Wichita Wingnuts

Gary drops Wingnuts in opener

The Wichita Wingnuts los tto the Gary SouthShore RailCats 5-1 in their series opener on Monday in Gary, Ind.

Wingnuts win rain-shortened game

The Wichita Wingnuts defeated the Kansas City T-Bones 3-2 in a rain-shortened game on Sunday in Kansas City, Kan.

Wingnuts rally to beat T-Bones

The Wichita Wingnuts rallied from an early, 3-0 deficit for a 4-3 win over the Kansas City T-Bones on Saturday night in Kansas City, Kan.

Hinson finds comfort in return to Wingnuts

Ryan Hinson made an offer to Wingnuts manager Kevin Hooper to return to the team before Hinson knew for sure that he was ready to fulfill it.

Wingnuts fall to T-Bones 5-4

The veteran Wingnuts’ turn through the batting order was complete, and their younger players were going to decide Friday’s game against the Kansas City T-Bones.

Wingnuts shut out T-Bones in opener

Even though Jon Link was nearly flawless through the first four innings of his start for the Wingnuts on Thursday, it was no indicator of how he would pitch as the game continued.

Veteran Wingnuts pitchers making a fresh start

Chris Smith’s welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment happened when he gave up a grand slam in 2008 to the second batter he ever faced. Once that was behind him, it became somewhat of a calming influence.

Wingnuts’ Kahaulelio can’t resist baseball’s allure

Jake Kahaulelio had to be talked into returning to baseball this season. Now the Wingnuts second baseman can’t imagine ever being talked out of it.

Breaking down the Wingnuts

The Wingnuts of manager Kevin Hooper’s five-year era have been built on starting pitching, and this season appears no different. Anchoring the rotation are right-handers Chris Smith and Jon Link, who both pitched briefly in the major leagues. Another ex-MLB pitcher, Mike Burns, will serve as the bullpen coach and could be activated at some point. Ryan Hinson returns after winning 20 games over the last two seasons, and right-hander Junior Guerra is back in Wichita after spending last season in the Mexican League. In 2011, Guerra went 9-3 for the Wingnuts. Rounding out the rotation will probably be former WSU left-hander Anthony Capra, who had an inconsistent Wingnuts debut in 2012. The bullpen is once again led by Josh Dew, entering his third season as closer. Nick Walters gives Wichita a dominant left-handed specialist or eighth-inning setup reliever, while newcomers Lincoln Holdzkom, Tyler White, Daniel Bennett and Kristhiam Linares will open the season in the bullpen.Catcher

Wingnuts’ outfield young, but fast

The start of the Wingnuts’ season on Thursday will be a relief for manager Kevin Hooper and his seemingly endless efforts to put together the team’s outfield.

Wingnuts roster

Wingnuts schedule

May

Wingnuts banking on their infield defense

The art of turning a double play begins and ends with the chemistry between the two middle infielders, the second basemen and the shortstop.

Wingnuts make major overhauls to 2013 roster

The long-term planning of several of last year’s Wingnuts players didn’t help manager Kevin Hooper’s efforts toward putting together a roster over the course of a few months.

Wingnuts coach Brian Rose dies of melanoma

Josh Robertson planned to video chat with Brian Rose Thursday morning as Mr. Rose lay in a Texas hospital fighting melanoma.

2013 Wichita Wingnuts schedule

2013 Schedule

Hooper wants more of same cohesion in 2013 Wingnuts

After a 2011 season that ended with a Wingnuts trip to the postseason but included clubhouse tension that kept the team from reaching its potential, manager Kevin Hooper spent a tireless offseason building a roster he was sure wouldn’t have similar issues.

Winnipeg sweeps past Wingnuts in American Association championship series

The extra mile or two an hour on the fastball, the hustle plays that temporarily ignited a desperate crowd, and the collective will of the Wingnuts to save their season were no match for a Winnipeg team that dominated the postseason.

Wingnuts still looking for first win in championship series

Winnipeg has a pitcher nicknamed “Ace” who has the credentials to live up to that billing but who hasn’t quite earned that status for the Goldeyes this season.