2005-06 Barton Baseball News
The number of former Barton County Community College baseball players playing pro baseball grew to 6 this summer as 3 former Cougars were drafted to join three other already in the minor leagues. The leader of that group right now is Nate Field, who was selected to the AAA All-Star games held earlier this month. Jason Stanford is back throwing at the AAA level, making his way back to full strength after surgery in 2004 while yet another former pitching is finding his stride in A ball. The 3 newly drafted players are all playing short-season rookie ball this summer.
It has been a busy couple of weeks for former Barton County Community College baseball players. Last week a pair of former Cougars and one current Cougar was drafted in the MLB draft. Since that time all 3 drafted players have signed deals with their new organizations while another former player is back to pitching in the minor leagues after missing the 1st part of the season with an injury and yet another former Cougar has found his way back to the disabled list in the minor leagues.
When the Barton County Community College baseball team walked off the field after its game with Coffeyville in the loser’s bracket of the Region VI baseball tournament, most of Wichita was a sleep. Some were getting up for the Monday morning’s work. It was 4:30 am at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. Unfortunately for Barton it was the last time they would walk off the field this year as the Cougars dropped a 7-1 decision to Coffeyville. Barton lost earlier the day in the opening round of the Region VI Championships to Colby, 7-3. It was a long day at Lawrence Dumont Stadium after Saturday – the original opening day – was rained out. Sunday – and into Monday morning – saw 6 games played starting at 9 am Sunday and ending at after 4 am Monday for more than 19 hours of baseball. It was a day that saw 3 of the top 4 seeds lose in the opening round. The Cougars end their season with a 34-23 record with their early morning loss.
It took a little longer than expected, but the field is finally set for the 2006 Region VI Baseball Championships in Wichita. Play will begin Saturday at 10 am and run through Tuesday. A game Wednesday will be played if needed to decide the NJCAA College World Series appearance that goes with the Region VI title. Barton County Community College will open play at 4 pm Saturday against Colby at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. The Cougars had to wait until Tuesday to determine who their foe would be thanks to rain over the weekend in the Kansas City area, where Colby defeated KCK. In fact, nearly all the best 2 of 3 opening round series were pushed back with only Barton getting done Saturday in its sweep of Independence. One series finished Sunday, four on Monday and two more Tuesday.
The Barton County Community College baseball team turned in a good season in Jayhawk West action, finishing 2nd in the conference race. Barton, picked 4th in the preseason coaches’ poll, was rewarded for its strong West showing in the All Jayhawk West teams announced this week. Coach Mike Warren was named the West Coach of the Year while Erik Whinery, Brent Biggs, Austin Holt, and Chad Lee were selected 1st team All West. Brock Nehls was a 2nd team selection while David Wilson earned honorable mention recognition. Holt was selected as the Freshman of the Year in the West after his stellar rookie campaign at Barton.
The Barton County Community College baseball team got enough cooperation from the weather to sneak in two games Saturday at Jimmy Lawson and complete a sweep of Independence during the opening series of the Region VI baseball tournament. Barton won the opener 10-0 then followed with a 6-3 win to move to the double elimination portion of the tournament starting Saturday at Wichita’s Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Brock Nehls threw his 2nd complete game shutout in the past 2 weeks for the Cougars in the opener for the win then Barton gave up the lead and recaptured the lead in the 8th inning of the nightcap. The Cougars will take a 34-21 mark into the 8-team double elimination tournament. Barton will play the winner of the Colby/KCK series, which has been delayed due to rain. The Cougars will start play at 4 p.m.
The Barton County Community College baseball team dropped its season finale, losing to Cowley County by a 9-7 score in non conference action at Lawson Field Wednesday night. Barton put together a furious rally over the last 3 innings but came up short in its comeback bid. The Cougars end the season with a 32-21 overall mark and will take the No. 2 seed from the West into the Region VI playoffs starting this weekend. Barton will host Independence (22-31), the No. 7 seed from the East, in a best 2-of-3 series this weekend at Lawson Field. A doubleheader will start at 2 pm Saturday with a 2 pm Sunday game as well if needed. Cowley (34-19) will be the No. 2 seed from the East in the event and will host Cloud County in the opening round series.
The Barton County Community College baseball team will bring the No. 2 seed from the Jayhawk West in the upcoming Region VI Championships and a right to go on to the NJCAA World Series in late May. Barton will host a 1st round series this weekend at Jimmy Lawson Field. The format will be the best 2-of-3 with a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday if needed. The games Saturday will be begin at 2 pm with Sunday’s contest also set for 2 pm. Barton (32-21) will host Independence (22-31) in the series. Free tickets for Saturday’s doubleheader can be picked up for the game at various sponsors of ‘Pack the Bleachers’ day at Lawson Field. Tickets must be picked up at the locations in order to receive free entry into the game, otherwise, tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for high school and under at the gate.
The Barton County Community College baseball team rebounded from a double header loss to Garden City Saturday in the Jayhawk West season finale for a sweep of Northern Oklahoma-Enid Sunday afternoon at Lawson Field. The Cougars swept Enid 10-6 and 13-10 after falling to Garden City 8-0 and 18-5. Barton finished as the runner-up in the Jayhawk West and will take that No. 2 seed into the Region VI playoffs this weekend with a best 2-of-3 series against Independence at Lawson Field. The Cougars concluded the West with a 21-11 record and are now 32-20 overall this season. The lone contest left in the regular season is a single game with Cowley at Lawson Field Tuesday evening, starting at 6 pm.
The Barton County Community College baseball team moved one step closer to securing the No. 2 seed from the Jayhawk West in the upcoming Region VI playoffs with a split at Pratt. Barton kept its 2-game cushion on Colby in the loss column for the 2nd seed with just 4 games remaining for the Cougars. Two of those games are today in Colby. Barton won the opening contest in extra innings as a Tim Ruble inside the park home run in the 8th propelled Barton to a 5-4 win in the opener. The Cougars allowed Pratt to plate 5 unearned runs in the 5th inning in the nightcap as the Beavers won 7-5. Barton is now 19-9 in West action and 28-18 overall. Pratt is 9-19 and 10-24 with the split, locking up a playoff spot for the Beavers. Barton can secure the No. 2 seed with 1 win today in Colby, where the Cougars play a 1 pm doubleheader postponed from Saturday.
The Barton County Community College baseball team won in its final at bat for the 6th time this season and for the 3rd straight series. After Tim Ruble’s inside the park homer beat Pratt in extra innings Wednesday, it was Tyler Metcalf’s turn Thursday in an all-important doubleheader at Colby. Metcalf blasted a 2-run homer in the top of the 7th to break a 5-all tie in the nightcap at Colby and secure a sweep of the Trojans in Jayhawk West action. Barton won the opener 18-6. The Cougars locked up no worse than a No. 2 seed from the West in the upcoming Region VI playoffs. The Cougars could still win the West with a sweep of Garden City Saturday and if Hutchinson losses 3 of its final 4 games. The Cougars are now 21-9 in the West and 30-18 overall. Colby, now tied for 3rd in the West, is 19-13 in conference play along with Butler. The final West doubleheader of the season for Barton will take place at 1 pm Saturday at Lawson Field in Great Bend with Garden City visiting.
The Barton County Community College baseball team once again won in walk-off fashion Monday afternoon in the nightcap of a Jayhawk West doubleheader at Lawson Field. This time the Cougars scored 5 times in the bottom of the 7th inning to rally for a 6-5 win over Seward and complete a sweep of the Saints in West play. Barton rode a strong pitching effort from Brock Nehls in the opener as the Cougars remained in 2nd place in the West at 18-8. It was the 4th time in 12 home West wins Barton rallied to win in the bottom of the 7th. The Cougars are now 27-17 overall. Seward fell to 14-12 in the West and 26-21 overall. The wins also moved Barton just 1 win away from locking up a home playoff game in the 1st round of Region VI play. Barton has 6 West games remaining – all this week.
The Barton County Community College baseball team split a pair of games in El Dorado Wednesday against Butler County to remain in 2nd place in the Jayhawk West. Barton won the opener at McDonald Park by a 4-3 score then fell in the 2nd game 3-1 to the Grizzlies. The split kept Barton in 2nd place in the West with just 8 West games remaining. Barton is 16-8 in the West and 25-17 overall. Butler is 10-12 and 23-14. The Cougars will be on the road Saturday in Colby before returning home to take on Seward County Monday afternoon in a 1 pm start at Lawson Field.
The Barton County Community College baseball team made it 4 straight wins with a sweep of Pratt Tuesday afternoon at Lawson Field in a make-up game postponed earlier this year due to poor weather conditions. Barton struggled on the mound early in the opener, but settled in for the win by holding Pratt scoreless the final 4 innings of play to secure a 7-6 win. In the nightcap, Barton jumped out to an early lead and never let up as the Cougars coasted to a 15-3 win over the Beavers. The wins move Barton into sole possession of 2nd place at the moment in the Jayhawk West with a 15-7 record. The Cougars are 24-16 overall this year. Barton is just one game behind West leader Hutch, who is 16-6 and a game ahead of Colby, who is in 3rd at 13-7. The Cougars have 10 West games left this year. Pratt fell to 5-15 in the West and 6-21 overall.
The Barton County Community College baseball team split a pair of games at Liberal Wednesday afternoon with perennial Jayhawk West power Seward County. The Cougars dropped the opener to the Saints 9-6 then came back for a 12-5 win in the nightcap to preserve the split and kept their spot at the top of the Jayhawk West. Barton had it chances in the 1st game, out-hitting the Saints but couldn’t convert those hits to runs. In the nightcap, Barton jumped to an early lead and never trailed in the win. Barton fell into a 1st place tie with Hutchinson, who swept Garden City Wednesday. Barton is now 11-5 in the West while Hutch is 12-6. Those two clubs hook up Saturday at Lawson Field for the lead in the West. Seward fell to 9-7 in West play. Barton is now 20-14 overall this season.
The Barton County Community College baseball team has returned from Spring Break in Texas hotter than any weather saw deep in the heart of the South. Since the Cougars returned from a 1-5 trip to Texas, Barton has won 7 of 8 games in Jayhawk West play to take the top spot in the conference. Barton made it 4 straight wins and 6 in a row at home Monday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep of Butler County. The Cougars won both game in heart-stopping fashion, holding on for a 5-4 win the opening game the rallying for 2-1 win with 2 outs in the 8th in the nightcap. Barton is now 10-4 in West play and 19-13 overall. Butler fell to 5-9 and 18-11. Barton will be on the road Wednesday as the Cougars reach the halfway mark of the conference season with a doubleheader in Liberal against Seward County. Seward is currently tied for 3rd in the West at 9-7. The Saints are 21-16 overall.