COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) Prosecutors have charged suspended Missouri running back Derrick Washington with sexual assault. Assistant Boone County prosecutor Andrea Hayes says a single count of felony deviate sexual assault was filed Monday. She says she will seek $4,500 bond. Washington has led the Tigers in rushing the past two seasons. Coach Gary Pinkel suspended him last week without disclosing details. Boone County court documents show Washington had been served with a protection order in late June and accused of sexual assault by a former Missouri tutor.
The Tigers open the season Saturday against Illinois in St. Louis.
The season will get underway on Saturday when Manhattan High cross country hosts their own invitational, and both the Indian boys and girls are ranked in the first coaches poll. The MHS girls are #4 in 6A, while the boys tie for #8. In 4A, the Wamego boys are #1 ahead of three-time defending state champ Mulvane, and the Red Raider girls are #3. The defending state champ Riley County girls are #1 in 3A, while the Falcon boys are #4. The Frankfort boys check in at #8 in 1A.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) C.J. Wilson allowed two hits over 7 2-3 innings to lead the Texas Rangers to a 3-0 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night. Wilson (14-5) improved to 7-0 in nine starts since the All-Star break. It is the most victories in the majors in that span, one ahead of Minnesota’s Francisco Liriano (6-0). Wilson allowed only a scratch hit to Willie Bloomquist until the eighth inning, when Jai Miller singled to center. The left-hander, who had a complete-game win over the Royals in May, struck out six and walked four. Neftali Feliz worked the ninth for his 33rd save in 36 opportunities, giving Texas its third win in its last 10 road games in the opener of a 10-game trip. Kyle Davies (6-9) went 8 1-3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned on ten hits with six strikeouts and a walk.
As expected, K-State coach Bill Snyder named senior Carson Coffman as his starting quarterback for Saturday’s season opener against UCLA. Snyder made the announcement during Monday morning’s Big 12 teleconference. He said that Coffman was more consistent with his control and knowledge of the offense. Snyder says Collin Klein and Sammuel Lamur had their days where they were very good, but were not as fluid as Coffman. The Cats and Bruins collide this Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Powercat Gameday starts our coverage on the Gameday Network at 10:30 am on the Big Stage on the west side of the stadium.
Hawaii is an island paradise, but it’s also one of the best environments in college volleyball, and K-State will open the season in the Aloha state. The Cats will clash with three ranked teams, #5 Hawaii, #16 UCLA, and #21 San Diego. K-State coach Suzie Fritz says they won’t go to Hawaii for any other reason than to win, and the Cats need to be precise passing and setting in Hawaii. Senior outside hitter Julianne Chisholm says they won’t get any kind of warmup in Hawaii, but they’re ready for the challenge.
Just like the football team, K-State volleyball also will open their season with UCLA Friday night at 10:00 pm in Honolulu. Coverage on KMAN begins at 9:30 with Brian Smoller.
Fans can get their first look at the 2010 Manhattan High football team Friday night at Bishop Stadium. The Indian freshmen will take the field at 6:00, the sophomores at 6:30, and the varsity and JV at approximately 7:30. The MHS volleyball team will hold a scrimmage this Tuesday night.
Around the area, Wamego football will hold a scrimmage at 7:00 pm with the freshmen and sophomores, followed by the varsity and JV. Rock Creek will hold both a volleyball and football scrimmage at 6:00. The football scrimmage will be on the practice field. Riley County will hold volleyball scrimmages for the middle school at 5:00 and the high school at 6:00. Falcon football will have a middle school scrimmage at 6:00 and the high school at 7:00. Frankfort will hold their “Gator Games” with a volleyball scrimmage at 4:00 pm and a football scrimmage at 7:00. The Wildcat cross country team will be introduced before the volleyball scrimmage. The Blue Valley will have a parent’s meeting at 6:00 followed by a scrimmage.
The Wamego girls tennis team opened the season Thursday with a runner-up finish at their home invitational. Sabetha claimed the team championship, Mill Valley was third, Wabaunsee fourth, and Atchison came in fifth. Wamego’s #1 doubles team, Kaylee Page and Rikki Alderson took first place. The #2 doubles team of Brooke Powers and Laura Furney were second. #1 singles player BreShawna Briggs was third, and #2 singles player Mariah Ekart was fourth.
The Lisa Kinderknecht era has began in the Manhattan High volleyball program, as Lori Martini stepped down earlier this year after 11 years with the Indians. She led MHS to nine 6A state tournaments including a 3rd place finish in 2009. Kinderknecht is a former head softball coach for the Indians, and has taught at MHS for the past 18 years. She says so far in practice she’s looking to get the girls on the right page, and getting them to know their roles. The Tribe are dealing with the loss of five seniors, so they’ll break in several new players.
MHS won’t start the season until Thursday, September 9th at Silver Lake against Silver Lake, Shawnee Heights and Seaman.
DE SOTO, Kan. (AP) More than a dozen high schools in northeastern Kansas are testing how the brains of their student-athletes work normally in case any of them suffer concussions. De Soto High School athletic trainer Steve Hawkins says the high schools are relying on something called ImPACT, which stands for Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing. A handful of Kansas high schools used the test last year, but most are adding it this fall. The test can be taken at the beginning at the season and measures such things as the athletes’ memories. If an athlete suffers a suspected concussion, the test can be retaken, and the post-injury results can be compared to the pre-injury results. The program already is used by the NFL, NHL, Major League Baseball, NBA teams and universities across the country.
The Sunflower Showdown meant big ratings on the hardwood for ESPN last season, and so it’s no surprise K-State and KU will be back in the national spotlight. The Wildcats and Jayhawks will help celebrate Kansas’ 150th birthday, as the two teams will meet at Allen Field House in Lawrence on Saturday, January 29th on ESPN’s College Gameday. K-State will make 17 national appearances on the ESPN family of networks this season. The Cats will be on Big Monday four times including the battle with KU at Bramlage Coliseum, and will appear on ESPN’s 24 hours of hoops marathon by hosting Virginia Tech. Last season, K-State dropped an overtime heartbreaker to KU on College Gameday, giving ESPN its biggest ratings for college basketball in two years, and the largest Big 12 number in over a decade.