Category: Sports

Braves get first season win against Wildcats, 31-12

Bonner Springs senior quarterback Kahliek Rainey tried to stiff-arm his way past Washington senior Amarion Womack. Rainey had one running and one passing touchdown in the 31-12 win by the Braves. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Bonner Springs Braves overcame early turnovers to earn a 31-12 win over the Washington Wildcats in Bonner Springs on Friday. The win is the first in head coach Byron Mays’s tenure with the team and moves Bonner to 1-2 on the season.

The Wildcats scored first, taking advantage of a short field and scoring on a strike from Ja’Quarey Williams to Jeremiah Miller for a 6-0 lead. The Wildcats got an interception and drove down to the Bonner Springs 15-yard line on their next possession but weren’t able to convert the opportunity.

The Braves moved into the second quarter with a 6-0 deficit, but quickly got back on top with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Kahliek Rainey to Dainan Whetstone. Whetstone was nearly tackled at the 5-yard line but with a second and third effort willed himself into the end zone.

Desmon Williams ran in the 2-point conversion for an 8-6 Bonner Springs lead.

The Braves got into an offensive rhythm, running Peyton Parks behind the left side of the offensive line for consistent gains and first downs. The Braves finished the drive on a 1-yard quarterback sweep from Rainey.

Rainey connected with Bryce Wendt on the 2-point conversion for a 16-6 advantage.

Kicker Hayden Hernandez set the Braves on a short field with a well-executed on-side kick on the ensuing kickoff. Parks gave the Braves a three-score lead on a 2-yard scoring run, set up by a long run from Rainey. The Braves converted the 2-point conversion for a 24-6 lead that they held to the half.

The third quarter saw the teams battle for position, with neither getting the upper hand.

In the fourth quarter, Washington took advantage of a short punt to start on the Bonner Springs 44-yard line. A few plays later, a 20-yard pass to Amarion Womack set up a 5-yard touchdown run by JohVonte’ Ross.

Bonner Springs hit back with 5 minutes remaining in the game. Starting at the Washington 45-yard line after a penalty, Rainey hit Wyatt Caldwell for a 30-yard gain, followed by a 6-yard touchdown run from Parks. Hernandez converted the extra point attempt for the final 31-12 score.

The end of the game was marred by an injury to Washington’s Chaddrick Jones, who was hit under the chin on the final touchdown play. Jones was tended by paramedics, and the teams and spectators spent several anxious and helpless minutes before Jones was transported by ambulance for treatment.

The game resumed, and finished uneventfully.

Bonner Springs is now 1-2 for the season. The Braves play a Frontier League game at Louisburg next Friday evening. After the loss, Washington is also 1-2. The Wildcats play Wamego at home on Friday.

Washington junior receiver Amarion Womack hauled in a 20-yard pass, as Bonner Springs senior defensive back Mason Freese closed in. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Bonner Springs sophomore lineman Drake DeLeon blocked on a run by senior running back Peyton Parks. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Bonner Springs Dazzlers dance group performed at halftime. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Bonner Springs head coach Byron Mays warmed up the team before the start of the second half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Washington junior quarterback Ja’Quarey Williams got some sideline instruction from Washington head coach Camron Smith. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Bonner Springs defensive back Desmon Williams defended a pass to Washington junior receiver Amarion Womack. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Washington senior receiver Jermiah Miller leaped to bring down a pass then turned and ran for a touchdown. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Washington senior Chaddrick Jones slipped a tackle from Bonner Springs senior linebacker Brenden Graham. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Bonner Springs sophomore defensive back Desmon Williams grabbed an interception in the first half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Bonner Springs cheerleaders performed during a break in the action (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Washington cheerleaders led the visiting fans in the Wildcat Rumble. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Senior kicker Hayden Hernandez was all smiles as he came off the field after the Braves covered an on-sides kick. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

Junior quarterback Ja’Quarey Williams threw down field as senior lineman Dmytro Maslak closed in. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Bonner Springs marching band performed at halftime. Sophomore lineman Maddox Clary did double duty as drum major. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)

Minnesota United to visit Sporting KC tonight

Riding a five-match unbeaten run and four-game home winning streak, Sporting Kansas City will meet Minnesota United FC at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas.

Tickets for the match are available online at SeatGeek.com and the first 3,500 fans in attendance will receive a Sporting KC rally towel.

Saturday’s showdown will coincide with Sporting’s annual Kick Childhood Cancer Night, featuring an honoree homecoming with a VIP experience for previous Victory Project honorees and their families. Sporting is raising funds for The Victory Project through an online Kick Childhood Cancer auction featuring exclusive experiences with Sporting KC players and autographed memorabilia.

The Western Conference clash will be locally televised on 38 The Spot with three hours of coverage beginning at 7 p.m. The broadcast will also stream live on SportingKC.com and in the Sporting KC app for viewers in Kansas and Missouri (excluding the St. Louis area per MLS policy), as well as ESPN+ for out-of-market subscribers. Radio coverage will air live on Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM.

Sporting Kansas City has faced Minnesota 18 times in all competitions — more than any other opponent — since the Loons joined MLS in 2017 and lead the series with an 8-6-4 record, including a perfect 6-0-0 regular season record at Children’s Mercy Park in which Sporting has outscored Minnesota 15-1. The sides last met on July 13 in a 1-1 draw at Allianz Field as Sporting KC captain Johnny Russell came off the bench to score a second-half equalizer.

Russell has 11 goal contributions – three goals and eight assists – in 11 regular season appearances against Minnesota. Only Colorado Rapids winger Michael Barrios, with three goals and nine assists, has more regular season goal contributions all-time against Minnesota. Russell leads Sporting this season with eight regular season goals and 10 goals in all competitions. His 79 combined goals (48) and assists (31) in the regular season are fourth most in club history and third most in Major League Soccer since he joined the club in 2018.

On the opposite wing, Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi has scored in back-to-back home matches, giving the Hungarian seven regular season goals and nine goals in all competitions in 2022. An MLS All-Star and MVP finalist a year ago, Salloi’s 48 career goals for Sporting in all competitions are fifth most in club history.

Since the start of August, Sporting leads the Western Conference in points per match (2) and winning percentage (.714) – going 4-1-2 to stave off playoff elimination. Defensively, Sporting’s three clean sheets in the past three weeks are most in MLS as the club now has three goalkeepers with a regular season shutout in a single season for the first time in club history.

Both clubs will be playing their third game in eight days on Saturday ahead of the upcoming international break. Sporting cruised to a 3-0 win over D.C. United on Tuesday behind a shutout from MLS debutant goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh and goals from Khiry Shelton, Robert Voloder and Salloi.

Minnesota snapped a three-game losing streak on Tuesday with a 1-1 draw at home against first place LAFC and occupy fifth place in the Western Conference. The Loons sit five points above the playoff line with three matches remaining to clinch a playoff berth for a fourth straight year.

Minnesota’s attack has been held to a single goal in the team’s current four-game winless streak and on Saturday will be without Designated Player Emanuel Reynoso – who leads the Loons with 10 goals and 10 assists this season — due to caution accumulation. In the absence of the two-time MLS All-Star, Minnesota will look to designated player Luis Amarilla to lead the front line amid a campaign in which the Paraguayan has provided nine goals and five assists.

Minnesota manager Adrian Heath’s roster has been bolstered by three summer signings — Paraguayan international Alan Benitez on the backline, 23-year-old Mexican international Jonathan Gonzalez in the midfield and designated player Mender Garcia up front — while 2022 MLS All-Star Game MVP Dayne St. Clair has enjoyed a strong season in goal ahead of his participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup with the Canada Men’s National Team.

Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United FC each have four players out due to injury with an additional two players per squad listed as questionable. Manager Peter Vermes remains without designated players Alan Pulido (knee) and Gadi Kinda (knee) as well as former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Tim Melia (hamstring). Right back Graham Zusi has missed SKC’s last three matches with a quad injury and left back Logan Ndenbe was in health and safety protocols for the club’s last two games.

Minnesota has lost centerback Bakaye Dibassy (thigh) as well as midfielders Hassani Dotson (knee) and Jacori Hayes (lower leg) to season-ending injuries. In addition, Finnish international Robin Lod exited the Loons’ last match with an ankle injury and South African U-22 signing Bongokuhle Hlongwane has been sidelined for two straight games with a knee ailment.

  • Story from Sporting KC

Monarchs’ road comes to an end

by Dan Vaughan Jr., Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs (3-2) championship road came to a heartbreaking end Thursday night at Legends Field as the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (4-2) punched their ticket to the American Association Championship Series (Miles Wolff Cup) with a 4-1 win.

The RedHawks got stellar starting pitching from true rookie Peyton Wigginton (1-0), who held the league’s leading offense in check, scattering six hits over six shutout innings.

The RedHawks grabbed the lead in the top of the third inning with a lead off single by Evan Alexander and a two-run home run from Christian Correa to left to make it 2-0 off Monarchs starter Jalen Miller (0-1).

While Wigginton was able to hold the Monarchs off the board, Kansas City did have chances to get the offense going. The Monarchs got a runner on in each of the first four innings and had the bases loaded in the fourth, but Wigginton was able to make the key pitches to keep Kansas City at bay.

The RedHawks got a one out double in the fifth and scored on a wide throw at first on a ground ball to the deep right side of the infield from Ryan Grotjohn. The Monarchs’ second sacker made a great diving play in a deep shift in shallow right field, but the throw was low and bounced wide of first baseman Casey Gillaspie for an unearned run.

Fargo tacked on another run in the top of the sixth on a lead off double from John Silviano off Jordan Martinson. Manuel Boscan hit a ball to short that Pete Kozma threw to third to get Silviano, but the throw was low and Darnell Sweeney could not come up with the ball, putting runners at the corners. Alec Olund hit a shallow fly to right for the first out, but Evan Alexander hit a sacrifice fly to center to make it a 4-0 score in favor of the RedHawks.

Kansas City loaded the bases once again on Wigginton in the sixth, but the left-hander again made a big pitch to get out of the inning with two outs. Tanner Riley came in for the RedHawks in the seventh and walked J.C. Escarra then got a double play ball off the bat of Kevin Santa. The rookie right-hander then issued back-to-back walks to Mallex Smith and Darnell Sweeney before Joe Jones came in to get the final out.

The Monarchs’ lone run came in the home half of the eighth inning. Jan Hernandez singled off Jones with one out. Casey Gillaspie then doubled to left to put runners at second and third. Kozma struck out but a wild pitch from Jones brought home Hernandez for the only Monarchs’ run. Jones retired Escarra with a pop to second and the Monarchs went to the ninth down 4-1.

Closer Alex Dubord worked the ninth for the RedHawks. He retired the first two batters before Sweeney hit a single off the wall in left. Grotjohn smoked a ball to the right side to shallow right, into the defensive shift right into the glove of second baseman Peter Maris to finish the game, closing the book on the Monarchs’ season by a 4-1 score.

The RedHawks move on to play the Milwaukee Milkmen, who won the East Division Series on Wednesday night over Cleburne.

The Monarchs led the American Association at the plate hitting .293 during the regular season. The team also led in runs scored (696), home runs (165), OBP (.384) and OPS (.889). On the hill the club had the lowest regular season ERA at 4.40 and tops in strike outs (967) and first in WHIP (1.38). The home run and strikeout totals were new league records and the regular season record of 65-35 was the second highest total in franchise history.