Wichita Wingnuts News

Wingnuts Win, Finish First Half 26-21

WICHITA, KS - Saturday night the Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Sioux City Explorers by a final score of 9-7 at Lewis and Clark Park.  The Wingnuts faced deficits of 4-0 and 5-1, but utilized a four-run sixth inning to take their first lead.Steve Pearson hit a two-run double to tie the game at five, while Jose Amado followed with an RBI single… Read More

Question marks make a statement

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- The Wingnuts started the season with uncertainty around he infield. Wichita knew what it had in Kevin Hooper, a former major leaguer who was approaching 1,000 professional hits. But the rest of the group -- which included since-departed players David Gates and Derek Schermerhorn -- was a major question mark. With… Read More

Salazar Leads 'Nuts to Second Straight

WICHITA, KS - Friday night the Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Sioux City Explorers by a score of 4-2 at Lewis and Clark Park.Richard Salazar earned his second consecutive win, allowing two runs on four hits in 5.1 IP. Salazar struck out a season-high six while walking just one.Kevin Hooper collected three hits for the second straight game and… Read More

Wingnuts pull away from Sports

WICHITA, KS- After going back and forth for six innings, the Wingnuts blew open a tie game with five runs in the seventh, taking a 10-5 victory over the Shreveport Sports in front of 3,351 fans on Wednesday Night at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.The Wingnuts sent nine men to the plate in the seventh, racking up five singles.  Stephen Pearson went… Read More

Wingnuts win after early drama

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- When the umpires made a late infield-fly call in the bottom of the first inning on Tuesday, it was evident the Wingnuts were about to become involved in the season's latest episode of manager drama. Shreveport skipper Terry Bevington didn't disappoint. He was ejected shortly after he began protesting the call,… Read More

Sports shut down Wingnuts

WICHITA, KS- A night after allowing 16 runs and 19 hits, the Shreveport Sports held Wichita to just seven hits in a 4-2 victory on Tuesday night at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. A nice crowd of 3,288 fans saw the Wingnuts jump out to a 2-0 lead after three innings, but that would be it for Wichita.  Shreveport took the lead on a two-out, bases… Read More

Sports hold on for win

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- To Wingnuts manager Kash Beauchamp, the fact that the Wingnuts followed Monday's 16-run performance with a two-run output against Shreveport on Tuesday wasn't representative of a random two-game sample but of a big-picture issue. Wichita squandered several scoring opportunities and blew a late lead in a 4-2 loss… Read More

Wingnuts throttle Sports

WICHITA, KS- The Wingnuts offense exploded in record fashion tonight, taking a 16-2 victory over the Shreveport Sports at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. Leading 4-0 in the sixth, Wichita sent 15 batters to the plate, scoring 12 runs.  Blake Gailen started the inning with a two-run double and finished it with a three-run homer. Nine Wingnuts players… Read More

Wingnuts ride 12-run inning

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- The Wingnuts scored more runs than they had in the previous four games combined, and Blake Gailen needed just an inning to establish a team record for RBIs. Perhaps taking out their frustration over dimming playoff hopes that officially were dashed Monday, Wichita used a 12-run sixth inning to beat Shreveport and… Read More

El Paso takes series finale

WICHITA, KS- The Diablos jumped out to a 3-0 lead, en route to a 5-2 victory over the Wingnuts on Sunday at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.Byron Smith led the way for El Paso with three hits, including a three-run home run.  Kevin Hooper went 3-5 for Wichita.  Jusef Frias took the victory, Justin Young suffered the loss and Mike Cervera recorded… Read More

Multiple mistakes eliminate Wingnuts' shot at victory

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Saturday's loss to El Paso was the Wingnuts' most devastating defeat of the season, since it left in peril Wichita's chances to win the American Association North Division. Sunday, when the Diablos defeated Wichita 5-2 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, the Wingnuts reached their low point. Bad baserunning and mental… Read More

'Nuts shake up roster

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts made a handful of roster moves today, as they gear up for the second half of the season.The Wingnuts added outfielder Leivi Ventura (pronounced LEV-ee), re-signed designated hitter Jose Amado and released outfielder Heath Keel.  The Wingnuts also placed infielder David Gates on the disabled list.Ventura joins… Read More

Wingnuts fall before record crowd

WICHITA, KS- The Wingnuts dropped a tough 4-3 decision to the El Paso Diablos, but it was not a total loss as a record crowd of 8,225 fans packed Lawrence Dumont Stadium tonight. Without an available starter, reliever Doug Hurn got the nod and took a 1-0 lead into the sixth.  The bullpen, however; allowed three runs in the inning and one more… Read More

Wingnut hopes fade

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- After a win on Friday night, the Wingnuts' clubhouse was filled with hope, resonated through the bass-pumping music and childlike banter between players who had a spot in the postseason on their minds. Following Saturday's 4-3 loss to El Paso at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, there was no music, no banter and little… Read More

Wingnuts win, move closer to first

WICHITA, KS- The Wingnuts inched a little closer to first place with an 8-3 win over the El Paso Diablos on Friday Night at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. The Wingnuts jumped on the board in the first inning thanks to a leadoff triple by Kevin Hooper and an RBI from Blake Gailen.  The Nuts then blew open a 4-1 game with a four-run sixth inning.… Read More

Salazar's start boosts Wingnuts

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Entering Friday, Richard Salazar had made 192 professional relief appearances and four starts. If he learns a windup and figures out how to control his digestive system, Salazar could be a perfect fit for the Wingnuts' rotation. Salazar stepped into the N 5 starter's role and pitched six innings, allowing two… Read More

Wingnuts Drop Series, Fall 8-1

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Thursday night the Wichita Wingnuts fell back to 3.5 games out of first place, dropping an 8-1 decision to the Sioux Falls Canaries.Wichita took an early 1-0 lead on a two-out RBI single by Bernie Dennis in the top of the second.  The Canaries took a lead they would not relinquish, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third… Read More

Wichita playing Kashball

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Barreling into the catcher on a play at the plate when necessary is just as much an aspect of Kash Beauchamp baseball as laying down a sacrifice bunt. Beauchamp prefers a player who is willing to do both. The Wingnuts manager preaches equal parts small ball and hardball. He learned an aggressive style during the… Read More

Mata, Pearson Lead Wingnuts to Crucial Win

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Wednesday night the Wichita Wingnuts moved back within 2.5 games of first place with a 5-1 win over the division-leading Sioux Falls Canaries. Gustavo Mata earned his third win of the year, allowing one earned run in eight strong innings. Steve Pearson led the offense hitting two doubles and driving in two runs.Wichita jumped on… Read More

Wingnuts Swept in Double Header

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Tuesday night the Wichita Wingnuts dropped both ends of a double header to the Sioux Falls Canaries, losing 2-0 in game one and 10-2 in the nightcap.Justin Young pitched a complete game in the losing effort in the first match, allowing two runs in six innings pitched. The Canaries scratched out single runs in the second and fourth… Read More

Sioux Falls sweeps Wingnuts

Eagle staff- Sioux Falls pitchers silenced the Wingnuts for 13 consecutive innings in a 2-0 and 10-2 sweep on Tuesday in Sioux Falls, S.D.The Canaries (23-13) took a 1 ½-game lead over St. Paul in the American Association's North Division. Wichita (20-17), which got its lone runs in the seventh inning of the nightcap, fell 3 ½ games… Read More

Saints salvage final game of series

WICHITA, KS- The St. Paul Saints snapped Wichita's four-game win streak, taking a 12-4 win over the Wingnuts on Sunday at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. Wingnuts starter Ronnie Ball struggled, going just two-plus innings as the Saints built a 5-0 lead.  Wichita pulled within 5-2 in the fourth inning, but the Saints piled up six more runs in the… Read More

Wingnuts don't show much fight

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- The Wingnuts and St. Paul narrowly avoided more on-field drama and the Saints easily avoided a three-game sweep at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, beating Wichita 12-4 on Sunday afternoon. A play at home plate riled up the Saints, but it didn't come close to escalating to the level of Saturday, when Wichita closer Byron… Read More

After brawl, Wingnuts win

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- The St. Paul Saints apparently don't take kindly to "Hakuna Matata" or attempted beanballs. The hard feelings between St. Paul and the Wingnuts on Saturday started when the Saints took exception to the Disney music played during their batting practice. It boiled over when Wichita closer Byron Embry… Read More

Thompson chasing diamond dreams

By Bob Lutz, The Wichita Eagle- It's 1 o'clock in the afternoon, a little more than six hours before game time at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, and Michael Thompson is awaiting an interview inside the Wingnuts' dugout. It's a time he asked for, since he's always at the park early anyway. No other player will arrive for a while. Thompson probably even… Read More

St. Paul remains independent force

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Fans in Wichita are getting their first look at the St. Paul Saints, independent baseball's flagship franchise, during their three-game series with the Wingnuts at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The real fun, according to those who have experienced it, is getting to witness a game in St. Paul's Midway Stadium. That's… Read More

Wingnuts trim Saints' lead

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Catching second-place Sioux Falls is the No. 1 item on the Wingnuts' checklist, but the real target is St. Paul, which leads the American Association North Division. That's why it's nearly impossible to overstate the importance of Wichita's three-game series with the Saints at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The… Read More

Wingnuts KO Saints

WICHITA, KS - Saturday night the Wichita Wingnuts moved within half a game of first place in the North Division with a 5-2 win over the St. Paul Saints at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Brad Davis earned his fourth win of the season, allowing two earned runs in eight strong innings.Kevin Hooper and Steve Pearson led the offense going a combined 4-7 with… Read More

Wingnuts Grind Past Saints

WICHITA, KS- Friday night the Wichita Wingnuts defeated the St. Paul Saints 7-5 in the opening game of a three-game series at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.  The game featured three lead changes, with the Wingnuts scoring the winning runs in the bottom half of the sixth.Brenan Herrera went 3-4, and hit a two-run homerun off of the scoreboard, his… Read More

Wingnuts explode past Saltdogs

WICHITA, KS- The Wingnuts inched closer to first place in the North Division, blasting the Lincoln Saltdogs 10-3 on Wednesday Night at Lawrence Dumont Stadium in front of a crowd of 3,351 fans.The Wingnuts put three runs on the board in the second inning and added five runs in the third to blow the game open.  Chris Colton knocked in three and… Read More

Wingnuts flex muscles on offense

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Since Dustan Mohr had his contract purchased by the Colorado Rockies on May 27, the Wingnuts have been searching for someone to replace the void the seven-year major league veteran left in the offense. While Wichita has made trades and signed free agents, the last two nights have proved that the best options to… Read More

Wingnuts Washed Away

WICHITA, KS - Thursday night's game between the Wichita Wingnuts and the Lincoln Saltdogs has been postponed due to inclement weather.Four innings were completed, with Wichita taking a 4-2 lead.  However, play stopped prior to the start of the fifth inning due to lightning, heavy rains, and a tornado warning.  Both teams waited close to… Read More

Keel leads Wingnuts' comeback win

WICHITA, KS- Heath Keel hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, keying a five-run inning, as the Wingnuts came back to defeat the Lincoln Saltdogs 8-5 on Tuesday Night at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.Keel finished the night 3-4 - a double shy of the cycle - with a stolen base, four RBI's and two runs scored.  Blake Gailen added… Read More

Keel's big day sparks Wingnuts to come-from-behind win

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Heath Keel carefully watched the at-bat before his and stepped to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning with what he felt was a sound approach. Lincoln reliever Vince Davis had just walked pinch hitter David Gates on five pitches, giving Keel a chance to provide a game-changing hit. "There was a base… Read More

Getting a second chance

Independent leagues can help ease the anguish of players cut loose by big-league organizations. BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- There is no direct path to independent baseball. Players end up there after productive major-league careers, mediocre college seasons and years toiling in the minors. The most difficult path, however, is settling for… Read More

Beauchamp suspended two games

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts announced today that manager Kash Beauchamp has been suspended by the American Association for two additional games, following his ejection on Saturday Night at St. Paul.Beauchamp was suspended for Sunday’s series finale at St. Paul and will miss Wichita’s home games tonight and tomorrow versus the… Read More

Wingnuts conclude tough trip with loss

Eagle staff- The St. Paul Saints used two big innings to knock out the Wingnuts, taking the final game of a weekend series 9-7 on Sunday in St. Paul, Minn. Wichita took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but St. Paul responded with five runs in the bottom of the third -- two of which scored on bases-loaded walks. The Wingnuts used a four-run fifth to… Read More

Games add meaning in short run

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- A major-league baseball season is 162 games, making it difficult to place significant importance on any one game. Lose one and it can be brushed off with the "it's a long season" cliche. Not so in the American Association, a league in which teams vie for playoff contention during two 48-game halves. The… Read More

Saints top Wingnuts 5-4 in 10

Eagle staff-Andrew Bennett hit a bases-loaded fielder's choice in the bottom of the 10th inning Saturday night to lift the St. Paul Saints to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Wingnuts.St. Paul, the American Association's North Division leaders, rallied from 2-0 and 4-2 deficits to force extra innings. Brent Krause's solo home run in the eighth tied… Read More

Wingnuts pound first place Saints

ST. PAUL, MN- The Wichita Wingnuts throttled the St. Paul Saints 12-2 on Friday Night, pulling to within 1.5 games of first place.Michael Thompson led the way for Wichita, going 3-4 with his fifth home run of the season and four RBI's, as Wichita scored in five of the first six innings.  Stephen Pearson and Chris Colton both went 2-4 with a… Read More

Wingnuts add power, experience

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts added experience and power to the lineup tonight, signing former Wichita Wrangler Jose Amado.A 33-year-old veteran infielder out of San Cristobal, Venezuela, Amado played for the Wichita Wranglers in 1999 and 2000.  He hit .290 in 1999 with a career-high 13 home runs and 93 runs batted in.  Amado… Read More

Wingnuts on Heavy Pork Saturday

The Heavy Metal Music based local TV show "Heavy Pork" recorded an episode of their show at the Wichita Wingnuts doubleheader versus the Sioux City Explorers on Friday, May 9th.That episode will air this Saturday night around Midnight on KSAS Fox-24 or Cox Communications Channel 4.  Be sure to tune in!You can check out more… Read More

Wingnuts rained out Thursday

Sioux Falls, SD- The Wichita Wingnuts game at the Sioux Falls Canaries was postponed due to rain on Thursday.  The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on June 17th.  The Wingnuts will begin at three-game series at the first place St. Paul Saints on Friday at 7:05 p.m.

-WINGNUTS-

Sioux Falls tops Wingnuts with Torbert's 2 homers

Eagle staff- Beau Torbert homered twice, including a tiebreaking shot to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning, boosting Sioux Falls to a 9-7 victory over the visiting Wingnuts on Wednesday. Sioux Falls scored two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to send Wichita to its third straight loss. Torbert, Josh Patton and Ben Van Inderstine… Read More

Francisco, Explorers stymie Wingnuts

WICHITA, KS- The Wingnuts were held scoreless until the 10th inning, but their one run was not enough, as they fell 3-1 to Sioux City on Monday at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. Explorers' starter Alexander Francisco pitched nine scoreless innings, allowing just four hits, to run his record to 5-0.  The Explorers scored three runs in the top of the… Read More

Sioux City 10th inning throttles Wingnuts

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- For a team looking to permanently break out of a hitting slump, Alexander Francisco was probably the last pitcher the Wingnuts wanted to see. Francisco has played the role of stopper for Sioux City this season, entering with a 4-0 record and earning the decision in more than half of the Explorers' seven wins.… Read More

Wingnuts shake up roster

WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts made a handful of roster moves as they begin a six-game road trip tonight at 7:05 p.m. with the Sioux Falls Canaries.The Wingnuts traded infielder Derek Schermerhorn to the Sioux City Explorers in exchange for outfielder/designated hitter Geoff Wagner.  Wagner played just five games with the Explorers, picking… Read More

Wingnuts drop second straight

Sioux Falls, SD- After taking 10 innings to score a single run last night, it took the Wingnuts just two batters tonight, but that was it as Wichita fell 5-1 at the Sioux Falls Canaries. Wichita's lone run came on a leadoff triple by Kevin Hooper, followed by an RBI ground out by Blake Gailen.  The Wingnuts recorded just three more hits after… Read More

Wingnuts offense comes alive

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- The step forward the Wingnuts' offense took Sunday paled in comparison to the leap made by center fielder Chris Colton. Mired in a 1-for-29 slump that saw his batting average drop 44 points, Colton broke out with three singles and three runs scored. Wichita used a three-run fifth inning to beat Sioux City 5-1 at… Read More

High Hopes for Wichita Wingnuts

Check out KWCH reporter Megan Strader's story on the Wingnuts, their nutty fans and the Nut House section at Lawrence Dumont Stadium.

You can watch the story HERE.

Wingnut offense struggles

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- The end of the fourth inning was probably a good time for an on-field promotion featuring Wingnuts manager Kash Beauchamp kicking a football. Wichita had just left the bases loaded and any outlet for Beauchamp to release some frustration was a good one. Beauchamp didn't get rid of all his frustration, though. He… Read More

No Mohr means less power

BY JEFFREY LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- It can't be argued that the Wingnuts are better off without Dustan Mohr. He brought to the team a component that is nearly impossible to replace: multiple years of major league experience and production. Add to that the fact that, at 31, Mohr is still in his prime, and his departure represents a big blow to the… Read More

Hooper still enjoying every moment

BY BOB LUTZ, The Wichita Eagle- Pete Rose finished his career with 4,256 hits. You think he remembers every one? No way. Not even someone as self-absorbed as Rose can remember that many hits. Kevin Hooper -- former Wichita State Shocker, current Wichita Wingnut -- has exactly one hit in the big leagues. He remembers it. He'll always remember it. It… Read More

Wingnuts get back on track

WICHITA, KS- The Wingnuts broke open a 1-1 game with three runs in the fifth, cruising to a 5-1 win over the Sioux City Explorers on Sunday at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. Chris Colton led the attack with three hits and three runs, while Stephen Pearson knocked in a pair.  Demetri White (1-3) picked up the victory in relief. The Wingnuts and… Read More