Powered by two pivotal Palmer Hutchison home runs, Kansas City Kansas Community College swept a doubleheader at Highland Saturday although needing a late-inning rally in the second game.
A sophomore from Hays, Hutchison’s grand slam homer in the first inning ignited a 14-4 opening game win and his solo shot in the eighth inning pulled the Blue Devils into a 6-6 tie and laid the foundation for a 11-6 win in the nightcap.
The wins vaulted the Blue Devils (9-7) into third place in the Jayhawk East just ahead of Coffeyville (10-8), Allen County (7-7) and Fort Scott (10-10). Home against Labette in a doubleheader Monday, the Blue Devils play at Neosho County Thursday and at home Saturday. All have 1 p.m. starting times.
KCKCC trailed 6-5 in the second game at Highland before Hutchison’s game-tying blast to right-center in the eighth. Once even, the Blue Devils scored five times in the ninth on five straight one-out hits. After singles by Cole Silbowski. Cole Dawson and Caleb Adams loaded the bases, Raymond Paniagua singled in the go-ahead run and Brendyn Bard doubled in two more. Camden Karlin completed the inning with an RBI single.
Five Blue Devils had two hits in a 14-hit attack – Dawson, Adams, Paniagua, Bard and Hutchison. Trailing 3-2, Darius Freeman gave KCKCC the lead with a 2-run double in the third. Hunter Cashero (2-0) got the win, allowing two hits and one run in three innings in relief of starter Tyler Kapraun before Gabriel Ramos struck out the side for his first save,
Hutchison’s grand slam got KCKCC in front 4-0 with two out in the first inning of the opener; Paniagua capped the 14-4 win with a 3-run home run in the sixth and final inning. Silbowski had four singles and Beau Grable three to lead a 14-hit attack. Paniagua and Hutchinson added two hits each.
The Blue Devils went ahead 8-0 in the third on singles by Silbowski, Paniagua, Bard and Grable, all with two out. Chase Terrell (2-0) got the win with 2.2 innings of two-hit relief after starter Sebastian Velez was touched for four hits and three runs in 3.1 innings.
Light snow is possible on Monday night and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)
An unusual springtime snow is possible Monday night and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Temperatures reached a high of 61 on Sunday and are expected to reach a high of 55 on Monday, weather service information showed.
But the low on Monday night could reach 32, according to the weather service.
Snow totals reflect what will accumulate on grassy and elevated surfaces, the weather service said.
Roads will be slushy, and may see some accumulation, so careful travel is suggested, according to the weather service.
Snow will move out from west to east through the day on Tuesday, the weather service said.
A winter weather advisory will be in effect from 10 p.m. Monday, April 19, until 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 20, according to the weather service.
A freeze watch will be in effect from 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, through 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 21, the weather service said.
A rain and snow mix is possible after midnight tonight, with snow accumulation of less than one inch, according to the weather service forecast.
Slushy and slippery road conditions will be possible Tuesday, the weather service said. Motorists are asked to slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions are available by calling 5-1-1 or going to the website, http://www.kandrive.org/kandrive.
For the freeze warning Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, crops and vegetation could be killed in the freeze, and unprotected outdoor plumbing could be damaged, according to the weather service. Residents should take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.
Outdoor water pipes should be wrapped, drained or allowed to drip slowly. In-ground sprinkler systems should be drained, and above-ground pipes should be covered, the weather service said.
Today, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 55 and a west wind of 7 to 13 mph becoming north in the afternoon, the weather service said.
Tonight, there is a 70 percent chance of rain before midnight, then rain and snow likely, according to the weather service. The low will be 32 with a north wind 11 to 16 mph, gusting as high as 24 mph. Less than 1 inch of snow is possible.
Tuesday, there is a 70 percent chance of rain and snow, becoming all rain after noon, then gradually ending, the weather service said. It will gradually become mostly sunny, with a high near 44. A north wind of 14 mph will gust as high as 18 mph. Less than 1 inch of new snow is possible.
Tuesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 29, according to the weather service. A northwest wind of 5 to 9 mph will become light west after midnight.
Wednesday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 51, the weather service said. A light west wind will become northwest 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds may gust as high as 22 mph.
Wednesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 30, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 58, the weather service said.
Thursday night, there is a 40 percent chance of rain after 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 44.
Friday, there is a 50 percent chance of rain, with a high near 58, the weather service said.
Friday night, there is a 40 percent chance of rain before 1 a.m., with a low of 45, according to the weather service.
Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 63, the weather service said.
Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 42, according to the weather service.
Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 68, the weather service said.
Walk-in vaccinations are available Monday, April 19, for Wyandotte County residents and workers.
Wyandotte County residents and those who work in Wyandotte County may walk in for a COVID-19 vaccination from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 19, at the former Best Buy store at 10500 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.
Also open for walk-in vaccinations from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 19, will be the Kansas National Guard Armory at 100 S. 20th St. (18th and Ridge), Kansas City, Kansas.
The former Kmart at 78th and State Avenue will be closed on Monday, April 19.
The vaccination sites will have either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
Appointments also are being scheduled for the Unified Government Health Department vaccine sites.
The Health Department has expanded vaccine access and starting on Monday, April 19, all Kansas residents can make an appointment to be vaccinated at any of the Health Department’s vaccination facilities on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The vaccination sites on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are open to Kansas residents who are 16 and older.
Kansas residents who wish to schedule an appointment may use the Health Department’s self-scheduling tool at WycoVaccines.org and click on a blue button that says, “Click here to schedule an appointment online.”
The page is available in Spanish by clicking at the top of the page.
Wyandotte County residents who don’t have an internet connection may call 3-1-1 or 913-573-5311 for assistance in scheduling their vaccination appointment time and date. Walk-ins also are possible for Wyandotte County residents.
People coming in for an appointment may be asked to show they live in Kansas, such as showing a driver’s license, a piece of mail addressed to them, or similar paperwork.
The Health Department also is adding late afternoon and early morning hours this week, and will have these special days for the next three or four weeks.
Early morning hours will be available at the former Best Buy vaccination site from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m Thursday.
Later afternoon hours will be from noon to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the former Kmart location.
The Armory will continue with Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 24.
On Tuesday, April 20, all three Health Department vaccination sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
To see more information about Health Department vaccinations, visit WycoVaccines.org.
Other sites available for vaccinations
The University of Kansas Health System also has vaccinations for Wyandotte and Johnson county residents. Any residents of Kansas can call to get an appointment whether they are patients or not at the health system.
KU Health System offers vaccinations seven days a week at different locations. Appointments are required. Current patients may use MyChart to make an appointment. Others may call 913-588-1227 or visit kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine to see if vaccines are available.
There are also pharmacies giving COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County by appointment, when available. These include Price Chopper and Hen House pharmacy at 76th and State Avenue, and 81st and State Avenue (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/), and Medicine Shoppe pharmacy at 65th and Parallel by appointment when available (see https://www.facebook.com/The-Medicine-Shoppe-Kansas-City-281548241870522). CVS pharmacy also has announced that it will offer COVID-19 vaccines at one of its stores in Kansas City, Kansas. Registration is at CVS.com.
Case numbers reported
Wyandotte County reported an increase of four COVID-19 cases on Friday, April 16, for a cumulative 18,266 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 289 deaths reported. The numbers have not been updated since Friday.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 167,932 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Sunday. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 62. The number of cumulative deaths was 2,367.
The state of Kansas reported 305,861 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Friday, April 16, an increase of 541 cases since Wednesday. There were a total cumulative 4,953 deaths reported statewide. The numbers have not been updated since Friday.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Sunday night reported 31,669,880 cases in the United States, with 567,217 total deaths reported nationwide.
COVID-19 tests scheduled
Free COVID-19 testing is available from 8 a.m. to noon Monday, April 19, at the Oak Ridge Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. The tests are in conjunction with the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force. Appointments are not needed.
COVID-19 testing is scheduled beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, April 19, at Lowe’s, 6920 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The tests are through WellHealth and appointments are required to www.gogettested.com/kansas.
Tests from the Health Department are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County. They are saliva tests.
The tests are open to asymptomatic people as well as those who have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. Check with the UG Health Department’s Facebook page to see if there have been any changes in the schedule. Bring something that shows that you live or work in Wyandotte County, such as a utility bill.
