OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County baseball team, ranked 13th in the NJCAA preseason poll, got its season off to a strong start, posting a pair of wins over Southwestern Community College Monday afternoon. The Cavaliers opened the campaign with a 12-1 win, followed by a 17-7 victory. Both teams will play two more games today. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
In the opener, freshman first baseman Alex Austin had the big bat, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, a double, three runs scored and four driven in.
Sophomore catcher Noah Cook two singles and two RBI, and freshmen infielders Brevon Lee and Davis Blair also were credited with two runs driven in.
On the hill, freshman right-hander Matt Ronnebaum earned the victory. He allowed just three hits, one earned run and struck out seven batters over four innings. Ronnebaum was recently ranked 240th on the 2021 Perfect Game USA Top 300 Prospect List.
Freshman right-hander Danny Trehey pitched two perfect innings of relief, strikeout out five of the six batters he faced.
In the second game, freshman outfielder Jake Grauberger had a big game, going 3-for-3 with two homers, three runs and five driven in.
Austin added three more RBI to his season total, and Lee had a single, a triple and drove in two runs.
Sophomore third baseman Anthony Slaughter had a double and two RBI, and freshman outfielder Will Hudler had a single, scored twice and drove in two runs.
Sophomore right-hander Rene Ramos got the start and win, allowing two runs off three hits with four strikeouts. Freshman left-hander CC Crain struck out six in his two innings of relief.