Benefit fundraiser concert for detective’s family to be tonight

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.

T-Bones win 2-1 over Lincoln

The Kansas City T-Bones beat Lincoln Wednesday night at Haymarket Park, Lincoln, Neb., in a 2-1 final.

Lincoln starting pitcher Lindsey Caughel (3-3) had a perfect game going into the seventh inning, and then took a loss.

New T-Bone Tyson Gillies, broke-up the perfect game with one out in the seventh inning, with a bloop single to left field. Two batters later, Jake Blackwood connected on his seventh home run of the season, and gave Kansas City a 2-0 lead.

The 2-0 lead was all the T-Bones relievers needed, as Kansas City starting pitcher Lucas Daugherty pitched four scoreless innings.

Josh Tols (3-2) got the win with two-plus innings of scoreless baseball. Mark Haynes entered the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one-out, but kept the runners in place. Haynes pitched a perfect ninth, and earned his fifth save of the season.

The T-Bones (16-23) continue the three-game series with Lincoln (18-20) Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35, with the action available online at www.tbonesbaseball.com/.

Upcoming T-Bones’ promotions for the Fourth of July weekend include 7:05 p.m. Friday, July 1, Superhero Night, with an appearance by the Falcon skydiving team; 7:05 p.m. Saturday, July 2, post-game fireworks; and 7:05 p.m. Sunday, July 3, Independence Day celebration, with special post-game fireworks show and an appearance by the Falcon skydiving team.

– Story from T-Bones

Sporting KC exits U.S. Open Cup after 3-1 defeat at Houston

Sporting Kansas City’s run in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came to an end with a 3-1 fifth round defeat to the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Second-half substitute Brad Davis cut Sporting Kansas City’s deficit in half with a goal against his former club in the 61st minute, but Mauro Manotas’ brace and Alex’s header sent Houston through to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals and erased the visitors’ hopes of a second straight tournament title.

After spending the previous month with the U.S. Men’s National Team at Copa America Centenario, defender Matt Besler and winger Graham Zusi moved back into manager Peter Vermes’ starting lineup for their first club appearances since May 21. Goalkeeper Alec Kann earned his second straight start in the tournament, Kevin Ellis stepped in at right back and Diego Rubio spearheaded the attack as center forward.

Seeking a fourth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title in club history, Sporting Kansas City crafted its first chance in the fourth minute. Benny Feilhaber’s perfectly weighted diagonal ball found Zusi on the right flank, but the U.S. international’s low cross narrowly evaded an outstretched Rubio at the edge of the six-yard area.

Houston would make the visitors rue the miss just three minutes later with the game’s opening goal. Alex spun away from Zusi and Mustivar and carried the ball into the attacking third, spreading it wide left to Abdoulie Mansally. The fullback’s curling cross was hammered home near the penalty spot by a sliding Manotas.

Sporting Kansas City would improve as the first half unfolded, nearly grabbing an equalizer twice before the break. A superb passing sequence in the 26th minute culminated with Hallisey crossing low for Rubio near the six-yard box, but the Chilean’s deft redirect on goal was saved impressively by goalkeeper Joe Willis’ extended foot. Vermes’ side continued to gain a foothold and created more danger on the stroke of halftime, but Zusi’s close-range effort following a one-two with Feilhaber was smothered by Willis.

Manotas’ bid for a second goal was denied by the woodwork three minutes after the restart. The forward raced onto the end of a through ball and rounded Kann, but his shot from a tight angle hit the near post and was subsequently cleared. Alex would double his side’s lead in the 55th minute, however, latching onto a diving header from Wenger and nodding past Kann.

In need of a lifeline, Vermes inserted Davis shortly before the hour mark. The substitution paid instant dividends when Rubio received a pass from Hallisey and powered down the right side of the field before squaring to an unmarked Davis, who applied the simple finish for his third goal of the season in all competitions. Rubio, meanwhile, tallied his first assist in Sporting KC colors.

The defending U.S. Open Cup champions would enjoy the lion’s share of possession for the remainder of the evening, but were ultimately pegged back again in the 84th minute. Substitute Boniek Garcia slipped a ball through to Manotas, who completed his excellent evening with a cool finish to the far corner for his third goal of the tournament.

Sporting Kansas City (6-8-4, 22 points) will resume its MLS regular season campaign on Sunday, as host of defending Eastern Conference champion Columbus Crew SC (3-5-7, 16 points) at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. The interconference clash will kick off at 6 p.m. on FS1, FOX Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM. Supporters can secure their tickets for the match at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.
– Story from Sporting KC