Kearney Powers Past Liberty North Eagles 12-3

Kate Landewee delivered a standout performance for Kearney, earning the win after four hitless, scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and three walks. Photo by David Haggart.

The Kearney softball team took home a decisive 12-3 victory over the Liberty North Varsity Eagles on Monday, October 13, fueled by an explosive third inning that saw the Bulldogs score seven runs. This brings the end of the regular season for the Bulldogs who netted their 4th straight Suburban Blue Conference Championship which makes it a perfect 4 for 4 for 9 senior bulldog players.

Liberty North struck first in the second inning when Avary Sharpnack hit a two-run shot to center field, putting the Eagles on the board early. The Eagles added another run in the third after Alex Couch singled to center field, but Kearney was quick to respond and seize the momentum.

Kearney answered in the third inning with Brooke Paalhar blasting a home run to center field, driving in three runs. Moments later, Kate Stumpenhaus sent a homer to left field, adding two more to the tally, and Ellie Switzer capped the rally with another home run to center, scoring two more for Kearney.

The action didn’t stop there. In the bottom of the fifth, Alyssa Quick launched a solo home run to center, further extending Kearney’s lead and energizing the home crowd.

On the mound, Kate Landewee delivered a standout performance for Kearney, earning the win after four hitless, scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and three walks. Reghan Lueken started for the Bulldogs, pitching three innings and allowing two hits and three runs while striking out four. Liberty North’s Endsley Lierman took the loss, giving up seven runs—four earned—on five hits across two and two-thirds innings.

The Bulldogs finished the game with 10 hits. Brooke Paalhar was a key contributor, going 2-for-4 and driving in three runs. Quick, Paalhar, and Kennedi Casey each collected two hits for the Bulldogs. Kearney’s defense was flawless, with no errors committed, and Caroline Jury led the team with 13 chances in the field.

For Liberty North, Sharpnack was a bright spot in the lineup, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs, while Couch added a hit and Addie Schneider drew two walks. The Eagles showed patience at the plate, working five walks over the course of the game.

The Bulldogs move past the first round of District Postseason play with a bye but will play the winner of the William Chrisman/Winnetonka Quarterfinal game on Saturday, October 18, at noon at William Chrisman High School, 1223 N Noland Rd, Independence, MO. Live coverage will begin on 102.7FM KPGZ at approximately 11:30 am, weather permitting.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Quick Leads Bulldogs to 20-0 Victory Over Grandview

Alyssa Quick made history, surpassing the previous home run record with her 33rd career blast.

The Kearney Bulldogs softball team dominated the Grandview Bulldogs with a commanding 20-0 win on Monday, powered by an outstanding performance from senior Alyssa Quick. Quick launched two home runs and drove in four runs, helping set the pace for the Bulldogs’ explosive offense.

The game was decided early, with Kearney erupting for 16 runs in the first inning. Kennedi Casey started the rally with a run-scoring single, followed by a triple from Brooke Paalhar that brought another run home. Quick contributed a sacrifice fly and then homered to left field, while Caroline Jury hit a three-run shot. Ellie Switzer doubled, Reese Narron tripled, and Paalhar hit another home run, each adding to the tally. Quick’s solo homer and run-scoring hits by Kate Stumpenhaus, Bailey Sharp, Switzer, and Bailey Barnes capped off the inning.

Brooke Paalhar broke the school’s career hits record, raising the mark to 210 hits.

Kearney kept up the momentum in the second, adding four more runs on six hits. Paalhar doubled in a run, Quick homered to center for two more, and Bentley Thorne singled to drive in the game’s final run.

On the mound, Reghan Lueken earned the win for Kearney, pitching three shutout innings without allowing a hit. Lueken struck out seven and walked just one batter. Grandview’s Morgan Hampton took the loss, giving up 10 runs (seven earned) on eight hits in less than an inning of work.

Kearney finished the game with 20 hits, led by Paalhar and Sharp, who each collected three. Multiple hits also came from Morgan Pennington, Switzer, Jury, and Casey. Pennington showed her speed by stealing two bases, and the Bulldogs played error-free defense, with Jury making eight plays.

This victory was more than just a win for Kearney—it was a record-setting night. Brooke Paalhar broke the school’s career hits record, raising the mark to 210 hits. Alyssa Quick also made history, surpassing the previous home run record with her 33rd career blast, a milestone for Kearney softball.

The Bulldogs’ combination of powerful hitting, strong pitching, and flawless defense made for a night to remember, as they continue to build on their season’s successes. They are currently 23-5 this season.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Execute Another Shutout Win

Ellie Switzer came up big with a single that cleared the bases for three runs. Photo by David Haggart.

The Kearney Bulldog Softball team delivered a commanding performance Tuesday, defeating the Excelsior Springs Tigers 7-0 behind a dominant shutout pitched by Reghan Lueken. The Bulldogs’ pitching and timely hitting kept the Tigers off the board at Kearney High School.

Kearney struck first in the opening inning when Alyssa Quick doubled to bring in two runs, setting the tone early for the Bulldogs. Quick continued her strong night in the third, blasting a solo home run over center field to extend the lead. The Bulldogs pulled away in the sixth inning, scoring four runs to secure the victory. Ellie Switzer came up big with a single that cleared the bases for three runs, while Reese Narron added another run with a single of her own.

Excelsior Springs pitcher Kayden Rogers worked six innings, allowing seven runs—four of them earned—on eight hits. Rogers struck out two and walked two in the effort, but couldn’t slow the Bulldogs’ offense.

The bottom of Kearney’s lineup came through, with Quick leading the team with three RBIs and finishing 2-for-3. Kennedi Casey also contributed, matching Quick with two hits. On the Tigers’ side, Bella Loeffert, Josie Casler, and Rogers each picked up a hit, but the team couldn’t push any runs across. Excelsior Springs did manage to turn a double play defensively, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Kearney’s momentum.

With Lueken shutting down the Tigers’ bats and the Bulldogs’ offense firing on all cylinders, Kearney earned a well-deserved shutout win to keep their season rolling. The Bulldogs are now 21-5 on the season.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Quick Hits for the Cycle, Landewee Throws No-Hitter

It was a night to remember at the diamond as Kearney High School Varsity delivered a commanding 11-0 win over the Smithville Warriors on Tuesday, marked by standout performances from Alyssa Quick and pitcher Kate Landewee.

Alyssa Quick put on a show at the plate, hitting for the cycle and powering the Bulldogs’ offense. Photo by David Haggart.

Alyssa Quick put on a show at the plate, hitting for the cycle and powering the Bulldogs’ offense. She started strong with a double in the opening frame, driving in two runs to put Kearney on the board. In the second inning, Quick crushed a home run to center field, bringing in three more runs and helping build an early lead. She added a single in the fifth and capped off her night with a triple in the sixth, completing the rare feat and keeping the momentum firmly with Kearney.

On the mound, Kate Landewee was untouchable. The Kearney ace struck out 13 batters, allowing no hits or runs over six flawless innings without issuing a single walk. Smithville’s lineup could not solve Landewee, who kept them off balance from start to finish.

Kearney’s offense was relentless, tallying 15 hits on the night. Morgan Pennington, Brooke Paalhar, Kennedi Casey, and Reese Narron each picked up multiple hits, while Paalhar also drove in a run with a single in the second. The Bulldogs added four more runs in that inning, stretching their lead and never looking back.

Defensively, Kearney was perfect, playing error-free ball. Caroline Jury led the way in the field, recording 13 chances without a misstep.

For Smithville, Nora Schoening took the loss, pitching two and two-thirds innings and giving up 10 runs on 12 hits. She finished the outing without a strikeout and walked one.

With Quick’s cycle and Landewee’s no-hitter, Kearney High School Varsity sent a clear message with their dominant performance, securing a memorable win and pursuing the Suburban Blue Conference Title for the fourth year in a row.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Casey and Landewee Lead Win Over Griffins

Casey was unstoppable at the plate, collecting three hits in four at bats. Photo: David Haggart.

Kennedi Casey and Kate Landewee had standout performances on Monday, September 22, as the Kearney Bulldog softball team cruised to a 10-0 victory over the Winnetonka Griffins.

Casey was unstoppable at the plate, collecting three hits in four at bats. She doubled in both the second and fifth innings and added a single in the fourth, driving the offense forward throughout the game.

Pitcher Kate Landewee was equally impressive, commanding the mound with 15 strikeouts. Over five innings of work, Landewee didn't allow a single hit or run, issuing just one walk in a near-perfect outing. Her dominance ensured the Griffins never gained momentum.

Kearney took control early, jumping ahead in the bottom of the second inning. Reese Narron kicked off the scoring with an RBI single, followed by Casey’s RBI double, and Alyssa Quick’s two-run single. The team built a comfortable lead and never looked back.

On the other side, Winnetonka’s Mackenzie Halderman was tagged with the loss, pitching four and one-third innings and giving up 10 runs—eight of them earned—on 11 hits. Halderman managed to strike out three and walked two, but Kearney’s lineup proved too much to handle.

Kearney racked up 12 hits overall. Casey and Narron each tallied three hits, batting back-to-back and keeping the pressure on the Griffins’ defense. Brooke Paalhar and Casey both drove in three runs, providing crucial support for the team’s offensive surge. Ellie Switzer chipped in with two hits out of three at bats.

The defense was flawless, with Kearney not committing any errors during the game. Caroline Jury anchored the field, handling 15 chances without a misstep, helping secure the shutout win. The combination of powerful hitting, dominant pitching, and precise defense resulted in a memorable game for Kearney. The Bulldogs are now 13-3 on the season.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.