National Pro Fastpitch will return to T-Bones Stadium in July

A two-game National Pro Fastpitch series between the USSSA Pride and the Chicago Bandits will be played July 15 and 16 at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.

It is the fifth year in a row that the T-Bones have held an NPF series, after featuring the USSSA Pride and Aussie Spirit in 2018.

Three well known, prominent players in the fastpitch community, including one from Independence, Missouri, are featured on the USSSA Pride team roster.

Paige Parker, a native of Independence, graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2018 and was a two-time Women’s College World Series champion. As a sophomore, she was named the WCWS Most Valuable Player. She earned four All-Big 12 Pitcher of the Year awards and was a two-time All-American. She was drafted by the Pride in 2018.

She is joined by fellow former Sooner, Lauren Chamberlin, a 2015 graduate of the University of Oklahoma. Chamberlin was a three-time First Team All-American for the Sooners and a member of the 2013 Women’s College World Series championship team. She currently holds the NCAA career home run record (95). Chamberlin was the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2015 NPF College Draft by the Pride.

Sierra Romero played shortstop and second base for the University of Michigan and is a former member of the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team and the U.S. Women’s National Team. She was named Big 10 Player of the Year in 2013, 2014 and 2016 and was the 2016 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I Player of the Year. She was the second overall pick in 2016 NPF College Draft by the USSSA Pride, a professional women’s softball team based in Viera, Florida.

The two-game series is a highlight of the World Fastpitch Championships, a youth fastpitch tournament whose host is Midwest Sports Productions.

“We’re thrilled to host some of the finest women’s pro softball players and the NPF again this summer and showcase the versatility of T-Bones Stadium,” said Chris Browne, vice president and general manager of the T-Bones. “This event is a tremendous addition to the Kansas City summer sports schedule of activities. We enjoy partnering with MSP and the USSSA Pride.”

“The Pride look forward to traveling to Kansas City every year, not just to play but to interact with the youth who are participating in the World Fastpitch Championships,” said Jami Lopries, vice president of USSSA Fastpitch. “Many of the young girls playing in the WFC could one day play for the Pride or another professional fastpitch team. The exposure this series brings to the Kansas City community and these young players is invaluable to our sport.”

Monday night’s game will feature a pre-game tailgate party in the parking lot with food trucks and an appearance by the Falcon Skydivers.

Following each game both teams will be available for free autographs and to meet and greet fans in attendance at the ballpark. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. for both nights. Ticket prices are $17 Prime, $13 Choice, $9 Select and groups of 15 or more receive $1 off Choice, $2 off Select. Suite rentals are available for both games starting at $20 per ticket, minimum 15 tickets.

Tickets for the series went on sale earlier this week at the Saint Luke’s Box Office, at www.tbonesbaseball.com and by calling 913-328-5618. Saint Luke’s Box Office hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. -2 p.m. on Saturday. Visit www.tbonesbaseball.com for more information.

Full and half-season 2019 ticket packages, as well as mini plans, are on sale online at www.tbonesbaseball.com, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke’s Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale. Opening day for the T-Bones is set for Friday, May 17, at T-Bones Stadium when the T-Bones play host to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to open the 2019 season.

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T-Bones make deal with Skeeters

The Kansas City T-Bones have acquired right-handed pitchers Andury Acevedo and Dylan Baker from the Sugar Land Skeeters (Atlantic League) for future considerations, and they have agreed to terms with Baker for a 2019 contract.

Dylan Baker comes to Kansas City, Kansas, after one season with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization where he went 3-6 in 34 games all in relief with a 6.08 ERA over 37 innings and notched eight saves in 2018. Primarily a starter throughout his career, it was his first season to notch a save as a pitcher. Prior to his one season with the Dodgers system, he spent 2012 to 2017 with the Cleveland Indians organization.

Baker, is a native of Alaska, and graduated from Douglas High School, in Juneau, Alaska, before attending Tacoma Community College. He then transferred to Western Nevada College where he became the highest draft selection for a player out of Western Nevada in 2012. He resides in Juneau, Alaska.

Andury Acevedo is a former infielder who spent the first four years of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization from 2007 to 2010. He signed with the New York Yankees and converted to a pitcher in 2012. From there he climbed the Yankees system, reaching AAA.

He then spent parts of two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, earning a spot on the 40-man roster, and a part of a season with the Arizona Diamondbacks before moving to independent baseball this off season.

Full and half-season 2019 ticket packages, as well as mini plans, are on sale online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke’s Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale. The public also may purchase individual game tickets.

Opening day for the T-Bones is set for Friday, May 17, at T-Bones Stadium when the T-Bones play host to the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to open the 2019 season.

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T-Bones make roster moves

The Kansas City T-Bones have made several roster moves recently.

Infielder Ryan Brett will return for the 2019 season. Brett is a key member of the 2018 championship club.

Kansas City also traded right handed pitcher Pasquale Mazzoccoli to Rockland (Can-Am League) for a player to be named later and signed catcher Roy Morales following the release of catcher Adrian Nieto.

Brett played the final 27 games of the 2018 championship season for the T-Bones. Brett went 24-for-61 during the final 13 games of the season, as the team made its run to the post-season. The T-Bones clinched its first playoff spot since joining the American Association in 2011 and its first since 2009. Brett scored 14 runs over the 13-game span for Kansas City. Then he went 15-for-37 in two post-season series with a home run and five RBIs, scoring six runs.

Pasquale Mazzoccoli spent the entire 2018 season with the T-Bones, posting a 4-2 record with a 4.52 ERA with 46 strike outs on the year. He made three spot starts for Kansas City and pitched another 24 in relief in 2018. Mazzoccoli would earn the name of “magic man” on Sept. 2 at Gary. The right-hander worked two scoreless innings where he got out of two jams with the winning run at third base to preserve a playoff-clinching win over Gary in 14 innings.

Roy Morales comes to Kansas City from the Miami Marlins organization where he was the 12th round pick in the 2014 June Amateur Draft out of Colegio Angel David High School in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. In five professional seasons, Morales is a career .272 hitter in 208 games with two home runs and 70 RBIs. Last season he played 46 games for Jupiter in the Florida State League, hitting at a .255 clip with 13 RBIs for the Hammerheads. Morales had his 2017 season shortened to 30 games because of a suspension by the commissioner’s office. He hit .288 in 2017 with a home run and 15 RBIs at Jupiter.

Adrian Nieto was one of only three position players for the T-Bones to spend the entire season with Kansas City and one of two starters from the opening night lineup to finish the season with Kansas City. His .313 average was fifth on the team, and he was fourth in RBIs (44) and walks (34) for Kansas City. His 91 hits were third on the club, and his .313 average was a career high. Nieto, born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Florida, came to the T-Bones following a 2017 season where he played 68 games between AA Pensacola and AAA Louisville in the Cincinnati Reds organization.

Full and half-season 2019 ticket packages, as well as mini plans, are on sale online, by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting the Saint Luke’s Box Office between the hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Group ticket sales are also on sale. Individual tickets also are on sale.

Opening day for the T-Bones is set for Friday, May 17, at T-Bones Stadium when the T-Bones play host to the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks to open the 2019 season.

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