Barton Baseball falls to top seeded Johnson County in District Regional Semifinal; Cougars look to keep season alive Saturday #GoBarton

The Barton Community College baseball team showed a lot of fight late but could not overcome an early 8-0 deficit on Friday evening falling to Johnson County Community College in the Plains District Tournament at Eck Stadium.

Trailing 8-0 after six-innings, the Cougar offense broke through with a five run seventh but could not overcome the slow start falling to top-seeded and the nation's top ranked Johnson Community College 8-5. 

Having its eight-game winning streak snapped, Barton (41-20) will look to keep the season alive in the consolation final against No. 2 seed Hutchinson Community College who the Cougars defeated 5-3 on Wednesday with the winner advancing to the Plains District Title game following at 4:00 p.m. against Johnson County.

Unable to deliver key hits with runners on base over the opening four innings, the Cougar offense came alive in the seventh sending 10 to the plate taking advantage of four of their five walks drawn on the night and a trio of hits leading to a five-run inning.

Ayden Hadley's leadoff double and Cesar Gomez walk fashioned the opening two-runs scoring off Cole Schieffer's two-run single. Loading the bases with Robby Bolin and Jarron Cotton walks, Kyler Horsman's two-out bases clearing double drew the Cougars within 8-5. Grant Nottlemann's second walk drawn on the night extended the inning sending the tying run to the plate before a fielder's choice would strand two of Barton's eight left on base. 

Barton's other lone baserunner came in the top of the ninth as Bolin's leadoff hit-by-pitch would be all the Cougars could manufacture.

Bolin led the Cougars lone multi-hit performance going 2-3 while setting the program's single season hits record with his third inning one-out infield single surpassing Michael Sinks 100 hits set back in 2017.

Starting pitcher Ethan Minaker (5-3) was tagged with the loss. Minaker tossed four innings allowing nine hits, five total runs with two strikeouts and one walk.

Barton utilized two relievers with Bradley Feezer working 1.0-innings yielding three runs on two hits while Colton Wahlstrom went the final 3.0-innings scattering three hits and striking out two.