NEW YORK (AP) — J.A. Happ had made eight previous starts at Yankee Stadium plus a relief appearance in the final game of the 2009 World Series. This was different.

“It was kind of weird looking down and seeing the pinstripes on me,” he said, “but I’m happy to get used to it.”

James Anthony Happ made the midseason impact the Yankees hoped for, pitching one-run ball over six innings to win his New York debut 6-3 over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

“It’s a significant dude to the rotation,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in California surfer-speak, “that helps in not just the days he pitches, hopefully, but also just makes our staff and our bullpen as a whole a little bit better,”

Three days after New York acquired the 35-year-old left-hander from Toronto for infielder Brandon Drury and outfield prospect Billy McKinney, Happ took a shutout into the fifth before Salvador Perez’s opposite-field home run into the Yankees bullpen in right-center. Happ (11-6) allowed three hits, struck out two and walked one, and the first-time All-Star ended a four-start winless streak.

The Junction City Reds fell to Charleston, Missouri 19-0 in a run rule shortened five innings in their opening game of pool play in the 2018 Midwest Plains Babe Ruth 13-15 Year Old Regional Tournament. The tournament opened at Rathert Field Saturday with the Reds playing in the final game of the evening.

The other first round games included a 10-0 win for Alliance, Nebraska over Scott County, Iowa, in five innings while Albany, Minnesota defeated Pioneer Colorado 27-0 in five innings and Bismarck, North Dakota downed Larned, Kansas 9-0 in a full seven inning ballgame. Pool play continues on Sunday, with the Reds playing Alliance, Nebraska at 8:30 Sunday evening.

In their game against Charleston, Missouri the Reds kept the score close early trailing just 4-0 after four innings. But the fifth was a different story with Charleston running away with the win. The Brigade made some mistakes, with some occurring early in the game. Reds Coach Denver Kell stated after the contest. “They hit the ball at us, we made a few errors, then the guys started coming into the dugout and they not mentally prepared anymore and so you’re battling  that. We’ve got to build through that and get mentally tough here.” Kell added he was still proud of his players and probably 50% of them battled all the way through the game.

As far as opening day of the tournament went Kell said it went excellent. “Jim Poole and Ed Lazear’s staff out here, they did a phenomenal job getting this field ready so that we could get started on time. ” Kell added all of the volunteers stayed and worked hard and they got all four games in that were scheduled for Saturday.

Prior to the game between Junction City and Charleston the formal opening ceremonies were held with Junction City Commissioner Phyllis Fitzgerald and Geary County Commissioner Keith Ascher throwing out first pitches.`

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Greg Bird homered to begin a two-run rally in the eighth inning as the New York Yankees survived a rough outing by newly acquired reliever Zach Britton and a tumble by CC Sabathia, beating the Kansas City Royals 5-4 Saturday for a split of their day-night doubleheader.

The Royals won the opener 10-5, tagging All-Star ace Luis Severino for six runs in 4 1/3 innings. The doubleheader was caused by a rainout Friday.

Bird opened the eighth with a drive off Brian Flynn (2-2) that made it 4-all. The Yankees went on to load the bases and Aaron Hicks hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly.

Aroldis Chapman, in his first appearance since throwing only three of 19 pitches for strikes last weekend against the Mets, worked around a leadoff single and a walk for his 27th save. He struck out Whit Merrifield to strand runners at the corners.

Britton, traded from Baltimore to New York this week, had thrown a perfect inning Thursday in his Yankees debut. But after he retired the first two batters in the seventh, the Royals loaded the bases against the All-Star reliever on two hits and a walk.

Britton then walked ninth-place batter Drew Butera on four bases, forcing home a run that put Kansas City ahead 4-3 and drawing boos from the crowd.

Two innings earlier, Sabathia fell while fielding a soft grounder. The big lefty landed awkwardly trying to make the play on the first base side of the mound, his right knee hitting the grass and creating a large divot.

Manager Aaron Boone and a trainer quickly came out to check on Sabathia, but he stayed in the game after throwing one warmup pitch. Pitching on 13 days’ rest — because of rainouts and the All-Star break — and for the first time since turning 38 last Saturday, he allowed two runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Salvador Perez homered for the Royals, who traded cornerstone third baseman Mike Moustakas to Milwaukee for outfielder Brett Phillips and right-hander Jorge Lopez late Friday night.

Trying for his major league-leading 15th win, Severino instead was pulled after Lucas Duda’s two-run homer made it 6-0 in the fifth. Rosell Hererra hit an early two-run double, and Perez had a two-run single that set up Duda.

Severino (14-4) allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out five in his shortest start of the year.

The Royals extended a string of rough outings for the 24-year-old anchor of the Yankees rotation. Severino has given up 19 earned runs in 19 1/3 innings over his last four starts.

The Yankees lost in their first game since slugger Aaron Judge sustained a fractured right wrist when he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Jakob Junis on Thursday.

Aided by three double plays, rookie Brad Keller (4-4) went 5 2/3 innings for the win one day after his 23rd birthday.

Longtime Junction City Bowl owner Joe Ellison will be inducted in the PBA Southwest Region Hall of Fame. He will be inducted into the Meritorious Service category.

Ellison has hosted PBA ( Professional Bowlers Association ) Southwest Regional events for 11 consecutive years, and in 2014 added PBA50 Regional events to the Southwest schedule. This year Ellison will host his 10th PBA50 Regional event. All of his events have been joint tournaments with the PBA Midwest Region. The induction ceremony will be in Shawnee, Oklahoma at the Grand Casino on September 8th.

Ellison explained why he hosts all of those PBA Tournaments. “First and foremost I’m a fan of the sport. I’ve enjoyed it all my life. Being able to do something at this level with it is a personal feeling of fulfillment to be able to do this type of thing. Not only to be involved but to be able to bring something of this caliber to the community that I’m in, and provide that opportunity up close and personal for people in our community, especially the kids that are growing up. ”

Ellison estimated over time approximately 200 professional bowlers have competed at his establishment. On his Hall of Fame induction Ellison said, “To be in one of the PBA Halls is almost a dream come true really. It’s nice to be recognized for that, and particularly among a group of people and activities that I enjoy so much.” Ellison has owned Junction City Bowl for just over 11 years.

 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers found the left-handed power hitter they sought, acquiring third baseman Mike Moustakas on Friday from the Kansas City Royals to complete a second significant trade in two days as the club makes a push for its first playoff appearance since 2011.

“We were looking for another big bat to add to the lineup and we got it,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We feel like we can put together a really tough lineup on a daily basis now.”

The Brewers sent outfielder Brett Phillips and pitcher Jorge Lopez to the Royals, who are in last place in the AL Central.

Milwaukee announced the trade after beating the San Francisco Giants 3-1. Reliever Joakim Soria, who was acquired Thursday from the Chicago White Sox, made his Brewers debut by pitching a scoreless seventh inning.

“Two left-handed bats in the lineup with pop, I’ll take it,” Chase Anderson, Friday’s winning pitcher, said in reference to Moustakas and Eric Thames.

Kansas City had left Yankee Stadium when Friday’s rainout was announced.

Moustakas will be reunited with former World Series champion teammate Lorenzo Cain on the Brewers.

The 29-year-old Moustakas was hitting .249 with 20 homers and 62 RBIs for the Royals. At least initially, the Brewers will shift current third baseman Travis Shaw to second base.

“We’re focused on the upside offensively to add an impact bat to the lineup, a guy who we think fits our lineup and our ballpark very well,” Milwaukee general manager David Stearns said. “The truth is with the way we move our infielders around, conventional positions don’t apply to us all that much. We ask a lot of our infielders … to play all over the dirt. And so Travis has played all over the dirt for the majority of this season and for most of last season as well.”

Shaw is ready to play second base Saturday night.

“They approached me I guess about a month ago and asked my thoughts about how comfortable I was over there, this and that,” Shaw said. “I feel like I can do a decent job over there. The world’s going to say I can’t do it. I take that challenge to heart. It’s obviously going to make our lineup better, it’s going to make our lineup deeper. Moustakas is a good player. He’s won a World Series. He’s a middle-of-the order type of guy. He’s going to extend our lineup, he’s going to give us another left-handed power guy.”

NEW YORK (AP) — The game between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees scheduled for Friday night was postponed because of rain. The game never started and was called a half-hour after it was supposed to begin.

The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Saturday, with games at 1:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. Luis Severino (14-3) will move up and pitch the opener for the Yankees and CC Sabathia (6-4) will start the second game.

Sabathia had been set to pitch Friday night on his bobblehead night at Yankee Stadium. Instead, he will pitch the nightcap on 13 days’ rest, a gap extended by rainouts and the All-Star break.

Brad Keller (3-4), who was ready to start Friday night for the Royals on his 23rd birthday, and fellow rookie Heath Fillmyer (0-1) will pitch the doubleheader. Fillmyer grew up in central New Jersey and figures to have plenty of family and friends in the stands for his first game at Yankee Stadium.

The tarp was on the field during the late afternoon and it was raining at the scheduled start time of 7:05 p.m.

The Catbacker Club in Geary County is conducting an online auctiuon of K-State memorabilia to raise money to support the Ahearn Fund Scholarship Program athletes at Kansas State University.

K-State memorabilia is up for auction.

Lisa Eicholt, Club member, said you do not have to be a club member to participate. “You just look at the items and you email your bid in. ” The email address is leickholt@fhrd.net

You can see the items up for auction at the the Geary County Catbackers Club Facebook page. Club member Calvin Pottberg said some of them range from a $60 Rolling Meadows Golf Course gift certificate, two women’s basketball courtside seats for a nonconference game of your choice, a print under glass and framed that was provided by the K-State Alumni Association listing the 16 goals of Football Coach Bill Snyder. He has autographed the print. There is also a west side football reserved parking place for the upcoming season, and a canvas print of Bruce Weber and Ernie Barrett in the locker room hugging after the Wildcat men’s basketball win over Kentucky. It is signed by both men.

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State Athletics and the Kansas State University Golf Course Management and Research Foundation (KSUGCMRF) announced today a new operating agreement that benefits both K-State Golf and Colbert Hills Golf Course through an enhanced financial commitment from the Athletics Department.

The new agreement, which runs through June 30, 2023, includes an average annual payment of $320,000 from Athletics to Colbert Hills over the life of the five-year agreement for services, access, maintenance, office and locker room space as the Home of K-State Golf.

A key provision of the agreement provides the K-State men’s and women’s golf programs with private, year-round access to the Par 3 Course and Heyka Practice Area,designating for the first time an exclusive practice area for the golf teams while allowing Colbert Hills to concentrate its resources on the operation and maintenance of the championship course. The First Tee of Manhattan, in addition to Colbert Hills Founders, will continue to have access to the Par 3 Course during times when the golf teams are not practicing.

“We are pleased to work with the KSUGCMRF Board of Directors, Steve Lambert and Bernie Haney to continue our partnership with Colbert Hills on this new agreement thatboth of us find to be mutually beneficial,” Athletics Director Gene Taylor said. “It is important to continue to provide our golf programs with the resources they need to compete at the highest level while also doing our part in helping our community by ensuring Colbert Hills Golf Course remains one of the top daily fee courses in the state of Kansas.”

“Our partnership with K-State Athletics and serving as Home of K-State Golf remains one of our core principles in the mission of the KSUGCMRF and this agreement will be significant in helping maintain Colbert Hills Golf Course as a first-class daily fee golf course,” KSUGCMRF Executive Director Bernie Haney said. “We appreciate their enhanced commitment to Colbert Hills as we work together to provide a world-class golf experience here in Kansas while also continuing to build championship collegiate golf programs.”

Colbert Hills has been the home of K-State Golf since 2000 and is recognized as Kansas’ premier daily fee golf layout by Golf Digest, while Golf & Leisure and Maximum Golf have recognized it as one of the top 100 golf values in the United States.

– k-statesports.com –

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KENNY LANNOU
Sr. Associate A.D. for Communications and Public Relations | K-State Athletics

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State senior offensive tackle Dalton Risner and senior cornerback Duke Shelley have been named to the watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Bronko Nagurski Trophy, respectively, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) has announced.

Risner, a 2017 First Team All-American, is on the Outland Trophy watch list as the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman for a second-straight year. This year’s list consists of 82 players, including 23 offensive tackles.

Shelley is a preseason candidate for the Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s most outstanding defensive player for a third-straight season. It is the first time in school history a Wildcat has been up for the Nagurski Trophy three times in a career.

Aside from earning First Team All-American honors last year from Pro Football Focus (PFF), Risner was also a second-team pick from CBSSports.com. The Wiggins, Colorado, product started all 12 regular-season games at right tackle and graded out at a 98.9 mark on pass blocking efficiency to tie for the fourth highest among FBS tackles, according to PFF.

A 2018 Preseason All-Big 12 selection by the league’s media, Risner led the Wildcats to a tie for third place in school history in rushing yards per carry (4.98) a season ago, while they finished seventh in program history with 2,584 total rushing yards.

Shelley is a mainstay at cornerback, starting 30 games over the last three seasons. The Tucker, Georgia, product enter senior season tied for fourth in school history in career interception-return touchdowns with two, including one last year at Texas Tech to earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors following the Wildcats’ 42-35 overtime win.

Shelley ranked fourth in the Big 12 with 13 passes defended as he went on to earn Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches. He finished fifth on the team with 56 tackles, including a season-high seven at both Texas and Kansas.

Kansas State opens the 2018 season on Saturday, September 1, when it hosts South Dakota at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The 10^th-annual K-State Family Reunion game, which begins at 6:10 p.m., will be shown world-wide on ESPN3.

 

Season tickets are available for the 2018 season and start at just $199 for the mobile Flex Season Ticket, which can be purchased by clicking here. Single-game tickets for K-State’s seven home games are on sale now, including a Wildcat 4 Pack for just $99 to the September 1 home opener. To purchase single-game tickets, please click here.

– k-statesports.com –

RYAN LACKEY
Director of Football and Golf Communications | K-State Athletics