Dragons down Cougars for first place
HUTCHINSON — Hutchinson's pitchers shut down the Barton Cougars' offense for a 6-0, 6-2 softball doubleheader sweep in a showdown for first place at the Fun Valley Sports Complex.
Hutchinson (21-5, 15-1 Jayhawk) takes first place over Barton (19-9, 13-3 Jayhawk). The Drgons travel to Seward County Sunday after sweeping the Saints 11-0 and 14-10.
Barton managed just four hits in the shutout opener as Hutchinson outhit the Cougars 18-12 on the day sending Meleia Ingram (10-4) to the game one loss with Brooklynn Angielski (8-4) taking the game 2 defeat.
Alicia Goseland allowed just two hits and one run giving the Cougars 4.3 solid frames in combined relief duties.
Elina Bartlett and Chloe Enslinger led Barton with three hits each, one in the opener followed by a pair of connections in game two.
Karter Alvord picked up all three of her hits in game two including plating Barton's lone runs, the first coming in the second frame following Bartlett's double in tying up the contest before a fourth inning single plated Enslinger's leadoff hit.
Barton's lead lasted into the fifth when three batters into the frame produced three runs, a leadoff bunt single scoring on a Bailey Backhaus triple followed by Kaibryn Kruger's 2-run home run, before tacking on another pair of runs in the sixth on three hits.
In game one, a two-out hit put the first Hutchinson run on the board in their first at-bat. Two innings later, consecutive doubles by Kaibryn Kruger and Tailor Golly sparked a four-run frame with another solo run being tacked on in the four
Barton 000 000 0 — 0 4 0
Hutchinson 104 100 x — 6 9 0
Ingram, Goseland (3) and Enslinger. Tomlinson, Schmidt (7) and Golly. W—Tomlinson. L—Ingram, 10-4. H—Kruger, Golly
Barton 010 100 0 — 2 8 1
Hutchinson 100 032 x — 6 9 0
Angielski, Goseland (6) and Enslinger. Thomas, Schmidt (5) and Golly. W—Thomas. L—Angielski, 8-4. 2B—BC—Enslinger, Bartlett; H—Backhaus. 3B—Backhaus; HR—H—Kruger.
JAYHAWK WEST
Barton 13-3 19-9
Hutchinson 15-1 21-5
Butler 10-4 17-5
Dodge City 10-6 18-16
Garden City 9-7 17-13
Seward 4-10 10-18
Pratt 4-12 7-21
Colby 3-11 22-15
Hays NW 0-14 0-22
3-24—Cowley 7-11, Pratt 1-6; Dodge City 12-5, Okla. Enid 4-9; North Platte, Neb. 5-10, Hays NW 0-2
3-26—Hutchinson 6-6, Barton 0-2; Butler 8-9, Pratt 0-0; Dodge City 12-10, Seward 3-6; Garden City 10-11, Colby 7-3
3-29—Hays NW at Butler; Hutchinson at Pratt; Dodge City at Colby
3-30—Barton at Seward
