Johnson County posts pair of shutouts over 'Hounds

Fort Scott third baseman puts the tag on Johnson County's Taylor Kirk, who was trying to get back to the base after being caught in a rundown, during the third inning of the first game of Thursday's doubleheader at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex. The Cavaliers went on to sweep the twinbill 8-0 and 10-0. (Scott Nuzum/Tribune)

Fort Scott Community College's softball team lost its third and fourth consecutive games Thursday when No. 12 Johnson County swept the Greyhounds 8-0 and 10-0 in a Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division doubleheader at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex.

Fort Scott fell to 0-4 in the division and 11-14 overall. In their four conference games, the Greyhounds have been outscored 38-1.

Like Labette, the Greyhounds' competition on Tuesday, Johnson County (2-0, 8-7) was playing its conference opener. And like the Cardinals, the Cavaliers have been playing mostly Division I competition, including nationally-ranked Indian Hills and previously-ranked Midland and Grayson. Johnson County has also played Division II-ranked Des Moines Area (No. 6), which until Thursday had been its only D-II competition.

Every Johnson County batter had at least one hit in game one. After a scoreless first, the Cavs put up 4 in the second on 5 hits and 2 in the third on 3 hits. The final 2 went on the board in the fifth. The game was stopped after five due to the run rule.

McKenzie Hersh, K.C. Beardsley and Cheyenne Brewer had Fort Scott's only hits off Kelsee Henry (5-2), who walked one and struck out 5. The Greyhounds only got two runners to second base in the game.

Johnson County scored 3 in the top of the first in game two but it looked like the 'Hounds were going to be able to muster a response in the bottom half. Chelsea Snyder doubled with one out and Kristen Tyler followed up with a single. Beardsley drew a 2-out walk to load the bases but Halle Still (1-4) induced a pop-up to end the inning.

Still allowed only one more hit, a second-inning, two-out single to Brewer. She walked 3 and struck out 3 in picking up her first win of the season.

Johnson County collected 12 hits in this game, duplicating its first-game total. One of those was a solo homer by Heidi Prokish in the third.

Fort Scott will play a conference doubleheader at Neosho County Tuesday.

Game One

Fort Scott.................. 000 00x x -- 0 3 1

WP -- Henry (5-2). LP -- Smith (5-6).

Game Two

Fort Scott................. 000 00x x -- 0 3 1

WP -- Still (1-4). LP -- Sutton (2-5).

HR -- Johnson County: Prokish (1, 3rd inn., none on, none out).