Peggy Baird Passes Away

Peggy L. Conger Baird, 70, Rossville, KS passed away at her home July 1, 2017.  She was born October 13, 1946.

She graduated from Highland Park High School in 1964.  She worked for Rossville City Hall for numerous years, and was also Mayor of Rossville for eight years.  She owned the Rossville Liquor Store for fifteen years as well.

She married Vernon W Baird in May 1964.  He survives.  She has one son, Thomas Baird and one daughter, Karla Shafstall (Chad). Four grandchildren, Kiefer, Kayla, and Kody Hurla and Annasha Baird and many great grandchildren.

Peggy also loved watching her grand kids participate in sports, playing with her great grand kids, and going to the casino.

Graveside services will be held at the Rossville Cemetery July 15, 2017 at 10am.

Rossville Pool Celebrates 10 Years

From the Capital-Journal:

ROSSVILLE — A celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of Rossville Community Pool will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at the pool in northwest Shawnee County, the county’s parks and recreation department said in a news release Friday.

Admission will be free, as a result of an arrangement involving the Rossville Community Foundation.

Free hot dogs, chips, cookies, water and watermelon will be served to the first 150 people to arrive between 11 a.m. and noon, with swimming opening at noon. The celebration will also feature giveaways and games.

Shawnee County’s parks and recreation department, which manages the complex, provided updates for its 10th anniversary that included painting the pool basin, adding a shade structure and adding lockers.

A community fundraising effort involving the Rossville Community Foundation and a local task force brought about the 2007 opening of the pool, which cost about $1.2 million.

County Commissioner Shelly Buhler, who joined that body in 2007 after serving since 2001 as mayor of Rossville, recalled in Friday’s news release how residents of the community had wanted a pool for more than 20 years.

A $5,000 donation made in 2002 launched the fund-raising effort., which included collecting cans and holding concerts.

Major contributors, members of the task force and the Rossville Community Foundation, current and past Shawnee County commissioners, and parks and recreation staff members are expected to be on hand for the July 15 celebration.

Bonnie VandeVelde (49) Passes Away

Rossville-Bonnie VandeVelde, 85, passed away Thursday, July 6, 2017 at her home.

She was born July 30, 1931 at Willard the daughter of John Stanley and Viola Mary Burns Martin.  Bonnie graduated from Rossville High School in 1949 where she was active in the glee club and played basketball.

Bonnie worked for the University Of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City for many years.  She moved back to the Rossville community in the 90’s and worked as a PBX operator at Payless Shoe Source Corporate Office in Topeka.  Bonnie was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and was member of the church choir.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, James, John, Robert and Dutch Martin and Nona Haltom; son, Dennis Paul VandeVelde and a grandson, Brandon Keith Snyder.

Survivors include three sons, Timothy, Donnie and Marvin VandeVelde; four daughters, Kathleen Strohl, Bernadette Bye, Dianne VandeVelde and Mary Harden; her brother Raymond Martin, Topeka; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren with one on the way.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Friday, July 14, 2017 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville.  Interment will be in the Rossville Cemetery.  Mrs. VandeVelde will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Thursday at the church where a rosary will be recited at 7:00 P.M.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Bonnie VandeVelde Memorial fund and sent to Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.  To leave an online condolence please go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

Roduner Helps Giants Beat Rattlers

Rossville High graduate Christian Roduner  was more than happy to take one for the team.

Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded, two outs and the score tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, Roduner was hit by a pitch in the middle of his back to bring in the winning run in the Topeka Golden Giants’ 2-1 victory over the Rossville Rattlers on Friday at Jerry Robertson Field.

“I just told myself I was going to get him in one way or another,” said Roduner, who was hit by the first pitch from Rossville pitcher Nick Cole. “If I was taking a pitch, that’s what I was going to do.”

Roduner also was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning, and his RBI single in the third drove in the Giants’ first run.

“That’s always my approach. If anything is going to hit me, I’m just going to let it no matter what,” he said.

Roduner, a third baseman from Rossville, has had a strong summer for the Giants after an impressive freshman season at Colby Community College. He was a walk-on with the Trojans and was a Jayhawk Conference West Division all-conference selection as a utility player.

“I just keep working,” he said. “Anything you put your mind to and put your time into, you can do it. Rossville is a big football school and people never really talk about baseball. I’m a 6-foot kid who runs a 4.7 40 from a 3A school so I wasn’t going to do a whole lot at the next level in football. Colby gave me a chance and I was lucky to have a good year.”

The Giants (16-8) remained in first place in the Mid-Plains League West Division, taking two-of-three games in the series with the Rattlers (6-17). All three were one-run games with the winning run scored in the ninth inning.

Along with his two RBIs, Roduner also had a hand in the Rattlers’ run. His fielding error in the sixth allowed Keishon Brown to each first, then Brown then stole second and scored on Dylan Watts’ single.

“I let the ball get behind my eyes and I tried to catch it out front,” Roduner said of the error. “I just misjudged it, but it happens to the best of us.

“I was ready to make up for it when I got to the plate.”

Cole retired the first two Giants in the ninth, then Carson Green and Casey Wulfkuhle singled and Brett Owen walked to bring up Roduner.

After the offenses and defenses dominated the first two games of the series, pitching took over Friday. Giants starter Zach Ebert allowed one unearned run on three hits with four strikeouts and one walk in seven innings, and Jaxon Passino retired all six batters he faced for the win.

“Zach had a great start,” Roduner said. “He’s been really good for us all year and one (run) is usually enough for him, but you always need some insurance.”

Rattlers starter Joe Fragano allowed one run on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks in five innings.

Rossville    000001000— 1 3 0
Topeka       001000001— 2 9 2

Fragano, McClung (7), Cole (8) and Maxson, Watts (7). Ebert, Passino (8) and Green. W — Passino. L — Cole. 2B — Rossville: Dees.

For video of this game,  go to:  http://www.wibw.com/content/news/Golden-Giants-win-series-over-Rattlers-with-walk-off-hit-by-pitch-433226873.html

Giants Get 2-1 Win Over Rattlers

   The Rattlers lost a close one Friday night against the Topeka Golden Giants.  Once  again the Rattlers lost the game in the bottom of the 9th inning when the Giants broke a 1-1 tie.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
RTTL	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	1
TPKG	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	8	1

Rattlers Victorious Over Knights

From the Capital-Journal:

It’s been a tough season for the Rossville Rattlers, and the trend seemed to be taking another downward spiral.

The Rattlers started strong to build a 7-2 lead over the Topeka Golden Giants in the fifth inning, but that lead slipped away. The Giants rallied and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on a balk.

Rossville didn’t get rattled. The Rattlers pulled even with a run in the eighth and scored again in the ninth for a 9-8 Mid-Plains League victory over the Giants on Thursday at Jerry Robertson Field.

“We could have folded a lot of times and, to be honest, earlier in the summer we might have folded,” Rattlers manager Tobi Cowdin said. “It’s been a big step for our young group to realize those things are going to happen in baseball and you have to regroup, get yourself back together and get ready to compete with the next pitch.

“Eventually, you can work yourself out of it and we did an excellent job of that tonight.”

Topeka starting pitcher Gavin Greenwood faced the minimum nine batters through three innings, allowing a single in the first but erasing the baserunner with a double play.

Rossville (6-16) then scored four runs in the fourth off Greenwood and three in the fifth off reliever Cameron Kay with a total of eight hits for a 7-2 lead.

“We started to sit back a little bit and let the ball get to us,” Cowdin said. “We were a little excited early trying to hit the ball hard, but once we let it get to us we did a good job of putting some good swings on the ball, moving runners and getting them in when we had chances to.”

The Giants (15-8) chipped away and took the lead in the seventh. Cole Hoover’s RBI groundout scored Christian Roduner to make it 7-7, and Erik Webb was on third with two outs.

Webb attempted to steal home and was out by two steps, but the base umpire called a balk on Rossville pitcher Jimmy Larson that brought Webb home with the go-ahead run.

The Rattlers tied it in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Jordan Maxson, who was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Justin Cooper led off the Rossville ninth with a double, moved to third on Brandon Wilkerson’s sacrifice bunt and scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Dylan Watts.

Watts, Caleb Littlejim and Reid Fehr, the top three hitters in the Rossville lineup, had two hits apiece and Aaron Dees had three RBIs with a sac fly and two-run triple.

Larson earned the win, allowing two runs on one hit and four walks in three innings.

“Larson came in and did his job,” Cowdin said. “He did a good job keeping his composure, hanging in there and throwing strikes and making them beat him. And the defense picked him up.”

Webb was 3-for-5 with a double and two stolen bases for the Giants.

The three-game series, tied at 1-1 concludes at 6 p.m. Friday at Robertson field.

Rossville  000 430 011 —9 13 2
Topeka     100 131 200 —8   9 2

Skoro, Middendorf (5), Larson (7) and Fehr. Greenwood, Key (5), Wulfkuhle (6), Cooper (7), Marreel (8), Smith (8), Demmel (9) and Hoover, Green (9). W — Larson. L — Demmel. 2B — Rossville: Fehr, Cooper. Topeka: Webb. 3B — Rossville: Dees.

For video of this game,  go to:  http://ksnt.com/2017/07/06/rattlers-edge-golden-giants-sets-up-rubber-game-on-friday/

Golden Giants Win In 9th Inning

From the Capital-Journal:

As the summer baseball season winds down, each game becomes more important for the Topeka Golden Giants as they try to win a Mid-Plains League title.

The Giants were battling from behind much of the night Wednesday, facing early deficits of 1-0 and 4-2 against the Rossville Rattlers along with ties at 6-6 and 7-7. The Giants kept coming back and pulled out an 8-7 victory on Erik Webb’s walkoff sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning at Jerry Robertson Field.

“We’ve been talking to them about the grind of the summer and we’re at that point where we’re hitting that grind,” Giants manager Connor Crimmins said. “I tell them you have that target on your back being at the top of the division right now.

“We found a way to win. Coming out on top in a game like that is big for us. We have to keep moving and take care of business.”

The Rattlers (5-16) scored four runs in the first three innings off Topeka starter Chris McPherson but the Giants used a four-run third to take a 5-4 lead.

Cole Hoover’s RBI single put the Giants up 7-6 after seven innings, but the Rattlers pulled even in the eighth when Justin Cooper led off with a single and scored on Dylan Watts’ two-out sacrifice fly.

The Giants had one more rally in them, getting started when Casey Wulfkuhle led off the ninth with a walk. Brett Owen followed with a bunt single and Christian Rodruner put down another bunt that forced out Owen at second but moved Wulfkuhle to third, setting up Webb’s game-winning sac fly to left field.

“Casey had a great at-bat to work himself to 3-2 and got a walk,” Crimmins said. “Brett had a great bunt to get on, then we had sac bunt but they made a good play on defense to get the guy at second.

“Erik has been our RBI guy all summer and comes up in the clutch. We have a lot of confidence when he’s at the plate.”

McPherson pitched five innings, allowing five runs on six hits, Harry Hefner worked three innings and Garrett Smith pitched the ninth to earn the win.

“Harry came in and did a great job for us in relief,” Crimmins said. “He got in a couple of jams but worked out of it. In the last inning, Garrett did the same thing with a double play to get out of the inning and give us a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth.”

Shortstop Jaxon Passino was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs for the Giants while Owen, Webb and Hoover had two hits apiece. Rattlers catcher Jordan Maxson was 4-for-4 with a double and Watts was 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs.

The three-game series continues at 6 p.m. Thursday at Robertson field.

TOPEKA 8, ROSSVILLE 7

Rossville  121 011 010 — 7 12 1
Topeka     204 000 101 — 8 11 2

Brown, Rotramel and Maxson. McPherson, Hefner (6), Smith (9) and Hoover. W — Smith. L — Rotramel. 2B — Rossville: Watts 2, Maxon. Topeka: Passino. 3B — Topeka: Owen.

You can see video of this game at:  http://ksnt.com/2017/07/05/mpl-back-in-action-giants-beat-rattlers/

Recent Willard Bridge Photos

MPL Standings

Mid Plains League Standings as of July 3, 2017

Andrick Park Memorial Walkway

I am excited to share information about the Andrick Park Memorial Walkway. In front of the Main Street gazebo, a walkway will be made of personalized bricks that can be purchased. The walkway will be divided into two areas, a portion will honor veterans and another will be for memorials or recognition.

Each brick will be 8 x 8 with up to 5 lines of inscription. The bricks are only $35.00 each and the orders are due in September. Orders can be mailed to the Rossville Community Foundation or brought to City Hall. The walkway will be installed in November. New bricks will be able to add in years to come.

Click to enlarge below forms and print out to order bricks

Thanks

Christi McKenzie

Mid Plains League All-Stars

Mid-Plains League West All-Stars
#	Name	POS	College	Team
3	Charlie Peyla	SS/RHP	Johnson County Community College	Junction City Brigade
3	Terrence Spurlin	INF	Kansas State University	Rossville Rattlers
6	Jordan Maxson	C	Kansas State University	Rossville Rattlers
12	Tyler Bracht	OF	William Woods University	Junction City Brigade
13	Jaxon Passino	INF	Kansas State University	Topeka Golden Giants
14	Cole Brecheisen	OF	Pittsburg State University	Junction City Brigade
15	Andrew Marrow	C/1B/OF	Fort Scott Community College	Junction City Brigade
17	Nate Bakaitis	INF	West Liberty University	Rossville Rattlers
17	Elliot Antonetty	C	Jackson State University	Sabetha Lobos
17	Gavin Greenwood	P	Lawrence High School	Topeka Golden Giants
18	Nick Cole	LHP	Briar Cliff University	Rossville Rattlers
19	Jacob Uhing	RHP	Cloud County Community College	Junction City Brigade
20	Brett Owen	INF	Kansas State University	Topeka Golden Giants
21	Zachary Ebert	RHP	Johnson County Community College	Topeka Golden Giants
24	Yodelvy Garcia	C	Western Arizona College	Sabetha Lobos
25	Enok Perez	2B	University of Puerto Rico	Sabetha Lobos
28	Chaz Dunn	3B	Peru State University	Sabetha Lobos
29	Cory Royer	P	Dodge City Community College	Sabetha Lobos
35	Lane Fleming	1B	McPherson College	Junction City Brigade
38	Cole Hoover	C	University of Central Missouri	Topeka Golden Giants
40	Tom Skoro	RHP	Kansas State University	Rossville Rattlers
42	Brandon Wilkerson	OF/RHP	None	Rossville Rattlers
55	Jose Suero	P	Western Arizona College	Sabetha Lobos
#	Unable to play	POS	College	Team
32	Erik Webb	OF	University of Central Missouri	Topeka Golden Giants
42	Nick Sloan	RHP	Fort Scott Community College	Topeka Golden Giants
#	Honorary Captain	POS	College	Team
12	Jonathan Mariani		Fort Hays State University	Topeka Golden Giants
#	Coaches	POS	Team
	Harvey Pena	HC	Sabetha Lobos

Mid-Plains League East All-Stars
#	Name	POS	College	Team
1	Noah Huston	OF	Rockhurst University	Baldwin City Blues
8	Jacob Pool	OF/1B	Our Lady of the Lake University	Baldwin City Blues
9	Jared Fry	C	North Central Missouri College	Baldwin City Blues
14	Brayden Nelson	RHP	Oklahoma Wesleyan University	Baldwin City Blues
16	Tyler Brown	INF	Coffeyville Community College	Baldwin City Blues
19	Will Edwards	LHP	Baker University	Baldwin City Blues
3	Caleb Sneed	1B/2B	Southwest Baptist University	Liberty Monarchs
11	Evan Wilson	OF	Dodge City Community College	Liberty Monarchs
17	Chase Putnam	P	William Woods University	Liberty Monarchs
21	John Oliver	3B	University of Central Missouri	Liberty Monarchs
25	Ricky Trammell	1B/LF	University of Nebraska-Kearney	Liberty Monarchs
55	Brody Meloy	P	University of Saint Mary	Liberty Monarchs
1	Evan Rathburn	P	Crowder College	Midwest Athletics
4	Shane Boyer	SS	Park University	Midwest Athletics
15	Colton Thomas	OF	Northwest Missouri State University	Midwest Athletics
16	Rustin Hiebert	C	Emporia State University	Midwest Athletics
20	Luke Knight	3B	University of Saint Mary	Midwest Athletics
24	Caleb Underwood	P	Highland Community College	Midwest Athletics
2	Chase Edwards	1B	University of the Ozarks	Midwest Veterans
10	Sean Sleigh	RHP	Longview Community College	Midwest Veterans
12	Jordan Jones	OF	University of the Ozarks	Midwest Veterans
16	Adam North	C	Kansas City Kansas Community College	Midwest Veterans
22	Robbie Suhr	INF/P	Oklahoma Christian University	Midwest Veterans
#	Unable to play	POS	College	Team
14	Alan Brown	LHP	Kansas City Kansas Community College	Midwest Veterans
#	Coaches	POS	Team
	Will Rogers	HC	Midwest Athletics
	Brian Knipplemeyer	AC	Midwest Athletics
	Doug Knight	AC	Midwest Athletics

Joseph Driver Passes Away

    TOPEKA- Joseph Leroy Driver passed from this world on June 29, 2017, at Lexington Park in Topeka. 
    Joe was born October 21, 1928 in Quenemo, Ks, to Roy and Hannah (Windett) Driver. Joe graduated from Quenemo High School in 1946. He joined the Army in November of 1951 and was Honorably Discharged in October of 1953, after serving in the Korean Conflict. 
    On April 4, 1958, he was married to Barbara Lee Harryman, in Kansas City, Missouri. She preceded in death on January 31, 2015. For many years, Joe and Barbara lived near Quenemo where he farmed with his brother, Jim Driver. He became a substitute mail carrier and in 1987 was transferred to Rossville where he carried mail there until his retirement. In 2007, Joe and Barbara moved into Atria Hearthstone Retirement Center in Topeka. Joe has lived the past year at Lexington Park Nursing Home in Topeka. Along with his farm work, Joe enjoyed sharing coffee and stories with friends at the area coffee shops. He and Barbara often provided singing and music at church and at funerals. They were members of the Quenemo United Methodist Church for many years. 
    Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; brother Bill Driver, who was killed in WW II; brother John Driver (Jessie); brother, Don Driver (Dorothy), and brother Dick Driver. Surviving are brothers Jim (Betty) Driver; and Howard Driver (Jeanne); sisters Peggy Friesen (Bob); Veda Rogers (Bruce); sister-in-law Ruth Driver; many nieces and nephews. 
    A graveside service will be held at the Woodlawn Cemetery, Pomona, Ks., at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday July 5, 2017. For memorial contributions, the family suggest to make a donation to your favorite charity in Joe's honor. Feltner Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.feltnerfuneralhome.com Joe Driver

Rattlers Lose To Lobos Sat. Nite

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
SBTH	2	5	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	11	17	3
RTTL	0	0	0	2	1	2	2	0	1	8	12	2

Revised Rattler Schedule

Sat 7/1 Sabetha @ Home 7pm

Sun 7/2 MPL Home Run Derby 5pm (Sabetha)
Sun 7/2 All-Star Game 6:30pm (Sabetha)

Mon 7/3 OFF
Tue 7/4 OFF
Wed 7/5 @ Topeka 6pm
Thu 7/6 @ Topeka 6pm
Fri 7/7 @ Topeka 6pm
Sat 7/8 OFF
Sun 7/9 Baldwin City @ Home 7pm
Mon 7/10 Midwest Veterans @ Home 5pm DH
Tue 7/11 @ Liberty 4pm
Wed 7/12 Midwest A's @ Home 7pm
Thu 7/13 OFF
Fri 7/14 Sabetha @ Home 5pm DH

Sat 7/15 MPL Playoffs begin.