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Bonner’s Kline, Ashford move on to state tennis tourney

Bonner Springs junior Penelope Kline lined up a backhand return in the championship match of the 5A regional girls’ tennis tournament at Mill Valley High School. Kline lost the match but her second-place finish earned her a berth in the state tournament. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Two Bonner Springs tennis players are headed to the KSHSAA 5A state tournament in Andover next weekend after placing in the regional tournament at Mill Valley High School this Saturday.

Penelope Kline took second place at the regional, nearly knocking off top-seeded Heidi Baillos of Mill Valley. Kline took the first set of the championship 6-3, with the tremendous pace on her forehand and serve forcing Baillos onto the defensive.

Baillos lacked Kline’s sheer pace, but countered with an uncanny ability to drop her shots just inside the endline no matter what was hit her way. Kline won a few points by mixing in drop shots, but Baillos won the second set 6-2.

An extended break before the decisive third set seemed to refresh the Bonner junior, who immediately broke serve and took a 2-0 advantage. However, the accuracy of her ground strokes and serve was on the wane, and Baillos, looking fresh as ever, broke two consecutive Kline serves to take the match (6-4) and regional title.

Autumn Ashford placed fifth in the regional, defeating St. James’ Abby Coker decisively (6-0, 6-1) in their consolation match. Ashford’s only loss was in the second round to tourney champ Baillos.

Bonner Springs also qualified two doubles teams, Newson/Smith and Leslie/Profeta, but both lost their first-round elimination match-ups.

After the match Bonner Springs head coach Matt Dow talked about his team’s showing at the tournament.

“It was a great performance,” said Dow. “I’m so happy with how hard Penelope worked — how hard Autumn Ashford worked. Great tennis, hard work, gutsy tennis — a lot of grit and determination today.”

Sumner Academy qualified two singles players and two doubles teams for the regional. Sofia Mercado was seeded 13th in singles and lost in the first round to St. Thomas Aquinas’s Megan Law. Melissa Ortega was seeded 15th and lost to Kline in the first round.

Sumner’s doubles teams, Fileto/Garcia and Vang/Tial, were both eliminated in the first round.

Piper High School’s Avery Roellchen also qualified for the tournament in singles. Despite an early lead, she narrowly lost 9-8 to Leavenworth’s Riley White in the abbreviated nine-game play-in format.

Bonner Springs junior Penelope Kline and coach Matt Dow posed together after Kline received her medal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Bonner Springs junior Autumn Ashford went 3-1 at the tournament, placing fifth and advancing to the state tournament. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner Academy senior Seydi Garcia played in a first-round doubles match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Bonner Springs junior Pirsten Leslie played in a first-round doubles match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Bonner Springs junior Luci Smith played in a first-round doubles match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner Academy senior Sofia Mercado returned a shot in her first-round match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Piper junior Avery Roellchen played in a first-round singles match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner Academy senior Maria Fileto played a forehand return in her first-round doubles match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Bonner Springs junior Sofia Profeta played in a first-round doubles match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sumner Academy senior Pajah Vang played in a first-round doubles match. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Sporting wins final 2022 home game, beats Sounders 1-0

Forwards Johnny Russell and Willy Agada were all smiles as Agada got up after scoring the game-winning goal in Sporting Kansas City’s 1-0 victory over Seattle, capping a streak of six consecutive home wins. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

Sporting Kansas City closed its home schedule on a high note, winning 1-0 over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday afternoon at Children’s Mercy Park and booting the Sounders from playoff contention, the end of an impressive 13-year streak.

Despite Kansas City’s lowly position in the standings, the home team had the better chances all afternoon, forcing Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei to make 10 saves against only one for Sporting’s John Pulskamp.

Forward Willy Agada was responsible for most of the danger up front, taking crosses from Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi on the wings. In a notable sequence in the 29th minute, Agada headed a cross from Russell on goal and then fired back the rebound. Frei made a diving stab to parry the header and then scrambled into position for a body block on the rebound shot.

Agada broke through in the 42nd minute, picking up a cross from Salloi, taking one touch to settle the ball, and then turning on it to blast it inside the far post.

Sporting kept up the pressure through the late stages of the game, fending off Seattle’s attempts to find an equalizer, and bringing on Felipe Hernandez and Kayden Pierre for fresh legs. Kortne Ford entered in the 77th minute for defensive reinforcement to protect the lead.

Kansas City manager Peter Vermes will have some difficult decisions to make in the off season. Fan favorites Graham Zusi and Roger Espinoza are out of contract and at the tail end of their careers.

After the match, Vermes talked about the team’s great late-season form. “It’s always good to leave a last impression to start the next year,” the veteran coach said. “So the win, the shutout, the way we played, it’s all very important to how we finish here but more importantly, to how we go into next year.”

Also, designated players Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda will return from missing a season due to injury and expect to find playing time in an offensive corps that found success in their absence.

After the match, Vermes talked about the team’s great late-season form.

“It’s always good to leave a last impression to start the next year,” the veteran coach said. “So the win, the shutout, the way we played, it’s all very important to how we finish here but more importantly, to how we go into next year.”

Sporting Kansas City wraps up the 2022 season next Sunday on the road against FC Dallas.

Forward Johnny Russell headed the ball in front of the Seattle goal. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Willy Agada turned on a cross from Daniel Salloi and hit it inside the far post for a score. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Seattle defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade slid in to disrupt a run from defender Ben Sweat. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Willy Agada headed a shot on goal in the first half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei came off the line to intercept a run from forward Daniel Salloi. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Forward Daniel Salloi took a shot on goal in the second half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

After the game, forward Daniel Salloi signed a girl’s cast, then a boy’s shoe, then a shirt, a poster, a hat, an arm and several other items. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

A beautiful Silver City Day in Argentine

Dancers from Ministerio de Danza Folklorica Sublime participated in the Silver City Day parade in the Argentine neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Argentine Betterment Corporation celebrated Silver City Day with a parade and festival. The parade moved east on Strong Avenue from 36th to 24th Street, with the festival in Emerson Park on 29th Street.

The weather started cool and sunny, warming to the 70s as noon approached. The smell of sizzling meat and frying tortillas wafted across the park, along with live music from local bands at the gazebo.

Marching bands from all five Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools high schools participated in the parade, and the Harmon, Sumner and Wyandotte bands played songs in the park, including a fun showdown between the Wyandotte and Sumner drumlines.