Cloud County Sports Information
CONCORDIA - Getting conference play started with a home doubleheader, the Cloud County Community College baseball team would see two very different games lead to a series-opening split with a 1-0 loss before bouncing back to win 24-6 in games with visiting Pratt Community College at Lee Doyen Field in Concordia on Friday.
Bouncing back to pick up a game-two victory on Friday following a series-opening defeat, CCCC is now 10-7 overall with a 1-1 mark in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference while Pratt picks up a series-opening victory over CCCC for the second consecutive year before the game two loss to run their record to 12-10 overall and 1-1 in the KJCCC.
GAME ONE
About the only thing lower than the total number of hits recorded by the two teams in the series opener (five) would come in the form of runs as the lone run of the game would come in the top of the sixth by PCC despite the two teams combining to strand 11 base runners and see missed opportunities keep the scoring to a bare minimum. After opening the game by having the first eight batters retired, Pratt would work a two-out single in the top of the second for the game's first base runner that would ultimately be stranded before seeing Cloud County draw a two-out walk that would wind up stranded in their end of the second.
In what would appear to be one of the better opportunities offensively in the game by either squad, Pratt would use a leadoff walk and bunt single to put two runners on with no outs before a fielder's choice that would cut down the lead runner and wild pitch put two runners in scoring position with one out. Facing the first real jam of the game, T-Bird starter Cayden Castellanos would respond by striking out the final two batters of the inning to keep things scoreless heading to the bottom of the third.
Stranding a runner following a one-out walk in their end of the inning, Cloud County once again would find themselves in a defensive jam in the fourth as a walk and successful hit-and-run would put runners on the corners with one out for the Beavers with PCC threatening again to break a scoreless deadlock. Inducing an infield popup for the second out of the inning, CCCC would allow a stolen base to put both runners for Pratt in scoring position before getting an inning-ending groundout over to first to strand two more PCC runners in scoring position.
The next inning and a half would see Cloud County account for the lone two base runners in the stretch with a fourth-inning walk and fifth-inning runner reaching by error both winding up left on base following a strikeout and groundout to end each inning. With the game down to its final two scheduled innings, Pratt would find a way to take advantage of a one-out hit batter to set up a two-out RBI double into the left-center field gap to score a runner from first as a clutch hit would finally be found to break the scoreless tie. Looking for a response, CCCC would draw a leadoff walk in their end of the sixth before seeing a lineout right back to the pitcher lead to a double play to erase the walk while seeing the inning end on the very next pitch with a groundout to allow the Beavers to maintain their one-run lead.
Working a one-two-three defensive inning in the top of the seventh, Cloud County would see their final opportunity at the plate begin with two strikeouts before extending the game at least one more batter with a Kolden Howerton two-out double to break up what had been a no-hitter through 6.2 innings. Opting for a pinch-runner with the runner at second representing the game-tying run, the T-Birds never would get a real opportunity to try and bring home the run as a strikeout on a check-swing would end the game with PCC holding on for the one-run win.
Just one player in the contest would record more than one hit with Jaden Flores of Pratt producing three of the five total hits between the two teams while also stealing the lone base of the game. The defeat would spoil what would otherwise be a quality six-inning outing from Cloud County starting pitcher Castellanos who would allow just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven but ultimately be outdueled by Beaver starter Trenton Smith who would go the distance and allow just one hit while striking out eight. CCCC reliever Cole Askew would also see action in the game, throwing a perfect seventh with two strikeouts.
GAME TWO
A complete 180 turnaround by Cloud County in game two would see CCCC score three runs in the bottom of the first and never look back while pounding out 18 hits en route to a season-high 24 runs scored in a run-rule-shortened seven-inning victory. The three-run bottom of the first would come on four hits with Caden Walker setting the tone with a leadoff double down the right field line before coming around to score two batters later on a Danny Infante RBI single. The rest of the damage for the T-Birds would come with two outs in the inning with Landon Meyer hitting an RBI infield single to score Infante before stealing second and which would allow Kolden Howerton to score after reaching base earlier in the inning with a base-hit single.
Retiring Pratt in order for a second-straight inning to begin the game, CCCC would add to their lead in the bottom of the second as a hit batter and walk would loom large for PCC with Cloud County also getting a Karson Green leadoff single before a Walker hit-by-pitch and Gavin Roy walk to load the bases with just one out. Infante would come through with a two-RBI double into the left-center field gap to score both walk and Green before seeing Brock Wollin follow suit with a nearly identical hit into the left-center field gap that would bring two more runs home as the lead for Cloud County would grow to 7-0 after two innings.
Pratt would respond in the top of the third by putting together a one-out rally with back-to-back base hit singles putting runners on the corners before a fielding error by CCCC allowing the rally to continue on and put pressure on the T-Bird defense. A second-straight fielding error by Cloud County would allow another run to come home and score with runners still on first and second with one out. An aggressive play on the base paths by the Beavers would lead to the second out of the inning however on a stolen base attempt that would be cut down before a flyout to end the inning with Cloud County managing to keep the lead at five.
Things would be broken open in the bottom of the third following a Pratt pitching change as three-straight walks to begin the inning would lead to another pitching change for PCC with the bases loaded and still no outs. Back-to-back hit batters would bring home two runs with the T-Birds yet to record a hit in the inning despite sending five batters to the plate and getting back both runs they surrendered in the top of the inning. An RBI fielder's choice by Infante would bring home Alexander Diaz to put Cloud County up 10-2 before the big blow of the inning that would come off the bat of Wollin with a towering three-run home run to left field to make put CCCC up 11 at 13-2. The inning would continue on with Howerton, Meyer, and Demitri Shakotko all safely reaching base before a wild pitch to bring home a seventh and final run in the inning with Cloud County suddenly in total control up 14-2.
Tacking on four runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth, CCCC would continue their offensive onslaught in each of the next two innings with the fifth inning seeing a six-run inning come on four hits, three walks, and two hit batters to set a new season-high in runs scored. The only inning of the game to go scoreless by both teams would come in the sixth with PCC being retired in order before stranding a CCCC base runner after allowing two base-hit singles to put things just three outs away from being a T-Bird win. In their last opportunity at the plate, Pratt would take advantage of a CCCC pitching change by drawing two walks and throwing error to load the bases before a sacrifice fly to bring home a run with just one out. Continuing to take advantage of their best offensive opportunities of the game, PCC would go on to record two more hits and see two more batters hit by pitches to bring home an additional two runs with a four-run inning coming on two hits and two errors before leaving the bases loaded with a strikeout officially ending the game.
10 different T-Birds would record at least one hit in the game with Howerton leading with way with four hits in five at-bats to go along with two RBI. Both Infante and Green would have three hits in the game with Infante driving in four while scoring three times. Nine of the 18 hits by CCCC would go for extra bases, with Wollin and Green each recording two extra-base hits. On the mound, Cloud County starting pitcher Mason McConnaughey would pick up his third win of the year after throwing six innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out 10 of the 22 batters he faced.
What's next?
A quick turnaround will see Cloud County head to Pratt for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Stanion Field on Saturday to close out the opening week of KJCCC play. The T-Birds will be looking for a repeat of last year when CCCC followed up a series-opening split with the Beavers by earning a doubleheader sweep at Pratt to earn a 3-1 series win. Saturday's games will be the first of a four-game road trip away from home with next week's KJCCC series against Seward County set to begin on the road in Liberal.