High winds and powerful storms moved through Crawford County on Monday night, leaving a trail of uprooted and broken trees, downed power lines and damage in its wake.
MOORE, Okla. — Spotlights bore down on massive piles of shredded cinder block, insulation and metal as crews worked through the night lifting bricks and parts of collapsed walls where a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood. At least 51 people were killed, including at least 20 children, and those numbers were expected to climb, officials said Tuesday.
MOORE, Okla. — Spotlights bore down on massive piles of shredded cinder block, insulation and metal as crews worked through the night lifting bricks and parts of collapsed walls where a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood. At least 51 people were killed, including at least 20 children, and those numbers were expected to climb, officials said Tuesday.
It was only a year ago Monday that former Central Missouri assistant coach Matt Murray started three consecutive days of finalist interviews for the Pittsburg State head baseball coach position left vacant by the retirement of longtime head man Steve Bever.
Murray beat out former Pitt State player and former assistant Daniel Esposito and University of Indianapolis assistant coach Alan Ready for the job and the Gorillas made their first MIAA Tournament appearance in nearly a decade, recording their most wins (29) since 2005 during Murray’s first season.
“The first year’s been incredible,” Murray said during an interview Monday in the parking lot of JayCee Ballpark a couple hours before the storm came through. “No. 1, when I think about family and getting my wife and family here and settled in, that was a big part of the transition from leaving Warrensburg. Once that piece was taken care of, that was a great feeling. Professionally, just a wonderful coaching staff we were able to bring in late and the fact that our players responded fairly well. I just felt like for the first year and what we’re going to do, it was a solid first step.”
Over the past three seasons, the Frontenac Raider baseball program enjoyed a 59-14 overall record (.808 winning percentage), 44-3 the past two seasons (.936), one state championship (2012), one state third place (2011), two regional titles, two league titles (first and second in school history) and one undefeated regular season (18-0).
This success was highly dependent on the contributions of seniors Matt Standlee, Blake Vail, Bryan Wade, Bryce Burdette, Blake Barto, Gus Brunetti, Ross Edge, Avery Coronado and Nick Zafuta — kids who played with or against each other in the backyard, the sandlot, the youth leagues, the traveling teams, the All-Star teams, et cetera, until they formed the core of the Frontenac baseball team and developed a bond of brotherhood.
Their run ended with a regional final loss to Coffeyville on Wednesday and the senior class graduated on Saturday.
A strong storm with a tornado warning ripped through Crawford County earlier this evening, downing limbs and power lines in its path and causing many around the area to take shelter.
Many communities in the storm's path have lost power, with reports coming in from Chicopee, Capaldo, Ringo and Arma
Pittsburg High School commencement exercises, held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the school gym, were a milestone for the 166 graduates. It was also the school’s 125th commencement.
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