LAWRENCE, Kan. – The 16th Annual Rock Chalk Roundball Classic, held on June 13-15, was, once again, a huge success in raising money for families fighting cancer. This year’s event is projected to raise more than $400,000 for seven families, tagged as the Magnificent Seven, fighting pediatric cancer with more than 30 Kansas luminaries participating in the festivities.

The June 13 basketball game kicked off the three-day Rock Chalk Roundball Classic weekend that included a Gala Dinner on June 14 and a Rock Chalk Round-Bowl Classic June 15. Organized by ‘Voice of the Jayhawks’ Brian Hanni, this year’s Magnificent Seven included 4-year-old Azel Bryant (Wichita, Kansas), 6-year-old Rowdy Campbell (Wichita, Kansas), 2-year-old Lucas Kromminga (Olathe, Kansas), 6-year-old Owen Ragsdale (Harrisonville, Missouri), 7-year-old Isaac Raynolds (Topeka, Kansas), 4-year-old Calvin Smith (Shawnee, Kansas) and 11-year-old Keira Whiting (Topeka, Kansas).

The 2024 edition of the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic tipped off on June 13 with the Crimson Team defeating the Blue Team 116-101 at Free State High School gymnasium in Lawrence. The basketball evening included former Kansas men’s basketball, women’s basketball and football players along with other local celebrities. All tickets sales, raffles and other fundraising activities went toward the cause. Besides the basketball and honoring the Magnificent Seven, former KU standout Calvin Thompson, a member of KU’s 1986 Final Four team, proposed to former KU women’s basketball player Barbara Adkins-Henry. Adkins-Henry said yes to the proposal.

KU celebrities who participated in the basketball contest for the Blue Team included Jeff Hawkins, Devonte’ Graham, Chris Teahan, Tyrel Reed, Silvio De Sousa, Parker Braun, Travis Releford, Michael Lee and Ochai Agbaji. The Blue Team was coached by Gradey Dick, Thompson, Patrick Richey, Darrell Stuckey, David McCormack, Adkins-Henry, Billy Thomas and Matt Kleinmann. The winning Crimson Team consisted of Sherron Collins, Jalen Wilson, KU soccer head coach Nate Lie, Malik Newman, Elijah Johnson, Christian Braun, Brandon Rush, Julian Wright, Kylee Kopatich, Brandon McAnderson, Jeff Graves and Mitch Lightfoot, with coaches Greg Ostertag, Tyshawn Taylor, Wayne Simien, Udoka Azubuike, Alonzo Jamison and Lester Earl.

To learn more about the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic or to donate to the cause, one could go to <a href="http://rockchalkroundballclassic.com.">rockchalkroundballclassic.com.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718741866501.jpeg" alt="KU Athletics" />
 <figcaption>KU Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. – The 16th Annual Rock Chalk Roundball Classic, held on June 13-15, was, once again, a huge success in raising money for families fighting cancer. This year’s event is projected to raise more than $400,000 for seven families, tagged as the Magnificent Seven, fighting pediatric cancer with more than 30 Kansas luminaries participating in the festivities.The June 13 basketball game kicked off the three-day Rock Chalk Roundball Classic weekend that included a Gala Dinner on June 14 and a Rock Chalk Round-Bowl Classic June 15. Organized by ‘Voice of the Jayhawks’ Brian Hanni, this year’s Magnificent Seven included 4-year-old Azel Bryant (Wichita, Kansas), 6-year-old Rowdy Campbell (Wichita, Kansas), 2-year-old Lucas Kromminga (Olathe, Kansas), 6-year-old Owen Ragsdale (Harrisonville, Missouri), 7-year-old Isaac Raynolds (Topeka, Kansas), 4-year-old Calvin Smith (Shawnee, Kansas) and 11-year-old Keira Whiting (Topeka, Kansas).The 2024 edition of the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic tipped off on June 13 with the Crimson Team defeating the Blue Team 116-101 at Free State High School gymnasium in Lawrence. The basketball evening included former Kansas men’s basketball, women’s basketball and football players along with other local celebrities. All tickets sales, raffles and other fundraising activities went toward the cause. Besides the basketball and honoring the Magnificent Seven, former KU standout Calvin Thompson, a member of KU’s 1986 Final Four team, proposed to former KU women’s basketball player Barbara Adkins-Henry. Adkins-Henry said yes to the proposal.KU celebrities who participated in the basketball contest for the Blue Team included Jeff Hawkins, Devonte’ Graham, Chris Teahan, Tyrel Reed, Silvio De Sousa, Parker Braun, Travis Releford, Michael Lee and Ochai Agbaji. The Blue Team was coached by Gradey Dick, Thompson, Patrick Richey, Darrell Stuckey, David McCormack, Adkins-Henry, Billy Thomas and Matt Kleinmann. The winning Crimson Team consisted of Sherron Collins, Jalen Wilson, KU soccer head coach Nate Lie, Malik Newman, Elijah Johnson, Christian Braun, Brandon Rush, Julian Wright, Kylee Kopatich, Brandon McAnderson, Jeff Graves and Mitch Lightfoot, with coaches Greg Ostertag, Tyshawn Taylor, Wayne Simien, Udoka Azubuike, Alonzo Jamison and Lester Earl.To learn more about the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic or to donate to the cause, one could go to <a href="http://rockchalkroundballclassic.com.">rockchalkroundballclassic.com.</a>

Magnificent Seven Featured at 16th Annual Rock Chalk Roundball Classic

NEW YORK (AP) — When Team USA walks with the world’s athletes at the Paris Olympics'opening ceremony, they’ll be doing so in snappy tailored navy blazers from Ralph Lauren — and blue jeans.

Ralph Lauren, which unveiled Tuesday its ninth turn creating Olympic parade looks for the Americans, is billing the pairing as “unexpected” yet classic.

David Lauren, the company's chief branding and innovation officer and its founder's son, was unbothered by the casualness of blue denim.

“We work very closely with Team USA to make the athletes feel at once dressed up, feel like a team, but at the same time comfortable and very distinctively American,” he told The Associated Press on Monday during a media preview at the company's posh New York headquarters.

“Nothing says America like blue jeans, especially when we’re in Paris,” Lauren added. “And it gives the athletes a chance to feel a sense of a culture but also feel like themselves and what is natural.”

The single-breasted wool blazers come with red-and-white tipping worn with a blue-and-white striped Oxford shirt and cream suede buck lace-up shoes. The jeans, at least, are tapered. Oh, and there are neck ties, in blue.

For the closing ceremony, the team will wear sharp white, moto-style denim jeans with matching jackets designed in, yes, patriotic red, white and blue.

The company gathered a few Paris-bound athletes to show off the parade uniforms for the Summer Games that begin next month in one of the world's fashion capitals.

Daniela Moroz, 23, is competing in sailing at her first Olympics. She loved the racing details of the closing look she modeled, down to the shoes. The zip jackets have “USA” splashed across the front in huge letters, with “Team USA” in blue high on the outside seam of one pant leg. Team caps are duck bill: The visor is in white, with red and blue details.

“I'm a racer on the water so that really speaks to me,” said Moroz, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, of the moto touches. “It's super comfortable.”

Lauren called the closing ceremony looks “more graphic, more fun, a little more exciting.”

The company also designed Team USA gear available for sale starting Tuesday at RalphLauren.com, TeamUSAShop.com and company stores in the U.S. and France. Among the wares on offer are polo shirts made of 100% recycled cotton. It's the first time Ralph Lauren has achieved that level of sustainability in Olympic gear, David Lauren said.

The customizable polo shirt “feels almost like a performance material that has better wicking, better breathability, better stretch,” he said. “And it’s a test for us to see how we can evolve in the future. The Olympics has always been an amazing place to test newness, to try innovation, and to explore with our athletes what the future could look like.”

Some proceeds of retail sales go to help support U.S. athletes training for their Olympic moments. Lauren wouldn't be more specific on how much money the company sends their way.

The opening and closing ceremony uniforms, the same for the Olympics and subsequent Paralympics, were made in the U.S. The gear on sale to the public was made in both the U.S. and other countries.

Jamal Hill, a Paralympic swimmer who earned a bronze medal in Tokyo, is returning to compete in Paris at age 29. He thinks the uniforms will resonate with millennials and Gen Z.

“They have a really, really nice unique modern flair,” said Hill, who grew up in Los Angeles.

Fencer Daryl Homer, 33, will be Paris as an alternate after he tore his Achilles tendon a month before qualification. It's his fourth trip to the Olympics. He earned a silver medal in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Of the blue denim moment, Homer said: “It's very modern, it's approachable. We're going to be walking in Paris in the heat. It's a lighter look with a bit more room to move around.”

Kamren Larsen, a 24-year-old BMX racer from Bakersfield, California, is headed to his first Olympics. He thinks the crisp blazers with Oxford shirts balance out the more laid-back nature of the jeans.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718742168673.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Team USA Paris Olympics opening ceremony attire is displayed at Ralph Lauren headquarters on Monday, June 17, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Team USA Paris Olympics opening ceremony attire is displayed at Ralph Lauren headquarters on Monday, June 17, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — When Team USA walks with the world’s athletes at the Paris Olympics'opening ceremony, they’ll be doing so in snappy tailored navy blazers from Ralph Lauren — and blue jeans.Just regular, everyday denim blue jeans.Ralph Lauren, which unveiled Tuesday its ninth turn creating Olympic parade looks for the Americans, is billing the pairing as “unexpected” yet classic.David Lauren, the company's chief branding and innovation officer and its founder's son, was unbothered by the casualness of blue denim.“We work very closely with Team USA to make the athletes feel at once dressed up, feel like a team, but at the same time comfortable and very distinctively American,” he told The Associated Press on Monday during a media preview at the company's posh New York headquarters.“Nothing says America like blue jeans, especially when we’re in Paris,” Lauren added. “And it gives the athletes a chance to feel a sense of a culture but also feel like themselves and what is natural.”The single-breasted wool blazers come with red-and-white tipping worn with a blue-and-white striped Oxford shirt and cream suede buck lace-up shoes. The jeans, at least, are tapered. Oh, and there are neck ties, in blue.For the closing ceremony, the team will wear sharp white, moto-style denim jeans with matching jackets designed in, yes, patriotic red, white and blue.The company gathered a few Paris-bound athletes to show off the parade uniforms for the Summer Games that begin next month in one of the world's fashion capitals.Daniela Moroz, 23, is competing in sailing at her first Olympics. She loved the racing details of the closing look she modeled, down to the shoes. The zip jackets have “USA” splashed across the front in huge letters, with “Team USA” in blue high on the outside seam of one pant leg. Team caps are duck bill: The visor is in white, with red and blue details.“I'm a racer on the water so that really speaks to me,” said Moroz, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, of the moto touches. “It's super comfortable.”Lauren called the closing ceremony looks “more graphic, more fun, a little more exciting.”The company also designed Team USA gear available for sale starting Tuesday at RalphLauren.com, TeamUSAShop.com and company stores in the U.S. and France. Among the wares on offer are polo shirts made of 100% recycled cotton. It's the first time Ralph Lauren has achieved that level of sustainability in Olympic gear, David Lauren said.The customizable polo shirt “feels almost like a performance material that has better wicking, better breathability, better stretch,” he said. “And it’s a test for us to see how we can evolve in the future. The Olympics has always been an amazing place to test newness, to try innovation, and to explore with our athletes what the future could look like.”Some proceeds of retail sales go to help support U.S. athletes training for their Olympic moments. Lauren wouldn't be more specific on how much money the company sends their way.The opening and closing ceremony uniforms, the same for the Olympics and subsequent Paralympics, were made in the U.S. The gear on sale to the public was made in both the U.S. and other countries.Jamal Hill, a Paralympic swimmer who earned a bronze medal in Tokyo, is returning to compete in Paris at age 29. He thinks the uniforms will resonate with millennials and Gen Z.“They have a really, really nice unique modern flair,” said Hill, who grew up in Los Angeles.Fencer Daryl Homer, 33, will be Paris as an alternate after he tore his Achilles tendon a month before qualification. It's his fourth trip to the Olympics. He earned a silver medal in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.Of the blue denim moment, Homer said: “It's very modern, it's approachable. We're going to be walking in Paris in the heat. It's a lighter look with a bit more room to move around.”Kamren Larsen, a 24-year-old BMX racer from Bakersfield, California, is headed to his first Olympics. He thinks the crisp blazers with Oxford shirts balance out the more laid-back nature of the jeans.

Ralph Lauren goes with basic blue jeans for Team USA

By GARY VAN CLEAVE Special to Great Bend Post

Salina South’s football fortunes haven’t been so fortunate in the past eight years.&nbsp;

But the gridiron fortunes may be beginning to shift on Salina’s south side.&nbsp;

The Cougars’ culture is changing…..for the better.

“We’re trying to get ‘we’re gonna lose every game’ out of our mind and believe we can beat any team,” incoming junior wide receiver/KO and punt return man Jaxon Myers said. “Right now, we’re slowly working towards that and getting better everyday.”

The Cougars enter the 2024 season having lost 24 consecutive football games dating back to a 34-16 victory over Haysville-Campus on Sept. 17, 2021. They have lost 27 of their past 28 and 32 of their last 35.

Their last .500 or better season came in 2015 at 5-5.

“Believe in the coaches, working in the weight room, getting better every day,” Myers said on what it takes to change the culture of back-to-back winless campaigns.

“It’s been frustrating, some people just not wanting to work and get better. Last year people coming in thinking we’re not gonna win, we suck and all that but I can see the change coming,” Myers noted.

“We know what has to change. That starts by winning practice reps, weight reps and attendance,” junior Jalen Cheeks said. “We’re trying to put respect back into the program which will hopefully bring wins and more.”

“We might not be able to win every home game, but we want to win more than we lose and be better than people think,” junior tight end Bryce Doonan said. “We will be and come out on top with lots of touchdowns and wins.”

First-year coach Christien Ozores, who came from Russell, sees improvement in the making.

“The kids are starting to understand why the little things are so important in creating our own identity,” Ozores said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but you can see/feel the excitement from the kids with them gaining confidence.”

South’s opponents scored 50 points in six of their nine 2023 games in which they were outscored 473-129 on the season.

“I’m trying to establish a committed system that the underclassmen can look up to,” incoming senior quarterback Landon Putman said. “I also want to establish a work ethic that the program hasn’t seen for a long time. I want people to be held accountable all across the board. Even other sports at South. I want other sports to look at the football team and say ‘if they turned it around, we can too.’ “

It’s started with a commitment to greatness in the weight room.

“Conditioning has had a major increase in attendance,” Putman said. “The culture is starting to change. Everyone is not entirely bought in, but there has for sure been an increase in that as well.”

“It gets pretty difficult at times when learning new concepts, but starting to bond with the coaches has been easy,” Putman said.

Work ethics have been a focal point as well.

“Something where you’re not there to just check a box and say I went,” Putman said. “Something you do whether that’s practice, weights, or film, you are there to make yourself and others better. Not just show up on Friday nights and expect everything to go your way. You need to show up in June as well.”

“We have seen a lot of improvement especially with the fundamentals not just with football but in the weight room as well,” Ozores said. “Our change of direction and explosiveness has improved since February.”

“The atmosphere of the weight room is outworking the guy next to you,” Putman noted. “Seniors are doing a good job on showing the freshmen how to do proper lifts. The atmosphere of the locker room is professional. We are there to get our stuff and get out. No funny business.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718721253237.jpeg" alt="Salina South quarterback Landon Putman returns for his senior season. (Photo by Kacey Putman)" />
 <figcaption>Salina South quarterback Landon Putman returns for his senior season. (Photo by Kacey Putman)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GARY VAN CLEAVE Special to Great Bend Post Salina South’s football fortunes haven’t been so fortunate in the past eight years.&nbsp;But the gridiron fortunes may be beginning to shift on Salina’s south side.&nbsp;The Cougars’ culture is changing…..for the better.“We’re trying to get ‘we’re gonna lose every game’ out of our mind and believe we can beat any team,” incoming junior wide receiver/KO and punt return man Jaxon Myers said. “Right now, we’re slowly working towards that and getting better everyday.”The Cougars enter the 2024 season having lost 24 consecutive football games dating back to a 34-16 victory over Haysville-Campus on Sept. 17, 2021. They have lost 27 of their past 28 and 32 of their last 35.Their last .500 or better season came in 2015 at 5-5.“Believe in the coaches, working in the weight room, getting better every day,” Myers said on what it takes to change the culture of back-to-back winless campaigns.“It’s been frustrating, some people just not wanting to work and get better. Last year people coming in thinking we’re not gonna win, we suck and all that but I can see the change coming,” Myers noted.“We know what has to change. That starts by winning practice reps, weight reps and attendance,” junior Jalen Cheeks said. “We’re trying to put respect back into the program which will hopefully bring wins and more.”“We might not be able to win every home game, but we want to win more than we lose and be better than people think,” junior tight end Bryce Doonan said. “We will be and come out on top with lots of touchdowns and wins.”First-year coach Christien Ozores, who came from Russell, sees improvement in the making.“The kids are starting to understand why the little things are so important in creating our own identity,” Ozores said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but you can see/feel the excitement from the kids with them gaining confidence.”South’s opponents scored 50 points in six of their nine 2023 games in which they were outscored 473-129 on the season.“I’m trying to establish a committed system that the underclassmen can look up to,” incoming senior quarterback Landon Putman said. “I also want to establish a work ethic that the program hasn’t seen for a long time. I want people to be held accountable all across the board. Even other sports at South. I want other sports to look at the football team and say ‘if they turned it around, we can too.’ “It’s started with a commitment to greatness in the weight room.“Conditioning has had a major increase in attendance,” Putman said. “The culture is starting to change. Everyone is not entirely bought in, but there has for sure been an increase in that as well.”But it hasn’t been easy.“It gets pretty difficult at times when learning new concepts, but starting to bond with the coaches has been easy,” Putman said.Work ethics have been a focal point as well.“Something where you’re not there to just check a box and say I went,” Putman said. “Something you do whether that’s practice, weights, or film, you are there to make yourself and others better. Not just show up on Friday nights and expect everything to go your way. You need to show up in June as well.”“We have seen a lot of improvement especially with the fundamentals not just with football but in the weight room as well,” Ozores said. “Our change of direction and explosiveness has improved since February.”“The atmosphere of the weight room is outworking the guy next to you,” Putman noted. “Seniors are doing a good job on showing the freshmen how to do proper lifts. The atmosphere of the locker room is professional. We are there to get our stuff and get out. No funny business.”

Former Russell coach trying to revamp Salina South football

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang added yet another talented wing to his 2024-25 roster with the signing of 2024 All-Big Ten selection Coleman Hawkins(Sacramento, Calif./Prolific Prep/Illinois) to a Financial Aid Agreement on Tuesday (June 18).

A 6-foot-10, 230-pound wing, Hawkins arrives at K-State after spending the last 4 seasons (2020-24) at Illinois, where he was apart of 96 wins, 4 Big Ten Championships (2 regular season and 2 tournament titles) and 4 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2023-24. He was a key part of the Fighting Illini's first run to the Elite Eight since 2005, leading the team in rebounding (6.1 rpg.), steals (1.5 spg.) and blocks (1.1 bpg.) and ranking third in scoring (12.1 ppg.) en route to earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors from the AP.

Following his senior season, Hawkins declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and was invited to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, where he was among a group of standout performers out of 120 prospects. He finished with 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting in his final scrimmage. He withdrew from the draft before the deadline on May 29.

Hawkins will have one season of eligibility remaining after the NCAA granting student-athletes who played during the 2020-21 athletic season an extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's a great day to be a Wildcat, as we're excited to welcome Coleman and his family to K-State," said head coach Jerome Tang. "The most important thing about Coleman is that he is a winner. He has won everywhere he has been whether it's a national championship in high school to winning 4 Big Ten titles and going to 4 NCAA Tournaments, including the Elite Eight this past season, at Illinois. He obviously can score but he impacts winning in a variety of ways. He is a terrific teammate who is very smart and only makes his teammates better. He plays with JOY and passion and has an engaging personality that I know our fans are going to love."

Hawkins has scored nearly 1,000 career points in his college career, which includes 126 games at Illinois (2020-24) with 82 starts. He has totaled 979 career points on 44.2 percent (345-of-781) shooting, including 31.9 percent (118-of-370) from 3-point range, and 69.8 percent (171-of-245) from the free throw line, with 581 rebounds, 256 assists, 115 steals and 102 blocks in 2,964 minutes played. He is the only player in Illinois school history with at least 900 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals in a career.

Among Hawkins' 979 career points were 592 in Big Ten play, coming on 44.3 percent (208-of-470) shooting. In addition, he has tallied double figures in 5 of his 8 career NCAA Tournament games, averaging 7.6 points on 41.8 percent (23-of-55) shooting with 4.6 rebounds per game. For his career, he is averaging 7.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks in 23.5 minutes per game.

Hawkins has collected 6 20-point games and one 30-point game in his career, along with 6 double-doubles and one triple-double. He scored a career-high 30 points in the Illini's win against Iowa on Feb. 24, 2024, connecting on 9-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, in less than 30 minutes of action. He tallied the fifth triple-double in Illinois history on Nov. 29, 2022, with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Syracuse.

The bulk of Hawkins' production has come in the last 2 seasons (2022-24), in which, he has posted 749 points (11.0 ppg.) on 44.7 percent (267-of-598) shooting, including 32.9 percent (96-of-292) from 3-point range, with 419 rebounds (6.2 rpg.), 195 assists (2.9 apg.), 87 steals (1.3 spg.) and 76 blocks (1.1 bpg.) in 2,180 minutes played (32.1 mpg.) while starting 68 of the Fighting Illini's last 71 games. In that span, he scored in double figures 38 times with 6 20-point games, one 30-point game, 6 double-doubles and one triple-double.

Hawkins' scoring ability increased each season at Illinois capped by his 12.1 points per game average as a senior in 2023-24 in which he posted career-bests for field goal percentage (45.1), 3-point field goal percentage (36.9) and free throw percentage (79.2). He scored in double figures in 22 of 35 games played with 4 20-point games highlighted by his 30-point effort against Iowa on Feb. 24. He also had a pair of double-doubles in road games at Michigan (21 points, 10 rebounds; Jan. 18, 2024) and Northwestern (22 points, 13 rebounds; Jan. 24, 2024).

As a senior, Hawkins led the Fighting Illini in rebounding (6.1 rpg.), steals (1.5 spg.) and blocks (1.1 bpg.) while he was third in scoring and 3-point field goal percentage (36.9). He was named to the watch list for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award before earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors from the AP, third team honors from the media and honorable mention accolades from the league coaches.

Hawkins jumped to the forefront as a junior in 2022-23, leading the team in rebounding (6.3 rpg.) and assists (3.0 apg.) while placing second in blocks (1.2 bpg.) and third in scoring (9.9 ppg.) in starting all 33 games. He had 16 double-digit scoring games, including a pair of 20-point efforts, to go with 3 double-double and his first career triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Syracuse on Nov. 29, 2022. He opened the season with a 23-point, 12-rebound performance against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 7, 2022.

Hawkins began his ascension as a sophomore in 2021-22, averaging 5.9 points on 44.2 percent (68-of-154) shooting with 4.3 rebounds in playing in all 33 games with 14 starts. He started the first 10 games of the season, which included his first career double-digit scoring game (13 points vs. Jackson State, Nov. 9, 2021) and first double-double (17 points, 13 rebounds vs. Arkansas State, Nov. 12, 2021). He played nearly 25 minutes in the Illini's win over K-State at the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, posting 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. His season-high 18 points came against Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament on March 11, 2022, while had a near double-double (10 points, 8 rebounds) in the Illini's NCAA First Round win over Chattanooga on March 18, 2022.

Hawkins played in 25 games off the bench as a true freshman in 2020-21 for an Illinois squad that won the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He scored in 12 games, including a 5-point, 4-rebound and 2-assist effort in his first career game against North Carolina A&amp;T on Nov. 25, 2020.

A native of Sacramento, Calif., Hawkins played his high school basketball at prep powerhouse Prolific Prep in Northern California, leading his team to a 31-3 overall record and the program's first-ever Grind Session Championship prior to the cancellation of GEICO Nationals due to COVID-19. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and a team-high 6.5 assists as a senior in 2019-20.

Hawkins comes from a basketball family, as his father, Rodney, played at San Diego State (1987-88) while his 3 older sisters (Ashley, Taylor and Bailey) all played at the collegiate level. His father started his college basketball career at Colby Community College in Colby, Kan., before joining the Aztecs.

Hawkins is the 10th player to sign with the Wildcats for the 2024-25 season, including the eighth Division I transfer.

Achor Achor (Melbourne, Australia/Greenforest McCalep Academy/Chipola College/Samford)

Baye Fall (Dakar, Senegal/ Accelerated Prep [Colo.]/Arkansas)

Brendan Hausen (Amarillo, Texas/Amarillo/ Villanova)

Coleman Hawkins (Sacramento, Calif./Prolific Prep/Illinois)

Mobi Ikegwuruka (Galway, Ireland/Ellsworth [Iowa] Community College)

C.J. Jones (East St. Louis, Ill./East St. Louis/UIC)

Max Jones (Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater/University of Tampa/Cal State Fullerton)

Dug McDaniel (Washington, D.C./St. Paul VI Catholic VI/Michigan)

Ugonna Onyenso (Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria/NBA Africa/Putnam Science Academy/Kentucky)

The nine transfers join top-50 high school prospect David Castillo(Bartlesville, Okla./Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]), who signed during the early signing period on Nov. 8.

K-State finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 record, including a tie for ninth in the Big 12 with an 8-10 mark, and advanced to the NIT. Among the Wildcats' 19 victories were 4 over Top 25 teams, including 3 in the Top 10. The team has won 45 games in head coach Jerome Tang's tenure, including consecutive postseason appearances.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718741604560.jpeg" alt="K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang added yet another talented wing to his 2024-25 roster with the signing of 2024 All-Big Ten selection Coleman Hawkins(Sacramento, Calif./Prolific Prep/Illinois) to a Financial Aid Agreement on Tuesday (June 18).A 6-foot-10, 230-pound wing, Hawkins arrives at K-State after spending the last 4 seasons (2020-24) at Illinois, where he was apart of 96 wins, 4 Big Ten Championships (2 regular season and 2 tournament titles) and 4 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2023-24. He was a key part of the Fighting Illini's first run to the Elite Eight since 2005, leading the team in rebounding (6.1 rpg.), steals (1.5 spg.) and blocks (1.1 bpg.) and ranking third in scoring (12.1 ppg.) en route to earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors from the AP.Following his senior season, Hawkins declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and was invited to the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, where he was among a group of standout performers out of 120 prospects. He finished with 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting in his final scrimmage. He withdrew from the draft before the deadline on May 29.Hawkins will have one season of eligibility remaining after the NCAA granting student-athletes who played during the 2020-21 athletic season an extra season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic."It's a great day to be a Wildcat, as we're excited to welcome Coleman and his family to K-State," said head coach Jerome Tang. "The most important thing about Coleman is that he is a winner. He has won everywhere he has been whether it's a national championship in high school to winning 4 Big Ten titles and going to 4 NCAA Tournaments, including the Elite Eight this past season, at Illinois. He obviously can score but he impacts winning in a variety of ways. He is a terrific teammate who is very smart and only makes his teammates better. He plays with JOY and passion and has an engaging personality that I know our fans are going to love."Hawkins has scored nearly 1,000 career points in his college career, which includes 126 games at Illinois (2020-24) with 82 starts. He has totaled 979 career points on 44.2 percent (345-of-781) shooting, including 31.9 percent (118-of-370) from 3-point range, and 69.8 percent (171-of-245) from the free throw line, with 581 rebounds, 256 assists, 115 steals and 102 blocks in 2,964 minutes played. He is the only player in Illinois school history with at least 900 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals in a career.Among Hawkins' 979 career points were 592 in Big Ten play, coming on 44.3 percent (208-of-470) shooting. In addition, he has tallied double figures in 5 of his 8 career NCAA Tournament games, averaging 7.6 points on 41.8 percent (23-of-55) shooting with 4.6 rebounds per game. For his career, he is averaging 7.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks in 23.5 minutes per game.Hawkins has collected 6 20-point games and one 30-point game in his career, along with 6 double-doubles and one triple-double. He scored a career-high 30 points in the Illini's win against Iowa on Feb. 24, 2024, connecting on 9-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, in less than 30 minutes of action. He tallied the fifth triple-double in Illinois history on Nov. 29, 2022, with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over Syracuse.The bulk of Hawkins' production has come in the last 2 seasons (2022-24), in which, he has posted 749 points (11.0 ppg.) on 44.7 percent (267-of-598) shooting, including 32.9 percent (96-of-292) from 3-point range, with 419 rebounds (6.2 rpg.), 195 assists (2.9 apg.), 87 steals (1.3 spg.) and 76 blocks (1.1 bpg.) in 2,180 minutes played (32.1 mpg.) while starting 68 of the Fighting Illini's last 71 games. In that span, he scored in double figures 38 times with 6 20-point games, one 30-point game, 6 double-doubles and one triple-double.Hawkins' scoring ability increased each season at Illinois capped by his 12.1 points per game average as a senior in 2023-24 in which he posted career-bests for field goal percentage (45.1), 3-point field goal percentage (36.9) and free throw percentage (79.2). He scored in double figures in 22 of 35 games played with 4 20-point games highlighted by his 30-point effort against Iowa on Feb. 24. He also had a pair of double-doubles in road games at Michigan (21 points, 10 rebounds; Jan. 18, 2024) and Northwestern (22 points, 13 rebounds; Jan. 24, 2024).As a senior, Hawkins led the Fighting Illini in rebounding (6.1 rpg.), steals (1.5 spg.) and blocks (1.1 bpg.) while he was third in scoring and 3-point field goal percentage (36.9). He was named to the watch list for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award before earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors from the AP, third team honors from the media and honorable mention accolades from the league coaches.Hawkins jumped to the forefront as a junior in 2022-23, leading the team in rebounding (6.3 rpg.) and assists (3.0 apg.) while placing second in blocks (1.2 bpg.) and third in scoring (9.9 ppg.) in starting all 33 games. He had 16 double-digit scoring games, including a pair of 20-point efforts, to go with 3 double-double and his first career triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Syracuse on Nov. 29, 2022. He opened the season with a 23-point, 12-rebound performance against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 7, 2022.Hawkins began his ascension as a sophomore in 2021-22, averaging 5.9 points on 44.2 percent (68-of-154) shooting with 4.3 rebounds in playing in all 33 games with 14 starts. He started the first 10 games of the season, which included his first career double-digit scoring game (13 points vs. Jackson State, Nov. 9, 2021) and first double-double (17 points, 13 rebounds vs. Arkansas State, Nov. 12, 2021). He played nearly 25 minutes in the Illini's win over K-State at the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, posting 6 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. His season-high 18 points came against Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament on March 11, 2022, while had a near double-double (10 points, 8 rebounds) in the Illini's NCAA First Round win over Chattanooga on March 18, 2022.Hawkins played in 25 games off the bench as a true freshman in 2020-21 for an Illinois squad that won the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He scored in 12 games, including a 5-point, 4-rebound and 2-assist effort in his first career game against North Carolina A&amp;T on Nov. 25, 2020.A native of Sacramento, Calif., Hawkins played his high school basketball at prep powerhouse Prolific Prep in Northern California, leading his team to a 31-3 overall record and the program's first-ever Grind Session Championship prior to the cancellation of GEICO Nationals due to COVID-19. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and a team-high 6.5 assists as a senior in 2019-20.Hawkins comes from a basketball family, as his father, Rodney, played at San Diego State (1987-88) while his 3 older sisters (Ashley, Taylor and Bailey) all played at the collegiate level. His father started his college basketball career at Colby Community College in Colby, Kan., before joining the Aztecs.Hawkins is the 10th player to sign with the Wildcats for the 2024-25 season, including the eighth Division I transfer.The full list includes:Achor Achor (Melbourne, Australia/Greenforest McCalep Academy/Chipola College/Samford)Baye Fall (Dakar, Senegal/ Accelerated Prep [Colo.]/Arkansas)Brendan Hausen (Amarillo, Texas/Amarillo/ Villanova)Coleman Hawkins (Sacramento, Calif./Prolific Prep/Illinois)Mobi Ikegwuruka (Galway, Ireland/Ellsworth [Iowa] Community College)C.J. Jones (East St. Louis, Ill./East St. Louis/UIC)Max Jones (Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater/University of Tampa/Cal State Fullerton)Dug McDaniel (Washington, D.C./St. Paul VI Catholic VI/Michigan)Ugonna Onyenso (Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria/NBA Africa/Putnam Science Academy/Kentucky)The nine transfers join top-50 high school prospect David Castillo(Bartlesville, Okla./Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]), who signed during the early signing period on Nov. 8.K-State finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 record, including a tie for ninth in the Big 12 with an 8-10 mark, and advanced to the NIT. Among the Wildcats' 19 victories were 4 over Top 25 teams, including 3 in the Top 10. The team has won 45 games in head coach Jerome Tang's tenure, including consecutive postseason appearances.

Tang Signs Transfer Coleman Hawkins

By GARY VAN CLEAVE Special to Great Bend Post

He will go down in the annals of Ellsworth Bearcat baseball history as one of the greats to climb the hill 60 feet, six inches from home plate.

Lane Rolfs accomplished something few high school pitchers in today’s world do because of limited pitch counts and batters doing what batters do.

Rolfs surpassed 200 career strikeouts as a Bearcat.

“In today’s game passing 200 career strikeouts seems to be a pretty big deal to me because of how good hitters have become,” Rolfs said. “I think it takes a special kind of arm to be able to strikeout that many guys. Not just to have a good arm but to have the mental and physical toughness that I’ve improved over each year.”

He was enshrined in the 200/100 Club at Ellsworth with 238 career strikeouts and 104 runs batted in. He narrowly missed another 100 Club with 98 hits.

“Surpassing 200 career strikeouts gave me a sense of pride for myself and the work I’ve put in over the years,” said Rolfs, who earlier this week announced he would play baseball this fall at Southwestern Iowa Community College. “I felt honored to be seen as one of the top pitchers around the state.”

“I’ve never faced him in high school, but his arm angle and delivery is pretty funky and throws batters off guard,” Hoisington’s Tony Moore said.

Cole Webber, Bearcat pitcher who’s playing football at Missouri Southern this fall, called Rolfs a great pitcher.&nbsp;

“When he got up to the mound, it was always a relief because we knew he was going to make it very easy defensively,” Webber said. “Nobody ever liked facing him in practice too much, because once he got up on you, he would throw a nasty breaking ball and buckle you. Lane was always a reliable starter since we were freshman, and he was a great athlete that I loved having on my team.”

Russell junior standout Mason Rohr had a couple hits off Rolfs in their game on April 2.

“He was a different arm slot that you don’t see often, with a fastball that you couldn’t get comfortable on,” Rohr said. “His curveball was a great pitch that keeps hitters off balanced.”

Rolfs registered 17 career victories on the mound along with a career ERA of 2.909. At the plate, he managed a nifty .410 batting average and .538 on-base percentage.

In just his senior year, Rolfs batted .472, sported a .630 OBP, drove in 32 runs and scored 32 runs. He was 7-0 with a 1.765 ERA in 39.2 innings in which he fanned 74 batters and walked just 19.

“He has to be very efficient, effective and intelligent,” said Rohr, a .580 hitter for the Broncos. “Playing on and around the zone is the best thing he does because every pitch he throws has the ability to be a strike but is difficult to hit.”

“He’s a solid pitcher who can mix it up and keep hitters off balance,” Sacred Heart standout Evan Bogart said.

“As I ballplayer, I am always willing to learn or discover something new,” Rolfs, a lefty, said. “I am always trying to improve my game no matter how good I am doing. I am somewhat superstitious about trying to repeat the things I do that help me succeed and make me a better player every day.”

This year Rolfs threw two shutouts - a five-inning blanking against Beloit and a complete-game seven-inning masterpiece against Southeast of Saline. Rolfs also flirted with a pair of no-hit outings: three no-hit innings against Minneapolis and 3.2 no-hit innings against Lincoln-Sylvan Lucas. Over his storied career, Rolfs notched 10 shutouts.

“I would say as a pitcher I have become very confident in my stuff and what I can do&nbsp;&nbsp;every time I step on the mound from all the success that I’ve had over each year,” Rolfs said.

Rolfs was selected for the KABC All-Star Game at Wichita’s Riverfront Stadium. He started in left field and batted twice in the five-hole where he walked and drove in an RBI single.

This summer he’s played for the Kansas Curve out of Wichita and the Kingman Islanders.

“There were definitely some times that I impressed myself,” Rolfs said of his career, “but I always know and tell myself that I could have done way better at times.”

“Lane had very good mechanics, and watching him helped me figure out how to work out some kinks in my own pitching,” Webber said. “One thing I learned watching him was to stride out farther as I came down the mound, which helped me throw harder and more accurately.”

Rolfs admitted success on the diamond hasn’t been easy.

“If I’m being honest I definitely don’t think I left every ounce of me out on the field throughout my career,” the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Rolfs said. “But I can definitely say there were many times I fought my tail off and gave it my all.”

Between high school, summer and fall ball Rolfs’ strikeout total is over 400. Knock on that proverbial wood, that total could hit 600-700 in the next four years at college.

Something that would impress a younger Lane.

“Freshman me would think of my senior self as a really great player with all the things he’s accomplished,” Rolfs said. “But I would probably be telling him to continue working harder each day because he knows that he has all the potential to be better than he already is.”

Rolfs also visited Butler CC, but picked the Spartans of SWCC.

“I feel pretty relieved and am just excited to start this next chapter in my life,” Rolfs said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718719688381.jpeg" alt="Photo by Nicole Moyer" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Nicole Moyer</figcaption>
 </figure>By GARY VAN CLEAVE Special to Great Bend PostHe will go down in the annals of Ellsworth Bearcat baseball history as one of the greats to climb the hill 60 feet, six inches from home plate.Lane Rolfs accomplished something few high school pitchers in today’s world do because of limited pitch counts and batters doing what batters do.Rolfs surpassed 200 career strikeouts as a Bearcat.“In today’s game passing 200 career strikeouts seems to be a pretty big deal to me because of how good hitters have become,” Rolfs said. “I think it takes a special kind of arm to be able to strikeout that many guys. Not just to have a good arm but to have the mental and physical toughness that I’ve improved over each year.”He was enshrined in the 200/100 Club at Ellsworth with 238 career strikeouts and 104 runs batted in. He narrowly missed another 100 Club with 98 hits.“Surpassing 200 career strikeouts gave me a sense of pride for myself and the work I’ve put in over the years,” said Rolfs, who earlier this week announced he would play baseball this fall at Southwestern Iowa Community College. “I felt honored to be seen as one of the top pitchers around the state.”“I’ve never faced him in high school, but his arm angle and delivery is pretty funky and throws batters off guard,” Hoisington’s Tony Moore said.Cole Webber, Bearcat pitcher who’s playing football at Missouri Southern this fall, called Rolfs a great pitcher.&nbsp;“When he got up to the mound, it was always a relief because we knew he was going to make it very easy defensively,” Webber said. “Nobody ever liked facing him in practice too much, because once he got up on you, he would throw a nasty breaking ball and buckle you. Lane was always a reliable starter since we were freshman, and he was a great athlete that I loved having on my team.”Russell junior standout Mason Rohr had a couple hits off Rolfs in their game on April 2.“He was a different arm slot that you don’t see often, with a fastball that you couldn’t get comfortable on,” Rohr said. “His curveball was a great pitch that keeps hitters off balanced.”Rolfs registered 17 career victories on the mound along with a career ERA of 2.909. At the plate, he managed a nifty .410 batting average and .538 on-base percentage.In just his senior year, Rolfs batted .472, sported a .630 OBP, drove in 32 runs and scored 32 runs. He was 7-0 with a 1.765 ERA in 39.2 innings in which he fanned 74 batters and walked just 19.“He has to be very efficient, effective and intelligent,” said Rohr, a .580 hitter for the Broncos. “Playing on and around the zone is the best thing he does because every pitch he throws has the ability to be a strike but is difficult to hit.”“He’s a solid pitcher who can mix it up and keep hitters off balance,” Sacred Heart standout Evan Bogart said.“As I ballplayer, I am always willing to learn or discover something new,” Rolfs, a lefty, said. “I am always trying to improve my game no matter how good I am doing. I am somewhat superstitious about trying to repeat the things I do that help me succeed and make me a better player every day.”This year Rolfs threw two shutouts - a five-inning blanking against Beloit and a complete-game seven-inning masterpiece against Southeast of Saline. Rolfs also flirted with a pair of no-hit outings: three no-hit innings against Minneapolis and 3.2 no-hit innings against Lincoln-Sylvan Lucas. Over his storied career, Rolfs notched 10 shutouts.“I would say as a pitcher I have become very confident in my stuff and what I can do&nbsp;&nbsp;every time I step on the mound from all the success that I’ve had over each year,” Rolfs said.Rolfs was selected for the KABC All-Star Game at Wichita’s Riverfront Stadium. He started in left field and batted twice in the five-hole where he walked and drove in an RBI single.This summer he’s played for the Kansas Curve out of Wichita and the Kingman Islanders.“There were definitely some times that I impressed myself,” Rolfs said of his career, “but I always know and tell myself that I could have done way better at times.”“Lane had very good mechanics, and watching him helped me figure out how to work out some kinks in my own pitching,” Webber said. “One thing I learned watching him was to stride out farther as I came down the mound, which helped me throw harder and more accurately.”Rolfs admitted success on the diamond hasn’t been easy.“If I’m being honest I definitely don’t think I left every ounce of me out on the field throughout my career,” the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Rolfs said. “But I can definitely say there were many times I fought my tail off and gave it my all.”Between high school, summer and fall ball Rolfs’ strikeout total is over 400. Knock on that proverbial wood, that total could hit 600-700 in the next four years at college.Something that would impress a younger Lane.“Freshman me would think of my senior self as a really great player with all the things he’s accomplished,” Rolfs said. “But I would probably be telling him to continue working harder each day because he knows that he has all the potential to be better than he already is.”Rolfs also visited Butler CC, but picked the Spartans of SWCC.“I feel pretty relieved and am just excited to start this next chapter in my life,” Rolfs said.

Ellsworth's Rolfs surpassed 200 career strikeouts as a pitcher

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers hoping to lure the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri are trying to win over skeptical colleagues by narrowing their proposal for encouraging the Super Bowl champions to build a new stadium and by linking it to a plan for broad tax cuts.

The Legislature expected to consider the stadium proposal during a special session set to convene Tuesday. The measure would allow the state to issue bonds to help the Chiefs and Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals finance new stadiums on the Kansas side of their metropolitan area, which is split by the border with Missouri.

Supporters on Monday backed away from an earlier plan to allow state bonds to cover all of the construction costs for new stadiums. Their plan would use revenues from sports betting, the state lottery and new taxes raised from the area around each new stadium.

Top Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature also said the stadium proposal is their second priority during the special session, behind cutting income and property taxes. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly called the special session to consider tax cuts, but she cannot limit what lawmakers consider — creating an opening for a plan to woo the Chiefs and Royals.

“We definitely need to demonstrate that we’re getting relief to our citizens," said Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican who is backing the plan.

Many lawmakers have argued that voters would be angry if the state helped finance new stadiums without cutting taxes. Kelly vetoed three tax-cutting plans before legislators adjourned their regular annual session May 1, but she and top Republican lawmakers have drafted a compromise measure to reduce taxes by $1.23 billion over the next three years.

The first version of the stadium-financing plan emerged in late April, but lawmakers didn't vote on it before adjourning. It would have allowed state bonds to finance all stadium construction costs, but the latest version caps the amount at 70%, and it says legislative leaders and the governor must sign off on any bonding plan.

Supporters of the plan also modified it so that it only applies to professional football and Major League Baseball stadiums, instead of any professional sports stadium for at least 30,000 spectators. Bonds would be paid off over 30 years.

“We're trying to bring something grand to the state of Kansas,” said state Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Kansas City-area Republican leading the push for a stadium plan.

Free-market conservatives in Kansas have long opposed state and local subsidies for specific businesses or projects. And economists who’ve studied pro sports teams have concluded in dozens of studies over decades that subsidizing their stadiums isn’t worth the cost.

“Most of the money that gets spent on the Chiefs is money that would otherwise be spent on other entertainment projects,” said Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College in central Massachusetts who has written multiple books about sports.

Kelly told reporters Monday that she won't "invest a lot of energy” in a stadium plan, letting lawmakers lead. She and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, signed an agreement in 2019 to end years of each state using subsidies to steal the other state's jobs in the Kansas City area, but Kelly argued that their truce doesn't apply to the Chiefs and Royals.

“We never discussed the teams,” she said.

Kansas legislators consider the Chiefs and Royals in play because in April, voters on the Missouri side of the metro area refused to continue a local sales tax for the upkeep of the complex with their side-by-side stadiums. Missouri officials have said they'll do whatever it takes to keep the teams but haven't outlined any proposals.

The two teams' lease on their stadium complex runs through January 2031, but Korb Maxwell, an attorney for the Chiefs who lives on the Kansas side, said renovations on the team's Arrowhead Stadium should be planned seven or eight years in advance.

“There is an urgency to this,” added David Frantz, the Royals’ general counsel.

Supporters of the stadium plan argued that economists' past research doesn't apply to the Chiefs and Royals. They said the bonds will be paid off with tax revenues that aren't being generated now and would never be without the stadiums or the development around them. Masterson said it's wrong to call the bonds a subsidy.

And Maxwell said: “For a town to be major league, they need major league teams.”

But economists who've studied pro sports said similar arguments have been a staple of past debates over paying for new stadiums. Development around a new stadium lessens development elsewhere, where the tax dollars generated would go to fund services or schools, they said.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers hoping to lure the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri are trying to win over skeptical colleagues by narrowing their proposal for encouraging the Super Bowl champions to build a new stadium and by linking it to a plan for broad tax cuts.The Legislature expected to consider the stadium proposal during a special session set to convene Tuesday. The measure would allow the state to issue bonds to help the Chiefs and Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals finance new stadiums on the Kansas side of their metropolitan area, which is split by the border with Missouri.Supporters on Monday backed away from an earlier plan to allow state bonds to cover all of the construction costs for new stadiums. Their plan would use revenues from sports betting, the state lottery and new taxes raised from the area around each new stadium.Top Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature also said the stadium proposal is their second priority during the special session, behind cutting income and property taxes. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly called the special session to consider tax cuts, but she cannot limit what lawmakers consider — creating an opening for a plan to woo the Chiefs and Royals.“We definitely need to demonstrate that we’re getting relief to our citizens," said Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican who is backing the plan.Many lawmakers have argued that voters would be angry if the state helped finance new stadiums without cutting taxes. Kelly vetoed three tax-cutting plans before legislators adjourned their regular annual session May 1, but she and top Republican lawmakers have drafted a compromise measure to reduce taxes by $1.23 billion over the next three years.The first version of the stadium-financing plan emerged in late April, but lawmakers didn't vote on it before adjourning. It would have allowed state bonds to finance all stadium construction costs, but the latest version caps the amount at 70%, and it says legislative leaders and the governor must sign off on any bonding plan.Supporters of the plan also modified it so that it only applies to professional football and Major League Baseball stadiums, instead of any professional sports stadium for at least 30,000 spectators. Bonds would be paid off over 30 years.“We're trying to bring something grand to the state of Kansas,” said state Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Kansas City-area Republican leading the push for a stadium plan.Free-market conservatives in Kansas have long opposed state and local subsidies for specific businesses or projects. And economists who’ve studied pro sports teams have concluded in dozens of studies over decades that subsidizing their stadiums isn’t worth the cost.“Most of the money that gets spent on the Chiefs is money that would otherwise be spent on other entertainment projects,” said Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College in central Massachusetts who has written multiple books about sports.Kelly told reporters Monday that she won't "invest a lot of energy” in a stadium plan, letting lawmakers lead. She and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, signed an agreement in 2019 to end years of each state using subsidies to steal the other state's jobs in the Kansas City area, but Kelly argued that their truce doesn't apply to the Chiefs and Royals.“We never discussed the teams,” she said.Kansas legislators consider the Chiefs and Royals in play because in April, voters on the Missouri side of the metro area refused to continue a local sales tax for the upkeep of the complex with their side-by-side stadiums. Missouri officials have said they'll do whatever it takes to keep the teams but haven't outlined any proposals.The two teams' lease on their stadium complex runs through January 2031, but Korb Maxwell, an attorney for the Chiefs who lives on the Kansas side, said renovations on the team's Arrowhead Stadium should be planned seven or eight years in advance.“There is an urgency to this,” added David Frantz, the Royals’ general counsel.Supporters of the stadium plan argued that economists' past research doesn't apply to the Chiefs and Royals. They said the bonds will be paid off with tax revenues that aren't being generated now and would never be without the stadiums or the development around them. Masterson said it's wrong to call the bonds a subsidy.And Maxwell said: “For a town to be major league, they need major league teams.”But economists who've studied pro sports said similar arguments have been a staple of past debates over paying for new stadiums. Development around a new stadium lessens development elsewhere, where the tax dollars generated would go to fund services or schools, they said.

Supporters of bringing the Chiefs to Kansas have narrowed their plan

The Oakland
Athletics take on the Kansas City Royals after JJ Bleday had four
hits against the Twins on Sunday.

Kansas City Royals
(41-32, second in the AL Central) vs. Oakland Athletics (26-48, fifth
in the AL West)

Oakland, California;
Tuesday, 9:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING
PROBABLES: Royals: Alec Marsh (5-3, 3.63 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 61
strikeouts); Athletics: Hogan Harris (0-0, 2.49 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 23
strikeouts)

BETMGM
SPORTSBOOK: LINE Royals -135, Athletics +114; over/under is 8
runs

BOTTOM LINE:
The Oakland Athletics take on the Kansas City Royals after JJ
Bleday's four-hit game on Sunday.

Oakland has a 15-20
record in home games and a 26-48 record overall. The Athletics rank
fifth in MLB play with 84 total home runs, averaging 1.1 per game.

Kansas City is 41-32
overall and 16-18 on the road. The Royals have the sixth-ranked team
slugging percentage in the AL at .404.

The matchup Tuesday
is the fourth meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS:
Brent Rooker has 12 doubles, two triples and 13 home runs for the
Athletics. Tyler Soderstrom is 12-for-35 with four home runs over the
past 10 games.

Bobby Witt Jr. has
19 doubles, seven triples and 11 home runs for the Royals. Hunter
Renfroe is 9-for-22 with three doubles, two home runs and six RBI
over the past 10 games.

Athletics:
1-9, .217 batting average, 5.50 ERA, outscored by 25 runs

Royals: 4-6,
.229 batting average, 5.16 ERA, outscored by 11 runs

Athletics:
Alex Wood: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Paul Blackburn: 60-Day IL
(foot), Kyle Muller: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ross Stripling: 15-Day IL
(elbow), Esteury Ruiz: 10-Day IL (wrist), Darell Hernaiz: 60-Day IL
(ankle), Ken Waldichuk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Trevor Gott: 60-Day IL
(elbow)

By The Associated
PressThe Oakland
Athletics take on the Kansas City Royals after JJ Bleday had four
hits against the Twins on Sunday.Kansas City Royals
(41-32, second in the AL Central) vs. Oakland Athletics (26-48, fifth
in the AL West)Oakland, California;
Tuesday, 9:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING
PROBABLES: Royals: Alec Marsh (5-3, 3.63 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 61
strikeouts); Athletics: Hogan Harris (0-0, 2.49 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 23
strikeouts)BETMGM
SPORTSBOOK: LINE Royals -135, Athletics +114; over/under is 8
runsBOTTOM LINE:
The Oakland Athletics take on the Kansas City Royals after JJ
Bleday's four-hit game on Sunday.Oakland has a 15-20
record in home games and a 26-48 record overall. The Athletics rank
fifth in MLB play with 84 total home runs, averaging 1.1 per game.Kansas City is 41-32
overall and 16-18 on the road. The Royals have the sixth-ranked team
slugging percentage in the AL at .404.The matchup Tuesday
is the fourth meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS:
Brent Rooker has 12 doubles, two triples and 13 home runs for the
Athletics. Tyler Soderstrom is 12-for-35 with four home runs over the
past 10 games.Bobby Witt Jr. has
19 doubles, seven triples and 11 home runs for the Royals. Hunter
Renfroe is 9-for-22 with three doubles, two home runs and six RBI
over the past 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES:
Athletics:
1-9, .217 batting average, 5.50 ERA, outscored by 25 runsRoyals: 4-6,
.229 batting average, 5.16 ERA, outscored by 11 runsINJURIES: 
Athletics:
Alex Wood: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Paul Blackburn: 60-Day IL
(foot), Kyle Muller: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ross Stripling: 15-Day IL
(elbow), Esteury Ruiz: 10-Day IL (wrist), Darell Hernaiz: 60-Day IL
(ankle), Ken Waldichuk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Trevor Gott: 60-Day IL
(elbow)

Bleday leads Athletics against the Royals after 4-hit game

BOSTON (AP) —
Jayson Tatum had 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as the
Celtics topped the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 to claim the franchise’s
18th championship, breaking a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the
most in league history. Boston earned its latest title on the 16th
anniversary of hoisting its last Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2008. It
marks the 13th championship won this century by one of the city’s
Big 4 professional sports franchises. Jaylen Brown added 21 points.
Jrue Holiday finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Luka Doncic
finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds for Dallas, which failed to
extend the series after avoiding a sweep with a 38-point win in Game
4.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) —
Paul Maurice made the short trip from his home to the Florida
Panthers’ practice facility on Monday morning in a pretty good mood
and rightly so. The sunshine was bright, the temperature was warm and
his team was one win away from claiming the Stanley Cup. That’s the
glass-half-full outlook. The glass-half-empty perspective would be
how his Panthers were coming off a seven-goal loss. As such, when
asked if he was comfortable with a 3-1 series lead over the Edmonton
Oilers in this title series, Maurice quickly explained that that
simply doesn’t exist at this time of year.

MIAMI (AP) —
Rookie Masyn Winn hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning, Dylan
Carlson threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom
half and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Miami Marlins 7-6 on Monday
night to move over .500 for the first time since early April. St.
Louis won for the fifth time in six games and has a winning record
for the first time since the Cardinals were 5-4 after defeating the
Marlins on April 6. NL-worst Miami lost its sixth straight and
dropped to 2-12 in June.

DENVER (AP) — Los
Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts has gone on the injured list for
the first time this season with a broken left hand. The 2018 AL MVP
is expected to miss roughly six to eight weeks, manager Dave Roberts
told reporters. The 31-year-old shortstop was drilled on the hand by
a 97.9 mph fastball from reliever Dan Altavilla in the seventh inning
of Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Kansas City Royals. Betts, a
seven-time All-Star, was hitting .304 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs
in 72 games. The Dodgers recalled outfielder Miguel Vargas for his
second stint this season. He hit .250 with three doubles, one homer
and four RBIs in eight games.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) —
Texas A&amp;M scored all of its runs in the sixth inning, Ryan Prager
held Kentucky hitless into the seventh and the Aggies are off to
their best start in a College World Series after their 5-1 win. The
Aggies are 2-0 in the CWS for the first time in eight all-time
appearances and have taken control of Bracket 2. They need one more
win to reach the finals. Prager wiggled out of trouble twice before
Ryan Nicholson lined the ball over second base for the Wildcats’
first hit with two outs in the seventh.

LOS ANGELES (AP) —
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated during testimony in federal
court Monday that the league’s “Sunday Ticket” package, the
subject of a class-action lawsuit, is a premium product while also
defending the league’s broadcast model. Goodell was called as a
witness by the NFL as the trial for the lawsuit filed by “Sunday
Ticket” subscribers entered its third week. The class-action covers
2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses who paid
for the package from 2011 through 2022. The lawsuit claims the league
broke antitrust laws by selling its package of out-of-market Sunday
afternoon games at an inflated price. The subscribers also say the
league restricted competition by offering “Sunday Ticket” only on
a satellite provider.

BATON ROUGE, La.
(AP) — Former LSU coach Les Miles is suing the university over its
decision to vacate 37 of his teams' victories between 2012 and 2015.
The lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Baton Rouge alleges that
LSU never gave Miles a chance to be heard before altering his career
record in a way that disqualified him from consideration for the
College Football Hall of Fame. The decision in June 2023 to vacate
the victories stemmed from an NCAA ruling that former Tigers
offensive lineman Vadal Alexander had received financial benefits
that violated NCAA rules at the time he played. LSU said it could not
comment on pending litigation. Miles won a national championship at
LSU in 2007.

NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718617262520.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) —
Jayson Tatum had 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as the
Celtics topped the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 to claim the franchise’s
18th championship, breaking a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for the
most in league history. Boston earned its latest title on the 16th
anniversary of hoisting its last Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2008. It
marks the 13th championship won this century by one of the city’s
Big 4 professional sports franchises. Jaylen Brown added 21 points.
Jrue Holiday finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Luka Doncic
finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds for Dallas, which failed to
extend the series after avoiding a sweep with a 38-point win in Game
4.SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) —
Paul Maurice made the short trip from his home to the Florida
Panthers’ practice facility on Monday morning in a pretty good mood
and rightly so. The sunshine was bright, the temperature was warm and
his team was one win away from claiming the Stanley Cup. That’s the
glass-half-full outlook. The glass-half-empty perspective would be
how his Panthers were coming off a seven-goal loss. As such, when
asked if he was comfortable with a 3-1 series lead over the Edmonton
Oilers in this title series, Maurice quickly explained that that
simply doesn’t exist at this time of year.MIAMI (AP) —
Rookie Masyn Winn hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning, Dylan
Carlson threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the bottom
half and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Miami Marlins 7-6 on Monday
night to move over .500 for the first time since early April. St.
Louis won for the fifth time in six games and has a winning record
for the first time since the Cardinals were 5-4 after defeating the
Marlins on April 6. NL-worst Miami lost its sixth straight and
dropped to 2-12 in June.DENVER (AP) — Los
Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts has gone on the injured list for
the first time this season with a broken left hand. The 2018 AL MVP
is expected to miss roughly six to eight weeks, manager Dave Roberts
told reporters. The 31-year-old shortstop was drilled on the hand by
a 97.9 mph fastball from reliever Dan Altavilla in the seventh inning
of Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Kansas City Royals. Betts, a
seven-time All-Star, was hitting .304 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs
in 72 games. The Dodgers recalled outfielder Miguel Vargas for his
second stint this season. He hit .250 with three doubles, one homer
and four RBIs in eight games.OMAHA, Neb. (AP) —
Texas A&amp;M scored all of its runs in the sixth inning, Ryan Prager
held Kentucky hitless into the seventh and the Aggies are off to
their best start in a College World Series after their 5-1 win. The
Aggies are 2-0 in the CWS for the first time in eight all-time
appearances and have taken control of Bracket 2. They need one more
win to reach the finals. Prager wiggled out of trouble twice before
Ryan Nicholson lined the ball over second base for the Wildcats’
first hit with two outs in the seventh.LOS ANGELES (AP) —
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated during testimony in federal
court Monday that the league’s “Sunday Ticket” package, the
subject of a class-action lawsuit, is a premium product while also
defending the league’s broadcast model. Goodell was called as a
witness by the NFL as the trial for the lawsuit filed by “Sunday
Ticket” subscribers entered its third week. The class-action covers
2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses who paid
for the package from 2011 through 2022. The lawsuit claims the league
broke antitrust laws by selling its package of out-of-market Sunday
afternoon games at an inflated price. The subscribers also say the
league restricted competition by offering “Sunday Ticket” only on
a satellite provider.BATON ROUGE, La.
(AP) — Former LSU coach Les Miles is suing the university over its
decision to vacate 37 of his teams' victories between 2012 and 2015.
The lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Baton Rouge alleges that
LSU never gave Miles a chance to be heard before altering his career
record in a way that disqualified him from consideration for the
College Football Hall of Fame. The decision in June 2023 to vacate
the victories stemmed from an NCAA ruling that former Tigers
offensive lineman Vadal Alexander had received financial benefits
that violated NCAA rules at the time he played. LSU said it could not
comment on pending litigation. Miles won a national championship at
LSU in 2007.MONDAY SCORESMAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALLINTERLEAGUEFinal	Atlanta	2	Detroit	1	Final	N.Y.
Mets	14	Texas	2	Final	L.A.
Angels	5	Milwaukee	3	AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	Boston	7	Toronto	3	NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Pittsburgh	4	Cincinnati	1	Final	Philadelphia	9	San
Diego	2	Final	St.
Louis	7	Miami	6	Final	San
Francisco	7	Chicago Cubs	6	Final	L.A.
Dodgers	9	Colorado	5	NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS

Tuesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer

The Kansas City Royals took their lumps this past week against two of the best teams in baseball.

That shouldn't detract from their remarkable rise, which would be unprecedented if it results in a playoff berth.

The Royals lost 106 games last season. No team has improved from that many defeats to make the postseason a year later. The 2017 Minnesota Twins were the first team to qualify a season after triple-digit losses. They went 59-103 the previous year. The Miami Marlins lost 105 games in 2019 and made the postseason in 2020, but that was with an expanded playoff field following a 60-game regular season.

Kansas City was put to the test against the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, and it was ugly at times. The Royals lost three of four against New York and were outscored 28-12. Then they went to Los Angeles and dropped two of three. But even after all that, they're nine games over .500 and occupying the second wild-card spot in the American League.

The Royals have a young star enjoying a breakout season in shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., and a veteran who is still producing in catcher Salvador Perez. But the real story in Kansas City might be the stability of the starting rotation.

Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans and Brady Singer all have ERAs under 3.50, and the Royals' starters as a whole rank eighth in baseball at 3.56. Only the Mariners, Yankees and Phillies have gotten more innings from their starters than Kansas City.

The Royals also haven't had to go too deep into their pool of pitchers. They have five who have made at least 12 starts.

The schedule eases up a bit now. Kansas City plays its next nine games against Oakland, a struggling Texas team and Miami. Then comes a huge series with Cleveland — the current AL Central leader — at the end of the month.

Gerrit Cole could be back with the New York Yankees shortly — they haven't announced a starter yet for the second game of their big series this week against Baltimore. Cole has made three rehab starts, the most recent one on Friday. He's missed the whole season so far because of right elbow problems.

Philadelphia expects to activate star shortstop Trea Turner on Monday. He hasn't played since early May because of hamstring issues.

Lugo is 10-2, so at least for now he's on pace to reach the 20-win milestone this year. Who is the last Kansas City player to do that?

Houston's Ronel Blanco, who pitched a no-hitter in April, worked seven hitless innings Sunday in the Astros' 4-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. He was pulled after 94 pitches and eight strikeouts. Blanco walked three.

Down 4-0 to the Chicago White Sox in the bottom of the eighth Monday night, Seattle rallied to tie it on a solo homer by Dominic Canzone, a two-run single by Mitch Haniger and a run-scoring bunt single by Luke Raley. Then with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Cal Raleigh hit a grand slam to give the Mariners an 8-4 win. The White Sox had a 97.3% chance to win in the eighth inning, according to Baseball Savant.

The White Sox have just seven comeback victories this year and 26 losses in which they blew a lead. They are 5-33 when the opponent scores first and only 14-21 when they score first. Every other major league team has a winning record when scoring first.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718643650015.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez, right, celebrates with Bobby Witt Jr. after hitting a grand slam during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez, right, celebrates with Bobby Witt Jr. after hitting a grand slam during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday, June 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball WriterThe Kansas City Royals took their lumps this past week against two of the best teams in baseball.That shouldn't detract from their remarkable rise, which would be unprecedented if it results in a playoff berth.The Royals lost 106 games last season. No team has improved from that many defeats to make the postseason a year later. The 2017 Minnesota Twins were the first team to qualify a season after triple-digit losses. They went 59-103 the previous year. The Miami Marlins lost 105 games in 2019 and made the postseason in 2020, but that was with an expanded playoff field following a 60-game regular season.Kansas City was put to the test against the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, and it was ugly at times. The Royals lost three of four against New York and were outscored 28-12. Then they went to Los Angeles and dropped two of three. But even after all that, they're nine games over .500 and occupying the second wild-card spot in the American League.The Royals have a young star enjoying a breakout season in shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., and a veteran who is still producing in catcher Salvador Perez. But the real story in Kansas City might be the stability of the starting rotation.Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans and Brady Singer all have ERAs under 3.50, and the Royals' starters as a whole rank eighth in baseball at 3.56. Only the Mariners, Yankees and Phillies have gotten more innings from their starters than Kansas City.The Royals also haven't had to go too deep into their pool of pitchers. They have five who have made at least 12 starts.The schedule eases up a bit now. Kansas City plays its next nine games against Oakland, a struggling Texas team and Miami. Then comes a huge series with Cleveland — the current AL Central leader — at the end of the month.Ready to return?Gerrit Cole could be back with the New York Yankees shortly — they haven't announced a starter yet for the second game of their big series this week against Baltimore. Cole has made three rehab starts, the most recent one on Friday. He's missed the whole season so far because of right elbow problems.Philadelphia expects to activate star shortstop Trea Turner on Monday. He hasn't played since early May because of hamstring issues.Trivia TimeLugo is 10-2, so at least for now he's on pace to reach the 20-win milestone this year. Who is the last Kansas City player to do that?Line of the WeekHouston's Ronel Blanco, who pitched a no-hitter in April, worked seven hitless innings Sunday in the Astros' 4-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. He was pulled after 94 pitches and eight strikeouts. Blanco walked three.Comeback of the WeekDown 4-0 to the Chicago White Sox in the bottom of the eighth Monday night, Seattle rallied to tie it on a solo homer by Dominic Canzone, a two-run single by Mitch Haniger and a run-scoring bunt single by Luke Raley. Then with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Cal Raleigh hit a grand slam to give the Mariners an 8-4 win. The White Sox had a 97.3% chance to win in the eighth inning, according to Baseball Savant.The White Sox have just seven comeback victories this year and 26 losses in which they blew a lead. They are 5-33 when the opponent scores first and only 14-21 when they score first. Every other major league team has a winning record when scoring first.Trivia AnswerBret Saberhagen, who went 23-6 in 1989.

Even after a rough week, it's been a remarkable season for Royals

AMERICAN LEAGUEEast DivisionW	L	Pct	GB
New York	50	24	.676	—
Baltimore	47	24	.662	1½
Boston	37	35	.514	12
Toronto	35	36	.493	13½
Tampa Bay	34	38	.472	15Central Division
Cleveland	44	25	.638	—Kansas
City	41	32	.562	5
Minnesota	40	32	.556	5½
Detroit	34	37	.479	11
Chicago	19	54	.260	27West Division
Seattle	43	31	.581	—
Texas	33	38	.465	8½
Houston	33	39	.458	9
Los Angeles	28	43	.394	13½
Oakland	26	48	.351	17NATIONAL LEAGUEEast DivisionW	L	Pct	GB
Philadelphia	47	24	.662	—
Atlanta	38	31	.551	8
Washington	35	36	.493	12
New York	33	37	.471	13½
Miami	23	48	.324	24Central Division
Milwaukee	42	29	.592	—St.
Louis	35	35	.500	6½
Cincinnati	34	37	.479	8
Pittsburgh	34	37	.479	8
Chicago	34	38	.472	8½West Division
Los Angeles	44	29	.603	—
San Diego	37	38	.493	8
Arizona	35	37	.486	8½
San Francisco	35	37	.486	8½
Colorado	25	46	.352	18

MLB Standings

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer Chiefs defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs was arrested for the second time in a month on a charge of domestic violence/burglary in Alabama and released on a $5,000 bond Sunday, according to records from the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

There were no other details about the arrest. The Chiefs were aware of the case but declined to comment.

The 27-year-old Buggs, who signed a $1,292,500 contract with Kansas City for the upcoming season, turned himself in May 30 after he was charged with two misdemeanor counts of second-degree animal cruelty. Two dogs that were under Buggs' care were allegedly found neglected and malnourished, and one of the dogs had to be euthanized.

Buggs, a run-stuffing tackle out of Alabama, played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers before spending the past two with the Detroit Lions. He has started 23 games and appeared in 56 in his career, with 89 tackles and two sacks.

The Chiefs were planning to use Buggs to shore up the middle of their line. But that was before they reached a long-term deal with All-Pro tackle Chris Jones and signed Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton, both of whom were hitting free agency.

The Chiefs, who celebrated their latest championship with a ring ceremony Thursday and are aiming for a record third Super Bowl in a row, have had to deal with a series of off-the-field legal issues since beating the San Francisco 49ers in February.

Wide receiver Rashee Rice faces eight felony charges from a high-speed crash in Dallas, and offensive linemen Chukwuebuka Godrick and Wanya Morris were arrested last month in Johnson County, Kansas, on a misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer Chiefs defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs was arrested for the second time in a month on a charge of domestic violence/burglary in Alabama and released on a $5,000 bond Sunday, according to records from the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office.There were no other details about the arrest. The Chiefs were aware of the case but declined to comment.The 27-year-old Buggs, who signed a $1,292,500 contract with Kansas City for the upcoming season, turned himself in May 30 after he was charged with two misdemeanor counts of second-degree animal cruelty. Two dogs that were under Buggs' care were allegedly found neglected and malnourished, and one of the dogs had to be euthanized.Buggs, a run-stuffing tackle out of Alabama, played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers before spending the past two with the Detroit Lions. He has started 23 games and appeared in 56 in his career, with 89 tackles and two sacks.The Chiefs were planning to use Buggs to shore up the middle of their line. But that was before they reached a long-term deal with All-Pro tackle Chris Jones and signed Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton, both of whom were hitting free agency.The Chiefs, who celebrated their latest championship with a ring ceremony Thursday and are aiming for a record third Super Bowl in a row, have had to deal with a series of off-the-field legal issues since beating the San Francisco 49ers in February.Wide receiver Rashee Rice faces eight felony charges from a high-speed crash in Dallas, and offensive linemen Chukwuebuka Godrick and Wanya Morris were arrested last month in Johnson County, Kansas, on a misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Chiefs defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs arrested on charge of domestic violence

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani had his second two-homer game this season, Tyler Glasnow pitched seven innings of three-hit ball and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-0 on Sunday as Mookie Betts left in the seventh inning after a pitch broke a bone in his left hand.

Even though the Dodgers took two of three in the series it was a tough weekend as two of their star players will be sidelined for an extended period. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto was placed on the 15-day injured list before the game due to a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

Betts made an appearance in the clubhouse after the game and said he will visit a hand specialist on Monday, which should help determine how long he might be out.

“It’s a big blow. I feel bad for Mookie because he’s having an MVP-type season,” manager Dave Roberts said of Betts’ injury.

Freddie Freeman also went deep for the Dodgers.

Bobby Witt Jr., who leads the majors with a .327 batting average, had one of Kansas City's three hits. The shortstop has hit safely in 26 of 28 games since May 17.

Betts was hit in the left hand by a 97.9 mph fastball from Dan Altavilla. The pitch hit Betts at the top of the hand, near the wrist. Betts fell to the ground and was writhing in pain in the batter’s box as trainers and Roberts came out to tend to him.

“You just gotta stay in there. Can’t be scared, you know, kind of stay there, especially with a guy with a pretty good slider,” Betts said. “Just kind of up and in. I was holding my ground. Unfortunately, it hit me in the hand.”

Betts' injury dampened what were standout efforts by Ohtani and Glasnow.

Ohtani came into the game batting just .219 in June and with most of his contact being ground balls. For at least one game, he was able to reverse that.

The Japanese superstar drove a sinker from Brady Singer (4-4) 451 feet over the center field wall with one out in the third inning.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani had his second two-homer game this season, Tyler Glasnow pitched seven innings of three-hit ball and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-0 on Sunday as Mookie Betts left in the seventh inning after a pitch broke a bone in his left hand.Even though the Dodgers took two of three in the series it was a tough weekend as two of their star players will be sidelined for an extended period. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto was placed on the 15-day injured list before the game due to a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder.Betts made an appearance in the clubhouse after the game and said he will visit a hand specialist on Monday, which should help determine how long he might be out.“It’s a big blow. I feel bad for Mookie because he’s having an MVP-type season,” manager Dave Roberts said of Betts’ injury.Freddie Freeman also went deep for the Dodgers.Bobby Witt Jr., who leads the majors with a .327 batting average, had one of Kansas City's three hits. The shortstop has hit safely in 26 of 28 games since May 17.Betts was hit in the left hand by a 97.9 mph fastball from Dan Altavilla. The pitch hit Betts at the top of the hand, near the wrist. Betts fell to the ground and was writhing in pain in the batter’s box as trainers and Roberts came out to tend to him.“You just gotta stay in there. Can’t be scared, you know, kind of stay there, especially with a guy with a pretty good slider,” Betts said. “Just kind of up and in. I was holding my ground. Unfortunately, it hit me in the hand.”Betts' injury dampened what were standout efforts by Ohtani and Glasnow.Ohtani came into the game batting just .219 in June and with most of his contact being ground balls. For at least one game, he was able to reverse that.The Japanese superstar drove a sinker from Brady Singer (4-4) 451 feet over the center field wall with one out in the third inning.“It’s a really good sign that I’m able to hit the ball that far in that direction,” Ohtani said through his interpreter.Ohtani then got his 18th career multihomer game when he connected on a first-pitch slider from Singer and put it over the right field wall. It was also his 19th homer of the season, which is fourth in the majors.“When he does things the right way, gets his pitch and uses the big part of the field its pretty special,” Roberts said. “Even that second homer on a secondary pitch, for him to hit it like that instead of pulling it foul or hitting it on the ground speaks to how he is seeing the ball better.”Freeman followed three pitches later with a solo shot to right-center. It is the third time this season Ohtani and Freeman have gone back to back.Glasnow (7-5) struck out nine and leads the majors with 125 strikeouts as he picked up his first victory since May 4. Evan Phillips came on for his 10th save in the ninth.“I knew I had to be efficient. Glad I was able to keep the pitch count low and get through seven innings,” Glasnow said. “I tried to get ahead and mix up my pitches more. Not be so heavily relying on the fastball.”It is the fifth time in Singer's career and first this season he has allowed at least three homers in a game. The right-hander allowed five hits and three runs in six innings with four strikeouts.“He was able to force some contact early. He trusted his stuff through some good sliders,” manager Matt Quatraro said of Singer. “It looked like they might have been sitting on them on the homers.”TRAINER'S ROOMRoyals: C Salvador Perez (right knee inflammation) was back in the lineup as the designated hitter after sitting out Saturday's game. ... RHP Michael Wacha (left foot fracture) will make a rehab start in Arizona on Monday.Dodgers: RHP Michael Grove (right intercostal strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Alec Marsh (5-3, 3.63 ERA) takes the mound on Tuesday for the start of a three-game series at Oakland.Dodgers: Head to Colorado for three games starting Monday. LHP James Paxton (6-1, 3.92 ERA) is 1-1 in his last five starts.