Robert Peter Miller Sr., age 81, of Topeka, passed away Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the Rossville Healthcare Center. Robert was born November 21, 1932, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Peter and Alice (Barrett) Miller. Robert proudly served in the United States Army. Robert retired from General Printing and Paper in 1991 after 30 plus years of employment.
He married Joyce (Wray) Miller and they had 4 children; Susan (Bob) Wells, Ellen (Jim) Bryndle, Robert P. (Renee) Miller Jr., and Amy (Tim) Grier. Robert was preceded in death by Joyce in 1990 and Ellen in 2009. Robert then married Helen (Spears) Miller in 1992; she had three children. He will be dearly missed by all of his family including his grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Robert and Helen enjoyed spending time at their homes in Arizona and Topeka.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 30 at 11:00 a.m. at Davidson Funeral Home. Interment will be at Topeka Cemetery following services. Visitation will be one hour before the services from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas Children’s Service League and sent in care of the Davidson Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at davidsonfuneral.com.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Rattlers End Season
The Rattlers were eliminated from the Mid-Plains League Summer Classic at the hands of the Junction City Brigade by a score of 4-0.
The Brigade will play the Topeka Senators on Sun. afternoon and the winner of that game will tackle the Topeka Golden Giants for the championship.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Rattlers Move On In Summer Classic
The Rattlers pulled out a close one by knocking the Midwest Athletics out of the Summer Classic by a score of 5-4. The Rattlers are still alive and will play the winner of tonight's Junction City Vs Baldwin City game tomorrow night at 7 pm.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Rattlers at Summer Classic
The Rattlers lost their first game of the Summer Classic tournament to the Midwest Athletics by a score of 2-0 on Wed. night.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
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Brett Cowdin Memorial Cup
The Mid-Plains League has completed the regular season with the Topeka Golden Giants finishing 21-8 for first place. The Junction City Brigade finished in second place. The league will now hold a double elimination tournament at Junction City July 16-20.
The winner of the Mid-Plains League Summer Classic will take home the newly named Brett Cowdin Memorial Cup. The cup is named in honor of Cowdin, who was the founder of the Topeka Golden Giants and Rossville Rattlers. Cowdin was also a two-time Kansas High School state championship baseball coach with Topeka West (2003) and Hayden High School (1997). He also coached at Rossville High for several years.
"It was a unanimous decision from the league members that we name the championship trophy after Coach Cowdin," Streeter said. "Without his contributions, this league would not exist. He was a catalyst for getting the league off the ground and we feel it's a great way to honor his legacy."
The tournament starts Wednesday at 4:00 pm as the 5th seeded Topeka Senators take on the 4th seeded Baldwin City Blues. At 7:00, The Rattlers will take on the Midwest As. The complete tourney schedule is as follows:
Game # Time/Day/Date Team Team
1 4:00pm Wednesday July 16 Topeka Senators vs. Baldwin City Blues
2 7:00pm Wednesday July 16 Rossville Rattlers vs. Midwest Athletics
3 4:00pm Thursday July 17 W - 1 vs. Junction City Brigade
4 7:00pm Thursday July 17 W - 2 vs. Topeka Golden Giants
5 4:00pm Friday July 18 L - 2 vs. L - 4
6 7:00pm Friday July 18 L - 1 vs. L - 3
7 4:00pm Saturday July 19 W - 4 vs. W - 3
8 7:00pm Saturday July 19 W - 5 vs. W - 6
9 12:00pm Sunday July 20 L - 7 vs. W - 8
10 3:00pm Sunday July 20 W - 9 vs. W - 7
*11 6:00pm Sunday July 20 L - 10 vs. W-10
* Game 11 only necessary if both teams have one loss.
Rattlers Wrap Up Regular Season
The Rattlers lost their final two games of the regular season on a road trip to Baldwin City. The Blues won the first game of a Monday night double header 6-1 and then won the nightcap 4-1.
The Rattlers finished the season 8-22 and will next play the Midwest Athletics on Wednesday night in the Summer Classic league tournament at Junction City.
The Rattlers finished the season 8-22 and will next play the Midwest Athletics on Wednesday night in the Summer Classic league tournament at Junction City.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Rattlers Win Final Home Game
The Rossville Rattlers ended their home season with an 11-8 victory over the Baldwin City Blues on Sunday evening at Joe Campbell Stadium.
The Rattlers end the regular season with a Monday night double header against the Baldwin City Blues on Sauder Field.
Following the regular season, there will be a league tournament.
The Rattlers end the regular season with a Monday night double header against the Baldwin City Blues on Sauder Field.
Following the regular season, there will be a league tournament.
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Sunday, July 13, 2014
1955 RGS Notes
The following link is an article and what the RHS students were doing in March of 1955. The grades covered in the article would be the RHS classes of '59, '60, '61, and '62. Many familiar names are mentioned.
http://recollectionsks.org/items/show/414
http://recollectionsks.org/items/show/414
Golden Knights Sweep Series
From CJOnline:
Jake Wodtke and David Gauntt led a late rally as the Topeka Golden Giants completed a season sweep of the Rossville Rattlers with a 6-3 victory in Mid-Plains League action Saturday at Lake Shawnee.
With the win, the Golden Giants won the Mid-Plains regular-season title with a 22-8 record and earned the No. 1 seed for next week’s Midsummer Classic tournament in Junction City.
With the game tied at three in the eighth inning, Gauntt drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly, which was followed by a two-run triple by Wodtke.
“The sacrifice fly came on a hit-and-run. I just wanted to put a bat on the ball. The pitch was up so it was easy to hit a fly ball,” Gauntt said. “I really wasn’t trying to do much since it was a hit-and-run. My job was pretty easy.”
Wodtke had a 4-for-4 night with two triples, a double, and an RBI single. He stole two bases serving as the catalyst for the Topeka offense hitting out of the No. 7 hole.
“It was just one of those games where I was seeing the ball well,” Wodtke said. “I got a couple of good pitches from the pitcher and it was a lot of fun. It was a great games, two solid outings on the mound from both teams.
Nate Gieber started and pitched six strong innings before tiring in the seventh. Gieber struck out three batters, walking none.
“Nate threw a heck of a game and his fastball was on tonight. He spotted up well tonight with a big strike zone and he got a lot of ground balls,” Gauntt said.
While Gieber was posting zeroes so was Shawnee Heights product Jaren Kutzke. Kutzke threw six shutout innings before giving up a lone run in the seventh. Miles Orscheln scored the first run of the game ahead of Wodtke’s RBI single.
“I was really proud of the job Kutzke did coming in and just throwing strikes. He’s a great kids and both starting pitchers threw really good games tonight,” Rattlers coach Toby Cowdin said.
Rossville (7-21) battled back in the eight to take a 3-1 lead. Luke Bordewick had the big hit with a RBI double.
Defensive mistakes and free passes haunted the Rattlers once again as two throwing errors and two base on balls helped the Giants score five runs in the eighth for the win.Topeka won all six games played against Rossville.
“The guys played well,” Topeka coach John Tetuan said. “Rossville came out with a three-spot to put us in a hole, but this team has been resilient all season. It was a team win. We got good pitching, and we did enough with the bat. Jake kept us in the game all by himself for a while, but it feels great to get the championship.”
The Rattlers still have three games left on their schedule. Rossville will host a seven-inning game Sunday against the Baldwin City Blues and then play a doubleheader Monday in Baldwin City.
“These next games are really important,” Cowdin said. “We started to build some momentum tonight — all the guys were really in the game. The next three can help us keep that momentum so that hopefully we can make some waves in the tournament.
Bordewick finished 3 for 4 with a run scored for Rossville. Orscheln scored two runs and had a stolen base for Topeka.
Colin Toalsen retired the final four Rattler batters to earn the win in relief. Toalsen struck out two batters in 11/3 innings.
Rossville (7-21) 000 000 030 — 3 10 3
Topeka (22-8) 000 000 15x — 6 7 2
Kutkze, Garrett (8) and Weber. Gieber, Toalsen (8) and Gauntt. W — Toalsen
Jake Wodtke and David Gauntt led a late rally as the Topeka Golden Giants completed a season sweep of the Rossville Rattlers with a 6-3 victory in Mid-Plains League action Saturday at Lake Shawnee.
With the win, the Golden Giants won the Mid-Plains regular-season title with a 22-8 record and earned the No. 1 seed for next week’s Midsummer Classic tournament in Junction City.
With the game tied at three in the eighth inning, Gauntt drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly, which was followed by a two-run triple by Wodtke.
“The sacrifice fly came on a hit-and-run. I just wanted to put a bat on the ball. The pitch was up so it was easy to hit a fly ball,” Gauntt said. “I really wasn’t trying to do much since it was a hit-and-run. My job was pretty easy.”
Wodtke had a 4-for-4 night with two triples, a double, and an RBI single. He stole two bases serving as the catalyst for the Topeka offense hitting out of the No. 7 hole.
“It was just one of those games where I was seeing the ball well,” Wodtke said. “I got a couple of good pitches from the pitcher and it was a lot of fun. It was a great games, two solid outings on the mound from both teams.
Nate Gieber started and pitched six strong innings before tiring in the seventh. Gieber struck out three batters, walking none.
“Nate threw a heck of a game and his fastball was on tonight. He spotted up well tonight with a big strike zone and he got a lot of ground balls,” Gauntt said.
While Gieber was posting zeroes so was Shawnee Heights product Jaren Kutzke. Kutzke threw six shutout innings before giving up a lone run in the seventh. Miles Orscheln scored the first run of the game ahead of Wodtke’s RBI single.
“I was really proud of the job Kutzke did coming in and just throwing strikes. He’s a great kids and both starting pitchers threw really good games tonight,” Rattlers coach Toby Cowdin said.
Rossville (7-21) battled back in the eight to take a 3-1 lead. Luke Bordewick had the big hit with a RBI double.
Defensive mistakes and free passes haunted the Rattlers once again as two throwing errors and two base on balls helped the Giants score five runs in the eighth for the win.Topeka won all six games played against Rossville.
“The guys played well,” Topeka coach John Tetuan said. “Rossville came out with a three-spot to put us in a hole, but this team has been resilient all season. It was a team win. We got good pitching, and we did enough with the bat. Jake kept us in the game all by himself for a while, but it feels great to get the championship.”
The Rattlers still have three games left on their schedule. Rossville will host a seven-inning game Sunday against the Baldwin City Blues and then play a doubleheader Monday in Baldwin City.
“These next games are really important,” Cowdin said. “We started to build some momentum tonight — all the guys were really in the game. The next three can help us keep that momentum so that hopefully we can make some waves in the tournament.
Bordewick finished 3 for 4 with a run scored for Rossville. Orscheln scored two runs and had a stolen base for Topeka.
Colin Toalsen retired the final four Rattler batters to earn the win in relief. Toalsen struck out two batters in 11/3 innings.
Rossville (7-21) 000 000 030 — 3 10 3
Topeka (22-8) 000 000 15x — 6 7 2
Kutkze, Garrett (8) and Weber. Gieber, Toalsen (8) and Gauntt. W — Toalsen
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Rattlers Lose To Golden Giants
Spikes were made for walking Friday at Jerry Robertson Field. Topeka and Rossville pitchers combined to issue 17 base on balls in a Golden Giants 14-4 win over the Rattlers.
The Golden Giants, the first-place team in the Mid-Plains League, were able to overcome a shaky starting pitching performance to improve to 21-8 in league action.
Rossville (7-20) plated three runs in the first inning against Topeka starter Robert Hill. Hill issued five walks in the inning and allowed the third run to score on a bases-loaded walk. Washburn Rural graduate and current Pittsburg State Gorilla Luke Bordewick opened the Rattler scoring with a single to drive in Jeff Christen.
Topeka wasted no time erasing the Rattler lead as the Giants scored four runs in their half of the first. Butch Rea singled and scored on a double by Connor Crimmins. The Giants would score two runs in the inning via two Rattler throwing errors. Rossville would finish the game with a total of four errors.
Ryan Ihle picked up the win in relief. Ihle entered the game in the second inning inheriting two runners with no outs. He got out of the inning allowing just one of those runners to score. That run was an unearned run as a result of Topeka’s lone error of the game.
Ihle gave up just two hits while striking out seven batters in six innings. Senators coach John Tetuan emphasized the significance of Ihle’s effort out of the bullpen.
“It was huge for us. That saved some pitching for us for next week. Ryan came in and pretty much shut them down the rest of the game,” Tetuan said. “Our batters did a good job keeping us in the game and keeping things positive in the dugout.”
Topeka broke open the game with a six-run sixth inning. JB Eary opened the frame with a leadoff walk and would come around to score on a RBI double by Jake Wodtke. Jordan Schroer and Michael Thomson.
Eight of the nine Topeka starters crossed home plate in the contest, and all but one had at least one hit. Johnathan Mariani, Miles Orscheln, Ian Hughes and Wodtke had multi-hit games for the Golden Giants.
Topeka finishes its series with Rossville and their regular season with a 7 p.m. game Saturday.
“We didn’t talk long after the game, but we talked about that we can sweep the whole series tomorrow, and we need to come out and play a nice, crisp game to stay on a roll for tournament games,” Tetuan said.
Rossville (7-20) 310 000 0 — 4 4 4
Topeka (21-8) 401 006 3 — 14 11 1
Floyd, Doolittle (4), Mah (7) and Kooser. Hill, Ihle (2), Burdiek (8), Edwards (9) and Thomson. W — Ihle. L — Floyd. 2B – Rossville: Srna, Kooser. Topeka: Crimmins, Wodtke, Thomson, Schroer.
The Golden Giants, the first-place team in the Mid-Plains League, were able to overcome a shaky starting pitching performance to improve to 21-8 in league action.
Rossville (7-20) plated three runs in the first inning against Topeka starter Robert Hill. Hill issued five walks in the inning and allowed the third run to score on a bases-loaded walk. Washburn Rural graduate and current Pittsburg State Gorilla Luke Bordewick opened the Rattler scoring with a single to drive in Jeff Christen.
Topeka wasted no time erasing the Rattler lead as the Giants scored four runs in their half of the first. Butch Rea singled and scored on a double by Connor Crimmins. The Giants would score two runs in the inning via two Rattler throwing errors. Rossville would finish the game with a total of four errors.
Ryan Ihle picked up the win in relief. Ihle entered the game in the second inning inheriting two runners with no outs. He got out of the inning allowing just one of those runners to score. That run was an unearned run as a result of Topeka’s lone error of the game.
Ihle gave up just two hits while striking out seven batters in six innings. Senators coach John Tetuan emphasized the significance of Ihle’s effort out of the bullpen.
“It was huge for us. That saved some pitching for us for next week. Ryan came in and pretty much shut them down the rest of the game,” Tetuan said. “Our batters did a good job keeping us in the game and keeping things positive in the dugout.”
Topeka broke open the game with a six-run sixth inning. JB Eary opened the frame with a leadoff walk and would come around to score on a RBI double by Jake Wodtke. Jordan Schroer and Michael Thomson.
Eight of the nine Topeka starters crossed home plate in the contest, and all but one had at least one hit. Johnathan Mariani, Miles Orscheln, Ian Hughes and Wodtke had multi-hit games for the Golden Giants.
Topeka finishes its series with Rossville and their regular season with a 7 p.m. game Saturday.
“We didn’t talk long after the game, but we talked about that we can sweep the whole series tomorrow, and we need to come out and play a nice, crisp game to stay on a roll for tournament games,” Tetuan said.
Rossville (7-20) 310 000 0 — 4 4 4
Topeka (21-8) 401 006 3 — 14 11 1
Floyd, Doolittle (4), Mah (7) and Kooser. Hill, Ihle (2), Burdiek (8), Edwards (9) and Thomson. W — Ihle. L — Floyd. 2B – Rossville: Srna, Kooser. Topeka: Crimmins, Wodtke, Thomson, Schroer.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Rattlers Lose In Extra Innings
Cole DuPont only flinched a little bit during a postgame interview when a pair of teammates snuck up behind him and douced him with ice water.
"It's a little cold right now," DuPont said following the Topeka Golden Giants' 7-6 extra-inning victory over the Rossville Rattlers. "It feels good, though. It feels good to get a walkoff."
DuPont ended up being the hero Thursday night, when he delivered a solid single to right with two on and one out in the bottom of the 10th.
Teammate Jordan Schroer came around from second and slid home with the game-winning run, ensuring DuPont the first walkoff hit of his career.
"He was only throwing fastballs. I got him in an earlier at-bat," DuPont said of Rossville reliever Luke Bordewick. "So I was just trying to drive it."
The single completed an impressive Topeka rally.
Rossville originally broke a scoreless tie with five runs in the third, taking advantage of a pair of errors before cashing in with a big fly.
With two men on and two out, right fielder Collin Scribner blasted a Zach Linquist pitch deep to left, easily clearing the fence for a three-run shot that gave the Rattlers a 5-0 lead.
Topeka used patience to cut into that lead, drawing six walks over the next two frames off Rossville starter Bobby Pierce. The Golden Giants plated a pair of runs each inning to make it 5-4 after four innings, with RBIs coming from Miles Orscheln and Schroer.
"We've got a good team. All year, we've won a lot of games, and we just never give up," DuPont said. "We've got a lot of hitters on this team, so we know we've got to hit to win."
After Rossville tacked on a run in the seventh, Topeka tied it with help in the eighth. With two outs, Schroer reached on catchers' interference, David Gauntt walked and Orscheln rolled an RBI single to right. After a double steal, Gauntt scored the game-tying run on a passed ball.
Rossville errors helped Topeka again in the 10th, as Schroer reached first on a strikeout following a throwing error from the catcher, and Gauntt moved him to second on a second catchers' interference call.
The Rattlers (6-18) finished with six errors.
Nate Griep picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief.
Before the game, Brett Cowdin — the founder of both teams — was honored as his No. 14 jersey was retired. Cowdin died of an apparent heart attack last November at age 54.
For video of the retirement ceremony, go to: http://www.wibw.com/sports/headlines/Golden-Giants-And-Rattlers-Honor-Late-Brett-Cowdin-266706051.html
Rossville 005 000 100 0 — 6 11 6
Topeka 002 200 020 1 — 7 7 2
Pierce, McCullough (4), Bordewick (8) and Weber. Linquist, Griep (8) and Thomson. W — Griep. L — Bordewick. 2B — Rossville: Christen 2, Farkas, Weber. HR — Rossville: Scribner.
"It's a little cold right now," DuPont said following the Topeka Golden Giants' 7-6 extra-inning victory over the Rossville Rattlers. "It feels good, though. It feels good to get a walkoff."
DuPont ended up being the hero Thursday night, when he delivered a solid single to right with two on and one out in the bottom of the 10th.
Teammate Jordan Schroer came around from second and slid home with the game-winning run, ensuring DuPont the first walkoff hit of his career.
"He was only throwing fastballs. I got him in an earlier at-bat," DuPont said of Rossville reliever Luke Bordewick. "So I was just trying to drive it."
The single completed an impressive Topeka rally.
Rossville originally broke a scoreless tie with five runs in the third, taking advantage of a pair of errors before cashing in with a big fly.
With two men on and two out, right fielder Collin Scribner blasted a Zach Linquist pitch deep to left, easily clearing the fence for a three-run shot that gave the Rattlers a 5-0 lead.
Topeka used patience to cut into that lead, drawing six walks over the next two frames off Rossville starter Bobby Pierce. The Golden Giants plated a pair of runs each inning to make it 5-4 after four innings, with RBIs coming from Miles Orscheln and Schroer.
"We've got a good team. All year, we've won a lot of games, and we just never give up," DuPont said. "We've got a lot of hitters on this team, so we know we've got to hit to win."
After Rossville tacked on a run in the seventh, Topeka tied it with help in the eighth. With two outs, Schroer reached on catchers' interference, David Gauntt walked and Orscheln rolled an RBI single to right. After a double steal, Gauntt scored the game-tying run on a passed ball.
Rossville errors helped Topeka again in the 10th, as Schroer reached first on a strikeout following a throwing error from the catcher, and Gauntt moved him to second on a second catchers' interference call.
The Rattlers (6-18) finished with six errors.
Nate Griep picked up the win with three scoreless innings of relief.
Before the game, Brett Cowdin — the founder of both teams — was honored as his No. 14 jersey was retired. Cowdin died of an apparent heart attack last November at age 54.
For video of the retirement ceremony, go to: http://www.wibw.com/sports/headlines/Golden-Giants-And-Rattlers-Honor-Late-Brett-Cowdin-266706051.html
Rossville 005 000 100 0 — 6 11 6
Topeka 002 200 020 1 — 7 7 2
Pierce, McCullough (4), Bordewick (8) and Weber. Linquist, Griep (8) and Thomson. W — Griep. L — Bordewick. 2B — Rossville: Christen 2, Farkas, Weber. HR — Rossville: Scribner.
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