OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 2-ranked Johnson County Community College Cavaliers baseball team (46-10, 28-4) got a walk off two-out, two-run double from freshman Easton Roe in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday, rallying to defeat Kansas City Kansas Community College (44-10, 25-8) 6-5 to secure the Kansas Jayhawk Conference East Division title outright.
The comeback inning started with sophomore outfielder Jesse Tisdell drawing a walk. He then advanced to second and third on a sacrifice by freshman Jake McClure and a ground out freshman Maddux Fleck. With two outs, the Blue Devils intentionally walked sophomore Jack Mosh to set up an optional force at second and he was pinch run for by freshman Drew Veatch.
Roe then lined a pitch into the right-center field gap to score Tisdell and Veatch and the celebration began.
The Cavaliers got on the board in the second inning after sophomore Jordan Black grounded out, scoring freshman Miken Miller who singled to start the inning.
Johnson County added to their lead early in the bottom of the third innings on a two-run double by sophomore Dagen Brewer and RBI single from sophomore Cal Kilgore.
JCCC led 4-1 in the top of the ninth, but Kansa City Kansas extended the game plating four runs to take a 5-4 advantage.
Sophomore left-hander Sawyer Allen pitched the final one-third of the final inning to earn the victory.
The Cavaliers started the day with another comeback victory, winning 3-2 off three solo home runs in three straight innings.
Brewer blasted solo shot in the fourth and sixth, which proved to be the game winner, and Black homered to right field in the fifth to tie the game.
Sophomore left-hander Michael Infranca earned the win for the Cavaliers. The reliever allowed one hit and no runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out three batters.
Freshman right-hander Sam Novotny opened the game, giving up three hits and two runs over four innings, striking out four.
Johnson County will host the opening round of the NJCAA Plains District Tournament on Thursday, May 9 in a best-of-three series. The winner will advance to the championship bracket at Eck Stadium on the campus of Wichita State University, May 15-19.