Barton splits conference match up against Colby, take spring trip to Texas

Barton splits conference match up against Colby, take spring trip to Texas 
The Barton County Community College baseball team kept their conference record even on their second Jayhawk Conference road trip. The Cougars traveled to Colby to take on the Trojans. Barton dropped a close game one by a score of 4-3 before evening things up in the second contest 7-3. The Cougars moved to an even 3-3 in conference play with a 14-9 record overall. The baseball team also spent spring break in Texas, playing 6 games in 3 days. The trip started with losses to Howard College before getting on track with wins over Dodge City and Midland. The Cougars finished up in Texas with two losses to Odessa College, returning to Great Bend with a record of 16-13.

Highlights
Barton was in for a wild day in Colby for a Jayhawk West match up. The Cougars dropped the first game, 4-3, but not due to a lack of hitting. Racking up 10 hits and 2 runs in the top of the 7th inning, their comeback rally in game one fell just short. Four errors on the day would doom the Cougars. Barton was lead in hitting on the day by centerfield David Wilson with 3 hits, a run scored, and another batted in. Fortunes would turn in game two however, with 3 Colby errors leading to 7 Barton runs on 6 hits. Michael Cotter went 5 innings for the Cougars, scattering 6 hits and allowing 2 runs before Erik Anderson pitched the final 2 innings with 3 strikeouts to seal a Barton win.

Just two days later, the Cougars found themselves in Texas, squaring off with Howard College. The Cougars found themselves dropping another close contest, 5-4. Sophomore Brandon Wells was the only Cougar with multiple hits with 2, while 7 others collected one apiece, along with Wilson driving in 2 runs. Pitcher Ryan Anthony had a rough start, but turned a lead over to the closer Anderson who took the loss. Hitting woes would plague the Cougars in game two, collecting only 2 hits off the bats of Mitch Cooper and Clayton Karst. Karst would drive in Cooper for the only Barton run of the day with a 7-3 loss.

On day two, Barton faced off with a familiar foe, the Dodge City Conquistadors in a 9 inning affair. Hitting wasn't a problem, in fact, it earned the Cougars an 11-7 victory. Five of the 9 batters earned multiple hits, lead by Anthony Dreiling. Dreiling had a 3 hit day at the plate collecting 2 runs and 3 RBI's. Wells chipped in with 3 hits of his own along with 2 runs scored and 2 more batted in. Michael Bell got the start on the mound, throwing 7 innings, allowing 7 runs, 4 of them earned. Anderson took the mound for a perfect 2 innings along with 4 strikeouts to earn the save. Offense would rule the day with the Cougars grabbing a 10-9 win over Midland in game 2. The trend continued of a different hitter leading the way, this time Ty Stivers stepped up with 3 hits and 3 runs scored. Tyler Metcalf, Karst, and Wilson all pitched in 2 RBI's each in the victory.

The Cougars' Texas trip rounded out with a low note of a double header against Odessa. Scores came in at 12-2 in game one and 10-7 in game two, neither in favor of the road weary Barton team. Wilson was again the Cougars bright spot, going 3 for 3 in game one. Marc Albers came through in game two with 2 hits and 3 RBI's.

Stats
Stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu/sports

Next
March 31 – at Seward, 1 pm (Jayhawk West doubleheader at Liberal, KS)