’Hounds keep pace in East despite split

IOLA — Although host Allen salvaged a split of a Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division doubleheader here Saturday by winning the second game, Fort Scott Community College’s baseball team was able to maintain the share of the division lead it has with Cowley.

The Greyhounds (13-3 East, 27-5 overall) won game one easily, 13-0, but the Red Devils (9-7, 17-9) took game two, 6-5, with the winning run scoring in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Cowley (13-3, 10-8) split with Independence on Saturday, taking game one, 8-0, but falling in the nightcap, 11-10. The Tigers also split with the Pirates, who are tied for last place, on Thursday. That means the season series between the teams finished in a 2-2 tie.

Fort Scott swept all four games against Independence earlier this month, which could be a key tie-breaker come playoff time.

Allen fell into fourth place, dropping out of a tie for third with Neosho County (10-6, 21-6), which was the only team among the top four that took all four games in its weekend series. The Panthers swept Coffeyville Saturday, 12-0 and 12-5.

Ben McConnell was 3 for 5 at the plate for the ’Hounds in the opener, including a grand slam home run he hit in the fifth inning, which provided the margin that eventually caused the run rule to kick in. Owen Wilson, Collin Fraley, and Alexei Cazarin were each 2 for 4.

Treston Rook (5-1) allowed 5 hits and 2 walks over the first 5 innings while striking out 8.

Quinn Waterbury scored the game’s first run after he drew a walk leading off the top of the second, moved to second on Fraley’s single, to third on Sean Moore’s sacrifice and came in on a groundout.

McConnell led off the second and reached when Allen’s catcher dropped the third strike. Cole Solomon bunted McConnell to second and Wilson singled. With two out, Waterbury singled to bring in McConnell with a two-base error on the play allowing Wilson to come home as well to make it 3-0.

Moore hit a lead off single in the fourth. Cazarin reached with one out on an error. McConnell singled and then a passed ball advanced the runners with Moore scoring. Solomon singled in Cazarin. Wilson singled home McConnell. Waterbury reached on an error with 2 out. Fraley also reached on an error that allowed Solomon and Wilson to score, making it 8-0.

Morrow bunted and got on with one out in the fifth. He moved to second on a passed ball and to third on a ground out. Fraley’s one-out single brought Morrow home. Keifer hit a two-out single and Cazarin also singled in front of McConnell’s grand slam.

Fort Scott led 5-4 after two innings of the second game but Allen tied it in the bottom of the fifth and won it in the ninth when Aaron Mason scored from third following a dropped third strike to Brayden Whitchurch.

McConnell led off the game and drew a walk. He moved to second on a ground out and stole third. Wilson drove McConnell in with a single and advanced to third on Morrow’s hit. Waterbury walked and McCallister’s single scored Wilson. Cazarin’s 2-out single plated Morrow to make it 3-0.

Allen scored 4 runs in the bottom of the inning. Solomon doubled with 2 out in the top of the second. Morrow reached on a dropped third strike. Solomon scored from third on a wild pitch. Waterbury walked and McCallister singled home Morrow as the ’Hounds reclaimed the lead.

The Red Devils tied it in the fifth when Trey Tomlinson scored on an error following Whitchurch’s single.

Solomon, Morrow and McCallister were each 2 for 5 for the Greyhounds.

Weather permitting, the Greyhounds were scheduled to travel to Baldwin City and play the Baker University junior varsity on Tuesday. They return to conference play Thursday with a trip to Neosho County. Saturday, Neosho will come to Fort Scott to finish up the four-game weekend series.

---

Game One

Fort Scott.......................... 012 505 x — 13 14 0

Allen.................................... 000 000 x — 0 5 4

WP — Rook (5-1). LP — Potter (1-2).

HR — Fort Scott: McConnell (4, 5th inn., 3 on, 2 out).

Game Two

Fort Scott..................... 320 000 000 — 5 9 3

Allen.............................. 400 010 001 — 6 9 0

Two out when winning run scored.

WP — Darnell (2-1). LP — Schmitt (0-1).

HR — none.