Willmar notebook: Kingery has ties to both Series foes

Mike Kingery of rural Grove City played for both the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants in his 10-year major league career.
So did he leave his heart in San Francisco? Or is he more loyal to the Royals?
“Of the six teams I’ve played for, San Francisco and Kansas City have been, well, let’s say, if I needed something and contacted them, they were the most accommodating,” he said this week.
Kingery played in 819 major league games, batting .268 with 164 extra-base hits, from 1986-95.
His career saw him spend time with all four of this season’s wild card teams.
Signed by Kansas City scout Art Stewart in 1979 out of the American Legion State Tourn-ament played here, the former Atwater Panther four-sport standout made his major league debut on July 7, 1986. He was called up from Omaha to fill a roster vacancy created by an injury to George Brett.
A crowd of locals watched the game in the Atwater bowling alley, which was operated by his dad Ken and older brother Doug. Playing in right field, the young lefty had two hits against Baltimore starter Mike Boddicker and would bat .258 in 62 games his rookie season.
A muscular young man out of Auburn University, already famous for his football exploits, was called up by the Royals in September. He pushed aside the Minnesotan, who had played running back for the JC in Willmar, not because he was a more accomplished baseball player but because he was baseball’s most-hyped prospect.
“I really have to thank Bo [Jackson] for that,” said Mike. “My manager suggested I give center field a try. I got the opportunity to play some there, which was Willie Wilson’s spot. A lot of outfielders don’t like center because of the added responsibility. I learned to play it and I think it extended my career a couple of years.”
Kingery has owned and operated Solid Foundation Baseball School, Inc., since 1997. The day we talked, he was on the way to the dairy farm country near Pearl Lake where he rents a warehouse for teaching baseball fundamentals, especially hitting techniques. He likes the location south of St. Cloud because it’s a bit more central for college and high school players than the old school gym in Kandiyohi.
He tells youngsters if you want to play beyond high school, it’s best to learn how to play multiple positions. He suggests giving catching careful consideration.
“Not a lot of kids want to play catcher,” he said. “It’s hard work, dirty and sweaty. You get nicked by foul balls and you can never relax.”
He likes the Royals’ chances because of their defense, speed and bullpen. Of course, the bullpen didn’t factor into Game 1 as it did in KC’s remarkable eight-game postseason winning streak with the seasoned Giants’ batting order pouncing in the first inning for a 3-0 lead.
He likes the style and business-like approach of both teams.
But … “I do want Kansas City to win,” he said.
He recalled the friendly treatment the Kingery Family singers - he and Chris have eight children, plus spouses, and grandchildren - received returning from an engagement in Dallas in 2012.
“I called the vice president of public relations who I knew, and asked if he could get us tickets into the game coming up on our return trip. He said it would be difficult to string so many seats together but what he could do was to put us in a special suite next to the broadcasters. They treated us like royalty. I was interviewed by Fox Sports. The Royals went out of the way to make us feel special.”
His major league call-up came the season after the Royals beat the Cardinals in the World Series. The Royals went 91-71 in ’85 and then dipped to 76-86 the next year.
It would be 29 years before the playoff excitement returned.
Kingery took six of his Minnesota S.W.A.T. Elite baseball teams to KC last week for tournaments.
“The city was full of signs everywhere. There was so much excitement. It’s like high school sports here; the smaller the town, the greater the excitement when it comes to postseason.”
On the fly
n Jordan Smith is hitting .238 (10-for-42) in the Arizona Fall League. Hunter Dozier, another ex- Stinger and a first-round draft choice, has seen his average slip to .128 (5-for-39).
n The Willmar girls soccer team was awarded the Central Lakes Conference Sportsmanship Award. Named All-Conference was senior Shelby Schneider. Honorable mention selections were seniors Nicole Marshall and Stephanie Thompson and freshman goalie Laura Christianson.
n The boys soccer team All-CLC selections are seniors Teza Harrison, Charlie Hopman, Alexander McLouth and Nickolaus McLouth. Honorable mentions are junior David Aquilar and sophomores Jesus Nevarez and Manny Obregon.
n Rogers coach Marc Franz said after his team’s 63-0 win over the visiting Cardinals: “We thought Willmar has some real good skill players,” Franz said to Bruce Strand of the Elk River Star News. “We thought it was going to be more competitive. So I was surprised.” The Royals have dominated the scoring in seven of their eight wins but this was their most lopsided victory.
n At the end of her four-year career as the top swimmer on the Gustavus Adolphus women’s team, Alissa Tinklenberg Hoekstra was one of seven Gusties named to the 2014 College Swimming Coaches Association of America Individual Scholar All-Americans. The former Cardinal is married and works in the twin cities as an accountant. Alissa is also one of only two Gusties named to the all-sports Division III All-Academic At-Large Team.
n Concordia senior defensive tackle Nate Adams (Litchfield) leads the 6-1 Cobbers in both tackles for loss and sacks. Senior safety Mitch Tauer (Atwater) is Concordia’s fourth leading tackler and sophomore cornerback Matt Ahrndt (Benson) also ranks in the top 10. Junior WR Brandon Zylstra got off to a late start due to injury but is the second leading pass catcher with 22 for 223 yards. Sophomore Alex Grove (Willmar), backing up senior quarterback Griffin Neal, has rushed for 43 yards and thrown for 46 yards on 4 of 6.