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)
Kurt Busch had just the slimmest of leads over Kyle Larson as they came down the front stretch on lap 259 of the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. Busch went on to win the race, and Larson finished second. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Kurt Busch used a family connection and then a sly move to take the lead in the AdventHealth 400 with eight laps remaining. The veteran driver went on to take the checkered flag, his 34th win but only the first with 23XI Racing, a new team started last year by co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.
Though Busch led at the end of stage 2, a slow pit stop under caution on lap 234 dropped him into third place behind his brother Kyle Busch, with Kyle Larson in the lead.
After Kyle Busch made an attempt to pass Larson and conceded his car didn’t have enough pace, he let Kurt move up to second and try his luck.
Kurt had taken the measure of Larson on a earlier pass and was sheltering his tires for a late-race move. Judging that Larson would be weakest at turn 2, he made his move there and had the speed and grip to make it stick.
Once in clean air, Busch’s Toyota was at its strongest and got well clear of Larson by the last lap.
As Busch described it afterwards, “It all unfolded perfectly where I was able to make the move and not lose momentum and break the draft and bring our Toyota home to victory lane.”
Larson finished second. Kyle Busch finished third and won stage 1. Denny Hamlin finished fourth, and Christopher Bell, who qualified with the fastest time, led 37 laps and finished fifth.
Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner was in attendance and reflected on the event before the race.
“This is awesome, having people from all over the country come and converge on Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. It really highlights how awesome our community is,” the mayor said.
“Really, you couldn’t ask for a better venue, when you talk about NASCAR and the longstanding partnership Wyandotte County’s had.”
“I’m optimistic about the future,” Garner added. “This is a good example of the value of positive partnerships we have with entities such as NASCAR.”
NASCAR racing returns to Kansas Speedway with the Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 on Sept. 10 and the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 on Sept. 11.
Kurt Busch celebrated with his team in victory lane after the race. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner got an embrace from driver Bubba Wallace during pre-race introductions. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Morning storms cleared in time for an afternoon of racing action at Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Kurt Busch led Kyle Busch around turn 4. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Kurt Busch greeted Sen. Roger Marshall before the race. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Christopher Bell’s pit crew sprinted to their stations during a pit stop. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)A fan looked out at the speedway stands from the infield. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Daniel Suarez’s Chevrolet showed some wear and tear from hitting the wall on lap 63. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)The base color guard from Whiteman Air Force Base presented the colors before the race. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Kurt Busch, wearing pants that matched his race car, walked to pit road before the race. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Friends enjoyed the warm weather and racing action from the Kansas Speedway stands. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Ross Chastain raced for the title sponsor in the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Kurt Busch crossed the finish line under the checkered flag for the race win. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)Austin Cindric and Chase Elliott raced wheel to wheel around turn 4. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper junior Sierra Montez took a shot at the Bonner Springs goal. Montez took 9 shots in the match and scored on 5 of them in the Lady Pirates’ 10-0 win. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Piper High School celebrated senior night for girls’ soccer with a 10-0 shutout of Bonner Springs, but it was the junior class that did the damage.
Sierra Montez scored five goals, knifing through Bonner defenders with quick lateral and diagonal moves. Ryann Clark added four more, showing her talent for keeping possession in traffic. Kyndell Letcher, an indispensible part of the Lady Pirates’ high press, scored a goal as well.
In Piper’s offense-heavy performance, three goals stood out. The first happened in the 16th minute when Montez, playing in the defensive line, won the ball in a duel and started an end-to-end run.
She played a smooth give-and-go to Letcher near midfield, got the ball back and broke downfield, flat-footing defenders and finishing with a clean shot on goal.
The next highlight play was Clark’s fourth goal of the match, 10 minutes into the second half. Positioned squarely in front of goal, she timed her jump on a corner kick and headed it into the net.
Also drawing attention was a 57th minute score from Montez. Finding herself unmarked outside the 18-yard box, she unleashed a blast into the upper right of the goal to put her team up by eight.
The win breaks a three-game losing streak for the Lady Pirates. They finish the regular season at 9-5.
The Lady Braves end their regular season with a 4-12 record. Both teams will await the 5A playoff brackets to be announced on May 14, with regional playoffs to start on May 16.
Ryann Clark raced to take a shot before Bonner Springs junior goalkeeper Alyssa King could close the distance. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs senior Mercedes Madlock pushed ahead of Piper senior Brianna Solis. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper junior Kyndell Letcher finished the game with 1 shot and 2 assists. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper junior Ryann Clark watched her header sail into the Bonner Springs goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs sophomore Chloie Knapp raced back to cut off Piper senior Mackenzie Jones. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper sophomore Ella Buff was defended by Bonner Springs sophomore Luci Smith as they raced toward the goal. Buff finished the game with 3 shots and an assist. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper junior Sierra Montez slid to the left to get past Bonner Springs freshman Laura Fisher. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper freshman Jessica Hale crossed the ball in front of the Bonner Springs goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper junior Kyndell Letcher tried to keep Bonner Springs senior Mercedes Madlock from turning the ball up field. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Bonner Springs freshman Ginaveve Sopher and Piper junior Avary Ward raced after the ball. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
