KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Dairon Blanco executed a suicide squeeze bunt in the ninth inning to score pinch-runner Samad Taylor, and the Kansas City Royals rallied after blowing a 5-0 lead to hand the playoff-contending Seattle Mariners their third straight loss, 7-6 on Monday night.

“That's how we drew it up,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro deadpanned. “He's gotten bunts down in big spots. That guy (Matt Brash) was throwing 100 miles per hour. That's not easy to do.”

Brady Singer took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Bobby Witt Jr. hit the Royals' first inside-the-park homer in four years and Salvador Perez hit a three-run shot to build the Royals' big lead.

“Everything felt good,” Singer said. "I was able to work up in the zone. All the pitches were working.

“I knew (about a no-hitter), but you never think it's going to happen. So you just go out there and try to make pitches. What happens, happens.”

So much happened in the final two innings that Singer's effort was almost for naught.

Julio Rodríguez hit a bases-clearing double in the eighth to get the Mariners within 5-3, then scored on a single by Eugenio Suárez. In the ninth, Josh Rojas tied it with a run-scoring single against Nick Wittgren (1-0), and Rodríguez's RBI single put the Mariners on top.

But Brash (8-4) immediately ran into trouble in the ninth. He gave up consecutive singles and Perez tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Blanco then bunted Brash's first pitch down the first-base line, and first baseman Dylan Moore couldn't handle it cleanly as Taylor dashed home with the game-ending run.

“It was a heck of a comeback by our guys, really down and out and didn’t have a whole lot going offensively,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “But our guys don’t quit. It’s a testament to them and they find a way to get ahead and get the lead. But then (the Royals) came back that’s a big hit there at the end to obviously pull it out.”

The Mariners (63-55), coming off back-to-back extra-inning losses to Baltimore, fell two games behind Toronto for the final AL wild-card spot.

Maikel Garcia led off the bottom of the first with a single against Logan Gilbert, extending his hitting streak to 16 games, a Royals rookie record. Garcia advanced on Witt's infield hit and Perez followed with a 429-foot homer to center, his 19th.

In the fifth, Witt hit a sharp line drive to right field. Dominic Canzone appeared to lose it in the lights and it sailed behind him. He had trouble picking it up at the wall, and the speedy Witt circled the bases in 14.3 seconds, the fourth-fastest home-to-home time since Statcast began in 2015.

“I thought (Canzone) caught it,” Witt said. “Then I saw the ball get past him. I was focused on (third base coach) Vance (Wilson).”

The Royals' last inside-the-park home run was by Whit Merrifield against the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 9, 2019.

While Gilbert was struggling, Singer was cruising. He retired the first 14 batters he faced and only had one three-ball count before walking Cade Marlowe with two outs in the fifth.

Canzone singled with two outs in the seventh for the Mariners' first hit. In the eighth, Singer gave up a one-out double to Mike Ford and hit Moore with a pitch, ending his night. Carlos Hernandez came on and allowed both runners to score while giving up two runs of his own.

Gilbert allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Royals: Reinstated OF Drew Waters from the bereavement list and optioned OF Edward Olivares to Triple-A Omaha. ... Claimed OF Bubba Thompson off waivers from Texas and optioned him to Omaha.

The four-game series continues Tuesday night with Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock (0-0, 1.80 ERA) making his second career start. Jordan Lyles (3-13, 6.13) starts for Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Dairon Blanco executed a suicide squeeze bunt in the ninth inning to score pinch-runner Samad Taylor, and the Kansas City Royals rallied after blowing a 5-0 lead to hand the playoff-contending Seattle Mariners their third straight loss, 7-6 on Monday night.“That's how we drew it up,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro deadpanned. “He's gotten bunts down in big spots. That guy (Matt Brash) was throwing 100 miles per hour. That's not easy to do.”Brady Singer took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Bobby Witt Jr. hit the Royals' first inside-the-park homer in four years and Salvador Perez hit a three-run shot to build the Royals' big lead.“Everything felt good,” Singer said. "I was able to work up in the zone. All the pitches were working.“I knew (about a no-hitter), but you never think it's going to happen. So you just go out there and try to make pitches. What happens, happens.”So much happened in the final two innings that Singer's effort was almost for naught.Julio Rodríguez hit a bases-clearing double in the eighth to get the Mariners within 5-3, then scored on a single by Eugenio Suárez. In the ninth, Josh Rojas tied it with a run-scoring single against Nick Wittgren (1-0), and Rodríguez's RBI single put the Mariners on top.But Brash (8-4) immediately ran into trouble in the ninth. He gave up consecutive singles and Perez tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Blanco then bunted Brash's first pitch down the first-base line, and first baseman Dylan Moore couldn't handle it cleanly as Taylor dashed home with the game-ending run.“It was a heck of a comeback by our guys, really down and out and didn’t have a whole lot going offensively,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “But our guys don’t quit. It’s a testament to them and they find a way to get ahead and get the lead. But then (the Royals) came back that’s a big hit there at the end to obviously pull it out.”The Mariners (63-55), coming off back-to-back extra-inning losses to Baltimore, fell two games behind Toronto for the final AL wild-card spot.Maikel Garcia led off the bottom of the first with a single against Logan Gilbert, extending his hitting streak to 16 games, a Royals rookie record. Garcia advanced on Witt's infield hit and Perez followed with a 429-foot homer to center, his 19th.In the fifth, Witt hit a sharp line drive to right field. Dominic Canzone appeared to lose it in the lights and it sailed behind him. He had trouble picking it up at the wall, and the speedy Witt circled the bases in 14.3 seconds, the fourth-fastest home-to-home time since Statcast began in 2015.“I thought (Canzone) caught it,” Witt said. “Then I saw the ball get past him. I was focused on (third base coach) Vance (Wilson).”The Royals' last inside-the-park home run was by Whit Merrifield against the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 9, 2019.While Gilbert was struggling, Singer was cruising. He retired the first 14 batters he faced and only had one three-ball count before walking Cade Marlowe with two outs in the fifth.Canzone singled with two outs in the seventh for the Mariners' first hit. In the eighth, Singer gave up a one-out double to Mike Ford and hit Moore with a pitch, ending his night. Carlos Hernandez came on and allowed both runners to score while giving up two runs of his own.Gilbert allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.TRANSACTIONSRoyals: Reinstated OF Drew Waters from the bereavement list and optioned OF Edward Olivares to Triple-A Omaha. ... Claimed OF Bubba Thompson off waivers from Texas and optioned him to Omaha.UP NEXTThe four-game series continues Tuesday night with Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock (0-0, 1.80 ERA) making his second career start. Jordan Lyles (3-13, 6.13) starts for Kansas City.

Dairon Blanco's squeeze bunt gives the Royals a wild 7-6 win over the Mariners

2022 (Sophomore): All-MIAA Third Team selection as a defensive lineman...Played and started in 10 games at defensive end, missing only one contest due to injury...Led FHSU defensive linemen in tackles with 36 and ranked seventh overall on the team...Ranked third on the team in tackles for loss (7.0)...His 1.5 sacks for the season tied for second best on the team...Recorded four pass breakups, which tied for second best on the team...Had a season-high seven tackles against Missouri Western (9/8/22)...Recorded a season-high two tackles for loss and one sack at Pittsburg State (11/12/22)...CSC Academic All-District selection...Earned MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award for All-MIAA honors and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA...Named to MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

2022 (Sophomore): All-MIAA Third Team selection at defensive back...Played and started in nine games...Ranked second on the team in tackles with 56 for the season, averaging 6.2 per game...Recorded 2.5 tackles for loss on the season...Had a blocked punt and picked up the ball in the endzone for a touchdown against Missouri Southern (9/24/22)...Produced a season-high nine tackles against Missouri Western (9/8/22)...Had one interception against Missouri Southern (9/24/22)...CSC Academic All-District selection...Earned MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award for earning All-MIAA honors and holding a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher...Named to MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

2022 (Sophomore): Played in 10 games...Recorded his only tackle of the season at Central Oklahoma (10/15/22)...Named to MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

Fr. Holt Hanzlick Linebacker,&nbsp;Height 5-11 Weight 210, Hoisington High School Hoisington HS: Two-time all-state performer in football...Selected to compete in the Kansas Shrine Bowl...Also competed in basketball and baseball.

Fr. Cayden Scheuerman Safety,&nbsp;Height 5-11 Weight 195, Great Bend High School Great Bend HS: All-state honorable mention and all-conference first team selection at quarterback...Served as team captain and was an All-Area Top 11 selection...Also competed in basketball and track and field...State qualifier in track and field...Produced 2,381 yards of total offense his senior year, which included 1,499 passing yards and 882 rushing yards with 25 touchdowns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692036538487.jpeg" alt="Jr. Myles Menges DL,&nbsp;Height 6-4 Weight 250, Bushton, Kan.&nbsp;Central Plains HS" />
 <figcaption>Jr. Myles Menges DL,&nbsp;Height 6-4 Weight 250, Bushton, Kan.&nbsp;Central Plains HS</figcaption>
 </figure>2022 (Sophomore): All-MIAA Third Team selection as a defensive lineman...Played and started in 10 games at defensive end, missing only one contest due to injury...Led FHSU defensive linemen in tackles with 36 and ranked seventh overall on the team...Ranked third on the team in tackles for loss (7.0)...His 1.5 sacks for the season tied for second best on the team...Recorded four pass breakups, which tied for second best on the team...Had a season-high seven tackles against Missouri Western (9/8/22)...Recorded a season-high two tackles for loss and one sack at Pittsburg State (11/12/22)...CSC Academic All-District selection...Earned MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award for All-MIAA honors and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA...Named to MIAA Academic Honor Roll.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692036693725.jpeg" alt="Jr. Mason Perez Safety,&nbsp;Height 6-1 Weight 190,&nbsp;Hometown Larned, Kan, Larned High School" />
 <figcaption>Jr. Mason Perez Safety,&nbsp;Height 6-1 Weight 190,&nbsp;Hometown Larned, Kan, Larned High School</figcaption>
 </figure>2022 (Sophomore): All-MIAA Third Team selection at defensive back...Played and started in nine games...Ranked second on the team in tackles with 56 for the season, averaging 6.2 per game...Recorded 2.5 tackles for loss on the season...Had a blocked punt and picked up the ball in the endzone for a touchdown against Missouri Southern (9/24/22)...Produced a season-high nine tackles against Missouri Western (9/8/22)...Had one interception against Missouri Southern (9/24/22)...CSC Academic All-District selection...Earned MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award for earning All-MIAA honors and holding a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher...Named to MIAA Academic Honor Roll.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692036807404.jpeg" alt="Jr. Dalton Miller Safety,&nbsp;Height 5-11 Weight 195,&nbsp;Great Bend, Kan., Great Bend High School" />
 <figcaption>Jr. Dalton Miller Safety,&nbsp;Height 5-11 Weight 195,&nbsp;Great Bend, Kan., Great Bend High School</figcaption>
 </figure>2022 (Sophomore): Played in 10 games...Recorded his only tackle of the season at Central Oklahoma (10/15/22)...Named to MIAA Academic Honor Roll.Fr. Holt Hanzlick Linebacker,&nbsp;Height 5-11 Weight 210, Hoisington High School Hoisington HS: Two-time all-state performer in football...Selected to compete in the Kansas Shrine Bowl...Also competed in basketball and baseball.Fr. Cayden Scheuerman Safety,&nbsp;Height 5-11 Weight 195, Great Bend High School Great Bend HS: All-state honorable mention and all-conference first team selection at quarterback...Served as team captain and was an All-Area Top 11 selection...Also competed in basketball and track and field...State qualifier in track and field...Produced 2,381 yards of total offense his senior year, which included 1,499 passing yards and 882 rushing yards with 25 touchdowns.

Area Fort Hays State Tigers

Georgia begins its drive for an unprecedented college football championship three-peat as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press preseason Top 25. The Bulldogs received 60 of 63 first-place votes to easily outpoint No. 2 Michigan. The Wolverines received two first-place votes. Michigan's Big Ten rival, Ohio State is No. 3, with one first-place vote. Two more Southeastern Conference teams join Georgia in the top five. Alabama is No. 4, the Crimson Tide’s lowest preseason rankings since 2009, and LSU starts at No. 5. This is the second time in program history 2008 Georgia has been preseason No. 1.

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Aug. 13, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

Others receiving votes: Texas Tech 101, South Carolina 73, UCLA 66, UTSA 64, Arkansas 22, Boise St. 17, Pittsburgh 16, Kentucky 14, Louisville 10, Troy 10, Kansas 10, Auburn 7, Minnesota 6, Toledo 4, Duke 4, Mississippi St. 4, Florida 4, Illinois 3, Baylor 3, Coastal Carolina 3, South Alabama 1, NC State 1, James Madison 1, Liberty 1.

Georgia begins its drive for an unprecedented college football championship three-peat as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press preseason Top 25. The Bulldogs received 60 of 63 first-place votes to easily outpoint No. 2 Michigan. The Wolverines received two first-place votes. Michigan's Big Ten rival, Ohio State is No. 3, with one first-place vote. Two more Southeastern Conference teams join Georgia in the top five. Alabama is No. 4, the Crimson Tide’s lowest preseason rankings since 2009, and LSU starts at No. 5. This is the second time in program history 2008 Georgia has been preseason No. 1.The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Aug. 13, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:Record	Pts	Prv1. Georgia (60)	0-0	1572	12. Michigan (2)	0-0	1490	33. Ohio St. (1)	0-0	1400	44. Alabama	0-0	1398	55. LSU	0-0	1276	166. Southern Cal	0-0	1245	127. Penn St.	0-0	1177	78. Florida St.	0-0	1147	119. Clemson	0-0	1032	1310. Washington	0-0	977	811. Texas	0-0	882	2512. Tennessee	0-0	868	613. Notre Dame	0-0	863	1814. Utah	0-0	811	1015. Oregon	0-0	732	1516. Kansas St.	0-0	501	1417. TCU	0-0	416	218. Oregon St.	0-0	406	1719. Wisconsin	0-0	386	-20. Oklahoma	0-0	296	-21. North Carolina	0-0	292	-22. Mississippi	0-0	281	-23. Texas A&amp;M	0-0	227	-24. Tulane	0-0	224	925. Iowa	0-0	131	-Others receiving votes: Texas Tech 101, South Carolina 73, UCLA 66, UTSA 64, Arkansas 22, Boise St. 17, Pittsburgh 16, Kentucky 14, Louisville 10, Troy 10, Kansas 10, Auburn 7, Minnesota 6, Toledo 4, Duke 4, Mississippi St. 4, Florida 4, Illinois 3, Baylor 3, Coastal Carolina 3, South Alabama 1, NC State 1, James Madison 1, Liberty 1.

Georgia opens as No. 1 in AP Top 25. Michigan, Ohio State next

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer

The silly season in college football, that time when coaches get fired and hired, seems to never stop.

The dismissal of Pat Fitzgerald by Northwestern after an investigation into hazing in the program kicked off this year’s carousel.

College administrators are also embracing the quick hook more than ever before. Last year, there were five coaching changes between the first games and Oct. 3.

Who is in danger of being this season's Scott Frost or Geoff Collins? There are hot spots to varying degrees at West Virginia, Indiana, Syracuse, Missouri and Boston College.

Results on the field matter, but the other major factors are how much it will cost to buyout a contract and whether the athletic director currently in charge hired that coach. Six situations worth monitoring:

NEAL BROWN, West Virginia (22-25 record, four seasons)

The pandemic year, the loosening of transfer rules, the NCAA lifting a ban on players being paid for endorsements and conference realignment have changed the landscape of college football.

Not all programs have been impacted the same way.

Not to make excuses for Brown, but the Mountaineers' failure to launch under him is in part because the job changed and not for the better. When new AD Wren Baker arrived last last season, giving Brown another season to prove it was an acknowledgment of that reality, at least in part. Also, Brown would have been owed $17 million, a buyout number that drops by about $4 million after this season.

The problem for Brown is similar to what Collins faced in a make-or-break season at Georgia Tech last year.

West Virginia has a brutal early schedule with nonconference games against Penn State and Pitt and conference games against Texas Tech and TCU — all before October.

Baker's patience and desire to save money amid fan discontent could be tested.

TOM ALLEN, Indiana (30-40, seven seasons)

The feel-good seasons of 2019 and 2020 under Allen, who has a fiery Ted Lasso vibe, has not been sustainable for the Hoosiers. Allen's buyout is around $20 million even if he's fired after the season.

On one hand, that could push Indiana to have a some patience if the Hoosiers can cobble together a respectable season.

On the other, Indiana opens at Ohio State, plays Louisville two weeks later and is at Maryland on Sept. 30 and Michigan on Oct. 14. If it's going to cost a fortune either way to fire Allen, a bad first half could seal the deal.

ELI DRINKWITZ, Missouri (17-19, three seasons)

Drinkwitz got a two-year extension and a raise in the offseason from AD Desiree Reed-Francois, who did not hire him. Notably the new deal didn't increase the cost for Missouri to fire Drinkwitz after this season.

Mizzou would still by on the hook for about $20 million after this season if it cuts loose Drinkwitz, whose teams have been neither terrible nor particularly good.

Expectations are not unreasonably high. A 6-6 regular-season against a tough schedule that includes Georgia, LSU and Tennessee in the SEC and nonconference games against Kansas State and Memphis could be enough to justify patience.

JEFF HAFLEY, Boston College (15-20, three years)

Hafley's first two seasons — including 6-5 during the pandemic year — hinted that BC might have found a gem in the former Ohio State defensive coordinator with NFL experience.

There wasn't much improvement in Year 2 and the bottom fell out last season (3-9) with injuries and portal departures leaving the Eagles with nothing close to ACC-level depth.

Boston College has become a harder job in the portal/NIL era but that will only buy Hafley so much extra slack. What might, though, is a contract that runs though 2026. As a private school, BC doesn't release financial details, but it is safe to say picking up the last three years of the deal would put BC on the hook for at least $10 million.

The schedule also presents an opportunity for six wins and even five might be enough for Hafley to get another season. BC athletic director Blake James didn't hire Hafley, but has a reputation for being patient.

Something to watch: BC in Week 2 faces Holy Cross, an FCS schools in Worcester, Massachusetts, that has been rolling under fifth-year coach Bob Chesney.

DINO BABERS, Syracuse (36-49, seven seasons)

Babers has had two winning seasons in upstate New York.

Syracuse has become a tough place to win, but it is reasonable for Orange fans to wonder if this is as good as its gets under Babers, whose contract is believed to run through 2024. The schools is also not obligated to release contracts.

Also working against Babers: Few if any top-tier jobs are expected to come open this year. Could be a buyers' market for Syracuse.

RYAN SILVERFIELD, Memphis (21-15, three seasons)

Conference realignment is going to change expectations for some schools and put more pressure on some coaches.

Silverfield is a good example. Now that UCF, Houston and Cincinnati are gone from the American Athletic Conference, Memphis sees an opportunity to run the league and be in position for a promotion when the the next round of realignment happens.

Another meh season against a bunch of former Conference USA schools is not likely to be tolerated by Memphis.

NOTES: Rice, one of those CUSA schools moving into the AAC, will also need to see more from coach Mike Bloomgren. ... Former Tennessee coach Butch Jones can't afford another terrible season at Arkansas State with a new AD in place.

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football WriterThe silly season in college football, that time when coaches get fired and hired, seems to never stop.The dismissal of Pat Fitzgerald by Northwestern after an investigation into hazing in the program kicked off this year’s carousel.College administrators are also embracing the quick hook more than ever before. Last year, there were five coaching changes between the first games and Oct. 3.Who is in danger of being this season's Scott Frost or Geoff Collins? There are hot spots to varying degrees at West Virginia, Indiana, Syracuse, Missouri and Boston College.Results on the field matter, but the other major factors are how much it will cost to buyout a contract and whether the athletic director currently in charge hired that coach. Six situations worth monitoring:NEAL BROWN, West Virginia (22-25 record, four seasons)The pandemic year, the loosening of transfer rules, the NCAA lifting a ban on players being paid for endorsements and conference realignment have changed the landscape of college football.Not all programs have been impacted the same way.Not to make excuses for Brown, but the Mountaineers' failure to launch under him is in part because the job changed and not for the better. When new AD Wren Baker arrived last last season, giving Brown another season to prove it was an acknowledgment of that reality, at least in part. Also, Brown would have been owed $17 million, a buyout number that drops by about $4 million after this season.The problem for Brown is similar to what Collins faced in a make-or-break season at Georgia Tech last year.West Virginia has a brutal early schedule with nonconference games against Penn State and Pitt and conference games against Texas Tech and TCU — all before October.Baker's patience and desire to save money amid fan discontent could be tested.TOM ALLEN, Indiana (30-40, seven seasons)The feel-good seasons of 2019 and 2020 under Allen, who has a fiery Ted Lasso vibe, has not been sustainable for the Hoosiers. Allen's buyout is around $20 million even if he's fired after the season.On one hand, that could push Indiana to have a some patience if the Hoosiers can cobble together a respectable season.On the other, Indiana opens at Ohio State, plays Louisville two weeks later and is at Maryland on Sept. 30 and Michigan on Oct. 14. If it's going to cost a fortune either way to fire Allen, a bad first half could seal the deal.ELI DRINKWITZ, Missouri (17-19, three seasons)Drinkwitz got a two-year extension and a raise in the offseason from AD Desiree Reed-Francois, who did not hire him. Notably the new deal didn't increase the cost for Missouri to fire Drinkwitz after this season.Mizzou would still by on the hook for about $20 million after this season if it cuts loose Drinkwitz, whose teams have been neither terrible nor particularly good.Expectations are not unreasonably high. A 6-6 regular-season against a tough schedule that includes Georgia, LSU and Tennessee in the SEC and nonconference games against Kansas State and Memphis could be enough to justify patience.JEFF HAFLEY, Boston College (15-20, three years)Hafley's first two seasons — including 6-5 during the pandemic year — hinted that BC might have found a gem in the former Ohio State defensive coordinator with NFL experience.There wasn't much improvement in Year 2 and the bottom fell out last season (3-9) with injuries and portal departures leaving the Eagles with nothing close to ACC-level depth.Boston College has become a harder job in the portal/NIL era but that will only buy Hafley so much extra slack. What might, though, is a contract that runs though 2026. As a private school, BC doesn't release financial details, but it is safe to say picking up the last three years of the deal would put BC on the hook for at least $10 million.The schedule also presents an opportunity for six wins and even five might be enough for Hafley to get another season. BC athletic director Blake James didn't hire Hafley, but has a reputation for being patient.Something to watch: BC in Week 2 faces Holy Cross, an FCS schools in Worcester, Massachusetts, that has been rolling under fifth-year coach Bob Chesney.DINO BABERS, Syracuse (36-49, seven seasons)Babers has had two winning seasons in upstate New York.Syracuse has become a tough place to win, but it is reasonable for Orange fans to wonder if this is as good as its gets under Babers, whose contract is believed to run through 2024. The schools is also not obligated to release contracts.Also working against Babers: Few if any top-tier jobs are expected to come open this year. Could be a buyers' market for Syracuse.RYAN SILVERFIELD, Memphis (21-15, three seasons)Conference realignment is going to change expectations for some schools and put more pressure on some coaches.Silverfield is a good example. Now that UCF, Houston and Cincinnati are gone from the American Athletic Conference, Memphis sees an opportunity to run the league and be in position for a promotion when the the next round of realignment happens.Another meh season against a bunch of former Conference USA schools is not likely to be tolerated by Memphis.NOTES: Rice, one of those CUSA schools moving into the AAC, will also need to see more from coach Mike Bloomgren. ... Former Tennessee coach Butch Jones can't afford another terrible season at Arkansas State with a new AD in place.

Pick 6: Coaches facing heat in 2023 include Brown at WVU, Allen at Indiana, Drinkwitz at Mizzou

The Kansas City
Royals host the Seattle Mariners to open a four-game series.

Seattle Mariners
(63-54, third in the AL West) vs. Kansas City Royals (38-81, fifth in
the AL Central)

Kansas City,
Missouri; Monday, 8:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Mariners: Logan Gilbert (10-5, 3.66 ERA,
1.02 WHIP, 138 strikeouts); Royals: Brady Singer (8-8, 5.05 ERA, 1.37
WHIP, 108 strikeouts)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mariners -144, Royals +122;
over/under is 9 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the Seattle Mariners
on Monday to begin a four-game series.


Kansas City has a 22-37 record at home and a 38-81 record overall.
The Royals have the ninth-ranked team batting average in the AL at
.241.


Seattle has gone 29-26 on the road and 63-54 overall. The Mariners
have hit 142 total home runs to rank seventh in the AL.


Monday's game is the first time these teams match up this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Bobby Witt Jr. leads Kansas City with 21 home
runs while slugging .482. Freddy Fermin is 13-for-39 with four home
runs and six RBI over the last 10 games.


Cal Raleigh has 17 doubles, a triple, 20 home runs and 51 RBI for the
Mariners. Julio Rodriguez is 13-for-43 with five doubles and two home
runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 4-6, .289 batting average, 5.28 ERA,
outscored opponents by four runs


Mariners: 8-2, .257 batting average, 2.23 ERA, outscored opponents by
20 runs

INJURIES: Royals: Maikel Garcia: day-to-day (upper body), Zack
Greinke: 15-Day IL (elbow), Taylor Clarke: 15-Day IL (elbow), Nick
Pratto: 10-Day IL (groin), Daniel Lynch: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Josh
Staumont: 60-Day IL (neck), Josh Taylor: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Vinnie
Pasquantino: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brad Keller: 15-Day IL (shoulder),
Kris Bubic: 60-Day IL (flexor), Jake Brentz: 60-Day IL (elbow)


Mariners: J.P. Crawford: 7-Day IL (concussion), Bryan Woo: 15-Day IL
(forearm), Marco Gonzales: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jarred Kelenic:
10-Day IL (foot), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Robbie Ray: 60-Day
IL (flexor), Easton McGee: 60-Day IL (forearm), Evan White: 60-Day IL
(adductor)

The Kansas City
Royals host the Seattle Mariners to open a four-game series.Seattle Mariners
(63-54, third in the AL West) vs. Kansas City Royals (38-81, fifth in
the AL Central)Kansas City,
Missouri; Monday, 8:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Mariners: Logan Gilbert (10-5, 3.66 ERA,
1.02 WHIP, 138 strikeouts); Royals: Brady Singer (8-8, 5.05 ERA, 1.37
WHIP, 108 strikeouts)
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mariners -144, Royals +122;
over/under is 9 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the Seattle Mariners
on Monday to begin a four-game series.
Kansas City has a 22-37 record at home and a 38-81 record overall.
The Royals have the ninth-ranked team batting average in the AL at
.241.
Seattle has gone 29-26 on the road and 63-54 overall. The Mariners
have hit 142 total home runs to rank seventh in the AL.
Monday's game is the first time these teams match up this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bobby Witt Jr. leads Kansas City with 21 home
runs while slugging .482. Freddy Fermin is 13-for-39 with four home
runs and six RBI over the last 10 games.
Cal Raleigh has 17 doubles, a triple, 20 home runs and 51 RBI for the
Mariners. Julio Rodriguez is 13-for-43 with five doubles and two home
runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Royals: 4-6, .289 batting average, 5.28 ERA,
outscored opponents by four runs
Mariners: 8-2, .257 batting average, 2.23 ERA, outscored opponents by
20 runs
INJURIES: Royals: Maikel Garcia: day-to-day (upper body), Zack
Greinke: 15-Day IL (elbow), Taylor Clarke: 15-Day IL (elbow), Nick
Pratto: 10-Day IL (groin), Daniel Lynch: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Josh
Staumont: 60-Day IL (neck), Josh Taylor: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Vinnie
Pasquantino: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brad Keller: 15-Day IL (shoulder),
Kris Bubic: 60-Day IL (flexor), Jake Brentz: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Mariners: J.P. Crawford: 7-Day IL (concussion), Bryan Woo: 15-Day IL
(forearm), Marco Gonzales: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jarred Kelenic:
10-Day IL (foot), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Robbie Ray: 60-Day
IL (flexor), Easton McGee: 60-Day IL (forearm), Evan White: 60-Day IL
(adductor)

Mariners visit the Royals to start 4-game series

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Derek Carr threw a touchdown pass in his New Orleans preseason debut and rookie Blake Grupe kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Saints to a 26-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the opening exhibition game for both clubs.

Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes started but took just five snaps before Kansas City’s first drive ended with a failed fourth-and-1 play on a direct snap to reserve tight end Blake Bell.

Carr looked comfortable taking his first live snaps in his new offense, completing six of eight passes for 70 yards on the game’s opening drive.

Aftrer twice rolling away from pressure on first-down completions to tight end Juwan Johnson and running back Alvin Kamara, Carr closed out the 12-play, 80-yard drive with a 4-yard pass to Keith Kirkwood as the receiver crossed the back of the end zone.

With backups in the game for both teams, the Saints rallied late.

After rookie Jake Haener’s 2-yard scoring pass to running back Ellis Merriweather pulled the Saints within 24-23 with 1:20 to go, New Orleans' 2-point conversion attempt for the lead went awry on a botched shotgun snap.

But Saints defensive end Kyle Phillips tipped Chris Oladokun’s third-down pass and caught the deflection on the Kansas City 22 to set up the winning kick.

Jameis Winston relieved Carr and drove New Orleans 48 yards in just four plays for 14-0 lead on a 29-yard pass over the top of the Chiefs' secondary to rookie receiver A.T. Perry. A sixth-round draft pick out of Wake Forest, Perry was New Orleans' leading receiver with six catches for 70 yards.

Blaine Gabbert played most of the first half for Kansas City and pulled the Chiefs within 17-7 on a 1-yard fade to Richie James in the corner of the end zone. Saints defensive backs Alontae Taylor and Bradley Roby appeared to have a miscommunication on the play, leaving James uncovered.

James' TD came a few plays after he'd beaten Taylor on a 43-yard catch deep into Saints territory.

Kansas City third-stringer Shane Buechele threw for 155 yards and a pair of scores, the first on a 15-yard pass over the middle to Justyn Ross.

Buechele put the Chiefs in front 21-17 when he escaped two near sacks, stepped forward and found Kekoa Crawford in the middle of the end zone.

Chiefs receiver Nikko Remigio, a rookie out of Fresno State, caught four passes for 71 yards.

The Chiefs had three sacks, with Drue Tranquill, Chamarri Conner and Danny Shelton each getting one. Linebacker Zach Baun and Ty Summers each had sacks for the Saints.

Kahlef Hailassie, a rookie out of Western Kentucky, made a leaping grab to intercept Saints rookie Jake Haener along the sideline. Saints backup safety Ugo Amadi intercepted Buechele on a ball tipped by Taylor.

Saints: Rookie RB Kendre Miller limped off the field in the third quarter and walked to the locker room after being examined on the sideline. Miller was a third-round draft choice out of TCU who, if healthy, is expected to be in the mix for snaps during Kamara's three-game suspension to start the season.

Saints: Visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 20.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Derek Carr threw a touchdown pass in his New Orleans preseason debut and rookie Blake Grupe kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Saints to a 26-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the opening exhibition game for both clubs.Chiefs star QB Patrick Mahomes started but took just five snaps before Kansas City’s first drive ended with a failed fourth-and-1 play on a direct snap to reserve tight end Blake Bell.Carr looked comfortable taking his first live snaps in his new offense, completing six of eight passes for 70 yards on the game’s opening drive.Aftrer twice rolling away from pressure on first-down completions to tight end Juwan Johnson and running back Alvin Kamara, Carr closed out the 12-play, 80-yard drive with a 4-yard pass to Keith Kirkwood as the receiver crossed the back of the end zone.With backups in the game for both teams, the Saints rallied late.After rookie Jake Haener’s 2-yard scoring pass to running back Ellis Merriweather pulled the Saints within 24-23 with 1:20 to go, New Orleans' 2-point conversion attempt for the lead went awry on a botched shotgun snap.But Saints defensive end Kyle Phillips tipped Chris Oladokun’s third-down pass and caught the deflection on the Kansas City 22 to set up the winning kick.Jameis Winston relieved Carr and drove New Orleans 48 yards in just four plays for 14-0 lead on a 29-yard pass over the top of the Chiefs' secondary to rookie receiver A.T. Perry. A sixth-round draft pick out of Wake Forest, Perry was New Orleans' leading receiver with six catches for 70 yards.Blaine Gabbert played most of the first half for Kansas City and pulled the Chiefs within 17-7 on a 1-yard fade to Richie James in the corner of the end zone. Saints defensive backs Alontae Taylor and Bradley Roby appeared to have a miscommunication on the play, leaving James uncovered.James' TD came a few plays after he'd beaten Taylor on a 43-yard catch deep into Saints territory.Kansas City third-stringer Shane Buechele threw for 155 yards and a pair of scores, the first on a 15-yard pass over the middle to Justyn Ross.Buechele put the Chiefs in front 21-17 when he escaped two near sacks, stepped forward and found Kekoa Crawford in the middle of the end zone.Chiefs receiver Nikko Remigio, a rookie out of Fresno State, caught four passes for 71 yards.DEFENSIVE STANDOUTSThe Chiefs had three sacks, with Drue Tranquill, Chamarri Conner and Danny Shelton each getting one. Linebacker Zach Baun and Ty Summers each had sacks for the Saints.Kahlef Hailassie, a rookie out of Western Kentucky, made a leaping grab to intercept Saints rookie Jake Haener along the sideline. Saints backup safety Ugo Amadi intercepted Buechele on a ball tipped by Taylor.INJURIESSaints: Rookie RB Kendre Miller limped off the field in the third quarter and walked to the locker room after being examined on the sideline. Miller was a third-round draft choice out of TCU who, if healthy, is expected to be in the mix for snaps during Kamara's three-game suspension to start the season.UP NEXTChiefs: At Arizona on Saturday.Saints: Visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 20.

Derek Carr throws a TD pass in his Saints debut, a 26-24 preseason win over the Chiefs

BY PAUL NEWBERRY Associated Press

The realignment frenzy in college athletics is all about football.

There is barely a consideration of how these seismic changes will affect every other team on campus.

From grueling road trips to missed classes to mental health challenges, it’s hard to see anything positive in all this dollar sign-driven nonsense if you’re an athlete who doesn’t happen to suit up for the pigskin squad.

“I chose to play in the Pac-12 because of the ability to play close to home and in front of family,” said Shannon Cunningham, an Arizona State softball player who is a native of neighboring California. “I chose the PAC so my family didn’t have to worry about far travel or giving up all their vacation time just to come see me.”

The Pac-12 has collapsed and Arizona State will soon be playing in the 16-school (and perhaps bigger, when the dust settles) Big 12 conference, joining a haphazard collection of schools as far away as Florida and West Virginia.

The not-so-funny thing is, while football is driving the realignment train, it’s the sport that will be least affected by coast-to-coast conferences and ludicrous travel times between some member schools.

Football teams play one game a week and just 12 regular-season games a year — nearly all of them on Saturdays. Even for a cross-country road trip, a team can depart Friday — on a chartered flight, of course — and be back home by early Sunday morning, at the latest.

For most other college sports, the outlook is far more challenging.

“Anyone going to talk about all the other sports that play multiple games in a weekend?” asked Oregon softball player Morgan Scott, whose school will soon be moving from the Pac-12 to the supersized Big Ten. “The balance of practice, travel, school, and having a social life is already hard enough. Why add even more stress?”

No one in a position of authority seems to care that Arizona State’s softball squad, the one that Cunningham plays for, will go from a sensible conference schedule comprised of long-time regional rivals, like UCLA and Stanford, to taking on far-flung Big 12 schools it shares little history with, such as Central Florida and Cincinnati.

The mental pressures of balancing big-time college athletics with a classroom schedule and an actual life away from the arena are already daunting enough.

Imagine how tough it’s going to be when you’re returning from a 36-hour trip caused by missed commercial flights and brutal layovers.

That’s almost certainly the reality facing non-football teams at schools such as Oregon, which is joining a Big Ten conference that will literally stretch from one coast (Rutgers and Maryland joined a few years ago) to the other (Southern Cal, UCLA, Oregon and Washington have been poached from the Pac-12).

KK Humphreys, an infielder on the Ducks softball team, took to social media to complain that she’s “tired of being an overlooked sport.” She called it “ an upsetting day for Pac-12 lovers and people who love the sanity of student athletes’ mental health.”

Humphrey’s concerns were even echoed by Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz, whose school, it must be noted, jumped from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference more that a decade ago and still looks woefully out of place.

“Did we count the cost?” he asked. “I’m not talking about a financial cost. I’m talking about did we count the cost for the student-athletes involved in this decision? What cost is it to those student-athletes?

“We’re talking about a football decision — they based it off football — but what about softball and baseball (teams) who have to travel cross country? Do we ask about the cost of them? Do we know what the No. 1 indicator or symptom or cause of mental health (issues) is? It’s lack of rest and sleep. Traveling to those baseball and softball games, those people, they travel commercial and they get done playing at 4 (in the afternoon) They gotta go to the airport, they come back, it’s 3 or 4 in the morning. They gotta go to class. I mean, did we ask any of them?”

Drinkwitz bristled at the fact that none of the athletes — not even the football players — are getting a direct share of the financial windfall that realignment is bringing to many of these schools.

Sure, they’re now allowed to collect income from Name, Image and Likeness deals, but the billions in television revenue are going straight into the school coffers — and much of it winds up in the pockets of high-paid coaches such as Alabama’s Nick Saban.

It will surely be comforting to a softball player who’s sleeping on the floor of an airport because a connecting flight was canceled that Saban now owns a $17.5 million, 6,200-square-foot home on Florida’s Jupiter Island, where his neighbors include Tiger Woods.

But this isn’t an indictment of Saban’s wealth, which he’s certainly earned by guiding the Crimson Tide to six national titles.

This is about years of greed and terrible decisions and even all the boosters and media who have been compliant in a system that has turned supposed institutions of higher education into de facto professional sports franchises.

It’s probably too late to do anything about it now, but one wonders if a few sensible heads might come together to at least bring some regional sanity to the conference alignments beyond football.

Super conferences work just fine for a fortunate few on the gridiron.

“Doesn’t it make more sense for football to break away to separate leagues and allow the rest of the sports to compete regionally?” St. John’s basketball coach Rick Pitino mused.

That way, he wrote on social media, the non-revenue sports could keep their traditional rivals and “don’t spend half their day looking for bad food at airport restaurants!!!”

Paul Newberry is the national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry@ap.org

BY PAUL NEWBERRY Associated PressThe realignment frenzy in college athletics is all about football.And all that money, of course.There is barely a consideration of how these seismic changes will affect every other team on campus.From grueling road trips to missed classes to mental health challenges, it’s hard to see anything positive in all this dollar sign-driven nonsense if you’re an athlete who doesn’t happen to suit up for the pigskin squad.“I chose to play in the Pac-12 because of the ability to play close to home and in front of family,” said Shannon Cunningham, an Arizona State softball player who is a native of neighboring California. “I chose the PAC so my family didn’t have to worry about far travel or giving up all their vacation time just to come see me.”So much for that reasoning.The Pac-12 has collapsed and Arizona State will soon be playing in the 16-school (and perhaps bigger, when the dust settles) Big 12 conference, joining a haphazard collection of schools as far away as Florida and West Virginia.The not-so-funny thing is, while football is driving the realignment train, it’s the sport that will be least affected by coast-to-coast conferences and ludicrous travel times between some member schools.Football teams play one game a week and just 12 regular-season games a year — nearly all of them on Saturdays. Even for a cross-country road trip, a team can depart Friday — on a chartered flight, of course — and be back home by early Sunday morning, at the latest.For most other college sports, the outlook is far more challenging.“Anyone going to talk about all the other sports that play multiple games in a weekend?” asked Oregon softball player Morgan Scott, whose school will soon be moving from the Pac-12 to the supersized Big Ten. “The balance of practice, travel, school, and having a social life is already hard enough. Why add even more stress?”We’ll give you a little hint, Morgan.$$$$$$$$$$No one in a position of authority seems to care that Arizona State’s softball squad, the one that Cunningham plays for, will go from a sensible conference schedule comprised of long-time regional rivals, like UCLA and Stanford, to taking on far-flung Big 12 schools it shares little history with, such as Central Florida and Cincinnati.The mental pressures of balancing big-time college athletics with a classroom schedule and an actual life away from the arena are already daunting enough.Imagine how tough it’s going to be when you’re returning from a 36-hour trip caused by missed commercial flights and brutal layovers.That’s almost certainly the reality facing non-football teams at schools such as Oregon, which is joining a Big Ten conference that will literally stretch from one coast (Rutgers and Maryland joined a few years ago) to the other (Southern Cal, UCLA, Oregon and Washington have been poached from the Pac-12).KK Humphreys, an infielder on the Ducks softball team, took to social media to complain that she’s “tired of being an overlooked sport.” She called it “ an upsetting day for Pac-12 lovers and people who love the sanity of student athletes’ mental health.”Humphrey’s concerns were even echoed by Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz, whose school, it must be noted, jumped from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference more that a decade ago and still looks woefully out of place.“Did we count the cost?” he asked. “I’m not talking about a financial cost. I’m talking about did we count the cost for the student-athletes involved in this decision? What cost is it to those student-athletes?“We’re talking about a football decision — they based it off football — but what about softball and baseball (teams) who have to travel cross country? Do we ask about the cost of them? Do we know what the No. 1 indicator or symptom or cause of mental health (issues) is? It’s lack of rest and sleep. Traveling to those baseball and softball games, those people, they travel commercial and they get done playing at 4 (in the afternoon) They gotta go to the airport, they come back, it’s 3 or 4 in the morning. They gotta go to class. I mean, did we ask any of them?”No, they did not.Drinkwitz bristled at the fact that none of the athletes — not even the football players — are getting a direct share of the financial windfall that realignment is bringing to many of these schools.Sure, they’re now allowed to collect income from Name, Image and Likeness deals, but the billions in television revenue are going straight into the school coffers — and much of it winds up in the pockets of high-paid coaches such as Alabama’s Nick Saban.It will surely be comforting to a softball player who’s sleeping on the floor of an airport because a connecting flight was canceled that Saban now owns a $17.5 million, 6,200-square-foot home on Florida’s Jupiter Island, where his neighbors include Tiger Woods.But this isn’t an indictment of Saban’s wealth, which he’s certainly earned by guiding the Crimson Tide to six national titles.This is about years of greed and terrible decisions and even all the boosters and media who have been compliant in a system that has turned supposed institutions of higher education into de facto professional sports franchises.It’s probably too late to do anything about it now, but one wonders if a few sensible heads might come together to at least bring some regional sanity to the conference alignments beyond football.Super conferences work just fine for a fortunate few on the gridiron.They don’t for anyone else.“Doesn’t it make more sense for football to break away to separate leagues and allow the rest of the sports to compete regionally?” St. John’s basketball coach Rick Pitino mused.That way, he wrote on social media, the non-revenue sports could keep their traditional rivals and “don’t spend half their day looking for bad food at airport restaurants!!!”___Paul Newberry is the national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry@ap.org

Column: Football rules, and every other sport will suffer from realignment frenzy

(KJCCC) August 10, 2023 -- Success in 2022 can translate in to success in 2023, according to the conference volleyball coaches, as they pick Butler and Johnson County to be the top teams in the coming season.

The Grizzlies were voted the favored team for the '23 campaign in Division I. The number two pick was Hutchinson, led by coach Delice Downing. First-year head coach Aubrey Wilson will lead her Seward County Saints in the tough KJCCC West, and her club was picked third.

Jenny Ei will kead the top pick Johnon County Cavaliers, as they squeeze past the Cowley Tigers for the top spot preseason. Kansas City KS was picked third in the Jayhawk East

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691937834863.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>(KJCCC) August 10, 2023 -- Success in 2022 can translate in to success in 2023, according to the conference volleyball coaches, as they pick Butler and Johnson County to be the top teams in the coming season.The Grizzlies were voted the favored team for the '23 campaign in Division I. The number two pick was Hutchinson, led by coach Delice Downing. First-year head coach Aubrey Wilson will lead her Seward County Saints in the tough KJCCC West, and her club was picked third.Jenny Ei will kead the top pick Johnon County Cavaliers, as they squeeze past the Cowley Tigers for the top spot preseason. Kansas City KS was picked third in the Jayhawk EastThe season opens Friday, Auguyst 18.

Butler, Johnson County Favored in 2023 Volleyball Races

Wichita - The Hutchinson (KS) Monarchs dethroned the 10-time champion Santa Barbara Foresters (CA)with a 6-3 victory Saturday in the championship game of the 89th National Baseball Congress World Series. The title came in the Monarchs’ first time in the championship game and broke a three-year run of Forester championships. It also broke Santa Barbara’s 20-game winning streak in the tournament and 10-game winning streak in the finals.

Hutchinson (6-0) capitalized on a Santa Barbara error in the fifth to score a pair of unearned runs on a Will Edmunson double. Cooper Harris doubled in a run and scored another in the sixth, and Jaden Gustafson hit a two-run homer in the seventh.

Winning pitcher Cole Toureau stymied the Forester offense through 7⅓ innings, allowing a run on Will Rogers’ base hit and departing after a Daniel Patterson double in the eighth. Santa Barbara (5-1) got two runs in the inning and brought the tying run to the plate, but a Derick Johnson strikeout quelled the threat. Reed Scott retired the side in order with two strikeouts to close out the game and earn his secondsave. Jarrett Flaggert had three hits and scored a run, while Gustafson scored twice.

Carson Turnquist took the loss, allowing the two unearned runs in 4⅔ innings, while two relievers each gave up a pair of runs. Max Belyeu paced the Santa Barbara offense with two hits, a run scored and one knocked in.

The championship was the first for a Kansas team since Liberal Bee Jay title in 2010 and the Kansas Stars’ ex-pro team in 2017. The game was only the second time since knockout round play began in 2016 that two undefeated teams met in the finals.

The Monarchs led the tournament with a .360 batting average and was fourth with a 2.39 ERA.

The Foresters led in pitching and fielding coming into the finals, but finished second in ERA at 2.12 and second in fielding with a .979 mark.

Tournament MVP Max Buettenback went 1-for-3 to finish with a .524 average with 10 runs scored 11 hits and 10 RBIs.

Wednesday Bracket Play - Single Elimination Lonstar Baseball 19, Arlington Baptist 3 Denver Cougars 6, Liberal Bee Jays 5 Five Tool Kraken 9, Hays Larks 2 Great Bend Bat Cats 17, Seattle Blackfins 6&nbsp; Thursday Quarterfinals&nbsp; Hutchinson Monarchs 11, Lonestar Baseball 1 Santa Barbara Foresters 3, Denver Cougars 0 Five Tool Kraken 6, Kansas Cannons 3 Seattle Studs 6, Great Bend 1 Friday Semi-Finals&nbsp; Hutchinson Monarchs 17, Five Tool Kraken 0 Santa Barbara Foresters 5, Seattle Studs 0 Saturday Championship Hutchinson Monarchs 6, Santa Barbara Foresters 3

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1690991691469.jpeg" alt="All games at Wichita State's Eck Stadium" />
 <figcaption>All games at Wichita State's Eck Stadium</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita - The Hutchinson (KS) Monarchs dethroned the 10-time champion Santa Barbara Foresters (CA)with a 6-3 victory Saturday in the championship game of the 89th National Baseball Congress World Series. The title came in the Monarchs’ first time in the championship game and broke a three-year run of Forester championships. It also broke Santa Barbara’s 20-game winning streak in the tournament and 10-game winning streak in the finals.Hutchinson (6-0) capitalized on a Santa Barbara error in the fifth to score a pair of unearned runs on a Will Edmunson double. Cooper Harris doubled in a run and scored another in the sixth, and Jaden Gustafson hit a two-run homer in the seventh.Winning pitcher Cole Toureau stymied the Forester offense through 7⅓ innings, allowing a run on Will Rogers’ base hit and departing after a Daniel Patterson double in the eighth. Santa Barbara (5-1) got two runs in the inning and brought the tying run to the plate, but a Derick Johnson strikeout quelled the threat. Reed Scott retired the side in order with two strikeouts to close out the game and earn his secondsave. Jarrett Flaggert had three hits and scored a run, while Gustafson scored twice.Carson Turnquist took the loss, allowing the two unearned runs in 4⅔ innings, while two relievers each gave up a pair of runs. Max Belyeu paced the Santa Barbara offense with two hits, a run scored and one knocked in.The championship was the first for a Kansas team since Liberal Bee Jay title in 2010 and the Kansas Stars’ ex-pro team in 2017. The game was only the second time since knockout round play began in 2016 that two undefeated teams met in the finals.The Monarchs led the tournament with a .360 batting average and was fourth with a 2.39 ERA.The Foresters led in pitching and fielding coming into the finals, but finished second in ERA at 2.12 and second in fielding with a .979 mark.Tournament MVP Max Buettenback went 1-for-3 to finish with a .524 average with 10 runs scored 11 hits and 10 RBIs.Wednesday Bracket Play - Single Elimination Lonstar Baseball 19, Arlington Baptist 3 Denver Cougars 6, Liberal Bee Jays 5 Five Tool Kraken 9, Hays Larks 2 Great Bend Bat Cats 17, Seattle Blackfins 6&nbsp; Thursday Quarterfinals&nbsp; Hutchinson Monarchs 11, Lonestar Baseball 1 Santa Barbara Foresters 3, Denver Cougars 0 Five Tool Kraken 6, Kansas Cannons 3 Seattle Studs 6, Great Bend 1 Friday Semi-Finals&nbsp; Hutchinson Monarchs 17, Five Tool Kraken 0 Santa Barbara Foresters 5, Seattle Studs 0 Saturday Championship Hutchinson Monarchs 6, Santa Barbara Foresters 3

Hutchinson wins NBC World Series

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tommy Edman hit two home runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night in front of the second-largest crowd of the season at Kauffman Stadium.

Edman's third career two-homer game came in front of 37,016 fans, the Royals' largest draw since opening day.

Edman had pretty good motivation to produce.

“A big part of it was that it's my wife's birthday,” Edman said. “She asked me to hit a homer today. I think that's what it was.”

So, he has next year taken care of already, too.

“She wasn't expecting two," he said. "But I made a little adjustment at the plate and it paid off.”

Nolan Arenado added three hits for St. Louis, which ended Kansas City's seven-game home winning streak.

Steven Matz (4-7) pitched six solid innings for the win. The 32-year-old left-hander allowed two runs on four hits, striking out five and walking none.

“It boils down to executing pitches, mixing them up and getting guys on my fastball,” Matz said. “(Andrew) Knizner called a great game and the guys made some really good plays in the field.”

It was Matz' fourth straight quality start and fifth straight solid outing. He's 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA in his last five starts.

“This is definitely a good baseline,” Matz said. “(I'm) definitely trying to build off that. I just want to continue to improve.”

Cole Ragans (3-4) took the loss. He allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings. He struck out five but walked a season-high four. In his first three starts with the Royals since being acquired in a trade June 30, he had allowed two runs in 17 2/3 innings.

“Too many pitches over the middle," Ragans said of his struggles. "I didn’t command everything very well. Just left pitches over the plate and they did damage.”

The Cardinals got on the board in the second inning on a two-out, two-run home run by Edman. They added another run in the third when Arenado pulled a double down the left-field line, scoring Andrew Knizner, who had walked and gone to second on a single by Paul Goldschmidt.

The Royals responded in the third with a two-run home run by Nelson Velazquez that splashed into the fountains 441 feet from home plate. It was Velazquez' second home run in as many games. Friday night, he became the fifth Royals player to homer in his first plate appearance with the club.

The Cardinals added to the lead in the fifth on a single by Willson Contreras, but they could have had more. They loaded the bases with one out, but Ragans got Tyler O'Neill to ground into a double play.

The Cardinals got a run in the top of the eighth on Edman's second homer, but the Royals answered with an RBI single by Kyle Isbel. The Royals added a run in the ninth on an infield hit by Matt Duffy before Isbel hit into a game-ending double play.

Cardinals: The Cardinals placed OF Dylan Carlson on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain retroactive to Thursday. Manager Oliver Marmol said that Carlson hurt the oblique on a swing in Tampa Bay on Wednesday. He was replaced on the roster by 1B Luken Baker, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis.

Royals: Kansas City optioned RHP Jonathan Heasley to Triple-A Omaha. Heasley gave up two hits and two runs in an inning of relief in KC's 12-8 victory Friday night. In a corresponding move, the Royals recalled RHP Max Castillo for his fourth stint with Kansas City this season.

Royals: 3B Maikel Garcia was out of the lineup Saturday. He left Friday's game after experiencing left upper-body discomfort. Manager Matt Quatraro said Garcia still has some soreness, but no additional testing is expected. He should be available by Monday's game against Seattle.

Cardinals: After a rare off day Sunday, the Cardinals return home for the start of a three-game series against Oakland on Monday. The Cards will send RHP Miles Mikolas (6-8, 4.20 ERA) to the mound to face the A's, who have yet to name a starter.

Royals: After the first scheduled off day on a Sunday in club history, the Royals will begin a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners. RHP Brady Singer (8-8, 5.05 ERA) will get the start for Kansas City against RHP Logan Gilbert (10-5, 3.66 ERA).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tommy Edman hit two home runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night in front of the second-largest crowd of the season at Kauffman Stadium.Edman's third career two-homer game came in front of 37,016 fans, the Royals' largest draw since opening day.Edman had pretty good motivation to produce.“A big part of it was that it's my wife's birthday,” Edman said. “She asked me to hit a homer today. I think that's what it was.”So, he has next year taken care of already, too.“She wasn't expecting two," he said. "But I made a little adjustment at the plate and it paid off.”Nolan Arenado added three hits for St. Louis, which ended Kansas City's seven-game home winning streak.Steven Matz (4-7) pitched six solid innings for the win. The 32-year-old left-hander allowed two runs on four hits, striking out five and walking none.“It boils down to executing pitches, mixing them up and getting guys on my fastball,” Matz said. “(Andrew) Knizner called a great game and the guys made some really good plays in the field.”It was Matz' fourth straight quality start and fifth straight solid outing. He's 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA in his last five starts.“This is definitely a good baseline,” Matz said. “(I'm) definitely trying to build off that. I just want to continue to improve.”Jo Jo Romero earned his second save.Cole Ragans (3-4) took the loss. He allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings. He struck out five but walked a season-high four. In his first three starts with the Royals since being acquired in a trade June 30, he had allowed two runs in 17 2/3 innings.“Too many pitches over the middle," Ragans said of his struggles. "I didn’t command everything very well. Just left pitches over the plate and they did damage.”The Cardinals got on the board in the second inning on a two-out, two-run home run by Edman. They added another run in the third when Arenado pulled a double down the left-field line, scoring Andrew Knizner, who had walked and gone to second on a single by Paul Goldschmidt.The Royals responded in the third with a two-run home run by Nelson Velazquez that splashed into the fountains 441 feet from home plate. It was Velazquez' second home run in as many games. Friday night, he became the fifth Royals player to homer in his first plate appearance with the club.The Cardinals added to the lead in the fifth on a single by Willson Contreras, but they could have had more. They loaded the bases with one out, but Ragans got Tyler O'Neill to ground into a double play.The Cardinals got a run in the top of the eighth on Edman's second homer, but the Royals answered with an RBI single by Kyle Isbel. The Royals added a run in the ninth on an infield hit by Matt Duffy before Isbel hit into a game-ending double play.TRANSACTIONS:Cardinals: The Cardinals placed OF Dylan Carlson on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain retroactive to Thursday. Manager Oliver Marmol said that Carlson hurt the oblique on a swing in Tampa Bay on Wednesday. He was replaced on the roster by 1B Luken Baker, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis.Royals: Kansas City optioned RHP Jonathan Heasley to Triple-A Omaha. Heasley gave up two hits and two runs in an inning of relief in KC's 12-8 victory Friday night. In a corresponding move, the Royals recalled RHP Max Castillo for his fourth stint with Kansas City this season.TRAINING ROOM:Royals: 3B Maikel Garcia was out of the lineup Saturday. He left Friday's game after experiencing left upper-body discomfort. Manager Matt Quatraro said Garcia still has some soreness, but no additional testing is expected. He should be available by Monday's game against Seattle.UP NEXT:Cardinals: After a rare off day Sunday, the Cardinals return home for the start of a three-game series against Oakland on Monday. The Cards will send RHP Miles Mikolas (6-8, 4.20 ERA) to the mound to face the A's, who have yet to name a starter.Royals: After the first scheduled off day on a Sunday in club history, the Royals will begin a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners. RHP Brady Singer (8-8, 5.05 ERA) will get the start for Kansas City against RHP Logan Gilbert (10-5, 3.66 ERA).

Tommy Edman's 2 homers power the Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tommy Edman hit two home runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night in front of the second-largest crowd of the season at Kauffman Stadium. Edman’s third career two-homer game came in front of 37,016 fans, the Royals’ largest draw since opening day. Nolan Arenado added three hits for St. Louis, which ended Kansas City’s seven-game home winning streak. Steven Matz (4-7) pitched six solid innings for the win, while Jo Jo Romero earned his second save. Cole Ragans (3-4) took the loss.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Will Smith, James Outman and Amed Rosario homered and Tony Gonsolin worked six solid innings after allowing a home run on his first pitch as the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 4-1 on Saturday night. The Dodgers extended their winning streak to seven games and won for the 11th time in 12 games. Colorado’s Ezequiel Tovar hit Gonsolin’s first pitch of the game 427 feet and over the wall in center for an early lead. The Rockies managed just two hits the rest of the way. Tovar finished with two of the Rockies’ three hits.

UPDATED (AP) — Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman José Ramírez had his MLB suspension for fighting with Chicago’s Tim Anderson reduced from three games to two. Ramírez, who knocked Anderson to the ground with a wild, well-placed punch, will serve the suspension this weekend during Cleveland’s series in Tampa Bay. Anderson was suspended six games for fighting with Ramirez near second base and triggering a benches-clearing melee on Aug. 5 between the Guardians and White Sox that went on for several minutes and included several other flareups.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Kirk Ferentz says it's a deal-breaker if it's proven some of his Iowa football players made wagers on their own games. The 25th-year Hawkeyes coach said at media day that the integrity of the game must be protected. Former players Arland Bruce IV and Reggie Bracy and current player Jack Johnson have been charged on suspicion of tampering with records to disguise that they were college athletes and under 21 at the time they placed wagers. Kicker Aaron Blom was charged last week. Bruce, Bracy and Blom are suspected of betting on Iowa football games in which they played.

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech track and field coach Wes Kittley has agreed to a new $3.8 million, seven-year contract. Kittley is heading into his 25th season, which will make him the longest-tenured head coach in any sport at the Big 12 school. The 64-year-old Kittley has been at Texas Tech since 1999. His men’s team won the outdoor national championship in 2019. The men’s and women’s track and field programs have won 11 Big 12 team titles and 31 individual NCAA titles. There have been 200 Big 12 individual champions and 19 Olympians.

UNDATED (AP) — The realignment frenzy in college athletics is all about football. And all that money, of course. There is barely a consideration of how these seismic changes will affect every other team on campus. From grueling road trips to missed classes to mental health challenges, it’s hard to see anything positive in all this dollar sign-driven nonsense if you’re an athlete who doesn’t happen to suit up for the pigskin squad. While football is driving the realignment train, it’s the sport that will be least affected by coast-to-coast conferences and travel times between member schools.

UNDATED (AP) — Jirehl Brock and three other Iowa State football players along with three current or former Iowa football players and a student assistant have been charged in connection with the state’s investigation into illegal sports wagering at the two schools. A total of 15 football and basketball players and staffers with ties to the schools have been charged since last week in the ongoing investigation. Current athletes face a loss of eligibility for violating NCAA gambling rules. Brock and several other players are accused of tampering with records to disguise that they were under the legal betting age of 21 at the time they placed wagers.

UPDATED (AP) — It is unclear if a four-game suspension Michigan proposed to settle a case involving recruiting violations by football coach Jim Harbaugh will be accepted by the NCAA Committee on Infractions. Michigan received notice earlier this year that the NCAA was investigating impermissible texts and calls — including some by Harbaugh — to high school prospects during part of a pandemic-related dead period for contact with potential recruits. The committee could have approved a suspension for Harbaugh to start the upcoming season. Now, the case could go to a full hearing, which could lengthen the process.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Damar Hamlin reached another major milestone in his return to football by suiting up for the Buffalo Bills preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. And it didn’t take long for the Bills safety to make an impact in his first appearance in a competitive setting since going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field during a game at Cincinnati on Jan. 2. On his fourth defensive snap, Hamlin crashed the line and brought down running back Evan Hull for no gain in preventing the Colts from converting a fourth-and-1 at the Buffalo 40. He appeared in two-plus defensive series overlapping the first and second quarters, and credited with making three tackles.

UPDATED (AP) — Lucas Glover is playing so well that he felt frustrated after a 66 in the FedEx St. Jude Championship. That gives him a one-shot lead over Taylor Moore going into the final round of the PGA Tour postseason opener. Glover now has rounds of 66 or lower in six of his last seven rounds on tour. He was down about missing a few short chances coming in. Tommy Fleetwood is two shots behind. Jordan Spieth and Max Homa are three back. The top 50 in FedEx Cup advance to next week and secure spots in $20 million events next year.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Iceman became the Ironman of IndyCar. Capped it off with a win, too. Scott Dixon overcame a first-lap spin and then held off hard-charging Graham Rahal over the final 10 laps to win Saturday’s Indianapolis Grand Prix by 0.4779 seconds. Dixon extended his record to 19 consecutive seasons with a win. The victory on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the first of the season for Dixon, who passed Tony Kanaan when he started the race for most consecutive starts. His 319 consecutive races streak began in 2004 and have all been done with team owner Chip Ganassi.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Fans waved a German flag and chanted Dirk Nowitzki’s name when he walked the red carpet into Symphony Hall for the Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony. It was all part of the international flavor at the proceedings. France's Tony Parker and Spain's Pau Gasol were also members of the Class of 2023. The San Antonio Spurs were well represented. They were led by longtime coach and five-time NBA champion Gregg Popovich. Parker was the point guard on four of those title-winning teams. And Becky Hammon joined the Spurs after a career in the WNBA as the first woman to serve as a full-time NBA assistant coach.

Cincinnati	at	Pittsburgh	6:05 p.m.	(Postponed)

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691404624657.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tommy Edman hit two home runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night in front of the second-largest crowd of the season at Kauffman Stadium. Edman’s third career two-homer game came in front of 37,016 fans, the Royals’ largest draw since opening day. Nolan Arenado added three hits for St. Louis, which ended Kansas City’s seven-game home winning streak. Steven Matz (4-7) pitched six solid innings for the win, while Jo Jo Romero earned his second save. Cole Ragans (3-4) took the loss.LOS ANGELES (AP) — Will Smith, James Outman and Amed Rosario homered and Tony Gonsolin worked six solid innings after allowing a home run on his first pitch as the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 4-1 on Saturday night. The Dodgers extended their winning streak to seven games and won for the 11th time in 12 games. Colorado’s Ezequiel Tovar hit Gonsolin’s first pitch of the game 427 feet and over the wall in center for an early lead. The Rockies managed just two hits the rest of the way. Tovar finished with two of the Rockies’ three hits.UPDATED (AP) — Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman José Ramírez had his MLB suspension for fighting with Chicago’s Tim Anderson reduced from three games to two. Ramírez, who knocked Anderson to the ground with a wild, well-placed punch, will serve the suspension this weekend during Cleveland’s series in Tampa Bay. Anderson was suspended six games for fighting with Ramirez near second base and triggering a benches-clearing melee on Aug. 5 between the Guardians and White Sox that went on for several minutes and included several other flareups.IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Kirk Ferentz says it's a deal-breaker if it's proven some of his Iowa football players made wagers on their own games. The 25th-year Hawkeyes coach said at media day that the integrity of the game must be protected. Former players Arland Bruce IV and Reggie Bracy and current player Jack Johnson have been charged on suspicion of tampering with records to disguise that they were college athletes and under 21 at the time they placed wagers. Kicker Aaron Blom was charged last week. Bruce, Bracy and Blom are suspected of betting on Iowa football games in which they played.LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech track and field coach Wes Kittley has agreed to a new $3.8 million, seven-year contract. Kittley is heading into his 25th season, which will make him the longest-tenured head coach in any sport at the Big 12 school. The 64-year-old Kittley has been at Texas Tech since 1999. His men’s team won the outdoor national championship in 2019. The men’s and women’s track and field programs have won 11 Big 12 team titles and 31 individual NCAA titles. There have been 200 Big 12 individual champions and 19 Olympians.UNDATED (AP) — The realignment frenzy in college athletics is all about football. And all that money, of course. There is barely a consideration of how these seismic changes will affect every other team on campus. From grueling road trips to missed classes to mental health challenges, it’s hard to see anything positive in all this dollar sign-driven nonsense if you’re an athlete who doesn’t happen to suit up for the pigskin squad. While football is driving the realignment train, it’s the sport that will be least affected by coast-to-coast conferences and travel times between member schools.UNDATED (AP) — Jirehl Brock and three other Iowa State football players along with three current or former Iowa football players and a student assistant have been charged in connection with the state’s investigation into illegal sports wagering at the two schools. A total of 15 football and basketball players and staffers with ties to the schools have been charged since last week in the ongoing investigation. Current athletes face a loss of eligibility for violating NCAA gambling rules. Brock and several other players are accused of tampering with records to disguise that they were under the legal betting age of 21 at the time they placed wagers.UPDATED (AP) — It is unclear if a four-game suspension Michigan proposed to settle a case involving recruiting violations by football coach Jim Harbaugh will be accepted by the NCAA Committee on Infractions. Michigan received notice earlier this year that the NCAA was investigating impermissible texts and calls — including some by Harbaugh — to high school prospects during part of a pandemic-related dead period for contact with potential recruits. The committee could have approved a suspension for Harbaugh to start the upcoming season. Now, the case could go to a full hearing, which could lengthen the process.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Damar Hamlin reached another major milestone in his return to football by suiting up for the Buffalo Bills preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. And it didn’t take long for the Bills safety to make an impact in his first appearance in a competitive setting since going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field during a game at Cincinnati on Jan. 2. On his fourth defensive snap, Hamlin crashed the line and brought down running back Evan Hull for no gain in preventing the Colts from converting a fourth-and-1 at the Buffalo 40. He appeared in two-plus defensive series overlapping the first and second quarters, and credited with making three tackles.UPDATED (AP) — Lucas Glover is playing so well that he felt frustrated after a 66 in the FedEx St. Jude Championship. That gives him a one-shot lead over Taylor Moore going into the final round of the PGA Tour postseason opener. Glover now has rounds of 66 or lower in six of his last seven rounds on tour. He was down about missing a few short chances coming in. Tommy Fleetwood is two shots behind. Jordan Spieth and Max Homa are three back. The top 50 in FedEx Cup advance to next week and secure spots in $20 million events next year.INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Iceman became the Ironman of IndyCar. Capped it off with a win, too. Scott Dixon overcame a first-lap spin and then held off hard-charging Graham Rahal over the final 10 laps to win Saturday’s Indianapolis Grand Prix by 0.4779 seconds. Dixon extended his record to 19 consecutive seasons with a win. The victory on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was the first of the season for Dixon, who passed Tony Kanaan when he started the race for most consecutive starts. His 319 consecutive races streak began in 2004 and have all been done with team owner Chip Ganassi.SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Fans waved a German flag and chanted Dirk Nowitzki’s name when he walked the red carpet into Symphony Hall for the Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony. It was all part of the international flavor at the proceedings. France's Tony Parker and Spain's Pau Gasol were also members of the Class of 2023. The San Antonio Spurs were well represented. They were led by longtime coach and five-time NBA champion Gregg Popovich. Parker was the point guard on four of those title-winning teams. And Becky Hammon joined the Spurs after a career in the WNBA as the first woman to serve as a full-time NBA assistant coach.SATURDAY SCORESINTERLEAGUEFinal	Chicago Cubs	5	Toronto	4	Final	Miami	3	N.Y. Yankees	1	Final	Minnesota	8	Philadelphia	1	Final	Milwaukee	3	Chicago White Sox	2	Final	Washington	3	Oakland	2	Final	St. Louis	5	Kansas City	4	Final	Texas	9	San Francisco	3	AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	Tampa Bay	6	Cleveland	5	Final	Detroit	6	Boston	2	Final	Houston	11	L.A. Angels	3	Final	Baltimore	1	Seattle	0	NATIONAL LEAGUECincinnati	at	Pittsburgh	6:05 p.m.	(Postponed)Final	Atlanta	21	N.Y. Mets	3	Final	Atlanta	6	N.Y. Mets	0	Final	Arizona	3	San Diego	0	Final	L.A. Dodgers	4	Colorado	1	NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASONFinal	Buffalo	23	Indianapolis	19	Final	Chicago	23	Tennessee	17	Final	N-Y Jets	27	Carolina	0	Final	Jacksonville	28	Dallas	23	Final	Baltimore	20	Philadelphia	19	Final	L.A. Chargers	34	L.A. Rams	17

Sunday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — New Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton came out strong — possibly a little too strong — in support of his veteran quarterback earlier in training camp.

After a bit of a slow start, Russell Wilson rewarded his coach’s confidence with a solid performance.

Wilson capped a lengthy preseason outing with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy before the Arizona Cardinals rallied for a last-second 18-17 victory over the Broncos on Friday night. Payton said that Wilson was “sharp,” but was disappointed that his team couldn’t hang on for the win.

“Regardless if it is a preseason game or a regular season game, you just can’t stand losing,” Payton said. “Especially in that fashion.”

Cardinals third-string quarterback David Blough led the winning drive, hitting Brian Cobbs for an 18-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left to pull within 17-16. Arizona then converted its 2-point attempt when Emari Demercado pushed the pile and fell into the end zone.

“That’s always special,” Blough said. “That’s why we play the game.”

Wilson — who played most of the first half — completed 7 of 13 passes for 93 yards and also absorbed several big hits, including a sack by Dennis Gardeck. The nine-time Pro Bowl selection didn’t have much time to throw, particularly in the first quarter, but ended his outing on a good note after finding a wide-open Jeudy over the middle for a touchdown on fourth down with 6:54 left in the second.

“I thought it was really good how we responded after the first drive,” Wilson said. “We really responded, getting the ball moving.”

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — New Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton came out strong — possibly a little too strong — in support of his veteran quarterback earlier in training camp.After a bit of a slow start, Russell Wilson rewarded his coach’s confidence with a solid performance.Wilson capped a lengthy preseason outing with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy before the Arizona Cardinals rallied for a last-second 18-17 victory over the Broncos on Friday night. Payton said that Wilson was “sharp,” but was disappointed that his team couldn’t hang on for the win.“Regardless if it is a preseason game or a regular season game, you just can’t stand losing,” Payton said. “Especially in that fashion.”Cardinals third-string quarterback David Blough led the winning drive, hitting Brian Cobbs for an 18-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left to pull within 17-16. Arizona then converted its 2-point attempt when Emari Demercado pushed the pile and fell into the end zone.“That’s always special,” Blough said. “That’s why we play the game.”Wilson — who played most of the first half — completed 7 of 13 passes for 93 yards and also absorbed several big hits, including a sack by Dennis Gardeck. The nine-time Pro Bowl selection didn’t have much time to throw, particularly in the first quarter, but ended his outing on a good note after finding a wide-open Jeudy over the middle for a touchdown on fourth down with 6:54 left in the second.“I thought it was really good how we responded after the first drive,” Wilson said. “We really responded, getting the ball moving.”t was Wilson’s first game action since first-year Denver coach Sean Payton got into hot water for defending his quarterback, telling a reporter that last year’s coach Nathaniel Hackett did “one of the worst coaching jobs in the NFL” and saying there were “20 dirty hands” around Wilson’s career-worst season in 2022.Payton eventually said he regretted those comments.Elliott Fry made a 55-yard field goal just before halftime to give the Broncos a 10-0 lead.Jonathan Gannon got the win in his preseason debut as Arizona’s head coach after he was hired during the offseason to replace Kliff Kingsbury. He spent the previous two seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.“The most important thing is the good, the bad and the ugly — we’ve got to learn from it,” Gannon said. “We’ve got to clean up some mistakes, all three phases. We’ve got to get a little better from this tape. Saying that, I liked the way they competed. They ran well, hit well, and we had some things we executed down the stretch.”Arizona’s Colt McCoy was 4 of 4 for 17 yards in the opening series, which was his only action of the night. The 36-year-old is expected to be the team’s starter until Kyler Murray returns from his knee injury.Gannon said he was pleased with his team’s defense, particularly when the starters were in the game early. A handful of players — like Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons — were playing new positions. Collins switched to more of an edge rushing role while Simmons moved from safety to linebacker.“We were letting loose,” Collins said. “Didn’t really try to do anything too fancy. Just let us go and see how we rushed for the first time. I thought it went well.”Rookie Clayton Tune threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Kaden Davis to tie the game at 10-all with 12:25 left. Denver’s Jaleel McLaughlin ran for a 4-yard touchdown to push the Broncos ahead 17-10 with 1:30 remaining.The 59-year-old Payton previously coached the New Orleans Saints for 15 seasons, leading the franchise to a Super Bowl win during the 2009 season.Denver’s Essang Bassey and Arizona’s Antonio Hamilton Sr. each had an interception. Broncos backup Jarrett Stidham completed 5 of 15 passes for 50 yards and an interception.NOT VERY SPECIALThe Broncos missed two field goals — a 47-yarder by Brett Maher and a 50-yarder by Fry — and had another 52-yard attempt by Maher blocked. Arizona’s Matt Prater missed a 53-yard attempt before making a 38-yarder.ROOKIE WATCHTune completed 13 of 23 passes for 135 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The fifth-round pick out of Houston could be Arizona’s backup quarterback until Murray returns.INJURIESDenver defensive tackle D.J. Jones left the game in the first quarter with a concussion.Arizona’s Andre Baccellia left the game in the second half and was evaluated for a concussion.UP NEXTBroncos: At San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 19.Cardinals: Host Kansas City on Saturday, Aug. 19.