Serving Kansas City (Wyandotte County) Kansas for over 50 years!
Gary, Ind. – Thursday night’s game between Kansas City and Gary SouthShore has been postponed because of rain.
The T-Bones and RailCats will now begin their four-game series with a doubleheader (seven inning games) Friday night at 6:10 at U.S. Steel Yard.
The nightcap will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Both games can be heard in the Kansas City area on 1660-AM or worldwide at tbonesbaseball.com.
Kansas City outlasted Amarillo on Wednesday night in a 7-6 victory at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
The T-Bones took an early lead in the second inning of what would turn out to be a back and forth ballgame. Following a Ray Sadler single, Bryan Sabatella wasted no time extending his 13-game hitting streak, shooting a double to deep center field and scoring Sadler. With his hit, Sabatella matched Robby Kuzdale for the longest hitting streak on the club this season.
The T-Bones tacked on three more runs in the third. Vladimir Frias led off the inning with a triple and later scored when Danny Richar grounded out. Matt Padgett and Ray Sadler then hit back-to-back solo home runs, extending the Kansas City lead to 4-0.
Amarillo stormed back in the fifth, scoring five runs on Kansas City starter Joe Van Meter (1-1). Former T-Bones player Kyle Nichols put an exclamation point on the frame, crushing a three-run home run to left field and putting the Sox in front, 5-4. It was the 200th career home run for Nichols, who spent part of 2013 with the T-Bones.
Kansas City took the lead right back in its half of the fifth. T.J. Mittelstaedt led off with a walk and then scored when Richar doubled to left field. Sabatella grounded into a fielder’s choice later in the inning, scoring Richar and putting Kansas City back in the lead. The T-Bones tacked on another run before the inning came to a close with Kansas City in the lead, 7-5.
Van Meter’s only hiccup was Amarillo’s five-run fifth. He tossed 6 innings and picked up his first win with Kansas City. Ryan Rogers (1-1), who came on in relief in the fifth and only threw seven pitches, took the loss. Kris Regas allowed the tying run to reach third base in the ninth, but managed to secure his 18th save.
With the win, the T-Bones move to 40-48 on the season, while the Sox fall to 31-55. Kansas City begins a four-game series at Gary SouthShore (47-42) Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on 1660-AM or watched live online at tbonesbaseball.com.
Box score: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscoretext.html?gameid=178183
– Story from T-Bones
by Alan Hoskins
Kansas City Kansas Community College volleyball coach Mary Bruno has a problem, albeit one of which she has no complaints.
“We do not have a starting lineup because we are so competitive at every position – which is good,” Bruno said. “A couple of key pieces are set but it’s the competitive drive that will push everyone in practice and ultimately make us a better team.”
While the starting lineup may not be set heading into a murderous schedule starting with the South Suburban Conference Tournament at Wisconsin Dells, Wis., Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22-23, Bruno is no less enthused about the promise of her deep and veteran squad.
“I’m very optimistic; I think this team has the potential for greatness,” Bruno said.
Others apparently feel likewise. KCKCC is ranked No. 12 in the first NJCAA Division II poll of the season. Two other Jayhawk rivals, Cowley and Johnson County, are ranked No. 2 and 3, in the first poll although JCCC is projected No. 1, Cowley No. 2 and KCKCC No. 3 in the Jayhawk.
Seven sophomores return from last year’s 22-11 team that finished third in the Jayhawk Conference along with two sophomore transfers and five talented freshmen.
“The last time we had that many sophomores we finished sixth in the Division II national tournament,” Bruno said.
Headed by co-captains Lily Thornberg and Blair Russell, the Blue Devils return five players who saw extensive playing time. A 5-10 starter at setter from Junction City, Thornberg has been tabbed “an NJCAA Division II player to watch” on the first page of the Division II website.
A 5-10 veteran from Marysville, Russell and 5-8 Jasdel Gonzalez of Caguas, Puerto Rico, will both return to the starting lineup as outside hitters where added depth will come from Carlyn Walsh, a 5-10 soph from Wichita Northwest who is expected to see considerable court time.
Defensively, 5-5 Lily Cullers of Palmer, Alaska, and 5-5 Andrea Aparicio of Dorado, Puerto Rico, are back as defensive specialists and as competitors with 5-3 freshman Kimberly Martinez of Guayama, Puerto Rico, for the starting libero position.
“Defensively, we will be very solid,” Bruno said.
No starter returns at middle blocker where the competition is the most fierce between sophomores Kailee Dudley of Lawrence Free State and Junelie Irizarry of Papillion, Neb., and freshmen Allyssa Lutgen of Lansing and Cecelia Augustine of Ypsilanti, Mich. Augustine is the tallest at 6-2, the others are all 5-11.
A transfer from Butler County, Dudley comes with outstanding credentials – the Jayhawk Conference Freshman of the Year last year.
“A great addition to our program,” Bruno said. “Junelie Irizarry did not play a lot last year but will see a lot court time while Allyssa Lutgen and Cecelia Augustine have the potential to be factors in our success.”
Peyton Pender, a 6-2 transfer from Saint Mary University, is the lone right side hitter but plenty of help will be available from the quartet of middle blockers.
“Peyton worked out for us in the spring and had a great spring season,” Bruno said.
The wealth of experience will be invaluable as the Lady Blue Devils set out on a treacherous opening schedule.
“Four of the five teams we play in the Wisconsin Dells tournament played in the Division II national tournament last year and then our opening conference game next Wednesday is at Neosho County, a real tough one against the team picked to finish fourth in the conference,” Bruno said.
The KCKCC home opener comes Wednesday, Sept. 3, against District N rival Hesston but the Blue Devils aren’t home again for another three weeks when they host archrival Johnson County Sept. 24. By that time they’ll have played in three of their five weekend tournaments and been on the road for 17 of their 37 contests for the season.
“We’re jumping right into the fire. We want to compete with the best and see where we stand,” said Bruno, who is again being assisted by Dee Bruno and Paloma Juarez and volunteers Cory Roberts, Catherine Bruno and Franchelle Gonzales.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.
2014 Lady Blue Devil volleyball schedule
Aug. 22 – SSC Tournament, Wisconsin Dells, WI. TBA
Aug. 23 – SSC Tournament, Wisconsin Dells, WI. TBA
Aug. 27 – Neosho County*, Chanute, KS. 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 3 – HESSTON**, Home 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 5 – Highland Tournament, Highland 3 & 7 p.m.
Sept. 6 – Highland Tournament, Highland 9 & 11 a.m.
Sept. 9 – Longview, Lee’s Summit, MO. 6 p.m.
Sept. 12 – Pasco Hernando Tournament, New Port Richey, FL. 1 & 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 – Pasco Hernando Tournament, New Port Richey, FL. 12 & 4 p.m.
Sept. 17 – Allen County*, Iola, KS. 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 22 – Missouri State, West Plains, MO. 6 p.m.
Sept. 24 – JOHNSON COUNTY*, Home 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 26 – SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA, Home 6 p.m.
Sept. 29 – HIGHLAND*, Home 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 1 – Cowley County*, Arkansas City, KS. 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 – Iowa Western Tournament, Council Bluffs 3 & 5 p.m.
Oct. 4 – Iowa Western Tournament, Council Bluffs 12 & 2 p.m.
Oct. 8 – FORT SCOTT*, Home 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 10 – Central Nebraska Tournament, Columbus 3 & 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 – Central Nebraska Tournament, Columbus 1 & 3 p.m.
Oct. 15 – Labette*, Parsons, KS. 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 – MISSOURI STATE (West Plains), Home 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 22 – Coffeyville*, Away 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 29 – INDEPENDENCE*, Home 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 – LONGVIEW, Home 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 9 – Region VI Playoffs, TBA TBA
Nov. 20-22 – National Division II Tournament, Phoenix, AZ. TBA
* – Jayhawk Conference ** – District N