After two, hard fought games to open the MINK League Championship Series, the St. Joseph Mustangs wanted to leave no doubt in the winner-take-all round.

The Mustangs (37-15) won their third consecutive MINK League championship and their eighth since 2009 with an 11-1 victory over the Joplin Outlaws in the third and final game of the league championship series at Phil Welch Stadium Saturday night.

This comes after Joplin took game one 7-3, and after the Mustangs had to fight and scrape for a 6-5 win in game two Friday.

"Oh man, it was so much fun," manager Johnny Coy said. "I know after that first loss, our guys were still super confident we'd come back home and win two in a row. It never crossed their mind we weren't going to win this whole thing.

"We were able to show out that second game and it was a really close game and we came out and we knew that if we could get one win, that game three, we'd put it on them. Our guys were confident in that and they were able to do it."

The Mustangs got the scoring started Saturday in the bottom of the first inning. Savannah alum Noah Bodenhausen led off the frame with a double, and he later scored on a sac fly from Jack Wagner - the first of four runs scored for Bodenhausen.

Joplin (25-23) hung in early, and tied the game in the top of the third. The Outlaws managed three hits in that inning, but stranded two runners on base.

The Mustangs reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth. After Brady Holden walked in a run, Wagner had a two-run RBI single to score Bodenhausen and Jaxon Himel. A Dylan Carey sac fly then scored Holden to make it 5-1 Mustangs after four.

St. Joseph, and Wagner, put their stamp on the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Wagner blasted his third homer of the season into right center - a three-run bomb to make 8-1, putting Wagner's RBI count to six at that point.

A Michael Paule sac fly then made it 9-1 Mustangs after six.

With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the seventh, Bodenhausen walked and Holden was hit by a pitch. In the next at-bat, Wagner called game with a two-run RBI single, ending the game via mercy rule.

A 3-for-3, eight-RBI performance for the Kansas Jayhawk.

"That's definitely one of the better games I ever played in my life," Wagner said. "Baseball is a weird game. Once you're clicking, everything you hit just goes. So, it was cool tonight. St. Joe is a special place. Best summer atmosphere you get throughout the United States. I'm blessed to be playing here. Great summer, great bunch of guys. It's just great."

On the mound, recent Savannah graduate Ty Hilsabeck got the start and the win, striking out four batters over six innings and allowing just one earned run.

"Oh it's awesome," Hilsabeck said of the win. "I came here when I was a kid. Now, to be able to be out here on the field is amazing."

Winning championships has become routine for the Mustangs by now, but rest assured, it never gets old.

"These guys deserve it," Mustangs general manager and first-year owner Ky Turner said. "They've worked hard all year long on and off the field. To see it end this way is fitting, but you never know what's going to happen. It's relief, joy, happiness, but now it's like, what am I going to do tomorrow?"

Just like Coy, Turner is always sure to credit the loyal fanbase for the ongoing success, with at least 3,000 fans packing the stands the last two nights.

"The community, the business community, the season-ticket holders, it goes on and on," Turner said. "It's not just me. It's all of these people. It's our community, and it's been a lot of fun."

Turner will take a well deserved rest, now that the season's over. While he'll enjoy some down time, he already has a plan for next summer.

"I think we're going to go for four (straight championships)," he said. "Eight-time champion sounds pretty nice. Until you hear nine. Nine sounds pretty good, too."

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659240154080.jpeg" alt="The St. Joseph Mustangs are 2022 MINK League Champions for a third straight season and the eighth time as a franchise. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>The St. Joseph Mustangs are 2022 MINK League Champions for a third straight season and the eighth time as a franchise. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostAfter two, hard fought games to open the MINK League Championship Series, the St. Joseph Mustangs wanted to leave no doubt in the winner-take-all round.Mission accomplished. Again.The Mustangs (37-15) won their third consecutive MINK League championship and their eighth since 2009 with an 11-1 victory over the Joplin Outlaws in the third and final game of the league championship series at Phil Welch Stadium Saturday night.This comes after Joplin took game one 7-3, and after the Mustangs had to fight and scrape for a 6-5 win in game two Friday."Oh man, it was so much fun," manager Johnny Coy said. "I know after that first loss, our guys were still super confident we'd come back home and win two in a row. It never crossed their mind we weren't going to win this whole thing."We were able to show out that second game and it was a really close game and we came out and we knew that if we could get one win, that game three, we'd put it on them. Our guys were confident in that and they were able to do it."The Mustangs got the scoring started Saturday in the bottom of the first inning. Savannah alum Noah Bodenhausen led off the frame with a double, and he later scored on a sac fly from Jack Wagner - the first of four runs scored for Bodenhausen.Joplin (25-23) hung in early, and tied the game in the top of the third. The Outlaws managed three hits in that inning, but stranded two runners on base.The Mustangs reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth. After Brady Holden walked in a run, Wagner had a two-run RBI single to score Bodenhausen and Jaxon Himel. A Dylan Carey sac fly then scored Holden to make it 5-1 Mustangs after four.St. Joseph, and Wagner, put their stamp on the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Wagner blasted his third homer of the season into right center - a three-run bomb to make 8-1, putting Wagner's RBI count to six at that point.A Michael Paule sac fly then made it 9-1 Mustangs after six.With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the seventh, Bodenhausen walked and Holden was hit by a pitch. In the next at-bat, Wagner called game with a two-run RBI single, ending the game via mercy rule.A 3-for-3, eight-RBI performance for the Kansas Jayhawk."That's definitely one of the better games I ever played in my life," Wagner said. "Baseball is a weird game. Once you're clicking, everything you hit just goes. So, it was cool tonight. St. Joe is a special place. Best summer atmosphere you get throughout the United States. I'm blessed to be playing here. Great summer, great bunch of guys. It's just great."On the mound, recent Savannah graduate Ty Hilsabeck got the start and the win, striking out four batters over six innings and allowing just one earned run."Oh it's awesome," Hilsabeck said of the win. "I came here when I was a kid. Now, to be able to be out here on the field is amazing."Winning championships has become routine for the Mustangs by now, but rest assured, it never gets old."These guys deserve it," Mustangs general manager and first-year owner Ky Turner said. "They've worked hard all year long on and off the field. To see it end this way is fitting, but you never know what's going to happen. It's relief, joy, happiness, but now it's like, what am I going to do tomorrow?"Just like Coy, Turner is always sure to credit the loyal fanbase for the ongoing success, with at least 3,000 fans packing the stands the last two nights."The community, the business community, the season-ticket holders, it goes on and on," Turner said. "It's not just me. It's all of these people. It's our community, and it's been a lot of fun."Turner will take a well deserved rest, now that the season's over. While he'll enjoy some down time, he already has a plan for next summer."I think we're going to go for four (straight championships)," he said. "Eight-time champion sounds pretty nice. Until you hear nine. Nine sounds pretty good, too."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659242248040.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659242266901.jpeg" alt="Ty Hilsabeck." />
 <figcaption>Ty Hilsabeck.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659242307296.jpeg" alt="Brady Holden (2) and Noah Bodenhausen (12) celebrate a run scored." />
 <figcaption>Brady Holden (2) and Noah Bodenhausen (12) celebrate a run scored.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659242344985.jpeg" alt="The Mustangs run out of the dugout following the win." />
 <figcaption>The Mustangs run out of the dugout following the win.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659242393958.jpeg" alt="Mustangs general manager and owner Ky Turner (left) addresses the crowd as the players celebrate behind him, giving ode to their threepeat." />
 <figcaption>Mustangs general manager and owner Ky Turner (left) addresses the crowd as the players celebrate behind him, giving ode to their threepeat.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=317&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fvideos%2F1215515865967602%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Mustangs-owner-and-general-manager-Ky-Turner-e1ltd3n" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tommy-rezac/embed/episodes/Mustangs-coach-Johnny-Coy-e1ltd4n" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Mustangs run rule Joplin, claim third straight MINK League Championship

The Kansas City Chiefs officially concluded their first week of training camp with a Saturday morning practice - the last workout in half pads before full pads go on Monday.

Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy says the start to camp has been encouraging, but he noticed a lack of focus amongst his group Saturday.

"The effort was outstanding," Bieniemy said. "You can practice hard, but activity don't always equate to productivity. We have to make sure we're maximizing and detailing the little things that's going to help us become the offense we want to become."

Personnel wise, a pair of rookies on the offensive side had a chance to shine Saturday. Rookie receiver Skyy Moore continues to get reps with the first-team offense and is looking more the part as camp goes on.

Moore had a diving catch in tight coverage on a deep ball for the second day in a row Saturday.

"(Moore) goes out there and finds a way to get the job done on the next initial play," Bieniemy noted. "The thing he's also been great with is in the classroom, he's been receptive to the information. On top of that, he's seeing it and he has an opportunity to autocorrect. He'll very rarely repeat the same things twice."

Perhaps the biggest surprise Saturday was seeking rookie running back and seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco getting reps with the first-team offense, rotating with Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Pacheco has clear speed. He's also been getting some time on kick return this week. McKinnon, a ninth-year pro who just re-signed with the Chiefs in June, called Pacheco "a humble guy" whose work ethic is "top tier."

Clark spoke at length at the end of practice, and seemed to be in great spirits. He revealed that he's cut red meat and alcohol out of his diet as soon as the season ended in February.

Clark said he didn't feel as quick, and felt that he at times looked "sloppy" last season.

"I wanted to get back to feeling my feet," he said. "I feel like I wasn't feeling my feet as much last year. I wasn't as quick off the ball. I wasn't as explosive. I mean, it's obvious. You can watch the film and see I was way heavier. I had a gut. I was looking sloppy. I'm a professional, you know? I understand how this goes."

Clark has been several times this camp talking and working with fellow defensive end and rookie George Karlaftis, who was drafted 30th overall by the Chiefs this year out of Purdue.

Clark described a moment in Saturday's practice where Karlaftis asked him how to come off the ball quicker and be quicker on the snap. When Karlaftis tried doing what Clark told him to, the rookie couldn't wait to tell the seasoned veteran all about it.

"That was the most excited I've seen a rookie," said Clark. "His ability to retain the knowledge I was telling him and for him to go do it and for him to feel it and see the success from it. I was happy and enjoyed his fruits. At the end of the day, that's how I feel about George."

Clark is still waiting to see what will come of his current legal matters. He had two offseason arrests in California in 2021, and has pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of an assault weapon.

Clark was arrested both times on suspicion of having a concealed firearm in a vehicle. He could face a suspension from the NFL for violation of their personal conduct policy.

Clark didn't go into much detail Saturday, other than he "feels good" about where he and his legal team are at on things.

Tight end Jody Forston left practice early Saturday due to a quad injury. The team says they’ll know more Monday. Otherwise, nothing new. Lucas Niang, Prince Tega Wanogho and Rashad Fenton are still on the injured list. Orlando Brown, Jr. has yet to sign and report.

With Brown still not present, that's opened the door for Roderick Johnson to be the go-to guy at left tackle initially. On Saturday, there was the first sign of rotation there, as Johnson worked at right tackle and Andrew Wylie moved to left tackle.

The Chiefs rest Sunday, and will return Monday for a full contact practice in full pads. Let the games begin.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659208212597.jpeg" alt="Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have a chat during drills Saturday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have a chat during drills Saturday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs officially concluded their first week of training camp with a Saturday morning practice - the last workout in half pads before full pads go on Monday.Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy says the start to camp has been encouraging, but he noticed a lack of focus amongst his group Saturday."The effort was outstanding," Bieniemy said. "You can practice hard, but activity don't always equate to productivity. We have to make sure we're maximizing and detailing the little things that's going to help us become the offense we want to become."Personnel wise, a pair of rookies on the offensive side had a chance to shine Saturday. Rookie receiver Skyy Moore continues to get reps with the first-team offense and is looking more the part as camp goes on.Moore had a diving catch in tight coverage on a deep ball for the second day in a row Saturday."(Moore) goes out there and finds a way to get the job done on the next initial play," Bieniemy noted. "The thing he's also been great with is in the classroom, he's been receptive to the information. On top of that, he's seeing it and he has an opportunity to autocorrect. He'll very rarely repeat the same things twice."Perhaps the biggest surprise Saturday was seeking rookie running back and seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco getting reps with the first-team offense, rotating with Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.Pacheco has clear speed. He's also been getting some time on kick return this week. McKinnon, a ninth-year pro who just re-signed with the Chiefs in June, called Pacheco "a humble guy" whose work ethic is "top tier."Frank ClarkClark spoke at length at the end of practice, and seemed to be in great spirits. He revealed that he's cut red meat and alcohol out of his diet as soon as the season ended in February.Clark said he didn't feel as quick, and felt that he at times looked "sloppy" last season."I wanted to get back to feeling my feet," he said. "I feel like I wasn't feeling my feet as much last year. I wasn't as quick off the ball. I wasn't as explosive. I mean, it's obvious. You can watch the film and see I was way heavier. I had a gut. I was looking sloppy. I'm a professional, you know? I understand how this goes."Clark has been several times this camp talking and working with fellow defensive end and rookie George Karlaftis, who was drafted 30th overall by the Chiefs this year out of Purdue.Clark described a moment in Saturday's practice where Karlaftis asked him how to come off the ball quicker and be quicker on the snap. When Karlaftis tried doing what Clark told him to, the rookie couldn't wait to tell the seasoned veteran all about it."That was the most excited I've seen a rookie," said Clark. "His ability to retain the knowledge I was telling him and for him to go do it and for him to feel it and see the success from it. I was happy and enjoyed his fruits. At the end of the day, that's how I feel about George."Clark is still waiting to see what will come of his current legal matters. He had two offseason arrests in California in 2021, and has pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of an assault weapon.Clark was arrested both times on suspicion of having a concealed firearm in a vehicle. He could face a suspension from the NFL for violation of their personal conduct policy.Clark didn't go into much detail Saturday, other than he "feels good" about where he and his legal team are at on things.Injury updateTight end Jody Forston left practice early Saturday due to a quad injury. The team says they’ll know more Monday. Otherwise, nothing new. Lucas Niang, Prince Tega Wanogho and Rashad Fenton are still on the injured list. Orlando Brown, Jr. has yet to sign and report.Offensive lineWith Brown still not present, that's opened the door for Roderick Johnson to be the go-to guy at left tackle initially. On Saturday, there was the first sign of rotation there, as Johnson worked at right tackle and Andrew Wylie moved to left tackle.The Chiefs rest Sunday, and will return Monday for a full contact practice in full pads. Let the games begin.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659210176662.jpeg" alt="Daurice Fountain (82) hauls in a pass." />
 <figcaption>Daurice Fountain (82) hauls in a pass.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659210298522.jpeg" alt="Matt Bushman (89) catches a pass in coverage." />
 <figcaption>Matt Bushman (89) catches a pass in coverage.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659210327214.jpeg" alt="Mahomes looks for an open receiver during team drills." />
 <figcaption>Mahomes looks for an open receiver during team drills.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs conclude first week of training camp Saturday, full pads coming Monday

(AP) — Aaron Judge became the first big leaguer with 40 homers this season, smashed a grand slam for No. 41 and robbed a home run in right field as the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 11-5. 

Isiah Kiner-Falefa lined a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning as New York completed its major league-leading 29th comeback victory. 

A free agent at the end of the season, Judge is on pace for 66 home runs, which would top Roger Maris’ club record of 61 in 1961. Judge, Maris and Babe Ruth in 1928 are the only Yankees with at least 40 homers by the end of July, per MLB.com.

The Royals take on the Yankees again Saturday afternoon with first pitch at 1:05 central. Coverage begins at 12:30 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.

(AP) — Aaron Judge became the first big leaguer with 40 homers this season, smashed a grand slam for No. 41 and robbed a home run in right field as the New York Yankees rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 11-5. Isiah Kiner-Falefa lined a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning as New York completed its major league-leading 29th comeback victory. A free agent at the end of the season, Judge is on pace for 66 home runs, which would top Roger Maris’ club record of 61 in 1961. Judge, Maris and Babe Ruth in 1928 are the only Yankees with at least 40 homers by the end of July, per MLB.com.The Royals take on the Yankees again Saturday afternoon with first pitch at 1:05 central. Coverage begins at 12:30 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.

Judge hits grand slam for 41st HR, Yanks rally past Royals

The St. Joseph Mustangs are, by now, pretty used to close, dramatic games. The team owns six walk-off victories and have won 11 games by one run this summer.

They earned one of those 11 victories on Friday at a time when they needed it most.

The Mustangs (36-15) lost an early 3-0 lead, regained the lead in the sixth and held on for a 6-5 win against the Joplin Outlaws at Phil Welch Stadium Friday night in the second game of the MINK League Championship series.

A must win for St. Joseph, who entered the game down in the series 1-0.

"It feels great," Mustangs manager Johnny Coy said, relieved. "Especially with the kind of crowd we had out here tonight. I expected our guys to compete like they always do. They've been so tough all year. We got down, we came back. That's how it's been all season."

"I wasn't surprised, but at the same time, I'm super happy for them. I know they enjoyed this win tonight and they'll be ready to go Saturday."

After a slow offensive start for both teams, St. Joseph managed three runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the third to nab their first lead lead. Brady Holden, Noah Bodenhausen and Tyler Petrosino all scored in the frame.

Joplin got on the board in the top of the fifth. Korey Siracusa led off the frame with a walk and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.

The Outlaws (25-22) took their first and only lead in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs on a hit, two walks and an error. They walked in one run, while a two-run RBI single by Caden Bressler scored the other two.

St. Joseph had the answer in the bottom of the sixth. A hit, a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Bodenhausen, who singled to center to score a pair of runs and put the Mustangs back in front 5-4.

Jaxon Himel then scored on an error to make it 6-4.

"It's so special," Bodenhausen said of the win. "We have all these fans here to watch you. A lot of them I know just from being around here all my life. Feels great. Not only are we doing it for ourselves and the team, but we're also doing it for the fans and the city."

Joplin scored one more run in the top of the seventh, but a 6-4-3 double play ended the threat. Morichika Hama finished the job with a two-inning save, striking out two and allowing no hits in the process.

"He just does what he always does," Coy said of his closer, who got his fourth save of the season. "Not shocked at all. He goes out there and has a 3-4 pitch mix and keeps hitters confused about what's going on. He's been awesome all year, came in at the right time and was able to get us a win."

St. Joseph now gets to host Joplin for the third and final game of the championship series on Saturday night at 7.

History is on the Mustangs' side. St. Joseph has now won seven straight at home, and are 23-5 at Phil Welch Stadium this summer, including 20 of their last 21. Remarkable.

Not only that - St. Joseph has a chance to win its third straight MINK League title and eighth overall, while Joplin seeks its first ever.

It's been a tough series so far, and Friday's game alone proved anything can happen. But, the Mustangs should like their odds at home. Especially if it's a close game.

"In a tight situation, there's no one in the league who's seen it more times than our team has," Coy remarked, "and I'm pretty confident in our team's ability to pull out a win when we need to."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659155722243.jpeg" alt="Brady Holden connects in the third inning of Friday's win over Joplin in the MINK League championship series. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Brady Holden connects in the third inning of Friday's win over Joplin in the MINK League championship series. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs are, by now, pretty used to close, dramatic games. The team owns six walk-off victories and have won 11 games by one run this summer.They earned one of those 11 victories on Friday at a time when they needed it most.The Mustangs (36-15) lost an early 3-0 lead, regained the lead in the sixth and held on for a 6-5 win against the Joplin Outlaws at Phil Welch Stadium Friday night in the second game of the MINK League Championship series.A must win for St. Joseph, who entered the game down in the series 1-0."It feels great," Mustangs manager Johnny Coy said, relieved. "Especially with the kind of crowd we had out here tonight. I expected our guys to compete like they always do. They've been so tough all year. We got down, we came back. That's how it's been all season.""I wasn't surprised, but at the same time, I'm super happy for them. I know they enjoyed this win tonight and they'll be ready to go Saturday."After a slow offensive start for both teams, St. Joseph managed three runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the third to nab their first lead lead. Brady Holden, Noah Bodenhausen and Tyler Petrosino all scored in the frame.Joplin got on the board in the top of the fifth. Korey Siracusa led off the frame with a walk and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.The Outlaws (25-22) took their first and only lead in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs on a hit, two walks and an error. They walked in one run, while a two-run RBI single by Caden Bressler scored the other two.St. Joseph had the answer in the bottom of the sixth. A hit, a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Bodenhausen, who singled to center to score a pair of runs and put the Mustangs back in front 5-4.Jaxon Himel then scored on an error to make it 6-4."It's so special," Bodenhausen said of the win. "We have all these fans here to watch you. A lot of them I know just from being around here all my life. Feels great. Not only are we doing it for ourselves and the team, but we're also doing it for the fans and the city."Joplin scored one more run in the top of the seventh, but a 6-4-3 double play ended the threat. Morichika Hama finished the job with a two-inning save, striking out two and allowing no hits in the process."He just does what he always does," Coy said of his closer, who got his fourth save of the season. "Not shocked at all. He goes out there and has a 3-4 pitch mix and keeps hitters confused about what's going on. He's been awesome all year, came in at the right time and was able to get us a win."St. Joseph now gets to host Joplin for the third and final game of the championship series on Saturday night at 7.History is on the Mustangs' side. St. Joseph has now won seven straight at home, and are 23-5 at Phil Welch Stadium this summer, including 20 of their last 21. Remarkable.Not only that - St. Joseph has a chance to win its third straight MINK League title and eighth overall, while Joplin seeks its first ever.It's been a tough series so far, and Friday's game alone proved anything can happen. But, the Mustangs should like their odds at home. Especially if it's a close game."In a tight situation, there's no one in the league who's seen it more times than our team has," Coy remarked, "and I'm pretty confident in our team's ability to pull out a win when we need to."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659155839379.jpeg" alt="Noah Bodenhausen (12) receives high fives as he makes his way back to the dugout." />
 <figcaption>Noah Bodenhausen (12) receives high fives as he makes his way back to the dugout.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659155872791.jpeg" alt="Tyler Petrosino scores a run in the third." />
 <figcaption>Tyler Petrosino scores a run in the third.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659155911301.jpeg" alt="Morichicka Hama." />
 <figcaption>Morichicka Hama.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659155945013.jpeg" alt="Camden Lutz." />
 <figcaption>Camden Lutz.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Mustangs survive turbulent game with Joplin, force a third game in title series

It’s no secret that Patrick Mahomes is a terrific quarterback, but also a strong communicator and leader.

Mahomes is surrounded by many young, new players this year as the team continues their work at training camp in St. Joseph.

Mahomes has many new targets at receiver - Juju Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Josh Gordon and Skyy More among them.

 Coach Andy Reid says the cohesion that Mahomes already has with these receivers is showing.

"It's just a matter and the receivers being on the same page," Reid said Friday. "The more they do it, the better they're going to be. With Skyy being a young kid, he's made a couple of good plays. It's him learning the game. He's very strong. He's got great feet and very strong at the core."

"I think you guys know (Mahomes) is a great communicator. He's using that skill that he has to talk to these new players. That's different for him. This is a new thing for him, with all of the guys we have coming in here who are new. I think he's handling that great. He's a tremendous leader and has always been that."

Tight end Jody Forston is another one making a case for more targets early on in camp. Mecole Hardman also had a strong day Friday.

The catch of the day was from Moore, who had a diving catch on a deep slant route early on in practice.

"He's a smaller guy as far as height, but he's thicker as far as a receiver," Mahomes said of Moore - a second-round draft pick out of Western Michigan this year. "I think you see that. He's made a lot of tough, contested catches over the middle. He's thinking a lot, because he's a rookie getting thrown into the offense and we're not holding back at all."

"You can tell he knows what he's doing. He runs some great routes, has great releases. I think he can be a big part of our offense moving forward."

Outside of the ongoing saga with left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., the Chiefs have had a smooth start to training camp with no new injuries through the first three practices.

Reid says the team is getting exactly what they need from these workouts right now.

"Great competition and I like the energy level," he said. "Offense is making plays, defense is making plays. We're getting better every day and that's the objective here."

Saturday will be the last day of half-pads before the team puts on full pads Monday. The Chiefs will have the day off from camp on Sunday.

Reid said newly signed defensive end Carlos Dunlap should be at training camp by Wednesday, as he's taking care of family affairs at the moment. Dunlap was signed by the Chiefs Thursday.

The 33-year-old had spent 10 seasons in Cincinnati before being traded to Seattle during the 2020 season. The 6-6 linemen had 8.5 sacks and seven pass breakups in 2021. In fact, Dunlap's 96 career sacks are the eighth most in the NFL since 2010.

"He'll work into the mix at the defensive end position," Reid said of Dunlap. "It's a nice addition. Obviously, he's been doing this awhile. He can still roll, so we look forward to bringing him into the mix there."

This is the 12th year of Chiefs training camp at Missouri Western, and team leadership is pleased with how things are going.

Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt says Reid and the rest of the coaching staff enjoy the atmosphere that Missouri Western and St. Joseph provide each year.

 "It's been fantastic for the team," Hunt said. "Andy and his staff really enjoy being here. They believe this environment is really conducive to getting the guys ready. The University has been very responsive over the course of our relationship in terms of making changes in order to help the experience be better."&nbsp;

This is the last year that the Chiefs are required to be in St. Joseph <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/572e6873-9b53-429a-9eb2-2340cf015129">according to the current agreement</a>, though it can be extended two years.

Hunt and president Mark Donovan have both said the agreement will be evaluated after camp is over. Both, however, have expressed hopes of being back in St. Joseph in the future.

"From my vantage point so far, this has been one of the best camps or starts to camp," Hunt said. "(The agreement) is something we'll evaluate once camp is done. We do that every year. Certainly, I hope we'll be back in the future."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659119846456.jpeg" alt="Patrick Mahomes makes a throw during training camp in St. Joseph. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Patrick Mahomes makes a throw during training camp in St. Joseph. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostIt’s no secret that Patrick Mahomes is a terrific quarterback, but also a strong communicator and leader.Mahomes is surrounded by many young, new players this year as the team continues their work at training camp in St. Joseph.Mahomes has many new targets at receiver - Juju Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Josh Gordon and Skyy More among them. Coach Andy Reid says the cohesion that Mahomes already has with these receivers is showing."It's just a matter and the receivers being on the same page," Reid said Friday. "The more they do it, the better they're going to be. With Skyy being a young kid, he's made a couple of good plays. It's him learning the game. He's very strong. He's got great feet and very strong at the core.""I think you guys know (Mahomes) is a great communicator. He's using that skill that he has to talk to these new players. That's different for him. This is a new thing for him, with all of the guys we have coming in here who are new. I think he's handling that great. He's a tremendous leader and has always been that."Tight end Jody Forston is another one making a case for more targets early on in camp. Mecole Hardman also had a strong day Friday.The catch of the day was from Moore, who had a diving catch on a deep slant route early on in practice."He's a smaller guy as far as height, but he's thicker as far as a receiver," Mahomes said of Moore - a second-round draft pick out of Western Michigan this year. "I think you see that. He's made a lot of tough, contested catches over the middle. He's thinking a lot, because he's a rookie getting thrown into the offense and we're not holding back at all.""You can tell he knows what he's doing. He runs some great routes, has great releases. I think he can be a big part of our offense moving forward."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">𝙎𝙉𝘼𝙂𝙂𝙀𝘿 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝙏. <a href="https://twitter.com/skyymoore24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@skyymoore24</a> <a href="https://t.co/hT7nMlMGmP">pic.twitter.com/hT7nMlMGmP</a>&mdash; Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1553043169029361671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
</div>Outside of the ongoing saga with left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., the Chiefs have had a smooth start to training camp with no new injuries through the first three practices.Reid says the team is getting exactly what they need from these workouts right now."Great competition and I like the energy level," he said. "Offense is making plays, defense is making plays. We're getting better every day and that's the objective here."Saturday will be the last day of half-pads before the team puts on full pads Monday. The Chiefs will have the day off from camp on Sunday.Carlos DunlapReid said newly signed defensive end Carlos Dunlap should be at training camp by Wednesday, as he's taking care of family affairs at the moment. Dunlap was signed by the Chiefs Thursday.The 33-year-old had spent 10 seasons in Cincinnati before being traded to Seattle during the 2020 season. The 6-6 linemen had 8.5 sacks and seven pass breakups in 2021. In fact, Dunlap's 96 career sacks are the eighth most in the NFL since 2010."He'll work into the mix at the defensive end position," Reid said of Dunlap. "It's a nice addition. Obviously, he's been doing this awhile. He can still roll, so we look forward to bringing him into the mix there."Future in St. JosephThis is the 12th year of Chiefs training camp at Missouri Western, and team leadership is pleased with how things are going.Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt says Reid and the rest of the coaching staff enjoy the atmosphere that Missouri Western and St. Joseph provide each year. "It's been fantastic for the team," Hunt said. "Andy and his staff really enjoy being here. They believe this environment is really conducive to getting the guys ready. The University has been very responsive over the course of our relationship in terms of making changes in order to help the experience be better."&nbsp;This is the last year that the Chiefs are required to be in St. Joseph <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/572e6873-9b53-429a-9eb2-2340cf015129">according to the current agreement</a>, though it can be extended two years.Hunt and president Mark Donovan have both said the agreement will be evaluated after camp is over. Both, however, have expressed hopes of being back in St. Joseph in the future."From my vantage point so far, this has been one of the best camps or starts to camp," Hunt said. "(The agreement) is something we'll evaluate once camp is done. We do that every year. Certainly, I hope we'll be back in the future."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659124756673.jpeg" alt="Chris Jones (left) and Justin Reid (right) coming onto the field at the start of practice." />
 <figcaption>Chris Jones (left) and Justin Reid (right) coming onto the field at the start of practice.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659124799775.jpeg" alt="Chad Henne (4), Patrick Mahomes (15) warming up amongst the receivers." />
 <figcaption>Chad Henne (4), Patrick Mahomes (15) warming up amongst the receivers.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/VideoObject"><meta itemprop="uploadDate" content="Fri Jul 29 2022 14:30:16 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)"/><meta itemprop="name" content="Chiefs Highlights 7-29"/><meta itemprop="duration" content="P0Y0M0DT0H0M34S" /><meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/thumbs/oPcE0eI9-960.jpg"/><meta itemprop="contentUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/oPcE0eI9-4TtZ4bid.mp4"/><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/oPcE0eI9-3PoaQByF.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Chiefs Highlights 7-29" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Reid likes what he sees from Mahomes, new receiving corps early in training camp

(AP) — Aaron Judge hit his third walk-off homer this year, his major league-leading 39th home run of the season, to lift the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals 1-0. 

New York was held to one hit before Judge drove a first-pitch fastball from Scott Barlow into the Kansas City bullpen with one out in the ninth, a 431-foot drive that gave the Yankees their 12th walk-off win this season. 

Judge joined Mickey Mantle as the only Yankees with three walk-off home runs in one season. Tommy Henrich had two in 1949 plus another in the World Series opener.

The Royals take on the Yankees again Friday evening with first pitch at 6:05 central. Coverage begins at 5:30 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.

(AP) — Aaron Judge hit his third walk-off homer this year, his major league-leading 39th home run of the season, to lift the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals 1-0. New York was held to one hit before Judge drove a first-pitch fastball from Scott Barlow into the Kansas City bullpen with one out in the ninth, a 431-foot drive that gave the Yankees their 12th walk-off win this season. Judge joined Mickey Mantle as the only Yankees with three walk-off home runs in one season. Tommy Henrich had two in 1949 plus another in the World Series opener.The Royals take on the Yankees again Friday evening with first pitch at 6:05 central. Coverage begins at 5:30 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.

Judge's 3rd walk-off HR of year lifts Yanks over Royals 1-0

The St. Joseph Mustangs fell in game one of the MINK League Championship Series at Joplin Thursday, 7-3.

The Outlaws went up 7-0 after five innings. The Mustangs scored three runs in the top of the eighth, but never got closer.

St. Joseph managed only four hits. They drew nine walks, but left 10 total runners stranded on base.

The Mustangs still have a chance to win the league title at home this weekend. Game two of the championship series is Friday night at Phil Welch Stadium. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

Game three is Saturday at Phil Welch at 7 p.m. if needed. The Mustangs aim for their third consecutive league championship and their eighth as a franchise.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs fell in game one of the MINK League Championship Series at Joplin Thursday, 7-3.The Outlaws went up 7-0 after five innings. The Mustangs scored three runs in the top of the eighth, but never got closer.St. Joseph managed only four hits. They drew nine walks, but left 10 total runners stranded on base.The Mustangs still have a chance to win the league title at home this weekend. Game two of the championship series is Friday night at Phil Welch Stadium. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.Game three is Saturday at Phil Welch at 7 p.m. if needed. The Mustangs aim for their third consecutive league championship and their eighth as a franchise.

Mustangs drop first game of MINK Championship series at Joplin Thursday

The Chiefs wrapped up their second full day of training camp Thursday on a cool and cloudy morning that saw rain showers come to an end as soon as players came on the field.

Everyone got work done in half pads, except corner Rashad Fenton, offensive tackle Lucas Niang and tackle Prince Tega Wanogho, who have been on the injured list since camp.

Orlando Brown, Jr. was the only player not present. Roderick Johnson, who just signed with the Chiefs' on a reserve/future in February, has been getting first-team reps at left tackle in Brown Jr.'s place.

One player who was on the injured list Tuesday, but got off Wednesday is running back Clye Edwards-Helaire, who says he’s felt fine all week.

He even told Andy Reid Wednesday he would practice.

"I was like, 'I'm practicing,'" Edwards-Helaire said. "He was like, 'I know you're practicing.' And then it was like, 'Alright, okay high five' and out the door. That's all it was."

As Thursday’s practice was wrapping up, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Chiefs signed veteran defensive end Carlos Dunlap to a one-year, eight-million dollar deal.

The team confirmed the signing later Thursday afternoon. Defensive tackle Chris Jones says he had the chance to get to know Dunlap this offseason.

"He's a high character guys," Jones said of Dunlap. "I trained with him this offseason in Miami. If we're able to add him and the report is true, I accept Carlos with open arms. I think he's a veteran guy who's had a lot of experience in this league. To have a veteran guy like that in this position group I think would be remarkable."

Dunlap played over 10 seasons in Cincinnati and was signed by Seattle halfway through 2020. He played in all 17 games for the Seahawks last year, recording 8.5 sacks and defending seven passes. The Chiefs are looking for depth at defensive end after Melvin Ingram signed a deal with the Dolphins in the offseason.

The Chiefs also drafted defensive end George Karlaftis in the first round this year at the No. 30 pick overall.

Karlaftis, who's been getting reps with the first-team defense and has been seen talking with Frank Clark after practice, has impressed defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo so far. Keeping in mind, the pads haven't gone on yet.

"Every young guy who comes in, even though they may have dominated at the college level, there is a little bit of a learning curve," Spagnuolo said. "We're going to live with some ups and downs with the young guys...but I'm fired up to see what (George) does."

In the secondary, the Chiefs seek new leadership in their defensive backfield with the departure of Tyrann Mathieu. So far, the young stars have shown out there. First-year Chief and safety Justin Reid has impressed early, but safety and fourth-year pro Juan Thornhill is taking on that leadership role, Spagnuolo says.

"From a communications standpoint and running the show, he's kind of taken that upon himself, which is Juan should be doing in his fourth year. As Justin gets more comfortable with the system, I would expect him to do the same thing."

Rookie safety Bryan Cook out of Cincinnati got reps with the first team defense Thursday after Justin Reid missed a few series. Reid is healthy and will be back on the field. Another rookie, corner Joshua Williams from Fayetteville State, has also caught people’s attention early in camp.

The Chiefs practice again on Friday morning at 9:15, with the <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/6392ec03-da59-4a2d-a2b7-350c2a553fb3?fbclid=IwAR1_GsHul4CRoq5GmoPxw2nG3X050Nz9DNCFvveFa-MQoNxDlw5QAGHMPUM">Red Rally getting underway</a> in St. Joseph's Civic Center Park on Friday afternoon.

With no Tyreek Hill, it's hard to know who Patrick Mahomes' top target this coming season will be, but Juju Smith-Schuster is making a strong case.

He was making more eye-popping catches, especially during the 11-on-11 session. Marquez Valdes-Scantling also had some nice grabs during 7-on-7s.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659037004375.jpeg" alt="Clyde Edwards-Helaire during warmups Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Clyde Edwards-Helaire during warmups Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Chiefs wrapped up their second full day of training camp Thursday on a cool and cloudy morning that saw rain showers come to an end as soon as players came on the field.Everyone got work done in half pads, except corner Rashad Fenton, offensive tackle Lucas Niang and tackle Prince Tega Wanogho, who have been on the injured list since camp.Orlando Brown, Jr. was the only player not present. Roderick Johnson, who just signed with the Chiefs' on a reserve/future in February, has been getting first-team reps at left tackle in Brown Jr.'s place.One player who was on the injured list Tuesday, but got off Wednesday is running back Clye Edwards-Helaire, who says he’s felt fine all week.He even told Andy Reid Wednesday he would practice."I was like, 'I'm practicing,'" Edwards-Helaire said. "He was like, 'I know you're practicing.' And then it was like, 'Alright, okay high five' and out the door. That's all it was."As Thursday’s practice was wrapping up, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Chiefs signed veteran defensive end Carlos Dunlap to a one-year, eight-million dollar deal.The team confirmed the signing later Thursday afternoon. Defensive tackle Chris Jones says he had the chance to get to know Dunlap this offseason."He's a high character guys," Jones said of Dunlap. "I trained with him this offseason in Miami. If we're able to add him and the report is true, I accept Carlos with open arms. I think he's a veteran guy who's had a lot of experience in this league. To have a veteran guy like that in this position group I think would be remarkable."Dunlap played over 10 seasons in Cincinnati and was signed by Seattle halfway through 2020. He played in all 17 games for the Seahawks last year, recording 8.5 sacks and defending seven passes. The Chiefs are looking for depth at defensive end after Melvin Ingram signed a deal with the Dolphins in the offseason.The Chiefs also drafted defensive end George Karlaftis in the first round this year at the No. 30 pick overall.Karlaftis, who's been getting reps with the first-team defense and has been seen talking with Frank Clark after practice, has impressed defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo so far. Keeping in mind, the pads haven't gone on yet."Every young guy who comes in, even though they may have dominated at the college level, there is a little bit of a learning curve," Spagnuolo said. "We're going to live with some ups and downs with the young guys...but I'm fired up to see what (George) does."In the secondary, the Chiefs seek new leadership in their defensive backfield with the departure of Tyrann Mathieu. So far, the young stars have shown out there. First-year Chief and safety Justin Reid has impressed early, but safety and fourth-year pro Juan Thornhill is taking on that leadership role, Spagnuolo says."From a communications standpoint and running the show, he's kind of taken that upon himself, which is Juan should be doing in his fourth year. As Justin gets more comfortable with the system, I would expect him to do the same thing."Rookie safety Bryan Cook out of Cincinnati got reps with the first team defense Thursday after Justin Reid missed a few series. Reid is healthy and will be back on the field. Another rookie, corner Joshua Williams from Fayetteville State, has also caught people’s attention early in camp.The Chiefs practice again on Friday morning at 9:15, with the <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/6392ec03-da59-4a2d-a2b7-350c2a553fb3?fbclid=IwAR1_GsHul4CRoq5GmoPxw2nG3X050Nz9DNCFvveFa-MQoNxDlw5QAGHMPUM">Red Rally getting underway</a> in St. Joseph's Civic Center Park on Friday afternoon.Juju at it againWith no Tyreek Hill, it's hard to know who Patrick Mahomes' top target this coming season will be, but Juju Smith-Schuster is making a strong case.He was making more eye-popping catches, especially during the 11-on-11 session. Marquez Valdes-Scantling also had some nice grabs during 7-on-7s.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Another day, another incredible catch by JuJu Smith-Schuster (<a href="https://twitter.com/TeamJuJu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TeamJuJu</a>) And another awesome celebration right behind the play from Travis Kelce (<a href="https://twitter.com/tkelce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tkelce</a>) <a href="https://t.co/qfJ62ddtYj">pic.twitter.com/qfJ62ddtYj</a>&mdash; KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCSportsNetwork/status/1552678060519989249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659037448222.jpeg" alt="Thursday was the first practice open to the general public." />
 <figcaption>Thursday was the first practice open to the general public.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659037508399.jpeg" alt="Geron Christian (left), Joe Thuney (center) and Andrew Wylie (right) coming down the hill to start practice." />
 <figcaption>Geron Christian (left), Joe Thuney (center) and Andrew Wylie (right) coming down the hill to start practice.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/VideoObject"><meta itemprop="uploadDate" content="Thu Jul 28 2022 14:13:12 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)"/><meta itemprop="name" content="Chiefs B-roll 7-28"/><meta itemprop="duration" content="P0Y0M0DT0H0M58S" /><meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/thumbs/RszbEaxh-960.jpg"/><meta itemprop="contentUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/RszbEaxh-4TtZ4bid.mp4"/><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/RszbEaxh-3PoaQByF.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Chiefs B-roll 7-28" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs in good health through Thursday, Carlos Dunlap signs with team

The Kansas City Royals announced late Wednesday that they traded All-Star and Gold Glove outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the New York Yankees for right-handed pitchers Chandler Champlain and Beck Way and left-handed pitcher T.J. Sikkema.

The Royals now have 39 players on the Major League Reserve List and 25 on the active Major League roster and will announce a corresponding move some time Thursday.

Way and Sikkema will be assigned to High-A Quad Cities, and Champlain will be assigned to Low-A Columbia.

Benintendi represented the Royals in the All-Star Game earlier this month, and is batting .320 in 93 games this season, which ranks fifth in the Majors. He’s currently riding an eight-game hit streak, and he’s batting .377 in his last 29 games since June 20.

St. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Royals announced late Wednesday that they traded All-Star and Gold Glove outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the New York Yankees for right-handed pitchers Chandler Champlain and Beck Way and left-handed pitcher T.J. Sikkema.The Royals now have 39 players on the Major League Reserve List and 25 on the active Major League roster and will announce a corresponding move some time Thursday.Way and Sikkema will be assigned to High-A Quad Cities, and Champlain will be assigned to Low-A Columbia.Benintendi represented the Royals in the All-Star Game earlier this month, and is batting .320 in 93 games this season, which ranks fifth in the Majors. He’s currently riding an eight-game hit streak, and he’s batting .377 in his last 29 games since June 20.

Royals trade Andrew Benintendi for pitching help, more moves expected Thursday

(AP) — Janson Junk pitched five-plus innings of four-hit ball for the Angels on Wednesday, earning his first major league win when the Los Angeles bullpen shut down the Kansas City Royals the rest of the way in a 4-0 victory. 

Shohei Ohtani reached base three times and drove in a run, pacing a scuffling Angels offense that capitalized on the Royals’ shoddy fielding to deliver their first series win since June 27-29 against the White Sox. 

Brad Keller allowed three runs on six hits and three walks in six innings for Kansas City.

The Royals next take on the Yankees Thursday evening with first pitch at 6:05 central. Coverage begins at 5:30 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.

(AP) — Janson Junk pitched five-plus innings of four-hit ball for the Angels on Wednesday, earning his first major league win when the Los Angeles bullpen shut down the Kansas City Royals the rest of the way in a 4-0 victory. Shohei Ohtani reached base three times and drove in a run, pacing a scuffling Angels offense that capitalized on the Royals’ shoddy fielding to deliver their first series win since June 27-29 against the White Sox. Brad Keller allowed three runs on six hits and three walks in six innings for Kansas City.The Royals next take on the Yankees Thursday evening with first pitch at 6:05 central. Coverage begins at 5:30 on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.

Junk shuts down Royals, Angels cruise 4-0 to take series

Missouri Western women's basketball announced Wednesday the hiring of longtime Division I head coach Jim Wiedie as an assistant for the 2022-23 season. Wiedie has spent the last nine years as the head coach for the University of Findlay Women's Basketball - a Division II team he led to five straight GMAC Tournaments from 2017-22, and one NCAA Regional appearance in 2018.

Wiedie and Findlay mutually agreed to part ways this past spring after he led the Oilers to a 15-15 record in his final season there.

The Oilers went 142-107 overall under Coach Wiedie, giving him the second most wins in program history. Many players thrived under his leadership, including two Division II All-Region players, six First Team All-Conference players and one GMAC Player of the Year. ﻿"Jim&nbsp;brings a tremendous amount of experience to our program, spending time as both an assistant and a head coach at various levels throughout his career,"&nbsp; Griffons head coach Candi Whitaker said. "He is a proven winner and recruiter, and we have no doubt he is going to work tirelessly to continue to raise the level of our program. We are thrilled to welcome&nbsp;Jim&nbsp;to the St. Joseph community." During his 10-year stint as the Indiana State head coach from 2000-2010, Wiedie saw much success with a 166-118 overall record, making him the winningest coach in the history of that program.

Wiedie's tenure in Terre Haute ended abruptly in February 2010 when he was suspended during the regular season, though no reason for his suspension and eventual departure was ever disclosed.

Wiedie was named the 2003 and 2006 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and the 2006 WBCA Region VI Coach of the Year. His teams won the MVC regular season championship in 2003 and '06 while making the WNIT&nbsp;in those same years ,as well as 2005.&nbsp;

Wiedie's teams have found success off the court as well. Indiana State spent nine straight years as at least one the top 13 teams in the nation in GPA. "I'm honored and extremely excited to be part of the women's basketball program at Missouri Western State University," Wiedie said in a statement. "I can't thank Coach Whitaker enough for this incredible opportunity. She's done an amazing job in the short period of time she's been here, and I'm looking forward to helping her and the rest of the staff take the program beyond the Elite 8."

Missouri Western women's basketball is coming off of one of its best seasons in program history in 2021-22, as the Griffons finished with a 24-10 record and a Central Region championship.

Missouri Western reached the Elite 8 for the first time since 1995 and just the third time in program history this past spring.

The Griffons are likely to be an MIAA contender yet again this season, as they return seven players with either starting or significant playing experience.

Eleven total players are back from last year. Plus, Missouri Western added Pittsburg State transfer guard and sophomore Jayme Jackson, who averaged 10.8 points and four rebounds per game last season for the Gorillas.

Along with three new freshmen, Missouri Western also added junior transfer guard Johni Gonzalez in the offseason, after she averaged 4.5 points and 2.8 assists per game last year for Division I University of California-Santa Barbara.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658956040435.png" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMissouri Western women's basketball announced Wednesday the hiring of longtime Division I head coach Jim Wiedie as an assistant for the 2022-23 season. Wiedie has spent the last nine years as the head coach for the University of Findlay Women's Basketball - a Division II team he led to five straight GMAC Tournaments from 2017-22, and one NCAA Regional appearance in 2018.Wiedie and Findlay mutually agreed to part ways this past spring after he led the Oilers to a 15-15 record in his final season there.The Oilers went 142-107 overall under Coach Wiedie, giving him the second most wins in program history. Many players thrived under his leadership, including two Division II All-Region players, six First Team All-Conference players and one GMAC Player of the Year. ﻿"Jim&nbsp;brings a tremendous amount of experience to our program, spending time as both an assistant and a head coach at various levels throughout his career,"&nbsp; Griffons head coach Candi Whitaker said. "He is a proven winner and recruiter, and we have no doubt he is going to work tirelessly to continue to raise the level of our program. We are thrilled to welcome&nbsp;Jim&nbsp;to the St. Joseph community." During his 10-year stint as the Indiana State head coach from 2000-2010, Wiedie saw much success with a 166-118 overall record, making him the winningest coach in the history of that program.Wiedie's tenure in Terre Haute ended abruptly in February 2010 when he was suspended during the regular season, though no reason for his suspension and eventual departure was ever disclosed.Wiedie was named the 2003 and 2006 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and the 2006 WBCA Region VI Coach of the Year. His teams won the MVC regular season championship in 2003 and '06 while making the WNIT&nbsp;in those same years ,as well as 2005.&nbsp; Wiedie's teams have found success off the court as well. Indiana State spent nine straight years as at least one the top 13 teams in the nation in GPA. "I'm honored and extremely excited to be part of the women's basketball program at Missouri Western State University," Wiedie said in a statement. "I can't thank Coach Whitaker enough for this incredible opportunity. She's done an amazing job in the short period of time she's been here, and I'm looking forward to helping her and the rest of the staff take the program beyond the Elite 8."Missouri Western women's basketball is coming off of one of its best seasons in program history in 2021-22, as the Griffons finished with a 24-10 record and a Central Region championship.Missouri Western reached the Elite 8 for the first time since 1995 and just the third time in program history this past spring.The Griffons are likely to be an MIAA contender yet again this season, as they return seven players with either starting or significant playing experience.Eleven total players are back from last year. Plus, Missouri Western added Pittsburg State transfer guard and sophomore Jayme Jackson, who averaged 10.8 points and four rebounds per game last season for the Gorillas.Along with three new freshmen, Missouri Western also added junior transfer guard Johni Gonzalez in the offseason, after she averaged 4.5 points and 2.8 assists per game last year for Division I University of California-Santa Barbara.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU women's basketball hires former Division I head coach Jim Wiedie as assistant

It was a warm, muggy Wednesday morning on the Mosaic Training Fields at Missouri Western in St. Joseph for the first day of Chiefs training camp.&nbsp; Overall, coach Andy Reid was pleased with the intensity on day one.

"I like the competition between the offense and the defense," Reid said. "Offense won a few, defense won a few. They were competing. It's the first day, we'll keep rolling, but I was happy with the attitude and the work they put in."

 Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was on the field and active Wednesday - one day after being placed on the physically unable to perform list.

Elsewhere, defensive end Frank Clark came onto the field about halfway through practice around 10 a.m. He missed the early portion due to illness.

Wednesday's workout was in half pads and was relatively short - about an hour and a half.&nbsp;One of the standouts was, not surprisingly, receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, who was signed by Kansas City in March after five fruitful years with the Steelers.

Smith-Schuster had several nice snags throughout the day, including a wide open deep ball that was a bit overthrown. He made a diving catch on that route, which drew some applause.

The first thing that stood out to Smith-Schuster Wednesday was the heat, but also the fans.

"It was hot today," he said. "I'll tell y'all that, man. It's hot. They always told me, 'Be ready, be ready. Camp is no joke.' They were right! To see the fans out here in the heat, and the support, that's so much love."

&nbsp;On the field, Reid says he notices a trust developing between Smith-Schuster and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

"This isn't Juju's first rodeo," the head coach said.&nbsp; "We liked what we saw before. He was banged up just a little bit, but he's back now and healthy. It was good work today."

Smith-Schuster played only five games for Pittsburgh in 2021 after suffering a shoulder injury last October.

Another standout Wednesday was safety Justin Reid - a fifth-year pro who signed with the Chiefs in March. He had a couple of solid pass breakups and intercepted Mahomes in the endzone during seven-on-seven drills.

"(Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) tells us what to do, we go out and execute it," Justin said. "When you do that, you buy into the program. You be a good teammate. You be a good student of the game. Good things usually happen, so I try and keep myself humble. Plays like that happen when you have your opportunity. You just have to catch it."

Coach Reid had praise for all of the young secondary players, including rookie corner Joshua Williams - drafted in the fourth round from Division II Fayetteville State.

"The young secondary players did a nice job today," Reid commented. "I thought they got in there and competed. I liked that. The catches that were made (by receivers) were contested. You had bodies next to bodies."

Justin Reid is one of the more veteran defensive backs the Chiefs have. Corner Dicaprio Bootle is a first-year pro, L'Jarius Sneed is in his third year, safety Juan Thornhill is in his fourth season and rookie corner Trent McDuffie got reps with the first team defense.

While Justin is a newcomer to the Chiefs, the veteran safety is impressed with the personnel he's surrounded by.

"The young guys have been doing a great job, taking it in stride," he said. "Listening to the older guys. Being learners and not being combative. Being open to coaching. They've been coming along well. We've put a lot on their plate, and they're up to the challenge."

Left tackle Orlando Brown, Jr. was not present at camp, as he and the Chiefs continue to try and reach a long-term deal.&nbsp; The latest reports indicate they are not close to reaching that deal.

Right guard Trey Smith was asked about Brown, Jr. after practice Wednesday. Smith called him "a good friend" and says they talk often, but would not speculate on whether or not Brown Jr. will play this fall.

"They're going to make the right decision," Smith said of general manager Brett Veach and team leadership.

Also absent Wednesday were those players previously placed on the PUP list. Corner Rashad Fenton is recovering from shoulder surgery, offensive tackle Lucas Niang is recovering from a knee injury, while receiver Justyn Ross recovers from a foot injury.&nbsp;

Defensive tackle Cortez Broughton is also on the PUP list.

The Chiefs practice again on Thursday morning at 9:15. That'll be the first practice open to the general public.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658949574937.jpeg" alt="Juju Smith-Schuster (9) hauls in a sideline pass. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Juju Smith-Schuster (9) hauls in a sideline pass. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostIt was a warm, muggy Wednesday morning on the Mosaic Training Fields at Missouri Western in St. Joseph for the first day of Chiefs training camp.&nbsp; Overall, coach Andy Reid was pleased with the intensity on day one."I like the competition between the offense and the defense," Reid said. "Offense won a few, defense won a few. They were competing. It's the first day, we'll keep rolling, but I was happy with the attitude and the work they put in." Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was on the field and active Wednesday - one day after being placed on the physically unable to perform list.Elsewhere, defensive end Frank Clark came onto the field about halfway through practice around 10 a.m. He missed the early portion due to illness.Wednesday's workout was in half pads and was relatively short - about an hour and a half.&nbsp;One of the standouts was, not surprisingly, receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, who was signed by Kansas City in March after five fruitful years with the Steelers.Smith-Schuster had several nice snags throughout the day, including a wide open deep ball that was a bit overthrown. He made a diving catch on that route, which drew some applause.The first thing that stood out to Smith-Schuster Wednesday was the heat, but also the fans."It was hot today," he said. "I'll tell y'all that, man. It's hot. They always told me, 'Be ready, be ready. Camp is no joke.' They were right! To see the fans out here in the heat, and the support, that's so much love."&nbsp;On the field, Reid says he notices a trust developing between Smith-Schuster and quarterback Patrick Mahomes."This isn't Juju's first rodeo," the head coach said.&nbsp; "We liked what we saw before. He was banged up just a little bit, but he's back now and healthy. It was good work today."Smith-Schuster played only five games for Pittsburgh in 2021 after suffering a shoulder injury last October.Another standout Wednesday was safety Justin Reid - a fifth-year pro who signed with the Chiefs in March. He had a couple of solid pass breakups and intercepted Mahomes in the endzone during seven-on-seven drills."(Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) tells us what to do, we go out and execute it," Justin said. "When you do that, you buy into the program. You be a good teammate. You be a good student of the game. Good things usually happen, so I try and keep myself humble. Plays like that happen when you have your opportunity. You just have to catch it."Coach Reid had praise for all of the young secondary players, including rookie corner Joshua Williams - drafted in the fourth round from Division II Fayetteville State."The young secondary players did a nice job today," Reid commented. "I thought they got in there and competed. I liked that. The catches that were made (by receivers) were contested. You had bodies next to bodies."Justin Reid is one of the more veteran defensive backs the Chiefs have. Corner Dicaprio Bootle is a first-year pro, L'Jarius Sneed is in his third year, safety Juan Thornhill is in his fourth season and rookie corner Trent McDuffie got reps with the first team defense.While Justin is a newcomer to the Chiefs, the veteran safety is impressed with the personnel he's surrounded by."The young guys have been doing a great job, taking it in stride," he said. "Listening to the older guys. Being learners and not being combative. Being open to coaching. They've been coming along well. We've put a lot on their plate, and they're up to the challenge."Orlando Brown, Jr.Left tackle Orlando Brown, Jr. was not present at camp, as he and the Chiefs continue to try and reach a long-term deal.&nbsp; The latest reports indicate they are not close to reaching that deal.Right guard Trey Smith was asked about Brown, Jr. after practice Wednesday. Smith called him "a good friend" and says they talk often, but would not speculate on whether or not Brown Jr. will play this fall."They're going to make the right decision," Smith said of general manager Brett Veach and team leadership.Also absent Wednesday were those players previously placed on the PUP list. Corner Rashad Fenton is recovering from shoulder surgery, offensive tackle Lucas Niang is recovering from a knee injury, while receiver Justyn Ross recovers from a foot injury.&nbsp;Defensive tackle Cortez Broughton is also on the PUP list.The Chiefs practice again on Thursday morning at 9:15. That'll be the first practice open to the general public.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658949622437.jpeg" alt="Derrick Gore." />
 <figcaption>Derrick Gore.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658949645043.jpeg" alt="Joshua Williams (23) gets a pass breakup against Mecole Hardman (17)." />
 <figcaption>Joshua Williams (23) gets a pass breakup against Mecole Hardman (17).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658949666585.jpeg" alt="Patrick Mahomes during 7-on-7." />
 <figcaption>Patrick Mahomes during 7-on-7.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658949692344.jpeg" alt="Chiefs running backs." />
 <figcaption>Chiefs running backs.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs wrap first full day of camp Wednesday, Smith-Schuster impresses

(AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a towering homer and Luis Rengifo added a bases-loaded double to break open a close game as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 6-0. 

Max Stassi also homered in the ninth for the Angels. Jose Suarez scattered three hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win, while the Los Angeles bullpen bounced back from a dismal series opener with a solid performance. 

Angel Zerpa earned the loss for Kansas City, even though he allowed just one earned run before departing in the fifth inning with a right knee injury.

The Royals take on the Angels again Wednesday afternoon with first pitch at 1:10 central on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.

(AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a towering homer and Luis Rengifo added a bases-loaded double to break open a close game as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 6-0. Max Stassi also homered in the ninth for the Angels. Jose Suarez scattered three hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win, while the Los Angeles bullpen bounced back from a dismal series opener with a solid performance. Angel Zerpa earned the loss for Kansas City, even though he allowed just one earned run before departing in the fifth inning with a right knee injury.The Royals take on the Angels again Wednesday afternoon with first pitch at 1:10 central on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.

Shohei Ohtani homers, Angels shut down Royals in 6-0 victory

The St. Joseph Mustangs have thought about the opportunity to threepeat as MINK League champions all summer.

They'll now have the chance to do just that this week.

The Mustangs (35-14) are onto the MINK League championship series for a third straight season following a 5-2 win over Clarinda at Phil Welch Stadium on Tuesday night in the North Division Final.

The win sets up a championship series against the Joplin Outlaws coming up this Thursday through Saturday.

"It's awesome," Brady Holden said after a 3-for-4 night at the plate. "We got down early, but the way this team has played all year, I knew we'd battle back. We were never worried, stayed with each other, came back and got the win."

The Mustangs, facing Clarinda for an eighth time this season Tuesday, were held to just two hits through the first five innings.

Despite solid innings from St. Joseph starting pitcher Max Spitzmiller, the A's (32-15) nabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, thanks to an RBI single from Luke Saunders.

After a 1-2-3 inning by Clarinda in the top of the sixth, St. Joseph finally got to starting pitcher Will Walsh.

Holden led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to center. Jack Wagner followed with a single to right, and Dylan Carey followed that with a single to center. An ensuing throwing error scored Holden, tying the game at 1-1.

With bases loaded and just one out, Trevor McCollum came through with a two-run RBI single to score Carey and Wagner, giving the Mustangs a 3-1 lead.

Another RBI single by Jaxon Himel scored McCollum and Ryan Koski, putting the Mustangs up 5-1. Clarinda subsequently pulled Walsh after that, following a five-hit, five-run sixth inning.

"We were squaring balls up early, but nothing was falling," Mustangs manager Johnny Coy said. "I just told the guys to keep swinging, keep getting good pitches and things will fall. When it mattered most, it definitely fell for them."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658894396488.jpeg" alt="Dylan Carey (23) and Jack Wagner (3) celebrate a run scored in the sixth inning during the Mustangs' 5-2 win over Clarinda at Phil Welch Stadium Tuesday in the MINK League North Division final. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Dylan Carey (23) and Jack Wagner (3) celebrate a run scored in the sixth inning during the Mustangs' 5-2 win over Clarinda at Phil Welch Stadium Tuesday in the MINK League North Division final. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs have thought about the opportunity to threepeat as MINK League champions all summer.They'll now have the chance to do just that this week.The Mustangs (35-14) are onto the MINK League championship series for a third straight season following a 5-2 win over Clarinda at Phil Welch Stadium on Tuesday night in the North Division Final.The win sets up a championship series against the Joplin Outlaws coming up this Thursday through Saturday."It's awesome," Brady Holden said after a 3-for-4 night at the plate. "We got down early, but the way this team has played all year, I knew we'd battle back. We were never worried, stayed with each other, came back and got the win."The Mustangs, facing Clarinda for an eighth time this season Tuesday, were held to just two hits through the first five innings.Despite solid innings from St. Joseph starting pitcher Max Spitzmiller, the A's (32-15) nabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, thanks to an RBI single from Luke Saunders.After a 1-2-3 inning by Clarinda in the top of the sixth, St. Joseph finally got to starting pitcher Will Walsh.Holden led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to center. Jack Wagner followed with a single to right, and Dylan Carey followed that with a single to center. An ensuing throwing error scored Holden, tying the game at 1-1.With bases loaded and just one out, Trevor McCollum came through with a two-run RBI single to score Carey and Wagner, giving the Mustangs a 3-1 lead.Another RBI single by Jaxon Himel scored McCollum and Ryan Koski, putting the Mustangs up 5-1. Clarinda subsequently pulled Walsh after that, following a five-hit, five-run sixth inning."We were squaring balls up early, but nothing was falling," Mustangs manager Johnny Coy said. "I just told the guys to keep swinging, keep getting good pitches and things will fall. When it mattered most, it definitely fell for them."Clarinda, which fell one game short of reaching the league championship last season, got a run back in the top of the eighth, but ended that inning with bases loaded.St. Joseph reliever Morichika Hama earned his third save of the season, striking out two batters over the final two innings, and setting the A's down in order in the final frame.The Mustangs now face South Division champion Joplin in the MINK League championship series, starting Thursday.The Outlaws (24-21) beat Jefferson City in the South Division final Tuesday, 4-2. Joplin will host the Mustangs for the first game of the series on Thursday night at 7.Game two shifts to Phil Welch Stadium on Friday night at 7, with a third game being played in St. Joseph on Saturday night at 7 if needed.No MINK League team has ever won three straight championships. The Mustangs have already beat Joplin in three of their four meetings in the regular season, and St. Joseph has the best record in the league.Two more wins is all that's needed for the Mustangs to make history and claim their eighth league championship as a franchise."It all starts with game one in Joplin," Coy said. "Our guys are super excited, they've been working hard for it and I know they're going to come out and play as best they can."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658895746011.jpeg" alt="Trevor McCollum (7) celebrates with Ryan Koski (right)." />
 <figcaption>Trevor McCollum (7) celebrates with Ryan Koski (right).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658895764171.jpeg" alt="Max Spitzmiller." />
 <figcaption>Max Spitzmiller.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.