<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740195852343.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas State Athletics
&nbsp;
ARLINGTON, Texas &ndash;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/micah-dean/12291" rel="smarttag" rev="12291">Micah Dean's</a></dfn>&nbsp;go-ahead RBI double in the seventh, combined with 11 strikeouts from&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/jacob-frost/12294" rel="smarttag" rev="12294">Jacob Frost</a></dfn>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-dean/12290" rel="smarttag" rev="12290">Blake Dean</a></dfn>, propelled K-State to a 3-2 stunner over No. 5 Arkansas on Friday night at the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field. After Arkansas (4-1) evened the score with a pair of solo home runs,&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/micah-dean/12291" rel="smarttag" rev="12291">Micah Dean</a></dfn>&nbsp;knocked the clutch hit into left field, driving in the game-winning run and handing the Razorbacks their first loss of the season. The redshirt freshman from Richmond, Texas was named the Player of the Game by FloSports with his first collegiate RBI. "So proud of our guys for their toughness and resilience through a challenging stretch," said K-State (2-4) 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>. "We had great pitching, and our guys competed in the zone all night. Defensively, we played clean baseball. Offensively, we executed situational baseball well and performed against a really good arm." Frost, who carried a one-hitter into the sixth, held the Razorbacks to two runs in his first start of the season. The senior left-hander allowed four hits and struck out six before handing the ball over to&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-dean/12290" rel="smarttag" rev="12290">Blake Dean</a></dfn>, who logged 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Dean (1-0), a Big 12 All-Freshman Team honoree last season, picked up the win and scattered just three hits in his relief outing. The sophomore retired 11 of the 14 batters he faced, including striking out a season-high five. "This game is a good reflection of our team's character and an important momentum builder, but we have some ground to make up," Hughes added. In the second consecutive victory over nationally-ranked Arkansas, both&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/bear-madliak/12309" rel="smarttag" rev="12309">Bear Madliak</a></dfn>&nbsp;led the Wildcats' offense with two-hit days while Dean, Kennedy and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/shintaro-inoue/12311" rel="smarttag" rev="12311">Shintaro Inoue</a></dfn>&nbsp;each drove in a run. Four pitchers made an appearance for Arkansas with Tate McGuire (0-1) taking the loss. The right-hander surrendered the go-ahead run and allowed two hits in his 1 1/3 innings in relief of sophomore starter Gabe Gaeckle, a 2024 Freshman All-American by Baseball America, D1Baseball and NCBWA. HOW IT HAPPENED After two scoreless innings, K-State broke through in the third when Kennedy drove in Dean from second with a single through the left side. The Cats added to their lead in the next frame as Martin doubled down the left field line and scored on Inoue's single to right. With the Cats leading 2-0 in sixth, Arkansas made its first call to the bullpen and handed the ball over to McGuire. The right-handed reliever quickly picked up the final out to keep K-State off the board for the second consecutive inning. The Razorbacks' Wehiwa and Kuhio Aloy each built momentum for Arkansas, as they ended the shutout with solo home runs. &nbsp; Tied 2-2, K-State took back the lead in the seventh as Dean laced a 0-1 pitch down the left field line to score&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/david-bishop/12287" rel="smarttag" rev="12287">David Bishop</a></dfn>&nbsp;after the senior led off the inning with an infield single. &nbsp; Dean kept the Cats ahead, 3-2, in the home half of the inning when the redshirt freshman gunned down the runner out at third on a hit into center. The Wildcats' defense continued to shut down the Razorbacks, holding off the tying run in the seventh and ninth. &nbsp; INSIDE THE BOX
<ul>
<li>K-State scored three runs on eight hits without an error and left six men on base.</li>
<li>Arkansas plated a pair of runs on seven hits, committed no errors and stranded seven on base.</li>
<li><dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/micah-dean/12291" rel="smarttag" rev="12291">Micah Dean</a></dfn>&nbsp;drove in the game-winning run with an RBI double in the seventh.</li>
<li>Kennedy and Madliak led the Cats with two-hits each.</li>
<li>Kennedy drove in the only two-out RBI of the game.</li>
<li>Frost logged 5 1/3 innings in his first start of the year, allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts.</li>
<li><dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-dean/12290" rel="smarttag" rev="12290">Blake Dean</a></dfn>&nbsp;(1-0) picked up the win in relief, throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and allowing three hits.</li>
<li>Six different players contributed a hit for the offense.</li>
<li>Four of Arkansas' seven hits were for extra bases.</li>
<li>McGuire (0-1) was credited the loss in relief of starter Gaeckle.</li>
<li>K-State went 3-for-11 (.296) with runners on base and hit .333 (2-for-6) with men in scoring position while Arkansas hit .231 (3-for-13) with men on and was 0-for-3 in scoring position.</li>
<li>With two-outs, the Cats hit .222 (2-for-9) and the Razorbacks hit .200 (2-for-10).</li>
</ul>
NOTES
<ul>
<li>K-State moved to 21-31 all-time against Arkansas and tied the series 2-2 at neutral locations.</li>
<li>Friday's win marked the second consecutive victory over the Razorbacks.</li>
<li>The Wildcats picked up their first win over a nationally ranked opponent and seventh Top 5 win in the Hughes era.</li>
<li>K-State is 1-1 against Top 25 teams in 2025.</li>
<li>Kennedy and Martin stretched their hit streaks out to three, while Dardar extended his team-high-on-base streak to six followed by Bishop (5).</li>
<li>K-State is 153-270-3 all-time against SEC teams.</li>
</ul>
UP NEXT K-State will return to Globe Life Field to face Michigan (4-1) Saturday at 2 p.m. The College Baseball Series can be seen on FloSports.com while radio coverage will be carried on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/staff-directory/brian-smoller/48" rel="smarttag" rev="48">Brian Smoller</a></dfn>&nbsp;calling all the action. A free live streaming audio is available for all games at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Live=3268&amp;type=Archive">KStateSports.com/watch</a>&nbsp;and on the K-State Sports app.</div>

⚾ K-State stuns No. 5 Arkansas

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701785757574.png" alt="Eagle Media HS Basketball Scoreboard" />
 <figcaption>Eagle Media HS Basketball Scoreboard</figcaption>
 </figure><div><h1>Friday, Feb.&nbsp;21 (Hutch Post Area Girls Finals)</h1>
Buhler 72, Circle 49 Central Christian School 45, Pratt-Skyline 11 Fairfield vs. Norwich Halstead 41, McPherson-Elyria Christian 19 Hesston 46, Haven 31 Hutch High 68, Newton 16 Inman 79, Trinity Catholic 16 Southeast of Saline 41, Lyons 27 Augusta 60, McPherson 56 Moundridge 46,&nbsp;Remington 32 Pratt 44, Smoky Valley 39 Pretty Prairie 31, Cunningham 25 Sterling 53, Ell-Saline 34
&nbsp;
<h1>Friday, Feb.&nbsp;21 (Hutch Post Area Boys Finals)</h1>
Circle 70, Buhler 68 (OT) Central Christian School 48, Pratt-Skyline 36 Norwich 73, Fairfield 45 McPherson-Elyria Christian 53, Halstead 42 Hesston 48, Haven 36 Hutch High 58, Newton 51 Trinity Catholic 65, Inman 45 Southeast of Saline 62, Lyons 58 McPherson 73, Augusta 65 Moundridge at Remington Pratt 66, Smoky Valley 25 Pretty Prairie 77, Cunningham 56 Sterling 62, Ell-Saline 46
&nbsp;
&nbsp;</div>

🏀 Hutch Post Area scoreboard for Friday, Feb. 21

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740191241508.jpeg" alt="Mikhail Abdul-Hamid and the Blue Dragon men's basketball team takes on the Butler Grizzlies at 4 p.m. on Saturday for the Dragons' annual Pink-Out Game. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Mikhail Abdul-Hamid and the Blue Dragon men's basketball team takes on the Butler Grizzlies at 4 p.m. on Saturday for the Dragons' annual Pink-Out Game. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Hutchinson CC Sports Information
One of the classic Jayhawk Conference rivalries renews itself on Saturday as the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team meets the rival Butler Grizzlies on Saturday afternoon at the Sports Arena.
There will be plenty at stake on Saturday as the Blue Dragons (16-10, 12-8 KJCCC) and Grizzlies (18-8, 13-7) meet at 4 p.m. Saturday for the Blue Dragons' annual Pink-Out Game set to tip off at 4 p.m.
BLUE DRAGON MEN'S BASKETBALL Hutchinson (16-10, 12-8) vs. Butler (18-8, 13-7) Blue Dragon Pink-Out Game When: Saturday, February 22, 2025 Where: Hutchinson Sports Arena, Hutchinson, KS Time: 4 p.m. Radio:&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 3:45 p.m. - Sean Boston (PBP); Dan Naccarato (Analyst)</a> Video:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kjcccsports.net/hutchcc/?B=2196256">Blue Dragon Sports Network, 3:45 p.m.</a> X: @bluedragonsport Game Sponsor: Midwest Superstore of Hutchinson <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/files/Game_27_-_Butler_Men.pdf">CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)</a>
The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 3:45 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) and Dan Naccarato (analyst) calling the action. The game will be streamed on the Blue Dragon Sports Network at 3:45 p.m.
Pink-Out T-Shirts will be available throughout both games on Saturday with a suggested for-sale price of $10. Pink-Out ceremonies will take place at halftime of the men's game.
On the court, the fifth-place Blue Dragons continued to trail Butler by one game for fourth place. The top four teams in the final conference standings receive opening-round byes for the Region 6 Tournament in March.
Both teams come off losses in mid-week action.
The Blue Dragons fell to No. 8 Cowley on the road 87-71 on Wednesday. The Grizzlies dropped an 83-60 road decision at Coffeyville on Thursday.
<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/bios/arnold_khalil_9vae">Khalil Arnold</a>&nbsp;had 15 points to lead the Blue Dragons on Wednesday against the Tigers. D.J. Dudley had 14 points, but the Tigers shot an opponent-season-high 57.7 percent from the floor. Hutchinson shot only 40.3 percent from the field.
Saturday's meeting will be the 201st all-time game played in series history between Hutchinson and Butler. The Blue Dragons lead the series 130-70 after the Blue Dragons won 73-70 at El Dorado on January 8. Bo Aldridge had 22 points and 11 rebounds against the Grizzlies for his first career double-double. Russell Branch had 18 points to lead Butler in the first meeting.
Hutchinson starts a two-game homestand with Butler and Pratt on Wednesday. The Dragons close out the regular season with a road trip to Seward County and then home vs. Dodge City on March 5.</div>

🏀 HutchCC hosts Butler Saturday in key KJCCC tilt

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740191139383.jpeg" alt="Madi Denison and the Blue Dragon women's basketball team plays host to the Butler Grizzlies at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Sports Arena for the Blue Dragons annual Pink-Out Game. (Andrew Carpenter/Digital Fox Photography)" />
 <figcaption>Madi Denison and the Blue Dragon women's basketball team plays host to the Butler Grizzlies at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Sports Arena for the Blue Dragons annual Pink-Out Game. (Andrew Carpenter/Digital Fox Photography)</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Down to four games to play in the 2024-25 regular season, the No. 8-ranked Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team faces a key Jayhawk Conference battle on Saturday.
Coming off an upset loss at Cowley on Wednesday, the Blue Dragons (23-3, 17-3 KJCCC) play host to the Butler Grizzlies (20-5, 15-5) at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena in a battle of the Nos. 2 and 4 teams in the Jayhawk-Conference standings.
BLUE DRAGON WOMEN'S BASKETBALL No. 8 Hutchinson (23-3, 17-3) vs. Butler (20-5, 15-5) Blue Dragon Pink-Out Game When: Saturday, February 22, 2025 Where: Hutchinson Sports Arena, Hutchinson, KS Time: 2 p.m. Radio:&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb5web.securenetsystems.net/v5/KHUT" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KHUT-FM (102.9); KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), 1:45 p.m. - Sean Boston (PBP); Dan Naccarato (Analyst)</a> Video:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kjcccsports.net/hutchcc/?B=2196244">Blue Dragon Sports Network, 1:45 p.m.</a> X: @bluedragonsport Game Sponsor: Midwest Superstore of Hutchinson <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/files/Game_27_-_Butler_women.pdf">CLICK FOR FULL BLUE DRAGON GAME NOTES (PDF Format)</a>
The game will be broadcast live on Blue Dragon flagship station KHUT-FM (102.9) and on sister stations KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5) beginning at 1:45 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) and Dan Naccarato (analyst) calling the action. The game will be streamed on the Blue Dragon Sports Network at 1:45 p.m.
The Blue Dragons currently trail first-place Dodge City by one game in the Jayhawk Conference standings after falling to Cowley on Wednesday. The Dragons need one victory or one Seward County loss over the final four games to clinch a first-round bye in the upcoming Region VI Tournament.
Hutchinson has Butler, Pratt, Seward County and No. 7 Dodge City remaining on the schedule with three of those games to be played at the Sports Arena.
Sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/bios/jackson_hailey_q6t6">Hailey Jackson</a>&nbsp;had 18 points, nine rebounds and three steals to lead Hutchinson on Wednesday at Cowley. The Blue Dragons trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half, but cut the deficit to one with 3 1/2 minutes to play before the Tigers closed out the upset win from the free-throw line.
Butler has won five games in a row, coming of a 56-52 victory over third-place Coffeyville on Thursday to snap the Red Ravens' 11-game winning streak. Coffeyville remains one game behind the Blue Dragons and Butler pulled within one game of Coffeyville for third place.
The Blue Dragons won a tight contest in the first meeting with Butler on January 8 in El Dorado, defeating the Grizzlies 57-53. Jackson scored 17 points and&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/bios/forbes_landon_o30r">Landon Forbes</a>&nbsp;added 10 to lead the Blue Dragons, who it 8 of 25 3-pointers. Despite Keegan Yarick's 20 points, the Dragons held Butler to 30.0 percent shooting with 15 turnovers forced.</div>

🏀 Blue Dragons host Grizzlies Saturday for Pink Out

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutch High Salthawk Basketball teams are home tonight at the Salthawk Activity Center tonight for a doubleheader vs the Newton Railers.

Catch all the action on <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KWBW">KWBW Radio 1450am/98.5fm</a> with the award winning EAGLE Media sportscast crew, consisting of the recently announced KSHSAA Sportscaster of the year, Glen Grunwald with the play-by-play call and Dan "Coach Nac" Naccarato with in-depth analysis. Pregame starts at 5:45 p.m. followed by the opening tip at 6 p.m. The Hutch High boys game will follow at around 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;

You have a choice. The video broadcast of both games will also available on the <a href="https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ks/hutchinson/organization/8/hutchinson-high-school/team/26735/girls-varsity-basketball/schedule?date=2024-12-01T06%3A00%3A00.000Z&amp;range=Month&amp;s=U2NoZWR1bGVFbnRyeVB1YmxpY1N1bW1hcnk2NmRmNTg0ZDM5NThmZmZhY2ViMzYxZmI%3D&amp;ss=2024">Hutch High hudl.tv fan page</a>&nbsp;and on the <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/hutchinson-high-school-hutchinson-ks">NFHS&nbsp; Network Hutchinson Channel.</a>&nbsp;You can subscribe to either network.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740137912056.jpeg" alt="Hutch High vs Newton - February 21st, 2025 - Champions Night" />
 <figcaption>Hutch High vs Newton - February 21st, 2025 - Champions Night</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutch High Salthawk Basketball teams are home tonight at the Salthawk Activity Center tonight for a doubleheader vs the Newton Railers.Audio Steam and local radio:Catch all the action on <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KWBW">KWBW Radio 1450am/98.5fm</a> with the award winning EAGLE Media sportscast crew, consisting of the recently announced KSHSAA Sportscaster of the year, Glen Grunwald with the play-by-play call and Dan "Coach Nac" Naccarato with in-depth analysis. Pregame starts at 5:45 p.m. followed by the opening tip at 6 p.m. The Hutch High boys game will follow at around 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;Video Stream:You have a choice. The video broadcast of both games will also available on the <a href="https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ks/hutchinson/organization/8/hutchinson-high-school/team/26735/girls-varsity-basketball/schedule?date=2024-12-01T06%3A00%3A00.000Z&amp;range=Month&amp;s=U2NoZWR1bGVFbnRyeVB1YmxpY1N1bW1hcnk2NmRmNTg0ZDM5NThmZmZhY2ViMzYxZmI%3D&amp;ss=2024">Hutch High hudl.tv fan page</a>&nbsp;and on the <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/hutchinson-high-school-hutchinson-ks">NFHS&nbsp; Network Hutchinson Channel.</a>&nbsp;You can subscribe to either network.Girls Game vs Newton on hudl.tv:<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/2184704?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>Boys Game vs Newton on hudl.tv:<div><iframe src="https://vcloud.hudl.com/broadcast/embed/2184709?autoplay=1" width="640" height="360" allow="fullscreen;" style="border:0;overflow:hidden;"></iframe></div>

🎧🎥🏀 Hutch High hosts Newton tonight for Champions Night

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739890714776.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
&nbsp;
WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;Weather has altered the schedule for the upcoming OU Tournament this weekend in Norman, Okla., for a second time. Saturday's game time has been moved back 30 minutes to a 12:30 p.m. start vs. Bowling Green. Sunday, Wichita State will now play Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. and Abilene Christian at 6 p.m. with both games at Love's Field. Monday's game time vs. Abilene Christian remains unchanged, however, that game will now move over to Marita Hynes Field. Wichita State will play three games at Love's Field and one at Marita Hynes Field. Revised OU Tournament Schedule Saturday, Feb. 22 | vs. Bowling Green | 12:30 p.m. | Love's&nbsp;Field Sunday, Feb. 23 | at Oklahoma | 3:30 p.m. | Love's Field Sunday, Feb. 23 | vs. Abilene Christian | 6:00 p.m. | Love's&nbsp;Field Monday, Feb. 24 | vs. Abilene Christian | 11 a.m. | Marita Hynes Field</div>

🥎 OU Tournament schedule adjusted for WSU

<a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch Post

Halstead High School graduate Karenna Gerber is now the all-time leading rebounder in Pittsburg State University women's basketball history with 843.

The 6-foot senior set the new mark in an 81-74 win over Nebraska Kearney on Thursday in Kearney. She surpassed Lizzy Jeronimus (2012-15) for the record.

Gerber finished the game with 24 points, going 11 of 11 from the field, which tied the school record for the best field goal percentage in a single-game.

Gerber graduated from Halstead in 2021 and was a two-time class 3A all-state performer. She was also a four-time all-Central Kansas League selection.

Pitt State is 24-2 overall, 16-0 in the MIAA and ranked No. 5 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740154714413.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Derek Livingston, Pittsburg State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Derek Livingston, Pittsburg State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch PostHalstead High School graduate Karenna Gerber is now the all-time leading rebounder in Pittsburg State University women's basketball history with 843.The 6-foot senior set the new mark in an 81-74 win over Nebraska Kearney on Thursday in Kearney. She surpassed Lizzy Jeronimus (2012-15) for the record.Gerber finished the game with 24 points, going 11 of 11 from the field, which tied the school record for the best field goal percentage in a single-game.Gerber graduated from Halstead in 2021 and was a two-time class 3A all-state performer. She was also a four-time all-Central Kansas League selection.Pitt State is 24-2 overall, 16-0 in the MIAA and ranked No. 5 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll.&nbsp;

🏀 Halstead alum rewrites Pittsburg State record book

KSHSAA regional wrestling will take place on Friday and Saturday across the Sunflower State at 12 different locations. Class 6A and class 5A will each have two locations, while class 4A and classes 3-1A will each have four sites.

See below for Hutch Post area schools and where they will be competing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738852558687.png" alt="Photo Courtesy KSHSAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy KSHSAA</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch PostKSHSAA regional wrestling will take place on Friday and Saturday across the Sunflower State at 12 different locations. Class 6A and class 5A will each have two locations, while class 4A and classes 3-1A will each have four sites.See below for Hutch Post area schools and where they will be competing.<div><h1>CLASS 5A</h1>
<h1>Host: Newton</h1>
<h1>Date(s): Feb. 21-22</h1>
Schools: Andover, Andover Central, Ark City, Bishop Carroll, Emporia, Eisenhower, Goddard, Great Bend, Hays, Hutchinson, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Maize South, Newton, Salina Central, Salina South, Topeka Seaman, Topeka West, Valley Center
<a href="https://www.trackwrestling.com/predefinedtournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&amp;TIM=1739896050158&amp;pageName=%2Fpredefinedtournaments%2FTournamentHub.jsp&amp;twSessionId=cuuadkndod" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR LIVE RESULTS</a>
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<h1>CLASS 4A</h1>
<h1>Host: Abilene</h1>
<h1>Date(s): Feb. 22</h1>
Schools:&nbsp;Abilene, Buhler, Chapman, Clay Center, Colby, Concordia, Goodland, Hesston, Larned, Marysville, McPherson, Scott City, Smoky Valley, St.George-RockCreek, Wamego
<a href="https://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/predefinedtournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=854189132" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR LIVE RESULTS</a>
&nbsp;
<h1>CLASS 4A</h1>
<h1>Host: Rose Hill</h1>
<h1>Date(s): Feb. 22</h1>
Schools:&nbsp;Andale, Augusta, Cheney, Clearwater, El Dorado, Halstead, Holcomb, Hugoton, Mulvane, Nickerson, Pratt, Rose Hill, Towanda-Circle, Ulysses, Wellington, Winfield HS
<a href="https://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/predefinedtournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=854191132" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR LIVE RESULTS</a>
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<h1>CLASS 3-1A</h1>
<h1>Host: Cimarron</h1>
<h1>Date(s): Feb. 22</h1>
Schools:&nbsp;Atwood-Rawlins County, Bird City-Cheylin, Chaparral, Cimarron, Garden Plain, Greensburg-Kiowa County, Hill City, Hoxie, Ingalls, Johnson-Stanton County, Kingman, Lakin, Langdon-Fairfield, Leoti-Wichita County, Medicine Lodge, Norton Community, Oakley, Oberlin-Decatur Community, St. Francis, St. John-Hudson, Stafford, Tribune-Greeley County
<a href="https://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/predefinedtournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=854173132" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR LIVE RESULTS</a>
&nbsp;
<h1>CLASS 3-1A</h1>
<h1>Host: Fredonia</h1>
<h1>Date(s): Feb. 22</h1>
Schools:&nbsp;Belleville-Republic County, Beloit, Bennington, Brookville-Ell-Saline, Downs-Lakeside, Ellinwood, Ellis, Ellsworth, Gypsum-Southeast of Saline, Haven, Hays-Thomas More Prep-Marian, Hoisington, Lyons, Minneapolis, Moundridge, Osborne, Phillipsburg, Plainville, Quinter, Russell, Sedgwick, Smith Center, Stockton, Sylvan-Lucas Unified, WaKeeney-Trego Community
<a href="https://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/predefinedtournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=854176132" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR LIVE RESULTS</a></div>

🤼‍♂️ KSHSAA boys wrestling regionals Friday and Saturday

Area high school basketball schedule for Friday, Feb. 21.&nbsp;

Buhler at Circle Central Christian School at Pratt-Skyline Fairfield vs. Norwich Halstead vs. McPherson-Elyria Christian Haven vs. Hesston Hutch High vs. Newton Inman vs. Trinity Catholic Lyons at Southeast of Saline McPherson vs. Augusta Moundridge at Bennington Pratt vs. Smoky Valley Pretty Prairie vs. Cunningham Sterling at Ell-Saline

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701785757574.png" alt="Eagle Media HS Basketball Scoreboard" />
 <figcaption>Eagle Media HS Basketball Scoreboard</figcaption>
 </figure>Area high school basketball schedule for Friday, Feb. 21.&nbsp;Buhler at Circle Central Christian School at Pratt-Skyline Fairfield vs. Norwich Halstead vs. McPherson-Elyria Christian Haven vs. Hesston Hutch High vs. Newton Inman vs. Trinity Catholic Lyons at Southeast of Saline McPherson vs. Augusta Moundridge at Bennington Pratt vs. Smoky Valley Pretty Prairie vs. Cunningham Sterling at Ell-Saline

🏀 Area high school hoops schedule for Feb. 21

AP Sports Summary for February 21st, 2025:

American fans lightly boo 'O Canada' before 4 Nations Face-Off title game

BOSTON (AP) — American fans lightly booed the Canadian national anthem and roared out their own Thursday night before the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off, a matchup between the United States and Canada that has taken on collateral importance in the wake of cross-border political animosity. A smattering of jeers for "O Canada" were eventually drowned out by the singing fans; "The Star-Spangled Banner" followed, with the sellout TD Garden crowd at full volume in an anthem battle that became the undercard for one of the most anticipated hockey games in decades.

Singer of Canadian anthem at 4 Nations Face-Off changes lyric to protest Trump's 51st state remarks

The anthem singer who performed the Canadian anthem prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game changed a lyric in "O Canada" from "in all of us command" to "that only us command." Publicist Adam Gonshor in an email to The Associated Press confirmed Chantal Kreviazuk changed the lyric as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about making Canada the 51st state. Kreviazuk also posted to her Instagram story the phrase "that only us command" written on her left hand with emojis of a Canadian flag and a flexed muscle. The NHL declined comment on the situation. Canada won the game 3-2 in overtime.

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama to miss remainder of season after blood clot diagnosis

San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama's season is over. The Spurs say Wembanyama has been diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder. It is a massive blow to the Spurs, who are contending for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The condition was diagnosed this week after Wembanyama returned from the All-Star Game. Wembanyama's situation comes about 3 1/2 months after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke and was forced to take a leave from the sideline. A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the Spurs expect Wembanyama to recover fully.

ESPN and Major League Baseball will end their national television deal after 2025 season

ESPN's coverage of Major League Baseball games — at least in its current form — will conclude at the end of the 2025 season. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro informed baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday morning that the network was opting out of the final three years of its contract, two people told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss financial matters. ESPN and MLB both made statements Thursday night confirming the end of the current rights deal. There was a March 1 deadline for MLB and ESPN to opt out of the final three years of their contract. The sides agreed to a seven-year deal in 2021 that averaged $550 million per season.

Shiffrin finishes 2.89 seconds behind first-run leader Robinson in first GS race after injury

SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin has finished 2.89 seconds off the lead in the opening run of a World Cup giant slalom in her first race in the discipline in nearly 12 weeks. The American holder of a record 99 World Cup wins hadn't raced in giant slalom since suffering severe trauma to her oblique muscles and a deep puncture wound during a GS crash in November. Alice Robinson of New Zealand posted the fastest time and led world champion Federica Brignone of Italy by 0.19 seconds. Shiffrin's American teammate Paula Moltzan stood third and had 0.83 to make up in the second run.

Tiger Woods joins another White House meeting as PGA Tour moves closer to Saudi deal

Tiger Woods and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan have taken part of a White House meeting with President Donald Trump that signals more progress in getting a deal done with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the financial muscle behind the rival league, also was part of the meeting. The PGA Tour said in a statement that the parties discussed "the reunification of golf." It was the second meeting in two weeks at the White House on the future of the sport.

Players 1, umpires 0: Cubs hurler Cody Poteet makes first ABS challenge in spring training and wins

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Chicago Cubs pitcher Cody Poteet believed the 95 mph fastball he threw to Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Max Muncy was in the strike zone. Plate umpire Tony Randazzo disagreed and called it a ball. Instead of arguing, Poteet simply patted the top of his cap, signifying he wanted to challenge the call. After a few seconds, the verdict was ready on the video board in right-center field. Poteet was correct — it was a strike, just catching the bottom of the zone. The first test of the Automated Ball-Strike System went off without a hitch Thursday, with Randazzo quickly reversing the call.

Champions League draw serves up a Madrid derby, Bayern vs. Leverkusen and Liverpool-PSG

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — A Madrid derby. A German classic. A rare meeting between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. The Champions League got more heavyweight clashes when the round of 16 draw was made Friday. Defending champion Real Madrid's reward for ousting 2023 title winner Manchester City is two city derbies against Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid won both times when they met in the finals of 2014 and 2016. Bayern Munich was paired with Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool was the top-seeded team in the draw after finishing first in the 36-team standings last month but still got a tough assignment as the Premier League leader was paired with No. 15 seed PSG.

Zack Martin is retiring after a decorated career at guard for the Cowboys, AP sources say

Two people with knowledge of the decision say Zack Martin is retiring after a decorated career that included seven All-Pro seasons at right guard with the Dallas Cowboys. Martin informed Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones of his decision in a meeting Thursday. The 34-year-old Martin didn't make it through his 11th and final season with the Cowboys because of an ankle injury that eventually required surgery. Martin made nine Pro Bowls and was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2010s all-decade team.

WADA drops lawsuit against USADA but still believes it would have won

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The World Anti-Doping Agency has dropped a lawsuit and an ethics case it had filed against critics in the United States who disagreed with its handling of a doping case involving Chinese swimmers who tested positive for performance enahncers but were not penalized. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Thursday that a defamation lawsuit filed in Swiss court against the American drug-fighting agency along with an ethics complaint against former U.S. drug czar Rahul Guptha had both been withdrawn. USADA CEO Travis Tygart called the end of the legal action "complete vindication for us both."

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

		(14)Michigan St.	at	(12)Michigan	8 p.m.	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Friday, February 21st, 2025" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Friday, February 21st, 2025</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Summary for February 21st, 2025:American fans lightly boo 'O Canada' before 4 Nations Face-Off title gameBOSTON (AP) — American fans lightly booed the Canadian national anthem and roared out their own Thursday night before the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off, a matchup between the United States and Canada that has taken on collateral importance in the wake of cross-border political animosity. A smattering of jeers for "O Canada" were eventually drowned out by the singing fans; "The Star-Spangled Banner" followed, with the sellout TD Garden crowd at full volume in an anthem battle that became the undercard for one of the most anticipated hockey games in decades.Singer of Canadian anthem at 4 Nations Face-Off changes lyric to protest Trump's 51st state remarksThe anthem singer who performed the Canadian anthem prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game changed a lyric in "O Canada" from "in all of us command" to "that only us command." Publicist Adam Gonshor in an email to The Associated Press confirmed Chantal Kreviazuk changed the lyric as a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks about making Canada the 51st state. Kreviazuk also posted to her Instagram story the phrase "that only us command" written on her left hand with emojis of a Canadian flag and a flexed muscle. The NHL declined comment on the situation. Canada won the game 3-2 in overtime.Spurs star Victor Wembanyama to miss remainder of season after blood clot diagnosisSan Antonio star Victor Wembanyama's season is over. The Spurs say Wembanyama has been diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder. It is a massive blow to the Spurs, who are contending for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The condition was diagnosed this week after Wembanyama returned from the All-Star Game. Wembanyama's situation comes about 3 1/2 months after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke and was forced to take a leave from the sideline. A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the Spurs expect Wembanyama to recover fully.ESPN and Major League Baseball will end their national television deal after 2025 seasonESPN's coverage of Major League Baseball games — at least in its current form — will conclude at the end of the 2025 season. ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro informed baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday morning that the network was opting out of the final three years of its contract, two people told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss financial matters. ESPN and MLB both made statements Thursday night confirming the end of the current rights deal. There was a March 1 deadline for MLB and ESPN to opt out of the final three years of their contract. The sides agreed to a seven-year deal in 2021 that averaged $550 million per season.Shiffrin finishes 2.89 seconds behind first-run leader Robinson in first GS race after injurySESTRIERE, Italy (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin has finished 2.89 seconds off the lead in the opening run of a World Cup giant slalom in her first race in the discipline in nearly 12 weeks. The American holder of a record 99 World Cup wins hadn't raced in giant slalom since suffering severe trauma to her oblique muscles and a deep puncture wound during a GS crash in November. Alice Robinson of New Zealand posted the fastest time and led world champion Federica Brignone of Italy by 0.19 seconds. Shiffrin's American teammate Paula Moltzan stood third and had 0.83 to make up in the second run.Tiger Woods joins another White House meeting as PGA Tour moves closer to Saudi dealTiger Woods and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan have taken part of a White House meeting with President Donald Trump that signals more progress in getting a deal done with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the financial muscle behind the rival league, also was part of the meeting. The PGA Tour said in a statement that the parties discussed "the reunification of golf." It was the second meeting in two weeks at the White House on the future of the sport.Players 1, umpires 0: Cubs hurler Cody Poteet makes first ABS challenge in spring training and winsGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Chicago Cubs pitcher Cody Poteet believed the 95 mph fastball he threw to Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Max Muncy was in the strike zone. Plate umpire Tony Randazzo disagreed and called it a ball. Instead of arguing, Poteet simply patted the top of his cap, signifying he wanted to challenge the call. After a few seconds, the verdict was ready on the video board in right-center field. Poteet was correct — it was a strike, just catching the bottom of the zone. The first test of the Automated Ball-Strike System went off without a hitch Thursday, with Randazzo quickly reversing the call.Champions League draw serves up a Madrid derby, Bayern vs. Leverkusen and Liverpool-PSGNYON, Switzerland (AP) — A Madrid derby. A German classic. A rare meeting between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain. The Champions League got more heavyweight clashes when the round of 16 draw was made Friday. Defending champion Real Madrid's reward for ousting 2023 title winner Manchester City is two city derbies against Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid won both times when they met in the finals of 2014 and 2016. Bayern Munich was paired with Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool was the top-seeded team in the draw after finishing first in the 36-team standings last month but still got a tough assignment as the Premier League leader was paired with No. 15 seed PSG.Zack Martin is retiring after a decorated career at guard for the Cowboys, AP sources sayTwo people with knowledge of the decision say Zack Martin is retiring after a decorated career that included seven All-Pro seasons at right guard with the Dallas Cowboys. Martin informed Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones of his decision in a meeting Thursday. The 34-year-old Martin didn't make it through his 11th and final season with the Cowboys because of an ankle injury that eventually required surgery. Martin made nine Pro Bowls and was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2010s all-decade team.WADA drops lawsuit against USADA but still believes it would have wonCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The World Anti-Doping Agency has dropped a lawsuit and an ethics case it had filed against critics in the United States who disagreed with its handling of a doping case involving Chinese swimmers who tested positive for performance enahncers but were not penalized. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Thursday that a defamation lawsuit filed in Swiss court against the American drug-fighting agency along with an ethics complaint against former U.S. drug czar Rahul Guptha had both been withdrawn. USADA CEO Travis Tygart called the end of the legal action "complete vindication for us both."AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Chicago Cubs	12	L.A. Dodgers	4	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Boston	124	Philadelphia	104	Final	Indiana	127	Memphis	113	Final	Cleveland	110	Brooklyn	97	Final OT	New York	113	Chicago	111	Final	Orlando	114	Atlanta	108	Final	Milwaukee	116	L.A. Clippers	110	Final	Denver	129	Charlotte	115	Final	San Antonio	120	Phoenix	109	Final	L.A. Lakers	110	Portland	102	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal OT	Canada	3	USA	2	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal	(20)Maryland	88	Southern Cal	71	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___INTERLEAGUE		Seattle	at	San Diego	3:10 p.m.	___AMERICAN LEAGUE		Northeastern	at	Boston	1:05 p.m.			Tampa Bay	at	N-Y Yankees	1:05 p.m.			Texas	at	Kansas City	3:05 p.m.	___NATIONAL LEAGUE		L-A Dodgers	at	Chi Cubs	3:05 p.m.			Colorado	at	Arizona	3:10 p.m.	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Memphis	at	Orlando	7 p.m.			Milwaukee	at	Washington	7 p.m.			New York	at	Cleveland	7 p.m.			Miami	at	Toronto	7:30 p.m.			Detroit	at	San Antonio	8:30 p.m.			New Orleans	at	Dallas	8:30 p.m.			Minnesota	at	Houston	9:30 p.m.			Oklahoma City	at	Utah	9:30 p.m.			Golden State	at	Sacramento	10 p.m.	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL		(14)Michigan St.	at	(12)Michigan	8 p.m.			(16)Marquette	at	Villanova	7 p.m.	___

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Friday

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740124002407.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
&nbsp;
HONOLULU, Hawaii --&nbsp;Hawaii got an infield single in the bottom of the 10th inning from Elijah Ickes to walk off Wichita State 4-3 in the series opener on Thursday night as Les Murakami Stadium. The Rainbow Warriors (5-0) picked up their third walk-off victory in the season's first five games and extended the nation's longest active home winning streak to 16 games. The walk-off capped off a wild, back-and-forth game in which the Shockers (1-3) committed four errors, including three on errant pickoff throws, but rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the top of the eighth to send the game to extras. It was Wichita State that struck first, as&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/josh-livingston/9185" rel="smarttag" rev="9185" data-airgap-id="56">Josh Livingston</a></dfn>&nbsp;yanked a solo home run down the right field line in the top of the fourth inning for a 1-0 lead. Hawaii finally got to&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jeremiah-arnett/9174" rel="smarttag" rev="9174" data-airgap-id="57">Jeremiah Arnett</a></dfn>&nbsp;in the bottom of the inning after the sophomore right-hander had turned in three scoreless innings to start his outing. In the fourth, however, the 'Bows tied the game on a Ben Ziegler-Namoa solo home run and took the lead courtesy of an RBI squeeze bunt from Jared Quandt. Hawaii extended the advantage to 3-1 in the sixth before the Shockers staged their late inning rally, all without the benefit of a hit. Three walks, two hit by pitches, two wild pitches and a passed ball helped the Shockers score a pair of runs and put runners at second and third with two outs, but a fly out ended the threat. <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/karsen-richard/9405" rel="smarttag" rev="9405" data-airgap-id="58">Karsen Richard</a></dfn>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-potter/9404" rel="smarttag" rev="9404" data-airgap-id="59">Nick Potter</a></dfn>&nbsp;(0-1) kept the game tied through the ninth before Ickes drove home Matthew Miura, who had walked with one out, with the winning run. Isaiah Magdaleno&nbsp;(1-0) pitched around a two-out triple in the 10th from&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jaden-gustafson/9178" rel="smarttag" rev="9178" data-airgap-id="60">Jaden Gustafson</a></dfn>&nbsp;to earn the win. The Shockers and Rainbow Warriors continue the series on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 pm CT.</div>

⚾ Shockers walked off in series opener in Hawaii

BOSTON (AP) — When they played “O Canada” for the second time, there were no American fans left in the arena to boo.

Instead, the Canadian team stood at the blue line, arm in arm, player and coach, wearing their championship hats while the maple leaf flag was lowered behind the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy and the national anthem reverberated across the Americans’ home ice. The fans who remained, many of them in their red Team Canada jerseys, sang along.

<a href="https://mailchi.mp/mrmuffinstrains/newsletter_02_20_2025?e=c0f340754e" target="_blank">Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime</a>&nbsp;to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night as the North American rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4-nations-united-states-canada-hockey-4572427a14a8e2b0365b5f6cfef28216">geopolitical brawl over anthems</a>&nbsp;and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy.

Or, to put it another way: It was the 51st U.S. state 3, Canada’s 11th province 2.

“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X in a cross-border callback to President Donald Trump’s chatter about turning one of the United States’ closest allies into the 51st state.

”A lot of stuff going on with Canada and the USA right now, and us playing against each other was kind of a perfect storm for our sport,” said Nathan MacKinnon, who was selected the MVP of the new tournament with four goals in four games. “It was much more popular than even we would have imagined. It was getting so much attention from our whole continent.”

Jordan Binnington stopped 31 shots — including the last 20 in a row — on the same ice where he helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup as a rookie five years ago. MacKinnon and Sam Bennett also scored for Canada, which made it 2-2 in the second period and then played a scoreless third.

After a flurry of saves by Binnington early in the overtime, Canada gained a faceoff in the U.S. zone and Mitch Marner got the puck along the boards before popping it into the center to McDavid for the winner. The Canadians poured over the boards to celebrate, shook hands with the vanquished Americans, and then took turns skating with the never-before-awarded trophy.

“Just to see the reaction. Just to know what it means to us. I know it’s just a quick tournament, and it’s not an Olympic gold medal or anything like that, but it means the world to our group, as you can see,” McDavid said.

“I hope (the new fans) love it,” he said. “It’s a great game, it’s a great sport and I hope we put on a good show these last couple days and gained some fans, ultimately. You can’t ask for a better show than that.”

Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the Americans, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots in regulation and three more in OT. The U.S. has lost all but one game against Canada in best-on-best international play dating to the preliminaries of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics; the lone victory was in the 4 Nations round-robin,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-canada-4-nations-score-1aad2277f10e7ec0797b0f61051fffbf">a game so good</a>&nbsp;it turned Thursday’s sequel into one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4-nations-faceoff-memorable-hockey-5acb0704a347f3573e9c05e2258e202e">most anticipated international hockey events in decades</a>.

“I think guys that are at home watching this, I’m hoping they’re wanting a piece of it,” U.S. forward Dylan Larkin said. “This grew the game really well, but I hope it pushes guys to want a piece of this and then the next generation that got to watch this, they’re going to watch the Olympics next year and hopefully there’s a different outcome.”

The already ripe rivalry between the two North American hockey powers took on an added intensity during the tournament following Trump’s tariff threats and talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state. Trump called the American team Thursday morning to wish it well, then turned to Truth Social to take a poke at “Governor Trudeau.”

The political backdrop combined with the quality of the round-robin game, which the United States won 3-1 on Saturday, to bring the atmosphere of a Stanley Cup Final or Olympic gold medal game to the TD Garden.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-us-canada-hockey-four-nations-f2d19c33861b4f87f007b7f3f414f910">Fans in their team jerseys waved flags</a>, shouted for their countrymen and continued the ritual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-anthem-lyric-change-863c614bf3546742c551239d1e44895d">booing of the opposing national anthem</a>&nbsp;that has become an nightly undercard for a tournament that returned the NHL’s stars to the international scene after missing the last two Winter Games.

The pregame hype video was a callback to the 1980 Olympics, when the undermanned U.S. team upset the powerful Soviet machine in the midst of the Cold War. “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hero and honorary U.S. captain Mike Eruzione wore a Johnny Gaudreau jersey to honor the memory of former Boston College and Calgary Flames star who was killed by a drunk driver while bicycling in New Jersey at his sister’s wedding last summer.

The American fans chanted “Johnny Hockey!” to spur their team on, and broke into frequent cheers of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” — just like in Lake Placid.

But this time it was the team in red that came away with the win.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740123729917.png" alt="United States goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) skates away after an overtime loss to Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Kupra)" />
 <figcaption>United States goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) skates away after an overtime loss to Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off championship hockey game on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Kupra)</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) — When they played “O Canada” for the second time, there were no American fans left in the arena to boo.Instead, the Canadian team stood at the blue line, arm in arm, player and coach, wearing their championship hats while the maple leaf flag was lowered behind the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy and the national anthem reverberated across the Americans’ home ice. The fans who remained, many of them in their red Team Canada jerseys, sang along.<a href="https://mailchi.mp/mrmuffinstrains/newsletter_02_20_2025?e=c0f340754e" target="_blank">Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime</a>&nbsp;to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night as the North American rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4-nations-united-states-canada-hockey-4572427a14a8e2b0365b5f6cfef28216">geopolitical brawl over anthems</a>&nbsp;and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy.Or, to put it another way: It was the 51st U.S. state 3, Canada’s 11th province 2.“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X in a cross-border callback to President Donald Trump’s chatter about turning one of the United States’ closest allies into the 51st state.”A lot of stuff going on with Canada and the USA right now, and us playing against each other was kind of a perfect storm for our sport,” said Nathan MacKinnon, who was selected the MVP of the new tournament with four goals in four games. “It was much more popular than even we would have imagined. It was getting so much attention from our whole continent.”Jordan Binnington stopped 31 shots — including the last 20 in a row — on the same ice where he helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup as a rookie five years ago. MacKinnon and Sam Bennett also scored for Canada, which made it 2-2 in the second period and then played a scoreless third.After a flurry of saves by Binnington early in the overtime, Canada gained a faceoff in the U.S. zone and Mitch Marner got the puck along the boards before popping it into the center to McDavid for the winner. The Canadians poured over the boards to celebrate, shook hands with the vanquished Americans, and then took turns skating with the never-before-awarded trophy.“Just to see the reaction. Just to know what it means to us. I know it’s just a quick tournament, and it’s not an Olympic gold medal or anything like that, but it means the world to our group, as you can see,” McDavid said.“I hope (the new fans) love it,” he said. “It’s a great game, it’s a great sport and I hope we put on a good show these last couple days and gained some fans, ultimately. You can’t ask for a better show than that.”Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the Americans, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots in regulation and three more in OT. The U.S. has lost all but one game against Canada in best-on-best international play dating to the preliminaries of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics; the lone victory was in the 4 Nations round-robin,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-canada-4-nations-score-1aad2277f10e7ec0797b0f61051fffbf">a game so good</a>&nbsp;it turned Thursday’s sequel into one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4-nations-faceoff-memorable-hockey-5acb0704a347f3573e9c05e2258e202e">most anticipated international hockey events in decades</a>.“I think guys that are at home watching this, I’m hoping they’re wanting a piece of it,” U.S. forward Dylan Larkin said. “This grew the game really well, but I hope it pushes guys to want a piece of this and then the next generation that got to watch this, they’re going to watch the Olympics next year and hopefully there’s a different outcome.”The already ripe rivalry between the two North American hockey powers took on an added intensity during the tournament following Trump’s tariff threats and talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state. Trump called the American team Thursday morning to wish it well, then turned to Truth Social to take a poke at “Governor Trudeau.”The political backdrop combined with the quality of the round-robin game, which the United States won 3-1 on Saturday, to bring the atmosphere of a Stanley Cup Final or Olympic gold medal game to the TD Garden.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-us-canada-hockey-four-nations-f2d19c33861b4f87f007b7f3f414f910">Fans in their team jerseys waved flags</a>, shouted for their countrymen and continued the ritual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-anthem-lyric-change-863c614bf3546742c551239d1e44895d">booing of the opposing national anthem</a>&nbsp;that has become an nightly undercard for a tournament that returned the NHL’s stars to the international scene after missing the last two Winter Games.The pregame hype video was a callback to the 1980 Olympics, when the undermanned U.S. team upset the powerful Soviet machine in the midst of the Cold War. “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hero and honorary U.S. captain Mike Eruzione wore a Johnny Gaudreau jersey to honor the memory of former Boston College and Calgary Flames star who was killed by a drunk driver while bicycling in New Jersey at his sister’s wedding last summer.The American fans chanted “Johnny Hockey!” to spur their team on, and broke into frequent cheers of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” — just like in Lake Placid.But this time it was the team in red that came away with the win.

🏒 Canada scores in OT to secure win over U.S. in 4-Nations Face-Off championship

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Xavier Bell scored 24 points as Wichita State beat Florida Atlantic 75-68 on Thursday night.

Bell shot 8 of 19 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Shockers (16-10, 6-7 American Athletic Conference). Bijan Cortes scored 16 points and added seven assists. Harlond Beverly finished 5 of 7 from the floor to finish with 10 points.

The Owls (15-11, 8-5) were led in scoring by Kaleb Glenn, who finished with 16 points. Ken Evans added 11 points for Florida Atlantic. Tre Carroll finished with 11 points and four steals. The Owls ended a five-game winning streak with the loss.

A 15-0 run in the first half gave Wichita State a 14-point lead. The teams entered the break with Wichita State ahead 36-28, while Ronnie DeGray III led his club in scoring with nine points. Cortes’ 3-pointer with 6:38 remaining in the second half gave Wichita State the lead for good at 58-55.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740110826993.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Xavier Bell scored 24 points as Wichita State beat Florida Atlantic 75-68 on Thursday night.Bell shot 8 of 19 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Shockers (16-10, 6-7 American Athletic Conference). Bijan Cortes scored 16 points and added seven assists. Harlond Beverly finished 5 of 7 from the floor to finish with 10 points.The Owls (15-11, 8-5) were led in scoring by Kaleb Glenn, who finished with 16 points. Ken Evans added 11 points for Florida Atlantic. Tre Carroll finished with 11 points and four steals. The Owls ended a five-game winning streak with the loss.A 15-0 run in the first half gave Wichita State a 14-point lead. The teams entered the break with Wichita State ahead 36-28, while Ronnie DeGray III led his club in scoring with nine points. Cortes’ 3-pointer with 6:38 remaining in the second half gave Wichita State the lead for good at 58-55.

🏀 Bell leads WSU to fifth straight win

ESPN’s coverage of Major League Baseball games — at least in its current form — will conclude at the end of the 2025 season.

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro informed baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday morning that the network was opting out of the final three years of its contract, two people told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because because they weren’t authorized to discuss financial matters.

ESPN and MLB both made statements Thursday night confirming the end of the current rights deal.

There was a March 1 deadline for MLB and ESPN to opt out of the final three years of their contract. The sides agreed to a seven-year deal in 2021 that averaged $550 million per season.

“We have had a long and mutually beneficial partnership with ESPN that dates back to its first MLB game in 1990,” MLB said in a statement. “Unfortunately in recent years, we have seen ESPN scale back their baseball coverage and investment in a way that is not consistent with the sport’s appeal or performance on their platform. Given that MLB provides strong viewership, valuable demographics, and the exclusive right to cover unique events like the Home Run Derby, ESPN’s demand to reduce rights fees is simply unacceptable.”

The ESPN-Major League Baseball split was first reported by The Athletic.

Manfred wrote in a memo to owners obtained by The Associated Press that MLB and ESPN “mutually agreed to terminate our agreement.”

ESPN has carried MLB games since 1990, but the network cut back its coverage in the current contract to 30 regular-season games — mostly on Sunday night — and the Wild Card postseason series. ESPN also had the Home Run Derby and 10 spring training games.

The previous eight-year deal, which ran from 2014 through 2021, saw ESPN broadcast up to 90 regular-season games. It also stopped airing the daily “Baseball Tonight” highlights and news show in 2017.

“We are grateful for our longstanding relationship with Major League Baseball and proud of how ESPN’s coverage super-serves fans. In making this decision, we applied the same discipline and fiscal responsibility that has built ESPN’s industry-leading live events portfolio as we continue to grow our audience across linear, digital and social platforms,” ESPN said in a statement. “As we have been throughout the process, we remain open to exploring new ways to serve MLB fans across our platforms beyond 2025.”

ESPN has had the rights to all four U.S. major professional sports leagues since getting back the National Hockey League in 2021. It will pay an average of $1.4 billion when the new 11-year agreement with the NBA begins next season and pays an average of $2.7 billion per season on its NFL deal, which runs through 2032.

Major League Baseball receives an average of $729 million from Fox and $470 million from Turner Sports per year under deals which expire after the 2028 season.

ESPN is still open to pursuing a deal with a reduced rights fee after seeing deals struck with Apple and Roku. Apple pays $85 million per season for a Friday night package it has aired since 2022, while Roku’s deal for Sunday afternoon games is worth $10 million per year.

While Manfred said in his memo to owners that “as of December 2024, ESPN was available in 53.6M homes, down from its peak of over 100M homes in 2011 and 69M homes when we struck the current deal in 2021,” that is still a larger distribution pool compared to Apple and Roku.

“While ESPN has stated they would like to continue to have MLB on their platform, particularly in light of the upcoming launch of their DTC (direct-to-consumer) product, we do not think its beneficial for us to accept a smaller deal to remain on a shrinking platform,” Manfred wrote. “In order to best position MLB to optimize our rights going in to our next deal cycle, we believe it is not prudent to devalue our rights with an existing partner but rather to have our marquee regular season games, Home Run Derby and Wild Card playoff round on a new broadcast and/or streaming platform.”

MLB also said in its statement that “the positive energy around the sport has also led to significant interest from both traditional media companies and streaming services who would like to obtain rights to MLB games.”

Manfred has said over the past two seasons that he would like to see MLB take a more national approach to its rights instead of a large percentage of its games being on regional sports networks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740110201518.png" alt="MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)" />
 <figcaption>MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred speaks during a news conference Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)</figcaption>
 </figure>ESPN’s coverage of Major League Baseball games — at least in its current form — will conclude at the end of the 2025 season.ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro informed baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday morning that the network was opting out of the final three years of its contract, two people told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because because they weren’t authorized to discuss financial matters.ESPN and MLB both made statements Thursday night confirming the end of the current rights deal.There was a March 1 deadline for MLB and ESPN to opt out of the final three years of their contract. The sides agreed to a seven-year deal in 2021 that averaged $550 million per season.“We have had a long and mutually beneficial partnership with ESPN that dates back to its first MLB game in 1990,” MLB said in a statement. “Unfortunately in recent years, we have seen ESPN scale back their baseball coverage and investment in a way that is not consistent with the sport’s appeal or performance on their platform. Given that MLB provides strong viewership, valuable demographics, and the exclusive right to cover unique events like the Home Run Derby, ESPN’s demand to reduce rights fees is simply unacceptable.”The ESPN-Major League Baseball split was first reported by The Athletic.Manfred wrote in a memo to owners obtained by The Associated Press that MLB and ESPN “mutually agreed to terminate our agreement.”ESPN has carried MLB games since 1990, but the network cut back its coverage in the current contract to 30 regular-season games — mostly on Sunday night — and the Wild Card postseason series. ESPN also had the Home Run Derby and 10 spring training games.The previous eight-year deal, which ran from 2014 through 2021, saw ESPN broadcast up to 90 regular-season games. It also stopped airing the daily “Baseball Tonight” highlights and news show in 2017.“We are grateful for our longstanding relationship with Major League Baseball and proud of how ESPN’s coverage super-serves fans. In making this decision, we applied the same discipline and fiscal responsibility that has built ESPN’s industry-leading live events portfolio as we continue to grow our audience across linear, digital and social platforms,” ESPN said in a statement. “As we have been throughout the process, we remain open to exploring new ways to serve MLB fans across our platforms beyond 2025.”ESPN has had the rights to all four U.S. major professional sports leagues since getting back the National Hockey League in 2021. It will pay an average of $1.4 billion when the new 11-year agreement with the NBA begins next season and pays an average of $2.7 billion per season on its NFL deal, which runs through 2032.Major League Baseball receives an average of $729 million from Fox and $470 million from Turner Sports per year under deals which expire after the 2028 season.ESPN is still open to pursuing a deal with a reduced rights fee after seeing deals struck with Apple and Roku. Apple pays $85 million per season for a Friday night package it has aired since 2022, while Roku’s deal for Sunday afternoon games is worth $10 million per year.While Manfred said in his memo to owners that “as of December 2024, ESPN was available in 53.6M homes, down from its peak of over 100M homes in 2011 and 69M homes when we struck the current deal in 2021,” that is still a larger distribution pool compared to Apple and Roku.“While ESPN has stated they would like to continue to have MLB on their platform, particularly in light of the upcoming launch of their DTC (direct-to-consumer) product, we do not think its beneficial for us to accept a smaller deal to remain on a shrinking platform,” Manfred wrote. “In order to best position MLB to optimize our rights going in to our next deal cycle, we believe it is not prudent to devalue our rights with an existing partner but rather to have our marquee regular season games, Home Run Derby and Wild Card playoff round on a new broadcast and/or streaming platform.”MLB also said in its statement that “the positive energy around the sport has also led to significant interest from both traditional media companies and streaming services who would like to obtain rights to MLB games.”Manfred has said over the past two seasons that he would like to see MLB take a more national approach to its rights instead of a large percentage of its games being on regional sports networks.

⚾ ESPN and MLB will end their national television deal after 2025 season

The Reno County Coaches Show, heard every Thursday on KWBW AM/FM (1450/98.5). This week's show includes Haven High School boys head basketball coach Lonnie Paramore and Hutchinson High School head wrestling coach Dane Edwards.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726138917283.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The Reno County Coaches Show, heard every Thursday on KWBW AM/FM (1450/98.5). This week's show includes Haven High School boys head basketball coach Lonnie Paramore and Hutchinson High School head wrestling coach Dane Edwards.<div><iframe title="Reno County Coaches Show (Feb. 20, 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=c3sth-180e185-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 LISTEN: Reno County Coaches Show and More

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740109991771.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy HutchCC Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy HutchCC Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Hutchinson CC Sports Information
&nbsp;
This week's frigid weather has force the No. 23-ranked Hutchinson Community College softball team to alter its weekend schedule.
Originally scheduled for doubleheaders at Murray State and North Central Texas on Friday and Saturday, the Blue Dragons will now play Murray State on Saturday and North Central Texas on Sunday.
The 3-1 Blue Dragons will now play NJCAA Division II Murray State (12-0) at Noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
Then on Sunday in Gainesville, Texas, Hutchinson meets North Central Texas (14-4) at Noon and 2 p.m.
Both doubleheaders are scheduled to be streamed this weekend.
Saturday's games at Murray State will be streamed by TSBN. Sunday's games against North Central Texas will be streamed by the NCTC Athletic department.
&nbsp;</div>

🥎 Blue Dragons move weekend schedule back 1 day

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740109789174.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy HutchCC Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy HutchCC Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Mother Nature has forced the Hutchinson Community College baseball team to change its schedule for a third-straight weekend.
The No. 23 Blue Dragons (5-0) have moved the entire weekend set of games with the Highland Scotties and Des Moines Area Community College to Monday and Tuesday at Hobart-Detter Field.
The original schedule had Hutchinson and Highland playing a doubleheader on Friday, Highland and Des Moines Area playing a doubleheader on Saturday and Hutchinson and Des Moines playing a doubleheader on Sunday.
Because of the frigid weather that engulfed the state of Kansas this week, the new schedule for the Blue Dragons, Scotties and Bulldogs at Hobart-Detter Field is:
Monday, February 24 11 a.m. &ndash; Highland vs. Des Moines Area 1 p.m. &ndash; Hutchinson vs. Highland 3 p.m. &ndash; Hutchinson vs. Des Moines Area Tuesday, February 25 1 p.m. &ndash; Hutchinson vs. Des Moines Area 3 p.m. &ndash; Hutchinson vs. Des Moines Area
All five games will be seven-inning games. All five games will be streamed live and for free on the Blue Dragon Sports Network.</div>

⚾ HutchCC announces schedule change for the weekend

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A computerized system that calls balls and strikes is being tested during Major League Baseball spring training exhibition games starting Thursday after four years of experiments in the minor leagues.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is an advocate of the Automated Ball-Strike System, which potentially as early as 2026 could be used to aid MLB home plate umpires, but not replace them.

Starting in 2024, MLB focused testing on a challenge system in which the human umpire makes each original call. Data from the spring training test could cause MLB to make alterations to the system for Triple-A games this season.

How does the Automated Ball-Strike System work?

Stadiums are outfitted with cameras that track each pitch and judge whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone. In early testing, umpires wore ear buds and would hear “ball” or “strike,” then relay that to players and fans with traditional hand signals.

The challenge system adds a wrinkle. During spring training, human umps will call every pitch, but each team will have the ability to challenge two calls per game, with no additions for extra innings. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big league teams with video reviews, which were first used for home run calls in August 2008 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/mlbs-high-tech-replay-room-opens-sunday-139c4f7e5ec64459ab6bcb5ab0c0dc10">widely expanded to many calls for the 2014 season</a>.

Only a batter, pitcher or catcher may challenge a call, signaling with the tap of a helmet or cap; and assistance from the dugout is not allowed. A challenge must be made within 2 seconds, and the graphic of the pitch and strike zone will be shown on the scoreboard and broadcast feed. The umpire then announces the updated count.

MLB estimates the process averages 17 seconds.

MLB has installed the system in 13 spring training ballparks that are home to 19 teams. The Florida stadiums, all in the Florida State League, are the stadiums of Detroit, Minnesota, the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Toronto, plus the ballpark shared by Miami and St. Louis.

Five test sites in Arizona all are shared: the Diamondbacks/Colorado, Chicago White Sox/Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland/Cincinnati, Kansas City/Texas and Seattle/San Diego.

About 60% of spring training games are slated for trial, although teams could play vastly different numbers of games with ABS testing. The Diamondbacks are slated for 29 ABS games, while the Cubs have just seven.

A Hawk-Eye pose-tracking system of cameras was installed and used to track pitches and whether they are within a strike zone based on the height of each batter, who is measured without shoes before a team’s first test game. MLB estimated the calibration process at less than one minute for each player.

There are eight cameras at most of the spring training ballparks in the test and 12 at the Diamondbacks/Rockies stadium.

While the strike zone actually called by big league umpires tends to be oval in shape, the ABS strike zone is a rectangle, as in the rule book.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-robot-umpires-strike-zone-40ec7285ae4d1ccaf2621adcb8d72b02">Developing a consensus on what a computer strike zone should</a>&nbsp;be has been an issue.

MLB started experimenting with ball/strike technology at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/93f7e8be7f404ff2a6eadf2e9295c9d3">the independent Atlantic League in 2019</a>.

A challenge system was tried in 2021 at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-mlb-baseball-rob-manfred-minor-league-baseball-fd64782047ad44f447e272375c712da5">eight of nine ballparks that make up the Florida State League.</a>&nbsp;ABS was promoted to five Triple-A parks in 2022 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-rob-manfred-c4c8746bc3be2e932f109fc91cff6f81">expanded to all Triple-A stadiums in 2023</a>, the robot alone for the first three games of each series and a human with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robo-umps-abs-triplea-ccc901dc69c6101fb6a793e5fe867a77">challenge system</a>&nbsp;in the final three. That system was in place at the start of 2024, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robot-umpires-mlb-0e656caa19bb84d30916afb1070c5a4f">MLB switched to an all-challenge system last June 25</a>.

How successful were teams with challenges last year?

Overall return rate over the full Triple-A season was 51%, with challenges by the defense winning 54% and by the offense winning 48%. Challenges with the two-challenge limit in place averaged 3.9 per game, including 2.2 by the offense.

The success percentage has been slightly better for video reviews in the major leagues.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-video-review-success-rate-2023-f9590eb59efdcbe1fd6e030d46b5271a">Teams increased their success rate on video reviews to 53.7% last season</a>, led by the Boston Red Sox at 67.9%.

Just 1.6% of first pitches were challenges, but the figure increased to 3.9% for two-strike pitches, 5.2% for three-ball pitches and 8.2% for full counts.

Challenge percentages were more likely later in the game. While 1.9% of pitches were challenged in the first three innings, 2.5% were challenged from the fourth through the sixth, 2.8% in the seventh and eighth and 3.6% in the ninth.

How has the computer strike zone changed over time?

MLB has changed the shape of the ABS strike zone several times.

It started with a 19-inch width in 2022, then dropped it to 17 inches — matching the width of home plate. Narrowing the strike zone led to an increase in walks and only small changes in strikeout rates.

The top of the striker zone was 51% of a batter’s height in 2022 and 2023, then raised to 53.5% in 2024 after pitchers’ complaints the top had been too low. The bottom of the strike zone has been 27% since 2022 after initially being set at 28%.

A batter’s stance is not taken into account.

ABS makes the ball/strike decision at the midpoint of the plate, 8 1/2 inches from the front and 8 1/2 inches from the back. The contrasts with the rule book zone called by umpires, which says the zone is a cube, and a strike is a pitch that crosses any part.

Strikeout rates increased 0.5% and walk rates rose 1% in full ABS games and 0.8% in challenge games.

Concerned the strike zone box on broadcasts could tip whether to challenge and cause fans to yell at players to challenge, MLB plans to experiment with several broadcast alternatives, among them: show the box but not the ball; show the ball but not the box; and to show only corners of the box.

Dugout iPads available to all teams will have an application called ProTABS that allows players to check pitches against their individual strike zone. Information will update after every plate appearance and players can give MLB comment on single pitches and the overall system.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740070363004.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals catcher Freddy Fermin (34) takes a pitch as home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott (81) calls the balls and strikes during a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals catcher Freddy Fermin (34) takes a pitch as home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott (81) calls the balls and strikes during a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, July 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A computerized system that calls balls and strikes is being tested during Major League Baseball spring training exhibition games starting Thursday after four years of experiments in the minor leagues.Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is an advocate of the Automated Ball-Strike System, which potentially as early as 2026 could be used to aid MLB home plate umpires, but not replace them.Starting in 2024, MLB focused testing on a challenge system in which the human umpire makes each original call. Data from the spring training test could cause MLB to make alterations to the system for Triple-A games this season.<h2>How does the Automated Ball-Strike System work?</h2>Stadiums are outfitted with cameras that track each pitch and judge whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone. In early testing, umpires wore ear buds and would hear “ball” or “strike,” then relay that to players and fans with traditional hand signals.The challenge system adds a wrinkle. During spring training, human umps will call every pitch, but each team will have the ability to challenge two calls per game, with no additions for extra innings. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big league teams with video reviews, which were first used for home run calls in August 2008 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/mlbs-high-tech-replay-room-opens-sunday-139c4f7e5ec64459ab6bcb5ab0c0dc10">widely expanded to many calls for the 2014 season</a>.Only a batter, pitcher or catcher may challenge a call, signaling with the tap of a helmet or cap; and assistance from the dugout is not allowed. A challenge must be made within 2 seconds, and the graphic of the pitch and strike zone will be shown on the scoreboard and broadcast feed. The umpire then announces the updated count.MLB estimates the process averages 17 seconds.<h2>Where will ABS be tested?</h2>MLB has installed the system in 13 spring training ballparks that are home to 19 teams. The Florida stadiums, all in the Florida State League, are the stadiums of Detroit, Minnesota, the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Toronto, plus the ballpark shared by Miami and St. Louis.Five test sites in Arizona all are shared: the Diamondbacks/Colorado, Chicago White Sox/Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland/Cincinnati, Kansas City/Texas and Seattle/San Diego.About 60% of spring training games are slated for trial, although teams could play vastly different numbers of games with ABS testing. The Diamondbacks are slated for 29 ABS games, while the Cubs have just seven.<h2>What is the technology?</h2>A Hawk-Eye pose-tracking system of cameras was installed and used to track pitches and whether they are within a strike zone based on the height of each batter, who is measured without shoes before a team’s first test game. MLB estimated the calibration process at less than one minute for each player.There are eight cameras at most of the spring training ballparks in the test and 12 at the Diamondbacks/Rockies stadium.While the strike zone actually called by big league umpires tends to be oval in shape, the ABS strike zone is a rectangle, as in the rule book.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-robot-umpires-strike-zone-40ec7285ae4d1ccaf2621adcb8d72b02">Developing a consensus on what a computer strike zone should</a>&nbsp;be has been an issue.<h2>When did MLB first start using ABS?</h2>MLB started experimenting with ball/strike technology at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/93f7e8be7f404ff2a6eadf2e9295c9d3">the independent Atlantic League in 2019</a>.A challenge system was tried in 2021 at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-mlb-baseball-rob-manfred-minor-league-baseball-fd64782047ad44f447e272375c712da5">eight of nine ballparks that make up the Florida State League.</a>&nbsp;ABS was promoted to five Triple-A parks in 2022 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-rob-manfred-c4c8746bc3be2e932f109fc91cff6f81">expanded to all Triple-A stadiums in 2023</a>, the robot alone for the first three games of each series and a human with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robo-umps-abs-triplea-ccc901dc69c6101fb6a793e5fe867a77">challenge system</a>&nbsp;in the final three. That system was in place at the start of 2024, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robot-umpires-mlb-0e656caa19bb84d30916afb1070c5a4f">MLB switched to an all-challenge system last June 25</a>.<h2>How successful were teams with challenges last year?</h2>Overall return rate over the full Triple-A season was 51%, with challenges by the defense winning 54% and by the offense winning 48%. Challenges with the two-challenge limit in place averaged 3.9 per game, including 2.2 by the offense.The success percentage has been slightly better for video reviews in the major leagues.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-video-review-success-rate-2023-f9590eb59efdcbe1fd6e030d46b5271a">Teams increased their success rate on video reviews to 53.7% last season</a>, led by the Boston Red Sox at 67.9%.Just 1.6% of first pitches were challenges, but the figure increased to 3.9% for two-strike pitches, 5.2% for three-ball pitches and 8.2% for full counts.Challenge percentages were more likely later in the game. While 1.9% of pitches were challenged in the first three innings, 2.5% were challenged from the fourth through the sixth, 2.8% in the seventh and eighth and 3.6% in the ninth.<h2>How has the computer strike zone changed over time?</h2>MLB has changed the shape of the ABS strike zone several times.It started with a 19-inch width in 2022, then dropped it to 17 inches — matching the width of home plate. Narrowing the strike zone led to an increase in walks and only small changes in strikeout rates.The top of the striker zone was 51% of a batter’s height in 2022 and 2023, then raised to 53.5% in 2024 after pitchers’ complaints the top had been too low. The bottom of the strike zone has been 27% since 2022 after initially being set at 28%.A batter’s stance is not taken into account.ABS makes the ball/strike decision at the midpoint of the plate, 8 1/2 inches from the front and 8 1/2 inches from the back. The contrasts with the rule book zone called by umpires, which says the zone is a cube, and a strike is a pitch that crosses any part.Strikeout rates increased 0.5% and walk rates rose 1% in full ABS games and 0.8% in challenge games.<h2>How will ABS impact broadcasts?</h2>Concerned the strike zone box on broadcasts could tip whether to challenge and cause fans to yell at players to challenge, MLB plans to experiment with several broadcast alternatives, among them: show the box but not the ball; show the ball but not the box; and to show only corners of the box.<h2>How can players give feedback?</h2>Dugout iPads available to all teams will have an application called ProTABS that allows players to check pitches against their individual strike zone. Information will update after every plate appearance and players can give MLB comment on single pitches and the overall system.

⚾ Robot umpires are getting their first MLB test during spring training

KSHSAA state boys swim &amp; dive gets underway today and goes through Saturday at Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center in Lenexa.

Below are the Hutch Post area qualifiers. To find out more information about the event <a href="https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Swimming/StateBoys.cfm">click here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740064690851.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy KSHSAA" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy KSHSAA</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch PostKSHSAA state boys swim &amp; dive gets underway today and goes through Saturday at Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center in Lenexa.Below are the Hutch Post area qualifiers. To find out more information about the event <a href="https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Swimming/StateBoys.cfm">click here</a>.<div><h1>Class 5-1A</h1>
<h2>Buhler</h2>
-Marshall Birney, 100 Yard Breaststroke
-Hudson DeWeese, 200 Yard IM
-Jonah Gardner; 100 Yard Breaststroke
-Isaak Neighbor; 200 Yard IM, 100 Yard Butterfly
-Scott Schweizer; 1 mtr Diving
-Eli White; 100 Yard Backstroke
-200 Yard Medley Relay
-200 Yard Freestyle Relay
-400 Yard Freestyle Relay
&nbsp;
<h2>Hutchinson</h2>
-Logan Most; 200 Yard Freestyle, 500 Yard Freestyle
&nbsp;
<h2>McPherson</h2>
-Cooper Bohme; 500 Yard Freestyle, 200 Yard Freestyle
-200 Yard Medley Relay
-400 Yard Freestyle Relay
&nbsp;
<h2>Newton</h2>
-Tanner Scott; 1 mtr Diving
-Oliver Smith; 100 Yard Backstroke
-Abram Wall; 50 Yard Freestyle, 100 Yard Freestyle
-200 Yard Medley Relay
-200 Yard Freestyle Relay
-400 Yard Freestyle Relay
&nbsp;
<h2>Smoky Valley</h2>
-Gabriel House; 100 Yard Backstroke</div>

🏊‍♂️ Area state swim & dive qualifiers

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Seven men from Chile have been charged in Florida federal court with orchestrating burglaries at the homes of prominent professional athletes around the country, according to a criminal complaint.

The FBI complaint doesn't name the athletes, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mahomes-kelce-burrow-doncic-home-break-ins-b0b86ccc340872da2612f9714d497d41">lists burglaries already made public</a>&nbsp;involving the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as players for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.

According to the complaint, the defendants are part of a burglary ring that “is known to target high-profile professional athletes when they are known to be away from home.” The men allegedly stole about $2 million in watches, jewelry, cash and other valuables, including a safe they later cracked.

Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. It wasn't clear Wednesday whether they are in custody, and Tampa federal court records don't list attorneys for any of them.

The defendants are listed as Pablo Zuniga Cartes, 24; Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, 20; Bastian Jimenez Freraut, 27; Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, 22; Bastian Orellano Morales, 23; Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, 24; and Sergio Ortega Cabello, 38. Although the FBI identifies them as Chilean in the charging documents, it doesn’t say whether any or all of them are also U.S. citizens or are legally in the country.

Some were arrested in January after a traffic stop in Ohio on state charges for allegedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/athlete-burglaries-joe-burrow-indictments-b3683dbdfe382eb076da7cb80ca3b803">breaking into the home of Burrow,</a>&nbsp;the Bengals' quarterback. The federal charges in Tampa were filed Jan. 30.

Much of the evidence outlined in the FBI complaint is from cellphone data, surveillance video and license plate readers that allegedly place the defendants in the vicinity of the burglaries. They typically used crude methods such a breaking windows or prying open sliding glass doors with crowbars.

The burglars, according to the FBI affidavit, “will approach the residences from cover such as, but not limited to, a wooded or dark area" before breaking into the homes. One unnamed Tampa Bay Buccaneers player had about $167,000 in property stolen, including a Rolex watch, a Luis Vuitton suitcase, jewelry and a gun.

The group also took photos of themselves with some of the loot, which the FBI included in the criminal complaint. In one case, a suspect is seen wearing a Kansas City Chiefs shirt. The groups often will separate into smaller units to commit multiple burglaries, according to the FBI.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Seven men from Chile have been charged in Florida federal court with orchestrating burglaries at the homes of prominent professional athletes around the country, according to a criminal complaint.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740056666473.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The FBI complaint doesn't name the athletes, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mahomes-kelce-burrow-doncic-home-break-ins-b0b86ccc340872da2612f9714d497d41">lists burglaries already made public</a>&nbsp;involving the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as players for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies.According to the complaint, the defendants are part of a burglary ring that “is known to target high-profile professional athletes when they are known to be away from home.” The men allegedly stole about $2 million in watches, jewelry, cash and other valuables, including a safe they later cracked.Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. It wasn't clear Wednesday whether they are in custody, and Tampa federal court records don't list attorneys for any of them.The defendants are listed as Pablo Zuniga Cartes, 24; Ignacio Zuniga Cartes, 20; Bastian Jimenez Freraut, 27; Jordan Quiroga Sanchez, 22; Bastian Orellano Morales, 23; Alexander Huiaguil Chavez, 24; and Sergio Ortega Cabello, 38. Although the FBI identifies them as Chilean in the charging documents, it doesn’t say whether any or all of them are also U.S. citizens or are legally in the country.Some were arrested in January after a traffic stop in Ohio on state charges for allegedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/athlete-burglaries-joe-burrow-indictments-b3683dbdfe382eb076da7cb80ca3b803">breaking into the home of Burrow,</a>&nbsp;the Bengals' quarterback. The federal charges in Tampa were filed Jan. 30.Much of the evidence outlined in the FBI complaint is from cellphone data, surveillance video and license plate readers that allegedly place the defendants in the vicinity of the burglaries. They typically used crude methods such a breaking windows or prying open sliding glass doors with crowbars.The burglars, according to the FBI affidavit, “will approach the residences from cover such as, but not limited to, a wooded or dark area" before breaking into the homes. One unnamed Tampa Bay Buccaneers player had about $167,000 in property stolen, including a Rolex watch, a Luis Vuitton suitcase, jewelry and a gun.The group also took photos of themselves with some of the loot, which the FBI included in the criminal complaint. In one case, a suspect is seen wearing a Kansas City Chiefs shirt. The groups often will separate into smaller units to commit multiple burglaries, according to the FBI.

7 charged with burglarizing the homes of Mahomes, other star athletes

SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Royals added a veteran pitcher to their Spring Training roster on Wednesday by agreeing to a Minor League deal with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/player/548389" target="_blank">Ross Stripling</a>, the team announced.

Stripling, 35, has nine years of MLB experience, appearing in 248 career games. He’s started 129 of them and has made at least a handful of starts each season. He has a career 4.17 ERA and spent last season with the A’s with a 6.01 ERA across 22 appearances (14 starts), but dealt with an elbow strain and a back strain.

The righty began his career well enough with the Dodgers and was an All-Star in 2018. He posted a 3.01 ERA in 134 1/3 innings with Toronto in 2022. But he also had ineffective stints with the Giants and A’s over the last two seasons.

The Royals have been searching for more depth for their pitching staff, and Stripling certainly brings experience to the big league Spring Training clubhouse. He also has experience pitching in relief for contending clubs, so the Royals could rely on that if they need a swingman or long reliever. He pitched in the postseason with the Dodgers in 2016, ‘17 and ‘19 and with the Blue Jays in ‘20, all in relief.

Kansas City now has 66 players in big league camp, including 35 pitchers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726866348051.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLSURPRISE, Ariz. – The Royals added a veteran pitcher to their Spring Training roster on Wednesday by agreeing to a Minor League deal with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/player/548389" target="_blank">Ross Stripling</a>, the team announced.Stripling, 35, has nine years of MLB experience, appearing in 248 career games. He’s started 129 of them and has made at least a handful of starts each season. He has a career 4.17 ERA and spent last season with the A’s with a 6.01 ERA across 22 appearances (14 starts), but dealt with an elbow strain and a back strain.The righty began his career well enough with the Dodgers and was an All-Star in 2018. He posted a 3.01 ERA in 134 1/3 innings with Toronto in 2022. But he also had ineffective stints with the Giants and A’s over the last two seasons.The Royals have been searching for more depth for their pitching staff, and Stripling certainly brings experience to the big league Spring Training clubhouse. He also has experience pitching in relief for contending clubs, so the Royals could rely on that if they need a swingman or long reliever. He pitched in the postseason with the Dodgers in 2016, ‘17 and ‘19 and with the Blue Jays in ‘20, all in relief.Kansas City now has 66 players in big league camp, including 35 pitchers.

⚾ Royals add veteran Stripling to camp mix on Minors deal

AP Sports Summary for February 20th, 2025:

Luka Doncic frustrated by his rough shooting game, but the Lakers believe he'll find his rhythm soon

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic couldn't find his shot in his third game with the Los Angeles Lakers, and LeBron James couldn't make up for it. Yet the Lakers all say they aren't worried after their embarrassing 100-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Doncic scored 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting, including a 1-for-9 performance on 3-point attempts. The Slovenian superstar added 11 rebounds and eight assists, but also committed six turnovers and five personal fouls while playing 33 minutes in his longest performance since joining the Lakers in a blockbuster trade with Dallas.

NFL projects salary cap between $277.5M and $281.5M in 2025, rising by as much as $26M

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL salary cap will be between $277.5 million and $281.5 million for the 2025 season, rising as much as $26 million from last year. The bump is great news for Cincinnati, which is hoping to sign receiver Tee Higgins to a long-term contract. It also means more money for Minnesota to re-sign quarterback Sam Darnold or Kansas City to bring back guard Trey Smith or Super Bowl champion Philadelphia to keep linebacker Zack Baun. It's also significant for teams projected to be over the cap when the new league year begins in March.

No. 1 Auburn overcomes a rough offensive performance to beat Arkansas 67-60

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Johni Broome had 16 points and 13 rebounds and No. 1 Auburn overcame a rough offensive performance to beat Arkansas 67-60 on Wednesday night. After winning at Alabama on Saturday in a game between the top teams in the poll, Auburn (24-2, 12-1 Southeastern Conference) avoided its second straight home loss. Chad Baker-Mazara added 15 points for the Tigers, and Chaney Johnson had 14. Adou Thiero led Arkansas (15-11, 4-9) with 16. Johnell Davis had 14. The teams combined to hit seven of 43 3-point attempts.

With the Dodgers' organization watching, Roki Sasaki has some success throwing live batting practice

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki threw 27 pitches over two innings of live batting practice at Camelback Ranch in front of hundreds of fans and several teammates. It also seemed like the entire Los Angeles Dodgers organization was watching behind home plate. Sasaki wasn't particularly fazed by the attention Wednesday and looked much more comfortable than last week, when he was a little wild during a bullpen session in chilly weather. He recorded two strikeouts, including one on back-to-back splitters to Eddie Rosario.

Seven Chilean men are charged with burglarizing the homes of Mahomes, Burrow and other star athletes

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Seven men from Chile have been charged in Florida federal court with allegedly orchestrating burglaries at the homes of prominent professional athletes around the country. The FBI complaint in Tampa federal court doesn't name the athletes, but it lists burglaries already made public involving the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as players for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies. Authorities say the Chilean group stole about $2 million in expensive watches, jewelry, cash and other valuables, including a safe the group later cracked.

Researchers confirm Hall of Famer Bobby Hull had CTE when he died 2 years ago

CHICAGO (AP) — Bobby Hull's widow says the Hall of Famer and two-time NHL MVP who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup had chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he died two years ago. Researchers at Boston University's CTE Center found that Hull had stage 2 CTE when he died in 2023. He was 84. Hull struggled with short-term memory loss and impaired judgment over his final decade. He chose to donate his brain after seeing former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Stan Mikita decline late in his life. Deborah Hull says Bobby "felt strongly no other family should have to endure CTE." CTE is a degenerative disease that that can be diagnosed only posthumously.

Missouri coach Dennis Gates takes PA microphone to head off court-storming celebration

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — After Missouri basketball fans stormed the court following a victory over then-No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 8, Tigers coach Dennis Gates made sure there wouldn't be an encore after No. 15 Missouri beat No. 4 Alabama 110-98 on Wednesday night. Gates called a timeout with 1.5 seconds remaining, and grabbed the public address microphone to emphatically tell the capacity crowd of 15,061 to stay off the court. "Please, do not rush the court! Please, do not rush the court!" Gates said to the fans. Missouri was fined $250,000 after the Kansas game, and faces a $500,000 fine for a second offense. In Southeastern Conference play, the fine is paid to the opposing school.

NASCAR deals Daytona 500 pole winner massive fine for 2nd consecutive year

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Daytona 500 pole-winner Chase Briscoe was dealt a major penalty Wednesday when NASCAR said Joe Gibbs Racing had a modified spoiler on the No. 19 Toyota in time trials. Joe Gibbs Racing was docked 100 driver/owner points and 10 playoff points. The spoiler base is a single-source part that cannot be modified and was discovered in NASCAR's inspection process. JGR was also fined $100,000 and crew chief James Small was suspended for four races. Briscoe now goes to Atlanta Motor Speedway with negative 67 points in the standings. He dropped from 10th in the standings to 39th.

College baseball future may see greater imbalance in competition, high school prospects squeezed out

Division I baseball coaches and administrators expect there will be fewer opportunities for high school recruits at the top level of the sport once rosters are reduced and if the NCAA extends athlete eligibility from four to five years. They also predict the removal of scholarship limits and increased earning potential through revenue sharing will create a greater imbalance in competition. All is contingent on a federal judge approving the settlement of antitrust allegations against the NCAA and the nation's biggest conferences. A hearing is set for April 7 and changes would go into effect July 1.

Mbappé hat trick for Real Madrid dumps Man City out of Champions League. PSG and Dortmund advance

Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick, Erling Haaland stayed on the bench injured and Real Madrid has dumped Manchester City out of the Champions League. Mbappé's trio of goals in a 3-1 win gave Madrid a 6-3 victory on aggregate in their knockout playoff. Paris Saint-Germain beat French rival Brest 7-0 to run up a 10-0 aggregate score. PSV Eindhoven ousted Juventus in the only one of the eight playoffs this week that went to extra time. Defender Ryan Flamingo scored in the 98th minute for a 3-1 win on the night and 4-3 on aggregate. Borussia Dortmund eliminated Sporting Lisbon. The round of 16 draw is made Friday.

		Southern Cal	at	(20)Maryland	8:30 p.m.	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News. for Thursday, February 20th" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News. for Thursday, February 20th</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Summary for February 20th, 2025:Luka Doncic frustrated by his rough shooting game, but the Lakers believe he'll find his rhythm soonLOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic couldn't find his shot in his third game with the Los Angeles Lakers, and LeBron James couldn't make up for it. Yet the Lakers all say they aren't worried after their embarrassing 100-97 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Doncic scored 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting, including a 1-for-9 performance on 3-point attempts. The Slovenian superstar added 11 rebounds and eight assists, but also committed six turnovers and five personal fouls while playing 33 minutes in his longest performance since joining the Lakers in a blockbuster trade with Dallas.NFL projects salary cap between $277.5M and $281.5M in 2025, rising by as much as $26MNEW YORK (AP) — The NFL salary cap will be between $277.5 million and $281.5 million for the 2025 season, rising as much as $26 million from last year. The bump is great news for Cincinnati, which is hoping to sign receiver Tee Higgins to a long-term contract. It also means more money for Minnesota to re-sign quarterback Sam Darnold or Kansas City to bring back guard Trey Smith or Super Bowl champion Philadelphia to keep linebacker Zack Baun. It's also significant for teams projected to be over the cap when the new league year begins in March.No. 1 Auburn overcomes a rough offensive performance to beat Arkansas 67-60AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Johni Broome had 16 points and 13 rebounds and No. 1 Auburn overcame a rough offensive performance to beat Arkansas 67-60 on Wednesday night. After winning at Alabama on Saturday in a game between the top teams in the poll, Auburn (24-2, 12-1 Southeastern Conference) avoided its second straight home loss. Chad Baker-Mazara added 15 points for the Tigers, and Chaney Johnson had 14. Adou Thiero led Arkansas (15-11, 4-9) with 16. Johnell Davis had 14. The teams combined to hit seven of 43 3-point attempts.With the Dodgers' organization watching, Roki Sasaki has some success throwing live batting practiceGLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki threw 27 pitches over two innings of live batting practice at Camelback Ranch in front of hundreds of fans and several teammates. It also seemed like the entire Los Angeles Dodgers organization was watching behind home plate. Sasaki wasn't particularly fazed by the attention Wednesday and looked much more comfortable than last week, when he was a little wild during a bullpen session in chilly weather. He recorded two strikeouts, including one on back-to-back splitters to Eddie Rosario.Seven Chilean men are charged with burglarizing the homes of Mahomes, Burrow and other star athletesST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Seven men from Chile have been charged in Florida federal court with allegedly orchestrating burglaries at the homes of prominent professional athletes around the country. The FBI complaint in Tampa federal court doesn't name the athletes, but it lists burglaries already made public involving the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as players for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies. Authorities say the Chilean group stole about $2 million in expensive watches, jewelry, cash and other valuables, including a safe the group later cracked.Researchers confirm Hall of Famer Bobby Hull had CTE when he died 2 years agoCHICAGO (AP) — Bobby Hull's widow says the Hall of Famer and two-time NHL MVP who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup had chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he died two years ago. Researchers at Boston University's CTE Center found that Hull had stage 2 CTE when he died in 2023. He was 84. Hull struggled with short-term memory loss and impaired judgment over his final decade. He chose to donate his brain after seeing former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Stan Mikita decline late in his life. Deborah Hull says Bobby "felt strongly no other family should have to endure CTE." CTE is a degenerative disease that that can be diagnosed only posthumously.Missouri coach Dennis Gates takes PA microphone to head off court-storming celebrationCOLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — After Missouri basketball fans stormed the court following a victory over then-No. 1 Kansas on Dec. 8, Tigers coach Dennis Gates made sure there wouldn't be an encore after No. 15 Missouri beat No. 4 Alabama 110-98 on Wednesday night. Gates called a timeout with 1.5 seconds remaining, and grabbed the public address microphone to emphatically tell the capacity crowd of 15,061 to stay off the court. "Please, do not rush the court! Please, do not rush the court!" Gates said to the fans. Missouri was fined $250,000 after the Kansas game, and faces a $500,000 fine for a second offense. In Southeastern Conference play, the fine is paid to the opposing school.NASCAR deals Daytona 500 pole winner massive fine for 2nd consecutive yearCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Daytona 500 pole-winner Chase Briscoe was dealt a major penalty Wednesday when NASCAR said Joe Gibbs Racing had a modified spoiler on the No. 19 Toyota in time trials. Joe Gibbs Racing was docked 100 driver/owner points and 10 playoff points. The spoiler base is a single-source part that cannot be modified and was discovered in NASCAR's inspection process. JGR was also fined $100,000 and crew chief James Small was suspended for four races. Briscoe now goes to Atlanta Motor Speedway with negative 67 points in the standings. He dropped from 10th in the standings to 39th.College baseball future may see greater imbalance in competition, high school prospects squeezed outDivision I baseball coaches and administrators expect there will be fewer opportunities for high school recruits at the top level of the sport once rosters are reduced and if the NCAA extends athlete eligibility from four to five years. They also predict the removal of scholarship limits and increased earning potential through revenue sharing will create a greater imbalance in competition. All is contingent on a federal judge approving the settlement of antitrust allegations against the NCAA and the nation's biggest conferences. A hearing is set for April 7 and changes would go into effect July 1.Mbappé hat trick for Real Madrid dumps Man City out of Champions League. PSG and Dortmund advanceKylian Mbappé scored a hat trick, Erling Haaland stayed on the bench injured and Real Madrid has dumped Manchester City out of the Champions League. Mbappé's trio of goals in a 3-1 win gave Madrid a 6-3 victory on aggregate in their knockout playoff. Paris Saint-Germain beat French rival Brest 7-0 to run up a 10-0 aggregate score. PSV Eindhoven ousted Juventus in the only one of the eight playoffs this week that went to extra time. Defender Ryan Flamingo scored in the 98th minute for a 3-1 win on the night and 4-3 on aggregate. Borussia Dortmund eliminated Sporting Lisbon. The round of 16 draw is made Friday.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Charlotte	100	L.A. Lakers	97	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALLFinal	(1)Auburn	67	Arkansas	60	Final	(15)Missouri	110	(4)Alabama	98	Final	(10)St. John's	82	DePaul	58	Final	(17)Kentucky	82	Vanderbilt	61	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___NATIONAL LEAGUE		Chi Cubs	at	L-A Dodgers	3:05 p.m.	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Boston	at	Philadelphia	7 p.m.			Memphis	at	Indiana	7 p.m.			Chicago	at	New York	7:30 p.m.			Cleveland	at	Brooklyn	7:30 p.m.			Orlando	at	Atlanta	7:30 p.m.			L.A. Clippers	at	Milwaukee	8 p.m.			Charlotte	at	Denver	9 p.m.			Phoenix	at	San Antonio	9:30 p.m.			L.A. Lakers	at	Portland	10 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE		Canada	at	USA	8 p.m.	___TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL		Southern Cal	at	(20)Maryland	8:30 p.m.	___

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Thursday

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Hutchinson (16-10, 12-8) managed just 10 points in the first 10 minutes Wednesday night and finished the first half with a season-low 25 points.

No. 8 Cowley (24-3, 19-2) led by as many as 16 in the first half of play behind Shamarrie Hugie's 14 points.

Hugie was one-of-four Tigers in double-digit scoring, he finished with 24 on 10-of-14 shooting.

Marcus Whitlock (17), Avante Nichols (12) and Emarquis Jones (11) also scored in double figures for Cowley.

DJ Dudley and Bobby Cannon struggled early for the Dragons and combined for 0-of-1o shooting in the first half.

The Dragons were outscored 58-34 in the paint and turned the ball over 15 times. Cowley scored 21 points off those turnovers.

Dudley and Cannon gained some momentum in the second half. Dudley finished 5-of-16 with 14 points while Cannon went 4-of-9 for eight points.

Khalil Arnold led Hutchinson with 15 points.

Mikhail Abdul-Hamid went 3-of-8 from distance to finish with 11 points while Isaiah Jackson added 10 with four blocks.

The Dragons made just 5-of-22 three-point attempts (22.7%).

The Dragons return home Saturday for Pink Out against Butler. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740024974245.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. — Hutchinson (16-10, 12-8) managed just 10 points in the first 10 minutes Wednesday night and finished the first half with a season-low 25 points.No. 8 Cowley (24-3, 19-2) led by as many as 16 in the first half of play behind Shamarrie Hugie's 14 points.Hugie was one-of-four Tigers in double-digit scoring, he finished with 24 on 10-of-14 shooting.Marcus Whitlock (17), Avante Nichols (12) and Emarquis Jones (11) also scored in double figures for Cowley.DJ Dudley and Bobby Cannon struggled early for the Dragons and combined for 0-of-1o shooting in the first half.The Dragons were outscored 58-34 in the paint and turned the ball over 15 times. Cowley scored 21 points off those turnovers.Dudley and Cannon gained some momentum in the second half. Dudley finished 5-of-16 with 14 points while Cannon went 4-of-9 for eight points.Khalil Arnold led Hutchinson with 15 points.Mikhail Abdul-Hamid went 3-of-8 from distance to finish with 11 points while Isaiah Jackson added 10 with four blocks.The Dragons made just 5-of-22 three-point attempts (22.7%).Cowley shot 59.3% for the night.FINAL: Cowley 87 Hutchinson 71The Dragons return home Saturday for Pink Out against Butler. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.