Month: August 2015

Sporting KC visits Colorado today

Sporting Kansas City visits the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday.

The match kicks off at 8 p.m. with coverage available on KMCI-TV’s 38 the Spot and SKCTV across the Midwest beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Sporting KC boasts 40 points (11-6-7) and sits in third place in the Western Conference standings. The Rapids are 10 points behind (7-9-9) and in last place in the West.

Sporting KC is coming off a pair of losses, while Colorado has recently gained momentum with back-to-back victories against Chicago and Houston. The Rapids have won five of their last eight games after winning just two of their first 17.

Colorado earned a 2-1 victory against the Dynamo on Wednesday with Vicente Sanchez converting a penalty kick in the 20th minute and Kevin Doyle tallying a second half game-winner.

The Rapids have conceded the fewest goals in MLS this season (26) but have also scored the fewest goals (23), six fewer than any other team in 2015. Colorado is 4-5-4 at home this year and their four home wins are tied for the fewest among MLS clubs.

Sporting KC has not lost to the Rapids since March 28, 2009, a span of 11 straight MLS matches, including a 2-0 victory at Sporting Park earlier this year.

Sporting KC forward Krisztian Nemeth opened the scoring the last time these clubs met with Colorado midfielder Sam Cronin knocked in an own goal in the 64th minute of play.

When Sporting KC and the Rapids last met at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Sporting KC earned a 3-2 victory with Dom Dwyer notching the 92nd-minute game-winner in March of 2014. Graham Zusi and Benny Feilhaber also added goals in the victory.

Sporting Kansas City will be boosted by one of the largest groups of traveling fans in club history for Saturday’s match as more than 800 supporters will be in the crowd on Saturday. For those unable to attend, in-game updates will be available at SportingKC.com/GameOn, via Twitter from @SKCGameday and through the Sporting Club Uphoria mobile app.

The final regular season meeting between these two squads will take place on Oct. 21 at Sporting Park.
– Story from Sporting KC

Long ball leads Saints past T-Bones

It took only two swings, but those two swings were the difference in the game as St. Paul defeated Kansas City, 2-1, Friday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

Vinny DiFazio put St. Paul on the board first with a lead-off home run in the fourth against Kansas City starter Kris Regas. Then, with the bases empty and two outs in the fifth, Dan Kaczrowski hit a solo homer against Regas that gave the Saints a 2-0 lead.

The T-Bones cut St. Paul’s lead in half in the fifth inning. After Saints starter Kramer Sneed walked Vladimir Frias, gave up a hit to Brian Erie and then hit Sergio Leon with a pitch with one out, Starlin Rodriguez launched a deep fly ball to center that scored Frias. That was the only run Kansas City could score against Sneed, one of the top pitchers in the American Association.

The T-Bones had their chances, though, against Sneed (14-3). In the fourth inning, trailing 1-0, Nate Tenbrink led off the inning with a walk. The next batter, Jake Blackwood, sent a double to the gap, but Tenbrink was thrown out trying to score from first.

In the sixth inning, down 2-1, Adam Bailey was at third base when Kyle Robinson grounded the ball to St. Paul shortstop Anthony Phillips. Bailey, who was running on contact, was thrown out at home. Sneed scattered five hits and two walks over 6 innings in the win.

In spite of the two home runs, Regas (6-4) gave Kansas City 6 2/3 strong innings. He gave up five hits and walked two, but struck out seven before his night was cut short in the top of the seventh. With two outs and a two-strike count on Alonzo Harris, the skies opened, causing a one hour, 13-minute rain delay, and ending the night for both starting pitchers.

The T-Bones (47-43) and Saints (66-25) are scheduled to continue their four-game series Saturday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the box office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

Saturday events

Tiblow Days continues Saturday
The annual Tiblow Days festival continues today at Second and Cedar streets in Bonner Springs. Today’s events include a parade, a barbecue contest, a car show, food, a pinewood derby, performances by dance and cheer squads, a beer garden starting at 5 p.m., a Cars for Heroes giveaway, and musical entertainment from 6:30 to 11 p.m. The musical headliner is Tate Stevens, a country music singer, performing at 9:30 p.m. at Centennial Park. For more information, see https://wyandotteonline.com/tiblow-days-kicks-off-tonight-in-bonner-springs/.

Wipeout Run planned at Kansas Speedway
The Wipeout Run, a 5K course with obstacles, was scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Kansas Speedway, 400 Speedway Blvd., Kansas City, Kan.

Classic car show planned today
Unity One Credit Union is sponsoring a Classic Car Show from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 29, at 4150 Kansas Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Among the classic cars on display will be a 1931 Ford, 1938 Chevy Master 85, 1939 Ford Coupe, and 1955 Chevy Gasser. There will be food, music and door prizes. The event is free.

Church plans ice cream social
Christ the King Catholic Church will hold an ice cream social on Saturday, Aug. 29, at the church grounds, 53rd and Leavenworth Road. Mass will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, followed by the social. The benefit event will include food, games and entertainment.

T-Bones to play St. Paul tonight
The T-Bones (47-43) and St. Paul Saints (66-25) are scheduled to continue their four-game series 7:05 p.m. Saturday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark, Kansas City, Kan. Tickets are available by calling the box office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

Strawberry Hill Museum open on weekends
The Strawberry Hill Museum, 720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kan., is open on the weekends. The museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The admission charge is $7 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 12, and free for children under 6. Special tours are available during the week for groups of 20 or more by calling 913-721-0081. The museum’s tea room is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday and Sunday of each month. For more information, visit www.strawberryhillmuseum.org/.

Wyandotte County Museum open
The Wyandotte County Museum, 631 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and holidays. For more information visit the website www.facebook.com/wycomuseum or call 913-573-5002.