The Kansas City T-Bones are seeking donations to help victims of this week’s storms.
The club is seeking gift cards of any kind, nonperishable items and storage bins for those affected.
From Friday, May 31, through Sunday, June 9, the T-Bones will collect the items, then on a yet to be determined date after June 9, the team with players and staff will distribute the items at Basehor-Linwood High School.
Many families and businesses in the western part of the metropolitan area suffered damage, with estimates in the millions in property damage and losses.
Fans may bring the items to T-Bones Stadium during any T-Bones game to the Meat Locker located at gate A. Also, fans may come and drop off donations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on non-game days at the Saint Luke’s Box Office located at gate B. Anyone who brings an item gets four tickets to a selected T-Bones game. For more information, visit tbonesbaseball.com.
by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Members of the Kansas City Kansas Community College softball team excelled not only on the playing field but in the classroom.
On the field, six Blue Devils were named to the NJCAA Region VI All-District D team for 2019.
Academically, the team had a combined 3.59 grade point average as six players had perfect 4.0 GPAs, sophomores Kaylee Arnzen, Britney Beck, Gracie Gentry and Britney Smith and freshmen Hannah Redick and Shay Grosstephan.
Arnzen. Redick and Grosstephan were joined by Devin Purcell on the All-District team; Smith and Mackenzie Pinkerton were selected on the second team.
Equaling the second most wins in KCKCC history, the Blue Devils (38-10) defeated tri-champion Hesston twice in the District D playoffs before losing to nationally ranked Johnson County 4-2 in the champion ship game.
A first baseman from Pampa, Texas, Arnzen led the Blue Devils in most offensive categories including hitting (.379), slugging (667), home runs (10), runs-batted-in (51) and extra base hits (23).
Redick, a graduate of Shawnee Mission North, played every game at shortstop. Hitting from the leadoff position, Redick led the Blue Devils in hits with 75 while batting .368 with 37 RBI and a team high 17 doubles.
A centerfielder from Eudora, Purcell led the Blue Devils in stolen bases with 14.and committed only one error in 77 chances in the outfield. Hitting second in the batting order, she hit .354 with 12 doubles and 18 RBI.
A righthander pitcher from Girard, Kansas, Grosstephan also served as the designated hitter when not on the mound, hitting .337 with 30 RBI. On the mound, she compiled a 15-6 record with a 4.10 ERA, striking out 73 and walking 54 in 145 innings.
A second baseman from Basehor-Linwood, Smith hit .307 with 33 RBI. She also stole eight bases and had just four errors in 195 fielding chances.
Pinkerton was the Blue Devils winningest pitcher with a 16-12 record. A righthander from Channhassen, Minnesota, she also had four saves while striking out 134 and walking 91 for a 4.65 ERA. As the designated hitter, Pinkerton batted 256 with 10 doubles and 26 RBI.
Johnson County, which won the District D championship and earned a berth in the national tournament, landed three players on the first team while co-champion Hesston dominated the first team with six selections.
(National Weather Service graphic)
Today could be a break from rain, according to the National Weather Service, with sunny skies and a high near 85.
The next chance for thunderstorms will be Saturday, with a slight risk of severe weather, the weather service said. Lightning, hail, damaging winds and torrential rains are expected with the strongest storms on Saturday, according to the weather service.
River flooding continues on the Missouri River in Wyandotte County, and several other rivers in the Midwest also are flooding. Some roads are still impassable because of flooding. Residents are urged to use caution when driving.
The Missouri River at Parkville, which includes Wyandotte County in its forecast area, is in moderate flood stage, according to hydrology charts. The Kansas River at 23rd Street, where the gauge is at Kansas Avenue and the state line, is currently in minor flood stage.
Today, the high will be near 85 with a calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said.
Tonight, there will be a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 63 with a south southwest wind of 6 mph.
Saturday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., the weather service said. It will be mostly sunny, with a high near 86 and a south southwest wind of 7 to 9 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected.
Saturday night, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., with a low of 60, according to the weather service, and a northwest wind of 5 to 9 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.
Sunday, it will be sunny with a high near 77 and a northeast wind of 7 mph, the weather service said.
Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 59, according to the weather service.
Monday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 78, the weather service said.
Monday night, there is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms likely after 1 a.m., with a low of 65, according to the weather service.
Tuesday, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 82, the weather service said.
Tuesday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 58, according to the weather service.
Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 83, the weather service said.
Wednesday night, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 55, according to the weather service.
Thursday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 80, the weather service said.
The Missouri River at Parkville is currently in the moderate flood stage. (National Weather Service graphic) The Kansas River, near the Kansas-Missouri state line in Kansas City, Kansas, is currently in minor flood stage. (National Weather Service graphic)
