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UTSA Tops K-State in Opening-Round Friday

AUSTIN, Texas – Second-seeded UTSA scored seven runs over the sixth and seventh innings to defeat No. 3-seed K-State, 10-2, Friday night on the first day of the NCAA Austin Regional at UFCU Disch-Falk Field   K-State fell to 31-25 on the year and will play an elimination game against No.4-seed Houston Christian (32-24) at […]

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AUSTIN, Texas – Second-seeded UTSA scored seven runs over the sixth and seventh innings to defeat No. 3-seed K-State, 10-2, Friday night on the first day of the NCAA Austin Regional at UFCU Disch-Falk Field
 
K-State fell to 31-25 on the year and will play an elimination game against No.4-seed Houston Christian (32-24) at 2 p.m. Saturday, followed by a matchup between UTSA (45-13) and No. 2 national seed and regional host Texas (43-12) at 8 p.m.
 
“UTSA put a lot of pressure on us and put the ball in play,” head coach Pete Hughes commented following the loss. “We had our opportunities, but bottom line is they got big two-out hits, and we didn’t.”
 
UTSA’s pitching staff of starter Zach Royse, and relievers Robert Orloski and Christian Okerholm limited the Wildcats to just two runs on six hits, with Royse (9-4) earning the victory. The right-hander surrendered one run and scattered just three hits in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.
 
Offensively, four players for UTSA turned in multi-hit efforts with James Taussig generating a game-high three RBI with a three-run homer in the sixth.
 
“The three-run homer was the deciding point of the game, and then they damage controlled the fourth inning. [UTSA] did a great job there with the bases load and no outs and come out of there with only one run scoring. That’s pretty good job by them. [Royse] their starter battled and did a good job,” Hughes added.
 
Lefty Jacob Frost, who was tagged for the loss and moved to 1-5 on the year, held the Roadrunners to five hits in his 5 1/3-innings. The senior allowed five runs and struck out five in his 15th start, while issuing four walks.
 
Six different Wildcats produced a hit in the opening round, that included a solo blast by pinch-hitter Nick English, while AJ Evasco drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
 
Saturday’s elimination game will stream on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while radio coverage is available on the K-State Sports Network with a free live streaming audio on kstatesports.com/watch.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After retiring the Cats in order, UTSA jumped on the board in the opening frame behind catcher Andrew Stucky’s single up the middle. UTSA’s Norris McClure homered to left field to expand the lead, 2-0, in the third inning.
 
Maximus Martin worked a walk, the third walk from Royse, to lead off the fourth before Seth Dardar laced the Cats’ first hit into center to position runners on first and third. Keegan O’Connor was hit in the next at bat to load the bases, forcing a mound visit for UTSA.
 
With one out, freshman AJ Evasco lifted a sacrifice fly to center, allowing Martin to score from third and pull the score within one.
 
The Roadrunners recovered the run handed over in the top of the inning, utilizing one hit and a fielding error to stretch their lead back out to two, but Frost’s fourth strikeout of the game left the bases loaded.
 
Shintaro Inoue beat the shift and lined his lone hit– a two-out single – between the Roadrunners’ second baseman and shortstop to register the Cats second hit of the game. Martin flared a 1-0 pitch into left field, but a diving catch by Garrett Gruell ended the threat.
 
Royse carried a two-hitter into the sixth, until O’Connor took a 2-2 pitch into right field, leading UTSA to make the first pitching change of the nightcap. Kennedy singled through the left side in his first at bat against reliever Orloski, until a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. The Roadrunners picked up two quick outs to strand the duo.
 
The Cats tacked a run to the board in the seventh, as Nick English stepped off the bench and blasted a solo shot 404-feet to left center.  
 
UTSA spotted K-State for seven runs over a two-inning stretch to put the game away, highlighted by a three-run homer from James Taussig in the sixth.
 
INSIDE THE BOX

  • UTSA scored 10 runs on 10 hits with no errors committed and left nine men on base.
  • K-State scored two runs on six hits, committed two errors and stranded nine runners on base.
  • Royse logged 5 1/3 innings of one-run, one hit ball with five strikeouts and three walks.
  • Frost (1-4) was tagged for the loss, surrendering five runs, all earned, on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. The lefty issued four walks and struck out five.
  • Six different players produced a hit for K-State.
  • English homered in the seventh – his second of the year.
  • Four Roadrunners turned in multi-hit efforts, led by three RBI from Taussig with his three-run homer in the sixth.
  • UTSA drove in four runs with two outs, hitting .273 (3-for-11) with two away and .267 (4-for-15) in scoring position.
  • K-State went 1-for-10 with two outs and was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.  

 TEAM NOTES

  • UTSA pulled ahead, 3-2, in the all-time series between the two squads, while Friday marked the first meeting since 2009.
  • K-State posts an all-time record of 9-7 during the regional round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • The loss snapped a six-game winning streak in the regional round.
  • K-State is 28-12 when hitting one or more home runs in a game.

2025 NCAA AUSTIN REGIONAL

Friday, May 30

1 p.m. CT – Game 1: No. 1 Texas 7, Houston Christian 1
6 p.m. CT – Game 2: No. 2 UTSA 10, K-State 2
 
Saturday, May 31
2 p.m. CT – Game 3: No. 4 Houston Christian vs. No. 3 K-State
8 p.m. CT – Game 4: No. 2/1 Texas vs. No. 2 UTSA                      



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MLB Draft will feature nation’s top high school stars

As the anticipation builds for the MLB Draft this weekend, all eyes are on the talented high school players poised to make their mark in professional baseball. This year’s draft class features a crop of exceptional young athletes with the potential to become future stars in Major League Baseball. From standout pitchers to versatile position […]

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As the anticipation builds for the MLB Draft this weekend, all eyes are on the talented high school players poised to make their mark in professional baseball. This year’s draft class features a crop of exceptional young athletes with the potential to become future stars in Major League Baseball. From standout pitchers to versatile position players, these high school prospects are drawing significant attention from scouts and teams alike.

The 2025 MLB Draft begins at 5 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 13 on ESPN.

Top 10 high school draft prospects

These are the top 10 high school prospects heading into the 2025 MLB Draft, according to MLB.com.

1. SS/3B Ethan Holliday – Stillwater (Okla.)
The younger brother of former No. 1 overall pick and Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holiday, Ethan was named Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year in June. He led the Pioneers to a 25-8 record and a berth in the state tournament. Holliday hit .611 as a senior with 19 home runs and 64 RBI. He signed with Oklahoma State in November.

2. RHP Seth Hernandez – Corona (Calif.)
Hernandez was homeschooled through his sophomore year of high school but quickly made up for lost time once he arrived at Corona. He earned Gatorade National Player of the Year honors in June after posting a 0.39 ERA with 105 strikeouts. Hernandez has signed with Vanderbilt.

3. SS Eli Willits – Fort Cobb-Broxton (Okla.)
Baseball is in Willits’ blood. His father, Reggie, played in the majors and is currently the associate head coach for Oklahoma. Willits’ older brother, Jaxon, just wrapped up his sophomore season with the Sooners. It should come as no surprise that the 6-foot-1 shortstop is committed to play for Oklahoma, but Willits should hear his name called early on Sunday.

4. SS Billy Carlson – Corona (Calif.)
Carlson’s calling card is his defense but he’s no slouch at the plate, either. He also has an impressive arm and touched the mid-90s when pitching for the Panthers. Carlson flipped his commitment from Vanderbilt to Tennessee in October.

5. SS JoJo Parker – Purvis (Miss.)
The 2025 Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year, Parker hit .489 with 13 home runs and 35 RBI. Parker, along with his twin brother Jacob, led Purvis to a 29-8 record and the Class 4A state title game. He committed to Mississippi State nearly four years ago.

6. SS Steele Hall – Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.)
Hall was named Mr. Baseball in June by Alabama sportswriters after hitting .484 with eight home runs and 35 RBI this year. He is in line to be the first Alabama high school player to be drafted in the first round since the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Maddux Bruns out of UMS-Wright in 2021.

7. SS Daniel Pierce – Mill Creek (Ga.)
Pierce comes from a baseball family, as his father was his coach at Mill Creek. The 6-foot shortstop is coveted for his speed but has also impressed with his mental makeup up and approach at the plate. Piece committed to Georgia during his sophomore year of high school.

8. SS/2B Kayson Cunningham – Johnson (Texas)
Cunningham’s trophy case is already full of accolades but there’s always room for more. The Texas commit earned USA Baseball’s Player of the Year award in 2024 after hitting .417 for Team USA at an 18U World Cup qualifier. Gatorade named him the Texas Player of the Year in June.

9. LHP Kruz Schoolcraft – Sunset (Ore.)
Schoolcraft was a true two-way standout this season for the Lancers but his work on the mound is what has caught the attention of scouts. He was dominant as a pitcher, posting a 0.52 ERA with 82 strikeouts over 40 innings of work this year. Schoolcraft was equally dangerous at the plate, hitting .521 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI.

10. 3B Gavin Fien – Great Oak (Calif.)
Fien’s brother, Dylan, was a seventh-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft. Gavin will certainly hear his name called earlier than that this weekend after hitting .400 with 11 RBI in eight games with USA Baseball’s U18 team last year.

How to watch the MLB Draft

Date: Sunday, July 13, 2025
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Coca-Cola Roxy, Atlanta, Ga.
TV Channel: ESPN
Streaming: MLB.com

Where to watch the MLB Draft on TV:
You can watch the 2025 MLB Draft starting at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN, MLB Network and MLB.com.



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Chicago Sky put Angel Reese 2K cover on free shirts for fans

Earlier this week, Chicago Sky star and former LSU standout Angel Reese was named the WNBA edition cover athlete for the upcoming video game NBA 2K26. Now, the franchise is supporting one of the league’s brightest young players. The Sky set up t-shirts featuring Reese’s cover on seats for every fan attending Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Lynx. Check out the […]

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Earlier this week, Chicago Sky star and former LSU standout Angel Reese was named the WNBA edition cover athlete for the upcoming video game NBA 2K26. Now, the franchise is supporting one of the league’s brightest young players.

The Sky set up t-shirts featuring Reese’s cover on seats for every fan attending Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Lynx. Check out the photo below, which shows the free giveaway for loyal Chicago fans, as it’s a pretty sweet deal. The WNBA shared it to X.

Last season, it was A’ja Wilson who was the cover athlete for the women’s version of the popular game. Now, Reese is getting the nod, as her star continues to burn bright for the WNBA.

She’s is in the middle of her second season in Chicago after being selected No. 7 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Reese was named to last year’s All-Rookie team and is already a two-time WNBA All-Star.

Additionally, Reese was last year’s rebounding leader league-wide, along with being an NCAA champion during the 2023 season with the Tigers. Now, she can add cover athlete to her resume, as fans enjoy a free t-shirt for her efforts.

More on Angel Reese, NBA 2K Cover

Meanwhile, Angel Reese found herself at the center of some drama between Ryan Clark and Robert Griffin III after her cover was revealed. Fans were attacking Reese for being on the cover, and after previously defending her, Griffin III turned it into some drama centered around Caitlin Clark.

The former Heisman Trophy winner claimed people in Reese’s inner-circle talked to him about her relationship with her WNBA peer, which ticked off the Sky star: “People in Angel’s inner circle called me and told me I was right and Angel Reese has grown to hate Caitlin Clark because of the media always asking her about Caitlin and being constantly compared to her,” Griffin III wrote.

Reese saw the post later in the morning, and decided to go after Griffin III: “Lying on this app when everybody know the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work,” Reese wrote. It’s clear Reese doesn’t believe that Griffin spoke to anyone close to her about her peer in the Indiana Fever star.

That prompted the aforementioned Ryan Clark to take aim at Griffin III. He claimed the former pro quarterback was a liar and that he should just admit his mistake and move on from the situation: “Desperation will force you to make things up!” the former NFL defensive back wrote. “It’s ok to take the L & move on some times. Lying just makes it worse.”

Alas, this is par for the course, as Ryan Clark has been a staunch defender of Reese throughout her rise to fame. In defending her and getting a shot off at someone he’s had issues with in the past in Griffin III, he killed two birds with one stone.





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Cooper Flagg’s NBA Summer League debut vs. Bronny James, Lakers draws impressive TV viewership

As the NBA Summer League got started, all eyes turned to Las Vegas for one of the most anticipated debuts in recent memory. Cooper Flagg was gearing up for his first game with the Dallas Mavericks as they took on Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers. It lived up to the billing. In the […]

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As the NBA Summer League got started, all eyes turned to Las Vegas for one of the most anticipated debuts in recent memory. Cooper Flagg was gearing up for his first game with the Dallas Mavericks as they took on Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

It lived up to the billing. In the process, it turned into a huge TV ratings victory for ESPN with impressive viewership numbers.

The game averaged 955,000 viewers and peaked at 1.1 million, according to Sports Media Watch. In the process, it became the fourth-most watched NBA Summer League game on the network – trailing only Zion Williamson’s debut in 2019 (1.6 million), Victor Wembanyama’s debut in 2023 (1.39 million) and the Lakers vs. Boston Celtics matchup in 2017.

Flagg’s first game with the Mavericks brought out plenty of star power at the Thomas & Mack Center, and he had a solid showing. He totaled 10 points to go with six rebounds, four assists and three steals in 31 minutes of action. However, after the game, he made it clear he wasn’t very happy with his performance.

“Not up to my standard,” Flagg told ESPN’s Katie George after the game. “I’m going to regroup, I’ll be alright. You know, this new feeling, new environment, new teammates. But the guys held it down. … They had my back. I didn’t have my best game, but I’m just going to keep growing moving forward.”

On the flip side, James played 21 minutes as he gets ready for his second NBA season with the Lakers. He had eight points, two rebounds and two assists while also getting the task of guarding Flagg in the matchup.

After the first quarter, James broke down what he saw from the former Duke star. He pointed out the difficulty of guarding his size and athleticism, which helps Flagg get to the basket with ease.

“He’s just a quick, powerful big,” James told George after the first quarter. “We’ve got to do everything we can to stop him and slow him down. But he’s a great player and he’s going to get his sometimes. Just got to do a great job of [slowing] him down.”

Cooper Flagg, Bronny James were two top names in college

Bronny James and Cooper Flagg both arrived in the NBA as the biggest names on their respective draft boards. James ended his lone year at USC with a $3.2 million On3 NIL Valuation, which at the time ranked No. 1 in the college basketball NIL rankings. The son of LeBron, he built a strong social media following, which played a role in that figure.

Flagg, meanwhile, arrived at Duke this past year as the top recruit in the country and led the Blue Devils to the Final Four. As a result, his On3 NIL Valuation soared to $4.8 million, which also ranked No. 1 in the college basketball rankings and No. 2 in the On3 NIL 100, the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation.

As a result, the buzz grew quickly when the NBA scheduled the Lakers and Mavericks to square off in the NBA Summer League opener. It certainly lived up to the billing as the Mavs held on for a thrilling 87-85 victory to start things off.





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DOUG GILLIN REVIEWS HOUSE SETTLEMENT, NIL & SUN BELT CHANGES

The college athletics landscape has fractured from multiple seismic shifts in policy – and payment – for student-athletes, including former, current, and future athletes.   As if the complexities of the house settlement and new NIL provisions, designed to actually mold NIL as it was originally billed, aren’t enough, Sun Belt Conference members are now discussing new […]

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The college athletics landscape has fractured from multiple seismic shifts in policy – and payment – for student-athletes, including former, current, and future athletes.  

As if the complexities of the house settlement and new NIL provisions, designed to actually mold NIL as it was originally billed, aren’t enough, Sun Belt Conference members are now discussing new membership with Texas State headed to the PAC-12 (or whatever we’re calling it now).

Appalachian State opted into the house settlement revenue-sharing agreement, with direct, immediate, and significant financial implications.  NIL opportunity remains a headline requirement and its now being managed directly within athletic departments.  And App State has a prominent voice within the Sun Belt leadership circle.



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Beau Pribula reveals investment plans, strategy with NIL dollars: ‘I’m going to be smart with this money’

Shortly after Beau Pribula committed to Missouri out of the transfer portal, he landed a seven-figure NIL package. Sources told On3’s Pete Nakos it will pay out $1.5 million in 2025, which is similar to other quarterbacks in the SEC. Before Pribula transferred from Penn State, he didn’t think much about what he would do […]

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Shortly after Beau Pribula committed to Missouri out of the transfer portal, he landed a seven-figure NIL package. Sources told On3’s Pete Nakos it will pay out $1.5 million in 2025, which is similar to other quarterbacks in the SEC.

Before Pribula transferred from Penn State, he didn’t think much about what he would do with his NIL dollars. But once he committed to Mizzou and landed his deal, he decided he was going to “be smart” with his money.

Pribula saw how players across college football used their earnings, whether it be on cars, jewelry, or anything of the like. He chose to take another path and invested, especially taking an interest in real estate. He chose to trust his advisers, and his focus is on setting himself up for success post-college.

“I think it’s kind of a problem in college football, too. Guys buy sports cars, jewelry, clothing – blowing all this well-deserved money they’re getting,” Pribula said on Next Up with Adam Breneman. “I’ve had teammates where it’s like, ‘I got this sports car and all these clothes and jewelry.’ And it’s April, and it’s like, ‘I have to pay 30% to 40% of what I earned all year in taxes? I don’t have it.’ Or, they leave college and they have nothing. That’s really disappointing to see, and that is the No. 1 thing that I wanted to stay away from.

“The first thing I [said] when I signed the contract, I was like, I’m going to be smart with this money. I’m not going to spend a dime. I’m going to invest all of it. Thankfully, I’m around smart businessmen every day. My brother is one. … Right away, I was like, I don’t know much about it right now. I’m new to this thing. But I’m going to trust the people that do and I’m going to let them help me. So I’ve invested in real estate already, a good chunk of it. Just really listening to everything that they have to say because they have a lot of experience with it. Other than that, I’m using my stipend to pay for food.”

Beau Pribula: ‘I’ve seen guys spoil it away’

Beau Pribula recalled a recent run to Chipotle that summed up his philosophy with money. He thought there would be more chicken on his burrito, and his brother told him to get double instead. The quarterback didn’t want to, though. Double chicken costs more.

“I was in Chipotle a couple weeks ago and I was like, ‘They didn’t put enough chicken on my burrito.’ My brother’s like, ‘Get double chicken,’” Pribula said. “I was like, ‘It costs more money.’ … I’m a little stingy, but seriously, I want to be smart with it because I’ve seen guys spoil it away and it’s sad.”

That mindset helped Pribula adjust once he started earning more NIL money. It’s a change of pace from when he was at Penn State, where his focus was simply on football as he backed up Drew Allar.

Now, he’s learning more about the financial world as he invests his dollars. Pribula called that one of the positives of the NIL era, as athletes get educated on the need to spend wisely.

“I had zero interest in January,” Pribula said of real estate investment. “I didn’t care about anything but football. And I still, really, just only care about football, to be honest. But earning this money has kind of forced me to be interested in it and learn all about it and everything like that.

“One thing that is good for college athletes earning money, I think it kind of forces you to mature quickly and think strategically with your money. So yeah, I’ve become more interested in real estate and investing and all that stuff because you kind of have to.”



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Ex-Michigan Staffer Connor Stalions Says TCU’s ‘Dummy Signals’ Were Overblown

The college football world, specifically the Big Ten, was taken for a ride during the 2023 season amid revelations that Michigan gained impermissible access to opposing teams’ on-field signals — an effort spearheaded by former Wolverines defensive analyst Connor Stalions. Earlier this week at Big 12 Media Days, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes stated that […]

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The college football world, specifically the Big Ten, was taken for a ride during the 2023 season amid revelations that Michigan gained impermissible access to opposing teams’ on-field signals — an effort spearheaded by former Wolverines defensive analyst Connor Stalions.

Earlier this week at Big 12 Media Days, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes stated that the Horned Frogs had to use “dummy signals” against the Wolverines in their 2022-2023 College Football Playoff semifinal round matchup.

Stalions vehemently denied what he referred to as “the same recycled story” from Dykes.

He went on to provide some details on social media in response, saying that Michigan lost because of turnovers and poor defensive play, not because TCU “fooled” the Wolverines with changed signals. 

“TCU kept everything from the coordinator to QB the same, but had dummy signals & some new signals from the QB to Receivers,” Stalions wrote. “But that didn’t matter because I’m watching the coach and seeing what they changed in real time. Similar to Ohio State “changing their signals.” They changed their route concepts & some run concepts — not their formations & pass protection signals, which is all I cared about.”

Stalions doubled down, saying that if TCU had changed its signals, it “would have confused the 18-year-olds on the field more than it would confuse me.”

“If you don’t want teams to steal your signals, then don’t signal,” Stallions wrote. “Any team that signals on offense is trying to force the defense to signal so they can steal it. There’s really no other advantage. … The continuous attempt to correlate signals to any wins & losses at Michigan is funny. There were 7 games in my time at Michigan where I knew almost every signal the whole game. … We lost 3 of those games because we didn’t tackle well, and Georgia was historically good. We won the four other games because we dominated the line of scrimmage & tackled well.

“Blocking, ball security, tackling, run fits & coverage tools. That’s football. This is not rocket science.”

[MORE: Greed. Selfishness. Lack of Integrity. Big 12 Coaches Propose Change in NIL Era]

Stalions resigned from his position in November 2023 in the wake of the scandal and amid the NCAA’s investigation. Michigan later fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge for purportedly covering up details about the scandal. Then-head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten for the team’s final three games of the regular season.

Harbaugh returned for the CFP, and Michigan went on to win the national championship for the first time in 26 years. That offseason, Harbaugh departed Michigan to become the new head coach of the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.

Following its tumultuous yet successful 2023 season, Michigan finished 8-5 in 2024. As for Stalions, he became the defensive coordinator at Detroit Mumford High School and then the offensive coordinator at Belleville High School, where star quarterback Bryce Underwood played, in 2024. Underwood committed to Michigan in November 2024, flipping his commitment from LSU.

Stalions joined Michigan as a volunteer assistant in 2018 and was then promoted to defensive analyst in 2022.

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