Wichita Wingnuts News

Wingnuts win, just miss shutout again

WICHITA, KS- The Wingnuts jumped out to a 3-0 lead and hung on, defeating the Sioux City Explorers 3-2 on Friday night at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.The Wingnuts got tremendous starting pitching for the second straight night, as winner Justin Young (2-0) allowed just five hits in 6 2/3 innings.  Byron Embry allowed two runs in the ninth, but… Read More

Wingnuts pitching still sharp

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- With the Wingnuts' offense enduring a recent dry spell, the pitching staff has shown itself capable of letting the hitters off the hook. Wichita delivered a pair of clutch hits in the seventh but struggled again with missed opportunities. Those didn't matter, as Justin Young delivered the Wingnuts' second… Read More

Explorers shutout Wingnuts

WICHITA, KS- The Wingnuts suffered their first ever shutout, 6-0 to the Sioux City Explorers on Saturday at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.The Explorers scored one in the first and added four in the second, thanks to a three-run double by Juan Camacho.  The Wingnuts were unable to get the clutch hit, stranding seven runners in the first five… Read More

Wingnuts, Davis shut down Canaries

WICHITA, KS- Brad Davis pitched a complete game, leading the Wingnuts to a 5-1 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries on Thursday at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.Davis stymied the Canaries, allowing just three hits, no walks and striking out seven.  The only blemish was a ninth inning home run by Beau Torbert.  Davis also had six assists.The… Read More

Davis leads Wingnuts

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Though the Wingnuts had a 7-2 home record entering Thursday's game against Sioux Falls, five of the wins had come by three runs or fewer, leading manager Kash Beauchamp to conclude that hardly any lead was safe. Against the Canaries, even the slimmest advantage was in good hands with Brad Davis. The Wichita… Read More

Wingnuts comeback falls short

WICHITA, KS- The Wingnuts fell behind 5-0, but could not come all the way back, falling 7-4 to the Sioux Falls Canaries on Wednesday at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.The Canaries scored four runs in the third inning, knocking out Wingnuts starter Demetri White.  The Wingnuts put two on the board in the fourth and got back-to-back home runs from… Read More

Miscues doom Wichita

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- In the Wingnuts' 20-game history, it has become clear that on the independent baseball level, games are just as easily lost as they are won.Wichita lost one Wednesday. The Wingnuts outhit Sioux Falls and had more flash with two long home runs, but they couldn't overcome poor pitching and defense in the Canaries'… Read More

Wingnuts start small, finish big

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- The Wingnuts' big inning on Tuesday started with something small.First baseman Stephen Pearson, looking to break out of a slump that has seen him relegated to a bench role while his average dropped to .171, led off the bottom of the third with a bunt single. It led to a six-run inning and an 8-1 Wichita win over… Read More

Road leads Wingnuts back home to Wichita

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- The Wingnuts' road trip to Lincoln lasted about 155 miles and three hours in each direction. The rest of the bus rides in the American Association aren't nearly that easy.Lincoln is the closest league city to Wichita. The Wingnuts have already endured an 18-hour bus trip this season and a 10-hour one. They could… Read More

Colorado Rockies acquire Mohr

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts announced today that the Colorado Rockies have acquired outfielder Dustan Mohr.A 12th-year pro and seven-year Major League veteran, Mohr will be making his second stint with the Rockies when he reports to their AAA affiliate the Colorado Springs Sky Sox today.Mohr split the 2005 season, his best as a pro, between… Read More

Wingnuts shoot down Canaries

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts blasted the Sioux Falls Canaries 8-1 on Tuesday night at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.The Wingnuts exploded for six runs on six hits in the third inning, sending 11 men to the plate.  David Gates knocked in two of the runs with a single and then later stole home.  Catcher Felipe Del Rosario added a two-run… Read More

Wingnuts knock off Saltdogs

LINCOLN NE- The Wichita Wingnuts withstood a torrential downpour and a 90-minute rain delay to defeat the Saltdogs 5-3 on Sunday Night.Blake Gailen - an outfielder and emergency pitcher - came into the game to pitch after the rain delay with two men on and one out in a 2-2 game.  Gailen promptly picked off a man and did so again the next… Read More

Dogs nip Nuts in 12

LINCOLN, NE- The Wichita Wingnuts dropped a 4-3 decision in 12 innings at the Lincoln Saltdogs on Saturday.Wichita out hit Lincoln 12-5, but could not get the go ahead run despite having first and second with nobody out in the top of the 12th.  Newcomer Alejandro Martinez suffered the loss for the Wingnuts.Wichita and Lincoln, who are now tied… Read More

Wingnuts snap Saltdogs win streak

LINCOLN, NE- The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Saltdogs 6-3 in Lincoln on Friday night, snapping the Saltdogs' seven-game winning streak.Brad David allowed just two earned runs in six innings and Gustavo Mata, Amad Stephens and Byron Embry each provided a scoreless inning of relief.  Both Stephens and Embry - who now leads the league with five… Read More

Mohr delivers for Wingnuts

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- A career .218 hitter in April during his seven years in the major leagues, Dustan Mohr is used to slow starts. That's why he doesn't panic when he gets off to one.Dropped from the No. 4 spot in the batting order to No. 6 because he entered Wednesday batting .171, Mohr responded by delivering a two-hit game,… Read More

Wingnuts finally lose at home

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts lost their first ever home game, falling 11-3 to the Fort Worth Cats on Thursday night.The Cats scored four runs in the fifth to blow open a 2-1 game.  Nelson Teilon and Osiel Flores hit home runs for Fort Worth.  The Wingnuts got a home run from Heath Keel.Wichita still took three out of four games from… Read More

Series sweep eludes Wingnuts

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- The game was still in doubt when Wingnuts left fielder Heath Keel took a step off third base in anticipation of the next pitch.He was discussing strategy with manager Kash Beauchamp, and neither Keel nor Beauchamp knew that Fort Worth third baseman Aaron Sisk still had the ball. When Keel strayed off the bag he… Read More

Wingnuts get past Fort Worth

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Instead of focusing on the 10 runners they left on base, a general lack of clutch hitting and an error that led to an unearned run, the Wingnuts can instead focus on the result.Wichita beat Fort Worth 5-1 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Tuesday and will wait a day to focus on the negatives, since winning has a way… Read More

Wingnuts Pitching does it again

WICHITA, KS- For the third straight night, the Wingnuts allowed a run in the first inning and then shut the door, taking a 4-3 win over the Fort Worth Cats on Wednesday at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.Starter Gustavo Mata only lasted two innings, allowing three runs, but Ronnie Ball, Amad Stephens and Byron Embry combined to allow just one hit over the… Read More

Wingnuts' Young closes down Cats

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Justin Young is a self-professed contact pitcher, one who consistently throws in the strike zone, lets batters put the ball in play and relies on his defense.In his first two starts, the Wingnuts' pitcher allowed a little too much contact -- as hitters batted .311 against him in two no-decisions.Monday, Young's… Read More

'Nuts shut down Cats again

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts got solid starting pitching for the second straight night and defeated the Fort Worth cats 5-1 on Tuesday night at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.Leonard Landeros picked up the win allowing just one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings and striking out three.  Newcomer Amad Stephens recorded two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings… Read More

Wingnuts' Embry talks good game

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Byron Embry enters a baseball game accompanied by the eerie chimes of the song "Rest in Peace" -- the theme song of the professional wrestler known as "The Undertaker."Embry wears his hat low, throws in the upper 90s and treats every save as if it were his most important one yet.The Wingnuts… Read More

Wingnuts quiet Cats

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts gave up a first inning run and shut down the Fort Worth Cats the rest of the way, taking a 2-1 win on Monday night in front of 5,211 fans at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.Justin Young pitched eight strong innings and did not allow a hit after the third inning, striking out six and walking one to earn the victory. … Read More

Wingnuts' search for talent never ends

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Filling a roster for an independent league team, especially one in its first season, incorporates a number of methods.There is some luck involved. If Dustan Mohr wasn't a friend and former teammate of Kevin Hooper, the Wingnuts likely wouldn't be the employer of Mohr, who spent much of the previous seven seasons… Read More

Wingnuts head home after 3-5 road trip

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX- The Grande Prairie Airhogs knocked off the Wichita Wingnuts 5-1 on Sunday night in Texas, taking the final two games of the three-game series.David Gates gave Wichita a short-lived lead with his second home run of the season in the second inning and now has a hit in all 11 games this season.  Starter… Read More

Airhogs ground Wingnuts

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX- The Grande Prairie Airhogs took the second game of a three-game series, defeating the Wichita Wingnuts 7-2 on Saturday night in Texas.Michael Thompson had a home run for the Wingnuts and has now recorded a hit in all 10 games this season.  Demetri White suffered the loss for Wichita, allowing seven runs in 2 1/3… Read More

Wingnuts beat Airhogs in expansion battle

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX- The Wichita Wingnuts won their second straight road game, knocking off the fellow expansion team Grand Prairie Airhogs, 4-2 on Friday night.Pitching was the star for the Wingnuts as Gustavo Mata allowed just two runs in 6 1/3 innings to pick up the victory.  Aaron Jenkins recorded the next five outs, while Byron Embry… Read More

Wingnuts take series finale at El Paso

EL PASO, TX- The Wichita Wingnuts exploded to a 12-0 lead, eventually winning 12-7 in their series finale at the El Paso Diablos. Dustan Mohr led the Wingnuts with a grand slam and five runs batted in, while Kevin Hooper added three hits.  Pitcher Leonard Landeros didn't allow a hit thru five innings, going 7 1/3 innings for the… Read More

'Nuts Bullpen can't hold lead

EL PASO, TX- The Wingnuts jumped out to a 6-2 lead but could not hold it, falling 8-6 at the El Paso Diablos on Wednesday.Everything looked to be going Wichita's way when they pulled off a triple play in the bottom of the fourth inning to stay within a run.  In the top of the fifth the Wingnuts sent 10 men to the plate, scoring five… Read More

Diablos nip Wingnuts

EL PASO, TX- The Wichita Wingnuts dropped a 5-4 decision at the El Paso Diablos today.Chris Colton gave Wichita a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning with his first home run of the season, but the Diablos jumped ahead for good in the bottom of the inning with three runs.The Wingnuts pulled within 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4, but missed a golden opportunity when… Read More

Wingnuts are thrilled with attendance so far

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Last season, the St. Paul Saints led the American Association in attendance, averaging 6,205 fans for its 48 home dates.It has been two days, but the Wingnuts are averaging 6,326 fans. That pace isn't expected to be kept up, but it's a better start than even the team expected. And it's evidence that getting fans… Read More

Gates stars as Wingnuts get road split

Eagle staff- David Gates hit a double and a home run and drove in four runs, helping the Wingnuts beat Sioux City 10-6 and earn a split of a doubleheader Sunday in Sioux City, Iowa.Wichita pounded out 15 hits in the seven-inning game, and built an 8-0 lead after 3 ½ innings. Heath Keel had three RBIs to aid the attack.Lack of timely hitting… Read More

Wingnuts split DH, make roster moves

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts split a doubleheader today losing game one 2-1 and winning game two 10-6 at the Sioux City Explorers.  The Wingnuts now own the league's best record at 4-1 with an off day on Monday.  The Wingnuts resume action at the El Paso Diablos on Tuesday morning.The Wingnuts also traded infielder Brandon Carter to… Read More

Time will tell about Wingnuts

BY BOB LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle-  Who knows what we'll be saying about the Wichita Wingnuts in a month or two. If they don't figure out their cashless system for buying concessions and souvenirs, they might be run out of town by June.I just know that for one night -- Opening Night (delayed by a day) on Thursday -- Lawrence-Dumont Stadium was a… Read More

Eighth-inning heroics in both games push Wingnuts to 3-0

BY MATT BROWNING, Wichita Eagle correspondent- It's pretty simple to evaluate the Wingnuts' performance in their doubleheader with Sioux City Friday night.Game 1 featured what it takes to be a successful club. Wichita starter Justin Young pitched well and was backed by near flawless defense. Some timely hitting late in the game completed a 4-3… Read More

Wingnuts win inaugural game

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- When Blake Gailen crossed the plate with the Wingnuts' first franchise run in the bottom of the first inning, fans were still piling into Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. A packed house for a professional baseball game in Wichita has been a rare occurrence during the last few years, but the Wingnuts accomplished it on… Read More

Wingnuts win photo slide

BY FERNANDO SALAZAR, The Wichita Eagle-  Check out the Wichita Eagle's photo spread of the Wingnuts opening night HERE.The Wingnuts won their first ever game, 7-4, on Thursday night over the Sioux City Explorers.  The near capacity crowd of 5,874 was just short of a sellout!The Wingnuts will play a doubleheader with Sioux City today… Read More

Wingnuts sweep Explorers

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts swept a doubleheader today over the Sioux City Explorers, winning both games in eight innings.Former Wichita State star Derek Schermerhorn started the rally in each game - reaching base via a single and a hit by pitch - and scored the winning run each time.The Wingnuts, now a perfect 3-0, won the first game 4-3,… Read More

Wingnuts opener on for tonight

Eagle staff- The Wingnuts' inaugural season opener against Sioux City was postponed on Wednesday because of rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Friday. Today's game will be played as scheduled at 7:05 p.m. at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.  LISTEN LIVE HERE.  Friday's doubleheader, featuring two seven-inning games, starts at… Read More

Money no good at Wingnuts games

BY DANA HERTNEKY, KSN- WICHITA, Kansas, May 7, 2008 – Its season opener was rained out, but the Wingnuts’ new cashless system got a little practice Wednesday.Watch The Video Want a hotdog at a Wingnuts game? Well you’re money’s no good at them and that doesn’t mean it’s free. The Wingnuts are the first team in… Read More

Sunday Sitdown with Kevin Hooper

KWCH TV 12-

Bruce Haertl sat down with Wichita Wingnuts shortstop Kevin Hooper on Sports Sunday this past weekend.

Check out the Interview HERE.

Wingnuts win inaugural game

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts made a huge splash in their debut, both on and off the field.  The Wingnuts defeated the Sioux City Explorers 7-4 in front of a massive crowd of 5,874 fans - just short of the 6,111 capacity.Rookie Heath Keel led the Wingnuts with three hits, while Mike Thompson and Brenan Herrera chipped in two hits… Read More

Stadium could use a little bit of TLC

BY BOB LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle-  The old ballpark shows her age with every passing winter.It sits in a pristine spot, west of the Arkansas River, with a spectacular view of Wichita's changing downtown. It is a treasure in this community, which is why we can never, ever ignore her.Lawrence-Dumont Stadium is up there in years and needs our love… Read More

Makeover: Lawrence-Dumont women's restroom edition

LORI O'TOOLE BUSELT, The Wichita Eagle- Women planning to attend today's 7:05 p.m. Wichita Wingnuts baseball home opener against the Sioux City Explorers have a surprise in store: redecorated restrooms.Three Lawrence-Dumont Stadium public women's restrooms now are repainted and revamped, each with its own theme: sunflowers, baseball and bright… Read More

Mohr reached out when career stalled

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Dustan Mohr took a deep breath, swallowed his pride and started dialing. He still hadn't fully come to grips with how, after spending much of the previous seven years in the major leagues, he had been unable to find a job.But he was finally ready to do something about it.So this winter he called Kevin Hooper, a… Read More

Wingnuts forge different path

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- The Wranglers finished last in the Texas League in attendance from 2004-07, a major reason they relocated to Arkansas.If the Wingnuts plan to bring more fans to Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, they've taken an interesting first step.Chris Presson, president of Wichita's American Association independent baseball team,… Read More

Wingnuts Media Day Tuesday

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts, proud member of the American Association of Professional Baseball (AA), will hold Media Day on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.All Wingnuts players and coaches will be on in hand for interviews and pictures.  The media will also get their first look at the 2008 Wingnuts uniforms.The Wingnuts… Read More

Wingnuts provide a different brand of minor-league ball

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- There will be no first-round draft picks, no top prospects, no big-money players.Independent baseball, by definition, is starkly different from affiliated ball, in which a major-league organization focuses its efforts first on developing players and second on winning.Billy Butler and Alex Gordon, former top… Read More

Wingnuts comeback falls short

KANSAS CITY, KS- The Wichtia Wingnuts dropped their final game of the spring, 13-11 to the Kansas City T-Bones on Sunday evening at Community America Ballpark.  Kevin Hooper led off the game with a home run off T-Bones’ starter Keny Durost’s second pitch.  But a four-run bottom of the inning against Wingnuts’ starter… Read More

Wingnuts earn first exhibition win

KANSAS CITY, KS– The Wichita Wingnuts picked up their first win of the exhibition season, defeating the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks 3-2 at Community America Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.Four Wichita pitchers held the Redhawks to just three hits over nine innings. Starter Brad Davis retired the first nine batters to face him, before allowing two… Read More

Wingnuts to see first action tonight

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts, proud member of the American Association of Professional Baseball (AA), will play their first ever game tonight, when they face the Lincoln Saltdogs at 7:05 p.m. in an exhibition game in Beatrice, Nebraska (weather permitting).Left handed pitcher Leonard Landeros (pronounced lan-DARE-ose) will get the start… Read More

Wingnuts drop exhibition opener

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts, proud member of the American Association of Professional Baseball (AA), played their first ever game and dropped a 7-2 decision to the Lincoln Saltdogs in a rain shortened game at Beatrice, Nebraska tonight.The Wingnuts fell behind early, with starting pitcher Leonard Landeros allowing five runs in the first… Read More

Starting from scratch

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Derek Schermerhorn's first professional baseball season included a promotion within the Chicago Cubs organization and ended with his release. But he wasn't about to let his pro career end after 146 at-bats.Looking for a path back to affiliated ball, Schermerhorn accepted an offer this winter to play for the… Read More