Local Sports - The Morning Sun

Pittsburg State's Jaylen Fuksa returns a kickoff for nine yards in a game last season against Nebraska-Kearney at historic Carnie Smith Stadium.

AFCA tabs Gorillas sixth in preseason rankings

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The American Football Coaches Association released its preseason rankings for all four levels of NCAA football and Pittsburg State landed in the No. 6 spot in NCAA Division II preseason top-25. … more

By Brock Sisney [email protected] | 8/15/24

Martha Harper leads the Frontenac junior varsity basketball team in a game in Girard

Frontenac's Harper heads home

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After 33 years of teaching and coaching at Frontenac, Martha Harper decided it was time to come home. more

By Kalon Fullerton [email protected] | 8/10/24

Dan Smith, former major league pitcher, enjoys accompanying his 15-year-old son Kam's baseball journey.

National-level baseball keeps Kam Smith busy

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It’s been a busy summer of baseball for Kam Smith. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 8/9/24

Girard's Mari Gimore competes during the 3,000-meter jun in the Junior Olympics in Greensboro, N.C.

Girard Warriors compete in Junior Olympics

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The Girard Warriors Youth Running Club finished up the 2024 summer season last week at the AAU Junior Olympics in Greensboro, N.C on July 27-Aug. 3. Eighteen athletes competed in 32 events … more

By Kalon Fullerton [email protected] | 8/8/24

Cody Harris (left) and Heston Kavanagh pose with their winning cars after Saturday night's Crawford County demolition derby at Bill Peak Arena.

Kavanagh-Harris win demolition derby at Crawford County Fair

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GIRARD, Kan. -- The team event at the Crawford County Fair demolition derby ended with a prime example of teamwork. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 8/6/24

San Diego Padres' Tony Gwynn gets his 3,000th career hit in the first inning against Montreal Expos rookie pitcher Dan Smith on Aug. 6, 1999, in Montreal. The catcher is Chris Widger, and the umpire is Bob Davidson.

'You're in the books, man'

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As a rookie pitcher with the Montreal Expos, Dan Smith was well aware of the situation. more

8/6/24

Seth Rice stays quite busy entertaining fans as a rodeo clown.

Seth Rice entertains as rodeo clown

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GIRARD, Kan. -- Seth Rice obviously keeps up with the times. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 8/3/24

Hepler resident Karson Harris (right) scores 79 points to win the bareback riding Thursday night at the Crawford County Fair rodeo at Bill Peak Arena.

Crawford County Fair rodeo ends two-day run

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Karson Harris added to a successful season on Thursday night at the Crawford County Fair rodeo. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 8/3/24

Josh Barnes, who won 89 games and two Region 16 championships the last two seasons at Crowder College, is the new softball coach at Pittsburg State.

PSU hires Crowder coach to lead softball program

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A whirlwind week for Pittsburg State softball continued Friday. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 7/27/24

Last two PSU coaching hires follow similar scripts

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Pittsburg State athletics director Jim Johnson made a quick hire to fill the Gorillas’ head softball coach vacancy. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 7/27/24

Jenny Fuller, who directed Pittsburg State to a share of the MIAA softball regular-season championship last spring, has been named head coach at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La.

Jenny Fuller leaves PSU for Division I job

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It wasn’t that many days ago that Pittsburg State softball coach Jenny Fuller conducted a camp for young players. Now, she’s leaving town. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 7/26/24

Pittsburg State quarterback Chad Dodson, coach Tom Anthony and linebacker Jack Barkley (left to right) answer questions during the MIAA Football Media Day on Tuesday in Kansas City, Mo.

Gorillas picked second behind Mules in MIAA football polls

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Pittsburg State has lost one MIAA football game in the last two seasons, marching undefeated to the 2022 league title and sharing last year’s crown with Central Missouri. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 7/25/24

Pitt State golfers report on Aug. 22

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For the first time in 10 years, Pittsburg State will have a men’s golf team. Coach Nick Long has assembled an 11-man roster, and the players will report on Aug. 22 for the first practice. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 7/25/24

Players prepare during summer for football season

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Fall football camp at Pittsburg State begins Aug. 6, but the Gorillas have been preparing in player-led activities during June and July. more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 7/25/24

Derrick Mein, a 2004 graduate of Girard High School, will be competing in the men's trap shooting at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Girard graduate Derrick Mein aims for medal at Olympics

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Derrick Mein is aiming high. “I really feel like the opportunity is right for me to win a medal,” he said. “That’s what I have my sights on.” more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 7/21/24

Wayne and Mary Metcalf have spent many nights watching Little League baseball games in Baxter Springs during the last 58 years.

Wayne Metcalf helps Baxter Springs Little League for 58 years

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Wayne Metcalf landed in Baxter Springs because he couldn’t get back into his home state. And Little League Baseball should be forever grateful. … more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 7/21/24

Pittsburg 12U second baseman Reed Wachter throws out a Riverton runner at first base Tuesday at Wayne Metcalf Field.

Riverton 12U upends Pittsburg in state tournament

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BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. — The Pittsburg 12-under All-Stars took a 11-0 run-rule loss in four innings Tuesday night against Riverton in the Kansas Little League state tournament at Wayne Metcalf … more

By Brock Sisney [email protected] | 7/18/24

Pittsburg State junior Heather Arnett slides into the silp and slide at the end of the Future Gorillas camp on Tuesday.

Fuller leads Future Gorilla camp

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Pittsburg State softball head coach Jeny Fuller and her team led the final day of the Jenny Fuller softball camps on Tuesday at Pittsburg State University. The camp featured grades 5-7 in the … more

By Kalon Fullerton [email protected] | 7/17/24

Patriots split zone tourney twinbill

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The Pittsburg Post 64 Patriots split the first two games of the zone tournament on Friday, defeating Garnett 6-3 and falling 4-3 in walk-off fashion against Iola in eight innings in the nightcap at … more

By Kalon Fullerton [email protected] | 7/15/24

Lallemand's baseball love starts in Girard

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Crowder College baseball coach Travis Lallemand graduated from Girard High School in 1994 and he said that he thinks about his experiences growing up and playing sports in Girard all the time. … more

By Brock Sisney [email protected] | 7/15/24