Blue Devils take series lead with win over Garden City

KCKCC first baseman Alex Phillips successfully stole second base and then raced to third when the throw to second sailed high. Phillips had three hits and three RBI’s in the Blue Devils 13-3 playoff win over Garden City Friday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Blue Devils put themselves in position to make short work of the opening round of the Region VI baseball playoffs Friday.

Getting strong pitching performances from Jake Purl and Cameron Bednar and pounding out 13 hits, the Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series with a 13-3 win over Garden City that was ended in the bottom of the eighth inning by the 10-run rule.

Sophomore lefthander Shea Stephens closed out the series Saturday at 1 p.m

Purl (8-2) allowed just two hits over the first five innings and by the time Garden City scored a run on a couple of hits and a sacrifice fly in the sixth, the Blue Devils had a 9-0 lead. The Broncbusters literally knocked Purl out of the game in the seventh. After a single and a walk to start the inning, Purl took a line drive shot off his ankle by Billy Clark that loaded the bases.

Purl pitched to one more hitter, giving up a walk to force in a run, before Bednar came on with a flawless relief job. After getting out of the bases-loaded jam with only a sacrifice fly, Bednar pitched a hitless eighth. Purl struck out seven and walked four but his injured ankle needed treatment.

Meanwhile, the Blue Devils scored runs off all four Garden City pitchers they faced as the first four hitters in the lineup combined for 10 hits and 10 runs-batted-in. Leadoff hit L.A. Woodard drove in two runs with a double and triple and Tyler Pittman homered and singled and drove in two as each scored four times. Alex Phillips increased his team-leading RBI total to 71 with three RBI’s and three singles and Rorey Combs had three singles and two RBI. Brandon Green also drove in two runs with a home run and single.

“Purl and Bednar both threw well and the guys obviously came out swinging,” said KCKCC coach Matt Goldbeck. “It’s great to get out in front but we still need to win one more and Garden City is a good team.”

Pittman got the Blue Devils started with a blast over the 375-foot mark for a 1-0 lead in the first and the Blue Devils made it 4-0 in the second on a hit batsman and singles by Drew Holtgrieve, Pittman, Phillips and Combs. A walk, Pittman sacrifice and Phillips singles made it 5-0 in the fourth and the Blue Devils broke the game wide open with four runs in the fifth. After a pair of walks to start the inning, Woodard ripped a 2-out double to the fence in left-center for two runs and two more scored on a dropped fly ball and a Phillips’s single.

Green’s home run, a shot to left, started the seventh and the Blue Devils added two more runs on a triple by Woodard, an error and a single by Combs. KCKCC then ended it in the eighth when Josh Schumacher walked and scored all the way from first on a Green double to deep right center.

Blue Devils shortstop L.A. Woodard slides head first into third base on a triple in KCKCC’s 13-3 win over Garden City Friday. Woodard also had a double, two RBI and scored four times. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
KCKCC sophomore pitcher Jake Purl takes a long stride in delivering a pitch in the Blue Devils’ 13-3 win over Garden City Friday. Purl allowed only two hits over the first five innings and finished with a 6-hitter before exiting when hit by a line drive in the seventh. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

Community calendar

The Wyandotte Daily News is interested in news of your community event in Wyandotte County. Send information to [email protected] and include your name and phone number. Please send in planned events about a week before the event if possible. In the event of inclement weather, call before you go to see if the event is still planned.

Programs offered for Spanish-speaking women
Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kan., offers these programs for Spanish-speaking women: Grupo de mujeres: Salud Creación con lideres Mary Ellen Rodriguez y Ana Maria Sauer, los martes, 9, 16, 23, 30 de mayo, 10-11:30 a.m. Grupo de salud emocional para la mujer, ofrecido por MOCSA, contacte a Sinead McDonough, llame al 816-285-1349, los martes, 1:00-2:30 p.m. La Hora Financiera con Brenda Mortell, Cada Segundo Jueves del mes, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Hacia un Desarrollo de Una Autoestima Saludable, Claudia Perez Velasco, LAP, Martes, 23, 30 de Mayo y 6, 13 de Junio (serie de cuatro sesiones), 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. For more information or registration, call 913-906-8990.

KCK school board to meet May 9
The Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools Board of Education will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, in the Central Office and Training Center, 2010 N. 59th St., Kansas City, Kansas. An agenda may be posted in advance at www.kckps.org.

Leavenworth Road Association to meet May 9
The Leavenworth Road Association will meet May 9 at the Eisenhower Recreation Center, 2901 N. 72nd St., Kansas City, Kansas. The guest speaker will be Mayor Mark Holland. A potluck dinner begins at 6 p.m. followed by the meeting at 7 p.m. The LRA will provide a sloppy Joe casserole, with those attending bringing other dishes. The meeting is open to the public.

Program to address plants for birds
Plants for Birds, a nationwide effort to add 1 million native plants within five years, will be the topic of the 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, meeting at the Bonner Springs City Library, 201 N. Nettleton Ave., Bonner Springs, Kansas. The Jayhawk Audubon Society has joined with National Audubon to present the program. No matter what space is available, landscaping options can make a difference for birds. The program is open to the public. For more information, visit http://bonnerlibrary.org/.

Monthly Book Club to meet May 9
The Monthly Book Club will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The book for May is “A Piece of the World” by Christina Baker Kline. Some books are available for club members. Reservations are required to 913-906-8990.

CVB to hold annual tourism celebration May 9
The Kansas City, Kansas, Convention and Visitors Bureau will hold its annual tourism celebration on Tuesday, May 9, at the Reardon Convention Center, 500 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Registration will be at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch and the program at noon. Individual tickets are $45 per person. To register, go to VisitKansasCityKS.com/rsvp, call 913-321-5800 or email [email protected].

Card-making program offered
A card-making program will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 10, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Carole Thrasher is the leader of the program. Supplies are provided and space is limited. Reservations are required to 913-906-8990.

Writer’s workshop offered
A writer’s workshop will be offered from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The workshop is for those who want to begin or fine-tune their writing skills. The workshop is facilitated by Kari O’Rourke.

Women’s Chamber to meet May 10
The Kansas City, Kansas, Women’s Chamber of Commerce will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, at the West Wyandotte Library, 1737 N. 82nd St., Kansas City, Kansas. The speaker will be Mary Redmond, and the topic will be effective negotiation. For more information, visit http://kckwomenschamber.org/.

BPU to meet May 10
The Board of Public Utilities is scheduled to meet Wednesday, May 10, at the BPU administrative offices, 540 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The work session will begin at 5 p.m. On the agenda is a board update, a general manager update and an information technology review. At 6 p.m., the regular session is scheduled. On the agenda is a visitors’ time, election of officers, annual audit report, the 2016 and 2017 financial reports, board comments, general manager comments, and an executive closed session.

UG Commission meeting planned May 11
The Unified Government Commission may meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at the Commission Chambers, lobby level, City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas. An agenda may be posted in advance of the meeting at www.wycokck.org.

Benefit sale to be May 12-13
The Shepherd’s Center of Kansas City, Kansas, will hold its 23rd annual Book and Bric-a-Brac Sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 12 and 13 at the Turner Baptist Church, 701 S. 55th St., Kansas City, Kansas. There will be a breakfast in conjunction with the event from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday. For more information, visit http://shepherdscenterkck.org/.

Rosedale group plans Bike-In Movie
Rosedale Development Association is planning its 5th annual Bike-In Movie at 7 p.m. May 14 at the Boulevard Drive-In, 1051 Merriam Lane, Kansas City, Kansas. Those interested may ride their bikes to the event, or may drive to the event. The event is free for bike riders and there is a $5 donation for cars. Those attending may bring a camp chair or blanket. For more information or reservations, call 913-677-5097 or email [email protected].

Cooking class offered May 15
Cooking for Beginners will be offered at 6 p.m. Monday, May 15 at the Bonner Springs Community Center 200 E. 3rd St., Bonner Springs, Kan. The Chef from Kobi’s Bar and Grill will teach the class. Space is limited to 10 for the class. Those interested may sign up at the Bonner Springs City Library. For more information, visit http://bonnerlibrary.org/cooking-for-beginners/.

Bike safety program planned May 20
A bike safety program, Hawks, Helmets and Handlebars, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, at the New Bethel Church, 745 Walker Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. At the free event, there will be a bike safety course, a Baby Jay appearance, and a remote live broadcast by 99.6 The Point. The first 150 children to attend will receive a free KU bike helmet. The children must be present to receive the helmet.

Salad Exchange program to be May 21
The Bonner Springs City Library, 201 N. Nettleton Ave., will have a Salad Exchange at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 21. Those attending will bring their favorite salads to share. Also, those attending should bring 10 copies of their salad recipe to share. For more information, see http://bonnerlibrary.org/salad-exchange/.

Author of book about Sierra Leone to speak
James Weller, a 1977 graduate of Bonner Springs High School, will speak and sign books at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at the Bonner Springs City Library, 201 N. Nettleton Ave., Bonner Springs, Kan. He is the author of “Misadventures in West Africa,” a book about his personal experiences in business in West Africa. For more information, visit http://bonnerlibrary.org/book-signing/.

‘Life and Money in Retirement’ to be topic of program
“Life and Money in Retirement” is the topic of a program to be presented at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, at the Bonner Springs City Library, 201 N. Nettleton Ave., Bonner Springs. The program will discuss strategies for retirement, and actions that retirees may take to feel more confident in making the transition. For more information, visit http://bonnerlibrary.org/.

Wyandotte County Museum
The Wyandotte County Museum, 631 N. 126th St., Bonner Springs, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays and holidays. For more information visit the website www.facebook.com/wycomuseum or call 913-573-5002.

Strawberry Hill Museum
The Strawberry Hill Museum at 720 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kan., has reopened and has events scheduled. For more information, call 913-371-3264 or visit http://www.strawberryhillmuseum.org/.

Grinter Place Museum
The Grinter Place State Historic Site, 1420 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kan., is one of the oldest homes in the area, built in 1857. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for students; and children 5 and younger free. It is closed on state holidays. Grinter Place is closed until May. For more information about hours and days it is open, call 913-299-0373 or visit http://www.kshs.org/p/grinter-place-plan-your-visit/15857.

Old Quindaro Museum
The Old Quindaro Museum is at 3432 N. 29th St., Kansas City, Kan. For more information about the museum, call 816-820-3615 or visit https://www.facebook.com/ccoqmuseum/.

Area athletes compete in relays

Sumner Academy’s Nahshon Houston ran in the preliminaries of the boys 100-meter dash. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)

Photos and story copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel

Athletes from five area schools participated in the 66th Shawnee Mission North Relays in Overland Park, Kansas, on Friday, May 5.

Highlights:

Turner High School
Davion Scott, 4th, boys 300-meter hurdles, 40.24 seconds (new Turner school record)
Davion Scott, 6th, boys 110-meter hurdles, 16.05 seconds
Jaelon Harley, 7th, boys 400-meter run, 50.97 seconds
Robert Erwin, 8th, boys discus throw, 138 feet, 4 inches

Sumner Academy
Nahshon Houston, 2nd, boys long jump, 22 feet, 5 inches
Demitra Carter, 3rd, girls 400-meter run, 59.63 seconds
Weah Landford, 6th, boys javelin throw, 165 feet, 7 inches

Washington High School
Christine Ibeagi, 7th, girls 100-meter hurdles, 16.58 seconds

Schlagle’s Ta’Teyanna Bennett ran in the girls 200-meter dash. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)
Turner’s Robert Erwin competed in the boys discus throw. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)
Wyandotte’s Sierra Wright accelerated in the first leg of the girls 4×100-meter relay. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner’s Demitra Carter crossed the finish line in the girls 100-meter dash. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)
Washington’s Christine Ibeagi clipped the final hurdle as she neared the finish of the girls 100-meter hurdles. (Photo copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel)