Month: March 2019

KCKCC softball cruises 17-0, then wins 2-1 pitcher’s duel

Sophomore Gracie Gentry of Turner slid into third base in KCKCC’s 17-0 opening game win over North Dakota School of Science Wednesday. KCKCC completed the sweep with a 2-1 win. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Kansas City Kansas Community College softball fans got it all Wednesday – an offensive show and a pitcher’s duel.

After a 17-0 win over North Dakota School of Science in a 5-inning opener, the Blue Devils won a 2-1 nightcap behind the pitching of sophomore Faith Maslak.

The wins boosted the Blue Devils’ record to 5-3 heading into a series of four straight home doubleheaders starting Friday against Ellsworth. Cloud County comes in Saturday to open Jayhawk Conference play followed by Southwestern Iowa Sunday and North Arkansas Monday.

All three weekend twin bills will start at 2 p.m. with the North Ark games Monday starting at 1 p.m.

A righthander from Raymore, Maslak (1-1) gave up an unearned run in the first inning and then pitched shutout softball the rest of the way, scattering six hits and striking out nine.

The Blue Devils tied the game with a run in the fifth inning and then won it in the seventh on Hannah Redick’s single set up by a hit by Britney Smith and a walk to Brittney Beck. It was the third hit of the day for Redick.

The Blue Devils pounded out 14 hits in support of Mackenzie Pinkerton in the 17-0 opener. Pinkerton (2-2-1) allowed just three hits and struck out five in her first collegiate shutout.

The big inning was the fourth when the first 11 Blue Devils who came to the plate reached base and all scored.

Four Blue Devils had three hits each led by sophomore Kaylee Arnzen, who homered, doubled and singled and drove in four runs.

Alexis Rymer doubled and singled twice and Redick singled three times as each drove in three runs while Purcel had a pair of RBI’s with her three hits.

Freshman Devin Purcel won a close race with a throw to home plate in KCKCC’s 17-0 win over North Dakota School of Science in the opening game of a doubleheader swept by the Blue Devils 2-1 in the nightcap. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

Wind advisory in effect today for Wyandotte County

A wind advisory is in effect through 10 p.m. today in Wyandotte County. Wind gusts may reach as high as 41 mph in Wyandotte County today, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)

A wind advisory is in effect through 10 p.m. Thursday for Wyandotte County, according to the National Weather Service.

Wind gusts from 40 to 50 are possible to the north of Wyandotte County, while wind gusts could reach as high as 41 mph in Wyandotte County today.

Flooding on the Missouri River, at places to the north and east of Wyandotte County, is expected to last into at least next week. Major river flooding is expected on the Missouri River. Wyandotte County is not under a flood watch or warning at this time.

Today, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 3 p.m., with a high near 44. A south southwest wind of 24 to 26 mph will become west northwest in the afternoon.

Tonight, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 7 p.m., with a low of 31, according to the weather service. A northwest wind of 15 to 22 mph will gust as high as 31 mph.

Friday, it will be partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny with a high near 47, the weather service said. A northwest wind of 11 to 15 mph will gust as high as 21 mph.

Friday night, it will be clear with a low of 27 and a west wind of 3 to 8 mph, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny with a high near 53 and a light west wind becoming west southwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 30, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny with a high near 55, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 33, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 53, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 33, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 55, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, there will be a 40 percent chance of rain with a low of 37, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 58, the weather service said.

Some cities along the Missouri RIver and tributaries are experiencing flooding. (National Weather Service graphic, USGS)

More cities along the Missouri River are projected to flood through next week, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service, NOAA, USGS graphic)

Gaming revenues up at Hollywood Casino

Gaming revenues during February at the Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, were up, according to information presented at the Kansas Lottery Commission meeting Wednesday.

In some areas, the winter weather may have affected casino revenues, commission members stated.

The Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway reported $11.9 million in gaming revenues for February, according to Keith Kocher, director of program assurance and integrity for the Kansas Lottery.

In January, Hollywood Casino reported $11.2 million in gaming revenues, according to Kansas Lottery statistics. January admissions were down about 4.4 percent compared to the previous year. February admissions were down about 7.2 percent compared to the previous year.

In a written report to the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, Hollywood Casino officials stated that total gaming revenue increased 2.7 percent in February compared to one year ago, and total gaming revenue increased six-tenths of a percent in January from January of 2018.

Hollywood Casino has been holding several special events this year, according to the report.

In other written reports to the KRGC, Kansas Crossing Casino, Pittsburg, Kansas, reported$2.8 million in gaming revenue for February, a 7.2 percent decrease in net gaming revenue in February, with a 4.3 percent decrease in admissions that month. Kansas Crossing had a 3.2 percent overall increase in net gaming revenue in January, with a 3.8 percent decrease in admissions that month. The casino has several special events scheduled, including appearances by country music artists.

Kansas Star Casino, Mulvane, Kansas, reported total gross gaming revenue of $14.6 million, down in February by 1 percent compared to February 2018. February admissions were down 2.3 percent from the previous February. Total gross gaming revenue at Kansas Star Casino was up 3.87 percent in January 2019, compared to January 2018, according to the report to the KRGC. The casino has several special events planned.

Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City, Kansas, reported $3.2 million in gaming revenue in February, a decrease in total gaming revenue for February 2019 of about eight-tenths of one percent compared to February 2018. In January, Boot Hill had a decrease of total gaming revenues of 2.3 percent compared to the January 2018 figures. Several special entertainment events were scheduled there.

So far, the Unified Government has received about $2.9 million in fiscal year 2019 from Hollywood Casino. It receives 3 percent of the gaming revenues. The state of Kansas received $21.6 million from Hollywood Casino in fiscal year 2019.