OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County baseball team took the first two games of the four-game series with Pratt, winning 6-0 on 17-11 Thursday in Pratt, Kan. The Cavaliers will look to win the series with a doubleheaders slated on Saturday, April 2 at JCCC.
In the opener, Colin Brueggemann single handily took care of Pratt. The freshman first baseman from Smithton, Ill, tied a JCCC single-game record belting three balls over the fence. He hit two solo shots and a two-run homer to drive in four of the Cavaliers six runs. Brueggemann is he eight player in team history to produce a three homer game.
On the bump, sophomore right-hander Hayden Minton scattered five hits over five innings, allowing just one earned run, with seven strikeouts. With the victory, Minton improved his record to 6-1, moving him into a tie for first for most victories so far this season. His six wins tie for 11th in the NJCAA.
In the second game the Cavaliers' offense produced 21 hits and 17 runs. JCCC scored multiple runs in four innings, highlighted by six in the first and five in the second.
Leftfielder Cooper Combs, centerfielder Greg Ziegler, catcher Conner Simons and second baseman Blake Mozley accounted for 12 of JCCC' 17 hits and drove in 13 of the 17 runs.
Combs had two singles, a double, a home run two runs scored and three driven in. Ziegler also collected a double and a home run scored twice and four RBI.
Simons also produced four hits, all singles, scored twice and drove in four runs, and Mozley ripped two doubles scored two times and had two RBI.
Third baseman Easton Elliot also had a big day at the plate with three singles, three runs and an RBI.
Johnson County used six pitchers in the game, with sophomore right-hander Grant Garza earning the victory, his second of the season.