by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
Even Palmer Hutchison’s prodigious hitting couldn’t save Kansas City Kansas Community College from a 17-11 thumping at Pittsburg State junior varsity Monday.
The loss left the Blue Devils at 21-14 heading into a pivotal Jayhawk Conference series with Allen County this week. Home Thursday for a 1 p.m. first pitch, the Blue Devils will go to Iola Saturday.
Hutchinson hammered his 13th and 14th home runs of the season and drove in four runs at Pitt State. A sophomore from Hays, Hutchison had a solo blast in the fourth inning and a 3-run shot in the eighth and now has nine home runs and 25 runs-batted-in in the Blue Devils’ last 11 games.
The Blue Devils also got a pinch 2-run home run in the ninth from Brock Stewart, his first. Brendyn Bard chipped in with a double and two singles; Raymond Paniagua a double and single; and Darius Freeman two singles in an 11-hit attack.
However, the offense came far too late. The Gorillas scored four times in the first and had leads of 11-0 and 17-5 after five innings.
The Blue Devils used six pitchers. Gabriel Ramos gave up seven runs on five hits and striking out four in two innings; Joseph Reyes was touched for four runs and two hits; Chase Terrell two runs on four hits; and Brett Owen, four runs on three hits. Parker Weddle struck out the three men he faced in one inning and Hunter Cashero gave up only a walk in two scoreless frames.
KCKCC will close out the regular season play with eight games next week. The Blue Devils will be the host to Baker junior varsity in a non-conference twin bill Monday starting at 2 p.m. and meet Baker again Tuesday at a location and time to be determined. They’ll close out Jayhawk Conference play at Coffeyville Thursday and at home Saturday.