Month: March 2018

Lady Blue Devils divide; another ranked foe next

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College split a non-conference softball doubleheader Wednesday before continuing the toughest starting schedule in the Jayhawk Conference.

The Blue Devils (6-6) posted a 6-2 win over North Dakota State College of Science, a two-year college in Wahpeton, N.D., before dropping the nightcap 6-3. The split came a day after being swept at No. 4 ranked Highland Tuesday, which came on the heels of two losses to a Johnson County team ranked in the NJCAA Top 10 in the preseason rankings.

Next up, yet another clash with a Top 20 team, at No. 15 Cowley College Friday followed by another twin-bill at Independence on Saturday. It’s the first of six straight road games for the Lady Blue Devils, who do not return home until a March 27 twin bill against Fort Scott.

Shannon Greene scattered eight hits, striking out seven and walking none in the 6-2 win over North Dakota State. The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead on a pair of doubles in the first inning but didn’t score again until KCKCC had posted a pair of 3-run innings.

The Blue Devils managed just five hits but four came in the 3-run fourth. Natalie Cowan’s single and a triple by Jadyn Lindgren tied the game and RBI singles by Jennifer Mullins and Shannon Brown put KCKCC ahead to stay 3-1. Three more runs crossed in the fifth on a Brittney Beck single, walk, Kali Jacobson squeeze bunt and a pair of passed balls.

North Dakota State put a pair of 3-run outbursts on the board in the 6-3 nightcap. Erin Nissan broke a scoreless tie with a 3-run home run in the fourth and the Wildcats added three more runs on five straight hits off starter Katelyn Kittrell in the fifth.

Singles by Mullins and Brown and an error scored KCKCC’s first run in the fourth; Jacobson tripled and scored on a ground ball in the fifth; and Brown and Shelby Espy had singles for the final run in the sixth.

Highland lived up to its high national ranking by scoring early and often in 9-4 and 12-2 wins at Highland Tuesday.

Trailing 7-0 in the opener, the Blue Devils rallied for their four runs in the fifth.

Three came on a Kaylee Arnzen home run. Singles by Aspen Salinas and Cowan and a ground ball scored one run before Arnzen’s home run to center.

Cowan had three hits and Arnzen two to pace an 8-hit Blue Devil offense. Greene took the loss, giving up 10 hits, striking out three and walking two.

Highland roared to an 8-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. After a pair of walks, back-to-back home runs by Sydney Anderson and Aubry Hernandez kayoed KCKCC starter Katelyn Kittrell. The Scotties added four more runs against Faith Maslak in the inning and then got a 3-run home run from Kami Zimmerman in the second before Shelby Espy held Highland to just one hit and one run in the final three innings.

Limited to just two hits, the Blue Devils got a 2-run home run by Jennifer Mullins after a single by Arnzen in the fourth.

Temperatures to reach mid-70s today

Fire hazard today, storms possible Friday

National Weather Service graphic

As temperatures reach the mid-70s this afternoon, a red flag warning has been issued for increased fire danger.

According to the National Weather Service, this afternoon there may be low minimum relative humidity, high temperatures, dry fuels and windy weather, all adding to the possibility of critical fire weather. Outdoor burning should be avoided, the weather service said.

Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies, with a high near 74 and a south southeast wind of 8 to 10 mph, gusting as high as 21 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then showers after 4 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 48, with an east southeast wind of 8 to 16 mph, gusting to 22 mph. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Friday, there is a 70 percent chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 66 with an east southeast wind of 15 mph, gusting as high as 25 mph. New rainfall will be between a tenth and quarter-inch. The forecast for thunderstorms here Friday was not completely certain as of Thursday morning, but if they do develop, there is a possibility of strong winds and small hail, according to the weather service.

Friday night, there is a 20 percent chance of showers before 1 a.m., with a low of 40. A south southeast wind of 9 to 11 mph will become northwest after midnight.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 56, and a north northwest wind of 6 to 10 mph, the weather service said.

Saturday night, the low will be around 38 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.

Sunday, there will be a 50 percent chance of showers after 1 p.m. with a high near 62, the weather service said.

Sunday night, there is a 70 percent chance of showers, with a low of 45, according to the weather service.

Monday, there is an 80 percent chance of showers with a high near 54, the weather service said.

Monday night, there is a 50 percent chance of rain showers before 4 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. The low will be around 35, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, expect a 30 percent chance of rain and snow showers, with a high near 48, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, the low will be around 31 with partly cloudy skies, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, the high will be near 54 with mostly sunny skies, the weather service said.

Storms are possible Friday, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)

Gaming revenue up slightly at Hollywood Casino in Wyandotte County

Gaming revenue at the Hollywood Casino in Wyandotte County was $11.6 million for February, according to a report today to the Kansas Lottery Commission.

That figure was up slightly from January’s gaming revenues of $11.2 million, according to the Kansas Lottery records. It was slightly below the February 2017 gaming revenue. One year ago, in February 2017, the Hollywood Casino reported gaming revenues of $11.8 million.

Keith Kocher, director of program assurance and integrity for the Kansas Lottery, noted today at the Kansas Lottery Commission meeting that typically February revenues are lower than other months because there are fewer days in February. Year to year, the combined totals for the state’s casinos are up 10 percent, he said.

Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City, Kansas, reported revenues of $3.3 million in February as compared to $3.26 million in January; Kansas Star Casino, Mulvane, Kansas, reported gaming revenues of $14.9 million in February as compared to $14.24 million in January; and Kansas Crossing Casino in Pittsburg, Kansas, reported gaming revenues of $3 million compared to $2.6 million in January.

Kocher reported that lottery ticket sales were up 6.2 percent overall compared to last year.

He also reported several bills concerning gaming or the lottery are pending in the Legislature. One would allow an instant vending ticket machine.

Another discussion in the Legislature concerns sports wagering, he said. States are positioning themselves in anticipation of a ruling in June on a sporting betting case at the U.S. Supreme Court level.