Johnson County Community College
Press Release

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

5/4/09
Story by Tyler Cundith

Cavaliers advance to Wichita, ready to defend title

OVERLAND PARK, KS ­ The Johnson County Community College baseball team cleared its first hurdle in its Region VI title defense Sunday afternoon, sweeping Cloud County Community College in the Region VI first round best 2-of-3 series. JCCC came from behind to win game one, 6-5, then punched their ticket to Wichita with a 6-1 victory in the second game. With the sweep, JCCC advances to the Region VI Championship bracket this weekend at Lawrence Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kan. JCCC will begin its title defense against either Colby or Independence, Saturday, May 9. The Cavaliers stand 43-12 on the season. The 43 wins are the most in head coach Kent Shelley¹s career, breaking the previous best of 41 set last year.

In the first game against Cloud County, the Thunderbirds jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after three innings of play. In the bottom of the third the Cavaliers pounced on the Thunderbirds, scoring four runs in the inning, three on a clutch bases loaded double from Brian McCulloch.

The Cavaliers then added one more run in the fourth to take the lead 5-4. That lead held up until the ninth inning when Cloud County clawed back but closer Nick Holtgrieve kept them at bay , allowing only one run to cross while getting out of a bases loaded, one out jam to keep the game tied. In the bottom of the ninth, David Drahozal hit a triple with one out. Cloud County then intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases. Davis Morgan the drove in the game winning run with a sacrifice fly to right field. Brandon Droge got the no decision, pitching seven innings. Holtgrieve picked up his second win on the year.

In game two, the Cavaliers once again had to come from behind.. Freshman Gage Daniels did his part on the hill. He dominated the entire game giving the Cavaliers a chance to break it open in the eighth. Daniels took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and a shutout into the sixth. Daniels improved his record to 10-2 on the season, pitching a complete game four hitter. In the eighth, JCCC¹s bats finally came to life. After a leadoff error by the Thunderbirds shortstop, the Cavaliers had three consecutive base hits to take a 6-1 win.