by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
A Kansas City Kansas Community College pitching staff that gave up 17 hits in the season opener on Tuesday came within two outs of a no-hitter in an 18-1 win over Mid-America Nazarene junior varsity on Wednesday.
The lopsided win evened the Blue Devils record at 1-1 heading into a 9-inning single game with Barton County at 2 p.m. Friday and a noon doubleheader Saturday.
Three Blue Devil pitchers allowed only two runners over the first six innings before Mid-America broke up the no-hitter with one out in the seventh. Four KCKCC pitchers combined to allow just one unearned run on two hits while striking out 10 and walking one.
Hunter Cashero worked the first three innings, striking out five and walking one. Tre Simmons fanned three in two hitless innings and Joseph Reyes struck out one in one inning before Mid-America broke up the no-hitter with a one-out single in the seventh off Brett Owen. The lone run came on a two-out hit.
After taking a 3-0 lead after two innings, the Blue Devils scored seven runs in the third and eight in the fourth. Substituting at every position, 18 Blue Devils went to the plate, collecting 14 hits in six innings.
Cole Dawson doubled twice and singled and Palmer Hutchinson singled twice as each drove in three runs to lead the way. Caleb Brown also doubled twice; Brendyn Bard singled twice; Jaylon Johnson doubled in two runs; and Darius Freeman one with a double.