OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Brett Vosik had three hits and four RBIs and Kansas rallied for four runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to stun Kansas State 15-14 on Thursday in the Big 12 Tournament.

James Cosentino drilled a two-out fly ball to the base of the center field wall to knock in the winning run for the Jayhawks, who trailed 14-11 entering the final frame.

Chris Ceballos gave K-State a 12-11 lead with an RBI single, and Dylan Phillips followed with a two-run double into the gap. But the Jayhawks (32-25) finally got to a weary Caleb Littlejim (5-4) for four runs and six hits in the 11th, the last coming on Cosentino’s blast.

Phillips had a home run and five RBIs for the Wildcats (25-33), who rallied after falling behind 6-1 in the second inning.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Marcell Ozuna made Homer Bailey work. Then he made him pay.

Ozuna and Matt Carpenter went deep as part of a four-homer barrage and the St. Louis Cardinals split a doubleheader with the Kansas City Royals by winning the second game 10-3 on Wednesday night.

Brad Keller threw seven-plus innings of two-hit ball to snap a six-start winless streak and Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer as the Royals beat the Cardinals 8-2 in the first game.

Severe storms around St. Louis forced Tuesday night’s game to be postponed and created the day-night twinbill.

Ozuna capped a 12-pitch at-bat by blasting a three-run homer off Bailey over the right field wall to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead in the first. Carpenter set the tone against Bailey, who threw 42 pitches in the inning, with a nine-pitch walk.

“Just be ready and working hard and right now try not to do too much,” Ozuna said. “I’m just trying to put the ball in play and make contact because that last two series I’ve struck out a lot.”

Ozuna also doubled, walked and scored twice. He drove in the Cardinals’ only runs in the first game, giving him five RBIs on the day.

“It’s more of a momentum game than maybe people realize,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “We kept it going, finished out, which says something about the group. Finished out the first game, kept playing. And that’s a good sign when you keep playing the game when it’s not going your way. Good things will happen. Ozuna picked right up.”

Dexter Fowler and Kolten Wong also homered as St. Louis had as many home runs in the second game as it did hits in the opener.

Getting the early lead was a jolt of positive energy for the Cardinals, who had lost 10 of their last 12 games entering the second game.

“After we lost that game before, we got an early shot and we put some (runs) on the board,” Ozuna said. “That’s pretty impressive.”

Adam Wainwright (4-4) battled through control issues with 55 of his 103 pitches going for strikes. In five innings, he allowed three runs, six hits, walked four and struck out two.

“We had a 5-0 lead and I needed to go at least seven today to help this team out, help this bullpen, and I didn’t go that way so I’m a little disappointed,” Wainwright said.

John Gant, Andrew Miller, Carlos Martínez and John Brebbia combined for four scoreless innings of relief.

“They’re interchangeable,” Shildt said. “It’s a strong bullpen. We obviously know that we want certain matchups with certain guys and it allows us to be able to do that.”

Carpenter’s two-run homer in the second inning landed in the right field bullpen. Fowler added a solo homer in the sixth as part of a three-hit night. Wong’s three-run homer capped a four-run seventh.

Bailey (4-5) threw 66 pitches, but lasted just 1 2/3 innings and gave up five runs. The right-hander has allowed 10 earned runs in his last two starts (six innings) and he hasn’t beaten St. Louis since 2014 (eight starts).

“They kept fouling pitches off, fouling pitches off,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Ozuna I think had a 12-pitch at-bat. In that (first) inning I thought his stuff was pretty good, but the pitch count jumped up so quick, 42 pitches in the first inning. It just jumped up to the 65 mark after five outs. Just a lot of pitches.”

Hunter Dozier’s 10th home run of the year off of Wainwright in the fifth inning travelled 420 feet. Adalberto Mondesi had a pair of hits, scored and drove in a run.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Brad Keller snapped out of his slump for the Kansas City Royals and kept the Cardinals in their funk.

Keller threw seven-plus innings of two-hit baseball, Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer and the Kansas City Royals beat St. Louis 8-2 Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader. The Cardinals have lost 10 of 12.

Severe storms around St. Louis forced Tuesday night’s game to be postponed and created the day-night twinbill.

Keller (3-5) ended his six-start winless streak. He worked around leadoff walks in the first, second and fourth innings and had retired 12 of 13 batters before Matt Carpenter walked and Paul Goldschmidt singled to start the eighth, ending Keller’s day.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Taylor Floyd got top-seeded Texas Tech out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth and the Red Raiders held off Kansas State 7-4 on Wednesday in the Big 12 Tournament.

Josh Jung and Cameron Warren each had three hits for Texas Tech (37-15), which faces West Virginia on Thursday.

Texas Tech jumped ahead 5-1 after three innings and 7-4 after seven. The Wildcats (25-32) loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth, but Floyd induced a groundout and struck out Chris Ceballos to close the game.

Micah Dallas (5-0) pitched five innings of five-hit ball to get the win, while Tech chased Jordan Wicks (6-3) after just three innings and five earned runs allowed.

The baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday night in St. Louis has been postponed due to inclement weather until Wednesday as part of a day-night doubleheader.

The first game will begin at 12:15 p.m. and the second contest at 6:45 p.m.

Both games can be heard on 107.9 FM and 1420 KJCK with the pregame start on game one at 11:30 a.m. and for game two at 6 p.m.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Danny Duffy had a rooting section on the road and gave his pals plenty to cheer about.

The veteran left-hander from California won his third straight start and the Kansas City Royals stopped a four-game skid Sunday with a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Hunter Dozier hit a two-run double to back Duffy (3-1), who allowed five hits over six effective innings for his first victory at Angel Stadium. He had about 40 friends and family members in attendance and said he appreciated everyone who made the 3 1/2-hour drive to support him. Duffy is from Lompoc, about 200 miles north of Anaheim.

His father, Dan, was on hand as part of the team trip for Royals dads.

“This state hasn’t been good to me in my career,” Duffy said with a chuckle. “It was nice to finally get a win in California. The Angels have always done a good job making me throw a lot of pitches. Today, I was able to make pitches when I needed to and get quick outs at times. It meant a lot for me to get a win here. I had a lot of people here and from my hometown. That helped me a lot, for sure. It was nice to hear familiar voices when I was coming off the field.”

Duffy worked out of trouble in the first inning before settling in. He struck out five and walked three.

A trio of Royals relievers combined for three scoreless innings to close it out. Kansas City had lost six of seven.

“I felt I threw the ball pretty well. Early on, I was a little more wild than I wanted to be,” Duffy said. “I was able to make pitches when I needed to. I threw my heater well, for the most part, and I was pleased with that.”

Kansas City scored three runs in the third to take the lead. Adalberto Mondesi’s single to right sent Whit Merrifield to third and he scored on Kole Calhoun’s error. Dozier’s two-out double made it 3-0.

“It was kind of one that was in that grey area — maybe I would have a chance to get to it. If I miss it, we’re in trouble,” Calhoun said. “So I decided to check up on that and it kind of skipped away from me. That’s a big part of the game right there. It led to a big inning for them. It’s something you really never want to happen. I thought it bounced a little different.”

Mike Trout had two hits for the Angels, including a first-inning double that gave him an extra-base hit in three consecutive games. He appears to be finding his swing and timing. A day earlier, he hit his 250th career home run.

Trout and Kevan Smith were each on base three times. Smith’s run-scoring double in the fourth scored Calhoun.

In the sixth, Duffy was hit in the lower left leg by Tommy La Stella’s comebacker. Royals manager Ned Yost and a trainer went out to check on Duffy, but he stayed in the game. He retired the next batter to end the inning and was done for the day after 106 pitches.

Tyler Skaggs (4-4) struck out seven and allowed four runs — three earned — on 110 pitches in 5 2/3 innings. He needed 24 pitches to get through a scoreless first inning and threw 72 pitches over the first three.

A struggling Chris Owings had an RBI single in the sixth to make it 4-1 and chase Skaggs.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Matt Harvey seems to be finding his groove.

Harvey, who signed an $11 million, one-year deal with the Angels in the offseason, pitched two-run ball for five innings, and Mike Trout and Albert Pujols had two hits each as Los Angeles beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 Friday night.

“The offspeed pitches were working well, and I could keep them off balance with the curveball,” said Harvey, who has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. “It was probably the best that’s been all year. Pretty consistent in the zone and was able to bounce a few when I needed to. Working that in was definitely the key tonight.”

The Angels opened a nine-game homestand with a win after dropping three of four.

The Royals have lost three in a row and five of six.

Harvey (2-3) retired eight of his first nine batters and didn’t give up a hit until the third inning. He struck out six, allowed four hits and walked four in five-plus innings. He issued back-to-back walks to start the sixth, and his night was done.

The bullpen did its job, as four relievers combined for four scoreless innings.

Harvey faced runners on the corners after a two-out walk in the fourth but got Martin Maldonado to fly out to right field.

Hansel Robles earned his fifth save. He got hit on the inside of his left foot on a comebacker by Chris Owings to lead off the ninth. He was looked at by a trainer and manager Brad Ausmus but stayed in the game.

Pujols made a diving play at first base to get Owings out on a bang-bang play before he slid headfirst into first base.

Pujols passed Alex Rodriguez for 20th on the career hit list with 3,116.

Ryan O’Hearn hit a two-run single to left to pull the Royals within 4-2 in the sixth. The Royals had just six hits.

Kansas City had runners on the corners in the eighth inning against Cam Bedrosian after he got two outs to start the inning, but he got Maldonado to ground into a fielder’s choice.

Royals starter Brad Keller (2-5) continued to struggle with command and walked three during a three-run second. Keller allowed four earned runs on seven hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

“He wasn’t yanking the ball as much,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Really, with five walks in the game, he had a couple of 0-2 mistakes for base hits, but all in all I thought he did a good job limiting the damage.”

Keina Newman brought home two gold medals from the Class 6A Regional Track Meet for the Junction City Lady Jays, and in the process qualified for the Class 6A State Track Meet next week in Wichita. At the regional Newman won the 100 meter hurdles in 14.41 and the 300 meter hurdles in 46.94.

On the boys side Juan Tovar captured first place in the 800 meter run in 2:00.28. The top four finishers in each event advance to the state meet.

For the Lady Jays Sherrie Jones finished second in the shot put with a throw of 42’5″ and Savannah Adams fourth at 40’2,” Adams finished fourth in the discus with a throw of 104’11.50″ Jayda Harris third in the triple jump with a mark of 33’10” and the 4 x 400 relay team finished dfourth in 4:15.85.

For the Blue Jays Javontez Brime finished second in the 110 meter hurdles in 15.74 and second in the 300 meter hurdles in 42.81, Marcello Bussey second in he 400 meter dash in 51.93, Antonio Cooper second in the shot put with a throw of 51’1,” Chaz Ruffin second in the high jump at 6″2″ and the boys 4 x 100  relay team fourth in 43.35.

Junction City finished fourth in the boys team standings with 65 points while Gardner-Edgerton captured first place with 138 points followed by Manhattan with 100 and Washburn Rural with 99. In the girls team standings Junction City finished fifth out of nine teams competing. The Lady Jays scored 50 points. Lawrence captured first place with 155 followed by Gardner-Edgerton with 105, Manhattan 81 and Lawrence Free State 58 points.

The state track meet is next Friday and Saturday at Cessna Stadium in Wichita.

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Bruce Weber announced a pair of promotions to his coaching staff on Friday (May 17), as Jermaine Henderson has been elevated to assistant coach and former Wildcat Shane Southwell has been selected as the director of student-athlete development.

Henderson, who served as the director of student-athlete development the past two seasons (2017-19), has 20 years of experience as a Division I assistant coach at Miami [Ohio] (1997-2012), Missouri State (2012-15) and Cleveland State (2015-17). A four-year standout for the Wildcats from 2010-14, Southwell recently finished his second year as one of the program’s two graduate student managers.

“We are excited to promote Jermaine and Shane into these new roles,” said Weber. “They have both played a huge part in all the success we have had the past two seasons with back-to-back 25-win seasons and a Big 12 regular-season title in 2018-19. Continuity is always important especially when you have success and to get two individuals who know our system and the type of player that will help us be successful at K-State.”

Henderson returns to an on-the-court coaching role after serving the past two seasons as director of student-athlete development, where he was responsible for a variety of duties, including academic development, community service and Life Skills. In addition to helping the Wildcats to consecutive 25-win seasons, a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2018-19 Big 12 regular-season title, he has mentored six Academic All-Big 12 selections, including standouts Barry Brown, Jr. (2018), and Xavier Sneed (2018, 2019)

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Henderson has 20 years of experience as a Division I assistant coach, most recently at Cleveland State (2015-17) under head coach Gary Waters, who retired following the 2016-17 season. Prior to CSU, Henderson spent three seasons as an assistant coach under Paul Lusk at Missouri State (2012-15), where he coached alongside current Wildcat assistant coach Brad Korn.

“It’s been a blessing coming to K-State and it’s hard to put into words what this opportunity means to me,” said Henderson. “I’m thankful for the chance that Coach Weber gave me a couple of years ago to join this program and now the vote of confidence to be promoted to assistant coach. I’m looking forward to getting to work and contributing wherever I can to help push this program forward.”

Henderson was a mainstay in the Miami (Ohio) program for 19 years, including a 15-year stint as an assistant coach (1997-2012) after a standout four-year playing career (1993-97) for head coaches Herb Sendek and Charlie Coles.

During his tenure as a player and coach at Miami, Henderson was part of 329 wins and 10 postseason tournament teams, including four trips to the NCAA Tournament (1995, 1997, 1999, 2007) and a Sweet 16 appearance in 1999. In addition, the RedHawks played in the NIT four times (1994, 1996, 2005, 2006) and the CBI in 2008 and 2011. The team also won four Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular-season titles (1995, 1997, 1999, 2005) and two tournament championships (1997, 2007).

Henderson helped tutor a pair of All-Americans (Wally Szczerbiak, Michael Bramos), 33 All-MAC selections, including 11 first team picks, and two MAC Player of the Year (Szczerbiak, Bramos) during his time as an assistant (1997-2005) and associate head coach (2005-12) at Miami. The first Miami assistant to ever be promoted to associate head coach in 2005, he served in the position for seven seasons (2005-12), serving as interim head coach during a five-game stint (3-2) in 2008 while the late Charlie Coles dealt with health issues.

As a four-year letterman (1993-97), Henderson became one of just eight players in school history to participate in four postseason tournaments (1994 NIT, 1995 NCAA Tournament, 1996 NIT and 1997 NCAA Tournament). As a senior on Coles’ first Miami team in 1996-97, he helped the RedHawks advance to the NCAA Tournament after winning the MAC Championship. He averaged 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds as a co-captain his senior season. He was the inaugural recipient as well as a two-time honoree of the Jamie Mercurio Award, which is presented annually to the Miami player who best demonstrates courage and perseverance.

A two-time Street and Smith’s High School All-American, Henderson averaged 22.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists as a senior at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ohio. Born on December 19, 1974, he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Miami in 1997.

“Jermaine brings not only many years of experience both in recruiting and coaching, but he also has great people skills,” said Weber. “He does an excellent job of communicating and relating to our players and their parents. He also bring great energy and enthusiasm on a daily basis.”

A native of the Bronx, Southwell has spent the past two seasons (2017-19) as a graduate student manager during which the Wildcats have posted consecutive 25-win campaigns for the first time in school history. K-State recorded its first 25-win season in five years and made its 12^th trip to the Elite Eight in 2017-18 then followed it with another 25-win campaign and a share of the Big 12 regular-season title in 2018-19. His primary duties included the initial breakdown of video, the gathering of scouting information and coordinating film exchange.

In his position as the director of student-athlete development, Southwell will be responsible for a variety of areas, including basketball-related matters, handling special projects for the coaching staff and assisting with community service projects and the Life Skills program. He will also be involved in student-athlete academic development as well as career planning and goal setting.

“I’m obviously blessed for the opportunity to continue my coaching career at my alma mater,” said Southwell. “It has been a rewarding experience the past two years as a graduate assistant and I’m exciting about taking this next step as the director of student-athlete development and helping our players off the court.”

A four-year standout from 2010-14, Southwell helped the Wildcats advance to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and capture the school’s first-ever Big 12 Championship in 2012-13. He finished his career with 92 wins, which ties him for ninth all-time in school history. A 2013 honorable mention All-Big 12 selection, he started 26 of 33 games for the Big 12 champions, averaging 8.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game as a junior. He finished his career ranking in the Top 10 in three categories in school history and currently ranks just outside the career Top 10 in games played (126) and assists (271).

Southwell is one of just six players in school history to be part of conference championship teams as both a player (2012-13) and as a member of the coaching staff (2018-19), joining the likes ofErnie Barrett, Bill Guthridge, Lon Kruger, Howard Shannon and Darryl Winston.

A member of the Rivals150 as a high school senior at famed Rice High School in New York City, Southwell helped the Raiders to 21-6 overall record and a final No. 4 ranking in the city by theNew York Post in 2009-10. He guided Rice to 46 wins as a junior and senior, including the 2009 Class AA State Championship.

Upon his graduation from K-State, Southwell played professionally in Mexico, Australia and Switzerland. Most recently, he played for Winterthur in the Swiss LNA in 2017, averaging 15.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Born February 12, 1992, he earned his bachelor’s degree in communications studies in 2014, while he will earn a Master’s degree in College Student Personnel and Intercollegiate Athletics later today (May 17).

“As a player, you knew that Shane had the potential to be an excellent coach,” said Weber. “He had a great feel and IQ for the game of basketball. He did an excellent job as a graduate assistant relating to our players and learning the game. There is no doubt that he is a true student of the game of basketball. It is always good to have a former player on your staff who not only can relate to the current players, but also has a special pride for Kansas State and our basketball program.”

TOM GILBERT
Director for Men’s Basketball Communications | K-State Athletics

Kansas State has signed a two-game, home-and-home scheduling agreement in men’s basketball with Mountain West foe UNLV, the two athletics departments announced on Friday.

The two schools will open the series in Las Vegas November 9th, 2019 and finish it at Bramlage Coliseum on December 5th.

The 2019 meeting will serve as the seventh meeting in a series that dates back to 1982. UNLV owns a 4-2 advantage in the series.

UNLV will be under the direction of a new head coach in former Iowa State assistant T.J. Otzelberger, who was hired March 27th after a successful three-year stint at South Dakota State in which he led the Jackrabbits to a 70-33 overall record and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.