Seward County eliminates Greyhounds from tournament

WICHITA -- Fort Scott Community College's baseball season came to an end Monday morning with a 4-3 loss to 10th-ranked Seward County in the losers' bracket of the Region VI Tournament here.

The Greyhounds (38-21) lost to Hutchinson Saturday, 9-5, to drop into consolation then bounced back to beat Allen County, 6-5, on Sunday.

Fort Scott's 38 victories are the most it has had since Chris Moddelmog -- who has over 200 career wins as a head coach -- took over the program. The previous high had been the 34 wins the 'Hounds had recorded in each of the last two seasons.

Play in the tournament continues today with the championship game scheduled for 7 p.m. If the losers' bracket team win that game, another game willl be necessary Wednesday.

Saturday: Hutchinson 9, Fort Scott 5.

The Blue Dragons (39-15 going into Monday's play) held an 8-1 lead after four innings. Starting pitcher Dan Huff (7-1) struggled in his 3 1/3 innings of work, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits and two walks. He also hit three batters with pitches.

The middle of the batting order also struggled as Tevor Geist, Ryan Daniel and Travis Cruz were a combined 0 for 9.

Despite the struggles, the Greyhounds tried to make a game of it with a four-run fifth inning. Andrew Minnich led off with a walk and Cullen Baxter follwed with a single. Brandon Davis bunted the runners over.

Zach Caldwell followed with a single that scored Minnich. An error on the play also allowed Baxter to come home.

Brandt Barnes then walked and Jason Houston drilled a two-RBI double down the left-field line.

Houston was three for five for the Greyhounds while Baxter was two for three and Caldwell two for five.

Trever Adams drove in four runs for Hutchinson as he went two for four.

Winning pitcher Mitch Stubenhofer (9-1) was replaced after that four-run fifth. Three Blue Dragon relievers combined to allow just two hits and two walks over the remaining four innings.

Sunday: Fort Scott 6, Allen County 5.

Both the hitting and the pitching were much improved for the 'Hounds in Sunday's game, although they had to hold off a ninth-inning rally.

Both teams scored twice in the first inning. Fort Scott, the designated visitor, got its scores when Daniel was hit with the bases loaded to force in the initial run and the next batter, Cruz, reached on an error.

Fort Scott took the lead in the third. Daniel singled to right with two out, then Cruz was hit by a pitch. Baxter singled up the middle to give Fort Scott a 3-2 lead.

Allen County tied the score the fifth. Fort Scott took the lead back the sixth. Baxter walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a passed ball. Minnich bunted Baxter to third. Caldwell's two-out single bought him in.

Allen County tied the score at 4-4 with a single run in the seventh. The 'Hounds scored two in the eighth to take the lead. Cruz reached base on an error and moved up on two wild pitches. Baxter drove in Cruz with a single. Baxter then moved up two bases on a bad pickoff play and scored on Brandon Davis' double to right-center.

Allen County scored another run in the ninth as Tyler herrig doubled to center and then Dillon Hazlett tripled him in. But that happened with two out and the last Red Devil batter lined out to left to end the game.

Daniel (8-4), acting again as his own DH, allowed two earned runs on eight hits and one walk in the first seven innings while striking out five. Geist came over from third base to close the game and earn his third save of the season.

Baxter, Daniel and Caldwell each had two hits for the Greyhounds.

Monday: Seward County 4, Fort Scott 3.

The Saints (currently 42-18) scored all their runs in the second inning and pitcher Austin Terhune kept the Greyhounds in check for the most part over 8 2/3 innings before Bobby Doran came in to close the door after Fort Scott posted a ninth-inning threat.

Andrew Minnich's solo home run in the third inning got the Greyhounds on the board. Fort Scott put up another one in the fourth. Barnes reached on an error and stole second, then scored on Geist's single.

Daniel hit a two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Cruz then drew a walk, which prompted Seward County to bring in Doran. Baxter singled to center, which put Cruz on third. But Doran got a foul popout to end the game.

Geist and Daniel each had two hits for the Greyhounds. Will Gowdy had two hits for Seward County.

Terhune allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out 11. Jeff Rydman (3-2), despite a good effort, took the loss. He allowed two earned runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out three.

---

Saturday's Game

Fort Scott....... 000 140 000 -- 5 7 1

Hutchinson..... 003 500 10x -- 9 10 2

E -- Cruz, LaGree, Ferrell. DP -- Hutchinson 2.

LOB -- Fort Scott 7, Hutchinson 9. 2B -- Houston, Roy, Yerby. 3B -- DeBlanc, Adams, Yerby. S -- Davis. DeBlanc, Roy, LaGree. SB -- Houston (26), DeBlanc, Hoover, Adams 2. CS -- Houston, Bierberle, Yerby.

HBP -- Barnes (by Biery), Bieberle (by Miles), Hoover (by Miles), Adams (by Huff), LaGree (by Huff), Yerby (by Huff). WP -- Huff, Miles, Hall. Balk -- Biery.

T -- 2:45.

Sunday's Game

Fort Scott....... 201 001 020 -- 6 9 3

Allen County... 200 010 101 -- 5 10 3

E -- Caldwell, Houston, Baxter, Hazlett, Dutton, Kraft. DP -- Fort Scott 1, Allen County 1.

LOB -- Fort Scott 10, Allen County 9. 2B -- Davis, Herrif. 3B -- Hazlett. S -- Minnich, Hood, Herrig. SF -- Ward. SB -- Caldwell (46), Minnich 5, Herrig 2, Hazlett. CS -- Cuz.

HBP -- Geist (by Hosey), Daniel (by Hosey), Cruz (by Hosey), Dutton (by Daniel). WP -- Kraft 2. PB -- Filer. Balk -- Hosey.

T -- 2:54.

Monday's Game

Seward County..... 040 000 000 -- 4 8 1

Fort Scott....... 001 100 001 -- 3 6 4

E -- Hansen, Baxter 2, Houston. DP -- Seward County 1, Fort Scott 1.

LOB -- Seward County 7, Fort Scott 5. 3B -- Huston. HR -- Minnich (5, 3rd inn., off Terhune, none on, one out), Daniel (6, 9th inn., off Terhune, none on, two out). SB -- Barnes (31). CS -- Huston.

HBP -- Morrow (by Rydman). WP -- Terhune, Rydman.

T -- 2:14.