NEW YORK (AP)—Bill Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Famer for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting, died Monday, the league announced on behalf of his family. Walton, who had a prolonged fight with cancer, was 71.

He was the NBA's MVP in the 1977-78 season, a two-time champion and a member of both the NBA's 50th anniversary and 75th anniversary teams. That followed a college career in which he was a two-time champion at UCLA and a three-time national player of the year.

“Bill Walton,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “was truly one of a kind.”

Walton, who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1993, was larger than life, on the court and off. His NBA career — disrupted by chronic foot injuries — lasted only 468 games with Portland, the San Diego and eventually Los Angeles Clippers and Boston. He averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in those games, neither of those numbers exactly record-setting.

Still, his impact on the game was massive.

His most famous game was the 1973 NCAA title game, UCLA against Memphis, in which he shot an incredible 21 for 22 from the field and led the Bruins to another national championship.

“One of my guards said, ’Let’s try something else,” Wooden told The Associated Press in 2008 for a 35th anniversary retrospective on that game.

Wooden’s response during that timeout: “Why? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

They kept giving the ball to Walton, and he kept delivering in a performance for the ages.

“It’s very hard to put into words what he has meant to UCLA’s program, as well as his tremendous impact on college basketball," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said Monday. "Beyond his remarkable accomplishments as a player, it’s his relentless energy, enthusiasm for the game and unwavering candor that have been the hallmarks of his larger than life personality.

“As a passionate UCLA alumnus and broadcaster, he loved being around our players, hearing their stories and sharing his wisdom and advice. For me as a coach, he was honest, kind and always had his heart in the right place. I will miss him very much. It’s hard to imagine a season in Pauley Pavilion without him.”

Walton retired from the NBA and turned to broadcasting, something he never thought he could be good at — and an avenue he sometimes wondered would be possible for him, because he had a pronounced stutter at times in his life.

Turns out, he was excellent at that, too: Walton was an Emmy winner.

“In life, being so self-conscious, red hair, big nose, freckles and goofy, nerdy-looking face and can’t talk at all. I was incredibly shy and never said a word,” Walton told The Oregonian newspaper in 2017. “Then, when I was 28 I learned how to speak. It’s become my greatest accomplishment of my life and everybody else’s biggest nightmare.”

The last part of that was just Walton hyperbole. He was beloved for his on-air tangents.

He sometimes appeared on-air in Grateful Dead T-shirts; Walton was a huge fan of the band and referenced it often, even sometimes recording satellite radio specials celebrating what it meant to be a “Deadhead.”

And the Pac-12 Conference, which has basically evaporated in many ways now because of college realignment, was another of his many loves. He always referred to it as the “Conference of Champions” and loved it all the way to the end.

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he once said on a broadcast, tie-dyed T-shirt on, a Hawaiian lei around his neck.

“What I will remember most about him was his zest for life,” Silver said. “He was a regular presence at league events — always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.”

Walton died surrounded by his loved ones, his family said. He is survived by wife Lori and sons Adam, Nate, Chris and Luke — a former NBA player and now a coach.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716834153461.png" alt="FILE - Basketball Hall of Fame legend Bill Walton, left, jokes with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during a practice session for the NBA All-Star basketball game in Cleveland, Feb. 19, 2022. Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Basketball Hall of Famer and one of the biggest stars of basketball broadcasting, died Monday, May 27, 2024, the league announced on behalf of his family. He was 71. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Basketball Hall of Fame legend Bill Walton, left, jokes with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during a practice session for the NBA All-Star basketball game in Cleveland, Feb. 19, 2022. Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Basketball Hall of Famer and one of the biggest stars of basketball broadcasting, died Monday, May 27, 2024, the league announced on behalf of his family. He was 71. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP)—Bill Walton, who starred for John Wooden's UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Famer for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting, died Monday, the league announced on behalf of his family. Walton, who had a prolonged fight with cancer, was 71.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The following has been released by the NBA. <a href="https://t.co/fdlty5X3F5">pic.twitter.com/fdlty5X3F5</a>&mdash; NBA Communications (@NBAPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAPR/status/1795140623239926129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He was the NBA's MVP in the 1977-78 season, a two-time champion and a member of both the NBA's 50th anniversary and 75th anniversary teams. That followed a college career in which he was a two-time champion at UCLA and a three-time national player of the year.“Bill Walton,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “was truly one of a kind.”Walton, who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1993, was larger than life, on the court and off. His NBA career — disrupted by chronic foot injuries — lasted only 468 games with Portland, the San Diego and eventually Los Angeles Clippers and Boston. He averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in those games, neither of those numbers exactly record-setting.Still, his impact on the game was massive.His most famous game was the 1973 NCAA title game, UCLA against Memphis, in which he shot an incredible 21 for 22 from the field and led the Bruins to another national championship.“One of my guards said, ’Let’s try something else,” Wooden told The Associated Press in 2008 for a 35th anniversary retrospective on that game.Wooden’s response during that timeout: “Why? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”They kept giving the ball to Walton, and he kept delivering in a performance for the ages.“It’s very hard to put into words what he has meant to UCLA’s program, as well as his tremendous impact on college basketball," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said Monday. "Beyond his remarkable accomplishments as a player, it’s his relentless energy, enthusiasm for the game and unwavering candor that have been the hallmarks of his larger than life personality.“As a passionate UCLA alumnus and broadcaster, he loved being around our players, hearing their stories and sharing his wisdom and advice. For me as a coach, he was honest, kind and always had his heart in the right place. I will miss him very much. It’s hard to imagine a season in Pauley Pavilion without him.”Walton retired from the NBA and turned to broadcasting, something he never thought he could be good at — and an avenue he sometimes wondered would be possible for him, because he had a pronounced stutter at times in his life.Turns out, he was excellent at that, too: Walton was an Emmy winner.“In life, being so self-conscious, red hair, big nose, freckles and goofy, nerdy-looking face and can’t talk at all. I was incredibly shy and never said a word,” Walton told The Oregonian newspaper in 2017. “Then, when I was 28 I learned how to speak. It’s become my greatest accomplishment of my life and everybody else’s biggest nightmare.”The last part of that was just Walton hyperbole. He was beloved for his on-air tangents.He sometimes appeared on-air in Grateful Dead T-shirts; Walton was a huge fan of the band and referenced it often, even sometimes recording satellite radio specials celebrating what it meant to be a “Deadhead.”And the Pac-12 Conference, which has basically evaporated in many ways now because of college realignment, was another of his many loves. He always referred to it as the “Conference of Champions” and loved it all the way to the end.“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he once said on a broadcast, tie-dyed T-shirt on, a Hawaiian lei around his neck.“What I will remember most about him was his zest for life,” Silver said. “He was a regular presence at league events — always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth. I treasured our close friendship, envied his boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.”Walton died surrounded by his loved ones, his family said. He is survived by wife Lori and sons Adam, Nate, Chris and Luke — a former NBA player and now a coach.

Bill Walton, Hall of Fame player and star broadcaster, dies at 71

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Lowe drove in three runs with a pinch-hit triple during Tampa Bay's four-run seventh inning, and the Rays stopped Kansas City's eight-game win streak with a 4-1 victory over the Royals on Sunday.

The Rays had lost a season-high six straight.

“To get a win that way, to show up in those high stress situations, it feels good and I feel like it really ignites everybody around it," Lowe said.

Kansas City's Michael Wacha (4-5) lost his perfect-game bid in the sixth, and was pulled after Harold Ramírez singled and Isaac Paredes had a double to start the seventh. John Schreiber then hit Randy Arozarena and permitted a fielder’s choice grounder before Lowe delivered on the first pitch he saw.

It was Lowe's second hit in 17 at-bats since returning from a strained right oblique.

Garrett Cleavinger (4-0) got three outs for the win, and Pete Fairbanks handled the ninth for his fifth save in six chances.

Batting with the bases loaded, Bobby Witt Jr. bounced to second for the final out of the game.

“It was a good ballgame," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Really well pitched game. They came up with a big hit when they needed it, and we fought back and just came up a little bit short.”

Wacha retired his first 15 batters on 54 pitches before José Caballero grounded a leadoff double down the third base line in the sixth. After a strikeout and grounder, Yandy Díaz drew a 10-pitch walk before Wacha struck out Jonny DeLuca to complete a 33-pitch inning.

“Those are always tough decisions," Quatraro said about sending Wacha back out for the seventh. "Some of them work. Some of them don’t. That one stings because it didn’t.”

Witt extended his hitting streak to nine games and put the Royals up 1-0 on a sixth-inning homer off Rays reliever Shawn Armstrong. He has homered four times in his last five games.

Witt was thrown out by Arozarena when he tried to score from second in the eighth on Salvador Perez’s one-out single to left.

“Look, we don’t get an out right there that rally just keeps going,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Tampa Bay’s Taj Bradley allowed Adam Frazier’s opposite-field flare single to left in the second and walked three over five innings. After a pair of two-out walks in the fifth, the right-hander fanned Maikel Garcia for his sixth strikeout on his season-high 95th pitch.

Royals: OF Kyle Isbel has a small nose fracture to go with facial lacerations after fouling a ball off his face Saturday, but he avoided going on the 10-day injured list. “He’s very fortunate because the ball grazed the bat, grazed the helmet and (then) hit him,” Quatraro said. “But nothing that needs any time other than just the swelling to go down and get him back out there.” ... INF Michael Massey (lower back sprain) went on the 10-day IL.

Rays: Opening-day starter Zach Eflin (lower back inflammation) has resumed playing catch.

Royals: RHP Alec Marsh (4-1, 2.72 ERA) and Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (3-3, 3.15 ERA) are Monday’s starters.

Rays: RHP Zack Littell (2-2, 3.42 ERA) is scheduled to start on Tuesday night against Oakland.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716760605243.jpeg" alt="&nbsp; &nbsp;Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley throws against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; &nbsp;Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley throws against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Lowe drove in three runs with a pinch-hit triple during Tampa Bay's four-run seventh inning, and the Rays stopped Kansas City's eight-game win streak with a 4-1 victory over the Royals on Sunday.The Rays had lost a season-high six straight.“To get a win that way, to show up in those high stress situations, it feels good and I feel like it really ignites everybody around it," Lowe said.Kansas City's Michael Wacha (4-5) lost his perfect-game bid in the sixth, and was pulled after Harold Ramírez singled and Isaac Paredes had a double to start the seventh. John Schreiber then hit Randy Arozarena and permitted a fielder’s choice grounder before Lowe delivered on the first pitch he saw.It was Lowe's second hit in 17 at-bats since returning from a strained right oblique.Garrett Cleavinger (4-0) got three outs for the win, and Pete Fairbanks handled the ninth for his fifth save in six chances.Batting with the bases loaded, Bobby Witt Jr. bounced to second for the final out of the game.“It was a good ballgame," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Really well pitched game. They came up with a big hit when they needed it, and we fought back and just came up a little bit short.”Wacha retired his first 15 batters on 54 pitches before José Caballero grounded a leadoff double down the third base line in the sixth. After a strikeout and grounder, Yandy Díaz drew a 10-pitch walk before Wacha struck out Jonny DeLuca to complete a 33-pitch inning.“Those are always tough decisions," Quatraro said about sending Wacha back out for the seventh. "Some of them work. Some of them don’t. That one stings because it didn’t.”Witt extended his hitting streak to nine games and put the Royals up 1-0 on a sixth-inning homer off Rays reliever Shawn Armstrong. He has homered four times in his last five games.Witt was thrown out by Arozarena when he tried to score from second in the eighth on Salvador Perez’s one-out single to left.“Look, we don’t get an out right there that rally just keeps going,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Tampa Bay’s Taj Bradley allowed Adam Frazier’s opposite-field flare single to left in the second and walked three over five innings. After a pair of two-out walks in the fifth, the right-hander fanned Maikel Garcia for his sixth strikeout on his season-high 95th pitch.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: OF Kyle Isbel has a small nose fracture to go with facial lacerations after fouling a ball off his face Saturday, but he avoided going on the 10-day injured list. “He’s very fortunate because the ball grazed the bat, grazed the helmet and (then) hit him,” Quatraro said. “But nothing that needs any time other than just the swelling to go down and get him back out there.” ... INF Michael Massey (lower back sprain) went on the 10-day IL.Rays: Opening-day starter Zach Eflin (lower back inflammation) has resumed playing catch.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Alec Marsh (4-1, 2.72 ERA) and Minnesota RHP Joe Ryan (3-3, 3.15 ERA) are Monday’s starters.Rays: RHP Zack Littell (2-2, 3.42 ERA) is scheduled to start on Tuesday night against Oakland.

Rays stop the Royals' 8-game win streak with a 4-1 victory

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Expectations for a team trophy after second and third-place finishes at the last two Kansas State High School Track and Field Championships may have been gone, but individual expectations were still high for the Great Bend High School athletes Friday and Saturday at Wichita State University's Cessna Stadium. The Panthers carried out those expectations, bringing home two individual championships and 13 state medals.

Freshman Cooper Ohnmacht, in just his first year of competition in the triple jump, completely dominated the event for his first state title. Ohnmacht entered the field as the No. 2 seed behind all-class leader Brandt Stupka, a junior from Andover Central. Ohnmacht's very first state effort went 47-3.5 to ultimately win the title by eight inches. Stupka had just one jump over 46 feet. Three of Ohnmacht's five jumps would have been enough for the 5A title. His state mark added nearly a foot to his school record. Ohnmacht ends the season as the best triple jumper in all of Kansas and is ranked No. 1 nationally among high school freshmen.

Ohnmacht again came out strong in the long jump Saturday morning. His first jump of 21-3.5 put in him in second place after a round of jumps. That proved to be his best mark of the competition as he fell to seventh place, just 1.25 inches out of fifth place. Aquinas junior Noah Allen won the gold by 1.5 inches at 22-8.

Great Bend's other state title came Saturday afternoon in the girls' javelin. Senior Macy Nachtigal spent virtually all season ranked No. 1 in the class, and her school-record throw of 141-4 ranked No. 5 all-class. After a throw of 104-7 to open the second flight, Nachtigal all but secured her state title with a second throw of 132-10. After a pair of fouls on her next two attempts and a throw past 130 feet, Nachtigal's sixth and final prep throw traveled 135-8. Hays sophomore Rylen Harrington won the silver at 132-3. Seaman senior Maggie Lesmeister placed third at 128-1.

Ranked No. 9 all-class in the 4x800m relay, the Lady Panthers were on the short list of title contenders in a loaded Class 5A Saturday morning. The team of seniors Eliana Beckham and Addy Nicholson, and sophomores Sienna Smith and Reese Bullard ran four seconds off a school record to place fifth in 9:43.08, just 0.05s behind fourth-place DeSoto. St. James Academy beat Andover by less than a second for the title in 9:32.10.

The 5A girls' 3200m race was much anticipated with two of the top-six runners of all-time in Kansas running head to head. Two Lady Panthers were part of the field Friday morning. Nicholson, a mainstay in the race, posted a personal best of 11:31.65 to secure fifth place by less than a second. Junior Marissa Boone settled for 16th in 12:11.37. Salina Central junior Katelyn Rupe stayed on the shoulder of Topeka Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller for the first six laps, pulling ahead late to win by 16 seconds in 10:18.09, the fastest state time ever in Kansas.

Great Bend's 800m runners also had to contend with Seaman's Miller. Coming off their school-record runs at the regional meet, Beckham and Bullard again ran neck and neck. Beckham finished seventh in 2:20.78, followed by Bullard in 2:20.91. Miller won the gold in 2:10.80 to miss the state meet record by more than two seconds.

Nicholson and Smith were part of the loaded 1600m field Saturday morning. Three runners ultimately come in under the 5A meet record, led by Seaman's Miller in 4:51.58. Nicholson's best time of the season would not have made the medal stand in the tough field. She ran 11 seconds off that mark to place 14th in 5:32.22. Smith finished 16th in 5:49.94, 19 seconds off a season-best.

Senior Sadie Spray had a timing problem as the girls' 300m hurdles preliminaries were set to begin just as the high jumpers were warming up. A state title in the 300s was unlikely as Eureka-turned-Maize South hurdler Ashley Singhateh broke a 25-year-old meet record in the finals, posting the fourth-fastest time ever in Kansas for the win in 43.13. 

Spray false started in the prelims and turned her full attention to the high jump. With 5A leader Katie Linenberger no-heighting at the Great Bend regional meet a week earlier, the field was wide open. Ark City junior Kinzie Purdue was perfect until a miss at 5-4. She got the bar on her next attempt to secure the title. Salina South junior Tamia Cheeks cleared 5-4 on her final attempt for the silver medal. Spray, with a season best of 5-4, was one of three jumpers perfect through 5-2. All three failed three times at 5-4 for a 3-way tie for the bronze. Lady Panther junior Cassie Ellegood missed first attempts at 4-10, 5-0, and 5-2, but her second try at 5-2 earned her the sixth-place medal.

Spray also earned a state medal in the 4x400m relay. She joined forces with Reese Bullard, Eliana Beckham, and Daizy Gomez to run sixth in Friday's prelims in 4:07.22. The squad dropped to 4:08.87 in Saturday's final races of the season but maintained their sixth-place position, just 0.15s behind fifth-place Andover. St. James Academy won the race by five seconds in 3:57.41.

Lady Panther sophomore Allie Gerhart made her state debut in the shot put with a 14th-place finish at 32-6.5. Her first throw of the day proved to be her best as she missed the finals by just more than four feet.

The Panther 4x800m relay team of Braylon Moore, Diego Pasos, Tavon Stroup, and Alex Galindo finished 10th in that race Saturday morning. Great Bend finished in 8:22.84 to miss the final medal by five seconds. Two teams finished under eight minutes, including state champion DeSoto, which won in 7:52.88 to miss a 41-year-old state meet record by just 0.28s.

Panther sophomore Ismael Ramirez missed the final medal in the boys' 3200m race Friday morning by 20 seconds, but did cut more than 30 seconds off his best time of the year to place 14th in 10:02.73. Shawnee Heights' Jackson Esquibel, ranked No. 5 all-class, won the race in 9:21.

St. James Academy scored 83 points for a second-straight 5A girls' title. Salina Central scored 50 points to edge Andover by three spots for the second-place trophy. Great Bend scored 32 points for 10th, two spots behind ninth-place Hays. The Kapaun boys piled up 87 points with help from sprinter Jack Guthridge and his two golds and a silver. Blue Valley Southwest beat DeSoto 69-67 to finish second.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716745066426.jpeg" alt="Panther freshman Cooper Ohnmacht took the state lead and national lead among high school freshmen in the triple jump with his Class 5A state championship mark of 47-3.5 Friday. Ohnmacht also finished seventh in the long jump." />
 <figcaption>Panther freshman Cooper Ohnmacht took the state lead and national lead among high school freshmen in the triple jump with his Class 5A state championship mark of 47-3.5 Friday. Ohnmacht also finished seventh in the long jump.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostExpectations for a team trophy after second and third-place finishes at the last two Kansas State High School Track and Field Championships may have been gone, but individual expectations were still high for the Great Bend High School athletes Friday and Saturday at Wichita State University's Cessna Stadium. The Panthers carried out those expectations, bringing home two individual championships and 13 state medals.Freshman Cooper Ohnmacht, in just his first year of competition in the triple jump, completely dominated the event for his first state title. Ohnmacht entered the field as the No. 2 seed behind all-class leader Brandt Stupka, a junior from Andover Central. Ohnmacht's very first state effort went 47-3.5 to ultimately win the title by eight inches. Stupka had just one jump over 46 feet. Three of Ohnmacht's five jumps would have been enough for the 5A title. His state mark added nearly a foot to his school record. Ohnmacht ends the season as the best triple jumper in all of Kansas and is ranked No. 1 nationally among high school freshmen.Ohnmacht again came out strong in the long jump Saturday morning. His first jump of 21-3.5 put in him in second place after a round of jumps. That proved to be his best mark of the competition as he fell to seventh place, just 1.25 inches out of fifth place. Aquinas junior Noah Allen won the gold by 1.5 inches at 22-8.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716745205535.jpeg" alt="Lady Panther senior Macy Nachtigal, the 5A leader in the javelin virtually all season, secured her 5A state championship on her second throw but later peaked at 135-8." />
 <figcaption>Lady Panther senior Macy Nachtigal, the 5A leader in the javelin virtually all season, secured her 5A state championship on her second throw but later peaked at 135-8.</figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend's other state title came Saturday afternoon in the girls' javelin. Senior Macy Nachtigal spent virtually all season ranked No. 1 in the class, and her school-record throw of 141-4 ranked No. 5 all-class. After a throw of 104-7 to open the second flight, Nachtigal all but secured her state title with a second throw of 132-10. After a pair of fouls on her next two attempts and a throw past 130 feet, Nachtigal's sixth and final prep throw traveled 135-8. Hays sophomore Rylen Harrington won the silver at 132-3. Seaman senior Maggie Lesmeister placed third at 128-1.Ranked No. 9 all-class in the 4x800m relay, the Lady Panthers were on the short list of title contenders in a loaded Class 5A Saturday morning. The team of seniors Eliana Beckham and Addy Nicholson, and sophomores Sienna Smith and Reese Bullard ran four seconds off a school record to place fifth in 9:43.08, just 0.05s behind fourth-place DeSoto. St. James Academy beat Andover by less than a second for the title in 9:32.10.The 5A girls' 3200m race was much anticipated with two of the top-six runners of all-time in Kansas running head to head. Two Lady Panthers were part of the field Friday morning. Nicholson, a mainstay in the race, posted a personal best of 11:31.65 to secure fifth place by less than a second. Junior Marissa Boone settled for 16th in 12:11.37. Salina Central junior Katelyn Rupe stayed on the shoulder of Topeka Seaman sophomore Ryin Miller for the first six laps, pulling ahead late to win by 16 seconds in 10:18.09, the fastest state time ever in Kansas.Great Bend's 800m runners also had to contend with Seaman's Miller. Coming off their school-record runs at the regional meet, Beckham and Bullard again ran neck and neck. Beckham finished seventh in 2:20.78, followed by Bullard in 2:20.91. Miller won the gold in 2:10.80 to miss the state meet record by more than two seconds.Nicholson and Smith were part of the loaded 1600m field Saturday morning. Three runners ultimately come in under the 5A meet record, led by Seaman's Miller in 4:51.58. Nicholson's best time of the season would not have made the medal stand in the tough field. She ran 11 seconds off that mark to place 14th in 5:32.22. Smith finished 16th in 5:49.94, 19 seconds off a season-best.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716745306124.jpeg" alt="Lady Panther senior Sadie Spray tied for third in the Class 5A high jump - her third bronze-medal effort in her prep career. Spray also medaled as part of the 4x400m relay team." />
 <figcaption>Lady Panther senior Sadie Spray tied for third in the Class 5A high jump - her third bronze-medal effort in her prep career. Spray also medaled as part of the 4x400m relay team.</figcaption>
 </figure>Senior Sadie Spray had a timing problem as the girls' 300m hurdles preliminaries were set to begin just as the high jumpers were warming up. A state title in the 300s was unlikely as Eureka-turned-Maize South hurdler Ashley Singhateh broke a 25-year-old meet record in the finals, posting the fourth-fastest time ever in Kansas for the win in 43.13. Spray false started in the prelims and turned her full attention to the high jump. With 5A leader Katie Linenberger no-heighting at the Great Bend regional meet a week earlier, the field was wide open. Ark City junior Kinzie Purdue was perfect until a miss at 5-4. She got the bar on her next attempt to secure the title. Salina South junior Tamia Cheeks cleared 5-4 on her final attempt for the silver medal. Spray, with a season best of 5-4, was one of three jumpers perfect through 5-2. All three failed three times at 5-4 for a 3-way tie for the bronze. Lady Panther junior Cassie Ellegood missed first attempts at 4-10, 5-0, and 5-2, but her second try at 5-2 earned her the sixth-place medal.Spray also earned a state medal in the 4x400m relay. She joined forces with Reese Bullard, Eliana Beckham, and Daizy Gomez to run sixth in Friday's prelims in 4:07.22. The squad dropped to 4:08.87 in Saturday's final races of the season but maintained their sixth-place position, just 0.15s behind fifth-place Andover. St. James Academy won the race by five seconds in 3:57.41.Lady Panther sophomore Allie Gerhart made her state debut in the shot put with a 14th-place finish at 32-6.5. Her first throw of the day proved to be her best as she missed the finals by just more than four feet.The Panther 4x800m relay team of Braylon Moore, Diego Pasos, Tavon Stroup, and Alex Galindo finished 10th in that race Saturday morning. Great Bend finished in 8:22.84 to miss the final medal by five seconds. Two teams finished under eight minutes, including state champion DeSoto, which won in 7:52.88 to miss a 41-year-old state meet record by just 0.28s.Panther sophomore Ismael Ramirez missed the final medal in the boys' 3200m race Friday morning by 20 seconds, but did cut more than 30 seconds off his best time of the year to place 14th in 10:02.73. Shawnee Heights' Jackson Esquibel, ranked No. 5 all-class, won the race in 9:21.St. James Academy scored 83 points for a second-straight 5A girls' title. Salina Central scored 50 points to edge Andover by three spots for the second-place trophy. Great Bend scored 32 points for 10th, two spots behind ninth-place Hays. The Kapaun boys piled up 87 points with help from sprinter Jack Guthridge and his two golds and a silver. Blue Valley Southwest beat DeSoto 69-67 to finish second.

Panther track team earns two Class 5A titles, 13 state medals

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has no regrets about expressing his beliefs in a recent commencement speech and he said he has received support as well as “a shocking level of hate” from others.

Butker spoke Friday night at the Regina Caeli Academy Courage Under Fire Gala in Nashville, Tennessee.

He made his first public comments since his controversial recent commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where he said most women receiving degrees were probably more excited about getting married and having kids; argued some Catholic leaders were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America;” referred to a “deadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it” in an oblique reference to Pride month; and took aim at President Joe Biden’s policies, including his condemnation of the Supreme Court’s reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

“It is now, over the past few days, my beliefs or what people think I believe have been the focus of countless discussions around the globe,” Butker said Friday. “At the outset, many people expressed a shocking level of hate. But as the days went on, even those who disagreed with my viewpoints shared their support for my freedom of religion.”

Butker said he understands being criticized for his performance on the field. The 28-year-old said he values his religion more than football.

“It’s a decision I’ve consciously made and one I do not regret at all,” he said.

The NFL has distanced itself from Butker's comments. The league said the comments and “views are not those of the NFL as an organization.”

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the three-time Super Bowl winner is entitled to his beliefs, even though he doesn’t always agree with him.

Speaking about Butker on his "New Heights” podcast, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said he cherishes Butker as a teammate.

“When it comes down to his views and what he said at (the) commencement speech, those are his,” Kelce said. “I can’t say I agree with the majority of it or just about any of it outside of just him loving his family and his kids. And I don’t think that I should judge him by his views, especially his religious views, of how to go about life, that's just not who I am.”

Kelce does the podcast with his brother Jason, who recently retired after an outstanding career with the Philadelphia Eagles.

By The Associated PressKansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has no regrets about expressing his beliefs in a recent commencement speech and he said he has received support as well as “a shocking level of hate” from others.Butker spoke Friday night at the Regina Caeli Academy Courage Under Fire Gala in Nashville, Tennessee.He made his first public comments since his controversial recent commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where he said most women receiving degrees were probably more excited about getting married and having kids; argued some Catholic leaders were “pushing dangerous gender ideologies onto the youth of America;” referred to a “deadly sin sort of pride that has a month dedicated to it” in an oblique reference to Pride month; and took aim at President Joe Biden’s policies, including his condemnation of the Supreme Court’s reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.“It is now, over the past few days, my beliefs or what people think I believe have been the focus of countless discussions around the globe,” Butker said Friday. “At the outset, many people expressed a shocking level of hate. But as the days went on, even those who disagreed with my viewpoints shared their support for my freedom of religion.”Butker said he understands being criticized for his performance on the field. The 28-year-old said he values his religion more than football.“It’s a decision I’ve consciously made and one I do not regret at all,” he said.The NFL has distanced itself from Butker's comments. The league said the comments and “views are not those of the NFL as an organization.”Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the three-time Super Bowl winner is entitled to his beliefs, even though he doesn’t always agree with him.Speaking about Butker on his "New Heights” podcast, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said he cherishes Butker as a teammate.“When it comes down to his views and what he said at (the) commencement speech, those are his,” Kelce said. “I can’t say I agree with the majority of it or just about any of it outside of just him loving his family and his kids. And I don’t think that I should judge him by his views, especially his religious views, of how to go about life, that's just not who I am.”Kelce does the podcast with his brother Jason, who recently retired after an outstanding career with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chiefs' Butker has no regrets about expressing his beliefs

Tuesday,
May 21 Game 1: Kansas 2, Kansas State 1 Game 2: TCU 5, West Virginia 2 Game 3: UCF 6, Cincinnati 5 Game 4: Texas Tech 6, Texas 4

Wednesday,
May 22 Game 5: Kansas State 8, No. 4 West Virginia 4 Game 6: No. 1 Oklahoma 4, No. 9 TCU 0 Game 7: No. 5 Cincinnati 8, No. 3 Texas 7 Game 8: No. 2 Oklahoma State 7, No. 10 Texas Tech 2

Thursday,
May 23 Game 9: No. 9 TCU 9, No. 6 Kansas State 4 Game 10: No. 1 Oklahoma 7, No. 7 Kansas 5 Game 11: No. 5 Cincinnati 10, No. 10 Texas Tech 5 
 Game 12: No. 8 UCF 7, No. 2 Oklahoma State 6

Friday,
May 24 Game 13: No. 7 Kansas 11, No. 9 TCU 10 
 Game 14: No. 1 Oklahoma 8, No. 7 Kansas 6 Game 15: No. 2 Oklahoma State 4, No. 10 Texas Tech 0 
 Game 16: No. 2 Oklahoma State 10, No. 8 UCF 1 Saturday,
May 25 Championship: Oklahoma State 9, Oklahoma 3

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716230872098.jpeg" alt="2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship -Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, May 21-25. All Times CST" />
 <figcaption>2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship -Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, May 21-25. All Times CST</figcaption>
 </figure>Tuesday,
May 21 Game 1: Kansas 2, Kansas State 1 Game 2: TCU 5, West Virginia 2 Game 3: UCF 6, Cincinnati 5 Game 4: Texas Tech 6, Texas 4 Wednesday,
May 22 Game 5: Kansas State 8, No. 4 West Virginia 4 Game 6: No. 1 Oklahoma 4, No. 9 TCU 0 Game 7: No. 5 Cincinnati 8, No. 3 Texas 7 Game 8: No. 2 Oklahoma State 7, No. 10 Texas Tech 2 Thursday,
May 23 Game 9: No. 9 TCU 9, No. 6 Kansas State 4 Game 10: No. 1 Oklahoma 7, No. 7 Kansas 5 Game 11: No. 5 Cincinnati 10, No. 10 Texas Tech 5 
 Game 12: No. 8 UCF 7, No. 2 Oklahoma State 6 
Friday,
May 24 Game 13: No. 7 Kansas 11, No. 9 TCU 10 
 Game 14: No. 1 Oklahoma 8, No. 7 Kansas 6 Game 15: No. 2 Oklahoma State 4, No. 10 Texas Tech 0 
 Game 16: No. 2 Oklahoma State 10, No. 8 UCF 1 Saturday,
May 25 Championship: Oklahoma State 9, Oklahoma 3

2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Tourney Scores and Schedule

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Nelson Velázquez homered and had an RBI double in a three-run 11th inning as the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on Saturday for their eighth straight victory.

After both teams scored once in the 10th, Velázquez opened the 11th with his hit and scored on Adam Frazier's run-scoring single off Richard Lovelady (0-3). Maikel Garcia also drove in a run with a hit.

James McArthur (2-2) allowed one run in two innings, and Nick Anderson worked a scoreless 11th to get his first save.

Kansas City's Kyle Isbel left in the seventh after a pitch by reliever Garrett Cleavinger hit him in the face while swinging. Isabel remained on his feet and walked off with a trainer holding a towel on his face. The team announced that Isbel has facial lacerations and will undergo additional tests.

Dairon Blanco pinch-hit for Isbel and put the Royals ahead 3-2 on a sacrifice fly.

Velázquez had a second-inning homer and Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight games with an RBI single off Aaron Civale in the third.

Kansas City reliever Chris Stratton got the first out in the seventh with a nifty reach behind-the-back grab on Amed Rosario's comeback. The right-hander then hit a batter and issued a walk, and was replaced by Angel Zerpa, who allowed pinch-hitter Harold Ramírez's game-tying RBI single.

Kansas City’s Hunter Renfroe hit a towering fly with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth that Ramírez lost sight of in left field, but center fielder Jose Siri was backing up the play and made the catch.

Jonathan Aranda hit a solo homer in fourth off Royals starter Brady Singer.

Both Civale and Singer gave up two runs and four hits over five innings.

Royals: INF Michael Massey, who left Friday’s game with lower back tightness, didn’t play. Massey has had occasional back issues since spring training.

Rays: OF Josh Lowe went on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. Lowe has played in just 14 games after starting the season on the IL with an injury in the same area.

Royals RHP Michael Wacha (4-4. 4.35 ERA) and Rays RHP Taj Bradley (1-2, 4.00 ERA) are Sunday’s starters.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Nelson Velázquez homered and had an RBI double in a three-run 11th inning as the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on Saturday for their eighth straight victory.After both teams scored once in the 10th, Velázquez opened the 11th with his hit and scored on Adam Frazier's run-scoring single off Richard Lovelady (0-3). Maikel Garcia also drove in a run with a hit.James McArthur (2-2) allowed one run in two innings, and Nick Anderson worked a scoreless 11th to get his first save.The Rays have lost six in a row.Kansas City's Kyle Isbel left in the seventh after a pitch by reliever Garrett Cleavinger hit him in the face while swinging. Isabel remained on his feet and walked off with a trainer holding a towel on his face. The team announced that Isbel has facial lacerations and will undergo additional tests.Dairon Blanco pinch-hit for Isbel and put the Royals ahead 3-2 on a sacrifice fly.Velázquez had a second-inning homer and Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight games with an RBI single off Aaron Civale in the third.Kansas City reliever Chris Stratton got the first out in the seventh with a nifty reach behind-the-back grab on Amed Rosario's comeback. The right-hander then hit a batter and issued a walk, and was replaced by Angel Zerpa, who allowed pinch-hitter Harold Ramírez's game-tying RBI single.Kansas City’s Hunter Renfroe hit a towering fly with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth that Ramírez lost sight of in left field, but center fielder Jose Siri was backing up the play and made the catch.Jonathan Aranda hit a solo homer in fourth off Royals starter Brady Singer.Both Civale and Singer gave up two runs and four hits over five innings.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: INF Michael Massey, who left Friday’s game with lower back tightness, didn’t play. Massey has had occasional back issues since spring training.Rays: OF Josh Lowe went on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. Lowe has played in just 14 games after starting the season on the IL with an injury in the same area.UP NEXTRoyals RHP Michael Wacha (4-4. 4.35 ERA) and Rays RHP Taj Bradley (1-2, 4.00 ERA) are Sunday’s starters.

Royals beat Rays 7-4 for eighth consecutive win

CLASS 5A GREAT BEND BOYS 4x800 Relay Finals 10. 8:22.84 (Braylon Moore, Diego Pasos, Tavon Stroup, Ismael Ramirez) Long Jump Finals 7. Cooper Ohnmacht 21-3.50 GREAT BEND GIRLS 4x800 Relay Finals 5. 9:43.08 (Eliana Beckham, Bella Long, Kate Welcher, Reese Bullard) 1600 Meter Run Finals 14. Addy Nicholson 5:32.22 16. Sienna Smith 5:49.94 800 Meter Finals 7. Eliana Beckham 2:20.78 8. Reese Bullard 2:20.91 4X400 Relay Finals 6. 4:08.87 (Reese Bullard, Eliana Beckham, Daizy Gomez, Sadie Spray) Shot Put Finals 14. Allie Gerhart 32-6.50 Javelin Finals 1. Macy Nachtigal 135-8 (State Champion) CLASS 3A ELLSWORTH BOYS 100 Meter Prelims 8. ** Riley Stone 11.35 100 Meter Finals 8. Riley Stone 11.26 ELLSWORTH GIRLS 100 Meter Prelims 6. ** Lainey Peshcka 13.12 100 Meter Finals 6. Lainey Peshcka 12.95 HOISINGTON BOYS 110 High Hurdles Finals 3. Josiah Ball 15.38 300 Hurdle Finals 4. Josiah Ball 40.41 4x100 Relay Finals 7.&nbsp; 43.99 (Courtney Bryant, Brier Thompson, Mason Alderdice, Josiah Ball) Shot Put Finals 6. Caiden Hoffman 52-3.50 HOISINGTON GIRLS 100 Meter Prelims 3. ** Marley Bittel 12.93 100 Meter Finals 2. Marley Bittel 12.38 4x100 Relay Finals 2. 49.86 (Shellamae Farmer, Kelsi Maier, Mallory Mooney, Marley Bittel) 200 Meter Finals 6. Marley Bittel 26.69 Pole Vault Finals 3. Shellamae Farmer 11-0 LARNED GIRLS 100 Hurdles Finals 4. Cara Herbert 15.87 4x100 Relay Finals 5. 50.26 (Alexa Beltz, Akielah Collins, Taeten Reynolds, Kaylee Hagerman) LYONS BOYS Long Jump Finals 9. Xavier Solis 41-11 RUSSELL GIRLS 4x800 Relay Finals 4. 10:02.23 (Anna Thielen, Kelvie Reeves, Jaden Ney, Kinsey Zorn) 400 Meter Finals 5. Kinsey Zorn 59.92 800 Meter Finals 3. Kinsey Zorn 2:23.92 CLASS 2A ELLINWOOD BOYS 400 Meter Finals 8. Logan Panning 52.09 STERLING BOYS 110 High Hurdles Finals 8. Zane Farney 16.75 1600 Meter Run Finals 9. Tim Parrish 4:31.95 STERLING GIRLS 1600 Meter Run Finals 3. Faith Ekart 5:16.93 400 Meter Finals 1. Julia Kilgore 57.88 State Champion 200 Meter Finals 2. Julia Kilgore 25.70 800 Meter Finals 4. Faith Ekart 2:20.26 4x400 Relay Finals 5. 4:16.35 (Faith Ekart, Katie Inwood, Cora Svaty, Julia Kilgore) CLASS 1A CENTRAL PLAINS BOYS Triple Jump Finals 11. Eli Hurley 40-3.75&nbsp;&nbsp; HODGEMAN COUNTY BOYS 3. Brody Schroeder 6-2 HODGEMAN COUNTY GIRLS Javelin Finals 3. Kalyn Washburn 128-11 KINSLEY GIRLS 1600 Meter Run Finals 4. MacKenzie Herrmann 5:23.31 Long Jump Finals Ava Kirkwood 15-3 800 Finals 3. MacKenzie Herrmann 2:22.51 LACROSSE BOYS 4x800 Relay Finals 5. 8:30.28 (Gage Burk, Triston nelson, Christian Rush, Lee Holopirek) 1600 Meter Run Finals 14. Triston Nelson 4:53.93 4x400 Relay Finals 4. 3:35.67 (Tyron Steinert, Gage Burk, Lee Holopirek, Triston Nelson) High Jump Finals 11. Trenton Skillett 5-10 Shot Put Finals 9. Conner Barriger 45-9.24 LACROSSE GIRLS Discus Finals 10. Hannah Dellett 104-5 MACKSVILLE GIRLS Javelin Finals 2. Mayce Russell 129-3 NESS CITY BOYS 4x800 Relay Finals 3. 8:28.32 (Braddix Bozarth, Ethan Flax, Ben Durham, Broxton Gall) 1600 Meter Run Finals 4. Broxton Gall 4:35.18 800 Meter Run Finals 14. Broxton Gall 2:09.26 NESS CITY GIRLS 100 Meter Prelims 2. ** Taegin Liggett 12.87 8. ** Monica Jordan 13.05 13. Sienna Brenner 13.22 100 Meter Finals 2. Taegin Liggett 12.59 7. Monica Jordan 12.99 4x100 Relay Finals 1. 50.44 State Champions (Monica Jordan, issy Fuchs, Sienna Brenner, Taegin Liggett) 4x800 Relay Finals 11. 10:40.46 (Sephany Esparza, Brecklyn Bishop, Hannah Younger, Emma Petersilie) 300 Hurdles Finals 2. Taegin Liggett 47.00 4x400 Relay Finals 5. 4:13.90 (Monica Jordan, Issy Fuchs, Sienna Brenner, Taegin Liggett) Long Jump Finals 7. Monica Jordan 16-6 9. Angela Lopez-Barrera 15-10.50 OTIS-BISON BOYS 200 Meter Finals 7. Ian Haselhorst 23.34 Triple Jump Finals 13. Gavin Alloway 38-8.25 High Jump Finals 2. Ian Haselhorst 6-2 Shot Put Finals 11. Ismael Cortez 44-7 OTIS-BISON GIRLS 4x800 Relay Finals 3. 10:21.41 (Ava Kenyon, Emma McMillan, Abigail Rodriguez, Destiny Mitchell) PAWNEE HEIGHTS BOYS Triple Jump Finals 2. Brady Carlson 42-11.75 PAWNEE HEIGHTS GIRLS Discus Finals 7. Olivia Hand 113-6 ST. JOHN BOYS 4x800 Relay Finals 6. 8:35.92 (Ian Dunn, Jace Reyes, Braxton Alpers, Quade Smith) 800 Meter Run Finals 3. Quade Smith 2:03.92 ST. JOHN GIRLS 800 Meter Finals 10. Lydia Reed 2:29.33

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716655068660.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Saturday Area State Track and Field Results ** Qualified for Finals" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Saturday Area State Track and Field Results ** Qualified for Finals</figcaption>
 </figure>CLASS 5A GREAT BEND BOYS 4x800 Relay Finals 10. 8:22.84 (Braylon Moore, Diego Pasos, Tavon Stroup, Ismael Ramirez) Long Jump Finals 7. Cooper Ohnmacht 21-3.50 GREAT BEND GIRLS 4x800 Relay Finals 5. 9:43.08 (Eliana Beckham, Bella Long, Kate Welcher, Reese Bullard) 1600 Meter Run Finals 14. Addy Nicholson 5:32.22 16. Sienna Smith 5:49.94 800 Meter Finals 7. Eliana Beckham 2:20.78 8. Reese Bullard 2:20.91 4X400 Relay Finals 6. 4:08.87 (Reese Bullard, Eliana Beckham, Daizy Gomez, Sadie Spray) Shot Put Finals 14. Allie Gerhart 32-6.50 Javelin Finals 1. Macy Nachtigal 135-8 (State Champion) CLASS 3A ELLSWORTH BOYS 100 Meter Prelims 8. ** Riley Stone 11.35 100 Meter Finals 8. Riley Stone 11.26 ELLSWORTH GIRLS 100 Meter Prelims 6. ** Lainey Peshcka 13.12 100 Meter Finals 6. Lainey Peshcka 12.95 HOISINGTON BOYS 110 High Hurdles Finals 3. Josiah Ball 15.38 300 Hurdle Finals 4. Josiah Ball 40.41 4x100 Relay Finals 7.&nbsp; 43.99 (Courtney Bryant, Brier Thompson, Mason Alderdice, Josiah Ball) Shot Put Finals 6. Caiden Hoffman 52-3.50 HOISINGTON GIRLS 100 Meter Prelims 3. ** Marley Bittel 12.93 100 Meter Finals 2. Marley Bittel 12.38 4x100 Relay Finals 2. 49.86 (Shellamae Farmer, Kelsi Maier, Mallory Mooney, Marley Bittel) 200 Meter Finals 6. Marley Bittel 26.69 Pole Vault Finals 3. Shellamae Farmer 11-0 LARNED GIRLS 100 Hurdles Finals 4. Cara Herbert 15.87 4x100 Relay Finals 5. 50.26 (Alexa Beltz, Akielah Collins, Taeten Reynolds, Kaylee Hagerman) LYONS BOYS Long Jump Finals 9. Xavier Solis 41-11 RUSSELL GIRLS 4x800 Relay Finals 4. 10:02.23 (Anna Thielen, Kelvie Reeves, Jaden Ney, Kinsey Zorn) 400 Meter Finals 5. Kinsey Zorn 59.92 800 Meter Finals 3. Kinsey Zorn 2:23.92 CLASS 2A ELLINWOOD BOYS 400 Meter Finals 8. Logan Panning 52.09 STERLING BOYS 110 High Hurdles Finals 8. Zane Farney 16.75 1600 Meter Run Finals 9. Tim Parrish 4:31.95 STERLING GIRLS 1600 Meter Run Finals 3. Faith Ekart 5:16.93 400 Meter Finals 1. Julia Kilgore 57.88 State Champion 200 Meter Finals 2. Julia Kilgore 25.70 800 Meter Finals 4. Faith Ekart 2:20.26 4x400 Relay Finals 5. 4:16.35 (Faith Ekart, Katie Inwood, Cora Svaty, Julia Kilgore) CLASS 1A CENTRAL PLAINS BOYS Triple Jump Finals 11. Eli Hurley 40-3.75&nbsp;&nbsp; HODGEMAN COUNTY BOYS 3. Brody Schroeder 6-2 HODGEMAN COUNTY GIRLS Javelin Finals 3. Kalyn Washburn 128-11 KINSLEY GIRLS 1600 Meter Run Finals 4. MacKenzie Herrmann 5:23.31 Long Jump Finals Ava Kirkwood 15-3 800 Finals 3. MacKenzie Herrmann 2:22.51 LACROSSE BOYS 4x800 Relay Finals 5. 8:30.28 (Gage Burk, Triston nelson, Christian Rush, Lee Holopirek) 1600 Meter Run Finals 14. Triston Nelson 4:53.93 4x400 Relay Finals 4. 3:35.67 (Tyron Steinert, Gage Burk, Lee Holopirek, Triston Nelson) High Jump Finals 11. Trenton Skillett 5-10 Shot Put Finals 9. Conner Barriger 45-9.24 LACROSSE GIRLS Discus Finals 10. Hannah Dellett 104-5 MACKSVILLE GIRLS Javelin Finals 2. Mayce Russell 129-3 NESS CITY BOYS 4x800 Relay Finals 3. 8:28.32 (Braddix Bozarth, Ethan Flax, Ben Durham, Broxton Gall) 1600 Meter Run Finals 4. Broxton Gall 4:35.18 800 Meter Run Finals 14. Broxton Gall 2:09.26 NESS CITY GIRLS 100 Meter Prelims 2. ** Taegin Liggett 12.87 8. ** Monica Jordan 13.05 13. Sienna Brenner 13.22 100 Meter Finals 2. Taegin Liggett 12.59 7. Monica Jordan 12.99 4x100 Relay Finals 1. 50.44 State Champions (Monica Jordan, issy Fuchs, Sienna Brenner, Taegin Liggett) 4x800 Relay Finals 11. 10:40.46 (Sephany Esparza, Brecklyn Bishop, Hannah Younger, Emma Petersilie) 300 Hurdles Finals 2. Taegin Liggett 47.00 4x400 Relay Finals 5. 4:13.90 (Monica Jordan, Issy Fuchs, Sienna Brenner, Taegin Liggett) Long Jump Finals 7. Monica Jordan 16-6 9. Angela Lopez-Barrera 15-10.50 OTIS-BISON BOYS 200 Meter Finals 7. Ian Haselhorst 23.34 Triple Jump Finals 13. Gavin Alloway 38-8.25 High Jump Finals 2. Ian Haselhorst 6-2 Shot Put Finals 11. Ismael Cortez 44-7 OTIS-BISON GIRLS 4x800 Relay Finals 3. 10:21.41 (Ava Kenyon, Emma McMillan, Abigail Rodriguez, Destiny Mitchell) PAWNEE HEIGHTS BOYS Triple Jump Finals 2. Brady Carlson 42-11.75 PAWNEE HEIGHTS GIRLS Discus Finals 7. Olivia Hand 113-6 ST. JOHN BOYS 4x800 Relay Finals 6. 8:35.92 (Ian Dunn, Jace Reyes, Braxton Alpers, Quade Smith) 800 Meter Run Finals 3. Quade Smith 2:03.92 ST. JOHN GIRLS 800 Meter Finals 10. Lydia Reed 2:29.33

Area State Track and Field Results - Saturday (Complete)

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Jackson Nicklaus hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning and top-seeded Oklahoma scored the final eight runs in an 8-6 victory over seventh-seeded Kansas on Friday to advance to the Big 12 Tournament title game.

Oklahoma (37-18) will play in the championship game on Saturday.

Nicklaus homered to right field on a 2-2 pitch from Cooper Moore after Anthony Mackenzie led off the inning with a single.

Kansas (31-23) jumped in front with four runs in the top of the first. John Nett walked to lead off and Ben Hartl and Kodey Shojinaga followed with singles to load the bases. Jake English doubled in a pair, Lenny Ashby had a sacrifice fly and Collier Cranford added an RBI single.

English drove in a run with a ground out and Ashby had an RBI single to give the Jayhawks a 6-0 lead after two innings.

Oklahoma didn't get anything going against Kansas starter J'Briell Easley until the bottom of the fifth. Easley piled up 11 strikeouts through 4 2/3 shutout innings before Jaxon Willits hit a two-run home run to get the Sooners on the scoreboard.

Easley gave way to Kolby Dougan after Easton Carmichael singled following Willits' blast. Dougan issued back-to-back walks to load the bases and Nicklaus singled to center field to drive in two. Kendall Pettis had an RBI single to make it 6-5, but Nicklaus was thrown out at third on the play to end the inning.

Ryan Lambert (4-0) notched the win for Oklahoma, striking out the only two batters he faced with two runners on base and one out in the top of the ninth.

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Jackson Nicklaus hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning and top-seeded Oklahoma scored the final eight runs in an 8-6 victory over seventh-seeded Kansas on Friday to advance to the Big 12 Tournament title game.Oklahoma (37-18) will play in the championship game on Saturday.Nicklaus homered to right field on a 2-2 pitch from Cooper Moore after Anthony Mackenzie led off the inning with a single.Kansas (31-23) jumped in front with four runs in the top of the first. John Nett walked to lead off and Ben Hartl and Kodey Shojinaga followed with singles to load the bases. Jake English doubled in a pair, Lenny Ashby had a sacrifice fly and Collier Cranford added an RBI single.English drove in a run with a ground out and Ashby had an RBI single to give the Jayhawks a 6-0 lead after two innings.Oklahoma didn't get anything going against Kansas starter J'Briell Easley until the bottom of the fifth. Easley piled up 11 strikeouts through 4 2/3 shutout innings before Jaxon Willits hit a two-run home run to get the Sooners on the scoreboard.Easley gave way to Kolby Dougan after Easton Carmichael singled following Willits' blast. Dougan issued back-to-back walks to load the bases and Nicklaus singled to center field to drive in two. Kendall Pettis had an RBI single to make it 6-5, but Nicklaus was thrown out at third on the play to end the inning.Ryan Lambert (4-0) notched the win for Oklahoma, striking out the only two batters he faced with two runners on base and one out in the top of the ninth.

Ninth-inning homer lifts Oklahoma over Kansas 8-6 for spot in title game

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Seth Lugo became the American League's first eight-game winner, Michael Massey and Bobby Witt Jr, homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-1 on Friday night for their seventh consecutive victory.

Lugo (8-1) allowed one run and four hits, lowering his AL-best ERA from 1.79 to to 1.74. Only Philadelphia's Ranger Suárez has more victories in the majors with nine.

“He’s been amazing,” Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said.

Lugo struck out three and walked two, and became the first Royals starter to win each of his first five road starts to open the season.

“I felt like I had to battle tonight,” Lugo said. “Didn’t feel like I had my best stuff, but stayed in the zone and got some contact.”

The Royals are a season-best 14-game over .500 at 33-19. Kansas City was 15-37 after 52 games last season and did not get to 33 wins until Aug. 1.

“The confidence we have is great,” Witt said. “We’re just putting together some great, great team things. It’s a lot of fun.”

Massey put Kansas City ahead 5-1 in the fifth with a three-run homer off Tyler Alexander (2-3). Massey, who has 21 RBIs in his last 21 games, left in the sixth due to lower back tightness.

“I've had experience with it,” Massey said. “Got out of there early, got treatment done, and we'll see.”

Witt extended his hitting streak to seven games with a solo homer against Alexander in a two-run seventh that made it 8-1. Both dugouts were warned by the umpires after Alexander hit the next batter after Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino, with a 90.3 mph fastball.

Kansas City tied a franchise record set by the 1978 team of scoring eight or more runs in five straight games,

“I think the word that comes to mind they've just been relentless,” Quatraro said.

Tampa Bay has lost a season-high five in a row to fall to 25-27.

The Rays loaded the bases with one out in the first against Lugo, but scored just once on Jonathan Aranda’s fielder’s choice grounder.

Tampa Bay finished with four hits and is hitting .237 as a team.

“I'm concerned,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “But I've been concerned for quite sometime. We're not getting it done.”

After opener Shawn Armstrong went two perfect innings. Alexander gave up eight runs and 11 hits in five innings. Alexander took a perfect game into the eighth in his previous outing, a start May 17 at Toronto.

Royals: Reliever Carlos Hernández (right shoulder impingement) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and pitched the ninth. The righty had been out since opening day. To clear a roster spot, RHP Tyler Duffey was designated for assignment.

Rays: OF Josh Lowe (right side strain) received a cortisone shot in an attempt to avoid going on the injured list. … RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery) was optioned to Triple-A Durham after making four minor league rehab starts.

Royals RHP Brady Singer (4-2, 2.70 ERA) and Rays RHP Aaron Civale (2-4, 5.92 ERA) are set to start Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716605960805.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 24, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 24, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Seth Lugo became the American League's first eight-game winner, Michael Massey and Bobby Witt Jr, homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-1 on Friday night for their seventh consecutive victory.Lugo (8-1) allowed one run and four hits, lowering his AL-best ERA from 1.79 to to 1.74. Only Philadelphia's Ranger Suárez has more victories in the majors with nine.“He’s been amazing,” Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said.Lugo struck out three and walked two, and became the first Royals starter to win each of his first five road starts to open the season.“I felt like I had to battle tonight,” Lugo said. “Didn’t feel like I had my best stuff, but stayed in the zone and got some contact.”The Royals are a season-best 14-game over .500 at 33-19. Kansas City was 15-37 after 52 games last season and did not get to 33 wins until Aug. 1.“The confidence we have is great,” Witt said. “We’re just putting together some great, great team things. It’s a lot of fun.”Massey put Kansas City ahead 5-1 in the fifth with a three-run homer off Tyler Alexander (2-3). Massey, who has 21 RBIs in his last 21 games, left in the sixth due to lower back tightness.“I've had experience with it,” Massey said. “Got out of there early, got treatment done, and we'll see.”Witt extended his hitting streak to seven games with a solo homer against Alexander in a two-run seventh that made it 8-1. Both dugouts were warned by the umpires after Alexander hit the next batter after Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino, with a 90.3 mph fastball.Kansas City tied a franchise record set by the 1978 team of scoring eight or more runs in five straight games,“I think the word that comes to mind they've just been relentless,” Quatraro said.Tampa Bay has lost a season-high five in a row to fall to 25-27.The Rays loaded the bases with one out in the first against Lugo, but scored just once on Jonathan Aranda’s fielder’s choice grounder.Tampa Bay finished with four hits and is hitting .237 as a team.“I'm concerned,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “But I've been concerned for quite sometime. We're not getting it done.”After opener Shawn Armstrong went two perfect innings. Alexander gave up eight runs and 11 hits in five innings. Alexander took a perfect game into the eighth in his previous outing, a start May 17 at Toronto.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: Reliever Carlos Hernández (right shoulder impingement) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and pitched the ninth. The righty had been out since opening day. To clear a roster spot, RHP Tyler Duffey was designated for assignment.Rays: OF Josh Lowe (right side strain) received a cortisone shot in an attempt to avoid going on the injured list. … RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery) was optioned to Triple-A Durham after making four minor league rehab starts.UP NEXTRoyals RHP Brady Singer (4-2, 2.70 ERA) and Rays RHP Aaron Civale (2-4, 5.92 ERA) are set to start Saturday.

Royals beat Rays 8-1 to improve to 33-19

Great Bend Boys 5A Boys 3200 Finals 14. Ishael Rameirez 10:02.73 5A Boys Triple Jump Finals 1. Cooper Ohnmacht 47-3.50 (State Champion)

Great Bend Girls 5A Girls 3200 Finals 6. Addy Nicholson 11:31.65 11. Marissa Boone 12:11.37 5A Girls 300 Hurdles (Prelims) DQ - Sadie Spray (False start) 5A Girls 4x400 Relay 6. ** 4:07.22 (4th in heat-qualified for Saturday finals. (Reese Bullard, Eliana Beckham, Daizy Gomez, Sadie Spray) 5A Girls High Jump Finals T3.Sadie Spray 5-2 6. Cassie Ellegood 5-2

CLASS 3A Ellsworth Girls 3200 Meter Run Finals 8. Molly Ehrlich 12:19.95 Hoisington Boys 110 Meter High Hurdles (Prelims) 3. ** Josiah Ball 14.99&nbsp; 300 Hurdles (Prelims) 5. ** Josiah Ball 40.07 4x100 Relay (Prelims) 8. ** 44.19 (Courtney Bryant, Brier Thompson, Mason Alderdice, Josiah Ball) Discus Finals 15. Layton Hoffman 118-9 Pole Vault Finals 1. Josiah Ball 15-0 (State Champion) 6. Taylen Morales 13-0 Hoisington Girls 4x100 Relay (Prelims) 2. ** 49.94 (Shellamae Farmer, Kelsi Maier, Mallory Mooney, Marley Bittel) 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 4. ** Marley Bittel 25.69 High Jump Finals T8. Sofia Simic 4-10 Larned Girls 100 Meter Hurdles (Prelims) 4.** Cara Herbert 15.60 4x100 Relay 7. ** 50.72 (Alexa Beltz, Akielah Collins, Taeten Reynolds, Kaylee Hagerman) 300 Hurdles (Prelims) 9. Cara Herbert 48.53 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 13. Kaylee Hagerman 26.65 Shot Put Finals 10. Cadee Upson 36-1 Long Jump Finals 5. Kaylee Hagerman 16-11 Russell Girls 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 6. ** Kinsey Zork 60.85 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 10. 4:14.05 (Kinsey Zorn, Anna Thielen, Kelvie Reeves, Jaden Ney) Discus Finals 7. Macy Patterson 117-1 CLASS 2A Ellinwood Boys 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 5. ** Logan Panning 51.46 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 15. Dawson Sunderland 23.58

Sterling Boys 110 Meter High Hurdles (Prelims) 7. ** Zane Farney 15.97 300 Hurdles (Prelims) 5. ** Zane Farney 41.52 3200 Meter Run Finals 6. Tim Parish 9:57.04 Sterling Girls 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 1. ** Julia Kilgore 57.26 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 3. ** Julia Kilgore 25.7 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 4. ** 4:14.18 (Faith Ekert, Katie Inwood, Cora Svaty, Julia Kilgore) 3200 Meter Run Finals 3. Faith Ekart 11:54.28 CLASS 1A Hodgeman County Boys 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 12. 3:39.31 (Owen Reese, Ian Reece, Lasse Griessmann, Brody Schroeder) Hodgeman County Girls Shot Put Finals 2. Blake Dansel 39-1.25 Triple Jump Finals 8. Blaire Bradford 34-9 LaCrosse Boys 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 11. Tyron Steinert 53.74 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 4. 3:37.42 ** (Tyron Steinert, Gage Burk, Lee Holopirek, Triston Nelson) Discus Finals 4. Conner Barriger 155-1 LaCrosse Girls 4x100 Relay (Prelims) 14. 53.07 (Avery Parrott, Brennon Steinert, Hannah Patterson, Madison Morgan) 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 15. Lillian McGaughey 67.2 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 9. Avery Parrott, Clara Thielenhaus, Lillian McGaughey, Madison Morgan) Shot Put Finals 4. Hannah Dellett 36-9.50 Macksville Boys 110 Meter High Hurdles (Prelims) 16. Aiden Katz 18.03 Ness City Girls 100 Meter Hurdles (Prelims) 10. Issy Fuchs 15.84 4x100 Relay (Prelims) 1. ** 49.62 (Monica Jordan, Issy Fuchs, Sienna Brenner, Taegin Liggett) 300 Hurdles (Prelims) 2. ** Taegin Liggett 47.45 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 2. 4:11.52 (Monica Jordan, Issy Fuchs, Sienna Brenner, Taegin Liggett) Otis-Bison Boys 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 10. Ian Haselhorst 53.21 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 4. ** Ian Haselhorst 22.92 Long Jump Finals 8. Gavin Alloway 20-5.50 Otis-Bison Girls High Jump Finals 8. Destiny Mitchell 5-0 3200 Meter Run Finals 14. Destiny Mitchell 13:23.62 Pawnee Heights Boys Long Jump Finals 6. Brady Carlson 20-8.50 Stafford Boys 3200 Meter Run Finals 9. Joel Valdez 10:15.22 St. John Boys 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 10. 3:38.90 (Jericho Mawhirter, jace Reyes, Braxton Alpers, Quade Smith) St. John Girls Triple Jump Finals 12. Reagan Bonner 32-11.50 Victoria Boys 300 Hurdles 13. Jeb Miller 44.18 Victoria Girls Triple Jump Finals Emma Dinkel 39-4.50

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716574156867.jpeg" alt="Friday Area State Track and Field Results ** Qualified for finals" />
 <figcaption>Friday Area State Track and Field Results ** Qualified for finals</figcaption>
 </figure>CLASS 5AGreat Bend Boys 5A Boys 3200 Finals 14. Ishael Rameirez 10:02.73 5A Boys Triple Jump Finals 1. Cooper Ohnmacht 47-3.50 (State Champion)Great Bend Girls 5A Girls 3200 Finals 6. Addy Nicholson 11:31.65 11. Marissa Boone 12:11.37 5A Girls 300 Hurdles (Prelims) DQ - Sadie Spray (False start) 5A Girls 4x400 Relay 6. ** 4:07.22 (4th in heat-qualified for Saturday finals. (Reese Bullard, Eliana Beckham, Daizy Gomez, Sadie Spray) 5A Girls High Jump Finals T3.Sadie Spray 5-2 6. Cassie Ellegood 5-2CLASS 3A Ellsworth Girls 3200 Meter Run Finals 8. Molly Ehrlich 12:19.95 Hoisington Boys 110 Meter High Hurdles (Prelims) 3. ** Josiah Ball 14.99&nbsp; 300 Hurdles (Prelims) 5. ** Josiah Ball 40.07 4x100 Relay (Prelims) 8. ** 44.19 (Courtney Bryant, Brier Thompson, Mason Alderdice, Josiah Ball) Discus Finals 15. Layton Hoffman 118-9 Pole Vault Finals 1. Josiah Ball 15-0 (State Champion) 6. Taylen Morales 13-0 Hoisington Girls 4x100 Relay (Prelims) 2. ** 49.94 (Shellamae Farmer, Kelsi Maier, Mallory Mooney, Marley Bittel) 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 4. ** Marley Bittel 25.69 High Jump Finals T8. Sofia Simic 4-10 Larned Girls 100 Meter Hurdles (Prelims) 4.** Cara Herbert 15.60 4x100 Relay 7. ** 50.72 (Alexa Beltz, Akielah Collins, Taeten Reynolds, Kaylee Hagerman) 300 Hurdles (Prelims) 9. Cara Herbert 48.53 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 13. Kaylee Hagerman 26.65 Shot Put Finals 10. Cadee Upson 36-1 Long Jump Finals 5. Kaylee Hagerman 16-11 Russell Girls 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 6. ** Kinsey Zork 60.85 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 10. 4:14.05 (Kinsey Zorn, Anna Thielen, Kelvie Reeves, Jaden Ney) Discus Finals 7. Macy Patterson 117-1 CLASS 2A Ellinwood Boys 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 5. ** Logan Panning 51.46 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 15. Dawson Sunderland 23.58Sterling Boys 110 Meter High Hurdles (Prelims) 7. ** Zane Farney 15.97 300 Hurdles (Prelims) 5. ** Zane Farney 41.52 3200 Meter Run Finals 6. Tim Parish 9:57.04 Sterling Girls 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 1. ** Julia Kilgore 57.26 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 3. ** Julia Kilgore 25.7 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 4. ** 4:14.18 (Faith Ekert, Katie Inwood, Cora Svaty, Julia Kilgore) 3200 Meter Run Finals 3. Faith Ekart 11:54.28 CLASS 1A Hodgeman County Boys 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 12. 3:39.31 (Owen Reese, Ian Reece, Lasse Griessmann, Brody Schroeder) Hodgeman County Girls Shot Put Finals 2. Blake Dansel 39-1.25 Triple Jump Finals 8. Blaire Bradford 34-9 LaCrosse Boys 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 11. Tyron Steinert 53.74 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 4. 3:37.42 ** (Tyron Steinert, Gage Burk, Lee Holopirek, Triston Nelson) Discus Finals 4. Conner Barriger 155-1 LaCrosse Girls 4x100 Relay (Prelims) 14. 53.07 (Avery Parrott, Brennon Steinert, Hannah Patterson, Madison Morgan) 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 15. Lillian McGaughey 67.2 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 9. Avery Parrott, Clara Thielenhaus, Lillian McGaughey, Madison Morgan) Shot Put Finals 4. Hannah Dellett 36-9.50 Macksville Boys 110 Meter High Hurdles (Prelims) 16. Aiden Katz 18.03 Ness City Girls 100 Meter Hurdles (Prelims) 10. Issy Fuchs 15.84 4x100 Relay (Prelims) 1. ** 49.62 (Monica Jordan, Issy Fuchs, Sienna Brenner, Taegin Liggett) 300 Hurdles (Prelims) 2. ** Taegin Liggett 47.45 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 2. 4:11.52 (Monica Jordan, Issy Fuchs, Sienna Brenner, Taegin Liggett) Otis-Bison Boys 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) 10. Ian Haselhorst 53.21 200 Meter Dash (Prelims) 4. ** Ian Haselhorst 22.92 Long Jump Finals 8. Gavin Alloway 20-5.50 Otis-Bison Girls High Jump Finals 8. Destiny Mitchell 5-0 3200 Meter Run Finals 14. Destiny Mitchell 13:23.62 Pawnee Heights Boys Long Jump Finals 6. Brady Carlson 20-8.50 Stafford Boys 3200 Meter Run Finals 9. Joel Valdez 10:15.22 St. John Boys 4x400 Relay (Prelims) 10. 3:38.90 (Jericho Mawhirter, jace Reyes, Braxton Alpers, Quade Smith) St. John Girls Triple Jump Finals 12. Reagan Bonner 32-11.50 Victoria Boys 300 Hurdles 13. Jeb Miller 44.18 Victoria Girls Triple Jump Finals Emma Dinkel 39-4.50

Area State Track and Field Results - Friday

Class 3A&nbsp;- Tointon Family Stadium - Kansas State University Thursday, May 23 Wichita Trinity 13, Marysville 5 Frontenac 6, Burlington 5 Topeka-Hayden 2, Hesston 0 Hoisington 3, Sabetha 1

Friday, May 23 Wichita-Trinity 10, Frontenac 3 Topeka-Hayden 12, Hoisington 5 3rd Place - Frontenac 5, Hoisington 4 Championship -&nbsp; Topeka-Hayden 5, Wichita-Trinity 4

Class 2-1A - Great Bend Sports Complex Thursday, May 23 TMP 9, Marion 0 Medicine Lodge 6, Valley Falls 5 Mission Valley 9, Skyline 5 Pitt-Colgan 10, Colony Crest 1

Friday, May 24 Medicine Lodge 7, TMP 6 Mission Valley 7, Pitt-Colgan 5 3rd Place - Pitt-Colgan 10, TMP 0 Championship - Medicine Lodge 8, Eskridge-Mission Valley 0

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715983013358.jpeg" alt="Class 3A, 2-1A State Baseball Pairings" />
 <figcaption>Class 3A, 2-1A State Baseball Pairings</figcaption>
 </figure>Class 3A&nbsp;- Tointon Family Stadium - Kansas State University Thursday, May 23 Wichita Trinity 13, Marysville 5 Frontenac 6, Burlington 5 Topeka-Hayden 2, Hesston 0 Hoisington 3, Sabetha 1Friday, May 23 Wichita-Trinity 10, Frontenac 3 Topeka-Hayden 12, Hoisington 5 3rd Place - Frontenac 5, Hoisington 4 Championship -&nbsp; Topeka-Hayden 5, Wichita-Trinity 4Class 2-1A - Great Bend Sports Complex Thursday, May 23 TMP 9, Marion 0 Medicine Lodge 6, Valley Falls 5 Mission Valley 9, Skyline 5 Pitt-Colgan 10, Colony Crest 1Friday, May 24 Medicine Lodge 7, TMP 6 Mission Valley 7, Pitt-Colgan 5 3rd Place - Pitt-Colgan 10, TMP 0 Championship - Medicine Lodge 8, Eskridge-Mission Valley 0

Class 3A, 2-1A State Baseball Scores/Schedule

Baseball -Game 1- Topeka-Hayden 12 Hoisington 5 -Game 2- Frontenac 5 Hoisington 4

1. Larned Sports on 106.9 brought to you in part by Progressive Therapy and Sports Medicine, Barton Community College, Farmers Bank &amp; Trust, Pawnee County CO-OP, Innovative Livestock Services, Titan Building Systems, Eakin Concrete/Santa Fe Liquor Mart,  H and H Roofing, Fusion Bank, Beckwith Mortuary, Farm Bureau Financial Services, Leigh Ann Seeman agent, Carr Auction and Real Estate, Smith Dental, Ike Shaver Plumbing, Heart of Kansas Medical Center, Equity Bank Clock Reality and Insurance, Frick Veterinary Service, Pawnee Plaza, Rosenberg Family Dentistry, Doerrs Ace Hardware and USD 495.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582693944473.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Baseball -Game 1- Topeka-Hayden 12 Hoisington 5 -Game 2- Frontenac 5 Hoisington 4<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/vje5ayd0/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>1. Larned Sports on 106.9 brought to you in part by Progressive Therapy and Sports Medicine, Barton Community College, Farmers Bank &amp; Trust, Pawnee County CO-OP, Innovative Livestock Services, Titan Building Systems, Eakin Concrete/Santa Fe Liquor Mart, H and H Roofing, Fusion Bank, Beckwith Mortuary, Farm Bureau Financial Services, Leigh Ann Seeman agent, Carr Auction and Real Estate, Smith Dental, Ike Shaver Plumbing, Heart of Kansas Medical Center, Equity Bank Clock Reality and Insurance, Frick Veterinary Service, Pawnee Plaza, Rosenberg Family Dentistry, Doerrs Ace Hardware and USD 495.&nbsp;

Topeka-Hayden 12 Hoisington 5, Frontenac 5 Hoisington 4

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kodey Shojinaga had a three-run double to cap a nine-run first inning, Jake English hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth and No. 7 seed Kansas held on to beat ninth-seeded TCU 11-10 on Friday to advance to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals.

Kansas (31-22) will play top-seeded Oklahoma for a spot in the championship game. On Thursday the Sooners rallied from an early two-run deficit and a season-high seven errors to beat Kansas 7-5 for their 10th victory in the last 11 games.

Kansas sent 14 batters to the plate in the first, scoring nine runs on five hits — three of them extra-base hits.

English opened the scoring with a two-run single, then Kansas scored seven more runs with two outs. Chase Diggins hit a bloop single to center to score two, John Nett lined a shot to left for two more runs and Shojinaga added a bases-clearing double.

TCU answered with two home runs in the second and added a three-run shot in the third to get within 9-6. The Horned Frogs tied it at 10-all in the seventh on Luke Boyers' two-run homer.

Hunter Cranton (4-3) picked up the win after retiring the side in order in the eighth, with two strikeouts, and getting a double play in the ninth after allowing two singles.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kodey Shojinaga had a three-run double to cap a nine-run first inning, Jake English hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth and No. 7 seed Kansas held on to beat ninth-seeded TCU 11-10 on Friday to advance to the Big 12 Tournament semifinals.Kansas (31-22) will play top-seeded Oklahoma for a spot in the championship game. On Thursday the Sooners rallied from an early two-run deficit and a season-high seven errors to beat Kansas 7-5 for their 10th victory in the last 11 games.Kansas sent 14 batters to the plate in the first, scoring nine runs on five hits — three of them extra-base hits.English opened the scoring with a two-run single, then Kansas scored seven more runs with two outs. Chase Diggins hit a bloop single to center to score two, John Nett lined a shot to left for two more runs and Shojinaga added a bases-clearing double.TCU answered with two home runs in the second and added a three-run shot in the third to get within 9-6. The Horned Frogs tied it at 10-all in the seventh on Luke Boyers' two-run homer.Hunter Cranton (4-3) picked up the win after retiring the side in order in the eighth, with two strikeouts, and getting a double play in the ninth after allowing two singles.

English hits a go-ahead homer in the eighth, Kansas on to Big 12 semifinals

- Mike Courson joins the show live from the State Track and Field meet in Wichita.

- Sunflower Sports Solutions Conor Nichol

- New Great Bend Panther Wrestling coach Lueders stops by the Mayo Money Management studio for the first time to talk about his plans for the Panther Wrestling program.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693997740304.jpeg" alt="Friday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, and Mike Hesher" />
 <figcaption>Friday show lineup with hosts Steve Webster, Mike Courson, and Mike Hesher</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KMx2jEAgjHI?si=JOv_iqopCBjHG3zf" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>- Mike Courson joins the show live from the State Track and Field meet in Wichita.- Sunflower Sports Solutions Conor Nichol- New Great Bend Panther Wrestling coach Lueders stops by the Mayo Money Management studio for the first time to talk about his plans for the Panther Wrestling program.- Friday Sports Headlines- Sounds of the past 24 hours

Friday on Sports Day (Watch)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos closed out their first week of OTAs Thursday with coach Sean Payton praising all three quarterbacks competing for the starting job and cautioning that nothing should be read into the order in which they take snaps.

“We try to split up all the reps,″ Payton said. “There’s going to be a time when you read into the reps, I don’t think it’s early in OTAs.”

Jarrett Stidham is technically the incumbent, having started the final two games last season, but he’ll have to beat out two first-round picks in rookie Bo Nix, the 12th player and sixth quarterback selected in last month’s draft, and Zach Wilson, the second-overall pick in 2021 by the New York Jets, who traded him to Denver last month.

Asked about Nix’s progress so far, Payton said: “Good, he’s farther along than most would be. We’re talking about a player who’s played 61 games (in college). He’s extremely smart. He’s picked it up very quickly.″

Nix worked with the starters Thursday after Stidham got first-team reps Tuesday and Wilson worked with the No. 1 unit Wednesday.

Stidham has started four games in four NFL seasons with the Patriots, Raiders and Broncos, backing up Tom Brady, Derek Carr and Russell Wilson.

“Having two new guys in the room, this is the first time I’ve been the vet in the room,” Stidham said. Otherwise, he said, he’s competing for a job just like he has every year he’s been in the NFL.

Zach Wilson went 12-21 as the starter in New York and was deemed expendable with Aaron Rodgers returning from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in last season’s opener. Wilson said he’s eager to play in Payton’s system, which he feels will bring out the best in him.

“They’re all in a race to learn this system,” Payton said. “Man, they’re doing well.”

Each was superior in his own way Thursday when Stidham showed a grasp of the offense befitting someone with a year’s head start, Nix deftly handled the pressure of the pass rushers and Wilson showed off his arm strength.

“You know, it’s kind of the orphan group,” Payton said. “They’re all orphan dogs. They come from somewhere. But they’re doing good.”

Wilson, a proud owner of two Siberian huskies, chuckled at the metaphor.

“We’ve gone through it, right? You can see why,” Wilson said, adding that for him, “it’s been three years of tough challenges. But in the end that’s what makes you stronger and you just need somebody to believe in you and believe in yourself.”

The Broncos have rolled through 13 starting quarterbacks since Peyton Manning retired after Denver won Super Bowl 50 in 2016.

At a banquet honoring his community involvement Wednesday night, Manning called Payton’s system “extremely quarterback friendly,” one he said he would like to have played in during his Hall of Fame career.

“It sounds like they got great competition over there,” Manning said. “That’s always good, makes everybody better.”

Manning goes back a long way with both Stidham and Nix, who as youths participated in his family’s passing academy. Although he doesn’t know Wilson well, Manning reached out to him when he was traded to the Broncos.

“It’s exciting,” said Wilson, who grew up in Utah, where the Broncos are popular. “I’ve grown up watching him and the way he plays the game, the way he attacks it every single day. And he’s a legend out here. So, hopefully I can spend a little time picking his brain.”

Asked about Nix, Manning said that while there are exceptions such as Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes, who bided their time on the sideline before getting their crack at starting, the quickest way for a rookie to get up to speed in the NFL is to take his lumps right away.

That’s what Manning did in Indianapolis in 1998 when he threw 28 interceptions — a rookie record that still stands — and suffered through a 3-13 season that was followed a year later by a 13-3 campaign.

“There’s no way that would have happened had I not played and kind of gone through those struggles,” Manning said. He added that his brother Eli told him he learned more from the seven games he started as rookie than from the nine he watched.

Payton was asked about his thoughts on starting a rookie QB right away and said one of the many factors that go into that equation is how quickly the newcomer can pick up the offense.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos closed out their first week of OTAs Thursday with coach Sean Payton praising all three quarterbacks competing for the starting job and cautioning that nothing should be read into the order in which they take snaps.“We try to split up all the reps,″ Payton said. “There’s going to be a time when you read into the reps, I don’t think it’s early in OTAs.”Jarrett Stidham is technically the incumbent, having started the final two games last season, but he’ll have to beat out two first-round picks in rookie Bo Nix, the 12th player and sixth quarterback selected in last month’s draft, and Zach Wilson, the second-overall pick in 2021 by the New York Jets, who traded him to Denver last month.Asked about Nix’s progress so far, Payton said: “Good, he’s farther along than most would be. We’re talking about a player who’s played 61 games (in college). He’s extremely smart. He’s picked it up very quickly.″Nix worked with the starters Thursday after Stidham got first-team reps Tuesday and Wilson worked with the No. 1 unit Wednesday.Stidham has started four games in four NFL seasons with the Patriots, Raiders and Broncos, backing up Tom Brady, Derek Carr and Russell Wilson.“Having two new guys in the room, this is the first time I’ve been the vet in the room,” Stidham said. Otherwise, he said, he’s competing for a job just like he has every year he’s been in the NFL.Zach Wilson went 12-21 as the starter in New York and was deemed expendable with Aaron Rodgers returning from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in last season’s opener. Wilson said he’s eager to play in Payton’s system, which he feels will bring out the best in him.“They’re all in a race to learn this system,” Payton said. “Man, they’re doing well.”Each was superior in his own way Thursday when Stidham showed a grasp of the offense befitting someone with a year’s head start, Nix deftly handled the pressure of the pass rushers and Wilson showed off his arm strength.“You know, it’s kind of the orphan group,” Payton said. “They’re all orphan dogs. They come from somewhere. But they’re doing good.”Wilson, a proud owner of two Siberian huskies, chuckled at the metaphor.“We’ve gone through it, right? You can see why,” Wilson said, adding that for him, “it’s been three years of tough challenges. But in the end that’s what makes you stronger and you just need somebody to believe in you and believe in yourself.”The Broncos have rolled through 13 starting quarterbacks since Peyton Manning retired after Denver won Super Bowl 50 in 2016.At a banquet honoring his community involvement Wednesday night, Manning called Payton’s system “extremely quarterback friendly,” one he said he would like to have played in during his Hall of Fame career.“It sounds like they got great competition over there,” Manning said. “That’s always good, makes everybody better.”Manning goes back a long way with both Stidham and Nix, who as youths participated in his family’s passing academy. Although he doesn’t know Wilson well, Manning reached out to him when he was traded to the Broncos.“It’s exciting,” said Wilson, who grew up in Utah, where the Broncos are popular. “I’ve grown up watching him and the way he plays the game, the way he attacks it every single day. And he’s a legend out here. So, hopefully I can spend a little time picking his brain.”Asked about Nix, Manning said that while there are exceptions such as Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes, who bided their time on the sideline before getting their crack at starting, the quickest way for a rookie to get up to speed in the NFL is to take his lumps right away.That’s what Manning did in Indianapolis in 1998 when he threw 28 interceptions — a rookie record that still stands — and suffered through a 3-13 season that was followed a year later by a 13-3 campaign.“There’s no way that would have happened had I not played and kind of gone through those struggles,” Manning said. He added that his brother Eli told him he learned more from the seven games he started as rookie than from the nine he watched.Payton was asked about his thoughts on starting a rookie QB right away and said one of the many factors that go into that equation is how quickly the newcomer can pick up the offense.

Sean Payton praises all 3 quarterbacks competing for Broncos starting job

By TODD MOORE Barton Sports Info

Chasing a national title Thursday in Melbourne, Florida, Butpapaporn Sukterm of the Barton Community College women's golf team put together a historic run in coming up just two strokes shy at the 2024 NJCAA Division I Championships.

Utilizing just a four-man team for the tournament, the Cougars concluded their 13th straight trip to the season finale securely in the 12th overall position at 153-over par 1321. Barton opened with 332 and 336 before closing strong on the final two rounds of 326 and 327.

Sukterm was the Cougars' big story by posting multiple program records at the Championship including firing a final round 6-under par for a runner-up finish matching Peeradon Piddon's 2017 title chase.

Opening with a 2-over 75 on the par-73 course, Sukterm moved up from the 12th position each day behind a pair of 1-under 72 cards. Sitting in 5th place and eight strokes behind the leader in the final round, Sukterm drained a program record eight birdies in applying pressure to trail by one stroke with six to play.

Angelica Holman held off the charge, taking on another red number down the stretch to win the Championship at 8-under 284 leading Daytona State College's title on a record breaking 6-under par 1162 accumulated effort across the four rounds.

Sukterm's 6-under 286 also established the new program best at the national tournament to better a pair of third place finishers one stroke behind. Other program bests included 16 total birdies and just 11 holes of bogey or worse.

A pair of sophomores closed out their Barton career on the national stage for the second straight year, Valentina Leyva placing 51st at 36-over 328 with Andrea Peraza in 65th at 49-over 341. Frida Medellin wrapped up her freshman campaign with a 78th placing at 74-over 366.

Leyva, who placed 35th at last year's season ending tournament helping Barton match a program 6th best national finish, carded three birdies during the week including within her opening and best round of 80 for a 40th day one placing. Slipping to 48th following an 83 second day, Leyva stayed steady with 83 and 82 rounds through the final days of competition.

Peraza hovered in the low 70's of the leaderboard on 87 and 89 cards before climbing up the chart with an 84 card before concluding her Barton career on her week's best effort of 81.

A steady 90 and 92 rounds began Medellin's first national experience, posting her best round of 14-over 87 in the third round with a 97-card wrapping up the experience.

2nd Butpapaporn Sukterm -6, 286 (75-72-72-67)

51st Valentina Leyva +36, 328 (80-83-83-82)

65th Andrea Peraza +49, 341 (87-89-84-81)

78th Frida Medellin +74, 366 (90-92-87-97)

1 - Daytona State -6, 1162 (288-288-292-294)

2 - Seminole State +4, 1172 (291-296-290-295)

5 - New Mexico JC +70, 1238 (316-298-310-314)

6 - Iowa Western +98, 1266 (321-314-310-321)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716551308829.jpeg" alt="Barton Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Barton Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By TODD MOORE Barton Sports InfoChasing a national title Thursday in Melbourne, Florida, Butpapaporn Sukterm of the Barton Community College women's golf team put together a historic run in coming up just two strokes shy at the 2024 NJCAA Division I Championships.Utilizing just a four-man team for the tournament, the Cougars concluded their 13th straight trip to the season finale securely in the 12th overall position at 153-over par 1321. Barton opened with 332 and 336 before closing strong on the final two rounds of 326 and 327.Sukterm was the Cougars' big story by posting multiple program records at the Championship including firing a final round 6-under par for a runner-up finish matching Peeradon Piddon's 2017 title chase.Opening with a 2-over 75 on the par-73 course, Sukterm moved up from the 12th position each day behind a pair of 1-under 72 cards. Sitting in 5th place and eight strokes behind the leader in the final round, Sukterm drained a program record eight birdies in applying pressure to trail by one stroke with six to play.Angelica Holman held off the charge, taking on another red number down the stretch to win the Championship at 8-under 284 leading Daytona State College's title on a record breaking 6-under par 1162 accumulated effort across the four rounds.Sukterm's 6-under 286 also established the new program best at the national tournament to better a pair of third place finishers one stroke behind. Other program bests included 16 total birdies and just 11 holes of bogey or worse.A pair of sophomores closed out their Barton career on the national stage for the second straight year, Valentina Leyva placing 51st at 36-over 328 with Andrea Peraza in 65th at 49-over 341. Frida Medellin wrapped up her freshman campaign with a 78th placing at 74-over 366.Leyva, who placed 35th at last year's season ending tournament helping Barton match a program 6th best national finish, carded three birdies during the week including within her opening and best round of 80 for a 40th day one placing. Slipping to 48th following an 83 second day, Leyva stayed steady with 83 and 82 rounds through the final days of competition.Peraza hovered in the low 70's of the leaderboard on 87 and 89 cards before climbing up the chart with an 84 card before concluding her Barton career on her week's best effort of 81.A steady 90 and 92 rounds began Medellin's first national experience, posting her best round of 14-over 87 in the third round with a 97-card wrapping up the experience.Barton scores and placings:2nd Butpapaporn Sukterm -6, 286 (75-72-72-67)51st Valentina Leyva +36, 328 (80-83-83-82)65th Andrea Peraza +49, 341 (87-89-84-81)78th Frida Medellin +74, 366 (90-92-87-97)Team scores and placings:1 - Daytona State -6, 1162 (288-288-292-294)2 - Seminole State +4, 1172 (291-296-290-295)3 - Odessa +51, 1219 (302-301-303-313)4 - McLennan +58, 1226 (307-309-310-300)5 - New Mexico JC +70, 1238 (316-298-310-314)6 - Iowa Western +98, 1266 (321-314-310-321)7 - Dodge City +102, 1270 (327-311-319-313)8 - Eastern Florida +118, 1286 (321-324-323-318)9 - Tyler +119, 1287 (331-324-329-303)10 - Blinn +123, 1291 (322-326-322-321)11 - Redlands +134, 1302 (329-326-322-325)12 - Barton +153, 1321 (332-336-326-327)13 - Shelton State +182, 1350 (352-335-338-325)14 - John A Logan +200, 1368 (347-337-350-334)15 - Rend Lake +294, 1462 (374-357-360-371)