The new 10-team Big 12 will present a much tougher nine-game full round robin schedule, so K-State decided to lighten the load in non-conference play. The Cats were scheduled to open the season in 2011 against Oregon at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, and then travel to play the Ducks in Eugene during the 2012 season. K-State and Oregon mutually agreed to cancel the series, with no penalty to either school. K-State Athletic Director John Currie announced the move on Monday, and says the Cats will still strive to play a seven game home schedule next year. K-State is still set to play Miami, Florida in a home-and-home series in 2011 and 2012.

(AP) Whit Merrifield’s RBI single with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning gave South Carolina its first baseball national championship with a 2-1 victory over UCLA in the College World Series on Tuesday night. The Gamecocks (54-16) won six straight games after losing their CWS opener against Oklahoma. They also won the last championship played at Rosenblatt Stadium, the CWS’ home since 1950. Scott Wingo drew a leadoff walk and took second when catcher Steve Rodriguez, perhaps distracted when Evan Marzilli squared to bunt, let an inside 1-0 pitch get past him. Wingo moved to third when Marzilli got a bunt down, and scored when Merrifield drilled a 2-0 pitch by Dan Klein (6-1) past pulled-in outfield of the Bruins (51-17). It is South Carolina’s first baseball championship and joins an NCAA title won by the women’s track team in 2002 as the athletic department’s biggest achievements.

(AP) UCLA has won a nation-leading 106 NCAA championships in 17 sports. Not one of them is in baseball yet. The Bruins’ chance is here, against South Carolina, in the best-of-three College World Series finals starting Monday night. The Bruins are in the finals a year after finishing 27-29 and not making the 64-team NCAA tournament. They’ve ridden the strong pitching of starters Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer and Rob Rasmussen. South Carolina reached the CWS championship game in 1975, 1977 and 2002 and lost each time. The Gamecocks survived four elimination games to make it to the finals. UCLA will start Cole (11-3) in Game 1. South Carolina didn’t announce a starter, deciding among Blake Cooper (12-2), Tyler Webb (3-2) and Jay Brown (3-0).

- Both Manhattan High track teams ran away with the team title at the 6A regional meet Friday night at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka. The Indian boys qualified 21 events for state including regional champions, Logan Mahan in the long jump, Zach Williams in the javelin, Robert Dunn in both the discus and shot put, Reid Buchanan in the 800 and 1600 meter runs, and Andre Carter in the 200 meter run. The MHS girls have 18 events going to Wichita. The Indians’ district champions include Sophia Alonso in the long jump, Shelbi Doehling in the high jump, MJ Massanet in the shot put, Megan Walker in the discus, Kaeli Wefald in the triple jump, Lindsey Curtis in the javelin, and the 4 by 800 meter relay.

- The Wamego track team qualified seven events for the 2010 state meet Friday night at their 4A regional in Abilene. The Red Raider boys came in 4th place, with Royal Valley taking the team title. Kevin White will run in both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs, Josh Dunback in the shot put and discus, along with the 4 by 800 meter relay. The Wamego girls finished 10th out of 16 teams in Abilene, with Holton grabbing the team crown. Liz Evans willcompete in the discus at state, along with the 4 by 800 meter relay.

The Manhattan Christian College Crusader baseball team challenged for a World Series championship but finish the year with a 3rd place finish in the NCCAA World Series and a season record of 19-18.

The Crusaders fell to the defending World Series champions from Toccoa Falls, Georgia for the second time in the tournament, 7-2. Mike Foster had three hits to lead MCC but it was too late as the Crusaders closed their season with their fourth straight Central Region Championship and third straight top five finish at the NCCAA World Series. Top seed Atlanta Christian College claimed the national title.

Manhattan Christian College won their first game in the NCCAA World Series Wednesday in Mason, OH behind winning pitcher Brandon Roth who picked up his 7th win of the year. After surviving a shaky start, he held the Eagles scoreless for the last five innings. The Crusaders broke the game open in the bottom of the 5th when Codi Morris drove in two with a double and Mike Foster, Travis Myers and Codi Burrow followed with RBI hits to give them five for the inning and the 7-3 victory. Next up for MCC is Toccoa Falls, GA—the 2009 National Champions at 1:00 pm Thursday.

The Manhattan Christian College baseball team will compete in the NCCAA Division two World Series for the third straight year starting Wednesday. The Crusaders at 16-14 are the #2 seed in the double-elimination tournament and they will face 7th seeded North Central University in the opening round. MCC baseball faces North Central University at 4:15 pm Wednesday afternoon at the NCCAA Division II World Series in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Manhattan Christian College baseball team made it four regional titles in a row with a 12-10 victory over Ozark Christian College in the NCCAA Regional Championships on Saturday in Moore, OK. Bryan Kloppe picked up the win with relief from Mike Foster as the Crusaders held on to earn a trip to Cincinnati, OH on May 12-15 for a chance at a National Championship. The Crusaders jumped on top early thanks to a three run double from Josh Garcia in the first inning. Mike Foster and Kodey Rudge also collected two hits as the Crusaders completed the tournament without a lost. The Crusaders began the season ranked at #3 in the nation and will almost certainly be seeded in the top three.

MCC closed out the weekend series with Ozark Christian College with a 11-0 run rule game which saw Bryan Kloppe pick up the win with a two-hitter behind the three RBI support of both Codi Morris and Joe Rubeo.  The Crusaders won the series winning three of four after a wild 19-16 loss in game 1.  Game one saw many defensive breakdowns early for the Crusaders but they almost came back for the victory with the potential tying run at the plate when the final out was made.  MCC is now 13-11 on the year and with this series win and assured themselves of the #1 see in the NCCAA Regional tournament to be held in Moore, OK on April 30 and May 1.

Manhattan Christian College and Central Christian College split their doubleheader on Tuesday with MCC coming out on top 8-5 in game one and dropping game two 13-6.  Brandon Roth picked up the win in game one with Travis Myers getting the save.  The Crusaders are now 10 and 10 on the year and will host Ozark Christian College with doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday at Norvell Field.  Friday’s start time is 3 PM and Saturday’s is 1 PM.