Lady Blue Devils sweep Ellsworth behind powerful offense

The Kansas City Kansas Community College Lady Blue Devil softball team scored a combined 21 runs to sweep a doubleheader from Ellsworth Community College Monday afternoon.

In game one, the offensive attack was led by LaTisha Thomas, who went 4 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Savannah Dungan added three hits of her own including a double and a homerun, driving in three runs. Tiffany Killam drove in three, going 2 for 3 with a homerun.

Brittany Gustin took the mound for the Blue Devils and went the distance, throwing six innings, allowing only two runs and striking out seven. Gustin tallied her first win on the young season as the Blue Devils won 10-2.

Game two was more of the same for the Blue Devils. Another strong offensive performance, with nearly the whole lineup contributing. Eight of the 12 hits were tallied by the top of the order. Elizabeth Seimears had a day to remember. On the mound she threw a complete game, two-hit shutout, to earn her second win of the season. Seimears helped her own cause at the plate, adding two hits of her own including a homerun.

Coach Kacy Tillery was pleased with her team’s offensive performance.

“It was a great offensive day for us,” she said. “Elizabeth Seimears pitched a great game and also hit well. Helped herself out with a homer.”

The Blue Devils’ conference season continues today on the road against Highland Community College at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Legislative coffee planned

A legislative coffee is planned at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 19, at the Main Kansas City, Kan., Public Library auditorium, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan.

Sen. Pat Pettey, Rep. Valdenia Winn and Rep. Pam Curtis are expected to attend and discuss their work in Topeka.

There will be a question-and-answer session. The public may attend.

Historian to tell of Klan activities

Tim Rives
Tim Rives

Tim Rives, a noted historian who has done extensive research and writing about the Ku Klux Klan in Kansas during the early 1900s, will be the featured speaker at the quarterly meeting of the Wyandotte County Historical Society at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20, at the Wyandotte County Museum, 631 N. 126th St. , in Wyandotte County Park, Bonner Springs.

Rives is deputy director and supervisory archivist at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, Kan. Previously he was an archivist at the National Archives, Kansas City, Mo.

Rives found that the Klan had an extensive influence among political activities and elected officials, particularly in Wyandotte County. His work is detailed in a 62-page article in the winter edition (2015-2016) of The Historical Journal of Wyandotte County entitled “Klan on the Kaw: The Ku Klux Klan in Wyandotte County, Kansas.”

Rives grew up in Wichita, Kan., and graduated from Wichita East High School. He received a Bachelor of General Studies degree from Wichita State University and a Master of Arts degree from Emporia State University.

The Historical Society will present its annual awards for volunteer service.