Month: March 2020

Tough schedule takes toll on 6-6 KCKCC softball team

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

If playing the best prepares a team to be the best, good things could be in store for Kansas City Kansas Community College softball.

However, it can also be painful. Facing two NJCAA Division I powers and one ranked Division II team over the past four days, the Blue Devils managed just one win in six games.

The lone win came Friday, a 6-3 home win over No. 10 ranked Kirkwood after a 10-2 loss in the opener. Two Division I teams swept the Blue Devils in two other series, both on the road. Northeast Oklahoma A&M won 11-0 and 8-0 in Miami, Oklahoma, Sunday; 17th ranked Crowder (19-1) won 10-2 and 12-1 in Neosho, Missouri, on Thursday.

The Blue Devils (6-6) return to action Wednesday, as hosts of Ellsworth at 1 and 3 p.m. and then open Jayhawk Conference play Thursday when they entertain Fort Scott at 2 and 4 p.m.

Lansing freshman Bradi Basler allowed just four hits and struck out 10 in the 6-3 win over Kirkwood Friday. All three runs came in the first inning as Basler pitched shutout ball the last six innings despite walking seven and hitting two.

Piper sophomore Alexis Rymer provided the big blow in the win. The Blue Devils took a 2-0 lead on four consecutive walks and a hit batsman in the bottom of the first and Rymer cleared the bases with a 3-run double and a 5-3 lead. Abby Henson and Leah Seichepine each had a pair of hits in the win.

Kirkwood took the first game 10-2, scoring five runs in the first and three in the second. Rymer and Basler homered for the Blue Devils’ two runs. Rymer finished with two hits while Jennica Messer doubled and Hannah Redick and Leah Seichepine each singled.

Freshman lefthander Nerida Elson started on the mound, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk. She struck out two. Shay Grosstephan worked the final four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits.

The Blue Devils were limited to two hits – singles by Basler and Alaina Howe – in Sunday’s 8-0 first loss to Northeastern Oklahoma. Grosstephan took the loss, giving up eight runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Northeastern scored four runs in the second inning and five in the fourth in the 11-0 second game. Alaina Howe doubled and Devin Purcell, Redick, Rymer and Grosstephan each singled for the Blue Devils. Basler was touched for nine hits while striking out five and walking four in four innings.

The Blue Devils were held to just four hits at Crowder, Purcell and Henson singled in the 10-2 opener; Basler and Messer doubled in the 12-1 nightcap loss. Crowder stretched its winning streak to 13 with the sweep.

LRA cancels Tuesday night meeting

The Leavenworth Road Association, which was scheduled to meet Tuesday night at the Eisenhower Recreation Center, 2901 N. 72nd, Kansas City, Kansas, has canceled its meeting.

According to Lou Braswell, executive director of the association, several of the organization’s regulars have said they are not attending the meeting because they have colds, and the scheduled guest speaker will not be able to be there.

The group regularly meets on the second Tuesday of the month. For more information visit lrakck.org or call 913-788-3988.

Utility scammers attempt to rip off customers again

A new wrinkle in utility scams is a robo call telling customers they’ll be disconnected if the scammer doesn’t receive payment within 30 minutes, according to the Board of Public Utilities.

BPU spokesman David Mehlhaff said that’s something the Kansas City, Kansas, BPU does not do, never has and never will.

“We do robo calls as reminders, but we give people plenty of advance warning to pay their utility bills,” Mehlhaff said.

“Once again the scammers are trying something creative,” he said.

Thanks to the word getting out about the scams, no one has fallen for them this time, he added.

In the latest scam, customers are instructed to call a 1-800-number to make a payment; however, that phone number is in no way connected to the BPU.

Customers are reminded to be on alert and to never share personal or financial information with anyone, the BPU spokesman said. Customers who suspect they are being threatened by a scam are encouraged to hang up immediately and call the BPU Customer Service Department directly at 913-573-9190.

BPU offers these tips for customers to protect themselves if they are uncertain about the authenticity of a call, email or visit from a utility representative:

  • Never give credit or debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or savings account numbers to anyone who comes to your home, calls, texts and sends an email requesting this information about your utility bill, without verifying that is an authentic BPU call by either asking to see company identification or by calling the BPU Customer Service Department.
  • Be suspicious if you receive an email regarding your utility bill if you have not requested online communications from BPU.
  • Never provide personal information via email or click any suspicious links or attachments.