We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Category: Sports

Gross Coliseum to receive new video board and scoreboard

Posted on

HAYS, Kan. – On Thursday, July 20, preparations began for an exciting upgrade at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. A new center-hung videoboard will replace the old center-hung scoreboard and new scoreboards will replace the old scoreboards on each end of the arena. The changes will be complete within the first couple of weeks in August, just before the fall semester kicks off at Fort Hays State University.

Already named one of the nation’s Top 5 arenas in NCAA Division II by Hero Sports, Gross Memorial Coliseum gameday atmosphere will rise another notch with the addition of the video technology above the floor in the 6,814-seat facility. The new center-hung video board will feature a four-sided, high definition full-color LED display, with all four screens measuring nearly 12 feet wide by 7 feet tall. Just below will be a video ring that is 2 feet tall with an 11-foot diameter. The bottom of the ring will feature the Tiger logo facing the playing floor. The new video board replaces the old center-hung scoreboard that was in operation at the coliseum for over 20 years.

The former scoreboard was installed in the mid-1990s, prior to the FHSU men’s basketball team going an unprecedented 34-0 to win the NCAA Division II national title in 1996. It set a new Division II record at the time for wins in a season by an undefeated team. Findlay (Ohio) broke that record when it went 36-0 in 2009. There have only been four undefeated national champions in NCAA Division II men’s basketball history, with Evansville (1965) and Cal State-Bakersfield (1997), now Division I members, as part of the list. Gross Memorial Coliseum is the home of four national championship teams in history, three men’s basketball (1984, 1985, and 1996) and one women’s basketball (1991).

The new boards at Gross Memorial Coliseum will be in place by the time the volleyball team begins practice in the middle of August. The first regular season home volleyball match to feature the new technology is on September 22 when FHSU takes on long-time rival Emporia State.

This is just the first of several video/scoreboard upgrades that will take place in the near future at Fort Hays State. The new track and field facility will see the installation of a results board near the finish line, so fans will be able to see real-time results during the course of meets held at the facility. Then, another massive replacement begins following the 2017 football season with the replacement of the old scoreboard at Lewis Field Stadium with a new video/scoreboard measuring a massive 63 feet wide by just over 36 feet tall. The base of the structure will be 10 feet tall, making the height of the board over 45 feet.

FHSU Sports Information

Royals set season high for runs and hits in rout of Tigers

Posted on

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Brandon Moss drove in four runs, Mike Moustakas had three RBIs and the Kansas City Royals routed the error-prone Detroit Tigers 16-4 on Thursday night.

Eric Hosmer and Whit Merrifield homered for the Royals, who moved within 1 1/2 games of first-place Cleveland in the AL Central. The 16 runs and 19 hits were season highs for Kansas City.

Detroit committed three errors in the Royals’ four-run first inning, when only one run was earned. It was the most errors the Tigers have made in an inning since May 1, 2010.

Michael Fulmer, the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year, threw 37 pitches in the first. The heat index was 107 when the game started.

Fulmer (10-7), who had won his previous four starts, was removed after facing 18 batters. He retired only eight, and eight scored. It was the shortest outing of his career.

Larks close out Jayhawk League play with win

Posted on

HAYS, Kan. – The Hays Larks secured a 30 win season for the sixth time in the last seven years with an 11-2 win over El Dorado Thursday night at Larks Park.

Trevor Boone’s two-run single with the bases loaded in the first inning gave them the lead for good as they sweep the three-game series. The Larks (30-13, 30-12 Jayhawk League) pushed four runs across in the fifth then three in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

Keone Givens, Colin Simpson, Trevor Boone, Nick Jones, Alex Weiss and Trey Ochoa all had two hit games. Boone and Max Remy both drove in two runs.

Alex Lopez (6-2) was the first of six Larks pitchers and picked up the win. Tyler Starks struck out the side in the ninth to close the game.

The Larks, who have finished first or second in the Jayhawk League in 15 of the last 17 years, tie Liberal for the best record in the league but lost the tiebreaker to the Bee Jays who claimed their first title since 1999.

The Larks will play three games against the Colorado Sox on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week before opening play at the NBC World Series in Wichita, Kan. on Sunday July 30.

Hays Monarchs secure state tournament berth

Posted on

COLBY, Kan. – The Hays Monarchs Optimist are headed to the Class AA State American Legion Baseball Tournament after their 14-0 win over Larned in the consolation finals Thursday night. The Monarchs scored four runs in the second inning then blew the game open with a nine run fourth and win the game by run-rule.

Zane Staab had three hits and Chase Werth drove in three runs. Trent Mayo picked up the win after holding Larned to one hit with five strikeouts and two walks.

Earlier in the day the Monarchs beat top-seeded Goodland 7-3 in eight innings to stay alive in the tournament. Goodland tied the game with three runs in the sixth. Chase Werth singled to drive in two after the Monarchs loaded the bases with three straight walks to open the eighth. Luke Ruder also drove in two runs. Ryan Ruder picked up the complete game win with 10 strikeouts and three walks. All three of the Goodland’s runs were unearned.

The Monarchs (20-10) have won six of their last seven games. The AA State Tournament begins Wednesday in Marysville.

Jr. Eagles eliminated from AA State Tournament

Posted on

HAYS, Kan. – The Hays Junior Eagles run at the Class A State Tournament is over after a 7-6 loss to Chapman Thursday afternoon at Hays High. Emporia and the Andover Jaguars both won in the winner’s bracket to advance to Friday’s winner’s bracket finals. The Great Bend Braves, Olathe Royals and Andover Trojans along with Chapman are still alive in the consolation bracket.

Thursday’s scores
Great Bend Braves 17, Salina Hawks 3
Chapman Irish 7, Hays Eagles 6
Andover Jaguars 16, Olathe Royals 5
Emporia 8, Andover Trojans 6

Friday’s schedule
Great Bend Braves vs. Olathe Royals, 10am
Chapman Irish vs. Andover Trojans, 12:30pm
Andover Jaguars vs. Emporia, 6pm
Great Bend/Olathe winner vs. Chapman/Andover Trojans winner, 8pm

FHSU women’s golf inks two for 2017-18 season

Posted on

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State women’s golf coach Rich Guffey has announced his signing class for the 2017-18 season. This year’s group includes two incoming freshman.

“These two players will be strong additions to our team,” said Guffey. “They both consistently posted competitive scores in high school, and we’re excited to see them bring their game to the next level. This addition gives our team a great chance to compete in years to come.”

Hays native Katie Brungardt will join the Tigers next season after an illustrious career at Hays High School. Brungardt earned All-State honors three times, including a runner-up finish her junior season. She helped the Lady Indians to a state title as a sophomore. Brungardt earned first team All-Western Athletic Conference honors all four seasons, was named the WAC player of the year as a senior, competed in the state tournament four times, won eight tournaments and finished in the top three 18 times during her time at HHS.

Danielle Gaspar begins her collegiate career by returning to familiar territory. Gaspar graduated from Twin Falls HS in Twin Falls, Idaho after attending Garden City (Kan.) HS for two and a half years. She helped the Bruins to a state championship in her only competitive season in Idaho. Gaspar qualified for the Kansas state tournament three times at GCHS, finishing second as a junior in 2015.

FHSU Sports Information

Jack Whitman leaves KU basketball team

Posted on

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Forward Jack Whitman has decided to leave the Kansas men’s basketball program, KU head coach Bill Self confirmed Thursday. Whitman was a graduate transfer from William & Mary who signed with KU in early May and practiced with the Jayhawks throughout the summer.

“Jack called me last night and informed me that he would not be playing basketball at Kansas for his fifth year,” Self said. “I do not know what his plans are moving forward. All I know is he will not be part of our basketball program. We wish Jack the best with his future endeavors.”

As a redshirt junior during the 2016-17 season, Whitman (6-foot-9, 235 pounds) started 26 of 30 games for the Tribe and averaged 10.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. The Lexington, Kentucky, native led William & Mary in field goal percentage at 66.0 percent from the field and was second on the team with 34 blocked shots. Whitman was a redshirt in 2013-14 and played in a reserve role his freshman and sophomore seasons at William & Mary.

Hays Tribe wins 2017 Sunflower Soccer title

Posted on
Front Row (Left to Right): Alex Bogart, Alec Stults, Zach Wagner, London Keller, Ethan Nunnery, Erik Kreutzer. Second Row (Left to Right): Gabriel McGuire, Ethan Lang, Jacob Maska, Ethan Brummer, Jack Fort, Connor Teget, Trey McCrae, Creighton Newell, Sheldon Weber and Elijah Zimmerman.

TOPEKA — The Hays Tribe — made up of local high school boys from both Thomas More Prep-Marian and Hays High — are the 2017 Sunflower Soccer Champions.

The team played four games over two days in hot and humid conditions, but ended on top in the championship game, having to go into PK’s (4 goals to 2 goals ) to win it 4-3. The team’s record was 4-0, going 3-0 in pool play. The scores were 8-3 in first game, 10-0 in the second and 3-1 in the third.

“I am very proud of all these young men and cannot thank them enough for a very exciting weekend and the parents whom came to cheer these young men on in that heat,” said Coach Jim Maska. “I wish you all the best of luck in your upcoming high school season!”

Larks blank El Dorado

Posted on

HAYS, Kan. – The Hays Larks took advantage of a couple of early El Dorado errors and scored five runs in the first inning and shutout the Broncos 10-0 Wednesday night at Larks Park.

Jace Selcor had three of the Larks 15 hits. Trey Ochoa drove in three and Trevor Boone homered for a third straight game leading the Larks (29-13, 29-12 Jayhawk League) to their 29th win.

Dylan Schneider (3-0) pitched six scoreless innings with six strikeouts and no walks for the win. Matt Fish and Brad Sugg closed it out for the Larks fifth shutout.

The Larks close out their league slate with their final home game Thursday night. It’s Sesquicentennial Night sponsored by the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Downtown Hays Development Corporation.

Hays Junior Eagles drop state tourney opener

Posted on

HAYS, Kan. – The Hays Eagles Junior American Legion dropped their opener in the Class A State Tournament 12-0 to Emporia Wednesday night at Hays High. The Junior Eagles will now play the Chapman Irish in an elimination game around 12:30 pm Thursday. The Irish lost 6-0 to the Andover Trojans in their opener.

Wednesday’s results
Kansas Royals 11, Great Bend Braves 1
Andover Jaguars 11, Salina Hawks 8
Andover Trojans 6, Chapman Irish 0
Emporia 12, Hays Eagles 0

Thursday’s schedule
Great Bend Braves vs. Salina Hawks, 10am
Chapman Irish vs. Hays Eagles, 12:30pm
Kansas Royals vs. Andover Jaguars 6pm
Andover Trojans vs. Empporia, 8pm

Hays Monarchs go 1-1 on first day of zone tourney

Posted on

COLBY, Kan. – The Hays Monarchs Optimist scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a 5-5 tie then held off Colby 9-7 to stay alive in the Colby AA Zone American Legion Tournament.

Cole Zimmerman singled after a walk and an error to give the Monarchs the lead. Eston Brown had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly, Trent Mayo singled and Tate Garcia doubled to drive in the runs in the decisive inning.

Colby scored two in the bottom of the inning and had the tying run at second when Chase Werth induced a ground out to third to end the game.

Werth pitched the final 2 1/3 innings and gets the win. He also drove in three. Garcia had three hits.

The Monarchs (18-10) dropped their tourney opener to Hoisington 3-1, giving up three runs in the first. They will now play Goodland at 3 pm Thursday afternoon in another elimination game.

Gordon’s sac fly in 9th gives Royals win over Tigers

Posted on

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Brandon Moss doubled off the wall in the ninth to score the tying run, and Alex Gordon drove him home with a sacrifice fly to bail out closer Kelvin Herrera and give the Kansas City Royals a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.

Moss homered in the third inning before coming through against Tigers closer Justin Wilson (3-4) in the ninth – shortly after Mikie Mahtook’s two-run shot off Herrera had given Detroit the lead.

Moss went to third on the throw to the plate, and Gordon sent a fly ball to center that was just deep enough to give him his sixth career walk-off RBI and the Royals a much-needed win.

They had lost the first two games of the series and seven of eight overall.

FHSU women’s basketball team ranked 13th in WBCA National Honor Roll

Posted on

ATLANTA – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team earned a spot on the 2016-17 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for the third-straight year and the seventh time in the last eight seasons, announced Wednesday (July 19) by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The Tigers earned a cumulative GPA of 3.624, ranking 13th in the nation.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 annually recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III; NAIA; and junior/community college women’s basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined grade point average (GPA) inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season.

The Tigers were one of three MIAA programs among the top 25.

The 3.624 GPA is the second highest during Hobson’s tenure (3.628, 2011-12). Additionally, this is the seventh time in Hobson’s nine years as head coach at Fort Hays State that the women’s basketball team earned the WBCA Academic Top 25 honor. The team ranked 14th in 2009-10, 11th in 2010-11, 4th in 2011-12, 14th in 2012-13, 23rd in 2014-15, 22nd in 2015-16 and 13th this year.

The complete 2016-17 WBCA Division II Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll can be found below.

Rank Institution Head Coach GPA
1 Emporia State University Jory Collins 3.744
2 Michigan Technological University Kimberly Cameron 3.736
3 Minnesota State University, Mankato Emilee Thiesse 3.728
T4 Lubbock Christian University Steve Gomez 3.723
T4 Maryville University Collin Lanam 3.723
6 Seton Hill University Mark Katarski 3.722
T7 Ohio Dominican University Lynsey Warren 3.717
T7 Pittsburg State University Lane Lord 3.717
9 Nova Southeastern University LeAnn Freeland 3.706
10 Grand Valley State University Mike Williams 3.669
11 Northwood University Jeff Curtis 3.664
12 University of Southern Indiana Rick Stein 3.640
13 Fort Hays State University Tony Hobson 3.624
14 Southern New Hampshire University Karen Pinkos 3.602
15 Rockhurst University Larry Park 3.593
16 Augustana University Dave Krauth 3.588
17 University of the Sciences Jackie Hartzell 3.581
18 Saginaw Valley State University Jamie Pewinski 3.576
19 West Texas A&M University Kristen Mattio 3.568
20 Minnesota State University Moorhead Karla Nelson 3.554
21 Western Oregon University Holli Howard-Carpenter 3.539
22 University of Findlay Jim Wiedie 3.537
23 Montana State University Billings Kevin Woodin 3.529
24 Notre Dame College (Ohio) Katie Hine 3.527
25 Embry-Riddle University Lisa Nuxol-Wilson 3.519

FHSU Sports Information

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File