Month: August 2021

KC NWSL to play Racing Louisville in away game today

For the second time this season, Kansas City NWSL visits Lynn Family Stadium to take on the NWSL’s other 2021 expansion side, Racing Louisville at 2 p.m. Sunday. The match will be broadcast on KSMO-TV and radio 810 WHB.

The two teams began their Inaugural regular-season campaigns in a match against each other, ending in a scoreless draw on May 15.

Just under three months after that meeting, the league’s two expansion sides meet again on Sunday, Aug. 8, with three points squarely on the mind of both clubs.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast locally on KSMO-TV and Sports Radio 810 WHB. The game will stream on Paramount+ or internationally on Twitch.

Kansas City enters Sunday’s match following a 2-0 road loss to the Portland Thorns last Sunday that was perhaps closer than the final score suggests. Recently acquired forward Kristen Hamilton nearly opened the scoring in the fourth minute following an impressive sequence of passes in the Thorns’ penalty box. Only a highlight worthy save from Portland’s goalkeeper was able to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.

Portland struck first courtesy of an own goal in the 10th minute, and despite consistent pressure from Kansas City’s forward line the visitors could not find a response.

The Thorns doubled their lead in the 42nd minute following a short corner kick, catching Kansas City’s defense off-guard. The resulting cross was whipped towards goal and deflected into the back of the net by forward Marissa Everett. Despite the 2-0 result, Kansas City battled valiantly in a hostile road environment.

Following a fast start to the regular season that saw Racing Louisville take seven points from its opening five matches, the team has cooled significantly and currently sits in ninth place in the NWSL table. Louisville is scoreless in its last three home matches and on a two-game losing streak, with the most recent setback coming last Saturday on the road at the hands of Eugénie Le Sommer and the OL Reign.

New acquisitions

All three of the players that Kansas City NWSL acquired from the North Carolina Courage started last Sunday’s match against the Portland Thorns. Forwards Kristen Hamilton and Hailie Mace and goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland all played a big part against the Thorns.

Hamilton totaled five shots against the Thorns and was inches away from scoring multiple goals at Providence Park. Despite conceding two goals Hamilton was a stalwart in Kansas City’s net, with six total saves in her second regular-season appearance. Mace recorded one shot against the Thorns. All three showed promise as they continue to integrate into Kansas City’s roster, and Mace, Hamilton and Rowland could be important pieces of the roster going forward.

Players to watch

Kansas City NWSL: Forward Darian Jenkins— Jenkins is a versatile attacking option that has been deployed in a variety of ways for Kansas City this season. At both attacking midfielder and left-right winger, Jenkins has played in 11 matches, starting 10.

With head coach Huw Williams directing Jenkins to pepper the opposing goal, Jenkins is starting to create more opportunities for herself. She started Kansas City’s last two matches against North Carolina and Portland, with two shots in each contest. Jenkins is a creative player on the wing, and Williams praised her technical ability with local media two weeks ago. As Jenkins continues to get comfortable with her role and take more opportunities for herself, look for her to be a vital piece of Kansas City’s front line.

Racing Louisville FC: Forward CeCe Kizer — The young forward from Overland Park, Kansas, who turns 24 on Saturday, has been a dynamic attacker ever since her high school days at Blue Valley Northwest. After totaling 63 goals and 41 assists in her high school career, Kizer attended Ole Miss. There she started in all 83 of her appearances and set program records with 48 goals and 119 career points. Kizer was selected No. 13 overall by the Houston Dash in the 2019 NWSL Draft and was acquired by Louisville prior to the 2021 season. She plays an important role on the Louisville front line, starting in 10 matches and recording two assists and one goal.

Sunday’s match will be broadcast locally on KSMO-TV, with Aly Trost and Dave Borchardt. In addition, fans can listen to Trost and Borchardt call the action on Sports Radio 810 WHB. Nationally, the game can be seen on Paramount+.

Kansas City NWSL is at home for the first time in August next Saturday against the OL Reign on Aug. 14. Saturday’s match kicks off at 7 p.m. Tickets for the OL Reign match and Kansas City’s remaining home games in the 2021 regular season can be found at KCWoSo.com/Tickets.

  • Story from KC NWSL

Monarchs dominate Railroaders, clinch series win

Monarchs set franchise record for most home runs in single game

Nick Traveiso delivered a pitch Saturday against Cleburne. (Photo by John Ellis, Kansas City Monarchs)
Gabby Guerrero hit a homerun against Cleburne Saturday. (Photo by John Ellis, Kansas City Monarchs)

In the third game of a four-game home series, Kansas City (49-24) defeated Cleburne (39-33) 16-8 to clinch the series win in action Saturday night at Legends Field.

After a quiet first inning, the Monarchs offense caught fire in the second. Eleven batters came to the plate for Kansas City in the inning.

Gabby Guerrero started with a solo home run, and after a double from Casey Gillaspie and a single from Ibandel Isabel, Colin Willis brought in another run with an RBI single that was followed by another RBI single from Charcer Burks, putting Kansas City up 3-0.

With one out, the Monarchs launched back-to-back home runs. Morgan McCullough stepped up to the plate and launched a three-run home run, followed by a solo shot from Ryan Grotjohn to make the lead 7-0.

In the third inning, Gillaspie doubled again, and Burks drove him in, adding another run to the Monarchs lead for a 8-0 game.

The Railroaders put up one run in the top of the fourth, but Kansas City kept things going in the bottom half. After a single from McCullough and a walk by Grotjohn, Darnell Sweeney launched a three-run home run, making it an 11-1 contest.

In the fifth inning, Burks hit a solo shot and Grotjohn earned an RBI double, making it 13 runs for the Monarchs.

Right-hander Nick Travieso got the start for Kansas City. He went five innings, giving up eight hits, four runs, one walk, and struck out five.

Left-hander Elroy Urbina entered the game in the sixth for Kansas City. The Railroaders finally got some things going and put up three runs in the sixth inning to cut into the Kansas City lead for a 13-4 game.

Jacob Lindgren entered the game in the eighth inning, and Cleburne put up three runs, making it a 13-7 lead for Kansas City.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Colin Willis hit a solo home run for Kansas City followed by a two-run home run from Alexis Olmeda for a 16-7 lead. Cleburne would hit a solo shot of their own in the top of the ninth for a 16-8 contest.

With seven home runs Friday night, it broke the franchise record for most home runs in a single game and tied the American Association record for most home runs in a game.

The Monarchs earned the win 16-8 and have now won four in a row.

The Kansas City Monarchs will conclude their four-game home series against the Cleburne Railroaders on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 12:35 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.

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

  • Story by Jason Nick

Some KCK residents and visitors unaware that mask order is in effect now

Some Kansas City, Kansas, residents, employees or visitors are unaware that a mask order took effect last week in Kansas City, Kansas.

For example, at one restaurant at The Legends Outlets on Saturday, some servers were not wearing masks as they served customers, and only a few customers in the waiting room were wearing masks.

The mask resolution was approved on Thursday evening by the UG Commission, and the resolution passed stated that “This Order becomes effective upon approval of the Board of Commissioners of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS in accordance with K.S.A. 65-201 and remains effective until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 16, 2021.” Thursday evening was Aug. 5. (See https://www.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/mask-mandate-resolution-r-47-21-effective-august-6-through-september-16-2021.pdf, Sect. 2, No. 2)

The UG Health Department, however, gave residents another day to get their masks on, as it sent out a news release saying the mask order was signed by the UG Clerk and effective at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6.

The mask order is for any indoor public space including businesses and places of worship. Also included are health care settings, as well as public transportation, taxis and ride-share services.

Businesses and organizations in the city limits of Kansas City, Kansas, and the unincorporated area of Loring must require people to wear masks indoors.

Edwardsville, Bonner Springs, and the school districts will make their own rules or resolutions concerning wearing masks and are not covered by the resolution that went into effect on Thursday night.

To see a UG Health Department news release about the mask order, visit https://www.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/ug-issues-mask-order-for-kck-and-other-portions-of-wyco.pdf.

To see the UG Commission resolution about the mask order, visit https://www.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/mask-mandate-resolution-r-47-21-effective-august-6-through-september-16-2021.pdf.