A tough matchup against the top team in the North Division saw the Mustangs fall on Wednesday, falling 9-2 in the first game and 10-0 in the second

Both games were seven innings long.&nbsp;

In both games the Mustangs could only manage five hits as Clarinda's pitchers limited the damage. Jake Grauberger led the way for St. Joseph going two for three and driving in one run, the other was driven in by designated hitter Derrick Mays.

Keean Allen the winning pitcher for Clarinda gave up both runs over six innings before being relieved in the seventh inning by Brennan Sefrit.&nbsp; Micah Diamond pitched four and a third innings for St. Joseph giving up six runs, earning the loss

The second game was all Clarinda as winning pitcher Cameron Hood went the distance pitching a complete game and striking out two, lowering his season ERA to 1.40.&nbsp; Austin Brooks gave up seven runs, but only three earned, as the losing pitcher while five different Mustangs had one hit each

The Mustangs (17-14) are 5-5 over their last ten games will look to turn things around following the sweep as they return home to begin a three game homestand, looking to stay ahead in second place against Chillicothe (11-15). First pitch is set for 7pm, weather permitting

BY MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostA tough matchup against the top team in the North Division saw the Mustangs fall on Wednesday, falling 9-2 in the first game and 10-0 in the secondBoth games were seven innings long.&nbsp;In both games the Mustangs could only manage five hits as Clarinda's pitchers limited the damage. Jake Grauberger led the way for St. Joseph going two for three and driving in one run, the other was driven in by designated hitter Derrick Mays.Keean Allen the winning pitcher for Clarinda gave up both runs over six innings before being relieved in the seventh inning by Brennan Sefrit.&nbsp; Micah Diamond pitched four and a third innings for St. Joseph giving up six runs, earning the lossThe second game was all Clarinda as winning pitcher Cameron Hood went the distance pitching a complete game and striking out two, lowering his season ERA to 1.40.&nbsp; Austin Brooks gave up seven runs, but only three earned, as the losing pitcher while five different Mustangs had one hit eachThe Mustangs (17-14) are 5-5 over their last ten games will look to turn things around following the sweep as they return home to begin a three game homestand, looking to stay ahead in second place against Chillicothe (11-15). First pitch is set for 7pm, weather permitting<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoemustangs%2Fposts%2F10159236142069043&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="548" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Mustangs fall to Clarinda in doubleheader sweep

The St. Joseph Mustangs swept a doubleheader at home against the Des Moines Peak Prospects Tuesday, winning the first game 4-1 and the second 12-2.

Savannah alum Dakota Spicer had a pair of hits, while another former Savage, Braden Barry, pitched a complete game in the first game of the doubleheader, striking out six and walking none.

In the second game, the Mustangs scored all of their runs over the final two innings with seven runs in the sixth and five in the seventh.

Mid-Buchanan alum Brady Holden had a team-high three hits in the second game, while Lafayette graduate Ike Book hit a double.

The Mustangs (17-12), who have now won four straight, hit the road for a doubleheader at first place Clarinda (28-4). The first game starts at 5 p.m.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs swept a doubleheader at home against the Des Moines Peak Prospects Tuesday, winning the first game 4-1 and the second 12-2.Both games were seven innings long.Savannah alum Dakota Spicer had a pair of hits, while another former Savage, Braden Barry, pitched a complete game in the first game of the doubleheader, striking out six and walking none.In the second game, the Mustangs scored all of their runs over the final two innings with seven runs in the sixth and five in the seventh.Mid-Buchanan alum Brady Holden had a team-high three hits in the second game, while Lafayette graduate Ike Book hit a double.The Mustangs (17-12), who have now won four straight, hit the road for a doubleheader at first place Clarinda (28-4). The first game starts at 5 p.m.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">Final! Thanks again for joining us! <a href="https://t.co/2xeK5jJLt7">pic.twitter.com/2xeK5jJLt7</a>&mdash; St. Joseph Mustangs (@StJoeMustangs) <a href="https://twitter.com/StJoeMustangs/status/1415182152204013571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
</div>

Mustangs sweep doubleheader against Des Moines Tuesday

Mosaic Life Care and the St. Joseph Downtown Association are bringing back the ‘Red Rally’ this summer to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs' return for training camp.

The event is slated for Friday, July 30 at the Coleman Hawkins Park in Felix Street Square in downtown.

The event will be paired with the Phil Vandel ‘Sounds of Summer’ Concert, which&nbsp; will start at 6:30 that same evening.

Those who plan to attend are encouraged to wear Chiefs apparel, and are also encouraged to get vaccinated beforehand.

Mosaic spokeswoman Joey Austin says having training camp back, as well as the Red Rally, are great ways to celebrate a return to normalcy, but she encourages people to celebrate responsibly.

"We're so excited to have training camp here," Austin said. "We're ready to have them back, but we want to make sure our residents are mindful that we're still in a pandemic. There's a way to celebrate them being here, but celebrate safely."

Austin is happy to see the 'Red Rally' return after such a huge turnout for the event in 2019. She says the public needs to understand that the pandemic is not yet over, but she also knows that life has to return to normal, and having these events with big gatherings safely is possible.

"It's our way of kind of getting into that new normal," Austin said. "Living in this pandemic, but trying to offer things to our residents that we know that they want to celebrate. We just want to make sure from a healthcare perspective, we're doing that in a responsible and safe way."

Besides keeping people safe, Austin also hopes the event encourages Chiefs fans who live outside of the city to explore the downtown and see an area they wouldn't get to otherwise.

"In 2019, we had people not only from our community but those from out of town who spent the night," she said. "They went and ate in some restaurants that they had never been able to experience. They saw shops they never saw before, so it was a great way to showcase our downtown."

Downtown St. Joseph Association spokeswoman Christy George says merging the Red Rally with the Summer Concert Series made perfect sense. The first day of training camp is July 28, and the Phil Vandel show had long been scheduled for July 30.

"We were super excited to mix the two together," George said. "Phil Vandel does southern rock and some country and he's really good with the audience and all types of people. So, it was great to mix the Red Rally in with that. It's going to be a great party and great celebration."

This year’s Red Rally will be paired down compared to years past. Coaches and players will not make appearances, due to NFL protocols.

 However, KC Wolf and Max the Griffon from Missouri Western will be attendance. There’ll also be various food and drink vendors as well.

Austin says this year's training camp may not be the same as it has been in the past. Most notably, fans won't have any access to players, and there'll be no autographs this year.

But, she says the 'Red Rally' is still a great way to safely celebrate the return of Chiefs' training camp in St. Joseph.

"Certainly with the pandemic, this is a different training camp," Austin said. "We want to give people the opportunity to celebrate together, but just do it in a responsible way."

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626217607304.jpeg" alt="2019 Chiefs training camp. Photo by Brent Martin." />
 <figcaption>2019 Chiefs training camp. Photo by Brent Martin.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMosaic Life Care and the St. Joseph Downtown Association are bringing back the ‘Red Rally’ this summer to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs' return for training camp.The event is slated for Friday, July 30 at the Coleman Hawkins Park in Felix Street Square in downtown.The event will be paired with the Phil Vandel ‘Sounds of Summer’ Concert, which&nbsp; will start at 6:30 that same evening.Those who plan to attend are encouraged to wear Chiefs apparel, and are also encouraged to get vaccinated beforehand.Mosaic spokeswoman Joey Austin says having training camp back, as well as the Red Rally, are great ways to celebrate a return to normalcy, but she encourages people to celebrate responsibly."We're so excited to have training camp here," Austin said. "We're ready to have them back, but we want to make sure our residents are mindful that we're still in a pandemic. There's a way to celebrate them being here, but celebrate safely."Austin is happy to see the 'Red Rally' return after such a huge turnout for the event in 2019. She says the public needs to understand that the pandemic is not yet over, but she also knows that life has to return to normal, and having these events with big gatherings safely is possible."It's our way of kind of getting into that new normal," Austin said. "Living in this pandemic, but trying to offer things to our residents that we know that they want to celebrate. We just want to make sure from a healthcare perspective, we're doing that in a responsible and safe way."Besides keeping people safe, Austin also hopes the event encourages Chiefs fans who live outside of the city to explore the downtown and see an area they wouldn't get to otherwise."In 2019, we had people not only from our community but those from out of town who spent the night," she said. "They went and ate in some restaurants that they had never been able to experience. They saw shops they never saw before, so it was a great way to showcase our downtown."Downtown St. Joseph Association spokeswoman Christy George says merging the Red Rally with the Summer Concert Series made perfect sense. The first day of training camp is July 28, and the Phil Vandel show had long been scheduled for July 30."We were super excited to mix the two together," George said. "Phil Vandel does southern rock and some country and he's really good with the audience and all types of people. So, it was great to mix the Red Rally in with that. It's going to be a great party and great celebration."This year’s Red Rally will be paired down compared to years past. Coaches and players will not make appearances, due to NFL protocols. However, KC Wolf and Max the Griffon from Missouri Western will be attendance. There’ll also be various food and drink vendors as well.Austin says this year's training camp may not be the same as it has been in the past. Most notably, fans won't have any access to players, and there'll be no autographs this year.But, she says the 'Red Rally' is still a great way to safely celebrate the return of Chiefs' training camp in St. Joseph."Certainly with the pandemic, this is a different training camp," Austin said. "We want to give people the opportunity to celebrate together, but just do it in a responsible way."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Mosaic, St. Joseph Downtown Association bringing back Red Rally to mark start of training camp

The Kansas City Royals didn’t have to look far for some of their later round picks in the 2021 MLB Draft Monday.

In the seventh round at 199th overall, the Royals picked up Central Arkansas pitcher and St. Joseph Central alum Noah Cameron.

A lefty, Cameron didn't play in 2021 after tearing his UCL in his throwing arm, which led to Tommy John surgery last August. He graduated from Central in 2018.

In 2019, he was named a Freshman All-American after going 6-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 14 starts. He tossed 94.2 innings with 91 strikeouts and 19 walks. That season included a 12-strikeout performance against Abilene Christian.

Cameron was a three-time, first-team All-Conference selection during his varsity career with the Indians.

Prior to that, the Royals selected Blue Valley Southwest (Overland Park, KS) product and right-handed pitcher Ben Kudrna with the 43rd overall pick in the second round.

Kudrna was ranked No. 46 on MLB.com’s Top 250 Draft Prospects list. Standing at 6-foot-4, Kudrna led the Timberwolves to a 22-3 record and the Class 5A state championship this past spring.

Kudrna had a 9-1 record on the mound with a 0.99 ERA. He also recorded 100 strikeouts with just 11 walks in 57.1 innings. The LSU commit was named the Gatorade Kansas Baseball Player of the Year and the 2021 Class 5A Pitcher of the Year.

The Royals got more local flavor in the third round, selecting Park Hill catcher Carter Jensen 78th overall. In his senior year, Carter had a .387 batting average and a .578 on-base percentage. He led the team with 34 walks, recorded 25 RBIs and a home run, making the Greater Kansas City Suburban All-Conference first team.

Jensen had been committed to LSU as well, but will not attend school there after being drafted.

In the first round Sunday, the Royals selected Frank Mozzicato - a left-handed pitcher from East Catholic High School in Connecticut, with the seventh overall pick.

This year marks the third time in the last four years that the Royals have selected a pitcher with their first pick, following Asa Lacy (4th overall) in 2020 and Brady Singer (18th overall) in 2018.

Mozzicato, 18, is committed to the University of Connecticut. He was ranked No. 39 overall on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list, making this a somewhat surprising first choice for the Royals.&nbsp; 

Mozzicato’s fastball is now sitting at 91 mph and touching 93 mph consistently, according to MLB.com. He was unhittable this past spring, going 9-0 with 135 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings, allowing just nine hits and finishing with a remarkable 0.16 ERA. He had a streak of four consecutive no-hitters this past season as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626122930929.jpeg" alt="Central Arkansas pitcher and St. Joseph Central alum Noah Cameron was picked 199th overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2021 MLB Draft." />
 <figcaption>Central Arkansas pitcher and St. Joseph Central alum Noah Cameron was picked 199th overall by the Kansas City Royals in the 2021 MLB Draft.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Royals didn’t have to look far for some of their later round picks in the 2021 MLB Draft Monday.In the seventh round at 199th overall, the Royals picked up Central Arkansas pitcher and St. Joseph Central alum Noah Cameron.A lefty, Cameron didn't play in 2021 after tearing his UCL in his throwing arm, which led to Tommy John surgery last August. He graduated from Central in 2018.In 2019, he was named a Freshman All-American after going 6-2 with a 2.95 ERA in 14 starts. He tossed 94.2 innings with 91 strikeouts and 19 walks. That season included a 12-strikeout performance against Abilene Christian.Cameron was a three-time, first-team All-Conference selection during his varsity career with the Indians.Prior to that, the Royals selected Blue Valley Southwest (Overland Park, KS) product and right-handed pitcher Ben Kudrna with the 43rd overall pick in the second round.Kudrna was ranked No. 46 on MLB.com’s Top 250 Draft Prospects list. Standing at 6-foot-4, Kudrna led the Timberwolves to a 22-3 record and the Class 5A state championship this past spring.Kudrna had a 9-1 record on the mound with a 0.99 ERA. He also recorded 100 strikeouts with just 11 walks in 57.1 innings. The LSU commit was named the Gatorade Kansas Baseball Player of the Year and the 2021 Class 5A Pitcher of the Year.The Royals got more local flavor in the third round, selecting Park Hill catcher Carter Jensen 78th overall. In his senior year, Carter had a .387 batting average and a .578 on-base percentage. He led the team with 34 walks, recorded 25 RBIs and a home run, making the Greater Kansas City Suburban All-Conference first team.Jensen had been committed to LSU as well, but will not attend school there after being drafted.In the first round Sunday, the Royals selected Frank Mozzicato - a left-handed pitcher from East Catholic High School in Connecticut, with the seventh overall pick.This year marks the third time in the last four years that the Royals have selected a pitcher with their first pick, following Asa Lacy (4th overall) in 2020 and Brady Singer (18th overall) in 2018.Mozzicato, 18, is committed to the University of Connecticut. He was ranked No. 39 overall on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list, making this a somewhat surprising first choice for the Royals.&nbsp; Mozzicato’s fastball is now sitting at 91 mph and touching 93 mph consistently, according to MLB.com. He was unhittable this past spring, going 9-0 with 135 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings, allowing just nine hits and finishing with a remarkable 0.16 ERA. He had a streak of four consecutive no-hitters this past season as well.

Royals gather pitchers, local talent in early rounds of MLB Draft

Bishop LeBlond has a new athletic director. The high school has appointed current boys’ basketball and boys’ golf coach Mitch Girres to be the Eagles’ next A.D.

Girres succeeds Michael Evans, who stepped down after five years in the post.

Girres has been the head coach of Eagles’ boys basketball since 2016, and just concluded his first season as the boys’ golf coach, helping the Eagles win their fourth state title in the last five years.

Girres will continue to coach both teams. He says his experience as a head coach can help him work with the other coaches at the school.

"Because I know how hard they work and how dedicated they are to our student-athletes," he said. "It's just something for me that will be very rewarding, because it's something I love and something I love to do and I'm very excited for it."

Over the last five years, LeBlond has won six state titles, including three in boys' golf, two in dance and one in boys' soccer. Add to that six individual state champions, 18 combined Final Four finishes for teams and individuals, 19 district championships and seven conference titles.

Girres simply hopes he can help keep LeBlond's momentum going.

"It's going to be hard to follow, because we've had a really good run these last couple of years," he said. "Really, what I have to do is empower these coaches and let them do what they do best, and that is motivate and get their kids to do the right thing and play the right way, and hopefully I can do that."

LeBlond also announced Kimberly Huss will be the new principal, while David Lamble has been hired as assistant principal. Lamble had been a basketball and soccer coach at St. Pius X in Kansas City.

Huss, meanwhile, has been a track and volleyball coach, as well as a science teacher at LeBlond since 2004.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625826108542.jpeg" alt="Mitch Girres (far right) just helped the Bishop LeBlond boys' golf team win a state championship in Class 1 in May. He'll now be the school's next athletic director." />
 <figcaption>Mitch Girres (far right) just helped the Bishop LeBlond boys' golf team win a state championship in Class 1 in May. He'll now be the school's next athletic director.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBishop LeBlond has a new athletic director. The high school has appointed current boys’ basketball and boys’ golf coach Mitch Girres to be the Eagles’ next A.D.Girres succeeds Michael Evans, who stepped down after five years in the post.Girres has been the head coach of Eagles’ boys basketball since 2016, and just concluded his first season as the boys’ golf coach, helping the Eagles win their fourth state title in the last five years.Girres will continue to coach both teams. He says his experience as a head coach can help him work with the other coaches at the school."Because I know how hard they work and how dedicated they are to our student-athletes," he said. "It's just something for me that will be very rewarding, because it's something I love and something I love to do and I'm very excited for it."Over the last five years, LeBlond has won six state titles, including three in boys' golf, two in dance and one in boys' soccer. Add to that six individual state champions, 18 combined Final Four finishes for teams and individuals, 19 district championships and seven conference titles.Girres simply hopes he can help keep LeBlond's momentum going."It's going to be hard to follow, because we've had a really good run these last couple of years," he said. "Really, what I have to do is empower these coaches and let them do what they do best, and that is motivate and get their kids to do the right thing and play the right way, and hopefully I can do that."LeBlond also announced Kimberly Huss will be the new principal, while David Lamble has been hired as assistant principal. Lamble had been a basketball and soccer coach at St. Pius X in Kansas City.Huss, meanwhile, has been a track and volleyball coach, as well as a science teacher at LeBlond since 2004.

Bishop LeBlond selects Mitch Girres as next athletic director

Missouri Western softball player and outgoing senior Emma Hoffart was granted a fifth year of eligibility due to COVID-19.

She never imagined that the extra year would include an endorsement deal with a national brand.

The NCAA announced on June 30 that all NCAA athletes are now able to profit off of their own name, image and likeness.

Degree Deodorant got involved,&nbsp;

introducing their #BreakingLimits team - a roster of "inspiring college athletes that push boundaries, move beyond their limits and inspire others."

Degree unveiled the #BreakingLimits roster Wednesday, and Hoffart was included on a list of 14 athletes from various different sports and schools across the nation.

"They did a really good job of encompassing the diversity they were wanting to achieve from this," Hoffart said of the #BreakingLimits team.

Hoffart first heard about Degree's #BreakingLimits campaign from a former Missouri Western baseball player, who had a friend at OpenDorse - a sports technology company that maximizes endorsement value for athletes and is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska.

When Hoffart first heard about it, she was sure that her involvement would be prohibited under longtime NCAA rules. Then, she saw the news on social media, and how athletes could now profit off of NIL.

She's now the first athlete in Missouri Western history to sign an endorsement deal.

"Honestly, there's no words to describe it," Hoffart said. "It still doesn't even feel real, because going into Division II athletics, you have a love for your sport and you want to play it well, but you never dream of being recognized for anything at that level. To be able to represent DII at a national level is pretty amazing to me. It's career changing. Life changing. It's a huge deal."

Hoffart says Division II and III athletes getting endorsement deals is especially important, since full-ride athletic scholarships are far less common at the lower level than they are in DI.

"There's a common misconception that every athlete is on a full ride, so they're getting their tuition paid for and that just isn't true," Hoffart explained. "Especially at the DII level. To be spending so much time and effort into your athletics, it takes away from your time to get a full-time job for example."

&nbsp;Each member of Degree's #BreakingLimits team has their own personal story about perseverance and breaking limits through the power of sport, according to the company.

In April, Hoffart <a href="https://www.outsports.com/2021/4/22/22394249/gay-college-softball-emma-hoffart-coming-out">wrote an article for OutSports.com</a> about her experience coming out as gay while growing up in suburban Omaha, how her family came to terms with it and how that's shaped her life.

Between that, and dealing with a hearing disability, OpenDorse and Degree stumbled upon Hoffart's story and signed her for a one-year endorsement deal, which will include the funding of local community projects, content partnerships, social media campaigns and more.

"Together with its student athlete partners, Degree will continue to roll out new initiatives and programming in the weeks and months ahead, focused on supporting those who face the biggest barriers to being active," the company said in a release.

Whether some reads her article on OutSports, or learns of her story through this campaign with Degree, Hoffart hopes that her journey can bring awareness, and deliver a sense of comfort and normalcy, especially to those younger athletes who are going through similar experiences.

"If I were that age and if I were to see something, or read something about someone older than me that I looked up to or admired, and they shared a story that's similar to mine, it would have brought me so much comfort in knowing that I'm not alone," she said. "Just making sure that maybe one day, it won't be that big of a deal to share that kind of a story."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625771886092.jpeg" alt="Emma Hoffart, a fifth-year senior and softball player at Missouri Western, talks about being a part of Degree's #BreakingLimits team - an endorsement deal for student-athletes who have had to overcome adversity. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Emma Hoffart, a fifth-year senior and softball player at Missouri Western, talks about being a part of Degree's #BreakingLimits team - an endorsement deal for student-athletes who have had to overcome adversity. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMissouri Western softball player and outgoing senior Emma Hoffart was granted a fifth year of eligibility due to COVID-19.She never imagined that the extra year would include an endorsement deal with a national brand.The NCAA announced on June 30 that all NCAA athletes are now able to profit off of their own name, image and likeness.Degree Deodorant got involved,&nbsp;

introducing their #BreakingLimits team - a roster of "inspiring college athletes that push boundaries, move beyond their limits and inspire others."Degree unveiled the #BreakingLimits roster Wednesday, and Hoffart was included on a list of 14 athletes from various different sports and schools across the nation."They did a really good job of encompassing the diversity they were wanting to achieve from this," Hoffart said of the #BreakingLimits team.Hoffart first heard about Degree's #BreakingLimits campaign from a former Missouri Western baseball player, who had a friend at OpenDorse - a sports technology company that maximizes endorsement value for athletes and is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska.When Hoffart first heard about it, she was sure that her involvement would be prohibited under longtime NCAA rules. Then, she saw the news on social media, and how athletes could now profit off of NIL.She's now the first athlete in Missouri Western history to sign an endorsement deal."Honestly, there's no words to describe it," Hoffart said. "It still doesn't even feel real, because going into Division II athletics, you have a love for your sport and you want to play it well, but you never dream of being recognized for anything at that level. To be able to represent DII at a national level is pretty amazing to me. It's career changing. Life changing. It's a huge deal."Hoffart says Division II and III athletes getting endorsement deals is especially important, since full-ride athletic scholarships are far less common at the lower level than they are in DI."There's a common misconception that every athlete is on a full ride, so they're getting their tuition paid for and that just isn't true," Hoffart explained. "Especially at the DII level. To be spending so much time and effort into your athletics, it takes away from your time to get a full-time job for example."&nbsp;Each member of Degree's #BreakingLimits team has their own personal story about perseverance and breaking limits through the power of sport, according to the company.In April, Hoffart <a href="https://www.outsports.com/2021/4/22/22394249/gay-college-softball-emma-hoffart-coming-out">wrote an article for OutSports.com</a> about her experience coming out as gay while growing up in suburban Omaha, how her family came to terms with it and how that's shaped her life.Between that, and dealing with a hearing disability, OpenDorse and Degree stumbled upon Hoffart's story and signed her for a one-year endorsement deal, which will include the funding of local community projects, content partnerships, social media campaigns and more."Together with its student athlete partners, Degree will continue to roll out new initiatives and programming in the weeks and months ahead, focused on supporting those who face the biggest barriers to being active," the company said in a release.Whether some reads her article on OutSports, or learns of her story through this campaign with Degree, Hoffart hopes that her journey can bring awareness, and deliver a sense of comfort and normalcy, especially to those younger athletes who are going through similar experiences."If I were that age and if I were to see something, or read something about someone older than me that I looked up to or admired, and they shared a story that's similar to mine, it would have brought me so much comfort in knowing that I'm not alone," she said. "Just making sure that maybe one day, it won't be that big of a deal to share that kind of a story."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625771819965.jpeg" alt="Emma Hoffart. Photo via Griffon Athletics." />
 <figcaption>Emma Hoffart. Photo via Griffon Athletics.</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">I’m so excited to be part of <a href="https://twitter.com/Degree?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Degree</a>’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingLimits?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreakingLimits</a> team! From coping with a hearing disability to the struggles of coming out as a lesbian, I’ve overcome great obstacles that pushed me beyond my limits. As a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DegreePartner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DegreePartner</a>, I look forward to sharing my full story with you. <a href="https://t.co/a2NPyuc9cy">pic.twitter.com/a2NPyuc9cy</a>&mdash; emma (@emma_hoffart) <a href="https://twitter.com/emma_hoffart/status/1412813596099293187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div><div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1084066003&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/tommy-rezac" title="KFEQ Radio, St. Joseph Post" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">KFEQ Radio, St. Joseph Post</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/tommy-rezac/missouri-western-softball-player-emma-hoffart" title="Missouri Western softball player Emma Hoffart" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Missouri Western softball player Emma Hoffart</a></div></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Emma Hoffart representing Missouri Western, DII athletes with endorsement deal

Ten St. Joseph Mustangs players will be in action Thursday at the MINK League All-Star Game and home run derby in Jefferson City.

The game starts at 7 p.m.&nbsp; at Ernie Vivion Stadium. Ten Mustangs made the North Team roster, and one player will take part in the home run derby at 5 p.m.

They include pitchers Will Hann, Drake Kanallakan and West Platte alum Mack Stephenson.

Infielders include Savannah alum Chase Spoonmore, Lafayette graduate Cole Slibowski and Sean O’Malley as a backup.

Outfielder selections include Mid-Buchanan alum Brady Holden, Sam Kissane and Lafayette graduate Ike Book. Book will also participate in the home run derby with seven other players.

In addition, Mustangs’ head coach Johnny Coy and his staff will coach the north team in the all-star game.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625763282409.png" alt="The 2021 St. Joseph Mustangs all-star selections." />
 <figcaption>The 2021 St. Joseph Mustangs all-star selections.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostTen St. Joseph Mustangs players will be in action Thursday at the MINK League All-Star Game and home run derby in Jefferson City.The game starts at 7 p.m.&nbsp; at Ernie Vivion Stadium. Ten Mustangs made the North Team roster, and one player will take part in the home run derby at 5 p.m.They include pitchers Will Hann, Drake Kanallakan and West Platte alum Mack Stephenson.Infielders include Savannah alum Chase Spoonmore, Lafayette graduate Cole Slibowski and Sean O’Malley as a backup.Outfielder selections include Mid-Buchanan alum Brady Holden, Sam Kissane and Lafayette graduate Ike Book. Book will also participate in the home run derby with seven other players.In addition, Mustangs’ head coach Johnny Coy and his staff will coach the north team in the all-star game.

Ten Mustangs, coach Johnny Coy partaking in MINK League All-Star game

It's late July 2019. The St. Joseph Mustangs have just defeated Ozark 16-10 for their sixth MINK League title as a franchise.

West Platte graduate and William Jewell pitcher Mack Stephenson told head coach Johnny Coy later that same night, "I want the ball next opening day."

One canceled season later, Coy honored that request.

"A week before the coronavirus canceled our season, I was told it was still my start," Stephenson said. "Then, two months before this season started, he texted me out of the blue and said, 'You're still my dude, so be ready to rock and roll.'"

Stephenson was indeed ready, throwing eight strikeouts over six innings and helping the Mustangs to a 5-4 win over the Des Moines Peak Prospects on June 2.

That was just the beginning. In five total starts this summer, Stephenson is 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA, throwing a team-best 51 strikeouts to just 16 walks. His last two starts have both been complete games, where he's thrown a combined 25 Ks and just three walks.

Stephenson's best outing of the season thus far came on July 4, where he fanned 14 batters and walked none in a 4-1 win over Sedalia. Playing in front of over 3,800 fans at home, the effort was enough to get Stephenson MINK League Pitcher of the Week honors.

"It definitely gives me an extra boost," Stephenson said of the home crowd at Phil Welch Stadium. "I'm a very nervous person by nature, and it's even worse on start days. I'm fidgety and ready to go, but I'm really excited in a good way when all of these people are out here. It definitely motivates you to go out there and leave a little extra in the tank."

A four-time All-State and All-Conference honoree at West Platte, Stephenson gained a fifth year of eligibility in 2021 at William Jewell, making five starts and striking out 34 batters over 28.1 innings.

Stephenson ended his college career with 198 total strikeouts, including a career-best 65 in 2019. Even in a COVID-shortened year in 2020, he led the Cardinals with a team-best 20 strikeouts.

When COVID canceled the MINK League season in 2020, that made Stephenson all the more excited to come back to St. Joseph this summer.

"I always knew I love baseball and I want to stick around as much as possible," he said. "It kind of reinstated the idea that I need to stick around the game somehow, some way. It made me so, so excited and happy to come back. I really enjoyed it out there the other night being a part of that and being a part of that atmosphere."

Now in his third and final season with the Mustangs, Stephenson is making the most of the opportunity. He's hopeful his efforts this summer, and in seasons past, will lead to another chapter in his baseball career.

"I hope someone is risky enough to sign me and give me a chance to play somewhere," Stephenson said, "because I'm not quite ready to hang it up just yet. But, if worse comes to worst, and this is the last go-round I have, I wanted it to be in a place where I thoroughly enjoy playing baseball."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625736532621.jpeg" alt="Mack Stephenson (left) pitches against Sedalia on July 4 at Phil Welch Stadium. Courtesy photo by Maddi Gerhardt." />
 <figcaption>Mack Stephenson (left) pitches against Sedalia on July 4 at Phil Welch Stadium. Courtesy photo by Maddi Gerhardt.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostIt's late July 2019. The St. Joseph Mustangs have just defeated Ozark 16-10 for their sixth MINK League title as a franchise.West Platte graduate and William Jewell pitcher Mack Stephenson told head coach Johnny Coy later that same night, "I want the ball next opening day."One canceled season later, Coy honored that request."A week before the coronavirus canceled our season, I was told it was still my start," Stephenson said. "Then, two months before this season started, he texted me out of the blue and said, 'You're still my dude, so be ready to rock and roll.'"Stephenson was indeed ready, throwing eight strikeouts over six innings and helping the Mustangs to a 5-4 win over the Des Moines Peak Prospects on June 2.That was just the beginning. In five total starts this summer, Stephenson is 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA, throwing a team-best 51 strikeouts to just 16 walks. His last two starts have both been complete games, where he's thrown a combined 25 Ks and just three walks.Stephenson's best outing of the season thus far came on July 4, where he fanned 14 batters and walked none in a 4-1 win over Sedalia. Playing in front of over 3,800 fans at home, the effort was enough to get Stephenson MINK League Pitcher of the Week honors."It definitely gives me an extra boost," Stephenson said of the home crowd at Phil Welch Stadium. "I'm a very nervous person by nature, and it's even worse on start days. I'm fidgety and ready to go, but I'm really excited in a good way when all of these people are out here. It definitely motivates you to go out there and leave a little extra in the tank."A four-time All-State and All-Conference honoree at West Platte, Stephenson gained a fifth year of eligibility in 2021 at William Jewell, making five starts and striking out 34 batters over 28.1 innings.Stephenson ended his college career with 198 total strikeouts, including a career-best 65 in 2019. Even in a COVID-shortened year in 2020, he led the Cardinals with a team-best 20 strikeouts.When COVID canceled the MINK League season in 2020, that made Stephenson all the more excited to come back to St. Joseph this summer."I always knew I love baseball and I want to stick around as much as possible," he said. "It kind of reinstated the idea that I need to stick around the game somehow, some way. It made me so, so excited and happy to come back. I really enjoyed it out there the other night being a part of that and being a part of that atmosphere."Now in his third and final season with the Mustangs, Stephenson is making the most of the opportunity. He's hopeful his efforts this summer, and in seasons past, will lead to another chapter in his baseball career."I hope someone is risky enough to sign me and give me a chance to play somewhere," Stephenson said, "because I'm not quite ready to hang it up just yet. But, if worse comes to worst, and this is the last go-round I have, I wanted it to be in a place where I thoroughly enjoy playing baseball."<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1083732808&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/tommy-rezac" title="KFEQ Radio, St. Joseph Post" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">KFEQ Radio, St. Joseph Post</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/tommy-rezac/st-joseph-mustangs-pitcher-west-platte-alum-mack-stephenson" title="St. Joseph Mustangs pitcher, West Platte alum Mack Stephenson" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">St. Joseph Mustangs pitcher, West Platte alum Mack Stephenson</a></div></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

West Platte alum Mack Stephenson leading the way on the mound for the Mustangs

Chiefs' training camp returns to St. Joseph three weeks from Wednesday, and tickets are now officially available for purchase.

Tickets went on sale beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Fans can buy up to four tickets per practice for three different practices by going to ChiefsKingdomRewards.com and logging in.

All tickets are mobile entry only. Nearly all training camp practices will be free to the public.

The Chiefs will host two free, exclusive Season Ticket Member Days that won't be open to the public. Those will be July 28th and August 10th. Parking will be free on both of those days.

Additional camp details will be communicated to ticket holders via email in the weeks leading up to training camp. All practices, except for the final day of camp, will begin at 9:15 a.m.

Weather and field conditions are evaluated daily. If practice is moved indoors, it will be closed to the general public and fans will be notified beforehand. All practices will be on the Mosaic Training Fields on the Missouri Western campus.

Training camp runs from July 28 - August 18. More information and a full practice schedule <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/bb4a2c34-f5db-45d5-aed6-162b76ab285b">can be found here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625684106747.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostChiefs' training camp returns to St. Joseph three weeks from Wednesday, and tickets are now officially available for purchase.Tickets went on sale beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning.Fans can buy up to four tickets per practice for three different practices by going to ChiefsKingdomRewards.com and logging in.All tickets are mobile entry only. Nearly all training camp practices will be free to the public.The Chiefs will host two free, exclusive Season Ticket Member Days that won't be open to the public. Those will be July 28th and August 10th. Parking will be free on both of those days.Additional camp details will be communicated to ticket holders via email in the weeks leading up to training camp. All practices, except for the final day of camp, will begin at 9:15 a.m.Weather and field conditions are evaluated daily. If practice is moved indoors, it will be closed to the general public and fans will be notified beforehand. All practices will be on the Mosaic Training Fields on the Missouri Western campus.Training camp runs from July 28 - August 18. More information and a full practice schedule <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/bb4a2c34-f5db-45d5-aed6-162b76ab285b">can be found here</a>.

Chiefs' training camp tickets go on sale starting Wednesday

The St. Joseph Mustangs are back home this weekend to play baseball, and also celebrate the 4th of July.

The Mustangs host rival Chillicothe on Saturday and then Clarinda on Sunday. Both games start at 7 p.m., and both will be followed by fireworks shows.

Mustangs manager Ky Turner says these are typically the most attended games of the season.

"Gates open at 5:30 and we're expecting big crowds for both of them," he said. "They're always two of our most attended games of the year, and pregame ticket sales are indicating that again this year."

The Mustangs typically have fireworks shows after their Saturday games, but Turner says they're always a little bigger on this holiday weekend.

"It's always a little bit extra special on those two days," he admitted. "Don't get me wrong, throughout the season, there's always some great fireworks. But July 3rd and 4th, there'll a little bit extra special, as they should be, following those two games."

In addition, active and retired members of the U.S. Military are receiving two free tickets on the party deck for both Saturday and Sunday's games.

"So, retired and active military, on the 3rd and the 4th, we're giving them two free tickets to our party deck with a hot dog buffet just as a way of saying thank you," Turner said. "We've seen quite a few people come in and grab those."

There'll also be skydivers parachuting onto the field before Saturday's game, and local military members will be honored before Saturday's game as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625248544359.jpeg" alt="The Mustangs' 4th of July t-shirt is available for purchase at the gift shop inside Phil Welch Stadium." />
 <figcaption>The Mustangs' 4th of July t-shirt is available for purchase at the gift shop inside Phil Welch Stadium.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs are back home this weekend to play baseball, and also celebrate the 4th of July.The Mustangs host rival Chillicothe on Saturday and then Clarinda on Sunday. Both games start at 7 p.m., and both will be followed by fireworks shows.Mustangs manager Ky Turner says these are typically the most attended games of the season."Gates open at 5:30 and we're expecting big crowds for both of them," he said. "They're always two of our most attended games of the year, and pregame ticket sales are indicating that again this year."The Mustangs typically have fireworks shows after their Saturday games, but Turner says they're always a little bigger on this holiday weekend."It's always a little bit extra special on those two days," he admitted. "Don't get me wrong, throughout the season, there's always some great fireworks. But July 3rd and 4th, there'll a little bit extra special, as they should be, following those two games."In addition, active and retired members of the U.S. Military are receiving two free tickets on the party deck for both Saturday and Sunday's games."So, retired and active military, on the 3rd and the 4th, we're giving them two free tickets to our party deck with a hot dog buffet just as a way of saying thank you," Turner said. "We've seen quite a few people come in and grab those."There'll also be skydivers parachuting onto the field before Saturday's game, and local military members will be honored before Saturday's game as well.

St. Joseph Mustangs ready to celebrate the 4th with thousands of fans

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez has been named to his seventh All-Star Game.

Perez will be the American League’s starting catcher for the sixth time in his career, receiving 62% of the votes among the finalists at the position during Phase 2 of All-Star balloting.

He will represent the Royals at the 91st All-Star Game, which is set for Tuesday, July 13 at Coors Field in Denver.

Perez’s seven All-Star Game selections (2013-18, 2021) are the second most in franchise history, behind only George Brett’s club-record 13.

 Salvy entered Thursday tied for sixth in the American League in home runs (19), eighth in total bases (159) and 10th in hits (87). Among big league catchers, Salvy tops the charts in hits, home runs, RBIs (48), extra-base hits (34) and total bases.

The remainder of the All-Star rosters, including pitchers and reserves, will be announced at 4:30 central on Sunday. during the All-Star Selection Show on ESPN.

Meanwhile Triple-A Omaha outfielder&nbsp;Bubba Starling was&nbsp;selected to the United States Olympic Team roster. Starling is one of 24 players selected to compete for Team USA in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The United States will open the tournament on Friday, July 30 vs. Israel.

The Team USA roster is comprised of 12 pitchers and 12 position players and will be managed by former Los Angeles Angels skipper&nbsp;Mike Scioscia. The squad will begin their pre-Olympic workouts on Thursday, July 16 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

Starling, a native of Gardner, Kansas, was the Royals’ first-round selection (5th&nbsp;overall) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft and made his Major League debut in 2019.

He’s played in 24 games with Omaha this season, slashing .271/.323/.612 (23-for-85) with six doubles, a triple, seven homers and 17 RBIs. His slugging percentage ranks eighth in Triple-A East among players with at least 90 plate appearances.

The right-handed hitter appeared in 35 games with Kansas City during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.&nbsp;

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">Seventh selection. Sixth start. Salvy is an All-Star once again!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherRoyal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherRoyal</a> <a href="https://t.co/AZAh1hOPr3">pic.twitter.com/AZAh1hOPr3</a>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1410768129316343809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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</div>St. Joseph PostKansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez has been named to his seventh All-Star Game.Perez will be the American League’s starting catcher for the sixth time in his career, receiving 62% of the votes among the finalists at the position during Phase 2 of All-Star balloting.He will represent the Royals at the 91st All-Star Game, which is set for Tuesday, July 13 at Coors Field in Denver.Perez’s seven All-Star Game selections (2013-18, 2021) are the second most in franchise history, behind only George Brett’s club-record 13. Salvy entered Thursday tied for sixth in the American League in home runs (19), eighth in total bases (159) and 10th in hits (87). Among big league catchers, Salvy tops the charts in hits, home runs, RBIs (48), extra-base hits (34) and total bases.The remainder of the All-Star rosters, including pitchers and reserves, will be announced at 4:30 central on Sunday. during the All-Star Selection Show on ESPN.Meanwhile Triple-A Omaha outfielder&nbsp;Bubba Starling was&nbsp;selected to the United States Olympic Team roster. Starling is one of 24 players selected to compete for Team USA in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The United States will open the tournament on Friday, July 30 vs. Israel.The Team USA roster is comprised of 12 pitchers and 12 position players and will be managed by former Los Angeles Angels skipper&nbsp;Mike Scioscia. The squad will begin their pre-Olympic workouts on Thursday, July 16 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.Starling, a native of Gardner, Kansas, was the Royals’ first-round selection (5th&nbsp;overall) in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft and made his Major League debut in 2019.He’s played in 24 games with Omaha this season, slashing .271/.323/.612 (23-for-85) with six doubles, a triple, seven homers and 17 RBIs. His slugging percentage ranks eighth in Triple-A East among players with at least 90 plate appearances.The right-handed hitter appeared in 35 games with Kansas City during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">Let&#39;s go, Bubba Starling!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForGlory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForGlory</a> // <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tokyo2020</a> <a href="https://t.co/1E9TVzOgh9">https://t.co/1E9TVzOgh9</a>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1410992753438298112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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</div>

Salvador Perez named to seventh All-Star game, Bubba Starling makes Olympic team

Lafayette High School in St. Joseph announced a flurry of new high school coaching hires Wednesday, including new head football coach Ryan Shroyer.

A Lafayette graduate and former Irish football player, Shroyer takes over for Eric McDowell, who is taking an assistant coaching and teaching job at Platte County.

"To be able to come back home and be the head coach of where it all started for me and where I fell in love with the game is just a feeling like no other," Shroyer told The Post. "I coached here at Lafayette as an assistant from 2012-2018, so that's where my coaching got started."

Shroyer was an assistant under McDowell, and was on staff with him during part of Paul Woolard's run as head coach.

"He was a good mentor to me," Shroyer said of McDowell. "He taught me a lot. When he was defensive coordinator, I was his linebackers' coach, so we worked very closely together. He was able to teach me a lot about box play and defensive line play and run fits and all of that."

Woolard, along with another former Irish head football coach Bart Hardy, are both assistant principals at Lafayette. Shroyer said that played a huge role in his decision to come back.

"Being able to come here with two assistant principals that are awesome coaches and they've been there and they get it," Shroyer said. "It's a great situation to be in. So, I'm just super happy. Super excited."

Shroyer comes back after a short stint at Polo as an assistant coach under Kyle Ross.&nbsp;

"He taught me a lot," Shroyer said of Ross. "He was an outstanding boss and friend and mentor. Really going to miss him, his family and the kids there. Also had some really good friends, and it was tough leaving them. But, they're only an hour away and you can bet I'll be back to visit and hang out with them."

After McDowell announced his departure, Lafayette reached out to Shroyer, asking if the head football coach position was of interest to him.

"The only thing I would regret is not trying," he said. "The opportunity to be able to come back and be the head coach of a Class 4 football program that's had great tradition and so many coaches and players have worked so hard to build...almost too good to be true. It was non-negotiable. I'd be an idiot not to pursue an opportunity like that."

Shroyer inherits a program that went a combined 16-14 from 2018-2020, including a 4-6 record last fall.

He was also part of a coaching staff that guided Lafayette to three consecutive winning seasons from 2012-2014, and three more from 2016-2018.

With a month-and-a-half to go before the 2021 season, Shroyer is encouraged by what he has to work with, especially the senior class.

"They do a great job," Shroyer said, "and they really, really want to win. They want to be held accountable, and they want to lead. I'm really trying to empower the seniors specifically to lead the team."

After the city jamboree on August 20, the Irish kick off the season the following Friday at Carnahan. They also have away games at Atchison KS, Benton, Central, Chillicothe and Maryville. The Irish have home matchups with MEC rivals Savannah, Cameron and St. Pius X.

Shroyer can't guarantee what Lafayette's record will be in his inaugural season.

"But, I'm going to bring the energy and expectations every day," he said. "We're going to work hard, compete and have fun. We're going to take pride in the school and the program. We're going to leave the weight room clean and take care of our stuff, because this is really good stuff. We need to be proud of our school and of our program."

Lafayette also announced the additions of Jason Guthrey, Tyler Meinert, Clint Spencer and Austin Shanks as assistant football coaches.

The school also hired Robin Shaon as the new head cross country coach, Derrick Williams as an assistant boys' basketball coach and Halle Norris as an assistant volleyball coach.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625161457648.jpeg" alt="Courtesy @LHSIrish on Twitter." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy @LHSIrish on Twitter.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostLafayette High School in St. Joseph announced a flurry of new high school coaching hires Wednesday, including new head football coach Ryan Shroyer.A Lafayette graduate and former Irish football player, Shroyer takes over for Eric McDowell, who is taking an assistant coaching and teaching job at Platte County."To be able to come back home and be the head coach of where it all started for me and where I fell in love with the game is just a feeling like no other," Shroyer told The Post. "I coached here at Lafayette as an assistant from 2012-2018, so that's where my coaching got started."Shroyer was an assistant under McDowell, and was on staff with him during part of Paul Woolard's run as head coach."He was a good mentor to me," Shroyer said of McDowell. "He taught me a lot. When he was defensive coordinator, I was his linebackers' coach, so we worked very closely together. He was able to teach me a lot about box play and defensive line play and run fits and all of that."Woolard, along with another former Irish head football coach Bart Hardy, are both assistant principals at Lafayette. Shroyer said that played a huge role in his decision to come back."Being able to come here with two assistant principals that are awesome coaches and they've been there and they get it," Shroyer said. "It's a great situation to be in. So, I'm just super happy. Super excited."Shroyer comes back after a short stint at Polo as an assistant coach under Kyle Ross.&nbsp;"He taught me a lot," Shroyer said of Ross. "He was an outstanding boss and friend and mentor. Really going to miss him, his family and the kids there. Also had some really good friends, and it was tough leaving them. But, they're only an hour away and you can bet I'll be back to visit and hang out with them."After McDowell announced his departure, Lafayette reached out to Shroyer, asking if the head football coach position was of interest to him.For Shroyer, it was a no-brainer."The only thing I would regret is not trying," he said. "The opportunity to be able to come back and be the head coach of a Class 4 football program that's had great tradition and so many coaches and players have worked so hard to build...almost too good to be true. It was non-negotiable. I'd be an idiot not to pursue an opportunity like that."Shroyer inherits a program that went a combined 16-14 from 2018-2020, including a 4-6 record last fall.He was also part of a coaching staff that guided Lafayette to three consecutive winning seasons from 2012-2014, and three more from 2016-2018.With a month-and-a-half to go before the 2021 season, Shroyer is encouraged by what he has to work with, especially the senior class."They do a great job," Shroyer said, "and they really, really want to win. They want to be held accountable, and they want to lead. I'm really trying to empower the seniors specifically to lead the team."After the city jamboree on August 20, the Irish kick off the season the following Friday at Carnahan. They also have away games at Atchison KS, Benton, Central, Chillicothe and Maryville. The Irish have home matchups with MEC rivals Savannah, Cameron and St. Pius X.Shroyer can't guarantee what Lafayette's record will be in his inaugural season."But, I'm going to bring the energy and expectations every day," he said. "We're going to work hard, compete and have fun. We're going to take pride in the school and the program. We're going to leave the weight room clean and take care of our stuff, because this is really good stuff. We need to be proud of our school and of our program."Additional Lafayette hiresLafayette also announced the additions of Jason Guthrey, Tyler Meinert, Clint Spencer and Austin Shanks as assistant football coaches.The school also hired Robin Shaon as the new head cross country coach, Derrick Williams as an assistant boys' basketball coach and Halle Norris as an assistant volleyball coach.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">Irish Nation Please help welcome these coaches to the Athletic Department for the 21-22 season Robin Shaon - Head Cross Country Derrick Williams - Asst. Boys Basketball Halle Norris - Asst. Volleyball<a href="https://twitter.com/KQ2SPORTS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KQ2SPORTS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SJNPSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SJNPSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisRroush?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chrisRroush</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyKFEQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TommyKFEQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/zLHM3P3Bmm">pic.twitter.com/zLHM3P3Bmm</a>&mdash; LHS - AD (@IrishActivities) <a href="https://twitter.com/IrishActivities/status/1410237072217022469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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</div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">Irish Nation Please help welcome these coaches to the <a href="https://twitter.com/LHSIrishFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LHSIrishFB</a> staff for the 21-22 season. Ryan Shroyer - Head Coach Jason Guthery - Asst. Coach Tyler Meinert - Asst. Coach Clint Spencer - Asst. Coach Austin Shanks - Asst. Coach<a href="https://twitter.com/KQ2SPORTS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KQ2SPORTS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SJNPSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SJNPSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisRroush?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chrisRroush</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyKFEQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TommyKFEQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/KwVkPdLPla">pic.twitter.com/KwVkPdLPla</a>&mdash; LHS - AD (@IrishActivities) <a href="https://twitter.com/IrishActivities/status/1410236612567437313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
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</div><div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1079677399&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/tommy-rezac" title="KFEQ Radio, St. Joseph Post" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">KFEQ Radio, St. Joseph Post</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/tommy-rezac/new-lafayette-head-football-coach-ryan-shroyer" title="New Lafayette head football coach Ryan Shroyer" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">New Lafayette head football coach Ryan Shroyer</a></div></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Ryan Shroyer right at home as Lafayette's new head football coach

DALLAS (AP) — The NCAA Board of Directors approved one of the biggest changes in the history of college athletics Wednesday, clearing the way for nearly a half-million athletes to start earning money based on their fame and celebrity without fear of endangering their eligibility or putting their school in jeopardy of violating amateurism rules that have stood for decades.

The decision, expected for months as state after state passed laws intended to render NCAA rules moot on the topic, came on the eve of the market opening Thursday for athletes in a dozen states, including giants like Texas and Florida.

“This decision by the NCAA to adopt interim rules to allow college athletes to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness is a step in the right direction as states begin enacting their own student athlete compensation laws," said Kansas Senator Jerry Moran. 

"However, this is not a long-term solution and further demonstrates that Congress must act to establish a consistent, federal standard on NIL. Creating a level playing field regarding student athlete protection and compensation through federal legislation will empower amateur athletes while maintaining the integrity of college sports that we all know and love.”

In February, Sen. Moran introduced the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2021/2/sen-moran-introduces-bill-to-establish-a-federal-standard-for-student-athletes-to-receive-compensation-for-their-name-image-and-likeness" target="_blank">Amateur Athletes Protection and Compensation Act of 2021</a>&nbsp;to establish a consistent, federal standard to allow student athletes greater control of their NIL.

“This is an important day for college athletes since they all are now able to take advantage of name, image and likeness opportunities,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said.

The decision effectively suspends NCAA restrictions on payments to athletes for things such as sponsorship deals, online endorsements and personal appearances. it applies to all three divisions or some 460,000 athletes.

The NCAA will also allow athletes to enter into agreements with agents, though all athletes are expected to keep their school informed of any and all NIL arrangements. The NCAA said schools are responsible “for determining whether those activities are consistent with state law.”

The NCAA had hoped to have broad NIL rules in place months ago, but that process bogged down, as did efforts on Capitol Hill to have Congress pass a law addressing the issue. Emmert said the NCAA will continue to push for a federal law to “provide clarity on a national level.”

The NCAA was forced to seek a temporary solution rather than have athletes in some states eligible for compensation while others were not.&nbsp;<a href="https://businessofcollegesports.com/tracker-name-image-and-likeness-legislation-by-state/" target="_blank">More than 10 states have laws set to go into effect</a>&nbsp;Thursday that would have undercut or simply declared inert existing NCAA rules regarding NIL earnings.

Without NCAA action, athletes in some states could be making money without putting their college eligibility in jeopardy while their counterparts in other states could be in danger of breaking NCAA rules.

The NCAA’s stopgap measure comes less than two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the association in a case involving education-related benefits. That 9-0 ruling is expected to impact issues related to compensation for athletes.

While the NCAA has been fighting court battles and debating rules for compensation for years, the sudden pivot is jarring, if not perfectly clear on how it will affect recruiting and competitive balance.

For now, the NCAA has largely left the issue in the hands of more than 1,100 member schools.

“The current environment — both legal and legislative — prevents us from providing a more permanent solution and the level of detail student-athletes deserve,” Emmert said.

In a letter to member schools last week, Emmert stressed the high court still puts authority to govern college sports in the hands of the association. However, he warned schools that “existing and new rules are subject to antitrust analysis and we should expect continued litigation., particularly in the area of ‘play for pay.’”

The NCAA said the temporary policy addresses “play for pay” and the continued ban on improper inducements tied to choosing a school.

“The new policy preserves the fact college sports are not pay-for-play,” said Division II Presidents Council chair Sandra Jordan, chancellor at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. “It also reinforces key principles of fairness and integrity across the NCAA and maintains rules prohibiting improper recruiting inducements.”

DALLAS (AP) — The NCAA Board of Directors approved one of the biggest changes in the history of college athletics Wednesday, clearing the way for nearly a half-million athletes to start earning money based on their fame and celebrity without fear of endangering their eligibility or putting their school in jeopardy of violating amateurism rules that have stood for decades.The decision, expected for months as state after state passed laws intended to render NCAA rules moot on the topic, came on the eve of the market opening Thursday for athletes in a dozen states, including giants like Texas and Florida.“This decision by the NCAA to adopt interim rules to allow college athletes to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness is a step in the right direction as states begin enacting their own student athlete compensation laws," said Kansas Senator Jerry Moran. "However, this is not a long-term solution and further demonstrates that Congress must act to establish a consistent, federal standard on NIL. Creating a level playing field regarding student athlete protection and compensation through federal legislation will empower amateur athletes while maintaining the integrity of college sports that we all know and love.”In February, Sen. Moran introduced the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2021/2/sen-moran-introduces-bill-to-establish-a-federal-standard-for-student-athletes-to-receive-compensation-for-their-name-image-and-likeness" target="_blank">Amateur Athletes Protection and Compensation Act of 2021</a>&nbsp;to establish a consistent, federal standard to allow student athletes greater control of their NIL.“This is an important day for college athletes since they all are now able to take advantage of name, image and likeness opportunities,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said.The decision effectively suspends NCAA restrictions on payments to athletes for things such as sponsorship deals, online endorsements and personal appearances. it applies to all three divisions or some 460,000 athletes.The NCAA will also allow athletes to enter into agreements with agents, though all athletes are expected to keep their school informed of any and all NIL arrangements. The NCAA said schools are responsible “for determining whether those activities are consistent with state law.”The NCAA had hoped to have broad NIL rules in place months ago, but that process bogged down, as did efforts on Capitol Hill to have Congress pass a law addressing the issue. Emmert said the NCAA will continue to push for a federal law to “provide clarity on a national level.”The NCAA was forced to seek a temporary solution rather than have athletes in some states eligible for compensation while others were not.&nbsp;<a href="https://businessofcollegesports.com/tracker-name-image-and-likeness-legislation-by-state/" target="_blank">More than 10 states have laws set to go into effect</a>&nbsp;Thursday that would have undercut or simply declared inert existing NCAA rules regarding NIL earnings.Without NCAA action, athletes in some states could be making money without putting their college eligibility in jeopardy while their counterparts in other states could be in danger of breaking NCAA rules.The NCAA’s stopgap measure comes less than two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the association in a case involving education-related benefits. That 9-0 ruling is expected to impact issues related to compensation for athletes.While the NCAA has been fighting court battles and debating rules for compensation for years, the sudden pivot is jarring, if not perfectly clear on how it will affect recruiting and competitive balance.For now, the NCAA has largely left the issue in the hands of more than 1,100 member schools.“The current environment — both legal and legislative — prevents us from providing a more permanent solution and the level of detail student-athletes deserve,” Emmert said.In a letter to member schools last week, Emmert stressed the high court still puts authority to govern college sports in the hands of the association. However, he warned schools that “existing and new rules are subject to antitrust analysis and we should expect continued litigation., particularly in the area of ‘play for pay.’”The NCAA said the temporary policy addresses “play for pay” and the continued ban on improper inducements tied to choosing a school.“The new policy preserves the fact college sports are not pay-for-play,” said Division II Presidents Council chair Sandra Jordan, chancellor at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. “It also reinforces key principles of fairness and integrity across the NCAA and maintains rules prohibiting improper recruiting inducements.”___

History: NCAA clears way for student athlete compensation

The St. Joseph Mustangs scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and defeat the Jefferson City Renegades 13-1 Wednesday afternoon in a game that was played in Clarinda, Iowa due to poor field conditions.

The Mustangs tacked on seven more runs in the top of the seventh to pull away. The game was only seven innings long, because Jeff City and Clarinda played after the Mustangs' game.

Lafayette alum Cole Slibowski went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double. Savannah alum Noah Bodenhausen and Mid-Buchanan graduate Brady Holden each had three hits, while Lafayette alum Ike Book had two hits to help the Mustangs improve to 12-8 overall with their third straight win.

 Savannah alum Micah Diamond got the win on the mound Wednesday, striking out eight and walking only two. He allowed just one earned run on three hits.

The Mustangs will play rival Chillicothe on the road Thursday at 7 p.m.

St. Joseph has also announced makeup dates for the games that have been recently rained out. Last Thursday’s game against Clarinda has been rescheduled to July 22 and will now be part of a doubleheader, which starts at 5:30 p.m.

Last Friday’s game against Nevada has been rescheduled to July 19 and will start at 7 p.m. Tickets from last Thursday and Friday’s games can be redeemed for any future Mustangs game this season.

The Mustangs also postponed Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Des Moines Peak Prospects due to rain and unsafe field conditions. That doubleheader has been rescheduled to July 13.

St. Joseph is at Clarinda Friday, and comes home to face Chillicothe on Saturday at 7 p.m. That game will be followed by a fireworks spectacular. The Mustangs also host Sedalia on Sunday at 7 as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622229798263.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and defeat the Jefferson City Renegades 13-1 Wednesday afternoon in a game that was played in Clarinda, Iowa due to poor field conditions.The Mustangs tacked on seven more runs in the top of the seventh to pull away. The game was only seven innings long, because Jeff City and Clarinda played after the Mustangs' game.Lafayette alum Cole Slibowski went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double. Savannah alum Noah Bodenhausen and Mid-Buchanan graduate Brady Holden each had three hits, while Lafayette alum Ike Book had two hits to help the Mustangs improve to 12-8 overall with their third straight win. Savannah alum Micah Diamond got the win on the mound Wednesday, striking out eight and walking only two. He allowed just one earned run on three hits.The Mustangs will play rival Chillicothe on the road Thursday at 7 p.m.St. Joseph has also announced makeup dates for the games that have been recently rained out. Last Thursday’s game against Clarinda has been rescheduled to July 22 and will now be part of a doubleheader, which starts at 5:30 p.m.Last Friday’s game against Nevada has been rescheduled to July 19 and will start at 7 p.m. Tickets from last Thursday and Friday’s games can be redeemed for any future Mustangs game this season.The Mustangs also postponed Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Des Moines Peak Prospects due to rain and unsafe field conditions. That doubleheader has been rescheduled to July 13.St. Joseph is at Clarinda Friday, and comes home to face Chillicothe on Saturday at 7 p.m. That game will be followed by a fireworks spectacular. The Mustangs also host Sedalia on Sunday at 7 as well.

Mustangs defeat Jeff City Wednesday, rained out games rescheduled

Michael Evans walks away after five years as Bishop LeBlond's athletic director feeling nostalgic, but confident.

Confident that Eagle athletics are on solid ground moving forward.

"I am leaving on great terms with Bishop LeBlond," Evans said, as his resignation was made public on social media Wednesday. "I am a supporter 100 percent. I'll pry be at more athletic events than I think I will be at. I support all of the coaches and players. You know, so I'll definitely be around and definitely be present in the Catholic community and definitely Bishop LeBlond."

Evans is getting out of athletics and education to pursue a business opportunity with Cintas Uniform Services in St. Joseph.

Having welcomed his fourth child about six months ago, and with his older children now playing sports of their own, Evans didn't want to miss out on those moments.

"You know, there's nothing like your kids," he said. "You're never going to get that time back. I was really missing out on that, and that was starting to wear on me. That was really when it started to fester that maybe it's time to change career paths."

Evans leaves LeBlond on a high note, as he oversaw one of the best five-year periods in school history from an athletic standpoint.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1625077953851.png" alt="Michael Evans celebrates his final day as athletic director at Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph. Photo courtesy of Becky Evans." />
 <figcaption>Michael Evans celebrates his final day as athletic director at Bishop LeBlond High School in St. Joseph. Photo courtesy of Becky Evans.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMichael Evans walks away after five years as Bishop LeBlond's athletic director feeling nostalgic, but confident.Confident that Eagle athletics are on solid ground moving forward."I am leaving on great terms with Bishop LeBlond," Evans said, as his resignation was made public on social media Wednesday. "I am a supporter 100 percent. I'll pry be at more athletic events than I think I will be at. I support all of the coaches and players. You know, so I'll definitely be around and definitely be present in the Catholic community and definitely Bishop LeBlond."Evans is getting out of athletics and education to pursue a business opportunity with Cintas Uniform Services in St. Joseph.Having welcomed his fourth child about six months ago, and with his older children now playing sports of their own, Evans didn't want to miss out on those moments."You know, there's nothing like your kids," he said. "You're never going to get that time back. I was really missing out on that, and that was starting to wear on me. That was really when it started to fester that maybe it's time to change career paths."Evans leaves LeBlond on a high note, as he oversaw one of the best five-year periods in school history from an athletic standpoint.The Eagles won six state titles from 2017-2021, including three in boys' golf, two in dance and one in boys' soccer. Add to that six individual state champions, 18 combined Final Four finishes for teams and individuals, 19 district championships and seven conference titles."At the end of the day, it just goes back to those coaches and players," Evans said. "They're the ones who truly went out there and did it and went out there and won all of those games and won all of those titles. I was just happy to be a part of it and do my part to hopefully build that culture."Walking away from something so successful is never an easy decision, and this one weighed on Evans for at least a few months.There are things he'll miss, but Evans looks forward to more time at home, more time at his kids' games and more time as just a spectator at a LeBlond games - still cheering on his Eagle family."You know, it really is a family," he said. "Whether that be alumni or current students or parents or just supporters, we really are a family. It's a smaller school."<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1079033563&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/tommy-rezac" title="KFEQ Radio, St. Joseph Post" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">KFEQ Radio, St. Joseph Post</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/tommy-rezac/former-leblond-athletic-director-bishop-leblond-steps-down-after-five-years" title="Former LeBlond athletic director Bishop LeBlond steps down after five years" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Former LeBlond athletic director Bishop LeBlond steps down after five years</a></div></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.