Category: Sports

Early struggles sink T-Bones

After giving up four runs in the top of the first, the T-Bones fell 6-1 to the Wichita Wingnuts in game three of the Kansas Turnpike Showdown in front of 5,015 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan., on Wednesday afternoon.

The Wingnuts, who came into the game with the third most runs scored in the American Association, jumped all over Kansas City starter Matt Smith early in the ballgame. J.T. Wise got things going for Wichita in the first, banging a two-out double off the left field wall that scored Ryan Khoury. Chris McClendon then laced a single into center, scoring Jake Kahaulelio and Wise. McClendon stole second and would come around to score on a Colt Loehrs single before the inning finally came to an end with Wichita leading 4-0 before Kansas City’s first at bat.

The T-Bones responded in their half of the first with a Danny Richar single that scored T.J. Mittelstaedt. With two on and one out, the T-Bones were looking for more but fell short when Nick Schwaner grounded into a double play.

Wichita added to its lead in the fourth. David Amberson and Taylor Oldham opened the inning with back-to-back singles and both advanced into scoring position following a groundout by Khoury. Amberson came home on a wild pitch by Smith before an RBI groundout by Carlo Testa scored Oldham and extended Wichita’s lead to 6-1.

Jon Link (2-1) picked up the win for the Wingnuts while Matt Smith (0-2) took the loss.

Kansas City falls to 9-11, while Wichita moves to an American Association best 15-6. The T-Bones conclude their series with Wichita Thursday night at 7:05. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

– Story from T-Bones

Long ball lifts T-Bones over Wingnuts

The scoring came early and often Tuesday night, as the T-Bones defeated the Wichita Wingnuts 9-4 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

The T-Bones brought out the power in the victory. Brian Erie and T.J. Mittelstaedt launched home runs in the bottom of the second inning that put the T-Bones ahead 4-1.

Kansas City also had a big third inning. Nick Schwaner contributed to the scoring with an RBI triple. Erie and Mittelstaedt chipped in with RBI hits in the inning as well.

Wichita started off the scoring in the first inning when Carlo Testa tripled and was hit home on an RBI single by Jake Kahaulelio. The Wingnuts would also score on a two-RBI single by J.T. Wise, scoring Testa and Kahaulelio, in the third inning.

The T-Bones added an insurance run when Erie scored on a double by David Espinosa in the eighth inning, making it 9-4. Erie and Espinosa each ended the night with three hits.

Starting pitcher Rick Zagone improved his record to 3-0 with the victory. He pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up nine hits, four earned runs, three walks and four strikeouts.

With the win, the T-Bones tie up the series with Wichita at one game apiece. They continue the series on Wednesday at 11:05 a.m. Tickets are available by calling the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark at 913-328-5618.

– Story from T-Bones

Sporting KC to transfer midfielder Rosell to Portuguese team

Oriol Rosell

Sporting Kansas City announced on Tuesday that the club has agreed to transfer midfielder Oriol Rosell to Sporting CP in Lisbon, Portugal.

Sporting Kansas City will receive two-thirds of the transfer fee to use as allocation money per MLS rules, as well as a percentage of any future transfer of Rosell from Sporting CP to another club.

“We wish Uri the best of luck in pursuing this new opportunity,” said Sporting Club CEO Robb Heineman. “The perception from the outside might be that the timing is not great, but from the inside we believe that the timing is perfect. It opens the door for Uri and for us. Uri came from Barcelona B to Sporting Kansas City, won an MLS Cup and furthered his development on the field. This transfer helps enable us to retain our core players while adding pieces to the team. As we continue to build our roster for the future, and looking at our goal of pursuing championships, we identify what types of players we need to have on our roster to compete continuously for the U.S. Open Cup, MLS Cup and Champions League. This move has also expanded the relationships we have built with many top clubs, opening access to similar players around the world, showcasing what can be accomplished in Kansas City and the other platforms that open up from here.”

Rosell, 21, joined Sporting Kansas City in August 2012 from Barcelona B. He contributed two goals and two assists in 49 MLS appearances (including postseason) and led all MLS players with 130 interceptions during the 2013 season. Rosell was voted No. 14 on MLSsoccer.com’s top 24 players under the age of 24 last year and made his international debut for Catalonia in 2013.

Sporting Clube de Portugal were runners-up in the Liga ZON Sagres this season and will compete in the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League. The team features two-time MLS All-Star Fredy Montero, as well as four players on national team rosters for the 2014 FIFA World Cup: Islam Slimani (ALG), Marcos Rojo (ARG), William Carvalho (POR) and Rui Patricio (POR).

In accordance with MLS Roster Rules and Regulations, allocation money does not count against a club’s salary budget and can be used:
•To sign players new to MLS
•To re-sign an existing MLS player, subject to League approval
•To “buy-down” a player’s salary budget charge below the League maximum
•In connection with the exercise of an option to purchase a player’s rights or the extension of a player’s contract for the second year provided the player was new to MLS in the immediately prior year
Rosell becomes the third Sporting Kansas City player in the last 18 months to move to Europe. In 2013, Honduran midfielder Roger Espinoza joined Wigan Athletic (England) and Sierra Leone striker Kei Kamara was transferred to Middlesbrough FC (England). Rosell’s transfer will open a Salary Budget Player spot and international slot on the Sporting Kansas City roster.

– Story from Sporting KC