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Category: Sports

Stuck in limbo, Royals stand pat at trade deadline

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Stuck in limbo between contending and conceding, the Kansas City Royals opted to stand pat as baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline passed Thursday, even as several other teams pulled off splashy moves.

The Tigers, who led the Royals by 4 1/2 games in the AL Central at the start of the day, landed arguably the biggest coup in left-hander David Price. The Mariners and Yankees, neck-and-neck with Kansas City in the wild-card hunt, also were involved in a series of trades.

Meanwhile, Royals general manager Dayton Moore said his perennially building club checked on potential trade targets but “at the end of the day, there weren’t any players we could get our hands on that would be upgrades over what we have.”

The Royals haven’t made the playoffs since 1985.

Chiefs safety Berry leaves practice with injury

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Eric Berry left Chiefs practice on Thursday after hurting his lower right leg, the second injury that the Pro Bowl safety has sustained so far in training camp.

Berry missed some time earlier with a dislocated finger.

It was unclear what happened to Berry during one of the early sessions of practice at Missouri Western. He was checked by trainers in the injury tent next to the field, then talked with other team officials on the sideline before leaving the field on a cart.

Berry was able to put weight on the leg, but was noticeably limping. Chiefs coach Andy Reid was expected to discuss the nature and severity of the injury after practice.

K-State Ranked 21st in Preseason Coaches Poll

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Kansas State Athletics

MANHATTAN, Kan. – For the second time in the last three seasons, Kansas State was ranked 21st in the Preseason Amway Coaches Poll released Thursday morning as the Cats were one of four Big 12 teams ranked in the season’s initial top 25.

The Wildcats were also ranked 21st by the coaches prior to the Big 12 Championship season of 2012, which was the first time K-State was in the preseason poll since 2004. It is the first time overall Kansas State has been included in the coaches poll since the final 2012 survey when the Wildcats finished the year at No. 11.

Other Big 12 programs joining the Cats in the 2014 preseason poll were Oklahoma (third), Baylor (10th) and Texas (24th). Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas Tech were among 27 schools that received votes but sit outside the top 25. Additionally, Auburn – K-State’s opponent on Thursday, September 18 – checked in at No. 5.

Heat ends season with runner-up finish in Missouri

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Submitted

The Hays Heat 12 & Under fast-pitch softball team closed out their season with a runner-up finish in the Blue Division of the ASA Heartland VIP World Series held at Hidden Valley Sports Complex in Independence, Mo., on July 24 through 27.

Heat073114
Front row, from left: Hannah Black, Kaitlyn Brown and Kallynn Petz. Back row, from left, Julia Werth, Emily Schulte, Macee Altman, Tasiah Nunnery, Jaysa Wichers, Madelyn Waddell, Lexi Gottschalk and Brooklyn Staab. Not pictured are coaches Joshua Waddell, Ryan Gottschalk, Randy Gottschalk and Les Brown. Courtesy photo by Tina Waddell

The Heat finished pool play with a 4-0 record and outscored their opponents by a 22-0 margin, including a win over the eventual champion NW Pride (Maryville, Mo.). Their pool play performance advanced the Heat to bracket play as the tournament’s overall top seed.

After advancing to the final of the winner’s bracket, the NW Pride snapped the Heat’s 16-game winning streak and pushed them to the consolation bracket semi-final, where the Heat defeated the Overland Park Ignite to earn a spot in the tournament finale.

A second win of the weekend over the NW Pride forced the pivotal “if necessary” game to decide the tournament championship, where the Heat fell just short of the championship.

A 7-win, 2-loss performance at the World Series capped a fantastic season, as the Heat recorded a 28-5 record on the year and scored tournament championships at the Kansas ASA Class C State Tournament in Emporia and at Dodge City’s 5 State Border Showdown Series.

Larks to open NBC World Series play against the San Diego Waves

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NCKTech-Summer14

The Hays Larks will open the 80th NBC World Series in Wichita against the San Diego Waves at 1am Saturday morning. It’s the final game of the first day of Championship Week.
NBC Logo (80)
If the Larks win their opener, they will play again sometime Saturday night against either the San Antonio (TX) Titans or the Seattle (WA) Studs, giving them two games in less than 24 hours. If they lose, they would play either the Titans or Studs sometime Sunday morning or early afternoon.

The Larks (29-13) are making their 29th NBC World Series appearance and are riding a nine-game win streak. They qualified for Championship Week with their second place finish in the Jayhawk League. Last year they went 2-2 at the NBC and tied for seventh place. They have finished runner four times, the most for any team without a title. The Larks have finished in the top-10 17 times.

The Waves, who won the Southern Division of the Western Baseball Association, are 27-21 and have won four of their last five. They are in their 20th year of playing summer baseball and making their 13th NBC World Series appearance and ninth straight. They went 2-2 and lost out in the First Week last year. They finished fourth in 2011 and had a third-place finish in 2001.

All games at the NBC World Series will be played at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium and Saturday’s game will be broadcast on KAYS (1400-AM) an on-line at www.hayspost.com.

Chiefs QB Smith focusing on football, not contract

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith says that the time is approaching where he will shelve all talk about a contract extension and focus solely on football for the remainder of the season.

Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have been discussing a new deal with Smiths’ representatives for months, though the sides remain far apart. Smith said after practice Wednesday that he’s yet to set a date to break off negotiations, but he acknowledged that “at some point mentally it’ll come to me.”

Smith is due $7.5 million this season, the final year of his contract, and many expect him to get an extension similar to what Colin Kaepernick received from the San Francisco 49ers.

Kaepernick signed a six-year, $126 million deal that includes $61 million guaranteed.

Chiefs S Commings leaves field with ankle injury

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Oft-injured Chiefs safety Sanders Commings was carted off the practice field Wednesday after getting juked to the ground by running back Jamaal Charles and hurting his right ankle.

Commings broke his collarbone in his first practice as a rookie and was finally getting up to speed. He was trying to tackle Charles in the open field when he whiffed, turning his ankle in such a way that he was unable to put any weight on it.

Commings was in a heated competition for a backup job, and the Chiefs hoped he would push veteran Husain Abdullah for the free safety spot that opened when Kendrick Lewis departed.

Meanwhile, right tackle Donald Stephenson returned to practice after missing Monday’s workout with a left ankle injury. The Chiefs had Tuesday off.

Perez helps Royals struggle to win over Twins

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By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

Salvador Perez triggered a go-ahead rally with a double in the sixth inning and made several spectacular plays behind the plate, helping the Kansas City Royals to a scrappy 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

 

Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas had RBI doubles during the Royals’ charge, which wiped away a 1-0 deficit. Jason Frasor earned his first win since arriving in Kansas City by striking out Chris Colabello to leave the bases loaded in the sixth inning.

 

Scott Downs and Kelvin Herrera gave back a run in the seventh, but Herrera struck out Brian Dozier and Josh Willingham with runners on second and third to preserve a one-run lead.

 

Wade Davis worked a perfect eighth, and All-Star closer Greg Holland survived two wild pitches that sent Eduardo Nunez to third base by striking out Sam Fuld for his 28th save.

 

Phil Hughes (10-8) showed no lingering effects from a comebacker off his right ankle that cut short his last outing. He allowed only three singles before the sixth inning, when the Royals were able to finally string together a series of hits that gave them the lead.

 

Omar Infante led off the sixth with a single and Perez added his double moments later, finally matching Willingham’s homer in the second inning. Gordon followed with his RBI double to center, and Moustakas pulled another run-scoring double just inside the first-base line for a 3-1 lead.

 

The Royals’ bullpen and defense made each run seem huge.

 

Perez made the first of his memorable plays in the third inning, when he picked Nunez off first base with a snap throw. Royals starter Danny Duffy picked Fuld off first in the fourth, and Dozier was thrown out at the plate on a base-running mistake later in the inning.

 

Perez’s best play may have come in the seventh, when he leaped from the behind the plate to grab a sacrifice bunt and throw the runner out at first. Herrera followed with back-to-back strikeouts to leave the go-ahead run standing on second.

 

Duffy allowed one run, but he gave up four hits and a season-high six walks. He still hasn’t won since June 30, a stretch of five starts, though Wednesday night was the first of those starts in which his team scored more than two runs.

 

TRAINER’S ROOM

 

Twins: Catcher Joe Mauer (strained right oblique) took batting practice in the cage without any problems. Right-hander Mike Pelfrey began his throwing program after surgery on June 10 to relieve numbness caused by a nerve in his throwing elbow.

 

Royals: First baseman Eric Hosmer was in the lineup for the second straight night after missing time with a bruised right hand. He finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

 

ON DECK

 

Twins: Right-hander Kevin Correia (5-12) attempts to beat the Royals for the first time in 10 career starts. He has a 0-5 record with a 4.91 ERA against them.

 

Royals: Right-hander Yordano Ventura (7-8) tries to improve his fortunes at Kauffman Stadium, where he is 3-6 this year. His last home win came in relief July 13 against Detroit.

 

Eagles win state tourney opener

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NCKTech-Summer14
The Hays Eagles Senior American Legion baseball team scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to overcome an early 4-0 deficit and a couple of rain delays to beat the Salina Falcons 6-4 in the opening game of the “AAA” American Legion state tournament Wednesday in Pittsburg. The Eagles (31-8) push their state tournament win streak to nine games and advance to the second round where they will face either Newton at 5pm Thursday.

Coach Brad Kelly Postgame Interview


Zach Legleiter tied the game with a two-run triple then scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning run on a wild pitch. Layne Downing also drove in a run in the Eagles sixth.

Salina tried to rally in the ninth, loading the bases with two outs before the game was delayed for a second time by rain for nearly an hour. The game was also delayed for 12 minutes in the bottom of the seventh.

When play resumed, Kade Parker got a ground out to end the game and pick up the save.

Downing pitched 8 2/3 innings and picks up the win, allowing four unearned runs on nine hits while walking five and striking out four. He’s now 10-0 on the season. Downing was also 3-for-5 with one RBI at the plate.

The Falcons took advantage of three Eagles errors, scoring four runs in the second to grab a 4-0 lead.

Jared Haynes walked and scored on a wild pitch to put the Eagles on the board in the third.

Both teams would load the bases but fail to score in the fifth.

Gibson Pitches Twins to 2-1 Victory Over Royals

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By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Kyle Gibson bounced back for a rocky start to shut down Kansas City, and the Minnesota Twins held on through a shaky ninth to beat James Shields and the Royals 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Gibson (9-8) allowed only a single by Alcides Escobar in the third inning and another by Nori Aoki in the sixth over seven dazzling innings. He was at his best toward the end, too, setting down the Royals in order in the seventh on four seemingly effortless pitches.

Casey Fien worked the eighth before Glen Perkins ran into trouble in the ninth, giving up a leadoff double to Omar Infante and an RBI single to Eric Hosmer. Perkins bounced back to get three straight pop outs and record his 26th save of the season.

Josh Willingham hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning and Brian Dozier provided a run-scoring single in the fifth off Shields (9-6), who battled command all night. He threw 124 pitches — two shy of his career high — while walking four in only six innings.

Gibson, who was shelled by Tampa Bay his last time out, has made a habit of rebounding back from ugly outings. He followed a miserable performance against the Angels with a strong one against Texas, and a lousy start against the Yankees with six shutout innings against Seattle.

His outing Tuesday sure made entertaining TV for Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

Gardenhire thought Royals left fielder Alex Gordon trapped the ball in the third inning when he made a diving grab to rob Chris Parmelee of a hit, likely saving a run. After challenging the call, Gardenhire was even more incensed that a lengthy review let it stand. He was tossed by plate umpire Ted Barrett after a nose-to-nose confrontation and watched the rest of the game in the clubhouse.

Shields had his own rather ignominious moment earlier in the third.

The Royals’ ace was in his follow-through when the Twins’ Sam Fuld sent a scorching line drive back to the mound, ricocheting squarely off Shields’ left butt cheek and toward third base. Shields hobbled around for several minutes but ultimately remained in the game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: Catcher Joe Mauer (strained right oblique) swung in the batting cage and plans to hit live batting practice Wednesday. Right-hander Ricky Nolasco (sore elbow) also felt good after a bullpen session. He plans to throw another one Thursday.

Royals: Hosmer was back in the lineup after missing six of the past seven starts with a bruised right hand, while LHP Jason Vargas (appendectomy) also reported no problems after throwing about 60 pitches during a four-inning simulated game. “Today went well,” he said.

ON DECK

Twins: Right-hander Phil Hughes makes his first start since leaving a game July 24 against the White Sox with a bruised right shin. Hughes (10-7) won his previous start in Kansas city April 20.

Royals: Left-hander Danny Duffy (5-10) threw seven shutout innings his last time out, only to get stuck with a no decision when the Indians’ Corey Kluber matched him pitch for pitch.

 

Chiefs linebacker Johnson sets sights on record

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson still believes his best days are ahead.

The 31-year-old veteran is beginning his 10th season, coming off his third Pro Bowl and closing in on the franchise record for tackles.

He needs just 19 to reach 1,000 for his career, which would be one more than Gary Spani recorded from 1978-86.

Johnson said this week that he hasn’t thought about hanging up his cleats, even though he’ll turn 32 in November.

Johnson said he’s still working out in the offseason with Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, and as long as he can keep up with him, he’s going to keep going.

Besides, there may be no more valuable player on the Chiefs defense than No. 56.

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