KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. scored the first run and drove in the second to back five overpowering innings and 11 strikeouts from Cole Ragans as the Kansas City Royals stayed hot with a 3-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.

The Royals (20-16) took the opener of a four-game series to begin a seven-game homestand. They have won three straight and 11 of 13.

Witt, who walked and stole a base before being stranded in the first, led off the fourth with a single. He stole his 11th base, advanced to third on a wild pitch by rookie Shane Smith and scored on a one-out single by Maikel Garcia.

Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India reached on one-out singles and Witt doubled to right to make it 2-0 in the fifth.

Ragans (2-1), who missed a start with a mild groin strain, came in averaging an MLB-best 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The left-hander allowed three hits and walked two in his fourth outing with 10 or more strikeouts this season and his ninth in 60 career starts.

Four relievers finished a six-hitter. Carlos Estévez pitched a one-hit ninth for his 10th save.

Smith (1-2) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings.

Caleb Freeman made his major league debut in the eighth for Chicago and struck out Salvador Perez before walking Garcia, who stole second and moved to third on a flyout. Drew Waters singled with two strikes for a 3-0 lead.

Kansas City hit a club-record seven home runs in an 11-6 win over the Orioles on Sunday after launching three solo shots in 4-0 victory Saturday. The Royals entered the series with an MLB-low 15 homers.

RHP Sean Burke (2-4, 4.91 ERA) starts Tuesday for the White Sox against RHP Seth Lugo (3-3, 3.07).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746498118765.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. scored the first run and drove in the second to back five overpowering innings and 11 strikeouts from Cole Ragans as the Kansas City Royals stayed hot with a 3-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.The Royals (20-16) took the opener of a four-game series to begin a seven-game homestand. They have won three straight and 11 of 13.Witt, who walked and stole a base before being stranded in the first, led off the fourth with a single. He stole his 11th base, advanced to third on a wild pitch by rookie Shane Smith and scored on a one-out single by Maikel Garcia.Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India reached on one-out singles and Witt doubled to right to make it 2-0 in the fifth.Ragans (2-1), who missed a start with a mild groin strain, came in averaging an MLB-best 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The left-hander allowed three hits and walked two in his fourth outing with 10 or more strikeouts this season and his ninth in 60 career starts.Four relievers finished a six-hitter. Carlos Estévez pitched a one-hit ninth for his 10th save.Smith (1-2) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings.<h2>Key moment</h2>Caleb Freeman made his major league debut in the eighth for Chicago and struck out Salvador Perez before walking Garcia, who stole second and moved to third on a flyout. Drew Waters singled with two strikes for a 3-0 lead.<h2>Key stat</h2>Kansas City hit a club-record seven home runs in an 11-6 win over the Orioles on Sunday after launching three solo shots in 4-0 victory Saturday. The Royals entered the series with an MLB-low 15 homers.<h2>Up next</h2>RHP Sean Burke (2-4, 4.91 ERA) starts Tuesday for the White Sox against RHP Seth Lugo (3-3, 3.07).

⚾ Witt and Ragans lead surging Royals to win over White Sox

NASHVILLE – Longtime NFL and Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden has become a Partner with the Nashville Kats and their ownership group, Fisher Football Ventures LLC.

Kats President and Partner Jeff Fisher made the announcement today that Gruden will be a Partner with consulting and advisory roles in all aspects of the team’s football and business operations.

“The Nashville Kats and the Arena Football 1 league are very excited to have someone with Jon’s experience, expertise, and success to not only be part of the ownership but also take an active role in a variety of ways within the organization,” said Fisher, who also serves as AF1 Commissioner.

Gruden was head coach of the Oakland Raiders (19989-2001), Tampa Bay Bucs (2002-08,) and Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2018-21). He led the Bucs to a championship in Super Bowl XXXVII over Oakland and has been inducted into Tampa Bay’s Ring of Honor.

“I have been a fan of indoor football for a long time and jumped at the opportunity to be involved with Jeff and the Nashville Kats as part of the ownership group,” Gruden said. “I have so much respect for what Jeff has done over his career and continues to do with the Nashville Kats and as commissioner of AF1. I’m excited to be part of the team.”

Gruden joined Barstool Sports in November 2024 in a variety of roles, including playing host to the popular social media postings of his receiving boxes of merchandise from various collegiate and professional programs.

Gruden’s brother, former Washington Commanders head coach Jay Gruden, was an assistant coach for the Nashville Kats in 1997 before becoming head coach of the Orlando Predators (1998-2001). As a player and coach, Jay Gruden was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame.

“Obviously, I followed all of Jay’s playing and coaching days in Arena Football and knew how much he enjoyed all those years,” Gruden said. “I look forward to having that same kind of excitement with the Nashville Kats.”

Under Head Coach and General Manager Darren Arbet, the Nashville Kats (3-2) have won three games in a row, including last Saturday’s 41-17 win at Southwest Kansas in Dodge City. They currently sit in third place behind league-leading Albany Firebirds (7-0).

After a bye week, the Kats return to action at Albany on Saturday, May 10, with a 6 p.m. CDT kickoff time and 5:30 p.m. broadcast start with the pre-game show on Totally Hits 93.3. The Kats’ next home game is Saturday, May 24 at 5 p.m. versus the Oregon Lightning at historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Nashville.

“With the recent success of the team on the field and the addition of Jon Gruden to assist in all areas of our operations, there is so much forward momentum for the Nashville Kats right now,” Kats CEO and Partner Bobby DeVoursney said. “We can’t be more thrilled to be just a few months into this new era for the Nashville Kats and to have such incredible local support and growing nationally as well.”

All AF1 games, including the Nashville Kats, can be viewed on the EvergreenNow streaming platform. AF1 also has a Vice TV Game of the Week broadcast live.

NASHVILLE – Longtime NFL and Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden has become a Partner with the Nashville Kats and their ownership group, Fisher Football Ventures LLC.Kats President and Partner Jeff Fisher made the announcement today that Gruden will be a Partner with consulting and advisory roles in all aspects of the team’s football and business operations.“The Nashville Kats and the Arena Football 1 league are very excited to have someone with Jon’s experience, expertise, and success to not only be part of the ownership but also take an active role in a variety of ways within the organization,” said Fisher, who also serves as AF1 Commissioner.Gruden was head coach of the Oakland Raiders (19989-2001), Tampa Bay Bucs (2002-08,) and Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2018-21). He led the Bucs to a championship in Super Bowl XXXVII over Oakland and has been inducted into Tampa Bay’s Ring of Honor.“I have been a fan of indoor football for a long time and jumped at the opportunity to be involved with Jeff and the Nashville Kats as part of the ownership group,” Gruden said. “I have so much respect for what Jeff has done over his career and continues to do with the Nashville Kats and as commissioner of AF1. I’m excited to be part of the team.”Gruden joined Barstool Sports in November 2024 in a variety of roles, including playing host to the popular social media postings of his receiving boxes of merchandise from various collegiate and professional programs.Gruden’s brother, former Washington Commanders head coach Jay Gruden, was an assistant coach for the Nashville Kats in 1997 before becoming head coach of the Orlando Predators (1998-2001). As a player and coach, Jay Gruden was inducted into the Arena Football Hall of Fame.“Obviously, I followed all of Jay’s playing and coaching days in Arena Football and knew how much he enjoyed all those years,” Gruden said. “I look forward to having that same kind of excitement with the Nashville Kats.”Under Head Coach and General Manager Darren Arbet, the Nashville Kats (3-2) have won three games in a row, including last Saturday’s 41-17 win at Southwest Kansas in Dodge City. They currently sit in third place behind league-leading Albany Firebirds (7-0).After a bye week, the Kats return to action at Albany on Saturday, May 10, with a 6 p.m. CDT kickoff time and 5:30 p.m. broadcast start with the pre-game show on Totally Hits 93.3. The Kats’ next home game is Saturday, May 24 at 5 p.m. versus the Oregon Lightning at historic Municipal Auditorium in downtown Nashville.“With the recent success of the team on the field and the addition of Jon Gruden to assist in all areas of our operations, there is so much forward momentum for the Nashville Kats right now,” Kats CEO and Partner Bobby DeVoursney said. “We can’t be more thrilled to be just a few months into this new era for the Nashville Kats and to have such incredible local support and growing nationally as well.”All AF1 games, including the Nashville Kats, can be viewed on the EvergreenNow streaming platform. AF1 also has a Vice TV Game of the Week broadcast live.

Jon Gruden Joins Nashville Kats Ownership Group as Partner

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State’s running back position received added depth on Monday as the Wildcats signed transfer&nbsp;Antonio Martin Jr.

Martin spent spring practices at ULM after competing the 2024 season at Southeastern Louisiana. Prior to that, the Atlanta, Georgia, native was at Blinn College in 2023 after redshirting the 2022 season at Georgia Tech.

Last season at Southeastern, Martin played in 12 games with nine starts as he totaled 1,228 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to All-Southland Conference First Team honors. He was also named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in the FCS. He ranked 12th&nbsp;in the FCS with 102.3 rushing yards per game, while he was 14th&nbsp;in total rushing yards and 35th&nbsp;in all-purpose yards per game (108.50).

Martin’s best game of 2024 came against Tarleton State when he racked up 206 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries, earning Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week accolades. His 206 rushing yads were the 12th&nbsp;most by an FCS player in a single game last year, while his three touchdowns tied for 13th. He also tallied 100-yard rushing games against Eastern Washington (149 yards), East Texas A&amp;M (185 yards) and Northwestern State (110 yards).

In 2023 at Blinn, Martin ranked 10th&nbsp;in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) with 80.4 rushing yards per game, thanks in part to three 100-yard rushing performances.

Martin was regarded as the 256th-best overall prospect in the Class of 2022 by ESPN, which also rated him the 21st-best running back. He ran for 1,114 yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior season as he earned first team all-state honors from the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association and honorable mention accolades from the&nbsp;Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Following a 9-4 campaign in 2024 – its third-straight season with at least nine wins – Kansas State kicks off the 2025 season by taking on Iowa State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, August 23, at Avivia Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.

<a>MANHATTAN, Kan.</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas State’s running back position received added depth on Monday as the Wildcats signed transfer&nbsp;Antonio Martin Jr.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746457030446.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Martin spent spring practices at ULM after competing the 2024 season at Southeastern Louisiana. Prior to that, the Atlanta, Georgia, native was at Blinn College in 2023 after redshirting the 2022 season at Georgia Tech.Last season at Southeastern, Martin played in 12 games with nine starts as he totaled 1,228 yards and 11 touchdowns en route to All-Southland Conference First Team honors. He was also named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in the FCS. He ranked 12th&nbsp;in the FCS with 102.3 rushing yards per game, while he was 14th&nbsp;in total rushing yards and 35th&nbsp;in all-purpose yards per game (108.50).Martin’s best game of 2024 came against Tarleton State when he racked up 206 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries, earning Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week accolades. His 206 rushing yads were the 12th&nbsp;most by an FCS player in a single game last year, while his three touchdowns tied for 13th. He also tallied 100-yard rushing games against Eastern Washington (149 yards), East Texas A&amp;M (185 yards) and Northwestern State (110 yards).In 2023 at Blinn, Martin ranked 10th&nbsp;in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) with 80.4 rushing yards per game, thanks in part to three 100-yard rushing performances.Martin was regarded as the 256th-best overall prospect in the Class of 2022 by ESPN, which also rated him the 21st-best running back. He ran for 1,114 yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior season as he earned first team all-state honors from the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association and honorable mention accolades from the&nbsp;Atlanta Journal-Constitution.Following a 9-4 campaign in 2024 – its third-straight season with at least nine wins – Kansas State kicks off the 2025 season by taking on Iowa State in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, August 23, at Avivia Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.

Running Back Antonio Martin Jr. Signs with Kansas State

JOPLIN, Mo. - The Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes are the 2025 KCAC Baseball Championship Tournament Champions.

The Coyotes beat the Tabor College Bluejays 7-4 on Sunday at Joe Becker Stadium to claim the tournament title, the program's first since 2022, when the Coyotes also beat Tabor to claim the tournament title.

The victory gives the Coyotes the second automatic berth to the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round which begins on May 12 at campus sites around the country. The NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round Selection Show will be on Wednesday, May 7 at 4 p.m., to find out where the Coyotes are headed for the Opening Round.

It will be the fourth straight appearance in the Opening Round for the Coyotes, the longest streak in program history. It will be KWU's seventh appearance in the NAIA Opening Round since the format began in 2009.

The Coyotes sent <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/795f368e-1e03-4b71-88a8-5a857fb36e5f?elinkdata=26397">Brett Maddock</a> out for his second start of the tournament on short rest and held the Bluejays off the board until giving up a run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

It was a scoreless game until the top of the fourth inning when <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/92fbee2c-9378-4a73-85a9-09095f90f442?elinkdata=26397">Fernando Ruvalcaba</a> hit a 2-run homerun that also brought in <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cb3a358d-481c-4a9f-8e23-4e9690a237a1?elinkdata=26397">Garrett Garfield</a> who singled earlier in the inning.

The Coyotes held the 2-1 lead until the top of the eighth when Wesleyan put five on the board. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bcfeceb3-f5ea-478a-81be-e8eaddca12e4?elinkdata=26397">Tyler Favretto</a> walked to start the inning, and Garfield was hit by a pitch. After a Tabor pitching change, Ruvalcaba drove in another run with a single to left.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dc31ecce-eb8c-4e55-96bf-bc7d47768504?elinkdata=26397">Carter Allen</a> then reached on an error that kept the inning going, and pinch runner <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7d3741f2-712c-4df0-b1e6-5d8cfc450ce0?elinkdata=26397">Lakin Franz</a> scored on the play. After a couple of outs, the Coyotes kept the line moving as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/328286a6-5f74-43f8-9810-fab011d990d0?elinkdata=26397">Coulson Riggs</a> singled to third to drive in a run, a wild pitch yielded another, and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bf113c84-501c-4c50-8d12-1fbcb7523ca3?elinkdata=26397">Eric Romero</a> doubled to bring in the fifth run of the inning.

Tabor got a run in the eighth to make it 7-2.

In the ninth, Tabor tried to rally. The Bluejays loaded the bases with nobody out before a sacrifice fly brought in a run. A fielder's choice with an error did not yield an out and loaded the bases again. Another fielder's choice brought in another run, but <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fb4d2688-5e2d-48b2-8f98-0fdc48a7a2cd?elinkdata=26397">Hunter Blea</a> would get the final out on a strikeout and throw down to first to end the game.

Maddock went six innings to get the win, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6b48b378-1f96-49fe-8c84-1864388e819e?elinkdata=26397">Ritter Steinmann</a> went two innings plus before getting in trouble in the ninth and was responsible for all the runs in the ninth. Blea got all three outs in the ninth for the save, entering the game with the possible tying run on deck.

JOPLIN, Mo. - The Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes are the 2025 KCAC Baseball Championship Tournament Champions.The Coyotes beat the Tabor College Bluejays 7-4 on Sunday at Joe Becker Stadium to claim the tournament title, the program's first since 2022, when the Coyotes also beat Tabor to claim the tournament title.The victory gives the Coyotes the second automatic berth to the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round which begins on May 12 at campus sites around the country. The NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round Selection Show will be on Wednesday, May 7 at 4 p.m., to find out where the Coyotes are headed for the Opening Round.It will be the fourth straight appearance in the Opening Round for the Coyotes, the longest streak in program history. It will be KWU's seventh appearance in the NAIA Opening Round since the format began in 2009.The Coyotes sent <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/795f368e-1e03-4b71-88a8-5a857fb36e5f?elinkdata=26397">Brett Maddock</a> out for his second start of the tournament on short rest and held the Bluejays off the board until giving up a run in the bottom of the sixth inning.It was a scoreless game until the top of the fourth inning when <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/92fbee2c-9378-4a73-85a9-09095f90f442?elinkdata=26397">Fernando Ruvalcaba</a> hit a 2-run homerun that also brought in <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cb3a358d-481c-4a9f-8e23-4e9690a237a1?elinkdata=26397">Garrett Garfield</a> who singled earlier in the inning.The Coyotes held the 2-1 lead until the top of the eighth when Wesleyan put five on the board. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bcfeceb3-f5ea-478a-81be-e8eaddca12e4?elinkdata=26397">Tyler Favretto</a> walked to start the inning, and Garfield was hit by a pitch. After a Tabor pitching change, Ruvalcaba drove in another run with a single to left.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dc31ecce-eb8c-4e55-96bf-bc7d47768504?elinkdata=26397">Carter Allen</a> then reached on an error that kept the inning going, and pinch runner <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7d3741f2-712c-4df0-b1e6-5d8cfc450ce0?elinkdata=26397">Lakin Franz</a> scored on the play. After a couple of outs, the Coyotes kept the line moving as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/328286a6-5f74-43f8-9810-fab011d990d0?elinkdata=26397">Coulson Riggs</a> singled to third to drive in a run, a wild pitch yielded another, and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bf113c84-501c-4c50-8d12-1fbcb7523ca3?elinkdata=26397">Eric Romero</a> doubled to bring in the fifth run of the inning.Tabor got a run in the eighth to make it 7-2.In the ninth, Tabor tried to rally. The Bluejays loaded the bases with nobody out before a sacrifice fly brought in a run. A fielder's choice with an error did not yield an out and loaded the bases again. Another fielder's choice brought in another run, but <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/fb4d2688-5e2d-48b2-8f98-0fdc48a7a2cd?elinkdata=26397">Hunter Blea</a> would get the final out on a strikeout and throw down to first to end the game.Maddock went six innings to get the win, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6b48b378-1f96-49fe-8c84-1864388e819e?elinkdata=26397">Ritter Steinmann</a> went two innings plus before getting in trouble in the ninth and was responsible for all the runs in the ninth. Blea got all three outs in the ninth for the save, entering the game with the possible tying run on deck.

Coyotes beat Tabor 7-4 to claim KCAC Baseball Tournament Championship

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, (it’s) great to be back here and (be) able to get onto the practice field with some of our young guys. They looked good yesterday; it’s a good group. I think (General Manager) Brett (Veach) and his gang have done a great job of bringing in some real good football players, whether they were drafted or free agents. It looks like a good crew. Just real quick with BJ Thompson, I think you saw where we waived him to (the) NFI designation there. He is making progress but just not quite there yet, but he’s made great strides. In this day and age, the way football is we had to do something there, and this is the route that we went. It doesn’t mean his career is over by any means, it’s just where we’re at today. Other than that, the time’s yours.”

Q: What’s the most important thing the draft picks have to do for you this week? What do they have to show you?

REID:&nbsp;“Literally that. There’s only maybe 16 – 15, 16 of them that – whether it’s the seven draft picks and 10 or so others that have been signed as free agents, college free agents. The rest of the guys are just invites to this camp as free agents, and that’s a challenge for them to catch our eye but they’re going about it the right way and it’s literally that. Are you going to make the catch? Are you going to make the throw? Are you going to make the coverage adjustment that you need to make on the backend? Defensive line, it’s all pass so do you have rush ability in that. Linebackers, same way – coverage and kind of an understanding (and) grasping the defensive part that we’re asking so anyways, all of that is part of it. That’s what we look at.”

Q: What’s your initial impression of Jalen Royals?

REID:&nbsp;“You can see his (Jalen Royals) talent for sure. He did a couple good things yesterday, (we’ll) just see how he does today. We load them up again today and they actually have a walkthrough, so it’s very much like training camp. They have a walkthrough and then they have the practice in the afternoon. Sometimes the second day can be a nice challenge for them with the overload part of it.”

Q: What’s your first impression of Josh Simmons? Is he where you expected him to be physically?

REID:&nbsp;“Josh (Simmons) is doing mostly the individual work. We try to keep him out of the team stuff if we’re going against a defense, so just taking it slow here. We’re just kind of getting a feel of where he’s at with this. He had kind of a heavy traffic travel schedule during the 30-visit thing so just make sure that thing’s strong. He looks like he’s got some talent there, Matt (Derrick) doggonit. That’s a good thing, right? For what we can do. That’s a plus.”

Q: How will you evaluate Josh Simmons’ preparation to play?

REID:&nbsp;“(It) looks like he’s (Josh Simmons) moving around good. He’s right on that – where he just needs a little bit more time but he’s moving around well. I was surprised on how well he was doing out there – moving. He looks like he’s comfortable with it.”

Q: Have you had anybody with Brashard Smith’s skillset?

REID:&nbsp;“I probably haven’t seen enough of him there. He (Brashard Smith) looks like – some of the backs have that low center of gravity that can kind of move and – lower or they can drop their weight a little bit. He looks like he has that. Now, nobody’s hit him either, so it’ll be a little different story there but it looks like he has good hands.”

Q: Does Brashard Smith remind you of Jerick McKinnon a little bit?

REID:&nbsp;“Little different run style than Jerick (McKinnon). Yeah, a little different run style. Jerick was a little more upright. I’m not sure who I’d compare it to, but it looks like he (Brashard Smith) has talent, he can catch the football.”

Q: How do you assess the three drafted linemen in a noncontact practice?

REID:&nbsp;“You get a little idea on pass rush for the two defensive guys. Again, we’re keeping the other kid out of the – (Josh) Simmons out of the contact part of it – or out of the team stuff. The defensive lineman look like they have high motors, and they have good quickness. It looks like good lower body (and) core strength which is very important for getting banged around in there.”

Q: How did you end up with 64 at BYU? What did it mean to you?

REID:&nbsp;“That was one of the numbers that was available. (PFHOF and Packers G) Jerry Kramer wore it, so I snuck it. I had read “Instant Replay” by that time. I was always a fan of his.”

Q: Did you retire 64? Are the kids still wearing it?

REID:&nbsp;“No, they’re still wearing it.”

Q: What has this experience been like so far? Is rookie minicamp what you expected?

SMITH:&nbsp;“Yes sir, for sure. I expected to come in and just learn and pick up from all the coaches and stuff so for sure, yes sir.”

Q: How was the rookie dinner? What was it like?

SMITH:&nbsp;“It was great, I really had a fun time. Just getting to meet all of the greats that came here and just learning the history behind Kansas City, it was big-time for me. I learned a lot for sure.”

Q: When you went into college did you think you were going to play wide receiver? Did you want to play as a running back?

SMITH:&nbsp;“Going into college, I got recruited for a receiver – slot receiver. As I – going into college and being in different systems and being in different offenses, I was moving around a lot, so I played running back and slot receiver a lot.”

Q:&nbsp;What are your initial impressions of Steve Spagnuolo and what he intends to accomplish with you?

BASSA:&nbsp;“So far, I mean everybody knows that (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Coach Spags’ defense is really complex, but coming into rookie minicamp you obviously want to get a head start on that, right? I feel the opportunity to come out here for rookie minicamp, learn the defense, kind of go through the first couple installs has been really good for me. Overall, I feel like I’m catching on pretty well. Honestly, right now I feel like I’m at a good stage where I can keep going back and looking at the notes and looking at the film and say, ‘Okay, I was supposed to do this instead of this,’ right? So, just catching on slowly day-by-day.”

Q:&nbsp;How nice is it to land with a franchise like this?

BASSA:&nbsp;“It’s truly a blessing. Walking past Josh (Simmons), obviously he went to the school that knocked us out of the playoffs, but (laughs) I’m sure we’ll have jokes about that down the road and stuff. Overall, it’s truly a blessing to come to such a great franchise and a great organization. Like I’ll keep saying, I’m so blessed to be here and just to have the opportunity of walking into the building every day and just seeing the Kansas City Chiefs logo everywhere and meeting the coaches that you watch on TV and you’re like, ‘Wow, I really love the opportunity and chance to play there.’ To be here and now (and) to be living in the moment, it’s truly amazing.”

Q:&nbsp;How do your communication abilities drive your game?

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid QuotesMay 4, 2025OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright, (it’s) great to be back here and (be) able to get onto the practice field with some of our young guys. They looked good yesterday; it’s a good group. I think (General Manager) Brett (Veach) and his gang have done a great job of bringing in some real good football players, whether they were drafted or free agents. It looks like a good crew. Just real quick with BJ Thompson, I think you saw where we waived him to (the) NFI designation there. He is making progress but just not quite there yet, but he’s made great strides. In this day and age, the way football is we had to do something there, and this is the route that we went. It doesn’t mean his career is over by any means, it’s just where we’re at today. Other than that, the time’s yours.”Q: What’s the most important thing the draft picks have to do for you this week? What do they have to show you?REID:&nbsp;“Literally that. There’s only maybe 16 – 15, 16 of them that – whether it’s the seven draft picks and 10 or so others that have been signed as free agents, college free agents. The rest of the guys are just invites to this camp as free agents, and that’s a challenge for them to catch our eye but they’re going about it the right way and it’s literally that. Are you going to make the catch? Are you going to make the throw? Are you going to make the coverage adjustment that you need to make on the backend? Defensive line, it’s all pass so do you have rush ability in that. Linebackers, same way – coverage and kind of an understanding (and) grasping the defensive part that we’re asking so anyways, all of that is part of it. That’s what we look at.”Q: What’s your initial impression of Jalen Royals?REID:&nbsp;“You can see his (Jalen Royals) talent for sure. He did a couple good things yesterday, (we’ll) just see how he does today. We load them up again today and they actually have a walkthrough, so it’s very much like training camp. They have a walkthrough and then they have the practice in the afternoon. Sometimes the second day can be a nice challenge for them with the overload part of it.”Q: What’s your first impression of Josh Simmons? Is he where you expected him to be physically?REID:&nbsp;“Josh (Simmons) is doing mostly the individual work. We try to keep him out of the team stuff if we’re going against a defense, so just taking it slow here. We’re just kind of getting a feel of where he’s at with this. He had kind of a heavy traffic travel schedule during the 30-visit thing so just make sure that thing’s strong. He looks like he’s got some talent there, Matt (Derrick) doggonit. That’s a good thing, right? For what we can do. That’s a plus.”Q: How will you evaluate Josh Simmons’ preparation to play?REID:&nbsp;“(It) looks like he’s (Josh Simmons) moving around good. He’s right on that – where he just needs a little bit more time but he’s moving around well. I was surprised on how well he was doing out there – moving. He looks like he’s comfortable with it.”Q: Have you had anybody with Brashard Smith’s skillset?REID:&nbsp;“I probably haven’t seen enough of him there. He (Brashard Smith) looks like – some of the backs have that low center of gravity that can kind of move and – lower or they can drop their weight a little bit. He looks like he has that. Now, nobody’s hit him either, so it’ll be a little different story there but it looks like he has good hands.”Q: Does Brashard Smith remind you of Jerick McKinnon a little bit?REID:&nbsp;“Little different run style than Jerick (McKinnon). Yeah, a little different run style. Jerick was a little more upright. I’m not sure who I’d compare it to, but it looks like he (Brashard Smith) has talent, he can catch the football.”Q: How do you assess the three drafted linemen in a noncontact practice?REID:&nbsp;“You get a little idea on pass rush for the two defensive guys. Again, we’re keeping the other kid out of the – (Josh) Simmons out of the contact part of it – or out of the team stuff. The defensive lineman look like they have high motors, and they have good quickness. It looks like good lower body (and) core strength which is very important for getting banged around in there.”Q: How did you end up with 64 at BYU? What did it mean to you?REID:&nbsp;“That was one of the numbers that was available. (PFHOF and Packers G) Jerry Kramer wore it, so I snuck it. I had read “Instant Replay” by that time. I was always a fan of his.”Q: Did you retire 64? Are the kids still wearing it?REID:&nbsp;“No, they’re still wearing it.”Chiefs Player QuotesMay 4, 2025RB BRASHARD SMITHQ: What has this experience been like so far? Is rookie minicamp what you expected?SMITH:&nbsp;“Yes sir, for sure. I expected to come in and just learn and pick up from all the coaches and stuff so for sure, yes sir.”Q: How was the rookie dinner? What was it like?SMITH:&nbsp;“It was great, I really had a fun time. Just getting to meet all of the greats that came here and just learning the history behind Kansas City, it was big-time for me. I learned a lot for sure.”Q: When you went into college did you think you were going to play wide receiver? Did you want to play as a running back?SMITH:&nbsp;“Going into college, I got recruited for a receiver – slot receiver. As I – going into college and being in different systems and being in different offenses, I was moving around a lot, so I played running back and slot receiver a lot.”LB JEFFREY BASSAQ:&nbsp;What are your initial impressions of Steve Spagnuolo and what he intends to accomplish with you?BASSA:&nbsp;“So far, I mean everybody knows that (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) Coach Spags’ defense is really complex, but coming into rookie minicamp you obviously want to get a head start on that, right? I feel the opportunity to come out here for rookie minicamp, learn the defense, kind of go through the first couple installs has been really good for me. Overall, I feel like I’m catching on pretty well. Honestly, right now I feel like I’m at a good stage where I can keep going back and looking at the notes and looking at the film and say, ‘Okay, I was supposed to do this instead of this,’ right? So, just catching on slowly day-by-day.”Q:&nbsp;How nice is it to land with a franchise like this?BASSA:&nbsp;“It’s truly a blessing. Walking past Josh (Simmons), obviously he went to the school that knocked us out of the playoffs, but (laughs) I’m sure we’ll have jokes about that down the road and stuff. Overall, it’s truly a blessing to come to such a great franchise and a great organization. Like I’ll keep saying, I’m so blessed to be here and just to have the opportunity of walking into the building every day and just seeing the Kansas City Chiefs logo everywhere and meeting the coaches that you watch on TV and you’re like, ‘Wow, I really love the opportunity and chance to play there.’ To be here and now (and) to be living in the moment, it’s truly amazing.”Q:&nbsp;How do your communication abilities drive your game?

Chiefs Quotes: 5-4-25

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maikel Garcia hit two of Kansas City's franchise-record seven home runs, a rare long-ball barrage that enabled the Royals to beat the Baltimore Orioles 11-6 on Sunday.

Bobby Witt Jr. broke a 5-5 tie with a seventh-inning solo shot off Yennier Cano (0-1), and Vinnie Pasquantino followed with drive into the right-field seats. Cano had not allowed a run in his previous 12 outings this season.

Jonathan India, Luke Maile and Michael Massey also went deep for the Royals. Massey's ninth-inning shot set the club record for home runs in a game.

Kansas City entered with a major league-low 18 homers in its first 34 games. It hadn't hit as many as six in a game since 2020.

Jackson Holliday went deep twice for Baltimore in his first career multihomer game. Ryan O'Hearn and Cedric Mullins each hit a solo shot.

Orioles starter Kyle Gibson gave up three runs and five hits in four innings. In his season debut on Tuesday, the 37-year-old yielded four first-inning homers to the Yankees and was pulled in the fourth after allowing nine runs and 11 hits.

Making his 100th career start, Kansas City's Michael Lorenzen surrendered a career-high four home runs and was pulled in the fifth. The four HRs equaled the total he gave up in his previous six starts this season.

Angel Zerpa (2-0) gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings to earn the win.

Baltimore scored twice and had the tying run at the plate with no outs in the eighth when Lucas Erceg entered and got three straight outs.

Kansas City took two of three for its first regular-season series win in Baltimore since 2014. The Royals also won the season series from the Orioles (4-2) for the first time since 2018.

Royals: LHP Cole Ragans (1-1, 4.40 ERA) starts Monday night in the opener of a four-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox.

Orioles: After taking Monday off, LHP Cade Povich (1-2, 5.16 ERA) faces Minnesota on the road on Tuesday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746392200936.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>BALTIMORE (AP) — Maikel Garcia hit two of Kansas City's franchise-record seven home runs, a rare long-ball barrage that enabled the Royals to beat the Baltimore Orioles 11-6 on Sunday.Bobby Witt Jr. broke a 5-5 tie with a seventh-inning solo shot off Yennier Cano (0-1), and Vinnie Pasquantino followed with drive into the right-field seats. Cano had not allowed a run in his previous 12 outings this season.Jonathan India, Luke Maile and Michael Massey also went deep for the Royals. Massey's ninth-inning shot set the club record for home runs in a game.Kansas City entered with a major league-low 18 homers in its first 34 games. It hadn't hit as many as six in a game since 2020.Jackson Holliday went deep twice for Baltimore in his first career multihomer game. Ryan O'Hearn and Cedric Mullins each hit a solo shot.Orioles starter Kyle Gibson gave up three runs and five hits in four innings. In his season debut on Tuesday, the 37-year-old yielded four first-inning homers to the Yankees and was pulled in the fourth after allowing nine runs and 11 hits.Making his 100th career start, Kansas City's Michael Lorenzen surrendered a career-high four home runs and was pulled in the fifth. The four HRs equaled the total he gave up in his previous six starts this season.Angel Zerpa (2-0) gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings to earn the win.<h2>Key moment</h2>Baltimore scored twice and had the tying run at the plate with no outs in the eighth when Lucas Erceg entered and got three straight outs.<h2>Key stat</h2>Kansas City took two of three for its first regular-season series win in Baltimore since 2014. The Royals also won the season series from the Orioles (4-2) for the first time since 2018.<h2>Up next</h2>Royals: LHP Cole Ragans (1-1, 4.40 ERA) starts Monday night in the opener of a four-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox.Orioles: After taking Monday off, LHP Cade Povich (1-2, 5.16 ERA) faces Minnesota on the road on Tuesday night.

⚾ Royals hit a club-record 7 HRs in win over Orioles

RIVERSIDE, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Flag Football is in Pool C of the 2025 NAIA Flag Football Finals and will face Midland (Neb.) and Thomas (Ga.) in Pool Play before advancing into one of the two brackets for the event.

In its fifth season of competition at the NAIA level, flag football still remains at Emerging Sport status, meaning the FInals event is not an official NAIA National Championship.

All games for the Finals will be played at the KC Current Training Center in Riverside, Mo., located at 1 Teal Rising Way, in Riverside, Missouri. The facility just played host to the KCAC Championships in late April.

KWU will play both its Pool Play games on Tuesday, May 6, first against KCAC opponent Midland at 10 a.m. on Field 3, then will play Thomas at 2 p.m. on Field 3.

KWU has faced Thomas twice before, once in 2022 in a game at an event in Babson Park, Florida and then last season in the NAIA Flag Finals in Pool Play.

KWU and Midland have played many times as members of the KCAC. KWU holds a 14-3 all-time record in the series and has won the last 12 meetings, including two thrillers this year, a 15-14 walkoff win on March 18 at Midland, and a 20-13 win on April 17 in Salina.

KWU enters the Finals with a 14-5 record on the season and were runners-up in the KCAC Tournament to Ottawa. Four of KWU's five losses have come to Ottawa this season. The Coyotes are averaging 30.1 points per game this season while holding opponents to 13.7.

The Coyotes average 290 yards of total offense per game, 260.6 through the air. The Coyotes as a team are 485 of 717 passing for 4952 yards and 75 touchdowns, a majority of the work coming from <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6006c0ee-4063-453b-b6c8-b4bdd526a241?elinkdata=26335">Chihiro Iwata</a> who is 422 of 615 passing, completing 68.6 percent of passes for 4426 yards and 64 touchdowns, averaging 232.9 yards per game.

Receiving-wise, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5d26a084-6079-40a3-99a3-be4b5334524c?elinkdata=26335">Aliyah Wood</a> leads the Coyotes with 103 catches for 1018 yards, becoming only the second KWU player in program history to have over 1000 yards receiving in a season. She has a team-high 15 touchdowns. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/adff295e-c0b1-47ca-9247-16347c365c91?elinkdata=26335">Ciaran DeCuir</a> has 51 catches for 741 yards and 10 scores. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e624eb9a-e755-445d-9129-a1043069b992?elinkdata=26335">Angel Roman</a> has 78 catches for 737 yards and 14 touchdowns and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bb0fb9f4-c654-4511-9e92-2b80adeb8156?elinkdata=26335">Jazmine Whitfield</a> has 64 catches for 656 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Defensively, the Coyotes are led by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/80781add-1bd7-4418-96c3-c3757bde8320?elinkdata=26335">Alexa Mansur</a> with 69 flag pulls. She also has two interceptions and eight pass breakups. Wood is the team interception leader with eight, while Roman has six interceptions and is second on the team with 47 flag pulls. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/125fd51f-12d5-420f-844a-397e5fed54f8?elinkdata=26335">Nyjah Green</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/54ca914d-498e-419c-855d-2bea718e5906?elinkdata=26335">Khylie Douglas</a> have five sacks each and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1d58ee68-d7ba-44af-8399-4135dd4bd581?elinkdata=26335">Ansdiane Rabano</a> has four.

Midland heads into the Flag Finals with an 8-7 record on the season. The Warriors are averaging 23.9 points per game and holding opponents to 17.3. Midland averages 228.4 yards per game while allowing 205.2.

Angel Ioane Kaio is Midland's quarterback, throwing for 2825 yards and 38 touchdowns, going 300 of 518 passing with 17 interceptions.

Allaya Livingston has 56 receptions for 667 yards and 12 touchdowns. Olivia Dominguez-Millsop has 50 catches for 453 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Defensively, Cydnee Redd has 67 flag pulls on the season. Dominguez-Millsop has six interceptions and NaTaija Blaylock has 12 sacks.

The Thomas Night Hawks are 15-1 on the season and went 8-0 in the Sun Conference, but fell to Keiser in the conference championship game.

Thomas comes into the Flag Finals averaging 39.6 points per game, but are very defensive minded, holding opponents to an average of 5.13 points per contest. The Night Hawks average 280.3 yards per game of total offense, 269.5 coming through the air and have thrown 74 touchdowns.

Thomas has two quarterbacks that share the load of action. Keelin Coleman is 182 of 258 passing for 1954 yards and 36 touchdowns, completing 70 percent of her passes. Alexa Wilson is 131 of 191 passing for 1415 yards and 21 touchdowns, completing 68.5 percent of passes.

Janae Scott is Thomas's leading receiver with 51 catches for 337 yards and nine touchdowns. Maddie Hougland has 39 catches for 511 yards and 10 touchdowns and Zoe Jackson has 47 catches for 477 yards and 11 scores.

Scott has 68 flag pulls on defense to lead the team and also had four sacks and five interceptions. Houghland had seven interceptions to lead the team while Dyva Jones, a transfer from Midland, has six. Kaitlyn Herb has 16 sacks to lead the Night Hawks.

After Pool Play is completed, teams will move into bracket play. The top eight teams will play in the Championship Bracket, while the bottom six will play in the Playoff Bracket. Bracket play begins on May 7. The two bracket championship games will be played on Thursday, May 8.

RIVERSIDE, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Flag Football is in Pool C of the 2025 NAIA Flag Football Finals and will face Midland (Neb.) and Thomas (Ga.) in Pool Play before advancing into one of the two brackets for the event.In its fifth season of competition at the NAIA level, flag football still remains at Emerging Sport status, meaning the FInals event is not an official NAIA National Championship.All games for the Finals will be played at the KC Current Training Center in Riverside, Mo., located at 1 Teal Rising Way, in Riverside, Missouri. The facility just played host to the KCAC Championships in late April.KWU will play both its Pool Play games on Tuesday, May 6, first against KCAC opponent Midland at 10 a.m. on Field 3, then will play Thomas at 2 p.m. on Field 3.KWU has faced Thomas twice before, once in 2022 in a game at an event in Babson Park, Florida and then last season in the NAIA Flag Finals in Pool Play.KWU and Midland have played many times as members of the KCAC. KWU holds a 14-3 all-time record in the series and has won the last 12 meetings, including two thrillers this year, a 15-14 walkoff win on March 18 at Midland, and a 20-13 win on April 17 in Salina.KWU enters the Finals with a 14-5 record on the season and were runners-up in the KCAC Tournament to Ottawa. Four of KWU's five losses have come to Ottawa this season. The Coyotes are averaging 30.1 points per game this season while holding opponents to 13.7.The Coyotes average 290 yards of total offense per game, 260.6 through the air. The Coyotes as a team are 485 of 717 passing for 4952 yards and 75 touchdowns, a majority of the work coming from <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6006c0ee-4063-453b-b6c8-b4bdd526a241?elinkdata=26335">Chihiro Iwata</a> who is 422 of 615 passing, completing 68.6 percent of passes for 4426 yards and 64 touchdowns, averaging 232.9 yards per game.Receiving-wise, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5d26a084-6079-40a3-99a3-be4b5334524c?elinkdata=26335">Aliyah Wood</a> leads the Coyotes with 103 catches for 1018 yards, becoming only the second KWU player in program history to have over 1000 yards receiving in a season. She has a team-high 15 touchdowns. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/adff295e-c0b1-47ca-9247-16347c365c91?elinkdata=26335">Ciaran DeCuir</a> has 51 catches for 741 yards and 10 scores. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e624eb9a-e755-445d-9129-a1043069b992?elinkdata=26335">Angel Roman</a> has 78 catches for 737 yards and 14 touchdowns and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bb0fb9f4-c654-4511-9e92-2b80adeb8156?elinkdata=26335">Jazmine Whitfield</a> has 64 catches for 656 yards and 10 touchdowns.Defensively, the Coyotes are led by <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/80781add-1bd7-4418-96c3-c3757bde8320?elinkdata=26335">Alexa Mansur</a> with 69 flag pulls. She also has two interceptions and eight pass breakups. Wood is the team interception leader with eight, while Roman has six interceptions and is second on the team with 47 flag pulls. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/125fd51f-12d5-420f-844a-397e5fed54f8?elinkdata=26335">Nyjah Green</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/54ca914d-498e-419c-855d-2bea718e5906?elinkdata=26335">Khylie Douglas</a> have five sacks each and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1d58ee68-d7ba-44af-8399-4135dd4bd581?elinkdata=26335">Ansdiane Rabano</a> has four.Midland heads into the Flag Finals with an 8-7 record on the season. The Warriors are averaging 23.9 points per game and holding opponents to 17.3. Midland averages 228.4 yards per game while allowing 205.2.Angel Ioane Kaio is Midland's quarterback, throwing for 2825 yards and 38 touchdowns, going 300 of 518 passing with 17 interceptions.Allaya Livingston has 56 receptions for 667 yards and 12 touchdowns. Olivia Dominguez-Millsop has 50 catches for 453 yards and 11 touchdowns.Defensively, Cydnee Redd has 67 flag pulls on the season. Dominguez-Millsop has six interceptions and NaTaija Blaylock has 12 sacks.The Thomas Night Hawks are 15-1 on the season and went 8-0 in the Sun Conference, but fell to Keiser in the conference championship game.Thomas comes into the Flag Finals averaging 39.6 points per game, but are very defensive minded, holding opponents to an average of 5.13 points per contest. The Night Hawks average 280.3 yards per game of total offense, 269.5 coming through the air and have thrown 74 touchdowns.Thomas has two quarterbacks that share the load of action. Keelin Coleman is 182 of 258 passing for 1954 yards and 36 touchdowns, completing 70 percent of her passes. Alexa Wilson is 131 of 191 passing for 1415 yards and 21 touchdowns, completing 68.5 percent of passes.Janae Scott is Thomas's leading receiver with 51 catches for 337 yards and nine touchdowns. Maddie Hougland has 39 catches for 511 yards and 10 touchdowns and Zoe Jackson has 47 catches for 477 yards and 11 scores.Scott has 68 flag pulls on defense to lead the team and also had four sacks and five interceptions. Houghland had seven interceptions to lead the team while Dyva Jones, a transfer from Midland, has six. Kaitlyn Herb has 16 sacks to lead the Night Hawks.After Pool Play is completed, teams will move into bracket play. The top eight teams will play in the Championship Bracket, while the bottom six will play in the Playoff Bracket. Bracket play begins on May 7. The two bracket championship games will be played on Thursday, May 8.

KWU Flag Football readies for 2025 NAIA Flag Football Finals this week

JOPLIN, Mo. - A hot start by the Kansas Wesleyan Baseball team sparked the Coyotes to a 16-6 win over the Friends Falcons on Saturday at Joe Becker Stadium in the KWU half of the bracket.

The win advances the Coyotes to the Championship Game on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. at Joe Becker Stadium. They'll face the winner between Oklahoma Wesleyan and Tabor, who will play the "if necessary" game on their side of the bracket on Sunday at 11 a.m. Tabor beat OKWU on Friday night, but OKWU came back to beat the Bluejays on Saturday evening 7-2 to force the extra game.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1dabfe0e-051e-4dba-942c-3262b755fc9d?elinkdata=26366">Jacob Williamson</a> led off the bottom of the first hit by a pitch then <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/63256065-3943-4993-82e6-e74e440180d5?elinkdata=26366">Tyler Favretto</a> followed with a single. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/777e0e43-f6e1-4dfc-84d3-c846515fc8fe?elinkdata=26366">Garrett Garfield</a> brought in the first run with a single and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5b6851f6-abdd-4412-8253-73fd999e3cd7?elinkdata=26366">Fernando Ruvalcaba</a> drove in a run with a hit. After <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3ab8beea-2168-4e65-a651-92d3ddc78da3?elinkdata=26366">Carter Allen</a> walked to load the bases, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8e5ac5c0-66a6-4bc8-b207-a12e96f9a5e3?elinkdata=26366">Joe Finder</a> doubled home a pair. A Friends pitching change didn't slow KWU's momentum much as a wild pitch brought in a run and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7eda73b5-fffc-4d69-bb8d-cb4eb94133ea?elinkdata=26366">Blake Dale</a> followed with a RBI single for the sixth run of the frame.

Friends got one back in the second, but the Coyotes added one in the bottom of the inning as Callen singled to score Ruvalcaba who had doubled earlier.

Favretto drove in a run in the bringing in <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/279f6ece-331a-47cc-bf11-c00350058b8d?elinkdata=26366">Eric Romero</a> who walked earlier in the inning.

The Falcons got two in the fourth and three more in the fifth to make it 8-6 before the Coyotes gained control in the bottom of the fifth. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dc55ef84-51ca-4f3b-b6dd-9d90d0a7de43?elinkdata=26366">Coulson Riggs</a> and Romero were both hit by pitches to start the inning, and Williamson knocked in the first run of the inning with a hit. Favretto walked and Garfield followed with a RBI single. Allen then brought in two more with a hit and Finder followed with a run scoring on a fielder's choice plus error and Dale brought in a run with a double.

Wesleyan added two more in the seventh as Favretto was hit to open the inning and then courtesy runner <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9429cd1c-75bd-4791-87b8-fc00c46f43c5?elinkdata=26366">Alex Garcia</a> scored on Ruvalcaba's single along with Garfield who doubled earlier in the inning.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0eb43beb-b0a0-42ac-8214-f56bca48edb3?elinkdata=26366">Riley Gwin</a> picked up the win in relief for the Coyotes, going three and a third innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts and only throwing 28 pitches. Starter <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9496ee83-39dd-4ad6-be4d-1e3c032e80a0?elinkdata=26366">Shaw Lee</a> went four and two-thirds allowing six runs, five earned on nine hits. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a6b0aab0-1a9d-4e3a-b070-6d64c6202a5c?elinkdata=26366">Hunter Blea</a> pitched a perfect ninth inning.

Garfield, Ruvalcaba and Dale all had three hits for the Coyotes. Williamson, Favretto and Allen had two. Allen drove in three runs.

JOPLIN, Mo. - A hot start by the Kansas Wesleyan Baseball team sparked the Coyotes to a 16-6 win over the Friends Falcons on Saturday at Joe Becker Stadium in the KWU half of the bracket.The win advances the Coyotes to the Championship Game on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. at Joe Becker Stadium. They'll face the winner between Oklahoma Wesleyan and Tabor, who will play the "if necessary" game on their side of the bracket on Sunday at 11 a.m. Tabor beat OKWU on Friday night, but OKWU came back to beat the Bluejays on Saturday evening 7-2 to force the extra game.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1dabfe0e-051e-4dba-942c-3262b755fc9d?elinkdata=26366">Jacob Williamson</a> led off the bottom of the first hit by a pitch then <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/63256065-3943-4993-82e6-e74e440180d5?elinkdata=26366">Tyler Favretto</a> followed with a single. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/777e0e43-f6e1-4dfc-84d3-c846515fc8fe?elinkdata=26366">Garrett Garfield</a> brought in the first run with a single and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5b6851f6-abdd-4412-8253-73fd999e3cd7?elinkdata=26366">Fernando Ruvalcaba</a> drove in a run with a hit. After <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3ab8beea-2168-4e65-a651-92d3ddc78da3?elinkdata=26366">Carter Allen</a> walked to load the bases, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/8e5ac5c0-66a6-4bc8-b207-a12e96f9a5e3?elinkdata=26366">Joe Finder</a> doubled home a pair. A Friends pitching change didn't slow KWU's momentum much as a wild pitch brought in a run and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/7eda73b5-fffc-4d69-bb8d-cb4eb94133ea?elinkdata=26366">Blake Dale</a> followed with a RBI single for the sixth run of the frame.Friends got one back in the second, but the Coyotes added one in the bottom of the inning as Callen singled to score Ruvalcaba who had doubled earlier.Favretto drove in a run in the bringing in <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/279f6ece-331a-47cc-bf11-c00350058b8d?elinkdata=26366">Eric Romero</a> who walked earlier in the inning.The Falcons got two in the fourth and three more in the fifth to make it 8-6 before the Coyotes gained control in the bottom of the fifth. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/dc55ef84-51ca-4f3b-b6dd-9d90d0a7de43?elinkdata=26366">Coulson Riggs</a> and Romero were both hit by pitches to start the inning, and Williamson knocked in the first run of the inning with a hit. Favretto walked and Garfield followed with a RBI single. Allen then brought in two more with a hit and Finder followed with a run scoring on a fielder's choice plus error and Dale brought in a run with a double.Wesleyan added two more in the seventh as Favretto was hit to open the inning and then courtesy runner <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9429cd1c-75bd-4791-87b8-fc00c46f43c5?elinkdata=26366">Alex Garcia</a> scored on Ruvalcaba's single along with Garfield who doubled earlier in the inning.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0eb43beb-b0a0-42ac-8214-f56bca48edb3?elinkdata=26366">Riley Gwin</a> picked up the win in relief for the Coyotes, going three and a third innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts and only throwing 28 pitches. Starter <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9496ee83-39dd-4ad6-be4d-1e3c032e80a0?elinkdata=26366">Shaw Lee</a> went four and two-thirds allowing six runs, five earned on nine hits. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a6b0aab0-1a9d-4e3a-b070-6d64c6202a5c?elinkdata=26366">Hunter Blea</a> pitched a perfect ninth inning.Garfield, Ruvalcaba and Dale all had three hits for the Coyotes. Williamson, Favretto and Allen had two. Allen drove in three runs.

⚾️ Hot start fuels rout of Friends advancing Coyotes to Championship

BALTIMORE (AP) — Kris Bubic made it through five innings despite an early rain delay, and the Kansas City Royals hit three solo homers in a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night.

Cavan Biggio, Kyle Isbel and Vinnie Pasquantino went deep for Kansas City, which has won 10 of its last 12. The Royals have pitched four shutouts in their last eight games.

The game was delayed 57 minutes because of a thunderstorm after the first inning. Both starters stayed in the game anyway. Bubic (3-2) allowed four hits before three Royals relievers closed out the game.

Tomoyuki Sugano (3-2) permitted two runs and four hits in six innings.

Jonathan India led off the fourth with a double and eventually came home on Maikel Garcia's two-out single. Biggio's drive — his first homer of the year — made it 2-0 the following inning. Isbel and Pasquantino went deep in the eighth off Seranthony Domínguez.

Garcia had three hits, as did Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson.

The Orioles only had one runner reach scoring position, and that was in the first with one out. Bubic then struck out Ryan Mountcastle and retired Ryan O'Hearn on a flyout.

The Orioles fell to 2-9 in games against left-handed starters this season. They're batting a major league-worst .174 against southpaws, a number that actually improved when they went 5 for 25 against Bubic and reliever Daniel Lynch IV on Saturday. Lynch worked two innings.

In the final scheduled game between these teams this season, Baltimore's Kyle Gibson (0-1) starts against Kansas City's Michael Lorenzen (3-3) on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746354845208.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>BALTIMORE (AP) — Kris Bubic made it through five innings despite an early rain delay, and the Kansas City Royals hit three solo homers in a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night.Cavan Biggio, Kyle Isbel and Vinnie Pasquantino went deep for Kansas City, which has won 10 of its last 12. The Royals have pitched four shutouts in their last eight games.The game was delayed 57 minutes because of a thunderstorm after the first inning. Both starters stayed in the game anyway. Bubic (3-2) allowed four hits before three Royals relievers closed out the game.Tomoyuki Sugano (3-2) permitted two runs and four hits in six innings.Jonathan India led off the fourth with a double and eventually came home on Maikel Garcia's two-out single. Biggio's drive — his first homer of the year — made it 2-0 the following inning. Isbel and Pasquantino went deep in the eighth off Seranthony Domínguez.Garcia had three hits, as did Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson.<h2>Key moment</h2>The Orioles only had one runner reach scoring position, and that was in the first with one out. Bubic then struck out Ryan Mountcastle and retired Ryan O'Hearn on a flyout.<h2>Key stats</h2>The Orioles fell to 2-9 in games against left-handed starters this season. They're batting a major league-worst .174 against southpaws, a number that actually improved when they went 5 for 25 against Bubic and reliever Daniel Lynch IV on Saturday. Lynch worked two innings.<h2>Up next</h2>In the final scheduled game between these teams this season, Baltimore's Kyle Gibson (0-1) starts against Kansas City's Michael Lorenzen (3-3) on Sunday.

⚾ Royals hit three home runs in shutout of Orioles

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post

On Friday the Bennington softball team rode into Brookville for a rivalry series with Ell-Saline and took both games in a clean sweep with wins of 12-6 and 3-2.

Game One: Bennington 12, Ell-Saline 6

The Lady Bulldogs would strike first in the opener taking a short-lived 1-0 lead in the top of the first before a two-run Bret Hecker home run put Ell-Saline on top in the bottom of the first.

The Lady Cards would extend that lead in the second inning, but Bennington quickly got both runs back in the third on a pair of RBI hits by Gracie Caswell and Rylee Benien.

Benien would go on to break the 3-3 deadlock in the fifth on an RBI double, her second extra base hit of the game, and came in to score another run on a passed ball.

Bennington almost ended the game on a sacrifice fly that would have triggered the mercy rule in the seventh, but their sixth run of the inning was not to be as Isabelle Porter hosed the runner at the plate on an F8-2 double play.

Ell-Saline rode that momentum into a do or die seventh inning, scoring three runs but running out of steam as the Lady Bulldogs took the game 12-6.

Game Two: Bennington 3, Ell-Saline 2

The nightcap was a much closer game, with both starting pitchers reprising their roles in the circle.

Neither team managed to get on the board until the third inning, where an RBI single by Kailea Nisbeth and a two-run shot from Brooklyn Clark put the Lady Bulldogs on top 3-0.

Bennington appeared to have added a run in the fifth but an appeal of third confirmed that the runner left early on a sacrifice fly, leaving the door cracked for Ell-Saline.

Starting pitcher Callee Bradley did all she could to will her team to a win, hitting an RBI double in the fifth to cut the lead to two, and another in the seventh to make it a one-run game.

Ell-Saline got the tying run to third and the go-ahead run to second but a looking strikeout would seal the sweep for Bennington.

Junior Haylee Blake collected two wins in the circle for Bennington, recording 16 strikeouts to just two walks in 14 innings of work.

With this sweep, the Lady Bulldogs improve to 17-1 while Ell-Saline falls to 3-9.

Bennington goes on the road to Canton Galva next Tuesday, while the Lady Cardinals travel to Hutch Trinity.

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter - Salina PostOn Friday the Bennington softball team rode into Brookville for a rivalry series with Ell-Saline and took both games in a clean sweep with wins of 12-6 and 3-2.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715807615208.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>Game One: Bennington 12, Ell-Saline 6The Lady Bulldogs would strike first in the opener taking a short-lived 1-0 lead in the top of the first before a two-run Bret Hecker home run put Ell-Saline on top in the bottom of the first.The Lady Cards would extend that lead in the second inning, but Bennington quickly got both runs back in the third on a pair of RBI hits by Gracie Caswell and Rylee Benien.Benien would go on to break the 3-3 deadlock in the fifth on an RBI double, her second extra base hit of the game, and came in to score another run on a passed ball.Bennington almost ended the game on a sacrifice fly that would have triggered the mercy rule in the seventh, but their sixth run of the inning was not to be as Isabelle Porter hosed the runner at the plate on an F8-2 double play.Ell-Saline rode that momentum into a do or die seventh inning, scoring three runs but running out of steam as the Lady Bulldogs took the game 12-6.Game Two: Bennington 3, Ell-Saline 2The nightcap was a much closer game, with both starting pitchers reprising their roles in the circle.Neither team managed to get on the board until the third inning, where an RBI single by Kailea Nisbeth and a two-run shot from Brooklyn Clark put the Lady Bulldogs on top 3-0.Bennington appeared to have added a run in the fifth but an appeal of third confirmed that the runner left early on a sacrifice fly, leaving the door cracked for Ell-Saline.Starting pitcher Callee Bradley did all she could to will her team to a win, hitting an RBI double in the fifth to cut the lead to two, and another in the seventh to make it a one-run game.Ell-Saline got the tying run to third and the go-ahead run to second but a looking strikeout would seal the sweep for Bennington.Junior Haylee Blake collected two wins in the circle for Bennington, recording 16 strikeouts to just two walks in 14 innings of work.With this sweep, the Lady Bulldogs improve to 17-1 while Ell-Saline falls to 3-9.Bennington goes on the road to Canton Galva next Tuesday, while the Lady Cardinals travel to Hutch Trinity.

🥎 Lady Bulldogs sweep Ell-Saline to stay atop Inman regional standings

JOPLIN, Mo. - The Kansas Wesleyan Baseball team is one step closer to a KCAC Championship as the Coyotes used an eight-run rally in the fifth inning to rout the McPherson Bulldogs on Friday at Joe Becker Stadium.

Playing as the visitor, the Coyotes opened taking the lead on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/02305d08-1138-4f88-9f17-bca9083f0a7a?elinkdata=26304">Carter Allen's</a> single that scored <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ff154a67-a278-404f-913f-e5f66ed2a041?elinkdata=26304">Alex Garcia</a> who was running for <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/262ca813-c17d-4664-8c0e-0903ecf6df78?elinkdata=26304">Tyler Favretto</a> who walked.

McPherson came back with two in the bottom of the first.

The Coyotes tied it in the second when <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/32068c65-54a5-4bf8-a2d8-6a905caa0ecf?elinkdata=26304">Coulson Riggs</a> led off with a double and then scored on a wild pitch.

McPherson took the lead in the bottom of the inning, but in the third the Coyotes would take the lead for good. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d038f54a-ad0f-4ade-a378-4ed2105f8cc8?elinkdata=26304">Fernando Ruvalcaba</a> led off with a single and later <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/74d3b1be-cff3-4e06-bd88-36bfc54d9219?elinkdata=26304">Joe Finder</a> walked and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2acba0e0-5e5c-4c98-ab37-af720eab5405?elinkdata=26304">Blake Dale</a> was hit to load the bases. Riggs then reached on a fielder's choice and throwing error which allowed two runs to score giving the Coyotes the lead.

The Coyotes extended the advantage in the fourth as Favretto led off with a single and then Garcia scored on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d5d4744c-f869-4d9f-8b5d-cebf848632ce?elinkdata=26304">Garrett Garfield's</a> double. Allen and Finder walked to load the bases and two batters later Riggs walked to bring in a run.

The fifth inning was when the Coyotes blew it open. Williamson walked, Favretto singled and Garfield connected on a 2-run single. Ruvalcaba doubled and Allen singled to bring in a run. Allen singled one in. Ruvalcaba scored on a wild pitch, Finder hit a 2-run homer, Riggs drove in a run with a single and then scored on a wild pitch.

Ruvalcaba homered in the sixth to extend the lead.

McPherson scored one in the seventh but it wasn't enough to keep the game going.

Favretto and Ruvalcaba had three hits each and three others had two hits.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1b4df46f-5cb7-454b-ba02-db95ce3d2735?elinkdata=26304">Nathan Righi</a> went the distance, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out 11.

JOPLIN, Mo. - The Kansas Wesleyan Baseball team is one step closer to a KCAC Championship as the Coyotes used an eight-run rally in the fifth inning to rout the McPherson Bulldogs on Friday at Joe Becker Stadium.Playing as the visitor, the Coyotes opened taking the lead on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/02305d08-1138-4f88-9f17-bca9083f0a7a?elinkdata=26304">Carter Allen's</a> single that scored <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ff154a67-a278-404f-913f-e5f66ed2a041?elinkdata=26304">Alex Garcia</a> who was running for <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/262ca813-c17d-4664-8c0e-0903ecf6df78?elinkdata=26304">Tyler Favretto</a> who walked.McPherson came back with two in the bottom of the first.The Coyotes tied it in the second when <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/32068c65-54a5-4bf8-a2d8-6a905caa0ecf?elinkdata=26304">Coulson Riggs</a> led off with a double and then scored on a wild pitch.McPherson took the lead in the bottom of the inning, but in the third the Coyotes would take the lead for good. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d038f54a-ad0f-4ade-a378-4ed2105f8cc8?elinkdata=26304">Fernando Ruvalcaba</a> led off with a single and later <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/74d3b1be-cff3-4e06-bd88-36bfc54d9219?elinkdata=26304">Joe Finder</a> walked and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/2acba0e0-5e5c-4c98-ab37-af720eab5405?elinkdata=26304">Blake Dale</a> was hit to load the bases. Riggs then reached on a fielder's choice and throwing error which allowed two runs to score giving the Coyotes the lead.The Coyotes extended the advantage in the fourth as Favretto led off with a single and then Garcia scored on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d5d4744c-f869-4d9f-8b5d-cebf848632ce?elinkdata=26304">Garrett Garfield's</a> double. Allen and Finder walked to load the bases and two batters later Riggs walked to bring in a run.The fifth inning was when the Coyotes blew it open. Williamson walked, Favretto singled and Garfield connected on a 2-run single. Ruvalcaba doubled and Allen singled to bring in a run. Allen singled one in. Ruvalcaba scored on a wild pitch, Finder hit a 2-run homer, Riggs drove in a run with a single and then scored on a wild pitch.Ruvalcaba homered in the sixth to extend the lead.McPherson scored one in the seventh but it wasn't enough to keep the game going.Favretto and Ruvalcaba had three hits each and three others had two hits.<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1b4df46f-5cb7-454b-ba02-db95ce3d2735?elinkdata=26304">Nathan Righi</a> went the distance, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out 11.

⚾️ Big fifth inning propels Coyotes to 15-4 rout of McPherson

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/05843dfd-00a6-4c05-8555-21af6bd42bf4?elinkdata=26273">Hailey Nordhus</a> is a freshman on the Kansas Wesleyan women's track team, but she has not backed down from any challenge she has encountered this spring.

Nordhus placed second in the 800 meters on the second and final day of the Kansas Conference's Track and Field Championships on Saturday at JRI Stadium and Graves Family Sports Complex. She ran the two-lap race in 2 minutes, 18.01 seconds.

KWU finished fifth in the team standings with 93 points. Ottawa won the championship with 165 points, edging Saint Mary, which had 162.

"Hailey a freshman making the podium in the 800 meters and is going to be a force to be reckoned with over the next few years," KWU coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c7f0ff75-ba2d-47e4-84c9-20f13a41f1ce?elinkdata=26273">Kyle Hiser</a> said. "Quiet but man she's got a killer instinct."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/980fc9a9-b4b1-4978-8511-233026dec0a9?elinkdata=26273">Kierra Jensen</a> also had a big day for the Coyotes crossing the finish line in fourth place in the 5,000 meters (18:24.70).

"She did the steeplechase yesterday, comes back with a fourth-place finish in the 5,000 meters today," Hiser said. "She puts herself in the race, gives herself a chance from the get-go and then boom she's there scoring big points for us."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/da75c4dc-1573-414e-9157-ff348f1cba2b?elinkdata=26273">Josie Koppes</a> finished fifth in the 800 meters (2:23.68) and the 1,500 meters (4:46.48).

"Josie wasn't going to run in college, transfers into Kansas Wesleyan after her first semester at KU as just being a normal student," Hiser said. "Now she's on the podium and she's a member of a (NAIA) national qualifying four by eight relay."

Wesleyan had four other fifth-place finishers - <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4096afdf-4c43-454c-9d0e-7f01b4089acf?elinkdata=26273">Elizabeth Stout</a> in the shot put (11.82 meters), Chloe Grusing in the discus (37.66m), the 4x400-meter relay team of <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b818eb91-babe-4ee9-a87a-db332075fed6?elinkdata=26273">Alayna Behrman</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/026acfcb-5cd7-46dc-bf45-4c8ccee6766c?elinkdata=26273">Micah Dickens</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/74b735f9-6a31-438b-a6c5-d5d7c3e1b976?elinkdata=26273">Madisyn Ehrlich</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1e5cc8d8-c185-4fc1-9b63-98bff40c8903?elinkdata=26273">Brionna Floyd</a> (4:06.11) and the 4x100-meter relay team of <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d58bc25e-9b08-4a09-a526-9fa50be5289b?elinkdata=26273">Markyla Shaw</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b381fdec-b419-44f2-b76d-be5d1c23eec4?elinkdata=26273">Julie Rottinghaus</a>, Lauren Mikkelson and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6753e603-48e1-4856-a7a2-537cc9ad5410?elinkdata=26273">Brionna Floyd</a> (49.06).

The 4x100 relay team's time was a school record.

"Two freshmen and two sophomores so a very young group," Hiser said. "Great handoffs all the way through. That's what I always tell my four by ones, please get the baton around the track, they did it and they did it in school record time."

Grusing also was sixth in the shot put (11.52 meters), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d8003c40-3573-4505-8adc-eff168f24448?elinkdata=26273">Aunisty McNeal</a> was ninth (11.34) and Roselyn Torres 25th (8.82).

"Chloe's a senior who has been to a few schools, the last place she wasn't enjoying it, came out here and she just has fun with it," Hiser said. "Always has a smile on her face, always willing to help out wherever is needed."

McNeal also finished eighth in the discus (36.91 meters), Stout 17th (34.57) and Torres 25th (27.58) capping a big two days for Coyote throwers.

"(Assistant coaches) Shaq (Lewis) and (Clayton) Herdman's throws group this weekend, men and women, came out and just surprised," Hiser said. "People who weren't supposed to score scored, people moving up the leaderboard here and there. It's a testament to what they are doing out there at the throws."

Herdman was chosen as the KCAC Women's Assistant Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the competition on Saturday night.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/05843dfd-00a6-4c05-8555-21af6bd42bf4?elinkdata=26273">Hailey Nordhus</a> is a freshman on the Kansas Wesleyan women's track team, but she has not backed down from any challenge she has encountered this spring.Nordhus placed second in the 800 meters on the second and final day of the Kansas Conference's Track and Field Championships on Saturday at JRI Stadium and Graves Family Sports Complex. She ran the two-lap race in 2 minutes, 18.01 seconds.KWU finished fifth in the team standings with 93 points. Ottawa won the championship with 165 points, edging Saint Mary, which had 162."Hailey a freshman making the podium in the 800 meters and is going to be a force to be reckoned with over the next few years," KWU coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c7f0ff75-ba2d-47e4-84c9-20f13a41f1ce?elinkdata=26273">Kyle Hiser</a> said. "Quiet but man she's got a killer instinct."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/980fc9a9-b4b1-4978-8511-233026dec0a9?elinkdata=26273">Kierra Jensen</a> also had a big day for the Coyotes crossing the finish line in fourth place in the 5,000 meters (18:24.70)."She did the steeplechase yesterday, comes back with a fourth-place finish in the 5,000 meters today," Hiser said. "She puts herself in the race, gives herself a chance from the get-go and then boom she's there scoring big points for us."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/da75c4dc-1573-414e-9157-ff348f1cba2b?elinkdata=26273">Josie Koppes</a> finished fifth in the 800 meters (2:23.68) and the 1,500 meters (4:46.48)."Josie wasn't going to run in college, transfers into Kansas Wesleyan after her first semester at KU as just being a normal student," Hiser said. "Now she's on the podium and she's a member of a (NAIA) national qualifying four by eight relay."Wesleyan had four other fifth-place finishers - <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4096afdf-4c43-454c-9d0e-7f01b4089acf?elinkdata=26273">Elizabeth Stout</a> in the shot put (11.82 meters), Chloe Grusing in the discus (37.66m), the 4x400-meter relay team of <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b818eb91-babe-4ee9-a87a-db332075fed6?elinkdata=26273">Alayna Behrman</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/026acfcb-5cd7-46dc-bf45-4c8ccee6766c?elinkdata=26273">Micah Dickens</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/74b735f9-6a31-438b-a6c5-d5d7c3e1b976?elinkdata=26273">Madisyn Ehrlich</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1e5cc8d8-c185-4fc1-9b63-98bff40c8903?elinkdata=26273">Brionna Floyd</a> (4:06.11) and the 4x100-meter relay team of <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d58bc25e-9b08-4a09-a526-9fa50be5289b?elinkdata=26273">Markyla Shaw</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/b381fdec-b419-44f2-b76d-be5d1c23eec4?elinkdata=26273">Julie Rottinghaus</a>, Lauren Mikkelson and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6753e603-48e1-4856-a7a2-537cc9ad5410?elinkdata=26273">Brionna Floyd</a> (49.06).The 4x100 relay team's time was a school record."Two freshmen and two sophomores so a very young group," Hiser said. "Great handoffs all the way through. That's what I always tell my four by ones, please get the baton around the track, they did it and they did it in school record time."Grusing also was sixth in the shot put (11.52 meters), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d8003c40-3573-4505-8adc-eff168f24448?elinkdata=26273">Aunisty McNeal</a> was ninth (11.34) and Roselyn Torres 25th (8.82)."Chloe's a senior who has been to a few schools, the last place she wasn't enjoying it, came out here and she just has fun with it," Hiser said. "Always has a smile on her face, always willing to help out wherever is needed."McNeal also finished eighth in the discus (36.91 meters), Stout 17th (34.57) and Torres 25th (27.58) capping a big two days for Coyote throwers."(Assistant coaches) Shaq (Lewis) and (Clayton) Herdman's throws group this weekend, men and women, came out and just surprised," Hiser said. "People who weren't supposed to score scored, people moving up the leaderboard here and there. It's a testament to what they are doing out there at the throws."Herdman was chosen as the KCAC Women's Assistant Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the competition on Saturday night.Other KWU results Saturday were:<ul>
 <li>Ehrlich sixth (4:50.37) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9b4b7617-1435-4171-8edb-7fcdb27df5ed?elinkdata=26273">Makayla Little</a> 12th (5:19.08) in the 1,500 meters.</li><li>Mikkelson eighth (1:09.40) in the 400-meter hurdles.</li><li><a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/3d21ff95-a8d9-4df0-98aa-b409e4cfe024?elinkdata=26273">Charlee Lind</a> ninth (19:14.52), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9d795802-2608-40d0-8724-a9a830575833?elinkdata=26273">Micah Dickens</a> 12th (19:36.26) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/40637814-90e7-4f03-96e7-14b9879cd24a?elinkdata=26273">Alayna Behrman</a> 15th (19:54.86) in the 5,000 meters.</li><li>Floyd 10th (1:01.76) in the 400 meters.</li>
 </ul>

Nordhus leads Coyotes to fifth place finish at KCAC Championships

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/25db1b7f-eb49-4b19-bf26-0ceb162c710b?elinkdata=26242">Wyatt Johnson</a> came to Kansas Wesleyan two years ago with the intention of running sprints for the Coyotes' track team.

Coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5e1bf223-a793-4d32-936b-0b120c728ec8?elinkdata=26242">Kyle Hiser</a> had a better idea.

Johnson has become a middle distance extraordinaire in his sophomore year as evidenced Friday night on the second and final day of the Kansas Conference Track and Field Championships at JRI Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex.

He won the 800- and 1,500-meter races while leading KWU to a second-place finish in the team standings. The Coyotes compiled 153 points just eight behind Evangel. Friends was third with 135 points and Saint Mary fourth with 127.

"I'm just really proud of how every event we came out and battled," Hiser said. "We gave it our all and just came up a little bit shy. Evangel had a great meet.

"I just can't thank our senior class enough for everything they did across the board. They bought into a program that was building and took a chance. And I'm just thankful that we have administration that puts me and my coaching staff in position to go out and be successful."

At the conclusion of the event, assistant coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c7bfea74-3544-4b23-9b04-1033f3694145?elinkdata=26242">Garrett Young</a> was named the KCAC Assistant Coach of the Year for the second straight outdoor season and the third time in a row after earning the honor in February for

Johnson, who hails from Lindsborg, won the 1,500 with a time of 3:59.83 and the 800 in 1:52.65.

"I recruited Wyatt as a sprinter," Hiser said. "He said, 'I'm going to go do cross country my senior year in high school' and he ran okay. He's just turned into just a kid who is going to put the team on his back and say, 'who's along for the ride?' He's throwing it down with some of the top runners in the NAIA. Couldn't ask more for him as a sophomore and his story's not done yet."

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/09af3920-069f-464a-9239-dcb62e9e01f0?elinkdata=26242">Julian Avila</a> placed third in the 800 (1:54.04), Triston Cotton fifth (1:55.65), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c2a2c4ec-9d4d-43ca-9e0a-925f750a59e2?elinkdata=26242">Ty Davidson</a> sixth (1:55.75), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9cd777c3-56a0-4a19-81cc-0cb72c06e84a?elinkdata=26242">Ian Doss</a> 11th (1:58.75), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4968c203-4601-4d88-a4cc-51262837b2a6?elinkdata=26242">Nicolas Martinez</a> 14th (1:59.19) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a83a929d-f03a-443b-b6e1-9584a603a5c3?elinkdata=26242">Giovanni Rios</a> 22nd (2:02.55).

In the 1,500 Avila was fifth (4:05.06), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1c251ebf-d271-4192-b40e-c9dd64f522cf?elinkdata=26242">Austin Schaeffer</a> seventh (4:07.71), Rios eighth (4:07.71), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/11fefd61-b9bc-46c3-8978-d0be2d1c0130?elinkdata=26242">Tim Parish</a> 16th (4:28.15), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6d6efb6d-4f6d-4ce5-b3d4-3e3945bc14f6?elinkdata=26242">Jack Horacek</a> 19th (4:35.80), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c3afb5a0-a1fc-4fe5-a9a2-d148c6b5b814?elinkdata=26242">Landon Steeger</a> 23rd (4:39.60) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0b20e14e-db3b-456d-bc60-dd659750641b?elinkdata=26242">Will Childers</a> 25th (4:41.33).

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1b8770be-e6fe-4688-8a41-0bb0d2fc9a7a?elinkdata=26242">Keegan Lott</a> competed in two throwing events Thursday and tackled two more Friday, placing third in the discus (47.68 meters) and the shot put (14.99m).

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/25db1b7f-eb49-4b19-bf26-0ceb162c710b?elinkdata=26242">Wyatt Johnson</a> came to Kansas Wesleyan two years ago with the intention of running sprints for the Coyotes' track team.Coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5e1bf223-a793-4d32-936b-0b120c728ec8?elinkdata=26242">Kyle Hiser</a> had a better idea.Johnson has become a middle distance extraordinaire in his sophomore year as evidenced Friday night on the second and final day of the Kansas Conference Track and Field Championships at JRI Stadium and the Graves Family Sports Complex.He won the 800- and 1,500-meter races while leading KWU to a second-place finish in the team standings. The Coyotes compiled 153 points just eight behind Evangel. Friends was third with 135 points and Saint Mary fourth with 127."I'm just really proud of how every event we came out and battled," Hiser said. "We gave it our all and just came up a little bit shy. Evangel had a great meet."I just can't thank our senior class enough for everything they did across the board. They bought into a program that was building and took a chance. And I'm just thankful that we have administration that puts me and my coaching staff in position to go out and be successful."At the conclusion of the event, assistant coach <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c7bfea74-3544-4b23-9b04-1033f3694145?elinkdata=26242">Garrett Young</a> was named the KCAC Assistant Coach of the Year for the second straight outdoor season and the third time in a row after earning the honor in February forJohnson, who hails from Lindsborg, won the 1,500 with a time of 3:59.83 and the 800 in 1:52.65."I recruited Wyatt as a sprinter," Hiser said. "He said, 'I'm going to go do cross country my senior year in high school' and he ran okay. He's just turned into just a kid who is going to put the team on his back and say, 'who's along for the ride?' He's throwing it down with some of the top runners in the NAIA. Couldn't ask more for him as a sophomore and his story's not done yet."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/09af3920-069f-464a-9239-dcb62e9e01f0?elinkdata=26242">Julian Avila</a> placed third in the 800 (1:54.04), Triston Cotton fifth (1:55.65), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c2a2c4ec-9d4d-43ca-9e0a-925f750a59e2?elinkdata=26242">Ty Davidson</a> sixth (1:55.75), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/9cd777c3-56a0-4a19-81cc-0cb72c06e84a?elinkdata=26242">Ian Doss</a> 11th (1:58.75), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4968c203-4601-4d88-a4cc-51262837b2a6?elinkdata=26242">Nicolas Martinez</a> 14th (1:59.19) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a83a929d-f03a-443b-b6e1-9584a603a5c3?elinkdata=26242">Giovanni Rios</a> 22nd (2:02.55).In the 1,500 Avila was fifth (4:05.06), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1c251ebf-d271-4192-b40e-c9dd64f522cf?elinkdata=26242">Austin Schaeffer</a> seventh (4:07.71), Rios eighth (4:07.71), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/11fefd61-b9bc-46c3-8978-d0be2d1c0130?elinkdata=26242">Tim Parish</a> 16th (4:28.15), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6d6efb6d-4f6d-4ce5-b3d4-3e3945bc14f6?elinkdata=26242">Jack Horacek</a> 19th (4:35.80), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c3afb5a0-a1fc-4fe5-a9a2-d148c6b5b814?elinkdata=26242">Landon Steeger</a> 23rd (4:39.60) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0b20e14e-db3b-456d-bc60-dd659750641b?elinkdata=26242">Will Childers</a> 25th (4:41.33).<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/1b8770be-e6fe-4688-8a41-0bb0d2fc9a7a?elinkdata=26242">Keegan Lott</a> competed in two throwing events Thursday and tackled two more Friday, placing third in the discus (47.68 meters) and the shot put (14.99m)."I don't know if there's another thrower doing fourth rows over the weekend and that's just what he does. He gets on the podium," Hiser said. "The kid has a heart of gold, and he works harder than anyone I've ever been around."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/faaea5b6-3a82-4bfd-a911-2058295f827f?elinkdata=26242">Dylan Worrell</a> was seventh in the shot put (14.19 meters), Keyon Baccus 14th (12.88) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/69a2fabc-268d-4cdb-a88e-3895c15fc056?elinkdata=26242">Austin Baird</a> 24th (9:08).In the discus Baccus placed sixth (45.66 meters), Worrell 22nd (34.48) and Baird 25th (33.36).<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/ca719785-bb59-4dcc-b9cf-96c654001529?elinkdata=26242">Damion Jackson</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/44debf45-44b1-4112-92e3-4a1594b16699?elinkdata=26242">Austin Hess</a> led the way in the 5,000 meters, Jackson taking third (15:15.24) and Hess sixth (15:23.50)."Austin did everything to get this distance team where it's at," Hiser said. "He's our culture swinger; he turned it around. Damion just goes out and does his thing. He's always going to be a person in the KCAC that's up there fighting to win and qualify for national championships."<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/526e2e34-854f-4844-b1d6-97c6f42b63c2?elinkdata=26242">Evan Pearce</a> finished ninth (15:31.54) in the 5,000 meters, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0a619326-a7ac-4276-ad70-272cd1b7e2e0?elinkdata=26242">Jake Cruz</a> 11th (15:40.67), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/e1154811-ae3e-4644-8fa9-248f6cfdfdbb?elinkdata=26242">Tytus Reed</a> 15th (15:57.62), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/aa28cc50-6459-4fff-ba66-44201d508f51?elinkdata=26242">Cisco Alvarez</a> 18th (16:06.46) and Schaeffer 21st (16:15.25).Sprinter <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/5035d8ed-fdbc-4e10-88df-9aebd030cbae?elinkdata=26242">Zamari Burrell</a> was fourth in the 100 meters (10.70) and fifth in the 200 meters (21.49)."He's been injured all year," Hiser said. "He ran our first meet of the year, got banged up and we didn't have him touch the track again till our home meet. He's one of the most talented guys I've ever coached. With limited practice he came out and scored and ran PRs (personal records) in all of his races."Three Coyotes scored points in the 400-meter hurdles led by Brennan Allen who finished fifth (57.95), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/35ee2e43-df2c-4d46-b247-40cc477ceb16?elinkdata=26242">Brenden Ellis</a> sixth (58.06) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/203b288a-cb2a-435c-a89b-c4ba46b6209e?elinkdata=26242">Tristan Howard</a> seventh (58.86). Cayden Russell was ninth (1:00.22) and Riley Gates 11th (1:01.71)."Brennan Allen's a freshman football player who said, 'coach I want to try the hurdles and jumped in there and placed fifth," Hiser said. "<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/39a3059b-72d4-43fd-8c4d-62ef00b87da2?elinkdata=26242">Brenden Ellis</a> is a steeplechaser and was a hurdler in high school and said, 'I want to give it a go.'. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/d1b02a26-32f9-44a7-b0b2-af17ddd9f802?elinkdata=26242">Tristan Howard's</a> a graduate transfer from Emporia State and is an extremely hard worker. They all ran well."Howard also placed sixth in the 110-meter hurdles (15.23).The men's 4x400-meter team of Allen, Alvarez, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c9d42f03-5e97-4da1-8559-c671c7e0d0cb?elinkdata=26242">Darius Archuleta</a> and Avila finished on a high note taking third (3:20.82) in the last event.The 4x100-meter team of <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/34d5360e-c5ac-40a1-95e8-ccae3e3faea1?elinkdata=26242">Tyler Fontenot</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/15c55f1e-0d10-4cb1-906a-69fb721fe4c6?elinkdata=26242">Kean Dinkel</a>, <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/38ef4ca8-9425-4e0f-b4b2-073fe79fce0d?elinkdata=26242">Andrew Smith</a> and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/14d6df7e-3eea-46c5-aeab-5204bae2bbdb?elinkdata=26242">Lorenzo Vaccari</a> placed fifth (42.52).<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/86e9cef9-0302-49b6-8043-2dfecbb27e1e?elinkdata=26242">Nate Chavez</a> was seventh in the 400 meters (50.52), Smith 13th (51.24), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4e723e7a-2b31-48f0-b414-750a32db4611?elinkdata=26242">Sidney Washington</a> 14th (51.56), <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/a2310e55-f5f0-4dc2-9ecf-0009213fc255?elinkdata=26242">Trevor Peal</a> 18th (51.89) and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/bcf48cec-9a22-477d-8fdd-26b0a6f2ae5c?elinkdata=26242">Ruben Rivera Agosto</a> 24th (54.06).