Central Jackson County Fire Protection District (CJCFPD) and the American Red Cross partnered on Saturday, October 19th on a detector blitz in two areas in Blue Springs and Grain Valley, installing 85 smoke alarms. Volunteers replaced old detectors at no cost to the homeowner.    
     In two separate houses, volunteers encountered smoke alarms from the mid-’70s and mid-’80s.  Fire officials recommend all smoke alarms be replaced every 10 years. 
     Residents who were not located in this years targeted areas but need smoke alarms may call 816-229-9118 and schedule an installation with the CJCFPD Community Risk Reduction Bureau-Fire Division.  Residents should note that CJCFPD cannot switch out or replace electric smoke alarms.
 

     The Grain Valley Police Department is hosting a National Drug Take Back and document shredding event on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main Street.
     The shredding event will be held from 9:00am—Noon for Grain Valley businesses and residents. Up to three bags or boxes may be turned in for secure shredding. Proof of residency is required.
     The National Drug Take Back event will be held at City Hall from 10:00am—2:00pm. All prescription and over-the –counter medications will be accepted for safe disposal. No syringes will be accepted. No questions will be asked.
     For more information on the Drug Take Back or shredding event, call 816-847-6250 or email [email protected].
 
 

​     Adding a gate to the front of your property may be about more then just aesthetics. A gated entrance increases a home’s value in many ways. The curb appeal created by the design and craftsmanship of a fence with a gate that provides a sense of safety tends to catch the eyes of a passerby. That’s why investment by property owners in a quality fence and gate maximizes the value of a home.
     Realty Times cited in February of 2017 five ways a gate can enhance your home’s appeal:
Greater curb appeal. You only get one chance to make a first impression, which is why curb appeal is so important. Anyone who pulls up to your home will immediately form an opinion about your property, usually in those first few seconds after arrival. What they’ll notice is an overall sense of style and quality created by the combination of factors like landscaping, property maintenance and so on. You can greatly enrich your curb appeal with a gated entrance.  Thanks to its eye-catching, commanding nature, a gated entrance becomes the first thing new visitors see. When chosen to complement your home’s architecture and overall property design, it can also be a wonderful finishing touch to your exterior appeal.
Increased property security. Enclose your property with fencing and a gate, and you immediately create a physical deterrent to unauthorized visitors. This means before someone — solicitors, political campaigners, marketers or other uninvited individuals — can walk on your driveway or approach your front door, he or she must get past the gate. Likewise, a gated entry communicates an investment in security that many guests will assume extends to more security measures inside. This sense of enhanced security further adds value in the minds of potential buyers, who recognize the protection a gated entrance provides.
A prestigious feel. It’s hard to put a price on the luxury feel a gated entrance gives your home. Because it’s a high-end feature typically afforded only to high-priced homes, a gated entrance tends to communicate an upscale feel. This likewise adds a sense of value to your home, bumping it into the ranks of estates and luxury properties.
Protection for kids and pets. Just as important as keeping unauthorized visitors out is keeping your pets and little ones in. A gated entrance helps you do just that: It keeps your children and pets from accidentally running into the street or being approached by strangers, by creating a barrier from the world outside your property.
More privacy. Whether you already live in the country or are in the middle of a hectic city, adding a property fence with an entry gate is an excellent way to increase your home’s privacy. Enjoy time on your lawn without worrying about everybody watching. Step outside without having to talk to the neighbor who’s walking by. To give yourself greater privacy at home, a gated entrance is an excellent choice.
 
     Christopher Williams and Kathryn Zumwalt started Williams Gates Services in Grain Valley in April of 2018. Both Williams and Zumwalt grew up in and are residents of Eastern Jackson County. Their regard for this community, geographical knowledge of the area, and the people they know and have met is why they wanted to establish their roots here.
     Williams has been involved in the gate industry since 2005. He first started his professional career working for a garage door and fencing company during the day and working at a restaurant at night. Falling in love with the access control portion of the gate automation section of the fencing industry is what first sparked the idea in Williams that he might want to start his own business in the trade at some point. Further confidence was provided from growing up on a farm and learning how to mend or replace fencing at a young age.
     “The automation control and gate access of fencing has intrigued me because there’s almost always something new you encounter every day. I’ve learned a lot and continue to do so a decade later in this business. I’m still as excited about what I do now as when I first started,” Williams said.
     “Having an automated gate keeps out undesirable trespassing. Gates and fencing provide people with a sense of security and convenience with the push button aspect of automation when opening and closing a gate. Property value increases with a good looking gate that may also display a sense of pride one has in their family name or something unique about their property they want to display.”
     Ornamental or custom gates and fencing are the most popular item Williams Gates Service sells. Williams has options that fit most budgets and examples can easily be found on their website or within their portfolio. Options available to customers include everything from prefabricated to custom built gates (a host of options abound from tube style farm gates, pivot gates, to chain link fencing).
     “There’s an abundance of gate operator manufacturers. They are all in competition. It’s kind of like buying a car or washing machine. A vast variety exists to choose from,” Williams said.
     “The newer electromechanical machines will have D/C motors in them with battery backup built in already. So, if you have a power outage, you’re not losing security as your gate will still function for a certain amount of cycles. A lot of the machines we sell like the high security Lift Master, Allomatic, or Door King have manufactured their operators with D/C motors so that is has ample power while being able to convert to solar as well.”
     Williams Gate clients have included local property management companies, farms, lawn companies, and private residences. Service calls, maintenance plans, as well as installation makes up the case load. Williams is a certified IDEA Gates System Designer and Gates Operator Installer.
     Williams Gate Services may be found online at www.williamsgateservices.com or at 621 NW Valley Ridge Circle, Suite C in Grain Valley. They may also be reached by phone at 816-355-0327.
 

​     Charlie Richard was inducted into the Baker University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004 as a coach, and the Grain Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. 
     He quarterbacked Grain Valley to a winning record in 1958 and William Jewell College to a 9-1 conference championship and national ranking in 1962. After coaching at Odessa and Moberly high schools, he was an assistant coach at Central Missouri State while he completed his master’s degree and Educational Specialist. 
     In 1976, Richard became the football coach, track coach and athletic director at Highland (Kansas) Community College. Then, in 1980, Charlie became the head football coach at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas and, as they say, the rest is history.
     Charlie built the football program at Baker into one of the best small college programs in the nation compiling a 14-season record of 123-28-1. He led Baker to 11 Heart of America Athletic Conference championships, 10 NAIA playoff appearances and a victory in the 1985 Sunflower Bowl.
     Richard’s team won nine games nine times and, at the end of the 1994 season, had been ranked in the NAIA Top 25 for 128 consecutive weeks. He produced 32 All-Americans, 25 Academic All-Americans and was named the conference coach of the year six times.
     Charles Allen Richard was born on May 30, 1944 to William D. “Dub” and Charlene Stephenson Richard. He was the oldest of their three sons and grew up on the family dairy farm on Nebgen Road, south of Grain Valley.  His roots run deep as the Richard family tree can be traced back to the Dennis and Martha Costigan, one of the first families in Eastern Jackson County.
     Charlie’s mother was the youngest of the Stephenson family. Her oldest sister taught at Oak Hill School in 1913 & 14. Les and Lloyd Stephenson (Stephenson’s Apple Orchard and Restaurant 1946-2007) were first cousins.
     Charlie graduated from Grain Valley High School in 1959. In perusing the 1959 Treasure Chest yearbook, his photo turned up on many activity pages.  Charlie was on the newspaper staff, the yearbook staff, student council vice-president, National Honor Society vice-president, the senior play, football, basketball, track and Lettermen’s Club.  In addition to all of these activities, perhaps his greatest high school accomplishment, Charlie was valedictorian of the Class of 1959.
 
     The Grain Valley Historical Society Museum is located  at 506 South Main Street and online at www.grainvalleyhistory.com.
 

     Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) invites applications for the more than $200,000 in scholarships available for students.
     “In addition to stand-alone applications, students can submit a general scholarship application and we will match them with more than 200 scholarships that they may be eligible to receive,” Rachael Cassiday Watkins, Truman Heartland’s Director of Programs and Donor Services said.
     The deadline for Truman Heartland’s general scholarship application is December 31, 2019. Applicants have until February 1st to submit additional documents for each scholarship that is a potential match. Scholarships may require additional items, including, but not limited to, transcripts with final fall 2019 grades, essays, letters of reference or statements about participation in certain activities.
     Some scholarships are not included in the general scholarship application. Deadlines and requirements for these stand-alone scholarships vary.
     In 2019, Truman Heartland awarded $319,000 in scholarships to 214 local students. Scholarships are available for students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and technical degrees.
     Visit https://www.thcf.org/Scholarships to learn more and begin the application process. For questions or assistance with scholarships, please contact Rachael Cassiday Watkins at [email protected] or 816-912-4185.
 

     Fort Osage National Historic Landmark will come alive during the 33rd Annual Fall Muster this weekend, October 26 and 27, presented by Jackson County Parks + Rec and the 1st U.S. Infantry Living History Organization. The Fall Muster will be held from 9:00am—4:00pm each day. Tickets are $8/adults, $4/seniors, $4/youth under age 13, and free for children under 4.
     More than 40 reenactors and living historians will recreate a full day of activity at the Fort from more than 200 years ago. Experiences include cannon firing, musket drill and firing, mounting of the guard and the issuing of the whiskey ration.
     The Fort Osage National Historic Landmark is located at 107 Osage Street, Sibley.
     This annual event is nationally recognized as one of the most authentic interpretations of the period and draws participants from across the Midwest because of its historic and scenic location.
     For additional information, visit www.makeyourdayhere.com/fortosage.
 
 

​The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of October 9-15, 2019.
 

     Jackson County Public Works Environmental Health Division inspects all restaurants, grocery stores, schools, mobile food and temporary food establishments in the City of Grain Valley. The following violations were reported in the last 30 days:
 
Cheezteak Company 
1452 SW. Eagles Parkway
There was chicken stored above steaks in the reach in freezer. Corrected on site. There were multiple reach in coolers and the reach in freezer that had an accumulation of dried food debris. Repeat violation. The front door entrance was being held open. Corrected.
 
Matthews Elementary
144 McQuerry Rd.
The interior of the microwave had food debris. Corrected on site.
 
Papa Murphy's
1203 Buckner Tarsney Rd.
There were three containers of shredded cheese that was past its discard date. Corrected on site.
 
Whiskey Tango
401 East South Outer Belt Road
The interior of the microwave had dried food debris. Corrected on site. There was a hole in the wall in the kitchen area behind the grill and the fryer. Correct by 11/30/2019.

El Tequilazo Cocina Y Cantina LLC
522 S Main Street
The ice bucket was stored upright, with water pooling up in the bottom. Repeat violation. Food is being stored on the floor in the walk-in cooler.
 
Grain Valley South Middle School
901 SW Ryan Rd.
There are multiple areas in the kitchen with roof leaks, buckets were being used to catch rainwater. Correct by 12/10/2019.
 
Valley Pub & Patio
640 NW Yennie St.
The back door was wide open leaving an open entry for pests to enter. There was a container of cooked wings in the reach in cooler with no date. Corrected on site.
 
Price Chopper #325 - Bakery
1191 NE. McQuerry Rd.
The interior of the microwave had an accumulation of dried food debris. Corrected on site.
 
Price Chopper #325 -Meat /Seafood
1191 NE. McQuerry Rd.
The meat cart in the meat cutting cooler had food debris on the legs and the wheels. Correct by 12/15/2019.
 

     Fall brings the new crop of hard-shelled squash to the grocery store. These winter squash add an abundance of super nutrients to the table. Orange-fleshed squashes are especially high in beta-carotene, a nutrient important for healthy skin, immune system and night vision. A half-cup of cooked orange-flesh winter squash provides about 50 calories, a nutritional bargain.
Squash is easy to cook by following the cooking tips below:
 
Cooking Directions:
Get squash ready to use in a wide assortment of recipes from soup to dessert by baking, steaming or boiling. Roasting enhances squash’s natural sweetness.
Bake: Cut in half, remove seeds and place cut-side down in a baking dish. Bake at 350⁰ F or microwave on high until tender. Scoop flesh for recipes using cooked squash.
Roast: Cut into chunks, peel cut off, toss with olive oil and seasonings. Place on a foil-lined shallow baking pan and roast at 475°F for 35 to 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Roast until they’re fork-tender.
Steam or boil: Cook peeled chunks in a small amount of simmering water or in a steamer until tender. Season and serve.
 
Winter Squash Primer:
Butternut: Tan shell makes these easy to spot. Similar in flavor and texture to sweet potatoes.
Acorn: Looks like a large green acorn. Sweet buttery yellow-orange flesh.
Buttercup: Dark green shell with lighter green spots.  Deep-yellow flesh with slightly nutty flavor.
Spaghetti: Stringy flesh resembles cooked spaghetti. Use as a very low-calorie alternate to pasta dishes.
Whether you prefer sweet or savory, winter squash fits both tastes. Try this flavorful recipe featuring butternut squash.
     Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian at the Blue Springs Hy-Vee. She can be reached at [email protected]. The information is not intended as medical advice.
     Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
 

     October is 'National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and what better time to make sure you are protected from all of the real threats on the Internet and informed of what the latest scams and hoaxes are. If you read what's in the news and on social media, it seems everyone is getting hacked these days and you probably think you're next.  Relax, if something strange is going on with your devices, it's probably a random glitch and not some shady hacker trying to break into your computer, smartphone or tablet. 
     To help give you piece of mind and to keep you better informed, I'm going to share some tips to let you know if you’ve been hacked and what to do if you’ve been a victim of a cyber-crime.
     The majority of hacks and viruses that attack your devices can not infect your computers, smartphones and tablets without human interaction. This means for a virus to get into your devices or for someone to steal information from your devices, you have to initiate it.
     Remember that file you downloaded that wasn't from your co-worker or family member? That link you clicked on in that email or text? Remember that time tech support called to alert you about the problems with your computer and you let them log in? That's how your devices are infected. 
     Criminals don't concentrate as much on attempting to break in individual devices (home and small businesses) and are more focused on 'social engineering', not hacking to get your information. 
     What is social engineering? It's the act of using deceptive means to get your data.  That is why you see a rise in robocalls, spam and scam texts. Don't want to compromise your information or get hacked from your devices?
     Always be careful when using your computer or other devices. Don't click on links in unknown emails, ignore those scary calls you receive and watch what websites you visit.
     Even if you're careful with your devices and watch what you do when surfing the web, you still need to keep an eye on your personal data.  Large company data breaches occur frequently, which means some or all your data is being leaked on the Internet or being sold on the dark web. 
     Obviously, large companies need to do a better job of protecting its customer's data, but there are some things you can do to find out if your data has fallen into the wrong hands.  First, you need to visit Fighting Identity Crimes (fightingidentitycrimes.com).
     Once there, visit the 'Breach Tables' section to get a list of all the companies that have been breached, what information was stolen and what steps you need to take to protect your data.  This web site has tracked data breaches back to 2012. Next, you should visit 'Have I been Pwned' (www.haveibeenpwned.com). 
     This web site will check to see if your email was part of a data breach.  Why is this important?  Well, most of us use an email address to log into our online accounts.  Social media. Banking and Finance, chances are these web sites use your email address as the username.  If your email address has been 'pwned' (geek speak for owned), then you need to immediately change the password for that email account and any other online accounts in which you've used that password.

Here are some other ways you can protect yourself:

1. When you're on a public WIFI network, use a VPN (virtual private network) to browse the Internet privately and securely.
2. Set up two-factor or two step authentication for your important online accounts.
3. Use a password manager to help you use different passwords for your online accounts and keep your passwords secure.
4. Never click on suspicious links in email, text or on social media messaging services or download applications from unknown sources.

Here's what to do if your computer or other devices has been hacked:
1. Run a full virus scan to detect the malware and viruses infecting your devices.
2. Change the passwords for all of your online accounts.
3. Look at the programs and applications on your devices. If you see any program or app that doesn't seem legitimate, uninstall the app right away.

 
     Cybercrime isn't going anywhere, so make sure you're taking steps to keep your information out of prying hands.

     Want to ask me a tech question? You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on my YouTube channel. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I want to make technology fun and exciting for you.

     If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. My team of friendly tech experts are always standing by to answer your questions and help make your technology useful and fun. Reach out to us at www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.

Meet Kimberly Wendschlag:
     I have been a resident of Grain Valley since 1994, having moved here from Blue Springs. My husband and I have raised 3 children here in Grain Valley, all of whom have graduated from Grain Valley High School. 
     I owned and operated an in-home daycare center from 1991-2016 which filled my cup and allowed me to be home to raise our own children.  Joining the health and wellness community in March of 2015 really opened my eyes into more study and research with our bodies, food and plants. Sharing tips and tools for better health has become one of my favorite passions and I love to give back to the community. 
     Grain Valley has been good to our family. I spent approximately 24 years volunteering in the community, with most of those years being with Girls Scouts and PTA. I was honored to have been part of the founding committee when creating multiple PTAs for the school district.
     I am a member of Blue Springs Christian Church, where I serve in the high school student section. In addition to serving at church, I go into the Women's Correctional Center to minister.
     Most of my volunteer hours are spent with women and children, but I also spend a few hours a week at Shep's Senior Dog Sanctuary where we rescue and care for senior dogs. 
     I am a business owner here in Grain Valley, as a Health and Wellness Advocate with Plexus Worldwide. 
 
     Just because you’re not sick, doesn’t mean that you are healthy. Read that again… Just because you are not sick, doesn’t mean that you are healthy. Hmm.
     This statement can come across very confusing. Let’s break it down so we can make some sense out of this. 
     We, humans are creatures of habit, and often, these habits fall into the way we go about taking care of ourselves. Or not. For example, when you have a cold, you run down to the store and grab yourself some over the counter remedy.
     You are ready for that quick fix to get the show on the road. If you happen to visit a health professional, they may give you the dreaded “according to the chart” recommendation that you are going to need to lose about 25 pounds? (Or 10, or even 5 if you’re in the “lucky” group) 
What are you going to do? Cut the soda? Utilize the gym membership that you’ve been paying for? Most likely you will.  Don’t get me wrong, these are great things. Good for you, good for your heart, good for your body.
     You are going to feel better. You are going to have more energy. You are off to a great start!  You are doing amazing things for yourself.
     But...are you healthy? You see, there is so much more to our body than simply what we see on the outside. The outside is simply the picture. The picture without a filter added to make sure everything is just right. The picture without a background that blends just perfectly. The picture without any type of preset or photoshop or editing. This is fabulous!! What you see is what you get, right?
     Not so much, friends.  It is exactly what we have been taught to believe. We look good, we’re good.
     What if we’re not? What if you’re not overweight? What if you are suffering from a skin condition or something that is visible to the human eye…and you’re really not healthy? This is where we break it down.
     We have become a society that believes it’s totally normal to snag that quick fix bottle of medication. We drink another cup of caffeine when we need a boost in the morning.
     We stop by and grab the little bottle of liquid energy to last us for a few hours because we “just need that afternoon pick me up”.
     We drive through and grab lunch, or even dinner and then pick up some more indigestion tablets on the way to work in the morning. 
     I hear you. I do. “But Kim…I’m not like that. I eat well. I eat CLEAN. I am gluten free, soy free, dairy free, I even eat vegan”.
     Great! But are you healthy? You see, our body is unique, and it doesn’t lie to us. It is so easy to look around and think that we can spot someone who needs to take better care of themselves. It is so easy to look around and assume that the girl that is eating so great, doing all the “right” things, is perfectly healthy. She’s rocking this thing called life. She’s fit in her active wear and tennis shoes. You want to be like HER. It’s just not that simple, my friends. 
     How often do we really try to address the root cause of our health issues? The real cause of these underlying symptoms that we don’t consider a “sickness”. 
     I’m going to leave you with this thought this week. Something to ponder. Something to tease your brain a little and do a double take into your own life. 
     How do you feel? Do you feel good?  I know you all look good. Grain Valley residents are the most beautiful people around. Which category do you fit in? The “not sick” or “healthy”?
 

The GVHS Boys Cross Country Team are  2019 Suburban Blue Conference Champions.
Royce Fisher and Collin Clemens led the way with 1st Team All-Conference performances. Cylas Brewer and Mason McCain achieved 2nd Team All-Conference performances.  "Jaxson Jarman and Isaac Burd also had clutch performances, both young men with one of the best races of their careers to help secure the team championship," GVHS Cross Country Head Coach Nick Small said.

The Lady Eagles team placed second in the conference, with 1st team All-Conference honors for Ella Casey. Second team honors went to Annalynn Earley, Peyton Bell, and  Valerie Holcomb, with Honorable Mention performances by Lexie Nicholson & Kyla Huber.

The Eagles head to the Warrensburg Invitational on October 17th before preparing for the District Championships on October 26th.    

     Self-care is taking action to improve your physical and emotional well-being. While treating yourself to a latte, a pedicure, or even a trip to the dentist all count as self-care, wellness and fitness should also be included in your habits.
     Taking time for just you each day is difficult, but can provide benefits such as reducing stress, boosting mood and energy, and clearing your mind. Use these examples as a starting point to create what self-care looks like for you.
 
Be Still
     Set your phone to silent, turn the television off, and embrace the silence for just five minutes. Sit outside and look out at the clouds, trees, and all of the little things we tend to ignore. Take a walk around the block and pay attention to what you smell, hear, and feel. Or simply close your eyes and just focus on taking 3-5 full breaths.
 
Make Time for You
     Set aside a specific time each day, whether it’s ten minutes or an hour, to move. From a full workout to a few stretches or walk around the block, it all adds up to improving your overall health.
 
Rest
     Working out is definitely a form of self-care, but so is rest. Make sure to factor in rest days when you are making a workout plan. If you have done several challenging workouts in a row, an easy day or rest day will help your muscles and joints to recover.
 
Kind Words
     Self-care is mental as well as physical. Work on changing the voice of your inner critic. Instead of saying “I need to work out, I look terrible,” try “I will get a workout in today to feel better inside and out.” It seems like a small thing, but positive thinking pays off.
 
     Sally Whitaker is a Pilates and Yoga instructor with 15 years of experience teaching group classes and private clientele, primarily in Independence, MO. During the summer months you can find her teaching Sunset Yoga at Armstrong Park in Grain Valley.  
 

     Beyond the cheers from the stands at Friday night football games at Moody Murray stadium, the sound of Grain Valley’s award-winning Marching Eagles echo through town. The Marching Eagles began their own competition season last weekend and are poised for another successful run with a show focused on the moments that shape the band members.
     “This year's show is entitled "Moment" and is very centered around the lives our students. We asked them to think about moments in their lives that have shaped them, challenged them, or a moment they will never forget. We then took their comments and created the show around several concepts: Moments that Shape Us, Moments that Change Us, Moments That Challenge Us, Moments We Experience Alone, Moments that Bring Us Together, and Moments of Triumph and Victory. The musical selections are tied together by recordings of our students narrating their "moment" throughout the show,” Director of Bands Daniel Berard said.
     The Marching Eagles started the competition season strong with a first place win at the Blue Springs High School Golden Regiment Invitational on October 5th. The band was also recognized for Outstanding Visual. 
     “It was our first competitive performance of the season, so it was great to see how the students stepped up their focus and professionalism, dealing with the nerves and the delays due to weather in a really positive way.  They came out of the gate and gave two really solid performances and set up the rest of the season on a solid foundation,” Berard said.
     Up next for the Marching Eagles is a trip to St. Louis to compete in the Bands of America (BOA) St. Louis Super Regional contest on October 18th and 19th, followed by a trip to the BOA Indianapolis Super Regional contest October 25th and 26th.
     An army of parent volunteers supports band members throughout the season through the Band Parents Association. Support from the community is always welcome, and opportunities to be involved as a donor and volunteer can be found at www.gvbpa.net.
 

​     The Grain Valley Eagles Softball team fought hard to regain a lead prior to faltering against the visiting Park Hill South Panthers by a score of 9-7 on Monday, October 14th. The Panthers jumped out to an early lead scoring six runs during the first two innings due to timely hitting with runners in scoring position.
     Grain Valley would counter by scoring three runs in the third inning and four runs in the fourth to storm back into the game and reclaim the lead. Park Hill South would rally late in putting up three more runs in the top of the sixth inning and claiming a late advantage they would not relinquish.
     Eagles Head Coach Garrett Ogle reflected on what could’ve been with his team coming up just short.
     “They were fortunate in hitting the softball in places we weren’t. They scored some runs on us early and took the lead. I was more impressed with the way we battled back to go ahead in the fourth inning. We fought and competed hard past that as well,” Ogle said.
     Grain Valley Second Baseman Alexis Parra was the catalyst of her team’s offensive output in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Parra came through with a hard-hit line drive down the right field line that scored both runners from second and third. The senior dug deep rounding the bases to end up with a triple prior to being driven in later in the inning by Sophomore Outfielder Mikayla Chairez.
     “My approach at the plate was to make contact to keep the game going in helping us to build momentum. It felt good to be a part of our offense in helping us gain the lead at that point in the game,” Parra said.
     “We have to continue to make contact with the softball and work hit by hit in continuing to be successful. We can’t rely on just on our defense.”
     Sophomore Pitcher Avery Huffman also competed strongly for the Eagles in relief. Huffman would enter the game in the top of the fourth inning and strike out five batters.
     She held the Panthers scoreless in three of the four innings she pitched in closing out the game. The only blemish being the three runs yielded to the Panthers in the top of the sixth inning.
     “Avery’s appearance brought a change of pace for us. She actually started the game in the outfield. Huffman got hot quick, threw strikes, and pitched really for well us,” Ogle said.
     The loss moves the Eagles record to 20-9 on the season. Ogle identified keys to success for his softball team as they approach the end of their regular season schedule.
     “We as team need to play moving forward like we did today in the third and fourth innings,” Ogle said.