Local Sports - The Morning Sun

An artist’s rendition shows the players’ view and fans’ view of Pittsburg State’s soccer field that will be built east of the baseball field in the Gene Bicknell Sports Complex. PSU announced Wednesday that it is adding a women’s soccer team in the fall of 2024.

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For the first time in more than 30 years, Pittsburg State’s athletics department is adding a sport. The Gorillas will field a women’s soccer team starting in the fall of 2024, PSU … more

By Jim Henry / jhenry@morningsun.ne | 8/17/23

Frontenac players block head coach Mark Smith during a drill at Tuesday’s practice.

Cooler temps, new turf further fuel Frontenac’s early enthusiasm

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FRONTENAC, Kan. — The Frontenac Raiders seemed to have more reasons than usual to be happy about their return to Raider Stadium for the first two days of football practice on Monday and … more

By Brock Sisney / bsisney@morningsun.net | 8/16/23

Pittsburg linemen participate in a drill on the first day of practice Monday at the high school practice field.

Kansas high schools enjoy first day of practices

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Kansas high schools took a critical step towards a new sports season being here with the first day of fall sports practices on Monday. Pittsburg second-year football coach Josh Lattimer had many … more

By Brock Sisney / bsisney@morningsun.net | 8/15/23

Pittsburg 12U’s Weston Turnbull connects with a pitch Monday against Kearney (Nebraska) in the Midwest Regional played in Whitestown, Indiana.

Pittsburg 12U creates memories for a lifetime in regional tourney

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The Pittsburg 12-under All-Stars recently learned that experiences can often transcend results, or their experience in the Little League Baseball Midwest Regional in Whitestown (Indiana) ultimately … more

By Brock Sisney / bsisney@morningsun.net | 8/10/23

Pittsburg 12U second baseman Mason O’Brien leaps for the ball during Monday’s Midwest Regional elimination game against Kearney (Nebraska) in Whitestown, Indiana.

Pittsburg 12U All-Stars eliminated by Kearney

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WHITESTOWN, Ind. — The Kearney (Nebraska) 12-under All-Stars scored the first five and the final four runs to send Pittsburg back home with a 9-3 final score in a Midwest Regional elimination … more

By Brock Sisney / bsisney@morningsun.net | 8/8/23

Pittsburg 12U player Drake Wilcox strides off first base during Friday’s game against Fargo (North Dakota) in the Midwest Regional in Whitestown, Indiana.

Pittsburg 12U falls in regional tournament opener

WHITESTOWN, Ind. — The Pittsburg 12-under All-Stars struggled in almost every phase of the game during their Midwest Regional opener Friday morning against Fargo (North Dakota). Fargo … more

Staff Reports / sports@morningsun.net | 8/5/23

The Frontenac Raiders 10U All-Stars won the 2023 Midwest Plains Cal Ripken 10U Regional Tournament and will play in the Cal Ripken World Series beginning on Aug. 3. Team members (left to right): Bobby Nelson, Clay Cornell, Stanson Lillich, Coach Fred Lillich, Quin Terlip, Kaden Shaffer, Gage Born, Coach TJ Born, Carson Mitchell, Kyler Coomes, Gannon Horyna, Korbin Coomes, Coach Kaleb Terlip, Walker Stipp, Will Smith, Maverick Arnett, Alijah Weimer.

Frontenac 10U All-Stars begin World Series play

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FRONTENAC, Kan. — The Frontenac 10U All-Star team will head to the 2023 10U Cal Ripken World Series after clinching the regional title in Garden City last Saturday. The All Stars, coached by … more

By Kalon Fullerton / kfullerton@morningsun.net | 8/2/23

Pittsburg Barracudas swimmer Lucas Nickelson placed fourth in the 11-12 50-yard breaststroke Sunday in the Tri-State Conference B Championships at the YMCA pool.

Barracudas fare well in conference meet

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The Pittsburg Barracudas YMCA swim team hosted a dozen teams from four different states Saturday and Sunday in the Tri-State Conference B Championships at the YMCA pool. “Overall, it was a … more

By Brock Sisney / bsisney@morningsun.net | 8/1/23

Members of the 12-year-old Pittsburg All-Stars Little League team. Having won the state championship, the All-Stars are now on their way to the Regional World Series in Indianapolis. The county commission decided to grant them $500 for “ice cream” and other expenses.

Commissioners help Little League team dream

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GIRARD, Kan. — At Tuesday’s meeting, Crawford County Commissioners granted $500 to the Pittsburg Little League All-Stars for a trip to Indianapolis, Indiana, to play the Regional World … more

By Dustin R. Strong / dstrong@morningsun.net | 7/26/23

Local law enforcement participated in the 42nd annual Kansas Law Enforcement Torch Run as the runners power their way up the 4th Street Bridge.

Special Olympics Kansas holds LETR, state powerlifting

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Special Olympics Kansas (SOKS) hosted its first-ever state-level competition in Pittsburg on Friday as 66 Special Olympians gathered at Pittsburg High School for an afternoon of … more

By Aaron Pyle / apyle@morningsun.net | 7/22/23

Mario Menghini, who earned all-CNC League first-team honors in football, basketball and baseball, is the Morning Sun's boys athlete of the year. COURTESY PHOTO

Mario Menghini named boys athlete of year

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Frontenac senior Mario Menghini has been named the Morning Sun boys high school athlete of the year for the 2022-23 school year. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Menghini, who signed in February to play … more

By Brock Sisney bsisney@morningsun.net | 7/1/23

The Gilmores — father Charlie and son Eli — won four gold medals in one KSHSAA state track and field meet -- Charlie in 1993 for St. Mary’s Colgan and Eli last month for Tonganoxie.

Pitt State signee makes history at state track meet

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A Pittsburg State signee made history at last month’s KSHSAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Wichita. more

By Jim Henry / jhenry@morningsun.net | 6/18/23

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