Category: T-Bones

National Pro Fastpitch scheduled for July 9-10 in KCK

The Kansas City T-Bones and National Pro Fastpitch will hold a two-game series between the USSSA Pride and Aussie Spirit July 9 and 10 at T-Bones Stadium in Kansas City, Kansas.

This is the fourth year in a row the T-Bones have hosted an NPF series after featuring the USSSA Pride and Texas Charge in 2017.

The USSSA Pride team roster is led by two-time Olympian and reigning back-to-back-to-back NPF MVP Kelly Kretschman out of the University of Alabama.

She is joined by Sierra Romero, the 2016 NCAA Player of the Year at the University of Michigan and the 2017 NPF homerun and RBI leader and Jessica Burroughs, the 1st overall draft pick by the Pride out of Florida State and the 2017 ACC pitcher of the year and First Team NFCA All-American.

The Aussie Spirit roster features Stacey Porter, captain of the Australian National Team and a Olympic Bronze and Silver medal winner.

The Australian team also includes Taylah Tsitsikronis, with two seasons of NPF experience with the Pennsylvania Rebellion and the Chicago Bandits and was the first Aussie Spirit player to sign for 2018. Rachel Lack, out of the University of Hawaii and veteran Aussie Spirit star, also is part of the roster coming to Kansas City.

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.

“We’re thrilled to host these world class athletes and the top women’s pro players in the world at T-Bones Stadium this summer. Our stadium is the perfect venue for this series and we’re glad to bring this showcase event to Kansas City, KS and our metro area overall,” said Chris Browne, T-Bones vice president and general manager.

Following each game both teams will be available for 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.

“We’re unbelievably excited to welcome the Aussie Spirit to the midwest this summer and to T-Bones Stadium, especially. With an attendance record of over 15,000 during the Pride series last year, we can’t wait to be able to give these incredibly talented Aussie athletes the stage to perform in front of an even bigger crowd this year,” added Jeremy McDowell, executive vice president, USSSA.

Tickets for both nights are available now at the T-Bones Stadium Box Office, by calling 913-328-5618 or at TBonesBaseball.com.

Home opening night for Kansas City is May 22 when the T-Bones play host to Gary SouthShore at T-Bones Stadium at 7:05 p.m.

– Story from T-Bones

T-Bones add pitcher and fielder

The Kansas City T-Bones have signed left-handed pitcher Cody Dickson and infielder-outfielder Cal Towey for the 2018 season.

Cody Dickson comes to the T-Bones after spending five seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. In 2017 the lefty reached AAA Indianapolis, going 4-3 with a 4.72 ERA in 40 innings and posting a 2-4 mark at AA Altoona in 32.1 innings and a 5.85 ERA.

He made the climb from short season A to AAA in five seasons with Pittsburgh, starting in 106 games and adding another 28 appearances out of the bull pen. Dickson has a career record of 37-28 with a 3.91 ERA in 540.1 minor league innings.

Dickson was the Pirates fourth round selection in the 2013 draft out of Sam Houston State University after he went 17-11 with a 3.94 ERA over three seasons for the Bearkats. A native of Mansfield, Texas, Dickson compiled a 15-6 record as a junior and senior in high school, where he set the school record for career wins.

Cal Towey is a left-handed batter, drafted in the 17th round out of Baylor University by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In 2017 Towey played in 76 games at AAA New Orleans for Miami, hitting .237 with four home runs and 24 RBI and seeing action in another 26 games at AA Jacksonville in the Southern League, hitting .177.

Towey began his career with Orem in the Pioneer League with the Angels organization in 2013 and would reach AAA Salt Lake City in 2016. His last season in the “halos” system, Towey spent 57 games at AA Arkansas in the Texas League, hitting .292 with four home runs and 17 RBI and adding another nine long balls at AAA, where he hit .244 with 32 RBI in 78 games. The Marlins claimed Towey off AAA waivers on Dec. 8, 2016.

Towey hails from the Seattle, Washington, area, having earned four letters at Eastside Catholic High School in Bellevue, Washington. At Baylor, Towey originally was a walk on, but after a red shirt season in 2009, he started 28 games and played in 41 for the Bears.

He started all 55 games as a senior and was a unanimous 2013 All-Big 12 First Team member and was second on the team with a .291 average in his final season. Towey finished his four year career with a .287 average in 211 games with 17 homers and 131 RBI, all at third base.

Season, group, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale and can be purchased by visiting the Box Office at T-Bones Stadium. For more information, 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.

Home opening night is May 22 when the T-Bones play host to Gary SouthShore at T-Bones Stadium at 7:05 p.m.

– Story from T-Bones

T-Bones add pair of former Bucs

The Kansas City T-Bones have signed right-handed pitchers Julio Eusebio and Pasquale Mazzoccoli for the 2018 season. Both players were in spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 2018.

Julio Eusebio, born in New York, New York, spent time with three different stops in the Pirates minor league system in 2017.

He began the season making one appearance at High A Bradenton, working only one inning then moving on to the Pirates Short Season A club in the New York-Penn League at West Virginia.

With the Black Bears, the right-hander tossed four innings in three relief outings before moving a step higher to Low A West Virginia in the South Atlantic League where Eusebio notched six saves, working in 27 relief innings with a 2.33 ERA and 34 strike outs.

In 2014 Eusebio made is pro debut in Jamestown in the New York-Penn League, posting a 1-1 record with a 3.81 ERA in 28.1 innings.

He appeared in one game in 2015 at High A Bradenton before being assigned to Short Season A West Virginia where he pitched in 19 games over 31.1 innings with five saves. Eusebio led the West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League in saves in 2016 with 11 and a 1.62 ERA while going 1-1 in 50 innings.

He was signed as a free agent in 2014 and spent the 16-17 winter in the Dominican Winter League with Estrellas, pitching in only a pair of games. Eusebio also saw an inning of action in the 2018 Grapefruit League for the Pirates, giving up one run and one hit in one inning of relief.

Pasquale Mazzoccoli was the Pirates 35th round pick in 2016 out of Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. He joined Bristol in the Appalachian League after the draft in 2016, pitching 26.2 innings with 21 strike outs.

Last year Mazzoccoli began the season with five scoreless innings in the New York-Penn League at West Virginia before going 3-1 with West Virginia in the South Atlantic League in 25.2 relief innings. Throughout the season, the Katy, Texas, native would strike out 35 batters in 34.2 innings pitched.

Season, group, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale now 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.

Home opening night is May 22 when the T-Bones play host to Gary SouthShore at T-Bones Stadium at 7:05 p.m.

– Story from T-Bones