Severe storms possible tonight

Clouds over Wyandotte County on Sunday. The forecast calls for rain and severe storms on Tuesday night. (Photo by Steve Rupert)

Wyandotte County has an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight. Storms may be severe, with a half-inch to an inch of rain. Damaging wind gusts, large hail and a tornado are possible, along with flash flooding. (National Weather Service graphic)
A half-inch to an inch of rain is possible through Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)

A cluster of storms is likely to move into the region Tuesday evening and continue into the overnight hours Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Severe storms are expected, with damaging wind gusts and large hail the primary hazards, the weather service said. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, according to the weather service.

Locally moderate to heavy rainfall will be possible which may lead to localized flash flooding as well as minor river flooding, the weather service said. Hydrology charts from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on Tuesday morning showed all the rivers in Wyandotte County were not anywhere near flooding levels.

Thunderstorms tonight could produce a half-inch to an inch or more of rain. Local flash flooding is possible, and minor river flooding also is possible, according to the weather service.

Today, there is 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 80 with a south wind of 8 to 10 mph, gusting as high as 21 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Tonight, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 4 a.m., then showers are likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., followed by a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 64 with a south southeast wind of 6 to 10 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Winds may gust up to 20 mph. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain is possible.

Wednesday, there is a 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 a.m., with a high near 80,the weather service said. A light and variable wind will become north northwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning.

Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 60, according to the weather service. A north northwest wind of 6 mph will become calm in the evening.

Thursday, it will be sunny, with a high near 88, the weather service said. A light southeast wind will become south 8 to 13 mph in the morning. Winds may gust as high as 22 mph.

Thursday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 67, according to the weather service. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is predicted.

Friday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 77, the weather service said.

Friday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a low of 51, according to the weather service.

Saturday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m., with a high near 62, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 45, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 69, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 51, according to the weather service.

Monday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high near 70, the weather service said.

For more weather information, visit www.weather.gov.

Cyclones’ Esparza drives in come-from-behind game-winning run

Sophomore Damon Esparza drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning of Bishop Ward’s 4-3 playoff win over the Pleasant Ridge Rams. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Bishop Ward Cyclones made a thriller out of their first round 3A baseball playoff against Pleasant Ridge High School, scoring two runs to come from behind in the seventh inning to win 4-3.

Damon Esparza got the game-winning RBI, driving in pinch-runner Jayden Hendricks from second with a single to center against a drawn in infield. The Cyclones had tied the score moments before when a high throw on Emilio Ramirez’s grounder plated Sergio Fierro from third.

The Rams scored their go-ahead run in the top of the sixth on a wild sequence that started when Erik Tapia came on in relief with one out and runners at first and third.

Tapia picked off the runner at first before even delivering a pitch, then he beaned Pleasant Ridge’s Mason Ewert before nearly picking him off too. The runner from third scored on a passed ball, and Tapia then closed the frame with a strikeout.

Pleasant Ridge tied the game 2-2 in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run from Rams’ pitcher Nathan Herken that landed in Dorney Field. Herken previewed his power in the third with a blast that forced center fielder Dustin Rector to make a catch at the wall.

Bishop Ward got on the board in the second when Herken’s control wobbled, and he walked four consecutive batters. Juan Marron earned an RBI for his patience at the plate, then Rector pushed another run across with a sacrifice fly to right.

Christian Stein pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up 3 runs with 8 strikeouts. Tapia pitched 1 2/3 in relief and got the win.

The Cyclones will advance to play the Perry-Lecompton Kaws in the regional held at Wellsville on May 18. If they win that game, the Cyclones will play the winner of Rossville and Santa Fe Trail for the regional championship and a spot in the 3A state tournament in Manhattan on May 26 and 27.

The Bishop Ward Cyclones celebrated on the field after the walk-off single by Damon Esparza. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Head coach Zach Harris waved home freshman pinch runner Jayden Hendricks for the winning run. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Cyclones tied the game on a grounder to third by senior first baseman Emilio Ramirez in the bottom of the seventh inning. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Bishop Ward Cyclones posed together after their playoff win. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Erik Tapia pitched in relief in the sixth and seventh innings. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior first baseman Emilio Ramirez applied the tag to pick off Pleasant Ridge’s Drake Duncan. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior first baseman Emilio Ramirez dropped low to pick the throw on a ground ball out. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior center fielder Dustin Rector slid in to second base ahead of the tag. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
A high throw on a ground ball in the seventh inning allowed Bishop Ward to tie the game. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore second baseman Chris Mancinas fielded a ground ball in the first inning. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Back-to-back shutouts earn KCKCC trip to softball national

Basler hurls 18 straight scoreless innings in wins over Highland, Hesston

Ranked No. 16 nationally, KCKCC will be making its third trip to the national softball tournament. Team members are, front row, from left, Lauren Salpas, Ruby Nola, McKenzie Ogden, Madison Pope, Lindsey Gettle, Kaitlyn Bradbury, Trinity Tauer, Emily Ashford and BreAnna Droge; second row, head coach Lana Ross, Raine Hester, Maya Sheldon, Stella Harber, Reagan Marsh, Savannah Maynard, Bradi Basler, McKenna Lester, Emma DeBrouwer, Sam Reynolds and assistant coach Jenn Strohman. (KCKCC photo)

by Alan Hoskins

Riding the right arm of sophomore Bradi Basler, Kansas City Kansas Community College is headed for the NJCAA Division II national softball tournament.

The third national appearance for the Blue Devils, the tournament will be played in Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama, May 24-28. Ranked No. 16 nationally, KCKCC will take a 43-14 record into the national.

A first team All-American last season, Basler pitched the Blue Devils to three straight wins in the Great Plains District Tournament in Topeka. The last two wins were shutouts, 1-0 in eight innings over Jayhawk Conference champion Highland Saturday and 7-0 over Hesston in the championship game Monday. Basler finished the tourney with 18 scoreless innings.

The drive to the national was made especially memorable as Lana Ross got her 700th coaching win in an 11-5 win over Johnson County in the tourney opener; Basler got two pitching wins on her 21st birthday on Saturday, and the game’s biggest play in the 1-0 win over Highland was turned in by leftfielder McKenna Ogden, who transferred from Highland to KCKCC this season.

In the top of the sixth in the 0-0 clash, Ogden threw out what would have been the winning run at the plate. It was the only real scoring threat the Scotties mounted against Basler, who struck out seven and walked three.

Limited to just two hits – both by freshman McKenna Lester – the bottom of the Blue Devils lineup abruptly exploded in the bottom of the eighth.

Sophomore Madison Pope, the No. 8 hitter, rifled a double to left to start the inning, took third on Kaitlyn Bradbury’s bunt single and scored on Savannah Maynard’s fly ball, just beating the throw home in what would have been a bang-bang play had Highland catcher Ellie Kliethermes been able to handle the throw.

“I told Pope to open her hips and her double was just what we needed,” Ross said.

The run set off a wild celebratory melee at the plate as the Blue Devils avenged 4-3 and 5-0 losses to the Scotties (40-9), who came into the tournament ranked No. 12 nationally and winner of 15 of their last 16 games.

“It’s the first time since 2004 that we’ve been to the nationals so I couldn’t be prouder,” Ross said. “These young ladies worked so hard and played their hearts out. And what can you say about Bradi? Eighteen scoreless innings, which is fantastic.”

Basler provided the only run she needed in the championship game against Hesston, belting her 17th home run in the top of the first.

The Blue Devils then put the game out of reach with four runs in the fourth, the big blow a 2-run triple by Ogden with two outs. Lindsey Gettle’s single ignited the rally and after a walk to Pope, Maynard’s sacrifice fly scored the first run and an error scored the fourth.

Hesston had seven hits off Basler (26-7) but only two runners got beyond second base. The first was cut down at the plate, again on a throw by Ogden to Gettle.

The Blue Devils cruised to the 11-5 win over Johnson County in the opener, pounding out 14 hits as they built a 9-1 lead through four innings. Maynard and Lester had three hits each while Trinity Tauer and Ogden had a pair of singles. The team’s RBI leader, Lester drove in three runs and Maya Sheldon, Tauer and Gettle two each.