Local Sports - The Morning Sun

St. Mary's Colgan track and field athlete Lily Brown, left, and Pittsburg golfer M.J. Lowe.

Brown, Lowe named prep athletes of the week

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St. Mary's Colgan track and field athlete Lily Brown and Pittsburg golfer M.J. Lowe are the Morning Sun Athletes of the Week for the week ending May 12. LILY BROWN Lily Brown, a junior led the … more

By Dashuan Vereen and Jim Henry sports@morningsun.net | 5/20/23

Pittsburg seeded 6th, Colgan 8th in state tourneys

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Pittsburg High School's softball team is the No. 6 seed in next week's Class 5A state tournament in Wichita. The Purple Dragons (16-6) play third-seeded Valley Center (20-2) at 5 p.m. Thursday in the … more

By Jim Henry jhenry@morningsun.net | 5/19/23

St. Mary's Colgan's Gus Keller strikes out six batters in three innings against Southeast on Wednesday in a Class 2-1A semifinal game in Oswego.

Colgan cruises to regional baseball title

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OSWEGO, Kan. — Sparked by great performances on the mound and at the plate, St. Mary’s Colgan raced to a Cla ss 2- 1 A baseball regional championship on Wednesday. Colgan clinched the title with … more

By Dashuan Vereeen dvereen@morningsun.net | 5/18/23

Pittsburg's Roary Hunziker winds up for a pitch against Lansing on Tuesday at Pittsburg State's Softball Complex. DASHUAN VEREEN / MORNING SUN STAFF

Pittsburg softball rolls to regional crown

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The regional championship game proved to be the easier of the two tournament matchups for Pittsburg softball on Tuesday. After nipping Lansing 2-1 in the opening game, Pittsburg cruised to a 7-1 … more

By Dashuan Vereen dvereen@morningsun.net | 5/17/23

Girard's Hanna Bailey belts a single against Caney Valley on Monday in the Class 3A regionals in Columbus.

Girard softball captures regional win over Caney Valley

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Overcoming an early 3-0 deficit, the Girard Trojans rallied to a 9-5 win over Caney Valley on Monday in the Class 3A regional softball tournament held in Columbus. “When you get down, you have to … more

By Dashuan Vereen / dvereen@morningsun.net | 5/16/23

Jaylynn Ellerbe-Cundiff of Pittsburg State sails 24 feet, 8.50 inches in the long jump during the Last Chance Meet on Friday at PSU's Carnie Smith Stadium. COURTESY BRANDON NGO / PSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

PSU hosts last chance track meet

Pittsburg State played host to a Last Chance outdoor track and field meet on Friday at Carnie Smith, and it's just what the name implies. It's one last chance for athletes to improve their times, … more

Staff Reports sportrs@morningsun.net | 5/13/23

Frontenac softball player Abi Beaman, left, and Girard baseball player Alex Coester.

Beaman, Coester named athletes of the week

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Frontenac softball player Abi Beaman and Girard baseball player Alex Coester are the Morning Sun athletes of the week for the week ending May 5. Abi Beaman Beaman helped lead the Raiders to a 4-1 … more

By Dashuan Vereen dvereen@morningsun.net | 5/13/23

Pittsburg's Jayden Brown outruns a throw to first from Independence pitcher Brady Palmer on Thursday at Al Ortolani Field. DASHUAN VEREEN / MORNING SUN STAFF

Pittsburg set to host regional after win over Independence

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Behind an all-around team effort, Pittsburg captured a 6-1 win over Independence to finish the week with a 3-0 record and clinch the opportunity to host a regional bracket at Jaycee Ballpark next … more

By Dashuan Vereen dvereen@morningsun.net | 5/12/23

First baseman Austin Warkins batted .583 (7-for-12) to lead Pittsburg State in last week's three-game series against Central Oklahoma. COURTESY DEREK LIVINGSTON / PSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

Gorillas battle Mules in MIAA semifinals

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Yes, Pittsburg State scored 35 runs in three games last weekend while beating Central Oklahoma in the first round of the MIAA Postseason Tournament. But relief pitcher Tanner Leslie is a major reason … more

By Jim Henry jhenry@morningsun.net | 5/11/23

Pittsburg's Westin Rink strikes out Labette County's Hudson Baker on Tuesday at Jaycee Ballpark. DASHUAN VEREEN / MORNING SUN STAFF

Rink leads Purple Dragons to Senior Night win

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Although it was Senior Night in Pittsburg on Tuesday, it was a freshman that led the charge for the Purple Dragons in their 13-2 win over Labette County at Jaycee Ballpark. Pitcher Westin Rink … more

By Dashuan Vereen / dvereen@morningsun.net | 5/10/23

Pittsburg State wins the men's MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the eighth time in the last 12 years. COURTESY DEREK LIVINGSTON / PSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

PSU men roll to MIAA track and field title

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Led by Cordell Tinch's three first-place finishes, Pittsburg State repeated as champion in the MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships that ended Sunday at Lincoln University's Dwight T. Reed … more

By Jim Henry jhenry@morningsun.net | 5/9/23

Pittsburg State third baseman Daegan Brady makes the throw to first base to retire the batter during Friday night's MIAA Tournament game against Central Oklahoma at Al Ortolani Field. COURTESY BRANDON NGO / PSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

Coffee leads Gorillas past UCO 12-7

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Ask Karson Coffee what a difference a weekend can make.After a forgettable series last weekend, Coffee belted two home runs and drove in four runs as Pittsburg State defeated Central Oklahoma 12-7 … more

By Jim Henry jhenry@morningsun.net | 5/6/23

Frontenac baseball player Jack Capehart and Pittsburg soccer player Alyssa Hotze.

Capehart, Hotze named athletes of the week

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Frontenac baseball player Jack Capehart and Pittsburg soccer player Alyssa Hotze have been named the Morning Sun’s high school athletes of the week for the week ending April 28.Jack Capehart … more

By Dashuan Vereen and Kalon Fullerton sports@morningsun.net | 5/6/23

St. Mary's Colgan's Colin Hite slides to keep a ball in the infield against Riverton on Friday at Jaycee Ballpark. DASHUAN VEREEN / MORNING SUN STAFF

Panthers claw their way to split against Rams

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St. Mary’s Colgan freshman Carston Simmons stepped up when the Panthers called his number on Friday at Jaycee Ballpark.After the team fell 8-1 to Riverton in game one and allowed nine runs in the … more

By Dashuan Vereen dvereen@morningsun.net | 5/6/23

Cade Clemons receives congratulations after hitting a home run -- his team-leading 17th -- in last Saturday's game against Washburn at Al Ortolani Field. COURTESY ALEX PERRY / PSU DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

Gorillas face UCO to open postseason

Pittsburg State's baseball team has won at least 30 games for the fifth consecutive season -- excluding the COVID-abbreviated year in 2020.But starting this weekend, the Gorillas have work to do if … more

By Jim Henry jhenry@morningsun.net | 5/5/23

Football coach Larry Garman retires

After 61 years, football coach Larry Garman is retiring.Garman, who spent 37 years at Pittsburg High School and the last 24 years at Pittsburg State, announced Wednesday is is retiring."I have really … more

Staff Reports sports@morningsun.net | 5/4/23

Junior Shelby Underwood has been productive as a pitcher and hitter while leading Northeast to an 18-0 record this season. COURTESY PHOTO / SHELBY UNDERWOOD

Shelby Underwood leads the charge for undefeated Vikings

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Northeast junior Shelby Underwood has proven to be one of the most complete softball players in Kansas during her prep career. Underwood has a blistering .757 batting average this season, … more

By Dashuan Vereen dvereen@morningsun.net | 5/4/23

Frontenac's Avery Johnson belts a double to center field against St. Mary's Colgan on Tuesday in Pittsburg.

Raider softball cruises to sweep

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Eight was the magic number for Frontenac on Tuesday. Two eight-run innings, in the third inning of game one and the fifth in game two, led the Raiders to a doubleheader road sweep of St. Mary’s … more

By Dashuan Vereen dvereen@morningsun.net | 5/3/23

Frontenac against Colgan on Monday at Jaycee Ballpark.

Frontenac baseball sweeps past St. Mary’s Colgan

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Frontenac baseball continued its undefeated season on Monday, capturing two road wins over St. Mary’s Colgan. The Raiders earned an 18-7 win in game one and a 6-0 win in game two.“I thought our … more

By Dashuan Vereen / dvereen@morningsun.net | 5/2/23

Runners take off at the start of the 5K run as part of the Get Busy Livin' Foundation's celebration on Saturday at Hutchison Field. Race winners were Renato Pinto of Pittsburg in the men's division (18 minutes, 57 seconds) and Liz Hurford Cox of Tulsa in the women's division (20:39). JEFF PEYTON / MORNING SUN STAFF

GBL activities return to honor Dylan Meier after COVID cancellations

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A day three years in the making finally arrived Saturday."Today has been coming for a few years due to COVID," Valerie Meier said. "It's nice to be here and see everyone.""The ability to get … more

By Jim Henry jhenry@morningsun.net | 5/2/23