The Junction City Blues American Legion baseball team will open their season Friday night at Rathert Field.
The Blues will host Wamego 18-Under in a doubleheader at 6 and 8 p.m. on Friday. They will also host the Salina Hawks in a doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m. on Sunday.
The Junction City Brigade were scheduled to host the Midwest A’s Tuesday night at Rathert Field, but the game has been cancelled due to wet fields caused by the rain Tuesday morning.
Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska said the Junction City Brigade and Midwest A’s will play a doubleheader Wednesday evening at Rathert Field. Game times are 5 and 7 p.m.
The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (KSHOF) has announced the members of the Class of 2015 who will be enshrined in ceremonies on October 4th at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in the Wichita Boathouse.
The Hall announced in a media release KSHOF Class of 2015 consists of eleven members: University of Kansas and Seattle Seahawk linebacker Terry Beeson from Coffeyville; Topeka native and two-time Gold Glove Award winner Ken Berry; University of Kansas All-American softball player and the school’s all-time softball coaching wins leader Tracy Bunge; Kansas State University tight end and three-time Pro Bowl selection of the Green Bay Packers, Paul Coffman from Chase; two-time Benedictine College All-American and four-time state basketball championship coach Mathew “Chic” Downing of Atchison; 1996 U.S. Olympic gold medalist in the triple-jump Kenny Harrison from Kansas State University; twelve-time KCAC women’s basketball Coach of the Year at Sterling College Lonnie Kruse from Sterling; three-time Big 12 Conference basketball selection and Kansas State University’s all-time assist leader, Shalee Lehning of Sublette; fourteen-time All-American in football and track at Pittsburg State University and two-time Pro Bowl selection Brian Moorman from Sedgwick; three-time National Championship coach and two-time National Coach of the Year at Butler Community College Troy Morrell from Atwood; three-sport athlete from Wichita State University and long-time major conference official in football and basketball Dick Sanders from Wichita.
The induction ceremony will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2015, at the Wichita Boathouse. The eleven-person class raises the total number of Kansas Sports Hall of Fame inductees to 248. The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is in its 54th year of operation. Tickets for the 2015 Induction Ceremony go on sale on August 3, 2015.
TERRY BEESON – COFFEYVILLE
A native of Coffeyville, Kansas, Terry Beeson had one of the most heralded football careers in University of Kansas history. Beeson was a four-year letterman at linebacker for the Jayhawks and led the team in tackles in both 1975 and 1976. Following his senior year in 1976, Beeson was invited and played in the Blue-Grey game, the East-West Shrine game, and the Senior Bowl. He was also selected as an All-Big 8 selection in 1976. Beeson was drafted in the second round (41st pick) of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks where he played four seasons, including leading the team in tackles for three seasons from 1977 to 1979. Beeson still holds numerous Seahawks tackle records, including single season tackles (158) and single game tackles (18). Beeson also played professionally with the San Francisco 49ers and with the Oklahoma Outlaws and the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. After retiring as a player, Beeson became an assistant coach at Coffeyville Community College under 2004 KSHOF Inductee Dick Foster before serving as the Athletic Director at Coffeyville Community College for ten years.
KEN BERRY – TOPEKA
Ken Berry, a native of Topeka, Kansas, and a 1959 graduate of Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, made a name for himself in Major League Baseball thanks to the skills he learned while playing on the dusty ball fields of Kansas. A two-sport star in high school, Berry attended Wichita University, now Wichita State University, on a football scholarship where he played wide receiver while also playing center field on the baseball team. After seeing what Berry could do on the diamond, he was signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1961 and made his debut in the Major Leagues one year later in 1962. Over the next fourteen seasons, Berry played for four teams in the Major Leagues, including the Chicago White Sox, the California Angels, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Cleveland Indians, on his way to winning two Gold Glove Awards (1970 and 1972) and being named to the 1967 American League All-Star Team. Berry lead the league in fielding percentage at his position three times during his career and contributed offensively by compiling a .255 career batting average, 343 career runs batted in, 58 career home runs, and 1,053 career hits. Berry has been honored by numerous organizations since his retirement, including having a Topeka area youth baseball league named in his honor and being listed #2 among the top one hundred Shawnee County athletes by the Topeka Capital-Journal. Berry was inducted to the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, the Washburn Rural High School Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013.
TRACY BUNGE – UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Originally from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Tracy Bunge chose to attend the University of Kansas on a softball scholarship in 1982. When she graduated from KU, she left one of the most storied legacies in the history of the program. A four-year letter winner for the Jayhawks from 1983 to 1986, Bunge led the team in home runs each season during her time in Lawrence, as well as leading the Jayhawks in pitching wins and strikeouts in 1983, 1984, and 1985. When Bunge’s career at KU ended in 1986, she held career marks for wins and strike outs as a pitcher and runs scored and walks as a hitter. Bunge was named a three-time All-Big 8 player in 1983, 1985, and 1986, and was a first-team All-American in 1986. Bunge was the head coach of the Jayhawk softball program from 1997 until 2009, posting a career coaching record of 409-345-2 with four appearances in the NCAA Tournament and the 2006 Big 12 Conference Tournament title. Her career coaching wins at KU are the most in program history. Bunge was inducted to the University of Kansas Athletics Hall of
Fame following her playing career in 1987.
PAUL COFFMAN – CHASE
A native of Chase, Kansas, Paul Coffman starred at Kansas State University before launching an eleven year NFL career that saw him go from undrafted free agent to NFL Pro Bowler. A three-year letter winner at K-State from 1975 to 1977, Coffman earned first-team All-Big 8 honors as a senior tight end in 1977. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers in 1977. With 1997 KSHOF Inductee Lynn Dickey at quarterback for the Packers, Coffman quickly became a favorite passing target as he led the team in touchdown receptions three times and receiving yards seven times. Coffman was a three-time Pro Bowl selection in 1982, 1983, and 1984. For his eleven year career, which spanned seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Minnesota Vikings, Coffman compiled 4,223 receiving yards and 39 touchdowns. Coffman has been honored as an inductee of numerous organizations, including the Kansas State High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 1985, the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame in 1994, and the Kansas Shrine Bowl Hall of Fame in 2008.
MATHEW “CHIC” DOWNING – ATCHISON
From player to coach, Mathew “Chic” Downing of Atchison, Kansas, has been successful in every stop in his storied basketball career. A two-time All-State selection at Atchison High School, Downing chose to play basketball at Benedictine College for 2004 KSHOF Inductee Ralph Nolan where he was twice named an NAIA All-American selection, including a first-team selection in 1972. When Downing left Benedictine, he held the school’s career mark for scoring, was second in career rebounds, and was tops in numerous single season records, including single season scoring and single season scoring average. Downing was selected by the New York Knicks in the 1972 NBA Draft before becoming the head basketball coach of Atchison High School in 1975 where he remained as coach until 1992. As a coach, Downing guided Atchison to four state championships and ten state tournament appearances. Downing was also named the 1986 Coach of the Year by the Wichita Eagle. Downing was inducted to the Kansas Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 1995, the Benedictine College Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in 2015.
KENNY HARRISON – KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
One of the most decorated athletes in Kansas State University Track and Field history, Kenny Harrison, originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, smashed school, national, and world records on his way to earning Olympic gold. Harrison, a long-jump and triple-jump specialist at K-State earned All-America honors all four years in Manhattan from 1985 to 1988. In total, Harrison racked up four All-America awards in outdoor (two each in the long-jump and triple-jump) and seven All-America awards in indoor (three in long-jump, four in triple-jump). Harrison also won eight Big 8 Conference championships in outdoor and seven Big 8 Conference championships in indoor. Harrison also won an outdoor triple-jump National Championship in 1986 and added two indoor National Championships, one each in the long-jump (1986) and the triple-jump (1988). On the national and international level, Harrison continued to shine, winning four U.S. Championships and one World Championship in the triple-jump in 1991. Harrison represented the United States in the 1996 Olympic games and his gold medal winning triple-jump of 59’4.25” set both the American and Olympic record. Harrison is an inductee of the Kansas State University Athletic Hall of Fame and was inducted to the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2013.
LONNIE KRUSE – STERLING
A native of Holyrood, Kansas, Lonnie Kruse left a coaching legacy that is unmatched in Kansas history. Kruse attended Sterling College from 1967 to 1971 where he played basketball. Upon completion of his career, Kruse held the school’s record for career scoring with 1,540 points. Kruse returned to his alma mater as head women’s basketball coach in 1981 and thus began one of the most decorated coaching careers in Kansas history. From 1981 to 2014, Kruse compiled a coaching record of 706-244; the most coaching wins in Kansas women’s basketball history. Under Kruse’s guidance, the Warriors won twelve KCAC regular season championships and made sixteen NAIA National Tournament appearances, including ten Sweet Sixteen appearances, two Elite Eight appearances, and one NAIA Final Four appearance. He was named the KCAC Coach of the Year twelve times during his career. In total, Kruse coached sixty-six players to earn first-team All-Conference selections, eighteen NAIA All-American selections, and forty-two Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes. Kruse’s honors included being inducted to the Sterling College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 as well as being the namesake for the Sterling College basketball court in 2013 and the KCAC Coach of the Year award named in his honor in 2014.
SHALEE LEHNING – SUBLETTE
One of the most highly recruited high school basketball players in Kansas, Shalee Lehning of Sublette, Kansas, went on to star nationally on both the collegiate and professional levels. After leading the Sublette Larks to two undefeated state championships in 2004 and 2005, Lehning held state high school records for career rebounds (1,136), career assists (804), career steals (543), and season assists (245). Selected to multiple All-State teams by various publications, Lehning was named the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and Miss Kansas Basketball Player of the Year in 2005. Following her stellar high school career, Lehning chose to attend Kansas State University where she continued to shine as a three-time All-Big 12 Conference performer, including two first-team selections in 2008 and 2009. Lehning left the school with the top four marks in single season assists and as the school’s leader in career assists with 800. Lehning also ranked in the top ten in school history in career steals, career rebounds, career double-doubles, career games played, and career games started. Her five career triple-doubles are best in K-State and Big 12 Conference history. Lehning was selected in the second round as the 25th overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream where she played three seasons and averaged 3.8 assists per game. Following her final game as a Wildcat, Kansas State University retired her #5 jersey.
BRIAN MOORMAN – SEDGWICK
The most decorated athlete in Pittsburg State University history, Brian Moorman from Sedgwick, Kansas, rewrote the record book in two sports for the Gorillas and left a legacy unmatched in school history. A two-sport star for Pitt State in track and football, Moorman compiled an astounding fourteen All-American selections, including four in football and ten in track, to go along with six Academic All-American selections, three each in football and track. On the track, Moorman won three national championships in the 400 meter hurdles and claimed eight MIAA Conference titles. Playing for 2013 KSHOF Inductee Chuck Broyles on the football field, Moorman earned first team All-America honors in 1998 and 1999 and was a four-time All-MIAA Conference selection. When he graduated, Moorman held school records for season punting average (45.95) and career punting average (43.97). He was twice named the MIAA Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 1999. Following his college career, Moorman signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks before finding his home with the Buffalo Bills. In his fourteen NFL seasons, including stints with the Seahawks, Bills, and the Dallas Cowboys, Moorman earned two Pro Bowl selections as a punter and led the NFL in yards per punt during the 2005 season. For his accomplishments, Moorman has earned numerous honors and awards, including being named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2000’s Team, being inducted to the Pittsburg State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009, and the MIAA Conference Hall of Fame in 2011.
TROY MORRELL – ATWOOD
No coach had ever dominated their respective conference quite like Troy Morrell, a native of Atwood, Kansas. After a playing career that saw him earn All-American status as a lineman at Butler Community College in 1991 before finishing his playing career at Fort Hays State University, Morrell began a coaching career that is envied by coaches across the country. Morrell served as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for two National Championships at Butler Community College in El Dorado in 1998 and 1999 before being promoted to head coach of the Grizzlies in 2000. Over the next fifteen seasons, Morrell racked up twelve KJCCC titles and three NJCAA National Championships in 2003, 2007, and 2008. In addition, Morrell coached the Grizzlies to four other National Championship game appearances. For his career, Morrell posted a record of 154-22 with a win percentage .880, the highest winning percentage in junior college football history ranking just above 2004 KSHOF Inductee Dick Foster, and Morrell coached an amazing 68 players to earn All-America honors. Morrell earned National Coach of the Year honors twice in 2002 and 2007 to go along with five KJCCC Coach of the Year selections. Morrell was inducted to the Buhler High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.
DICK SANDERS – WICHITA
Dick Sanders of Wichita, Kansas, has lived a life-time revolving around athletics. Sanders was a three-sport high school star at Wichita North High School, including leading Wichita North to two state championships in football and baseball in 1949 before the state playoff system was initiated. Sanders chose to continue his playing career at Wichita University, now Wichita State University, where he played quarterback and defensive back on the football team, guard on the basketball team under head coach and 1975 KSHOF Inductee Ralph Miller, and shortstop on the baseball team. Sanders excelled in all three sports, leading the football team in passing yardage in 1951, while averaging 4.1 points per contest on the hardwood, and earning two letters in baseball. Sanders signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Yankees in 1952 and played eight seasons with the Yankees and Dodger organizations. After completing his professional career, Sanders played and coached semi-professional baseball in Wichita, including being named a three-time NBC Tournament All-American in 1964, 1965, and 1966, and earned the tournament MVP award in 1964. Following his playing career, Sanders became a football and basketball official and officiated games in the Missouri Valley and Big 8 Conferences as well as at the high school level. Sanders has been inducted to numerous halls of fame, including the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969, National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame in 1992, Shocker Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995, Kansas Collegiate Officials Hall of Fame in 1997, Wichita Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Wichita North Hall of Fame in 2008.
The Junction City Brigade rode a four-run third inning to a 6-3 win over the Midwest A’s in summer collegiate baseball at Rathert Field Monday evening.
The win left Junction City 4-0 while the A’s fell to 3-1.
The big hit was a triple by right fielder Sam Chadick in the third inning for Junction City.
The two teams play again tonight at Rathert Field at 7 p.m.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Kansas has landed Ole Miss transfer Dwight Coleby, a highly touted center who will redshirt next season and have two years of eligibility remaining.
The Jayhawks will lose a trio of forwards in Perry Ellis, Jamari Traylor and Hunter Mickelson after next season. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Coleby should be able to help replenish the front court after playing in all 34 games for the Rebels last season.
Coleby, a native of the Bahamas, averaged 5.4 points and 4.8 rebounds last season. He played 16.5 minutes a game for a team that was 21-13 and reached the NCAA Tournament.
Kansas coach Bill Self called Coleby “exactly what I think we need. He’s a big guy that can play either bigs position. He’s active. He reminds me a lot of a bigger Jamari.”
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A nationally-televised November tilt against Baylor and two early-season home contests highlighted four of Kansas State’s game times announced by the Big 12 Conference and its television partners Monday afternoon.
The Wildcats’ September 5 season opener against South Dakota will be broadcast exclusively on K-StateHD.TV with kickoff slated for 6:10 p.m., at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. K-StateHD.TVprogramming will begin at 5:10 p.m., with its K-State Gameday show featuring Brian Smoller. Ordering information and details for K-StateHD.TV will be announced in the coming days.
K-State will then play back-to-back games against Conference USA foes as it travels to San Antonio, Texas, on September 12, to face UTSA at 11 a.m., in a nationally-televised game on FOX Sports 1. The following week, the Wildcats host Louisiana Tech on September 19, beginning at 2 p.m., in a game televised by FSN.
The Big 12 and FOX Sports also announced that the Wildcats’ Thursday-night game against Baylor on November 5, at Bill Snyder Family Stadium will be played at 6:30 p.m., and shown to a national audience on FOX Sports 1.
All remaining Big 12 television selections will be announced on a 12-day or six-day basis throughout the season.
Kansas State, which returns 44 letterwinners – including 16 starters – from last year’s 9-4 team, will face off against five opponents in 2015 that advanced to bowl games last season, including a pair of top-10 teams in TCU (No. 3/3) and Baylor (No. 7/8).
A limited number of single-game tickets for the 2015 season go on sale online only at www.k-statesports.com/tickets on June 22, while fans can purchase by calling the ticket office at 1-800-221-CATS beginning June 24.
Fans can now join the 2015 season ticket waiting list online or by contacting the K-State Athletics Ticket Office. For more information regarding tickets, contact the ticket office at 1-800-221-CATS or visit www.k-statesports.com.
Television Selections for K-State Games
Saturday, Sept. 5 – South Dakota at K-State, 6:10 p.m., K-StateHD.TV
Saturday, Sept. 12 – K-State at UTSA, 11 a.m., FOX Sports 1
Saturday, Sept. 19 – Louisiana Tech at K-State, 2 p.m., FSN
Thursday, Nov. 5 – Baylor at K-State, 6:30 p.m., FOX Sports 1
————
RYAN LACKEY
Assistant Director | Athletics Communications
The Junction City Brigade ( 3-0 ) rallied from a four-run deficit after two-and-a-half innings to defeat the Baldwin City Blues 10-5 in game of a doubleheader at Rathert Field. In game two the Brigade broke open a tight game by scoring six runs in the fifth inning enroute to a 10-2 victory over the Blues. 
The wins for Junction City came on the home opening night for the Brigade at Rathert Field.
Junction City coach Seth Wheeler said in game one the Brigade defense let them down early as they trailed 5-1. “But I’m really, really proud of our offense. There was never any panic, there was never any let’s do too much. They stuck with the plan, and that’s have good A-B’s ( at-bats ), be hard fought back up the middle. We worked our walks, and then got big hits when we needed to.”
The wins came before a big crowd….estimated at roughly 887 people. Many attended the Junction City Junior Baseball Association opening night ceremonies which were featured between games of the Brigade doubleheader with Baldwin City.
Players on Junior Baseball Association teams had a chance to walk the base paths, and be introduced to the large crowd at Rathert Field. The family of the late Mark Ervin was recognized during the ceremony, and his son Will Ervin threw out the first pitch. Mark Ervin passed away this past spring unexpectedly. He had been involved in youth baseball for many years in the community.
CHICAGO (AP) – David Ross hit an RBI single with one out in the 11th inning Sunday, lifting the Chicago Cubs over the Kansas City Royals 2-1.
The Cubs and Royals split the abbreviated two-game series. Saturday’s game was rained out and will be made up at Wrigley Field during the last week of the regular season.
Ross delivered the fifth game-ending hit of his career, a bases-loaded single just beyond the reach of shortstop Alcides Escobar, who tried to make a sliding, over-the-shoulder catch.
Earlier in the inning, Dexter Fowler was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Alex Gordon when he tried to score on a single.
Zac Rosscup (2-1) struck out Salvador Perez with runners on first and third with two outs in the 11th.
Ryan Madson (0-1) walked Fowler to begin the 11th.
The Junction City Brigade will host Baldwin City at Rathert Field Sunday evening.
The first pitch for the first game is at 5 p.m.
In between the two seven-inning games, the opening ceremonies for Junction City Junior Baseball will also be held.
Two Junction City relay teams placed in the Class 6A competition at the State Track Meet.
The Lady Jay 4×800 relay squad of Myrissa Humphreys, Briona Jensen, Deisjambra Bisio, and Brianna Pace finished fourth in 9:58.82.
The Blue Jay 4×400 relay team of Jquan Robinson, Jace Taliaferro, Ricardo Erans, and Raye Wilson finished fourth in 3:25.49.
Also for Junction City, Aylissa Dotson finished sixth in the girls 200 meter dash in 26.18, and Myrissa Humphreys was fifth in the girls 800 meter run in 2:20.27.
In boys competition, Jaylene Brime captured fifth place in the trip jump with a mark of 43′ 8 1/2.”
The Blue Jays finished in 25th place in the boys teams standings with nine points, while Olathe East won the team title. In the girls competition Lawrence High was the champion, and the Lady Jays finished in 23rd place with 12 team points.