Varsity Kansas - The Blog

by joanna

And my weekly post updating you about area football continues here. Please feel free to check the archives for June if you want to see updates on other teams, including Kapaun, Hutchinson, Derby, Conway Springs, etc.

I spoke with Garden Plain coach Todd Puetz, who kindly took a few moments out from baling hay to talk with me about his team.  Sadly, he is not a reader of this blog, says he’s too busy. He proceeded to tell me about the farm as well as he and his wife are expecting their seventh child. So congrats to them and I’m glad that he, ever the accomodating coach,  gave those minutes to me.  And you.

Here’s what he had to say:

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By J. Long

Flipping through the page’s of Clifford Normore’s photo album was the perfect finishing touch.

Hopefully you got a chance to check out my story from Sunday, “Playing on a Different Field,” looking at the declining rate of blacks in youth baseball. While I’ve already shared my thoughts about this subject (here) there’s something that I didn’t get a chance to really get into. The historical value of blacks in baseball.

I’m not a history buff, but one of the byproducts of baseball losing black youth is that the the struggles and successes of the pioneers who came before them could ultimately be forgotten. I grew up playing baseball. I loved playing it the moment I stepped on the field at five. However, I didn’t love the game until about the age of 12. I fell in love after learning the plight that people of color and those that helped them had to endure just to swing a bat at a little white ball.

I truly believe that you can’t have love for something until you sit back and take the time to appreciate what that object of admiration has been through.

That’s why after spending all that time out in neighborhood centers and on the phone with so many people it was Mr. Normore’s photo album that gave me that unique feeling. The type of feeling you get from listening to your favorite old-school jam or seeing a show  you used to plan your life around. Seeing all of those black kids on the diamond in his pictures reminded me of the love I once had and brought to my attention that its up to me to help others discover that love.

by joanna

On a very busy day that included swim lessons, covering the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame induction and going to the ASA state softball tournament at TRYC, I squeezed in time to watch some basketball at Derby’s MAYB tournament — and go to Talliano’s for pizza (yum!). I saw teams from Campus, Conway Springs, Chaparral, Hutchinson Trinity, Wichita Trinity and Heights. I saw Derby coach Ryan Herrs, Heights coach Joe Auer and Wichita Trinity coach David Swank.

Trinity had Cort Lindley and Cole Graddy — who says he’s just playing for fun, that he really does have no intention of trying to play in college. Lindley’s brother Chance was there, too. He’s now an assistant coach for Arizona’s women’s team.

Heights was the most impressive team there. This is obviously a very young team that included Perry Ellis and Gavin Thurman — both of whom I saw for the first time.

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by joanna

I believe the dynamic between parents and their athlete children is definitely interesting. Kids whose parents are coaches tend to know the game extremely well, but it has to be tough to have your parent yelling at you in front of a lot of people and then somehow you have to turn that off at home.

Some kids want their parents to push them, others want to be left alone, some need pushing, others have the aggressiveness inside of them. Tonight at the state softball tournament at TRYC, I saw a mom groan, put her hands to her mouth and spin around after her daughter struck out. She then said, that last pitch is always high. Her daughter heard her and promptly said “shut up.” I laughed, although I’m not really sure what I think about it.

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by joanna

I went out to the state softball tournament at TRYC tonight — I plan on being out there this weekend for a story that I’m working on. And I looked around at all the parents, sweating through their shirts as they suffered through the gawd-awful humidity and heat. And I was impressed.

Yes, I know that there are plenty of parents living through their children, parents who push too hard, parents who are jerks, but you know what? They have to love their kids to sit in that heat.

And after leaving there I went to see a couple basketball games at Wichita Collegiate — and my feeling of love for parents died quickly. The games were fine, it wasn’t too awful hot in the little gyms. And then there was a foul that went against one team. It was an OK call. Could have gone either way. But it went against this parent’s kid, so she followed up her berating of the officials with “Next time you foul, really foul.”

Man, I hate that stuff. That’s like asking the kid to hurt another kid because you’re mad at the official. Unbelievable.

by joanna

I got this earlier in the day, but I couldn’t get it up until now because I was out working.

But we finally have them all the all-state softball teams named by the Kansas Coaches Association. Enjoy.

Softball
Coaches All-State
Class 4A
First Team, Pitchers-Nikki Armagost, Andover Central; Starr McLeod,
Girard; Karley Schmelzer, Andale. C-Kayla Sears, Augusta; Jamie Voigts,
Ottawa. IF-Alysha Poteat, Girard; Kaitlin Martin, Andale; Erin Carney,
Andale; Kristin Harris, Paola. OF-Natalie Nelson, Paola; Mackenzie
Salzman,  Eudora; Lauren Himpel, Tonganoxie. Utility-Kylee Mader, Paola.
Second Team
P-Hallie Ray, Ottawa; Katie Logan, Clay Center; Erin Schmidt, Haven.
C-Evan Folks, Eudora; Chelsee Eck,  Andale. IF-Lindsay Doyle, Haven;
Ariel Vinze, Girard; Alex Zordel, Baldwin; Rachael Aguirre, Augusta.
OF-Heather Goetz, Pratt; Kelsee Farmer, Augusta. Utility-Lindsey Himpel,
Tonganoxie.

by joanna

I want to know who you think it will be. It was only a few years ago that Northwest grad Kamerion Wimbley was picked in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. It was a decade ago that Korleone Young, who went to East, went in the second round of the NBA Draft. It was four years ago that Caroline Bruce, a Wichita Trinity grad, went to the Olympics (I know, it’s not the pros. Close enough).

So who’s next? Are we looking at waiting 3-4 years for Bryce and Arthur Brown? What about Chris Harper? Jordan Cyphers?

Or is there someone like a Brian Moorman who will come out of a little town and have a long NFL career?

I know you all have ideas, let me hear them.

by joanna

Olathe East coach Jeff Hulse sent me the all-state softball teams last night, but he’s still missing 4A.  So we ran what we had and will put in the rest when we get it. I got 3A this afternoon and the team will run in Friday’s paper. 4A will run when we get it.

Here’s the link.

Kansas Softball Coaches Association

All-State

Class 3A First team

Pitchers_Maddie Holub, Thomas More Prep; Lezley Lawson,McLouth. Catchers_Rachel Damiris, W. Independent; Kendall Patterson, McLouth; Christina Arias, Salina Sacred Heart. Infielders _ Kaylee Hoffman, Thomas More Prep; Chelsea Fieler, Thomas More Prep; Haley McGregor, W. Independent; Dana Elliott, Rock Creek; Britney Workman, Silver Lake. Outfielders_ Cheyenne Stewart, W. Independent; Alicia Hammeke, Thomas More Prep; Jordan Lockwood, Silver Lake. Utility_Amanda Pfannenstiel, Silver Lake.

Second team

Pitchers_ Erin Tuttle, W. Independent; Chelsea Reid, Silver Lake. Catcher _ Megan Wells, Riverton; Makenzie Altman, Thomas More Prep. Infielders_Samantha Farris, McLouth; Kaley Patterson, McLouth; Whitney Gillman, Silver Lake; Mindy Hodges, Rock Creek. Outfielders_Kady Paul, Osage City; Amy Yenzer, Rock Creek. Utility _ Tracey Hoelting, Salina Sacred Heart.

Your thoughts?

by joanna

That’s what I want to know — what you want to know.

Do you have a question for me regarding how we do things? Maybe a question regarding a team or coach or player? What about a story I’ve written or am working on?

I might not have an answer for you, but I’ll try. My answer might not make you happy, but I’ll try.

All right, let’s take this another step — do you have a question for a commenter? Do you have a question just in general?

Let me get this started with what I want to know: I want to know if I know who Austin is. I think I do, but I’m not sure. (Hey, I didn’t say this had to be serious!) I want to know why my memory has worsened since I’ve had children. And I want to know what do you guys want to see on the blog.

So there. Feel free to answer my question or someone else’s. But this post will only go as far as you guys take it. (I’m sensing someone is going to say “What I want to know is why ‘guys’ is used in reference to both genders.)

by joanna

Dan Adelhardt says he hasn’t been ducking me. You make the call — I phoned him about a month ago when I started my football posts on the blog. I left him a message on his cell phone, he never called back. I called him at home today and he took the call, said he’d saved my message, just never called me. Then he laughed and all was forgiven. Seriously, how can you possibly be mad at Adelhardt? He’s so dang genuine and he’s funny and you can’t help but like the guy.

All right, onto the Kapaun update:

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