The Junction City Reds were expected to play Bismark, North Dakota at about 8:30 Sunday evening at Rathert Field in the Babe Ruth Midwest Regional Tournament at Rathert Field. But because of a rain delay Saturday night, the schedule of games is a bit backed up.
Reds Head Coach Denver Kell now expects Junction City and Bismark to play at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Moustakas homered twice, and Salvador Perez, Brandon Moss and Jorge Bonifacio also went deep to lead the Kansas City Royalsover the White Sox 7-2 Saturday night, extending Chicago’s longest losing streak in two years to eight games.
Melky Cabrera had his second four-hit game in a week and gave the White Sox a 2-0 lead with a home run in the third inning and an RBI double in the fifth.
In a game that began with a 99-degree temperature and 112 heat index, Mike Pelfrey took a two-hitter into the sixth but put leadoff man Lorenzo Cain on with his sixth walk. David Holmberg (1-3) relieved, retired Eric Hosmer on a flyout, then gave up three homers in an eight-pitch span.
Perez’s two-run homer tied the score, Moustakas homered two pitches later, Alcides Escobar grounded out and Moss homered for a 4-2 lead, a drive that would have gone 436 feet unimpeded. Whit Merrifield added an RBI single off Juan Minaya.
Rain halted play Saturday evening in the Babe Ruth Midwest Regional Tournament for 16 to 18 year old players.
In ballgames played before the rain Charleston, Missouri defeated Cottonwood Valley from Kansas, and the Buckley Bombers from Colorado defeated Wayne County, Missouri. The third game between Liberal, Kansas and the St. Paul East Twins had to be halted in the second inning due to the rain delay. The game between the Junction City Reds and Bismark, North Dakota was postponed.
According to the head coach of the Reds, Denver Kell, a tarp was put down over the field for overnight. If weather and field conditions allow the plan is to resume tournament play at 9 a.m. Sunday. That would mean the Reds could possibly play Bismark about 11 a.m.
The teams are in the midst of pool play. The tournament is scheduled to wrap up on Monday.
The Topeka Golden Giants jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first inning and rolled on to a 9-0 win over the Junction City Brigade in the final game in the Cowdin Cup championship series. As a result after winning two out of three games in the series the Golden Giants are the champions of the Mid Plains League for 2017.
Brigade Head Coach Seth Wheeler noted the starting pitcher for Junction City, Josh Maple, struggled throwing strikes, hit two batters and walked two more. “And then an infield hit killed you. ” Daniel Bichura was brought on in relief but Wheeler reported he gave up a couple of infield hits and a walk. “Wheeler stated, “At this point in the season when you don’t get a quality start it really sets us behind.”
The game was halted due to rain and lightning after four-and-a-half innings. After a wait of 25 minutes the game was called and the Golden Giants were declared the winners.
The Brigade still had a good season after finishing second in the postseason playoffs and second in the West Division standings. “I think you’ve got to feel good about it. Anytime you get to the championship of anything, then you come down to that third game I think you feel good about it.”We had a really good group. They cared and they came every single day, played hard and had a lot of fun. Sometimes you just come up a little bit short. And I think with the talent level that we had I’m really proud of how far we made it.”
The Junction City Reds lost to the Charleston , Missouri Flying Squirrels 10-0 in the first round of the Babe Ruth Midwest Regional Tournament at North Park Friday night. The game was called after five innings due to a 10-run rule.
According to Tournament officials the Flying Squirrels are the 8-time defending Missouri state champion, and the number one seed in this year’s tournament.
The other first round games saw Wayne County, Missouri defeat Liberal, Kansas 6-0, Cottonwood Valley Kansas rolled past Bismark, North Dakota 11-1, and The Buckley Bombers from Colorado defeated the St. Paul East Twins from Minnesota 3-2.
Pool play in the tournament continues Saturday at noon, with the games moving to Rathert Field in Junction City. The Reds will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Bismark, North Dakota.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Whit Merrifield’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning lifted the Kansas City Royals to a 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
Merrifield flied out to Melky Cabrera to score Alcides Escobar, who led off the inning with a single.
The Royals, who trailed 5-1 after two innings, got their third walk-off victory in five days. The White Sox have lost seven straight and 10 of 11.
Alex Gordon had three hits and drove in three Royals runs, while Merrifield also had a two-run double in the fourth.
Neftali Feliz (1-0), the seventh Kansas City pitcher, picked up the win, throwing seven pitches in a scoreless 10th.
Tyler Clippard (1-6), who was acquired in a Tuesday trade with the New York Yankees, took the loss in his White Sox debut.
A 3-run home run by Charlie Peyla in the sixth inning helped lift the Junction City Brigade past the Topeka Golden Giants 7-5 in game two of the Cowdin Cup championship series at Rathert Field. It tied the series at one game apiece, with one more remaining to be played.
An unusual play preceded Peyla’s home run. He hit a foul ball that was caught near the Golden Giants dugout on the first base side of the field. Peyla returned to the dugout, but after conferring with one another the umpires ruled Peyla was not out and he returned to the plate. On the next pitch he hit his home run to take Junction City from a 3-1 deficit at that point of the game to a 4-3 lead.
Brigade Head Coach Seth Wheeler stated it was “kind of a weird play.It was the first time in five years I’d seen it.” Wheeler added they review ground rules before every game. ” Our ground rules are that our dugout kind of extends toward the plate a little bit. The catcher goes over and it’s a complete judgement call by the umpire. So their judgement was that he was in what was considered the dugout when he caught it. He caught it and on the next step he hit cement. ”
Wheeler added in his view that probably means where the dugout extends out probably means the Golden Giant catcher was in it. “So I think they got the call right, weird play, first time in five years first time I’ve seen it, and it just happened to work to our advantage tonight.” Wheeler has been either a player or coach for the Brigade for the past five years.
Junction City jumped out later to a 6-3 lead before the Golden Giants climbed back to within 6-5 in the top of the eighth inning. The Brigade then tacked on one final run in the bottom of the eighth.
The two teams conclude their series with one final game Saturday night in Topeka. It begins at 6 p.m.at the Lake Shawnee Sports Complex. The winner will be the Cowdin Cup champion, the top team in the Mid Plains League this season.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brandon Moss drove in four runs, Mike Moustakas had three RBIs and the Kansas City Royals routed the error-prone Detroit Tigers 16-4 on Thursday night.
Eric Hosmer and Whit Merrifield homered for the Royals, who moved within 1½ games of first-place Cleveland in the AL Central. The 16 runs and 19 hits were season highs for Kansas City.
Detroit committed three errors in the Royals‘ four-run first inning, when only one run was earned. It was the most errors the Tigers have made in an inning since May 1, 2010.
Michael Fulmer, the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year, threw 37 pitches in the first. The heat index was 107 when the game started.
Fulmer (10-7), who had won his previous four starts, was removed after facing 18 batters. He retired only eight, and eight scored. It was the shortest outing of his career.
The Topeka Golden Giants defeated the Junction City Brigade 11-5 in the opening game of the Cowdin Cup championship series in Topeka Thursday night. The score was reported on the Mid Plains League web site.
The Golden Giants lead the best two-out-of-three games series 1-0. Game two is Friday night at 7 p.m. at Rathert Field in Junction City. The series will determine the champion of the Mid Plains League.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Athletics Director Gene Taylor announced on Thursday that Jill Shields, a member of the K-State Athletics administrative team for 19 years overseeing academics and student services, has been named Deputy Athletics Director, headlining a restructuring of Taylor’s leadership team.
In addition, four senior administrators have been elevated to the position of Executive Associate Athletics Director as Lindsey Babcock (compliance), Scott Garrett (external operations/chief revenue officer), Casey Scott (internal operations and event management) and Bruce Shubert (finance and administration/CFO) will take on added roles.
Taylor said the restructuring utilizing the talents of existing staff members would build upon the momentum and success of the department while also fostering greater efficiency and communication.
“After getting to know our staff and watching them in action for the past several months, I found that we had outstanding, motivated, intelligent and highly qualified people in place here at K-State,” Taylor said. “I have been very pleased with the work ethic, drive and focus that our staff continues to display, and this restructuring is not only proof of that but also has allowed us to streamline some roles and build upon the experience and talents of these individuals. I am excited about our team as we continue to focus on our student-athletes and coaches and providing them all they need to compete for and win Big 12 Championships.”
Shields, who has served as Executive Associate Athletics Director since 2015, will also maintain her role as Senior Woman Administrator while also working closely with the football, women’s basketball, volleyball and track and field programs.
Babcock, who came to K-State in 2012 to lead the compliance office, will continue in that role and also serve as the sport administrator for women’s soccer and rowing. Garrett is entering his eighth year at K-State and serves as the sport administrator for women’s tennis in addition to his various external and revenue-focused roles. Scott, a 16-year veteran of the department, manages the daily oversight for the men’s basketball, baseball, men’s golf and women’s golf programs while also leading all event management, operations and security operations. Shubert arrived at K-State in 2012 and will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer and manage all budgetary matters.
To round out his new staff appointments, Taylor also announced that Josh McCowan has been named Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development and Advancement, while Kenny Lannou was promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Communications and Public Relations. Joni Smoller has been promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Fan Experience and Sales and Daren Koudele to Associate Athletics Director for Compliance. Completing the staff is Charlie Thomas, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Capital Projects and Jeremy Niederwerder, Associate Athletics Director for Facilities.
McCowan, who began working in the Ahearn Fund in 2013 and previously served as senior director of development, will now lead the department’s fundraising efforts, while Lannou, entering his 15th year at K-State, has added oversight of the video production and broadcasting departments in addition to leading the communications, social media and digital media areas.
Smoller will begin her 12th year at K-State and continue to direct the fan experience and sales and ticket offices while also managing the mascot and cheer squads. Koudele, who came to K-State in 2012, handles all financial aid and housing and dining matters for the department while also serving as the campus admissions and registrar liaison. Niederwerder, who enters his second year at K-State, oversees the development and construction of capital projects and manages the day-to-day operations of all Wildcat facilities and operations, while the 30-year veteran Thomas handles all matters related to capital projects.
K-State Athletics Senior Administrative Team
Gene Taylor, Athletics Director
Jill Shields, Deputy Athletics Director/SWA
Lindsey Babcock, Executive Associate AD for Compliance
Scott Garrett, Executive Associate AD for External Operations/Chief Revenue Officer
Casey Scott, Executive Associate AD for Internal Operations and Event Management
Bruce Shubert, Executive Associate AD for Finance and Administration/CFO
Kenny Lannou, Senior Associate AD for Communications and Public Relations
Josh McCowan, Senior Associate AD for Development and Advancement
Charlie Thomas, Senior Associate AD for Capital Projects
Daren Koudele, Associate AD for Compliance
Jeremy Niederwerder, Associate AD for Facilities
Joni Smoller, Associate AD for Fan Experience and Sales
RYAN LACKEY
Asst. Director/Athletics Communications | K-State Athletics
