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 Blake Gailen gave Kansas City a lead that they would never relinquish.
Wichita actually trailed by as many as seven runs in the nine-inning contest, but were never able to fully comeback. Brenan Herrera’s two-run home run in the top of the sixth contributed to a three-run rally that got Wichita within four at 10-6, but the T-Bones scored two more in the bottom of the inning.
Wichita rallied again in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs to get within two. First baseman Jim Fasano booted a ground ball with the bases loaded to score two of the runs. David Gates was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to cut the lead to three. With the bases loaded, Michael Thompson drove a ball to deep left center that T-Bones’ left fielder Brad Correll seemed to have misjudged, but Correll recovered and made a reaching grab to take an extra-base hit away from Thompson - limiting him to a sacrifice fly. Heath Keel took a called third strike to end the inning.
Trailing by three going into the top of the ninth, the Wingnuts tried to come back again. After the first two outs were recorded by pitcher David Haehnel, the Wingnuts found themselves down to their final strike during their next there at bats, but Gailen, Chris Colton and Gates all managed to reach, including Gates reaching on an error by second baseman Rob Watson to score a run and put the tying runs on base. Michael Thompson struck out to end the game, with the play finishing at first base on a dropped third strike.
Overall, the Wingnuts managed 11 runs on just eight hits, taking advantage of five Kansas City errors. Wichita finishes their first ever spring schedule 1-2, and will now begin league play on Wednesday night versus the Sioux City Explorers. Tickets are still available for the May 7th opener. Call (316) 264-GOAL for more information.
-WINGNUTS-
