by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
Labette was as good as its first place Jayhawk Conference softball standings in a sweep of Kansas City Kansas Community College Saturday.
Improving their Jayhawk record to 15-1, the Cardinals ended KCKCC’s 7- game winning streak with 10-2 and 4-1 wins and a sweep of their four-game series. The losses dropped KCKCC (12-6) into third place in Division A behind Labette and Johnson County (12-4).
At Crowder College Tuesday, the Blue Devils (31-9) resume Jayhawk play at Cloud County Thursday before returning home Saturday to play host to Neosho County (1-3 p.m.).
The Blue Devils managed just seven hits in the two losses to Labette.
“Labette pitching was very good,” KCKCC coach Lana Ross said. “They just shut us down; just as they did the first time.”
Alaina Howe had two singles and Jenna Daugherty one for the only KCKCC hits in the 10-2 opener. The Blue Devils trailed just 3-1 before Labette scored six runs in the fourth. Breanna Droge (11-5) took the loss, allowing three hits and seven earned runs in 3.1 innings. Nerida Elson pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and two runs.
Savannah Maynard tripled and Devin Purcell, Hannah Maurer and Bradi Basler singled for the Blue Devil his in the 4-1 nightcap. Basler (15-4) gave up six hits and three earned runs, walking two and striking out six in the route-going effort.