by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
While Johnson County’s homer-happy Cavaliers may have spoiled Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Sophomore Day on the field, they didn’t dull the post-game ceremonies honoring nine sophomores. Nor did the losses affect the Blue Devils’ post-season challenge.
Seeded No. 5, KCKCC (39-13) will play No. 4 Cowley College (33-17) Saturday at noon in first-round playoff action at Hummer Park in Topeka. No.1 Highland (41-7) will face No. 8 Hesston (20-22) in the tourney opener at 10 a.m. The first-round losers will clash at 2 p.m.; the winners at 4 p.m.
Friday’s Sophomore Day honorees included three “super sophomores,” sophs who played three seasons at KCKCC albeit the 2020 season was cut short by the COVID pandemic.
Third baseman Alaina Howe and centerfielder Devin Purcell, both of Eudora, and Piper right fielder Alexis Rymer, were regulars all three seasons. They were joined by twins Leah and Alyssa Seichepine of Leavenworth, Haley Masisak of Lansing, Alexandra Schafer of Lexington, Oklahoma, and Nerida Elson and Georgia Faunt, both of Auckland, New Zealand.
Introduced with parents or other significant others, each player was presented a team and individual photos and other assorted gifts; countless photos taken; and player embraces. A special award was made to assistant coach Jenn Strohman.
Johnson County pounded out six home runs, three in each game, in 6-0 and 17-8 wins Friday. The sweep evened the season series between the two teams, KCKCC having won 5-2 and 10-2 earlier. The Blue Devils closed out regular season play with a 39-13 record, the second most wins in a single season.
The Blue Devils managed just three hits off JCCC’s Kyla Etter in the 6-0 opener, singles by Bradi Basler, Jenna Daugherty and Alaina Howe. Breanna Droge (15-7) took the loss, allowing nine hits and six runs. She walked four and struck out four.
Two home runs by Basler, her 17th and 18th of the season, and four hits by Rymer were among the few highlights in the 16-9 nightcap. KCKCC took a 5-0 lead in the first on a 2-run double by Rymer and a 2-run single by Daugherty and Basler’s first home run in a 2-run second made it 7-0.
However, the Cavaliers scored three runs in the third and fourth and then wiped out an 8-6 deficit with eight runs in the sixth off Basler and two relievers.
The Blue Devils got their 38th and 39th wins of the season by sweeping Allen County 7-2 and 12-6 in Iola Thursday. Droge allowed just six hits and one earned run in the 7-2 opener. She struck out eight, walked none.
Savannah Maynard homered and Purcell doubled twice to lead the KCKCC offense. Daugherty and Howe chipped in with two hits and Basler and Rymer had doubles.
The Blue Devils pounded out four home runs and 18 hits in the 12-6 nightcap win. Basler had a pair of homers and three RBI; Purcell a home run, double and single and three RBI; and Rymer drove in a pair of runs with her 10th home run and single.
The Blue Devils also got doubles from Maurer and Howe. Basler got the pitching win, allowing six runs on eight hits. She struck out five, walked none.
