August 2016 – Page 34 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Police find real grenade in car in KCK

Police today recovered a grenade in a car in the 200 block of South 8th, according to a spokesman for the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department.

Officers on patrol found an illegally parked and unregistered car in that location around 3:03 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, the spokesman said.

While completing a tow report, they observed what appeared to be the top part of a grenade protruding from a velvet bag, the police spokesman said. Officers called in the explosive ordnance team.

Once the grenade was removed, it was determined that it was a live hand grenade, the spokesman said. The grenade was removed and the vehicle was towed, the spokesman said.

The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department is investigating and asked anyone with information about the incident to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

With 2-0 victory over Vancouver, Sporting KC moves into fourth place tie

Tech N9ne performed a mini pregame concert Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. Tech N9ne and Olympic gold medalist Jack Sock then led the “I believe that we will win” chant in the Cauldron at the match. (Photo from Sporting KC)

Jacob Peterson and Benny Feilhaber scored on either side of halftime as Sporting Kansas City defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-0 on Saturday night at sold-out Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.

The victory propels Sporting Kansas City (11-11-5, 38 points) into a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference and extends the club’s regular season home winning streak to six games, the second-longest in club history.

The hosts went ahead in the 39th minute through Peterson, who equalled an MLS career-high with his fourth goal of the season, while Feilhaber sealed the result with a 64th-minute penalty kick. Eighth-place Vancouver (8-12-6, 30 points) slumped to its fourth straight league defeat and remains winless in five trips to Children’s Mercy Park.

A revamped Sporting Kansas City lineup included eight changes from Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Central FC in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League. Matt Besler notably returned to the fold after missing the previous five matches with an MCL strain, joining Kevin Ellis, Jimmy Medranda and winger-turned-right back Graham Zusi in defense.

Sporting Kansas City held a distinct upper hand throughout the first half, enjoying the lion’s share of possession while creating multiple chances. Brad Davis nearly opened the scoring in the 19th minute, unleashing a brilliant curler from the right edge of the box that beat goalkeeper David Ousted but caromed off the crossbar.

Zusi came close shortly thereafter when Roger Espinoza’s cross into the box was shouldered clear by former Sporting KC defender Marcel de Jong. The U.S. international’s thunderous volley from 20 yards sailed wide of the near post and into the side netting. A minute later, Davis narrowly missed the target with a first-time shot following Medranda’s low feed into the penalty area.

Sporting Kansas City’s dominance was rewarded in the 39th minute when Peterson poked home from close range. Benny Feilhaber’s corner kick was volleyed goalward by Nuno Coelho, allowing Peterson to slot past the despairing dive of Ousted and into the back of the net. Coelho recorded his first MLS assist on the play, while Feilhaber tallied his team-best seventh helper of the season – and his third in his last four games.

Following the halftime induction of Sporting KC assistant coach and former midfielder Kerry Zavagnin into the Sporting Legends hall of honor, Vancouver briefly found its footing. Their best scoring opportunity came in the 50th minute when Giles Barnes latched onto de Jong’s deflected cross and snapped a header on goal, but Alec Kann made a phenomenal reflex save to preserve his clean sheet. Whitecaps defender Kendall Waston twice connected on corner kicks from Christian Bolanos over the next five minutes – the first of which cleared off the line by Medranda and the second saved by Kann.

Feilhaber doubled Sporting Kansas City’s lead just past the hour mark after Peterson surged into the box from the left wing and drew a foul on Fraser Aird. Ousted would save the first attempt, but referee Kevin Stott ordered the penalty to be retaken as the Vancouver goalkeeper had illegally advanced off his goal line. Feilhaber made no mistake on the second try, picking out the bottom left corner to notch his sixth goal of the season.

Davis almost added a third in the 75th minute, settling Zusi’s cutback pass and forcing Ousted into an impressive kick save. Peterson was then denied his brace three minutes from full time when Ousted palmed his 20-yard effort just over the woodwork.

The familiar foes will meet again in just three days’ time, squaring off in a pivotal CONCACAF Champions League tilt at BC Place. Tuesday’s group stage match will kick off at 9 p.m. with an English-language live stream on CONCACAF’s official Facebook page.

Whitecaps FC (1-0-0) have an early two-point lead over Sporting Kansas City (0-0-1) in Group C, having defeated Central FC 1-0 on Aug. 2. Manager Peter Vermes’ men are unbeaten in six straight meetings against the Canadian side and will look to extend that run in CONCACAF’s premier club tournament.

– Story from Sporting KC

T-Bones drop one, win one on Saturday

After Friday’s game was suspended due to rain, the Kansas City T-Bones went on to fall to the Texas AirHogs, 6-3, Saturday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

With 4,225 in attendance, Friday’s game was suspended in the middle of the fourth inning with Texas leading 3-2.

When play resumed Saturday in the bottom of the fourth, Kansas City promptly tied the game. Texas reliever Tyler Ihrig (2-3) walked the lead-off batter Jake Blackwood. Three batters later, with two outs, Dalton Wheat singled and Vladimir Frias followed with a base hit that knocked in Blackwood. Frias accounted for all three Kansas City runs, hitting a two-run home run in the second inning — Friday night — that brought the T-Bones to within 3-2.

Texas took the lead for good in the top of the eighth Saturday afternoon as reliever Johnny Shuttlesworth allowed singles by Michael Hur and Devon Rodriguez, and walked Nick Akins, loading the bases. With one out, Evan DeLuca relieved Shuttlesworth (3-6) and allowed a single to left that scored Hur. Another single by Michael Miller scored Rodriguez. DeLuca walked Kenny Peoples-Walls, which brought in another run, giving the AirHogs a 6-3 lead.

The AirHogs took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second Friday night against starter Mike Kickham. An error by Frias allowed the lead-off batter, Akins, to reach first. Cory Morales followed with a single and Michael Miller was hit by a pitch by Kickham, loading the bases. With one out, Juan Sanchez singled to left, scoring both Akins and Morales. Leon Byrd advanced to first on a fielder’s choice, but Frias made a bad throw to first, his second error of the inning, which allowed Miller to score.

The Kansas City T-Bones then defeated the Texas AirHogs, 4-3, with a walk-off hit in the seventh inning Saturday night in front of 6,258 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Texas reliever Jack Karraker (0-1) walked Vladimir Frias leading off the seventh inning. Frias advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nolan Johnson before Tyler Massey singled to left field. Left fielder Leon Byrd had trouble picking up the ball, and the error allowed Frias to score, giving the T-Bones the victory.

The T-Bones erased the AirHogs’ two-run lead in the fifth inning after home runs by Anthony Gallas and Frias. Gallas led off the inning with a solo shot to right field. After Starlin Rodriguez singled, Frias homered for the second night in a row, giving the T-Bones a 3-2 lead. Frias ended the game going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Michael Hur led off the sixth inning for Texas with a double before advancing to third on a ground out by Devon Rodriguez. A sacrifice fly by Brian Bistagne scored Hur, tying the game 3-3.

Texas took the first lead of the game in the fourth inning. Following a double from Byrd, T-Bones pitcher Jordan Cooper walked Hur. A single by Rodriguez and a sacrifice fly by Bistagne scored both Byrd and Hur, giving the AirHogs a 2-0 lead.

Earlier Saturday afternoon the T-Bones resumed Friday night’s game, falling to Texas 6-3. Friday’s game was suspended in the middle of the fourth inning due to rain with Texas leading 3-2.

When play resumed Saturday in the bottom of the fourth, Kansas City promptly tied the game. Texas reliever Tyler Ihrig (2-3) walked the lead-off batter Jake Blackwood. Three batters later, with two outs, Dalton Wheat singled and Frias followed with a base hit that knocked in Blackwood. Frias accounted for all three Kansas City runs, hitting a two-run home run in the second inning — Friday night — that brought the T-Bones to within 3-2.

Texas took the lead for good in the top of the eighth as reliever Johnny Shuttlesworth allowed singles by Hur and Rodriguez, and walked Nick Akins, loading the bases. With one out, Evan DeLuca relieved Shuttlesworth (3-6) and allowed a single to left that scored Hur. Another single by Michael Miller scored Rodriguez. DeLuca walked Kenny Peoples-Walls, which brought in another run, giving the AirHogs a 6-3 lead.

Kansas City (39-46) will conclude its series against Texas (29-56) Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones