The 2018 season for the Barton Community College softball team came to an end with a pair of losses Saturday at Dodge City's Legends Park in the Region VI Tournament. Coming off a win Friday, Barton was bounced to the elimination side of the bracket in a five inning 18-7 loss to 4th ranked Butler Community College. Returning to the field two hours later, the Cougars rallied from a six-run sixth inning deficit to score five in the home half but Northwest Kansas Technical College scored an all-important insurance run as Barton's one run and stranding bases loaded came up short at 10-9 to end Barton's season with a 18-25 record.
Butler Recap
The Grizzlies put their first five runs on the board with two outs, getting two in their first at-bat on a single and home run. Butler then answered Morgan Michaelis' 11th home run of the year to lead off Barton's second inning working consecutive walks before a Cougar error loaded the bases for a walk-in RBI.
Butler left no doubt in the third inning of who would stay on the winner's side of the bracket with a ten run frame on eight hits.
Trailing by fourteen, the Cougars did lay down, battling back in the top of the ensuing fourth to put six runs on the board with two outs capped by Andreana Reynolds' double for her second at-bat in the inning to cut the margin to 15-7.
The Grizzlies added insurance clinching runs in the home have on four hits to chalk up another three runs for the 18-7 victory.
Northwest Kansas Technical College Recap
A Maggie Schuetz sacrifice fly and Jaila Jordan single gave Barton their lone lead, answering the Mavericks' solo run in the first with the two run second inning.
Northwest Tech regained the advantage with two runs in the ensuing inning, tack ion another four in the fourth to put the Cougars in a 7-2 hole.
The Cougars cut one off the margin scoring on a two-out Maverick error in the fifth only to have Northwest answer with a two runs in the sixth on three hits and one of three Barton errors.
Jordan's double and Nasadiya Salazar's single led off the home half with Alexis Sharples and Kat Frakes each driving in runs on singles. Following Michaelis' two out walk to load the sacks full of Cougars, Reynolds just missed a game tying grand slam in blasting a deep triple to right center to clear the bases drawing Barton to within 9-8.
A critical insurance run crossed the plate in the top of the seventh as the Mavericks strung consecutive singles to begin the inning with a one-out sacrifice fly producing the eventual game winner.
For the second consecutive inning Jordan began the Cougar at-bat with a double to join fellow Millwood High School alum Reynolds with a three-hit game to lead Barton's fourteen total hits. Salazar then followed in also connecting on a double to cut the deficit to one but a ground out and fly out left Barton to their final out. Making her final plate appearance as a Cougar, Frakes kept the inning alive drawing a walk with Hailey Pop loading the bases sending a liner off Northwest pitcher Kamryn Frisk for the infield single. With Shae Muggridge back to the circle in relief, Michaelis battled at the plate before sending a grounder deep in the shortstop hole as the Mavericks got the force out at third to advance in the tournament and conclude Barton's season.
Freshman hurlers Emma Horsch and Allison Panning took the losses in the circle dropping to 9-12 and 9-10 respectively.