The No. 10 Panther baseball team moved its win streak to six games and its overall record to 17-5 with a pair of wins against Garden City at the Sports Complex. Great Bend took game one 8-2 before the offense exploded for a 17-7 win in game two.

The Panthers scored a run in the first inning of game one and led 6-0 after two innings before the Buff plated their only two runs in the third inning. Great Bend picked up insurance runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

Daxton Minton pitched the first three innings, striking out four and allowing one hit. Both runs against the sophomore were unearned. Koehn Ribordy threw three no-hit innings with four strikeouts, and Javen Stoney threw an inning without allowing a hit.

Carson Umphres had the big bat in game one with three hits, including a double. He drove in a run and scored a run. Ian Premer singled and doubled, driving in a run and scoring three times. Trenton Kern singled twice and walked twice with a pair of RBIs.&nbsp;

Garden City opened scoring in the first inning of game two but the Panthers were able to respond with nine runs in their first at bat. The Buffs kept things interesting with three more runs in each of the third and fourth innings for an 11-7 score heading into the bottom of the fourth. Great Bend again found an answer with five more runs.

The bases were loaded for Premer in that big fourth inning when he homered to drive in four of his five runs on the day. He also singled and scored twice in the win. Peyden Oelger finished with three singles, three RBIs, and a run scored. Umphres singled and doubled with an RBI and two runs scored. Ribordy had a pair of hits to drive in two and score twice, and Slade Mohr singled twice and walked, driving in a run and scoring twice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673886582717.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The No. 10 Panther baseball team moved its win streak to six games and its overall record to 17-5 with a pair of wins against Garden City at the Sports Complex. Great Bend took game one 8-2 before the offense exploded for a 17-7 win in game two.The Panthers scored a run in the first inning of game one and led 6-0 after two innings before the Buff plated their only two runs in the third inning. Great Bend picked up insurance runs in the fourth and sixth innings.Daxton Minton pitched the first three innings, striking out four and allowing one hit. Both runs against the sophomore were unearned. Koehn Ribordy threw three no-hit innings with four strikeouts, and Javen Stoney threw an inning without allowing a hit.Carson Umphres had the big bat in game one with three hits, including a double. He drove in a run and scored a run. Ian Premer singled and doubled, driving in a run and scoring three times. Trenton Kern singled twice and walked twice with a pair of RBIs.&nbsp;Garden City opened scoring in the first inning of game two but the Panthers were able to respond with nine runs in their first at bat. The Buffs kept things interesting with three more runs in each of the third and fourth innings for an 11-7 score heading into the bottom of the fourth. Great Bend again found an answer with five more runs.The bases were loaded for Premer in that big fourth inning when he homered to drive in four of his five runs on the day. He also singled and scored twice in the win. Peyden Oelger finished with three singles, three RBIs, and a run scored. Umphres singled and doubled with an RBI and two runs scored. Ribordy had a pair of hits to drive in two and score twice, and Slade Mohr singled twice and walked, driving in a run and scoring twice.

No. 1 Panther baseball makes easy work of Garden City

Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey (19) celebrates with teammates Salvador Perez (13) and Freddy Fermin (34) after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some Kansas lawmakers see a chance to lure Kansas City's two biggest professional sports teams across the Missouri border, but an effort to help the Super Bowl champion Chiefs and Major League Baseball's Royals finance new stadiums in Kansas fizzed over concerns about how it might look to taxpayers.

Members of the Republican-controlled Legislature pushed a bill Tuesday that would have allowed Kansas officials to authorize at least $1 billion in bonds to cover the entire cost of building each new stadium, paying the debt off with tax revenues generated in the area over 30 years. But GOP leaders didn't bring it up for a vote before lawmakers adjourned their annual session early Wednesday.

Some critics derided the plan as corporate welfare. Others were receptive but didn't want to pass the proposal until the Legislature approved a broad package of tax cuts for their constituents that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly would sign — which didn't happen either.

Legislators' work on a plan began in earnest behind the scenes after voters on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metropolitan area decisively refused earlier this month to extend a local sales tax used to keep up the complex housing the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium and the Royals' Kauffman Stadium for more than 50 years.

The bill's biggest champion, Kansas House Commerce Committee Chair Sean Tarwater, a Kansas City-area Republican, said supporters want to give the two professional sports teams another option should they contemplate leaving Kansas City, which he said would be devastating to both states.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” Tarwater said. “We need them to stay in the metroplex.”

Kelly and her staff signaled Tuesday that she's likely to veto the last tax package lawmakers approved, cutting income, sales and property taxes by a total of almost $1.5 billion over the next three years. Lawmakers expect Kelly to call a special session of the Legislature to try to get lawmakers to pass a tax plan that she'll accept — and they could consider the stadium financing proposal then.

“We just need a little time on it — we’ll be OK," said Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita Republican. "I mean, we’re serious about trying to incentivize the Chiefs to come our direction.”

The proposal would allow the bonds to finance 100% of the construction of each of two new professional sports stadiums with at least 30,000 seats. State and local officials would have a year to sign off, and the teams would be on the hook if local tax revenues weren't enough to pay off the bonds.

“It was just a concern of running it before we gave real tax relief to our constituents — kind of that juxtaposed look of what appears to be corporate welfare before you’re getting tax relief to the people,” Masterson said after deciding against having a Senate vote.

Before the local sales tax vote in Missouri, the Chiefs wanted to use their share of the revenues to help pay for an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead. The Royals planned to use their share to help finance a new, $2 billion-plus ballpark district that would be part of a larger nationwide wave of sports construction.

The current lease lease on the two teams' complex lasts through Jan. 31, 2031. Royals owner John Sherman has said the Royals will not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season, the Chiefs are hopeful of remaining at Arrowhead Stadium.

“We’ll be in a situation where we go back to the drawing board,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt told reporters last week. “I do feel very much a sense of urgency, and we will approach it from a broader perspective going forward.”

Backers argue that the Kansas plan is ideal because the money to pay off the bonds would come from new taxes generated only when the area around each stadium develops. Also, professional players will have to pay the state's income tax on the portion of their earnings made at the stadiums in Kansas.

But Americans for Prosperity-Kansas, a small-government, low-tax group that has long opposed the use of such bonds, also opposed the stadium financing proposal. The group is influential with Republicans and told lawmakers it would consider their votes in evaluating their records.

Critics have long argued that allowing the bonds to finance big projects represents the state picking economic winners and losers instead of the free market. The same kind of bonds have financed multiple projects, including NASCAR's Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.

One northeastern Kansas lawmaker, Democratic Sen. Tom Holland, called the stadium proposal “economic development for millionaires.” He added that it’s “total foolishness” to have taxpayers subsidize the stadiums — either through taxes they pay when they visit or because the state forgoes revenues that would flow into its coffers.

Another northeastern Kansas lawmaker, conservative GOP Sen. Dennis Pyle, said: “We’ve got a lot of priorities in Kansas, and I’m not sure that’s one of them."

Other lawmakers were critical because the Legislature had no public hearings or debates before three senators and three House members met in public this week to hash out the details of the proposal.

Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey (19) celebrates with teammates Salvador Perez (13) and Freddy Fermin (34) after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some Kansas lawmakers see a chance to lure Kansas City's two biggest professional sports teams across the Missouri border, but an effort to help the Super Bowl champion Chiefs and Major League Baseball's Royals finance new stadiums in Kansas fizzed over concerns about how it might look to taxpayers.Members of the Republican-controlled Legislature pushed a bill Tuesday that would have allowed Kansas officials to authorize at least $1 billion in bonds to cover the entire cost of building each new stadium, paying the debt off with tax revenues generated in the area over 30 years. But GOP leaders didn't bring it up for a vote before lawmakers adjourned their annual session early Wednesday.Some critics derided the plan as corporate welfare. Others were receptive but didn't want to pass the proposal until the Legislature approved a broad package of tax cuts for their constituents that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly would sign — which didn't happen either.Legislators' work on a plan began in earnest behind the scenes after voters on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metropolitan area decisively refused earlier this month to extend a local sales tax used to keep up the complex housing the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium and the Royals' Kauffman Stadium for more than 50 years.The bill's biggest champion, Kansas House Commerce Committee Chair Sean Tarwater, a Kansas City-area Republican, said supporters want to give the two professional sports teams another option should they contemplate leaving Kansas City, which he said would be devastating to both states.“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” Tarwater said. “We need them to stay in the metroplex.”The idea isn't dead yet.Kelly and her staff signaled Tuesday that she's likely to veto the last tax package lawmakers approved, cutting income, sales and property taxes by a total of almost $1.5 billion over the next three years. Lawmakers expect Kelly to call a special session of the Legislature to try to get lawmakers to pass a tax plan that she'll accept — and they could consider the stadium financing proposal then.“We just need a little time on it — we’ll be OK," said Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita Republican. "I mean, we’re serious about trying to incentivize the Chiefs to come our direction.”The proposal would allow the bonds to finance 100% of the construction of each of two new professional sports stadiums with at least 30,000 seats. State and local officials would have a year to sign off, and the teams would be on the hook if local tax revenues weren't enough to pay off the bonds.“It was just a concern of running it before we gave real tax relief to our constituents — kind of that juxtaposed look of what appears to be corporate welfare before you’re getting tax relief to the people,” Masterson said after deciding against having a Senate vote.Before the local sales tax vote in Missouri, the Chiefs wanted to use their share of the revenues to help pay for an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead. The Royals planned to use their share to help finance a new, $2 billion-plus ballpark district that would be part of a larger nationwide wave of sports construction.The current lease lease on the two teams' complex lasts through Jan. 31, 2031. Royals owner John Sherman has said the Royals will not play at Kauffman Stadium beyond the 2030 season, the Chiefs are hopeful of remaining at Arrowhead Stadium.“We’ll be in a situation where we go back to the drawing board,” Chiefs owner Clark Hunt told reporters last week. “I do feel very much a sense of urgency, and we will approach it from a broader perspective going forward.”Backers argue that the Kansas plan is ideal because the money to pay off the bonds would come from new taxes generated only when the area around each stadium develops. Also, professional players will have to pay the state's income tax on the portion of their earnings made at the stadiums in Kansas.But Americans for Prosperity-Kansas, a small-government, low-tax group that has long opposed the use of such bonds, also opposed the stadium financing proposal. The group is influential with Republicans and told lawmakers it would consider their votes in evaluating their records.Critics have long argued that allowing the bonds to finance big projects represents the state picking economic winners and losers instead of the free market. The same kind of bonds have financed multiple projects, including NASCAR's Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.One northeastern Kansas lawmaker, Democratic Sen. Tom Holland, called the stadium proposal “economic development for millionaires.” He added that it’s “total foolishness” to have taxpayers subsidize the stadiums — either through taxes they pay when they visit or because the state forgoes revenues that would flow into its coffers.Another northeastern Kansas lawmaker, conservative GOP Sen. Dennis Pyle, said: “We’ve got a lot of priorities in Kansas, and I’m not sure that’s one of them."Other lawmakers were critical because the Legislature had no public hearings or debates before three senators and three House members met in public this week to hash out the details of the proposal.

Lawmakers want the Chiefs and Royals to come to Kansas, but a stadium plan fizzled

Kansas City Royals'
Michael Massey (19) celebrates with teammates Salvador Perez (13) and
Freddy Fermin (34) after hitting a two-run home run during the first
inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday,
April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Michael Massey hit a two-run home run, Cole Ragans struck out nine in a season-high 6 2/3 innings, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Ragans was “electric” in improving to 2-0 in three career starts against Toronto, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

“He had the best stuff he’s had all year,” Quatraro said. “He was locating. Early in the game he got quick outs.”

Bobby Witt Jr. reached base three times and drove in a run as the Royals improved to 17-11 in April and 18-13 overall. It’s the most victories Kansas City has had in a month since going 17-9 in June 2017.

“We’re in a good spot but nobody goes to the playoffs in April,” Massey said. “We’ve got to keep going.”

Ragans (2-2) allowed one run and four hits. The left-hander left because of cramping in his left calf after walking consecutive batters.

“We’ve got to get some fluids in him and get rid of that,” Quatraro said. “It’s the deepest he’s gone, the most pitches he’s thrown. It’s just fatigue, probably.”

John Schreiber came on and retired Cavan Biggio to end the inning.

Schreiber got four outs and right-hander James McArthur finished for his seventh save in eight chances.

Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos (4-2) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings but lost to Ragans for the second straight outing. Ragans got the win as the Royals won a rain-shortened game in Kansas City last Thursday.

Berríos leads the majors with 43 2/3 innings and has six quality starts in seven outings.

“I’ve been feeling healthy, strong, mentally, really stronger and more mature,” Berríos said. “I want to keep building on top of this.”

Massey struck out to end Monday’s 6-5 loss, stranding the tying run at third base. On Tuesday, the second baseman homered on the second pitch he saw from Berríos in the second inning. It was Massey’s first homer.

“There’s probably going to be a lot more nights that I leave the tying run on third base than what I did tonight,” Massey said. “You just try to compete, try to battle and stay with your process.”

Toronto’s Bo Bichette hit a two-out RBI single in the sixth but Witt made it 3-1 with an RBI double off Erik Swanson in the eighth. Génesis Cabrera replaced Swanson and gave up an RBI double to Vinnie Pasquantino.

Salvador Perez started at first base for Kansas City one night after being scratched from a start behind the plate because of a sore back. Perez had a pinch hit single in the ninth inning of Monday’s 6-5 loss and was replaced by a pinch runner.

With a leadoff single in the second inning Tuesday, Perez extended his career-best streak of reaching base safely to 20 games.

Toronto’s Davis Schneider hit a one-out single in the second but Royals right fielder Hunter Renfroe threw Schneider out at second base as he tried to extend his hit. Renfroe leads the major leagues with 67 outfield assists since 2017.

George Springer started in center field for the Blue Jays. He didn’t make a single start in center in 2023.

Royals: Kansas City recalled RHP Colin Selby from Triple-A Omaha and optioned RHP Jonathan Bowlan to Triple-A.

Blue Jays: Toronto put RHP Yariel Rodríguez (back) on the 15-day IL and recalled RHP Zach Pop from Triple-A Buffalo. Rodríguez started Monday, allowing three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. … RHP Alek Manoah (shoulder) allowed one run and two hits in six innings in a rehab start at Triple-A. Manoah struck out 12 and walked two.

Blue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt (2-4, 5.64) is expected to start Wednesday’s series finale. Kansas City’s scheduled starter is RHP Seth Lugo (4-1, 1.66).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714558755008.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey (19) celebrates with teammates Salvador Perez (13) and Freddy Fermin (34) after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 i" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey (19) celebrates with teammates Salvador Perez (13) and Freddy Fermin (34) after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 i</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City Royals'
Michael Massey (19) celebrates with teammates Salvador Perez (13) and
Freddy Fermin (34) after hitting a two-run home run during the first
inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday,
April 30, 2024 in Toronto.(Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)TORONTO (AP) — Michael Massey hit a two-run home run, Cole Ragans struck out nine in a season-high 6 2/3 innings, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 on Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.Ragans was “electric” in improving to 2-0 in three career starts against Toronto, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.“He had the best stuff he’s had all year,” Quatraro said. “He was locating. Early in the game he got quick outs.”Bobby Witt Jr. reached base three times and drove in a run as the Royals improved to 17-11 in April and 18-13 overall. It’s the most victories Kansas City has had in a month since going 17-9 in June 2017.“We’re in a good spot but nobody goes to the playoffs in April,” Massey said. “We’ve got to keep going.”Ragans (2-2) allowed one run and four hits. The left-hander left because of cramping in his left calf after walking consecutive batters.“We’ve got to get some fluids in him and get rid of that,” Quatraro said. “It’s the deepest he’s gone, the most pitches he’s thrown. It’s just fatigue, probably.”John Schreiber came on and retired Cavan Biggio to end the inning.Schreiber got four outs and right-hander James McArthur finished for his seventh save in eight chances.Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos (4-2) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings but lost to Ragans for the second straight outing. Ragans got the win as the Royals won a rain-shortened game in Kansas City last Thursday.Berríos leads the majors with 43 2/3 innings and has six quality starts in seven outings.“I’ve been feeling healthy, strong, mentally, really stronger and more mature,” Berríos said. “I want to keep building on top of this.”Massey struck out to end Monday’s 6-5 loss, stranding the tying run at third base. On Tuesday, the second baseman homered on the second pitch he saw from Berríos in the second inning. It was Massey’s first homer.“There’s probably going to be a lot more nights that I leave the tying run on third base than what I did tonight,” Massey said. “You just try to compete, try to battle and stay with your process.”Toronto’s Bo Bichette hit a two-out RBI single in the sixth but Witt made it 3-1 with an RBI double off Erik Swanson in the eighth. Génesis Cabrera replaced Swanson and gave up an RBI double to Vinnie Pasquantino.Salvador Perez started at first base for Kansas City one night after being scratched from a start behind the plate because of a sore back. Perez had a pinch hit single in the ninth inning of Monday’s 6-5 loss and was replaced by a pinch runner.With a leadoff single in the second inning Tuesday, Perez extended his career-best streak of reaching base safely to 20 games.Toronto’s Davis Schneider hit a one-out single in the second but Royals right fielder Hunter Renfroe threw Schneider out at second base as he tried to extend his hit. Renfroe leads the major leagues with 67 outfield assists since 2017.George Springer started in center field for the Blue Jays. He didn’t make a single start in center in 2023.ROSTER MOVESRoyals: Kansas City recalled RHP Colin Selby from Triple-A Omaha and optioned RHP Jonathan Bowlan to Triple-A.Blue Jays: Toronto put RHP Yariel Rodríguez (back) on the 15-day IL and recalled RHP Zach Pop from Triple-A Buffalo. Rodríguez started Monday, allowing three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings. … RHP Alek Manoah (shoulder) allowed one run and two hits in six innings in a rehab start at Triple-A. Manoah struck out 12 and walked two.UP NEXTBlue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt (2-4, 5.64) is expected to start Wednesday’s series finale. Kansas City’s scheduled starter is RHP Seth Lugo (4-1, 1.66).

Royals snap 3-game losing streak, beat Blue Jays 4-1

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) —
Some Kansas lawmakers see a chance to lure Kansas City’s two
biggest professional sports teams across the Missouri border, but an
effort to help the Super Bowl champion Chiefs and Major League
Baseball’s Royals finance new stadiums in Kansas fizzed. Kansas
legislators worried about how it might look to taxpayers. Members of
the Republican-controlled Legislature pushed a bill Tuesday that
would have allowed Kansas officials to authorize at least $1 billion
in bonds to cover the entire cost of building each new stadium. But
GOP leaders didn’t bring it up for a vote before lawmakers
adjourned their annual session early Wednesday.

TORONTO (AP) —
Michael Massey hit a two-run home run, Cole Ragans struck out nine in
a season-high 6 2/3 innings, and the Kansas City Royals beat the
Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 to snap a three-game losing streak. Bobby Witt
Jr. reached base three times and drove in a run as the Royals
improved to 17-11 in April. It’s the most victories Kansas City has
had in a month since going 17-9 in June 2017. Ragans allowed one run
and four hits to improve to 2-2. Righty John Schreiber got four outs
and right-hander James McArthur finished for his seventh save in
eight chances. José Berríos took the loss.

DETROIT (AP) —
Wenceel Pérez hit homers from both sides of the plate to help the
Detroit Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-6 Tuesday night to
split a doubleheader. The 24-year-old Dominican became the first
rookie to clear the fences for the franchise hitting right and left
handed in the same game since Raúl Casanova in 1996. In the opener,
Jack Flaherty tied an American League record with seven straight
strikeouts to start a game and struck out a career-high 14 before St.
Louis rallied against a usually bullpen with a two-run ninth inning
to beat Detroit 2-1.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)
— Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout will have surgery to repair a
torn meniscus in his left knee, sidelining the three-time AL MVP
indefinitely. The Angels believe Trout will be able to return this
season, general manager Perry Minasian said while announcing the
injury Tuesday. Trout is batting .220 with a major league-leading 10
homers, 14 RBIs and six stolen bases, but he will be sidelined by a
major injury for the fourth consecutive season. Trout had an MRI
after playing in the Angels’ 6-5 victory over Philadelphia on
Monday. Trout’s latest injury is another major blow to the Angels,
who lost Shohei Ohtani to free agency in the offseason.

MILWAUKEE (AP) —
Punches were thrown when a brawl broke out between the Tampa Bay Rays
and Milwaukee Brewers. The fracas ensued after Jose Siri grounded out
against Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe leading off the eighth inning.
Uribe and Siri exchanged words near first base and things quickly
became heated. With an umpire standing between them trying to keep
the peace, Uribe threw a punch at Siri, who then took a wild swing at
the reliever as both dugouts and bullpens emptied quickly. The
animosity between Siri and the Brewers had been building all night.
He took a long look at his home run in the third off Freddy Peralta,
who drilled Siri with a 3-0 fastball in the sixth. That led to
Peralta and Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy getting ejected.

PHOENIX (AP) — A
swarm of bees created quite a baseball buzzkill in the desert. The
start of Tuesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and
Arizona Diamondbacks was delayed nearly two hours after a bee colony
swarmed the top of the protective netting behind home plate. It took
more than an hour before a beekeeper arrived and was scissor-lifted
to the swarm. He safely removed the bees and pumped his fist to the
cheering crowd as he lowered back to the field. The game was delayed
nearly 90 minutes and the players were given an extra 30 minutes to
loosen back up before first pitch.

NEW YORK (AP) —
Tyrese Maxey saved Philadelphia from elimination with seven points in
the final 25 seconds of regulation, finished with 46 and led the
76ers to a 112-106 overtime victory over the New York Knicks in Game
5 of their first-round series. The 76ers trailed by six points with
28 seconds remaining in regulation before Maxey pulled out a comeback
that evoked memories of Reggie Miller’s eights points in nine
seconds for Indiana at Madison Square Garden in 1995. The All-Star
guard converted a four-point play with 25 seconds remaining to cut it
to two, and after Josh Hart’s free throw, pulled up from 35 feet to
tie it at 97 with 8.1 seconds left.

CLEVELAND (AP) —
Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points, Evan Mobley blocked Franz Wagner’s
layup in the final seconds and the Cleveland Cavaliers survived a
scare from Orlando, holding off Paolo Banchero and the Magic 104-103
in Game 5. Cleveland leads the series 3-2. Game 6 is Friday in
Orlando. The Cavs, who were embarrassed by the Magic while dropping
two games in Orlando last week, regrouped inside roaring Rocket
Mortgage FieldHouse. It took everything they had. After Mitchell
missed a jumper with 15.7 seconds left, Wagner drove the left side
from a potential game-tying layup but was denied at the rim with 6
seconds left by Mobley. Playing in just his fifth postseason game,
the 21-year-old Banchero had 39 points and looked like a savvy
veteran. He scored 16 in the fourth.

MILWAUKEE (AP) —
Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis each scored 29 points and the
short-handed Milwaukee Bucks kept their season alive by routing the
Indiana Pacers 115-92 in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference
first-round playoff series. Portis had the highest point total of his
playoff career and added 10 rebounds to make amends two nights after
he got ejected from a Game 4 loss. The Pacers still lead the
best-of-seven series 3-2 heading into Game 6 on Thursday in
Indianapolis. The Bucks again were playing without injured stars
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712497619824.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) —
Some Kansas lawmakers see a chance to lure Kansas City’s two
biggest professional sports teams across the Missouri border, but an
effort to help the Super Bowl champion Chiefs and Major League
Baseball’s Royals finance new stadiums in Kansas fizzed. Kansas
legislators worried about how it might look to taxpayers. Members of
the Republican-controlled Legislature pushed a bill Tuesday that
would have allowed Kansas officials to authorize at least $1 billion
in bonds to cover the entire cost of building each new stadium. But
GOP leaders didn’t bring it up for a vote before lawmakers
adjourned their annual session early Wednesday.TORONTO (AP) —
Michael Massey hit a two-run home run, Cole Ragans struck out nine in
a season-high 6 2/3 innings, and the Kansas City Royals beat the
Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 to snap a three-game losing streak. Bobby Witt
Jr. reached base three times and drove in a run as the Royals
improved to 17-11 in April. It’s the most victories Kansas City has
had in a month since going 17-9 in June 2017. Ragans allowed one run
and four hits to improve to 2-2. Righty John Schreiber got four outs
and right-hander James McArthur finished for his seventh save in
eight chances. José Berríos took the loss.DETROIT (AP) —
Wenceel Pérez hit homers from both sides of the plate to help the
Detroit Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-6 Tuesday night to
split a doubleheader. The 24-year-old Dominican became the first
rookie to clear the fences for the franchise hitting right and left
handed in the same game since Raúl Casanova in 1996. In the opener,
Jack Flaherty tied an American League record with seven straight
strikeouts to start a game and struck out a career-high 14 before St.
Louis rallied against a usually bullpen with a two-run ninth inning
to beat Detroit 2-1.ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)
— Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout will have surgery to repair a
torn meniscus in his left knee, sidelining the three-time AL MVP
indefinitely. The Angels believe Trout will be able to return this
season, general manager Perry Minasian said while announcing the
injury Tuesday. Trout is batting .220 with a major league-leading 10
homers, 14 RBIs and six stolen bases, but he will be sidelined by a
major injury for the fourth consecutive season. Trout had an MRI
after playing in the Angels’ 6-5 victory over Philadelphia on
Monday. Trout’s latest injury is another major blow to the Angels,
who lost Shohei Ohtani to free agency in the offseason.MILWAUKEE (AP) —
Punches were thrown when a brawl broke out between the Tampa Bay Rays
and Milwaukee Brewers. The fracas ensued after Jose Siri grounded out
against Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe leading off the eighth inning.
Uribe and Siri exchanged words near first base and things quickly
became heated. With an umpire standing between them trying to keep
the peace, Uribe threw a punch at Siri, who then took a wild swing at
the reliever as both dugouts and bullpens emptied quickly. The
animosity between Siri and the Brewers had been building all night.
He took a long look at his home run in the third off Freddy Peralta,
who drilled Siri with a 3-0 fastball in the sixth. That led to
Peralta and Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy getting ejected.PHOENIX (AP) — A
swarm of bees created quite a baseball buzzkill in the desert. The
start of Tuesday night’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and
Arizona Diamondbacks was delayed nearly two hours after a bee colony
swarmed the top of the protective netting behind home plate. It took
more than an hour before a beekeeper arrived and was scissor-lifted
to the swarm. He safely removed the bees and pumped his fist to the
cheering crowd as he lowered back to the field. The game was delayed
nearly 90 minutes and the players were given an extra 30 minutes to
loosen back up before first pitch.NEW YORK (AP) —
Tyrese Maxey saved Philadelphia from elimination with seven points in
the final 25 seconds of regulation, finished with 46 and led the
76ers to a 112-106 overtime victory over the New York Knicks in Game
5 of their first-round series. The 76ers trailed by six points with
28 seconds remaining in regulation before Maxey pulled out a comeback
that evoked memories of Reggie Miller’s eights points in nine
seconds for Indiana at Madison Square Garden in 1995. The All-Star
guard converted a four-point play with 25 seconds remaining to cut it
to two, and after Josh Hart’s free throw, pulled up from 35 feet to
tie it at 97 with 8.1 seconds left.CLEVELAND (AP) —
Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points, Evan Mobley blocked Franz Wagner’s
layup in the final seconds and the Cleveland Cavaliers survived a
scare from Orlando, holding off Paolo Banchero and the Magic 104-103
in Game 5. Cleveland leads the series 3-2. Game 6 is Friday in
Orlando. The Cavs, who were embarrassed by the Magic while dropping
two games in Orlando last week, regrouped inside roaring Rocket
Mortgage FieldHouse. It took everything they had. After Mitchell
missed a jumper with 15.7 seconds left, Wagner drove the left side
from a potential game-tying layup but was denied at the rim with 6
seconds left by Mobley. Playing in just his fifth postseason game,
the 21-year-old Banchero had 39 points and looked like a savvy
veteran. He scored 16 in the fourth.MILWAUKEE (AP) —
Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis each scored 29 points and the
short-handed Milwaukee Bucks kept their season alive by routing the
Indiana Pacers 115-92 in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference
first-round playoff series. Portis had the highest point total of his
playoff career and added 10 rebounds to make amends two nights after
he got ejected from a Game 4 loss. The Pacers still lead the
best-of-seven series 3-2 heading into Game 6 on Thursday in
Indianapolis. The Bucks again were playing without injured stars
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.TUESDAY SCORESMAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALLINTERLEAGUEFinal	St.
Louis	2	Detroit	1	Final	Detroit	11	St.
Louis	6	Final	Boston	4	San
Francisco	0	Final	Texas	7	Washington	1	Final	Milwaukee	8	Tampa
Bay	2	Final	Seattle	3	Atlanta	2	Final	Oakland	5	Pittsburgh	2	Final	Philadelphia	7	L.A.
Angels	5	AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	Baltimore	4	N.Y.
Yankees	2	Final	Kansas
City	4	Toronto	1	Final	Minnesota	6	Chicago
White Sox	5	Final	Houston	10	Cleveland	9	NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Miami	7	Colorado	6	Final	N.Y.
Mets	4	Chicago Cubs	2	Final	San
Diego	6	Cincinnati	4	Final	Arizona	4	L.A.
Dodgers	3	NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFSFinal
OT	Philadelphia	112	New York	106	Final	Cleveland	104	Orlando	103	Final	Milwaukee	115	Indiana	92	NATIONAL HOCKEY
LEAGUE PLAYOFFSFinal
OT	Toronto	2	Boston	1	Final	Carolina	6	N-Y
Islanders	3	Final	Colorado	6	Winnipeg	3

Wednesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" for Panther sports

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Tuesday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Cole Reif, and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Tuesday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Cole Reif, and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b97lz6uwAb4?si=Ef06Znb0qKUpBfQt" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- "Voice of the Cougars" Cole Reif- Barton Softball coach Carson Dubose- Mike Courson goes "On the Prowl" for Panther sports- Tuesday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24 hours

Tuesday on Sports Day (Watch)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714449545320.jpeg" alt="trackranksgbpostweek5-2024.jpg" />
 <figcaption>trackranksgbpostweek5-2024.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>

Area track and field leaders through April 29

The Panther team made the long journey west Monday for the Western Athletic Conference Championships in Liberal. Hays won a competitive tournament with 12 points. Dodge City and Garden City each scored eight points to tie as runners-up. Liberal finished with five points in fourth, and the Panthers scored three points to place fifth.

Aiden Stacey picked up one of the three points at No. 1 singles. He opened with an 8-1 win over Liberal but dropped his final three matches to Garden City (8-5), Hays (8-0), and Dodge City (8-1).

The No. 1 doubles team of Kaden Deines and Jacob Parks also garnered a point. The pair also defeated Liberal 8-4 to open action, but lost matches to Garden City (8-2), Hays (8-1), and Dodge City (8-6).&nbsp;

Aaron Ramirez picked up the other Panther point at No. 2 singles. He defeated Liberal 8-4 before dropping an 8-7 (2) thriller to Garden City. He closed out the day with an 8-0 loss to Hays and an 8-2 loss to Dodge City.

Liberal made up most of its points in the No. 2 doubles bracket to secure fourth place as a team. Chason Ramsey and Kaden Pound fell to Liberal 8-1. They lost subsequent matches to Garden City (8-5), Hays (8-1), and Dodge City (8-3).

The Panthers head to Maize South Saturday for Class 5A regional action.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673886582717.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend Post SportsThe Panther team made the long journey west Monday for the Western Athletic Conference Championships in Liberal. Hays won a competitive tournament with 12 points. Dodge City and Garden City each scored eight points to tie as runners-up. Liberal finished with five points in fourth, and the Panthers scored three points to place fifth.Aiden Stacey picked up one of the three points at No. 1 singles. He opened with an 8-1 win over Liberal but dropped his final three matches to Garden City (8-5), Hays (8-0), and Dodge City (8-1).The No. 1 doubles team of Kaden Deines and Jacob Parks also garnered a point. The pair also defeated Liberal 8-4 to open action, but lost matches to Garden City (8-2), Hays (8-1), and Dodge City (8-6).&nbsp;Aaron Ramirez picked up the other Panther point at No. 2 singles. He defeated Liberal 8-4 before dropping an 8-7 (2) thriller to Garden City. He closed out the day with an 8-0 loss to Hays and an 8-2 loss to Dodge City.Liberal made up most of its points in the No. 2 doubles bracket to secure fourth place as a team. Chason Ramsey and Kaden Pound fell to Liberal 8-1. They lost subsequent matches to Garden City (8-5), Hays (8-1), and Dodge City (8-3).The Panthers head to Maize South Saturday for Class 5A regional action.

Panther tennis team finishes fifth at WAC tournament

Many of the state's best high school track and field athletes were in Topeka Monday to compete in the Bob Camien/Claudia Welch meet originally scheduled for Friday. The Panther boys finished 16th overall.

Freshman Cooper Ohnmacht joined the 22-foot club in the long jump with a seventh-place finish at 22-0.5. Just seven Class 5A jumpers have reached that mark this spring. Lyndon's Tanner Heckel won with the spring's best jump of 23-8.5. Ohnmacht just missed a season best in the triple jump, placing fourth at 43-8.5 to miss the bronze by two inches. Ohnmacht also head to contend with the state's best 100m dasher this year in Seaman senior Aaron Merritt, who won in 10.48. Ohnmacht placed 21st in 11.50.

Senior Braylon Moore placed fifth in the 800m run in 2:04.30 to miss the bronze by five seconds. Junior Diego Pasos finished 11th in 2:09.06, and freshman Omar Razo ran 34th in 2:21.49. Sophomore Ismael Ramirez placed ninth in the 1600m run in 4:39.24 to miss the bronze by six seconds. Sophomore Tavon Stroup ran 16th in the 3200m run in 10:17.70. Blue Valley West senior Brock Olsen ran a top-15 time in Kansas this spring for the win by seven seconds in 9:22.53.

Senior Ramiro Rocho finished 12th in the 400m dash in 52.02. That event featured the No. 2 runner in Kansas this spring in Wamego's Harrison Cutting.

Sophomore Conner Holliday led the Panther throwers with an eighth-place finish in the discus at 135-0 to miss the bronze by nearly 12 feet. Senior Jorge Pena placed 19th at 124-3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673886567489.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend Post SportsMany of the state's best high school track and field athletes were in Topeka Monday to compete in the Bob Camien/Claudia Welch meet originally scheduled for Friday. The Panther boys finished 16th overall.Freshman Cooper Ohnmacht joined the 22-foot club in the long jump with a seventh-place finish at 22-0.5. Just seven Class 5A jumpers have reached that mark this spring. Lyndon's Tanner Heckel won with the spring's best jump of 23-8.5. Ohnmacht just missed a season best in the triple jump, placing fourth at 43-8.5 to miss the bronze by two inches. Ohnmacht also head to contend with the state's best 100m dasher this year in Seaman senior Aaron Merritt, who won in 10.48. Ohnmacht placed 21st in 11.50.Senior Braylon Moore placed fifth in the 800m run in 2:04.30 to miss the bronze by five seconds. Junior Diego Pasos finished 11th in 2:09.06, and freshman Omar Razo ran 34th in 2:21.49. Sophomore Ismael Ramirez placed ninth in the 1600m run in 4:39.24 to miss the bronze by six seconds. Sophomore Tavon Stroup ran 16th in the 3200m run in 10:17.70. Blue Valley West senior Brock Olsen ran a top-15 time in Kansas this spring for the win by seven seconds in 9:22.53.Senior Ramiro Rocho finished 12th in the 400m dash in 52.02. That event featured the No. 2 runner in Kansas this spring in Wamego's Harrison Cutting.Sophomore Conner Holliday led the Panther throwers with an eighth-place finish in the discus at 135-0 to miss the bronze by nearly 12 feet. Senior Jorge Pena placed 19th at 124-3.

Panther boys finish 16th at tough Seaman meet

Jayhawk Conference DI Standings Team Butler&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 30-2&nbsp; &nbsp; 44-8 Hutchinson&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;28-4&nbsp; &nbsp; 41-9 Barton&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;21-11&nbsp; &nbsp; 26-18 Colby&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 20-12&nbsp; &nbsp;27-23 Seward County&nbsp; 19-13&nbsp; &nbsp;25-21 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;11-21&nbsp; &nbsp;11-31 Pratt&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;7-25&nbsp; &nbsp;11-39 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;7-25&nbsp; &nbsp; 9-37 NW Tech&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-31&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-47

Saturday, April 27 Hutchison 12, Barton 0 Hutchinson 11, Barton 0 Dodge City 8, Garden City 0 Garden City 10, Dodge City 7 NW Tech @ Pratt PPD Seward County @ Butler PPD Colby @ SE Nebraska PPD Sunday, April 28 Pratt 15, NW Tech 7 Pratt 19, NW Tech 0 McCook @ Colby - PPD Monday, April 29 Colby 6, Dodge City 5 Colby 11, Dodge City 1 Butler 7, Seward County 3 Butler 11, Seward County 1 Tuesday, April 30 Pratt @ No. Oklahoma-Tonkawa End of Regular Season

Jayhawk Conference DI Standings Team Butler&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 30-2&nbsp; &nbsp; 44-8 Hutchinson&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;28-4&nbsp; &nbsp; 41-9 Barton&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;21-11&nbsp; &nbsp; 26-18 Colby&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 20-12&nbsp; &nbsp;27-23 Seward County&nbsp; 19-13&nbsp; &nbsp;25-21 Dodge City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;11-21&nbsp; &nbsp;11-31 Pratt&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;7-25&nbsp; &nbsp;11-39 Garden City&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;7-25&nbsp; &nbsp; 9-37 NW Tech&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-31&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-47Saturday, April 27 Hutchison 12, Barton 0 Hutchinson 11, Barton 0 Dodge City 8, Garden City 0 Garden City 10, Dodge City 7 NW Tech @ Pratt PPD Seward County @ Butler PPD Colby @ SE Nebraska PPD Sunday, April 28 Pratt 15, NW Tech 7 Pratt 19, NW Tech 0 McCook @ Colby - PPD Monday, April 29 Colby 6, Dodge City 5 Colby 11, Dodge City 1 Butler 7, Seward County 3 Butler 11, Seward County 1 Tuesday, April 30 Pratt @ No. Oklahoma-Tonkawa End of Regular Season

Jayhawk DI Softball Scores and Schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs signed Travis Kelce to a new two-year, $34.25 million contract on Monday, wrapping up their star tight end as they attempt to win an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press.

Kelce's deal with Kansas City includes $17 million guaranteed for 2024 and $11.25 million guaranteed by the third day of the 2025 league year, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because those details hadn't been released.

While not disclosing the financial details, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Kelce would remain the league's highest-paid tight end, adding that it was a priority to “adjust his contract.”

The 34-year-old Kelce signed a four-year, $57.25 million extension with Kansas City in 2020, which followed a $46 million, five-year deal that he signed in 2016.

“Hard to put into words what Travis means to this organization and this city,” Veach told local reporters on Zoom. “Just a really special day and moment for this organization to once again recognize arguably one of the greatest tight ends to ever do it.”

Kelce, who was chosen by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 draft, already is their career leader with 11,328 yards receiving. He needs eight receptions to reach 917 and pass Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez for that record, and three touchdown catches would give him 77, dropping Gonzalez to No. 2 on that franchise list.

Most important, Kelce has helped Kansas City win back-to-back Super Bowls and three titles in the past five years.

“Every now and then you have one of these guys that are outliers,” Veach said, “and Travis is one of those players. It's not even May yet and today we had a chance to get out there in phase two (off the offseason) and Travis was the first one in line.”

It's not just on the field where Kelce is a star, either.

His relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift has taken him to another level of celebrity, while appearances on shows such as “Saturday Night Live” have helped to make him a household name. He hosts one of the most popular podcasts across several genres with his brother and former Eagles center Jason Kelce, and he will soon host a quiz show on Amazon Prime.

But it all began on the field, where Kelce has long been considered one of the best tight ends in the game.

He missed the season opener with a knee injury last season, and he skipped the regular-season finale when the Chiefs already were assured of their playoff seeding. Those two games cost him the chance to extend his streak of 1,000-yard seasons to eight; he finished with 984 yards on 93 catches with five touchdown receptions.

When the postseason rolled around, Kelce once again took his performance to another level.

He had seven catches for 71 yards in a wild-card win over Miami, the fourth-coldest game in NFL history. He had five catches for 75 yards and two scores in a divisional win in Buffalo. He had 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the AFC title game in Baltimore, and capped it all with nine catches for 93 yards in the Super Bowl against San Francisco.

Along the way, Kelce batted down rumors of retirement, saying: “I have no reason to stop playing football. I love it.”

“The odds of someone playing this far into their 30s is low,” Veach acknowledged, “but it does happen. There are unicorns in the profession and Travis is one of those. He's shown no signs of slowing down.”

The extension for Kelce comes one week after the Chiefs announced they had signed Veach, coach Andy Reid team president Mark Donovan to contract extensions. The team did not say how long those deals would last, but they are expected to keep the three most central leadership figures with the franchise through the 2029 season.

Patrick Mahomes, whom Kelce considers one of his closest friends, is under contract through the 2031 season. All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, the third piece of their three-player core, signed a five-year, $158.75 million deal in March.

Along with rewarding Kelce for his continued superlative play, Veach pointed to several young players who will be due contract extensions in the next couple of years as another reason for getting the tight end's situation sorted out.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs signed Travis Kelce to a new two-year, $34.25 million contract on Monday, wrapping up their star tight end as they attempt to win an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press.Kelce's deal with Kansas City includes $17 million guaranteed for 2024 and $11.25 million guaranteed by the third day of the 2025 league year, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because those details hadn't been released.While not disclosing the financial details, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Kelce would remain the league's highest-paid tight end, adding that it was a priority to “adjust his contract.”The 34-year-old Kelce signed a four-year, $57.25 million extension with Kansas City in 2020, which followed a $46 million, five-year deal that he signed in 2016.“Hard to put into words what Travis means to this organization and this city,” Veach told local reporters on Zoom. “Just a really special day and moment for this organization to once again recognize arguably one of the greatest tight ends to ever do it.”Kelce, who was chosen by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 draft, already is their career leader with 11,328 yards receiving. He needs eight receptions to reach 917 and pass Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez for that record, and three touchdown catches would give him 77, dropping Gonzalez to No. 2 on that franchise list.Most important, Kelce has helped Kansas City win back-to-back Super Bowls and three titles in the past five years.“Every now and then you have one of these guys that are outliers,” Veach said, “and Travis is one of those players. It's not even May yet and today we had a chance to get out there in phase two (off the offseason) and Travis was the first one in line.”It's not just on the field where Kelce is a star, either.His relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift has taken him to another level of celebrity, while appearances on shows such as “Saturday Night Live” have helped to make him a household name. He hosts one of the most popular podcasts across several genres with his brother and former Eagles center Jason Kelce, and he will soon host a quiz show on Amazon Prime.But it all began on the field, where Kelce has long been considered one of the best tight ends in the game.He missed the season opener with a knee injury last season, and he skipped the regular-season finale when the Chiefs already were assured of their playoff seeding. Those two games cost him the chance to extend his streak of 1,000-yard seasons to eight; he finished with 984 yards on 93 catches with five touchdown receptions.When the postseason rolled around, Kelce once again took his performance to another level.He had seven catches for 71 yards in a wild-card win over Miami, the fourth-coldest game in NFL history. He had five catches for 75 yards and two scores in a divisional win in Buffalo. He had 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the AFC title game in Baltimore, and capped it all with nine catches for 93 yards in the Super Bowl against San Francisco.Along the way, Kelce batted down rumors of retirement, saying: “I have no reason to stop playing football. I love it.”“The odds of someone playing this far into their 30s is low,” Veach acknowledged, “but it does happen. There are unicorns in the profession and Travis is one of those. He's shown no signs of slowing down.”The extension for Kelce comes one week after the Chiefs announced they had signed Veach, coach Andy Reid team president Mark Donovan to contract extensions. The team did not say how long those deals would last, but they are expected to keep the three most central leadership figures with the franchise through the 2029 season.Patrick Mahomes, whom Kelce considers one of his closest friends, is under contract through the 2031 season. All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, the third piece of their three-player core, signed a five-year, $158.75 million deal in March.Along with rewarding Kelce for his continued superlative play, Veach pointed to several young players who will be due contract extensions in the next couple of years as another reason for getting the tight end's situation sorted out.

Chiefs sign star tight end Travis Kelce to new 2-year, $34.25 million deal

TORONTO (AP) — Justin Turner hit two home runs, Danny Jansen added a solo homer and the Toronto Blue Jays held on to beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Monday night.

Turner hit a two-run home run in the first inning and had a leadoff homer in the third. The homers were his third and fourth. It was the 16th multihomer game of his career.

Jansen also connected in the third, his second.

The Blue Jays scored more than five runs for the first time in 21 games, ending a streak that dated back to a 9-8 loss at Yankee Stadium on April 6.

“The best sign was the quality of contact and the amount of balls we kept off the ground,” Turner said. “We’ve been hitting a lot of hard balls but beating them into the ground and not getting any results. I think tonight was probably our best game of the year of having quality contact. That was good to see.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and drove in a run as Toronto won back-to-back games after losing the previous five.

The Blue Jays won for the first time in 12 games this season when their opponent scores at least five runs.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was scratched from the starting lineup because of a tight back but delivered a pinch-hit single with two out in the ninth. Dairon Blanco ran for Perez, who hit for DH Nelson Velázquez

“His back tightened up a little bit earlier in the day, but he worked on it throughout the game and he said he was 100% there at the end,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Perez.

Toronto’s Nate Pearson struck out Kansas City’s Michael Massey to end it, stranding the tying run at third base.

The save was Pearson’s first of the season. He finished for Toronto on a night that regular closer Jordan Romano and fellow right-hander Yimi Garcia were both unavailable.

“They have power arms throughout,” Quatraro said of Toronto’s deep bullpen. “I mean, Pearson is not a bad option throwing 100 miles per hour coming in in the ninth inning.”

Kyle Isbel homered and drove in two runs but the Royals lost their third straight. Freddy Fermin also homered for Kansas City, his first.

Recalled from Triple-A Omaha to make his second career start, Royals right-hander Jonathan Bowlan (0-1) allowed four runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings, including three home runs.

“The mistakes got hit at the end of the day,” Bowlan said. “I wasn’t pounding the zone how I would have liked and when you fall behind, stuff like this happens.”

Blue Jays right-hander Yariel Rodríguez allowed three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings but left with the bases loaded. Génesis Cabrera came on and retired Vinnie Pasquantino to escape the jam.

Cabrera (1-0) got four outs for the victory.

Isbel’s homer, his third, came off right-hander Trevor Richards in the sixth.

Fermin made it 6-5 with a leadoff homer off righty Erik Swanson in the eighth.

Blue Jays rookie Addison Barger got his first major league hit, a leadoff single in the sixth.

“It looked like a giant weight lifted off his shoulders,” Turner said. “He’s been taking great at-bats. He’s been hitting balls hard all over the place and hadn’t been rewarded yet.”

Kansas City optioned RHP Will Klein to Triple-A to make room for Bowlan.

RHP José Berríos (4-1, 1.23 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays on Tuesday night against Kansas City LHP Cole Ragans (1-2, 3.90).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714473635441.jpeg" alt="Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Justin Turner, right, celebrates after his solo home run with third base coach Carlos Febles (51) while playing against the Kansas City Royals during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, April 29, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Justin Turner, right, celebrates after his solo home run with third base coach Carlos Febles (51) while playing against the Kansas City Royals during third-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Monday, April 29, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>TORONTO (AP) — Justin Turner hit two home runs, Danny Jansen added a solo homer and the Toronto Blue Jays held on to beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Monday night.Turner hit a two-run home run in the first inning and had a leadoff homer in the third. The homers were his third and fourth. It was the 16th multihomer game of his career.Jansen also connected in the third, his second.The Blue Jays scored more than five runs for the first time in 21 games, ending a streak that dated back to a 9-8 loss at Yankee Stadium on April 6.“The best sign was the quality of contact and the amount of balls we kept off the ground,” Turner said. “We’ve been hitting a lot of hard balls but beating them into the ground and not getting any results. I think tonight was probably our best game of the year of having quality contact. That was good to see.”Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and drove in a run as Toronto won back-to-back games after losing the previous five.The Blue Jays won for the first time in 12 games this season when their opponent scores at least five runs.Royals catcher Salvador Perez was scratched from the starting lineup because of a tight back but delivered a pinch-hit single with two out in the ninth. Dairon Blanco ran for Perez, who hit for DH Nelson Velázquez“His back tightened up a little bit earlier in the day, but he worked on it throughout the game and he said he was 100% there at the end,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Perez.Toronto’s Nate Pearson struck out Kansas City’s Michael Massey to end it, stranding the tying run at third base.The save was Pearson’s first of the season. He finished for Toronto on a night that regular closer Jordan Romano and fellow right-hander Yimi Garcia were both unavailable.“They have power arms throughout,” Quatraro said of Toronto’s deep bullpen. “I mean, Pearson is not a bad option throwing 100 miles per hour coming in in the ninth inning.”Kyle Isbel homered and drove in two runs but the Royals lost their third straight. Freddy Fermin also homered for Kansas City, his first.Recalled from Triple-A Omaha to make his second career start, Royals right-hander Jonathan Bowlan (0-1) allowed four runs and six hits in 2 2/3 innings, including three home runs.“The mistakes got hit at the end of the day,” Bowlan said. “I wasn’t pounding the zone how I would have liked and when you fall behind, stuff like this happens.”Blue Jays right-hander Yariel Rodríguez allowed three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings but left with the bases loaded. Génesis Cabrera came on and retired Vinnie Pasquantino to escape the jam.Cabrera (1-0) got four outs for the victory.Isbel’s homer, his third, came off right-hander Trevor Richards in the sixth.Fermin made it 6-5 with a leadoff homer off righty Erik Swanson in the eighth.Blue Jays rookie Addison Barger got his first major league hit, a leadoff single in the sixth.“It looked like a giant weight lifted off his shoulders,” Turner said. “He’s been taking great at-bats. He’s been hitting balls hard all over the place and hadn’t been rewarded yet.”ROSTER MOVESKansas City optioned RHP Will Klein to Triple-A to make room for Bowlan.UP NEXTRHP José Berríos (4-1, 1.23 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays on Tuesday night against Kansas City LHP Cole Ragans (1-2, 3.90).

Turner hits 2 home runs as Blue Jays beat Royals 6-5

TORONTO
(AP) — Justin Turner hit two home runs, Danny Jansen added a solo
homer and the Toronto Blue Jays held on to beat the Kansas City
Royals 6-5 on Monday night. Turner hit a two-run home run in the
first inning and had a leadoff homer in the third. It was the 16th
multihomer game of his career. Jansen also connected in the third,
his second. The Blue Jays scored more than five runs for the first
time in 21 games, ending a streak that dated back to a 9-8 loss at
Yankee Stadium on April 6.

TORONTO
(AP) — Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez was scratched from
Monday’s lineup against the Blue Jays because of a tight back. An
eight-time All-Star and the MVP of Kansas City’s World Series
triumph in 2015, Perez is batting .340 with seven home runs. He was
tied for second in the AL with 26 RBIs heading into Monday’s games.
Perez had been scheduled to bat fourth against Toronto. Instead,
designated hitter Nelson Velázquez moved from sixth to fourth.
Freddy Fermin took over behind the plate, batting sixth.

BALTIMORE
(AP) — Gunnar Henderson led off the first inning with a homer to
become the youngest player in major league history with 10 home runs
before May 1 and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the New York Yankees
2-0 in the opener of a four-game series. Grayson Rodriguez threw 5
2/3 shutout innings for Baltimore, which won the first meeting of the
season between the top teams in the AL East. New York left 10 runners
on base and was 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Henderson's
home run off Clarke Schmidt tied him with the Los Angeles Angels’
Mike Trout for the major league lead.

DETROIT
(AP) — The game between the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals
has been postposed Monday night because of inclement weather. The
teams will play a straight doubleheader on Tuesday. The first game
will start at 3:40 p.m. Pitchers Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty were
scheduled to start Monday and Tuesday for Detroit. Matt Manning has
been brought up twice this year for doubleheaders and could do so
again on Tuesday. Pitchers Steven Matz and Kyle Gibson are expected
to start for the Cardinals.

KANSAS
CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Travis Kelce to
a new two-year, $34.25 million contract. That's according to a person
who spoke to The Associated Press on condition on anonymity because
the terms of the deal had not been released. The new deal ensures
Kansas City will have its star tight end as it tries to win an
unprecedented third straight Super Bowl. Chiefs general manager Brett
Veach says Kelce will remain the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
The 34-year-old Kelce is already the Chiefs' career leader in
receiving yards. And his relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift has
taken him to a new level of celebrity.

UNDATED
(AP) — Jason Kelce will join ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown”
after retiring from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year,
according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person
confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on the condition of
anonymity on Monday because it was not expected to be announced until
the ESPN/Disney upfront presentation to advertisers on May 14. The
Athletic was the first to report on Kelce’s choice. Kelce is
expected to replace Robert Griffin III, who would continue with the
network as a college football analyst. Kelce played 13 years for the
Eagles. He was the most sought after former player by the networks
for the upcoming season. He participated in last year’s NFL
Broadcasting and Media Workshop.

DENVER
(AP) — Jamal Murray scored a game-high 32 points Monday night
despite a strained left calf and sank the game-winning shot with 3.6
seconds remaining as the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets again
bounced LeBron James from the playoffs with a 108-106 win over the
Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5.James’ two free throws tied it at 106
with 26 seconds left and the Nuggets, just as they did in Game 2,
eschewed the timeout and Murray took the ball on a high screen and
roll to his left, shaking Austin Reaves and he crossed through the
lane and swished the 14-footer. It was Murray’s buzzer beater that
won Game 2.

DENVER
(AP) — The futures of LeBron James and Darvin Ham with the Los
Angeles Lakers remain murky. One might choose to leave and the other
might not have a choice. For James, the decision is his on whether he
wants to wear purple and gold again in his 22nd NBA season. For Ham,
it’s about whether the team brings him back for a third season as
coach after back-to-back series losses to Denver. Big decisions loom
after the defending champion Nuggets eliminated Los Angeles from the
playoffs with a 108-106 win in Game 5 on Monday.

MIAMI
(AP) — Derrick White scored a career-high 38 points, Jayson Tatum
added 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the
Miami Heat 102-88 to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference
first-round series. Jaylen Brown scored 17 points and Jrue Holiday
had 11 for the top-seeded Celtics, who lost Kristaps Porzingis in the
first half to what the team said was a right calf injury. Bam Adebayo
finished with 25 points, 17 rebounds and five assists for Miami,
which had a sellout crowd but played again without injured starters
Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier.

NEW
ORLEANS (AP) — Jalen Williams highlighted a 24-point performance
with a back-breaking 3 with three minutes left, and the Oklahoma City
Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 97-89 to complete a four-game
sweep of their first-round playoff series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which trailed by
five in the fourth quarter before suddenly seizing control with a
combination of stifling defense and opportunistic shooting. Giddey
and Holmgren each scored 14 points. Holmgren also had nine rebounds.
CJ McCollum scored 20 for New Orleans. But the Pelicans hit just
eight of 34 shots from 3-point range. New Orleans stayed close
despite usual high-scoring wing Brandon Ingram missing 12 of 14 shots
and finishing with just eight points.

NEW
YORK (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation and its Mexican counterpart
dropped their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup and said
they instead will focus on trying to host the 2031 tournament. The
decision left a proposal from Brazil and a joint
Germany-Netherlands-Belgium plan competing to be picked for 2027 by
the FIFA Congress that meets May 17 in Bangkok. The USSF said the
2031 bid will call for FIFA to invest equally in the men’s and
women’s World Cups. FIFA said last year it planned to spend $896
million in prize money for the 2026 World Cup after devoting $110
million for last year’s women’s tournament.

St.
Louis	at	Detroit	6:40 p.m.	(Postponed)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707734642080.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TORONTO
(AP) — Justin Turner hit two home runs, Danny Jansen added a solo
homer and the Toronto Blue Jays held on to beat the Kansas City
Royals 6-5 on Monday night. Turner hit a two-run home run in the
first inning and had a leadoff homer in the third. It was the 16th
multihomer game of his career. Jansen also connected in the third,
his second. The Blue Jays scored more than five runs for the first
time in 21 games, ending a streak that dated back to a 9-8 loss at
Yankee Stadium on April 6.TORONTO
(AP) — Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez was scratched from
Monday’s lineup against the Blue Jays because of a tight back. An
eight-time All-Star and the MVP of Kansas City’s World Series
triumph in 2015, Perez is batting .340 with seven home runs. He was
tied for second in the AL with 26 RBIs heading into Monday’s games.
Perez had been scheduled to bat fourth against Toronto. Instead,
designated hitter Nelson Velázquez moved from sixth to fourth.
Freddy Fermin took over behind the plate, batting sixth.BALTIMORE
(AP) — Gunnar Henderson led off the first inning with a homer to
become the youngest player in major league history with 10 home runs
before May 1 and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the New York Yankees
2-0 in the opener of a four-game series. Grayson Rodriguez threw 5
2/3 shutout innings for Baltimore, which won the first meeting of the
season between the top teams in the AL East. New York left 10 runners
on base and was 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Henderson's
home run off Clarke Schmidt tied him with the Los Angeles Angels’
Mike Trout for the major league lead.DETROIT
(AP) — The game between the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals
has been postposed Monday night because of inclement weather. The
teams will play a straight doubleheader on Tuesday. The first game
will start at 3:40 p.m. Pitchers Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty were
scheduled to start Monday and Tuesday for Detroit. Matt Manning has
been brought up twice this year for doubleheaders and could do so
again on Tuesday. Pitchers Steven Matz and Kyle Gibson are expected
to start for the Cardinals.KANSAS
CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Travis Kelce to
a new two-year, $34.25 million contract. That's according to a person
who spoke to The Associated Press on condition on anonymity because
the terms of the deal had not been released. The new deal ensures
Kansas City will have its star tight end as it tries to win an
unprecedented third straight Super Bowl. Chiefs general manager Brett
Veach says Kelce will remain the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
The 34-year-old Kelce is already the Chiefs' career leader in
receiving yards. And his relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift has
taken him to a new level of celebrity.UNDATED
(AP) — Jason Kelce will join ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown”
after retiring from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year,
according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person
confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on the condition of
anonymity on Monday because it was not expected to be announced until
the ESPN/Disney upfront presentation to advertisers on May 14. The
Athletic was the first to report on Kelce’s choice. Kelce is
expected to replace Robert Griffin III, who would continue with the
network as a college football analyst. Kelce played 13 years for the
Eagles. He was the most sought after former player by the networks
for the upcoming season. He participated in last year’s NFL
Broadcasting and Media Workshop.DENVER
(AP) — Jamal Murray scored a game-high 32 points Monday night
despite a strained left calf and sank the game-winning shot with 3.6
seconds remaining as the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets again
bounced LeBron James from the playoffs with a 108-106 win over the
Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5.James’ two free throws tied it at 106
with 26 seconds left and the Nuggets, just as they did in Game 2,
eschewed the timeout and Murray took the ball on a high screen and
roll to his left, shaking Austin Reaves and he crossed through the
lane and swished the 14-footer. It was Murray’s buzzer beater that
won Game 2.DENVER
(AP) — The futures of LeBron James and Darvin Ham with the Los
Angeles Lakers remain murky. One might choose to leave and the other
might not have a choice. For James, the decision is his on whether he
wants to wear purple and gold again in his 22nd NBA season. For Ham,
it’s about whether the team brings him back for a third season as
coach after back-to-back series losses to Denver. Big decisions loom
after the defending champion Nuggets eliminated Los Angeles from the
playoffs with a 108-106 win in Game 5 on Monday.MIAMI
(AP) — Derrick White scored a career-high 38 points, Jayson Tatum
added 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the Boston Celtics beat the
Miami Heat 102-88 to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference
first-round series. Jaylen Brown scored 17 points and Jrue Holiday
had 11 for the top-seeded Celtics, who lost Kristaps Porzingis in the
first half to what the team said was a right calf injury. Bam Adebayo
finished with 25 points, 17 rebounds and five assists for Miami,
which had a sellout crowd but played again without injured starters
Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier.NEW
ORLEANS (AP) — Jalen Williams highlighted a 24-point performance
with a back-breaking 3 with three minutes left, and the Oklahoma City
Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 97-89 to complete a four-game
sweep of their first-round playoff series. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, which trailed by
five in the fourth quarter before suddenly seizing control with a
combination of stifling defense and opportunistic shooting. Giddey
and Holmgren each scored 14 points. Holmgren also had nine rebounds.
CJ McCollum scored 20 for New Orleans. But the Pelicans hit just
eight of 34 shots from 3-point range. New Orleans stayed close
despite usual high-scoring wing Brandon Ingram missing 12 of 14 shots
and finishing with just eight points.NEW
YORK (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation and its Mexican counterpart
dropped their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup and said
they instead will focus on trying to host the 2031 tournament. The
decision left a proposal from Brazil and a joint
Germany-Netherlands-Belgium plan competing to be picked for 2027 by
the FIFA Congress that meets May 17 in Bangkok. The USSF said the
2031 bid will call for FIFA to invest equally in the men’s and
women’s World Cups. FIFA said last year it planned to spend $896
million in prize money for the 2026 World Cup after devoting $110
million for last year’s women’s tournament.MONDAY
SCORESMAJOR
LEAGUE BASEBALLINTERLEAGUESt.
Louis	at	Detroit	6:40 p.m.	(Postponed)Final	Tampa
Bay	1	Milwaukee	0	Final	Oakland	5	Pittsburgh	1	Final	Seattle	2	Atlanta	1	Final	L.A.
Angels	6	Philadelphia	5	AMERICAN
LEAGUEFinal	Baltimore	2	N.Y.
Yankees	0	Final	Toronto	6	Kansas
City	5	Final	Minnesota	3	Chicago
White Sox	2	NATIONAL
LEAGUEFinal	Washington	7	Miami	2	Final	Chicago
Cubs	3	N.Y. Mets	1	Final	Cincinnati	5	San
Diego	2	Final	L.A.
Dodgers	8	Arizona	4	NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFSFinal	Boston	102	Miami	88	Final	Oklahoma
City	97	New Orleans	89	Final	Denver	108	L.A.
Lakers	106	NATIONAL
HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFSFinal	Florida	6	Tampa
Bay	1

Tuesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

The wait may have
been worth it for the Lady Panther track and field team. The Bob Camien/Claudia
Welch meet at Topeka Seaman was originally scheduled for Friday but pushed back
to Monday due to weather concerns last week. Needing certain marks to enter the
meet, Great Bend scored 76 points to win the 22-team field. Manhattan finished
a point behind in second and Blue Valley West scored 63 points for third.

The Lady Panthers
set one, almost two school records. The 4x800 team of Eliana Beckham, Addy
Nicholson, Kate Welcher, and Reese Bullard ran second in 9:39.52, more than a
second behind the winners from Washburn Rural but 11 seconds faster than a
season-best and six seconds under the record set by the Lady Panthers in 1997.
Great Bend’s time ranks No. 2 in Class 5A this season, three seconds behind St.
James Academy. The time is fourth best in Kansas this spring.

Senior Macy
Nachtigal has led Class 5A in the javelin for much of the season. Monday, she
reached a new personal best to beat the field by more than 13 feet at 141-4,
the third-best throw in Kansas this spring. Rachel Komarek set the old school
mark at 150-3 in 2000.

Senior Sadie Spray
finished second in the high jump at 5-2, missing the gold by two inches. Junior
Cassie Ellegood cleared 5-0 for fourth. Spray collected another silver in the
300m hurdles in 48.56 to miss the gold be less than a second. Spray’s time
ranks No. 11 in Class 5A.

Beckham ran half a
second off a season best in the 800m run to finish second in 2:22.00, nearly
four seconds off the pace. Sophomore Sienna Smith ran seventh in 2:28.40, and
Welcher placed 15th in 2:35.16.

The 3200m run
Friday likely would have featured two of the best ever in Kansas. They were not
in the mix Monday with Junction City freshman Anna Fontaine taking the gold in
11:28.90. Nicholson led a trio of Lady Panthers in second place in 11:46.77 to
move to No. 11 in Class 5A. Junior Marissa Boone finished fifth in 12:04.41,
and senior Morgan Beckwich placed sixth in 12:05.16.

Smith cut three
seconds from a season-best in the 1600m run to place fifth in 5:36.42, 11
seconds behind the bronze. Freshman Bella Long ran 15th in 5:48.69,
and freshman Teah King finished 19th in 5:54.50.

Great Bend’s
4x400m team of Spray, Beckham, Bullard, and Daizy Gomez finished sixth in
4:10.47, the best time of the season by more than a second. The Lady Panthers
now rank No. 7 in Class 5A.

Great Bend had
three competitors in the discus. Sophomore Kimberly Hofflinger paced the team
in fifth on a throw of 115-0 to miss the bronze by five feet. Sophomore Natalee
Daniels placed 13th at 102-7, and sophomore MacKenzie Lindberg
finished 17th at 99-10.

The Lady Panthers also
had three competitors in the shot put. Daniels led the way in 11th
place on a throw of 33-8. Sophomore Allie Gerhart placed 13th at
33-2.25, and Hofflinger placed 24th at 29-5.25.

Sophomore Kaylea McMullen placed eighth in the pole vault at 8-0, three feet shy of the bronze. Junior Adelyn Irwin and freshman Kayle Baldwin tied for seventh at 7-0.

Ellegood led a trio of Lady Panther triple jumpers in 14th at 32-10.25. Junior Kara Feist placed 16th at 32-6.5, and junior Jordyn Harbaugh finished 22nd at 29-8.75.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714448713688.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend Post
SportsThe wait may have
been worth it for the Lady Panther track and field team. The Bob Camien/Claudia
Welch meet at Topeka Seaman was originally scheduled for Friday but pushed back
to Monday due to weather concerns last week. Needing certain marks to enter the
meet, Great Bend scored 76 points to win the 22-team field. Manhattan finished
a point behind in second and Blue Valley West scored 63 points for third.The Lady Panthers
set one, almost two school records. The 4x800 team of Eliana Beckham, Addy
Nicholson, Kate Welcher, and Reese Bullard ran second in 9:39.52, more than a
second behind the winners from Washburn Rural but 11 seconds faster than a
season-best and six seconds under the record set by the Lady Panthers in 1997.
Great Bend’s time ranks No. 2 in Class 5A this season, three seconds behind St.
James Academy. The time is fourth best in Kansas this spring.Senior Macy
Nachtigal has led Class 5A in the javelin for much of the season. Monday, she
reached a new personal best to beat the field by more than 13 feet at 141-4,
the third-best throw in Kansas this spring. Rachel Komarek set the old school
mark at 150-3 in 2000.Senior Sadie Spray
finished second in the high jump at 5-2, missing the gold by two inches. Junior
Cassie Ellegood cleared 5-0 for fourth. Spray collected another silver in the
300m hurdles in 48.56 to miss the gold be less than a second. Spray’s time
ranks No. 11 in Class 5A.Beckham ran half a
second off a season best in the 800m run to finish second in 2:22.00, nearly
four seconds off the pace. Sophomore Sienna Smith ran seventh in 2:28.40, and
Welcher placed 15th in 2:35.16.The 3200m run
Friday likely would have featured two of the best ever in Kansas. They were not
in the mix Monday with Junction City freshman Anna Fontaine taking the gold in
11:28.90. Nicholson led a trio of Lady Panthers in second place in 11:46.77 to
move to No. 11 in Class 5A. Junior Marissa Boone finished fifth in 12:04.41,
and senior Morgan Beckwich placed sixth in 12:05.16.Smith cut three
seconds from a season-best in the 1600m run to place fifth in 5:36.42, 11
seconds behind the bronze. Freshman Bella Long ran 15th in 5:48.69,
and freshman Teah King finished 19th in 5:54.50.Great Bend’s
4x400m team of Spray, Beckham, Bullard, and Daizy Gomez finished sixth in
4:10.47, the best time of the season by more than a second. The Lady Panthers
now rank No. 7 in Class 5A.Great Bend had
three competitors in the discus. Sophomore Kimberly Hofflinger paced the team
in fifth on a throw of 115-0 to miss the bronze by five feet. Sophomore Natalee
Daniels placed 13th at 102-7, and sophomore MacKenzie Lindberg
finished 17th at 99-10.The Lady Panthers also
had three competitors in the shot put. Daniels led the way in 11th
place on a throw of 33-8. Sophomore Allie Gerhart placed 13th at
33-2.25, and Hofflinger placed 24th at 29-5.25.Sophomore Kaylea McMullen placed eighth in the pole vault at 8-0, three feet shy of the bronze. Junior Adelyn Irwin and freshman Kayle Baldwin tied for seventh at 7-0.Ellegood led a trio of Lady Panther triple jumpers in 14th at 32-10.25. Junior Kara Feist placed 16th at 32-6.5, and junior Jordyn Harbaugh finished 22nd at 29-8.75.

Lady Panthers set new 4x8 record, win Topeka Seaman meet


2	Northwest Florida State
College	51-3	133


3	Florida Southwestern State
College	52-6	126


8	Walters State Community
College	41-7	91

13	Butler
Community College - KS	42-8	56


14	Trinity Valley Community
College	42-14	49


16	Chattanooga State Community
College	41-11	35


18	Bossier Parish Community
College	38-14-1	21

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711745558543.png" alt="NJCAA DI Softball Poll | Week Ten - 4-29-24" />
 <figcaption>NJCAA DI Softball Poll | Week Ten - 4-29-24</figcaption>
 </figure>Place	Name	Record	Points
1	McLennan Community
College	54-2	140
2	Northwest Florida State
College	51-3	133
3	Florida Southwestern State
College	52-6	126
4	Temple College	47-9	119
5	Salt Lake Community
College	40-7	112
6	College of Southern
Idaho	41-11	105
7	Indian River State
College	48-9	98
8	Walters State Community
College	41-7	91
9	College of Central
Florida	44-16	84
10	Paris Junior
College	42-10	77
11	Gulf Coast State
College	39-13	70
12	Grayson College	35-15	6313	Butler
Community College - KS	42-8	56
14	Trinity Valley Community
College	42-14	49
15	Seminole State College
(OK)	38-8	42
16	Chattanooga State Community
College	41-11	35
17	Galveston College	38-13	28
18	Bossier Parish Community
College	38-14-1	21
19	John A. Logan
College	43-9	14
20	Santa Fe College	39-20	3

NJCAA DI Softball Rankings

2	Johnson
County Community College	43-9	155


4	Iowa Western Community
College	42-7	137


6	Northwest Florida State
College	31-13	117


7	Florence-Darlington
Technical College	46-9	115


11	Walters State Community
College	44-12	78

15	Kansas
City Kansas Community College	42-7	47

17	Hutchinson
Community College	42-11	19

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710859281123.jpeg" alt="NJCAA DI Baseball Poll - Week Ten - 4-29-24&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>NJCAA DI Baseball Poll - Week Ten - 4-29-24&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Place	Name	Record	Points
1	Gaston College	49-6	1562	Johnson
County Community College	43-9	155
3	Georgia Highlands
College	46-7	145
4	Iowa Western Community
College	42-7	137
5	Central Arizona
College	44-12	125
6	Northwest Florida State
College	31-13	117
7	Florence-Darlington
Technical College	46-9	115
8	Weatherford
College	40-12	107
9	Crowder College	42-12	96
10	Salt Lake Community
College	38-8	82
11	Walters State Community
College	44-12	78
12	Blinn College	33-14	71
13	Indian River State
College	37-12	60
14	Pima Community
College	42-14	5615	Kansas
City Kansas Community College	42-7	47
16	Navarro College	30-16	2417	Hutchinson
Community College	42-11	19
18	McLennan Community
College	37-14	18
19	John A. Logan
College	40-9	16
20	College of Southern
Nevada	40-9	13

NJCAA DI Baseball Rankings

- Great Bend Track and Field coach Lyles Lashley

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Monday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark, and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Monday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, Aaron Clark, and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VXU6VyGhml4?si=wv5F8bNzcjeXR4qa" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Barton Baseball coach Brent Biggs- Great Bend Tribune's Jim Misunas- Great Bend Track and Field coach Lyles Lashley- Weekend Sports Headlines- Sounds of weekend

Monday on Sports Day (Watch)

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State added a piece to its backfield on Monday with the signing of transfer running back&nbsp;Dylan Edwards&nbsp;to a Financial Aid Agreement.

Edwards, who is transferring in from Colorado and will have three years of eligibility remaining, returns to his home state after playing high school football at Derby. Additionally, Edwards is a legacy Wildcat as his father, Leon, was a K-State running back who lettered from 1992 through 1994.

During his lone season in Boulder, Edwards played in all 12 games with six starts and rushed for 321 yards and a touchdown while also serving as a receiving weapon out of the backfield by hauling in 36 receptions for 299 yards and another four scores. He became the first true freshman in Colorado history with at least 250 rushing yards and receiving yards in the same season and just the ninth Buffalo all-time to accomplish the feat.

Edwards began his collegiate career on a high note, accounting for 177 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns as the Buffaloes won at No. 17 TCU, 45-42. He became the first FBS freshman over the past 20 seasons with three receiving touchdowns and a rushing score in his collegiate debut en route to Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.

Coming out of Derby High School, Edwards was regarded as one of the top 200 players in the Class of 2023 by Rivals (No. 100) and ESPN (No. 140), while he was rated one of the top 25 running backs in the class by all four major recruiting services.

Prepping under former Wildcat Brandon Clark at Derby, Edwards helped the Panthers to a combined 42-7 record over his four seasons, including state championships as a freshman and sophomore and a runner-up finish as a junior.

In his high school career, Edwards rushed for 6,426 yards and 95 touchdowns on 622 carries as he produced 32 100-yard rushing games out of 36 total games played. He also recorded 556 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, 521 kickoff-return yards and three touchdowns, and he added 441 punt-return yards and three touchdowns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714405847528.png" alt="Kansas State Athletics photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State Athletics photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State AthleticsMANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State added a piece to its backfield on Monday with the signing of transfer running back&nbsp;Dylan Edwards&nbsp;to a Financial Aid Agreement.Edwards, who is transferring in from Colorado and will have three years of eligibility remaining, returns to his home state after playing high school football at Derby. Additionally, Edwards is a legacy Wildcat as his father, Leon, was a K-State running back who lettered from 1992 through 1994.During his lone season in Boulder, Edwards played in all 12 games with six starts and rushed for 321 yards and a touchdown while also serving as a receiving weapon out of the backfield by hauling in 36 receptions for 299 yards and another four scores. He became the first true freshman in Colorado history with at least 250 rushing yards and receiving yards in the same season and just the ninth Buffalo all-time to accomplish the feat.Edwards began his collegiate career on a high note, accounting for 177 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns as the Buffaloes won at No. 17 TCU, 45-42. He became the first FBS freshman over the past 20 seasons with three receiving touchdowns and a rushing score in his collegiate debut en route to Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.Coming out of Derby High School, Edwards was regarded as one of the top 200 players in the Class of 2023 by Rivals (No. 100) and ESPN (No. 140), while he was rated one of the top 25 running backs in the class by all four major recruiting services.Prepping under former Wildcat Brandon Clark at Derby, Edwards helped the Panthers to a combined 42-7 record over his four seasons, including state championships as a freshman and sophomore and a runner-up finish as a junior.In his high school career, Edwards rushed for 6,426 yards and 95 touchdowns on 622 carries as he produced 32 100-yard rushing games out of 36 total games played. He also recorded 556 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, 521 kickoff-return yards and three touchdowns, and he added 441 punt-return yards and three touchdowns.

K-State signs transfer running back Dylan Edwards

Four of the five Western Athletic Conference schools made up the field of eight at last Thursday's swim invitational at Barton Community College. The Lady Panthers scored 490 points for the win. Salina South scored 374 points for second, and Hays placed third with 306 points.

Great Bend opened with a win in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Emilee Hall, Clarise Snapp, Braylee Carper, and Josephine Mazouch won by two seconds in 2:09.96. The squad of Meredith Mazouch, Ava Gregg, Darcy Feist, and Ellie Lutt placed fifth in 2:20.21.

The Lady Panthers saw more success in the 200 free relay as Hall, Sydney Kruckenberg, Meredith Mazouch, and Josephine Mazouch beat Hays by six seconds for the gold in 1:49.85. The team of Snapp, Gregg, Lutt, and Sidney Gilkison placed seventh in 2:08.69.

Hall collected an individual gold in the 100 back by nearly five seconds in 1:05.85. Meredith Mazouch finished fourth in 1:21.11 to miss the bronze by 10 seconds, and Katelyn Mermis placed 10th in 1:32.19. Snapp placed second in the 100 breast in 1:23.46, seven seconds off the win. Gregg finished behind her in 1:29.07 for the bronze.

The Lady Panthers took three of the top four spots in the 200 IM. Hall led the trio in 2:34.01 in second, seven seconds off the pace. Gregg finished behind Hall in 2:55.40, and Snapp placed fourth in 2:59.55. Josephine Mazouch placed third behind a pair of Hays swimmers in the 50 free in 27.40, just 0.05 seconds behind the silver with a state consideration time. Kruckenberg placed sixth in 28.91. Avah Holden finished fourth in the 100 fly in 1:34.04 to miss the bronze by seven seconds.

Newton's Angela Ewert swam away with the title in the 200 free in 2:10 but the next three swimmers hit the pad in a photo finish. Kruckenberg placed third in 2:24.08, missing the silver by just 0.07 seconds, and holding on to the bronze by just 0.18 seconds. Braylee Carper placed fifth in 2:29.76, and Meredith Mazouch swam eighth in 2:39.70.

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 </figure>Great Bend Post SportsFour of the five Western Athletic Conference schools made up the field of eight at last Thursday's swim invitational at Barton Community College. The Lady Panthers scored 490 points for the win. Salina South scored 374 points for second, and Hays placed third with 306 points.Great Bend opened with a win in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Emilee Hall, Clarise Snapp, Braylee Carper, and Josephine Mazouch won by two seconds in 2:09.96. The squad of Meredith Mazouch, Ava Gregg, Darcy Feist, and Ellie Lutt placed fifth in 2:20.21.The Lady Panthers saw more success in the 200 free relay as Hall, Sydney Kruckenberg, Meredith Mazouch, and Josephine Mazouch beat Hays by six seconds for the gold in 1:49.85. The team of Snapp, Gregg, Lutt, and Sidney Gilkison placed seventh in 2:08.69.Hall collected an individual gold in the 100 back by nearly five seconds in 1:05.85. Meredith Mazouch finished fourth in 1:21.11 to miss the bronze by 10 seconds, and Katelyn Mermis placed 10th in 1:32.19. Snapp placed second in the 100 breast in 1:23.46, seven seconds off the win. Gregg finished behind her in 1:29.07 for the bronze.The Lady Panthers took three of the top four spots in the 200 IM. Hall led the trio in 2:34.01 in second, seven seconds off the pace. Gregg finished behind Hall in 2:55.40, and Snapp placed fourth in 2:59.55. Josephine Mazouch placed third behind a pair of Hays swimmers in the 50 free in 27.40, just 0.05 seconds behind the silver with a state consideration time. Kruckenberg placed sixth in 28.91. Avah Holden finished fourth in the 100 fly in 1:34.04 to miss the bronze by seven seconds.Newton's Angela Ewert swam away with the title in the 200 free in 2:10 but the next three swimmers hit the pad in a photo finish. Kruckenberg placed third in 2:24.08, missing the silver by just 0.07 seconds, and holding on to the bronze by just 0.18 seconds. Braylee Carper placed fifth in 2:29.76, and Meredith Mazouch swam eighth in 2:39.70.Ewert was again a factor in the 100 free, taking second in 59.77. Josephine Mazouch finished just behind her in 59.92 for the bronze, missing the auto state qualification mark by just 0.71 seconds. Feist swam fourth for the Panthers in 1:04.05.Great Bend took three of the top five spots in the 500 free. Carper placed third in 6:47.66 to miss the silver by 16 seconds. Lutt swam fourth in 7:15.01, and Mermis placed fifth in 7:15.25.The Lady Panther 400 free relay team of Mermis, Sheridan Johnson, Cailyn Murphy, and Shatarah Newton placed ninth in 5:50.67.