Bulldogs Shine in GKC Softball Tournament

The Kearney Bulldogs softball team traveled to Adair Field in Independence, MO, to play in the Greater Kansas City Suburban Softball Invitational on Friday and Saturday, August 30 and 31. The players’ bats were hungry as the Bulldogs took four of five games in the tournament.

Game one was against the Grain Valley Eagles and was the Bulldogs’ only loss of the tournament. Alyssa Quick pitched at the start of the game, giving up two runs on two hits. Kate Landewee relieved Quick in the third inning and gave up an additional run but struck out five and walked one. Ryleigh Van Emmerik and Kennedi Casey each collected one hit for Kearney, but the Eagles shut out the Bulldogs, 3-0.

Photo by Vanessa Lincoln

Game two was played against the Odessa Bulldogs. Kearney started strong in the first inning after Kennedi Casey singled, scoring one run. They added to their early lead in the top of the third inning with Jocelyn Lincoln scoring a run. Odessa took the lead, 4-3, in the bottom of the third, but Ryleigh Van Emmerik singled, which helped Kearney Varsity Bulldogs tie the game in the fourth, and Casey singled, and Brooke Paalhar doubled, each scoring one run. Reghan Lueken earned the 6-4 win for Kearney.

Van Emmerik, Macy Morrow, and Casey each racked up two hits for Kearney Varsity Bulldogs. Casey went 2-for-2 at the plate and led the team with two runs batted in.

The Bulldogs came away victorious in Game 3 against the Pleasant Hill Chicks 8-4. Brooke Paalhar singled, scoring one run, Kate Stumpenhaus singled, scoring one run, Jocelyn Lincoln homered to right field, scoring three runs, and Reese Narron grounded out, scoring one run, all in the first inning. In the second inning Brooke homered to center field, scoring two runs.

The Bulldogs accumulated 11 hits in the game. Ryleigh Van Emmerik, Lincoln, Paalhar, and Kennedi Casey each collected two hits for Kearney Varsity Bulldogs. Lincoln and Paalhar each drove in three runs.

Photo by Vanessa Lincoln

Kearney earns a walk-off victory over the Platte County Pirates in Game 4 by a score of 7-5. The Bulldogs were down 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Jocelyn Lincoln homered to center field, scoring three runs. Lincoln drove in six runners in the win.

Kearney piled up 10 hits in the game. Lincoln and Paalhar each collected three hits for Kearney and Landewee collected two hits in two at bats.

The Bulldogs came away with another walk off win in Game 5 against the Lee’s Summit West Titans, 5-4. Kearney tied the game at three in the bottom of the fifth when Brooke Paalhar doubled. A walk in the top of the seventh gave the Titans the lead but Kennedi Casey singled, and Stumpenhaus hit into a fielder's choice, each scoring one run in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.

Kearney will travel to Blue Springs for their next game on Wednesday.

Brian Watts contributed to this story.

KPGZ Radio Adds Softball to Bulldog Sports Coverage

102.7FM KPGZ is excited to announce it is adding radio coverage of Kearney High School home softball games to the Bulldog Radio Network this fall. This will be the first season the radio station has covered softball games.

Bulldog radio network announcers Kelly Gentry and Eric Stevens will be calling the home softball games beginning at 5 pm on Tuesday, September 10, when the Bulldogs face Staley High School.

“WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE BRING BULLDOG SOFTBALL TO 102.7, AND THAT OUR LISTENERS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC TO HAVE THE SOFTBALL GAMES ON THE RADIO.” - BRIAN WATTS. PHOTO BY RAY WEIKAL.

“We had great success announcing Bulldog baseball games this spring,” said 102.7FM general manager Brian Watts. “We are excited to be able bring Bulldog softball to KPGZ, and that our listeners are enthusiastic to have the softball games on the radio.”

Parents and fans requested softball and baseball games to be broadcast on the radio station last year, but logistics and the time frame of getting the broadcast setup were obstacles for the station. With more time, KPGZ was able to work on the details and can now produce quality game broadcasts for fans.

Bulldog sports game broadcasts bring a vast audience to the radio station. Broadcasts of high school sports bring double or triple the listening audience to 102.7FM. The station now broadcasts football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball to a wide audience around the world on the radio, their website 1027KearneyMO.com and the KPGZ mobile app.

Sponsorship spaces are available at all levels and can be reserved now by calling Brian Watts at 816-826-1111.

Jim Dickerson contributed to this story.