Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

5/5/2008
Story by Tyler Cundith

Cavaliers sweep Cloud, advance in region playoffs

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. --  The Johnson County Community College baseball team swept Cloud County in the best of three series in the first round of the 2008 Region VI Tournament Sunday afternoon by the scores of 8-3 and 4-2. By winning the first round, JCCC advances in the tournament will play Barton County on May 10, at 10 a.m. in Wichita, Kan. The winner of the Region VI Championship advances to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., later this month.

In the first game, sophomore left-hander Travis Blankenship went seven innings on the hill, striking out nine, while allowing only one run to earn his ninth win of the season. Blankenship’s nine wins tie the second-best season in team history. He also upped his career total to 15, which ties the career record. Freshman right-hander Ryan Garman pitched the final two innings.

Offensively, sophomore Doug Otto led the attack with a double and triple and two RBI. Otto is now hitting a team high .443. Sophomore Jeremy Francis belted a two run home run, and sophomore Mitchell Mathis and freshman John Lenherr each collected two hits.

The second game saw a gem from freshman Brandon Droge. The tall left-hander pitched all nine innings, striking out 10 batters, allowing just two runs. Droge had a no-hitter going through five innings. He now stands 7-2 on the season with an earned run average of 1.25.

At the plate, eight of JCCC’s nine starters had at least one hit. Sophomore Chad Griffin drove in three runs, two on a two-run shot. Freshman Drew Garwood provided the fourth run, singling in the eighth with two outs, giving JCCC a two-run cushion heading into the ninth inning. Freshman Nate Thomas also collected two hits in the game.

The two wins upped JCCC record to 37-15 overall. The 37 wins are the most registered under head coach Kent Shelley.