- Barton Baseball coach Brent Biggs previews the Cougars four-game conference series this week with the Pratt Beavers and his team's 26-3 start to the season.

- The “Voice of the Tigers” Gerard Wellbrock is back to talk about Women's Basketball coach Tony Hobson's announcement this week that he is retiring from coaching.

- Mike Courson goes “On the Prowl” for Great Bend Panther Sports as he talks with Panther Girls Swimming coach Klara Gilbert. State qualifying senior Elly Somers and junior Emilee Hall join Coach Gilbert.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bOOHRv8mFzQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Barton Baseball coach Brent Biggs previews the Cougars four-game conference series this week with the Pratt Beavers and his team's 26-3 start to the season.- The “Voice of the Tigers” Gerard Wellbrock is back to talk about Women's Basketball coach Tony Hobson's announcement this week that he is retiring from coaching.- Mike Courson goes “On the Prowl” for Great Bend Panther Sports as he talks with Panther Girls Swimming coach Klara Gilbert. State qualifying senior Elly Somers and junior Emilee Hall join Coach Gilbert.- Wednesday Sports Headlines.- Sounds of the past 24-hours.

WATCH:  Sports Day (3/29)

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

The 15th ranked Barton Community College men's golf team began its spring season finishing fourth in the two-day Jayhawk Tournament No. 1 held at Manhattan's Colbert Hills Golf Course.

The Cougars carded a fifth best 318 in Monday's morning round before posting a 304 in climbing into the fourth spot overall, holding on to the position as Kansas City Kansas' final Tuesday charge tied Barton for a 72-over 936 team accumulation total.

Top ranked Hutchinson Community College and 4th ranked Dodge City Community College tied for the team title at 1-over 865 with 13th ranked Garden City Community College taking third fifteen strokes better than the Cougars at 57-over 921.

Ethan Bonnett fired a team final round best 1-over 73 to lead the Cougars overall out of the 53-man field with a 17th place 16-over. Bonnett began the tournament with a morning round of 81, improving with an afternoon 78, before climbing nine spots in final day action.

Otto Heden began with a 78 before shooting an even par 72 to cap Monday's action in 12th place but slipped to 21st on Tuesday with an 83 for a combined 17-over 233.

On stroke behind was the 78 three-round consistency from Worathan Thammachokecharoen for 24th at 18-over 234 with Tom Lehmann coming in 28th following 81-76-80 rounds for a 21-over 237.

In 33rd was the consistent 82-81-83 rounds from Thantup Saengvut for a 30-over 246 with Anthony Arriola placing 38th following 86-79-84 cards for a 33-over 249.

The Cougars get back to the links on Monday, April 10th, traveling to Wichita's Crestview Country Club for another 54 holes of conference action beginning at 9:00 a.m. for two rounds followed by Tuesday's final round also set for a 9:00 a.m. start.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680116669466.jpeg" alt="Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoThe 15th ranked Barton Community College men's golf team began its spring season finishing fourth in the two-day Jayhawk Tournament No. 1 held at Manhattan's Colbert Hills Golf Course.The Cougars carded a fifth best 318 in Monday's morning round before posting a 304 in climbing into the fourth spot overall, holding on to the position as Kansas City Kansas' final Tuesday charge tied Barton for a 72-over 936 team accumulation total.Top ranked Hutchinson Community College and 4th ranked Dodge City Community College tied for the team title at 1-over 865 with 13th ranked Garden City Community College taking third fifteen strokes better than the Cougars at 57-over 921.Ethan Bonnett fired a team final round best 1-over 73 to lead the Cougars overall out of the 53-man field with a 17th place 16-over. Bonnett began the tournament with a morning round of 81, improving with an afternoon 78, before climbing nine spots in final day action.Otto Heden began with a 78 before shooting an even par 72 to cap Monday's action in 12th place but slipped to 21st on Tuesday with an 83 for a combined 17-over 233.On stroke behind was the 78 three-round consistency from Worathan Thammachokecharoen for 24th at 18-over 234 with Tom Lehmann coming in 28th following 81-76-80 rounds for a 21-over 237.In 33rd was the consistent 82-81-83 rounds from Thantup Saengvut for a 30-over 246 with Anthony Arriola placing 38th following 86-79-84 cards for a 33-over 249.The Cougars get back to the links on Monday, April 10th, traveling to Wichita's Crestview Country Club for another 54 holes of conference action beginning at 9:00 a.m. for two rounds followed by Tuesday's final round also set for a 9:00 a.m. start.

Barton men's golf places fourth in conference opener

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The first thing that Kansas City Royals owner John Sherman thinks about when he wakes up each morning is how the club, stuck in what seems like an interminable rebuild, will play on that particular day.

Not where they will play four or five years down the road.

Yet given the modest expectations for a team that lost nearly 100 games a year ago, it makes sense many Royals fans are just as interested — quite possibly more so — in the plans for a downtown ballpark than whether infielder Bobby Witt Jr. can double down on his brilliant rookie season or pitcher Brady Singer can truly become a staff ace.

That's why Sherman's second thought probably moves to the downtown ballpark, too.

“This is a huge decision, and I look at it as maybe the most important decision we'll make as long as we have the privilege of stewarding this team,” Sherman said before the Royals held a final workout Wednesday ahead of opening day. “I'm probably as anxious as you to get moving on that, but it's a complicated process.”

The Royals have called Kauffman Stadium home since the sister to Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, opened 50 years ago next month.

And while most stadiums are replaced because they have become outdated, the unique, space-aged look of Kauffman Stadium — built during an era in which teams trended toward impersonal, multisport concrete donuts for their homes — remains beloved by Royals fans and visitors alike.

The problem is that despite numerous renovations over the years, the very concrete holding the ballpark together has begun to crumble in places. The cost simply to repair and maintain the ballpark has become prohibitive.

So with the decision essentially made for them to build an entirely new stadium, the Royals revealed plans to build an entire development in the same mold of The Battery Atlanta, where the Braves built Truist Park, and the Ballpark Village in St. Louis, where the new Busch Stadium is merely the centerpiece of a whole entertainment district.

No site has been secured, but several of the most promising are in downtown Kansas City, where the Power &amp; Light District along with T-Mobile Center have spearheaded a successful era of urban renewal.

Sherman has said that private funds would cover the majority of the stadium cost and the entire village, each carrying a price tag of about $1 billion.

But if any public funding will be used, as it was to build and maintain Kauffman Stadium, then it would need to be voted upon, and the earliest that it could show up on a ballot would be August.

“You look at Atlanta, they took some raw ground — they started with 85 acres — and that has been a complete home run,” said Sherman, who purchased the Royals in August 2019, shortly before the pandemic wreaked havoc on team finances.

“This is one of the reasons we want to do this: That's helped the Braves become more competitive,” Sherman said of the vast potential for increased revenue for one of the smallest-market teams in baseball. “They have locked up and extended the core of their future, and the Braves are in a great position from a baseball standpoint.”

So perhaps the first two thoughts Sherman has each day — about performance and the future — are one and the same.

When it comes to the team itself, the Royals were largely quiet throughout the winter, though that was by design.

Rather than spending heavily on free agents that might help them win a few more games, they decided to stay the course with a promising young roster in the hopes that the development of those players would yield better results.

In fact, Sherman said, the club has been discussing extensions for some of the Royals' foundational pieces — presumably Witt, who was fourth in voting for AL rookie of the year, and Singer, who was 10-5 with a 3.23 ERA last season.

“We're having conversations about that as we speak," Sherman said. "We have a number of young players that we're trying to evaluate and we're talking to their representatives about what might work.”

Just because the Royals' roster largely looks the same, that doesn't mean nothing has changed. The Royals fired longtime general manager Dayton Moore in September and moved J.J. Picollo to the role, then fired manager Mike Matheny in October and replaced him with longtime Indians and Rays coach Matt Quatraro.

Sherman said the new voices created a palpable energy in spring training that he hopes carries into the regular season.

“When we acquired the team, we had three primary objectives,” Sherman said. "One was to win more games; we're working on that. The second was to secure the future; that's what (the stadium) is. And the third was to do good in the community.

“But the first priority,” he said, “is really the on-field product. That's what really lifts everything else up.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The first thing that Kansas City Royals owner John Sherman thinks about when he wakes up each morning is how the club, stuck in what seems like an interminable rebuild, will play on that particular day.Not where they will play four or five years down the road.Yet given the modest expectations for a team that lost nearly 100 games a year ago, it makes sense many Royals fans are just as interested — quite possibly more so — in the plans for a downtown ballpark than whether infielder Bobby Witt Jr. can double down on his brilliant rookie season or pitcher Brady Singer can truly become a staff ace.That's why Sherman's second thought probably moves to the downtown ballpark, too.“This is a huge decision, and I look at it as maybe the most important decision we'll make as long as we have the privilege of stewarding this team,” Sherman said before the Royals held a final workout Wednesday ahead of opening day. “I'm probably as anxious as you to get moving on that, but it's a complicated process.”The Royals have called Kauffman Stadium home since the sister to Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, opened 50 years ago next month.And while most stadiums are replaced because they have become outdated, the unique, space-aged look of Kauffman Stadium — built during an era in which teams trended toward impersonal, multisport concrete donuts for their homes — remains beloved by Royals fans and visitors alike.The problem is that despite numerous renovations over the years, the very concrete holding the ballpark together has begun to crumble in places. The cost simply to repair and maintain the ballpark has become prohibitive.So with the decision essentially made for them to build an entirely new stadium, the Royals revealed plans to build an entire development in the same mold of The Battery Atlanta, where the Braves built Truist Park, and the Ballpark Village in St. Louis, where the new Busch Stadium is merely the centerpiece of a whole entertainment district.No site has been secured, but several of the most promising are in downtown Kansas City, where the Power &amp; Light District along with T-Mobile Center have spearheaded a successful era of urban renewal.Sherman has said that private funds would cover the majority of the stadium cost and the entire village, each carrying a price tag of about $1 billion.But if any public funding will be used, as it was to build and maintain Kauffman Stadium, then it would need to be voted upon, and the earliest that it could show up on a ballot would be August.“You look at Atlanta, they took some raw ground — they started with 85 acres — and that has been a complete home run,” said Sherman, who purchased the Royals in August 2019, shortly before the pandemic wreaked havoc on team finances.“This is one of the reasons we want to do this: That's helped the Braves become more competitive,” Sherman said of the vast potential for increased revenue for one of the smallest-market teams in baseball. “They have locked up and extended the core of their future, and the Braves are in a great position from a baseball standpoint.”So perhaps the first two thoughts Sherman has each day — about performance and the future — are one and the same.When it comes to the team itself, the Royals were largely quiet throughout the winter, though that was by design.Rather than spending heavily on free agents that might help them win a few more games, they decided to stay the course with a promising young roster in the hopes that the development of those players would yield better results.In fact, Sherman said, the club has been discussing extensions for some of the Royals' foundational pieces — presumably Witt, who was fourth in voting for AL rookie of the year, and Singer, who was 10-5 with a 3.23 ERA last season.“We're having conversations about that as we speak," Sherman said. "We have a number of young players that we're trying to evaluate and we're talking to their representatives about what might work.”Just because the Royals' roster largely looks the same, that doesn't mean nothing has changed. The Royals fired longtime general manager Dayton Moore in September and moved J.J. Picollo to the role, then fired manager Mike Matheny in October and replaced him with longtime Indians and Rays coach Matt Quatraro.Sherman said the new voices created a palpable energy in spring training that he hopes carries into the regular season.“When we acquired the team, we had three primary objectives,” Sherman said. "One was to win more games; we're working on that. The second was to secure the future; that's what (the stadium) is. And the third was to do good in the community.“But the first priority,” he said, “is really the on-field product. That's what really lifts everything else up.”

Royals' Sherman optimistic about new ballpark, current team

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

 The Barton Community College Board of Trustees approved the hiring Tuesday of Nathan Broeckelman as the third Head Coach in Barton Wrestling history.

Broeckelman takes the place of Bradley Little, making the move into collegiate coaching following a successful eight seasons at Great Bend High School with prior stints at Greeley County High School and Manhattan High School.

Among his many Great Bend accomplishments of leading the Panther girls and boys program have been a state runner-up on the girls side with the boys finishing in the top five at state three of the past four years to go along with another sixth place finish.

A two-time state champion in his own high school career in Norton, the past eight years at GBHS Broeckelman has coached five to state championships and forty-one state medalists.

From his success as a wrestler through his coaching success, Broeckelman is also a steward of the sport with his involvement and leadership within the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association among instruction and organization of youth wrestling.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680095098332.jpeg" alt="Photo - Mike Courson Great Bend Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo - Mike Courson Great Bend Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info The Barton Community College Board of Trustees approved the hiring Tuesday of Nathan Broeckelman as the third Head Coach in Barton Wrestling history.Broeckelman takes the place of Bradley Little, making the move into collegiate coaching following a successful eight seasons at Great Bend High School with prior stints at Greeley County High School and Manhattan High School.Among his many Great Bend accomplishments of leading the Panther girls and boys program have been a state runner-up on the girls side with the boys finishing in the top five at state three of the past four years to go along with another sixth place finish.A two-time state champion in his own high school career in Norton, the past eight years at GBHS Broeckelman has coached five to state championships and forty-one state medalists.From his success as a wrestler through his coaching success, Broeckelman is also a steward of the sport with his involvement and leadership within the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association among instruction and organization of youth wrestling.

Broeckelman takes over Barton Wrestling program

Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals

Kansas City, Missouri; Thursday, 4:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Pablo Lopez (0-0); Royals: Zack Greinke (0-0)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Twins -145, Royals +124; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the Minnesota Twins in the season opener.

Kansas City went 65-96 overall and 39-42 in home games a season ago. The Royals averaged 8.2 hits per game last season while batting a collective .244.

Minnesota went 78-84 overall and 32-49 on the road last season. The Twins averaged 8.4 hits per game last season and totaled 178 home runs.

Royals: Angel Zerpa: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Twins: Royce Lewis: 60-Day IL (knee), Alex Kirilloff: 10-Day IL (wrist), Chris Paddack: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jorge Polanco: 10-Day IL (knee)

Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City RoyalsKansas City, Missouri; Thursday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Pablo Lopez (0-0); Royals: Zack Greinke (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Twins -145, Royals +124; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Kansas City Royals host the Minnesota Twins in the season opener.Kansas City went 65-96 overall and 39-42 in home games a season ago. The Royals averaged 8.2 hits per game last season while batting a collective .244.Minnesota went 78-84 overall and 32-49 on the road last season. The Twins averaged 8.4 hits per game last season and totaled 178 home runs.INJURIES: Royals: Angel Zerpa: 60-Day IL (shoulder)Twins: Royce Lewis: 60-Day IL (knee), Alex Kirilloff: 10-Day IL (wrist), Chris Paddack: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jorge Polanco: 10-Day IL (knee)

Twins visit the Royals for season opener

Softball -Game 1- Manhattan 9 Great Bend 3 -Game 2- McPherson 16 Great Bend 4

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673886602159.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Softball -Game 1- Manhattan 9 Great Bend 3 -Game 2- McPherson 16 Great Bend 4<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/unt54wnf/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>

- The “Voice of the Cougars” Cole Reif joins the show to recap the Barton Lady Cougars run to the NJCAA National Tournament and what it will take for the program to continue to advance forward.

- Aaron Clark joins the show live from Manhattan where he will have the call for Tuesday's softball triangular between the Great Bend Lady Panther softball team and Manahattan along with McPherson.

- Mike Courson is “On the Prowl” for Panther sports as he visits with Great Bend Panther tennis coach Chris Manning.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6yGOyPPB75s" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- The “Voice of the Cougars” Cole Reif joins the show to recap the Barton Lady Cougars run to the NJCAA National Tournament and what it will take for the program to continue to advance forward.- Aaron Clark joins the show live from Manhattan where he will have the call for Tuesday's softball triangular between the Great Bend Lady Panther softball team and Manahattan along with McPherson.- Mike Courson is “On the Prowl” for Panther sports as he visits with Great Bend Panther tennis coach Chris Manning.- Tuesday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24-hours.

WATCH: Sports Day (3/28)

Barton Men The 6th ranked Barton Community College men's tennis team's rally from three down fell short Monday at Veterans' Memorial Park as the 12th ranked Pratt Community College Beavers held on for a 5-4 victory.

Barton dropped each of the three doubles matches before winning the first three singles matches to tie the match up. The Cougars took the lead on a come-from-behind three set victory in one of the three remaining but the comeback fell short as the Beavers won the final two matches including one in three sets.

The Cougars drop to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in league with its next match coming Thursday, April 6th, in a 1:00 p.m. first serve at top ranked Cowley College.

The 6th ranked Barton Community College women's tennis team stayed unblemished on the season Monday with a clean sweep over 21st ranked Pratt Community College.

Barton opened the afternoon at Veterans' Memorial Park with a key victory in a nationally ranked doubles matchup to continue its sweep including two defaulted matches in moving to 2-0 in conference play.

Next on the schedule is the Cougars' biggest test of the year as Barton travels to 2nd ranked Cowley College on Thursday, April 6th.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680017322035.jpeg" alt="Clara Penido - Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Clara Penido - Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoBarton Men The 6th ranked Barton Community College men's tennis team's rally from three down fell short Monday at Veterans' Memorial Park as the 12th ranked Pratt Community College Beavers held on for a 5-4 victory.Barton dropped each of the three doubles matches before winning the first three singles matches to tie the match up. The Cougars took the lead on a come-from-behind three set victory in one of the three remaining but the comeback fell short as the Beavers won the final two matches including one in three sets.The Cougars drop to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in league with its next match coming Thursday, April 6th, in a 1:00 p.m. first serve at top ranked Cowley College.Barton WomenThe 6th ranked Barton Community College women's tennis team stayed unblemished on the season Monday with a clean sweep over 21st ranked Pratt Community College.Barton opened the afternoon at Veterans' Memorial Park with a key victory in a nationally ranked doubles matchup to continue its sweep including two defaulted matches in moving to 2-0 in conference play.Next on the schedule is the Cougars' biggest test of the year as Barton travels to 2nd ranked Cowley College on Thursday, April 6th.

Barton Tennis Results

MANHATTAN, Kan.  – On the heels of K-State's 2022 Big 12 football championship and 2023 men's basketball run to the Elite Eight, Athletics Director Gene Taylor has been named the 2022-23 Cushman &amp; Wakefield FBS AD of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Taylor's K-State program has taken the college athletics world by storm in 2022-23 as Chris Klieman's football team won the 2022 Big 12 Championship and played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and Big 12 Coach of the Year Jerome Tang and his men's basketball squad made a remarkable run to the Elite Eight following a preseason poll that picked the Wildcats to finish last in the league. Both coaches were hired at K-State by Taylor, who also currently serves on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee and the LEAD1 Board of Directors.

Taylor will be recognized in conjunction with the 58th Annual NACDA &amp; Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 13, starting at 4 p.m.

"I am very thankful and appreciative to be honored by my peers," Taylor said. "The success that we have had at K-State is the direct result of the passion and hard work that our entire staff puts forth each and every day, and I am blessed to be a part of such a special place, at a special university, filled with very special people."

Named the eighth-best Athletic Director among FBS programs by Stadium in 2020, Taylor was named the Director of Athletics at K-State in April 2017. During his tenure, K-State has also seen the football program qualify for four bowls, the men's basketball team win a Big 12 Championship, earn two Elite 8 appearances and advance to three NCAA tournaments, the women's basketball team advance to two NCAA tournaments and the women's track and field team win back-to-back Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680017800872.jpeg" alt="K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. – On the heels of K-State's 2022 Big 12 football championship and 2023 men's basketball run to the Elite Eight, Athletics Director Gene Taylor has been named the 2022-23 Cushman &amp; Wakefield FBS AD of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).Taylor's K-State program has taken the college athletics world by storm in 2022-23 as Chris Klieman's football team won the 2022 Big 12 Championship and played in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and Big 12 Coach of the Year Jerome Tang and his men's basketball squad made a remarkable run to the Elite Eight following a preseason poll that picked the Wildcats to finish last in the league. Both coaches were hired at K-State by Taylor, who also currently serves on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee and the LEAD1 Board of Directors.Taylor will be recognized in conjunction with the 58th Annual NACDA &amp; Affiliates Convention at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., at the beginning of the Association-Wide Featured Session on Tuesday, June 13, starting at 4 p.m."I am very thankful and appreciative to be honored by my peers," Taylor said. "The success that we have had at K-State is the direct result of the passion and hard work that our entire staff puts forth each and every day, and I am blessed to be a part of such a special place, at a special university, filled with very special people."Named the eighth-best Athletic Director among FBS programs by Stadium in 2020, Taylor was named the Director of Athletics at K-State in April 2017. During his tenure, K-State has also seen the football program qualify for four bowls, the men's basketball team win a Big 12 Championship, earn two Elite 8 appearances and advance to three NCAA tournaments, the women's basketball team advance to two NCAA tournaments and the women's track and field team win back-to-back Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

Gene Taylor Named NACDA AD of the Year

By Steve Webster Eagle Radio

Callie McConnell drove in four runs with two doubles while Sydni Williams homered and picked up the win in the circle Monday as the Barton Lady Cougars beat Cowley 8-3 to salvage the second game of a double header with the Cowley Tigers.&nbsp; Cowley won the first game 6-1.

Barton broke open a tight game with 5-runs in the sixth inning to get the game two victory. Williams got the complete game victory, scattering 8-hits, walking 2 and striking out four.

In the first game, the Lady Cougars were held to just 5-hits, two of which came off the bat of Jenna Henderson who had two doubles.

Barton Returns to action at home Wednesday as they host Garden City in a conference double header. Game one begins at 1pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By Steve Webster Eagle RadioCallie McConnell drove in four runs with two doubles while Sydni Williams homered and picked up the win in the circle Monday as the Barton Lady Cougars beat Cowley 8-3 to salvage the second game of a double header with the Cowley Tigers.&nbsp; Cowley won the first game 6-1. Barton broke open a tight game with 5-runs in the sixth inning to get the game two victory. Williams got the complete game victory, scattering 8-hits, walking 2 and striking out four.In the first game, the Lady Cougars were held to just 5-hits, two of which came off the bat of Jenna Henderson who had two doubles.Barton Returns to action at home Wednesday as they host Garden City in a conference double header. Game one begins at 1pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lady Cougars split with Cowley

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University Women's Basketball will have a new, but very familiar face as its leader going into the 2023-24 season. On Monday (Mar. 27) head coach Tony Hobson announced his retirement after putting together a phenomenal career record of 745-227 in 31 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including a 332-121 mark over 15 years that made him the winningest coach in Fort Hays State program history. The university and Director of Athletics Curtis Hammeke looked no further than the individual who has been instrumental in helping Hobson build the program into one of the strongest in NCAA Division II the last 11 years. Assistant coach Talia Kahrs will elevate into the role of head coach.

A press conference to officially introduce Kahrs as the next head coach will be held on Thursday, April 13 at the FHSU Memorial Union Lobby at 5 p.m. On Saturday, April 15, the university will be holding a celebration of Tony Hobson's coaching career at the Robbins Center at 11 a.m. The delay for these in-person celebrations is to allow for family members to be in attendance.

Hobson has elevated the FHSU Women's Basketball program to heights it never saw at the NCAA Division II level prior to his arrival, serving as head coach from 2008 to 2023. The program has won 20 or more games in 12-straight seasons going back to the 2011-12 campaign, which is the longest-running streak in NCAA Division II. He guided the Tigers to 30 or more wins three times and the Tigers were the No. 1 seed in the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament four times under Hobson's leadership, making the regional final three times (2015, 2019, 2022) and the regional semifinals twice. FHSU was an NCAA Tournament qualifier seven of the last nine years after qualifying for the NCAA national tournament just once before Hobson became head coach.

The Tigers enjoyed six MIAA Championships under Hobson's guidance, which included four regular season titles (2015, 2019, 2021, 2022) and two tournament titles (2019, 2022). He was the MIAA Women's Basketball Coach of the Year four times (2015, 2016, 2019, 2021). Hobson was also the WBCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2019 and was named the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Four-Year College Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2022.

"Tony has done an outstanding job with our women's basketball program over the past 15 years," said Hammeke. "Our program has become consistently competitive at the conference, regional, and national levels during his tenure."

Hobson started his career as head coach at Cloud County (Kan.) Community College in 1983-84, where he coached for six years. Eventually he became head coach at Barton County (Kan.) Community College for three years from 1997 to 2000. Hobson notched 202 wins as a head coach in nine years as a junior college head coach. He then moved on to Hastings College (Neb.), where he put together a national powerhouse program at the NAIA level for seven years from 2001 to 2008. Hastings won three NAIA national titles (2002, 2003, 2006) under Hobson's guidance and won 211 games, reaching the 30-win plateau in five of his seven seasons. Hobson then came to FHSU, where he enjoyed his longest tenure as a head coach and tacked on 332 wins to his career total of 745.

"Everybody in their career knows this time will come, and hopefully you get to go out on your own terms like I get to," said Hobson. "It's good timing for me to retire. I always hoped I'd be able to leave a really good team and have somebody take over for me that I'm confident in and will take really good care of that group that I'm leaving. Both of those things have happened. We've been able to sustain success for a long period of time and hopefully the way we are transitioning into this next phase of the program will give us the best chance of keeping that going. This is a great group of players we have right now and I think it's going to be about as seamless of a transition as possible."

Helping Hobson push FHSU to new heights in the NCAA Division II realm since the 2012-13 season has been FHSU graduate Talia Kahrs (formerly Miller), who played for Hobson at FHSU from 2008-11. She then served as a student assistant coach in 2011-12 and elevated to assistant coach in 2012-13, highly instrumental in the success of the team and several great players that have been a part of the program the last 12 years. She has been here as both a player and coach during Hobson's entire 15-year tenure at FHSU.

"I really believe in Talia," said Hobson. "She is a really intelligent, hard-working person and one of the more unselfish individuals I've ever been around. I know she has the players' respect and I think that is of utmost importance. She has turned into a really good recruiter, and to recruit kids you have to be genuine and she is that. You can't try to be something you're not because kids are smart, they figure that out. As far as X's and O's go, she's on top of it. The hard part of coaching is getting individuals here that fit into what you want to do, on and off the court. Talia has been one of the main reasons why we have been able to sustain what we have going here at FHSU because we have stability as a coaching staff. She has had plenty of interest from the outside the last few years and she has been very patient on doing her job at a very high level, waiting for her opportunity. As much of I think of her as a coach, I think even more highly of her as a person. I think she will do an excellent job."

The Tigers have garnered 42 All-MIAA selections while Kahrs has been on the sideline with Hobson since 2011 to go with the six conference championships and seven NCAA Tournament appearances. They have also coached three All-America players in that span, including Kate Lehman, Tatyana Legette, and Jaden Hobbs. Lehman and Legette also garnered MIAA Player of the Year honors in their time as Tigers.

"I'm just really thankful for this opportunity and to have spent as much time as I have with Tony. To learn under him with as successful as he has been over the years," said Kahrs. "I'm thankful for the way he allowed me to do more in my role as assistant over the years to get me to this point where I feel confident that I'm prepared to be head coach. I'm very excited and willing to take the opportunity to lead this group of women, a team that we've worked really hard to put together."

"Talia possesses all the traits we want to see in a coach to lead our program forward," said Hammeke. "She is passionate, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and has a strong work ethic. These characteristics coupled with her personality, love for the game, and care for our student-athletes, makes her well suited to take over where Tony left off."

Kahrs will be the seventh head coach of women's basketball at Fort Hays State since 1969.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680015922266.jpeg" alt="FHSU Athletics" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University Women's Basketball will have a new, but very familiar face as its leader going into the 2023-24 season. On Monday (Mar. 27) head coach Tony Hobson announced his retirement after putting together a phenomenal career record of 745-227 in 31 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including a 332-121 mark over 15 years that made him the winningest coach in Fort Hays State program history. The university and Director of Athletics Curtis Hammeke looked no further than the individual who has been instrumental in helping Hobson build the program into one of the strongest in NCAA Division II the last 11 years. Assistant coach Talia Kahrs will elevate into the role of head coach.A press conference to officially introduce Kahrs as the next head coach will be held on Thursday, April 13 at the FHSU Memorial Union Lobby at 5 p.m. On Saturday, April 15, the university will be holding a celebration of Tony Hobson's coaching career at the Robbins Center at 11 a.m. The delay for these in-person celebrations is to allow for family members to be in attendance.Hobson has elevated the FHSU Women's Basketball program to heights it never saw at the NCAA Division II level prior to his arrival, serving as head coach from 2008 to 2023. The program has won 20 or more games in 12-straight seasons going back to the 2011-12 campaign, which is the longest-running streak in NCAA Division II. He guided the Tigers to 30 or more wins three times and the Tigers were the No. 1 seed in the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament four times under Hobson's leadership, making the regional final three times (2015, 2019, 2022) and the regional semifinals twice. FHSU was an NCAA Tournament qualifier seven of the last nine years after qualifying for the NCAA national tournament just once before Hobson became head coach.The Tigers enjoyed six MIAA Championships under Hobson's guidance, which included four regular season titles (2015, 2019, 2021, 2022) and two tournament titles (2019, 2022). He was the MIAA Women's Basketball Coach of the Year four times (2015, 2016, 2019, 2021). Hobson was also the WBCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2019 and was named the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Four-Year College Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2022."Tony has done an outstanding job with our women's basketball program over the past 15 years," said Hammeke. "Our program has become consistently competitive at the conference, regional, and national levels during his tenure."Hobson started his career as head coach at Cloud County (Kan.) Community College in 1983-84, where he coached for six years. Eventually he became head coach at Barton County (Kan.) Community College for three years from 1997 to 2000. Hobson notched 202 wins as a head coach in nine years as a junior college head coach. He then moved on to Hastings College (Neb.), where he put together a national powerhouse program at the NAIA level for seven years from 2001 to 2008. Hastings won three NAIA national titles (2002, 2003, 2006) under Hobson's guidance and won 211 games, reaching the 30-win plateau in five of his seven seasons. Hobson then came to FHSU, where he enjoyed his longest tenure as a head coach and tacked on 332 wins to his career total of 745."Everybody in their career knows this time will come, and hopefully you get to go out on your own terms like I get to," said Hobson. "It's good timing for me to retire. I always hoped I'd be able to leave a really good team and have somebody take over for me that I'm confident in and will take really good care of that group that I'm leaving. Both of those things have happened. We've been able to sustain success for a long period of time and hopefully the way we are transitioning into this next phase of the program will give us the best chance of keeping that going. This is a great group of players we have right now and I think it's going to be about as seamless of a transition as possible."Helping Hobson push FHSU to new heights in the NCAA Division II realm since the 2012-13 season has been FHSU graduate Talia Kahrs (formerly Miller), who played for Hobson at FHSU from 2008-11. She then served as a student assistant coach in 2011-12 and elevated to assistant coach in 2012-13, highly instrumental in the success of the team and several great players that have been a part of the program the last 12 years. She has been here as both a player and coach during Hobson's entire 15-year tenure at FHSU."I really believe in Talia," said Hobson. "She is a really intelligent, hard-working person and one of the more unselfish individuals I've ever been around. I know she has the players' respect and I think that is of utmost importance. She has turned into a really good recruiter, and to recruit kids you have to be genuine and she is that. You can't try to be something you're not because kids are smart, they figure that out. As far as X's and O's go, she's on top of it. The hard part of coaching is getting individuals here that fit into what you want to do, on and off the court. Talia has been one of the main reasons why we have been able to sustain what we have going here at FHSU because we have stability as a coaching staff. She has had plenty of interest from the outside the last few years and she has been very patient on doing her job at a very high level, waiting for her opportunity. As much of I think of her as a coach, I think even more highly of her as a person. I think she will do an excellent job."The Tigers have garnered 42 All-MIAA selections while Kahrs has been on the sideline with Hobson since 2011 to go with the six conference championships and seven NCAA Tournament appearances. They have also coached three All-America players in that span, including Kate Lehman, Tatyana Legette, and Jaden Hobbs. Lehman and Legette also garnered MIAA Player of the Year honors in their time as Tigers."I'm just really thankful for this opportunity and to have spent as much time as I have with Tony. To learn under him with as successful as he has been over the years," said Kahrs. "I'm thankful for the way he allowed me to do more in my role as assistant over the years to get me to this point where I feel confident that I'm prepared to be head coach. I'm very excited and willing to take the opportunity to lead this group of women, a team that we've worked really hard to put together.""Talia possesses all the traits we want to see in a coach to lead our program forward," said Hammeke. "She is passionate, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and has a strong work ethic. These characteristics coupled with her personality, love for the game, and care for our student-athletes, makes her well suited to take over where Tony left off."Kahrs will be the seventh head coach of women's basketball at Fort Hays State since 1969.

Hobson Announces Retirement, Kahrs Becomes Head Coach of Women’s Basketball

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Great Bend's Madison Regehr won a pair of medals at the Kansas State Track and Field Championships in Wichita last May. The senior can now put his entire focus on the track heading into his final season after signing a letter of intent to compete next year at Cloud County Community College in Concordia. 

"This year, I definitely want to exceed everyone's expectations and be the most efficient version of myself I can be," Regehr said. "This offseason, (GBHS Coach Lyles) Lashley has pushed me to new heights time and time again, and helped me develop that 'dawg' mentality. I plan on finishing my senior season going into every meet knowing that I gave my all every time I stepped onto the track."

Regehr ran fifth in the Class 5A 300m hurdles at state, and three of the finishers in front of him have graduated. He picked up an eighth-place medal as the final leg on the Panther 4x400m relay, and he qualified for state in the 110m hurdles where he missed a spot in the finals after finishing 11th in the prelims. He's put in the work to improve across the board.

"He worked on his own a lot this offseason on improving hurdling with his left, so when he comes up on that he does better in the 300 hurdles," said Lashley. "We're excited about the hard work he put in. I expect really good things from him this year."

Regehr said he's excited to move from the red and black of Great Bend High School to the gold and black of Cloud County. The T-Birds finished sixth overall at last year's NJCAA Nationals.

"They've created a great program, and I'd love to be in an environment where everyone around me is striving for greatness," Regehr said. "Their head coach is a longtime friend of Coach Lashley, and with his and the rest of the coaching staff's guidance, I am very excited to see what I can achieve in the future."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680008840048.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostGreat Bend's Madison Regehr won a pair of medals at the Kansas State Track and Field Championships in Wichita last May. The senior can now put his entire focus on the track heading into his final season after signing a letter of intent to compete next year at Cloud County Community College in Concordia. "This year, I definitely want to exceed everyone's expectations and be the most efficient version of myself I can be," Regehr said. "This offseason, (GBHS Coach Lyles) Lashley has pushed me to new heights time and time again, and helped me develop that 'dawg' mentality. I plan on finishing my senior season going into every meet knowing that I gave my all every time I stepped onto the track."Regehr ran fifth in the Class 5A 300m hurdles at state, and three of the finishers in front of him have graduated. He picked up an eighth-place medal as the final leg on the Panther 4x400m relay, and he qualified for state in the 110m hurdles where he missed a spot in the finals after finishing 11th in the prelims. He's put in the work to improve across the board.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680008905464.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"He worked on his own a lot this offseason on improving hurdling with his left, so when he comes up on that he does better in the 300 hurdles," said Lashley. "We're excited about the hard work he put in. I expect really good things from him this year."Regehr said he's excited to move from the red and black of Great Bend High School to the gold and black of Cloud County. The T-Birds finished sixth overall at last year's NJCAA Nationals."They've created a great program, and I'd love to be in an environment where everyone around me is striving for greatness," Regehr said. "Their head coach is a longtime friend of Coach Lashley, and with his and the rest of the coaching staff's guidance, I am very excited to see what I can achieve in the future."

Great Bend's Regehr signs to run at Cloud County


- The “Voice of the Cougars” Cole Reif joins the show to recap
the Barton Lady Cougars run to the NJCAA National Tournament and what
it will take for the program to continue to advance forward.


- Aaron Clark joins the show live from Manhattan where he will have
the call for Tuesday's softball triangular between the Great Bend
Lady Panther softball team and Manahattan along with McPherson.


- Mike Courson is “On the Prowl” for Panther sports as he visits
with Great Bend Panther tennis coach Chris Manning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660823675526.jpeg" alt="Tuesday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster and Mike Courson" />
 <figcaption>Tuesday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster and Mike Courson</figcaption>
 </figure>
- The “Voice of the Cougars” Cole Reif joins the show to recap
the Barton Lady Cougars run to the NJCAA National Tournament and what
it will take for the program to continue to advance forward.
- Aaron Clark joins the show live from Manhattan where he will have
the call for Tuesday's softball triangular between the Great Bend
Lady Panther softball team and Manahattan along with McPherson.
- Mike Courson is “On the Prowl” for Panther sports as he visits
with Great Bend Panther tennis coach Chris Manning.
- Tuesday Sports Headlines
- Sounds of the past 24-hours.

Tuesday on Sports Day

2022: 92-70, first place, lost to New York Yankees in Division Series.

Manager: Terry Francona (11th season).

He’s Here: 1B/DH Josh Bell, C Mike Zunino.

He’s Outta Here: C Austin Hedges, OF/DH Franmil Reyes, RHP Bryan Shaw, C Luke Maile, 1B Bobby Bradley, INF Yu Chang, OF Nolan Jones, C Sandy Leon.

Top Hitters: 3B José Ramírez (.280, 29 HRs, 126 RBIs, .869 OPS, AL-high 44 doubles), 2B Andrés Giménez (.297, 16, 69, .837 OPS, AL-high 25 HBP), LF Steven Kwan (.298, 6, 52, .373 OBP, 9.4 AB per K, 3rd in AL Rookie of Year voting), SS Amed Rosario (.283, 11, 71, AL-high 9 triples), 1B/DH Josh Bell (.266, 17, 71, .784 OPS with Nationals and Padres).

Projected Rotation: RH Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA, 198 Ks in 200 innings), RH Triston McKenzie (11-11, 2.96, 190 Ks), RH Cal Quantrill (15-5, 3.38; 9-0 at home in 19 starts), RH Zach Plesac (3-12, 4.31), RH Aaron Civale (5-6, 4.92).

Key Relievers: RH Emmanuel Clase (3-4, 1.36 ERA, MLB-leading 42 saves), RH Eli Morgan (5-3, 3.38, 13 walks in 66 1/3 innings), RH James Karinchak (2-0, 2.03, 3 saves, 62 Ks in 39 innings), LH Sam Hentges (3-2, 2.32, 57 appearances), RH Enyel De Los Santos (5-0, 3.04 in 50 games).

Outlook: In their first year as the Guardians, baseball’s youngest team rolled to a surprising division title, winning the AL Central by 11 games. They did it without a proven power hitter in a lineup that relied on patience at the plate, speed on the bases and timely hits. The club hopes signing the switch-hitting Bell will give the Guardians an infusion of extra-base pop. Bieber bounced back nicely following an injury-slowed season. Cleveland’s strong bullpen is a major weapon for Francona, who has finally recovered from some major health concerns. Expectations are to go farther in the postseason for a franchise that hasn’t won the World Series since 1948.

Manager: Pedro Grifol (first season).

He’s Here: RHP Mike Clevinger, OF Andrew Benintendi.

He’s Outta Here: Manager Tony La Russa, 1B Jose Abreu, RHP Johnny Cueto, OF AJ Pollock, OF Adam Engel, INF Danny Mendick.

Top Hitters: SS Tim Anderson (.301, 6 HRs, 25 RBIs in 79 games), OF Eloy Jiménez (.295, 16, 54, .858 OPS in 84 games), OF Luis Robert (.284, 12, 56 in 98 games), 3B Yoán Moncada (.212, 12, 51), 1B Andrew Vaughn (.271, 17, 76), OF Andrew Benintendi (.304, 5, 51 with Royals and Yankees).

Projected Rotation: RH Dylan Cease (14-8, 2.20 ERA, 227 Ks), RH Lance Lynn (8-7, 3.99), RH Lucas Giolito (11-9, 4.90), RH Michael Kopech (5-9, 3.54), RH Mike Clevinger (7-7, 4.33 with San Diego).

Key Relievers: RH Liam Hendriks (4-4, 2.81 ERA, 37/41 saves), RH Reynaldo López (6-4, 2.76), RH Joe Kelly (1-3, 6.08), LHP Aaron Bummer (2-1, 2.36), LH Jake Diekman (5-4, 4.99 for Red Sox and White Sox), RH Kendall Graveman (3-4, 3.18), RH Jimmy Lambert (1-2, 3.26), RH José Ruiz (1-0, 4.60).

Outlook: The White Sox had their sights set on a deep playoff run this time last year after back-to-back early exits, only to deliver their most disappointing season in recent memory. Hall of Fame manager La Russa is gone after two seasons, and so is Abreu, the 2020 AL MVP. The White Sox hope better health and a change on the bench, not to mention the few additions they made, give them the lift they need to bounce back. One big question is when Hendriks will pitch. The three-time All-Star announced in January he has non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Clevinger was investigated by MLB after the mother of his daughter revealed allegations of domestic abuse in an Instagram post in January, about seven weeks after he signed with Chicago. MLB ultimately opted not to discipline him.

Manager: Rocco Baldelli (fifth season).

Opening Day: March 30 at Kansas City.

He’s Here: RHP Pablo López, OF Joey Gallo, C Christian Vázquez, OF Michael Taylor, INF Kyle Farmer, INF Donovan Solano.

He’s Outta Here: 1B/2B Luis Arraez, 3B Gio Urshela, C Gary Sánchez, RHP Dylan Bundy, RHP Chris Archer, RHP Michael Fulmer, LHP Devin Smeltzer, 1B Miguel Sanó, OF Jake Cave.

Top Hitters: SS Carlos Correa (.291, 22 HRs, 64 RBIs, .834 OPS), CF Byron Buxton (.224, 28, 51, .833 OPS in 92 games), 3B Jose Miranda (.268, 15, 66, .751 OPS), 2B Jorge Polanco (.235, 16, 56, .751 OPS).

Projected Rotation: RH Sonny Gray (8-5, 3.08 ERA), RH Pablo López (10-10, 3.75 for Miami), RH Tyler Mahle (6-8, 4.40 for Cincinnati and Minnesota), RH Kenta Maeda (missed 2022 season recovering from elbow surgery), RH Joe Ryan (13-8, 3.55).

Key Relievers: RH Jhoan Duran (2-4, 1.86 ERA, 8 saves, 89 Ks in 67 2/3 IP), RH Jorge López (4-7, 2.54, 23 saves for Baltimore and Minnesota), RH Griffin Jax (7-4, 3.36, 1 save).

Outlook: Bringing back Correa on a franchise-record $200 million contract after his agreed-to deals with the Giants and Mets fell through was a game-changer on and off the field for the Twins, who led the AL Central for 108 days last season before a hard fade triggered by a rash of injuries to important players. Buxton was again limited by injury, this time patellar tendinitis in his right knee and a related hip strain that popped up. Polanco is also coming off a bothersome knee injury that might keep him from being ready for opening day. Alex Kirilloff, in line to take over at first base, is yet another key hitter who’s been brought along slowly in spring training. If those four and Miranda can stay healthy, the Twins ought to have a productive lineup. If not, they’ll miss AL batting champion Arraez — who was traded to the Marlins for López — all the more. While the Twins still don’t have a true ace, their rotation is as deep as they’ve assembled lately. That’s good, because they had multiple starting pitchers hurt at all times last season. Maeda is back from Tommy John surgery.

Manager: A.J. Hinch (third season).

Opening Day: March 30 at Philadelphia.

He’s Here: RHP Michael Lorenzen, LHP Matthew Boyd, INF Nick Maton, INF Andy Ibanez, OF Matt Vierling.

He’s Outta Here: LHP Gregory Soto, RHP Joe Jimenez, LHP Andrew Chafin, INF Harold Castro, OF Willi Castro, INF Jeimer Candelario, C Tucker Barnhart, utility player Kody Clemens.

Top Hitters: SS Javier Baez (.238, 16 HRs, 67 RBIs, 147 Ks in 555 ABs), DH Miguel Cabrera (.254, 5, 43), CF Riley Greene (.253, 5, 42), 1B Spencer Torkelson (.203, 8, 28 in 110 games), C Eric Haase (.254, 14, 44, .748 OPS).

Projected Rotation: LH Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5, 4.05 ERA), LH Matthew Boyd (2-0, 1.35 in 10 games with Seattle), RH Michael Lorenzen (8-6, 4.24 in 18 games for Angels), RH Spencer Turnbull (4-2, 2.88 in 9 games), RH Matt Manning (2-3, 3.43 in 12 games).

Key Relievers: RH Alex Lange (7-4, 3.41 ERA in 71 games), RH Jose Cisnero (1-0, 1.08 in 28 games), LH Tyler Alexander (4-11, 4.81).

Outlook: Hopes are not high in the Motor City, where the Tigers are rebuilding as they enter the first full season under general manager Scott Harris. Detroit hasn’t had a winning season since 2016, a fact that cost former GM Al Avila his job last August, and the team hasn’t been in the playoffs in nearly a decade. The franchise desperately needs Rodriguez to bounce back after a shaky season on and off the field. The rest of the rotation includes pitchers coming off injury-shortened seasons, potentially another source of concern. Like Rodriguez, Baez is being counted on to provide a better return on the club's investment in him than he delivered last year. Cabrera, who turns 40 on April 18, said this will be the last season of his career and fans will come to Comerica Park to watch him add to his 507 homers, 3,088 hits and 607 doubles. Greene and Torkelson are potentially young players the franchise can build around.

Manager: Matt Quatraro (first season).

Opening Day: March 30 vs Minnesota.

He’s Here: RHP Jordan Lyles, LHP Ryan Yarbrough, LHP Aroldis Chapman.

He’s Outta Here: Manager Mike Matheny, CF Michael A. Taylor, SS Adalberto Mondesi.

Top Hitters: C Salvador Perez (.254, 23 HRs, 76 RBIs), SS Bobby Witt (.254, 20, 80, 30 SBs), C/OF MJ Melendez (.217, 18, 62), 1B/DH Vinnie Pasquantino (.295, 10, 26).

Projected Rotation: RH Zack Greinke (4-9, 3.68 ERA), RH Jordan Lyles (12-11, 4.42 with Baltimore), RH Brady Singer (10-5, 3.23), LH Ryan Yarbrough (3-8, 4.50 with Tampa Bay), RH Brad Keller (6-14, 5.09).

Key Relievers: RH Scott Barlow (7-4, 2.18 ERA, 24 saves), LH Aroldis Chapman (4-4, 4.46, 9 saves with Yankees), RH Dylan Coleman (5-2, 2.78), RH Taylor Clarke (3-1, 4.04), RH Josh Staumont (3-3, 6.45), LH Amir Garrett (3-1, 4.96).

Outlook: Rather than invest in free agents to improve on last year’s dismal record, the Royals hope a change in leadership from Matheny to Quatraro, coupled with some growth in their young core, will help them take a big step forward. Witt emerged as one of the game’s bright young stars and Singer had a breakout year, but the Royals need to surround both with more help. That is especially true when it comes to pitching, where Kansas City was among the worst in baseball last season.

By The Associated PressCLEVELAND GUARDIANS2022: 92-70, first place, lost to New York Yankees in Division Series.Manager: Terry Francona (11th season).Opening Day: March 30 at Seattle.He’s Here: 1B/DH Josh Bell, C Mike Zunino.He’s Outta Here: C Austin Hedges, OF/DH Franmil Reyes, RHP Bryan Shaw, C Luke Maile, 1B Bobby Bradley, INF Yu Chang, OF Nolan Jones, C Sandy Leon.Top Hitters: 3B José Ramírez (.280, 29 HRs, 126 RBIs, .869 OPS, AL-high 44 doubles), 2B Andrés Giménez (.297, 16, 69, .837 OPS, AL-high 25 HBP), LF Steven Kwan (.298, 6, 52, .373 OBP, 9.4 AB per K, 3rd in AL Rookie of Year voting), SS Amed Rosario (.283, 11, 71, AL-high 9 triples), 1B/DH Josh Bell (.266, 17, 71, .784 OPS with Nationals and Padres).Projected Rotation: RH Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA, 198 Ks in 200 innings), RH Triston McKenzie (11-11, 2.96, 190 Ks), RH Cal Quantrill (15-5, 3.38; 9-0 at home in 19 starts), RH Zach Plesac (3-12, 4.31), RH Aaron Civale (5-6, 4.92).Key Relievers: RH Emmanuel Clase (3-4, 1.36 ERA, MLB-leading 42 saves), RH Eli Morgan (5-3, 3.38, 13 walks in 66 1/3 innings), RH James Karinchak (2-0, 2.03, 3 saves, 62 Ks in 39 innings), LH Sam Hentges (3-2, 2.32, 57 appearances), RH Enyel De Los Santos (5-0, 3.04 in 50 games).Outlook: In their first year as the Guardians, baseball’s youngest team rolled to a surprising division title, winning the AL Central by 11 games. They did it without a proven power hitter in a lineup that relied on patience at the plate, speed on the bases and timely hits. The club hopes signing the switch-hitting Bell will give the Guardians an infusion of extra-base pop. Bieber bounced back nicely following an injury-slowed season. Cleveland’s strong bullpen is a major weapon for Francona, who has finally recovered from some major health concerns. Expectations are to go farther in the postseason for a franchise that hasn’t won the World Series since 1948.CHICAGO WHITE SOX2022: 81-81, second place.Manager: Pedro Grifol (first season).Opening Day: March 30 at Houston.He’s Here: RHP Mike Clevinger, OF Andrew Benintendi.He’s Outta Here: Manager Tony La Russa, 1B Jose Abreu, RHP Johnny Cueto, OF AJ Pollock, OF Adam Engel, INF Danny Mendick.Top Hitters: SS Tim Anderson (.301, 6 HRs, 25 RBIs in 79 games), OF Eloy Jiménez (.295, 16, 54, .858 OPS in 84 games), OF Luis Robert (.284, 12, 56 in 98 games), 3B Yoán Moncada (.212, 12, 51), 1B Andrew Vaughn (.271, 17, 76), OF Andrew Benintendi (.304, 5, 51 with Royals and Yankees).Projected Rotation: RH Dylan Cease (14-8, 2.20 ERA, 227 Ks), RH Lance Lynn (8-7, 3.99), RH Lucas Giolito (11-9, 4.90), RH Michael Kopech (5-9, 3.54), RH Mike Clevinger (7-7, 4.33 with San Diego).Key Relievers: RH Liam Hendriks (4-4, 2.81 ERA, 37/41 saves), RH Reynaldo López (6-4, 2.76), RH Joe Kelly (1-3, 6.08), LHP Aaron Bummer (2-1, 2.36), LH Jake Diekman (5-4, 4.99 for Red Sox and White Sox), RH Kendall Graveman (3-4, 3.18), RH Jimmy Lambert (1-2, 3.26), RH José Ruiz (1-0, 4.60).Outlook: The White Sox had their sights set on a deep playoff run this time last year after back-to-back early exits, only to deliver their most disappointing season in recent memory. Hall of Fame manager La Russa is gone after two seasons, and so is Abreu, the 2020 AL MVP. The White Sox hope better health and a change on the bench, not to mention the few additions they made, give them the lift they need to bounce back. One big question is when Hendriks will pitch. The three-time All-Star announced in January he has non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Clevinger was investigated by MLB after the mother of his daughter revealed allegations of domestic abuse in an Instagram post in January, about seven weeks after he signed with Chicago. MLB ultimately opted not to discipline him.MINNESOTA TWINS2022: 78-84, third place.Manager: Rocco Baldelli (fifth season).Opening Day: March 30 at Kansas City.He’s Here: RHP Pablo López, OF Joey Gallo, C Christian Vázquez, OF Michael Taylor, INF Kyle Farmer, INF Donovan Solano.He’s Outta Here: 1B/2B Luis Arraez, 3B Gio Urshela, C Gary Sánchez, RHP Dylan Bundy, RHP Chris Archer, RHP Michael Fulmer, LHP Devin Smeltzer, 1B Miguel Sanó, OF Jake Cave.Top Hitters: SS Carlos Correa (.291, 22 HRs, 64 RBIs, .834 OPS), CF Byron Buxton (.224, 28, 51, .833 OPS in 92 games), 3B Jose Miranda (.268, 15, 66, .751 OPS), 2B Jorge Polanco (.235, 16, 56, .751 OPS).Projected Rotation: RH Sonny Gray (8-5, 3.08 ERA), RH Pablo López (10-10, 3.75 for Miami), RH Tyler Mahle (6-8, 4.40 for Cincinnati and Minnesota), RH Kenta Maeda (missed 2022 season recovering from elbow surgery), RH Joe Ryan (13-8, 3.55).Key Relievers: RH Jhoan Duran (2-4, 1.86 ERA, 8 saves, 89 Ks in 67 2/3 IP), RH Jorge López (4-7, 2.54, 23 saves for Baltimore and Minnesota), RH Griffin Jax (7-4, 3.36, 1 save).Outlook: Bringing back Correa on a franchise-record $200 million contract after his agreed-to deals with the Giants and Mets fell through was a game-changer on and off the field for the Twins, who led the AL Central for 108 days last season before a hard fade triggered by a rash of injuries to important players. Buxton was again limited by injury, this time patellar tendinitis in his right knee and a related hip strain that popped up. Polanco is also coming off a bothersome knee injury that might keep him from being ready for opening day. Alex Kirilloff, in line to take over at first base, is yet another key hitter who’s been brought along slowly in spring training. If those four and Miranda can stay healthy, the Twins ought to have a productive lineup. If not, they’ll miss AL batting champion Arraez — who was traded to the Marlins for López — all the more. While the Twins still don’t have a true ace, their rotation is as deep as they’ve assembled lately. That’s good, because they had multiple starting pitchers hurt at all times last season. Maeda is back from Tommy John surgery.DETROIT TIGERS2022: 66-96, fourth place.Manager: A.J. Hinch (third season).Opening Day: March 30 at Philadelphia.He’s Here: RHP Michael Lorenzen, LHP Matthew Boyd, INF Nick Maton, INF Andy Ibanez, OF Matt Vierling.He’s Outta Here: LHP Gregory Soto, RHP Joe Jimenez, LHP Andrew Chafin, INF Harold Castro, OF Willi Castro, INF Jeimer Candelario, C Tucker Barnhart, utility player Kody Clemens.Top Hitters: SS Javier Baez (.238, 16 HRs, 67 RBIs, 147 Ks in 555 ABs), DH Miguel Cabrera (.254, 5, 43), CF Riley Greene (.253, 5, 42), 1B Spencer Torkelson (.203, 8, 28 in 110 games), C Eric Haase (.254, 14, 44, .748 OPS).Projected Rotation: LH Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5, 4.05 ERA), LH Matthew Boyd (2-0, 1.35 in 10 games with Seattle), RH Michael Lorenzen (8-6, 4.24 in 18 games for Angels), RH Spencer Turnbull (4-2, 2.88 in 9 games), RH Matt Manning (2-3, 3.43 in 12 games).Key Relievers: RH Alex Lange (7-4, 3.41 ERA in 71 games), RH Jose Cisnero (1-0, 1.08 in 28 games), LH Tyler Alexander (4-11, 4.81).Outlook: Hopes are not high in the Motor City, where the Tigers are rebuilding as they enter the first full season under general manager Scott Harris. Detroit hasn’t had a winning season since 2016, a fact that cost former GM Al Avila his job last August, and the team hasn’t been in the playoffs in nearly a decade. The franchise desperately needs Rodriguez to bounce back after a shaky season on and off the field. The rest of the rotation includes pitchers coming off injury-shortened seasons, potentially another source of concern. Like Rodriguez, Baez is being counted on to provide a better return on the club's investment in him than he delivered last year. Cabrera, who turns 40 on April 18, said this will be the last season of his career and fans will come to Comerica Park to watch him add to his 507 homers, 3,088 hits and 607 doubles. Greene and Torkelson are potentially young players the franchise can build around.KANSAS CITY ROYALS2022: 65-97, fifth place.Manager: Matt Quatraro (first season).Opening Day: March 30 vs Minnesota.He’s Here: RHP Jordan Lyles, LHP Ryan Yarbrough, LHP Aroldis Chapman.He’s Outta Here: Manager Mike Matheny, CF Michael A. Taylor, SS Adalberto Mondesi.Top Hitters: C Salvador Perez (.254, 23 HRs, 76 RBIs), SS Bobby Witt (.254, 20, 80, 30 SBs), C/OF MJ Melendez (.217, 18, 62), 1B/DH Vinnie Pasquantino (.295, 10, 26).Projected Rotation: RH Zack Greinke (4-9, 3.68 ERA), RH Jordan Lyles (12-11, 4.42 with Baltimore), RH Brady Singer (10-5, 3.23), LH Ryan Yarbrough (3-8, 4.50 with Tampa Bay), RH Brad Keller (6-14, 5.09).Key Relievers: RH Scott Barlow (7-4, 2.18 ERA, 24 saves), LH Aroldis Chapman (4-4, 4.46, 9 saves with Yankees), RH Dylan Coleman (5-2, 2.78), RH Taylor Clarke (3-1, 4.04), RH Josh Staumont (3-3, 6.45), LH Amir Garrett (3-1, 4.96).Outlook: Rather than invest in free agents to improve on last year’s dismal record, the Royals hope a change in leadership from Matheny to Quatraro, coupled with some growth in their young core, will help them take a big step forward. Witt emerged as one of the game’s bright young stars and Singer had a breakout year, but the Royals need to surround both with more help. That is especially true when it comes to pitching, where Kansas City was among the worst in baseball last season.

American League Central Preview Capsules

SEATTLE (AP) —
Elizabeth Kitley scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Georgia
Amoore added 24 points and top-seeded Virginia Tech advanced to the
Final Four for the first time in school history with an 84-74 win
over No. 3 seed Ohio State in the Seattle 3 Regional final. Playing
in its first regional final, Virginia Tech won its 15th straight game
and will head to the Final Four having not lost in more than two
months. The Hokies will face LSU in the national semifinals on Friday
in Dallas. Taylor Mikesell led Ohio State with 25 points, but 19 of
those came in the first half.

GREENVILLE, S.C.
(AP) — Aliyah Boston had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Zia Cooke
scored 18 points and top-seeded South Carolina used its smothering
defense to outlast second-seeded Maryland 86-75 to reach its third
straight Final Four. The Gamecocks improved to 36-0 on the season
with their 42nd straight win dating to last year's NCAA title run.
They're now just two victories away from consecutive titles and the
10th undefeated season in the history of the women's game. Maryland
used a fast pace to lead in the opening period. But South Carolina
turned on its trademark defense to grab control.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) —
Texas on Monday named Rodney Terry as full-time head basketball
coach, removing the interim tag after he led the Longhorns to the
Elite Eight following the midseason firing of Chris Beard. The school
scheduled a Tuesday news conference to introduce him as the head
coach going forward. Financial terms and years of the deal were not
immediately available. Rewarding Terry with the promotion was no
surprise. He took over Texas when Beard was first suspended on Dec.
12 after a felony domestic violence arrest, and the Longhorns made
their deepest NCAA tournament run in 15 years.

UNDATED (AP) —
Lamar Jackson says he has requested a trade from the Baltimore
Ravens, saying the team “has not been interested in meeting my
value.” The star quarterback said Monday in a series of tweets that
he requested a trade as of March 2. On March 7, the Ravens put the
nonexclusive franchise tag on Jackson and said they were still
hopeful they could reach a long-term deal with him. That version of
the franchise tag allowed Jackson to negotiate with other teams, but
it also gives Baltimore a chance to match any agreement he makes.

PHOENIX (AP) —
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said he’s not
requiring a first-round pick in a potential trade sending four-time
MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets but added he’d
want “fair value.” Gutekunst and Jets general manager Joe Douglas
both discussed trade talks involving the 39-year-old Rodgers on
Monday at the NFL annual meeting. Rodgers said March 15 during an
appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on SiriusXM and YouTube that
he intends to play for the Jets in 2023.

UNDATED (AP) —
Baseball has transformed in the 145 days since Dusty Baker and the
Houston Astros sealed the franchise’s second title in six seasons.
As New York Mets owner Steve Cohen dominated an offseason that saw
billions spent, the sport braced for a new world that includes pitch
clocks, bigger bases, limits on defensive shifts and pickoff throws,
and an overarching attempt to reverse decades of lengthening games
and the Analytics Era domination of the Three True Outcomes —
strikeouts, walks and home runs. No player will be watched more
closely this season than Shohei Ohtani, a two-way megastar in the
final year under contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) —
Sergio Romo retired as a San Francisco Giant just as he wanted to do.
The entertaining reliever and three-time World Series champion called
it a career Monday night when he pitched against another of his
former clubs — the Oakland A's — in the seventh inning of the
exhibition finale for both teams at Oracle Park. The Giants reached
out a few weeks back asking whether Romo might consider a last time
on the mound. He drew a rousing ovation when he came into the game
and again when he walked off. The 40-year-old Romo gave up two
singles and a walk without getting an out. He also was called for two
clock violations before his first pitch, but it hardly mattered on
this emotional night in the Bay Area.

Final	Chicago White
Sox	6	Chicago Cubs	6	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678358685056.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) —
Elizabeth Kitley scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Georgia
Amoore added 24 points and top-seeded Virginia Tech advanced to the
Final Four for the first time in school history with an 84-74 win
over No. 3 seed Ohio State in the Seattle 3 Regional final. Playing
in its first regional final, Virginia Tech won its 15th straight game
and will head to the Final Four having not lost in more than two
months. The Hokies will face LSU in the national semifinals on Friday
in Dallas. Taylor Mikesell led Ohio State with 25 points, but 19 of
those came in the first half.GREENVILLE, S.C.
(AP) — Aliyah Boston had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Zia Cooke
scored 18 points and top-seeded South Carolina used its smothering
defense to outlast second-seeded Maryland 86-75 to reach its third
straight Final Four. The Gamecocks improved to 36-0 on the season
with their 42nd straight win dating to last year's NCAA title run.
They're now just two victories away from consecutive titles and the
10th undefeated season in the history of the women's game. Maryland
used a fast pace to lead in the opening period. But South Carolina
turned on its trademark defense to grab control.AUSTIN, Texas (AP) —
Texas on Monday named Rodney Terry as full-time head basketball
coach, removing the interim tag after he led the Longhorns to the
Elite Eight following the midseason firing of Chris Beard. The school
scheduled a Tuesday news conference to introduce him as the head
coach going forward. Financial terms and years of the deal were not
immediately available. Rewarding Terry with the promotion was no
surprise. He took over Texas when Beard was first suspended on Dec.
12 after a felony domestic violence arrest, and the Longhorns made
their deepest NCAA tournament run in 15 years.UNDATED (AP) —
Lamar Jackson says he has requested a trade from the Baltimore
Ravens, saying the team “has not been interested in meeting my
value.” The star quarterback said Monday in a series of tweets that
he requested a trade as of March 2. On March 7, the Ravens put the
nonexclusive franchise tag on Jackson and said they were still
hopeful they could reach a long-term deal with him. That version of
the franchise tag allowed Jackson to negotiate with other teams, but
it also gives Baltimore a chance to match any agreement he makes.PHOENIX (AP) —
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said he’s not
requiring a first-round pick in a potential trade sending four-time
MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets but added he’d
want “fair value.” Gutekunst and Jets general manager Joe Douglas
both discussed trade talks involving the 39-year-old Rodgers on
Monday at the NFL annual meeting. Rodgers said March 15 during an
appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on SiriusXM and YouTube that
he intends to play for the Jets in 2023.UNDATED (AP) —
Baseball has transformed in the 145 days since Dusty Baker and the
Houston Astros sealed the franchise’s second title in six seasons.
As New York Mets owner Steve Cohen dominated an offseason that saw
billions spent, the sport braced for a new world that includes pitch
clocks, bigger bases, limits on defensive shifts and pickoff throws,
and an overarching attempt to reverse decades of lengthening games
and the Analytics Era domination of the Three True Outcomes —
strikeouts, walks and home runs. No player will be watched more
closely this season than Shohei Ohtani, a two-way megastar in the
final year under contract with the Los Angeles Angels.SAN FRANCISCO (AP) —
Sergio Romo retired as a San Francisco Giant just as he wanted to do.
The entertaining reliever and three-time World Series champion called
it a career Monday night when he pitched against another of his
former clubs — the Oakland A's — in the seventh inning of the
exhibition finale for both teams at Oracle Park. The Giants reached
out a few weeks back asking whether Romo might consider a last time
on the mound. He drew a rousing ovation when he came into the game
and again when he walked off. The 40-year-old Romo gave up two
singles and a walk without getting an out. He also was called for two
clock violations before his first pitch, but it hardly mattered on
this emotional night in the Bay Area.MONDAY SCORESINTERLEAGUEFinal	Minnesota	8	Pittsburgh	4	Final	Atlanta	6	Boston	1	Final	St.
Louis	8	Baltimore	2	Final	Philadelphia	5	Toronto	2	Final	San
Diego	4	Seattle	2	Final	L.A.
Angels	5	L.A. Dodgers	4	Final	Arizona	7	Cleveland	6	Final	Oakland	12	San
Francisco	6	Final	Chicago White
Sox	6	Chicago Cubs	6	AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	N.Y.
Yankees	8	Tampa Bay	4	Final	Houston	3	Sugar
Land	1	Final	Kansas
City	4	Texas	4	NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Colorado	12	Milwaukee	8	NATIONAL
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATIONFinal	Dallas	127	Indiana	104	Final	Milwaukee	126	Detroit	117	Final	New
York	137	Houston	115	Final	Phoenix	117	Utah	103	Final	Denver	116	Philadelphia	111	Final	New
Orleans	124	Portland	90	Final	Minnesota	119	Sacramento	115	Final	L.A.
Clippers	124	Chicago	112	NATIONAL HOCKEY
LEAGUEFinal	Ottawa	5	Florida	2	Final
SO	Montreal	4	Buffalo	3	Final	N-Y
Islanders	5	New Jersey	1	Final	Minnesota	5	Seattle	1	Final	Colorado	5	Anaheim	1	Final	Edmonton	5	Arizona	4

Tuesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

- We recap the NCAA Crazy-8 where Kansas State was knocked out of the tournament in the East Region final by Florida Atlantic.

- We talk NCAA Tournament and more with the Great Bend Tribune's Jim Misuanas.

- Mike Courson is “On the Prowl” with Great Bend Panthers track and field coach Lyles Lashley.

&nbsp;- Let's play a game: How many games will the Kansas City Royals win in 2023?

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hi_cS82k6RE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- We recap the NCAA Crazy-8 where Kansas State was knocked out of the tournament in the East Region final by Florida Atlantic.- We talk NCAA Tournament and more with the Great Bend Tribune's Jim Misuanas.- Mike Courson is “On the Prowl” with Great Bend Panthers track and field coach Lyles Lashley.&nbsp;- Let's play a game: How many games will the Kansas City Royals win in 2023?- Weekend Sports Headlines.- Sounds of the past 24-hours

WATCH: Sports Day (3/27)

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Holly Kersgieter scored 25 points and Taiyanna Jackson had 22 points and 10 rebounds for her 21st double-double of the season and Kansas topped Arkansas 78-64 to advance to the Fab 4 of the WNIT.

Kansas now hosts Washington in the Fab 4 on Wednesday, March 4. Tipoff from Allen Fieldhouse is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.

For the third straight WNIT game, the Jayhawks led wire-to-wire on Sunday, never once falling behind the Razorbacks in a convincing win and leading by as many as 21 at one point. Kansas held Arkansas to 37 percent shooting from the floor and 30 percent shooting from deep. The Jayhawks also outscored the Razorbacks 46-26 in the paint of the Great Eight matchup.

For the third-straight postseason game, the Jayhawks got off to a fast start thanks to their suffocating defense. After not allowing Missouri to score for the first five-plus minutes in the Round of 32 and holding Nebraska to two points over the first five in the Super 16, Kansas again stifled its opponent at the start.

Kansas built a 15-2 lead at 3:47 mark of the first quarter, holding Arkansas to a 1-for-9 start from the floor and 0-of-6 from 3-point range. The Razorbacks were forced to call their first timeout after a Jackson bucket extended the lead to 13. Jackson scored 10 of the team’s first 15 points, starting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.

The Razorbacks started to get it going offensively over the final three minutes of the quarter and cut into the Kansas lead. Arkansas used a layup with 43 seconds left to get the deficit to seven. But Kersgieter made a layup, was fouled and hit her free throw for a 3-point play to extend the lead right back to 10. The Razorbacks scored with five seconds left to make it 20-12.

The Kansas defense again turned it up to start the second quarter, with Arkansas not getting its first basket until there were more than six minutes gone in the quarter. In the meantime, the Jayhawks continued to roll on the offensive end. Leading 27-12, Chandler Prater hit a layup and was fouled. She converted the three-point play to up the Kansas lead to 18. Arkansas finally got its first basket with 3:38 left in the half, but Kansas answered right back on the next possession courtesy of a Prater jumper to push it right back to 18 at 32-14.

The Jayhawks hit five of their final six from the floor to continue to take control of the game and grab a 38-19 lead at the break. Jackson led the team with 14 points at the break, while Kersgieter had 12. Kansas outscored Arkansas 24-10 in the paint and 7-0 in second-chance points. The Razorbacks were just 7 of 29 from the floor in the first half, while Kansas shot 47 percent, going 16 of 34.

Arkansas began cutting into the Kansas lead in the third quarter and got the deficit to as few as eight with 39 seconds left in the quarter. But Wyvette Mayberry hit a layup with five seconds left to get the lead back to 10 heading into the fourth quarter. When Arkansas cut it to eight, it marked the first time the deficit was in single digits since Kansas led 20-12 at the end of the first quarter.

The Jayhawks wasted no time extending the lead back to a comfortable margin after the Razorback run. Kansas scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to take a 67-50 lead with 7:55 to play and forcing a timeout from the visitors.

But Arkansas never got closer than nine points the remainder of the way as the Jayhawks flexed their muscles and finished off the complete effort.

Mayberry and Zakiyah Franklin both finished in double figures with 10 points and Prater added nine. The Jayhawks are now 23-12 on the season, while Arkansas finished its season with a 24-13 record.

Kansas advances to the Fab Four of the WNIT, where the Jayhawks will face Washington, who defeated Oregon 63-59 on Sunday evening in Seattle to advance to the semifinals. Kansas will host that matchup at Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday, March 29, with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT.

Kansas Sports InformationLAWRENCE, Kan. – Holly Kersgieter scored 25 points and Taiyanna Jackson had 22 points and 10 rebounds for her 21st double-double of the season and Kansas topped Arkansas 78-64 to advance to the Fab 4 of the WNIT.Kansas now hosts Washington in the Fab 4 on Wednesday, March 4. Tipoff from Allen Fieldhouse is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.For the third straight WNIT game, the Jayhawks led wire-to-wire on Sunday, never once falling behind the Razorbacks in a convincing win and leading by as many as 21 at one point. Kansas held Arkansas to 37 percent shooting from the floor and 30 percent shooting from deep. The Jayhawks also outscored the Razorbacks 46-26 in the paint of the Great Eight matchup.For the third-straight postseason game, the Jayhawks got off to a fast start thanks to their suffocating defense. After not allowing Missouri to score for the first five-plus minutes in the Round of 32 and holding Nebraska to two points over the first five in the Super 16, Kansas again stifled its opponent at the start.Kansas built a 15-2 lead at 3:47 mark of the first quarter, holding Arkansas to a 1-for-9 start from the floor and 0-of-6 from 3-point range. The Razorbacks were forced to call their first timeout after a Jackson bucket extended the lead to 13. Jackson scored 10 of the team’s first 15 points, starting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.The Razorbacks started to get it going offensively over the final three minutes of the quarter and cut into the Kansas lead. Arkansas used a layup with 43 seconds left to get the deficit to seven. But Kersgieter made a layup, was fouled and hit her free throw for a 3-point play to extend the lead right back to 10. The Razorbacks scored with five seconds left to make it 20-12.The Kansas defense again turned it up to start the second quarter, with Arkansas not getting its first basket until there were more than six minutes gone in the quarter. In the meantime, the Jayhawks continued to roll on the offensive end. Leading 27-12, Chandler Prater hit a layup and was fouled. She converted the three-point play to up the Kansas lead to 18. Arkansas finally got its first basket with 3:38 left in the half, but Kansas answered right back on the next possession courtesy of a Prater jumper to push it right back to 18 at 32-14.The Jayhawks hit five of their final six from the floor to continue to take control of the game and grab a 38-19 lead at the break. Jackson led the team with 14 points at the break, while Kersgieter had 12. Kansas outscored Arkansas 24-10 in the paint and 7-0 in second-chance points. The Razorbacks were just 7 of 29 from the floor in the first half, while Kansas shot 47 percent, going 16 of 34.Arkansas began cutting into the Kansas lead in the third quarter and got the deficit to as few as eight with 39 seconds left in the quarter. But Wyvette Mayberry hit a layup with five seconds left to get the lead back to 10 heading into the fourth quarter. When Arkansas cut it to eight, it marked the first time the deficit was in single digits since Kansas led 20-12 at the end of the first quarter.The Jayhawks wasted no time extending the lead back to a comfortable margin after the Razorback run. Kansas scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to take a 67-50 lead with 7:55 to play and forcing a timeout from the visitors.But Arkansas never got closer than nine points the remainder of the way as the Jayhawks flexed their muscles and finished off the complete effort.Mayberry and Zakiyah Franklin both finished in double figures with 10 points and Prater added nine. The Jayhawks are now 23-12 on the season, while Arkansas finished its season with a 24-13 record.Kansas advances to the Fab Four of the WNIT, where the Jayhawks will face Washington, who defeated Oregon 63-59 on Sunday evening in Seattle to advance to the semifinals. Kansas will host that matchup at Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday, March 29, with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT.

Jayhawks handle Razorbacks to advance to WNIT’s Fab 4

The Barton Community College women's track and field team opened its outdoor season this weekend competing at the Masked Rider Open hosted by Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

The Cougars had eight national qualifying performances amongst their three personal bests efforts and eight top ten placings, highlighted by Kelsie Murrell-Ross' winning the shot put.

Already in the third spot of the program's all-time list, Murrell-Ross bettered her previous best by three inches in the first outdoor meet of her sophomore season to win the event by over two feet over a Texas Tech senior.

Barton added four more national qualifiers in the throwing events, Efe Latham placing third in the hammer throw at 48.39m while Murrell-Ross' first time in the event also met qualifying standards with a 43.80m throw as the duo placed 3rd and 7th respectively.

Latham added the javelin to her national ticket with an 8th place 38.13m throw with Treneese Hamilton placing four spots ahead in 4th spot with a 38.58m throw.

Kay-Lagay Clarke earned the Cougars' lone long jump early national ticket, placing 9th overall with a 5.66m jump with Jasmine Carson tying her personal best with a 19th place 5.04m splash in the sand.

On the track Naiya Morgan recorded two qualifying times, clocking an 11.85 in the 100m for an 11th placing of the 41 entrant field then ninety minutes later taking 8th place in the 54-competitor 200m with a 24.32 time. Antiana Walsh also qualified in the 100m with a 12.10 time to place 19th before a 13th place 200m time of 24.55 but the wind aided clocking eliminated the automatic national bid.

The Cougars head back south for their next meet beginning Thursday in the three-day Texas Relays in Austin hosted by the University of Texas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679910855715.jpeg" alt="Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoThe Barton Community College women's track and field team opened its outdoor season this weekend competing at the Masked Rider Open hosted by Texas Tech University in Lubbock.The Cougars had eight national qualifying performances amongst their three personal bests efforts and eight top ten placings, highlighted by Kelsie Murrell-Ross' winning the shot put.Already in the third spot of the program's all-time list, Murrell-Ross bettered her previous best by three inches in the first outdoor meet of her sophomore season to win the event by over two feet over a Texas Tech senior.Barton added four more national qualifiers in the throwing events, Efe Latham placing third in the hammer throw at 48.39m while Murrell-Ross' first time in the event also met qualifying standards with a 43.80m throw as the duo placed 3rd and 7th respectively.Latham added the javelin to her national ticket with an 8th place 38.13m throw with Treneese Hamilton placing four spots ahead in 4th spot with a 38.58m throw.Kay-Lagay Clarke earned the Cougars' lone long jump early national ticket, placing 9th overall with a 5.66m jump with Jasmine Carson tying her personal best with a 19th place 5.04m splash in the sand.On the track Naiya Morgan recorded two qualifying times, clocking an 11.85 in the 100m for an 11th placing of the 41 entrant field then ninety minutes later taking 8th place in the 54-competitor 200m with a 24.32 time. Antiana Walsh also qualified in the 100m with a 12.10 time to place 19th before a 13th place 200m time of 24.55 but the wind aided clocking eliminated the automatic national bid.The Cougars head back south for their next meet beginning Thursday in the three-day Texas Relays in Austin hosted by the University of Texas.

Barton women's track and field open outdoor season with eight national qualifiers

The Barton Community College men's track and field team had a successful opening weekend to its outdoor season this weekend competing at the Masked Rider Open hosted by Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679910486583.jpeg" alt="Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoThe Barton Community College men's track and field team had a successful opening weekend to its outdoor season this weekend competing at the Masked Rider Open hosted by Texas Tech University in Lubbock.Two impacts on the program all-time list highlighted the ten national qualifying performances, two personal bests, and ten top ten placings.Christopher Young garnered three bids to the national championships. After qualifying with a 48.49m throw in placing 9th in Friday's discus throw, Young began Saturday's action with a program 4th best javelin mark of 66.51m (218-2) in winning the event by over six feet. The freshman capped his weekend in the hammer throw with an 8th place in exceeding national qualifying standards with a 49.29 mark.On the track, Barton had a pair of 3rd placers reaching national qualifying standards, Aaron Charles' 21.00 in the 200m with Elijah Mosley clocking a program 5th best time in the 400m at 45.61 seconds. Fabian Campbell also punched his national ticket in the 800m, placing 6th out of 37 entrants with a time of 1:53.31.In addition to Young's three qualifying performances, fellow throwers Brandon Lloyd and Christopher Crawford each chalked up a pair of national tickets. Lloyd earned both of his on Friday, placing second in each of the discus and shot put competitions with 56.14m and 16.59m marks respectively before completing his weekend with a new personal best in the hammer throw at 43.87m. Crawford placed 7th in the discus at 52.84m as the Cougars went 2-7-9 in the event, following with a 5th place in the shot put at 15.84m.The Cougars head back south for their next meet beginning Thursday in the three-day Texas Relays in Austin hosted by the University of Texas.