Category: KCKCC

KCKCC No. 1 for 15th year at Pitt State Jazz Festival

Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz Band members cited by outstanding musicianship and soloist recognition included (from left Jon Tobaben, Charles Glover, Rayvon Haggerty, Karriem Sayles, Levi Holgersen and Director Jim Mair. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins

To say that adjudicators at the Pittsburg State University Jazz Festival liked performances by the Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz Band and two combos may be an understatement.

“Smokin’ band and killer charts!” wrote one adjudicator.

“Terrific work! Nice ensemble work and great solos. Well done,” wrote another

Bill Hartman, formerly of the Stan Kenton Orchestra, wrote “Great program, well played. Congratulations!”

The comments came as the KCKCC Jazz Band and combos 1 and 2 received No. 1 ratings at the Pittsburg State Jazz Festival for the 15th consecutive year.

Ten of the KCKCC musicians were cited for outstanding musicianship and soloist recognition.

They were Karriem Sayles of Wyandotte, piano; Richard Tucker, Sumner Academy, alto; Cole Mertz, Basehor-Linwood, trombone; Nelson Hanson, Lansing, vibes and drums; P.J. Churn, SM West, flute; Jon Tobaben, SM South, trumpet and voice; Levi Holgersen, McPherson, bass; Kenneth Watson, Knob Knoster, drums and voice; and Charles Glover of Olathe North and Rayvon Haggerty of Topeka High, both tenor saxophones.

In addition to performing, the KCKCC band was guest at a concert performed by the Bob Mintzer big band from Los Angeles.

 

 

Four KCKCC hurlers blank Jewell

by Alan Hoskins

Four pitchers combined on nine shutout innings Tuesday as Kansas City Kansas Community College stretched its winning streak to six in a row with a 7-0 blanking of William Jewell JV.

The win sets up a pivotal four-game series with Coffeyville, the Jayhawk Conference leader with a 15-1 record.

Coffeyville comes to KCKCC for a doubleheader Thursday starting at 1 p.m. before the Blue Devils go to Coffeyville for a twin bill Saturday.

Jonathan Boyer worked the first inning in his first start of the season, Hunter Phillips and Jonathan May each pitched three innings and Derek Watkins the final two as they combined on a 5-hitter, striking out four and walking none.

Third baseman Daniel LaMunyon swung the big bat, driving in two runs with a home run, double and single while Christian Arnold doubled twice and Garrett McKinzie singled twice.

LaMunyon broke up a 0-0 deadlock in the fourth with a home run to left and the Blue Devils added two runs each in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Bunts played a big role in the two-run seventh. After a leadoff double by Arnold and a bunt single by LaMunyon, Eric Hinostroza’s ground ball scored one run and Zane Mapes and Tanner Foerschler followed with bunts to score LaMunyon.

Back-to-back doubles by Arnold and LaMunyon following a single by McKinzie scored the two runs in the seventh and the final two runs crossed in the eighth on a hit batsman, Luke Norton’s double and McKinzie’s single, each of which scored a run.

KCKCC golfers fifth in snow-shortened Jayhawk Tourney

 

Despite falling snow that was quickly accumulating on the ground, KCKCC freshman Montana Fasching launched a shot in the opening Jayhawk Designated Tournament at Salina Monday. (KCKCC photo by Gary Shrader)

by Alan Hoskins  

Kansas City Kansas Community College had to settle for fifth place in the opening Jayhawk Conference Designated Tournament when snow shortened the tourney to 18 holes Monday.

Played at Salina Municipal, the Blue Devils finished with a 298 total, just two strokes back of fourth place Barton County.

Boasting the top three medalists, Dodge City was a runaway winner with a 272 total that was eight shots under par. Hutchinson finished second at 282 followed by Johnson County, 288; Barton, 296; KCKCC, 298; Garden City, 299; Independence, 300; Coffeyville, 308; Colby, 311; and Allen County, 318.

Four freshmen led the Blue Devils. Seve Sites of Shawnee Mission West tied for ninth with a one over par 39-32-71. Lane Pauls of Newton finished in a two-way tie for 15th with a 38-34-72; Piper’s Montana Fasching deadlocked for 28th with a 37-39-76; and Dalton Ayers of Newton shared 41st with a 41-38-79.

Sophomore Collin Herron of Topeka Hayden and freshman Alex Otting of Basehor-Linwood rounded out the KCKCC scoring with 82 and 85.

“For the first time out, the kids played pretty well,” said KCKCC coach Gary Shrader, who said snow held up the start of the first round for three hours. “We were able to finish the round but wind, snow and rain stopped the second round. We had kids hit drives but then couldn’t find their golf balls because of the snow”

The Blue Devils will be competing in the 36-hole Bethel College Invitational Saturday and Sunday. One 18-hole round will be played at Sandcreek Station in Newton; the other 18 at the Hesston Golf Club.

“Two of our players, Lane Pauls and Dalton Ayres, are from Newton so they’re real excited about this tournament,” Shrader said.