Kansas City finished up their series against the Guardians on a high note, stealing the last game to take a 3-1 win over Cleveland in the series. The Royals have managed to pull themselves back to just seven games behind the Guardians and only a single game behind the Twins. The Royals did not have the best month of June, going 12-15 throughout the month, despite winning three of four against Cleveland. Kansas City is very much still in the race for either a wildcard spot or a division crown, but they must continue with their positive momentum to avoid another dissapointing month.

Brady Singer will get the nod for Kansas City tonight. He will be looking to improve his record above .500 tonight, currently sitting at 4-4 on the season. Singer’s last performance was phenomenal, holding the Miami Marlins to just one run through 7.1 innings. Last time Singer faced the Rays he went five innings, only allowing a single run in a Royals win. He will have to keep the Royals competitive early and avoid falling back into the first inning struggles that have plagued the team in the past. The Royals will hope to get Singer some run support early, giving him a cushion to repeat recent performances.

8:29 p.m. – The game is now in rain delay.

8:27 p.m. – Back-to-back singles have the Royals their best attack of the night with runners on the corners. CJ Alexander picked up his first career hit with a single to right, bringing Kyle Isbel up with the chance to tie the game. Littell was not phased though, striking out Kyle Isbel to end the inning. The Royals have now had their first dangerous position of the game, they just need to build on it with the top of the order starting next inning. 1-0 Rays

8:20 p.m. – These starting pitchers are leaving the offenses with a lack of answers tonight, cruising through innings with little to no danger. Singer looks to be the first pitcher to exit barring a big offensive inning from Kansas City. It will be important for the Royals bullpen to have a good performance with the Royals stagnant offense. 1-0 Rays

8:06 p.m. – This is shaping up to look very similar to Brady Singer’s last performance against the Rays. The issue is that he has almost double the amount of pitches that Littell does already, and with the Royals struggling bullpen you have to worry that the starter can’t eat enough innings to keep the Royals close. 1-0 Rays

7:56 p.m. – Zack Littell has been very good this game, shutting the Royals down for three straight innings so far. Despite not scoring, the Royals have made some very solid contact and even driven the ball to the warning track a couple times tonight. If they can continue to get hard contact, the runs will fall in line. 1-0 Rays

7:50 p.m. – A much better inning for Singer this time around, making quick work of three straight Rays batters. Royals starters face a common trend of giving up an early run before locking down and playing well. Garcia made a nice play ranging to his left at second base, his versatility could be a real tool for Kansas City going into the second half of the season. 1-0 Rays

7:45 p.m. – Zack Littell is having a very good game so far, putting out all three runners that came to the plate that inning, a little unconventiaonally. Littell breezed through the first two batters, but MJ Melendez would earn himself a double to keep the inning alive. Littell would immediately attempt a pickoff and be unsuccessful, or so the umpire said. After a challenge it was clear that Melendez was unable to touch the bag due to the fielders foot covering the base. Unfortunately for the Royals, obstruction is not reviewable so the play was overturned and a RISP oppurtunity was taken away from Kansas City. 1-0 Rays

7:30 p.m. – Brady Singer faced his first tough situation of the game this inning, battling off runners on second and third with just one out. Bobby Witt Jr made an incredible play ranging to his left and throwing back to his right to snipe Randy Arozarena to pick up that first out. After a missed barehander from CJ Alexander and a double by Jose Sir, Singer found himself in some danger. He would battle back, striking out Ben Rortvedt beofore a wild pitch allowed Richie Pallacios to come home. He would walk Taylor Walls with 10 pitches before finally picking up the last out. Kansas City will again be looking to overcome an early deficit. 1-0 Rays

7:22 p.m. – Maikel Garcia picked up an inning opening single to right field off of Zack Littell. The Royals wouldn’t score but something that was very telling is that Littel was aware of the runner. Look for Littel to be worried about early runners, potentially leading to mistakes to batters. Vinnie Pasquantino had a 401 foot flyout, the ball would have left 8/30 MLB ballparks. 0-0

7:15 p.m. – Brady Singer has a back and forth first inning but puts down the Rays before they can move a runner to second. He allowed a single before turning a double play, as well as a walk before striking out Josh Lowe to end the inning. Royals pitching has been prone to getting in trouble early so Singer working around those two runners is big for Kansas City. 0-0

Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO.

When: First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT. 

TV:  You can watch the game on Bally Sports KC or MLB.TV (blackouts may apply depending on location).

Starting Pitchers

KC – Brady Singer (4-4, 3.12 ERA)

CLE – Zack Littell (2-7, 4.17 ERA)

Batting Order/Lineup

KC: 1. Maikel Garcia (2B) 2. Bobby Witt Jr. (SS) 3. Vinnie Pasquantino (1B) 4. Salvador Perez (C) 5. Michael Massey (DH) 6. Hunter Renfroe (RF) 7. MJ Melendez (LF) 8. CJ Alexander (3B) 9. Kyle Isbel (CF)

TB:  1. Yandy Diaz (1B) 2. Brandon Lowe (DH) 3. Isaac Paredes (3B) 4. Josh Lowe (RF) 5. Randy Arozarena (LF) 6. Richie Palacios (2B) 7. Jose Siri (CF) 8. Ben Rortvedt (C) 9. Taylor Walls (SS)

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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024 has been announced, with 12 new inductees.

The induction ceremony will be held at the Sunflower Ballroom in Hotel Topeka at City Center on Sunday, October 13th. The reception will be at 5:00 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 6:00 p.m.

The inductees include:

– Hayden and KU alumni and long-time college basketball coach Mark Turgeon, who helped Hayden to two State basketball Championships, including a perfect 25-0 season in 1983. Was a part of four NCAA Tournament basketball teams with the Jayhawks.

– Current Hummer Sports Park director Annette Wiles. She is a two-time NAIA Basketball All-American and NAIA Tournament MVP with Fort Hays State, and long-time successful coach.

– Former KU football head coach Mark Mangino. Received several National Coach of the Year awards in 2007, as he led the Jayhawks to their only 12-win season and an Orange Bowl victory. Coached in Lawrence from 2002-2009.

– Former K-State All-American punter Sean Snyder. National Special Teams Coach of the Year at K-State, and joined KU football staff as a Special Assistant to the Head Coach for one season in 2023.

– Former Emporia State, Kansas, and Olympic baseball coach Dave Bingham. Led the Hornets with a 588-270-2 record over his 14 years there, and a National Championship win in 1978. He was named the National Coach of the Year in 1976, 1984, and 1986. He took over the Jayhawks’ program in 1988, and led them to a 249-225 record over eight years. He led them to their first College World Series appearance in 1993.

– Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard, NFL Hall of Famer, and Fort Riley native Will Shields. A third-round draft pick by Kansas City in 1993.

– Former K-State track and field star turned Olympian Erik Kynard. Won a gold medal in the high jump at the London Summer Olympics in 2012 at the age of 21. Is also a 10x U.S. National Champion.

– National Long Jump Champion Melvin Lister.

– U.S. Swimming record-holder Ron Neugent. Member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team.

– Two-time Olympic Games head starter Kelly Rankin. The only American to do so.

– Former Jayhawk and Olympic Javelin thrower Scott Russell.

– Paralympic Games bronze medalist Kevin Saunders.

Tickets for the event will go on sale on Monday, July 15th. Use this link for more information. https://www.kshof.org/

Copyright 2024 WIBW. All rights reserved.

Kansas State football has been around since about 1893 with most sources saying they first started playing around Thanksgiving. They didn’t play their true first season till the following year. The bottom line is that Kansas State football has been playing football for a long time.

In that time, they have played a lot of different teams. We know who they have not played, however, who has Kansas State played, but struggled to ever beat?

There have been a total of 20 teams that Kansas State has never beaten. For some of them, the Wildcats only played once or twice, but a few teams seem to have K-State’s number. So let’s take a look at each team Kansas State has faced, but yet to beat.

Army (0-2): Army and Kansas State have faced off twice, once back in 1966 and again in 1987. Now in the 60s, Kansas State was better than in the 80s. The second matchup was at the time when the Wildcats had gone 27 straight games without a win.

Fresno State (0-2): Fresno State faced Kansas State for the first time in 2004 and the 2004 and 2005 seasons under Snyder were not his best. Those actually led up to his first retirement. then in 2007 when the teams faced off again, it was not against Snyder, another time when Kansas State was struggling to find wins.

Navy (0-1): The first and only time Kansas State and NAvy battled was back in 2019 in the Liberty Bowl. This was the end of Chris Klieman’s first season with the Wildcats and unfortunately, it ended on a 20-17 loss to Navy.

Tulane (0-2): Interestingly, Kansas State and Tulane faced off twice, both on September 17th, once in 1988 and the second time in 2022. The 2022 loss was probably the hardest because it was a key loss that season for the Wildcats in a year that was one of their best, a season they won the Big 12 Championship.

Boston College (0-4): Boston College is one of those teams that seems to just have Kansas State’s number. These two teams have faced off four times ranging from the first matchup in 1937 to the latest matchup in 1994.

Florida State (0-3): Florida State is another team that just seems to have the Wildcats number, but they also have not played each other since the 1970s. A rematch and a change for revenge might be due.

Louisville (0-2): Kansas State played Louisville twice in 2006 and 2008 after Snyder retired for the first time. That is not to say that is the reason they lost, but they weren’t winning a lot of games in that time.

Illinois (0-1): The only time Illinois and Kansas State faced off was back in 1948, which is a bit of a surprise with how close these teams are. One would think a rematch would be an easy one to set up, but there must not be much interest there.

Michigan State: (0-5-1): Michigan State is the one team on this list that has beaten Kansas State the most. The Wildcats have faced the Spartans six times and were unable to bring home the win, but that was also back starting in 1933 and the most recent matchup was in 1958.

Northwestern (0-2): This purple Wildcat showdown has unfortunately favored Northwestern the entire time. These teams have faced off since 1938 and 1941 so another matchup is overdue.

Ohio State (0-1): This is another one-time matchup where Ohio State and Kansas State faced off back in 2004, one of Synder’s down years.

Oregon (0-1): This one was a tough matchup as it was the 2012 team playing in the New Year’s Six Bowl game against the Ducks. The Wildcats had felt they should have been in the National Championship, but an unfortunate loss to unranked Baylor ruined those chances. This was also the matchup of quarterback greats Collin Klein and Marcus Mariota.

Penn State (0-2): Kansas State and Penn State faced off back in the late 60s. This is another rematch that is long over due.

Purdue (0-3): This series’ history spans all the way back to 1929 and their most recent matchup was in 1998. Purdue unfortunately took down the high-flying Michael Bishop and the 1998 team in their bowl game.

Rutgers (0-1): Kansas State and Rutgers have never faced off in the regular season, only in a bowl game back in 2006, the first season without Bill Snyder.

Wisconsin (0-2): The Wildcats and the Badgers have only faced off twice, once in 1964 and once in 1982. The distance between the two schools isn’t too bad, so this would be an interesting rematch to see in the future.

Alabama (0-1): Kansas State unfortunately could not take down the mighty Nick Saban and Alabama back in 2022 when the Wildcats had just come off a big Big 12 Championship win over the undefeated TCU Horned Frogs.

Auburn (0-4): Auburn is another team that just seems to have Kansas State’s number with the Wildcats having four chances to get one in the win column and just being unable to do so.

Florida (0-2): This is another matchup that happened a long time ago, once in 1949 and the other time back in 1973.

Vanderbilt (0-2): Kansas State and Vanderbilt have faced off twice, both early in the season as non-conference games and Vandy found a way to walk away with the win on both occasions.

All series records found on mcubed.net.