'Hounds sweep at Labette; rematch today

PARSONS -- Fort Scott Community College's baseball team swept Labette here Thursday in a Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division doubleheader.

The Greyhounds had a fairly easy time in the opener, winning 11-3, but had to hold off the Cardinals in the nightcap, 9-8.

The teams meet again this afternoon at 1 p.m. at Lions Field.

The sweep keeps Fort Scott in a tie for the division lead with Allen. Both teams are 8-2 in the division. The 'Hounds are 18-5 overall while the Red Devils are 22-5. Allen swept a doubleheader at Highland on Thursday. Cowley (7-3, 17-8) fell out of what was a three-way tie when it split at sixth-place Neosho County.

Highland plays at Allen today while Cowley hosts Neosho County.

Labette (2-8, 7-12), tied for last place with Independence, scored first in the opener, a single run in the bottom of the first. Fort Scott scored 5 in the top of the third. Ben Kiefer drew a leadoff walk in front of Mitch Sloan's first home run of the season. Ben McConnell walked and stole second just before Danny Crews hit his fourth homer of the year to make it 4-1. The next batter, Brandon Kennrich, belted a solo homer.

Sean Moore singled to lead off the fourth and later scored from second on McConnell's single to make it 6-1. Quinn Waterbury crashed home run No. 6 over the wall in the top of the fifth, a two-out solo shot.

Will Baker drew a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh. Crews singled to right and Baker moved to third on the play. Kennrich singled to right to score Baker. Waterbury then drew a walk to lead the bases. Andrew Morrow lifted a sacrifice fly to center that brought in Crews. Kennrich scored on a wild pitch in front of Moore's double to right. Sloan and McConnell drew back-to-back walks, the second forcing Waterbury in to make it 11-1.

Although Labette scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, Nick Sloan (2-2) was able to finish up a complete-game effort. He allowed 5 hits and 5 walks and struck out 5.

Crews went 3 for 4 for the Greyhounds at the plate while Kennrich, Waterbury, Moore and Mitch Sloan all had 2 hits each.

Fort Scott scored the first runs of game two in the top of the third inning. Mitch McAllister led off the inning with a ground-ball single. He scored on McConnell's 1-out triple to left. Baker followed up with a single to right and Crews drew a walk that loaded the bases. McConnell scored on a sacrifice fly and Baker and Crews scored on Waterbury's 2-out double to right, making it 4-0.

Labette scored 2 in the bottom of the third. Fort Scott got one of those back in the top of the fifth when Harrison Whitworth doubled to lead off the inning and Mitch Sloan doubled with one out to bring him in.

Labette took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring 5 times to go up 7-5.

Sloan hit his second home run of the day, a solo shot with 2 out in the top of the sixth, to bring the Greyhounds within one.

Fort Scott went back in front in the seventh. Crews hit a one-out double, moved to third on a wild pitch and tied the game on Kennrich's single to center. Waterbury followed up with a single to right and Whitworth drew a 2-out walk to load the bases. Morrow was hit by a pitch, which forced Kennrich home and put the 'Hounds in front, 8-7.

McConnell doubled leading off the eighth and Crews doubled in the insurance run with one out.

Kolten Schenker hit a 2-out solo homer for Labette in the bottom of the eighth to bring the Cards within 9-8.

Izrael Trevino hit a single to center to lead off the bottom of the ninth. But Fort Scott closer Kobie Schmitt got three fly-ball outs to end the game.

Schmitt earned his fourth save of the season, going the final 3 innings, allowing a run on 3 hits and no walks while striking out 3. Nathan Miller (2-0) pitched the sixth, allowed a hit and struck out one.

Sloan was 3 for 5 for the 'Hounds. McConnell, Baker. Crews, Kennrich and Waterbury each had 2 hits.

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Game One

Fort Scott............. 005 110 4 -- 11 12 1

Labette................ 100 000 2 -- 3 5 1

WP -- N.Sloan (2-2). LP --Nolen (0-3).

HR -- Fort Scott: M.Sloan (1, 3rd inn., 1 on, none out), Crews (4, 3rd inn., 1 on, 1 out), Kennrich (6, 3rd inn., none on, 1 out), Waterbury (6, 5th inn., none on, 2 out). Labette: Swartz (3, 1st inn., none on, 1 out).

Game Two

Fort Scott............. 004 101 210 -- 9 15 2

Labette................ 002 500 010 -- 8 14 0

WP -- Miller (2-0). LP -- Phillips (1-2). Sv. -- Schmitt (4)

HR -- Fort Scott: M.Sloan (2, 6th inn., none on, 2 out). Labette: Dannehl (1, 5th inn., 1 on, none out), Schenker (6, 8th inn., none on, 2 out).