Local Sports - The Morning Sun

Six-run inning propels PSU past Rogers State

Exclusive subscriber content

A six-run fourth inning powered No. 25 Pittsburg State past No. 8 Rogers State 6-3 Friday afternoon to complete a sweep of their MIAA softball doubleheader at the RBC Bank Sports Complex in … more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 4/1/25

Pittsburg State baseball coach Bob Fornelli notched his 1,100th career victory with the Gorillas' 13-6 victory over Northeastern State on Sunday afternoon at Al Ortolani Field.

Gorillas' series sweep gives Fornelli 1,100th win

Exclusive subscriber content

Pittsburg State erupted for eight runs in the first inning en route to a 13-6 victory over Northeastern State on Sunday afternoon to complete a sweep of their MIAA baseball series at Al Ortolani … more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 4/1/25

Pittsburg State's Karenna Gerber works inside against Grand Valley State's Rylie Bisballe during Wednesday night's national semifinal game in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Gorillas' final comeback falls short

Exclusive subscriber content

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Second-half comebacks certainly aren’t anything new for Pittsburg State. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 3/27/25

Pittsburg State's basketball players were all smiles when they were greeted by injured teammate Macie Mays on Wednesday afternoon in the hotel lobby in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Macie Mays surprises teammates

Exclusive subscriber content

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Pittsburg State’s women’s basketball team had a surprise Wednesday afternoon. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 3/27/25

Lakers end Gorillas' season in semifinals 68-61

Exclusive subscriber content

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Nicole Kamin took over in the fourth quarter to spark top-seeded Grand Valley State past fourth-seeded Pittsburg State 68-61 Wednesday night in an NCAA Division II semifinal game … more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 3/27/25

Pittsburg senior Alex Johnston steals second in the third inning Tuesday against Neosho, Mo. BROCK SISNEY / THE MORNING SUN

Pittsburg baseball opens with loss to Neosho

Exclusive subscriber content

The visiting Neosho (Mo.) Wildcats proved to be a formidable challenge in the season opener for the Pittsburg baseball team Tuesday at historic Jaycee Ballpark. Neosho, who opened the season 4-1 … more

By Brock Sisney [email protected] | 3/27/25

Girard senior Houston McGown signed Wednesday afternoon with Pittsburg State, surrounded by friends, family, coaches and administration. BROCK SISNEY / THE MORNING SUN

Distance success McGown signs with Pittsburg State

Exclusive subscriber content

GIRARD, Kan. — Girard senior runner Houston McGown signed Wednesday afternoon with Pittsburg State to continue his academic and athletic career in cross country and track and field. … more

By Brock Sisney [email protected] | 3/27/25

Pittsburg State pitcher Tanner Leslie fires one to the plate Sunday against Fort Hays State at Al Ortolani Field. BROCK SISNEY / THE MORNING SUN

Tigers take three game series from Gorillas

Exclusive subscriber content

The No. 27-ranked Fort Hays State Tigers won the three-game MIAA weekend series with a 5-4 victory Sunday afternoon against Pittsburg State at Al Ortolani Field. Like the series opener Friday, … more

By Brock Sisney [email protected] | 3/26/25

Frontenac standout Johnson signs with Lady Norse softball

FRONTENAC, Kan. — Frontenac senior Avery Johnson signed Tuesday afternoon with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO) Lady Norse to continue her academic and athletic career at the next level. … more

By Brock Sisney bsisney | 3/26/25

Girard Mayor Mickey Pyle presents baseball historian Phil S. Dixon with a jar of Girard dirt on Saturday at the Girard Public Library. (Kalon Fullerton, Pittsburg Morning Sun)

Baseball history comes to Girard

Exclusive subscriber content

GIRARD, Kan.--Baseball historian Phil S. Dixon was in Girard on Saturday for a presentation at about Girard native and Negro League pitcher Frank Wickware, the first part of a week-long trip … more

By Kalon Fullerton [email protected] | 3/25/25

Gorillas beat Lubbock Christian, advance to national semifinals

Exclusive subscriber content

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Chalk up another historical moment for this Pittsburg State women’s basketball team. The No. 7-ranked Gorillas, with Karenna Gerber, Grace Pyle and Maycee James combining for 51 points, defeated No. 11 and tradition-rich Lubbock Christian 66-55 Monday night in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 3/25/25

Collier named boys basketball player of the year

Frontenac senior Vinny Collier has been named the 2025 Morning Sun boys basketball player of the year. Collier led the Raiders in scoring with 15 points per contest. “There’s so … more

By Kalon Fullerton [email protected] | 3/22/25

St. Mary’s Colgan junior point guard Jakayla Davis attacks the basket in a Class 2A state tournament semifinal March 14 against Doniphan West at Bramlage Coliseum. BROCK SISNEY / THE MORNING SUN

Davis named girls basketball player of the year

Exclusive subscriber content

St. Mary’s Colgan junior Jakayla Davis has been named the 2025 Morning Sun girls basketball player of the year. Davis, a guard, led the Panthers to a 22-4 record and a fourth-place finish … more

By Kalon Fullerton [email protected] | 3/21/25

Pittsburg State’s Dagen Brewer reaches second base for a two-run double Tuesday against Southwest Baptist. BROCK SISNEY / THE MORNING SUN

Gorillas batter Southwest in midweek game

Exclusive subscriber content

The Pittsburg State Gorillas put up some historic offensive numbers during a 31-12 win in seven innings Tuesday night against former MIAA rival Southwest Baptist at Al Ortolani Field. The … more

By Brock Sisney [email protected] | 3/20/25

PSU baseball sweeps Bearcats

Exclusive subscriber content

The Pittsburg State Gorillas completed a three-game sweep of the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats on Sunday with a 16-6 run rule victory on Sunday. The Gorillas earned two doubleheader wins on … more

By Kalon Fullerton [email protected] | 3/18/25

Pittsburg State's Karenna Gerber goes up for two of her 34 points in Monday night's 85-82 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in the Central Region championship game at John Lance Arena. Gerber was named the tournament's most outstanding player.

Gorillas headed for Elite 8

Exclusive subscriber content

Thirty-four points, 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal and a block on the final shot of the game. And, she accepted the championship trophy. Other than that, Karenna Gerber didn’t do much. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 3/18/25

Davis, Smith named athletes of the week

Exclusive subscriber content

St. Mary’s Colgan junior Jakayla Davis and Girard sophomore Kam Smith have been named the Morning Sun athletes of the week for the week ending March 8. Jakayla Davis Davis scored 34 … more

By Kalon Fullerton [email protected] | 3/17/25

Trojans, Dragons play in softball jamboree

Exclusive subscriber content

The Girard Trojans and the Pittsburg Purple Dragons got their first taste of the new season on Thursday at a softball jamboree that also featured Iola and Parsons at the Gene Bicknell Sports … more

By Kalon Fullerton [email protected] | 3/17/25

Pittsburg State celebrates its 94-91 victory over Minnesota State on Saturday night in the Central Region semifinal game at John Lance Arena.

Gorillas beat Mavericks, advance to Central Region title game

Exclusive subscriber content

In a game that will come up in conversations for years to come, top-seeded Pittsburg State rallied in the second half to defeat fifth-seeded Minnesota State 94-91 Saturday night before 2,125 screaming fans in John Lance Arena. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 3/16/25

Colgan senior Lauren O'Brien puts up a left-handed shot in the lane Saturday against Inman in Manhattan, Kan.

Inman tops Colgan 60-57 in 2A third-place game

Exclusive subscriber content

MANHATTAN, Kan. — The second-seeded St. Mary's Colgan girls left it all on the floor during their 60-57 loss Saturday afternoon in the Class 2A state third-place game against Inman at Bramlage Coliseum. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 3/15/25