OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 7-ranked Johnson County Community College softball team entered its final regular season doubleheader needing a sweep over Coffeyville Community College to secure the Kansas Jayhawk Conference Division II title outright and they left no doubt that would happen on Sophomore Day.
The Lady Cavaliers sent the sophomore out in style winning 18-3and 15-5, improving to 40-8 overall and 19-3 in the conference, one game ahead of Neosho County.
In the opener, Johnson County set the tone right of the bat, plating 10 runs highlighted by a three-run home run from freshman Jaylee Jefferson, a two-run single by sophomore Gracie Ramsey and a two-run double from freshman Aspen Burgardt.
Ramsey finished the game with six runs driven in. She also walked to drive in a run in the second inning and blasted a three-run homer to center field in the third inning.
Burgardt also homered to center field to score two runs in the fourth and finished the day 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Jefferson was 4-for-4 with three runs scored.
Sophomore right-hander Maggie McNally was nearly perfect in her four innings of work. She allowed just one hit, no runs and struck out five betters. Sophomore right-hander Deja Gardenhire closed out the game.
The Lady Cavaliers put the finishing touches to sophomore day with a 15-5 victory over the Red Ravens to complete the sweep, their 13th series sweep on the season.
Like the opener, the Lady Cavaliers used a big inning to put the game out of reach. Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the third, JCCC scored eight runs to lead 11-5, and followed with four in the fourth to enforce the 10-run rule.
Johnson County amassed15 hits in the game. Burgardt led the attack with three hits, two runs and two RBI. Jefferson ripped two doubles, walked twice, score two runs and drove in two.
Sophomores Taryn Burkhardt, Eve Morris, Hannah Archdekin and Ramsey also drove in two runs each. Archdekin belted a two-run homer in the third and Ramsey finished the day with eight RBI.
Freshman Kaelyn Conrad earned the complete game victory. The lefty surrendered five runs and five hits over six innings, striking out eight batters.
Johnson County will open postseason play on Wednesday, May 8 at the Lake Shawnee Softball Complex in Topeka. The champion will be crowned on either Friday, May 10 or Saturday, May 11 with the winner earning a spot in the NJCAA Division II World Series May 20-25 at Tyger River Park in Spartanburg, South Carolina.