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Winter storm in Dallas forces JCCC improvise its start to the 2023 season

JCCC baseball player Easton Elliot waits for a pitch to hit.
JCCC baseball player Easton Elliot waits for a pitch to hit.
Posted: Feb 07, 2023

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 18-ranked Johnson County baseball team was set to open the 2023 campaign last weekend with several double headers against Dallas College-Brookhaven and Dallas College-Eastfield, but inclement weather in the Dallas metro forced those games to be canceled. 

Head coach Eric Horner went plan B, and set up a two-game series against North Arkansas on Sunday afternoon at the home field of the Pittsburg State Gorillas. Johnson County swept the series, winning 9-7 and 8-4. 

In the opener, the Cavaliers plated all nine runs in the first five innings, but still needed to hold of the Pioneers late rally in the seventh to post the 9-7 victory.

Sophomore second baseman Easton Elliot, sophomore first baseman Ryan Callahan, freshman designated hitter Dagen Brewer and freshman shortstop Dylan Hufft each drove in two runs.  Hufft, along with freshman outfielder Rhett Hendricks, led the team with three hits each. Hufft had two singles and a double. Hendricks two singles and a triple. 

Sophomore right-hander Cole Koonce got the start and the win, allowing just a walk with two strikeouts in his two innings of work. Sophomore right-hander Trent Martin logged a perfect two innings, striking out two batters. 

In the second game, North Arkansas jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Cavaliers responded with single runs in the second and third, then blew the game open with a five spot in the fourth. 

Hufft had another three-hit game and scored twice. 2022 all-conference outfielder Cooper Combs had a double, a walk and three RBI. Callahan ripped a RBI double and Hendricks belted the first home run of the season with a solo shot. Freshman catcher Kyle Hepburn also recorded his first collegiate RBI.   

Sophomore left-hander Ty Blacha picked up the victory in relief. He entered in the third and pitched two perfect innings with three strikeouts. 

Freshman right-hander John Chambers matched Blacha's line in the fifth and sixth innings, and freshman right-hander Drew Norris and freshman left-hander Jake Porter were perfect in the seventh.

Weather permitting, the Cavaliers will travel south to Neosho, Mo, Thursday, February 9 to take on No. 5-ranked Crowder in double header, the return home to host the Roughriders on Saturday, February 11 with two games beginning at 1 p.m.