Month: June 2017

Martinez, Woodard KCKCC athletes of the year

Albert (L.A.) Woodard
Kimberly Martinez

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Sophomores Albert (L.A.) Woodard and Kimberly Martinez have been named the male and female athletes of the year for 2016-2017 at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Martinez started every game as the Libero on this year’s Lady Blue Devil volleyball tem after being a defensive specialist on the 2014 KCKCC team that qualified for the NJCAA National Tournament while Woodard was a two-year starter at shortstop on Blue Devil baseball teams that won 40 or more games in both 2016 and 2017.

Both will be continuing their educations at four-year universities. A mid-term graduate, Martinez enrolled at Kansas State University in January and is a walk-on member of the Wildcat volleyball team while Woodard will be continuing his baseball career this fall at Middle Tennessee State, an NCAA Division I university located in Murfreesboro.

“L.A. was our sparkplug,” said KCKCC head baseball coach Matt Goldbeck. “The scouting report on our team this spring was that ‘He made us good.’ We were very fortunate to get him from Tennessee. He brought us a lot of success. Not only a good player, he was a good person who helped our program both on and off the field.”

A graduate of John Overton High School in Nashville, Tenn., Woodard hit .372 from the leadoff position this past season. The team leader in runs scored with 58, he was also second in stolen bases with 25 while driving in 32 runs. Woodard delivered one of the season’s biggest hits, a run-scoring double in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave KCKCC a 7-6 win over Garden City in the district playoffs.

A 5-4 libero from Guayama, Puerto Rico, Martinez was named to the NJCAA All-Region VI (District N) first team and the All-Jayhawk second team. After being a defensive starter in 2014 when the Blue Devils won the consolation bracket of the NJCAA national tournament, Martinez sat out the entire 2015 season with a concussion. In addition to earning post-season honors this past season, Martinez had a 4.0 grade point average her final semester.

“Kimberly is one of the best defensive players I’ve had in my six years in the program,” said KCKCC head volleyball coach Mary Bruno. “An incredibly hard worker and wonderful team player, she was truly an outstanding student athlete.”

T-Bones rally to win in bottom of ninth

Back-to-back three-run innings fueled a T-Bones comeback win, 9-8, on Monday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas.

The T-Bones would strike first as centerfielder Omar Garcia worked his way around the diamond, stealing second and then third to open up an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The Wingnuts quickly responded with a 2-run home run from left fielder Brennen Salgado off righthanded pitcher Gabe Perez to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the second.

Shortstop Eddie Newton responded with an RBI single to tie the game up at 2-2 to close out the second inning.

The top of the fourth allowed the Wingnuts to regain the lead, 4-2, with two base hits bringing in two runs. Right fielder Chantz Mack answered adding his first home run with the T-Bones organization, a solo home run, narrowing the margin, 4-3.

Wichita continued to have a response for everything the T-Bones threw at them. Shortstop Leo Vargas launched a 3-run home run into left field to extend the Wingnuts lead to four, 7-3, in the top of the sixth.

Then right fielder Richard Prigatano added a solo home run to stretch the Wingnuts’ lead to five, 8-3.

Kansas City kept things interesting in the bottom of the eighth inning with a Garcia single to centerfield the brought in two runs, 8-5. Third baseman, Marcus Lemon followed up with a single of his own to right field to score Eddie Newton, cutting the Wingnut lead to two, 8-6.

Mack added to his big opening night with an RBI double to right field off Wichita reliever Mike Devine to bring the T-Bones within one run, 8-7, in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Garcia then walked to bring in a run, tying the game at eight, followed by a Lemon walkoff walk to complete the T-Bones the 9-8 comeback win.

“The guys kept on battling. If you have a team that doesn’t want to quit then you have a chance. It was sweet that we could get the win for our fans,” manager Joe Calfapietra said.

The T-Bones will continue a three game series with Wichita at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday in CommunityAmerica ballpark. There will be a 15th Anniversary game special with 2003 ticket prices and a 15th anniversary poster giveaway.

Tickets are available online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.
– Story from T-Bones

Red Cross blood drives planned

• Earp Distribution, 2730 S. 98th St., will hold a Red Cross blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, June 12. For more information, visit www.redcrossblood.org.

• AT&T Mobility, 10620 Parallel Parkway, will hold a Red Cross blood drive from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 6. For more information, visit www.redcrossblood.org.