OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County baseball squad, ranked No. 17 in the NJCAA Preseason Poll, opened the 2022 season against No. 4 Crowder College February 10 and 11. The Cavaliers dropped first two games at home falling 10-9 and 13-6. JCCC handed Crowder a 6-3 loss in the third and final game of the series in Neosho, Mo. 

Freshman outfielder Cooper Combs got his collegiate career off to a hot start. The Springdale, Ark., native hit .455 over the series (5-fo-11) with three home runs, three runs scored and six driven in. Four of his RBI came in the Cavaliers victory. 

Sophomore catcher Jaxson Wentworth, sophomore infielder Blake Mozley, sophomore outfielder/DH Nick Iannantone and freshman infielder Easton Elliot also posted solid number in the series. 

Wentworth hit at a .571 clip (4-for-7) with two homers, four runs scored and three RBI. Mozley hit .375 (3-for-8) with two driven in. Iannantone batted .357 (5-for-14) with a double, a run scored and an RBI and Elliot hit .500 (3-for-6) with a double , three runs scored and an RBI. 

On the hill, several of JCCC's pitchers had solid outings. Right-hander Cole Koonce pithced four strong innings to pick up the win over Crowder. He allowed just two runs and struck out four over four innings worked. 

Freshman left-hander Trent Martin struck out nine batters over 3.1 innings pitched and sophomore right-hander Maverick Hanna picked up the first save of the season with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning pitched.