OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The 16th-ranked Johnson County baseball team won its fifth series of the season by coming out on top in three-of-four games against cross-town rival Kansas City Kansas. The Cavaliers swept the doubleheader at Kansas City Kansas on Thursday winning 5-3 and 9-3, then split the two games at JCCC on Saturday. Johnson County had to come-from-behind to pull out an 8-7 win in the opener, but missed the sweep, falling 5-4 in the final game of the series.
With the series win, the Cavaliers improved to 25-10 overall and to 12-4 in the conference, keeping them tied with No. 5 Cowley.
In the opener, KCKCC got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first, but JCCC plated three in the fourth to take the lead for good. They added one more in the fifth and freshman outfielder Jeremy Comer belted a solo home run in the seventh to give the Cavaliers an insurance run and two-run cushion entering the bottom of the inning. Comer also doubled earlier in the game and scored three of JCCC's five runs.
Sophomore right-hander Josiah Golden started and earned the victory. He gave up three hits and two runs over four innings, striking out seven batters. Freshman right-hander Keston Holman logged the final three innings allowing two hits and one run with two strikeouts, earning the save.
Comer again had the hot bat for Johnson County in the second game, going 3-for-5 with a double, triple, three runs and two RBI.
JCCC also got multiple hits from second baseman Jake McClure, outfielder Bo Shinkle and catcher Boston Bruce. Shortstop Chris Mancinas showed patience at the plate, drawing four free passes.
Sophomore right-hander Sam Novonty earned the win allowing two runs off six hits with six strikeouts over six and two-thirds innings. Freshman lefty Luke Fricker pitched the final two and one-third innings allowing one run off two hits with two strikeouts to pick up a save.
On Saturday at the JCCC Baseball Complex, the Cavaliers faced a 6-1 deficit entering the bottom of the sixth but rallied for seven runs to take the lead. The biggest blow in the inning was a two-run blast over the right field wall by designated hitter Miken Miller. He also drove in JCCC's first run in the first inning.
Freshman third baseman Max Towchik also drove in two runs in the inning with a single to right field, scoring Easton Roe and Derek Veach.
The Cavaliers used five pitchers in the game. Freshman right-hander Ronin Vicenti picked up the win after striking out the only batter he faced in the top of the sixth inning. Holman pitched the final inning and earned his third save on the season and second in the series.
In the final game, the Cavaliers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first three innings but were not able to hold on for the win, as the Blue Devils fought back with one in the fifth, three in the sixth and one the ninth to avoid the sweep.
Outfielder Ryker Edwards had a double and two RBI. McClure had two hits and an RBI, Mancinas drove in a run and Bruce was 2-for-3 and scored a run for Johnson County.
The Cavaliers begin another four-game conference series on Thursday, April 3, when they host the Labette Cardinals in a twin-bill beginning at 1 p.m.