It's been a busy few weeks for Greyhound Baseball. The Hounds have been playing battling rain and wet field conditions in order to get all 56 regular season games in. In a span of three weeks FSCC has played 17 games, and in those 21 days it has rained in some capacity 13 of them.
The stretch began with a trip to the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas on April 11th. Brian Aranda started for FSCC and went 7 strong innings allowing just 4 hits and striking out 8 in the Hounds 7-1 win. Keller Agre pitched in relief to close out the game. Andrew Morrow hit a homerun while Mitch Sloan, Will Baker, and Ben Kiefer each added multi-hit games in the win.
FSCC was back in action at home against Kansas City Kansas Community College April 15th. The Hounds were swept by the Blue Devils by scores of 12-8 and 10-3. Nick Sloan started game one, and struggled allowing 7 runs in 3.1 innings of work. The Greyhound offense struggled after starting with a 7-0 lead behind doubles from Brandon Krennrich, and Andrew Morrow, with Morrow also adding a 2 run triple. Game 2 saw the Hounds struggle again behind starting pitcher Justin O'Laughlin. O'laughlin allowed 8 runs in 7 innings. Offensively it was a struggle aside from Danny Crews who had a double, and a homerun.
The series then shifted to KCK on April 15th. FSCC responded with a 5-4 win behind a masterful pitching performance by Boby Johnson. Johnson allowed just 4 runs in 6 innings of work. Kobe Schmitt notched his NJCAA leading 12th save in the Greyhounds win. It took a 3 run Greyhound 7th to push them over the top. Highlighted by a key Mitch McAllister 2 run double. In the final game the Hounds were unable to complete a comeback that saw them down early 5-0. Kyle Smith started for FSCC allowing 7 runs in 6 innings of work. Quinn Waterbury homered and Will Baker hit a grand slam in the 10-8 defeat.
It was a quick turnaround as the Hounds then traveled to Baldwin City on April 17th to take on Baker University. It took 11 innings but FSCC was victorious 13-11. Kobie Schmitt got the win for the Hounds going 4 innings and allowing just 1 run. Danny Crews and Mackay Williams homered for FSCC, while Ben McConnell had a career high 5 hits. The rain also pushed a home non-conference game with the nationally rank 5th Crowder Roughriders on Tuesday April 18th. It was a struggle all the way around for the Hounds in a 12-1 defeat. Keller Agre took the loss for FSCC.
Conference action resumed April 20th with a road doubleheader against Johnson County Community College. FSCC was shut out in game one by the Cavaliers 6-0. Nick Sloan took the loss, allowing 6 runs on 9 hits in 6 innings. Offensively, the Hounds could only muster 3 hits. Game 2 saw FSCC with a 4-3 lead in the 8th innings behind Justin O'Laughlin. However the Hounds fell 9-6. O'Laughlin went 7.1 innings and allowed 5 runs while striking out 7. Sean Moore homered for FSCC, while Will Baker and Brandon Krennrich each had multi-hit games.
Rain pushed the second half of the conference tilt to Sunday April 23rd. Boby Johnson started for the Hounds and allowed 2 runs striking out 7. It was a 7th inning 2 out pinch hit homerun by Johnson County that pushed the game to extra innings, where the Hounds ultimately fell 6-3. Mitch Sloan and will Baker had multi-hit games for the Greyhound offense. Game 2 however saw FSCC win 3-2 behind a complete game from Kyle Smith. Smith allowed 2 runs and struck out 4 in the win. Quinn Waterbury and Harrison Whitworth each homered for the Hounds in the win.
The two week stretch concluded yesterday with the Hounds again taking on Saint Mary, this time at home. Game 1 was a dominating performance by FSCC winning 18-2. Keller Agre got the win going 4 innings and allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. Every offensive player that recorded an at bat for the Hounds had a hit and at least 1 run scored, with Carter Young hitting his first career homerun as a Hound. Game 2 was closer with the Hounds still coming out on top 7-4. Joe Fragano got the win for the Hounds, while Kobie Schmitt added to his NJCAA leading save total with his 13th save.
The final regular season series began Thursday April 30th in Arkansas City, Kansas Cowley swept the doubleheader by scores of 6-1 and 6-2. Justin O'laughlin and Nathan Miller each took losses for FSCC despite strong outings. Will Baker, and Harrison Whitworth led the offensive charge for the Hounds.
The series and regular season concluded yesterday in Fort Scott as FSCC split with Cowley. Game on saw Kyle Smith, Avery Boehm and Kobie Schmitt combine to limit Cowley 3 runs over 9 innings. Schmitt ultimately got the win. Mitch Sloan homered and a 2 run 6th highlighted by a Mackay Williams double, took the game to extra innings where the Hounds eventually won on a walk off walk by Quinn Waterbury. Game two was a one-sided 11-0 win for Cowley. Head Coach John Hill III shared his thoughts on the last few weeks.
"These last couple weeks have been challenging in more ways than one, but it is excellent preparation for our upcoming postseason. Not only have we been playing top of the line teams in our conference and non-conference, but we have been spending a lot of time trying to get our field ready with all of the rain. I really like our schedule set up this year because we are playing the best teams we can leading up to the playoffs. Our guys compete, and I am excited about the direction we are heading."
Greyhound Baseball finishes the season 35-21 and 19-17 in the eastern division of the Jayhawk conference. That earns them the 5 seed for the upcoming playoffs this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The west still has games remaining today and tomorrow, so the destination for FSCC is still to be determined.