Former Tiger shuts out 'Hounds in opener

CHANUTE -- Fort Scott High School graduate Mason Knopp improved to 7-0 on the season in helping fifth-ranked Neosho County sweep Fort Scott Community College here Thursday in a Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division doubleheader.

A 2015 FSHS grad, Knopp allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 3. The Panthers, atop the East at 20-6 with a 39-6 overall record, won the opener in five innings, 13-2, then took the second game 8-7 after holding off a Greyhound rally.

Fort Scott (15-11, 31-12) came into the twinbill tied for third place in the East with Cowley and Allen, all of which were three games behind Neosho County entering the day. By the end of the day, the Greyhounds were in sixth place by themselves, with Johnson County passing them during a sweep of last-place Highland.

One of Fort Scott's three hits in the opener was a 2-run homer in the top of the fifth by Darren Hasch. Andrew Tanous and Nick Banman had the other 2 hits for Fort Scott.

Neosho County belted three home runs to boost their conference-leading total to 70. Brylie Ware, leading the KJCCC with a.592 batting average, crushed his 21st homer of the season to take the conference lead in that category.

The Panthers led game two 3-1 after one inning. Fort Scott's run scored when Banman hit a sacrifice fly to bring Danny Crews home.

Neosho County scored 5 runs in the bottom of the third. Fort Scott got three in the top of the fifth when Jacob Biller hit his team-leading 13th homer, a 3-run shot that scored Crews and Gabe Franklin.

The 'Hounds got within one in the top of the ninth when Mackay Williams hit a 3-run homer with one out and Biller and Banman on base. However, Neosho County reliever Drew Johnson got a strike out and a groundout to end the game for his ninth save of the season.

Biller had 3 hits for the Greyhounds, the only batter in either game to get more than one hit.

The teams will face each other again on Saturday when they stage a rematch at 1 p.m. at Lions Field.

NOTES -- Fort Scott was second in the conference in home runs coming into the doubleheader and now has 63. Allen is third with 59 going into Thursday's play....

Knopp had an ERA of 3.60 going into the game, second among Neosho's starting pitchers, and leads the pitching staff in innings pitched with 55. He has struck out 34 batters and walked 21....

Game One

Neosho County.............. 202 54x x -- 13 10 1

Two out when game ended.

WP -- Knopp (7-0). LP -- Sloan (1-1).

HR -- Fort Scott: Hasch (2, 5th inn., 1 on, none out). Neosho County: Ware (21, 3rd in., 1 on, none out), Bourn (13, 4th inn., 2 on, 2 out), Tolliver (11, 7th inn., 2 on, 2 out).

Game Two

Neosho County............. 300 500 00x -- 8 11 0

WP -- Mitzel (7-3). LP -- McCullough (6-2). SV -- D.Johnson (9).

HR -- Fort Scott: Biller (13, 5th inn., 2 on, 2 out), M.Williams (3, 8th inn., 2 on, 1 out).