Barton runs winning streak to 5 in West play
The Barton County Community College baseball team put itself back in contention in the Jayhawk West race as it ran its winning streak to 5 with sweeps at Garden and at home against Colby after splitting with West leader Butler. Barton, ineligible for the West title due to a department-wide probation, improved to 11-5 in the West and 25-15 overall. Barton lost at Butler to start the 6 games in 5 days over the Easter Holiday. Barton lost 6-0 then rebounded for a 9-3 win. That was followed by a sweep at Garden City, 5-3 and 12-4 before sweeping Colby at home, 9-8 and 10-0.
Highlights
After falling 6-0 in the opener at El Dorado, the Barton bats came to life to score 45 runs over the next 5 games – an average of 9 per game. In the nightcap at Butler, Tyler Rzepka and Anthony Dreiling each drove in 2 runs as Rzepka went 2-for-4 and had a homer. Rzepka and Austin Holt each scored twice as well. Jeff Edlefsen injured his finger in the opening inning and was replaced by Erik Anderson, who went the rest of the way the longest outing of the year for the Barton closer.
In the opener at Garden, Barton posted 4 runs in the top of the 7th inning to rally for the win against the Broncbusters. Barton trailed 2-1 going into the 7th but a leadoff single by Marc Albers and a walk to Holt got things for the Cougars. Dreiling sacrificed the two into scoring position and Tyler Metcalf tripled them home for a 3-2 lead. Kenny Burkhead added a huge 2-out homer to give Barton a 5-2 lead. That was enough for Kevin Large, who came on in relief and did allow a run but Barton held on for the 5-3 win. Metcalf drove in 3 in the win, collecting 2 hits. Ryan Anthony allowed 2 runs on 6 hits over 6 innings for the win while Large notched the save.
In the 2nd game Barton blew open a close game with another big 7th inning. This time Barton turned a 5-4 lead into a 12-4 with 7 runs in the 7th. This time it was a David Wilson 3-run homer that was the big blow. Wilson drove in 5 in the win and Rzepka added 2 RBI and 2 runs. Holt scored 3 times for Barton. Michael Cotter went the distance striking out 8 for the win.
The Cougars returned home for 2 against Colby and used another big inning in the opener for the win. This time Barton scored 5 in the 5th turn a 7-4 deficit into a 9-7 lead. Mitch Cooper tripled in a pair in the inning for the Cougars. Holt was 3-for-3 in the game with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Michael Bell got the win and Erik Anderson the save for Barton.
Barton rolled to a 10-0 win in the nightcap as Large threw 5 scoreless innings, striking out 6. Barton scored 7 times in the 3rd to give the Cougars a 9-0 lead and added another in the 4th for the 5-inning run-rule win. Burkhead continued swinging his hot bat, going 3-for-3, driving in 2 and scoring 2. Ty Stivers drove in 4 in the win, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
Stats
Stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu/sports
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