Local Sports - The Morning Sun

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JOPLIN, Mo. -- It seemed an appropriate way for Missouri Southern to win the game. Josie Tofpi was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth inning as the Lions edged Pittsburg State 4-3 to … more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 4/11/23

Colgan, Baxter Springs split baseball twinbill

BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. -- The St. Mary's Colgan Panthers split a doubleheader on the road against the Baxter Springs Lions on Monday, taking the first game 4-2 before dropping the second game 14-13. … more

Staff Reports [email protected] | 4/11/23

Pittsburg softball topples Girard

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Two lightning delays couldn’t slow down Pittsburg softball’s momentum on Monday. The Purple Dragons plated seven runs in the fifth and starting pitcher Megan Johnston tossed five shut-out innings … more

By Dashuan Vereen / [email protected] | 4/11/23

Frontenac's Bryant Kitchen Slides Into second during the Raiders win over Riverton on Monday in Frontenac.

Frontenac Baseball Cruises To Doubleheader Sweep

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The Frontenac Raiders rolled through a doubleheader with the Riverton Rams on Monday, earning a 6-0 shutout victory in game one of the day. The Raiders didn’t let anything stop them, not even a … more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 4/11/23

Johnston, Fern named athletes of the week

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Pittsburg softball’s Megan Johnston and baseball’s Webb Fern have been named The Morning Sun’s high school athletes of the week for the week ending April 1. Megan Johnston Johnston … more

By Dashuan Vereen / [email protected] | 4/8/23

Jenny Fuller is head softball coach at Pittsburg State, and her husband Brad is one of her assistants. This is the eighth year they've coached together. JIM HENRY / MORNING SUN STAFF

FAMILY AFFAIR: Jenny, Brad Fuller work well together as married PSU coaches

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Pittsburg State coaches Jenny and Brad Fuller did not meet at a softball field."Actually we just met after college," Jenny said. "I was done (at Baylor) and he was done (at Tarleton State). Our paths … more

By Jim Henry / [email protected] | 4/8/23

Gorillas outslug Rogers State 14-10

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CLAREMORE, Okla. -- Austin Warkins, Nixon Brannan and Cade Clemons socked home runs and combined for 11 runs batted in as Pittsburg State outslugged Rogers State 14-10 Friday afternoon in MIAA … more

Staff Reports [email protected] | 4/8/23

Pittsburg's Dawson Stegman hits a line drive against Ottawa on Friday in the Adam LaRoche Varsity Baseball Tournament in Fort Scott.

Pittsburg advances to Adam LaRoche championship game

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FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Pittsburg captured two pool play wins in the Adam LaRoche Varsity Baseball Tournament on Friday, setting up a matchup against Tonganoxie for the championship at 2:30 p.m. on … more

By Dashuan Vereen / [email protected] | 4/8/23

Girard girls 4th, boys 6th at PSU Gorilla Relays

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Girard's track and field teams posted top-6 finishes Friday in the 34th annual Jock's Nitch/PSU Gorilla Relays on Prentice Gudgen Track inside Carnie Smith Stadium. The Trojans finished in fourth … more

Staff Reports [email protected] | 4/8/23

St. Mary's Colgan's Lily Brown posted averages of 22 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals per game for the 24-1 Panthers. COURTESY PHOTO

Colgan’s Lily Brown named girls basketball player of the year

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St. Mary’s Colgan junior Lily Brown has been named the Morning Sun’s girls basketball player of the year after leading the Panthers to their second consecutive undefeated CNC League championship … more

By Dashuan Vereen / [email protected] | 4/7/23

Wilson, Cronk named to MIAA Hall of Fame

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All-Americans Troy Wilson and Daryl Cronk from Pittsburg State are part of the 2023 MIAA Hall of Fame class, the league office announced Thursday. Eight former student-athletes, a coach, an official … more

Staff Reports [email protected] | 4/7/23

Prep, college track meets set at PSU

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It's a full weekend of track and field at Pittsburg State. On Friday, the 34th annual Jock's Nitch/PSU Gorilla Relays high school meet will be held at Prentice Gudgen Track inside Carnie Smith … more

Staff Reports [email protected] | 4/7/23

Pittsburg's Brooklynn Ryan slides across home plate in front of Fort Scott catcher Aubrey Yarick during Thursday's game at the PHS Softball Field. JEFF PEYTON / MORNING SUN STAFF

POWER DISPLAY: Johnston's 2 HRs, 6 RBI lead Dragons past Fort Scott

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Pittsburg shortstop Megan Johnston hit the ball hard on Thursday afternoon.Just ask teammate Mya Russell.Johnston belted two home runs and a double while driving in six runs as the Purple Dragons … more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 4/7/23

Southeast's Eliz White rounds third base to score a run against Chetopa on Thursday in Cherokee.

Lancer softball sweeps Chetopa

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CHEROKEE, Kan. - The Southeast Lancers raced to a softball doubleheader sweep over visiting Chetopa 15-0 and 20-5 on Thursday at Southeast High School.Chetopa struggled with errors in both games, and … more

By Dashuan Vereen / [email protected] | 4/7/23

Late rallies lift Rogers State past Gorillas

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CLAREMORE, Okla. -- Aided by Pittsburg State mistakes, Rogers State rallied twice in the late innings and beat the Gorillas 10-9 in 10 innings Thursday afternoon in MIAA baseball action at the … more

Staff Reports [email protected] | 4/7/23

Early morning shooting on N. Smelter in Pittsburg

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg Police are investigating an early morning shooting on N. Smelter Street. According to the department’s press release, a 23-year-old Pittsburg resident says he was shot … more

Staff Reports / [email protected] | 4/6/23

Lambert makes softball watchlist

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Pittsburg State second baseman/utility player Taylor Lambert has been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Player and Pitcher of the Year Watchlist.Lambert, the Gorillas' leadoff … more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 4/6/23

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado removes his helmet after striking out to end the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Olson homers, drives in 3 to help Braves sweep Cards

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matt Olson homered and drove in three, and the Atlanta Braves completed a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 on Wednesday.Bryce Elder, who was recalled from Triple-A … more

By Joe Harris / Associated Press | 4/6/23

Pittsburg's Mason English averaged 29.6 points per-game for the 17-6 Purple Dragons.

Pittsburg’s Mason English named boys basketball player of the year

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Pittsburg junior guard Mason English has been named the Morning Sun’s boys basketball player of the year after leading the Purple Dragons to a 17-6 mark and a trip to the state tournament. “It … more

By Dashuan Vereen | 4/6/23

Pittsburg's Roary Hunziker strikes out 14 batters on her 17th birthday in the Purple Dragons' 9-2 victory over Galena on Thursday at PHS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

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It was Roary Hunziker's birthday, but she gave a present to her softball teammates.Pitching on her 17th birthday, Hunziker struck out 14 batters and allowed four hits as Pittsburg downed Galena 9-2 … more

By Jim Henry [email protected] | 4/5/23