Month: July 2022

Current sign French international midfielder

The Kansas City Current have signed Claire Lavogez, a French international midfielder.

Lavogez signed through the 2023 season, with an option for 2024.

The French international joins a talented Kansas City midfield that features captain Desiree Scott, veteran Lo’eau LaBonta and 2021 Rookie of the Year candidate Victoria Pickett.

“We are thrilled to welcome Claire to Kansas City,” said general manager Camille Levin Ashton. “Her incredible vision and play making ability along with her time playing at an international level will bring a wealth of experience to this team. Her signing is just one more indication that Kansas City has become a destination for women’s players from around the globe. We’re excited to see Claire out on the pitch.”

Lavogez is a veteran of the French National Team, representing her country at the youth and senior team levels. She scored four goals in six games at the 2014 FIFA U-20 World Cup, helping France to a third-place finish. Lavogez made her senior debut the same year and appeared on the French squad at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2016 Summer Olympics and UEFA Women’s Euro 2017. She has three goals in 35 caps for France.

Lavogez has played her entire professional club career in France and spent time with multiple clubs in France’s top division. She played for Montpelier from 2011 through 2015, then moved to Olympique Lyon ahead of the 2015-16 campaign.

While at Lyon, Lavogez played a part in the club’s 2016-17 UEFA Champions League triumph, scoring goals in both legs of Lyon’s 17-0 aggregate win over Zürich in the Round of 16. Lavogez also recorded two assists during Lyon’s Champions League run.

“I am so excited to be in Kansas City and to play with this team,” said Lavogez. “Everyone here wants to be the best in the world, from the players to the staff and ownership. I can’t wait to get started.”

After a week off, the Current return to action next Sunday, July 31, against the Orlando Pride. Tickets for all remaining 2022 home matches and 2023 season ticket membership renewals are available online at www.KansasCityCurrent.com/tickets.

Monarchs come back to win against RedHawks

Pete Kozma of the Kansas City Monarchs batted against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Sunday, July 24, at Newman Outdoor Stadium in Fargo, North Dakota, in a 10-7 win for the Monarchs. (Photo from Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks)

by Gabriel Lopez, Monarchs

Fargo, North Dakota — It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. The Kansas City Monarchs (40-22) finished strong Sunday afternoon against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (41-21), defeating them 10-7.

The Monarchs were down five runs through six innings of baseball. A late nine-run seventh inning propelled Kansas City over Fargo-Moorhead, which still sits in first in the West Division.

The RedHawks didn’t waste any time early. In the bottom of the first, Peter Maris worked a walk. Leobaldo Pina followed with an RBI-double to left center field. A few batters later, Rymer Liriano walked to bring up Ben Livorsi who roped a double to score two more runs for Fargo-Moorhead and give them an early 3-0 lead.

J.C. Escarra hammered a two-out double in the top of the second, but the Monarchs couldn’t bring him in as they still trailed by three runs.

The RedHawks continued to add onto their lead. After Nick Novak singled to left field, he quickly stole second base. Evan Alexander worked a walk to bring Peter Maris to the plate.

Maris tallied an RBI-single to right field to score Novak. Pina followed up the at-bat with an RBI of his own. After two innings of baseball, the RedHawks led 5-0 over the Monarchs.

Davis Feldman started on the mound for the RedHawks. He earned a quality start, allowing three runs through six innings of work.

In the seventh inning, the Monarchs’ offense got hot. After Casey Gillaspie walked, Chad De La Guerra belted a two-run bomb to cut Kansas City’s deficit to three runs.

Following the long ball, Escarra, Pete Kozma, and Willie Abreu all collected hits to bring another run home and make it a 3-5 ballgame. Kevin Santa roped an RBI-single to right field to make it 4-5.

The Monarchs tied the game at five when Casey Gillaspie worked a bases-loaded walk, collecting his fourth walk of the day. Kansas City added four more insurance runs and finished the seventh with seven hits, four walks, nine runs and a 9-5 lead over the RedHawks.

In the top of the eighth inning, David Thompson hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Darnell Sweeney and extend Kansas City’s lead, 10-5.

The RedHawks closed the gap in the bottom of the eighth as they scored two runs on RBIs from Nick Novak and Christian Correa. After eight innings of play, the Monarchs led 10-7 over the RedHawks.

Jameson McGrane entered the match in the bottom of the ninth. McGrane retired three straight RedHawks to end the game and earn his 11th save of the year.

The Monarchs are back in action for a three-game homestand against the Sioux Falls Canaries at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, at home at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

The game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aa baseball.tv.

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

UG committees to meet tonight

The Unified Government Public Works and Safety Committee and the UG Administration and Human Services Committee will meet tonight.

The Public Works committee will meet at 5 p.m. July 25, followed by the Administration and Human Services meeting.

According to the agenda, the meeting will be in the fifth floor conference room, Suite 512, at City Hall, 701 N. 7th St. The meeting also will be on Zoom.

On the agenda for the PWS meeting:

• An ordinance and resolution to amend the open burning code provisions;

• A resolution on adopting a family reunification plan as part of the Wyandotte County emergency operations plan;

• Approval for the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department to apply for and accept the fiscal year 2022 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant of $99,209;

• Approval for the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department and Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office to apply for funding through the 2023 federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program overseen by the Kansas Governor’s Grants Program and Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council;

• A resolution to adopt the Infrastructure Subcommittee Outcomes and Strategies document;

• Approval to transfer properties from UG ownership to the city of Edwardsville. These properties were purchased by the UG for the quiet zone project in Edwardsville;

• Approval for honorary street signs from Faith City Christian Center to commemorate Walza R. Star II and from St. Andrew Missionary Baptist Church to commemorate the Rev. Seth Harris;

• Review of the existing policy and whether nonresidential nonprofit property should be eligible to use the sidewalk and curb replacement incentive program.

On the agenda for the Administration and Human Services Committee:

• Acceptance of a grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to respond to the tuberculosis outbreak; and

• An update on the Area Agency on Aging Department.

For information about how to connect to the meetings, visit https://www.wycokck.org/Engage-With-Us/Calendar-of-Events/Standing-Committee-Meeting-PWS-and-AH.