Category: T-Bones

National anthem auditions to be Saturday for T-Bones

Want to audition for the national anthem at the T-Bones game?

The T-Bones are holding national anthem and “God Bless America” music tryouts from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas.

Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. for all bands, choirs, groups, musicians and individual performers interested in auditioning. Performances must be 110 seconds or less in the traditional version of the songs and will be performed without any additional background music.

Before the audition, interested performers must complete a registration form, which can be found at TBonesBaseball.com, or one will be provided at the audition. Applicants are allowed to audition for both songs, but it must be specified on the form, according to a spokesman.

Performers will be given an audition number as they arrive and register at Gate A at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The order of the auditions will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Performers must be aware that the auditions will be open to the public and no compensation will occur. Performers should wear respectable and appropriate attire, and be prepared for the weather, as the auditions will be taking place outdoors, according to the spokesman.

The T-Bones open the 2017 regular season at home on May 19 against Lincoln. They have 50 home games scheduled from May 19 to Sept. 4.

For questions about the auditions, contact Morgan Kolenda, the T-Bones’ director of marketing and game entertainment, at [email protected] or call 913-328-5641.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones

Pro fastpitch softball to return to KCK this summer

Professional fastpitch softball is returning to Kansas City, Kansas, in 2017 with a three-game series in July.

The Kansas City T-Bones will serve as the host stadium to the series in CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas.

The USSSA Pride and the Texas Charge will play the series at 7:05 p.m. July 10, 11 and 12.

“This is a fun event to bring to Kansas City and showcase at CommunityAmerica Ballpark,” said T-Bones vice president and general manager Chris Browne. “We’re glad to partner with USSSA and National Pro Fastpitch for the third year in a row. We’re thrilled to showcase women’s pro softball at our park.”

The USSSA Pride, out of Florida, has played each of the last three seasons at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The Pride features NCAA softball career home run record holder Lauren Chamberlain plus the 2016 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, Sierra Romero, who was the first player in NCAA softball history to record 300 runs, 300 hits and 300 RBIs in her career.

The Texas Charge, a team from the Austin area, features Lauren Heager, who was the 2015 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year. She was the first player in NCAA history to hit at least 60 career home runs and notch at least 60 career wins.

The NPF games at CommunityAmerica Ballpark will coincide with the World Fastpitch Championship, which is scheduled to feature 64 of the top 12U/14U/16U/18U amateur fastpitch teams from more than 25 states. Those games will be played throughout greater Kansas City during July 11-16.

“We are very excited to return to the Kansas City metro area and play in front of the electric crowds at CommunityAmerica Ballpark,” said Jami Lobpries, the vice president of USSSA Fastpitch. “It’s been a great experience the past two years working with the T-Bones to create a dynamic week of fastpitch action. This NPF series during our World Fastpitch Championship is a great opportunity for us to combine the best players in the professional game with the top amateur fastpitch players, all in one location.”

Tickets for this summer’s NPF games will go on sale to the public on Monday, March 20, at the Providence Medical Center Box Office at CommunityAmerica Ballpark or by calling 913-328-5618.

Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones senior director of media relations

Tenbrink retires; T-Bones trade Cooper

Nate Tenbrink (T-Bones photo)

T-Bones utility player and Olathe, Kansas, native, Nate Tenbrink, is retiring.

Tenbrink, 30, spent the past two seasons with the T-Bones after playing the bulk of his career in the Seattle Mariners’ organization.

Tenbrink battled injuries and played in only eight games in 2016, but he was one of the T-Bones’ top players the previous season.

Tenbrink, who went to Olathe Northwest High School before attending Kansas State University, played in 96 of Kansas City’s 99 games in 2015. He batted a team-best .335 and was first in runs (67), hits (121), doubles (23), triples (5), walks (54) and on-base percentage (.418).

Although he played 68 games at third base, Tenbrink saw action at first base, shortstop and outfield, also. On Aug. 31, 2015, Tenbrink was selected as the American Association’s Player of the Week.

“Being able to extend my career in Kansas City is something I will always cherish,” said Tenbrink, who owns and operates a baseball facility in the Kansas City area. “Having family, friends, and all of the faithful T-Bones fans come out and support me day in and day out made this experience one of my favorites and most memorable in my nine-year career. I can’t thank the front office and staff enough for everything they did for my family and me during the past two seasons.

“I look forward to passing on my passion and love for the game from here on out.”

Seattle selected Tenbrink in the seventh round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Kansas State. During his nine-year career, which included winter ball in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, Tenbrink played in 749 games. He was a career .281 hitter with 739 hits, including 144 doubles, 39 triples and 73 home runs, along with 363 RBIs and 452 runs scored.

“The thing I will miss the most will be walking in the clubhouse first and turning the music up to get ready to play the game I played since I could walk,” Tenbrink said. “I took pride in being a good teammate and hope that I’m remembered for that, first and foremost. The accolades and everything else are just icing on the cake.”

The T-Bones announced, also, that they have traded pitcher Jordan Cooper to Wichita in exchange for a player to be determined and future considerations.

After spending the early part of the 2016 season with the Cleveland Indians’ double-A and triple-A affiliates, Cooper went 3-6 with a 4.58 ERA in 19 starts for the T-Bones. Cooper, who’s from Topeka, Kansas, struck out 55, walked 34 and gave up 125 hits in 112 innings for Kansas City. Cooper, whom Cleveland selected in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur draft out of Wichita State, is 36-44 with a 4.25 ERA.

The T-Bones open the 2017 regular season at home on May 19 against Lincoln.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones