May 2021 – Page 54 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Blue Devils finish third, to face Cloud in Liberal Friday

KCKCC third baseman Palmer Hutchison tagged out Coffeyville’s Jayden Kay in a rundown while Blue Devil shortstop Cole Dawson looked on as Coffeyville won the opener 8-3, KCKCC the second game 15-5. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information

In years past, a third-place finish would assure Kansas City Kansas Community College a first-round home playoff berth in the Jayhawk Conference.

Now it’s not enough. Under a new playoff format, the first- and second-place teams in both the East and West Conference will hold four-team, double elimination pods with the winners advancing to Salina for the Region VI championship and a berth in the NJCAA Division I World Series.

As a result, the Blue Devils will play in the Seward County pod in Liberal Friday, May 14.

Seeded No. 6, KCKCC (18-12) will open against No. 11 Cloud County (17-15) at 3 p.m. while No. 2 Seward (20-12) will face No. 14 Neosho County (12-20) at noon.

Friday’s losers will then play an elimination game at 6 p.m. while the winners will meet Saturday at 1 p.m. Cowley County (27-5) and Johnson County (25-7) finished one-two in the East.

KCKCC wrapped up third place in the East with a 15-5 nightcap win Friday after Coffeyville had handed the Blue Devils a third straight defeat in the opener, 8-3. The Blue Devils finished Jayhawk play with an 18-12 record just ahead of Allen County (18-14) and Coffeyville (17-15). KCKCC will close out its home season Monday, as host of Hesston in a non-conference clash at 2 p.m.

Ray Paniagua had five hits including a grand slam home run and Cole Dawson drove in four runs with a double and two singles as the Blue Devils backed southpaw Trey Simmons and reliever Hunter Cashero with 14 hits to win the 8-inning 15-5 nightcap.

Simmons worked five innings, allowing four runs on six hits. He struck out six, walked four. Cashero pitched the final three frames, allowing just one hit and one run, a home run by Trey McClelland who had three on the day.

The Blue Devils jumped in front 4-1 in the first inning of the nightcap on two-out doubles by Dawson and Darius Freeman. Cole Slibowski’s home run triggered a 2-run fourth before KCKCC broke the game open with six runs in the fifth highlighted by Paniagua’s grand slam.

Caleb Brown, Caleb Adams and Dawson also had singles in the inning. Doubles by Paniagua and Dawson closed out the game with one out in a 3-run eighth.

KCKCC led the opener 2-1 through five innings only to have Coffeyville score five runs in the top of the sixth. McClelland tied the game with a one-out homer and the next five Ravens reached base, four on hits.

After giving up back-to-back doubles to start the game, KCKCC’s Gabriel Ramos (2-4) allowed only four hits before Coffeyville’s sixth inning explosion.

Dawson homered in the second to tie the game but the Blue Devils managed only three other hits – two singles by Adams and a double by Slibowski that led to a run in the seventh.

Shortstop Cole Dawson’s throw to complete a double play easily beat a sliding Trey McClelland of Coffeyville in KCKCC’s 8-3 loss Friday. Second baseman Cole Silbowski and third baseman Palmer Hutchinson (13) watched the play. The Blue Devils won the second game 15-5. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

KCKCC’s Cole Dawson got a tip of the hat from Beau Grable after his first game home run Friday. Brock Stewart (18) prepared to hit while Camden Karlin (27) gathered up bats. KCKCC lost the opener 8-3 but won the nightcap 15-5 as Dawson drove in four runs. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

Today’s weather: Cooler, high near 63

Temperatures will be in the mid-60s on Monday, following the cool front that came in on Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service.

This week through Thursday, expect temperatures to be 10 to 15 degrees below normal, the weather service said.

A cloud cover will be in place this morning, and most areas will remain dry today, with only a small chance of rain, according to the weather service.

Tuesday and Wednesday, rain chance will be primarily in east central Kasnas and west central Missouri, the weather service said. Skies will be clearing somewhat on Wednesday and especially Thursday. A cool pattern will continue Tuesday through Thursday, with below normal highs in the 60s.

Friday into the weekend will see temperatures in the high 60s to mid-70s, according to the weather service. Rain is possible Friday through Sunday.

Today, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 63, the weather service said. A calm wind will become north around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 45 and a light north wind, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers, with a high near 61, the weather service said. A light northeast wind will become east northeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tuesday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 45 with an east northeast wind of 6 to 8 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Wednesday, there is a 20 percent chance of showers after 1 p.m., with a high near 62, and an east wind of 6 to 10 mph, the weather service said.

Wednesday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 43, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be sunny, with a high near 67, the weather service said.

Thursday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 48, according to the weather service.

Friday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a high near 69, the weather service said.

Friday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers, with a low of 56, according to the weather service.

Saturday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a high near 75, the weather service said.

Saturday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 61, according to the weather service.

Sunday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 78, the weather service said.

Besler gets warm welcome, 2-1 loss, in KC return

Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gadi Kinda celebrated his game-winning goal, which put Kansas City ahead 2-1 in its Sunday evening match against Austin FC. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Sporting Kansas City defeated MLS newcomers Austin FC 2-1 on an unseasonably chilly Sunday evening. The game marked the return of two long-time Sporting stalwarts, Graham Zusi and Matt Besler.

Zusi returned in Sporting blue from a season-ending foot surgery he underwent in October 2020. Native Kansas Citian Besler, released in the off season, returned in the black and green of Austin’s expansion team. Both received a standing ovation from the crowd at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Austin struck early, getting a goal in the 7th minute from forward Jon Gallagher, who received a beautiful pass through from Jared Stroud and slid the ball under a low dive from Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp.

Kansas City created the most dangerous opportunities in the remainder of the first half, but they failed to convert on some favorable chances from close range, leaving the halftime score 1-0.

In the second half, Austin looked as if it might be able to keep Kansas City contained, until Austin captain Alex Ring was disqualified in the 67th minute for his second yellow card.

Sporting used the man advantage to accelerate its scoring chances, quickly reasserting itself after any loss of possession. The offensive pressure finally paid off in the 82nd minute when Ilie Sanchez headed in a Johnny Russell corner kick for the equalizer.

Kansas City still looked capable of more, and got it from late substitute Gadi Kinda on the edge of regulation time. Luis Martins crossed the ball in from the far left side to Khiry Shelton for a flick on to Kinda, who headed it home.

Kansas City saw out the 7 minutes of stoppage time to wrap up the victory, the first at home this year.

“I actually can’t describe in words what it felt to be back in front of the fans,” Zusi said after the game. “It kind of caught me off guard, I was a bit emotional when I came out for warm-ups. It felt fantastic to be back and to cap it off with a win as well.”

Sporting will head to Houston for a Wednesday night game against the Dynamo. The team will return home for a Sunday afternoon match with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. at Children’s Mercy Park.