Month: July 2018

T-Bones fall to Chicago Dogs, 3-2

After a wild series, the Kansas City T-Bones (43-23) failed to complete the series sweep Sunday against the Chicago Dogs (26-40).

A two-out rally in the ninth kept the game interesting, but the T-Bones fell just short, losing to the Dogs 3-2.

After a quiet first inning for both clubs, the T-Bones offense started rolling in the second.

Alay Lago drilled a single to center field putting Keith Curcio at the plate. Curcio hit a single to left field that was mishandled by Rubi Silva.

The T-Bones capitalized on the Dogs mistake allowing Curcio to advance to second base and the speedy Lago to score all the way from first giving the T-Bones an early 1-0 lead. Tucker Pennell sliced an RBI single to left field, scoring Curcio and extending the Kansas City lead to two heading into the third inning.

In the fourth inning, the Dogs stayed aggressive and cut into the Kansas City lead. Edwin Arroyo began the inning with a dribbler to the pitcher for a single.

Trey Vavra did his job, advancing Arroyo to second base after hitting into a fielder’s choice. Joe Benson delivered for the Dogs, hitting an RBI single to center field, scoring Arroyo from second. After four, the T-Bones led the Dogs 2-1.

The Dogs continued to chip away at the T-Bones, scoring another run in the fifth. After two quick outs, Michael Falsetti forced a walk to put a runner at first. The next at bat, Kenny Wilson knocked a single to right field putting Falsetti in scoring position.

Arroyo tied the ball game, hitting a single to right field to score Falsetti from second. The T-Bones and Dogs were tied at two after five.

Another inning, another run for the Dogs. With one out in the sixth, Rubi Silva reached second on a double to start the scoring threat.

For the second straight inning, the Dogs were able to muster up another two-out RBI. Matt Dean hit a single to center field, scoring Silva from second to give Chicago their first lead of the game at 3-2.

Kansas City looked to rally with two outs in the ninth. Newly acquired Logan Moon started the rally with a single to right field. A single up the middle by Adrian Nieto put Moon on second with a chance to tie the game.

Dylan Tice had a chance to be a hero, but popped a fly ball to shallow center field to end the game. Kansas City fell to Chicago 3-2.

Jayson Aquino (0-0) couldn’t hold on to an early lead, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings. Kevin Hill (1-1) was credited as the losing pitcher, tossing one inning allowing one run on two hits.

Despite giving up two early runs, pitcher Josh Goossen-Brown (5-5) settled down pitching seven quality innings allowing two runs on seven hits. Goossen-Brown was credited as the winning pitcher.

With the loss, Kansas City falls to 43-23 and seven games behind the league-best Sioux City Explorers (50-16).

As the T-Bones enter the final month of the season, they find themselves in prime position for a playoff spot in the South Division, leading the third-place Wichita Wingnuts (40-25) by 2.5 games.

The Chicago Dogs still find themselves 12 games back of the first-place St. Paul Saints in the North Division despite the much-needed win. The Dogs are now 26-40 a half game back of the Sioux Falls Canaries for sixth place in the North.

The T-Bones will hit the road on Tuesday, traveling to Sioux Falls for a 7:05 p.m. game.

Season, group, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale and can be purchased by visiting the box office at T-Bones Stadium. Call the box office at 913-328-5618 or purchase and print at www.tbonesbaseball.com. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

– Story from T-Bones

DeGoler’s acquired by major drug store chain

This 2003 feature covered the 75th anniversary of DeGoler’s Pharmacies in Kansas City, Kansas. DeGoler’s, which was sold recently, was 90 years old this year.

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

DeGoler’s, an independent pharmacy that has served Wyandotte County for about 90 years, was sold recently to CVS. The company can trace its roots to 1928 when Pharmacist Harvey DeGoler founded the company.

His son Jim, also a pharmacist, explained that his father’s drug store was at 552 Minnesota Ave., near the intersection where passengers got on and off the street car. The store was also a meeting place for business and political leaders. One of the regulars who could be found there was Lacy Haynes, the longtime bureau chief for The Kansas City Star. He was also a legendary political kingmaker.

Jim expanded the pharmacy as Kansas City, Kansas’, population moved west, opening locations at Indian Springs, the Midtown Medical Office Plaza, the Family Medical Group and the Alpine East Building. Jim died in 2014.

Jim was a business and civic leader serving as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trustees of Bethany Medical Center. He was also president of the Kansas City, Kansas, School Board.

Glenn Harte joined DeGoler’s in 1995 and later purchased the company from Jim. He continued to expand the company by acquiring pharmacies in Bonner Springs and Manhattan. He also opened new pharmacies in Piper and Leavenworth.

One of the issues facing independent pharmacies is the fees from preferred network drug plans offered by insurers and pharmacy benefit managers. Direct and indirect fees have been rising in these popular plans, according to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal. The article told of surcharges that come along after the patients have received and paid for prescriptions. Pharmacies must eat these surcharges.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West.