DJ Giddens, a Junction City native, Junction City High School graduate, and now a former K-State Wildcat running back will hear his name called in this year’s NFL Draft. The Draft begins Thursday, April 24, at Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers.

Football has been part of Giddens's life for as long as he can remember. DJ played football for the Junction City Jr. Jays growing up, then for Junction City High School, and most recently was running back for the Kansas State Wildcats. “I still have videos of me playing for the Jr. Jays,” Giddens said. “I’m not going to lie, that feels just like yesterday. It was just playing and being free, no worries just having fun.”

In high school, DJ shined in his senior season at Junction City and helped lead the team to a sub-state appearance in the fall of 2020. Giddens explained that the sub-state game against Derby gave him the confidence that he could perform at the next level. “I feel like the Derby game, the last game of my senior year, gave me a lot of confidence going against a good team like that, and playing how I played,” Giddens said. DJ then graduated from Junction City in the spring of 2021 and began his K-State career where he redshirted that fall.

In 2022, Giddens played for the Wildcats and was part of the Big 12 Championship team that won the Title game in Arlington, Texas. He also played in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama that season.

In 2023, DJ was the main featured running back for KSU, as Deuce Vaughn had been drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. In his red-shirt sophomore season, Giddens earned Honorable Mention Big 12 Honors and helped lead the Wildcats to a victory over NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

2024 was the final season for Giddens at Kansas State, and he led the team in rushing yards. DJ finished the year with 1,343 rush yards and had seven rushing touchdowns. He also had three receiving touchdowns for the Cats as well.

DJ Giddens declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 14, 2024, and did not play in KSU’s win over Rutgers in the Rate Bowl.

Looking back at his K-State career, Giddens noted the Oklahoma State game and the Colorado game both played during the 2024 season prove he can play in the National Football League. In the game against OSU, Giddens broke away from the defense and scored a 66-yard touchdown. “Having that touchdown run just shows I can finish off runs and be explosive too,” Giddens said. DJ finished that game with 187 yards rushing and one touchdown against the Cowboys. In the game against the Colorado Buffaloes, Giddens ran wild again. “The Colorado game, I was just playing free again, being myself, and got in that mode,” Giddens said. He finished the game with 182 yards against Colorado.

Giddens began preparing for the NFL Draft in January, when he went to Plano, Texas, to train for the NFL Combine in March. DJ had an exceptional performance at the combine, running a 4.43 40-yard dash. He was measured at 6 feet and 212 pounds.

The NFL Draft is this week, with round one on Thursday, rounds two and three on Friday, and rounds four through seven on Saturday. This year’s NFL Draft is in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Referencing hearing his name being called at the draft, DJ Giddens said, “It feels good, but it’s out of my control at this point for who will pick me up and when I will get picked up. Right now, I just keep on working, and that’s what I’m going to keep on doing,” Giddens said.

Despite all of his success at K-State, and now headed into the NFL, DJ knows the community he is from and said he plans to make it back to Junction City to visit. “I’ve got to come back, can’t forget about that, can’t forget it,” Giddens said. The path wasn’t always easy for DJ, and he had this to say. “Coming from me, being from Junction, I wasn’t highly recruited out of high school, I didn’t have the best grades, and everything wasn’t just in front of me. You just got to stay disciplined, keep working, stay humble, stay down till you come up, and if you keep working at what you want, you’re going to get where you want to be. Don’t ever think you can’t be that person doing whatever you want to do,” Giddens said.

DJ Giddens is projected to be a late day two, early day three selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745424053562.jpeg" alt="DJ Giddens - Photo - K-State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>DJ Giddens - Photo - K-State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony GorgesJC PostDJ Giddens, a Junction City native, Junction City High School graduate, and now a former K-State Wildcat running back will hear his name called in this year’s NFL Draft. The Draft begins Thursday, April 24, at Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers.Football has been part of Giddens's life for as long as he can remember. DJ played football for the Junction City Jr. Jays growing up, then for Junction City High School, and most recently was running back for the Kansas State Wildcats. “I still have videos of me playing for the Jr. Jays,” Giddens said. “I’m not going to lie, that feels just like yesterday. It was just playing and being free, no worries just having fun.”In high school, DJ shined in his senior season at Junction City and helped lead the team to a sub-state appearance in the fall of 2020. Giddens explained that the sub-state game against Derby gave him the confidence that he could perform at the next level. “I feel like the Derby game, the last game of my senior year, gave me a lot of confidence going against a good team like that, and playing how I played,” Giddens said. DJ then graduated from Junction City in the spring of 2021 and began his K-State career where he redshirted that fall.In 2022, Giddens played for the Wildcats and was part of the Big 12 Championship team that won the Title game in Arlington, Texas. He also played in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama that season.In 2023, DJ was the main featured running back for KSU, as Deuce Vaughn had been drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. In his red-shirt sophomore season, Giddens earned Honorable Mention Big 12 Honors and helped lead the Wildcats to a victory over NC State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.2024 was the final season for Giddens at Kansas State, and he led the team in rushing yards. DJ finished the year with 1,343 rush yards and had seven rushing touchdowns. He also had three receiving touchdowns for the Cats as well.DJ Giddens declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 14, 2024, and did not play in KSU’s win over Rutgers in the Rate Bowl.Looking back at his K-State career, Giddens noted the Oklahoma State game and the Colorado game both played during the 2024 season prove he can play in the National Football League. In the game against OSU, Giddens broke away from the defense and scored a 66-yard touchdown. “Having that touchdown run just shows I can finish off runs and be explosive too,” Giddens said. DJ finished that game with 187 yards rushing and one touchdown against the Cowboys. In the game against the Colorado Buffaloes, Giddens ran wild again. “The Colorado game, I was just playing free again, being myself, and got in that mode,” Giddens said. He finished the game with 182 yards against Colorado.Giddens began preparing for the NFL Draft in January, when he went to Plano, Texas, to train for the NFL Combine in March. DJ had an exceptional performance at the combine, running a 4.43 40-yard dash. He was measured at 6 feet and 212 pounds.The NFL Draft is this week, with round one on Thursday, rounds two and three on Friday, and rounds four through seven on Saturday. This year’s NFL Draft is in Green Bay, Wisconsin.Referencing hearing his name being called at the draft, DJ Giddens said, “It feels good, but it’s out of my control at this point for who will pick me up and when I will get picked up. Right now, I just keep on working, and that’s what I’m going to keep on doing,” Giddens said.Despite all of his success at K-State, and now headed into the NFL, DJ knows the community he is from and said he plans to make it back to Junction City to visit. “I’ve got to come back, can’t forget about that, can’t forget it,” Giddens said. The path wasn’t always easy for DJ, and he had this to say. “Coming from me, being from Junction, I wasn’t highly recruited out of high school, I didn’t have the best grades, and everything wasn’t just in front of me. You just got to stay disciplined, keep working, stay humble, stay down till you come up, and if you keep working at what you want, you’re going to get where you want to be. Don’t ever think you can’t be that person doing whatever you want to do,” Giddens said.DJ Giddens is projected to be a late day two, early day three selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Junction City Native DJ Giddens prepares for 2025 NFL Draft

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Freddy Fermin hit a winning single in the 11th and the Kansas City Royals rebounded from a blown two-run, ninth-inning lead to beat Colorado 4-3 on Tuesday night and drop the Rockies to 4-18.

Daniel Lynch IV (3-0) pitched a hitless inning as part of a five-hitter, sending Colorado to its ninth loss in 10 games. The Rockies are 1-12 on the road.

Jacob Stallings put Colorado ahead 3-2 with three-run double after Carlos Estévez walked the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth.

Salvador Perez singled off Seth Halvorsen starting the bottom half, advanced on Maikel Garcia’s double and scored on Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly.

With automatic runner Mark Canha on second starting the 11th, Tyler Kinley (0-1) intentionally walked Bobby Witt Jr., who extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an eighth-inning single. Kinley threw a wild pitch and intentionally walked Vinnie Pasquantino, and Fermin lined a single to center.

Drew Waters homered in the sixth off Ryan Feltner and Kyle Isbel bunted for an RBI single in the eighth that drove in Waters, who slid home ahead of the glove flip from first baseman Michael Toglia.

With runners on second and third in the 10th, Mickey Moniak was picked off third base by Fermin, the Kansas City catcher.

Kansas City has gone 17 games without scoring more than four runs, the longest streak by an AL team since the Royals' 19 straight in 2018. Kansas City has scored four or fewer runs in 22 of 24 games this season.

Rockies RHP Chase Dollander (1-2, 7.36 ERA) and Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-3, 4.57 ERA) start Wednesday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745377017716.png" alt="Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Freddy Fermin hit a winning single in the 11th and the Kansas City Royals rebounded from a blown two-run, ninth-inning lead to beat Colorado 4-3 on Tuesday night and drop the Rockies to 4-18.Daniel Lynch IV (3-0) pitched a hitless inning as part of a five-hitter, sending Colorado to its ninth loss in 10 games. The Rockies are 1-12 on the road.Jacob Stallings put Colorado ahead 3-2 with three-run double after Carlos Estévez walked the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth.Salvador Perez singled off Seth Halvorsen starting the bottom half, advanced on Maikel Garcia’s double and scored on Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly.With automatic runner Mark Canha on second starting the 11th, Tyler Kinley (0-1) intentionally walked Bobby Witt Jr., who extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an eighth-inning single. Kinley threw a wild pitch and intentionally walked Vinnie Pasquantino, and Fermin lined a single to center.Drew Waters homered in the sixth off Ryan Feltner and Kyle Isbel bunted for an RBI single in the eighth that drove in Waters, who slid home ahead of the glove flip from first baseman Michael Toglia.<h2>Key Moment</h2>With runners on second and third in the 10th, Mickey Moniak was picked off third base by Fermin, the Kansas City catcher.<h2>Key Stat</h2>Kansas City has gone 17 games without scoring more than four runs, the longest streak by an AL team since the Royals' 19 straight in 2018. Kansas City has scored four or fewer runs in 22 of 24 games this season.<h2>Up Next</h2>Rockies RHP Chase Dollander (1-2, 7.36 ERA) and Royals RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-3, 4.57 ERA) start Wednesday night.

⚾ Fermin hits winning single in 11th inning, Royals beat Rockies 

The Junction City Brigade begins the 2025 baseball season in just over a month. The first game of the season is on Thursday, May 29th, and the home opener is on Friday, May 30, at Rathert Field.

With a roster full of new players, and a new league this season, the Brigade need host families for the upcoming summer.

General Manager Cecil Aska explained that this year the Brigade joined the Kansas Collegiate League and most of their games are approximately two hours away. With a new league, a new head coach, and a new recruiting area, more host families are needed this season. In total, 19 players need a host family for this summer.

Raquel Cinco, the housing coordinator for the Junction City Brigade, has been a host family for the last two summers. Cinco said being a host family is rewarding for both the player and the family.

“The kids that we have hosted have literally become part of our family,” Cinco said. “It is an instantaneous bond with these kids.”

If you would like to become a host family, there is a simple screening process that must be done. The screening process gathers basic background information to ensure that the home is a good match for a potential player to live for the summer.

For more information on becoming a host family, visit the <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fjcbrigade.com%2Fhost-families%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExNTBCVVRsMlJEQ0JGVzFmYwEecmtNNlHpj4kCDvJFdoBceebej2m__blYtudXX2KBkR5IXTc9OjdITka3AVA_aem_dhY2BNmbfyHMSn_BoYfOBQ&amp;h=AT3DjHqMWcoXnAqMNn6zi8Qrra-r8RZt5JsHKA2GULfEGEMVIbW4JN3xS9Hz_hx-1cCdSCK_HssTdu8nfnPcTtnprivJyPZhHQ8nO24wKZJ9Hm5JCJ3xw3jRNdLGSkeBMiAFIznqdjS1Cwhh&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1rdtvpMiLvNKu56O6y_-pEzSZg4qmAU_MWf5TjIVHiVKnP1AyLfe7_vFOZT90eV2SF4tp-Oi_hCcH5QkiWZZTT_iZiW9-vTl_A45S4dZfQhMBtK1tTncSSfp6cB9bullkng16jVVexFOYBS0InBv5NUSJNf3Z_dPmQtNwqdw8L-0G76Hb4KrsbsJ5igydncSupoDmnCrVK56mIL1TJX327hMo_">Junction City Brigade website by clicking here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745351771631.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony GorgesJC PostThe Junction City Brigade begins the 2025 baseball season in just over a month. The first game of the season is on Thursday, May 29th, and the home opener is on Friday, May 30, at Rathert Field.With a roster full of new players, and a new league this season, the Brigade need host families for the upcoming summer.General Manager Cecil Aska explained that this year the Brigade joined the Kansas Collegiate League and most of their games are approximately two hours away. With a new league, a new head coach, and a new recruiting area, more host families are needed this season. In total, 19 players need a host family for this summer.Raquel Cinco, the housing coordinator for the Junction City Brigade, has been a host family for the last two summers. Cinco said being a host family is rewarding for both the player and the family.“The kids that we have hosted have literally become part of our family,” Cinco said. “It is an instantaneous bond with these kids.”If you would like to become a host family, there is a simple screening process that must be done. The screening process gathers basic background information to ensure that the home is a good match for a potential player to live for the summer.For more information on becoming a host family, visit the <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fjcbrigade.com%2Fhost-families%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExNTBCVVRsMlJEQ0JGVzFmYwEecmtNNlHpj4kCDvJFdoBceebej2m__blYtudXX2KBkR5IXTc9OjdITka3AVA_aem_dhY2BNmbfyHMSn_BoYfOBQ&amp;h=AT3DjHqMWcoXnAqMNn6zi8Qrra-r8RZt5JsHKA2GULfEGEMVIbW4JN3xS9Hz_hx-1cCdSCK_HssTdu8nfnPcTtnprivJyPZhHQ8nO24wKZJ9Hm5JCJ3xw3jRNdLGSkeBMiAFIznqdjS1Cwhh&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1rdtvpMiLvNKu56O6y_-pEzSZg4qmAU_MWf5TjIVHiVKnP1AyLfe7_vFOZT90eV2SF4tp-Oi_hCcH5QkiWZZTT_iZiW9-vTl_A45S4dZfQhMBtK1tTncSSfp6cB9bullkng16jVVexFOYBS0InBv5NUSJNf3Z_dPmQtNwqdw8L-0G76Hb4KrsbsJ5igydncSupoDmnCrVK56mIL1TJX327hMo_">Junction City Brigade website by clicking here.</a>

Junction City Brigade looking for Host Families this Summer

The Junction City Junior Baseball Association will hold in-person registration again this Saturday, April 26th, from 10:00 am to Noon at North Park and Dillons for the upcoming baseball season for kids ages 5 to 18. (Must be that age on April 30th).

For more information, find them on Facebook here -&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/JCJBA/?locale=fr_CA">Junction City Junior Baseball Association.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745262763873.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The Junction City Junior Baseball Association will hold in-person registration again this Saturday, April 26th, from 10:00 am to Noon at North Park and Dillons for the upcoming baseball season for kids ages 5 to 18. (Must be that age on April 30th).For more information, find them on Facebook here -&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/JCJBA/?locale=fr_CA">Junction City Junior Baseball Association.</a>

JC Junior Baseball Association holding registration this Saturday

BOSTON (AP) — Sharon Lokedi broke the Boston Marathon course record, and fellow Kenyan John Korir joined his brother as a race champion on Monday as the city celebrated the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War.

Lokedi, who ran for the University of Kansas from 2015-2019, outran two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri over the final mile a year after losing a sprint down Boylston Street to her in one of the closest finishes in race history. Lokedi finished in an unofficial 2 hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds — 19 seconds ahead of Obiri and more than 2 1/2 minutes faster than the previous Boston best.

Six months after winning Chicago, Korir finished in 2:04:45 — the second-fastest winning time in race history as the runners took advantage of perfect marathon weather to conquer the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square.

After crossing the line, Korir was greeted by his older brother, 2012 Boston winner Wesley Korir. Although the race has been won by a pair of unrelated John Kelleys and two different Robert Cheruiyots, the Korirs are the first brothers — or relatives of any kind — to win the world's oldest and most prestigious annual marathon.

Conner Mantz of Provo, Utah, finished fourth after losing a three-way sprint to the finish with Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania and Cybrian Kotut of Kenya. Simbu was second and Kotut was third.

Korir ran without his bib showing, pulling it out of his running tights as he sprinted down Boylston Street.

Reenactors on horseback, accompanied by a fife and drum playing “Yankee Doodle,” helped start the festivities and add a bit of levity when Paul Revere’s horse was spooked by the finish line decal on the street and stopped. The actor portraying the colonial silversmith and patriot had to hop off and walk the last few steps himself as the small early crowd laughed and clapped.

After reading a proclamation, Revere gently tugged the horse the rest of the way before riding off to more ceremonies commemorating the midnight ride on April 19, 1775, that warned the colonists in Lexington and Concord that the British were on the march.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland had no such trouble completing the course, zooming into Copley Square in 1:21:34 for his eighth Boston wheelchair title. He beat two-time winner Daniel Romanchuk by more than four minutes in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boston-marathon-wheelchair-bob-hall-0426d27b488fbb668c04523a391d655d">50th anniversary of Bob Hall’s pioneering push</a>&nbsp;to add a wheelchair division to the race.

“It means a lot to win this year, 50 years of wheelchairs in Boston,” Hug said. “For me, it will take some time to realize what it means, eight times wins. It’s such an incredible number.”

Susannah Scaroni of the United States won the women’s wheelchair race for the second time, finishing in 1:35:20. Her victory guaranteed that the “Star-Spangled Banner” would play on Boylston Street in Copley Square on Patriots’ Day, the state holiday that commemorates the first shots of the Revolutionary War&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lexington-concord-battles-250-independence-history-debate-031df77dc1cfa5cf669b6694dfe509ee">250 years ago Saturday</a>.

BOSTON (AP) — Sharon Lokedi broke the Boston Marathon course record, and fellow Kenyan John Korir joined his brother as a race champion on Monday as the city celebrated the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">HISTORY MADE. ROCK CHALK. <a href="https://t.co/EASS8bOgfU">pic.twitter.com/EASS8bOgfU</a>&mdash; Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUAthletics/status/1914354323070361905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sharon Lokedi is the 2025 Boston Marathon CHAMPION 🏆 ROCK CHALK She finishes with a time of 2:17.20, a new course RECORD <a href="https://t.co/4jcFi5rcWb">pic.twitter.com/4jcFi5rcWb</a>&mdash; Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUAthletics/status/1914350276149981268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Lokedi, who ran for the University of Kansas from 2015-2019, outran two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri over the final mile a year after losing a sprint down Boylston Street to her in one of the closest finishes in race history. Lokedi finished in an unofficial 2 hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds — 19 seconds ahead of Obiri and more than 2 1/2 minutes faster than the previous Boston best.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congratulations to Kenya’s John Korir and Sharon Lokedi on winning the <a href="https://twitter.com/bostonmarathon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bostonmarathon</a>! <a href="https://t.co/JVh3luP9fR">pic.twitter.com/JVh3luP9fR</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Nairobi (@USEmbassyKenya) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassyKenya/status/1914354713736225197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Six months after winning Chicago, Korir finished in 2:04:45 — the second-fastest winning time in race history as the runners took advantage of perfect marathon weather to conquer the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square.After crossing the line, Korir was greeted by his older brother, 2012 Boston winner Wesley Korir. Although the race has been won by a pair of unrelated John Kelleys and two different Robert Cheruiyots, the Korirs are the first brothers — or relatives of any kind — to win the world's oldest and most prestigious annual marathon.Conner Mantz of Provo, Utah, finished fourth after losing a three-way sprint to the finish with Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania and Cybrian Kotut of Kenya. Simbu was second and Kotut was third.Korir ran without his bib showing, pulling it out of his running tights as he sprinted down Boylston Street.Reenactors on horseback, accompanied by a fife and drum playing “Yankee Doodle,” helped start the festivities and add a bit of levity when Paul Revere’s horse was spooked by the finish line decal on the street and stopped. The actor portraying the colonial silversmith and patriot had to hop off and walk the last few steps himself as the small early crowd laughed and clapped.After reading a proclamation, Revere gently tugged the horse the rest of the way before riding off to more ceremonies commemorating the midnight ride on April 19, 1775, that warned the colonists in Lexington and Concord that the British were on the march.Marcel Hug of Switzerland had no such trouble completing the course, zooming into Copley Square in 1:21:34 for his eighth Boston wheelchair title. He beat two-time winner Daniel Romanchuk by more than four minutes in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boston-marathon-wheelchair-bob-hall-0426d27b488fbb668c04523a391d655d">50th anniversary of Bob Hall’s pioneering push</a>&nbsp;to add a wheelchair division to the race.“It means a lot to win this year, 50 years of wheelchairs in Boston,” Hug said. “For me, it will take some time to realize what it means, eight times wins. It’s such an incredible number.”Susannah Scaroni of the United States won the women’s wheelchair race for the second time, finishing in 1:35:20. Her victory guaranteed that the “Star-Spangled Banner” would play on Boylston Street in Copley Square on Patriots’ Day, the state holiday that commemorates the first shots of the Revolutionary War&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lexington-concord-battles-250-independence-history-debate-031df77dc1cfa5cf669b6694dfe509ee">250 years ago Saturday</a>.

Former KU star wins Boston Marathon in record time

DETROIT (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 Sunday to stop a six-game losing streak.

With the score 3-3, Jonathan India's groundout off Tyler Holton (1-2) advanced automatic runner Drew Waters to third, and Witt hit a 280-foot fly to left. Waters scored headfirst ahead of Riley Greene's throw.

Carlos Estévez (1-0) intentionally walked Greene to put runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom half, then retired Dillon Dingler on a popup.

Kansas City went 2-8 on its trip and is 9-14. Detroit had won three straight.

Detroit left fielder Kerry Carpenter left the game after the eighth inning because of right hamstring soreness.

Tigers ace Tarik Skubal allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings, while Royals starter Michael Wacha gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 inning

Hunter Pasquantino and Drew Waters built a 2-0 lead with RBI singles in the second, but consecutive, two-out run-scoring singles by Carpenter and Zach McKinstry tied the score inthe fifth.

McKinstry's RBI single in the seventh ended Daniel Lynch IV's scoreless streak at 31 innings.

Mark Canha tied the score in the eighth with an RBI single after Witt reached second on a throwing error by third baseman Javier Báez.

With the bases loaded in the seventh, Salvador Perez scooped Greene's grounded and start an inning-ending 3-2-3 double play.

Skubal is 11-1 with a 1.96 ERA in 18 starts at home since the start of the 2024 season.

Royals: LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 1.88) starts Tuesday homestand opener against Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-1, 4.82).

Tigers: RHP Keider Montero (0-1, 9.00) starts Monday's series opener against Padres RHP Randy Vasquez (1-1. 1.74).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745232105722.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters dives safely into home plate as Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) waits for the throw in the tenth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters dives safely into home plate as Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) waits for the throw in the tenth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 Sunday to stop a six-game losing streak.With the score 3-3, Jonathan India's groundout off Tyler Holton (1-2) advanced automatic runner Drew Waters to third, and Witt hit a 280-foot fly to left. Waters scored headfirst ahead of Riley Greene's throw.Carlos Estévez (1-0) intentionally walked Greene to put runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom half, then retired Dillon Dingler on a popup.Kansas City went 2-8 on its trip and is 9-14. Detroit had won three straight.Detroit left fielder Kerry Carpenter left the game after the eighth inning because of right hamstring soreness.Tigers ace Tarik Skubal allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings, while Royals starter Michael Wacha gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 inningHunter Pasquantino and Drew Waters built a 2-0 lead with RBI singles in the second, but consecutive, two-out run-scoring singles by Carpenter and Zach McKinstry tied the score inthe fifth.McKinstry's RBI single in the seventh ended Daniel Lynch IV's scoreless streak at 31 innings.Mark Canha tied the score in the eighth with an RBI single after Witt reached second on a throwing error by third baseman Javier Báez.<h2>Key moment</h2>With the bases loaded in the seventh, Salvador Perez scooped Greene's grounded and start an inning-ending 3-2-3 double play.<h2>Key stat</h2>Skubal is 11-1 with a 1.96 ERA in 18 starts at home since the start of the 2024 season.<h2>Up next</h2>Royals: LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 1.88) starts Tuesday homestand opener against Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-1, 4.82).Tigers: RHP Keider Montero (0-1, 9.00) starts Monday's series opener against Padres RHP Randy Vasquez (1-1. 1.74).

⚾ Witt's sacrifice fly in 10th helps Royals beat Tigers to stop 6-game skid

DETROIT (AP) — Andy Ibáñez hit a tiebreaking home run in the second inning to back rookie Jackson Jobe and lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-3 victory over Kansas City on Friday night that extended the Royals’ losing streak to five.

Spencer Torkelson delivered a two-run double in the seventh for his AL-leading 13th extra-base hit for the Tigers.

Kansas City dropped to 1-7 on a 10-game trip. Bobby Witt Jr. doubled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, scoring on Vinnie Pasquantino’s double for a 1-0 lead.

Tomás Nido, who had three hits, hit a tying single in the second and Ibáñez’s drive leading off the fourth put Detroit ahead for good.

Jobe (2-0) allowed one run and five hits in five inning.

Riley Greene and Trey Sweeney had RBI singles in a three-run fifth to chase Cole Ragans (1-1), whose team record-tying streak of three straight starts with 10 or more strikeouts ended. Ragans gave up five runs and six hits in four innings, striking out eight for a major league-best 39.

Witt singled and scored on Pasquantino’s single in the ninth off Kenta Maeda. Tommy Kahnle got two outs for his fourth save.

The Royals sent the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Kahnle struck out Cavan Biggio before Drew Waters lined out.

The Royals began the day averaging 2.95 runs — ahead of only Colorado. They have scored four runs or less in 19 of 21 games and haven’t scored more than four since April 4 against Baltimore.

DETROIT (AP) — Andy Ibáñez hit a tiebreaking home run in the second inning to back rookie Jackson Jobe and lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-3 victory over Kansas City on Friday night that extended the Royals’ losing streak to five.Spencer Torkelson delivered a two-run double in the seventh for his AL-leading 13th extra-base hit for the Tigers.Kansas City dropped to 1-7 on a 10-game trip. Bobby Witt Jr. doubled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, scoring on Vinnie Pasquantino’s double for a 1-0 lead.Tomás Nido, who had three hits, hit a tying single in the second and Ibáñez’s drive leading off the fourth put Detroit ahead for good.Jobe (2-0) allowed one run and five hits in five inning.Riley Greene and Trey Sweeney had RBI singles in a three-run fifth to chase Cole Ragans (1-1), whose team record-tying streak of three straight starts with 10 or more strikeouts ended. Ragans gave up five runs and six hits in four innings, striking out eight for a major league-best 39.Witt singled and scored on Pasquantino’s single in the ninth off Kenta Maeda. Tommy Kahnle got two outs for his fourth save.<h2>Key moment</h2>The Royals sent the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Kahnle struck out Cavan Biggio before Drew Waters lined out.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Royals began the day averaging 2.95 runs — ahead of only Colorado. They have scored four runs or less in 19 of 21 games and haven’t scored more than four since April 4 against Baltimore.<h2>Up next</h2>

⚾ Ibáñez hits tiebreaking homer to lead Tigers over Royals

DETROIT (AP) — Tomás Nido and Andy Ibáñez hit solo homers and rookie Jackson Jobe pitched five strong innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. doubled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, scoring on Vinnie Pasquantino's double for a 1-0 lead.

Nido, who went 3 for 4, homered for the first time with the Tigers to tie it in the second. Ibáñez's solo shot leading off the fourth put them ahead for good.

Riley Greene and Trey Sweeney had RBI singles in a three-run fifth to chase Royals starter Cole Ragans (1-1), whose team record-tying streak of three straight starts with 10-plus strikeouts ended. Ragans gave up five runs on six hits in four innings, striking out eight for a major league-best 39.

Witt singled and scored on Pasquantino's single in the ninth off Kenta Maeda. Tommy Kahnle got the final two outs for his fourth save.

The Royals have lost five straight and are 1-7 so far on a 10-game road trip.

The Royals sent the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Kahnle struck out Cavan Biggio before Drew Waters lined out to end it.

The Royals began the day averaging 2.95 runs — ahead of only the Rockies. They have scored four runs or less in 19 of 21 games and haven’t scored more than four since April 4 against Baltimore.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745028333160.jpeg" alt="Detroit Tigers' Tomás Nido hits a one-run single against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning during a baseball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)" />
 <figcaption>Detroit Tigers' Tomás Nido hits a one-run single against the Kansas City Royals in the second inning during a baseball game, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Tomás Nido and Andy Ibáñez hit solo homers and rookie Jackson Jobe pitched five strong innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.Spencer Torkelson delivered a two-run double in the seventh for his AL-leading 13th extra-base hit for the Tigers.Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr. doubled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, scoring on Vinnie Pasquantino's double for a 1-0 lead.Nido, who went 3 for 4, homered for the first time with the Tigers to tie it in the second. Ibáñez's solo shot leading off the fourth put them ahead for good.Jobe (2-0) allowed one run on five hits.Riley Greene and Trey Sweeney had RBI singles in a three-run fifth to chase Royals starter Cole Ragans (1-1), whose team record-tying streak of three straight starts with 10-plus strikeouts ended. Ragans gave up five runs on six hits in four innings, striking out eight for a major league-best 39.Witt singled and scored on Pasquantino's single in the ninth off Kenta Maeda. Tommy Kahnle got the final two outs for his fourth save.The Royals have lost five straight and are 1-7 so far on a 10-game road trip.<h2>Key moment</h2>The Royals sent the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Kahnle struck out Cavan Biggio before Drew Waters lined out to end it.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Royals began the day averaging 2.95 runs — ahead of only the Rockies. They have scored four runs or less in 19 of 21 games and haven’t scored more than four since April 4 against Baltimore.<h2>Up next</h2>

⚾ Nido and Ibáñez homer in Tigers victory over Royals

Junction City High School Seniors Gracie Erichsen and Maiyaunss Harley have both signed to play college sports next season.

Erichsen signed with Texas Woman's University and will play volleyball for the Pioneers next year. 

Harley signed with Waldorf University in Iowa and will play basketball for the Warriors next year. 

**All photos are courtesy of USD 475 - Geary County Schools Facebook Page.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745005142369.jpeg" alt="Gracie Erichsen (middle) signs with Texas Woman's University. (Photo courtesy of USD 475 - Geary County Schools Facebook Page)" />
 <figcaption>Gracie Erichsen (middle) signs with Texas Woman's University. (Photo courtesy of USD 475 - Geary County Schools Facebook Page)</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745005154544.jpeg" alt="Maiyaunss Harley signs with Waldorf University. (Photo courtesy of USD 475 - Geary County Schools Facebook Page)" />
 <figcaption>Maiyaunss Harley signs with Waldorf University. (Photo courtesy of USD 475 - Geary County Schools Facebook Page)</figcaption>
 </figure>Junction City High School Seniors Gracie Erichsen and Maiyaunss Harley have both signed to play college sports next season.Erichsen signed with Texas Woman's University and will play volleyball for the Pioneers next year. Harley signed with Waldorf University in Iowa and will play basketball for the Warriors next year. **All photos are courtesy of USD 475 - Geary County Schools Facebook Page.

Two Junction City High School Athletes sign to play College Sports next year

DETROIT (AP) — Riley Greene broke out of an extended slump with three hits and two RBIs to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 6-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

The Royals lost their fourth straight game and have dropped six of seven.

Greene, who had one hit and 18 strikeouts in his previous 32 at-bats entering the game, popped out to short in the first inning before RBI singles in the third and fifth innings. He added an infield single in the seventh.

Spencer Torkelson had two hits and drove in three runs for Detroit, which had lost three of four.

Reese Olson (2-1) worked five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Tommy Kahnle earned his third save.

Maikel Garcia had an RBI single in the eighth inning for the Royals. Former Tiger Michael Lorenzen (1-3) gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

Kansas City hitting coach Alec Zumwalt was ejected in the ninth inning for arguing balls and strikes.

After Detroit jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third, the Royals loaded the bases with one out in the fourth. But, Drew Walters struck on on three pitches from Olson, and Kyle Isbel popped out to left on the first pitch he face.

Torkelson, who hit .219 last season and spent 2 1/2 months in Triple-A, is batting .286 with six homers and 16 RBIs in 20 games.

Royals LHP Cole Ragans (1-0, 2.28) will face Tigers rookie RHP Jackson Jobe (1-0, 3.00) in the second game of a four-game set.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744976621673.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey throws to first base late after the force out on Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene (31) in the seventh inning during a baseball game, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey throws to first base late after the force out on Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene (31) in the seventh inning during a baseball game, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Riley Greene broke out of an extended slump with three hits and two RBIs to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 6-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.The Royals lost their fourth straight game and have dropped six of seven.Greene, who had one hit and 18 strikeouts in his previous 32 at-bats entering the game, popped out to short in the first inning before RBI singles in the third and fifth innings. He added an infield single in the seventh.Spencer Torkelson had two hits and drove in three runs for Detroit, which had lost three of four.Reese Olson (2-1) worked five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Tommy Kahnle earned his third save.Maikel Garcia had an RBI single in the eighth inning for the Royals. Former Tiger Michael Lorenzen (1-3) gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts.Kansas City hitting coach Alec Zumwalt was ejected in the ninth inning for arguing balls and strikes.<h2>Key moment</h2>After Detroit jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third, the Royals loaded the bases with one out in the fourth. But, Drew Walters struck on on three pitches from Olson, and Kyle Isbel popped out to left on the first pitch he face.<h2>Key stat</h2>Torkelson, who hit .219 last season and spent 2 1/2 months in Triple-A, is batting .286 with six homers and 16 RBIs in 20 games.<h2>Up next</h2>Royals LHP Cole Ragans (1-0, 2.28) will face Tigers rookie RHP Jackson Jobe (1-0, 3.00) in the second game of a four-game set.

⚾ Riley Greene sheds slump as Tigers send Royals to their 4th straight loss

NEW YORK (AP) — Lee Corso’s nearly four-decade run on ESPN’s “College GameDay” is coming to an end.

Corso, the longtime&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUAPPOaUr4k" target="_blank">ESPN broadcaster and folksy former coach</a>&nbsp;widely known for his endearing expressions and elaborate headgear picks, is set to retire after a career with the show that began in 1987, ESPN announced Thursday. His final broadcast will be Aug. 30 — Week 1 of the 2025 college football season — and the network said additional programming to celebrate Corso is also planned.

“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and ‘College GameDay’ for nearly 40 years,” Corso said in a statement to ESPN. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”

Corso, who turns 90 in August, began his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/44715325" target="_blank">popular headgear segment</a>&nbsp;in October 1995 at a game at Ohio State. Since then, he has gone 286-144 in 430 selections wearing everything from helmets and mascot heads to dressing up as the Fighting Irish leprechaun from Notre Dame, the Stanford tree and historic figures James Madison and Benjamin Franklin.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jS6-PBVUulY" target="_blank">“Not so fast, my friend”</a>&nbsp;is one of his most well-known comments and his good humor alongside Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis and Desmond Howard and many others going back more than three decades helped make Corso and the show a beloved staple for millions on college football Saturdays.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Corso’s career has lasted through a health scare in 2009, when he suffered a stroke that left him unable to speak for a while. He returned to “College GameDay ”later that year. Though he hasn’t joined his colleagues as much on the road in recent years, Corso was at the site of last year’s national title game between Ohio State and Notre Dame in Atlanta.

Corso was a college and pro football coach for 28 years before transitioning to broadcasting. He coached 15 years in college at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744905368234.jpeg" alt="Nick Saban, left, and Lee Corso talk on the set of ESPN College Gameday on the sideline before an NCAA college football game between Michigan and Texas in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)" />
 <figcaption>Nick Saban, left, and Lee Corso talk on the set of ESPN College Gameday on the sideline before an NCAA college football game between Michigan and Texas in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sept. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Lee Corso’s nearly four-decade run on ESPN’s “College GameDay” is coming to an end.Corso, the longtime&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUAPPOaUr4k" target="_blank">ESPN broadcaster and folksy former coach</a>&nbsp;widely known for his endearing expressions and elaborate headgear picks, is set to retire after a career with the show that began in 1987, ESPN announced Thursday. His final broadcast will be Aug. 30 — Week 1 of the 2025 college football season — and the network said additional programming to celebrate Corso is also planned.“My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and ‘College GameDay’ for nearly 40 years,” Corso said in a statement to ESPN. “I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement.”Corso, who turns 90 in August, began his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/44715325" target="_blank">popular headgear segment</a>&nbsp;in October 1995 at a game at Ohio State. Since then, he has gone 286-144 in 430 selections wearing everything from helmets and mascot heads to dressing up as the Fighting Irish leprechaun from Notre Dame, the Stanford tree and historic figures James Madison and Benjamin Franklin.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jS6-PBVUulY" target="_blank">“Not so fast, my friend”</a>&nbsp;is one of his most well-known comments and his good humor alongside Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis and Desmond Howard and many others going back more than three decades helped make Corso and the show a beloved staple for millions on college football Saturdays.&nbsp;&nbsp;Corso’s career has lasted through a health scare in 2009, when he suffered a stroke that left him unable to speak for a while. He returned to “College GameDay ”later that year. Though he hasn’t joined his colleagues as much on the road in recent years, Corso was at the site of last year’s national title game between Ohio State and Notre Dame in Atlanta.Corso was a college and pro football coach for 28 years before transitioning to broadcasting. He coached 15 years in college at Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois.

🏈 Lee Corso to retire from ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ after four-decade run

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit a tiebreaking homer leading off the seventh inning that ended a 10-game drought, and the New York Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.

With a runner at second base in the ninth, Cody Bellinger made a diving catch in right field on MJ Melendez’s sinking liner to preserve Fernando Cruz’s first career save.

Judge went deep for the first time since April 4 in Pittsburgh when he lifted a 1-0 sinker from John Schreiber (1-1) into the New York bullpen beyond the right-center fence.

Judge had three hits for the third time this season. He reached base four times and his batting average climbed 27 points to a major league-best .409.

Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt had some dominant moments and pitched 5 2/3 innings of three-run ball in his season debut. After recovering from rotator cuff tendinitis, the right-hander permitted four hits and threw 73 pitches.

Anthony Volpe hit a two-run double in the third and Bellinger had an RBI double in the fourth to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead.

Schmidt retired 11 straight before Drew Waters opened the fifth with a single and scored on Kyle Isbel's triple. Isbel scored the tying run on a groundout by Jonathan India.

Salvador Perez hit an RBI single four batters in before Schmidt settled down.

Kansas City starter Kris Bubic allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Mark Leiter Jr. (2-1) got four outs after Schmidt was lifted, and Cruz pitched two scoreless innings.

After the Royals tied the game, Bobby Witt Jr. swung at the first pitch and flied out to end the fifth.

Judge entered hitting .382 (13 for 34) over his previous 10 games.

Royals: RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 3.71 ERA) opposes Tigers RHP Reese Olson (1-1, 6.00) in the opener of a four-game series Thursday at Detroit.

Yankees: RHP Will Warren (1-0, 5.14 ERA), who earned his first career win Saturday, faces Rays RHP Taj Bradley (2-0, 3.71) in the opener of a four-game series at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744886129479.jpeg" alt="-Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)" />
 <figcaption>-Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit a tiebreaking homer leading off the seventh inning that ended a 10-game drought, and the New York Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.With a runner at second base in the ninth, Cody Bellinger made a diving catch in right field on MJ Melendez’s sinking liner to preserve Fernando Cruz’s first career save.Judge went deep for the first time since April 4 in Pittsburgh when he lifted a 1-0 sinker from John Schreiber (1-1) into the New York bullpen beyond the right-center fence.Judge had three hits for the third time this season. He reached base four times and his batting average climbed 27 points to a major league-best .409.Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt had some dominant moments and pitched 5 2/3 innings of three-run ball in his season debut. After recovering from rotator cuff tendinitis, the right-hander permitted four hits and threw 73 pitches.Anthony Volpe hit a two-run double in the third and Bellinger had an RBI double in the fourth to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead.Schmidt retired 11 straight before Drew Waters opened the fifth with a single and scored on Kyle Isbel's triple. Isbel scored the tying run on a groundout by Jonathan India.Salvador Perez hit an RBI single four batters in before Schmidt settled down.Kansas City starter Kris Bubic allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.Mark Leiter Jr. (2-1) got four outs after Schmidt was lifted, and Cruz pitched two scoreless innings.<h2>Key moment</h2>After the Royals tied the game, Bobby Witt Jr. swung at the first pitch and flied out to end the fifth.<h2>Key stat</h2>Judge entered hitting .382 (13 for 34) over his previous 10 games.<h2>Up next</h2>Royals: RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 3.71 ERA) opposes Tigers RHP Reese Olson (1-1, 6.00) in the opener of a four-game series Thursday at Detroit.Yankees: RHP Will Warren (1-0, 5.14 ERA), who earned his first career win Saturday, faces Rays RHP Taj Bradley (2-0, 3.71) in the opener of a four-game series at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday.

⚾ Judge hits go-ahead homer as Yankees sweep the Royals 

** (Home games at Rathert Field are in Bold)

The Brigade now play in the Jayhawk Collegiate League

May 30 (7:00 p.m.) - Wichita Wildcats

June 2 (7:00 p.m.) - Kingman Islanders

June 8 (6:00 p.m.) – Kansas Cannons

June 12 (7:00 p.m.) - Great Bend Bat Cats

June 14 (DH 5/7 p.m.) - Haysville Aviators

June 17 (7:00 p.m.) - Newton Rebels

June 20 (7:00 p.m.) - Hutchinson Monarchs

June 25&nbsp;(7:00 p.m.) - Wichita Wildcats

June 28 (7:00 p.m.) - Kingman Islanders

July 5 (7:00 p.m.) - Kansas Cannons

July 7 (7:00 p.m.) - Great Bend Bat Cats

July 11 (7:00 p.m.) -&nbsp;Manhattan Barnstormers

July 12 (7:00 p.m.) - Newton Rebels

July 15 (7:00 p.m.) - Hutchinson Monarchs

July 19 – Jayhawk Collegiate League All Star Game (In Hutchinson)

July 24-Aug. 2 – NBC World Series in Wichita

** (Home games at Rathert Field are in Bold)The Brigade now play in the Jayhawk Collegiate LeagueMay 29 - @ Kansas CurveMay 30 (7:00 p.m.) - Wichita WildcatsJune 1 - @ Wichita WildcatsJune 2 (7:00 p.m.) - Kingman IslandersJune 3 - @ Kingman IslandersJune 5 - @ Derby TwinsJune 6 (7:00 p.m.) - Derby TwinsJune 7 - @ Kansas CannonsJune 8 (6:00 p.m.) – Kansas CannonsJune 10 @ Great Bend Bat CatsJune 12 (7:00 p.m.) - Great Bend Bat CatsJune 13 (7:00 p.m.) - KC MonarchsJune 14 (DH 5/7 p.m.) - Haysville AviatorsJune 15 @ Newton RebelsJune 17 (7:00 p.m.) - Newton RebelsJune 18 – @ Hutchinson MonarchsJune 20 (7:00 p.m.) - Hutchinson MonarchsJune 21 (7:00 p.m.) - KC KnightsJune 24 - @ Wichita WildcatsJune 25&nbsp;(7:00 p.m.) - Wichita WildcatsJune 27 - @ Kingman IslandersJune 28 (7:00 p.m.) - Kingman IslandersJune 29 - @ Derby TwinsJune 30 (7:00 p.m.) - Derby TwinsJuly 2 - @ Kansas CannonsJuly 3 - @ Manhattan BarnstormersJuly 5 (7:00 p.m.) - Kansas CannonsJuly 6 - @ Great Bend Bat CatsJuly 7 (7:00 p.m.) - Great Bend Bat CatsJuly 9 – (DH) @ Haysville AviatorsJuly 11 (7:00 p.m.) -&nbsp;Manhattan BarnstormersJuly 12 (7:00 p.m.) - Newton RebelsJuly 14 - @ Hutchinson MonarchsJuly 15 (7:00 p.m.) - Hutchinson MonarchsJuly 16 - @ Newton RebelsJuly 17 (7:00 p.m.) - KC MonarchsJuly 18 (7:00 p.m.) - KC KnightsJuly 19 – Jayhawk Collegiate League All Star Game (In Hutchinson)July 24-Aug. 2 – NBC World Series in Wichita

Junction City Brigade updated Full 2025 Schedule

JC Baseball Results from Tuesday's Doubleheader vs Manhattan

The Junction City Blue Jay Varsity baseball team split with the Manhattan High Indians on Tuesday night in Junction City. The Blue Jays lost game one 20-4 in five innings.&nbsp;

In game two, JCHS responded and beat Manhattan 8-7.&nbsp;

The Blue Jays are 4-6 on the season. Next action for the baseball team is this Saturday at the Blue Jays Sports Complex when they host games against Garden City and Dodge City.&nbsp;

JCHS Softball Results for Tuesday's Doubleheader vs Manhattan

The Lady Jay softball team dropped both games on Tuesday night in Manhattan. JC lost the first game 11-4, and the second game JCHS lost 8-6.&nbsp;

The Junction City Lady Jays are 2-10 on the season and play in the Sunflower Festival in Olathe on Thursday. Games will be against Olathe North and Lawrence Free State.

JC Baseball Results from Tuesday's Doubleheader vs ManhattanThe Junction City Blue Jay Varsity baseball team split with the Manhattan High Indians on Tuesday night in Junction City. The Blue Jays lost game one 20-4 in five innings.&nbsp;In game two, JCHS responded and beat Manhattan 8-7.&nbsp;The Blue Jays are 4-6 on the season. Next action for the baseball team is this Saturday at the Blue Jays Sports Complex when they host games against Garden City and Dodge City.&nbsp;JCHS Softball Results for Tuesday's Doubleheader vs ManhattanThe Lady Jay softball team dropped both games on Tuesday night in Manhattan. JC lost the first game 11-4, and the second game JCHS lost 8-6.&nbsp;The Junction City Lady Jays are 2-10 on the season and play in the Sunflower Festival in Olathe on Thursday. Games will be against Olathe North and Lawrence Free State.

JC Baseball splits with Manhattan, Lady Jay Softball swept by Manhattan

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jasson-dominguez-yankees-left-field-97771d9cd48c1c5c6ca447713b478c0c">Jasson Domínguez</a>&nbsp;went 3 for 3 with a three-run double that put the New York Yankees ahead in the sixth inning of a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

Max Fried (3-0) struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings and the Yankees erased a 2-0 deficit with a four-run sixth aided by three straight two-out walks. New York will go for a three-game sweep Wednesday in a rematch of an AL Division Series won by the Yankees over the Royals in four games last October.

MJ Melendez homered and Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI double off the right-center fence in the third for the Royals, who lost for the fourth time in five games and fell to 2-6 on the road. They have dropped 19 of their past 20 completed series against the Yankees since May 2015, including the playoffs.

Luke Weaver retired Maikel Garcia with two runners on to end the seventh and set down all four batters he faced. Devin Williams worked a perfect ninth for his third save.

Michael Wacha (0-3) was working on a four-hit shutout when he walked Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe to load the bases in the sixth. Angel Zerpa entered and, struggling to hear his PitchCom device, walked Austin Wells on four pitches to force in a run.

Domínguez, who singled twice batting left-handed against Wacha, then lined a 1-2 fastball down the left-field line hitting right-handed against Zerpa and knocked his own helmet off his head with his follow through.

Defensive replacement Trent Grisham made a fine running catch in deep center field with a runner aboard to help thwart a potential Royals rally in the seventh.

Melendez was batting .077 with one extra-base hit this season when he homered into the New York bullpen leading off the third to snap an 0-for-18 skid.

Royals LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 0.96 ERA) starts the series finale Wednesday night against RHP Clarke Schmidt, scheduled to make his season debut after recovering from rotator cuff tendinitis.

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jasson-dominguez-yankees-left-field-97771d9cd48c1c5c6ca447713b478c0c">Jasson Domínguez</a>&nbsp;went 3 for 3 with a three-run double that put the New York Yankees ahead in the sixth inning of a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.Max Fried (3-0) struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings and the Yankees erased a 2-0 deficit with a four-run sixth aided by three straight two-out walks. New York will go for a three-game sweep Wednesday in a rematch of an AL Division Series won by the Yankees over the Royals in four games last October.MJ Melendez homered and Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI double off the right-center fence in the third for the Royals, who lost for the fourth time in five games and fell to 2-6 on the road. They have dropped 19 of their past 20 completed series against the Yankees since May 2015, including the playoffs.Luke Weaver retired Maikel Garcia with two runners on to end the seventh and set down all four batters he faced. Devin Williams worked a perfect ninth for his third save.Michael Wacha (0-3) was working on a four-hit shutout when he walked Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe to load the bases in the sixth. Angel Zerpa entered and, struggling to hear his PitchCom device, walked Austin Wells on four pitches to force in a run.Domínguez, who singled twice batting left-handed against Wacha, then lined a 1-2 fastball down the left-field line hitting right-handed against Zerpa and knocked his own helmet off his head with his follow through.<h2>Key moment</h2>Defensive replacement Trent Grisham made a fine running catch in deep center field with a runner aboard to help thwart a potential Royals rally in the seventh.<h2>Key stat</h2>Melendez was batting .077 with one extra-base hit this season when he homered into the New York bullpen leading off the third to snap an 0-for-18 skid.<h2>Up next</h2>Royals LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 0.96 ERA) starts the series finale Wednesday night against RHP Clarke Schmidt, scheduled to make his season debut after recovering from rotator cuff tendinitis.

⚾️ Domínguez's 3-run double sends Yankees to win over Royals

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The moment 🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/serena_sundell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@serena_sundell</a>&#39;s name is called for the <a href="https://twitter.com/seattlestorm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@seattlestorm</a> in the third round of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBADraft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBADraft</a> 💚 <a href="https://t.co/CaHGooaegi">pic.twitter.com/CaHGooaegi</a>&mdash; K-State Women&#39;s Basketball (@KStateWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/KStateWBB/status/1911960517331112406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">With the No. 26 pick the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Seattle Storm select Serena Sundell from <a href="https://twitter.com/KStateWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KStateWBB</a> ⛈️ Welcome to Seattle, Serena! <a href="https://t.co/TbBFCG9ome">pic.twitter.com/TbBFCG9ome</a>&mdash; Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) <a href="https://twitter.com/seattlestorm/status/1911956458549436728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">With the No. 26 pick the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Seattle Storm select Serena Sundell from <a href="https://twitter.com/KStateWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KStateWBB</a> ⛈️ Welcome to Seattle, Serena! <a href="https://t.co/TbBFCG9ome">pic.twitter.com/TbBFCG9ome</a>&mdash; Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) <a href="https://twitter.com/seattlestorm/status/1911956458549436728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sundells in Seattle 🥹<a href="https://twitter.com/seattlestorm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@seattlestorm</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/Seahawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Seahawks</a> <a href="https://t.co/VIe4wlkhBX">pic.twitter.com/VIe4wlkhBX</a>&mdash; K-State Women&#39;s Basketball (@KStateWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/KStateWBB/status/1911964450023747795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

K-State's Sundell selected in WNBA draft

NEW YORK (AP) — Trent Grisham, Ben Rice and Austin Wells each hit a solo home run off Seth Lugo in the fifth inning, and the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1 on Monday night in their first meeting since last year's AL Division Series.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. tied the score in the fourth with his sixth homer, an inning after Bobby Witt Jr.’s home run against Carlos Carrasco (2-1) on the 10th pitch of his at-bat put Kansas City ahead.

Carrasco and four relievers combined on a two-hitter for the Yankees, whose starters entered with a 5.40 ERA.

New York (9-7) had lost five of its previous seven games. The Yankees beat the Royals in four games during their ALDS last October.

Lugo (1-2) gave up 16 homers in 33 starts last season, when he was a first-time All-Star. Mixing nine different pitches, he allowed seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He had yielded more than two homers just once before, when Philadelphia hit four on Sept. 17, 2020.

Carrasco allowed one hit in five innings. Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams followed. Williams allowed Witt's leadoff single in the ninth and a one-out walk before retiring Miakel Garcia on a game-ending flyout for his second save.

Kansas City (8-9) wore its new powder blue-and-white caps and helmets with dark blue bills along with powder blue uniforms.

Jonathan India went 0 for 3 with a walk as the designated hitter after missing a game with tightness in his right quadriceps.

Royals first baseman Mark Canha (left abductor strain) will start a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday. Left-hander Sam Long was seen by a doctor who confirmed the pitcher has elbow inflammation. Long won't throw for five days, then will ramp up for five days.

Grisham's home run was his fourth this season; last year he hit his fourth on June 22.

All four Yankees homers were by left-handed hitters: on a changeup, cutter and a pair of fastballs.

NEW YORK (AP) — Trent Grisham, Ben Rice and Austin Wells each hit a solo home run off Seth Lugo in the fifth inning, and the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1 on Monday night in their first meeting since last year's AL Division Series.Jazz Chisholm Jr. tied the score in the fourth with his sixth homer, an inning after Bobby Witt Jr.’s home run against Carlos Carrasco (2-1) on the 10th pitch of his at-bat put Kansas City ahead.Carrasco and four relievers combined on a two-hitter for the Yankees, whose starters entered with a 5.40 ERA.New York (9-7) had lost five of its previous seven games. The Yankees beat the Royals in four games during their ALDS last October.Lugo (1-2) gave up 16 homers in 33 starts last season, when he was a first-time All-Star. Mixing nine different pitches, he allowed seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He had yielded more than two homers just once before, when Philadelphia hit four on Sept. 17, 2020.Carrasco allowed one hit in five innings. Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams followed. Williams allowed Witt's leadoff single in the ninth and a one-out walk before retiring Miakel Garcia on a game-ending flyout for his second save.Kansas City (8-9) wore its new powder blue-and-white caps and helmets with dark blue bills along with powder blue uniforms.Jonathan India went 0 for 3 with a walk as the designated hitter after missing a game with tightness in his right quadriceps.Royals first baseman Mark Canha (left abductor strain) will start a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday. Left-hander Sam Long was seen by a doctor who confirmed the pitcher has elbow inflammation. Long won't throw for five days, then will ramp up for five days.<h2>Key moment</h2>Grisham's home run was his fourth this season; last year he hit his fourth on June 22.<h2>Key stat</h2>All four Yankees homers were by left-handed hitters: on a changeup, cutter and a pair of fastballs.<h2>Up next</h2>

⚾Chisholm, Grisham, Rice and Wells homer off Lugo, lead Yankees over Royals

The Junction City Lady Jay softball team swept Emporia on Friday night at the Blue Jay Sports Complex. JCHS won game one, 10-0 in five innings and then won game two 7-1.&nbsp;

The sweep over Emporia was the first wins of the year for the Lady Jay Softball program and their first wins at the new sports complex.&nbsp;

Junction City is 2-8 on the season and will play a doubleheader at Manhattan on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

The Junction City Lady Jay softball team swept Emporia on Friday night at the Blue Jay Sports Complex. JCHS won game one, 10-0 in five innings and then won game two 7-1.&nbsp;The sweep over Emporia was the first wins of the year for the Lady Jay Softball program and their first wins at the new sports complex.&nbsp;Junction City is 2-8 on the season and will play a doubleheader at Manhattan on Tuesday night.&nbsp;

JCHS Softball sweeps Emporia for first wins of the year

Nick Perez has resigned as the head basketball coach at Junction City High School. Junction City High School Athletic Director Chris Bogenhagen has confirmed Perez's resignation. 

Perez led the Blue Jay program for nine years. 

Perez released a statement to JC Post. “I cannot thank Junction City enough for the past nine years, they have been amazing," Perez said. "The students, staff, coaches, players, and community have been tremendous. We couldn’t ask for anything better. To my players, you have all been special to our family. You accepted our kids like they were your siblings. We will miss you all very much. I know whoever takes over will keep this place running. I believe the program is in a very good place, better than when I got here back in 2017. Thank you Blue Jay Nation! Coach Perez and Family!"

Perez's team in 2022-2023 made it to the 6A State Tournament in Wichita. His best team, record-wise, was the 2023-2024 team that posted an 18-3 record and won the Centennial League for the first time in school history. This past season, JC finished the year with a record of 14-8 and lost in the sub-state championship game. 

Nick Perez has accepted a position as a basketball coach and teacher in Missouri, pending board approval.

Perez also coached boys and girls golf at JCHS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744641572105.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Blue Jay Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Blue Jay Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By Anthony GorgesJC PostNick Perez has resigned as the head basketball coach at Junction City High School. Junction City High School Athletic Director Chris Bogenhagen has confirmed Perez's resignation. Perez led the Blue Jay program for nine years. Perez released a statement to JC Post. “I cannot thank Junction City enough for the past nine years, they have been amazing," Perez said. "The students, staff, coaches, players, and community have been tremendous. We couldn’t ask for anything better. To my players, you have all been special to our family. You accepted our kids like they were your siblings. We will miss you all very much. I know whoever takes over will keep this place running. I believe the program is in a very good place, better than when I got here back in 2017. Thank you Blue Jay Nation! Coach Perez and Family!"Perez's team in 2022-2023 made it to the 6A State Tournament in Wichita. His best team, record-wise, was the 2023-2024 team that posted an 18-3 record and won the Centennial League for the first time in school history. This past season, JC finished the year with a record of 14-8 and lost in the sub-state championship game. Nick Perez has accepted a position as a basketball coach and teacher in Missouri, pending board approval.Perez also coached boys and girls golf at JCHS.

Nick Perez resigns as Junction City High School Basketball Coach

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cole Ragans managed to pitch through a left hamstring cramp for 7 2/3 innings and get his first win this season.

“The hammy started to tighten up and I just didn’t want to push it,” Ragans said after leading the Kansas City Royals over the Cleveland Guardians 4-2 on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744583159284.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>CLEVELAND (AP) — Cole Ragans managed to pitch through a left hamstring cramp for 7 2/3 innings and get his first win this season.“The hammy started to tighten up and I just didn’t want to push it,” Ragans said after leading the Kansas City Royals over the Cleveland Guardians 4-2 on Sunday.A 27-year-old left-hander who finished fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting last year, Ragans struck out 10 and walked none while allowing two runs — one earned — and four hits.Ragans (1-0) felt a nagging pain in his hamstring throughout the game, but it intensified after he got Austin Hedges to pop out for the second out of the eighth inning. Lucas Erceg relieved and got the last out of the inning. Carlos Estévez allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, then struck out three straight batters for his fifth save in six chances.“You don’t want it to where it turns more serious than it actually is," Ragans said. "There was no reason to keep trying to pitch.”Kansas City was optimistic Ragans will take his next turn, likely Friday in Detroit.“He was honest with us throughout the game and was honest with us when he started feeling in more in the eighth inning,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He was trying to be smart and not push through it, which was the right thing to do.”Ragans threw 89 pitches and became the second pitcher in Royals’ history to have 10 or more strikeouts in three consecutive starts after Kevin Appier in 1996.Cleveland took a 2-0 lead in the second when Daniel Schneemann hit an RBI double and continued home on shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.’s throwing error. Ragans then retired nine straight batters and 17 of his last 18.Kansas City rallied when Salvador Perez hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning and Maikel Garcia had a two-run double in the fifth.“I try to get quick outs,” Ragans said. “If I’m filling up the strike zone, then (the hitters) are going to have to swing the bats. I just try to get ahead in the count and stay ahead and trust the guys behind me to make plays. If they are swinging early in the count, it might help you later to get them to chase some pitches.”