HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Former Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball All-American Kalani Purcell has been named to play for Team World at the Aurora Games in August.

ormer Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball All-American Kalani Purcell has been named to play for Team World at the Aurora Games in August.

The Aurora Games is a multi-sport, multi-country, multi-day event showcasing the best in women’s sports, entertainment and culture. The women’s basketball event will take place on August 22 at the Time Union Center in Albany, New York.

Purcell, a two-time NJCAA All-American who played at Hutchinson from 2013 to 2015, will team up with some of the world’s best international players to meet the best from the United States. Purcell is from New Zealand. Team World will also be represented by players from Australia, Taiwan, Spain and Belgium.

The last 16 months have been eventful and successful for Purcell.

Playing for the New Zealand National team, Purcell was part of a bronze medal performance for the Tall Ferns at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. A month later, Purcell won gold at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in China.

Soon after that, Purcell and the Tall Ferns visited Taiwan and won the 2018 William Jones Cup. Purcell was team captain and averaged 9.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

Purcell then returned for her second season with the WNBL’s Melbourne Boomers in Australia. The Boomers finished second in the WNBL’s regular season, but were eliminated in the semifinals of the league playoffs.

After that season concluded, Purcell moved on to play for the Auckland Dream for the Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC). Purcell and the Dream won the Grand Final and Purcell was named Most Valuable Player.

Next up will be the title defense at the William Jones Cup for Purcell and the Tall Ferns. Then she heads to Albany for the Aurora Games.

While at Hutchinson, Purcell helped the Blue Dragons reach two NJCAA Tournament championship games.

Purcell owns Blue Dragon career records for points (1,176), total field goals (469), attempted field goals (855), rebounds (814), rebounding average (11.2), steals (259) and blocked shots (97).

Purcell also has single-season records of 684 points, 275 field goals and 443 rebounds. She has single-game records of 22 rebounds and six blocked shots.

After Hutchinson, Purcell moved onto BYU.

Kalani Purcell was the third Purcell sister to play at Hutchinson. Natalie played from 2002 to 2004 and Hailey was a Blue Dragon from 2006 to 2008.

The Aurora Games is a multi-sport, multi-country, multi-day event showcasing the best in women’s sports, entertainment and culture. The women’s basketball event will take place on August 22 at the Time Union Center in Albany, New York.

Purcell, a two-time NJCAA All-American who played at Hutchinson from 2013 to 2015, will team up with some of the world’s best international players to meet the best from the United States. Purcell is from New Zealand. Team World will also be represented by players from Australia, Taiwan, Spain and Belgium.

The last 16 months have been eventful and successful for Purcell.

Playing for the New Zealand National team, Purcell was part of a bronze medal performance for the Tall Ferns at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. A month later, Purcell won gold at the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup in China.

Soon after that, Purcell and the Tall Ferns visited Taiwan and won the 2018 William Jones Cup. Purcell was team captain and averaged 9.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

Purcell then returned for her second season with the WNBL’s Melbourne Boomers in Australia. The Boomers finished second in the WNBL’s regular season, but were eliminated in the semifinals of the league playoffs.

After that season concluded, Purcell moved on to play for the Auckland Dream for the Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC). Purcell and the Dream won the Grand Final and Purcell was named Most Valuable Player.

Next up will be the title defense at the William Jones Cup for Purcell and the Tall Ferns. Then she heads to Albany for the Aurora Games.

While at Hutchinson, Purcell helped the Blue Dragons reach two NJCAA Tournament championship games.

Purcell owns Blue Dragon career records for points (1,176), total field goals (469), attempted field goals (855), rebounds (814), rebounding average (11.2), steals (259) and blocked shots (97).

Purcell also has single-season records of 684 points, 275 field goals and 443 rebounds. She has single-game records of 22 rebounds and six blocked shots.

After Hutchinson, Purcell moved onto BYU.

Kalani Purcell was the third Purcell sister to play at Hutchinson. Natalie played from 2002 to 2004 and Hailey was a Blue Dragon from 2006 to 2008.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals are bringing Bubba Starling to the majors, culminating a journey for the hometown hero and former first-round draft pick that took eight years in the minors.

Starling will join Kansas City for the opener of their series against Detroit on Friday night.

The 26-year-old outfielder, who starred at nearby Gardner-Edgerton High School, has struggled for years to live up to enormous expectations. But he is hitting .310 with seven homers and 38 RBIs in his first full season at Triple-A Omaha, and recently played in that level’s all-star game.

Starling was chosen fifth overall in the 2011 amateur draft, signing for a $7.5 million bonus — then the second-largest in draft history and the most guaranteed money to a prep player.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore told MLB.com that Starling will not ride the bench when his years-in-the-making arrival happens. But how much he plays ultimately will be up to manager Ned Yost, who has had plenty of opportunities to observe Starling the past few springs.

“Yeah, the last six years have been tough, especially with injuries, staying healthy,” Starling told The Associated Press during a wide-ranging interview in spring training. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to do this, that, instead of just having fun.”

Starling hit just .236 over more than 2,500 minor league plate appearances coming into this season, and the former prep standout — who spurned a scholarship offer to play quarterback at Nebraska to sign with the Royals — started to look as if his opportunity in the big leagues might never arrive.

But the oblique injury that scuttled a breakthrough start to 2017, and a dislocated finger that ruined last season, are finally behind him. Starling arrived this spring healthy and happy, and he was so productive in those exhibition games that some thought he might crack the opening day lineup.

“We’re really optimistic that he’s turning the corner,” said JJ Picollo, who heads the Royals’ minor league operation, and who has been keeping close tabs on Starling over the years.

The Royals will make a corresponding roster move before Friday’s game against the Tigers, and the assumption is that seldom-used outfielder Terrence Gore’s roster spot will be taken.

“This is a celebration for what he has earned,” Moore told MLB.com. “He has had three solid months of production and good health. We look forward to his arrival.”

WICHITA, Kan. — The Sunflower league commissioner, Casey Walkup, was notified Monday, July 8th that the Salina Shock would not be able to complete the remainder of the 2019 SCL season due to players leaving the team.

“An effort will be made to place remaining players with teams within the SCL” Walkup Said.  “This is very unfortunate for the Salina Shock, they have been very competitive this summer and Michael Billinger has done a good job trying to make the SCL work in Salina.  The results of all completed Shock games will remain the same and their 10 remaining games will  be counted as forfeit’s with wins going to the opposing team.”

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Oklahoma is the favorite to win another Big 12 football title, according to the conference’s preseason media poll. The Sooners have won the league the last four years and 12 Big 12 championships overall. Texas was picked second by media covering the league. The top two teams meet in the conference championship game on Dec. 7. The Longhorns lost to the Sooners in the title matchup in 2018. The preseason rankings had Iowa State, TCU and Oklahoma State rounding out the top five.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The longtime coach of the Nebraska softball team has been placed on administrative leave while school officials address concerns raised by or about players. The athletic department declined to detail what led to the action against Rhonda Revelle, saying it was a personnel matter. The department released a statement saying that administrators “take seriously any concerns raised regarding our student athletes.” Attempts to reach Revelle were unsuccessful.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The National League Central is providing Major League Baseball with a needed dose of pennant fever. All five teams are separated by just 4 1/2 games coming out of the All-Star break. The other five divisions have at least a 5 1/2-game gap between first and second. Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon says the division is tight because all five teams are trying to win. That includes upstart Cincinnati and resilient Pittsburgh, which are in the thick of the race with the Cubs, Milwaukee and St. Louis.

National Headlines

LAS VEGAS (AP) — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wants the hat game fixed. Silver is mindful that it was awkward for draft picks this year who were selected by one team and had already been traded to another. Because of league rules, the players were unable to be introduced by their actual franchise for more than two weeks. Silver says a discussion at the league’s board of governors meeting in Las Vegas was about how to change that going forward.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) _ Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will square off at Wimbledon for the first time in 11 years when they battle Friday for a spot in Sunday’s final. Federer’s 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Kei Nishikori gave the No. 2 seed his 100th match win at the All England Club, the first man to reach that total at any Grand Slam tournament. Not long after that ended on Centre Court, the No. 3-seeded Nadal finished off Sam Querrey 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 Court.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) _ Top-ranked Novak Djokovic has advanced to Friday’s Wimbledon men’s semifinals as he attempts to win the title for the second straight year. Djokovic is two match wins away from his fifth Wimbledon crown following a 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 romp against 21st-seeded David Goffin. Next up for Djokovic is Robert Bautista-Agut, who earned a 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory against Guido Pella.

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. (AP) _ Former New York Yankees pitcher and controversial baseball author Jim Bouton has died at age 80. His playing career was forever eclipsed by his 1970 book “Ball Four,” the first tell-all baseball memoir that angered many in the game’s establishment. Bouton’s family said he died Wednesday at the home he shared with wife Paula Kurman after fighting a brain disease linked to dementia.

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ The Los Angeles Clippers have completed their blockbuster trade with Oklahoma City, acquiring Paul George from the Thunder for guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, forward Danilo Gallinari and five first-round draft picks, along with the chance to swap draft places in two other years. The Clippers also formally signed Kawhi Leonard to a three-year max contract that could be worth nearly $110 million, though the third season is at Leonard’s option. Leonard scored 26.6 points a game last season, while George averaged a career-best 28 points.

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ The Dallas Mavericks have signed Seth Curry to a four-year, $32 million package, completing the guard’s return after a year away. The brother of two-time MVP Stephen Curry had the best year of his career with Dallas in 2016-17, averaging 12.8 points, 2.7 assists and 29 minutes per game. He averaged 7.9 points for the Portland Trail Blazers last season after missing all of 2017-18 with a stress reaction in his lower left leg.

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Oklahoma is the favorite to win another Big 12 football title, according to the conference’s preseason media poll released Wednesday.

The Sooners have won the league the last four years and 12 Big 12 championships overall. Oklahoma also made the College Football Playoff three of the past four seasons.

Texas was picked second by media covering the league. The top two teams will meet in the conference championship game on Dec. 7. The Longhorns lost to the Sooners in the title matchup in 2018.

Iowa State, TCU and Oklahoma State round out the top five picks.

The Big 12 will have four new head coaches in 2019 with Les Miles at Kansas, Chris Klieman at Kansas State, Matt Wells at Texas Tech and Neal Brown at West Virginia.

2019 Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll
1. Oklahoma (68) — 761
2. Texas (9) — 696
3. Iowa State — 589
4. TCU — 474
5. Oklahoma State — 460
6. Baylor — 453
7. Texas Tech — 281
8. West Virginia — 241
9. Kansas State — 191
10. Kansas — 89

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs finally got the big hit when they needed it as Dylan Nedved knocked in the only run of the game in the bottom of the 6th inning as Hutch edged Newton in front of a great capacity crowd at Hobart-Detter field 1-0.  A large part of the great crowd as a whole bunch of kids that truly

enjoyed running the bases and getting Monarch autographs after the game.  Hutch got great pitching from Mikel Howell who got the win.  LJ McDonough came in to get the save.  Newton gave the Monarchs a scare in the top of the ninth, but the tying run was tagged out trying to score for the 3rd out to end the game.

Hutch travels to division leading Cheney Thursday night, and return home for Hutchinson Community College night on Friday at Hobart-Detter Field.    That game will be broadcast locally on hutchpost.com.  First pitch at 7:00 pm, pregame at 6:50 pm.

CONCORDIA, Kan. — The Cloud County Community College women’s basketball program was able to officially welcome Josiah White as its new Assistant Coach on Tuesday.

White, who was approved for the position back on June 1, has spent the last few weeks finalizing the details of his move from Enid, Oklahoma, and by hitting the recruiting trails overseas, before arriving in Concordia.

“It’s been a whirlwind last couple of weeks with the move and recruiting,” White said. “But my wife (Alyxandrah) and I are here and we’re excited to be in Concordia. I appreciate the opportunity to coach alongside Brett Erkenbrack and in the Jayhawk Conference, as competitive and respected as it is.”

White comes to Cloud County after spending the last three seasons as the assistant at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid, a perennial power from the NJCAA Region II, and as the head boys’ basketball coach at Dover High School (2018-19).

It was the second stint as an assistant at NOC-Enid for White, who also coached the Jets alongside head coach Scott Morris from 2010-13.

The Jets reached the NJCAA Final Four in 2011 where White would first cross paths with Cloud County and head coach, Brett Erkenbrack.

“I’ve known Josiah since 2011 when we played NOC-Enid in the national tournament,” Erkenbrack said. “He’s been to the national tournament on a couple different occasions. He’s been a head coach at the four-year level, a head coach at the high school level, and he comes very highly recommended from people I have a lot of respect for. I’m really excited about him. I think he’s a smart, aggressive and serious recruiter. He’s also someone who has had a lot of positive experiences as an assistant and head coach.”

White graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Oklahoma Baptist University in 2008, while also starring as a member of Bison’s track and field and cross country teams. He was an All-Conference and All-Region selection in 2006 for cross country, helping his team to a pair of fourth-place finishes at the NAIA national meet in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

During his time at OBU, White also served as a student assistant for the women’s basketball program from 2005-08, then as a graduate assistant from 2008-10 while he earned his master’s degree in Secondary Education and Sport Administration.

White began his first stint at NOC-Enid in 2010 and helped the Jets reach their highest national ranking in school history during the 2011-12 season as they climbed up to No. 8 in the country. NOC-Enid also earned back-to-back Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference championships (2011-12 and 2012-13) during White’s tenure.

White also has two years of collegiate head coaching experience at St. Gregory’s University from 2013-15 before returning to NOC-Enid in 2015.

He says he hopes to bring an energetic, enthusiastic and holistic style of coaching to the T-Birds’ bench.

“As an assistant, I’m trying to bring an approach and philosophy that supports what Coach Erkenbrack has already done and fosters the culture of excellence that he has here,” White said. “What I think I bring is a holistic approach in doing that. Coaching with excellence in a physical dimension, a mental and emotion dimension, and in a heart dimension. That’s kind of been my M.O. It’s something I’m passionate about and look forward to doing here to not only help our young ladies on the basketball court, but as the leave here and pursue their respective professional careers.”

—cloudtbirds.com—