Returning to East Park focused on the mission of defending their title, the No. 9 ranked Barton Community College softball team took care of Dodge City Community College in six innings Thursday 9-1 in the Region VI elimination bracket final. Powered behind a third inning grand slam, Barton added three more in the following inning leading to the eight run victory launching the Lady Cougars back to the region title game for the second straight season.
Holly Posegate, who handcuffed Colby the day prior with seven strikeouts, ran into a second inning jam as Dodge City got a one-out walk and single to put runners on the corners. Inducing a ground ball to McKenna Mauler at second, the Lady Cougars looked to roll up the 6-4-3 double play but Jenna Hosey's throw to the first base bag was ruled a tad late allowing a run to score.
Stranding two in the home half of the inning, Barton went back to work in the third getting a leadoff walk from Mauler followed by Lili Ertmann beating out a sac bunt. One out later Cadie O'Donnell worked a full-count walk loading the bases before Brittany Wood wiped the slate clean with two-outs blasting her twenty-first home run of the season giving Barton a 4-1 lead.
As Posegate kept the Dodge City bats striking out two of her five punch outs, the bottom part of the lineup again kick started the offense as Mauler and Ertmann each connected for two-out singles. Breaking out of a 0-9 spell in the tournament, Maddison Schofield connected on the first of her two hits with a liner to left driving in two more runs. Cadie O'Donnell put the final touches on the three run inning sending a double to right center as Schofield sped around the baths just eluding the tag at the plate.
The bottom part of the lineup again keyed the final runs as Posegate began things helping her cause as she and Mauler opened up the sixth with singles. Schofield then lined a 3-1 pitch to right field to plate pinch runner Kelsie Doll before O'Donnell's sac fly to right field ended the Conquistadors' season with the run rule.
Improving to 24-3 on the season, Posegate went the distance giving up only three hits to go along with her five strikeouts.
Complete tournament information can be found at www.kjccc.org.