There was much hand slapping and fist bumping for KCKCC freshman Tyler Henry Sunday. Henry hit a game-tying 3-run home in the seventh and a game-winning double in the ninth in a 4-3 win over Fort Scott and then drove in two runs in a 4-1 second game win. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Blue Devils felt they let a win get away when Fort Scott rallied for an extra inning decision last Wednesday. The Blue Devils got one back Sunday.
Freshman Tyler Henry belted a dramatic game-tying 3-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning and then doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 win over the Greyhounds. KCKCC then completed the sweep, riding Victor Gotay’s pitching gem to a 4-1 nightcap win.
The winningest team in the Jayhawk Conference at 14-2, the Blue Devils trail Johnson County (10-0) and Cowley (11-1) at the halfway point of the conference season.
KCKCC (25-7) plays host to Maple Woods in a twin bill Tuesday at 1 p.m. Originally scheduled to be played at Maple Woods, KCKCC will be the visiting team. The Blue Devils resume Jayhawk play Thursday at Neosho County.
KCKCC had only one hit, a leadoff single by Traice Hartter, going into the seventh inning of the opener against Fort Scott’s Raine Richter, who had retired 15 hitters in a row when Jose Sosa ended the streak with a one-out double.
Kemper Bednar drew a walk and Henry greeted relief ace Brayden Leathers with a game-tying 3-run shot to left.
Sosa also started KCKCC’s game-winning ninth with a single and after Bednar grounded into a force out at second, Henry hit a game-ending drive into the gap in left-center with Bednar scoring easily on the hit.
For Henry, an outfielder from Gardner-Edgerton, it was the biggest game of his career, high school or college.
“I was just hoping it would not go foul,” Henry said about the home run. He had no doubts on the game-winning double.
“Their pitcher was really tough on us and then they brought in their closer who had been lights out,” KCKCC coach Matt Goldbeck said. “Sosa had a big hit and Bednar a good at bat in drawing a walk and bringing the tying run to the plate. Henry was down 0-2 and took some tough breaking balls to fight back to a 3-2 count and then hit a big-time home run.”
Sophomore Osvaldo Mendez had a shutout for five innings before Fort Scott broke the scoreless tie, taking a 1-0 lead in the sixth on three consecutive singles. The Greyhounds made it 3-0 in the seventh, scoring the two runs on four hits off reliever Gaby Ramos before Ramos retired the final seven Greyhounds to come to bat.
“Mendez pitched very well,” Goldbeck said about the freshmen lefthander who struck out seven and walked none. “Fort Scott is one of the more offensive teams in the conference; an outstanding job in holding them to one run.”
Gotay, a sophomore from Kissimmee, Florida, was superb in the nightcap, allowing just three hits, striking out eight and walking none. Only four Greyhounds reached base against Gotay, who was backed by two double plays. He left only one runner on base. The lone run came in the fourth inning, a home run by Owen Wilson.
By then the Blue Devils had built a 4-0 lead with Henry again providing big hits. Hartter led off the KCKCC first with a double and scored on an error and Henry singled in a second run for a 2-0 lead.
The Blue Devils made it 4-0 in the third on a double by Kevin Santiago, single by Sosa, sacrifice fly by Bednar and Henry’s double.
“Gotay pitched his best game in two years; no walks,” Goldbeck said. “Our catcher (Griffin Everitt) came to us before the game and said we needed to pitch off his breaking ball and he threw more than in any other game by any of our pitchers. A complete game win against Fort Scott is special. To have two of them in four games is really something and something that Coach (Pedro) Leon, who works with the pitchers, should be very proud.”
Victor Gotay applauded the KCKCC offense while waiting to complete a 3-hit, 4-1 win over Fort Scott Sunday. Only four runners reached base against Gotay, who struck out eight and walked none. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins) Eric Hirostroza’s head-long slide wasn’t in time to prevent a tag by Fort Scott’s Andruw McKenzie in a stolen base attempt in KCKCC’s 4-1 nightcap win Sunday. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
The Board of Public Utilities will meet for a work session at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, at the BPU offices, 540 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
On the agenda for the work session is the board update and general manager update, followed by a cold and warm weather policy review.
The regular BPU meeting will follow at 6 p.m. at 540 Minnesota Ave.
On the agenda for the meeting are a visitors’ time; a LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corp.) update; Lineman’s Rodeo update; preliminary February financial report; board comments and general manager comments.
The BPU Finance Committee will meet from 4:15 to 5 p.m. April 3 in the board room at the BPU offices at 540 Minnesota Ave.
Two Unified Government committees are scheduled to meet on April 1.
The Neighborhood and Community Development Committee will meet at 5 p.m. Monday, April 1, at the fifth floor meeting room, 701 N. 7th St., Kansas City, Kansas.
On the agenda are Land Bank items.
The Land Bank items include an application for a yard extension at 617 S. 11th St., Roland Vaca; and a donation to the Land Bank, 3431 Barnett Ave., from Doriel Garcia.
Also on the agenda is an update on the Land Bank rehabilitation program.
After the NCD Committee meeting, the Economic Development and Finance Committee is scheduled to meet.
On the agenda is a report on the fourth quarter budget; a report on fourth quarter budget revisions, an update on the motor vehicle registration customer service program; an ordinance on the redevelopment district plan for project area 1 in the downtown grocery redevelopment district; and a resolution to create two nonprofit corporations that would acquire, develop and operate property at 5th and Minnesota in order to receive new markets tax credit financing.
