Kansas
Kansas Takes Game 2, Clinch Series over West Virginia
Granville, WV – The No. 16 West Virginia Mountaineers (40-12, 19-8) gave up a five runs in the fourth inning and never recovered, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks Friday night 8-5.
Kansas captured a 1-0 lead in the first inning for the second consecutive game after sophomore Brady Ballinger hit a leadoff double to right-centerfield and advanced to third on a wild pitch, then a walk placed runners at the corners before WVU head coach Steve Sabins opted to pull junior starting pitcher Gavin Van Kempen.
Junior Ben McDougal got the call and limited the damage, following a Daniel Osoria hit a deep fly ball to centerfield for the sacrifice RBI.
West Virginia tied the game in the bottom of the inning after Gavin Kelly checked swing a base hit down the third base line and Kyle West followed with a single through the right side as Kelly took third. Then, senior Jace Rinehart hit into a 6-4-3 double play, but the tying run crossed home plate for the Mountaineers’ first run of the series.
Senior Kyle West gave the Mountaineers lead with a 367-foot blast for the 2-1 edge.
Kansas broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning. After McDougal gave up a single and a walk, redshirt senior Michael Brooks ripped an RBI double down the right field line. He beaned senior Sawyer Smith his evening came to an end.
Sophomore Chase Meyer entered the game and on the first pitch, senior Chase Diggins hit into a 4-6-3 double play, but a run scored. Then, Meyer hit senior Ian Francis was hit by the 1-0 pitch before sophomore Brady Ballinger lifted a three-run home run for the 6-2 advantage.
Kansas added a pair of runs in the fifth after senior Brady Counsell singled to right field, Osoria followed with a single to left before Meyer recorded the first out of the inning with a strikeout. Then, a wild pitch on a 3-2 count to Brooks scored a run and Meyer exited the game.
Sabins called in JJ Glascock entered the game, walked one before Diggins delivered a sacrifice fly to right field for an 8-2 lead.
West Virginia scratched a run across in the eight after Kyle West ripped his fourth hit of evening for a leadoff double and junior Benjamin Lumsden followed with a pinch-hit single to centerfield and an error allowed West to score.
In the ninth, Ellis Garcia smacked a high fly ball over left field for a two-run, pinch-hit home run to cut the deficit to three, but the Mountaineers could not bring any more runs across as the Jayhawks took game two 8-5.
West Virginia will look to avoid the sweep in game three Sunday afternoon. The first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. EST and the action will stream on ESPN+.
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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A man had his conviction in the 2021 killing of a Wichita teen upheld by the Kansas Supreme Court on Friday.
In a unanimous opinion, the court says that there was plenty of evidence to convict Tyler Kelly and that he had a fair trial.
Kelly was found guilty by a Sedgwick County jury in 2023 of first-degree murder, aggravated burglary and aggravated assault in the July 17, 2021, shooting death of 16-year-old Joseph Florence. Court records show Kelly and a 16-year-old broke into Florence’s home to confront him over a girl.
He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years for first-degree murder. He also got 43 months for aggravated burglary and 13 months for aggravated assault.
The judge ordered that he serve the 25 years, plus the additional 56 months before he could be considered for parole.
Kelly appealed his conviction. He argued there was not enough evidence to prove he entered Florence’s home illegally or intended to commit a crime, and he made claims of multiple incidents of prosecutorial error. He also argued that the jury should have been given use-of-force instructions to support his self-defense claim.
In an opinion written by Justice Larkin Walsh, the court says there is more than sufficient evidence that Kelly entered the home illegally with intent to assault Florence. The justices determined that Kelly received a fair trial that was free from prosecutorial error.
“We are pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision to affirm these convictions,” the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “This ruling brings a final measure of justice to the victims and their families, and it validates the hard work of our prosecutors and local law enforcement in securing this conviction.”
Kelly is currently housed in the Hutchinson Correctional Facility with an earliest possible release date of May 1, 2048, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
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The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship today announced the recipients of the 2026 Kansas Apprenticeship Awards, recognizing the outstanding leaders, organizations and programs that are driving innovation and expanding Registered Apprenticeship opportunities across the state.
“Our apprenticeship partners have played a tremendous role growing our workforce over the last several years,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “These apprenticeship awards honor what truly is possible when bold leadership and strategic collaboration align — and how, together, we can continue reimagining the Kansas workforce of the future.”
Since 2022, the Kansas apprenticeship program has experienced remarkable growth, including a 240% increase in new apprentices. This momentum reflects the strength of Kansas’ statewide apprenticeship ecosystem — and the commitment of the employers, education partners and workforce leaders to build sustainable talent pipelines.
Honorees were chosen based on innovation, measurable growth and long-term impact, with particular emphasis on forward-thinking strategies and sustained apprentice engagement.
The 2026 Kansas Apprenticeship Award recipients:
- Excellence in Kansas Apprenticeship Award – Dr. Joel Gillespie, Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE): Recognized for his visionary leadership in expanding teacher apprenticeship programs to 391 participants, helping transform educator pathways and remove barriers to the profession.
- Kansas Business of the Year – Panasonic: Committed to workforce development through the Industrial Manufacturing Technician Registered Apprenticeship. The company has grown from 96 apprentices to 125.
- Outstanding New Program of the Year – HCA Midwest Health: Launched Kansas’ first pre-licensure Registered Nurse Apprenticeship program. The program has 146 active apprentices.
- Outstanding Program of the Year – Western Missouri & Kansas Laborers District Council: Recognized as one of the most robust apprenticeship models. The Council has 445 active participants, working to support an array of backgrounds and strengthen the workforce.
- Youth Apprenticeship Development Partner of the Year – City of Winfield: Honored for its leadership in youth apprenticeship, bringing together K-12 education and higher education partners to create classroom-to-career pipelines for Kansas students.
The 2026 Kansas Apprenticeship Awards were presented during the state’s National Apprenticeship Week Celebration on April 29 in Topeka, highlighting the continued progress and future success of apprenticeship programs and opportunities in Kansas.
“Our apprenticeship partners are making a huge contribution to our state — and to our goal of connecting 10,001 apprentices by 2031,” Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship Director Shonda Anderson said. “Their contributions not only are changing the lives of individual Kansans but strengthening our state for generations to come.”
To view photos from the 2026 Kansas Apprenticeship Awards event, click here.
For additional information about the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, visit here.
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