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Category: Sports

Valaika homers in 8th, Rockies rally to beat Royals

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Pat Valaika hit a two-run homer with two out in the eighth inning and Greg Holland finished for his 36th save in the Colorado Rockies’ 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.

Valaika snapped an 0-for-12 slide, driving a full-count pitch from Mike Minor (5-6) to left after Gerardo Parra singled.

Holland worked a perfect ninth. He allowed Eric Hosmer’s game-ending, three run homer in the ninth inning Wednesday night and was 0-4 with three blown saves in his previous six appearances.

Adam Ottavino (2-3) struck out two in a perfect seventh.

The Rockies snapped a four-game losing streak with just their fifth victory in 17 games.

Rookie Jake Junis limited the Rockies to one run and seven hits over 5 1-3 innings. He matched his career high with seven strikeouts and walked one. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA in three August starts, walking one and striking out 16 in 19 1-3 innings.

Whit Merrifield and Brandon Moss led off the Royals’ first and second innings with home runs. It was Merrifield’s third career leadoff home run, all this season, and his eighth hit in 15 at-bats. Moss hit his 17th home run, 14 of them with the bases empty.

FHSU men’s cross country tabbed sixth in MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In the MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, released Thursday (Aug. 24), the Fort Hays State men’s cross country team was picked sixth as competition will get running soon. The Tigers are coming off a fourth place finish in the MIAA Championships last fall.

The Tigers captured 60 total points on the poll, placing them behind Pittsburg State who rounded-out the top five this edition. Missouri Southern garnered nine first-place votes to top the preseason edition of the standings with 98 total points.

After losing two of the top runners on the squad in Troy Wineinger and Jacob Thomas to graduation, the Tigers will look to the remaining athletes to see who will break out this season. Sophomore Layton Werth, who finished an FHSU-best out of the returners at the 2016 MIAA Championships coming in at No. 31, looks to better that place while leading the Tigers for his junior campaign.

Along with Werth, Fort Hays State bring two seniors into the 2017 run with Oscar Carmona and Jason Foster are back to anchor head coach Jason McCullough’s team while they finish out their collegiate running careers. Carmona earned a 38th place finish at the conference championships last season while recording a 33:04.4 in the 10K at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships – good for a personal best.

As far as the younger runners go, sophomore Kaleb Crum is back for another year after having a strong freshman season. Crum placed 54th at the conference meet. Of the newcomers, Robbie Schmidt, Marcelo Cruz and Marcus Tula all join the Tigers after having successful high school careers in the state of Kansas. Coach McCullough is also excited about the transfer of Bill Oyet who comes to Hays from Iowa Western Community College, with a 1,500m national title to his name.

On Saturday (Aug. 26), Fort Hays State University will host its 31st annual Alumni Run at the Sand Plum Nature Trail in Victoria, Kan. The gun will shoot at 9:30 a.m. You can also see the Tigers in Hays on Saturday Oct. 7 when they host the FHSU Tiger Open starting at 9:00 a.m.

2017 MIAA Preseason Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll
1. Missouri Southern (9) 98
2. Northwest Missouri (2) 78
3. Nebraska-Kearney 71
4. Southwest Baptist 68
5. Pittsburg State 67
6. Fort Hays State 60
7. Lindenwood 59
8. Central Missouri 39
9. Washburn 32
10. Emporia State 19
11. Missouri Western 14

FHSU Sports Information

FHSU women’s cross country earns No. 3 ranking in the MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With a new season set to get running soon, the Fort Hays State women’s cross country team will start the new year ranked third in the MIAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Thursday (Aug. 24). The Tigers are coming off one of their best seasons yet, as they finished 18th at the NCAA Division II National Championships – the highest finish for an MIAA program in the field. At the conference championships, Fort Hays State earned a third place finish.

In the preseason edition of the coaches’ poll, the Tigers captured 126 total points with one first-place vote from the fellow MIAA coaches. Last season’s MIAA champion, Southwest Baptist, took the No. 1 preseason ranking with 10 first-place votes and 141 total points.

The Tigers return five of their top seven runners from 2016. Back to lead the Tigers for her senior campaign is Shea Bonine who finished second in the MIAA conference meet last season, as well as earned a 41st place time in the NCAA championships. Bonine also gathered All-MIAA honors and All-Region accolades last season.

Alongside Bonine for head coach Jason McCullough’s 2017 squad, returners include fellow seniors in Chelsea Jackson and Lauren Roberts. Jackson captured a 17th place finish last season at the conference meet while earning All-MIAA honorable mention honors, while Roberts crossed the line 82nd.

Coach McCullough says this is one of his most experienced squads in recent memory, and will be joined by a strong incoming class to try and stay in the upper level of the MIAA. Most notably for the freshmen will be Grace Buessing out of Wichita, and Rebeca Avelar out of Johnson, Kan., who won the 2A state title in 2016.
Lauren Roberts’ twin sister Lindsay looks to also have an impact in 2017 after not competing in 2016.

On Saturday (Aug. 26), Fort Hays State University will host its 31st annual Alumni Run at the Sand Plum Nature Trail in Victoria, Kan. The gun will shoot at 9:30 a.m. You can also see the Tigers in Hays on Saturday Oct. 7 when they host the FHSU Tiger Open starting at 9:00 a.m.

2017 MIAA Preseason Women’s Cross Country Coaches’ Poll
1.) Southwest Baptist (10) 141
2.) Pittsburg State (2) 131
3.) Fort Hays State (1) 126
4.) Missouri Southern 108
5.) Central Missouri 96
6.) Nebraska-Kearney 95
7.) Central Oklahoma 67
8.) Northwest Missouri 56
9.) Emporia State 54
10.) Lindenwood 49
11.) Washburn 40
12.) Missouri Western 35
13.) Lincoln 16

Hosmer 3-run HR with 2 outs in 9th, Royals beat Rockies

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning off former Kansas City teammate Greg Holland, lifting the Royals over the Colorado Rockies 6-4 on Wednesday night.

Hosmer’s 21st home run of the season was the first game-ending shot of his career.

Holland (2-5) fell to 0-4 with one save in four opportunities in his past six games, allowing 10 hits, three home runs and 12 runs over five innings. The former Royals closer issued a leadoff walk in the ninth, gave up a two-out single to Melky Cabrera and then was tagged by Hosmer on a 1-1 pitch.

Brandon Maurer (2-1) pitched the ninth.

Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado homered for the Rockies in a matchup of playoff contenders.

FHSU volleyball tunes up for start of season with scrimmage

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HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team got their final tune-up before the start of their season with the annual Black & Gold Scrimmage at Gross Coliseum Wednesday night. Freshman Logan Wallick led the Tigers with 19 kills and fellow freshman Amirah Bentley had 27 digs as the Gold team beat the Black 3-2. Three of the five sets were decided by three points or less.

Head coach Kurt Kohler, who begins his ninth season, has 14 freshman on his roster.

Coach Kurt Kohler on his team’s scrimmage and the season ahead.

The Tigers, who are coming off a 25-win season a year ago, open their season a week from Friday at the Country Inn & Suites Invitational in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Annual HHS Maroon & Gold Kickoff this Friday

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Hays High school will host the annual Maroon & Gold Kickoff Classic this Friday (August 25) at Lewis Field on the Fort Hays State University campus. The evening begins with a meal and includes an introduction of the members of all of the fall sports teams.

The boys soccer team will scrimmage starting at 7 pm. The football team closes out the night with a scrimmage beginning at 7:55 pm.

All Hays High students with an ID card will be fed for free between 6 pm and 8:30 pm. Adults and family members as well as the general public will be fed with a free will donation available. The Maroon & Gold Kickoff Classic is sponsored by the Hays High Athletic Booster Club.

Below is a schedule of all events.

5:00 – Football Team Meal
6:00 – 8:30 – Feed all Hays High Students and Public
6:20 – Soccer Team Warm-up
6:40 – Soccer Introductions
6:45 –National Anthem (Band) immediately followed by fight song (band)
6:50 – Band Introductions (Band will play “Warpath” for Flag Corp)
7:00 – 7:45 Soccer Scrimmage
7:10 – Volleyball Introductions
7:20 – Cross Country Introductions
7:25 – Introductions of all Football Players
7:35 – Introduce Girls Tennis
7:45 – Cheerleader Introductions and Routine
7:50 – Introduce Girls Golf Team
7:55 – 9:30 – Football Scrimmage

TMP-Marian ranked second in KVA Preseason Poll

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Coming off an incredible 39-4 season a year ago which resulted in a trip to the 3A state tournament, the Thomas More Prep-Marian volleyball team begins the 2017 campaign ranked second in 3A in the Kansas Volleyball Association’s Preseason Rankings released Wednesday.

La Crosse, who advanced to the 1A Division I state tournament last year, is ranked eighth. Wheatland-Grinnell is third and Otis-Bison fourth in 1A Division II.

2017 Pre-Season Volleyball Rankings

Class 6A
1. Olathe Northwest
2. Blue Valley West
3. Blue Valley Northwest
4. Manhattan
5. Lawrence-Free State
6. Blue Valley
7. Gardner-Edgerton
8. Blue Valley Northwest
9. Olathe North
10. Olathe East

Class 5A
1. Shawnee Heights
2. St. James Academy
3. St. Thomas Aquinas
4. Lansing
5. Newton
6. Goddard-Eisenhower
7. Kapaun Mt. Carmel
8. Maize
9. De Soto
10. Emporia

Class 4A – Division 1
1. Rose Hill
2. Bishop Miege
3. Louisburg
4. Andover Central
5. Abilene
6. Paola
7. McPherson
8. Kansas City-Piper
9. Maize South
10. Ulysses

Class 4A – Division 2
1. Topeka-Hayden
2. Nickerson
3. Concordia
4. Baxter Springs
5. Andale
6. Santa Fe Trail
7. Girard
8. Wichita Trinity Academy
9. Holcomb
10. Holton

Class 3A
1. Hesston
2. Thomas More Prep-Marian
3. Silver Lake
4. Cheney
5. Kingman
6. Douglass
7. Nemaha Central
8. Wellsville
9. Humboldt
10. St. Marys

Class 2A
1. Heritage Christian
2. Central Plains
3. Republic County
4. Kiowa County
5. Valley Falls
6. Jefferson County North
7. St. Mary’s Colgan
8. Flinthills
9. Oswego
10. Maranatha Academy

Class 1A – Division 1
1. Centralia
2. Goessel
3. Hanover
4. South Central
5. South Barber
6. Beloit-St. John’s/Tipton
7. Stockton
8. La Crosse
9. Olpe
10. Rural Vista

Class 1A – Division 2
1. Northern Valley
2. Sylvan-Lucas
3. Wheatland-Grinnell
4. Otis-Bison
5. Axtell
6. Blue Valley-Randolph
7. Wallace County
8. Cunningham
9. Waverly
10. Fowler

Duffy, KC bullpen hold Rockies to 2 hits; Royals win

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Danny Duffy and four relievers combined on a two-hitter, helping the Kansas City Royals hold off the Colorado Rockies 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Duffy took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and retired the first two batters before walking DJ LeMahieu and allowing a homer to Nolan Arenado. The Rockies star third baseman squared up a 1-1 pitch and hit it out for his 28th home run.

Duffy (8-8), who was 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in his first three starts in August, was removed after six innings and 88 pitches. He walked three and struck out seven. Duffy walked Arenado in the first and Trevor Story in the fifth for the only other baserunners he permitted.

Scott Alexander got his first career save with two pitches.

Jon Gray (5-3) gave up three runs, two earned, and six hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking one. He dropped to 4-12 in 27 career road starts.

Dedication of FHSU track and field complex set for Saturday

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FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Official dedication of the new track and field complex at Fort Hays State University is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26.

The track inside the stadium will be named “Alex Francis Track,” in honor of the legendary coach who guided the track and field and cross country programs at FHSU from 1946 until his retirement in 1980. The former track at Lewis Field Stadium was named after Coach Francis, and his legacy has been carried forward with the naming of Fort Hays State’s current track.

The public is invited to the event, which will include a ribbon cutting by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce. The new facility, completed during the fall 2016 semester, is located south of the FHSU soccer complex on the far west side of campus, just off U.S. Highway 183 Bypass.

A 500-person stadium overlooks a nine-lane rubber Olympic-shaped track that already has helped produce a national champion for the Tigers. All field events will be held inside the stadium, with the exception of throwing events, which are behind the grandstand to the east.

Joining FHSU Athletic Director Curtis Hammeke in speaking at the dedication ceremony will be Dr. Andy Tompkins, interim president at Fort Hays State; Jason McCullough and Dennis Weber, current and former FHSU track coaches; and student-athlete Kelly Wycoff, a sprinter from Scott City.

McCullough, Weber and Wycoff have already benefitted from using the new facility.

McCullough, recently promoted from assistant to head track and field coach, is in charge of Tiger distance runners, who trained at the track and field complex last spring.

Two of McCullough’s middle distance runners earned All-America honors at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Championships in May, including Ireland native Dean Cronin, who won the men’s 800-meter run in his junior season.

Before retiring from coaching this summer, Weber was head coach for the Tiger track and field team for 12 years, including last spring, when FHSU had six All-Americans at the 2017 national outdoor meet.

Wycoff, now a senior in her last year with the Tigers, was one of those All-American runners, finishing 12th in the women’s 400-meter dash.

The area around the complex also includes locker rooms, restrooms and concession stands.

FHSU men’s soccer tops MIAA preseason poll

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State men’s soccer team enters the 2017 season picked first in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Tuesday (Aug. 22). Last season the Tigers finished second in the conference with a 6-2 record. The defending conference champions, Lindenwood, sit in the second spot, while Northeastern State rounds out the top three.

The Tigers still seek an MIAA title in men’s soccer, even though they are the three-time defending NCAA Central Regional champion. The Tigers have finished second in the MIAA three of the last four years, but their overall body of work has been good enough to qualify for the NCAA Tournament five consecutive years.

The first regular season action will take place next week on Thursday (Aug. 31) at 6 pm when the Tigers host Rockhurst University in a rematch of last season’s national quarterfinal match. The Tigers travel to McKendree University on Saturday (Sept. 2). Last season the Tigers set a program record for wins with 14. They finished the season 14-5-1 overall, claiming their third consecutive NCAA Division II Central Region crown.

Offense played a huge role for the Tiger success in 2016 as they outscored their opponents 53-20, averaging 2.65 goals per match. Scoring was vital to their success last season as 14 different players scored a goal throughout the year. Six players totaled 10 or more points on the season. Click in the box below for a complete season preview.

2017 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Fort Hays State (3) 15
2. Lindenwood (2) 14
3. Northeastern State 10
4. Upper Iowa 7
5. Southwest Baptist 4

FHSU Sports Information

Clayton looking to lock down starting cornerback position

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With the start of the season a little over a week away, the Fort Hays State coaching staff continues to finalize starting and backup positions for the Tigers season opener at Missouri Southern State August 31st. Regardless of who the starters are, FHSU will have two new faces at cornerback.

Senior Kamon Clayton is among several players battling for one of two starting cornerback positions left vacant by the graduation of Raheeme Dumas and Rashad Dunnigan. Clayton, who spent time at the bandit position a year ago, is trying to win the starting job along with fourth-year junior Aquil Knowles and senior Trae Regier as well as several other redshirt freshman.

Kamon Clayton

Hays High grad on the watch list for Fred Mitchell Award

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Tennessee State University

NASHVILLE — Tennessee State University’s Lane Clark has been named to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List for 2017. The Fred Mitchell Award recognizes 36 place-kickers for their excellence on the football field during the 2016 season and for continued community service during their off-season.

Clark was named to four All-American teams a season ago and has been placed on two preseason All-American teams this season. The senior kicker was selected to the preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference team heading into his final campaign.

Courtesy photo

Clark was a four sport stand-out at Hays High School. He converted on 63 of 69 PATs over his junior and senior years and made 11 of 13 field goals. As an Indian, Clark also played wide receiver on the football team his senior year, as well as soccer, basketball and golf.

Clark is on a list of 36 place-kickers from all levels of college football, with the exception of the Football Bowl Subdivision. The list consists of seven kickers from FCS, 12 from Division II, 11 from Division III, two from NAIA and four from NJCAA. The place-kickers represent schools located in 23 different states. Clark is one of 14 seniors on the list and is joined by 10 juniors, 11 sophomores and one freshman.

The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community.

2017 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List
Nino Alibegic – Independence Community College (Kan.) – NJCAA
Cole Antley – Ouachita Baptist University (Arkadelphia, Ark.) – D-II
Tristan Bailey – Coffeyville Community College (Kan.) – NJCAA
Bradley Bates – Campbellsville University (Ky.) – NAIA
Alex Breekman – Pacific University (Ore.) – Division III
Jordan Bennett – University of West Alabama – Division II
Matt Blair – University of California – Davis – FCS
Will Brazill – California (Penn.) – Division II
Lane Clark – Tennessee State – FCS
Liam Crotty – North Central College (Ill.) – Division III
Darren Ford – Hope College (Mich.) – Division III
Wyatt Ford – Ferris State University (Mich.) – Division II
Matthew Haite – Stonehill College (Mass.) – Division II
Nathan Hierlihy – University of Redlands (Calif.) – Division III
Christian Kapp – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) – DIVISION III
Tyler Knighton – Rowan University (N.J.) – Division III
Cooper Lee – Coffeyville Community College (Kan.) – NJCAA
Nick Madonia – Tennessee Tech – FCS
Abdul Mahdi – Saint Xavier University (Ill.) – NAIA
David Marvin – Wofford College (S.C.) – FCS
Drake McCarter – Northwest Mississippi CC – NJCAA
Jerry Nunez – Indiana State – FCS
Drew Pearson – University of Wisconsin – Stout – Division III
Shea Rodgers – Newberry (S.C.) – Division II
Elijah Ruiz – Stephen F. Austin (Texas) – FCS
Eric Sachse – Trinity College (Conn.) – Division III
Jonas Schenderlein – Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.) – Division II
Brad Schickel – University of Indianapolis – Division II
Perry Schmiedeler – Washburn University (Kansas) – Division II
Juan Serna – Fort Valley State University (Georgia) – Division II
Nathan Shaw – Northern State University (S.D.) – Division II
Sean Slattery – Illinois State University – FCS
Jamie Sullivan – Johns Hopkins (Maryland) – Division III
Cole Tracy – Assumption College (Mass.) – Division II
Eli Wettstein – University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh – Division III
Tanner Wright – McMurry University (Texas) – Division III

— Republished with permission

Kansas linebacker Long dismissed after alleged gun threat

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – A sophomore linebacker at Kansas has been dismissed from the Jayhawks after being accused of threatening a woman with a handgun.

Nineteen-year-old Maciah Long of Houston was charged Monday with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a felony, and misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property and marijuana possession. Douglas County court records allege Long damaged or destroyed the woman’s television.

Long was arrested Sunday and made a brief court appearance Monday. Court records show he said he would hire an attorney.

He remained jailed later Monday on $5,000 bond. He couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Lawrence police declined to discuss the case because it involved alleged domestic violence.

Jayhawks coach David Beaty announced Long’s dismissal from the team Monday. He played linebacker and tight end last season.

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