Forty-seven percent&nbsp;of student-athletes from Barton Community College achieved a 3.50 or better grade point average during the 2024-25 academic year.

Exceeding last year's accumulated grade point average by compiling an overall Department-wide&nbsp;3.296&nbsp;classroom achievement,&nbsp;147&nbsp;(47.8%) of Barton's 307 student-athletes received either national and/or conference academic honors.

On the national level,&nbsp;105&nbsp;Barton student-athletes were among 13,915 across the NJCAA earning a spot on one of three All-Academic teams for obtaining a 3.60 or better GPA.

Forty&nbsp;Cougars achieved a perfect 4.0 in the classroom meeting national requirements to earn 1st team NJCAA All-Academic distinction,&nbsp;thirty-three&nbsp;earned 2nd Team distinction having a 3.80-3.99 range GPA, with another&nbsp;thirty-two&nbsp;falling within the 3.60-3.79 GPA range for 3rd team national accolades.

The academic year's honors caps the 2024-25 year that also saw Barton Track and Field athletes&nbsp;Celine Riddle&nbsp;and&nbsp;Trevon Hamer&nbsp;receiving National Scholar Field Athlete of the Year awards distributed by the U.S. Track &amp; Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Cheer's&nbsp;Tierra Yohon&nbsp;and&nbsp;Paige Mink&nbsp;of the Women's Swim team chosen as the 2025 Outstanding Barton graduates, Softball's&nbsp;Allyson McDougal&nbsp;a Student Ambassador of the Year, as well as,&nbsp;Mink&nbsp;and Women's Track and Field athlete&nbsp;Ivanilda Semedo&nbsp;selected to the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society All-State Academic team.

Barton Student-Athletes All-Academic Achievements *Denotes repeat NJCAA All-Academic earner

Perfect 4.0 GPA - NJCAA 1st Team All-America Baseball: Cam Bergstrom, John Connors, *Barrett Donaldson, Braden Hauschel, Hunter Houfek, Tyler Janssen, Jack Jewell, *Cade Kunz, Kiernan Meredith, *Ethan Minaker, *Cooper Tabor

Bowling (Women):&nbsp;Ellie Weeks, Zoe Wimmer

Soccer (Men):&nbsp;Gabriel Bergamin, Gabriel Henrique, Sho Kinjo, Nils Knecht, Pedro Lyra, *Hugo Pacheco, *Maxence Voinier

Soccer (Women):&nbsp;*Kyra De Boer, Katie Potter, Jasmin Siegenthaler, *Mio Tanaka

Softball:&nbsp;Ava Fink, Meleia Ingram, Aubrey Pate

Swimming (Men):&nbsp;Joao Ribeiro, Skyler Fair

Tennis (Men):&nbsp;*Carl Baskerville, *Hayden Loffler

Volleyball:&nbsp;Macy Nachtigal, *Phoebe Reyes

Wrestling:&nbsp;Landon Koelling, *Jarret Mader, Skyler McMullen, Derek Truman

3.80-3.99 GPA - NJCAA 2nd Team All-America Baseball:&nbsp;Tate Blasi, Jack Dilley, *Cesar Gomez, Kyle Graves, *Ayden Hadley, Dalton Jorgensen, Remmington Miller

Basketball (Women):&nbsp;Emilia Borissova, Brittany Simpson

Cross Country (Women):&nbsp;Elaine Sleichter

Golf (Men):&nbsp;Matteu Cauvin-Piacentini

Golf (Women):&nbsp;Chomchanok Laparojkit, Lexus Petersilie

Indoor Track and Field (Women):&nbsp;Zadie Mackey, Elaine Sleichter

Outdoor Track and Field (Women):&nbsp;Zadie Mackey, Elaine Sleichter

Soccer (Men):&nbsp;Gabriel Nshuti, Francisco Pina, *Diego Sano, *Lucas Thiago Dos Santos

Soccer (Women):&nbsp;Candice Burnier, Maria Eduarda De Paiva, Louhanne Jarry

Softball:&nbsp;*Chloe Enslinger, *Jillian George, Peyton McCormick

Swimming (Women):&nbsp;Kaytlyn Alvarez, Paige Mink

Volleyball:&nbsp;Aubrey Olander, *Elena Stankovic

Wrestling:&nbsp;*Ethan Boles, Jaden Vetter, *Deryk Yott

3.60-3.79: NJCAA 3rd Team All-America Baseball:&nbsp;Isaac Bluemel, Antonio Mendez, Wyatt Yetter

Basketball (Women):&nbsp;Joy Biribebe, Alaina Eck, Getrude Mapiye, *Macie Smith

Golf (Women):&nbsp;Alayna Crosby, Kadynce Nash, Joellen Vogt

Indoor Track and Field (Men):&nbsp;Gabriel Carty, Jorge Pena

Indoor Track and Field (Women):&nbsp;Celine Riddle, *Ivanilda Semedo, Asharria Ulett, Widlife Vermilus

Outdoor Track and Field (Men):&nbsp;Gabriel Carty, Jorge Pena

Outdoor Track and Field (Women):&nbsp;Celine Riddle, *Ivanilda Semedo, Asharria Ulett, Widlife Vermilus

Soccer (Men):&nbsp;Diogo Gimenez, Jose Guajardo, Yoshitomo Shibao

Soccer (Women):&nbsp;Sara Aguirre, Lucia Alvarez, Maki Kimura, *Ines Mahiaoui, Leticia Silva

Swimming (Men):&nbsp;Lautaro Arel Caspe, Arnaldo Cezario Guimaraes, Mateo Serge Jean Michel Wallet&nbsp;Tennis (Men):&nbsp;*Oliver Naude

Additional individuals earning KJCCC Honors and/or didn't meet the NJCAA's criteria earning All-America distinction Baseball:&nbsp;Hunter Alvord, Kyler Horsman, Hayden Oviatt, Carter Ulrich, Austin Young

Basketball (Women):&nbsp;Kodi Greer, Vivian Onugha

Bowling (Men):&nbsp;Logan Lindsley, Landon Wareman

Bowling (Women):&nbsp;JaeLinn Thetford, Alexis Wareman

Indoor Track and Field (Men):&nbsp;Wanyae Belle, Jasiah Clapp, Trevon Hamer, Boris Peranovic

Outdoor Track and Field (Men):&nbsp;Wanyae Belle, Jasiah Clapp, Trevon Hamer, Boris Peranovic

Golf (Women):&nbsp;Diana Alvarado, Frida Mondragon

Soccer (Men):&nbsp;Loic Kanku, Eric Monnier, Raku Okazaki, Juan Orozco

Soccer (Women):&nbsp;Maelle Harnisch, Paige Hiracheta, Mary Kahraman, Micaella Ribeiro, Kamea Rice

Softball:&nbsp;Elina Bartlett, Alicia Goseland, Grace Hembree, Mollie Steiner, Laney Wood

Swimming (Men):&nbsp;Juan David Gonzalez Gomez

Swimming (Women):&nbsp;MaKayla Baxter, Marcela Contes Tribst

Volleyball:&nbsp;Josie McLean, Maurin Reyes, Mya Thompson, Anna Clara Wierzbicki

Forty-seven percent&nbsp;of student-athletes from Barton Community College achieved a 3.50 or better grade point average during the 2024-25 academic year.Exceeding last year's accumulated grade point average by compiling an overall Department-wide&nbsp;3.296&nbsp;classroom achievement,&nbsp;147&nbsp;(47.8%) of Barton's 307 student-athletes received either national and/or conference academic honors.On the national level,&nbsp;105&nbsp;Barton student-athletes were among 13,915 across the NJCAA earning a spot on one of three All-Academic teams for obtaining a 3.60 or better GPA.Forty&nbsp;Cougars achieved a perfect 4.0 in the classroom meeting national requirements to earn 1st team NJCAA All-Academic distinction,&nbsp;thirty-three&nbsp;earned 2nd Team distinction having a 3.80-3.99 range GPA, with another&nbsp;thirty-two&nbsp;falling within the 3.60-3.79 GPA range for 3rd team national accolades.The academic year's honors caps the 2024-25 year that also saw Barton Track and Field athletes&nbsp;Celine Riddle&nbsp;and&nbsp;Trevon Hamer&nbsp;receiving National Scholar Field Athlete of the Year awards distributed by the U.S. Track &amp; Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Cheer's&nbsp;Tierra Yohon&nbsp;and&nbsp;Paige Mink&nbsp;of the Women's Swim team chosen as the 2025 Outstanding Barton graduates, Softball's&nbsp;Allyson McDougal&nbsp;a Student Ambassador of the Year, as well as,&nbsp;Mink&nbsp;and Women's Track and Field athlete&nbsp;Ivanilda Semedo&nbsp;selected to the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society All-State Academic team.Barton Student-Athletes All-Academic Achievements *Denotes repeat NJCAA All-Academic earnerPerfect 4.0 GPA - NJCAA 1st Team All-America Baseball: Cam Bergstrom, John Connors, *Barrett Donaldson, Braden Hauschel, Hunter Houfek, Tyler Janssen, Jack Jewell, *Cade Kunz, Kiernan Meredith, *Ethan Minaker, *Cooper TaborBasketball (Men):&nbsp;Blake RuckerBasketball (Women): Eva ClementsBowling (Women):&nbsp;Ellie Weeks, Zoe WimmerSoccer (Men):&nbsp;Gabriel Bergamin, Gabriel Henrique, Sho Kinjo, Nils Knecht, Pedro Lyra, *Hugo Pacheco, *Maxence VoinierSoccer (Women):&nbsp;*Kyra De Boer, Katie Potter, Jasmin Siegenthaler, *Mio TanakaSoftball:&nbsp;Ava Fink, Meleia Ingram, Aubrey PateSwimming (Men):&nbsp;Joao Ribeiro, Skyler FairSwimming (Women):&nbsp;*Elena LaraTennis (Men):&nbsp;*Carl Baskerville, *Hayden LofflerVolleyball:&nbsp;Macy Nachtigal, *Phoebe ReyesWrestling:&nbsp;Landon Koelling, *Jarret Mader, Skyler McMullen, Derek Truman3.80-3.99 GPA - NJCAA 2nd Team All-America Baseball:&nbsp;Tate Blasi, Jack Dilley, *Cesar Gomez, Kyle Graves, *Ayden Hadley, Dalton Jorgensen, Remmington MillerBasketball (Women):&nbsp;Emilia Borissova, Brittany SimpsonBowling (Men):&nbsp;Torrey LindleyCross Country (Women):&nbsp;Elaine SleichterGolf (Men):&nbsp;Matteu Cauvin-PiacentiniGolf (Women):&nbsp;Chomchanok Laparojkit, Lexus PetersilieIndoor Track and Field (Women):&nbsp;Zadie Mackey, Elaine SleichterOutdoor Track and Field (Women):&nbsp;Zadie Mackey, Elaine SleichterSoccer (Men):&nbsp;Gabriel Nshuti, Francisco Pina, *Diego Sano, *Lucas Thiago Dos SantosSoccer (Women):&nbsp;Candice Burnier, Maria Eduarda De Paiva, Louhanne JarrySoftball:&nbsp;*Chloe Enslinger, *Jillian George, Peyton McCormickSwimming (Women):&nbsp;Kaytlyn Alvarez, Paige MinkTennis (Women):&nbsp;Salalee SeejongVolleyball:&nbsp;Aubrey Olander, *Elena StankovicWrestling:&nbsp;*Ethan Boles, Jaden Vetter, *Deryk Yott3.60-3.79: NJCAA 3rd Team All-America Baseball:&nbsp;Isaac Bluemel, Antonio Mendez, Wyatt YetterBasketball (Men):&nbsp;Pavel IvanovBasketball (Women):&nbsp;Joy Biribebe, Alaina Eck, Getrude Mapiye, *Macie SmithBowling (Men):&nbsp;Braydon BastinCross Country (Men):&nbsp;Gabriel CartyGolf (Men):&nbsp;Mason MooreGolf (Women):&nbsp;Alayna Crosby, Kadynce Nash, Joellen VogtIndoor Track and Field (Men):&nbsp;Gabriel Carty, Jorge PenaIndoor Track and Field (Women):&nbsp;Celine Riddle, *Ivanilda Semedo, Asharria Ulett, Widlife VermilusOutdoor Track and Field (Men):&nbsp;Gabriel Carty, Jorge PenaOutdoor Track and Field (Women):&nbsp;Celine Riddle, *Ivanilda Semedo, Asharria Ulett, Widlife VermilusSoccer (Men):&nbsp;Diogo Gimenez, Jose Guajardo, Yoshitomo ShibaoSoccer (Women):&nbsp;Sara Aguirre, Lucia Alvarez, Maki Kimura, *Ines Mahiaoui, Leticia SilvaSwimming (Men):&nbsp;Lautaro Arel Caspe, Arnaldo Cezario Guimaraes, Mateo Serge Jean Michel Wallet&nbsp;Tennis (Men):&nbsp;*Oliver NaudeVolleyball:&nbsp;Mina KanekoAdditional individuals earning KJCCC Honors and/or didn't meet the NJCAA's criteria earning All-America distinction Baseball:&nbsp;Hunter Alvord, Kyler Horsman, Hayden Oviatt, Carter Ulrich, Austin YoungBasketball (Men):&nbsp;Carter CoombsBasketball (Women):&nbsp;Kodi Greer, Vivian OnughaBowling (Men):&nbsp;Logan Lindsley, Landon WaremanBowling (Women):&nbsp;JaeLinn Thetford, Alexis WaremanCross Country (Men):&nbsp;Jasiah ClappIndoor Track and Field (Men):&nbsp;Wanyae Belle, Jasiah Clapp, Trevon Hamer, Boris PeranovicOutdoor Track and Field (Men):&nbsp;Wanyae Belle, Jasiah Clapp, Trevon Hamer, Boris PeranovicGolf (Women):&nbsp;Diana Alvarado, Frida MondragonSoccer (Men):&nbsp;Loic Kanku, Eric Monnier, Raku Okazaki, Juan OrozcoSoccer (Women):&nbsp;Maelle Harnisch, Paige Hiracheta, Mary Kahraman, Micaella Ribeiro, Kamea RiceSoftball:&nbsp;Elina Bartlett, Alicia Goseland, Grace Hembree, Mollie Steiner, Laney WoodSwimming (Men):&nbsp;Juan David Gonzalez GomezSwimming (Women):&nbsp;MaKayla Baxter, Marcela Contes TribstTennis (Men):&nbsp;Shane TaperaTennis (Women):&nbsp;Diana SouzaVolleyball:&nbsp;Josie McLean, Maurin Reyes, Mya Thompson, Anna Clara WierzbickiWrestling:&nbsp;Alonso Frances Aguilar

Barton student-athletes earn All-Academic Awards

BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran hit a three-run homer and Brayan Bello pitched six effective innings, helping the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 on Monday night for their sixth consecutive victory.

Rob Refsnyder drove in two runs, and Duran added a leaping,&nbsp;run-saving catch&nbsp;in front of the Green Monster in the fourth.

Bello (8-5) allowed an unearned run and six hits. The right-hander has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his last 14 outings.

The Royals got back-to-back home runs from Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia off Jorge Alcala as part of a four-run eighth. But Aroldis Chapman handled the ninth for his 21st save.

Royals starter Bailey Falter (7-6) was pulled after four innings. He was charged with seven runs and eight hits.

Refsnyder put the Red Sox in front with a two-run single in the first. Duran then pushed the lead to 5-0 with two out, hitting a 419-foot drive deep to center for his 12th homer.

Boston rookie Roman Anthony was scratched from his scheduled start in right field due to mid-back tightness. He was replaced by Wilyer Abreu.

With Boston leading 8-5 in the eighth, Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. singled to right field. Nick Loftin attempted to score from second, but Abreu’s throw from right beat him and Loftin was tagged out in a collision with catcher Connor Wong. The Royals challenged, arguing Wong illegally blocked the plate, but it was upheld after a video review.

The Red Sox have outscored their opponents 44-16 during their win streak.

Rookie right-hander Ryan Bergert (1-0, 2.78 ERA) starts for Kansas City on Tuesday night, and left-hander Garrett Crochet (12-4, 2.23 ERA) goes for the Red Sox.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754397958772.jpeg" alt="Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)" />
 <figcaption>Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran hit a three-run homer and Brayan Bello pitched six effective innings, helping the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 on Monday night for their sixth consecutive victory.Rob Refsnyder drove in two runs, and Duran added a leaping,&nbsp;run-saving catch&nbsp;in front of the Green Monster in the fourth.Bello (8-5) allowed an unearned run and six hits. The right-hander has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his last 14 outings.The Royals got back-to-back home runs from Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia off Jorge Alcala as part of a four-run eighth. But Aroldis Chapman handled the ninth for his 21st save.Royals starter Bailey Falter (7-6) was pulled after four innings. He was charged with seven runs and eight hits.Refsnyder put the Red Sox in front with a two-run single in the first. Duran then pushed the lead to 5-0 with two out, hitting a 419-foot drive deep to center for his 12th homer.Boston rookie Roman Anthony was scratched from his scheduled start in right field due to mid-back tightness. He was replaced by Wilyer Abreu.<h2>Key moment</h2>With Boston leading 8-5 in the eighth, Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. singled to right field. Nick Loftin attempted to score from second, but Abreu’s throw from right beat him and Loftin was tagged out in a collision with catcher Connor Wong. The Royals challenged, arguing Wong illegally blocked the plate, but it was upheld after a video review.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Red Sox have outscored their opponents 44-16 during their win streak.<h2>Up next</h2>Rookie right-hander Ryan Bergert (1-0, 2.78 ERA) starts for Kansas City on Tuesday night, and left-hander Garrett Crochet (12-4, 2.23 ERA) goes for the Red Sox.

Red Sox ride Duran HR, strong outing from Bello to 6th straight win, beating Royals 8-5

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Aaron Judge will be activated by the New York Yankees on Tuesday, when he is eligible to come off 10-day injured list. He hasn't played since July 25 because of a flexor strain in his right elbow. Judge hit off Yankees minor league pitchers at the team's complex in Tampa for the second day in a row Monday, then was in Texas for the series opener. Manager Aaron Boone said after the Yankees lost 8-5 in 10 innings that the two-time AL MVP would be available Tuesday. If he plays in Texas, Boone says Judge will be the designated hitter.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley has declined an invitation to join President Donald Trump's council on sports, fitness, and nutrition. The council is being revitalized under an executive order that also reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test for American children. Barkley, a standout player for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, was on a list with other sports personalities. Barkley explained Monday that he declined due to a busy schedule. Trump reestablished the fitness test last week, a program that began in 1966 but was phased out during the Obama administration. Barkley recently won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Max Muncy from the injured list and put fellow infielder Tommy Edman on the list Monday. Muncy has been out since July 2, missing nearly five weeks with a bone bruise in his knee after a collision on a tag play during a game against the Chicago White Sox. The veteran slugger had been on a monthlong roll at the time of his injury, boosting his OPS to .832 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs. But just when Muncy is healthy enough to return, the NL West-leading Dodgers are losing Edman after he aggravated his injured right ankle.

The NCAA has decided not to expand the men's and women's basketball tournaments beyond 68 teams in 2026. Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball, announced the decision. Discussions about possibly expanding to 72 or 76 teams for the 2027 tournaments remain ongoing. NCAA President Charlie Baker believes adding teams could enhance the tournament's value. He mentioned having productive talks with TV partners CBS and Warner Bros. Their current deal, valued at about $1.1 billion annually, runs through 2032.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox has agreed to a four-year, $228 million contract extension, an AP source has confirmed. Fox has career averages of 21.5 points and 6.1 assists over eight NBA seasons. He is currently under contract for the final year of his five-year, $163 million deal. The extension starts in the 2026-27 season.

Seattle's Cal Raleigh, known as "Big Dumper," has been a powerhouse this season, hitting 42 homers. Manager Dan Wilson praises his defensive skills as a catcher, highlighting his ability to lead the pitching staff. Raleigh's dual role as a slugger and catcher is impressive, especially as Seattle fights for a playoff spot. Despite the physical demands, Raleigh's focus and consistency have been key to his success. His achievements are part of a broader trend of increased offensive production from MLB catchers. Raleigh's performance stands out, earning admiration from fans and peers alike.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have brought back Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator to revive their struggling defense. The team hopes he can recreate the success of 2019 when the defense helped them reach the Super Bowl. Saleh returns after being fired as head coach of the New York Jets. The 49ers aren't alone in making coaching changes. Detroit, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay have also replaced coordinators because of promotions or departures. Other teams such as Houston, Cincinnati, and Seattle have made changes to spark improvement. These moves could significantly impact which teams succeed in the upcoming season.

This should be an exhilarating moment for college tennis. Wimbledon featured a record 26 current or former college players in men’s singles and nine more in the women’s draw. Yet this breakthrough is occurring as the threat of elimination faces numerous tennis programs. Division I schools dropping tennis programs since 2023 include Central Arkansas, Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, Louisiana-Monroe, Radford, St. Francis College, San Francisco, Seattle and UTEP. Nearly two dozen men’s or women’s tennis programs were eliminated during the pandemic.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane told The Associated Press that he isn’t sure how long the contract standoff with James Cook will last after the running back declined to participate in practice for a second straight day. Cook wore a white hat, red Bills pullover and blue shorts upon briefly entering the practice field, before ducking into a portable bathroom. He then left the field, exiting through the trainer’s tent and did not re-appear during the two-hour session. This marks the second day Cook has not participated in practice in the fourth-year player’s next step in escalating his bid to extend the final year of his contract.

ATLANTA (AP) — Former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley has announced his 2026 Republican bid for the U.S. Senate in Georgia. He is running against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. Dooley is backed by Gov. Brian Kemp and on Monday joined a GOP field that includes U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins. Kemp turned to Dooley after deciding not to run himself. Dooley has never held elective office and plans to run as a political outsider. He aims to bring "Georgia common sense" and work with President Donald Trump. Dooley's candidacy has already faced criticism for his lack of conservative credentials.

INTERLEAGUE Final Houston 8 Miami 2 Final Philadelphia 13 Baltimore 3 Final Cleveland 7 N.Y. Mets 6 Final Toronto 15 Colorado 1

AMERICAN LEAGUE Final Detroit 6 Minnesota 3 Final Boston 8 Kansas City 5 Final Texas&nbsp; 8 N.Y. Yankees 5 Final L.A. Angels 5 Tampa Bay 1

NATIONAL LEAGUE Final Milwaukee 3 Atlanta 1 Final Pittsburgh 5 San Francisco 4 Final Cincinnati 3 Chicago Cubs 2 Final Arizona 6 San Diego 2 Final St. Louis 3 L.A. Dodgers 2

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Aaron Judge will be activated by the New York Yankees on Tuesday, when he is eligible to come off 10-day injured list. He hasn't played since July 25 because of a flexor strain in his right elbow. Judge hit off Yankees minor league pitchers at the team's complex in Tampa for the second day in a row Monday, then was in Texas for the series opener. Manager Aaron Boone said after the Yankees lost 8-5 in 10 innings that the two-time AL MVP would be available Tuesday. If he plays in Texas, Boone says Judge will be the designated hitter.PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley has declined an invitation to join President Donald Trump's council on sports, fitness, and nutrition. The council is being revitalized under an executive order that also reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test for American children. Barkley, a standout player for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, was on a list with other sports personalities. Barkley explained Monday that he declined due to a busy schedule. Trump reestablished the fitness test last week, a program that began in 1966 but was phased out during the Obama administration. Barkley recently won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Max Muncy from the injured list and put fellow infielder Tommy Edman on the list Monday. Muncy has been out since July 2, missing nearly five weeks with a bone bruise in his knee after a collision on a tag play during a game against the Chicago White Sox. The veteran slugger had been on a monthlong roll at the time of his injury, boosting his OPS to .832 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs. But just when Muncy is healthy enough to return, the NL West-leading Dodgers are losing Edman after he aggravated his injured right ankle.The NCAA has decided not to expand the men's and women's basketball tournaments beyond 68 teams in 2026. Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball, announced the decision. Discussions about possibly expanding to 72 or 76 teams for the 2027 tournaments remain ongoing. NCAA President Charlie Baker believes adding teams could enhance the tournament's value. He mentioned having productive talks with TV partners CBS and Warner Bros. Their current deal, valued at about $1.1 billion annually, runs through 2032.SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox has agreed to a four-year, $228 million contract extension, an AP source has confirmed. Fox has career averages of 21.5 points and 6.1 assists over eight NBA seasons. He is currently under contract for the final year of his five-year, $163 million deal. The extension starts in the 2026-27 season.Seattle's Cal Raleigh, known as "Big Dumper," has been a powerhouse this season, hitting 42 homers. Manager Dan Wilson praises his defensive skills as a catcher, highlighting his ability to lead the pitching staff. Raleigh's dual role as a slugger and catcher is impressive, especially as Seattle fights for a playoff spot. Despite the physical demands, Raleigh's focus and consistency have been key to his success. His achievements are part of a broader trend of increased offensive production from MLB catchers. Raleigh's performance stands out, earning admiration from fans and peers alike.SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have brought back Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator to revive their struggling defense. The team hopes he can recreate the success of 2019 when the defense helped them reach the Super Bowl. Saleh returns after being fired as head coach of the New York Jets. The 49ers aren't alone in making coaching changes. Detroit, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay have also replaced coordinators because of promotions or departures. Other teams such as Houston, Cincinnati, and Seattle have made changes to spark improvement. These moves could significantly impact which teams succeed in the upcoming season.This should be an exhilarating moment for college tennis. Wimbledon featured a record 26 current or former college players in men’s singles and nine more in the women’s draw. Yet this breakthrough is occurring as the threat of elimination faces numerous tennis programs. Division I schools dropping tennis programs since 2023 include Central Arkansas, Eastern Illinois, Lindenwood, Louisiana-Monroe, Radford, St. Francis College, San Francisco, Seattle and UTEP. Nearly two dozen men’s or women’s tennis programs were eliminated during the pandemic.PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane told The Associated Press that he isn’t sure how long the contract standoff with James Cook will last after the running back declined to participate in practice for a second straight day. Cook wore a white hat, red Bills pullover and blue shorts upon briefly entering the practice field, before ducking into a portable bathroom. He then left the field, exiting through the trainer’s tent and did not re-appear during the two-hour session. This marks the second day Cook has not participated in practice in the fourth-year player’s next step in escalating his bid to extend the final year of his contract.ATLANTA (AP) — Former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley has announced his 2026 Republican bid for the U.S. Senate in Georgia. He is running against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. Dooley is backed by Gov. Brian Kemp and on Monday joined a GOP field that includes U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins. Kemp turned to Dooley after deciding not to run himself. Dooley has never held elective office and plans to run as a political outsider. He aims to bring "Georgia common sense" and work with President Donald Trump. Dooley's candidacy has already faced criticism for his lack of conservative credentials.FinalsINTERLEAGUE Final Houston 8 Miami 2 Final Philadelphia 13 Baltimore 3 Final Cleveland 7 N.Y. Mets 6 Final Toronto 15 Colorado 1AMERICAN LEAGUE Final Detroit 6 Minnesota 3 Final Boston 8 Kansas City 5 Final Texas&nbsp; 8 N.Y. Yankees 5 Final L.A. Angels 5 Tampa Bay 1NATIONAL LEAGUE Final Milwaukee 3 Atlanta 1 Final Pittsburgh 5 San Francisco 4 Final Cincinnati 3 Chicago Cubs 2 Final Arizona 6 San Diego 2 Final St. Louis 3 L.A. Dodgers 2

Tuesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

Todd Moore Twenty-one athletic teams within Barton Community College were recognized recently by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in announcing its 2024-25 Academic Teams of the Year achievements.

Compiling a cumulative 3.29 GPA within Barton's athletic teams reporting to the NJCAA list, eleven placed among their respective sport's Top-20 leaderboard as 1,347 teams across the nation achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Within Barton's teams, eight placed within the nation's top ten rankings, men's bowling finishing the highest at No. 4 nationally as wrestling and women's golf the next highest with a 5th place overall finish.

Adding to its national ranking, the women's golf squad also earned Department bragging rights by compiling a 3.72 GPA. The volleyball team, last year's top Barton GPA earner, was second at 3.61 with the women's basketball team close behind at 3.605 to also earn the Department's lone top 10% finish by placing 11th out of 132 teams nationwide.

Four additional teams finished with a 3.4 GPA or better, men's tennis at 3.51, women's soccer at 3.48, softball close behind at 3.47, and baseball's 44-man roster accumulating a 3.41 GPA.

Amongst fellow KJCCC (Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference) members, the Cougars placed third overall in GPA achievement. Johnson County Community College earned conference high honors with a 3.36 GPA, followed by Kansas City Kansas Community College in second with a 3.32. Following Barton in fourth was Colby Community College's 3.24 as Allen Community College rounded out the top five with a 3.22.

Thirteen Barton teams placed inside the Top-5 of the KJCCC standings, women's golf and women's tennis on top claiming KJCCC Academic titles as the women's basketball, men's tennis, men's indoor and outdoor track and field squads, and wrestling team each finished runner-up in their respective sport categories.

Baseball (3.45) – 31st national placing (173 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 4th in Region 6 (15 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Basketball - Men's (2.91) – *Did not meet national team standards; 71 teams nationally over 3.0 GPA; 7 in Region 6 

Basketball – Women's (3.60) – 11th national placing (132 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 2nd in Region 6 (12 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Bowling – Men's (3.18) – 4th national placing (6 Teams over 3.0 GPA); *No other Region 6 teams

Bowling – Women's (3.01) – 6th national placing (6 Teams over 3.0 GPA); *No other Region 6 teams

Cross Country – Men's (3.08) – 37th national placing (43 teams nationally over 3.0 GPA); 6th in Region 6 (7 teams over 3.0 GPA)

Cross Country – Women's (3.34) – 46th national placing (68 teams nationally over 3.0 GPA); 6th in Region 6 (8 teams over 3.0 GPA) Golf - Men's (3.17) – 56th national placing (73 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 3rd in Region 6 (4 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Golf - Women's (3.72) – 5th national placing (40 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 1st in Region 6 (2 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Indoor Track – Men's (3.19) – 8th national placing (11 teams nationally over 3.0 GPA); 2nd in Region 6 (2 teams over 3.0 GPA)

Indoor Track – Women's (3.16) – 14th national placing (19 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 5th in Region 6 (6 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Outdoor Track – Men's (3.19) – 10th national placing (17 teams nationally over 3.0 GPA); 2nd in Region 6 (2 teams over 3.0 GPA)

Outdoor Track – Women's (3.16) – 27th national placing (34 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 7th in Region 6 (7 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Soccer - Men's (3.31) – 22nd national placing (70 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 3rd in Region 6 (7 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Soccer - Women's (3.48) – 30th national placing (102 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 3rd in Region 6 (11 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Softball (3.47) – 72nd national placing (193 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 9th in Region 6 (16 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Swimming – Men's (3.11) – 8th national placing (9 Teams over 3.0 GPA); *No other Region 6 teams

Swimming – Women's (3.30) – 6th national placing (9 Teams over 3.0 GPA); *No other Region 6 teams

Tennis - Men's (3.51) – 19th national placing (36 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 2nd in Region 6 (3 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Tennis - Women's (3.36) – 23rd national placing (34 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 1st in Region 6 (No other Region 6 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Volleyball (3.61) – 30th national placing (161 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 7th in Region 6 (16 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Wrestling (3.19) – 5th national placing (6 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 2nd in Region 6 (2 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Todd Moore Twenty-one athletic teams within Barton Community College were recognized recently by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in announcing its 2024-25 Academic Teams of the Year achievements.Compiling a cumulative 3.29 GPA within Barton's athletic teams reporting to the NJCAA list, eleven placed among their respective sport's Top-20 leaderboard as 1,347 teams across the nation achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.Within Barton's teams, eight placed within the nation's top ten rankings, men's bowling finishing the highest at No. 4 nationally as wrestling and women's golf the next highest with a 5th place overall finish.Adding to its national ranking, the women's golf squad also earned Department bragging rights by compiling a 3.72 GPA. The volleyball team, last year's top Barton GPA earner, was second at 3.61 with the women's basketball team close behind at 3.605 to also earn the Department's lone top 10% finish by placing 11th out of 132 teams nationwide.Four additional teams finished with a 3.4 GPA or better, men's tennis at 3.51, women's soccer at 3.48, softball close behind at 3.47, and baseball's 44-man roster accumulating a 3.41 GPA.Amongst fellow KJCCC (Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference) members, the Cougars placed third overall in GPA achievement. Johnson County Community College earned conference high honors with a 3.36 GPA, followed by Kansas City Kansas Community College in second with a 3.32. Following Barton in fourth was Colby Community College's 3.24 as Allen Community College rounded out the top five with a 3.22.Thirteen Barton teams placed inside the Top-5 of the KJCCC standings, women's golf and women's tennis on top claiming KJCCC Academic titles as the women's basketball, men's tennis, men's indoor and outdoor track and field squads, and wrestling team each finished runner-up in their respective sport categories.Barton Athletic Teams' Report:Baseball (3.45) – 31st national placing (173 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 4th in Region 6 (15 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Basketball - Men's (2.91) – *Did not meet national team standards; 71 teams nationally over 3.0 GPA; 7 in Region 6 Basketball – Women's (3.60) – 11th national placing (132 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 2nd in Region 6 (12 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Bowling – Men's (3.18) – 4th national placing (6 Teams over 3.0 GPA); *No other Region 6 teams Bowling – Women's (3.01) – 6th national placing (6 Teams over 3.0 GPA); *No other Region 6 teams Cross Country – Men's (3.08) – 37th national placing (43 teams nationally over 3.0 GPA); 6th in Region 6 (7 teams over 3.0 GPA)Cross Country – Women's (3.34) – 46th national placing (68 teams nationally over 3.0 GPA); 6th in Region 6 (8 teams over 3.0 GPA) Golf - Men's (3.17) – 56th national placing (73 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 3rd in Region 6 (4 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Golf - Women's (3.72) – 5th national placing (40 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 1st in Region 6 (2 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Indoor Track – Men's (3.19) – 8th national placing (11 teams nationally over 3.0 GPA); 2nd in Region 6 (2 teams over 3.0 GPA)Indoor Track – Women's (3.16) – 14th national placing (19 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 5th in Region 6 (6 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Outdoor Track – Men's (3.19) – 10th national placing (17 teams nationally over 3.0 GPA); 2nd in Region 6 (2 teams over 3.0 GPA)Outdoor Track – Women's (3.16) – 27th national placing (34 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 7th in Region 6 (7 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Soccer - Men's (3.31) – 22nd national placing (70 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 3rd in Region 6 (7 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Soccer - Women's (3.48) – 30th national placing (102 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 3rd in Region 6 (11 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Softball (3.47) – 72nd national placing (193 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 9th in Region 6 (16 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Swimming – Men's (3.11) – 8th national placing (9 Teams over 3.0 GPA); *No other Region 6 teamsSwimming – Women's (3.30) – 6th national placing (9 Teams over 3.0 GPA); *No other Region 6 teamsTennis - Men's (3.51) – 19th national placing (36 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 2nd in Region 6 (3 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Tennis - Women's (3.36) – 23rd national placing (34 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 1st in Region 6 (No other Region 6 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Volleyball (3.61) – 30th national placing (161 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 7th in Region 6 (16 Teams over 3.0 GPA)Wrestling (3.19) – 5th national placing (6 Teams over 3.0 GPA); 2nd in Region 6 (2 Teams over 3.0 GPA)

Twenty-one Barton Athletic teams garner NJCAA academic honors

Anne Rogers MLB.com TORONTO – Buoyed by&nbsp;Trade Deadline acquisitions on Thursday&nbsp;and recognizing the meaning of adding players rather than subtracting, the Royals set out on a long and important road trip ready to prove that was the right strategy while knowing what they had in front of them.

A series win against one of the best teams in baseball? Not too bad of a start.

The Royals rallied late in Sunday’s series finale for a&nbsp;7-4 win&nbsp;in 10 innings over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, marking Kansas City’s fourth consecutive series win -- and this one was its biggest yet. Toronto (65-48) sits atop the American League East and was tied with the Tigers for the&nbsp;best record in the AL&nbsp;entering Sunday.

The Royals, back to .500 at 56-56, now head to Boston looking to build on the momentum they gained this weekend. Kansas City sits 3 1/2 games out of the final&nbsp;American League Wild Card spot. The Red Sox (62-51) hold the top Wild Card spot, 5 1/2 games clear of the Royals.

“Any time you can beat a team in front of you, just to prove it against the best in their ballpark is a nice thing,” Vinnie Pasquantino said. “And we got another series ahead of us with similar things. We’re at .500 right now, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.

It was not just that the Royals won Sunday, but&nbsp;how&nbsp;they won that speaks to the difference in this club, turning a quiet offensive game into a five-run 10th inning.

“It’s huge momentum for us,” said starter Seth Lugo, who went only 4 2/3 innings, holding Toronto to two runs despite four walks. “It’s what we’ve been needing. Grinding out games, not giving in.”

Pasquantino’s RBI single tied the game in the eighth inning, and scoreless frames from relievers Lucas Erceg and Hunter Harvey sent the game to extras tied at 2-2.

As No. 9 hitter Kyle Isbel stepped to the plate against righty Seranthony Domínguez, he didn’t think about bunting over the automatic runner.

Manager Matt Quatraro told Isbel to have a pull-side approach. They wanted a hit rather than a productive out.

As the road team, the Royals were playing for more than one run.

“[The Blue Jays] are going to get the same opportunity,” Quatraro said. “ ... The matchup there with Izzy is pretty good -- maybe it’s different if it’s a really tough lefty. But the way he’s been swinging the bat, we have a lot of confidence in him.”

Isbel, who went 6-for-10 this weekend, proved his manager right by pulling a first-pitch inside heater down the first-base line past a drawn-in Blue Jays infield expecting the bunt.

Isbel had homered off Domínguez earlier this season in Baltimore, when the reliever was with the O’s, and Isbel was ready for nearly the same pitch on Sunday.

“Bunt in that situation puts a lot of pressure on, so being able to come through with a hit is huge,” Isbel said. “Being on second with no outs and an opportunity to score another run -- the guys put up great at-bats behind me. That’s a huge swing.”

Jonathan India was hit by a pitch for the second consecutive day. Bobby Witt Jr. walked. And instead of Pasquantino coming to the plate at that point, it was Tyler Tolbert, who ran for Pasquantino in the eighth but never made it off first base.

Tolbert laid off two sweepers out of the zone and took a called strike before lining a two-run single to right-center. The pressure was then on the Blue Jays, with Witt on third and Tolbert on first. It got to them when Tolbert took off for second. Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk tried to catch Witt off guard at third but threw the ball into left field. Witt scored and Tolbert went to third. He then scored moments later on Maikel Garcia’s sacrifice fly.

“We caused a little bit of chaos,” Tolbert said. “We just want to put pressure on the defense. We know what our speed can do. We got to show it off.”

For all the talk about the Royals’ power showing up -- which it has, way more consistently than earlier this season -- this is the kind of offense with which the Royals can win.

“I think there’s a lot of faith in the bottom half of the lineup right now,” Pasquantino said. “The bottom half came alive. That’s why we made the trades that we made. It’s a really professional lineup right now. You got to navigate through nine tough outs.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754313565228.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during second inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during second inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>Anne Rogers MLB.com TORONTO – Buoyed by&nbsp;Trade Deadline acquisitions on Thursday&nbsp;and recognizing the meaning of adding players rather than subtracting, the Royals set out on a long and important road trip ready to prove that was the right strategy while knowing what they had in front of them.A series win against one of the best teams in baseball? Not too bad of a start.The Royals rallied late in Sunday’s series finale for a&nbsp;7-4 win&nbsp;in 10 innings over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, marking Kansas City’s fourth consecutive series win -- and this one was its biggest yet. Toronto (65-48) sits atop the American League East and was tied with the Tigers for the&nbsp;best record in the AL&nbsp;entering Sunday.The Royals, back to .500 at 56-56, now head to Boston looking to build on the momentum they gained this weekend. Kansas City sits 3 1/2 games out of the final&nbsp;American League Wild Card spot. The Red Sox (62-51) hold the top Wild Card spot, 5 1/2 games clear of the Royals.“Any time you can beat a team in front of you, just to prove it against the best in their ballpark is a nice thing,” Vinnie Pasquantino said. “And we got another series ahead of us with similar things. We’re at .500 right now, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.“I feel like we’re ready for it.”It was not just that the Royals won Sunday, but&nbsp;how&nbsp;they won that speaks to the difference in this club, turning a quiet offensive game into a five-run 10th inning.“It’s huge momentum for us,” said starter Seth Lugo, who went only 4 2/3 innings, holding Toronto to two runs despite four walks. “It’s what we’ve been needing. Grinding out games, not giving in.”Pasquantino’s RBI single tied the game in the eighth inning, and scoreless frames from relievers Lucas Erceg and Hunter Harvey sent the game to extras tied at 2-2.As No. 9 hitter Kyle Isbel stepped to the plate against righty Seranthony Domínguez, he didn’t think about bunting over the automatic runner.Manager Matt Quatraro told Isbel to have a pull-side approach. They wanted a hit rather than a productive out.As the road team, the Royals were playing for more than one run.“[The Blue Jays] are going to get the same opportunity,” Quatraro said. “ ... The matchup there with Izzy is pretty good -- maybe it’s different if it’s a really tough lefty. But the way he’s been swinging the bat, we have a lot of confidence in him.”Isbel, who went 6-for-10 this weekend, proved his manager right by pulling a first-pitch inside heater down the first-base line past a drawn-in Blue Jays infield expecting the bunt.Isbel had homered off Domínguez earlier this season in Baltimore, when the reliever was with the O’s, and Isbel was ready for nearly the same pitch on Sunday.“Bunt in that situation puts a lot of pressure on, so being able to come through with a hit is huge,” Isbel said. “Being on second with no outs and an opportunity to score another run -- the guys put up great at-bats behind me. That’s a huge swing.”The Royals were hardly done there.Jonathan India was hit by a pitch for the second consecutive day. Bobby Witt Jr. walked. And instead of Pasquantino coming to the plate at that point, it was Tyler Tolbert, who ran for Pasquantino in the eighth but never made it off first base.Tolbert laid off two sweepers out of the zone and took a called strike before lining a two-run single to right-center. The pressure was then on the Blue Jays, with Witt on third and Tolbert on first. It got to them when Tolbert took off for second. Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk tried to catch Witt off guard at third but threw the ball into left field. Witt scored and Tolbert went to third. He then scored moments later on Maikel Garcia’s sacrifice fly.“We caused a little bit of chaos,” Tolbert said. “We just want to put pressure on the defense. We know what our speed can do. We got to show it off.”For all the talk about the Royals’ power showing up -- which it has, way more consistently than earlier this season -- this is the kind of offense with which the Royals can win.Unrelenting and unforgiving.“I think there’s a lot of faith in the bottom half of the lineup right now,” Pasquantino said. “The bottom half came alive. That’s why we made the trades that we made. It’s a really professional lineup right now. You got to navigate through nine tough outs.”

Royals keep rolling by rallying for 4th straight series win

Anne Rogers MLB.com TORONTO -- A red-hot&nbsp;Salvador Perez&nbsp;is a dangerous hitter to pitch to, and no one can cool him down right now.

The Royals' catcher mashed his 20th home run of the season in the Royals’&nbsp;4-2 loss&nbsp;to the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre, a solo shot in the sixth inning that marked Perez’s second in as many games, seventh in his past 12 games and 11th in his past 21 games.

The stretch comes after Perez hit just four home runs through May and nine through June this season.

Now he has 20 in his 14th big league season, and he made history with Saturday’s swing.

Perez has hit 20-plus home runs in nine seasons, surpassing George Brett for most such seasons in Royals history.

“The most important thing is to win the game, win the World Series,” Perez said. “But yeah, I think everybody has personal goals. You feel better when we win, but I thank God to just let me do what I do every day and play baseball. I love what I do.

“To be around that kind of name -- George Brett is a Hall of Famer -- that means a lot to me.”

And Perez means a lot to the Royals, even more so now in this stretch of his that has seen him hit safely in 37 of 51 games since the start of June. Perez just finished one of the best months of his career in July with a 1.098 OPS, the second-highest mark in any calendar month of his career (min. 50 plate appearances), behind his 1.197 OPS in September 2020.

“Nothing surprises me when people tell me the stats he’s compiling,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “... We need him, and we need other guys to do it, too. But when you provide power in the middle of the lineup like that, that’s a big threat at any time.”

Perez’s home run came against Max Scherzer, who otherwise held the Royals quiet across six innings Saturday. Kansas City had runners on first and third with one out and the heart of their order coming up in the third inning, only to see Bobby Witt Jr. strike out swinging and Vinnie Pasquantino fly out.

The Royals went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position Saturday, although small ball manufactured a run in the seventh when Adam Frazier doubled, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Kyle Isbel’s sacrifice bunt.

“We need to take advantage when we’ve got guys in scoring position and try to bring them in,” Perez said. “But it’s part of the game, too. [Scherzer is] going to make his pitches.”

The Royals were in a deficit after the third inning, when the Blue Jays scored two on a bloop single to center field. Right fielder John Rave bobbled the ball, allowing Davis Schneider to reach second, and Schneider scored on Bo Bichette’s single off Royals starter Noah Cameron.

But Cameron bounced back after the long inning, throwing 6 1/3 innings total and allowing four runs, the last of which was scored when Steven Cruz came in during the seventh and allowed an inherited runner to score.

“Bloop single is not the right time there with guys on base,” Cameron said. “But we continued to attack. After that inning, beared down and started getting in some good counts. Started getting ahead of hitters, which I struggled with at the beginning.”

Scherzer vs. Perez was a matchup between two potential future Hall of Famers, with Scherzer’s induction seemingly inevitable after the career he continues to put together and Perez’s more and more possible because of the consistent numbers he continues to post.

What could be a big help is a big number he’s eyeing this season. Perez has 293 career home runs after Saturday’s blast.

“I hope I can do it this year,” Perez said.

Only&nbsp;seven primary catchers&nbsp;(who played at least 75% of their games behind the plate) have surpassed 300 home runs in their careers. Six of them are Hall of Famers:

Mike Piazza (427)Johnny Bench (389)Carlton Fisk (376)Yogi Berra (358)Gary Carter (324)Lance Parrish (324) – not in the Hall of FameIvan Rodriguez (311)

No. 300 might not have seemed that close with the way the season started for Perez, who struggled offensively out of the gate like the rest of the Royals' offense. But now?

It could be here sooner than ever with the way he’s swinging the bat.

“Man, I hope so,” Cameron said. “It’s fun to watch him do what he does.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753965991387.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez celebrates as he runs to first after hitting an RBI single to win the baseball game during the 10th inning against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez celebrates as he runs to first after hitting an RBI single to win the baseball game during the 10th inning against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>Anne Rogers MLB.com TORONTO -- A red-hot&nbsp;Salvador Perez&nbsp;is a dangerous hitter to pitch to, and no one can cool him down right now.The Royals' catcher mashed his 20th home run of the season in the Royals’&nbsp;4-2 loss&nbsp;to the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre, a solo shot in the sixth inning that marked Perez’s second in as many games, seventh in his past 12 games and 11th in his past 21 games.The stretch comes after Perez hit just four home runs through May and nine through June this season.Now he has 20 in his 14th big league season, and he made history with Saturday’s swing.Perez has hit 20-plus home runs in nine seasons, surpassing George Brett for most such seasons in Royals history.“The most important thing is to win the game, win the World Series,” Perez said. “But yeah, I think everybody has personal goals. You feel better when we win, but I thank God to just let me do what I do every day and play baseball. I love what I do.“To be around that kind of name -- George Brett is a Hall of Famer -- that means a lot to me.”And Perez means a lot to the Royals, even more so now in this stretch of his that has seen him hit safely in 37 of 51 games since the start of June. Perez just finished one of the best months of his career in July with a 1.098 OPS, the second-highest mark in any calendar month of his career (min. 50 plate appearances), behind his 1.197 OPS in September 2020.He started August in much the same way.“Nothing surprises me when people tell me the stats he’s compiling,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “... We need him, and we need other guys to do it, too. But when you provide power in the middle of the lineup like that, that’s a big threat at any time.”Perez’s home run came against Max Scherzer, who otherwise held the Royals quiet across six innings Saturday. Kansas City had runners on first and third with one out and the heart of their order coming up in the third inning, only to see Bobby Witt Jr. strike out swinging and Vinnie Pasquantino fly out.The Royals went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position Saturday, although small ball manufactured a run in the seventh when Adam Frazier doubled, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Kyle Isbel’s sacrifice bunt.“We need to take advantage when we’ve got guys in scoring position and try to bring them in,” Perez said. “But it’s part of the game, too. [Scherzer is] going to make his pitches.”The Royals were in a deficit after the third inning, when the Blue Jays scored two on a bloop single to center field. Right fielder John Rave bobbled the ball, allowing Davis Schneider to reach second, and Schneider scored on Bo Bichette’s single off Royals starter Noah Cameron.But Cameron bounced back after the long inning, throwing 6 1/3 innings total and allowing four runs, the last of which was scored when Steven Cruz came in during the seventh and allowed an inherited runner to score.“Bloop single is not the right time there with guys on base,” Cameron said. “But we continued to attack. After that inning, beared down and started getting in some good counts. Started getting ahead of hitters, which I struggled with at the beginning.”Scherzer vs. Perez was a matchup between two potential future Hall of Famers, with Scherzer’s induction seemingly inevitable after the career he continues to put together and Perez’s more and more possible because of the consistent numbers he continues to post.What could be a big help is a big number he’s eyeing this season. Perez has 293 career home runs after Saturday’s blast.Just seven away from No. 300.“I hope I can do it this year,” Perez said.Only&nbsp;seven primary catchers&nbsp;(who played at least 75% of their games behind the plate) have surpassed 300 home runs in their careers. Six of them are Hall of Famers:Mike Piazza (427)Johnny Bench (389)Carlton Fisk (376)Yogi Berra (358)Gary Carter (324)Lance Parrish (324) – not in the Hall of FameIvan Rodriguez (311)No. 300 might not have seemed that close with the way the season started for Perez, who struggled offensively out of the gate like the rest of the Royals' offense. But now?It could be here sooner than ever with the way he’s swinging the bat.“Man, I hope so,” Cameron said. “It’s fun to watch him do what he does.”

Salvy swat: Royals slugger sets franchise record, closes in on career milestone

KUAthletics.com LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas redshirt senior kicker&nbsp;Laith Marjan&nbsp;was named to the 2025 Lou Groza Place-Kicker Award Preseason Watch List, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced on Thursday.

Marjan is one of 30 individuals named to the preseason watch list and is one of six representatives from the Big 12 Conference. Marjan was previously named to Phil Steele's Preseason All-Big 12 team as a second team selection.

Marjan was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2024 while at South Alabama, connecting on 16-of-17 on field goals and 42-of-44 on extra points. Marjan hit a season-long 49-yard field goal at No. 14 LSU on Sept. 28.

In 2024, Marjan was 6-of-6 from 40-49 yards, 6-of-6 from 30-39 yards and 4-of-4 from 20-29 yards, earning Second Team All-Sun Belt honors while at South Alabama. Marjan began his career at East Carolina from 2022-24.Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, November 18th. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, November 25th. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Friday, December 12th&nbsp;during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

The 34th&nbsp;Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 8th&nbsp;in West Palm Beach, Florida.&nbsp;

The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou "The Toe" Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.

For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the "Stars of the Week" throughout the season, please go to&nbsp;www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow&nbsp;@LouGrozaAward&nbsp;on Twitter.

The Kansas Jayhawks will kick off the 2025 football season on August 23, 2025 as they debut the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium vs. Fresno State. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754313186759.jpeg" alt="KUAthletics.com" />
 <figcaption>KUAthletics.com</figcaption>
 </figure>KUAthletics.com LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas redshirt senior kicker&nbsp;Laith Marjan&nbsp;was named to the 2025 Lou Groza Place-Kicker Award Preseason Watch List, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission announced on Thursday.Marjan is one of 30 individuals named to the preseason watch list and is one of six representatives from the Big 12 Conference. Marjan was previously named to Phil Steele's Preseason All-Big 12 team as a second team selection.Marjan was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2024 while at South Alabama, connecting on 16-of-17 on field goals and 42-of-44 on extra points. Marjan hit a season-long 49-yard field goal at No. 14 LSU on Sept. 28.In 2024, Marjan was 6-of-6 from 40-49 yards, 6-of-6 from 30-39 yards and 4-of-4 from 20-29 yards, earning Second Team All-Sun Belt honors while at South Alabama. Marjan began his career at East Carolina from 2022-24.Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award will announce its 20 semifinalists on Tuesday, November 18th. From this list, a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers selects the top three finalists for the award, announced on Tuesday, November 25th. That same group then selects the national winner, who will be announced on Friday, December 12th&nbsp;during the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.The 34th&nbsp;Annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl, recognizes the three finalists during a celebration in Palm Beach County, culminating with a gala awards banquet on December 8th&nbsp;in West Palm Beach, Florida.&nbsp;The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou "The Toe" Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker.For more information on the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and to see the "Stars of the Week" throughout the season, please go to&nbsp;www.lougrozaaward.com. For even more updates on the best kicking performances throughout the season, follow&nbsp;@LouGrozaAward&nbsp;on Twitter.The Kansas Jayhawks will kick off the 2025 football season on August 23, 2025 as they debut the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium vs. Fresno State. &nbsp;

Laith Marjan Named to Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List

TORONTO (AP) — Kyle Isbel hit an RBI double in the 10th inning, and the Kansas City Royals rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 on Sunday.

Vinnie Pasquantino hit a tying single with two out in the eighth, and Kansas City scored five in the 10th while taking two of three from the AL East-leading Blue Jays.

The Royals are 24-12 in series finales, winning their past nine.

Hunter Harvey (1-0) pitched one inning for the win as Kansas City returned to .500 at 56-56.

Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger cut into Kansas City's lead with RBI singles in the bottom of the 10th, but Toronto (65-48) lost a home series for the first time since losing two of three to the White Sox from June 20-22.

Isbel drove in the winning run with a double down the line against Seranthony Domínguez (2-4).

Jonathan India walked and Bobby Witt Jr. was hit by a pitch before Tyler Tolbert added a two-run single.

Witt scored on a throwing error by catcher Alejandro Kirk, and Maikel Garcia capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.

Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperfido had two hits, including an RBI single in the fifth.

Isbel’s tiebreaking hit came on the first pitch he saw from Domínguez, a 96 mph fastball.

The Royals are 9-7 in series-deciding games.

Royals: LHP Bailey Falter (7-5, 3.73 ERA) is scheduled to start against Red Sox RHP Brayan Bello (7-5, 3.19 ERA) on Monday.

Blue Jays: LHP Eric Lauer (6-2, 2.68 ERA) is expected to face Colorado RHP Tanner Gordon (2-3, 4.85 ERA) on Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754312816910.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals first base Vinnie Pasquantino (9) scores in front Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk after a sacrifice fly from Royals' Mike Yastrzemski during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday Aug. 3, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals first base Vinnie Pasquantino (9) scores in front Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk after a sacrifice fly from Royals' Mike Yastrzemski during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday Aug. 3, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>TORONTO (AP) — Kyle Isbel hit an RBI double in the 10th inning, and the Kansas City Royals rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 on Sunday.Vinnie Pasquantino hit a tying single with two out in the eighth, and Kansas City scored five in the 10th while taking two of three from the AL East-leading Blue Jays.The Royals are 24-12 in series finales, winning their past nine.Hunter Harvey (1-0) pitched one inning for the win as Kansas City returned to .500 at 56-56.Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger cut into Kansas City's lead with RBI singles in the bottom of the 10th, but Toronto (65-48) lost a home series for the first time since losing two of three to the White Sox from June 20-22.Isbel drove in the winning run with a double down the line against Seranthony Domínguez (2-4).Jonathan India walked and Bobby Witt Jr. was hit by a pitch before Tyler Tolbert added a two-run single.Witt scored on a throwing error by catcher Alejandro Kirk, and Maikel Garcia capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperfido had two hits, including an RBI single in the fifth.<h2>Key moment</h2>Isbel’s tiebreaking hit came on the first pitch he saw from Domínguez, a 96 mph fastball.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Royals are 9-7 in series-deciding games.<h2>Up next</h2>Royals: LHP Bailey Falter (7-5, 3.73 ERA) is scheduled to start against Red Sox RHP Brayan Bello (7-5, 3.19 ERA) on Monday.Blue Jays: LHP Eric Lauer (6-2, 2.68 ERA) is expected to face Colorado RHP Tanner Gordon (2-3, 4.85 ERA) on Monday.

Kyle Isbel has go-ahead hit as Royals score 5 in 10th to beat Blue Jays 7-4

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — A record crowd for a regular-season Major League Baseball game got to see all the pomp and pageantry with the MLB Speedway Classic before the rain washed out the game itself in the bottom of the first inning. Fans returning Sunday only wanted to watch baseball. They got to see the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 after resuming their suspended game. Fans enjoyed star Tim McGraw and Pitbull in the rain that wound up washing out the first MLB regular-season game in the state of Tennessee. The game itself inside the infield of the historic Bristol Motor Speedway was the big draw.

Track turned into a contact sport when sprinter Kenny Bednarek shoved Noah Lyles after Lyles beat him to the finish line in the 200-meter final at U.S. championships. Lyles reeled in Bednarek in the homestretch to win in 19.63 seconds. As he was crossing the finish line, Lyles turned to Bednarek in the lane next to him and said something. A few steps after they crossed, Bednarek reached out and gave Lyles a two-handed shove. Lyles turned around, backpedaled and reached his arms out, then kept jawing at Bednarek. Their argument continued into the start of the NBC interview.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Sha’Carri Richardson narrowly missed qualifying for the 200-meter final at the U.S. track and field championships. She finished fourth in her heat with a time of 22.56 seconds. Last weekend, Richardson was arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, sprinter Christian Coleman, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She was held for over 18 hours. Richardson has an automatic spot in the 100 meters at the world championships in Tokyo as the defending champion. This was her first 200-meter race of the season. She won a bronze medal at the distance during the 2023 world championships in Budapest.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Cameron Young is finally a PGA Tour winner and there was no stopping him in at the Wyndham Championship. Young took any drama out of the final round when he made five straight birdies led by nine shots. He coasted home from there and shot 68 to win by six. The victory follows seven runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour. He becomes the 1,000th player to win a PGA Tour-recognized event. Matti Schmid got the 70th and final spot for the postseason by closing with three straight birdies. Davis Thompson three-putted the final hole to miss out.

PORTHCAWL, Wales (AP) — Miyu Yamashita of Japan captured her first major title when she withstood a charge by Charley Hull by not making a bogey until the outcome of the Women’s British Open was no longer in doubt. She closed with a 2-under 70 on Sunday for a two-shot victory. Yamashita holed two big par putts on the back nine at Royal Porthcawl, the last one when Hull had closed to within one shot of the lead. Hull had to settle for a 69 to tie for second with Minami Katsu of Japan. Japanese players now have won four of the last nine majors in women’s golf. Mao Saigo won the first major of the year at the Chevron Championship.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — William Byron fought off fuel worries in the closing laps to win the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Iowa Speedway. Byron went the last 144 laps of the 350-lap race without a stop en route to his second victory of the season — he won the Daytona 500 in February — and 15th overall. He also took the season points lead from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott. Byron lost gambles on fuel twice this season, at Michigan and Indianapolis, but held on with the help of a caution-filled final stage to win by 1.192 seconds over pole-sitter Chase Briscoe. Byron led 141 laps. Brad Keselowski was third. He came into the race needing a win to get into the playoffs.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami says star Lionel Messi is dealing with a minor muscle injury in his right leg after being hurt in the opening minutes of Saturday’s Leagues Cup match against Necaxa. Messi underwent tests on his right leg after experiencing discomfort following a play in which he fell while being challenged by a pair of Necaxa defenders. His timeline for return isn’t yet known, though it seems unlikely that he will be available for Miami’s next Leagues Cup match against UNAM Pumas on Wednesday. Inter Miami said in a release that Messi’s medical clearance will depend on how he responds to treatment.

MONTREAL (AP) — Clara Tauson of Denmark upset second-seeded Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek of Poland 7-6 (1), 6-3 on Sunday night to reach the National Bank Open quarterfinals. The 6-foot Tauson, seeded 16th in the hard-court event, avenged a loss to Swiatek at Wimbledon to set up a match Tuesday with sixth-seeded Australian Open winner Madison Keys of the United States. Tauson won her lone tour title in New Zealand in January, beating fellow Montreal quarterfinalist Naomi Osaka of Japan in the final. Keys outlasted 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova of Czechia 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the windy afternoon session. Osaka also advanced in the afternoon, routing Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 6-1, 6-0 in 49 minutes — the second-fastest victory of her career.

Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca said the potential deal to buy the Connecticut Sun for a record amount and move the team still needs approval from the WNBA Board of Governors. Pagliuca released a statement through his group on social media confirming they made an offer to buy the team and move them out of Mohegan Sun Arena, but said there were still approvals that had not been obtained from the WNBA.

SEATTLE (AP) — Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom became the fastest pitcher in major league history to reach 1,800 career strikeouts by games and innings. In the second inning against Seattle, deGrom got Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford to swing through a 98.7 mph four-seam fastball for his fourth K of the game. With the strikeout, deGrom became the fasted to 1,800 career Ks in both games (240) and innings pitched (1,493 1/3). The 37-year-old right-hander beat the marks of a pair of left-handers. Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson needed 243 games to record 1,800 strikeouts. It took the Atlanta Braves’ Chris Sale 1,498 innings. Finals

INTERLEAGUE Final L.A. Dodgers 3 Tampa Bay 0 Final Miami 7 N.Y. Yankees 3 Final Chicago Cubs 5 Baltimore 3 Final Arizona 6 Athletics 4 Final Philadelphia 2 Detroit 0

AMERICAN LEAGUE Final Boston 6 Houston 1 Final Minnesota 5 Cleveland 4 Final Kansas City 7 Toronto 4 Final Seattle 5 Texas 4 Final L.A. Angels 8 Chicago White Sox 5

NATIONAL LEAGUE Final Atlanta 4 Cincinnati 2 Final Milwaukee 14 Washington 3 Final San Francisco 12 N.Y. Mets 4 Final Pittsburgh 9 Colorado 5 Final San Diego 7 St. Louis 3

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — A record crowd for a regular-season Major League Baseball game got to see all the pomp and pageantry with the MLB Speedway Classic before the rain washed out the game itself in the bottom of the first inning. Fans returning Sunday only wanted to watch baseball. They got to see the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 after resuming their suspended game. Fans enjoyed star Tim McGraw and Pitbull in the rain that wound up washing out the first MLB regular-season game in the state of Tennessee. The game itself inside the infield of the historic Bristol Motor Speedway was the big draw.Track turned into a contact sport when sprinter Kenny Bednarek shoved Noah Lyles after Lyles beat him to the finish line in the 200-meter final at U.S. championships. Lyles reeled in Bednarek in the homestretch to win in 19.63 seconds. As he was crossing the finish line, Lyles turned to Bednarek in the lane next to him and said something. A few steps after they crossed, Bednarek reached out and gave Lyles a two-handed shove. Lyles turned around, backpedaled and reached his arms out, then kept jawing at Bednarek. Their argument continued into the start of the NBC interview.EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Sha’Carri Richardson narrowly missed qualifying for the 200-meter final at the U.S. track and field championships. She finished fourth in her heat with a time of 22.56 seconds. Last weekend, Richardson was arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, sprinter Christian Coleman, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She was held for over 18 hours. Richardson has an automatic spot in the 100 meters at the world championships in Tokyo as the defending champion. This was her first 200-meter race of the season. She won a bronze medal at the distance during the 2023 world championships in Budapest.GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Cameron Young is finally a PGA Tour winner and there was no stopping him in at the Wyndham Championship. Young took any drama out of the final round when he made five straight birdies led by nine shots. He coasted home from there and shot 68 to win by six. The victory follows seven runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour. He becomes the 1,000th player to win a PGA Tour-recognized event. Matti Schmid got the 70th and final spot for the postseason by closing with three straight birdies. Davis Thompson three-putted the final hole to miss out.PORTHCAWL, Wales (AP) — Miyu Yamashita of Japan captured her first major title when she withstood a charge by Charley Hull by not making a bogey until the outcome of the Women’s British Open was no longer in doubt. She closed with a 2-under 70 on Sunday for a two-shot victory. Yamashita holed two big par putts on the back nine at Royal Porthcawl, the last one when Hull had closed to within one shot of the lead. Hull had to settle for a 69 to tie for second with Minami Katsu of Japan. Japanese players now have won four of the last nine majors in women’s golf. Mao Saigo won the first major of the year at the Chevron Championship.NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — William Byron fought off fuel worries in the closing laps to win the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Iowa Speedway. Byron went the last 144 laps of the 350-lap race without a stop en route to his second victory of the season — he won the Daytona 500 in February — and 15th overall. He also took the season points lead from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott. Byron lost gambles on fuel twice this season, at Michigan and Indianapolis, but held on with the help of a caution-filled final stage to win by 1.192 seconds over pole-sitter Chase Briscoe. Byron led 141 laps. Brad Keselowski was third. He came into the race needing a win to get into the playoffs.FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami says star Lionel Messi is dealing with a minor muscle injury in his right leg after being hurt in the opening minutes of Saturday’s Leagues Cup match against Necaxa. Messi underwent tests on his right leg after experiencing discomfort following a play in which he fell while being challenged by a pair of Necaxa defenders. His timeline for return isn’t yet known, though it seems unlikely that he will be available for Miami’s next Leagues Cup match against UNAM Pumas on Wednesday. Inter Miami said in a release that Messi’s medical clearance will depend on how he responds to treatment.MONTREAL (AP) — Clara Tauson of Denmark upset second-seeded Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek of Poland 7-6 (1), 6-3 on Sunday night to reach the National Bank Open quarterfinals. The 6-foot Tauson, seeded 16th in the hard-court event, avenged a loss to Swiatek at Wimbledon to set up a match Tuesday with sixth-seeded Australian Open winner Madison Keys of the United States. Tauson won her lone tour title in New Zealand in January, beating fellow Montreal quarterfinalist Naomi Osaka of Japan in the final. Keys outlasted 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova of Czechia 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the windy afternoon session. Osaka also advanced in the afternoon, routing Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 6-1, 6-0 in 49 minutes — the second-fastest victory of her career.Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca said the potential deal to buy the Connecticut Sun for a record amount and move the team still needs approval from the WNBA Board of Governors. Pagliuca released a statement through his group on social media confirming they made an offer to buy the team and move them out of Mohegan Sun Arena, but said there were still approvals that had not been obtained from the WNBA.SEATTLE (AP) — Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom became the fastest pitcher in major league history to reach 1,800 career strikeouts by games and innings. In the second inning against Seattle, deGrom got Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford to swing through a 98.7 mph four-seam fastball for his fourth K of the game. With the strikeout, deGrom became the fasted to 1,800 career Ks in both games (240) and innings pitched (1,493 1/3). The 37-year-old right-hander beat the marks of a pair of left-handers. Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson needed 243 games to record 1,800 strikeouts. It took the Atlanta Braves’ Chris Sale 1,498 innings. FinalsINTERLEAGUE Final L.A. Dodgers 3 Tampa Bay 0 Final Miami 7 N.Y. Yankees 3 Final Chicago Cubs 5 Baltimore 3 Final Arizona 6 Athletics 4 Final Philadelphia 2 Detroit 0AMERICAN LEAGUE Final Boston 6 Houston 1 Final Minnesota 5 Cleveland 4 Final Kansas City 7 Toronto 4 Final Seattle 5 Texas 4 Final L.A. Angels 8 Chicago White Sox 5NATIONAL LEAGUE Final Atlanta 4 Cincinnati 2 Final Milwaukee 14 Washington 3 Final San Francisco 12 N.Y. Mets 4 Final Pittsburgh 9 Colorado 5 Final San Diego 7 St. Louis 3

Monday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

There are the Olympics and then there are the World Athletics Championships. Both feature the planet's top track and field athletes. Last July, Sterling-native Tyus Wilson fulfilled one part of qualifying for the Paris Olmypics: finishing in the top-three at the USA Track and Field Championships (USATF) in Oregon. But he failed to meet the Olympic standard and therefore did not go to Paris. 

Sunday, back in the confines of the University of Oregon's Hayward Field, Wilson won his first national title. It remains to be seen whether he can compete in the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.

Wilson, ranked No. 40 in the world, entered this year's national championships as the No. 3 seed with a best jump of 2.29m (7-6) this year. Wilson needed three attempts to clear the bar at 7-5.25 Sunday, but he proved to be the lone competitor to clear the bar at that height, beating the likes of Shelby McEwen and JuVaughn Harrison. As with Paris, to compete in Tokyo, athletes must have cleared 2.33m (7-7.75) this season to qualify.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754259089985.jpeg" alt="Sterling's Tyus Wilson, representing the University of Nebraska, won the 2024 Drake Relays in Des Moines Iowa on April 26, 2024. (photo by Mike Courson)" />
 <figcaption>Sterling's Tyus Wilson, representing the University of Nebraska, won the 2024 Drake Relays in Des Moines Iowa on April 26, 2024. (photo by Mike Courson)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThere are the Olympics and then there are the World Athletics Championships. Both feature the planet's top track and field athletes. Last July, Sterling-native Tyus Wilson fulfilled one part of qualifying for the Paris Olmypics: finishing in the top-three at the USA Track and Field Championships (USATF) in Oregon. But he failed to meet the Olympic standard and therefore did not go to Paris. Sunday, back in the confines of the University of Oregon's Hayward Field, Wilson won his first national title. It remains to be seen whether he can compete in the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.Wilson, ranked No. 40 in the world, entered this year's national championships as the No. 3 seed with a best jump of 2.29m (7-6) this year. Wilson needed three attempts to clear the bar at 7-5.25 Sunday, but he proved to be the lone competitor to clear the bar at that height, beating the likes of Shelby McEwen and JuVaughn Harrison. As with Paris, to compete in Tokyo, athletes must have cleared 2.33m (7-7.75) this season to qualify.Wilson won three state titles while at Sterling. He missed a potential sweep with the COVID-19 year. Wilson set state meet records and wowed crowds at the Ellinwood Invitational during his high school career. His 2.29 clearance in May earned him a Big 10 championship.The World Championships will be held in Tokyo from Sept. 13-21. The 2020 Summer Olympics were held in Toyko but without much of the usual fanfare because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Pitt State alum Cordell Tinch, one of the top hurdlers in the world this year, lost the lean to finish second in the 110s by 0.02s in 13.03, well ahead of the 13.27 qualifying standard. Hunter Jones, a former Nickerson High standout and two-time national champion at Pitt State, finished 11th in the decathlon.