WICHITA, Kan. — The National Baseball Congress announced its 2025 NBC World Series All-Tournament team Wednesday and several Hays Larks were honored.

Pitchers Simon Lunsford and Julio Ramos were named NBC World Series All-Americans. Lunsford finished the tournament with a 1-0 record and did not give up an earned run while striking out nine in 6 2/3 innings. Ramos had 12 strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings and a 0.96 ERA.

The Larks finished 4-1 in the tournament, losing to the Lonestar (TX) Kraken in the semifinals.

The Hutchinson Monarchs, who blasted the Lonestar Kraken (Texas) 21-4 in the Aug. 2 championship game at Riverfront Stadium, had four players honored.

2025 NBS World Series All-Americans Pitchers Simon Lunsford - Hays Larks Bradyn McClure - Hutchinson Monarchs Julio Ramos - Hays Larks Brice Foster - Seattle Studs Trent Collier - Lonestar Kraken

Catcher Christian Olea - Alaska Goldpanners

Infielders Jackson Copeland - Seattle Studs Tony DeJesus - Lonestar Kraken Drew Bugner - Hutchinson Monarchs Noah Allison - Derby Twins

Outfielders Jake Gutierrez - Hutchinson Monarchs Preston Curtis - Lonestar Kraken Jaden Gustafson - Hutchinson Monarchs

Utility Aidan LeMasters - Top Prospects Academy Kado Robardy - Lonestar Kraken

Designated Hitter Matthew Pinal - Alaska Goldpanners

Manager Casey Lippoldt - Hutchinson Monarchs

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753052507019.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Post SportsWICHITA, Kan. — The National Baseball Congress announced its 2025 NBC World Series All-Tournament team Wednesday and several Hays Larks were honored.Pitchers Simon Lunsford and Julio Ramos were named NBC World Series All-Americans. Lunsford finished the tournament with a 1-0 record and did not give up an earned run while striking out nine in 6 2/3 innings. Ramos had 12 strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings and a 0.96 ERA.The Larks finished 4-1 in the tournament, losing to the Lonestar (TX) Kraken in the semifinals.The Hutchinson Monarchs, who blasted the Lonestar Kraken (Texas) 21-4 in the Aug. 2 championship game at Riverfront Stadium, had four players honored.2025 NBS World Series All-Americans Pitchers Simon Lunsford - Hays Larks Bradyn McClure - Hutchinson Monarchs Julio Ramos - Hays Larks Brice Foster - Seattle Studs Trent Collier - Lonestar KrakenCatcher Christian Olea - Alaska GoldpannersInfielders Jackson Copeland - Seattle Studs Tony DeJesus - Lonestar Kraken Drew Bugner - Hutchinson Monarchs Noah Allison - Derby TwinsOutfielders Jake Gutierrez - Hutchinson Monarchs Preston Curtis - Lonestar Kraken Jaden Gustafson - Hutchinson Monarchs Utility Aidan LeMasters - Top Prospects Academy Kado Robardy - Lonestar KrakenDesignated Hitter Matthew Pinal - Alaska GoldpannersManager Casey Lippoldt - Hutchinson Monarchs

⚾ Several Larks named to NBC World Series All-Tournament team

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp;

Wednesday, August 13
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Washington Nationals, 12:30pm

Thursday, August 14
 none

Friday, August 15
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 6:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks, 8:00pm

Saturday, August 16
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 5:30pm

Sunday, August 17
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 12:30pm

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp;Wednesday, August 13
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Washington Nationals, 12:30pmThursday, August 14
 noneFriday, August 15
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 6:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks, 8:00pmSaturday, August 16
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 5:30pmSunday, August 17
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 12:30pm

🎧 Eagle Radio, Hull sports broadcast schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Vinnie Pasquantino doubled, homered and drove in five runs as the Kansas City Royals topped the Washington Nationals 8-5 to reach the .500 mark for the second time since mid-June.

After a two-out, third-inning walk by Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr.’s infield hit, Pasquantino hit Mitchell Parker’s first-pitch fastball into the second row of the right field stands, a few feet inside the foul pole, expanding Kansas City’s lead to 4-0.

Pasquantino opened the scoring with a first-inning sacrifice fly and capped the Royals scoring with an RBI double in the seventh.

Jonathan India’s two-run homer extended Kansas City’s lead to 7-2 in the sixth.

Michael Wacha (7-9) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings, his sixth consecutive start permitting fewer than three runs.

Lucas Erceg earned his second save with a hitless ninth.

In 5 1/3 innings, Parker (7-13) allowed five runs on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Over his last three starts — all losses — Parker has allowed 17 runs in 14 1/3 innings.

Leaping at the center field wall,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/randal-grichuk-flies-out-sharply-to-center-fielder-robert-hassell-iii?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Robert Hassell III robbed Randal Grichuk</a>&nbsp;of a solo home run in the fifth.

In the sixth, CJ Abrams scored when Witt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/michael-wacha-in-play-out-s-to-paul-dejong-wavtmn?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">misplayed Paul DeJong’s deep pop fly</a>, cutting the Royals lead to 4-2.

Abrams and James Wood collected two-out RBIs in the seventh. Wood recorded his fourth straight multihit game.

On Witt’s soft ground out between the plate and mound, Garcia hustled from first to third before scoring on Pasquantino’s sacrifice fly as Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in a hitless first inning.

Pasquantino leads the Royals 32 two-out RBIs and ranks second in the majors with 23 go-ahead RBIs.

Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (8-7, 4.90 ERA) opposes Royals RHP Seth Lugo (8-6, 3.46)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755053829399.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Vinnie Pasquantino doubled, homered and drove in five runs as the Kansas City Royals topped the Washington Nationals 8-5 to reach the .500 mark for the second time since mid-June.After a two-out, third-inning walk by Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr.’s infield hit, Pasquantino hit Mitchell Parker’s first-pitch fastball into the second row of the right field stands, a few feet inside the foul pole, expanding Kansas City’s lead to 4-0.Pasquantino opened the scoring with a first-inning sacrifice fly and capped the Royals scoring with an RBI double in the seventh.Jonathan India’s two-run homer extended Kansas City’s lead to 7-2 in the sixth.Michael Wacha (7-9) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings, his sixth consecutive start permitting fewer than three runs.Lucas Erceg earned his second save with a hitless ninth.In 5 1/3 innings, Parker (7-13) allowed five runs on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Over his last three starts — all losses — Parker has allowed 17 runs in 14 1/3 innings.Leaping at the center field wall,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/randal-grichuk-flies-out-sharply-to-center-fielder-robert-hassell-iii?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">Robert Hassell III robbed Randal Grichuk</a>&nbsp;of a solo home run in the fifth.In the sixth, CJ Abrams scored when Witt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/michael-wacha-in-play-out-s-to-paul-dejong-wavtmn?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share">misplayed Paul DeJong’s deep pop fly</a>, cutting the Royals lead to 4-2.Abrams and James Wood collected two-out RBIs in the seventh. Wood recorded his fourth straight multihit game.<h2>Key moment</h2>On Witt’s soft ground out between the plate and mound, Garcia hustled from first to third before scoring on Pasquantino’s sacrifice fly as Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in a hitless first inning.<h2>Key stat</h2>Pasquantino leads the Royals 32 two-out RBIs and ranks second in the majors with 23 go-ahead RBIs.<h2>Up next</h2>Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (8-7, 4.90 ERA) opposes Royals RHP Seth Lugo (8-6, 3.46)

⚾ Pasquantino drives in 5 to lead the Royals past the Nationals 

By GERARD WELLBROCK 
 Hays Post Sports

HAYS, Kan. — For the first time since joining the Fort Hays
State University football team, Gaven Haselhorst is starting a season fully
healthy. After transferring from Kansas State following the 2021 season, the
former Hays High standout has been plagued by injuries.

He played in eight games, starting in seven, as a redshirt
freshman in 2022 before an injury ended his season early. The following season
in 2023, he was sidelined after just three starts and required surgery.
Haselhorst returned last season to play in all 11 games, making seven starts at
defensive end. He finished the season third on the team in tackles for loss
(6.0) and second in sacks (3.5), earning him a spot on the All-MIAA Third Team.

"This was my first spring ball at Fort Hays,"
Haselhorst said. "That was already huge for me to get through. This camp,
I'm feeling pretty good, so I'm just building on the little things I need to
work on, and I think it's helping a lot."

Haselhorst credits the extra practice time this spring with
elevating his game.

"I'd say working on the run game, working on my hand
placement and dropping down lower and playing with more leverage," he
said. "Then in the pass game, just working on my speed rush and stuff like
that."

The Tigers' defense is looking to replace seven starters
from a unit that led the MIAA last season, giving up less than 17 points per
game. Despite the inexperience, Haselhorst is confident in his defensive line.

"I feel like we're pretty deep in the defensive line
room," Haselhorst said. "We just have to stay on top of our bodies
and, like I said, keep working each day."

This season will reunite Haselhorst with former Hays High
teammate Gavin Meyers, who is in his first season with the Tigers after also
transferring from K-State. The two were a disruptive force for the Indians in
high school.

"It means a lot, man," Haselhorst said. "We
were really tight in high school, so this is awesome getting back together and
hopefully making some huge plays and making an impact on this defense
together."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755031265221.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State defensive end Gaven Haselhorst (8) takes on a blocker during FHSU preseason camp. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State defensive end Gaven Haselhorst (8) takes on a blocker during FHSU preseason camp. (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK 
 Hays Post SportsHAYS, Kan. — For the first time since joining the Fort Hays
State University football team, Gaven Haselhorst is starting a season fully
healthy. After transferring from Kansas State following the 2021 season, the
former Hays High standout has been plagued by injuries.He played in eight games, starting in seven, as a redshirt
freshman in 2022 before an injury ended his season early. The following season
in 2023, he was sidelined after just three starts and required surgery.
Haselhorst returned last season to play in all 11 games, making seven starts at
defensive end. He finished the season third on the team in tackles for loss
(6.0) and second in sacks (3.5), earning him a spot on the All-MIAA Third Team.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2152140561&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fhsu-fb-camp-haselhorst" title="FHSU FB Camp - Haselhorst" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">FHSU FB Camp - Haselhorst</a></div></div>"This was my first spring ball at Fort Hays,"
Haselhorst said. "That was already huge for me to get through. This camp,
I'm feeling pretty good, so I'm just building on the little things I need to
work on, and I think it's helping a lot."Haselhorst credits the extra practice time this spring with
elevating his game."I'd say working on the run game, working on my hand
placement and dropping down lower and playing with more leverage," he
said. "Then in the pass game, just working on my speed rush and stuff like
that."The Tigers' defense is looking to replace seven starters
from a unit that led the MIAA last season, giving up less than 17 points per
game. Despite the inexperience, Haselhorst is confident in his defensive line."I feel like we're pretty deep in the defensive line
room," Haselhorst said. "We just have to stay on top of our bodies
and, like I said, keep working each day."This season will reunite Haselhorst with former Hays High
teammate Gavin Meyers, who is in his first season with the Tigers after also
transferring from K-State. The two were a disruptive force for the Indians in
high school."It means a lot, man," Haselhorst said. "We
were really tight in high school, so this is awesome getting back together and
hopefully making some huge plays and making an impact on this defense
together."

🏈 Haselhorst healthy and ready to lead FHSU defense

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Former Fort Hays State running back Shane Watts was signed by the New England Patriots of the National Football League on Tuesday. Watts is the first FHSU player to be signed by an NFL team since 2019 when Doyin Jibowu signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. The Tigers still have one other active player in the NFL, Nathan Shepherd of the New Orleans Saints, who enters his eighth year in the NFL in 2025 after being drafted by the New York Jets in 2018.

Just a few weeks back, Watts signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and was a member of the team's practice squad for a week before being released. He was the second Tiger to be signed by a CFL team in 2025, joining wide receiver Jayden Horace. Watts now looks for a chance with the Patriots, who are one game into the preseason. Their next preseason contest is against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, August 16 in Minneapolis.

Watts played four years at Fort Hays State and wrapped his collegiate career with All-America honors as one of the top running backs in NCAA Division II in 2024. He was an All-America Second Team selection in 2024 by three separate organizations, including the D2CCA, Associated Press (AP), and Don Hansen Football Committee. He was also named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Team. He was an All-MIAA First Team selection as an all-purpose back, finishing the year with 1,303 rushing yards and 449 receiving yards for 1,752 all-purpose yards. He scored 17 touchdowns for the season, including 13 rushing and four receiving.

By the end of the 2024 season, Watts ranked fourth nationally in all-purpose yards per game (160.8), fourth in total rushing yards, sixth in rushing yards per game (118.5), seventh in scoring (9.3 points per game), and eighth in total touchdowns. He became the first FHSU player in program history to rush for 200 or more yards in consecutive games, going for 201 against Missouri Southern on October 26 and then 250 against Emporia State on November 2.

Watts spent the first two years of his collegiate career as a defensive back with the Tigers, recording 14 tackles, before transitioning to the offensive side of the ball as a running back in 2023. In his two years as a running back, Watts produced a total of 1,979 rushing yards and 606 receiving yards with 23 total touchdowns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725067714453.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State running back Shane Watts breaks a 51-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of an NCAA football game vs. Angelo State on Friday, August 30, 2024. (Hays Post photo/Jeff Leiker)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State running back Shane Watts breaks a 51-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of an NCAA football game vs. Angelo State on Friday, August 30, 2024. (Hays Post photo/Jeff Leiker)</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Former Fort Hays State running back Shane Watts was signed by the New England Patriots of the National Football League on Tuesday. Watts is the first FHSU player to be signed by an NFL team since 2019 when Doyin Jibowu signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. The Tigers still have one other active player in the NFL, Nathan Shepherd of the New Orleans Saints, who enters his eighth year in the NFL in 2025 after being drafted by the New York Jets in 2018.Just a few weeks back, Watts signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and was a member of the team's practice squad for a week before being released. He was the second Tiger to be signed by a CFL team in 2025, joining wide receiver Jayden Horace. Watts now looks for a chance with the Patriots, who are one game into the preseason. Their next preseason contest is against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, August 16 in Minneapolis.Watts played four years at Fort Hays State and wrapped his collegiate career with All-America honors as one of the top running backs in NCAA Division II in 2024. He was an All-America Second Team selection in 2024 by three separate organizations, including the D2CCA, Associated Press (AP), and Don Hansen Football Committee. He was also named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Team. He was an All-MIAA First Team selection as an all-purpose back, finishing the year with 1,303 rushing yards and 449 receiving yards for 1,752 all-purpose yards. He scored 17 touchdowns for the season, including 13 rushing and four receiving.By the end of the 2024 season, Watts ranked fourth nationally in all-purpose yards per game (160.8), fourth in total rushing yards, sixth in rushing yards per game (118.5), seventh in scoring (9.3 points per game), and eighth in total touchdowns. He became the first FHSU player in program history to rush for 200 or more yards in consecutive games, going for 201 against Missouri Southern on October 26 and then 250 against Emporia State on November 2.Watts spent the first two years of his collegiate career as a defensive back with the Tigers, recording 14 tackles, before transitioning to the offensive side of the ball as a running back in 2023. In his two years as a running back, Watts produced a total of 1,979 rushing yards and 606 receiving yards with 23 total touchdowns.

🏈 Watts Signed by New England Patriots

Tuesday, August 12&nbsp; KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Washington Nationals, 6:00pm

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp;Tuesday, August 12&nbsp; KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Washington Nationals, 6:00pmWednesday, August 13
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Washington Nationals, 12:30pmThursday, August 14
 noneFriday, August 15
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 6:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks, 8:00pmSaturday, August 16
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 5:30pmSunday, August 17
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 12:30pm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvadore Perez and Kyle Isbel hit two-run homers in the sixth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Washington Nationals 7-4 on Monday night.

<a href="https://x.com/RoyalsDingers/status/1955078948276031846">Perez homered</a>&nbsp;off rookie Cade Cavalli after Maikel Garcia drew a leadoff walk, tying the game at 4. Adam Frazier singled, chasing Cavalli, and Jackson Rutledge (1-2) entered and retired Randal Grichuk on a double-play grounder. Nick Loftin had a two-out single before scoring on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RoyalsDingers/status/1955081255650808176">Isbel's fourth homer</a>. Perez's homer was his 21st.

James Wood walked leading off the first against Bailey Falter in his home debut for the Royals after being acquired from the Pirates at the trade deadline. Josh Bell hit his 15th homer — a 422-foot, two-out shot to left-center — to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead.

Garcia, Perez and Frazier had consecutive singles to start the second for the Royals' first run. Loftin's sacrifice fly tied it 2-all.

Falter left a tie game after four innings and 76 pitches. Wood singled off Daniel Lynch IV (4-2) leading off the fifth and Paul DeJong hit his fourth homer one out later to put the Nationals up 4-2.

Mike Yastrzemski added a run in the eighth with a sac fly. Frazier finished 3 for 4 and Carlos Estévez pitched the ninth for his 30th save.

Bobby Witt Jr. went 2 for 5 in his return to the Royals lineup after back tightness forced him to miss his second game of the season on Sunday.

Kansas City won the opener of a 10-game homestand and moved to 59-60 on the season.

Isbel's go-ahead shot came after he popped out in foul territory on a 3-1 pitch with one out and runners on second and third in a tie game in the second inning.

The Royals have scored 441 runs, fewest in the AL.

Nationals LHP Mitchell Parker (7-12, 5.43 ERA) will start Tuesday opposite Royals RHP Michael Wacha (6-9, 3.36).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754993233351.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) celebrates with Maikel Garcia after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) celebrates with Maikel Garcia after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvadore Perez and Kyle Isbel hit two-run homers in the sixth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Washington Nationals 7-4 on Monday night.<a href="https://x.com/RoyalsDingers/status/1955078948276031846">Perez homered</a>&nbsp;off rookie Cade Cavalli after Maikel Garcia drew a leadoff walk, tying the game at 4. Adam Frazier singled, chasing Cavalli, and Jackson Rutledge (1-2) entered and retired Randal Grichuk on a double-play grounder. Nick Loftin had a two-out single before scoring on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RoyalsDingers/status/1955081255650808176">Isbel's fourth homer</a>. Perez's homer was his 21st.James Wood walked leading off the first against Bailey Falter in his home debut for the Royals after being acquired from the Pirates at the trade deadline. Josh Bell hit his 15th homer — a 422-foot, two-out shot to left-center — to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead.Garcia, Perez and Frazier had consecutive singles to start the second for the Royals' first run. Loftin's sacrifice fly tied it 2-all.Falter left a tie game after four innings and 76 pitches. Wood singled off Daniel Lynch IV (4-2) leading off the fifth and Paul DeJong hit his fourth homer one out later to put the Nationals up 4-2.Mike Yastrzemski added a run in the eighth with a sac fly. Frazier finished 3 for 4 and Carlos Estévez pitched the ninth for his 30th save.Bobby Witt Jr. went 2 for 5 in his return to the Royals lineup after back tightness forced him to miss his second game of the season on Sunday.Kansas City won the opener of a 10-game homestand and moved to 59-60 on the season.<h2>Key moment</h2>Isbel's go-ahead shot came after he popped out in foul territory on a 3-1 pitch with one out and runners on second and third in a tie game in the second inning.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Royals have scored 441 runs, fewest in the AL.<h2>Up next</h2>Nationals LHP Mitchell Parker (7-12, 5.43 ERA) will start Tuesday opposite Royals RHP Michael Wacha (6-9, 3.36).

⚾ Perez and Isbel  homers power Royals past the Nationals

By GERARD WELLBROCK
 Hays Post Sports

HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State football team's defense is
the focus as the Tigers enter their second week of preseason camp. The team is
tasked with replacing a group of veterans who combined for 224 career starts.

The Tigers' secondary, in particular, is looking to fill
significant holes. Gone are cornerbacks Kobe Rome and Trevion Mitchell, who
combined for 53 starts, and bandit backs Mason Perez and Benyon Williams, who
also combined for 53 starts.

Despite the losses, defensive coordinator Cooper Harris is
optimistic about the younger, less-experienced players vying for those roles.

"I think they've done a really good job for being some
new players in that back end," Harris said. "I think a lot of it has
to do with the returning players that we have. Even though we don't have as
many as we had last year, the guys that have returned have a really good
understanding of the expectations and they've really done a good job of
explaining that to the new guys."

Last season, the Tigers' defense was one of the best in the
MIAA. They led the conference in fewest passing yards allowed per game (219.2)
and fewest points allowed per game (16.9). They also ranked second in total
yards allowed per game (330.1) and were in the top 25 nationally in Division II
in scoring defense.

While the defensive line lost Myles Menges (43 career
starts) and Demitri Scott (21 games played), it returns the most experience on
the defense.

"Their depth is really good," Harris said.
"Coach Hickel does a great job getting those guys lined up and
understanding their responsibilities. Everything starts up front, and if you're
good up front, you can build off that."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754944802721.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State coaches Kyle Murphy (left), Tom Ross (center) and Cooper Harris (right) watch on at a FHSU football practice (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State coaches Kyle Murphy (left), Tom Ross (center) and Cooper Harris (right) watch on at a FHSU football practice (FHSU Athletics photo/Ryan Prickett)</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK
 Hays Post SportsHAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State football team's defense is
the focus as the Tigers enter their second week of preseason camp. The team is
tasked with replacing a group of veterans who combined for 224 career starts.The Tigers' secondary, in particular, is looking to fill
significant holes. Gone are cornerbacks Kobe Rome and Trevion Mitchell, who
combined for 53 starts, and bandit backs Mason Perez and Benyon Williams, who
also combined for 53 starts.Despite the losses, defensive coordinator Cooper Harris is
optimistic about the younger, less-experienced players vying for those roles.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/2151593613&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/fhsu-fb-camp-harris" title="FHSU FB Camp - Harris" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">FHSU FB Camp - Harris</a></div></div>"I think they've done a really good job for being some
new players in that back end," Harris said. "I think a lot of it has
to do with the returning players that we have. Even though we don't have as
many as we had last year, the guys that have returned have a really good
understanding of the expectations and they've really done a good job of
explaining that to the new guys."Last season, the Tigers' defense was one of the best in the
MIAA. They led the conference in fewest passing yards allowed per game (219.2)
and fewest points allowed per game (16.9). They also ranked second in total
yards allowed per game (330.1) and were in the top 25 nationally in Division II
in scoring defense.While the defensive line lost Myles Menges (43 career
starts) and Demitri Scott (21 games played), it returns the most experience on
the defense."Their depth is really good," Harris said.
"Coach Hickel does a great job getting those guys lined up and
understanding their responsibilities. Everything starts up front, and if you're
good up front, you can build off that."

🏈 FHSU defense reloading with new faces

WACO, Texas – Fort Hays State is receiving votes in the 2025 AFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll for NCAA Division II, released on Monday (Aug. 11). The MIAA has three teams ranked among the Top 25, including two in the Top 10, and FHSU joins Northwest Missouri State among the receiving votes list to give the MIAA five teams referenced in the first release of the poll. FHSU was fourth-highest vote receiving team outside the Top 25.

On paper, the Tigers look to have a strong strength of schedule going into the 2025 season. The Tigers will face a pair of preseason nationally ranked teams in non-conference play before facing three ranked MIAA teams later in the season. The three ranked MIAA teams include No. 5 Central Oklahoma, No. 9 Pittsburg State, and No. 22 Central Missouri.

Three of FHSU's first four games are against teams in the AFCA Preseason Top 25. Angelo State will come to Hays with a No. 13 national ranking for the season opener on August 28. A week later FHSU heads out west to face a CSU Pueblo squad that holds a preseason No. 6 ranking. In week four, FHSU faces Pittsburg State.

Central Oklahoma won the MIAA title last year at 8-1 and went 12-2 overall, while Pittsburg State placed second at 7-2 in MIAA action and went 8-3 overall. Both made the seven-team super regional field of the NCAA playoffs. FHSU (8-3 overall) and Central Missouri (9-3 overall) tied for third in conference play at 6-3, but FHSU won the head-to-head meeting in Hays. FHSU hosts UCO and UCM in home games this year.

Fort Hays State goes into its season opener with the same role it held last year, a receiving votes team looking to knock off a nationally ranked team. Angelo State came to Hays in the season opener last year with a No. 24 ranking and FHSU won that contest 21-7. Angelo State went 0-2 in non-conference play in 2024 before running the table in their conference (9-0) and making the NCAA playoffs. The Rams fell in the opening round of the playoffs in Super Region 4, making them 0-3 in non-conference games last year.

This year, the contests against Angelo State and CSU Pueblo will be within Fort Hays State's NCAA super region. The MIAA and GAC have now shifted to Super Region 4, while the NSIC moves over to Super Region 3. The MIAA and GAC are now aligned with the Lone Star Conference (LSC) and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Also new this year, the playoff field in each super region expands to eight teams. FHSU likely would have been in the playoffs last year if the eight-team format existed then, as it went into the final game of the 2024 season ranked No. 8 in the super region and just missed a playoff berth.

AFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll Rank	School (1st votes)	2024 ▪ Rec.	▪ Pts.	▪ 2024 Final Rank	▪ Season Opener 1. Ferris State (30)	▪ 14-1&nbsp; ▪ 773	▪ 1	▪ Aug. 28 vs. No. 9 Pittsburg State 2. Harding	▪ 12-2	▪ 734	▪ 4	▪ Sept. 4 at Northwestern Oklahoma State 3. Grand Valley State ▪ 11-2	▪ 669	▪ 6	▪ Aug. 30 vs. Lincoln (Pa.) 4. Slippery Rock (1)	▪ 12-2	▪ 576	▪ 3	▪ Sept. 5 at Franklin Pierce 5. Central Oklahoma	▪ 11-2	▪ 569	▪ 9	▪ Aug. 30 at UT-Permian Basin 6. Colorado State-Pueblo	▪ 10-2	▪ 549	▪ 8	▪ Aug. 28 vs. South Dakota Mines 7. Kutztown	▪ 11-1	▪ 517	▪ 5	▪ Sept. 4 vs. Assumption 8. West Florida	▪ 7-3	▪ 504	▪ NR	▪ Aug. 29 vs. No. 17 Lenoir-Rhyne. 9. Pittsburg State ▪ 8-3	▪ 451	▪ 17	▪ Aug. 28 at No. 1 Ferris State 10. Western Colorado	▪ 11-2	▪ 450	▪ 10	▪ Aug. 28 vs. West Texas A&amp;M 11. Minnesota State ▪ 11-4	▪ 449	▪ 7	▪ Aug. 28 vs. Northwest Missouri State 12. Valdosta State ▪ 13-1	▪ 402	▪ 2&nbsp; ▪ Aug. 30 vs. Clark Atlanta 13. Angelo State ▪ 9-3	▪ 352	▪ 20	▪ Aug. 28 at Fort Hays State 14. Charleston	▪ 11-1	▪ 337	▪ 15	▪ Aug. 28 vs. Livingstone 15. California (Pa.)	▪ 10-3	▪ 275	▪ 12	▪ Sept. 4 vs. No. 14 Charleston 16. Bemidji State ▪ 10-4	▪ 254	▪ 13	▪ Aug. 28 at Michigan Tech 17. Lenoir-Rhyne	▪ 10-3	▪ 248	▪ 16	▪ Aug. 29 at No. 8 West Florida 18. Ouachita Baptist	▪ 10-2	▪ 246	▪ 14	▪ Sept. 4 at East Central 19. Virginia Union	▪ 10-4	▪ 228	▪ 11&nbsp;▪ Aug. 31 vs. No. 24t Miles 20. UIndy	▪ 10-2	▪ 191	▪ 19	▪ Aug. 28 at Marian 21. Central Washington	▪ 8-4	▪ 176	▪ 24	▪ Aug. 28 vs. Colorado Mesa 22. Central Missouri	▪ 9-3	▪ 149	▪ NR	▪ Aug. 28 at Delta State 23. Augustana (S.D.)	▪ 8-4	▪ 127	▪ 25	▪ Aug. 30 vs. Missouri Western State 24t.	Ashland	▪ 9-4	▪ 114	▪ 23	▪ Sept. 4 at Indiana (Pa.) 24t.	Miles	▪ 10-3	▪ 114	▪ 22	▪ Aug. 31 vs. No. 19 Virginia Union

Receiving Votes: West Alabama, 113; Carson-Newman, 100; Wingate, 74; Fort Hays St., 66; Colorado School of Mines, 42; Saginaw Valley State, 35; Minnesota-Duluth, 29; Albany St., 26; Northwest Missouri St., 21; Indiana (Pa.), 16; UT-Permian Basin, 16; Delta State, 13; Findlay, 12; UNC-Pembroke, 12; Davenport, 10; Johnson C. Smith, 9; East Stroudsburg, 7; Fairmont State, 7; Southern Arkansas, 6; Texas A&amp;M-Kingsville, 5; Colorado Mesa, 1; Truman State, 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754950255677.png" alt="FHSU Athletics photo/Jordyn Bredenberg" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics photo/Jordyn Bredenberg</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsWACO, Texas – Fort Hays State is receiving votes in the 2025 AFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll for NCAA Division II, released on Monday (Aug. 11). The MIAA has three teams ranked among the Top 25, including two in the Top 10, and FHSU joins Northwest Missouri State among the receiving votes list to give the MIAA five teams referenced in the first release of the poll. FHSU was fourth-highest vote receiving team outside the Top 25.On paper, the Tigers look to have a strong strength of schedule going into the 2025 season. The Tigers will face a pair of preseason nationally ranked teams in non-conference play before facing three ranked MIAA teams later in the season. The three ranked MIAA teams include No. 5 Central Oklahoma, No. 9 Pittsburg State, and No. 22 Central Missouri.Three of FHSU's first four games are against teams in the AFCA Preseason Top 25. Angelo State will come to Hays with a No. 13 national ranking for the season opener on August 28. A week later FHSU heads out west to face a CSU Pueblo squad that holds a preseason No. 6 ranking. In week four, FHSU faces Pittsburg State.Central Oklahoma won the MIAA title last year at 8-1 and went 12-2 overall, while Pittsburg State placed second at 7-2 in MIAA action and went 8-3 overall. Both made the seven-team super regional field of the NCAA playoffs. FHSU (8-3 overall) and Central Missouri (9-3 overall) tied for third in conference play at 6-3, but FHSU won the head-to-head meeting in Hays. FHSU hosts UCO and UCM in home games this year.Fort Hays State goes into its season opener with the same role it held last year, a receiving votes team looking to knock off a nationally ranked team. Angelo State came to Hays in the season opener last year with a No. 24 ranking and FHSU won that contest 21-7. Angelo State went 0-2 in non-conference play in 2024 before running the table in their conference (9-0) and making the NCAA playoffs. The Rams fell in the opening round of the playoffs in Super Region 4, making them 0-3 in non-conference games last year.This year, the contests against Angelo State and CSU Pueblo will be within Fort Hays State's NCAA super region. The MIAA and GAC have now shifted to Super Region 4, while the NSIC moves over to Super Region 3. The MIAA and GAC are now aligned with the Lone Star Conference (LSC) and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Also new this year, the playoff field in each super region expands to eight teams. FHSU likely would have been in the playoffs last year if the eight-team format existed then, as it went into the final game of the 2024 season ranked No. 8 in the super region and just missed a playoff berth.AFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll Rank	School (1st votes)	2024 ▪ Rec.	▪ Pts.	▪ 2024 Final Rank	▪ Season Opener 1. Ferris State (30)	▪ 14-1&nbsp; ▪ 773	▪ 1	▪ Aug. 28 vs. No. 9 Pittsburg State 2. Harding	▪ 12-2	▪ 734	▪ 4	▪ Sept. 4 at Northwestern Oklahoma State 3. Grand Valley State ▪ 11-2	▪ 669	▪ 6	▪ Aug. 30 vs. Lincoln (Pa.) 4. Slippery Rock (1)	▪ 12-2	▪ 576	▪ 3	▪ Sept. 5 at Franklin Pierce 5. Central Oklahoma	▪ 11-2	▪ 569	▪ 9	▪ Aug. 30 at UT-Permian Basin 6. Colorado State-Pueblo	▪ 10-2	▪ 549	▪ 8	▪ Aug. 28 vs. South Dakota Mines 7. Kutztown	▪ 11-1	▪ 517	▪ 5	▪ Sept. 4 vs. Assumption 8. West Florida	▪ 7-3	▪ 504	▪ NR	▪ Aug. 29 vs. No. 17 Lenoir-Rhyne. 9. Pittsburg State ▪ 8-3	▪ 451	▪ 17	▪ Aug. 28 at No. 1 Ferris State 10. Western Colorado	▪ 11-2	▪ 450	▪ 10	▪ Aug. 28 vs. West Texas A&amp;M 11. Minnesota State ▪ 11-4	▪ 449	▪ 7	▪ Aug. 28 vs. Northwest Missouri State 12. Valdosta State ▪ 13-1	▪ 402	▪ 2&nbsp; ▪ Aug. 30 vs. Clark Atlanta 13. Angelo State ▪ 9-3	▪ 352	▪ 20	▪ Aug. 28 at Fort Hays State 14. Charleston	▪ 11-1	▪ 337	▪ 15	▪ Aug. 28 vs. Livingstone 15. California (Pa.)	▪ 10-3	▪ 275	▪ 12	▪ Sept. 4 vs. No. 14 Charleston 16. Bemidji State ▪ 10-4	▪ 254	▪ 13	▪ Aug. 28 at Michigan Tech 17. Lenoir-Rhyne	▪ 10-3	▪ 248	▪ 16	▪ Aug. 29 at No. 8 West Florida 18. Ouachita Baptist	▪ 10-2	▪ 246	▪ 14	▪ Sept. 4 at East Central 19. Virginia Union	▪ 10-4	▪ 228	▪ 11&nbsp;▪ Aug. 31 vs. No. 24t Miles 20. UIndy	▪ 10-2	▪ 191	▪ 19	▪ Aug. 28 at Marian 21. Central Washington	▪ 8-4	▪ 176	▪ 24	▪ Aug. 28 vs. Colorado Mesa 22. Central Missouri	▪ 9-3	▪ 149	▪ NR	▪ Aug. 28 at Delta State 23. Augustana (S.D.)	▪ 8-4	▪ 127	▪ 25	▪ Aug. 30 vs. Missouri Western State 24t.	Ashland	▪ 9-4	▪ 114	▪ 23	▪ Sept. 4 at Indiana (Pa.) 24t.	Miles	▪ 10-3	▪ 114	▪ 22	▪ Aug. 31 vs. No. 19 Virginia UnionReceiving Votes: West Alabama, 113; Carson-Newman, 100; Wingate, 74; Fort Hays St., 66; Colorado School of Mines, 42; Saginaw Valley State, 35; Minnesota-Duluth, 29; Albany St., 26; Northwest Missouri St., 21; Indiana (Pa.), 16; UT-Permian Basin, 16; Delta State, 13; Findlay, 12; UNC-Pembroke, 12; Davenport, 10; Johnson C. Smith, 9; East Stroudsburg, 7; Fairmont State, 7; Southern Arkansas, 6; Texas A&amp;M-Kingsville, 5; Colorado Mesa, 1; Truman State, 1.

🏈 Tigers receiving votes in AFCA preseason top 25 poll

Fort Hays State seniors Josh Shaw and John Johnson have been named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List for the 2025 season. This is the second-straight year Johnson has been named to this list, while Shaw receives recognition on the list for the first time in his career. Both received All-MIAA honors in 2024, Shaw a first-team selection on the offensive line and Johnson a second-team selection at linebacker.

Shaw and Johnson were two of 11 players in the MIAA named to the watch list. Shaw helped the Tiger offense produce 402 yards per game last season, which ranked 26th in NCAA Division II. FHSU's 30.4 points per game was among the top 40 in NCAA Division II as well. Shaw was one of three Tiger offensive linemen to receive all-conference recognition last year. He is a two-time All-MIAA selection overall.

Johnson is the top returning tackler for a Tiger team that led the MIAA in scoring defense (16.9 ppg) and ranked second in total defense (330.1 yds/game) last year. Battling through an injury issue at one point in the year, he still managed 63 tackles in just eight games, averaging eight per contest. He also had an interception, a blocked kick, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery last year. He is a two-time All-MIAA selection as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754949985129.png" alt="FHSU Athletics image" />
 <figcaption>FHSU Athletics image</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsFort Hays State seniors Josh Shaw and John Johnson have been named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List for the 2025 season. This is the second-straight year Johnson has been named to this list, while Shaw receives recognition on the list for the first time in his career. Both received All-MIAA honors in 2024, Shaw a first-team selection on the offensive line and Johnson a second-team selection at linebacker.Shaw and Johnson were two of 11 players in the MIAA named to the watch list. Shaw helped the Tiger offense produce 402 yards per game last season, which ranked 26th in NCAA Division II. FHSU's 30.4 points per game was among the top 40 in NCAA Division II as well. Shaw was one of three Tiger offensive linemen to receive all-conference recognition last year. He is a two-time All-MIAA selection overall.Johnson is the top returning tackler for a Tiger team that led the MIAA in scoring defense (16.9 ppg) and ranked second in total defense (330.1 yds/game) last year. Battling through an injury issue at one point in the year, he still managed 63 tackles in just eight games, averaging eight per contest. He also had an interception, a blocked kick, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery last year. He is a two-time All-MIAA selection as well.

🏈 FHSU's Shaw and Johnson named to D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs starting cornerback Jaylen Watson was placed in the concussion protocol and backup safety Deon Bush lost for the season to a ruptured Achilles tendon in what proved to be a costly first preseason game for the Kansas City defensive backfield.

Watson missed most of the 2024 regular season after breaking his tibia and fibula in a Week 7 win at San Francisco. But after undergoing surgery, the fourth-year pro managed to make it back in time to help the Chiefs on their playoff run.

Bush has appeared in 24 games over the past three seasons in Kansas City. He spent his first six years in the NFL in Chicago.

In other injury news, defensive end Janarius Robinson — who'd been having a good camp as he tried to make the roster — broke his foot during the preseason opener. Wide receiver Marquise Brown remained out of practice with a foot and ankle issue, while backup offensive lineman Ethan Driskell was absent Monday following an appendectomy.

The Chiefs have two more practices at Missouri Western this week before breaking camp. They play their second preseason game Friday night in Seattle, then return to their practice facility in Kansas City for the remainder of the preseason.

Brown left practice in a cart after hurting his right ankle July 29. At the time, the injury appeared to be minor, but “Hollywood” Brown only recently started to run again. That has thrown into question whether Brown — who missed nearly all of last season to a shoulder injury — will be ready when Kansas City opens the regular season against the Chargers on Sept. 5 in Brazil.

“It's not really a high-ankle sprain. It's more the ankle-foot area,” Reid said Monday. “He's making great progress, though. He's up and running now a little bit. That's a positive. I don't think he's too far off but we'll see. He's doing good.”

His status could be important for the Chiefs should fellow wide receiver Rashee Rice get suspended to start the season.

Rice pleaded guilty in July to two third-degree felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors said, Rice was sentenced to five years of deferred probation and 30 days in jail, along with paying victims’ out-of-pocket medical expenses totaling about $115,000.

Once the case was settled, the NFL began its investigation into the incident. It could mete out its punishment at any time.

The one positive for Kansas City is that wide receiver is one of the deepest positions on the team. Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster and rookie Jalen Royals are locks to make the roster alongside Brown and Rice, while Tyquan Thornton, Nikko Remigio, Skyy Moore, Jason Brownlee and Elijah Badger are in a tight competition for the last few roster spots.

“Listen, we'll have a tough decision to make," Reid admitted. “There's some good players there. We'll just see how it sorts out. We have a few more games, a few more practices. We'll see how it shakes out before we make those cuts. But I'm pleased with what we have there. Some of the young guys are going out and producing.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754945187634.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs safety Deon Bush (26) is carted off the field after an injury against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Glendale. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs safety Deon Bush (26) is carted off the field after an injury against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Glendale. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs starting cornerback Jaylen Watson was placed in the concussion protocol and backup safety Deon Bush lost for the season to a ruptured Achilles tendon in what proved to be a costly first preseason game for the Kansas City defensive backfield.Watson missed most of the 2024 regular season after breaking his tibia and fibula in a Week 7 win at San Francisco. But after undergoing surgery, the fourth-year pro managed to make it back in time to help the Chiefs on their playoff run.Bush has appeared in 24 games over the past three seasons in Kansas City. He spent his first six years in the NFL in Chicago.In other injury news, defensive end Janarius Robinson — who'd been having a good camp as he tried to make the roster — broke his foot during the preseason opener. Wide receiver Marquise Brown remained out of practice with a foot and ankle issue, while backup offensive lineman Ethan Driskell was absent Monday following an appendectomy.The Chiefs have two more practices at Missouri Western this week before breaking camp. They play their second preseason game Friday night in Seattle, then return to their practice facility in Kansas City for the remainder of the preseason.Brown left practice in a cart after hurting his right ankle July 29. At the time, the injury appeared to be minor, but “Hollywood” Brown only recently started to run again. That has thrown into question whether Brown — who missed nearly all of last season to a shoulder injury — will be ready when Kansas City opens the regular season against the Chargers on Sept. 5 in Brazil.“It's not really a high-ankle sprain. It's more the ankle-foot area,” Reid said Monday. “He's making great progress, though. He's up and running now a little bit. That's a positive. I don't think he's too far off but we'll see. He's doing good.”His status could be important for the Chiefs should fellow wide receiver Rashee Rice get suspended to start the season.Rice pleaded guilty in July to two third-degree felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors said, Rice was sentenced to five years of deferred probation and 30 days in jail, along with paying victims’ out-of-pocket medical expenses totaling about $115,000.Once the case was settled, the NFL began its investigation into the incident. It could mete out its punishment at any time.The one positive for Kansas City is that wide receiver is one of the deepest positions on the team. Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster and rookie Jalen Royals are locks to make the roster alongside Brown and Rice, while Tyquan Thornton, Nikko Remigio, Skyy Moore, Jason Brownlee and Elijah Badger are in a tight competition for the last few roster spots.“Listen, we'll have a tough decision to make," Reid admitted. “There's some good players there. We'll just see how it sorts out. We have a few more games, a few more practices. We'll see how it shakes out before we make those cuts. But I'm pleased with what we have there. Some of the young guys are going out and producing.”

🏈 Chiefs lose safety Deon Bush for season; cornerback Jaylen Watson in concussion protocol

By ERIC OLSON AP College Football Writer

For the first time, Texas will open a college football season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25.

The Longhorns hardly have a mandate in the poll released Monday: They edged out Penn State by just five points in the closest preseason vote since 1998.

Texas received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points to give the Southeastern Conference the preseason No. 1 team for a record fifth straight year. The Nittany Lions got 23 first-place votes and 1,547 points for their highest preseason ranking since they were No. 1 to open the 1997 season.

The Longhorns face a major test right away. Their Aug. 30 opener at defending champion and third-ranked Ohio State is a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal, a 28-14 Buckeyes win in the Cotton Bowl.

The Buckeyes received 11 first-place votes from the panel of 65 media members who cover college football. No. 4 Clemson got four first-place votes and No. 5 Georgia got one.

Notre Dame, Oregon (which got the final first-place vote), Alabama, LSU and Miami round out the top 10.

The SEC leads all conferences with 10 teams in the preseason Top 25, most ever by a conference and one more than a year ago. The SEC has four teams in the top 10 for the second straight year.

The Big Ten, which has won the last two national championships, has two of the top three teams in the poll for the third straight year and six in the Top 25 for the third year in a row.

Four Big 12 teams are ranked, with defending conference champion Arizona State the highest at No. 11. The Atlantic Coast Conference has three, led by Clemson.

“Arch Mania” is at a fever pitch in Texas with Arch Manning now the undisputed starting quarterback.

The Longhorns have been on an upward trajectory since they were 5-7 in 2021, Steve Sarkisian’s first season. They have won 25 of their last 30 games and reached two straight CFP semifinals. Last year, they were ranked No. 1 four of five weeks from mid-September to mid-October, and they reached the SEC championship game in their first season in the conference.

“But this is a new year, new faces, new team, and obviously expectations are high for our program,” Sarkisian said at SEC media days. “I’m not naive to that. I don’t put my head in the sand, and expectations are very high. But I also say we’re the University of Texas, and the standard is the standard here, and that’s competing for championships year in and year out.”

Twelve Texas players were taken in the NFL draft, including three-first-round picks, but elite recruiting and additions from the transfer portal should alleviate concerns about losses on the offensive line and at receiver. The defense brings back plenty of talent.

Still, Texas received just 38.5% of the first-place votes (25 of 65), the smallest share for a No. 1 team in the preseason poll since Georgia got 33.9% (22 of 65) in 2008.

The Longhorns have ended a season No. 1 in the AP poll three times (1963, 1969, 2005) but until now had never started a season higher than No. 2 (1962, 1965, 1970, 2005, 2009).

The second-ranked Nittany Lions are not only six points from being No. 1, they are 75 points ahead of the Buckeyes in what might be considered a slight to the national champs.

Penn State will have Drew Allar back under center for what many consider a light schedule ahead of a late September visit from Oregon before a Nov. 1 showdown at Ohio State.

The Buckeyes, in the preseason top five for the ninth straight year and 12th of the last 13, will have a new look with only five starters back on offense and three on defense.

“This team has its own identity,” coach Ryan Day said. “It wants to have its own identity, but it also wants to be the first Ohio State team to win back-to-back national championships.”

The opener against Texas will give the Buckeyes a good measure of themselves. Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz will be the third new starting quarterback in three years. Whoever gets the job will throw to one of the nation’s top players in Jeremiah Smith.

Day will also have another chance to figure out archrival and preseason No. 14 Michigan, which has beaten the Buckeyes four straight years.

— Texas will try to become the 12th team to start and finish No. 1 since the AP preseason poll debuted in 1950. The last team to do it was Alabama in 2017.

— Notre Dame is in the preseason top 10 for the third time in four years. The Fighting Irish will have a new quarterback, CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey. The two played a combined eight snaps last season as Notre Dame went all the way to the CFP title game won by Ohio State.

— With Boise State at No. 25, all 12 teams in the 2024 College Football Playoff are ranked in the preseason. The Mountain West’s Broncos are the first team from a Group of Five conference to crack the preseason Top 25 since Tulane was No. 24 in 2023.

— No. 16 SMU, which returns quarterback Kevin Jennings from its CFP team, is in the preseason Top 25 for the first time in 40 years. The 1985 team was No. 3 and finished 6-5 and unranked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754945836362.jpeg" alt="FILE - Texas tight end Jordan Washington (84), coach Steve Sarkisian, defensive back Barryn Sorrell (88) and quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) celebrate with their team after defeating Arkansas in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Texas tight end Jordan Washington (84), coach Steve Sarkisian, defensive back Barryn Sorrell (88) and quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) celebrate with their team after defeating Arkansas in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ERIC OLSON AP College Football WriterFor the first time, Texas will open a college football season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25.The Longhorns hardly have a mandate in the poll released Monday: They edged out Penn State by just five points in the closest preseason vote since 1998.Texas received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points to give the Southeastern Conference the preseason No. 1 team for a record fifth straight year. The Nittany Lions got 23 first-place votes and 1,547 points for their highest preseason ranking since they were No. 1 to open the 1997 season.The Longhorns face a major test right away. Their Aug. 30 opener at defending champion and third-ranked Ohio State is a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal, a 28-14 Buckeyes win in the Cotton Bowl.The Buckeyes received 11 first-place votes from the panel of 65 media members who cover college football. No. 4 Clemson got four first-place votes and No. 5 Georgia got one.Notre Dame, Oregon (which got the final first-place vote), Alabama, LSU and Miami round out the top 10.The SEC leads all conferences with 10 teams in the preseason Top 25, most ever by a conference and one more than a year ago. The SEC has four teams in the top 10 for the second straight year.The Big Ten, which has won the last two national championships, has two of the top three teams in the poll for the third straight year and six in the Top 25 for the third year in a row.<h2>Top-ranked Texas</h2>Four Big 12 teams are ranked, with defending conference champion Arizona State the highest at No. 11. The Atlantic Coast Conference has three, led by Clemson.“Arch Mania” is at a fever pitch in Texas with Arch Manning now the undisputed starting quarterback.The Longhorns have been on an upward trajectory since they were 5-7 in 2021, Steve Sarkisian’s first season. They have won 25 of their last 30 games and reached two straight CFP semifinals. Last year, they were ranked No. 1 four of five weeks from mid-September to mid-October, and they reached the SEC championship game in their first season in the conference.“But this is a new year, new faces, new team, and obviously expectations are high for our program,” Sarkisian said at SEC media days. “I’m not naive to that. I don’t put my head in the sand, and expectations are very high. But I also say we’re the University of Texas, and the standard is the standard here, and that’s competing for championships year in and year out.”Twelve Texas players were taken in the NFL draft, including three-first-round picks, but elite recruiting and additions from the transfer portal should alleviate concerns about losses on the offensive line and at receiver. The defense brings back plenty of talent.Still, Texas received just 38.5% of the first-place votes (25 of 65), the smallest share for a No. 1 team in the preseason poll since Georgia got 33.9% (22 of 65) in 2008.The Longhorns have ended a season No. 1 in the AP poll three times (1963, 1969, 2005) but until now had never started a season higher than No. 2 (1962, 1965, 1970, 2005, 2009).<h2>Big Ten lurking</h2>The second-ranked Nittany Lions are not only six points from being No. 1, they are 75 points ahead of the Buckeyes in what might be considered a slight to the national champs.Penn State will have Drew Allar back under center for what many consider a light schedule ahead of a late September visit from Oregon before a Nov. 1 showdown at Ohio State.The Buckeyes, in the preseason top five for the ninth straight year and 12th of the last 13, will have a new look with only five starters back on offense and three on defense.“This team has its own identity,” coach Ryan Day said. “It wants to have its own identity, but it also wants to be the first Ohio State team to win back-to-back national championships.”The opener against Texas will give the Buckeyes a good measure of themselves. Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz will be the third new starting quarterback in three years. Whoever gets the job will throw to one of the nation’s top players in Jeremiah Smith.Day will also have another chance to figure out archrival and preseason No. 14 Michigan, which has beaten the Buckeyes four straight years.<h2>Poll nuggets</h2>— Texas will try to become the 12th team to start and finish No. 1 since the AP preseason poll debuted in 1950. The last team to do it was Alabama in 2017.— Notre Dame is in the preseason top 10 for the third time in four years. The Fighting Irish will have a new quarterback, CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey. The two played a combined eight snaps last season as Notre Dame went all the way to the CFP title game won by Ohio State.— With Boise State at No. 25, all 12 teams in the 2024 College Football Playoff are ranked in the preseason. The Mountain West’s Broncos are the first team from a Group of Five conference to crack the preseason Top 25 since Tulane was No. 24 in 2023.— No. 16 SMU, which returns quarterback Kevin Jennings from its CFP team, is in the preseason Top 25 for the first time in 40 years. The 1985 team was No. 3 and finished 6-5 and unranked.

🏈 Texas is No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25, K-State No. 17

Monday, August 11
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Washington Nationals, 6:00pm

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp;Monday, August 11
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Washington Nationals, 6:00pmTuesday, August 12&nbsp; KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Washington Nationals, 6:00pmWednesday, August 13
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Washington Nationals, 12:30pmThursday, August 14
 noneFriday, August 15
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 6:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks, 8:00pmSaturday, August 16
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 5:30pmSunday, August 17
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, 12:30pm

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luke Keaschall hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning, Ryan Fitzgerald homered for his first career hit, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Sunday.

With two outs, Keaschall hit a fastball from Royals closer Carlos Estévez (4-4) to the first row of seats in right-centerfield for Minnesota’s ninth walk-off win of the season.

It was the third hit of the day for Keaschall, who has reached base in 12 straight games to start his career.

Michael Tonkin (1-0), Minnesota’s seventh pitcher, pitched scoreless 10th and 11th innings for his first win since July 30, 2024.

Adam Frazier had four hits and Maikel Garcia three for Kansas City. Vinnie Pasquantino hit his 20th home run for a 3-2 lead in the seventh.

The Twins tied it in the eighth when Ryan Jeffers drove in Austin Martin, who tripled on an ill-advised diving attempt by John Rave with the ball getting past the left fielder and rolling to the wall.

In his fourth career game, Fitzgerald, a 31-year-old who signed a minor league contract with Minnesota in January, hit a third-inning slider from Ryan Bergert off the top of the right field wall for a 2-1 Twins lead.

Seeking his second career five-hit game, Frazier flew out with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. Kansas City was 1 for 15 with men in scoring position and left 15 runners on base.

The Royals lost for just the fourth time in 50 games when leading after seven innings. Minnesota won for the third time in 48 games when trailing after seven.

Kansas City LHP Bailey Falter (7-6, 4.14 ERA) hosts Nationals’ RHP Cade Cavalli (0-0, 0.00) on Monday.

RHP Zebby Matthews (3-3, 5.17) gets the ball Monday for Minnesota against Yankees RHP Will Warren (6-5, 4.44).

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luke Keaschall hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning, Ryan Fitzgerald homered for his first career hit, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Sunday.With two outs, Keaschall hit a fastball from Royals closer Carlos Estévez (4-4) to the first row of seats in right-centerfield for Minnesota’s ninth walk-off win of the season.It was the third hit of the day for Keaschall, who has reached base in 12 straight games to start his career.Michael Tonkin (1-0), Minnesota’s seventh pitcher, pitched scoreless 10th and 11th innings for his first win since July 30, 2024.Adam Frazier had four hits and Maikel Garcia three for Kansas City. Vinnie Pasquantino hit his 20th home run for a 3-2 lead in the seventh.The Twins tied it in the eighth when Ryan Jeffers drove in Austin Martin, who tripled on an ill-advised diving attempt by John Rave with the ball getting past the left fielder and rolling to the wall.In his fourth career game, Fitzgerald, a 31-year-old who signed a minor league contract with Minnesota in January, hit a third-inning slider from Ryan Bergert off the top of the right field wall for a 2-1 Twins lead.<h2>Key moment</h2>Seeking his second career five-hit game, Frazier flew out with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. Kansas City was 1 for 15 with men in scoring position and left 15 runners on base.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Royals lost for just the fourth time in 50 games when leading after seven innings. Minnesota won for the third time in 48 games when trailing after seven.<h2>Up next</h2>Kansas City LHP Bailey Falter (7-6, 4.14 ERA) hosts Nationals’ RHP Cade Cavalli (0-0, 0.00) on Monday.RHP Zebby Matthews (3-3, 5.17) gets the ball Monday for Minnesota against Yankees RHP Will Warren (6-5, 4.44).

⚾Keaschall hits 2-run homer in 11th as Twins top Royals

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Sunday, August 10
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 12:30pm

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Sunday, August 10
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 12:30pm

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Quarterback Patrick Mahomes spent some time before Saturday's preseason game running up and down the Kansas City Chiefs sideline, yelling, jumping and psyching himself up for his first game action since last season's Super Bowl.

He was ready — for all 48 seconds of it

Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champ entering his ninth season, took advantage of a short field after the Arizona Cardinals fumbled the opening kickoff,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Chiefs/status/1954335253960458350">hitting Jason Brownlee for a 1-yard touchdown</a>&nbsp;and an early 7-0 lead less than one minute into the game.

Arizona rallied for a 20-17 win over Kansas City in the preseason opener for both teams.

Mahomes said coach Andy Reid told him before the game that he'd play just one series, but it was an even shorter night than he imagined.

“One series turned into one throw,” Mahomes said, grinning.

The TD pass was Mahomes' only completion of the game, ending a brief, effective outing. Backup Gardner Minshew took over on the next series and ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Harrison Butker made a 58-yard field goal.

Mahomes' final line: 1-for-1 passing for 1 yard and one touchdown. The three-time defending AFC champions were playing for the first time&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">since losing last season's Super Bowl 40-22</a>&nbsp;to the Philadelphia Eagles.

“There were some good things,” Reid said. “I thought the (starters) played well when they were in, they were sharp. After that, we were too sloppy. Too many penalties, going backward.”

While Kansas City got off to a good start, Arizona did not.

The Cardinals fumbled their first two kickoff returns, though they recovered the second one. Kyler Murray — playing in his first preseason game since 2021 — was intercepted on the offense's opening drive on a pass intended for second-year receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Murray's second drive was hindered when tight end Tip Reiman was called for a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. The miscue was part of the reason the Cardinals had to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Chad Ryland.

Murray chose to remain positive about the outing, saying that even with the mistakes, it was good to get on the field and play at game speed.

“You can’t replicate it in practice, moving around with the speed that you’re moving, going left to right, lateral, bodies moving. I had fun. I had a lot of fun out there,” Murray said.

Murray played two drives, completing 7 of 8 passes for 96 yards and the interception. Tight end Trey McBride caught one pass for 21 yards and Harrison had a catch for 15 yards.

The Cardinals trailed 14-3 early but Emari Demercado caught a 43-yard touchdown pass to cut the margin to 14-10. Xavier Weaver caught a 1-yard touchdown pass that gave the Cardinals a 17-14 lead at halftime.

Both touchdowns were thrown by Arizona's new backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who completed 5 of 8 passes for 81 yards. The Cardinals outgained the Chiefs 355 yards to 249.

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon echoed Murray's positive outlook, even after the early mistakes.

“The team — not just Kyler — understood why we're doing what we're doing tonight,” Gannon said. "They were excited to get under the lights. That's the AFC champs coming in here. Andy Reid — Hall of Fame coach. They were excited to play a really good team, get lathered up and bang a little on someone other than themselves.

“It was good to see our guys ready to roll.”

The Cardinals — who are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021 — finished last season with an 8-9 record, which was a four-win improvement over the previous season. Arizona revamped its defensive front during the offseason, adding Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell.

Chiefs: Cornerback Jaylen Watson (concussion protocol) left the game in the first half. Safety Deon Bush (Achilles tendon) was carted off the field in the second quarter.

Cardinals: Gannon said postgame that offensive lineman Christian Jones had a knee injury.

Chiefs: visit the Seahawks on Friday, Aug. 15.

Cardinals: visit the Broncos on Saturday, Aug. 16.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754791888557.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Quarterback Patrick Mahomes spent some time before Saturday's preseason game running up and down the Kansas City Chiefs sideline, yelling, jumping and psyching himself up for his first game action since last season's Super Bowl.He was ready — for all 48 seconds of itMahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champ entering his ninth season, took advantage of a short field after the Arizona Cardinals fumbled the opening kickoff,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Chiefs/status/1954335253960458350">hitting Jason Brownlee for a 1-yard touchdown</a>&nbsp;and an early 7-0 lead less than one minute into the game.Arizona rallied for a 20-17 win over Kansas City in the preseason opener for both teams.Mahomes said coach Andy Reid told him before the game that he'd play just one series, but it was an even shorter night than he imagined.“One series turned into one throw,” Mahomes said, grinning.The TD pass was Mahomes' only completion of the game, ending a brief, effective outing. Backup Gardner Minshew took over on the next series and ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Harrison Butker made a 58-yard field goal.Mahomes' final line: 1-for-1 passing for 1 yard and one touchdown. The three-time defending AFC champions were playing for the first time&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">since losing last season's Super Bowl 40-22</a>&nbsp;to the Philadelphia Eagles.“There were some good things,” Reid said. “I thought the (starters) played well when they were in, they were sharp. After that, we were too sloppy. Too many penalties, going backward.”While Kansas City got off to a good start, Arizona did not.The Cardinals fumbled their first two kickoff returns, though they recovered the second one. Kyler Murray — playing in his first preseason game since 2021 — was intercepted on the offense's opening drive on a pass intended for second-year receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.Murray's second drive was hindered when tight end Tip Reiman was called for a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness. The miscue was part of the reason the Cardinals had to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Chad Ryland.Murray chose to remain positive about the outing, saying that even with the mistakes, it was good to get on the field and play at game speed.“You can’t replicate it in practice, moving around with the speed that you’re moving, going left to right, lateral, bodies moving. I had fun. I had a lot of fun out there,” Murray said.Murray played two drives, completing 7 of 8 passes for 96 yards and the interception. Tight end Trey McBride caught one pass for 21 yards and Harrison had a catch for 15 yards.The Cardinals trailed 14-3 early but Emari Demercado caught a 43-yard touchdown pass to cut the margin to 14-10. Xavier Weaver caught a 1-yard touchdown pass that gave the Cardinals a 17-14 lead at halftime.Both touchdowns were thrown by Arizona's new backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who completed 5 of 8 passes for 81 yards. The Cardinals outgained the Chiefs 355 yards to 249.Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon echoed Murray's positive outlook, even after the early mistakes.“The team — not just Kyler — understood why we're doing what we're doing tonight,” Gannon said. "They were excited to get under the lights. That's the AFC champs coming in here. Andy Reid — Hall of Fame coach. They were excited to play a really good team, get lathered up and bang a little on someone other than themselves.“It was good to see our guys ready to roll.”The Cardinals — who are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021 — finished last season with an 8-9 record, which was a four-win improvement over the previous season. Arizona revamped its defensive front during the offseason, adding Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell.<h2>Injuries</h2>Chiefs: Cornerback Jaylen Watson (concussion protocol) left the game in the first half. Safety Deon Bush (Achilles tendon) was carted off the field in the second quarter.Cardinals: Gannon said postgame that offensive lineman Christian Jones had a knee injury.<h2>Up next</h2>Chiefs: visit the Seahawks on Friday, Aug. 15.Cardinals: visit the Broncos on Saturday, Aug. 16.

🏈 1 pass, 1 TD: Mahomes, Chiefs get off to good start in preseason loss 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Noah Cameron and four relievers combined on an eight-hitter, Mikel Garcia had two hits and an RBI, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 2-0 on Saturday night.

Cameron (6-5) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and striking out four. Carlos Estévez struck out two in the ninth for his 29th save.

The Twins left 10 men on base and were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Garcia broke the scoreless tie in the third with an RBI single, and the Royals added an insurance run in the ninth on an RBI single from Jonathan India.

Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober (4-7) pitched six innings, giving up four hits and allowing one run.

Second baseman Adam Frazier scored on India's hit in the ninth, his 30th run of the season.

Twins catcher Matt Jeffers extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He went 3 for 4, with one strikeout.

Ryan Bergert (1-1) will start for the Royals in the final game of the series against the Twins tomorrow afternoon. The Twins have not yet announced their starter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754790974764.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas CIty Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas CIty Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Noah Cameron and four relievers combined on an eight-hitter, Mikel Garcia had two hits and an RBI, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 2-0 on Saturday night.Cameron (6-5) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and striking out four. Carlos Estévez struck out two in the ninth for his 29th save.The Twins left 10 men on base and were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.Garcia broke the scoreless tie in the third with an RBI single, and the Royals added an insurance run in the ninth on an RBI single from Jonathan India.Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober (4-7) pitched six innings, giving up four hits and allowing one run.<h2>Key moment</h2>Second baseman Adam Frazier scored on India's hit in the ninth, his 30th run of the season.<h2>Key stat</h2>Twins catcher Matt Jeffers extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He went 3 for 4, with one strikeout.<h2>Up next</h2>Ryan Bergert (1-1) will start for the Royals in the final game of the series against the Twins tomorrow afternoon. The Twins have not yet announced their starter.

⚾ Royals beat the Twins as Cameron and relievers combine on eight-hitter

Saturday, August 9
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 5:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals, 6:00pm

KAYS - (1400/94.3) KFIX - (96.9) KHAZ - (99.5) KJLS - (103.3) KKQY - (101.9)&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Saturday, August 9
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 5:30pm
 KFIX: Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals, 6:00pmSunday, August 10
 KAYS: Kansas City
Royals at Minnesota Twins, 12:30pm

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kody Clemens and Matt Wallner homered, Ryan Jeffers had three hits and two RBIs, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 9-4 on Friday night.

Rookie Luke Keaschall continued his hot hitting with two singles and two RBIs. He has six hits and eight RBIs in three games after returning from a three-month stint on the IL&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/luke-keaschall-twins-injury-1e3d5878ef6070d4d1cd40e91e2f0448">due to a broken bone in his right forearm</a>.

Joe Ryan (11-5) allowed one run on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts over five innings for the Twins, who have won three straight.

Mike Yastrzemski and Bobby Witt Jr. homered for the Royals, who have lost three of four.

The Twins roughed up Royals starter Seth Lugo (8-6), scoring multiple runs in three of the four innings he pitched.

Keaschall had RBI singles in the first and second innings. Jeffers also had a RBI single in the second as the Twins built a 5-1 lead.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kody Clemens and Matt Wallner homered, Ryan Jeffers had three hits and two RBIs, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 9-4 on Friday night.Rookie Luke Keaschall continued his hot hitting with two singles and two RBIs. He has six hits and eight RBIs in three games after returning from a three-month stint on the IL&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/luke-keaschall-twins-injury-1e3d5878ef6070d4d1cd40e91e2f0448">due to a broken bone in his right forearm</a>.Joe Ryan (11-5) allowed one run on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts over five innings for the Twins, who have won three straight.Mike Yastrzemski and Bobby Witt Jr. homered for the Royals, who have lost three of four.The Twins roughed up Royals starter Seth Lugo (8-6), scoring multiple runs in three of the four innings he pitched.Keaschall had RBI singles in the first and second innings. Jeffers also had a RBI single in the second as the Twins built a 5-1 lead.Clemens set a career high with his 13th homer, a two-run shot in the fourth.<h2>Key moment</h2>After Yastrzemski hit a leadoff homer in the first, the Twins responded immediately when Wallner hammered a sinker into the bullpens in left-center with one out in the bottom of the inning.<h2>Key stat</h2>Ryan is 8-0 with a 1.34 ERA in 10 career starts against the Royals.<h2>Up next</h2>