ATLANTA – In addition to finishing fifth in the final national poll and second in the attendance standings, the Fort Hays State women’s basketball team also ranked towards the top of NCAA Division II academic charts in 2018-19. The Tigers’ cumulative team GPA of 3.708 ranked sixth in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll, announced Tuesday (July 23) by the Coaches Association.
The Tigers’ grade point average of 3.708 was a program best since at least 2001 and the sixth-place ranking is the second best behind a fourth-place finish in 2011-12. FHSU earned a spot in the top 25 for the fifth year in a row and the ninth time over the last 10 seasons. It was the 10th time the Tigers were listed in the Academic Top 25 since 2002. The Tigers have been listed in the top 25 nine times during head coach Tony Hobson’s 11-year tenure.
Fort Hays State was the only NCAA Division II program listed in the final WBCA Coaches Poll, the top 25 of the NCAA home attendance report and the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. Additionally, the Tigers recorded the top GPA in the MIAA for the second year in a row. Thirteen Tigers were listed on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll this season (3.0 or higher cumulative GPA).
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.
WICHITA – Pools and schedules have been released for week one of the 85th NBC World Series powered by Westar Energy.
The Hays Larks are in Pool D and will open against the Waco (TX) Missions at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. If they win that game, they will play the Great Bend (KS) Bat Cats Sunday at a yet to be determined time. If they lose their first game, they will play Great Bend on Monday.
The top two teams from each of the four pools advance to single elimination bracket play on Tuesday, July 30. Those four winners advance to play Wednesday, July 31 with the winners advancing to Championship Week.
The Larks secured the Kansas Collegiate League Baseball automatic spot in the first week after winning the KCLB Post-Season Tournament with a 10-9 win over the Wellington Heat Tuesday.
Both the Heat and the Dodge City A’s received at-large bids into the tournament’s first week. The Liberal Bee Jays and the Kansas Cannons were the KCLB division winners and both have spots in Championship Week.
The NBC World Series takes place July 27 through August 10 at Eck Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks, rookies and injured players reported to Scanlon Hall at Missouri Western Tuesday for their 2019 training camp in St. Joseph. These players will have three practices before the rest of the veteran players report to MWSU Friday and the entire team will officially begin training camp Saturday.
The first three practices are closed to the public so Saturday’s full squad practice will be the first one open to the public. It will begin at 3:30 p.m. and there is a $5 admission fee.
You can listen to the press conference’s from head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wide receiver Mecole Hardman below.
The Hays Striders Track Club were in competition at the AAU Regional Qualifier June 27-30. 23 Striders vied for a spot at the 2019 AAU Junior Olympic Championships and 19 qualified. The Junior Olympics will be held July 28 through August 2 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“In the 24 years we’ve been involved with the Striders, this is the most we’ve ever qualified to compete in the Junior Olympic Games. That is a testament to these kids who go to practice for two hours every day, fighting the cold, the rain, and now the heat to improve and compete. They are true competitors, from the little guys and girls to the high school athletes. They amaze me everyday how hard they are willing to work,” Coach Dave Haberman said. “And those workouts are not easy!”
Region 16 for AAU comprises Kansas, Oklahoma, western Missouri and Arkansas. The top six athletes from the regional meet qualified to compete at the Junior Olympics.
Four Striders — Jade Beckman from Oakley, Lillian McGaughey from La Crosse, Jacob Leiker and Mario Valencia of Hays — were crowned Regional Champions in their events. Beckman and McGaughey are described by Coach Elaine Haberman as a “future Olympic superstars.”
Beckman won the long jump in the 11-year-old girls division with a leap of 14’51/2.” McGaughey had a very busy three days in the 11-year-old division by winning the turbo javelin and discus and qualifying in the high jump and Pentathlon. Leiker blew away the competition in the 8 Under 800 while dropping 10 seconds off of his time a month ago at the AAU District Qualifier. Leiker also qualified in the 400. Hays Middle School athlete Valencia was the top Pole Vaulter in the 13-year-old age group and also qualified for the Junior Olympics in the high jump.
The girls side of the team have been battling injuries throughout the season, but even those with injuries managed to qualify for the JO’s. Hays High’s Brooklyn Lewallen, competing with a nagging hamstring, qualified in the 15-16 100 meter hurdles as well as the 400 meter hurdles. Hays Middle School athlete Lacy Droegemeier, battling a lower leg injury throughout most of the summer season, qualified in the 14-year-old 100 hurdles and Pentathlon. “They are a great group of kids that love to work hard and they have fun doing it, which is the most enjoyable part,” Striders hurdle coach Maddux Winter said.
Middle distance phenom Morgan Armbruster switched gears mid-season due to injuries, adding the Turbo Javelin throw to her 11-year-old event listing. Armbruster placed 3rd in that event to qualify. Zoe Brown of Plainville, battling knee trouble throughout the season, qualified in the 12 year old Pentathlon. Kaliyah Bannister qualified in the 11-year-old long jump with a personal best. Sydney Lewallen, described by Coach Dave Haberman as “one of our hardest working athletes, and one to watch for future years” qualified for a second year in the 9-year-old girls 400 and long jump. Grace Molthan qualified for her first Junior Olympics in the 9-year-old Girls 1500 meter run. Lyndi Zimmerman qualified for her third Junior Olympics in two events, the 10-year-old 400 and 1500.
“We are so proud of all of these girls,” Coach Elaine Haberman said.
On the boys side, beside Leiker and Valencia, seven more athletes qualified. Plainville’s record breaker AJ Brown, qualified in the 14-year-old 200 hurdles and Pentathlon. Logan Leiker qualified in the 10-year-old 1500.
“Those Leiker boys can just flat out run,” Dave Haberman said. “This is their first year and they’re running like seasoned athletes!”
Emery Zimmerman qualified in the 8 Under 800 and 1500, and Tayte Lewallen in the 8 Under 1500.
“Those two are fighters,” Coach Dave Haberman said, “they challenge each other every day in practice and are just great competitors on the track.”
Hunter Molthan, the veteran on the boys team, qualified in three events. The 800, 1500, and 3000.
“Hunter is a beautiful runner,” Elaine Haberman stated. “He’s a hard worker and just loves track.”
Of the Strider boy throwers, coached by 4 time All-MIAA FHSU athlete Tim McElroy, two qualified to move on to North Carolina. Jack Zeller qualified in the 13-year-old javelin, shot put and discus. Caleb Englert qualified in the 11-year-old turbo javelin and discus.
“The kids worked extremely hard this summer and their accomplishments show it,” throws coach Tim McElroy said.
“We are very proud of all of our Strider kids,” Dave Haberman said. “And we have a great coaching staff! They are committed to helping these kids improve every day.”
The Striders are coached by Dave and Elaine Haberman, Dustin and Wendy Armbruster, Meredith and Darris Lewallen, Bob Threlkel, Rose McFarland, Maddux Winter, and Anthony Ventura.
Complete Results are as follows, Top 6 Qualify:
Girls
Paityn Armbruster, 400-27, 1:42.05; LJ-17, 7’1”
Sydney Lewallen, 9, 400-2, 1:15.38; LJ-5, 11’9 ½”; 200-12, 34.49
AUGUSTA, Kan. – The Hays Larks knew they were headed to the NBC World Series regardless of what happened at the KCLB Post-Season Tournament but they went ahead and won the tournament title for good measure. The Larks (32-10) scored five runs in the first inning then held on the rest of the way to edge the Wellington Heat 10-9 to secure the automatic bid into the first week of the NBC World Series.
Drew Marrufo walked two batters and hit two batters with two outs in the ninth which allowed three runs to score, but with the tying run at first he got a fly out to end the rally and the game.
Starter Tommy Garcia (5-0) struck out eight without issuing a walk over seven innings and picked up the win. The Mesa (AZ) CC product allowed five runs, four earned, on 10 hits.
Jerrod Belbin hit a three-run homer to highlight the Larks five-run first inning. George Sutherland also drove in three runs and Justin Lee went 4-for-5 to lead the Larks offensively.
The Larks will begin play NBC World Series play sometime Saturday against a yet to be determined opponent. You can hear all of the Larks action from Eck Stadium on KAYS (94.3-FM, 1400-AM) and on the KAYS app.
ATLANTA (AP) – Lucas Duda came through with Kansas City’s first pinch-hit homer of the season to break a tie in the eighth inning, and the Royals held on for a 5-4 victory over the first-place Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Alex Gordon also homered for the Royals and drove in two runs. Both starters – Atlanta’s Dallas Keuchel and Kansas City’s Danny Duffy – went six strong innings with double-digit strikeouts but didn’t factor in the decision.
Hitting just .150, Duda led off the eighth by driving a 2-2 pitch from Anthony Swarzak (0-1) over the wall in right-center for a 435-foot homer. It was the fourth pinch-hit homer of Duda’s career, the most recent one coming last September, when he played for the Braves.
The Royals added two more runs in the eighth, taking advantage of three walks and a hit batter. Swarzak faced three batters, didn’t get anyone out and was charged with all three runs, pushing his ERA since being acquired by the Braves from 0.42 to 1.68.
Ian Kennedy gave up three straight singles to start the ninth, including Josh Donaldson’s second RBI of the game, but bounced back for his 18th save. Ozzie Albies popped out with the potential tying run at third base, and Austin Riley struck out to end the game.
Keuchel allowed just three hits and struck out 12 but left the game trailing 2-1. Duffy was in line to get the win after surrendering one run on five hits with 11 strikeouts, only to have the Braves scratch out a run in the seventh. Taking advantage of Scott Barlow’s leadoff walk to pinch-hitter Matt Joyce, Freddie Freeman fouled off three straight two-strike, two-out sinkers from side-armer Tim Hill (1-0) before guiding an RBI single up the middle.
The rarely matched teams met for the first time since 2016, when the Royals were coming off a World Series title and Atlanta was in the midst of a major rebuilding job. The roles are reversed for this series, with the Braves holding a comfortable lead in the NL East while Kansas City is saddled with one of the baseball’s worst records.
With one out in sixth, Gordon sent a 3-2 fastball over the Chop House restaurant in right-field to put the Royals ahead for the first time. Right fielder Nick Markakis barely moved as the 417-foot drive sailed over his head.
After Keuchel retired the first nine Kansas City hitters – six with strikeouts – Whit Merrifield reached base by dropping a bunt single down the third-base line. He came around to score when Gordon followed with a double down the right-field line – ending Keuchel’s streak of 17 straight innings without allowing an earned run to the Royals, going back to April 8, 2017.
Donaldson put the Braves ahead with a two-out double in the first, sending one to the gap in left-center to bring home Dansby Swanson.
Ronald Acuna extended his career-best on-base streak to 28 games when he was hit by a pitch in the third.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves LHP Max Fried threw a bullpen session Tuesday and could be ready to rejoin the rotation by this weekend. Fried (10-4, 4.08 ERA) has been on the DL since July 16 with a blister on his left index finger. Manager Brian Snitker said the blister has healed and if Fried makes it through another bullpen session, he would likely get the start Sunday at Philadelphia.
UP NEXT
Braves RHP Julio Teheran (5-6, 3.60) will make his second career start against the Royals when he goes in the finale of the brief two-game series on Wednesday. Kansas City will counter with RHP Brad Keller (6-9, 4.18), a 2013 graduate of Flowery Branch High School in Atlanta’s sprawling northern suburbs. It will be Keller’s first appearance against the Braves.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs expect wide receiver Tyreek Hill to report to training camp with the rest of the veterans this week, though whether star defensive tackle Chris Jones joins him remains to be seen.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Tuesday the organization has been in touch with Jones’ representatives, but he’s unsure where things stand in their contract discussions. Jones is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is seeking a lucrative, long-term extension.
Things are less murky when it comes to Hill, whom the NFL declined to punish late last week. Hill had been suspended from the team pending the resolution of a domestic violence case.
Rookies, quarterbacks and injured players reported to Missouri Western State University on Tuesday. They’ll be joined by Hill and the other veterans Friday, with the first full-squad workout Saturday.
AUGUSTA – One night after collecting 17 hits in a 10-1 rout of Wellington, the Hays Larks were held to four hits and shut out 4-0 by the Heat forcing a second and decisive title game at KCLB Post-Season Tournament at Rodney Wheeler Stadium.
It’s the first time the Larks have been shut out since June 14, 2018, when they lost 3-0 in game one of a doubleheader at Derby.
Wellington (28-13-1) scored three runs in the second inning which was all Hayden Woosley needed as he held the Larks to three singles over the first seven innings.
The Larks (31-10) best scoring chance came in the fifth when Jerrod Belbin and Max McGuire led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After Grant Lung popped up and was out on an infield fly, Belbin stole third and McGuire followed into second. Wyatt Divis followed with a fly out then Justin Lee grounded into a fielders choice to end the inning.
Belbin had two of the Larks four hits which were all singles.
Ryan Ruder (5-2) allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings with four strikeouts and three walks.
The second and deciding title game is Tuesday at 7pm in Augusta with the winner receiving the KCLB’s automatic spot in the First Week of the NBC World Series which begins Saturday at Eck Stadium in Wichita.
AUGUSTA, Kan. – The Hays Larks scored in every inning but one Sunday night and knocked off the Wellington Heat 10-1 to advance to the KCLB Post-Season Tournament championship at Rodney Wheeler Stadium.
Wyatt Divis went 4-for-5 with a home run and a double and drove in four runs. He also allowed only the one run on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks over 7 1/3 innings on the mound for his fifth win of the season.
Mikey Gangwish, who started at first base for the first time this season, went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs. Infielder Grant Lung, who was acquired before the start of the tournament, also had three hits.
The Larks (31-9) will play for the KCLB Post-Season Tournament championship Monday at 7 p.m. against the winner of the 4 o’clock game between Wellington and Dodge City. The A’s stayed alive with a 7-5 win over McPherson Sunday afternoon.
The Larks did find out they will receive one of the two At-Large bids into the First Week of the NBC World Series should they not win the KCLB Tournament and will play at a yet to be determined time this upcoming Saturday.
GREAT BEND – The Hays Eagles Senior American Legion rallied from a nine run deficit to beat the Great Bend Chiefs 13-12 in eight innings Sunday at the Great Bend Sports Complex and have been declared champions of the Great Bend American Legion AAA Zone 1 Tournament.
Since the Eagles (30-6) are hosting next week’s AAA State Tournament and already have a spot in the eight-team field, and since they made it through the winners bradket 2-0 and a win or loss would have no bearing on seeding at the state tournament, Hays has been declared the winner of the Zone and will not have to play Monday’s night’s scheduled title game.
Great Bend (24-14) will play Nickerson Monday evening with the winner securing the second spot out of Zone 1 to state.
The Chiefs scored eight runs in the first inning Sunday, and led 11-2 after three but Hays (30-6) rallied with three in the fourth, three in the fifth then four in the sixth.
After Great Bend tied the game with a run in bottom of the sixth, the Eagles took the lead back for good on a Colby Dreiling fielders choice, scoring Brady Kreutzer in the eighth.
Cody Petersen worked out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth, catching a line drive back to the mound to end the game. He pitched the final 1 1/3 innings and picked up the win.
Brady Kreutzer had four of the Eagles 18 hits and drove in three runs. Petersen had three hits and Brock Lummus two. Both drove in two runs as the Eagles win their eighth straight.
The Eagles will play either Great Bend or Nickerson for the Zone title Monday night around 8 o’clock. The Chiefs and Panthers play their elimination game at 6 p.m.
CLEVELAND (AP) – Francisco Lindor homered after originally being scheduled to get the day off, Jose Ramirez hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth and the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Sunday.
Lindor talked his way into the lineup at designated hitter after manager Terry Francona planned on resting the All-Star shortstop. His two-run homer in the third tied the game at 2-all.
Ramirez’s leadoff homer put Cleveland ahead in the sixth and the Indians went on to their seventh win in eight games. Cleveland has also won 13 of 16.
Rookie Zach Plesac (4-3) allowed two runs in six innings. The right-hander gave up a run in the first and allowed Jorge Soler’s solo homer in the third.
Brad Hand allowed Bubba Starling’s first major league home run in the ninth, but struck out the next three hitters for his 27th save in 28 opportunities.
Glenn Sparkman (4-5) allowed both homers and gave up five runs – four earned – in 5 2/3 innings.
Soler hit his 27 home run in the third and took a homer away from Jason Kipnis the following inning. Soler leaped at the wall in right field to catch Kipnis’ towering drive.
Sparkman threw his hands in the air as he looked toward right field. Soler tipped his cap to the pitcher.
Cheslor Cuthbert’s RBI double put Kansas City ahead in the first. Plesac retired the first two hitters, but walked Hunter Dozier and Soler. Cuthbert double over third base, scoring Dozier.
Soler’s homer made it 2-0 before Kevin Plawecki reached on shortstop Humberto Arteaga’s throwing error. Lindor golfed a low pitch to right for his 16th home run.
Ramirez, who has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, homered to right on an 0-2 pitch, his 10th of the season.
Plawecki and rookie Oscar Mercado also had RBIs for the Indians.
Kansas City is 7-3 since the All-Star break and snapped Cleveland’s six-game winning streak with a 1-0 victory on Saturday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (broken arm) threw 30 pitches off the mound, his second bullpen since being struck by a line drive May 1. He’ll accompany the team on its road trip to Toronto and throw his next bullpen session Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (4-5, 4.52 ERA) on Tuesday in Atlanta will look to build off a positive last outing. He threw six innings in which he allowed just two earned runs while walking none.
Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger (3-2, 3.57 ERA) will pitch the opener of a four-game series in Toronto on Monday. He’s struck out 27 batters in 17 innings in July.
ABILENE — A two-time state champion tennis player and former Fort Hays State University tennis coach, Michael Willey has been named to replace longtime Cowboy coach Mike Jantz at Abilene High School.
Jantz retired from his teaching and coaching responsibilities at the end of the just completed school year.
Willey, who has been Jantz’s assistant coach for the past several years, earned his Kansas State championships in the early 90s playing doubles with Jordy Canfield white attending Abilene High School. Willey and Canfield qualified for the state tournament three times during their high school career, earning gold their final two seasons. During his junior campaign, the Cowboys won the Class 4A State Team Title.
Upon graduation from AHS, Willey played tennis while attending Bethany College. He later transferred to Fort Hays State University to get his college degree.
Willey was named the Fort Hays State University women’s assistant tennis coach upon completion of his degree and spent almost four years at that position. He next moved to Hays High School to be in charge of the boys and girls tennis program, a post he held for the next four years.
Eventually, Willey accepted an elementary PE teaching position back in his home town of Abilene and he returned to coaching as he worked with head coach Garry Stredney, who had been his high school coach, and Jantz as they continued the winning tradition of Cowboy tennis.
“I am really excited to come in and take over a program that I have been associated with for the last 15 years,” Willey said. “I am looking forward to continuing Abilene’s long tradition of winning the North Central Kansas League.
“We have the streak going winning the NCKL and we are going to try to keep that going,” Willey added. “We are going to be a little young this coming year in tennis but I expect big things here coming down the line.”
AUGUSTA – The Hays Larks will open Kansas Collegiate League Baseball postseason play Saturday against the McPherson Pipeliners.
The Larks finished the regular season 29-8 and tied for first in the Jayhawk West Division with Liberal at 10-6. But the Bee Jays claimed the regular season title via tiebreaker. Liberal was 26-12 on the season.
As division champions, the Bee Jays have secured a spot in the KCLB championship series against the winner of the South-Central Division champions, the Kansas Cannons. Both teams also qualified for championship week of the NBC World Series in Wichita, Aug. 1 to 10.
The Larks, Dodge City, Wellington and McPherson will have to fight it out for the final league’s final spot at the NBC.
They will play in a four-team, double-elimination league tournament starting Saturday in Augusta.
Wellington and Dodge City will play at 2 p.m. with the Larks and McPherson at 7 p.m.
