After dropping their first game, the Manhattan Manko Senior 17′ers’ chances looked bleak in last week’s state tournament. But, Manko ran off six straight wins including a pair of victories over two-time defending champ Pittsburg in the finals to win the “AAA” state title. Now, the Senior 17′ers will play in the Central Plains regional tournament starting Thursday in Blue Springs, Missouri. Manko coach Luke Snyder says first up is Rapid City, one of the best teams in South Dakota. Snyder says he hopes Manko is not content with just winning a state title as he’s not satisfied yet, and doesn’t want his players to be either.

The Manhattan Manko Senior 17′ers meet Rapid City, South Dakota at 4:30 pm Thursday afternoon at the Central Plains regional tournament in Blue Springs, Missouri.

The Manhattan Manko Senior 17′ers will have to work their way back thru the losers bracket at the “AAA” American Legion state tournament in Dodge City. Manko struggled fundamentally in a 6-3 loss to Olathe South. The Manko Senior 17′ers now will play host Dodge City at 12:30 pm Thursday afternoon in an elimination game, who dropped a 4-3 decision to Emporia. In the day games, KC post 199 shut out McPherson 10-0, and Pittsburg routed Atchison 16-4.

Playing their toughest schedule in years, the Manhattan Manko Senior 17′ers have survived and will play in the state tournament starting Wednesday. Manko competed in tournaments at K-State, Wichita State, and Omaha, Nebraska. They gutted out two of three games to win their zone tournament against the Salina Falcons to make it to Dodge City. Manhattan Manko Senior 17′ers coach Luke Snyder says they’ve been a little up and down at 20-13, but they’re on a pretty good surge right now though. The Manhattan Manko Senior 17′ers will take the field at 6:00 pm Wednesday against Olathe South in the “AAA” American Legion state tournament in Dodge City. They’ll play either Emporia or Dodge City on Thursday in the double elimination format.

The last man standing at the 100th Kansas Amateur was Charlie Stevens of Wichita. Stevens defeated Andrew Storm of Omaha, Nebraska 4 and 3 in the championship on Sunday at Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson. Seven K-State golfers competed, with freshman Thomas Birdsey reaching the semifinals, where he fell to Storm.

The Manhattan Manko Senior 17′ers are off to the American Legion baseball state tournament next week. The Manko Senior 17′ers and Salina Falcons played in a winner-take-all zone tournament final Thursday night after a split on Wednesday. Manko prevailed 20-5 over the Falcons. The “AAA” State Tournament is next Wednesday thru Sunday in Dodge City.

Six K-State golfers advanced to the round of 32 at the Kansas Amateur on Thursday at Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson. Freshman Thomas Birdsey defeated Eric Mork of Wichita 2 and 1 in the opening round, sophomore Ben Juffer beat Bob Vidricksen of Salina 4 and 3, freshman Tyler Norris got past Jared Burch of Salina 1 up, senior Jason Schulte defeated Ryley Haas of Colby 2 and 1, junior Kyle Smell beat Jeffrey Lee of Overland Park 1 up, and sophomore Curtis Yonke beat Scott Willman of Prairie Village 1 up. Sophomore Chase Chamberlin qualified for match play by knocking in a hole-in-one in a playoff, and was eliminated by Jack Courington of Wichita 4 and 3.

Two Manhattan golfers faced off in the opening round of match play, Zac Burton beat T.J Vilkanskas 2 and 1. Clarke Fry of Manhattan was knocked off by Kit Grove of Lawrence 3 and 2. The Kansas Amateur continues Friday morning with the round of 32, and then just eight golfers will remain after the afternoon round.

The Manhattan Manko Senior 17′ers will live to fight another day as they will battle for a spot in the American Legion state tournament on Thursday night. The Manko Senior 17′ers are in a two-team zone tournament with the Salina Falcons because Junction City dropped out. Manko edged Salina 8-6 in 11 innings in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday night, while the Falcons earned the split 7-3 in game two. Manko and Salina will face off Thursday night at 6:30 in Salina in the zone tournament final.

After rain wiped out play Tuesday night, the Manhattan Manko Senior 17′ers will compete in their Zone Tournament on Wednesday night at Salina. The Manko Senior 17′ers will play a doubleheader at 4:00 and 7:00 against the Salina Falcons. Should the teams split their twin bill, they will meet in a winner-take all final on Thursday for a spot in the state tournament. Manko and Salina are the only two teams in their zone tournament after Junction City dropped out.

(AP) Kansas auto dealer Brandon Steven has been eliminated at the World Series of Poker, leaving nine players seeking $8.94 million and poker’s richest title. The 36-year-old businessman finishes in 10th place and wins $635,011. He was eliminated early Sunday after a grueling marathon of no-limit Texas Hold ‘em that ended with Steven’s ace-king facing Matthew Jarvis’ pocket queens. Steven didn’t improve his hand. The remaining nine players will wait 111 days before returning to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for a ninth card session Nov. 6. They’ll each be paid ninth-place money $811,823 on Sunday. The rest of the prize pool will go into an account and accrue interest before play resumes.

(AP) International Speedway Corp. has formally petitioned NASCAR to give Kansas Speedway a second Sprint Cup race as early as 2011. ISC spokesman Lenny Santiago says he expects an answer later this summer, before NASCAR unveils next year’s schedule. He declined to talk about details of the petition that include potential dates. Santiago believes Kansas is a strong candidate to get a second race because of the track’s history of well-attended events and the construction of a new casino overlooking the track. It also could help that NASCAR’s primary sponsor, Sprint, is headquartered in Overland Park, Kan. It’s unclear how the Cup schedule would shake out if NASCAR grants Kansas a second date.