OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College baseball team completed a four-game sweep over Ellsworth Monday afternoon, and also moved up two spots in the NJCAA National Poll to No. 13.
The Cavaliers open the series on Sunday, Feb. 16, with a come-from-behind 6-5 victory, followed by a 3-1 win. The final two games of the series saw Johnson County reach double digits in runs scored in both, winning 13-3 and 10-3, improving to 7-1 on the season.
In the opener, freshman outfielder Quinton Hall, last week's Kansas Jayhawk Conference Player of the Week, picked up where he left off last week, belting two solo home runs, walking twice and scoring three runs.
Sophomore outfielder Jackson Galloway was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and freshman first baseman Alex Austin and sophomore infielder Garrett Wood each drove in a run.
Sophomore right-hand reliever Paul Rector picked up the win after hurling five innings hitless innings. He also did not allow a run and struck out eight of the 18 batters he faced. That effort earned the week 2 KJCCC Pitcher of the Week honor.
In game two, Ellsworth held the Cavaliers to only six hits, but Johnson County sophomore starting right-hander Drew Garrett and freshman lefty reliever Jay Long combined for a one-hitter. Garrett logged 3.2 no-hit inning with 10 strikeouts to notch his first win, and Long pitched the final 5.1 innings and allowed one hit, one run with eight strikeouts to log his first save.
In third game, Johnson County pounded out 14 hits and 13 runs, nine coming in the bottom of the fifth innings. The game was highlighted by home runs of the bats of freshman Brendan Ryan, freshman Nick Iannantone and sophomore Brady Slavens. Ryan had two hits and drove in four runs. Iannantone also had two hits and three RBI.
Sophomore outfielder Landen Wood and freshman catcher Nate Stevens both were 3-for-4 at the plate. Wood with a triple, two singles, three runs and two RBI. Stevens a double, two singles, an RBI and run scored.
Sophomore right-hander Will Heller pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first win of the season. He allowed just one hit and struck out five batters.
Slavens, Landen Wood and freshman infielder Tyson Cheatham were the big run producers in the final game of the series, all three going yard in the game. All three drove in three runs.
Sophomore left-hander Zach Todd started, going 3.0 inning. He allowed two runs off three hits and struck out nine, but did not figure in the decision. Sophomore Jon Moll followed with four innings in relief and allowed just one run off six hits and five strikeouts to earn the victory.
Freshman right-hander Danny Trehey and sophomore left-hander Colby Ring pitched the final two innings, both holding the Panther hitless. Ring struck out three of the four batters he faced.
The Cavaliers are back home February 21-23 for four game-series against Southwestern Community College. First pitch is at 2 p.m., Friday, 1 and 4 p.m., on Saturday and noon on Sunday.