Month: September 2019

Promising KCKCC softball team to open fall season Saturday

Softball returns to Kansas City Kansas Community College Saturday as Lana Ross, right, begins her second season as head coach with a 1 p.m. doubleheader with Ottawa University. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Lana Ross gets her first look at her Kansas City Kansas Community College softball team Saturday when the Blue Devils play host to Ottawa University at 1 p.m.

It’s the first of 10 doubleheaders on a fall schedule made up almost entirely of four-year college and university opponents. KCKCC will also play host to Avila Sept. 20 and Mid-America Nazarene Sept. 21. Other opponents will include UMKC, Park, Missouri Western and the University of Missouri.

Ross and assistant Jenn Strohman will have a solid nucleus around which to build – seven veterans including two pitchers, one catcher, two infielders and two outfielders, all of whom were starters on last spring’s 38-20 team. To that group Ross has added a core of 12 promising freshmen and one transfer.

Pitchers – Righthanders Mackenzie Pinkerton (16-12) of Chanhassen, Minnesota, and Shaylun Grosstephan (15-6) of Girard return after combining for 49 starts in the spring. They’ll be joined by Bradi Basler of Lansing, Nerida Elson of Auckland, New Zealand; and Kynzee Johnson of Wayne, Oklahoma.

“Bradi will be a good compliment for Shaylun,” Ross said. “Shay throws a heavy drop ball with a change-up; Bradi throws hard with a good rise ball. Elson gives us a lefthander with great spin on the ball and great accuracy.”

Catchers – Jennica Messer of Basehor is back after hitting .297 in 40 games last season. She’ll be joined by Alex Schafer of Lexington, Oklahoma, and Georgia Faunt of Auckland.

“Messer started 38 games last year while Schafer is great defensively with a high softball IQ,” Ross said. “Faunt is injured so we’ll have to wait on her.”

First base – Hannah Redick of Shawnee Mission North started all 58 games at shortstop last season, hitting .368 and leading the Blue Devils in hits with 75. She moves to first base to fill the vacancy left by home run leader Kaylee Arnzen.

“A great hitter, she’s a great team player and will be a very good first baseman,” Ross said. She’ll be backed by Alex Martin of Norman, Oklahoma, and Madison Prough of Olathe South.

Second base – Freshmen Madison Pope of McLouth and Alyssa Seichephine of Leavenworth will vie for the starting job.

Shortstop – A transfer from Johnson County, Dezmen Duncan of Atchison will get the call at shortstop.

“Duncan is one of the most talented shortstops I’ve had; very strong arm and high softball IQ,” Ross said.

Third base – Alaina Howe of Eudora started all 58 games last spring, hitting .230. She’ll be backed by Abby Henson of Pleasant Hope, Missouri.

Outfield – Devin Purcell of Eudora and Alexis Rymer of Piper earned post-season honors after standout freshmen campaigns. Purcell batted .354 and made one error in center field; Rymer hit .337 and had no errors in right. The battle for the left field job is up for grabs between freshmen Leah Seichephine of Leavenworth and Haley Masisak of Lansing although Bradi Basler is also a possibility.

“It will come down to hitting; whoever is hitting will be in the lineup,” Ross said.

“Overall, we have more talent than last year,” Ross said. “We have to make sure we play as a team and I think we’re well on the way to achieving that. We also have to stay healthy. We have a long way to go but this fall will provide a great growing opportunity.”

Kansas City Kansas Community College 2019 Fall Softball Schedule

Sept. 14 Ottawa University, Home 1-3 p.m.
Sept. 20 Avila University, Home 4 p.m.
Sept. 21 Mid-America Nazarene, Home 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Oct. 3 Rockhurst University, Away 6 p.m.
Oct. 5 UMKC, Away Noon
Oct. 6 Missouri Western, Away Noon
Oct. 11 Univ. of Missouri, Away 12-2:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 Park University, Home Noon
Oct. 13 PSA Club Team, Home 12-2 p.m.
Oct. 18 Maple Woods, Away 3-5 p.m.

Strong to severe storms possible this afternoon and evening

National Weather Service graphic
National Weather Service graphic

Scattered storms are possible this afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

A line of storms is expected to develop and move through the entire area during the afternoon into the overnight hours, the weather service said.

Some of the afternoon storms could become strong to severe, according to the weather service. Strong winds are the main concern, but hail and heavy rain also are possible. The storm should move out during the overnight hours.

Friday through the weekend looks dry, at this time, the weather service said.

The Missouri and Kansas rivers in Wyandotte County are currently below flood stage and below action stage, although the Missouri River is forecast to go into action stage next week, according to hydrology charts.

Today, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 85 with a south wind of 9 to 15 mph, gusting as high as 28 mph. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain is possible.

Tonight, there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10 p.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 61 with a west wind of 5 to 7 mph. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Friday, it will be sunny with a high near 81 and a west northwest wind of 3 to 7 mph, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 63 and a calm wind, according to the weather service.

Saturday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 86 with a calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Winds may gust up to 22 mph.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 70, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny with a high near 89, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 70, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny with a high near 89, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly clear with a low of 70, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 89, the weather service said.

Tuesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 70, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, it will be sunny with a high near 87, the weather service said.

For more weather information, visit www.weather.gov.

UG Commission to consider budget priorities, Leavenworth Road, sidewalks program at Thursday’s meeting

Topics for the Thursday, Sept. 12, Unified Government Commission meetings will include more information about priority-based budgeting, as well as the Leavenworth Road project from 78th to 63rd, and revisions to the sidewalk and curb incentive program.

The Unified Government Commission will meet on Thursday, Sept. 12, at City Hall, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

At the 7 p.m. Sept. 12 meeting in the Commission Chambers on the lobby level, topics on the agenda include:

  • Leavenworth Road improvements from 78th to 63rd, including a survey to show what properties must be acquired for the project, with the possibility of using eminent domain if necessary.
  • An update of the sidewalk and curb incentive program.
  • Approval to construct a national fitness court at St. Margaret’s Park, 230 S. 7th St.
  • Amendments to the pawnbroker’s and precious metal dealers ordinance.
  • Amendments to the ordinance concerning urinating and defecating upon public or private property.
  • A resolution amending an agreement between the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department and Kansas University Police Department to allow the KUPD to patrol areas outside their usual jurisdiction, including the area near the new KU Strawberry Hill campus, from Washington Boulevard to Barnett Avenue and from North 7th Street to North 3rd Street.
  • Approval to apply for and accept the fiscal year 2019 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for $98,777 or the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.
  • Approval to apply for and accept the fiscal year 2020 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant through the Kansas Governor’s Grants Program and Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, for the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department and Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office.
  • Approval of the proposed 2020 holiday schedule.
  • Nomination of Bridget Holton-Deere for the UG Park Board, nominated by Commissioner Brian McKiernan.
  • Request to reallocate a returned 2019 casino grant funding from the Kansas 4-H Foundation.
  • Travel requests from Commissioner Harold Johnson and Brian McKiernan to attend a City Vision trip to Louisville, Kentucky.

Also, a special session is scheduled at 5 p.m. Sept. 12 in the fifth floor meeting room at City Hall. The topic will be a priority-based budgeting follow-up. After that discussion, the commission will move to the ninth floor conference room where it will have a closed executive session on litigation.