May 2021 – Page 3 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Monarchs’ bats go silent in series finale

It had been six years since he started a game, but Robinson Martinez toed the rubber for the Kansas City Monarchs (4-6) in the third game of the Monarchs’ series with the Cleburne Railroaders (5-7). The Monarchs dropped the final game to Cleburne 7-0.

The Monarchs’ loss kept them just short of the home sweep as they drop to 4-6 on the young season.

For his part, Martinez (0-1) pitched three innings of one-run baseball while fanning a pair of Railroaders before he was replaced by Wilmer Torres.

“Right now we have four starters, so everyone’s up for auditioning for that fifth spot,” manager Joe Calfapietra said. “As the innings go, pitch counts rise. He got up to 60-some pitches, but he could have been maybe 45 and going out again.”

The Monarchs looked to get something going against Railroader starter Michael Mariot in the third when Ryan Grotjohn slapped a single into left center and got to second on a wild pitch. The former big leaguer would induce a groundout and a pair of strikeouts to keep the Monarchs off the board.

The Monarchs got back after Mariot in the fifth with a pair of no-out singles from Colin Willis and Grotjohn.

Daniel Wasinger drew a walk to load the bases with one out, but Darnell Sweeney grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the Monarch threat.

“We had opportunities to keep it close,” Calfapietra said. “We knew we were going to be in a dogfight today because we had a bullpen day and a very good pitcher against us. So when those opportunities came up that’s the time we had to execute, but we didn’t.”

Mariot (2-0), who made his major league debut for the Kansas City Royals in 2014, looked like he could be headed back to the show at some point this season.

The two times the Monarchs threatened, the right-hander got out of the spot with a double play ball. He tossed six scoreless innings holding the Monarchs to five hits to get the win. The Monarchs left a pair on base in the sixth before the Railroaders turned to their bullpen and shut down the offense.

Torres relinquished five runs on two hits, walking five and striking out four. He was replaced by Ramsey Romano, who gave up just one run across three innings.

“We have to get momentum, that’s the big thing. We won the series, now we move on to the next one and take care of our business at hand,” Calfapietra said.

Kansas City begins a three-game series Monday afternoon against the Sioux Falls Canaries. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas, with gates opening at noon. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 12:35 p.m. while the video stream will air on aabaseball.tv.

Tickets to all Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.

Story from Dan Vaughan, Kansas City Monarchs

Weekend activities ongoing at World War I Museum and Liberty Memorial

Memorial Day weekend events are planned this weekend at the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

There is free admission to veterans and active-duty military, with half-price general admission to the public during Memorial Day weekend, through Monday, May 31.

A few of the highlights will include:

• Great Balloon Glow — Kick off the summer with the Great Balloon Glow. Enjoy picnicking, live music and food trucks on our 47 acres, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, May 30. There will be food available for purchase. Live music will be performed. Vendors of handmade items will be present.

• Memorial Day Ceremony — Free to the public, this annual ceremony will feature dignitaries and a keynote address from Lt. Col. Eric Jacobson at 10 a.m. Monday, May 31. Lt. Col. Jacobson was formerly director of medical operations at the Javits New York Medical Station, the temporary response to the city’s COVID-19 pandemic.

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• Memorial Day Bell Tolling Ceremony — A bell-tolling ceremony, presentation of colors and wreath laying to remember the bell rung every day in Kansas City during World War I, at noon Monday, May 31. It is free and open to the public.

• Old Glory Flag Ceremony — Old Glory has participated in ceremonies throughout the United States and American outposts in several countries. The flag will be raised at the Museum and Memorial to honor all who served and sacrificed in World War I, at 12:15 p.m. Monday, May 31.

In addition, the public may view the 140 U.S. flags in front of the museum and memorial that call attention to the 140 veterans lost to suicide every week.

Also, 46 flags that represent the 43 units of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War I are on display, along with three flags representing four boats that were sunk with AEF troops aboard.

Individuals who visit the museum will be able to use research stations to help find personal connections to World War I through May 31.

Another event scheduled is the Walk of Honor brck dedication at 2 p.m. Monday, May 31.

Also, visitors will have the opportunity to view special museum exhibitions, include “”Why Keep That?,” “Silk and Steel: French Fashion, Women and WWI,” “Votes and Voices,” and “100 Years of Collecting.”

The National World War I Museum and Memorial will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday. Visitors are encouraged to allot additional time and thought for parking during the weekend.

Full house fires Sporting KC to 3-2 victory

Forward Alan Pulido blasted the ball into the right side of the Houston goal on a penalty kick. The goal was Pulido’s fourth in the last three matches, and put Kansas City ahead in its 3-2 win over Houston. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

On Saturday evening, Children’s Mercy Park was packed and roaring for the first time since March 2020, and Sporting Kansas City treated its 20,086 returning fans to a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over the Houston Dynamo.

Houston scored first, in the 14th minute, setting up Kansas City’s fourth comeback win of the year. The Dynamo had trouble breaking through Kansas City’s midfield defense, but building up a lengthy attack wasn’t necessary when Fafa Picault stripped the ball from Luis Martins near the Kansas City endline.

Picault crossed the ball to Maxi Urruti in the center of the suddenly scrambling Kansas City defense. Urruti laid the ball off to Matias Vera who put it home for the early Houston lead. It was Houston’s only shot of the first half.

Kansas City continued undaunted to control the ball and generate scoring chances. Though none paid off before halftime, Kansas City scored three times in 15 minutes soon after the break.

In the 51st minute, Gianluca Busio provided the highlight of the match on a direct kick earned by Gadi Kinda about 30 yards from the Houston goal. Busio beautifully bent the ball over the wall of defenders and into the upper left corner of the goal. Houston goalkeeper Marko Maric could only watch in amazement.

Alan Pulido scored the go-ahead goal in the 61st minute on a penalty kick he earned when he was brought down by Boniek Garcia in the box.

In the 65th minute, Kansas City broke out on a counterattack with a 5-on-3 advantage. Busio in the center played the ball out left to Kinda, who belted the ball inside the near post for the score.

The crowd noise intensified with each score, and the fast-paced action on the field kept the energy in the stadium high through the end of the match.

In stoppage time, Houston scored an inconsequential goal on a counterattack for the final margin.

After the game, head coach Peter Vermes praised the fans. “They were great,” said the coach. “They were loud. They were so energetic. They haven’t lost their connection to the team. It was just rekindled tonight.”

The win keeps Sporting in second place, just one point behind conference-leading Seattle.

MLS will take a two-week break for international play. Pulido has been called up to the Mexican national team, and will compete in the Concacaf Nations League finals in Denver.

Sporting Kansas City will return to action with a home match against Austin FC at 2 p.m. June 12.