Kentucky’s hopes of getting out of the Great Lakes Region Tournament of the Little League World Series remain alive after defeating Indiana 8-5 on Tuesday, Aug. 11, roughly seven and a half hours after play began.

The elimination game, which started at 1 p.m., saw its first weather delay last roughly two hours after just one inning of play, with North Oldham Little League (KY) leading 1-0.

Jasper National Little League (IN) was able to tie it up in the bottom of the third before finding a sizable 4-1 lead in the fourth inning by putting up three runs. The teams faced another weather delay after the fourth.

Kentucky started the top of the fifth inning strong, loading the bases with the first three batters. It was able to produce four runs in the inning to regain the lead at 5-4.

Indiana added one run in the bottom of the fifth, but the squad from La Grange continued to pour on the offense, adding three more runs in the sixth and heading into the bottom of the final inning with an 8-5 lead.

The Jasper team was unable to score again with its season on the line.

Kentucky advances to the Great Lakes Region Tournament championship game, where it will face Ohio at 7p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, on ESPN2 for a spot in the Little League World Series.

North Oldham used one pitcher for the entire contest. Easton Craig kept Kentucky’s season alive with 75 pitches over the course of the day.

Reach sports trending writer Alaina Morris at amorris@gannett.com and follow her on X at @alainammorris.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky State University President Koffi C. Akakpo is facing a no-confidence vote from the university’s national alumni association, which cited concerns involving trust, accreditation, finances, enrollment and governance.

The vote comes as some Kentucky State supporters continue to defend Akakpo’s leadership.

Jim Coleman, of Coleman-Crest Farms, said the university has been central to his family’s history and that he believes Akakpo has helped move the historically Black university forward during his more than two years as president.

Coleman said his family has long-standing ties to KSU.

“She went to Kentucky State, studied education. She studied education. He studied agriculture,” Coleman said.

Coleman said Akakpo helped secure $105 million in capital funding this past year, including $50 million for a health facility and $50 million for infrastructure improvements.

Coleman also said he worked with the administration on a new partnership to promote Kentucky State’s agriculture history and student opportunities. He said the effort aimed to raise $100,000 and brought in $30,000 in its first year.

“Not bad for first year,” Coleman said. “We had 100 guests.”

The Kentucky State University National Alumni Association announced its no-confidence vote amid broader concerns about the university’s direction. Coleman said alumni and supporters need to invest more in the school.

“Whether if you’re an alum or if you’re, you know, a family member of an alum or if you’re a child or a niece or nephew, even if you give a dollar back,” Coleman said.

Coleman said he saw giving numbers he found concerning, saying 95% of Kentucky State’s 17,500 living alumni have never donated to the university.

Attorney Jim Morris, who is supporting students in litigation, also released a report last week backing the alumni association’s no-confidence vote. In a seven-page analysis, Morris estimated Kentucky State has lost $172.5 million in state support since 1987.

Morris’ report also points to audit findings and concerns about governance stability under Akakpo. The document alleges administrators misrepresented the accreditation of the university’s master of social work program.

“You know, this is not about infrastructure. This is not about past ways of operating,” Morris said. “This is about the students that we bring to Kentucky State and making sure that when they come to Kentucky State, spend their money, invest four years of their time, that they leave out of there making more money and better opportunities and a better opportunity in the American dream than if they didn’t.”

Morris said in the report that he is aware Kentucky State’s internal issues began before Akakpo was hired. However, he said Akakpo’s contract terms, overall performance and decisions should be disclosed before a new contract is signed.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – The Kentucky Volleyball team was named to the No. 3 rank for the 2026 season, the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association announced Monday in the initial release of the rankings for the coaches’ poll.

Kentucky received four first-place votes, the second most behind Nebraska, who was voted on as preseason No. 1. Texas, who finished second in the overall voting, had one first-place vote.

Kentucky has a very difficult schedule this season.

The Wildcats are scheduled to play teams ranked 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 19 and 21 this season, including No. 4 Pittsburgh and No. 6 Wisconsin on opening weekend at the 2026 Jeep AVCA First Serve in Milwaukee. The Southeastern Conference placed five teams in the poll as Texas was voted on as No. 2, Kentucky at three, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 17 Florida and No. 21 Tennessee.

In the non-conference schedule alone, Kentucky will play seven teams, all ranked inside the top 20 of the preseason poll published Monday including five top-10 teams from three different conferences.

Kentucky closes its exhibition schedule Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET when it plays Dayton inside Historic Memorial Coliseum. Admission is free and seating is first-come, first-served. The Wildcats open the regular season a week from Friday vs. No. 6 Wisconsin in Milwaukee at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN in the Jeep AVCA First Serve.

2026 AVCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Nebraska (57)

2. Texas (1)

3. Kentucky (4)

4. Pittsburgh

5. Stanford

6. Wisconsin

7. Louisville

8. Texas A&M (1)

9. Purdue

10. Penn State

11. SMU

12. Arizona State

13. Creighton

14. Minnesota

15. Kansas

16. Indiana

17. Florida

18. TCU

19. North Carolina

20. Southern Cal

21. Baylor

22. Tennessee

23. Colorado

24. BYU

25. Oregon