SEATTLE (AP) – Jason Vargas used his ”accelerator” to control the strike zone and it meant his first road victory of the season. It came at a place where he felt like home.

Vargas allowed three hits over seven innings and the Kansas City Royals had 16 hits – all singles – in a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

Vargas (3-1), who pitched for the Mariners for four seasons (2009-12), struck out six without a walk. He is 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA in four career starts against his former team. His 2.30 ERA at Safeco Field is tied for the seventh best for a starter in park history

Vargas signed a four-year, free-agent deal with the Royals in November.

The Junction City Lady Jay 4 x 800 relay team turned in the fifth fastest time in the state at 9:57.17,  when they claimed first place in that event at the Salina Central Invitational Friday.

That information was provided by coach Randall Zimmerman, who confirmed Myrissa Humphreys, and Autumn Sifuentes joined Deisjambra Bisio and Rosie Hollis for the race in Salina.

Junction City finished fifth out of nine teams in the girls overall competition at the Invitational, while the Blue Jay boys finished eighth out of nine teams.

Other individual highlights for Junction City included on the girls side:

–A fourth place finish by Autumn Sifuentes in the 1600 meter run in 5:49.51.

–third place finish by the Lady Jay 4 x 400 relay team

–Rosie Hollis captured third place in the 800 meter run in 2:28.25, while Brianna Pace was fifth in 2:34.22.

–Deisjambra Bisio finished third in the 400 meter dash in 1:01.63 and Nashdia Nixon fifth in that race in 1:05.17.

For the Blue Jay boys:

–Ali Childs captured second place in the pole vault with a vault of 12 feet.

–Jovan Baldwin was third in the 100 meter dash in 11.48.

–The Blue Jay 4 x 100 relay team finished first in 44.05

–Scott Keith was fourth in the high jump with a jump of six feet

No. 7  Oklahoma State defeated the Kansas State Wildcats 8-0 Friday evening at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan

According to k-statesports.com, OSU starting pitcher Jon Perrin struck out 10 and held K-State to four hits.

Kansas State ( 24-26 ), 4-15 Big 12 ) surrendered 11 hits to the Cowboys ( 36-13, 14-5 Big 12 ), eight in the first three innings that helped drive in five runs.

The two teams play game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Tointon Family Stadium.

Shawnee Heights took two games from Junction City in baseball on Friday on the Thunderbird’s field.

The Thunderbirds took the first game 5-2 and the nightcap 9-1.

Junction City will host Highland Park in a doubleheader on Tuesday at Rathert Field. Then the Blue Jays will prepare for postseason regional action the following week. Coach Heath Gerstner felt at this point regional destinations for Junction City could possibly be Dodge City, Derby, or Maize.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs selected defensive back Phillip Gaines from Rice in the third round of the NFL draft Friday night, helping a pass defense that was shredded by Indianapolis in the playoffs.

Kansas City was in need of safety help after losing starter Kendrick Lewis in free agency. It is possible that Gaines could ultimately make the switch to that position.

The Chiefs did not have a second-round pick after sending it to San Francisco in the deal that netted them quarterback Alex Smith. That made it a long night for general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid, who had to wait until the 87th overall pick before nabbing a player.

Kansas City selected pass rusher Dee Ford in the first round Thursday night.

 

Powered by a one-hit pitching performance by Sydney Lang and home runs by Jaden Gonzalez and McKenzie Lincoln Shawnee Heights took game one of a doubleheader from Junction City 4-0 on Senior Day at Cleary Field.

In Game two Shawnee Heights rolled past Junction City 16-1 in a game called after three innings due to a 15-run rule.

Shawnee Heights improved to 11-7 with the wins, while Junction City fell to 3-13 on the season.

Three Lady Jay seniors were honored during a ceremony between the games. They included Kori Kamm, Melissa Riley, and Alex Wood.

The Lady Jays will host Topeka High Monday in a makeup doubleheader that was rained out earlier this season. Junction City will also play at Highland Park in a doubleheader on Tuesday.

SEATTLE (AP) – Hisashi Iwakuma scattered four hits over eight innings and Corey Hart hit an RBI single to lift the Seattle Mariners over the Kansas City Royals 1-0 on Thursday night.

Seattle won for the 11th time in 14 games since losing eight straight from April 15-22.

Iwakuma (2-0) was making his second start after beginning the season on the disabled list with a strained tendon on the middle finger of his pitching hand. The All-Star right-hander struck out seven and walked none.

Fernando Rodney worked around a pair of walks in the ninth to earn his 10th save in 11 chances.

Danny Duffy (1-3) gave up one run and two hits in six-plus innings. He has allowed two hits and a run in each of his first two starts this season after pitching out of the bullpen to begin the year.

 

The Junction City Lady Jays played to a 2-2 tie with Topeka West in girls soccer Thursday evening in Topeka.

Emily Calvetti and Grace Gradnigo both scored goals for the Lady Jays, who are now 6-6-2 on the season

The match went into overtime. Junction City coach Drew Proctor confirmed it was called with :55 seconds remaining in the overtime session still tied at 2-2.

Junction City will play at Manhattan on Tuesday.

The Junction City Blue Jays finished seventh out of 16 teams in the JCHS Invitational golf tournament at Rolling Meadows Golf Course.

Washburn Rural won the tournament with the overall score of 292, while Junction City had a score of 336. Hayden and Seaman tied for second at 305, and Manhattan followed with a tally of 306.

In the individual competition Andrew Beckler of Washburn Rural shot a 3-under-69 to capture first place.

For the Blue Jays, Shane Lee tied for 22nd with a round of 80. Minwook “Steve” Kim shot an 81 to tie for 24th.  Dalton Senesac shot an 83, followed by Madison Roether with a 92, Tre Reynolds 93, and T.J. Allen 109.

To promote fitness and outdoor activity Ware Elementary School will hold their annual Field Day ion Thursday, May 15.

SThere will be an opening assembly at 8:30 a.m. Then classes will spend 15 minutes at each station. They include activities ranging from Tug-of-war to Limbo Rock.

Soldiers from the 1-5 Field Artillery will assist the physical education teachers throughout the day. They help with set up in the morning, and groups of soldiers will rotate throughout the day working at the activity stations. Having the soldiers join the students is part of the Adopt-A-School program supported at Ft. Riley.