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

🥎 KU knocks off No. 23 Oklahoma State

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

⚾ Shockers drop series finale to Bulls

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

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

🏀 WSU signs versatile forward Valencia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🏈 KU's Neal, Cabeldue selected in NFL Draft

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

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

Game 1 — Salina South 4, Hutchinson 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Game 2 — Hutchinson 6, Salina South 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

⚾ Hutch High bounces back for split at Salina South

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

KSHSAA legislative boards approve several changes

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

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

Click below to listen to the broadcast of both games.

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

🎧⚾ Hutch High travels to Salina South for AVCTL doubleheader

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745588083832.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita Wind Surge" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita Wind Surge</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita Wind Surge
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WICHITA, Kan. (April 24, 2025)&mdash;The Wichita Wind Surge got held to a 5-2 defeat by the Springfield Cardinals at Equity Bank Park. Although they loaded the bases and put the game-winning runner to the plate in the ninth, the Cardinals would leave them stranded for their first win of the series.
Chase Davis doubled to left field to start the game, later scoring on a fielder&rsquo;s choice for the game&rsquo;s first run.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/trent-baker-694536">Trent Baker</a>&nbsp;struck out Ramon Mendoza to strand the bases loaded in a 1-0 score with Springfield leading heading toward the bottom of the first. The Cardinals' leadoff hitter dealt more damage on a single to right field in the second; Darlin Moquete was awarded home plate on the play after an outfield throwing error.
Dakota Harris singled a third Springfield run in on a single deflected off Baker in the top of the third, and it turned to 4-0 Cardinals after Noah Mendlinger scored himself on a double play.
<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/rubel-cespedes-686438">Rubel Cespedes</a>&nbsp;doubled into the Bermuda Triangle in shallow center, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/ben-ross-805346">Ben Ross</a>&nbsp;ran around all the way from first for the first Wind Surge run of the night in the bottom of the sixth.
<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" class="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1915576949130330495&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.milb.com%2Fnews%2Fwichita-staved-off-by-springfield&amp;sessionId=a6a50f0ba7a0a2f8add0554992542a6fd5102de1&amp;siteScreenName=milb&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" width="300" height="150" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-tweet-id="1915576949130330495"></iframe></div>
Mendoza reached second on an infield error in the top of the eighth, and he crossed the plate on a single up the middle from Miguel Ugueto for a 4-1 Springfield advantage heading into the home half of the eighth.
<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/tanner-schobel-802355">Tanner Schobel</a>&nbsp;singled in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/player/kyler-fedko-693459">Kyler Fedko</a>&nbsp;with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, and Wichita loaded the bases, but left them stranded after an infield groundout ended the game with a 5-2 Cardinals score.
<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" class="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1915592922449272944&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.milb.com%2Fnews%2Fwichita-staved-off-by-springfield&amp;sessionId=a6a50f0ba7a0a2f8add0554992542a6fd5102de1&amp;siteScreenName=milb&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" width="300" height="150" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-tweet-id="1915592922449272944"></iframe></div>
Baker took the loss, surrendering four runs (three earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts; he is now 0-2 on the season.
POSTGAME NOTES
<ul>
<li>After his appearance tonight out of the bullpen, Jarret Whorff has yet to surrender an unearned run in Wichita this season over 7.2 innings pitched.</li>
<li>Rubel Cespedes records his fourth multi-hit game of the season.</li>
<li>Following a walk in the fourth, Tanner Schobel has reached base in 17 consecutive games.</li>
<li>The season series between the Cardinals and Wind Surge is now tied 3-3.</li>
<li>Wichita now stands at 1-2 in Thursday games in 2025.</li>
</ul>
Wichita continues the series against the Springfield Cardinals on Friday, April 25, at 6:35 PM on Fireworks Friday. Come on down to the ballpark for the first Tumba Vacas night of the year, and stick around for the best fireworks show in Kansas! You can listen to Wind Surge games on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>&nbsp;or watch online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/MiLB.TV">MiLB.TV</a>&nbsp;and Bally Sports Live. For ticket information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com/tickets">windsurge.com/tickets</a>.</div>

⚾ Wichita staved off by Springfield

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

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

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

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

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

🏈 Chiefs use final pick in first round of NFL draft on Ohio State OT Josh Simmons

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to a career-best 16 games with an RBI single in the fifth inning, and the Kansas City Royals went on to beat the Colorado Rockies 6-2 on Thursday to cap off a doubleheader and series sweep.

Salvador Perez had three hits and a pair of RBIs, and Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey and Drew Waters also drove in runs, helping the Royals win their fourth consecutive game on the heels of a six-game losing streak.

Michael Lorenzen (2-3) allowed one run on five hits and three walks over six innings for Kansas City, striking out seven.

Chase Dollander, the ninth overall pick in the 2023 draft, continued to go through rookie growing pains for Colorado. Dollander (1-3) allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks before leaving with two out in the fifth inning.

Jordan Beck homered twice for Colorado in Game 2 of the doubleheader. He also went deep in Game 1.

Kansas City&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rockies-royals-score-doubleheader-31da17918ff94aad76bbf1e2064dba49">rallied for a 7-4 victory</a>&nbsp;in the opener, caused by a rainout Wednesday night, and the sweep left the Rockies at 4-20 — the worst start in club history. They also matched a franchise record with their 13th consecutive road loss. Their lone win away from Coors Field came in Tampa Bay on March 29, in their first series of the season.

Colorado has lost 11 consecutive series since taking two games from Arizona last September.

The Royals were leading 3-0 when Jonathan India hit a two-out double in the fifth. Witt followed with his RBI single, and Perez added a two-run double two batters later, giving Kansas City a 5-0 lead.

The Royals (12-14) improved to 10-1 when scoring at least four runs this season.

Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-4, 4.85) starts their series opener against Cincinnati on Friday night. RHP Seth Lugo (1-3, 3.90) gets the nod for Kansas City as it welcomes Houston to town on Friday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745542882382.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to a career-best 16 games with an RBI single in the fifth inning, and the Kansas City Royals went on to beat the Colorado Rockies 6-2 on Thursday to cap off a doubleheader and series sweep.Salvador Perez had three hits and a pair of RBIs, and Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey and Drew Waters also drove in runs, helping the Royals win their fourth consecutive game on the heels of a six-game losing streak.Michael Lorenzen (2-3) allowed one run on five hits and three walks over six innings for Kansas City, striking out seven.Chase Dollander, the ninth overall pick in the 2023 draft, continued to go through rookie growing pains for Colorado. Dollander (1-3) allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks before leaving with two out in the fifth inning.Jordan Beck homered twice for Colorado in Game 2 of the doubleheader. He also went deep in Game 1.Kansas City&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rockies-royals-score-doubleheader-31da17918ff94aad76bbf1e2064dba49">rallied for a 7-4 victory</a>&nbsp;in the opener, caused by a rainout Wednesday night, and the sweep left the Rockies at 4-20 — the worst start in club history. They also matched a franchise record with their 13th consecutive road loss. Their lone win away from Coors Field came in Tampa Bay on March 29, in their first series of the season.Colorado has lost 11 consecutive series since taking two games from Arizona last September.<h2>Key moment</h2>The Royals were leading 3-0 when Jonathan India hit a two-out double in the fifth. Witt followed with his RBI single, and Perez added a two-run double two batters later, giving Kansas City a 5-0 lead.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Royals (12-14) improved to 10-1 when scoring at least four runs this season.<h2>Up next</h2>Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-4, 4.85) starts their series opener against Cincinnati on Friday night. RHP Seth Lugo (1-3, 3.90) gets the nod for Kansas City as it welcomes Houston to town on Friday night.

⚾ Royals wrap up doubleheader, series sweep of Rockies

Former Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett has signed a free-agent deal with the Tennessee Titans.

Lockett has signed a one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $6 million deal with the Titans.

Lockett, 32, has played 10 seasons in the NFL, all with the Seattle Seahawks. He has played in 161 games, making 661 receptions for 8,594 yards and 61 receiving touchdowns.&nbsp;

He is a 2015 graduate of Kansas State University, where he was known for his dynamic kickoff and punt return game, as well as his receiving skills. He accounted for 35 career touchdowns in his 47 games played in Manhattan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745521174562.jpeg" alt="Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett in action against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, file)" />
 <figcaption>Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett in action against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFL football game, Dec. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, file)</figcaption>
 </figure>Former Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett has signed a free-agent deal with the Tennessee Titans.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I’m excited to be a Tennessee Titan!! I’m super thankful and grateful Let’s get it!! God you get all the glory!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thankful?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Thankful</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Grateful?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Grateful</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GodGetsAllTheGlory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GodGetsAllTheGlory</a>&mdash; Tyler Lockett (@TDLockett12) <a href="https://twitter.com/TDLockett12/status/1915243915680113074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Lockett has signed a one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $6 million deal with the Titans.Lockett, 32, has played 10 seasons in the NFL, all with the Seattle Seahawks. He has played in 161 games, making 661 receptions for 8,594 yards and 61 receiving touchdowns.&nbsp;He is a 2015 graduate of Kansas State University, where he was known for his dynamic kickoff and punt return game, as well as his receiving skills. He accounted for 35 career touchdowns in his 47 games played in Manhattan.

🏈 Former K-State WR Lockett signs with Titans

The Reno County Coaches Show &amp; More airs every Thursday from 6-6:30 p.m. on KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5). On this week's show, Sean Boston visits with HutchCC Sports Information Director, Steve Carpenter, while Glen Grunwald visits with Hutchinson High School girls soccer coach, Jordan Proffitt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726138917283.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The Reno County Coaches Show &amp; More airs every Thursday from 6-6:30 p.m. on KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5). On this week's show, Sean Boston visits with HutchCC Sports Information Director, Steve Carpenter, while Glen Grunwald visits with Hutchinson High School girls soccer coach, Jordan Proffitt.<div><iframe title="Reno County Coaches Show & More (April 24, 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=pc67y-188dac8-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>

🎧 Reno County Coaches Show & More (Steve Carpenter, Jordan Proffitt)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745519741302.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;Wichita State's men's basketball roster for 2025-26 continues to take shape, as the team announced the signing of Kenyon Giles to a financial aid agreement Thursday morning. Giles, a 5-foot-9 guard from Chesapeake, Va., will spend his final year of eligibility at Wichita State. He comes to Wichita after two seasons at Radford and this past season at UNC Greensboro. "As a coaching staff we are always looking for players who love basketball versus players who like basketball," said Wichita State head men's basketball coach&nbsp;<dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/paul-mills/1241" rel="smarttag" rev="1241">Paul Mills</a></dfn>. "Kenyon loves the game of basketball and being a part of a team. How he has enhanced his game every single year is a testament to how much he loves the game and evidence of his dedication. He has made himself into a phenomenal shooter but he is a more than that given the attention he commands for so many other aspects of his game. I'm extremely excited about welcoming Kenyon to Shocker Nation." He started 28 of the team's 30 games in 2024-25, averaging 15.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists on 40.2 percent shooting from three-point range. Giles will provide a much-needed boost with his outside shooting ability. He knocked down 80-of-199 three-pointers at UNCG, more than double the amount Wichita State's top shooter made this past season. He was named to the All-SoCon First Team after posting nine 20-point games and reaching double figures in every game but five. In his two-year stint at Radford, Giles saw his workload rise significantly his sophomore season. After averaging 8.4 points per game, mostly off the bench as a freshman, he started all 32 games as a sophomore behind 14.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 32.3 minutes per game. Giles was a Big South All-Freshman Team selection. Giles finished his prep career at Silverado High School in Las Vegas, averaging 20.0 points and 4.0 assists per game.</div>

🏀 WSU adds all-conference guard to men's roster

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kyle Isbel drove in three runs, two on a go-ahead single in the fifth, and the Kansas City bullpen threw six shutout innings to help the Royals rally for a 7-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a doubleheader Thursday.

Salvador Perez also drove in a pair of runs for Kansas City, which beat the Rockies in extra innings on Tuesday night.

Their game Wednesday was rained out, resulting in the traditional doubleheader.

Cole Ragans lasted only three innings and 62 pitches for Kansas City before leaving with groin tightness. But the All-Star left-hander’s bullpen picked him up. Angel Zerpa (1-0) and Steven Cruz threw two scoreless innings apiece, Lucas Erceg breezed past the eighth, and Carlos Estévez handled the ninth for his sixth save.

Germán Márquez (0-4) allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks over four-plus innings for Colorado. He has lost his last four starts, allowing 18 earned runs in the past three, and has only made it through the sixth inning once this season.

Jordan Beck and Hunter Goodman homered for the struggling Rockies, but they were the only real bright spots. Colorado (4-19) is off to the worst start in franchise history, and it has lost 12 consecutive road games — one shy of the club record — since beating the Rays on March 29 in its opening series of the season.

Isbel’s slap down the first-base line with two outs in the fifth bounced out of Michael Toglia’s glove and all the way to the dugout fence. That allowed Perez and Cavan Biggio to score, breaking a 4-all tie.

Márquez struck out Vinnie Pasquantino to end the fourth inning, becoming the first Rockies pitcher with 1,000 career strikeouts. It was the last out Márquez recorded in the game.

The Rockies send RHP Chase Dollander (1-2, 7.36) against Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-3, 4.57) in Game 2 on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745530393637.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey (19) celebrates with Kyle Isbel after scoring on a single by Drew Waters during the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey (19) celebrates with Kyle Isbel after scoring on a single by Drew Waters during the third inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kyle Isbel drove in three runs, two on a go-ahead single in the fifth, and the Kansas City bullpen threw six shutout innings to help the Royals rally for a 7-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a doubleheader Thursday.Salvador Perez also drove in a pair of runs for Kansas City, which beat the Rockies in extra innings on Tuesday night.Their game Wednesday was rained out, resulting in the traditional doubleheader.Cole Ragans lasted only three innings and 62 pitches for Kansas City before leaving with groin tightness. But the All-Star left-hander’s bullpen picked him up. Angel Zerpa (1-0) and Steven Cruz threw two scoreless innings apiece, Lucas Erceg breezed past the eighth, and Carlos Estévez handled the ninth for his sixth save.Germán Márquez (0-4) allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks over four-plus innings for Colorado. He has lost his last four starts, allowing 18 earned runs in the past three, and has only made it through the sixth inning once this season.Jordan Beck and Hunter Goodman homered for the struggling Rockies, but they were the only real bright spots. Colorado (4-19) is off to the worst start in franchise history, and it has lost 12 consecutive road games — one shy of the club record — since beating the Rays on March 29 in its opening series of the season.<h2>Key moment</h2>Isbel’s slap down the first-base line with two outs in the fifth bounced out of Michael Toglia’s glove and all the way to the dugout fence. That allowed Perez and Cavan Biggio to score, breaking a 4-all tie.<h2>Key stat</h2>Márquez struck out Vinnie Pasquantino to end the fourth inning, becoming the first Rockies pitcher with 1,000 career strikeouts. It was the last out Márquez recorded in the game.<h2>Up next</h2>The Rockies send RHP Chase Dollander (1-2, 7.36) against Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-3, 4.57) in Game 2 on Thursday.

⚾ KC bullpen tosses 6 shutout innings, allowing the Royals to rally for win

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals ace Cole Ragans will undergo testing on his left groin after the All-Star left-hander was forced to leave Thursday’s start against the Colorado Rockies after just three innings and 62 pitches.

Ragans had allowed four runs on three hits — two of them homers — and two walks before Angel Zerpa replaced him for the fourth inning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rockies-royals-score-doubleheader-31da17918ff94aad76bbf1e2064dba49">a 7-3 victory over the Rockies</a>. Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said Ragans had trouble getting loose before the game and his groin began to bother him as the innings went on.

“As he was sitting there between innings, between the third and fourth, it tightened up on him,” said Quatraro, who thinks some of Ragans’ command problems during the opening game of a doubleheader were related to the groin issue.

“I did not talk to him yet, but I would assume, you know, if he’s not comfortable pushing off, you’re seeing him cut some stuff off, which makes sense, based on most of those misses,” Quatraro said. “Just probably wasn’t getting through it.”

Ragans went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA and led the league in strikeouts per nine innings during a breakout season last year. He is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in six starts this season, including a dismal outing last week against the Tigers.

“Cole was not 100 percent,” Royals catcher Salvador Perez said Thursday. “I could tell from the bullpen he was not right.”

The Royals bullpen picked Ragans up, though, tossing six scoreless innings in relief. Zerpa and Steven Cruz tossed two apiece, Lucas Erceg cruised through the eighth and Carlos Estévez handled the ninth to earn his sixth save.

In other injury news, Quatraro said right-hander Alec Marsh would begin a new throwing progression Friday after he was shut down a few weeks ago with more soreness in his right shoulder. The Royals hope to have him back sometime in June.

Speedy outfielder Dairon Blanco also is on the mend after dealing with a right Achilles injury. He went through a full workout on Tuesday, and Quatraro said it’s possible that Blanco could be headed on a rehab assignment soon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716411828410.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals ace Cole Ragans will undergo testing on his left groin after the All-Star left-hander was forced to leave Thursday’s start against the Colorado Rockies after just three innings and 62 pitches.Ragans had allowed four runs on three hits — two of them homers — and two walks before Angel Zerpa replaced him for the fourth inning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rockies-royals-score-doubleheader-31da17918ff94aad76bbf1e2064dba49">a 7-3 victory over the Rockies</a>. Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said Ragans had trouble getting loose before the game and his groin began to bother him as the innings went on.“As he was sitting there between innings, between the third and fourth, it tightened up on him,” said Quatraro, who thinks some of Ragans’ command problems during the opening game of a doubleheader were related to the groin issue.“I did not talk to him yet, but I would assume, you know, if he’s not comfortable pushing off, you’re seeing him cut some stuff off, which makes sense, based on most of those misses,” Quatraro said. “Just probably wasn’t getting through it.”Ragans went 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA and led the league in strikeouts per nine innings during a breakout season last year. He is 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in six starts this season, including a dismal outing last week against the Tigers.“Cole was not 100 percent,” Royals catcher Salvador Perez said Thursday. “I could tell from the bullpen he was not right.”The Royals bullpen picked Ragans up, though, tossing six scoreless innings in relief. Zerpa and Steven Cruz tossed two apiece, Lucas Erceg cruised through the eighth and Carlos Estévez handled the ninth to earn his sixth save.In other injury news, Quatraro said right-hander Alec Marsh would begin a new throwing progression Friday after he was shut down a few weeks ago with more soreness in his right shoulder. The Royals hope to have him back sometime in June.Speedy outfielder Dairon Blanco also is on the mend after dealing with a right Achilles injury. He went through a full workout on Tuesday, and Quatraro said it’s possible that Blanco could be headed on a rehab assignment soon.

⚾ Royals ace Cole Ragans to undergo testing on groin after leaving start vs Rockies with tightness

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ryan Howard was a rookie with the Philadelphia Phillies just putting baseball on notice with his moonshot home runs when he met&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-minnesota-twins-alex-rodriguez-barry-bonds-6c91f6a9f3a5ec58c256296b56b21b5b">Buck O’Neil</a>, a champion of Black ballplayers during a monumental, eight-decade career on and off the field.

Howard was introduced to O’Neil as a modern-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/negro-leagues-statistics-4a204a3cac0527ab5be750783fd411df">Josh Gibson</a>, one of the Negro Leagues’ greatest players, who hit .466 for the 1943 Homestead Grays. Howard, who hit at least 45 homers four times in his career, was too embarrassed to accept the comparison.

“Mr. O’Neil was like, ‘Do you got that power?’ I said, ‘Yes sir, I do,’” Howard said. “He told me: ‘Don’t be ashamed of it. Let it out.’ It was great, just hearing the stories from and just being in his presence.”

O’Neil, who died in 2006, was long a champion of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nlbm.com/" target="_blank">Negro Leagues Baseball Museum</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City, Missouri. Howard, who won an NL MVP and a World Series with the Phillies, is ready to take up O’Neil’s cause as the former slugger joined the push in helping the museum’s expansion project.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is fundraising for a new 30,000-square-foot facility and campus, aimed at advancing the museum’s mission of preserving the rich history of Negro Leagues baseball and its impact on social progress in the United States.

Howard and San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt announced their plans Thursday to join the Negro Leagues’ “Pitch for the Future” in bringing greater awareness to the legacy of the Negro Leagues with a museum expansion.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick said he hoped to raise $30 million to complete the project.

“It’s a tremendous indicator of the growth of his museum and the heightened interest in the subject matter that we’ve generated through the years and has dictated a need for us to grow in all phases of our operations,” Kendrick said. “This is a byproduct of growth.”

Interest in the Negro Leagues has spiked of late in large part because of its inclusion in the video game&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-show-negro-league-players-4f85545eafefe219215c8df295a76785">MLB The Show</a>&nbsp;and when records for more than 2,300 players were incorporated last year into Major League Baseball statistics. The museum that was founded in a tiny, one-room office space in 1990 that attracts about 70,000 visitors each year — plus major leaguers who stop by during road trips — has outgrown its space at 18th and Vine.

Kendrick said the current space “wasn’t designed to handle large crowds at any one time.”

“In a perfect world, Kansas City will host the World Cup next year,” Kendrick said, “and we would love to follow the energy and excitement of the World Cup with a grand opening of the Negro Leagues Museum in 2027. That might be a little bit ambitious, but it’s doable.”

Howard toured the museum long before he was one of the feared sluggers in the National League.

“It was my way of paying homage to the Negro Leagues and former Negro League players that didn’t get the opportunity to play in the big leagues,” Howard said.

Howard was always struck by the Field of Legends — 13 life-size statues of the first Negro Leaguers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York — that deepened his understanding of the journey the players took to reach the Hall.

“I think that’s why it’s important to keep the story going, keep it alive,” Howard said. “You’ve got to understand the history of Black baseball and how it correlates with baseball, in general, and Major League Baseball.”

The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport found during its last published study that Black players represented just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-black-players-4ee0465ea22693230841a3e5fe489860">6.2% of players</a>&nbsp;on MLB opening day rosters in 2023, down from 7.2% in 2022. For the first time since 1950, shortly after Jackie Robinson broke the Major League Baseball color barrier, there were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/World-Series-Black-players-Astros-Phillies-f7768955507758abf3af00552d4ba9b7">no U.S.-born Black players</a>&nbsp;on the Houston Astros’ or Philadelphia Phillies’ roster in the 2022 World Series.

Former New York Mets slugger&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strawberry-mlb-inner-city-markerting-be56fbec0a58d2bc3f7691da7313634d">Darryl Strawberry</a>&nbsp;said over the weekend that MLB needed to focus on developing and marketing the game within the inner cities in order for the percentage of Black players to rise substantially.

Howard said connecting Black youth with baseball has long had its issues.

“It’s tough, trying to help figure things out,” Howard said. “I think there are now more young Black kids starting to get back into baseball. You have to be able to turn on the TV and see somebody that looks like you.”

Howard was raised in Missouri and noted Black former St. Louis Cardinals stars such as Willie McGee, Vince Coleman and Terry Pendleton who helped ignite his interest in the sport. Howard and fellow NL MVP Jimmy Rollins were two Black stars and fan favorites with the Phillies when they won their last World Series in 2008.

Shildt was a frequent visitor of the museum when he managed the Cardinals and remained hopeful that expansion would provide the resources needed to educate a new generation of fans.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683136587086.jpeg" alt="Bronze statues of Negro League greats including pitcher Satchel Paige, front, play their positions on the Field of Legends, which is the centerpiece of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)" />
 <figcaption>Bronze statues of Negro League greats including pitcher Satchel Paige, front, play their positions on the Field of Legends, which is the centerpiece of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ryan Howard was a rookie with the Philadelphia Phillies just putting baseball on notice with his moonshot home runs when he met&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-minnesota-twins-alex-rodriguez-barry-bonds-6c91f6a9f3a5ec58c256296b56b21b5b">Buck O’Neil</a>, a champion of Black ballplayers during a monumental, eight-decade career on and off the field.Howard was introduced to O’Neil as a modern-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/negro-leagues-statistics-4a204a3cac0527ab5be750783fd411df">Josh Gibson</a>, one of the Negro Leagues’ greatest players, who hit .466 for the 1943 Homestead Grays. Howard, who hit at least 45 homers four times in his career, was too embarrassed to accept the comparison.“Mr. O’Neil was like, ‘Do you got that power?’ I said, ‘Yes sir, I do,’” Howard said. “He told me: ‘Don’t be ashamed of it. Let it out.’ It was great, just hearing the stories from and just being in his presence.”O’Neil, who died in 2006, was long a champion of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nlbm.com/" target="_blank">Negro Leagues Baseball Museum</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City, Missouri. Howard, who won an NL MVP and a World Series with the Phillies, is ready to take up O’Neil’s cause as the former slugger joined the push in helping the museum’s expansion project.The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is fundraising for a new 30,000-square-foot facility and campus, aimed at advancing the museum’s mission of preserving the rich history of Negro Leagues baseball and its impact on social progress in the United States.Howard and San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt announced their plans Thursday to join the Negro Leagues’ “Pitch for the Future” in bringing greater awareness to the legacy of the Negro Leagues with a museum expansion.Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick said he hoped to raise $30 million to complete the project.“It’s a tremendous indicator of the growth of his museum and the heightened interest in the subject matter that we’ve generated through the years and has dictated a need for us to grow in all phases of our operations,” Kendrick said. “This is a byproduct of growth.”Interest in the Negro Leagues has spiked of late in large part because of its inclusion in the video game&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-show-negro-league-players-4f85545eafefe219215c8df295a76785">MLB The Show</a>&nbsp;and when records for more than 2,300 players were incorporated last year into Major League Baseball statistics. The museum that was founded in a tiny, one-room office space in 1990 that attracts about 70,000 visitors each year — plus major leaguers who stop by during road trips — has outgrown its space at 18th and Vine.Kendrick said the current space “wasn’t designed to handle large crowds at any one time.”“In a perfect world, Kansas City will host the World Cup next year,” Kendrick said, “and we would love to follow the energy and excitement of the World Cup with a grand opening of the Negro Leagues Museum in 2027. That might be a little bit ambitious, but it’s doable.”Howard toured the museum long before he was one of the feared sluggers in the National League.“It was my way of paying homage to the Negro Leagues and former Negro League players that didn’t get the opportunity to play in the big leagues,” Howard said.Howard was always struck by the Field of Legends — 13 life-size statues of the first Negro Leaguers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York — that deepened his understanding of the journey the players took to reach the Hall.“I think that’s why it’s important to keep the story going, keep it alive,” Howard said. “You’ve got to understand the history of Black baseball and how it correlates with baseball, in general, and Major League Baseball.”The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport found during its last published study that Black players represented just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-black-players-4ee0465ea22693230841a3e5fe489860">6.2% of players</a>&nbsp;on MLB opening day rosters in 2023, down from 7.2% in 2022. For the first time since 1950, shortly after Jackie Robinson broke the Major League Baseball color barrier, there were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/World-Series-Black-players-Astros-Phillies-f7768955507758abf3af00552d4ba9b7">no U.S.-born Black players</a>&nbsp;on the Houston Astros’ or Philadelphia Phillies’ roster in the 2022 World Series.Former New York Mets slugger&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strawberry-mlb-inner-city-markerting-be56fbec0a58d2bc3f7691da7313634d">Darryl Strawberry</a>&nbsp;said over the weekend that MLB needed to focus on developing and marketing the game within the inner cities in order for the percentage of Black players to rise substantially.Howard said connecting Black youth with baseball has long had its issues.“It’s tough, trying to help figure things out,” Howard said. “I think there are now more young Black kids starting to get back into baseball. You have to be able to turn on the TV and see somebody that looks like you.”Howard was raised in Missouri and noted Black former St. Louis Cardinals stars such as Willie McGee, Vince Coleman and Terry Pendleton who helped ignite his interest in the sport. Howard and fellow NL MVP Jimmy Rollins were two Black stars and fan favorites with the Phillies when they won their last World Series in 2008.Shildt was a frequent visitor of the museum when he managed the Cardinals and remained hopeful that expansion would provide the resources needed to educate a new generation of fans.

⚾ Former Phillies slugger Ryan Howard makes pitch for Negro Leagues Baseball Museum expansion

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745519596455.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
WICHITA, Kan. -&nbsp;Wichita State softball's weekend series vs. Charlotte has been altered due to inclement weather in the forecast. The two teams will now play a doubleheader on Friday, April 25 beginning at 5:00 PM. Saturday's (April 26) game time remains at 6:00 PM. There will be no game on Sunday. Additionally, senior night ceremonies will now take place in between games on Friday. Weekend Schedule Friday, April 25 | DH | 5:00 PM &amp; 7:30 PM (Approximately or 30 min. after conclusion of Game 1) Saturday, April 26 | 6:00 PM</div>

🥎 Shockers' weekend series altered

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745519452665.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas State Athletics
&nbsp;
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MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;&ndash; The Kansas State men's basketball team has been selected to play in the 2025 Hall of Fame Classic, which is set for Thursday, Nov. 20 and Friday, Nov. 21 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The Wildcats will be joined in the field by NCAA Tournament participants Mississippi State and New Mexico and recent College Basketball Crown winner Nebraska. This year's Hall of Fame Classic will mark the event's 25th&nbsp;year of operation in Kansas City and will return to its traditional two-day, four-team bracketed format beginning on Thursday, Nov. 20 with the championship and third-place games set for Friday, Nov. 21. A complete bracket, along with ticket information, television details and game times, for the four-team tournament will be announced later. K-State will be making its fourth appearance in the Hall of Fame Classic and the first since 2021. The Wildcats finished as the tournament runner-up in their first two visits, defeating No. 18 Gonzaga before losing to top-ranked Duke in 2010 and defeating Missouri before losing to No. 9 North Carolina in 2015. The team lost to No. 13 Arkansas and No. 14 Illinois in their most recent appearance in 2021. Nebraska will be making its second appearance and first since 2018, while Mississippi State and New Mexico will be competing in the tournament for the first time. K-State leads the all-time series with all three potential opponents, including 3-1 with Mississippi State, 4-2 with New Mexico and 128-94 with Nebraska. The Wildcats last met the Bulldogs in 2019, the Lobos in 2006 and Cornhuskers in 2023. Possible tournament opponents:
<ul>
<li>Mississippi State (21-13) earned its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, along with its third straight 20-win season, under head coach&nbsp;Chris Jans&nbsp;in 2024-25. The Bulldogs finished in a four-way tie for ninth with Arkansas, Georgia and Vanderbilt in the SEC with an 8-10 mark. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Nebraska (21-14) won 20 or more games for the second straight season under head coach&nbsp;Fred Hoiberg, defeating Arizona State, Georgetown, Boise State and UCF to claim the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament championship. The Huskers finished 7-13 in Big Ten play. &nbsp;</li>
<li>New Mexico (27-8) won the Mountain West regular-season championship with a 17-3 record and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. The Lobos will be led by first-year head coach&nbsp;Eric Olen, who guided UC San Diego to a Big West regular-season and tournament titles and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2025.</li>
</ul>
 The Hall of Fame Classic was created by the Kansas City-based National Association of Basketball Classic (NABC) in 2001 as the Guardians Classic and was later known as the CBE Classic and CBE Hall of Fame Classic before being rebranded as the Hall of Fame Classic in 2017. Last season, the Hall of Fame Classic was a single day competition with Utah State defeating Iowa, 77-69, and Wichita State defeating Saint Louis, 88-63. More information on the Hall of Fame Classic can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://nabc.com/classic/">here</a>.</div>

🏀 K-State to play in 2025 Hall of Fame Classic in KC

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher" />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for April 25" 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=25hw7-188d3f1-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 ⚾ Royals rained out will play DH today, Salthawks swept by Campus 🏈NFL Draft begins tonight 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745514065266.jpeg" alt="Emily Dice delivers a big RBI triple in the sixth inning of the Blue Dragon softball team's 6-3 win over Dodge City in Game 1 of a KJCCC doubleheader on Wednesday in Dodge City. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Emily Dice delivers a big RBI triple in the sixth inning of the Blue Dragon softball team's 6-3 win over Dodge City in Game 1 of a KJCCC doubleheader on Wednesday in Dodge City. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Hutchinson CC Sports Information
DODGE CITY &ndash; The final week of the 2025 regular season started with a Jayhawk Conference doubleheader split with Dodge City on Wednesday.
<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_kaibryn_wwcp">Kaibryn Kruger</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;homered and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/dice_emily_75aj">Emily Dice</a>&nbsp;had a key RBI triple as the Blue Dragons pulled away for a 6-3 win over the Conquistadors in Game 1 at Legends Park.
Dodge City then snapped an 18-game losing streak against the Blue Dragons with three solo home runs in a 6-3 win over Hutchinson in Game 2.
The first-place Blue Dragons (34-8, 26-4) will take a one-game lead over second-place Butler and a two-game lead over third-place Barton into Saturday's final regular-season doubleheader at Barton &ndash; games are at 1 and 3 p.m. in Great Bend. Butler plays Pratt on Saturday. Dodge City is 25-25 overall and 17-13 in the KJCCC). GAME 1 RECAP &ndash; Hutchinson 6, Dodge City 3 The Blue Dragons earned head coach Jaime Rose's 690th all-time win as a head coach &ndash; 21 seasons at Hutchinson, 2 seasons at Independence &ndash; jumping out to a 3-0 lead after two innings and then pulling away with three unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings after the Conquistadors cut the Dragon lead to one run after four innings.
<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;went 3 for 5, including a two-run triple in the second inning, to lead the Blue Dragons to an 11-7 advantage in total hits.
<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;went 2 for 4 and hit her first home run of the season in the seventh inning.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_kaibryn_wwcp">Kaibryn Kruger</a>&nbsp;hit her seventh home run of the season, a solo homer in the first inning.
Dice went 2 for 4 with an RBI triple in the fifth inning.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_haley_h3bo">Haley Kruger</a>&nbsp;was 2 for 2 with a double and two runs. She was also hit by two pitches.
<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/tomlinson_morgan_0v0v">Morgan Tomlinson</a>&nbsp;earned her 35th career pitching victory and broke a tie for fourth place with Elise Beguelin (2010-11) on the Blue Dragon career wins list. Tomlinson (19-4) worked seven innings in two appearances in the game to lead the Dragon in the circle.
Tomlinson allowed seven hits and three earned runs with six strikeouts and no walks. After giving up a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh, Tomlinson left the game, but returned two batters later with the bases loaded and no out. She retired the final three batters she faced to finish off the victory.
Leading 3-2 after four innings, the Blue Dragons got two insurance runs in the sixth when Dice tripled down the right-field line to score&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_haley_h3bo">Haley Kruger</a>. Dice then scored on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_kaibryn_wwcp">Kaibryn Kruger</a>&nbsp;RBI groundout for a 5-2 lead.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;homered with one out in the seventh for a four-run lead.
GAME 2 RECAP &ndash; Dodge City 6, Hutchinson 3 Dodge City led 3-0 after two innings and 5-1 after three innings to earn its first victory over Hutchinson since the 2019 Region 6 Tournament (18 games).
The Blue Dragons out-hit Dodge City 12-10, but left 10 runners on base. Dodge City also had three leadoff homeruns in the seven, third and sixth innings.
<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/stauffer_gabby_t8qf">Gabby Stauffer</a>&nbsp;was 2 for 4 with an RBI double.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;was 2 for 4 with an RBI triple.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/golly_taylor_l19d">Tailor Golly</a>&nbsp;and Addi Lutz had two hits each.
<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/thomas_aubree_o0p2">Aubree Thomas</a>&nbsp;(12-3) look the loss, allowing four hits and three runs.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/schmidt_jessica_edec">Jessica Schmidt</a>&nbsp;pitched 1 2-3 innings and Tomlinson pitched the final 2 2-3 innings.</div>

🥎 Dragons split KJCCC doubleheader at Dodge City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The game between the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals scheduled for Wednesday was postponed due to rain.

After a delay of more than two hours prior to first pitch, the game was moved to Thursday, to be played as part of a traditional doubleheader, beginning at 1:10 p.m. local time.

The probable starters for the Rockies are RHP Germán Márquez (0-3, 8.27 ERA) and RHP Chase Dollander (1-2, 7.36), and RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-3, 4.57) and LHP Cole Ragans (1-1, 3.58) are the probable starters for the Royals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745462276023.png" alt="Dark skies cover Kauffamn Stadium during a rain delay of a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Colorado Rockies Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)" />
 <figcaption>Dark skies cover Kauffamn Stadium during a rain delay of a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Colorado Rockies Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Peter Aiken)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The game between the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals scheduled for Wednesday was postponed due to rain.After a delay of more than two hours prior to first pitch, the game was moved to Thursday, to be played as part of a traditional doubleheader, beginning at 1:10 p.m. local time.The probable starters for the Rockies are RHP Germán Márquez (0-3, 8.27 ERA) and RHP Chase Dollander (1-2, 7.36), and RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-3, 4.57) and LHP Cole Ragans (1-1, 3.58) are the probable starters for the Royals.