Category: T-Bones

Davis hits triple in first T-Bones start to lead team to 5-3 win

The Kansas City T-Bones battled bad weather and the Gary SouthShore RailCats Thursday night, winning 5-3 in their final game of the three-game series at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.

It was a soggy game as rain poured throughout the night keeping the grounds crew busy between innings. The RailCats jumped out in front in the top of the first, with T-Bones’ pitcher Hunter Adkins giving up an early home run to Randy Santiesteban. The RailCats increased their lead in the third inning with help of a Garrett Copeland RBI single and an error by Adkins leading to an unearned run and a 3-0 advantage.

The T-Bones finally came alive in the fourth-inning with a leadoff double from Nick Torres off starter Alex Gunn for Gary. Cal Towey singled to put runners at the corners. Dexter Kjerstad hit a sacrifice fly to score one run and Angel Rosa reached with a “bloop” double to left center to cut the lead to 3-2.

In his first T-Bones start, Johnny Davis gave the T-Bones a base-clearing triple, scoring Tucker Pennell and Angel Rosa to make the score 4 –3 KC.

Keith Curcio added a solo home run in the home half of the seventh to give Kansas City a 5-3 lead and some breathing room in the later third of the ball game.

Four T-Bones relievers combined to shut out Gary after Adkins left after five innings. Julio Eusebio, Francisco Gracesqui, Sam Street and Cody Winiarski each tossed a clean inning with Winiarski notching his third save of the season.

The RailCats did get a two-out double in the bottom of the ninth from Wilfredo Giminez but Winiarski got a fly ball to left by the RailCat’s Reggie Wilson to end the game, sending both players and staff out of the rain.

The T-Bones (3-3) hit the road Friday as they take on the Chicago Dogs (1-5) for their home opener at 7:05 at Impact Field in Rosemont, Illinois. It will be the first-ever regular season home game for the Dogs. The action will be broadcast on the T-Bones Broadcast Network with the pregame at 6:40 p.m.

Season, group, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale and can be purchased by visiting the box office at T-Bones Stadium. Call the box office at 913-328-5618 or purchase and print at www.tbonesbaseball.com. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

– Story from T-Bones

KU’s Mason to hold celebrity softball game at T-Bones June 16

Former Kansas basketball All-American Frank Mason went to the mound to prepare for the game’s ceremonial first pitch at the T-Bones game Tuesday. (Photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins

Frank Mason enjoyed his first visit to the T-Bones so much that he’s coming back and bringing a whole bunch of friends.

A unanimous All-American and the NCAA College Basketball Player of the Year at the University of Kansas a year ago, Mason is holding a Frank Mason and Friends celebrity softball game at the T-Bones Saturday, June 16. Gates will open at 1 p.m. with a home run derby at 2 p.m. and the game at 3 p.m.

While the rosters have yet to be completed, invitees include All-American Devonte’ Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk of this year’s KU team; former Jayhawk stars Ben McLemore, Wayne Selden, Landon Lucas, Sherron Collins and Travis Releford; Harry Giles, Mason’s teammate with the Sacramento Kings; Kansas State’s Wesley Iwundu, now with the Orlando Magic and other former K-Staters; and a bunch of surprises.

The game will be a fundraiser for Children’s Mercy Hospital and the National Youth Foundation.

“I really wanted to come back to Kansas to give back for all I got in my four or five years here,” Mason said. “I want to show I really appreciate it.”

Mason averaged 7.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 52 games with Sacramento in his rookie season. A foot injury sidelined him for a month and half.

“I think it was an all-right season,” said Mason, who was a second round draft selection by the Kings..

Just 5-foot-11, size was considered a concern when Mason came out of KU but not by Mason.

“Size never came across my mind; I honestly think I’m 7-foot,” said Mason, noting he particularly enjoyed playing against 6-8, 250-pound LeBron James. When he was 7 or 8 years old, Mason met James in Las Vegas and told him, “I can score on you, man. I’ll be in the NBA one day. I said it as a little kid. I’ve scored on him three times so far.”

Mason said the transition from college to high school was more difficult than the move from college to the NBA.

“In high school I was scoring 30 points a game for about three years and then when I came to college I was a reserve coming off the bench,” he said. The biggest change in moving to the NBA? “The travel,” said Mason. “It seems like we’re traveling every other day.”

Mason said he will play in the softball game and predicted his team would win.

“We’ve not split the teams up yet. Anybody who is serious about the game and really trying to win will probably be on my team.”

He showed some baseball skills when he threw the ceremonial opening pitch at the T-Bones opening game Tuesday.

“I’ll throw an 80 mile an hour fast ball right down the middle,” predicted Mason, who indeed busted a fast ball for a strike to T-Bones pitcher Jackson Lowery.

Tickets to the softball game will start at $10 and are available along with other details on the National Youth Foundation website, www.nationalyouthfoundation.org/. Tickets can also be purchased through the T-Bones, www.tbonesbaseball.com/.

Former Kansas basketball All-American Frank Mason arrived in style at the Kansas City T-Bones home opener Tuesday. (Photo by Alan Hoskins)

T-Bones win, 5-3

Baseball action from Wednesday night’s T-Bones game in Kansas City, Kansas. The T-Bones won Wednesday night’s game with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, 5-3. (Photo by William Crum)
Baseball action from Wednesday night’s T-Bones game in Kansas City, Kansas. The T-Bones won Wednesday night’s game with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, 5-3. (Photo by William Crum)
Baseball action from Wednesday night’s T-Bones game in Kansas City, Kansas. The T-Bones won Wednesday night’s game with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, 5-3. (Photo by William Crum)
Angel Rosa in baseball action from Wednesday night’s T-Bones game in Kansas City, Kansas. The T-Bones won Wednesday night’s game with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, 5-3. (Photo by William Crum)
Baseball action from Wednesday night’s T-Bones game in Kansas City, Kansas. The T-Bones won Wednesday night’s game with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, 5-3. (Photo by William Crum)