HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez threw out Hunter Dozier at the plate from just short of the warning track in left field to preserve a two-run, eighth-inning lead, then hit his 25th homer as the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 9-7. The Astros also got homers from Jeremy Peña, Alex Bregman and Aledmys Díaz as they extended their winning streak to a major league-best eight games. Nicky Lopez hit a deep flyball in the eighth that Alvarez caught and fired on the fly to catcher Martin Maldonado, who tagged out Dozier for an inning-ending double play. Alvarez then went deep to chants of “M-V-P!”

HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez threw out Hunter Dozier at the plate from just short of the warning track in left field to preserve a two-run, eighth-inning lead, then hit his 25th homer as the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 9-7. The Astros also got homers from Jeremy Peña, Alex Bregman and Aledmys Díaz as they extended their winning streak to a major league-best eight games. Nicky Lopez hit a deep flyball in the eighth that Alvarez caught and fired on the fly to catcher Martin Maldonado, who tagged out Dozier for an inning-ending double play. Alvarez then went deep to chants of “M-V-P!”

Royals lose to the Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez homered with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-6 for their seventh straight win. Led by Kyle Tucker and Alvarez, AL West-leading Houston erased a five-run deficit on the way to its 15th victory in its last 18 games overall. Tucker sparked the Astros’ three-run eighth with a two-run single, and Alvarez hit a drive to left-center against Scott Barlow for his 24th homer. Ryne Stanek pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.

The Royals led the game 5-0 after three innings.

HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez homered with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-6 for their seventh straight win. Led by Kyle Tucker and Alvarez, AL West-leading Houston erased a five-run deficit on the way to its 15th victory in its last 18 games overall. Tucker sparked the Astros’ three-run eighth with a two-run single, and Alvarez hit a drive to left-center against Scott Barlow for his 24th homer. Ryne Stanek pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.The Royals led the game 5-0 after three innings.

Royals blow five-run lead in loss to the Astros

Michael Eisenbarth, Rossville, finished first in the Freedom Run 10K in Junction City Monday. His winning time was 35:58.&nbsp;

Mandy Zimmerman, Junction City, had the fastest women's time in the 10K with a clocking of 37:47.

Drew Elliot, Abilene, had the top time in the men's 5k at 17:10 while Miranda Saldana-Rodney, Junction City, had the top women's time of 24:37.

There were 113 runners in the 5K and 67 runners in the 10K race.

Michael Eisenbarth, Rossville, finished first in the Freedom Run 10K in Junction City Monday. His winning time was 35:58.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1656940240972.jpeg" alt="Michael Eisenbarth" />
 <figcaption>Michael Eisenbarth</figcaption>
 </figure>Mandy Zimmerman, Junction City, had the fastest women's time in the 10K with a clocking of 37:47.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1656940451842.jpeg" alt="Mandy Zimmerman" />
 <figcaption>Mandy Zimmerman</figcaption>
 </figure>Drew Elliot, Abilene, had the top time in the men's 5k at 17:10 while Miranda Saldana-Rodney, Junction City, had the top women's time of 24:37.There were 113 runners in the 5K and 67 runners in the 10K race.

Eisenbarth and Zimmerman turn in top finishes in Freedom Run 10K

DETROIT (AP) — Victor Reyes and Riley Greene hit back-to-back homers in the ninth inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals. With one out, Reyes tied the game off Royals reliever Joel Payamps. It was the first homer allowed by Payamps in 26 1/3 innings this season. Greene followed with the first homer of his career. Joe Jimenez (3-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win as Detroit’s pitchers retired the last 17 batters they faced.

DETROIT (AP) — Victor Reyes and Riley Greene hit back-to-back homers in the ninth inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals. With one out, Reyes tied the game off Royals reliever Joel Payamps. It was the first homer allowed by Payamps in 26 1/3 innings this season. Greene followed with the first homer of his career. Joe Jimenez (3-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win as Detroit’s pitchers retired the last 17 batters they faced.

Back to back homers by the Tigers sink the Royals

The Junction City Brigade baseball game that was scheduled Saturday night at Rathert Field has been cancelled. Rain has left the outfield area wet and more rain is possible so the contest will not be played.

The Junction City Brigade baseball game that was scheduled Saturday night at Rathert Field has been cancelled. Rain has left the outfield area wet and more rain is possible so the contest will not be played.

Brigade cancel their Saturday night game

DETROIT (AP) — Vinnie Pasquantino hit his first major league home run and Hunter Dozier followed with a drive into the bullpen, leading Brad Keller and the Kansas City Royals over the Detroit Tigers 3-1. Keller allowed five hits and two walks in six-plus scoreless innings. He’s won two of his last three outings after starting out 1-8. The Tigers scored in the ninth on Eric Haase’s sacrifice fly. Royals closer Scott Barlow walked Riley Greene, bringing the winning run to the plate, but he retired Willi Castro on the next pitch for his 11th save. Tigers starter Michael Pineda threw 65 pitches in his return from the injured list, giving up three runs and seven hits in five innings. He struck out three without a walk.

DETROIT (AP) — Vinnie Pasquantino hit his first major league home run and Hunter Dozier followed with a drive into the bullpen, leading Brad Keller and the Kansas City Royals over the Detroit Tigers 3-1. Keller allowed five hits and two walks in six-plus scoreless innings. He’s won two of his last three outings after starting out 1-8. The Tigers scored in the ninth on Eric Haase’s sacrifice fly. Royals closer Scott Barlow walked Riley Greene, bringing the winning run to the plate, but he retired Willi Castro on the next pitch for his 11th save. Tigers starter Michael Pineda threw 65 pitches in his return from the injured list, giving up three runs and seven hits in five innings. He struck out three without a walk.

Royals win the opener of a weekend series against the Tigers

Junction City defeated the Lawrence Travelers 9-7 Friday night in summer collegiate baseball in Lawrence. It was the second straight win for the Brigade over the Travelers.

Junction City will host the Travelers Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Rathert Field. The Brigade are also home at 7 p.m. Sunday against&nbsp; the Kansas City Knights.

Junction City defeated the Lawrence Travelers 9-7 Friday night in summer collegiate baseball in Lawrence. It was the second straight win for the Brigade over the Travelers.Junction City will host the Travelers Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Rathert Field. The Brigade are also home at 7 p.m. Sunday against&nbsp; the Kansas City Knights.

Brigade pick up a victory over the Lawrence Travelers

Junction City ( 15-4 ) snapped a two-game losing streak when the Brigade defeated the Lawrence Travelers 12-2 at Rathert Field Thursday night. The teams play again Friday night in Lawrence.

Junction City ( 15-4 ) snapped a two-game losing streak when the Brigade defeated the Lawrence Travelers 12-2 at Rathert Field Thursday night. The teams play again Friday night in Lawrence.

Brigade get a home field victory

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) —Roy Williams and Jim Calhoun will join John Beilein and Lon Kruger in a star-studded cast of coaches that will be inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame in November. Coach Jerry Krause of Eastern Washington will join the quartet. The players to be inducted are Richard Hamilton of UConn, Larry Miller of North Carolina, Frank Selvy of Furman and Jimmy Walker of Providence. The date of the induction ceremony has not been announced, but it typically coincides with the Hall of Fame Classic, which is set for November 21-22 in Kansas City, Missouri.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) —Roy Williams and Jim Calhoun will join John Beilein and Lon Kruger in a star-studded cast of coaches that will be inducted into the National College Basketball Hall of Fame in November. Coach Jerry Krause of Eastern Washington will join the quartet. The players to be inducted are Richard Hamilton of UConn, Larry Miller of North Carolina, Frank Selvy of Furman and Jimmy Walker of Providence. The date of the induction ceremony has not been announced, but it typically coincides with the Hall of Fame Classic, which is set for November 21-22 in Kansas City, Missouri.

National College Basketball Hall of Fame inductions are announced 

Approximately 150 military children are having an opportunity to work in a Fort Riley hosted camp this week with NFL receiver Malcolm Perry of the New England Patriots. Perry said he is mostly having fun and teaching the fundamentals of football.&nbsp;

Perry said he was born at Fort Campbell, KY so he can identify with the kids attending the camp. "So I play receiver, my job is to catch the football. That's a position that a lot of kids gravitate toward because in the NFL the wide receivers make all the big plays. " Perry added that catching the football is one of the fundamental skills so he hopes to pass it along to a couple of kids.

The camp began with a three hour session Wednesday afternoon and continues from 9 until noon Thursday morning. Registration was open through June 25.

Perry noted that both of his parents served 20 years in the military and retired at Fort Campbell, KY. That's where he resides now in the offseason. "My whole life has been military and eventually went on to the Naval Academy." In the future he will have a military service commitment. "I'm playing football now but once I'm done playing football I still have five years to go do in the Marine Corps. "

During his years at the Naval Academy Perry played both quarterback and slotback.&nbsp;

As a senior, he set various Navy and NCAA records, including the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season, and was named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Perry noted that when he was young that a youth camp at Fort Campbell was his first introduction to football. "This is where I learned to have an appreciation for the game and kind of fell in love with it."

On going from youth football all the way up to the professional ranks Perry advising young people to have fun with it. "I don't think you can make it as far as I did without having fun and a love for the game."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656555858013.jpeg" alt="New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Perry" />
 <figcaption>New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Perry</figcaption>
 </figure>Approximately 150 military children are having an opportunity to work in a Fort Riley hosted camp this week with NFL receiver Malcolm Perry of the New England Patriots. Perry said he is mostly having fun and teaching the fundamentals of football.&nbsp;Perry said he was born at Fort Campbell, KY so he can identify with the kids attending the camp. "So I play receiver, my job is to catch the football. That's a position that a lot of kids gravitate toward because in the NFL the wide receivers make all the big plays. " Perry added that catching the football is one of the fundamental skills so he hopes to pass it along to a couple of kids.The camp began with a three hour session Wednesday afternoon and continues from 9 until noon Thursday morning. Registration was open through June 25.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656555882279.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Perry noted that both of his parents served 20 years in the military and retired at Fort Campbell, KY. That's where he resides now in the offseason. "My whole life has been military and eventually went on to the Naval Academy." In the future he will have a military service commitment. "I'm playing football now but once I'm done playing football I still have five years to go do in the Marine Corps. "During his years at the Naval Academy Perry played both quarterback and slotback.&nbsp;

As a senior, he set various Navy and NCAA records, including the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season, and was named American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Perry noted that when he was young that a youth camp at Fort Campbell was his first introduction to football. "This is where I learned to have an appreciation for the game and kind of fell in love with it."On going from youth football all the way up to the professional ranks Perry advising young people to have fun with it. "I don't think you can make it as far as I did without having fun and a love for the game."

NFL wide receiver Malcolm Perry hosts a youth football camp at Fort Riley

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Zach Greinke allowed just one run on four hits, helping the Kansas City Royals avoid a three-game sweep by beating the Texas Rangers 2-1. Kansas City’s Kyle Isbel provided the winning cushion with his second home run in as many games. Greinke (2-4) made his 500th career start, becoming the 48th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to do so and the only active pitcher to reach that milestone. He went six innings, striking out three and walking one. Scott Barlow picked up his 10th save in 12 chances with a perfect ninth inning. Texas’ Dane Dunning suffered his first loss when allowing fewer than three runs this season. He gave up six hits in six innings, walking three and striking out three.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Zach Greinke allowed just one run on four hits, helping the Kansas City Royals avoid a three-game sweep by beating the Texas Rangers 2-1. Kansas City’s Kyle Isbel provided the winning cushion with his second home run in as many games. Greinke (2-4) made his 500th career start, becoming the 48th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to do so and the only active pitcher to reach that milestone. He went six innings, striking out three and walking one. Scott Barlow picked up his 10th save in 12 chances with a perfect ninth inning. Texas’ Dane Dunning suffered his first loss when allowing fewer than three runs this season. He gave up six hits in six innings, walking three and striking out three.

Greinke pitches Royals past the Rangers

Associate Athletics Director for Communications

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Jordy Nelson Legends Classic Softball Game is back for its second edition this year, as the former K-State great and 11-year NFL veteran will be joined by former teammates and other Wildcat legends on Sunday, September 11 inside Tointon Family Stadium.

The game will cap off an exciting weekend in Manhattan as it is held in conjunction with the Wildcats’ premiere non-conference matchup against former conference foe Missouri on September 10. Proceeds for the event help fund a K-State football scholarship reserved for a walk-on as well as the Nelson Family Community Foundation.

“I’m excited to bring the Jordy Nelson Legends Classic back to K-State this September for our second annual game,” Nelson said. “Battling it out with my former college teammates and seeing the best fans in college athletics last year was an absolute blast. I can’t wait to get back on the field with other K-State legends on September 11 to raise money for a number of great causes. Go Cats!”

Gates to Tointon Family Stadium open at 10 a.m. before to the Sponsor Game at 11 a.m. The Home Run Derby kicks off the day for the legends at noon prior to first pitch at 1 p.m.

Tickets for the Jordy Nelson Legends Classic Softball Game presented by Peoples State Bank start as low as $10. Fans can begin ordering tickets at 8:30 a.m., on Thursday, June 30 online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or by calling the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-221-CATS.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or larger group outings for the Jordy Nelson Legends Classic, please contact Lammi Sports Management at (414) 727-3600 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:blammi@lammisports.com" target="_blank">blammi@lammisports.com</a>.

By Ryan Lackey&nbsp;Associate Athletics Director for CommunicationsMANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Jordy Nelson Legends Classic Softball Game is back for its second edition this year, as the former K-State great and 11-year NFL veteran will be joined by former teammates and other Wildcat legends on Sunday, September 11 inside Tointon Family Stadium.The game will cap off an exciting weekend in Manhattan as it is held in conjunction with the Wildcats’ premiere non-conference matchup against former conference foe Missouri on September 10. Proceeds for the event help fund a K-State football scholarship reserved for a walk-on as well as the Nelson Family Community Foundation.“I’m excited to bring the Jordy Nelson Legends Classic back to K-State this September for our second annual game,” Nelson said. “Battling it out with my former college teammates and seeing the best fans in college athletics last year was an absolute blast. I can’t wait to get back on the field with other K-State legends on September 11 to raise money for a number of great causes. Go Cats!”Gates to Tointon Family Stadium open at 10 a.m. before to the Sponsor Game at 11 a.m. The Home Run Derby kicks off the day for the legends at noon prior to first pitch at 1 p.m.Tickets for the Jordy Nelson Legends Classic Softball Game presented by Peoples State Bank start as low as $10. Fans can begin ordering tickets at 8:30 a.m., on Thursday, June 30 online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or by calling the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-221-CATS.If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or larger group outings for the Jordy Nelson Legends Classic, please contact Lammi Sports Management at (414) 727-3600 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:blammi@lammisports.com" target="_blank">blammi@lammisports.com</a>.

Jordy Nelson Legends Classic Softball Game Presented by Peoples State Bank Returns September 11

IRVING, Texas – Brett Yormark has been named the Big 12 Conference’s fifth Commissioner, as announced Wednesday by the league’s Board of Directors, according to a statement from the conference.

Yormark succeeds Bob Bowlsby, who announced in April he was stepping away from the Commissioner’s chair after a decade with the Big 12. KEY COMMENTS

NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver: “Brett is one of the most skilled and knowledgeable executives in sports and entertainment,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.&nbsp; “His decades of operational experience, relentless work ethic and strong industry relationships will be of enormous value to the Big 12, its schools and fans.” Fox Sports CEO and Executive Producer, Eric Shanks: “On behalf of FOX Sports, we’d like to officially congratulate Brett Yormark on being named the new Commissioner of the Big 12,” said Eric Shanks, CEO and Executive Producer of FOX Sports. “Brett is a talented and innovative executive who brings a remarkably unique perspective to the position. Under his leadership and vision, the conference is set up for success, and we look forward to continuing to build on our relationship as a premier partner of the Big 12.” Texas Tech University President and Big 12 Conference Board Chair, Lawrence Schovanec: “In Brett Yormark, we have chosen a highly adaptable leader who thrives in dynamic times. The landscape of college athletics is evolving to look more like the world Brett has been leading,” said Lawrence Schovanec, President of Texas Tech University and Chair of the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors. “He’s authentic and genuine in the way he builds relationships and partnerships, and he works relentlessly to deliver impact. As Brett immerses himself in college sports and connects with all our stakeholders, he will bring a fresh approach and dynamic energy to the Big 12 as we engage a new generation of student-athletes and fans.” “I want to thank my fellow board members and our partners at TurnkeyZRG. Turnkey is more than just a search firm; they orchestrated a flawless strategy and process, delivering strong interest and strong candidates from college and professional sports, as well as the media and entertainment industries,” added Schovanec. New Big 12 Conference Commissioner, Brett Yormark: “Thank you to the Big 12 Board, the ADs, the student-athletes, the whole Conference for giving me a chance to support what they all do,” said new Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “I’m here to listen, learn, find ways to add value, add resources and try to help shine a light on the importance of college athletics. I look forward to leveraging my experience and network alongside our presidents, chancellors and athletic directors to shape the future of the Big 12 brand and emphasize our collective strengths.”&nbsp; Yormark joins the Big 12 from Roc Nation, where he served as chief operating officer and co-CEO of Roc Nation Unified, the commercial side of the business. Yormark, a graduate of Indiana University, began his sports career in 1988, working in the ticket office for the New Jersey Nets and ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the industry when he was named CEO. From 2005-19, as CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, he oversaw their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, building the first new arena in New York City in 60 years and re-launching the Nets organization and brand in Brooklyn. Barclays Center soon became a college basketball destination, attracting the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, and the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. Prior to joining the Nets, Yormark served as vice president of corporate sponsorships for NASCAR, where he oversaw a $750 million partnership agreement, the largest in history at that time, that gave Nextel Communications the naming rights to its premier racing series. Yormark is recognized for his creative business approaches and has been named to&nbsp;Crain’s “40 Under 40” list twice and the “Forty Under 40” three times by the&nbsp;Sports Business Journal. Under Yormark’s leadership, the Barclays Center became one of the top 10 entertainment venues worldwide for ticket sales. Yormark has two children and is married to Elaina Scotto. The Big 12 Commissioner search was led by the conference’s Executive Committee, which includes Schovanec, Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone and Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod, with the assistance of national search firm TurnkeyZRG. The Big 12’s Board of Directors, comprised of the presidents and chancellors of the ten current Big 12 members, participated in the Commissioner interview process, along with the four new members of the conference who will enter the Big 12 in 2023. The Big 12’s current membership made the final selection of the Commissioner. Yormark’s official start date with the Big 12 is anticipated to be August 1. His initial contract term is five years. As announced in April, Bowlsby will transition to a new interim role with the Conference, subject to the mutual agreement of the new Commissioner and Bowlsby. The current Big 12 membership includes Baylor University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, University of Kansas, University of Oklahoma, University of Texas and West Virginia University. Entering Big 12 membership in the Summer of 2023 will be Brigham Young University, University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati and University of Houston.&nbsp; Over the past decade, the Big 12 has won 32 team national championships. In 2021-22, the Big 12 captured 8 team national titles, including NCAA men’s basketball for the second consecutive season (Baylor and Kansas). Big 12 teams have played in the last four men’s Final Fours. In football, the Big 12 has placed teams in the College Football Playoff New Year’s Bowls throughout its eight-year history. The Big 12 is the home of two of the last five Heisman Trophy winners and was the only Conference to place a team in the Final Four and CFP semi-finals in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656517373265.png" alt="Brett Yormark -image courtesy Big 12 Conference" />
 <figcaption>Brett Yormark -image courtesy Big 12 Conference</figcaption>
 </figure>IRVING, Texas – Brett Yormark has been named the Big 12 Conference’s fifth Commissioner, as announced Wednesday by the league’s Board of Directors, according to a statement from the conference.Yormark succeeds Bob Bowlsby, who announced in April he was stepping away from the Commissioner’s chair after a decade with the Big 12. KEY COMMENTS<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Welcome to the Big 12 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KState?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KState</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/KSTATEADGT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KSTATEADGT</a> <a href="https://t.co/P9rSqXEeyY">pic.twitter.com/P9rSqXEeyY</a>&mdash; K-State Athletics (@kstatesports) <a href="https://twitter.com/kstatesports/status/1542171076842717187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver: “Brett is one of the most skilled and knowledgeable executives in sports and entertainment,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.&nbsp; “His decades of operational experience, relentless work ethic and strong industry relationships will be of enormous value to the Big 12, its schools and fans.” Fox Sports CEO and Executive Producer, Eric Shanks: “On behalf of FOX Sports, we’d like to officially congratulate Brett Yormark on being named the new Commissioner of the Big 12,” said Eric Shanks, CEO and Executive Producer of FOX Sports. “Brett is a talented and innovative executive who brings a remarkably unique perspective to the position. Under his leadership and vision, the conference is set up for success, and we look forward to continuing to build on our relationship as a premier partner of the Big 12.” Texas Tech University President and Big 12 Conference Board Chair, Lawrence Schovanec: “In Brett Yormark, we have chosen a highly adaptable leader who thrives in dynamic times. The landscape of college athletics is evolving to look more like the world Brett has been leading,” said Lawrence Schovanec, President of Texas Tech University and Chair of the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors. “He’s authentic and genuine in the way he builds relationships and partnerships, and he works relentlessly to deliver impact. As Brett immerses himself in college sports and connects with all our stakeholders, he will bring a fresh approach and dynamic energy to the Big 12 as we engage a new generation of student-athletes and fans.” “I want to thank my fellow board members and our partners at TurnkeyZRG. Turnkey is more than just a search firm; they orchestrated a flawless strategy and process, delivering strong interest and strong candidates from college and professional sports, as well as the media and entertainment industries,” added Schovanec. New Big 12 Conference Commissioner, Brett Yormark: “Thank you to the Big 12 Board, the ADs, the student-athletes, the whole Conference for giving me a chance to support what they all do,” said new Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. “I’m here to listen, learn, find ways to add value, add resources and try to help shine a light on the importance of college athletics. I look forward to leveraging my experience and network alongside our presidents, chancellors and athletic directors to shape the future of the Big 12 brand and emphasize our collective strengths.”&nbsp; Yormark joins the Big 12 from Roc Nation, where he served as chief operating officer and co-CEO of Roc Nation Unified, the commercial side of the business. Yormark, a graduate of Indiana University, began his sports career in 1988, working in the ticket office for the New Jersey Nets and ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the industry when he was named CEO. From 2005-19, as CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, he oversaw their move from New Jersey to Brooklyn, building the first new arena in New York City in 60 years and re-launching the Nets organization and brand in Brooklyn. Barclays Center soon became a college basketball destination, attracting the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, and the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. Prior to joining the Nets, Yormark served as vice president of corporate sponsorships for NASCAR, where he oversaw a $750 million partnership agreement, the largest in history at that time, that gave Nextel Communications the naming rights to its premier racing series. Yormark is recognized for his creative business approaches and has been named to&nbsp;Crain’s “40 Under 40” list twice and the “Forty Under 40” three times by the&nbsp;Sports Business Journal. Under Yormark’s leadership, the Barclays Center became one of the top 10 entertainment venues worldwide for ticket sales. Yormark has two children and is married to Elaina Scotto. The Big 12 Commissioner search was led by the conference’s Executive Committee, which includes Schovanec, Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone and Kansas Chancellor Douglas A. Girod, with the assistance of national search firm TurnkeyZRG. The Big 12’s Board of Directors, comprised of the presidents and chancellors of the ten current Big 12 members, participated in the Commissioner interview process, along with the four new members of the conference who will enter the Big 12 in 2023. The Big 12’s current membership made the final selection of the Commissioner. Yormark’s official start date with the Big 12 is anticipated to be August 1. His initial contract term is five years. As announced in April, Bowlsby will transition to a new interim role with the Conference, subject to the mutual agreement of the new Commissioner and Bowlsby. The current Big 12 membership includes Baylor University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Oklahoma State University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University, University of Kansas, University of Oklahoma, University of Texas and West Virginia University. Entering Big 12 membership in the Summer of 2023 will be Brigham Young University, University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati and University of Houston.&nbsp; Over the past decade, the Big 12 has won 32 team national championships. In 2021-22, the Big 12 captured 8 team national titles, including NCAA men’s basketball for the second consecutive season (Baylor and Kansas). Big 12 teams have played in the last four men’s Final Fours. In football, the Big 12 has placed teams in the College Football Playoff New Year’s Bowls throughout its eight-year history. The Big 12 is the home of two of the last five Heisman Trophy winners and was the only Conference to place a team in the Final Four and CFP semi-finals in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Big 12 Conference names new commissioner

Junction City lost to the Midwest A's in summer collegiate baseball 4-3 Tuesday night in Belton, Missouri. The Brigade fell to 14-3 on the season with all three of those losses coming to the A's. Junction City defeated Midwest 6-1 this past Monday night at Rathert Field.

The Brigade play at the Hays Larks Wednesday night.

Junction City lost to the Midwest A's in summer collegiate baseball 4-3 Tuesday night in Belton, Missouri. The Brigade fell to 14-3 on the season with all three of those losses coming to the A's. Junction City defeated Midwest 6-1 this past Monday night at Rathert Field.The Brigade play at the Hays Larks Wednesday night.

Brigade fall to the A's

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Marcus Semien homered and drove in four runs, Jon Gray pitched seven effective innings and the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3. Corey Seager hit a two-run double as the Rangers handed last-place Kansas City its fourth consecutive defeat. They’ve outscored the Royals 18-7 in the first two games of the series. Semien had three hits and scored three times. His three-run homer off starter Jonathan Heasley made it 4-0 in the third. Gray matched his longest outing of the season. He allowed one run and five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Touted prospect Vinnie Pasquantino went 0 for 4 in his major league debut for the Royals.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Marcus Semien homered and drove in four runs, Jon Gray pitched seven effective innings and the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3. Corey Seager hit a two-run double as the Rangers handed last-place Kansas City its fourth consecutive defeat. They’ve outscored the Royals 18-7 in the first two games of the series. Semien had three hits and scored three times. His three-run homer off starter Jonathan Heasley made it 4-0 in the third. Gray matched his longest outing of the season. He allowed one run and five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Touted prospect Vinnie Pasquantino went 0 for 4 in his major league debut for the Royals.

Rangers get good hitting and pitching in win over Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mitch Garver and Kole Calhoun each had two hits, two runs and two RBIs, leading the Texas Rangers to a 10-4 win over the Kansas City Royals. Garver’s two RBIs came on his eighth homer of the season in the fifth inning. Martin Perez was shaky early but settled in, allowing four runs on seven hits in the win. He walked two and struck out six. Kris Bubic (1-5) took the loss. He allowed seven runs, five earned, in 4 2/3 innings.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mitch Garver and Kole Calhoun each had two hits, two runs and two RBIs, leading the Texas Rangers to a 10-4 win over the Kansas City Royals. Garver’s two RBIs came on his eighth homer of the season in the fifth inning. Martin Perez was shaky early but settled in, allowing four runs on seven hits in the win. He walked two and struck out six. Kris Bubic (1-5) took the loss. He allowed seven runs, five earned, in 4 2/3 innings.

Royals drop series opener against Texas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals traded veteran slugger Carlos Santana and nesrly $4.3 million to the Seattle Mariners for right-handers Wyatt Mills and William Fleming, clearing the way for Kansas City to bring up hot prospect Vinnie Pasquantino. The Royals sent Mills, a 27-year-old veteran who is on the 40-man roster, to Triple-A Omaha while designating right-hander Ronald Bolaños for assignment. Fleming was assigned to Class-A Quad Cities. The 36-year-old Santana is in the second year of a two-year, $17.5 million contract. He was hitting just .216 with four homers through 52 games this season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals traded veteran slugger Carlos Santana and nesrly $4.3 million to the Seattle Mariners for right-handers Wyatt Mills and William Fleming, clearing the way for Kansas City to bring up hot prospect Vinnie Pasquantino. The Royals sent Mills, a 27-year-old veteran who is on the 40-man roster, to Triple-A Omaha while designating right-hander Ronald Bolaños for assignment. Fleming was assigned to Class-A Quad Cities. The 36-year-old Santana is in the second year of a two-year, $17.5 million contract. He was hitting just .216 with four homers through 52 games this season.

Royals trade Carlos Santana

MANHATTAN, Kansas&nbsp;– K-State Athletics has set a new department record for funds raised in a capital campaign as Athletics Director Gene Taylor announced that the Ahearn Fund has surpassed $100 million for its Building Champions initiative. The initiative, which is part of the department’s overall facility master plan, focused on the completion of the Shamrock Zone and current construction of the Morgan Family Volleyball Arena, Morris Family Olympic Performance Center and Shamrock Practice Facility. According to information provided by Kenny Lannou, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Communication, the $100 million total from Building Champions was generated by 273 total donors and included two eight-figure gifts, 16 seven-figure gifts, and 38 six-figure gifts.

"We are so grateful to everyone who made this milestone a reality,” added Josh McCowan, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development. “The passion and pride of so many who generously donate is incredible, and their desire to make a positive impact on the student-athlete experience is truly inspiring.”

While the Building Champions initiative is closing in on completion, plans continue to evolve for future projects within the K-State Athletics master facility plan.&nbsp;

“We are not done yet,” Taylor added. “There are several projects in our master plan that we are discussing and need to address soon, including the renovation of our current indoor football facility into a new indoor track and field venue. Designs and concepts are being discussed, but we still need donor support to make this possible for our world-class track and field programs.”

MANHATTAN, Kansas&nbsp;– K-State Athletics has set a new department record for funds raised in a capital campaign as Athletics Director Gene Taylor announced that the Ahearn Fund has surpassed $100 million for its Building Champions initiative. The initiative, which is part of the department’s overall facility master plan, focused on the completion of the Shamrock Zone and current construction of the Morgan Family Volleyball Arena, Morris Family Olympic Performance Center and Shamrock Practice Facility. According to information provided by Kenny Lannou, Executive Associate Athletics Director for Communication, the $100 million total from Building Champions was generated by 273 total donors and included two eight-figure gifts, 16 seven-figure gifts, and 38 six-figure gifts."We are so grateful to everyone who made this milestone a reality,” added Josh McCowan, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development. “The passion and pride of so many who generously donate is incredible, and their desire to make a positive impact on the student-athlete experience is truly inspiring.”While the Building Champions initiative is closing in on completion, plans continue to evolve for future projects within the K-State Athletics master facility plan.&nbsp;“We are not done yet,” Taylor added. “There are several projects in our master plan that we are discussing and need to address soon, including the renovation of our current indoor football facility into a new indoor track and field venue. Designs and concepts are being discussed, but we still need donor support to make this possible for our world-class track and field programs.”

K-State Athletics Sets Campaign Record with Building Champions Initiative

Brigade baseball returns to Rathert Field Monday night at 7 p.m. when Junction City hosts the Midwest A's. The A's defeated the Brigade in a doubleheader on June 16 by the scores of 8-3 and 8-7.

Brigade baseball returns to Rathert Field Monday night at 7 p.m. when Junction City hosts the Midwest A's. The A's defeated the Brigade in a doubleheader on June 16 by the scores of 8-3 and 8-7.

Brigade will host the A's Monday night

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seth Brown hit his 10th home run of the season, Nick Allen had two RBIs and the Oakland Athletics defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3. Brown leads the team in HRs, and belted a solo shot to right in the sixth inning to make it 2-0. Kansas City responded in the bottom of the sixth with three runs, including Carlos Santana’s two-run single and a pinch-hit RBI bloop single by Edward Olivares. Allen then hit his two-RBI single in the seventh. Oakland reliever Domingo Acevedo got the win and Lou Trivino the save. Kansas City's Brady Singer gave up five runs on seven hits in a career-high 8 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and a walk.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seth Brown hit his 10th home run of the season, Nick Allen had two RBIs and the Oakland Athletics defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3. Brown leads the team in HRs, and belted a solo shot to right in the sixth inning to make it 2-0. Kansas City responded in the bottom of the sixth with three runs, including Carlos Santana’s two-run single and a pinch-hit RBI bloop single by Edward Olivares. Allen then hit his two-RBI single in the seventh. Oakland reliever Domingo Acevedo got the win and Lou Trivino the save. Kansas City's Brady Singer gave up five runs on seven hits in a career-high 8 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and a walk.

Athletics win Sunday over the Royals 5-3

Junction City scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to vault past the Topeka Farmers 7-5 at Rathert Field Saturday night. A double by Quinton Carlberg, single by Gehrig Goldbeck and a walk drawn by Aaron Gerdes were all factors in that inning for Junction City.

Junction City fell behind 3-0 in the top half of the 1st inning and later in the fourth inning 5-4, before rallying to get the win.

Junction City ( 13-2 ) will host the Midwest Aces Monday at 7 p.m.

Junction City scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to vault past the Topeka Farmers 7-5 at Rathert Field Saturday night. A double by Quinton Carlberg, single by Gehrig Goldbeck and a walk drawn by Aaron Gerdes were all factors in that inning for Junction City.Junction City fell behind 3-0 in the top half of the 1st inning and later in the fourth inning 5-4, before rallying to get the win.Junction City ( 13-2 ) will host the Midwest Aces Monday at 7 p.m.

Brigade win again over the Farmers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tony Kemp hit a two-run homer, Seth Brown and Sean Murphy combined for four RBIs, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Kansas City Royals 9-7. Kemp hit his second home run of the season in the eighth inning to wrap up a 3-for-5 afternoon. Brown hit a single in the first and a fielder’s choice in the third. Murphy had an RBI single in the seventh. Nick Allen and Jonah Bride collected RBIs during a two-run fourth inning. The A’s tied a season high with 14 hits. Oakland had the leadoff man reach base in six innings. Four of the six were leadoff doubles, and all came around to score.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tony Kemp hit a two-run homer, Seth Brown and Sean Murphy combined for four RBIs, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Kansas City Royals 9-7. Kemp hit his second home run of the season in the eighth inning to wrap up a 3-for-5 afternoon. Brown hit a single in the first and a fielder’s choice in the third. Murphy had an RBI single in the seventh. Nick Allen and Jonah Bride collected RBIs during a two-run fourth inning. The A’s tied a season high with 14 hits. Oakland had the leadoff man reach base in six innings. Four of the six were leadoff doubles, and all came around to score.

Oakland hitters lead the Athletics past the Royals

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributor

After gut-wrenching final play defeats in back-to-back Champions Bowls, the Salina Liberty put on a show in front of a massive home crowd, finally delivering the elusive CIF title to the city of Salina in a 38-34 win over the Omaha Beef.

This championship would not have been won without a fighting spirit cultivated by a team that time and time again was knocked to the mat, but which refused to stay down for the count.

“Salina deserves this, this ownership group deserves this, and the biggest crowd we’ve ever had in this building deserves this,” Liberty Head Coach Heron O’Neal said. They never stopped believing in us and we never gave up, we just kept coming and we brought this thing home for them.”

Throughout the 2022 campaign, the Liberty lost both the Offensive Rookie of the Year and the reigning MVP from their backfield. Salina faced injuries, suspensions, and a quarterback carousel that saw six different players take a snap under center.

In the title match, the Liberty faced even more adversity as the reigning champions from Omaha came out swinging, taking a 28-16 lead and possession into the second half.

Looking to press their advantage on the opening drive, the Beef lined up to go for it on fourth down deep in Salina territory, but the Liberty defense stood tall, lighting a fire that would burn for the rest of the half.

Salina immediately marched down the field and punched in their second touchdown of the day as Triston Gould knifed up the middle to find paydirt.

Reinvigorated by the stop, the Salina secondary kicked things into overdrive, and on another fourth-down play for the Omaha offense Evan Ray sprang into action picking off Andrew Jackson for the first turnover of the day.

“Our secondary stepped it up in the second half and got the stops when we needed them,” O’Neal said. “Our D-Line got it done all night long and we made some adjustments offensively that gave us the edge.”

The teams traded stops putting the ball back in the hands of the long-sought successor Javin Kilgo, who had become the answer to the Liberty’s quarterback woes, tossing 13 TDs and just 3 picks through his first four career starts.

While many in Javin’s position would have let the moment get to them, Kilgo stayed cool under pressure, fully aware of the task at hand.

“I approached this game like any other,” he said. “People tend to psych themselves out when they hear the word championship. We executed, we did what we were supposed to do and we ended up victorious.”

After engineering a long drive, Kilgo connected with star wideout Demarius Washington on fourth and goal to give the Liberty their first lead since early in the first quarter.

Looking to take the air out of Salina’s sails, Andrew Jackson uncorked a deep ball to an open receiver in the opposite end zone, but at the last possible second Evan Ray came streaking in and snatched his second interception of the day much to the delight of the Liberty faithful.

Kilgo wasted no time lining up the nails around the Omaha coffin, finding Washington again for a monstrous touchdown to put the Champions Bowl a little further out of reach.

“Javin had never had the chance to be a starting quarterback before but when he did he made the most of it and I’m so proud of him,” O’Neal said. “This team had the confidence from day one and once we figured out our offense those guys really stood tall.”

The Beef would score again in the closing minute but it was too little too late and after recovering the onside kick, the realization began to sink in around Tony’s Pizza Events Center.

The Salina Liberty were finally CIF Champions.

Two years into their existence, the Liberty had just three total wins. In the Coach O era, that same franchise ripped off a record of 26-8 with an appearance in all three championship games, and now, a CIF title.

“Coach O’Neal was the guy we knew we needed to get to turn this ship around,” Liberty ownership member Dan Mendicina said. “When he’s in the room no matter how many points you’re down you know you’ve got a shot.”

The City of Salina was founded in 1858, it has seen just two sports titles in the 164 years that have followed.

In 2007, the Kansas Cagerz became the first under head coach Francis Flax, and 15 years later Flax adds another ring as GM of the Salina Liberty.

While many in Salina saw this win as a storybook ending to a tale that began with the Bombers in 2013, many others view it as a beginning for greater things still to come.

“We’re going to enjoy this for a little bit but in a few weeks we’re going to be looking ahead to 2023,” Mendicina said.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617387097958.png" alt="Coverage of Salina Liberty football has been presented by Ryan Roofing" />
 <figcaption>Coverage of Salina Liberty football has been presented by Ryan Roofing</figcaption>
 </figure>After gut-wrenching final play defeats in back-to-back Champions Bowls, the Salina Liberty put on a show in front of a massive home crowd, finally delivering the elusive CIF title to the city of Salina in a 38-34 win over the Omaha Beef.This championship would not have been won without a fighting spirit cultivated by a team that time and time again was knocked to the mat, but which refused to stay down for the count.“Salina deserves this, this ownership group deserves this, and the biggest crowd we’ve ever had in this building deserves this,” Liberty Head Coach Heron O’Neal said. They never stopped believing in us and we never gave up, we just kept coming and we brought this thing home for them.”Throughout the 2022 campaign, the Liberty lost both the Offensive Rookie of the Year and the reigning MVP from their backfield. Salina faced injuries, suspensions, and a quarterback carousel that saw six different players take a snap under center.In the title match, the Liberty faced even more adversity as the reigning champions from Omaha came out swinging, taking a 28-16 lead and possession into the second half.Looking to press their advantage on the opening drive, the Beef lined up to go for it on fourth down deep in Salina territory, but the Liberty defense stood tall, lighting a fire that would burn for the rest of the half.Salina immediately marched down the field and punched in their second touchdown of the day as Triston Gould knifed up the middle to find paydirt.28-23 OmahaReinvigorated by the stop, the Salina secondary kicked things into overdrive, and on another fourth-down play for the Omaha offense Evan Ray sprang into action picking off Andrew Jackson for the first turnover of the day.“Our secondary stepped it up in the second half and got the stops when we needed them,” O’Neal said. “Our D-Line got it done all night long and we made some adjustments offensively that gave us the edge.”The teams traded stops putting the ball back in the hands of the long-sought successor Javin Kilgo, who had become the answer to the Liberty’s quarterback woes, tossing 13 TDs and just 3 picks through his first four career starts.While many in Javin’s position would have let the moment get to them, Kilgo stayed cool under pressure, fully aware of the task at hand.“I approached this game like any other,” he said. “People tend to psych themselves out when they hear the word championship. We executed, we did what we were supposed to do and we ended up victorious.”After engineering a long drive, Kilgo connected with star wideout Demarius Washington on fourth and goal to give the Liberty their first lead since early in the first quarter.31-28 SalinaLooking to take the air out of Salina’s sails, Andrew Jackson uncorked a deep ball to an open receiver in the opposite end zone, but at the last possible second Evan Ray came streaking in and snatched his second interception of the day much to the delight of the Liberty faithful.Kilgo wasted no time lining up the nails around the Omaha coffin, finding Washington again for a monstrous touchdown to put the Champions Bowl a little further out of reach.38-28 Salina“Javin had never had the chance to be a starting quarterback before but when he did he made the most of it and I’m so proud of him,” O’Neal said. “This team had the confidence from day one and once we figured out our offense those guys really stood tall.”The Beef would score again in the closing minute but it was too little too late and after recovering the onside kick, the realization began to sink in around Tony’s Pizza Events Center.The Salina Liberty were finally CIF Champions.Two years into their existence, the Liberty had just three total wins. In the Coach O era, that same franchise ripped off a record of 26-8 with an appearance in all three championship games, and now, a CIF title.“Coach O’Neal was the guy we knew we needed to get to turn this ship around,” Liberty ownership member Dan Mendicina said. “When he’s in the room no matter how many points you’re down you know you’ve got a shot.”The City of Salina was founded in 1858, it has seen just two sports titles in the 164 years that have followed.In 2007, the Kansas Cagerz became the first under head coach Francis Flax, and 15 years later Flax adds another ring as GM of the Salina Liberty.While many in Salina saw this win as a storybook ending to a tale that began with the Bombers in 2013, many others view it as a beginning for greater things still to come.“We’re going to enjoy this for a little bit but in a few weeks we’re going to be looking ahead to 2023,” Mendicina said.

Liberty use second half surge to secure first ever CIF title over Omaha

In each of the last two seasons, the Salina Liberty saw an opportunity to claim a first-ever CIF championship slip through their fingers on the final play of the Champions Bowl.

Despite the gut-wrenching heartbreak, Salina endured, and for the third consecutive year, the Liberty will return to the title bout, this time for a rematch against the Omaha Beef.

The lack of love lost between these two franchises is staggering, but despite the tension that is sure to show its face on the field this weekend, the Liberty remain focused on their ultimate goal of indoor glory.

“There’s nothing poetic about this game,” Salina HC Heron O’Neal said. “We didn’t care who we played we just wanted to get back here. We understand what we need to do to learn from our past experiences and push ourselves over the top.”

The Liberty ran through Billings after a first-round bye to get here while Omaha took down the SW KS Storm before upsetting the Sioux City Bandits in the semis, handing Salina home-field advantage in the process.

“We play a lot different at home and we get that extra juice from our fans,” O’Neal said. “That crowd has a great football IQ. They know to cause all sorts of havoc when our opponents have the ball and they know how to fire us up when we’re on offense.”

The aforementioned Salina faithful put on a special show in a 36-31 win over Omaha earlier this year after a preseason scrum that led to suspensions on both sides.

Since then both teams have been on the rise, with Omaha winning their last six straight, and Salina winning six of their last seven, the lone loss coming in Omaha as part of an ugly 14-11 affair.

Both teams are bursting at the seams with offensive talent, but whenever they meet it seems that the defenses steal the show.

“Omaha has a great defense from top to bottom and it’s never been easy to score on those guys,” he said. “We can’t worry about what they’re doing, we just have to execute our gameplan the best that we can. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and be better.”

For the Beef, the offense will look very similar to what it did in the last meeting between the two, with CIF legend Andrew Jackson taking snaps under center.

While Jackson leads the CIF in both yards (1,947) and completions (201) with runner-up numbers in touchdowns (32), the Liberty secondary has had his number this season, handing him his two least efficient performances.

Salina will also need to ensure that they slow the ground game of DeShawn Jones, who leads the league with 20 rushing touchdowns on the season.

On the other side, the Liberty are still fine-tuning an offense that had all four of their big playmakers on the field for the first time all season in their semifinal win over Billings last week.

“Our offense was inconsistent all-around,” O’Neal said. “Everyone took turns not executing at the rate we needed and the film wasn’t fun to watch but we made a lot of corrections.”

With quarterback Javin Kilgo settling into his role at QB1 (13 TD-3 INT, 640 yds in 4 games) and reigning MVP Tracy Brooks rejoining the offense with Demarius Washington and Fast Ed Smith, Salina finally has all the pieces primed to fire.

On the other side of the ball, the Liberty still boast the best scoring defense in the league by far, holding opponents to just 25 points per game, nearly 10 better than the next best unit.

“Our philosophy has always been creating and capitalizing on turnovers, staying balanced on offense, and being dynamic on special teams,” he said. “That doesn’t change just because it’s championship week.”

Champions Bowl VII will kick off at 6:30 PM at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center and as always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) courtesy of Eagle Radio.

By TYLER HENRY Little Apple Post contributor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617387097958.png" alt="Coverage of Salina Liberty football is presented by Ryan Roofing" />
 <figcaption>Coverage of Salina Liberty football is presented by Ryan Roofing</figcaption>
 </figure>In each of the last two seasons, the Salina Liberty saw an opportunity to claim a first-ever CIF championship slip through their fingers on the final play of the Champions Bowl.Despite the gut-wrenching heartbreak, Salina endured, and for the third consecutive year, the Liberty will return to the title bout, this time for a rematch against the Omaha Beef.The lack of love lost between these two franchises is staggering, but despite the tension that is sure to show its face on the field this weekend, the Liberty remain focused on their ultimate goal of indoor glory.“There’s nothing poetic about this game,” Salina HC Heron O’Neal said. “We didn’t care who we played we just wanted to get back here. We understand what we need to do to learn from our past experiences and push ourselves over the top.”The Liberty ran through Billings after a first-round bye to get here while Omaha took down the SW KS Storm before upsetting the Sioux City Bandits in the semis, handing Salina home-field advantage in the process.“We play a lot different at home and we get that extra juice from our fans,” O’Neal said. “That crowd has a great football IQ. They know to cause all sorts of havoc when our opponents have the ball and they know how to fire us up when we’re on offense.”The aforementioned Salina faithful put on a special show in a 36-31 win over Omaha earlier this year after a preseason scrum that led to suspensions on both sides.Since then both teams have been on the rise, with Omaha winning their last six straight, and Salina winning six of their last seven, the lone loss coming in Omaha as part of an ugly 14-11 affair.Both teams are bursting at the seams with offensive talent, but whenever they meet it seems that the defenses steal the show.“Omaha has a great defense from top to bottom and it’s never been easy to score on those guys,” he said. “We can’t worry about what they’re doing, we just have to execute our gameplan the best that we can. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and be better.”For the Beef, the offense will look very similar to what it did in the last meeting between the two, with CIF legend Andrew Jackson taking snaps under center.While Jackson leads the CIF in both yards (1,947) and completions (201) with runner-up numbers in touchdowns (32), the Liberty secondary has had his number this season, handing him his two least efficient performances.Salina will also need to ensure that they slow the ground game of DeShawn Jones, who leads the league with 20 rushing touchdowns on the season.On the other side, the Liberty are still fine-tuning an offense that had all four of their big playmakers on the field for the first time all season in their semifinal win over Billings last week.“Our offense was inconsistent all-around,” O’Neal said. “Everyone took turns not executing at the rate we needed and the film wasn’t fun to watch but we made a lot of corrections.”With quarterback Javin Kilgo settling into his role at QB1 (13 TD-3 INT, 640 yds in 4 games) and reigning MVP Tracy Brooks rejoining the offense with Demarius Washington and Fast Ed Smith, Salina finally has all the pieces primed to fire.On the other side of the ball, the Liberty still boast the best scoring defense in the league by far, holding opponents to just 25 points per game, nearly 10 better than the next best unit.“Our philosophy has always been creating and capitalizing on turnovers, staying balanced on offense, and being dynamic on special teams,” he said. “That doesn’t change just because it’s championship week.”Champions Bowl VII will kick off at 6:30 PM at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center and as always the game can be heard on KINA (910 AM or 107.5 FM) courtesy of Eagle Radio.

Liberty host Beef in high-stakes Champions Bowl rematch

Junction City got strong pitching from Brady Stuewe, JJ Tylicki and Boston Dowd enroute to a 3-1 victory over the Topeka Farmers at Rathert Field Saturday night.

Stuewe got the start and went up five innings on the mound, giving up one run. Tylicki, who just recently arrived in Junction City from Cowley County Community College pitched one inning and Dowd three the final three innings.

In the seventh inning the Brigade broke open a 1-1 ballgame when they loaded the bases and Edward Scott singled to drive in two runs to make the score 3-1. Junction City will host the Topeka Farmers again at 7 p.m. Saturday at Rathert Field.

Junction City got strong pitching from Brady Stuewe, JJ Tylicki and Boston Dowd enroute to a 3-1 victory over the Topeka Farmers at Rathert Field Saturday night.Stuewe got the start and went up five innings on the mound, giving up one run. Tylicki, who just recently arrived in Junction City from Cowley County Community College pitched one inning and Dowd three the final three innings.In the seventh inning the Brigade broke open a 1-1 ballgame when they loaded the bases and Edward Scott singled to drive in two runs to make the score 3-1. Junction City will host the Topeka Farmers again at 7 p.m. Saturday at Rathert Field.