MANHATTAN, Kan. – Ben O’Donnell has been named an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Kansas State serving the men’s basketball program, the athletics department announced on Monday.

 

A former point guard at Florida State and UCF, O’Donnell spent the past five seasons at his alma mater in Orlando, where he coordinated the strength and conditioning program for men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women soccer, women’s tennis and men’s golf. Overall, he spent six years at UCF, starting as an intern (2010-11) then as a graduate assistant (2011-13) before becoming a full-time staff member in 2013.

 

“We feel Ben will bring a high level of energy to the weight room every day,” said head coach Bruce Weber. “Summer is a really important time in the development of our players, so it was critical to get someone who fit well with our team. He has a history with (director of operations) Drew (Speraw) at UCF, and once the entire staff was able to interact with him, we came away impressed with his energy and enthusiasm. We also think that his background as a basketball player will be huge positive in developing our players to their greatest potential.”

 

O’Donnell replaces Jimmy Price, who resigned earlier this month to pursue other career opportunities.

 

“I appreciate all of Jimmy’s contributions over the past 13 years both here at K-State and at Illinois,” said Weber. “We all wish him the best as he pursues the personal fitness industry closer to his family in Texas.”

 

“I truly feel blessed with an incredible opportunity here at K-State,” said O’Donnell. “I plan to take full advantage of every resource available to help increase the athletic development of the men’s basketball team. I’m very grateful to work with Coach (Bruce) Weber and the entire staff.” I plan to give the team consistent energy and effort every day and will demand the same from them.”

 

O’Donnell played one season at Florida State (2007-08) for head coach Leonard Hamilton before transferring to UCF in 2008, where he played alongside current K-State director of basketball operations Drew Speraw for one season (2009-10), under Drew’s father, Kirk.

 

A native of Largo, Fla., O’Donnell earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from UCF in 2011 before receiving a Master’s degree in physical education from South Florida in 2013. He also holds USA Weightlifting, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS) and Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA) accreditation.

 

–www.k-statesports.com–

 

Kansas State University, the nation’s first operational land-grant institution and a Carnegie Foundation Tier One university, is recognized as one of America’s best colleges with world-class research and academic excellence.

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TOM GILBERT
Associate Director for Athletics Communications | K-State Athletics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Cheslor Cuthbert singled home Lorenzo Cain in the 13th inning to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

The Royals won six of seven on their homestand and have the best home record in the American League at 25-8.

Salvador Perez led off the 13th with a single to right off left-hander Kyle Ryan (1-2), who was just promoted from Triple-A Toledo. Cain ran for Perez and advanced to second on Miguel Cabrera’s error on Ryan’s pickoff attempt.

After Kendrys Morales was walked intentionally walked, Paulo Orlando moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Ryan walked Brett Eibner intentionally to load the bases.

Chien-Ming Wang (4-0) allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings to pick up the victory.

The Sabetha Lobos ( 8-9 )  rallied from behind for a second straight night to defeat the Junction City Brigade 6-5 Saturday night at Rathert Field.

The Brigade ( 9-6 )  led 5-4 entering the eighth inning but the Lobo’s leadoff hitter Angel Martinez drew a walk and eventually scored to tie the game. In the ninth the Lobo’s leadoff hitter Marco Rivera and would also score after David Maldonado’s single.

Sabetha also defeated Junction City 9-5 Friday night as they took two out of three games from the Brigade this week at Rathert Field.

Junction City will play Independence in a doubleheader Monday at Rathert Field. Game times are 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Kendrys Morales drove in five runs with four hits, Paulo Orlando also had four hits and the Kansas City Royals routed the Detroit Tigers 16-5 on Saturday night.

The Royals’ 21 hits and 16 runs were season highs. Whit Merrifield added three hits and four RBIs, and seven Royals had at least two hits. It got so bad, Tigers utility player Andrew Romine was summoned to pitch with one out in the eighth.

Edinson Volquez (7-6) gave up two runs in the first, then retired 14 in a row during one stretch. He tired in a three-run seventh, which included Justin Upton’s two-run homer. Volquez allowed five runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Tigers left-hander Matt Boyd (0-2) was lifted after 3 2/3 innings, yielding seven runs on eight hits. In his past two starts, Boyd has given up 13 runs on 15 hits in eight innings.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura has started serving his suspension after it was cut from nine games to eight.

Major League Baseball and the Royals announced Ventura would begin sitting out Saturday night when Kansas City hosts Detroit.

Ventura was originally suspended nine games for his role in a bench-clearing brawl June 7 at Baltimore.

Ventura twice brushed back Manny Machado, then hit him in the back with a 99 mph fastball. Machado charged the mound and swung at Ventura, and they wrestled on the ground. Ventura also hit Machado with a pitch last September.

Last year, Ventura incited three incidents during games in April. He was suspended seven games for one of them.

In two starts since the altercation in Baltimore, Ventura is 2-0. He threw 6 1-3 scoreless innings Friday night to beat the Detroit Tigers.

Ventura will be eligible for reinstatement on June 28 against the St Louis Cardinals if the Royals don’t have any rainouts before then.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – With excitement growing toward the start of the 2016 season and K-State’s consecutive home sellout streak approaching 33 games, all remaining single-game tickets for the Wildcats’ six-game home schedule will go on sale to the general public Monday online at k-statesports.com.

A limited number of tickets remain available for each home game this season with approximately 1,400 tickets remaining for the FAU game onSeptember 17 and 1,500 left for both the Missouri State (Sept. 24) and Oklahoma State (Nov. 5) games. A total of 1,600 tickets remain for the KU game on November 26, 1,700 for Texas on October 22 and 2,000 for the Texas Tech game on October 8.

 

Following the June 20 online only sale, fans can begin purchasing all remaining single-game tickets via phone (800.221.CATS) on June 22.

 

Premium bench seating will be priced at $50 for both the FAU and Missouri State games, while bench seats are $35. A limited number of $20 home opener family reunion tickets (bench) will be available for one day only on June 20 at k-statesports.com, while a four-pack to the first two home games is $99 per game.

Tickets for the Texas Tech and KU games are priced at $65 (bench), while any available premium bench seating will be $80.  A four-pack of bench tickets to either game is also available for $149. The Texas and Oklahoma State games are priced at $75 (bench), while any available premium bench seating will be $90.  A four-pack of bench tickets to either of these games is also available for $199.

 

Fans can also order a combo package for $150 which includes a ticket to three games, beginning with the FAU game, plus either the Texas Tech, Oklahoma State or Texas game, and paired with the KU game.

Special rates, which start as low as $20 per ticket for the FAU and Missouri State games, are also available for groups of 20 or more and can be ordered beginning June 22. A group rate of $30 per ticket is also available for the Texas Tech and KU games and for $40 per ticket for the Texas and Oklahoma State games. A $30 GA ticket to the KU game is also available for all Ahearn Fund members and season ticket holders, while a $40 ticket to the Homecoming game against Texas is available to all K-State Alumni Association members, who received a promotional code from the Alumni Association in June and are available until October 3, or while supplies last. Also, a faculty/staff and alumni combo is available for only $99 and includes a ticket to both the Texas and KU games. This option is only available for just three days from June 20-22.
Visiting teams will also have opportunities to return unused tickets up to a month prior to their visit.   All returned tickets will be sold at the full public rate and current 2016 season ticket holders will have first opportunity to purchase.

A limited number of season tickets also remain for the 2016 season.

The Junction City Reds 14 and under Babe Ruth baseball team defeated Junction City  Pony Team one 10-4 Friday night at North Park.

The Reds are 7-6-1 on the season.

The Reds trailed in the first inning 3-2 but then put five runs on the scoreboard in the second, two more in the third, and one in the sixth enroute to the win.

Devin Sharpsteen and Griffin Opat both had three RBI’s and two hits for the Reds, who play a doubleheader at Salina at 6 and 8 p.m. Monday.

 

 

The Junction City Brigade ( 9-5 ) led 5-3 in the top of the eighth inning Friday night  and appeared to be headed toward a second consecutive win over the Sabetha Lobos ( 7-9 ) at Rathert Field.

But the Lobos had other ideas.

Garson Padilla of Sabetha belted a three-run homer off of a pitch by Marcus Washburn of Junction City to give the Lobos a 6-5 lead going into the ninth, and then the Lobos tacked on three more runs in that frame to defeat Junction City by the final score of 9-5.

The teams play the final game of their three game series Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Rathert Field. Junction City won the first game of the series 10-5 on Thursday night.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Salvador Perez homered to end Michael Fulmer’s long scoreless innings streak, Yordano Ventura kept the Tigers’ big bats off balance and the Kansas City Royals routed Detroit 10-3 on Friday night.

Ventura (6-4) scattered six hits while striking out five without a walk, ultimately outlasting Fulmer (7-2) in what began as an entertaining pitching duel between two bright young starters.

Fulmer pushed his streak to a Tigers rookie-record 33 1/3 innings before Perez went deep in the sixth. He left after walking the next two batters, allowing five hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Perez drove in two more in the seventh, Kendrys Morales hit a three-run shot in the eighth, and Eric Hosmer added three RBIs as the Royals beat up on the Detroit bullpen late.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Victor Martinez matched a career-best with three home runs, the Tigers pounded six as a team and Detroit sailed to a 10-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night to open their four-game series.

Martinez hit a pair of solo shots and Nick Castellanos went deep before James McCann homered off Royals reliever Luke Hochevar (1-1) leading off the seventh to knot the game 4-all. Cabrera followed moments later with a two-run shot that gave the Tigers their first lead of the game.

Detroit added three more runs in the eighth before Martinez hit his third homer in the ninth. The veteran designated hitter’s other three-homer game came on July 16, 2004, at Seattle.

Justin Verlander (7-5) allowed four runs on eight hits over seven innings, continuing his mastery of the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Verlander improved to 13-5 in 22 starts in the ballpark.