‘Kansas City means everything to us’: KC Diamonds softball team eager to play ball
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Home opener is June 17 at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.
- The team held an open practice that attracted fans of all ages for autographs and drills.
- The Diamonds play their first official game June 12 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Kansas City softball fans are set to welcome the new KC Diamonds women’s professional team with open arms this summer.
Players on the team, who met with fans during an open practice on Tuesday in Kansas City, Kansas, said they are just excited to start the season and immerse themselves in KC life.
The team’s home opener is June 17 at Legends Field, but the organization has been hosting events in advance of that date in hopes of generating excitement around the community.
The open practice on Tuesday at Legends Field attracted folks of all ages, including a number of kids. They had a chance to meet the players, gather autographs, check out some team merch and watch drills and workouts.
One attendee, influencer Tori Wade, said she brought her 3-year-old daughter in order to introduce her to local sports. Wade said that she is excited to see another women’s team join the lineup of Kansas City clubs.
“It means so much,” Wade said. “I am raising a little girl to see that she can do anything. And with (KC) Current here, too, it’s just so cool to see women’s sports being such a big deal here in Kansas City.”
Catcher Leah Boggs, originally from Mansfield, Ohio, said Kansas City already means a lot to her — and her teammates.
“Hopefully they come out and can see how passionate we are about softball and how passionate we are about the city,” she said of the first-year team’s early fanbase. “We can grow together.”
Infielder Alex Brown, from Savannah, Georgia, said she has already seen signs of support around town.
“People are already so excited about showing up to the game,” she said. “It means so much to us that they want to come out and support women’s sports.”
Infielder Allie Skaggs said she appreciates how Kansas City seems to support its women’s athletes and teams.
“The pro softball landscape is growing so much,” she said, “and to even have this opportunity to be playing in a city like this is awesome.
“We were able to go to the Kansas City Current game the other day and it was the coolest thing. The environment and supporting women’s sports is so awesome.”
The Diamonds will play their first official game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on June 12 before making their home debut June 17 at Legends Field.
“I am very excited. I’ve never been to Puerto Rico,” said pitcher Kasey Ricard, a product of Boston College who is embarking on her first season of pro sports. “From what I’ve heard, overseas people really get into the game and really love to go out and support. So I am excited to see the turnout and what it is going to be like.”
Skaggs likely spoke for many on the inaugural Diamonds roster when she said that her younger self would be amazed at how far she has come.
“She would probably just look at me and be like, ‘Wow, you did it,’” Skaggs said. “I think that’s the coolest thing, is that if I would’ve looked at 5- or 10-year-old Allie, she would be like, ‘I like watching softball on TV.’
“And now flashing forward to being at the World Series (as a college player), being the one who gets to play professional softball — she would be very proud.”
The Diamonds’ next public meetup will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Overland Park Chicken-n-Pickle, 5901 West 135th Street.
