LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/masters-2024-augusta-national-8f9bcddc2f3c8aa4298a83c016286918">Masters champion Scottie Scheffler</a>&nbsp;was arrested Friday morning on his way to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scottie-scheffler-pga-championship-dc43b1facb4b7c5e6a8c9b29159a6ae2">PGA Championship</a>, with stunning images showing him handcuffed as he was taken to jail for not following police orders during a pedestrian fatality investigation.

In a span of four hours, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scottie-scheffler-tiger-woods-players-championship-387cadc831f8bf7f63e00673166d6add">top-ranked golfer</a>&nbsp;in the world was arrested wearing gym shorts and a T-shirt, dressed in an orange jail shirt for his mug shot, stretched in a jail cell to stay loose and returned to Valhalla Golf Club dressed and ready for his 10:08 a.m. tee time.

Louisville Metro Police Department said Scheffler was booked on four charges, including second-degree assault of a police officer after his vehicle dragged an officer to the ground.

Scheffler said the incident was a “big misunderstanding amid a chaotic situation.”

“I feel like my head is still spinning. I can't really explain what happened this morning,” Scheffler said after remarkably posting another 5-under 66 that kept him in the mix for a second straight major championship.

He said he could not offer specifics on the arrest because it was under investigation. In a statement released before his round, he said never intended to disregard police instructions outside the entrance to the club.

“I definitely never imagined ever going to jail, and I definitely never imagined going to jail the morning before one of my tee times for sure,” Scheffler said. “I was grateful to be able to go out there and compete and yeah, it was definitely a nice round of golf.”

His attorney, Steve Romines in Louisville, also described it as a misunderstanding and told The Associated Press, “We will litigate the case as it goes.”

Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg said tournament vendor John Mills was the pedestrian killed and offered sympathies to his family. Greenberg also said the incident involving Scheffler and LMPD was “unfortunate” and that the police department was investigating.

Traffic was backed up for about a mile in both directions on the only road that leads to Valhalla in the morning darkness with light rain, with dozens of police vehicles flashing red-and-blue lights near the entrance.

Police approached the long line of cars waiting to say a pedestrian had been struck by a bus while crossing the road in a lane that was dedicated to tournament traffic.

Mills, 69, was working for a PGA Championship vendor. He was pronounced dead at the scene about 5:09 a.m.

ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington witnessed the incident and said Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world who was to start the second round at 8:48 a.m., drove past a police officer a little after 6 a.m. in his SUV with markings on the door indicating it was a PGA Championship vehicle.

The officer screamed at him to stop and then grabbed onto the car until Scheffler stopped about 10 yards later, Darlington said. The officer, identified in the arrest report as Det. Gillis, was dragged “to the ground” and suffered “pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist” after the car “accelerated forward,” according to Louisville police.

Scheffler was booked at 7:28 a.m. — about 2 1/2 hours before his updated tee time after the second round was delayed because of the fatality. In addition to the assault charge, he was booked on charges of third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.

“The main thing is he was proceeding exactly as he was directed in a marked vehicle with credentials," Romines said. “He didn’t do anything intentionally wrong.”

The officer was dressed in a high visibility reflective jacket when he stopped Scheffler’s car to give instructions, the arrest sheet said. Gillis was taken to the hospital for his injuries.

Darlington said police pulled Scheffler out of the car, pushed him up against the car and immediately placed him in handcuffs.

“Scheffler was then walked over to the police car, placed in the back, in handcuffs, very stunned about what was happening, looked toward me as he was in those handcuffs and said, ‘Please help me,’" Darlington said. “He very clearly did not know what was happening in the situation. It moved very quickly, very rapidly, very aggressively.”

Scheffler was released by police and returned to the course at 9:12 a.m. He made his way to the practice area around 9:30 a.m. and was welcomed by fans — one shouted “free Scottie!” and others arrived later wearing “Free Scottie” T-shirts.

Scheffler seemed like his normal, relaxed self, sharing a few laughs on the driving range.

“I was never angry. I was just in shock,” Scheffler said. “I was shaking the whole time. I was shaking for like an hour. It was definitely a new feeling for me.”

He could see from a TV in the jail that tee times were pushed back 1 hour, 20 minutes because of the traffic situation, and realized when an officer knocked on the door and said, “Let's go,” that he had a chance to play.

He made birdie on his first hole of the day after sticking his approach shot to 3 feet.

Darlington, the ESPN reporter, said police were not sure who Scheffler was at first. He said an officer asked him to leave and when he identified himself being with the media, he was told, “There's nothing you can do. He's going to jail.”

Darlington said another police officer later approached with a notepad and asked if he knew the name of the person they put in handcuffs.

Scheffler said he never told police who he was except to say, “I'm sorry, I'm just trying to get to my tee time.”

Louisville police have attracted negative national attention in recent years after the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in 2020 and a federal investigation into its policing practices.

A Department of Justice report released last year said Louisville officers use excessive force and conduct searches based on invalid warrants. The report said Black motorists in Louisville were more likely to be searched during traffic stops, and officers used neck restraints, police dogs and Tasers against people who posed no imminent threat.

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was shot by officers in who had come to her apartment with a warrant that federal officials later said was falsified.

PGA of America, which runs the PGA Championship, offered sympathies for Mills' family and said in a statement, “As it relates to the incident involving Scottie Scheffler, we are fully cooperating as local authorities review what took place.”

Scheffler is coming off four victories in his last five tournaments, including his second Masters title. He was home in Dallas the last three weeks waiting on the birth of his first child, a son that was born May 8.

Scheffler, who has won four of his last five tournaments, is trying to become only the fifth player since 1960 to win the first two majors of the year.

In a span of four hours, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scottie-scheffler-tiger-woods-players-championship-387cadc831f8bf7f63e00673166d6add">top-ranked golfer</a>&nbsp;in the world was arrested wearing gym shorts and a T-shirt, dressed in an orange jail shirt for his mug shot, returned to Valhalla Golf Club in golf clothes and made his 10:08 a.m. second-round tee time.

“This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers,” he said in a statement released as he was warming up on the range. "It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do.

“I never intended to disregard any of the instructions,” he said. “I'm hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today. Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective.”

Police said a pedestrian had been struck by a bus while crossing the road in a lane that was dedicated to tournament traffic and was pronounced dead at the scene about 5:09 a.m. The PGA of America identified the man as an employee of one of its vendors.

ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington said Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world who was to start the second round at 8:48 a.m., drove past a police officer a little after 6 a.m. in his SUV with markings on the door indicating it was a PGA Championship vehicle.

The officer screamed at him to stop and then grabbed onto the car until Scheffler stopped about 10 yards later. The officer, identified in the arrest report as Det. Gillis, was dragged “to the ground” and suffered “pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist” after the car “accelerated forward,” according to Louisville police.

Scheffler was booked at 7:28 a.m. — about 2 1/2 hours before his updated tee time after the second round was delayed because of the fatality. Police said he was booked for second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.

Darlington watched it unfold. He said police pulled Scheffler out of the car, pushed him up against the car and immediately placed him in handcuffs.

Mitchell told Louisville radio station WHAS the man was crossing Shelbyville Road about 5 a.m. and the bus didn't see him. Mitchell said the man was pronounced dead on the scene.

Scheffler was released by police and returned to the course at 9:12 a.m. He made his way to the practice area around 9:30 a.m. and was welcomed by fans — one shouted “free Scottie!”

Scheffler seemed like his normal, relaxed self, sharing a few laughs on the driving range. Then he went out and made a birdie on his first hole of the day after sticking his approach shot to three feet.

With cars backed up in the morning darkness, other PGA-marked vehicles tried to move slowly toward the entrance. Traffic finally began to move gradually a little before 7 a.m.

It was a surreal start to what already has been a wild week of weather — the Masters champion and top-ranked player in the world, dressed in workout clothes with his hands in cuffs behind his back amid flashing flights.

Darlington said police were not sure who Scheffler was. He said an officer asked him to leave and when he identified himself being with the media, he was told, “There's nothing you can do. He's going to jail.”

Scheffler opened with a 4-under 67 and was five shots out of the lead as he tries to become only the fifth player since 1960 to win the first two majors of the year.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was arrested Friday morning on his way to the PGA Championship, with stunning images showing him handcuffed as he was taken to jail for not following police orders during a pedestrian fatality investigation.

In a span of four hours, the top-ranked golfer in the world was arrested wearing gym shorts and a tee shirt, dressed in an orange jail shirt for his mug shot, returned to Valhalla Golf Club in golf clothes and made his 10:08 a.m. second-round tee time.

“This is heartbreaking to all of us involved with the PGA Championship. We extend our sincere condolences to their family and loved ones,” the PGA said in a statement.

The officer screamed at him to stop and then grabbed onto the car until Scheffler stopped about 10 yards later.

Scheffler was booked at 7:28 a.m. — about 2 1/2 hours before he was scheduled to start his second round. Police said he was booked for second-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding traffic signals from an officer directing traffic.

Louisville Metro police spokesman Dwight Mitchell did not immediately return a call seeking comment and information.

The PGA Championship posted a notice that play would be delayed because of the accident. The second round was to start 1 hour, 20 minutes later than scheduled tee times, meaning Scheffler was not due to start until 10:08 a.m.

In a span of three hours, Scheffler was arrested wearing gym shorts and a tee shirt, was dressed in an orange jail shirt for his mug shot, and returned to Valhalla Golf Club in golf clothes 56 minutes before he was to tee off in the second round.

Police said a pedestrian had been struck by a bus while crossing the road in a lane that was dedicated to tournament traffic and was pronounced dead at the scene about 5:09 a.m.

The PGA Championship posted a notice that play would be delayed because of the accident. The second round was to start 1 hour, 20 minutes later than scheduled tee times, meaning Scheffler was not due to start until a little after 10 a.m.

No. 1 golfer in the world charged with assault after officer dragged near fatal crash

The Junction City Blue Jays fell to the Maize Eagles 1-0 in first round play during a Regional Tournament game at Maize on Thursday. The loss occurred despite the fact that Junction City recorded seven hits to five for Maize. Jamarcus Tyson, Cael Smith and Chris Coy all recorded two hits for the Blue Jays.

Easton Roth was the winning pitcher for Maize. He gave up seven hits and no runs, struck out nine and walked one. Lincoln Upham surrendered five hits and one run over six innings, struck out two and walked two.

The Blue Jays turned one double play in the game.

Junction City finished the season with a record of 9-16.

By Dewey TerrillJC PostThe Junction City Blue Jays fell to the Maize Eagles 1-0 in first round play during a Regional Tournament game at Maize on Thursday. The loss occurred despite the fact that Junction City recorded seven hits to five for Maize. Jamarcus Tyson, Cael Smith and Chris Coy all recorded two hits for the Blue Jays.Easton Roth was the winning pitcher for Maize. He gave up seven hits and no runs, struck out nine and walked one. Lincoln Upham surrendered five hits and one run over six innings, struck out two and walked two.The Blue Jays turned one double play in the game.Junction City finished the season with a record of 9-16.

Season comes to an end for Blue Jay baseball

The new concession building in the beer garden at Rathert Field was unveiled Thursday evening. Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska noted it is Phase I of a two-phase project. 

He confirmed the second phase to be completed next year includes an awning on the field side of the concession building, repairs to an existing deck, a separate new deck and a new fence around the baseball field.

The Brigade open their 2024 season on May 30 at the Topeka War Hawks. The home opener against the War Hawks at Rathert Field will be on May 31.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715904026300.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey TerrillJC PostThe new concession building in the beer garden at Rathert Field was unveiled Thursday evening. Brigade General Manager Cecil Aska noted it is Phase I of a two-phase project. He confirmed the second phase to be completed next year includes an awning on the field side of the concession building, repairs to an existing deck, a separate new deck and a new fence around the baseball field.The Brigade open their 2024 season on May 30 at the Topeka War Hawks. The home opener against the War Hawks at Rathert Field will be on May 31.

New concession building at Rathert Field

USD 475 announced that during the JCHS Senior Scholarship Awards Night activities the Rob Smith Loyal Blue Jay Award was presented to the female and male athletes who during their Senior career maintained eligibility and lettered in three sports.

USD 475 announced that during the JCHS Senior Scholarship Awards Night activities the Rob Smith Loyal Blue Jay Award was presented to the female and male athletes who during their Senior career maintained eligibility and lettered in three sports.Female award winner 2023-2024Sara RexrodeMale award winner 2023-2024Cooper Bogenhagen

Rob Smith Loyal Blue Jay Award 

SEATTLE (AP) — Ty France homered for the second time in three games, Bryan Woo allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings for his first win and the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Wednesday.

The Mariners took two of three from the Royals and have won eight of their last nine series. Seattle will head out on a key 10-game road trip on the East Coast four games above .500 and leading the AL West.

France hit a solo shot off Kansas City starter Alec Marsh in the fourth inning to give Seattle a 2-0 lead. France also homered on Monday in the series opener.

Seattle also got an unearned run in the second inning after Adam Frazier was unable to cleanly field Luis Urías’ grounder behind third base with the bases loaded, and the Mariners added on two key runs late. Josh Rojas had a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning and Luke Raley added an RBI single in the eighth.

“The add-on runs today were huge. Guys just kept grinding through knowing that we have to have good at-bats," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "We got some big hits.”

While Woo was terrific, Andrés Muñoz came through late, getting the final five outs for his seventh save. He also pitched around an error by Urías in the ninth. It was his second five-out save of the season.

Muñoz said his approach has changed a bit since the start of the season.

“I was a little more cautious about throw the pitch here, throw the pitch here," Muñoz said. "What I changed was just throw the ball the hardest that I can right in the middle. Obviously I don't want to hit the middle, but that is my mentality right now.”

Woo (1-0) cruised through the first five innings allowing only one hit, before running into a jam in the sixth inning. Woo had a long fifth inning in the dugout due to an umpire change between the top and bottom of the inning, as home plate umpire Jim Wolf was replaced for precautionary reasons after taking a foul ball off the facemask.

When Woo returned for the sixth, he wasn’t as sharp and immediately ran into trouble with two singles and a walk. Bobby Witt Jr. delivered a sacrifice fly to score Freddy Fermin, but reliever Gabe Speier ended the threat by getting a foul pop out from Vinny Pasquantino and struck out Salvador Perez to end the inning.

Woo struck out five and walked only one. His first start of the season last Friday had been cut short due to tightness in his right forearm following a long inning in the dugout.

“You have to learn. I think today we did a really good job adjusting from obviously the last start and came up with some good ideas of how to stay hot between innings,” Woo said.

Witt also had an RBI groundout in the eighth that scored Fermin.

“You got to try to capitalize. You know they’re going to be generally low-scoring games when you play these guys,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “They have a good pitching staff and we put ourselves in a couple spots to do some good things.”

Marsh (3-1) allowed just one earned run but took his first loss of the season. He struck out seven and has allowed just two earned runs in his past four starts combined.

Mariners: 2B Jorge Polanco (hamstring) and DH Mitch Garver (back) were out of the lineup for a second straight day. Both could return Friday in Baltimore.

Both teams are off on Thursday. The Royals return home to open a three-game series with Oakland on Friday, while Seattle starts a 10-game road trip in Baltimore on Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715815106558.jpeg" alt="Seattle Mariners' Luke Raley (20) beats the tag by Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)" />
 <figcaption>Seattle Mariners' Luke Raley (20) beats the tag by Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) — Ty France homered for the second time in three games, Bryan Woo allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings for his first win and the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Wednesday.The Mariners took two of three from the Royals and have won eight of their last nine series. Seattle will head out on a key 10-game road trip on the East Coast four games above .500 and leading the AL West.France hit a solo shot off Kansas City starter Alec Marsh in the fourth inning to give Seattle a 2-0 lead. France also homered on Monday in the series opener.Seattle also got an unearned run in the second inning after Adam Frazier was unable to cleanly field Luis Urías’ grounder behind third base with the bases loaded, and the Mariners added on two key runs late. Josh Rojas had a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning and Luke Raley added an RBI single in the eighth.“The add-on runs today were huge. Guys just kept grinding through knowing that we have to have good at-bats," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "We got some big hits.”While Woo was terrific, Andrés Muñoz came through late, getting the final five outs for his seventh save. He also pitched around an error by Urías in the ninth. It was his second five-out save of the season.Muñoz said his approach has changed a bit since the start of the season.“I was a little more cautious about throw the pitch here, throw the pitch here," Muñoz said. "What I changed was just throw the ball the hardest that I can right in the middle. Obviously I don't want to hit the middle, but that is my mentality right now.”Woo (1-0) cruised through the first five innings allowing only one hit, before running into a jam in the sixth inning. Woo had a long fifth inning in the dugout due to an umpire change between the top and bottom of the inning, as home plate umpire Jim Wolf was replaced for precautionary reasons after taking a foul ball off the facemask.When Woo returned for the sixth, he wasn’t as sharp and immediately ran into trouble with two singles and a walk. Bobby Witt Jr. delivered a sacrifice fly to score Freddy Fermin, but reliever Gabe Speier ended the threat by getting a foul pop out from Vinny Pasquantino and struck out Salvador Perez to end the inning.Woo struck out five and walked only one. His first start of the season last Friday had been cut short due to tightness in his right forearm following a long inning in the dugout.“You have to learn. I think today we did a really good job adjusting from obviously the last start and came up with some good ideas of how to stay hot between innings,” Woo said.Witt also had an RBI groundout in the eighth that scored Fermin.“You got to try to capitalize. You know they’re going to be generally low-scoring games when you play these guys,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “They have a good pitching staff and we put ourselves in a couple spots to do some good things.”Marsh (3-1) allowed just one earned run but took his first loss of the season. He struck out seven and has allowed just two earned runs in his past four starts combined.TRAINER’S ROOMMariners: 2B Jorge Polanco (hamstring) and DH Mitch Garver (back) were out of the lineup for a second straight day. Both could return Friday in Baltimore.UP NEXTBoth teams are off on Thursday. The Royals return home to open a three-game series with Oakland on Friday, while Seattle starts a 10-game road trip in Baltimore on Friday.

⚾️ France homers as the Mariners beat the Royals

The Kansas Shrine Bowl is headed back to Dodge City for the second time in 2025. The Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors announced the 52nd&nbsp;Kansas Shrine Bowl presented by Mammoth will be played on Saturday, June 21st, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City. “We are excited to bring the Kansas Shrine Bowl back to Dodge City,” said Brice Kesler, Executive Director of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. “The beautiful renovations to Memorial Stadium will provide a great host for our game and create the type of experience we want for our participants.”

Dodge City previously hosted the Kansas Shrine Bowl in 2019, bringing the event to Southwest Kansas for the first time. "We're thrilled to welcome the Kansas Shrine Bowl back to Dodge City," said Megan Welsh, director of the Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Hosting an event of this magnitude wouldn't be possible without the incredible support of our community partners. We look forward to showcasing our Old West hospitality and giving these talented young athletes a taste of our rich history."

In addition to hosting the Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star football game, the week of the Kansas Shrine Bowl includes an all-star cheer camp, an all-state band camp, hospital experience event, golf tournament, parade, alumni events, the Friday Night All-Star Showcase Event and more. “We’re thankful that the Kansas Shrine Bowl is returning to Dodge City”, said Jacob Miller, chair of the Dodge City Sports Commission. &nbsp;“The facilities we have in this community are top-notch and our cooperation between multiple entities are a main reason why we can bring back an event like the Kansas Shrine Bowl for a second time. The Kansas Shrine Bowl is a great opportunity to showcase the amazing facilities we have here in Dodge City!”

The Kansas Shrine Bowl host site is awarded following a competitive bid process which includes communities across Kansas. Since 1974, the Kansas Shrine Bowl has been played in Lawrence, Manhattan, Wichita,&nbsp;Topeka, Hays, Emporia, Pittsburg, El Dorado, Dodge City and Hutchinson. To learn more about the Kansas Shrine Bowl and associated events, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/" target="_blank">www.KansasShrineBowl.com</a>.

All Shrine Bowl of Kansas, Inc. events are produced and presented to benefit Shriners Children’s. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that produces annual events and related activities, with net proceeds benefiting Shriners Children’s. Shriners Children’s is a health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients' ability to pay. Since 1974, the Shrine Bowl of Kansas, Inc has donated $3.8 million to Shriners Children’s.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715799614616.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Shrine BowlThe Kansas Shrine Bowl is headed back to Dodge City for the second time in 2025. The Kansas Shrine Bowl Board of Directors announced the 52nd&nbsp;Kansas Shrine Bowl presented by Mammoth will be played on Saturday, June 21st, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Dodge City. “We are excited to bring the Kansas Shrine Bowl back to Dodge City,” said Brice Kesler, Executive Director of the Kansas Shrine Bowl. “The beautiful renovations to Memorial Stadium will provide a great host for our game and create the type of experience we want for our participants.”Dodge City previously hosted the Kansas Shrine Bowl in 2019, bringing the event to Southwest Kansas for the first time. "We're thrilled to welcome the Kansas Shrine Bowl back to Dodge City," said Megan Welsh, director of the Dodge City Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Hosting an event of this magnitude wouldn't be possible without the incredible support of our community partners. We look forward to showcasing our Old West hospitality and giving these talented young athletes a taste of our rich history."In addition to hosting the Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star football game, the week of the Kansas Shrine Bowl includes an all-star cheer camp, an all-state band camp, hospital experience event, golf tournament, parade, alumni events, the Friday Night All-Star Showcase Event and more. “We’re thankful that the Kansas Shrine Bowl is returning to Dodge City”, said Jacob Miller, chair of the Dodge City Sports Commission. &nbsp;“The facilities we have in this community are top-notch and our cooperation between multiple entities are a main reason why we can bring back an event like the Kansas Shrine Bowl for a second time. The Kansas Shrine Bowl is a great opportunity to showcase the amazing facilities we have here in Dodge City!”The Kansas Shrine Bowl host site is awarded following a competitive bid process which includes communities across Kansas. Since 1974, the Kansas Shrine Bowl has been played in Lawrence, Manhattan, Wichita,&nbsp;Topeka, Hays, Emporia, Pittsburg, El Dorado, Dodge City and Hutchinson. To learn more about the Kansas Shrine Bowl and associated events, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasshrinebowl.com/" target="_blank">www.KansasShrineBowl.com</a>.All Shrine Bowl of Kansas, Inc. events are produced and presented to benefit Shriners Children’s. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that produces annual events and related activities, with net proceeds benefiting Shriners Children’s. Shriners Children’s is a health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to the age of 18 are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients' ability to pay. Since 1974, the Shrine Bowl of Kansas, Inc has donated $3.8 million to Shriners Children’s.&nbsp;

🏈 Dodge City to host 2025 Kansas Shrine Bowl

Quality Play for All - the non-profit that led the renovations at 5th Street Playground Park - applied for and was awarded a&nbsp;$50,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas to install a new fitness court&nbsp;at the park.&nbsp; &nbsp; Quality Play for All&nbsp;is led&nbsp;by Kendall Schoenrock, Angie Greenwood, and Joy Davis.&nbsp;

This is a joint venture with the City and was supported&nbsp;by a number of other local organizations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Josh Gray with Parks and Rec is managing the installation process.&nbsp; We hope to have it installed in the next month or so.

Quality Play for All - the non-profit that led the renovations at 5th Street Playground Park - applied for and was awarded a&nbsp;$50,000 grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas to install a new fitness court&nbsp;at the park.&nbsp; &nbsp; Quality Play for All&nbsp;is led&nbsp;by Kendall Schoenrock, Angie Greenwood, and Joy Davis.&nbsp;This is a joint venture with the City and was supported&nbsp;by a number of other local organizations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Josh Gray with Parks and Rec is managing the installation process.&nbsp; We hope to have it installed in the next month or so.Press Release

Quality Play for All awarded a grant to install a fitness court at Playground Park

The Junction City High School Track and Field team will compete in regionals on Thursday. The regional track meet is at Wichita Northwest High School.&nbsp;

Fields events begin at 11:00 a.m., prelims at 12:30 p.m., and the finals are thirty minutes after prelims conclude.&nbsp;

The schools participating in the regional at Wichita Northwest are Junction City, Lawrence Free State, Manhattan, Topeka, Washburn Rural, Wichita Heights, Wichita North, Wichita Northwest, and Wichita Southeast.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostThe Junction City High School Track and Field team will compete in regionals on Thursday. The regional track meet is at Wichita Northwest High School.&nbsp;Fields events begin at 11:00 a.m., prelims at 12:30 p.m., and the finals are thirty minutes after prelims conclude.&nbsp;The schools participating in the regional at Wichita Northwest are Junction City, Lawrence Free State, Manhattan, Topeka, Washburn Rural, Wichita Heights, Wichita North, Wichita Northwest, and Wichita Southeast.&nbsp;

Junction City Track and Field Regionals is at Wichita Northwest on Thursday

The Junction City High School baseball team will travel to Maize High School on Thursday for their 6A West regionals.&nbsp;

Junction City finished the regular season with a record of 9-15 and is the 13 seed in the 6A West bracket. The Blue Jays will face the four-seed Maize Eagles at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.&nbsp;

The winner will advance to the championship game and face either the five-seed Manhattan or the 12-seed Garden City.&nbsp;

The championship game is also on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in Maize. The winner of this regional will advance to the 6A State Tournament.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostThe Junction City High School baseball team will travel to Maize High School on Thursday for their 6A West regionals.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715789318771.jpeg" alt="Regional 4 - Maize is the host site" />
 <figcaption>Regional 4 - Maize is the host site</figcaption>
 </figure>Junction City finished the regular season with a record of 9-15 and is the 13 seed in the 6A West bracket. The Blue Jays will face the four-seed Maize Eagles at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.&nbsp;The winner will advance to the championship game and face either the five-seed Manhattan or the 12-seed Garden City.&nbsp;The championship game is also on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in Maize. The winner of this regional will advance to the 6A State Tournament.&nbsp;

Blue Jay Baseball will travel to Maize for Regionals on Thursday

The Junction City Lady Jay softball team was in Derby on Tuesday night for regional softball.&nbsp;

The Lady Jays played Wichita Northwest in a survive-and-advance game, and a resilient, come-from-behind, 18-13 victory in extra innings propelled Junction City into the regional championship game for the first time since 2002.&nbsp;

Junction City then squared off against the number one seed in 6A West, the Derby Panthers. The Panthers won the game 11-1 and advanced to the 6A State Softball Tournament in Lawrence next week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The loss wraps up the 2023-2024 softball season for Junction City. The Lady Jays finished the season with an even 11-11 record. It was the most wins in a season since 2002.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC Post&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715782770382.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of the JC Softball Facebook page" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of the JC Softball Facebook page</figcaption>
 </figure>The Junction City Lady Jay softball team was in Derby on Tuesday night for regional softball.&nbsp;The Lady Jays played Wichita Northwest in a survive-and-advance game, and a resilient, come-from-behind, 18-13 victory in extra innings propelled Junction City into the regional championship game for the first time since 2002.&nbsp;Junction City then squared off against the number one seed in 6A West, the Derby Panthers. The Panthers won the game 11-1 and advanced to the 6A State Softball Tournament in Lawrence next week.&nbsp;&nbsp;The loss wraps up the 2023-2024 softball season for Junction City. The Lady Jays finished the season with an even 11-11 record. It was the most wins in a season since 2002.&nbsp;

JCHS Softball falls in Regional Title game, records most wins since 2002

JUNCTION CITY — July 4, 2024 marks the 48th year for the Junction City Freedom Run, which will take place as part of the Freedom Fest celebration. Registration is now open for the 1-mile, 5K and 10K. This year's run will begin in downtown Junction City with the finish remaining in Heritage Park. All races will begin at 7:30 a.m.

The Freedom Run Independence Day tradition, now in its 48 year, was founded on the idea of community connections, where freedom is celebrated and honored.&nbsp;Runners will simultaneously depart for all three courses at the intersection of 6th and Washington.

If you’re not a runner but would still like to be involved in this July 4th event, sign up to volunteer. The Freedom Run prides itself on fun water stops, excitement along the courses as you help with traffic and a unique finish line experience. If you’re interested in either opportunity, send a message to the Freedom Run – Junction City Facebook page.

The committee thanks the following community agencies collaborating to make this event a highlight of the holiday weekend:

● Fort Riley Directorate of Emergency Services and Public Works

Follow the Freedom Run - Junction City Facebook page for race day information and updates or if you have additional questions, email the Freedom Run committee at jcfreedomrun@gmail.com

Lindsey Snider and Terrah Stroda are serving as coordinators of the Freedom Run.

JUNCTION CITY — July 4, 2024 marks the 48th year for the Junction City Freedom Run, which will take place as part of the Freedom Fest celebration. Registration is now open for the 1-mile, 5K and 10K. This year's run will begin in downtown Junction City with the finish remaining in Heritage Park. All races will begin at 7:30 a.m.The Freedom Run Independence Day tradition, now in its 48 year, was founded on the idea of community connections, where freedom is celebrated and honored.&nbsp;Runners will simultaneously depart for all three courses at the intersection of 6th and Washington.If you’re not a runner but would still like to be involved in this July 4th event, sign up to volunteer. The Freedom Run prides itself on fun water stops, excitement along the courses as you help with traffic and a unique finish line experience. If you’re interested in either opportunity, send a message to the Freedom Run – Junction City Facebook page.The committee thanks the following community agencies collaborating to make this event a highlight of the holiday weekend:● Junction City Fire Department● Junction City Police Department● Geary County Sheriff's Department● Geary County Rural Fire Department● City of Junction City● Fort Riley Directorate of Emergency Services and Public Works● Red Dirt RacingFollow the Freedom Run - Junction City Facebook page for race day information and updates or if you have additional questions, email the Freedom Run committee at jcfreedomrun@gmail.comLindsey Snider and Terrah Stroda are serving as coordinators of the Freedom Run.

Freedom Run registration opens

SEATTLE (AP) — Nelson Velázquez put Kansas City ahead with a three-run homer in the seventh inning, and Michael Wacha worked six dominant innings as the Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Velázquez’s third homer of the season spoiled a strong outing for Seattle starter Logan Gilbert, who had given up just three hits over six shutout innings entering the decisive frame.

It all fell apart for Gilbert (3-2) in the seventh, as Bobby Witt, Jr. led off with a walk and reached second on a Vinnie Pasquantino groundout to second base where Josh Rojas bobbled the ball to spoil the chance of a double play. Salvador Perez reached on an intentional walk, and scored when Velázquez sent a 398-foot blast to left field.

“They found a way to put some pressure on him late, he made a mistake, and the three-run homer was the big swing in the ballgame,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “But the stuff, the command, the competitiveness, it was pretty much what we've seen all year from Logan.”

Velázquez' homer was his first since April 4.

“He's a high percentage slider guy, so I went there with a plan that at-bat," Velázquez said. “Look for the slider and try to hit the ball to the middle. I stood on my plan and a good thing happened.”

Maikel Garcia added to Kansas City's lead with an RBI single off Mariners reliever Trent Thornton in the eighth.

Luke Raley gave the Mariners an early lead with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, one of just three hits for the Mariners against Wacha (3-4), who struck out seven.

“His stuff was good today,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “The slider was better and he's been working on that. His velo was up early, he got the ball up above the zone when he needed to, he got the ball down, and his changeup was good, like usual.”

Mitch Haniger hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth off closer James McArthur, who struck out Dylan Moore and got Luis Urías to line out for his 10th save.

The Mariners struck out 11 times in the loss, which snapped a seven-game winning streak against the Royals.

“Especially early on, they were swinging aggressively and maybe didn't have time to get to the changeup," Wacha said. “But also, you know, trying to disguise it at times with other pitches as well. Whenever I did throw it, felt like it had good action. Some positive results today.”

Mariners: DH Mitch Garver (upper back spasms) was scratched from the starting lineup … 2B Jorge Polanco was out of the lineup after leaving in the sixth inning of Monday’s game because of a tight right hamstring. Manager Scott Servais said the injury was “nothing that serious.”

Royals: CF Kyle Isbel (stomach bug) was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game.

Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season on Wednesday, while the Royals will start righty Alec Marsh (3-0, 2.53 ERA). Marsh will make his second start since being activated from the injured list on May 9 after taking a line drive off his right elbow in late April.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715748132781.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Nelson Velazquez, right, runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run, while Seattle Mariners third baseman Luis Urias watches during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Nelson Velazquez, right, runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run, while Seattle Mariners third baseman Luis Urias watches during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) — Nelson Velázquez put Kansas City ahead with a three-run homer in the seventh inning, and Michael Wacha worked six dominant innings as the Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 on Tuesday night.Velázquez’s third homer of the season spoiled a strong outing for Seattle starter Logan Gilbert, who had given up just three hits over six shutout innings entering the decisive frame.It all fell apart for Gilbert (3-2) in the seventh, as Bobby Witt, Jr. led off with a walk and reached second on a Vinnie Pasquantino groundout to second base where Josh Rojas bobbled the ball to spoil the chance of a double play. Salvador Perez reached on an intentional walk, and scored when Velázquez sent a 398-foot blast to left field.“They found a way to put some pressure on him late, he made a mistake, and the three-run homer was the big swing in the ballgame,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “But the stuff, the command, the competitiveness, it was pretty much what we've seen all year from Logan.”Velázquez' homer was his first since April 4.“He's a high percentage slider guy, so I went there with a plan that at-bat," Velázquez said. “Look for the slider and try to hit the ball to the middle. I stood on my plan and a good thing happened.”Maikel Garcia added to Kansas City's lead with an RBI single off Mariners reliever Trent Thornton in the eighth.Luke Raley gave the Mariners an early lead with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth, one of just three hits for the Mariners against Wacha (3-4), who struck out seven.“His stuff was good today,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “The slider was better and he's been working on that. His velo was up early, he got the ball up above the zone when he needed to, he got the ball down, and his changeup was good, like usual.”Mitch Haniger hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth off closer James McArthur, who struck out Dylan Moore and got Luis Urías to line out for his 10th save.The Mariners struck out 11 times in the loss, which snapped a seven-game winning streak against the Royals.“Especially early on, they were swinging aggressively and maybe didn't have time to get to the changeup," Wacha said. “But also, you know, trying to disguise it at times with other pitches as well. Whenever I did throw it, felt like it had good action. Some positive results today.”TRAINER’S ROOMMariners: DH Mitch Garver (upper back spasms) was scratched from the starting lineup … 2B Jorge Polanco was out of the lineup after leaving in the sixth inning of Monday’s game because of a tight right hamstring. Manager Scott Servais said the injury was “nothing that serious.”Royals: CF Kyle Isbel (stomach bug) was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game.UP NEXTSeattle right-hander Bryan Woo (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season on Wednesday, while the Royals will start righty Alec Marsh (3-0, 2.53 ERA). Marsh will make his second start since being activated from the injured list on May 9 after taking a line drive off his right elbow in late April.

⚾ Velázquez slugs 3-run homer as Royals rally past Mariners

Postseason play has arrived.&nbsp;The Junction City Lady Jay softball team will play in the Derby Regional.&nbsp;

Junction City finished the regular season with a 10-10 record and is the ninth seed in the 6A West bracket. The Lady Jays will play the eighth seed, Wichita Northwest&nbsp;at&nbsp;3:00 p.m. today in Derby.&nbsp;

The winner will advance to the championship game and&nbsp;will&nbsp;face either the overall number one seed, Derby, or the 16 seed, Wichita East.&nbsp;

The championship game is also tonight at 6:00 p.m. in Derby. The winner of this regional will advance to the 6A State Tournament.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostPostseason play has arrived.&nbsp;The Junction City Lady Jay softball team will play in the Derby Regional.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715695756047.jpeg" alt="Regional 1 - Derby is the host site" />
 <figcaption>Regional 1 - Derby is the host site</figcaption>
 </figure>Junction City finished the regular season with a 10-10 record and is the ninth seed in the 6A West bracket. The Lady Jays will play the eighth seed, Wichita Northwest&nbsp;at&nbsp;3:00 p.m. today in Derby.&nbsp;The winner will advance to the championship game and&nbsp;will&nbsp;face either the overall number one seed, Derby, or the 16 seed, Wichita East.&nbsp;The championship game is also tonight at 6:00 p.m. in Derby. The winner of this regional will advance to the 6A State Tournament.&nbsp;

Lady Jay Softball will play in regionals at Derby tonight

BY DEVIN HANNEY Sports Director - Salina Post

After a twelve hour road trip into the heart of Tennessee, it took some time for the Salina Liberty to get their legs going...but it didn't take long. After giving up the first touchdown of the game and then trailing 16-7 early in the second quarter, the Liberty came roaring back.

"We started off a little flat being down 9-0. Once we calmed down and made a couple adjustments, we started playing football." According to Liberty Head Coach, Heron O'Neal.&nbsp;

In a span of 14 minutes, the Liberty went on a 30-0 run taking a 37-16 advantage into halftime. Salina scored in all aspects, creating chaos with their greedy defense and opportunistic special teams.&nbsp;

The Liberty would lean on that defense a little harder in the second half and eventually get the victory, 50-30. The win for Salina (2-0) is the second of the season while Nashville slips to 1-2.&nbsp;

The Liberty made a habit of taking the ball away from the Kats and flipping those possessions into points scoring 37 points off of Nashville turnovers. The defense was led by Dontra Matthews who tallied 10 tackles, 2 interceptions and a touchdown.&nbsp;

O'Neal put praise on his teams efforts. "The turnovers that were created by the defense, as well as our offense operating more efficiently, were huge. We were able to pull out a great road win and one of the biggest wins that we've had, in my opinion, in Salina history."&nbsp;

Quarterback Charles McCullum led the Liberty offense with 5 total touchdowns, 3 passing and 2 rushing. McCullum threw for 198 yards on the day.&nbsp;

O'Neal went on to say, "We got rolling and we got hot on both sides of the ball. Having Shane (McInerney) as our kicker helped get points which we haven't had in a while."

Liberty newcomer Shane McInerney was an exciting addition to the Salina kicking game. The kicker from Galway, Ireland went 5 of 7 on points after touchdown, converted a 30 yard field goal and created 2 turnovers via kick off opportunities.&nbsp;

Salina now looks to prevail through a short week as they prepare once again for a long road trip. The Liberty are scheduled for travel to Montana to face the Billings Outlaws. This weekend's game is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Saturday. (6:00 pm Mountain Time, 5:00 pm local)

You can hear more about the road game in Nashville as well as the upcoming trip to Billings on Tuesday with the "Coach Heron O'Neal Show". The "Coach O Show" is live at AJ's Sports Bar and Grill inside The Alley, downtown Salina. The show starts at 6:00 pm on Tuesday and the public is welcome to attend. Viewers can also watch the show as&nbsp; the video streams live right here on Salina Post.

BY DEVIN HANNEY Sports Director - Salina PostAfter a twelve hour road trip into the heart of Tennessee, it took some time for the Salina Liberty to get their legs going...but it didn't take long. After giving up the first touchdown of the game and then trailing 16-7 early in the second quarter, the Liberty came roaring back.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715632935741.png" alt="Ryan Roofing is proud to bring Liberty coverage to Salina Post!" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Roofing is proud to bring Liberty coverage to Salina Post!</figcaption>
 </figure>"We started off a little flat being down 9-0. Once we calmed down and made a couple adjustments, we started playing football." According to Liberty Head Coach, Heron O'Neal.&nbsp;In a span of 14 minutes, the Liberty went on a 30-0 run taking a 37-16 advantage into halftime. Salina scored in all aspects, creating chaos with their greedy defense and opportunistic special teams.&nbsp;The Liberty would lean on that defense a little harder in the second half and eventually get the victory, 50-30. The win for Salina (2-0) is the second of the season while Nashville slips to 1-2.&nbsp;The Liberty made a habit of taking the ball away from the Kats and flipping those possessions into points scoring 37 points off of Nashville turnovers. The defense was led by Dontra Matthews who tallied 10 tackles, 2 interceptions and a touchdown.&nbsp;O'Neal put praise on his teams efforts. "The turnovers that were created by the defense, as well as our offense operating more efficiently, were huge. We were able to pull out a great road win and one of the biggest wins that we've had, in my opinion, in Salina history."&nbsp;Quarterback Charles McCullum led the Liberty offense with 5 total touchdowns, 3 passing and 2 rushing. McCullum threw for 198 yards on the day.&nbsp;O'Neal went on to say, "We got rolling and we got hot on both sides of the ball. Having Shane (McInerney) as our kicker helped get points which we haven't had in a while."Liberty newcomer Shane McInerney was an exciting addition to the Salina kicking game. The kicker from Galway, Ireland went 5 of 7 on points after touchdown, converted a 30 yard field goal and created 2 turnovers via kick off opportunities.&nbsp;Salina now looks to prevail through a short week as they prepare once again for a long road trip. The Liberty are scheduled for travel to Montana to face the Billings Outlaws. This weekend's game is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Saturday. (6:00 pm Mountain Time, 5:00 pm local)You can hear more about the road game in Nashville as well as the upcoming trip to Billings on Tuesday with the "Coach Heron O'Neal Show". The "Coach O Show" is live at AJ's Sports Bar and Grill inside The Alley, downtown Salina. The show starts at 6:00 pm on Tuesday and the public is welcome to attend. Viewers can also watch the show as&nbsp; the video streams live right here on Salina Post.

Salina Liberty Dominate Kats in Music City

SEATTLE (AP) — George Kirby allowed three hits over seven shutout innings, Luke Raley hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Monday night.

A night that started with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mariners-foul-ball-fan-1e26d7d28494e34a60fee728115f5462">lucky fan catching foul balls</a>&nbsp;on consecutive pitches ended with another dominant pitching performance that helped the Mariners improve to 19-11 over the past 30 games.

Kirby (4-3) had been bothered by a sore knee, but was terrific. He angrily pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first inning after hitting a pair of batters, but appeared to become energized by getting himself out of the situation.

"If anything else, that just fires me up to make that pitch even more fine on the corner," Kirby said.

He gave up Bobby Witt Jr.’s first inning single, then didn’t allow another hit until Dairon Blanco reached on an infield single in the fifth. Kirby struck out six, walked none. It was the third time this season he pitched at least six innings and didn’t allow a run.

Seattle manager Scott Servais called it a vintage performance by Kirby despite some early frustration.

“George is angry some nights and tonight was the night. There was a few calls that he didn't get that he thought he should have got, but he was on the attack,” Servais said.

Raley's second homer of the season traveled an estimated at 432 feet and came after Cal Raleigh doubled on the first pitch of the second inning from Kansas City starter Brady Singer. Raley also&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/lindseywasson/status/1790214531387641891">appeared to break</a>&nbsp;– or have come unscrewed — the celebratory trident used by the Mariners to celebrate home runs.

“All I was doing was carrying it and it fell apart,” Raley said.

Raley is hitting .375 with a 1.131 OPS in May.

“I've put a lot of work in. I was busting my butt to get back to feeling comfortable in the box and it's paying off now,” Raley said.

Raleigh and Raley added an RBI singles an inning later. Raleigh's was a 410-foot shot that tipped off Blanco’s glove as he jumped at the fence. Julio Rodríguez scored, but Jorge Polanco had to wait near first base and could only advance 90 feet, leaving Raleigh with possibly the longest single of his career.

Ty France added a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his third of the season.

Kansas City's Michael Massey had a two-out, two-run double in the eighth, but closer Andrés Muñoz recorded the final four outs for his sixth save.

Singer (3-2) gave up a season-high nine hits and allowed more than two earned runs for only the second time this season – both losses. Singer needed 108 pitches to get through five innings and struck out six.

“His stuff was good. Missed his spots a couple of times there, at least the ones I saw on the board there. Middle mistakes with pretty good hitters,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

Royals: RHP Carlos Hernandez (shoulder) pitched 1 1/3 innings on Sunday as part of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha, the first time he pitched more than one inning.

Mariners: Polanco left the game before the start of the sixth inning due to hamstring tightness in his right leg. ... SS J.P. Crawford (oblique) is expected to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday.

Royals: RHP Michael Wacha (2-4, 5.15) looks for his second straight win after giving up two earned runs over six innings in his last start. Mariners: RHP Logan Gilbert (3-1, 2.94) will try and rebound after giving up eight runs on nine hits in a loss to Minnesota.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715679996990.jpeg" alt="Seattle Mariners' Luke Raley follows through on a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, May 13, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)" />
 <figcaption>Seattle Mariners' Luke Raley follows through on a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, May 13, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) — George Kirby allowed three hits over seven shutout innings, Luke Raley hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Monday night.A night that started with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mariners-foul-ball-fan-1e26d7d28494e34a60fee728115f5462">lucky fan catching foul balls</a>&nbsp;on consecutive pitches ended with another dominant pitching performance that helped the Mariners improve to 19-11 over the past 30 games.Kirby (4-3) had been bothered by a sore knee, but was terrific. He angrily pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first inning after hitting a pair of batters, but appeared to become energized by getting himself out of the situation."If anything else, that just fires me up to make that pitch even more fine on the corner," Kirby said.He gave up Bobby Witt Jr.’s first inning single, then didn’t allow another hit until Dairon Blanco reached on an infield single in the fifth. Kirby struck out six, walked none. It was the third time this season he pitched at least six innings and didn’t allow a run.Seattle manager Scott Servais called it a vintage performance by Kirby despite some early frustration.“George is angry some nights and tonight was the night. There was a few calls that he didn't get that he thought he should have got, but he was on the attack,” Servais said.Raley's second homer of the season traveled an estimated at 432 feet and came after Cal Raleigh doubled on the first pitch of the second inning from Kansas City starter Brady Singer. Raley also&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/lindseywasson/status/1790214531387641891">appeared to break</a>&nbsp;– or have come unscrewed — the celebratory trident used by the Mariners to celebrate home runs.“All I was doing was carrying it and it fell apart,” Raley said.Raley is hitting .375 with a 1.131 OPS in May.“I've put a lot of work in. I was busting my butt to get back to feeling comfortable in the box and it's paying off now,” Raley said.Raleigh and Raley added an RBI singles an inning later. Raleigh's was a 410-foot shot that tipped off Blanco’s glove as he jumped at the fence. Julio Rodríguez scored, but Jorge Polanco had to wait near first base and could only advance 90 feet, leaving Raleigh with possibly the longest single of his career.Ty France added a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his third of the season.Kansas City's Michael Massey had a two-out, two-run double in the eighth, but closer Andrés Muñoz recorded the final four outs for his sixth save.Singer (3-2) gave up a season-high nine hits and allowed more than two earned runs for only the second time this season – both losses. Singer needed 108 pitches to get through five innings and struck out six.“His stuff was good. Missed his spots a couple of times there, at least the ones I saw on the board there. Middle mistakes with pretty good hitters,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: RHP Carlos Hernandez (shoulder) pitched 1 1/3 innings on Sunday as part of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha, the first time he pitched more than one inning.Mariners: Polanco left the game before the start of the sixth inning due to hamstring tightness in his right leg. ... SS J.P. Crawford (oblique) is expected to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Michael Wacha (2-4, 5.15) looks for his second straight win after giving up two earned runs over six innings in his last start. Mariners: RHP Logan Gilbert (3-1, 2.94) will try and rebound after giving up eight runs on nine hits in a loss to Minnesota.

⚾  Luke Raley has 3 RBIs as Mariners beat the Royals 

The Junction City Lady Jays wrapped up the regular season on Friday night with a sweep over Topeka Hayden. The Lady Jays won 12-2 and 11-1. They finish the regular season with a 10-10 record.&nbsp;

With ten wins in the regular season, the Lady Jays have the most wins in a season since 2002.&nbsp;

By Anthony GorgesJC PostThe Junction City Lady Jays wrapped up the regular season on Friday night with a sweep over Topeka Hayden. The Lady Jays won 12-2 and 11-1. They finish the regular season with a 10-10 record.&nbsp;With ten wins in the regular season, the Lady Jays have the most wins in a season since 2002.&nbsp;

Junction City Softball sweeps Topeka Hayden

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Seth Lugo racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts and allowed one run over eight strong innings, and Hunter Renfroe had a two-run single against his former team in the Kansas City Royals' 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

Freddie Fermin and Michael Massey also had RBIs during the Royals' four-run fourth inning, and Lugo (6-1) made it stand up as Kansas City took three of four from the Angels.

Lugo allowed five hits while continuing his outstanding start to his first season with the Royals, winning for the AL-best sixth time in eight starts and lowering his ERA to an AL-best 1.66.

“To strike out 12 and only throw 112 pitches, that’s really remarkable,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Just the confidence that you have when he’s out there. He just comes out and it feels like he’s in total control all the time.”

Lugo overcame slight early control issues, retired 11 straight at one point, and didn't walk a batter for the first time all season. The longtime Mets right-hander has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his nine starts for Kansas City.

“We were counting on him to be one of the top couple of starters we had,” Quatraro said. “What he’s done so far, I don’t think anybody can bank on that run of starts, but the way he’s done it is really impressive, and he hasn’t wavered. ... I can’t even fathom having nine pitches to choose from, (and) the fact he uses them and they all do something and he can locate all of them.”

Willie Calhoun had an RBI double in the sixth and a solo homer in the ninth for the Halos, who have lost 17 of 23 with a major league-worst 14 players on the injured list.

Los Angeles has lost all six of its series at the Big A this season, failing to win consecutive home games at any point.

Patrick Sandoval (2-6) allowed 11 hits for Los Angeles, but pitched into the seventh inning and only allowed runs during the Royals' fourth-inning rally. Sandoval has lost five of his last seven starts.

“The takeaway from his start is he should be pleased,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “One inning (was bad), and sometimes that happens to you. Sometimes you can recover, and sometimes not. You’ve got to give their pitching staff credit.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715561666486.png" alt="Seth Lugo racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts and allowed one run over eight strong innings-photo KC Royals" />
 <figcaption>Seth Lugo racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts and allowed one run over eight strong innings-photo KC Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Seth Lugo racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts and allowed one run over eight strong innings, and Hunter Renfroe had a two-run single against his former team in the Kansas City Royals' 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.Freddie Fermin and Michael Massey also had RBIs during the Royals' four-run fourth inning, and Lugo (6-1) made it stand up as Kansas City took three of four from the Angels.Lugo allowed five hits while continuing his outstanding start to his first season with the Royals, winning for the AL-best sixth time in eight starts and lowering his ERA to an AL-best 1.66.“To strike out 12 and only throw 112 pitches, that’s really remarkable,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Just the confidence that you have when he’s out there. He just comes out and it feels like he’s in total control all the time.”Lugo overcame slight early control issues, retired 11 straight at one point, and didn't walk a batter for the first time all season. The longtime Mets right-hander has allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight of his nine starts for Kansas City.“We were counting on him to be one of the top couple of starters we had,” Quatraro said. “What he’s done so far, I don’t think anybody can bank on that run of starts, but the way he’s done it is really impressive, and he hasn’t wavered. ... I can’t even fathom having nine pitches to choose from, (and) the fact he uses them and they all do something and he can locate all of them.”Willie Calhoun had an RBI double in the sixth and a solo homer in the ninth for the Halos, who have lost 17 of 23 with a major league-worst 14 players on the injured list.Los Angeles has lost all six of its series at the Big A this season, failing to win consecutive home games at any point.Patrick Sandoval (2-6) allowed 11 hits for Los Angeles, but pitched into the seventh inning and only allowed runs during the Royals' fourth-inning rally. Sandoval has lost five of his last seven starts.“The takeaway from his start is he should be pleased,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “One inning (was bad), and sometimes that happens to you. Sometimes you can recover, and sometimes not. You’ve got to give their pitching staff credit.”The Royals got five consecutive hits to open the fourth inning. Renfroe, who batted .242 with 19 homers in 126 games for the Angels last season, drove in Nelson Velasquez and Fermin with his bases-loaded single before Massey drove in Dairon Blanco with a sacrifice bunt.The Angels couldn't get to Lugo until Mickey Moniak singled in the sixth and Calhoun drove him home.Calhoun capped his three-hit game with his first homer for the Angels, a solo shot off James McArthur in the ninth. McArthur got two more outs to complete his ninth save.UP NEXTRoyals: Brady Singer (3-1, 2.36 ERA) takes the mound in Seattle for the series opener on Monday.Angels: Jose Soriano (1-4, 4.32 ERA) takes the mound in Anaheim on Monday for the opener of a three-game series with St. Louis.