Month: April 2016

Blue Devils bang out record 43 hits in sweep at Highland

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

While no such records are available, Kansas City Kansas Community College went on the biggest assault on opposing pitchers in college history Thursday – at least against a Jayhawk Conference rival.

Riding gusty winds at Highland, the Blue Devils (27-12) banged out 43 hits in sweeping a doubleheader – 22 in a 16-9 opening win and 21 in a 23-11 nightcap rout. KCKCC will wrap up its four-game series with the Scotties at home Saturday with retired KCKCC coach Steve Burleson throwing out the first pitch at 12:55 p.m.

The sweep kept the Blue Devils (15-7) two games back of Neosho County (17-5) for the Jayhawk lead and kept them tied with Fort Scott for second but vaulted them two games ahead of both Allen County and Cowley, both of whom were swept Thursday and fell to 13-9.

On the KCKCC coaching staff for 22 years, head coach KCKCC Matt Goldbeck called it the biggest barrage of hits in his career.

“Just a great hitters’ day. A lot of guys had big days,” he said..

That they did. Centerfielder Eli Lovell led the way with nine hits in 11 times to the plate and five RBI’s. Third baseman Travis Stroup belted three home runs and drove in seven runs. Catcher-DH Drew Holtgrieve had seven runs-batted-in on six hits and first baseman Conor Behrens six hits and six runs-batted-in.

Add another five hits and three RBI’s from catcher/DH Malone Smith, four hits each by rightfielder Chase Redick and shortstop Albert Woodard, three by leftfielder Ryan Fisher and a single and double by Easton Fortuna and everyone in the Blue Devil lineup had big days.

The Blue Devils used big innings to put both games out of reach early. Behrens put KCKCC ahead to stay in the 16-9 opener with a 2-run home run two batters into the game and Holtgrieve added a 3-run round tripper as the Blue Devils took a 7-0 lead in the first. Lovell added a 2-run double in a 3-run third inning and a run-scoring triple in the sixth and Stroup belted his first home run of the day leading off the fifth.

KCKCC belted five home runs in the nightcap including two by Stroup, the first a 3-run shot in a 9-run third inning and a mammoth 2-run blast in the seventh. Lovell, who had five hits in the game, and Fisher had back-to-back homers in a 4-run fifth and Redick led off the seventh with a round-tripper.

The Blue Devils took a 2-0 lead in the first on run-scoring singles by Lovell and Holtgrieve, added three more in the second, the first two in a 2-run triple by Behrens. KCKCC pounded out seven hits in the 9-run third. In addition to Behrens’ 3-run homer, Redick singled in two runs and Malone Smith, Holtgrieve and Woodard one each.

Dustin Eby got the win in the opener, allowing nine hits and five runs in six innings. He walked five and struck out five. Avery Fliger came on in relief in the nightcap with the best mound effort of the day, allowing only two hits and one run while striking out five in 3.2 innings.

Saturday events

Career and Education Fair offered April 9
Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, is offering a Career and Education Fair Saturday, April 9, for residents of Wyandotte County and surrounding cities. Local employers and educational institutions will have information at the Career and Education Fair. The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon April 9 at the church. It is open to the public. After registration from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., the event will include speaker presentations at 9 a.m., with the career fair and mini workshops from 9 a.m. to noon. Workshops will be held on resume and application review; appropriate interview questions; dress for success; computer assistance for applying online; and employment reference information. High school and college students, and the public, may attend this event. There are expected to be full-time, part-time, internships and seasonal employment opportunities. Business professionals who work in specific careers will talk with potential applicants about obtaining employment. Professionals will answer questions about their organizations and available positions. There will be demonstrations, interactive designs, mini-learning sessions to help job applicants learn about careers.

KC Kiwanis Pancake Day to be April 9
A benefit KC Kiwanis pancake breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. April 9 at Trinity Community Church, 5010 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan. Chris Cakes will provide the breakfast. Proceeds go to area scholarships. Tickets are $8 each.

Learn how marbles are made
A marble-making demonstration is scheduled from about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Moon Marble Co. store, 600 E. Front St., Bonner Springs. Demonstrations begin around 10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. and end at about 3 p.m., provided a glass artist is available. For more information, see www.moonmarble.com/.

Spring nature hike today
A spring nature hike will take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library, 4051 West Drive, (at Wyandotte County Lake Park), Kansas City, Kan. Hikers will look for wild flowers and migrating birds. Those attending are asked to dress for the weather. For more information, call 913-299-2384.

Learn sewing and quilting at the library
Sewing and quilting for beginners or for those who want to learn more will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 9, at the West Wyandotte Library, Kansas City, Kan., Public Library, children’s craft room, 1737 N. 82nd, Kansas City, Kan. The class is for adults, and for those ages 10 and older. There is a limit of 15. Advance registration is requested to the library, 913-596-5800. Those who register get priority.

‘Prairie Plant Medicine’ to be topic of Grinter program April 9
The topic of a Second Saturday by the Grinter Stove program at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, will be “Prairie Plant Medicine,” presented by Louise Crable. It will be at the Grinter Place historic site, 1420 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kan. The historical discussion will include information about what pioneers and settlers used to treat ailments when there were no doctors nearby. Prairie plants that had medicinal uses will be discussed. Lunch will be served after the presentation. Admission is $6.

Physical health inequalities to be topic of program April 9
“Physical Health Inequalities in Wyandotte” will be the topic of a program to be presented at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at the Main Kansas City, Kan., Public Library, second floor, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. For more information, see www.facebook.com/radishkck/. The host of the program is the Historic Northeast-Midtown Association.

Program to be presented about Hispanic civil rights figure
From 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at the South Library, meeting room B, 3104 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kan., a program will be presented about Dr. Hector P. Garcia, Mexican refugee, medical doctor to the barrios, decorated war veteran, civil rights activist and presidential confidante. The program is presented by the American GI Forum.

Fundraiser planned at church
On Saturday, April 9, St. Patrick Parish Center, 94th and State Avenue, will be the site of a taco-bingo fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. The fundraiser is by the Bishop Ward graduating class. Cost is $5 for three tacos, rice and a drink. Bingo will be played at an additional cost.

Roller Warriors to compete today in KCK
The Kansas City Roller Warriors are scheduled to compete at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Memorial Hall, 600 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kan. For more information, visit kcrollerwarriors.com. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the match begins at 6 p.m.

Alcott Arts Center starts season tonight with student art show
The Alcott Arts Center, 180 S. 18th St., will launch its season tonight, April 9, with a student art show. Students from the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools will exhibit their artworks Saturday. They include students from Wyandotte High School, Schlagle High School, Sumner Academy, Rosedale Middle School and Frances Willard Elementary. The art show, in the Alcott’s Second Saturday series, opens with a reception and entertainment by students at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 6 p.m. to the gallery. Students also will do spoken word and poetry recitations as part of the program. The program is free and open to the public. The Alcott is not ADA accessible.

Youth movie night planned
Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., will hold a junior-senior high youth movie night from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 9, in the Cole activity center at the church. Those attending may bring a snack to share.

Live music offered
Live music by The Lonnie Ray Blues Band is planned at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Jazz: A Louisiana Kitchen, at 1859 Village West Parkway at The Legends Outlets, at I-435 and I-70 in Kansas City, Kan.

Man pleads no contest to second-degree murder charge

A Kansas City, Mo., resident, Antonio A. McGee, 26, pleaded no contest on April 7 in Wyandotte County District Court to a second-degree murder charge.

McGee had been charged in the shooting death of Len W. Mitchell Jr., 21, which occurred March 7, 2015, at a residence in the 1800 block of Rowland Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

McGee also pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated battery in the shooting of another individual, Len W. Mitchell Sr.

The court found McGee guilty of the charges upon his plea of nolo contendere.

The Mitchells were attending an informal gathering of friends at the residence.

Sentencing is set for May 20, 2016, in division 16.