Grizzlies' Ja Morant, on criticism: 'I feel like I've been the villain for the last two years now'

MIAMI (AP) — It was the sort of moment that Ja Morant craves. He hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer to lift the Memphis Grizzlies past the Miami Heat, then skipped down the court listening to the silence he created. He was the villain. And he doesn't mind. Morant has certainly spent plenty of time in that role. His ability to take over games was on display Thursday night; the game-winner capped a 30-point night and helped Memphis snap a four-game losing streak. That could have been the story. It wasn't. At least, not the whole story.

Curry scores 37 points and Warriors beat Lakers 123-116 in a potential first-round playoff preview

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 37 points, Brandin Podziemski added 28 and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 123-116 for their fourth win in a row in a potential first-round playoff preview. LeBron James had 33 points and nine assists to lead the Lakers. Austin Reaves added 31 points, including nine 3-pointers, Rui Hachimura had 24 points and Luke Doncic had 19 points, missing all six of his 3-point attempts. Podziemski had a career-high eight 3-pointers on a night when Curry was 4 of 11 from long range.

F1's Japanese GP has storylines that may be as fleeting as the country's cherry blossoms

SUZUKA, Japan (AP) — The Japanese Grand Prix is only the third Formula 1 race of the season, but several storylines are developing that promise a few twists. And they could be as fleeting as the cherry blossoms seen all over Japan at this time of the year. Watch McLaren, which has won the first two races of the season. Keep an eye on Lewis Hamilton as he chases his first win with Ferrari. And Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda will be the crowd favorite as he drives for Red Bull's main team for the first time.

Once pariahs, now winners, Final Four coaches Pearl, Sampson a reflection of a changing game

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A decade ago, Bruce Pearl of Auburn and Kelvin Sampson of Houston were looking to resurrect their careers after being handed show-cause penalties by the NCAA for recruiting violations. This week, they're coaching at the Final Four. Their return is a sign of the success they've enjoyed since their comebacks but also the shifting priorities that have overtaken college sports. These days, when coaches go job hunting, they need the school to not only be able to pay them, but the players they hope to land for their rosters.

USC star JuJu Watkins is the AP Player of the Year and just the fourth sophomore to earn that honor

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — JuJu Watkins, the sensational sophomore who led Southern California to its best season in nearly 40 years, is The Associated Press women's college basketball Player of the Year. Watkins, whose Trojans won the Big Ten regular-season title for their first conference crown in 31 years, received 29 votes and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo got the other two. Watkins is the first USC player to win the award and just the fourth to do it as a sophomore, joining Oklahoma's Courtney Paris and UConn stars Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart.

Trump again says he wants to see PGA Tour, LIV Golf merged

DORAL, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump arrived at his Doral resort Thursday for a LIV Golf event, shortly after reiterating to reporters aboard Air Force One that he wants to see the two men's professional tours united. The president has spoken out on the subject before, and Trump has been involved in some of the talks that may eventually unify the PGA Tour and Saudi-funded LIV. Those talks have gone on for at least a year and how — or if — a deal can be struck is unclear. Trump told reporters that "having them merge would be a great thing."

Giannis' NBA 1st of 35 points, 20 assists, 17 rebounds sends Bucks past 76ers 126-113

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player in NBA history to have 35 points, 17 rebounds and a career-high 20 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-113. Brook Lopez scored 17 points, Kyle Kuzma had 16 and AJ Green hit four 3-pointers for 12 points for the Bucks. Rookie Adem Bona led the 76ers with a career-high 28 points on 13-for-15 shooting. Quentin Grimes had 24 points with 10 assists, and Guerschon Yabusele added 22 points.

Judge gets 500th extra-base hit, 3rd-fastest Yankee to reach mark behind DiMaggio, Gehrig

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge became the third-fastest New York Yankees player to reach 500 extra-base hits with a three-run homer in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, trailing only Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig. Judge lined a 1-1 fastball from Merrill Kelly to the opposite field and into the Yankees bullpen for a 3-0 lead. The two-time AL MVP has five homers and 15 RBIs in six games this season. Judge has 320 homers, 175 doubles and five triples in 999 games. DiMaggio reached 500 extra-base hits in 853 games and Gehrig in 869.

Demand for viral 'torpedo' baseball bats has sent a Pennsylvania factory into overdrive

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (AP) — Torpedo bats drew attention over the weekend when the New York Yankees hit a team-record nine homers in one game. Using a strikingly different model in which wood is moved lower down the barrel after the label and shapes the end a little like a bowling pin, the bat has become baseball's latest fad. All-Star and even amateur hardball players all want to take their swings with the bat. The torpedo bat took the league by storm in only 24 hours, and days later, the calls and orders, and test drives -- from big leaguers to rec leaguers -- are humming inside Victus Sports. The company is the official bat of MLB and has seen sales and interest spike in the bat.

Patriots trade QB Milton to Cowboys, giving Dallas a new backup behind Dak Prescott

DALLAS (AP) — The New England Patriots have agreed to trade quarterback Joe Milton III to the Dallas Cowboys. Milton confirmed the trade via a social media post. ESPN, which first reported the deal, said that the Cowboys will receive Milton, along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick. The acquisition of the 25-year-old Milton, who the Patriots drafted in the sixth round in 2024, gives the Cowboys a young backup behind starting quarterback Dak Prescott after Cooper Rush signed with Baltimore in free agency. Rush started eight games for the Cowboys last season while Prescott was injured.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Friday, April 4th, 2025" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Friday, April 4th, 2025</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Summary for April 4th, 2025:<div><iframe title="AP Sports in a Minute for April 4th, 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=i6mqa-186f79f-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>Grizzlies' Ja Morant, on criticism: 'I feel like I've been the villain for the last two years now'MIAMI (AP) — It was the sort of moment that Ja Morant craves. He hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer to lift the Memphis Grizzlies past the Miami Heat, then skipped down the court listening to the silence he created. He was the villain. And he doesn't mind. Morant has certainly spent plenty of time in that role. His ability to take over games was on display Thursday night; the game-winner capped a 30-point night and helped Memphis snap a four-game losing streak. That could have been the story. It wasn't. At least, not the whole story.Curry scores 37 points and Warriors beat Lakers 123-116 in a potential first-round playoff previewLOS ANGELES (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 37 points, Brandin Podziemski added 28 and the Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 123-116 for their fourth win in a row in a potential first-round playoff preview. LeBron James had 33 points and nine assists to lead the Lakers. Austin Reaves added 31 points, including nine 3-pointers, Rui Hachimura had 24 points and Luke Doncic had 19 points, missing all six of his 3-point attempts. Podziemski had a career-high eight 3-pointers on a night when Curry was 4 of 11 from long range.F1's Japanese GP has storylines that may be as fleeting as the country's cherry blossomsSUZUKA, Japan (AP) — The Japanese Grand Prix is only the third Formula 1 race of the season, but several storylines are developing that promise a few twists. And they could be as fleeting as the cherry blossoms seen all over Japan at this time of the year. Watch McLaren, which has won the first two races of the season. Keep an eye on Lewis Hamilton as he chases his first win with Ferrari. And Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda will be the crowd favorite as he drives for Red Bull's main team for the first time.Once pariahs, now winners, Final Four coaches Pearl, Sampson a reflection of a changing gameSAN ANTONIO (AP) — A decade ago, Bruce Pearl of Auburn and Kelvin Sampson of Houston were looking to resurrect their careers after being handed show-cause penalties by the NCAA for recruiting violations. This week, they're coaching at the Final Four. Their return is a sign of the success they've enjoyed since their comebacks but also the shifting priorities that have overtaken college sports. These days, when coaches go job hunting, they need the school to not only be able to pay them, but the players they hope to land for their rosters.USC star JuJu Watkins is the AP Player of the Year and just the fourth sophomore to earn that honorTAMPA, Fla. (AP) — JuJu Watkins, the sensational sophomore who led Southern California to its best season in nearly 40 years, is The Associated Press women's college basketball Player of the Year. Watkins, whose Trojans won the Big Ten regular-season title for their first conference crown in 31 years, received 29 votes and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo got the other two. Watkins is the first USC player to win the award and just the fourth to do it as a sophomore, joining Oklahoma's Courtney Paris and UConn stars Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart.Trump again says he wants to see PGA Tour, LIV Golf mergedDORAL, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump arrived at his Doral resort Thursday for a LIV Golf event, shortly after reiterating to reporters aboard Air Force One that he wants to see the two men's professional tours united. The president has spoken out on the subject before, and Trump has been involved in some of the talks that may eventually unify the PGA Tour and Saudi-funded LIV. Those talks have gone on for at least a year and how — or if — a deal can be struck is unclear. Trump told reporters that "having them merge would be a great thing."Giannis' NBA 1st of 35 points, 20 assists, 17 rebounds sends Bucks past 76ers 126-113PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player in NBA history to have 35 points, 17 rebounds and a career-high 20 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-113. Brook Lopez scored 17 points, Kyle Kuzma had 16 and AJ Green hit four 3-pointers for 12 points for the Bucks. Rookie Adem Bona led the 76ers with a career-high 28 points on 13-for-15 shooting. Quentin Grimes had 24 points with 10 assists, and Guerschon Yabusele added 22 points.Judge gets 500th extra-base hit, 3rd-fastest Yankee to reach mark behind DiMaggio, GehrigNEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge became the third-fastest New York Yankees player to reach 500 extra-base hits with a three-run homer in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, trailing only Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig. Judge lined a 1-1 fastball from Merrill Kelly to the opposite field and into the Yankees bullpen for a 3-0 lead. The two-time AL MVP has five homers and 15 RBIs in six games this season. Judge has 320 homers, 175 doubles and five triples in 999 games. DiMaggio reached 500 extra-base hits in 853 games and Gehrig in 869.Demand for viral 'torpedo' baseball bats has sent a Pennsylvania factory into overdriveKING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (AP) — Torpedo bats drew attention over the weekend when the New York Yankees hit a team-record nine homers in one game. Using a strikingly different model in which wood is moved lower down the barrel after the label and shapes the end a little like a bowling pin, the bat has become baseball's latest fad. All-Star and even amateur hardball players all want to take their swings with the bat. The torpedo bat took the league by storm in only 24 hours, and days later, the calls and orders, and test drives -- from big leaguers to rec leaguers -- are humming inside Victus Sports. The company is the official bat of MLB and has seen sales and interest spike in the bat.Patriots trade QB Milton to Cowboys, giving Dallas a new backup behind Dak PrescottDALLAS (AP) — The New England Patriots have agreed to trade quarterback Joe Milton III to the Dallas Cowboys. Milton confirmed the trade via a social media post. ESPN, which first reported the deal, said that the Cowboys will receive Milton, along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick. The acquisition of the 25-year-old Milton, who the Patriots drafted in the sixth round in 2024, gives the Cowboys a young backup behind starting quarterback Dak Prescott after Cooper Rush signed with Baltimore in free agency. Rush started eight games for the Cowboys last season while Prescott was injured.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___INTERLEAGUEFinal	N.Y. Yankees	9	Arizona	7	___AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	Boston	8	Baltimore	4	Final	Houston	5	Minnesota	2	___NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Philadelphia	3	Colorado	1	Final	Milwaukee	1	Cincinnati	0	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Milwaukee	126	Philadelphia	113	Final	Orlando	109	Washington	97	Final	Portland	112	Toronto	103	Final	Minnesota	105	Brooklyn	90	Final	Memphis	110	Miami	108	Final	Golden State	123	L.A. Lakers	116	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUEFinal	Ottawa	2	Tampa Bay	1	Final	Montreal	4	Boston	1	Final	Colorado	7	Columbus	3	Final	Dallas	5	Nashville	1	Final OT	St. Louis	5	Pittsburgh	4	Final	Los Angeles	4	Utah	2	Final	Calgary	4	Anaheim	1	Final	Winnipeg	4	Vegas	0	Final	Edmonton	3	San Jose	2	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___INTERLEAGUE		St. Louis	at	Boston	2:10 p.m.			Toronto	at	N-Y Mets	3:10 p.m.			Athletics	at	Colorado	4:10 p.m.			N-Y Yankees	at	Pittsburgh	4:12 p.m.			Seattle	at	San Francisco	4:35 p.m.	___AMERICAN LEAGUE		Chi White Sox	at	Detroit	1:10 p.m.			Baltimore	at	Kansas City	7:40 p.m.			Tampa Bay	at	Texas	8:05 p.m.			Cleveland	at	L-A Angels	9:38 p.m.	___NATIONAL LEAGUE		San Diego	at	Chi Cubs	2:20 p.m.			Arizona	at	Washington	6:45 p.m.			L-A Dodgers	at	Philadelphia	6:45 p.m.			Miami	at	Atlanta	7:15 p.m.			Cincinnati	at	Milwaukee	8:10 p.m.	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION		Sacramento	at	Charlotte	7 p.m.			Utah	at	Indiana	7 p.m.			Detroit	at	Toronto	7:30 p.m.			Phoenix	at	Boston	7:30 p.m.			Cleveland	at	San Antonio	8 p.m.			Oklahoma City	at	Houston	8 p.m.			Portland	at	Chicago	8 p.m.			Denver	at	Golden State	10 p.m.			Dallas	at	L.A. Clippers	10:30 p.m.			New Orleans	at	L.A. Lakers	10:30 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE		Carolina	at	Detroit	7 p.m.			Chicago	at	Washington	7 p.m.			Minnesota	at	N-Y Islanders	7:30 p.m.	___

📢📰 Sports Headlines for Friday

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State standouts Serena Sundell and Ayoka Lee were named WBCA All-America honorable mention selections Thursday by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

It marks the fourth career honor for Lee and the first for Sundell.

Sundell, an All-Big 12 first-team pick and AP honorable mention All-American, led the nation in total assists (262) and assists per game (7.28), while also averaging 14.1 points and 4.4 rebounds. She became the first player in Big 12 history with four seasons of at least 350 points and 150 assists, and the first Wildcat to surpass 1,700 points and 800 assists in a career.

Lee, a second-team All-Big 12 selection, led K-State with 15.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 63.1% from the field. She ends her career as the program’s all-time leader in points (2,533), rebounds (1,262), blocks (356) and double-doubles (65).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743779079618.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State standouts Serena Sundell and Ayoka Lee were named WBCA All-America honorable mention selections Thursday by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.It marks the fourth career honor for Lee and the first for Sundell.Sundell, an All-Big 12 first-team pick and AP honorable mention All-American, led the nation in total assists (262) and assists per game (7.28), while also averaging 14.1 points and 4.4 rebounds. She became the first player in Big 12 history with four seasons of at least 350 points and 150 assists, and the first Wildcat to surpass 1,700 points and 800 assists in a career.Lee, a second-team All-Big 12 selection, led K-State with 15.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 63.1% from the field. She ends her career as the program’s all-time leader in points (2,533), rebounds (1,262), blocks (356) and double-doubles (65).

🏀 K-State's Sundell and Lee named WBCA All-Americans

Wichita Collegiate 5, Buhler 2 Wichita Collegiate 17, Buhler 5 Pratt 15, Halstead 1 Pratt 13, Halstead 1 Inman 16, Bennington 1 Bennington 6, Inman 4 Haven 12, Hillsboro 3 Haven 9, Hillsboro 2 Nickerson 11, Larned 3 Larned 7, Nickerson 1

Hutchinson 7, Buhler 1 Buhler 6, Hutchinson 3 Haven 12, Hillsboro 0 Halstead 1, Pratt 0 Halstead 7, Pratt 6

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743733246694.png" alt="Eagle Media HS BSB/SB Scoreboard" />
 <figcaption>Eagle Media HS BSB/SB Scoreboard</figcaption>
 </figure>BASEBALLWichita Collegiate 5, Buhler 2 Wichita Collegiate 17, Buhler 5 Pratt 15, Halstead 1 Pratt 13, Halstead 1 Inman 16, Bennington 1 Bennington 6, Inman 4 Haven 12, Hillsboro 3 Haven 9, Hillsboro 2 Nickerson 11, Larned 3 Larned 7, Nickerson 1SOFTBALLHutchinson 7, Buhler 1 Buhler 6, Hutchinson 3 Haven 12, Hillsboro 0 Halstead 1, Pratt 0 Halstead 7, Pratt 6

⚾🥎 Hutch Post area scoreboard for April 3

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743778493547.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Wichita &amp; Shocker Nation: On behalf of 270+ student-athletes and 100+ coaches/staff within Shocker Athletics, thank you for your support of our young people and programs.&nbsp; We cannot overstate our gratitude and appreciation as your provision and protection make our department-wide growth possible.&nbsp; Narrowing our focus, this letter is intended to provide you with detailed information regarding the status and growth of our men's basketball program. Wichita desires, expects and deserves a nationally competitive (Top 25) Men's Basketball program that improves the city's economy, attracts visitors and contributes to a thriving community.&nbsp; The current era of college athletics brings unprecedented challenges, and our growth is directly tied to raising additional funds to compete in this new "NIL/Revenue Share" environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since January of 2023, privately funded NIL/Revenue Share resources to support men's basketball have grown 518% and Wichita State has developed a reputation of character and integrity in the NIL/Revenue Share environment.&nbsp; Based upon accessible trustworthy data, our current secured resources to support the 2025-26 season position Shocker Men's Basketball in a highly competitive place within our league. However, the standard for Wichita State Men's Basketball is much higher.&nbsp; Analyzing NIL/Revenue Share data for the programs participating in the 2025 NCAA Sweet 16, it is reasonable to conclude that while we've witnessed substantial short-term growth in our resources,&nbsp;our current 2025-26 NIL/Revenue Share allocation needs an additional $1 million dollars to elevate overall roster talent/depth and compete at the national level of excellence we've all come to expect. We are laser-focused on positioning our program for success in 2025-26 and beyond.&nbsp; We desire to exemplify an extraordinary level of transparency as it relates to the current and future states of our program, so that you may draw confidence in both our&nbsp;direction&nbsp;and desired&nbsp;destination. Regarding&nbsp;direction, our program has completed two full seasons under the leadership of Coach Mills.&nbsp; We do&nbsp;not&nbsp;evaluate the following results as reaching the intended destination, rather, we assess these results only as an indication of the direction we are heading:
<ul>
<li><dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/paul-mills/1241" rel="smarttag" rev="1241">Paul Mills</a></dfn>&nbsp;currently ranks 3rd&nbsp;all-time in total wins for a Shocker head coach through his first two seasons, behind Eddie Fogler's 42 wins (1986-88) and Gary Thompson's 41 wins (1964-66).</li>
<li>Coach Mills' first two seasons represent the best first two seasons our program has experienced in 37 years, all in a more competitive American Athletic Conference and more challenging Transfer Portal/NIL/Revenue Share environment.&nbsp;</li>
<li>The 2024-25 non-conference win total (10) is our highest in five (5) years and we returned to the post-season for the first time in four (4) years.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Coach Mills and staff have developed and recruited All-AAC talent, while returning the Shockers to their roots of being the best rebounding team in the conference in 2024-25.</li>
</ul>
Concerning the&nbsp;destination, the standard set throughout our program's 118-year history (1906-2025) defines success:&nbsp;18 regular season and/or post-season conference tournament championships; 16 NCAA appearances including 8 rounds of 32, 6 Sweet 16's, 4 Elite Eights and 2 Final Fours.&nbsp;We share your desire for excellence, and we are committed to advancing a winning cause that is much bigger than ourselves.&nbsp; All of us expect league championships, NCAA Tournaments, Sweet 16's (and beyond), and our charge is to align resources to meet those expectations. Additionally, we maintain a distinct advantage over our peers given we are not raising NIL/Revenue Share resources to support a football program.&nbsp; Wichita is a city and community of excellence!&nbsp; We are a commercial, financial, medical, cultural and entertainment hub for Kansas. Beyond distinction as the largest growing city in the state of Kansas, Wichita boasts an exceptional combination of a thriving and diverse economy with strengths in manufacturing, agriculture, engineering, healthcare, aerospace, energy, retail and education.&nbsp; Most important, Wichita's greatest strength is in the people of our community who through innovation and ingenuity spark a flourishing job market, vibrant culture and strong family-friendly environment.&nbsp; Having the distinct pleasure to engage with countless Wichitans, we understand and share your desire for a premier basketball program.&nbsp; Please join us in providing the necessary resources to align our program with&nbsp;national&nbsp;excellence as&nbsp;#WeFightForWichita.&nbsp; &nbsp; In partnership, &nbsp; <img src="https://goshockers.com/images/2022/8/15/Kevin_Saal_sig_black.png" alt="Kevin Saal Signature" width="259" height="54" /> <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/staff-directory/kevin-saal/1498" rel="smarttag" rev="1498">Kevin Saal</a></dfn> Wichita State University &ndash; Director of Athletics</div>

🏀 WSU AD addresses men's basketball program

BUHLER, Kan. — The Wichita Collegiate Spartans took advantage of costly Buhler errors to complete the sweep of the Crusaders on Thursday afternoon at Wheatland Park.

Game 1 — Wichita Collegiate 5, Buhler 2

Collegiate scored four runs in the top of the first and leaned on strong pitching to earn a 5-2 win over Buhler in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader at Wheatland Park.

The Spartans (4-4) jumped all over the Crusaders in the opening frame with four hits, including RBI singles from Maddox Drumright and Isaac Vanderburg. A wild pitch and a walk with the bases loaded added to the early lead, and Devin Ritchie capped the inning by lining into a double play with the bases still loaded.

Collegiate added a fifth run in the second on Drumright’s second RBI hit of the day, scoring Mason Bond.

Buhler (5-2) responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. Mitchell McDaniel doubled home one, and Brayden Henry reached on an error that brought in another. But the Crusaders managed just two hits the rest of the way.

On the mound, Jacob Stehley started for Collegiate, striking out six while allowing two runs on three hits over four innings. Drumright closed the door, striking out two in three innings of one-hit relief to earn the win.

McDaniel and Dylan Scripsick each had doubles for Buhler, which committed one costly error and left multiple runners in scoring position.

Nixon Standlee took the loss for the Crusaders, surrendering five runs (four earned) over six innings with four walks and four strikeouts.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Game 2 — Wichita Collegiate 17, Buhler 5

Wichita Collegiate erupted for 17 runs on 13 hits and capitalized on five Buhler errors to cruise to a 17-5 win in Game 2 of Thursday’s doubleheader at Wheatland Park, completing the sweep and pushing the Spartans above .500 on the season.

With the win, Collegiate improved to 5-4, while Buhler dropped to 5-3.

The Spartans scored in every inning but the first, putting up five runs in the second and seventh frames to break the game open. Jacob Stehley and Devin Ritchie led the offensive barrage with two hits and three RBIs each. Stehley scored three times and ripped a double, while Ritchie added a two-run triple.

Carter Drumright also tallied two hits and three RBIs, reaching base three times and scoring twice. Isaac Vanderburg and Carson Malaise each knocked in two runs and combined for five hits.

Collegiate took advantage of 10 free passes and two hit batters while collecting six extra-base hits. The Spartans sent 10 batters to the plate in both the second and seventh innings.

Drumright also picked up the win on the mound, allowing three earned runs on four hits in four innings. Vanderburg and Mason Bond combined to cover the final three innings in relief.

Buhler briefly cut the deficit to 6-3 in the fifth inning on a two-run double by McCade Zachary, but Collegiate immediately answered with three in the top of the sixth.

The Crusaders used five pitchers in the loss, with Jared Miller charged with the defeat after allowing six runs (two earned) in one inning of relief.

Zachary, Cash Carson and Brayden Henry each had two hits to pace Buhler’s offense.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743732910618.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy GameChanger" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy GameChanger</figcaption>
 </figure>BUHLER, Kan. — The Wichita Collegiate Spartans took advantage of costly Buhler errors to complete the sweep of the Crusaders on Thursday afternoon at Wheatland Park.Game 1 — Wichita Collegiate 5, Buhler 2Collegiate scored four runs in the top of the first and leaned on strong pitching to earn a 5-2 win over Buhler in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader at Wheatland Park.The Spartans (4-4) jumped all over the Crusaders in the opening frame with four hits, including RBI singles from Maddox Drumright and Isaac Vanderburg. A wild pitch and a walk with the bases loaded added to the early lead, and Devin Ritchie capped the inning by lining into a double play with the bases still loaded.Collegiate added a fifth run in the second on Drumright’s second RBI hit of the day, scoring Mason Bond.Buhler (5-2) responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. Mitchell McDaniel doubled home one, and Brayden Henry reached on an error that brought in another. But the Crusaders managed just two hits the rest of the way.On the mound, Jacob Stehley started for Collegiate, striking out six while allowing two runs on three hits over four innings. Drumright closed the door, striking out two in three innings of one-hit relief to earn the win.McDaniel and Dylan Scripsick each had doubles for Buhler, which committed one costly error and left multiple runners in scoring position.Nixon Standlee took the loss for the Crusaders, surrendering five runs (four earned) over six innings with four walks and four strikeouts.-----------------------------------------------------------------------Game 2 — Wichita Collegiate 17, Buhler 5Wichita Collegiate erupted for 17 runs on 13 hits and capitalized on five Buhler errors to cruise to a 17-5 win in Game 2 of Thursday’s doubleheader at Wheatland Park, completing the sweep and pushing the Spartans above .500 on the season.With the win, Collegiate improved to 5-4, while Buhler dropped to 5-3.The Spartans scored in every inning but the first, putting up five runs in the second and seventh frames to break the game open. Jacob Stehley and Devin Ritchie led the offensive barrage with two hits and three RBIs each. Stehley scored three times and ripped a double, while Ritchie added a two-run triple.Carter Drumright also tallied two hits and three RBIs, reaching base three times and scoring twice. Isaac Vanderburg and Carson Malaise each knocked in two runs and combined for five hits.Collegiate took advantage of 10 free passes and two hit batters while collecting six extra-base hits. The Spartans sent 10 batters to the plate in both the second and seventh innings.Drumright also picked up the win on the mound, allowing three earned runs on four hits in four innings. Vanderburg and Mason Bond combined to cover the final three innings in relief.Buhler briefly cut the deficit to 6-3 in the fifth inning on a two-run double by McCade Zachary, but Collegiate immediately answered with three in the top of the sixth.The Crusaders used five pitchers in the loss, with Jared Miller charged with the defeat after allowing six runs (two earned) in one inning of relief.Zachary, Cash Carson and Brayden Henry each had two hits to pace Buhler’s offense.

⚾ Wichita Collegiate sweeps Buhler

BUHLER, Kan. — The Hutchinson Salthawks and Buhler Crusaders split a doubleheader at Wheatland Park on Thursday evening. Hutchinson won the first game, before Buhler bounced back to win the second game.

Behind a balanced offensive effort and a strong start in the circle, the Salthawks rolled to a 7-1 victory over the Crusaders for the first win of the young season.

Jayanna Cornejo and Kohlbie Craft led the way offensively for Hutchinson (1-2), each driving in two runs. Craft opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first and added a run-scoring double in the fifth. Cornejo homered in the second and capped the scoring with a two-run double in the seventh.

Sadie Marciano and Yazmin Pena each crossed the plate twice for the Salthawks, who struck early and never trailed after a two-run first inning.

In the circle, Craft earned the win, tossing a complete game while allowing one run on eight hits, walking two and striking out six across seven innings. She threw 90 pitches, 66 for strikes.

Buhler (4-3) got its lone run on a solo home run by Sydney Quint in the third inning. Lilly Horne took the loss despite a complete-game effort, surrendering seven runs (four earned) on 12 hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

The Salthawks capitalized on four Buhler errors and used timely hitting to pull away late, plating runs in five of the seven innings.

Maddie Stallman’s two-run homer and a steady effort from Taylor Kesinger in the circle lifted Buhler to a 6-3 win over Hutchinson in Game 2 of Thursday’s doubleheader at Wheatland Park, earning the Crusaders a split.

Stallman delivered the key blow in the bottom of the sixth, sending a two-run shot to center field that padded Buhler’s lead to four. The Crusaders (5-3) collected 13 hits in the win, led by Ella Thiessen’s 2-for-3 effort that included a triple and two RBIs.

Kesinger went the distance for the win, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out three with no walks. She threw 112 pitches, 71 for strikes.

Buhler jumped out early with a three-run first inning. Thiessen tripled home Quint and later scored on Alexa Adame’s single. Annistyn Cram and Adame also drove in runs in the frame, with Hutchinson committing two errors that extended the inning.

The Salthawks (1-3) chipped away with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Sadie Marciano singled home a run in the sixth, and B Pickering drove in another with a groundout in the seventh. Cornejo went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Hutchinson used two pitchers in the loss. Addison Coupe allowed six hits and two earned runs over three innings. Mauree Garland surrendered one earned over the final two innings.

Buhler committed just one error in the nightcap after making four in the opener.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743732203291.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy GameChanger" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy GameChanger</figcaption>
 </figure>BUHLER, Kan. — The Hutchinson Salthawks and Buhler Crusaders split a doubleheader at Wheatland Park on Thursday evening. Hutchinson won the first game, before Buhler bounced back to win the second game.Game 1 — Hutchinson 7, Buhler 1Behind a balanced offensive effort and a strong start in the circle, the Salthawks rolled to a 7-1 victory over the Crusaders for the first win of the young season.Jayanna Cornejo and Kohlbie Craft led the way offensively for Hutchinson (1-2), each driving in two runs. Craft opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first and added a run-scoring double in the fifth. Cornejo homered in the second and capped the scoring with a two-run double in the seventh.Sadie Marciano and Yazmin Pena each crossed the plate twice for the Salthawks, who struck early and never trailed after a two-run first inning.In the circle, Craft earned the win, tossing a complete game while allowing one run on eight hits, walking two and striking out six across seven innings. She threw 90 pitches, 66 for strikes.Buhler (4-3) got its lone run on a solo home run by Sydney Quint in the third inning. Lilly Horne took the loss despite a complete-game effort, surrendering seven runs (four earned) on 12 hits with four strikeouts and no walks.The Salthawks capitalized on four Buhler errors and used timely hitting to pull away late, plating runs in five of the seven innings.-----------------------------------------------------------------------Game 2 — Buhler 6, Hutchinson 3Maddie Stallman’s two-run homer and a steady effort from Taylor Kesinger in the circle lifted Buhler to a 6-3 win over Hutchinson in Game 2 of Thursday’s doubleheader at Wheatland Park, earning the Crusaders a split.Stallman delivered the key blow in the bottom of the sixth, sending a two-run shot to center field that padded Buhler’s lead to four. The Crusaders (5-3) collected 13 hits in the win, led by Ella Thiessen’s 2-for-3 effort that included a triple and two RBIs.Kesinger went the distance for the win, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out three with no walks. She threw 112 pitches, 71 for strikes.Buhler jumped out early with a three-run first inning. Thiessen tripled home Quint and later scored on Alexa Adame’s single. Annistyn Cram and Adame also drove in runs in the frame, with Hutchinson committing two errors that extended the inning.The Salthawks (1-3) chipped away with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Sadie Marciano singled home a run in the sixth, and B Pickering drove in another with a groundout in the seventh. Cornejo went 2-for-4 with a run scored.Hutchinson used two pitchers in the loss. Addison Coupe allowed six hits and two earned runs over three innings. Mauree Garland surrendered one earned over the final two innings.Buhler committed just one error in the nightcap after making four in the opener.

🥎 Hutch and Buhler split doubleheader Thursday

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729533524573.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
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LAWRENCE, Kan. &ndash;&nbsp;Due to potential inclement weather, Kansas football's Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, April 5 will be moved inside to the Kansas Football Indoor Practice Facility. &nbsp; With the practice moving indoors, fans will have the opportunity to see the Jayhawks in action for the final 30 minutes of practice, beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m. Fans should enter through the Beatty Family Pavilion lobby of the Kansas Football Indoor Practice Facility and will be able to view practice from a standing area on the south side of the field. &nbsp; The first 750 fans will receive the 2025 spring football poster.&nbsp;Following practice, Kansas football players and coaches will sign autographs for approximately 45 minutes. Due to spacing and time constraints inflatables, tailgating games, and food trucks will no longer be a part of the event. &nbsp; Fans should enter the parking lots at the corner of 11th&nbsp;and Missouri Street and should exercise caution upon entering due to ongoing construction to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Parking will be open in the lots surrounding the stadium. &nbsp; Fans looking to purchase season tickets to the 2025 season can do so by visiting the Kansas Football Preview Center, located at 1100 Mississippi Street on the corner of 11th&nbsp;and Mississippi. The Kansas Football Preview Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Sales and Service staff will also be present at practice to answer questions about 2025 season tickets.
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🏈 KU adjusts Fan Appreciation Day due to weather

The Reno County Coaches Show and More, heard every Thursday on KWBW AM/FM (1450/98.5) from 6-6:30 p.m. On this week's show, Glen Grunwald visits with Hutchinson Monarchs owner Marc Blackim and Hutch High softball coach Clayton Evans.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726138917283.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The Reno County Coaches Show and More, heard every Thursday on KWBW AM/FM (1450/98.5) from 6-6:30 p.m. On this week's show, Glen Grunwald visits with Hutchinson Monarchs owner Marc Blackim and Hutch High softball coach Clayton Evans.<div><iframe title="Reno County Coaches Show & More (April 3, 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=anjdi-186e749-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 LISTEN: Reno County Coaches Show and More (Marc Blackim, Clayton Evans)

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College athletic department has announced the Quarterback Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025, honoring a legacy of excellence in Blue Dragon track and field history.

This year’s class is highlighted by two national championship teams and several individual national champions who left a lasting mark on the program.

The 1954 and 1959 Blue Dragon national champion men’s track teams headline the inductees, representing eras of dominance in the NJCAA track and field landscape.

The induction ceremony will take place Saturday, May 17, in conjunction with the NJCAA National Track and Field Championships at Gowans Stadium.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743706736246.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy HutchCC Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy HutchCC Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College athletic department has announced the Quarterback Club Hall of Fame Class of 2025, honoring a legacy of excellence in Blue Dragon track and field history.This year’s class is highlighted by two national championship teams and several individual national champions who left a lasting mark on the program.The 1954 and 1959 Blue Dragon national champion men’s track teams headline the inductees, representing eras of dominance in the NJCAA track and field landscape.Individual inductees include:<ul>
 <li>Randy Bryant, national champion in the pole vault.
</li><li>Teddy Poole, three-time national champion in the 200 meters.
</li><li>Kristi Rinehart and Cassie Wiley, national champions in the women’s high jump.
</li><li>John Talbert, dual national champion in the discus and hammer throw.
</li>
 </ul>The induction ceremony will take place Saturday, May 17, in conjunction with the NJCAA National Track and Field Championships at Gowans Stadium.

HutchCC unveils Quarterback Club Hall of Fame class of 2025

For the second time this season,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/tomlinson_morgan_0v0v">Morgan Tomlinson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/williams_mia_83rx">Mia Williams</a>&nbsp;combined to toss a no-hitter.

Tomlinson's and Williams' gem came in Game 1 of a Jayhawk Conference doubleheader on Wednesday as the Blue Dragons blanked Fort Hays Tech Northwest 23-0 in five innings at Fun Valley.

Powered by a 14-run second inning, the Blue Dragons rolled to a 23-0 run-rule victory in Game 2.

The victories extended the Blue Dragons' winning streak to 16 games. Hutchinson is now 25-5 overall and 19-1 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Blue Dragons play at Butler at 1 p.m. on Friday in El Dorado.

GAME 1 – Hutchinson 23, Fort Hays Tech Northwest 0 (5 innings) Tomlinson and Williams combined to no-hit Fort Hays Tech Northwest 21-0 on March 1 in Goodland. Each Blue Dragon pitcher allowed one baserunner each in that game.

The only baserunner the Tigers had on Wednesday in Game 1 was a one-out hit batter in the first inning. From that point, Tomlinson retired the final eight batters she faced, and Williams retired all six batters she faced to close out the game.

Tomlinson (12-2) struck out seven batters in three innings and Williams struck out three batters in two innings.

Offensively, the Blue Dragons were led by freshman catcher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/golly_taylor_l19d">Tailor Golly</a>, who went 4 for 5 with five runs scored and six RBIs. Golly had her third two home-run game of the season. Golly hit a two-run home run in the first inning, had an RBI single in the second and a three-run home run in the fourth. Golly had 11 total bases, including a double in the fourth.

<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_kaibryn_wwcp">Kaibryn Kruger</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/brawner_brie_hldl">Brie Brawner</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/dice_emily_75aj">Emily Dice</a>&nbsp;had three hits each.

<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;drove in three runs with a pair of doubles.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/stauffer_gabby_t8qf">Gabby Stauffer</a>&nbsp;had a home run and her team-high 17th double of the season.

Stauffer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>, Annie Keeley and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_haley_h3bo">Haley Kruger</a>&nbsp;had two hits each.

This was the sixth time the Dragons have scored 20 or more runs and it was the fifth time they have had 20 or more hits in a game.

The Blue Dragons scored four runs in the first inning, six runs in the second, five runs in the third and eight runs in the fourth inning.

GAME 2 – Hutchinson 23, Fort Hays Tech Northwest 0 (5 innings) The offensive onslaught continued in Game 2, including a 14-run second inning, the second-largest single inning in Hutchinson softball history.

The Blue Dragons' 14-run inning came with 17 batters coming to the plate in the inning. The Dragons had seven hits in the inning and there were four Tiger errors.

Keeley went 4 for 4 to lead the Blue Dragons' 18-hit attack in Game 2. Keeley had a double, while driving in three runs and scoring three runs.

Brawner had her second-straight three-hit game, going 3 for 3 with three singles. She scored three runs and an RBI.

<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;was 2 for 3 with a triple, three runs scored and three RBIs. Addi Lutz and Dice had two hits each. Kruger, Stauffer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;and Dice had two RBIs each.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743687719026.jpeg" alt="Morgan Tomlinson and Mia Williams combined for their second no-hitter of the season on Wednesday in a Game 1 23-0 win over Fort Hays Tech Northwest at Fun Valley. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Morgan Tomlinson and Mia Williams combined for their second no-hitter of the season on Wednesday in a Game 1 23-0 win over Fort Hays Tech Northwest at Fun Valley. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationFor the second time this season,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/tomlinson_morgan_0v0v">Morgan Tomlinson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/williams_mia_83rx">Mia Williams</a>&nbsp;combined to toss a no-hitter.Tomlinson's and Williams' gem came in Game 1 of a Jayhawk Conference doubleheader on Wednesday as the Blue Dragons blanked Fort Hays Tech Northwest 23-0 in five innings at Fun Valley.Powered by a 14-run second inning, the Blue Dragons rolled to a 23-0 run-rule victory in Game 2.The victories extended the Blue Dragons' winning streak to 16 games. Hutchinson is now 25-5 overall and 19-1 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Blue Dragons play at Butler at 1 p.m. on Friday in El Dorado.GAME 1 – Hutchinson 23, Fort Hays Tech Northwest 0 (5 innings) Tomlinson and Williams combined to no-hit Fort Hays Tech Northwest 21-0 on March 1 in Goodland. Each Blue Dragon pitcher allowed one baserunner each in that game.The only baserunner the Tigers had on Wednesday in Game 1 was a one-out hit batter in the first inning. From that point, Tomlinson retired the final eight batters she faced, and Williams retired all six batters she faced to close out the game.Tomlinson (12-2) struck out seven batters in three innings and Williams struck out three batters in two innings.Offensively, the Blue Dragons were led by freshman catcher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/golly_taylor_l19d">Tailor Golly</a>, who went 4 for 5 with five runs scored and six RBIs. Golly had her third two home-run game of the season. Golly hit a two-run home run in the first inning, had an RBI single in the second and a three-run home run in the fourth. Golly had 11 total bases, including a double in the fourth.<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_kaibryn_wwcp">Kaibryn Kruger</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/brawner_brie_hldl">Brie Brawner</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/dice_emily_75aj">Emily Dice</a>&nbsp;had three hits each.<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;drove in three runs with a pair of doubles.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/stauffer_gabby_t8qf">Gabby Stauffer</a>&nbsp;had a home run and her team-high 17th double of the season.Stauffer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>, Annie Keeley and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/kruger_haley_h3bo">Haley Kruger</a>&nbsp;had two hits each.This was the sixth time the Dragons have scored 20 or more runs and it was the fifth time they have had 20 or more hits in a game.The Blue Dragons scored four runs in the first inning, six runs in the second, five runs in the third and eight runs in the fourth inning.GAME 2 – Hutchinson 23, Fort Hays Tech Northwest 0 (5 innings) The offensive onslaught continued in Game 2, including a 14-run second inning, the second-largest single inning in Hutchinson softball history.The Blue Dragons' 14-run inning came with 17 batters coming to the plate in the inning. The Dragons had seven hits in the inning and there were four Tiger errors.Keeley went 4 for 4 to lead the Blue Dragons' 18-hit attack in Game 2. Keeley had a double, while driving in three runs and scoring three runs.Brawner had her second-straight three-hit game, going 3 for 3 with three singles. She scored three runs and an RBI.<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_bailey_44zk">Bailey Backhaus</a>&nbsp;was 2 for 3 with a triple, three runs scored and three RBIs. Addi Lutz and Dice had two hits each. Kruger, Stauffer,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2024-25/bios/backhaus_brooke_ngsp">Brooke Backhaus</a>&nbsp;and Dice had two RBIs each.

🥎 Blue Dragons pick up shutout sweep of Tigers

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743677477471.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics " />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics </figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
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LAWRENCE, Kan. &ndash; No. 23 Kansas baseball capped off an undefeated homestand with a 10-7 victory against South Dakota State on Wednesday night at Hoglund Ballpark in the annual Autism Awareness Game. The Jayhawks finished the homestand a perfect 6-0 and improved to 24-6 on the season, matching the best 30-game start in program history. &nbsp; <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/jackson-hauge/16155" rel="smarttag" rev="16155" data-airgap-id="102">Jackson Hauge</a></dfn> and <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/brady-counsell/16135" rel="smarttag" rev="16135" data-airgap-id="103">Brady Counsell</a></dfn> each hit home runs in the win as the Jayhawks scored double-digit runs for a third consecutive game. On the mound, Kansas used nine pitchers in the game with <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/patrick-steitz/16128" rel="smarttag" rev="16128" data-airgap-id="104">Patrick Steitz</a></dfn>, <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/malakai-vetock/16142" rel="smarttag" rev="16142" data-airgap-id="105">Malakai Vetock</a></dfn>, <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/jake-cubbler/16153" rel="smarttag" rev="16153" data-airgap-id="106">Jake Cubbler</a></dfn>, <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/thaniel-trumper/16129" rel="smarttag" rev="16129" data-airgap-id="107">Thaniel Trumper</a></dfn>, <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/dalton-smith/16144" rel="smarttag" rev="16144" data-airgap-id="108">Dalton Smith</a></dfn> and <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/alex-breckheimer/16154" rel="smarttag" rev="16154" data-airgap-id="109">Alex Breckheimer</a></dfn>all having scoreless outings. &nbsp; HOW IT HAPPENED &bull; Kansas took the lead early with a run in the first inning. <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/derek-cerda/16140" rel="smarttag" rev="16140" data-airgap-id="110">Derek Cerda</a></dfn> led off the first with a triple and <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/brady-ballinger/16147" rel="smarttag" rev="16147" data-airgap-id="111">Brady Ballinger</a></dfn> drove him in with an RBI double off the wall in center field to give Kansas a 1-0 lead. &bull; The Jayhawks built a cushion on their lead in the third inning with four runs. Hauge hit a three-run shot to right-center field and <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/tommy-barth/16141" rel="smarttag" rev="16141" data-airgap-id="112">Tommy Barth</a></dfn> had an RBI single to make it a 5-0 Jayhawks advantage. &bull; South Dakota State (4-19) got its first run of the game in the fourth inning on a solo homer off the bat of Luke Luskey. &bull; KU added two runs in the fifth on a two-run homer by Counsell. His seventh home run of the season made it a 7-1 game. &bull; The Jayhawks tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning on a two-run double from <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/dariel-osoria/16146" rel="smarttag" rev="16146" data-airgap-id="113">Dariel Osoria</a></dfn>. That stretched the game to a 9-1 Kansas lead. &bull; The Jackrabbits fought back and put up six runs in the seventh inning to cut the game to 9-7. Carter Sintek, Dayton Franke and Mason Lang all had run-scoring hits, while Owen Siegert had a sacrifice fly and Bryce Ronken drew a bases loaded walk. &bull; Kansas did push the lead back to three runs with an RBI single by <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/sawyer-smith/16138" rel="smarttag" rev="16138" data-airgap-id="114">Sawyer Smith</a></dfn> in the bottom of the seventh. That wrapped up the scoring at 10-7. &bull; Breckheimer came on for the Jayhawks and pitched two scoreless innings to close it out. &nbsp; PITCHERS OF RECORD Win: <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/patrick-steitz/16128" rel="smarttag" rev="16128" data-airgap-id="115">Patrick Steitz</a></dfn> (2-0) Final line: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO Loss: Drew McDowell (0-2) Final line: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 SO Save: <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/alex-breckheimer/16154" rel="smarttag" rev="16154" data-airgap-id="116">Alex Breckheimer</a></dfn> (1) Final line: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO &nbsp; SOCIAL POST OF THE GAME
<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" class="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=%40KUBaseball&amp;dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1907575797105168533&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fkuathletics.com%2Fnews%2F2025%2F4%2F2%2Fbaseball-no-23-kansas-secures-perfect-homestand-with-10-7-victory-wednesday.aspx&amp;sessionId=f9a7b1054d530759f9f44f499c7bc47615f892de&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" width="300" height="150" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-tweet-id="1907575797105168533" data-airgap-id="117"></iframe></div>
&nbsp; QUOTABLES &amp; NOTABLES "Love getting the win. Ugly seventh but you take that out and we played really clean baseball. We knew it was going to be a bullpen day going into it with trying to get Patrick (Steitz) back on track. We really wanted to have all those guys throw one inning&hellip;We had some timely hitting and some really good at-bats. We had 11 walks and we only punched out twice, and obviously winning that freebie battle is huge. The seventh inning was ugly, but it did give us an opportunity to have to then really button it up and make some plays and make some tough pitches. You hate to have that, but I do think those things show. That happens in baseball where an inning can get away from you and they bleed one in, but I love that that our brains were good. There was no panic and we just finished the game out." &ndash; Head Coach <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/dan-fitzgerald/871" rel="smarttag" rev="871" data-airgap-id="119">Dan Fitzgerald</a></dfn> &nbsp; "On a personal level, that's one of the coolest moments of my entire career doing the lineup card with Max. That was a really special thing. I've been moved by a lot of things that have happened in my career, the student section tonight honoring the sound for those first couple of innings was one of the coolest things I've ever seen a group of college kids do. It was really moving and really mature for a group of unbelievable fans that are crazy rowdy. For them to show that respect, and that was not something we communicated to them, I was moved by that." &ndash; Head Coach <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/dan-fitzgerald/871" rel="smarttag" rev="871" data-airgap-id="120">Dan Fitzgerald</a></dfn> &nbsp; "I got two balls right away and then I was looking for a pitch. Fitz always says do damage, so I got a pitch in the middle of the zone and put a good swing on it. We work on it a ton. Fitz teaches it and preaches it, just staying in the zone and controlling the 17 inches across the plate. I think we did a great job of that today." &ndash; <dfn><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/brady-counsell/16135" rel="smarttag" rev="16135" data-airgap-id="121">Brady Counsell</a></dfn> &nbsp; &bull; Kansas extended its winning streak to six games to cap off a perfect 6-0 homestand. &bull; Kansas improved to 24-6 to match its best 30-game start in program history with 1993, the only year Kansas has ever made the College World Series. &bull; Kansas has hit 63 home runs this season through the first 30 games. The program record for home runs is 75 in 2006 and 2023. Kansas is 22-2 this season when hitting a home run. &bull; Kansas has scored at least 10 runs in three consecutive games for the first time this season. &bull; Hauge hit his team-high 13th home run of the season. He is tied for eighth in school history for home runs in a season. Hauge has reached base safely in each of his last 16 games. &bull; Brooks has reached base safely in 19 consecutive games. &bull; Counsell hit his seventh homer of the year. &bull; Ballinger extended his hitting streak to 10 games. &bull; Cerda pushed his hitting streak to nine games. &bull; Breckheimer got his first career save. &nbsp; UP NEXT Kansas will travel to UCF this weekend for a three-game conference series, beginning on Friday at 5 p.m. CT. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
&nbsp;</div>

⚾️ Jayhawks cap home stand off with win 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743677133678.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Wichita State Athletics
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WICHITA, Kan. &ndash; Wichita State trailed 12-1 into the bottom of the seventh inning but brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth in a 13-10 loss to Kansas State on Wednesday night at Eck Stadium. &nbsp; It appeared Wichita State was well on their way to a lopsided defeat as the Wildcats (20-8) scored seven runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and four more in the seventh, highlighted by a pair of home runs and five RBI from Dee Kennedy. But the Shockers (10-18) found the range against the Kansas State bullpen; <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/kam-durnin/9177" rel="smarttag" rev="9177">Kam Durnin</a></dfn> doubled in two runs in the seventh and <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/mauricio-millan/9186" rel="smarttag" rev="9186">Mauricio Millan</a></dfn> followed with an RBI double of his own later in the inning that cut the lead to 12-4. Then the Shockers scored five times in the bottom of the eighth, pulling WSU to within 12-9. <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jordan-rogers/9191" rel="smarttag" rev="9191">Jordan Rogers</a></dfn>lined an RBI double then came around to score when <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/gannon-snyder/9192" rel="smarttag" rev="9192">Gannon Snyder</a></dfn> dumped an RBI single into right. Millan knocked in a run with a groundout before <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/ryan-callahan/9175" rel="smarttag" rev="9175">Ryan Callahan</a></dfn> slapped an opposite-field single to bring home two more. &nbsp; <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/kaleb-duncan/9419" rel="smarttag" rev="9419">Kaleb Duncan</a></dfn> added a single in the inning to bring the tying run to the plate, but Kansas State reliever James Guyette escaped the jam with a strikeout. &nbsp; The Wildcats tacked on a run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth, carrying a 13-9 lead into the bottom half. Guyette retired the first two hitters, but <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/jaden-gustafson/9178" rel="smarttag" rev="9178">Jaden Gustafson</a></dfn> singled and Durnin worked a walk to keep the game alive. Snyder hit a sharp line drive to right field that was dropped by Micah Dean, scoring Gustafson and again bringing the tying run to the plate. Guyette finally closed out the win by getting Millan to ground out. &nbsp; Adam Arther (2-0) picked up the win in relief for Kansas State, working two scoreless innings out of the Wildcats bullpen. <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyler-dobbs/9176" rel="smarttag" rev="9176">Tyler Dobbs</a></dfn> (0-2) took the loss for Wichita State, allowing seven unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth. Only two of the 13 runs scored by Kansas State were earned thanks to three Wichita State errors; the Wildcats committed four defensive miscues of their own. &nbsp; <dfn><a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/baseball/roster/camden-johnson/9183" rel="smarttag" rev="9183">Camden Johnson</a></dfn> led the way for the Shockers with three hits while Gustafson, Snyder and Duncan notched two apiece. &nbsp; The Shockers are back in action on Friday night at Charlotte. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 5:00 pm CT.</div>

⚾️ Shockers drop midweek tilt to Wildcats

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743687621219.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Kansas Athletics
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Lawrence, Kan. &ndash;&nbsp;The Kansas softball team defeated Kansas City in a non-conference midweek game at Arrocha Ballpark on Wednesday. The Jayhawks won 8-0 with the help of junior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/hailey-cripe/6977">Hailey Cripe</a>, who finished with two hits, two home runs, and three RBIs. "I think it was good for us to come out strong tonight. We've been talking all week about staying focused, especially after a tough weekend at Texas Tech," said Head Coach&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/coaches/jennifer-mcfalls/526">Jennifer McFalls</a>. "We needed a night like this to feel good and get ready as we head into our next challenge."&nbsp; The Kansas defense started the game strong, led by senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/katie-brooks/6906">Katie Brooks</a>&nbsp;on the mound. Brooks recorded her first strikeout of the game, and the Jayhawks got out of the first inning without allowing a hit. Kansas carried this momentum to the plate as junior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/aynslee-linduff/6968">Aynslee Linduff</a>&nbsp;fired a shot to left field, followed by Cripe launching her first home run to center field, giving the Jayhawks an early 2-0 lead to end the first inning. The defensive side for the Jayhawks, continued to dominate, holding Kansas City scoreless through the second and third innings while allowing only two hits. The Jayhawks added to their lead in the third inning with Cripe's second home run of the game to center field. The solo home run gave her a team-leading six homers and marked her career's third multi-home run game. Later in the inning, sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/september-flanagan/6890">September Flanagan</a>&nbsp;singled to left field, securing her 15th hit of the season. Flanagan was then brought home after a two-run home run from senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/sara-roszak/6834">Sara Roszak</a>, extending the Jayhawks' lead to 5-0 heading into the fourth inning. Freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/kaelee-washington/15853">Kaelee Washington</a>&nbsp;replaced Brooks on the mound to start the fourth inning, and the Kansas defense continued to impress. The Jayhawks kept Kansas City off the scoreboard through the fourth and fifth innings. The bats stayed hot in the fifth, as freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/karsen-griggs/15854">Karsen Griggs</a>&nbsp;secured her sixth hit of the season with a single to center field. Senior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/natalie-marshall/6919">Natalie Marshall</a>&nbsp;followed with a two-run RBI double, bringing home Griggs and Limbaugh to extend Kansas's lead to 7-0. Marshall's double in the bottom of the fifth marked the first of her season and career. The Jayhawks sealed the victory after five innings when junior&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/presley-limbaugh/6855">Presley Limbaugh</a>&nbsp;delivered an RBI single, bringing home Marshall for the final score of 8-0. With the win, Kansas improved to 16-15 in the season. Pitchers of Record:&nbsp; Win:&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/katie-brooks/6906">Katie Brooks</a>&nbsp;(4-3) Line: 3.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 SO Loss: Hannah Burks (1-6) Line: 3.0 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 0 SO Up Next&nbsp; The Jayhawks are back on the road for their fourth conference series against Arizona State on April 4-6. The weekend series can be streamed on ESPN+&nbsp; Notables
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/hailey-cripe/6977">Hailey Cripe</a>&nbsp;tied her single-game career high with two home runs, launching a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning and a solo shot in the third. She recorded three RBIs on Kansas's first three runs. Cripe now has six home runs this season and 17 in her career while notching her eighth multi-RBI game of the year. She finished a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, securing her ninth multi-hit game of the season.</li>
<li><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/aynslee-linduff/6968">Aynslee Linduff</a>&nbsp;doubled to left field in the bottom of the first inning, marking her seventh double of the season and the 18th of her career.</li>
<li><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/presley-limbaugh/6855">Presley Limbaugh</a>&nbsp;recorded her fourth stolen base of the season in the bottom of the second inning.</li>
<li><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/sara-roszak/6834">Sara Roszak</a>&nbsp;blasted a home run to left field in the bottom of the third inning, marking her second straight game with a homer. It was her second home run of the season and the sixth of her career.</li>
<li>Making her eighth start in the circle this season,&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/katie-brooks/6906">Katie Brooks</a>&nbsp;pitched 3.0 innings, allowing no runs, no walks, and just two hits while recording one strikeout.</li>
<li><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/karsen-griggs/15854">Karsen Griggs</a>&nbsp;set a new single-game career high with two stolen bases in the bottom of the fifth inning after reaching base on a single to center field&mdash;her sixth hit of the year.</li>
<li><a href="https://kuathletics.com/sports/softball/roster/natalie-marshall/6919">Natalie Marshall</a>&nbsp;tallied her first double of the season down the left-field line, driving in two runs. Her two RBIs bring her season total to four.</li>
<li>Kansas's three home runs mark the second time this season the Jayhawks have hit three or more homers in a game, the last occurring against East Texas A&amp;M on March 1, 2025.</li>
<li>Kansas improves to 9-4 in games where they record a home run.</li>
<li>The Jayhawks recorded a season-high five stolen bases (previous high: four, achieved twice, most recently against Omaha on March 13, 2025).</li>
</ul></div>

🥎 Cripe leads KU to shutout of Kansas City

(AP) — The one-year trial version of the dynamic kickoff in the NFL led to an uptick in the return rate that wasn’t quite as much as the league had hoped.

Now the new form of the kickoff that is more like a scrimmage play is permanent with a change for 2025 that the league hopes will lead to a significant increase in returns.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tush-push-kickoff-nfl-meetings-42c9a19837b908320d5b44e1da79a64b">Owners voted Tuesday</a>&nbsp;to move touchbacks on kicks from the 30 to the 35 in hopes that more teams will kick the ball in play instead of giving up an extra 5 yards of field position.

The league also approved changes to the overtime rule, expanded replay assist and made a few other technical changes at the league meetings in Palm Beach, Florida.

Here’s an explanation of some of the new rules that will be in place.

The league was mostly pleased with the experimental kickoff put in place for 2024 that led to the rate of kickoff returns increasing from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last season, while reducing the rate of injuries on what had been the game’s most dangerous play.

The rule made kickoffs more like scrimmage plays by placing the coverage players and blockers close together to eliminate the high-speed collisions that had contributed to so many injuries on the play. The league said the rate of concussions dropped 43% on returns with a significant reduction as well on lower-body injuries.

The problem last season was many teams still opted to kick the ball in the end zone because the touchback wasn’t punitive enough with the average starting field position on a touchback being only 2.4 further than the average starting position after returns that was the 27.6-yard line.

By moving the touchback to the 35, the league projects that the return rate will rise to somewhere between 60% and 70% with a similar increase in long returns, adding more excitement to the game.

The league also approved a small tweak to how how blockers on the return team are allowed to line up in the setup zone that could lead to longer returns.

The league approved a proposal to make regular season overtime more like the postseason with both teams getting a chance at a possession, even if the team that got the ball first scored a touchdown.

The NFL added regular season overtime in 1974, adding a 15-minute sudden death period that ended on any score. In 2010, the rule was tweaked to a “modified” sudden death that required an opening possession touchdown to immediately end the game instead of only a field goal in both the regular season and playoffs.

Overtime then was shortened for the regular season to only 10 minutes in 2017. A rule change in 2022 for the playoffs only gave both teams the chance to score even with a touchdown on the opening possession.

Now that will be the case in the playoffs, after the improved field position on kickoffs made winning in OT on an opening possession TD easier.

According to Sportradar, six of the 16 overtime games last season ended on an opening drive TD for the most overtime games ended on the first drive since the rule change went into effect in 2010.

In all, teams that won the overtime toss won 75% of the time last season, according to Sportradar, and have a .606 winning percentage in overtime since it was cut to 10 minutes.

The league kept the 10-minute overtime period instead of expanding it back to 15 minutes like was originally proposed by Philadelphia, which could lead teams opting to go for 2 and a win if they match an opening drive TD with one of their own since there might not be time for another possession.

The NFL expanded its replay assist system to overturn objective calls such as facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles, tripping if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.

The league has been using replay assist in recent years to overturn obvious errors on aspects like whether a pass is caught or where the ball should be spotted without the referee needing to stop the game for a review.

The Competition Committee says there’s no interest in allowing replay assists to call penalties on plays missed by officials on the field.

There were a few procedural rules changed. Teams will now by able to conduct Zoom or phone meetings with prospective free agents during the so-called legal tampering period.

Teams can place two players on injured reserve with the designation to return when rosters are reduced to 53 players instead of after. Playoff teams also will be granted two additional return from IR designations.

A proposal by Green Bay to outlaw the tush push that Philadelphia has used so successfully was tabled until the May meetings. A vote on a proposal to tweak the onside kick rule also was delayed until May, along with a proposal by Detroit to change the playoff seeding to place wild-card teams ahead of a division winner with a worse record.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743618292825.jpeg" alt="The Kansas City Chiefs kickoff to the Philadelphia Eagles at the start of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillips, File)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas City Chiefs kickoff to the Philadelphia Eagles at the start of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillips, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>(AP) — The one-year trial version of the dynamic kickoff in the NFL led to an uptick in the return rate that wasn’t quite as much as the league had hoped.Now the new form of the kickoff that is more like a scrimmage play is permanent with a change for 2025 that the league hopes will lead to a significant increase in returns.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tush-push-kickoff-nfl-meetings-42c9a19837b908320d5b44e1da79a64b">Owners voted Tuesday</a>&nbsp;to move touchbacks on kicks from the 30 to the 35 in hopes that more teams will kick the ball in play instead of giving up an extra 5 yards of field position.The league also approved changes to the overtime rule, expanded replay assist and made a few other technical changes at the league meetings in Palm Beach, Florida.Here’s an explanation of some of the new rules that will be in place.<h2>What’s new with the kickoff?</h2>The league was mostly pleased with the experimental kickoff put in place for 2024 that led to the rate of kickoff returns increasing from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last season, while reducing the rate of injuries on what had been the game’s most dangerous play.The rule made kickoffs more like scrimmage plays by placing the coverage players and blockers close together to eliminate the high-speed collisions that had contributed to so many injuries on the play. The league said the rate of concussions dropped 43% on returns with a significant reduction as well on lower-body injuries.The problem last season was many teams still opted to kick the ball in the end zone because the touchback wasn’t punitive enough with the average starting field position on a touchback being only 2.4 further than the average starting position after returns that was the 27.6-yard line.By moving the touchback to the 35, the league projects that the return rate will rise to somewhere between 60% and 70% with a similar increase in long returns, adding more excitement to the game.The league also approved a small tweak to how how blockers on the return team are allowed to line up in the setup zone that could lead to longer returns.<h2>How will overtime change?</h2>The league approved a proposal to make regular season overtime more like the postseason with both teams getting a chance at a possession, even if the team that got the ball first scored a touchdown.The NFL added regular season overtime in 1974, adding a 15-minute sudden death period that ended on any score. In 2010, the rule was tweaked to a “modified” sudden death that required an opening possession touchdown to immediately end the game instead of only a field goal in both the regular season and playoffs.Overtime then was shortened for the regular season to only 10 minutes in 2017. A rule change in 2022 for the playoffs only gave both teams the chance to score even with a touchdown on the opening possession.Now that will be the case in the playoffs, after the improved field position on kickoffs made winning in OT on an opening possession TD easier.According to Sportradar, six of the 16 overtime games last season ended on an opening drive TD for the most overtime games ended on the first drive since the rule change went into effect in 2010.In all, teams that won the overtime toss won 75% of the time last season, according to Sportradar, and have a .606 winning percentage in overtime since it was cut to 10 minutes.The league kept the 10-minute overtime period instead of expanding it back to 15 minutes like was originally proposed by Philadelphia, which could lead teams opting to go for 2 and a win if they match an opening drive TD with one of their own since there might not be time for another possession.<h2>Replay assist</h2>The NFL expanded its replay assist system to overturn objective calls such as facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles, tripping if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.The league has been using replay assist in recent years to overturn obvious errors on aspects like whether a pass is caught or where the ball should be spotted without the referee needing to stop the game for a review.The Competition Committee says there’s no interest in allowing replay assists to call penalties on plays missed by officials on the field.<h2>Other changes</h2>There were a few procedural rules changed. Teams will now by able to conduct Zoom or phone meetings with prospective free agents during the so-called legal tampering period.Teams can place two players on injured reserve with the designation to return when rosters are reduced to 53 players instead of after. Playoff teams also will be granted two additional return from IR designations.<h2>What’s up with the tush push?</h2>A proposal by Green Bay to outlaw the tush push that Philadelphia has used so successfully was tabled until the May meetings. A vote on a proposal to tweak the onside kick rule also was delayed until May, along with a proposal by Detroit to change the playoff seeding to place wild-card teams ahead of a division winner with a worse record.

🏈 Here’s how the new NFL rules on kickoffs and overtime will work

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brice Turang dropped a perfect bunt to score Oliver Dunn in the 11th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Wednesday.

Pinch-runner Dunn advanced from second base on Garett Mitchell’s groundout off Sam Long (0-2). Joey Ortiz walked. Turang, who was 0 for 5 for the game, laid down a bunt in front of the plate and raced to first as Dunn scored.

Jared Koenig (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless 11th.

Jackson Chourio doubled off Royals reliever Carlos Estévez in the bottom of the 10th and drove in Turang to tie the game at 2.

Chourio crushed a 85-mph changeup from starter Cole Ragan in the first inning for his first home run of the season. Cavan Biggio tied the game with an RBI single in the second off Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta. After that, it was a pitcher’s duel.

Peralta allowed just two hits, struck out eight and tied his career high with eight innings.

Ragan allowed one run over five innings, struck out 10 and walked two. It was his sixth career start with 10 strikeouts.

With Royals pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert on second in the 10th, Michael Massey lined a hit off the glove of first baseman Jake Bauers that scored Tolbert. Kansas City’s 2-1 lead was brief.

The Brewers were 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position. The Royals were 2 for 8.

Royals: After a day off Thursday, RHP Seth Lugo (0-0, 5.40 ERA) takes on the visiting Baltimore Orioles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743676004970.jpeg" alt="Milwaukee Brewers' Brice Turang celebrates with teammates after driving in the game-winning run with a bunt in the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)" />
 <figcaption>Milwaukee Brewers' Brice Turang celebrates with teammates after driving in the game-winning run with a bunt in the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)</figcaption>
 </figure>MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brice Turang dropped a perfect bunt to score Oliver Dunn in the 11th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Wednesday.Pinch-runner Dunn advanced from second base on Garett Mitchell’s groundout off Sam Long (0-2). Joey Ortiz walked. Turang, who was 0 for 5 for the game, laid down a bunt in front of the plate and raced to first as Dunn scored.Jared Koenig (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless 11th.Jackson Chourio doubled off Royals reliever Carlos Estévez in the bottom of the 10th and drove in Turang to tie the game at 2.Chourio crushed a 85-mph changeup from starter Cole Ragan in the first inning for his first home run of the season. Cavan Biggio tied the game with an RBI single in the second off Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta. After that, it was a pitcher’s duel.Peralta allowed just two hits, struck out eight and tied his career high with eight innings.Ragan allowed one run over five innings, struck out 10 and walked two. It was his sixth career start with 10 strikeouts.<h2>Key moment</h2>With Royals pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert on second in the 10th, Michael Massey lined a hit off the glove of first baseman Jake Bauers that scored Tolbert. Kansas City’s 2-1 lead was brief.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Brewers were 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position. The Royals were 2 for 8.<h2>Up next</h2>Royals: After a day off Thursday, RHP Seth Lugo (0-0, 5.40 ERA) takes on the visiting Baltimore Orioles.

⚾ Turang's bunt drives in winning run in the 11th, Brewers beat the Royals 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Seven years ago, when a joint bid by the United States, Canada and Mexico was awarded the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup">2026 World Cup</a>, rifts created by tariffs — yes, back then, too! — and a proposed border wall were glossed over because of the neighbors’ longstanding political and economic alliances.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/71e70169ac9343839436613b7d8dbb31">“The unity of the three nations″</a>&nbsp;was the overriding theme articulated by Carlos Cordeiro, then-president of the U.S. Soccer Federation. “A powerful message,” he called it.

Well, here we are now, with the soccer showcase arriving in North America in about 15 months, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;back in office — inciting trade wars between the neighbors, not to mention across the globe, by levying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-timeline-trade-war-trump-canada-mexico-china-97819f94e424c0e7bba2812e09a721a7">tariffs</a>&nbsp;that come, then go, then return,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-eu-whiskey-cb259623a25ca1bfdb4673262ceef85b">with more promised</a>, including what the Republican calls “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-reciprocal-tariff-trade-deficit-4329a37b5a41ac944dcc74093410a126">reciprocal tariffs</a>&nbsp;” starting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-tariffs-liberation-day-import-taxes-118d73f50e5133ef3d9598aed6661a6c">Wednesday</a>.

It’s hard to know how, exactly, the current geopolitical fissures, made all the more stark every time Trump or those in his administration talk provocatively about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-canada-could-become-us-state-42360e10ded96c0046fd11eaaf55ab88">making Canada the 51st state</a>, might affect the World Cup, its organization and coordination, fans’ travel plans and more.

“Oh, I think it’s going to make it more exciting,” was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fifa-world-cup-task-force-dba6def9a56cd1c48be592e1725d4a6a">Trump’s take</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/INDwnNAkTLI?si=fHBRHnggEextYnIZ" target="_blank">an Oval Office appearance with FIFA President Gianni Infantino</a>&nbsp;last month. “Tension’s a good thing.”

Will the world come to the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics?

Given that the U.S. also is preparing to welcome the world for FIFA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fifa-club-world-cup-prize-money-real-madrid-0cdee232b9a3670c77b62cd7dc3b53cb">Club World Cup</a>&nbsp;in June, golf’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ryder-cup-pay-pga-tour-europe-e287158b848e8d447302df31da36a79a">Ryder Cup</a>&nbsp;in September and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/43833244a74643b3a1fd0b2787c2e38d">Los Angeles Olympics</a>&nbsp;in 2028, the question becomes: Will the world want to come?

And, taking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-tourists-german-canadian-detention-immigration-408cd27338e8065268fabc835f8b0c34">Trump’s border and visa policies</a>&nbsp;into account, will the world be able to?

Alan Rothenberg, who ran the 1994 World Cup and successfully oversaw the bid to host the 1999 Women’s World Cup as then-president of U.S. Soccer, thinks the answers to those questions are “Yes.” Pointing to concerns about the last two World Cups, in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-260baf7eaa624cf4b39e9ec988ba9114">Russia in 2018</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-business-discrimination-ee9a8b506525341927b02c97cb19993d">Qatar in 2022</a>, he noted those still attracted attendance totals above 3 million apiece.

“People love the United States around the world — frankly, we wouldn’t have the immigration issue that we’re dealing with if that weren’t the case — so a lot of this is government-to-government,” Rothenberg said. “A passionate soccer fan is not going to be held up by that.”

He doesn’t think one of the host nations would drop out of the World Cup, say, or that other countries might&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-olympics-boycott-9ba0aad38e01013bd0f40ce554317caf">boycott</a>, as happened at the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympics.

“More than anything, they’ll see it as an opportunity for, perhaps, rapprochement, rather than escalating the tensions,” Rothenberg said.

“Besides, from an organizing standpoint, if either Canada or Mexico withdrew” from the World Cup, he said, “the U.S. would pick up the games in a heartbeat.”

Spectators booing the U.S. national anthem

Still, as the White House stance on tariffs and Russia’s war in Ukraine have put&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ukraine-russia-war-putin-zelenskyy-europe-7940f9c5828fc46431928bc073170bc2">Europe on edge</a>, and relations with other countries have become fraught, it might not be a surprise if soccer stadiums for the U.S. games at the World Cup offer the same sort of anti-American sentiment heard when spectators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-anthem-booed-montreal-hockey-9265bda34c95a1ed0ca2e1f90e7da1b1">in Canada booed “The Star-Spangled Banner”</a>&nbsp;during hockey’s 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

FIFA, soccer’s governing body, did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment, but Infantino has never hidden his admiration for Trump, which he often demonstrates via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFCCe0sIRF8/?igsh=MXN1OGZ0ZDhkbGU3OQ%3D%3D&amp;img_index=1" target="_blank">social media</a>. They have met at least five times since the U.S. election in November.

Last week, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ioc-olympics-president-election-coventry-coe-samaranch-762f3442ff2a01be9e822cd017b89a59">Kirsty Coventry</a>&nbsp;was elected president of the International Olympic Committee — becoming the first woman in that position — she was asked how she would work with Trump and what she would tell athletes about traveling to the U.S. for the next Games.

“I have been dealing with, let’s say, difficult men, in high positions since I was 20 years old,” Coventry said with a chuckle, “and first and foremost, what I have learned is that communication will be key. That is something that will happen early on. And my firm belief is that President Trump is a huge lover of sports. He will want these Games to be significant. He will want them to be a success.”

Referring to concerns about whether the administration might deny some athletes visas, she added: “We will not waver from our values … of solidarity in ensuring that every athlete that qualifies for the Olympic Games has the possibility to attend the Olympic Games and be safe during the Olympic Games.”

The overriding assumption among those involved in the Olympics is that Trump will assure the 2028 Games are a success.

As U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee chairman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-sports-8a89eac6ffd68f3e809cda0ec01ce4ac">Gene Sykes</a>&nbsp;put it: “I can’t speak for him, but I think he’s the kind of person who probably believes that having these go very, very well is a reflection of his leadership.”

Will Trump’s tariffs and other policies affect soccer’s World Cup?

“The most likely outcome is that Trump’s nonsense won’t have an impact,” said Smith College professor Andrew Zimbalist, an expert on the economics of sports.

“My guess is that if relations between Canada and the U.S. deteriorate to the point that there are travel restrictions and spending restrictions,” Zimbalist said, “Trump would — just like he’s making exceptions all the time on his tariffs policies — make an exception for a month or six weeks.”

The U.S. and Canadian soccer federations declined AP requests for comment on how White House policies might affect the 2026 World Cup.

Gabriela Cuevas, who represents Mexico’s government in meetings with FIFA, said she considers the tariffs and the soccer event “separate issues,” adding that she believes “the World Cup could be a route to engage in a conversation.”

Observers tend to agree, saying logistics such as security cooperation or team transportation from city to city — or country to country — should not be hampered when it comes to the World Cup, scheduled to take place in 16 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

The borders might become an issue, though.

“The main thing FIFA needs to move for this event is not car parts, and it’s not wheat, and it’s not electricity. It’s people. That’s your real concern,” said Victor Matheson, an economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.

“What were previously pretty reasonable border crossings could become much more challenging, simply because both sides amp up their level of inspections and the United States, in particular, cuts down government services that allow people to move effectively between countries.”

As for the fans, 29-year-old Mexican businessman German Camacho Pacheco said “soccer is religion” in his country, so when it comes to the World Cup, “I don’t think they care about tariffs.”

Camacho, wearing the Monterrey club jersey of defender Sergio Ramos while on the way to watch a game at a sports bar in Mexico City, said he doesn’t expect there to be any effect at all on the World Cup “unless this goes from a trade war to an actual war.”

AP writers Greg Beacham in Inglewood, California; Nancy Benac in Washington; Ronald Blum in New York; Graham Dunbar in Costa Navarino, Greece; Eddie Pells in Denver; Anne M. Peterson in Portland, Oregon, and Carlos Rodriguez in Mexico City contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741521131212.png" alt="-President Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino unveil the official trophy of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup" />
 <figcaption>-President Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino unveil the official trophy of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Seven years ago, when a joint bid by the United States, Canada and Mexico was awarded the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup">2026 World Cup</a>, rifts created by tariffs — yes, back then, too! — and a proposed border wall were glossed over because of the neighbors’ longstanding political and economic alliances.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/71e70169ac9343839436613b7d8dbb31">“The unity of the three nations″</a>&nbsp;was the overriding theme articulated by Carlos Cordeiro, then-president of the U.S. Soccer Federation. “A powerful message,” he called it.Well, here we are now, with the soccer showcase arriving in North America in about 15 months, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;back in office — inciting trade wars between the neighbors, not to mention across the globe, by levying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-timeline-trade-war-trump-canada-mexico-china-97819f94e424c0e7bba2812e09a721a7">tariffs</a>&nbsp;that come, then go, then return,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-eu-whiskey-cb259623a25ca1bfdb4673262ceef85b">with more promised</a>, including what the Republican calls “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-reciprocal-tariff-trade-deficit-4329a37b5a41ac944dcc74093410a126">reciprocal tariffs</a>&nbsp;” starting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-tariffs-liberation-day-import-taxes-118d73f50e5133ef3d9598aed6661a6c">Wednesday</a>.It’s hard to know how, exactly, the current geopolitical fissures, made all the more stark every time Trump or those in his administration talk provocatively about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-canada-could-become-us-state-42360e10ded96c0046fd11eaaf55ab88">making Canada the 51st state</a>, might affect the World Cup, its organization and coordination, fans’ travel plans and more.“Oh, I think it’s going to make it more exciting,” was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fifa-world-cup-task-force-dba6def9a56cd1c48be592e1725d4a6a">Trump’s take</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/INDwnNAkTLI?si=fHBRHnggEextYnIZ" target="_blank">an Oval Office appearance with FIFA President Gianni Infantino</a>&nbsp;last month. “Tension’s a good thing.”<h2>Will the world come to the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics?</h2>Given that the U.S. also is preparing to welcome the world for FIFA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fifa-club-world-cup-prize-money-real-madrid-0cdee232b9a3670c77b62cd7dc3b53cb">Club World Cup</a>&nbsp;in June, golf’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ryder-cup-pay-pga-tour-europe-e287158b848e8d447302df31da36a79a">Ryder Cup</a>&nbsp;in September and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/43833244a74643b3a1fd0b2787c2e38d">Los Angeles Olympics</a>&nbsp;in 2028, the question becomes: Will the world want to come?And, taking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-tourists-german-canadian-detention-immigration-408cd27338e8065268fabc835f8b0c34">Trump’s border and visa policies</a>&nbsp;into account, will the world be able to?Alan Rothenberg, who ran the 1994 World Cup and successfully oversaw the bid to host the 1999 Women’s World Cup as then-president of U.S. Soccer, thinks the answers to those questions are “Yes.” Pointing to concerns about the last two World Cups, in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-260baf7eaa624cf4b39e9ec988ba9114">Russia in 2018</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-business-discrimination-ee9a8b506525341927b02c97cb19993d">Qatar in 2022</a>, he noted those still attracted attendance totals above 3 million apiece.“People love the United States around the world — frankly, we wouldn’t have the immigration issue that we’re dealing with if that weren’t the case — so a lot of this is government-to-government,” Rothenberg said. “A passionate soccer fan is not going to be held up by that.”He doesn’t think one of the host nations would drop out of the World Cup, say, or that other countries might&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-olympics-boycott-9ba0aad38e01013bd0f40ce554317caf">boycott</a>, as happened at the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympics.“More than anything, they’ll see it as an opportunity for, perhaps, rapprochement, rather than escalating the tensions,” Rothenberg said.“Besides, from an organizing standpoint, if either Canada or Mexico withdrew” from the World Cup, he said, “the U.S. would pick up the games in a heartbeat.”<h2>Spectators booing the U.S. national anthem</h2>Still, as the White House stance on tariffs and Russia’s war in Ukraine have put&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ukraine-russia-war-putin-zelenskyy-europe-7940f9c5828fc46431928bc073170bc2">Europe on edge</a>, and relations with other countries have become fraught, it might not be a surprise if soccer stadiums for the U.S. games at the World Cup offer the same sort of anti-American sentiment heard when spectators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-anthem-booed-montreal-hockey-9265bda34c95a1ed0ca2e1f90e7da1b1">in Canada booed “The Star-Spangled Banner”</a>&nbsp;during hockey’s 4 Nations Face-Off in February.FIFA, soccer’s governing body, did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment, but Infantino has never hidden his admiration for Trump, which he often demonstrates via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DFCCe0sIRF8/?igsh=MXN1OGZ0ZDhkbGU3OQ%3D%3D&amp;img_index=1" target="_blank">social media</a>. They have met at least five times since the U.S. election in November.Last week, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ioc-olympics-president-election-coventry-coe-samaranch-762f3442ff2a01be9e822cd017b89a59">Kirsty Coventry</a>&nbsp;was elected president of the International Olympic Committee — becoming the first woman in that position — she was asked how she would work with Trump and what she would tell athletes about traveling to the U.S. for the next Games.“I have been dealing with, let’s say, difficult men, in high positions since I was 20 years old,” Coventry said with a chuckle, “and first and foremost, what I have learned is that communication will be key. That is something that will happen early on. And my firm belief is that President Trump is a huge lover of sports. He will want these Games to be significant. He will want them to be a success.”Referring to concerns about whether the administration might deny some athletes visas, she added: “We will not waver from our values … of solidarity in ensuring that every athlete that qualifies for the Olympic Games has the possibility to attend the Olympic Games and be safe during the Olympic Games.”The overriding assumption among those involved in the Olympics is that Trump will assure the 2028 Games are a success.As U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee chairman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-sports-8a89eac6ffd68f3e809cda0ec01ce4ac">Gene Sykes</a>&nbsp;put it: “I can’t speak for him, but I think he’s the kind of person who probably believes that having these go very, very well is a reflection of his leadership.”<h2>Will Trump’s tariffs and other policies affect soccer’s World Cup?</h2>“The most likely outcome is that Trump’s nonsense won’t have an impact,” said Smith College professor Andrew Zimbalist, an expert on the economics of sports.“My guess is that if relations between Canada and the U.S. deteriorate to the point that there are travel restrictions and spending restrictions,” Zimbalist said, “Trump would — just like he’s making exceptions all the time on his tariffs policies — make an exception for a month or six weeks.”The U.S. and Canadian soccer federations declined AP requests for comment on how White House policies might affect the 2026 World Cup.Gabriela Cuevas, who represents Mexico’s government in meetings with FIFA, said she considers the tariffs and the soccer event “separate issues,” adding that she believes “the World Cup could be a route to engage in a conversation.”Observers tend to agree, saying logistics such as security cooperation or team transportation from city to city — or country to country — should not be hampered when it comes to the World Cup, scheduled to take place in 16 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.The borders might become an issue, though.“The main thing FIFA needs to move for this event is not car parts, and it’s not wheat, and it’s not electricity. It’s people. That’s your real concern,” said Victor Matheson, an economics professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.“What were previously pretty reasonable border crossings could become much more challenging, simply because both sides amp up their level of inspections and the United States, in particular, cuts down government services that allow people to move effectively between countries.”As for the fans, 29-year-old Mexican businessman German Camacho Pacheco said “soccer is religion” in his country, so when it comes to the World Cup, “I don’t think they care about tariffs.”Camacho, wearing the Monterrey club jersey of defender Sergio Ramos while on the way to watch a game at a sports bar in Mexico City, said he doesn’t expect there to be any effect at all on the World Cup “unless this goes from a trade war to an actual war.”<h2>___</h2>AP writers Greg Beacham in Inglewood, California; Nancy Benac in Washington; Ronald Blum in New York; Graham Dunbar in Costa Navarino, Greece; Eddie Pells in Denver; Anne M. Peterson in Portland, Oregon, and Carlos Rodriguez in Mexico City contributed.

US-Canada-Mexico joint World Cup goes from unity to acrimony thanks to tariffs

<a href="https://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/content/dam/sites/allamerican/2025-media-resources-/Box%20Score%20West%20at%20East%2002%20April%20Boys.pdf">BOX SCORE</a>

KU signee Darryn Peterson scored 18 points and was named the game's co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American boys game at Barclays Center on Tuesday., leading the West over the East 105-92 on Tuesday night in the McDonald’s All-American boys game at Barclays Center.

Peterson helped lead the West to the 105-92 win over the East.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/c817ba15-6831-4c90-b694-43d9d0af17e7">He was recently named the 2025 Naismith Boys' High School Player of the Year.</a>

Peterson becomes the fourth future Jayhawk to win the MVP of the all-star game, joining Jacque Vaughn, Josh Jackson and Check Diallo.&nbsp;

He finished with a team-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 1-of-6 from behind the arc. He also brought down seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.&nbsp;

Peterson is a 6-foot-5 guard that plays at Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif.&nbsp; He averaged 23.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.9 steals in his senior campaign.

Although there are several Jayhawks that have entered the transfer portal, Peterson told KU head coach Bill Self not to be worried, that he plans to play next winter for the Jayhawks.

Peterson is the 52nd KU signee to play in the annual high school all-star game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741369343910.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/content/dam/sites/allamerican/2025-media-resources-/Box%20Score%20West%20at%20East%2002%20April%20Boys.pdf">BOX SCORE</a>KU signee Darryn Peterson scored 18 points and was named the game's co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American boys game at Barclays Center on Tuesday., leading the West over the East 105-92 on Tuesday night in the McDonald’s All-American boys game at Barclays Center.Peterson helped lead the West to the 105-92 win over the East.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/c817ba15-6831-4c90-b694-43d9d0af17e7">He was recently named the 2025 Naismith Boys' High School Player of the Year.</a>Peterson becomes the fourth future Jayhawk to win the MVP of the all-star game, joining Jacque Vaughn, Josh Jackson and Check Diallo.&nbsp;He finished with a team-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including 1-of-6 from behind the arc. He also brought down seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.&nbsp;Peterson is a 6-foot-5 guard that plays at Prolific Prep in Napa, Calif.&nbsp; He averaged 23.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.9 steals in his senior campaign.Although there are several Jayhawks that have entered the transfer portal, Peterson told KU head coach Bill Self not to be worried, that he plans to play next winter for the Jayhawks.Peterson is the 52nd KU signee to play in the annual high school all-star game.

🏀 KU signee Peterson named McDonald's All-American game MVP

🎧 LISTEN: ⚾ Royals lose to Brewers, 🏈 NFL rule changes

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eric Haase and Christian Yelich hit solo home runs to back a strong start by Chad Patrick and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Kansas City Royals 5-0 on Tuesday night for their first win of the season.

Patrick gave the Brewers something they hadn't had thus far — three scoreless innings to begin the game. Milwaukee surrendered 24 runs in the first three innings of its first four games.

Haase homered from the ninth spot in the order to put the Brewers up 1-0 in the third. Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio followed with singles and Turang scored on a force-out at second on Yelich's grounder to make it 2-0.

Patrick fell an out short of qualifying for the win in his first career start, giving up three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Rhys Hoskins had an RBI single in a two-run sixth to up the lead to 4-0, and Yelich hit his first home run to cap the scoring in the eighth.

Jared Koenig pitched an inning, Abner Uribe (1-0) got four outs to get the win, Joel Payamps pitched the eighth and Trevor Megill got the last three outs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743590051920.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Michael Lorenzen pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Michael Lorenzen pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)</figcaption>
 </figure>MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eric Haase and Christian Yelich hit solo home runs to back a strong start by Chad Patrick and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Kansas City Royals 5-0 on Tuesday night for their first win of the season.Patrick gave the Brewers something they hadn't had thus far — three scoreless innings to begin the game. Milwaukee surrendered 24 runs in the first three innings of its first four games.Haase homered from the ninth spot in the order to put the Brewers up 1-0 in the third. Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio followed with singles and Turang scored on a force-out at second on Yelich's grounder to make it 2-0.Patrick fell an out short of qualifying for the win in his first career start, giving up three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.Rhys Hoskins had an RBI single in a two-run sixth to up the lead to 4-0, and Yelich hit his first home run to cap the scoring in the eighth.Jared Koenig pitched an inning, Abner Uribe (1-0) got four outs to get the win, Joel Payamps pitched the eighth and Trevor Megill got the last three outs.Michael Lorenzen (0-1) allowed four runs — three earned — in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven.<h2>Key moment</h2>Koenig entered with two outs and two on in the top of the fifth inning. He retired Michael Massey on a grounder to first to preserve a 2-0 lead.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Brewers began the day with an ERA of 12.27 through four games and that includes two scoreless innings from first baseman Jake Bauers. The staff tied the record set by the 1954 Cardinals for the most runs allowed through four games with 47.<h2>Up next</h2>Cole Ragans (0-0) makes his second start for Kansas City in Wednesday's series finale. Freddy Peralta (0—1) starts for the second time for Milwaukee.