Month: August 2021

Two Sporting matches to be on national TV in October

Two Sporting Kansas City matches have been selected by Major League Soccer broadcast partners for national television audiences in October, the club announced.

The team’s road match on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Seattle Sounders FC will be shown live on Univision-TUDN as Sporting Kansas City returns to Lumen Field for a marquee match-up with last year’s MLS Cup finalists. The match, originally scheduled for 8 p.m., will now start at 2:30 p.m.Oct. 23.

Four days later, Sporting will play host to the LA Galaxy on Wednesday, Oct. 27, in a match that will be nationally televised on FS1 and FOX Deportes with coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. and kickoff at 7:55 p.m. on Fan Appreciation Night at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Tickets for the match are available online at SeatGeek.com.

Sporting Kansas City currently sits in second place in the Western Conference standings , three points behind the Seattle Sounders FC and four points ahead of the LA Galaxy. All three teams are led by MLS MVP candidates with Sporting Kansas City winger Daniel Salloi, Seattle Sounders FC striker Raul Ruidiaz and LA Galaxy forward Chicharito currently the top scorers in the Western Conference.

  • Story from Sporting KC

New COVID county rankings report available in Kansas

A Kansas COVID County Ranking report began this week from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The report will help local leaders, including county commissioners, track the metrics in their communities and help stop the spread of COVID-19, according to a KDHE spokesman. Testing, case and vaccination rates are included by community.

“I believe that data is a powerful tool we can use to guide our response to COVID-19,” Dr. Lee Norman, Kansas secretary of health, said. “I am hopeful this report empowers action in communities and encourages sharing and implementation of best practices across Local Health Departments. Local leaders and communities are working tirelessly to keep us safe; to help them, helps all of us.”

This report is not a report-card, as multiple factors impact COVID-19 testing, case and vaccination rates in communities, according to KDHE. It brings together the most critical COVID-19 metrics at a local level to help state, county, and local leaders work together to stop the spread of the dangerous COVID-19 Delta variant and keep Kansans safe and keep the economy open, the spokesman stated.

“Over the past 18 months, Kansas counties have worked tirelessly to provide ongoing response and vital resources for county residents to keep them safe and informed on the evolving COVID-19 virus,” stated Bruce Chladny, executive director, Kansas Association of Counties. “And, the county response efforts, including vaccinations and essential messaging, continue as Kansas now experiences yet another surge from the deadly virus.”

Three metrics are reported and ranked across each county:

• Full series vaccination rate of eligible population (12+ year olds)
• 7- day daily average number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas
• 7- day daily average number of COVID-19 tests administered per 100,000 people

Each county’s rankings are added together to generate a total score for the county. The total scores for counties are then ranked from 1-105.

The report will be refreshed three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It can be found on KDHE’s website at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas. Data for the report is provided by the CDC and KDHE.

Monarchs clinch South Division title with 11-1 win over Cougars

The Kansas City Monarchs defeated the Kane County Cougars 11-1 for their second consecutive division title on Thursday night.

It was the club’s third regular season division title since coming to Kansas City in 2003.

The Monarchs, 60-30, are post-season bound for the third straight season under manager Joe Calfapietra. He is the first manager to finish with four consecutive seasons above .500 in franchise history.

On Thursday night, in Geneva, Illinois, the Monarchs were on the board within the first 10 minutes of the game, with RBIs from Darnell Sweeney and Gaby Guerrero on a pair of fielder’s choice ground balls in the infield.

Kane County responded quickly in the bottom of the first with a solo home run from Nick Conti, to make the score 2-1 going into the second inning. That was the last run the Cougars got in the game.

In the top the fifth, Charcer Burks reached first base on an error at second, and Morgan McCullough added to the totals with a single of his own. Ryan Grotjohn then rocketed a ball out of the stadium in right field for a three-run home run, cushioning the Monarchs lead at 5-1.

Guerrero also scored in the seventh inning, on an RBI double from Casey Gillaspie, extending the lead to 8-1.

In the top of the eighth, McCullough doubled and Grotjohn drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Sweeney drove in another pair of runs on a double to right center, bringing the score to 10-1.

Ibandel Isabel hit a solo home run in the ninth, bringing the final score to 11-1. It was the Monarchs 41st multi home run game on the season.

Right-handed pitcher Keyvius Sampson (3-1) pitched five innings allowing just two hits and one earned run while punching out five. The Monarchs bullpen worked three scoreless innings. Righty-handed pitcher Jeremy Rhodes worked two innings; left-hander Carlos Diaz added another while Jameson McGrane worked the scoreless ninth.

The Monarchs are back at Legends Field Friday for the final homestand of the regular season against the Houston Apollos. The first pitch is set for 7 p.m. with the gates opening at 6 p.m. The games can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:30 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 from Kaitlyn Sanders, Monarchs