Month: March 2018

Gacke 2-hitter not enough to get KCKCC sweep at Highland

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College got another pitching gem from Cole Gacke Thursday but it wasn’t enough to sweep a doubleheader at Highland.

Gacke allowed just two hits in a 12-1 win in a 6-inning opener but Highland tied the nightcap with three runs in the eighth inning and then won it with a run in the bottom of the 10th 10-9.

The two teams will close out their four-game series at KCKCC Saturday at 1 p.m. The split left the Blue Devils (15-12) tied with Johnson County for fifth place in the Jayhawk Conference at 7-7, a game behind both Neosho County and Allen County (8-6).

A 6-1 sophomore from Liberty North, Gacke struck out nine in running his season’s record to 4-1. Only four Scotties reached base against Gacke with the lone run scoring on his only walk, a wild pitch and a single in the fourth inning.

The Blue Devils backed him with 15 hits, 10 for extra base hits including nine doubles. Kevin Santiago led with a home run and two doubles; Adam North and Gavin Gifford each doubled twice; Brigham Mooney and Brandon Green doubled and singled; and Brandon Still doubled.

KCKCC jumped in front 1-0 in the first on a single by Mooney and then scored four more runs in the third. After a walk and Mooney double, Santiago scored both with a double and two more scored on a Green sacrifice fly and North’s two-out single.

The Blue Devils boosted their lead to 7-1 in the sixth on a single by Combs, double by Green and sacrifice flies by Gifford and Bradley. Santiago’s home run triggered a 5-run sixth inning that included doubles by Still, Gifford and North and singles by Green and James Bradley.

Wildness and errors, two season-long nemesis, foiled the Blue Devils in the 10-9 nightcap loss. Five of Highland’s six runs in the second inning were unearned because of two errors; two walks and two hit batsman figured prominently in the Scotties’ game-tying 3-run eighth; and the game-winning run was put on base by a walk.

The Blue Devils built a 9-6 lead on the strength of home runs from Jared Goodfellow and Santiago, his second of the day. Both had a pair of hits as did Still.

KCKCC also got a strong starting performance from freshman Orlando Oritz, who struck out a career high 12 in just six innings including eight of 10 Scotties in one stretch. However, he was also the victim of Highland’s 6-run second inning that included three hits, two walks and two costly errors that made five of the runs unearned.

The Blue Devils jumped in front 1-0 in the first on singles by Josh Schumacher and Mooney and a Santiago sacrifice fly and made it 3-0 in the second on a walk and Goodfellow’s 2-run home run only to fall behind 6-3. KCKCC started its comeback in the fifth, scoring a run on a single by Santiago and Still sacrifice fly and then went ahead with four runs in the seventh.

After a single by Goodfellow and a walk, Santiago put KCKCC ahead 7-6 with a 3-run home run. The Blue Devils added the fourth run in the inning on singles by Still and Green and added another in the eighth on an error, wild pitch and Mooney’s squeeze bunt.

Trailing 9-6 in the eighth, Highland loaded the bases against Allan Brown with one out on a walk, single and hit batsman and all scored against reliever Julian Rivera on a single, hit batsman and walk, the last one with two out.

Gunner Vestal pitched out of a bases-loaded situation in the ninth but gave up a pair of one-out walks and back-to-back singles in the 10th, the last the game-winner by Shane Drolet. It was his third hit of the game.

Former Schlitterbahn employee and corporation indicted in connection with waterslide death

A former Schlitterbahn employee has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a waterslide death at the Schlitterbahn park in Kansas City, Kansas, in August 2016. (Wyandotte Daily file photo)

A Wyandotte County grand jury has indicted one person and one corporation on charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a 10-year-old boy in August 2016 who was riding the Verruckt waterslide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

The indictment includes charges of involuntary manslaughter against Schlitterbahn Waterpark of Kansas City, Kansas, and against Tyler Austin Miles, a former director of operations at the waterpark.

A 10-year-old boy who was the son of a state legislator died when he was riding a raft on the Verruckt waterslide in 2016. As his raft went into the air, it struck a pole with nets attached to it, and the boy was decapitated.

The waterslide at the time was called the tallest in the world. Since the incident, the waterslide has been shut down.

The two defendants also were indicted in connection with injuries sustained by 13 other persons, including four other minors, while riding the waterslide, according to the attorney general’s statement.

Those charges include aggravated battery and aggravated endangering a child. In addition, Miles was indicted on two counts of interference with law enforcement, and Schlitterbahn was indicted on one count of interference with law enforcement.

The indictment was unsealed today by Judge Robert Burns in Wyandotte County District Court.

Miles turned himself in to the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office this morning. At a first appearance this afternoon, the defense waived formal reading of the indictment and entered a plea of not guilty. The defense filed a motion to reduce bond which was argued and denied.

Bond has been set at $50,000 cash or professional surety. A jury trial date has been set for 9 a.m. Sept. 10. A status conference has been set for 2 p.m. April 25.

The charges will be prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, which assumed responsibility for the case in December 2016 at the request of the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office.

Charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty, according to the attorney general’s office. The attorney general’s office is bound by the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct, including Rule 3.6 (trial publicity) and Rule 3.8 (special responsibilities of a prosecutor), according to their statement.

Attorney General Schmidt said the indictment follows a 19-month investigation involving numerous law enforcement agencies including the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Attorney General’s Office and Comal County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office.

Schlitterbahn’s corporate offices released an updated statement today, from spokeswoman Winter Prosapio, after they had a chance to review the official indictment document:

“We’ve reviewed the indictment against Schlitterbahn Kansas City and Tyler Miles and we plan on contesting the allegations. Since the date of the incident we have worked closely with law enforcement; at no time have we withheld evidence; at no time have we altered evidence. The indictment uses quoted statements from a reality TV show that was scripted for dramatic effect that in no way reflects the design and construction of the ride.

“The safety of our Schlitterbahn guests and employees has been at the forefront of our culture throughout our 40 years of operations. Many of us rode Verruckt regularly, as did our children and grandchildren. We have faith in the justice system and are confident that when we finally have an opportunity to defend ourselves, it will be clear that this was an accident. We stand by our team and will fight these charges.”

A Wyandotte County Jail listing showed a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the case.

An indictment was issued in connection with the death of a boy at the Schlitterbahn waterpark in 2016.

Basketball player Frank Mason to appear June 16 at charity softball game at T-Bones Stadium

Former Kansas University Jayhawk and current member of the NBA Sacramento Kings, Frank Mason III, will hold the inaugural Frank Mason III and Friends Charity Softball game at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 16, at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.

The T-Bones along with Clear Vision Marketing Group will present the event. Frank Mason III and a few of his celebrity friends will compete against each other for a day filled with entertainment, rivalry, philanthropy, and even a home run derby.

Players currently scheduled to appear include Wayne Selden (Grizzlies, KU alumnus), Sherron Collins (from KU), Wesley Iwundu (Magic, K-State alumnus), Rodney McGruder (Heat, K-State alumnus), and Jahidi White (NBA alumnus).

Frank Mason III will also appear, with more players to be announced later.

“I feel that it is my responsibility to come back here every chance I get and stay connected to the community, and Clear Vision Marketing approached me with an opportunity to give back, have fun and to continue to share memorable moments with my Jayhawk family,” Mason said.

The softball game will benefit the Children’s Mercy Hospital and The National Youth Foundation.

“Everyone who knows me understands how important my education is to me,” Mason said. “I want to motivate the youth to develop their literary skills through academic and team building projects, and I plan to achieve this with the help of The National Youth Foundation. I ask that on June 16th, Jayhawk fans come together for a day of fun to interact with me and other KU alumni at T-Bones Stadium.”

“As a Jayhawk fan, I am thrilled that we’ll be able to see Frank Mason showcase his athleticism a mere 26 miles east of where he created so many memories for KU’s fans,” said T-Bones President Adam Ehlert. “While this is a slightly different playing surface, and significantly less-pressured event than what he’s used to, I know he’ll create an electric, and fan-friendly event. I’m proud that we can partner with Frank and his charities to create these memories.”

Gates will open at 1 p.m. with the on-field activities set to begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at FM3CHARITYSOFTBALLGAME.COM and online at www.tbonesbaseball.com or by calling the T-Bones Stadium Box Office at 913-328-5618. Prime tickets are $42, Choice $32, Select $22 and Bleacher Select are $12.

The T-Bones 2018 home opening night is May 22 when the T-Bones are the host of Gary SouthShore at 7:05 p.m. Season, group, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the Box Office at T-Bones Stadium, calling 913-328-5618 or by purchasing tickets to print at www.tbonesbaseball.com. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

– Story from Dan Vaughan, T-Bones