After an uncharacteristic season, the Coffeyville Red Ravens look to rebound in the 2024-25 football year. CCC is tied for 5^th place in this year's preseason KJCCC rankings.

 1st year head coach Nick Dobler, who spent the last four seasons as defensive coordinator, has a brand new coaching staff, as Associate Head Coach Rico Cherico is only returning staff member.

 Offensively, although running the ball will still be a priority, there will be a couple of new faces behind center.

 Much like the offense, who only has on returning starter, the defense returns one starter as well.

 Dobler says even with new names and new leaders in place, some things never change.

 CCC looks to improve from a 3-7 record last season. They'll take on Kansas Wesleyan JV August 29^th.

 The Kansas City Royals bolstered their bullpen and bench in a couple of trade deadlines moves this afternoon, picking up right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg from the A's and shortstop/third baseman Paul DeJong from the Chicago White Sox.

 The 29-year old Erceg  has a 3.68 ERA in 36 2/3 innings this season with the A’s, with 41 strikeouts and 13 walks. He will not be a free agent until 2030.

 For Erceg, the A’s will receive right-handers Will Klein and Mason Barnett and outfielder Jared Dickey. Barnett has a 4.91 ERA in 19 appearances with Double-A Northwest Arkansas this season. Klein is a reliever currently with the team in Chicago, while Dickey was the Royals’ 11th-round Draft pick in 2023 and was due for a jump onto MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Prospects rankings this season.

 Erceg, who has been filling in for closer Mason Miller,  gives Kansas City a power arm in the bullpen, averaging 98.4 mph on his fastball and generating a ton of swings and misses with his slider and changeup.

 DeJong will be a power bat off the bench, who can spell the left side of the infield. DeJong has 18 home runs this season,  with a .228 batting average. He’s played the majority of games at shortstop for the White Sox this year but also logged 88 2/3 innings at third base.

 For DeJong, the White Sox will receive minor league reliever Jarold Rosado, who has a 1.85 ERA in 27 games for Single-A Columbia this season. 

 KGGF's look at the preseason football rankings continue today with a preview of the Independence Pirates.

 ICC 2nd year head coach Keith Donerson looks to improve his team's record; they were 2-8 last season. The Pirates will have familiar names returning in their coaching staff.

 ICC only has eight total returning players from last year's team, including DB Radarious Hardy.

 Donerson says competition for roster sports is still going on.

 ICC opens their season August 24th at Trinity Valley.

 Tomorrow, we'll continue our preview of KJCCC football and find out who is tied for 5th place in the preseason football rankings with the Pirates.

 Bobby Witt Jr. had four hits, including a grand slam in a six-run eighth inning, as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-5 last night.

 It was Witt's 19th home run of the season; his third career grand slam. Witt also singled twice and doubled; he is hitting .545 during his 11 game hit streak. The White Sox, however, are on a major league leading 15th straight loss.

 KC was down 5-2 entering the eighth, but Hunter Renfroe and MJ Melendez hit back-to-back home runs, Adam Frazier was hit by a pitch and Michael Massey walked, then Witt hit the go ahead homer.

 The Royals are 58-49 and remain in great position for the final AL Wild Card spot.

 The two teams face off again tonight. Michael Wacha, who is 7-6 with a 3.65 ERA will take the mound for the Royals. They'll face White Sox rookie Jonathan Cannon, who is 1-5 with a 4.43 ERA. Pregame starts at 6:30, with first pitch at 7:10 on the Mighty 690, KGGF.

 Looking to add pitching depth to the team, the Kansas City Royals have traded for Michael Lorenzen from the Texas Rangers for left handed pitcher Walter Pennington.

 So far this season, Lorenzen has a 5-6 record with a 3.81 ERA. He also has 75 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.28.

 Lorenzen was an expendable piece of the Rangers rotation, with Max Scherzer, Dane Dunning, Tyler Mahle and Jacob deGrom all scheduled to return to their rotation in the near future. Lorenzen was only signed by the Rangers to a one-year contract, so he will be a free agent after this season.

 It is unknown at this time whether the 32-year old Lorenzen will be a starter or a relief pitcher.

 The Kansas City Royals fell to the Chicago Cubs yesterday 7-3. Starter Cole Ragans, who fell to 7-7 on the season, allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings. Pete Crow-Armstrong, who came into the game hitting .183 for the Cubs, was 3 for 4 with a run and the go-ahead RBI.

 The Royals fall to 57-49 on the season, 6 ½ games out of first place, and two games behind Minnesota for 2nd place in the A-L Central.

 Off the field, Royals OF MJ Melendez is off the 10-day injured list. He had been on the IL since July 15 with a sprained left ankle. To make room for Melendez, the Royals sent outfielder Drew Waters back to Triple-A Omaha.

 The Royals travel to Chicago for a three-game series with the White Sox. Alec Marsh will take the mound for the Blue Boys. He's 7-7 with a 4.75 ERA. They'll face the White Sox Chris Flexen, who is 2-10 with a 5.25 ERA.

 Pregame begins at 6:30, with first pitch at 7:10 on the Mighty 690, KGGF.

 With the start of the college football season basically a month away, KGGF Sports begins our look at the upcoming season for the teams of the KJCCC.

 During the KJCCC Media Day last Friday, the official pre-season rankings were released. We begin with the Number seven seed Dodge City Conquistadors, who received 14 pre-season points.

 1st year head coach Ryan Lusby, who was the offensive coordinator at Texas Permian-Basin, says he's excited to be a part of the Jayhawk.
 The Conquistadors were 8-3 last season, but are returning many of the defensive staff. The Conquistadors were the 7th ranked defense in nation last year. Lusby says they will be relying heavily on the returning members of the team this season.

 The Dodge City Conquistadors, ranked 7th in the latest preseason poll will open season August 29th against Tyler, Texas.

The 2024 Olympics begin this weekend in Paris, but the drama began a few days early.

Canada women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman has been removed from the team, over a scandal involving the use of drones to spy on practices of opposing teams.

Former USA soccer star Ali Krieger says this puts a dark cloud over the sport before one of the biggest events in the world.

Canada opened the Olympic tournament with a 2-1 win over New Zealand yesterday. The team is ranked 8th in the world, behind teams such as Spain, France, England, Germany, and the USA.

History was made for the San Diego Padres yesterday, as Dylan Cease completed one of the rarest feats in the sport.

The right-handed pitcher threw the second no-hitter in the history of the organization, and the second no-hitter of the 2024 MLB season.

Here's how the final out sounded on the Padres broadcast.

Cease has been historic in his past three starts, allowing just two hits and no runs in 22 innings pitched, striking out 30 total hitters.

Overall, in his first season with the Padres, Cease is 10-8 with a 3.50 earned run average and 168 strikeouts.

The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference released the All-Academic awards for the 2023-24 athletic year, with the Red Ravens near the top of the league.

Over 1500 athletes were awarded across the 21 conference schools. To qualify, student-athletes had to finish the academic year with at least a 3.5 GPA.

Baseball, softball, volleyball, and men's and women's soccer were the five different sports with at least 100 athletes earning the award.

Barton, Coffeyville, Dodge City, and Cowley were the four schools to have 100 student-athletes recognized. Barton finished with a conference best 146 total recepients, while Coffeyville finished second with 107 athletes.

Of the 25 conference sponsored sports, 16 sports finished with cummulative GPAs over 3.0.

Fall camp begins for Red Raven football in less than two weeks, and the team is hard at work to hit the ground running.

The players have been conditioning and continuing to work out at home during the month away from campus. Head coach Nick Dobler says it's important for the entire group to meet expectations.

CCC is looking to improve upon a difficult 3-7 season in 2023. Dobler says the players and coaches have to live up to the tradition of Raven football.

The Ravens will have few sophomore returners on this year's roster, with a majority of the talent entering the program for the first time. Dobler says the sophomores the team does have will need to step up.

Coffeyville currently has the No. 2 ranked transfer portal class in the entire NJCAA, and best in the Jayhawk conference, according to athlinkd.net. The Ravens report to campus on August 3rd, and have a scrimmage on August 29th, in preparation for the season opener on September 7th.

A signal caller with experience in the Big 12 will soon be suiting up for Emporia State.

Gunnar Gundy has officially transfered to Emporia State, following three seasons playing for his father at Oklahoma State.

Gundy redshirted during his freshman season, and played in four games in each of the last two seasons. During his time with the Cowboys, he completed 55 percent of his passes, with five total touchdowns and four interceptions.

Gundy transfered to Ohio earlier in the offseason, but re-entered the transfer portal after just a week on campus.

He will compete with fellow transfer Daron Bryden and backup Chase Ricke for the Hornets' QB1 job.

An Independence Community College women's basketball star is off to Division 1.

Guard Serenity Echols will continue her career at Mississippi Valley State University, after being a key piece of the Pirates over the past two seasons.

Former ICC head coach Rob Beckmann says he had a hometown connection with Echols.

Echols started in 52 of her 53 career games with the Pirates, and improved in nearly ever area of her game in her sophomore season, with her scoring, rebounding, and efficiency all improving.

Beckmann says, however, her leadership may have been what improved the most.

Echols had interest from multiple programs at the D1 level, including additional programs at the D2 level. Beckmann says she brings special intangibles to a team that can't be coached.

Echols joins teammate Sabrina Larsson as Pirates to move to Division 1 this offseason.

The Royals came out of the All-Star break red hot, sweeping the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.

Seth Lugo picked up his 12th win of the season, becoming the first Royals pitcher to go a full nine innings while allowing one run or less since 2020.

He says he's always looking to go the distance.

Lugo followed outstanding performances by Michael Wacha and Brady Singer in the series sweep. He says he was hoping to build off of the momentum.

Kansas City is 55-45 on the season, and hold the final playoff spot in the American League. They begin a series tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with coverage beginning at 6:30 on the Mighty 690, KGGF.

The opening kickoff to the 2024 football season is just around the corner, with the KJCCC having Media Day later this week.

The annual event will be held Friday, July 26th, at Riverfront Stadium in downtown Wichita. Head coaches from all seven Jayhawk conference teams will be present, with each coach speaking about their team for the upcoming season, as well as being available for questions.

The Jayhawk features multiple new faces at the head coach ranks this season, with Coffeyville's Nick Dobler, Garden City's Kiyoshi Harris, and Dodge City's Ryan Lusby all embarking on their first seasons as head coach at each respective program.

The conference will also release the official preseason projected order of finish on Friday. If unable to attend, Media Day can be streamed on the KJCCC Sports Network.

A college football coach with Coffeyville ties is preparing for his first season in the Big 12.

Willie Fritz was named the 16th Head Coach of the Houston Cougars in December, looking to guide Houston towards the top of one of the nation's elite conferences.

Fritz says every program has a different set of specific strengths.

Fritz served as the Coffeyville defensive coordinator from 1987 to 1990, and recently spoke as the commencement speaker at the 2024 graduation ceremony.

He says he's excited to return to Kansas during the football season.

Fritz won two Coach of the Year awards at Tulane, leading a rebuild of the Green Wave to one of the nation's top Group of 5 teams. He says he's looking to utilize the local talent across Texas.

Fritz and the Cougars begin the 2024 season against UNLV on August 31st.

A Division II football star has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Former Slippery Rock University star receiver Kyle Sheets has officially agreed to a deal with the back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

Sheets was a first-team All-American last season at SRU, compiling 76 catches for nearly 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns. The 17 scores ranked Top 10 across all college football divisions.

Sheets is a two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athleteic Conference first-teamer. He ranks fourth in school history in receiving yards with nearly 2,500, and third in school history in touchdowns with 29.

The Chiefs are looking to replace the losses of Mecole Hardman and Marques Valdez-Scantling, adding Hollywood Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy. The team is also still awaiting a potential Rashee Rice suspension.

A former Kansas State football coach is heading to a conference rival.

Sean Snyder, the son of legendary Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder, has agreed to a deal to join the Oklahoma State coaching staff.

Snyder most recently served as a special assistant at Kansas under head coach Lance Leipold. He coached on the Wildcat coaching staff for 25 years from 1994 to 2019, before departing for USC and later Illinois.

Snyder played for his father at Kansas State from 1990 until 1992, and is also the founder and owner of a private kicking business, Snyder Kicking.

Synder will serve as the punting and kicking coach for Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy.

A former Kansas Jayhawks quarterback was the top pick in the United Football League Draft.

Jason Bean was selected with the first overall pick by the Memphis Showboats. Bean is currently with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent, but can elect to join the UFL if he fails to make an NFL roster.

The UFL recently concluded their inaugural season, after the merger of the XFL and the USFL. The Showboats had the top pick aftter going 5-5 last season, with a 2-4 division record.

Bean was a season saver in many ways for the Jayhawks last season, stepping in for the injured Jalon Daniels and leading Kansas to nine wins. He compeleted 62% of his passes for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns in his senior season in Lawrence.

Many successful college coaches come from a player background, and the Red Ravens are hoping their new softball coach can follow that trend.

Ashton Friend was hired to be the new CCC softball coach earlier this year, after spending two seasons on the Pitt State coaching staff. Friend played two seasons at Cowley, before finishing her playing career with Washburn University.

She says she is learning constantly as she settles into this role.

Friend has a unique perspective in which her recent experiences as a player can help to relate with both current Ravens and potential recruits. She says she plans to be flexible with her student athletes.

The Raven softball team reports to campus next month, and will look to be competitive immediately in a difficult Jayhawk conference.

A former Bartlesville High Bruin had his name called during the 2024 MLB Draft.

Right-handed pitcher Jakob Hall was selected in the eighth round of the draft by the Minnesota Twins, out of Oral Roberts University.

Hall was the leader of the ORU pitching staff the past two seasons, emerging as a national name during the 2023 run to the College World Series.

He was also historically dominant for the Bruins in his senior season, pitching 62 innings with a 0.56 earned run average and 110 strikeouts to just six walks.

Bruins head baseball coach Cody Price says hard work and dedication leads to these kind of opportunities.

Hall is the first Bruin to be drafted since James Teague in 2016, when he was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 37th round out of Arkansas.

Despite having their best start to a season in nearly a decade, the Kansas City Royals still entered the 2024 MLB Draft with the sixth overall pick.

The Royals were on the clock, and used their selection to draft one of the most exciting college baseball players in the country.

Caglianone is an exciting talent out of Tampa, Florida, and led the Gators both as a hitter and pitcher in his junior season. He was a first-team All-American in both his sophomore and junior seasons, and led Florida to the College World Series this year.

Caglianone projects as a better hitter than pitcher, but is capable of doing both, which the Royals will allow him to attempt at the professional level. He struck out 83 hitters in 73 innings on the mound, and slashed .419 with 35 home runs at the plate.

He says he's excited to get to work in Kansas City.

Caglianone will immediately become one of the top prospects in the organization, along with 2023 first round pick Blake Mitchell.

Independence Community College women's basketball will be looking for a new head coach.

Rob Beckmann is departing the program after one season as head coach, and more than four total seasons on staff. He will become the next head women's basketball coach at Louisiana State University-Eunice.

He says he's grateful for his experience in Independence.

The Pirates outplayed nearly every expectation last season, finishing above .500 at 16-15, after being picked in the bottom four of the conference in the preseason poll.

Beckmann says he cherished competing with the coaches in this league.

It was the best start to a season for Lady Pirates basketball since 2011, with wins over #8 Butler and rival Coffeyville. Beckmann says the win over the Lady Ravens will always be a special one.

The Pirates had two players named all-conference under Coach Beckmann, and every sophomore from last season's team has been offered and/or signed at a four-year school.

FULL INTERVIEW w/Rob Beckmann

The Kansas City Chiefs organization has another award in the building.

Voice of the Chiefs Mitch Holthus was named Kansan of the Year yesterday during a banquet in Washington, D.C. The event is held annually by the Kansas Society.

Holthus was chosen for the award based on his devotion and passion to the state, and the example he has set for citizens of the Sunflower State.

He has been the voice of Kansas City since 1994, and is the longest running play-by-play broadcaster in Chiefs history.

Holthus joins other decorated Kansans of the Year Mike Pompeo, Rob Riggle, Jim Colbert, and Pat Roberts.

All-Star Game festivities begin for Major League baseball, and the Royals are sending two top prospects to participate.

Right-handed pitcher Ben Kudrna and outfielder Gavin Cross were selected to represent the organization in the annual Futures Game, which takes place this weekend in Arlington.

Cross was a first round pick in 2022, and has turned in a solid season thus far in Double-A, hitting .279 with eight home runs and 15 stolen bases. He is the seventh-ranked prospect in the Royals organization.

Kudrna has been dominant in High-A ball, posting a 3.14 earned run average across 12 total starts. He is the team's third-ranked prospect.

Cross and Kudrna will play for the American League prospect team, which features other young stars Marcelo Meyer, Max Clark, James Wood, and Dylan Crews. The seven inning game is tomorrow at 3 p.m. on MLB Network.

When the Kansas Jayhawks took the stage at Big XII Media Days, the talk was all about a conference championship.

The Jayhawks are firmly in the mix for the 2024 conference title, ranked No. 4 in the preseason polls. KU won nine games a season ago, their most in 15 years.

Kansas is led by senior quarterback Jalon Daniels, who returns from a nagging back injury. Head coach Lance Leipold says Daniels is the heartbeat of the entire team.

The Jayhawks are also operating with a new offensive coordinator this season, with Jeff Grimes taking over for Andy Kotelnicki, who departed for Penn State. Daniels says the relationship with Grimes is improving daily.

Another key piece for the Jayhawks in 2024 is running back Devin Neal, who returns for his senior season. He says the locker room is motivated and prepared to chase a championship.

Kansas opens the season against Lindenwood on August 29th.

One of the nation's top defensive lineman has returned to practice following a health scare.

Cincinnati defensive tackle Dontay Corleone is back with the Bearcats, after being treated for blood clots in his lungs.

Cincinnati head coach Scott Satterfield says Corleone is progressing nicely.

Corleone was hospitalized on June 14th after complaining of chest discomfort and shortness of breath. He is a projected first round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and has recorded 83 tackles and six sacks in two seasons with the Bearcats.

The 2024 schedule has been released for Coffeyville Community College volleyball.

The Lady Ravens will get their season started with a set of scrimmages at NEO in mid August.

Head coach Kandi Midgett says the schedule was already in progress when she arrived.

The Ravens will not be eased into Jayhawk conference play this season, opening against defending national champion Cowley. Midgett says she thinks playing the Tigers early can be a hidden advantage.

The Ravens are still looking for a middle blocker to contribute to this year's team. If interested or know someone who may be interested, contact Midgett at kandi.midgett@coffeyville.edu.

A link to the full 2024 volleyball schedule can be found HERE.

Big XII Media Days recently wrapped up in Las Vegas, with teams eager and confident in their chances at the conference championship.

The Kansas State Wildcats are considered a favorite in the conference, receiving 19 total first-place votes in the preseason poll.

The Wildcats will by led by sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson. Head coach Chris Klieman says Johnson has worked hard to become a leader in the program.

Johnson is the highest rated QB in the history of KSU football. He says he's been focusing on being a consistent presence in the locker room.

The Wildcats will also be replacing Colin Klein as the offensive coordinator, who departed for Texas A&M. Connor Riley takes over play calling duty for the Wildcat offense.

Klieman says Riley has earned the opportunity.

Kansas State opens the season against Tennessee Martin on August 31st.

For just the fourth time in team history, the Royals are sending four players to the MLB All-Star Game.

Pitchers Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans, along with catcher Salvador Perez, and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr, were selected to participate in the annual midsummer's classic.

Perez is heading to his ninth All-Star Game, including a stretch of six consecutive appearances from 2013-18. Witt is participating in his first All-Star weekend, and will also participate in the Home Run Derby.

It is also the first all-star appearance for both Lugo and Ragans, who have been the two most impressive arms in a rotation that has helped lead the team back to contention. It is the first time in Royals history that two starting pitchers have been named all-stars in the same season.

The All-Star Game is in Arlington, Texas, and will be played on July 16th at 7 p.m. CT.

In many ways, a new season of college football dawns today with the beginning of Big 12 Media Days.

Coaches and captains from each of the Big 12 teams will be on the stage in Las Vegas today and tomorrow, to discuss the upcoming season, and their thoughts on their team's chances.

Kansas State will speak later today, with head coach Chris Klieman, quarterback Avery Johnson, and linebacker Austin Moore among the scheduled appearances.

The Kansas Jayhawks will have their portion of media day tomorrow, with head coach Lance Leipold, quarterback Jalon Daniels, and running back Devin Neal among the highlights.

KGGF will have updates from both programs, and thoughts from both coaches and players as the week continues.

It has been an incredible journey for Tylor Perry, going from a JUCO national champion to now chasing a spot in the NBA.

Perry spoke with KGGF for the first time since being signed by the Toronto Raptors last week to a Summer League contract. He says the emotions are still there when he thinks about how far he's come.

Perry served as the leader of arguably the most talented Red Raven basketball team in program history. He says that championship team remains incredibly close.

Tylor has also been able to play for NJCAA Hall of Famer Jay Herkelman, and former National Coach of the Year Jerome Tang. He says his relationship with Herkelman is one he cherishes.

Perry played for both North Texas and Kansas State after his time in Coffeyville, building a legacy at the Division 1 level. He says, however, he wouldn't be successful without Coffeyville.

Perry and the Raptors open up their Summer League schedule on Saturday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

FULL INTERVIEW w/ Tylor Perry

Football season in Southeast Kansas is another week closer, and the Red Ravens are motivated to bounce back in 2024.

The team recently concluded summer workouts with mostly newcomers, after the gauntlet of spring practice with the roster's returning players.

Head coach Nick Dobler says the next few weeks are an opportunity to reset.

Players focused on building good habits during the summer, aiming to maximize their physical performance on the field. Dobler says the expectation is for the players to continue working.

The Ravens had a frustrating 3-7 season in 2023, losing by nine points or fewer in six of the seven losses. Dobler says many of the players are taking last season personally.

Fall camp begins on August 3rd.

College football season is approaching quickly, and the Big 12 has released their preseason conference polls.

The Utah Utes barely edge the Kansas State Wildcats for the top spot in the polls, receiving 20 first place votes. The Wildcats finished with 19 first place votes.

Oklahoma State, Kansas, and Arizona rounds out the Top 5, with each of the Top 5 teams receiving at least three votes for first place.

Newcomers Colorado and Arizona State find themselves ranked 11th and 16th, respectively.

Big 12 Media Day begins next week from Las Vegas, with the Wildcats and Jayhawks taking the stage on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the upcoming season.

One of the bright young stars of boxing has been expelled from the World Boxing Council.

Ryan Garcia, a 25 year old lightweight fighter, who has stood in the ring for some of the top bouts in the recent history of the sport, was banned from any activity with the WBC.

ESPN's Gary Striewski details the reasoning for Garcia's ban.

Garcia has been one of the sport's biggest names for years, battling Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney in recent main card fights.

A former Kansas high school coach has been named the youngest head coach in the FBS.

Utah State has named Nate Dreiling their interim head football coach, following the dismissal of coach Blake Anderson. Dreiling is only 33 years old, and is in his first season with the Aggies.

Dreiling was a four-time All-American linebacker at Pitt State, after playing high school football at Hutchinson. He helped lead the Gorillas to the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship.

The coaching career of Dreiling has taken him to many stops. He served as a high school coach at Humboldt, before moving to the collegiate level, and serving as an assistant at Southeast Missouri State and Pittsburg State.

Before joining Utah State this year, he served as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State, where he led a transformation to a nationally recognized defensive unit, among the nation's leaders in forced turnovers.

Many Chiefs fans may feel that Travis Kelce is a Chief for life, but that may not necessarily be the case.

Kelce spoke with his brother Jason on their podcast New Heights earlier this week. He says he would consider leaving the organization if there was an expansion team in London.

Kelce has spent more than a decade in the NFL, and will go down as arguably the organization's greatest offensive weapon besides Patrick Mahomes. He leads the team in playoff touchdowns and catches, and has continued to be among the league's best into his mid-30s.

Kelce and his brother say they feel an expansion franchise is coming soon.

For now, Kelce is firmly a part of the back-to-back champions, and will be present at training camp when the team reports later this month.

One of the Royals' best free agent signings has turned into one of baseball's best pitchers.

Seth Lugo has impressed all season long, spinning six shutout innings in a weekend win over the Guardians. Players and staff members around the organization have been wearing shirts advocating for Lugo to represent the American League in the All-Star game later this month.

Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr says it's fun to be able to play behind a pitcher like Lugo.

Lugo is 11-2 in his first season in Kansas City, and leads the league in innings pitched, wins, earned run average, and quality starts.

Manager Matt Quatraro says Lugo has been an irreplaceable part of this year's club.

Lugo will make his next start this weekend in Denver, when the Royals battle the Colorado Rockies.

Kansas State football has landed the highest ranked recruit in program history.

Five-star tight end Linkon Cure committed to the Wildcats yesterday, choosing Manhattan over Kansas, Oregon, and Texas A&M. Cure says the Wildcats have been a part of his life from an early age.

Cure took official visits to all four finalist schools. He says he took time to reflect while he was in Manhattan.

Cure is rated as the No. 2 high school tight end in the country, and is the first five-star recruit from the state of Kansas in over a decade. He is a senior at Goodland High School, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 210 pounds.

He says he always knew the Wildcats felt like home.

Cure becomes the first five-star to ever commit to the Wildcats, and will be a key part of Chris Klieman's offense immediately when he steps on campus.

Kansas State women's basketball has ensured their head coach will be sticking around.

Head coach Jeff Mittie has agreed to a five year extension that runs through the 2028-29 season. Mittie has led the Lady Wildcats to five NCAA Tournament appearances and eight overall postseason appearances in his ten seasons leading the program.

Mittie has won 190 games in his time in Manhattan, just 10 victories away from becoming the third coach in program history to reach the 200-win milestone.

There has been plenty of individual player success under Mittie as well, with 25 All-Big 12 selecions, six Big 12 All-Defensive Team players, five All-Freshman team honorees, and one AP All-American.

The Wildcats are primed for success in the 2024-25 season, with the return of 10 letter winners and four starters from last season's team. The team will be led by All-American center Ayoka Lee, First Team All-Conference guard Serena Sundell, and seniors Brylee Glenn and Jaelyn Glenn.

Games may still be a few months away for Red Raven football, but the work has already begun this summer.

Members of the team just wrapped up summer workouts and conditioning, beginning the process of preparing for the season both physically and mentally.

Head football coach Nick Dobler says it's a culture shock for a lot of the new guys.

Many players who participated in workouts this summer are incoming freshmen that recently received their high school diploma. Dobler says it's a very quick turnaround for those players.

While the team isn't doing many contact drills or pad work at this time, it is a great opportunity to evaluate mental toughness and character of players. Dobler says the focus has been building a championship standard.

KGGF will continue to have Red Raven football updates all month long. Fall training camp begins August 3rd when the full football team moves onto campus.

A few of the key rules and format for the Home Run Derby have been changed ahead of this year's event.

Hitters will now see a maximum of 40 pitches within their timed round, in order to emphasize efficiency between the contestants and their pitchers.

In recent years, participants in the Derby have been vocal about the event being too frantic and accelerated, therefore creating a heightened risk of injury.

Hitters will have a three minute time limit in the first two rounds, with a two minute timer in the championship round. Bonus time will also no longer be timed, and instead continue until the hitter has three "outs", which is any swing that isn't a home run.

There will also no longer be a head-to-head style bracket, instead reverting back to the old style with the top four scores from the first round advancing to the semifinals, and the top two semifinal scores advancing to the finals.

Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr won the 2023 Home Run Derby in Seattle. Baltimore Orioles star shortstop Gunnar Henderson was the first contestant to be confirmed for the 2024 Derby, which takes place in Arlington, Texas on July 15th.