DENVER (AP) — Starling Marte homered and drove in four runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks battered the Colorado Rockies 13-7 Wednesday in a Coors Field slugfest featuring 34 hits, but none by blistering Charlie Blackmon.

Blackmon began the game batting an astonishing .500 for the Rockies. He went 0 for 4, ending his hitting streak at 15 games, and his average dipped to .472.

Blackmon was on deck when Trevor Story, who doubled twice and singled, grounded into a game-ending double play.

Nolan Arenado homered twice and doubled for the Rockies.

Marte had three hits, including a go-ahead single in an eight-run seventh inning. It was 5-all going into the inning.

“It was about time,” said David Peralta, who helped break the game open in the seventh with a three-run double. “We were finding some holes. We’ve been hitting the ball really well but couldn’t find the hole. This just happened. So when this kind of thing happens it’s fun. It’s fun when you do the right thing and things go your way. We just have to keep it up. “

Nick Ahmed had three hits and a pair of RBIs and Kole Calhoun added three hits with an RBI for the Diamondbacks, who took two of three to deny Colorado its sixth consecutive series win to start the season.

Ryan McMahon, swinging on a 3-0 count, connected for a three-run homer to chase Arizona starter Luke Weaver with one out in the fourth inning.

“I thought I hit some spots pretty well, got a little unlucky on some positioning, where we position our guys in the right way, and they just found some holes today,” Weaver said. “And that 3-0, that’s an interesting count. You’re trying to get back in the count and he sold out to the pitch and got one.”

It was the first home run by a Rockies player on a 3-0 count since Michael Cuddyer did it at Atlanta on on May 24, 2014.

“Honestly, the best part about it was Skip (manager Bud Black) giving me the green light there,” said McMahon, who has struggled with strikeouts this season. He has 28 on the season, including three more around his homer and single.

“To be really honest, I’ve just felt really lost,” McMahon added. “I haven’t had a great feel for the (strike zone) which is usually something I take a lot of pride in. It’s hard for me right now.”

Garrett Hampson added a career-high four hits for the Rockies. A total of 11 players had multihit games, seven with at least three hits.

Andrew Chafin (1-0) picked up the win with an inning of scoreless relief.

With the score tied at 5 in the the seventh, the Diamondbacks erupted. Peralta struck the key blow with a three-run double off Tyler Kinley (0-1), who did not retire any of the five batters he faced. Ahmed and Calhoun each had a pair of hits in the inning.

Arizona homered in a club-record 16th straight game at Coors Field and improved to 9-3 in its last 12 against the Rockies.

Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela went six innings and allowed five runs on nine hits.

Around the Majors Wednesday

— The Oakland Athletics avoided a sweep while winning for the 10th time in 12 games.

Stephen Piscotty, Matt Olson and Robbie Grossman homered for the A’s in an 8-4 victory over the Angels. Seven of the Athletics’ nine hits were for extra bases after they were shut out on Tuesday.

Ramón Laureano made three nifty catches in center field as he awaits a decision of his appeal of a six-game suspension for charging Houston coach Alex Cintron on Sunday.

— Gary Sanchez and Clint Frazier launched back-to-back homers and Aaron Hicks delivered an RBI double that put the Yankees ahead to stay in a 6-3 downing of the Braves. Frazier had three hits and scored twice while starting in place of outfielder Aaron Judge, who was scratched due to tightness in his lower body.

— Magneuris Sierra poked a tiebreaking-two-run single in a three-run 10th that pushed the Marlins past the Blue Jays, 14-11 in Buffalo. Toronto lost despite smacking seven home runs, two by Travis Shaw.

— Martín Maldonado belted a three-run home run to back a strong start by Zack Greinke in the Astros’ 5-1 decision over the Giants. Greinke allowed one run and scattered seven hits over a season-high 6 1/3 innings for his first win of the year.

— Justin Turner crushed a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Dodgers breathing room in a 6-0 shutout of the Padres. Tony Gonsolin fell one out short of qualifying for the victory, allowing two hits and striking out eight.

— Byron Buxton homered twice, Miguel Sano added a solo shot and Kenta Maeda worked into the seventh inning for the Twins in a 12-2 pounding of the Brewers. Marwin Gonzalez and Jose Cruz Jr. each had two RBIs as part of Minnesota’s 15-hit assault.

— Blake Snell pitched five shutout innings and the Rays backed him with a trio of 400-foot homers to beat the Boston Red Sox 8-5. Willy Adames, Brandon Lowe and Yoshi Tsutsugo all homered off Zack Godley, and Austin Meadows hit a solo shot in the ninth inning of Tampa Bay’s fifth consecutive win.

— Kyle Hendricks pitched six strong innings Anthony Rizzo homered as the pair led the Cubs to a 7-2 win over the Indians. The Cubs are 12-3 in their first season under manager David Ross, matching the club’s 15-game start since 1970.

— Brad Keller tossed two-hit ball over six scoreless innings before the Royals completed a 5-4 win over the Reds. Salvador Perez supplied a solo homer and three RBIs while Kansas City was building a 5-0 lead.

— The Orioles also earned a 5-4 win over the Phillies as Rio Ruiz, Chance Sisco and Anthony Santander all homered. Baltimore reliever Miguel Castro wiggled out a jam in the eighth thanks to a fantastic diving stop by Ruiz.

— Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith provided back-to-back RBI doubles in a four-run first inning and hit consecutive homers in a five-run sixth as the Mets whipped the Nationals, 11-6. The fourth, fifth and sixth batters in the Mets’ lineup, Michael Conforto, Alonso and Smith, went 7-for-11 with eight RBIs, eight runs scored, three walks and a hit batsman in 15 plate appearances.

— The White Sox picked up a 7-5 win over the Tigers as Tim Anderson had four hits and finished a double shy of the cycle. Anderson and Eloy Jimenez opened the game with consecutive home runs, but Chicago blew a 3-1 lead before Luis Robert hit a bases-clearing double.

— Todd Frazier scored the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch while the Rangers plated five in the bottom of the eighth to beat the Mariners, 7-4. Texas rallied after Austin Nola and Daniel Vogelbach homered in Seattle’s four-run second.

DENVER (AP) — Starling Marte homered and drove in four runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks battered the Colorado Rockies 13-7 Wednesday in a Coors Field slugfest featuring 34 hits, but none by blistering Charlie Blackmon.Blackmon began the game batting an astonishing .500 for the Rockies. He went 0 for 4, ending his hitting streak at 15 games, and his average dipped to .472.Blackmon was on deck when Trevor Story, who doubled twice and singled, grounded into a game-ending double play.Nolan Arenado homered twice and doubled for the Rockies.Marte had three hits, including a go-ahead single in an eight-run seventh inning. It was 5-all going into the inning.“It was about time,” said David Peralta, who helped break the game open in the seventh with a three-run double. “We were finding some holes. We’ve been hitting the ball really well but couldn’t find the hole. This just happened. So when this kind of thing happens it’s fun. It’s fun when you do the right thing and things go your way. We just have to keep it up. “Nick Ahmed had three hits and a pair of RBIs and Kole Calhoun added three hits with an RBI for the Diamondbacks, who took two of three to deny Colorado its sixth consecutive series win to start the season.Ryan McMahon, swinging on a 3-0 count, connected for a three-run homer to chase Arizona starter Luke Weaver with one out in the fourth inning.“I thought I hit some spots pretty well, got a little unlucky on some positioning, where we position our guys in the right way, and they just found some holes today,” Weaver said. “And that 3-0, that’s an interesting count. You’re trying to get back in the count and he sold out to the pitch and got one.”It was the first home run by a Rockies player on a 3-0 count since Michael Cuddyer did it at Atlanta on on May 24, 2014.“Honestly, the best part about it was Skip (manager Bud Black) giving me the green light there,” said McMahon, who has struggled with strikeouts this season. He has 28 on the season, including three more around his homer and single.“To be really honest, I’ve just felt really lost,” McMahon added. “I haven’t had a great feel for the (strike zone) which is usually something I take a lot of pride in. It’s hard for me right now.”Garrett Hampson added a career-high four hits for the Rockies. A total of 11 players had multihit games, seven with at least three hits.Andrew Chafin (1-0) picked up the win with an inning of scoreless relief.With the score tied at 5 in the the seventh, the Diamondbacks erupted. Peralta struck the key blow with a three-run double off Tyler Kinley (0-1), who did not retire any of the five batters he faced. Ahmed and Calhoun each had a pair of hits in the inning.Arizona homered in a club-record 16th straight game at Coors Field and improved to 9-3 in its last 12 against the Rockies.Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela went six innings and allowed five runs on nine hits.Around the Majors Wednesday— The Oakland Athletics avoided a sweep while winning for the 10th time in 12 games.Stephen Piscotty, Matt Olson and Robbie Grossman homered for the A’s in an 8-4 victory over the Angels. Seven of the Athletics’ nine hits were for extra bases after they were shut out on Tuesday.Ramón Laureano made three nifty catches in center field as he awaits a decision of his appeal of a six-game suspension for charging Houston coach Alex Cintron on Sunday.— Gary Sanchez and Clint Frazier launched back-to-back homers and Aaron Hicks delivered an RBI double that put the Yankees ahead to stay in a 6-3 downing of the Braves. Frazier had three hits and scored twice while starting in place of outfielder Aaron Judge, who was scratched due to tightness in his lower body.— Magneuris Sierra poked a tiebreaking-two-run single in a three-run 10th that pushed the Marlins past the Blue Jays, 14-11 in Buffalo. Toronto lost despite smacking seven home runs, two by Travis Shaw.— Martín Maldonado belted a three-run home run to back a strong start by Zack Greinke in the Astros’ 5-1 decision over the Giants. Greinke allowed one run and scattered seven hits over a season-high 6 1/3 innings for his first win of the year.— Justin Turner crushed a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Dodgers breathing room in a 6-0 shutout of the Padres. Tony Gonsolin fell one out short of qualifying for the victory, allowing two hits and striking out eight.— Byron Buxton homered twice, Miguel Sano added a solo shot and Kenta Maeda worked into the seventh inning for the Twins in a 12-2 pounding of the Brewers. Marwin Gonzalez and Jose Cruz Jr. each had two RBIs as part of Minnesota’s 15-hit assault.— Blake Snell pitched five shutout innings and the Rays backed him with a trio of 400-foot homers to beat the Boston Red Sox 8-5. Willy Adames, Brandon Lowe and Yoshi Tsutsugo all homered off Zack Godley, and Austin Meadows hit a solo shot in the ninth inning of Tampa Bay’s fifth consecutive win.— Kyle Hendricks pitched six strong innings Anthony Rizzo homered as the pair led the Cubs to a 7-2 win over the Indians. The Cubs are 12-3 in their first season under manager David Ross, matching the club’s 15-game start since 1970.— Brad Keller tossed two-hit ball over six scoreless innings before the Royals completed a 5-4 win over the Reds. Salvador Perez supplied a solo homer and three RBIs while Kansas City was building a 5-0 lead.— The Orioles also earned a 5-4 win over the Phillies as Rio Ruiz, Chance Sisco and Anthony Santander all homered. Baltimore reliever Miguel Castro wiggled out a jam in the eighth thanks to a fantastic diving stop by Ruiz.— Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith provided back-to-back RBI doubles in a four-run first inning and hit consecutive homers in a five-run sixth as the Mets whipped the Nationals, 11-6. The fourth, fifth and sixth batters in the Mets’ lineup, Michael Conforto, Alonso and Smith, went 7-for-11 with eight RBIs, eight runs scored, three walks and a hit batsman in 15 plate appearances.— The White Sox picked up a 7-5 win over the Tigers as Tim Anderson had four hits and finished a double shy of the cycle. Anderson and Eloy Jimenez opened the game with consecutive home runs, but Chicago blew a 3-1 lead before Luis Robert hit a bases-clearing double.— Todd Frazier scored the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch while the Rangers plated five in the bottom of the eighth to beat the Mariners, 7-4. Texas rallied after Austin Nola and Daniel Vogelbach homered in Seattle’s four-run second.

Diamondbacks top Rockies in game featuring 34 hits

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🔊 Jay Long Show: “I think all options are out on the table”

DENVER (AP) — Charlie Blackmon raised his batting average to an amazing .500 with three more hits, including a key double during a six-run burst in the eighth inning that led the Colorado Rockies over the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-7 Tuesday night.

After starting out the year 0 for 9, Blackmon has hit in 15 straight games. He's 34 for 68 through 17 games in the coronavirus-shortened 60-game season.

“It’s special to watch. He’s in a great place right now mentally and physically," Trevor Story said of Blackmon. "He hits the ball so hard. He’s just driving it. It’s cool to see what he can do in the three spot.”

Blackmon doubled off Kevin Ginkel (0-1) during the Rockies' big inning that made it 8-2.

The Diamondbacks rallied for five runs in the ninth and had runners on first and third with two outs. Daniel Bard fanned pinch hitter Stephen Vogt to end it and earn his first save since 2011 while with the Boston Red Sox. It was his sixth career save overall.

Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer and Raimel Tapia added three hits, including a two-run double in the eighth for Colorado.

Carlos Estevez (1-0) worked a scoreless eighth for the victory. Christian Walker and Carson Kelly each homered for the Diamondbacks.

Trailing 2-1, Arizona tied it when Kelly led off the seventh with his first home run of the season.

Colorado had gone in front 2-1 when Arenado followed Blackmon's second single of the night with a fourth-inning drive off Zac Gallen that soared into the stand of evergreens behind the center field fence. Walker, who hit 29 home runs as a rookie for the Diamondbacks last season, connected for his first of the season leading off the fourth inning to put Arizona up 1-0.

Gallen went seven innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, with seven strikeout and no walks. He set an NL record by allowing three or fewer earned runs in each of his first 19 starts. He eclipsed Steve Rogers of Montreal who didn't allow more than three earned runs in each of his first 18 career starts. Kyle Freeland went seven innings for Colorado and allowed two runs on seven hits. He struck out two and walked one.&nbsp;

Major League Action Tuesday

— Eloy Jimenez hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and the Chicago White Sox snapped Detroit’s four-game wining streak with an 8-4 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday night. Edwin Encarnacion also went deep for the White Sox, who won for only the second time in seven games. Austin Romine hit a two-run shot for Detroit. Jose Abreu had three hits, including a pair of RBI doubles. Gio Gonzalez was pulled one out shy of the win. He allowed two runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Matt Foster was credited with the win after striking out four in two perfect innings.

—Manny Machado slugged a grand slam after two consecutive errors by the Dodgers in the third inning, Garrett Richards won for the first time in two years, and the San Diego Padres defeated Los Angeles 6-2. The Padres have taken the first two games of the series after dropping two of three to the Dodgers last week in San Diego, and have won a season-best three in a row overall.

— Nick Solak singled three times and drove in three runs, leading the Texas Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Solak had a two-run single in the first and an RBI hit in third, when Willie Calhoun added another run-scoring single. Left-hander Mike Minor allowed an infield single and three walks with four strikeouts in four scoreless innings. He was pulled after 76 pitches.

—In the first major league game in Buffalo since 1915, Travis Shaw hit an RBI single in the 10th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays settled into their new nest with a 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins. Barred from playing in Toronto by the Canadian government over concerns about the coronavirus, the wandering Blue Jays spent nearly three weeks on the road before moving into the ballpark of their Triple-A affiliate as their temporary home this year.

—Mike Brosseau led off the game with a home run, Yandy Díaz and Hunter Renfroe each had two RBIs and the Tampa Bay Rays continued their offensive onslaught against the Boston Red Sox in an 8-2 win Tuesday night. Brosseau, Diaz and Manuel Margot had multi-hit games as Tampa Bay won its fourth straight game. The Rays had a season-high 16 hits in an 8-7 win Monday. Boston has lost seven of its last 10 games.

—Joey Votto doubled home the winning run in the 10th inning, and the Cincinnati Reds blew another late lead before rallying for a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The Royals tied it 5-5 in the eighth on Ryan McBroom’s pinch-hit, two-run homer off Amir Garrett, but they couldn’t keep their four-game winning streak going.

—Jon Lester pitched six strong innings and Jason Heyward hit a three-run homer, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 7-1 win over Cleveland. The Indians welcomed back manager Terry Francona after he missed eight games with a medical issue. Lester allowed one run and three hits as the Cubs, who hadn’t played in four days, moved to 11-3 for the first time since 2016. The Indians put pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac on the restricted list after they broke team rules and went out in Chicago, exposing themselves to COVID-19.

—Austin Hays hit a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the 10th inning to lift the Baltimore Orioles to a 10-9 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Bryce Harper hit a tying, two-run homer in the eighth and Jean Segura gave the Phillies a 6-5 lead with a solo shot two outs later.

— Aaron Judge dented an advertisement with a scorching home run before making an unusual early exit, Jordan Montgomery pitched efficiently against a lineup missing its brightest star and the New York Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves 9-6. Atlanta scratched Ronald Acuña Jr. about 90 minutes before first pitch with a sore left wrist. The 2018 NL Rookie of the Year homered three times during a doubleheader Sunday against Philadelphia but was pulled early in a blowout loss Monday.

-- Max Scherzer showed no effects of hamstring trouble, navigating heavy traffic early for his first win this season. And Trea Turner hit a record-breaking leadoff homer to help the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 2-1. Victor Robles blooped an RBI single for the Nationals, who took the first two in a four-game series between NL East rivals. New York dropped to 3-7 at home this season.

— Jedd Gyorko blasted a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers came from behind to beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 . The Brewers started their winning rally when Christian Yelich beat the Twins’ shift with a one-out double. Eddie Rosario of the Twins and Manny Pina of the Brewers each hit two home runs. Minnesota’s Jorge Polanco and Milwaukee’s Avisail Garcia also homered.

DENVER (AP) — Charlie Blackmon raised his batting average to an amazing .500 with three more hits, including a key double during a six-run burst in the eighth inning that led the Colorado Rockies over the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-7 Tuesday night.After starting out the year 0 for 9, Blackmon has hit in 15 straight games. He's 34 for 68 through 17 games in the coronavirus-shortened 60-game season.“It’s special to watch. He’s in a great place right now mentally and physically," Trevor Story said of Blackmon. "He hits the ball so hard. He’s just driving it. It’s cool to see what he can do in the three spot.”Blackmon doubled off Kevin Ginkel (0-1) during the Rockies' big inning that made it 8-2.The Diamondbacks rallied for five runs in the ninth and had runners on first and third with two outs. Daniel Bard fanned pinch hitter Stephen Vogt to end it and earn his first save since 2011 while with the Boston Red Sox. It was his sixth career save overall.Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer and Raimel Tapia added three hits, including a two-run double in the eighth for Colorado.Carlos Estevez (1-0) worked a scoreless eighth for the victory. Christian Walker and Carson Kelly each homered for the Diamondbacks.Trailing 2-1, Arizona tied it when Kelly led off the seventh with his first home run of the season.Colorado had gone in front 2-1 when Arenado followed Blackmon's second single of the night with a fourth-inning drive off Zac Gallen that soared into the stand of evergreens behind the center field fence. Walker, who hit 29 home runs as a rookie for the Diamondbacks last season, connected for his first of the season leading off the fourth inning to put Arizona up 1-0.Gallen went seven innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, with seven strikeout and no walks. He set an NL record by allowing three or fewer earned runs in each of his first 19 starts. He eclipsed Steve Rogers of Montreal who didn't allow more than three earned runs in each of his first 18 career starts. Kyle Freeland went seven innings for Colorado and allowed two runs on seven hits. He struck out two and walked one.&nbsp;Major League Action Tuesday— Eloy Jimenez hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and the Chicago White Sox snapped Detroit’s four-game wining streak with an 8-4 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday night. Edwin Encarnacion also went deep for the White Sox, who won for only the second time in seven games. Austin Romine hit a two-run shot for Detroit. Jose Abreu had three hits, including a pair of RBI doubles. Gio Gonzalez was pulled one out shy of the win. He allowed two runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Matt Foster was credited with the win after striking out four in two perfect innings.—Manny Machado slugged a grand slam after two consecutive errors by the Dodgers in the third inning, Garrett Richards won for the first time in two years, and the San Diego Padres defeated Los Angeles 6-2. The Padres have taken the first two games of the series after dropping two of three to the Dodgers last week in San Diego, and have won a season-best three in a row overall.— Nick Solak singled three times and drove in three runs, leading the Texas Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Solak had a two-run single in the first and an RBI hit in third, when Willie Calhoun added another run-scoring single. Left-hander Mike Minor allowed an infield single and three walks with four strikeouts in four scoreless innings. He was pulled after 76 pitches.—In the first major league game in Buffalo since 1915, Travis Shaw hit an RBI single in the 10th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays settled into their new nest with a 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins. Barred from playing in Toronto by the Canadian government over concerns about the coronavirus, the wandering Blue Jays spent nearly three weeks on the road before moving into the ballpark of their Triple-A affiliate as their temporary home this year.—Mike Brosseau led off the game with a home run, Yandy Díaz and Hunter Renfroe each had two RBIs and the Tampa Bay Rays continued their offensive onslaught against the Boston Red Sox in an 8-2 win Tuesday night. Brosseau, Diaz and Manuel Margot had multi-hit games as Tampa Bay won its fourth straight game. The Rays had a season-high 16 hits in an 8-7 win Monday. Boston has lost seven of its last 10 games.—Joey Votto doubled home the winning run in the 10th inning, and the Cincinnati Reds blew another late lead before rallying for a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The Royals tied it 5-5 in the eighth on Ryan McBroom’s pinch-hit, two-run homer off Amir Garrett, but they couldn’t keep their four-game winning streak going.—Jon Lester pitched six strong innings and Jason Heyward hit a three-run homer, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 7-1 win over Cleveland. The Indians welcomed back manager Terry Francona after he missed eight games with a medical issue. Lester allowed one run and three hits as the Cubs, who hadn’t played in four days, moved to 11-3 for the first time since 2016. The Indians put pitchers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac on the restricted list after they broke team rules and went out in Chicago, exposing themselves to COVID-19.—Austin Hays hit a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the 10th inning to lift the Baltimore Orioles to a 10-9 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Bryce Harper hit a tying, two-run homer in the eighth and Jean Segura gave the Phillies a 6-5 lead with a solo shot two outs later.— Aaron Judge dented an advertisement with a scorching home run before making an unusual early exit, Jordan Montgomery pitched efficiently against a lineup missing its brightest star and the New York Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves 9-6. Atlanta scratched Ronald Acuña Jr. about 90 minutes before first pitch with a sore left wrist. The 2018 NL Rookie of the Year homered three times during a doubleheader Sunday against Philadelphia but was pulled early in a blowout loss Monday.-- Max Scherzer showed no effects of hamstring trouble, navigating heavy traffic early for his first win this season. And Trea Turner hit a record-breaking leadoff homer to help the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 2-1. Victor Robles blooped an RBI single for the Nationals, who took the first two in a four-game series between NL East rivals. New York dropped to 3-7 at home this season.— Jedd Gyorko blasted a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers came from behind to beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 . The Brewers started their winning rally when Christian Yelich beat the Twins’ shift with a one-out double. Eddie Rosario of the Twins and Manny Pina of the Brewers each hit two home runs. Minnesota’s Jorge Polanco and Milwaukee’s Avisail Garcia also homered.

Rockies sneak by Snakes, Blackmon hitting .500!

And then there were three. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference were still moving forward with plans for a fall college football season. Two other Power Five leagues, the Big Ten and the Pac-12, have called things off. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says he is comfortable with the 14-member conference’s approach. The ACC says it will continue to follow advice of medical advisers and health officials. The Big 12 Board of Directors was meeting late Tuesday and reportedly decided to continue moving forward, even looking to release a new schedule soon.

Associated PressAnd then there were three. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference were still moving forward with plans for a fall college football season. Two other Power Five leagues, the Big Ten and the Pac-12, have called things off. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says he is comfortable with the 14-member conference’s approach. The ACC says it will continue to follow advice of medical advisers and health officials. The Big 12 Board of Directors was meeting late Tuesday and reportedly decided to continue moving forward, even looking to release a new schedule soon.

Big 12, SEC, ACC all planning to play football this fall

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The surprising (at least to fans) announcement late last week that the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is suspending the fall seasons for football and volleyball probably won’t be the last word, according to Joel Smith, the Chadron State College athletic director.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; More discussions are scheduled and some changes are anticipated as the NCAA, the conferences and the schools try to do what is best for the student-athletes and the athletic programs, he added.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Smith, who is chairman of the RMAC’s Competition Committee, said Monday morning that he already had four zoom meetings scheduled for this week, two of them at the national level and two at the conference level.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “We’re all trying to do the right thing,” Smith said. “We had to make the announcement last week because we had too many questions that were going to take some time to answer. He said they included testing for COVID-19, insurance coverage in case athletes are affected, eligibility of the athletes and scholarships.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The RMAC announcement said the fall sports competition would be moved to the spring, but that also spawned numerous questions, particularly concerning football because of weather implications.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just a week earlier, the RMAC Presidents’ Council announced that conference-only contests would be played this fall, beginning Sept. 18 and 19. The Presidents’ Council also made last week’s decision suspending the fall football, volleyball and soccer seasons, but allowing cross county and golf to be played this fall because they are considered “low risk” sports.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Several other Division II conferences had made similar announcements prior to the RMAC decision. Now, it appears that all DII conferences have decided to forego competition in the “high risk” sports this fall.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Earlier last week, the NCAA Board of Governors and the DII Presidents’ Council mandated that no fall sports national championships will take place in 2020.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While much remains uncertain, Smith said it’s possible football teams this fall may emulate what they’ve been doing in the spring and then play a limited schedule of games in the spring.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “There’s no way football will play 10 games in the spring and then play another 10 in the fall (of 2021), after we certainly hope everything is back to normal,” Smith said.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He added that after visiting with some of his colleagues Monday, it seems probable that volleyball will switch nearly everything that usually takes place in the fall to spring.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NCAA rules state that coaches may have instructional contact with their athletes a total of 103 days annually. In the past for football, 15 of those days have been utilized in the spring and the remainder in the fall.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Smith added that the NCAA previously had decided that all athletes would have to take COVID tests through their nostrils 72 hours before the contests began.&nbsp; The process is expensive, but Smith said Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts had stated the state would assist with those costs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Other members of RMAC had not received similar assurances at last report, Smith said.

He also stated that the colleges’ current insurance does not cover payments for care necessitated by the virus, making it another item that likely will have to be settled before any competition takes place.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chadron State Head Football Coach Jay Long called the scenario “pretty crazy.”&nbsp;

“As coaches, we try to plan and be well organized and then things become so uncertain,” Long added. “That’s just the way things have happened.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Long said at least 40 and maybe as many as 60 CSC football players have been living in Chadron this summer and working out four or five times a week on their own to get ready for the season.

Some of them went home on Friday when they found out there would be no fall camp, which had been scheduled to start on Friday the 14th&nbsp;following the announcement that the Eagles’ first game would be Sept. 19 against South Dakota Mines in Rapid City.

Long said he is hopeful that all of the players will be back this week to be ready when classes begin on Monday.&nbsp; He and his assistants plan to meet with each of the players individually. By then, more information may be available.

&nbsp;&nbsp;Long said some of those nearing graduation may decide not to play if the schedule remains unsettled. The NCAA has determined athletes who decide not to play because of the virus, but remain in school will retain their athletic scholarships.

&nbsp;Football players will be allowed to participate in up to five games before they would use a year of eligibility, Smith said.&nbsp; Similar rules are established for volleyball and other sports.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chadron State hosted two three-day high school football team camps with nearly 800 participants and two one-day prospect camps, all in July, and received no reports of any COVID-19 problems following them, Long reported.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CSC also hosted volleyball and softball camps during the past month with no negative consequences.&nbsp;

By: Con Marshall, CSC Athletics&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The surprising (at least to fans) announcement late last week that the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is suspending the fall seasons for football and volleyball probably won’t be the last word, according to Joel Smith, the Chadron State College athletic director.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; More discussions are scheduled and some changes are anticipated as the NCAA, the conferences and the schools try to do what is best for the student-athletes and the athletic programs, he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Smith, who is chairman of the RMAC’s Competition Committee, said Monday morning that he already had four zoom meetings scheduled for this week, two of them at the national level and two at the conference level.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “We’re all trying to do the right thing,” Smith said. “We had to make the announcement last week because we had too many questions that were going to take some time to answer. He said they included testing for COVID-19, insurance coverage in case athletes are affected, eligibility of the athletes and scholarships.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The RMAC announcement said the fall sports competition would be moved to the spring, but that also spawned numerous questions, particularly concerning football because of weather implications.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Just a week earlier, the RMAC Presidents’ Council announced that conference-only contests would be played this fall, beginning Sept. 18 and 19. The Presidents’ Council also made last week’s decision suspending the fall football, volleyball and soccer seasons, but allowing cross county and golf to be played this fall because they are considered “low risk” sports.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Several other Division II conferences had made similar announcements prior to the RMAC decision. Now, it appears that all DII conferences have decided to forego competition in the “high risk” sports this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Earlier last week, the NCAA Board of Governors and the DII Presidents’ Council mandated that no fall sports national championships will take place in 2020.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While much remains uncertain, Smith said it’s possible football teams this fall may emulate what they’ve been doing in the spring and then play a limited schedule of games in the spring.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “There’s no way football will play 10 games in the spring and then play another 10 in the fall (of 2021), after we certainly hope everything is back to normal,” Smith said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He added that after visiting with some of his colleagues Monday, it seems probable that volleyball will switch nearly everything that usually takes place in the fall to spring.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; NCAA rules state that coaches may have instructional contact with their athletes a total of 103 days annually. In the past for football, 15 of those days have been utilized in the spring and the remainder in the fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Smith added that the NCAA previously had decided that all athletes would have to take COVID tests through their nostrils 72 hours before the contests began.&nbsp; The process is expensive, but Smith said Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts had stated the state would assist with those costs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Other members of RMAC had not received similar assurances at last report, Smith said.He also stated that the colleges’ current insurance does not cover payments for care necessitated by the virus, making it another item that likely will have to be settled before any competition takes place.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chadron State Head Football Coach Jay Long called the scenario “pretty crazy.”&nbsp;“As coaches, we try to plan and be well organized and then things become so uncertain,” Long added. “That’s just the way things have happened.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Long said at least 40 and maybe as many as 60 CSC football players have been living in Chadron this summer and working out four or five times a week on their own to get ready for the season.Some of them went home on Friday when they found out there would be no fall camp, which had been scheduled to start on Friday the 14th&nbsp;following the announcement that the Eagles’ first game would be Sept. 19 against South Dakota Mines in Rapid City.Long said he is hopeful that all of the players will be back this week to be ready when classes begin on Monday.&nbsp; He and his assistants plan to meet with each of the players individually. By then, more information may be available.&nbsp;&nbsp;Long said some of those nearing graduation may decide not to play if the schedule remains unsettled. The NCAA has determined athletes who decide not to play because of the virus, but remain in school will retain their athletic scholarships.&nbsp;Football players will be allowed to participate in up to five games before they would use a year of eligibility, Smith said.&nbsp; Similar rules are established for volleyball and other sports.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chadron State hosted two three-day high school football team camps with nearly 800 participants and two one-day prospect camps, all in July, and received no reports of any COVID-19 problems following them, Long reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CSC also hosted volleyball and softball camps during the past month with no negative consequences.&nbsp;

RMAC's decision to postpone fall sports may not be the last word...

Courtesy: NU Athletic Communications

After meeting Tuesday morning, the Big Ten issued the following statement saying the conference will postpone all fall sports for 2020-21, including regular season contests, tournaments and Big 10 Championships, due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.&nbsp; The entire statement is posted below.&nbsp;

&nbsp; In making its decision, which was based on multiple factors, the Big Ten Conference relied on the medical advice and counsel of the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee. “Our primary responsibility is to make the best possible decisions in the interest of our students, faculty and staff,” said Morton Schapiro, Chair of the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors and Northwestern University President. “The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been&nbsp;at the center of every&nbsp;decision&nbsp;we have made&nbsp;regarding the ability to proceed forward,” said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren. “As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there&nbsp;was&nbsp;too&nbsp;much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow&nbsp;our student-athletes to compete this fall. “We know how significant the student-athlete experience can be in shaping the&nbsp;future of the talented young women and&nbsp;men who compete in the Big Ten Conference.&nbsp;Although that&nbsp;knowledge made this a painstaking decision, it did not make it difficult.&nbsp;While I know&nbsp;our decision today will be disappointing&nbsp;in many ways for our thousands of student-athletes and their families, I am heartened and inspired by their resilience, their insightful and discerning thoughts, and their participation through our conversations to this point. Everyone associated with the Big Ten Conference and its member institutions&nbsp;is committed to getting everyone back to competition as soon as it is safe to do so.” The fall sports&nbsp;included in this announcement&nbsp;are men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball. The Big Ten Conference will continue to evaluate a number of options regarding these sports, including the possibility of competition in the spring. Decisions regarding winter and spring sports will also continue to be evaluated.&nbsp; The Big Ten Conference is proud of its 14 world-class research institutions and has leveraged their resources and expertise to address this pandemic over the past five months. The Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee have engaged in extensive research and sharing of materials and conversations with federal, state and local government agencies, and professional and international sports organizations in order to track and better understand the daily updates surrounding this pandemic.&nbsp;Their advice and counsel have been invaluable as they have worked tirelessly over the past several months in their efforts to create and maintain a safe environment for athletics. The Big Ten Conference will continue to work with medical experts and governmental authorities to gather additional information, evaluate emerging data and technologies, and monitor developments regarding the pandemic to make the best decisions possible for the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Following the announcement from the Big Ten,&nbsp; Univeristy of Nebraska officials announced the following statement.

&nbsp; Statement by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green, University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter, Nebraska Athletic Director&nbsp;<a href="https://huskers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=2225">Bill Moos</a>&nbsp;and Nebraska Head Football Coach&nbsp;<a href="https://huskers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=7076">Scott Frost</a> "We are very disappointed in the decision by the Big Ten Conference to postpone the fall football season, as we have been and continue to be ready to play. Safety comes first. Based on the conversations with our medical experts, we continue to strongly believe the absolute safest place for our student athletes is within the rigorous safety protocols, testing procedures, and the structure and support provided by Husker Athletics.&nbsp; We will continue to consult with medical experts and evaluate the situation as it emerges. We hope it may be possible for our student athletes to have the opportunity to compete."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Courtesy: NU Athletic CommunicationsAfter meeting Tuesday morning, the Big Ten issued the following statement saying the conference will postpone all fall sports for 2020-21, including regular season contests, tournaments and Big 10 Championships, due to the current Covid-19 pandemic.&nbsp; The entire statement is posted below.&nbsp;&nbsp; In making its decision, which was based on multiple factors, the Big Ten Conference relied on the medical advice and counsel of the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee. “Our primary responsibility is to make the best possible decisions in the interest of our students, faculty and staff,” said Morton Schapiro, Chair of the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors and Northwestern University President. “The mental and physical health and welfare of our student-athletes has been&nbsp;at the center of every&nbsp;decision&nbsp;we have made&nbsp;regarding the ability to proceed forward,” said Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren. “As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there&nbsp;was&nbsp;too&nbsp;much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow&nbsp;our student-athletes to compete this fall. “We know how significant the student-athlete experience can be in shaping the&nbsp;future of the talented young women and&nbsp;men who compete in the Big Ten Conference.&nbsp;Although that&nbsp;knowledge made this a painstaking decision, it did not make it difficult.&nbsp;While I know&nbsp;our decision today will be disappointing&nbsp;in many ways for our thousands of student-athletes and their families, I am heartened and inspired by their resilience, their insightful and discerning thoughts, and their participation through our conversations to this point. Everyone associated with the Big Ten Conference and its member institutions&nbsp;is committed to getting everyone back to competition as soon as it is safe to do so.” The fall sports&nbsp;included in this announcement&nbsp;are men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball. The Big Ten Conference will continue to evaluate a number of options regarding these sports, including the possibility of competition in the spring. Decisions regarding winter and spring sports will also continue to be evaluated.&nbsp; The Big Ten Conference is proud of its 14 world-class research institutions and has leveraged their resources and expertise to address this pandemic over the past five months. The Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee have engaged in extensive research and sharing of materials and conversations with federal, state and local government agencies, and professional and international sports organizations in order to track and better understand the daily updates surrounding this pandemic.&nbsp;Their advice and counsel have been invaluable as they have worked tirelessly over the past several months in their efforts to create and maintain a safe environment for athletics. The Big Ten Conference will continue to work with medical experts and governmental authorities to gather additional information, evaluate emerging data and technologies, and monitor developments regarding the pandemic to make the best decisions possible for the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following the announcement from the Big Ten,&nbsp; Univeristy of Nebraska officials announced the following statement.&nbsp; Statement by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Ronnie Green, University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter, Nebraska Athletic Director&nbsp;<a href="https://huskers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=2225">Bill Moos</a>&nbsp;and Nebraska Head Football Coach&nbsp;<a href="https://huskers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=7076">Scott Frost</a> "We are very disappointed in the decision by the Big Ten Conference to postpone the fall football season, as we have been and continue to be ready to play. Safety comes first. Based on the conversations with our medical experts, we continue to strongly believe the absolute safest place for our student athletes is within the rigorous safety protocols, testing procedures, and the structure and support provided by Husker Athletics.&nbsp; We will continue to consult with medical experts and evaluate the situation as it emerges. We hope it may be possible for our student athletes to have the opportunity to compete."&nbsp;&nbsp;

BIG 10 will postpone fall sports for 2020-21

DENVER (AP) — Kole Calhoun homered and had a two-run double to lead Arizona’s 18-hit outburst, and the Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 12-8. David Peralta and Ketel Marte got four hits each for Arizona, which finished with 13 singles. Alex Young worked two innings of relief for the win. Archie Bradley entered in the ninth with the bases loaded and allowed just one run, earning his fourth save. Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon continued his torrid start with four singles to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. He has 10 multi-hit games in that stretch, including the last five to raise his batting average to .484, tops in the majors.

&nbsp;— The Washington Nationals entered Monday’s action with a .236 batting average and were ranked next-to-last in the majors with 10 home runs. The defending World Series champs broke out in a big way by pummeling Steven Matz and the New York Mets.

Asdrubal Cabrera homered twice as part of the Nats’ 17-hit attack in a 16-4 thrashing of the Mets. Cabrera was 4-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored for the Nationals, who had scored just four runs in dropping their previous three completed games.

Trea Turner and Juan Soto also homered for Washington. Matz was reached for eight runs over 4 1/3 innings, six days after the Nats tagged him for five runs in just three innings. Winning pitcher Patrick Corbin held New York to one earned run over six innings.

— The Angels ended the Athletics’ nine-game winning streak as Mike Trout ripped a solo homer in the eighth inning to lead Los Angeles to a 10-9 victory. Trout homered twice for the Angels, who also received two-run blasts from Anthony Rendon and Shohei Ohtani .

— Lance McCullers carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of the Astros’ 6-4 win over the Giants. The no-hit bid ended when Donovan Solano hit a two-out double to run his hitting streak to 15 games. Michael Brantley laced a two-run double, Carlos Correa drove in a pair and Martin Maldonado smacked a solo homer for Houston.

— Six pitchers combined on a four-hitter to carry the Padres past the Dodgers, 2-1. Austin Hedges tied it with a fifth-inning homer and Eric Hosmer singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth.

— Didi Gregorius launched a grand slam and Bryce Harper blasted a three-run shot in the Phillies’ 13-8 pounding of the Braves. Aaon Nola allowed one run and two hits while striking out 10 in eight innings of his first victory since last August.

— Nico Goodrum was 4-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in the Tigers’ fourth consecutive win, 5-1 against the White Sox. JaCoby Jones smacked a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the seventh to cap the scoring.

— Kevin Kiermaier hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh inning and Manuel Margot had four of the Rays’ 16 hits in an 8-7 decision over the Red Sox. Kiermaier had three RBIs as Tampa Bay won for the fourth time in five games.

— Eddie Rosario belted a grand slam in the third inning and the Twins stopped a four-game skid by downing the Brewers, 4-2. Randy Dobnak allowed a run and four hits over five innings to move to 3-1.

— The Mariners rolled to a 10-2 win at Texas as Kyle Seager crushed a grand slam and Kyle Lewis added a three-run shot. Dylan Moore added a solo shot and three RBIs to back winning pitcher Justin Dunn, who gave up two runs over six innings.

DENVER (AP) — Kole Calhoun homered and had a two-run double to lead Arizona’s 18-hit outburst, and the Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 12-8. David Peralta and Ketel Marte got four hits each for Arizona, which finished with 13 singles. Alex Young worked two innings of relief for the win. Archie Bradley entered in the ninth with the bases loaded and allowed just one run, earning his fourth save. Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon continued his torrid start with four singles to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. He has 10 multi-hit games in that stretch, including the last five to raise his batting average to .484, tops in the majors.Major League Action Monday&nbsp;— The Washington Nationals entered Monday’s action with a .236 batting average and were ranked next-to-last in the majors with 10 home runs. The defending World Series champs broke out in a big way by pummeling Steven Matz and the New York Mets.Asdrubal Cabrera homered twice as part of the Nats’ 17-hit attack in a 16-4 thrashing of the Mets. Cabrera was 4-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored for the Nationals, who had scored just four runs in dropping their previous three completed games.Trea Turner and Juan Soto also homered for Washington. Matz was reached for eight runs over 4 1/3 innings, six days after the Nats tagged him for five runs in just three innings. Winning pitcher Patrick Corbin held New York to one earned run over six innings.— The Angels ended the Athletics’ nine-game winning streak as Mike Trout ripped a solo homer in the eighth inning to lead Los Angeles to a 10-9 victory. Trout homered twice for the Angels, who also received two-run blasts from Anthony Rendon and Shohei Ohtani .— Lance McCullers carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning of the Astros’ 6-4 win over the Giants. The no-hit bid ended when Donovan Solano hit a two-out double to run his hitting streak to 15 games. Michael Brantley laced a two-run double, Carlos Correa drove in a pair and Martin Maldonado smacked a solo homer for Houston.— Six pitchers combined on a four-hitter to carry the Padres past the Dodgers, 2-1. Austin Hedges tied it with a fifth-inning homer and Eric Hosmer singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth.— Didi Gregorius launched a grand slam and Bryce Harper blasted a three-run shot in the Phillies’ 13-8 pounding of the Braves. Aaon Nola allowed one run and two hits while striking out 10 in eight innings of his first victory since last August.— Nico Goodrum was 4-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in the Tigers’ fourth consecutive win, 5-1 against the White Sox. JaCoby Jones smacked a two-run, inside-the-park homer in the seventh to cap the scoring.— Kevin Kiermaier hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh inning and Manuel Margot had four of the Rays’ 16 hits in an 8-7 decision over the Red Sox. Kiermaier had three RBIs as Tampa Bay won for the fourth time in five games.— Eddie Rosario belted a grand slam in the third inning and the Twins stopped a four-game skid by downing the Brewers, 4-2. Randy Dobnak allowed a run and four hits over five innings to move to 3-1.— The Mariners rolled to a 10-2 win at Texas as Kyle Seager crushed a grand slam and Kyle Lewis added a three-run shot. Dylan Moore added a solo shot and three RBIs to back winning pitcher Justin Dunn, who gave up two runs over six innings.

Diamondbacks open series with 12-8 win over Rockies

SEATTLE (AP) — Justus Sheffield pitched six shutout innings for his first major league win, Dylan Moore hit a two-run homer and the Seattle Mariners beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Sunday. Sheffield, one of three pitchers 24 or younger in the Mariners’ starting rotation, gave up four hits without a walk and struck out seven in his longest stint of the season. Charlie Blackmon extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first-inning double for the Rockies.

The Athletics and Astros ignored social distancing recommendations on Sunday by resorting to some antisocial behavior.

Benches cleared and even the stands emptied during Oakland’s 7-2 victory over the Astros. It was the first dust-up between the two teams since A's pitcher Mike Fiers revealed the Astros stole signs during their World Series run while he was with Houston.

Oakland’s Ramon Laureano got hit by a pitch for the third time in the three-game series. Laureano began exchanging words with animated Houston hitting coach Alex Cintron, then left first base, threw down his batting helmet and began sprinting toward him. Astros catcher Dustin Garneau tackled Laureano before the A’s outfielder reached Cintron, touching off a wild scene in which players streamed out of the stands to join the scrum.

Matt Olson hit a three-run homer in the third and Matt Chapman connected the very next pitch, taking the score from 1-0 to 5-0 on consecutive offerings from Astros starter Cristian Javier.

Robbie Grossman also homered and Mark Canha&nbsp; contributed an RBI single as the A's dealt the Astros their fifth consecutive loss.

— The Rays pulled out a 4-3 win over the Yankees on an RBI single by Michael Perez in the bottom of the ninth. Mike Brosseau and Brandon Lowe both homered in the seventh, when the Rays tied it at 3.

— Brady Singer picked up his first big league win by allowing two runs over five innings of the Royals' 4-2 decision over the Twins. Hunter Dozier hit a two-run single and Mikael Franco added a solo blast to back Singer.

— The Dodgers spotted the Giants a 2-0 lead before AJ Pollock and Mookie Betts each hit a three-run homer to give Los Angeles a 6-2 victory. The Dodgers have won nine of 12 and took two out of three from their NL West rivals.

— Manny Machado homered twice and Fernando Tatis Jr. slammed his eighth home run of the season as the Padres coasted past the Diamondbacks, 9-5. Dinelson Lamet no-hit Arizona until Kole Calhoun led off the seventh with a homer.

— Ronald Acuna Jr. belted a go-ahead, two-run homer while the Braves scored five times in the fifth inning of a 5-2 verdict over the Phillies in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Adam Duvall added a three-run double later in the fifth to put Atlanta ahead, 5-1.

— The Braves rolled to an 8-0 rout of the Phils in the nightcap as Acuna homered twice. Freddie Freeman went deep as Atlanta spoiled Spencer Howard’s big league debut.

— Rookie Andrés Giménez had three hits and scored three runs as the Mets doubled up the Marlins, 4-2 in the rubber match of the three-game set. New York received shutout ball from its bullpen after winning pitcher Jacob deGrom survived seven hits over five innings.

— The Brewers were 9-3 winners over the Reds as Christian Yelich&nbsp; homered, tripled and drew a bases-loaded walk Milwaukee avoided falling to 0-5 at home for the first time since 1970, the franchise’s inaugural season in Wisconsin.

— Angels right fielder Jo Adell was charged with a rare four-base error when a fly ball from Nick Solak popped out of the rookie’s glove and sailed over the fence in the Rangers’ 7-3 win. Solak who had two hits and scored three runs to help Texas complete a three-game sweep.

— Mitch Moreland's second home run of the afternoon was a two-run, walk-off blast over the Green Monster to give the Red Sox a 5-3 win against Blue Jays. Rafael Devers also homered and Boston relievers combined for three hitless innings of shutout relief.

— Detroit completed a three-game sweep as Spencer Turnbull pitched seven strong innings and Miguel Cabrera singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth to send the Tigers past the Pirates, 2-1. The pitchers' duel came after the two teams combined for 46 runs in the first two games of the series.

— The Nationals-Orioles game had to be suspended with the Birds leading 5-2 in the top of the sixth. Stephen Strasburg threw scoreless ball in his first start of the season until Hanser Alberto’s two-run double and Anthony Santander’s two-run single in Baltimore's five-run fifth. The grounds crew had trouble placing the tarp over the infield during a thunderstorm, leading to the suspension.

SEATTLE (AP) — Justus Sheffield pitched six shutout innings for his first major league win, Dylan Moore hit a two-run homer and the Seattle Mariners beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Sunday. Sheffield, one of three pitchers 24 or younger in the Mariners’ starting rotation, gave up four hits without a walk and struck out seven in his longest stint of the season. Charlie Blackmon extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first-inning double for the Rockies.Around the Majors SundayThe Athletics and Astros ignored social distancing recommendations on Sunday by resorting to some antisocial behavior.Benches cleared and even the stands emptied during Oakland’s 7-2 victory over the Astros. It was the first dust-up between the two teams since A's pitcher Mike Fiers revealed the Astros stole signs during their World Series run while he was with Houston.Oakland’s Ramon Laureano got hit by a pitch for the third time in the three-game series. Laureano began exchanging words with animated Houston hitting coach Alex Cintron, then left first base, threw down his batting helmet and began sprinting toward him. Astros catcher Dustin Garneau tackled Laureano before the A’s outfielder reached Cintron, touching off a wild scene in which players streamed out of the stands to join the scrum.Matt Olson hit a three-run homer in the third and Matt Chapman connected the very next pitch, taking the score from 1-0 to 5-0 on consecutive offerings from Astros starter Cristian Javier.Robbie Grossman also homered and Mark Canha&nbsp; contributed an RBI single as the A's dealt the Astros their fifth consecutive loss.— The Rays pulled out a 4-3 win over the Yankees on an RBI single by Michael Perez in the bottom of the ninth. Mike Brosseau and Brandon Lowe both homered in the seventh, when the Rays tied it at 3.— Brady Singer picked up his first big league win by allowing two runs over five innings of the Royals' 4-2 decision over the Twins. Hunter Dozier hit a two-run single and Mikael Franco added a solo blast to back Singer.— The Dodgers spotted the Giants a 2-0 lead before AJ Pollock and Mookie Betts each hit a three-run homer to give Los Angeles a 6-2 victory. The Dodgers have won nine of 12 and took two out of three from their NL West rivals.— Manny Machado homered twice and Fernando Tatis Jr. slammed his eighth home run of the season as the Padres coasted past the Diamondbacks, 9-5. Dinelson Lamet no-hit Arizona until Kole Calhoun led off the seventh with a homer.— Ronald Acuna Jr. belted a go-ahead, two-run homer while the Braves scored five times in the fifth inning of a 5-2 verdict over the Phillies in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Adam Duvall added a three-run double later in the fifth to put Atlanta ahead, 5-1.— The Braves rolled to an 8-0 rout of the Phils in the nightcap as Acuna homered twice. Freddie Freeman went deep as Atlanta spoiled Spencer Howard’s big league debut.— Rookie Andrés Giménez had three hits and scored three runs as the Mets doubled up the Marlins, 4-2 in the rubber match of the three-game set. New York received shutout ball from its bullpen after winning pitcher Jacob deGrom survived seven hits over five innings.— The Brewers were 9-3 winners over the Reds as Christian Yelich&nbsp; homered, tripled and drew a bases-loaded walk Milwaukee avoided falling to 0-5 at home for the first time since 1970, the franchise’s inaugural season in Wisconsin.— Angels right fielder Jo Adell was charged with a rare four-base error when a fly ball from Nick Solak popped out of the rookie’s glove and sailed over the fence in the Rangers’ 7-3 win. Solak who had two hits and scored three runs to help Texas complete a three-game sweep.— Mitch Moreland's second home run of the afternoon was a two-run, walk-off blast over the Green Monster to give the Red Sox a 5-3 win against Blue Jays. Rafael Devers also homered and Boston relievers combined for three hitless innings of shutout relief.— Detroit completed a three-game sweep as Spencer Turnbull pitched seven strong innings and Miguel Cabrera singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth to send the Tigers past the Pirates, 2-1. The pitchers' duel came after the two teams combined for 46 runs in the first two games of the series.— The Nationals-Orioles game had to be suspended with the Birds leading 5-2 in the top of the sixth. Stephen Strasburg threw scoreless ball in his first start of the season until Hanser Alberto’s two-run double and Anthony Santander’s two-run single in Baltimore's five-run fifth. The grounds crew had trouble placing the tarp over the infield during a thunderstorm, leading to the suspension.

Rockies lead division after first 25% of season

In the film "Field of Dreams"...Actor James Earl Jones plays a writer named Terrance Mann,&nbsp; and in one of the most quoted, and emotional scenes...Jones says...."the one constant through all the years has been baseball....."it reminds us of all that once was good...and it could be again"....and despite the Covid-19 pandemic and high school spring sports being cancelled, The Alliance First National Spartan Junior and Senior Legion teams, were able to begin practicing June 1 and began playing games June 18, and brought something good to local folks who were starved for sports.&nbsp; 

&nbsp;In a 44 day span,&nbsp; the Spartans played a total of 76 games.&nbsp; The Juniors went 14-14-1 and the Seniors 31-16.&nbsp; &nbsp;Thursday night the Spartans celebrated their season with a cook out at Bower/Shankland Field.&nbsp;

&nbsp;General&nbsp; Manager Marty Dean, thanked the players, coaches, parents, sponsors and fans for all their support,&nbsp; along with First National Bank and the City of Alliance, to make sure we were able to have baseball this summer. It was a much needed, positive event for a community that had been couped up for several months.&nbsp; &nbsp;Marty is stepping down as GM after 8 years.&nbsp; The Spartan Board will select a replacement in the off season.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It was also a special night for Junior Head Coach Steve Gullion, who is stepping down after coaching in the Spartan program for 16 years.&nbsp; Steve&nbsp; talked about growning up in North Platte and loving the game of baseball at a very young age.&nbsp; He said he was was too young to play for the local Pee Wee team, but the coach allowed him to practice and by the time the season started, he was the starting pitcher.&nbsp; &nbsp;Steve joked, his grandfather told him,&nbsp; he would give him a dime for every strike out he recorded... and after pitching 3 innings....grand dad owed him 90 cents!&nbsp; &nbsp;"Grandpa, quit making deals after that".&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Gullion went on the play at all levels of baseball and spent 4 years on the team at Kearney State College.&nbsp; After his playing career ended he coached at the youth, high school and college level and also served as recreation director at the Nebraska State Penitentiary,&nbsp; where he said most if his softball team starters were serving time for murder and other serious crimes.....Steve said..."after dealing with those guys...coaching you guys is a piece of cake!"&nbsp; &nbsp;

Gullion then spent 25 years as an administrator, teacher, guardian, coach and&nbsp;counselor at the Nebraska Boys Ranch, south of Alliance, and has been a teacher and Jr. High coach in Alliance for the past several years.&nbsp; He will assist Carlos Palomo with the Alliance High School girls softball team this fall.&nbsp; &nbsp;Thank You,&nbsp; Steve Gullion for all you have done!&nbsp; &nbsp;

Coach Gullion along with assistant Coaches Kyle Sanders and Christian Clear, presented the following awards to the Spartan Jr. team.&nbsp;

Junior Offensive Player of the Year....Mario Garza

Jr Defensive Player of the Year....Drew Romick

Jr. Defensive Infielder of the Year...Brantz Halouska

Jr. Pitcher of the Year...Victor Hinojosa

Jr. Most Improved....Tyzen Brown...Nick Wright

Jr. Utility Player of the Year....Kellon Muhr

Jr. Teammate of the Year...Carver Hauptman

Jr All Conference...Infield...Brantz Halouska...Mario Garza....Pitcher..Vic Hinojosa.....Utility...Kellon Muhr....Offensive Player of the Year..Vic Hinojosa....Defensive Player of the Year...Mario Garza

Senior Head Coach Carlos Palomo also thanked everyone for their support and gave special thanks to the last year Senior Players...Joel Baker, EJ Gomez, JJ Garza, Chance Crowe, Kirk Sanders, Collin Schrawyer and Trevor Dubray.&nbsp; Coach Palomo and assistant coach Adrian Gonzalez presented the following senior awards.

Offensive Player of the Year...Caeson Clarke

Defensive Infielder of the Year...JJ Garza

Defensive Outfielder of the Year...Caeson Clarke

Pitcher of the Year...Trevor Dubray...JJ Garza

Most Improved...Jacob Callen....Chance Crowe

Senior Teammate of the Year...Mario Garza

Blue Collar Award...Mario Garza....Collin Schrawyer

Senior Utility Player of the Year....Chase King

All Conference Awards...Outfield...Joel Baker...Caeson Clarke...Infield...JJ Garza and Collin Schrawyer

Conference Pitcher of the Year...Trevor Dubray

Conference Defensive Player of the Year...JJ Garza

By: Mike GlesingerIn the film "Field of Dreams"...Actor James Earl Jones plays a writer named Terrance Mann,&nbsp; and in one of the most quoted, and emotional scenes...Jones says...."the one constant through all the years has been baseball....."it reminds us of all that once was good...and it could be again"....and despite the Covid-19 pandemic and high school spring sports being cancelled, The Alliance First National Spartan Junior and Senior Legion teams, were able to begin practicing June 1 and began playing games June 18, and brought something good to local folks who were starved for sports.&nbsp; &nbsp;In a 44 day span,&nbsp; the Spartans played a total of 76 games.&nbsp; The Juniors went 14-14-1 and the Seniors 31-16.&nbsp; &nbsp;Thursday night the Spartans celebrated their season with a cook out at Bower/Shankland Field.&nbsp;&nbsp;General&nbsp; Manager Marty Dean, thanked the players, coaches, parents, sponsors and fans for all their support,&nbsp; along with First National Bank and the City of Alliance, to make sure we were able to have baseball this summer. It was a much needed, positive event for a community that had been couped up for several months.&nbsp; &nbsp;Marty is stepping down as GM after 8 years.&nbsp; The Spartan Board will select a replacement in the off season.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was also a special night for Junior Head Coach Steve Gullion, who is stepping down after coaching in the Spartan program for 16 years.&nbsp; Steve&nbsp; talked about growning up in North Platte and loving the game of baseball at a very young age.&nbsp; He said he was was too young to play for the local Pee Wee team, but the coach allowed him to practice and by the time the season started, he was the starting pitcher.&nbsp; &nbsp;Steve joked, his grandfather told him,&nbsp; he would give him a dime for every strike out he recorded... and after pitching 3 innings....grand dad owed him 90 cents!&nbsp; &nbsp;"Grandpa, quit making deals after that".&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Gullion went on the play at all levels of baseball and spent 4 years on the team at Kearney State College.&nbsp; After his playing career ended he coached at the youth, high school and college level and also served as recreation director at the Nebraska State Penitentiary,&nbsp; where he said most if his softball team starters were serving time for murder and other serious crimes.....Steve said..."after dealing with those guys...coaching you guys is a piece of cake!"&nbsp; &nbsp;Gullion then spent 25 years as an administrator, teacher, guardian, coach and&nbsp;counselor at the Nebraska Boys Ranch, south of Alliance, and has been a teacher and Jr. High coach in Alliance for the past several years.&nbsp; He will assist Carlos Palomo with the Alliance High School girls softball team this fall.&nbsp; &nbsp;Thank You,&nbsp; Steve Gullion for all you have done!&nbsp; &nbsp;Coach Gullion along with assistant Coaches Kyle Sanders and Christian Clear, presented the following awards to the Spartan Jr. team.&nbsp;Junior Offensive Player of the Year....Mario GarzaJr Defensive Player of the Year....Drew RomickJr. Defensive Infielder of the Year...Brantz HalouskaJr. Pitcher of the Year...Victor HinojosaJr. Most Improved....Tyzen Brown...Nick WrightJr. Utility Player of the Year....Kellon MuhrJr. Teammate of the Year...Carver HauptmanJr. Blue Collar Award....Landon CroweJr All Conference...Infield...Brantz Halouska...Mario Garza....Pitcher..Vic Hinojosa.....Utility...Kellon Muhr....Offensive Player of the Year..Vic Hinojosa....Defensive Player of the Year...Mario Garza Senior Head Coach Carlos Palomo also thanked everyone for their support and gave special thanks to the last year Senior Players...Joel Baker, EJ Gomez, JJ Garza, Chance Crowe, Kirk Sanders, Collin Schrawyer and Trevor Dubray.&nbsp; Coach Palomo and assistant coach Adrian Gonzalez presented the following senior awards.Senior Captain...Joel BakerOffensive Player of the Year...Caeson ClarkeDefensive Infielder of the Year...JJ GarzaDefensive Outfielder of the Year...Caeson ClarkePitcher of the Year...Trevor Dubray...JJ GarzaMost Improved...Jacob Callen....Chance CroweSenior Teammate of the Year...Mario GarzaBlue Collar Award...Mario Garza....Collin SchrawyerSenior Utility Player of the Year....Chase KingClutch Performer of the Year...EJ GomezAll Conference Awards...Outfield...Joel Baker...Caeson Clarke...Infield...JJ Garza and Collin SchrawyerConference Pitcher of the Year...Trevor DubrayConference Defensive Player of the Year...JJ Garza

FNBO Spartans celebrate a successful season

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-08-05/what-a-pending-football-game-says-about-covid-19-the-fate-small-colleges-and-college-towns">Kansas News Service</a>

STERLING —&nbsp;There’s a lot riding on a kickoff set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.

The
 Sterling College Warriors are scheduled to take on the McPherson 
College Bulldogs at home. If that familiar thud of shoe against football
 and cheer from the stands doesn’t happen, the college that keeps the 
central Kansas town’s economy humming, that gives it cultural vitality, 
and that separates Sterling from the hollowing out that defines so many 
other small Midwestern towns, might not survive.

The school, after
 133 years, could die and doom the town that takes such pride in the 
football squad and embraces the student body like family.

“If 
COVID defeats the athletic season this year, it will probably defeat a 
lot of small colleges,” said Jeb Miller, a non-traditional senior at 
Sterling College. “And, as a result, harm a lot of small towns. Badly.”

Hundreds
 of small colleges dotting the country rely on students paying tens of 
thousands of dollars a year in exchange for a distinctive, personal, 
high-touch college experience.

Many of those colleges hung on 
year-to-year even before the pandemic. Now COVID-19 threatens to cut off
 the oxygen sustaining these schools, and the sports programs that drive
 enrollment.

But the very thing small colleges need to stay afloat
 — students coming in, spending money, playing sports — also poses a 
major risk to relatively isolated little towns that, so far, have dodged
 major coronavirus outbreaks.

Only about 2,200 people live in 
Sterling out on the flat, flat plains of south-central Kansas. But this 
small city boasts an almost idyllic downtown. New office buildings. Two 
good coffee shops. A nice grocery store, a bowling alley, you name it.

Sterling
 has good schools, competitive sports teams. Locals say school plays, 
games and concerts draw big crowds. Without the college, the money, 
diversity and energy that defines life in Sterling could evaporate 
quickly.

“There is just so much overlap,” said Kyler Comley, a 
Sterling College senior who’s lived in the town all his life. “The 
community supports the college. The college supports the community. You 
know, you just see how everything’s intertwined and how people are just 
so overly giving and involved.”

Every student attending Sterling 
College gets paired with a family in town. Those families speak 
endearingly about their adopted scholars.

The students left in 
March. Most haven’t come back. Like many people here, Sterling criminal 
justice professor Mark Tremaine said that starting classes up again in 
person this month is make or break for Sterling College.

“The 
bottom line is, we’ve got to get students back to campus. If we’re going
 to survive,” he said.“We have to accept whatever the risks are and do 
it.”

And that’s the plan. Sterling doesn’t have much of a choice.

“We
 have committed to open up in the fall,” Sterling College President 
Scott Rich said. “With face to face classes, face-to-face coursework, 
dorms and activities and full swing. But we’re committed to doing it 
safely.”

Rich said the school will quarantine students coming back to the 
dorms, test them liberally, and isolate those who come down sick in 
local hotels.

Rich said the freshman class looks strong, with 
about 200 new students. But he is desperately trying to woo 50 or so 
upperclassmen who haven’t signed on this year. The school needs them 
because, like many other small institutions, Sterling College scrapes by
 from year to year.

“We’re always dependent upon enrollment, 
always dependent upon that next year, always dependent upon persistence 
or retention,” Rich said. “We have to get students to come back.”

Other small-town schools across the country, and the communities tied to their fate, face the same existential crisis.

“Some
 of the people I know are looking at hundreds of colleges going out of 
business within the next several years, if this pandemic continues and 
if the economic devastation associated with it continues,” said Scott 
Carlson with the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Small liberal arts
 colleges have been shaky for years. Enrollments have slumped, 
endowments have been drained. Many schools have piled on debt in a 
building boom fueled by competition for students.

Most offer 
courses online, but online classes don’t pay the bills. Small schools 
survive only by providing an expensive, in-person college experience. 
And Carlson said the pandemic shreds that business model, and threatens 
to trigger the higher education equivalent of a mass extinction.

“It’s
 kind of sad," he said. "These colleges are unique, little entities all 
on their own, and each one of them provides a unique spin on higher 
education.”

Sterling College, 
for instance, leans heavily on a particular interpretation of 
Christianity. Guarding the front door of the classic, old limestone 
building that anchors campus is a statue of Christ — not being tortured 
on the cross, but humbly washing the feet of a disciple. “Servant 
leadership,” as anyone here will tell you, guides the campus ethic.

But Jesus doesn’t keep the lights on here. Football does.

“We
 do have a good football team,” said Sterling’s athletic director, Scott
 Downing. “They’ve been fairly successful the last dozen years and been 
to the national playoffs, won the conference championship.”

The team helps bring the students together, but more importantly, it drives enrollment.

“With
 a football team number of about 125 to 135 student-athletes, quite a 
bit of our student body is involved in that sport,” Downing said.

That’s
 an understatement. There are only about 500 students on campus in a 
given year, one in four is on the football team. And there are 20 other 
sports.

The chance to play college sports is a major selling point
 for schools like Sterling. It drives enrollment. But in a pandemic, 
sports can be vectors for disease. And Jed Miller, who’s finishing his 
degree at Sterling online next year, says that’s another vulnerability.

“If
 COVID defeats the athletic season this year, it will probably defeat a 
lot of small colleges,” he said. “And as a result, hurt a lot of small 
towns ... badly.”

So, the same colleges that keep some small towns vibrant now pose a particular threat to public health.

“The
 college probably is the most dangerous element for us in terms of 
COVID,” said Kristina Darnauer, a family practice doctor in Sterling. 
“It potentially brings back students from all over the US who have 
variable levels of exposure.”

Darnauer is torn. She loves 
Sterling, loves the college, and fully appreciates how important it is 
to the school and the town that college ramp almost as normal this fall.

But
 she’s got patients to care for. And she said this county, with only one
 hospital and no intensive care unit is not ready for a cluster of 
coronavirus cases.

“If we have a huge outbreak,” Darnauer said, “we’re going to be out of resources very quickly.”

Small colleges and college towns across much of the country face the same worries.

But
 some analysts say that a pruning of universities may prove inevitable, 
and that the coronavirus has only sped up the thinning of the higher 
education herd.

“I actually see the future of higher education, 
broadly speaking, as entering a new golden age,” said Richard Price, a 
research fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute. It’s a think tank 
that presses for dramatic change in institutions.

Price said the 
pandemic may hasten the evolution to better online classes, and a public
 education system that’s much more accessible and equitable.

“The 
traditional model, it was originally for the landed elite and it wasn’t 
for all genders,” Price said. “It wasn’t for all races. And that is 
slowly getting phased out along with some older business models that 
aren’t pivoting well.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596722865321.png" alt="A local gospel quintet entertains Sterling residents on a recent Tuesday evening. Frank Morris photo" />
 <figcaption>A local gospel quintet entertains Sterling residents on a recent Tuesday evening. Frank Morris photo</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-08-05/what-a-pending-football-game-says-about-covid-19-the-fate-small-colleges-and-college-towns">Kansas News Service</a>STERLING —&nbsp;There’s a lot riding on a kickoff set for 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.The
 Sterling College Warriors are scheduled to take on the McPherson 
College Bulldogs at home. If that familiar thud of shoe against football
 and cheer from the stands doesn’t happen, the college that keeps the 
central Kansas town’s economy humming, that gives it cultural vitality, 
and that separates Sterling from the hollowing out that defines so many 
other small Midwestern towns, might not survive.The school, after
 133 years, could die and doom the town that takes such pride in the 
football squad and embraces the student body like family.“If 
COVID defeats the athletic season this year, it will probably defeat a 
lot of small colleges,” said Jeb Miller, a non-traditional senior at 
Sterling College. “And, as a result, harm a lot of small towns. Badly.”<h2>Small town institutions</h2>Hundreds
 of small colleges dotting the country rely on students paying tens of 
thousands of dollars a year in exchange for a distinctive, personal, 
high-touch college experience.Many of those colleges hung on 
year-to-year even before the pandemic. Now COVID-19 threatens to cut off
 the oxygen sustaining these schools, and the sports programs that drive
 enrollment.But the very thing small colleges need to stay afloat
 — students coming in, spending money, playing sports — also poses a 
major risk to relatively isolated little towns that, so far, have dodged
 major coronavirus outbreaks.Only about 2,200 people live in 
Sterling out on the flat, flat plains of south-central Kansas. But this 
small city boasts an almost idyllic downtown. New office buildings. Two 
good coffee shops. A nice grocery store, a bowling alley, you name it.Sterling
 has good schools, competitive sports teams. Locals say school plays, 
games and concerts draw big crowds. Without the college, the money, 
diversity and energy that defines life in Sterling could evaporate 
quickly.“There is just so much overlap,” said Kyler Comley, a 
Sterling College senior who’s lived in the town all his life. “The 
community supports the college. The college supports the community. You 
know, you just see how everything’s intertwined and how people are just 
so overly giving and involved.”Every student attending Sterling 
College gets paired with a family in town. Those families speak 
endearingly about their adopted scholars.The students left in 
March. Most haven’t come back. Like many people here, Sterling criminal 
justice professor Mark Tremaine said that starting classes up again in 
person this month is make or break for Sterling College.“The 
bottom line is, we’ve got to get students back to campus. If we’re going
 to survive,” he said.“We have to accept whatever the risks are and do 
it.”And that’s the plan. Sterling doesn’t have much of a choice.<h2>Staying alive</h2>“We
 have committed to open up in the fall,” Sterling College President 
Scott Rich said. “With face to face classes, face-to-face coursework, 
dorms and activities and full swing. But we’re committed to doing it 
safely.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596722974216.png" alt="Sterling College President Scot Rich. Frank Morris photo" />
 <figcaption>Sterling College President Scot Rich. Frank Morris photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Rich said the school will quarantine students coming back to the 
dorms, test them liberally, and isolate those who come down sick in 
local hotels.Rich said the freshman class looks strong, with 
about 200 new students. But he is desperately trying to woo 50 or so 
upperclassmen who haven’t signed on this year. The school needs them 
because, like many other small institutions, Sterling College scrapes by
 from year to year.“We’re always dependent upon enrollment, 
always dependent upon that next year, always dependent upon persistence 
or retention,” Rich said. “We have to get students to come back.”Other small-town schools across the country, and the communities tied to their fate, face the same existential crisis.“Some
 of the people I know are looking at hundreds of colleges going out of 
business within the next several years, if this pandemic continues and 
if the economic devastation associated with it continues,” said Scott 
Carlson with the Chronicle of Higher Education.Small liberal arts
 colleges have been shaky for years. Enrollments have slumped, 
endowments have been drained. Many schools have piled on debt in a 
building boom fueled by competition for students.Most offer 
courses online, but online classes don’t pay the bills. Small schools 
survive only by providing an expensive, in-person college experience. 
And Carlson said the pandemic shreds that business model, and threatens 
to trigger the higher education equivalent of a mass extinction.“It’s
 kind of sad," he said. "These colleges are unique, little entities all 
on their own, and each one of them provides a unique spin on higher 
education.”<h2>‘Servant leadership’</h2>Sterling College, 
for instance, leans heavily on a particular interpretation of 
Christianity. Guarding the front door of the classic, old limestone 
building that anchors campus is a statue of Christ — not being tortured 
on the cross, but humbly washing the feet of a disciple. “Servant 
leadership,” as anyone here will tell you, guides the campus ethic.But Jesus doesn’t keep the lights on here. Football does.“We
 do have a good football team,” said Sterling’s athletic director, Scott
 Downing. “They’ve been fairly successful the last dozen years and been 
to the national playoffs, won the conference championship.”The team helps bring the students together, but more importantly, it drives enrollment.“With
 a football team number of about 125 to 135 student-athletes, quite a 
bit of our student body is involved in that sport,” Downing said.That’s
 an understatement. There are only about 500 students on campus in a 
given year, one in four is on the football team. And there are 20 other 
sports.The chance to play college sports is a major selling point
 for schools like Sterling. It drives enrollment. But in a pandemic, 
sports can be vectors for disease. And Jed Miller, who’s finishing his 
degree at Sterling online next year, says that’s another vulnerability.“If
 COVID defeats the athletic season this year, it will probably defeat a 
lot of small colleges,” he said. “And as a result, hurt a lot of small 
towns ... badly.”So, the same colleges that keep some small towns vibrant now pose a particular threat to public health.“The
 college probably is the most dangerous element for us in terms of 
COVID,” said Kristina Darnauer, a family practice doctor in Sterling. 
“It potentially brings back students from all over the US who have 
variable levels of exposure.”Darnauer is torn. She loves 
Sterling, loves the college, and fully appreciates how important it is 
to the school and the town that college ramp almost as normal this fall.But
 she’s got patients to care for. And she said this county, with only one
 hospital and no intensive care unit is not ready for a cluster of 
coronavirus cases.“If we have a huge outbreak,” Darnauer said, “we’re going to be out of resources very quickly.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596723019769.png" alt="An aging note on a door at the University of Missouri Kansas City promises a speedy reopening. Frank Morris photo" />
 <figcaption>An aging note on a door at the University of Missouri Kansas City promises a speedy reopening. Frank Morris photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A new era</h2>Small colleges and college towns across much of the country face the same worries.But
 some analysts say that a pruning of universities may prove inevitable, 
and that the coronavirus has only sped up the thinning of the higher 
education herd.“I actually see the future of higher education, 
broadly speaking, as entering a new golden age,” said Richard Price, a 
research fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute. It’s a think tank 
that presses for dramatic change in institutions.Price said the 
pandemic may hasten the evolution to better online classes, and a public
 education system that’s much more accessible and equitable.“The 
traditional model, it was originally for the landed elite and it wasn’t 
for all genders,” Price said. “It wasn’t for all races. And that is 
slowly getting phased out along with some older business models that 
aren’t pivoting well.”And Price thinks many little colleges will 
adapt. Lots of them have cheated death before. But he said there’s 
little doubt that this time next year the United States will have many 
fewer colleges. Folks in Sterling, Kansas, hope and, yes, pray, that 
Sterling College is among the survivors.