Sports

   Kansas City Kansas Community College’s top three hitters this spring have earned All-Jayhawk Conference post-season baseball honors.

   Sophomore outfielder Shaun Williams of Wichita Northwest was named to the first All-Jayhawk team; shortstop Jacob Woods of Blue Springs was selected on the second team; and first baseman Dean Long of Lebanon, Mo., earned honorable mention. Woods and Long are both freshmen.

   The Blue Devils, who finished 32-26 overall and 20-16 in the Jayhawk, made a big comeback in the super regional playoffs. After an opening round 9-4 loss to Pratt, the Blue Devils eliminated Cloud County 11-8 and had an early 3-0 lead on Jayhawk East champion Johnson County before losing 5-3 in 10 innings on two unearned runs. The season was also highlighted by head coach Steve Burleson’s 1,000th win at KCKCC.

   In addition to hitting .322 with 19 runs batted in, Williams was a defensive standout for the Blue Devils with 111 putouts, four outfield assists and only one error in 55 games.

   Woods led the Blue Devils in hitting with a .381 batting average while driving in 38 runs while Long hit .360 and led the team in RBI with 44 and extra base hits with 22 including four home runs.

   Outfielder Dave Richards of Grain Valley, who hit .297 with four home runs and 21 RBI, and Cowley transfer R.J. Barnes, who hit .271 with 10 RBI in36 games sharing catching duties, are the only other position starters who will be lost.

   Returning starters in addition to Woods and Longinclude centerfielder Andrew Kreiling of Raymore-Peculiar, who hit .308 with 31 RBI; third baseman Poncho Amaya of Harmon, who batted .306 with 39 RBI; outfielder Trent Sullivan of Blue Valley, .255 with 12 RBI; and catcher Caleb Waddell of Killen, Ala., .198 with 10 RBI.

   Several middle infielders who split starting time will also return including Zac Butler of Blue Springs, who hit .519 in 10 games; Matt Dye of Liberty, .344 in 30 games; Brandon Witt of Cleveland, Ohio, .304 in 18 games; and Landon Teal of Harrisonville, .222 in 13 games. Both Butler, who also was the starting pitcher in 10 games, and Teal were hampered by injuries.

   The pitching staff, however, faces a major rebuilding with the loss of three starters and closer Parker McDaniel of Tulsa, who was 4-3 with a 3.74 ERA in a team-high 22 appearances. Starters departing are Mark Speckles of Olathe East, who was 3-3 with a 4.81 ERA in 12 games as a starter and reliever; Jesse Foulk of Olathe, 4-3 with a 5.94 ERA in 11 starts; and Payton Bosserman of Grain Valley, 2-6 with a 6.11 ERA in 10 starts.

   Dylan Donley of Raymore-Peculiar and Zac Butler will return as starters. Donley led the Blue Devils in wins (5-4) and ERA (2.77) in 11 starts while Butler was 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA in 10 starts. Other returnees who worked at least 18 or more innings include Tyler Lankford of Derby, 2-2 and 2.75; Derrick Winter of West Des Moines, 3-1 and 5.13; Landon Teal, 2-0 and 5.30; and Cisco Medina of Boulder, Colo., 3-0 and 6.21.

   The 18th annual golf classic to benefit the Sisters, Servants of Mary, is set for Friday, June 29, at Dub’s Dread Golf Course, 126th and Hollingsworth Road, Kansas City, Kan. Proceeds will go toward renovating the Sisters’ convent. 

   Registration for the golf classic begins at 11 a.m. with lunch at 11:45 a.m.  Amino Brothers Co., Inc., is the lunch sponsor. At 12:20 p.m., the Sisters will participate in the annual putting contest. 

   The four-person scramble and shotgun start will be at 1 p.m. The hole-in-one prize is a 2012 Jeep Cherokee with additional par three prizes sponsored by Overland Park Jeep Dodge Chrysler. The day will conclude at 5 p.m. with beverages, appetizers and an awards program. 

   The golf event is open to men and women. Registration fee is $400 for a team of four or $125 per individual golfer and includes lunch, green fees, golf cart and refreshments. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. 

   The Men’s Support Group of the Sisters, Servants of Mary, holds the annual event. The Sisters, Servants of Mary, provide in-home nursing care for the homebound and seriously ill throughout the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan area, free of charge. For more information or a registration form for the golf scramble, visit www.servingfromtheheart.com or contact George Gallup, 913-342-5018.

   The Kansas City T-Bones have completed their opening day roster.  

   Kansas City’s 23-man roster includes 12 pitchers and 11 positional players. The 2012 version of the T-Bones is vastly different from the 2011 club that finished the season in fifth-place with a 48-52 record. The only returning players are pitchers Devin Anderson, Drew Graham, Brian Grening and Matt Mitchell, and catcher Kala Ka’aihue.

   The newcomers include outfielder Brandon Jones, who played in 51 games for the Atlanta Braves during 2007-09; first baseman Lee Cruz, who has spent most of his professional career in the Chicago White Sox and Houston organizations; and infielder Sean Henry, who played in the minor league system for the New York Mets, Cincinnati and Atlanta.

   The opening day roster also includes several players with Kansas City ties, including Beau Stoker, who went to Bishop Ward High School, Lucas Irvine from Liberty, Mo., Bubby Williams, who’s from Blue Springs, Mo., and Matt Garza, who played at Maple Woods Community College. 

   The T-Bones placed two players on the inactive list, including former Olathe North and University of Kansas standout Gus Milner, and pitcher Kyle Dahman.

   The T-Bones will open the 10th regular season on Thursday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark against the New Jersey Jackals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. 

Participating in the 31st annual Golf Classic benefiting Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas were, left to right, Craig Gaffney, Archbishop Joseph Naumann, and Ben Zarda. (Submitted photo)

   Homeless men and many area families will receive much needed support from the Ben and Betty Zarda Family 31st Annual Golf Classic benefiting Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas.

   The more than $150,000 raised will help to support the more than 85,000 people in need that Catholic Charities helps annually. Some funds will support renovations at Shalom House, Wyandotte County’s only homeless men’s shelter, which provides a warm meal, safe place to shower and sleep, case management and more to 25 men daily. 

   “My family and I are very proud to support the community’s vital safety net that is Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas,” Ben Zarda, Golf Classic Founder, said. “I had the pleasure of serving the men of Shalom House myself one evening, and know that there are many good people who just need a hand up. Catholic Charities can be that hand up.” 

   The 31st Annual Golf Classic was held on Monday, May 14, at Lake Quivira Country Club. More than 144 golfers enjoyed a lunch, day on the course, dinner reception including auction and awards ceremony. For more information , see www.catholiccharitiesgolfclassic.org. 

Participating in the charity golf tournament May 14 was this Board of Public Utilities team, left to right, Bill Johnson, Don Gray, Bob Adam and Pat Knefel. (Submitted photo)