The Buzz Verduzco era is off and running for the St. Joseph Central softball team.

The longtime college baseball coach was hired to lead the Indians' program this past June, and the era started off with a St. Joseph city jamboree championship this past Saturday at Heritage Park.

Verduzco credits the team's ability to adjust to his style of practice, as Central has now been practicing with their new coach for just over two weeks.

"They've adjusted to the pace of practice," he said. "We try to make the practice a little faster than the game would be. I thought the (jamboree) wasn't overwhelming for most of them, especially the upperclassmen, so that was good. We're now able to separate varsity from JV, so being able to see some of that has helped."

Verduzco inherits a team that has tallied three straight winning seasons. Central finished the 2022 campaign at 17-12-1. While they lost three seniors from that team, the Indians return four players who earned all-district honors last season, including senior shortstop Zoe Trotter.

"The girls we played last year as underclassmen, they're growing as well," Trotter said. "So, they're getting better along with the rest of us. So, I'm super excited. We have a new pitcher, Elizabeth (Morton), she's doing great now. I'm really looking forward to the season."

It's been an exciting summer for Trotter all around, as she gets to play her final season of high school softball for a coach who's a longtime family friend.

Trotter's stepmother, Jennifer, worked alongside Verduzco at Missouri Western for two decades. Trotter coached Griffon softball from 2002-2021, while Verduzco coached Griffon baseball from 2000-2023.

"Something out of the blue," Trotter said of Verduzco's hiring. "I never would have expected it. I found out the news and messaged him right away. That was really exciting for me and my family. We have that special connection with him. I watch his dogs, swim in his pool. But, it's really special. He knows what he's talking about. He's super easy to work with. He'll work with you in whatever ways you need."

At the end of July, Zoe announced her commitment to play softball at Division I University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis next year.

Bagley-Trotter, her stepmom, has been the head coach there since June 2021. Beyond that, playing college ball at any level has long been Trotter's goal.

"As I got older and watching the game grow as it has, has been really special to watch," Trotter said. "Being able to get that opportunity to go play at that level is really exciting for me."

"She deserves it," Verduzco said of Trotter's commitment. "She works hard. I'm sure she had other offers, so she put a lot of thought into it. It wasn't just because of Jennifer. It's because of who Jennifer is and the program, where she's going, how it's going to make a difference in her life and what it was going to mean to her as far as a degree. All of those things were a factor, so we're excited about that."

Central softball has enjoyed a recent run of success, including a school record 26 wins in 2021.

With a handful of players from that team still on the roster, and with a head coach that boasts over 30 years of coaching experience and over 600 wins at the college level, the Indians feel like they've only just begun to reach their potential.

Keeping in mind that the schedule only gets harder after the jamboree.

"The expectations and everything you do in practice stays the same," Verduzco pointed out. "We're still trying to install those things. It'll still be a learning process for all of us. And for them, it's going to get harder as the year goes on."

Central opens the season in the Cameron tournament this Saturday.&nbsp;

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692733249443.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Buzz Verduzco era is off and running for the St. Joseph Central softball team.The longtime college baseball coach was hired to lead the Indians' program this past June, and the era started off with a St. Joseph city jamboree championship this past Saturday at Heritage Park.Verduzco credits the team's ability to adjust to his style of practice, as Central has now been practicing with their new coach for just over two weeks."They've adjusted to the pace of practice," he said. "We try to make the practice a little faster than the game would be. I thought the (jamboree) wasn't overwhelming for most of them, especially the upperclassmen, so that was good. We're now able to separate varsity from JV, so being able to see some of that has helped."Verduzco inherits a team that has tallied three straight winning seasons. Central finished the 2022 campaign at 17-12-1. While they lost three seniors from that team, the Indians return four players who earned all-district honors last season, including senior shortstop Zoe Trotter."The girls we played last year as underclassmen, they're growing as well," Trotter said. "So, they're getting better along with the rest of us. So, I'm super excited. We have a new pitcher, Elizabeth (Morton), she's doing great now. I'm really looking forward to the season."It's been an exciting summer for Trotter all around, as she gets to play her final season of high school softball for a coach who's a longtime family friend.Trotter's stepmother, Jennifer, worked alongside Verduzco at Missouri Western for two decades. Trotter coached Griffon softball from 2002-2021, while Verduzco coached Griffon baseball from 2000-2023."Something out of the blue," Trotter said of Verduzco's hiring. "I never would have expected it. I found out the news and messaged him right away. That was really exciting for me and my family. We have that special connection with him. I watch his dogs, swim in his pool. But, it's really special. He knows what he's talking about. He's super easy to work with. He'll work with you in whatever ways you need."At the end of July, Zoe announced her commitment to play softball at Division I University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis next year.Bagley-Trotter, her stepmom, has been the head coach there since June 2021. Beyond that, playing college ball at any level has long been Trotter's goal."As I got older and watching the game grow as it has, has been really special to watch," Trotter said. "Being able to get that opportunity to go play at that level is really exciting for me.""She deserves it," Verduzco said of Trotter's commitment. "She works hard. I'm sure she had other offers, so she put a lot of thought into it. It wasn't just because of Jennifer. It's because of who Jennifer is and the program, where she's going, how it's going to make a difference in her life and what it was going to mean to her as far as a degree. All of those things were a factor, so we're excited about that."Central softball has enjoyed a recent run of success, including a school record 26 wins in 2021.With a handful of players from that team still on the roster, and with a head coach that boasts over 30 years of coaching experience and over 600 wins at the college level, the Indians feel like they've only just begun to reach their potential.Keeping in mind that the schedule only gets harder after the jamboree."The expectations and everything you do in practice stays the same," Verduzco pointed out. "We're still trying to install those things. It'll still be a learning process for all of us. And for them, it's going to get harder as the year goes on."Central opens the season in the Cameron tournament this Saturday.&nbsp;Zoe Trotter interview<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Central-softballs-Zoe-Trotter-e28dbrh" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692735123388.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692735135937.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634261989824.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634090195835.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Post Preview: Central softball embracing the start of the Buzz Verduzco era

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Shea Langeliers homered for the second consecutive day, and the Oakland Athletics spoiled the return of former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke with a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals. 

Aledmys Díaz added three RBIs for the A’s, and Brent Rooker had two hits a day after hitting his second game-ending home run of the season. 

The game between the two worst teams in baseball attracted a crowd of 4,021, with chants of “Sell the team” echoing throughout a mostly quiet Coliseum during much of the evening.

The Royals take on the Athletics again Wednesday afternoon at 2:37 on 680 AM &amp; 95.3 FM KFEQ.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Shea Langeliers homered for the second consecutive day, and the Oakland Athletics spoiled the return of former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke with a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals. Aledmys Díaz added three RBIs for the A’s, and Brent Rooker had two hits a day after hitting his second game-ending home run of the season. The game between the two worst teams in baseball attracted a crowd of 4,021, with chants of “Sell the team” echoing throughout a mostly quiet Coliseum during much of the evening.The Royals take on the Athletics again Wednesday afternoon at 2:37 on 680 AM &amp; 95.3 FM KFEQ.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692765458296.jpeg" alt="Oakland Athletics catcher Carlos Perez (44) scores against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)" />
 <figcaption>Oakland Athletics catcher Carlos Perez (44) scores against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)</figcaption>
 </figure>

A's top Royals 5-4 to spoil Zack Greinke's return from the injured list

After winning 24 games in the regular season last fall, it didn't set well with Bishop LeBlond when they lost in the first round of districts to West Platte to end the 2022 campaign.

That angst carried over into 2023, as LeBlond came out and swept the St. Joseph city jamboree on Tuesday at the MWSU Fieldhouse.

"Coming off of last year's loss to West Platte early in the season, it feels good to regroup and come back and get it done," said senior Maddie Sego.

LeBlond breezed by Lafayette in their first match of the night, beating the Irish 15-5 and 15-7.

They turned in a scrappy effort against Central in the very next match, beating the Indians 15-13 and 15-11.

Sego was especially on against Central, turning in four kills, three aces and 3.5 blocks in that match.

"I thought our team played really, really well," LeBlond head coach Kimberly Huss said. "When someone made a mistake, somebody else picked them up and got us a point. So, I was really pleased with the team effort tonight."

There were six total matches in Tuesday's jamboree. Each match was two sets long. The sets were decided by whoever scored 15 points first.

The fifth match of the night was the decisive one, as LeBlond faced Benton - last year's jamboree winner.

The first set of the fifth match was back and forth, with no team ever leading by more than three points. With the first set tied at 14, sophomore Rilyn Conard scored the winning kill to give the Eagles a 15-14 win over the Cardinals in set one.

The second set stayed close for awhile, but LeBlond went up 12-7 and won it 15-11 to clinch a sweep in the jamboree.

"It's a little bit of a pride point, who can win the jamboree," Huss said. "But, we also know that what we're looking for and our goals are about the end of October."

LeBlond has won 10 district titles in the last 13 seasons. They finished second at state in 2021, and have enjoyed 20-30+ win seasons for about the last 15 or so years.

With seven seniors on this year's varsity roster, Huss called this summer "one of the most joyful" summers of volleyball she's had in her storied coaching career.

The Eagles are just hoping that fun and excitement can help fuel some big results in 2023.

"We're just relishing in the fun we're having every single day with this group," Huss said, "and they're bringing along the young kids really, really well. So, it's kind of exciting."

Benton and Central tied in the first match of the night Tuesday. Central beat the Cardinals 15-8 in set one, but Benton won set two 15-11.

Benton had no troubles against Lafayette in set four of the jamboree, beating the Irish 15-7 and 15-8 respectively.

Lafayette scored their only set victory of the night on Monday when they beat Central 15-10 in the first set of the sixth and final match, but the Indians came back with a vengeance and downed the Irish 15-1, yes 15-1, in the final set of the jamboree.

Benton finished the night at 1-1-1, Central was 0-1-2, while Lafayette went 0-3.

Benton opens their season Saturday in the Tarkio tournament. LeBlond opens the season at Rock Port on August 28. Lafayette is home to Mid-Buchanan on September 5 and Central is home to Excelsior Springs on August 29.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692755743517.jpeg" alt="Maddie Sego (left) goes for the kill against Lafayette in Tuesday night's volleyball jamboree at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Maddie Sego (left) goes for the kill against Lafayette in Tuesday night's volleyball jamboree at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostAfter winning 24 games in the regular season last fall, it didn't set well with Bishop LeBlond when they lost in the first round of districts to West Platte to end the 2022 campaign.That angst carried over into 2023, as LeBlond came out and swept the St. Joseph city jamboree on Tuesday at the MWSU Fieldhouse."Coming off of last year's loss to West Platte early in the season, it feels good to regroup and come back and get it done," said senior Maddie Sego.LeBlond breezed by Lafayette in their first match of the night, beating the Irish 15-5 and 15-7.They turned in a scrappy effort against Central in the very next match, beating the Indians 15-13 and 15-11.Sego was especially on against Central, turning in four kills, three aces and 3.5 blocks in that match."I thought our team played really, really well," LeBlond head coach Kimberly Huss said. "When someone made a mistake, somebody else picked them up and got us a point. So, I was really pleased with the team effort tonight."There were six total matches in Tuesday's jamboree. Each match was two sets long. The sets were decided by whoever scored 15 points first.The fifth match of the night was the decisive one, as LeBlond faced Benton - last year's jamboree winner.The first set of the fifth match was back and forth, with no team ever leading by more than three points. With the first set tied at 14, sophomore Rilyn Conard scored the winning kill to give the Eagles a 15-14 win over the Cardinals in set one.The second set stayed close for awhile, but LeBlond went up 12-7 and won it 15-11 to clinch a sweep in the jamboree."It's a little bit of a pride point, who can win the jamboree," Huss said. "But, we also know that what we're looking for and our goals are about the end of October."LeBlond has won 10 district titles in the last 13 seasons. They finished second at state in 2021, and have enjoyed 20-30+ win seasons for about the last 15 or so years.With seven seniors on this year's varsity roster, Huss called this summer "one of the most joyful" summers of volleyball she's had in her storied coaching career.The Eagles are just hoping that fun and excitement can help fuel some big results in 2023."We're just relishing in the fun we're having every single day with this group," Huss said, "and they're bringing along the young kids really, really well. So, it's kind of exciting."Other results TuesdayBenton and Central tied in the first match of the night Tuesday. Central beat the Cardinals 15-8 in set one, but Benton won set two 15-11.Benton had no troubles against Lafayette in set four of the jamboree, beating the Irish 15-7 and 15-8 respectively.Lafayette scored their only set victory of the night on Monday when they beat Central 15-10 in the first set of the sixth and final match, but the Indians came back with a vengeance and downed the Irish 15-1, yes 15-1, in the final set of the jamboree.Benton finished the night at 1-1-1, Central was 0-1-2, while Lafayette went 0-3.Benton opens their season Saturday in the Tarkio tournament. LeBlond opens the season at Rock Port on August 28. Lafayette is home to Mid-Buchanan on September 5 and Central is home to Excelsior Springs on August 29.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692759720410.jpeg" alt="Anna Honson." />
 <figcaption>Anna Honson.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692759734948.jpeg" alt="Avery Morlock." />
 <figcaption>Avery Morlock.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692759754768.jpeg" alt="LeBlond celebrates a point." />
 <figcaption>LeBlond celebrates a point.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692759860403.jpeg" alt="Jacie Davis." />
 <figcaption>Jacie Davis.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692759784878.jpeg" alt="Central's Anna Honson and Lilly Bortell throw a block." />
 <figcaption>Central's Anna Honson and Lilly Bortell throw a block.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692759816659.jpeg" alt="Delaney Mense." />
 <figcaption>Delaney Mense.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692759832316.jpeg" alt="Emma Loehnig." />
 <figcaption>Emma Loehnig.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692759903466.jpeg" alt="Mckenzie Findley (right) with a bump set." />
 <figcaption>Mckenzie Findley (right) with a bump set.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692759935331.jpeg" alt="Katie Sego." />
 <figcaption>Katie Sego.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond sweeps their way to a jamboree victory Tuesday at MWSU Fieldhouse

High school football broadcasts return to KFEQ and St. Joseph Post this fall. Below is the 2023 schedule.

The jamboree, and first six games of the regular season, will be broadcast online at StJosephPost.com, while week 7-9 and postseason games will be on KFEQ Radio.

You'll hear the Kansas City Royals on KFEQ on Friday nights for the first six weeks of the high school football season.

However, as soon as the Royals game is over, the high school game being broadcast on StJosephPost.com will then be simulcast on KFEQ.

Also back for its third season is Friday Night Lights heard every Friday night from 10-11 p.m. on KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app).

Friday Night Lights,&nbsp;hosted by Matt Pike, is a full hour of scores from all over northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. The show also features live interviews with area head coaches.

Jamboree (8/18): St. Joseph jamboree at Spratt Stadium - Benton, Central, Lafayette, Savannah - StJosephPost.com (<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:45 pregame

Week 1 (8/25): DeKalb @ St. Joseph Christian - KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame

Week 2 (9/1): Savannah @ East Buchanan - StJosephPost.com (<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame

Week 3 (9/8): Lafayette @ Benton - StJosephPost.com (<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame

Week 4 (9/15): North Andrew @ St. Joseph Christian - StJosephPost.com&nbsp;

(<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame

Week 5 (9/22): Benton @ Savannah- StJosephPost.com (<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame&nbsp;

Week 6 (9/29): King City @ North Andrew - StJosephPost.com (<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame

Week 7 (10/6): Plattsburg @ Bishop LeBlond - KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame

Week 8 (10/13): East Buchanan @ Mid-Buchanan -&nbsp;KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame Week 9 (10/20): Troy @ Riverside - KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670112968821.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostHigh school football broadcasts return to KFEQ and St. Joseph Post this fall. Below is the 2023 schedule.The jamboree, and first six games of the regular season, will be broadcast online at StJosephPost.com, while week 7-9 and postseason games will be on KFEQ Radio.You'll hear the Kansas City Royals on KFEQ on Friday nights for the first six weeks of the high school football season.However, as soon as the Royals game is over, the high school game being broadcast on StJosephPost.com will then be simulcast on KFEQ.Also back for its third season is Friday Night Lights heard every Friday night from 10-11 p.m. on KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app).Friday Night Lights,&nbsp;hosted by Matt Pike, is a full hour of scores from all over northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. The show also features live interviews with area head coaches.2023 scheduleJamboree (8/18): St. Joseph jamboree at Spratt Stadium - Benton, Central, Lafayette, Savannah - StJosephPost.com (<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:45 pregameWeek 1 (8/25): DeKalb @ St. Joseph Christian - KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregameWeek 2 (9/1): Savannah @ East Buchanan - StJosephPost.com (<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame Week 3 (9/8): Lafayette @ Benton - StJosephPost.com (<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame Week 4 (9/15): North Andrew @ St. Joseph Christian - StJosephPost.com&nbsp;

(<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregameWeek 5 (9/22): Benton @ Savannah- StJosephPost.com (<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame&nbsp;Week 6 (9/29): King City @ North Andrew - StJosephPost.com (<a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/cwa/SJPOST">LISTEN HERE</a>) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame Week 7 (10/6): Plattsburg @ Bishop LeBlond - KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame Week 8 (10/13): East Buchanan @ Mid-Buchanan -&nbsp;KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame Week 9 (10/20): Troy @ Riverside - KFEQ (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app) - 7 p.m. kick, 6:30 pregame<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1669961601379.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post 2023 high school football broadcast schedule

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Brent Rooker hit a two-run home run off Dylan Coleman in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Oakland Athletics a 6-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night in a matchup of teams with the worst records in the major leagues. 

Zack Gelof, Jordan Diaz and Shea Langeliers also went deep for the MLB-worst Athletics (35-90), who snapped a three-game skid and won for the second time in 10 games. The Athletics won in front of their fifth-smallest crowd of the season (3,095) and avoided falling 56 games under .500 for the first time since 1920. 

Bobby Witt Jr. hit his 25th home run for Kansas City. The Royals (40-87) have dropped six of seven.

The Royals take on the Athletics again Tuesday night at 8:40 on 680 AM &amp; 95.3 FM KFEQ.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Brent Rooker hit a two-run home run off Dylan Coleman in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Oakland Athletics a 6-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night in a matchup of teams with the worst records in the major leagues. Zack Gelof, Jordan Diaz and Shea Langeliers also went deep for the MLB-worst Athletics (35-90), who snapped a three-game skid and won for the second time in 10 games. The Athletics won in front of their fifth-smallest crowd of the season (3,095) and avoided falling 56 games under .500 for the first time since 1920. Bobby Witt Jr. hit his 25th home run for Kansas City. The Royals (40-87) have dropped six of seven.The Royals take on the Athletics again Tuesday night at 8:40 on 680 AM &amp; 95.3 FM KFEQ.

Brent Rooker slugs a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 9th as the Athletics beat the Royals 6-4

GLENDALE (AP) — Kansas City's first-team offense didn't play well during its first few series Saturday night, dropping a few passes, committing a few penalties and coming up well short of the end zone.

An expected light preseason night for the starters was suddenly becoming a little longer. Before the third drive, MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a message for his teammates.

“If we don't want to keep playing, we'd better score," Mahomes said.

The Chiefs responded with a 10-play, 92-yard drive&nbsp;that ended in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to Justin Watson&nbsp;and Kansas City was on its way to a 38-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night.

It was the first extended preseason action for Mahomes, who completed 10 of 15 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, playing the entire first quarter. The defending Super Bowl champs never trailed and outgained the Cardinals 504 yards to 286.

Kansas City rookie receiver Rashee Rice — a second-round pick out of SMU — caught eight passes for 96 yards.

“You can see the talent,” Mahomes said. “He makes a lot of tough catches. He had a drop early and then responded well. I think that's just the jitters of being in your first few NFL games. I've got a lot of trust in him that he'll make those catches in tough spaces.”

Kansas City (1-1) is expected to be among the NFL's best teams again this year, while Arizona (1-1) is a popular pick to be among the worst. Franchise quarterback Kyler Murray is likely out for the first several weeks of the season while he recovers from a torn ACL suffered last year.

The Chiefs built a 17-0 lead by late in the second quarter following Harrison Butker's 28-yard field goal. The Cardinals cut it to 17-7 just before halftime on Keaontay Ingram's 5-yard touchdown.

Arizona's Matt Prater made a 54-yard field goal with 9:33 left in the third to make it 17-10, but Kansas City would finish the game with 21 straight points.

Kansas City's backup quarterbacks both had strong performances. Shane Buechele was 10 of 10 for 105 yards, while also running for a 15-yard touchdown. Blaine Gabbert was 7 of 8 for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

“It was a good effort, all the way around,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Defensively, I thought we started fast, which is what we needed to do. Offensively, we had a few hiccups early. We've got to take care of business with that. But all in all, the groups came out and played good, respectable football.”

The Chiefs' four quarterbacks — Mahomes, Buechele, Gabbert and fourth-stringer Chris Oladokun — combined to complete 31 of 38 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns.

“All three phases, we've got to get cleaned up or that is what going to happen against a good football team,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “You’re going to get beat pretty good. It will be very black and white to our guys what we need to improve in a hurry.”

It was the third time in less than a year that the Chiefs have played at State Farm Stadium.

Kansas City beat Arizona 44-21 in last year's season opener before returning before returning to the desert for their Super Bowl win over the Eagles in February.

Six months later, they were back in Glendale for the preseason game. Kansas City won all three games.

The Chiefs host the Cleveland Browns in their and final preseason game this Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon. The game will be broadcast on Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692555206572.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and tight end Travis Kelce (87) cheer from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)." />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and tight end Travis Kelce (87) cheer from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri).</figcaption>
 </figure>St. Joseph PostGLENDALE (AP) — Kansas City's first-team offense didn't play well during its first few series Saturday night, dropping a few passes, committing a few penalties and coming up well short of the end zone.An expected light preseason night for the starters was suddenly becoming a little longer. Before the third drive, MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a message for his teammates.“If we don't want to keep playing, we'd better score," Mahomes said.The Chiefs responded with a 10-play, 92-yard drive&nbsp;that ended in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to Justin Watson&nbsp;and Kansas City was on its way to a 38-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night.It was the first extended preseason action for Mahomes, who completed 10 of 15 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, playing the entire first quarter. The defending Super Bowl champs never trailed and outgained the Cardinals 504 yards to 286.Kansas City rookie receiver Rashee Rice — a second-round pick out of SMU — caught eight passes for 96 yards.“You can see the talent,” Mahomes said. “He makes a lot of tough catches. He had a drop early and then responded well. I think that's just the jitters of being in your first few NFL games. I've got a lot of trust in him that he'll make those catches in tough spaces.”Kansas City (1-1) is expected to be among the NFL's best teams again this year, while Arizona (1-1) is a popular pick to be among the worst. Franchise quarterback Kyler Murray is likely out for the first several weeks of the season while he recovers from a torn ACL suffered last year.The Chiefs built a 17-0 lead by late in the second quarter following Harrison Butker's 28-yard field goal. The Cardinals cut it to 17-7 just before halftime on Keaontay Ingram's 5-yard touchdown.Arizona's Matt Prater made a 54-yard field goal with 9:33 left in the third to make it 17-10, but Kansas City would finish the game with 21 straight points.Kansas City's backup quarterbacks both had strong performances. Shane Buechele was 10 of 10 for 105 yards, while also running for a 15-yard touchdown. Blaine Gabbert was 7 of 8 for 120 yards and two touchdowns.“It was a good effort, all the way around,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Defensively, I thought we started fast, which is what we needed to do. Offensively, we had a few hiccups early. We've got to take care of business with that. But all in all, the groups came out and played good, respectable football.”The Chiefs' four quarterbacks — Mahomes, Buechele, Gabbert and fourth-stringer Chris Oladokun — combined to complete 31 of 38 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns.“All three phases, we've got to get cleaned up or that is what going to happen against a good football team,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “You’re going to get beat pretty good. It will be very black and white to our guys what we need to improve in a hurry.”HOME AWAY FROM HOMEIt was the third time in less than a year that the Chiefs have played at State Farm Stadium.Kansas City beat Arizona 44-21 in last year's season opener before returning before returning to the desert for their Super Bowl win over the Eagles in February.Six months later, they were back in Glendale for the preseason game. Kansas City won all three games.UP NEXTThe Chiefs host the Cleveland Browns in their and final preseason game this Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon. The game will be broadcast on Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692505726045.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws as he is pushed out of bounds by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws as he is pushed out of bounds by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Mahomes throws for a TD, Chiefs roll in preseason win over the Cardinals Saturday

CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger homered twice and Justin Steele pitched six effective innings, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 6-4 on Saturday.

Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki each hit a sacrifice fly for Chicago (63-59), which had dropped three of four. The Cubs are fighting for playoff positioning in the crowded NL standings.

Bellinger, who signed a $17.5 million, one-year contract in December, hit a two-run shot in the first and a solo drive in the third. He has 20 homers on the season for his highest total since he swatted 47 for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 on his way to the NL MVP award.

The 28-year-old Bellinger went 2 for 3 with four RBIs. He is batting .326 with 63 RBIs and 17 steals in 91 games.

“It’s just must-watch television at this point,” Steele said of Bellinger’s offensive production. “Any time he comes up, whatever the situation, he’s must watch. He’s always putting together great at-bats and is a great presence in the clubhouse.

It was Bellinger's 17th career multihomer game. He credited having a simple approach at the plate for his recent offensive tear.

“I think it’s just understanding myself and being able to control what I want to do inside the box,” Bellinger said. “It’s all correlated. When I get off, I try to get right back on track and just trust my swing and my ability.”

Steele (14-3) allowed two runs and six hits. He struck out seven and walked none while improving to 5-0 in his last six starts.

“He’s been so good for us and given us six (innings) consistently,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “He’s one of our best pitchers. You got to put trust in him, ride him and give him the ball. When in doubt, he’s been really good.”

Adbert Alzolay worked the ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances.

Bobby Witt Jr. had three hits for Kansas City (40-85), and Salvador Perez went 2 for 3 and scored two runs. Brady Singer (8-9) was charged with six runs — four earned — and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.

“A couple different pitches could have changed a lot of things,” Singer said. “Obviously, I wish I would have done that but that’s the way the game goes sometimes.”

Witt singled home Drew Waters in the seventh, and Kyle Isbel added an RBI double in the eighth. But the Royals' rally fizzled from there.

Chicago improved to 20-9 in its last 29 games.

The Cubs designated veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart for assignment. The 32-year-old Barnhart, who signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-cubs-sports-tucker-barnhart-mlb-baseball-yan-gomes-10c9e850da08926741e9af477e1ccb76">$6.5 million, two-year contract</a>&nbsp;in December, hit .202 in 47 games with Chicago.

Infielder Miles Mastrobuoni was recalled from Triple-A Iowa.

Royals: INF Maikel Garcia got the day off. Manager Matt Quatraro said Garcia is dealing with upper-body soreness on his left side and remains day to day.

Cubs: RHP Nick Burdi (appendectomy) threw 26 pitches in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Iowa on Friday.

RHP Jordan Lyles (3-13, 6.30 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals on Sunday. RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-6, 4.00 ERA) starts for the Cubs. First Pitch is set for 1:10, with pregame coverage starting at 12:30 on 680 AM &amp; 95.3 FM KFEQ.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692532100335.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey tosses his helmet after striking out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey tosses his helmet after striking out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger homered twice and Justin Steele pitched six effective innings, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 6-4 on Saturday.Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki each hit a sacrifice fly for Chicago (63-59), which had dropped three of four. The Cubs are fighting for playoff positioning in the crowded NL standings.Bellinger, who signed a $17.5 million, one-year contract in December, hit a two-run shot in the first and a solo drive in the third. He has 20 homers on the season for his highest total since he swatted 47 for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 on his way to the NL MVP award.The 28-year-old Bellinger went 2 for 3 with four RBIs. He is batting .326 with 63 RBIs and 17 steals in 91 games.“It’s just must-watch television at this point,” Steele said of Bellinger’s offensive production. “Any time he comes up, whatever the situation, he’s must watch. He’s always putting together great at-bats and is a great presence in the clubhouse.“He’s the heartbeat right now.”It was Bellinger's 17th career multihomer game. He credited having a simple approach at the plate for his recent offensive tear.“I think it’s just understanding myself and being able to control what I want to do inside the box,” Bellinger said. “It’s all correlated. When I get off, I try to get right back on track and just trust my swing and my ability.”Steele (14-3) allowed two runs and six hits. He struck out seven and walked none while improving to 5-0 in his last six starts.“He’s been so good for us and given us six (innings) consistently,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “He’s one of our best pitchers. You got to put trust in him, ride him and give him the ball. When in doubt, he’s been really good.”Adbert Alzolay worked the ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances.Bobby Witt Jr. had three hits for Kansas City (40-85), and Salvador Perez went 2 for 3 and scored two runs. Brady Singer (8-9) was charged with six runs — four earned — and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.“A couple different pitches could have changed a lot of things,” Singer said. “Obviously, I wish I would have done that but that’s the way the game goes sometimes.”Witt singled home Drew Waters in the seventh, and Kyle Isbel added an RBI double in the eighth. But the Royals' rally fizzled from there.Chicago improved to 20-9 in its last 29 games.TRANSACTIONThe Cubs designated veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart for assignment. The 32-year-old Barnhart, who signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-cubs-sports-tucker-barnhart-mlb-baseball-yan-gomes-10c9e850da08926741e9af477e1ccb76">$6.5 million, two-year contract</a>&nbsp;in December, hit .202 in 47 games with Chicago.Infielder Miles Mastrobuoni was recalled from Triple-A Iowa.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: INF Maikel Garcia got the day off. Manager Matt Quatraro said Garcia is dealing with upper-body soreness on his left side and remains day to day.Cubs: RHP Nick Burdi (appendectomy) threw 26 pitches in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Iowa on Friday.UP NEXTRHP Jordan Lyles (3-13, 6.30 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals on Sunday. RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-6, 4.00 ERA) starts for the Cubs. First Pitch is set for 1:10, with pregame coverage starting at 12:30 on 680 AM &amp; 95.3 FM KFEQ.

Cody Bellinger and Justin Steele help Chicago Cubs top Kansas City Royals 6-4

Savannah was the newest team in the field at the St. Joseph city jamboree at Spratt Stadium Friday.

Now, they're the most recent winner of the event.

The Savages, coming off of a 10-2 season last year, scored five offensive touchdowns and forced three turnovers in beating Lafayette, Central and Benton in the jamboree on Friday night.

Savannah beat Lafayette 18-7, Central 6-0 and Benton 15-0.

"We just want to check a few boxes when we come to jamboree," Savannah head coach Anthony Hays said. "We want to get some reps in for our guys we'll rotate in on Friday night and our JV kids. I think we checked all of our boxes."

"We want our kids, whether we're at practice, a jamboree or game, to play with great enthusiasm and energy and I feel like they really brought that today."

The Savages had little trouble on offense in the first quarter, as senior and all-state running back Cade Chappell got the scoring started with a one-yard touchdown run.

Sophomore Deagan Pasley followed with a one-yard rushing score of his own. Savannah also recovered a pair of Lafayette fumbles to beat the Irish 18-7.

The second quarter proved to be a tougher challenge for the Savages, as they took on Class 5 Central. The Indians held Savannah out of the end zone for awhile.

But with only a couple of plays left to run, junior quarterback Maddox Shoop threw a deep ball to sophomore Luke Rogers, who turned around to catch the pass in tight coverage, and back his way into the end zone to give Savannah a 6-0 win in the second quarter.

Each team ran 12 plays of offense per quarter.

Benton proved to be of little challenge for Savannah, as the Savages quickly scored a pair of touchdowns against the Cardinals.

Chappell ran one in from 18 yards out, while Shoop connected with Kegan Bechtold for an 11-yard touchdown to put the Savages up 12-0.

Every drive in Friday's jamboree started 35 yards away from the end zone. Benton's offense had trouble getting much past the 35.

In fact, on Benton's first offensive play against the Savannah defense, quarterback Jaxson Rich targeted Austin Zambrano-Saxton in the end zone, but senior Wyatt Jackson ripped the ball away for his own to come down with an athletic interception.

"That was a great play," Hays said. "Wyatt, I think, will be a good one. We have some good senior leadership and some young kids who played last year as sophomores. I was really impressed with coach (Caleb) Wiley's defense. The defensive staff has done a great job with those kids. They played with a lot of fire."

The Savages came away with a sweep against their St. Joseph opposition - their fans packing the bleachers on the north side.

"Our town loves football," Hays said. "We're appreciative for the support we have. It seemed like a natural fit with there only being three teams (in the jamboree). I'm very gracious to the St. Joseph schools for allowing us to be part of it. We're just 15 minutes north of here, so it seemed like a good fit. We'd love to be a part of it for as long as they allow us to."

"We bring something to the table as far as the atmosphere and packing the visitors' side (at Spratt Stadium). We could have that be our side. We'll pack it every single year. We're very grateful for our fan support."

Central got off to a strong start in the first quarter, defeating Benton 18-3. Junior running back Gabe Fields had a 35-yard touchdown run. He also caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from senior QB Caleb Aguilar.

Benton's Bryson Brown snagged an INT late in the period, which were the only points on the night for the Cardinals.

Lafayette's lone win Friday came against Benton in the second quarter by the score of 6-0. Senior quarterback Jackson Compton connected with fellow senior and receiver Drake Losson for a 33-yard touchdown throw in the second.

Compton and Losson also connected from 35 yards out in the first quarter against Savannah.

Central's offense moved methodically against Lafayette. Fields and junior Clarron Jackson each had touchdown runs against the Irish in the third. The Indians also picked up a fumble after a sack, giving the Indians a 15-0 win.

Central finished the night at 2-1, Lafayette was 1-2 and Benton, last year's jamboree winner, went 0-3.

Savannah will face Portageville at Ozark High School. Central is at Ruskin, Lafayette is at KC Center and Benton is home to Northeast KC next Friday to officially kick off the season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692413228096.jpeg" alt="Maddox Shoop (14) threw for a pair of touchdowns as Savannah went 3-0 and won the 2023 St. Joseph city jamboree at Spratt Stadium. Photo by Matt Pike." />
 <figcaption>Maddox Shoop (14) threw for a pair of touchdowns as Savannah went 3-0 and won the 2023 St. Joseph city jamboree at Spratt Stadium. Photo by Matt Pike.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostSavannah was the newest team in the field at the St. Joseph city jamboree at Spratt Stadium Friday.Now, they're the most recent winner of the event.The Savages, coming off of a 10-2 season last year, scored five offensive touchdowns and forced three turnovers in beating Lafayette, Central and Benton in the jamboree on Friday night.Savannah beat Lafayette 18-7, Central 6-0 and Benton 15-0."We just want to check a few boxes when we come to jamboree," Savannah head coach Anthony Hays said. "We want to get some reps in for our guys we'll rotate in on Friday night and our JV kids. I think we checked all of our boxes.""We want our kids, whether we're at practice, a jamboree or game, to play with great enthusiasm and energy and I feel like they really brought that today."The Savages had little trouble on offense in the first quarter, as senior and all-state running back Cade Chappell got the scoring started with a one-yard touchdown run.Sophomore Deagan Pasley followed with a one-yard rushing score of his own. Savannah also recovered a pair of Lafayette fumbles to beat the Irish 18-7.The second quarter proved to be a tougher challenge for the Savages, as they took on Class 5 Central. The Indians held Savannah out of the end zone for awhile.But with only a couple of plays left to run, junior quarterback Maddox Shoop threw a deep ball to sophomore Luke Rogers, who turned around to catch the pass in tight coverage, and back his way into the end zone to give Savannah a 6-0 win in the second quarter.Each team ran 12 plays of offense per quarter.Benton proved to be of little challenge for Savannah, as the Savages quickly scored a pair of touchdowns against the Cardinals.Chappell ran one in from 18 yards out, while Shoop connected with Kegan Bechtold for an 11-yard touchdown to put the Savages up 12-0.Every drive in Friday's jamboree started 35 yards away from the end zone. Benton's offense had trouble getting much past the 35.In fact, on Benton's first offensive play against the Savannah defense, quarterback Jaxson Rich targeted Austin Zambrano-Saxton in the end zone, but senior Wyatt Jackson ripped the ball away for his own to come down with an athletic interception."That was a great play," Hays said. "Wyatt, I think, will be a good one. We have some good senior leadership and some young kids who played last year as sophomores. I was really impressed with coach (Caleb) Wiley's defense. The defensive staff has done a great job with those kids. They played with a lot of fire."The Savages came away with a sweep against their St. Joseph opposition - their fans packing the bleachers on the north side."Our town loves football," Hays said. "We're appreciative for the support we have. It seemed like a natural fit with there only being three teams (in the jamboree). I'm very gracious to the St. Joseph schools for allowing us to be part of it. We're just 15 minutes north of here, so it seemed like a good fit. We'd love to be a part of it for as long as they allow us to.""We bring something to the table as far as the atmosphere and packing the visitors' side (at Spratt Stadium). We could have that be our side. We'll pack it every single year. We're very grateful for our fan support."Also in the first quarterCentral got off to a strong start in the first quarter, defeating Benton 18-3. Junior running back Gabe Fields had a 35-yard touchdown run. He also caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from senior QB Caleb Aguilar.Benton's Bryson Brown snagged an INT late in the period, which were the only points on the night for the Cardinals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692415514966.jpeg" alt="Gabe Fields. Photo by Clifton Grooms." />
 <figcaption>Gabe Fields. Photo by Clifton Grooms.</figcaption>
 </figure>Also in the second quarterLafayette's lone win Friday came against Benton in the second quarter by the score of 6-0. Senior quarterback Jackson Compton connected with fellow senior and receiver Drake Losson for a 33-yard touchdown throw in the second.Compton and Losson also connected from 35 yards out in the first quarter against Savannah.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692415532909.jpeg" alt="Jackson Compton." />
 <figcaption>Jackson Compton.</figcaption>
 </figure>Also in the third quarterCentral's offense moved methodically against Lafayette. Fields and junior Clarron Jackson each had touchdown runs against the Irish in the third. The Indians also picked up a fumble after a sack, giving the Indians a 15-0 win.Central finished the night at 2-1, Lafayette was 1-2 and Benton, last year's jamboree winner, went 0-3.Week 1Savannah will face Portageville at Ozark High School. Central is at Ruskin, Lafayette is at KC Center and Benton is home to Northeast KC next Friday to officially kick off the season.Anthony Hays interview<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Anthony-Hays---St--Joseph-jamboree-postgame-e2897p9" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692413251078.jpeg" alt="Cade Chappell." />
 <figcaption>Cade Chappell.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692415608228.jpeg" alt="Cadin Stout (27)." />
 <figcaption>Cadin Stout (27).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692415641155.jpeg" alt="Kanon Wetlaufer (13)." />
 <figcaption>Kanon Wetlaufer (13).</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Savannah goes 3-0, wins the St. Joseph jamboree in their first time participating

CHICAGO (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a go-ahead home run and Cole Ragans pitched six effective innings to help the Kansas City Royals end a three-game skid with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

Ragans (4-4) struck out nine while allowing eight hits and all three Chicago runs. He struck out three straight batters to end his final inning.

The Cubs started the day 2 1/2 games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central standings and missed a chance to creep closer after striking out 13 times. Carlos Hernández, the last of four Royals relievers, pitched the ninth for his second save in five chances.

Jameson Taillon (7-8) was charged with two earned runs after allowing six hits and striking out three in the first six innings. Kansas City’s Matt Duffy reached on an error to start the sixth before Witt knocked his 24th homer of the season into center field.

The Royals took the lead in the third on Kyle Isbel’s RBI single and got another run an inning later on Salvador Perez’s sacrifice fly.

The Cubs answered with a three-run, five-hit fourth that included RBI singles from Jeimer Candelario and Christopher Morel.

Fans enjoyed more than just a mild, sunny afternoon on Chicago’s north side. Fighter jets and other military aircraft buzzed across the sky near Wrigley Field throughout the afternoon as pilots practiced for this weekend’s annual Chicago Air and Water Show.

Royals: 3B Maikel Garcia left the game in the middle of the fourth with what the club called left upper body discomfort. ... RHP Taylor Clarke (elbow inflammation) was activated from the 15-day injured list before the game. RHP Max Castillo was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday. ... INF Nick Pratto (left groin strain) made his first rehab appearance at Omaha on Thursday. He’s been on the 10-day injured list since July 28.

Royals RHP Brady Singer (8-8, 4.91) faces Cubs LHP Justin Steele (13-3, 2.79) on Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692395120901.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr., right, jumps up to celebrate his home run with Matt Duffy during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr., right, jumps up to celebrate his home run with Matt Duffy during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a go-ahead home run and Cole Ragans pitched six effective innings to help the Kansas City Royals end a three-game skid with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday.Ragans (4-4) struck out nine while allowing eight hits and all three Chicago runs. He struck out three straight batters to end his final inning.The Cubs started the day 2 1/2 games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central standings and missed a chance to creep closer after striking out 13 times. Carlos Hernández, the last of four Royals relievers, pitched the ninth for his second save in five chances.Jameson Taillon (7-8) was charged with two earned runs after allowing six hits and striking out three in the first six innings. Kansas City’s Matt Duffy reached on an error to start the sixth before Witt knocked his 24th homer of the season into center field.The Royals took the lead in the third on Kyle Isbel’s RBI single and got another run an inning later on Salvador Perez’s sacrifice fly.The Cubs answered with a three-run, five-hit fourth that included RBI singles from Jeimer Candelario and Christopher Morel.IT GOT A LITTLE LOUDFans enjoyed more than just a mild, sunny afternoon on Chicago’s north side. Fighter jets and other military aircraft buzzed across the sky near Wrigley Field throughout the afternoon as pilots practiced for this weekend’s annual Chicago Air and Water Show.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: 3B Maikel Garcia left the game in the middle of the fourth with what the club called left upper body discomfort. ... RHP Taylor Clarke (elbow inflammation) was activated from the 15-day injured list before the game. RHP Max Castillo was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday. ... INF Nick Pratto (left groin strain) made his first rehab appearance at Omaha on Thursday. He’s been on the 10-day injured list since July 28.UP NEXTRoyals RHP Brady Singer (8-8, 4.91) faces Cubs LHP Justin Steele (13-3, 2.79) on Saturday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692393725373.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., left, tags out Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner, center, at second base during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Chicago. Hoerner tried to stretch a single into a double. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., left, tags out Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner, center, at second base during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Chicago. Hoerner tried to stretch a single into a double. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Bobby Witt Jr. hits go-ahead homer and Royals end skid with 4-3 win vs Cubs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Mariners had just squandered another opportunity on the basepaths, and seen their lead against the Royals disappear, when Julio Rodriguez stepped to the plate with two runners aboard in the eighth inning Thursday.

George Kirby knew something special was about to happen.

The Mariners' starting pitcher, whose day on the mound had long been done, proceeded to watch the 22-year-old All-Star rip the first pitch he saw from Kansas City reliever Carlos Hernandez over the left-field bullpen. The homer gave Rodriguez a career-best five hits to go with five RBIs and, more importantly, lifted the streaking Mariners to a 6-4 series-ending win that left them a half-game back of Toronto for the third AL wild card.

“Thank God for Julio,” Kirby said with a smirk, before adding: “I'd have hated to be the opposing pitcher this week.”

Rodriguez had 12 hits in the four-game set, setting a franchise record for any series, and joined some elite company in several ways: He's the fourth Mariners player with at least four hits in back-to-back games, the fifth player in club history with a five-hit, five-RBI game, and the first Seattle player with at least 20 homers in each of his first two seasons.

Oh, and to go with all those homers, Rodriguez already has 30 stolen bases this season. That puts him alongside Alex Rodriguez, Mike Cameron and Ruppert Jones as the only Mariners players in the 20-30 club.

“That's absolutely as good as you can do in this league,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “I don't care who you're facing.”

Cal Raleigh homered for the second straight game in the ninth inning to give Seattle's bullpen some breathing room, though it hardly needed it. Isaiah Campbell (3-0) earned the win with a scoreless seventh, Trent Thornton tossed a perfect eighth and Matt Brash breezed through the ninth to pick up his fourth save.

Carlos Hernandez (1-8) took the loss when Rodriguez pounded the first pitch he threw to left field.

“That's a great hitter,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Put a pretty good swing on a good fastball.”

Nelson Velazquez homered for the fourth time in seven games since his arrival in a trade to Kansas City. MJ Melendez, Michael Massey and Freddy Fermin also drove in runs for the Royals during a fitting finish to a wacky series.

Each team had a player thrown out at the plate Thursday. Another was cut down on the basepaths, one was picked off first base and Seattle had a runner called out after inexplicably starting back to the dugout when an outfielder dropped his fly ball.

Velazquez's homer in the fourth tied the game 1-all, but the Mariners pulled back ahead as the chaos began in the sixth.

Royals reliever Max Castillo walked the first two batters and Rodriguez followed by scorching a liner to left. The ball cleared Melendez, who had misjudged its angle of approach, and wound up at the outfield wall. Cade Marlow scored easily but Dominic Canzone, who had entered as a pinch hitter, was thrown out trying to score from first.

Maikel Garcia was thrown out at the plate on Witt's double in the bottom of the inning, though the Royals' offense kept rolling. Massey tied the game with a single, Melendez atoned for his mistake with a go-ahead double and Fermin added a sacrifice fly — with the inning coming to a close when Melendez was thrown out at third base.

The biggest baserunning blunder came in the seventh, though.

Dylan Moore hit a flyball that Melendez raced in and laid out to catch. Moore thought he got it cleanly and, after touching first base, turned around and headed for the Seattle dugout. But the ball actually had bounced out of Melendez's glove, and he threw to first base, where the umpires ruled that Moore had given himself up.

“We screwed up. I'll be honest with you,” Servais said. “We need to tighten that up. There's no doubt about it.”

Fortunately for the Mariners, Rodriguez was there to rescue them one more time with his no-doubt shot the very next inning.

“Today was about Julio,” Servais said. “We're all real heavy on his back right now.”

Royals: Kowar was recalled from Triple-A Omaha for the fourth time and RHP James McArthur optioned to the same club.

Royals: 1B Nick Pratto (left groin strain) planned to begin a rehab assignment with Omaha on Thursday night. ... LHP Jake Brentz (elbow surgery) got two outs in his rehab assignment at the Arizona Complex League on Wednesday night. It was the first time Brentz had pitched since April 29, 2022.

The Royals begin a nine-game trip against the Cubs with LHP Cole Ragans (3-4, 4.21) starting Friday night's series opener.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692316536829.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals left fielder MJ Melendez catches a fly ball for the out on Seattle Mariners' Ty France during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals left fielder MJ Melendez catches a fly ball for the out on Seattle Mariners' Ty France during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Mariners had just squandered another opportunity on the basepaths, and seen their lead against the Royals disappear, when Julio Rodriguez stepped to the plate with two runners aboard in the eighth inning Thursday.George Kirby knew something special was about to happen.The Mariners' starting pitcher, whose day on the mound had long been done, proceeded to watch the 22-year-old All-Star rip the first pitch he saw from Kansas City reliever Carlos Hernandez over the left-field bullpen. The homer gave Rodriguez a career-best five hits to go with five RBIs and, more importantly, lifted the streaking Mariners to a 6-4 series-ending win that left them a half-game back of Toronto for the third AL wild card.“Thank God for Julio,” Kirby said with a smirk, before adding: “I'd have hated to be the opposing pitcher this week.”Rodriguez had 12 hits in the four-game set, setting a franchise record for any series, and joined some elite company in several ways: He's the fourth Mariners player with at least four hits in back-to-back games, the fifth player in club history with a five-hit, five-RBI game, and the first Seattle player with at least 20 homers in each of his first two seasons.Oh, and to go with all those homers, Rodriguez already has 30 stolen bases this season. That puts him alongside Alex Rodriguez, Mike Cameron and Ruppert Jones as the only Mariners players in the 20-30 club.“That's absolutely as good as you can do in this league,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “I don't care who you're facing.”Cal Raleigh homered for the second straight game in the ninth inning to give Seattle's bullpen some breathing room, though it hardly needed it. Isaiah Campbell (3-0) earned the win with a scoreless seventh, Trent Thornton tossed a perfect eighth and Matt Brash breezed through the ninth to pick up his fourth save.Carlos Hernandez (1-8) took the loss when Rodriguez pounded the first pitch he threw to left field.“That's a great hitter,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Put a pretty good swing on a good fastball.”Nelson Velazquez homered for the fourth time in seven games since his arrival in a trade to Kansas City. MJ Melendez, Michael Massey and Freddy Fermin also drove in runs for the Royals during a fitting finish to a wacky series.Each team had a player thrown out at the plate Thursday. Another was cut down on the basepaths, one was picked off first base and Seattle had a runner called out after inexplicably starting back to the dugout when an outfielder dropped his fly ball.Velazquez's homer in the fourth tied the game 1-all, but the Mariners pulled back ahead as the chaos began in the sixth.Royals reliever Max Castillo walked the first two batters and Rodriguez followed by scorching a liner to left. The ball cleared Melendez, who had misjudged its angle of approach, and wound up at the outfield wall. Cade Marlow scored easily but Dominic Canzone, who had entered as a pinch hitter, was thrown out trying to score from first.It wasn't the last baserunning mistake.Maikel Garcia was thrown out at the plate on Witt's double in the bottom of the inning, though the Royals' offense kept rolling. Massey tied the game with a single, Melendez atoned for his mistake with a go-ahead double and Fermin added a sacrifice fly — with the inning coming to a close when Melendez was thrown out at third base.The biggest baserunning blunder came in the seventh, though.Dylan Moore hit a flyball that Melendez raced in and laid out to catch. Moore thought he got it cleanly and, after touching first base, turned around and headed for the Seattle dugout. But the ball actually had bounced out of Melendez's glove, and he threw to first base, where the umpires ruled that Moore had given himself up.“We screwed up. I'll be honest with you,” Servais said. “We need to tighten that up. There's no doubt about it.”Fortunately for the Mariners, Rodriguez was there to rescue them one more time with his no-doubt shot the very next inning.“Today was about Julio,” Servais said. “We're all real heavy on his back right now.”ROSTER MOVESRoyals: Kowar was recalled from Triple-A Omaha for the fourth time and RHP James McArthur optioned to the same club.TRAINER'S ROOMRoyals: 1B Nick Pratto (left groin strain) planned to begin a rehab assignment with Omaha on Thursday night. ... LHP Jake Brentz (elbow surgery) got two outs in his rehab assignment at the Arizona Complex League on Wednesday night. It was the first time Brentz had pitched since April 29, 2022.UP NEXTThe Royals begin a nine-game trip against the Cubs with LHP Cole Ragans (3-4, 4.21) starting Friday night's series opener.

Rodriguez has 5 hits, 5 RBIs and go-ahead 3-run shot in the eighth as Mariners beat Royals 6-4

The Benton volleyball team had its best season of the modern era last fall, going 24-10-1 and winning a district championship over Maryville.

The Cardinals are hopeful for more this year, as they only lost one senior from last year's squad in libero Berlin Smith.

Third-year head coach Lauryn Doolan says the combination of returning starters and newcomers has made for a lot of excitement at practice.

"We have a great group of returning players, but we also have a ton of new faces that have made it a lot more competitive as well," Doolan said. "All of that is exciting to see. It's exciting to see the competition."

Avery Morlock, Eliana Arumbula, Hollie and Cammie Peters, Emma Loehnig and Andrea Simmons are among the key starters and contributors back for the Cardinals this season.

These Cardinals believe there's a newfound confidence on a team that just won its first district title since 2017.

"I think it's given us confidence this year," Simmons said. "That we can do it and we can do it again if we just keep working hard and doing the little things right."

"If we've done it once, we should have the expectation and bar set high enough to get to that district championship," Peters added.

Indeed, the Cardinals are reloaded and have their eyes on bigger achievements this fall. Peters, a senior, says up and coming players like Simmons, a junior, have her excited to get back into the season.

"I'm very excited," Peters said. "Especially since we have Andrea coming up. She's so good. And this summer has been too long. I'm ready to get back into it."

Doolan says the key to another successful season is improving and building off of last year - not being satisfied with how last season ended, which was a loss in the state sectional round to Odessa.

"We have to play like we did last year and get better and grow new players to add in to help us out a little bit," Doolan said. "So, we are constantly reminding the girls that we can always get better. If you're happy with where you're at right now, that's not going to be good enough for a program. It's about growing every single day."

Benton will open the 2023 season at the Tarkio tournament on August 26th.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666664968216.jpeg" alt="Stock photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Benton volleyball team had its best season of the modern era last fall, going 24-10-1 and winning a district championship over Maryville.The Cardinals are hopeful for more this year, as they only lost one senior from last year's squad in libero Berlin Smith.Third-year head coach Lauryn Doolan says the combination of returning starters and newcomers has made for a lot of excitement at practice."We have a great group of returning players, but we also have a ton of new faces that have made it a lot more competitive as well," Doolan said. "All of that is exciting to see. It's exciting to see the competition."Avery Morlock, Eliana Arumbula, Hollie and Cammie Peters, Emma Loehnig and Andrea Simmons are among the key starters and contributors back for the Cardinals this season.These Cardinals believe there's a newfound confidence on a team that just won its first district title since 2017."I think it's given us confidence this year," Simmons said. "That we can do it and we can do it again if we just keep working hard and doing the little things right.""If we've done it once, we should have the expectation and bar set high enough to get to that district championship," Peters added.Indeed, the Cardinals are reloaded and have their eyes on bigger achievements this fall. Peters, a senior, says up and coming players like Simmons, a junior, have her excited to get back into the season."I'm very excited," Peters said. "Especially since we have Andrea coming up. She's so good. And this summer has been too long. I'm ready to get back into it."Doolan says the key to another successful season is improving and building off of last year - not being satisfied with how last season ended, which was a loss in the state sectional round to Odessa."We have to play like we did last year and get better and grow new players to add in to help us out a little bit," Doolan said. "So, we are constantly reminding the girls that we can always get better. If you're happy with where you're at right now, that's not going to be good enough for a program. It's about growing every single day."Benton will open the 2023 season at the Tarkio tournament on August 26th.<figure>
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 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Post Preview: Benton volleyball ready to build off of their 2022 success

The Kansas City Chiefs concluded their 13th year of training camp in St. Joseph Thursday with a short, 10-10-10 practice at Missouri Western.

The Chiefs came down the hill an hour earlier than normal at 8 a.m. and worked for just over an hour in half pads.

Head coach Andy Reid has overseen 10 training camps in St. Joseph and was once again very complimentary of Missouri Western's hospitality.

That, and the energy of Chiefs' Kingdom, who sat out in the heat for the last three weeks just to watch practice.

"Thanks to Missouri Western State University here, man," Reid said. "They've been tremendous again for us. Treating us well, feeding us well and the hospitality is second to none."

"And the fans coming out here. They've been incredible every day."

The Chiefs had 19 total training camp practices in St. Joseph since July 23.

There was no official injury report after Thursday's practice. Kadarius Toney (knee), Nikko Remigio (shoulder), Nic Jones (hand), L'Jarius Sneed (knee), Chris Jones and Turk Wharton (knee) didn't practice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692287254136.jpeg" alt="Chiefs' linebacker Nick Bolton leaves the field after the final training camp practice Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Chiefs' linebacker Nick Bolton leaves the field after the final training camp practice Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs concluded their 13th year of training camp in St. Joseph Thursday with a short, 10-10-10 practice at Missouri Western.The Chiefs came down the hill an hour earlier than normal at 8 a.m. and worked for just over an hour in half pads.Head coach Andy Reid has overseen 10 training camps in St. Joseph and was once again very complimentary of Missouri Western's hospitality.That, and the energy of Chiefs' Kingdom, who sat out in the heat for the last three weeks just to watch practice."Thanks to Missouri Western State University here, man," Reid said. "They've been tremendous again for us. Treating us well, feeding us well and the hospitality is second to none.""And the fans coming out here. They've been incredible every day."The Chiefs had 19 total training camp practices in St. Joseph since July 23.There was no official injury report after Thursday's practice. Kadarius Toney (knee), Nikko Remigio (shoulder), Nic Jones (hand), L'Jarius Sneed (knee), Chris Jones and Turk Wharton (knee) didn't practice.Nick Allegretti (shoulder) was present, but didn't work. Receiver Kekoa Crawford was absent Thursday, but a Chiefs spokesperson said it wasn't due to an injury.Tight end Jody Forston, who's on injured reserve, revealed on social media Wednesday that he has undergone a successful shoulder surgery.Kansas City now turns its attention toward their second preseason game at Arizona, which comes up this Saturday at 7 p.m. Coach Reid says the starters will play most of the first half, with the "twos and threes" rotating in the second half.Patrick Mahomes says he wants the first-team players to get off to a better start than they did this past Sunday when the Saints raced out to a 17-0 lead."I just think having a better urgency from the get-go and throughout the entire game," he said. "Not necessarily (about) the result, you obviously want to win, but you want to have that mentality throughout the entire game."Overall, Mahomes says it was a productive camp for their unit and the entire team."We improved on a lot of stuff," he said. "We didn't add a lot of receivers, but getting those new receivers in and flying around. Those guys here for a second year, you could see the improvements in how they practice. I thought it was a good camp. Offense, defense, special teams. We just flew around and competed every day, which is what you always want.""You started this foundation," Reid said, recounting his final message to the team as camp adjourned."This is where it starts. You're building this thing as it goes up. Every week is different. Every day is different in this thing. But, you've accomplished some things here that will help carry you through during the season in a positive way."Saturday's game at Arizona can be heard on Q Country 92.7 FM and KFEQ (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.Mitch Holthus interview with KFEQ on training camp (8-11-23)<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Voice-of-the-Chiefs-Mitch-Holthus---August-2023-e287ehe" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692291154510.jpeg" alt="Joe Thuney (left) waves as he leaves the practice field Thursday." />
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692291180858.jpeg" alt="Jerick McKinnon signs autographs following Thursday's practice." />
 <figcaption>Jerick McKinnon signs autographs following Thursday's practice.</figcaption>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692291237087.jpeg" alt="Isiah Pacheco signs memorabilia for military personnel Thursday after practice. Thursday was Military Appreciation Day." />
 <figcaption>Isiah Pacheco signs memorabilia for military personnel Thursday after practice. Thursday was Military Appreciation Day.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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