The Hays Eagles offense exploded for 14 runs and starter Colby Dreiling allowed just one hit in four shutout innings in a 14-0 win over Ottawa at Larks Park Wednesday in the first day of the AA/AAA State American Legion Baseball tournament.

Coach Dustin Schumacher

After a quick 1-2-3 top of the first inning in which Dreiling used just nine pitches the Eagles Cody Petersen homered to left first with one out in the bottom of the first to get the offense going.

Hays then took advantage of back-to-back errors by the Ottawa shortstop and a Brady Kreutzer two-run single. Jamison Martin also singled in a run in the inning. Hays also scored on an error and a passed ball to take a 6-0 first inning lead.

Palmer Hutchison homered in the second inning to put Hays up 7-0.

Ottawa got their first base runner in the third inning on a hit batter. They recorded their only hit in the fourth inning.

After sending 11 to the plate in the first inning the Eagles sent 12 to the plate in the bottom of the third inning.

In that inning Hays scored seven runs highlighted by Petersen’s two-run double and Jamison Martin’s two-run single.

Petersen and Martin each drove in three runs in the victory.

Dreiling earned his fourth win of the season. He allowed just one hit while striking out one in four shutout innings.

Hays improved to 31-6 with the win.

They will take on Emporia Thursday at 6 p.m. at Larks Park.

Other scores from the day one of the state tournament:

Sabetha defeated Norton 15-0
Emporia rallied to be Great Bend 4-3
Iola downed Russell 10-0

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Freddy Galvis and rookie Bo Bichette hit solo home runs to lead the Toronto Blue Jays over the Kansas City Royals 4-1 Wednesday for a three-game sweep.

Bichette hit his first career homer to open the eighth inning against Royals starter Jakob Junis, a drive to left field. Galvis cleared the center field wall with his 16th to open the seventh.

Cavan Biggio followed Bichette’s homer with a double, ending Junis’ outing. Reliever Kevin McCarthy surrendered a run-scoring double to Teoscar Hernandez.

Rookie Jacob Waguespack (2-1) went six innings for his second win in his fourth big-league start. He held the Royals to three hits and one run. Cam Gallagher barely cleared the left-field bullpen fence for his second homer, drilling a 2-2 pitch from Waguespack to open the third inning.

Junis (6-10) was cruising for much of the game, retiring the side on eight pitches each in the second, third and fourth innings. But the Jays got even 1-1 in the sixth as Biggio walked, stole second and scored on Justin Smoak’s single.

Waguespack got exceptional defensive help early. Deep outfield catches by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in left and Randal Grichuk in center prevented extra-base hits by Jorge Soler in the first inning and Hunter Dozier in the third. Smoak speared Ryan O’Hearn’s hot shot to start a double play in the fourth and Gurriel charged in for a shoetop grab of Nicky Lopez’s weak liner to end the inning.

Right after that play, however, Gurriel left the game with a sore right knee.

Rookie right-hander Justin Shafer worked a perfect ninth for his first career save.

JAYS ROOKIES CAN LEAD

With the Blue Jays shedding veterans, they have the second youngest team in the majors and manager Charlie Montoyo is encouraging the kids, including Biggio and Bichette, to take leadership roles.

“What I’ve been telling Biggio and Bo when they got here: ‘This is your clubhouse, here we go. You guys were leaders in the minor leagues, it’s the same thing here. Just because you’re a rookie, don’t (avoid being) a leader in the big leagues. Go ahead and start now,”‘ Montoyo said. “And they have been doing that.”

BORUCKI GOES ON IL

Toronto placed LHP Ryan Borucki (0-1, 10.80 ERA) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with inflammation of the left elbow. His roster spot was filled by LHP Buddy Boshers, called up from Triple-A Buffalo (0-2, five saves, 2.78 ERA). Boshers has big league experience with the Angels and Twins.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: Toronto travels to Baltimore where RHP Trent Thornton (3-7, 5.45 ERA) will come off the injured list to start Thursday night. The Orioles will start RHP Asher Wojciechowski (2-3, 3.60 ERA).

Royals: After an open date Thursday, Kansas City will open a 10-game trip at Minnesota on Friday night. RHP Glenn Sparkman (3-7, 5.25 ERA) will be opposed by Twins LHP Martin Perez (8-4, 4.38 ERA).

KANSAS CITY – Fort Hays State Coach Chris Brown and wide reciever Layne Bieberle and linebacker Kolt Trachsel addressed the media Wednesday in Kansas City for the annual MIAA Media Day.

Chris Brown

Kolt Trachsel

Layne Bieberle

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Following back-to-back MIAA Championships in 2017 and 2018, Fort Hays State Football will enter the 2019 as the favorite among MIAA coaches in the preseason polls released on Wednesday (July 31) at MIAA Football Media Day. The Tigers were slated No. 2 in the Media Poll behind Northwest Missouri State, the team they shared the MIAA Championship with last year.

This is the first time the Tigers have topped either poll since joining the MIAA in 2006. Last year FHSU was No. 2 in both polls and Northwest Missouri State was No. 1, but this snaps a six-year streak of Northwest Missouri State topping the preseason poll from head coaches around the conference.

The coaches poll was close once again this year with Fort Hays State coming out on top by two points. FHSU received six first-place votes and 114 total voting points, while Northwest Missouri State received five first-place votes and 112 total voting points. Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State were the only MIAA schools to play in the NCAA Playoffs last year. Pittsburg State received the one remaining first-place vote and ranked third with 97 points. Central Oklahoma, a bowl game participant for each of the last two years, ranked fourth with 90 points.

Northwest Missouri State received the majority of first-place votes in the media poll, picked No. 1 in 32 of the 40 polls submitted. Fort Hays State topped seven polls of media members. The Bearcats and Tigers were the only two programs to receive over 400 total voting points with 471 and 433 respectively. Pittsburg State ranked No. 3 with 378 points, Central Missouri ranked No. 4 with 336 points, and Central Oklahoma ranked No. 5 with 313 points.

2019 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Fort Hays State (6) – 114 points
2. Northwest Missouri (5) – 112 points
3. Pittsburg State (1) – 97 points
4. Central Oklahoma – 90 points
5. Central Missouri – 80 points
6. Emporia State – 73 points
7. Missouri Western – 57 points
8. Washburn – 54 points
9. Nebraska Kearney – 46 points
10. Missouri Southern – 34 points
11. Northeastern State – 23 points
12. Lincoln – 12 points
Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team

2019 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (32) – 471 points
2. Fort Hays State (7) – 433 points
3. Pittsburg State – 378 points
4. Central Missouri – 336 points
5. Central Oklahoma – 313 points
6. Emporia State – 264 points
7. Missouri Western – 245 points
8. Washburn – 234 points
9. Nebraska Kearney – 194 points
10. Missouri Southern (1) – 120 points
11. Northeastern State – 79 points
12. Lincoln – 52 points

Fort Hays State returns nine of its 11 starters on offense from the 2018 season, including five that received All-MIAA honors. Junior offensive lineman Amari Angram-Boldin was a second-team selection, while third team selections went to seniors Layne Bieberle (wide receiver), Matt Wendelberger (tight end), and Charles Tigner (running back). Senior Harley Hazlett (wide receiver) garnered an honorable mention selection, but could be one of the top all-around offensive threats in the conference this year after an FHSU-record 91 receptions in 2018 to go with 904 receiving yards, 60 rushing yards, and 132 kick return yards. Bieberle was close behind Hazlett in receiving yards with 894 on 57 catches, and he earned two all-conference honors for the year after getting an honorable mention nod as a punt returner (304 return yards). Wendelberger had a big year of 502 yards on 33 catches and Tigner continued to be a threat in both the run and pass game with 778 yards rushing and 217 yards receiving. Sophomore quarterback Chance Fuller also returns after receiving starts late in the 2018 season and finishing with 1,185 passing yards.

On defense, the Tigers return four starters led by All-MIAA Third-Team pick Sterling Swopes on the defensive line. Honorable mention status went to linebacker Kolt Trachsel and defensive back Tanner Hoekman, while Sheldon Schmidt also returns on the defensive line. Trachsel, Hoekman, and Schmidt enter their senior year, while Swopes is a junior. Hoekman is the top returning tackler, posting 75 stops last year, while Trachsel finished with 59. Schmidt finished the year with 45 tackles, while Swopes added 41. Swopes is the top returning pass-rush threat after five sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss last year.

The biggest question on defense is how the Tigers fill the shoes of six All-MIAA selections, which included three All-America honorees. The six starters lost to exhaustion of eligibility were MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Jose Delgado (linebacker), Doyin Jibowu (safety), Wyatt Parker (defensive line), Connor Shedeed (safety), Malik Young (defensive line), and Aquil Knowles (cornerback). Jibowu went on to sign as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears, joining Delgado and Parker as All-America selections. Delgado pushed Fort Hays State’s streak of producing the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year to three-straight years, finishing with 117 tackles. The six starters lost from last year’s team combined for a total of 422 tackles and eight interceptions.

Kicker/punter Dante Brown looks to give the Tigers a boost on special teams once again in 2019. Brown was the NCAA Division II Special Teams Player of the Year by the Don Hansen Football Committee in 2018, while also earning MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year as an all-conference first team selection at both kicker and punter. Brown led Division II in field goals last year with 28, averaging an all-NCAA levels best 2.33 field goals per game. He scored 123 points for the season, but also punted the ball 67 times and averaged 41.4 yards per attempt.

Head coach Chris Brown enters his ninth year guiding the Tigers in 2019. He led the Tigers to postseason game appearances in each of the last four years, twice in bowl games (2015 and 2016) and most recently twice in the NCAA Playoffs (2017 and 2018). Brown was the MIAA Coach of the Year in each of the last two years.

By DAVE RIGGERT
St. Joseph Post

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs held their fourth practice of training camp Tuesday morning at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill left practice early after colliding with CB Bashaud Breeland in midair. The Chiefs announced that it is a thigh contusion and there will be an update Wednesday.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, linebacker Reggie Ragland and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif all spoke to the media after practice.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The annual MIAA Football Media Day presented by Seigfreid Bingham will be available live on The MIAA Network and Midco Sports Network, Wednesday, July 31. The MIAA will utilize multiple platforms to provide FREE live coverage of 2019 Football Media Day, taking place at the Kauffman Foundation Center in Kansas City.

All 12 MIAA football head coaches and two student-athletes from each school will be in attendance along with media from Kansas City and throughout the conference footprint.

Live coverage of press conferences begin online on The MIAA Network at 9:30 am with opening comments from MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy, including the release of the preseason coaches and media polls. The MIAA Network app is also available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku. The MIAA Network is available via your computer or mobile device. The complete schedule of appearances and times for each school are listed below. No subscription is required to watch the press conferences with free viewing throughout the entire day.

MidcoSN will carry the entire broadcast from The MIAA Network to fans in northeast Kansas. Fans who receive the network as part of their cable subscription can watch it channels 622 (HD) or 32.

Fans are encouraged to submit their questions for head coaches and student-athletes on Twitter with #AskMIAA. A question using the hashtag that is asked during a press conference will receive a prize from the MIAA office.

Student-athletes will also participate in Twitter Live interviews on the MIAA’s twitter page with MIAA Correspondent Bethany Bowman. Sports Radio 810 WHB in Kansas City will have a live show from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Kauffman Foundation Center. The show will have interviews with select coaches and student-athletes.

2019 Football Media Day Schedule
9:30 a.m. MIAA Commissioner Mike Racy
9:45 a.m. Supervisor of Officials Phil Laurie

Session I
10 a.m. Missouri Southern – Jeff Sims, Levi Marlay, Shemar Coleman
10:15 a.m. Nebraska-Kearney – Josh Lynn, Hinwa Allieu, Luke Quinn
10:30 a.m. Pittsburg State – Tim Beck, Simanu’a Thomas, Ryan Dodd
10:45 a.m. Break
11 a.m. Central Missouri – Jim Svoboda, Brook Bolles, John Embrey
11:15 a.m. Fort Hays State – Chris Brown, Layne Bieberle, Kolt Trachsel
11:30 a.m. Central Oklahoma – Nick Bobeck, Tyler Stilwell, O’Shay Harris

Session II
12 p.m. Lincoln – Malik Hoskins, Chavon Gross, Cyril Spells
12:15 p.m. Northwest Missouri State – Rich Wright, Student-Athletes TBA
12:30 p.m. Northeastern State – J.J. Eckert, Ukoh Essang, Jason Staggs
12:45 p.m. Break
1 p.m. Emporia State – Garin Higgins, Kai Callins, Jace McDown
1:15 p.m. Missouri Western – Matt Williamson, Hayden Eatinger, Devan Burrell
1:30 p.m. Washburn – Craig Schurig, Kyle Hinton, Josh Wright

Closing

1:45 p.m. MIAA Staff

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – Joe Flacco will have to wait another week to make his Denver debut.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio said he’ll start last year’s backup, Kevin Hogan, against Atlanta in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday night.

He’ll be followed by rookies Drew Lock and Brett Rypien, Fangio said.

That means Flacco is slated to make his first appearance for the Broncos on Aug. 8 at Seattle.

Hogan had a rough start to training camp before settling in, and Lock is getting a crash course in the pro-style offense after taking only a handful of snaps from under center during his time at the University of Missouri.

Although there are major questions facing Fangio as he builds his first roster in Denver, the 61-year-old rookie head coach is keeping the front-line starters on the sideline in Canton, Ohio, where former Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame over the weekend along with team owner Pat Bowlen, who died in June at age 75.

The starters, including receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who participated in 11-on-11 drills Monday for the first time as he continues his comeback from a torn Achilles tendon, will get an extended break this week after reporting to camp a week earlier than usual.

Following Wednesday’s walkthrough, they won’t practice again until Sunday.

With their first preseason game approaching, the Broncos released their initial depth chart Monday, although Fangio cautioned against reading much into it.

“I’m going to be honest with you. I wouldn’t read it at all,” Fangio said. “They come in to me and asked me to put this depth chart together. I gave it to the coaches said just put it there. You guys know who’s been working with the 1s. Anything after that is a free-for-all, and if you put any stock in to it, you’re mistaken.”

Fangio said the depth chart doesn’t matter until “we cut down to 53,” which isn’t for another month.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Keith Reaser, who emerged as one of the stars of the brief Alliance of American Football, hurt his Achilles tendon during practice Monday and could miss the season.

Reaser was fourth on the depth chart behind Kendall Fuller, Bashaud Breeland and Charvarius Ward, but the cousin of late Redskins defensive back Sean Taylor was likely to make the team.

In other injury news from the Chiefs’ first padded practice, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz left early when his back locked up and wide receiver Gehrig Dieter departed practice with back spasms.

Running back Damien Williams and safety Jordan Lucas remained sidelined by hamstring injuries, while Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Breeland could return soon after having stitches for a lacerated thumb.

The Chiefs practice again Tuesday and Wednesday before getting their first day off Thursday.