Barton ends season with loss to Cowley in Region VI play
The Barton Community College baseball team had its season come to and end with a 3-0 loss to Cowley County Monday afternoon in the loser's bracket of the Region VI Championships. Barton had defeated Johnson County the previous day after losing in the opening round to Garden City. The Cougars end their year with a 31-24 record. Cowley eventually won the Region VI title, coming through the loser's bracket for the title over Seward County.
Highlights
Barton wasn't able to generate any offense against Tiger pitcher x Schell in the loss to the Jayhawk East champions. Barton was able to collect just 5 hits and advanced a runner to 3rd only once – with 2 outs the 9th inning. Barton was able to get 2 runners on base on 3 different occasions. The Cougars has runners at 1st and 2nd in the 2nd inning with 1 out but a double play ended that threat. The Cougars again put 2 runners on with 1 out in the 7th but failed to score. Barton kept its hopes alive in the final inning with runners on the corners with 2 outs before coming up empty again.
A trio of Barton pitchers did the job on the mound. Spencer Blades drew the start but obtained an injury in the opening inning. Blades battled into the 2nd inning before he had to be lifted due to the injury. Landon Fall came in and held Cowley to just 3 hits over 5 innings and Drew Smith allowed just 2 hits in 2 2/3 innings. All 3 hurlers gave up just 1 run in their stint. The trio combined to allow just 7 hits the entire game. Barton issued 5 walks as well, which came back to haunt them as 3 of the 5 runners that reached on a base on balls later scored. Two of those were leadoff walks in the 6th and 8th inning.
Barton advanced to the Cowley elimination game with a win over the defending Region VI Champion Johnson County. Barton exploded for 7 runs in the 6th inning to pull away for an 8-3 win over the Cavaliers. The Cougars sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning, collecting 5 hits, drawing 2 walks and two more Cougars were hit by pitches. The lone extra base hit in the frame was a double by Kensley Dukes that scored Bryce Wells to start the scoring and give Barton a 2-1 lead. Kent Urban drove in a pair with a single to make it 4-1 and two batters later Blaine Clark hit a bases loaded single to make it 6-1. That was enough for Michael Cotter who scattered 10 hits and 3 runs over 6 2/3 innings before Andrew Hawkins finished out the final 2 1/3 on just 1 hit.
Barton lost the 1st round contest to Jayhawk West champion Garden City but had their chances in the 6-3 setback. Despite getting just 5 hits in the contest, Barton had base runners in every inning of the contest – at least 2 in 5 of the 9 innings thanks to 4 walks, 3 hit batsmen and 3 errors by the Broncbusters. But the result was just 3 runs and 12 runners left on base. Garden was able to score in just 2 innings, but posted 3 runs in each of those frames for the win.
Stats
Stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu/sports
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Season complete with 31-24 record