by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College wrapped up its pre-conference baseball preparations Monday with the Blue Devils’ biggest offensive outburst in years.
Pounding out 22 hits including nine for extra bases, the Blue Devils coasted to a 30-4 win at Maple Woods to set up the start of the Jayhawk Conference season Thursday. KCKCC will play host to Coffeyville in a 1 p.m. doubleheader and then complete the four-game series at Coffeyville Saturday.
Eleven of the 15 Blue Devils who saw action had hits at Maple Woods including six who had two or more in improving their non-conference record to 6-4.
Freshman second baseman Kevin Santiago led the way, driving in six runs with two home runs (one grand slam) and two singles.
Three others had four RBI’s, Tyler Pittman with a home run and two singles; Remington Kelly with a pair of doubles; and Brigham Mooney, who doubled in two runs and drew a walk and was hit by a pitch, each with the bases-loaded.
James Bradley Jr. drove in three runs with three straight singles; Gavin Gifford had three singles and two RBI; Josh Schumacher doubled and singled; and Billy Kelley and Julius King each doubled as KCKCC scored in every inning but the sixth.
KCKCC took a 4-0 lead in the first on singles by Schumacher, Pittman, Gifford and Adam North and then broke the game wide open with the long ball. Pittman belted a 2-run home run and Santiago followed with a solo round-tripper for a 7-0 lead in the second and the Blue Devils made it 14-0 in the third on a 7-run uprising capped by Santiago’s second home run, a grand slam shot to center.
Remington Kelley had the big blow in an 8-run fifth, a bases-loaded triple while Santiago singled twice in the inning and Bradley drove in two with his third straight hit.
The Blue Devils closed out the rout with six runs in the seventh. After a single by Brady Holder and a double by Billy Kelley, KCKCC got back-to-back two-out doubles by King, Mooney and Remington Kelly.
Hunter Paxton got the pitching win, allowing three hits and two runs in four innings. He stuck out five, walked one. Ethan Baltz struck out four in two innings of two-hit relief and Zach Watson closed out the win, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks. Maple Woods used five pitchers who combined to hit four Blue Devils and give out eight walks.