Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp; MANHATTAN, Kan. — Seven solid innings from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/owen-boerema/11457">Owen Boerema</a>&nbsp;and a go-ahead RBI single by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-english/11522">Nick English</a>&nbsp;led K-State to a 3-2 triumph over rival Kansas in game one of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown Friday night at Tointon Family Stadium.

"That was your classic Friday night Big 12 contest," said K-State head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/pete-hughes/2461">Pete Hughes</a>. "Two really good teams, two great starting pitching performances, home runs, big hits, pressure pitches being made, that's what it's all about. "Every kid in that dugout, every coach on our staff, that's what we signed up for, to be in high-pressure, meaningful games,&nbsp;and we just love seeing our kids compete in the performance-pressure situations," Hughes said. &nbsp; Trailing 2-1 headed into the bottom of the eighth inning, K-State (27-18, 11-11 Big 12) tied the game with a two-out double by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kaelen-culpepper/11460">Kaelen Culpepper</a>&nbsp;until English drove the first pitch up the middle to score the deciding run. The Jayhawks (26-16, 12-10 Big 12) challenged the lead in the final frame, as three consecutive walks loaded the bases with no outs against K-State closer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyson-neighbors/11470">Tyson Neighbors</a>&nbsp;"There's only one guy in our program that can pitch his way out of it, and it was the guy on the mound."

Following a talk with his defense, Neighbors settled in and struck out the next batter before third baseman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/jaden-parsons/11530">Jaden Parsons</a>&nbsp;halted a liner from KU's hot hitter Jake English, older brother of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-english/11522">Nick English</a>, to get the second out. Now with two outs and bases loaded, Neighbors faced the 2023 Co-Big 12 Freshman of the Year Kodey Shojinaga. Neighbors worked his way out of a full count as he painted the outside corner to ring up Shojinaga to secure the Big 12 win and pick up his fifth save of the season. "The last at-bat was with one of their best hitters and honestly, one of the toughest guys in their program to strike out and it's a 3-2 count and then you throw a secondary pitch with 100% conviction. We got the strikeout, but only one guy can make those pitches in our program." Boerema turned in his third quality start of the season, as he held the Jayhawks to two earned runs on eight hits in his seven innings. After surrendering two runs on solo home runs, the graduate from Litchfield, Minn., retired 10 of the next 15 batters he faced, finishing the game with eight strikeouts and one walk. In their 12th come-from-behind win of the season, the Wildcats extended their winning streak to seven against the Jayhawks while also snapping KU's season-long, seven-game win streak. Now with the second longest win streak against the Jayhawks, the Wildcats are one victory away from matching the program's eight-game win streak set from April 23, 2006, to May 15, 2009. &nbsp; <a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-dean/11520">Blake Dean</a>&nbsp;logged a shutout inning in relief of Boerema and recorded a pair of strikeouts. Neighbors has picked up a save in his last three outings, totaling 16 in his career which ranks fourth all-time in school history. Three Wildcats turned in multi-hit efforts led by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/danniel-rivera/11532">Danniel Rivera</a>, who went 3-for-3 with a walk. Culpepper and English each had two-hit days and drove in a run while Parsons scored two runs. KU's Reece Dutton (7-3) took the loss, surrendering three runs (all earned) on 10 hits with four walks in his 7 2/3 inning start. Game two between the Wildcats and Jayhawks is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Tointon Family Stadium. Saturday's game features a projected matchup between right-handers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/jackson-wentworth/11477">Jackson Wentworth</a>&nbsp;(3-2) and Dominic Voegele (6-2). The Dillons Sunflower Showdown can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). A free, live streaming audio available for all games at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Live=3268&amp;type=Archive">KStateSports.com/watch</a>&nbsp;and on the K-State Sports app.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714865170198.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp; MANHATTAN, Kan. — Seven solid innings from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/owen-boerema/11457">Owen Boerema</a>&nbsp;and a go-ahead RBI single by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-english/11522">Nick English</a>&nbsp;led K-State to a 3-2 triumph over rival Kansas in game one of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown Friday night at Tointon Family Stadium. "That was your classic Friday night Big 12 contest," said K-State head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/pete-hughes/2461">Pete Hughes</a>. "Two really good teams, two great starting pitching performances, home runs, big hits, pressure pitches being made, that's what it's all about. "Every kid in that dugout, every coach on our staff, that's what we signed up for, to be in high-pressure, meaningful games,&nbsp;and we just love seeing our kids compete in the performance-pressure situations," Hughes said. &nbsp; Trailing 2-1 headed into the bottom of the eighth inning, K-State (27-18, 11-11 Big 12) tied the game with a two-out double by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/kaelen-culpepper/11460">Kaelen Culpepper</a>&nbsp;until English drove the first pitch up the middle to score the deciding run. The Jayhawks (26-16, 12-10 Big 12) challenged the lead in the final frame, as three consecutive walks loaded the bases with no outs against K-State closer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/tyson-neighbors/11470">Tyson Neighbors</a>&nbsp;"There's only one guy in our program that can pitch his way out of it, and it was the guy on the mound."Following a talk with his defense, Neighbors settled in and struck out the next batter before third baseman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/jaden-parsons/11530">Jaden Parsons</a>&nbsp;halted a liner from KU's hot hitter Jake English, older brother of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/nick-english/11522">Nick English</a>, to get the second out. Now with two outs and bases loaded, Neighbors faced the 2023 Co-Big 12 Freshman of the Year Kodey Shojinaga. Neighbors worked his way out of a full count as he painted the outside corner to ring up Shojinaga to secure the Big 12 win and pick up his fifth save of the season. "The last at-bat was with one of their best hitters and honestly, one of the toughest guys in their program to strike out and it's a 3-2 count and then you throw a secondary pitch with 100% conviction. We got the strikeout, but only one guy can make those pitches in our program." Boerema turned in his third quality start of the season, as he held the Jayhawks to two earned runs on eight hits in his seven innings. After surrendering two runs on solo home runs, the graduate from Litchfield, Minn., retired 10 of the next 15 batters he faced, finishing the game with eight strikeouts and one walk. In their 12th come-from-behind win of the season, the Wildcats extended their winning streak to seven against the Jayhawks while also snapping KU's season-long, seven-game win streak. Now with the second longest win streak against the Jayhawks, the Wildcats are one victory away from matching the program's eight-game win streak set from April 23, 2006, to May 15, 2009. &nbsp; <a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-dean/11520">Blake Dean</a>&nbsp;logged a shutout inning in relief of Boerema and recorded a pair of strikeouts. Neighbors has picked up a save in his last three outings, totaling 16 in his career which ranks fourth all-time in school history. Three Wildcats turned in multi-hit efforts led by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/danniel-rivera/11532">Danniel Rivera</a>, who went 3-for-3 with a walk. Culpepper and English each had two-hit days and drove in a run while Parsons scored two runs. KU's Reece Dutton (7-3) took the loss, surrendering three runs (all earned) on 10 hits with four walks in his 7 2/3 inning start. Game two between the Wildcats and Jayhawks is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Tointon Family Stadium. Saturday's game features a projected matchup between right-handers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/jackson-wentworth/11477">Jackson Wentworth</a>&nbsp;(3-2) and Dominic Voegele (6-2). The Dillons Sunflower Showdown can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM). A free, live streaming audio available for all games at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Live=3268&amp;type=Archive">KStateSports.com/watch</a>&nbsp;and on the K-State Sports app.

⚾ Late rally lifts K-State to Sunflower Showdown opening win

Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics

&nbsp; MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Rising sophomore&nbsp;Baye Fall(Dakar, Senegal/Accelerated Prep [Colo.]/Arkansas)&nbsp;became just the fifth McDonald's All-American to sign a Financial Aid Agreement with Kansas State, as head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2353">Jerome Tang</a>&nbsp;made a splash with the first big addition to his 2024-25 front court.

The 2023 McDonald's All-American is the first such honoree to ink with the Wildcats and the first since&nbsp;Wally Judge&nbsp;in 2009. The others include&nbsp;Tom Freeman&nbsp;in 1977,&nbsp;Deryl Cunningham&nbsp;in 1991 and&nbsp;Michael Beasley&nbsp;in 2007. Fall is the second McDonald's All-American to join via transfer following Cunningham who came from DePaul.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A 6-foot-11, 215-pound wing originally from Dakar, Senegal, Fall arrives at K-State after one season (2023-24) at Arkansas, where he saw limited action in 9 games with 45 total minutes as a true freshman. He scored in 4 games, including a season-high 4 points in the opener against Alcorn State on Nov. 6, 2023, to go with season-bests in rebounds (4), blocks (2) and steals (2) in 9 minutes.

Fall is the fifth player to sign with the Wildcats for the 2024-25 season, including the fourth Division I transfer following Dug McDaniel(Washington, D.C./St. Paul VI Catholic VI/Michigan), Christian (C.J.) Jones(East St. Louis, Ill./East St. Louis/UIC) and Brendan Hausen(Amarillo, Texas/Amarillo/Villanova). The quartet join top-50 high school prospect David Castillo(Bartlesville, Okla./Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]), who signed on Nov. 8.

Fall became a 2023 McDonald's All-American as a senior at Accelerated Prep in Denver, Colo., where he averaged 13.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game as a senior. This came after playing his junior season at Denver Prep Academy, where he averaged 14.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. He began his high school career at Lutheran High School in Parker, Colo., leading the Lions to the 2021 Class 3A State Championship.

Accelerated Prep is an independent, faith-based program designed for college and NBA-bound athletes, which competes in the national basketball prep circuit known as The Grind Session. Fall starred for Accelerated Prep during the 2023 Grind Session, averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and a team-high 1.7 blocks while playing in 9 games. He was selected to play in The Grind Session All-Star Game as well as the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit.

Fall played 13 minutes in the 2023 McDonald's All-American game on March 28, at the Toyota Center in Houston, where he had 2 points and 4 rebounds for the West squad that lost 109-106. He was joined on the West Team by Baylor's JaKobe Walter, Kentucky's Reed Sheppard and USC's Isaiah Collier.

Prior to his senior season at Accelerated Prep, Fall was a standout at the prestigious National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 100 camp in the summer of 2022 where he was named to the 10-player All-Star squad after leading the event in both scoring (14.9 ppg.) and rebounding (9.4 rpg.) in 7 games.

Originally from Senegal -- the westernmost country in continental Africa -- Fall came to the U.S. in 2018 at the age of 15 to pursue educational and basketball opportunities, eventually settling in the Denver area with his uncle and cousin. He started his high school career at Lutheran High School in Parker, Colo., where he led the Lions to the 2021 CHSAA Class 3A State Championship as a sophomore en route to earning Class 3A State Player of the Year, MaxPreps Colorado Player of the Year and First Team MaxPreps Sophomore All-American honors.

Fall earned MVP honors in the 72-56 win over top-seeded St. Mary's in the state championship, posting a near triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks. He finished his sophomore season, averaging 22.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 65 percent from the field.

The summer between his sophomore and junior seasons, Fall jumped onto the national scene at the 2021 Pangos All-American Top 30 Camp in Las Vegas, where he shared co-MVP honors.

Fall averaged a double-double as a freshman at Lutheran, averaging 19 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 67 percent from the field. He led the Lions to the Class 3A state quarterfinals en route to earning Class 3A Second Team All-State and MaxPreps Freshman Second Team All-American honors.

K-State was one of Fall's finalists coming out of high school, along Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Texas, before he selected the Razorbacks.

Fall is fluent in 10 languages and dialects, including English, Spanish, French and German.

&nbsp; K-State finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 record, including a tie for ninth in the Big 12 with an 8-10 mark, and advanced to the NIT. Among the Wildcats' 19 victories were 4 over Top 25 teams, including 3 in the Top 10. The team has won 45 games in head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2353">Jerome Tang</a>'s&nbsp;tenure, including consecutive postseason appearances.

&nbsp; How to follow the 'Cats:&nbsp;For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/">www.kstatesports.com</a>&nbsp;and follow the team's social media channels on&nbsp;<a href="mailto:@KStateMBB">X</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kstatembb/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kstatembb/">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714879114914.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of&nbsp; Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of&nbsp; Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Kansas State Athletics&nbsp; MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Rising sophomore&nbsp;Baye Fall(Dakar, Senegal/Accelerated Prep [Colo.]/Arkansas)&nbsp;became just the fifth McDonald's All-American to sign a Financial Aid Agreement with Kansas State, as head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2353">Jerome Tang</a>&nbsp;made a splash with the first big addition to his 2024-25 front court.The 2023 McDonald's All-American is the first such honoree to ink with the Wildcats and the first since&nbsp;Wally Judge&nbsp;in 2009. The others include&nbsp;Tom Freeman&nbsp;in 1977,&nbsp;Deryl Cunningham&nbsp;in 1991 and&nbsp;Michael Beasley&nbsp;in 2007. Fall is the second McDonald's All-American to join via transfer following Cunningham who came from DePaul.&nbsp;&nbsp;A 6-foot-11, 215-pound wing originally from Dakar, Senegal, Fall arrives at K-State after one season (2023-24) at Arkansas, where he saw limited action in 9 games with 45 total minutes as a true freshman. He scored in 4 games, including a season-high 4 points in the opener against Alcorn State on Nov. 6, 2023, to go with season-bests in rebounds (4), blocks (2) and steals (2) in 9 minutes.Fall is the fifth player to sign with the Wildcats for the 2024-25 season, including the fourth Division I transfer following Dug McDaniel(Washington, D.C./St. Paul VI Catholic VI/Michigan), Christian (C.J.) Jones(East St. Louis, Ill./East St. Louis/UIC) and Brendan Hausen(Amarillo, Texas/Amarillo/Villanova). The quartet join top-50 high school prospect David Castillo(Bartlesville, Okla./Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]), who signed on Nov. 8.Fall became a 2023 McDonald's All-American as a senior at Accelerated Prep in Denver, Colo., where he averaged 13.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game as a senior. This came after playing his junior season at Denver Prep Academy, where he averaged 14.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. He began his high school career at Lutheran High School in Parker, Colo., leading the Lions to the 2021 Class 3A State Championship.Accelerated Prep is an independent, faith-based program designed for college and NBA-bound athletes, which competes in the national basketball prep circuit known as The Grind Session. Fall starred for Accelerated Prep during the 2023 Grind Session, averaging 13.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and a team-high 1.7 blocks while playing in 9 games. He was selected to play in The Grind Session All-Star Game as well as the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit.Fall played 13 minutes in the 2023 McDonald's All-American game on March 28, at the Toyota Center in Houston, where he had 2 points and 4 rebounds for the West squad that lost 109-106. He was joined on the West Team by Baylor's JaKobe Walter, Kentucky's Reed Sheppard and USC's Isaiah Collier.Prior to his senior season at Accelerated Prep, Fall was a standout at the prestigious National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) Top 100 camp in the summer of 2022 where he was named to the 10-player All-Star squad after leading the event in both scoring (14.9 ppg.) and rebounding (9.4 rpg.) in 7 games.Originally from Senegal -- the westernmost country in continental Africa -- Fall came to the U.S. in 2018 at the age of 15 to pursue educational and basketball opportunities, eventually settling in the Denver area with his uncle and cousin. He started his high school career at Lutheran High School in Parker, Colo., where he led the Lions to the 2021 CHSAA Class 3A State Championship as a sophomore en route to earning Class 3A State Player of the Year, MaxPreps Colorado Player of the Year and First Team MaxPreps Sophomore All-American honors.Fall earned MVP honors in the 72-56 win over top-seeded St. Mary's in the state championship, posting a near triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks. He finished his sophomore season, averaging 22.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 65 percent from the field.The summer between his sophomore and junior seasons, Fall jumped onto the national scene at the 2021 Pangos All-American Top 30 Camp in Las Vegas, where he shared co-MVP honors.Fall averaged a double-double as a freshman at Lutheran, averaging 19 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 67 percent from the field. He led the Lions to the Class 3A state quarterfinals en route to earning Class 3A Second Team All-State and MaxPreps Freshman Second Team All-American honors.K-State was one of Fall's finalists coming out of high school, along Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Texas, before he selected the Razorbacks.Fall is fluent in 10 languages and dialects, including English, Spanish, French and German.&nbsp; K-State finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 record, including a tie for ninth in the Big 12 with an 8-10 mark, and advanced to the NIT. Among the Wildcats' 19 victories were 4 over Top 25 teams, including 3 in the Top 10. The team has won 45 games in head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/jerome-tang/2353">Jerome Tang</a>'s&nbsp;tenure, including consecutive postseason appearances.&nbsp; How to follow the 'Cats:&nbsp;For complete information on K-State men's basketball, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/">www.kstatesports.com</a>&nbsp;and follow the team's social media channels on&nbsp;<a href="mailto:@KStateMBB">X</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kstatembb/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kstatembb/">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🏀 Tang Inks McDonald’s All-American Baye Fall

Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby by a nose in a 3-horse photo finish at Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Sierra Leone and Forever Young for the upset victory. Sent off at 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode the rail down the stretch with a short lead. Sierra Leone and Forever Young from Japan gave chase and pressured the leader to the wire in front of 156,710 at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had teamed to win the Kentucky Oaks for fillies a day earlier with Thorpedo Anna. Mystik Dan ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.34 and paid $39.22 to win.

Kentucky Derby fans pack the track for the 150th Run for the Roses

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Fans packed into Churchill Downs Saturday for the 150th Kentucky Derby, the longest continuously held sporting event in the country, and many said they felt the milestone made race day feel extra special this year. Some said that as they approached the track, they imagined what Churchill Downs must have been at that first race on May 17, 1875, when patrons arrived to watch the horses by riding horses there themselves. The 150th Run for the Roses would be unrecognizable to the 10,000 people who attended that first race. More than 157,000 arrived at Churchill Down from all over the United States for a dayslong spectacle of huge hats and mint juleps.

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge ejected for first time in his career

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was ejected for the first time in his career when he argued a called third strike by plate umpire Ryan Blakney in the seventh inning of Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. With one out, Judge took a full count fastball from Tyler Holton that he thought was slightly outside. Blakney rang him up, Judge glanced back and was ejected. After starting to walk back to the dugout, Judge returned to argue the call and manager Aaron Boone continued the argument.

Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is available for Game 7 with Bruins after sitting last 2 games

BOSTON (AP) — Maple Leafs star and NHL goal-scoring leader Auston Matthews is available for their Game 7 matchup with the Boston Bruins. Matthews missed the last two games while dealing with an unspecified illness and had just four shots combined in Games 3 and 4. He had the Game 2 winner for the Maples Leafs, who are tied with Boston 3-3 in the first-round series. Toronto also announced that goalie Joseph Woll will not play in Game 7 due to an injury sustained in Game 6. Ilya Samsonov will get the nod between the pipes in his place. Samsonov started the first four games of the series when Toronto fell into a 3-1 hole and was outscored 12-6.

Recovering from knee surgery, Finch in 2nd row of Timberwolves bench for series opener with Nuggets

DENVER (AP) — After having knee surgery, Minnesota coach Chris Finch was in the second row of the bench for Game 1 of a second-round series with Denver on Saturday night. Finch used crutches to attend his pregame news conference, and said his knee felt "pretty good, all things considered." Finch had his ruptured right patellar tendon repaired Wednesday after a sideline collision with Mike Conley late in the Game 4 win at Phoenix that gave the Timberwolves a series sweep. Assistant coach Micah Nori has taken over in Finch's absence.

Taylor Pendrith leads Byron Nelson as one of several seeking first PGA Tour victory

McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Taylor Pendrith has a one-shot lead going into the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The Canadian is among several leaders seeking his first PGA Tour victory. Pendrith chipped in twice for consecutive eagles to kick-start his round of 8-under 63. It's the third time for back-to-back eagles on tour this season. Pendrith is at 19 under, one shot ahead of second-round leader Jake Knapp. First-round leader Matt Wallace is another shot back in a tie with Ben Kohles.

Real Madrid wins its record-extending 36th Spanish league title after Barcelona loses at Girona

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid has won its record-extending 36th Spanish league title after securing an insurmountable 13-point lead over second-place Girona with four games remaining. Madrid reclaimed the domestic crown after beating Cadiz 3-0 earlier Saturday and Barcelona then lost 4-2 at Girona. Only a victory by Barcelona would have stopped Madrid from celebrating. Girona leapfrogged Barcelona and pushed its Catalan rival into third place at 14 points behind Madrid. Madrid hosts Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday with their semifinal evenly balanced after a 2-2 first-leg draw in Germany.

Haaland scores 4 in another win for Man City. Arsenal isn't going away in the title race, though

Erling Haaland scored four goals in another win for Manchester City in its bid to capture an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League crown. Yet Arsenal isn't going away in this title race. Haaland has now at least a hat trick in six of his 63 matches in England's top flight after converting two penalties, powering in a header and curling home a sublime finish in City's 5-1 victory over Wolverhampton. It was a response to Arsenal's 3-0 win over Bournemouth a few hours earlier. Arsenal retained its one-point lead over City but the defending champions have three games left. That's one more than Arsenal. Burnley slipped closer to relegation with a 4-1 loss to Newcastle.

Cavaliers and Magic to settle playoff series standoff with Game 7 -- the 'best two words in sports'

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavs and Magic are going to the limit. Unable to find a way to win on the road, Cleveland and Orlando will settle their series on Sunday with a Game 7, a fitting conclusion between two teams that have put their strengths and weaknesses on public display for six games. Only one advances to face the Boston Celtics, who will be well-rested for whichever team escapes this stalemate. The Magic forced Game 7 with a 103-96 at home on Friday night by withstanding a 50-point performance from Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell.

Max Verstappen ties Alain Prost's record with 6th pole-winning run to open an F1 season

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Max Verstappen inched closer to a third consecutive win at the Miami Grand Prix on Saturday by continuing his long domination of Formula 1 qualifying. The three-time reigning F1 champion won his seventh consecutive pole, but first at Miami, where Verstappen failed to earn the top starting spot in the first two races around Hard Rock Stadium, yet still won them both. The pole-winning run tied Verstappen with Alain Prost in opening the season with six consecutive poles. Prost did it in 1993. Verstappen opened Saturday with a win in the sprint race and ended the day with his 38th career pole. The Red Bull driver beat the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. and will lead the field to green on Sunday for the first of F1's three races this year in the United States.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Saturday, May 4th, 2924" />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Saturday, May 4th, 2924</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports Summary for May 4th.Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby by a nose in a 3-horse photo finish at Churchill DownsLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Sierra Leone and Forever Young for the upset victory. Sent off at 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode the rail down the stretch with a short lead. Sierra Leone and Forever Young from Japan gave chase and pressured the leader to the wire in front of 156,710 at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had teamed to win the Kentucky Oaks for fillies a day earlier with Thorpedo Anna. Mystik Dan ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.34 and paid $39.22 to win.Kentucky Derby fans pack the track for the 150th Run for the RosesLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Fans packed into Churchill Downs Saturday for the 150th Kentucky Derby, the longest continuously held sporting event in the country, and many said they felt the milestone made race day feel extra special this year. Some said that as they approached the track, they imagined what Churchill Downs must have been at that first race on May 17, 1875, when patrons arrived to watch the horses by riding horses there themselves. The 150th Run for the Roses would be unrecognizable to the 10,000 people who attended that first race. More than 157,000 arrived at Churchill Down from all over the United States for a dayslong spectacle of huge hats and mint juleps.Yankees slugger Aaron Judge ejected for first time in his careerNEW YORK (AP) — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was ejected for the first time in his career when he argued a called third strike by plate umpire Ryan Blakney in the seventh inning of Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers. With one out, Judge took a full count fastball from Tyler Holton that he thought was slightly outside. Blakney rang him up, Judge glanced back and was ejected. After starting to walk back to the dugout, Judge returned to argue the call and manager Aaron Boone continued the argument.Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is available for Game 7 with Bruins after sitting last 2 gamesBOSTON (AP) — Maple Leafs star and NHL goal-scoring leader Auston Matthews is available for their Game 7 matchup with the Boston Bruins. Matthews missed the last two games while dealing with an unspecified illness and had just four shots combined in Games 3 and 4. He had the Game 2 winner for the Maples Leafs, who are tied with Boston 3-3 in the first-round series. Toronto also announced that goalie Joseph Woll will not play in Game 7 due to an injury sustained in Game 6. Ilya Samsonov will get the nod between the pipes in his place. Samsonov started the first four games of the series when Toronto fell into a 3-1 hole and was outscored 12-6.Recovering from knee surgery, Finch in 2nd row of Timberwolves bench for series opener with NuggetsDENVER (AP) — After having knee surgery, Minnesota coach Chris Finch was in the second row of the bench for Game 1 of a second-round series with Denver on Saturday night. Finch used crutches to attend his pregame news conference, and said his knee felt "pretty good, all things considered." Finch had his ruptured right patellar tendon repaired Wednesday after a sideline collision with Mike Conley late in the Game 4 win at Phoenix that gave the Timberwolves a series sweep. Assistant coach Micah Nori has taken over in Finch's absence.Taylor Pendrith leads Byron Nelson as one of several seeking first PGA Tour victoryMcKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Taylor Pendrith has a one-shot lead going into the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The Canadian is among several leaders seeking his first PGA Tour victory. Pendrith chipped in twice for consecutive eagles to kick-start his round of 8-under 63. It's the third time for back-to-back eagles on tour this season. Pendrith is at 19 under, one shot ahead of second-round leader Jake Knapp. First-round leader Matt Wallace is another shot back in a tie with Ben Kohles.Real Madrid wins its record-extending 36th Spanish league title after Barcelona loses at GironaBARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid has won its record-extending 36th Spanish league title after securing an insurmountable 13-point lead over second-place Girona with four games remaining. Madrid reclaimed the domestic crown after beating Cadiz 3-0 earlier Saturday and Barcelona then lost 4-2 at Girona. Only a victory by Barcelona would have stopped Madrid from celebrating. Girona leapfrogged Barcelona and pushed its Catalan rival into third place at 14 points behind Madrid. Madrid hosts Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday with their semifinal evenly balanced after a 2-2 first-leg draw in Germany.Haaland scores 4 in another win for Man City. Arsenal isn't going away in the title race, thoughErling Haaland scored four goals in another win for Manchester City in its bid to capture an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League crown. Yet Arsenal isn't going away in this title race. Haaland has now at least a hat trick in six of his 63 matches in England's top flight after converting two penalties, powering in a header and curling home a sublime finish in City's 5-1 victory over Wolverhampton. It was a response to Arsenal's 3-0 win over Bournemouth a few hours earlier. Arsenal retained its one-point lead over City but the defending champions have three games left. That's one more than Arsenal. Burnley slipped closer to relegation with a 4-1 loss to Newcastle.Cavaliers and Magic to settle playoff series standoff with Game 7 -- the 'best two words in sports'CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cavs and Magic are going to the limit. Unable to find a way to win on the road, Cleveland and Orlando will settle their series on Sunday with a Game 7, a fitting conclusion between two teams that have put their strengths and weaknesses on public display for six games. Only one advances to face the Boston Celtics, who will be well-rested for whichever team escapes this stalemate. The Magic forced Game 7 with a 103-96 at home on Friday night by withstanding a 50-point performance from Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell.Max Verstappen ties Alain Prost's record with 6th pole-winning run to open an F1 seasonMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Max Verstappen inched closer to a third consecutive win at the Miami Grand Prix on Saturday by continuing his long domination of Formula 1 qualifying. The three-time reigning F1 champion won his seventh consecutive pole, but first at Miami, where Verstappen failed to earn the top starting spot in the first two races around Hard Rock Stadium, yet still won them both. The pole-winning run tied Verstappen with Alain Prost in opening the season with six consecutive poles. Prost did it in 1993. Verstappen opened Saturday with a win in the sprint race and ended the day with his 38th career pole. The Red Bull driver beat the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. and will lead the field to green on Sunday for the first of F1's three races this year in the United States.

📢📰🎧 Sports Headlines for Saturday

Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp; WICHITA, Kan. —&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-howell/7566">Lauren Howell</a>&nbsp;tossed a one-hitter, complete game shutout to lead Wichita State to a 3-0 win over Memphis Saturday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium. Wichita State (24-21, 15-11) clinched the series with the win and extended its win streak to 16 in a row over the Tigers. With Tulsa's loss on Saturday at Florida Atlantic, the Shockers have the inside track to the No. 4 seed in next week's American Athletic Conference Championship. Howell took a no-hitter into the top of the sixth when Memphis' Aaliyah Dixon beat out an infield single. That was the only hit of the day for the Tigers against Howell who had the Memphis hitters off balance all day. She struck out seven and walked three to record her fifth win of the season. Wichita State managed just four hits itself, the big one coming off the bat of&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/addison-barnard/7558">Addison Barnard</a>. Barnard launched her 18th home run of the season and 87th of her career on a solo shot in the fifth inning.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/cc-wong/8967">CC Wong</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lainee-brown/7559">Lainee Brown</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/jessica-garcia/7563">Jessica Garcia</a>&nbsp;all had a single apiece. The Shockers put two on the board in the bottom of the second on a Memphis error and Wong's RBI single. Barnard added the cherry on top with her fifth inning solo home run. Wichita State and Memphis wrap up the series on Sunday at Noon on ESPN+.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714866416510.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics&nbsp; WICHITA, Kan. —&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lauren-howell/7566">Lauren Howell</a>&nbsp;tossed a one-hitter, complete game shutout to lead Wichita State to a 3-0 win over Memphis Saturday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium. Wichita State (24-21, 15-11) clinched the series with the win and extended its win streak to 16 in a row over the Tigers. With Tulsa's loss on Saturday at Florida Atlantic, the Shockers have the inside track to the No. 4 seed in next week's American Athletic Conference Championship. Howell took a no-hitter into the top of the sixth when Memphis' Aaliyah Dixon beat out an infield single. That was the only hit of the day for the Tigers against Howell who had the Memphis hitters off balance all day. She struck out seven and walked three to record her fifth win of the season. Wichita State managed just four hits itself, the big one coming off the bat of&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/addison-barnard/7558">Addison Barnard</a>. Barnard launched her 18th home run of the season and 87th of her career on a solo shot in the fifth inning.&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/cc-wong/8967">CC Wong</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/lainee-brown/7559">Lainee Brown</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://goshockers.com/sports/softball/roster/jessica-garcia/7563">Jessica Garcia</a>&nbsp;all had a single apiece. The Shockers put two on the board in the bottom of the second on a Memphis error and Wong's RBI single. Barnard added the cherry on top with her fifth inning solo home run. Wichita State and Memphis wrap up the series on Sunday at Noon on ESPN+. &nbsp;

🥎 Shockers' Howell throws complete game shutout to secure series

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714845079207.jpeg" alt="Morgan Tomlinson twirls 4 2-3 innings of scoreless relief in Blue Dragon softball's come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Barton Cougars in the winner's bracket of the Region VI Tournament on Friday in Dodge City (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Morgan Tomlinson twirls 4 2-3 innings of scoreless relief in Blue Dragon softball's come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Barton Cougars in the winner's bracket of the Region VI Tournament on Friday in Dodge City (Steve Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure><div>Hutchinson CC Sports Information
DODGE CITY &ndash; Trailing twice in its Region VI Softball Tournament match-up with the Barton Cougars, the second-seeded Hutchinson Community College softball team came up with some clutch performances late to help the Blue Dragons advance in the winner&apos;s bracket on Friday.
<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/tomlinson_morgan_sq65" style="color: rgb(204, 45, 55);font-size: 14px;">Morgan Tomlinson</a> pitched 4 2-3 innings of shutout relief while <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/brawner_brie_9nkv" style="color: rgb(204, 45, 55);font-size: 14px;">Brie Brawner</a> drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Cougars at Legends Park.
The Blue Dragons improved to 43-9 overall and will advance to the winner&apos;s bracket final to meet tournament top-seed Butler at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Legends Park. The 2024 Blue Dragons surpass the 1987 Blue Dragons for the second-most wins in program history. 
BLUE DRAGON SOFTBALL Hutchinson vs. Butler - Region VI Tournament Winner&apos;s Bracket Semifinal When: Saturday, May 4, 2024 At: Legends Park, Dodge City, KS Time: 4 p.m. Video: <a href="https://kjccc.org/sports-network" style="color: rgb(204, 45, 55);font-size: 14px;">KJCCC Network (pay-per-view), 4 p.m.</a> X: @bluedragonsport
 Tomlinson and the bottom of the Blue Dragon batting order came up big against the Cougars on Saturday.
Trailing 3-1 in the third inning, Tomlinson entered the pitching circle with runners and second and third and one out. Tomlinson got a strikeout and groundout to get out of the inning.
Barton threatened again in the fourth with a runner at third and two out. Center fielder <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/lies_korri_k1mj" style="color: rgb(204, 45, 55);font-size: 14px;">Korri Lies</a> ended the threat with a long running catch in shallow right-center field to end the inning. Then in the sixth, Barton had runners at 1st and 2nd to start the inning, but Tomlinson got a force out at third, a ground ball to short that moved the runners to second and third and a strikeout to end the threat with no runs scored and keep the game tied at 3-3.
The Dragons broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning. With runners at first and second and one out, Brawner singled through the left side of the infield to score Lies from second with the go-ahead run.
Tomlinson then worked a 1-2-3 seventh to close out the game and improve her record to 15-1, which ties Amy Derischweiler (2006) for 12th in single-season wins by a Blue Dragon pitcher. Tomlinson allowed three hits and no walks with two strikeouts.
Brawner drove in three runs on Friday, going 2 for 3 to pace the Blue Dragons. Brawner delivers a two-out, two-run double in the second inning to score Lies and <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_brooke_06ze" style="color: rgb(204, 45, 55);font-size: 14px;">Brooke Backhaus</a>, tying the game at 2-2.
Lies was 3 for 3 for the second-straight game with three runs scored. Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, Lies doubled to lead off the inning. <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_brooke_06ze" style="color: rgb(204, 45, 55);font-size: 14px;">Brooke Backhaus</a> singled her home to tie the game.
<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/backhaus_brooke_06ze" style="color: rgb(204, 45, 55);font-size: 14px;">Brooke Backhaus</a> was 2 for 3 and <a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/bios/sandoval_olivia_ydnf" style="color: rgb(204, 45, 55);font-size: 14px;">Olivia Sandoval</a> went 2 for 3 to pace the Blue Dragons.
The Blue Dragons play in the Region 6 winner&apos;s bracket final for the second-straight season.</div>

🥎 Blue Dragons rally to beat Barton, play Butler today in Region VI semifinal

Game 1 is resumed in the third inning from Tuesday's&nbsp;postponement.

GODDARD, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School Salthawks travel to Eisenhower High School for a doubleheader against the Tigers this afternoon at Eisenhower High School. &nbsp;Hutchinson led in the 3rd inning on Tuesday when the game was called due to lightning and rail.

First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon.&nbsp; Hutchinson is 12-8 overall, while Eisenhower is 10-8.

Catch the video only broadcast below from the Goddard Eisenhower NFHS Network stream.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/eisenhower-high-school-goddard-ks/gam201398aa53">CLICK HERE for NFHS Stream</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714836165832.png" alt="Game Day vs Eisenhower resumes at noon on May 4th" />
 <figcaption>Game Day vs Eisenhower resumes at noon on May 4th</figcaption>
 </figure>Game 1 is resumed in the third inning from Tuesday's&nbsp;postponement.GODDARD, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School Salthawks travel to Eisenhower High School for a doubleheader against the Tigers this afternoon at Eisenhower High School. &nbsp;Hutchinson led in the 3rd inning on Tuesday when the game was called due to lightning and rail.First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon.&nbsp; Hutchinson is 12-8 overall, while Eisenhower is 10-8.Catch the video only broadcast below from the Goddard Eisenhower NFHS Network stream.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/eisenhower-high-school-goddard-ks/gam201398aa53">CLICK HERE for NFHS Stream</a>

⚾🎧 Salthawks return to Goddard Eisenhower for postponed doubleheader

KANSAS CITY, Mo.&nbsp; (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a three-run homer, Brady Singer pitched six dominant innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers 7-1 on Friday night.

Perez hit his eighth home run of the season in Kansas City's six-run seventh inning to break open what was a pitcher's duel. Kyle Isbel, Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. had RBI singles before Perez gave the Royals a 7-1 lead.

“That was amazing, I hadn't seen it that special since 2021 when I hit 48 home runs and I appreciate the fans in Kansas City,” Perez said. “We're winning right now and hopefully it stays that way. I think they feel the same energy we have in the dugout.”

Prior to that, Michael Lorenzen had his best start of the season for Texas, giving up three hits and one run — on a homer by Hunter Renfroe — in six innings. He walked two and struck out three while throwing 86 pitches.

“They're an athletic team and they're going to swing,” Lorenzen said. "You just have to trust your defense and believe they're going to do a good job behind you.

Cole Winn (0-1) then gave up four runs in one-third of an inning and Jose Urena gave up two more before closing out the inning.

“I think you can attribute Cole being a little off,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “His command and everything was a little bit off tonight.”

The Royals have won three straight and seven of their last 10. The Rangers had won three of their previous four.

Singer allowed just one run and four hits while striking out eight with no walks. He hasn’t given up more than one run in five of his seven starts this season.

“I was happy to get out of the sixth there honestly,” Singer said. “I didn't want to walk anybody after the last couple outings and I just went out there and attacked the strike zone.”

The lone blemish against Singer came on an RBI single by Corey Seager that drove in Marcus Semien in the third inning.

John Schreiber (3-0) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, striking out Semien to keep the score at 1-1 before the Royals' big inning in the bottom half.

“We had no room for error and Schreiber has been excellent,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “To get where we were in that game, we don't get there without Schreiber.”

The Rangers placed RHP Nathan Eovaldi on the 15-day IL (right groin strain) and recalled RHP Yerry Rodriguez from Triple-A Round Rock.

Texas RHP Dane Dunning (3-2, 4.13 ERA) goes against Royals RHP Michael Wacha (1-3, 4.24) on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714801119572.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) celebrates with Vinnie Pasquantino (9) after hitting a three-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) celebrates with Vinnie Pasquantino (9) after hitting a three-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, May 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo.&nbsp; (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a three-run homer, Brady Singer pitched six dominant innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers 7-1 on Friday night.Perez hit his eighth home run of the season in Kansas City's six-run seventh inning to break open what was a pitcher's duel. Kyle Isbel, Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. had RBI singles before Perez gave the Royals a 7-1 lead.“That was amazing, I hadn't seen it that special since 2021 when I hit 48 home runs and I appreciate the fans in Kansas City,” Perez said. “We're winning right now and hopefully it stays that way. I think they feel the same energy we have in the dugout.”Prior to that, Michael Lorenzen had his best start of the season for Texas, giving up three hits and one run — on a homer by Hunter Renfroe — in six innings. He walked two and struck out three while throwing 86 pitches.“They're an athletic team and they're going to swing,” Lorenzen said. "You just have to trust your defense and believe they're going to do a good job behind you.Cole Winn (0-1) then gave up four runs in one-third of an inning and Jose Urena gave up two more before closing out the inning.“I think you can attribute Cole being a little off,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “His command and everything was a little bit off tonight.”The Royals have won three straight and seven of their last 10. The Rangers had won three of their previous four.Singer allowed just one run and four hits while striking out eight with no walks. He hasn’t given up more than one run in five of his seven starts this season.“I was happy to get out of the sixth there honestly,” Singer said. “I didn't want to walk anybody after the last couple outings and I just went out there and attacked the strike zone.”The lone blemish against Singer came on an RBI single by Corey Seager that drove in Marcus Semien in the third inning.John Schreiber (3-0) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, striking out Semien to keep the score at 1-1 before the Royals' big inning in the bottom half.“We had no room for error and Schreiber has been excellent,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “To get where we were in that game, we don't get there without Schreiber.”ROSTER MOVESThe Rangers placed RHP Nathan Eovaldi on the 15-day IL (right groin strain) and recalled RHP Yerry Rodriguez from Triple-A Round Rock.UP NEXTTexas RHP Dane Dunning (3-2, 4.13 ERA) goes against Royals RHP Michael Wacha (1-3, 4.24) on Saturday.

⚾ Royals win over Rangers Friday

University of Kansas Sports Information

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714791525622.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>University of Kansas Sports Information<div>LAWRENCE, Kan. &ndash; &nbsp;Kansas dropped Friday night&rsquo;s game to the BYU Cougars, 12-2 at Arrocha Ballpark in five innings in front of a sold out crowd.
Kansas fell to 27-23-1 on the year and 11-15 in Big 12 play. BYU out-hit KU 12-6 to secure the series and improved to 29-22 in the season and 10-16 in conference action.&nbsp;
HOW IT HAPPENED
<ul style="text-align: start;color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">After a scoreless first inning for both teams, BYU got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second with a seven-run inning. The Cougars opened the frame with back-to-back singles and both runners were brought home off a BYU double. BYU brought the runner home from second in the next at-bat with a single and added another with run-scoring hit. BYU then hit a three-run home run off the left foul pole to extend its lead to seven.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">The Jayhawks saw a slew of pitchers come into the game during BYU&rsquo;s seven-run second inning. Savanna DesRochers was the first out of the bullpen, followed by Olivia Bruno, who pitched the next 2.1 innings.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">Kansas got itself in the scoring column in the bottom of the second. After Lyric Moore opened the inning with a single, Ashlyn Anderson hit a triple to right to give KU its first run of the game. Anderson was left stranded at third after a double play ended the inning as BYU still held a 7-1 lead.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">BYU extended its lead to 8-1 in the next inning thanks to a solo home run to left center with two outs.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">KU had a chance to cut into BYU&rsquo;s lead in the bottom of the third. With one out, Presley Limbaugh drew a walk and Aynslee Linduff singled to put runners on first and second. However, both runners were left stranded after another double play to end the inning.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">The Cougars extended their lead by three more in the fourth. They opened the frame with a double, a single and a Kansas error to load the bases. A sacrifice fly, a walk and another Kansas error were enough to extend BYU&rsquo;s lead to 11-1. The Cougars added their 12th run in the fifth off a single with loaded bases.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">Sophia Buzard and Katie Gee made their way onto first and second base after Buzard reached on a BYU error and Gee picked up her second hit of the season on a single through the left side. A Kansas run ensued just an at-bat later with a Limbaugh RBI, her 19th of the year, to score Buzard for the Jayhawks second and final run of the game. Gee and Limbaugh were left stranded as KU fell 12-2 in five innings.</li>
</ul>
PITCHERS OF RECORD Win: Gianna Mares (7-8) Final line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SO Loss: Katie Brooks (12-6) Final line: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 0 SO
QUOTABLES &amp; NOTABLES
&ldquo;Bottom line, we&rsquo;re not ourselves right now. I think we&rsquo;re letting little things define us right now instead of just fighting the fight and fighting every inning, every pitch and every at-bat. We got to get back to playing Jayhawk softball and for some reason, this weekend, that hasn&rsquo;t happened for us. We still have an opportunity tomorrow to bounce back. So, we have to change our attitude and mindset and come out here and fight the fight.&rdquo; &ndash; Head Coach Jennifer McFalls
<ul style="text-align: start;color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">Kansas&rsquo; six hits extended its streak of earning three hits or more a game to 16 and five or more hits a game to five-straight.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">Five Jayhawks extended personal hitting streaks headlined by Moore (5), Limbaugh (5), Linduff (4), Anderson (3) and Bruno (2).</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">Katie Gee picked up her second hit of the season in her first at-bat of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">Both of Kansas&rsquo; runs came off RBIs from Anderson (seventh of the year) and Limbaugh (19th of the year)</li>
</ul>
UP NEXT
Kansas returns to Arrocha Ballpark tomorrow, Saturday, May 4, for the conclusion of its series against BYU starting at 12 p.m. CT. The Jayhawks will celebrate their senior class with the final home game by honoring Angela Price, Savanna DesRochers, Lyric Moore, Katie Gee, Sophia Buzard, Ashlyn Anderson, Kasey Hamilton and Addison Purvis.&nbsp;</div>

🥎 KU drops second straight to BYU

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714791385438.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>University of Kansas Sports Information<div>MANHATTAN, Kan. &ndash; Kansas State scored two runs in the eighth inning to push the Wildcats past Kansas, 3-2 on Friday night at Tointon Family Stadium. Kansas loaded the bases in the ninth inning but was unable to score.
The Jayhawks scored their two runs offensively on solo home runs. Ty Wisdom hit a solo homer in the third and Ben Hartl hit a solo shot in the fourth.
Kansas starter Reese Dutton threw 7.2 innings, but ultimately received the loss after K-State took the lead in the eighth.
HOW IT HAPPENED &bull; Kansas State (27-18, 11-11 Big 12) took a lead in the first inning on Friday. With runners on first and third and one out, the Wildcats attempted to steal second and the runner from third came in to score on the throw to second. That made it 1-0 Kansas State. &bull; Kansas (26-16, 12-10 Big 12) was able to tie up the game in the third inning. Wisdom hit a solo home run for his second blast of the year. &bull; The Jayhawks were able to take the lead in the top of the fourth on another solo home run. Hartl crushed a homer to left-center field, which made it 2-1 in favor of Kansas. &bull; For the second time in the game, Kansas recorded a double play on a fly ball in the seventh inning. The K-State baserunner did not tag up before trying to advance. &bull; After Dutton was able to get the first two outs in the eighth, K-State put together a two-out rally. Kaelen Culpepper tied the game with an RBI double and Nick English put the Wildcats ahead with an RBI single. Kansas State led 3-2 after eight innings. &bull; Kansas loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth but was unable to score.
PITCHERS OF RECORD Win: Micah Dean (3-3) Final line: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO Loss: Reese Dutton (7-3) Final line: 7.2 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 0 SO Save: Tyson Neighbors (5) Final line: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 SO
SOCIAL POST OF THE GAME
<div style="text-align: start;color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;"><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1786545292726132832&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fkuathletics.com%2Fkansas-edged-by-kansas-state-3-2%2F&sessionId=d37232cb1742911c0ef22afc7ad512f9b104ce9d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-gtm-yt-inspected-30="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-1_19="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-37="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-42="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-25="true" style="font-size: 16px;border: 0px;"></iframe></div>
QUOTABLES &amp; NOTABLES &ldquo;You think about that game and it came down to Culpepper split a gap to tie it, (Nick) English hit a ball hard up the middle to take the lead and their third baseman made a great catch otherwise that clears the bases. In games like that it&rsquo;s a game of inches. They did a better job tonight in the strike zone than we did. They had zero strikeouts offensively, which is actually really impressive for Reese to pitch as well as he did and not strike anyone out. Then, on the flip side I thought our approach at the plate wasn&rsquo;t fantastic. The Big 12 is the Big 12 and you have to buckle up on Friday night and be ready to go again on Saturday.&rdquo; &ndash; Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald
&bull; John Nett extended his hitting streak to 20 games, which is the longest by a Jayhawk this season. He has reached base safely in 41 of 42 games this season and recorded a hit in 30 of the last 31 contests. &bull; Wisdom stretched his on-base streak to 14 games. &bull; Hartl has reached base safely in each of the last 14 games. &bull; Jake English has a 14-game on-base streak. &bull; Mike Koszewski extended his on-base streak to 12 games.
UP NEXT Kansas and Kansas State will play game two of the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.</div>

⚾ KU edged by K-State in series opener

MAIZE, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School Salthawks baseball team picked up a hard fought split on Friday evening in Maize, winning game one, 3-2, and falling in game two, 6-3.

The Salthawks are now 13-9 overall and will travel to Goddard on Saturday to continue its suspended game at Eisenhower, beginning at 12 p.m. The Salthawks currently lead the Tigers, 4-3, in the bottom of the third inning of game one. The game was suspended due to weather on Tuesday.

Game 1: Hutchinson 3, Maize 2 Lakin Franz struck out the final five batters he faced to slam the door shut on the Eagles, earning just the second win over Maize in the past 10 years.

Franz came in relief of JuJu Lyons who went 3 1/3 innings on the hill. Franz struck out seven of the 12 batters faced and only allowed one baserunner, a walk issued in the fifth. He then retired the final nine batters he saw.

Hutchinson took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single from Jack Yoder, scoring Cole Bleything, who singled two batters earlier.&nbsp;

Maize rallied in the fourth inning with its first five batters reaching safely, but were only able to get two runs from it.&nbsp;

The Salthawks wasted no time to tie and regain a lead in the top of the fifth inning. Caiden Beavers doubled off the fence in left, followed by a walk to Bleything. Beavers scored from third on a pickoff attempt to tie the game at two. Bleything then scored on an error to give the Salthawks the 3-2 lead.

Landon Parks was the lone Salthawk batter with a multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 at the dish.&nbsp;

Hutchinson - 100 020 0 - 3 7 0 Maize - 000 200 0 - 2 3 2&nbsp; WP: Lakin Franz (1-1). LP: Easton Roth (4-2). Time: 1:50.

---------------------------------------------------------

Game 2: Maize 6, Hutchinson 3 Maize starting pitcher Cooper Tannahill improved his record to 8-0 and continued his sub-zero earned run average, as he tossed a complete game on the mound, striking out six Salthawks.

Maize scored one in the second and one more in the third to take a 2-0 lead.&nbsp;

Hutch scored three in the fifth inning thanks to four Maize errors. The Salthawks only recorded two singles in the inning, but took advantage of the Eagle miscues to grab the 3-2 lead.

The Eagles responded with two in the fifth to regain a 4-3 lead and then added two more in the sixth inning to seal the deal.

Franz, Carter Morgan, Jack Davis and Merrick Giles each had a hit apiece for the Salthawks in the loss.

Eastyn Keeler suffered the loss on the mound, going 4-plus innings, allowing five hits, four runs, striking out one and walking five.

Hutchinson - 000 030 0 - 3 4 2 Maize - 011 022 x - 6 9 4 WP: Cooper Tannahill (8-0). LP: Eastyn Keeler (2-3). Time: 1:37.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714776402294.jpeg" alt="Hutchinson senior pitcher Lakin Franz delivers a pitch to Maize senior Cole Chalashtari in game one at Maize on Friday, May 3. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)" />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson senior pitcher Lakin Franz delivers a pitch to Maize senior Cole Chalashtari in game one at Maize on Friday, May 3. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)</figcaption>
 </figure>MAIZE, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School Salthawks baseball team picked up a hard fought split on Friday evening in Maize, winning game one, 3-2, and falling in game two, 6-3.The Salthawks are now 13-9 overall and will travel to Goddard on Saturday to continue its suspended game at Eisenhower, beginning at 12 p.m. The Salthawks currently lead the Tigers, 4-3, in the bottom of the third inning of game one. The game was suspended due to weather on Tuesday.Game 1: Hutchinson 3, Maize 2 Lakin Franz struck out the final five batters he faced to slam the door shut on the Eagles, earning just the second win over Maize in the past 10 years.Franz came in relief of JuJu Lyons who went 3 1/3 innings on the hill. Franz struck out seven of the 12 batters faced and only allowed one baserunner, a walk issued in the fifth. He then retired the final nine batters he saw.Hutchinson took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single from Jack Yoder, scoring Cole Bleything, who singled two batters earlier.&nbsp;Maize rallied in the fourth inning with its first five batters reaching safely, but were only able to get two runs from it.&nbsp;The Salthawks wasted no time to tie and regain a lead in the top of the fifth inning. Caiden Beavers doubled off the fence in left, followed by a walk to Bleything. Beavers scored from third on a pickoff attempt to tie the game at two. Bleything then scored on an error to give the Salthawks the 3-2 lead.Landon Parks was the lone Salthawk batter with a multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 at the dish.&nbsp;Hutchinson - 100 020 0 - 3 7 0 Maize - 000 200 0 - 2 3 2&nbsp; WP: Lakin Franz (1-1). LP: Easton Roth (4-2). Time: 1:50.---------------------------------------------------------Game 2: Maize 6, Hutchinson 3 Maize starting pitcher Cooper Tannahill improved his record to 8-0 and continued his sub-zero earned run average, as he tossed a complete game on the mound, striking out six Salthawks.Maize scored one in the second and one more in the third to take a 2-0 lead.&nbsp;Hutch scored three in the fifth inning thanks to four Maize errors. The Salthawks only recorded two singles in the inning, but took advantage of the Eagle miscues to grab the 3-2 lead.The Eagles responded with two in the fifth to regain a 4-3 lead and then added two more in the sixth inning to seal the deal.Franz, Carter Morgan, Jack Davis and Merrick Giles each had a hit apiece for the Salthawks in the loss.Eastyn Keeler suffered the loss on the mound, going 4-plus innings, allowing five hits, four runs, striking out one and walking five.Hutchinson - 000 030 0 - 3 4 2 Maize - 011 022 x - 6 9 4 WP: Cooper Tannahill (8-0). LP: Eastyn Keeler (2-3). Time: 1:37.

⚾ Salthawks earn tough split at Maize

MAIZE, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School Salthawks travel to Maize High School for an AVCTL-I doubleheader against the Eagles this afternoon.

First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.&nbsp; Hutchinson is 12-8 overall, while Maize is 17-4.

Catch the audio only broadcast below with Sean Boston on the call.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714607156331.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MAIZE, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School Salthawks travel to Maize High School for an AVCTL-I doubleheader against the Eagles this afternoon.First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.&nbsp; Hutchinson is 12-8 overall, while Maize is 17-4.Catch the audio only broadcast below with Sean Boston on the call.&nbsp; &nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://eagle-media-sports-hutch.mixlr.com/embed" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="200px" width="100%"></iframe><a href="https://mixlr.com/" style="color:#1a1a1a;display:block;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:11px;text-align:left;padding: 4px 0;">Eagle Media Sports - Hutchpost Sports is on Mixlr</a></div>

⚾🎧 Salthawks travel to Maize for key AVCTL matchup

The Kansas City Royals announced this afternoon that catcher Salvador Perez and right-handed pitcher Seth Lugo have been named Royals Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for March/April. The awards are determined by a local media vote.

Perez ranked among American League leaders in several offensive categories through the first month of the season, including 1st in RBI (26) and batting average (.355), 2nd in OPS (1.013) and slugging percentage (.598), 3rd in on-base percentage (.415), tied for 4th in hits (38) and 5th in total bases (64). His 26 RBI were the 3rd most by a Royal in March/April in franchise history, behind only Jermaine Dye (28 RBI in 2000) and Dean Palmer (27 in 1998). On April 27, he recorded his 838th career RBI, breaking a tie with Mike Sweeney for the 5th-most RBI in Royals history. Through the end of the month, Perez led the team with 7 home runs, which tied for the 6th most in the AL, just 3 behind the leaders. He closed out the month with an active 20-game on-base streak—passing his previous career high of 17 games—and extended that to 21 straight games on Wednesday in Toronto.

Over his 21-game run, he’s batting .366 (26-for-71) with 18 RBI and more walks (8) than strikeouts (4). In fact, he also carried another streak into the month of May, as he did not strike out in his final 32 straight plate appearances through the end of April. In Wednesday’s series finale in Toronto, he extended this streak to 36 plate appearances without a strikeout, which is the 2nd longest active streak in the Majors. Perez struck out just 13 times in 30 games through the end of April for an 11.0 K%, which was the 5th-best rate in the American League and less than half the 24.1 K% he posted over the last three seasons from 2021-23. This marks Perez’s eighth career monthly honor, which matches Billy Butler for the 4th most among Royals since the award was established in 1995, and he trails only Alex Gordon (13), Sweeney (13) and Eric Hosmer (11).

Lugo has been dominant to start the season, landing among American League leaders in wins (tied for 1st, 4), groundball double plays (tied for 3rd, 5) and innings (6th, 38.0) through the end of April.

He added to these totals in his most recent start in Wednesday’s series-clinching win in Toronto,&nbsp;where he spun 7.0 innings of 1-run ball and earned his 5th win in 7 starts this season. Additionally, he pitched to a 1.66 ERA (7 ER in 38.0 IP) over 6 starts last month, which was the 5th-best mark among qualified AL pitchers, behind only Kutter Crawford (1.35), José Berríos (1.44), Tanner Houck (1.60)&nbsp;and Ronel Blanco (1.65). He was one of just eight pitchers who recorded at least 5 quality starts over&nbsp;the first month of the season, and his rate of 0.47 home runs allowed per 9.0 innings (2 HR in 38.0 IP) was the 9th lowest in the Majors (min. 6 GS), trailing leader Crawford (0 HR in 33.1 IP). Lugo’s 1.66 ERA through his 1st 6 outings marked the 5th lowest in a single season by a Royals pitcher in March/April (min. 35.0 IP), trailing only Zack Greinke in 2009 (0.50 ERA) and 2008 (1.25), Kevin Appier in 1992 (1.27) and Runelvys Hernández in 2003 (1.36). Three of his 6 starts were scoreless, including 6.0 shutout innings in his Royals debut on March 30 vs. Minnesota, his 3rd straight win with 7.0 scoreless innings on April 15 in Chicago vs. the White Sox and 7.0 scoreless frames with a career-high-tying 9&nbsp;strikeouts in his final outing of the month on April 26 in Detroit. The nine-year Major League veteran signed a two-year free agent contract with Kansas City last Dec. 14 after spending the 2023 season with San Diego.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713668530710.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez watches his three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez watches his three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas City Royals announced this afternoon that catcher Salvador Perez and right-handed pitcher Seth Lugo have been named Royals Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for March/April. The awards are determined by a local media vote.Perez ranked among American League leaders in several offensive categories through the first month of the season, including 1st in RBI (26) and batting average (.355), 2nd in OPS (1.013) and slugging percentage (.598), 3rd in on-base percentage (.415), tied for 4th in hits (38) and 5th in total bases (64). His 26 RBI were the 3rd most by a Royal in March/April in franchise history, behind only Jermaine Dye (28 RBI in 2000) and Dean Palmer (27 in 1998). On April 27, he recorded his 838th career RBI, breaking a tie with Mike Sweeney for the 5th-most RBI in Royals history. Through the end of the month, Perez led the team with 7 home runs, which tied for the 6th most in the AL, just 3 behind the leaders. He closed out the month with an active 20-game on-base streak—passing his previous career high of 17 games—and extended that to 21 straight games on Wednesday in Toronto.Over his 21-game run, he’s batting .366 (26-for-71) with 18 RBI and more walks (8) than strikeouts (4). In fact, he also carried another streak into the month of May, as he did not strike out in his final 32 straight plate appearances through the end of April. In Wednesday’s series finale in Toronto, he extended this streak to 36 plate appearances without a strikeout, which is the 2nd longest active streak in the Majors. Perez struck out just 13 times in 30 games through the end of April for an 11.0 K%, which was the 5th-best rate in the American League and less than half the 24.1 K% he posted over the last three seasons from 2021-23. This marks Perez’s eighth career monthly honor, which matches Billy Butler for the 4th most among Royals since the award was established in 1995, and he trails only Alex Gordon (13), Sweeney (13) and Eric Hosmer (11).Lugo has been dominant to start the season, landing among American League leaders in wins (tied for 1st, 4), groundball double plays (tied for 3rd, 5) and innings (6th, 38.0) through the end of April.He added to these totals in his most recent start in Wednesday’s series-clinching win in Toronto,&nbsp;where he spun 7.0 innings of 1-run ball and earned his 5th win in 7 starts this season. Additionally, he pitched to a 1.66 ERA (7 ER in 38.0 IP) over 6 starts last month, which was the 5th-best mark among qualified AL pitchers, behind only Kutter Crawford (1.35), José Berríos (1.44), Tanner Houck (1.60)&nbsp;and Ronel Blanco (1.65). He was one of just eight pitchers who recorded at least 5 quality starts over&nbsp;the first month of the season, and his rate of 0.47 home runs allowed per 9.0 innings (2 HR in 38.0 IP) was the 9th lowest in the Majors (min. 6 GS), trailing leader Crawford (0 HR in 33.1 IP). Lugo’s 1.66 ERA through his 1st 6 outings marked the 5th lowest in a single season by a Royals pitcher in March/April (min. 35.0 IP), trailing only Zack Greinke in 2009 (0.50 ERA) and 2008 (1.25), Kevin Appier in 1992 (1.27) and Runelvys Hernández in 2003 (1.36). Three of his 6 starts were scoreless, including 6.0 shutout innings in his Royals debut on March 30 vs. Minnesota, his 3rd straight win with 7.0 scoreless innings on April 15 in Chicago vs. the White Sox and 7.0 scoreless frames with a career-high-tying 9&nbsp;strikeouts in his final outing of the month on April 26 in Detroit. The nine-year Major League veteran signed a two-year free agent contract with Kansas City last Dec. 14 after spending the 2023 season with San Diego.

⚾ Perez and Lugo get monthly awards

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701263164849.png" alt="Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Friday, May 3rd, 2024" />
 <figcaption>Early Morning Sports with Rob Dreher for Friday, May 3rd, 2024</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="May 3rd, 2024 Early Morning Sports" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=envwn-1601dec-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

🎧 LISTEN: ⚾ Wind Surge drops game to Naturals ⚾ HutchCC wins over Allen ⚾ Clay Center sweeps Buhler

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714735579941.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure><div>LAWRENCE, Kan. &ndash;&nbsp;Kansas fell to BYU 8-6 in a back-and-forth affair Thursday night at Arrocha Ballpark in the first game of a three-game series.
Kansas out-hit BYU 10-7 and got the go-ahead run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn&rsquo;t extend the game. The Jayhawks left 11 runners on base and fell to 27-22-1 and 11-14 in the Big 12 as BYU improved to 28-22 and 9-16 in conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED 
<ul style="text-align: start;color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">Kasey Hamilton got her 25th start of the season. After giving up a hit to the first batter of the game, Hamilton earned two groundouts and a flyout to leave a Cougar stranded on second.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">Kansas got its bats going early. Presley Limbaugh and Aynslee Linduff started the game with back-to-back doubles to left to put runners on second and third. Lyric Moore followed that up by reaching base off a BYU fielding error to load the bases. With one out, Olivia Bruno hit a deep fly ball to center, which was narrowly caught but was enough to bring Limbaugh home. In the next at-bat, Campbell Bagshaw smoked a two-run single to right center to give Kansas the early 3-0 lead.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;BYU responded in the next frame. The Cougars opened the second inning with a single and followed that up with a double to right center to cut into KU&rsquo;s lead, 3-1. With runners on first and second, the Jayhawks were able to turn a double play off a flyout to end the scoring threat.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;BYU tied the game in the top of the third. After opening the inning with two-straight walks, Kansas earned its second double play of the game as a runner advanced to third. With two outs, BYU hit a single up the middle and forced a Kansas error to tie the game at three apiece.&nbsp;</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;The Cougars took their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth. With two outs and runners on first and second, BYU singled to center to take the 4-3 lead.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;KU got a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. Sara Roszak singled and Limbaugh drew a walk, but both runners were left stranded to end the scoring threat.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;BYU added to its lead in the fifth. After reliever Lizzy Ludwig struck out the first batter, she hit the next batter to put a runner on. With two outs, Kansas recorded two-straight errors in back-to-back plays to give BYU another run to make its lead 5-3.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;The Cougars added two more in the sixth. BYU opened the inning with a walk and after a strikeout, a Kansas error and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. Another KU error gave BYU the 7-3 lead.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;The Jayhawks closed the gap in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch hitter Addison Purvis was the first to reach in the frame with a walk, followed by a Limbaugh single. In the next at-bat, Aynslee Linduff singled up the middle to give Kansas two more runs on the board and to make BYU&rsquo;s lead 7-5.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;BYU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with back-to-back singles to take an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">Kansas tried to mount a rally in the last inning of the game. With two outs, Ashlyn Anderson drew a walk and pinch hitter Anna Soles followed suit with a walk of her own. Limbaugh singled up the middle to bring one run home, but it was not enough as BYU came away with the 8-6 victory.</li>
</ul>
PITCHERS OF RECORD Win: Chloe Temples (9-6) Final line: &nbsp;4.1IP, 6 H, 3R, &nbsp;1BB, &nbsp;3SO Loss: Kasey Hamilton (10-13) Final line: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 1 SO
QUOTABLES &amp; NOTABLES &ldquo;I think we had some routine outs that we make everyday in practice and just didn&rsquo;t execute in those situations. We let some pressure situations get to us and eat us up tonight. I think our compete factor in the box got better. We had opportunities early on again but we didn&rsquo;t get the job done. Sometimes you need a little spark to get things going. Aynslee (Linduff) had a big two-run at-bat in her previous at-bat, and here we are right back in the seventh inning with her up. She smokes the ball down the line and they (BYU) make a great play. Bottom line is they made the plays on defense tonight and we didn&rsquo;t.&rdquo; &ndash; Head Coach Jennifer McFalls
<ul style="text-align: start;color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;Limbaugh and Moore both extended their hitting streaks to four games. Limbaugh also increased her multi-hit game total to a team-best 12 games.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;Linduff recorded two hits and two RBI as she increased her multi-hit game total to nine and her multi-RBI total to three.</li>
 <li style="color: rgb(30, 31, 33);font-size: 16px;border: 0px;">&nbsp;With her pair of hits and two RBI, Bagshaw increased her multi-hit total to 11 and her multi-RBI total to eight.</li>
</ul>
UP NEXT Kansas will face off against BYU in the second game of the series tomorrow, May 3, with first pitch set for a 5 p.m. CT start.</div>

🥎 KU drops series opener to BYU

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As he prepares for his fourth year in Kansas City, Kardarius Toney's option for a fifth year under his rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs has been declined.

In 2024, Toney will earn a fully guaranteed $2.5 million salary for what could be his final season in Kansas City. If they bring him back after that, it will be for less money. Toney was originally the No. 20 pick in the 2021 draft year for the New York Giants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668390941061.png" alt="Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney Nov. 13, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney Nov. 13, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As he prepares for his fourth year in Kansas City, Kardarius Toney's option for a fifth year under his rookie contract with the Kansas City Chiefs has been declined.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">12 players officially had their 5th-year options declined: No. 2: Zach Wilson No. 3: Trey Lance No. 11: Justin Fields No. 15: Mac Jones No. 16: Zaven Collins No. 19: Jamin Davis No. 20: Kadarius Toney No. 22: Caleb Farley No. 24: Najee Harris No. 28: Payton Turner No. 29: Eric…&mdash; Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1786169957140627756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In 2024, Toney will earn a fully guaranteed $2.5 million salary for what could be his final season in Kansas City. If they bring him back after that, it will be for less money. Toney was originally the No. 20 pick in the 2021 draft year for the New York Giants.

🏈 Chiefs decline 5th year option on Toney

Knicks advance to the Eastern Conference semis, topping 76ers 118-115 in Game 6

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Josh Hart made a go-ahead 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 24.4 seconds left, and the New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-115 in Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Jalen Brunson had 41 points and 12 assists to lead the Knicks, who move on to face the Indiana Pacers. Game 1 is Monday in New York. The Knicks are through to the second round in consecutive years for the first time since the postseasons from 1992-2000. Joel Embiid finished with 39 points and 13 rebounds for the Sixers but fouled out in the closing seconds.

Pacers celebrate 1st playoff series victory in a decade, beating Bucks 120-98 in Game 6

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Obi Toppin scored 21 points, T.J. McConnell had 20 points and nine assists and the Indiana Pacers won a playoff series for the first time in a decade, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 120-98 in Game 6 on Thursday night. The Pacers will face New York in their first Eastern Conference semifinal in a decade. Indiana's milestone victory came exactly 30 years after it swept Orlando 3-0 to advance in the NBA playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and it came on a night the Bucks again were without Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time league MVP never played after straining his left calf April 9. Damian Lillard had 28 points for Milwaukee.

Nylander and Woll help Maple Leafs beat Bruins 2-1 to force Game 7

TORONTO (AP) — William Nylander scored twice, Joseph Woll made 22 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night to force a seventh game in the first-round Eastern Conference series. Toronto has overcame a 3-1 series deficit, also staving off elimination with a 2-1 victory in overtime in Boston on Tuesday night, to send the series back to Boston for a winner-take-all finale Saturday night. The series winner will face the Florida Panthers. Jeremy Swayman stopped 24 shots for the Bruins, who also blew a 3-1 lead against the Florida Panthers last year in the first round before losing in Game 7 following a record-setting regular season. Morgan Geekie spoiled Woll's shutout bid with 0.1 seconds left.

Paying college football players could reverse trend of bowl game opt-outs, boost non-CFP postseason

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — With the expanded College Football Playoff locked in through 2031, questions still remain about what the rest of the postseason will look like. One thing is certain, there will still be bowls. Nick Carparelli, the executive director of the organization that represents bowls games, a more professionalized version of college football could quell players opting-out of bowls by tying compensation to postseason participation. He also said giving bowl organizers more freedom to make matchups could help create more compelling games.

Biden to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 politicians, activists, athletes and more

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will awardthe Presidential Medal of Freedom to a diverse group of 19 individuals. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Vice President Al Gore are among those who will receive the nation's highest civilian honor from the Democratic president at the White House on Friday. Other recipients are slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers; actor Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian woman to win an Academy Award for best actress; and the late Jim Thorpe, the first Native American to win Olympic gold for the United States. Former President Barack Obama presented the medal to Biden, his vice president, a week before their administration ended in 2017.

Tiger Woods gets special exemption to US Open at Pinehurst

Tiger Woods is headed to the U.S. Open after receiving the first of what likely will be many special exemptions. Woods has been eligible for every U.S. Open since he played in his first one in 1995 as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. By the time he played his first Open as a pro, Woods already was the Masters champion. And 14 more major titles followed. Jack Nicklaus received eight U.S. Open exemptions. Arnold Palmer received five. Woods is a three-time U.S. Open champion as part of his 15 majors. The U.S. Open is June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2.

Cavaliers, Mavericks trying to close out 1st-round NBA playoff series in Game 6s

The Orlando Magic desperately want an opportunity to go back on the road. The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping to go home, though not for good. There are two more elimination games in the NBA playoffs Friday night, with the Magic hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Clippers visiting the Dallas Mavericks after falling behind 3-2 in the first-round matchups. With Donovan Mitchell scoring 28 points and Evan Mobley blocking Franz Wagner's layup in the closing seconds of a one-point victory Tuesday night, Cleveland is on the brink of advancing to face Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals after taking Games 1, 2 and 5 at home. The Dallas-Los Angeles winner will face Oklahoma City in the West semifinals.

Georgia's Kirby Smart becomes the nation's highest-paid college football coach at $13m annually

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia's Kirby Smart has agreed to a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid coach in college football with an annual salary of $13 million. Smart surpasses Clemson's Dabo Swinney, who is set to make $11 million in 2024. Smart gets a bump in salary of $1.75 million annually as part of the deal, which ties him to the Bulldogs through 2033. He could also receive up to $1.55 million per year in bonuses based on the new 12-team playoff structure, an increase from $1.3 million under the previous terms. Athletic director Josh Brooks got an extension that raises his salary to $1.275 million annually.

Matt Wallace takes 1-shot lead at Byron Nelson, with defending champ Jason Day 3 back

McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Matt Wallace has a one-shot lead over seven players in the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The 34-year-old Englishman finished three strokes ahead of defending champion Jason Day. Hometown favorite Jordan Spieth is five back with world No. 1 and fellow Dallas resident Scottie Scheffler sitting out while awaiting the birth of his first child. Wallace is without a top-10 finish this season. His only PGA Tour victory came last year in the Dominican Republic. The round was suspended by darkness with nine players yet to finish at TPC Craig Ranch.

Bayer Leverkusen's record unbeaten march continues with a 2-0 win at Roma in Europa League

ROME (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen silenced the Stadio Olimpico with a 2-0 win at Roma in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals to extend its record unbeaten streak to 47 matches across all competitions. Roma was dangerous with an early header off the crossbar from Romelu Lukaku. But then Leverkusen struck on the counterattack seven minutes later with a goal from Florian Wirtz. Midfielder Robert Andrich added another goal for Leverkusen in the 73rd with a long-range shot. Atalanta drew 1-1 at Marseille in the other semifinal.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

		San Francisco	at	Philadelphia	6:40 p.m.	

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701494597443.png" alt="Sports Headlines and News for Friday, May 3rd, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Sports Headlines and News for Friday, May 3rd, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure>AP Sports in a Minute for May 3rd, 2024.<div></div>Knicks advance to the Eastern Conference semis, topping 76ers 118-115 in Game 6PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Josh Hart made a go-ahead 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 24.4 seconds left, and the New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-115 in Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Jalen Brunson had 41 points and 12 assists to lead the Knicks, who move on to face the Indiana Pacers. Game 1 is Monday in New York. The Knicks are through to the second round in consecutive years for the first time since the postseasons from 1992-2000. Joel Embiid finished with 39 points and 13 rebounds for the Sixers but fouled out in the closing seconds.Pacers celebrate 1st playoff series victory in a decade, beating Bucks 120-98 in Game 6INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Obi Toppin scored 21 points, T.J. McConnell had 20 points and nine assists and the Indiana Pacers won a playoff series for the first time in a decade, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 120-98 in Game 6 on Thursday night. The Pacers will face New York in their first Eastern Conference semifinal in a decade. Indiana's milestone victory came exactly 30 years after it swept Orlando 3-0 to advance in the NBA playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and it came on a night the Bucks again were without Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time league MVP never played after straining his left calf April 9. Damian Lillard had 28 points for Milwaukee.Nylander and Woll help Maple Leafs beat Bruins 2-1 to force Game 7TORONTO (AP) — William Nylander scored twice, Joseph Woll made 22 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday night to force a seventh game in the first-round Eastern Conference series. Toronto has overcame a 3-1 series deficit, also staving off elimination with a 2-1 victory in overtime in Boston on Tuesday night, to send the series back to Boston for a winner-take-all finale Saturday night. The series winner will face the Florida Panthers. Jeremy Swayman stopped 24 shots for the Bruins, who also blew a 3-1 lead against the Florida Panthers last year in the first round before losing in Game 7 following a record-setting regular season. Morgan Geekie spoiled Woll's shutout bid with 0.1 seconds left.Paying college football players could reverse trend of bowl game opt-outs, boost non-CFP postseasonSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — With the expanded College Football Playoff locked in through 2031, questions still remain about what the rest of the postseason will look like. One thing is certain, there will still be bowls. Nick Carparelli, the executive director of the organization that represents bowls games, a more professionalized version of college football could quell players opting-out of bowls by tying compensation to postseason participation. He also said giving bowl organizers more freedom to make matchups could help create more compelling games.Biden to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 politicians, activists, athletes and moreWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will awardthe Presidential Medal of Freedom to a diverse group of 19 individuals. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Vice President Al Gore are among those who will receive the nation's highest civilian honor from the Democratic president at the White House on Friday. Other recipients are slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers; actor Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian woman to win an Academy Award for best actress; and the late Jim Thorpe, the first Native American to win Olympic gold for the United States. Former President Barack Obama presented the medal to Biden, his vice president, a week before their administration ended in 2017.Tiger Woods gets special exemption to US Open at PinehurstTiger Woods is headed to the U.S. Open after receiving the first of what likely will be many special exemptions. Woods has been eligible for every U.S. Open since he played in his first one in 1995 as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion. By the time he played his first Open as a pro, Woods already was the Masters champion. And 14 more major titles followed. Jack Nicklaus received eight U.S. Open exemptions. Arnold Palmer received five. Woods is a three-time U.S. Open champion as part of his 15 majors. The U.S. Open is June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2.Cavaliers, Mavericks trying to close out 1st-round NBA playoff series in Game 6sThe Orlando Magic desperately want an opportunity to go back on the road. The Los Angeles Clippers are hoping to go home, though not for good. There are two more elimination games in the NBA playoffs Friday night, with the Magic hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Clippers visiting the Dallas Mavericks after falling behind 3-2 in the first-round matchups. With Donovan Mitchell scoring 28 points and Evan Mobley blocking Franz Wagner's layup in the closing seconds of a one-point victory Tuesday night, Cleveland is on the brink of advancing to face Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals after taking Games 1, 2 and 5 at home. The Dallas-Los Angeles winner will face Oklahoma City in the West semifinals.Georgia's Kirby Smart becomes the nation's highest-paid college football coach at $13m annuallyATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia's Kirby Smart has agreed to a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid coach in college football with an annual salary of $13 million. Smart surpasses Clemson's Dabo Swinney, who is set to make $11 million in 2024. Smart gets a bump in salary of $1.75 million annually as part of the deal, which ties him to the Bulldogs through 2033. He could also receive up to $1.55 million per year in bonuses based on the new 12-team playoff structure, an increase from $1.3 million under the previous terms. Athletic director Josh Brooks got an extension that raises his salary to $1.275 million annually.Matt Wallace takes 1-shot lead at Byron Nelson, with defending champ Jason Day 3 backMcKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Matt Wallace has a one-shot lead over seven players in the first round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The 34-year-old Englishman finished three strokes ahead of defending champion Jason Day. Hometown favorite Jordan Spieth is five back with world No. 1 and fellow Dallas resident Scottie Scheffler sitting out while awaiting the birth of his first child. Wallace is without a top-10 finish this season. His only PGA Tour victory came last year in the Dominican Republic. The round was suspended by darkness with nine players yet to finish at TPC Craig Ranch.Bayer Leverkusen's record unbeaten march continues with a 2-0 win at Roma in Europa LeagueROME (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen silenced the Stadio Olimpico with a 2-0 win at Roma in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals to extend its record unbeaten streak to 47 matches across all competitions. Roma was dangerous with an early header off the crossbar from Romelu Lukaku. But then Leverkusen struck on the counterattack seven minutes later with a goal from Florian Wirtz. Midfielder Robert Andrich added another goal for Leverkusen in the 73rd with a long-range shot. Atalanta drew 1-1 at Marseille in the other semifinal.AP-ScorecardHere are the scores from yesterday's sports events:___INTERLEAGUEFinal	San Francisco	3	Boston	1	Final	Texas	6	Washington	0	___AMERICAN LEAGUEFinal	Baltimore	7	N.Y. Yankees	2	Final	Houston	8	Cleveland	2	___NATIONAL LEAGUEFinal	Miami	5	Colorado	4	Final	N.Y. Mets	7	Chicago Cubs	6	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFSFinal	Indiana	120	Milwaukee	98	Final	New York	118	Philadelphia	115	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFSFinal	Toronto	2	Boston	1	___TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE___INTERLEAGUE		Baltimore	at	Cincinnati	6:10 p.m.			Toronto	at	Washington	6:45 p.m.			N-Y Mets	at	Tampa Bay	6:50 p.m.			Chi White Sox	at	St. Louis	8:15 p.m.			Miami	at	Oakland	9:40 p.m.	___AMERICAN LEAGUE		Detroit	at	N-Y Yankees	7:05 p.m.			L-A Angels	at	Cleveland	7:10 p.m.			Texas	at	Kansas City	7:40 p.m.			Boston	at	Minnesota	8:10 p.m.			Seattle	at	Houston	8:10 p.m.	___NATIONAL LEAGUE		Milwaukee	at	Chi Cubs	2:20 p.m.			Colorado	at	Pittsburgh	6:40 p.m.			San Francisco	at	Philadelphia	6:40 p.m.			San Diego	at	Arizona	9:40 p.m.			Atlanta	at	L-A Dodgers	10:10 p.m.	___NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS		Cleveland	at	Orlando	7 p.m.			L.A. Clippers	at	Dallas	9:30 p.m.	___NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS		Vancouver	at	Nashville	7 p.m.			Dallas	at	Vegas	10 p.m.	___

📢📰🎧 Sports Headlines for Friday

SPRINGDALE, Ark.—The Wichita Wind Surge didn’t have much going around the diamond in a 12-3 loss against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to fall behind in the series two games to one.

Three Wind Surge pitchers consecutively surrendered the 12 Naturals runs over the first five innings. Northwest Arkansas tallied seven run-scoring hits, including a triple and a pair of home runs across their first 15 outs on the night. Northwest Arkansas ties the Frisco RoughRiders for the most runs scored in a game against Wichita after Frisco did so on April 7 to round out Opening Weekend at Riverfront Stadium.

Tanner Schobel&nbsp;whacked his first home run of the season to left field in the form of a two-run shot in the top of the sixth. The Wind Surge third basemen laced an RBI single 105 miles per hour off the bat an inning later in the seventh to score&nbsp;Jorel Ortega&nbsp;from third and make the score 12-3 Naturals.

A.J. Alexy&nbsp;earned the loss to fall to 1-2 on the season after giving up six earned runs on five hits and three walks against a strikeout in one and a third innings pitched.&nbsp;Taylor Floyd&nbsp;and&nbsp;Jared Solomon&nbsp;held the Naturals to just a hit and a walk on top of five strikeouts in the final three and a third innings of work for Wind Surge pitching.

Wichita continues its series with Northwest Arkansas tomorrow, Friday, May 3, with the first pitch at 7:05 PM. You can listen to Wind Surge games on ESPN Wichita 92.3 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>&nbsp;or watch online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/MiLB.TV">MiLB.TV</a>&nbsp;and Bally Live. For ticket information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714727769168.jpeg" alt="Arkansas Naturals bats come alive." />
 <figcaption>Arkansas Naturals bats come alive.</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGDALE, Ark.—The Wichita Wind Surge didn’t have much going around the diamond in a 12-3 loss against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to fall behind in the series two games to one.Three Wind Surge pitchers consecutively surrendered the 12 Naturals runs over the first five innings. Northwest Arkansas tallied seven run-scoring hits, including a triple and a pair of home runs across their first 15 outs on the night. Northwest Arkansas ties the Frisco RoughRiders for the most runs scored in a game against Wichita after Frisco did so on April 7 to round out Opening Weekend at Riverfront Stadium.Tanner Schobel&nbsp;whacked his first home run of the season to left field in the form of a two-run shot in the top of the sixth. The Wind Surge third basemen laced an RBI single 105 miles per hour off the bat an inning later in the seventh to score&nbsp;Jorel Ortega&nbsp;from third and make the score 12-3 Naturals.A.J. Alexy&nbsp;earned the loss to fall to 1-2 on the season after giving up six earned runs on five hits and three walks against a strikeout in one and a third innings pitched.&nbsp;Taylor Floyd&nbsp;and&nbsp;Jared Solomon&nbsp;held the Naturals to just a hit and a walk on top of five strikeouts in the final three and a third innings of work for Wind Surge pitching.Wichita continues its series with Northwest Arkansas tomorrow, Friday, May 3, with the first pitch at 7:05 PM. You can listen to Wind Surge games on ESPN Wichita 92.3 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>&nbsp;or watch online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/MiLB.TV">MiLB.TV</a>&nbsp;and Bally Live. For ticket information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.milb.com/windsurge.com">windsurge.com</a>.

⚾ Wind Surge bounced by Naturals

BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler Crusaders boys tennis team won the class 4A tennis regional on Thursday at the Buhler High School Tennis Courts.

 The Crusaders edged out Scott Community for the team title, 23-17.&nbsp;

Buhler qualified a total of six student-athletes for the class 4A state tennis tournament, which will be held Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11 at Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.

<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QQEIz--lKsaDtIH-YL2uFe7Ql2zNlLrapRuIdbajADA/edit#gid=1378406087">BRACKET</a>

Singles State Qualifiers 1st: Davian Spies, jr., Buhler (30-4) 2nd: Avry Noll, sr., Scott Community (13-1) 3rd: Amos Harder, sr., Buhler (25-10) 4th: Houston Frank, sr., Scott Community (18-11) 5th: Jack Bushnell, sr., Pratt (19-10) 6th: Pablo Gaitan, fr., Towanda-Circle (16-11)

Doubles State Qualifiers 1st: Von Woleslagel, jr./Reuben Harder, so., Buhler (28-7) 2nd: Sage Stoecklein, sr./Ayden Presson, sr., Scott Community (9-2) 3rd: Logan Pfeifer, sr./Logan Ruddle, sr., Augusta (16-7) 4th: Merrick Manns, sr./Eli Biggs, sr., Buhler (20-15) 5th: Landon Boldra, jr./Keaton Koenigsman, jr., Towanda-Circle (10-10) 6th: Jack Ford, sr./Cayden Mitchell, sr., Towanda-Circle (12-9)&nbsp;

TEAM RESULTS 1. Buhler, 23 2. Scott Community, 17 T3. Augusta, 7 T3. Towanda-Circle, 7 5. Pratt, 4 6. Ulysses, 0&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714696247250.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Buhler Tennis" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Buhler Tennis</figcaption>
 </figure> BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler Crusaders boys tennis team won the class 4A tennis regional on Thursday at the Buhler High School Tennis Courts. The Crusaders edged out Scott Community for the team title, 23-17.&nbsp;Buhler qualified a total of six student-athletes for the class 4A state tennis tournament, which will be held Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11 at Kossover Tennis Center in Topeka.CLASS 4A - BUHLER REGIONAL<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QQEIz--lKsaDtIH-YL2uFe7Ql2zNlLrapRuIdbajADA/edit#gid=1378406087">BRACKET</a>Singles State Qualifiers 1st: Davian Spies, jr., Buhler (30-4) 2nd: Avry Noll, sr., Scott Community (13-1) 3rd: Amos Harder, sr., Buhler (25-10) 4th: Houston Frank, sr., Scott Community (18-11) 5th: Jack Bushnell, sr., Pratt (19-10) 6th: Pablo Gaitan, fr., Towanda-Circle (16-11)Doubles State Qualifiers 1st: Von Woleslagel, jr./Reuben Harder, so., Buhler (28-7) 2nd: Sage Stoecklein, sr./Ayden Presson, sr., Scott Community (9-2) 3rd: Logan Pfeifer, sr./Logan Ruddle, sr., Augusta (16-7) 4th: Merrick Manns, sr./Eli Biggs, sr., Buhler (20-15) 5th: Landon Boldra, jr./Keaton Koenigsman, jr., Towanda-Circle (10-10) 6th: Jack Ford, sr./Cayden Mitchell, sr., Towanda-Circle (12-9)&nbsp; TEAM RESULTS 1. Buhler, 23 2. Scott Community, 17 T3. Augusta, 7 T3. Towanda-Circle, 7 5. Pratt, 4 6. Ulysses, 0&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎾 Buhler claims regional title on home court

Five pitchers combined for a four-hit shutout and the Jayhawk West champion Hutchinson Community College baseball team got some timely two-out hitting to defeat the Allen Red Devils 3-0 on Thursday afternoon at Hobart-Detter Field.

The No. 17-ranked Blue Dragons improved to 43-11 with their 27th victory in the last 30 games played. The 2024 Blue Dragons tie the 1999 and 2014 Blue Dragons for the sixth-most wins in a single season in team history. Allen fell to 20-32 overall. The Blue Dragons and Red Devils conclude their two-game series at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Iola.

Starting pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/giesbrecht_ethan_qz2n">Ethan Giesbrecht</a>&nbsp;(10-2) became the first 10-game winner for the Blue Dragons in a season since 2014 with five shutout innings on Thursday. Giesbrecht allowed just two hits and struck out two over his three innings.

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/hadden_jacob_atac">Jacob Hadden</a>&nbsp;pitched two scoreless innings with a hit a strikeout and walk.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/perkins_ashton_8hhl">Ashton Perkins</a>&nbsp;worked a perfect sixth. Caden Wandless threw two shutout innings with two strikeouts, a walk and a hit.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/toureau_cole_aswi">Cole Toureau</a>&nbsp;earned his third save of the season with a scoreless ninth that included two strikeouts.

The shutout was the Hutchinson pitching staff's eighth of the season.

The Blue Dragon defense was impressive against Allen. The Dragons turned two inning-ending double plays. Shortstop&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/wesslund_cooper_2jkh">Cooper Wesslund</a>&nbsp;made an impressive diving catch in foul territory for an out. Catcher&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/cymbalista_colin_rw61">Colin Cymbalista</a>&nbsp;threw out three Allen runners on base, including a pump-fake to second and drew the Red Devil runner at third off the base for a game-ending run down.

The Blue Dragons out-hit Allen 8-4 and all three runs came with two out.

The Dragons got on the scoreboard in the third inning when&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/pimental-guerrero_luis_ubag">Luis Pimentel-Guerrero</a>&nbsp;drove a two-out base hit through the left side of the infield to score&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/griffin_hank_70om">Hank Griffin</a>&nbsp;for a 1-0 lead.

Hutchinson scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Quinn Mayer singled with two out through the right side of the infield to score Pimentel-Guerrero from second for a 2-0 lead.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/tucker_jordan_v8wz">Jordan Tucker</a>&nbsp;followed with an RBI triple to right field that gave the Blue Dragons a 3-0 lead.

Pimentel-Guerrero extended his hitting streak to 16 games with his third-straight three-hit game, going 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

Mayer was 2 for 3 with a double, run scored and an RBI. Cymbalista, Tucker and Griffin had the other Blue Dragon hits.

The Blue Dragons are 22-2 at Hobart-Detter Field this season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714693151240.jpeg" alt="Blue Dragon shortstop Cooper Wesslund make a diving catch in foul territory on Thursday against the Allen Red Devils in a 3-0 Hutchinson victory at Hobart-Detter Field. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)" />
 <figcaption>Blue Dragon shortstop Cooper Wesslund make a diving catch in foul territory on Thursday against the Allen Red Devils in a 3-0 Hutchinson victory at Hobart-Detter Field. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson CC Sports InformationFive pitchers combined for a four-hit shutout and the Jayhawk West champion Hutchinson Community College baseball team got some timely two-out hitting to defeat the Allen Red Devils 3-0 on Thursday afternoon at Hobart-Detter Field.The No. 17-ranked Blue Dragons improved to 43-11 with their 27th victory in the last 30 games played. The 2024 Blue Dragons tie the 1999 and 2014 Blue Dragons for the sixth-most wins in a single season in team history. Allen fell to 20-32 overall. The Blue Dragons and Red Devils conclude their two-game series at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Iola.Starting pitcher&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/giesbrecht_ethan_qz2n">Ethan Giesbrecht</a>&nbsp;(10-2) became the first 10-game winner for the Blue Dragons in a season since 2014 with five shutout innings on Thursday. Giesbrecht allowed just two hits and struck out two over his three innings.<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/hadden_jacob_atac">Jacob Hadden</a>&nbsp;pitched two scoreless innings with a hit a strikeout and walk.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/perkins_ashton_8hhl">Ashton Perkins</a>&nbsp;worked a perfect sixth. Caden Wandless threw two shutout innings with two strikeouts, a walk and a hit.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/toureau_cole_aswi">Cole Toureau</a>&nbsp;earned his third save of the season with a scoreless ninth that included two strikeouts.The shutout was the Hutchinson pitching staff's eighth of the season.The Blue Dragon defense was impressive against Allen. The Dragons turned two inning-ending double plays. Shortstop&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/wesslund_cooper_2jkh">Cooper Wesslund</a>&nbsp;made an impressive diving catch in foul territory for an out. Catcher&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/cymbalista_colin_rw61">Colin Cymbalista</a>&nbsp;threw out three Allen runners on base, including a pump-fake to second and drew the Red Devil runner at third off the base for a game-ending run down.The Blue Dragons out-hit Allen 8-4 and all three runs came with two out.The Dragons got on the scoreboard in the third inning when&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/pimental-guerrero_luis_ubag">Luis Pimentel-Guerrero</a>&nbsp;drove a two-out base hit through the left side of the infield to score&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/griffin_hank_70om">Hank Griffin</a>&nbsp;for a 1-0 lead.Hutchinson scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Quinn Mayer singled with two out through the right side of the infield to score Pimentel-Guerrero from second for a 2-0 lead.&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/bios/tucker_jordan_v8wz">Jordan Tucker</a>&nbsp;followed with an RBI triple to right field that gave the Blue Dragons a 3-0 lead.Pimentel-Guerrero extended his hitting streak to 16 games with his third-straight three-hit game, going 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.Mayer was 2 for 3 with a double, run scored and an RBI. Cymbalista, Tucker and Griffin had the other Blue Dragon hits.The Blue Dragons are 22-2 at Hobart-Detter Field this season.

⚾ No. 17 Blue Dragons blank Red Devils

Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp; —&nbsp;Wichita State University Athletics and the Shocker Baseball program are proud to announce a $600,000 planned gift – restricted to future support of the baseball program - by 2014 National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and former Shocker head coach Gene Stephenson.&nbsp; &nbsp;

In addition to the planned gift, Gene Stephenson has committed $20,000, as an annual gift to the Wheat Shock Collective, intended to supplement Name, Image &amp; Likeness (NIL) opportunities for Shocker Baseball student-athletes. By successfully matching Coach Stephenson's annual minimum $20,000 commitment to Shocker Baseball NIL, Shocker Nation can help secure consistently strong annual contributions to NIL, allowing Shocker Baseball to retain and recruit elite-level talent.

"Wichita State Baseball is our life's work," Stephenson said. "From the very beginning in 1977 with no facilities of any kind, no team, not even a baseball, each foundational goal was entirely centered on the academic and athletic success of Wichita State Baseball student-athletes, developing national championship caliber teams, and establishing first-class baseball facilities at WSU. In conjunction with our planned gift of $600,000 – along with recurring annual gifts to support Shocker Baseball NIL – we extend our deepest appreciation to President Rick Muma and Director of Athletics Kevin Saal for their leadership and commitment to returning Shocker Baseball to its rightful place.&nbsp;We are so thankful to our coaches and staff, fans, and the greater Wichita business community for embracing our mission and providing vital assistance in achieving the support essential to past, present and future success.&nbsp;We know that Wichita will accept the challenge of NIL, as we have, providing championship-level resources for our program. Yes, 'Through These Portals Pass College Baseball's Greatest Fans.' GO SHOX!"

Stephenson, now a trustee of the College Baseball Foundation/National College Baseball Hall of Fame, was head baseball coach for the Shockers from 1978-2013. In 2018, he was inducted into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame, was a three-time NCAA Coach of the Year and 11-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. Stephenson led the Shockers to the College World Series, winning the National Championship in 1989, and seven College World Series appearances overall. He also guided the Shockers to 27 NCAA Regional appearances, two NCAA Super Regional appearances, 20 Valley regular-season titles and 17 Valley tournament championships.

Coach Stephenson directed Wichita State to more wins than any NCAA Division I program in the country eight times and coached 33 players at Wichita State who played in the Major Leagues. He also coached three players named NCAA Player of the Year and one named NCAA Pitcher of the Year. Stephenson coached two players named NCAA Academic Player of the Year and 54 players at Wichita State who earned All-America honors.

&nbsp; He coached 33 Freshman All-Americans, 20 players who earned Academic All-America honors a total of 27 times, 15 conference Players of the Year and 12 conference Pitchers of the Year. He is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team and coached 13 MLB first-round draft picks. Stephenson won 60 or more games five times and collected 50 or more wins 19 times.

"We are incredibly humbled by these generous gifts from Shocker legend Gene Stephenson," said Director of Athletics Kevin Saal. "The Shocker Baseball program, the men who developed within it, and Tyler Field at Eck Stadium represents Gene Stephenson's life's work. His commitment, countless sacrifices, and unprecedented success over 35 years as head coach has positively impacted thousands of people and defines Shocker Baseball today. These two distinct gifts are a clear indication of Gene's intent to continue pouring into our baseball program, contributing to its success well into the future. We are appreciative of Gene's lead gifts to support the future of Shocker Baseball and urge Shocker Nation to consider matching Coach Stephenson's annual $20,000 commitment to Shocker Baseball NIL, by donating to the Wheat Shock Collective."

&nbsp; Individuals interested in donating to the Wheat Shock Collective may do so at&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wheatshockcollective.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctcutler%40goshockers.com%7C41b81fafd0944d4541fd08dc672be304%7Ce05b6b3f19804b248637580771f44dee%7C1%7C0%7C638498685397401279%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=p%2B%2FUCzP0dYvthoEnXBq0SKkO5jHbwmBN3YDVIa2yWHs%3D&amp;reserved=0">www.wheatshockcollective.com</a>&nbsp;and/or through the pathways identified in attached file. For more information on donating to the baseball program and/or the Wheat Shock Collective in conjunction with Blueprint Sports, a 501 (c)(3) organization, contact the WSU Development Office at 316.978.5499.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714671950223.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Wichita State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Wichita State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy of Wichita State Athletics WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp; —&nbsp;Wichita State University Athletics and the Shocker Baseball program are proud to announce a $600,000 planned gift – restricted to future support of the baseball program - by 2014 National College Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and former Shocker head coach Gene Stephenson.&nbsp; &nbsp;In addition to the planned gift, Gene Stephenson has committed $20,000, as an annual gift to the Wheat Shock Collective, intended to supplement Name, Image &amp; Likeness (NIL) opportunities for Shocker Baseball student-athletes. By successfully matching Coach Stephenson's annual minimum $20,000 commitment to Shocker Baseball NIL, Shocker Nation can help secure consistently strong annual contributions to NIL, allowing Shocker Baseball to retain and recruit elite-level talent."Wichita State Baseball is our life's work," Stephenson said. "From the very beginning in 1977 with no facilities of any kind, no team, not even a baseball, each foundational goal was entirely centered on the academic and athletic success of Wichita State Baseball student-athletes, developing national championship caliber teams, and establishing first-class baseball facilities at WSU. In conjunction with our planned gift of $600,000 – along with recurring annual gifts to support Shocker Baseball NIL – we extend our deepest appreciation to President Rick Muma and Director of Athletics Kevin Saal for their leadership and commitment to returning Shocker Baseball to its rightful place.&nbsp;We are so thankful to our coaches and staff, fans, and the greater Wichita business community for embracing our mission and providing vital assistance in achieving the support essential to past, present and future success.&nbsp;We know that Wichita will accept the challenge of NIL, as we have, providing championship-level resources for our program. Yes, 'Through These Portals Pass College Baseball's Greatest Fans.' GO SHOX!"Stephenson, now a trustee of the College Baseball Foundation/National College Baseball Hall of Fame, was head baseball coach for the Shockers from 1978-2013. In 2018, he was inducted into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame, was a three-time NCAA Coach of the Year and 11-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year. Stephenson led the Shockers to the College World Series, winning the National Championship in 1989, and seven College World Series appearances overall. He also guided the Shockers to 27 NCAA Regional appearances, two NCAA Super Regional appearances, 20 Valley regular-season titles and 17 Valley tournament championships.Coach Stephenson directed Wichita State to more wins than any NCAA Division I program in the country eight times and coached 33 players at Wichita State who played in the Major Leagues. He also coached three players named NCAA Player of the Year and one named NCAA Pitcher of the Year. Stephenson coached two players named NCAA Academic Player of the Year and 54 players at Wichita State who earned All-America honors.&nbsp; He coached 33 Freshman All-Americans, 20 players who earned Academic All-America honors a total of 27 times, 15 conference Players of the Year and 12 conference Pitchers of the Year. He is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team and coached 13 MLB first-round draft picks. Stephenson won 60 or more games five times and collected 50 or more wins 19 times."We are incredibly humbled by these generous gifts from Shocker legend Gene Stephenson," said Director of Athletics Kevin Saal. "The Shocker Baseball program, the men who developed within it, and Tyler Field at Eck Stadium represents Gene Stephenson's life's work. His commitment, countless sacrifices, and unprecedented success over 35 years as head coach has positively impacted thousands of people and defines Shocker Baseball today. These two distinct gifts are a clear indication of Gene's intent to continue pouring into our baseball program, contributing to its success well into the future. We are appreciative of Gene's lead gifts to support the future of Shocker Baseball and urge Shocker Nation to consider matching Coach Stephenson's annual $20,000 commitment to Shocker Baseball NIL, by donating to the Wheat Shock Collective."&nbsp; Individuals interested in donating to the Wheat Shock Collective may do so at&nbsp;<a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wheatshockcollective.com%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctcutler%40goshockers.com%7C41b81fafd0944d4541fd08dc672be304%7Ce05b6b3f19804b248637580771f44dee%7C1%7C0%7C638498685397401279%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=p%2B%2FUCzP0dYvthoEnXBq0SKkO5jHbwmBN3YDVIa2yWHs%3D&amp;reserved=0">www.wheatshockcollective.com</a>&nbsp;and/or through the pathways identified in attached file. For more information on donating to the baseball program and/or the Wheat Shock Collective in conjunction with Blueprint Sports, a 501 (c)(3) organization, contact the WSU Development Office at 316.978.5499.&nbsp;&nbsp;

⚾ Gene Stephenson donates to Shocker baseball program

Courtesy McPherson High School Athletic Department

McPherson HS held our 4th and final signing day.&nbsp; The following athletes participated.&nbsp; Photos are attached. Leland Hept, Central Christian College, undecided major, soccer Hunter Mendez, Central Christian College, Criminal Justice, soccer Cory Muehler, Hutchinson Community College, Architecture, basketball Kyden Thompson, Cowley College, Business/Graphic Design, basketball

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714664022911.jpeg" alt="USD 418" />
 <figcaption>USD 418</figcaption>
 </figure>Courtesy McPherson High School Athletic DepartmentMcPherson HS held our 4th and final signing day.&nbsp; The following athletes participated.&nbsp; Photos are attached. Leland Hept, Central Christian College, undecided major, soccer Hunter Mendez, Central Christian College, Criminal Justice, soccer Cory Muehler, Hutchinson Community College, Architecture, basketball Kyden Thompson, Cowley College, Business/Graphic Design, basketball<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714663894414.jpeg" alt="Leland Hept (McPherson High School Photo)" />
 <figcaption>Leland Hept (McPherson High School Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714663912701.jpeg" alt="Hunter Mendez (McPherson High School Photo)" />
 <figcaption>Hunter Mendez (McPherson High School Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714663928523.jpeg" alt="Cory Muehler (McPherson High School Photo)" />
 <figcaption>Cory Muehler (McPherson High School Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714663945889.jpeg" alt="Kyden Thompson (McPherson High School Photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kyden Thompson (McPherson High School Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>

⚽🏀 4 Bullpups sign Wednesday to further academic and athletic careers

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — For the first time in program history, the Buhler High School girls swim team won a meet, claiming their home invitational on Wednesday afternoon at the Hutchinson YMCA.

Team Scores&nbsp; 1 - Buhler, 256 2 - Hays, 252 3 - Hutchinson, 239 4 - Holcomb, 236 5 - Dodge City, 118 6 - El Dorado, 111 7 - Classical School of Wichita, 61&nbsp;&nbsp;

Courtesy Buhler Crusader Swimming and Diving Facebook

In the 200 Medley Relay, the A relay placed 4- Shaylin Petz, Addy Tech, Aivlynn Ehmke, and Grace Schmidt. The B relay placed 8th - Avery Schrader, Jordan Spencer, Ellie Goering, and Brayla Johnson.

Shaylin Petz finished 2nd in the 200 freestyle, with a state consideration time, followed by Reyne Kaufman in 6th place, Mckenna Nuttman in 11th, and Cassidy Banning in 14th.

Addy Tech swam the IM this meet, placing 7th. Madison Staib and Cathlyna Theriot placed 10th and 13th, with Jordan Spencer in 15th. 

The 50 freestyle was next. Aivlynn Ehmke took 3rd, with Grace Schmidt in 8th.

In the 100 Butterfly, Avery Schrader placed 4th. Ellie Goering earned 7th place, Brayla Johnson 9th, and Shelbi Brady 11th.

Aivlynn Ehmke placed 3rd in the 100 Freestyle, just shy of a consideration time for state. Grace Schmidt followed closely behind with an 8th-place finish.

There were 4 girls in the 500 Freestyle, and it took all 4 of them to place as high as they could to help the team. Shaylin Petz once again broke her own record in this event, but this time was able to earn a state consideration time, taking first overall in the event. Madison Staib placed 3rd, Reyne Kaufman earned 6th and Cathlyna placed 9th.

In the 200 Freestyle Relay, Relay A placed 4th - Grace Schmidt, Addy Tech, Reyne Kaufman, and Madison Staib. Relay B placed 10th - Cassidy Banning, Cathlyna Theriot, Ellie Goering, and Shelbi Brady.

Avery Schrader placed 5th in the backstroke with Mckenna Nuttmann right on her heels in 6th. Not to be outdone, Brayla Johnson and Shelbi Brady finished 9th and 11th, respectively.

Addy Tech placed 7st in the 100 Breaststroke. Cassidy Banning placed 12th, Jordan Spencer in 13th, and Ellie Goering in 14th.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714663433141.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Buhler Crusader Swimming and Diving on Facebook" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Buhler Crusader Swimming and Diving on Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — For the first time in program history, the Buhler High School girls swim team won a meet, claiming their home invitational on Wednesday afternoon at the Hutchinson YMCA.Team Scores&nbsp; 1 - Buhler, 256 2 - Hays, 252 3 - Hutchinson, 239 4 - Holcomb, 236 5 - Dodge City, 118 6 - El Dorado, 111 7 - Classical School of Wichita, 61&nbsp;&nbsp;Courtesy Buhler Crusader Swimming and Diving FacebookIn the 200 Medley Relay, the A relay placed 4- Shaylin Petz, Addy Tech, Aivlynn Ehmke, and Grace Schmidt. The B relay placed 8th - Avery Schrader, Jordan Spencer, Ellie Goering, and Brayla Johnson.Shaylin Petz finished 2nd in the 200 freestyle, with a state consideration time, followed by Reyne Kaufman in 6th place, Mckenna Nuttman in 11th, and Cassidy Banning in 14th.Addy Tech swam the IM this meet, placing 7th. Madison Staib and Cathlyna Theriot placed 10th and 13th, with Jordan Spencer in 15th. The 50 freestyle was next. Aivlynn Ehmke took 3rd, with Grace Schmidt in 8th.In the 100 Butterfly, Avery Schrader placed 4th. Ellie Goering earned 7th place, Brayla Johnson 9th, and Shelbi Brady 11th.Aivlynn Ehmke placed 3rd in the 100 Freestyle, just shy of a consideration time for state. Grace Schmidt followed closely behind with an 8th-place finish.There were 4 girls in the 500 Freestyle, and it took all 4 of them to place as high as they could to help the team. Shaylin Petz once again broke her own record in this event, but this time was able to earn a state consideration time, taking first overall in the event. Madison Staib placed 3rd, Reyne Kaufman earned 6th and Cathlyna placed 9th.In the 200 Freestyle Relay, Relay A placed 4th - Grace Schmidt, Addy Tech, Reyne Kaufman, and Madison Staib. Relay B placed 10th - Cassidy Banning, Cathlyna Theriot, Ellie Goering, and Shelbi Brady.Avery Schrader placed 5th in the backstroke with Mckenna Nuttmann right on her heels in 6th. Not to be outdone, Brayla Johnson and Shelbi Brady finished 9th and 11th, respectively.Addy Tech placed 7st in the 100 Breaststroke. Cassidy Banning placed 12th, Jordan Spencer in 13th, and Ellie Goering in 14th.In the final event of the night, the 400 Free Relay, Relay A earned 3rd place. Aivlynn Ehmke, Madison Staib, Reyne Kaufman, and Shaylin Petz. Relay B earned 7th place. Cathlyna Theriot, Avery Schrader, McKenna Nuttmann, and Jordan Spencer.