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

4/23/09
Story by Tyler Cundith

JCCC wins five of six to start busy season ending stretch

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- The Johnson County Community College baseball team is in the middle of playing 14 games in an eight day stretch to finish out the regular season conference schedule. They have started this stretch by going 5-1 and hope to finish strong.

The Cavaliers began its long list of games against Kansas City Kansas and came away with a split at home. JCCC won the first game 5-0, behind a great pitching performance behind Brandon Droge. Droge pitched a complete game shut out only allowing 2 hits in the game to improve his record to 9-1 on the season. The victory was also his 17 at JCCC, which ties him with Travis Blankenship for the all-time lead.

JCCC lost the second game 16-12. The Cavaliers did their best to slug their way to a victory but came up just short. Six errors and poort pitching proved to be too much to overcome.

Next up was Independence Community College and the Cavaliers got back on their winning track sweeping a double header. JCCC won the first game 7-3. Zack Smith allowed three unearned runs in the first inning, but then settled down to pitch a complete game without allowing another run. After scoring three runs early in the game, the Cavaliers offense broke the game open in the fifth with four runs on five hits. David Drahozal, J.P. LaMunyon, Brian McCulloch and Harrison Gerber each collected two hits apiece.

JCCC won the second game 6-1, to complete the sweep. It was a pitchers duel until the fourth inning when the bats came alive. JCCC scored twp in the fourth, two in the fifth, and two in the sixtth to assure the sweep. Gage Daniels improved his record to 8-2 on the year, pitching a complete game three hitter.

JCCC followed by thumping Labette twice. JCCC won game won 8-1, and followed with a 15-2 victory. Scott Brady got back to his early season form throwing a complete game, while giving up just one earned run. He improves his record to 6-2 on the year. John Lenherr collected 2 hits.

In the second game, the Cavaliers pounded out 14 hits. Every starting player racked up at least one hit with Drahozal, Lenherr, McCulloch, Gerber, Sam Stuckey and Nate Thomas each had two hits. Tanner Neuberger benefited from the offensive onslaught picking up his third win of the season against no losses.

JCCC is tied for first place with Cowley College, but slipped to 12th in the nation with a record of 36-9 on the year.

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