Brian Turrel – Page 20 – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!

Stallions win big over Hawks at Legends Field

Schlagle junior Joey Marshall stole third base in the first inning of Schlagle’s 15-4 win over Harmon in a game played at Legends Field on Thursday. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Schlagle Stallions baseball team got their first win of the season on the biggest stage of the season, 15-4 over the Harmon Hawks at Legends Field, home of the Kansas City Monarchs.

Harmon took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, loading the bases and getting runners home on a walk and a hit batter.

Hawks’ starting pitcher Daniel Hernandez pitched two scoreless innings, with five strikeouts, to open the game, but loss of control in the third inning opened the gates for the Stallions, who notched eight runs in the frame. Schlagle pitcher Joey Marshall hit an RBI double that capped the offense.

The Hawks clawed back one run in the bottom of the third on Abraham Miranda’s RBI double to left that scored Lucas Nelson, but Marshall induced consecutive ground ball outs to get out of the inning without further damage.

The Stallions went on another tear in the fifth inning, pushing aggressively on the basepaths to cause problems for the Harmon defense. They ran out to a 15-3 lead, scoring all seven runs with two outs in the inning.

Hernandez got one back for Harmon, stealing second and then dashing all the way home on an errant throw, but Schlagle closed out the game at 15-4.

Shea Rainey was 1-for-3 at the plate for Schlagle, with a double and two runs batted in. Marius Washington reached base in all four plate appearances — the hard way — getting hit by a pitch each time.

Miranda led the Hawks on offense with a double, two walks and two runs batted in.

Harmon catcher Lucas Nelson scored in the bottom of the third inning. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Harmon’s Jeremiah Turner was caught stealing third base. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Harmon second baseman Abraham Miranda snagged a pickoff throw. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Schlagle’s starting pitcher was junior Joey Marshall, who pitched five innings and gave up four runs. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Daniel Hernandez started on the mound for Harmon and pitched four innings. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Schlagle junior Elonnie Fishback slid in to home plate ahead of the tag from Harmon catcher Lucas Nelson. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Schlagle senior Anthony Franco hit late in the game. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Schlagle freshman shortstop Ronnie Bush drove in a run with a single to right field in the fifth inning. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

The Schlagle Stallions posed together following the game. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Milton’s two home runs carry Sumner over Washington 11-8

Senior catcher Trista Milton hit two home runs in Sumner Academy’s 11-8 win over Washington in a game played at Legends Field. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Sumner Academy Lady Sabres softball team powered past Washington Tuesday afternoon at Legends Field with an 11-8 win.

Four Sumner home runs, two by catcher Trista Milton, provided the winning margin and held off a seventh-inning comeback attempt from the Lady Wildcats.

Ariana Lysahowski started on the mound for Sumner and pitched six innings, giving up four runs. She also combined with second baseman Sofia Mercado on back-to-back home runs in the four-run fifth inning.

Washington fought to the last out, getting one run in the sixth inning and four more in the seventh. Arianna Leaper pitched a complete game for the Wildcats.

Both teams represent the combined forces of two USD 500 high schools. Wyandotte students play alongside Sumner students on the Sumner team, while Schlagle and Washington players unite under the maroon and white of Washington.

Combined teams have been necessary due to low participation in the last couple years, but the current rising trend in the number of softball players from each school should allow Wyandotte to field its own team in 2023, and Schlagle in 2023 or 2024.

The Lady Sabres posed together at home plate following their victory. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Washington first baseman Kiersten Sears stretched to make the play on a ground ball out. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Second baseman Sofia Mercado threw to first base on a ground ball in the seventh inning. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Arianna Leaper pitched a complete game for the Lady Wildcats. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Washington second baseman Sydnie Roberts threw to first on a grounder. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Ariana Lysahowski pitched six innings for the Lady Sabres. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Washington’s Erin Anderson rounded second and headed for third base. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Trista Milton celebrated with fellow Sumner senior Alesia McLear after hitting her first home run. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner junior second baseman Sofia Mercado watched her hit sail deep into the outfield for a home run. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

KC Current beats Red Stars, advances in Challenge Cup

Forward Kristen Hamilton scored the game-winning goal on a cross from Elyse Bennett near the goal line. The Current’s 2-1 win over Chicago advanced the team to the Challenge Cup semi-finals. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Kansas City Current secured a place in the Challenge Cup semifinals with Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars at Children’s Mercy Park.

Kristen Hamilton scored the game winner in the 76th minute by knocking in a cross from Elyse Bennett from close range. The goal was Hamilton’s fourth in the six tournament games and earned Bennett her fourth assist.

The two teams traded goals early in the second half to set the stage for the go-ahead goal. Kansas City struck first in the 50th minute, starting with Desiree Scott intercepting a Chicago pass near midfield.

Scott passed to Elyse Bennett 18 yards out on the left side, and Bennett played the ball back to rookie Alex Loera running up the middle. Loera connected with the pass from 25 yards out, and her first touch launched the ball into the upper right corner of the net, well out of reach of Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

After the match, Loera talked about her decision to take the shot from such a range. “She just laid off a perfect one-touch pass,” said the rookie defender.

“I was like I mean I’m right here, no one’s on me. I’m just going to shoot it. And I don’t know, I think I kind of blacked out because I don’t really remember it.”

Before the celebration had died down, Chicago got its equalizer, with Bianca St. Georges scoring off a cross from Ella Stevens.

Reserve goalkeeper Cassie Miller started and kept the Current even in the match with a 60th minute save, and Kristen Edmonds also kept the Red Stars off the board by heading away a corner kick at the goal line in the 70th minute.

After the match, head coach Matt Potter praised the contributions rookies Bennett and Loera have made in the absence of veteran players Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams.

“They’ve certainly proven on this stage that they belong,” Potter said. “We still believe their best days are ahead of them, but they’re certainly making an impact and doing the job they need to do while other players are working their way back.”

Kansas City’s Challenge Cup division-leading finish gives the team the opportunity to play host to the semifinal match against the North Carolina Courage on May 4, but first the Current will play the regular season opener on the road against the Portland Thorns on April 30.