BRETT TRIPPET, Former Liberal coach

My wife Susan will tell you that apologizing is not exactly my strongest spiritual gift.

So what you are about to read should probably be framed and hung on a wall somewhere.

I owe referees an apology.

EARL WATT

   • Leader & Times

Liberal and Boulder, Colo., split a two-game series after the Bee Jays dropped Game 2 7-6 Thursday night at Brent Gould Field.

The Bee Jays started strong with a pair of runs with the bases loaded in the second inning, but a double play limited scoring opportunities, and Liberal led 3-1.

But the Collegians plated three runs in the fourth with a double, a sacrifice and a Bee Jay error.

Boulder pushed out to a 7-3 lead by scoring three more runs in the fifth.

EARL WATT

   • Leader & Times

After giving up three runs to the Boulder Collegians in the top of the first inning, the Liberal Bee Jays rallied with a six-run third inning to run away with a 9-4 win.

After the Collegians started off with a big first inning, the Bee Jays cut the lead to 3-1 when Trenton Uyeda singled on a line drive to right that scored Kaden Isola.

Starter Brooks Kappelmann settled in and pitched shutout innings in the second and third, and in the bottom of the third the Bee Jays loaded the bases and tied the game after Isola was hit by a pitch and Noah Giovannelli scored on a passed ball.

sewardsaints.com

Seward County Community College softball head coach Kimber Cortemelia has announced the hiring of Kadyn Trochim as the Saints new assistant coach.

Trochim comes to Seward after wrapping up a standout playing career at Pittsburg State, where she earned NFCA and D2CCA All-America honors following the 2026 season.

Trochim appeared in 219 games across four seasons with the Gorillas and finished as a career .337 hitter. She ranks among Pittsburg State's career leaders in several categories, including hits with 197, tied for 10th; doubles with 40, tied for seventh; RBIs with 163, sixth; and walks with 91, second.