OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 9-ranked Johnson County opened its 2023 Kansas Jayhawk Conference East Division schedule last week and came away with a four-game sweep over Fort Scott. The Cavaliers opened the four-game series at home Wednesday, March 8 and came away with wins of 13-3 and 5-1. Two days later at Fort Scott, they completed the sweep with a pair of close wins, 10-8 and 11-10.
In the opening game Johnson County scored five runs in the third and seven more in the fourth to enforce the 10-run rule after five innings. Center fielder Rhett Hendricks drove in four runs. Third baseman Jeremy Rader and DH Jason Lazo each collected three RBI and catcher Shea McGahan drove in two runs. Shortstop and leadoff hitter Dylan Hufft led the way three hits and leftfielder Nicholas Sall drew three walks and scored three times.
Left-handed pitcher Luc Fladda struck out eight batters over five innings and improved to 4-0 on the season.
In the second game Hufft was again the team's hits leader with four singles, two stolen bases, a run and RBI. Sall and second baseman Easton Elliot drove in a run and Hendricks ripped a triple for a second straight game, walked and scored twice.
Right-hander Cole Koonce upped his record to 5-0 after allowing just one run off three hits and eight strikeouts in his seven innings on the bump. Right-hander John Chambers closed out the final two innings in scoreless relief to earn his second save.
In the third game of the series, Johnson County appeared to be cruising to another easy victory leading 10-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, only to see the Greyhounds plate seven runs to make it interesting.
The top of the order for the Cavaliers, Hufft, right fielder Brayden Luikart and first baseman Ryan Callahan combined to go 6-for-13 with two double, four RBI and six runs scored. McGahan drove in two runs, Hendricks had two RBI with a single and a double and Lazo ripped two doubles and scored a run.
Left-hander Ty Blecha was solid in his six innings on the hill, allowing a run off six hits with four strikeouts. He is now 3-1 on the season.
In the final game the Cavaliers needed 11 innings to pick up the victory. Leading 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, the Greyhounds tied the game to force extra innings. In the top of the 10th JCCC plated six runs and appeared to have the game sealed, but Fort Scott matched that total, but Johnson County scored a run the 11th and hung on in the bottom half to earn the win.
Luikart had solo home run, two singles and scored twice. Callahan had three singles, an RBI and two runs scored and McGahan collected three singles, an RBI and crossed the plate twice. Catcher Kyle Hepburn had two hits, including a homer, and drove in two runs.
Cavaliers used eight pitchers in the game. Right-hander Dylan Graebener was the winning pitcher and right-hander Caleb Anderson earned his first save of the year.
Johnson County (19-3/4-0) will host Des Moines Area on Tuesday, March 14 at 2 p.m, then will open another four-game conference series with Coffeville (11-10/1-3) on Thursday, March 16 in Coffeyville. They return home for a double header on Saturday, March 18 with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.