OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 13-ranked Johnson County softball team (32-6/21-1) needed to sweep cross-town rival Kansas City Kansas to guarantee at least a share of the Kansas Jayhawk Conference Division II title yesterday, and Lady Cavaliers came through with a pair of convincing victories. JCCC opened the series with a 10-1 run-rule win and secured the title with a 7-1 victory to cap the day.
"Winning the conference has been a goal for this team from the beginning," said head coach Aubree Brattin-Volkens. "To have consistent play throughout an entire season to win conference is a huge accomplishment. Our conference is stacked with talented teams and to be nearly perfect through 22 games doesn't just happen by accident. It is a reflection of showing up day-in and day-out to prepare, work hard, learn, grow and adjust quickly and often to different situations and environments. Our team has bought in and we celebrated a conference championship and sophomore class together yesterday with the knowledge that we are not done yet and are ready to reach our next goal of district champions."
This is the fourth conference championship for Brattin-Volkens and the 17th overall championship for the program. She previously won titles in 2014, 2019 and 2022.
Johnson County scored two runs in both the first and second innings, then plated six in the third to put the game away. Catcher Gaige Pinkerton ripped two doubles and drove in two. Shortstop Toree Hoobler had two singles, two RBI and scored three runs, and center fielder Eve Morris had two-run single to pace the offense. First baseman Kate Ediger and third baseman Riahn Pinkerton each drove in a run as well.
Right-hand pitcher Jordan Harrison ran her record to 19-2-, allowing one run off four hits while strikeout out six.
In the title clinching game, Gaige Pinkerton extended her hitting streak to 22 games with a three-run blast. Riahn Pinkerton and Morris each drove in a run, and Hoobler had two singles, a walk and scored twice.
Right-hand pitcher Maggie McNally scattered seven hits and struck out 10 batters to up her record to 13-3 overall.