with an RBI double from Caiden Beavers. South responded in the bottom of the inning as Wyatt Breeden grounded out to score one run and Aidan Speilman added an RBI single to center.Breeden pushed the Cougars’ lead to 3-1 in the third with another RBI groundout. Hutchinson answered in the fourth, tying the game on a South error and a sacrifice fly from Brodie McCuan.South's Jace Humphrey picked up the win, allowing four hits and three runs — only one earned — over seven innings, striking out four and walking none. The earned run was the first allowed by Humphrey this season. Jack Davis took the loss for Hutchinson despite not allowing an earned run in six innings, striking out two.&nbsp;Cole Bleything, McCuan, Carter Morgan and Beavers each tallied one hit for the Salthawks. McCuan and Beavers drove in one run apiece.Breeden led South with two RBIs, while Landon Putman, Speilman, Landon Huffman and Yaden Montanez each had a hit. After a leadoff single by Bleything in the seventh, he was eliminated at second base on a game-ending double play.&nbsp;Hutchinson - 100 200 0 - 3 4 3 Salina South - 201 010 x - 4 4 1 W: Humphrey (3-1). L: Davis (3-1). Time: 1:22.-----------------------------------------------------------------------Game 2 — Hutchinson 6, Salina South 3Hutchinson High School earned a 6-3 win over South on Friday, fueled by strong pitching from Carter Morgan and timely offense.The Salthawks opened the scoring in the first inning when Gabe Valadez lined out to drive in a run. South tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a single by Jace Humphrey, then took a 2-1 lead in the second following a passed ball.Hutchinson reclaimed the lead in the third, capitalizing on a South error and a groundout by Valadez to go ahead 3-2.Morgan earned the win for Hutchinson, allowing five hits and three runs — only one earned — over six innings while striking out seven and walking four. Cole Bleything recorded the save. South starter Aidan Speilman took the loss, giving up five runs (three earned) on four hits over 5 1/3 innings.Jack Yoder led Hutchinson at the plate, going 2-for-3. Jack Davis, Caiden Beavers and Valadez each drove in a run. The Salthawks drew six walks, turned a double play and played error-free defense, with JuJu Lyons leading the way with eight chances in the field.Humphrey and Caden Stauffer each had an RBI for South. Speilman, Landon Huffman and Yaden Montanez also added hits.&nbsp;Hutchinson - 102 011 1 - 6 6 0 Salina South - 110 000 1 - 3 5 3 W: Morgan (3-1). L: Speilman (2-2). Time: 1:57.&nbsp;

⚾ Hutch High bounces back for split at Salina South

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583537421044.jpeg" alt=" " />
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 </figure><div>KSHSAA Covered
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TOPEKA, Kan. &ndash; The state volleyball and basketball formats will look different starting next school year, and the shot clock is officially in the postseason. Those items were approved during the KSHSAA Executive Board and Board of Director Meetings on Thursday. &nbsp; Volleyball&nbsp;- The traditional two-day format for state volleyball will now be played across three days for classes 6A, 5A, 4 A, 3A, 2A and 1A DI. There will still be two days of competition for each classification, but of the three sites with two classifications, the teams there will alternate days of pool play, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to all play the semifinals, consolation and finals on Saturday. The 1A DII state volleyball format will remain the same. &nbsp; &ldquo;This decision is really centered around what is best for the student-athlete,&rdquo; said KSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Sarah Smith. &ldquo;The traditional two-day format put students in a situation where we were competing well into the night, sometimes at midnight. This allows for teams to be well rested before their most important match of the year.&rdquo; &nbsp; Thursday &amp; Friday Schedule/Format Even-numbered classifications (6A, 4A, 2A) will play on Thursday during even-numbered years; odd numbered classifications (5A, 3A, 1A Div I) will play on Thursday during odd-numbered years. Whoever does not play Thursday will play the same time schedule/format on Friday. &nbsp; 10:00 am: 4 vs 5; 3 vs 6 11:00 am: 1 vs 8; 2 vs 7 12:00 pm: 4 vs 8; 3 vs 7 1:00 pm: 1 vs 5; 2 vs 6 2:00 pm: 5 vs 8; 6 vs 7 3:00 pm: 1 vs 4; 2 vs 3 &nbsp; Saturday Schedule/Format Even-numbered classifications (6A, 4A, 2A) will play bracket play in the morning during even-numbered years; odd numbered classifications (5A, 3A, 1A Div I) will bracket play in the morning during odd-numbered years. 1A Div II will keep their current schedule/format. &nbsp; Even Numbered Classes (assuming this is an even-numbered year) 9:00 am: 1st Place Pool 1 vs 2nd Place Pool 2; 1st Place Pool 2 vs 2nd Place Pool 1 10:30 am: 3rd Place Match; Championship Match &nbsp; Odd Numbered Classes (assuming this is an odd-numbered year) 1:00 pm: 1st Place Pool 1 vs 2nd Place Pool 2; 1st Place Pool 2 vs 2nd Place Pool 1 2:30 pm: 3rd Place Match; Championship Match &nbsp; Basketball&nbsp;&ndash; In June of 2024 the KSHSAA Executive Board approved the plan to move state basketball to four sites to align with the membership&rsquo;s desire to combine championship venues as the association did with football and soccer this school year.&nbsp;On Thursday, the board approved the next step of the plan to move the quarterfinal round to a select group of neutral sites. While sites are not fully finalized, the general premise will be to place the higher seeds playing their opening round game closer to home so far as possible. There will be cases when the travel distance for the opponent is too great so a neutral site in the middle of the two schools will be selected. This could include multiple classes playing at the same site.&nbsp; There will be a total of four sites around the state for semifinals and finals.&nbsp;The quarterfinal sites and the semifinal and final sites have not been selected at this time. More information will be available soon. &nbsp; Also approved Thursday was the next step for the shot clock. The KSHSAA Executive Board approved the following for mandatory adoption during the postseason: &nbsp; Class 6A, 5A and 4A - 2025-26 Class 3A and 2A &ndash; 2026-27 Class 1A DI and Class 1ADII &ndash; 2027-28 &nbsp; The KSHSAA collected data throughout the year from those schools who chose to use the shot clock and sent a survey after the basketball season to every school asking for their opinion on the future of the shot clock.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Basketball/pdf/ShotClockData.pdf">Results of the data from the season and the survey are linked here.</a> &nbsp; Football&nbsp;&ndash; The KSHSAA Board of Directors made an adjustment to the classification limits for teams eligible to compete in 8-player and 6-player football. KSHSAA Handbook Rule 35 now reads: For 8-Player district football participation, assignments shall be limited to those schools with a maximum enrollment of 110 students in grades 9, 10 and 11. For 6-Player district football participation, assignments shall be limited to those schools with a maximum enrollment of 65 students in grades 9, 10 and 11. The change will go into effect for the next football districting cycle. &nbsp; Meeting minutes reflecting these actions and others will be posted when completed:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/General/BoardMeetingsAndAgendas.cfm">Meetings and Agendas</a></div>

KSHSAA legislative boards approve several changes

SALINA, Kan. - The Hutchinson High School varsity baseball team travels to Salina South to face the Cougars in an AVCTL Division I doubleheader this afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. for Game 1, with Game 2 to follow.

The Salthawks enter the doubleheader with a 8-7 record and are fresh off getting swept by Campus at home on Wednesday. The Cougars are 11-5 getting two wins in the sweep of Maize on the road on Tuesday.&nbsp; Salina South owns a three game winning streak.

Click below to listen to the broadcast of both games.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745569486572.png" alt="Game Day Hutch High @ Salina South for doubleheader " />
 <figcaption>Game Day Hutch High @ Salina South for doubleheader </figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA, Kan. - The Hutchinson High School varsity baseball team travels to Salina South to face the Cougars in an AVCTL Division I doubleheader this afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. for Game 1, with Game 2 to follow.The Salthawks enter the doubleheader with a 8-7 record and are fresh off getting swept by Campus at home on Wednesday. The Cougars are 11-5 getting two wins in the sweep of Maize on the road on Tuesday.&nbsp; Salina South owns a three game winning streak.Click below to listen to the broadcast of both games.<div><iframe src="https://eagle-media-sports-hutch.mixlr.com/embed" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="200px" width="100%"></iframe><a href="https://mixlr.com/" style="color:#1a1a1a;display:block;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:left;padding: 4px 0;">Eagle Media Sports - Hutchpost Sports is on Mixlr</a></div>

🎧⚾ Hutch High travels to Salina South for AVCTL doubleheader

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745588083832.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita Wind Surge" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita Wind Surge</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita Wind Surge
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WICHITA, Kan. (April 24, 2025)&mdash;The Wichita Wind Surge got held to a 5-2 defeat by the Springfield Cardinals at Equity Bank Park. Although they loaded the bases and put the game-winning runner to the plate in the ninth, the Cardinals would leave them stranded for their first win of the series.
Chase Davis doubled to left field to start the game, later scoring on a fielder&rsquo;s choice for the game&rsquo;s first run.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/trent-baker-694536">Trent Baker</a>&nbsp;struck out Ramon Mendoza to strand the bases loaded in a 1-0 score with Springfield leading heading toward the bottom of the first. The Cardinals' leadoff hitter dealt more damage on a single to right field in the second; Darlin Moquete was awarded home plate on the play after an outfield throwing error.
Dakota Harris singled a third Springfield run in on a single deflected off Baker in the top of the third, and it turned to 4-0 Cardinals after Noah Mendlinger scored himself on a double play.
<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/rubel-cespedes-686438">Rubel Cespedes</a>&nbsp;doubled into the Bermuda Triangle in shallow center, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/ben-ross-805346">Ben Ross</a>&nbsp;ran around all the way from first for the first Wind Surge run of the night in the bottom of the sixth.
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Mendoza reached second on an infield error in the top of the eighth, and he crossed the plate on a single up the middle from Miguel Ugueto for a 4-1 Springfield advantage heading into the home half of the eighth.
<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/tanner-schobel-802355">Tanner Schobel</a>&nbsp;singled in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/kyler-fedko-693459">Kyler Fedko</a>&nbsp;with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, and Wichita loaded the bases, but left them stranded after an infield groundout ended the game with a 5-2 Cardinals score.
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Baker took the loss, surrendering four runs (three earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts; he is now 0-2 on the season.
POSTGAME NOTES
<ul>
<li>After his appearance tonight out of the bullpen, Jarret Whorff has yet to surrender an unearned run in Wichita this season over 7.2 innings pitched.</li>
<li>Rubel Cespedes records his fourth multi-hit game of the season.</li>
<li>Following a walk in the fourth, Tanner Schobel has reached base in 17 consecutive games.</li>
<li>The season series between the Cardinals and Wind Surge is now tied 3-3.</li>
<li>Wichita now stands at 1-2 in Thursday games in 2025.</li>
</ul>
Wichita continues the series against the Springfield Cardinals on Friday, April 25, at 6:35 PM on Fireworks Friday. Come on down to the ballpark for the first Tumba Vacas night of the year, and stick around for the best fireworks show in Kansas! You can listen to Wind Surge games on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>&nbsp;or watch online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/MiLB.TV">MiLB.TV</a>&nbsp;and Bally Sports Live. For ticket information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com/tickets">windsurge.com/tickets</a>.</div>

⚾ Wichita staved off by Springfield

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs selected Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons with the final pick in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night, giving quarterback Patrick Mahomes the blindside protector he was so sorely lacking last season.

Simmons missed the majority of last season after tearing a patellar tendon in his knee, and he didn’t work out at the scouting combine, which may have left some teams wary of using a high draft pick on him. But the Chiefs were comfortable after several checks on him, and they wound up using the No. 32 overall pick to finally shore up the tackle spot.

“I figured there might be a chance coming off the injury (to get him), but I think as you get to know him a bit and the time you get to study and talk to people around him, you’ll find out he’s a really super athlete,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “That’s where we were a little bit nervous whether he would be there or not.”

Mahomes was clearly happy with the pick, tweeting a sunglasses emoji moments before it was announced.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745559178455.jpeg" alt="FILE - Ohio State offensive lineman Josh Simmons blocks against Western Michigan during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)(Jay LaPrete | AP)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Ohio State offensive lineman Josh Simmons blocks against Western Michigan during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)(Jay LaPrete | AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs selected Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons with the final pick in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night, giving quarterback Patrick Mahomes the blindside protector he was so sorely lacking last season.Simmons missed the majority of last season after tearing a patellar tendon in his knee, and he didn’t work out at the scouting combine, which may have left some teams wary of using a high draft pick on him. But the Chiefs were comfortable after several checks on him, and they wound up using the No. 32 overall pick to finally shore up the tackle spot.“I figured there might be a chance coming off the injury (to get him), but I think as you get to know him a bit and the time you get to study and talk to people around him, you’ll find out he’s a really super athlete,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “That’s where we were a little bit nervous whether he would be there or not.”Mahomes was clearly happy with the pick, tweeting a sunglasses emoji moments before it was announced.