Fundraiser concert for detective’s family to be June 30

The Kansas City, Kan., Community Orchestra, under the direction of Jeff Beck, will be presenting a benefit concert on June 30 for the family of Detective Brad Lancaster.

Lancaster lost his life recently in the line of duty. The concert will be at 7 p.m. June 30 at Trinity Community Church 5010 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kan. Admission is free.

All donations should be made to the Brad Lancaster Foundation.

For additional information contact Jeff Beck at 816-589-9094.

Three Wyandotte County students named to dean’s list

Three Wyandotte County students were named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Upper Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa.

Students on the Dean’s List earned a minimum 3.5 grade point average for the semester and were enrolled full time.

Students on the Dean’s List included Rachel Bieniecki, Bonner Springs; Timothy Bloom, Kansas City, Kan.; and Kayla Curran, Kansas City, Kan.

Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university. Originally affiliated with the Methodist Church, it became an independent institution in 1928. It has about 5,800 students-nationally and internationally-at its Fayette campus, 25 U.S. education centers, as well as centers in Malaysia and Hong Kong.

T-Bones explode for 16 runs against Blasters

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The Kansas City T-Bones scored 16 runs on Tuesday night for the first time since 2012, defeating the Joplin Blasters 16-11 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The T-Bones were led by Brett Wiley, who was a home run shy of the cycle. Besides his three hits, Wiley had three RBIs and scored three runs. Robby Kuzdale also scored three runs, and Anthony Gallas had three RBIs.

Kansas City entered the third inning with the game tied 3-3 before breaking it open by sending nine to the plate and scoring five runs, taking an 8-3 lead.

The T-Bones scored two of those runs on a bizarre play with two outs. With Brett Wiley at second and Starlin Rodriguez at first, Vladimir Frias grounded the ball sharply to first baseman Juan Medina, who couldn’t hold on to it. As the ball scooted away from Medina, Wiley headed home.

He was safe on the play, but then pitcher Josh Hodges made a bad throw to first, attempting to get Frias caught between first and second. The throw got away from Medina and Rodriguez scored. The two errors on that play accounted for five in the game for the Blasters.

After a Joplin run in the fourth, Kansas City responded in the fifth inning with another five runs and nine plate appearances, extending its lead to 13-4. Anthony Gallas sparked the T-Bones in the inning with a bases clearing double that scored three runs.

Joplin made things interesting in the eighth inning by scoring five runs, which included three consecutive home runs by Geraldo Valentin, Charlie Valerio and Willie Cabrera, who hit two homers in the game.

Starting pitcher Jeremy Strawn pitched 3 2/3 innings, striking out four batters and giving up four runs. Josh Tols (3-1) earned the win for the T-Bones after striking out three and giving up one run in 2 1/3 innings.

Joplin starter Josh Hodges (2-3) went 4 innings, giving up 12 runs (seven earned), nine hits, walking three and hitting two batters.

The last time the T-Bones scored at least 16 runs was in a 17-8 win at Amarillo on Aug. 29, 2012. Coincidentally, the T-Bones scored 16 runs nearly four years ago Tuesday night, on June 23, 2012, in a 16-4 win over Amarillo.

The T-Bones (13-18) will continue the series against Joplin (12-19) Wednesday at 11:05 a.m. at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones