DETROIT (AP) – Victor Martinez drove in two runs with a tiebreaking infield single in the seventh inning, and the Detroit Tigers took advantage of that fluky hit, holding on for a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Martinez’s comebacker deflected off reliever Joakim Soria and rolled to the area between first and second. With the second baseman playing deep, there was no chance to retire Martinez, and two runs came home on the play.

Detroit’s Tyler Collins hit a solo homer earlier in the inning off Luke Hochevar (1-2) to tie the game at 2. Ian Kinsler also homered for the Tigers.

Justin Verlander (9-6) allowed one earned run and four hits in seven innings. He struck out 10 and walked two.

Justin Wilson pitched the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez finished for his 25th save in 27 chances.

The Junction City Brigade will host the Rossville Rattlers in the semifinal round of the Cowdin Cup Playoffs in the Mid Plains League. Game time at Rathert Field will be 7 p.m. It will be a best two-out-of-three series.

Rossville knocked Sabetha out of the playoffs Thursday night with an 18-4 win.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The 2015 World Champion Kansas City Royals will meet President Barack Obama at the White House on July 21.

The White House announced the visit Thursday, continuing the tradition of presidents meeting sports teams that win championships.

The White House also released a video featuring White House press secretary Josh Earnest, a Kansas City native. The video shows Earnest wearing a Royals cap and using a team mug as he fills a jug with water.

“We’re getting ready for you Salvy,” Earnest says, in a nod to Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who douses teammates with Gatorade or water after winning home games.

The trip will be the organization’s first trip to the White House since the 1985 World Series champions met President Ronald Reagan.

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback and broadcaster Len Dawson, will reduce his role on the Chiefs Radio Network after 31 seasons as the team’s color analyst.

According to a release from the Kansas City Chiefs, Dawson will continue to offer his commentary and analysis alongside Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus for each of the Chiefs 10 home games this year. In addition he will continue to provide exclusive content for the Chiefs Radio Network.  For away games, Chiefs Radio Network sideline reporter and former Chiefs long-snapper Kendall Gammon will provide color commentary from the radio booth and Dawson will not travel.

“I’ve been traveling on Sundays for over 60 years as a player and broadcaster. It takes its toll. Now I have the opportunity to do what I love and work the games without travel,” Dawson said.

IRVING, Texas (AP) – Oklahoma is the overwhelming preseason pick to win another Big 12 title.

With quarterback Baker Mayfield among seven returning starters on offense, the Sooners got 24 of 26 first-place votes in the preseason media poll released Thursday.

TCU got the other two first-place vote and was picked second, followed by Oklahoma State, Baylor and Texas. Texas Tech, West Virginia, Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas rounded out the poll.

The Sooners last year won their record ninth Big 12 championship, all in coach Bob Stoops’ 17 seasons, and made it into the College Football Playoff.

Mayfield was the Big 12’s offensive player of the year last season, and has been tabbed as the preseason offensive player of the year. He threw for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns last season.

Kansas State freshman Cartier Diarra ( Florence SZ.C. / West Florence ) will miss the 2016-17 season after undergoing season-ending knee surgery, head coach Bruce Weber announced Wednesday.

A 6-foot-4, 185 point guard, Diarra went down with the knee injury during a workout earlier this month. After consulting with doctors he underwent surgery on Wednesday ( July 13 ) and will miss the 2016-17 seaon.

Signed by the Wildcats in April, Diarra helped West Florence High School to consecutive 19-win seasons the past two seasons. He averaged 18.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game his senior season.

The Junction City Brigade defeated the Topeka Golden Giants 4-2 Wednesday evening in Topeka to capture their first Mid-Plains League baseball playoff series two games to none.

Junction City ( 23-11 ) will now advance to the meet the winner of the Rossville – Sabetha series in the second round of the playoffs. Rossville won the first game of that series but the second game was rained out. The teams are scheduled to play game two Thursday night in Rossville.

 

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State senior safety Dante Barnett picked up a pair of preseason accolades that honor his work both on and off the field on Wednesday as he was named to the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy and a nominee for the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.

 

The Wuerffel Trophy, known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service,” is presented to the FBS player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. Barnett is on the watch list for a second-straight season and is joined by a record 88 players this year, including nine from the Big 12.

 

In its 25^th year, the AFCA Good Works Team recognizes a select group of college football players who have made a commitment to service and enriching the lives of others. Barnett’s inclusion on the list marks the eighth for the Wildcats in the last nine years.Stanton Weber was a nominee in 2015 prior to two-time nominee Tyler Lockett, while former quarterback Collin Kleinwas named to the team at season’s end in 2012.

 

Aside from leading the Wildcats with 181 career tackles and seven interceptions, Barnett has also made an impact in the Manhattan community and internationally as well. He has volunteered for many community-service activities, which is highlighted by a trip to Costa Rica this past May as part of the Courts for Kids initiative. Barnett and a group of K-State student-athletes traveled to Linea, Vieja, Costa Rica to partner with local organizations and community members to build a new multi-purpose sport court in addition to language education, a cooking exchange session and other activities.

 

In Manhattan, Barnett has also participated in Cats in the Classroom (volunteer at local elementary schools), Senior Cats (spending time at local retirement homes) and Adopt-a-Family during the holiday season.

 

Semifinalists for the Wuerffel Trophy will be announced November 3, while finalists will be unveiled November 23. The formal announcement will be on December 6, at the National Football Foundation’s press conference in New York City. The Good Works Team consists of 165 nominees with the final roster of 25 members will be announced in September.

 

Fan Appreciation Day at Kansas State will be held Saturday, August 13, at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Details for the event will be announced at a later date. Barnett, Hall of Fame head coachBill Snyder and the other three 2016 team captains – Jesse Ertz, Jordan Willis and Dalton Risner – will head to Dallas next Tuesday to participate in Big 12 Media Day.

 

Excitement is building for the 2016 K-State Football season, Snyder’s 25^th year at the helm of the Wildcats, as a limited number of single-game tickets remain available for K-State’s six home games. Available tickets for the homecoming game against Texas on Saturday, October 22, are expected to be down to scattered singles soon, and the other five home games are also selling quickly as K-State looks to extend its sellout streak to 33-straight games.

 

To order tickets, fans can contact the K-State Athletics Ticket office online at www.k-statesports.com/tickets, by phone at 1-800-221-CATS or at the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.

 

Wildcats on National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) Watch Lists

Dante Barnett – Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Wuerffel Trophy, AFCA Good Works Team*

Will Geary – Outland Trophy

Elijah Lee – Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award

Charmeachealle Moore – Butkus Award

Dalton Risner – Rimington Trophy

Duke Shelley – Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Nick Walsh – Ray Guy Award

* Not part of NCFAA

– k-statesports.com –

 

 

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RYAN LACKEY
Assistant Director | Athletics Communications