No-hitter ends KCKCC’s bid for World Series berth

Not only did the Blue Devils of Kansas City Kansas Community College absorb 8-1 and 2-0 losses in the NJCAA super-regional championship games at Wichita Tuesday, they had to suffer through Johnson County’s jubilant on-field celebration. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins
Over the course of 35 years of coaching, Steve Burleson has lost a lot of mind-jarring losses but none quite like Kansas City Kansas Community College’s two losses in the finals of the super-regional at Wichita Tuesday night.
With a berth in the NJCAA World Series on the line, the Blue Devils were forced into a second game by an 8-1 loss to No. 1 seeded and 5th ranked Johnson County in the first game of the double elimination tournament – and then held without a hit in a 2-0 loss in the decisive final game.
“I’ve never taken a bus ride like that one home,” said Burleson. “There literally was not a word spoken. After three good wins over three good teams with a day’s rest and a good workout in between, nothing told me we’d only score one run in 18 innings or that we’d be no-hit and strike out 11 times in the final game of the year.
“I guess as basketball coaches say, we were just not able to finish. We were the hottest team in the conference for a time but were just not able to finish, something I’m sure a lot of players and coaches will be wondering why for a long time. But I don’t want to take anything away from Johnson County. It’s hard to win 50 games in a year. They pushed us around in the first game and dominated us in the second with their pitching.”
KCKCC (39-22) had two early scoring opportunities in the second game. JCCC starter Dalton Gulick walked Christian Arnold and Tyler Raymond with one out in the second but escaped on a ground ball and pop foul and then hit Luke Norton and walked Tanner Thibodeau with one out in the third.
Summoned from the bullpen, sophomore Connor Miller struck out Garrett McKinzie and got Arnold on a fly to center – and then finished with six perfect innings. Retiring all 20 batters he faced, Miller struck out 10 in recording just his second win of the season.
Lost in the no-hitter was a superb pitching effort by KCKCC freshman lefthander Hunter Phillips (9-7), who gave up just five hits, struck out five and walked two – and two tainted runs. Scoreless through four innings, JCCC’s John Fairchild walked to lead off the fifth, moved up to second on a bunt and held there on Alec Alvarez’s fly to Luke Norton in center. However, Norton’s throw to the infield eluded three Blue Devils and then found a 5-foot opening in the JCCC dugout and Fairfield was allowed to score an unearned run.
The Cavaliers’ second run scored in the seventh when Hayden Steele doubled to left and Ben Calvano lobbed a single into short rightfield on which Arnold made a perfect one hop throw to the plate that was dropped. It was one of four outstanding plays by Arnold, who made three spectacular diving catches in the two games.
One bad inning proved the Blue Devils’ downfall in the opener. KCKCC starter Geoffrey Birkemeier, who had beaten JCCC 3-2 in the tournament opener on Friday, pitched hitless ball over the first three innings only to have the Cavaliers bunch two doubles and four singles in the fourth for a 5-0 lead. Two more runs scored after a leadoff error in the seventh after KCKCC had closed to 5-1 in the top of the seventh.
The lone KCKCC run came on a sacrifice fly by Norton after leadoff singles by Alex Thrower and Tanner Foerschler and Zane Mapes’ sacrifice bunt. Southpaw Aaron Schnurbusch (10-2), the pitcher of the year in the Jayhawk East, went the distance on an 8-hitter, walking one and striking out seven.

Facing elimination after the opening loss to KCKCC, JCCC (50-12) won six straight games including the last four in a period of 30 hours – eliminating Garden City 3-1 and Cowley 8-7 in 12 innings Sunday and then KCKCC 8-1 and 2-0. The win advances the Cavaliers to the NJCAA World Series for the first time since 2008.

Alan Hoskins is the sports information director for KCKCC.

Despite the urging of head coach Steve Burleson, KCKCC fell 8-1 and 2-0 in the NJCAA super-regional finals at Wichita Tuesday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
One of only four baserunners in a 2-0 loss to Johnson County Tuesday, KCKCC’s Luke Norton dives safely back into first base on a pickoff throw. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

 

Scott receives Henry M. Louis Outstanding Faculty Award

Melanie Scott (KCKCC photo)

by Kelly Rogge

The Henry M. Louis Outstanding Faculty Award is given each year to honor and reward a certain faculty member whose actions and values are characteristic of Louis’s contributions to Kansas City Kansas Community College. This year, the award has been given to a member of the faculty who has spent more than 30 years teaching, leading and blazing new trails at KCKCC – Melanie Scott.
“For me this is truly an honor,” said Scott, professor in the social and behavioral sciences department and former director of the Intercultural Center at KCKCC. “This is the hallmark of my career at KCKCC. It came as such a surprise. I am truly thankful and my heart is full of gratitude. This is a humbling experience.”
The Henry M. Louis award is the hallmark award for KCKCC faculty. From 1967 until 2005 Louis served the college as teacher, chairman of the Social Sciences Division and finally as Dean of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. He was a historian who loved to teach and was considered a lifelong student of diverse cultures and histories. Louis had a keen eye for shared values, always respectful of differences and He continuously revised his courses, searching for new ways to encourage in his students the love of learning that shaped his life. Above all, he wanted “his” college to be a place where students and teachers could do their best work, where doing well meant “doing good.”
“This year’s recipient of the Henry Louis Outstanding Faculty award has held several titles here at KCKCC, some of which I am not sure exist today,” said Michael Vitale, vice president of academic affairs at KCKCC, in his presentation of Scott during the annual KCKCC Employee Recognition and Retirement Dinner May 2 . “One thing all of these titles had in common was they involved working and helping students to be successful regardless of their backgrounds. This passion for people and for helping all people was instrumental in bringing a multi-cultural approach to education and led this year’s recipient to establish two very important organizations that foster inclusiveness by encouraging us to learn more about one another’s background – the Intercultural Center and they Wyandotte Ethnic Festival.”
Scott has been at KCKCC for 32 years serving as a professor, director of community education, coordinator of Long Term Care Administration Program, instructional consultant in the Social and Behavioral Science Division and co-founder and director of the Intercultural Center. In many of these roles, she was the first woman and the first woman of color to be hired.
“Her positive focus on collaboration, communication and world community brought about significant change and inclusiveness to the campus and the community,” said a colleague in her nomination packet. “Melanie has had an impressive career as a teacher. Her students benefited from her experiences and her commitment to diversity and inclusiveness.”
Scott, who was able to spend time and work with Louis before he passed away in 2005, said as this chapter of her life concludes, receiving the award is truly an honor. She is retiring from KCKCC this year.
“I was surprised and overwhelmed with this honor,” she said. “In addition, it was so heartwarming for me to have the Louis family represented. When I put the pieces of the puzzle together (during the introduction), my cup runneth over.”
Scott said it was important to note that her academic career initiatives were not done solo. She said she had “excellent leadership mentors” such as Deloris Pinkard, retired vice president who worked in coordination with Louis to support her leadership desires and endeavors.
“Success has two important letters to have a progressive career. The letter U and S – “Us.” My 30 plus years at KCKCC consisted of working collaboratively with colleagues and at the various levels of the organizational structure,” she said. “This recognition award was also very humbling coming from my faculty peers in Social and Behavioral Science Division – Dr. John Ryan, Mrs. Kris Hearn (both recipients of this distinguished award and worked very hard on the application process) and other faculty whom may have had a voice. I am also extremely appreciative to Karen Hernandez (former student and KCKCC Board of Trustee) who also wrote from a student’s perspective.”
Scott said Louis was a “scholastic, forward thinker.” She said he was a pioneer in so many initiatives at KCKCC and was a guide in her career path.
“I watched Dr. Louis infuse this authentic style and passion for education and this coincided with who I am as an individual and as a professional – a transformational style teacher/leader. He is the one who encouraged me in a multiple of my leadership roles,” she said. “He saw the best in me and did what he could to help me become who I am today. He believed in me. A lot of who I am today is because of him.”

Piper shot blocker, rebounder C.J. Harper signs with KCKCC

A two-year starter for Piper coach Steve Wallace, left,, forward C.J. Harper will bring his scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking skills to Kansas City Kansas Community College this fall. (KCKCC photo)

by Alan Hoskins

C.J. Harper, a 6-4 rebounder and shot blocker from Piper High School, has signed a letter of intent to attend Kansas City Kansas Community College this fall.
A two-year starter on a Piper team that finished 15-7 the past season, Harper averaged 6.4 points, 5.0 points and a block a game his senior season. He also was 61 of 107 shots from the field for 57.0 percent. As a junior, Harper helped Piper earn a state tournament berth and finish 17-6.
“One of those kids who has improved every year and I can see that continuing at the college level,” said Piper coach Steve Wallace. “He’s a good athlete, strong with good jumping ability and fast for his size. Playing the post for us, his strengths were his rebounding and shot blocking. He spent a lot of time working on basketball in the summer and it’s really helped him to get better each season.”
“We’re excited about C.J.,” said KCKCC coach Kelley Newton. “He’s got a big body with broad shoulders and surprising athletic ability. He’ll be able to play the post position and defend that positions as well.”
Harper is the third area standout to sign with the Blue Devils for 2014-15. Guard Zach Jackson and forward Joe Lendway of Lansing’s undefeated 5A state championship team have also signed with the Blue Devils.