Rough stretch continues as Cavs sweep 'Hounds

Fort Scott's Mackay Williams scores what turned out to be the game's only run during the fifth inning of the opening game of a Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division doubleheader as teammate Jake Biller (8) looks on. The Greyhounds lost the first game, 8-1, and the second game, 3-2. (Scott Nuzum/Tribune)

Programs heading in opposite directions in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division standings met at Lions Field Thursday and the trends continued as Johnson County swept Fort Scott by scores of 8-1 and 3-2.

The Greyhounds (16-18 East, 34-19 overall) have fallen down the conference ladder, having now lost 11 of their last 12 within the division. On April 7, following a sweep of Allen at Lions Field, Fort Scott was tied for third with a 15-7 division mark.

Johnson County (23-11, 40-14), meanwhile, got off to a rough start in conference play having to go up against now-No. 1-ranked division leader Neosho County and Cowley in getting off to a 2-6 start in the division. However, the Cavaliers have won 13 of their last 14 in conference play.

The teams meet again today in Overland Park with the Cavaliers hoping to finish as high as second in the division and the Greyhounds looking to avoid finishing lower than sixth.

The Cavs are tied with Kansas City and Cowley (both 35-16 overall) for second place. Neosho County (26-8, 45-9) split with KCK Thursday in Kansas City. Cowley split with fifth-place Allen (18-16, 26-24) Thursday at Iola.

Fort Scott started the day three games ahead of Independence for seventh place. But Independence (15-19, 24-28) swept Labette to clinch a tourney berth and get within a game of the 'Hounds.

Allen's ability to gain a split against Cowley keeps them in fifth place but the Red Devils (18-16, 26-24) are only two games ahead of the Greyhounds. If Fort Scott can sweep Johnson County today and Cowley sweeps Allen Saturday, tie-breakers will determine which team gets fifth.

The difference between finishing fifth, sixth or seventh in the division might only be how long the trip out west is in the first round of the Region VI Tournament. The East's sixth-place team will play at the home field of the third-place finisher in the Western Division. The seventh-place team travels to face the West runner-up.

Since Western Division series are mostly Saturday-Sunday affairs, that side of the conference won't be settled for two more day. Hutchinson, Garden City, Dodge City and Seward County are within two games of each other in the loss column in a fight for second through fifth. Hutchinson has concluded conference play -- the West has only nine teams -- while Garden City will host Pratt Saturday and Sunday and Seward County will play at Dodge City both days.

Fort Scott's only score in game one came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Mackay Williams singled with one out, moved to third on Darren Hasch's single and scored on a passed ball.

Otherwise, Cavalier pitcher Jake Barton (7-0) was in control, going all seven innings and allowong 6 hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out 12. Williams was the only 'Hound with 2 hits.

Brett Nickle's 10th homer of the season put Johnson County up 1-0 after two innings. A 2-run shot by Drew Green in the fourth made it 5-0.

Fort Scott's first run in game two scored in the bottom of the first. Danny Crews led off with a double to left, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Andrew Tanous' sacrifice fly.

Jake Biller hit his team-leading 15th homer of the season leading off the sixth to make it 2-0.

The Cavs tied the score in the seventh. Green and Brandt Ollinger hit consecutive singles to start the inning. Coby Seiz bunted them over then Greyhound pitcher Justin O'Laughlin was pulled for Boby Johnson (1-2), who walked the first three batters he faced, the latter two with the bases loaded, scoring Green and Ollinger.

Mitchell Rogers singled leading off the top of the eighth for Johnson County. Pinch runner Brendan Stanek stole second and then moved to third without a throw. Ollinger plated Stanek with the winning run on a ground out.

Rogers and Green each had 2 hits for Johnson County -- Rogers had 4 in the doubleheader. Williams, Crews, Biller and Gabe Franklin each had 2 hits for Fort Scott.

Starter Tyler LaPlante (4-2) allowed 7 hits and a walk while striking out 7 over 7 1/3 innings for the Cavaliers. Ben Nelson recorded his third save of the season by allowing 2 hits and striking out 4 the rest of the way.

O'Laughlin allowed 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk while striking out 5 before he was removed. Johnson finished with 2 hits and 4 walks to his line with 4 strikeouts.

Today's twinbill begin at 1 p.m. in Overland Park.

Game One

Fort Scott................. 000 010 0 -- 1 6 1

WP -- Barton (7-0). LP -- Banman (2-2).

HR -- Johnson County: Nickle (10, 2nd inn., none on, none out), Green (2, 4th inn., one on, one out).

Game Two

Johnson County........ 000 000 210 -- 3 9 0

Fort Scott............... 100 001 000 -- 2 9 0

WP -- LaPlante (4-2). LP -- Johnson (1-2). Sv. -- B.Nelson (3)

HR -- Fort Scott: Biller (15, 6th inn., none on, none out).