Fulton Sun | Sports

Sterk to step down as Missouri athletic director In a surprising development Monday, the University of Missouri and athletic director Jim Sterk announced Sterk will step down once a replacement AD is found. Sterk, who came to Missouri from San Diego State, just finished his fifth year as athletic director. In a news release, the separation was phrased as "mutually agreed." His contract signed in August 2016 ran through June 30, 2023. by Colin O'Brien Published Jul. 27 2021 @ 12:40am

Soler hits two homers, again, as Royals beat White Sox 4-3 Jorge Soler hit two home runs for the second straight game and the Kansas City Royals extended their winning streak to six games with a 4-3 win Monday night against the Chicago White Sox. Mike Minor gave the Royals their fifth quality start in the last six games. He allowed two runs on three hits in six innings, walking two and striking out seven. Minor's victory July 20 in Milwaukee started the Royals' current winning streak. by Associated Press Published Jul. 27 2021 @ 12:35am

Oklahoma, Texas move toward leaving Big 12 Conference Oklahoma and Texas took the first formal step Monday toward moving to the Southeastern Conference and leaving the Big 12 Conference behind. The only schools to win college football national championships during the Big 12's 27-year history notified the conference they would not be renewing an agreement that binds its members through 2025. In a joint statement, the schools made no mention of the SEC and said "the universities intend to honor their existing grant of rights agreements." by Associated Press Published Jul. 27 2021 @ 12:30am

Chiefs veterans have something to prove in 2021 Mecole Hardman knows the exhilaration of walking off the field as a Super Bowl champion. Last February, he and his Kansas City Chiefs teammates also experienced the bitter disappointment of losing the biggest game of the season. Kansas City's veterans filed into Scanlon Hall dormitory Monday on the campus of Missouri Western State University, ready to set aside last season's disappointment and focus on the new opportunity at hand. by Associated Press Published Jul. 27 2021 @ 12:30am

Stewart's homer lifts U.S. past Japan 2-1 for 5-0 record Kelsey Stewart has a knack for walk-off hits in Japan. Stewart hit a game-ending home run leading off the seventh inning, and the United States rallied late to beat Japan 2-1 on Monday and win the Olympic softball group stage — and with it the right to bat last in the gold medal game. by Associated Press Published Jul. 27 2021 @ 12:20am

Dressel wins U.S. swimming gold; Titmus tops Ledecky Caeleb Dressel got started on his quest for six gold medals in swimming Monday, while Katie Ledecky found herself in a very unusual position. Second place. Dressel led off an American victory in the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay at the Tokyo Olympics, easing a bit of the U.S. sting from Ledecky's first Olympic loss. by Associated Press Published Jul. 27 2021 @ 12:20am

Packers' CEO 'hopeful' about sorting things out with Rodgers Green Bay Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy remains hopeful quarterback Aaron Rodgers the three-time MVP will play for them this season, but says he doesn't know whether Rodgers will arrive for the start of training camp. "We've been in constant communication," Murphy said Monday after the NFL's only publicly owned team held its annual shareholders meeting. "It's been obviously months. I'm hopeful that we can have it all resolved." by Associated Press Published Jul. 27 2021 @ 12:15am

For USA Basketball, the time is now to fix things Time would solve many problems for the U.S. men's basketball team right now. A few practices to develop chemistry and figure out exactly how these roster pieces fit together would do wonders. It's not happening. There is no time. Or, more accurately, this is the time. by By Tim Reynolds/AP Basketball Writer Published Jul. 27 2021 @ 12:10am

U.S. loses to France 83-76, ends 25-game Olympic win streak For the first time since 2004, the U.S. men's basketball team has lost in the Olympics. And the Americans' quest for a fourth consecutive gold medal is already in serious trouble. France, the team that knocked the Americans out of contention in the Basketball World Cup two years ago, dealt the U.S. a major blow once again. Evan Fournier's 3-pointer with just under a minute left put France ahead to stay in what became a 83-76 win Sunday against the Americans in the opening game for both teams at the Tokyo Olympics. by Associated Press Published Jul. 26 2021 @ 12:40am

Bader, Carlson homer in seven-run fourth, Cards beat Reds 10-6 Harrison Bader and Dylan Carlson homered during a seven-run burst in the fourth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-6 on Sunday. Nolan Arenado hit his 20th home run and tripled, and Tyler O'Neill also homered for the Cardinals. by Associated Press Published Jul. 26 2021 @ 12:35am

Lynch, Soler and Perez lead Royals past Tigers 6-1 Jorge Soler hit two home runs, Salvador Perez added a three-run blast and Daniel Lynch pitched eight scoreless innings for his first major league win as the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 6-1 on Sunday. The Royals grabbed a 4-0 first-inning lead as Perez hit his team-leading 23rd home run and Soler followed with his 11th for the Royals, who have won fifth straight games. by Associated Press Published Jul. 26 2021 @ 12:35am

Powerhouse U.S. swim team shines with six medals, country's first gold Chase Kalisz got things started, claiming the first American gold at the Olympic pool. By the time the morning was done, the powerhouse team had a whole bunch of medals. Six of them in all, quite a start Sunday for the U.S. in the post-Michael Phelps era. by Associated Press Published Jul. 26 2021 @ 12:25am

Champ fends off heat to win 3M Open by two strokes Cameron Champ was struggling mightily through the first half of this year, a frustrating series of performances that pointed him back to his state of mind more than any mechanical flaw. Like many newlyweds, the 26-year-old was distracted by the delicate balance of passionately pursuing his career while still trying to carve out a healthy personal life at home. He found himself becoming much too upset by a bad round. There sure wasn't much for Champ to be mad about at the 3M Open. Published Jul. 26 2021 @ 12:20am

SEC takeover: Expansion would just mean more power, wealth Barring a dramatic change of direction, Texas and Oklahoma are moving toward taking the Red River Rivalry to the Southeastern Conference in a seismic shift that will have repercussions in college sports from coast to coast. According to multiple reports, the first and very significant formal step of the process could come as soon as today with the two schools informing the Big 12 they will not renew the contractual agreement that binds conference members until 2025. by Associated Press Published Jul. 26 2021 @ 12:20am

Perez, Santana homer in Royals' 9-8 victory against Tigers Salvador Perez and Carlos Santana hit three-run homers in the Kansas City Royals' 9-8 victory Saturday night against the Detroit Tigers. Perez hit his 23rd home run of the season to highlight a four-run fourth. Santana gave the Royals the lead with a three-run homer to right in a five-run seventh. by Associated Press Published Jul. 25 2021 @ 12:30am

Winker drives in four, Castillo lasts seven innings, Reds hold off Cards 5-3 Jesse Winker homered, doubled and drove in four runs, Luis Castillo pitched seven effective innings and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 on Saturday. Joey Votto also homered to help the Reds overcome three errors and extend their winning streak against St. Louis to six games, their longest since taking six straight in May 2003. Cincinnati swept the Cardinals in a four-game series in St. Louis from June 3-6. by Associated Press Published Jul. 25 2021 @ 12:30am

Chiefs open training camp, place Watts on PUP list The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off training camp Saturday by placing veteran safety Armani Watts on the physically unable to perform list and moving rookie defensive end Malik Herring to the non-football injury list. by Associated Press Published Jul. 25 2021 @ 12:20am

NFL faces playbook full of questions as training camps open From players getting COVID-19 vaccinations to relaxed coronavirus protocols to lineup issues, particularly at quarterback, the NFL faces a multitude of questions as training camps open. At least in 2021 there is the knowledge — and lessons learned — from completing last season during a pandemic. The league, whose most valuable person in 2020 probably was medical director Dr. Allen Sills, recognizes while tremendous progress has been made in battling the virus, caution remains crucial. Published Jul. 25 2021 @ 12:20am

Diamonds are forever: A marriage of majors and the Olympics Getting ready to reach softball's peak and make her Olympic debut, Janie Reed was on a training field at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in western Japan. Across the Pacific Ocean, 7,452 miles away, another important family first was unfolding in Miami: Husband Jake Reed was about to walk onto a major league mound for the first time. by Associated Press Published Jul. 25 2021 @ 12:15am

Tringale shoots 66 to top crowded 3M Open leaderboard The third round of the 3M Open was filled with shots into the rough and the water around the 18th green, and sometimes both. Cameron Tringale stayed out of trouble that so many others didn't Saturday — and took the lead into the final round. Tringale made a short par putt on the treacherous par-5 18th hole for a 5-under 66 and a one-stroke advantage over Gary Woodland and Maverick McNealy. by Associated Press Published Jul. 25 2021 @ 12:05am

U.S. women's soccer rebounds from loss, beats New Zealand 6-1 After a stunning loss in the opener, the U.S. women's soccer team vowed to be ruthless against New Zealand. And they rebounded in a big way. The Americans cruised Saturday to a 6-1 rout of New Zealand in front of First Lady Jill Biden at the Tokyo Olympics. by Associated Press Published Jul. 24 2021 @ 11:02pm

Driftwood Outdoors: Four fishing trips to make during the summer heat During the summer heat, finding ways to enjoy the outdoors in the daytime can be a challenge. This time of year, dawn and dusk are best bets for outdoor enjoyment. Even better is a little nighttime catfishing from a riverbank. Don't let the heat keep you locked up indoors. Plan accordingly, and you can still do well outside during the dog days. by Brandon Butler Published Jul. 24 2021 @ 11:00pm

NBA Finals trio arrive for U.S. team SAITAMA, Japan — The U.S. men's basketball team is finally together. Devin Booker, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday — the trio of U.S. Olympians who were in the NBA Finals and therefore have not been around their Tokyo Games teammates — arrived Saturday night in Japan, less than 24 hours before the Americans' scheduled Olympic opener against France. by Associated Press Published Jul. 24 2021 @ 10:44pm